adversaries | diluc x fem!reader ?

8 YEARS EARLIER

She kicked her too-short-to-reach-the-ground feet as she peered out of the window of the carriage, watching as the mansion came into view. The Dawn Winery looked as it always did, workers taking care of the grape yards while the maids cleaned around the building itself. The only difference was how much livelier it was, the amount of people present being about triple the usual. It was full, of course, due to Crepus Ragnvindr's yearly party; one he hosted to make new connections and make sure he was still in good therms with his current partners.

That was not what she was excited about. She was excited to finally see her friend for the first time in a while; he doesn't come to the city often, and she can't make her way to the Dawn Winery by herself. Not yet, at least.

''I want you to be on your best behavior, you hear me, Y/n?'' her father warned her for the nth time.

Y/n's eyes didn't avert from the mansion. ''Yes, father. I won't run around and won't talk to strangers and won't bother anyone.''

Her father did nothing more than hum in satisfaction.

The carriage came to a stop and Y/n couldn't wait to run out, but her father's words made their way back to her mind. Behave, be good, don't do anything stupid or emabrassing. She couldn't run off like a stupid kid, now, could she?

Her father exited first, then she followed with the help of the coachman. She thanked him as she'd been taught to and stopped next to her father who gazed upon the building. He scoffed. ''One thing you should know about bussiness, Y/n, is that sometimes you have to do things or talk with people you don't particularly like.'' He said that every time they had to make their way to the mansion. Y/n didn't comment.

Her father took a step forward and finally made his way towards the mansion, Y/n hot on his heels.

Inside was bursting with life. There was live music playing in the corner, people, mostly adults, talking all over the room, each of them holding wine glasses. The Ragnividr wine was, after all, one of the best there was. Or so she was told.

She looked around, trying to spot her friend. She was too short to see through all the adults.

''Now, Y/n.'' She looked up at her father at his words. ''I want you to—''

He couldn't finish, not when a high-pitched voice yelled out from somewhere. ''Y/n! You're here!''

Diluc appeared from within the crowd, his newly adopted brother, Kaeya, right after him. Diluc sported his usual big smile, while Kaeya had a more timid one. Both of them adorned suits, Diluc's black and white while Kaeya's had hints of blue. ''Diluc! Kaeya!''

''Come on, we've got stuff to do!'' Diluc grabbed her hand and pulled her ahead, right back through the crowd before she could even ask her father. But there was no way he would get mad about her getting close to his bussiness partner's son, right? It didn't make sense.

''Wait, I'm gonna trip!'' Y/n called out, pulling back on Diluc's hand to make him slow down. ''I hate this dress, it's too long! I can't do anything in it!''

''It looks pretty,'' Kaeya commented, his voice barely audible over the noise of all the people.

Diluc gave him a look before looking back at Y/n with a toothy smile. ''Yeah! Super pretty!'' Then he pointed towards a table filled with baked goods. ''Let's go eat!''

Y/n and Kaeya followed after Diluc and the three stood around the table, stuffing their faces with anything they could grab. ''These are so good, I wish I could live here and eat Adelinde's muffins every day!'' she said just before she stuffed her mouth with another bite.

''You can come over anytime! Dad can send someone to pick you up. It'll be fun!'' Diluc announced, his mouth half full.

Y/n frowned. ''I don't think my father will allow it.'' She shrugged then, looking back down at her cupcake. ''He doesn't like it when we come here. But that's okay. Maybe he'll start letting me come by myself soon! Or you can come visit in the city!''

''We can go with Dad when he goes to the Angel's Share,'' Kaeya suggested as he looked at Diluc for confirmation. ''Right?''

Diluc nodded eagerly. ''That's right! It'll be fun, too!''

''You guys can play with Jean and Eula and me! It'll be fun, we love playing around the Barbados statue!''

The conversation picked up until two girls about their age walked up to them — one shyer, one with her nose in the air as if she owned the place.

''You're Diluc and Kaeya, right?'' the girl with her nose up said.

Y/n noticed Diluc and Kaeya share a look. ''Uh, yeah? Who's asking?'' Diluc was the one to ask.

''I'm Amelie Stormgale, daughter of Alaric Stormgale,'' the girl said. ''And this is my sister, Annelise. We noticed you two standing to the side and not doing anything, so we thought we could offer you a dance.''

Annelise looked uncomfortable, like her sister was forcing her. Diluc nudged Y/n's arm and she looked at him, then gestured towards Kaeya. ''Kaeya, why don't you go dance with Annelise?''

Kaeya looked between Annelise and Diluc, then nodded. ''Okay. Would you like to dance, Annelise?''

''Okay,'' her voice, much like her general demeanor, was timid. She should get along with Kaeya just fine. Kaeya offered his arm to her and the two walked away to the dance floor.

Amelie watched her sister go, then looked back at Diluc. ''So? Aren't you going to ask me, too?''

''Uh,'' Diluc scratched his head and gestured towards Y/n. ''I'm with my friend. Sorry.''

''Okay? You're not dacing.'' Amelie said, her brows narrowed. ''This is a party. You have to dance!''

''Oh. I guess you're right.'' Diluc turned to leave his half eaten muffin on the table, then faced Y/n, bowing a little as he offered her his hand. ''Do you wanna dance, Y/n?''

''Diluc,'' Y/n whispered as she still held onto her muffin. ''I can't dance!''

''Just go with it,'' Diluc answered.

''You guys know I can hear you, right?''

Y/n felt her cheeks warm up and noticed Diluc's wide eyes. She quickly took his hand and put on her most dramatic voice. ''Of course I'll dance with you, Diluc! I'm the best dancer in Teyvat, after all!''

And so, hand in hand, they walked away, watching as Amelie rolled her eyes and, too, walked away. Y/n looked back. ''Phew, she's gone.''

''Thank Barbatos. I hate when they just appraoch me, it's usually because their parents made them,'' Diluc said as they finally made it to the dance floor. Y/n could see Kaeya and Annelise standing to the side, talking. ''Come on.''

''Wait, are we really dancing? I thought we were lying!'' Y/n said.

Diluc quickly took her hand in his and gave her a toothy smile. ''It's okay. No one expects us to be perfect. It's gonna be fun! I promise.''

And despite the fact she might trip over her feet and embarass herself and her father, or step on Diluc, or the fact that she'd basically made a fool of herself in front of the daughter of a prominent bussinessman — all things her father had forbidden her to do — she couldn't help but enjoy the evening that would become one of her fondest memories for years to come.

It would, after all, get her through all pressure that was yet to come.