Chapter Text
Xiao opened his eyes. He must’ve slept for a long time, as it was dark outside. His side was still tender, but the pain meds were doing their job. He still felt stiff all over though. He looked over to see Venti fast asleep.
He had never seen Venti sleep before. Should Venti really feel safe enough to sleep around XIao? Xiao believed he was dangerous, and that he hurt people. Venti’s clear show of trust made him doubt that a little. He’d never dream of purposely hurting Venti, maybe he was more in control than he thought.
Venti looked absolutely beautiful. His long eyelashes, and his pretty face, with his cheek smushed up against the pillow. His braids were undone, revealing wild, twisted up blue hair.
“(Maybe the future won’t be so bad after all.)” Xiao thought. “(If I get to have him in it.)”
Xiao drifted off to sleep again, to the sound of Venti’s gentle breathing.
“Kill them for me Alatus…”
Slash, splatter, Xiao had to heed his master’s wishes. Slash, scream, splatter, stab. His spear cut through bodies like butter. Slash, stab, the sky was red. The ground was muddy from blood and bodily fluids. Slash, scream, splatter, stab, the stench was strong and made his eyes water. He couldn’t stop, he had to keep going, he couldn’t think. He raised his spear again to plunge it into another victim. Wait, he remembered. He had someone to call for help now right? Venti…Venti…Venti…
Xiao gasped and sat up, then groaned from the pain in his side. He moved too fast. He looked around the room wildly. Where was he? He didn’t recognize it at first. Wait, someone was next to him. Venti? Suddenly reality flooded his mind. It had been a thousand years since then. He wasn’t covered in blood, he was clean. There was no stench of death, no chaos. In fact, it was a very peaceful morning, and the sun was gently pouring in through the window. Birds were singing, and Xiao could hear the creaking of people walking around the building. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and tried to steady his breathing. That was then, this is now. Things are alright now, and he’s in control.
Venti began to stir next to him, Xiao’s moving around must’ve woken him up. He grumbled and stretched.
“Morning Xiao…” Venti muttered.
“Morning Venti.” Xiao said tensely.
Venti looked up to see Xiao very tense, subtly rocking back and forth.
“Hey, you alright?” Venti asked.
Xiao nodded. “It’s nothing, just a bad dream.”
Venti sat up and leaned against Xiao, putting his head on his shoulder. “Do you wanna talk about it?”
“No…well….” Xiao sighed. “It’s just, sometimes, I remember bad things that happened in the past, and I have to remind myself that I’m here now. That’s all.”
“That happens to me too.” Venti replied.
“Really?” Xiao asked in disbelief.
“You know, Decarabian, the Archon War, the Great Calamity, I’ve seen a lot. I know you have too.” Venti said as he squeezed Xiao’s hand.
They were silent for a while.
“Hey, why don’t we step out on the balcony and take a look outside? So you can see that Liyue’s alright.” Venti suggested.
“I’d like that.”
Venti helped Xiao out of bed, and they walked out to the balcony. They went slow, since Xiao was still limping. The rising sun was casting long shadows from the mountains surrounding the marsh and plains. Xiao never got tired of that view. The waterways sparkling with sunlight, and the flying birds, and the wind making the grass and trees sway. They could see all the way to the Guili Plains ruins, and the mountains that blocked the view of the Harbor. Liyue looked perfectly peaceful and normal. The only possible dangers were the scattered hilichurl camps, but they were of little threat.
“See Xiao? Liyue’s just fine. You can afford to rest for a bit while you heal!” Venti said.
“Mmm. Yes.” Xiao said.
He was looking intensely for any sign of danger, but could not find a single thing. Some treasure hoarders maybe? Or they could just be travelers, they were far away. Venti saw Xiao anxiously checking the horizon.
“Xiao…it’s fine.” Venti said firmly.
Xiao sighed. “Yes…it’s fine…Venti?”
“Hm?”
“Could we go back inside? I wanna eat that almond tofu.”
“Of course! And I need to change your bandages too.”
They returned to their room, and Xiao sat on the bed and began devouring last night’s tofu. It had gone a little mushy overnight, but he couldn’t care less. His favorite food was a great comfort after such a harrowing day yesterday.
“You wait here and enjoy that tofu, I’ll go get you some fresh bandages.” Venti said.
Xiao thought he had ought to change the bandages himself, to be more self-sufficient. But Venti seemed to enjoy taking care of him, so Xiao would take that as his excuse. Venti soon returned with some warm water and more bandages. He silently began to peel off the old bandages, being careful to not disturb the wound and reopen it.
“You know Xiao, I don’t think you’re as bad as you think.” Venti said as he began to wipe down Xiao’s wound.
“What do you mean?” Xiao asked.
“Well, I really like hanging out with you. You’re very kind, and you don’t treat me differently because I’m a god. I appreciate that.” Venti explained.
“Hmm. Thank you, Venti. Maybe I am actually…a sweetie.”
Venti laughed. “See? You’re catching on!”
Venti wrapped Xiao back up with some fresh clean bandages.
“Venti?”
“Yes dear?”
“Can I braid your hair?”
Venti was surprised, he had totally forgotten that his braids were out.
“Oh! Yeah sure, let me get my hair ties.”
Xiao sat behind Venti and started brushing his hair out. It felt nice to take care of someone. He had never done it before.
“Your hair is really soft.” Xiao said.
“Thank you! So’s yours.” Venti replied.
Then Xiao realized something. “Uhm…actually, I’ve never braided hair before.”
Venti laughed. “Well here, let me show you.”
Venti turned around, and demonstrated with one lock of hair.
“So you make three strands, and wrap one like this, and then around the other, and so on!” He explained.
Xiao then tried to replicate it on the other side. He was trying to be extra careful. When he was done, Venti went to go look in the mirror. Xiao’s braid was a bit messy, and slightly longer than Venti’s.
“I can try again.” Xiao offered
“No! No. I love it.” Venti said, spinning around to make his braids twirl. “Can I try doing your hair?”
“Sure.”
Xiao was skilled and did his work well. With a confident slice, he knocked a mitachurl to its knees. Suddenly, he heard the roar of another one coming up behind him. Fear struck through his heart, but he skillfully dodged its axe and sliced its head clean off. Sometimes his work could be scary. Xiao didn’t need to be scared, though. If anything happened, all he needed to do was whisper a name into the wind.