Chapter Text
‘Ooh. Great choice.’ Lumine claps gleefully at the addition of Cyno and Tighnari into their little undercover team. ‘I recently overthrew a whole government with these two. You couldn’t have picked better people for the job.’
Kaeya tries really, really hard, he really does, but who would not react to that kind of statement?
‘What government?’
‘The Great Sage in the Akademiya was holding our Archon hostage. There was nothing else to be done, except to overthrow him.’ Cyno says just as nonchalantly, while Tighnari nods sagely in agreement.
‘I look forward to the day you step foot in Snezhnaya.’ Diluc says to Lumine, who for some reason, grins with a touch of malicious evil at the prospect. ‘When you do, at least take your time taking down the Fatui Harbingers. Let me save some face.’
‘Ah, you have some experience with dealing with the Harbingers as well?’ Tighnari perks up in interest, saying to Diluc, ‘So have I. Though it was more of a verbal stand-off than an actual battle. I doubt I would be standing here today if it had been a fight.’
‘You say that.’ grouses Cyno in an uncharacteristically sulky tone. ‘But you conveniently leave out the fact you were struck by lightning as a direct result of that “verbal stand-off”.’
‘In my defense,’ Tighnari argues instantly, ‘That was another Harbinger.’
Lumine, half-snickering, adds in, ‘If I remember your recollection of your conversation with Dottore, you called him rude and reckless. And then told him no .’
Dottore… Seems like Mondstadt and Sumeru have much more in common than they initially thought. Both nations seemed to be the Doctor’s haunt. Kaeya recalls with utmost clarity the last time that name drifted between the mouths of Mondstadt citizens a few years back, dripping with either subordinate reverence or haunted fear.
By all accounts, the fact Tighnari was alive is nothing short of a miracle and it tips the scales of Kaeya’s impression of him to a very high positive.
‘It certainly eases my nerves knowing we have you two on our side now.’ He says to add to the conversation, ‘Maybe this time we can actually make some leeway on our investigation without the fear of getting poisoned. Or knocked out.’
‘Certainly not on my watch.’ Cyno agrees.
*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*
A guest room in the manor is hastily cleared to accommodate Cyno and Tighnari for the night.
‘Oh, are you staying over?’ Collei asks when they go over to let her know. ‘How fun!’
‘If you’d rather go back to the hotel or stay with some of your friends before it is time to leave, then you should take this chance.’ Tighnari says, ‘Though honestly, I’d much rather you have someone be with you for the night, should you choose to head back to Mondstadt.’
Amber and the rest of the Knights had arrived sometime during their little talk upstairs and the energetic Outrider immediately suggests, ‘Ooh, Collei, we can have our own little sleepover. Can’t let the grown-ups have all the fun now, can we?’
Collei’s eyes sparkle at the idea. ‘That sounds great, Amber! We can have Eula and Sucrose. Oh, and Klee and Noelle and--’
Amber gives an excited squeal before grabbing Collei’s hand and speeding off to where Eula was chatting with a group of resignedly uncomfortable people.
‘Well, that’s settled.’ Tighnari notes, watching them go. ‘How about you, Traveler?’
‘I’ll be staying here too.’ Lumine says and politely turns down Diluc’s offer of a room upstairs. ‘No need to bother you and the staff, I have my teapot.’
‘Ah, right.’ Kaeya remembers the Liyuen-style teapot Lumine keeps stashed in that endless backpack of hers and the seemingly impossible pocket dimension in the little porcelain craft. ‘Don’t fret, Diluc. I’d argue that the teapot rivals even the manor in terms of comfort.’
‘Tubby never disappoints.’ Lumine says loyally.
‘I also propose a round of patrolling tonight. Diluc and I have been doing it every night, but since he refuses to let just one of us do it at a time--’
‘For good reason.’ Diluc argues, ‘You got hit the last time you went out alone at night.’
‘--We have only been able to patrol one half of the night and then spend the other half dreadfully daring.’
‘Yes, a patrol system does sound advisable. Let us discuss the pairs then.’ says Cyno and his words lead to their little group shuffling their circle tighter as suggestions flew around.
Kaeya lets them take the reins of the conversation, falling back into a comfortable silence. Maybe a bit too comfortable. His throat protests with every word he speaks and the small respite from having to talk gives the discomfort to wane. He wonders if it’s something he ate, but none of the food prepared he had been allergic to and-- from his memory about the Sumerian dishes he’d sampled in Sumeru itself-- none of the region’s dishes prepared here today had disagreed with him at the time either.
For a panicked moment, he racks his mind to recall if he had somehow ingested the poisonous spores in the Pile-Em-Ups that had very nearly gotten Diluc in serious trouble, if not for Tighnari. But when he had sidled up to Diluc when the man was busy picking out his plate of food, he had absent-mindedly noticed that the maids must have replenished the dish, for it had been very popular indeed during the first round of people raiding the buffet table. He had barely been able to sneak a corner piece of a steak when Lumine had dragged him to the table.
Kaeya feels the beginnings of a shudder rankle at the base of his spine.
That means whoever had tried to poison Diluc had seen the way he held back as he allowed his guests to get their food first and bided their time to put the poisoned food in the right place at the right time. While it’s a comfort to know that however nefarious their intentions were, they had yet to sink as low as to risk the lives of the party guests just to get at Diluc, the nerves that had exploded into existence after he was told about the attempted poisoning still have not subsided in the least. His subconscious keeps him at Diluc’s side at all times, glancing around as if he were lucky enough to catch sight of a floating icon above their attacker’s head.
It’s me! The person whose face you’d like to throttle! Over heeeree!
Kaeya scoffs at his own delusions. Diluc looks up from the huddle of discussion and throws him a curious look.
‘So, are you amenable to that? Or do you have objections?’
Ah, he hadn’t been listening. Drat.
‘If it’s alright with you, Kaeya, I’d like to see the spot you were attacked later tonight. Though, of course, if it would cause you unnecessary discomfort, then it is of no urgency.’ says Tighnari, which lets Kaeya know all he needs to avoid a huff of annoyance at not paying attention from Diluc.
‘Sure.’ He agrees to the harmless request easily. Tighnari nods his head and the group falls back into whispers once more. Only this time, Diluc’s eyes stay keenly on Kaeya, who waits for him to speak up instead of initiating like he always does.
Diluc doesn’t disappoint. After a minute’s worth of scrutinizing Kaeya from the corner of his eye, he approaches him with a soft, ‘Are you feeling alright?’
‘Hm?’ Kaeya says, ‘Alright. How about you?’
‘Lumine was right. The Corrosion isn’t as potent as we feared, thank Barbatos. Its effects have been slowly but steadily vanishing, likely phasing out of my system, so there is no need to worry about me. You, however…’
Kaeya doesn’t know what to make of the way he trails off, ‘Me, however, what? Diluc, I feel just fine.’
‘It’s just that you’ve been more quiet than usual. Acting out in bursts of energy, rather than your usual consistent pattern, if that makes sense. I know you didn’t hear that Tighnari volunteered to be your partner before.’
Kaeya fights back an instinctual wince at the call-out. Diluc doesn’t even sound mad, just concerned. Unnecessarily so, but it still makes Kaeya want to smile.
‘It’s nice to have you worry about me after so long.’ He informs Diluc, but the intended result is far beyond what he’d expected. He had been waiting for Diluc to redden at the statement like he does so easily now for any semblance of affection from anyone else, but he must be getting used to Kaeya’s sentimental quips, because this time all this statement induces is a wide-eyed look of righteous victory.
‘See, that is exactly what I mean.’ Diluc says in an almost whisper-scream. It drags Kaeya’s memories rather violently back to their pillow fort days when it was pillow fort etiquette to communicate only in feverish whispers and he fights the urge to smirk at the time he pulled an integral pillow and sent the whole fort crashing down on an unsuspecting Diluc. ‘You’re acting like… like this is the last time you’ll get to say those things to me.’
‘You never know.’ Kaeya says, unable to stop the words from toppling out, even if he knows remarks of such nature will only upset Diluc. And it does. His eyes widen a fraction before narrowing into unhappy slits.
‘Don’t do that. If you don’t permit me to make jokes about dying, then enforce that same rule upon yourself.’ Diluc grouses. ‘And you’d tell me, right? If something was wrong.’
‘Why wouldn’t I?’
Diluc levels an uncomprehending look at him, brow furrowed and lips downturned. He looks almost sad. ‘Why wouldn’t you, indeed.’
*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*
When the party has reached a lull, the buffet table mostly cleared and just a few stragglers making quiet conversation in scattered groups, Kaeya excuses himself from the waning festivities and steps into the kitchen for a drink.
The staff raise their heads from their respective clean-up duties and send him a smile, a nod, a flick of a salute to acknowledge his presence and he nods, smiles, and tips his head back at each one. The manor kitchen has three sets of sinks, two industrial-sized sets at opposite ends of the room, and a smaller hand sink at the very back of the kitchen. He makes his way toward that one.
On his way, he grabs a wineglass. Diluc might have stood his ground about the no-alcohol rule at the party, but at least this way Kaeya can pretend he’s sipping on something stronger rather than just the water he’s going to procure himself.
At the sink, he holds the glass under the faucet and watches it fill up, bubbles bursting on the surface and droplets jumping up to escape the rim. If he holds it the right way, the water catches the rays of the setting sun from the open window above the hand sink.
The breeze from outside makes him look up.
A Crystalfly darts lazily across his vision, leaving fleeting traces of Anemo behind it. Kaeya raises the wineglass to his lips, but another Crystalfly appears and Archons, the pain turns unbearable.
He drops the glass and hears it shatter as it meets the tile, but all his instincts to catch it are wasted in favor of clutching at his head. Then, his stomach. But he can’t exactly hold his entire body. Every nerve thrums with unspeakable pain, like the skin is being ripped from his bones and his bones then crushed under a boot.
‘Sir Kaeya!’ Voices call out to him and a few times, hands come to grasp his shoulders and arms, steadying him. More voices call out for a broom and dustpan to sweep up the glass, only to increase in urgency when he stumbles backward and almost treads directly on the wet shards.
Someone calls out for Diluc and that’s what gets Kaeya to blink past the cresting pain, panging like a sledgehammer gone rogue in his head and in his stomach.
‘No. Not Diluc.’ He murmurs, barely managing to keep his lunch down after, but it’s not enough. No one hears him, or no one trusts him to be in the right mind to make requests denying help, and moments later, Diluc comes walking briskly in. His steps are short and clipped, a gait that Kaeya would recognize anywhere.
He feels warm hands pass him into warmer hands and he waits for a scolding, but none comes. The silence is harder to manage, though he should’ve expected that to be the case, and he wants to reach out and ask Diluc to start bashing him for being careless again. For going off alone and for breaking the wineglass.
Diluc stays silent the whole time he helps Kaeya stagger back into the main hall and onto a dark corner where an armchair sits waiting. Kaeya promptly collapses into it. He hears a rustle and a sigh and he knows Diluc has settled into the armchair next to his.
It feels like an eternity before Diluc finally says, ‘So, you tell me now, Kaeya, would you let me know if something was wrong?’
Kaeya keeps his eyes closed and he keeps himself breathing. Will his throat not to contract, because that will then lead to his stomach emptying itself. Wills himself to be honest for once, because maybe Diluc isn’t the only one who had trouble accepting help.
‘What do you want me to say?’
‘Is that what you want to know? So that you can tell me exactly what I want to hear back?’ Diluc says incredulously and then he laughs. It’s a short, harsh sound. ‘Sometimes I wonder when and how you became so proficient in lying. Sometimes it frightens me.’
‘It was never meant to.’ Kaeya whispers, ‘I never lie to hurt you.’
‘But it always roundabouts to it anyway.’ Diluc says, ‘Is there anything you say that I can trust without second-guessing?’
‘I love you.’ comes to mind. Kaeya plays with the idea, wondering what paths would close and which would open if he actually says it. ‘I would sooner kill myself than ever hurt you intentionally.’ is a close second.
But even that is a lie, he realizes. Didn’t he hurt Diluc the moment he told him about Khaenri’ah that night? Didn’t he force his hand?
But he does love Diluc. It might just be the one truth in his whole body, that one solid foundation that can never be shaken apart.
‘You don’t have to be afraid of me.’ is what he settles on in the end. ‘I’d suffer a dozen more scars from your blade and still never raise mine against you.’
‘Maybe that’s what I'm afraid of.’ Diluc counters, voice hot and watery, ‘Has it not occurred to you that maybe it scares me to lose you?’
‘It seems rational when spoken aloud, yes.’ says Kaeya and he tries to think it inside his hurting head, weaves the thought through the lances of pain that ricochet from one side of his skull to the other. That Diluc would be sad to see him go, would hurt in turn if it was Kaeya who was suffering. ‘I suppose it has yet to sink in.’
Diluc says nothing to that, only his hand closes the distance between them, resting fingers against Kaeya’s wrist, feeling his pulse, and staying there.
*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*
Diluc tries to stop him from patrolling that night, as expected, but Kaeya refuses to bail on his duties the very same night Tighnari and Cyno have so graciously volunteered to join in their efforts. So he trudges off into the night, feeling Diluc’s steadfastly reluctant gaze on his back.
Tighnari is waiting for him where a higher bit of land slopes right down into the river. He stands a ways away from the actual drop, surveying the small army of Crystalflies that swarm the tiny mound.
‘How fascinating.’ Tighnari says, taking down a few notes on a clipboard as he looks up, down, and then back up at the swarm.
‘Forgive my intrusion, but what’s fascinating?’
Tighnari’s ear had pricked up before Kaeya had even spoken up, but he still turns around with a mildly surprised look as he pockets the clipboard. ‘Kaeya.’ He says, ‘I must admit, I wasn’t expecting you to show up, since Diluc informed us you were feeling unwell at the party earlier. Have you been feeling alright since?’
Trust Diluc to do that. Kaeya shakes his head in fondness. ‘Thank you for the concern, but I’m feeling much better after a short lie-down. I suspect the nights taken for patrolling had more of an effect on me than I first anticipated.’
‘Fatigue can indeed be a detrimental blow to one’s wellbeing.’ Tighnari agrees, assuming a thoughtful pose, ‘Not that I know much about the human body, seeing as I specialize in biology, but when you’ve studied in the Akademiya, you get to have first-hand experience with all sorts of strange things that happen when a student spends a week straight pulling all-nighters.’
He shakes his head, ears wagging in the air as he does. ‘But I digress. If you are sure you are fit enough, then let us not dally. But I must insist you voice any discomfort out and we will take action accordingly.’
Kaeya hums and says, ‘Diluc put you up to that?’
‘It’s only out of concern that he did and besides, I have my own reasons. The Traveler told me that there is a high chance of a leyline disorder here, whether effluence or otherwise, and as someone that has worked with her regarding this very phenomenon myself, trust me when I say disrupted leylines can very well cause illnesses in humans.’
That’s the first Kaeya has ever heard of it. His eyebrows raise up in surprise. ‘Do they have other side-effects?’
Tighnari shifts his weight on his feet, counting on his fingers, ‘Wildlife tend to avoid the affected area, flora mutate, and certain plants usually give indicators of any effluence. In Sumeru, that would be the Sumeru Rose or the Leyline Lodestar, but I regretfully don’t know if Mondstadt has its own version.’
‘So, you’d like me to judge the concentration of Leyline energy according to how uncomfortable I feel.’ Kaeya deadpans. ‘Charming.’
‘Nothing more than a headache, Kaeya.’ Tighnari warns, ‘If it escalates to anything beyond that, I must insist we head back for your safety.’
‘Fine by me.’
*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*
Tighnari isn't’ exactly the type to get homesick much, but the sight of the full moon hanging over his and Kaeya’s heads is the exact one that he sees on late-night patrols in Avidya Forest. It’s reassuring in a way he hadn’t expected it to feel.
The two of them are about an hour in their patrol now and Tighnari counts at least two and a half more before it’s time to switch with Cyno and Diluc. The walk thus far, while not entirely stifling or uncomfortable, has been spent in mostly companionable silence. When Kaeya had shown him where he had been attacked a few nights prior, the scene was disappointingly bare of any useful evidence, even with Tighnari’s superior eye with nature. So, dejectedly but determined to not let it affect their patrol tonight, Tighnari thanked Kaeya for bringing him there, and together, they left the scene after a mere five minutes of Tighnari nosing around. Now they walk to and fro on the manor grounds in near absolute silence.
From what he has heard of Kaeya from the citizens around Mondstadt City, Albedo, Collei, and the Traveler, this proves to be quite atypical of the Calvary Captain’s normal behavior. He was depicted by all to be a friendly and suave character, albeit one to keep one’s wits about around, as he was as sly as he was capable.
Perhaps he was a bit more reserved around people he’d just met, but Tighnari doesn’t think that was the case. It’s more like his unknown ailment giving him trouble, as much as he tries to hide it. Tighnari doesn’t at all miss the way he has to slow down his normal pace so that Kaeya doesn’t have to exert himself to keep up. For a Captain of the renowned Knights of Favonius, Tighnari knew Kaeya was not at full capabilities right now. The longer the night drags on, the more sound Kaeya’s boots make as they go from walking over the ground to dragging on it.
‘Are you alright?’ Tighnari asks as they stop at the base of the Anemo Archons Statue. Tighnari has seen depictions of the Statues of the other Archons in books and some recreations from some scholars whose research topic concerned them, but he has never had the chance to look at one besides the Dendro Archon’s Statue up close.
Kaeya visibly hesitates before answering, to which Tighnari tries not to raise his hackles too much. ‘Just a tiny bit fatigued, but no pain at all. We’re good to keep going for a good while yet.’
His words seem to hint that while he was indeed in good enough condition to continue, that won’t be the case for the entire length of their patrol. As Tighnari surveys him, Kaeya shifts from foot to foot. A bead of sweat runs down his temple and he flicks the locks of his hair from his face in an effort to swipe at it.
‘How do you like being a Knight?’
‘Huh?’ Kaeya blinks at Tighnari. The question seems to sink in belatedly and he takes a bit more time to think up a response. ‘I like it well enough, seeing as I’ve been at it for about ten years now. In some ways, it is all I know.’
Tighnari knows all too well how a job can become one’s entire existence. ‘I feel the same way with being a Forest Ranger. Moving from the city to Gandharva Ville at first was a culture shock. Suddenly, I was surrounded by quiet plants, rather than fellow raving scholars. It was a good change, I must admit, even if sometimes the people who traverse the rainforests tragically lack common sense.’
‘Still, you must find it fulfilling.’ Kaeya smiles and Tighnari feels relief. If exerting the effort to keep up a conversation was what it took to keep the man’s eyes from glazing over, then he’d be happy to do it.
‘That I do.’
They set off on the well-worn and now familiar path back to the manor riverside and Kaeya entertains him with the recollection of a time he, Diluc, Albedo, and a young man named Razor flew on the back of one of Barbatos’ four winds to get to an obscure island location. The nearing riverside sparkles under the moonlight like ground diamonds. Tighnari is just thinking how much nicer the tedious act of walking to and fro is when you have someone to talk to when Kaeya stops mid-story and lets out a pained hiss.
‘Ah.’
‘Kaeya?’ Tighnari stops and looks back at where he’s unwittingly left the other a few steps behind. ‘Do you feel okay?’
‘No, no.’ Kaeya is quick to reply. A bit too quick. ‘No. I’m fine. Hah--’
Tighnari feels panic wash over him for the brief moment that he allows it to when Kaeya keels over and starts convulsing on his knees. Then, he forces cold calm over himself and drops down next to him. He’s a Forest Ranger, for Kusanali’s sake. He’s trained for this.
‘Kaeya?’ He grips his shoulder, which heaves up and down beneath his touch. ‘Kaeya, can you hear me?’
Kaeya lets out a pitiful groan, falling onto his side in the dirt and curling up into himself. Tighnari lets out a curse and starts a mental checklist. He can’t carry Kaeya back himself, so he needs help, but he’d rather slice an ear off than leave Kaeya alone and defenseless in about the same location he had been knocked out so recently ago. That leaves him no choice.
Tighnari sticks out a hand and summons his Hunter’s Path, checking his elemental energy levels as he does. One aim high into the air and an ‘Enshroud!’ later, the night sky above them crackles alive with Tanglevine Shafts that burst like fireworks in the dark. Hopefully, that’s enough of a signal to get someone to come to their aid.
Beneath him, Kaeya shivers so violently that it sends tremors up the hand Tighnari has clasped around his arm, and with a startled gasp, Tighnari observes with mounting horror the ice crystals that form where Kaeya’s breath meets the blades of grass.
‘What--’
Kaeya’s hand flies up to grasp at Tighnari’s hand and when their bare skin meets, it feels more like brushing against a solid ice block instead. And when Kaeya’s nails scrape against the backs of his fingers, they’re sharp and it stings and hurts . Crying out in shock, Tighnari lets go of him but doesn’t stop hovering over his shaking body. He silently curses himself for not asking if Kaeya had any medical conditions that could cause a flare-up beforehand, but a part of him knows deep down that this is no ordinary phenomenon.
‘Tighnari?’ Kaeya’s huddled and shaking form whispers, lone bright blue eye squinting in the dark, ‘Tighnari, what’s happening?’
Tighnari darts his eyes over him and suddenly, the truth comes to him all too fast and all too violently. It slams into him like a Shroomboar gone rogue. With what little breath that is still in his lungs, Tighnari manages to choke out, ‘Stay here. Stay there and don’t move. Kaeya, do you hear me? Do you understand?’ Slowly, mist starts to swirl around them and soon, from where Tighnari sits sprawled on the ground still frozen in fear at the conclusion that he wishes he hadn't come to, Kaeya is no longer visible.
He needs to stand and run to the manor, Tighnari tells himself, and with a gargantuan effort, drags himself up to his feet. He stumbles and nearly falls back down. This fatigue and disorientation… he knows it well from the time he and the Traveler investigated the leyline effluence in Sumeru. The disorder in the leylines here must have gone catastrophic in a span of mere seconds.
But how?
And how can Kaeya --
The mist crowds in from every angle, rendering his vision useless.
All he has is his hearing now. His ears twitch. Listening for any sound that could lead him back.
Tighnari calls out for Kaeya one last time and when he receives no reply, he finally unsticks himself from the ground and runs. His signal hadn’t worked. No one was coming to them. He had to get to them first.
Kaeya was depending on him.