"Would you like a drink?" Divya looked up to see burning red eyes staring stoically down at her. Diluc seemed to have already arranged a meeting with Jean, so they were simply playing the waiting game right now.
"No, that's alright. I don't drink alcohol but thank you for asking" She said with a polite smile on her face. Right now, things were going to get really rough and hopefully, she would make it out in one piece considering she had zero knowledge about fighting.
She didn't notice the mildly surprised look on the older male's face.
"We serve non-alcoholic drinks here as well, so you needn't worry about having nothing to drink"
...Shit. I forgot about Diluc not liking alcohol-
"Ah then.... is there any fruit juice you serve?"
A very faint smile appeared on his face, and Divya couldn't help but internally scream at how hot he looked while smiling.
NOO COME ON!! I'M TRYING TO THINK HERE AND I CAN'T WHEN YOU LOOK SO HOT-! BUT YOU LOOK GOOD WHEN YOU SMILE- BUT I HAVE TO THINK-
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
"Would you prefer grape juice or apple juice?"
"Apple juice please. Thank you" Having mastered the art of screaming in silence, the brunette extended her arm to take the glass of apple juice before smiling gratefully at Diluc. She then turned to sip on it, sighing contently at the fresh, sharp taste of it. Apple juice was one of her favourite drinks, Mango being the first.
"Do tell me, how did you get entangled in this rather... complicated situation? I didn't take you to be the kind to stir up chaos. Though, please do not mistake my words. I am not one to judge a book by its cover"
And he's started interrogation...just because Venti is drunk doesn't mean you can question me you know?
"I was aware of their plans before-hand, if that is what you're asking. What i didn't expect was to be dragged half-way through the city, which is why I appeared to not know about their ideas" she said, hoping she got what he implied through the question correctly.
"I see. Then do you perhaps know of the true identity of the bard?"
...Man really doesn't like idle chit-chat huh-?
"I'm not sure what you mean by 'true identity' Master Diluc. His name is Venti, and he's a bard that the Traveler, Paimon and I met earlier today" Divya looked at the man wearily, knowing exactly how good his perception was. She needed to make sure she didn't accidentally provide the correct answer to him.
"You and I both know that is simply an alias he goes by" Diluc said sternly, crossing his arms and narrowing his eyes at her.
The eighteen-year-old started to slightly sweat at the intensity of his stare.
I don't think he knows it's an alias completely... He's probably trying to confirm his suspicions with me
"Maybe, but I just met him today, so I can't really answer your question, Master Diluc. If you really do believe it's an alias, then you should probably ask him your questions after he sobers up" she said, gesturing to the now completely drunk god.
She is quite sharp. She hasn't lied to me, but she has hidden a lot more than she has mentioned right now. Moreover, she has shifted the conversation to favor her...
I cannot continue interrogating her, or I would step out of boundaries that shouldn't be crossed in public.
"Alright. That is understandable" The brunette had to hide a sigh of relief at his stance. While he would eventually figure out that Venti was Barbatos, she couldn't afford to change the storyline any more than she already had. It could mess up both her and Lumine's futures. She could only change it when absolutely necessary.
The door to the tavern opened up, and the two turned to see a rather surprised Jean standing.
"Divya? It was you?" The Knight asked, confused and for some reason, rather concerned.
"Umm... Good evening?"
Why exactly am I going with them to the hideout..?
I can't even fight damn it!! Why did Diluc insist on me accompanying them?
What is this? Siblings being alike? He's acting like Kaeya right now-
Diluc couldn't help but remain confused at why Divya had been glaring at the ground beneath them. Was the expedition too uncomfortable for her? He didn't understand, and right now, he decided he wasn't going to expend effort in doing so.
Right now, the Fatui guard that had pathetically screamed out his location needed to be interrogated.
"You're... you're human?" he whimpered out.
Out of the corner of his eye, the redhead noticed the brunette slip quietly back towards the shadows, and circle behind the Fatui.
What is she attempting to do?
"The entire floor's defenses... have been broken. I thought it was the Abyss Order attacking..."
"We have come for your life" The outlander said, in what was admirably, a rather intimidating voice.
Their original plan had been to intimidate the Fatui into spilling the location of the Lyre. To Diluc's disappointment however, the guard instead started to scream and swing his sword blindly.
It wasn't disappointment at the outlander, more of disappointment in how childish the agent's antics were.
"AAAAH GHOST-!" The fatui suddenly yelled out, swinging his sword backward at the eighteen-year-old who had somehow sneaked up behind him.
Divya-?!
Startled, Lumine and Diluc started to summon their weapons, before letting it fade as the girl raised her left arm and slammed it against the hand holding the sword. The weapon clattered to the ground, and she pushed it away with her leg before the man could utter a sound.
"Please be calm. While my acquaintances are certainly intimidating, I like to think i am not. Let's talk peacefully, shall we?" she spoke.
"Uh-uh...A-alright... W-Why are you h-here?! T-This is a Fatui S-stronghold a-and-"
"I know. For one thing, I'm sorry I startled you. Secondly, I just want to know where the most Fatui Agents had been in this stronghold are, that's all"
"W-Why do you want to know this?!"
"Hm? I'm interested, is all" she gave him a close eyed smile, that looked far too innocent to be pure. Fortunately for them, it seemed that this particular agent had no common sense.
"D-Do you promise to not come after me if i tell you valuable information?"
"I promise I won't come after you"
"T-They're with the Holy Lyre hidden in the ruins. It's locked up tight, and the key is deeper within these ruins, that's also another location where most of the Fatui had been to- J-Just don't come after me-!! One of the Harbingers is already in Mondstadt!! Signora. When she gets her hands on you three, she's going to string you up and torture you!! D-Don't mention my name at all when that happens!! D-Don't come after me you hear me?!"
Lumine's jaw dropped to the floor. The Mondstadtian blinked once, then twice, and once more.
....Did this girl really just sweet-talk the dumb agent into giving us the information?
...She has a lot more skill than I thought she would have
"I won't......but they might"
"What-?!" Diluc slammed the hilt of his claymore against the Fatui's head, letting him fall to the ground and fade into unconsciousness.
"You have a lot more skill than I thought, Ms. Divya" the redhead said to the brunette, who beamed at him.
"Let's go get the lyre now" She said, gesturing for Lumine to follow them. After picking up her jaw from the floor, the blonde and Paimon followed the other two into the ruins.
They got through all the rooms very quickly thanks to Divya's quick talking. Pretending to be a scholar from Sumeru that studies behavior seemed to have paid off. Lumine couldn't help but stare at the brunette in awe at how quickly she could change tactics and carry them out with extreme efficiency, not to mention her acting skills.
Lumine wished she could act as well as her friend.
Diluc seemed put off by how passively the eighteen-year-old dealt with the fatui, but after recognizing the speed with which they were moving, he grudgingly came to accept her methods.
Afterall, they were here to save Dvalin, not to fight the Fatui.
"We're here. Stay out of this room, there could be a lot more danger behind those doors than simply a mitachurl" Diluc warned the brunette, who nodded and stepped back, letting the blonde and the redhead move forward.
Let's hope that Fatui guy doesn't notice me otherwise I'm screwed- Divya thought.
Diluc didn't even require Lumine's help, nor Paimon's encouragement. The brunette watched as he swung his claymore brutally, wincing every time it hit the agent. His speed and the sheer weight of the claymore was enough to shatter bones upon impact. Lumine hardly needed to fight, but when she did, her agility was admirable.
Lumine was faster than Diluc, more flexible and agile. Her short stature was an asset she used to its fullest potential. She weaved in and out of reach of the Fatui whenever he appeared to try and surprise her, then jabbed at his exposed sides if he lost balance.
Times like these.... I wish I had taken up that idiot Aditya's advice on learning hand-to-hand combat
At least I won't be a sitting duck when Lumine fights.
"Oh? It seems that you both have brought a rather useless ally"
What-
Pure brown eyes widened at the Fatui who grinned maniacally at her. Shrieking in shock, the eighteen-year-old dove to the side just as he thrust his sword into what would have been her heart.
"Shit-!" she cursed out loud, stumbling to the ground as she felt warm blood drip down her arm.
"WATCH OUT!!" The blonde yelled out, unable to aim a clear shot at the agent because of her position being behind Divya.
The man raised his sword, ready to strike.
Divya rolled away, causing the Fatui to look at her in confusion, before a blazing claymore slammed against him, forcing him towards the edge of the room.'
"You...pesky rats-"
He couldn't exactly continue due to his now broken arms inducing excruciating pain.
Grunting, the now severely injured Fatui raced out of the room, away from the trio.
"Are you alright?" Diluc asked the brunette, who was now getting fussed over by Lumine.
"I am. Thank you for saving me Master Diluc" She gave him a wide smile, her eyes glittering in full gratitude. It was a soft look, one that felt as though they were brushing their fingers against a bundle of feathers. It felt as though one were running their hands across the petals of a rose, caressing it gently.
Strange... Why do her eyes look that.... soft...?