a teyvat mystery － diluc x venti / diluven / venluc | fanfic / one shot

chapter 2

By the time Diluc reached the city, it was already past midday, he hadn't had lunch yet, with so many things to get done that meant he would probably have to forgo it all together. First thing first he had to find Venti, but it was definitely gonna be a hard task considering even Diluc who was one of the most well informed people in Mondstadt, had no idea where Venti may be. From what Diluc had heard Venti had been spotted everywhere from Stormterror's Lair to Starsnatch Cliff, Diluc just hoped that Venti would for some reason be in the city today. The most likely place he would be is the Statue of Barbatos, or so Diluc figured. Diluc walked briskly up the steps, trying to not look in a hurry but also trying to get there as fast as he could. When he got to the level which contained the statue he was disappointed, though he showed no physical signs of it, when Venti was nowhere to be seen. The only person in the square was Barbara who was placing flowers around the statue.
"Master Diluc what are you doing up here," before Diluc could get away the young deaconess saw him.
"Nothing. Just looking for that bard."
"Oh Venti, I saw him earlier this morning, he was sitting up on the statue. He looked a little out of it."
Intoxicated? Feeling Guilty? Just his normal self? " Do you know where he went?"
"Umm- Uhh- I-I don't know."
"Hmph," Diluc sighed under his breath, "Thanks for your help Deaconess."
"Yeah no problem," Barbara nervously laughed as for whatever reason being around Diluc always made her nervous, maybe it was his attitude.
As he was leaving the courtyard around the statue Diluc had a sudden ingenious idea, instead of looking all over Mondstast for Venti, he would lay a trap for the bard. Before he could do that however he had to talk to the scoundrel Kaeya, even though it was the last thing he wanted to do. The truth was that the heirloom wasn't left solely to Diluc but also to his sworn brother Kaeya, so Diluc figured the least he could do was inform Kaeya of what had happened. The Headquarters of the Knights of Favonius were right on the way he was going anyway so it worked out well. Once Diluc entered the vicinity of the headquarters the knights standing guard immediately stood straighter obviously due to who their guest was. I'm not a member of the Knights anymore. What ridiculous behavior, shows they only care about appearances and not anything else, Diluc thought to himself after seeing the knights actions.
"Master Diluc welcome!" One the knights shouted.
"Is Kaeya in today?"
"Calvary Captain Kaeya should be inside, yes." 
Diluc walked past the knights without saying another word and entered into the headquarters of the Knights of Favonius. He went right to Kaeya's office, not bothering to say even hello back to anyone who said anything to him in the hallway. When he entered Kaeya's office he found the cavalry captain smirking, while flipping a coin up and down.
"Oh, Diluc, if you're here something terrible must've happened. Where's Elzer, he's not sick is he?" Visiting the knights was always a despised task for Diluc, usually he would have Elzer the chairman of the wine guild handle anything that involved them.
"He's fine."
"So why then have you come, my dear Diluc?"
"Someone stole the wine bottle Master Crepus left to us." 
"Don't you mean the wine bottle our father left us Diluc?"
"Shut up, you insolent brat."
"Oh, I see your temperament is as brutish as ever."
Several seconds of awkward silence passed.
"I've heard as of late that the Treasure Hoards are moving a highly sought after item to Liyue. I don't know if it's related but," Kaeya stared out the window with his back turned to his visitor.
"Hmm," Diluc paused with interest.
"If you're interested I can set up a meeting with one of my contacts, of course it'll be at a tavern with me."
"Hmph," Diluc, without giving an answer, turned around and walked out leaving Kaeya alone.
"Goodluck Diluc," Kaeya slyly said to himself.
The moment Diluc left the Knights of Favonius' headquarters he immediately set into motion his plan to lure Venti to Mondstadt, more specifically Angel's Share, the tavern Diluc owned. Step number one was to simply spread word of a rare chance to sample some of Dawn Winery's wine. The second step would be the most arduous stopping most people from actually showing up, but not stopping Venti from showing up. Diluc knew the free wine alone would be enough to draw the bard in, but if too many people showed up then he could miss his chance to talk to Venti. The final step would be to wait at Angel's Share for Venti to show up, then interrogate him about what happened the previous night.
Diluc told several different people about the offering of free wine; first was Stanley of the Adventures Guild, the second was Rosaria, a sister with the church, the third and final person was Timaeus who had an alchemist station in the middle of Mondstadt. In order to make this look as legitimate as possible Diluc also put up a sign outside of the tavern which read, "Free Wine Samples Tonight."  His plan however would be only to allow those he invited to come in, while refusing those who would just have seen the sign that way the tavern wouldn't be overcrowded when Venti came. Later that night he had Patton stay outside telling people the advertisement for free wine was a mistake, he had specific instructions to only let in the people Diluc specifically invited, including Venti, and anybody that might be with them. This is the particular reason why Diluc invited only the certain people he did. He knew that those three were not very active in many social circles thus they would be less likely to bring people with them, or so he thought. It seemed however Diluc had underestimated the allure free wine, Timaeus brought with him both Albedo and Sucrose, with Rosaria was Jean, Lisa, Barbara, Eula and Amber, while Stanley on the other hand never showed up at all, maybe he finally made the decision to stop drinking. Not to mention the usual paying customers who were already at tables drinking, chatting the night away. Nevertheless Diluc kept true to his promise, giving those who came for free wine, free wine.
An hour or so went by with no signs of Venti at all, Diluc was lost amidst the small talk of the people around him. Albedo appeared to be talking about the distilling process of making different colored flowers into paints. Jean, Lisa, Eula and Amber looked to be talking about some recent controversy within the Knights of Favonius, at the same table Rosaria was listening quietly. Meanwhile Barbara was performing one of her songs for the tavern goers in the background. Sometimes one of them would ask him a question, every time he would deflect away giving one word answers or no answer at all. Diluc had only turned his back for a brief moment when he heard the voice he most hoped to see, but also the one that most annoyed him.
"Is it true, is it really true, Master Diluc, you're giving away free wine ?!?!?!?!?"
Venti... Diluc went over to Venti and without any hesitation whatsoever, threw him over his shoulder.
"Ahh Master Diluc, I swear it's what I heard, I promise, I promise, I'm not here to beg," Venti pleaded frantically trying to get Diluc to put him down. Diluc had thrown Venti out of the bar several times before like this, so to the customers and Venti it was nothing new. Once outside Diluc took Venti behind Angel's Share where no one could see them. He set him down but before he could say anything Venti's insistent pleading began again, "Master Diluc how about I play a tune, then I can get some free wine right-"
"I'll give you some when we go back inside, so just listen for a second."
"Really,really, really, r-"
"Yes. Just be quiet will you," Diluc raised his voice this time to make sure Venti would listen.
"Mhmm, so what's up Master Diluc?"
"Where were you last night?" As soon as Diluc had finished his question Venti was already in full sprint running away from him. Diluc sighed under his breath, chasing him down was the last thing he wanted to have to do after such a long day. Instead of following the same path as Venti, Diluc looped around trying to cut him off, however to his surprise Venti in his panic had run straight into a nearby cart that was carrying vegetables. Diluc slowly walked over to where Venti was struggling to get out of a sack of tomatoes that he somehow ended up stuck in. Before Diluc could help Venti get unstuck the bard managed to find a way to do it himself, and upon seeing who was standing right by him, tried to get up to run away again only to fall flat on his face. "Venti WAIT I don't care what you stole," Diluc managed to say as the bard looked like he hadn't given up on running away yet. 
"Ehe," Venti smiled, turning his head to look back at Diluc with squashed tomatoes all over his face and clothes.
"I just want to ask you a few questions about last night."
"Oh, why didn't you say so."
......... "Did you see anybody suspicious last night at the winery?"
"Only some old geezer who lied about what was in your crates, as if cheese pancakes could be in a crate. Hmph, I even opened a crate just to be sure." 
Ernest. "Anybody else?"
"I don't think so, anyways what's this all about?"
"Nothing. Did you go inside the manor?"
"No-"
"Don't lie to me."
"Well I might've gone through the cellar window, and gotten into the wine down there. Oh I also might've dropped a bottle on the floor."
"Tch," Diluc scoffed at Venti, "And you're sure you saw no one down there?"
"It was really dark, I couldn't see very well, so I can't say for sure."
It's possible the thief had already left but then Venti would have seen the box on the floor. They must've infiltrated the manor after him, possibly the same way Venti did. He really is more trouble than he's worth. "Fine. Would you like that wine now?"
"No. Not until you tell me what's going on," Venti started pouting, crossing his arms to show he wouldn't move until Diluc told him.
"It's of no concern to you."
Venti wouldn't give in.
"Whatever. Sit out here in the cold if you want."
Venti grabbed the end of Diluc's coat.
"Why does it even matter?"
"Maybe I could help."
"I doubt even despite your unique position, you could help."
"Shhh, not so loud Master Diluc."
Maybe if I tell him he'll just let it go. "Someone stole something from my winery, a bottle of wine my father left me."
"Oh, I-I didn't realize something so serious happened. Wait did I, did I, do something that caused this," his pouting face now changed to one with a much more solemn expression.
"I don't know."
"I-I think I forgot to lock the cellar window when I left. Diluc I'm sorry, I swear I'll find it I'll do whatever it takes."
I guess he won't drop it. I could just leave him to his own devices, but then he might get in my way if he's truly serious about trying to find it. As much as I don't want to I might just have to bring him along with me. "We can talk about it more later, let's just go back inside right now."
"Okay, ok. Do I still get a free bottle of cider?"
"It was only a sample. And it was wine"
Venti was saddened by this news, "Aww shoot I was really looking forward to it too." Together they went back inside the tavern, Diluc gave Venti a few glasses of cider, and a towel to clean himself off with. The night went on with the bard looking like he was having a joyous time singing with Barbara, breaking a chair, all sorts of fun. After expending his energy Venti went to sit at the bar where Diluc was still serving drinks to some of the others like Albedo. Venti slumped over on the table, his head resting on his forearms while looking at Diluc, I do really feel bad about what happened, I didn't mean to cause him any harm. Even at my old age I still make stupid mistakes like this, it only goes to show age matters naught to wisdom. Venti was zoned out, and failed to notice Diluc was now standing right in front of him.
"Bard, you asleep?"
"Huh, not at all," he responded despite yawning as he did.
"Want to come with me and help me find out who stole it? It's not like I want you to come or anything, but I figured you'd just get in my way if I left you alone."
"Really!!!!!! Absolutely! Where are we going first?" his whole face lit up at the opportunity to travel.
"Kaeya said there were rumors that the Treasure Hoarders were moving a valuable object to Liyue, so we'll probably start there."
"Liyue you say, I happen to know someone there who's well involved with merchants and also has a strong sense of justice, I'm sure he would help you. I could give you a letter of introduction if you want," Albedo, who had been drinking nearby appeared to be listening in on the conversation.
"Listening in on our conversation I see, Albedo. I should've expected nothing less from a member of the Knights of Favonious."
"If your hostility is because you think I'll tell people what I have heard, then it is in vain as I shall not whisper a word of this to anyone. I merely thought I may be of help."
Venti leaned over to whisper into Diluc's ear, "I think we should accept his help."
"What are you doing?"
"Well we're a team now so think of it as a super secret team discussion."
"I- *sigh* ..." Maybe inviting him was a mistake.
"We'll gladly accept your help Mr. Albedo."
"Wonderful, just give me a few moments to write that letter."
"V-" He made that decision without even asking me, some team we are.
After Albedo finished writing the letter he handed it to Diluc, and instructed him to give in to a young man in the Feiyun Commerce Guild named Xingqiu. By this time most of the customers had already left, both the ones who paid for their drinks and the ones who didn't, Albedo soon left too. Now it was just Venti and Diluc, alone. Venti was already half-asleep, Diluc shook his head in disbelief, how someone who did so little could be so tired he didn't know. Diluc took hold of Venti once again, this time much gentler, and carried him in his arms all the way up to the third floor of the tavern where a small bed and couch were. Diluc laid Venti on the bed and tucked him in under the covers, then situated himself on the couch, when he looked over at Venti he stopped to take in the sight he saw. A single strand of moonlight shone through a window illuminating Venti's face which contrasted with the cold darkness of the rest of the room, it was in fact the only thing Diluc could see. If one's world is what they perceive then in that moment Diluc's whole world was Venti. However, as it seemed with all enjoyable things in Diluc's life, this too faded back into darkness when the moon moved slightly above the window no longer allowing any light to shine through.

Notes:
the ship is gonna have more activity together! Posting chapter 2 around tomorrow night

Word count: 2709