through a child's eyes

“What do you have there, Klee?” Kaeya asked, wiping his mouth clean of any potential fish crumbs left behind on his lips. “I don’t recall you having that before.”

“Big brother Albedo gave it to me! He said it would be nice for me to write down all the fun things I do with everyone. Look, it’s even got Dodoco on it!” Klee held up the diary above her head, waving it around in excitement. The journal matched the color of her backpack, and an assortment of watercolor “Jumpty Dumpties” littered the front cover. “Klee just needs to be careful not to lose it. He said it was one of a kind!”

“It suits you. May I have a look at what you’ve written?”

Klee shook her head and brought the book back down, clutching it close to her chest. “No way! It’s gonna have all of Klee’s secrets in here, but I promise I will only write nice things about you!”

Kaeya chuckled, a light, careful exhale. “Yes, of course. It’s good to keep some things to yourself. It’s very clever of you.” He stood up from a log he perched himself on and shot a stream of ice from his fingertips to put out the fire. A frown pulled his lips down as he watched the fire die down to a charred bundle of sticks, but once he made eye contact with Klee, he smiled again.

Klee tilted her head. Kaeya didn’t sound the same when he said that. She opened her journal to the front page, tongue sticking out in concentration as she continued to write. This time, instead of using the red colored pencil, she picked up the blue one.

“It’s getting late. Jean might be checking up on you soon, and neither of us want that, do we?”

“Kaeya?”

“Hm?”

“How do you spell your name again?”

Klee wasn’t allowed in Angel’s Share unless she had an adult accompanying her, and today was no exception. From what she understood, Kaeya was here relatively often, though she didn’t know what for. The smell of harsh drinks made her nose curl, but the snacks that Kaeya bought her tasted good.

“It will only be for a few hours at most. Believe me, you were my last option.”

“How thoughtful of you. You know I don’t do well with children.”

“This isn’t about you or me. It’s about keeping her safe and under a watchful eye. The last time she was left on her own, she nearly caused a mountain to collapse in Dragonspine. Someone in your field of work would want the best for Mondstadt’s people, wouldn’t they?”

Diluc turned his head to stare at Klee, to which she raised her eyebrows and puckered her lips. She didn’t know Mr. Diluc very well, and, to be honest, she thought he was kind of weird… She had never seen him with a smile during the few times she caught sight of him in the town.

Kaeya bent his knees and ruffled Klee’s hair. “I’m trusting you, too. Make sure Master Diluc doesn’t get into any trouble. I’m sure you could cheer him up if you played with him. I’ll be back before you know it.”

Klee nodded, excited and determined. “Okay! Klee will be right here!”

“I’m sure you will. See you.” Kaeya pinched Klee’s cheeks, much to her displeasure, and offered Diluc a curt wave. The door closed with a loud creak behind him.

Then there was silence. Klee stared at Diluc, and Diluc stared at Klee. Klee, naturally, was the first to speak.

“What do you like to do for fun, Mr. Diluc?”

“Er. Well. My job. And protecting others.”

“That’s all?”

“Yes.”

This was going to be a long night.

Klee peered up from her journal, eyes squinted, to check what Diluc was up to. Washing another glass? Klee could’ve sworn he just cleaned that one, too!

Hmm. This gave her an idea— maybe she could talk to him about some other stuff. What was the word… an interview! If she was insistent on giving Kaeya more friends, then she’d have to get to know other adults to see if they were trustworthy, nice, and most importantly, fun!

“Mr. Diluc? I mean— Master Diluc?”

“You don’t need to call me that.”

“Master Diluc, can I ask you a question?”

“…Yes.”

“Okay, Master Diluc, this is the last question!”

She said that last time, Diluc remarked to no one but himself.

“What do you think about Mr. Kaeya?”

Oh.

Well.

”It’s complicated,” is what he would say to hurriedly change topics, but he had a feeling that answer would be one Klee would neither like nor understand.

So what should he say?

To be truthful, he thought a lot of things about Kaeya. The fact that Kaeya kept a polite front between them said much for his resilience. Diluc returned similar motions, especially in front of others, but he couldn’t deny that there lingered deep-rooted tension between them, and for good reason.

Kaeya lived a lie right in front of him, and when Diluc learned the truth, he retaliated with the sword swings and guards his father taught him. The night was a blur, but Diluc could at least remember the last time they were physically close, with their own blood coating their coats and blades, the chill of the rain and wind wearing down their tired bones, and Kaeya, somehow, still looked so beautiful, even with battered bruises and mud coating his entire body.

Those memories didn’t answer the question, though. What would answer it would require far more words than he was willing to admit. Deep down, he still cared for Kaeya, even if he couldn’t— didn’t want to admit it. They lived their bright, nostalgic childhood years together, and it would be impossible for those to fade and wither to solely bitter resentment. They weren’t as close as they used to be, and he didn’t think they ever would return to those days, but Diluc could still see Kaeya’s compassion, his determination, his sense of duty.

“I think he—”

A groan of the front door cut him off. Kaeya’s hand held the door open, and he looked more disheveled than before. “I’m sorry I’m late. The Abyss Order does not prefer to make my nights easy.”

“Mr. Kaeya!” Klee hopped out of her seat and ran to the cavalry captain, nearly crashing headfirst into his knee. Kaeya chuckled and ran a gentle hand through her hair, and she nuzzled into his palm.

“Hello, Klee. Are you ready to go home?”

“Klee was having fun talking with Master Diluc, but…” She yawned, a wave of exhaustion washing over her as she peered through the bar windows, the sky darkened over. “Klee is feeling sleepy…”

“I’ll walk you home—”

“I— I’ll come, too. It would be safer that way.”

The surprise on Kaeya’s face was genuine, but it slipped away as fast as it appeared, replaced with a careful, collected smile. “Oh? Well, if you insist, Master Diluc, how could I say no?”

Kaeya’s hands were cold, and Diluc’s hands were warm. With one each wrapped around her tiny palms as they walked her home, she expected it to balance out, but instead she just had one hand coated in sweat and the other occasionally shivering under the chill of the night. She didn’t mind, though; it wasn’t often that she had the company of two adults on her journey home. She was too young to remember when her mom and dad had cared for her together.

They didn’t talk, instead they listened to the night owls hooting and the crickets chiming songs along the comfortable quiet. Klee had to walk faster to keep up with the adults’ longer legs, though she made a game out of it, taking longer and longer strides until she matched their pace. One of her steps was a bit too extended, however, and she tripped over her leg, but Diluc and Kaeya raised her up with their combined hands to keep her from falling, her legs dangling loosely in the air. She couldn’t help but make a noise in awe, and for the rest of the way home, with every other step, the two would hold her up high as they could so she could pretend to fly.

Klee couldn’t hide her disappointment when they reached the front door to her house. She was having so much fun, even without her bombs! A hand patted her shoulder; it was too big to be Kaeya’s… She looked up, and there Diluc was, with his knees bent to meet her eyes.

“If you’d like to come back again, I’ll make you a big helping of grape juice, just for you.”

Kaeya visibly grimaced outside of Klee’s view.

“Thank you, Master Diluc!” Oh— she almost forgot! “Mr. Kaeya… I have this for you… Make sure to read it very carefully, okay?” Klee hastily ripped a page out of her journal and held it out for Kaeya.

Kaeya tilted his head and took the paper, giving it a cursory glance. His visible eye widened, though only for a moment, and the corners of his lips turned upwards into a warm smile. He slipped the sheet of paper into his pocket, patting it to reassure her of its safety. “Of course, Klee.”

Diluc raised an eyebrow, but his self-restraint overpowered his curiosity.

Klee grinned, wide and bright, as she dug into her bag for a key. Once she had it in her hands, she waved with it, then turned around with a hum to unlock the door and dart inside. The last thing she saw before she closed the door was Diluc and Kaeya, side by side, standing closer to each other than they had the entire night.

After the two departed, Kaeya read the page in full at his apartment. While he never shared its contents to Diluc, despite his nosiness, Kaeya made a noticeable effort to visit Angel’s Share during Diluc’s shifts.