Tags and trigger warnings: emetophilia, vomiting, drinking, Alternate universe-Modern/college setting.

Summary: Diluc's first time drinking hard liquor does not go well, Kaeya is partially to blame.

Posted to Ao3: May 26th 2021

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Diluc and Kaeya had grown up together. With both of them being introduced to each other at a young age as their fathers had been friends.

Although they'd drifted apart slightly over the years they still considered one another friends. Perhaps even more.

Still, this wasn't exactly how Kaeya pictured his night would go. Vomit on the front of his shirt as he held Diluc's hair back while the other man whimpered and retched in a back alley.

Although he might admit, that maybe, just maybe, that the incident that had led up to this unpleasant moment, was slightly his fault.

~~~

"You know, when you said you wanted me to come with you to a party this isn't what I expected, " Diluc muttered as he glanced over at Kaeya before turning his attention back to the mansion before them.

It was alive with loud blaring music, flashing lights, and an enormous amount of people, all of whom were either dancing, drinking, or just having a good time in general.

They hadn't even stepped foot inside the place and already Diluc felt exhausted.

Beside him, Kaeya chuckled. "Lighten up a bit, this is leagues better than those stuffy high society things you call a party, " he said grinning.

While Diluc was out of his element at the moment Kaeya was right at home. Ever the extrovert Kaeya lived to party, Diluc was surprised he got any modeling work done considering any time Diluc saw him outside of the house he was either leaving or going to a party.

"I wouldn't go to them either if they weren't necessary," Diluc huffed.

The parties that Kaeya were referring to were basically treated more like business networking, and to a certain extent, it was. A place for a bunch of rich people to meet other rich people and talk business while also 'subtly' flaunting their wealth.

He scowled as Kaeya grabbed his hand and began leading him to the mansion in front of them with a grin. "Don't worry, I'll show you how to let loose and have fun."

Diluc gave Kaeya a small smile and the other man glanced away slightly. Kaeya was not an easily flustered man but seeing that rare smile of Diluc's always did the strangest things to him.

"That's exactly what I'm worried about. Last time you let loose and had fun you got into an argument with a plastic lawn flamingo," Diluc reminded him but still allowed Kaeya to lead him.

"Well aren't you a traitor, I thought you swore never to talk about that," Kaeya muttered as he entered the already open front door.

Diluc grimaced partially cringing as every one of his senses were automatically flooded with way too much stimuli. The loud chatter of people trying to talk over the blaring music, the flashing strobe lights that flashed changing color in time with music, and finally the music itself, the bass from it practically vibrating through Diluc's body.

He took a step back hesitantly, maybe it still wasn't too late for him to escape. As if knowing what he was thinking Kaeya tugged him closer with a grin.

"Is it always like this?" Diluc asked, looking like he'd rather be anywhere else.

"Beautiful isn't it? Way better than that bullshit you call a party," Kaeya said as he led Diluc over to the nearby table filled with bowls of food and a few coolers with alcoholic drinks.

Diluc rolled his eyes. "One extreme isn't better than another, you are aware of that right," he said, having to raise his voice to make sure Kaeya could hear him over the deafening music.

Kaeya gave a soft hum as he looked through the drinks, eventually stopping on a rather large bottle, filled with a bright almost neon blue liquid.

While Kaeya grinned, Diluc eyed the bottle wearily. While Diluc didn't particularly drink alcohol, only the occasional glass of wine at an event he was pretty sure that people weren't supposed to drink neon blue fluid.

"What even is that?" He asked as Kaeya, the look of near glee in Kaeya's eye did nothing to soothe Diluc's worry.

"Vodka," he said as though that explained everything. Grabbing two of the plastic cups off the table he filled each nearly to the brim, handing Diluc one as he picked up the bottle once more. "It's flavored so it shouldn't be too strong for you, just take a sip. Who knows you'll probably like it."

"Keyword being probably," he huffed, still staring at the blue liquid in his cup. He couldn't help but think that the liquid was a similar shade to Kaeya's eyes.

Glancing back up at the other man he saw Kaeya already drinking, there was a familiar almost childlike glee in his eyes and a warm grin on his face. Kaeya was happy, and that was good so Diluc didn't mind indulging him at least for a little while.

Taking a tentative sip, Diluc almost immediately started coughing, the drink was sweet, yes but it also stung the inside of his mouth. The sweetness brought with it a sharp underlying bitter taste.

"Are you sure people are supposed to drink this? It tastes like blue raspberry flavored lighter fluid," Diluc spluttered.

Kaeya chuckled as he poured himself a second cup, having drained the first one rather quickly. "If you really don't think you can handle it, that's fine. There might be something softer for you in there."

It's a light taunt, one of Kaeya's usual ones, but Diluc is nothing if stubborn. Especially when it involves Kaeya.

Narrowing his eyes with a huff Diluc brings the cup to his lips and chugs the whole thing as Kaeya stares at him, his eye wide with surprise. When Diluc holds the cup out to him to fill it again, Kaeya laughs.

"Well look at you, just pace yourself okay? Wouldn't want any embarrassing headlines in the morning now, would we? Wine industry tycoon found streaking down the local highway, or something to that effect," he chuckled.

"Just shut up and give me more," Diluc grumbled. "You've already dragged me here, so I might as well enjoy myself," he muttered.

Kaeya merely laughed as he filled Diluc's cup again. "Very well then, let's have some fun shall we."

~~~

He and Kaeya eventually found themselves mostly alone in one of the mansion's many upstairs rooms. It was a bit quieter up here, although not by much considering the loud chattering drifting into the room and the bass of the music shaking the floor slightly.

The party had begun to wind down quite a bit as well, with many of the people who'd come early having either passed out somewhere or gone home.

Kaeya smiled, already feeling the slight hazy warmth caused by the alcohol he and Diluc had been drinking. He felt more tipsy than drunk, which probably a testament to how used to all this he was, which was a lot more than he could say for Diluc at the moment.

Diluc looked almost half asleep, his face flushed slightly from the alcohol and his eyes half-lidded, a glassy glazed coating them giving him a very dazed look.

Kaeya watched Diluc slowly blink for a moment before he climbed to his feet. They should probably be getting back home by now, not only is it late but Kaeya is tired as well, the alcohol-induced haze making it hard to keep his eye open.

"Alright Diluc, let's get home shall we," he said, laying a hand on Diluc's shoulder.

Diluc blinks slowly and yawns before speaking. "My name is Diluc," he muttered after a moment.

Kaeya smiled. "Yes it is, now come with me. You want to go to sleep don't you?" He asked, holding out his hand for Diluc to take. This is not the first time Kaeya has had to guide a drunk person around, and it surely wouldn't be the last.

This is the first time Kaeya has ever seen Diluc of all people drunk, however. Despite owning one of the largest wineries in the world, he wasn't someone who drank too often. Even at social gatherings, his glass of wine tended to stay nearly full besides one or two sips.

Kaeya can't help but think Diluc looks almost a bit cute like this. The way he follows Kaeya around like a lost duckling reminds Kaeya a lot of when they were kids. Kaeya steadies him a bit as they travel down the stairs, he hopes that the cold night air will help sober Diluc up a bit. While he can carry Diluc home if he actually needed to, that doesn't mean he wants to.

Diluc stops for a moment at the foot of the stairs and groans, one hand pressed to his forehead. "It's bright and everything is shaking," he mumbled, his words slurring together. He squeezes his eyes shut, then opens them slightly, shaking his head a bit, hiccuping. "Kaeya, make it stop."

"I would if I could, but come with me. I promise it'll go away," Kaeya said, tugging his hand slightly. He can't help but notice Diluc looks pale underneath the strobe lights, the man was always a bit on the paler side but the slightly queasy look on his face and the way he was hiccuping had Kaeya's nerves standing on end.

"Here we are," Kaeya said, glancing at Diluc once they're outside. His eyes are still glassy and glazed over but a tiny amount of awareness had returned to them.

With the cold air clearing much of the haze in Kaeya's mind he carefully led Diluc down the front steps. The walk back to Diluc's house isn't too far, maybe a ten-minute walk at most though looking back maybe, just maybe he should've called Adelinde to come get them in the car, especially when Diluc stumbled nearly face-planting on the ground if not for Kaeya's grip on him.

"Don't worry I have you, let's get going. Slow and steady okay, wouldn't want you to hurt yourself," Kaeya said, trying to keep his tone gentle.

When Diluc yanks his arm from Kaeya's grip however and looks up at him with narrow eyes practically pouting, Kaeya knows that he probably should have chosen his words better. He laughs, completely unprepared for the look on Diluc's face. This is his third or fourth mistake tonight, but between his own near euphoria and the alcohol, Kaeya has stopped keeping count.

But he will admit, though not to Diluc, that he looks absolutely adorable, beautiful even. The slight flush on his cheeks and the glaze in his eyes make them look less sharp, innocent almost.

"Don't make fun of me you bastard," Diluc hissed before turning and walking away.

"Where are you going?" Kaeya called out a large grin on his face.

Diluc stops for a moment, swaying in place as he turns to look at Kaeya. "Home!" He snapped, almost as if he were offended Kaeya even had the nerve to ask.

Rolling his eye Kaeya walked forward picking up the pace when Diluc stumbled. "Home is back the other way, figured you'd know that by now."

He grabbed Diluc's arm when he stumbled again, pulling the man close to his side. "Come on once you get home you can sleep."

Diluc gives a soft hum as he blinks slowly, still swaying in place. He doesn't budge when Kaeya tries to lead him this time.

In fact, he's just standing there staring into space still blinking.

"Come on now Diluc, I'm tired too. I know it's a nice night but let's just get home okay?"

It is only then that Diluc answered his words still slurring. "Kaeya?"

He sighed as he stared at Diluc, his own tiredness and drunkenness starting to wear him down a bit. "What?"

Diluc is silent for a few more moments then he frowns. "My stomach hurts."

That instantly catches Kaeya's attention, his tiredness practically evaporating in an instance. "Huh?"

Diluc says nothing else, probably because he suddenly retches, bringing up a wave of vomit that splatters down the front of Kaeya's clothes. It's mostly liquid and smells distinctly like blue raspberries and sour alcohol. Still, that doesn't stop Kaeya from letting out a yelp, practically jumping away from Diluc as the redhead stumbled back, doubled over with his hand clamped over his mouth and his eyes wide.

Kaeya is momentarily stunned, only able to watch Diluc in shock for a moment. Then Diluc's shoulders shook with an aborted heave and Kaeya snapped out of it, carefully walking forward and grabbing Diluc's free arm.

"Come on, over here. Before someone sees you," he muttered, pulling Diluc into a nearby alley. He can hear him gagging behind the hand clamped over his mouth.

They take a few steps into the alley just far enough from any prying eyes when Diluc burps, it's loud and wet bringing up more alcohol and bile. It sprays the ground through the cracks in his fingers and Kaeya curses as he turns to him.

Reaching out he carefully gathers Diluc's hair pulling it back and out of the way, the redhead whimpers, panting and coughing softly before he shakily lowers his hand from his mouth.

It's covered in sticky, warm, blue-tinged bile that smells strongly of alcohol, and Diluc retches again bringing up a smaller wave.

Grimacing, his face twisting with a mixture of sympathy and disgust, Kaeya says nothing as he gently rubs Diluc's back with his other hand. Remembering all too well how his first time drinking had ended similarly to this.

As his vomiting temporarily tapers off into dry heaving Diluc groans loudly. "This is awful," he whispered. He burps again coughing as he choked up a thin stream of vomit.

Kaeya winced. "It does get better the more you get used to it," he said almost encouragingly.

Diluc glares up at him briefly before retching again. "I don't care, I'm never doing this again," he forced out.

Groaning he wipes the back of his mouth with his hand, still looking incredibly nauseous, his stomach hitching slightly still trying to turn itself inside out. But he's way more aware than he was the moment before so it seemed as though getting some of it out of his system had done him a bit of good at least.

"I'll call Adelinde," Kaeya offered, after all, he'd brought Diluc here in the first place so it was the least he could do.

Diluc just nodded slightly, swallowing hard, then he's gagging again a small trickle of bile adding to the puddle in front of him. Leaning back with his hand rubbing his stomach he glares up at the sky for a moment or two as if cursing whatever god out there is allowing this to happen.

Although he will admit, listening to Adelinde reprimand Kaeya over the phone does bring him satisfaction in between the pain and nausea still crashing over him in waves. He feels absolutely miserable and is pretty much guaranteed an even worse morning. Diluc does know one thing though he's absolutely never drinking any alcohol again.