So, Are You Looking For Support, Advice, or a Distraction?
"I can go back to my place from here. I think you need to talk to Mona alone." Wanderer smiles, though he was a worried smile.
"Are you sure you can get back?" Wanderer asks, having no clue that Diluc's lying. Diluc isn't going back to his dorm.
"Yeah, I'm sure. Go talk to your twin." Wanderer nods, heading up the stairs towards the apartment. Diluc turns around, walking far enough from the building to feel comfortable enough to make a call.
He pulls out a card, looking at the numbers written on it. He rings the number, waiting patiently. But the phone only rings once. "Hello?" The voice on the other side asks. Right, he never gives his number out.
"It's Diluc. Do you have a minute?" Diluc holds his breath as there's a pause on the other side of the phone.
"Yeah, I got time. Wanna meet up somewhere?" Diluc nods before he can stop himself. Though the voice speaks again before Diluc can answer. "There's a café off campus, I can send you the address."
"That would be great. Thank you." A second later, Diluc's phone pings signaling text. Looking at his phone, Diluc realizes two things. One, the café isn't far, and two, this might be the first step in getting better.
"I should be there in twenty minutes." Diluc nods again, and before he can answer verbally, the phone clicks, ending the call. So, with nothing else to do, Diluc starts walking.
It's about a ten-minute walk, and Diluc walks in silence, thinking about what he's going to say. Part of him thinks this is a bad idea. Maybe he wasn't ready to tell someone. Maybe he would be judged. Maybe word would get out, and then everyone would know.
Diluc can't deal with the stares, the pity, the blame. He just can't, not again.
Diluc lets these thoughts consume him as he walks. He gets to the café, his thoughts still too loud. There's no line, but Diluc stands back anyway, looking at the menu, having no clue what he wants to get. A hot chocolate sounds good, but it doesn't have enough caffeine in it to do much for his nerves.
"Hey," A voice behind him says. Diluc turns so that he's face to face with Cyno. "Were you waiting long?" Diluc shakes his head, making Cyno smile. "Good. Do you know what you want?"
Once again, Diluc shakes his head. "Not yet, I was thinking about a hot chocolate, but I haven't had any caffeine today."
Cyno nods, walking up to the counter and pulling out his wallet. Diluc steps closer, trying to tell Cyno that he doesn't have to him a drink. But the words are out of Cyno's mouth before he can.
The barista smiles, saying that the drinks will be ready in a second.
"You didn't have to do that," Diluc says, but Cyno only smiles. He leads Diluc towards the back. Cyno takes the seat directly in front of the corner of the room, giving him a good view of the café.
"I wanted to. Also, I have something for you." Cyno reaches into his bag, and digs around for a moment before pulling out an energy drink.
It's Diluc's favorite kind.
Diluc must look confused as Cyno slides the drink over. "I keep one in my bag at all times. College students never drink water, I swear." Cyno laughs but stops when he sees Diluc's face.
"Thank you, this is my favorite one." Cyno smiles again, making Diluc laugh a bit. It's an awkward laugh, Diluc doesn't laugh much anymore.
"I like your laugh." The comment makes Diluc uncomfortable, but he smiles anyway. His gut is telling him that he can trust The General Mahamatra. That Cyno isn't making fun of him. "So, are you looking for support, advice, or a distraction?"
"What?" Diluc tilts his head to the side with confusion, and then realization. But he lets Cyno explain anyway.
"Do you want me to comfort you, give you advice on the situation, or distract you from whatever happened?" Cyno doesn't look at Diluc, giving him time to think it over.
Right when Diluc is about to answer, the barista calls Cyno's name. He gets up, walking over to the counter.
What does Diluc want? He knew he wanted to talk to someone, but he never thought that far ahead. He just called the first person he could think of that wasn't Mona or Kaeya.
"Here you go." Cyno places the hot chocolate next to the energy drink before sitting back down in his seat. "So?"
"I'm not sure. I just wanted to talk to someone. I didn't think about what would happen after I called you." Diluc answers sheepishly.
But Cyno only smiles, Diluc is sure that he's done this before. Probably for Collei.
"Well let's break it down. Do you want to talk about what happened?" Cyno takes a drink, smiling before taking another one.
"Which part?" Diluc sighs, looking longingly at his drink. It needs to cool down.
Cyno's drink was an iced something with whipped cream, Diluc would have to ask about what it is later.
"Whatever part you want to. I'm here to listen." Diluc's never felt so heard. Kaeya always jumped to try and fix whatever was bothering Diluc, and Mona was avoidant.
"Do I just start talking?" Diluc asks while Cyno nods.
So Diluc starts talking. Talking about everything. About how Crepis died, how cruel kids were to Diluc and Kaeya for a variety of reasons, to Barbra and her rumors, how he didn't write music or practice with his claymore anymore. He keeps talking until he's out of hot chocolate, only stopping long enough for Cyno to get him another one.
He talks about how firm Haven's hands were, how there was so much respect there that he didn't deserve, how Prince smiled at him like he was proud of him despite not knowing anything about him, how Wanderer stood up for him, how Venti immediately took his side, how...
"Do you like Venti?" Diluc looks up from his drink to look at Cyno. He's confused.
"I mean, He's definitely my friend now. I had some doubts, but he's proved himself to be a good friend." Cyno laughs a bit, shaking his head and effectively making Diluc even more confused.
"Not what I meant." Diluc catches on, but it's not the reaction that either of them expects.
"I don't think so. We had a talk earlier today, he's not interested in me, so it's not like I could do anything if I did." Diluc frowns at Cyno, who's laughing again.
"The fact that you're thinking like that means you've thought about it at least once." Cyno pauses, looking up at the door. Diluc doesn't turn around, Cyno's face seems neutral enough for there to be no problem.
"Hello, Diluc," Diluc can recognize that voice anywhere. Diluc turns around smiling.
"Hello, Tighnari."
Tighnari smiles at Diluc before frowning at Cyno. "Eula and Amber are at our house. Please make sure there's no 'experimenting.'" Cyno frowns at his husband.
"I'm not going to cock-block them." Is all he says, ignoring how shocked Tighnari and Diluc look. Luckily no one overheard them.
"CYNO!" Tighnari whisper shouts.
"What? She's an adult now." Diluc really hopes that the two husbands don't involve him in the conversation. "If we don't give her a safe place then she'll find a unsafe place. We can't control every part of her life anymore, Nari."
Tighnari pauses, thinking it over, before sighing. "I guess you're right, but you know I don't like that word."
Cyno smiles before apologizing. "I'm sorry love. I'll be sure not to use it around you."
Tighnari smiles again before turning to Diluc. "I'm heading to the Akademiya for class, will I see you there? It's optional today." Before Diluc can think about it Cyno steps in.
"We're still talking for a bit." It makes Diluc feel a little lighter, not having to make the decision himself.
Tighnari nods, before excusing himself. "Alright then. I'll see you both later. Cyno, remember to do the thing." Cyno laughs again, looking at Tighnari rather than Diluc.
Diluc decides not to ask, not wanting to intervene. Cyno barely waits for Tighnari to leave before he starts talking to Diluc again.
"What happened with Venti? Did he say he didn't like you?" Diluc's eyes fall. His drink becomes more and more interesting by the second.
"That's not exactly what happened." Diluc's face flushes read. He didn't mean to mislead Cyno, Diluc had just assumed, but thinking back, that's not what happened.
"What did happen?" Diluc is thoroughly embarrassed. But Cyno doesn't let up, staring at Diluc intently.
"Professor Zhongli said something while we were looking for Venti's sister." Diluc really doesn't want to give out any more information, but Cyno looks so interested in the story, and he's already listened to Diluc so much. This one last thing couldn't hurt, and maybe Cyno would give Diluc some advice. "He asked Venti if were being safe, he thought we were sleeping together."
"Are you sleeping with him?" Diluc doesn't mean to look so offended, but he does. It makes Cyno a little nervous. Diluc wasn't homophobic right, that can't be why Diluc looks a little queasy.
"No, I told Venti it wasn't him. I just don't like the idea of sex, but I wouldn't min... and now that I'm talking about it I think I might like Venti." Cyno laughs at Diluc's horrified expression. "Oh God, I like Venti."
"Okay, okay, okay. Diluc are you sure you like him? Or do you just find him attractive?" Diluc's face is in his hands, a thousand thoughts swirling around his head.
Thoughts of Venti. Like, his hair HAS to be super soft, Diluc is sure of it. but he also dyes it a lot, so maybe his ends are fried. But Venti also takes really good care of his hair and-
Panic starts to set in, but it's a different kind of panic. Diluc can't tell what kind, but it's still bothersome.
"Aren't those the same thing?" Diluc asks, groaning. He can't like Venti, not like that, he just can't.
"No," Cyno laughs again, but it's an 'I've been where you are' kind of laugh, not a mean or cruel one. "They're not. You can find someone physically attractive without finding them romantically, or platonically, attractive."
"What if you don't find anyone attractive?"
The question sounds so pitiful to Cyno. Like Diluc's scared something's wrong with him.
"You could be aroace." Diluc's looking at Cyno, confused but hopeful. Maybe he wasn't weird. "Mona's aroace." Cyno's hoping that the mention of his friend will make Diluc feel more at ease.
"But she doesn't have a soulmark. I do." Despite his hatred of them, Diluc shows Cyno his hands. Cyno nods but still smiles.
"You could just be ace...or...you could be demi?" Diluc gets even more confused at that. Kaeya might be super into learning all about sexualities, but Diluc's not.
Diluc doesn't even ask, his expression is enough for Cyno to explain. "It's when you don't feel sexual attraction until you have a deep emotional bond. It sounds like you might have that bond with Venti."
Diluc nods slowly. Slowly getting what Cyno is saying. "I think that sounds about right, but for some reason, I don't like having a lake for it," Diluc says nervously.
"Why?" Cyno doesn't sound angry, which is what Diluc was expecting.
"I don't know. I just don't think I can make deep connections like that." Diluc talks his hands back, playing with his fingers nervously.
Cyno gives a sigh with a lot of emotion behind it. But none of it is pity, so Diluc doesn't mind. "You can make deep connections Diluc. Even coming to terms with liking Venti proves that." Diluc nods, looking at Cyno instead of his hands.
Diluc nods, but there's something else he wants to ask, he just doesn't know how. Somehow Cyno can just tell, he nods, urging Diluc to speak.
"Are you and Tighnari soulmates?" The question practically runs out of Diluc's mouth, before he can really decide if it was a good idea to ask.
But Cyno smiles fondly. "Yeah, we are. Why?" Diluc can tell that somehow Cyno knows why he's asking, but wants him to say it anyway.
"It's just," Diluc pauses, trying to find the words. "What if he's not my soulmate? What do I do if I like him but he's too busy looking for someone that's not me?"
Diluc was thinking it, but saying it feels like a punch in the gut.
"Somehow, I don't think Venti is completely enamored by the 'wait for your soulmate' idea." Cyno smiles, but it only makes Diluc frown. Catching on, Cyno frowns too. "I mean," Cyno starts again, "I don't think Venti's all that worried about it"
Diluc's lips tug even further down, making Cyno think of one of those ventriloquist dolls. Deciding that Diluc still isn't getting his point, Cyno laughs. "God, think for a second Diluc. Who is Zhongli dating?"
Diluc doesn't even look offended, just...sad. "Childe?"
"Exactly, I don't think Venti would brush you off for someone he doesn't know." Cyno can see it click. Diluc's face and posture light up. He goes from slouching to sitting up straight. Only to deflate once more. "I thought that would be a good thing?"
Diluc only groans. "This means I have to find some way to tell him or watch as he looks for his soulmate...neither seem good."
"You'll figure it out." Cyno laughs, looking at his watch.
"Do you have to go?" Diluc asks, sitting up again. There's a hope that Cyno doesn't have to go, but Diluc knows that Cyno has responsibilities. Like a daughter at home doing god-knows-what with her two girlfriends.
"Yes, but you can come with if you would like. Nari wanted me to invite you to dinner." Cyno stands, not giving Diluc a second to overthink anything. "You can also rain-check if you need. Our home is open to you."
"Why are you being so kind?" Diluc asks, letting his insecurities get to him for a moment. But they go away almost instantly when Cyno smiles.
"It's a ploy, we want you to be friends with our daughter." Diluc smiles at this, laughing as he gets up from his seat. "So, you coming?"
Diluc nods, following Cyno out of the café.