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Venti lands on the balcony of Wangshu Inn, humming gently as he looks around for his Liyuean companion. He’s not always there when he visits, so he just plans to do a glance over before heading into the city.
He nearly does just that, turning on his heels, but something glistening further in makes him do a double-take. Lured, he wanders a little further into the building, squatting to take a closer look at a pool of liquid catching the light.
Blood. Dark and reeking of abyssal energy. He sighs and treks his way fully inside, now searching for his unfortunate friend.
“Xiao? Are you here?” He looks around the room that’s usually empty, dark, and layered with dust from disuse. Today it’s almost all of those things… except empty. He doesn’t have to look long before finding Xiao lying in his bed, eyes up to the ceiling, teeth clenched, there’s blood all over his clothes, which isn’t unheard of, but something seems off.
Venti kneels next to his bed when he doesn’t answer. “Can you hear me? Are you alright?”
Xiao says nothing but he cuts his eyes to him and slowly nods, but there’s a stiffness— a twitch in his eye as he does his best not to move.
“Are you hurt?”
Xiao slowly, painfully slowly, shakes his head.
Venti looks at him incredulously, blinking in disbelief. “Really? Then you won’t mind if I…” he only takes a finger and runs it across Xiao’s side, watching him flinch before he’s even made contact.
“You’re hurt.”
“I’m fine.” Xiao stresses through his teeth. “I’ll heal.”
“How long have you been like this?”
“...”
“How long?!”
The yaksha’s head turns to the side, the back of his choppy haircut all that Venti can see besides a reddened ear. “A day at most.”
Venti jumps to his feet. “I’m getting a doctor.”
“N-No!” Xiao snatches him by his sleeve, letting out a pained gasp that halts him in his step. “Please.”
Venti turns to face him again slowly, lost, helpless as he looks down at him. “But…”
Xiao looks up at him, breathing already labored as he tries holding himself part of the way up on his elbow— in no condition to be doing so. “This is my decision, Venti… Please.”
Green-clad shoulders sink. Xiao knows him too well, knows he can’t do anything against his will, not as the god of freedom he claims to be. So, instead of running out to get a doctor, he sighs deeply, urges him to lie down and takes a seat at the edge of the bed, producing his lyre.
“You don’t mind if I use your room to play, then? Liyuean wood always produces such interesting acoustics.” A vague excuse, still hoping to help in any way he can, his fingers hover over the strings.
“Do as you wish,” his voice is soft, strained, but Venti hears the longing underneath. Xiao has never refused a song. Whether he likes it or not, music heals. The dancer in him rejoices, the bird in him sings, and the raging warrior within calms— even if only for a moment.
And it just so happens, Xiao is his favorite audience because of this.
He plays for him then, humming along softly, feels the wind pick up like a gentle breeze around them, clearing out some of that thick and heavy karmic debt. He hears Xiao’s breathing even out slowly over time. Even when he's sure he's asleep, he continues to play, feeling helpless as Xiao groans in pain even while unconscious.
There has to be something more he can do, but he’s afraid to leave his side.
“Xiao!” He hears a high-pitched, whinny call from outside and glances to the recipient, noticing he doesn't shift at all. That voice though, he recognizes it, and where there is one there's another who may be able to help him in his endeavor.
Gently he rises and sidles over to the balcony, looking over. Just as he thinks, the blonde-haired traveler and their loud-mouthed pixie-like sidekick stand on the balcony below. It seems the traveler was preparing to launch up before seeing him.
“Venti?”
“Excellent timing friend!” He waves, his smile shining with excitement. "Since you're here for the demon Conqueror, could I ask you for a simple favor?”
“You want us to bring Baizhu?”
“Yes, but mostly his medicine,” he says in a hush, petting Xiao’s hair to sooth away some of the shadows. “Anyone who can help him. He’s refused a doctor and already bade me stay. But I’ve no control over the will of others. He hasn’t asked anything of you, so your ability to intervene is invaluable here. I’m sure you understand.”
The traveler nods, a somber expression on their face and a hand held to their chest. “Of course we do! Xiao always saves the people around him without so much as a thank you. It’s only right that we help him when we can, especially when he’s this stubborn.” Paimon speaks for them as is their custom. “If Xiao wasn't injured, Paimon would find a perfect ugly nickname for him.”
Venti smiles, fondly recalling his own Paimon-patented nickname— Tone-Deaf Bard. It fits, but he’ll never tell her that.
“Thank you, I’ll make sure to treat you both to some of Mondstadt's finest wine when things are settled.”
“As if you could afford it! And who likes wine that much anyway, that stuff is bitter and makes you reek! Just treat us to a meal, and we’ll call it even.”
“Though, we’d help Xiao regardless,” the traveller adds as Paimon practically drools beside them.
“Mm, then a feast it shall be!”
“You heard the man, let’s find Baizhu. Paimon can’t wait for dinner— I mean, for Xiao to get better,” she lets her tongue slip.
Venti rolls his eyes but watches them part unbothered. Thankfully, Xiao is still fast asleep, so he curls up to him and begins to hum, more assured now that someone will help him.
A few hours later, Venti’s eyes peek open, feeling the bed shift next to him. What he sees is his bedmate standing up, sighing as he wields his spear. “Up so soon?”
“I told you I would heal.” he mutters begrudgingly. “Though, I must admit the traveler stopped by with some potent herbs that urged it along.”
Venti sees the wraps and herbs on the side table, breathing a sigh of relief. “How fortuitous. It would be insulting for you to misuse their kindness. Come. Rest a bit longer.”
“The demons do not rest.” As simple as that, Xiao bows and heads for the balcony.
Venti sighs and rolls to watch him. “Be safe. If you come back in the next day or two, I'll be here in Liyue.”
At this, Xiao slows his departure and looks over his shoulder. “There's no guarantee as to when I'll return.”
“I know.” Venti smiles, missing him already.
And in a flash, Xiao is standing next to the bed, hovering over him. Venti turns his head up curiously.
The hard, hiding mask is removed and Xiao's face comes closer, a firm decision in his eyes as he ghosts a breath over Venti’s lips before giving him a light kiss, deepened by their yearning— Venti’s hand on his face and Xiao nipping his lip, trying to covet his want.
It seemed that just because he needed to go didn’t mean he wanted to.
They share a shaky breath as they pull away, each trying to savor the feeling until they can do so again.
Glassy, loving, honey eyes look on at him a moment longer. “Thank you. I'll try to be quick.”
Then he’s already slipped from the bard’s grasp, teleported by the wind to the outside world and onto a well-trodden battlefield.
Venti sighs, looking on after him, letting the dawn warm his skin. “I'll be here.”