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“Oh slayer of demons, I’ve come to slightly inconvenience you!” Venti calls out cheerily as he enters the Wangshu Inn, skipping over to the counter where a baffled-looking lady is staring at Venti. “Hi, ‘Boss Lady’! You haven’t happened to seen Xiao around here, have you?”
The lady lets out a sigh at being referred to as ‘Boss Lady’, but doesn’t correct Venti and instead points towards the stairs. “He’s in his room at the moment, I wouldn’t bother him though-!”
He’s gone as soon as she says ‘Room’, leaving her to just shake her head and pet the cat on the counter in front of her.
Good luck, Adeptus.
“Xiaooo~!” Venti practically slams open the door to his room, pausing his walk when he sees the Adeptus sitting down on his bed with a deadpan stare directed at Venti.
Then there’s also Aether, who’s leaning heavily against Xiao and looking up at Venti with his eyebrow raised and a plate of almond tofu with.. Two forks on it.
It’s silent for a moment, then, “Hi Aether! Okay, anyways. Xiao!” Venti throws himself onto the bed, making Aether have to hang onto the almond tofu so it won’t drop and Xiao glare at the Archon. “I need a teensy tiny little favor from you!”
“And you won’t leave me alone until I help you?” Xiao questions with a defeated tone, earning a mischievous grin from Venti that makes him sigh. “What could you possibly need me for that you cannot handle on your own?”
“I want you to come with me to Mondstadt and play a song with me!” Venti chirps, smile not ceasing despite the way that Xiao grimaces. “I’ve heard you play before when Aether allowed you to play his Lyre along with his Zither.. It was very pretty, you know. So romantic as well!”
“...You.. Heard that?” Xiao huffs, turning away when his face threatens to blush. “Of course you did… Why am I even asking?” He shakes his head, “Why do you even want me to do that? I cannot play as well as you think I can.” The adeptus grumbles, though his expression quickly changes to something soft when Aether holds up some of the almond tofu on a fork in front of his face with a pout. And Xiao, completely forgetting Venti was there, opens his mouth and lets Aether feed him the tofu.
“I beg to differ,” Venti says with a snicker when Xiao looks back utterly embarrassed at the realization that he was being watched.
Aether just gets another piece of tofu and holds it up.
Xiao does not deny it even with the embarrassment.
“You play quite beautifully, actually. And believe it or not I want to bring some light to my people with your music. Your song you played together was something I never heard before, you know. And I know every song no matter what time and no matter what universe. I must ask however… What was the name of the song you played?” Venti questions with a head tilt, eyes genuine.
Aether and Xiao both share a look, Xiao’s questioning and Aether’s soft at essentially being asked for permission before telling. The blonde nods with a gentle smile and takes a bite from the almond tofu himself, leaning again into Xiao’s side.
“...Lover’s Oath.” Xiao murmurs, brushing away the blonde hair in Aether’s face ever so fondly.
“Of course,” Venti laughs lightly, “Very fitting. I want you to play that.”
Xiao frowns at that, giving Venti an odd look that makes the bard sigh,
“I understand it’s personal-” Venti starts but Xiao interrupts,
“It’s not only personal, it’s something I never shared with anyone else. You weren’t even supposed to hear it…” Xiao states, though something in his expression falters. “Though, this song along with your own was something that helped me long ago, so I suppose you hearing the song is okay as you had let me hear your own.”
“Oh Xiao,” Venti’s voice goes soft, “This is why I want others to hear it. I see their sadness,” The bard pauses, taking a deep breath before continuing, “I see their sadness and deep despair. And music… Heals the soul. I can’t play for everyone all the time, and my music can only go so far. But if we play from the heart, and show others what can be made when we come together with love and care, we can at least give them some strength to keep going. I understand how the song you learned and play now with your loved ones is precious to you and you’d like to keep it close.. But please, Xiao. I… Need to do something.”
Xiao grips the bedsheets down below, eyes shutting and expression going contemplative. The adeptus only opens his eyes again when Aether grabs his hand and squeezes it gently, giving Xiao the softest smile. I’ll play with you, is what Xiao thinks he can hear when Aether nods once. He could be completely wrong, but after learning to read Aether for the past few months he’s… Gotten the hang of figuring it out whenever he’d have his silent days.
Including today.
“It wasn’t my song until it felt like I made it my own with Aether,” Xiao starts, exhaling slowly. “But I never truly made it to begin with, yet, it saved me. So perhaps… By sharing this… I could make it my own in… A different way. And by accomplishing that, one day, I could truly make my own song.” The adeptus squeezes Aether’s hand back, “I’ll play with you, only with Aether by my side.”
Venti immediately springs up off the bed and cheers, “Whoop! Heck yeah!” The bard does a full spin and faces Xiao, jumping up and down in place with uncontained energy. “Thank you, Xiao! You won’t regret it. We should leave right now, I want to do this at sunset and I need to get there before a certain bar closes!” He grabs the now empty plate from Aether, placing it off to the side and grabbing both the Adeptus and Traveler’s hands in order to tug them off the bed. Aether huffs out in amusement, bringing up a hand to wipe away the sugar residue on his face before grabbing Xiao’s hand again. He tugs on it once, taking a step forward when Venti opens the door to the room and holds it open for them.
Xiao allows himself to be pulled along, never truly protesting against Aether any more. They go all the way down to the grassy area that surrounds the inn, and out in the open is when Venti pauses in his walk in order to turn and face the adeptus and traveler.
“I’ll be honest… I didn’t walk here.” Venti chuckles awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head, “You all wouldn’t mind teleporting, would you? We’re all capable of it and I’m in a little bit of a rush.”
Xiao just sighs while Aether snorts and nods.
“Great! Oh, and before we go..” Venti places his hands behind his back, expression softening greatly. “Your song will be very beautiful, Xiao. Trust me on that.” He says with a smile, then holds out his hand before Xiao can react, “Now then, let’s go! To Mondstadt to play a lovely tune!”
Aether raises his and Xiao’s connected hands up to Venti’s with a happy hum, and they all teleport in a gust of wind that blows away a couple’s drinks at one of the tables outside the Wangshu Inn.
Oops.
Upon arriving at the city of freedom, things pick up very quickly. Venti drags them to the bar, where he tells them to wait and order food if they wanted to while they were there. In which Aether takes the opportunity to do so, and because Xiao doesn’t order anything himself, Aether just ends up feeding him some of what’s on his dish again.
At least no one could see them this time, as they chose the seats underneath the stairs where they could be somewhat hidden.
Xiao thanks whatever god for the sparing of his embarrassment.
During this, Venti starts to bring in people one by one. Starting with Kaeya, who looks utterly confused but happy to see Aether when spotting him.
He’s confused about Xiao, but the Adeptus doesn’t make any action to introduce himself.
Then comes Diluc who was in the back room of the bar, he just gives the three under the stairs an odd look, but does not comment nor leave.
The rest are dragged in, Jean, Lisa, Amber, Barbara… Everyone who seems to be quite close to Venti or even Aether himself.
When it seems that Venti is done, he strolls over to Aether and Xiao, stopping in front of their table with a bright smile. “We won’t be staying here, I’ll explain it in a moment- but after this, Xiao, Aether, I hope you’ll come with me back to Liyue and play there as well. If this goes as I think it’ll go, of course. I think… I know others who need it as well.” He whispers to them, and Xiao does not agree or disagree- he just looks to Aether who is looking over Venti’s shoulder at all the familiar people around with the most relaxed look Xiao typically only sees when they’re alone.
…Perhaps… He would say yes then, if after this… He…
If it makes Aether happy.
“Okay everyone! Now that the bar is closed and I dragged you all here, let me now drag you towards Starsnatch cliff! I promise it’s something good and not a silly prank this time.” Venti announces with a giggle, leading the way with only mild protest specifically from Diluc who gives in and follows anyway. Mostly to make sure the bard wouldn’t cause trouble for the knights and others.
When everyone is settled at the cliff, sitting upon the grass or standing and looking off the edge, Venti pulls out his lyre and hums. Aether takes out his own and places it in Xiao’s hands with his same, sunshine smile that makes Xiao grip the lyre with care. He watches Aether then grab the zither and wink playfully at him, making Xiao roll his eyes fondly and face towards the group of people now all facing the three with pure interest written on their faces.
It’s silent for a moment, an with an encouraging look from Aether, after that moment, Xiao lets out a soft breath of air.
He brings his hand up, and begins to strum.
Aether and Venti let Xiao play the song that means so much to him for another moment, before they join in at the right time.
There’s not one interruption during their playing, everyone far too enamored and not wishing to make a sound.
Something lifts off of each of their chests, hearts feeling lighter and mind clearing up from a fog they hadn’t even known was there.
And if they listen closely, something whispers in their ear,
It’ll be okay.
I know it’s hard.
I know you struggle every day.
But you will never be alone in your struggle.
So please take my hand, from right in front of you, or across the world. I see you and I understand you. And I am walking right beside you on this journey. We all are.
You are not alone.
You will never be alone.
..Take it step by step.. Day by day…
You deserve to be here and live the life you wish to live.
We deserve to be here.
Take this as an Oath between you and me, but the sun will shine on us once again.
I promise.