Chapter Text
It was now early morning, nearly seven and a half to be more exact,
And Barbara was in the process of getting ready for the day...
...
As she was in the middle of dressing up, yet couldn't seem to stop her eyes from wandering towards a certain person,
The person who was both her god and her friend, who was still lying deeply asleep on their shared bed...
...
...
It was already a few days since their private conversation,
Yet, she could still clearly remember it even now...
...
"Barbara, are you done changing yet...?", he was asking her in some happiness, yet she was feeling none of that herself, "You know, during these last few days I missed cuddling with my adorable Deaconess so much that...~"
"There is something I need to discuss with you and also to apologize for.", she couldn't help but sadly say, finding herself unable to ignore her own guilt anymore, "I am sorry for never realizing how hard it must have been for you all this time...Barbatos."
"Barbatos", his actual name,
Not the name "Venti", which he took to remember his friend by,
And without adding a title before it, creating a deep wedge between them...
...
Just as she did until now...
...
Why couldn't she realize this befo...?
"Barbara, what's wrong...?", Her thoughts were interrupted by his worried voice, "Why are you suddenly acting so weird...?!"
...
"Why...?"
...
Oh, right, he didn't know...
"After you left back to Mondstadt, due to what happened between us before, the cultists decided that I was their High Priestess.", she decided to explain, "Having them "pamper" me felt nice, though embarrassing, I can't deny that. But the way they saw me as, as this great "High Priestess" whom they were eagerly waiting to order them around, about to follow every order, no matter how stupid or dangerous it might have been. It felt so wrong. As an "Idol" getting attention from fans was hard enough sometimes, but being worshiped like this felt so much worse.", she soon explained, still clearly remembering the occasion, "...Being put on a pedestal, as if you are so much more different and important than everyone else...If those weren't people I just recently met, I don't know how I would have reacted. I can't even imagine how I would feel if people I knew, my friends and even family, suddenly started acting so overly formal and distant towards me. Not as simply "Barbara", but as someone of higher status who they are afraid to get close to and insist to keep a distance from since it would be "disrespectful" to do otherwise...", she couldn't even imagine how horrible it would have felt like, "By experiencing all this for myself, I realized how hard it must have been on you all this time. As a god living in a nation full of humans, it must have felt so lonely for the longest time."
She added while walking up towards and stopping right before him,
As she was now reluctant to move nearer, still feeling guilty for being so blind until now,
Not just being his friend and cuddling with him at night, she didn't feel like she deserved to be near him at all,
*Especially when she failed to realize how hurtful she was towards him all this time...
...
When, for the longest time, she failed to realize why exactly he insisted on being called "Venti" and treated as a normal bard...
"The reason you choose to call yourself "Venti", it wasn't just so you could remember your friend, was it...?", she couldn't help but say aloud, feeling even worse now, "Calling yourself "Venti" and acting like a normal bard gave you a chance to get close to other people. A White Lie which artificially closed the gap between you and others and helped you be treated as a person, rather than by your status as the nation's Archon."...And without this lie, he might never had this chance at all..."...Not only do you have to deal with outliving those you see as your friends and family, but to even have a chance at getting close to people requires you to lie about yourself. And then, if they found out you are Lord Barbatos...S-some of them...", she couldn't help her voice from breaking, or the tears that now started to appear in her eyes, "...S-some of them, just like myself...W-would no longer act familiar with you, but so cold and distant...J-just as if the close relationship that we had before never existed...", she couldn't stop the tears from streaming down her face, or feeling like a horrible person, "...I-I am sorry for being so ignorant, not realizing the truth...! I-I am sorry for acting so distant, unknowingly pushing you away...E-even when you wanted us to become closer...! I-I am sorry for treating you based on your status and not as...!"
"Barbara, it's alright! It's not your fault! You just didn't know, that's not a crime!", she heard him yell in worry and soon noticed him fly down towards her, "To begin with, this world's system itself is made in such a way that the Seven and the citizens of the land that we are required to look over...!"
He tried to reassure her, explaining that not realizing this until now, was in no way her fault,
And she also soon felt him hugging her and patting her head, as if to calm her down...
...
All the while she couldn't stop crying and feeling guilty,
As well as confused as to why he was being so gentle with her...
...
...
Why wasn't he blaming her for being so ignorant...?"
...
...
She did calm down after some time, albeit it took a while...
*And then was reassured by him that they were still friends...
...
Even now, after she pushed him away again and again,
Yet he still wanted to be her friend...
*How could she possibly deny him that...?
-I am glad to be your friend...Venti. -Barbara couldn't help but say aloud, looking and sounding grateful. -I am going to be busy now, but I will make sure to take care of all of my duties as soon as possible. -She promised, before a slightly amused smile appeared on her face. -Someone has to make sure that you and the children, who would definitely want to spend some time together with their favorite "Daddy/Uncle Venti", wouldn't plunge the city into chaos.
Approximately an hour and a half later,
The trio of Barbara, Caleb and Sophia were walking through the city...
-Sister Victoria has it in for us, I am pretty sure of it! It feels like she is giving us more work on purpose! -Caleb said in some annoyance, as he was struggling with balancing a bunch of everyday items in his hands. -I can't really blame her for this, considering what we did during the whole kidnapping situation, but still...
He soon mumbled, while starting to sulk,
Realizing that working at the farm was easier than this...
*At least then he didn't have to worry about a pyramid of items suddenly crashing down on him!
...
...
Thought the living situation was a lot better here,
Sophia and himself could finally start life at a new page...
*And hopefully forget about their time with the cultists, when...
...
...
-Brother, are you okay...? -Sophia asked him, looking and sounding quite worried due to his suddenly miserable expression, as she almost dropped the items she was holding in her worry. His expression looked familiar to her, one that mostly appeared when...-Caleb, brother, it's alright now. I am alright. You shouldn't blame yourself for what happened back then. To begin with...-She soon went on a whole speech about the situation, trying to reassure her twin as much as she could, hoping that her words would reach him. Hoping that he would finally stop blaming himself for her death back then...-...That situation is now long over, I am alive thanks to Lord Barbatos' generosity and both of us are beginning our new life in Mondstadt. -She added by the end of her speech, though Caleb still didn't look fully convinced. -I am trying to cope with what happened and put it behind me and you should too, brother! Wasn't this the main reason for our "Trauma Overcoming" group...? And you are giving up now...?
She decided to continue in a more stern voice, soon explaining this further,
Which summarized in overcoming the hardships of the past, in order to peacefully meet the future,
With the past no longer slowing them down, but rather working as a learning experience for them moving forward...
...
Sophia's emotional speech was taking quite a while, Barbara had to admit,
Which was quite a problem, since they were now nearing the Goth Grand Hotel...
...
All this time, the Deaconess was quietly listening to them talk, deciding to give the twins their moment,
But now when they were nearing their next "work location", as the one "in charge", she had no choice but to interrupt them...
*Having been..."Asked" by Sister Victoria to let the twins do all the heavy lifting was bad enough, but to now have to interrupt their sibling moment...
...
-Caleb, Sophia, we have arrived at the Goth Grand Hotel. -She soon informed them, trying to sound as serious as possible and ignore her feeling of guilt. -We are about to meet up with the Owner now.
She added while walking towards the hotel's entrance, the twins quietly following after her,
As Barbara once more remembered why they were here to begin with...
...
Since they had more people joining Mondstadt, the city was starting to get full,
So most of the cultists were temporarily staying either at the hotel or in Springvale...
...
And in the meantime, it was decided to build another village for them and any new arrivals,
A project which was possible due to the nation being almost devoid of any monsters now...
*It took them quite some time to ponder where the new village would be, still waiting to come to a decision,
Some suggesting different spots in the Starfell Valley and Galesong Hill areas...
...
They also considered Old Mondstadt as a possible location for the village, but ultimately decided to remove it as an option entirely,
Which was both due to the area being a "historical site" and due to Venti and his connection to it, as well as the fact that his friend's grave was there...
...
...
They didn't want to hurt him, more than he already did,
Especially not now, when he was so much freer and content with life...
After giving the necessities and talking to Goth,
The trio continued their trex through the city...
...
Or they would have, if Barbara wasn't held up by a bunch of overly enthusiastic children...
-Ever since I got an assistant, learning new things with my friends has become so much easier! Auntie Barbara, when is Daddy Venti going to wake up? I want him to see and compliment us!
-Auntie Barbara, when is Venti going to play with us? Running by the fountain is starting to get boring!
-Auntie Barbara, are you and Venti going to perform together again...? It was so long since you sang and danced last!
-Auntie Barbara, you are very close to Daddy Venti, right...? Can you teach me to fly just like him, please...?
These and more questions were rapidly sent towards the Deaconess,
Who had trouble answering any, due to them being so many...
...
-Calm down everyone! Auntie Barbara can't answer your questions when you are surrounding her like that! Uncle/Daddy Venti will surely play with you when he wakes up! -Was heard soon afterwards, as Sara, Caleb and Sophia were walking towards them, trays with sweets held in the trio's hands. -I must admit that I am very disappointed in you children, troubling Auntie Barbara so much, while knowing how busy she usually is. -Sara soon added in sadness, as she and her "assistants" got near, yet "coincidentally" held the trays too high for the children to reach. -And just when we were busy making you all of those tasty sweets. I thought you were good children and yet...-She soon went on a story about how good children wouldn't unnecessarily trouble other people, especially when they are busy doing their jobs and making sure that everything goes well for everyone. -...Now then, children, what should you tell Auntie Barbara...?
She asked by the end of her "tale", while glancing between the now ashamed looking kids,
Who were quiet for a few seconds, exchanged sad glances and then turned to look towards Barbara with tears in their eyes...
-WE ARE SORRY, AUNTIE BARBARA! -They soon simultaneously cried out, looking very regretful and sad.
...
Their emotional apology being so unexpected and intense, Barbara just froze in place,
The sheer adorableness of the litter of puppies inflicting a great amount of emotional damage on her...
...
"It was a super effective critical attack! One that the children didn't even try to do!" , the Winds soon commented in awe, just as people were now trying to snap Barbara out of her stupor, to no avail, "...We have been quietly watching things unfold until now, but we should probably do something about the frozen Deaconess Barbara...Even though though this whole situation is so cute...!", they soon mumbled, sounding a little unsure, before there was a slight pause, "...We should definitely still do something about it, can't leave Barbatos' "Cute Deaconess" like this..." , they soon said, just as the children were trying to "awaken" Barbara with the use of numerous poking, "...We need to do it by "fighting fire with fire"! Yes, that would be the most efficient and foolproof method!~" , they continued, sounding very happy now and a little amused, "Deaconess Barbara, how is your married life with Barbatos going...? How do you feel about being Husband and Wife...? Is your relationship proceeding...?"
-WE ARE FINE! -Barbara yelled out in rising embarrassment, shocking the people around by her sudden outburst. -AND NO MATTER WHAT YOU ARE SAYING, VENTI IS...! -She suddenly paused in her words, finally realizing where she was, as her eyes grew to the size of saucers. -I-I...! I-I apologize for my earlier outburst, everyone! -She soon shakily said while half bowing towards the people around her, before turning around to the South East and starting to walk through the stairs. -C-Caleb, Sophia, it's time to continue with our assisting job!
She told them while continuing to walk and trying to ignore everything around her,
Especially the recent and highly embarrassing situation...
*Seriously, why did the Winds had to say such embarrassing things and...!
...
-You two should really go now. -Sara soon told the twins, who were standing around and looking at said person's back in surprise. -Someone has to look out for Barbara. -She soon added as if that explained anything, which it did in a way, as the twins soon left after Barbara. -...To think that both our Archon and our Deaconess are like this...
She then mumbled, the following words getting unheard by the retreating twins,
As Caleb and Sophia were now running after Barbara, yet still unsure what just happened,
And almost crashed into her, as Barbara suddenly stopped walking, opened the door to a nearby shop and got inside of it...
...
-Miss Marjorie has some stock she wants us to help her move to other locations like Angel's Share, Floral Whisper, Cat's Tail and more. -The still red faced Deaconess suddenly mumbled while opening the door, as she was awkwardly standing in place and holding onto it. -Caleb, Sophia, this is your next task.
She simply informed them, before going inside the shop again,
As Sophia quickly caught the door before it closed, opened it and went inside with Caleb following her...