Apr. 19th, 2021 06:41 am
fanfic — meltwater
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kaeluckaeTitle: meltwater
Characters / Pairings: Diluc/Kaeya, the Traveler is mentioned.
Rating: G
Words: 2K
Summary: In late spring, the river next to Dawn Winery grew swollen from meltwater.
Notes: A no dialogue warm-up writing exercise that grew into a fic. Written in one sitting. Minor drowning imagery. A bit fluffy, a bit bittersweet.
In late spring, the river next to Dawn Winery grew swollen from meltwater. The current, slow and lazy during the rest of the year, became rapid enough for the sound of running water to lull Kaeya to sleep. It had been unsettling at first, but by the time Kaeya turned sixteen, the swelling of the river and the promise of summer became his favorite time of year.
Dawn Winery, close as it was to Dragonspine, relied on the cool, clear meltwater for their wines. The water fed the ground, nourished the vines, and diluted the must. Keeping it pure was of paramount importance, and in those late spring days, Kaeya and Diluc patrolled the riverbank together. They traveled from the winery to the river source, and Kaeya stopped to listen to the waterfall that produced the lifeblood of the home he loved, and to feel the cold spray of mist on his face as the sun beamed down at him. They stood there, him and Diluc, shoulder to shoulder, surrounded by the rapid torrent of water. Sunlight embraced them as the universe paused and left a snapshot of serenity that would be engraved into Kaeya's soul long after meltwater became a memory of his bittersweet dreams.
When they finished, Kaeya dragged Diluc further along the riverbank, past the point where the winery collected water. There, they sat on the sun-warmed grass. The wind carried the scent of fresh greenery downstream, and the two of them stripped off their shoes and socks before plunging their feet into the chilly river. They sat and listened to birdsong and the winery workers' voices carried on the breeze as they soaked up the sensation of cool water rushing over their weary feet.
Diluc always pulled his feet out first, wriggling his toes in the blades of tender grass as he waited for the sun to dry them. But Kaeya could keep his feet in the river until Diluc urged them to return. Kaeya could have probably kept his feet in for hours, if given the chance.
One day, as they rested on the riverbank, Diluc sprawled out on the grass with an arm thrown over his eyes as a shield from the sun, Kaeya decided he wanted to feel the cool current run over more than just his feet. The sun was hot, and sweat built up beneath his collar. As Kaeya gazed into the running current, river gurgling its soothing song, he felt drops of sweat roll down the side of his face and obstruct his relaxation.
They had a busy patrol; the boars in the area were dirtying the river, and Kaeya and Diluc spent hours thinning the population. They set up barriers and traps, then dragged the hunted boars back to the winery for the cooks. The two of them had gleefully dipped their feet into the river afterwards. Although they had been sitting by the river for a while, and although Kaeya's feet cooled down, the rest of him hadn't.
Kaeya rolled up his pant legs a little more and scooted forward. The water hitting his shins was heavenly, and Kaeya inhaled the scent of grass and clean water as he focused on the current carrying the heat and soreness from his legs.
And yet...it wasn't enough. The sun was relentless in its presence, unignorable and invasive; it worked its way past Kaeya's skin until it felt like the light and heat had burrowed its way into the caverns of his chest. Kaeya turned his head, but Diluc was resting peacefully. His hair spilled out onto the ground, tangled itself with blades of grass: bright, fiery red against tender green. His chest rose and fell slowly, as if he were asleep, and the arm over his eyes was the only sign the sun affected him at all.
Perhaps that should have been unsurprising; Diluc's Vision may have been the reason why he was so sun-tolerant. And Diluc himself was like the sun; he had nestled into Kaeya's heart long ago, his warm smiles and kind words illuminating Kaeya's core in ways the sun would envy.
But Diluc's warmth was superior to that of the sun's. It was welcomed. Wanted. The sun was overbearing. Kaeya rolled up his pant legs once more, but he found they could not go up any further. The meltwater continued to flow, and Kaeya realized he wanted it to consume him.
He took off his shirt. Removing his pants meant pulling his legs out of the river. The thrashing and splashing alerted Diluc, who had never seen Kaeya pull out of the river before he did. When Diluc sat up and opened his eyes, Kaeya had just pulled off his belt and was shimmying out of his pants. Kaeya smiled at him, wide and true, as Diluc went red and asked too loudly what Kaeya was doing. Kaeya answered by shucking off his pants and tossing them to Diluc, who caught them out of instinct rather than intent.
Kaeya kept his underwear on, more for Diluc's sake than his own, and ignored Diluc calling his name. He looked down at the river, listened to the sound of meltwater burbling and babbling as it flowed, then took a deep breath and jumped in. He heard Diluc shout his name. Then the water closed over his head, and all Kaeya heard was the white noise of running water.
The river was not deep. The tips of his toes brushed the riverbed, silt tickling them as he kicked it up. The dappled sunlight cast the water in a soft, ethereal glow, and Kaeya relished the sight as cool meltwater wove around him. It quenched the heat and carried his exhaustion downstream, away from his home and himself. Kaeya embraced it, arms floating and bobbing at his sides, skin soothed by the crisp water as it lapped around him.
Kaeya drifted along with the current, watched the filtered sunlight waver and blink, until he could not hold his breath anymore. He kicked against the riverbed, kicked up soot and silt until the clear water grew murky, and his arms grappled for the shore. The soft sound of water was sharply interrupted by a splash, and even the current flowing around him was remade by the hands that grabbed Kaeya's flailing limbs and pulled him out.
Diluc heaved him out and half threw Kaeya onto the grass. The shock of sunlight and heat, as well as the coarse grass beneath his naked back and limbs, prevented Kaeya from saying anything. The sun was directly overhead, harsh and hot, and Kaeya closed his eye on instinct. That was perhaps why Diluc crawled over him, calling his name in panic, holding Kaeya's face with a tenderness at odds with his anxiety.
Kaeya opened his eye once Diluc blocked out the sun, and the sight of Diluc's gorgeous face—red hair flowing around him like sparkling water off a cliff, eyes wide with concern and a touch of relief, a voice sweeter than the fresh water from the falls calling his name—made Kaeya smile so wide that his lips and cheeks ached lovingly from the strain. Diluc froze, a beautiful pale portrait eclipsing all else from sight, and Kaeya found himself reaching up, tangling his fingers into Diluc's soft, sunwarmed hair, and pulling Diluc down until their bodies were melded together. Diluc's warmth poured into Kaeya's heart even as cold meltwater soaked into Diluc's clothes. Kaeya laughed as Diluc mumbled half-hearted complaints into his collarbone.
When Diluc tried to lift himself off, Kaeya's hands slid from his hair to his face. Kaeya held him there. He cradled his head as he leaned up and kissed Diluc, tasting him and devouring his warmth as if it were the only sustenance Kaeya needed to live. When they parted, Kaeya stroked Diluc's cheek once before Diluc fell back onto him, nestling himself into Kaeya's embrace as if he belonged there.
After, when they both dried off and Kaeya was dressed again, Diluc asked him why he had jumped into the river. Kaeya told him the truth—that he was too warm and the river was cool and soothing—but that was not all.
Dragonspine was the source of the river, the source of the meltwater. The mountain was cold without mercy, but was the meltwater not proof and expression of its love? Ice, thawed by the sun, made into meltwater to nourish and grow. Was that not the ideal to aspire to? Was that not what Kaeya wished to be? A steady, reliable flow of support to nourish and provide?
If Kaeya could become as meltwater, would his very existence not be proof and expression of his love for Diluc?
It was a childish progression of logic, perhaps, but Kaeya was a child still. Even his love, true and pure, could only exist because he was a child.
Once his childhood ended, so too did his aspirations of meltwater.
— — — — — — — — —
By the time Kaeya makes it to Stone Gate, the Traveler has already solved the bitter water mystery. They ask Kaeya if he wants to travel with them back to Mondstadt, but when Kaeya hears they need to report at Dawn Winery first, he declines. A non-stop journey from Mondstadt to Liyue isn't hard when he's on horseback, but Grand Master Varka left not even a slow mule behind. No, Kaeya had to hike non-stop, battling hilichurls and slimes with each step, and he deserves a well-earned break. He needs to rest his feet, drink one of Pop's Teas, and regain some stamina for the return trip. Maybe he'll even spend the night.
Oh, but since the Traveler is heading back first, it would only be right if they reported to Jean. She works so hard, worries so much, and they could alleviate her burdens if they gave a detailed report in Kaeya's stead...
When the Traveler and Paimon leave, Kaeya has exactly one cup of low-quality, oversteeped tea before he heads back. The wooden steps of Stone Gate creak as he goes down, and the grating sound is accompanied by ducks and geese fighting over bread scraps from shrill tourists.
The late afternoon sun hits Kaeya's back with neither consideration nor respect. Kaeya's black pants greedily drink up the scorching heat. Finding and fighting a cluster of Cryo slimes is almost a relief. Of course, Kaeya's Cryo Vision isn't an ideal match against them, and Kaeya's weariness does him no favors. By battle's end, the sun is starting to sink, and Kaeya's body shivers from getting frozen more times than he likes.
He sighs and sits at the sandy lake shore. Though the sun is setting, the mountains prevent him from enjoying the view. The sky above is streaked with indigo, and Kaeya knows he needs to make a decision to continue on or head back. Walking through Dawn Winery's lands at night means higher chances of running into the Darknight Hero, and Kaeya refuses to engage with him when he's not at his sharpest.
The surface of the lake ripples in the waning light. The water flows out to Dihua Marsha and then to Bishui River. The journey changes it from clear to muddied, but the mud is vital for Liyue's crops. Right now, however, the meltwater from Dragonspine makes the rivers and lake bloated and prone to flooding. The faster current also strips more nutrients than it brings. The meltwater is a nuisance. A menace.
Kaeya kicks off his boots and peels off his socks. Even though his callused feet are used to walking, the non-stop trip has caused parts of it to rub itself raw and bloody. He sticks his feet into the water and shivers. Kaeya endures the chill for five minutes before he yanks his feet out and dries them with his cape. Sand sticks to his skin as he puts his damp, cold socks back on.
Kaeya looks at Stone Gate, sighs, then stands up and walks back.
Characters / Pairings: Diluc/Kaeya, the Traveler is mentioned.
Rating: G
Words: 2K
Summary: In late spring, the river next to Dawn Winery grew swollen from meltwater.
Notes: A no dialogue warm-up writing exercise that grew into a fic. Written in one sitting. Minor drowning imagery. A bit fluffy, a bit bittersweet.
In late spring, the river next to Dawn Winery grew swollen from meltwater. The current, slow and lazy during the rest of the year, became rapid enough for the sound of running water to lull Kaeya to sleep. It had been unsettling at first, but by the time Kaeya turned sixteen, the swelling of the river and the promise of summer became his favorite time of year.
Dawn Winery, close as it was to Dragonspine, relied on the cool, clear meltwater for their wines. The water fed the ground, nourished the vines, and diluted the must. Keeping it pure was of paramount importance, and in those late spring days, Kaeya and Diluc patrolled the riverbank together. They traveled from the winery to the river source, and Kaeya stopped to listen to the waterfall that produced the lifeblood of the home he loved, and to feel the cold spray of mist on his face as the sun beamed down at him. They stood there, him and Diluc, shoulder to shoulder, surrounded by the rapid torrent of water. Sunlight embraced them as the universe paused and left a snapshot of serenity that would be engraved into Kaeya's soul long after meltwater became a memory of his bittersweet dreams.
When they finished, Kaeya dragged Diluc further along the riverbank, past the point where the winery collected water. There, they sat on the sun-warmed grass. The wind carried the scent of fresh greenery downstream, and the two of them stripped off their shoes and socks before plunging their feet into the chilly river. They sat and listened to birdsong and the winery workers' voices carried on the breeze as they soaked up the sensation of cool water rushing over their weary feet.
Diluc always pulled his feet out first, wriggling his toes in the blades of tender grass as he waited for the sun to dry them. But Kaeya could keep his feet in the river until Diluc urged them to return. Kaeya could have probably kept his feet in for hours, if given the chance.
One day, as they rested on the riverbank, Diluc sprawled out on the grass with an arm thrown over his eyes as a shield from the sun, Kaeya decided he wanted to feel the cool current run over more than just his feet. The sun was hot, and sweat built up beneath his collar. As Kaeya gazed into the running current, river gurgling its soothing song, he felt drops of sweat roll down the side of his face and obstruct his relaxation.
They had a busy patrol; the boars in the area were dirtying the river, and Kaeya and Diluc spent hours thinning the population. They set up barriers and traps, then dragged the hunted boars back to the winery for the cooks. The two of them had gleefully dipped their feet into the river afterwards. Although they had been sitting by the river for a while, and although Kaeya's feet cooled down, the rest of him hadn't.
Kaeya rolled up his pant legs a little more and scooted forward. The water hitting his shins was heavenly, and Kaeya inhaled the scent of grass and clean water as he focused on the current carrying the heat and soreness from his legs.
And yet...it wasn't enough. The sun was relentless in its presence, unignorable and invasive; it worked its way past Kaeya's skin until it felt like the light and heat had burrowed its way into the caverns of his chest. Kaeya turned his head, but Diluc was resting peacefully. His hair spilled out onto the ground, tangled itself with blades of grass: bright, fiery red against tender green. His chest rose and fell slowly, as if he were asleep, and the arm over his eyes was the only sign the sun affected him at all.
Perhaps that should have been unsurprising; Diluc's Vision may have been the reason why he was so sun-tolerant. And Diluc himself was like the sun; he had nestled into Kaeya's heart long ago, his warm smiles and kind words illuminating Kaeya's core in ways the sun would envy.
But Diluc's warmth was superior to that of the sun's. It was welcomed. Wanted. The sun was overbearing. Kaeya rolled up his pant legs once more, but he found they could not go up any further. The meltwater continued to flow, and Kaeya realized he wanted it to consume him.
He took off his shirt. Removing his pants meant pulling his legs out of the river. The thrashing and splashing alerted Diluc, who had never seen Kaeya pull out of the river before he did. When Diluc sat up and opened his eyes, Kaeya had just pulled off his belt and was shimmying out of his pants. Kaeya smiled at him, wide and true, as Diluc went red and asked too loudly what Kaeya was doing. Kaeya answered by shucking off his pants and tossing them to Diluc, who caught them out of instinct rather than intent.
Kaeya kept his underwear on, more for Diluc's sake than his own, and ignored Diluc calling his name. He looked down at the river, listened to the sound of meltwater burbling and babbling as it flowed, then took a deep breath and jumped in. He heard Diluc shout his name. Then the water closed over his head, and all Kaeya heard was the white noise of running water.
The river was not deep. The tips of his toes brushed the riverbed, silt tickling them as he kicked it up. The dappled sunlight cast the water in a soft, ethereal glow, and Kaeya relished the sight as cool meltwater wove around him. It quenched the heat and carried his exhaustion downstream, away from his home and himself. Kaeya embraced it, arms floating and bobbing at his sides, skin soothed by the crisp water as it lapped around him.
Kaeya drifted along with the current, watched the filtered sunlight waver and blink, until he could not hold his breath anymore. He kicked against the riverbed, kicked up soot and silt until the clear water grew murky, and his arms grappled for the shore. The soft sound of water was sharply interrupted by a splash, and even the current flowing around him was remade by the hands that grabbed Kaeya's flailing limbs and pulled him out.
Diluc heaved him out and half threw Kaeya onto the grass. The shock of sunlight and heat, as well as the coarse grass beneath his naked back and limbs, prevented Kaeya from saying anything. The sun was directly overhead, harsh and hot, and Kaeya closed his eye on instinct. That was perhaps why Diluc crawled over him, calling his name in panic, holding Kaeya's face with a tenderness at odds with his anxiety.
Kaeya opened his eye once Diluc blocked out the sun, and the sight of Diluc's gorgeous face—red hair flowing around him like sparkling water off a cliff, eyes wide with concern and a touch of relief, a voice sweeter than the fresh water from the falls calling his name—made Kaeya smile so wide that his lips and cheeks ached lovingly from the strain. Diluc froze, a beautiful pale portrait eclipsing all else from sight, and Kaeya found himself reaching up, tangling his fingers into Diluc's soft, sunwarmed hair, and pulling Diluc down until their bodies were melded together. Diluc's warmth poured into Kaeya's heart even as cold meltwater soaked into Diluc's clothes. Kaeya laughed as Diluc mumbled half-hearted complaints into his collarbone.
When Diluc tried to lift himself off, Kaeya's hands slid from his hair to his face. Kaeya held him there. He cradled his head as he leaned up and kissed Diluc, tasting him and devouring his warmth as if it were the only sustenance Kaeya needed to live. When they parted, Kaeya stroked Diluc's cheek once before Diluc fell back onto him, nestling himself into Kaeya's embrace as if he belonged there.
After, when they both dried off and Kaeya was dressed again, Diluc asked him why he had jumped into the river. Kaeya told him the truth—that he was too warm and the river was cool and soothing—but that was not all.
Dragonspine was the source of the river, the source of the meltwater. The mountain was cold without mercy, but was the meltwater not proof and expression of its love? Ice, thawed by the sun, made into meltwater to nourish and grow. Was that not the ideal to aspire to? Was that not what Kaeya wished to be? A steady, reliable flow of support to nourish and provide?
If Kaeya could become as meltwater, would his very existence not be proof and expression of his love for Diluc?
It was a childish progression of logic, perhaps, but Kaeya was a child still. Even his love, true and pure, could only exist because he was a child.
Once his childhood ended, so too did his aspirations of meltwater.
— — — — — — — — —
By the time Kaeya makes it to Stone Gate, the Traveler has already solved the bitter water mystery. They ask Kaeya if he wants to travel with them back to Mondstadt, but when Kaeya hears they need to report at Dawn Winery first, he declines. A non-stop journey from Mondstadt to Liyue isn't hard when he's on horseback, but Grand Master Varka left not even a slow mule behind. No, Kaeya had to hike non-stop, battling hilichurls and slimes with each step, and he deserves a well-earned break. He needs to rest his feet, drink one of Pop's Teas, and regain some stamina for the return trip. Maybe he'll even spend the night.
Oh, but since the Traveler is heading back first, it would only be right if they reported to Jean. She works so hard, worries so much, and they could alleviate her burdens if they gave a detailed report in Kaeya's stead...
When the Traveler and Paimon leave, Kaeya has exactly one cup of low-quality, oversteeped tea before he heads back. The wooden steps of Stone Gate creak as he goes down, and the grating sound is accompanied by ducks and geese fighting over bread scraps from shrill tourists.
The late afternoon sun hits Kaeya's back with neither consideration nor respect. Kaeya's black pants greedily drink up the scorching heat. Finding and fighting a cluster of Cryo slimes is almost a relief. Of course, Kaeya's Cryo Vision isn't an ideal match against them, and Kaeya's weariness does him no favors. By battle's end, the sun is starting to sink, and Kaeya's body shivers from getting frozen more times than he likes.
He sighs and sits at the sandy lake shore. Though the sun is setting, the mountains prevent him from enjoying the view. The sky above is streaked with indigo, and Kaeya knows he needs to make a decision to continue on or head back. Walking through Dawn Winery's lands at night means higher chances of running into the Darknight Hero, and Kaeya refuses to engage with him when he's not at his sharpest.
The surface of the lake ripples in the waning light. The water flows out to Dihua Marsha and then to Bishui River. The journey changes it from clear to muddied, but the mud is vital for Liyue's crops. Right now, however, the meltwater from Dragonspine makes the rivers and lake bloated and prone to flooding. The faster current also strips more nutrients than it brings. The meltwater is a nuisance. A menace.
Kaeya kicks off his boots and peels off his socks. Even though his callused feet are used to walking, the non-stop trip has caused parts of it to rub itself raw and bloody. He sticks his feet into the water and shivers. Kaeya endures the chill for five minutes before he yanks his feet out and dries them with his cape. Sand sticks to his skin as he puts his damp, cold socks back on.
Kaeya looks at Stone Gate, sighs, then stands up and walks back.
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