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It had only been a month since Venti had stepped away to take time at Albedo’s to recover. The mountain air was nice, though his place was far from the city and it was a little trying to get the other vampire to tear himself away from his artwork and do simple things like go shopping and get soap for the shower.
Doctor Baizhu strayed long enough to show him how to use a new device he had set up as well as give him what the clever man had called ‘implants’. They weren’t ‘teeth’, Baizhu wasn’t a dentist by trade, but they were made of plastic and metal and fit into his mouth snuggly enough for him to wear temporarily when he had to go out to feed.
Venti debated for a while if he should let the loss of his fangs be the end of his life, but if there were people fighting to help keep him alive, then his life was worth protecting. That was reason enough.
Xiao had, almost presently, been texting him. It was strange of the visionary to be doing so and Venti ignored the first few when they weren’t important. Xiao only texted him when he needed his help in the past, dealing with some rogue vampire that had gone above and beyond what was needed for one to stay alive. Venti had considered some of those lives he had taken with the once-upon-a-time hunter as worth saving, but there had never been a chance.
Xiao would have killed them with or without Venti’s help, and it was better if it was over quickly.
After the second day of his notifications going off, Venti decided to read them.
Yesterday
[Have you decided to work with them? They said you were. You’re too weak right now. Don’t overdo it.]
[I didn’t mean to sound like I was ordering you around. I know Diluc hurt you. You didn’t really talk about it with me. I know there wasn’t really a reason to. You just didn’t look well. Let me handle things. I said I would help, so relax for a while.]
[Hey… these injuries. I know they’re permanent. Are you going to heal or are your burns going to stay? If you need help you can call me. And don’t take that the wrong way, alright vampire?]
Today
[Vampires care about birthdays, huh? Is that a normal thing?]
[You don’t have to answer if you’re not feeling well. It was just a question. You’re old, right? It’s not like you’ll have forgotten yours though. Stupid question, really, but when is it? You don’t have to tell me personal stuff like what year you were born or anything.]
And that was where the messages ended. Venti tipped his head at them with curiosity, as if they’d come out of the phone and bite him for staring at them with such an odd expression. Had Xiao really started taking an interest in vampires to the extent he was asking for his birthday?
And it sounded like he cared too.
Venti texted back. It had been so long since he thought about when he was born. The day of the year passed by him almost unnoticed now unless he happened to catch sight of it on a calendar or his phone, and only then did a fleeting thought of his family pass through his mind.
[June 16, but I’m really not all that fond of it. I wasn’t that close with my family.]
Venti didn’t feel like adding on the fact that he didn’t have many friends. Those that knew him only did so because they were acquainted with him due to his activities stopping other vampires or over-enthusiastic humans. Albedo was only here and helping him because he had helped him in turn. It wasn’t any true friendship.
Venti lowered the phone, thinking about it. Kazuha had probably been the only one who reached out to him, even when there was nothing he could do to provide assistance. Venti had stayed, to try, but they had had a rather long conversation after first running into Heizou. It had felt like a lost cause then, a risk of their own lives that Venti hadn’t been sure he’d been willing to take.
Kazuha had urged him to leave, to protect himself and Kaeya, and that had been what cemented his decision in staying. The human had wanted him safe, and as much as he thought of Kazuha as ‘the human’ and ‘the one who was so lovestruck over this vampire that he was willing to watch the world burn to save him’, Venti couldn’t help admiring the life and fire in his eyes that the man held. If he only held a small part of it, Venti wanted in on that too. He’d always wanted to protect others, to live his life for his friends and someone he loved.
Kazuha became such a dear friend. It was hard not to miss him.
[I hate my family too. Just say you hate them if that’s what you mean. Thanks for telling me the date. I’m not sure if you wanted to or not. Texting sucks. I can’t hear tones. By the way, mine is April 17. It only felt fair to tell you.]
Venti smiled and shrugged as if he were on a video call before putting the phone aside. Smart phones were never his thing and Xiao was right, texting didn’t give a conversation any justice. He had to wonder if the visionary was in any kind of rush that hitting the call button to ask him over the line was too difficult. Or maybe he hadn’t wanted to speak to him.
Those were all questions that he couldn’t ask so there was no use thinking about them. Going outside and letting the nearly frigid air prick away at his skin as he breathed in the cool afternoon winds, Venti relaxed in one of the chairs Albedo had on his patio for when he would paint the landscapes outside.
Suburbia was nice but out here, in the country, Venti truly found himself.
…
Winter came and went. After a couple months and a few conversations that had all the vampires at their wits end with the complications that Kazuha was setting up, most of the details on it relying on Heizou but the rest of it demanding all of their numbers and attention for no less than a few hours a day for a week straight while they were ironing out the details with people from all over the world – and Venti was exhausted.
It wasn’t until late spring that he found some time to sneak away from his lodgings with Kaeya’s help, his… friend a little less than thrilled to be back by his side.
“Things with Diluc didn’t work out?”
“They did, in a way. They didn’t in many others. He just won’t listen to me. The few things he keeps demanding I can’t do so there’s no point in trying to argue with him any more on the matter… He’s back at home now, and I heard he has a few more young ones with him. We have to be careful. I let Kazuha know.”
“Thank you.” Venti felt some of his enthusiasm fade. If he was unwanted here, he’d rather be alone. There didn’t appear to be a place for him. He had only intended to save Kaeya, not make him feel indebted to him in any way. “By the way, what are your plans for the future now that you’ve decided on letting him be?”
“Hmm, good question.” Kaeya considered. “Kazuha’s joint operation is more of a side thing for me, just as your ‘save the world’ thing is. It’s not my goal to play the hero unless I just happen to be in the right place at the right time for someone who needs me. Endangering myself for strangers I have to seek out is just a folly I don’t want to entertain so… I guess my plans are to just go back to living for a while. I can manage at least another ten years, maybe even twenty, of human life before I have to start faking IDs and other documents like all of you.”
“Sounds like a good idea.” Venti was happy for him. It was nice to spend what time he could manage as a human, living that way. Albedo was an exception in that he had a home far in the middle of nowhere with a mysterious woman Venti had yet to meet who forged papers for him. Whoever it was was good. Albedo was both his father and his grandfather on those documents and he had no neighbors to tell the difference.
Venti’s own forgery papers were done by the good doctor now, though he wasn’t as talented in the field. Fooling the government was getting harder and harder by the day. Soon, maybe sooner than anyone was ready for, vampires were going to start being exposed for what they were.
It would be a bit amusing if it was because of a paper trail and not the whole stake and fire gambit.
“Where am I taking you?”
Good question. There was only one place Venti could think where no one would care that he was staying over for an undetermined amount of time, was outside the city, and he could get himself something to drink.
“Itto’s, please. Let me call and get the directions.”
…
“Hahah! I love this little guy! I can’t believe I lost another drinking contest to you! Damn! Well, music man, next time I’ll win for sure! We’ll place bets on it!”
“Sure thing!” Venti winked, feeling far more drunk then he remembered being while still conscious. It felt great, letting all of his worries over the last… how old was he? Too old. Too long. He had too many worries. This was great. “I love this place.”
“Settle down.” Xiao was there, arms around him to keep him from falling back and striking his head against the wall of the kitchen. Venti laughed, feeling himself slip out of the visionary’s hold, his arms hooked underneath his own instead.
“Venti! How drunk are you?! Do I look like I want to be babysitting a vampire all day?”
“Do I look like I want you to babysit me?” Venti growled back. He was getting so tired of all of this, and Xiao was such a huge point of hostility in his life. “Thank you, I’m glad I’m fulling, but leemi go.” Venti struggled a little but, even with his strength as a vampire, Xiao had a better hold on him and was just… stronger. Maybe the alcohol had something to do with it too.
Knocking his legs out from under him, Xiao brought them both to the floor. “Here. Just don’t hurt yourself or the others. Lay down and wait for the shit to get out of your body. Itto, you dumb ass, you sit down too.”
“Hahah! Sure thing, little dude! Was already planning on it!” Itto slammed himself into a chair and it rocked back and forth before all four legs were back on the ground.
Xiao’s golden eyes ripped through the excitement like cold water, glaring at all five of those that had been drinking. Only Itto and he had been in the drinking contest with each other. There were a lot of empty beer cans.
Kneeling down, Xiao placed a hand on his shoulder hard enough Venti knew he’d have a struggle on his hands to get up. “Everyone and start winding down now. I hate being the adult here but stop getting yourself wasted. I don’t care if no one is here to care, think about your health and each other. Drinking until you’re vomiting means you’ve gone too far.”
“Ah, don’t mention throwing up,” Akira spoke from near the sink.
“Vomiting, throwing up, emptying your stomach. If I can’t even say those words you’ve have too fucking much, you bunch of children.”
Venti heard the gangster lose it, glad the sink was there. He felt his own stomach roll at the nearby sounds and had to place a hand to his mouth. Only a few seconds being in the same room with his heightened sense of smell and the acidic stink had Venti clearing his throat and choking back his lunch. “Xiao, please stop.”
“Going to be sick? It would serve you right, vampire. You may not be able to do damage to your body but they can. Think about that next time you encourage this.”
“Everyone is just having a bit of fun. That’s all it is. Don’t spoil it.”
“Spoil it? I’m being the reasonable one here. If everyone had stopped drinking an hour ago, they wo–”
“Yo, hey! I’m sorry to do this to you, little guy, but you really have to shut up!” Itto stood, towering over the both of them. “I don’t know if I have the right words for you and I know that, even if I do, I’m likely to say it totally wrong, but you’re not helping here. I get it, you’re worried about us, right? You’re showing it in all the wrong way though, my dude. You’re just pushing us away and building walls here instead of bridges. Do’s and don'ts? You’re right, you ain’t my mom or dad. You’re my buddy. Hang out and drink with me and you know what you do when that happens?” Itto added with a loud chuckle, waving an arm around. “You tell us we fucked up and then laugh at us. We can take it and we’ll understand. Here, just look at what you’re doin’, my man. You’re literally, pushing us down.”
Xiao met his eyes before letting him go. Venti was grateful. The position was uncomfortable and, with his upset stomach, he had wanted to sit up and hadn’t had the opportunity to say so.
“Yo, you okay, little partner?” Itto got between them. His feet were more of what was in the way than his body, since he couldn’t knock Xiao aside without physically doing so or pushing him to the ground, and Venti was still sitting. His hand was heavy on his head and it was a nice feeling. Itto had quickly become another cherished friend in such a short time.
“I’m will, thank you for your concern. He wasn’t going to hurt me and I understand his rather heavier handed tactics when it comes to expressing his…” His what? Was Xiao worried too? Venti wasn’t sure and his mind was swimming. If not for Itto’s hand on his head he was sure he’d be swaying along with the room. “I need to go lay down.”
Itto released him. The way his own gaze glazed over showed a similar effect of the drinks on his body as he stared at the others in the room. “Yeah, me too, I think. Yo! Everyone else! Keep this party going all night if you want but the big man is stepping out! I’ll catch you all when the sun rises! If it’s ready, I’ll catch you whenever the heck I wake!” With a final chuckle Itto walked out of the room.
The energy had dulled. He’d been drinking for a few hours and they'd been sharing stories. He had more than he thought about his life. There wasn’t much to share but there had been times where he had lived as everyone had. He wasn’t as reclusive as others believed, it wasn't in his nature, no matter how badly he’d been treated in the past.
Xiao offered his hand. “I can help you to your room, if you want. You’re pretty drunk.”
Venti smiled. It was nice, just watching him change. Xiao had never been like this before. If anyone, a year ago, had made a bet with him that the visionary would alter his view on vampires to such a degree that he’d be living with one, offering him his help, Venti would have bet all his had against it. Xiao wasn’t cruel, but he wasn’t a kind man to vampires… which had been a sad thing. With this change… Venti wasn’t sure. He was worried. It added a few layers to their relationship. He loved the kind acts but he also feared the weakness it would provide other vampires to strike against him if they ever had the heart for such things.
“Thank you…” Taking his hands and with both heavy and light thoughts on his mind, the balancing scales never quite equal and always pitter-pattering in motion, he got up and went to his room.
If only the drinks could erase all the bad things in his life, all the memories, and not have the worst of them surfacing once he was alone and night fell.
..
It was funny now natural fitting in and living with those at Itto’s place became. Shinobu came over to visit and spoke to him and Xiao about Kazuha’s little venture, but the most he was actively participating in it was talking to a few young vampires on the phone now and then. It was easy, telling them what to do and how to act. Mostly they just needed to be calmed down and given confidence.
Itto didn’t live there so much as he visited as well, maybe showing up once a week. Sometimes he stayed for a few days, a week here and there, but that was it. The other members of his gang were fixtures of the place, Venti being told that the home was Itto’s grandmother’s and not the man’s. It was a sanctuary for the others, who were all there because they couldn’t return to their own homes for one reason or another.
They were just like him.
Xiao was the… attack dog? Of the place. And when Venti meant ‘of the place’ that didn’t include the people in it. He constantly complained the music was too loud, the dishes weren’t clean, the wash wasn’t done, or that they were drinking too much, eating too much. Anything
There were complaints about everything.
It was like having an annoying roommate from hell. But at the same time, Venti also learned a few things. Xiao… played music. He had a flute he stashed away in his bag that he’d never seen him play at Kazuha’s, that he only pulled out when the others had the music too loud. He’d go out back and practice on it. He was pretty good too.
One day Xiao came up to him and folded his arms, leaning against the wall in the room Venti had been staying in, those golden eyes set and his fingers tapping his arm.
Venti had a few plants he’d purchased, the house great for growing and the windows large. He was watering them and made the man wait until he was done before he turned to him with a light sigh and a smile. “Yes? Did you want something?”
“I thought you said vampires cared about their birthdays.”
Venti let out a breath. Was it his birthday? He hadn’t kept track of time at all while he’d been here, more than briefly seeing words and numbers on his phone screen that meant nothing to him. A flicker of a thought burned to life in his mind. “Oh, I’m sorry. Wasn’t your birthday before mine? You didn’t say anything.”
“I left for it, so there was nothing to say. I didn’t want you there or I would have. Don’t take it as an insult. I like to be alone for my birthdays and you’re no exception. Just because I act friendly towards you doesn’t change that, so don’t get any ideas. Vampire or human in that aspect doesn’t matter to me. I wouldn’t want a cat for company, much less something that can talk back.”
Venti had to chuckle at his wording, though it was a little sad that Xiao was so young and wanted to isolate himself on the day. Maybe it was better than his own actions of forgetting the day entirely. At least Xiao acknowledged it. “There’s nothing wrong with not celebrating today for me. You can treat it like any other day. I only told you the date because you asked. I don’t do anything special. I haven’t for a very long time.”
“Yeah, I got that impression. You’re not hard to read. Maybe you do that on purpose. It’s really annoying how easy I can tell things about you, if I’m being honest. I don’t know what to do with the information.”
“You’d rather me lie to you?” Venti smiled softly, knowing that was far from the truth.
“No, but it doesn’t make it any less annoying. Here.” Xiao uncrossed his arms and reached into his pocket, drawing out a small box and handing it over. “I didn’t wrap it and you don’t have to call it a birthday present if you don’t want to then. It’s just a gift. Your help has been rather one sided and I owe you. Ah, saying it like that sounds shitty so just… it’s a gift.”
Venti glanced from the small box to Xiao.
“It’s nothing big, it’s just been another annoyance to me for a while.”
The gift was an annoyance? Venti was curious now. He opened it, finding something he hadn’t seen or used in a few years. Contact lenses. They were a hard to pick out shade of blue that looked a bit darker than the ones he used to wear, but the color was close.
Hiding who he was was the reason he didn’t wear contacts anymore. Venti wouldn’t do that, to Xiao or anyone else. As it was, due to the events of the last year, one of his eyes had lost half the sight he’d once possessed. He refused to tell the others that. Physically, it was impossible to tell. The scarring around his face was still there but it was fading and his eye didn’t show the signs of damage it had.
“I thought…”
“You look better with blue eyes. That is an insult by the way. It was their original color, right? No harm in wearing them if it makes you feel comfortable. I had to talk to that stupid ass police detective about why he wears them because I really don’t get it. We know you’re vampires so it doesn’t make sense. I kind of get it now, so, you know, it’s fine.”
Venti was tired. He felt it pull at him. Maybe he should start to care about his birthdays. He doubted he’d have much more of them left, not with how long he’d lived already.
Though he wouldn’t tell Xiao, as far as he was aware, he was the oldest vampire out there. Many had reached the end of their lifespans before him. It couldn’t be long, though who his teacher was had always remained a mystery. The only thing he was sure of was how absolutely exhausted he’d been feeling in the last decade or so compared to before.
And today, right now, had him going over to the bed and falling onto it, resting.
“Thank you. I appreciate it. I’ll keep in mind what you’ve said, both before and now. I’m in no rush to change. I’ve gotten rather used to looking like what I am, but I have missed the blue.” How was it that he felt too tired to even smile? It shouldn’t have taken much energy. “And yes, that was the old color of my eyes. Did you know, if you look closely at any vampire’s eyes, you can tell that?”
“Hm?”
“Yeah.” Venti didn’t reach up, just twirled his pointer finger. “The ring around our eyes. Even though they’re red now, that ring will always be the color that our eyes once were. Sorry, I’m no doctor and I’ve never really been to a school like you have, with the books they’ve had for kids in recent years. I don’t know the technical term for such things.”
“I didn’t know that. I guess I never looked that closely at a vampire’s eyes before.”
“It’s not really important. It’s how I know Heizou has the same green eyes as the contacts he wears, and how I was able to get Kaeya some of his own.” Venti let out a breath and curled up on his side. “I think I’m going to take a nap. Thank you again, Xiao. I didn’t get you anything for your birthday but I’ll figure something out. I didn’t know we were doing gifts.”
“No need to. I had a plan as long as you can get a ride or pay for the car. That will be your contribution and gift enough. I can’t afford it.” Xiao let out an angry sounding growl that was half a sigh. “I might need to get a job out here. Kazuha’s stupid ‘help everyone’ plan doesn’t exactly provide me much money to pay my phone bill.”
Venti laughed. “You were paid to do something for them?”
“Yes.”
Alright, now Venti was more awake and curious than he was tired. He turned over on his stomach and propped his head up on his arm, watching Xiao who stared at him with a ‘so what’ look on his face.
“What did you do?”
“Killed a vampire or two. That’s all they need me for. Most of the work on the human side of things, the detective and his little human leech do. Do you really not notice when I leave this place?”
“I can’t say that it’s been a priority of mine to keep track of everyone. It’s a very nice home where everyone can come and go as they please and, while you’re here, you’re family. If you walk away, you’re still family, just out of touch for a bit until there’s contact made in some way. It’s a very nice feeling. Unless you reach out to me, how am I supposed to know what you’re doing or feeling?”
“This is starting to piss me off. I get it, okay? I don’t really have these types of conversations, especially with a vampire. You’re not my family and I don’t have to tell you anything.”
Venti let out a breath.
Alright, maybe there was more than one reason he was tired. And, maybe, with what Kazuha was doing, he wasn’t needed anymore. It sounded like it, from what Xiao had just admitted. He hadn’t been spoken to at all on the matter, possibly to either spare his feelings or because he was too injured from everything that had happened. And Venti couldn’t blame them. All of those factors were understandable.
“I dislike to sound rude but can I take a nap?”
“Ah, wait, about the–”
“Xiao, please leave for now, alright? Thank you, and whatever it is you’re speaking about with a vehicle, sure, I can pay. It’s a little early to be napping when it’s morning, I know, but I didn’t get much sleep. Will an hour ruin your plans?”
“Hmm, no, I suppose not.” Xiao tipped his head to the side as if he were going through a schedule in his mind. Venti could only guess at what he had to do for the day. “You could nap on the car ride over though if you wanted. It’s not that close and–”
“Xiao.” Venti was done trying to make his intentions obvious. He was more than tired. “Can I be alone for a while?”
“Oh. Yeah, sure.” Xiao took a few steps back. There, that he understood. “I’ll be back in an hour.”
“Thank you.”
The door shut. Venti let his head fall to the bed, relaxing into the soft sheets. He could sleep for the whole day if he was given the choice, but he knew Xiao. He was the type to be counting the minutes the second the handle clicked into place.
There were a lot of thoughts running around in his head, those first few blissful moments of comfort that he couldn’t hope to capture long enough. Venti was no idiot. Xiao brought up his birthday for a reason, and a car and travel sounded like a lot of work. He’d either be working today, doing something he probably didn’t want to do, or there were plans that he hadn’t had a hand in making, when so few knew him well enough to make plans he’d enjoy.
Maybe the best idea was to be alone for your birthday. It guaranteed the day was yours and that there wasn’t a chance of anything unpleasant that you didn’t cause, weather permitting.
Hesitating to steal a few more moments in the soft embrace of the bed, Venti got up before taking a few of his plants aside and pushing open the window. It was easy enough to climb onto the still and jump the few feet into the grass below. Though Itto’s grandmother’s house was in the countryside, there weren’t any flowerbeds or fields, a very sad thing, as far as Venti was concerned. They used the large yard to play games and little else.
It took a while to reach the next door neighbor’s house, and a while after that to reach the next. Venti knew he was trespassing but he didn’t care much. He was doing no damage and he could always play up the youth in his features if he was reprimanded. There was a chance if he took the road he’d be involved in more than he wanted to. Though he doubted Itto was about to get any house guests for the day, not if he had been asked to pay for a ride, Venti didn’t exactly know what was being planned. He doubted Xiao had done much more than purchase the contacts, which were still on the bed. Mmm. Venti forgot about them while making his escape plans. They weren’t going anywhere. Itto– Itto could be planning anything if he was aware it was his birthday.
It hadn’t occurred to him before he tried to reach for it to play some music that Venti had also left his phone back in the room as well. Letting out a breath, he walked in silence an unknown amount of time before he was sure it had been a decent amount of time and he’d gone by at least a dozen houses. One of them was quiet and they had a nice shed not all that close to the house. It was easy to lean up against the back of the makeshift little home and rest there, his hand on his legs as he leaned forward against them to take the well-deserved nap he was looking for.
“I wonder just where I was being spirited away to. Well, for once, they can handle things without me. I’m not really needed…” Hmm. Did he have to be? Venti supposed not, but it had felt nice. Now he was without a home, without a family, and without a reason for existing – like he used to be.
‘But’ a voice in his head spoke to him, one he knew was himself, trying to console him as it often did when he found himself alone like this. ‘Doesn’t that mean things are peaceful right now? Not needing you means you’ve done your job, what you’ve wanted. You can relax too, you know, have fun? It’s nice, doing that, isn’t it? Being with friends? I bet Kazuha or even Albedo would like to have you back.’
Venti couldn’t help the snort of a laugh at his own thoughts. “Albedo barely tolerates Sucrose. I’m sure he’d rather I not bother him again, especially so soon. And I’m sure Kazuha’s happy to finally have some time with Heizou after searching for him for so long. Being in love with a detective can’t be easy. I’m not about to make life harder, on either of them.”
‘Hmm. But you insist on making life harder on yourself right now. Life is fine at Itto’s. You’re not an inconvenience. He likes having you there.’
“It can’t be easy on Xiao, living with a vampire. I’m sure he knows I go out now and then to feed and I can only imagine what it’s been doing to him. It’s why I’ve tried to keep my distance, but it’s only made him angry.”
‘Have you asked?’
Venti chuckled, even thinking such a thing was silly to ask. Anything vampiric in nature set Xiao on edge so much so that Kazuha and Heizou doing anything consensually had the visionary reaching for a weapon. Venti wasn’t sure Kazuha noticed but Heizou had when they’d been at the last party together. He’d been afraid the two of them were about to start something when the woman with them broke all the tension in the room.
“It’s not necessary. I know how he feels.”
His inner monologue had nothing to say back to that. Venti didn’t know either. He was still so torn and undecided with what he wanted to do and where he wanted to go with his life. It was nice, comfy, almost too easy to live and be happy at Itto’s place. But he couldn’t just live there the rest of his life, could he? He wasn’t sure the man would even outlive him. There’d be other places, and time to worry about it then… but Venti was getting so tired of doing that. And losing people was wearing on him.
While he didn’t have his phone, he did have his cards on him. If only he could just walk up and get a car like he could in the old days. Life was getting more complicated if anyone were to ask him, not less. Phones weren’t as convenient as people liked to think if you weren’t in possession of one.
No choice then.
Venti walked up to the house and knocked on the door.
It took a while but a woman answered after two or three minutes, looking out of it. “Hello? Can I help you?”
It wasn’t hard for Venti to do as the others. It was possibly because he could alter how his powers worked better than most vampires could. In just a moment he had his hunger at the front of his mind and the hypnotic effects that went with it coating his actions. “May I borrow your cell phone? Afterwards, pretend you never saw me.”
“Oh… ahh…” The woman’s eyes glazed over without him having to bite her. Most needed their salvia to finish off any numbing effects on the mind. Venti didn’t, which was a good thing because his teeth didn’t exactly work and he hadn’t planned ahead. “Sure… here…” It was a struggle to get her phone out of her pocket before she pulled it out and nearly dropped it, closing the door on his face without a word – as if she’d already forgotten him.
Venti chuckled and made sure the woman’s data was on, looking up a nearby taxi service that didn’t require him downloading any apps onto her phone before calling one for himself for the block down and replacing the cellular near her front door where she’d hopefully go looking for it at some point.
Time to leave.
The car took a while to get there and it took even longer to get him back to Albedo’s. The fee was outrageous but nothing Venti couldn’t pay. He’d held a job for more than half his life and he hadn’t needed money for most of it, so it had ended up becoming his savings. If only he’d been able to throw it into a savings account… but no, he’d been told he couldn’t and the name on the account had already had to be switched around a few times to avoid suspicion.
“You’re back rather soon.”
Venti yawned as he walked past the front porch where Albedo was sitting and leaned against the wall near the front door. “Soon? It’s been almost half a year.”
“And I typically go five or six without hearing from you. You tend to come and go like the wind but you never stay long and you never ask things of me unless you need me. As I haven’t gotten a call or heard a word from you, I take it this is a visit of pleasure?”
“More or less. I don’t have my phone on me and I didn’t feel inclined to return to where I was staying. If you would, I know many don’t have your number, but of those that do, can you keep my presence here a secret for now?”
Albedo raised an eyebrow. “Is there something you’ve done that you’d rather not say that has you on the run or something of the like?”
Venti laughed. “No, nothing like that. Far from it in fact. It’s just that it’s my birthday and I seem to have given a few the wrong impression or I’ve done… something wrong. I’d like some time by myself and you’re someone who’d understand that. I won’t be a bother and I’ll stay in the room you lent me last time, as long as I can anyway. I do have some slight issues so, if you go out to hunt, may I come along?”
Albedo let out a breath. It wasn’t a sigh but it was the closest the man ever got to sighing. “You left in such a rush that you forgot your phone and you misplaced the item the doctor gave you so that you did not need assistance for hunting, is that it? What about your birthday scared you so much? This is very unlike you.”
“Is it?” Venti slid down the house. Albedo’s calm demeanor was just what he needed. He let himself rest once more, the mountain air not as chilling as it once was and still just as relaxing. There was nothing stopping him as he curled up and rested his head on his hands. “I’m tired.”
“Oh, I see. That makes more sense. Sleep. You look as if you need the rest. You must not have recovered completely while you were here the last time. I will abstain from giving away your location from anyone who should call.” The vampire artist went back to painting, ignoring his presence. Venti was grateful.
An hour later Albedo’s phone ringing woke him. It was some classical piece that he’d asked the name of before, gotten an answer, and immediately forgotten and had been too embarrassed to ask again. Though he was older than Albedo, that didn’t make him as well versed in the theater. Though there were a few plays and musicals that caught his attention and attendance over the years, he wasn’t terribly interested in them past the fact they were either entertaining or not to watch. Albedo knew music scores and histories and a ton of things Venti couldn’t hope to retain. Even if they had the same schooling he doubted he’d retain the same knowledge.
“Hello?” Albedo waited a moment, the other person speaking quickly and quietly. Venti’s hearing was good but not good enough to catch such a small sound spoken into his ear. It didn’t help that Albedo’s responses turned until versions of ‘hm’s that the caller was able to translate.
“I’ll need to call you back. Can you give me some time? Alright. Alright. Goodbye.” Albedo turned to him. “Kazuha is looking for you. They’re aware you left on your own and have concluded you’re either in the area or with one of your acquaintances. The only ones they know of are either at the house you were staying at, Baizhu, or I, so we’ve received calls.”
“That would sum up those they know in the area.” Venti had to think. Did he know others? Yes, a few. But they were young and a variety of humans and vampires. Xiao wasn’t the only visionary he had met over the years, though he was the more ferocious. “I doubt any of the others could be made a part of Kazuha’s program for a while. They’re not old enough. So, are they looking to smother me in birthday celebrations or are they just worried about me? I’m an adult. I can handle myself fine.”
“You came here without a phone or the necessary equipment to feed yourself. I hardly think you’re prepared.” Albedo shook his head. “‘Adult’ is a lenient term when it comes to you. I will agree that you have a choice in the matter though. Yes on both accounts. It did sound as if there was some sort of want for your appearance, though the main priority did seem to be your safety.”
It had, admittedly, been a while since Venti had to check in with anyone who would be worried about him. He was a vampire. There was little to worry about. Current ailments aside and debilitating issues, he was still a vampire and he wasn’t an idiot. Only Albedo knew of some of his less successful plans, and only because he’d been a part of them. “Well, I guess I’ll leave what you tell them when you call back up to you. I hate lying but I don’t really feel like returning.”
“That’s a sound answer to give and the truth. I don’t mind relaying it if you do not, and if it's only to Kazuha, the boy is understanding and may find a way to keep whatever celebration it is you’re avoiding either minimal or non-existent. The real question is, is that what you really want?”
Yes and no. Venti knew both answers were true. He wanted to be alone right now, but a part of him also felt bad that at least someone enjoyed his company and wanted to celebrate his life with him – and he ran from it. Xiao’s words were unpleasant but they were true to how the man felt about friends and family. It had left a heavier cloud weighing on an already heavy mind. That part wouldn’t change today or tomorrow or at any point in the future. Hmm. So, as much as it grieved him to leave such a happy, homely place, there was a solution that could help ease some of the burdens he felt and make the steps back there easier.
“Can I stay with you? And I don’t mean for just a while. Can I stay here, Albedo?”
Albedo stopped moving, eyes on him, an ice blue that matched the sky on one of those cold, freezing days of a few months ago. While not as chilled, the man did remind him of a winter day – distant somehow, hazy, hard to stand too long by without this feeling like you were intruding somewhere you shouldn’t be.
“Yes, it’s alright with me. I may have you start doing the shopping and a few errands for your keep if you’re going to be a roommate.”
Venti didn’t mind and it did make him feel a lot better. “That’s fine with me. Thank you. Oh, and you can just hand me your phone instead of calling back. I can tell him where I am.”
Albedo handed over his phone and shooed him off. “Have a good birthday. It didn’t occur to me when you arrived and told me what had happened, but happy birthday and enjoy whatever it is you’re running from.”
Venti rolled his eyes but he did smile. It was nice to know he was welcome somewhere, and Albedo wasn’t angry about his request.
Calling Kazuha back as he went inside, Venti waited, the call being picked up at the end of the first ring.
“Hello?”
“I’m sorry for worrying you. I didn’t know anyone would be looking for me as if I were some runaway teenager. Are you alright, Kazuha?”
Kazuha let out a heavy breath over the line, the young man never hiding anything he was feeling. It was refreshing. There was relief coating his words. “I’m fine, just a little scared that something might have happened to you. That vampire is still missing and he knew you and didn’t seem to like you too much. Heizou had just… vanished before, so I didn’t know if the same thing happened to you when Xiao called and asked if you were here. I’m glad you’re safe.”
Kazuha had a very good point. Venti hadn’t considered writing a note or something. He could have sent a text as well. Anything would have been better than the silence when he left, what with all that had happened last year. “I’m sorry. I’m not used to checking in with others. I should have considered things more thoroughly.”
“Oh, don’t worry about it. I’m just glad you’re safe. I’m sure the others will be too. Heizou was telling me not to get upset but I couldn’t help it, you know? Bad memories… I… You’re at Albedo’s?”
“Yes, but…” Venti sighed. “What’s going on? Did I interrupt something with my leaving?”
“A bit. It’s nothing that can’t be put off, though the day would change. Do you not want to celebrate your birthday?”
“No, I do.” Venti wasn’t sure what got into him. He’d just wanted to leave. There was a lot of pressure and he couldn’t give a reason as to why. “Just not today. You said the day would change? Tomorrow then?”
Kazuha hm’ed. “No, probably not. It might have to wait until next week. Some of us are busy and a few were going to be involved. I don’t think Heizou would be able to take the day off again so soon, but he can try if he gives her some type of warning. That is, if you don’t mind us coming.”
“Not at all.” The smile on his face was real. If anything, the thought of Kazuha being there was relaxing. “I’d appreciate your company.”
“Then let me call the others and see what day everyone is free and what time. It’ll be in the morning so, if you’re there, maybe he can drive you? If not I can come pick you up– Ow! Ah… Heizou and I can come pick you up. I’ve ah… been barred from driving.”
Venti chuckled. “Car accident?”
“He hit me, I didn’t hit him. It was a small accident but Heizou still wants to drive so yes, we’ll be picking you up together if you can’t get a ride.”
“I’ll ask. If he was invited he has to come along too, right?”
“I’m not sure who was invited. It sounded like a small group. He might have been? I’ll have to double check. Xiao was the one who asked me. Oh, right. I figured, from the sounds of it, you probably don’t want me to tell anyone where you are, do you? If you weren’t grabbed or something, you ran off, like Heizou was telling me, so I can just say you called me and I don’t know from where, if you want– Ow what is it– Heizou wants the phone. I’m sorry Venti. Goodbye. I’ll call you.”
“Hey, idiot. Are you there?”
Venti’s smile dropped a bit into a scowl but not in a bad way. Though Heizou was not Kazuha, he was just as refreshingly different and strangely loyal. It was warming to be around him in ways that Venti couldn’t explain. “I’m here, though ‘idiot’ wouldn’t be the best way to sum up the entirety of my being.”
“You worried a lot of people, Kazuha included, so for now, you’re the idiot. Anyway, his idea isn’t a bad one. We can say you called from a hotel and gave us a number to contact you, but the idea of us picking you up then is the better one. If you arrive with Albedo this lie is going to unravel. I don’t have his address so text it to me on his phone and that way I’ll be able to text Albedo back the address he needs to get to as well. If he wasn’t invited he is now. So, scared of your own birthday? What, trauma in your past? Bad relationship with your family and friends? I’m not a physiatrist but I was forced to see one for a few months by a certain boss of mine when she heard me speaking to myself on the job. Kazuha’s probably better at this so here.” There was a shuffling noise and it took a few seconds before Heizou’s voice was back, only slightly quieter. “You’re on speaker. What’s wrong?”
Venti laughed. It was funny. “You want me to go over everything in my life that’s wrong so that you can make me feel better?”
“It is your birthday. Even if it wasn’t, I hate that you’re feeling bad.” Kazuha was empathetic, voice and heart alike. “We all have family problems, or at least, I think a lot of us that know each other do. And Venti, you’re a good friend. I’m not sure what I can do and even less what I can do over the phone. But I’m here if you want to talk.”
“Thank you.” That was enough. It made him feel so much better than he had been. He was sure Xiao hadn’t intended to hurt him, he typically didn’t, and he had just given him a present. The man’s words were so unfiltered and angry from how his own life had lived that it was no surprise that he still treated vampires and the word ‘vampire’ the way he did. Whatever family situation Xiao had, it couldn’t be good if he was living at Itto’s either…
And Kazuha and Heizou were here, trying to listen to him sound like a fool and talk about how awful his life was and how terrible he felt celebrating it. Venti didn’t want to do that, because he didn’t really feel that way. It was just… a momentary lapse.
“It’s been a while. I’m not used to all this attention or these friendships I have now. It’s been a bit overwhelming to me, but in a good way as well as a bad. I wanted some time and space to myself and didn’t consider anyone’s feelings besides my own. I realize that was wrong but…”
“I understand. You don’t have to apologize or anything. We all need our space from time to time and I’m glad you took some for yourself. We can always celebrate your birthday next week. We are here. I didn’t realize you felt this way. You’re always so happy.” It was a miraculous thing, somehow telling that Kazuha was smiling over the phone without being able to see it. “And you have friends that care about you. So if you ever want to call or talk, we’re here. I hope Itto and I haven’t been overwhelming you.”
Heizou snorted out a laugh on the line. “That man would. All they do over there is party as if the world were ending.”
“That’s the fun of it though, isn’t it? To live life while you can? It’s not harming anyone and a great majority of them have jobs they go to, so they’re not living off someone else’s paycheck.” Venti switched the phone to the other ear and relaxed. “I have nothing much more to say other than I’d like to get some rest. I know it’s early but that’s what I came out here for and I’ve yet to do it. I wanted to call before anything happened, or you worried too much.”
“Thank you. I’m glad you did and I’m happy you’re somewhere you can relax. Get some rest. I’ll call Albedo later and let you both know what’s going on.”
“If I’m not going anywhere, I think I have other plans for the evening myself, since I have the day off–”
Kazuha let out a squeaky noise of surprise before the phone sounded as if it was tossed around and his voice, breathy, was loud and back in the mic. “I’ll call you back later. Goodbye Venti.”
Venti shook his head before getting himself up and going back to the room he’d been in, falling onto the less comfortable bed then Itto’s had been and curling up to get some much needed rest, far away from the outside world – just for a while.
…
“Why is this necessary?”
Kazuha was leaning back from the passenger seat at an uncomfortable angle, Heizou having to stop down the road from where they had picked him up. He’d insisted on pulling over while Kazuha reached back and blindfolded Venti.
“I don’t know where we’re going anyway.”
“It’s staying on even after we get there. Sorry about this.” Kazuha didn’t sound sorry at all. “It wasn’t part of the plan originally, but the idea came up and all of us liked it, so now it’s staying on. It will be a while until we get there, so you might want to fall asleep or listen to music while we travel.”
“Kazuha has the radio and his taste in music is awful.”
Kazuha let out a quick breath. “It’s not. What’s wrong with classical rock anyway? I thought that'd be something you’d enjoy.”
“I’m not into music that sounds like someone couldn’t find the tuner on their guitar. It doesn’t help the fact that recordings done before the 90’s are all distorted to the point where the non-existent base is replaced by a humm in the background I can’t stand.”
Vent sighed. “We both like dance music but that seems to be the only thing we can agree on. Which I’m surprised about. The police detective likes dancing.”
“And what’s wrong with that? If it’s got a good beat and I can move to it, it helps me both train and it sounds pleasant to my ears.”
This was a bit amusing. “You can really only agree on dance music. So, who likes rock? I’m guessing that would be Kazuha.”
“Yes,” Kazuha agreed. “And Metal.”
The hiss Heizou let out at that was funny. “And you?”
“I like techno and country, two things Kazuha hates, so we’re really at an impasse. We can both agree we don’t like classical music unless we’re trying to go to sleep.”
“And pop?”
“It’s enough like some of the dance music out there we kind of throw it in. Unless it’s too far from what’s played on the radio in stores to keep people ‘entertained’, we both typically do fall into the crowd there. Some of the songs bordered on this or that genre that either of us prefers more, but neither of us hates it as long as it remains outside that secondary genre.”
Venti didn’t think they’d be so into the discussion of something so… bland, like their taste in what was on the radio. It was cute though, hearing the back and forth discussion that started afterward, where Kazuha was explaining how some new country artist had made it onto the radio station they had agreed on and how he was annoyed at it and wanted to change it, while Heizou fought back about the ‘song or two’ that weren’t any reason to have disagreements over which one to have on in the car again.
The car ride was long. Venti hadn’t planned on something that took three or four hours before he was led out of the vehicle by the wrist and up a path ladened with stones.
“Hold me back so you won’t trip. It’s kind of hard for me to turn around and support you.” Kazuha gilded his arm up to the top of his sleeve where Venti got a good hold, careful where he placed each step. There were points that quickly turned into hazard – ones that would have left parts of his body rearranged if Heizou hadn’t stepped in and them both.
“Kazuha, be more careful. You’re good at seeing the dangers but you’re not so great at leading someone through them. Have you never been hiking before?”
“No, not really.”
Heizou made a sound in his throat before they continued on.
“Me neither. It was never really a pastime of mine. I have too much stuff to do and it’s very time consuming. If it’s something you want to do though… It's nice out here. We could try it.”
“I’d like that. For now, it’s neither of our birthdays… Well, it’s not really Venti’s anymore either but I’m going to pretend that it is. We’ve got a long way to go and you’re distracting me. I can do this.”
Heizou chuckled. “I hope so, or we’ll be spending the day with one or both of you unable to walk.”
Venti smiled. He had nothing to add to the conversation and it was nice, listening. He also didn’t mind too much if he spent the day sitting down somewhere, relaxing with a drink and hearing stories (even them bickering didn’t feel like the worst thing, though he couldn’t be sure. Venti had never really heard Kazuha bicker with anyone before.) It came close, with Heizou. And it felt nice, healthy, like they were both secretly feeling each other out and liking the part of the other that they were annoyed with.
“I’m very glad everything worked out for the both of you. I wish I could have done more sooner, or that we could have stopped some of the trails you had to go through, but as things stand, the people I’m with now I wouldn’t change for the world. Thank you, for being my friends.”
“Please don’t. You don’t have to thank me for being a friend of yours. I just am, because I like you. It’s not like a gift where you can exchange me for another shirt you like better, or like I’d do the same. It’s… ah, hard to explain. It’s just different, and there’s no thanks needed.”
“Alright, I’m sorry. So, when will I learn where we’re going?”
“Soon. We’re almost there.” Venti could hear the excitement in Kazuha’s voice. “And I hope you love it. We couldn’t think of what to do for you and this was Xiao’s idea. That’s all I’ll say because I’m not revealing more. Heizou had most of it worked out just by me telling him the location, which is why we decided on the blindfold.”
“It’s not my fault. This area is known for very few things and I doubted a hike was much of a present.” Heizou laughed a short, cut off laugh. “It’s fine. He’ll know soon enough.”
…
‘Soon enough’ wasn’t very quick. It was a good hour (twenty minutes into which Heizou decided it was faster to get him onto his back and hold Kazuha’s hand with the way things were going), until he was placed down.
“What the hell was that about?”
Venti ducked his head a bit, Xiao’s voice near and off to his left. “Sorry. I knew you were interested in doing something but my day hadn’t been the best and I wanted some time alone. I should have said something, or bought my phone. I realize how it looked now but I didn't mean to worry anyone.”
“We should have some say in how we spend our birthdays. Leave him alone. You don’t tend to say as much as you should.” Kazuha, like Venti was starting to notice, was as much one who liked to avoid arguments as he was, and stood up for him. Venti appreciated it, though he could admit this time that his actions could have been better thought through. “Albedo’s here?”
“Yes. I didn’t speak with him so he has to go with one of you.”
Heizou sighed. “I wish you hadn’t spoken with just us. It’s a bit annoying that we have to play guilds for this, but I didn’t mind learning. You do know this is illegal and Kazuha’s better at this than I am. There can still be accidents.”
“You’re vampires. If Kazuha’s better, have him go with Itto. Then you can stop all your worrying and complaining to me.”
Itto was here? Venti had good hearing, but he hadn’t picked up on the voices of any others. “Who else is joining us?”
“Itto is arriving with Shinobu. Both are late, I can only guess why. Albedo said he wanted to come along, though I don’t know the vampire well and I really didn’t know who to talk to besides them. I asked Kazuha and his only other suggestion was Kaeya. I can’t say we get along well… but that could be because of Diluc. While we were together, I didn’t notice we quarreled over anything in particular besides drinking. He said he’d arrive but he’s also one of the ones who has to ‘work’, if these two want to call it that.”
“I don’t think it’s working. I find it fun.” The happiness in Kazha’s voice was a contrast to Heizou’s. Were they on different wavelengths today? “I don’t mind going with Itto and Heizou isn’t really complaining, unless Shinobu needles him while they’re together.” The laughered that followed must have been at some inside joke.
“I might go with Albedo instead. I don’t really need the headache, now that you bring that up. I’m sure she won’t shut up about it.”
“How did you get handcuffed by a street gang in their basement? I thought you were better than that.”
“Shut up! It wasn’t my fault! And I got out, didn’t I? Or did you want me to play captive for a while. Ah, this is the last time I go telling you how my day was when I’ve had a bad one if you go around telling everyone about it.”
“No one’s making fun of you, Heizou. I swear.” The continued laughter sounded less sincere than the words, but there was a layer of concern. “I know you can take care of yourself. It helps to know that you don’t have to do everything on your own if something comes up again though.”
“Mmm. Yeah, yeah. Whatever. I guess I’ll let them decide on whoever wants to partner up with me. It feels like they’ll be the ones arguing on who goes with Kaeya and not who I get to be with anyway. He’s far more the people pleaser than I am.” Heizou sneezed, wiping his nose.
“I can’t believe you guys can’t catch a cold but you can get allergies.”
“Yeah, summer isn’t the best for me.”
Venti had to smirk at those thoughts, wishing his had his sight and pawing a few fingers at the blindfold. “It’s my thought that we’re still human enough that, whatever ailments we had before, we carry with us in whatever new existence this is now. If we had allergies before, we have them now. If it was something curable, like a simple cold or flu, we recover as we would where our body would repair itself, likewise with wounds that would otherwise kill us. Diseases or other ailments that we couldn’t heal in another, as a vampire, are what we retain – or so I think. I haven’t had much experience and I wouldn’t change someone ill on purpose just to test it.”
“Makes sense. My thoughts ran along similar lines though, with Kazuha, they’ve been getting a bit muddled.” Heizou wasn’t the quietest thinker. It was a little amusing that Venti could hear him pondering things. “His blood weakens my own. I can’t say for sure but I think I caught that last flu that went around the office. I didn’t want to say anything because someone overly worries about me, but I’ve never had a fever before a few months ago and it went away in less than twenty-four hours. It’s been… odd.”
That was odd. Venti knew visionaries had a negative effect on them, but not to that extent. They’d become weaker in strength or their hearing wouldn’t work as well or their sense of smell, but all downgraded to human responses and Venti had never experienced something like illness.
But then again, before Heizou, no one had been so attached to a visionary that most of their diet revolved around feeding off of one. “Interesting. I wonder if prolonged exposure harms us–”
“Heizou…”
“Don’t worry about it, Kazuha. This is why I didn’t say anything. It was a fever, that’s all, and it wasn’t that high. I was fine. It took everyone days to get over it. Venti, don’t worry him, or me, until we know for sure. Right now, I like things as they stand.”
Right. Venti didn’t want to ruin their happiness. Even if Kazuha’s blood was weakening him, he doubted that was going to stop Heizou, or any other vampire that fell in love with a visionary. It wasn’t harming him – that he could tell. And if things changed, Kazuha was there, and he doubted Heizou would let himself be harmed by the person he loved, only to watch them suffer for it. “It’s still a new and intriguing development. If you two notice anything more, I’d like to hear, and that network of yours might too.”
Heizou snorted. “They’re friends, but that’s the most we’ve been able to hope for. Diluc has been like poison on their minds. A lot who are like Kazuha refuse to talk to us. Most are vampires.”
“...We can try. That’s all we can do, as much as we can. We’re all friends, aren’t we? And it’s worked. Not everyone wants to fight.”
Venti smiled but this was one thing he and Kazuha didn’t agree on. Their small group had learned to co-exist, but that was all they did. Xiao’s earlier words were enough to prove that hatred still ran deep, even throughout the years. “The future is there.”
“Can you all stop with this crap? Ahhg… that isn’t what– I mean it is what I mean to say but this isn’t the time. I know we’re waiting but you two want to be with each other, right? They’re late so their loss. Venti’s here so if you want to start, we can.”
“I appreciate it. I’ll see you later then.” There was a small noise of surprise that followed Heizou words and the sound of bushes as both their voices disappeared into the wind.
Xiao grabbed at the blindfold, taking it off. Venti had to blink at the bright sunlight of midafternoon, rubbing at his eyes. There was a lot of sky in his view, where the tree’s started to fade off and the blue overtook everything.
“What’s the matter? You’re not the type of person to run off for nothing. Was it because I said I spent my birthday alone?”
“Oh, no. Not necessarily though the thought was promising after you voiced it.” Venti grabbed his wrist behind his back and smiled. “I just… I’m not sure how to put into words what I felt. It wasn’t a terribly pleasant thought to know that something was being planned and I had to attend while I wasn’t feeling all that up to attending, that’s all.”
“You’re really good at saying a lot and not answering the question I asked. That all sounds like puffery to a real answer you’re avoiding. You can just say why you didn’t want to be here. I didn’t say where here was, because I thought surprises were kind of a birthday thing. It’s been a while. I haven’t really done a party since I was a kid, alright? As a teenager I– you know what happened, you were there. I had some bad experiences before that too and I just haven’t done parties. If I did this wrong I don’t really care. I’m not either of those two idiots who ran off.”
“Right. I hadn’t thought about your age at the time, or how it would affect your life.” Venti hadn’t connected the deaths to Xiao as anything more than death’s of his friends, but he should have. Xiao already struck him as the kind of person who let few into his life, so of course it had hit him hard. “Thank you for… whatever this is?”
“Come here.” Xiao grabbed him by the wrist and dragged him away, towards where the treeline ended.
There was a lot of wind. If his hair weren’t tied it would have blinded him. Inazuma was mostly made up of a city with a few suburbs but, if you drove far enough, you could reach one of the largest mountains in the country with some of the temples that had survived the years of modernization that hadn’t remained within the bright lights and bustling traffic.
Though they weren’t on the mountain, they must have been close. There was a steep drop below them where a few trees darted out here and there like hermit crabs in the sand. Other than that, all he could see was sudden nothingness and a wide open forest below.
Xiao started throwing a harness around him, buckling it around his midsection and, embarrassingly, between his legs. “I’ll help. I have no idea what your interests are but, as long as you don’t pass out, I found this fun so… you might too. The other two are already gone.”
“What is this?”
“Give me a moment.” Xiao strapped a harness to himself as well before going to the bushes and dragging out a very large, framed, wing contraption. “It’s a hang glider. Unless you know how to fly one and have a license, they’re not as easy as they appear, and vampire or not, crashing into the side of the mountain isn’t pleasant.” Xiao pointed far off into the distance. “There’s a field we’re aiming for and we have a driver who I’ve already hired for this, so it’s fine.”
That sounded like a lot of fun. Venti had never gone flying besides in a plane before, and a few times at that. Most of it was done for his ‘work’ and he found enjoyment in being in the air. This was a whole new type of freedom. “This is so cool. I hadn’t thought of trying something like this, though of course I’ve heard of it before.”
“You need someone trained. I learned a while back, but more as a pastime. I can’t keep my… my other wings out that long, and this is more enjoyable and less strain.”
Hmm. Venti was starting to see that there was a lot about Xiao that he had never asked. Or maybe it was more that they didn’t speak much on anything other than what had to do with rogue vampires. There was so much more to both of them, and he’d been sharing while he’d been with Kazuha, but it had all been one-sided because Xiao was so quiet.
“So, how do we do this?”
“Because we’re not being dragged by a plane, we’re going to need to do this standing and I’m going to need you to bend forward and to move with me. Typically these have one flier each but because you’re new it's more ethical, or at least, safer, this way. Here.”
Xiao got them strapped to the wings and Venti noticed that Xiao wasn’t beside him, he was going to be on top of him. That was… an extra layer of embarrassment. A few steps and they were just–
Falling.
Venti found himself laughing, caught up in the wind as the currents blinded him and stole all the sound of the world from him. The wings caught them, shooting them back up to a stable position where they still wobbled like a drunken horse, but if they were still descending he could no longer tell.
Laughing, Venti reached forward, the bar for the glider in front of him and not having to be touched with the way he was strapped in. It held him in place without his assistance and he could exist, being one with the sky and feeling as the sun was above them, shaded as if the large wings were real wings and he was there, flying above the land.
“Careful not to move too much!” Xiao shouted into his ear. His voice came through as a whisper, lost mostly to nature. “You can place your hand on the bars and pull one side or the other – gently! – and if I take over please stop!”
Venti was having fun as he was but that sounded fun too. He let the wind take them as Xiao held the bar, and them, steady. Once the thrill of it started to die down, he grabbed the one side, pulling it towards them as they leaned towards the right. It made them descend faster but it also was fun, taking the quicker turn. Venti giggled like a child before doing it again on the other side, weaving them back and forth.
After a while, he considered that his actions might be annoying, but Xiao didn’t reprimand or stop him. There was the thought that he could hold on and send them into a spiral down, but that might be too much on the glider and it might put them in danger that Xiao couldn’t prevent if that was a bad thing he shouldn’t do.
So instead, Venti had fun turning them this way or that. It wasn’t until they started getting lower that Xiao placed his hands on top of his own and started steering them in a different direction. It took a few moments before Venti realized it was the field that he’d spoken about and he’d changed their momentum before they could dip too low that they didn’t accidentally wind up in the trees.
Landing was soft. Xiao pulled up and the glider had wheels on it as the terrain slowed them down until they stopped. Once they were, Venti found himself shaking and it took Xiao to help him unbuckle his harness from the posts.
“Are you alright…? It didn’t scare you, did it?”
Venti’s giggling fit had been taken by his lack of air. Now it was back, though he’d been having trouble properly breathing for months. He might for the rest of his life but he could care less. His laughter was quiet and he let his face reflect his emotions, glowing under the sunlight. “That was so much fun! Can we do it again?”
Xiao let out a sudden, heavy breath. “Of course. You scared me, you know that, you idiot? You didn’t say a word when we were up there and you started shaking. I started to wonder if vampires could have heart attacks.”
“We probably can, it’s still a medical condition, like blood loss – but that aside, no, that was so much fun! It felt like we were really flying!” Venti skipped around before nearly falling, finding his legs still unsteady. He’d just jumped off a cliff!
Xiao let out a little laugh of his own – and smiled. It had been a while since Venti saw him smile. “Glad I picked something out you’d like. It was difficult, and I ended up going with something I liked instead. I wasn’t sure if we shared the same interests, but it looks like I shouldn’t have been worried. I think the other two are already at the van. Come on, let me get this thing dragged over there and we can do it again. If we have time, we can probably hope for two or three flights before the sun sets. It’s dragging it up the path that’s tedious.”
“I can help now that I’m here.”
“I’d appreciate it. I’m glad, that you’re feeling better, I mean. I’m sorry, for whatever it was I said before. I still don’t get it, and I don’t know why you won’t explain it, but I can only guess I brought up something unpleasant in your room.”
Venti nodded. “Just the differences being thrown at me again. I know you and I are not the same, and the reminder that I’m someone – or in your mind something – that you can’t feel a connection of trust to may have gotten to me more than it should have. I do understand your past and present, as well as your feelings on the matter, and I have no right to try and change your outlook with what you’ve been through in your life. It just stung. I’ll get over it. Thank you, for all of this.”
“That was it?” Xiao looked speechless, though had plenty of words to say. “Yes, there’s been shit in my life and yes, it bothers me. You’re a vampire. That bothers me. There are vampires who are my friends and that sure as hell, bothers me. And I hate that it bothers me because I hate what they are and what they’ve done and that I’m still friends with them and that I can still feel friendship towards people who have hurt and killed people. And so fucking what? You’ve seen and heard of me killing other vampires. I haven’t been nice. Looking back, not all of them have been as cruel as I think Diluc made them out to be. I’m not a saint. You’re still out there, looking out for me, and my friend. Doesn’t it eat you up inside thinking about those things now and then?”
“No.” Venti didn’t need to consider his answer. “Because I like you, and I know it eats you up without having to ask. Even if it didn’t, I can understand where your actions stemmed from, even if I can’t agree with them. That doesn’t change the person I see before me or my feelings towards you. If I had been there, I would have spoken up, maybe acted. That is all that would change. But I wasn’t and I can’t alter what’s been done, so all I can do is be who I am and feel how I feel right now. I understand and know that you’re someone who looks back a lot, and I wish it didn’t hurt you as much as I see it hurting you, but we aren’t the same. That is my answer.”
Xiao’s golden eyes were borrowing into him, focused with such an intensity as if searching for any lies within his statement. Venti had lost his smile at some point, but he had told the truth. There were parts of him that felt badly for the past, that changed how he acted, but no part of him still lived those past actions as ones he saw when he looked at Xiao now. Only his own regret lingered with him, on actions he wished he’d taken.
If he had formed something like what Kazuha had now, spoken to Kaeya about this, listened to Xiao and had worked things out, been more organized… could he have helped others long before Diluc had a chance to throw out so much propaganda that anyone with power was afraid to speak against him? Even then… was he the type to do such a thing? Not really. Venti had never been the leader type. Neither was Xiao, having considered his actions as well. Both of them relied on the other but equally played a back role in life after the danger had passed.
Venti continued. “We both have many regrets, but being your friend is not one of mine.”
“I didn’t mean it that way. Damn it, why is it so hard to talk to you?”
“Because you don’t like the fact that I’m a vampire, but you feel the same?” Venti tipped his head. “That’s what I’m understanding. Xiao, I’ll always be a vampire, until I die. I have been for a very long time. Nothing will change that. The word ‘vampire’ doesn’t have to exist, but what I’ve done, who I am, and what I have to do to live will all be the same. If you have a hard time with that…” Venti placed a hand on his chest, feeling the sting there. He, too, had very few friends. It hurt to lose one of them, but Xiao was… unhappy. “It is completely understandable. We can have a working relationship alone. This gift has been more than I could as for, but pretending I’m human to get by in my presence isn’t something healthy for either of us. So, as my present, if you wish, just walk away from this. I’m more than happy to help if you need, if you call, but you don’t have to force yourself.”
The focus was gone and Xiao’s eyes were downcast and tired.
“That isn’t… That isn’t what I wanted. This really sucks, you know that?”
“Mmm.” Venti nodded, also feeling tired now. “Do what you need to do.”
“Do you think I could be friends with a vampire so soon– ever, after what I saw happen to my friends? I thought I was dead. It doesn’t matter that you’re the one who saved me, that I still feel guilty for hurting you, because I do and I hate it, and you never told me you had scars, you asshole!” Xiao let out a breath. “None of that matters. What matters is that you’re that dumb ass who found me when I was scared and alone, and you never got your stupid nose out of my business, even after I told you time and again. And I do fucking care what day your birthday is, alright? I wanted to do something because I care. I’m bad at showing it, I know, and I don’t know what the hell I’m doing. I’ve always been bad at this kind of thing. The second I try to show you I’m trying is when you try and push me away. Damn it, this is why I hate this.”
“I didn’t mean to. I didn’t recognize what you were doing.” Venti held his hands out. “If you want to stay, stay. It just appeared like you were pushing yourself into something you didn’t want.”
“I’m bad at words, alright? I’ve never been very good at that kind of thing, not like you or any of the others, really. It’s why I don’t like to talk. I’m just… awful at it. Even Kazuha doesn’t have me talk to anyone, I’m only good at killing off the problems.” Xiao’s sharp eyes were back and then he grabbed him. Venti’s eyes widened as Xiao did something far more unexpected than plan him a birthday present.
He kissed him.
“Fucking vampire. Learn to read a room.” Xiao kept them close as Venti’s breath was short, Xiao’s brushing across his skin and lips still. “If I meant the word as an insult, you’d know it. You’re right, you’re a vampire. That’s it. I’m a human. If you call me a fucking human, fine, I’m a human. I don’t take it as an insult and I’m sorry if I said something while I was upset with you. My memory sucks and, next time, tell me what it was. I’m not used to talking, even less when I’m trying to open up to someone and this is so embarrassing right now I’d… ah… Do you need it spelled out anymore, or are we good?”
Venti swallowed. “A little more spelled out would be nice… Why did you kiss me?”
“Fucking ah! Really?” Xiao let him go. “Of all the things… I don’t offer my blood to any vampire. And I don’t ask anyone, vampire, or human, when their birthday is, alright? I’ve… had these– can we stop talking already?!” Xiao was blushing. Venti didn’t think he’d ever seen him blush.
Alright, he didn’t need the words, though one day he’d ask again. For now, this was new to him too and Venti felt his ears turn red and his own face heat up. He’d been kissed before, he wasn’t that young – wasn’t young enough even if he thought in terms of when he had his first kiss – but something about Xiao’s embarrassment was contagious and made it feel like the first time.
“I… I like you too. Can I ask a favor, if that’s how this is? And a question?”
“Sure. You ask enough to fill dictionaries as it is. At least answering you is easier than trying to explain things when I have no idea what you want.”
“Is this birthday present a double date? Because it feels kind of like it is, and that the others were invited because you were afraid of calling it something like that.”
“It wasn’t–! I hadn’t intended it to be. I don’t date.” Xiao cleared his throat. “I meant. I don’t know how to… ah. Venti, for fucks sake, I don’t know how to do any of this. I might look like I understand and I might not be a child, but this is hard for me. It sounds like I’m some bratty teen going after some vampire in a stupid romance story the way you keep saying it, and that’s not what I want at all and it sounds gross just thinking about it!”
“Do I look like a vampire out of one… of those…” Oh, the contacts. Was that why he gave them to him? To give him something so he had his old eye color back? That would explain it, and take away some of the vampire imagery. Xiao had once told him that he hated that he hid the fact he was a vampire. Now he was trying to get him to hide it again. It was a strange contradiction, and Venti made the decision then that he would only wear the contacts on occasion. “I see nothing wrong with it. So, have you fallen for this hot vampire that rescued you on that dark alleyway one night?”
Xiao groaned. “Stop that, Venti. Birthday or not, I can find a way to get back at you. And you know things didn’t have a storybook ending to them.”
“They didn’t, but they can.” Venti shrugged. “There have been enough horrors in both of our lives. Looking at Kazuha and Heizou, they make it work.” Venti offered his hand. “And I don’t mind if you don’t, trying this out. If so though, would you mind stepping back over here? You backed up really far.”
Xiao took in the distance he had placed between them, Venti taking his hand. Then, he traced a few fingers under Xiao’s jaw, watching him tense. Trailing them to his neckline, then his shoulder, he pulled him close and kissed him back like he hadn’t had the chance to when their lips had first met.
It was pleasant, sharing a few kisses that started and ended within a few seconds, like falling rain. Xiao had no particular taste on his lips, but there was a scent there. It was likely his shampoo, strong and with a musk to it that could only be caught when they were this close to each other, sharing a private moment that Venti didn’t think ever would. Before today, he doubted Xiao could stand him half the time.
But that was wrong. They had gotten close over the years. There were gaps that needed filling, that pain and fear had created, but that was what dating was about, and finding out more about the person that he had learned to care for over the years.
“Taking me flying in more ways than one on my birthday, huh?”
“Only if you wish.”
Venti yelped as Xiao’s arms were around him a sudden gust of wind sucked the air from his lungs. Gravity pulled at him as he was shot into the air, above the trees, and a black mist around his body blocked a good portion of his view as he clung to Xiao for fear of falling.
They were in the air, Xiao’s visionary wings something he had only caught a glance of in the past. They were large, black, ashen in nature with a greenish sheen that looked like it ran through them with every flap.
“Xiao!”
“I’ll be fine for a few minutes.” Xiao looked around, smirking to himself as his eyes went back to Venti. “You’ll have to steer us on the way down for the next flight. I’ll be too tired. Like the view?”
Venti let out a breath. It was stupid and pointless to waste his energy doing this, but it was also no less fun then the glider – maybe even more so – and left him giddy with laughter. “Alright, but don’t blame my bad flying experience on my intelligence. I am new at this. You’ll teach me how to fly on my own one day, right?”
“Sure. It’s not that difficult. You have to learn to read a small device I have on the glider and know how to move with the wind. That’s all there is.” Xiao’s eyes were quickly falling shut more than they were staying open, the ability to remain airborne faltering.
“Let’s land. The view was great, but I’d rather have a conscious teacher than an unconscious one.”
Not needing any more encouragement, Xiao brought him down, both of them softly touching the grass and smiling like stupid kids at one another. It had been a while, for both of them. Love was a powerful thing, and it was growing quickly, now that Venti let it into his heart, like a blooming flower that had been in the darkness.
“Thank you, for everything.”
“Don’t thank me for telling you the obvious. I can’t believe I had to plan all this and had to do the… the confession and everything. It thought you knew. I thought you knew a long time ago. Ahh… this is why… It’s fine.” Xiao shook his head. “Come on, we can still get more flights in and that walk isn’t the most pleasant. It’ll be nice… to talk. Afterwards, at Itto’s we made some stuff, and there’s cake too.”
Venti smiled, kissing him on the cheek. “Ooh. Cake. I look forward to it.”
Xiao shook his head. “Happy late birthday, Venti.”