The sun has set long ago, giving way for the night sky with the few tiny stars twinkling up above, greeting anyone who's still awake at this time. Diluc is patiently waiting for your figure to stand upright again so he can continue helping you home as his red gaze watches you carefully, making sure you don't disappear from his sight.

After all, he has dealt with plenty of drunk customers, helping them to their homes. According to his stories, he has experienced some pretty intense ones who like to run away and (try to) escape him.

Seeing that you're still crouching down, your arms around your legs as you're observing the stone path with great interest, he sighs and gets down on one knee beside you, also looking at whatever it is you're so immersed in, which is just... stone. That's it.

"(Y/N), are you ready to leave?" his voice breaks the silence. He flickers his eyes to your smiling face.

You don't answer immediately since your attention and mind is so focused on the stone path. Suddenly you're finding it incredibly fascinating—the nice, light gray color, the smooth surface, the cold touch against your fingers. Who knew a stone pathway can be so interesting to observe at this very moment; perhaps you have found yourself a new hobby.

Diluc hums in thought, resting an arm against his raised leg, and he offers a suggestion in hopes of making you move. "Since you have taken an interest in this stone path, let me propose something," he begins, waiting for you to look at him.

Oh? His vague words are making you curious, and so you turn to him in excitement, your eyes sparkling as you scoot closer. "Are you... gifting me this... this... stone path?" you ask, hopefulness laced in your voice and eyes.

He shakes his head, which makes your smile drop. If he isn't going to give you this path, then what is he thinking? In your drunken mind, nothing can be better than this path. But before you can share your evident disappointment, he quickly raises a hand up and finishes his thoughts.

"Damaging public property isn't desirable and won't be necessary," he explains, turning around a bit and reaching his hand back. "These will be more convenient for you, and there are a variety of sizes and colors."

Your eyes widen when he extends and opens his palm in front of you. Some stones of various shades of grays and different range of sizes are present. Upon picking a medium-sized one up, you can feel the familiar touch of its smooth surface. The coldness is there too. As a small complaint though, there isn't a size that's as large as the path... how disappointing...

Noticing your change in expression, he sighs and closes his palm, pushing himself up to his feet. "If you come with me, I'll give you these stones," he says, shaking them in his hand, "and find one that is as large as my hand. It won't quite be what you want in size, but at the very least, you'll be able to hold it as opposed to having one that's unnecessarily big. How does that sound?"

The male makes a pretty good point. Not counting the sizing, the stones meet all the requirements. Gray color? Check. Smoothness? Check. Cold to the touch? Check. What's more, he's going to give you an extra stone, one that's fairly big but not so much that it's impossible to move around.

Sounds like a good deal to you!

You stand up, indicating your final decision to his offer. He nods, his expression unwavering, and he continues doing what he has initially been doing before you abruptly stopped to check out the ground: hold you by the waist, your body leaning against his side, as your one arm is around his torso for extra security.

"Hey, hey..." you call out to him after a minute of walking in silence, "...Diluck. May I play with the... the stones...?" You point to the hand that's currently holding your stones hostage.

"No, not at the moment. We have to arrive at your house first, alright? Don't forget about the deal we agreed upon."

You pout. "Fine. You... you... red pepper."

Diluc glances at you, clearly unimpressed based on the slight shift of his lips, but he doesn't say anything else as you two continue walking to your destination. You're drunk, and you've always been strange when you're in this state, constantly saying and doing odd things. He has been dealing with your nonsense for the past three years, so this evening is nothing compared to some of the other times; it's as simple as killing some hilichurls for a commission.

It doesn't even take long before you interrupt the silence yet again.

"How about letting me... go under your jacket?" you ask, tugging on his jacket gently.

"(Y/N)," he begins, pausing for a moment as he's gazing at you. Then he heaves a long sigh, lifting up one side of the jacket so you can go under before covering you in the warmth.

As nonchalant or annoyed Diluc may appear to be, in reality, you know he actually doesn't mind your antics all that much. If anything, he likely finds them pleasantly amusing and (possibly) cute. There have been several times where you caught a faint smile, but you stayed silent, pretending you're unaware of your surroundings in order to appreciate and soak in that relaxed expression.

Even now as you quickly take a peek at him from under his jacket, you see a warm smile gracing his face. The only difference is how more noticeable it is compared to the other times.

-♡-

*searches "how to become grape juice" on Google*