"You love me?" I ask, holding onto his hand like he'll leave if I let go.
Diluc's face flushes an even deeper red than it was before. A darker color than his hair.
Looking away from me he nods. We sit like that for a moment before he looks back at me. "Yeah, I love you. I wasn't going to say anything, but..."
"But?"
"But nothing I suppose. I guess I wasn't ready for you to know yet." He says, looking at our hands.
"Well, now I know." He squeezes my hand a little bit, before letting go to grab a rag.
We sit in silence for a few minutes, Diluc wipes down the bar and I think to myself. I'm not drunk, but that doesn't mean there can't be drunk confessions.
"I love you too, you know." Diluc goes ridged at my voice.
"I'm not ready to say it. Casually at least."
"Then we don't have to say it casually, or at all. You say it enough with your actions." He seems to relax at this, moving from cleaning the counter to cleaning the cups.
"I'll check to see where your lyre is in the morning." He mutters, looking at the ground.
"What did you do with it?" I try not to sound angry. I'm more scared than mad, that lyre is important to me.
To my surprise, he smiles, finally looking up at me. "It was supposed to be a surprise."
"What kind of surprise?" I'm trying to stay calm, but I'm so worried.
He seems to get more confident at these words. "I'm sure you'll like it. Just give me a little more time? You do trust me, right?"
I sigh, nodding. "I do trust you, I'm just worried."
"I understand, but I swear that it'll be fine." I nod at him again, and he puts the cup down to hold my hand.
"Let's finish cleaning the tavern and then we'll lay down for the night, how does that sound?" He asks, tugging on my hand.
"That sounds amazing"
-----
I'm dragged to the winery before Good Hunter is open for breakfast.
Diluc insists that this is necessary. "I need to talk to Elzer."
"Why?" I wine as we walk down the road to the winery.
"I thought teleporting you to a statue would wake you up?" He asks, disregarding my question.
"The tree in Windrise heals me, not the statues. Besides, that's healing me, not waking me up" I say, struggling to keep up.
He finally slows when we get into the winery, sending Adelinde to grab Elzer.
"What can I do for you, Master Diluc?" Elzer asks.
Diluc nods at him, looking from me to Elzer. "I need to know about the lyre I had you send out."
"You sent out my lyre?" I shrike, looking at Diluc with wide eyes.
"Trust me, Venti, remember?"
Elzer nods, pulling out a paper from the desk.
"It's in Liyue, it's done, but it'll take a few days to get here. I'll send for it now." Elzer informs, pulling out some parchment.
"Don't bother." I say, looking at Diluc. "I know someone who can get it now."
Diluc nods, thanking Elzer. Once he leaves, Diluc turns to me. "You know someone?"
I nod at him, grabbing his arm and teleporting to the border between Liyue and Mondstadt.
He looks skeptical when I pull out my flute
But he sits when I start to play, listening to the sound carrying through the breeze.
When my song is done I whisper his name.
"Xiao." Black and green light, and then Xiao appears with his spear out.
"Another meeting?" Xiao asks, while Diluc looks amazed. We had to walk from the closest teleport waypoint, but Xiao just appeared, like he always does.
"No," I sigh. I hate calling on him like this, forcing him to do me favors. "I need you to grab me something from Liyue Harbor."
Xiao seems to relax at this, only to tense up again when he notices Diluc.
"Oh, right. Fuck." I say, realizing I forgot to introduce them. "Xiao, this is Diluc, of Mondstadt. Diluc, this is the Vigilant Yaksha Xiao."
"Why is he here?" Xiao mutters, he doesnt like new people.
"He has the paperwork for the thing I need you to get." I motion to Diluc, who hands the paper with the address over to Xiao.
"Just walk in and say that you're there to pick something up for Master Diluc." Diluc says when Xiao takes the paper.
"I am not calling you that."
"Alatus, my darling. It's a sign of respect. They won't answer you if you don't. Besides, its only one time." I say, moving to hold onto his face. "You'll do this for me? I can't go into Liyue myself."
He sighs but ultimately nods. Holding onto my wrist he hums when I kiss his forehead.
He disappears from view a moment later, but I know he's still watching. Diluc looks flustered by my show of affection towards Xiao.
"Should...Should I be worried?" He gives a nervous laugh.
"What? No, Xiao's like my child. Besides, he's in love with Traveler anyway." This is when Xiao actually leaves, though I can feel his blush in the wind.
I sigh, taking Diluc into a hug. "You have nothing to worry about, Songbird." He smiles at this, pulling me into a kiss.
Xiao reappears hours later with a box and a jar of red paint. He hands both things to Diluc before turning to me.
"Play for me again tonight?" He asks and I nod. He gives a curt nod and disappears. Though once again he still watches.
We sit on the ground, using Diluc's coat as a blanket. Carefully opening the box, Diluc hands me something wrapped in wrapping parchment.
My hands shake slightly, knowing that this is supposed to be my lyre. But none the less I slowly unwrap the wrapping parchment.
It's my lyre repaired.
"I had them sand as little as possible to keep as much of the original paint as possible." He says sounding nervous.
Most of the original paint survived, and what little had to be sanded off has been replaces with red paint following the original design. Red highlights have been spaced through out the paint job and it's been revarnished. It's absolutely beautiful in a way that can't be described with words or even song.
"I..." I start, but I can't seem to finish. Instead I carefully put the lyre down and pull Diluc into a kiss.
He's surprised at first, but quickly starts kissing me back. I don't mean for it be, but it's hungry. Full of love and desire. I love him, I love this boy. And this kiss says it more than a thousand songs or poems could.
Breaking the kiss, I thank him with another, and another, and then another.
