Chapter Text
Just as two young adventurers were about to finally reach their destination under the guidance of the moonlight, there came a sudden downpour of rain. The two boys were forced to run for shelter and found themselves inside an old neglected shrine of some sort.
Xiao looked around the place curiously, examining his surroundings, while Venti was calmly wiping away the raindrops that had fallen onto his 99.9% not waterproof items.
After they both had finished what they were doing, they sat on a dry part of the floor together where it wasn't rained on through the holes in the roof.
"Looks like we'll have to delay our trip for a bit." Venti says, his voice still as cheery as ever. He seemed to enjoy the rain, taking joy in watching the drops of water forming little puddles outside. If it weren't for his companion, he probably would've run outside to jump on those puddles by now.
Xiao only replied with a nod of his head, following his companion's gaze outside. His eyes wandered upwards, moving to glance at the skies. To his surprise, a beautiful sight awaited before his eyes. A small smile made its way onto his lips.
"You're smiling right now, what's got you doing that?" Venti asks, almost teasingly. Beneath the teasing tone was genuine curiosity. For the long duration of their time together, he had rarely seen the other smile genuinely. He was more used to the stoic look the boy would host.
Yet again, he did not speak. Nudging to the sky with his head as a reply instead. Venti follows his gaze, also getting amazed with what he was seeing. The sky was still shiningly bright with the moon and its stars somehow, even while it was simultaneously raining heavily. Venti didn't even think this was possible at all, not until he saw it himself.
"The moon is still there. Somehow, it looks even more majestic like that," Xiao finally speaks after a long moment of silence, "The moon is... so beautiful." He seemed at peace, like his problems had all been washed away by the rain water and shined on by the bright moon and stars. Venti stares into his eyes and holds the gaze deeply for a while. At long last, he returns his gaze onto what he was looking at earlier.
"Yeah, it really is pretty." Venti answers earnestly, entranced by the sight as well. In this moment of peace and solitude, everything seemed so small and meaningless.
However, this peace didn't last long, only leading the other boy right back to his thoughts. He put an arm on his own shoulder, letting out a big sigh. His gaze melted away to a solemn one.
Venti took quick notice of it, curiously asking about what had caused the sudden change in the atmosphere.
"What happened?"
"......"
".....?"
"I'm just... thinking."
"Of?"
Xiao's gaze was still trained on the view outside, his smile transforming into a sad one. A bittersweet one. "Of how much longer I have to this life. After all, we both know I won't be living a long plentiful life. I'm just well... trying to cherish the few moments I'll have left."
Venti sighed, moving his hand on top of the other's in a comforting way. "That's... true." he says softly in reply, sounding almost disappointed. Like he had already forgotten about the very reason they even came into each other's company, getting distracted amidst all these fun moments they shared.
He felt a bit embarrassed, a bit ashamed. He's immortal, free of any means to an end. No illness, no old age, no nothing, just full immunity to basically everything. He didn't have to worry about when or where he would suddenly collapse and die at. Xiao however, he had everything to worry about. Already a mortal, yet also cursed with an incurable sickness that was slowly swallowing up his life. He didn't have much left, even though he used to think he had a bright future ahead of him. He came to realise that everything was a fool's hope.
Xiao cracked a bit of a smile, trying to joke a bit to lighten up the heavy mood. "Why do you sound almost dejected about it?" he was awkward at making jokes and he knew it, wincing a bit at his weak attempt. He thought that Venti would come to his rescue and play along but what he got caught him by surprise.
"Well, because I know that I won't get to see you again after this trip is over. I've known that since the start."
Xiao felt his mouth go dry at the answer, letting out a laugh. It was one without mirth, hollowed of any happiness. It was almost bitter. He took Venti's hand in his own, interlocking their fingers together and giving it a bit of a gentle squeeze. "Maybe at the end of this all, when I do eventually die, I can become a star in your sky.", is what he found himself saying.
Venti just furrowed his brows and shook his head slightly, lips downturned in a frown. "No, I'd rather see you here in my arms than in the heavens above." his voice was trembling, his tone tender. It sounded almost as if like how a lover would speak to their beloved.
Xiao could feel a sharp pang in his heart, a sting that just won't go away. A reminder of how much shorter his life would be even compared to other mortals, utterly incomparable to his companion's immortality. They were two different types of people, literally and figuratively, that had found comfort in each other somehow.
"You say that as if I am someone you hold dear to your heart."
"Yes, I do think of you as someone very special to me."
"When you say it like that, it's hard not to misunderstand your intentions."
"Well, how so?"
"When you speak of me with such affections, it makes me think you might be... in love with me."
"......"
"......"
"And what of it if I actually am?"
A long silence settled over them after that, a silence so loud that not even the raging rain could cover up. A smile sneaks its way onto Xiao's lips, another genuine smile.
"If that is true then, I might be very relieved."
The two shared a look of longing and yearning, holding each other's gaze for what seemed like forever. They both instinctively leaned in, and under that strange yet special night, they shared unspoken words and feelings through a kiss. Tender and bittersweet.
Two hopelessly hopeless souls that seemed to be attracted and entranced by each other, doomed to be swallowed by the fate of life. May they burn eternally for each other, soothing the aches left behind by pain endured too long.