Work Text:
Aether didn’t know why Venti was the first name that came to mind when Tubby explained he could invite companions into his teapot. It was a testament to how exhausted he had been lately, but Aether just wanted that feeling of lightness and serenity that he’d come to associate with a particular anemo user. Freedom followed him around along with the currents of the wind.
Maybe it was the way that being around Venti felt like flying, but Aether was on his way to the Windrise Statue of the Seven before he could think any better of it. Just as he’d suspected, he could hear the bard before he could see him.
The soft music of his lyre reached Aether as he approached the large tree, and he could spot green and white clad legs dangling down from one of the lower branches.
“Traveler, what a surprise!” Venti greeted him with a grin, but he didn’t actually look surprised at all. The breeze must have let him know he was coming.
“Hey Venti,” Aether greeted in a loud voice. Paimon was still in Liyue being a taste tester for Xiangling’s new menu, so it was just the two of them.
The bard lightly jumped off of his perch and landed softly right in front of him, soft bursts of wind softening his landing. Aether would have sent out his own anemo energy if he thought for a moment that Venti would have actually fallen.
Not Venti—the man would only be found stumbling with a bottle of dandelion wine in hand.
“What finally brings you out to see me?”
Aether smiled to himself, suppressing the heat that threatened to rise to his face. Something about Venti always made him feel almost giddy.
“I was wondering if I could see your hand for a moment.”
Aqua green eyes widened in genuine surprise. “Oh?”
Aether only nodded. Seeing that he wasn’t going to get any more from the blonde, Venti let out his signature giggle and held out his hand obediently. “Hee-hee, okay, my dearest companion.”
He carefully grabbed the offered hand and flipped it palm-side up, so he could gently touch the dispatch against his skin. Aether was almost surprised to feel the rough edges of a musician’s fingertips against his own fighting-hardened palms. For someone who was as close as one could be to a god in a world like Teyvat, the whisper of such a human trait made him pause.
Venti gasped softly when he felt Aether’s energy signature touch his skin. A quick glance with his elemental sight found traces of his energy planted on Venti’s palm, as Tubby promised.
“Aether?” Venti questioned, one of the few times he’d heard his own name in that lilting voice.
“I have a new place I’m staying and I’d like you to come visit if you’re up for it.”
If anything, Venti looked more confused. “And you needed to mark me with your energy for it? Ah, and please don’t think I’m complaining! I’m merely intrigued! This may very well make an excellent song one day.”
Marked. That was the first thought Aether had as well. The thought of leaving something behind with his companions, who’ve become his only family in this strange world, filled Aether with a sense of comfort he didn’t feel like examining more closely.
“It’s not your average home.”
Venti giggled again. “And why would I be surprised? You’re not the average traveler. Lead the way.”
Aether pulled the Serenitea Pot from his bag and released enough energy to activate the portal. For a moment, he spared a thought to whether or not Venti would like the way Aether had decorated. Especially if he’d like the Bird and Blossom Park that Aether had scrambled to get the material for as soon as Tubby showed him the furnishing set. Something about the way the park beckoned to the birds and butterflies with the sweet scent of flowers reminded Aether of Mondstadt—and of a particular bard.
His last thought as he felt the sweeping sensation of being transported into the teapot was that he really, really hoped that Venti would like the park. After-all, all it was missing was a bard to sing by the fountain.
♪♪♪
Venti’s bright eyes roamed over the scenery with notable appreciation. The first thing he had wanted to do when they landed in front of Aether’s floating abode was rush around to explore. He was off the moment they fully materialized, before Aether could even chase after him.
Aether waved hello to Tubby and followed the flash of green that had rushed around the house to see the rest of the outside. He wasn’t shocked to hear Venti’s happy laughter in the distance, no doubt at the way Aether had decorated. Tall trees—perfect for perching upon while drinking a bottle of wine and penning a few poems—circled the area. The path led straight to the Mondstadt-style park, with the view from the fountain overlooking the unending valley below the floating abode.
When Aether decided on that placement, he imagined the way it would look at sunrise, to greet the morning peaking over the horizon, perhaps while listening to a bard’s song.
He finally found Venti in front of the fountain, eyes shining up at him.
“How do you like it here?” Aether called out.
Venti laughed in response. “It’s great, of course. It has absolutely everything a person could want. You built all of this?”
He rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment at the awe in his voice. “With the help of some adeptal powers, of course. I have been able to exercise my eye for design.”
“Still,” Venti insisted. “I know that every detail here is the result of your hard work. I hold immense gratitude for all you’ve done…”
Aether held his breath as Venti’s voice trailed off.
“Thank you for sharing it with me, Aether,” he finished softly.
He waved his hands quickly. “No need to thank me. If you like it, I’m happy.”
Venti walked over to the bench near the fountain, steps so light that it appeared he floated from one place to the next.
“Yes, I love it!” Venti shouted, voice carrying towards the trees. Aether was sure more birds were already on their way to flock to the song in Venti’s voice.
Huh, Aether considered. It was funny, the way that he hadn’t realized how lonely he’d been until the feeling went away. Ever since that fateful confrontation in front of the defiled statue, that gaping feeling in his chest hadn’t been quite as easy to patch. Aether hadn’t felt his sister’s absence quite so acutely since he had first woken up on the sand grasping for a person long gone... and it had been taking its toll.
Aether let the small smile bloom on his features as he settled down next to Venti on the bench. “You’re welcome to come and go as you please now that I’ve marked you with my energy. Please spend as much time here as you'd like.”
The bard just smiled even bigger and turned to pull out his lyre. For the rest of the afternoon, Aether sat and listened to Venti play for the setting sun. He closed his eyes and focused on the sounds of birds chirping in harmony with the fluttering of wings. For just a moment, the weight of the world lightened on his shoulders.
♪♪♪
“Is there anything you want, Venti?” Aether asked, tossing him another apple slice from his spot beside him. They were settled on the grass near the dawn orchards that Aether had planted earlier that week in the hope that they would make the bard feel even more at home.
Venti quickly shook his head. “This place already has everything I want! In fact, it has more than I could hope to want. A calm breeze, fresh apples, orchards for wine… and you, of course, hee-hee.”
Venti snatched another apple slice from his hands before he could react. He had been carefully slicing pieces for the two of them to share.
“Be careful!” Aether yelped, pulling his knife back from Venti’s wandering hands.
“Okay, okay,” he laughed. “I’m flattered that you’ve asked me for my thoughts, but you should model your home the way you’d like. You should be more confident in your own tastes!”
Aether furrowed his brows as he disagreed, “That’s not why I ask your thoughts. I want you to feel at home here so you like spending time here.”
Venti’s eyes widened.
“Why do you want me here so much? I’m one of many joining you on your travels,” he asked hesitantly, almost as if he was scared of the answer.
Aether only shook his head. “I know, and I will love to have them here too someday. But I like spending time with you, Venti, and I think I’ve needed it lately.”
It was his turn to blink in concern. “Lately? Is there anything I can do?”
“No, no. It’s nothing… specific. I just feel a bit lost lately, and spending time with you has helped.”
Venti’s face became contorted in thought. A few moments passed and just as Aether was ready to retract his words, he continued. “Hmm… many people may feel lost at times. After all, it's impossible for everything to happen according to your own wishes.”
Well, he’s not wrong, Aether considered with no small amount of sarcasm, and waited.
“At a time like this, ask yourself what the most important thing is! Even if life's all in a jumble, you can sort it out as long as there's a whisper of the wind,” Venti finished with a flourish, small hand coming down to rest on Aether’s shoulder.
His voice was like the wind: gentle and flowing. Each soft syllable fluttered around Aether and settled deep in his chest.
What’s the most important thing? To Aether, it used to be an easy question. Finding his sister, making sure she’s safe, reuniting to travel the stars again. Obviously.
Now, things are so much more complicated.
But again, he considered Venti’s words. Even if finding his sister was going to be a bigger ordeal than he thought it would be—with oceans to cross, nations to scavenge for clues, and a sister who didn’t look like she wanted saving—it doesn’t mean his purpose changed. And it didn't change how important it was to find her.
There was no use agonizing over the path when the destination was always going to be the same.
Venti stayed silent and allowed his words to settle in Aether’s mind, never removing his hand from his comfortable grip on his shoulder.
“And also,” he interjected, and Aether’s eyes rose to meet his, “even if you’re feeling lost… don’t be afraid, I’m here to help you find your way.”
Aether felt heat bloom on his cheeks.
“Your serious face… is a rare sight to see,” he managed. Venti’s gemstone eyes seemed to shine even brighter in his earnestness.
“Eh-hehe,” he giggled. “At any rate, don’t worry so much. Whenever you need me, I’ll always be by your side.”
And it did help ease the knots that had driven themselves tighter and tighter in Aether’s chest in the last few weeks. Knowing he had people like Venti in his corner—knowing he didn’t have to do all of this alone—helped.
“Thanks, Venti,” Aether called back quietly, voice soft with emotion. “I’ll always be by your side too.”
Venti caught the apple final apple slice Aether threw his way, even as his eyes widened with an untold emotion. “I know you will, my warrior. You’ve worked so hard. Take your time to rest.”
Aether nodded, leaning back up against the tree and settling himself more solidly against it. Venti finished his apple before continuing his song as if he had never paused. Lost in the familiar melody, Aether let the tension bleed from his bones and out into the world around him.
Venti—a man who, as much as he used to be one of the seven archons, was still a simple spirit of the wind—made him feel like it was okay to take a break for himself from time to time.
♪♪♪
After that, Aether was pleased to find Venti spending more time in the teapot. More and more often, at the end of a long day, Aether and Paimon would withdraw into the teapot and find Venti already settled in the park area and playing a song of welcome.
Or at least, that was what it always sounded like to Aether’s tired ears.
“Is there anything you’d like to do?” Aether asked on one of these occasions, wanting to pay Venti back for all of the support he had lent him.
Venti hummed in thought as he let a gust of wind carry him up high enough to grab an apple straight from the highest branch, which Aether had quickly learned were his favorite.
“Hmm…” he interrupted himself with a gasp. “Let’s hold a feast!”
Aether’s eyebrows furrowed. “A feast?”
Venti’s eyes sparkled with mischief.
“Of course. Call up your good friends and I'll contribute a bottle of the finest wine from my collection! As for the location…” he brushed his chin lightly in thought. “Let's just have it here! We can find a clear space and decorate it with benches, a porch, and beautiful fresh flowers!”
Venti looked ethereal in his excitement, practically vibrating in place. Aether couldn’t help but agree with his latest plot.
“Will you put on a show for us?” he asked, already accepting the idea.
His eyes sparkled at his question. “But of course! Any songs you wanna hear? I can practice a bit beforehand.”
Aether shook his head. “I don’t really know many songs from this land, but I’ll like anything you play.”
Venti giggled more. “You flatter me, my warrior. Can I trouble you to prepare one of your specialty dishes for the occasion? Anything's fine—I like to eat any dish you make!”
He meets his grin with his own small smile in return. “Of course. But I think I’ll make some of your favorites anyways. I’ve been craving some Barbatos Ratatouille.”
His eyes sparkled in the way that always made Aether’s chest feel light.
“Alright then, let us officially begin preparations!” he cheered. “This calls for a drink to celebrate.”
Aether laughed while Venti glided towards the bottles he’d begun to store in Aether’s teapot. “Hmm… I’m getting the feeling this is going to be a chaotic party.”
“Nonsense, it’ll just be lively,” Venti shouted airily over his shoulder—bottle already in hand.
♪♪♪
In a way, they were both right. The party did have its fair share of chaos. Klee kept trying to throw bombs off the edge of the floating island to see how far it would go before ‘the boom.’ Aether thought he saw Albedo rushing to stop her, but instead heard him consulting with her about how to best test the success of her hypothesis. Bennett and Razor ended up drinking some of the dandelion wine by accident, and Diluc and Kaeya spent the rest of the afternoon trying to keep the two drunk boys in line while trading snarky comments back and forth.
But settled between all of his friends in front of a warm bonfire, Aether could take a moment to appreciate their… liveliness instead. He could hear Jean and Lisa talking quietly in the corner while Amber regaled the group with the tale of the latest hilichurl camp she took out with Eula last week. Venti was sitting beside him, lightly playing music as a background to the noise around them. Even Kaeya and Diluc had lost the energy to argue and resorted to sitting around the fire and quietly enjoying the warmth. Aether could hear Klee snoring softly, curled up in between Bennett and Razor on one of the picnic blankets where they had passed out.
Maybe that bard was on to something. Aether couldn’t remember the last time his heart had felt so full. The party winded down eventually and people started to shuffle away.
“Aether,” Paimon cried, having eaten four plates of food and complaining about being too full. She passed out on his lap shortly after, so he quickly carried her inside to sleep.
After a last round of goodbyes, everyone had either left back to Mondstadt or settled into one of Aether’s guest rooms.
Well, almost everyone.
Without thinking about it, Aether found himself left alone with Venti in the quiet silence of the night. He was still near their chosen picnic location, laying down on one of the blankets and staring up at the artificial sky in thought.
“Good night, Venti,” he called out softly.
Venti shifted his gaze to look at him. “Aw, but I don’t want to sleep yet.”
The childish tone in his voice brought a smile to his face.
“You don’t have to sleep yet,” he offered, getting ready to head back inside and leave Venti alone to his thoughts.
A soft clearing of his throat stopped Aether in his tracks. “Actually… wanna keep me company a bit longer? Or… I’ll keep you company?”
His smile started small, and grew until he felt his cheeks strain. He would have to remember to thank Tubby for teaching him how to invite his companions into his new home. It was hard to feel lonely around someone like Venti, who saw what Aether needed and encouraged him to live his life without worry.
“Please,” Aether agreed. “We can keep each other company.”
Venti smiled widely in return, reaching across to the blanket where Aether had settled next to him. He rested his hand next to Aether’s palm, close enough to share his warmth on such a cool night.
To Aether, Venti was like a whisper in the wind. Gentle—sometimes fleeting—and a voice of reason when he was feeling lost.