Work Text:
The comforting breeze of Mondstadt was caressing Lumine, gently ruffling her hair as she sat down at one of the tables at Good Hunter. Even after travelling for so long and exploring the many regions of Teyvat, it still remained her favourite place. There was something so nostalgic, so beautiful about it that always made her return.
The temperate climate there was an especially nice change after having been to Natlan.
"Lumine, look!" Paimon exclaimed, her mouth full of food—despite how many times Lumine told her it was rude to speak with food in her mouth. "It's the Tone Deaf Bard!"
Lumine turned around, and sure enough, Venti was making his way toward her, lyre in hand and a bright smile on his face.
"Why, hello there, Traveler! I didn't expect to see you back so soon. It sure is a pleasant surprise, though!" He noticed Paimon staring at him expectantly. "Oh, hello to you too, Paimon!"
"Hello to you too, Tone Deaf Bard." She said, still a bit annoyed that he initially forgot to greet her.
Venti completely ignored her rude tone and turned to Lumine instead. "So? What brings you here?"
"Paimon and I came here to take a break and relax, but honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if trouble found us again. Whatever we do, wherever we go, we somehow get caught up in new adventures every time."
"Yeah!" Paimon quickly agreed. "It's like Lumine and Paimon are the main characters of a story or something."
"In that case, how about you tell me about your newest adventures? Then I can turn you into the main characters of my next ballad!" Venti offered, strumming his lyre for emphasis.
''You just want to hang out with us so Lumine will buy you alcohol." Paimon stated matter-of-factly.
Venti opened his mouth to protest but was quickly interrupted by Lumine.
"She isn't wrong. But I don't mind buying you a drink if it means getting your company in return." She knew that Venti would end up sitting with them even without the drink, but ithad been so long since she'd last seen him, and she really wanted to do something nice for him.
"How kind you are, Lumine, offering to help out a destitute bard such as myself!" He exclaimed and quickly sat down on the chair parallel to hers. "May the Anemo Archon repay your kindness!" He added with a wink, which earned an amused chuckle from the girl.
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･≽^• ˕ • ྀི≼°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･
Lumine lost track of how long they sat down and talked. She told him about her newest adventure in Natlan, the new friends she'd made, and about her plans to visit Nod Krai next. Occasionally Paimon would interrupt her to add details or make a few remarks, but that was not at all out of the ordinary.
Venti patiently listened to the stories while he drank his first beer of the night. Then the second. And third. And, Archons, was he on his fifth already?
"That sure was a crazy adventure! Got any other stories to tell me?"
Lumine took a moment to think, while Paimon immediately jumped at the opportunity to talk, as she wasn't used to listening and preferred to be the one talking.
"Oh! There's this one time Lumine and Paimon–"
"Actually," Lumine interrupted her. "How about you tell us what happened in Mondstadt since we've last been here?" Since Venti sat down with them, Lumine had been the one talking. It was only fair that she gave Venti the chance to say something too.
"Oh yea! Tell Paimon and Lumine what's been going on in Mondstadt! Have you been doing alright? Did anything dangerous happen? Is that how you got that injury on your hand?"
Lumine was about to kindly tell Paimon to shut up until she actually registered her words. An injury? She glanced at Venti's hand, and sure enough, there were two red marks there. They almost looked like a bite mark of sorts.
"How'd that happen?"
"Oh, this!" Venti tensed. It was a barely visible shift in demeanor. "You see, it's actually from a cat!"
"A cat..?" Lumine and Paimon asked in unison.
"That's right! I was trying to pet it, but that naughty little thing bit me! Ehehe I guess cats aren't really fond of me." He was starting to talk faster and more nervously. Then he suddenly stood up. "Aaanyways! It was really nice to see you, but I've just remembered I have somewhere to be! See you around!"
"Oh, alright! Bye, Tone Deaf Bard!"
"Uh, bye, Venti!" Well, that sure was confusing, she thought.
"Wait, aren't you allergic to cats?!"
But it was too late. The bard had already disappeared.
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･≽^• ˕ • ྀི≼°❀⋆.ೃ࿔:･
"Darling, I'm home!" Venti announced, closing the door behind him.
Dahlia was sat in the living room, leaning on the arm of the sofa with his legs crossed and a book sprawled over his lap. He didn't even bother to look up at Venti. The way he was lounging around was quite reminiscent of a cat. The same thing could be said about his air of elegance that could be compared to the grace of a feline.
"Don't say it like that. It makes it sound like I'm your housewife or something."
The bard chuckled at that.
"Well~ you do cook and take care of most of the house chores. Maybe you are my housewife."
''I'm also the one who pays for rent and provides for all of our living expenses. I think I should be the husband and turn you into a housewife."
Venti walked over to the sofa and sat down next to Dahlia, making himself comfortable in the other man's personal space.
"You could try, but I'd probably start a fire while making dinner. And then you'd have to pay for the house reparations."
Dahlia let out the most dramatic sigh he could muster. He picked up his book and placed it on the coffee table. Then he turned to Venti, finally meeting his gaze.
"Honestly, I don't even know why I keep you around."
"I can think of a few reasons. First of all, you love me!" He said, leaning in to kiss Dahlia's lips. The deacon immediately returned it, a contrast to his previous display of annoyance. Despite their banter, Venti knew that Dahlia absolutely adored him. Proof of this was the way the deacon looked at him—so much longing in his eyes—once the kiss was broken.
He took hold of Venti's hand and moved it to his lips, placing a sweet kiss on the back of his hand. A gentle sign of love before he sunk his fangs in, tasting his boyfriend's blood. Venti didn't even flinch, as he was used to the feeling by now.
"Second of all, you'd never get rid of your favourite blood supplier."
"I guess I have to keep you around then. For now."
"Or forever."