the scent of parchment and candle wax was ever present in the library of dawn winery.

the silence was never something you had gotten used to. you were as old as diluc when your mother started working as a maid. and of course, you'd followed her footsteps. you wondered where the happy child went, sometimes.

diluc was very busy usually. either with work or his interventions as the darknight hero. it was a rare night of him being home (absorbed in work again, of course), and he had asked for a book of mondstadt’s trade history. you stepped inside the library, sighing at the state of it. it was by no means a shabby place, yet, the unuse of it had left it a little.. lonely.

the stepstool beneath you swayed precariously as you tried to pull out the copy. it didn't budge. you pulled again, and realized your mistake a little too late, your balance faltering. you slipped from the stepstool, tumbling down onto what would be a painful fall to the floor.

except you didn't hit the floor.

you landed on something warm, solid, and entirely too familiar. you gasped, your gaze landing up at diluc, who was holding you by the waist carefully, as if one wrong step and he'd shatter you. his hand slammed into the bookshelf to steady you both, the thud sounding muted under the thumps of your heartbeat.

“I– my deepest apologies–” you managed, your face heating. you tried to push yourself up, tried to make yourself presentable again. but he didn't let go.

“..are you alright?” his voice was low, concerned, but there was something else lingering beneath it–something taut, coiled. his crimson eyes flickered from your face down to your lips for just a second too long.

“I–I think so,” you breathed. “thank you, master diluc.”

“just diluc,” he murmured, almost distractedly, his gaze not leaving you. “you nearly hurt yourself.”

“I didn't mean to drop everything,” you whispered, flustered, acutely aware of how his body caged you against the bookshelf. “I was only trying to get the book you asked for.”

he was still holding you. firmly. too firmly.

the silence stretched.

the space between you felt too small. his gaze flicked down for a fleeting second–to your lips, maybe, or maybe your throat, the way it bobbed with a nervous swallow. either way, it didn't help.

“I should get back to work..” you mumbled, but didn’t make any move to actually pull away from his hold. it shouldn't have felt as comfortable as it was, you thought briefly. “I should–”

“just.. stay. for a minute,” diluc said, something in his voice sounding almost like a plea. your breath caught. you nodded. you relaxed in his hold, your hands holding his shoulders to keep your balance. he tensed at first, his frame coiled with tension, then relaxed.

“I don’t understand you,” he murmured, his hand reaching up to cup your cheek. “I don’t understand how you make me want.”

you blinked.

you hesitated, reaching up to touch the hand on your cheek. “then.. just want. don't think,” you said softly.

it was as if the coil snapped. he reached forward, pressing his lips to yours in a move so gentle, your chest hurt. you made a choked sound–half gasp, half sigh–kissing him back slowly.

he pulled back, his cheeks tinged red. “..I hope you will not regret that,” he said quietly. you laughed breathlessly, reaching forward to kiss him again. and he didn't stop you.