Bed and Silken Chains | Hiatus

Vier­und­zwanzig

Diluc's mind reels through the events of the day. He only just realized that he was in his bed, staring at the ceiling above him with drying red eyes.

She doesn't trust him? After all he's done? He can't help but feel a bit disappointed at the fact. Though, he understands why she would still feel so guarded around him.

Diluc rolls over to face his door. The door is shut, but as if he had some sort of x-ray vision, he stares at her, in her room, through the doors and walls of his manor. He had to put her to sleep. She passed out in his arms when she was speaking with him. Her whole body was so cold when he held her, and he didn't know why.

"A defense mechanism..." he hums.

His mind decodes such a complex phrase. He's hasn't heard of such a term, at least not in Mondstadt. A place where people can be as free as the sinless, there would be no reason to be so defensive, not like how she is anyway.

Diluc hums slightly. Does he himself have a defense mechanism? Now that he thinks about it, somethings begin to click softly into place. Diluc used to be such a happy young boy, but ever since everything happened, he's acted so cold, so aloof to everyone around him, even those he calls friends. But (Y/n) was different. Diluc feels wonderful to be around her. He feels as though he could let his guard crack, even slightly.

Diluc now realized just how he's been acting. He's acted soft, kind, gentle. He even smiles around her whenever he looks upon her.

Does (Y/n) fix him? Was she a missing piece that fills his broken spirits? Destroys his "defense mechanisms?" Makes him feel as though everything is alright? His heart was racing with all these thoughts.

"If she fixes me... Then... maybe... I can complete and fix her!" he says in a breathy hush.

His face was feeling warm, blood flooding all around his body at a rapid pace, lighting up every single cell. Diluc is in heaven, he's in bliss. So many thoughts gently kiss his mind with their pleasantness. Diluc feels he would faint any minute with how wonderful he feels. And, oh, how badly he wishes to share it with (Y/n), make her be able to feel such pure joy, joy she whole heartedly deserves.

But, slowly, Diluc's high starts to come crashing down, hitting the ground so hard, the world shakes beneath him. Horrible thoughts begin to plague Diluc's mind, infesting them with maggots and worms, eating up all the warmth and pleasantness there was before.

"What made her broken in the first place?" he whispers out.

Diluc rolls over in his bed once again, facing the window that lets in all the wonderful moonlight that (Y/n) loves so very much. An ethereal glow floods through the dusty panes of glass, lighting the room in a silver aura. His thoughts are slowly being eaten up by the nightmares of reality.

Who would dare break her?! Why would they do such a thing?! Don't they realize just how wonderful (Y/n) is?!

A dark, black flame starts to ignite within Diluc's chest, slowly burning away all that remaining good feeling that once washed over his body. His happiness, his drug, it was gone. He clenches his fists against the cotton blanket that covers his body. The small smell of smoke starts to cling to his fingertips.

Just as his thoughts of destruction were about to get out of hand, a gentle, almost silent knock on the door draws his attention. He snaps his head to the door, sitting up in his bed. His blanket falls off his bare chest as he opens his mouth to speak.

"Who is it?"

"I-It's me... (Y/n)," a shaky voice says, one sounding much closer to the voice he heard all the days previous.

"Ah-!" he says, quickly leaping out of bed and opening the wooden door. Staring down at her, Diluc notices just how dreary she seems. Her hair is shaggy, feet pointed in, and hands fiddling with one another.

"M-Mister Diluc?"

Diluc snaps out of his thoughts and gives a soft smile to the young woman before him.

"Yes? What is it?"

"C-Can I sleep with you tonight? I-I heard a noise outside that woke me up a-and-"

Diluc's smile only softens at her soft habits. In one swift motion, Diluc scoops up the woman into his arms, startling her greatly.

"W-What are you doing?!"

"Taking you to bed. You need your sleep."

Diluc kicks the door closed and gently places (Y/n) on the bed. He noticed that she had changed her clothes.

Diluc climbs back into bed, gesturing for (Y/n) to do the same. She vibrates with haywire nerves. Slowly, she sinks under the blankets, swiftly falling asleep.

Diluc stares with such endearment at the woman beside him, all the darkness quickly being swallowed up in the presence of (Y/n). He then carefully wraps his arm around her body, rolling her into his chest. Diluc can feel the gentle breathing from her brush against his skin, causing a blush to form.

He leans down and presses a kiss against her forehead.

"I love you. And I will complete you."