Work Text:
“Come with me?”
“No.”
“Come oooonnnn!”
“No.”
“Please?”
“No.”
“Please, please, please with an apple on top?”
Xiao sighed, mildly exasperated. As it happened, Venti had spent the last 15 minutes nagging him, arguing that he’d spent the last week working to the bone and that he “needed a break”. It was always about breaks with his guy. Could he get serious for once in his life?
He immediately chided himself for the thought though. What would become of him if his boyfriend wasn’t such a little gremlin?
Still-
“I have the night shift.” Was his single dry response. He got up his up his desk to grab some coffee, as if trying to put some sort of finality to the argument. Although, Venti paid little mind to this tactic and simply started following him.
“But it’s Christmas! Come ooooon...” While Xiao started typing on the board of the coffee machine, Venti wrapped his arms around him from behind. Mustering his most tantalizing pleading voice. “Surely that old gentleman can find someone else to fill in. Given how diligently you’ve been working these months~! Always first to arrive and last to leave, not a single case of misconduct. You even won employee of the month!” He then pointed to the picture of a very serious and grumpy-looking Xiao hanging in the wall, which had “employee of the month” inscribed below.
“Hmph…” Before any comeback, Xiao allowed himself to lean back and bask in the comfort of Venti’s hug for a second. “And that’s supposed to give me some sort of free pass to do as I please?” He then grabbed his now-served cup of coffee and took a sip from it. “Besides, I don’t think he’ll be particularly thrilled to know I’m skipping the shift to go drinking with you.”
“Hehe…” Venti chuckled, but there was an undercurrent of bashfulness behind the laugh. He knew Mr. Zhongli wasn’t precisely fond of him, and that would make Xiao’s case a little more difficult. But at the same time, the prospect of his annoyance at nabbing him away for the night only enticed him further. “Well, as far I’m concerned, you’re more than allowed to ask for a favor” The singer argued with a playful waggle of his index. “Besides! What kind of boss treats his employees differently according to their partner choice? Wouldn’t speak very well of him, would it?”
“That… is a good point.” Xiao had to concede. His boss wasn’t unreasonable like that, he was sure if he asked him with the due formality, he would… Wait a second, was he actually considering it?! He quickly cleared his throat. “S-Still, it won’t speak very well of me and my dedication.”
“Muh dedication”. The singer mocked in a deliberately deeper voice. Shifting to get in front of him and hang from his shoulders. “Pleeaaaaseee! I’m sure he knows how dedicated you are! You’ve been working to the bone! Just look at those ugly dark circles under your eyes!”
“I’ve had them before I got this job.” The guard defended flatly.
“Still! Can’t strong, scary guard Xiao take a break just once?” The singer whined, multiplying the pleading factor in his voice and eyes tenfold. “Pleeeease? For me?”
Xiao tensed up. He was being put in a tough spot.
“S-Stop using that tone…” The guard stammered, feeling his resolve waver. “You always use it to get what you want…”
“I know~” Venti chirped without the slightest hint of shame. Leaning a little closer to his face “Is it working? Please tell me it’s working!”
Xiao sighed very deeply. Of course it was working, it always did.
“I-I’ll go talk to Mr. Zhongli later…” He said, caving in.
“YAY! I’ll see you at Angel’s Share then!” With a victorious grin, he planted a big, resounding kiss on his cheek. And then carelessly skipped down the hallway.
The guard’s flustered gaze lingered in his direction, even seconds after he disappeared down the stairs. Venti was going to be the death of him. He was sure of it. It was so… baffling, ridiculous even. How easily the singer disarmed him with that tone of voice and those big, stupid, bug-like eyes that for some reason he felt inexplicably entranced by.
With yet another deep sigh and with sagged shoulders. He started making his way to the office on the highest floor. Where he knew he’d find Mr. Zhongli. Perhaps Venti was right: a little break could do him good for a change…
“Ahhhh! Much better!” The singer announced gleefully, putting his cup on the table. “How’s your drink, hm? Feeling a lighter already~?”
“I don’t think I’m feeling much of anything.” Xiao replied, eyeing his own cup of booze with disinterest. Despite not drinking them frequently, it always seemed to take a large amount of alcohol before he started feeling the effects on his head. And he didn’t really know if this was inconvenient or not. On one hand, he was glad to be able to maintain he lucidity for long; on the other, it made his passage to that “fun” plane of existence Venti so easily entered every time he drank.
“Bah! Buncha nonsense! You’ll feel it riiiight in time! Go on!” Venti encouraged, reaching his glass to him as a way of toast. Xiao sighed and obliged, taking another sip of his drink afterwards.
“I truly don’t know how you do it…” The guard finally admitted, shaking his head.
“Do what? Because I assure you, drinking is the easiest and bestest thing in the world!”
“Relaxing, I mean. Just… being at ease with oneself.” He sighed looking at him with silent curiosity. “I don’t think I’d ever be able to pull the way you do…”
Venti’s amused expression gained a tint of tenderness. He got up, walked towards him and once again hugged him from behind.
“Yeaaa, you’re a bit uptight, I’m not gonna lie.” This prompted a chuckle from Xiao, both knew damn well that was an understatement. “But that’s why I’m here! Lemme help you loosen up a little, will ya?”
“Well, suit yourself.” The guard raised an eyebrow, both amused by how comfortable he was making himself and intrigued at whatever plan his boyfriend had to get him to loosen up.
Said plan came in the form of a barrage of quick pecks assaulting his cheek.
“H-Hey! W-What are you doing?!” Xiao couldn’t help the smile that bloomed in his face and the giggled that escaped his mouth. Venti was already bold as he was, but it was truly unbelievable how much bolder the singer could get with just a few glasses. Not that he was complaining though.
“Helping you loosen up! Can’t you see?!” The singer relented just to be able to lean against his shoulder
“You’re utterly incorrigible.” The guard shook his head, then leaned his own head closer to his, just letting the feeling of his proximity wash over him.
“Oh and I’m just getting started, hehe!” Venti said with mischievous delight, before suddenly pulling him out of his seat and towards a corner of the bar, where there were people dancing. “Come on! Dance with me!”
“What?!” Xiao’s eyes widened, mortified at the prospect.
“Yea! Come onnn, surely dancing can’t be such a problem for my capable and agile partner.” Venti taunted with a coy smirk, his pull unrelenting. “Fear not, I’ll even guide you through it!”
“I-I’m not afraid-“ Xiao took a deep breath and simply allowed himself to be pulled towards the dance floor. Slowly, steady, and a little tense, but he was eventually swayed by Venti’s energy, mirroring his dance steps, and even going as far as to come up with a few of his own.
At this, Venti couldn’t help but laugh in complete delight. It was working! Xiao looked happy, and that retroactively made him happy too. Many had been the nights that the guard had spent at the service of others, working his best to fulfill his duty. And as much as he loved and admired that dedication, he would make it his own duty that he took the time to feel, that he felt just as happy as he was whenever he was near.
And Xiao, on his part, couldn’t help but feel grateful. Grateful that he could be at the side of such a bright bundle of warmth like Venti. Whenever he was near, the world felt just a little less heavy, more colorful, more… alive.
“By the way!” Venti leaned in, beaming. “Merry Christmas, Xiao.”
The guard stared at that expression for a few seconds. Entranced by the sight. Before the smile bloomed back in his face.
“Merry Christmas, Venti.”
Maybe he was right: He truly needed this. Just as much as he needed him.