the creator falls (out of a tree) for diluc
Now why the hell was Diluc back here.
There wasn’t a real reason other than he had taken a walk that had ended up with him at this big ass tree again.
As he stands at the base of the statue to Barbatos, he feels a tug at his heart. It had been happening a lot more lately, this pulling. The tug at his heart as if somebody was at the other end of the string, gently urging him to go somewhere or do something.
So here he was at a statue for a God he admired and a tree dedicated to a woman who now protects all of Mondstadt silently.
He crosses his arms and glares up at the tree. “Well? I’m here now, what do you want from me?”
Diluc stands there for just a moment longer, secretly expecting a response but of course nothing comes from it.
He sighs, looking away from the tree feeling rather embarrassed for having such a wish.
With nothing left to do but try and enjoy his day out, he goes to sit at the base of the tree. He slumps against it, one leg folded up and the other splayed out before him. Diluc rests his head along the tree as he watches the clouds in the sky.
He felt like a fool.
For the past month or so he had been.. Strangely content. Happier than usual. That in itself would normally be cause for celebration but with such happiness came an unease.
Jean chalked it up to allergies, his immune system never favored the summer weather.
Lisa suggested that perhaps he was in love. That was the last time he’d ever come to her for advice.
Kaeya had a certain look in his eye. It told him that his past brother likely knew the ailed him but chose not to answer truthfully, only giving a rather cryptic response.
Venti was the only one who had given something halfway decent but even then it was bullshit upon more bullshit.
“Follow whatever is pulling your heart along and go talk to it! That will solve everything and who knows, maybe love will consume you and everything will be answered!”
Diluc snorts haughtily at himself as he remembers the bards words. Sure he was a god but he didn’t have to sound so annoying about it, former crush or no.
Before he could have anymore time to think about it there was a voice calling out to him from above.
“Hey! Hey hey, you there, D-! D..... Theee stranger in red!”
“… Excuse me?”
“Yeah you! Hey uh, I’m in a bit of pickle right now so you think you can help?”
Diluc looked up to where the voice was located and felt his heart freeze. The tugging had become stronger than it ever had before, so sharp and pointed like it was going to rip apart any second now.
The owner of the voice was covered by the leaves and branches of the tree but if he focused he could make out the outline of their body but even that was hard.
Whoever they were just might be the answer he had been searching for.
More leaves and twigs fell down onto his lap and he grunts in annoyance when he flicks them away. “How can I help you, stranger.”
A pause. “How confident are you in catching a person?”
“Depends on how high up said person is and considering we’re practicing yelling at one another, I’d say you’re rather high up.”
Another pause followed by quiet, nervous laughter. Another sigh. “Yeah.. Right on the mon- On the mora. Yeah.”
Diluc resigns himself to his fate and slips off his jacket, letting it fall into the floor as he tries to coordinate himself to wherever they must be hanging out at.
“Let’s get this over with then.”
“Wh- You’ll help me? Seriously??”
He glares up at them, a bit offended. “You assumed I wouldn’t?”
“W-Well…”
“Get down already before I leave you stuck up there.”
“Okay okay! Gimme a second, okay? This is a really high fall!!”
“You’ll be fine.”
Diluc huffs as he listens to the rustling of the branches, gauging how soon this stranger would jump down from the tree. Really, he had better things to be doing other than attempting to catch somebody from a tree like-
“Huh..” The more he tries to think of what he could be doing with his time he realizes he can’t come up with anything. For some reason, all he wants to do is stick by this stranger and see this through to the end.
He places a hand at his heart, jaw clenching slightly as he thinks it over. And then there was that whole thing where the longing at his heart was pulling him closer to whoever this person was.
Were the two connected somehow?
He doesn’t have time to think about it for much longer until he hears the strangers voice yell out something that has him on his guard.
“Wait-!”
“Aaand three!! AH-“
Diluc widens his stance and holds his arms out wide for them, grunting when they land in his arms at last, though he does falter back just a bit. That is the last time he will ever catch somebody from a tree ever again.
He growls lowly in his annoyance, a glare locked and loaded on his face as he looks to the person but whatever scolding he had ready to dish out die in the back of his throat when he lays eyes on them.
They’re smiling. It’s a big toothy grin with their eyes filled with stars, their entire being glowing the world up in a way he could never properly put into words.
“You’re Diluc,” the say with a giddy laugh. “The Diluc Ragnivinder!”
And yet he’s still just staring at them like a fish out of water
He comes to his senses and clears his throat, easing them into their feet as he fights a wicked flush off of his cheeks.
“It’s Ragnvindr, actually.” He finally says, not really caring for their incorrect pronunciation, eyes never leaving their form.
The tugging at his heart was pulled taut and it was headed straight towards them. This had to be why he had decided to come here. For them. Diluc swears he can recognize their face from somewhere but he can’t place it.
All he knows is that he feels so unbelievably loved and cherished.
“Got a staring problem, Master Diluc? C’mon, lemme thank you for saving my tail somehow!”
Diluc snaps out of his daydream as a ghost of a smile breaks onto his lips, nodding. “You wear clothes not of his nation, dirty ones at that. I will have lunch prepared for us at my home..”
“Wh- Man.. You’re a lot more stern than I had expected…” They grumble but dutifully follow by his side.
His heart pounds wildly in his chest as the pieces begin to connect themselves and while Diluc was not the most devoted follower to the gods anymore, you would have to be a fool to not eventually realize that you are standing besides The Creator.
A god who had been absent for thousands of years and only now resurfaced.
A god that will cause a stir in the world if left unchecked.
A god that has his heart pounding, face flushed, and palms sweaty.
“The Dawn Winery?” They squeak out. “Really?? Aaah man Diluc, you’re amazing! I can’t wait!”
Yes, to keep them to himself for a little while longer wouldn't hurt. He’s doing this to protect them, nothing else.
