curiosity killed the cat. thomaluc. <3

chapter five. our world.

{before we start, if you'd like a song to listen to with this chapter, i'd suggest sweet by cigarettes after sex because that's all this is. sweet.}

as kaeya said, your smile lit up the room when you laid your eyes on me. after the rumors, i was more than happy to see you so relieved. that smile that was plastered on your face all night was because of me and it was the cutest thing that this world has to offer. you are the epitome of happiness and i wish that it never changed.

Third Person POV

diluc reached over the counter and held thoma's face gently in his gloved hands. archons, thoma felt like he was in heaven to be in diluc's gentle touch again. thoma carefully wiped away diluc's tears and smiled so delicately. everything in this moment was soft and sweet and pure happiness.

"but how? how are you alive?" diluc looked into thoma's eyes worriedly and in response thoma sighed. "i'm not sure how.. it was a miracle that i did survive although i'm certain no one else survived, otherwise, i would've found them already."

diluc suddenly moved out of thoma's touch and turned his head, coughing into his hand. "we're just glad you're alright and safe back in mondstadt." kaeya stated with a smile as thoma looked at diluc who had run off to the tavern's bathroom.

"kaeya? is luc okay?"
"i'm sure he's fine. i wouldn't worry about it too much though."
"oh, okay then.."

thoma simply sighed but couldn't erase this nagging feeling that something was not right but before he could question kaeya, diluc came back. such a coincidence but, the night progressed and thoma's feeling began to dissipate. thoma and kaeya mainly talked and diluc kept himself occupied with making drinks and inserting himself into the conversation when he felt was necessary. soon enough diluc had closed the tavern and only him, thoma and a passed out kaeya remained.

"thoma, do you have a place to stay?" diluc said in a sweet voice as he looked over his shoulder at thoma.
"no, i don't. i didn't think that far actually." thoma laughed nervously and placed his head in his hand as he leaned against the counter to look at his small smile.
"i kind of assumed you would do something like that. well, i'm going to take kaeya to his home then if you'd like, you can come with me to the dawn winery." thoma eagerly nodded and diluc got out from behind the counter after wiping it down.

he carefully picked up kaeya bridal style and made sure not to wake him up before walking out of the tavern with thoma turning off the lights, shutting the door and trailing behind. diluc unlocked the door and whispered to thoma to just stay outside to which he did. diluc brought kaeya inside and took him to his room. he had done this multiple times and figured out which room was kaeya's. of course, he wasn't as close with his brother as he used to be but he still cared even though he barely showed it. was he still mad? yes, of course he was. did he still want to be close with kaeya? also yes but he couldn't bring himself to be kind towards kaeya with him knowing at the least. he carefully placed kaeya on his bed and laid a blanket over him before hesitantly placing a small kiss on his forehead.

"i love you kae.. rest well."

diluc locked the door behind him and smiled at thoma. "shall we get going then? we don't want to run into too many issues on our way there." thoma nodded and they began walking out of the main city and over the bridge. thoma looked out at the water and sighed before looking at diluc who was ahead of him. thoma eagerly jogged to diluc and hesitantly walked beside him.

"so.. how has it been? i was only really talking to kaeya but i want to know what's been happening with you!" thoma eyed diluc as he sighed, dropping his head slightly.

"well, as you know, i no longer am a cavalry captain of the knights. there was an incident that left father dead and due to that, kaeya and i are no longer close. we haven't been for years. i hate the knights for lying about my father's cause of death just to seem like the good guys. i trailed the fatui, causing me to disappear for 3 years. i've been banned from snezhnaya due to this and a killing spree i went on. i'm sure you've heard the rumors of the darknight hero, no? well, apparently, that's what they like to call me. i simply have taken it upon myself to protect this city better than the knights ever could while on the trail of the abyss order. i won't bother you with any more information because it's not too important. i will admit, after you had supposedly died, i did fall into a huge depression and soon enough, father died as soon as i was getting better which caused all sorts of issues. but, you're back now so i'm sure i'll be fine now." diluc then turned his head and smiles softly and thoma had a dumbfounded look plastered on his face. he felt horrible for being so stupid. stupid probably isn't the right word but that's what thoma thought seemed right at the time. he should've tried to send letters, he had beidou to help him or kazuha but he assumed that diluc had forgotten about him. how stupid and selfish is that?

"oh luc.. i'm so sorry. i promise i'm here to stay for as long as i can. i don't want to leave because as cheesy as it may sound, i missed you a lot. i assumed you forgot about me and so i never bothered to send any letters. i feel so stupid now for not doing so." thoma looked at his feet and stopped walking, diluc also stopped and turned around but before he could say anything, thoma hugged him tight, burying his face into the crook of diluc's neck which left diluc flustered and confused yet hesitantly hugged him back to realise that thoma was crying.

"hey, there's no need to cry, i'm alright and you're alright and we have each other again like we used to so i don't think there's any need to worry. if we get back to the winery as soon as we can, i promise you we can have a sleepover like we used to." diluc looked at thoma as he wiped the blonde boy's tears. he had a small smile on his face as he nodded and they raced to the dawn winery.

"master diluc! you're finally back, we had begun to worry. oh? who's this?" adelinde asked as she looked at the two males who were panting heavily.

"ah, i'm sure you remember me adelinde! it's thoma!" he flashed her a smile and she looked at him with a puzzled look. "my, aren't you meant to be dead? what happened?"

"let's get inside first then we can explain." diluc stated before beginning to cough again. he suddenly regretted running but he got to see thoma's smile so he didn't mind. they all walked inside and thoma explained what had happened as diluc mysteriously disappeared.

"my, i'm so sorry about what happened but i assure you that he missed you a lot, but, may i ask for a favour?"

"oh sure..?"

"can you please look after master diluc? of course we all do our best but i think he could really use your comfort and company. i would tell you more but i don't think he would appreciate that very much."

thoma hesitantly nodded. "of course i can, it'd be my pleasure." adelinde nodded her head before swiftly walking away. thoma stayed seated by the fire and wondered what may be going on. sure, he was happy to be back but nothing felt right. everyone seemed weird and nothing was as it used to be but then again, it's been years. maybe he was overthinking.

"thoma, sorry for taking so long. i brought you a spare change of clothes so you can get changed when you'd like. i'm sure you know where the bathroom is. nothing has changed here." diluc said in a raspy tone, flashing thoma a small smile before walking back up the stairs. thoma took the clothes that were placed on the table and went to the bathroom to change.

he knocked on diluc's door and let himself in to only find him sitting on his bed. he shut the door and diluc patted a spot next to him which led to thoma sitting next to him. diluc's head dropped and thoma looked at him closely, noticing he was crying.

"luc.. why are you crying? what's wrong?" thoma moved back and sat straight before patting his lap, letting diluc lay his head in his lap. diluc wiped his tears and looked up at the blonde boy. god his eyes were so gorgeous, how had he not noticed before? although thoma had questioned him, he didn't want to talk. he hesitantly reached up and cupped thoma's soft face, slightly smiling as he did. thoma placed one of his hands over diluc's and melted under his touch. they remained quiet and in each other's touch. diluc eventually moved to sit in thoma's lap and hugged him, placing his head in the crook of thoma's neck. thoma wrapped his arms around his waist and his smile only grew wider.

he was falling in love all again and it felt so warm and sweet.

diluc's red hair was sweet.
and his smile was sweet too.
so was his gentle touch.
and so was his voice.
diluc.. is sweet.

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curiosity killed the cat <3
(not proof read.)