#and i LIVE to see history about the ragbros

[missbooielibrary]

i will write a 10-page essay on how much i love this series and all the small details that make all the characters so intertwined but alas i’m lazy

I Love You So 3

Diluc Dialogue Drabble

about: the neglected, sickly wife trope in a contract marriage with a man that doesn't quite know how to show his love

inspired by: When It's Lonely @lunargrapejuice // I Love You So - The Walters 🎵 (listen to it!!)

notes: I'm sorry for the week-long wait, I'm writing in the middle of my finals so it's been exhausting! this was such a hard chapter to write for, I scrapped and built it a lot so I hope the final product lives up to your expectations! we'll be ending soon so happy reading!!

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"Pardon? You're saying I'm at fault?" Kaeya laughs dryly, placing down his wine glass with a clink on the bar top. It's silent in the tavern, drunk patrons steadily starting to wobble out into the night.

"You very well know her condition. She shouldn't have gone out that day." Diluc turns his back from the cryo user, opting to wipe the empty tables. "Just when she was starting to feel better."

"Her getting sick again isn't something new, you know? It seems to me like you're keeping Y/N caged."

"It's for her health. You know that."

"Well someone has to keep her company."

Diluc turns around to face the cryo user who stayed seated on the bar. The Cavalry Captain smiles at him over his wine glass, finally having caught his attention.

"After all, you and I both know how lonely that old manor can be." Kaeya really shouldn't be meddling in your relationship just when you scolded him last time for it, but forgive him for caring too much for the two of you.

When the redhead doesn't reply, seemingly done with the conversation, Kaeya sighs and takes another sip of wine before talking.

"Just to be clear, she invited me and I simply went along."

Diluc grumbles under his breath, "I suppose it was too much of me to expect any sense of caution from you. You're putting my wife at risk for some what— Death After Noon that she can't even drink." The harshness in his voice would have intimidated anyone, but Kaeya simply leans back with a chuckle.

"Oh? Your wife?" A sly smirk crosses his face, "Ah yes, I suppose she is. Forgive me, dear brother, I've almost forgotten with how little I see her with you — And we met over coffee, if that makes things any better." The redhead looks up from the table he's wiping, clearly irritated with how the conversation was going.

Why can't Kaeya understand how fragile your constitution is? Diluc already lost his father, does Kaeya want him to lose his wife as well– no, clear thoughts. Kaeya is a lot of things, but he's not that. Diluc takes a deep breath, rubbing the skin between his eyes just to calm down.

It was Diluc's decision to have a wedding rather than just signing a contract. While he was elated over the upcoming event, handling all preparations when you allowed him to, he noticed the indifference in your eyes – frowning at every encrusted noctilucous jade and diamond of your gown and bundle of glaze lilies and qingxin decorating the venue. It seems to him that for you, a grand wedding was useless if the groom wasn't who you wanted in the first place.

"This is too much," Were one of the first words you told him since the reception started.

Perhaps it was too much, but the image of you under a white veil enchanted him so that he believed it was worth it – a selfish pleasure so short-lived at the cost of your health.

He remembers the day of your marriage; what was supposed to be the happiest day of a couple's life was ended by your bedside, holding a bucket and towels; maids rushing in and out as you emptied your stomach the sixth time that evening. The exhaustion of having spent the day celebrating – a rather mundane and formal gathering, in anyone's opinion – had finally took its toll on you.

When the doctors couldn't help, he brought in healers to ease the pain, eventually resorting to buying a powerful sleep medication from a green haired pharmacist all the way from Liyue.

Even in your sleep, you shivered violently in cold sweat. Dulled hair and pale skin, weak and incapable, you blended in with the gloom of the manor. He slipped himself in your bed that night, arms wrapped around you to pull you close, pyro vision lightly blazing, warming you; Diluc was never very religious, but his lips sobbed quiet prayers to any archon that would spare a glance and save you.

He learned his lesson. His selfishness had caused this.

That was the first and only night you had shared a bed together.

Diluc sighs.

"The Fatui were spotted south of Springvale, out of their diplomatic jurisdiction. Shouldn't the knights deal with that?"

Kaeya groans, exasperated, "Is business the only thing occupying your mind, dear brother? Just when I thought our conversation was bearing good fruit." He sighs, "Besides, I'm sure the darknight hero has dealt with it already."

"Contrary to your belief, it was miss Lumine. You ought to be glad she's making up for the incompetence of the knights even in the dead of the night."

"Ah yes, the famous miss Lumine," Kaeya swirls the wine in his glass, chilling the little that's left with a cold tips of his fingers, "A little surprising she caught wind of the situation before you did."

"It was more of a coincidence she got caught in on her way to the winery."

Kaeya freezes, eyes boring into his brother's back who was casually arranging the chairs. He puts down his wine glass.

"Miss Lumine... went to the winery last night?"

"Yes."

"And did Y/N say anything?" Diluc stares back at him, the lack of teasing in Kaeya's tone making it difficult to understand his intentions.

"She didn't say anything. They didn't even meet."

•

"Shouldn't I greet lady Y/n? I wouldn't want to suddenly intrude-"

"It's alright. You must be tired; It's late and Y/n should be asleep by now."

'Archons,' You choke, hand held over your lips to keep yourself from making a sound. As Diluc said; it was late and you really should have been in bed, not at a little corner of the salon, preparing a hot cup of tea for two.

He told you not to wait for him anymore. You should have listened.

You peeked from your corner, unable to resist the curiosity of your husband bringing home his- his... whatever she is to him — at the dead of the night. Diluc stood facing away from you, whereas the other... Golden eyes meet E/C ones as Lumine offered a knowing smile. Your heart stops; was she taunting you? Was this a greeting?

She looks away from you, long lashes blinking at the redhead. You hold your breath as you see the way her nimble fingers wrap around his wrist, soft blonde hair cascading over her shoulders as she pulls him away. She is bright and beautiful, capable and strong, even in the dead of the night she contrasted everything from the dark wood of the manor to Diluc's dark coat on her shoulders.

Even after they left for the guest room, you still held your breath.

•

"Unbelievable." Kaeya laughs, finally standing up to march towards the redhead. Diluc raises an eyebrow at him. "You are unbelievable."

"Excuse me?"

"You! Diluc Ragnvindr. I'm sure you're no stranger to rumors, do you know what the whole of Mond has been whispering about?"

"I'm not concerned about my reputation-"

"It's not about reputation!" Kaeya seethes, an emotion unfamiliar to Diluc since their separation.

"... If this is about miss Lumine then I'm sure you of all people would know that our relationship is strictly-"

"Oh but does Y/N know that?" He laughs, hands waving around, trying to suppress the cold air emitting dangerously from his vision.

Diluc stays quiet. Cold, red hues staring into a steely grey one.

"You are aware that... our marriage is simply a contract."

The tension thickens, cold fog seeps from the floor surrounding the cryo user before quickly dispersing away. Kaeya takes a step back, shoulders easing and face contorting to a look of disappointment. How stupid, he thinks, She loves you.

Kaeya could have said that out loud; he could force Diluc to understand how foolish and insecure you both were. He wanted to help. He really did – but as he thinks of your lonesome figure in the large manor he once called home, how you come to him of all people for company... How dare he refers to something he's always wanted as a "simple contract".

He could treat you so much better. After all, the age-old agreement asked for a Ragnvindr son. It was in his hands first before a lovesick fool wanted it.

"... Fine. You know what, that doesn't sound too bad at all," Kaeya muses.

"What?"

"Keep acting like that and it won't be long before I have her all to myself."

"... what did you just say?" There's a dangerous look in his red eyes, hands slowly curling to a fist.

"I said I'll have her-"

"You did not just say that." He grits his teeth, eyes wide in a mixture of shock and vexation.

"Oh? Are you worried?" A sly smirk spreads on the cryo user's face, "You said so yourself. It's just a contract marriage. Why would you care if she's in the arms of some other-"

Something behind him shatters. The sound cuts between them like a knife. Kaeya quickly looks at the wine glass he was previously holding, dark flames blazing from the bits and pieces of glass, scarring the wood of the bar top permanently.

"I think we're done here." Diluc states, looking down on the table with knuckles turning white as he clenches a dirt rag.

Where did things go wrong?

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one | two | three | four | masterlist

a big thanks to @abvolat for inspiring reader getting worse, @pansexualkeoni for inspiring lumine's impromptu visit, and ANON for suggesting Diluc getting angry at Kaeya, which brings him back to our narrative! (ANON REVEAL PLEASE?)

taglist: please message me if you don't want to be tagged, a few of the asks were lost so I've been basing off the previous comment sections. also, i know i posted saying ill upload this in an hour but to think there were so many to tag- im shook hahahah i hope i didnt miss anyone

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