OH MY~ ! ᵈⁱˡᵘᶜ ʳᵃᵍⁿᵛⁱⁿᵈʳ ˣ ʳᵉᵃᵈᵉʳ

* ˚ ✦ｂｏｎｕｓ

   It's only been a week since you and Diluc started dating, and the idea still feels weird of calling him your boyfriend. 

Diluc felt strange but in a good way. One thing he has definitely noticed is that he keeps finding himself unnecessarily apologizing for little things. 

  He also did mention that he would like to keep the relationship private, and only be informed to those who are necessary to know, which is understandable, and you get where he's coming from. 

  You were just trying to see him since his evening shift at the tavern was about over. But there were three men who just happened to be sitting right outside, drinking to their heart's content -- well, the third one was already knocked out. 

"Sweet stuff, why don't you come sit down with us and have a drink?" One of the men said.

The smart thing you should've done was to ignore them and keep walking -- which is what you were going to do...until one of them got up and close to your personal business.

You had no choice but to stop in your tracks, already imagining the worst-case scenarios of what could go wrong. "I-I'm sorry sir, but I should really get going..." You nervously chuckle, trying to appear to calm all while beginning to mentally panic.

"Oh, c'mon! Won't drink won't hurt!" Another man who was sitting down said while standing up and raising his drink. And now that you think about it, their voices were starting to sound awfully familiar. 

"I really shouldn't-"

You stiffen up when the man that was close to you wrapped his arm around your shoulder. "Loosen up, sweetheart!" He says. The other one hands him another drink and goes to sit down as he starts forcefully leading you to sit down with them.

"S-Sir, I don't really have the time right now-"

"Oh c'mon, you won't regret it!"

"Is there a problem?" 

The two immediately flinch. The other removes his arm from you and turns around at the sudden voice, knowing well enough whose voice it belonged to. 

"M-Master Diluc- ! We were just-"

"Step away from her and leave. You won't find yourselves coming back to this tavern." 

"But-" 

Diluc then begins to walk toward them, and they all begin to take their belongings while waking up their sleeping friend and rushing out of there. Once they were out of sight, Diluc then turns to you. 

"Are you alright? They didn't hurt you, did they?" 

"I'm okay. They only made me uncomfortable, but I'm alright." You smile reassuringly at him. You could see the look of poison in his eyes from how much he wanted to lunge at them earlier, but his face remained composed.

But it soon went away after he nods. "Let's head inside. It's freezing out here." 

The both of you head inside the tavern while he opens the door for you, muttering a small 'thank you' while he brushes a hand on the small of your back. It was sort of becoming a habit every time he let you through a door, or when he was guiding you somewhere. 

And your heart can't help but flutter each time at the subtle gesture. 

"This is the third time I've caught someone bothering you, Y/n. You need to start speaking up." Diluc says as he removes his coat and hangs it.

You look away before replying, "I know. I just..." 

You don't even know how what to say. It's a lot harder for you to deal with these types of things. You've always struggled with speaking up, especially since you were always brushed off in your childhood and in school.