Work Text:
“Xiao!” Venti called, clamoring up onto the roof like an ungraceful toddler as Xiao stared at him with a perturbed look. Venti huffed as he threw his leg up, trying to lift himself up as he dangled there, looking at Xiao with pink cheeks after a few moments of struggling.
“Erm… help?”
Xiao stood and walked over to Venti, helping him up as the bard sighed, dusting off his pants. He looked at Xiao brightly, making him frown.
“You’re the Anemo Archon. Couldn’t you have just… I don’t know, flown yourself up?”
Venti opened his mouth to speak and then stopped, quickly shutting his lips as he realized Xiao was right. He chuckled as he rubbed the back of his head awkwardly, sucking in a breath through his teeth.
They stood there in silence for a few moments, and then Xiao spoke.
“Why are you even here?”
“I wanted to see you! I have a surprise for you as well, Xiao!”
Xiao grumbled and crossed his arms. He didn’t like surprises, but something about Venti’s tone intrigued him.
“Follow me!” Venti said, taking Xiao’s hand. Xiao walked along with Venti as the two of them hopped off of the roof of the inn. They walked into the inn, Venti leading Xiao down the stairs to one of the rooms. Xiao looked at Venti with raised eyebrows as Venti reached into his pocket, pulling out a room key with a smile.
He opened the door and Xiao peeked into the room cautiously, not knowing if Venti had just stolen the key from someone else. The room was cleaned, with a window overlooking the plains. Venti ushered Xiao in and he stepped in carefully, looking around at the quaint room.
“What’s going on?”
“Well, Verr Goldet was saying that you spend most of your nights that you sleep on the roof, and I felt like that wouldn’t be very comfortable. So I rented a room! It’s yours for the night~” Venti said happily, handing the key to Xiao, who stared at it.
“And no take-backs!” Venti said quickly, and Xiao pursed his lips.
“Venti, I can’t. If I let my guard down-”
Venti huffed loudly and indignantly, stopping Xiao’s words. “I already said no take-backs! But… if you really don’t want to I suppose that’s fine…”
Xiao sighed in relief, handing the key back to Venti. “Thank you.”
“How about we turn it into a sleepover instead?” Venti cheered, and Xiao’s eyes narrowed.
“What the hell is a sleepover?”
Venti giggled. “It’s where we sleep together!”
Xiao’s face went bright red and Venti laughed loudly, clutching his stomach. “I mean literally Xiao, my goodness! We hang out, have snacks, then go to sleep! That’s why it’s called a sleepover.”
Xiao’s face burned from embarrassment and he nodded, pouting his lip as Venti came down from his laughing fit.
“Is it your first sleepover?” He asked, and Xiao nodded. Venti smiled softly.
“Then let's make sure it's the best!” He said brightly, and Xiao nodded. He rocked on his feet awkwardly as Venti tapped his chin in thought. He looked out the window, where the sun was beginning to set.
“Are you feeling sleepy yet?”
“Adepti don’t get sleepy.”
Venti giggled, nodding his head. He noticed that the door behind him was still open and he shut it, leaving just him and Xiao alone in the inn room. Xiao’s mind raced, and he watched as Venti walked up to him, standing next to him as he put his hand on the small of Xiao’s back.
“How about we let you get used to the bed? Have you ever slept in a bed before, Xiao?”
“No…”
Venti felt a pang in his heart and he ushered Xiao to the bed, where Xiao sat down and Venti sat next to him, flopping back.
“It’s very soft,” Xiao commented, and Venti grinned. He grabbed Xiao’s shoulders and pulled him back onto the bed, making Xiao yelp as he laughed. Xiao nearly rolled off the bed and Venti managed to catch him, holding him as Xiao huffed indignantly.
“Was that necessary?”
“Very much so~”
Xiao grumbled and Venti chirped, but Xiao’s grumbling couldn’t hide the yawn that was slowly growing in his throat. He tried to suppress it, but he couldn’t, and he yawned softly as Venti watched him.
“You are sleepy,” He teased, and Xiao shook his head.
“I’m not…” Xiao whimpered, and Venti only grinned. He carded his fingers through Xiao’s hair, tucking it aside as he gazed into his eyes, the Adeptus feeling a strange, fluttery feeling in his stomach as he stared back.
“Your eyes are so beautiful, Xiao,” Said Venti with a soft smile. Xiao’s cheeks warmed and he shook his head.
“Beauty is a foolish concept.”
Venti laughed brightly, taking his hand away. Xiao followed for a brief moment, craving Venti’s touch once more. Venti grinned and Xiao pulled back, pouting.
“Let’s get you in bed, Xiao, you’re sleepy.”
Xiao shook his head, protesting, but Venti was already holding his hand, removing his glove. Xiao froze as his glove slid off, Venti cradling his soft hand as he looked down. Venti pulled his hand up, pressing a tender kiss on the top as Xiao stared, entranced.
Venti took Xiao’s other hand, taking off that glove as well as Xiao sat there, expecting another kiss. But Venti only lowered his hand and set the gloves aside, looking at Xiao with a smirk. Xiao flushed and Venti giggled.
“Stop laughing at me,” Xiao whined, and Venti chuckled.
“But it’s so fun to laugh! Here, let me show you!” Venti cooed, reaching his hands over and pushing Xiao down, making the Adeptus yelp.
Xiao was about to protest, but all that came out was a surprised giggle as Venti scribbled his fingers across Xiao’s stomach. Xiao laughed, kicking his legs and trying to shove Venti off as Venti laughed with him, teasing Xiao.
“Stop that! It feels weird!” Xiao gasped out, and Venti pulled his hands back for a moment, looking perplexed.
“Have you never been tickled?”
Xiao shook his head, pushing Venti off as he pouted. Venti hummed thoughtfully, leaning close to Xiao as he sat up. He cupped his cheek, turning his head to face Venti.
“I wonder what else you’ve never done~”
Xiao felt his face warm at the close proximity of him and Venti, Venti’s thumb rubbing his cheek gently as Xiao stared at him with a curious gaze.
Venti smiled and leaned over to Xiao until their faces were mere inches apart. Their foreheads touched, and Xiao could feel Venti’s faint breathing on his cheeks. Venti hummed and Xiao’s heart skipped a beat, the anticipation nagging him.
Venti smiled and pulled away, yawning.
“Ah goodness! It’s quite late. Should we go to bed?”
Xiao stared at Venti, stunned. He floundered, wanting to whine, wanting what Venti was taunting him with, holding in front of his face like bait. But he was too stubborn, and he pouted lightly as Venti chirped.
“I wouldn’t want to take that away from you, Xiao. It should be with someone you love and trust.”
Xiao frowned at Venti, who looked at him with a smile, though his eyes betrayed him. Xiao huffed, hand slowly and gingerly taking Venti’s as he look at the bard with determination.
“I trust you.”
Venti’s eyes widened, and before he could say anything, Xiao leaned forward. Venti managed a small smile before their lips met, a soft, tender touch as Xiao held awkwardly still. Venti encouraged him, putting a hand on his waist, pulling him in. Xiao’s arms found their way to Venti’s shoulders as he held him.
The kiss was short, and Venti was the one who pulled away. He chuckled as Xiao continued to hold him, cheeks dusted pink. Venti sighed.
“I’ve been longing for that, Xiao.”
Xiao nodded and leaned in again, more confident as Venti chuckled softly into the kiss, leaning back into the bed as Xiao guided him. Venti’s hands traced lightly up Xiao’s back, making him shiver before they rested on his shoulder blades. Xiao leaned on his forearms as he kissed Venti, eyes gently closed as he savored the moment.
Xiao pulled away to breathe for a moment, but Venti quickly pulled him back down, cupping his cheeks. Xiao hummed and Venti giggled as Xiao’s hands traced his stomach, eventually resting on his hips.
They pulled away again and Xiao stared into Venti’s eyes longingly, drunk of the experience of euphoria. Venti pat his cheek gently.
“You’re beautiful,” Venti said, and Xiao didn’t protest this time. He simply leaned his head and kissed Venti’s palm.
Venti halted Xiao for a moment as Xiao leaned down for another kiss. Venti mumbled something about wanting to at least take off his shoes, and Xiao paused for a moment as they took them off. As soon as the two of them had discarded their footwear, however, Xiao was back on Venti, peppering his neck and jaw with kisses as Venti sighed dreamily.
He held Xiao close, not wanting to let go as their lips eventually met again. The lights of the lanterns dimmed, and soon it was just Venti and Xiao, cloaked in the dark.