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There was a song stuck on repeat in Xiao’s head for as long as he could remember. It started out soft and timid, like a fragile bird being coaxed out of hiding. The melody would then crescendo as the bird gained confidence in itself, spreading its wings for the first time and taking flight. Then, as the bird rested its wings, tired from the journey, the song would come to a close.
The song was everything to Xiao. A comfort he had long since clung onto to soothe any sort of anxiety that would befall him. The melody would caress him like a lover would caress their partner — gentle and tender. During his many sleepless nights, the melody would leave a deep sorrowful ache, one that he seemed to have been born with. Almost like he was missing something — or someone. A lost piece that made Xiao wonder how whole he truly was.
There was only one problem. He had no idea of the source of the song. It didn’t exist in this world, and Xiao knew it wasn’t something his mind had conjured. As a child, his mother would laugh and tell him that he was destined to be a creator as he ran around the house singing the song at the top of his lungs, one of the only things he was extremely vocal about.
Xiao would only shake his head and reply, This isn’t my song! I’m keeping it safe.
His mother would smile as she picked him up, swinging him around in the air. You better take good care of it. The person who it belongs to wouldn't like to see it broken, she would say in return.
Xiao thought he had taken very good care of it. So well, in fact, that here he was as an adult, still searching for its owner. He had even become a music producer thinking it was the best way to scour the world looking for this one song.
“You could at the very least pretend to look entertained,” a deep voice whispered in Xiao’s ear.
“I was pulled from my work to listen to your friend play, which by the way, he hasn’t even appeared on stage yet!” Xiao whispered back harshly at the man next to him. “We’re over halfway through the concert. Where is he?”
It wasn’t on his itinerary to be sitting at the Golden House Theatre, waiting for one of Zhongli’s old friends to take the stage. He should be at the studio finishing up his client’s latest single. While Xiao’s career path had been heavily influenced by his mission, he still took his job very seriously. He wasn’t sure why he had accepted Zhongli’s invitation. Deep down he had a strange feeling that he’d regret it if he didn’t attend.
“According to the pamphlet you elected to ignore, he will be next,” Zhongli answered for him.
Xiao huffed, his leg bouncing anxiously. Reaching over Zhongli’s lap, he swiped the concert pamphlet, flipping through the pages until he landed on the person he was waiting to see. A violinist from Mondstadt named Venti.
There was something oddly familiar about the man’s face that stared back at him. Round cheeks, large aurora borealis green eyes, and a wide joyful smile that even the sun would be envious of for being so bright. He was most certainly Xiao’s type. In his peripheral vision, Zhongli gave Xiao a small knowing smile, which made him feel even more on edge.
The soft whispers of the crowd hushed as the man from the picture took the stage holding his violin. A small gasp escaped Xiao’s lips. Venti was even more beautiful in person than his photo had suggested.
Venti’s eyes scanned the audience before they settled on Xiao, which was impossible right? Heat rushed to Xiao’s cheeks as Venti winked before raising his violin to his shoulder.
The first note made the world go dark. Xiao’s mouth went dry and his throat tightened as he held down a strangled sob. From the first note alone — he knew. The song that he had long searched for was now playing in his ears. He couldn’t move, couldn’t speak, only stared as Venti played, his eyes fixed on Xiao.
Then, as the music began to build, the world burst into thousands of colours as memories passed through Xiao’s mind, swirling around him like a whirlwind. It was like an unearthed galaxy had opened up in his mind. He blinked, and then he was in another world — of a life and memories of a time long forgotten.
Whenever Xiao visited Mondstadt, he felt like he was walking on clouds. Perhaps it was due to him being further away from the ancient evils he fought for a living, or was it due to the nation’s archon’s influence? He could ask, all he had to do was open his mouth and the person above him would respond, but Xiao didn’t want that. He was enjoying their tranquil moment. His head situated Venti’s lap, Venti with his lyre out, melodies mixing with the gentle breeze as he played.
“Say, my dearest Xiao, shall I play my newest song for you? In return, you’ll have to give me an honest review!” Venti proposed, his eyes twinkling in the sunlight.
As if Xiao would ever say no.
He nodded, reaching up to adjust the floppy hat on the bard’s head, which had once again shifted, threatening to fall off. Venti had reassured him that his hat would never touch the ground unless he allowed it; yet Xiao didn’t fully trust the archon.
“If you say it’s bad, you’ll be cursed with a thousand years of bad luck,’ Venti teased before his fingers brushed against the strings on his lyre. A beautiful tune played out, dancing on the wind, light as a feather.
Warmth fluttered in Xiao’s heart as he listened, letting the music guide him on a journey. Venti’s gentle voice filled the space, singing a tale of a hero who shields themselves away from the world. Their hands, their own door, blocking the entrance to their heart. Venti continues, begging the hero to reach out and take his hand, to allow him to open up their world. He pleads, Please let me show you how you appear to me.
Xiao’s breath hitched as Venti continued, The light of my life, please take my hand. Allow me to guide you to a safe place.
It was personal. Something deep within Venti — he sang his truth. As the song closed silence fell over the pair. Neither spoke as Xiao reached his hand up, caressing Venti’s round cheek to wipe away a single tear running down his face.
“It was beautiful,” Xiao whispered. “I loved it.”
Venti hummed, “Really? I personally think it would sound better as a duet; don’t you think?”
Xiao wanted to wholeheartedly disagree. Anyone next to Venti would dull in comparison. Venti was the brightest star, a light that could be seen across the rolling hills of Mondstadt. Did he not know of his own brilliance? Of the way he had saved Xiao with a simple tune? And how every day Xiao thanked the gods that he was able to be in Venti’s life.
Venti was unlike anyone Xiao had ever met. His compassion, his gentle nature, the way he teased Xiao — his laughter ringing like church bells, were all permanently marked on Xiao’s soul. How he spent countless sleepless nights wondering who it was who would be lucky enough to win over Venti’s heart. How he desperately wished it would be him, yet he knew it would never be.
“It’s for you,” Venti supplied quietly. “All of it. The song… me. It’s yours for the taking.”
Time slowed as Xiao processed Venti’s words. Words that had seemed impossible, for why would someone as bright and beautiful as Venti want someone as damaged as him? Someone who only knew the horrors and evils of the world, who carried them with him, draped around him in the form of invisible chains.
How could he provide Venti with anything worthwhile? Was his love truly enough? Would it convey his feelings properly? Show Venti how deeply cared for him, how one day he had titled Xiao’s world and forever changed its direction.
“You don’t understand how easy it is to love you, Xiao,” Venti confessed. “My melodies were broken until you came along. You breathed life back into my songs. I wish to do the same for you. Will you let me?”
Xiao was almost certain his heart was going to burst into a thousand fireworks. Venti’s tunes… they were the one thing that calmed the karmic debt that haunted him daily. But it wasn’t just his songs. Venti made his heart ache, burning with a fiery need. A want so strong that it could tear the sky in two.
A desire he was losing control over.
He pulled on Venti’s face, tugging him down, their lips breaths apart. Venti was still, his green eyes staring at Xiao with wonder. And then Xiao closed the distance between them, his lips pressing against Venti’s. They were soft — just as he had always dreamed they would be. The taste of apples filled his senses as his hand slid around Venti’s face to bury his fingers in the silky strands of his hair.
Venti’s hat slid from his head, falling to the ground with a thump as Venti adjusted himself, cupping Xiao’s face to kiss him harder.
Arms wrapped protectively around Xiao’s limp body as realization struck: he was going to die. His vision was already hazy. He tried to recall what had happened, but it was already slipping. A nasty fight, a tough opponent, and lots of blood were all moments washed away from his mind, yet all Xiao could remember clearly was his desperate need to see Venti.
He’d shown up in front of his lover, all bloodied, and out of breath before he collapsed onto the ground. Venti had scooped him up, panic crossing his beautiful features.
“Xiao?” His voice was a hoarse whisper.
“It is too late,” Xiao coughed, blood leaking from his lips. “The karmic debt that has plagued me for years has finally won the battle.”
“No, no. This can’t be happening… my music—”
“Was lovely and numbed the pain but it never made it go away.”
“There has to be something,” Venti argued, his grip on Xiao’s body slipping as his body trembled.
“There is one thing… One final wish I want you to grant.”
“Yes! Anything! You know, I would move the lands for you, Xiao. All you have to do is ask.”
“I wish to hear you sing in my final moments.”
Venti sucked in a harsh breath as if Xiao had slapped him. He blinked back his tears before slowly summoning his lyre.
“Then I will gift you this song. Your song. Our song. A song that will transcend time and space. It will lead us back to one another. In our next lives, it will be the thread that ties us.”
“Venti…”
“Yes, my love?”
“I’m glad that I will die as yours.”
A sob hiccupped from Venti as his composure slipped. “I love you, Xiao,” he whispered, placing a tender kiss on Xiao’s temple, his tears spilling freely from his eyes.
Venti’s lyre appeared in his hands. He started to sing, his voice shaking. It was the song that Xiao had come to love. A song that was made just for him. A song he would carry into his next life as he waited for Venti.
“I love you too, Venti,” Xiao whispered as the world faded into darkness.
The last thing he heard was the sound of Venti’s voice singing him to sleep. Singing their song. If there was a god listening, if fate would allow it, Xiao wished that he would meet Venti in his next life and experience falling in love again.
It was a standing ovation. The crowd cheered, clapping until their hands stung. Xiao remained in his seat. He didn’t even notice the stream of salty tears until they hit his lips. When did they? Perhaps from the very first note.
Venti lowered his bow, his face glimmering under the spotlights. Was he… also crying? His shoulders shook silently as he bowed deeply, the cheers growing louder.
The whole theatre faded from view as Venti became the single focus. The sound of the crowd clapping, their cheers, their presence — all gone. It was only Venti.
How had he gone so long without Venti? With a missing part of his heart. Had they ever passed by unbeknownst to one another in the streets? Why was he wasting a single second longer without his love in his arms?
The sound of his seat returning to its folded position rang in his ears as Xiao bolted up, the pamphlet he had been clutching unknowingly falling to the ground in a crumpled mess. Zhongli called out to him, surprised, and concerned. Xiao wasn’t sure, and at that moment didn’t care. He pushed past the people in his row, squeezing this way through with apology after apology escaping his lips.
By the time he made it out, Venti had already left the stage, another musician taking his place. Xiao wasn’t going to let him slip through his fingers. Not when they were so close. Not when he finally remembered.
He was utterly foolish! How could he have forgotten? Those gentle touches, tender kisses, fond smiles. The way Venti’s hand in his warmed his brittle heart. How, after a long day of battling the ancient evils of Liyue, Venti’s very presence would blow away his tiredness like dandelion seeds in the wind.
With his heart in his throat, Xiao ran out of the auditorium, his eyes searching for the entrance to backstage. He found the discreet door, pulling it open to reveal a chaotic environment of stagehands running about, earpieces pressed in their ears as they worked tirelessly to keep the concert going without a hitch.
No one noticed him as he snuck past the wings and down the stairs leading to the dressing rooms. His steps were quiet as he hurried from room to room peaking inside and looking for that face that was now burned in his mind.
“Can I help you?” a sweet and feminine voice asked, tapping on his shoulder.
Xiao jumped, turning to see a musician with blonde pigtails staring at him curiously. He must have looked like such a creep! Peeping into different dressing rooms, but his reasoning was completely shot.
“I’m looking for someone. Venti. The violinist from Mondstadt. It’s urgent.”
“Venti? He already left. Apparently, he has an early flight out tomorrow.”
No. No. No!
“He just left through the backstage exit. If you’re quick, you might catch—”
The rest of the words from the girl’s lips were lost as Xiao ran. He cursed himself for holing up in the recording studio most days for his physique had started to decay and now was the time he needed his stamina. His chest heaved as he navigated through the crowded and hot dressing area before large doors leading to the loading dock appeared. A single door next to the dock was propped open for a feeble attempt at an airway for the musicians.
Xiao ripped open the door, moonlight pouring over him as he stepped out into the night. His eyes scanned the area for any signs of the person he had been missing. In his peripheral vision, a glowing green caught his attention. A bright green coat, illuminated by parking lot lights was walking away from him.
His feet started moving before his mind caught up. Xiao raced towards the figure, noticing a grey instrument case in the person’s hand. It was his only hope. It only increased when he heard the light humming of his song — their song. The song that would tie them together so they could find one another again.
“Excuse me,” Xiao said, his voice shaking. “Venti?” His name on Xiao’s tongue was heavy, almost impossible to pass by his lips for how his throat tightened, squeezing shut so even air struggled to reach his lungs.
He was scared. Scared that it was only him, that Venti had forgotten as well. That he had moved on. That he hadn’t felt that there was a missing piece of his heart since he was born.
“I’m sorry. I’m not in the mood for autographs.” Venti waved his hand in dismissal. “Please leave me alone.”
Xiao reached out, his hand wrapping around Venti’s wrist and tugged. Venti turned, his green eyes wide as they locked with Xiao, the smile slipping from his lips as recognition crossed his features.
“Xiao?” Venti whispered. “Is that…really you?”
Words piled in Xiao’s mouth. There was so much he wanted to say. I kept our song safe after all these years so I could return it to you. I carried it in my heart, searching for the one it belonged to. I never gave up. I am still and forever yours.
I love you.
What had once started as two souls finding solace in one another and healing the other’s hurt had grown into something deeper and more precious. One that could surpass death, a fate that could never be broken.
Xiao had searched his whole life for the mysterious song. And now, he had finally found its owner. His search was over. There was only one thing left to do.
“Do you mind playing that song again? I think I’ve heard it somewhere before.”