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The footsteps of a figure lightly tapped against the stones as she climbed the enormous staircase leading towards the plaza. You had been bestowed the honor of serving as this year's Windblume Star due to your kind nature and the willingness you had to help your fellow citizens in the town.
You had grown up celebrating the Windblume Festival in Mondstadt from an early age. Some of your fondest memories were of those who were chosen to offer a special flower to the Anemo Archon, the god that had allowed your nation to remain free and peaceful for hundreds of years. It was an incredible thing to be picked, often meaning your worth was being recognized.
You remembered how you beamed up each time you watched someone ascend the stairs, their grace something that could only be compared to a reflection of the gods as they ascended to Celestia. That's at least what the younger you liked to imagine.
Now, it was you who was ascending the stairs, a floaty feeling bouncing through your chest as you held your arrangement of windblumes and cecilias in your hands. They were a shared favorite amongst you and your best friend despite not being the most popular choice for a windblume. They were truly something special, even though many overlooked the flower as simple.
The courtyard appeared to be empty as you finally managed to get to the top, although that didn't surprise you that much. The Grand Master had informed you that there was a situation going on by the gate, but it wasn't serious enough to postpone the offering. You would just have to do it alone.
It didn't sadden you that no one would watch you offer these flowers to the god; instead, it made the ceremony feel much more intimate as you were the only two parties involved. Despite that he wasn't physically there, spiritually, it was as if the winds of freedom were calling to you.
You set the flowers down at the center of the statue, kneeling to offer a prayer to the god that you had dedicated your life to. "Thank you, Lord Barbatos. For keeping our home safe from destruction path. Please guide us towards the brightest future possible and keep us out of harm's way."
"How thoughtful!" a voice interrupted your prayer.
You yelped, falling onto your bum as you looked at the imposing figure standing behind you. Aqua-eyes shined with pure mischief as you gazed upon the form of your best friend. The bard was known for his streak of pranks, and you were no exception. He offered you a hand, which you took before playfully smacking him on the shoulder.
"You little-! Where did you even come from?"
He was about to open his mouth to reply before you promptly stopped him with a wave of your hand to interrupt. "No, no. Let me guess. You came from Angel's Share."
He pouted as you started to laugh, wiping a tear from your eye at his disheartened expression. "I'm not always at the tavern."
"Fair, fair," he chuckled.
His eyes roamed over your body for a second, a questioning look striking his features. "What's with the pretty dress?"
You had been wearing a short dress that was embellished with different splashes of colors meant to resemble the shapes of flowers. There were some roses, orchids, tulips, and even the occasional carnation. Each was hand-sewn on there to create a beautiful, disharmonious pattern.
"I thought it was fitting, given the theme of the festival," you twirled around for a moment. "It's also a pretty warm day, so I didn't really get cold."
He pointed upward. "And the flower crown?"
You hadn't even remembered that it was there. "Oh! Barbara was making some with the children in the plaza earlier today and happened to make me one."
You smiled thoughtfully, looking at the different types in your peripheral vision. Each flower is interlaced with the one next to it, some small and some large. It was a beautiful adornment, and you'd be crestfallen when the flowers would inevitably start to wilt.
"She even happened to include some of my favorites."
"So you're our little Windblume Star, huh?" he said before a pout started to grow upon his lips. "It's about time you got recognized for your hard work."
You sighed. "I don't do things so that I get recognized. I do them because they're the right thing to do."
"And that's why you're so special!" he beamed as a sincere smile grew upon your lips.
"Thanks, Venti."
You looked up at the statue, which was lit up angelically with the glow of the setting rays of sunlight. The face carved in the stone almost seemed lonely if it could be described as such. Your eyes grew somber, sympathy panging inside your chest in tune with that of the immortal god's heart.
"I wonder if he's here somehow."
"Hmm. Here?" Venti hummed, his eyes turned upward to face the statue along with you, gazing upon it with severe indifference.
"Yeah. The Windblume Festival is such a fun time. It's a shame he misses out on it."
The bard stared for a moment, becoming slackjawed before releasing a bellowing laugh, hunching over as his chest heaved with each outburst. You frowned, embarrassed, as he continued to make fun of one of your thoughts that you had so welcomely shared.
"Hah! I'm for certain he doesn't miss anything."
You looked upon him now, curious as to how this musician had some kind of insight into the thoughts and feelings of an immortal archon. He calmed himself moments later, his expression growing into that of a serious nature that you had rarely seen, especially not with the atmosphere of the Windblume Festival.
"What if I told you that he was here right now."
Your face contorted in confusion. "What do you mean?"
"He's here. Right now," he spoke bluntly.
You stared at him for a few moments, pursing your lips as you thought through his words carefully. This didn't seem to be some type of prank, knowing he wouldn't be able to retain such a serious face for so long before shouting something goofy or random into the ether.
His form, to which your eyes had to adjust and take a double-take, started to glow a light blue around the edges. It wasn't the moon, which was starting to rise along the horizon, or everything else behind him would've been painted in the familiar color. No - this was coming from himself.
Your brain started to spark as a connection formed, going back to something you had joked about a very long time ago. It took a moment as you looked between the bard and the statue that he had always seemed to resemble perfectly. You had even talked with Master Diluc that Venti was the knock-off version of the anemo archon, but you had never considered the possibility.
"You're Barbatos!" you yelled, not meaning to be that loud truly.
His eyes widened as he moved forward to cup your mouth, your mind moving a mile for a moment as you started to question the bard in front of you. You grumbled, irritated as he now muffled each noise that you made, shushing your blabbering.
"Not so loud, windblume."
He looked around, slightly worried, before looking straight into your eyes. "We wouldn't want anyone to find out."
He uncovered your mouth, chuckling nervously at the shocked expression on your face. "Are you going to behave now?"
"That's why you look so much like the statue!"
He found himself unable to move before melting into somewhat of a relieving posture as his eyes crinkled upward in delight. He was happy that you hadn't thought that his true identity was truly frightening, with your voice holding the same comedy and charm as it always had.
"That's what you have to say finding out that I'm a god?"
You paused. "I-I mean, what do I even say? I-"
You looked down at the arrangement of flowers laying at the edge of the statue, before looking up at him bashfully. "Do you like the flowers?"
"Hehe. The flowers that you picked are obviously the best, but-", he looked down for a moment before one of the most sincere expressions crossed across his face as he stared into your eyes, "-you're a greater offering than any flower, my cecilia."
Your face flushed as he finally comprehended what had slipped from his mouth, causing him to sputter uncontrollably. "I-I mean-!"
It took you a moment as you stared at him with dilated eyes before small murmurs of a giggle started to crawl out as your nerve-tightened lips loosened. The faint blush on his face, the bashful way that he looked away. How hadn't you noticed it before?
You had always considered the flirtatious remarks of the bard to be something akin to his art form, blowing it off as him practicing for a romantic sonnet or the heartfelt story of two lovers. That was never what it had truly been; it hit too close to home and was too personal for it to possibly have just been practice. It was a miracle that you had been so blind in the past not to have seen it sooner.
You sauntered forward, the romantic atmosphere of the night finally wafting its way into your head as your love-stricken heart caused you to exude an aura of confidence. His face burned an even more saturated red, akin to that of his favorite fruit, as you leaned inches away.
"So, do you prefer Venti-" you leaned even closer now, blowing into his ear, "-or Barbatos."
The bard found himself, for the first time in his long life, unable to form any proper words. His mouth was gaped open, almost impressively, as the sentences that he tried to conjure up turned into stutters. You cupped his cheeks, entranced by the glow of his pale skin in the scenic shine of the moon.
The winds of Mondstadt, somehow sensing the mood of the situation, lifted your form ever so slightly so that you were now hovering off the ground, looking down at the awe-struck bard. It was as if you were the true master of the winds, and in a way, you were. Despite his emphasis on freedom, he knew one thing - that his heart had been held solely within your grasp, and he didn't want you to ever let go.
His eyes were blown wide as you closed the distance between the both of you, every nerve in his body overwhelmed by the soft sensation of your lips locked onto his. The pressure was demure, yet blistering passion was held not so far beneath it. This was intensified as he allowed himself to lean in, to become vulnerable to the feeling as one arm went to pull you closer, the other cradling your head to move you into his rhythm.
The master of the winds took control with ease, turning you around so that your back was laid every so gently on the stone carving of himself. You moaned as static buzzed through your skin with each caress, your face flushed as your body tingled and shook. He closed the space in on you both even more, your bodies fully pressed up against one other as his hand traced up your spine, causing you to arch into him.
You felt as if you were drowning, and you'd delightful sink to the bottom of the sea if you could feel this way every day. His songs, while beautiful in their own right, couldn't compare to the way his embrace made your heart tremble. The slightest brush of skin, the lightest groan from his mouth, caused you to melt deeper.
"Sweet windblume-" he mumbled between each individual fervent kiss, "-you're so cute."
Each tempting word caused the world to fade around you even more, not caring whether one of the knights or citizens of the town watched this god unravel every aspect of yourself. You'd let him if he so desired it. He'd only have to command it because you were that weak for him. Little did you know that your love made him feel the same.
"Hnng… Venti," you moaned with shallow breaths.
The small whimpers of pleasure that left your lips were close to making his most primordial aspects slip from their heavily guarded confines. The instinct to claim you right there in the plaza, leaning against the statue of himself standing in the square, was almost too much to bear. The intense desire to gaze upon every secret part of your body as he made you cry to the heavens for more. He held back, not wanting to startle you. Perhaps later.
In what felt like hours, you finally parted from the kiss, unwillingly needing air. You leaned against one another, trying to catch your breaths as the night started to unwind around you. The stars were now shining brightly in the sky, watching down on the pair of lovers carefully.
"You were so pretty back there," Venti spoke, chuckling as you tilted your head down in a fluster.
"Those little noises, all for me. Who knew you had it in you."
"S-Shut up," you mumbled.
He laughed obnoxiously at the contrasting behavior to a few moments prior, taking one of the cecilias into his hand. He twirled it for a moment, walking forward and placing it behind your ear, covering it with some hair before stepping backward for the best view. His eyes shifted into that of unadulterated love, and he almost stumbled over his own two feet at the ethereal beauty that was in front of him.
"There. That's what the flower was missing."
You gazed at him, brows furrowed in confusion. "Missing what?"
"Well-" he smiled cheekily, "-it was missing the most beautiful of muses wearing it in their hair."
You relaxed for a moment, letting yourself laugh quietly as you rushed forward, nuzzling your face into his chest with a blissful sigh, your voice coming out muffled. "Shush with your gushy phrases. My heart can't take it.
He laughed alongside you. "You're gonna have to get used to it, my gorgeous flower."
It was told that the two beaming lovers - one mortal, one immortal, both equally in love - kissed and chatted as they ran through the night, gazing sanguinely at the brightened, star-filled sky. Awaiting the future moments that they would spend together.
"I've been meaning to ask...did you have something to do with what was happening at the gate?"
"Oh, that! Simply a few pesky spirits, nothing I was involved in, certainly."