Work Text:
THE CHOLD NOVEMBER WIND sent shivers down his spine. His jacket was soaked from the rain and his sneakers muddy from the travel. His wet hair stuck on his nape like stray seaweed. He muttered a curse as he stopped and looked around. Dim street lights barely shone through the downpour, hardly anyone traveled on this road, especially not this late at night.
Xiao continued walking.
He was exhausted, he had been traveling for two days straight, only ever stopping to eat or nap on a park bench. He was running low on cash and on hope. He thought that running away would solve his problems, but it seems as though they could catch up to him faster than he could get away.
He walked still, he was unsure for how long, but soon he saw in the distance a bright neon sign. The scent of something tantilizing waffed though the wet air. He made his way towards it.
Xiao could feel warmth coming from the establishment, he could sense home or safety. He figured, at least, that it would be drier in there than out in the rain.
He was closer now, the smell seemed more tangible now; the smell of warm food. He stopped in front of it, a diner. It looked like one of those 80s diners he'd only seen on old television shows. He took in a deep breath, savoring the scent of food and musk.
He stepped into the diner.
Warm. It was warm. The indistinct buzz of some old pop song played on the overhead speakers. There weren't too many customers, just one or two scattered in their own booths. Xiao didn't pay them much attention, he made a b-line to the counter.
His soaked jeans squished as he sat on one of the stood. He grimaced at the feeling. Water dripped from his seat onto the linolium floor. He looked around him, his calloused hands resting awkwardly on the cold metal counter. His fingers drummed against it.
There was a young woman looking at him. She made a face but Xiao couldn't decifer what the expression was. She turned back to her laptop and paid him no more attention.
Xiao stiffled a sneeze. Even in some diner in the middle of nowhere, Xiao felt ostracized.
Suddenly a gentle and cheery goice asked: "What can I get you, sir?"
Xiao looked at the waiter, a young man perhaps his age. He wore an apron over a perwinkle t-shirt, there was grime from working in the kitchen. The waiter smiled, warm and patient. Xiao felt intimidated somehow. The waiter waited, in his hands a notepad and a pen. Twin braids came from either side of his face. He had round rosy cheeks and sea green eyes. He was pretty.
Words formed into Xiao's head, but he feared his voice would betray him.
"What... What's on the menu?" He asked finally.
The waiter thought for a bit. "Well, you came at a pretty bad time. Truck doesn't arrive 'til 5 am, and we had a birthday party here earlier today... We have leftover batter from breakfast, if you'd like some waffles." He said.
His voice mesmerized Xiao somehow. It was like the warm wind on a Summer's day, like whispers of secrets to keep.
Xiao could only nod.
The waiter nodded. "Drinks maybe? Something warm to go with the waffles?" He offered. "We have coffee, or perhaps you prefer tea?"
"Oh, I-"
"Venti, order for table 3!" A voice called from the kitchen.
"Coming!" The amiable waiter responded. He winked at Xiao which set his heart aflutter. "I'll be back!"
He disappeared into he kicthen.
Venti. His name echoed in Xiao's head, like the thunder outside, strong and lasting. Xiao sighed. All he got was gentleness from a pretty stranger and he was feeling all giddy like a middle school girl crushing on the boy beside her.
He rested his head onto the counter, burying it into his hands. He wasn't any better than when he left home.
Venti walked past him and to the booth with the young woman. He served her a slice of warm apple pie. It looked delectible, Xiao could smell the sweet scent of cinnamon and apples, he could see the whipped cream slowly melting.
The woman seemed to have whispered something to Venti, then she looked at Xiao. They met eyes for a split second before the woman turned back to the waiter and Xiao turned back to the counter.
He waited patiently for Venti to come back. Somehow and some reason, he wanted to talk to the waiter. Something about him just made Xiao feel safe and secure, like he someone was there for him. He felt silly for thinking such, after all, he and Venti were strangers. Yet something about Venti was do alluring, so calming. Perhaps it was his voice or maybe his smile, perhaps it was because Xiao had no one else to talk to.
"Here are your waffles." Venti said with a smile, setting a plate of fresh, warm waffles. "Oh, I got you a table napkin too. To dry yourself with."
"Thanks." Xiao replied timidly and took the periwinkle fabric.
Their fingers brushed.
Xiao hoped he wasn't blushing or at least if he was, that Venti thought it was because he was cold.
"What's your story?" Venti asked, eyes gleaming with curiosity.
"Hm?" Xiao hummed as he took a bite from his food. The feeling of warmth that spread through his tongue was complete euphoria.
"Your story, silly." Venti said, dragging a chair and sitting on it. "What brings you here at this hour?"
Xiao blinked. He hesitated for a second before answering. "I'm lost." He said.
Venti stood straighter and began offering help, naming big landmarks and street names but Xiao shook his head. He told the waiter that he had run away from home, hoping to seek answers to questions he can't read.
The dreadful feeling had been bothering Xiao for a while now. He was a third year in college and the final semester of the year was coming to a close. One night he was in his dorm staring at the ceiling when something had hit like a baseball to the head.
He didn't really know what the feeling was but he felt as though everything he had done through his life was pointless. There was a heavy burden placed on his shoulders and he knew not what to do.
He cried that night, and the night after that, then the night after that he ran away. No plans and barely any money.
He needed to get away. And so he did. It was irrational, yes, and overall a terrible decision, but Xiao needed to clear his head, to escape.
But everywhere he went it felt as thought the burden was still there, resting maliciously on his shoulders like a raven, one whose beady black eyes could frighten even the bravest of men. The furthur Xiao traveled, the louder the raven's cries got, the hungier its eyes looked, the heavier his burden felt.
Venti was a good listener. He nodded silently with a sympathetic look on his face. He had given Xiao a cup of coffee at some point, Xiao didn't remember when specifically but found himself sipping on the warm drink.
Xiao finished his story by asking Venti for any advice he had to offer. He was desperate and perhaps Venti's got something worthwhile to say.
The dark blue haired boy thought for a moment. Xiao noticed he played with the tips of his braids, he found it cute.
"Well, I've done something similar too back when I was in college..." Venti admited, his countainance remained the same but Xiao could pick up something different in his voice.
Venti sighed, his fingers lacing through his hair. He carried a heavy burden too. He had his share of pain and tribulation.
"I... I lost something really really important to me..." His voice was laced wistfulness and melancholy. "I threw a fit, I shut every one out and locked myself in my room for months. I was lost."
There was silence between them. Xiao looked down on the waffle crumbs on his plate. It was awkward but peaceful. Xiao had never been in such situation before.
"What did you do after?" Xiao asked.
Venti chuckled. "I sought escape. I drank almost every night, I cried endlessly. Then one day I went out for a walk and ended up here at the diner."
Xiao looked around the diner. Some years ago Venti was at this very place in his shoes. It felt like some surreal coincidence.
"Then what?"
"I ate some apple pie."
Xiao blinked. "You can't tell me it was that simple."
Venti laughed. It was like a chorus of angels. "It isn't but the pie helped. I like apples." He said. "When I ordered it, I realized that, while things seemed down, there were other things to look forward to. Like apple pie, and summer, and carousels, and candy..."
Xiao looked at Venti like he was insane, but at the same time he had a point. Start small, baby steps. Running away wasn't going to solve things, he had to face whatever he feared, whether he liked it or not. Venti could do it, Venti saw that there was more to life than what burdens you.
For the entirety of Xiao's suffering, he had let the dread control him, blind him. He didn't think far enough to see he had friends to help him or family to support him. He didn't see that his accomplishments were far greater than any doubt that crosses his mind.
He smiled at Venti which seemed to have caught the waiter by surprise. He thanked him for his help and for the coffee. Venti smiled back and said it was no problem. They exchanged numbers and promised to keep in touch.
Before Xiao left, they shared a slice of apple pie.