Chapter Text
Venti can NOT cook. In his old life – and wow, isn’t that a weird thought, that he now has a life so completely new that he can actually say something like “old life” and mean it – he subsisted on a strict diet of take outs and instant meals, with the occasional easy to make breakfast food thrown in. He wasn’t even ashamed of it. His fingers were meant for first person shooters, dating sims, and the violin (although maybe not in that exact order), not chopping vegetables.
Which is why it’s slightly shocking to discover that Barbatos was apparently an excellent cook, and his body remembers it.
Is that what they call villain character depth? Sure, he might have been evil a tyrant and probably committed baby murder for fun, but his food made people cry from happiness? Venti sure doesn’t remember that in any of the wiki character profiles.
He stares at his hands suspiciously. The hands don’t stare back, because they’re hands, but surely they won’t accidentally poison someone without his knowledge, right?
Amber doesn’t seem to share his hesitance. “Lord Barbatos, this is delicious!” She exclaims around a mouthful of almond tofu. It might be the third or fourth time she had said it – he got distracted by thinking of all the possible evil things Barbatos could have done with kitchen skills.
“It’s only so-so,” Paimon huffs. This is her third serving.
“I’m sure the Last Yaksha would enjoy it,” the Traveler says, smiling. She has finished her own serving, and is now only holding Xiao’s, ready to climb back to the roof and try again.
In all honesty, Venti isn’t sure he even wants to see Xiao.
Maybe that moment on the roof where he wanted to climb Xiao like he was a McDonald’s Play Place was a fluke! Actually, that definitely is what it was! He’s got transmigration brain disease, which made him temporarily betray his ideals, but a good night’s sleep has cured him and he’s fine now. He just doesn’t want to tempt fate and see him again, that’s all.
Naturally, fate has its own plan for him. “Traveler, Traveler!” The panicked cry comes from below them, and the Traveler doesn’t even bother to sigh in irritation before she runs towards the sound, Paimon and Amber on her heels. Venti follows along much more leisurely, so he only arrives in time to see the Traveler nodding her head in response to something the man said.
“So what have you signed us up to do this time?” Venti sighs, already preparing himself for whatever inane task they were asked to complete. It’s one thing to be able to grind favor points by completing random side-quests, but it’s quite another thing to have to do it yourself! And especially since it looks like the Traveler isn’t even accumulating favor points with anyone so far. This game didn’t have a general route, right?
“Not us,” the Traveler says unexpectedly, thrusting the Almond Tofu into his hands. “Amber and I will go deal with the monster camp—You go find Xiao again.”
It’s only years of rhythm game practice that prevent Venti from dropping the dish completely. “What?!”
She raises her eyebrow at him. “Unless you wish to go fight a camp of geovishaps…?”
No he certainly doesn’t wish that! But he wishes to see Xiao even less! “I could just wait—surely he would much prefer to receive this offering from you.”
“Why?” She frowns in confusion.
“Uh – “ He can’t really say because you’re the protagonist, so he just shuts his mouth again.
“Augh, stop being so lazy!” Paimon admonishes him. “You haven’t been helping at all! We really should have just left you behind…”
Surprisingly, it’s Amber who comes to his defense. “I’ve enjoyed his stories! You’re a great entertainer,” she assures him. It would sound slightly condescending coming from anyone else, but he’s convinced Amber doesn’t have an insincere bone in her body.
“Enough, Paimon,” the Traveler cuts her little companion off before she can continue to berate him. “We should go before the geovishaps get far. Just try your best with him,” she tells Venti. “I’m sure he won’t hurt you.”
Watching them walk down the stairs, Venti wishes he was as sure as she apparently is. With a sigh and a groan he starts walking upstairs. He just has to tell Xiao what happened to Rex Lapis, right? Just some plot advancing conversation, and he can make his escape. Easy!
He reaches the roof, which is predictably empty. As he considers what to do (he could call his name, but maybe that would be presumptuous? But calling him by his title is such a mouthful…), the problem solves itself, and Xiao materializes out of nowhere in front of him.
Augh, so cool….!
“You.”
Venti chuckles nervously. “Me!”
Xiao scans the area around them. “You’re alone.”
“Haha, yes… The others had to go deal with some geovishaps.”
Xiao’s eyes snap back to him. “Dangerous.”
Not really? The Traveler was pretty high-level at this point… “Not a challenge to our Traveler, I assure you! Have you not heard the stories?”
The adeptus remains quiet, but his eyes are still focused on Venti, making him nervous. And when Venti is nervous, he babbles. “She defeated Andrius, Wolf of the North Wind, in single combat! Conquered all of Mondstadt’s domains! Freed the land from its tyrannical ruler—” Before he can finish the sentence, Xiao moves so fast it almost looks like he teleported again, slamming Venti against the railing.
“She did what?”
Personal space, personal space!!! Just because we’re in a dating sim doesn’t mean you have free permission to kabedon, you know! “Um. Which part…?” He tries not to breathe in too deep—they’re so close together that Xiao’s body heat feels almost overwhelming compared with the cold of the night, and every lungful of air just brings them closer together. He smells good, he can’t help but notice ruefully. Because of course he would smell like fresh air and sandalwood, and something a little bit spicy underneath.
“What happened to Mondstadt’s ruler?” Xiao grinds out behind clenched teeth, and Venti. Freezes.
Oh no. He does have a vendetta against Barbatos! Is he mad that the Traveler beat him to it??? Is he hoping that she simply locked him in a cage, ready for Xiao to finish the deal?????
Venti had simply meant that by taking him with her, she freed up the city, but he can’t say that now!! Death flag, death flag!
“Haha! Not sure! You would have to ask the Traveler—” With a quick twist of his torso he breaks Xiao’s hold, putting a few steps in between them. Finally, he thrusts out the prepared dish. Time for a topic change. “Anyway, this is for you!”
Xiao first blinks at the dessert, and then at him. “What.”
“The proprietor told us it was your favorite. Made it myself! Not to brag, but I’m a pretty good cook.” Or at least, Barbatos was. “You’ll hurt my feelings if you don’t at least try it.”
Xiao looks at him like he’s crazy, but at last takes the food from Venti’s hands. He looks like a bird, he thinks, unable to not be endeared by the sight of Xiao almost dainty pecking at the food, before being satisfied by its quality and beginning to devour it. Venti, sensing a now captive audience, launches into telling him exactly what happened in Liyue Harbour—well, maybe with a few embellishments, to make it a really good story.
“Rex Lapis… I can’t imagine…” he breathes out the words once Venti finishes his tale. He looks devastated. It washes over his lovely features like an avalanche, carving harsh lines into his forehead, the edges of his mouth. His fingers tremble around the now empty plate. It’s disconcerting to see him like this—the strongest of warriors, unmoored.
Venti remembers an afternoon spent, not long ago, browsing Xiao’s wikipedia page. He remembers the story of Xiao’s captivity and subsequent freedom. He had thought the story trite then, scoffed at the cliche, but it’s… oh, it’s different now, isn’t it?
Those aren’t just characters anymore. The Traveler isn’t a silent protagonist, and Amber isn’t a plucky sidekick. Venti had still been thinking about them as such, but it’s in the face of Xiao’s grief that he has to re-evaluate. He should have expected it—this is a crucial character beat for every transmigration story ever, after all. The moment the main character understands that he is part of the story, or that the story is now part of him. Maybe he thought it wouldn’t happen to him, that he would be able to keep himself separate. Know truth from fiction, so to speak.
He’s an absolute idiot.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” he says quietly. It feels wrong that he should be the one to be here. He isn’t the Traveler, otherworldly and prescient. He isn’t one of the other adepti, who can share in his grief. He isn’t even Amber, who always seems to know what to say to cheer someone up.
A strangled noise leaves Xiao. “What do you know of my loss, mortal?” he snarls, but then seems to catch himself and he turns away from Venti. The anger drains away from him just as quickly as it appeared, leaving him looking… smaller, somehow. Venti feels the sudden urge to take his hands in his, like a child offering comfort.
But he’s nothing to Xiao—just another mortal asking for his help, another burden on his karma. Worse, he’s actively lying to him, knowing full well what has become of Rex Lapis, of the role he plays in this charade. The knowledge twists inside of him, suddenly feeling slimy and wrathful.
Xiao, unaware of Venti’s newfound moral dilemma, straightens himself. “I will seek out Moon Carver, Mountain Shaper, and Cloud Retainer. Decisions must be made regarding the Liyue Qixing, and their role in this.”
“Wait!” Venti finds himself blurting out. He’s surprised to see Xiao actually obey, turning once more to face him. Feeling himself blush, he stammers out: “Um. Didn’t you want to ask the Traveler about Mondstadt?”
………………………… Why…….. did he just……… say that……………
“And! I’m sure the Traveler would want to talk to you first before you meet the others! Maybe she had something to ask of you that she didn’t mention before… And actually, you should really stay in case the geovishaps prove too much and they need reinforcements,” he hastens to add, sweating furiously.
Xiao frowns. “You said she is capable.”
“She is! But you never know, right?” he laughs nervously. He doesn’t know why he’s saying any of the things he’s saying. Doesn’t know why suddenly, making sure Xiao doesn’t just leave to be alone with his grief and his anger is his number one priority. “I could make you another almond tofu if you want.”
Xiao looks down at the empty plate, as if he has entirely forgotten he was holding it. Slowly, he hands it back to Venti. “It was… good.”
Instinctively, Venti beams. “Right? I’m glad you enjoyed it! So, what about it—will you stay? I promise I’m a good companion.”
Xiao stares at him. “I do not even know your name.
Uh-oh. “Venti,” he blurts out. “My name is Venti. And you’ve met the Traveler, Amber and Paimon.” Speaking of—what is the Traveler name? Surely she has one, even if the game never had a canon version. He should probably ask her at some point.
“Venti,” Xiao says his name slowly, as if trying out the shape of it on his tongue. “You’re from Mondstadt.”
“That’s me! Just a humble bard from Mondstadt.”
“Why have you joined the Traveler?”
“To gather more stories, of course! Nothing like getting them straight from the source, you see. She is sure to make some fantastic ones.” He doesn’t even need his game knowledge to know that much. The protagonist aura pretty much shines out of her every pore.
It’s a contemplative look that Xiao gives him now. Less intense than previous ones, maybe, but no less heady for it—Venti loves being the center of attention: loves an audience, big or small, loves being able to captivate it with his words or his music, or even just himself and all that he is. But there’s something different about being the center of Xiao’s attention, like he’s prey and predator all at once.
“I will stay until morning,” he finally says. “If they are not back yet, I will make my way to the others.”
Luckily, the Traveler is competent in most things, slaying monsters chief amongst them, and she and the others are back with plenty of time before dawn. Venti quickly fills them in, finishing with:
“Also, I told him my name is Venti.”
Paimon, predictably, screeches. “Liar!”
“I’m not!” Venti defends himself. Whatever, it’s not like they would know any of Barbatos’ deep lore anyway. “It’s a name I used to have, a long time ago.”
“Is there a reason you’re hiding your identity from the Last Yaksha?” the Traveler asks. Of course she realized what Venti was trying to do. She is the protagonist, after all.
“I… believe Xiao has less than positive feelings about Barbatos,” Venti admits. “I don’t know for what reason—as far as I remember, we have never met—but I believe it will be easier for us to continue journeying together if this knowledge is withheld from him.”
Amber nods her head slowly. “A fresh start, right?” she says, her tone so sympathetic it makes Venti feel guilty for ever even thinking about lying to her.
“Something like that.”
“Venti it is then,” the Traveler agrees. She looks at Venti knowingly, a smile teasing at her lips. “And Xiao, was it?”
Venti refuses to blush. “He is waiting for you upstairs. He wishes to ask about me—Barbatos, that is.”
They go back upstairs. The Traveler and Amber must be tired, but they show no sign of exhaustion, which impresses Venti to no end. He only had to suffer a mildly uncomfortable conversation, and he still feels like he would like to sleep for a week.
Xiao is waiting for them already. His eyes sweep across Venti’s companions, looking for any wounds. When he doesn’t find any, he says: “You’re an accomplished warrior.”
“We do alright,” she agrees. Next to her Amber puffs up in pride. “Thank you for your concern.”
Xiao scoffs. “I was not concerned, human. If you failed at your mission, I would have had to intervene.” Ah, the rudeness is finally back.
But the Traveler doesn’t look too bothered by it. “I’m glad I didn’t have to add to your burdens, then. Venti tells me you have questions for me?”
Abruptly, Xiao turns his head to the side, his hair sweeping across his eyes. “It is… of no matter. An idle curiosity and no more. We should move out.”
Venti raises his eyebrow. For how insistent he was before, it’s surprising how easily he waves it off now. But before he has the opportunity to press (not that he should, really), Amber asks: “You will join us?”
“There are things I must ascertain,” Xiao says, and then refuses to elaborate further. Venti feels a slight apprehension. It’s as if he had missed an important side quest without even knowing it. What use might Xiao have of following the Traveler around? Could he force a romance route into existence by sheer force of his personality?
“We are happy to have you, Xiao,” the Traveler smiles at him, seemingly sharing none of Venti’s concern. “I look forward to fighting at your side.”
Xiao inclines his head, but stays silent. They stand in awkward silence for a moment. “So…” Venti starts.
“We go back to Childe,” the Traveler says, ignoring Paimon’s groan. Even Venti makes a face, but schools it back when he notices Xiao looking at him. He moves closer to him. “Childe assisted us in escaping the Millelith,” he whispers to explain. “He’s a bit of… an acquired taste.”
“I have no wish to acquire it,” Xiao says dryly, and Venti has to choke down a laugh. He doesn’t remember Xiao having a sense of humor!
“Yes, well. He’s useful enough, unfortunately. Between you and me, I think he’s a bit too impressed with our Traveler, if you know what I mean.” Xiao’s blank look is enough to tell Venti that he does not know what he means, but that’s alright. It’s still pretty funny.
Maybe having Xiao in the party won’t be so terrible after all.