A Collection of Thoma's Suffering

Fate Can be Cruel Sometimes

      Thoma exited Mondstadt's city gates, heading for the winery. Diluc had been busy these last few days, so he'd offered to run errands for him. He held a paper grocery bag in one hand, humming a tune he'd made up long ago to himself as he went. He looked around for a moment, having to recall which way to go. It'd been what, eight years since he'd been back? It would take some time to get reaccustomed to his surroundings. Despite already having been here for a couple weeks, he still got lost without someone's guidance every once in a while.

He approached  the small hills leading up to Dawn Winery; these, he recognized. He hadn't informed Diluc, but he'd bought a few treats while he was out as a surprise. Thoma giggled to himself, quite pleased with the decision. He hoped it'd make Diluc a little less stressed. The Fatui had been...concerning close to determining his identity as the Darknight hero recently, and Diluc was working himself to exhaustion just trying to keep them off his tail. He'd been doing his best to help, but Diluc was stubborn, always insisting it wasn't necessary.

Wait, what was that in the distance? He squinted, there appeared to be a few figures near the winery, too far to see exactly who they were. The maids, perhaps? They seemed to enjoy hanging around outside. He walked closer, not entirely sure of his conclusion.

Oh, shit. They were Fatui members, surrounding a familiar red-haired figure. He was on the ground, and for a moment Thoma was about to go full blown panic mode. After looking for a moment more, he realized he couldn't see any blood. He wasn't too late.

And he was not going to let this happen.

He dropped the bad in hand, pulling his polearm out swiftly, the Fatui were strong, and he was certainly outnumbered. That wasn't important, he reminded himself, he wasn't the one in danger here.

So he rushed into battle, managing to take out one of them with a swift blow to the back. He wasn't sure what they'd done to him, but he was pissed.

You could hurt Thoma. He would be upset, but he could forgive that.

What he couldn't forgive was someone hurting Diluc.

His weapon clashes with his enemies, and he realized soon there was backup coming. He could hardly keep up with these two, let alone three more. He tried his best, turning back and forth rapidly to deflect the worst of the attacks. He could feel multiple cuts grazing his skin already, it had barely been a few minutes.

Gods, he had really been this stupid? Rushing into things without taking a moment to think about the consequences?

...No. His breaths were frantic, unable to keep up with his opponents. He was exhausting too quickly.

...But did he really have a choice? He had two options, letting them hurt Diluc or putting himself in danger. Anyone would do what he did in this position, wouldn't they?

He'd been knocked to the ground,he could no longer register what exactly was happening, but it hurt.

His vision blurred, the lights and sounds becoming all too overwhelming. He coughed, or, he thought he did, he felt numb. And cold.

Suddenly, he saw a flash of red, the area around him enveloped in a hot clash of flames. His eyelids felt all too heavy, he could no longer keep himself awake.

...Was this it?

"Thoma?"

"Thoma, please!"

•••

"Please, stay awake!" Diluc shook the man in his arms, praying to Barbatos he would hang on for just a little longer. Thoma was covered in blood, outfit too ruined to tell where his injuries were. He held him tightly to his chest, tears blurred his vision. He had to do something, but he still felt too weak to pick him up himself, especially with the hit he'd sustained fighting the last three of them.