Work Text:
act I
love is only true if it is unwavering in the face of adversity, like the unmoving position of a star in the sky.
“xiao?”
venti put down his flute, turning to face the yaksha who had suddenly appeared, dripping in blood, stringed tendrils of karma waning at the glow of the moon. the soft smile on the bard’s face wilted, and he fumbled over to the bleeding figure before him, his wooden instrument clattering to the rock he was seated upon a moment earlier.
xiao closed his eyes, taking in a ragged breath, and allowed himself to sink into venti’s arms. he heard an oof, then felt the palm of a hand push the blood-slicked hair off of his forehead.
“you overdid it again,” venti whispered.
debt. karma. dreams. xiao ignored him, burying his face deeper into venti’s small frame. dandelion wine… and apples.
“please, sing for me.”
and the bard obliged, gently murmuring a tune while stroking the other’s hair. the vigilant yaksha was vigilant no more, and his breathing eased as he fell into a serene slumber of a gentle breeze, twinkling laughter and cecelias.
act II
love is beautiful, but it lasts only briefly, like roses that eventually fade on their bent stems.
“for you, my dear alatus!" venti giggled, reaching up to tuck a windwheel aster into xiao's hair.
they were laying together on the wildflowers and weeds that grew among the roots of the great windrise tree. venti’s head rested upon xiao’s lap as he sat cross-legged. the greenery rustled, the birds chirped and the asters danced and swayed in the wind, accompanying the unfamiliar beings that idled in their abode.
xiao stared at the anemo god mere inches away from his face, rays of sunshine filtering through the leaves onto his fair skin, his fascinating green eyes, his lips -
he leaned down and kissed the god tentatively.
there was a pause, and he nervously pulled back, examining venti’s expression closely for any reaction.
“oh!” venti’s cheeks flushed, his eyes widening. he blinked several times, then let out gales of laughter.
“i didn’t think you had it in yourself, xiao,” venti teased, poking his finger at the other’s nose.
xiao quickly turned away, his ears reddening. a small scowl was on his lips expressing his discontent, but the trembling of his entire body said otherwise.
it was moments like these where xiao felt that he could forget about all his duties and feel free… yet unknowingly chained to the love and admiration he harbored for barbatos.
act III
love is an obstacle to true happiness, bringing emotional challenges that are difficult to overcome.
“xiao.”
xiao glanced at the bard next to him who was strangely quiet. his usual smile was gone, replaced with a rigid countenance. the light breeze that always followed venti around felt chilling.
“we shouldn’t meet anymore.”
xiao flinched at venti’s cold tone. “what?”
venti stood up from his kneeling position, turning his back away from xiao. his green cape billowed and the bard wrapped it around himself tightly.
“why not-”
“alatus, please.”
“ barbatos, ” xiao retorted. “give me a reason.”
“you wouldn’t understand, for you are far too in love with me,” venti laughed bitterly. “love. how funny. to think that someone like you could love a drunken mess of an archon like me.”
the yaksha stayed silent.
“i am only in your way, xiao,” venti continued. he turned back and knelt to the grass to face xiao, lifting a hand to cup his cheek.
“i care for you, i truly do, but you have your duties, and i have mine,” venti wore a sad smile on his lips. “i cannot always be there for you when you need me. i need time for myself, being the free spirit that i am.”
what are you saying
“i’d choose you over anything,” xiao whispered, tears dripping from his closed eyes onto venti’s hands.
i need you more than anything
“that’s the problem,” venti breathed, pressing his forehead onto the weeping yaksha’s. carefully pressing a delicate cecelia to xiao’s chest, he said, “promise that you’ll take care of yourself for me, alatus.”
i can’t promise that
“i promise.”
act IV
love leads to doom, so fools who cannot recognize errors fall in love.
it was a quiet and still night. all of mondstadt was asleep, except one. a small green figure lay on the tall, looming anemo archon statue that stood before the mond cathedral.
venti had been drinking again.
if you wish to see me, speak my name.
the words of xiao echoed back and forth until his head started to hurt. venti looked at the wine bottle in his hand and gripped it tightly. the reflection of his old friend stared directly back, an unreadable expression worn on the beholder.
how pitiful. barbatos the anemo archon, a hollow shell of someone he once cherished.
“xiao-”
a whisper. just a slight whisper. venti looked around at his surroundings.
“alatus.”
he said it more clearly.
what were you expecting
“venti”
the bard’s eyes widened. xiao? he whipped around, but the yaksha was nowhere to be seen. he paused. the lone god then slipped his head into his tremulous hands, wiping away his tears silently.
it must have been my imagination.
-
the yaksha laid disheveled, his vision impaired from as hot blood trickled down from the deep gash on his forehead. all he could hear was ringing, all he could feel was the grass and the wetness of the creek.
i heard him say my name
get up. get up
“venti,” xiao managed to cough out. a shudder racked his body and hot tears leaked out of his bleeding eye.
i’m sorry
i broke my promise.
the cat-tails swayed mockingly in the breeze.