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Yakshas mustn’t let themselves fall for the temptations of humankind. Warmth and love are but an unachievable dream for the eternal protectors of Liyue.
On a bed in a dimly lit room at the top of Wangshu Inn lay a man, dreamless and cold. It appeared he was staring at the ceiling, bored. However if one were to look at him a bit better, more carefully, they would know it isn’t boredom making him struggle to sleep.
His hands were trembling ever so slightly, muscles seemed so stiff they could burst at any point from the unbearable tension. His chest rose up and down quickly as his body tried to catch up on breathing, but what could have made him so disturbed since he hasn't moved from this place in so long?
He didn’t even seem to notice a figure on his window whose eyes were focused solely on him. That figure, the way his hands longingly touched the glass separating him from entering the bedroom, was mesmerizing.
Elegant and quiet, yet so wishful to let go of the silence and slowly creep up next to the disturbed man.
This isn’t the first time it had happened, but this time the energy around the two seemed so much more intense and frightening. How could he possibly resist such a temptation, with a cause so rightful?
Through a creak in the window, a gust of wind found its way through the darkness, caressing the man’s cheek slowly, ever so gently.
He froze before his muscles relaxed, it was forced- the figure knew that. It was but a facade to make him appear strong, calm.
His mouth opened, like he was contemplating if talking to the wind was a good idea. Was he going insane? Imagining things? Still, he gulped down the lingering fear before whispering.
“Leave, Barbatos.”
If Venti wasn’t so close, he wouldn’t have caught the words floating through the air.
His hands were not shaking anymore. His breathing was calm. Everything about him appeared so normal, yet so eerie.
Now noticed and recognized, the Archon slipped through the darkness and appeared sitting on the bed next to his companion. The bed was cold, freezing even though it was late summer outside. Now Venti caught what appeared so unnatural with the man; he wasn’t moving at all. Not even to breathe, to blink.
He lied there, frozen.
“What in ‘leave’ did you not catch?” The words were a whisper meant for Venti and him only, left hanging in the wind for the briefest moment before dissipating.
“Alatus,” Venti looked down at Xiao who did his best to avoid looking the other in the eye, a flash of something unrecognizable and cold passing through his eyes at the mention of his name, “I don’t want to leave. I don’t want to leave you. ”
Xiao grit his teeth, turning his head fully away from Venti, turning away to lie on his side. “I don’t need you here,” He hissed, trying to put so much venom into those words, but Venti knew him best, wanting to believe he knew. He’s been watching. Night through night, the never ending nightmare that is a Yaksha’s life.
It was too quiet. Even with their voices, Venti’s slow breaths, the darkness around them swallowed every sound, like a void created to chain the Yaksha and never let go.
“It would be good for you, you know?” Venti pouted, though it was hardly noticeable. “Let me accompany you, I can make it easier.”
A vow, a promise. Venti would give his all if it meant to keep it true. Oh, how he wished he could.
Xiao didn’t move to look at him, though Venti could see his muscles tense as if the words had affected him. He trusted Venti, he always had. And Venti knew the Yaksha hoped he wouldn't leave him there alone, unable to fight against the darkness swallowing his mind. Even if Xiao has never said that.
At least he hoped he’s right. It eased his conscience while he stayed there, having to act brave and sure in everything he did. If Xiao really didn’t want him there then… Venti tried his best to ignore such signs.
His fingers itched for something, making their way through the air in already practiced motions as his hand stayed neatly put in his lap.
Would Xiao mind? Would it help him? Second thoughts had always been present with every action he took, yet this one felt right enough that he mustered up the courage to swiftly summon his lyre.
Xiao sensed a change in the air, a different presence apart from the two, yet he ignored it. Be it the unwillingness to let Venti feel like his curiosity had been piqued, or the fear that he himself may become too captivated in what he would find if he turned around, he made up his mind to wait.
Venti felt up the strings. He let his fingers wander in the dark, creating a quiet, yet mesmerizing sound with every slight touch.
There it was, Venti noticed it immediately, Xiao breathed in a shallow breath, his muscles relaxing almost unnoticeably, but it was Venti’s undeniable sign to continue.
“Shh…” He whispered to the winds around them, asking them to quiet down and leave Xiao to him and only him.
Then he started. Familiar motions creating a captivating melody.
The energy in the room started relaxing, the tension dissipating from the air and leaving them with a sound so beautiful that even Venti was awestruck. His eyes fluttered closed, breaths slowing down all in desperation to not disturb the peace created.
Venti felt the tension on the sheets fading. Xiao relaxed.
And if he focused hard enough, he could hear Xiao breathing. Slowly, quietly, as one would during prayer. “ You do need me, Yaksha ,” Venti wanted to say, but veneration for the melody kept his voice hidden, his lips neatly shut.
As it continued, never losing its power nor meaning, Xiao’s fingers curled into fists, eyes focusing forward as he tried to ignore the lump in his chest that burned deep inside him. It was the only thing close to warmth a Yaksha could feel.
The burn in their chest and eyes, the clogged throats as they tried not to choke on their wet gasps alongside the need to curl up and disappear. He couldn’t go on like this any longer. May Rex Lapis forgive him, he was a weakling.
There were no tears as Venti put down the Lyre and the wind took it, neither when he lied down too nor when placing his hand gently on Xiao’s trembling shoulder. Only ragged breaths, quick heartbeats and a silent prayer for this night to end.
“You’re going to be okay, Xiao,” But neither of the two believed it. It was but an empty lie, a Yaksha could not be okay. The burdens they carry, the blood they shed, the debt they owe to the divine, it will follow them until they are one with the land they walk on.
It’s hopeless.
Xiao made peace with that long ago, but Venti never liked to settle for something that cannot be changed.
“Barbatos,” Xiao gulped before whatever he meant to say got lost in a quiet sob, only there for Venti to hear. He took control over himself, quickening up his breaths to try and force the tears to go away.
He shouldn’t have to make Venti pity him, it’s selfish, it’s disgusting and it makes Xiao tear at his own soul at the thought of bringing anything less than perfect into the Archon’s life.
Gentle hands wrapped around him, a body pressing to his back. He could feel Venti’s heart beat so much slower than his own. “You shouldn’t touch a servant like me,” He wanted to say, but he knew his voice would give out.
“I’ll sing you a lullaby, Alatus,” Venti whispered, “Take it like you would a blessing from an Archon, will you?”
Venti’s voice was a blessing. Not one he should waste on cowards and lowly Yakshas not capable of taking care of themselves. Xiao could never deserve it.
Yet Venti was humming already, so close to Xiao’s ear like the whisper was so sacred and meant only for him to hear. Xiao waned to deny it- the way Venti’s breath fell on him made him feel so warm.
For the first time in centuries, Alatus, the Guardian Yaksha, had been allowed such a privilege. “Venti,” Xiao breathed in. Using such a name to address a God doing so much to help him should have felt like an act of sacrilege and disrespect, but in that moment it felt so right.
He relaxed. Venti didn’t stop singing even as Xiao closed his eyes, as he finally allowed warm tears to dirty the pillow he was resting on. He didn’t make much noise, just ragged breaths and hopeless sighs. Yet letting himself go, letting the tears flow, was something he’d forever be grateful to Barbatos for allowing him to do.
Some time passed before Venti was sure Xiao was sleeping. His breathing was evening out and his heartbeat was finally calming down, no trace of the turmoil he was in so recently.
His face looked glorious in the dark, only for Venti to see. The lines of his relaxed expression reminded Venti of the times long forgotten, before the wars and the hated bloodshed. Something stirred inside the Archon, whatever it was, he didn’t have the heart to uncover it.
“Sleep well, my beloved Yaksha,” It was but a whisper in the wind as Venti lowered himself down until his lips lightly touched Xiao’s forehead, a tear sliding down Venti’s cheek, falling into Xiao’s hair as a parting gift.
And with that, just as he came in, with a gust of the wind, Venti left, now becoming a simple silhouette in the dark sky.
****
Some may say that every night since their fateful encounter, a beautiful song could be heard playing from the top of Wangshu Inn every night, so mesmerizing that none can remember it in the morning, only left with the appreciation that they once felt as it put them to a peaceful sleep.
The rumors reached Barbatos eventually- the wind carried even the most mystic prophecies over to him. His lips couldn’t help but curl upwards in a longing smile, melancholy in his eyes.
Venti would never be able to truly help Xiao, he knew it. He’d never be able to end the fights, the bloodshed, to put a stop to the pain that will one day be Xiao’s demise. The only thing he could do was his best to ease the pain, tend to his wounds and give him a reason to not succumb to the darkness, all through the sound of a melody only the two of them know.
And he will keep doing it until the dreaded day the melody will play as he watches over Xiao’s grave.