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There was something off in the Angel's Share that night, Diluc noticed. There was laughter and chatter as per usual, sure, even Rosaria and Kaeya were being their usual selves seated at the bar.
However, there was one customer who was not acting their usual selves. The bard.
Venti had been in the tavern for a few hours and had not yet once gotten up to sing or even talk to anyone. Heck, he was still only on his first glass of Dandelion wine of the night, that is when Diluc knew something was amiss.
The Anemo Archon idly twirled the end of one of his teal braids, staring into his untouched wine glass. Something was clearly weighing on his mind.
Just as the pyro user was about to offer a comment to the bard, Kaeya beat him to it.
“You’re awfully quiet this evening,” The cryo users both had their attention on him. “Don’t tell me the wine is no longer living up to your tastes.”
Venti’s grin did not meet his eyes as he looked over to them. “Ah! No, no, the wine is as delightful as ever. Sometimes it’s nice to just take in your surroundings.”
“Are you sick?” Rosaria then asked and Venti shook his head.
“Worry not, friends. I am simply here to enjoy the ambience. The pleasant glow of the lanterns, the chatter of the patrons, the clinking of glasses… it’s all very poetic, wouldn’t you agree?”
Kaeya raised an eyebrow but gave a small chuckle. “If you say so.”
Diluc however, was not convinced, his frown deepening. He recognised evasiveness when he saw it and he knew Kaeya did as well. But of course, why would the knight pry about it if there was nothing to gain, Diluc thought.
Diluc then wondered if this mood was in relation to Venti’s duties as an Archon? A looming threat to Mondstadt that he knew of and carried the burden alone? Diluc wouldn’t stand for it.
“Ahem,” he cleared his throat, grabbing the bard’s attention from across the bar. His head then jerked towards the back room. “A word?”
“Uh,” Venti hesitated for a moment, this request so sudden, but he then nodded, sliding off the stool and walked towards the back room with Diluc. The redhead turning his attention to Kaeya and was about to open his mouth to ask –
“Don’t worry, I’ll cover the bar.” Kaeya smiled, which earned both a huff and a nod from Diluc who then disappeared into the room with the bard.
When Diluc turned, he noticed that Venti was already checking out the stock kept in the room. A mistake that he may regret later, but that was for another time. The bard then turned to face him.
“Is everything alright, Master Diluc?”
“I think it should be me asking you that question,” Diluc had his arms crossed, looking at that unconvincing smile of Venti’s yet again.
“I assure you that everything is fine.”
“You’re not fooling anyone with that. We all know you well enough to see when there is something weighing on your mind. Is Mondstadt in danger?”
“What- No! Of course not, I wouldn’t keep something like that to myself!” Venti defended, his hands waving.
“Then what’s the problem?”
“I really am fine,”
“Venti.”
“Really, I… wait, what are you doing?” Venti started backing up when Diluc started to approach him. As he drew near, he could see Venti becoming nervous, which amused Diluc admittedly, considering the bard was a literal god.
Diluc’s looming figure halted once Venti was back against the wall, his piercing gaze locked into Venti’s eyes.
“Last chance, bard. Are you going to tell me what’s wrong, or am I going to have to make you talk?”
Venti gulped, clearly anxious. “T-Threatening your Archon? How mean. What a cruel man you are, Mas- Wait!” Venti curled up once Diluc brought his hands to the bard’s ribs. “You’re not really going to hurt me, are you?”
“I have other means of persuasion.”
Venti’s eyes widened with confusion and heightened nerves as Diluc maintained an unreadable expression until he began to dance along the bard’s rib cage.
“W-Wait! – AHAHAHA! Nohohot thahat!” peals of laughter burst from Venti’s lips as Diluc tickled him relentlessly. “Dohohon’t tihihihickle mehehe!”
Diluc ignored his words as they were not the ones he wanted to hear. Normally, this method would be considered unorthodox to Diluc, but Venti was his Archon and someone he had come to associate as a friend, so this method was probably best.
If Diluc was being completely honest with himself, in this moment, the fact that Venti hadn’t laughed all evening was also something that didn’t sit right with him. So, he was effectively settling both issues with one solution, at least, that’s how he reasoned it with himself.
He grabbed onto one of Venti’s wrists, pulling it up above his head and used his free hand to tickle at the now exposed and somewhat defenceless underarm. The bard practically squealed, his hand coming to try and fight off Diluc’s merciless fingers.
“NAHAHA!”
“It really is quite amusing how sensitive you are, considering you’re the Anemo Archon.” Diluc didn’t even realised he managed to tease the bard until he noticed the blush that decorated across his cheeks.
“Shut up!” Venti laughed, squealing once again when Diluc’s fingers wiggled faster, directly in the centre of his armpit. The fabric barely offering any protection to the sensations. “NOHOHOHO! Yohohou’re a cruel mahahan!””
“I’m waiting for you to tell me what it is that’s troubling you. Is that not what a good friend does?”
“Nohohot like thihihis!”
“Then tell me, so we can stop.”
“I cahahahan’t! I neHEHEHED A BREHEHEAK! NOHOHO!” Venti barely had time to register that Diluc had removed his hand from his wrist and had plunged it down to the gap in his shorts, where his hip was accessible. The bard was shaking his entire body with laughter. “NOHOT THEHERE! I’LL TAHAHALK!”
Diluc paused his tickling, allowing the bard some breathing time and took a step back. He watched as Venti let his giggles calm down and covered himself defensively.
“I could smite you right now, you know…” Venti narrowed his eyes at the pyro user, who only held a barely visible smirk. “You’re lucky I’m such a merciful Archon.”
“Yes, yes. Now, you were going to tell me, remember?” Diluc took another step closer, sending Venti into a small panic.
“I will, I will! Geez! If you must know…” Venti sighed. “While I was out taking a stroll, I caught sight of myself in one of the lake’s reflections.”
“I see.”
“I know that doesn’t seem like a reason to lower one’s mood, but given my circumstances, I sometimes find myself thinking deeply about the face looking back at me.”
Diluc wasn’t sure if he had ever heard Venti speak with such a sombre tone, but he remained quiet to allow the bard to continue.
“Would he be proud?” Venti’s voice was barely above a whisper.
Diluc wasn’t sure what Venti was talking about, but if he had to guess, it was something to do with his friend that he mentioned from the past. It then began to sink in just how much of a struggle it must be for Venti, having to live years and saying goodbye to so many friends made along the way.
He brought his hand to Venti’s shoulder, a comforting gesture as he gave it a small squeeze. Venti’s eyes looked up into his, sad and vulnerable.
“He would be.” Diluc confirmed. “Just as we all are. Very proud.”
Venti stared into for a moment before a small smile formed upon his lips. “Thank you, Diluc.”
“You know,” Diluc crossed his arms, his eyes drifting to the stock as he left his comfort zone. “I’m sure I speak for many when I say that you don’t need to feel sad alone. It’s normal to have those days and there’s nothing wrong with surrounding yourself with people who can help you.”
“I guess… but as someone who has been around for thousands of years, I think I can handle a little mood drop every now and then. Though, I do appreciate the sentiment. But I am quite happy to be everyone’s favorite joyous bard, wouldn’t want to ruin my reputation now, would I?”
“Of course not.” Diluc deadpanned.
“Speaking of,” Venti then gave a nervous giggle. “You won’t tell anyone about what happened in here right? This little incident stays between us?”
“Hm. I don’t know what incident you're referring to.”
Venti smiled gratefully. “Thanks, Diluc.”