[it started, as things so often do, with a drink. a single drink, which kaeya directed diluc to send to the pretty, red-haired stranger sitting at the opposite end of the bar. she was flattered, of course; how could she not be? cavalry captain kaeya, taking notice of her—of her—in this crowded tavern! flashing her that roguishly charming grin. it took another drink for her to work up the courage to approach him; it took one more than that for her to actually follow him from the bar to a table tucked away in a corner. not entirely out of sight, no, but just secluded enough so that, when kaeya took her hand in his, running his thumb along her knuckles, she felt as though the world were a small, cozy place.
all according to plan.
because kaeya is, as always, a step ahead? is, as always, carefully calculating so many things at once, even as he pulls this girl onto his lap, allowing her to boldly press her fingers against the bit of his chest on display. it's not that he's interested in her, with her carroty hair and her insipid giggling; it's that he's interested in information regarding her brother, who is rumored to be rapidly rising through the ranks of the treasure hoarders. finding out more about him might just make things... interesting.
life is so much better when things are interesting.
take, for example, the way diluc all but slams a bottle of wine atop the bar, or the way diluc snaps at a(n admittedly annoying) patron. very interesting. kaeya watches him from over the girl's shoulder, noting the way diluc is quick to busy himself as kaeya's hand slides down the girl's side, coming to rest just above the swell of her hip. kaeya knows it is—they are—in diluc's line of sight. of course he does. this table's position is yet another carefully calculated thing, because kaeya, troublemaker that he is, wants diluc to see everything.
and so kaeya waits? absently traces shapes atop this girl's hip while pretending to listen to every silly thing she says. she told him what he needed to know within ten minutes of settling at the table; he really has no use for her now, except that, as diluc turns toward him, locking eyes with him across the room—
—ah. it's a smirk kaeya offers him, then, before pulling the girl closer to him, hand settling into the small of her back while he coos something stupid into her ear. you trust me, don't you? of course she does. she doesn't suspect that, as kaeya's lips brush along the shell of her ear before pressing to the side of her neck, he isn't thinking about her at all; he's thinking of the man whose gaze he's still holding, the man who shivers so delightfully every time jaeya just barely sinks teeth into his skin—which is why jaeya just barely sinks his teeth into this girl's neck now, prompting a sharp squeal that soon gives way to another fit of giggles. how boring. much, much better is the sound of a glass smashing against the stone floor, followed by the sight of diluc hurriedly turning to clean up the mess he made. aha.
...aha.
everything moves so quickly, after that? kaeya feeds the girl a few more lines; he kisses her hand as he walks her to the door, making the empty promise to see her again soon, if work allows. she pouts; she clearly wants him to come with her now, but as diluc shoos the last (re: the drunkest) patrons toward the door, kaeya tells her that he, regretfully, has business to attend to.
said business involves dropping into one of the many empty barstools once the tavern is well and truly empty, resting both elbows atop the bar as he watches diluc set everything back to order. he was not invited to stay; he's yet to be ordered to leave, and thus, as he props his chin in his hand:]
Long day, Master Diluc? Things certainly seemed... busy.
[that is indeed a smug smirk on his face. enjoy it.]
he's one for the stronger, more potent sort; the one that demands a more rigorous, thorough fermentation of the finest grapes, created under perfect conditions. diluc thinks about this when he pours it, only to offer it to a pretty young woman with hair a few shades paler than his own. not that he's comparing, or anything. totally not.
angel's share is a nexus of information, whispers flowing, spilling, brokered or carelessly divulged. diluc has grasped the gift of loosening lips with alcohol, but kaeya has it down to an art form. a particularly distasteful art form.
still, it's hard not to watch kaeya at work. already the most handsome, alluring man in the room, kaeya is a goddamn peacock, sleek, sultry, and devastatingly charming when he wants to be. diluc almost pities the young woman when the second glass is consumed and she's lured into his easy embrace, coaxed out of her secrets with sweet words and soft touches. diluc, of course, busies himself with the other patrons, steadfastly ignoring the ugly, unpleasant twist in the pit of his stomach, the thick knot of anger that coils in his chest.
he doesn't see the girl, no -- all he sees is kaeya, calculating and shrewd. kaeya, who decides to sit right in his direct line of sight, who allows himself to be touched, right there, over his heart where diluc's lips once were, less than eighteen hours ago. she's in his lap, and it doesn't take him long to realise that kaeya, goddamn troublemaker that he is, wants him to see all of this. those talented fingers down to her hip, tracing idle patterns that make diluc's lip curl just a touch, the familiar sensation of jealousy burning at the edges of his civility.
still, diluc pretends not to see. if he slams down the wine bottle or two, if he's even snappier than before, if he slams the door a little harder than he ought, why -- that must be your imagination. diluc's not a jealous man.
well, at least not when it doesn't involve a certain smug, insufferable cavalry captain with a mouth like sin.
diluc discovers something else, when that mouth brushes along the girl's ear with unbearable sensuality that makes him ache and tense all at the same time, the familiarity he assumes with her, like he's seconds away from just lifting her pretty skirt and fucking her right there in front of him. his teeth on her skin, just like kaeya's was on his hours ago. diluc sees it all, and he learns one thing; breaking glass, while granting a moment's reprieve in a fit of pique, makes a terrible mess.
but he totally, absolutely isn't watching them, no. he's not watching when he touches her like he's touched him, he's definitely not watching when he kisses her hand and she wants, wants so badly for him to come to her, to be all hers, and he sure as hell doesn't understand the sharpness of her longing in that moment, when kaeya's within reach and all that's left is for him to say yes. but kaeya says no, clearly having gotten what he wanted, and the relief that twists in his chest makes diluc even angrier.
they're estranged. they cannot be any more than that. for all the marks that they've left on each other, rough and unyielding, for all the bruises and bites that throb pleasantly under the confines of their clothes -- what kaeya does with the young woman here and now is something they cannot have. and yet. yet, the primal depths of diluc's mind settles on this: kaeya is his, and somehow, the other man seems to have forgotten.
diluc is in a foul mood tonight. he's closing early, he announces, the frost in his tone enough to drive even the drunkest of patrons home. he eyes another thick, solid glass mug that's just within his reach, and contemplates the brief moment of pleasure he would feel when he breaks that one, too; just as an outlet for his possessive temper. a valve loosened, just for a moment. ]
I'm surprised you noticed. [ the venom is more pronounced than diluc expects. bam. the thick, sturdy glass mug is practically slammed down, and cracks. diluc is totally not jealous. ] Buried in the woman's arms as you were. Did you not enjoy the taste of her, Captain?
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all according to plan.
because kaeya is, as always, a step ahead? is, as always, carefully calculating so many things at once, even as he pulls this girl onto his lap, allowing her to boldly press her fingers against the bit of his chest on display. it's not that he's interested in her, with her carroty hair and her insipid giggling; it's that he's interested in information regarding her brother, who is rumored to be rapidly rising through the ranks of the treasure hoarders. finding out more about him might just make things... interesting.
life is so much better when things are interesting.
take, for example, the way diluc all but slams a bottle of wine atop the bar, or the way diluc snaps at a(n admittedly annoying) patron. very interesting. kaeya watches him from over the girl's shoulder, noting the way diluc is quick to busy himself as kaeya's hand slides down the girl's side, coming to rest just above the swell of her hip. kaeya knows it is—they are—in diluc's line of sight. of course he does. this table's position is yet another carefully calculated thing, because kaeya, troublemaker that he is, wants diluc to see everything.
and so kaeya waits? absently traces shapes atop this girl's hip while pretending to listen to every silly thing she says. she told him what he needed to know within ten minutes of settling at the table; he really has no use for her now, except that, as diluc turns toward him, locking eyes with him across the room—
—ah. it's a smirk kaeya offers him, then, before pulling the girl closer to him, hand settling into the small of her back while he coos something stupid into her ear. you trust me, don't you? of course she does. she doesn't suspect that, as kaeya's lips brush along the shell of her ear before pressing to the side of her neck, he isn't thinking about her at all; he's thinking of the man whose gaze he's still holding, the man who shivers so delightfully every time jaeya just barely sinks teeth into his skin—which is why jaeya just barely sinks his teeth into this girl's neck now, prompting a sharp squeal that soon gives way to another fit of giggles. how boring. much, much better is the sound of a glass smashing against the stone floor, followed by the sight of diluc hurriedly turning to clean up the mess he made. aha.
...aha.
everything moves so quickly, after that? kaeya feeds the girl a few more lines; he kisses her hand as he walks her to the door, making the empty promise to see her again soon, if work allows. she pouts; she clearly wants him to come with her now, but as diluc shoos the last (re: the drunkest) patrons toward the door, kaeya tells her that he, regretfully, has business to attend to.
said business involves dropping into one of the many empty barstools once the tavern is well and truly empty, resting both elbows atop the bar as he watches diluc set everything back to order. he was not invited to stay; he's yet to be ordered to leave, and thus, as he props his chin in his hand:]
Long day, Master Diluc? Things certainly seemed... busy.
[that is indeed a smug smirk on his face. enjoy it.]
no subject
he's one for the stronger, more potent sort; the one that demands a more rigorous, thorough fermentation of the finest grapes, created under perfect conditions. diluc thinks about this when he pours it, only to offer it to a pretty young woman with hair a few shades paler than his own. not that he's comparing, or anything. totally not.
angel's share is a nexus of information, whispers flowing, spilling, brokered or carelessly divulged. diluc has grasped the gift of loosening lips with alcohol, but kaeya has it down to an art form. a particularly distasteful art form.
still, it's hard not to watch kaeya at work. already the most handsome, alluring man in the room, kaeya is a goddamn peacock, sleek, sultry, and devastatingly charming when he wants to be. diluc almost pities the young woman when the second glass is consumed and she's lured into his easy embrace, coaxed out of her secrets with sweet words and soft touches. diluc, of course, busies himself with the other patrons, steadfastly ignoring the ugly, unpleasant twist in the pit of his stomach, the thick knot of anger that coils in his chest.
he doesn't see the girl, no -- all he sees is kaeya, calculating and shrewd. kaeya, who decides to sit right in his direct line of sight, who allows himself to be touched, right there, over his heart where diluc's lips once were, less than eighteen hours ago. she's in his lap, and it doesn't take him long to realise that kaeya, goddamn troublemaker that he is, wants him to see all of this. those talented fingers down to her hip, tracing idle patterns that make diluc's lip curl just a touch, the familiar sensation of jealousy burning at the edges of his civility.
still, diluc pretends not to see. if he slams down the wine bottle or two, if he's even snappier than before, if he slams the door a little harder than he ought, why -- that must be your imagination. diluc's not a jealous man.
well, at least not when it doesn't involve a certain smug, insufferable cavalry captain with a mouth like sin.
diluc discovers something else, when that mouth brushes along the girl's ear with unbearable sensuality that makes him ache and tense all at the same time, the familiarity he assumes with her, like he's seconds away from just lifting her pretty skirt and fucking her right there in front of him. his teeth on her skin, just like kaeya's was on his hours ago. diluc sees it all, and he learns one thing; breaking glass, while granting a moment's reprieve in a fit of pique, makes a terrible mess.
but he totally, absolutely isn't watching them, no. he's not watching when he touches her like he's touched him, he's definitely not watching when he kisses her hand and she wants, wants so badly for him to come to her, to be all hers, and he sure as hell doesn't understand the sharpness of her longing in that moment, when kaeya's within reach and all that's left is for him to say yes. but kaeya says no, clearly having gotten what he wanted, and the relief that twists in his chest makes diluc even angrier.
they're estranged. they cannot be any more than that. for all the marks that they've left on each other, rough and unyielding, for all the bruises and bites that throb pleasantly under the confines of their clothes -- what kaeya does with the young woman here and now is something they cannot have. and yet. yet, the primal depths of diluc's mind settles on this: kaeya is his, and somehow, the other man seems to have forgotten.
diluc is in a foul mood tonight. he's closing early, he announces, the frost in his tone enough to drive even the drunkest of patrons home. he eyes another thick, solid glass mug that's just within his reach, and contemplates the brief moment of pleasure he would feel when he breaks that one, too; just as an outlet for his possessive temper. a valve loosened, just for a moment. ]
I'm surprised you noticed. [ the venom is more pronounced than diluc expects. bam. the thick, sturdy glass mug is practically slammed down, and cracks. diluc is totally not jealous. ] Buried in the woman's arms as you were. Did you not enjoy the taste of her, Captain?