Rabbit of the Frost

Chapter Two

It was some time after that. Nicholas had learned bits and pieces about his vision from Barbara and Bennet. He learned how to heal, or more how to take life force and give it to someone else like health syphoning gas. It was his own little way of fighting and still managing to protect those close to him. It was the point of his vision.

He lived in the church as things were getting sorted at Dawn Winery. It was only today that he was brought to the Winery to talk to one Master Diluc. Elzer and Adelinde agreed in helping him on the one condition that when he was done working in the Wine guild he would help with cleaning around the house as well. Emmett, Kaeya, and the two workers were already there when he arrived.

Nicholas looked down the line of people who shushed their talking when he arrived straight to the middle. Fiery red hair and a warm looking coat with eyes that looked into your soul with a glare, this was the one and only Master Diluc. Nicholas turned a deep red and couldn't help but look away from the other with nervous slight thumps.

"Must all of you had conspired against me?" He looks Nicholas up and down with his signature glare causing Nicholas to swallow dryly.

"Look, Master Diluc, it was Emmett's idea in the first place. We all thought it would be a good idea to get an extra hand around this place. We know how you feel about them, but there hasn't ben any malice coming from him, so maybe..."

"No Adelinde- No way,"

"I figured this would happen... it took him forever to finally see me as a brother- "

Kaeya's words drown out in Nicholas' mind as he thinks for a while. He felt like some sort of animal under the eyes of the others. One of them? He supposed it was karma. Finally, he was being looked down on for all of those he looked down upon in Snezhnaya. He was snapped out of his thoughts when Emmett simply put his hand up to stop all the arguing for a second before looking into Dilucs eyes.

"Please?" Emmett's voice was hoarse and lightly spoken from years of lack of use.

Diluc's eyes widen before he turns away slightly, "I don't see how you care for the rabbit boy so much already, but I suppose... for you I'll give him a shot, but if you do anything- "

"I wouldn't dream of harming anyone here Master Diluc. Please, just treat me as you would one of the helps," Nicholas sighs running a hand through his hair lost deep in thought.

Diluc sighs before looking to Elzer, "Could you please teach him the basics of wine making, and show him where he will be staying?"

Elzer nods slightly, "Of course sir,"
---

Nicholas couldn't say that long day of work was easy. He wore a uniform with his vision attached to the belt while working and cleaning. His braid was far past messy and was threatening to come undone. This whole time laying on his bed he couldn't help but think of Diluc. His face turns beet red as he shakes his head wildly and changes back into his staple clothing.

He reties his braid and looks out the window. It was already dark... He couldn't help but wonder what was happening back at Snezhnaya. He didn't have any family to speak of, or to put it in better terms, Nicholas was the runt of many siblings, so he was left behind to fend for himself.

He raised himself, stood through all the cold by himself, and he climbed the ranks of the Fatui by himself... Only now did he realize that he was all alone and had been for a while.

He steps out into the breezy air. His braid flowed to the left as he goes out to see the stars. Shining so bright he couldn't help but feel warm inside.

"The skies of Mondstadt are quite something no?" Nicholas turns his head to see Elzer standing next to him.

"I can't say they're much different from Snezhnayan skies, but being hold up in a lab all day I can't say I've ever got the chance to see them..."