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As Xiao teleported back to the Wangshu Inn balcony after a gruelling day of fending off dangerous foes that threatened the sanctity of Liyue, he was met with an unexpected sight - the carefree Anemo Archon himself, Venti, casually lounging upon one of the chairs whilst playing on his lyre a soothing sound that Xiao was not familiar with.
“It’s you,” Xiao's brows furrowed, a mix of confusion and wariness flickering across his stoic features. What in Teyvat could have prompted Venti to seek him out?
Venti gave a small hum to ensure that Xiao’s words had not gone unheard, but the song he played continued. Xiao, despite his initial surprise, felt a pang of curiosity as to the bard’s intentions.
“Has something happened?” Xiao’s impatience got the better of him and this earned a small chuckle from the Archon, his head turning to give a small shake towards the Yaksha. Xiao couldn’t help but watch the way his neat braids danced with his head movement and because he was aware of the lack of threat, he calmed down and listened.
After a few more moments of soothing music from the lyre, Venti finished his song.
“Hello, Xiao!” he finally greeted, happy and carefree as ever. “Sorry for not responding to you right away, I was suddenly struck with inspiration that I just had to play before it was lost.”
Xiao nodded. “I didn’t expect to see you here, which is why I asked if there was something wrong.”
“Nothing wrong at all, my dear Xiao, I’m simply here visiting an old friend.” Venti’s smile was sweet, and it never failed to make Xiao’s heart flutter once it was directed towards him. “I had just finished my visit to the ever so welcoming Geo Archon, but that old blockhead still-”
“Watch your words, Lord Barbatos.” Xiao growled; his eyes narrow in his annoyance. Venti blinked slightly taken back by the sudden change but smiled in understanding. Xiao was very protective of his Archon and rightfully so.
“Forgive me, I meant Zhongli, ehe.” Venti raised his hands up defensively and stuck out his tongue playfully, trying to pull Xiao back into light-hearted conversation. “How many times do I have to remind you that I prefer to go by Venti now?”
“I will respect your wishes if you show respect to mine. Rex La- I mean, Zhongli is important to me, and I will not have his name be disrespected by anyone, not even you.” Xiao folded his arms across his chest and looked Venti dead in the eyes.
Venti giggled. “Alright, alright, I get it. You know I only jest, I have nothing against Zhongli. Despite his contradicting actions, we are good friends, you know? Just think of it as playful banter.”
“Hmph.”
Venti’s chuckle was nervous but light. “Anyway, how has my favourite Adeptus been doing?”
Xiao decided to give in to small talk he would usually deem pointless because Venti had travelled all this way after all.
“Fine.”
He was an Adeptus of little words. Venti knew this and didn’t seem to mind at all, he only beamed at his response.
“I’m glad to hear it! I hope that Karmic debt of yours hasn’t been giving you too much trouble?” Venti stepped closer to him however, the voices of guests coming up the stairs reminded Xiao that they were not in a confidential space and their conversations were not meant for mortal ears.
“Please follow me, Lord – Uh, Venti.”
“Lord Venti?” of course Venti would giggle at that, and Xiao cursed the heat rising to his face at the sweet sound that was his laughter. “I like that!”
“Enough. Come this way,” Xiao hissed, grabbing onto his wrist and dragging him off the balcony and away from the other guests.
★・・・★・・・★・・・★
Once they made it into Xiao’s room, Xiao made sure to close the door behind them, securing their privacy. It was only after he turned to notice Venti taking it upon himself to show himself around that he realised he didn’t really invite others into his room.
He rarely slept and only returned to this room when completely necessary for rest, which was a rare occurrence. The room looked pretty much untouched aside from a few objects on the shelves that Xiao collected over the years.
“I… apologize for the mess?” Xiao tried, realising there wasn’t really a mess to apologize for, but he felt like something should have been said. “I don’t usually invite people back here.”
“Oh, Xiao, you needn’t apologize to me. I think this room suits you very well, actually!” Venti held his arms out wide and gave a whimsical spin around the large space. Xiao watched, almost enchanted by his movements. How could he manage to make anything look so mesmerizing? Xiao snapped out of his thoughts when he heard a sudden disapproving hum from the Anemo Archon.
“What is it?”
“It would appear that Zhongli was right to be concerned about this,” Venti’s attention was focused upon the medicines that have piled up on the bedside table, a clear indication that Xiao had been neglecting to take them.
Once Venti’s disappointed eyes turned to meet his, Xiao quickly avoided eye contact and looked off to picture frame that he decided looked more interesting in that moment.
“Xiao,” Venti chided. “Why haven’t you been taking your medicine? Doesn’t it help you feel better?”
“Not really,” Xiao muttered. “Did Rex Lapis order you to investigate this?”
“Ah ah ah,” Venti wagged a finger in Xiao’s direction. “It’s Mr Zhongli, remember? Even I can hear his disapproving tone now. But to answer your question, no, he did not order me to do anything. As if I would do so even if he did.” Venti muttered the last part, almost amused by the accusation. “He mentioned his concerns to me, and I wanted to see for myself if you were taking care of yourself.”
“Both of you can rest assured that I am well and taking care of myself just fine.”
Venti’s eyes gazed upon the medicines again. “Uh huh.”
“I do not need to rely on medicines when I have been dealing with this for years. I am more than used to it.”
“Just because you have been dealing with it for years doesn’t mean you have to continue to suffer with it. If there are easier ways to do it, surely that’s the best choice, right?” Venti approached with a medicine vial in his hand. “Come on, Xiao.”
“It matters not. I will atone for my actions and suffer the consequences as they are presented to me.” Xiao barely noticed that Venti had approached so close until he turned and noticed the grinning Archon just inches from his face. Startled by the sudden closeness, he flinches. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You’re so stubborn,” Venti giggled and held up the medicine to his face. “Take your medicine.”
“No.”
“Yes!”
“No!”
“Yes!”
“No, Venti!”
“I’ll tickle you!”
“You- What?” Xiao barely had time to register the words because those pesky fingers were prodding into his sides. The undignified yelp that left Xiao’s lips was embarrassing and he immediately grabbed onto Venti’s wrists. “Stop that!”
“Will you take your medicine?”
Xiao stared at the grinning Archon. He knew that grin. That was a ‘I’m not stopping until I’ve gotten my way’ grin.
“You’re such a child,” Xiao groaned, before another startled yelp was forced from him when Venti’s fingers poked at his belly. “S-Stop!”
Venti persisted, pulling his wrists free from Xiao’s grasp at amazing speed before bringing them to his ribs, unleashing another tickle attack and sang. “Tickle, tickle!”
Heat rose to Xiao’s face in flustered embarrassment as he squirmed, trying to get away from the onslaught of tickles from Venti but he annoyingly held on to him before he could get too far. Venti was probably the only other person who discovered how ticklish the Adeptus was once he saw the traveller tickle him some time ago.
He could have spared Xiao and acted like he never saw anything. But of course not, he decided to use it against him whenever he saw fit, exploiting his tickle spots with endless torment. Xiao wasn’t much of a giggler, he had breathy laughter, almost as if his voice was not used to making these sounds at all. But as soon as Venti’s fingers traced around to his back and tickled there, that’s when the laughter started to pick up.
“Aw, is your back ticklish, Xiao?” he had the audacity to laugh at him through this torture.
“Venti! – ahaha – stop!” Xiao wheezed, his mind going fuzzy with the ticklish sensations inflicted upon him. “Please!”
“I’ll stop when you take your medicine, Xiao! We care about you, you know? We want you to feel better,” Venti lectured, which would have been received if Xiao wasn’t currently battling for air right now. Venti’s fingers came to a slow halt as his arms wrapped tightly around Xiao in a warm embrace.
Xiao, while catching his breath, stared over Venti’s shoulder in confusion by this sudden contact.
“You don’t deserve to suffer the way you do,” Venti whispered, his voice sounding solemn which surprised the Adeptus. “I helped you once. I’ll do it again and again, if I must.”
“Venti… you don’t need to concern yourself with-”
“Stop saying that!” Venti pulled out of the embrace, placing his hands upon Xiao’s shoulders to lock eyes with him. “I am concerned. Zhongli is concerned, the traveller, heck, I’m pretty sure even most of Liyue is concerned about the remaining Yaksha! Why do you insist on taking on this burden alone?”
Xiao blinked, stunned to silence. He had never seen this side of Venti before; the bard was usually so carefree and mischievous. Did his behaviour really upset him this much?
There was a prolonged silence before Xiao reached for the medicine vial still within Venti’s palm. “I’ll take the medicine.”
Venti’s smile returned at his words, though Xiao could tell that it didn’t reach his eyes.
“My silly adeptus,” he cooed, cupping Xiao’s cheeks into his hands and using a thumb to gently stroke along the bone. “Thank you.”
Xiao hummed in response, his golden eyes looking downwards to avoid Venti’s gaze.
“Will you be heading back to Mondstadt?” Xiao changed the subject, not comfortable with the previous tone of conversation. Venti’s finger booped his nose before he back away from the Yaksha.
“Maybe tomorrow,” he replied, stretching his arms above his head and letting out a loud and obnoxious yawn. “I’m tired.”
“Then you may use my room tonight to rest,” Xiao offered before taking the medicine as promised, which Venti smiled gratefully for.
“Stay with me?” He asked gently, not wanting to startle Xiao. He giggled at Xiao’s grimace from the medicine before noting the small nod from him.
“As you wish.”