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Venti had been with Zhongli for a long time now. It truly felt as though they were made for each other, as different as they were. Quickly, time spent together melded together into a long string of happy days that melted into weeks, into months, into years, yet the love still felt timeless. An ageless thing, ever vibrant and renewed.
Words exchanged these days were often short, as they didn’t need to say much to convey what they were trying to get across. Still, Venti would hang on every languid word Zhongli spoke, his ears practically ringing happily at the sound of his voice. He loved Zhongli, as sturdy and reliable as anyone he’d met, sometimes a little slow to come around on things like sarcasm or plays on words, but he still managed to flow with the times regardless.
Many people had questioned their… alliance, or relationship, in the past. Wondering why they were so informal, so familiar, despite being from such different backgrounds, of different occupations, of different… stature, with different reputations… they seemed to get along perfectly.
Of course, their questions were always met with vague responses. Repeating things like, “ Oh, we’re not all that close, ” or “ I was just passing through and thought I’d visit an old friend, ” or even “ Did you think we seemed to familiar? How intriguing, Venti’s charisma must have peaked today ,” and with each one of these excuses, they somehow continued to keep their relationship under wraps.
They did spend a lot of time together, but not in public spaces. They’d go to mountains, outside of small villages, large expanses of unclaimed land where they could be in each other’s company. Zhongli often claimed to enjoy silence, yet was always overjoyed if Venti offered to play a song, and nearly every time they were together would go on one of his monologues that Venti found incredibly charming. He could never remember half the things Zhongli said, but he’d nod along. He’d watch how his lover’s eyes sparkled as he spoke, how his expression would shift and change as he told stories of the past.
Once in a while Venti would get the opportunity to see Zhongli in his… less-human form. With horns cresting atop his head, and shimmering golden light flowing over his arms. Venti could never get enough of him like this. He’d delicately float up to gently caress the horns, kiss the tip of Zhongli’s nose, giggle when it would bring about a frown because “ he missed ”.
Venti would often trace the glowing lines on Zhongli’s arms distractedly until Zhongli would shiver from the faint touch, interlocking their fingers and laughing softly as Venti was dragged back to the present from his daydreams. “You truly prefer to spend our time like this?” Zhongli would ask, already knowing the answer.
“Any time spent with you is perfect,” Venti would whisper cheerily, “I love every moment. Being able to admire you is one of my greatest treasures.” He’d giggle as Zhongli nosed at his cheek, humming pleasantly. Zhongli would quietly promise to admire Venti in return, his hands warm and firm as he’d caress his form delicately. His shoulders, his back, his waist, his hips, his thighs; Zhongli would gently run his hands over him, quietly whispering of his love for Venti. Of all of him, of everything about him, how if he wasn’t a god he’d certainly be an angel .
Venti always went red in the face at such praise, but soaked it up gladly. His light skin would darken to pink across his chest and shoulders, his ears going reddest of all as he’d giggle and hold Zhongli’s face in his hands.
Then their time would be up. Venti would tenderly kiss Zhongli goodbye, until next time, then they’d return to their typical occupations. Passing as two of the many vision-holders of teyvat, despite being the ones to hand visions out in the past. They did it well enough, though the odd one or two people knew of their secret and kept it well.
Often, between their shared time together, there was no contact. Not because they didn’t want to be in contact, but because it was difficult to do so without raising suspicion, and they were patient. They knew they had time, and have had time, so they usually opted for silence until they next met face to face.
Though, this time, Zhongli called for Venti. It wasn’t something that happened often; in fact, Venti couldn’t recall it ever happening. Worry struck him at first, but he quickly reassured himself that Zhongli was strong and capable of keeping himself both safe and out of trouble when he needed to. So, assuming it wasn’t urgent, he finished what he was doing before quickly making his way to Zhongli’s side.
He met him in the streets of Liyue, dressed in his typical bard attire, strolling up to him as though he were an old friend, stopping just short of him.
Zhongli met his eyes and smiled, nodding at him. “Venti, I’m so glad you could take time out of your day to come and see me.” He smiled, voice low and smooth as ever, making Venti’s heart burst in his chest at getting to hear him again so soon.
“Of course, I’ll always answer when you call.” Venti giggled, putting a hand over his mouth daintily for a moment before smiling up at the man before him, waiting for more information.
“Walk with me.” Zhongli offered, tilting his head before turning on his heel to begin walking. Venti quickly moved up to match his pace and walk alongside him, still looking at him curiously - as to why he called for him.
“Why did you call?” Venti asked softly, not trying to be overheard, but curious as to what could’ve brought this upon Zhongli. An urgency enough to call him to his side early, and by a fortnight.
“Well, I needed you.” Zhongli responded, somewhat vaguely at first, but before he could continue Venti decided to cut in and tease a little.
“Ohh? Ehe~, you need me, huh?” Venti giggled, a skip in his step as he spoke before he grinned mischievously in Zhongli’s direction.
Zhongli’s gaze went soft, a small smile on his lips as he met Venti’s eyes. “Of course I need you.” He said, his strides slowing to a stop as Venti nearly tripped over his own feet.
Venti’s face heated up, his eyes went wide. He didn’t expect the tease to go over Zhongli’s head and be taken literally, and now he felt like his heart was going to burst. Zhongli needed him? Zhongli needs him? Venti choked on another half-hearted giggle before losing any grip on restraint he had.
He threw himself toward Zhongli, wrapping his arms up around his neck and plastering kisses over his face. Zhongli was able to do nothing but take it for a moment, stumbling forward for a step before he regained his balance and held onto Venti so he wasn’t hanging off of him so dramatically. Their embrace became noticeably intimate, which they had tried to avoid since the beginning, but they were both tired.
Venti was tired, Zhongli was tired, both of them slowly succumbing to the reality of being without their gnosis. So Zhongli did nothing to mask this interaction, Venti did nothing to remove them from the streets of Liyue to somewhere more private. Venti pressed his lips over Zhongli’s as happy tears rolled down his cheeks, having never heard those words from Zhongli before and now, now , feeling them sink in. Zhongli held Venti, having scooped him up with his hands on the backs of his thighs, Venti wrapping his legs around him and holding on like letting go would mean the end of everything.
“I love you, Zhongli.” Venti practically cried against his lips, knowing people were stopping in the street to stare, quietly commenting; this was sure to make quick gossip. The infamous consultant of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, kissing a lowly bard from Mondstadt with no Mora to his name in the street.
But that hardly mattered, as Zhongli leaned his forehead against his lover’s, looking in his eyes with profound gratitude and relief. Like they were free now, and could do as they pleased; they didn’t need to hide, since everyone would soon know. And none of it mattered, since he could spend all of his time with Venti now.
“And I love you, Venti.”