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Durin was at a crossroads.
At least, he thinks that’s the right expression. It felt important enough to be considered as such. He asks Lisa, but when she finds out the reason behind his question she simply laughs softly and says he wasn’t wrong. But she leaves it at that, walking away before Durin could ask why he felt like he also wasn’t correct either.
Durin wanted to ask Albedo about what was on his mind, but he had stepped out of Mondstadt to take care of something at Dragonspine. Durin knows he could go find him, but it also felt like he might get in the way with his questions. Not that Albedo ever complained about him asking.
And with Traveler not around as far as he knew, there was only one other person that came to mind for him, So Durin walks around Mondstadt, searching for them.
For as much as his thoughts are weighing on him, Durin still was able to take in the beauty of the flowers around him. With Windblume fast approaching, there were many potted plants on the ground and on balconies. Streamers of flowers hanging over his head between buildings. Even outside the walls there were many decorations. Especially the statue at Windrise, which is where he finds who he was searching for.
“Lord Barbatos.” He says in relief once he catches sight of that familiar figure. His steps pick up, and once he’s closer to the Archon he meets amused eyes. “I’m glad you’re here. I was hoping to find you.”
“And found me you have.” He smiles. “You know, you can call me Venti.”
Durin tilts his head curiously. “Is it wrong to call you Lord Barbatos? I thought that’s how you show respect to a deity.”
“...eheh. It’s not wrong, no.” Barbatos laughs softly, much like Lisa had. “Don’t worry about it. So? What do you need?”
Being prompted, Durin stands a little straighter. “Lord Barbatos, there’s a question I wish to ask you.”
“Oh? Are you asking for help with Windblume approaching? That’s rather bold.” Barbatos teases.
“Not help exactly…” Durin frowns. “More…advice. Because this will be my first real Windblume. At least, in this form it will be.”
The teasing look Barbatos shifts to something Durin can’t quite decipher. It looks like he wants to say something, but seems to change his mind before asking. “What advice are you seeking, Durin?”
“…how do you convince someone to come for Windblume?” Durin’s tone turns earnest. “There’s someone I wish to share this experience with, so I wrote him a letter explaining best I could what Windblume is. A festival of love and freedom…when I think of sharing this with someone, I think of him first. But he hasn’t written back to me, so I don’t know if he will come.”
It was easier to read Barbatos now. His expression was softer now. Warmer. “You’re worried you won’t see this person when the day arrives.”
“…yeah, I am. I really want him to come, and when I think he might not appear…” Durin presses his hand against his chest where the gem is, his expression forlorn. A tightness forms around his lungs, making it difficult to breathe even though he knew he was physically okay. “My heart hurts and feels heavy. It’s like I can’t get enough air. I know what disappointment feels like, I know what fear is.But this…this feels different. I’m not sure why. I don’t want to force him to come, but it...it feels like it has to be him I share this with. Only him.”
Durin didn’t understand. He knows if he spent Windblume with Albedo and Klee, he’d have fun. If it were with Lumine and Paimon, he would enjoy their presence. If he were with the others he’s been becoming friends with, Durin is sure it would be great.
But when he thinks about that versus what he actually wants...
That’s when it starts to hurt.
“I wish I could give you the answers and advice you seek, Durin.” Barbatos smiles weakly. “But you can’t make someone come for Windblume. The festival is for those to freely come and go as they wish. Or not come at all in some cases. It’s a festival for Barbatos, but it is also one for love and freedom of all. It means nothing if you make someone come who doesn’t wish to.”
Durin tries not to grimace at those words. He’s not sure how well he succeeds. “So what…what do I do?”
Barbatos’ smile shifts slightly once more. He turns to look up at his statue, and then up at the Windrise tree.
And as a breeze comes by, he says simply, “You hope that the times you do see him outside of Windblume will make up for it.”
It was no secret the affection Durin holds for his best friend.
He thinks of Wanderer more than he doesn’t. Maybe a little more when they’re apart for a long time...definitely more when they’re apart after they were all in Nod-Krai.
Whenever something happens, Durin debates if he should share it in a letter and get some writing practice in at the same time. Or if he should wait and tell him in person. It was always hard to tell what Wanderer would prefer. Sometimes if he writes about it, he gets an exasperated response on how that isn’t something he needed to write about. But if he waits to tell Wanderer in person, sometimes he gets a snippy comment on how he should have shared it sooner.
Sometimes he thinks Wanderer does that on purpose to keep him on his toes. It seemed like something he’d do so he could mess with him a little bit.
Before he parts ways with Barbatos, he gets told one last piece of advice.
“Flowers of love. Flowers of respect and admiration. Flowers of blessings. Flowers of freedom. There are many kinds of Windblumes, Durin. Once you decide what and how you wish to share this with that person you think of, I’m sure you will find your answer.”
Barbatos seems to believe in him. But truth was, Durin isn’t sure what it is he feels for Wanderer to know what to give him.
He’s his best friend. Someone he deeply cares for. Someone he wants to get closer to. Understand better. He wants to know everything about Wanderer. He wants to be by his side.He wants him...
But how does he want him? Durin knows he likes his friend. He likes him a lot. A lot a lot. Durin’s known this since soon after they met. It’s a feeling that’s grown ever since, that continues to grow when Wanderer says his name like that first time in Simulanka. A feeling that’s become almost painful at times after Nod-Krai and what happened with his Book. When he feared losing himself and disappearing, and Wanderer said he still had him. And then when Wanderer removed his Core at the risk of his life, at the risk of resetting his being as a puppet...the mere thought of potentially losing someone so important to Durin scared him. The thought of no longer being together. But it also made him want to protect Wanderer, though he knows he’d never accept it. Not really. Not beyond guarding his body when he was in that hibernation state.
Durin needed Wanderer in his life, there was no doubt about that. It was something he was very confidant in.
“The one he wishes to see…is there a reason they won’t come?”
Venti glances behind him as a familiar voice makes himself known. He knew he was there, and part of him was surprised Durin had not sensed him. Then again, with how the young dragons attention was intensely focused elsewhere, Venti shouldn’t be too surprised.
“Hard to say. If it’s who I think it is, I know traveling isn’t the issue.” Venti smiles slightly as Zhongli approaches him from behind the tree. Turning on his heel, Venti goes to meet him half way. “Speaking of traveling, it’s rare to see you in these parts. What’s the special occasion?”
He’s mostly teasing his friend. Mostly. And he’s aware Zhongli knows that. Just as he’s aware Zhongli probably believes his words are a test. And well...
He wouldn’t be wrong in believing that.
“I had some time, so I thought I’d come see Mondstadt again.” Zhongli says simply. And he could have left it there, and Venti would accept it. But then he adds, “Just in case I can’t be here in a few days.”
And that is why he wouldn’t be wrong believing it.
“Well, at least you got to see the decorations this time.” Venti shrugs with a sigh. He steps around Zhongli, walking around the tree so he can sit on the jagged rocks behind it. He makes himself comfortable, summoning his lyre and strums a couple tunes as he looks towards the floating rock between here and Cape Oath. He doesn’t wait long for Zhongli to join him.
“If coming here isn’t the issue, then what is?” Apparently Zhongli was still thinking of Durin’s dilemma.
“I can’t say for sure since I don’t know the whole situation. Even the wind doesn’t tell me every single thing. I just know that sometimes it’s not the coming here part that’s the issue, but leaving after. Some just aren’t good with farewells. So they avoid them.”
He’s seen it many times over the years. Putting a distance there so the partings are less painful. Admittedly, he used to be guilty of it himself at certain times in the past. And with what he’s heard of the one Durin is thinking of, it would make sense if that was the case here as well.
Venti begins to play a small tune, and it’s because his own focus is elsewhere that he doesn’t notice how silent his companion had become. It’s only when his song trails off that Zhongli speaks up.
“…have you spoken with the Traveler lately?”
“Lumine?” Venti glances up curiously. “We crossed paths briefly when she first arrived for Windblume. I haven’t seen her since though. Why? Scared her or Paimon told me something?”
He wasn’t teasing this time. He knew Zhongli wouldn’t bring her up for no reason. He tries to think if there’s anything that’s happened recently other than what occurred in Nod-Krai, but all he can think of is that Lantern Rite had recently passed.
“Not really.”
“Uh-Huh…” Venti was doubtful, but he doesn’t push. He knows Zhongli. He’ll either tell him if he wishes for him to know, or he’ll keep quiet until Venti finds out on his own. That was their usual pattern after all.
He thinks about the one Durin is trying so hard with, the one in his thoughts so badly this Windblume. Though he’s sure this person had been on Durin’s mind last year as well.
Glancing up at Zhongli next to him, he thinks it’s probably a good thing there’s at least one dragon around that’s able to be straight forward from the start.
It’s a little enviable, really.
But still, the heart wants what it wants.
So dismissing his lyre, Venti leans against Zhongli’s side and says, “Well then, since you won’t share what secrets you are keeping this time, how about you buy me a drink? Think of it as making up for buying tea on your last visit.”
This time he doesn’t sneak a peak. He doesn’t have to when he can practically hear the smile in Zhongli’s voice as he agrees to his little demand.
And it’s because of that smile Venti knows it will make up for that inevitable later.
Durin tries to find out what others do for Windblume.
Love letters seem to be the most common form. Others create gifts that hold some kind of meaning, while others give away wine. Some share wine and other kinds of drinks. Even playing games together seems to be an option.
He wants to ask more questions to those around him, to get more details, but it feels like it would straying to close to asking for help. And while he gets a feeling they’d be understanding with this being his first Windblume, Durin finds he doesn’t want that. Not really.
After his talk with Barbatos, he wishes to do something that feels right for him. Him and Wanderer. So to gain ideas, he finds himself seated in the library. After explaining to Lisa the kinds of books he was looking for, she pointed him in the right direction with an amused look.
Because of the nature of Windblume, he starts of with a book about the local flora of Mondstadt and their meanings. He then looks into Sumeru and the other nations. He finds it curious how the same flower can have different meanings in different places, but other than that there’s nothing that truly clicks. For one, he’s not even sure Wanderer likes flowers. But now that he thinks of it, he’s yet to hear someone mention not liking receiving a Windblume. But maybe that’s why there were things done not related to flowers as well.
So Durin trades those books for ones about poetry. He searches for nothing too complicated, but even the simple ones leave him a little uncertain. After hearing stories from Kaeya and Bennet, Durin knows he could ask Barbatos for guidance. But he’s already gone to him once for advice, and didn’t wish to bother him again.
He thought that for as much as he talks to and thinks of Wanderer, that it would be simple to write about him. But as he looks at the poems for examples and thinks of doing the same for his friend, his mind goes blank. He becomes so overwhelmed that he can narrow down what to write.
Because how does he write of the colour of Wanderer’s eyes, how they seem light purple or blue depending on the lighting, and how he always hopes they’ll keep giving him attention when he talks to him?
How does he write about the way Wanderer’s hair shifts when he rolls those same eyes and turns away exasperated, just to turn back and tell him to hurry up?
How does he talk about how soft his friends lips are when he lets him steal kisses here and there, and sometimes even gives Durin ones of his own?
How can Durin describe the thrill of being able to fly together in the skies and hold hands after landing back to earth?
The comfort of sharing meals together and the warmth in his chest when he holds Wanderer in his arms?
How can he write about how much he longs to see Wanderer even just moments after they part?
There was so many things he could write about when it came to his dear and important person, his best friend...and yet it felt like there weren’t enough words for it.
‘Is this how you felt with writing, Mama?’ Durin finds himself thinking. He pushes away the latest book he’d grabbed, and buries his head in his arms. ‘Did you ever get so overwhelmed writing my story...that you couldn’t find the right words at times? Did even you not know what to write down with that pen?’
He wishes he could ask her writing advice. Emotional advice. Any advice...he wishes he could ask her if she ever felt for someone the way he felt for Wanderer. These confusing yet so confidant feelings that filled his chest.
How would she write these feelings down if it were one of her stories?
Or would she tell him that he needed to write his own, for these were his and his alone?
“Durin?”
Durin startles. He didn’t notice someone approaching. But he knows that voice and he relaxes the moment he faces the owner. “Oh...Lumine, hello. I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Neither did I with you.” She smiles kindly. “I was returning some books for Paimon that she got permission to borrow last time we were here. I saw you down here and came to say ‘hi’. Did I wake you?”
“No, I wasn’t sleeping. Just...thinking.”
“Thinking?” her head tilts curiously.
“Of my mother.” Durin sits back, glancing at the books on the table. He’s only just realizing how many he grabbed. Even worse, he’s not sure he remembers where they all go. “And Windblume.”
“Oh, right! I bet you’re looking forward to it.” Lumine’s smile widens. Durin’s confused how she knows that, but doesn’t question it. “I’m glad I was able to return again this year. Though hopefully it’s a little less chaotic than last year.”
“Yeah, I agree.” Durin nods with a small smile of his own. And as a thought occurs to him, Durin’s eyes widen. That’s right, Lumine’s experienced more Windblume’s than him. And she’d met many people on her travels, both places Durin has and has yet to see for himself.
So he asks her, “Lumine, can I ask you something?”
“Of course.” Lumine takes the seat across the table from him with no hesitation.
“Barbatos...he said something about hoping the time you spend with someone makes up for the times you are apart. Do you have someone like that?”
Lumine looks surprised at first. Durin hopes that means he didn’t offended her. And then something like understanding fills her expression. With a small smile, Lumine places her arms on the table and leans forward slightly.
“I do. I have people very important to me where I hope...I hope the times I do see them will make the times we’re not together easier. It may hurt to part again when we do see each other, but at least we now share a memory to hold onto afterwards.”
She sounds sincere in her words. Durin decides he believes she means what she is telling him. As far as he knows, Lumine has no reason to lie about it afterall. And because she was honest with him, he decides to be honest in return.
“I want to give a Windblume to someone. And when I couldn’t figure out what flower would fit best, I thought about writing a poem to them.” He admits. “But I’m not really confident I could find the right words…”
“Just let your heart decide.”
Lumine is quick in her response. Not waiting to see if he has more to say, Lumine’s soft expression becomes an almost determined one.
“H-Huh?”
“It’s something Venti told me once. That as long as fond memories are shared, nothing else matters. So you can let your heart decide when it comes to Windblume.” Lumine smiles. Placing her hand over her hear, she adds, “It doesn’t need to be a flower or a poem, but just put down what feels right. What Windblume means for you.”
“What feels right…” Durin repeats slowly. It felt obvious when hearing it like this. Because isn’t that what he’s always done when writing to Wanderer? Haven’t they always spoke to each other how and what they thought was right? “Okay.”
The days and nights leading up to Windblume come and go in a blink of an eye.
Durin hasn’t gotten a letter back from Sumeru. He’s not even sure if his latest one would have reached there by now. He tries to spend the day not thinking about it, but it’s easier said than done. He loves the flowers and decorations that cover every part of Mondstadt. He loves seeing how everyone interacts with each other, how so many peoples hard work had paid off.
Durin becomes so focused on the Windblume part of today that he forgets what else this day means. Well, almost forgets.
Technically, he’s aware it’s his birthday. And now that he thinks about he, he thinks that what Lumine had been alluding to when greeting him. Even if he did forget, Klee makes sure he doesn’t almost from the moment he wakes up, with help from Albedo. Cheers of how lucky he is to have a birthday on Windblume and throwing confetti while Albedo stands by in amusement. In his hands are gifts from him, Klee and Alice. Gifts that Klee insists he needs to open now and pouts when he says he will wait until later.
His other friends wish him a Happy Birthday as well as Happy Windblume when he sees them. He’s given more gifts, and Durin is grateful for it. He really is.
He’s just...not sure what to do about it.
He’s never had a birthday before. And maybe that’s why he hasn’t thought of it approaching. His Mother never gave him one, but he remembers she wanted to. At least, he thinks he remembers. Wanting to choose the perfect day for him, but she couldn’t settle on one. Knowing what he does now, Durin wonders if she always hoped his birthday would be one where her hopes and dreams for him came true.
So even though Durin is aware this day is also his birthday, wants to celebrate this life he never thought he’d have...all he can think about is one person. All he can think about is that it’s Windblume, and he wants to share it with Wanderer.
But even if it wasn’t his Windblume or his birthday...he just wants to be with him.
He wants to be with Wanderer.
And it’s with these feelings building up and about to overflow that Durin finally knows what he wants to do.
So as the sun begins to set and talks begin on who will be the Windblume Star this year, Durin searches through the crowds for Barbatos around his statue. He tries not to bump into anyone and apologizes when he does, especially for his tail. Once he reaches the railing, Durin jumps up and flies over to a nearby rooftop. And it’s from up here he can finally spot Barbatos by the fountain. But instead of heading to where everyone was slowly gathering around his statue, he was headed in the opposite direction.
So Durin hurries down, hoping to catch up before he disappears again.
“Um, Barba-Venti!” Durin catches his hand to get his attention. Barbatos blinks in shock, but doesn’t pull his hand free. Durin feels bad for surprising him, but he had to hurry. “I’m sorry, I want to stay for the celebration for you, but-!”
“Do what you need to, Durin.” Barbatos’ voiceis soft and warm as the breeze around them. For some reason, it makes Durin miss his Mother even more in that moment. “Windblume doesn’t only need to be celebrated in Mondstadt. Everyone carries a piece of it with them wherever they go. Just let the wind guide you.”
“I...I will. But everyone-”
“Will understand. Now go. Hurry.”
And hurry Durin does.
He’s in such a rush that he forgets to wait till he’s outside the gates when he spreads his wings and takes off. It took him less than a day to fly from Nod-Krai and back again, so he’s sure he can make it to Sumeru in half that time if not less.
Yet Durin only gets as far as over Springvale when something catches his eye. And if flying wasn’t as instinctive as breathing for him, Durin would have fallen from the sky.
But that doesn’t means he still doesn’t stumble as he lands back on the earth, calling out for the exact person he’d been thinking of all this time.
“Wanderer!”
There is no chance given for his friend to properly react. Durin vaguely hears Wanderer’s hat hit the ground with how fast he rushes over to embrace him. He does hear complaints when knocking them both to the ground with how he crashes into him.
Not far off are those in the small town of Springvale celebrating the festival. There’s probably cheers and laughter and clanging of mugs as drinks are shared. Flowers scattered all around with petals playing in the wind that followed him here.
And yet all Durin cares about is the person below him, in his arms. It doesn’t matter there’s no warmth there because he can hear that familiar and comforting hum of the Heart inside of him. And as Durin pulls away to look down as Wanderer, he can’t stop smiling widely or the giddy way his tail flicks behind him. Even if Wanderer has an exasperated look in return.
Unable to hold himself back, Durin leans down and presses his lips to Wanderer’s. It’s a brief kiss. One Durin wishes to steal more of as his heart races once more being pressed together like this.
But he can’t hold in his excitement, and is already pulling back exclaiming, “You really came!”
Wanderer blinks several times, enough so that Durin wonders if he really took him off guard that badly. But soon the shock wears off, and his composure returns.
“Yeah, Well...” Wanderer turns his head to the side. “I had time. And it doesn’t help a certain person forced me to take a ‘small vacation’ as she put it.”
“Who?”
“Don’t worry about it.” Looking back at him, Wanderer raises a brow. “So are you going to get off of me, or do you expect me to see this ‘Windblume’ on the ground?”
With a laugh and an eye roll, Durin and Wanderer manage to untangle themselves enough to get to their feet. That giddy feeling Durin has inside only grows as he takes Wanderer’s hand, and starts tugging him back the way he came from the city. Especially when Wanderer doesn’t try to pull free.
There’s so many things he wishes to ask his friend. If he got his last letter, when did he leave Sumeru? If he was already coming to Mondstadt when he sent those letters, how long was he planing to stay? Was he thinking of him as much as Durin was? And any other time, Durin would be chatting his ear off asking those questions. But having his one hope and wish fulfilled like this, he find himself content having Wanderer by his side.
And it’s as they walk side by side down the worn path, arms brushing, that Wanderer comments,“So this is the festival for the Anemo Archon. At least flowers make sense in Sumeru. Not sure what they have to do with a God of Freedom and Song here.”
“You don’t know?” Durin asks in disbelief. Not because he thought it would be common knowledge, but because he’d become so used to Wanderer just knowing many things.
“What, and you do?”
He says it like a challenge. And glances at him from the corner of his eye like daring him to say something. Like he wants to test him, or just see what he does know. It makes Durin’s tail flicker even more from excitement, and be a little too eager to hurry back.
“You-! Hey, hold on!” Wanderer yelps as he’s easily pulled along. But as always, he’s keeps easy pace with Durin, following his whims. And with how his hand firmly holds his in return, Durin knows Wanderer had to have been missing him, too.
He was sure of it.
From up top of the wall near the entrance, Venti smiles as he sees two figures rush on their way over. When one trips in his eagerness and almost takes the other down with him, Venti laughs fondly.
“I’m surprised you guided him. You barley give those who are married a pass for asking for help.” Glancing down, Venti sees Zhongli leaning against the wall as if he’s been here this whole time.
“Hm, I barely did a thing. Besides, it’s Windblume and his birthday. And yet all he’s focused on is choosing one for a certain someone, and how to get it to him. It’s difficult not to be moved by it.” Jumping down from his spot to land next to Zhongli, Venti glances up and adds with a small smirk, “If only all dragons were so proactive and determined.”
“Yes, if only.” There’s a shift in the wind that takes Venti off guard. He blinks, and suddenly there’s a single Cecilia being held in front of him. The scent flows around him, familiar and comforting as always.
And when he looks back up, he demands, “How did you do that? The wind never hides anything from me! Morax, what did you do!?”
“That’s for you to figure out later I suppose.” Leaning down, Zhongli tilts his head and presses their lips together for a kiss. One that even after all this time still leaves Venti rosie cheeked and breathless. “Happy Windblume, Barbatos. I wasn’t late this year.”
“…I suppose you weren’t.” Holding the flower up to his nose, Venti takes a deep breath. “You said you probably wouldn’t be here today. I didn’t expect to see you again after that day.”
For all his bravado with Durin, Venti could admit it was a bit of a hypocrite in that moment. He meant the words he told the young dragon, but that didn’t mean he didn’t hold his own disappointments at times as well.
“I didn’t think I would come back.” Zhongli admits. Venti figured as much. But he doesn’t comment on it, instead listens as he continues. “You were right. Some do not do well with farewells. And maybe I am one of them. But if nothing else, this day proves even the inevitable goodbye is worth just a second more in a certain persons presence.”
Nearby, the two hear the voices as two reunited pass through the city walls. And just hearing the joy in one and the content in the other leaves no room for doubt everything will be alright.
Because being apart was what made moments like these even more special.
Wanderer.
I’ve been trying to figure out how to convince you to come to Mondstadt for Windblume. It’s been difficult since it’s looked down on asking for help too much for the Festival when you want to give someone a Windblume.
I’m not good at poetry like my Mother, and I don’t know what flowers you like. Every time I ask, you pretend you don’t hear me.
I was told it’s okay to let my heart decide what kind of Windblume I wish to share with you. I haven’t found a Windblume yet that shows how I feel, but I will give it to you once I find it. And after thinking about it, I know what I want to tell you until I do find that Windblume.
I miss you.
I want to see you.
I want to be with you. I always do. And I always will.
-Durin