Chapter Text
🌻🍃
This wasn’t working.
No matter what angle he looked at it, how many pictures he painted, it always felt off. It was the face, he knew it. Whoever made the statue had made the face lopsided, and one eye was longer than the other. This wouldn’t be a problem if he had more references of the anemo archon, but the few pictures in storybooks didn’t give much else, and often looked different from the statue. If only he had a real life model, one who looked just like..
There was a loud commotion from the middle of the square, interrupting his thoughts. He looked up from his drawing pad, wanting to know what had disturbed him. A bit away there was a small crowd, surrounding..Venti. He was laughing and dishing out rhymes, while some of the crowd offered up apples.
Venti..he would be a good model, he did have the same hair as Lord Barbatos and a very similar physique. Perhaps, once the crowd thinned..yes, then he would ask Venti for his help.
🍃🌻
Venti waved goodbye to the last of the crowd, smiling. It was a bit exhausting to deal with so many people, but it was worth it to be with his children.
He was so focused on watching them walk away that he startled when he heard the footsteps. It was alright though, he recognized them well (he was a bit embarrassed to admit just how well).
He turned back and smiled at the Kreidpreinz.
“Hello, Albedo! What are you looking for from this little bard?”
“Hello, Venti. I was wondering if you could help me with something?”
“Hm? Of course! What is it you need?”
“Would you be a model for me? Just for some time, and I can compensate.”
“Oh~? A model, huh? Sure! What do I need to do?”
“Do you mind being partially nude while you pose?”
He paused for a moment, needing to get together his thoughts.
One, Albedo wanted him to model partially naked. He couldn’t form words for that, and his mind was running wild imagining scenarios. He had been crushing on Albedo for a while, and this made him feel all warm and fuzzy inside in a way he hadn’t felt for a over two thousand years.
Two..he couldn’t do it. The markings on his chest and leg couldn’t be passed as tattoos, not with how they glow (and with how embarrassed he is now he’s sure they’d be glowing very brightly). Plus, what if his feathers popped out? Or the small wings on his waist? When he was flustered he lost control of his form, anything could happen to give him away!
Albedo seemed to notice his distress.
“You can refuse if you want, I don’t mind. I understand how it could be uncomfortable.”
“No no I want to! Uh- b-but..I’m not really comfortable with you seeing my chest..”
He rushed to make up an excuse, to cover up his quick response.
Albedo nodded. “I understand that. Do you know how to wrap yourself up in an old robe?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“Would you be alright changing yourself then? That way you can cover up any areas you need to, and you can even wear a shirt and shorts under the robe just in case.”
He could feel his face heating up.
“O-Oh! Thank you, I..think I can do that. When do you want to do it?”
“Tomorrow, at Goth Grand Hotel? Any time of day.”
“Alright, in the evening maybe?”
Albedo nodded. “That works for me. Thank you, Venti.”
“Yeah, of course! I’ve gotta get going now, the tavern just opened up.” He joked, before rushing away, calling out a goodbye as he ran.
Holy shit. Fuck. Barbatos you’re being stupid! You shouldn’t have agreed to that, what if you mess up and reveal who you are?! This is such a bad idea- you need to cancel!
But..I don’t want to cancel! Albedo rarely talks with me, and this could be my chance! No- stop that thinking, you should know better! Ugh, just..I’ll go, and see how this turns out. It’ll be fine, won’t it?
🌻🍃
Albedo started packing up his art supplies, including a robe for Venti to wear. He’d actually made it himself as a small art project, and thought it looked enough like Barbatos’ robe to work for a reference. He hadn’t talked to Venti since the day before, and was slightly concerned. Venti did rush off quickly, he was worried he might’ve freaked him out. Well, he’d see this afternoon.
Once the time came he left to the hotel and waited for Venti to come over. After some time, he did. He looked around the room for a moment before walking up to him.
“Sorry, I lost track of time.”
“It’s alright. Do you still want to do this?”
Venti nodded slightly, his cheeks slightly flushed. Albedo went and got their room before taking him in and handing him the robe.
“Will this work?”
“I’ll have to try it on first.”
Albedo nodded and started to set up his supplies, while Venti went into the bathroom.
🍃🌻
Venti was used to putting on robes because of his time in Celestia (he shivers as he remembers that time), but this one was made different. It was easier for him to wear, more loose and breezy. Plus, this one didn’t scratch his skin like the archon robes did. He looked at himself in the mirror, wearing a robe for the first time in hundreds of years.
He wanted to throw up.
He hated that time, when he was a young archon. He hated every memory, every reminder. If he could he’d erase it all. He hadn’t worn a robe since then, even though some of them were nice. When he received them as gifts he’d just fold them up and leave them behind in his domain. To look anything like he did then, when he was so immature, so fucking stupid-
Albedo knocked on the door.
“Are you alright, Venti?”
He stared at the closed door, his nerves shot and his feathers standing on end- fuck! He knew something was gonna go wrong!
He rushed to pat down his feathers and hide them again while he yelled back.
“Yeah, I’m okay! You wouldn’t happen to have some medicine for nausea, would you?”
“Sorry but no, I could go get some?”
“No, it’s alright! I’ll be out in a minute!”
He took a deep breath and looked at himself in the mirror again.
This robe was different. The cloth was slightly yellow and soft on his body, it hung looser around him and didn’t have a hood.
This wasn’t theirs.
No, this was Albedo’s.
..fuck, he was wearing something Albedo made.
🌻🍃
Albedo had long finished setting up by the time Venti came out of the bathroom.
“Are you feeling better now?”
He asked, looking Venti over.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Sorry I took so long.”
“It’s alright. Could you pose on the bed for me?”
“What kind of pose?”
“Something relaxed, but observant? If that makes sense.”
Venti nodded and got into position. It..was actually close to what he was thinking of. It was rare that happened, usually people didn’t understand what he meant. It made him feel a bit..happy.
There was a bit of adjusting and then he started painting. Venti was a much better model than the statue, and the painting was turning out really well. Venti stayed very still and in position, so there were little problems with that. After a few hours he finished painting.
🍃🌻
“Thank you for helping me.”
Albedo smiled at him.
Venti could feel his cheeks flushing.
“Y-Yeah, no problem.”
“You’re very pretty, Venti.”
Oh. Fuck. Uh, he wasn’t ready for this.
“T-Thank you?”
Albedo looked at him and paused, starting to walk up. He stayed frozen in place, flustered and shocked.
Albedo reached out his hand to touch his cheek, their faces so close together.
Shit, were they going to kiss? Oh fuck oh fuck-
His hand touched his cheek..
And brushed against Venti’s feathers.
“What are these? Are they real?”
Shit.