#cat diluc | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

belaephemeral · 1 year

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It's no coincidence, it's a kitty-incidence

Pairing: Diluc x Reader (gender-neutral)

Word count: 3650

Summary: As you spend rather idle, uneventful days at the Dawn Winery with your beloved, you receive an unexpected surprise on what was supposed to be a tranquil, mundane morning with your husband. What’s more is that when Diluc appears to have disappeared, a fluffy critter seemingly fills his absence.

CW: a little bit of blood, potentially excruciating cat puns

Author’s Note: Happy April Fools! (kudos to you if you get the reference for the title <3)

part one (current), part two (coming soon)

Like gentle ocean waves, sunlight filtered through the minuscule gaps of your velvet ruby curtains, bathing the edges of your intricately carved pine bed in a wash of golden and white. Gradually, a slice of sunshine beams across your face. You grimace as it causes you to stir and roughly pulls you out of the pleasant depths of sleep. Vexed, you curse how it roiled the delightful dream of his tender embrace and the spellbinding reverie he enveloped you with. He’s arresting and never fails to astound you with his enchanting visage, his rumbling, honey candour, and his air of sophistication - both in the waking and dreaming world.

Deciding against the idea of leaving the comforts of your plush pillows and warm duvet to dispel the sunlight that creeps into your shared bedroom, you turn your face away from the intense streams of light and roll over to face your beloved. Blindly, you slide your left hand along the pristine planes of blankets, following each curve and bend to reach the familiar form of your husband. As you embark on your search, the resplendent ring encrusted with minute diamonds on your ring finger reminds you of the everlasting promises he dedicated to you just weeks ago. The knowledge that he will eternally be yours, that he will be the first person you see when you wake up and the last as you descend into the nocturnal land of Nod, and that he’ll keep you close to his heart (more so than the locket you gifted him on your anniversary), unfailingly makes your heart flutter and kindles a jubilant glow that spreads from your chest to the ends of your fingertips.

Eventually, your digits arrive on his side of the bed. However, instead of caressing broad, sinewy shoulders, sturdy muscles and light red scars that surge along the expanse of his back or the solid divet of his waist, your hands grasp onto a haphazardly strewn pile of lush fabrics.

Within your hazy vision, you recognise one article of clothing as the cotton nightshirt Diluc dons. Slowly, you rise to rest on your forearms and pat down the heap of materials once more, attempting to clear the fog of your groggy stupor to search for the whereabouts of your beloved partner. Although everything appears as blurs of white and grey with hints of scarlet, something glints within the pile and catches your eye.

You fish out a matching golden band and stare at it in bewilderment. Diluc never takes this off, you realise. Ever since the day you exchanged vows and enshrined your undying devotion to each other, he has never once been seen not adorning this. If anything, you’re starting to forget the message you’ve engraved onto the inside of his ring since it appears to be permanently fused onto his lithe fingers. With how he never takes off his ring, those affectionate words may as well be inscribed onto his supple skin.

To prove your doubts to be false and vehemently reject any suspicions the sight of it discarded here arose in your mind, you bring the precious ring closer to your inspecting gaze.

Unbeknownst to you, your right hand begins to slip into the mound of scattered textiles once again and brushes against a foreign object you’re certain that neither you nor Diluc own. Your curiosity is piqued and inquisitively, you feel a coat of soft fur that seems to rise and fall rhythmically with your breath. Nevertheless, your fatigued mind doesn’t register this important fact and you abruptly clutch the unknown entity nestled within bundles of clothes.

The silent and serene reverie that previously enveloped the room is crudely torn down by a thundering growl and the searing acute pain that bubbles through your blood vessels and blooms onto your skin. Momentarily, you’re stunned at the three clean and precise scratches that line your arm but you leap out of your feathery refuge once the pile starts to briskly move and rises.

Still doused in a mist of drowsiness, your legs buckle and you harshly plummet onto the polished hardwood floors. Rubbing both your back, which swiftly stings with a dull, throbbing ache, and your bleary eyes, you peer at the intruder that has somehow infiltrated your safe haven. You’re rather astonished, to say the least, when a tuft of vermillion surfaces amongst Diluc’s nightclothes with silky red ears tightly tucked back and two cherry eyes which menacingly lock onto yours. The intimidating feline releases a resounding hiss that rattles your head as it’s tail puffs up and stands rigidly behind them.

You try to get a better look at the fluffy predator proudly perched on top of the snow white covers by heaving your sore upper torso off the cold wooden floorboards. However, you are abruptly interrupted by the prickling sensation that singes your right arm as crimson rushes to fill the indentations the claw marks incised into your skin. Through clenched teeth, you wince, voicing a pathetic “ouch” as you are starkly reminded of your fresh injury.

It seems that regardless of the number of inflictions, cuts and wounds you’ve taken throughout your many years of intelligence gathering in the Ministry of Civil Affairs with the surreptitious Valley Orchid, these lacerations certainly did a number on you. Especially so, as the gash tingles with blazing energy and dulls into a furtive smoulder that you’re definite is akin to the aftermath of an elemental reaction.

You supposed that a temporary break from your governmental duties should have granted you peace of mind, in that you didn’t have to constantly be on your guard, and instead, you would finally be able to relish in the customary domesticity of married life. Although, another glance at the ruffled feline seated where your beloved would normally be, forehead furrowed and appearing thoroughly irked, proves that your string of tranquil, uneventful days has come to an end once again.

Exhaling a sigh through your mouth, you surrender to this bizarre situation and slightly curse to yourself at yet another state of affairs you’ll have to resolve. Observing the strange furry critter before you, it’s strange, you ponder, how those dark pools of red summon images of countless occasions his pupils would linger on your form and drag you into the dark depths of his crimson eyes. How the fur pelt the cat adorns resembles the very same shade of hair that frames his beguiling features and elegantly fans over his toned stature and flutters down the length of his spine. How it’s posture exudes a peculiar sense of refinement and dignity, similar to the gentility and finesse he carries every time he enters a room, drawing every individual’s eyes and attention to him, and solely him, and confounding each statement that booms from his being with compelling gravity. It is undeniably uncanny how they seem to share many common features, you stew as you worry your bottom lip and the inside of your cheek, trying to piece the information that you have and the display in front of you, to finally comprehend what is occurring before your very eyes.

Unexpectedly, the ferocious red ball of fluff peering down at you begins to relax: lowering it’s tail into a steady, gentle sway, dilating its pupils in such a way that you find the way it innocently sets its orbs on you downright adorable, and carefully treading across the mountains of tossed pillows and folded ridges of duvet and towards your fallen form. Sensing that it's putting down its previous skittish, cautious and hostile front, you can’t help but instinctively coo, inviting it to settle into your lap. Regardless of the sting that resonates along the length of your limb, you want to offer it some semblance of comfort in what may be an unfamiliar and frightening environment.

With an agile leap and a soft thud, the pads of its paws land gracefully at the foot of the grand bed. Its captivating carmine pupils seem to shimmer with, what seems to be understanding, as it darts towards you at an alarmingly fast rate, becoming a mere blur before a hefty weight hurtles itself onto your chest.

An astounded groan bursts from your chest as you plummet once more unto the solid, chilly mahogany ground, the woodgrain on the verge of piercing your back with the intensity the feline had flung itself to you. Lifting your head to meet the gaze of the charming trespasser plopped onto your sternum, you inspect the unfamiliar creature as it closes and opens its eyelids at a slow and leisurely pace. The feline vocalises a soothing, low purr as it lightly bunts your forehead with its own. From the close distance, you notice a downcast, regretful and sorrowful look swimming within those pure obsidian slits that stare back at you. You almost feel as though with each nuzzle and smoosh into your nose and cheeks, it seeks to rub and etch an unvoiced expression of remorse into your skin as guilt steadily emanates from its small figure and pervades your senses.

Languidly, you raise your unscathed left arm to thread your fingers through its luxurious coat and lightly scritch the top of its head. In response, it preens and melts in your affectionate hold, sweetly trilling at your actions and showcasing its content with the way it curves the end of its tail and kneads your clavicle, careful not to embed its claws into you.

You raspily whisper, lingering remnants of lethargy slightly slurring each word you direct to the cute critter sprawled against your upper torso: “What are you doing here, sweetheart? Are you lost?” Listlessly, your right hand finds itself patting the intruder’s head, “Say, you haven’t seen a rather fetching, yet brooding, handsome redhead around have you? Even if meeting you is quite a pleasant surprise, I haven’t the faintest idea where my husband may have run off to.”

Upon witnessing the shallow gouges lodged into your arm, the cat tilts its head - its tongue gingerly darting out and delicately licking your wrist, writing an apology with the secretion that thinly coats the area above your pulse point. Your mouth curves upwards at its endearing ministrations and you murmur a soft reassurance to the feline: “Don’t worry about it, love, it’s just a scratch. I’ve been through more arduous battles, although I didn’t expect to be bested by a little cutie like you.” Booping its pink nose, you chuckle at the way it twitches its snout and sniffs your index finger as you pull away.

Once you get a better look at the feline, you do a double-take at the peculiar outfit it sports. Glancing at its plush neck, you raise an eyebrow at the distinct embellished tie that rests against the length of its front body, the glimmering gemstone fixed onto the slate-grey silk, and the unmistakable tassels that flit over its fuzzy, plump and yet athletic stature.

You squint in disbelief, unable to comprehend the sight before you once you utter: “That’s quite an attire you’re wearing. It looks just like the very same one my beloved wears. The resemblance is truly uncanny.”

At your perplexed words, the feline shoots a pointed look towards you. Immediately, it clicks. The hints finally click together and it’s as though this cat’s telepathic message is, at long last, delivered to your mind and brought to your attention. Even as your realisation enables all of the puzzle pieces of this mysterious situation to fit together, nonetheless, you are felt saddled with an immense feeling of stupefaction.

Taking one last glance at the messy heap of clothes on the bed and the furry critter resting on your chest, you deeply exhale and hiss: “You’ve got to be kitten me.”

____

Firmly clutching the breakfast tray in your hands, you gratefully thank Adelinde for sending the delectable assortment of dishes to your bedroom. As much as you extol and appreciate her kind and thoughtful nature, for once, you wished the Head Housemaid wasn’t so insistent in ensuring Diluc’s safety and wellbeing.

After you had announced that he was unable to dine at the lavish and splendid dining table as he habitually and routinely did after your marriage ceremony, you both commended and were irked by her unfailingly persistent concern and selflessness over her young master. With one last reassurance, you managed to swiftly usher her away from the potentially baffling scene you definitely did not want to explain. Not without someone questioning whether you were wrestling with the last remaining vestiges of your sanity. Expertly, you hid the incriminating display behind you with your body and the length of the door. You saccharinely croon a final goodbye to the brunette before immediately shutting the heavy hardwood door. Press the weight of your back against the wooden surface, you breathe out a sigh of relief and deftly turn the door’s lock, ensuring that no one stumbles into the mess you’re tangled in on this bizarre and unorthodox morning.

Surveying the delicious, mouth-watering and appetising food aesthetically arranged on silver platters, you carry a plate of creamy tuna and a vibrant orange salmon over to the feline. He appears to have found a comfortable spot atop the dark bronze-studded desk by the large balcony windows of the room, loafing on its leather-clad surface with an air of contentment. Alongside the array of seafood, you place a bowl filled with water next to its form. You begin to draw the opulent curtains open as he treks over to the miniature feast and takes its first bite, sinking its sharp fangs into the fish meat.

Once the curtains are neatly tied to their respective ornate hooks, sunlight penetrates through each expanse and crevice of the cosy space. The sudden illumination causes black threads to swim across your vision. As you wait for the residual particles in your eyeline to dissipate, you internally swoon at the way the beams of light spill onto the feline’s plush crimson coat. It seems to dance along each strand of fur and drenches the ends of each piece in a subtle milky glow. Unable to resist, a chortle tumbles from your throat and you scratch its chin as he briefly resurfaces from the ocean of fish he was buried in prior.

Silently observing your elated figure, the cat swallows the remaining food resting in its jaws before playfully biting your index finger. You let out a flabbergasted yelp at the fangs that harmlessly nibble into the skin of your flesh and dexterously dart away from the creature.

“I yield, I yield.” You repeat and chuckle sonorously to the dignified feline, who appears irritated at the sight of your untreated wounds. Catching onto its glare towards the three clean incisions on your arm, you sheepishly grin, voice twinkling abashedly, “I’ll leave you and your magnificent banquet be, oh brave, noble and furr-midable Darknight Hero,” you snicker at the exasperated gaze he sends you. “In the meanwhile, I’ll clean and wrap this up,” you state as you limply cradle your right arm. Promptly, you settle into the grand armchair by the antique escritoire placed on your side of the room. Setting aside the sprawl of beautifully handwritten letters and rich wax seals, you fetch a small vial of water, a cotton washcloth and a bundle of gauze before tending to the cuts lined with clotted bright vermillion.

Diluc watches as you methodically roll the bandage along the span of your upper arm, reprimanding himself for irrationally unleashing this newfound feral instinct onto you. A deep pit overflowing with remorse burrows into his being and without his knowledge, his ears unconsciously deflate and his tail sinks between his hind legs.

He abhors the idea that he’s caused trouble for you - he doesn’t like helplessly witnessing you fretting over him and being incapable of using any of his abilities to assist in guiding you out of this peculiar scenario. He’s vowed to protect you from any harm that you’ll come across, but how can he complete such a vital responsibility when he barely stands at 30cm tall?

You have always felt an unbreakable connection with Diluc. Sometimes you would ruminate at the concept of soulmates because whenever you’re with him or apart, your souls and minds are inextricably linked regardless of distance or time of day. It is exactly because of this fact that you inherently sense that something is wrong. An innate sensation pricks within the core of your being, urging you - telling you something is definitely amiss. The apprehension that bubbles within your stomach once you fasten the bandage securely to your appendage is confirmed as you peer at the heartbreaking display unravelling behind you.

Your heart clenches as you briskly stride to the crimson feline and envelop him firmly and steadily into your arms. Next, you collect his dangling legs, pressing his warm and faintly quivering form against your chest. Embracing him tightly and ensuring that your devotion and love is communicated through your tender touch, you press a gentle kiss to his temple.

Instinctively, shutting his eyes at your affections and savouring your delightful presence, Diluc snuggles into your nape. You nuzzle into his smooth coat in return, and serenely murmur: “There, there, love, don’t panic.” Hefting his heavy body onto the the dip of your sternum and left shoulder, you give him a few faint pats against the base of his tail. As you thread your digits through his red coat, you console him once more: “Cheer up, sweetheart. The last thing we need right now is to be downtrodden by these series of rather unfortunate events. We must stay paw-sitive.” The irritated yowl that vibrates into your skin spurs you to employ a more joyful and light-hearted lilt as you continue: “Our first plan of action must be to find someone who might know how to reverse this transformation and return you to your original form.”

Humming, you press a finger to your lips as a contemplative frown etches itself onto your face. Once you’ve found the answer you were looking for, you snap your fingers and with pupils twinkling in revelation, you announce: “That’s it! We’ll just have to pay a visit to a certain Chief Alchemist.”

It seems that human Diluc’s indignation for the Knights of Favonius translates even through his feline form. His eyes immediately narrow into thin slits, his ears perking up aggressively, and his tail puffs out, transforming into a plumage of bright and dark reds.

“Oh, don’t look at me like that, love,” you chastise, “You should watch your cat-titude; Albedo may be the only answer to this problem and you know that.” Stubbornly, he huffs, hopping out of your clutches and sassily sauntering away to perch on the sumptuous, velvet chesterfield across the room.

If he isn’t going to come with you willingly, you might just have to resort to force.

With a sigh, you roll up your finely pressed sleeves and smooth out your hair. Deftly, you collect the redhead’s signature outfit and fold them neatly into the leather Gladstone bag resting against the leg of your shared armoire. You clasp onto the golden ring hidden within the heap situated on your bed and safely tuck it deeply into your pocket. Despite having a relatively light weight to it, it remains to have some form of profound gravity as it rests against your hip. A smile spills onto your face as you recall your grandmother (incorrectly) teaching an adorably fumbling and flustered Diluc how to crochet on an idle day at the Qingce Village. You snigger at the memory of her furtively sneaking a measurement of his ring finger by teaching him how to properly “hold” the yarn. At the thought of this, you have a fond recollection of designing the precious band, placing an order through Mingxing Jewellery, and being absolutely euphoric when it arrived perfectly and just as you specified.

Glancing at the feline, who makes it a point not to look at you and instead aloofly licks the light pink digital pads of his paw and lightly grooms himself, you roll your eyes. Even if he may be insufferable at times, he’s yours. And you wouldn’t have it any other way.

After packing a few more essentials and securing your blade to the scabbard hanging from your waist, you strongly tug the great balcony windows open. The soothing draft that billows past is cooling against your skin and the gusts are blowing in just the right direction of your desired destination. Perfect. The conditions are just right for you to carry out your plan.

Furling up a dense woollen blanket into your now fully gloved arms (to avoid becoming a certain feline’s scratch post again), you grab onto Diluc and bundle him into the snug fabric. He freezes in your hold, stunned by your sudden actions. Taking advantage of his dazed stupor, you gently and securely nestle him into the bag. After peering once more into the expansive room, ensuring you’ve grabbed everything of importance, you face forward towards the cerulean expanse of sky laid out before you. Steeling your nerves, you jump onto the wooden railing, reluctant to face an inevitable barrage of well-meaning pestering from Adelinde. You exhale one last time and launch yourself off the balcony, deploying your glider as you drift across planes of fragrant vineyard fields. The sensation of the breeze caressing your face and carding through your hair and clothes never fails to fill you with a childlike glee and exuberance. You jubilantly giggle and yell an ecstatic “Good morning!” to Connor and the employees milling around the estate, flashing a bright smile as they wave at your departing figure.

Needless to say, the critter restlessly rustling in your bag was undoubtedly miffed by the elaborate stunt. Although, there wasn’t much left for him to do than to resign to his fate and enter that dreaded headquarters once more. Burrowing into the soft fabric, he rests his muzzle into his forelimbs and pads of his paws for a brief cat nap. He wishes you were more careful with the way you had embarked on this wild escapade, unsettled by the thought of you being further injured as a result of your haphazard and brisk movements. A silent wish for you to be safe on your journey to the sprawling, bustling City of Mondstadt is the last thing that remains in his mind as he falls into the clutch of sleep. The rhythmic thump of heavy footfall and the melody of rushing water is the last he hears as he enters the land of dreams.

____

Catching your breath, you audibly heave as you firmly press your palms against the colossal, imposing doors and push your body and your partner into the vast and impressive hallway of the Knights of Favonius headquarters. Setting your gaze onto the immaculate, impressive displays lining the walls and inhaling the distinct aura of chivalry and valiance imbued into this area, you stride towards the door, where next to it, hangs a sign embossed in gold with the title “Chief Alchemist”.

You cast one final gaze at the crimson feline, who’s head cutely pokes out in between the zipper of your half-open Gladstone bag. “The moment of truth”, you whisper into the large, still and empty hallway. “If this turns out well, it’ll definitely be a tail that will go down in hiss-tory,” you shoot a playful smirk at your cat companion as it shakes it’s head, thoroughly displeased with your statement made in jest.

Placing your hand against the metal handle, you turn it just enough to hear the muffled click of an unlocked door. However, the sight you are greeted with is not at all what you had expected and from within the study you catch a certain someone announce:

“Truly, what a cat-astrophe.“

Upon hearing the familiar dulcet cadence, Diluc ferociously bursts into the room, leaving you aghast at the display before you.

“Well, look who the cat brought in. Quite litter-ally.”

(to be continued)