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Despite having rested under the Symbol of Mondstadt’s Hero for a suitable amount of time, Venti isn’t too surprised to find himself still overly exhausted by the time he stumbles into Angel’s share. The bar is lively at this time of night, and for the first time in forever, he’s grateful that someone else has acquired the stage tonight. He pulls himself up onto one of the stools, glancing around the interior. People chanting, music playing, the room thick with the smell of alcohol.
“You’ll have to wait your turn on the stage tonight.” Venti jumps at the familiar voice. Kaeya settles himself onto the stool next to Venti. He can tell that Kaeya’s already caught onto his less than energised state, but any comments he has on it stay in his head. Kaeya waves over the bartender, Charles tonight.
“Danilion wine if you will, Charles.” Venti laughs softly at the order, going to dig through his pockets for at least some spare Mora on his person so Kaeya doesn’t fully pay for the bottle. Yet Kaeya’s gloved hands gently grasp Venti’s hand in his own. “This is on me tonight. All you need to do is relax.” Venti huffs, but swallows any resort. Who is he to turn down a free drink?
The bottle finds itself empty sooner than Venti was expecting. He also doesn’t expect to find himself so unsteady on his feet. Sure, he’s tipsy and exhausted, it's a combination destined for disaster, yet when he slides off his stool to get some fresh air, he would have completely wiped out if Kaeya didn’t reach out and grab onto his arm to steady him. “Woah there. You’re not normally this much of a lightweight.” Kaeya teases, loosening his grip on Venti’s arm but never fully letting go even once the bard is stable. Venti laughs back, rubbing the back of his neck shyly.
“Guess I overestimated myself tonight.” Venti goes to step out of Kaeya’s hold, but the captain only tightens his grip. Venti glances over his shoulder to watch as Kaeya downs what little is left, leaving a little extra Mora on the bar before he stands, wrapping his arm around Venti’s waist to steady the bard. He’s glad his face is already flush with alcohol because otherwise it would be obvious how much the act makes him blush.
“Let me help you out. I wouldn’t be able to rest easy knowing you’re tripping over yourself all the way back to your place. Why not simply rest at my place tonight?” Kaeya’s so-called place with his room within the headquarters for the Knights. While not mandatory, the Knights of Favonius do offer accommodations to the Knights right at the top floor of the headquarters, and while Venti is pretty confident that you aren’t allowed to bring people back to the rooms, he’s also well aware that Kaeya does not care, especially when he’s tipsy.
So with a firm arm around his waist and no energy to argue, Venti lets Kaeya guide him up the obnoxious amount of stairs and into his room. The bedrooms are surprisingly spacious, doubling as an office with a desk on one side of the room and the bed on the other. There’s a door on the left that leads into an attached bathroom, and Venti knows just down the hall is a communal kitchen for the knights who live here. Venti lets Kaeya lower him onto the edge of his bed, while he pulls out the chair from his desk and takes a seat.
“Jean told me that something happened. Speak.” Venti swallows slightly. Kaeya can be really scary at times when he isn’t pretending to be aloof and charming. Venti shouldn’t be nervous. He and Kaeya’s relationship is. Something. More complex than friends, not enough to be romantic though. Venti tries to maintain eye contact with the other, but his purplish-blue eye has a chill to it that forces Venti to look down at his lap, where his ‘vision’ hangs against his thigh from the belt around his waist. Kaeya knows who Venti is. There's no need for the additional explanation that Venti’s a god, just the explanation that his Gnosis was brutally ripped from his chest by Signora and that effect that has on Venti.
“We got ambushed by Futai after we returned the lyre.” Venti cringes at the fact his voice is meek. This isn’t like him. He’s Barbados for Archon’s sake. He’s literally a god, yet he’s nervous around some simple conversation with his not-quite-boyfriend.
“‘We’?” Kaeya prompts sitting up more. Venti still can’t bring himself to meet his eye, so he starts to fidget with his hands, his nails scratching at the skin at the base of his nail.
“The traveler was with me. They’re okay.”
“And are you okay?” Venti lifts his head to meet Kaeya’s eye, though only for a second as he immediately turns away again. He sighs, bringing his knees up to his chest and curling his arms around them.
“She took my Gnosis.” Venti watches out of the corner of his eye as Kaeya’s face shifts in confusion. Venti takes the silence as a sign to continue. “It's what gives me my powers. The ‘vision’ is just for show.” Venti tightens his arms around his legs, his chest feels almost hollow without it. His body weak.
“Is that why you’re walking around like a baby deer?” Venti nods. It’s more the fact his Gnosis was brutally ripped from his chest that leads to his exhaustion, not the fact it's missing itself. He’ll adapt to not having his anemo powers.
“I’ll be okay with time.” Venti quickly kicks his shoes off and stretches out on Kaeya’s bed like he owns it. He rests his arms under his head, letting himself relax under the buzz of the wine.
“So you’re just going to let the Futai take that from you? You’re not gonna fight back?” Venti turns his head to catch Kaeya’s eye, his tone dull.
“Not like I can.” Venti even tries to. Tries to create even a light breeze against his skin but he’s left with nothing. Kaeya’s resorts seem to die on his tongue. Venti can hear the gears turning in his head. Venti expects him to start listing off potential plans of action but instead Kaeya stands, shrugging his coat off and dumping it on the back of the desk chair. With his boots hastily kicked to the size, he joins Venti on his bed, effortlessly pushing the other to sit up to slip behind him, letting the bard fall back against the Captain’s chest.
Despite his Vision, Kaeya’s always been surprisingly warm and Venti melts under it. He leans his head back against Kaeya’s chest, his body growing lax as Kaeya’s arms snake around him in a protective embrace. “Things will be okay.” Kaeya whispers, his voice gentle against Venti’s ear. Even if it won't be, Venti’s content enough in this moment to believe it so. Things are okay now, so why wouldn't they be in the future.