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A gentle breeze was in the air, the wind cool yet brought a feeling of comfort to those who felt it. Venti wasn’t sure if the wind here was real or not, but either way it gave him the same amount of ease as the spring wind in Monstadt.
The blades of grass were soft as they moved from the wind blows, soft enough that Venti had been lying on his side for quite some time. He’s been staring across the traveler so for a while, just staring at her.
She had invited him to her teapot as a guest and showed him her home. It was such an interesting device that she could even change the area and the layout of her home based on what region she wanted. Who knew such delicate porcelain could withhold such power.
The two of them lay down on the grass to stare at the sky, watching the clouds go by and what shapes they were, all until he noticed the silence between was a little too long; when he looked to his side he found that she had fallen asleep. Guessing the sky gazing made her drowsy.
Venti blinked, surprised at first—yet he couldn’t help but smile at the sight of her. Not surprised that she had fallen asleep, beneath a sky shaped by her own imagination. The wind brushed through their hair and skin, not harsh but softly blowing, almost adjusting itself just for her comfort. the anemo archon, he was the one controlling the wind. It always listened to him, but today…it seemed to listen to her too.
He propped himself up on an elbow, watching the steady rise and fall of her breathing. There was a comfort he found in this tiny world, not because of the wind or by the sun, but everything to do with her presence. Even when asleep, to him, this place still felt just like home.
For a moment, Venti wondered if he should wake her. But the thought dissolved as soon as it formed. She looked far too peaceful to disturb, lashes resting like soft brushstrokes against her cheeks, fingers loosely curled in the grass, she looked so relaxed.
“Guess the skies won today,” he uttered to himself. Venti felt the breeze curl around them like a thin blanket, soothing and slow. Staring at her, he can’t deny that it brings a smile to his face.
He noticed the atmosphere slowly got darker, Venti turned to sit up and stare closely at the sky to see a big dark clue approaching. It appeared to be a rain cloud, it made him wonder if it rains in the teapot. He supposes he’ll have to wait and see.
He wasn’t sure if it were right to wake up the traveler, he didn’t want to interrupt their sleep, Venti slid an arm beneath her knees and another behind her back, lifting her with a careful ease. She stirred a little as his head was resting against his shoulder. The closeness made his smile soften, he hadn’t thought he would carry her like some storybook prince, but he would never let the traveler get soaked in the rain.
The first drop of rain fell on his shoulder.
“Hah…just in time,” he said, holding her more securely in his arms.
The house wasn’t far, its doorway framed by lanterns that flickered invitingly in the now gloomy weather. Once Venti opened the door the rain had picked up, now become a heavy downpour.
“Ahh, thank Barbatos we made it…” he said to himself. The sounds of the rain already hitting the window with loud tapping noises. Venti laid the traveler to rest on the couch gently, stepping back to stare at her. Venti lingered near the couch a little longer than he indicated, now sitting on the floor with his arms crossed on the couch resting his chin staring longingly at the traveler.
“God, you fell asleep so quickly.” He was telling her, but since she couldn’t hear him he was only saying this to himself.
Rain traced uneven paths down the windowpane behind him, each drop tapping out a quiet rhythm. The traveler shifted in her sleep, brows knitting faintly before smoothing again, and Venti held his breath. Without even realizing he interlaced his fingers with hers. “If you were awake now, I would’ve played us a pretty tune, it would’ve made the rain noises even more relaxing.”
The sound of rain drumming the grounds really did bring a person to sleep, the freezing cold enough for someone to curl up into a ball and try to warm themselves from the cold trying to get inside your sheets. Her hand was cold when he touched them, and it had him thinking. How long were they outside? How cold was it outside? Was she cold but didn’t even realize it? Venti hummed at the thoughts, then leaving the room to give her some space as she slept soundly.
***
The traveler woke up from the faint sounds of strings playing music from the outside, her body feeling heavy and comfortable against her bed sheets, she yawned, holding herself and curling into a ball to keep herself warm from the cold. Her eyes were tired but she stared straight forward, trying to recall if she was outside or not. She remembers laying on the grass with Venti, and she had fallen asleep without meaning to. Did he carry her back inside? The thought made her embarrassed, but she was too tired to really care much about it to think about it.
The soft blanket draped over her made her wanna fall back to sleep, listening to the sound of a lyre made her sleepy, pulling the covers over her face to be more comfortable. While she was trying to go back to sleep, she kept hearing the sounds of lyre strings making music. She thought and knew exactly who that was, and lazily, she got out of her bed and left through the door.
Walking towards the retractable ladder and climbing up, she pushed the door open and peaked her head out to stare at the sky, how incredibly blue it was, then turning behind her where she saw the back of an archon standing tall on the end of the roof, playing his lyre and singing a song in his language. White pigeons gathered around him as he held out his hands, all the birds bunched together around him.
Lumine climbed herself up on the roof, “uh, Venti?” She said, the bard turned around and his face lit up with the brightest smile when he saw the traveler.
“Oh hey, traveler, you’re awake!” Venti chimed happily quickly making his way towards her, the white pigeons still huddling around him. “Come traveler, come feed the birds with me!” He took her hand quickly and led her to the edge of the roof. Venti sprinkled a handful of bird feed onto Lumine’s hands.
“Here, give it a try.” She stayed silent, but looked forwards and just when she extended her arms, pigeons started fluttering all around her nipping at the bird feed in her hands. Her yelps turned to laughter, as the pigeons ate in a hurry.
“See? I think they like you.” Venti chimed as birds fluttered around him.
“Where did you get all these?” Lumine asked,
“Oh, I just stepped out of the teapot for a little while and bought some, the birds here looked hey needed some feeding.” Venti started at the birds with care as they continued eating, from the corner of his eye he noticed the traveler, staring at him, he pretended not to notice and was wondering to himself why she was staring at him so, usually it was the other way around.
“You seem to be staring at me longer than usually, is there something up?” He asked turning his head towards her.
“Nothing…it’s just that I’ve never seen you without your hat and cape before.” It was the first time she’d have seen him without it, to her, he looks a lot more sort and free like this.
“Oh, really? I must be wearing them too often.”
“No, not at all, I think they suit you very well.”
“Oh really? That’s probably because you never see me with less fabric on before.”
The pigeons that chirped and hurdled around them both calmed down eventually, the traveler then lowering her arms and one by one the birds flew away. She looked down other roof and saw the ground, muddy puddles on the grass as well as water dripping down from her roof.
“Had it been raining?”
“Yeah it had, you fell asleep right before it started to rain.” Venti played his lyre as he stood tall and staring into the blue sky. “The downpour was really big traveler, you shove seen to, why don’t we play in the puddles? We can see who makes the biggest splash.”
“Maybe another time, venti, I don’t really feel like jumping into puddles today.”
“Hm, suit yourself then.” He said. “…hey, I have an idea. You’re always going away to the next nation, that we never get to hang out, why don’t we hang out tonight? Let have some fun together!”Venti kept his fingers still moving along the strings of his instrument. “What do you think?”
“Yeah, I don’t think that’s a bad idea, you’re right it has been a while.” Venti’s lyre disappeared from his hands into small specs of gold dust, drifting away on the breeze before they could settle anywhere. He clasped his hands behind his back and rocked on his heels, looking far too pleased with himself.
“Tonight, then. Let’s do something fun tonight,” he said. “Though you’ll have to let me plan it. I have very good ideas.”
“Hopefully it makes me jump for joy,” She was blunt, but she was smiling.
“That’s great!” Venti chimed happily, stepping forward towards her and took her hand. “In the mean time, why don’t we eat right now? You just woke up haven’t you? You must be really hungry.”
The moment he mentioned food she was now starting to feel hungry and admitted she was.
“Awh, my dear warrior. Well perfect timing as well, while you were asleep, I’ve cooked up my best dish just for you to eat. It should be done by now actually.” The traveler was getting hungrier but he minute just by the thought of Venti’s cooking, and it being his best dish.
“Is it your signature dish?”
“You betcha!”
“Then let’s go and eat some, I’m getting hungry!”
***
The sunlight within the teapot was already to sink into the horizon, even the sunlight outside in the world was ready for the night, the golden glow of the sun slowly disappearing. And about time they both left their home and went out to celebrate.
Both Venti and Lumine chiming happily with chatter as they name their way to Angel’s Snare. When they made it to the tavern the warm and bright atmosphere was brought to them, very different from the outside where it’s gotten dark.
“Greetings Diluc!” Venti chirped happily seeing him from across the table, “it’s been a short while hasn’t it?”
“No, it hasn’t as a matter of fact. Were you not here just the other day? Oh, and greetings traveler.”
“I don’t remember that.” The traveler can’t tell if that’s a lie or not. “But since I’m here with my dear warrior, so I expect you to treat us well, Diluc.” Venti sat on one of the chair and rests his head on both his fists. “Me and the traveler just so happened to bump into each other the other day and I wanna treat them to the best dandelion wine you have.”
“Really? You bumped into her? I thought when Jean told you the traveler was here, you immediately started using the wind to find her.”
“I don’t remember that.”
The traveler wasn’t even paying attention to the conversation because one of the servers gave her the menu and she was reading was written in their, and the tavern was loud anyways so she was a more focused on food at the moment. Through the windows, the traveler could see only the faint glow of Mondstadt’s lamps and the dark silhouettes of buildings beyond them.
Her stomach was ruing because of the thought of eating.
“Hmm…”
Venti leaned across the table to look at the menu as well.
“What are you getting?” He asked
“I don’t know yet, there’s too many options that sound good to me.”
Venti pointed at one of the names written on the book menu“If you want my recommendations, you should get the hash browns.”
Lumine turns her head up to him. “You always tell me to get the hash browns.”
“Because the hash browns are good.”
“I remember the last time we came here you ordered three plates last time.”
“And?”
“And you couldn’t finish them.”
“I finished most of them. And we took the rest to-go after that.”
“And you fell asleep on the table because of all the drinking last time.”
Venti placed a hand over his chest as if she’d digging into an open wound to prove him wrong.
“I was tired okay? It’s so much work being Venti the bard but also looking after my people in secret.” Venti stretched his arms. Looking like he was already getting tired
“Diluc!”
Diluc continued polishing the glass as though he hadn’t said anything. Lumine covered her mouth with her fist, trying to hide her smile. Venti looked between the two of them, apparently betrayed.
“I’m surrounded by traitors.”
“You’re surrounded by people who have ears,” Diluc replied. Venti huffed before turning his attention back to Lumine.
“Well, if you’re not getting the hash browns, what are you getting?”
Lumine looked back down at the menu.
“I think I’ll get the chicken-mushroom skewers…”
“Good choice.” Diluc said.
“And some salad.”
“Less good choice.” Venti said.
“And…”
She continued reading, occasionally asking Venti what certain dishes were. He answered nearly every question with complete confidence, though Lumine had a growing suspicion that half of his answers were made up.
Eventually, they placed their orders.
It wasn’t long before the empty table was transformed into a small dinner. Steam curled lazily from the freshly cooked dishes, carrying the scent of herbs, butter, roasted meat, and warm bread. A plate of Mondstadt hash browns sat between them, golden and crisp around the edges. There were skewers of grilled meat, a bowl of salad, fresh bread, and several smaller dishes that Venti had insisted they absolutely needed to try.
Lumine stared at the amount of food.
“Did you order more stuff?”
“Maybe.” Venti looked upward to the side acting innocent. “I want this night to be rememberable and filled with good food, as a good reminder before you leave Monstadt again.
Lumine sighed but picked up a piece of food anyway. The food in Angel’s Snare was always so good, meat was mildly hot but the taste tastes so mildly spicy and almost sweet. He went for another piece and ate the majority of it almost in a short amount of time.
“Well?” Venti watched relaxed resting his head on his hand “did I order to your taste?”
“It’s really good.” Eating the food made her realize she little times she came to this tavern and rarely tried out the different options in the menu. And yes, they were to her taste.
Throughout their meal the traveler spoke about the adventures in all the other nations she visited, up until her recent journey ending in Nod Krai, Venti listened in to everything she told him, but he already knew all this, he’s been keeping track on everything the traveler has done outside of Monstadt, even about their battle with Rerir and Dottore. But he still wanted to hear everything coming from her specially.
After their food it was finally time to chug down on cider, at least that’s what Venti was expecting.
“No.” She said.
“I haven’t even said anything.” Venti looked confused not understand what the ‘no’ was supposed to mean.
“You were going to ask me to drink.”
“I was going to politely suggest that we celebrate our evening with a little cider. Come one traveler, you Marley ever drink, and besides, don’t you wanna make this night super fun before it’s all done?” Venti was packaging with his big eyes for her to drink with him.
How can she say no to that?
They both ordered the alcoholic apple coder, Diluc gave Venti a final warning about drinking too much, again.
The two of them were enjoying Roth themselves and their drinks, laughing and chattering loudly like everyone else in the tavern.
Venti drank quickly, chatting between sips and occasionally lifting his glass to make some grand declaration about the night. The cider seemed to make him even more energetic rather than less. But as the evening went on, the traveler began noticing a change.
His cheeks had become slightly pink, his smile was wider, and his words occasionally stretched together.
And, most importantly, he had started laughing at things that weren’t particularly funny. She watched him finish another jug.
“Venti.” Lumine smiled wide at him.
“What is it traveler?”
“You gotta slow down.”
“I’m drinking slowly.”
“No you’re not, you’ve already finished a bunch of jugs already.”
“That’s not true, look!” Venti stood up but stared to stumble, he caught himself as quick as he can from falling down stupidly. “See I’m standing!”
“Yeah I think it’s time we go haha.”
The traveler payed for the food, thanking Diluc for everything, then helped carry a drunken yet happy Venti out of the bar. When they stepped out, Lumine was now carrying Venti on her back, he was easy to carry at least.
“Ugh I feel so icky.” Venti slurred his words, looking completely out of it. While he wrapped his arms around her neck.
“It’s a good thing you’re light.” The traveler began walking back from where they came from, they had left the serenitea pot someplace safe so they have no reason to worry in rushing. Venti smiled warmly as his arms very carefully tightened around her, he never felt so at ease with being held by her he has no need to keep any sort of guard up when being around the Anemo archon’s honorary knight. He was glad she fell for the drunk trick. He’s been drunk and buzzed so many times he knows just how to fake it. Pretending to be drunk was so easy.
”Traveler…are you sure you wanna leave?” He he trailed his words.
”Leave to where?”
”To Snezhnaya…are you…sure you have to go?”
She pondered on his question “yeah, I have to, it’s part of my journey.” She continued down the quiet street, completely unaware of the small smile hidden behind her shoulder as she held Venti snuggle himself closer to her.
***
When finally making it back to the teapot they were greeted by Tubby who was still awake. Lumine worked her way through the door and into one of the guest bedrooms to lay Venti down, but it seemed he was feeling a little too clingy tonight, especially after so many drinks that he didn’t wanna let go of Lumine. “Traveler don’t go, stay here with me.”
“Venti, I can’t, you’re drunk and you gotta rest. Let me get you some more water first.”
“You can do that later!” Venti was whining, his eyes somehow growing bigger as he begged for her to just stay with him, not wishing to be by himself and wanting to be coddled.
“No, I’m getting you water first.” Lumine left the room go fetch the drunken bard water to clear himself. Venti only sat quietly in the bed with his legs falling to the floor, only the tips of his shoes touching the wooden tiles. He stared down at his feet, he thought, and thought, and thought. He knew she’ll be to the nation soon, he’s done with that…but it’s always at these certain times when he’s feeling this way that she’s always wanting to leave. It’s almost as if she wants to get away from him. He never felt like this before, but for some reason it’s more I sense than ever, and he dosent understand why the buildup in his chest is getting worse every time he sees her and dosent see her?
“Venti, I’m back, here’s the water.” Lumine came back into the room giving Venti the glass, it even had ice in it. He thanked her for the kindness with slurred words.
She watched him take a few sips, her gaze lingering on his flushed cheeks and the way his eyelids drooped. He looked unusually vulnerable like this, almost as though the weight of everything he kept hidden had finally begun to catch up with him. Lumine reached for the empty glass when he was finished, intending to place it on the bedside table before letting him rest.
But just as she turned to leave, his fingers caught her wrist in a gently swiftness like the wind.
“Venti, I should let you sleep,” she said, gently trying to free herself from his grasp.
“Can’t you stay for a little bit traveler?” He smiled widely and like an eager puppy wanting their owner. “I don’t like being alone y’know.” He felt the need to do something, but he dosent know what.
“I shouldn’t, Venti. It’s not really a good idea, you should go to sleep or else you get a headache when you wake up—“
Venti grabbing her arm with growing impatiences, the traveler tumbled onto the bed trying to regain her balance but failed. Her body didn’t fall entirely down, but he was being held in a grip that only made her more confused. She fixed her position by leaning against the headboard.
“Why is it that when I want you around the most you’re always trying to leave?” He said while holding her tight, he doesn’t know what’s gotten into him, but he knew he was getting tired of always letting her go just for him to try and ignore the lumpy feeling on his chest and throat and he can’t have her stay.
“I hate it whenever you leave, even when you go to another nation, it feels like forever when you come back.” He doesn’t know what he’s doing honestly, he just knows what he’s doing and saying is stupid. He got up from her and scooted just a bit away, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that…” Venti was cut off by the traveler’s hand gently holding the back of his head, leaning him closer to there he was resting on her, his head on her chest, his cheek nuzzling against her. He couldn’t help just blush pitifully.
“You seem like you have a lot you wanna say.” She said. “If you have something to say, just say it right now so you don’t have to think about it anymore.”
He pondered…
“Traveler…what is your real name?” The Anemo archon spoke softly, not wanting to look up, why is he feeling bashful all of a sudden. He let himself get carried away by his emotions, how embarrassing.
“You wanna know my real name?”
“Yeah.”
She was shocked, nobody has ever asked her this before. Nobody ever really bothered to ask for her real name. The one person who ever called her by her name was Aether…until now.
“It’s…Lumine.”
“Lumine?” He thought. “What a pretty name.”
“Lumine?”
“Yeah.”
Venti looked down, “Lumine” he said again. And he said it again “Lumine…”
“…”
“Lumine, I love you.” He said. “I love you so much that I’d pretend you loved me back. Everytime I hear you come back, I would always go looking for you, even to where I use the wind to find you. I’d wanna cook for you my favorite soup everyday if you’d like, and I’d always give you my favourite flower so we can smell the same always.” Venti rambled on still holding onto Lumine as he spilled his feelings out. Lumine couldn’t see his face properly as it was buried into her, but she can hear him clearly, and the more he went on, the weaker his voice was getting and the more emotional he became.
“I love everything about you. Your eyes remind me of the stars, I love those unusual flowers you wear on your hair, you’re always so determined to help everyone and your friends, even when you came and helped save Monstadt. And how you always make sure to come every Windblume to see us all, I love staring at you anytime I get, you always rest your head on my shoulders when you’ve worked yourself so hard, everytime you needed me I was always at your side and nothing more makes me happy.”
“I love you, more than anything, because you brought something to me that I can’t even imagine the thought of losing.”
For the entire time Lumine remained quiet, listening to everything the bard is confessing his feelings to her, she didn’t know what to say, she wasn’t even sure if saying anything would help at all.
“Venti…?” She said, hoping he would look up at her. “Do you actually think this way? Or are you just drunk?”
“I really do, everything I’m saying is nothing but the truth.”
“Why…” she trailed off, trying to think of what to say “Why haven’t you ever told me this in the first place?” Venti slowly raised himself to look at her, eyes filled with emotion and tiredness.
“You know…I always valued your freedom.” He said. “Not just you, I value my people’s freedom, nothing makes me happy than to see them have the free will to do what makes them happy. And…I know…there’s somebody you’re looking for, and I know the must mean a lot to you. Just telling you how I feel, I know it would hold you back. I hate it when you leave Monstadt, I want you to stay. But what kind of a god does that make me if I go against what I believe is best?”
Lumine stayed silent, she wasn’t sure of what to say but only kept her arms around him as a way to comfort him. Her fingers get tangled into his black hair.
“Traveler, can I kiss you?”
“What?”
“Can I please?”
This was so out of nowhere Lumine didn’t know what to say…she kept her hand in his hair thinking of what he had said and scrambling on what to say next.
“Hahaha, did I make you embarrassed?” Venti stray he’d his arms raising himself up. His face looking heated from the embarrassment of confessing his feelings to her. “I did, didn’t I? Yeah, it came out of no where didn’t it?” Venti teased her, pointing his finger.
“I’m sorry, did I confuse you?”
“No you didn’t.” Lumine said outright, moving both her hands to touch his face. “And you didn’t embarrass me either. I feel no way about it. I appreciate that you told me how you feel, it doesn’t change anything in how I see you or it at all.” She said. “I don’t mind if we kissed” she was being honest, she didn’t mind at all, it wasn’t like she hadn’t kiss anyone before, and someone like Venti isn’t like kissing a stranger. He was the first person she had met when she had first woken up and ventured to Monstadt, he was a caring and sweet person, he loved his freedom of doing whatever he wanted all while guiding his people in secret. They’ve always had fun together. So what difference would this be?
“You can.”
With a few seconds of silence he took the offer. Holding her face and careful his grip wasn’t rough as he slowly leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers. He feels so awkward and shy and stupid all at the same time, he’s kissed people before, and he knows damn well Lumine has as well.. and probably has missed more people than he has. But this kiss makes him feel like this was ships first time and it’s all so intense. His heart keeps beating and his body feels hot, as if he’s back to being inexperienced.
Venti leaned down and kissed her again, this time it being longer, and pouring more of his love into it to show. So much so she ended up lying back on her mountain of pillows. He didn’t wanna part from her, he wanted to stay like this, but he needed to. When Venti looked down at her, her was almost just as red as his, and her pretty hair was now a little messy.
“Lumine, I love you so, so much, you don’t get it.”
“I’m sure I do get it, since you told me.”
Venti shook his head “No. You don’t get it. No words or even actions could ever tell or show how deep my feelings are for you.” He took Lumine’s arm and guided her to sit up with him, taking both of her hands and kissing each finger.
“…I’m a fool, but I’m not an idiot. I’d be an idiot if I didn’t know where my heart lies, and it being within my reach but is always leaving.” He said. “A traveler’s journey is a never ending journey with no possible ending journey,” He then slightly bowed,
looking downs, pressing the fingers against his forehead. “But wherever you go, I hope you never leave behind or forget the people or nation where your joinery began. My beloved warrior.”
Venti didn’t wanna look up, he wanted to savour this moment and the face he had seen of her engraved into him. But he didn’t,
Raising his head to see a smiling Lumine, and her cheeks looking bigger why how wide her smile is. With a kiss on his cheek, he lay on his side while still clinging on to her, chin resting on her head not letting go. Venti rests his eyes, unsure if any of this is real. He finally confessed all his feelings in one go, the same feelings the felt as though it was eating him alive every time he was around her, then him kissing her and she accepting it and finally resting along side her. It felt as though everything was happening at once and everything he ever longed for felt a little too fast, but he’s not complaining about it.
Venti took hold of her hand and interlaced his fingers with hers. Her hand was so warm making with her entire self, everything about her gave him ease.
“I’ll come back, I promise, I always do, don’t I?” Lumine said reassuring him.
He knows this already, she always does, but this time feels a lot more different now that he said everything. “I know.”