Work Text:
Music was blasting through the nearby speakers as Xiao sat uncomfortably on a couch in the corner of the room. It was not the couch that was uncomfortable, but rather the fact that he hadn’t been meaning to come in the first place and felt like leaving already.
Hu Tao had convinced him to attend the party with the promise of delivering him almond tofu for a whole week. He didn’t really get why she wanted him to come so badly when she knew he hated college parties. She was also quick to leave his side and went ahead to have fun.
Xiao got out his phone, ready to message her he was leaving when he felt someone approaching from the side.
“Hey, Xiao.”
He looked up to find Heizou greeting him. They weren’t super close but knew each other from the dojo club activities they both attended every week.
“We’re playing ‘Seven minutes in heaven’. Wanna join?”
He almost scoffed at how ridiculous that question sounded directed at him. Containing himself to not seem rude, his lips curved up sarcastically instead. “I’m the last person you should be asking that, you know.”
Heizou smiled, like he was expecting he’d say that. “Mhm, i figured as much,” he said, scratching his head while pretending to think for a while.
“Yeah,” Xiao stood up, turning away. “Anyways, I was about to leave so-“
“Venti is there.”
Xiao stilled in place, though it took him only a second to compose himself. He turned around to face Heizou while doing his best not to show any suspicious reaction. “What about it?”
“Oh, you know. Anyone would get excited about a game where you go inside a closet if there’s a chance it will be with your crush.”
Heizou was openly teasing him at this point, knowing exactly what he was doing.
Xiao really did scoff this time, hands in his pockets while looking him in the eye. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You don’t know what I'm talking about,” Heizou deadpanned. “It’s painfully obvious, though.”
He knew Heizou was probably right, with the way Xiao kept stealing glances in Venti’s direction any chance he could since the start of the semester. How he stayed longer at the college music club just as an excuse to talk with Venti a little. Or the times he attended his sister Ganyu’s archery lessons just to look at him from the benches. But hell if he was ever going to admit that to anyone.
“Okay, where are you even going with this?” he asked, getting impatient as his urge to leave only got worse.
“Yeah, uh, I'll be honest. We’re placing bets on whether you’d join the game or not. I betted yes so I'm here to practice my persuasion skills,” Heizou said almost proudly, hands on his hips like he was so sure of what he was doing.
Xiao looked at him like he was stupid.
“Oh, I get it. Now’s the part where you threaten that if I don't play you’ll tell Venti about whatever you were saying before, is that it?”
“That was the plan at first but then I had an even better idea. If you join the game, not only will your ‘secret’ be safe, but you’ll be guaranteed to be chosen and go inside that closet with him.”
Guaranteed?? What was this, some gacha game? Xiao thought, currently a slight mix of confusion and disgust apparent on his face.
“I- what??”
“We have ways to cheat the system, don’t question it,” Heizou replied gesturally.
“Aren’t you supposed to be a law student?”
“Oh cmon, live a little. This is all harmless fun,” he heard him say as he felt two hands on his shoulders, dangerously shaking the last remnants of patience he had left.
“Who else is in on this…bet?”
“The twins.”
“Shit,” he tugged at his hair, “Always sticking their nose into everyone’s business.” He was now realising Hu Tao was in on it too, luring him to the party in the first place.
“Think of it as a little push. So, you coming?”
“No, I'm leaving.” He turned around again hurrying for the exit before Heizou could scare him any further into it. Xiao had barely walked a few steps when he felt a hand grab at his shoulder, turning him around to face the wine haired boy again.
“Hey, if you don’t play, somebody else is gonna go in your place and kiss him instead.”
Xiao made a face, vision going red for a split second despite him being completely sober. He felt sick just at the thought of anyone else touching Venti. Not that it was any of his business, but the urge to go home had vanished completely.
“Trust me on this and I’ll make sure you come out of that closet with a boyfriend, no pun intended.” Xiao didn’t believe the boyfriend part at all, but he might as well try.
“I’ll need a shot.”
Heizou’s face immediately lit up. “Sure thing.”
He quickly went to get Xiao a shot of something dubious. As for Xiao, he ended up having two, landing the cup harshly on a nearby table before both of them made their way back to where the game was happening.
“Remember, just be yourself,” Heizou said, arm hanging over his shoulders and a glint of deviousness in those green eyes. “You got this, lover boy.”
“Yeah, maybe shut up before I change my mind.”
Heizou stifled a laugh as he approached the others. Everyone was sitting on the floor forming a circle, with a bottle laying at the very center.
“Hey guys, I brought another victim.”
There were a good number of participants, a little over fifteen people. A few faces turned their way and he recognised some of them.
“Welcome, Xiao!” he heard Lumine cheer by Aether’s side, both holding angelic faces. He swore to murder them if he ever came out of this alive.
“Hi, Xiao!”
His eyes followed the second voice, landing on Venti. He was happily smiling, looking beautiful under the colored lights coming from the ceiling. Xiao waved in acknowledgment, not being too comfortable raising his voice loud enough to be heard through the blasting music.
“Xiao, you too?!” piped Xiangling, apparently unaware of the reason behind Xiao being there.
“Yeah, we made a bet,” Heizou said as they sat down in the circle. “Don’t ask.”
Xiao stared daggers in his direction. Not that the other’s could guess, and half of them were probably tipsy anyways, but it still felt like a risky thing to say.
He slowly looked in Venti’s direction again only to find him already staring back with his head slightly tilted, a curious look in his eyes. Xiao quickly looked away.
“So, who’s in there right now?”
“Scara…and Childe,” Mona said, making a judging face.
“One of them’s not coming out alive,” he heard Signora add with a bored expression while typing something on her phone.
“Few seconds left actually.” Aether added, getting up. “Gonna check up on-“
The door next to the wall suddenly burst open.
Scaramouche came out looking pissed off and Xiao couldn’t help but wonder if he’d been baited to participate through some kind of bet as well. Calling him a chicken or implying him being scared would probably be enough to lure him. Xiao wouldn’t be surprised if Childe was behind it too with how competitive he was.
“I’m done with this fucking game,” he heard Scaramouche complain while he passed them by to leave.
“That’s not what you were saying in there!” Childe shouted after him, jogging slightly to catch up as they disappeared through the crowd.
“Guess the room’s available again.” Aether said playfully, sitting back down.
“Alright, another spin!” Lumine beamed.
Lyney, who was sitting opposite to Xiao leaned toward the center placing his hand on the bottle. “Well, allow me then,” he said, looking straight in Xiao’s direction with a teasing smile. He’d heard of Lyney before, people knew him from the card tricks he would often display. It gave Xiao a bad feeling about this whole situation.
The bottle spun fast for a few seconds, slowly stopping until it landed on someone. Xiao gulped.
“Woohoo! Finally my turn, ehe.”
Of course it landed on Venti right when he arrived. He was still sceptical of this whole thing but had to agree it was a little too coincidental. If he really thought about it, the game was likely an excuse for some huge scam based off of different bets and hosted by a bunch of idiots.
“Now for the second person,” Lumine added, giving Lyney the sign to spin again.
The bottle landed on Furina this time. Xiao sighed in relief, even though he had to acknowledge the way his heart squeezed in disappointment.
“You’re not playing right?” Aether asked.
“No, just watching the spectacle,” she grinned, turning to Venti who was sitting beside her and grabbing his jaw, planted a kiss on his cheek. “That’s all you’re getting from me, darling.”
Venti giggled, kissing her cheek in return, “Go on, pick someone else then!”
Heizou briefly explained to Xiao why she wasn’t really playing, since he lacked context. Something to do with a jealous boyfriend apparently. Lyney spun the bottle again. “Let’s make this interesting,” he said, under his breath.
Xiao wasn’t sure if they were actually spinning at random or doing this on purpose anymore. It was stressing him out. He saw as the bottle slowed down once more. It stopped, fully pointing in his direction.
He heard someone's loud whistle, but was suddenly too dazed to be aware of his surroundings. The alcohol was probably doing something already. A hand grabbed at his arm, shaking him a little. He snapped out of it. It was Heizou again.
“Told you.”
Xiao stared briefly in his direction, with an incredulous look on his face. Heizou winked back.
From his peripheral vision he could see Venti stand up and walk towards him. “Let’s go?” he asked, while smiling all pretty, hand stretched for Xiao to take. And so he did, swiftly following up while trying his best to look normal and not like his brain was freaking out.
“Don't take too long!” He heard someone yell accompanied by laughter before shutting the door behind him.
The room was in fact small, closet sized. Just a regular storage space used mostly to hang jackets and other house utilities. It had been partially cleared out for the game, with some of the stuff relocated to another room or pushed back into one of the corners.
It was dark, taking him a few seconds to adjust to the barely visible light coming from the gap under the door. Xiao could now see Venti’s face even if only just enough to make out his features up close.
His stomach churned.
Xiao focused the best he could on Venti’s aquamarine eyes glowing in the dark, only to keep himself grounded. He was tipsy but it should be okay. He should be able to act like he wasn’t.
“Ahem…” Venti coughed awkwardly after a moment of Xiao not moving. He blinked twice. “Sooo, you’re here for a bet, huh,” he said playfully.
More like a threat, Xiao thought to himself.
“Yeah, something like that,” he said instead, looking to the side. “How about you?”
“Well, Lumine said it would be fun,” he said, placing his hands behind his back. “Or was supposed to. I was actually getting a little bored just sitting there until…now.”
There it was again, Lumine’s involvement in all this, always her and her brother. So annoying.
With focusing on that, Xiao didn’t really pick up the subtle pause Venti did at the end. Filtering any nuances out.
Shit.
Was he getting bored of being stuck in here with him? Xiao was sweating just trying to figure out how to go from there. Getting some info out of him didn’t seem like a bad choice.
“Uh, right,” he started, looking back up. “So, s’there someone out there you wanted to be picked? For uhm, actual kissing?” Xiao regretted those words as soon as they left his mouth. Made him cringe at himself.
Venti hummed, slightly balancing back and forth by shifting the weight on his feet. “Yeah, there was.”
Oh. He had no chances then. Venti was probably crushing on someone who was sitting right outside.
“They’re actually in here with me now, so.”
Archons. He was beginning to believe someone spiked his drink and this was all some vivid hallucination. His heart picked up, strong thuds banging against his chest. Surely he didn’t hear that right.
“Uh, in here?” He tried.
“Mhm, one and one makes two and you're looking very kissable,” Venti said, seemingly without effort. “Unless you’d rather talk about the weather for the next 5 minutes, your choice.”
Xiao thanked Celestia for how dark it was because he could physically feel the redness on his face. He also hoped that the deep bass sounds coming from outside were enough to cover up how loud his heart was beating.
“Yeah, uhm,” he started, looking away as he dragged his hand over his hair. “I hate talking about the weather.”
He heard Venti giggle as he reached to place his hands around Xiao’s neck. “How about it then?” Venti asked softly, face barely inches away.
Staring back into his eyes, Xiao didn’t answer. He looked down at his lips instead, tilting his head just right.
The next second they were leaning in, meeting each other halfway.
It was a shy kiss at first. Venti tasted of cherries and wine, skin soft and plush. It didn’t take long before he felt the tip of a tongue tentatively licking at his bottom lip. Like he was giving Xiao a hint to deepen it if he felt like it.
Xiao answered by putting his hands on Venti’s waist, tipsiness helping him loosen up, bringing them closer to deepen the kiss. It felt good, not like anything he’d ever experienced. Slow in a pleasant way, like they both wanted to take their time even if they were probably down to only 4 minutes.
His whole body was hot, making him wonder when or why the temperature had risen. He did not know, but the game’s name suddenly made all the sense in the world. However many minutes in heaven, he was tasting it directly. Celestia being so kind as to send him their loveliest angel. What the hell.
Venti let out a cute noise. Shit, I'm screwed… As that thought crossed his mind Venti pulled Xiao hard by the neck which made them lose balance, stumbling backwards towards the wall. Xiao firmly placed a hand to it, steadying both of them. Venti’s back was pressed against the hard surface and he felt him smile into the kiss, pulling Xiao to be further consumed by it.
There was a sudden knock on the door, followed by that same door opening wide.
“Time's up! Out you g- oh!”
Aether found them pressed against each other. Venti looked back with an entertained smile, pink cheeks yet completely unbothered. As for Xiao it took him a second to process where he was again and what exactly he was doing, but as soon as it clicked he pulled himself off quickly, ending up with his back glued all the way to the opposite wall of the closet. Like that would be of any use to undo them getting ‘caught’.
Moving towards the door handle, Venti grabbed it while announcing loudly enough.
“We’ll be needing 7 more!”
He shut the door again with a bang.
***
Xiao woke up the next day with an awful headache.
He remembered pretty much everything. Especially the kiss - or well, string of kisses that went on for more than the initially established time limit, with Venti deciding by himself they deserved a round two. It kept playing in his head on repeat and he kinda wanted to bury himself in a hole. It couldn’t have been a dream, too much detail.
Xiao ended up going home right after, feeling too awkward to stick around. Not that he had the energy even if he was that type of person, Venti had sucked the life out of him.
Tired of sticking to his bed, Xiao got up to put something in his stomach, popping a painkiller to go with it.
Rays of sun warmed his face as he looked outside the small kitchen’s window. Something about the calming morning after a crazy night — for his standards anyways — made him want to pick up his guitar.
Xiao looked back to his bunk bed where his poor roommate was still sleeping and completely knocked out, most likely from all the partying he’d done the night before.
Since he couldn’t really be making noise at this hour he decided to go out. Taking a quick shower he grabbed his guitar case and made his way toward the music club.
It was a Saturday and the halls were mostly empty. Xiao’s hair was still humid from the shower as he approached the room, not having dried it properly.
He grabbed at the door handle looking up in motion as he pushed it open.
As soon as the room came into view, there was an inner jumpscare moment that he willed himself to push down in favor of tripping or looking like a literal spooked cat. Xiao held his breath instead, locking eyes with the twin braided student who had just turned his head to see who had arrived.
Venti sat on top of an individual desk near the windows while holding onto a guitar. He was basking in sunlight that came through to brighten his figure, giving a sense of etherealness to the otherwise average scene. Xiao could clearly see his features which contrasted with the lower lights from the night before.
It was still beyond him how he managed to kiss Venti, who was currently staring as if he was just as surprised as Xiao felt, double blinking while a comical few seconds went by. He had a notebook lying to his side. Most likely for writing down any tunes or lyrics he came up with.
Another silent beat and Venti's face melted into a smile, eyes crinkling at the corners. “Heya, Xiao.”
Xiao gulped as he came to the realization that he interrupted his crush right in the middle of his solo session.
“Hi, uhm. I’m sorry, I’ll let you practice,” he let out, humbly backing away while closing the door. He could’ve sworn he heard Venti shout ‘wait’ from inside. Must be some residual hangover effect, he thought, with his hand still lingering against the doorknob.
Not a second later and the door was opening wide.
“Don’t go!” Venti shouted, having the phrase echo in the empty corridor. Second jumpscare, and somehow Xiao had the power to still in place a second time. Subtle agape mouth being the only visible emotion on his face.
“We can practice together, you know?” He knew, and wanted to slap himself for hesitating so much. Then another slap for getting flashbacks of the kissing that happened inside the cramped closet just some hours prior. It was doing things to him.
“Yeah?” he asked dumbly, like he needed a minute to reload his basic human functions.
“Duh,” Venti intoned, rolling his eyes affectionately. “Cmon.”
A hand was already closing on his wrist to pull him inside, barely giving him a chance to close the door. Xiao felt a small instance of deja vu, having performed the exact same motion the night before. “Didn’t think you’d be up so early,” he heard Venti say while happily leading them both back to the desk and hopping on to it.
“Makes two of us,” Xiao replied, sitting on the desk opposite of him and laying his own guitar to his side.
“Who, me?” he asked, while getting comfy as he grabbed back his own guitar. “I left early yesterday. Or well, shortly after our… closet meeting,” he smiled all giddy.
“Yeah, uh,” Xiao tried, gaining a small tint across his cheeks as he opened his guitar case. “I did too. Leave early, I mean.”
A few waves of melody started around them as Venti lightly ran his fingers through the strings. “I get it, the fun was over anyways,” he teased, tongue poking out cutely. He looked way too adorable. “Wanna practice together?”
Xiao nodded. He was glad they could just play, and not think too much about what to say or not. They went over some of the songs they were used to practising every week with other members. Venti also showed him a few of his own personal tunes. It felt pleasant just hanging out together like this. Xiao was grateful that there was no real need to go over what happened yesterday, which enabled him to relax. Yet, he was also itching to get his feelings across. It was okay like this, sure, but not good enough.
He remembered Heizou’s words that got such a strong reaction out of him that night. ‘Somebody else is gonna go in your place and kiss him instead’. Kissing be damned, he wanted way more than a couple of minutes with Venti. Not to be dramatic but was a whole lifetime too much to ask?
Time was ticking, and if he didn’t make a move then someone else could steal him away. Something about ‘next morning clarity’ was making him realize that he’d rather make a fool of himself than to stay in a ‘what could’ve been’ state forever.
He mentally apologised to Venti in advance for being about to interrupt the nice little music encounter they were having at the moment. None of them were playing now, with Venti scrolling through his phone trying to find sheets for another song.
“Hey, Venti.”
Venti lifted his head to look up at him. “Yes?”
His stomach flipped.
“I…what happened yesterday…”
“You mean the game?”
Xiao gripped the edge of the table, trying his best to decide on how to even go about this. Unplanned talks about feelings had to be his worst enemy.
“Yeah, uhm. I don’t think it’s worth explaining the whole thing but there was some bet going on…“
“Is this about you being uncomfortable at some point? Maybe I pushed it with the second round?”
“No! It was fine.”
“But you regret it?”
“I don’t. It’s just…I wish it had been different.”
Venti tilted his head to the side.
“Sorry, I'm confused.”
“I like you.”
Venti’s eyes widened slightly.
“I feel I might have ruined any chance of asking you out because of it. Or, I don’t know, I just wish it hadn’t taken someone’s bet for me to make a move.”
Venti’s cheeks became a soft pink and his heart was picking up unbeknownst to Xiao.
“Oh!”
“Sorry, I’m not good at this at all,” he huffed out a laugh, looking away while grabbing at his hair shyly.
“Hey, Xiao.”
Xiao looked back up to see a warm expression on Venti’s face.
“I’m happy you told me,” he said, looking a little mushy. “I like you too, actually.”
“Huh? You…?”
“I know, crazy stuff right? You should totally ask me out or something.” Xiao kept staring at him, face hot. It’s not that he didn’t think Venti wouldn’t like him back at all. Especially with the way they kissed yesterday like they were both starved. But it was still shocking to have it confirmed and hearing him say it clear as day. Xiao was feeling so happy it took him a while to react. “Unless you don't— Ha. I’m getting ahead of myself aren’t I, oops.”
“Are you free later today?”
Venti visibly calmed down after getting a little too excited.
“Woah, two dates in one day, starting out strong i see.” he teased, hopping down from his table and up again to sit next to Xiao. “But yes, I am. Here.”
Xiao was now holding a phone with a space to input his contact. He couldn’t help but smile at Venti’s joke, tugging at his bottom lip a little. “It can wait till tomorrow if you need a breather,” he replied, surprising even himself. Venti reciprocating his confession was somewhat giving him a boost in confidence.
“Pffft, that should be my line!” Venti argued, taking back his phone once Xiao finished typing. “You’re more straightforward than I thought, you know. Maybe we should go for round three.”
“We just might with how close you’re getting,” he teased back, looking up at Venti whose face was inches away at this point.
Venti blushed a darker pink, feeling a pang in his chest.
“Cat got your tongue?” Xiao seemed to be on a roll, because his default filter was out the window, nowhere to be seen. Venti seemed to snap out of it too.
“I don't know, are you a cat?” he asked, pouty.
Xiao turned his face away, unable to hide a satisfied smile. He picked up his guitar once more. Venti was too adorable for his own good. “We should practice.”
Venti giggled, delighted at their silly back and forth. “Yeah, yeah. We should.”
They resumed their session, with Venti occasionally mentioning some of yesterday's happenings at the party that he found funny. It was more natural than Xiao had hoped. Playing their instruments and commenting on how they should go about this or that part eased up the awkwardness that was also a part of any confession scene. With the little laughs and blushes still present, yet flowing nicely in the set mood.
Xiao was most of all relieved that they could still interact as they did before, more intimately too as time went by and as they now knew they were both interested in one another.
Venti had to leave after a while to go on a shopping date he had planned with Furina, so they parted ways with the promise to go out later in the day.
As Xiao walked back to his dorm he felt his phone buzz in his pocket. Fetching it out, he swiped to find his first message from Venti.
Today [11:41 am]:
Can’t wait for more minutes in heaven with you~
Xiao smiled for the nth time that day.
He suddenly wanted to thank Heizou for giving him that initial push. Maybe college games weren’t so bad after all.