Work Text:
It was a warm, breezy day.
All around you, there were the sights of lush green plants and Cecelia flowers in bloom dancing in the wind, of butterflies flitting between the blossoms, of dandelion seeds floating down to their final resting place. In the far distance, the ocean splayed out before your eyes, reflecting the bright blue sky before disappearing beyond the horizon.
You could hear the soft twitter of birds, flying to their nest and feeding their young. The rustle of leaves being blown about by the breeze soothed your soul, a serene feeling of absolute contentment settling deep within your chest.
The gentle sway of the wind brushed tenderly against your skin, the crisp air filling your lungs with the scent of morning dew, Cecelia nectar, and mint.
Hands, molded to create beautiful melodies, to bring freedom to the ones he loved, lightly threaded through the strands of your hair, touching you as if you were a precious artifact. Fingers that were usually strumming the chords of a well-known tune delicately massaged your scalp, producing in a constant stream of serotonin as he probed the exact places that he knew would make you melt.
Turning your head - which was currently in his lap - to look up at him, you gazed into his brilliant green eyes. He was staring out over the cliff the two of you currently presided on, his eyes holding a particular type of happiness that you found yourself wanting to see more of. His legs swung carefree over the edge of the precipice; he was simply enjoying the moment to look over the domain he once carved for the sake of his people.
Noticing your attention on him, his eyes focused on you, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly as he studied the expression on your face. “What’s wrong? You look concerned.” He glanced back up, towards the landscape of green, the small smile still playing on his face. “... You don’t have to worry about your responsibilities with me. We can forget all of that and be free. Together, there’s nothing better to be, my sweet.”
His way with words brought a small smile to your face, one of your hands reaching up to caress his cheek. “There’s nothing wrong.” You assured him, holding eye contact as your lips continued curling upwards. “You are very beautiful when you are happy.”
His hands stilled as he heard your words, cheeks dusted with red. “I’m always happy with you.” He told you after a moment, resuming the motions of his hands. “You mean a lot to me, to the people of my country. You have guided us through our perils of your own free will, and… saved me as well.” He told you, his voice quiet, looking back down and leaning his face into the hold of your hand.
You stayed silent. Venti - as he preferred to be called over Barbatos - was usually very happy and carefree, expressing his jovial side even during a crisis. However, he rarely, if ever, showed anything beyond that, keeping his true emotions and past close to his chest. Hearing this side of him simultaneously brought a feeling of smoldering sorrow and deep warmth to your chest; you didn’t wish to see him suffer, but you were glad he was confiding in someone, even if this was just a start.
You waited for him to continue, but no other words came. You didn’t push it - you wanted him to be comfortable sharing with you, to come to the decision of his own free will. You wanted him to trust you as much as you trusted him, and you were not going to force that. Instead, your hand moved farther up along his neck, and you leaned up as you pulled him closer to you. He didn’t need much coaxing to close the gap, and you closed your eyes as his lips met yours.
It was not the type of kiss that would lead to something more, nor just a peck on the lips. It was something deep, something sensual and slow, the pair of you pouring out your emotions into a single action. You felt a rush of affection bombard you, meshing with loneliness borne of hundreds of years with no one to count on, and the relief of finally finding someone that would truly listen. The moment felt like it lasted eons, but in reality, it was only a few seconds, with Venti pulling away to rest his forehead against yours. His eyelids lifted open halfway, fixing his gaze upon your own.
“... Thank you.” He whispered, his voice sounding a little shaky as his eyes fluttered closed. You sat up completely, now sitting next to him with your legs hanging over the edge of the ridge as well. Grasping his hand in yours, you squeezed it gently, prompting him to open his eyes. A light wind blew across you as he did, and you smiled kindly to him. His emerald eyes shimmered with no small amount of gratitude and wonder, feeling the love and acceptance you felt for him through the windows to your soul.
A million emotions scattered across his mind, reflecting in the orbs that shone no matter the time of day. The breeze tickled across your bodies, but the flowing hair obscuring parts of your vision did nothing to break the connection this moment created. The wind graced itself over his porcelain skin, and you swear you could see tiny Anemo particles and feathers fly into the air and dissipate as it blew against the god of wind.
Everything about him was ethereal, divine. You couldn’t take your eyes off him, wouldn’t even if you had the ability to. A million years to study him wouldn’t satisfy a fraction of your infatuation towards this being.
He swallowed, still staring at you as his hand clutched your own. After a minute, he exhaled in a huff and giggled, turning back to the scenery in front of him with a permanent smile attached to his face. “You know, Traveler, you really are one of a kind. You can’t find just anyone willing to love a god of a whimsical and leisurely mind.” He tittered, a cup of apple cider mysteriously appearing in his hands for him to drink.
A slight chuckle escaped your lips, returning the atmosphere to something more casual as you shook your head. “I wouldn’t want you any other way. And you better share.” You replied, nudging him playfully with your shoulder. You knew he would, he always had your cup.
“Of course, of course! I always have more for you, silly.” He exclaimed with a bright smile, bringing out an empty, beautifully sculpted glass and handing it to you. You reached out to take it gratefully, fingers intentionally brushing over and lingering, just for a moment...
His smile never faded, only increased in its affection. You gently pulled your glass away and held it out to him as he poured you some cider, the liquid almost overflowing the cup. The bottle disintegrated into the air, and his posture visibly relaxed as he took another swig of the sweet cider. “This moment, seated on the peak of the land I’ve carved, looking out at the wind blowing through the terrain..” He turned his head to do exactly that, his aqua eyes scanning the plains, the hills, the wildlife, and just nature in its purest form.
“... And being in the presence of someone life-changing, a person who will listen and help unfailing.” His words weaved themselves into a ballad subconsciously, and you could only stare, entranced. He turned to you, the hand that wasn’t in charge of his cup grabbing your hand and holding it tightly. He gripped your hands into a fist and rose them up, shaking the intertwined pair in front of the sky as he continued his poem. “Together we have helped bring freedom to our friends, and I hope to the winds that will never end.”
You squeezed his hand tighter and nodded, eyes sparkling in determination, admiration, and love. His smile widened and he let out a cute giggle, tossing his hair back a little as he sighed in contentment. “So, to the one I have come to love most, I daresay I must propose a toast.”
Your eyes widened at the statement, eyes practically glowing. He had never…
Before you could wrap your head around the words he just spoke, he continued, the enthusiasm in his stance and voice never losing its luster.
Taking his glass in his hand, he swung it upwards towards the sky, some of the alcohol sloshing out of it. “To liberty and love!” He declared, his eyes shining, his gorgeous smile unparalleled.
You rose your glass as well, clinking the two chalices together and watching as the cider intermixed between the two drinks. You already knew in your heart how you felt about the man sitting beside you; so you didn’t hesitate. A smile appeared on your face, reflecting his in luminosity.
“To liberty and love!”