Archive of Our Own

Xiao, still going by Alatus back then, first met Venti in a gathering between the Adepti and gods of Liyue.

“Met” was a strong word. He paid no mind to the visitor, until he realized they were a god that had just barged in uninvited. Alatus gripped his spear, assessing his potential to be a threat. Amidst the Archon War, any god not directly allied with Lord Rex could pose a danger to their temporary peace, and he wasn’t going to let anything interfere with that hard-won moment.

“I don’t remember extending my invitation to you, Barbatos”, said Morax, with a furrowed brow. He was tense - he always was, at the time, not due to stress but rather due to his unshakable personality. Morax was permanently ready for battle.

“Come on, Morax, that’s no way to treat your ally!”, the god said with a bratty grin. “Besides, the fragrance of Osmatus Wine was more than enough to bring me. And I even have a small offering of my own: Here's some wine from Mondstadt. Care for a taste? It’s Thousand Winds wine.”

The goddess of Dust jumped forward with her eyes glowing. “Ah, you finally brought it!”, she commented with delight. But then, she heard Rex Lapis clear his throat and turned to him with an unimpressed look. “And your friend is right, Morax. If you don’t listen to me, at least listen to him and learn how to relax a bit, there’s no need to be so offputting all the time”, she scolded. 

Morax put a hand on his own chin, in thought. “I assumed this conference was already enough to show I care. I just don’t see why Mondstadt’s Archon insists on breaking the rules I establish, to not mention how preposterous it is that he forsake his duty to deliver a single bottle of wine.” Xiao hummed to himself, despite letting go of the spear. If that god was Mondstadt’s Archon, there was little risk that he had any interest in disrupting Liyue’s hard-won peace, at least believing the claims that he was Morax’s ally. He clearly was also on friendly terms with Haagentus.

The goddess and Barbatos exchanged a look. Then, they chuckled. 

“He’s still a block-head”, the god snickered.

Guizhong nodded vigorously. “He is! He has a lot to learn from humans. But at least I’m here to be the brain of the operation, so he can be as much of a brawler as he wants.”

But Morax just shook his head. “You act as if we were truly living in peace, but you both know this is just a momentary pause. The war is not over yet - there are still gods alive to threaten the survivors of the Guili Assembly, and you are just as fragile.”

“Rex Lapis is right, you know?”, said a new voice.

It was Cloud Retainer, who arrived together with Streetward Rambler. The latter approached Guizhong, interlacing their fingers together. Despite the tenderness, the goddess still pouted.

“We don’t want to offend you, Haagentus”, Streetward Rambler said. “You recognize it yourself, as the reason why you allied yourself with Morax to protect the humans you love. We simply worry about you.”

“Oh, I know that…” Guizhong sighed in defeat. “But I’ve come to realize, after all this fighting, that humans are strong in their own way. Their minds are resilient, they fight against all odds, and sometimes even win. They are stronger than I initially judged them to be - so I’m sure I have some strength of mine too. I will make it through, I’m sure of it.”

Streetward Ramber cupped her face with her free hand, and Guizhong leaned into the touch. 

Barbatos was just finishing filling the cups with wine, that he served to a reluctant Lord of Geo while glancing at the display of love of the other two. Cloud Retainer was bringing a meal prepared in her own inventions, while the other Yakshas finally realized it was time to stop playing around and join the table. As for Xiao, he was content to watch from a distance. He had gone through a karmic episode recently, and while he wanted to be close enough to perform his duty - and secretly soak in the environment - he didn’t want to endanger them anymore than they already were, to not mention he didn’t have the heart to fully participate.

“By the way”, was saying Barbatos to Streetward Rambler, “the wind told me you are composing a piece of new music. Mind letting me listen to you practice? I would love to record it.”

She smiled. “You can even join in the tune, if you want. It’s an honor to play music with someone who understands it so thoroughly”, she said, winking at her beloved who huffed. Xiao wasn’t entirely familiar with their past history, but he was vaguely aware that their closeness was born from opposing perspectives.

The God gave a cheeky smile. “The honor is mine.”

The banquet went ahead without any more delay. It was a quiet moment, with a pleasant breeze likely created by Barbatos to keep them fresh on such a warm day, while the soothing sounds from the fish swimming in the pond accompanied the exchanged pleasantries. Mostly, gods and adepti alike were happy to eat without feeling the need to fill the silence with pointless conversation, and tended to be quite direct with what they meant, contrary to humans. Xiao closed his eyes, and let his mind wander. 

Alatus rarely missed the approach of someone - he was called the Vigilant Yaksha for a reason. No sounds escaped him, neither footsteps nor flight, and yet when he got the hint that something was dangerously close and opened his eyes… there he was. Barbatos, standing right in front of him, less than an arm of distance between them while the god peeked curiously.

“I never saw your face around”, he remarked.

Alatus opted to not offer his input - he answered to Lord Rex, not to him, Archon or not. With his arms crossed, he looked away and tried to ignore his assessment, to not mention that it was also easier than to stare at that scarcely covered figure. He had more wings than clothes - and that was the third thing that made looking difficult, for the painful memories it brought forcefully to the surface. Alatus wished he still had his own wings… But there was no point in dwelling on what was lost.

“That is General Alatus”, Morax voice came. “One of the Yaksha.”

Barbatos blinked, but then his face opened in a smile. “Alatus, hum? That explains the Anemo vision.”

Xiao shook his head. “My vision is a poor justification. The name Xiao was gifted to me by Lord Rex, and it’s more fitting now.”

Barbatos kept staring, now straight into his eyes, and Xiao found himself incapable of tearing his gaze away, just like one couldn’t stop sand from falling through an hourglass. His previously big teal orbs were now reduced to a penetrating gaze, half-closed eyelids and a melancholic look, as if baring Xiao’s soul to him. The Yaksha shivered.

The god dropped the intensity, again with a sweet expression. “Then, Xiao… I prefer being called Venti. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Xiao blinked slowly in recognizance, not knowing what else to say nor feeling the need to add anything. He didn’t try to stop the Archon from rejoining the others when he lost interest.

—

Centuries went by. They had no idea how much worse the war was about to get…

Venti kept visiting Morax throughout the years. Xiao learned to be prepared for that, and Morax learned that it never meant that Barbatos was in need of aid. Even though the Lord of Geo was willing to lend any help, he ended up realizing that the Anemo Archon merely came for company, and preferred to deal with the problems of his Nation with wit instead of soldiers.

And that company was necessary. Especially after Guizhong died, Streetward Rambler started living among the humans, the other yakshas perished, and most of the adepti started living in reclusion. Winning the Archon War barely felt like a victory, and later friends like Azhdaha would have to be sealed away due to erosion. 

Even someone as strong and impassive as Morax felt lonely, and Xiao was unfit to offer comfort, with karma in his veins and blood on his hands - even the blood of Morax’s cherished friends, whom he helped subdue. He wouldn’t be surprised if, in fact, the Archon resented him. While Rex Lapis changed over time and started learning to see humans in the same light as Guizhong, Xiao didn’t know how to deal with such blooming kindness, and preferred to carry on with his duty, protecting Dihua Marsh where he now lived along with the rest of Liyue. He threw himself into it, hoping his dedication would at least alleviate the burden from Morax’s shoulders.

Venti was the one who eased the emotional longing, one of the very few who shared Morax’s memories. He was absent for a while after the end of the Archon War, but returned in a matter of years, after fixing the problem of Mondstadt’s aristocracy, explaining his absence as a sudden need to nap. Morax chided him, but didn’t reject his presence - Xiao did the same, when Venti decided to pester him instead, gradually chipping at his defenses. The other winning Gods also shared similar experiences and problems, and would assemble in meetings exclusive to Archons. 

Even those Archons ended up perishing. The Cataclysm was the final straw, and ravished the land in corruption that spread from the godless Nation. 

Xiao was there, in the middle of the chaos, when he saw Venti shout to them that he had to go protect Mondstadt. He had a blue dragon at his side, a mighty creature of Wind, fierce enough to combat the black dragon that escaped from Khaenri’ah. 

Upon leaving… well.

Xiao escaped to Mondstadt once, in a brief moment of post-battle madness where he allowed himself to ignore his duty, and made sure Mondstadt was safe. Of Barbatos, however there was no sign, nor of the blue dragon that emerged victorious. There was only a fuming black carcass buried in the tomb that was Dragonspine. 

Xiao didn’t know how he felt. But he had already lingered for too long, and departed to relay the news to Morax.

Something in Morax broke after that. Something Xiao didn’t know how to mend. Even the hardest rocks may be worn down after three thousand years. Nor would the wind ever return again.

—

500 years have passed since the Cataclysm.

Despite the distance between each other, Xiao and Morax kept in contact, in a manner of speaking. Morax would always warn him when it was time for the Rite of Descension, framed in a way that sounded closely like an invitation, but couldn’t possibly be. So Xiao took it as a request to protect the people of Liyue and their Archon from outside the city instead of approaching the fragile humans. The Lord of Geo gradually came to appreciate those mortal interactions, with humans and half-adepti like Ganyu as well, so the last thing Xiao wanted was to ruin that or make someone sick due to his presence.

Besides that, Xiao would occasionally ask Morax for advice regarding how to proceed when uncertain, in order to better fulfill his contract, while The Archon would send him medicine to alleviate his karma. It did little to help, but Xiao still took it zealously. That medicine and almond tofu were the only things he could stomach, reminded of the texture of dreams he used to devour. It made no sense, with all the sins he committed, that he was the only surviving Yaksha - but since that was the case, helping the god that saved him from the one who enslaved Xiao was the least he could do, and it gave him purpose. 

He was a weapon. He didn’t need anything else. While he appreciated the kindness of certain beings like Verr Goldet and Smiley Yanxiao, it was utterly unnecessary. Same for the company of people, or pity for his past, or rest. He didn’t have the same needs as mortals - he merely had to take care of himself to be able to vanquish any threats to Liyue. 

That was what he told himself, however, such aloofness was difficult to preserve when the karma built up. 

It happened in cycles. The suffering was excruciating, but Xiao would always find himself wishing for it to peak quickly, so that the relief also came faster. He would grit his teeth while fighting against the monsters born from the released miasma, blind in his pain, until he collapsed. Then, he would be put through nightmares of karmic binds chaining and tearing apart his members, or his soul - it was hard to tell. Maybe they even pierced his heart. The damage wasn’t real, but it felt like it. A fitting punishment for someone who kept so many beings drowned in their own nightmares.

That was what he thought when engulfed by the pain - that he deserved it. The self-deprecation was punctuated by a softer cry for someone to hold him and tell him everything would be okay, a comfort that never came and that he would never admit to wishing.

On one of those nights, when his karma was particularly strong, Xiao had lost all hope. He genuinely thought he wasn’t going to make it. He only managed to ensure that no evil survived that night, dragging his body to the waterside afterward, as far as possible from Wangshu Inn - he didn’t want the mortals to think the marsh was plagued by a demon. Staring at the horizon with his blurry vision, he realized it was almost dawn. That explained the bone-deep exhaustion. He had been fighting for so long…

Xiao began to feel the hatred that tainted his body; it flooded his senses, and he fell to his knees, his whole body shaking. His face eventually met the ground, where he belonged since he lost his wings. He screamed in sync with the inner wraiths demanding death. He slithered, incapable of containing his suffering any longer, yet just as unable to lose conscience, that meager mercy he was sometimes granted eluding him. He screamed until his voice got hoarse, choked by sobs and disgusted by the taste of tears. 

‘This is it’, the thought formed on his skull, about to burst. He was facing the same fate as the other Yakshas, finally succumbing to corruption. If he could at least be aware of his surroundings, he would appreciate how it was a beautiful night to go, but he couldn’t. There was only pain.

Then, a crystal-clear note pierced the air, reaching whatever part of him still remained sentient. 

A whole melody got carried by the wind. It was so hauntingly beautiful, it brought even more tears to his eyes. He wouldn’t mind dying with this as his last memory…

But he didn’t die. The longer the melody played, the more it grounded him. It was calming, even, and there was almost a certain frustration in being brought to his senses, knowing that all of this suffering would just repeat again and again for all eternity. His savior, in a way, was just selfishly prolonging his misery. But the melody refused to stop, the sounds so pure that they almost burned the karma away, not giving up on him.

In a moment of clarity, Xiao wondered who it could be, but even if he never found out, he would not pursue the matter. For he already had something approaching an answer: the last person who could help him was one of The Seven themselves. So this person, too, must have been…

He weakly pictured Venti playing the Dihua flute. He was a deity, after all, associated with wind and music. A beautiful, kind deity… 

In that moment, Xiao made a wish. He longed for a day to come when he would wear the mask and dance — not to conquer demons, but to the tune of that flute amidst a sea of flowers.

‘But it won’t come to pass’, the wraiths whispered in his head. “He is dead…”

The last word echoed in his brain, echoed what he already knew: that he was just too caught up in his delirium.

However, when he managed to pry open his eyes, he could swear that it was Venti that he saw under the moonlight. A figure clad in emerald, sat atop a rock in the middle of the ocean, back turned to him. Almost as if it was uninterested in him, simply playing to the moon. However, despite the different outfit, much more mundane and integrated with human society, Xiao could swear the braids glowing in teal were the same, as was the overall figure. And only Venti would be so obstinate to the point of not letting him depart.

Xiao gave a last sob.

The final note rang, the sound prolonging into the night, the frequency attuned to his soul. Xiao felt himself vibrate, and remembered to breathe with effort. His mind was still foggy, and he was capable of collapsing at any moment, but only from exertion - not pain. Not anymore. It was… gone.

As was that strangely familiar bard, leaving with a single glance at him, and a bottomless longing.

Xiao engraved those teal eyes in his memory, before everything went dark.

—

He didn’t tell Morax about the encounter. He wasn’t sure, after all, and didn’t want to cause stress to his Archon over a false hope. 

He also didn’t expect to see Venti ever again. Whatever reasons he had for disappearing, he would likely reserve for himself. Xiao should already be grateful, despite his conflicting feelings, for being saved - he had no right to demand more. To even wish for more. Even though he could barely think of anything besides his savior for months.

It had been a few days since Xiao helped the Traveler deal with Starnatcher, and visited Pervases. He wasn’t surprised to see a fake adeptus; there were scammers everywhere. What surprised him, however, was how fast Aether got hold of a book including his encounter with Venti. The whole book was a glorified fanfiction - for every fact it told, 10 things were taken from the author’s imagination. But he wouldn’t expect anyone to have testified their sole encounter, and his suffering as well. 

Aether had tried to ask Xiao about his knowledge and familiarity with Venti. He was surprised that the god had decided to go by that name throughout his daily life, and even started to live among humans, pretending to be a normal vision holder while keeping his identity hidden. As for Xiao, he couldn’t contribute with a lot, since he had only learned that Barbatos was back about a year prior. He mumbled something regarding his tunes - the single thing that came to mind - until he realized that he was probably oversharing, and not providing the kind of information that the Traveler was seeking. The smiley glance exchanged with Paimon confirmed as much.

He declined the invitation to join the Traveler during the lantern rite, agreeing only to have a meal with him after their quest together - something he rarely did, preferring to eat alone. But the Traveler was… trustworthy. 

Yet again, Xiao didn’t share the reason why he refused to spend the festivities with him. Yes, the situation about his karma was well known, and he didn’t want to put common mortals at risk - but he also knew that the Traveler would take that into account, not to mention that he hadn’t gotten any karmic terribly bad episode since that music subsided it. The Traveler had purifying powers too, which helped. So no, none of it was the true reason why he had to decline. 

Things always got worse around the Lantern Rite. Monster activity increased during that period, to prey on the happiness emerging from the festive atmosphere. It was Xiao’s task to vanquish them and the miasma they brought. 

There were still a few days left until the festivity, but preparations were already on the way. Both the mortal kind, and his own. For every lantern crafted, every decoration hung, Xiao was there in the shadows hunting down the danger. It was a thankless job - but never did it to get anything in return. 

He would wake up tired and go to sleep in an even worse state; regardless, Adepti didn’t truly need to rest. His karma was also building up, again, but he would be more surprised otherwise.

Xiao sighed when he teleported to the rooftop of the Inn by nightime. Maybe he could at least enjoy the starry sky while his mind allowed it - it was better than trying to sleep the pain off. He heard the chimes of the bells hanging from the beams of the roof, tinkling on the cooling breeze, and closed his eyes for a moment, distancing himself from mundane matters.

Wait… the bells never jingled for that long. 

Summoning his spear, he was up in a matter of seconds, attacking the gush of wind that almost seemed to yelp. It darted around him, and his eyes widened at how easily it escaped, but years spent slaughtering came with the advantage of honing his skills and reaction time. He twisted his neck and twirled around, teleporting behind the wind figure, and pinned it down in a quick sequence of movements. 

The figure under him materialized. Xiao found himself looking into a pair of teal eyes that stole his breath more efficiently than a punch in the gut. 

Venti chuckled nervously, pushing the tip of the spear far from his own neck. “Put that thing away, will you?”, he asked with a smile. 

Xiao let it vanish without a word. Without many protests, even, as his mind was blank. 

He sat back, blinking slowly - he was partly convinced he fell asleep after all, and that this was all a dream. That allowed Venti to sit too, even if his legs were still under Xiao. Regardless, his smile shifted into a genuine one, less nervous. Just… glad? Xiao wasn’t sure how to interpret his expression. He was never good at that kind of thing.

“How are you faring, my friend?”, Venti asked softly. “May I call you that?”

Xiao hesitated. Were they friends? The term implied a number of assumptions amongst the mortals that he wasn’t sure applied to both of them. But after seeing how Venti called ‘friend’ to all manner of beings, and after missing him for so long… he wasn’t opposed to it.

He nodded. “I’m better than last time”, he uttered, letting the implications hang in the air. He then bowed his head. “Thank you for saving me, Lord Barbatos.”

“Whoa, whoa, let’s not get ahead of ourselves! I’m just Venti, you know that.” From the corner of his eyes, Xiao saw how the god shook his hands dismissively. “Besides, I just came here to be sure my timing from our last encounter was right, check how you’re faring, and maybe have a drink with you.”

Xiao blinked again, even more puzzled than before. “You… Want to drink with me?”

“Well, I can drink alone if you don’t want that part, but I wouldn’t mind the company.”

“But… why?” Rising his head, he saw several conflicting emotions flashing in Venti’s eyes: confusion, frustration, sorrow, guilt, and also… hope. He didn’t know what to make of it. There was only one thing on his mind, so he said it. “I thought you were dead.”

“Oh! Eh-he… Sorry about that, I…” He opened and closed his mouth twice, words seemingly stuck. Xiao could relate. 

Dropping the facade, the god looked impressively small and weak, exposed in a way Xiao was unworthy of seeing. He hadn’t looked like that when he saved Xiao with his music, and there was certainly a lot of power hidden within. The Traveler had shared that he thought Venti was lying when he claimed to be the weakest Archon, his reasoning being that a weak Archon would have never been able to completely terraform Mondstadt, and Xiao agreed that he has seen or heard of Venti’s incredible facts since finding out about his return. But from up close, especially compared to how he looked before the Cataclysm, it was clear that something grave happened. It wasn’t that he was inherently weak and lying - he simply was weak er , now, and the yaksha worried. 

When Venti spoke, his voice was quiet. “After defeating Durin, I had spent all of my reserves, so I fell into a deep slumber until recently. I woke up little before the Traveler started his journey, so maybe I should have sent word of my awakening, but… many things required my attention first.”

Xiao shook his head. “You need not apologize to me, even less for something as minor as causing worry. You were not the one that harmed me, or anyone else.”

Venti stared at him as if aware of things that he was not, with the kind of regret people tended to show when they couldn’t share a secret. “Believe me, I harmed many people in several instances. Regardless, I’m glad I found you when I did. I fear for what would have happened to you if I failed to help in such a critical time.”

“I would have gone mad, and met my demise, like all other Yakshas”, he said, opting to take his words literally. “It will happen eventually - you only delayed it.”

Venti pouted. “You shouldn’t be so somber, silly Yaksha - hasn’t the Traveler taught you better?” Xiao refrained from remarking on the insult - he was above that, anyway - nor did he ask how was Venti aware that he knew the Traveler. Aether knew many people. Either Venti was one of them and they talked about him, or the god was informed by the wind. “And in any case, I don’t want to lose you. Even less before we have a chance to catch up, and enjoy peaceful times together. It would be a shame to arrive too late.”

Xiao sighed, not really understanding why did people seek him out, but not angry either. “Everyone seems to want to spend time with me these days, the Traveler included… And I suppose drinking is your idea of enjoying peaceful times together. I will abide, just this once.”

The Archon smiled. “Thank you, Xiaoxiao.”

He huffed. “Don’t try your luck. I let you call me ‘friend’, and since then you already called me ‘silly yaksha’ and ‘xiaoxiao’. Just pick one, and avoid diminishing me.”

Venti semi-closed his eyes, but he was still grinning. “There is no such thing as too many terms of endearment. Now, let me up?”

Xiao did, following Venti to the balcony below. As soon as started hearing the god’s suggestions, he teleported to the kitchen to get some rice wine for them, refusing to let Venti wander around and make a mess. He was back in a blink, passed Venti his cup, and filled it, pointedly ignoring the archon’s teasing. 

They drank in silence for a while, taking in the view. The breeze would occasionally ruffle their hair and clothes, in a way that made it hard to tell if it was caused by Venti or not. Regardless, in the companionable silence, Xiao was… serene.

“You know…” Venti eventually started. Nostalgia tinted his voice, and he was looking intently at the moon, reflected in his eyes. In a stroke of irrationality, Xiao thought that the god and the moon shared some similarities, with the teal of his eyes like the moonlight in the night sky that was his hair. As if they were kin, in a strange way. “I wanted to wake up. I couldn’t, but… I wasn’t alone. A certain bright soul was somehow pulled into endless nightmares of falling and familial loss, and I ended up being grateful for the opportunity to help. That soul is even doing a lot for Teyvat right now, despite not remembering me. Still, I don’t regret it. I suppose you could say I trust the winds to change my plans, even if they don’t guide me through the path I want.”

“Humm. I thought it was you who controlled the wind…”

To an extent, Xiao missed that cryptic way of speaking. Venti, despite his gleeful disposition, was constantly speaking in riddles or hinting at things that would only make sense a long time after, knowing more than he let on. It used to frustrate Morax to no end, and Xiao too, but now, it was almost welcome. Speaking of Morax….

“Does Lord Rex know?”, he asked into the air. “Of your return?”

Venti swirled his drink in circles, looking at it with a reminiscent smile. “I took care to let the Traveler pass the message - I’m not ready to face him yet, and the Wrath of the Rock or whatever he calls it these days. Aether told me some intriguing things about that blockhead. Also”, he nudged Xiao with an elbow, “he goes by Zhongli now.”

Xiao sighed again. “That name is not for my lips. Even though I will admit that I’ve rarely seen him since he reformed, and some of the things I heard are difficult to conciliate with the Archon I knew.”

Venti leaned on the balustrade, tilting his head with interest. “Oh? Like what?”

“Humm…” He struggled to put it together. “He has displayed an interest in birds, antiques, flowers… I don’t understand what deeper meaning do they hold.” As soon as he said that, he saw Venti’s face contort with laughter, and straightened, putting up his defenses in pseudo-furstration. “Don’t trick me with questions like these again. I will not slander my Lord’s name so easily.” 

“Eh? I didn’t trick you!”

“You were laughing.”

“Because you think everything must have a deeper meaning! Sometimes, it’s just nice to appreciate the mundane life, you know? You should try it too”, he said. Xiao would tear down that idea, if the god didn’t look so serious. “It would bring some joy to your life, and allow you to connect with other people. And through that, leave you less lonely.”

Now that was preposterous. “I’m not lonely. I don’t partake in mortal desires”, he argued, crossing his arms.

Venti’s smile widened, piercing him with his eyes, like a grinning cat. “Indeed, you’re not lonely anymore. After all, I’m here.”

Xiao scoffed, looking away. He wasn’t sure why his face was so hot…

Venti actually started cackling. He laughed for a while without interruption, as Xiao did his best to not give him the attention he wanted, treating him like he would a petulant child. It was almost ridiculous how Venti could go from a god-worthy position of wisdom and beauty to childish and bratty in the blink of an eye. However, while Xiao would never admit it, the corner of his lips tugged slightly up. Why was his crystalline laughter so contagious…?

“Just look at you, Xiaoxiao… I never expected you to scoff at an Archon like that. I can approve of the disrespect - it shows you can think for yourself - but you grew so fast…”

Xiao spared him a look, noticing how the pathetic god was still bent over. It was certainly an overreaction exacerbated by the wine, but Xiao found himself compelled to answer.

“I’m older than you. I lived for centuries before ever serving the Lord of Geo.”

Venti took that as a challenge. “Are you? You don’t really know how many years did I live prior to becoming an Archon.”

Humm. “But you spent 500 years sleeping, so that doesn’t count.” That seemed enough to make him pause and recalculate things in his head, and Xiao let himself feel some pride for the victory. “Not that it matters to immortals - just don’t speak as if you had much more experience than me. For my part, I don’t intend to ever challenge your status as an Archon again, and I apologize for stepping out of line.”

Venti chuckled. “So formal… There’s no need, Xiao, really. You can just relax and tell me what’s on your mind. I know you never respected me like Morax, anyway”, he said nonchalantly.

That was hard to deny. “You… carry yourselves distinctly.”

“Not anymore, right? Or at least, the difference is  quite smaller.” Not waiting for an answer, Venti dawned the rest of his wine, starting to pour another glass. Xiao was tempted to take the bottle away. “Perhaps we should both meet Zhongli - get to know the new him. I still can’t believe he forsook his duty of protecting Liyue to its people… That’s the epitome of reaching the same conclusion as Guizhong, and the very thing he tended to scold me for doing.”

That left Xiao with a lot to ponder.

“Well, nevermind”, the god shrugged. “May I play a tune for you? A bard needs his audience, and I feel like your karma could use it.”

The yaksha nodded.

—

Due to the relief that Venti provided, Xiao ended up feeling well enough to concede to more of the Traveler’s pestering in the following days. He still refused to attend the Lantern Rite - he couldn’t - but he acquiesced to his small imitation of the festival, in an attempt to bring it to him. The Traveler worked with the staff of the Inn to prepare a dinner with Xiao’s favorite foods, and carved his own Xiao lantern to offer. Xiao had no wish he could possibly ask for, no delusion he would dare to feed, but he still ended up accepting the gift. 

Since he had no intentions of releasing the lantern… maybe his room could use it as decoration. There was nothing else there, but at least, when the Traveler was gone, Xiao would have something to remind him of his golden light. He pitied not having taken such care to remember his lost companions, especially the other Yaksha, even if that lament was buried deep inside of him. But he couldn’t fix his past mistakes, so his only option was to start now.

He escorted Aether to the periphery of the city, but that was where they parted, with a promise from Xiao that he would come to Aether if he just called his name. Anywhere. Anytime. He then vanished, and spent the following hours fighting the darkness with renewed energy. 

For some reason, the marsh was emptier than it tended to be at this time of the year. He was either fighting too efficiently given Venti’s cleansing, or there were actually less monsters. Maybe… maybe they were vanquished already by someone else? But no other adepti took care of that area anymore, and the Traveler had been busy with the festival… As for his investigation in the port, that was also brief and quickly dealt with by the traveler, so he wasn’t required any longer for such task.

Regardless of the causes, he got time on his hands. And, despite not having any need for it, he felt compelled to check on the city. So he sat on the mount behind the port, overlooking the lights and the buzzing of people. 

When the fireworks started, Xiao found himself smiling. He was… serene, and somewhat entranced by the spectacle. The explosions reverberated within his chest, and the lights coloring the sky were… well. Magical, cliche as it sounded. He could understand why this part of the tradition was so dear to many people. Knowing that every year he fought to protect it brought peace to his heart, and consolidated his will. 

He watched Skybracer’s lantern come to life, and dart into the air, until it exploded in a myriad of colors. It was a celebration of the adeptus’ sacrifice and love for the people - a show of gratitude meant to rekindle memories and pass on stories. Futile, utterly useless to the dead, and yet…

It was mesmerizing.

Satisfied, Xiao teleported away.

—

From there on, Venti started to pay him several visits. The visits weren’t that frequent - about once every 2 or 3 months - but it was more than Xiao ever got in past centuries, and he took some time to grow used to it.

They would drink during some meetings, talk during others, and occasionally both. There was no pressure to make conversation, not even when Xiao dozed off. Venti also did, in one of their visits - but despite his drowsy state, when Xiao woke him up because he looked uncomfortable fallen on the ground, the bard-god still insisted on not leaving without playing a melody for him first. It was catastrophic, with several missed notes that likely disrupted the sleep of the people lodged in, but did the job and Xiao made a point of thanking him all the same. 

In the second-half of the year, however, the most unexpected visit was not from Venti. 

It was from Morax.

Xiao, on the balcony of the upper floor, turned around when Verr Goldet called for him, and made a strangled sound upon seeing the two familiar faces standing in the doorway. 

“Lord Re…!” He bit his tongue, remembering that the Archon now lived incognito. “Ah, I mean…”

The Archon’s golden eyes were… smiling? It seemed as much, but the god was quick to bow, making Xiao shudder in distaste - he should be the one bowing, and he couldn’t even imagine how Morax felt pretending he was just a human. “Boss Verr Goldet informed me that you are the Conqueror of Demons. I’m Zhongli, consultant of the Wangshen Funeral Parlor, and I’ve been looking for you. It’s an honor to make your acquaintance, Adeptus Xiao.”

Everything about the Archon was out of place: the amusement in his eyes, the impractical clothes, the way he referred to himself as a mere consultant, and how he treated Xiao as if the yaksha was above him. Most of all… he seemed happy. Truly happy. Xiao could not resent his Lord for that, for as much as he wondered how the change was processed. 

He realized the other two were waiting for his response, that seemingly took too long, and he caught Verr Goldet whispering to the supposed human. “Xiao is not adept at human social interactions, so some things with him don’t go as we expect. But you can trust him to hear you out, and always take care of Liyue.”

Xiao didn’t know what to do with that information, both questioning and exalting him, but Morax just nodded as if he truly didn’t know who he was, keeping contentment plastered on his face.

The yaksha did his best to answer properly. At the very least, he didn’t want to keep his Lord waiting. “That is me, yes. The… the pleasure is mine”, he struggled to remember. “If you wish to talk, this place is private enough.”

“It will do, yes, and the view is truly marvelous”, he said, sounding just like any foolish tourist. He then addressed the boss. “Thank you, Verr Goldet. If I may be so bold…”

“I will retire myself”, she said promptly with a courteous nod, turning on her heels. 

They waited for a moment, in impatient silence - or so it seemed from Xiao’s perspective, wondering what could possibly warrant this fuss. But when the Geo Archon turned to him, his smile was still there, proving it was more than just a mask for outsiders.

“Hello, Xiao”, were his first words. “How are you faring these days?”

The yaksha was practically sweating, but he still bowed, trying to redeem himself from the embarrassing previous interaction. “I should be the one questioning that, my Lord.”

It was a shock when Morax laughed, wholeheartedly. Did Xiao said something wrong? Or maybe, if his Lord was laughing, that meant it wasn’t offensive or too bad. But then….? “There’s no need to call me that, Xiao”, the god said, cutting his train of thought. “I’m not the Geo Archon anymore. Now, I’m just Zhongli, a consultant, like I introduced myself.”

Xiao shifted in place. “If I may be so bold, that does not undermine the past.”

A wistful smile replaced the one the god wore, as he crossed his wrists behind his back and stepped forward with languid steps. His eyes moved from Xiao to the marsh, contemplating the picture below. 

The golden trees, the worn-out roads, the vast extensions of water on one side, the stone forests on the other, the mountain of Dragonspine and the plains of Mondstadt in the distance… Everything was placed in a balanced and harmonious way, as if the Earth was an artificial composition, which it might be, given the influence of the Geo Archon. No matter how much blood spilled in these lands, they still withstood the test of time. 

“It’s true that my past influences my present”, the Archon declared solemnly. “It shapes my decisions, and also the vast knowledge I can tap into to better perform my job. But the decision of stepping down from my role is one I do not regret, and I’m even proud of, in nothing lesser than my previous post. It’s also not something that my previous self, the version of me that received so much support during the Archon War, would understand, while at the same time being the result of many years of pondering.” Not everyone would assume the contradictions in their actions. But the being standing in front of Xiao’s eyes was resolute, and strong enough to stand his ground. “It’s difficult to pinpoint where each version of me starts and ends, as it’s perhaps a lie to claim I have finally understood humans, when I was afforded the time that their lifespans don’t have to reach the decision to ‘live like them’. What I’m doing is, most likely, a poor imitation. Regardless, I appreciate this opportunity to be part of their world.”

In another layer of irony, Rex Lapis’ usually long speeches were one of the things he kept from his past, and it brought comfort to Xiao to see he wasn’t before a complete stranger. And just like in centuries gone, despite following the god’s words of wisdom to the best of his ability, Xiao didn’t know what answer was expected of him. 

So he did what he was best at, and jumped to the direct questions.

“What brings you here, my L- hum, Zhongli.”

There was still mirth in those amber eyes when the consultant-god turned to Xiao. “I truly just wanted to see how you were doing. I’m certain you always received my invitations for the Rite of Descension, despite never meeting me in the city”, he stated, with a light reprimand coloring his tone. “But with that out of the way and your expertise in dealing with any kind of issue that might arise, seems to me that it was time to stop creating excuses to see a friend. One that I haven’t seen in a long time.”

He was the second god, Archon even, to call Xiao a friend. Memories of being enslaved by another God resurfaced to the forefront of his mind, the contrast too great to let him process how he was being seen at the moment. He kept his breathing under control, not wanting to cause unnecessary concern, but he still had questions to answer.

“I’ve worsened - for a while”, he added quickly, when seeing his words caused the opposite effect of what he desired. “But I’m much more stable now. I’ve… found something that helps.” He wasn’t sure if he should mention Venti, so he didn’t. 

Zhongli didn’t try to pry. Relief washed over him, evident from his shoulders, and that was enough to tell Xiao that what he said was satisfactory. “That’s good to hear. Even so, I decided to bring your adeptal medicine, just in case.” 

Xiao took it with onto his palms, schooling his expression to one of neutrality despite not understanding why would the god deliver it personally. “Thank you”, he said, debating if he should share what other thoughts crossed his mind. Including how he didn’t know how to deal with the lack of formality, especially when their contract was still up. 

But Zhongli didn’t try to force him to share anything else, and went back to look at the scenery. 

“It’s impressive how some things remain the same while changing so much”, he reminisced. 

With that, Xiao could agree. Many things that, after years, were unrecognizable at first glance would likely reveal the same core when inspected closely. On the other hand, things that seemed unchanged would gradually start to reveal crucial differences. At the end of the day, the tides of time were unforgivable, but erosion merely chipped away to reveal sometimes valuable interiors - it could never create something that wasn’t already there. 

Hopefully, that meant Xiao was never revealed to be a monster. While his karma tended to beg to differ, thanks to Venti’s melodies and the occasional visit of a few others, Xiao was in a state where he could at least recognize that. The atrocities he committed… some were forced, some were for a greater cause, and he was paying the price for them. A burden he accepted, for no amount of good intentions alone would undo or compensate for the pain caused. And yet, since the good intentions were always there and he hasn’t hurt anyone in centuries… that must mean there was some goodness in his heart. Maybe that was even what made people seek him out.

‘But the flowers are gone. Isn’t it so much uglier?’ , the voices reminded him. 

That was true. The roads and the marsh itself remained, but to those who knew what it looked like before, it was impossible to not miss how much was stripped from the core. It hurt, to see the marshes bare after Guizhong’s flowers perished, and to think about the cause of their death. It hurt to know that, even if he ever managed to gather the courage to dance to a flute melody, the stage where he aimed to dance had perished. 

‘ Aren’t you so much uglier? You don’t even have wings, and you have claws that can hurt others… ’

Xiao sighed. He didn’t know what the other people saw in him…

Even so, Zhongli didn’t leave for a while. He got Xiao’s assent to converse more over tea, and so they were now sitting at a table, with Xiao letting the god ramble about his new experiences in the city even though he couldn’t contribute with much in return. Well, maybe he could tell about the time he spent with the Traveler and Venti - he just wasn’t sure how to start. So, he didn’t, content to listen. Morax, no, Zhongli’s affable voice was comforting in its own way, like a deep rumble, and his good disposition was rubbing on Xiao. So the Yaksha found himself enraptured by the words, by the tales, even if he couldn’t comprehend them properly.

“I’m proud to be a member of the Wangshen Funeral Parlor, with how much history it has in protecting Liyue. More than that, it seems that many of my stories come from my position as a consultant, and I’m thankful to Director Hu for allowing me to conduct the funeral of Rex Lapis.”

Xiao almost choked on his tea. 

“So it was true? I-I mean, my Lord, err…” He took a moment to compose himself. “I had heard about it from the Traveler and the other adepti, but it’s not unusual for them to pull pranks on me, so I thought…”

“You thought it would be too much of a bad omen to prepare my own funeral?” There was a strange glint in those golden orbs. “Well, you’re not entirely wrong in assuming I wouldn’t play with that. You see, I have come to enjoy the ruse in the presence of people who don’t know my origins, and preparing my own funeral is certainly a more creative version of it, but I actually opted to use that chance to give a worthy final goodbye to someone who always deserved more.”

That got Xiao’s full attention. “Then… it was only for Rex Lapis in name?”

“Correct. At the time, the Traveler didn’t know who I was either, so it’s only natural that he hasn’t paid enough attention to how little the items I required matched with the person I am. I still expect him to be able to realize who that funeral truly was for, sooner or later, and I already started telling him about that person. You will certainly guess it as well. You see, some of the items I required for the ritual were Glaze Lilies, old woman’s perfume, Noctilucous Jade, and… the Cleansing Bell.”

Xiao’s eyes widened, the certainty of the answer seared in his mind. Had he been any other person, and he would have probably cried at the beautiful gesture. He saw too many deaths for that - but he still agreed that there was no better use of the opportunity, no one else worthier of a funeral that was meant and appropriate to an Archon.

“The Goddess of Dust?”, he breathed.

Calmly, Zhongli closed his eyes for a moment, proud smile in place.

“Yes. A bit much on my part, perhaps, but I thought it was fitting to mark the beginning of my life embodying Guizhong’s values with a proper goodbye to the soul who started it all.”

Xiao bowed his head. “It’s not my place to approve or disapprove, but I will admit that I agree it was fitting. I… don’t fully understand your decisions, nor mortal lives, but I think she would be happy to see you become part of human society. I believe Streetward Rambler was relieved as well.”

“I think she was. Even though I didn’t have the courage to ask her for the Bell directly, in case she realized my intentions before everything was ready. But I met with her later, and… it’s nice to see how old friends moved on with their lives.”

‘Nice’. Such a simple word, such unglorified sentence. That was the word that made Xiao get a little more why was his Lord so satisfied with his current life. Venti had been right - there was no deeper meaning. Sometimes, people did things merely because they felt nice.

He wondered what that was like.

—

A lot happened throughout the year. The Jade Chamber was reconstructed, which held little value for Xiao, but it has proven twice how important it was to protect the city, and he could recognize that. The temple of Pervases was restored, by Wang Ping’an, the man who had pretended to be Starsnatcher no less, and Xiao occasionally escaped to pay his respects to the old adeptus. 

Another Lantern Rite was almost upon them, and yet Xiao was drinking with Venti on the rooftop. It had become a sort of unspoken routine between them, for as unusual as it was to not be vanquishing demons at this point of the year. However, the Yaksha also trusted his own abilities more, since fighting with less pain requiring his attention let him execute his tasks more efficiently. When he spent so long trying to be his best through the hardest route, it was almost laughable how these moments of self-indulgence were the cause of his improvement.

“Thank you”, he found himself saying quietly to the wind. He closed his eyes and imbued those words with as much care as he could conceive, like a prayer.

Of course, Venti had to ruin the moment. In his own endearing way, if Xiao dared to admit it.

The bard-god hiccuped. “Hum? Was that for me? I haven’t even played a tune for you yet.”

Xiao looked in the opposite direction of where he was, trying to hide his blush. “I-I know that. It was… just general gratitude.”

“Huuuuummm….” Xiao had rarely seen cows, but he remembered that their prolonged sound vaguely resembled what Venti was doing now. “It didn’t feel generic. If just general gratitude from you is a prayer stronger than what my most devoted followers give, I wonder what it would feel like if you were in love with me.”

The yaksha blinked. What?

“You’re drunk, aren’t you?”, he realized, the pieces clicking on his brain. 

“Whaaat? Me? Of course not, I’m used to drinking a lot.” Xiao wasn’t convinced - especially since tonight Venti had specifically brought a wine bottle from Mondstadt, and he wouldn’t be surprised if it was stronger than the usual - a problem, since the bard drank as much as he typically did. “Look, I will prove it to you. See there?” He pointed to a vase on the balcony. “If I was that drunk, I couldn’t see that it has two flowers.”

“There’s only one flower”, Xiao deadpanned, giving up. He laid on his back, watching the stars through the canopy of the tree upon which the Inn was built, accustomed enough to the god’s antics to not worry so easily. 

He would have worried if he knew what was coming. But there he was, strangely relaxed as his… his friend, babbled without a care in the world, not even paying attention to what was being said. But in the next moment, Venti sobbed.

Xiao’s whole body froze. He had no idea of what to do, so he stayed paralyzed, tense, hoping to have misheard it. But another sob came up, and Xiao’s dread only grew.

“Venti…?”, he called softly, sitting up to peer into his face.

His heart almost left his chest when Venti threw himself at him with a cry. “Why don’t you pay attention to me, Xiaoxiao?...”, he asked, sobbing into his shoulder. “I just talked about the friends I lost in the War and of the things I missed during my slumber, and you didn’t say anything.”

“I, uh…” He didn’t know what to do with his hands - only that he had fucked up, and that wasn’t an expression he would use easily, not even in the confines of his mind. Trying to calm his heart rate, he hesitantly let his hands fall on Venti’s back, both to comfort the god and to give himself some stability, only wrapping around him properly when the god tightened the hug. “I’m deeply sorry, Venti. I hadn’t understood what you were talking about, since the wine was making you drag your words.”

“I told you already, I’m not drunk!”, Venti practically shouted in his ear. Xiao winced, and prepared himself for a tantrum. “You’re so mean…”

“I genuinely apologize”, he repeated, attempting to help by patting the bard’s back. But Venti sobbed again. Xiao wasn’t sure of what was the point of unveiling his soul to someone who would likely forget it, but maybe he should still do it. For Venti’s sake. “I can understand the pain of losing others”, he uttered. “It’s true that I was never as close to someone else as you let yourself be, so maybe our experiences are different. But… I know it hurts. To remember. I’m sorry that you went through it. If you wish to share your memories, I can listen to you when you feel better”, he offered, as gently as he could.

That seemed to be the right thing to say. Venti quieted at some point during his speech, his sniffing lighter. “Uh-hum. I would like that.”

More relieved, Xiao let the tension dissipate from his body. But Venti kept clinging to him, giving no signs of wanting to let go and, in all honesty, it would be a bad idea to let him depart in that state. He just didn’t know what should be the next course of action.

“Venti, I don’t think you should leave now. I can let you sleep in my bed, if that’s okay”, he tried to explain, to get a sense of his opinion. 

But he was only met with light snoring, and possibly dribble dripping to his shoulder that he chose to ignore.With a sigh, Xiao scooped his legs closer and passed an arm under them, hoisting that delicate body up. 

He carried Venti to his room without teleporting, fearing that he would awake otherwise. He gently placed him on his bed, the only furniture in the room besides a small table and the now one-year Xiao lantern. Doing his best to not move the god too much, he took off his boots and cloak, and slid him under the blanket that Xiao only kept by Verr Goldet’s insistence, having usually no need for it or even to sleep at all. 

He planned to slip away and go back to the roof. But as soon as he tried to retreat a step, the single hand that the bard stubbornly kept on him throughout all the manhandling tightened its grip. 

“Don’t… go”, he pleaded weakly. Xiao immediately stopped, standing in place like a tree. But apparently, that wasn’t enough for Venti, who furrowed. “What are you doing? Just come here”, he demanded childishly, still obviously drunk.

Xiao raised an eyebrow, before remembering that Venti probably couldn’t see it in the dark. “To… the bed?”

Venti just nodded and made space so, after a second of hesitation, Xiao kicked his own boots and removed the accessories, sitting on the border of the bed. Rethinking the option, he ended up getting rid of the gloves as well, not wanting to hurt Venti with the hard edges on the knuckles. 

He slid under the covers, keeping some distance from the god, but that was in vain. Venti, apparently a needy type of drunkard, clung to him as if his life depended on it. A part of Xiao was slightly overwhelmed by so much physical contact all at once; the other part of him - the part that always longed for it - melted into the touch. 

Venti tucked his head under the Yaksha’s chin, his braids tickling against Xiao’s skin, but the Yaksha did nothing to remove him. Quite the opposite: he gradually wrapped his arms around the tiny god’s torso, familiarizing himself with it despite his clumsiness. 

Venti was still agitated, so Xiao let him move as much as he desired, not opposing anything. Maybe he was asleep already, and having nightmares? If he dared, Xiao would have sensed his mind with the powers he was made to abuse for centuries, and devour what bad dreams tormented him, instead of the good ones he was trained to steal. But he didn’t dare. So he just remained still as the bard fought for a better position and proper rest, trashing from side to side. 

Eventually, he found what he wanted by pressing his ear against the yaksha’s chest.

Xiao inhaled sharply. Suddenly conscious of his own heart, he blamed himself for even thinking about it, since that would only make his heart beat faster and potentially bother Venti. He did his best to relax and control the rhythm of his breathing, syncing it with Venti’s, but something in him was just so… vulnerable. 

He tended to dislike feeling like that. Now… not as much. He knew Venti would never take advantage of his vulnerabilities. And, in a way, Xiao took pride in being given the honor of seeing Venti’s own.

They stayed like that the whole night, unmoving. He ended up surrendering to sleep as well, lulled by the presence of a loved one. 

Xiao woke up first. It was unbeknownst to him how did he even fall asleep, but he remembered being warm, and unusually comfortable. He still was. 

He allowed himself to revel in the sensations, fully conscious of the body glued to his own, trained by ceaseless battles to become aware of his surroundings as soon as he woke up. At the moment, however, he was thankful for that: it let him carve this fragile moment into his memory before Venti’s awakening disrupted it, and he was forced to accept what wasn’t meant to be. But for now, still half in the grasp of slumber, he could pretend. He could even imagine he was moving one hand to Venti’s bedhair, caressing it, despite refraining from doing so in reality.

Venti stirred in his arms, and took a deep breath. After a couple of seconds of burrowing himself deeper into Xiao’s embrace, he tilted his head up, staring straight at him with groggy eyes and a bedhead.

Xiao wasn’t ready. So he said the first thing that came into mind. 

“You’re awake.”

That granted him a smirk. “What an astute observation”, Venti said, dragging his words. 

And yet, that quipping back made the yaksha wheeze in a sort of amusement that he couldn’t explain. His reaction seemed to please Venti though, who moved up to hug him properly, head resting on Xiao’s shoulder. 

That meant his lips were closer to the yaksha’s ear. “I remember vaguely my sorry figure from last night - I shouldn’t have put so much fate in my alcohol resistance”, he admitted, surprisingly. “Sorry that you had to see me like that, and thank you for taking care of me. Did you even rest?”

“Adepti do not require rest”, he stated, as an automatic response. But Venti was despondent, so he softened. “That said, I actually slept, so don’t… don’t feel bad.”

“Humm. You’re cute, Xiao.” 

“I’m no such thing”, he shot down, looking away. He committed too many atrocities for that, even though he still blushed at Venti’s use of the word, making him deflect the subject. “And what happened to calling me ‘mean’?” 

Venti giggled. That crystalline sound alone was enough to make the yaksha’s heart beat faster. “I called you that at some point? I don’t remember, eh-he. Anyway, what I said now was praise, Xiaoxiao. You can take it.” 

With a light huff, the Yaksha resigned to his fate, falling into silence. Their quiet breaths were still heavy with sleep, their chests rising in unison against each other. It was so strangely comfortable, that Xiao was almost lured to sleep again.

But he had duties to attend, and questions to ask, that would likely also help him remain awake. He ended up giving voice to his curiosity. “What do you remember, exactly?”

Venti was silent for a heartbeat, as if reluctant to share, or searching for the right words. “Pouring my heart to you, and you not paying attention”, the god deadpanned, the needle-like sarcasm in his voice prickling Xiao. He was starting to regret the question, about to apologize again, before Venti continued. “And you later being kind to me and relating to my pain, and promising to listen to my rambles about all the people I loved and lost.” 

Xiao resisted the urge to tighten the hug. “You… remember more than what I expected.” 

“Of course. I told you I wasn’t that drunk, I don’t even have a hangover now.” In an attempt to prove it or perhaps just by accident, he moved a bit too fast, grimacing when the dizziness caught up to him. “Well, not a big one at least. It was just my charming personality coming up.” Xiao snickered again, still processing how quickly after meeting Venti he had started displaying this kind of reaction, especially since he kept it hidden for years. But since Venti chuckled, it wasn’t such a bad thing. “Thank you for taking care of me. For what it's worth, I'm really happy I still have you.” 

In a moment of indulgence, with Venti still in his arms, Xiao whispered into his hair. “I’m glad you came back.”

—

In the Lantern Rite, Xiao wasn’t as lucky as last year. No free time for dinner with friends, or to visit the city. But he appreciated the gesture of the Yuheng, who gave gifts to the adepti. They had little use for Xiao, who gladly shared them with the Inn’s staff, but he was aware of the alliance between mortals and immortals now that Rex Lapis stepped down, and he could admire the efforts to create good relations. He also had tea again with Zhongli in a brief visit in the days preceding the celebration, since the ex-Archon was aware of how busy the Yaksha was about to become and accommodated for that.

He still managed to get some minutes of respite before midnight, deciding to rest on the roof of the Inn and watch the fireworks from a distance. He could hear Verr Goldet and the staff celebrating below. They were dear to him, in a way, but he preferred to remain out of sight. From where he was, the spot where Venti tended to sit in his visits was within sight, and that brought a smile to his face.

—

It was a new year, but Xiao only found himself sinking into the habits of the old one. In particular, in the habit of meeting up with Venti regularly. Even if most of his visits were a surprise, and not equally frequent throughout the year, the yaksha was okay with that, and knew he would eventually come.

Some weeks following the new year, Venti was sharing Thousand Winds Wine with him, as they reminisced about when they first met.

“Did you really just go there to let them taste this wine?”, Xiao asked. He knew fairly well at this point how Venti was smarter than most people credited him for.

The god thought before answering. “Sort of. It wasn’t because of the wine, exactly, but the reason was still mostly personal. The winds were telling me that the Archon War was only about to get worse, and having lost people at that point already, I wanted to cherish some moments with those I held dear before it was too late.”

Xiao nodded, before accepting Venti’s invitation to fill his cup again. “I never knew how you and Morax became allies.” 

“Well, it’s a long story.” An amused grin accompanied those words. “But the fact that I never had any interest in another region besides Mondstadt, and became an Archon before him, meant I had no reason to be a threat. But I think he also realized how, despite my acquired powers, I was fragilized in a way, and more interested in having his help if Mondstadt ever got attacked than in any kind of rivalry. Especially since, as I put it when we met, I wasn’t always going to be around - and not just because I wanted to give freedom to my people.”

Xiao followed. “It was because you knew that you had to sleep for centuries to recover every time you exerted too much power, and in that time Mondstadt wouldn’t have its Archon.”

Venti sent him a sideways glance, overflowing with meaning. The contrast with his stiff and dismissive smile spoke to the secrets the god still held, from Xiao and most of the world, and just thinking about it made the Yaksha shiver. “Exactly. So, I offered my help in his fight for Liyue, in exchange of his in case Mondstadt ever needed it. Our friendship came after - when I managed to put a smile on my face again, and I suppose be a silly yet trustworthy companion. Or so I hope.”

There were certainly details that the bard was leaving out, but Xiao didn’t pressure. Not only did he dislike prying, but he was also in no rush to know. If anything, he was curious about the fragilized state Venti claimed to be in when he met the God of Martial Arts, coupled with how he alluded to having lost people before.

Apparently, said god wasn’t inclined to talk about that. His topics drifted to the present, not the past.

“I’m thinking about visiting him. Morax, or Zhongli, that is. I’ve postponed it for long enough, and I’m running out of excuses to avoid the blockhead”, he said fondly. He turned to Xiao with an inquisitive look, braids flowing with the speed. “Do you think he would appreciate this wine?”

Xiao smiled at that, without facing away. “Either that, or Osmantus Wine. I believe he would appreciate mostly having someone to talk with from the time where he used to share it with friends.” To refer to his Lord as ‘he’ felt improper and stiff on the tongue, even if those were his wishes.

“Humm. But he is happy, right? The Traveler told me as much.”

“He is. He just occasionally misses things from the past, but not in the detriment of the present.” 

Staring at Venti’s face, Xiao could see every emotion that crossed his eyes, and the nostalgia that the bard didn’t try to hide hit him hard. “Don’t we all…?”

He had no arguments against that. Disarmed, and a bit more used to drinking at this point, he ended up abusing the wine. He found people that tended to drink to forget rather unpleasant - but in the company of Venti, there was a certain allure to it. 

He wasn’t sure how things got there, but he ended up calling Venti ‘annoying’ when the bard was practically sitting in his lap. His vision was hazy, and his legs numb, so it was no surprise that he had little control over his voice, which sounded harsher than he intended. The annoyance in question halted for a second, blinking at him as a frightened deer, but then he seemed to understand Xiao wasn’t mad, and made light of the situation.

“Wow, you wound me! Insulting the most sought bard of Mondstadt like that, anyone else would…”

But Xiao’s brain disengaged after the first sentence. Yes, he must have hurt Venti - that was all he was good for. He hurt people’s dreams, and flesh. He hurt spirits and the living alike. And now, he also caused pain with his words.

He felt a pair of cold hands on his cheeks, grounding him and forcing him to look in front. Venti held his gaze, even though Xiao was having some trouble focusing his vision. “What is it, Xiaoxiao? I get the feeling you are dwelling in self-deprecation, but you know I was joking, right?”

Xiao let his head fall on Venti’s shoulder, who had at some point turned to the yaksha on his lap. “Regardless, these hands have blood on them. They are only made to hurt.” 

He was staring at his own hands - trying to at least - but Venti grabbed them, interlacing their fingers together. 

“Those hands, and you by extension, did what had to be done, forced or by your will depending on the period of your life. Am I not right?”, Venti asked, firm in his consolation. “They can and have fought to protect, and are delicate and as gentle as the one they belong to.” Slowly, he let his fingers go, but just as Xiao was about to miss them and sought Venti’s hands again in sudden instinct, he realized that the god was simply pulling at his gloves, trying to remove them. He initially tensed. While his hands appeared delicate, he knew how calloused they could be, and how his tainted fingers and long nails were a testimony of his crimes. But he still aquiesced, opting to put his trust on the one he cherished.

Venti didn’t even flinch. He just held his tarnished hands again when he was finished - and bent to kiss their back, making Xiao feel exposed both in skin and soul. 

The yaksha held his breath, shivering once again. He had no idea if Venti noticed, or how he would interpret his reaction, even though it seemed like he was glancing up from his bent position to read Xiao’s face. But no matter what he made of it, Venti continued, mirth in his eyes as he pecked at each of Xiao’s knuckles.

“You're awfully expressive when someone learns your tells, Xiao”, he remarked, straightening and letting Xiao fall against him again in embarrassment. “Aaaand looks like it’s your turn to get drunk.”

“Adepti don't get drunk”, he muttered automatically. 

He heard a chuckle. “Foolish yaksha, you can't deceive me so easily”, he said, as he rose from his lap. “Here, I’ll carry you inside.” 

“I don’t need…” The ground moved, and he swayed as he tried to get up. He had an arm on his back before even managing to fully rise, and fell face-first against Venti’s chest.

He tried to protest, but his mumbling was weak and his strength almost gone - either that, or Venti was stronger than he looked, to which his brain vaguely supplied that wouldn’t be unusual given how much the god tended to hide. But that was as far as he could think, before Venti swiped him off his feet, holding him against his chest while passing an arm under Xiao’s knees. 

Venti carried him with relative ease - his breathing was labored when he finally deposited Xiao on his bed, but the stability of those arms didn’t waver - and he helped the yaksha get rid of his boots and accessories, before covering him with the blanket.

“Shh…”, he hushed, depositing a kiss on his forehead. “You deserve to rest too, my hero. Close your eyes, and I will play you a lullaby.”

Xiao couldn’t find the will to oppose. His eyes closed on his own, and his brow relaxed as Venti brushed his fingers against it. The music he then played filled his senses, and his heart, with joy and dreams and what could only be described as love . Even though he only caught parts of that melody, he felt as if he was soaring in the sky, his wings grown back, and he gasped even half-asleep. 

The longing was so strong… and so was the gratitude.

—

Xiao was disoriented when he was teleported to the surface of the Chasm, realizing he was saved by Rex Lapis again, only managing to look around wide-eyed.

Xiao was disoriented when the Traveler jumped to hug him, even more when he heard sobs, having to figure out what to do with his hands.

Xiao was disoriented when the rest of the group joined, and despite trying to focus on their words, he found his chest swelling and tears burning his eyes. When they spilled, that disorientation gave way to shock - but no one passed judgement, or seemed to have doubts about why he was crying. In a way, they understood it better than himself.

He never expected to be able to be amongst people for so long without causing pain. Or to fight alongside others in a way so similar to how he fought alongside the yakshas. Or to uncover the mysteries of Bosacius’ disappearance. Or to feel so many arms wrapped around him, and the weight of their bodies. It was comforting and, contrary to his expectations, didn’t make him feel suffocated or anxious. Deep down, a part of him just wanted to sink into it, and appreciated the sense of protection that he spent centuries providing to others. It was… like a nest.

He later composed himself, but his heart still shook. After confiding in the Traveler, a Witness, just like Zhongli instructed before, he was emotionally spent. 

So he was glad that Venti only arrived the next day, needing some time alone first. The bard-god was already aware of what had happened - maybe informed by the wind, by the Traveler or by Zhongli, since he implied that the two Archons had finally reunited. So there was no pretense between them; only the expected vulnerability that Xiao was now unable to keep hidden, reciprocated by Venti spilling his worry and care. 

They revealed their mental wounds to each other, and talked well into the night. About what hurt them in the past, and what made them who they were today. They talked about those they loved and lost, in some way or another, and admitted to not always knowing what to do with their own feelings. For every insecurity Xiao unraveled about himself, still too strained to put his walls up, he was relieved to find out Venti met it in kind. Not that what the god went through was a good thing - the suffering of loved ones was never something to celebrate - but confirmed what the yaksha already suspected about him, and also made him feel less isolated in his experiences. 

They shared so much, that Xiao knew he wouldn’t be able to remember everything later. But one thing was stuck in his mind: how Venti admitted, almost nonchalantly, to have assumed the body of that bard who died when he became an Archon. And how he was mourning when he first met Morax, even when he met Xiao - he couldn’t tell, at the time, which only spoke to how good Venti was at keeping his pain buried.

All gods and immortal beings had the ability to shapeshift to an extent, so while they tended to remain in the body that most suited them a lot of the time, that didn’t stop them from changing when they wanted to. While Xiao always thought Venti’s appearance was fitting, he always found it a little strange how the God of Freedom seemed so reluctant to change in the slightest, as if he was confined to a single appearance. Now, he knew why. 

“Even though I love how I look, I would like to also take on other appearances, and even revert back to being a wind sprite on occasion. But I fear that if I change to a different body, even temporarily, I will forget how to become him again”, the god had whispered into the night. “And he always wanted to see the world, so… this is the least I can do for him.” After a moment of silence, Venti blinked, straightening and dawning another cup of rice wine. “Of course, I know my actions aren’t really helping someone who is dead. You could say I’m just being emotional and pretending he is still with me. On my part, I prefer to think I inherited a bit of him, and his wish was a beautiful one, that I don’t mind carrying”, he finished with a smile.

Xiao understood. He wouldn’t have, two years ago. But, now that he was learning to live a more mundane life like all Yakshas wished to do after the war was over, and saw how Zhongli and so many other immortals were doing the same… he was starting to grasp how it was ‘nice’ - as Zhongli once put - to finally understand the perspective of a friend, and to experience the world as someone else, slowly owning that experience and identity. Even if the original owner was no longer present, their legacy was being carried on.

He told Venti as much, and treasured the fond smile his words were met with. And yet… “But I still can’t imagine what it’s like to wear the face of a friend every day. I don’t think I would be strong for that.”

Despite the underlying sadness, the bard chuckled. “That almost sounds like admiration coming from you, Xiaoxiao.” 

Staring straight into his eyes, Xiao didn’t hold back a smile of his own. “It is.”

—

That wasn’t the last time Venti took care of him, even though there were months before the next. 

Xiao dragged himself to the top of the inn, without the strength to even teleport. He had never been more grateful for the elevator, even though the last thing he wanted was to be found by mortals. 

He was covered in blood and lashes, but what really hurt was the taint on his spirit. His karma had started acting up more strongly throughout the year, no matter how frequently Venti played his music - perhaps because it learned how to overcome the cleansing effect, of maybe because it had always preyed on positive and honest emotions, and Xiao had opened his heart more this year than he ever did in centuries.

He was willing to put up with it. Even though he didn’t exactly miss episodes like this, they tended to be sudden and stay quiet the rest of the time, and if the occasional intense pain was the price he had to pay for some sense of normalcy most days, he wouldn’t refuse. He couldn’t. Not anymore, since he had grown used to the proximity of those he loved, to the ability to perform his duty without pain, and to a more mundane life. 

The face of the young girl that met him in the city, when he was trying to flee the pharmacy, resurfaced on his mind. He wasn’t good with children, and they were the ones more at risk in his presence. The thought of hurting her was enough to make the voices in his head rejoice, and he growled, trying to silence them. Even worse, was the fear of disappointing her if she knew he was almost like a monster himself…

Venti was perched on the usual spot - that much he could still discern. Xiao nodded once in acknowledgement, not even wanting to face the pity in the Archon’s eyes, or be the cause of concern.

His attitude seemed to fool the bard for a while, who extended an arm towards him. Xiao’s reflexes would have made him counterattack if he wasn’t so spent, until he realized that Venti had already helped himself to the wine and was just offering him a sip.

“Oh well, hello there!”, he said with a smile. “Care to join me for a drink on this fine evening?” Xiao was too focused on standing to say anything coherent, and he vaguely detected the bard sniffing the air when he didn’t answer. “Oh you started celebrating already,” he heard, apprehension in the voice. “Any rice wine for me?”

The yaksha suspected the god already knew what was going on with him, and was just giving him a way out in case he didn’t want to share his pain. To an extent, he was right, even though Xiao couldn’t bear to lie completely. Not when the trust between them was already so deep…

So he settled for the smallest string of words he could think of. “Sorry… tonight, I just want to rest.”

Venti hummed, looking away with a smile. “Very nice. It’s good to take the mask off once in a while.”

There was truth in that. The fact that Xiao had someone who knew him, respected his need for distance, and next to whom he could crash when he wanted, comforted him greatly. He vaguely hoped Venti would take his own counsel, even - but right now, his priority was to make it to his room, and deal with his karma alone.

Remembering something, he still made an effort to project his voice, leaning in the doorway of his room. He cared about Venti, after all, and wanted that to be clear despite how little he had to offer. “There’s no point in you going all the way back after coming here”, he managed through gritted teeth. “You can still sleep inside when you wish”. 

He got the impression that Venti answered, but Xiao didn’t wait to make sure. He just closed the remaining distance and collapsed on his bed, unable to stop the spasms of his muscles.

In his dreams - something that he started having again after meeting the Traveler, and became more frequent after Venti saved him - he was vaguely aware of a teal light wrapping around him, enveloping his incorporeal body, simultaneously warm and cold: healing. It was raw energy, and even through layers of sleep, he was aware of something similar happening in reality, caresses that made him sigh and relax a little. He wasn’t sure how long he was in that state until he fully passed out, but there was something akin to relief right before he succumbed. There was something pleasant in the exhaustion, and hope amidst the despair. 

He woke up multiple times through his sleep, but only when it was morning, which he figured through the light entering the room. The fact that he slept the whole night both made sense and was impressive, since it meant his inner demons weren’t strong enough to keep him awake. In the morning, however, the one not strong enough was Xiao, who very much wanted to rise, but was bedridden, powerless and pliant to everything Venti said.

Venti. Who stayed there the whole night, awake and sitting beside him on the bed, ready to tend to him even when he insisted he didn’t need it.

“Look, I will never impose my wishes on someone else so, if you really don’t want my help, I will leave”, Venti stated, surprisingly serious for someone holding a spoon with almond-tofu. “But if you’re just saying that because you’re a stubborn yaksha and don’t mean it, then you will have to put up with me.”

“I…” Xiao shut his mouth, recognizing the truth in his words. He was still grateful to Venti for being exactly who he was, someone who respected people’s freedom even when their choices were not good for them, but he was also aware that his day would be miserable if he was too prideful to accept help. And after being vulnerable and depending on others so many times this year alone… he couldn’t refuse that anymore.

He leaned towards Venti, opening his mouth, and wordlessly accepted being fed. For once, Venti didn’t try to tease him, and genuinely seemed glad for not being pushed away. On his part, Xiao was somewhat ashamed for having breakfast in bed, especially in these conditions, but his mind couldn’t go much further than that.

He kept falling and waking from a disruptive slumber, to the images of Venti changing wet clothes on his forehead, or trying to make him drink medicinal tea. Xiao eventually realized he had broken out a fever. At night, the bard brought him soup, since Xiao was managing to stay awake a little longer, and the yaksha appreciated its softness and bland flavor. 

But his karma was quieting again - this sickness was merely an aftermath. In a way, his current weakness almost made him feel like a mortal, a realization simultaneously frustrating and relieving.

When the moon was back in the sky, in his delirium, he dared to ask Venti for music. He wasn’t denied, and sighed contently when the bard started, not with an instrument, but with his melodic voice. Xiao couldn’t tell what the song was about, but was lulled to sleep nonetheless, feeling weirdly at peace.

— 

Xiao was determined to compensate Venti during his next visit. 

Yes, he was familiar enough with human culture to know that friends were meant to be there for each other. But neither of them were human, and having lived through a time when just as many immortals were trying to kill each other, such acts of kindness were something of immense value. 

And… perhaps he wanted to do something for him too.

The fact that Venti arrived early just helped make it more special. It was late afternoon, the sun still visible in the sky, and the bard materialized at his side with an apprehensive look.

“Is everything alright?”, he started by asking. “I’m quite attuned to you at this point, and I sensed that you wanted to see me.”

Xiao lowered his eyes, unsure about how to make the invitation now that the moment came. He opted to be direct - he tended to prefer that approach - but surprised himself with how much his voice sounded soft when he answered Venti. Even - to his embarrassment - timid. 

“Nothing bad happened. What you sensed was probably my wish to thank you for taking care of me last time, and invite you to stay more time with me. S-since you arrived early… perhaps we could watch the sunset together.” Why was he stuttering?

Venti’s eyes widened, and Xiao shifted the weight on his feet. “Oh! You mean now?”

“Only if you want to, and I don’t want to get in the way of your duties either”, he rushed to add.

That made Venti laugh. “Please, Xiaoxiao, you know I have very few duties that I can’t flee. And…” with an expression that danced between fond and mischievous, Venti stepped int Xiao’s personal space, cupping his face with one hand while holding his gaze. “I would love to watch the sunset with you.”

 Xiao gulped. “I had planned to do other things too.”

“Oh don’t worry, I would love to do other things with you too, eh-he.” 

The way Venti stared at him, through half-lidded eyes and a suspicious smile plastered on his face, to not mention how he was leaning on Xiao with his whole body… that sentence didn’t sound innocent at all, making Xiao blush and look away. 

“Don’t distort what I say as you wish”, he chided - but despite his words, he was amused enough to let a smirk form on his lips, that the bard caught and chuckled at giddily. 

Then, in a matter of seconds, Venti pecked Xiao’s cheek, held his hand, and transported both with the wind.

They had enough time before sunset to calm down from their childish excitement, with Venti teasing Xiao by claiming it was about time he invited him for a date, and even going as far as to criticize Liyue’s customs of courtship and respectable relationships. Xiao obviously didn’t take any of it at heart, but didn’t deny it was a date either. 

In reality, he wasn’t sure himself. He never dated or even allowed himself to let this kind of feeling blossom - in fact, he never even had someone he would dare to call ‘friend’, and those who tried were pushed away by him, who didn’t deem himself worthy of that risk. Venti… besides being an Archon and in many ways stronger than Xiao’s karma, he came into his life at a time when the Yaksha couldn’t refuse him. And from then on… he chipped at his defenses more efficiently than Xiao ever thought possible. 

Xiao was comfortable considering him a friend now - he had been for some time - as he was with the Traveler and, while he still had too much admiration for Morax to see him as such, he also treasured their bond. There were even some mortals that he would consider, tentatively, friends to an extent. 

But as they watched the sunset, leaning against each other, the yaksha thought about it. Thought if his relationship with Venti was deserving of a name…

He wasn’t sure if he wanted mortal terms. ‘Boyfriend’ was too banal, and didn’t reflect the state they were at, and Xiao wasn’t sure if either of them would want the expectations that came with it. ‘Partner’ was a little better, but there were many kinds of partnership, and it communicated little. ‘Friends’ could certainly be very close, and far from Xiao to put limits to what friends could do together, but it wouldn’t convey to most people how special Venti was to him, something that he got the impression that the god in question would like to make clear and be proud of. Xiao didn’t want to deny him that, either. 

No, none of those worked. It was okay if mortals misunderstood them - he didn’t care about the truth they painted in their heads - but to relevant people, he wanted a word that he wouldn’t regret, and that captured the fluidity of their bond and how it was led by the wind, without having to change just because they did. A label with few expectations, that incentivized them to grow instead of constricting them, evidencing the core of what they meant for each other but didn’t imply anything else. What was Venti for him? He was purely…

“...Beloved”, he muttered. 

He felt the bard turn to him, speaking quietly. “That’s a beautiful word. Were you thinking about anything in particular?”, he wondered with a smile.

Xiao reciprocated, before averting his eyes toward the sun. “You. I was thinking about what you mean to me, and how to describe our relationship without constraining it or setting expectations.”

He heard Venti’s sharp inhale, felt him tense up. He started fearing he had said something wrong, perhaps misread the situation, until the bard bumped against him, wrapping his arms around Xiao’s waist. 

The yaksha was familiar enough with the motion by now, even though he didn’t comprehend its purpose fully. He enjoyed the comfort too, so he gladly offered it to Venti, returning the hug and pulling him closer. 

After a while of watching the sunset in silence, with Venti against his chest, Xiao felt his body shift. After a second of hesitation, a rare sight on him, he rested his chin on the yaksha’s shoulder, whispering into his ear.

“I love you too. And the word you picked is perfect, because I’ll keep loving you no matter what form that love takes.”

Xiao melted, burrowing his face in Venti’s hair, and didn’t try to contain his smile when Venti giggled and patted his back. 

They eventually left that place, but not before his beloved played a tune for him.

They had dinner together, not for the first time. The staff of the Wangshuu Inn already knew what to bring them, and while Xiao suspected that Almod Tofu and Grilled Tiger-Fish wouldn’t be Venti first choices, he always made a point of requesting the same things as the yaksha, and didn’t seem displeased with those dishes either. 

Ver Goldet popped in this time, bringing with her a bottle of wine ‘on the house’ and saying other things to Venti that made him both laugh and blush, looking almost embarrassed. Xiao simply schooled his expression, waiting for her to leave (with a wink) before turning to Venti.

“What does it mean to have wine on the house? This isn’t just a house, but wasn’t the wine already here?”, he asked.

The bard started to laugh.

They slept together again, any extra accessories already removed. Venti had laying with his back to the mattress, having managed to drag Xiao on top of him with little resistance and some jokes. They weren’t fully leaning on top of each other - more like sideways - but Xiao still rolled his eyes when the god treated him like a pillow.

Venti passed his arms under Xiao’s, letting his hands rest on the exposed part of his back, where his shirt opened between the shoulder blades. Xiao had to admit it was pleasant and, after a slight hesitation, he ended up sitting up and grabbing the helm of his shirt.

A glance at Venti below him let him notice his beloved’s puzzlement. 

“It’s in the way, isn’t it?”, he said, not waiting for an answer before removing it. When he finished, Venti’s eyes were staring, making no effort to try to hide his appreciation. 

The bard ended up meeting his gaze, grinning when he realized he had been caught. “What can I say, you are quite toned. I know that Morax and many others have a buffer build than yours, but… well, I guess you could say androgynous men are just my type.”

Xiao huffed, lightly, to make it clear he was amused, not mad. Venti wasn’t the first person to tell him he looked good - far from it - and after all, if Xiao disagreed, he wouldn’t have chosen that appearance within the limits of what his karma didn’t affect. 

“I… quite like your appearance too”, he admitted, a strangely easy statement. He was never particularly inhibited, but Venti made him feel even safer sharing his mind. “And I know that you chose it based on your lost friend, but I still think it fits you well. I don’t want to presume I know all of you, however…”

The hand that met his own reassured him there was no need to justify himself. Venti understood. So Xiao let the words disperse, studying his beloved expectantly. 

Even so, Venti could be unreadable when he wanted to be. “I’m happy to know you like how I look. Truth be told, I appreciate the good looks too, and as far as human bodies go, I really identify with a lot of this appearance. I tend to think of it as my own now, so it’s nice to hear that it fits me”, he confessed, sounding conflicted but not displeased. “Also… I appreciate having someone who knows my secret.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”, he offered in a whisper.

“Humm… Not at the moment. We already talked a lot about our losses and attempts at moving on, and we have time for more details later, unless you want to elaborate yourself.” Xiao shook his head, which in turn caused Venti’s smile to reflourish. “Then… I have a better idea of what to do.”

He guided Xiao’s hand to the buttons of his shirt white sitting up, and moving his other hand to his back. “Help me with that while I remove the corset?”, he asked, pulling the string on his back. 

Nodding, Xiao focused, biting his lip. He… never thought much of nudity, nor was that a relevant concept among the adepti, yet as his fingers brushed against Venti’s collar and chest as he unbuttoned the bard’s shirt, well… he could somewhat see why mortals would find it intimate. 

He stared at Venti, at the glowing symbol tattooed on his chest that matched his essence, and appreciated his slender build. Venti tilted his head to the side, catching his attention. 

“Should I remove these too?”, he asked, a hand on his shorts.

Xiao wasn’t sure how to word his apprehension. “If you want too, I don’t mind. Just… I don’t see nudity as…”

“Don’t worry, I just want to cuddle and feel the contact of skin. It’s so rare to have moments like this…”, his beloved explained, expression softening as he understood what Xiao meant. “And I might live amongst humans now, but I haven’t forgotten the perception of mythical beings, and not all humans see nudity in a sexual way either. It can be just about intimacy, you know?”

Xiao lowered his head with a smile, relieved. Yes, he knew, and he was glad that Venti didn’t expect the type of progression that humans typically wanted. Not only because it would defeat the purpose of the name he picked fr their relationship, but also because Xiao wasn’t sure he felt ready, or if he ever would. However, he could imagine the appeal in laying naked next to someone, and since Venti expressed he wanted it, there was no reason to oppose. 

He made a point of removing his own pants, folding them properly before setting them aside. That contrasted with how Venti did it, throwing his clothes to the ground without a care in the world. 

In their inner clothes, sitting in front of each other, they studied the other’s body. Xiao could feel Venti’s eyes trailing over him - his legs, his torso, his arms… until they arrived at his face. The yaksha held his gaze, huffing when Venti smiled and let himself fall back into the pillows, extending his arms like a needy baby.

He accepted the invitation, lowering himself on top of the little god.

There was an unexplainable comfort in the sensation of skin against skin. Xiao had long come to terms that he had been touch starved throughout the centuries, something he realized thanks to Venti and that they have talked about in some of his visits - how could they not, when the bard was so physically affectionate? But the closest they had gone to what they were doing now was when Venti removed Xiao’s gloves and interlaced their fingers, a far cry from how their flushed bodies were now pressed together. 

Venti’s hands wrapped around Xiao’s shoulders, encouraging him to ket his full weight just drop on top of him, which Xiao did with a sigh. He felt as if tension he didn’t know he had had all just been relieved at once, and he delighted in his beloved’s chuckle when he dig his nose into the side of his neck. Venti tilted his head to the side to brush his lips against Xiao’s forehead, one of his hands moving to caress his hair, and the yaksha surrendered completely, aware that many of the things he thought impossible for him had already happened. Daring for a moment, he pressed a kiss to Venti’s neck.

They let sleep come to them like that, in silence, in peace, merely exchanging caresses. When the morning came, they were still in the arms of each other, and Xiao placed a tentative kiss on Venti’s chin.

Venti laughed, reveling he was awake, but Xiao couldn’t get mad at his pretense. “You’re quite sweet like that, Xiaoxiao”, the bard teased further.

Xiao snorted. “Don’t mistake it for mortal emotions.”

“Indeed, it’s not mortal’s emotions. It’s your emotions. And mine.” Venti had always had a way with words, and Xiao couldn’t refute what he said, or refuse his silent request for another kiss when he pulled Xiao's head down, to his collarbone. “Whatever the name, I welcome them regardless.” 

Humming, the yaksha tried to suck at the base of Venti’s throat, rewarded with a stronger reaction that would have scared if not for the god’s hands keeping in there. When Venti let go, Xiao slid his mouth to explore other parts of his body, secretly delighting in the way his beloved would sometimes shiver.

“Think what you will of your hands, but let me assure you you’re pretty good with your mouth”, Venti managed to say between ministrations. 

That alone made Xiao almost laugh, unfathomable as it was. He still let a chuckle escape, letting his head fall against Venti’s chest, who praised him quietly. The way he sounded proud and loving made the yaksha’s heart melt and, for a moment, he wondered if he was in a dream.

They stayed in bed for a while, until the sun was peaking through the windows and the aroma of breakfast being prepared for guests arrived at them. They ended up deciding to go outside and have breakfast together, a brief yet pleasant moment where Xiao came to terms with the developments between them.

Venti took the last bite, shifting as if about to say something. The Yaksha had noticed that he was lost in thought, but had opted to not interrupt before he decided to share his mind. “Do you think… that you’ll be able to have some time during the Lantern Rite?”, the bard asked.

Ah. Yes, the new year was almost upon them, which only highlighted how much happened during the current year. Put into perspective, Xiao was almost shaken by how quickly his life was changing…

“I tend to spend the main celebration hunting monsters that prey on people’s happiness. I’m rarely free until the moment the fireworks start, and sometimes not even by then”, he explained. While he sensed that his answer would disappoint Venti, he preferred to be straightforward. Besides… that didn’t mean he couldn’t offer an alternative. “But I can probably find some time in the previous or next days. In the day following the fireworks, I’m often free.”

Venti straightened, high-spirited again. “Then we can probably meet by then. I will be around for this Lantern Rite, for… reasons, eh-he.”

Xiao smiled, not hiding how he looked forward to it. “Alright”, he said simply. He knew Venti would know how to find him.

Xiao wasn’t sure how to feel after returning to Wangshu Inn. He had just been released from the celebratory dinner after being half-dragged there by Hu Tao, and part of him was emotionally spent, but he also felt… weirdly fulfilled? 

It was embarrassing to almost blow his and Venti’s cover, to have Morax refer to him as his senior, and to pretend he knew little about them on top of his social ineptitude. He was completely out of depth, and unsure he would have lasted till the end if he hadn’t removed himself or had the cooperation of the Traveler. On the other hand… he felt like he had learned a lot, tested the limits of his karma influence on people, and realized how much others were willing to accommodate for him. He wasn’t sure if he should be thankful, or feel even more like a burden and a danger, but everyone reassured him they wanted him there, so that likely meant something.

He admittedly also missed social gatherings. They reminded him of cherished times with the adepti, even if he was never one to participate much and just watched from the sidelines. 

He felt a breeze at his side, and kept gazing at the scenery as the wind god materialized. He was thankful for the time alone to process everything that happened, and happy that Venti had so many people he cared for that he spent time with: his free soul was something Xiao loved, and it was a comfort to know that he would have other people who cared for him if Xiao succumbed in battle or to karma.

A pair of arms wrapped around his waist, hugging him slowly from behind. Xiao appreciated how tactful Venti was about it, giving him time to put some distance in case he was too overwhelmed for that, but he was comfortable with that kind of touching, so he allowed it. “How are you feeling?”, the bard asked tenderly.

With a sigh, Xiao started to explain. He didn’t spare any details about his conflicted thoughts, curious for Venti’s insight. “But I enjoyed it”, he finished. “It was… nice.”

How easily he identified how to use this word now. He could feel Venti’s breath on the back of his neck as he huffed a chuckle, and relaxed against him.

“I can still play you a song to help alleviate the karma and tension from the event”, his beloved offered.

“Humm. I would like that. And speaking of songs… I thought you would have wanted to watch the concert. I honestly missed the last songs, since I was fighting near the Inn, but I could see the fireworks from this area.”

“Oh, but I watched it, in a way. The wind brought it to me, and there was something specific that I couldn’t miss. I have to say, we had many incredible performers, and that Hu Tao paired really well with the other girl - Xinyan, right? In any case, I admire Hu Tao for managing to drag you there, and for taking everything into consideration. I’m half-convinced she knows exactly who me and Zhongli are.”

So was Xiao - she was perceptive, smart enough to push things in the direction that was best for everyone while playing dumb, and familiar with many topics crucial to the history of Liyue. The Wangshen Funeral Parlor had filled the gaps that the Yaksha’s couldn’t, both equally important in dealing with the outcomes of the Archon War in the long past, and the miasmas that plagued the land. It was no surprise that Morax, no, Zhongli, decided to work there. And the references to the past didn’t stop there…

“You were the one who made the wind guide that musician to Liyue, right? You wanted Streetward Rambler’s story to be found.”

While he couldn’t see Venti’s eyes from that angle, he got the impression that he froze, and heard a sharp inhale. 

“Well spotted. Yes, it was me. I hope I have made the right decision - I thought it was time to take another step in terms of moving on, and Ping’s music is too beautiful to be buried. Guizhong… wouldn’t want that for her, and I think Streetward Rambler is once again a part of Liyue, and of the world. Her music might not reach the one attuned to her soul in life - but it can still reach the world, and the leylines, and...” It was Venti’s turn to sigh.

Intuitively, Xiao nudged his head against his. “You don’t have to justify yourself. I… understand some of it, and I know that you have knowledge you can’t share. For what it’s worth, I think you picked the right moment too.”

“Thank you. How do you know about that, anyway?”

“After the meal, the Traveler told Zhongli about what he missed, and I was present too. It was… interesting to see you and Morax interact, today.”

Venti wheezed. “Interesting? Ha, that blockhead really knows how to bullshit nowadays, he is almost as bad as me!” Xiao winced at the way he put it, pained by the disrespect. Even though they were always like that. He then turned Xiao so they could look at each other, in teasing mode. “As for myself, I found it interesting to see you bubbling and almost blowing up our cover.”

“Look who is speaking”, he retorted, fully aware that his eyes carried little heat.

Venti squinted, searching for his hand. Xiao resisted the urge to backtrack, foreseeing mischief. Then…

“Let’s fly!”, the god exclaimed suddenly, dragging him along. 

That was how Xiao found himself sitting behind Venti in a flying sword, one of those things that he nowadays only heard about in stories and were rare even when the art still existed. He clutched at Venti’s waist, not afraid of the high but unaccustomed to this particular way of flying, doing his best to calm the thrill in his body as they ascended towards the moon.  

“Zhongli loves to reminisce about the past, and my head fixated on this technique since he told me about it”, Venti explained, speaking loudly to be heard through the wind. “I thought it would be fun, and nothing that wind powers couldn’t achieve, so since I finally managed to get a proper sword, I wanted to try this with you. How is it? Fun, right?”

Xiao gaped, struggling to find the words or even comprehend what he was feeling. His chest heaved, and he had to consciously take a deep breath and chase his thoughts.

This wasn’t even how these swords were supposed to be ridden, to not mention how it was extremely different from the kind of flight Xiao recalled. The kind he missed. With… with the wings he lost.

But Venti’s excitement was contagious, and soon the yaksha realized that there were more commonalities than he originally noticed: the ability to gain altitude that a glider didn’t allow, how small the mundane world looked below him, the wind on his skin, the sense of release it brought…

He did something he never expected to be able to do again: he threw his head back to look at the sky, and laughed.

It felt wrong. It felt right. The muscles of his face hurt, not used to spreading so widely, and his karma’s voices protested, almost as loud as his unfamiliar laughter. Almost. It looked stupid, childish, and the sound could have very well come from another person. He was probably just acting like this due to the exhaustion from socialization getting into his head.

But he also felt… free.

When he quieted, he had to close his eyes, trying to stop the trails of tears.

When Venti let him wail against his shoulder, stopping midair in front of the moon, he offered no words; instead, he hugged him with the strength of a mother trying to put her child inside her belly again, to protect them from the world, and just let Xiao empty his sorrows.

When they went back to the rooftop, they laid together, as Venti tenderly peppered Xiao in kisses: on his forehead, on his nose, ears, chin, neck, chest, heart…

Xiao lost track of time. But he had never worn his emotions so profusely, and was left unsure if he was empty or full to the point of bursting.

Time went by, and Xiao came to peace with the fact that he and Venti had seen the best and worst of each other, and would keep seeing it again. Strangely enough, that ended up teaching him how to be more relaxed. Venti wasn’t the one who remarked on it - he just was - but everyone else that Xiao met from time to time shared that they were happy for him, and the yaksha eventually realized that they were referring to his lowered guard. 

He felt better too. His karmic episodes persisted, but even those were seemingly giving up, with either weaker episodes or stronger ones that wouldn’t manifest for months. He even accepted being around mortals for longer, even those without Visions, and nothing grave happened. 

Thanks to the Traveler and Ganyu’s idea, the Adepti were convinced to do something that they claimed as senseless for centuries: turning Dihua Marsh into a field of Glaze Lilies once again, despite the absence of Guizhong. Xiao was surprised that Ganyu hadn’t given up on it - he could imagine her proposing that to Cloud Retainer as she was caught in the spirit of the Lantern Rite, but to be serious about it and find the courage to propose it to the other adepti… she was considerably more confident now compared to when Xiao used to train her, merely 3 years ago or less. 

Given how he also changed… he sometimes doubted how to interact with her. Yet she never refused him, nor did anyone else that he once tried to keep at a distance. As for the Adepti, it was written on their faces that they only postponed it for so long because they feared to reopen old wounds, and be reminded of their losses. It would have hurt too much in the past… in the present, however, they were all moving on. And with Venti’s persuasion, who invited himself to their council in a callback to the first Adepti gatherings, they all recognized that doing this would be a way of honoring those they loved, and inviting that last aspect of them - of Guizhong especially - into their lives, completing the progress they made so far. 

Guizhong had left a flower in all of their souls. Even if it was just flourishing now, it was undeniable that they all carried it in their lifestyles, and in the lessons they learned. They all cared for that flower, and to cultivate Dihua Marsh would be a way of continuing her legacy, allowing more people to partake in her teachings.

Streetward Rambler was the first to support this idea.

The day of the event had finally arrived. Venti had decided to meet up with him earlier, since the plan was to cultivate the flowers at midnight, so they could use some extra time together before that. They were in a river that run through the Marsh, close enough to the spot decided to make it on time. Cultivating the whole field would take several sessions, given that none of them had the power to grow flowers out of their will, even with the help that the Traveler promised to bring tonight - without specifying what.

They left their clothes on the riverbank, comfortable even with complete nudity, before stepping into the waters. Venti shivered.

“It’s cold!”, he protested trodding closer to Xiao as if looking for warmth. 

With a sigh of faked frustration, the yaksha opened his arms, letting his beloved glue to his chest. “You don’t need excuses to cuddle with me”, he stated, sitting with him on the border.

“Eh-he, does that mean I can ask for this at any time? I will take you on our offer”, Venti said unabashedly.

“You were already doing it most of the ti-ugh!”

He froze for a moment, practically assuming a battle stance as drops of water fell from his drenched hair. Venti’s cackling only proved he looked more ridiculous than a threat to be taken seriously, and Xiao realized that splashing water on him was on purpose. A prank.

“I… you…!” He shut his mouth, taking a deep breath.

Then, as quick as he could, he used wind to propel his movements and make a wave so heavy that the impact made Venti stumble, falling face-first into the water. 

They fought each other for more than one minute, both too stubborn in their own way to lose first, whatever was the criteria for losing. They only stopped when they were breathless, from how demanding it was to move in the water, and from being unable to stop laughing. Even Xiao had laughed his fair share, and couldn’t stop the rush of adrenaline that ran through him every time he exchanged a glance with Venti and saw in his reflection how they were equally flustered. Equally… happy. 

Venti extended his arms to him, like a baby asking to be picked up, and Xiao conceded. Bringing the small god sideways into his lap, he reveled in how easy it was now to kiss him. With one hand on the small of his back, the fingers of the other hand digging into Venti’s hair and tilting his head slightly up, he covered his neck in languid, gentle kisses - with the occasional bite, like he knew that his beloved enjoyed. 

He moved to other parts of the body, eventually adjusting their position so that it was easier to access them, and Venti was pliant in his arms, looking so delighted that it only made Xiao prouder. His lips trailed Venti’s arms and thorax, and when he moved lower - to the abdomen, then thighs - his heart started beating rapidly, making the pressure of blood audible in his ears. 

His beloved shivered and gasped, often chuckling between reactions. Cute, Xiao thought, resuming his ministrations and running his hands through the sides of the god’s body, In turn, caught in his excitement, Venti’s hands never stopped for too long in one part of Xiao, not knowing what to grab to still himself, until he laced his fingers with the yaksha’s. Xiao was content to provide that stability.

He then noticed that Venti was having… other reactions. Something that was perfectly natural, thinking about it, but that Xiao didn’t usually care about much. Still, he didn’t want to make Venti uncomfortable, so he looked up, expecting some kind of sign. 

Venti was already staring at him, flurstered and embarrassed - a rare expression on him, who tended to be bold and the one who teased others. “Unless you want to help me with that, I really can’t take it anymore”, he said with a weak voice. 

Xiao pondered on his words. “Would it be bad for you if I refuse? I’m not sure if, humm…”

A hand cupped his face, making him look up as Venti slid down to sit in front of him. He tangled their legs together despite how that evidenced his hard member, showing Xiao that he trusted him and that everything was okay. 

“I wouldn’t want you to force yourself, and I just need some time to come down from this”, he said, smiling tenderly. He still looked embarrassed, but the acceptance was greater, and he ended up chuckling. “Besides, I liked our moment. But I think our relationship is progressing backwards, Xiaoxiao - we haven’t even kissed on the mouth yet.”

That made Xiao smile back. Holding his gaze, he covered Venti’s hand on his face with his own, keeping it there. “As you know, I’m not concerned with meeting expectations of so-called progress. But… the kiss can still be arranged”, he said in a low voice.

To his astonishment, Venti blanked. His lips quivered as he kept staring at Xiao… and then he fled, diving into a deeper part of the river. 

“Venti?”, Xiao asked, completely lost. He went towards the spot where the god vanished. “Is everything al…?”

A hand pulled him down.

Submerged, it took him some seconds to see properly. Venti was swimming in front of him, grinning. His expression was so genuine that it immediately spread to Xiao, and his ethereal looks, even more outstanding underwater, left the yaksha enthralled. 

Closing his eyes, he moved forward without thinking.

He met Venti’s lips. They were soft, and immediately opened to him, which caught him slightly by surprise - but wasn’t that normal with his beloved? So Xiao allowed himself to relax, tipping his head for a better angle, and let Venti bring their bodies together.

Surreal as it was, they couldn’t breathe underwater, and had to resurface. But Xiao’s beloved was giddy when they did, and leaned forward again, so Xiao gladly continued. He sighed into their kiss, simultaneously aware of every hair on his body and ignorant of the world, his conscience fleeting. Everything about Venti was so light… And, wet as they were, he could feel the wind on his skin, cold, except for the areas where their bodies were wrapped and touching. He could feel Venti’s braids over his shoulders, and see his lashes when opening his eyes, still entangled in a kiss.

Inebriated, he reciprocated when Venti moved his mouth, letting him search inside Xiao’s own with a tongue. His beloved tasted like Cecilias, and offered a reassuring look every time their lips parted for air. His eyes were glowing, two teal spheres of light, and Xiao could see his pupils dilated. If the way his own brain melted was any indication, then Xiao was in the same state.

They were gasping when they finished, satisfied. Venti chuckled, bringing their foreheads together, but Xiao was still chasing after the ability to use words.

“Zhongli would kill me if he knew I was making out with his protégé right before we go honor Guizhong”, he said. “But Guizhong would have loved it, so who cares about decorum?”

Xiao huffed, biting the tip of the idiot’s nose. 

The surprise brought by the Traveler was no other than the Dendro and Electro Archon. Xiao was honored to make their acquaintance, and intrigued by how the four Archons - so distinct and yet so similar - interacted, especially since it was the first meeting between several of them, or they had met under severely different circumstances. That Kusanali and Buer had agreed to quicken the growth of the flowers was disconcerting in itself, and spoke to the admiration everyone felt for the Traveler. 

To see several gods and Adepti together, along with any disciples they might have taken, reminded Xiao of past conferences. 

“Funny, isn’t it?”, his beloved said, after discreetly distancing himself from the group to stand at Xiao’s side. “How, by moving on, people seem to connect and mimic the past more than when they try to cling to it.”

They all spent the next hours planting as many flowers as they could, chattering away often in smaller groups, and reviving old memories and knowledge. It was such a simple scene, and yet, Xiao found himself on the verge of tears multiple times, especially when talking to the Traveler, who - as it didn’t escape the yaksha - had just managed to send Paimon away to be alone with him. 

“I’m proud of you, Xiao. You changed, but I feel like you assume more who you really are now”, they said, flashing one of their radiant smiles, hand on chest. Ironically, the Traveler hasn’t changed at all - which only made the compliment more significant.

“I didn’t do this alone. You, Zhongli, Ganyu, several of the mortals and immortals of Liyue, and… Venti. You all helped”, he confessed, bowing his head. “And this doesn’t mean I’m safe from my karma. Regardless, no matter how long this peace lasts, I’m grateful for it.”

“Then, I’m grateful for the opportunity to witness it.”

When all the seeds were in their beds, the goddesses of Inazuma and Sumeru quickened the field. All of the seeds immediately sprouted, and the elemental reaction was so efficient that some even started to bloom. 

So many years have these fields remained barren, and yet the solution was always so easily attainable…

“I suggest that we commemorate this moment”, Venti said, looking at the moon. “After all, Guizhong always approved of some music.” Then, he turned to Madame Ping, summoning his flute. “Madame Ping - would you do the honors of joining me in this duet?”

The old lady that was once Streetward Rambler smirked, her knowing eyes showing both appreciation and hesitation. 

“My skills are not what they used to be, dear Venti. I’m unsure if I can perform in a way worthy of the other half of your soul.”

Xiao caught himself wanting to protest that, but was amazed at Ganyu’s courage for doing it before anyone else.

“Madam Ping, if I may disagree… Many of us heard you when you played that night at the Lantern Rite, and were impressed. It’s true that we can’t compare your skills to what they were prior, but the are beautiful nonetheless.”

“This one will agree with Ganyu”, Cloud Retainer added. “And I don’t think my disciples are the only ones who share that sentiment”, she said, with both of her disciples and Ping’s own answering with their eyes. 

“We have all changed”, Zhongli said, confident and with joyful enthusiasm. “As old friends, I believe we all know that only highlights the very principles that the Goddess of Dust upheld. You were the first to realize that, so I’m sure you know of it now.”

“Ho, ho”, Madame Ping laughed, her tired but high-pitched voice comforting in a strange way that left everyone smiling. “Look at all of you, so excited to see me play. And Zhongliii… You almost sounded like your old self, using your head only to make a fair judgment and decisions in the place of others. You are all very convincing.”

“And besides”, the god of freedom intervened. “If she is your other half, how could you possibly fail her?”

Madame Ping halted, wide-eyed. What Venti said seemed to have left her speechless, as if she had never thought about it like that - which Xiao could understand. He was blind to a lot, before, and needed someone else to show him the ropes. Still needed.

Eventually, the old Adepti smiled again, happiness overflowing from her resignation. She slowly materialized her instrument, and stepped towards the center of the field, kneeling in front of one of the flowers. The light in her eyes flickered.

The first note rang, and Xiao’s lips quivered. 

Venti let her guide the direction where it was supposed to go. Attentively, he studied the first notes, joining only to uplift the melody she had already established, instead of overshadowing it. The soul-piercing duet was better than anything the remaining yaksha could conceive on his mind, pulling at his heartstrings, leaving him breathless. Overjoyed. Wanting to weep.

He was never very good at deciphering his own feelings, but now he knew that he didn’t have to be. Just feeling them, welcoming them into his life, was enough.

Like that, listening to their music, seeing everyone together around the glaze lilies they just cultivated wrapped up in emotions… His dream - the dream of dancing in the Dihua Marsh of his memories, glaze lilies blooming around, to the rhythm of Venti’s moonlight melody - didn’t seem impossible anymore. 

One day. One day, he would.