the return was one he had expected, but it didn’t stung any less. his crush on Diluc is one he was still coming to terms with, definitely not something he was willing to confront just yet.

but still, he was genuinly happy Lumine had found someone, especially with his... absence. there simply was something off about Kaeya, something that put him on edge just slightly. yes, he wasn't Lumine's babysitter - nor did he want to be - he still didn't want to see her hurt.

‘ you’re helping me find my brother after all ’

ah. there it was.

while he usually wasn’t one to ignore his gut feeling, somehow this blond traveller had managed to strip a little too much of his defenses before he had even realised it. seems like it had come back to bite him in the ass after all. of course the one time he decided to open up his heart - the same heart he had frozen shut so many years ago - is the time he is punished for it. he should have known better, really. it was quite stupid of him to think there was even a smidge more between them.

“ of course. “