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Venti didn't know why, but he had the urge to hold Xiao's hand.
No matter how much he tried to ignore it, whenever he meets Xiao, whether it was near the Mondstadt-Liyue border or at his post in Wangshu Inn, Venti wanted to grab his hand and caress it gently.
Venti didn't think Xiao would allow it, he never asked because he didn't want to be faced with rejection. Venti supposes that trying it out to see the adeptus's reaction would be a better strategy, even discussing his plan with Diluc a few times to which the bartender glares at him, telling him to just question Xiao about it. He didn't pay heed to Diluc's words though.
"First try," Venti repeatedly whispers to himself. He and Xiao were on the silent shores near Yaoguang Shoal, surveying for undefeated hilichurl camps or the not-very-kind Fatui Agents wandering around.
Xiao takes his glove off, trying to change into another pair, one that isn't covered in blood. The archon notices that, feeling giddy after seeing the adeptus's hand.
Venti finds the chance to take his plan into action, immediately climbing a small hill made from eroded stone, some qingxin growing on the top of it. Xiao is confused by the sudden movement, quickly trailing behind the bard, not having enough time to put his gloves on.
The archon looks down, a fall from the summit could bruise him a bit, but he'd take the chance for Xiao. Venti fakes a slip, actually losing balance and almost plummeting down the side of the hill.
Xiao is quick, really quick. He manages to grab the archon's hand, tugging Venti up with his own bare two. But the unusual skin contact was new to the adeptus so he lets go immediately, allowing Venti to plunge into the ground with a loud thump.
Although dusty and blemished, Venti was satisfied enough, getting himself up awkwardly. Xiao stumbled down the hill, his hands gloved again, checking to see if Venti was alright, muttering a few apologies. The adeptus's face was such a light tint that you wouldn't see it unless you were trying to. Venti didn't see it.
Venti goes to Angel Share that day, explaining to Diluc about how his plan almost worked. The bartender just sighed, ignoring Venti and telling him to just speak to Xiao. The bard doesn't listen though.
Venti sees another opportunity a few days after, when he arrives at Wangshu Inn, being met with the adeptus, four glasses of water and a tray of almond tofu. Venti doesn't understand why but he finds Xiao's ritual to always eat food without his gloves amusing.
Xiao was probably lost in thought because he drops his tray of food and water as soon as he spots Venti. The whole room flooded with sticky mixtures of soggy tofu and water. Xiao apologizes immediately, standing up, allowing his socks to get soaked as he walks towards Venti, entangling his fingers with the archon's to keep balance.
Xiao realizes what he does as soon as he acts on it, letting go as both him and Venti trip and fall to the ground, heaped in a pile of drenched clothes and bubbles of laughter from the bard.
Diluc hears another over exaggerating tale that evening, about how Xiao was head over heels for Venti. He tried to say it as platonically as he can but Diluc just told him to pay his bar tab or get out.
Third times, the charm. Venti didn't even have control over this one, but he accepts it as one of his master plans either way. Cuijue Slope was with all due respect, Venti's least favorite part of Liyue. The dim-lighted canyons gave off creepy auras, harsh winds wandered and there was barely light anywhere, even from the moon, whose light was blocked out by the dense fog.
Venti would admit that he very much hated Cuijue Slope. Especially after storms when the land was muddy and the air was thin. Usually, small streams get created, only to dry up in the matter of a few hours. Venti always stuck closely to Xiao during surveys around the area, feeling so uncomfortable that he almost forgot about his plans to hold the adeptus's hand.
The ideas all came rushing back to him when Xiao drops his spear in one of the deep streams. He was unable to retrieve it, especially with his hands in a piece of clothing. Xiao pried his gloves off, so awfully slow that Venti could very much see the pale skin of his palms.
Xiao fetched his spear, about to put the piece of black cloth on his fingers again. Before he could, the adeptus spots a large amount of rock get thrown straight at Venti by a nearby lawachurl. Xiao didn't have any hesitation, tugging the archon away just in time, his bare hands enveloped around Venti's.
The bard was shocked, terrified really. He lost focus seeing Xiao's fingers that he, himself almost got endangered. It was only when Venti had to let Xiao's hands go that he realized that he was clenching the adeptus's hands painfully tight. It seemed that Xiao noticed the same time, immediately shrugging Venti off and dissipating away, leaving Venti to deal with the geo lawachurl alone.
Venti arrives at Angel Share, his arms aching and his clothes torn. Diluc almost looked worried, Venti thinks he's hallucinating that. The bard sings a tune about the day's events, squealing about how great it made him feel after huddling with Xiao.
Diluc groans, muttering something. Venti assumes it was, "Pathetic for the god of love." But the bard's too ecstatic to either mind or try to understand what the bartender meant. Kaeya hears the conversation and tells Venti that he might have a hand kink but he pouts instead, ignoring Kaeya, too.
The fourth time, Venti's too worried to care about his hand-holding plans. Venti rests in Windrise, the soft breeze comforting him.
No one seemed to be around.
But the winds tell a different tale.
Venti hears a familiar grunt and a pained whimper nearby which helps him realise that someone is indeed around. And he didn't stop to think except look around to search for the injured person in question.
Venti thinks Xiao looked horrid, not his looks, of course not! The bard thinks his bruises and blemishes looked horrid. Venti runs straight forward to the adeptus, immediately tugging Xiao to the nearest seat to bandage him up.
Venti catches a glimpse of Xiao's hands, ungloved and open for the world to see, open for Venti to see. Splinters and remains of chipped chaos circuits were stabbed into the Yaksha's fingers, making the wounds bleed excessively.
Xiao slumps his figure against the stump of Vanessa's tree, bringing his knees up to his chest, holding his hands out so the bard could inspect his injuries. Venti joins him, his backside bristling against the rough exterior of the plant.
Venti created anemo leaflets, pulling the dangerous shards out and wrapping Xiao's hands with the soft bandage-like material. Then, urges the adeptus to go to a healer afterwards.
Venti stares straight into Xiao's gaze, their eyes meeting the other's. They were huddled close, way too close that Venti flushed red but he didn't know why.
This time, it's Venti who lets Xiao's hand go first. The bard thinks he's daydreaming when he sees the adeptus look unamused. They shared a silence after that, not the awkward ones or those romantic ones in novels. But a silence which meant, 'I'm here for you and I know you'll be there for me, too.'
Venti almost passes out from the amount of alcohol he downed the following dusk. Beside him, he hears Kaeya confess for the seventh time that night about how much he adores Albedo. "Young love." The bard laughs.
However, Venti can't help but think that the eye-patched person sounded way too much like him. The squealing, the needed personal time, the attachment, the holding of hands obsession, the empty glasses of wine in front of him and the disappointed look from Diluc. It all seemed like something Venti does for Xiao.
But that makes Venti sound like he's in love with Xiao, almost like he's loved Xiao for decades and he would continue to for many years to come. But the bard couldn't love the Yaksha, could he?
Even if Venti did love him - he says he doesn't - the bard doesn't have a chance, especially with someone as amazing and powerful as Xiao.
Venti thinks he's too drunk the fifth time because he can't remember it vividly at all. They were all blotches of memories, some showing how ridiculous he was and some just straight-up embarrassing.
The bard recalls pouring himself at least 4 bottles of Liyue's strongest wine. Giggling like a small child as Xiao scolds him for all the alcohol he consumed.
"Hey, hey! Can I tell you a secret, mister?" Venti recollects himself saying. He probably doesn't know it's Xiao.
Xiao doesn't reply, raising his eyebrow as he folds his arms on his chest.
"But, but you must pinky promise." Venti slurs out, bringing his hands towards Xiao in a way to make sure that the adeptus actually doesn't tell anyone.
The Yaksha sighs, shuffling forward to grasp Venti's fingers but to his surprise, he got his hand smacked away. "See, you're just like Xiao! With those weird gloves of his." Venti pouts, "I'll tell you when I can actually see your hands."
Xiao hesitantly manages to get his gloves off, pinky promising Venti, but was unable to let go from the bard's grip. "I know this is pathetic for the god of love like Diluc put it." Venti's grin falling so quickly once he begins that Xiao seemed to be left surprised by the sudden swing of emotions.
"Love?" The adeptus glances confusedly, his face plastered with yet another frown.
"Yea, I'm Barbatos!" Venti replies, a bit too loudly that people nearby gawked at them weirdly, but Xiao was too unfocused to mind.
"No, not that." Xiao states, his voice starting to sound a bit hoarse. "Love as in-" The Yaksha continues, pausing when he's out of words.
"This, this person. Actually, this adeptus. They're super caring and loyal and- and kind in their own way. They're always in these, these ugly gloves and it makes it almost impossible to hold their hands. I want to hold- hold their hands." Xiao has never seen Venti cry or stutter over his words, his sentences always being thought beforehand and structured poetically.
"I love them, stranger. But they won't ever like someone like me." Venti mumbles, and the expression Xiao made would explain everything he was feeling.
"Who are they?" Xiao suddenly lets Venti's hand go, turning away.
"You might not know them since they're all quiet and don't socialize. Grumpy, too, but, they're called Xiao," Venti chuckles, on the verge of collapsing in a few minutes. Venti was too far gone into his alcohol that he didn't catch the look on Xiao's face. "Anyway, thank you for listening. What's your name?"
"Ah, It's Xiao."
Venti passes out immediately.
Diluc had to handle a sobbing bard and a 8 inch long receipt once Venti remembered what happened. "Barbatos, I'm done for." Venti cries out, the irritated bartender handling him another glass.
"Get yourself together and go talk to him. Maybe the feelings are requited." Diluc remarked, ushering Venti out the tavern and slamming the door shut once he was outside.
This time however, Venti listens.
He meets Xiao, as dashing as ever, at the balcony in Wangshu Inn that he knew all so well. Even after yesterday's events, the Yaksha looked rather relaxed, relieved even.
"Hey, Xiao. Nice to see you again." Venti laughs it off, seating himself beside the adeptus as he places an arm on the Yaksha's shoulder.
"Drop the act. You can't pretend it never happened." Xiao mentions, his voice rushed and stern that Venti almost got scared for a second.
Venti could clearly notice Xiao's shallow breathing, and his heart rate pacing. The Yaksha drags both of his gloves off, and to both Xiao's and Venti's surprise, he seizes the bard's hands, entangling their fingers together.
"There are billions of people and adepti that you could choose to love, but- but for some reason, you chose to love me. So, I'd like to tell you that the feelings are returned. What I mean is-" Xiao voices so quickly that even Venti almost couldn't process what he was saying.
"What I'm saying is that I love you, too." The Yaksha finishes, scanning the shocked expression on Venti's face. The bard was way too quiet for Xiao's liking.
"Is this the part where we kiss?" Xiao stutters out, fumbling around as he pulled out a bunch of paper cards from his pocket. "Ganyu says that we do that, if you want to."
Venti giggles, still a bit flushed from what happened. He pecks Xiao on the cheek, leans onto his shoulder and grasps the adeptus's hand tighter, feeling his pale skin.
"I should've tried to hold your hand sooner." Venti finally speaks.
Xiao takes a deep breath, "You should've just asked and I would’ve let you.”