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Late nights at Angel’s Share weren’t unusual for Venti.
He’d created a rather rocky relationship with Diluc, drinking until he’s passed out and drooling across the bartop. He can’t remember the last time he woke up in his own bed instead of the back room, a wet rag thrown at his face. Diluc was constantly annoyed by Venti’s antics, he knew that, but Venti knows he really has a heart of gold. After all, he could be waking up in the back alley behind the tavern instead of the back room, but he has yet to see the day when Diluc is so fed up.
Tonight is no different.
Giddy and giggling, Venti calls for another round. He strikes up a conversation with another bard who is picking nervously at a fiddle, her eyes shifting around as if to check who’s watching.
“Play us a song!” Venti slurs, grinning excitedly. He always loved a good performance.
“O-oh!” The bard is nervous, he can tell, but still seems grateful that someone’s paying attention to her. “Do you have any special requests?”
“Hmm, how about ‘A Yaksha’s Regret’ ?” Venti replies, gaze hazy. He can’t remember if that’s one that is known around these parts, but the answer becomes clear when the bard’s face twists in confusion.
“U-um,” she begins in protest, and Venti fans his request away with his hand.
“Pardon me and my obscure tastes, just play the ‘ Tale of Two Queens.’ ” He says definitively, ignoring the wobble in his barstool. “A classic!”
Diluc shoots Venti a glare from across the tavern, but Venti doesn’t notice.
The bard perks up a bit at that, her shoulders raising as she brings the bow of her fiddle to the strings, tuning precisely before she presses hard to begin the song. The sound of the fiddle slices through the air, and it's refreshing to drink in every movement of the bow upon the strings.
Venti sways along to the music, lifting his lager to his lips happily. A fiddle's sound was always refreshing. He loved how the music could sound so messy- however, a true musician knows that you can only sound so intricately messy with such raw skill and talent.
He finds himself daydreaming with each scratch of the fiddle, the fourth mug of beer finally taking its toll. His head gets heavier as he sways, eventually allowing his head to hit the wooden countertop with a loud thunk.
Not even a minute later, Venti is awoken by a scorching thump to his temple, and he yelps in surprise. Sitting up, bleary-eyed and sleepy, he catches the figure of a very disappointed Diluc Ragnvindr standing in front of him, arms crossed.
“You can’t sleep here,” Diluc declares with a scowl.
Venti frowns pathetically, draping himself across the counter.
“But- Master Diluc, you always take care of me, right?” Venti whines. He really didn’t feel like walking home in this state, especially so late at night. “Look- Here, I’ll even go to the back room myself, that way you don’t have to-,”
“No, you can’t stay here tonight.” Diluc had blocked off Venti’s path from where he’d tried to stumble behind the bar. The other patrons were watching, albeit rather lazily. The rest of them seemed to be nearing the same drunken state Venti was in. “I have a private party booked all day tomorrow. You have to go home.”
Venti pouts, leaning against the wooden post on the end of the bar. He tries to make himself look as desperate as possible, like Diluc is his only hope for salvation tonight.
“ No , you damn bard.” Diluc growls, his scowl growing. He’s always been the grouchy type, but Venti’s a little surprised to see him put his foot down so stubbornly like this. “You need to get someone to take you home, it’s not safe going out in your state.”
“But, but-,” Venti stammers at one last attempt.
“Find someone to take you home, Venti.”
It’s one of the only times Venti has heard Diluc use his actual name instead of some insulting word attached to ‘bard’ like usual. That’s what makes Venti finally give in.
“Fine, fine,” He murmurs, lips barely moving and slurring his speech. He couldn’t even walk straight, there was no use arguing with Diluc. “I got this, don’t worry,” Venti declared, stabilizing himself with one hand on the top of the barstool he was once sitting at.
It was well the middle of the night, no doubt day would break in just a few hours, but that didn’t stop Venti from filling his belly with a large breath, shouting at the top of his lungs. He disturbed the other patrons of the tavern (probably for the better so that Diluc didn’t have to wake them up and shove them outside along with Venti) and got a few nasty glares as he called out a name.
One single name. The only name he’d remember, even if he lost everything else.
“Alatus!”
The silence that follows directly after is absolutely deafening, moreso than the tiny bard’s screaming voice.
Then, in an instant, the tavern door is knocked in by a sheer brute force, and the figure of a man comes stumbling in. He’s the spitting image of everything fiery and vengeful, growling hungrily and wiping black ichor off of his brow. He’s practically steaming as he lifts his glowing mask from his face, the most frightening scowl etched into his expression. He looks dazed for a moment, his jade weapon pulled as if he were ready for a battle, the ends of the spear layered thickly in deep black blood. Demon blood.
“ What? ” He hisses, voice gravelly and booming throughout the small tavern. “Who’s called me to such a place-”
“My my, you’re so dirty!” A bubbly voice calls.
His eyes immediately dart to Venti’s, his gaze lowering considerably. He lets his shoulders drop with a sigh, realizing the situation.
“Barba-,” He clears his voice, correcting himself, “Venti, why have you called for me?”
“Hmm, well,” Venti staggers on his way to greet the man at the door, “I need someone to take me home.”
It was as simple as that. Diluc, behind the bar, looked about ready to smash his head into the wall with the way he was gripping the bridge of his nose and with the thick vein popping out of his forehead. The rest of the patrons, including the bard with the fiddle, stared dumbstruck at the demon slayer in the doorway of the tavern. They’d think it was some sort of bizarre dream tomorrow, no doubt, but the gazes still lingered, even as Venti wiped some black ichor off of the man’s cheeks.
“Sorry, what is it they call you nowadays?” Venti’s slurred words are smooth, almost velvety in his ears. “Xiao?”
Xiao’s lips twitch slightly, and a faint blush grows to the tip of his nose.
“Yes. That’s my name.”
Venti’s cloudy eyes twinge as he grins, his small hands running over the tattoo on Xiao’s right arm. Xiao’s muscles involuntarily flex, and Venti briefly catches the way his golden eyes are watching Venti’s movements.
“Enough.” It’s Diluc’s voice that breaks the tension, the atmosphere around them growing thick enough that one would be able to cut with a butter knife. “Get out of my tavern, you irresponsible bard. I’ll put it on your tab, like always.” Diluc shoots Xiao a look, one a bit indecipherable. “Though your tab needs to be settled eventually .”
Ah, so that was what he’d meant.
“Come on,” Xiao grumbled with a sigh, sliding his spear onto his back and sweeping Venti off his feet in two swift motions. He kicks the door to Angel’s Share closed with his foot.
Venti wraps his arms around Xiao’s neck, leaning into his embrace, humming n intricate tune. His feet swing along, over the side of Xiao’s strong arms. It’s cute, the way Xiao carries him like he’s a bride on their wedding day. Venti giggles into Xiao’s shoulder at the thought, his face blown red. Whether it was from the alcohol or Xiao’s arms around him, heroically carrying him to safety, Venti couldn’t exactly pinpoint it- but he knew it was something of the sort. (Maybe both, if he was being completely honest with himself.)
The wind whistles softly, owls cooing as they pass overhead. Xiao breaks the silence first.
“Aren’t you a nomad?” He asks suddenly, his pace slowing as he reaches the outskirts of Mondstadt.
Venti hums in affirmation, voice dripping with drunken sleepiness. “Sure am.”
“So… You don’t have a home?” Xiao’s voice has a downward lilt to it.
“The wind is my home, Alatus,” Venti murmurs wistfully, smushing his face into Xiao’s shoulder. (It’s the shoulder without the spikes, he’s at least grateful for that.)
Xiao’s cheeks darken even further, unable to keep his blush off of his face.
“It’s Xiao now, in the mortal realm...” He responds, sounding a bit airy and dry.
Venti’s deep turquoise eyes glimmer with the light of the moon as he gazes up at Xiao, and Xiao has the unfortunate pleasure of making eye contact with such beauty. He’s always been beautiful, Xiao knows, but it’s even harder like this when Venti doesn’t have as much control as usual. Venti’s cold, small hand touches to the corner of his mouth, fingertips stroking his bottom lip.
“Are you too good for me now, my golden-winged king?” Venti whispers, his voice suddenly enunciated properly as if he were sober.
Xiao halts, clenching his jaw tightly. They’re stood underneath the great tree in Windrise now, illuminated only by the moon and the seelies milling about the branches. Xiao breaks eye contact with Venti, unable to withstand it for much longer. With the way his heart is pounding in his chest, he doesn’t know how much longer he can go on like this.
“Where am I taking you?” Xiao asks after a long pause, repositioning Venti in his arms so he could carry him more comfortably.
“You stay at Wangshu Inn, right?” Venti asks, the drunken slur reanimating his words as he closes his eyes.
“Yes.”
“Take me there, then,” Venti’s eyes flutter back open for a brief moment, the pad of his thumb dropping to Xiao’s chin. “Wherever you are, that’s where you can call my home.”
Xiao almost loses his grip on Venti. He stumbles over a rock, exhaling sharply as he tries to stay calm. He knows that Venti is drunk- there’s hardly ever a moment nowadays that Venti isn’t searching for a drink, Xiao knows that all too well, but sometimes he wishes he could just have Venti all to himself. That he wouldn’t need alcohol to have fun, that he could do that together with him.
It’s a selfish thought. Xiao files that away for later, remembering that it’s not his duty to have worldly desires, especially certain... feelings for others.
“Alright,” Xiao whispers back. He leaps forward, momentum driving them up, warping instantly to the balcony of Wangshu Inn.
Venti gasps, his hold on the back of Xiao’s neck tightening. Once his fuzzy brain realizes what happened, he starts to giggle, losing his balance a bit as his head lulls to one side. Xiao carefully supports Venti’s head, then shushes him.
“Everyone here is asleep right now,” He murmurs, casting a glance out to the dark horizon before making his way up the stairs to his room. He kicks the door open, gently perching Venti on the side of his bed before heading back to shut the door and lock it. (He always locked it- nobody dared to disturb him anyway, but it eased his mind.)
“What a fluffy room for such a feared yaksha,” Venti hummed, swaying back and forth.
He was right, sort of- the room wasn’t spacious at all, but it was adorned with several comforting things. The bed took up more space than anything else, the bed frame reaching the ceiling with dark curtains shrouding it. The windows had matching curtains, however, they were pulled tightly shut. The wardrobe was neat, but it seemed to hold weapons instead of clothes. Same with the bedside tables- tiny trinkets lay atop the table. Venti leans over, slightly off-balance, and he picks up a small winged figure.
It’s a sprite of a tiny white and blue wisp, small white wings sprouting from its back.
“Is this… me?” Venti asks, a cheeky grin spreading on his face. He twirls one of his braids around his finger as he cocks his head at Xiao.
Xiao’s blush had never really gone away after all this time, so it stays at the confrontation. He decides to not pay as much attention to Venti, and instead moves to undress his little armor and clean the black ichor from himself and his spear.
“Yes,” Xiao answers candidly, not being one to dance around the truth. He ducks his head, not meeting Venti’s eyes after that, but still well aware of the gaze burning into the back of his head from across the room. Venti places the figure back down on the nightstand, making the wise decision not to tease Xiao anymore. (After all, he’s supposed to be the vigilant yaksha- the conqueror of demons… Blushing and stammering isn’t really his thing.)
Venti makes himself comfortable on Xiao’s bed, kicking off his shoes and hat and pulling one of the knitted blankets to his chest.
“So cozy,” He hums, catching Xiao’s side-eye from where he stands at the wardrobe, sliding his gloves off of his hands.
“You should sleep,” Xiao mentions, returning to sit on the bedside. He hesitates before leaning down and unhooking Venti’s cape from around his neck, then gingerly hanging it on the wall next to his mask. Venti watches every movement the best he can, eyelids heavy with the weight of alcohol and fatigue.
“Will you join me?” Venti whispers, his eyebrows raising almost in a pleading manner.
Xiao sighs, a soft smile forming on his face.
(Venti sometimes prides himself on being the only one who sees that smile. Well, maybe Zhongli might, occasionally, but… Venti hopes not. Venti hopes that he’s the only one who calls upon Xiao like this. It’s been a long while, sure, but he can’t help but hope that he is what brings out the best of Xiao. It’s selfish, but he doesn’t care.)
Xiao’s fingertips brush Venti’s stray hairs from his forehead, then settle against his cheek. His hands are rough, calloused from centuries of doing nothing but fighting, protecting this world with all that he can…
It’s hard being the only cog left of a 5-part machine.
“Would you like me to?” Xiao’s voice is gentle, and it breaks halfway through. Something in Venti’s deep cerulean eyes urges him to break, urges him to handle Venti with such deliberate care that he’s never shown to anybody else. Venti is the one who keeps him from his karmic debt, after all- the one who forces him to see the light when all he’s surrounded by is dark.
Venti’s lips part, and he’s just as enchanted with Xiao as Xiao is with him.
Xiao lowers his face, keeping himself hovering above Venti by planting his forearm on the bed next to his face, his torso twisting at an awkward angle. He couldn’t care less about that, though, not when Venti was so close.
Venti nods, his breath caught in his throat. Xiao’s shadow looms over Venti, but his eyes still sparkle. Is that a God thing? Xiao doesn’t have time to wonder before he feels a hand on his chest, grasping at his thin shirt. His tongue feels thick in his mouth all of a sudden, and his eyes drop to Venti’s lips. Delicate, soft, beautiful…
“Alatus,” Venti whispers, and it’s only then that Xiao realizes their noses are touching. He feels a chill run down his spine at the mention of his name- his real name- and he lowers himself down all the way.
Kissing a God is everything you’d imagine it to be and more.
Venti’s lips taste like beer and rum, but they also taste like heaven- like a summer breeze. Xiao finds himself being pulled into a song, almost; He’s led into a melody he doesn’t recognize with the way Venti’s lips push and pull against his.
Venti’s hand slides up to rest on the side of Xiao’s neck, reeling him in, letting them get lost in each other. This time of night is theirs to own- nothing to interrupt them, no present problems to worry them, no distractions…
Xiao hesitantly pulls away after a moment, leaning his forehead against Venti’s. He’s breathing as steadily as he can, save for the occasional irregular stutter, but that’s to be expected when you’ve just kissed the only person you’ve ever loved for the first time.
“What… What took you so long to call for me?” He asks eventually, his hoarse voice just barely able to be heard.
“I guess I just never got drunk enough to,” Venti murmurs with a sigh. Xiao can’t help but frown.
“How… heartwarming…” He mumbles. Venti’s thumb on his neck rubs swirls into the exposed skin right below his ear, and he can’t help but relax.
“Not-...” Venti frowns, mimicking Xiao’s expression. His voice is more composed, but there’s no doubt that there’s still a slight slur to his words. He brings his other hand up to rest on Xiao’s cheekbone, tenderly stroking him. “Not like that. It’s just… It’s hard to face the one you love after so long apart. I needed courage I didn’t have.”
It’s hard to believe Venti had ever been anything less than courageous.
There’s a pause, long enough where Xiao takes time to examine Venti’s expression. He’s honest, tired, and yearning. He looks almost fragile- which is a silly thing to think of a powerful God, and yet… here he is. Xiao wants to kiss him again.
“Are you still drunk?” Xiao asks quietly.
Venti smiles tiredly. “A little bit.” And then, a bit more earnestly, “I’m sorry.”
Xiao sighs, and the corner of his mouth tilts upwards ever so slightly. His gaze drops back to Venti’s lips, so he connects them, a little more passionate than before. Venti kisses him back, arms slung around his shoulders, relaxing into Xiao’s motions. Another melody forms, another rhythm takes them by storm as they lean into each other more and more.
This time, when Xiao pulls away, he swoops back in to press a kiss to the corner of Venti’s mouth before leaning back to make eye contact.
“I love you, too,” Xiao says, eyes shifting off to the side bashfully.
Venti grins, and this time it’s his turn to lean up and capture Xiao’s lips in a kiss. Xiao is pulled down to the bed, leaning sideways in order to kiss Venti, his face framed by two small hands guiding them both along. After a while, Xiao raises his hand to cover Venti’s on his cheek, pulling away.
“I know.”
They gaze at each other from across the pillows, Xiao’s thumb rubbing over each of Venti’s knuckles. He can see the dark bags under Venti’s eyes, even in the shadows, so he sighs and presses a kiss to his forehead.
“Go to sleep,” Xiao murmurs against his skin, “Get some rest. You’re safe here.”
Venti sighs deeply, relaxing into Xiao’s chest. He finds a nice spot to rest in the crook of his neck, arms sneaking around Xiao’s waist. He’s at the perfect height for Xiao to rest his chin on his head comfortably- it’s cute, because Venti is usually the taller of the two. Xiao makes sure to wrap Venti up in the knit blanket so that he won’t be cold, and Venti is already drifting off by the time he checks back up on him.
Xiao’s lips ghost across the top of Venti’s head, a smile granting itself unto the vigilant yaksha’s face.
He thinks he understands why Venti loves freedom so much.
Xiao falls asleep that night with Venti in his arms, the moon watching his back, and no scorching memories greet him in his sleep. He knows that come daybreak, everything will be just fine.
Venti no longer spends the night on the floor of Angel’s Share’s back room. Instead, when he needs to come home after a long night, he calls out a name.
The only name he’d remember, even if he lost everything else.
The only name that means home.