last sever

✧

a battle had broken out in the city of mondstadt. knights scattered around the walls, loud clings of swords clashing against their opponents. gushes of red would fly into the air, splattering against the now tainted luscious grass, the rustling of raiding groups wiping it further.

this chaos could not hide the disdain on diluc's face, frantically rushing through the field, going beyond harming those in his way.

"where is the cavalry captain?!"

"kaeya!"

"captain kaeya has gone missing!"

"what will we do without his command?"

♤——♧

a navy-haired man lay amidst the havoc, metallic red threatening to spill out his mouth. spurs of colour zoomed around his field of vision, raucous, pestering noises breaking its way through the boundary of hearing.

"-aey- kaey-! don't d- this t- me.."

with the rest of the strength left in him, kaeya began to focus on the person in front of him. crimson streaks flowed down atop the fair, pale complexion, dark cloth draped against the sharp green blades.

"di..diluc..."

his eyes widened hearing a response from the bloodied mouth below him, a warmth forming within the 'cold soul' one was deemed to hold. limbs wrapped around the torso of the other, a pained cry leaving diluc's mouth as he felt the weight fall out his arms.

"kaeya, please. we have to get out of here."

"l-leave me."

"what? no, i ca-can't just let yo-... i can't just let you give up on me!"

kaeya's doom was lurking closer and closer, halting itself in the shadows. yet, despite holding this knowledge, he still mustered up a faint smile, albeit genuine. all his pain was painted on his face, yet a graceful and peaceful expression still was unravelling itself upon him.

"i can't move anymore. i'm just another pawn on the board, aren't i diluc? don't let the death of a single soldier let itself rest on your shoulders."

diluc still couldn't believe kaeya was smiling in a situation like this. was he really.. was he really not bothered by this at all? tears plummeted down, bombarding the tan, frigid skin below.

"you - you're dying! and you still try to make a witty remark with me? i know you can get up. i'll get jean to heal you as qu-quick as possible, please.. please kaeya.."

desperation growing each second, his body slowly started losing its composure, trampling the navy-haired man as he began wailing. diluc knew nothing could be done.

in this state, he can't move, he can barely talk let alone breathe. and still, it hit him so hard. even though the truth was presented in front of him this whole time.

a tainted hand reached up, attempting to give some sort of comfort to the redhead. his breathing slowed, the sound of crying syncing together like a harmony.

"diluc. i have but only a few minutes here, wouldn't you rather be doing something more useful? mondstadt needs you."

it wasn't a question that kaeya let slip from his tongue as a way to catch the others' attention. the crimson flame was well aware of this, but alas, he continued to treat it as one. what was he supposed to do in this situation? his only family was in his arms, laying out in his own blood, fresh wounds placed with precision on his anatomy. even the soldiers were pushed too far in to even help; hell, not even the enemy were there to finish the job.