a falcon alights upon his windowsill, and he leans forward to examine it. feathers too sleek to be a wild bird, its eyes too fierce to be tame. diluc reaches for it, open palm and naked wrist, and the creature only stares at him with pity in its eyes. it beats its wings twice before it takes flight.
he could send his phoenix of flame after it. burn the feathers from the bone before the bird knows what's happening. only a sprinkling of ash upon the earth below would mark its passing.
it might give him satisfaction. scratch that itch deep below the surface that cares only for violence and destruction. is he not made for such things? a greatsword to cut and pierce and bludgeon, plumes of flame growing into a conflagration.
he doesn't. he only sets his hands upon the sill and watches the bird disappear into the gray distance. once it's gone, he closes the window to keep the chill out.
the next time he looks up, he finds the bird tapping at the glass. it does so with such force that it's a wonder that the pane stays intact. he stands, he opens the window, and the bird presses its beak against his palm. it's cool from the outside air, and it feels like a blessing upon his aching hands. only then does he realize the pain: he's racked with it, shot through like a bough in a lightning storm. the bird turns its head so it can look up at him, and diluc hears his name on the next exhale.
kaeya's voice. soft, like it used to be, in the golden halls of his memories. the kaeya that no longer existed, banished only to the days where innocence trumped all else. a bird in a storm, one that even pyro can't touch.
he wakes in measures, marked by the strange absence of pain: his hands first, his fingertips. his heaving lungs, and his throat full of wool. his calves, his knees, his hips. he feels tender, like the skin underneath a scab, and a headache pulses in his temples. when cool fingers press against his forehead, he leans into the touch, grateful.
until, of course, his mind starts ticking again. he turns away with such violence that his vision goes black for a moment, the headache screeching.
he doesn't speak for a long moment, letting himself acclimate. kaeya's still here, and upright, which means he must have escaped from the ruins mostly unscathed. if adelinde was involved, that meant they're back at the winery. his own wounds are difficult to gauge; the lack of pain might be a temporary stopgap. he can only hope that kaeya had the good sense not to involve jean or the deaconess.
once the spike of pain abates, he cracks open his eyes. a glance about the room confirms that they're both in his room, and a glance in kaeya's direction confirms his state of health, as well. that, despite himself, is the greatest relief of all. he relaxes, though his dark expression most certainly doesn't. ]
Why are you still here?
[ he rasps out. it sounds like rejection, and diluc winces after he says the words - he hadn't meant it as such. just - why would kaeya be here, after diluc had once again tried to kill him? doesn't he have duties, far and away from sitting uselessly at diluc's bedside? ]
no subject
a falcon alights upon his windowsill, and he leans forward to examine it. feathers too sleek to be a wild bird, its eyes too fierce to be tame. diluc reaches for it, open palm and naked wrist, and the creature only stares at him with pity in its eyes. it beats its wings twice before it takes flight.
he could send his phoenix of flame after it. burn the feathers from the bone before the bird knows what's happening. only a sprinkling of ash upon the earth below would mark its passing.
it might give him satisfaction. scratch that itch deep below the surface that cares only for violence and destruction. is he not made for such things? a greatsword to cut and pierce and bludgeon, plumes of flame growing into a conflagration.
he doesn't. he only sets his hands upon the sill and watches the bird disappear into the gray distance. once it's gone, he closes the window to keep the chill out.
the next time he looks up, he finds the bird tapping at the glass. it does so with such force that it's a wonder that the pane stays intact. he stands, he opens the window, and the bird presses its beak against his palm. it's cool from the outside air, and it feels like a blessing upon his aching hands. only then does he realize the pain: he's racked with it, shot through like a bough in a lightning storm. the bird turns its head so it can look up at him, and diluc hears his name on the next exhale.
kaeya's voice. soft, like it used to be, in the golden halls of his memories. the kaeya that no longer existed, banished only to the days where innocence trumped all else. a bird in a storm, one that even pyro can't touch.
he wakes in measures, marked by the strange absence of pain: his hands first, his fingertips. his heaving lungs, and his throat full of wool. his calves, his knees, his hips. he feels tender, like the skin underneath a scab, and a headache pulses in his temples. when cool fingers press against his forehead, he leans into the touch, grateful.
until, of course, his mind starts ticking again. he turns away with such violence that his vision goes black for a moment, the headache screeching.
he doesn't speak for a long moment, letting himself acclimate. kaeya's still here, and upright, which means he must have escaped from the ruins mostly unscathed. if adelinde was involved, that meant they're back at the winery. his own wounds are difficult to gauge; the lack of pain might be a temporary stopgap. he can only hope that kaeya had the good sense not to involve jean or the deaconess.
once the spike of pain abates, he cracks open his eyes. a glance about the room confirms that they're both in his room, and a glance in kaeya's direction confirms his state of health, as well. that, despite himself, is the greatest relief of all. he relaxes, though his dark expression most certainly doesn't. ]
Why are you still here?
[ he rasps out. it sounds like rejection, and diluc winces after he says the words - he hadn't meant it as such. just - why would kaeya be here, after diluc had once again tried to kill him? doesn't he have duties, far and away from sitting uselessly at diluc's bedside? ]