Chapter Text
He couldn’t believe his eyes. After pulling an all-nighter and writing for days, he had finally managed. He looked at the envelope endearingly; it looked shining under the bright sun light. Today was a beautiful day with clear sky and fluffy clouds. Mika was so enchanted by the poem that he almost bumped into a flower stand.
It had taken him ages to decide on the prettiest paper and the fanciest ink. It had been a difficult choice. On the other hand, the pure white envelope was elegant and graceful like a white swan.
But then the paper with the color of vanilla and golden decorations looked luxurious and formal. Which one described his feelings better? Which one would complement the poem and its receiver the best?
Eventually Mika had made up his mind. After all that hard work he was finally holding the poem in his hands. He had spent hours on making sure every character and symbol looked just as nice as it could.
Mika knew he had a pretty handwriting. It was cute and clear, and he was often praised for it. All the other knights could always easily make sense of his notes – no matter how hurried they were.
Still, he wasn’t completely satisfied with the handwriting. But that was his self-doubt talking and it tended to talk very loudly every time he was trying something new.
But now the poem was done! He walked with confident steps on the cobblestone street.
Now, all he had to do was to give the letter to Venti!
‘Oh.’
The thought sank in. He froze still.
‘Right.’
He hadn’t thought that far.
Maybe he could slip the letter into Venti’s pocket somehow. Ah, he wasn’t sneaky and subtle enough for that. Even if he waited until Venti had passed out from all the wine he drank at Angel's Share, Mika wouldn’t manage to do it unnoticed. The bard might not notice him but there was no way the bartender or other customers wouldn’t notice him. He could even be accused of pickpocketing! How embarrassing would that be! No, no way. That plan was too risky.
Maybe he could leave the letter somewhere for Venti to find. But Venti didn’t really have a place; he seemed to stay and go wherever and whenever he wanted. Sometimes Mika saw him skipping along the streets and when Mika blinked, the bard would be gone.
His Anemo vision really helped him move like a gust of wind.
Speaking of wind…
“Oh no!”
His hard work was currently escaping high into the sky. The envelope got further and further from him to the point it started to look like a snowflake. He probably didn't hold on tight enough.
“Leave it to me!”
A red flash appeared when Amber circled gracefully in the air and grabbed the letter before it left the city.
Amber occasionally struggled with assignments and writing reports, but she was the most skillful glider Mika had ever seen. All he could do was to stand there watching in awe how she rescued his precious poem.
Smoothly Amber descended next to him and handed the paper back to him. Not a single tear or wrinkle, it was in a perfect condition.
“Here you go!” she smiled brightly.
“Ma’am- I mean miss Amber, thank you!” Mika corrected himself; he remembered that Amber didn’t care for formal titles. “This is very important… I don’t know what I would do if I lost it!”
“Whew! Good thing I was around then.” The outrider smiled and then looked at the envelope. “What is it? Another report? Oh, right! Thank you so much for helping me out. You were a big, big help!”
“Uhm, y-you’re welcome”, Mika looked down embarrassed at being complimented so loudly, “this is… something else.”
He felt shy and his grip tightened around the paper.
‘I better not mention what it is, or she might want to read it’, he thought. Amber could be very persuasive; he wouldn’t be able to refuse her if she asked.
“Oh, I see. Soooo, it’s something that important”, she grinned at Mika’s reddening cheeks, “it’s good you didn’t lose it then!”
Mika nodded staring at his shoes and fiddled with the corners of the envelope. Amber stayed quiet and then her eyes softened.
“Hey Mika”, she said gently, “I’m sure it will go well. Whatever it is.”
Mika looked up and gave her a small smile.
“Thank you”, he answered quietly.
They parted ways. Amber had promised to Eula that they would meet for coffee so she had to leave. Mika walked back and forth on the streets of Mondstadt.
He was trying to figure out what to do next when a gentle gust of wind carried beautiful notes to his ears.
They were single, lazy notes and calm longer melodies that blended into quicker ones. The tempo changed on the fly. He even heard part of the same song he had heard at the market square a couple of days ago. Mika swallowed down his nervousness and took slow, small steps towards the sound.
The music grew louder and clearer with every step.
He peeked around the corner of the stone wall close to the cathedral. Then Mika saw him, loafing around in the courtyard strumming lazily on his lyre. The bard was lying on a bench, enjoying the warmth of sunlight and the occasional refreshing breeze. Venti was surrounded by a dozen of small birds: sparrows, pigeons, and finches. The birds were sitting on the bench next to him, hopping around on the pavement and sitting in the trees.
But what really captured Mika’s eyes was how Venti seemed to be having a chat with the birds while playing random notes on his lyre. Mika could only hear a word from here and another from there, but he was sure the birds were chatting at him as well. Occasionally a bird would answer him with a chirp or a whistle. Some were singing along the lyre.
Mika took a slow step closer so he would stay hidden, only for his foot to hit a stray rock which flew towards the birds and scared them away.
Venti didn’t get startled, but he had a surprised look on his face when he watched the birds flying away. Then he gave a knowing look towards the corner where Mika was hiding. Mika felt the pressure to make an entrance, Venti must have noticed him. He panicked and walked forward.
“I-I’m sorry!” he bowed. “I didn’t mean to interrupt you! Or scare them away.”
Venti tilted his head slightly, looking at Mika curiously. He attached his lyre to his waist with a belt before standing up.
“Don’t worry about it”, the bard laughed sheepishly, “I know you didn’t mean any harm. The birds are just timid and afraid of everything, that’s all. You can stand up now.”
Timid Mika got up and didn’t know what to say. He opened his mouth a couple of times but closed it every time without saying a word.
“May I help you?” Venti asked, offering Mika some much needed support.
“I-I...”, Mika stuttered. His hands had started to sweat and now the paper was getting a little damp from the sweat. His legs were trembling when he finally managed to say something.
“Actually I… I was looking for y-you.”
“Eeeh?” Venti raised his hand to his chest and looked surprised. “Oh, what have I done now? For the Front-Line Surveyor of the Knights of Favonius himself to come looking for me personally!”
Then he grinned and waited for a response, genuinely interested. Usually when Mika came bringing gifts, he did it after a show and while hiding in the middle of the crowd so he wouldn’t stand up too much.
It was rare for him to seek Venti out all alone like this. Mika was starting to feel like a stalker for showing up so suddenly and he hoped that Venti wouldn’t think like that.
“You- “, Mika began, all shy from all the attention Venti was giving him, and focused on his shoes while talking, “you keep giving us these amazing performances, new songs, poems, everything that… So… I-I wanted to sort of… write you one as a t-thank you for all the things you do for us, for Mondstadt.”
He held the letter forward with both hands. His hand trembled when he waited for the bard to take the letter so he could run home and bury his head in a pillow.
“A poem, just for me?” Venti gasped with a faint blush on his face.
But then he said something that made Mika’s blood freeze.
“Maaaybe… you could read it to me?” Venti asked innocently, his green eyes twinkling, “you know, since I’m always the one performing. It could be fun to be on the other side for once.”
Mika looked up. Then at Venti and then at the letter in his hands.
He was proud of his writing. Proud enough to gift it to his idol, at least. But performing… even if it were just the two of them. In some ways it was even worse that there weren’t others around.
“I-I…”
“Oh, it’s okay. I was just kidding. You don’t have to- “
“I’ll do it!”
Venti’s soft voice and charming smile were too much to resist. Mika watched in shock; he couldn’t stop his hands from opening the letter. It was like he was put under a spell.
He cleared his throat several times. His voice was shaky when he began to recite the poem.
“I see these dandelion seeds/
Swaying back and forth in wind/
Around me they twirl and spin/
In a loving dance, they pull me in”
Mika's gaze remained focused on the paper as he continued, his voice growing steadier with each line.
“I hear these enchanting notes/
In a gentle embrace, they pull me in/
The music, the sound, around me floats/
Making my emotions well up within”
Mika quickly glanced at Venti’s face. The bard's expression was a mix of surprise and admiration.
“With your melodies in the air/
I'm at ease/
Under the sky of Mondstadt/
Your presence, like a gentle breeze”
When he finished and fell silent, his heart was racing in his chest. The courtyard stayed so quiet that all he could hear were his own heartbeats and the blood rushing to his face.
Then a sound of applause broke the silence.
Mika looked up from the paper questionably. Venti was clapping his hands in with a wide smile on his face.
“Thank you”, the bard smiled softly, “that was very beautiful.”
Mika's cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and pride. “…I just wanted to express how much you mean to me… I mean y-your music! How much your music means to me!”
He put the poem back into the envelope and gave it to Venti who received it with full of thankfulness.
Venti chuckled softly. “Well, you definitely succeeded.” He looked at the envelope with fondness before putting it into his vest. He picked up the lyre and gave it a serious look before he started to play.
“Wow, it’s overwhelming to think that my songs can inspire feelings like that”, Venti continued while absentmindedly strumming his lyre. “It truly touched my heart that my music inspired you enough to write this lovely poem.”
Venti looked Mika straight into his eyes and for once Mika didn’t avoid the eye contact.
“Thank you, Mika.”
“Y-you’re…. you’re welcome”, Mika felt his cheeks burning but this pleasant warmth in his chest was strong enough to cover all the anxiety he still felt.
It was as if time itself had paused on the courtyard. Just the two of them. And the occasional notes floating around them.
“Hehehe”, the bard suddenly giggled.
“W-what is it?” Mika flinched.
“You’ve given me so much inspiration today! And as a thank you, I shall play you a song more beautiful than anything you have ever heard! You might want to show up to my next performance. I have a feeling that my next song might tell a heartwarming story of a young cartographer overcoming his shyness.”