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Liyue is such an enigmatic city. Though it is always filled with foreigners due to the harbor and it bearing the title of largest market harbor in the world, it never loses its charm of tradition and old heritage. Aether remembers the first time he stepped into the city, amazed at how it bustled lively with merchants, customers, and visitors alike. He remembers getting lost and Paimon getting excited about the prospect of tasting many different dishes that day.
Things haven’t changed much since then. Paimon still gets excited about the prospect of food, and Aether can’t seem to find his way around the city. Thankfully he now has Xingqiu, a reliable friend and a very willing tour guide. His father happened to be on a business trip, so they were able to spend some time together without being interrupted by his duty as the son of a very wealthy hot shot.
He had been meaning to introduce Venti to the young heir. They were both so alike, it was a bit scary. They shared many qualities.
The night hadn’t gone quite the way he imagined it would though. Truthfully, Aether knew Venti would end up taking the spotlight even though they were guests in this city and Xingqiu was showing them around, but he didn’t imagine it would be to this extent. The guy fell asleep on the table as soon as the food they ordered arrived. He drank ten entire bottles of wine by himself without offering them any, and now they had to struggle all the way back to their Inn.
Not that this is his and Paimon’s first time carrying Venti out of a tavern or in this case a restaurant, sadly enough.
“Paimon—“ Paimon paused to breathe as she pushed the sleepy bard forward, “—demands money for this babysitting job,” she gasped once Venti was properly placed on Aether’s back.
Aether carefully bounced on his heels to hoist his friend higher for a better grip, and when he felt the other was safe, he turned and grinned at his companion. “He doesn’t have any, remember?” Truly, mora was the first thought in Paimon’s head when she woke up, and the last thought before she went to bed.
“Why did we bring him with us again?”
His small, magical companion isn’t terribly fond of Venti when he is like this and never wastes an opportunity to make that known. She has warmed to the idea of Venti being around him, the two being best friends and all, but she never lets their first meeting go. Or the nickname she came up for him, tone-deaf Bard. It was understandable. Venti had a bit of an eccentric personality. It erred on the side of too free spirited and callous, yes, but he had plenty of other very endearing, very adorable characteristics. At least that’s what Aether thought, anyway.
In Venti’s defense, if Aether lived as long as him surrounded by greedy, evil humans, he would enjoy being inebriated too. Not all humans were like that, but no doubt overcoming the feeling of impotence was no easy feat. After all, he already feels crushed under the heavy weight of not being able to find his sister. Not to mention, Aether loved Venti’s forthrightness. It takes courage to say what you think without a care of being judged.
“Venti is our friend, Paimon. He’s free to drink if he wants, and he hasn’t been to Liyue for some time,” Aether assumed from the way the bard drank as if the liquor was going to disappear forever. Venti wasn’t apt to defend himself, so he took it upon himself to do it for him. It doesn’t escape him the way the bard would stare up wistfully at the Geo Archon statues whenever they walked by them. “Also, you’re one to talk! You can be a lot like him sometimes but in your own special way.” Like speaking without thinking, or saying things that shouldn’t be said to someone’s face.
“How is that an excuse exactly!?” Paimon argued but eventually dropped the subject in favor of making sure the sleepy bard wouldn’t slip off his shoulders.
The night was beautiful. He wished Venti had waited to get drunk so the two could’ve gone for a walk near the docks. The harbor was a stunning sight when the starry sky brightened everything underneath it. When his friend decided to come along with him on this trip, Aether thought he could finally have a nice, sweet moment with Venti outside of Mondstadt.
So much for that romantic stroll I thought he would like. The cheerful bard was always full of energy, they’ve had many evening strolls in Mondstadt, adding one from Liyue would’ve been nice. Earlier as they walked up and down the streets showing his friend how busy the port was during the day, Aether figured this place could be a presentable opportunity to let Venti know the extent of his feelings for him.
“Paimon is sorry you had to witness this, Xingqiu. Please keep inviting Paimon for more food when we’re visiting!”
Xingqiu giggled at her, catching up to them after getting the tab taken care of.
Aether wasn’t embarrassed because of Venti nor was he worried Xingqiu would regret befriending them. The guy was very prim and proper, but he could get down and dirty when it was necessary. First impressions aren’t always the best fodder for judgement of character, evidently.
“I don’t care.” The young heir’s response shocked Paimon more than Aether. “I trust your judgement of your friend over any opinion I could’ve formed in the small amount of time I spent with him. Though any place other than a restaurant would’ve been preferable for him to pass out.” His small companion floated around Xingqiu, making him laugh at how cute she looked staring at him with big, bright eyes. “Besides, you guys are so much fun. Aether, please take me along to more adventures.”
“Wow, Xingqiu is very mature! Tone-deaf bard could learn a thing or two from you.”
Aether decided to let his companion know it was time to be quiet with a pointed look. Subtlety wasn’t Paimon’s forte, but when she caught wind of what he was trying to silently say to her, she blushed and floated back to where Venti’s face was to check on him.
“I guess Paimon can admit Venti looked very happy tonight, happier than he looked when we first arrived,” his fairy-like friend admitted, smiling softly at the snoozy bard resting on his shoulders. “He probably doesn’t get to let loose like this often.” Paimon was treading into dangerous territory. His identity as Barbatos was supposed to be a secret between them, Diluc, and Jean. No one else unless Venti wanted it that way.
Aether rushed forward and walked next to his friend, leaving his companion behind, and they eventually arrived at their destination. Xingqiu and Paimon waited for him outside the Inn while he made his way up to the room they had for the night.
Venti’s weight on his back was rather comforting. It reminded him of the many times he did the same for his sister, before they landed in this world and were separated. His heart ached at the thought of her being scared and alone, in pain, or worse… dead. A long time has passed since he woke up from the attack, a very long time. Lumine could be anywhere, she could be gone and he wouldn’t even know it.
Stop, he thought to himself, don’t let yourself think that way.
Aether carefully lowered Venti onto the only bed—neither minded sharing one—then took a second to catch his breath. He didn’t understand how someone like Venti could be so heavy. He barely ate and was always running around the place.
Once the sleepy teen was settled on the bed, Aether did his best to get him comfortable. He removed his hat and shoes, and put them by the window. He removed his pouch where his lyre was safely held and left it by the bed, and he attempted to remove his cape but he only managed to undo the bow on it. The action made Venti spread out his arms, making it impossible for him to remove it completely without jostling him too much. His friend will have to be okay with that.
Venti was… so beautiful. He couldn’t help thinking as he looked down at his sleeping friend. He looked more like a God now than when he was awake. Ethereal. It made him feel strange in an unpleasant way sometimes, like he shouldn’t be so close and familiar with him, like they shouldn’t share the bond they share with one another.
The soft breaths coupled with how relaxed his face was brought a smile to Aether’s face. Venti was a free spirit and a playful person, but even the most carefree had their worries and their laments. It was no wonder they ran into each other in the forest that fateful day. The two of them had a knack for losing treasures.
No matter how long it takes him, Aether will find his sister and he will get Venti back his Gnosis.
Careful not to wake him, Aether brushed back Venti’s bangs and leaned over to press a warm kiss on his forehead. God or not, Venti needs help, and he needs protection at times. He will try his best to be there for him, if only so the bard doesn’t begin feeling hopeless. Not that it could ever be possible with the way he faced La Signora.
Moaning softly, Venti breathed in and rolled over to the middle of the bed, away from him.
Alright. He needed to walk Xingqiu back to his home and then get ready for bed. They had a busy week ahead of them.
When he stepped out of the Inn, Aether found Paimon and Xingqiu talking animatedly about a story he was currently reading. His meditative friend can try so hard to fit the bill of what an aristocrat is, but nothing will hide away how endearing he can be. At the end of the day, all Xingqiu cared about was justice and being an example of generosity.
“Ready?” He asked as soon as he reached them.
“Yes,” his friend smiled warmly and led the way down the busy street. “Paimon and I were discussing the story from the book you gifted me on my birthday.”
Ah yes. Xingqiu’s birthday passed recently and Aether thought the guy would appreciate a new martial arts’ novel. He was able to find one with Lisa’s help, but it cost him helping out dusting the shelves in the second floor of the library. His friend’s smile made it all worth it.
“Did you finish it already?”
“Of course! It was incredible. I was happy to read a different style of writing for a change.” Xingqiu reads so much it wouldn’t surprise Aether if he was done with it that same day he received the gift.
“I’m glad you liked it. If you ever come to Mondstadt with me, I can take you to the Knights of Favonius’ Library, you would love it.”
Paimon shook at the thought of visiting the library. “There are so many books, but the Librarian is so scary!”
Xingqiu glanced back at him and said, “I’d be delighted, my liege,” before turning back to the street. The endearing nicknames. That was another thing him and Venti had in common.
“Are you coming with us tomorrow?” Paimon asked all of a sudden. He didn’t get a chance to ask the young heir during dinner, but Aether would love it if he came along. Help kick some ass with his cool martial arts moves.
The teen didn’t take a second to think about it, he simply nodded and asked for details. “I have plenty of time to spare, take justice into my own hands.” Aether didn’t expect anything less from him. Xingqiu was inspiring at times, his moral compass was strong and unbudging in ways one wished they could claim.
“I have to pick up information on the commissions tomorrow morning, then we’ll go from there.” If they’re lucky the jobs will be short and sweet, and will not involve a lot of traveling. Even though he shouldn’t because of multiple valid reasons, Aether worried about Venti and his ability to heal.
They made it to the manor and the three stopped at the bottom of the steps going to the entryway. “A surprise! Even better.” Aether liked people like Xingqiu. Someone who was up for anything as long as it meant having fun or a good challenge.
“By the way, it wasn’t necessary to walk me home. I appreciate the offer nonetheless.”
“Of course we know that. Paimon has seen the kicking you do... impressive!”
Aether shrugged. “It’s the right thing to do, you spent almost all day with us. I’m sure you had better things to do. The least I could do is make sure you’re safe on your way home.”
The other teen laughed behind his hand. “How noble. Oh, tomorrow morning I will bring us breakfast and a special tea I’m sure your melodious friend will appreciate.” Venti will never live down the ridiculous songs he began to make up halfway through his bottles of wine.
“That would be great! Thank you, Xingqiu!” His fairy-like friend piped in, twinkling in happiness.
“Thanks. Venti will probably compose a song about you.” Aether smiled at the thought of his mischievous bard friend writing music for his mischievous bookworm friend.
“Hm. Should I give the art of storytelling a chance and write a story for him in return?” Xingqiu joked right back without missing a beat.
Paimon looked him in the eye and said, “oh, Paimon gets it. You wanted them to meet because they’re so alike.”
In his head, the day would’ve gone differently. Venti wouldn’t have drank so much, and instead he would’ve gotten to know Xingqiu more since the two of them are in fact very alike. Venti was free spirited and Xingqiu was scrupulous, but the two of them were fun, carefree, and mischievous.
He’ll have to ask Venti what he thought of Xingqiu when he’s awake. If he even remembers!
“Your friend Venti, he was interesting. I’m sure we’ll get to know each other more during our travels starting tomorrow.”
Nodding, Aether stepped back and waved at his friend goodbye. “I’ll get going then. I need to make sure Venti is okay. We’ll see you tomorrow, can’t wait to see what other moves you’ve mastered while I was gone.”
Xingqiu winked at him, then pressed a single finger against his own lips, letting him know he shouldn’t talk about that on the premises of his home. “You’re very fond of him, aren’t you? He’s very lucky to have someone like you and be so close with you.”
They didn’t get a chance to ask what he meant because the teen ran up the stairs and left them standing there.
“What did he mean by that?” Paimon asked, scratching the back of her small head.
“I think he was teasing.” In all honesty, sometimes Xingqiu was too mischievous. Venti was as transparent as the water that seems to always be reflected on his pretty eyes. This guy on the other hand was more reserved when it came to his verbal expressions.
Sighing, Paimon floated closer to him and rested her hands on her tiny hips. “Well, tone-deaf bard is lucky not because he has you, but because you have Xingqiu who will bring him a special tea to make him feel better tomorrow.”
That was a nice gesture. Sometimes he wondered how someone their age could be so mature. Out of the two, he was more mature than his twin sister. She wasn’t immature by any means, it was more that he had the gift of most maturity between them. Xingqiu could give him a run for his money.
“Time to sleep,” he waved to the magical companion and the two made their way back to the Inn.
It didn’t take long to get ready for bed. The second his head touched the pillow, Aether was out. They have been traveling a lot more lately, mostly because most of his commissions pull him to an unbelievable amount of places at the same time, as if he were five different people in one. It was hard to complain though, the money was good. The more mora he has, the easier it is to get around in this world.
Though sleep came to him easy, his rest wasn’t as pleasant. Aether wasn’t sure why, but he has been dreaming about Lumine lately. Always the same thing, too. Him chasing after her, wanting to touch her hand and bring her to him once and for all, but always being too behind, too late. It made his heart sink and his stomach churn thinking about the pain he saw on her face every single time he had the nightmare.
Paimon never noticed his discomfort because the little thing slept like a rock, so when he twitched awake after a rather cold and cruel nightmare, Aether was instead met with the pair of pretty blue-green eyes he loved so much, the ones that reminded him of home. If he were as poetic and romantic as Venti, he would say something like his eyes reflected the emotional currents of Aether’s turmoil, but he isn’t.
“Did I wake you?” He asked groggily, pushing himself up on his elbows.
Venti shook his disheveled head and yawned softly. “It’s okay, I woke up earlier as well. Where were you?”
“I walked Xingqiu home. You were passed out.”
The bard frowned. “How did I get to bed?”
Aether smiled at him. Waking up from nightmares wouldn’t be so bad if he always had Venti next to him. “I carried you to bed,” he replied before sitting up on the bed all the way. He glanced out the window and noticed it was later in the night by how the moon was positioned.
“Let’s go back to sleep. We have a long day tomorrow,” Aether muttered and slipped back under the covers. The usual would be to try to ignore the nightmare and get more sleep, but sometimes it was hard to put it behind him. When he noticed the other didn’t move, he asked, “what?” lowly.
“Are you okay? You were moving and mumbling while you slept. Like you were struggling.”
“I—“ At times Aether wished he were more eloquent with his words. Paimon constantly compliments him on his grasp of the language in this world, but sometimes all the knowledge in the world of words and meanings wasn’t enough to articulate the depth and pain of some feelings. “I had a bad dream about my sister,” he ended up saying without elaborating.
Venti seemed to have caught on because the teen reached over to grab his lyre and smiled down at him with the pretty instrument on his hands. “I know just what you need, a song which will help your heart of sadness rid... Want me to help you sleep?”
A soft lullaby begins to play as the other’s deft fingers strummed the magical, shimmery, long strings while he waited for a reply. Aether laid under the covers, looking up at Venti play with the lyre. The moonlight casting a serene picture of his friend, making his heart swell with love and adoration. “Sing for me?”
“Any requests?” The whisper made him shiver in exhilaration, it felt like the two were sharing an important secret between them.
Without any moment of thought, Aether muttered, “your favorite song.” He has always wanted to ask him to sing his favorite song. The bard probably had dozens or hundreds of favorite songs, but there must be one he holds dear to his heart for one reason or another.
Venti smiles sleepily at his request and begins to hum and sing along to a pretty but melancholic melody.
As much as Aether wanted to sleep, he couldn’t close his eyes and miss a second of the personal, private moment between them. The song was so pretty, it spoke of storm-shrouded hardships and rough terrains, it also spoke of dreams of epiphanies carried away on wings of birds.
When the lyre ceased to sound, and Venti sealed his lips, the end result was a bit embarrassing. He didn’t know why but his eyes teared up listening to such a beautiful yet somber song. It reminded him of—
“The song is absolutely beautiful,” he said, sitting up once again when he noticed the other’s doleful expression. “Venti?”
“Yes it is,” the bard set the lyre down on his lap and sighed quietly.
When a smile never graced his eyes, Aether worried. Only once before has he witnessed the depth of the sadness Venti carries around with him. It was subtle, the opposite of everything the bard encompasses, nonexistent to the mortal eyes if you didn’t know Venti the way Aether knew him. The pain knowing he could never make that sadness disappear was incomparable. Losing his sister and never being able to take that sorrow away both were.
“Hey, there’s no point in both of us being sad. Let’s go to the rooftop,” he pushed the covers off and grabbed Venti’s hand in his. He pulled him until the two had their shoes on and were climbing out of the balcony and up the sides of the walls like a pair of midnight criminals. Is keeping a God from getting his rest a crime?
Both teens stood at the very top of the Inn, looking down at the harbor glisten and smiling in satisfaction. The water shimmered, creating colorful shapes against the darkness of the deep sea. “I haven’t been here in a very long time, somehow it looks better and better as the years go by,” his friend shared as his eyes took in the beautiful sight.
He’s a beautiful sight, Aether’s subsconscious whispered like the figment of the devil on his shoulder.
When their eyes met once again, Venti grinned—the maneuvers from the mood change leaving Aether somewhat perplexed, yet, Venti has always been simple like that—and sat down on the cold clay roof tiles with a pat on his lap.
There was no argument from Aether, and so he sat next to the bard then laid to rest his head down on his lap. The unnoticed pounding on his temples subdued by Venti’s fingers carding through his hair soothingly. The bard’s ability to calm him was unmatched. Something about the way he always smelled of crisp air, the way his warm aura radiated enough to seep into Aether’s entire being whenever they were inches apart from one another.
A long moment of silence fell between them before his friend spoke again, bringing him back to reality better than before, with all his puzzle pieces back into place. “You’ll get your sister back, I believe in you.”
“Because I’m the hotshot of the Knights of Favonius?”
Venti giggled at the old nickname for him. He still used it occasionally, but with a strong touch of sarcasm to tease Aether. “Because I know you,” he whispered into the city. The echo of his words aiming a deadly arrow straight into his heart.
Sometimes when he was traveling alone from one place to the other, Aether would daydream about his relationship with the young bard, and wonder. He would wonder why he couldn’t be as nonchalant and brass as Venti, enough to tell him how much he meant to him. How happy Aether was for running into him all those months ago in the forest outside of Mondstadt. For following along his insane plans of stealing the lyre, and taking on monsters and—
“You would love her, you know?” Lumine is so pretty, witty, and an absolute delight. Anyone that meets her can’t help falling for the perfection that she is. “Lumine would go along with any crazy idea you get, I just know it.”
“Oh! She’s not all business like you, then?”
Well, both were pretty serious people, but Lumine was a tad bit more playful than him. She enjoys a good time over a good chase, stops to smell the flowers, praises the cook when she has a good meal, and loves to dance. Has more rhythm than him, too.
“She’s perfect.”
His friend sighed pensively as his fingers continued his gentle ministration. “I can’t wait to meet her.”
Aether lays like that for a long time. They silently watch the leisure path of the moon as the night turns nippier, forcing them to cuddle a bit closer. It was peaceful, heaven. The urge to bury his face on Venti and breathe him in until he can’t take no more gets harder to ignore the longer he feels him simply be.
“We should probably get back to bed. Xingqiu will be here in a couple of hours.” It felt wrong to interrupt the moment they were living, rob them of the peace they deserved after everything they’ve gone through together.
Someday we will be able to be like this without interruption, Aether thought to himself as he sat up to smile at the sleepy bard’s evident irritation.
Venti gave him a passing glance. “He’s coming with us tomorrow?” The question felt more like an accusation and Aether was at a loss of words.
“Why don’t you sound happy?” Despite the overflowing wine going Venti’s way, Aether doesn’t recall a single moment during the time they spent with Xingqiu that wasn’t pleasant. “You guys didn’t have a single disagreement! I was there, I know.”
“I was very nice and sweet the entire time.”
“As he was.”
The bard guarded himself by crossing his arms across his chest. The issue would’ve been dropped if Aether would’ve let him pout his way out of this one, but he was fascinated by what transpired.
“Xingqiu is amazing. He’s very smart, and possesses probably the best swordsmanship I’ve ever seen.”
As he expected, his friend squinted his eyes at him and said, “oh, I bet he is. He’s also a bit of a showoff.”
With laughing eyes and a light heart, Aether reached for Venti and pulled him against his body in a warm embrace. “You are a bit of a showoff,” he said while grinning at him. Their faces were so close and he could easily lean forward to kiss him on the lips. He won’t. This doesn’t feel like the right moment, during the right conversation. But I could, he reiterated.
Venti was smiling again and all was good in the world for Aether. “I’m a bard, it’s in my job description.” The teen’s arms sneaked around his shoulder, but Aether was more surprised when he closed his eyes and pushed himself up on his toes to press their foreheads together.
A bold, witty, mischievous, sweet bard at that.
Aether felt the bravest when his friend acted like what was happening between them wasn't completely new. This is new, them being all over each other without expecting anything out of one another. This is new, the strange magnetic pull that kept them wanting to breathe each other in until the rest of forever.
It was frustrating to know he could kiss him, but he won’t. Not here in this city, not after the ridiculous and enlightening conversation they had about the young heir he befriended at the speed of light last time he was in Liyue. The Anemo God, jealous of a mere mortal teenager, how scandalous.
“Let’s go,” he yawned against Venti’s warm cheek before pressing his lips to it. He did that to his nose as well, as a gesture of love and care for him. Aether knew he could do anything in life, but he also didn’t know where he would be if he hadn’t met Venti.
“Aether,” Venti spoke right before they began climbing down the roof. His name on his lips the manifestation of everything Aether needed that night to get through his demons. “We can hold hands while you sleep. Maybe it’ll prevent you from having another nightmare.”
“Thank you,” he accepted the offer with the ease that accompanied everything his friend set his mind to do.