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“Welcome home, Master Diluc.” Venti chirped cheerfully, kicking his feet in the air from where he was sitting on the dining table. He tilted his head curiously when all that greeted him was a long yawn.
Diluc was standing in the doorway to the private section of his home and scrubbing at his face sleepily. It had been three weeks since he had been home for longer than it took Adelinde to pass over whatever messages had arrived. Then he was disappearing right back into domains and making quick trips across the Liyue border to meet with others from the Underground Network.
The longer Venti looked the more proof of Diluc’s adventure across wilderness he found. He noted the twigs and leaves burrowed in the thick curls and the blood splattered across the silver metals of Diluc’s outfit. He even had some on his face still, caught in the beard that had made its appearance while Diluc was distracted trying not to get killed.
“Master Diluc,” Venti called again, letting his voice drop into a gentle comforting tone. “C’mere.”
Diluc did so obediently, a raised eyebrow the only sign of rebellion. Venti held both hands up and with a sigh, Diluc lowered his head down so Venti could cup his face.
He didn’t actually smell too bad and Venti was relieved, Adelinde wouldn’t be trying to murder them both. Diluc for not cleaning up and Venti for not dunking Diluc into the river in the back to make sure Diluc was clean. It was just the metallic scent of blood and the earthy smell of wet earth. It was almost nice.
“You’re a mess. An adorable mess.” Venti said simply, laughing softly when Diluc rolled his eyes. Even if Diluc was coated in mud, Venti would still find him endearing and worthy of compliments.
“Keep teasing me,” Diluc warned, “and I will bite you.”
Venti couldn’t let a bluff go uncalled and he started squishing Diluc’s cheeks and cooing at him. Then yelped as Diluc’s teeth bit down gently into the fleshy part of his thumb.
“You bit me. Are you five?” Venti proclaimed dramatically, squishing Diluc’s face again in punishment.
“I don’t lie, you’re lucky I even warned you.”
Venti suppressed the laugh for another soft coo, pulling Diluc’s head closer to drop a kiss onto his nose. When he pulled away again, the scowl was wiped clear of his face and Diluc had an adoring look instead.
Even Venti couldn’t keep teasing him when he looked like that, his own heart melting. He could bother Diluc every day but when he was so tired like this, Venti was willing to be a little lenient. Only a little though, because Diluc still needed a shower and that was a fight and a half.
“I suppose I’m just oh so special to you then? Getting a warning, oh how blessed am I- Ow!” Teeth buried themselves in his hand again, a little harder this time and refusing to let go. “You are five! My boyfriend is five years old, ugh. Let go.”
Venti tugged at Diluc’s cheek, trying to get him to release him. Diluc just ignored him, holding on with a stubbornness that was almost impressive. If not for the fact that Venti wanted his hand back to go back to annoying him.
“That’s it, you’re showering alone.”
The teeth let go, Diluc rearing back with a disgruntled look. Venti laughed even as he rubbed the red skin to get rid of the imprint. The only thing that Diluc hated more in life than the Abyss and the Fatui was bathing. Or anything to do with water. Venti still couldn’t believe Alice convinced him to fly a dragon over the ocean all those summers ago.
“Actually, I wouldn’t want to keep an elder awake too long,” Diluc said pointedly, “No need to bother you any further for anything. We should just head to bed before you get cranky.”
“Okay, reel it in.” Venti said with a roll of his eyes, not even attempting to get rid of the grin on his lips.
Oh how he loved the fire in his partner, the refusal to be bullied or bow to him. It was endearing like nothing else, except perhaps watching Diluc’s monologues about protecting others.
“Mmm.” Diluc yawned pointedly, then yawned a real one, “Too late in the day for a shower. Bed time.”
Venti let Diluc get two steps away before he reached over to slip a finger into the chains crossing the back of Diluc’s outfit. Red eyes met his in the most dramatic pout that Diluc had in his arsenal. Still Venti just pulled him back so Diluc was between his legs again.
Venti tilted his chin up, pursing his lips and Diluc’s pout softened. He leaned in, pressing a kiss to Venti’s lips softly. Then a few more for good measure. Then another as if he could distract Venti from any other thoughts.
It was a good plan, Venti moved his arms to wrap around Diluc’s neck. A soft giggle escaped him at the rough hairs on his chin rubbing against him, and he pointedly rubbed his face against it. Then he pulled back, a light smirk playing on his lips when he saw Diluc’s eyes land on the blood transferred over.
“…. Okay fine, maybe I do need a shower.”
Venti kissed him again, this time letting it linger and continue. Diluc’s lips slid against his and Venti melted against him.
He could live the rest of his life like this, trading kisses with Diluc, teasing him and being lovingly teased in return. Knowing that Diluc was always coming right back into his arms with the slightest tug or reach for him. Venti wouldn’t be against fading into this moment and repeating it until the earth ended around him.
He loved Diluc, far too much for the duties he had but Diluc was worth it. These moments were worth it. There was nothing that could pull him away-
“Ahem. Master Diluc. Welcome home.”
Diluc pulled back, his cheeks the same fiery red of his hair, and turned to look at Adelinde. The head maid was standing in the doorway that Diluc had left open, arms crossed and an unimpressed eyebrow raised.
“Why are you embarrassed, “ Venti whispered to him, “She’s walked in on us having sex, this is nothing.”
Diluc scowled at him.
“Then say that loud enough for her to hear.” He shot back.
Venti shut his mouth.
If there was anything in this world that could destroy him, it was Adelinde. She might have been only a human but Venti was more scared of her and her lectures then he was of the entirety of the Hexenzirkel.
Finally Venti cleared his throat, wrapping an arm around one of Diluc’s and leaning in to press his cheek against it. He only had two cards to play here, the first being that Diluc loved him so it would make him sad for Adelinde to drag his partner out by his ear, and the other… Well it was the most powerful card anyone in the Raginvindr household could hold.
“Ms. Adelinde,” Venti called soothingly, “worry not about a thing. I was just about to take our dear Master Diluc to shower and get cleaned off. No blood on your sheets, I promise.”
Diluc looked pained, but he nodded in agreement. He didn’t bother to change his expression of suffering when he met Adelinde’s gaze.
“I’ll make sure to clean off the suit too. You can get some sleep.” He promised and her look softened.
“There’s no need for that Master Diluc. I am still your maid, sir. I can handle cleaning your suit for you like usual. Just leave it outside of the bathroom and I will fetch it in a moment.”
Venti slipped off the table, tugging Diluc along behind him before he could start to disagree. Diluc fought him for all of two seconds before exhaustion won out and he was letting himself be led. He curled his arm enough that Venti was pulled directly to his side and Venti leaned his head against his arm again.
“Don’t get too upset,” Venti soothed. “It’s not like I’ll make you actually sit in a tub of water.”
Diluc grunted something too soft to hear before he sighed, leaning over enough to kiss Venti’s head.
“How bad do I smell?” He asked against his hair before reaching out to open his bedroom door.
Venti hummed, debating on playing up the smell to push home that Diluc needed to stop lighting himself on fire and calling it the equivalent of soap.
“It's not that bad, you’re more dirty than smelly. Especially your outfit, but I’ll clean you up.”
Venti let go of his arm when they stepped into the bathroom, tugging Diluc down by his lapels to kiss him lovingly. He rubbed their noses together, feeling Diluc relax and kissed him again.
Piece by piece Venti started to undress him, leaving Diluc to yawn and waver in place as if he was planning on just laying on the ground to sleep. Venti did feel bad, he knew Diluc had pushed himself tonight, but Venti wasn’t going to be the one to explain blood on Adelinde’s sheets. Besides, Diluc was human and the last thing Venti wanted to deal with was Diluc getting ill because he just didn’t shower.
It was also the fastest way to check Diluc over for injuries that he hadn’t noticed while fighting. Which meant that Venti wouldn’t need to struggle with a panicked Diluc trying to throw him off because Venti had to stitch him up while he was sleeping and Diluc thought he was in danger.
Indeed, Venti could see bruises covering different parts of his chest as he pulled the clothes off. The huge scar in the center of his chest made him wince and his eyes lingered on it before he looked away.
Diluc’s life as a warrior was written not just in the wind but on his very body. His fate as a fighter was scrawled into his skin, some that would always look fresh and some that faded almost too quickly. Now some of those memories were covered in fresh ones, bruises and scratches that spoke of ages of violence. Diluc would be aching for a while yet.
Going against Abyss hoards alone would do that to a person. It wasn’t that he wasn’t careful, Venti knew that, but that he pushed himself against enemies even the Knights as a group wouldn’t dare to approach.
Venti understood.
Heavens did he understand.
He did the same, even if few ever realized how often he was involved.
Yet knowing his beloved’s will to fight and defend wasn’t nearly as distressing as seeing it carved into his body. Would it be too much to ask for Diluc to simply sit back for once and let someone else or a group of people handle it?
That wouldn’t be the man he loved, Venti knew it. A Diluc who stood back and ignored threats or walked away while others fought to defend was not the Diluc that Venti had fallen so far for.
“How bad is it? Do I look like…” Diluc asked and Venti frowned in confusion before he saw that Diluc was rubbing his hand over his slowly growing beard.
“Mm… I mean, personally I find it attractive, but it’s long enough that you should shave it.” Venti kept it light, he knew it was a sore spot. “You… Well, I wouldn't recommend looking in a mirror.”
Diluc winced then sighed, fingers flickering with fire. Venti reached up to grab his wrist with an admonishing tone.
“I said shave, Diluc. Stop burning your face to get rid of hair. For the love of me, you stress me sometimes.” Venti complained, pulling the hand down. “I’ll take care of it, just like I always do.”
Diluc was watching him with an indescribable emotion on his face. It was part affection, part grief, part ashamed.
Seven years into the death of his father, and Diluc never quite managed to ignore just how much he looked like his father. The older he grew, the only thing that separated him from being Crepus’s twin was the scar on Diluc’s chin and a scruffy beard.
Returning home from hunts and missions was painful, but not from exhaustion. Staring at his father’s face covered in blood, beaten and bruised, and then stripping it away with a blade…
Venti slid a hand to the back of Diluc’s head, pulling him down until their foreheads were pressed together. He held them there for a moment, letting Diluc suck in a heavy breath before he let go.
Still Diluc lingered, one hand moving to brush over Venti’s.
“Sorry.” He finally said as he straightened. “I’m aware of the-“
“If you say ‘ridiculous nature of this request’, I’m going to scruff you like a cat and shake you.” Venti said pleasantly, Diluc’s hand leaving Venti’s to rub at the back of his neck as if imagining the action. “Everyone can have something that bothers them, and you have better reason than you think. I’ve said it so many times, I don’t mind doing this for you.”
Diluc’s gaze slowly softened until all that was left was the gentle look of love with the slightest upturn to his lips.
His hand reached up to cup Venti’s cheek, thumb sliding over his cheekbone. Then he held Venti still to be the one to press their heads together this time. Venti pressed back affectionately, smiling to himself at the way Diluc’s shoulders dropped and relaxed.
“Now let me finish getting you undressed, unless you want Adelinde coming in?” Venti teased, slipping two fingers into the waistband to pull it out and let it snap back.
Diluc’s gentle hand turned into a pinch in revenge. He leaned back, chains jingling, and held his arms out.
“Well?”
A loud snort broke from Venti and he dragged the pants down until Diluc could step out of them.
Venti’s face fell at the sight of a black and blue knee, it looked swollen and he reached to see how bad it was but Diluc’s hand caught his.
“It’s alright. Just bruised, promise.”
Diluc lifted Venti’s hand up to brush a kiss over his knuckles. He looked tired, but honest, so Venti let it go for the moment.
“Officially naked then. You look very nice like this.” Venti said cheerfully, ignoring the exasperated look Diluc gave him as he dropped Venti’s hand.
Diluc gave up on trying to glare Venti into feeling shame and turned to flip on the shower instead. Venti grabbed for the clothes, straightening up again and eyeing his partner. He could probably get away with atleast one smack before Diluc could shove him into the water-
“Smack my butt, and I’m locking you outside of the bathroom.”
“I would never!” Venti lied, walking away when Diluc’s head swiveled around to call him out.
“Date God, Jean said, he has manners and is known for his kindness and gentleness and definitely not for playing grab ass.” Diluc said sarcastically to himself.
Venti grabbed the door frame to keep himself up as a laugh ripped itself out of him. Even as he laid the clothes out, he could stop the giggles from escaping and he turned around to wave his hand in false anger at Diluc. He tried to suppress the laughter but couldn’t quite manage it.
“Master Diluc!” He wheezed. “Where have your manners gone?… You of all people… Grab ass…”
Diluc chuckled to himself, a warm and loving sound, and left Venti to deal with his laughter curse alone. He slid into the shower, only grumbling once about the water striking him.
It was like stepping into a boiling pot when Venti finished stripping himself and finally pulled back the curtain to follow. He slipped in, using Diluc as a shield against the fierce water.
“You’re lucky you’re cute.” Venti informed him, poking his butt and chuckling when he got swatted. “Now who exactly has been ruining your vernacular and introducing such foul language.”
His lips brushed over the firm muscles of his partner’s shoulders even as Diluc glanced behind him to scowl at him. Venti smiled up at him, pressing another kiss over the scarred skin.
Diluc relented a second later, turning back to the water and dunking his head into the stream. His back was tight and his shoulders were hunched as if he was trying to hunker down against a storm.
He really did despise getting wet.
Venti slid his fingers down Diluc’s back, tracing down all of the scars. He lingered on the two thick ones that scored against the top of his back, leaning up to press a kiss against both. Diluc shivered again but he didn’t say anything, just relaxed under Venti’s touch. Bit by bit, his shoulders loosened and Venti could press against the middle of his back to make Diluc straighten.
He murmured against Diluc’s back to mind his spine, and winced at the cracking sound as Diluc straightened further.
Venti leaned out of the shower and willed the wind to throw a rag to him. He brushed the rough cloth over Diluc’s shoulder once in warning before he lathered it with soap and started to work his way down Diluc’s back.
He counted the marks without thinking, comparing them to the last time he’d had Diluc naked before him. Most of them were old, but one or two were new. Small marks that would hopefully disappear by year's end, but there was no promise of it. The human body could be so picky about which scars to keep and which to get rid of.
“My fierce phoenix. You cause me so much stress sometimes.” Venti whispered softly as he dragged the cloth over an ugly group of bruises.
Diluc hissed in response, twitching a little to try to get away from the pain.
“Sorry, but you’re bleeding too. Just bear with me.” Venti soothed, using his free hand to rub small circles on his waist.
He returned to the gentle care, stroking the rag over the small cuts a few times before passing the rag forward for Diluc to clean in the water.
Venti started to talk, nonsense words about things around the world that he knew about. The peppers in Natlan were growing well, two pairs of triplets were born in Fontaine, Inazuma had a festival next month. Anything to fill the silence.
It was more for himself, Venti was aware of that. He could handle silence, welcomed it some days, but he didn’t want it right now. He wanted Diluc to know he was safe and wasn’t alone. He hoped it translated properly to Diluc.
Venti was greeted with a kiss when Diluc finally turned around, Diluc nuzzling against his temple.
“Do you want to sit down?” Venti asked, wrapping an arm around Diluc’s waist and letting Diluc lean into him. Diluc hummed and pressed his lips against Venti’s shoulder before nodding.
“I’m not so tired that I will fall asleep, but I believe I may have struck my knee harder than I realized.”
Venti’s eyes widened and he grabbed Diluc’s waist and turned him enough to push him onto the bench built into the wall. Venti had always thought it a ridiculous addition to a shower, just get a shower seat so you weren’t running into it constantly like he did, but now he was beyond grateful for it.
“Then why didn’t you say so?”
“To be fair to myself,” Diluc said gently, reaching up until he could pull Venti’s braids free and leave the hair to plaster itself down his shoulder. “The pain was more than bearable when you saw it, having the water strike it repeatedly however… Was not a smart move on my part.”
“Oh love,” Venti sighed, shifting until his body was blocking the stream this time. It was borderline too hot for him, but he suspected that for Diluc it was borderline too cold.
It wouldn’t kill Venti to survive this, technically it wouldn’t even damage him, but he was ready to get back to fresh air.
Diluc gave him a half smile as if he knew where Venti’s thoughts were, leaning his head back against the tiled wall a moment later. Venti shook his head with a sigh before he was moving closer to kiss him.
He returned to his cleaning a moment later and a few seconds of silence passed before Diluc’s hand was reaching to touch his cheek. Venti glanced up to see Diluc watching him with half lidded eyes.
“Keep talking?”
Venti pressed his head into the hand, smiling at him as lovingly as he could.
He started to talk again, catching the hand as it fell and scrubbing over it. He kissed each knuckle as he told Diluc about the newest experiments that Sucrose was trying, the tree that Amber had managed to get stuck in, the medal that Klee had received from Jean and had immediately set out with Kaeya to find out what it would take to melt it.
Diluc laughed under his touch, the smile on his lips was beautiful and Venti was drawn in over and over. Diluc indulged him each time, letting Venti kiss him for as long or short a time as he wanted. Which inevitably brought Venti right back to kiss him again.
“Lean forward, my love.” Venti said as he let Diluc press his face into his stomach. He giggled when Diluc mumbled something against him, the vibrations tickling him.
“What?” Venti tried to ask, stepping back to let him speak. Instead Diluc just reached for his hips and pulled him back, muttering again,
It struck Venti that Diluc was deliberately tickling him and Venti tugged fondly at his hair.
“You brat.” He huffed, stroking his fingers through the hair a moment later. Diluc just hummed and nuzzled against his stomach again, staying in place obediently as the shampoo was put into his hair and hands buried themselves in the curls.
Venti bent over him to kiss his head when his hair was clean, wrapping his arms around him to hold him in place. For just a little while he could shelter Diluc here. No monsters, no Fatui, no secrets, no ghosts of memories. Just each other.
He had half a mind to bear his wings, protect Diluc even from the shower simply because Diluc despised it. If it wasn’t a useless gesture, Venti would have without hesitation.
Instead he just held him, stroked a hand over Diluc’s back and murmured soft words into his hair.
“Venti…” Diluc sighed, words catching on a yawn. “I’m ready for bed. Either shave me now or I’m burning it off.”
Venti pulled back and swat at the hands Diluc had started to move towards his face. Diluc was only half joking and Venti knew it, and he was not risking Diluc burning himself after he was already injured. Some days it was like Diluc was stressing him out on purpose just to get a reaction out of him.
Or it was so Venti would kiss him to distract him.
The thought didn’t occur to him until he was already holding Diluc’s hands away from both of them and kissing him, hard and wanting and intending to fully distract Diluc from idiotic behaviors.
Venti pulled away to stare at him, eyes narrowing when he realized Diluc was trying not to smile.
“Damn it.”
Diluc snorted, twisting his wrists enough to capture Venti’s hands and pull him down for a much gentler kiss.
“I must admit, I didn’t think it would take so long for you to catch on.”
Venti grumbled, reminding himself that he was millennia old and if he bit Diluc then he’d never live it down.
“How was I supposed to catch on? You do burn your hair off! You used it to get rid of your leg hair a month ago.” Venti hissed, resorting to refusing Diluc’s kisses.
“It was itchy and I wasn’t going to use my claymore.” Diluc huffed back, rolling his eyes. “Now kiss me and go get the razor.”
To make a point, Venti stepped out of the shower without kissing him. He could certainly be petty. He was still holding incidents from twelve hundred years ago over Rex Lapis’ head no matter what the block head said Venti did.
Venti was a master at being petty and patient.
And kissing his partner whenever Diluc gave him those soft eyes. The second he stepped back into the shower, Venti was giving in and kissing him again.
It was soft and sweet this time, Diluc holding onto his waist gently. He traded between kisses and nuzzling sleepily at Venti’s cheek, murmuring a fake apology against his lips.
Venti accepted it anyways, kissing him back as he laid down the supplies of the shaving cream, knife, rag, and bowl. Then he was reaching to flip off the shower.
Diluc sighed in relief, tucking his head into Venti’s shoulder. Venti tried not to toss him off but he couldn’t stop himself from jerking at the way the beard tickled at his skin. Diluc rubbed his face a little harder against him, ignoring Venti’s squeaking and poking.
“You’re not cute when you’re like this.” Venti lied, leaning away so he could hold Diluc’s face with one hand,
He held it from below, thumb and forefinger squishing Diluc’s cheeks in. Diluc didn’t even have the manners to look ashamed of his harassment.
Instead he just gave Venti one of his beautiful smiles as if that would fix everything.
Which it did.
It always did.
But it still wasn't fair.
Venti rolled his eyes as he let go, lathering his hands up with the cream.
“Keep your mouth closed,” He warned, carefully spreading it over his face as Diluc’s eyes slid shut. Venti paused long enough to kiss his nose, humming when he saw that Diluc was trying to suppress a smile again.
He washed his hands off in the bowl and grabbed the blade. Then warm hands settled on his hips and pulled him closer.
“Diluc, you’re injured. Do not make me lecture you.” Venti warned when Diluc started to pull him up onto his lap.
One of Diluc’s eyes opened to watch him.
“You weigh two pounds even soaking wet. Just don’t kick my knee.”
Venti sighed, stroking some of the wet hair back with his free hand. Diluc loved having him close, and Venti craved it just as often….
“Okay, okay. But keep those wandering hands to yourself.”
Diluc opened his other eye just to roll them and then settled back against the wall. Venti scooted the items closer, sliding onto Diluc’s lap so his knees were on either side of him and Venti could rest on his ankles instead of adding weight to his lap.
“Shh, shaving.” Venti said when Diluc opened his mouth to complain. He tapped the blade against his cheek in warning and Diluc closed his mouth again.
He made two strokes before Diluc started to talk again.
“You know… You’re one of only two people… I would allow this close to my face with a knife.” Diluc said affectionately between strokes, turning his head with the gentlest touches of Venti’s fingers on his jaw.
Venti hummed, wondering where he was going with the line of thought.
“I presume Adelinde is the other, not Kaeya?”
Diluc’s eyes flickered open into an unimpressed look and Venti held off on the next swipe so he could speak.
“I was raised with Kaeya. He has never once managed a clean shave. Shaving is to Kaeya what cooking is to Amber. Ask him about it.”
Venti visibly perked up, back straightening and he grinned. He was absolutely going to bring it up and watch Kaeya flounder trying to hide it. Rosaria would also love this information.
Venti had always thought Kaeya’s facial hair was naturally patchy, but it being his own fault? Perfect roasting material. Payback for sending Amber to crash his and Diluc’s date night.
Venti hummed to himself, a cheerful tune that made Diluc smile hard enough that Venti had to admonish him and wait for him to relax again.
“Wait- why did you bring up that fact?” Venti pulled the knife away, head tilting.
“Oh, right. I was going to say ‘Don’t think you’re irreplaceable if you’re going to keep hitting me with that knife.’ That’s all.” Diluc settled back against the wall, eyes shut again.
Venti tapped the razor against his cheek again.
Diluc peered at him through half lidded eyes, debating on his next course of action. What would make Venti continue his teasing and was it worth it?
Finally he settled down, thumbs rubbing over Venti’s hip bones.
“Sing for me?”
“Smart move.”
Venti carefully held his jaw again, continuing the shave even as he started to sing softly. He chose a different song this time, leaving the cheerful tone for something slower and heavier. It had been a while since he last sang until Diluc fell asleep, but he never minded indulging his partner when the offer came up.
As expected, Diluc started to relax even further, only waking up properly when Venti stopped singing to get under his chin and neck. Diluc just watched him instead, looking exhausted but adoring.
Venti put down the blade as he finished, swiping off the rest of the shaving cream with a rag. He pushed up on his knees until he was over Diluc and could kiss him softly. He pulled away just enough to knock their heads together, lips curling up as Diluc nuzzled affectionately at his jaw.
“I love you.” Venti murmured against his lips, kissing him again. “Time for bed.”
Still, Venti didn’t move and Diluc didn’t make him.
Going to sleep meant tomorrow would come sooner. Meant they would have to part again. Meant they couldn’t be sitting in silence, in peaceful isolation, holding onto each other without a care in the world.
Morning meant goodbyes, and Venti had never been good at those.
He could see that Diluc was thinking the same thing, the way his eyes glanced away and his brow furrowed. Like he was trying to think of a way to get around their fate to always have a goodbye ready.
Diluc’s past as a warrior was written on his body, but his desperation for a future of being a lover was a story all its own staring back at Venti in his gentle and sad red eyes.
“Time for bed.” Diluc finally whispered back, squeezing Venti’s hips once before he let him go.
Venti took his hand as he climbed off, stepping outside of the shower. He turned back, reaching up to cover Diluc’s eyes before he blasted both of them with wind until they were dry.
Diluc still shook his head like a dog when the wind stopped, murmuring a thanks and fluffing out his hair to make sure it had all dried properly. He took Venti’s hand from his eyes and held onto it as well, ignoring Venti’s snort of fond exasperation and was pulled by both hands into the bedroom.
Venti dropped Diluc’s hands, reaching instead to pull back the blankets.
“You should grab your- Or you can just go to bed naked, I guess that works.” Venti snorted, watching Diluc flop himself down onto the bed and pull himself over to his side by his arms to avoid using his knee.
Why he didn’t do it in any other manner was beyond Venti, but atleast it was fun to watch. He could chalk it up to Diluc being exhausted and let it go.
For now atleast.
“Venti, we’ve slept naked plenty of times.” Diluc pointed out when he was finally on his side. He rolled onto his back to watch him, one hand holding the blanket and threatening to steal all of it.
“Oh hush. Forgive me for wanting to make sure you were comfortable.” Venti grumbled pettily, crawling in before Diluc could hog the blanket.
“You’re forgiven.”
Venti could only roll his eyes, resting on one elbow and frowning at Diluc’s position. He nudged him into laying on his side, away from him, grabbing a spare pillow and pulling the blanket away enough to prop up Diluc’s injured knee.
“I would say we should alternate ice and heat, but you’d kick me out for putting anything cold on you. I suppose this will have to do until morning, we can grab a healer and see what they can do for you. But if they say no walking, that means no walking.” Venti said, taking advantage to poke Diluc in the butt again. It wasn’t as fun as a real touch but it always got a reaction.
Diluc swatted at him, grabbing his hand and dragging him closer. Venti smiled softly down at him, eyes gentle and adoring, and smiled wider when Diluc kissed him.
“You’re impossible to kiss.” Diluc huffed when Venti pulled away because he was smiling too much to kiss properly.
Venti didn’t bother pointing out that Diluc could be just as bad if not worse at times. Instead Venti just grabbed for the blanket and pulled it over both of them, settling behind Diluc.
He paused, making Diluc turn to him in confusion.
For a moment it was silent in the room. No movement, no talking, nothing.
Then two large wings folded out, one laying flat against the bed and the other lowering down to protectively cover over Diluc. Venti tucked the blanket up as far as he could, laying his arm also over Diluc and settled in with closed eyes.
Diluc didn’t even twitch, then slowly he reached out and Venti could feel the gentle and hesitate touch against this feathers. He let Diluc take his time, stroking through them.
It continued, gentle and loving, until a yawn finally broke Diluc’s concentration. He sighed but his hand left the giant wing and instead landed on the arm that Venti had laid over him. Diluc took the hand in his and Venti smiled to himself when he felt the kiss against his palm.
“I love you,” Diluc murmured, “I love you.”
Venti’s chest squeezed even as he felt like he was melting into the mattress. Diluc wasn’t often one to say it, he showed it instead, but it always made Venti want to spend a few hours zooming around on the wind to let out the well of emotions that filled him.
“I know.” Venti pushed out, tightening his grip on Diluc’s hand. “I know. I always know, my love.”
Diluc twisted his head like he was trying to turn around but stopped with a sigh of pain. Instead he just watched Venti for a moment, and then lifted his hand up again and held his lips there.
“Sleep well, my heart.” Diluc whispered against his skin before he turned back and tucked Venti’s hand as close to him as he could, to hold in his sleep.
Venti squeezed his hand in response, pressing his head gently between Diluc’s shoulder blades, and whispered one more confession of love into the silence.