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Another visit, another day staring at the beautiful monohangony of the Dawn’s Winery’s tables. He had begun to wonder why he came here months ago. It was gorgeous here, the ideal upscale bar. He didn’t belong here. He knew Diluc had told him he could come in whenever he wanted, even if it was just to sit down, but he left like he owed him. The redhead owner had probably thought that since he was Barbatos, he had to tell him that. Maybe he thought Venti would curse him if he didn’t.
Maybe he should leave-
“Venti.” He looked up, met face to face with the one person he hadn’t wanted to see at that moment, the man that had filled his thoughts every time he sat in the beautiful building. “I was told you had come in by my barkeep, why didn’t you tell me? I could have sat with you.” Diluc’s voice was calm as it usually was when talking to anyone outside of the knights.
“You were busy.” Venti muttered, looking back down at the small dark line on the table. He ran his finger against it again, feeling the polish protect his finger from the splitters.
The chair let out a slight whine as it was pulled back, Diluc taking it to sit across the table from him. “I was, but I’m done now. If you told me, I would have rushed, at least.” Venti glanced at him for only a moment, he wished his eyes weren’t so beautiful.
Venti leaned back in the chair. He couldn’t look at Diluc today. He had been too busy with a new promo for the tavern that he hadn’t been able to come with them on their explorations with the traveller today. It wasn’t that he was mad at DIluc, he was mad at himself. Everything had reminded him of the pyro user while they were out. He couldn’t stop staring into the fire the traveller had started to make lunch. It reminded him too much about the warmth of the other’s hands. He could always feel it even through his gloves, even if it was only a pat on the back. He couldn’t stop thinking about the way the flickering light had always reflected in Diluc’s eyes. The beautiful color made him think of the vibrant red that would almost seem to glow in the dim tavern.
Even the mora the traveller handed him, asking him to get certain ingredients from the store reminded him of Diluc. Of the times, he would give him more money than necessary to buy something small for the tavern.
“So,” Diluc asked, leaning across the table slightly. “Who made you so angry?” Venti froze, he hadn’t realized he was that easy for Diluc to read. “I would say the traveller but I doubt they could make you this upset.”
“No one did anything… stop looking at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like you don’t believe me!”
“Well if it helps to know, I don’t believe you.”
Venti groaned, throwing his head down on the table. Of course. Of course, he wouldn’t believe him. Someone doesn’t look mad over nothing, well unless said person was Razor when dinner was almost over. “It’s nothing,” he repeated.
The two sat in silence for what seemed like forever, though it must have been under two minutes. Diluc was the one that broke the silence. “I know you do not like to talk about it with other people around but, the second floor is empty as usual for this time,” He cleared his throat. “Why don’t you prove yourself to be barbatos? Like you did with the lyre and Stormterror. You would be worshipped. People would come from all ends of Teyat to hear you sing. You know every song in history, every song that will ever be made. You’ll be famous. Loved. You would get everything you desire, why don’t you?”
Venti sighed, staring down at that same deep, darkened crack in the table.
“Venti.”
He didn’t answer.
“Venti.”
He didn’t want to answer.
“Venti, answer me.”
“I already told you, didn’t I?”
“You did, but that can’t be all.”
Venti gripped the table tightly, scratching it ever so slightly. “It is all.”
“It’s not!” Venti was scared to look up at him. “Do you think I’m stupid Venti? I watched you say that. I watched your eyes cast down and you stared at the ground as you finished that statement. I heard your voice weaken as you told us all. It wasn’t the only reason.”
“Fine, you’re right! It’s not!”
“Then what is it?”
“I don't deserve it!” Venti’s shoulders slumped, He fell back in his chair, staring down at the small fake vision he had lay on his belt. He heard Diluc gasp. He clearly had no idea what to say. I made him uncomfortable huh, Venti wondered. Slowly, he stood, taking his stuff and leaving the bar. He didn’t have to give the other any mora, he hadn’t gotten anything in the first place.
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He managed to walk down the stairs, planning on exiting to the tree once again through the side exit. Maybe the tree could heal a broken heart too.
Maybe it could fix him. Take away all the thoughts he was never able to get rid of. All the thoughts of Diluc, his warm hands, his glowing bright hair. His strange way of showing how he cared.
If Diluc knew of them, he would only get more uncomfortable.
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The tree was always so comforting. The way the wind blows through the leaves and the gentle sparkling, even in the night, of the beautiful anemo crystal flies. Fireflies danced around the bottom, signifying the end of the sunset. Venti couldn’t help but love it here.
It was tranquil and quiet. And although that usually forced him to talk with his thoughts, tonight they left his mind as he stared up at the fluttering leaves.
Though he was slightly growing cold.
He wished…
No.
He shouldn’t think about that.
“The tree is as gorgeous as usual.” Venti sat up with a start turning to stare at the red headed man. “I am not surprised to hear that you come to this place often.”
“Diluc, how did you know i was here? The god shouted, looking at him with both confusion and a small amount of fear. He gasped, pulling his hands in. “Am i being stalked!”
DIluc stared down at him, for once Venti could read his face. It was riddled with confusion, worry, and a small, small amount of amusement. “No, I simply asked the traveller as they passed by the tavern earlier.”
Venti sighed, slumping over into himself for only a moment. He was safe. Wait. He sat up straight again, staring the other down. “Why did you ask them?”
“I figured they would know where you were.”
“No, no, nonono, I mean why did you try to find me?”
He seemed to think for a moment before shrugging. “I wanted to ask you a few more things.”
“But-”
“Why do you think you don’t deserve to be Barbatos?”
Venti frowned. He looked back at the leaves, a crystal fly gently floated down to hover above him. He didn’t want to tell him, but what else could he do? Besides, he needed it off his chest. “I’m not that good of a God, nevermind an Archon. Yeah, I’m bestowed with the power of anemo but what kind of Archon lets the people that worship them get hurt? You guys care for me, you get worried everyday because I haven’t returned, even if I’m standing by my own statue.”
“I don’t think Rex Lapis thought I would be a good Archon either. Yes, he had a statue for me outside of church but, there was always this look of doubt in his eyes when we would talk about how we would care for our kingdoms. Originally, I had planned to stay much like him, but that look… I figured it was a bad idea. So I decided on this instead.”
The grass by Venti rustled, he turned to see DIluc kneeled beside him. He stared in shock as the other stared at him, the smallest look of sadness in his eyes.
“I worship you Venti… But as you, not as Barbatos.”
Venti felt his face red. He didn’t know what Diluc meant. He didn’t know if both of them were thinking the same thing. He couldn’t help but hope.
“I try to rush everything the second I hear you have come in. I want to sit at that table with you, or even only be able to take glances at you as you drink more than you can afford at my tavern. You are the only person who has a tab. I don’t mind running a bit low on money in the till if it means you’ll look at me with that stupid smile.”
“I always give you extra money when you agree to buy things for me, hoping that one day you will keep it and buy yourself something. Like that ratatouille you really like, or maybe just the ingredients enough to make two, so I can try it in that silly little way you make it special.”
“Everytime i go into the cathedral, I see your face up there. Smiling down at me, with that calm look, I wish you would always be calm and happy, never a worry in your mind.”
“I light a fire if you so much as shiver.”
“You ever muttered about a dry throat, I would go up to the stop of Dragonspine to get you the purest ice in the world to melt into a glass of water for you.”
“I worship the green of your eyes, the blue braids by the side of your face, the way that your black hair is the shade of a moonless night sky, or a deep shade of mulled wine. I worship the way you hold onto your hat sometimes when the wind is strong. I worship your laugh, your smile, and the way you look at me.”
“I’m not wrong for worshipping that am I?”
Venti’s voice was lodged in his throat. What was he supposed to say? How was he supposed to say anything? Diluc worshipped him? Not barbatos, him? He fell into the other, his forehead falling against his chest. “Is that your way of saying you love me?” All he got was a small hum of confirmation. “And is that your way of asking if I feel the same?”
“Once again, you’re correct.”
“Then no, you're not wrong. Worship that look in my eyes as much as you want, that look of love is only for you.”
The night was no longer cold, as Venti laid in Diluc’s warm embrace, wondering if he should cry or laugh with joy.