Archive of Our Own

Charles sighed, bearing the temperature of the outside as he walked to Venti's table. It was…odd. Something was clearly wrong with Venti, and Charles could see it in his eyes. But his words were something different. He wouldn't talk to the bartender, aside from what was needed to fulfil his usual order- a bottle of Dandelion Wine.

Charles clinked the bottle down, as well as a drinking glass, and Venti fished out the needed mora for the purchase, sliding it over in a bag.

“Are you okay, Sir Venti?” He asked. Venti's eyes met his own for a split second, maybe less, before darting to the table.

Silence.

Charles sighed, ultimately giving up for the time being. Half of him wanted to leave Venti to his own drunkness, outside. He was paying for his drinks, and there was more than enough room in the tavern for him to slip into the warmth.

But another part of him knows he probably won't. He's just like that.

Charles stepped over the threshold, closing the door behind him, and resuming his place at the bar.

Well, until Diluc approached.

He gave a stern nod to Charles, as he usually does. “You good?”

It's only then did Charles realise he's been staring into space for a few seconds, maybe a minute. Lost in his own thoughts.

Charles shakes his head. “It's Venti.”

Diluc glances at him, and raises an eyebrow. Usually Venti was…okay. Not the best, but considering that Six Fingered Hosē was playing tonight, it must have been serious. How could he have not realised such earlier?

“What seems to be troubling him?” Diluc questions. “”Where is he?”

“He's outside.” Charles says. “He won't say much to me, and he's on his second bottle of wine.

“I'll be right back.” Diluc mumbles. “You'll be okay in here, yes?”

Charles nods. It takes Diluc less than a minute to leave the establishment and find the bard. He sticks out like a sore thumb, especially with the fact that he's the only one sitting at a table, and he's wearing green clothing.

Diluc can't think of another person in the city, no, another bard with the similar colour palette as Venti.

Diluc hums, pulls out a chair and sits down, facing Venti. “Charles tells me you've been out in the cold. Perhaps you'd want to come inside?”

Venti looks at the other, before huffing. “Go away.”

His voice sounds broken, almost forced. But, Diluc is determined.

“Do you want to talk? Why are you out here, Venti? The tavern is warm, and Mondstadt nights are getting colder. You of all people should know how cold it gets during this time of the year. Everybody does.”

The other glances up at the redhead. His eyes seem distant. He seems almost hesitant to answer the question, and he looks scared. Diluc doesn't like it. It sets an unnerving feeling in his stomach, so he can't really fathom how Venti is feeling right now. Internally, at least.

Externally, he looks panicked.

“Memories.” He mumbles. Nothing more, nothing less. Just a single word. Diluc waits patiently for a few seconds, for Venti's breathing to calm down. Diluc is unsure of how the other will react to physical touch, so he doesn't try.

Not for now, at least.

“Memories about…what?” He asked. With Venti being the Anemo Archon, he also has an extensive history. He's lived for over 2000 years, most likely more. He's seen a lot, but Diluc doesn't ask for the details.

“Who.” Venti corrects, matter-of-factly.

“My apologies.” Diluc hums. “Memories about who?”

Venti shakily answers, “Friend. Lost ‘im a while ago.” He mumbles. His words come out slurred, and he doesn't know if it's the wine he's been drinking, or if it's something else. Either way, he almost immediately regrets asking the question. “Can't stop thinking about ‘im.”

And with that, Diluc offers a hand over the table. Venti looks close to crying, and it's clear that he's holding back his emotions to stand strong.

Diluc remembers back to Crepus. Losing him was an immense hit on his mental health. He hurt himself, he travelled to another nation in a rage and hurt others.

Diluc can only wonder if Venti did the same after losing this friend.

It's then that Diluc remembers something that Aether said, in passing. ‘Venti’ is somewhat of a…front for him. Venti the Bard is happy- carefree. Playful, most times. But ‘Barbatos’ is his true self. A wise soul, who is caring- watching from the shadows.

In a way, Diluc sort of sees it. If not for the traveller interrupting Venti in the forest while coming to Mondstadt for the first time, he has no doubt that Venti would have succeeded in winning back his friend's trust, and purified him. Maybe, if that happened…

Diluc would still only see Venti as a normal bard. He pushes away that thought for the time being, as it served no purpose at the current time.

Then, Diluc makes a mistake.

“Would you like to talk about your friend?” He asks.

Venti says not another word, choosing to clutch his fists together, hands still on the table. He's shaking- not enough to shake the table, but enough for Diluc to be concerned.

“We don't have to talk about him, if that's what you want“ he corrects himself. It takes Venti a few moments to calm himself down, calm the shaking down. Calm his breathing.

Diluc glances at the other. He thinks, he searches his mind for any semblance of “home” that the bard might have. He's always taken himself home, no matter his state of being after a night of hard wine and lyre-playing. It's always sat…odd with Diluc, but whenever Venti's in the tavern, a ground is sure to follow. Some nights, if not all- the crowd is too busy ordering drinks.

Sometimes, he and Charles are sometimes not enough. It's not like he could leave his one bartender to fend for himself to go chase up Venti.

But, gods above- he wished he did.

“Venti, do you have anywhere to sleep tonight?”

Venti nods, drinking out of the wine bottle, gulping the rest of it down. “Mhm.”

Diluc nods in return, acknowledging the other's response. Somehow, he doubts the response. He's never once seen Venti go home. He's never seen him go into his home, or out. He's mentioned a home, somewhere in the city, but somehow, he doubts that.

“Is it somewhere warm?”

Venti is silent. Too long for the red-head’s liking. His face is unmoving. He probably looks intimidating to the other, and if it was anyone else in Venti's place, he'd no doubt have scared them off by now.

But, he knows that Venti understood that he meant well.

After a long period of silence, with nothing but the cold air to accompany them, Venti nods.

“Windrise.” He hums, trying to sound cheerful.

“Windrise?” Diluc questions. He's not buying that Venti's happy right now. Venti is skilled in lying, despite said lies not being malicious in any way.

He nods again, humming. “Tree.”

Diluc raises an eyebrow. “The Windrise tree? As in…the place where Lady Vanessa ascended to Celestia?”

Venti nodded. "It heals me. Safe.”

“Perhaps you'd like to come back to my winery, Venti?” he offered. He didn't like the idea of leaving Venti alone, to sleep on a tree. That would just be cold, and uncomfortable, most likely.

Venti dwells on this question for a good while. He seems to be thinking, maybe even weighing out his options, thinking of a way to lie to the other- but, he must not be able to lie to the flame-haired man. So, he nods, leaving the now empty bottle of wine on the table.

Venti stands next to Diluc's side, taking in his Pyro vision's warmth. It's a tingly warmth, one that makes Venti fall slightly more into that stupid headspace of his. He hates it, and no matter what, he can't seem to get rid of it.

Venti is silent while Diluc talks to Charles inside. The words sound muffled, but he can't tell if it's him just being half drunk, or his brain just…filling with fuzziness.

He hates his headspace. It makes him feel stupid- there's not really any way to describe it. He can't get rid of it, no matter what. Ignoring it only makes him slip harder when he eventually does so, but still.

He just wants to curl up in a ball and die. Maybe he'd see his bard friend, too? He missed him a lot.

He's snapped out of his thoughts and quickly 'disturbed' by a warmth on his shoulders. A coat. It's not Diluc's coat- as he confirms by looking up, and seeing Diluc with his usual attire, but it looks similar.

“It's going to get colder tonight.” Diluc hums, closing the tavern’s door, releasing a small click. “It's one of my spare ones. I can't imagine you're very warm in your normal outfit.

“Alcohol will keep me warm.” He huffs. “Always does.” Why is he being so talkative with Diluc? Why do words feel dead in his mouth one minute, and the next, he feels like he can talk his tongue off?

Diluc and Venti cross the bridge, disturbing the pidgins as they fly off into the night sky. Venti can't help but stop, and just…observe.

Himmel would have liked current Mondstadt. Venti thinks that much, at least.

༄

Diluc opened the door for the winery, him and Venti coming inside rather quickly, to avoid the cold and unsettling winds outside. Both were met with a warmth in the air, neither of which complained about. It was a welcome feeling. The other walks to the side of the door, hanging up his coat on a hook near the door, removing his shoes, going off to temporarily speak to the head maid, Adelinde.

Venti had the extreme pleasure of running into her a few times before, striking a pleasant conversation in the city each time. Not enough to consider them “friends” per-se, just aware of each other's existence in Mondstadt.

Placing his foot on a small stool nearby, he fiddles with the buckles of his shoes. Usually he was an expert with his shoes- being able to undo and redo them with ease. It is something he doesn't usually think about. He can't seem to undo them today.

With a hardly audible huff, he sinks to the floor, continuing to try and undo the buckles.

Adelinde appears beside him, crouching down. At first Venti seems to be hesitant to look at the other, but she waits patiently for the other to look.

“Do you need help with your shoes, dear?” She questions- eliciting a short nod from the other. She hums, unbuckling his shoes with ease, placing them next to Diluc's own. She even helps Venti get up, and off the floor! Her hands are smooth, and a part of him sinks more into that headspace of his.

Without really thinking, Venti toddled over to Diluc, holding onto his coat, and hiding from the maid, almost like a scared toddler would do. Because that's all he is right now.

Scared and small. Not that Diluc knows.

Adelinde gives him a wave, and a small coo, but all Venti does for her in return is give a huff, hiding more into Diluc's coat, before going off to do god knows what.

He sighs in relief, still grasping the other's coat, shortly before he turns, and bends down, on one knee. Venti’s short, yes- but right now, he knows that looking down on him may cause him to feel intimidated- something he doesn’t want the other to feel.

“Venti,” the man starts, pausing. He doesn't particularly know how to word this, but he fumbles around for appropriate and relevant words, before sighing and picking up where he left off. “Are you okay?”

Venti shrugs, just…holding onto the other. Diluc's never been that good with comfort in his eyes, but according to the other people he cared for, he was good. Flawless, even.

“Scar'd…” he mentioned, slightly messing up his words.

Diluc begins to rub the others back, fully sitting on the floor at this point, as Venti curls into his lap, rocking himself, most likely to self soothe.

“Perhaps I can help? What's making you feel scared?”

Taking a deep breath, Venti holds back a sniffle, most likely trying not to cry. It's like he just…denies his own emotions, which is not healthy at all. “Mind….fuzzy, Luc.” he manages to spill out.

Diluc pauses. He thinks, once again searching for the right words. Did Venti age regress? Did he slip outside the tavern? Does he not allow himself to slip? Questions rushed through Diluc's head, and those questions left him with answers that wouldn't be given tonight.

Pushing through his own rushing brain, Diluc stands up, letting Venti rest on his hip temporarily as he moves him to the main table, seating him down.

“Adelinde?” Diluc asked, as the maid turned around. “Can I request two bowls of goulash, please?”

She nods, heels clicking as she heads into the kitchen. Despite it being very late- nearing 11pm. Usually he’d be getting out of the winery right now, having Charles close with him. He just hopes the drunk patrons didn’t cause Charles too much trouble regarding closing.

Turning back to the matter at hand, Diluc is shocked to see a small dove in Venti's hand. It's clearly a plush toy, judging by the stitches and matted fur of the animal. (Also, the fact that it wasn't making any noise, or flying randomly around the room was a pretty good indicator that it wasn't real, too.)

Diluc smiles, chuckling a bit. “A stuffie? Who's your friend, hm?”

Venti glanced at him, before sniffling around in his chair, showing Diluc the tag. Etched on said tag was a single name. Himmel.

Diluc nods, patting Himmel's small head (much to Venti's pout), before taking note of the small tear in the toy’s wing.

“Your friend.” Diluc points out. “He's got a tear on his wing.”

Venti whines, tugging him away from Diluc’s line of sight, going back to just…holding the stuffed friend in his hand.. It clearly held great sentimental value to him. He wouldn't ask why, as it wasn't his particular business, but he still wanted to help save his new friend from further ‘injury.’

Luckily, he'd fixed stuffed animals before. Too many, to the point where he's lost count.

“Do you want me to fix him up for you?” Diluc offers. “I'm sure Himmel would appreciate it.”

Venti glanced at Diluc, as if he's just committed a heinous crime, before huffing, glancing at the table and using a few nearby items to force the stuffed animal to sit in an upright position.

“I'm really good at fixing stuffed animals, Ven. How about…after we eat? I'll promise you, he'll be very safe.”

He eventually nodded. “s’ special.” He warns. “Gotta promise to’ be very careful.”

Adelinde smiles at the two as she places two bowls of food in front of them with a clink. Two bowls of goulash, warm and ready to be eaten, as well as two spoons, one in each bowl. She went, presumably going off to do alternative stuff within the manor. Even if he was told what she was going off to do, in great detail, Venti doubted his ability to listen at the moment.

No, he was much too small for that- whether he liked it or not.

Diluc nods. “I promise I'll be very careful with your friend.”

Venti smiles, and the two begin eating. Diluc has always been concerned with the other's food situation. He knows that Venti is an archon, and Venti told him a while ago that archons can't really starve, but they still eat, despite not needing to.

Diluc's also not seen Venti each much besides apples. The tavern has food that people can order. Despite it being simple food, Venti has only offered once and it was for a friend.

So, he was glad that Venti was eating something other than apples, even if it was just a simple bowl of Goulash.

It was actually his father's recipe, written about a year or two after his passing. The meat was tender, and melted in your mouth, and the carrots were soft and flavorful. The soup itself was just warm tomato soup, but it was still comforting towards Diluc.

The two eventually finished eating, Venti a bit more happy. He glanced at Diluc holding up the stuffie in the palm of his hand.

“Fix?” He asked.

Diluc nodded. “May I have him?” He questioned. He'd need the bird to fix him, but it seems that Venti doesn't want to part with Himmel. Not yet, anyways. He seems intent on having his friend patched up. “My apologies.” He smiles. “We'll go to my room and I'll get some supplies out. Then, we can talk about how you're feeling?”

Venti nods, walking behind Diluc. He nuzzles into the fur that lines the top of the coat, cooing, much to Diluc's amusement. It's an old coat, one that he accidentally left at the winery during the summer and told Charles that he ‘would bring it home later’.

Of course, he never did. But, this worked out in his favour. Diluc gestures for Venti to sit on the bed, and he doesn't, instead he chooses to sit next to Diluc, bringing up another chair to an already small desk in the corner of the room.

He offers a hand out, and oddly enough, Venti puts his hand in Diluc's own.

“The stuffie, Ven.” Diluc chuckles. “We can cuddle later if you want. First I've got to fix your friend, hm?”

Venti blushes a shade of red, almost similar to the shade of Goulash they've just had, before handing him slowly to the other.

He warns again, as if the last warning wasn't proof that he cared deeply for his friend. “Careful.” He hums. “Don’ hurt him more.”

“I wouldn't, don't worry.” He reassured, beginning to sew. Venti watches, swaying himself while he watches Diluc's every move. The minutes seem to tick on, and despite how efficient Diluc was working, he felt like he was being slow.

Diluc eventually chirped up, halfway done. “Are you okay, Venti?”

Venti, in response to this, cocks his head to the side, clearly confused. He wasn't okay, he'd been fighting a losing battle regarding his stupid mindset. Himmel was his only source of comfort, so it was pretty hard to deal with ‘losing’ him, despite him being in his sight for the past twenty minutes.

“M’ ok.” The bard responds. His voice is small, curled up in his own throat.

After a few seconds, Diluc finally asks another question.

“Do you know what age regression is?”

Venti glanced at the other, again. He's trying not to show emotion, but clearly he's failing, if a hand rubbing at his back is anything to go by. His emotions are very hard to hide once he's slipped fully, brain fuzzed over.

Which, he is now, he supposes.

“Don't worry.” Diluc hums, finishing up the last few stitches. “I take care of a few other regressors in Mondstadt, kiddo.”

Venti gasps softly, taking the patched up dove in his arms. “Y’do?” He asks, observing the bird’s new stitch. He's been patched up with white thread, so it's like he was never hurt! If he squints, he can still see said thread, though.

Diluc nods, chuckling. “You regress, then?”

Venti nods, a bit hesitant. He shouldn't really be giving away all his troubles and issues to the people of his nation. But, Diluc was different. He was asking, which made it okay. That's what made sense in his mind, anyways.

“Ah, alright. Do you have any gear?”

“Gear?” He responds, extremely confused. “Like…climbin’ gear?”

He's heard of some Dragonspine climbers using various pieces of gear to get to high places in the mountain, so he doesn't know why Diluc is asking if he has climbing gear, when it doesn't matter at all in this situation.

Judging by the relaxed smile Diluc's giving him, he was wrong.

“No, no.’ he chuckles. “Not climbing gear, silly.”

“Oh.” Venti lets out a huff. “Sorry.”

“It's quite alright. I mean like, regression gear. Perhaps you have some?”

He's read about this before. People using aids to help slip into the headspace. He had Himmel! So, in response to Diluc's question, he held up the stuffie, nestled gently in the palms of his hand, cooing a bit.

This was all he needed! Plus, Himmel was all he had regarding ‘gear’ for his stupid headspace. Despite being one to despise his headspace, Diluc made him feel…nice- protected, too!

“Anything else you have? Blankies, maybe? More stuffed friends like Himmel here?” He asked, gesturing to the bird.

Venti shakes his head in response. He's been hesitant to commission any gear, or buy anything vaguely kid-like. He'd been keeping an eye on the various stores around Mondstadt for anything that would catch his eyes. But he usually persuaded himself otherwise, stalled himself.

Told himself that he didn't need to act this way, or he'd ‘come back later’. Of course, he never did return.

“Do you want gear, kiddo? As I mentioned before, I take care of a few regressors here, and I have spare gear, if you'd be interested?”

Venti shrugs, but despite that, he's still curious.

So he nods.

Diluc smiles, gesturing him to the bed, but Venti reaches up instead, which the other cooed at, picking him up from his armpits. Venti cooes, nuzzling Diluc's cheek for a few moments. It was something he did to his…friend back in Old Mondstadt. It was much easier when he was much smaller, but it was generally very nice sensory-wise for him, so it helped!

Diluc hummed, placing him on the bed after a moment, and he watched as he pulled out a box from under said bed, and fished out a few items.

He holds one up. “Do you want it?”

Venti is unsure of what it is, slipping his own thumb into his mouth. He doesn't suck on it, he chooses to just…bite on his nail instead..

Diluc tuts. He's not mad, just worried. He's not really meant to be doing that, but his brain is too foggy to really think coherently right now.

“Ah,” Diluc hums. “This would be much better than your thumb, no?”

“I’on know wha’ it is.” he huffs, still having his thumb in his mouth. He was never an actual toddler, he just has the headspace of one. He doesn't really know what mortal babies do, so everything has been just trial and error. Find what makes his headspace more bearable, and wait for the feeling of numbingness to go away, before he can go to the tavern and drink his traumatised mind away.

He forgets his past, even for a few hours.

Maybe he's been using alcohol in an unhealthy way, after all.

He should probably change that.

“It's a pacifier.” Diluc explains. “See the rubber?” he begins, pointing at it. Venti nods in response. “You suck on it. It's for babies, and it's generally a comfort item for most of my regressors. They all have their own, so this is just a spare I have, yes?”

He nods again, taking the item, and slipping it into his mouth. He cooed, letting it bob in his mouth. Clearly he was happy. Venti wipes his drool-covered thumb on his shorts, cooing again.

“You like it, I take it?” Diluc smiles. Venti nods.

“I think it's time for someone's bedtime, anyways. Are you comfortable with warm milk?”

He nods. With cheese, it's always just the texture that makes him gag. He's okay with milk, although he's never had it warm…

Diluc nods, grabbing a plastic bottle from the box, setting it on the desk temporarily as he moves to the closet, shifting through his own clothes. “You want some jammies, baby boy?”

Venti nods.

Diluc eventually found something perfect for him, and ironic, really. A footie, made to look like Dvalin. It had everything! The two sets of wings, even the tail! He placed it to the other, smiling.

“I got it commissioned for one of my other kiddos. He has big sensory issues when small, and he really didn't like the texture. Do you like it?”

Venti touched it, running his fingers through the clothing, and nodding.

“That's good, good. It's yours now, if you want to keep it. As long with the other gear I'll give you. Sounds good?” he chuckled.

Venti nodded, going off to the bathroom to get undressed, onesie dragging on the floor as he walked. Diluc sighed, going off to fill his bottle.

Diluc knows how much Venti doesn't sleep. He's been informed that archons only need to sleep once a month, opposed to a human’s every day need for sleep and rest. He doesn't know how archons work, but he'd rather not know.

There have been multiple occasions, where the tiredness has been evident in Venti's eyes. The dark bags under his eyes, the nights that he's seen Venti just…wandering the streets as he patrolled at the dead of night.

Diluc should have known better. Should have seen the signs that he didn't have a home. Followed his gut feeling.

But, he shouldn't dwell on the past. He knows that dwelling on the past can hurt.

Filling up the bottle with warm milk, he clicks the lid back on, heading back upstairs. The winery is quiet, with Adelinde most likely having retreated into her quarters to sleep. It is rather late, after all.

Opening the door, Venti glanced at Diluc, waving at him. Diluc chuckled, scooping him up. “How's my little dragon doing?”

Venti giggled, genuinely giggled, before playfully snarling at the other. Diluc's heart melted, and he couldn't help but playfully snarl back. The wings of the onesie remained on the bed- which Diluc was fine with.

He commissioned the outfit to have a removable tail and wings, after all.

Diluc hums, moving the two of them to a small rocking chair in the corner of the room. His other kiddos always cuddle up with him (or eachother) for naps, so maybe Venti would like it, too? The chair is leather, and there's a blanket nearby, draped over the back of it.

“Can you feed yourself? Or are you too small?”

Venti shrugs, curling up to Diluc's chest. “Too much.”

“Is everything too much? Did I do something wrong? I'm sorry.”

With a huff, Venti taps his own forehead. “Mentally.”

Diluc nods, understanding. “You're small, now, yes?”

“Too small.” The bard responds. “Sorry.”

Diluc hums, just holding the other, rocking him a bit. Maybe this would help?

He notices Venti grow quiet, but not asleep. He's probably trying to fight sleep himself, which isn't good, despite Venti needing to only sleep once every month. The other hums, wrapping the blanket around the other, holding the bottle for him.

“Open, baby. I’ll help feed you. Then it's naptime, yeah?” He paused, yawning himself. “For me too, goodness. I'm sleepy.” He chuckled to himself.

Venti opened his mouth, and Diluc held the bottle to him, with Venti latching on a few moments later. He hummed, just rocking as he did this, and it was clearly effective.

After a while, Venti eventually dozed off, bottle empty. Diluc didn't dare to move, as he just held the other, only slipping the pacifier back into the other's mouth and humming in content.

༄

When Venti awoke, he was met with a terrible migrane. His head felt like a flame had been lit inside, and he was unable to quell the flames. He felt like he was dying, and if not for the fact that he was an archon, he might have believed he was dying.

But on the contrary, he didn't have a nightmare last night. No roaring tyrants, no watching people die, unable to help due to being held back by an unknown force like he usually experienced.

Nothing.

Which is good in his books- perhaps regression was the guaranteed key to help keep his nightmares at bay?

He had no idea, and last night was fuzzy. He remembered bits and pieces. Diluc informing him about regression, fixing Himmel, feeding him, making him feel so…small. So…comfortable. [Not that he is complaining, mind you.]

Maybe he should have tried to regress in a positive way ages ago? It felt odd to admit, but it made him feel safe- something he never really felt before.

He sits up, shifting. The chair he’s been sleeping in moves as he does, and he can only place his head back down. The voice in the room tries to speak to him, presumably a maid. She steps out for a few seconds, leaving Venti to remove his pacifier, and unclip it from his shirt. Nothing fancy, but still very comforting. He’s not small, so he chooses to put it on a small table nearby, covering his head with blankets.

This hangover is considerably worse than the last.

The door cracks open, and he looks up, expecting a mop of red hair to greet him, but judging by the massive shape on the bed nearby, Diluc isn’t up yet.

Must be early.

Venti rubs his eye [and gets a coo from the maid in response] before he realises who it is. Adelinde. The head maid.

He hears a soft clink on the table next to him, and it’s a plate. He stretches, mumbling a quick “G'morning’” to her. His words feel crappy, but he doesn’t care- he doesn’t feel like a toddler anymore.

“Good morning, Sir Venti-” she tries to speak, but Venti cuts her off.

He scratches at his eye, still trying to fully wake up. “Just Venti is fine.”

She nods, hands folded in front of her dress, still trying to be respectful to the other. “Ah, well. In any case, DIluc told me that you were drinking last night, shortly after you’d dozed off.”

He nods. “I need to stop drinking.”

Odds are, he won't do such things. Odds are, he’ll be back at the tavern tonight, probably. Being the Anemo Archon, he can probably use his soft words on Diluc, win him over for the night, and drink until he passes out.

Not the most healthy way to cope, but hey- it’s something that works.

She nods. “Lord Kaeya tends to consume a lot, and he usually has some juice and crackers in the morning. Medication, too, obviously.”

It’s just now that Venti’s able to look at the contents of the plate, and then some. The plate is sitting on a tray, with crackers and a glass of water nearby, as well as a few pills, presumably pain medication.

By the gods, Adelinde was an angel.

It took a while, but Venti eventually finished the meal, cleaning half the crackers from the plate, washing it all down with some water and some medication. Although it didn't work straight away, he didn't really expect it to.

“Thank you.” He hums, yawning a bit.

“Feel free to go back to sleep.” Adelinde hummed, a smile tugging at her lips.

Venti shrugged. He didn't really know if he could, but lying down was an option, right? Doing so, he flicked his wings from his back, not caring to look at the other's reaction as he did so. Goodness, he needed to preen them soon.

Quietly, his wings flutter, as he shifts them around his form, almost like a blanket. Venti really missed Morax.

“You're Barbatos…” she hummed.

Venti nods awkwardly. “Sorry.”

She chuckles, rubbing his back in order to attempt and provide some sort of comfort. “Nonsense. You have no reason to apologise.”

Venti huffs, raising an eyebrow at the other. “I'm a bad archon. Compared to Inazuma, I'm not active in the nation at all.” He huffs. “At least, not in my Archon form.”

“But you are still there.” She hums. “Archon or not, you're still a helpful soul. You're selfless, Venti. Probably too selfless for your own good, if I may say so.”

He nods- he agrees. He is too selfless for his own good. He's more concerned about the feelings of those around him, and less concerned about his own. Too many thoughts rush through his own head, instances of him putting his own needs away, and prioritising those around him, neglecting his own health.

He can't pinpoint the last time he was actually happy. With the death of Morax, he can't really go over to Liyue anymore and spend the whole day reminding and teasing the Geo Archon about how ‘old’ he is, or set whole days away from their own nations to reminisce about the old days. With Makato, and the other archons.

The original archons. The original Seven. After everything was done and settled, it was just him and Morax.

Now it was just him.

And Venti's never felt more alone before- so scared in his life. He's fought wars, but even after the dust has settled, he's had someone to confide within.

Now? He's alone.

Bottling up his own feelings, Venti just decided to lay his head down, migraine still evident. He feels like his head's going to explode any second, and soon enough, he feels a familiar feeling in his hand.

Himmel.

“Oh, your friend’s come to nap too?” The woman smiled. Venti can't help but smile too, despite knowing that she placed him there, but he can't help but rub himself against the plush. It's comforting for him- after all, he was a wind spirit at heart, no matter what form he took on in modern times.

“I'm gonna sleep.” Venti yawns, stretching his wings temporarily, before folding them back to his sides. Adelinde nods, tucking the blanket around him. Despite the wings being rather…big, she makes it work.

Venti curls back up, securely holding Himmel in his clutches, happy that he was safe.