maid • kaeya

xii

• third person •

"Hello, Young Master Kaeya."

Kaeya's mouth was stuck, hanging open. Diluc's eyes lit up like the pyro vision at his hip.

"(Y/N)!!!!" Diluc yelled, speeding up to her. (Y/N) didn't get a second to react before she was squished into strong arms. She coughed, almost choking on her breath. "We missed you so much!!!! Why did you stop seeing us?!"

(Y/N) was silent.

Kaeya stared at her, noticing her sad gaze, her arms hanging at her side, unmoving, not hugging back in the slightest.

"Wh...what did you call me, (Y/N)?" he asked quietly.

"Sorry for worrying you, Master Diluc," (Y/N) mumbled.

Diluc pulled away. The corners of his lips were tugged downward as he looked up at his father.

They both had noticed the maid uniform in her arms now.

"Now..." Crepus smiled nervously. "No need to be so formal with them. They're still your friends, after all."

"I shouldn't be treated differently," (Y/N) retorted. Her voice was ice-cold. "From tomorrow, you all should treat me just as you would treat any other maid. You're not my friend," she shook her head, "you're my boss."

Diluc's head snapped towards his brother when he rapidly began to approach. (Y/N)'s eyes widened when he grabbed her hands. They had gotten bigger...

He's gotten so tall... He's taller than me now...

"I don't like it," Kaeya murmured. "You're not a stranger."

"I am."

"We're friends; we're on the same level!"

"We will never be."

She's...

Kaeya's pupil shook, his heart dropping to his stomach.

She's gotten so cold...

With an exhale, (Y/N) tugged her hands out of Kaeya's grasp.

"It's dark already. I'll head home now. I'll have the dress stitched in time for tomorrow."

"It's dangerous! We'll–"

(Y/N)'s stare came so sharp, slicing through them like shards of ice. Kaeya clenched his fists, but their father didn't seem to be doing a thing about this.

They couldn't do anything. She just left, just like that.

"Father." Kaeya's eyebrows furrowed.

Crepus only sighed, folding his arms. "To be a good friend is to accept her wishes. She's been going through a tough time, and becoming a maid gives her some peace of mind. Just treat her as one for her sake, alright? It was your suggestion Kaeya, to let her become one early. I'm sure you understand."

Kaeya's eyes narrowed as Diluc watched with a frown. "But... she's changed so much... I don't want her to become a maid if she's... like this..."

With a warm smile, Crepus ruffled his youngest son's hair, gradually pulling him into his arms. "You can't know that from seeing her again after five years for five minutes. Who knows: maybe you'll be able to break through that stone wall that was built around her soft heart these past few years. If she's willing."

A soft breath left Kaeya's lips. His father released him, before sitting at the table, gathering the remaining papers. His two sons shuffled their feet in silence before him.

"Now, why don't you both tell me about what happened in that mission today, hm?"

• • •