#and will continue to love venti as barbatos even after hes gone | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

kiri-tatsu · 1 year

Text

// Chase me to the ends of this world //

the man you love has decided to chase you, how dare you make a call of his feelings and leave him without letting him explain? he is unhappy when finding you, but is determined to talk with you and confess his own feelings. He has no idea what follows after as long as you both handle it together. Tw- angst, misunderstandings, confessions, fluff, some kissing(?!?! me n u when??)

Zhongli

wc-1075

Even though he promised himself to not chase after Y/n, he couldn’t keep that up anymore after the second month. He could only see their presence everywhere no matter what he did though his busy working days.

Signing papers? He would always think Y/n would burst into the room at any given second and drag him off to go accompany with whatever they needed help with. Drinking tea? He could only ever think of their past conversations, their laughs and smiles. Talking with Tartaglia? He could only reminisces their pointless bickering with the harbinger as he watched them with a smile.

He would constantly remind himself that they were no longer there in Liyue to come pester him or fill his days with joy, or ask him of anything anymore. He would no longer be able to experience that until he forced himself to get up and make things right himself.

As soon as the second month of Y/n missing from his normal days, he got up and left telling Hu Tao of his departure, but nothing more, Zhongli just couldn't take it anymore. The first person he would question would be Barbatos seeing how Y/n thought of the young-looking god as a brother.

Before he could even pass through Stone Gate, there stood a bard clad in green, “Barbatos,” he spoke lowly, and the bard looked up with a small smile, “Rex Lapis, what a surprise! Now, why are you entering my nation?”

Zhongli closed his eyes while crossing his arms, stating his reason out loud would be rather embarrassing, but for the sake of finding his dear quicker, he would put that aside, “I’m in search of Y/n, do you have any information of their whereabouts?” Venti let out a small laugh and motioned for the ex-archon to follow after him as they traveled through the land of freedom.

“Y/n came here a bit ago, saying they couldn’t bare to be in Liyue anymore, any idea why?” Zhongli didn’t say anything as Venti turned to look at him for a second before he continued to lead the way, “Y/n should be at Windrise around this time,” he mentioned as they finally made it past Dawn Winery.

“When you see Y/n, please just take to them,” Zhongli nodded as the bard nodded to himself, “Then I trust you will be able to journey safely the rest of the way then?” Zhongli nodded once more, “You need not to worry about me Barbatos, once I talk with Y/n, hopefully we will return home together.”

Venti let out a small laugh, “Then this is where we part, it was nice seeing you again old man,” just as Zhongli was about to retaliate the little man was gone in a whisp of the wind leaving the ex-archon to shake his head as he continued on his journey to the large tree.

The closer he got, the more his heart had hammered against his chest threatening to fall out, his hands got hot and wanted to pull off his gloves, but he shook the thought away as he began to think of what he would even say when he finally found Y/n.

A simple ‘I’m sorry’ was definitely not good enough to say, but he knew for sure, his feelings would be voiced before the day would end. No matter what ridiculous lengths he had to prove his feelings, he would do anything for them.

Once arriving at the tree, he could see their figure, it took everything in his body to not just run and engulf them in a hug. Their beautiful face was contorted into one of confusion as they looked up from their book to see him of all people, “Zhongli?”

He shook his head as they began to stand up, and instead took a seat next to them, “Why are you here?” Zhongli let out a sigh as he took their hand and pressed a kiss to the back of their hand, “You left me a letter, and didn’t allow me to explain myself dear,” Y/n frowned as they pulled their hand back.

“Then explain,” the muttered as Zhongli nodded with a small sigh, “During the Lantern Rite, me and the Traveler were talking casually, anything and everything came into mind, then little Paimon asked about relations to you,” Zhongli felt his cheeks heat up the more he talked. “And when I went to apologize to you the next day, knowing of the conversation I had the night before, I could hardly look at you.”

Y/n was frowning still, but then Zhongli took their hands in his, “Y/n dear, you promised to be there by my side all those years ago, I never told you before, but I do indeed love you,” Y/n shook their head with small tears in their eyes. “Why now? Why are you barely telling this to me now?”

Zhongli sighed as he brought them into a hug, “I thought I was obvious, but I guess not, and before you left Y/n,” They looked up at him as he gave them a small smile, “I was taking up more work so I could clear my week earlier so I could make it up to you,” their lips parted as they stared up at him. “I was planning on confessing then my dear.”

They let out a groan as they melted into his arms, “I’m an idiot,” they muttered as he squeezed them as a laugh slipped past his lips, “A little bit, but I’m glad to have told you now.” Y/n looked up at him and reached up placing a small kiss to his cheek. “I’m glad too Zhongli, Morax, or Rex Lapis, cause now I have you here with me now.”

A glow in his eyes made them smile, “They’re all you, but different, it doesn’t mean I love you any less, no matter what,” Zhongli buried his face into their shoulder, “You're too good to me my dear.” He glanced at them with a look in his eyes that they had never seen before.

"May I kiss you dear?" Y/n felt their face was on fire as they nodded slowly as his words as he cupped their face in his hands, and closed his eyes leaning to brush his lips against theirs, making sure that this time, he would do everything in his power to keep them happy and by his side until the end of his days.

Diluc Ragnvindr

wc-1025

Everyday Diluc would wake up, get dressed, go to work, and hope to see Y/n there, and each time he had gotten his hopes up, it would be shattered the moment Charles had shaken his head. He counted the days since they left, never failing to mark each day off on his calendar, until a full year had passed. Instead, he knew if he wanted to see the one, he held dear to his heart, he would have to track them down.

And he did, he went back to past letters to dig up the bittersweet conversations they had, and then he finally had the information he had been looking for, their homeland, Inazuma. He bit his lip but nodded to himself as he packed a bag for his trip to the far land. It didn’t matter, he knew the reason why they had fled here to Monstadt, so he must have hurt them terribly if they went back home.

When setting foot in the foreign land, he knew he had his work cut out for him if he was going to track them down, so he asked around, but being in a new place and knowing no one, he only had one reliable source. “Ad Astra Abyssosque, oh, Master Diluc, you’re a long way from home.”

Katheryne, the only one to know nearly everything about nearly everyone, Diluc let a sigh escape past his lips, “I think you already know why I’m here,” the woman nodded, “Y/n L/n, right?” He nodded as she gave a small laugh, “Their home is in Ritou, you can find the L/n’s estate there.”

And off he went without another word, no matter how tired he was from his boat ride here, he was determined to talk with them before finding a place to stay for the night. Talking with Y/n and making things right was his top priority. A semi-familiar family crest was carved into wood, and he knew he seen it before and darted to the front door.

Knocking on it, he waited for a few minutes until a short woman with short hair, and e/c eyes opened the door, he knew he found the right place, “Uhm, is Y/n L/n here?” The woman nodded, “Who are you?” The woman closed the door as she exited the door, and the man moved to the side as he watched her. “Diluc Ragnvindr, I am a... a friend of Y/n’s.”

“Ah, the one who broke their heart,” she stated sarcastically, “I should harm you boy for breaking my child’s heart and making them come back here, but I got to see them again... So, I will allow you to speak with them, be glad their father is out the picture or else things would’ve been worse for you.”

“Take off your boots before you enter,” he did as he was told as a small boy lead him elsewhere, “This is N/n’s room! See you later,” he ran off as Diluc stared at the door for a bit before lightly knocking on the door, “Come in,” a small voice that he knew by heart made him hesitate for a second.

When he slid open the door, their back was faced from them as they were doing some little girl’s hair, “What do you want?” They asked, although their voice was soft, he knew that they had no idea who he was exactly. They were brushing the little girl’s hair and had a hair pin in the corner of their mouth.

“Hey Y/n...” The pin fell from their mouth as their hold on the little girl’s hair faltered at their head whipped over to him. “Y-You...” They glanced back at the girl, and sighed before moving their hands randomly in Diluc’s eyes, “Yuki-chan, please, uhm, could you give me and my friend a moment?” The little girl nodded with a smile as she grabbed the brush from their hand and left without a word.

“Why did you come here?” Diluc opened his mouth to speak as he looked at them, which made it a bit harder. They were dressed in traditional clothing instead of the clothes they were used to seeing them wear in Mondstadt, so they looked absolutely beautiful/handsome to him now. “I missed you...”

Their heart skipped a beat as they turned around to hide their flustered expression from him, “That a bit out of character of you Master Diluc,” Y/n mumbled and they heard the floorboards creak under his weight as he moved to them. “I’m serious Y/n, I missed you,” his hands had wrapped around their waist as he buried his face into their shoulder.

Y/n could feel his hair tickling their cheek as it suddenly felt hotter in the room, “I love you,” their heart skipped a beat as they turned to him abruptly, “What?” His eyes were soft, and his face was as red as his hair, “I love you Y/n,” he muttered once more as his hands cupped their face. “Please... Can I kiss you?”

Hesitantly they nodded as his lips brushed against their softly, as soon as it started it ended leaving both of them looking at each other bashfully. “I’m sorry I should’ve told you sooner...” He muttered as his arms encased them into a hug, “I was talking to Traveler that night about you when you were supposed to meet us, I was going to introduce you to them.”

His body was warm against theirs and his hug was so calming and comforting they could melt right in his arms, “I’m sorry I never told you, I wish I did sooner,” Y/n’s arms squeezed him as they let out a small laugh, “It’s okay, I made a rash decision,” they could feel him press a kiss to their head.

“Would you be willing to come back with me?” Both hearts were beating rapidly at the question, one in fear, and the other in near excitement, “Yes, archons, I miss Mondstadt’s food,” he let out a sigh of relief, then a chuckle. “Nothing else?” They shook their head as an innocent look was upon their face. “Oh, you hurt me Y/n.”

Kamisato Ayato

wc- 1090

Time seemed to move slowly, and he knew not of what to do, his heart felt heavy knowing that Y/n was no longer in Inazuma. He could go after no matter how much he wanted to because of his work. He was drowning in work, it was suffocating as he stayed up countless nights to complete the papers, only to pass out over the work.

How was he ever going to go after Y/n if he couldn’t completely complete his work? After another night full of work, and him passing out over the papers, he woke up and found himself in bed, everything was cleaned, and most of all, all his papers were done. With wide eyes he turned to the door as it opened, in strolled in his dear sister and their housekeeper.

“Oh, brother, you’re awake now!” Ayaka cheered and Thoma had presented breakfast to the siblings and made his way out the door to give them some space, “Ayaka, why is everything in my room suddenly looking as if everything is done?”

Ayaka let out a giggle, “Me and Thoma decided to help you out a bit. You need a break, and I know how much you miss Y/n, so me and Thoma decided to help you out a bit and do the rest of your work until you get back from your vacation,” Ayato furrowed his eyebrows, “Vacation?”

Ayaka nodded, “You’re going to Y/n’s homeland, we hope you rekindle with them, now hurry up and pack your bags, your boat ride leaves at noon,” he was still at a loss for words as the rest of his day went by as a blur.

But by nightfall, he found himself in Sumeru with a woman with dark hair and yellow highlights, blue eyes, named Dehya and she was his escort. He had made small talk with her, and as they made their way to the streets of Sumeru. “Uhm so, Dehya,” the woman turned her head to him, as he spoke lowly. “Do you know anyone by the name of Y/n L/n?”

The woman turned forward again, “And why do you want to know that?” Ayato sighed as she lead him up the spiral walkway up to an inn, “They are a dear friend of mine that had fled from our... well my homeland, and they came back here.” Dehya placed a hand on her hip, “Rest for the night and I’ll offer up some information up over breakfast for a price.”

The night was filled with Ayato restlessly waiting for the sun to rise, tossing and turning all night but somehow managed to get some shut eye. Waking up in the morning begrudgingly, he dressed for the day, and was met by Dehya waiting outside his little room. “Y/n is actually a friend of my girlfriend’s, so we’ll head there and get some information of their whereabouts.”

Through Sumeru they traveled, day and night camping out a bit before journeying further, by the third day, they made it to Aaru Villiage, the tall mountains hiding the place, and Ayato was nearly greeted with a spear to his face. Heterochromia eyes stared down at him as Dehya had to calm the unknown woman down.

“Candace! He’s a friend, please,” with that she let her polearm disappear as she gave a small smile, “Very well, why did you come here then foreigner? Usually, people don’t venture out to the desert for nothing.” On the walk, Ayato explained his situation with a flustered look upon his face.

“Oh, I should have every right to stab you with my polearm for hurting Y/n, then,” Dehya stepped in front of her girlfriend with a nervous grin waving her arms around. “Hon! He’s here to apologize to Y/n, not make things worse!” Candace scoffed as she lead the two to the village, “Y/n’s here actually, I’ll give you two only ten minutes to talk then you go back to Sumeru City.”

Ayato sighed, “That’s all the time I need,” she lead him to a house in the middle of the village, and opened the door, “Ten minutes,” she stated once more and Ayato inhalded deeply, until someone rounded the corner making his heart stop in his chest momentarily, “Candace you’re ba.... Ayato...? What are... What are you doing here?”

His body was frozen, he couldn’t move, and he had no idea what to say to them after not seeing them for weeks, “I... I came for you Y/n,” they let out a scoff as they crossed their arms, “And why would you do that? I thought I wrote to not come after me.” Ayato shook his head as he stepped closer to them, “You only stated you were a coward, and you said nothing about chasing after you.”

Their eyes hardened into a glare, “Well, you have to go back, aren’t you busy with all your work anyways?” Ayato sighed, “I wouldn’t be here if my work wasn’t being handled by someone I trust; Ayaka decided to take over for me until I get back.” Y/n shook their head as they crossed their arms, “I doesn’t make sense, why did you come here to find me?”

Ayato let out a chuckle as he held out his hand motioning for them to take it, hesitantly they slipped their hand in his as he pulled them in his embrace. “And I thought you were smarter than that darling,” Y/n felt their cheeks burn as they shook their head, “Shut up commissioner,” he pressed a kiss upon their head.

“What about the traveler?” Ayato shook his head as his hand had began to pet their hair, “What of them?” Y/n felt their throat tighten as the words slipped past their lips, “Don’t you have feeling for them?” The commissioner shook his head, “None for them, but for the very person who stands before me love...”

Their heart thumped rapidly against their chest as Y/n looked up at the man with an expectant look. “If you want me to say it out loud, then say it dear, otherwise it’ll just linger up in the air,” Y/n sighed as they looked up at him with a flustered face making his own heart flutter in his chest, “Please... Voice your feelings out loud, so I know you are genuine Ayato...”

His hand cupped their cheek as his eyes continued to stare into theirs with warmth, love, and adoration, “I love you Y/n,” and with that his lips pressed against theirs softly to further prove his love for them.

Alhaitham

wc-1014

He knew not what to do since Y/n left, everything seemed to get him more irritated as the days passed without their presence in his daily routine. He found himself missing them no matter how much he tried to push those thoughts and feelings to the back of his mind.

He knew if word got out about their absence, he knew that scholar that delivered the letter would probably push all the blame to him, so for the sake of not having to deal with that much later down the line, he begrudgingly sent off to where he knew they would reside. Their homeland Liyue, was luckily the neighboring nation, so it shouldn’t take that long, right?

Wrong, it was so much more mountainous than what he was used to, rocks, cliffs, and more hostile beasts were present in every turn and path he took. He just wanted to go back home and never return to the outside world, but by some miracle he managed to safely make it to Liyue Harbor without any further complications.

The scenery was new, and he would be lying if he said he wasn’t curious about the land, but he needed to focus on the situation on hand; find Y/n, talk with them, and hopefully return to Sumeru with them. He sighed as he walked down the street people walking by and oogling at him; tall, handsome and foreign, who wouldn’t stare at him as he walked by?

He needed to rest after traveling for days to make it here, so he took a seat in front of a man telling a story about the god to the lands he was in; The God of contracts, Rex Lapis or Morax, he went by many names. A man in front dressed in browns, golds, and oranges stood out to the scribe’s eye.

Although he didn’t really want to speak with anyone or socialize, he shook the feeling away as he looked over, only to see the man already glancing at him, “You seem troubled and in need of some guidance, yes?” Alhaitham felt his hearft stop for a second, now that was scarily accurate, he nodded curtly.

He motioned for the scribe to sit in front of him, “Tell me of your troubles stranger.” and with that, Alhaitham shared his story reluctantly, trying to mask his heartfelt feelings for the one he was searching for with some little white lie. “The way you speak of this person, you seem to hold them in high reguard,” oh, so much for hiding his feelings. Now being found out by a stranger was quite embarrassing.

“And, I also have a feeling of who you speak of, dear little Y/n, they have bright/dark eyes, s/t, and they are about y/h,” Alhaitham nodded at a loss for words, that was exactly who he was searching for, how did this stranger know so much? “Well, the last I seen them today,” the scribe leaned in to hear the man’s words, “They were getting commissions from Katheryne.”

He nodded as he stood up, “I thank you for your assistance... What is your name?” The man took a sip from his cup, “I am Zhongli,” his eyes darted up as he looked at the scribe, “Now off you do scribe,” Alhaitham walked a bit before turning back only to see the man walking in the opposite direction, how did he know?

Children ran past him, as he kept his eyes forward, only to feel someone bump into him from behind, “Oh, sorry,” they muttered as they went past him, and up some stairs, but he stopped in the path as his eyes went to their figure, the very person he was searching for, and without wasting a thought he followed them.

They were speaking to Katheryne, he waited until they were done collecting their rewards, and tapped them on the shoulder, their smile fell when they turned to him. “What are you doing here?” Alhaitham furrowed his eyebrows, “Why did you run away then? If you didn’t them maybe I wouldn't have to chase you down to another nation because you just assume things,” Y/n scoffed as they walked away from him.

Before they could get far he grabbed their wrist and led them to an alleyway and blocked the way for them to leave, “Let me go! Archons, I don’t want to talk with you!” Their eyes filled with tears as they glared up at him, he nearly faltered, but shook his head. “No, you’re not leaving until we talk Y/n.”

“Why do we even need to talk? I left because I didn’t want to talk about anything, I just wanted to come back home,” they sobbed on the floor pathetically as Alhaitham kneeled in front of them and cupped their face wiping away their tears, “And why would you assume my feelings for anyone?”

They looked up at him as he wiped their tears, “I don’t love Kaveh like that, he was my friend and I wanted to return our friendship, but I can’t force that upon him,” Alhaitham wrapped his arms around them, their face buried into his shoulder, “I don’t care what stupid nonsense I have to say in order for you to return back home with me, just please don’t leave me again like this...”

They could feel him press a kiss against their forehead, they looked up at him as their face flushed no on longer flushed from their crying. “I-I don’t understand...” Alhaitham sighed as he sat on the ground in front of them, “Do I have to say in all of the languages in Teyvat Y/n?” He asked, a bit irritated by their inability to fully comprehend the situation.

“No... I just want to hear you say it...” Oh, they just need confirmation and reassurance, his eyes softened as he nodded and fully brushed away all their tears, “Well Y/n, you could’ve just said that” his lips pressed against their nose a small smile displayed upon his face as he looked them in their eyes. “I love you Y/n.”

we have reached the end of this mini series, sorry no pt. 2 for other characters, but i hope you all enjoyed this as much as I enjoyed writing <3

#genshin x reader #genshin impact #genshin angst #zhongli x reader #diluc angst #zhongli angst #diluc x reader #al haitam x reader #alhaitham angst #kamisato ayato #kamisato ayato x reader #kamisato ayato angst #alhaitham #diluc ragnvindr #diluc ragnivindr x reader

504 notes · View notes

astershere · 2 years

Text

A very good bad thing (part 1)

I have arrived with an angst offering. This was supposed to be a short songfic but here we are.

This fic was inspired by Very Good Bad Thing by Mother Mother

Summary: A beautiful day took a turn for the worse in Mondstadt when a couple of knights decided to take action on their plans of avenging their nation so cruelly taken away by the Archons all those years ago.

TW: Major character death (kind of), Massacre

Mondstadt was in shambles. The once-familiar scenery was engulfed by flames that left nothing behind. The knights of Favonius’ lifeless bodies covered the streets. The civilians were all dead. Some had attempted to flee, run to Liyue to get help, but none made it further than the edge of Dragonspine before falling victim to the attackers’ bloodlust.

The scene before the two aggressors was completely devoid of life. Animals had fled, plants had been destroyed, and all humans had been killed. Even the four winds had been slain in their attempts to defend their nation and god.

The men watched their former Archon draw his last, ragged breaths underneath the very tree he so loved. Barbatos had fought tirelessly with his people, watching them fall one by one. Some were devoured by exhaustion after the fierce fight, some murdered in cold blood in the name of the long gone nation of Khaenri'ah.

Kaeya kicked the limp body of the Anemo Archon and laughed. "And he called himself an Archon?" Next to him, Albedo shook his shoulders after dropping the Festering Desire to the ground:

"He was nothing more than your average Vision holder, couldn't even hold out for half a day"

“What do you think we should do next, Albedo dearest? We’ll have the world on its knees before us, no god or mortal can stop us now!” Kaeya laughed, a wicked smile adorning his face.

Albedo opened his mouth to answer, but was interrupted by rustling followed by a tiny voice:

“Albedo…? What are you doing? What’s going on?” The two men’s heads snapped toward the sound. Albedo’s face softened slightly upon seeing the little girl before them.

“Klee…”, Albedo’s voice trailed off.

“Klee, you need to go, Mondstadt is too dangerous”, Kaeya said coldly. “And Albedo”, he turned to stare at his companion “Snap out of it, don’t forget what we’re here for”

Albedo blinked a few times before lifting his gaze to meet that of the taller male, “Right”

Klee looked at the two with teary eyes, “Klee, go. Now.” Albedo ordered the child.

”N- no… No! Klee won’t leave without you! You said it’s dangerous, I’ll stay and help you!”

Albedo snapped at the girl’s resistance: “KLEE! YOU LISTEN TO ME NOW YOUNG LADY! YOU WILL GO STRAIGHT TO LIYUE AND STAY THERE!”

The child flinched back from her brother’s outburst, “There’s nothing left here, you’ll die if you stay” the blonde continued coldly. “We’re not the Kaeya and Albedo you once knew. Leave now, before it’s too late for you too”

Klee stared wordlessly at her brothers before lunging at them. “No! Klee won’t leave you here!” Albedo froze at the action, memories of his sister flooding back into his mind. Kaeya noticed this and slapped the blonde’s cheek

“FOCUS, ALBEDO!” He was successful in getting the blonde back to the present, making him instantly stop Klee using geo.

Albedo spoke again: “Klee, listen to me. You have to leave. If you don’t… We’ll have no choice but to kill you”

The young girl let out a gasp, unable to say anything. Her brother watched the tears flow from her eyes without a single trace of emotion on his face. “Go”

With that, the crying girl ran away.

Lumine and Diluc were sprinting through Stone Gate as fast as their legs allowed them to, when Diluc suddenly stopped in his tracks.

“Diluc? What’s wrong?”

“The wind”

“What?”

“Look. The air is completely still”

Lumine took a moment to observe her surroundings. The remnants of the plant life around Dawn Winery were still like statues, the only movement being the roaring fire of the burning buildings.

“Venti…” Lumine breathed. .

“VENTI!”

Nothing.

Diluc turned to face the girl, “You don’t think he’s-”

“I’m afraid he is…” The two stayed silent for a moment, paying respects to the now late Anemo Archon.

After a minute, Lumine raised her gaze towards the sky and cried out a name: “XIAO!”

The adeptus appeared in front of them in a flash, spear in hand. “Xiao!”, the blonde girl cried out, stumbling towards him.

“Barbatos is dead and Mondstadt is under attack! I know you’re Liyue’s protector, but our last hope is getting help from other nations”

Xiao felt his heart sink, “What-”

Diluc spoke up: “We don’t know what happened. All we know is that the Anemo Archon is most likely dead, so it can’t be good”

The Adeptus’ gaze sharpened. “What do I need to do?”

“You can travel the fastest. I need you to go to Liyue Harbor and find Ningguang, tell her that Mondstadt is facing a likely international threat, and the Knights of Favonius are requesting the Millelith’s immediate backup. We’ll wait for you here”

“Understood” With that, Xiao was gone.

Lumine had never been this close to her breaking point after being separated from her brother.

“Diluc…”

The redhead crouched down next to his friend.

“I know, Lumine. I’m scared too”

He had never seen the traveler in such a state. It seemed that she had finally reached her limit.

“Wh- what are we going to do? Whatever this is is stronger than anything I’ve ever seen”

“If it is capable of this level of destruction I’m afraid we won’t stand a chance even with all the backup we could ever get in this damn world! It killed an Archon for fuck’s sake!”

Diluc sighed. “I know, but we have to try, for Venti”

“Let’s try to get some rest while we wait for the Adeptus’ return”

Xiao teleported into the middle of the Jade Chamber. “Where is Ningguang?”

The startled servants stumbled over their words, some awkwardly bowing upon realizing they were in the presence of a Yaksha

“Uh- Lady Ningguang is currently in a meeting, sir. P-perhaps we could deliver your message to her. O-or we can send someone to fetch her-”

“I don’t have time for that, where is she?”

“She’s at the Feiyun Commerce Guild, sir”

Before anyone had time to react, the adeptus was gone.

“Yes, as things currently stand, we will have plenty of opportunities for-”

The man’s sentence was interrupted by a sudden gust of wind blowing between the two. Xiao appeared next to the table, immediately turning to Ningguang.

“I have an urgent message from Lumine”

“Wh- Please go on, Illuminated Adeptus”

“The Knights of Favonius are requesting backup. Mondstadt is facing a likely international threat and their archon is dead”

Ningguang’s expression fell serious. “Do you know anything else?”

“At least the area surrounding Dawn Winery is completely destroyed” Xiao hesitated “The power feels foreign to what the humans of today know”

“Thank you, I will handle this immediately” she turned to look at her companion, “My apologies, I must cut this meeting short”

“Of course, lady Ningguang, this is quite a pressing matter”

Lumine was awakened from her sleep by a child’s voice.

“Miss Honorary Knight! Miss Honorary Knight! Please wake up, Miss Honorary Knight!”

“Mmh- Klee?” She rubbed her eyes as she slowly sat up. “Klee! What are you doing here?”

The little girl threw herself into the traveler's arms. “Miss Honorary Knight! You have to help Klee! Something is wrong with big brother Albedo and Kaeya!”

Lumine wrapped her arms around Klee, glancing at Diluc worriedly. The redhead had clearly made the same connection in his head.

“Lumine, we have to go now. If we’re dealing with what I think we are, they must be stopped before they leave Mondstadt”

“I know, Diluc, but we can’t leave Klee alone, especially not in this state” Lumine motioned to the terrified little girl weeping in her arms.

“You’re right… But we can’t bring her with us either…”

As the two were trying to come up with a solution, Xiao returned.

“I have delivered your message, they’ll take a couple days to arrive”

“Thank you, Xiao. Say, you wouldn’t happen to know if Tartaglia is still in Liyue?”

Xiao grumbled “...Yes, he’s still in Liyue”

Lumine’s face lit up slightly “Could you do one more thing for me?”

Xiao nodded. “Could you take little Klee here to him and ask him to take care of her. Tell him she’s witnessed her brother in a… less than desirable state”

“Are you insane Lumine?!” Diluc yelled. “You’re suggesting we leave her in the care of a Fatui harbinger? The one behind the ordeal in Liyue no less! We can’t do that!”

The girl sighed, “I know you’re wary of him Diluc, and I don’t blame you but please trust me on this. He’s my friend and quite frankly the only person in Liyue I would trust with caring for Klee right now. If it makes you feel better, I can request that Zhongli joins them”

“I-” Diluc let out a heavy sigh “I want to trust you but... a harbinger?”

After a moment of silence, Diluc gave up. “Fine, but at least tell me who this Zhongli is. It should give me at least some reassurance that she’s in good hands”

“Thank you, Diluc. Let’s just say that Zhongli is an old friend of Venti’s” The blonde girl emphasised the unspoken meaning with a pointed look. Diluc simply nodded.

Lumine pulled the little girl away from her chest enough to be able to look at her properly. “Hey Klee, do you see that man standing there? He’s going to take you to my friend who will take good care of you, okay?”

“Miss Honorary Knight, please don’t leave Klee!”, the child whimpered, making Lumine frown in worry.

“It’ll be okay Klee, my friend will take good care of you while Diluc and I go see your brothers. I’ll come back to get you as soon as I can”, she wiped the girl’s tears. “Do you wanna know a secret about my friend, Klee?”

Klee nodded, starting to visibly calm down.

“This friend is actually the greatest toy salesman in all of Snezhnaya! I just know he’d love to meet Dodoco and see your Jumpy Dumpties!”

Klee’s face lit up with excitement, “Really? Maybe he can help Klee make Jumpy Dumpty even jumpier!”

Lumine chuckled, “I know he can, or if he can’t, he’ll surely know someone who can! So how about it? Will you go with Xiao here to see him?”

“Mhm!” the girl nodded her head eagerly.

“Alright, travelling with Xiao is super fast! You’ll just have to hold on to him tight and you’ll be there in one woosh of the wind!”

Klee was now giggling in excitement as the two walked up to Xiao. The adeptus picked up Klee and held her close to his body “Just hold on tight like Lumine said”

“Klee will hold on super tight! Bye Miss Honorary Knight, bye sir Diluc!”

Diluc smiled fondly, “Bye Klee, be good now”

“Oh yeah, Xiao, before you go, we’ll be going further into the area already, we have an idea of what’s going on”

“Got it”, Xiao nodded before teleporting away.

#genshin impact angst #genshin angst #asters angst

11 notes · View notes

angelkissedface · 3 years

Photo

an au i was thinking about at stupid o’clock this morning in which florinel ascends and becomes the new anemo archon.

#art #2021 #oc: florinel cosmin volbrecht #its an offshoot of redemption arc hehe #venti and florinel become good friends and venti helps florinel finally feel at home in mondstadt again #so when he sacrifices himself to protect his people he decides florinel has become the best suited to take his place :'))#is it just an excuse for angst?? hell yes #either way florinel doesnt replace barbatos' name and keeps up the hands-off approach so that mondstadt wont figure out their archon died #and will continue to love venti as barbatos even after hes gone #its all very bittersweet uwu #just some little doodles since i havent done anything based in angst recently and im craving it lol

40 notes · View notes

blackdchliia · 2 years

Note

Hi! May I request wisp!Venti x fem! Reader flaffy headcannons? I just can't stop wheezing whenever I see his little wisp form (>\\\<)

Also am I doing this right? Thats my first time requesting something...

PLEASE THIS IS SO CUTE-

ugh 😩 yk that feeling you get when you’re looking at your cat, or just something SUPER cute? like the feeling where you’re like: “omg you’re so cute i wanna squish you-“

that’s me with wispy venti 🥺🥺

Wisp! Venti x Fem! Reader Headcanons <3

you’re someone who’s incredibly well-known in present time monstadt in the history of barbatos.

during the whole archon war, you had been but a simple human, who had been a comrade of the young man who venti had taken the form of shortly after his death.

many people who speak of you often refer to you as “barbatos’ love”

venti was just a wisp in the wind, who was known as barbatos, listening to the wishes of those who were trapped inside of old monstadt, which at the time was encased with a giant rush of wind.

he had met you on a fairly gloomy day during the war; you were standing on your balcony; gazing at the wall of wind.

“what’s it like out there?”

“maybe one day i can travel to all different sorts of regions when the wind is gone.”

your questions often peaked venti’s curiosity.

as a little wisp; venti had flew over towards your balcony; floating over the railing, he watched you intently, glowing white eyes gazing up towards you.

once you had noticed this little wisp; you couldn’t help but let out a little gasp.

“look at you…”

“you are so small and adorable!”

“do you have a name? can you talk?”

your many statements and questions that had left your mouth had overwhelmed venti slightly; but he just continued to sit and stare at you.

after that very day; you and the little wisp had been inseparable.

you had shown your friend, who was the young boy to venti.

venti had been incredibly interested in him.

since at the time you hadn’t known venti’s name, you and your young friend had begun to call the little wisp: “Venti,”

venti of course hadn’t understood this; for his name was barbatos, not venti!

but, you didn’t know, so it couldn’t be helped.

on days you’re down and venti knows, his little form will often snuggle up to your shoulder whilst you’re laying down in bed, tears falling from your eyes.

he loves little head pats from you.

he’s always by your side, the two of you are inseparable.

months after the two of you had bonded, venti had fallen in love with you.

he brings you little flowers from outside.

he also brings you bird feathers.

he also brings apples for you!

he loves sleeping in the bed with you; snuggled up in bed to your larger form, face hidden in your chest.

he loves you so much.

of course, because of his form, he sadly could not tell you.

it wasn’t until after the death of yours and venti’s friend did venti take the form of the friend you had both so recently lost.

the day this happened; venti spoke to you for the very first time.

“venti-?”

“i’m sorry to have taken the form of him..”

it had taken some time to get used to venti’s new form; and to get used to the fact that his name was barbatos—, and not venti.

but, that’s was okay.

you had grown to love venti long after monstadt had begun to go through the many changes it had gone through.

the two of you had gone as far as to have gotten married.

even now, in new monstadt, venti always remembers his mortal lover.

for she was the one who had really made him love, to be happy.

there’s even a statue in your honor standing beside the barbatos statue at the cathedral <3

the traveler knows all about you, from venti’s songs, his stories; and of course, from monstadt history.

#reader #genshin impact #genshin #gi venti #venti fluff #genshin venti #venti #venti headcanons #venti x reader #venti the bard #genshin impact headcanons #genshin headcanons

266 notes · View notes

ikaroux · 2 years

Text

I promised you... Xiao, part 2

Synopsis: Even death could not separate you.

You were now at his side in another form. He had found the happiness of life and a new goal: to make you human again.

Style: Part 2, angts, love, romance

Alert: None.

Characters: Xiao.

Coming soon: Venti, Albedo, Kazuha, Childe, Razor, Ganyu, Scaramouche.

Note: (SPOIL) For Xiao, I went with a theory I had after watching the Genshin Impact trailer again. I am sure that the city we see destroyed in it is not Khaenri'ah but Mondstadt. Moreover, our brother/sister tells us during the archon's quest that she already finished her journey, but whether it's Venti, Zhongli or Baal, none of them seems to know her/him, which is quite surprising...

The continuation of Venti is being written...

Masterlist

I promise you. Part 1

Apocalyptic landscapes flashed before Xiao's eyes.

Teyvat was burning.

Cities all over the world were collapsing in on themselves.

Screams and cries pierced the ears of the stunned Yaksha.

When he looked up at the ash-covered sky, he noticed that someone was floating there.

A woman with long white hair, the one from whom escaped the titanic power that had destroyed the world he so cherished.

Above her, Celestia stood proudly.

Cold and ruthless.

Xiao felt his body tremble and when he raised his hands to his face, he noticed that they were covered in blood.

His blood.

He collapsed to the ground, suddenly drained of all his strength.

He was gradually losing consciousness.

The shadow of death hung over him.

He could barely make out the blonde-haired girl who was running towards him, desperate and afraid.

Strange and familiar at the same time. She looked like him.

Aether.

His last thoughts were of you.

You were dead. Long gone from him now.

Tears welled up in his eyes as he whispered your name.

"y/n... y/n... I hope so... to find you in death..."

An unfamiliar voice interrupted his musings. Was it a woman's? A man perhaps?

"I can help you... Find the god of time... Alatus."

Xia...

Xiao stirred in his nightmarish sleep.

Xiao...

The images of his dream were still vivid in his mind.

Wake up Xiao.

Xiao abruptly opened his eyes. He was sweating and a stabbing pain was shooting through his head. Above him was the worried face of a small kitten that purred as the follower woke up. Xiao raised a trembling hand to the feline, which went to meet his palm with love. Xiao, whose breathing had been jerky just moments earlier, was slowly returning to a normal rhythm.

"Did I wake you up y/n?" - You abandoned his hand to come and rub against his cheek.

"No." - You were deliberately lying, and he knew it by the intonation of your voice. - "You were moaning in your sleep. I was worried. A nightmare?" - Xiao sighed, more exhausted than ever. Had he really slept?

"That was strange... I've never had that dream before. Teyvat was on fire and blood, destroyed by a deity that is completely unknown to me. It looked like... Aether's description of her when he was looking for his sister in Liyue. His sister... I think I saw him in my dream." - Xiao breathed again, his hand coming to cuddle your body gently. "I was dying. I was thinking about you, wanting to join you in death. But then there was this voice that called to me. I don't know who it belonged to, I don't even know if it was a man's or a woman's. She wanted me to find the god of time."

"The god of time?" - Did you repeat, curious.

"An ancient being and forgotten by mortals. There was a time when he stood by the side of... Barbatos."

Xiao took you in his arms and slowly stood up from the roof where he was previously lying.

The city he had seen in his dream was Mondstadt.

His eyes became lost in contemplating the landscape beyond Liyue.

Mondstadt.

The land blessed by the archon anemo.

"Xiao?" - Concerned, you gently dug your claws into the skin of his hand, careful not to hurt him. His eyes returned to you, a glimmer of hope making his gaze shine.

"The god of time... Thanks to him, I could... save you... I need to find Barbatos." - Xiao jumped off the roof to land on the balcony of the Wangshu Inn. He gently placed you on the bed before heading out.

"Wait Xiao!" - He stopped in his tracks and turned sharply, alarmed by the distress in your voice. - "Don't leave me here alone. We promised each other we wouldn't split up again. Please... I won't get in your way." - The Yaksha's heart was beating fast. He didn't know what to do. Taking you away was a real danger for you, but leaving you here, alone and unprotected for perhaps days was just as risky. He clicked his tongue against his palate. He didn't have to think so hard, keeping you close was a no-brainer. He walked over to the bed, crouching down in front of you to get to your level.

"y/n, if I take you, you have to promise me that no matter what happens, no matter what happens, you will do what I ask you to do. If I tell you to run, you run. If I tell you to hide, then you hide. Promise me that." - Your ears had lowered, exposing to his eyes the fear that was taking control over you.

"I promise." - Xiao smiled at you, his hand coming to slide down your back before lifting you up by your stomach. He pulled you closer to his lips to place a pleasant kiss on the tip of your muzzle.

"Stay on my shoulder. If any monsters ever attack us on the way, you'll need to get as far away from me as possible, I don't want to hurt you." - You purred against his ear.

"Where are we going?" - Xiao opened the door to his room.

"Mondstadt."

Mondstadt

The streets of the city were empty of its inhabitants, all already comfortably settled in their homes before nightfall. Only a few of them were still wandering the city's alleys, their steps unsteady and their eyes clouded with alcohol.

Xiao walked slowly, looking for the divine presence of the archon anemo. Those he passed stared at him with undisguised curiosity. Xiao stood out in the streets of Mondstadt. His eyes, his looks, his attitude, even his walk commanded the respect of the people still standing to notice him. Anyone could have said that Xiao was not human.

You both ended up in front of a tavern.

Angel's Share.

From outside, you could hear laughter and singing coming through the walls of the building. Xiao breathed in before deciding to push open the wooden doors of the tavern.

The room was full and... incredibly loud. There were civilians, but also knights and bards who were setting the mood over a few glasses of wine. Xiao took a step, examining each face he passed with his eyes.

"If it's for drinking, young man, minors are not allowed to buy alcohol." - Xiao's piercing eyes planted themselves in the bartender's. A dark-haired man with chestnut eyes and a beard was busy cleaning up the dirty glasses he had picked up earlier in the evening.

"Tsk. You don't know who you're talking to, mortal." - The man stopped his movements and raised an eyebrow at Xiao's insolence.

"Xiao... don't look for trouble. The people of Mondstadt, like most humans, don't know who you are!" - You whispered in his ear.

"Charles! This boy is my friend, let him join me." - interposed a young man covered in a beret and an emerald-colored cape.

"You, I'm only tolerating you because the boss asked me to."

"Eeeh~ Come on! I'll thank you with a song."

"Pay your bard bill, if you want to thank me." - The young man laughed before grabbing Xiao's arm to drag him upstairs. Once upstairs, he invited you to sit on the chair of a table ideally placed away from curious eyes.

"Well. I think it's safe to say I've never had the pleasure of welcoming the vigilant Yaksha to my grounds."

"Barbatos..." - The archon anemo's smile was almost childlike.

"What brings you here friend?" - Before you could open your mouth, Xiao unhooked you from his back behind which you were hidden. At the sight of you, the archon jumped out of his chair in fear.

"Iiik! Get that creature away from me!" - Xiao raised an eyebrow, bewildered. Nevertheless, he placed you on his lap, ignoring the god's comment. After a few seconds, during which your gazes remained fixed on each other, Barbatos breathed with relief before sitting back down apprehensively in front of Xiao, who watched him curiously. - "I'm allergic to cats. Except yours apparently... On closer inspection... um~ it's not an ordinary cat, is it?" - Xiao looked down at you.

"No, you're right Barbatos... She - sigh - She was human once." - Leaning on the wooden surface of the table, Barbatos rested his chin in the hollow of his palms, listening carefully to the Yaksha.

"What happened to her?" - Xiao stroked your fur, his eyes darkening at the painful memories that resurfaced.

"y/n loved to explore ancient ruins and observe plants. She was studying the remains of an ancient temple when the ground suddenly opened up beneath her feet. She died instantly. She... didn't have time to suffer..." - Xiao's voice trembled at the growing emotion raging inside him. He didn't dare to look away from you, tears stinging his eyes. Xiao rarely cried, but since your death, his emotions often overflowed against his will. The memories of your damaged and lifeless body had haunted him for a long time. So, to calm him down, you sat up on your hind legs to rub against his face.

"It's all right, Xiao. You're right, I didn't feel anything. It's not your fault. Please don't cry." - Xiao lifted you up to give you a hug.

"We promised to stay together. I guess it was that promise that bound him to me..." - Xiao finally looked up at Barbatos, who was looking at both of you with compassion.

"Fate can sometimes be cruel... If I may correct you my friend, it is not your promise that binds you to each other, it is your feelings. They are powerful and intense." - The archon's words were soft and sincere. - Now that I understand your situation better, I would like to know what brought you to me. Why me and not Morax?" - Xiao closed his eyes briefly, vaguely revisiting images of your smile before his mind was once again plagued with nightmarish visions.

"I had a dream the other night. Mondstadt was being engulfed in flames and darkness. Celestia seemed intent on destroying mortals, archons and the abyss. There was also this young girl who looked like Aether... I had never met him and yet... her face looked familiar. Like now, she had died, but she had not been reincarnated in the body of an animal. And as my dream came to an end with my death, a voice called me by my old name, Alatus. It asked me to find the god of time." - Barbatos straightened up with wide, bemused eyes in his chair.

"The god of time? Impossible, he disappeared since... Since when? It's funny, my memories of him are vague, but I can tell you that he and I were friends. But overnight, it was as if his existence had been wiped off the face of the world... Strangely enough, it is now that you talk to me about him that some memories come back to me. Besides... what a strange dream... Mondstadt destroyed. Celestia at war with the seven and the mortals. A girl you've never met, but who looks familiar... Maybe... Maybe the god of time was forced to use his powers to save us all..."

"What do you mean Barbatos?"

"Rha! Don't call me Barbatos, please. Venti will do. As for the God of Time, I suspect that your dreams are not just dreams, but memories. It could be that everything you saw really happened and, for some reason, the god of time decided to act by going back in time." - Venti leaned heavily against the back of his seat, his face set in concentration. His eyes fixed on Xiao's and then on you. - "Don't look at me like that, I'm just theorizing."

"Why me? I don't understand why I would be the only one to remember a future that hasn't happened yet..."

"Our childhood memories fade with time, yet sometimes all it takes is a smell or an object that reminds us of our past to bring back images, as you did for me a few moments ago. I didn't remember my friend's existence until you told me... As I explained to you, it is as if his existence had been deliberately erased from our memories. Coming back to you two, you are connected by fate, an anomaly in the continuity of time. The death of y/n was undoubtedly the trigger that you needed for the memories to come back little by little. In your dream, y/n was dead, whereas here, she managed to come back to life by some means. If the god of time still has some strength left, it is possible that he used it to contact you through your dream... Maybe... y/n has more to contribute to Teyvat by being alive than dead. Maybe she can save us from the doom that awaits us." - Xiao tightened his embrace around you. The horrified look he gave the archon anemo triggered a shiver down your spine.

"No, I don't want her to have anything to do with this! You don't know what I saw, Barbatos! The world... our world was a pile of ash. What does y/n have to do with this?" - Xiao had risen from his chair, completely tense. Despite his anxious state, his grip on you remained gentle and comforting. Venti studied the yaksha carefully, waiting patiently for him to regain his composure before continuing.

"Sometimes a single breath can change the direction of the wind, Xiao. I don't know what it wants from you two, but what is certain is that the god of time will be able to save your mate." - Venti conjured his lyre in his hands, beginning to play a musical tune. Xiao seemed to relax instantly at the sound of the lyre. His gaze shifted to the window, where the high walls separating Freedom City from the Mondstadt Plains stood. - "Tomorrow I will take you to the Arrachétoiles cliff so you can access the temple of time, or at least what is left of it..."

Starsnatch Cliff

Venti had escorted you to the edge of the cliff, where an island and the remains of a ruined temple could be seen in the distance. Your hair stood up at the frightening distance to the island.

"Xiao, you will never be able to reach the other shore..." - Your trembling voice alerted Xiao, who quickly reached up to scratch the back of your ear, forcing a few purrs from you.

"Don't worry about that. Barbatos is with us." - He reassured you.

"Hm?" - Venti's innocent smile soothed you a little more. - "Oh she's scared? Don't worry, I'll create a corridor of air that will quickly transport us to this island." - With that, Venti conjured his lyre, scraping the strings to make several rings appear over the ocean. Without saying anything more, Venti leapt into the void, making his wings appear from the firmament on his back.

"y/n, I'm going to have to see about putting you in my satchel. I'm going to need my arms to stay balanced." - Xiao was very considerate of you, preferring to explain the situation as it was rather than surprise you. You obviously agreed, easing Xiao's gestures as he placed you in the satchel he'd taken with him when he left Liyue. - "Are you ready? I'm jumping!" - You felt your heart rise as Xiao jumped in. When Xiao took the Venti corridor, the dizzying speed of the journey made you scream. Xiao's very slight chuckle did not escape you.

As soon as Xiao set foot on the beach, he hurriedly pulled you out of his saddlebag, chuckling quietly as he saw your bristling hair and your legs barely able to support your weight. The dark look you gave him made him turn his face away from you. The shaking of his shoulders betrayed his amusement, and though the experience was unpleasant for you, you couldn't help but feel a little joy at seeing Xiao laugh again.

"Well, enough laughing both of you. I spotted a camp when we were in the air. Maybe we can find some clues there." - Xiao lifted you up in his arms, saving you from an exhausting walk in the sand. He followed closely behind the archon anemo as he made his way to the right side of the beach.

Hidden in a corner, a camp had been set up there, but no sign of life seemed to lurk around. By mutual agreement, the three of you looked for clues about the god of time. - Here? What's a shovel doing planted here?" - Venti plucked the shovel from the ground. - The sand has been turned over here, as if someone wanted to dig up a treasure... Strange, it's as if time on this island is frozen. This island has been deserted for centuries, and nothing has moved..." - Venti looked up at the center of the temple, where a large sundial stood. He dropped his shovel and ran towards the stairs leading to the temple, not noticing that he had inadvertently awakened the guardian of the ruins hidden behind some rocks. Xiao followed him.

Silence fell upon you as the three of you looked around. You felt a presence, something invisible to human eyes, yet it was there, watching you from the unseen.

"Xiao, use your elemental vision. I feel that it is there, camouflaged in the cracks of time..."

"I feel it too..." - Xiao confirmed, handing you to Venti for protection while he finished. As soon as Xiao activated his elemental vision, he froze in front of the crack before him.

"Alatus..."

"Are you... the god of time?"

"Yes... and at the same time... no. I am... an echo... a fragment... of his power... The god of time... travels alongside... the star child."

As Xiao chatted with the invisible god, your keen hearing alerted you to the threat approaching you. Climbing onto the archon's shoulders, you could see the ruins' guardian in the distance positioning himself to send his missiles at you.

"XIAO!" - The adept gasped as he heard you yell his name. As he swiveled toward you, he saw the danger in the sky that threatened to kill you all. Xiao conjured up his spear in his hands, but when he tried to step in to protect you, Venti stopped him.

"Xiao! I'll take care of him, focus on the time god!" - Xiao's expression was frozen in horror. Barbatos struggled to keep the guard at bay, with you still hanging on his shoulder.

"y/n..." - You stopped the move he was about to make to retrieve you.

"Do what you need to do Xiao. It'll be okay..." - You knew it deep down... you had to say goodbye to Xiao. Since the god of time intervened in your resurrection, that meant that Xiao would be sent back to the past, to the exact moment when your accident took place. Your existence will be permanently erased...

"Alatus... I just... have enough strength left... to send you... back in time..." - Xiao slowly turned away from you, his eyes glistening with tears. - "Save her... she is a hope... for our future..." - A giant hourglass appeared between Xiao and the time god. The object turned around, allowing the sands inside to flow the other way. Xiao began to disappear... An explosion caught the follower's eye. Venti was lying on the ground, badly injured, with you by his side.

"Xiao... I love you... We'll meet again soon... I promise..." - Although your voice was weak, it still reached the Yaksha's ears.

"y/n..." - Xiao murmured in a trembling voice. - "Forgive me... I love you..." - Xiao didn't know if it was him who had disappeared from this world or if it was the world around him that had faded away... To tell the truth, he didn't care... He had lost you... once again...

Cuijue Slope

In the middle of the giant pillars were hidden ancient ruins that were once sealed. Thanks to the traveler, it was now possible for you to access the hidden knowledge of an ancient world. You were accompanied by some members of the adventurers' guild who wanted to learn more about this place, just like you.

Further into the ruins, there was a hidden room covered with murals. Although the floor and walls of the room looked like they could collapse at any moment, your curiosity pushed you to enter despite the risks.

"This is amazing... Different chapters of Liyue's history are displayed on its walls. The Archon War, the founding of Liyue... and here, isn't this a representation of Celestia?" - Too focused on your findings, you didn't feel the ground crumble under your feet. - "Why is an hourglass represented under the domain of the Gods? Hm?" - A tremor beneath your feet suddenly distracted you from your observations. The ground opened dangerously beneath your feet, and as you began a sudden movement to get away from it, it only hastened your end. You felt yourself falling into the darkness, pieces of rock threatening to crush you. You closed your eyes, waiting for death to take hold of you. But it never came. Instead, it was powerful arms that trapped you in a desperate embrace. When you opened your eyes, you were half lying on the grass, looking up at the blue sky. Xiao was standing over you, his face buried in your neck. You could hear sobs escaping his throat and feel the tremors running through his body.

"Xiao?" - Your hand came to rest on his back, lovingly caressing his tense muscles.

"y/n... y/n... y/n..." - He repeated between each sob. - "I'm sorry it took so long. I'm here now. I won't let anything happen to you again." - You weren't used to seeing Xiao so emotional. He seemed in shock, lost and broken.

"It's okay Xiao, I'm here. I promised you, I'll always stay close to you." - He tightened his embrace around your shoulders, almost smothering you awkwardly. Your hand found one of his cheeks, wiping away the tears that lined his skin. Xiao finally stepped back, looking into your eyes. His gaze broke your heart, so to ease his pain a little, you urged him to kiss you, which he did without any form of resistance.

"And now... may time... pass... with the hope... of a world without gods..."

384 notes · View notes

genshin-impacted · 3 years

Text

lost & found // Diluc x Reader (3/3)

Word Count: ~6.5k

Notes: Seelie!Reader, GN!Reader, Diluc/Reader, Mondstadt people interaction + Mondstadt Archon Quest, mild violence/fighting description and mentions of blood, Diluc POV briefly, mainly reader!POV

Summary: Oftentimes you find yourself wondering about your life before becoming a seelie, but with Diluc by your side, you don’t let yourself dwell on the long-gone past-- not when Diluc offers you affection and a tenderness that no one else is privy to.

But on moonless nights, you let yourself wish upon a star.

(And sometimes, in this world ruled by the Gods and their stars, wishes are granted.)

Alternatively: Diluc has never asked you or needed you to change for him to love you.

[Part 2]

(thanks for the love for this fic! here is the final addition)

Diluc breathes out and sees the fog it makes in the frigid air of Dragonspine. The world continues to remind him that he’s lucky to have his Pyro vision, and again he’s inclined to agree that it’s a useful tool indeed. He cannot melt the snow that falls on the peaks of these mountains, but even he must admit that his flames have served him well in this icy winterland-- until it doesn’t.

His phoenix burns through ruin guards and hunters alike, along with the icy foothold beneath him, and he falls into this cavern with no way up. He thinks it’s ironic that he’s the one that led himself into this predicament and attests it to your influence as his trouble-finding seelie.

Diluc huffs as he dusts off the snow from his shoulders and continues further into the hole he fell into, leaving tracks wherever he can so that you can find him. He knows better than anyone what you can do, and he knows that you cannot find him if he doesn’t leave clues.

It is neither a surprising nor disappointing revelation to him. Diluc has always known that there is nothing special that binds the two of you together-- and perhaps that is why he cherishes what the two of you have. There is no contract, no string of fate, no hand of god that has put the two of you together or convinced the other to stay. You have chosen to stay with Diluc, and Diluc has chosen to let your presence change his life bit by bit.

Ever since coming back to Mondstadt, he has slowly grown more accustomed to working with other people, though with your appearance, his change has been accelerated. For with every adventure you drag him into, he meets new people, forming different teams. He’s helped Razor handle his broadsword better, and now he visits him ever so often to let him spar to his content. He let his stars be read by Mona, despite his initial hesitance (apparently, you are very into astrology), and can now see the constellations form above him much more clearly. And while he has never seen the need to be closer to his god, Venti sees the both of you more often outside of the tavern, and he sees a glimpse of Barbatos within the wind-weaving bard.

You are a comforting presence: straightforward, easy to read, and compassionate. And he does not resist, much like everyone else, when you twirl your way into his heart. It is no longer surprising for him to understand that he does not need to be alone on the dark side of dawn when you have chosen to accompany him.

Speaking of choice, Diluc thinks irritably, wringing out the water from his hair. How did he agree to wander around Dragonspine of all places? He must have been caught up in the logistics of the experiment itself as well as your easy agreement. Diluc is admittedly the only person that understands your every nuance (or, well, most of it; some twirls are lost in translation), but even he cannot quite decipher what you want to take from this experiment of Albedo’s.

When you find him-- which you will, he will ask you, and he thinks you will tell him as best as you can. For someone that cannot speak, you are the most honest individual in his life, which is something he has repeatedly found endearing and refreshing.

Diluc climbs up the side of a cliff near the camp, only to see Albedo and Sucrose discussing at the edge of it. He briefly wonders if the experiment has ended, but when he does not see your light between the two of them, his breath hitches in the momentary panic he finds all too familiar to when he lost you the first time.

Albedo spots him before he can speak. “Master Diluc, I’m relieved to find that you’re safe," he says briefly, and Diluc can at least respect how quickly the alchemist gets to the point, because he continues quickly. “Your seelie left to go find you before we could assess the situation.” He sighs as Sucrose frantically hands Diluc a towel to dry himself and a seat. “You gave them quite the scare, disappearing on us like that.”

“You mean they’re out there on their own right now?” Diluc presses, feeling his hackles raise.

“Yes. We’re going to go out to recount your steps-- undoubtedly, your seelie will be trying to find you--”

Diluc doesn’t need to hear anything else. He holds the towel to Sucrose who nervously puts her hands up, unsure on what to do. “I’ll go find them,” he says. “The experiment is finished now, right?”

“Do not go." Albedo sighs, and however Diluc thought of him before, it’s evident now that he is, above all else, frustrated with how things have turned out. “It’s my experiment and a miscalculation on my part. You should stay--”

“I’ll be fine--”

“Your vision does not make you impervious to the climates,” Albedo says calmly. He thinks he sees a gleam of cunning in Albedo’s eyes when he glares at the alchemist. “Besides, would your seelie be happy if you got yourself sick going to find them?” And Diluc cannot respond to that.

“That being said,” Albedo continues, pulling at his gloves. “I predict you will refuse to stay here permanently. As it’s my fault, I’ll provide you with at least a potent heating potion before you go. Please wait; it won’t take long.”

“...Thank you,” Diluc says, taking back his towel much to Sucrose’s relief. When he sees Albedo head off onto his alchemy table, he sighs and settles into his seat. Where could you have gone, he thinks, drying his hair. After leaving the waterfall, he had… climbed the clifftop. Perhaps you lost him there without any way to notice which way he went afterward, which was a mistake on his part. Perhaps he should--

Diluc pauses his train of thought and instinctively turns his head to the left where he sees you floating. And the relief, oh, the relief he feels when he sees you fly toward him makes smiling easy. “There you are. I was about to go look for you since you weren't with Albedo." He swallows, beginning to breathe easy again. "I was worried," he admits, "I--" He stops abruptly when he looks up at you.

You are crying, and he almost does not know what to do.

He didn’t realize you could cry. Diluc isn’t sure if he can even call them tears-- these globby droplets that disappear when they fall off your body that, when Diluc brushes them away, does not make his gloves wet.

But he sweeps them away when they come anyways. “Hey,” he says tenderly, as you raise your voice from distress. “It’s okay. I’m fine; I’m here.” He cups your small orb-like body and listens to you as best as he can, sweeping his hand over your head and ears soothingly until your hiccup-like speech slows down to a halt.

“You found me,” he tells you firmly. “You found me.” He repeats himself until you are warm in his hands and his hair is dry, the towel left forgotten on the ground.

Even when you have long calmed down, he continues to look over his shoulder to watch as you converse with Sucrose. “Did you get what you were looking for?” Diluc asks the alchemist, who hands him the warming potions for any emergencies.

“Yes. Simply put, your mini seelie does not choose what it finds.” Albedo explains, “However, based on previous observations, they can hone in on things that are… otherworldly. You may be glad to confirm that you are, in fact, not otherworldly. And though this was not my intended result, I also would like to inform you that their attachment to you is out of their own volition…” Albedo watches in barely concealed amusement as Diluc glances over at you again. “Though, I’m sure you already knew this.” He clears his throat. “I would like to offer them future experimentation if they are willing.”

Diluc does his best not to look confused, but his pause gets the better of him. “Why are you asking me?”

Albedo only arches his brow and asks as a matter-of-fact, “Are you not each other’s keeper?” He continues without pause to quickly go over any logistics he has remaining, the details of Dragonspine (lest he fall into a pit again), before going over to talk to you briefly. Diluc wonders what the alchemist talked to you about but he decides to let the questions be asked later.

For now, you twirl up to him, beaming at him more brightly than usual, and he does not have it in him to say anything other than, “Let’s go home.”

.By the time the two of you arrive at the winery, it is dark. You do not hesitate to corral him into getting ready for sleep, and he indulges you by not protesting.

“What did you want to get out of the experiment today?” Diluc asks you, untying his hair and placing it onto his nightstand. Before he can finish his question, you bury yourself into his hair, and he thinks that your tweets and trills sound very much like laughter. He chuckles. “Avoiding the question, are you? How very unlike you,” he teases, and he knows you hear him when he looks into the mirror and sees you peek out from underneath the red and squeak indignantly.

“I’m kidding.” Diluc lifts his hair so you can climb out and face him. “You’re the most straightforward person I know,” he says fondly, and he briefly wonders when he has gotten so honest with himself, letting you know how he feels with the amount of emotion he puts into his words to you.

Sated, you flip around once before settling into his cupped hands, deep in thought. Diluc doesn’t quite understand how your mannerisms make your emotions so recognizable, but he imagines that if you had hands, they would be under your chin in a thinking pose.

He patiently waits for an answer, walking around his room and blowing out the lights. When he turns off the last one, you can only look up at him and let out a quiet coo-- an apology. His hands are already comforting you the moment after you answer him.

“It’s alright,” Diluc says. “I suppose it’s not exactly easy to explain that.” He adds on immediately, “And don’t apologize again. It’s fine.”

“I think I can understand why without you telling me,” he says, and if his voice is a little raw, he hopes it goes by unnoticed. “It’s hard, isn’t it-- not knowing what you’re supposed to be doing."

Quietly, you float up, and Diluc feels his heart tremble when you press a kiss to his forehead in a mix of an apology, a comforting notion, and an act of love. He lays down in silence with you, and if you make a nest out of his hair, and if he wakes up with you nestled at the crook of his neck, he does not say a word.

There is no need.

“Isn’t it enough?” Lisa asks him as she leans over the library railing. Diluc looks over to her as he puts away the last of the books he has asked to borrow, and he knows what she is asking before she finishes. Still, she tilts her head, her hat staying steady on her head, and repeats, “Isn’t it enough that they’re here with you?”

“Yes,” Diluc says without hesitation. “It is.”

“Can I ask why you’re still researching about seelies then?” Lisa pauses, putting her hand over her shoulder, and Diluc knows she will arrive at the right answer without him telling her. “If not for you then… for them? You’re looking for answers for your mini seelie?”

"I try to do what I can," he says, ignoring the way Lisa's eyes gleam all too knowingly. (He always knew there was much more to her at first glance.) "Thanks for the help, I--" He pauses when he catches Lisa smiling behind her fist. "...What is it?" he asks warily.

"Oh, nothing." Lisa croons, giggling, "I just think it's sweet how the two of you treat each other. Anyone would get jealous of that." She pauses, looking out the window as the sun sets in the west. "It almost seems like a miracle to have the two of you find each other, don't you think? Fate, perhaps? How utterly romantic!"

"You're letting Kaeya influence you too much," Diluc retorts, much to Lisa's amusement.

"Maybe so," she says, sighing, "but even if it was fate, you wouldn't have cherished them any less." She gives Diluc a pointed look even he cannot deny. "Isn't that right, Master Diluc?"

Diluc huffs, walking past her to head down the stairs. "Asking that, I'm sure you already know my answer," he tells her, and he lets his mouth twitch in a semblance of a smile when he hears her complain about his tight-lipped attitude. It blossoms into a full-blown smile when he starts heading back to the winery.

When he comes back, you are waiting for him among the grapevines as the winery is basked in orange light.

He's home.

Diluc sleeps early and wakes up before the crack of dawn and takes you up the clifftop overlooking the winery. He had told you that there was something he wanted to do and left it at that. Not that you minded-- you were happy to follow him, blocking out any sharp rocks so he wouldn’t grab ahold of them as he climbed and scaring off any elemental wisps that came your way.

When the two of you reach the clifftop, the sky begins to grow brighter as the sun peeks over the horizon. The color change from blue to yellow then orange is truly beautiful, and you are almost mesmerized as Diluc takes a seat down next to you, watching the sunrise.

“...It’s almost been a year now,” Diluc says, “since we first met.”

Happy Anniversary? You squeak in confusion, only to whip your body to face him when you realize why you’re here with him at dawn to watch the beautiful scene unfold before you. You squeak rapidly, stumbling over your words that he cannot hear but can understand anyhow. You hadn’t realized-- You were an idiot for not planning anything either, not that you could-- What kind of ore could you go find to bring to him as a present--?

“Thank you,” Diluc tells you, “for the past year.” In the backdrop of the rising sun, you think he is almost too bright to watch with that gentle smile of his. The thought is only exacerbated when he cups you in his hands as softly as he has always done. “Let’s see what this year has in store for us together.”

You trill softly, floating in the air to situate yourself on top of his head to watch the ocean shine brighter with the rising sun.

It is not the New Year for any country nor culture, but you look into the horizon and make a wish that no one can hear. One year has passed, many things have changed, but you find that the one thing that has not is your adoration for Diluc.

"Let's go back home," he tells you, not for the first time, when the sun rises substantially above the horizon. Obediently, you float down into his sights where you twirl playfully in the air in thanks for the view. He chuckles. "No problem," he says, and he leans down just enough to place a quick kiss in between your ears.

(In hindsight, perhaps you should have wished for more kisses in the following year if you thought that was actually something you could wish for.)

Like the beginnings of a new arc, you lead Diluc onto the start of another campaign that lasts longer than normal and ties in with the previous adventures you have had with Diluc.

You find Aether on the shores east of Mondstadt. Diluc can only look at you curiously when Aether reveals his visionless powers and his desire to find his sister, for if there were ever any need for corroborating evidence on your talent or ability, Aether is living proof of it.

With the traveler, you resolve many of the things that neither you nor Diluc could comprehend. The red, crystalline tears are purified, the winds calm down with Dvalin’s defeat, and Venti-- or should you say, Barbatos-- as usual, disappears in a wisp of dandelions to leave the City of Freedom to its autonomy. In the breezes of Mondstadt, you can feel his protective gaze upon the city, and more often than not, you find him wandering in the tavern, looking for a quick drink that Diluc offers ‘reluctantly.’ (You know him better now; Diluc would rather hug Kaeya than admit that he cares for the people in his life more than he shows, and Venti is one of the people he can find a fondness for. You still find yourself abashed to know that you are the only one Diluc can say unashamedly and wholeheartedly that he adores you-- in his own way.)

Aether’s presence in Mondstadt is a breath of fresh air, considering how compassionate he is and how willing he is to help with the common troubles of those in the city. He is led along by Kaeya, tugged onto an impromptu date by Lisa, and given a mask to go undercover with Diluc and help him in ways that you cannot. The tug of jealousy is unfamiliar, but you are more glad than anything that Aether can be his partner during the most dangerous of missions. You tag along as moral support and as a guiding post-- and for that, you find yourself most similar to Paimon, who, for some reason, keeps being compared to emergency food.

“You’re my companion,” Diluc tells you with finality when you look up at him, barely forming the thought in your head about being his emergency food. “Don’t doubt that.”

Turns out, people can not breathe when you are covering their entire face with your translucent body.

When the dust settles, you never think of turning Aether down when he asks you if you can sense whether his sister is in Mondstadt.

You leave with Aether and Paimon with the promise that you return to Diluc at the winery. You guide the two of them to Stormterror’s Lair, a place you have gotten far more acquainted with in the past month, and head up to the cliffside where a ruin guard’s footprints remain next to a dandelion. You can sense something here, though you are unsure of what, and you are about to apologize for finding nothing when Aether looks over to you with wet eyes.

You coo up at him comfortingly as he sighs with a mixture of relief and sadness. “Thank you,” he tells you, holding out his hand. You press against it, and you hope he knows that the best you can do to imitate a comforting hand-hold. “At least now I know for sure she’s here in this world.” He smiles at you. “This gives me a lot of hope that I’ll find her, so… thank you, really.”

Aether leaves for Liyue in the next few days, and if you had known he would leave so soon you would have done more than held his hand. You wish you could comfort him, reassure him that his sister, too, must be looking for him just as hard as he was. (Even if this was not the truth, you think if you wish hard enough, you could maybe manifest it for him.) You have so many words within you and yet none of them are conveyed, and Aether’s sad smile stays.

It gets hard sometimes, knowing how little you can do, and how much you could have done before-- and this is one of those moments. It is rare for you to feel melancholy over the things you no longer have, but they come and go like the waves on Falcon Coast. Without a word, Diluc can tell when you are feeling down, holding you when you fall into his hands.

His kisses come more often now, and he places one between your ears when you are with him during your lower moods. You think your day improves almost immediately when he does so, but it helps tremendously also that Diluc never forgets to reassure you.

“If you want me to help you with anything,” he says, “you only need to ask."

You coo again, twirling once, nudging at his cheek before backing away just enough to look at him. If you had a heart (and you sometimes suspect you do), it would be beating quickly as you wait for him to decipher your actions.

“...Ah,” he says, picking you up again. You think for a moment he looks as embarrassed as you feel, but then he asks, “...Another one?” and places a second kiss onto your head.

You trill, pleased that you are spoiled by Diluc and even happier that Diluc only joins you in your mirth when he huffs in laughter.

“What an honest seelie,” he says, and you could not be more content with how fond he sounds of you and how, again and again, he continues to be patient with you even when you cannot be patient with yourself.

Sometimes when the moon is high and Diluc is fast asleep, you find yourself at the place you first came to fruition as a seelie. The lake by the Winery and this exact scenery may as well be your birthplace. When you look into the reflection you see your orb-like features, viscous yet watery all at once, emitting light.

But sometimes, when the only light is coming from the fireflies that glow beside you, you look into the lake and see a familiar face staring back at you. They have your face-- your eyes, your nose, your mouth, and your brows of a time when you were not a seelie. It’s the only time you get to see this image of your past self, reminding you of what you were before. Sometimes, you think you can hear your voice being carried over by the winds of another world, of another time.

These moments are the only thing you have kept to yourself.

After all, what’s the point of holding onto something that you no longer have? The man you’ve grown to care for-- grown to love-- is someone who has his eyes set forward toward the future, and you’re going to be there with him no matter what.

Although seelies cannot dream, you dream of carrying over the tray of tankards and washing the dishes in the tavern, of carrying Klee over your shoulders as you lead her to Albedo, of bumping elbows with Kaeya jokingly or placing a blanket over Jean’s shoulders when she falls asleep in her office again.

You dream of lacing your hands with Diluc’s, pressing your lips upon his temple, and hearing his heartbeat against his chest with a steady, grounding rhythm that reminds you you are home.

And sometimes, just dreaming is enough.

(And sometimes, it is not.)

Life goes on. You see more of Mondstadt and begin to know the land like the back of Diluc’s hand. Knights and adventurers alike know you as the little seelie, and whether they think you follow Diluc or Diluc follows you is up to each person’s interpretation. (Regardless, none of them are wrong.)

You accompany Diluc when he trains Razor in Wolvendom, and you invite Bennett to adventure sometimes with the two of you. (The boy may be unlucky, but you’re a magnet of trouble, so you think you have some things in common. A lot more things explode when he accompanies you but Diluc can handle it.) You make sure Jean gets some rest (“Your seelie is, um… very…” “Stubborn?” “I was going to say determined.”) and follow Lisa around on her expired library book expeditions. (“You think she’s beautiful, don’t you?” Diluc says to you, and you wonder why you babble excuses to him-- You’re more beautiful!-- while he looks at you in amusement.)

You and Diluc spend more time with other people in comparison to before, but you still have quiet moments with just the two of you when the days are slow. You’ve been learning how to move small things even better than before, among other things, but with this skill in particular, you can actually slide the pieces on the chessboard when you play against Diluc, who looks on (fondly) as you do your best to carefully push the pieces with your body.

You always end up knocking some down, but when you finally get a handle of it, you do it with such concentration that Diluc doesn't have the heart to offer help. He does, however, end up polishing the board so the pieces slide more easily. You notice it’s shinier but he doesn’t let you pay it any mind.

“Don’t worry about it,” he says to you, and you think the words I love you come to mind more often than not recently.

Thank you, you trill instead, and you ache with a want that pulses ever so often when you want so much more than you have when Diluc reaches out to caress your head.

“Like I said,” Diluc says softly. “Don’t pay it any mind. It’s your move still, you know.”

And you move the pieces. And you pick the grapes in his vineyard. And you find artifacts of crimson for him. And you kiss the scars from the many years he has battled (with or without you).

He gains another in the next, final battle with you as his seelie.

Diluc has gotten hurt before. It’s inevitable with the number of enemies he faces, the number of times you run into enemy territory, but it has never been a problem for him to stand back up and fight. His fire burns brightly-- shine true is his motto, and Diluc lives those words as though they have been etched onto his soul.

Much like fire, Diluc is relentless, and you can only follow him as he pushes through enemies, listens to his connections, and finds a den of thieves that have been terrorizing Springvale for months. The two of you should have known that their efficiency was because they were led on by the Fatui, but you fail to notice until they have you surrounded.

You have every faith in Diluc to come out safe and sound, but it takes only one mistake for you to be reminded that there is a limit to everything.

The blade slices through so quickly you aren’t sure what happened, but when Diluc pulls his hand back from the cut on his side to have it painted with blood, your heart drops.

“A little out of depth, don’t you think, Darknight Hero?”

“I’d keep my tongue in my mouth if I were you,” Diluc growls, and you can only tremble in mid-air as your mind races with the things you can do-- only to think of all the things you cannot do. You almost miss what Diluc tells you with the way your hearing fuzzes. “Go back to Mondstadt and tell the Knights where these bandits are,” Diluc says, and you know it’s serious when Diluc thinks about reaching out to the knights. (This is partly true, you would realize later, that despite Diluc’s hesitance on being associated with the knights, he knows you would reach out to Kaeya or Jean if needed-- if not for him but so you would be taken care of.)

You should have told Jean or Kaeya or Amber or even Lisa where the two of you had gone just in case things go awry. The thought never crossed your mind things could go wrong when you had Diliuc with you.

“You’ll find me again,” Diluc tells you softly when you hesitate, and you wonder how he can lie to you like that when his gloves are too bloodied to even hold you. “I promise.”

How could you ask me to do that? You plead, feeling tears well up again. How could you ask me to leave you?

“It’s okay,” Diluc tells you, and his bare hands are warm. “It’s fine.”

You are ripped out of Diluc’s hands when someone throws an electro grenade in the fire below Diluc’s feet. He’s still standing even after this, but a throwing knife hits him on the shoulder, another grenade to his left. You can do nothing but watch as Diluc is hurt, falling onto the ground.

If there was ever a moment you wanted something so badly, you would have done anything to get it, it would be right here-- right now.

You are the last thing he sees.

“You whose strength stems from your devotion, I shall lend you my power.”

You don’t know whose voice you heard or how somehow you have the hands to hold onto the Vision framed with Mondstadt wings in your hands, but you’ve learned not to question the good things in life-- one of them being your life at Diluc’s side.

Your voice is loud, you realize, when you shout at the bandits to leave. And your powers are strong-- strong enough to protect the person that matters most.

The bandits run at the fight sign of trouble, and the Fatui agent is unconscious. (You checked.)

You hold Diluc as he lies on your lap, breathing heavily but still breathing-- thank the archons. You quickly brush his hair away from his face and press on his wound, wincing when he lets out a grunt of pain even unconscious. I won’t let them hurt you, you think, taking one of his hands to brush your lips over his knuckles. (His hands are rough and calloused, but you love them just the same for how gently they held you when you were just a seelie.) If they come back, they’ll have to get through me.

“Hello, mini seelie.”

You look up from Diluc just in time to see a hand reach down to softly rustle your hair, much to your dismay. The initial reaction gives way to surprise when you recognize that the voice comes from none other than Kaeya. He grins down at you with his sword by his hip, and you frantically look around to see if the bandits had come back.

How did you--?

“Nice wings you got there,” Kaeya teases you, making you look back and find that oh, when did those get there? “Didn’t even notice them because you were too worried about Diluc, huh?” When you nod, he softens his gaze. “Why don’t you let us take care of things around here, hm?” He glances down at Diluc who has been sleeping soundly in your lap. “Let’s get him back home.”

When a few knights come with a cart to ambulate Diluc back to Mondstadt instead of the winery (you couldn’t argue with Jean even if you did choose to speak; she’s stubborn when the people she cares about are hurt), you feel the tension leave your body all at once, and for the first time in what feels like an eternity, you actually feel sleepy.

“I’m glad we arrived right in the nick of time.” You turn to Kaeya who had been working behind the scenes, directing the knights. “You did good work, chasing them out of here so we could catch them easily,” he says, “I-- oof!”

You tackle Kaeya into a grateful hug, and it takes him a few moments to respond by placing his hands onto your back and giving it a few pats. “There, there,” Kaeya drawls, but you can hear the smile in his voice anyways. “Better not hug too long; Diluc might be jealous that I’m the person you hug first, you know.”

You let go slowly, grinning up at him as though you agree, and you dodge Kaeya before he can mess with your hair again. On the way out of the camp, Jean gives you a smile, Amber waves excitedly at you before rounding up a few more bandits, and your cheeks hurt a little from the way Lisa pinched it. You go find Diluc where he’s being taken back in a horse-drawn cart and hold his hand until you’ve fallen asleep by his side.

(In his sleep, Diluc holds onto you.)

Diluc wakes up twice. Once, very briefly, when your wings are expansive and when the Vision at your waist shines brightly with power. Before he wakes up the second time, you can already feel the power fade from both you and the Vision.

You knew that your transformation was temporary; powers do not always last forever, especially since the glow of your Vision seems contingent on the cycles of the moon-- particularly the moon that you were born on. You think that you should feel more disappointed, but you don’t. You get to hold onto Diluc’s hand in yours and wipe away the sweat from his forehead as he sleeps, and you think that if you only get this one chance to do these things, then you will take what you can get.

You will love Diluc as you are, no matter what form you take. Your transformation wasn’t necessary. Your powers were a bonus, but even if you weren’t granted a miracle, Diluc would have been safe, as a courtesy of Kaeya who had been trailing behind the two of you since you from the start. (Kaeya and Diluc's connections had the same info this time around, so they were bound to intersect at some point.) What you’ve been given was not the power to save Diluc, but the chance to love him in a way you have always dreamed of doing.

When Diluc opens his eyes the second time around, more aware and more awake, you almost don’t know what to do. It’s a momentary panic when you think he doesn’t know who you are, but he only needs to take one look at you before he raises his hand to caress your cheek as he’s always done.

“It’s okay, I’m here. I’m fine,” he soothes, though his voice is still raspy from disuse. “Don’t cry.”

I can’t believe you wanted me to leave you behind. How could you tell me that?

“...Sorry,” he says, and you raise your head from his bed just enough so he can wipe away the tears on your lashes. “It’s funny but even if you don’t talk, I can still understand you.”

You watch as he slowly takes your hand and presses his palm against yours, lowering his fingers until they’ve interlocked with yours. “My seelie,” he says with all the warmth in the world. You can only nod before you’re wiping away the tears that spring up again. "Even in this form, you'll still lead me, right? Still find me if I get lost?"

You don't know what type of face you're making, but Diluc softens his gaze before shifting slightly in the bed offered to him by the church. "Come here," he whispers, arms outstretched.

You tentatively place your weight onto the bed, arms placed on each of his sides as you gingerly climb into bed with him. When he winces, you put a hand on his chest, alarmed, to stop him from exerting himself.

“I’m fine,” he says immediately, and when he looks at you, he bursts out laughing, only for him to wince again more strongly. “Sorry, your expressions-- they’re exactly how I imagined them.” He chuckles, though you purse your lips at him as you finally settle under the covers next to him. You make a sound of surprise when he leans over just enough to press a kiss onto your forehead. You hear his soft huff of laughter again when you bury your face into his chest out of embarrassment. “Still as easy to read as ever.”

You grab a hold of his shirt with your ears pressed against his sturdy chest. He gently rubs circles on your shoulder as you listen to his heartbeat, which is as steady as you have imagined it to be. It quickens ever-so-slightly, and you look up at Diluc in time to see him gaze down at you tenderly. “You don’t have to speak,” he says, brushing his hand across your cheek. “Nothing has to change at all. But there’s something I want to know.” You raise your hand to caress his hand (and he finds the courage to keep on speaking).

“Do you think you can tell me your name?” Diluc whispers, the most unsure you have ever seen him, and you think you’re so fond of him your heart (not just metaphorical this time) might burst from it.

It takes only a moment for you to decide to scoot yourself up just enough to kiss him on the side of his mouth, and you can't help but grin at the stupefied expression on his face.

And you say your name.

How interesting is it that it's the one thing you cannot convey through trills and twirls, cannot show through hugs and kisses? You never thought that your name could have such significance but you watch as Diluc's eyes widen and you think this moment is the gift the gods have given you.

Diluc takes a moment to taste your name, and he calls out to you for the very first time out of many, many, many times.

Before the sun rises, Diluc wakes up to your bright glow and with your seelie body pressed up against his collarbone. He breathes your name into the quiet infirmary before he closes his eyes to sleep again.

You are found more often than you are lost. For every time Diluc calls your name-- as a seelie or as a human (fairy?)-- your heart soars as high as the anemograms at Brightcrown Mountain.

As a seelie, your life with Diluc stays the same-- for the most part. No one treats you differently and no one loves you differently from when they knew you as just a seelie. If anything, the biggest change has been in Diluc's life where the stares from his admirers are more muted and the swoons reduced, for how could anyone continue to pine over someone that is so evidently preoccupied with someone else? (Even though they've only seen the person who Diluc holds in high regard once every new moon.)

Every adventure still has the same probability to go awry and Diluc still polishes the chessboard to perfection for you. Though on moonless nights, Diluc can hold you close, and you can hold him closer, saying his name (the second word you ever say) and hoping he can never feel quite as lost as before when you are here with him.

FIN

temp taglist

@creation-magician @inlustris-but-obey-me @lumi-ying @thetwinkims @loveyoutothestars @ninqat @winterptilopsis @nya-vivi @just-noelle @shr3ik

#diluc ragnivindr #diluc/reader #diluc x reader #genshin impact x reader #genshin impact diluc #diluc #genshin diluc #kaeya #albedo #jean #lisa #aether #mini seelie #the amt of times i stopped myself from rambling

785 notes · View notes

archived-kin · 3 years

Text

you braid your favourite fire boy’s hair (and get indirectly confessed to, maybe)

note from kin: some of you may say that diluc is too calm and stoic to be an arsonist but i refuse to believe the man hasn't set a tiny bit of fire to kaeya’s house at some point or another

fandom: genshin impact

character(s): gn!reader, diluc, aether (mentioned), venti (mentioned)

pairing(s): diluc/reader

warning(s): none! (except, like, hair brushing and stuff? i don’t if that counts but i also don’t know what sort of trauma people have so,,, here’s the warning just in case)

genre: fluff

“How do you even manage your hair?”

Diluc shoots you a look over the bar as you lean forward on the counter. “What are you talking about?”

It’s another one of those nights where Mondstadt and the area around it is pretty quiet. Normally you’d be out doing commissions or just general favours for the public with your adventuring buddy Aether and his friend (pet? guardian fairy?) Paimon, but he’s been in Liyue for the last week or so helping Zhongli run some errands, and likely won’t be back for another few days. He had asked you whether you’d wanted to come with him - the two of you make a dynamic duo like no other, after all - but the last time you’d spent time with Zhongli, you’d ended up having to pay about ten thousand Mora in terms of expenses on his behalf. You love the guy, but he really grinds your gears with his inability to comprehend how basic currency works sometimes.

So off Aether had gone to Liyue, though not without promising to bring you back a Starconch or something in return for your offer to patrol his area for him in his absence, and you had stayed behind in Mondstadt, promising to let him know if anything about his missing twin sister comes up while he’s gone.

As much as you’d like to (mostly for poor Aether’s fragile sense of self worth), you can’t say it’s been a particularly difficult week without him in terms of work - you miss your friend, of course, but there haven’t really been any outstanding attacks in the area that you didn’t manage to take care of within the hour. The lack of disturbances also means that Mr Darknight Hero over there hasn’t had much to do either, so he’s spent most of the past few nights behind the bar - which means, of course, that you’ve been coming is much more often than usual to see him.

Angel’s Share is a bar by trade, so of course it’s open all night to any gracious patron looking for something to drink. More than often it’s full, being one of the more renowned taverns in the city, but today is a day of rest, and so Diluc had closed up shop about half an hour ago.

Why are you still allowed in Angel’s Share if it’s closed, you ask? Well, obviously it’s because Diluc likes you so much!

No, that’s a lie - while you’ve always thought of Diluc as a close friend, you’re more inclined to believe that Diluc himself is only letting you stay here past closing time because he owes you for helping him out with a particularly overzealous Abyss Mage that had gotten a little too close to the city gates yesterday.

Still, you can’t help but hope that there’s some other reason behind his lenience...

“Hair’s hard to take care of, and you have a lot of it,” You respond matter-of-factly, dipping a biscuit into your mug of tea and shoving it whole into your mouth. Much like Diluc, you prefer to abstain from alcohol when you can - ironic, considering you’ve spent so much time in a bar recently. “I’m just curious. What do you do with it when you go to sleep?”

He shakes his head with a quiet scoff and returns to polishing an empty tankard. “I don’t do anything with it.”

“What, so you just leave it in a ponytail all the time?”

Diluc looks up to see you shooting him a scandalised look. He sighs, evidently not particularly willing to put up with one of your moods this late at night. “Of course not.”

You relax a little, only to stiffen right back up when he continues, “I take it down to wash it.”

“You—” You take a deep breath in an effort to calm yourself, setting your elbows on the table and pressing your hands together as if praying to Barbatos to save this poor man’s hair-ends. Finally, after a moment of silence, you ask, voice hushed, as if afraid that the answer will be too much for you to handle, “How the hell is your hair still so pretty?”

Diluc pauses in the middle of putting his freshly-polished tankard away. He takes a long while to formulate a response - whether because he’s nonplussed by the gormlessness of your question or something else (because he’s flustered, maybe? You know better than to hope in vain, but you can’t really help what your idiot of a heart does to your mind).

Finally, though, he mutters in reply, “Pretty?”

Your hand hesitates in the middle of reaching for another biscuit from the plate sitting next to you. Diluc doesn’t sound offended, but you know better than to assume that he isn’t. You don’t think there’s anything particularly wrong with calling his hair pretty, but maybe it stings his ego as a man or something?

“Uh, yeah…?” You curl your fingers around your warm mug and pull it towards you, staring determinedly down at its contents to disguise your growing nervousness. “I mean, well, it always looks really healthy and soft and glowy and stuff…”

Well, if he wasn’t offended before, he probably is now. You mentally cuff yourself around the head, reminding yourself that you shouldn’t let yourself get loose-lipped just because you’re so relaxed in the homeliness of the tavern. It doesn’t matter how comforting the warmth of the mug in your hands is, nor does it matter how fuzzy just being in Dilic’s presence makes you feel - you need to watch what you say.

But then you see Diluc move out of the corner of your eye, and you look back up to see him standing much closer than he was before, a smile tugging at his lips. You can practically feel your heart screech out of pure surprised joy as he reaches out and gently brushes his knuckles against your cheek.

“Thank you,” He murmurs - do you dare to hope that you hear affection in his voice? - and pulls away as quickly as he’d come close. “I appreciate it.”

You aggressively force your breathing to even out as he moves back to his work, going about his usual duties of making sure all the bottles on display are tightly shut and squeaky clean. Surely the fact that he willingly initiated contact with you - and such intimate-feeling contact at that - must mean something? Diluc has never been the type to be physically affectionate with friends, not like Kaeya, who you’re pretty sure has kissed about half of his entire friendship circle, or Lisa, who has absolutely zero qualms about giving a stranger a bone-crushing hug if they need one. Even if this only means that he considers you a closer friend than the others, though, you can’t help the delighted flutter in the pit of your stomach.

Diluc’s touch has far more power than you’ll ever admit - brief as the contact was, it’s sent such a rush of adrenaline through your entire body that you somehow muster up enough courage to abruptly ask, “Would you mind if I braided it?”

Diluc pauses again. You watch him in anticipation as he slowly turns around to look back at you. “...why would you want to do that?”

“Uh—” You struggle to come up with a decent reason that won’t make you sound like a lovesick fool, and eventually settle on, “I just think it would look nice?”

Diluc stares at you in silence for so long that you begin to think that you’ve lost him completely with your out-of-nowhere request. Then, however, he gives you a curt nod. “Go ahead.”

You barely catch yourself in time to prevent your shock from showing on your face as Diluc moves out from behind the counter and sits down in the seat beside you. “...uh?”

“Go ahead,” He repeats, reaching up and untying his hair from its low ponytail. It tumbles over the back of the chair in messy waves, reflecting the light of the fire so precisely that it almost looks like it’s glowing in the dim lighting of the tavern. “I assume you know how, since you offered.”

It takes you a moment to do something other than stare in pure dumbfounded surprise, but once you snap out of your mini-trance, you nod hurriedly and get to your feet, reaching in your pocket as you do so. You’ve made a habit of carrying around spare hair ties and a foldable wooden comb ever since you and Aether had started working together - his hair comes undone from its plait a lot in battle, and it’s always all matted and tangled in the morning if he lets it down to sleep - which means you won’t have to fumble about for an hour trying to comb’s Diluc’s abundance of hair out with only your fingers.

Diluc is sitting as prim and proper as ever in his chair as you hesitantly move around to stand behind him and - after a long, uncertain pause - begin to brush his hair. His back is ramrod straight, which doesn’t look comfortable at all, but you suppose that whatever works for him is fine.

“That feels nice,” He murmurs quietly as you carefully tease out a knot. Your hands freeze for a moment, then silently continue with their work. “You’re good at this.”

After a pause, you reply, equally quiet, “I get a lot of practice.”

He hums in reply, and the deep rumble of his voice almost seems to fill the room. “...with Aether, I presume.”

You nod, then realise he can’t see you and hurry to give him a verbal answer. “Yeah.”

There’s a long silence between the two of you. You continue to work your way through Diluc’s abundance of hair, painstakingly spending far too long combing out each tangle and kink out of fear that you’ll hurt him if you get too rough.

You don’t know how much time has passed by the time Diluc finally speaks up again. “You spend a lot of time with him.”

It’s a statement, not a question - but you can’t blame him for phrasing him that way. It’s well-known around the city of Mondstadt that you and Aether have been partners-in-crime ever since the two of you had bonded over nearly being stampeded by a swarm of hilichurls and working together to kill them all. It’s odd that he’s bringing it up now, though… you wonder why.

“...well, I do, yes. We are adventuring partners…”

Diluc inhales and lets out a soft sigh. You don’t miss the way that his shoulders tense up slightly. Another long silence passes, and he finally murmurs, “I might be a little jealous.”

You freeze again. Did you hear him right? Did Diluc really just say what you think he just said? He’s… jealous?

You don’t even have time to try to formulate a response before he starts speaking again. “The two of you are always out exploring together. It’s rare that we get to see each like this.”

“...hey, now…” It’s not often that you’re unable to find words - you’ve always had a sharp tongue. Right now, though, it feels like they’ve all dried up in your mouth. “What are you trying to say…?”

Diluc pauses. Then he lets out a soft chuckle - one that has no right to have the effect on you that it does. “...nothing. I just mean that it’s nice to be able to spend time together like this.”

He doesn’t continue, and you take that as a sign that this particular stretch of the conversation is over, and return to carefully separating his hair into segments. Your hands wobble imperceptibly as you do so, but if he notices, he doesn’t say anything about it.

Diluc sighs and lets his shoulders relax as you start pulling the locks of hair over each other into the beginnings of a long braid, carefully tugging it closer to the base of his head so that it looks a little neater. You’re not sure whether you want to go for something similar to Aethar’s plait or something more intricate, but considering the hour, you’d probably be better off keeping it simple. You wonder briefly what colour ribbon would look nice against the deep red of his hair, but quickly shut the idea down - it’s already a wonder that Diluc is letting you do this, and you don’t want to push your luck.

(You don’t know this, but, though his face is calm and composed, Diluc is so hyper aware of his stuttering heartbeat that he’s sure you can hear it. He almost wishes you would use more force with your hands, if only so that he can feel the movement of your fingers more clearly - there’s something therapeutic in the way they weave through his hair. He could almost fall asleep there on the spot, so soothing is your presence and the warmth of the fire, but he wants to talk longer.)

“Hey,” you begin, suddenly feeling that the quietude is more awkward than comfortable. “If you’re ever free, uh… I’m sure Aether wouldn’t mind if you came out on an expedition with us. There are some rumours about an Oceanid popping up in Starfell Lake…”

Diluc makes an indiscernible noise in response to indicate that he’s thinking about your question. You wait with bated breath, only to feel disappointment drop in your chest like a rock when he shakes his head, shifting the incomplete braid in your hands.

A moment later, though, the pressure disappears as he says quietly, “I’d much rather go with you alone.”

“Oh…” You breathe out loud before realising your mistake. You resist the urge to slap your hand to your mouth to shut yourself up, and instead hurry to rectify yourself by continuing, “That sounds good.”

Diluc chuckles again. “You don’t sound particularly enthused by the idea.”

“No, that’s not what I meant!” You shock even yourself with just how indignantly loud your voice gets. You hasten to quiet yourself, continuing much more mutedly, “Um— I mean, I’d love to.”

You can’t see his face, but you can almost hear Diluc’s soft smile in the way he speaks. “Then it’s settled. I’ll take a look at my schedule and let you know when I’m free, alright?”

You can’t help but feel an enormous grin pulling at your own mouth. Well, can anyone really blame you? You’ve just discovered that your unrequited feelings for Diluc might not be as unrequited as you’d initially thought! It’s almost too good to be true - as if you’re dreaming. It’s like the two of you are one of those couples in Venti’s songs, the ones that he likes to play after a good hour of so of drinking, staring meaningfully at you at the end of each… line…

Wait a minute…

A flame-haired noble with a stare as cold as ice, who does his duties by day and hunts evil at night? An adventurer with no roots left at home, who clings to action so as to not feel so alone? The longing stares across a busy room, the late nights thinking of a face so dear, the romance waiting to blossom and bloom, the hopes and wishes that they would stay here?

Son of a hilichurl! That cheeky bard really wrote a song about you and Diluc - and you somehow hadn’t noticed!

“What’s wrong?”

You jolt out of your train of thought as Diluc turns around to look at you. The faint concern on his face is enough to send butterflies spinning through your stomach. Stupid heart. Am I really that weak for this man? “Huh?”

“You haven’t moved in a while,” He says by way of explanation, gesturing to the end of the braid that you’re still holding. “Is there something bothering you?”

You stare at his face - at the deep red of his irises, the flutter of his long lashes, the strands of red hair framing his face, the faint freckles on the slope of his nose. You breathe out a quiet laugh. Perhaps there will never be a time when you can tell him the true extent of how you feel about him, but this will certainly be a start.

“No, nothing at all. So, about tomorrow…?”

#unedited #genshin impact #genshin imagines #diluc x reader #genshin diluc #genshin aether #genshin venti #i wrote this at like two in the morning so i'm sorry if it sucks #you know i thought i'd be more desperate for wishes when i played this game after seeing everyone online #but i'm already so attached to my team now that i kinda don't want any new characters???#(my team is aether kaeya barbara and lisa btw)#i've levelled up chongyun up because i was debating replacing kaeya as the cryo in my team but now i just use him for the electro hypostasis #and that's it #i've just got fischl and sucrose sitting it here at level one because i can't be bothered to level them up #anyway sorry about rambling #enjoy this little thing darlings!!

784 notes · View notes

eirikaanemo · 3 years

Text

Trust Fall

Warnings: Description of a panic attack

Venti x GN!Reader

2k Words

Venti helps you get over your fear of heights.

Things started out alright. You were at Angel’s Share with some friends, relaxing after a long day of work. “Jean works us to the bone. And I can’t even be mad at her! She does so much too,” you groan. Kaeya and Amber nod in agreement.

“I know how you feel,” Amber sighs. “Sometimes I really wish I could be mad about it but we’re so short on hands that she just can’t help it.”

“I’d almost blame Grand Master Varka, but he’s just too likable,” Kaeya commiserates. You all simultaneously take a good, long sip of your drinks.

“Wow, you guys look awful,” someone behind you comments. Amber glances over her shoulder.

“Oh, hi Venti,” she replies. “Sorry, we didn’t see you there.” You turn in your seat to see your boyfriend, Venti standing there. It looks like he’d just finished performing for other patrons and was ready to get some drinks himself.

He slid into the seat next to you and waved to Diluc, who was managing the bar himself tonight. “Dandelion wine, please,” he called out excitedly. Diluc rolled his eyes but slid a drink over to him and walked to the other end of the bar to serve other customers. Venti hummed in delight as he took a swig of his wine.

“You sure like dandelion wine a lot, huh Venti,” Amber remarked.

“Of course I do, it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” he proclaimed with a smile.

“And here I thought your partner here was the best thing that ever happened to you,” Kaeya mused loudly.

“Them too,” Venti agreed. “Both of them have a special place in my heart. I love them a whooooole lot!” You hid your face in your hands and groaned, hoping no one noticed your ears turning red.

“You know, if you’re doing that much maybe you should take some time later to relax and have fun,” Venti observed.

“Maybe we could go gliding together or something.” Amber considered it, but then noted, “That wouldn’t really work, with your partner being afraid of heights and all.” You pulled your head out of your hands to glare at her.

Thankfully Kaeya seemed to be too busy flirting with someone to have heard what Amber had said. Convincing him to keep it a secret would have been much harder. Glancing at Venti you noticed him looking at you, thoughtful and concerned. He’d definitely heard and you were definitely not ready to deal with that right now.

“Amber, I thought we agreed not to talk about that,” you whispered not-so-quietly.

“Oops,” Amber said sheepishly. “I forgot you were keeping that a secret.”

“It’s fine,” you sighed. “They know now so there’s nothing we can do about it. Just keep your mouth shut about it from now on please.”

She nodded vigorously. “I promise,” she assured you.

Kaeya seemed to have completely forgotten about you, chatting with yet another group, this time half-way across the bar. With your friends gone you took another sip of your drink and turned your attention back to Venti. He still looked contemplative, and it was starting to make you nervous.

Amber finished off her drink with a gulp. “Well, I’d best be heading home now,” she admitted. “I have to get up bright and early tomorrow.”

“Alright, sleep well then,” you wished her. “And get home safe.” She responded with a big smile and a ‘thank you’, and headed home.

“What’s on your mind, Venti?” You asked nervously.

“Are you really afraid of heights?” He asked.

“Well, kind of,” you confessed. “It’s honestly more like a fear of falling, to be honest. I’ve noticed that I rather enjoy the view when I’m confident I won’t fall.” He nods in understanding.

“And I guess gliders don’t really look all that trustworthy,” he ponders out loud. You nod sheepishly.

You consider your options, but keep coming back to how he seemed to have a longing look in his eye when he mentioned wanting to go gliding with you. He really did want to go. And he’d done a lot of things for you that he hadn’t really wanted to do. Maybe you could give this a try. Just for him.

“Well, do you think you could trust me?” He asks. You send him a funny look.

“Of course I trust you, you’re my boyfriend.” You explain exasperatedly.

“No, no,” he said, shaking his head, “that’s not what I meant. I meant to ask if you would trust me to not let you fall.”

“Why do you ask?” You inquire nervously.

“Well, I would like to go gliding together sometime and I was thinking maybe I could help you feel better about doing it. Y’know, since I have an anemo vision and all. I could help keep you from falling."

---

“Alright,” you sighed. “I’ll give it a try.” The smile he gave you in response was almost enough to make it worth it all on its own.

“Thank you,” he exclaimed as he reached over to drag you into a hug. “I promise you won’t regret it!”

You regretted this already. Venti chattered excitedly as the two of you made your way up to the place he’d decided to glide from. Apparently it wasn’t as high up as some other places, according to him, and you were really grateful for how considerate he was being, but you still felt really, really nervous.

There weren’t just butterflies in your stomach, there were all sorts of other creepy crawlies that sent a shiver down your spine as you thought about what was going to happen soon. Taking a deep breath to calm your nerves, you continued to follow Venti up the slope. Your heartbeat pounded in your ears as you tried to not look over the edge to your left.

You made it to the spot much too soon in your humble opinion. Daring a glance over the ledge, you could feel yourself pale as you saw how small the trees looked. Without realizing it you started to breathe faster, slipping into hyperventilation with panic seeping into your bones and suddenly you couldn’t breathe. Visions of every way this could possibly go wrong flashed through your mind.

A hand on your shoulder brought you back to reality. Venti had maneuvered you into a seated position and was gently humming a tune that you recognized to be one of your favorites. “Hey, come here, it’s alright,” he murmured softly. Shuttering, you tucked yourself closer to his side and closed your eyes. Focusing on your breathing you started to calm down. In, one two three. Out, one two three. In, one two three. Out, one two three.

When you had finally calmed down you chanced a glance at Venti, ashamed of your sudden reaction. Would he be angry? Maybe frustrated? Upset that you weren’t trying hard enough to do something he wanted to do? But when you actually met his eyes you saw nothing other than pure concern and worry.

“Are you okay if I hug you?” He cautiously asked. “I really want to help in any way I can but I know that sometimes people don't want to be hugged and need space and I don’t want to make things worse for you-” You cut him off by pulling him into a hug yourself. He carefully, slowly wrapped his arms around you and gently held you- not so tight as to make you feel trapped but not as loose as to make you think he didn’t want to hug you.

Pulling away quickly, you wiped the tears from your eyes. “No, no,” you exclaimed, “if you want to do this then I want to do this. Besides, I’ll have to face my fear sometime. And what better time to do it than when I have someone I trust there to catch me if something goes wrong.” A watery smile makes its way onto your face, your tears not quite ready to leave yet.

“I’m sorry,” you whispered to him. “I know you really wanted to do this and I’ve messed it all up.” Your eyes were moist. You blinked. And you could feel tears start to roll down your cheeks.

“Shhh,” he whispered, “there’s nothing to apologize for. You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to, I love you and want you to be happy. And if that means we don’t go gliding together, that’s okay.”

“How, uh, how exactly do I hold this again?” You inquire sheepishly. Venti quietly laughs a little, stands up, and walks over to you. He gently adjusts your hold and explains how to use the glider for what’s probably the twentieth time. Holding tightly to the glider you walk a little closer to the edge.

“Are you sure? You really, really don’t have to,” he said as he wiped some tears from your eyes.

“I’m sure,” you stated, determined to give this a try. For him.

“Alright,” he said softly, “just let me know when you’re ready.” You nod, take a deep breath, and stand up. Picking up your glider you turn it over in your hands.

Backing up some first, you started running and, closing your eyes first, you jump off the edge. “Open your eyes if you can,” Venti called to you. “The view is half the fun!” Then you heard him whoop as he jumped off the ledge to follow you, his glider already out and ready to catch him. You cautiously open one eye, then the other, as you choose to trust Venti and admire the view.

“Alright,” you start a little shakily. “How is this going to work?”

“Well, first you run to the edge and jump off the edge,” Venti describes. “Then you hold onto the glider until you reach the ground. I’ll make sure the wind doesn’t bother you.” You nod, determined to do this.

Just like Venti promised, no winds blew you off course. With his help and your trust in him, you somehow felt safe knowing that he could and would catch you if you fell. Because of this you were able to actually enjoy the view. He was right, it was beautiful and a lot of fun to see it grow as you gently glided towards it.

Eventually, and much too soon for your liking, you touched down to the ground. You fell to your knees and thanked Barbatos for your safety and for your amazing boyfriend. Even though you had been able to trust Venti, you felt yourself shaking from both remaining fear and the adrenaline running through your veins. You could feel more than hear Venti touching down behind you and jogging over to you.

“Are you okay? What did you think?” He asked carefully. You looked up at him and smiled.

“I think,” you said slowly, “that we’ll have a lot more gliding dates in the future.” He beamed and pulled you into a hug, pressing a kiss to your temple.

“I’m glad,” he whispered, “I’m really glad that you trusted me enough to give this a try. And I’m glad that you enjoyed it too.”

You grin and pull away again, this time completely. You laugh as he pouts at you, before picking up your glider and running back towards the slope. “Ready to go again? I bet I can make it back up first!” You tease him. His pout turns into a grin as he grabs his glider and chases after you. And that’s how the two of you spend the rest of the day.

You smile and pull back a bit to kiss him on the cheek and smile up at him. “Thank you for helping me overcome my fear, Venti. You’re the best partner ever.”

He blushes, pulls you back into the hug, and whispers in your ear, “No, thank you. You’re truly the best thing that’s ever happened to me, dandelion wine doesn’t hold a candle to all you mean to me. Thank you so much for being my partner.”

#eirika writes #venti x reader #genshin impact x reader #genshin venti #venti

153 notes · View notes

ellitx · 3 years

Text

Chapter 13: Fidelity

𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁

previous || next

art belongs to _suucrose

word count: 2.9k

In sun and clouds, the church spire reached into that every stretching blue. It was as if it spoke of the love of the community towards their god, that it too lasted in any weather and called on them to join and put their faith in him.

When Aether and Paimon walked along the nave, the church choir was different compared to the other choirs that didn’t sing hymns. Their voice was almost like angels, high notes soaring over the clouds, graceful notes dancing on the staves, and they sang for the Anemo Archon only.

The two waited to finish their practice before looking for a certain deaconess that might help them gather more information they needed. It wasn’t long before Barbara noticed them and approached the two with a welcoming smile.

“Hello, Honorary Knight. What brings you here today?”

Paimon flew over her and leaned closer for a much better closeness to ask.

“We would like to ask you something about Barbatos!” She exclaimed fervently whilst she placed her small arms in front of her chest. A bright smile was then donned on the deaconess’s face, her blue eyes sparkling in delight at her words.

“Oh! Are you two perhaps interested in serving Mondstadt’s very own Anemo archon as well?” Her tone had an obvious enthusiasm in it. Aether already felt bad that’s not what they were here for, and be that as it may, he still has to prioritize in searching for his lost sibling.

“That’s not the case. We wanted to ask if by any chance the Anemo archon has a lover.”

Barbara’s small pink lips parted trying to utter a single word however a short chuckle was what came from her mouth. It surprised them and was confused if they said something odd. Her delicate hands were now placed on her mouth to stifle her laughs, apologizing in between them, as small tears form from the corner of her eyes.

“Sorry for suddenly laughing. I wasn’t expecting that’ll be your question. But to answer that, there are no stories or mentions if Barbatos had a lover or not in the past. If he did, it would’ve already been written in the books and be sung by the bards everywhere. You celebrated the Windblume Festival, right?"

The two gestured their heads as a yes. "Since you already know it's a festival about love and freedom, wouldn't the Windblume Festival be celebrated for both of them instead of Barbatos only? But just as I have said before, there were no tales about the God of Freedom having a lover.”

Something clicked inside his head though it didn’t last for long as it suddenly fades away like a speckle of dust.

“That’s true…” He turned to look at Paimon who was all troubled and disturbed.

He continued to listen further if there’ll be more clues but it seems like that’s the only information he’ll get for now. His companion looked at him then held her aching head to alleviate the small ringing echoing in her ears.

“Paimon’s running out of brain juice and my head is hurting the more Paimon thinks about this…” The throbbing in her head told her it was time to rest someplace quiet, to ride out the pile of confusion within her brain.

Aether nodded and massaged his forehead in hopes to ease the pain. Why does he suddenly feel so lightheaded? He shook his head and pushed himself forward to carry out his plan on giving the pendant back to you. Words of gratitude were what Barbara received from the blonde and she waved them a goodbye to continue her choir practice with the other members of the Favonius Church.

“Are we going back to the lair?” Paimon asked. Aether hummed in affirmation as they stepped outside of the parish. The harsh sunlight caused him to squint his eyes and cover his face with his arm. Was it always this hot for this season? The sudden change of the climate made him so lightheaded than ever.

Paimon detected how pale he looks as if he’d been painted with white-wash— even his lips were barely there. It was as if his heart had suddenly stopped beating and all the blood had run down into his boots. He swayed just for a moment, then with one step backward, he crumpled like a puppet suddenly released of their strings.

—

Birds trill, sweetly high, the chorus as playful as the birds themselves. With closed eyes, Venti imagined their music to color, painting stairs in the same way grapevines grow - this way and that, in a beautiful harmony that isn't quite random.

Along with your soft humming, it made the ambiance much more relaxing and calm for him. In the calm of the day, his heartbeat is the steady drum to your melody and he seeps into the moment, allowing himself to drown in your beautiful voice.

You rubbed the petals of the red flower between your fingers, watching your skin take on the sunny hue. Venti had spent the entire afternoon lying down on your lap and listening to your canorous tunes that made him forget about everything— as if you two were the only ones in this world with no one to intervene in such a peaceful moment he has with you.

You watched the petal rotate and awed in admiration as a flower’s petal is able to spin like wind wheels.

“Hey, Venti,” You called out to him and peered down to peek at his sleeping face. Your lover hummed in drowsiness before opening one of his eyes to look at you. Dragging the flower close to him, he shifted to get a proper look at what you’re holding.

“What flower is this?”

You’ve always been a curious one. Even before you were in a coma. It’s like you have a passion in you to know every single thing about this world. From small creatures to rare species of beings in the wildlife, anything that catches your interest and you're eager to know more about it.

Your drive to find answers is one of your unique traits he’s grown to love the more he’s with you. You create yourself in that fire of ongoing need that focuses everything that you are. And you do it because it feels as if the finding of the answer is your personal mission, your reason for being, your way of belonging and giving.

It came to him if your curiosity will cross the line. Will it come to you that he’s been hiding his identity from you? Or will you still continue to live life with him in pure denseness? Either way, if you managed to find out he’ll find a way to have you forget what you witness.

For now, he has to be cautious and prevent you from exploring the outside world. Especially if that traveler is around in his land. It’s no good if you meet him. With the help of the humming winds to let him know what’s happening, it occurred to him that he has to just patiently wait and prevent you and Aether from crossing paths.

Venti held your soft hands in his palms and took the flower from you. A small and gentle smile appeared on his face as he leaned forward and pressed his temple against yours, placing the plant close to your chest.

“It’s Windwheel Asters.” He answered and observed how your eyes sparkled in joy when you watched the petals continue to spin.

“I haven’t seen these before.”

Venti lightly chuckled and placed the flower between your hands as he returned to resting himself against you, but this time his head was now on your shoulder. “Windwheel Asters cannot grow in places with no wind nor plagued by strong storms, only where the wind is gentle and nourishing.”

“Really?” You laid your head against his and fiddled with the stem. If these floras are really unable to grow in harsh winds, then it means Old Mondstadt’s storms have truly vanished without any traces left.

Peace and harmony at last.

Freedom is finally with you.

You lifted your hand up against the sunlight and marvel at how simple it is. It may not look as fancy as the cecilias nor does it resemble feathered wings of a dandelion when blown away, but you found yourself liking this more than what Venti had given you.

It’s not like you don’t appreciate his efforts for collecting every cecilias and dandelions in this region to create a wonderful garden for your eyes to fancy with, you still are grateful for it though you do wonder why did he not include these asters in the collection?

“I kind of like this. It reminds me of you.”

Now that made him fully awake.

“Me?”

The color-infused cheeks dimpled with the blossoming smile, your eyes shone in a way that only deep happiness can bring. It was the blush of roses, that peek of champagne pink. Nodding your head to him, you brought the flower close to your face to cover your flushing features.

“You were always fighting for freedom. If it weren’t for you, we won’t be able to see the skies and birds you’ve always wished for. I really admire your perseverance and passion to fight against my father to have the city liberated from his hands. Thank you. Thank you for revolting against him. Thank you for giving everyone freedom they’ve longed for.”

You suddenly felt your throat tightened and your breath hitching every now and then. With your shoulders shaking and chin trembling, you fear he might see you in such a vulnerable state. You lowered your head even more and let your hair cover your face. Even if you hide it from him, Venti can still see small drops of liquid falling from you until it turns into a small puddle on the back of your hand.

“[Name]…?”

“Even though I’m Decarabian’s daughter, you never looked or treated me differently. Even after the war has ended, you never leave me. And now father, mother, and the knight… they’re all gone and y-you survived. You still stayed with me until I woke up… I… I was so scared that once I awoke, I won’t be able to see you.”

You were wiping your cheeks every few seconds and gulping down the lump sitting on your throat. Sniffling quietly, the tears still threatened to spill from your eyes. Your lover gently clutched your hand and used his other hand to lift your chin up to look at him.

Your eyes were red and swollen. It shatters his heart seeing you like this as your tears split over and flowed down your face like a river escaping a dam. Using his finger to dry your damp face, he brushed his lips on your temple and laced your fingers together.

“I should be the one thanking you.” He muttered and brought your intertwined fingers up to his lips to kiss the back of your hand. “Without your support, I don’t know how things would end up. If he— if I hadn’t saved you back then, you’d be locked up in that tower. Things would go differently, wouldn’t they? I can’t bring myself the idea of leaving you there when they were chasing after you.”

He pushed you until your back was leaning against the rough trunk of the tree. His other arm was propped beside your face before he rested his head on your shoulder and nuzzled closely.

“Thank you. Thank you for always being here with me.” Even though his voice was muffled, you can hear him loud and clear through your teary state. A shaky smile came from you as you caressed his hair lovingly before leaning forward and wrapping your arms around him.

“I love you. I love you so much, Venti.”

He has lived long enough to know that what you share he can’t replicate it with another. This love, this feeling, is just you and him. He could travel the world and the seven regions to create new ballads; he’d still come right back at you if he wanted true love.

He has protected you for years, he’s your confidant, a true friend, and even a lover. The trust he gave you, you gave him, is what keeps both of you safe in this world, in this life. So whether his heart beats another day or another hundred years— it’s always yours.

Meeting Venti was more of a coincidence than a fate. Yet it was the first time in your life you felt like you could be yourself around him. Memories of meeting him have become the same as the dream you play time and time again. You felt good with him in a way you haven’t been before or since.

Hearing those three eternal words from you is surreal for him. His heart would beat madly and his stomach churn in such a way excitement and happiness is filling his entire system. He wants to hear from you again.

Just once more so he can finally have you all to himself.

His chest was burning hot and so was his heart that rapidly beats in great euphoria. He can sense your emotions when you cry but this feeling… it’s much more different than he had felt before. A burning desire. He’s so smitten of your entire existence. All words coming from you were all his, he grasps each phrase and corresponds with his own loving and affectionate words.

He was brought out from his trance when he felt how warm his palm is, and it’s when he became aware his hand was now placed on your cheek just like how he brings your hand to cup his face.

Venti felt his face heat up at such a simple gesture and when you give a short and quick chaste kiss on his lips, he recognized the first brightest and sweet smile for this day was painted on your graceful visage.

“I love you.”

His wish was heard when you repeated your confession at him. Is it finally working? Were his efforts finally paid off? Before Ludi Harpastum was the Windblume, a festival where they offer windblumes to their loved ones and to the Anemo Archon. Every year, every time Mondstadt celebrates Windblume, his first priority is to give you cecilias.

He collected them for you every year. He tends them very well until they bloom— until your eyes opened. For him, windblumes are the cecilias. A symbol of elegance, purity, and just as ethereal as your gentle heart. It may be different from what that really means as interpreted by the people of Mond, but for Venti, he feels freedom when he’s with you, he feels loved when he’s with you and it’s the reason why he gathered so many flowers for you while you were asleep.

The arrangement given to him by the former Dendro Archon— she proposed the idea to him to gather flowers for you every time they feast Windblume. He can still clearly remember her words, her voice echoing in his head saying that even she may part from this world.

Her predictions for her own life were accurate. As if she already expected this to happen to her and that’s why she’s planning ahead to list all the preconditions to him to keep you safe and harmless. Barbatos can’t keep relying on her on everything and that is why he put a lot of effort into maintaining the garden.

Yesterday night was the time of the ceremony. Venti prepped everything to make it perfect, he wanted it to be successful. A mimic of a dance he once saw when he and you were together ages ago, it was a secret you both hid but he knows this. Barbatos knows what happened during that time and pretended as if he weren't there.

But now that he was able to dance it with you, one would call him shameless for stealing you from him. The heavy weight on his shoulder was now lifted away, finally free from the guilt he’s been feeling for centuries. His inner battle with himself is fully resolved, inner conflicts vanished, a conflict between his love and longing for you.

Your words eased Venti and made him assured you love him back as well. If you haven’t said a single word about your own feelings, he’d be living in an illusory fantasy that you were only shy to tell him you love him very much. But ever since the bond has been created, all he hears is I love you’s from you for his ears to delight in.

“I love you,”

You repeated once, a faint brush of your lips against his made him shudder. Soft, gentle, and shy just like your personality. Twice when you parted away, grasping how he tastes like apples before meekly leaning on him once more for a kiss but with more vigor. Your hand clutched the front of his shirt when you felt him hold you the small of your waist to pull you against him.

“I love you.”

Thrice was words of tenderness and desire from you to him. At that moment, you felt your body flushed warm. This was a person you wanted to be with than you’d ever felt before.

Venti has always been the one you could love forever.

@trust-the-oxygen

#genshin impact #genshin impact x reader #genshin impact venti x reader #venti x reader #genshin impact venti #yandere genshin impact #yandere genshin impact x reader #yandere venti x reader #yandere venti #yandere #Illusory Sense #elliwrites

255 notes · View notes

probably-haven · 3 years

Note

Hello!

So I’m the anon who asked for more Archon War Venti headcanons and I just loved it! I really like reading your headcanons cuz some of them are similar to mine but mostly are headcanons that I didn’t think of so it really is nice to read and see your thoughts about Venti!

I feel like as if I’m asking too much but could you keep doing these types of headcanons? Like it doesn’t have to be Archon War headcanons but like some headcanons about Venti’s relationship with the Ragnvindrs and Gunnhildrs. Because the first Gunnhildr was the first one who prayed to Barbatos and the first Ragnvindr was his friend who left but came back and I really wanna hear your thoughts on that!

And I’ve decided to get off anon cuz you just replied to my texts and I wasn’t expecting that so I’ve got a short confidence boost that I am completely taking advantage of! And thanks for the advice! or uhh comment? observation? I’m not entirely sure but thank you for that! I’ve heard that be said to me a few times and I have been trying to be more, uhh, assertive so thanks for that!

rfouierjkhfkecs i actually came across information on Gunnhildr and the "Red-haired warrior" yesterday when i was doing more research into the rebellion against Decarabian and I was like "wow this would be really fucking fun to research and theorize on, but its too specific/niche to include unprompted no matter how much i want to" but bestie you prompted, and im literally so happy right now because I didn't think I'd ever really get the chance to post about them!

also lmao yeah, i tend to try and reply to as much as I can, since it's a good feeling when someone does and all. but yeah, no problem! I’m glad you felt confident enough to reveal XD.

This may be structured a bit more like analysis/theory/just citing canon things at first before it gets into a more headcanony format.

ehe i have so much free reign on this it's lovely

More Archon War Era Venti: one two three

spoilers for Venti's backstory and Diluc's(kinda, i think, just in case)

first things first, laying down some canon background because before yesterday i hadn't heard of either of them outside of that one cutscene.

the very reason Decarabian had his storm wall up in the first place was because at the time Andrius had declared war on him- and his tower, and the city of Mondstadt by extent, were basically constantly under attack by Andrius's blizzards, which since he was still alive back then, were a lot bigger and covered basically what seems to be the whole of Mondstadt outside the barrier.

This meant that people had two options. Live in the city under Decarabian's oppression, or live outside the barrier, and brave the blizzards of a warring god... which was not a good idea

but the Gunnhildr clan(not yet called that) tried- and they almost died because of it. In the midst of a blizzard, the clan chief's daughter, named Gunnhildr(which the clan would be named after later) sent out a prayer that was heard by a wandering wind spirit. And the faith of that prayer gave the spirit enough power to create a small shelter to protect them.

When her father past, she became the new leader and also a priestess. She would later lead the clan to fight Decarabian alongside four others. And basically the Gunnhildr Clan ended up as like sworn protectors of Mondstadt

as for the red-haired warrior, who is basically assumed to be the earliest known ancestor of the Ragnvindir clan(im gonna refer to as Ragnvindir for convenience sake, even though "Ragnvindir" is technically a different character from Vanessa's era)theres not much information on him, but heres what i have from the various wiki's

- he was a wanderer

- one of the first to use the sign of windblume to find other rebels(so he's intelligent)

- actively propped up the nameless bard so he could watch as the tower was destroyed

there's this little tidbit too from the Windblume Ode bow's description that im probably gonna talk about a considerable amount too: "Atop the ruins of the ancient tower, amidst the cheers, songs, and tears of those who had newly won their freedom. A red-haired warrior turned his back on the newborn god, hidden like a single raindrop in a tidal wave of humanity. He was first among those who passed the secret sign of Windblume, the one who wove threads of dawn throughout the long night. His name has since been lost to time, but his deeds are still remembered in song." followed later by "The fate of this clan will likely never change: they shall ever live in the darkness and bring forth the flame of dawn."

Now I'm going to start with the Ragnvindir(geez, why's it spelled like that tho)

My idea of his character is basically formed by a mix of Ragnvindir stereotypes and just generally analyzing text.

So what do we know about Ragnvindir's for sure? they are shady motherfuckers- or at least they rarely operate in the spotlight. also damn, these guys are more cursed than anemo vision wielders- like the only one who didn't canonically lose someone close to them was Crepus, but considering that Diluc doesn't exactly have a mom..... he probably did

so what do we know? - he was close with the nameless bard - he was intelligent - he likely operated primarily from the shadows "ever living in the darkness" - he was a wanderer - he abandoned Venti during the celebration - but his deeds were still remembered in song, so Venti and him were likely still close

now the question of the century: how will i choose to interpret "turned his back on the newborn god"? And honestly, I'm- not sure- at first i assumed he abandoned him completely- but Venti did still make sure to carry on his memory- which could just be Venti being Venti, but for the sake of sanity, this is how I'm interpreting it.

A lot of things happened to the Ragnvindir that day. He lost a friend, saw another become a god to replace the one they had conquered, and he saw his goal, his reason for being in Mondstadt, come to fruition. "see the world through my eyes" the bard had said, and the Ragnvindir had been a wanderer even before. Sure, the people had won freedom, and that was to be celebrated, but he's intelligent to recognize that people would likely see him as one of the key figures in leading the rebellion. And for him this was a solemn time, and ending to a chapter, and not being one to operate in the spotlight, the last thing he'd want is to be swept up in festivities and attention at a time like this.

It also likely didn't help that he's probably smart enough to understand the idea of "power corrupts," and seeing the wind sprite just readily accept the mantle of Archon was likely not the most comforting thing to happen in the given situation after all. But Decarabian was gone, and Andrius had ceased his blizzards, so without a word, he slipped into the crowd and left, a wanderer once more.

now back to Gunnhildr

she was the first to receive an anemo vision from Barbatos, no I do not take criticism on this "the power bestowed on her by Barbatos" like please, they basically said it.

It also mentions that she crowned Venti with laurels(symbol of vistory) after the battle- the book Biography of Gunnhildr additionally says "the Gunnhildr Clan will continue honoring the legacy of its ancestors and its duty to the Anemo Archon: to protect Mondstadt, the land and all who inhabit it, forever."

I really like this because it conveniently ties into my past headcanon about Venti granting visions to the people of Mondstadt and having them be the ones to erect wind barriers and defend the city in his absence.

So in the Archon War I like to imagine that the Gunnhildr clan had a lot of people who were actually granted visions and were basically in charge of protecting it from those who would attempt to ambush them.

Mondstadt essentially became known for this- the fact that the mortals within it were strong enough to fend off the force of a god without support from their own.

but regardless, Gunnhildr, as she had before, served as a priestess to Barbatos, the closest thing that Mondstadt had to a ruler, and yet she only took charge of prayer and protection.... i hate to just- equate them to their descendants- but to an extent- her role was kind of like a merge between Jean and Barbara- Except with a whole lot less structure.... i really dont want their characters to just be carbon copies of the descendants but- c'mon, the comparison was right there.

anyways besties- back to Venti so i can tie them in

The Archon War was one of the worst times for Venti in his entire life thus far. And the time immediately after Decarbian's fall, while Gunnhildr and the Ragnvindir were still alive, was the key period of time in which things could have gone very differently.

Venti is the god of freedom. That's a reoccurring theme and I think I've made that abundantly clear. But during this time, Venti was anything but free.

I've mentioned before how he would stay far from the city of Mondstadt so the shockwave of his death wouldn't reach him, should he fall.... well- Venti is new to a lot of things- godhood- humanity- war- freedom- and at this point he was trying hard to figure out how to be Mondstadt's god without becoming Decarabian, and while still being able to survive, and make sure they survived, and see the world for his friend, and carry on his friends legacy.

And this is a lot of stuff for what was once a carefree elemental being, and there were certain things that had to be done for this to happen. He couldn't just stay in Mondstadt, or he would grow weak and his people would be vulnerable to attack, but he couldn't abandon it, because despite being able to fend for themselves, there's always hat just in case. He couldn't stay in any one place outside of Mondstadt for very long or he'd be found and killed. He knew in order for Mondstadt to survive he would have to take an active role in the war, strengthen himself so he could defend Mondstadt, and thats exactly what he did.

He started by going after the less powerful gods, ones he had a chance at beating with the power he got from the Gunnhildr clan and the rest of Mond, and by wiping them out, he would grow stronger, so he kept it up- working his way up the metaphorical ladder.

but he couldn't let anyone near him either, because he knew just what would happen if he was attacked then. Were it not for Gunnhildr's prayer, the early years of the Archon War would have been without contest the loneliest time of his life, and there would be nothing he could do about it, bound by survival and his attachment to the legacy of his friend, constantly fearing for his life and going against his very nature as the god of freedom. Frankly thrust into that circumstance that early on, and having to face it alone, it's likely that Venti would have caved under the pressure and dropped his attachment to either his survival, or to his friends legacy... or just something entirely worse(isolation messes with brains) so I'm attributing the fact that he didn't do that to Gunnhildr's companionship, speaking to him and guiding him through it as he had guided her through the blizzard some time ago.

I also like to think that she's responsible for founding at least a number of the different celebrations that still happen in Mondstadt even now.

Ugh supportive warrior priestess- we stan

anyway meanwhile! we got the Ragnvindir

He hears about Venti taking part in the Archon war during his wanderings and returns to Mondstadt to check in, wary of what he might find.

Venti, who hadn't seen him since the rebellion, is elated to say the least and they do a bit of catching up because they need it

and then the conversation turns more serious, and the Ragnvindir brings up a third thing that Venti needs to hold onto- his humanity.

See, in the early years, just desperate to get a foothold on the world, Venti's first number of targets were just indiscriminately going after those he knew to be weaker than him, and the Ragnvindir points this out, saying that while it's not necessarily bad, if he keeps doing it, it won't be long until he causes his and, by extent, Mondstadt's legacy to be tainted by a reputation for slaughter, no better than any of the other bloodthirsty gods that frequented the war's fields. "Think of what the bard would do, we were both close enough to do that much"

And Venti becomes yet more caged, but recognizes that he's right, and this is another turning point, that in the coming years would keep Venti from losing himself.

also- Gunnhildr, Venti having told her about the Ragnvindir's concerns that he now shared, probably organized some kind of event (not unlike the right of part, but also, yes unlike it) that was deliberately intended and designs to serve as an excuse that Venti could chose to take to visit Mondstadt, something she know he desperately wanted to do, but wouldn't allow himself for fear of putting them in danger. But if she made it an official celebration, then it would give Venti the opportunity to visit his people again, under the guise of it being a responsibility, not having to deal with the moral implications of doing so at a time when he was already dealing with enough of those already.

Also on his travels, the Ragnvindir probably started and spread a number of rumors that could end up working in Venti's favor, not that anyone ever knew it was him of course.

basically Gunnhildr protected the people of Mondstadt and did all she could to keep everyone in as high spirits as possible, Venti included.

And as for the Ragnvindir, he took a more realistic approach, traveling and getting venti followers in far places, spreading false information about him, and just overall making sure that Venti didn't do things he'd regret.

And when they died, Venti would carry their legacy with him as well, not losing his humanity to the tide of war as he very nearly had(though he still often came close), and trying to spreading high spirits where ever he could without fail.

#genshin impact #genshin venti #genshin impact headcanons #genshin theory #genshin headcanons #archon war era venti #genshin barbatos #genshin decarabian #nameless bard #genshin ragnvindir #genshin gunnhildr #genshin lore #genshin spoilers #spoilers #angst #venti angst #archon war #old mondstadt

108 notes · View notes

halfmoon-writes · 3 years

Text

『"𝕙𝕪𝕡𝕠𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕝𝕝𝕪 𝕤𝕡𝕖𝕒𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕘, 𝕚𝕗 𝕤𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕨𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕥𝕠 𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕤𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕒 𝕜𝕟𝕚𝕗𝕖 𝕒𝕥 𝟛 𝕒𝕞, 𝕨𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕨𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕕𝕠?"』

✉ 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚍𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚍𝚝 𝚎𝚍𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 ✉ 𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚎: 𝚖𝚘𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚗!𝚊𝚞, 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝚒𝚜 𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚊 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚘𝚔𝚊𝚢 𝚕𝚖𝚊𝚘 𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐(𝚜): 𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚕𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚠𝚎𝚊𝚙𝚘𝚗𝚛𝚢, 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚍, 𝚜𝚖𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚜𝚞𝚐𝚐𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖𝚎, 𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚜𝚠𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 (𝚕𝚎𝚝 𝚖𝚎 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠 𝚒𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚒 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚒𝚗𝚙𝚞𝚝) 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜(𝚜): 𝚍𝚒𝚕𝚞𝚌, 𝚔𝚊𝚎𝚢𝚊, 𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒, 𝚊𝚕𝚋𝚎𝚍𝚘

☾ diluc

➥ he's probably still in his office at the time, sipping his nth coffee for the night as he glances the paperwork in his desk. mans a busy businessman.

➥ then, his phone rings. he would scowl at the sound then look at the clock. it was 3 am, who would call him at this time?

➥ when he saw your name on the caller, he'd sigh. 'what are they up to this time?' he thought, then pressing the green button.

➥ strong winds and rapid footsteps could be heard from his phone and he grew worried. he let out a small "hello?"

➥ "diluc! baby! love of my life, hi!" you answered, your voice was breathy, as if you've been running for a long time. "what are you doing at this hour, and why is it so loud?" he asked.

➥ he could hear you let out a laugh. your pace didn't falter at all as you let out a small squeak. "hypothetically speaking, if someone were to chase you with a knife at 3 am, what would you do?" you questioned.

➥ his slouched state became tense as he stood upright, phone pressing between his cheeks and shoulder as he hurriedly wear his coat. "run away. where are you right now?" he asked, grabbing his car keys and immediately exiting his workplace.

➥ "my brain is panicking right now I have no idea where I am." you informed, then laughed. he doesn't know why you could laugh at a situation like this, but it felt reassuring to know you're not overly panicking to the point where you couldn't even get help.

➥ "elzier, tend to my workplace while I'm gone. I won't be long." he said as he ran towards the garage. "could you stay on the line with me?" he asked.

➥ "yeah, yeah definitely," you said, taking a deep breath. "my breathing might sound unsightly though, hope you don't mind. I've been running for a while." you took another breath again.

➥ "that's fine. all that matters is that you're safe." he said. by the sound of the slight shuffle in your line (minus the breathing), it seemed like you are currently hiding, or relaxing.

➥ "did you lose them?" he asked. "uhh I think ye—" all of the sudden, you went silent. he wanted to ask if you're okay, but he was scared that he would've alerted the person in finding you.

➥ so, he waited. he was currently on his way to the supermarket you normally visit at an ungodly hour, in hopes that you would be somewhere near there. not too long after, he heard the sound of something hitting the concrete. hard.

➥ "(y/n)! are you okay?!" he yelled out. there wasn't any answer given other than the sound of ruffling and he was anxious to wait for your reply.

➥ "hi! I managed to escape death's grip and kick him in the fucking balls!" you shouted, your breathing still erratic. he let out a sigh of relief.

➥ "that's great. do you know where you're located now?" he asked. "uhh... oh, look! it's the gas station near the statue of barbatos!" you said. "good job. now, stay there. I'll go get you."

➥ "yes, please." once he arrived, he noticed you waving at him with a smile, as if you weren't in a near-death situation. he wondered what he's gonna do with you.

➥ as soon as he arrived, he immediately engulf you in his arms. "I was really worried." he said. you let out a laugh, hugging him back. "yeah, I was too. worried for that guy because he definitely won't be having kids." he sighed at your response, but laugh nonetheless, placing a kiss at your forehead.

➥ "let's go home. and you're not going to the supermarket at these hours anymore."

☾ kaeya

➥ let's face it. this man would be sleeping at this hour. but he's a light sleeper, so he would wake up the moment he heard his phone rings.

➥ he groans at the noise, rubbing his eyes and check the caller id, then back to the clock.

➥ what in the actual ever loving- it was 3 am, why are you calling him at this hour?

➥ he picked up your call and was about to make a sly remark about how you must've missed him, but the words were stuck on his tongue when he heard the sound of your heavy breathing.

➥ "you good?" he asked.

➥ "hey, bubs. nope. not at all." you said. "hypothetically speaking, if someone were to chase you with a knife at 3 am, what would you do?"

➥ the way that this man stood straight up. his sleepiness dissipate immediately. "you're joking." he said, well, more like convinced himself. this was the only time that he was hoping you were pranking him.

➥ there was a long silence on the line, then the sound of your footsteps, from light tiptoes to full-on sprinting. he grew panicked. taking the nearest piece of clothing and pants with him.

➥ "stay on the line. I'm coming to get you." when he said, that he heard a laugh from you and he really thought that you were pranking him, but it wasn't. "I don't even know where I am, how on earth are you gonna find me?"

➥ he stopped doing whatever he was doing at the moment, before continuing and grabbing his keys and drove off with his motorcycle (use your helmets!), his phone snuffed inside his helmet. "you're probably not that far off. I'll try to find you. meanwhile, stay on the line." he demanded.

➥ "yes, captain." if it was any other situation, he would've laugh at the nickname, but he couldn't. god, he was so scared at what might happen to you if he wasn't fast enough.

➥ the constant sound of you taking a long breath before continuing to run makes him very anxious. all of the sudden, he heard you scream in pain.

➥ "(y/n)! hey, hey (y/n)! what happened?!" the grip on the handlebar tightened. there was nothing but the sound of something stumbling around, then the sound of a loud groaning could be heard.

➥ "(y/n)...?" he called out one more time. "yes, yes I'm here." you let out another laugh. "well, now I know where I am now. it's a few blocks across diluc's bar." you said.

➥ you're breathing pretty heavily and he was really concerned about that, increasing up the speed to get to you. he spotted you sitting down near a pole and you waved at him.

➥ his eyes widened at your red hand, clutching the side of your shoulder. putting down his helmet, he rushed to your aid to examine the wound. "hey, you found me." you joked.

➥ he didn't answer, instead pressing the wound to stop the bleeding. "it's pretty deep." he answered. "just like you last night." you retort. he couldn't help but let out a laugh at your comment.

➥ "yeah? and I'll do it again."

☾ venti

➥ venti had a variety of activities he'd do at an ungodly hour. it could range from making new music or trying to summon a demon. either way, he'll probably still be awake doing random shit.

➥ the sound of lyre could be heard at his place, strumming softly with him humming along. it was peaceful, until it was broken by the sound of his phone ringing.

➥ he raised a brow at it, but picked it up without seeing the caller. "hello?" he greeted. his greeting was met by the sound of wind blowing harshly, as if someone was running.

➥ he released the phone and checked the caller. to his surprise, it was you. "(y/n)? wha-" "hey, venti!" your voice called out, mixed with pants and heavy breathing.

➥ "hypothetically speaking, if someone were to chase you with a knife at 3 am, what would you do?" at the question, he stopped moving.

➥ "...are you serious?" he asked. you laughed at his reaction. "'course not! I'm joking!" you said. "no, you're not." "no, I'm not. please help."

➥ I don't think venti's the type of person to have a car since his tiny legs too short to reach em so-- public bus it is.

➥ immediately, he rushed out of his home and ran towards the nearest bus. luckily for him, the bus was just on its way to leave. "where are you?" he asked.

➥ "uhh... hang on. I'm- AAH--" you shrieked. venti panicked at the sound of your scream. "(y/n)!" "HAH! I managed to outrun them. sucks for them for not being to able to have children now." you said with a laugh.

➥ venti's just relieved to hear you were still okay. "oh, how convenient! there's a bus stop ahead." you said. "that is convenient. stay there, I'll get you." he said.

➥ his eyes trailed at each stop the bus did and when he finally spotted your form, he asked the driver to stop then hopped down, immediately sprinting to you.

➥ "were you hurt?" he asked. "nah. damn, I know I've said that I wanna die a lot of times, but I wasn't ready yet." you said, catching your breath.

➥ venti laughed at your response then pulled you to a tight hug. "let's get you home, then."

☾ albedo

➥ he would probably either drawing, or doing some experiments, mostly the former.

➥ he'd have his phone playing one of those live jazz songs on youtube. he'd prefer to listen to live since it has no advertisement to bother his focus.

➥ while listening to the song and sketching your face by memory, the sound of his phone stopped, replaced by a ringing.

➥ he'd get a bit annoyed, but his previous emotion turned to worry when he saw the caller id. it was 3 in the morning, what on earth were you doing?

➥ "hello, (y/n), is everything alright?" he'd asked. he heard a loud crash from the other line, the sound of something falling at the ground, then followed by the sound of what seemed to be your phone slammed down.

➥ "(y/n)?" he'd ask one more time. in front of his bed was a coat neatly placed on the hanger and he was more than ready to just bolt towards your location.

➥ he'd heard grunts and shuffling for a few times, before he heard your voice. "hey, prince. sorry, was I bothering you?" mans was worried that he couldn't even bring himself to say yes.

➥ "forget about that. what were you doing?" he asked. he heard you let out a nervous laugh. "well, hypothetically speaking, if someone were to chase you with a knife at 3 am, what would you do?"

➥ albedo was someone aloof that doesn't really show emotions a lot, but the emotion of fear was evident on his face. "run and find a safe spot. I'll get to you. are you somewhere near the place where we would buy art supplies?" he asked, his voice calm and collected, a complete contrast to how he's feeling right now.

➥ "uhh... oh, yes! I can see the light from here." you answered. "good. go inside. the owner should recognise your face, go ask them for help." he suggested. he grabbed his coat and car keys and speed up towards said location.

➥ "alright, thank you." "don't hang up." he reminded. before he could hear your response, the sound of your scream could be heard. his car nearly crashed to a nearby tree at your voice, but he regained composure and continued to made his way to you.

➥ "(y/n)! talk to me! what happened?!" he asked frantically. there was a lot of stumbling sounds followed by your voice saying 'get off of me you fuck!' then a loud 'thud' was heard.

➥ "hey, hey I'm alright. still alive." you said. he took note that you sounded more breathy than before. "I'm inside. the person doesn't seemed to be following me though." you informed.

➥ "that's good. I'm only 2 minutes away. wait for me." he said. once he was there, he immediately went to you, eyes widened slightly at your bleeding form.

➥ that's why you screamed. he took off his coat and covered the bleeding area. the owner was nowhere to be seen, but he returned shortly, bringing a glass of water and a med kit, not surprised to see that albedo was there.

➥ albedo thanked the owner then tend to your wounds for a while. afterwards, he gave thanks to the owner again as he supported your wounded body on his.

➥ once the both of you reached his car, he placed his forehead against yours, one hand on your cheek, the other or your arm, supporting your form. "don't ever scare me like that again."

I honestly have no idea how to use Tumblr but it seemed fun.

#genshin impact x reader #genshin x reader #diluc x reader #kaeya x reader #venti x reader #albedo x reader #genshin impact headcanons

111 notes · View notes

yostresswritinggirl · 3 years

Text

Lullaby for the Gods

You have two options

"Stories brought on to the wind will bloom into legends in due time; An ancient tale comes whisked into the wind; In time it will grow and sprout once again." The Weaver and Nurturer of Tales, how they came to be and how they have gone.

Pairings -> Venti x God of Time (Ambiguous, Can be Reader)

Word Count -> 1976

Themes -> SCENARIOS, Background, Timeline, It's sad kinda

Series -> #Bonafide specials (100 followers event) Special slot from a special someone : not sure if they want to be tagged

Warnings -> This is my interpretation on the God of Time based on the Sacrificial Weapons Series. And since the prompt only mentions Venti, I won't focus much on their relationship with Decarabian.

Winds of the North are migrating through the crown of the continent once again. The clouds and breezes shift at the peak of day and the grass, the trees, the flowers they all sway. This was the first encounter, as one of the threads of the thousand migrating winds that is Venti, he had always been fascinated by the strong gales that covers a vast land beyond his reach. The city of Mondstadt protected by raging winds far stronger than he.

"Come now, little guy, are you not straying from your stream?" Such beaded eyes of the little sprite detaches from the crown of the North, with its giggles accompanies a sound reminiscent of bells as he nuzzles at the outstretched hand, fair and smooth. A finger consoles his little cheek as the God of Time echoes his snicker. As the sprite settles on their hand, they both spare a minute to watch the God of Storm's dominion. And then they turn to guide Venti back to his current, to his family of winds.

And the little sprite will not witness them until the second cycle of wind passes the cold land of Mondstadt.

So when the time came, several weeks after, Venti once again strays from the winds to venture to his own current. Where are the satin robes that flows with the breeze, that witnesses the rage of another God? The sprite follows tinkling of tin carried by the thousand winds, harmonizing to produce a soft and sleepy melody that lulls those to sleep.

In a distant island he finds himself upon a huge sundial atop a mostly quiet temple. And there stood again the God of Time, with a distant look over the ocean horizon, eyes clouded yet sparkling from the stars that bounced from the surface of the water. Their skin never frails nor wrinkles, hair lustrous and thick, yet their eyes carry a thousand yard stare of shrouded sadness.

"Little wind..." the sprite nuzzles against the cheek of the God, vibrating in worry as he urges them to smile. And they did, even if did not reach their eyes. "You've strayed again, your achon is far from here," cradling the elf to their neck, they turn away from the horizon to the west.

Yet when they urge him to go back, he stubbornly stays.

A stubborn wind playing around the wielder of Time itself. His courage was admirable, and he is lucky that this God is benevolent to his advances.

So they entertain Venti, and the wind begins his stories. Tales of those he'd witnessed when the wind ventures through the continent; and in every word he spills the God of Time is attentive, for when his accounts finally come to their end, Time puts into their memory for keeping. You weave the tales and I treasure them for that is my duty, they spoke with melancholy.

Decarabian is a God that loves his people more than others would know, more than the people would know. And he is also a lonely God. Perhaps it is this distance and disconnection from the world and his people that had made him naive to what he has forced upon his subjects.

The first prayer was heard beyond the wall of storms, only befalling to the ears of the God of Time and the wind spirit who were enjoying a leisurely stroll through the frozen land Andrius had covered in his territory. A man's woe for salvation of the city beyond the gales first reaches the God.

Yet they are unmoving and silent as they watch from afar the Gunnhildr.

But the wind spirit was not that, he was curious and as always he is carried away to his own feat. So without warning he strays from Time and listens to the crying one ever so patiently, and there he receives a glimpse of power that shall manifest one day to greater good.

God of Time offers a smile in the forests where they hid. But only that. For despite being the God of Time, they are solely there to protect its flow. To maintain balance and what should be.

There is nothing they can do to help the people of Mond.

"Little wind." The moniker carried a hard edge of worry unlike the other instances it was used. "The land of Decarabian is... treacherous and suffocating. You are but a tiny wind against his storms." Yet they knew such words will not remove the resolve in the tiny spirit. "Come back to me in one piece, alright? Remember your tales."

Venti softly bumped his hooded head to the God's cheek in reassurance, before he too disappears past the walls of gale front.

And so the God of Time can only do nothing but stand in wait. Like they had always been. Like they had always done. For Decarabian then, for Venti now.

"Bring forth the freedom we all desire."

Many of those that dwell the King of the North's cold wasteland once talked of an ethereal being of satin and silk, of flowing sands, that which overlooked the land of the storms with a somber look. Perhaps it was the waiting and the hoping, but many felt great semblance with the deity. Of the longing look for a distant freedom.

"Little wind," immediately after was a chorus of laughter at the irony brought upon by habits. Venti, now Barbatos with his great wings loom over the God of Time, hands outstretched to feel upon their smooth hands. "I always knew there was more to you."

"My muse," he tastes the new name with his newfound voice, and with his there was a chorus of angelic echoes. "There are festivities upon us, for the city of Mond trapped that was. The people had prepared a grand temple, for just us two Gods it is already ample."

Yet the God of Time smiled only with their lips at the mention of a shrine. You told them about me, they mused as the archon carried them both with the wind where the temple by the east cliff resides.

Give yourself some credit, the new Anemo Archon responds in light banter.

But the God of Time does not.

And so days of reenactments and performances were all that they were driwned upon. For daily, between the peak of the moon and the glimpses of the sun, devoted subjects would appease to the two Gods of Mondstadt through retelling and theatrics of their hard-earned journey to freedom.

Although they cannot glimpse upon the forms of the deities, the light giggles reminiscent of bells that comes from amusement and the flow of draping satin are enough reassurance that their important audience still lingers and listens to their offerings.

This dwelling became their place of rendezvous. And whenever the amphitheater was not crowded by devotees, a lyre plays with a melodic voice, weaving tales of Mondstadt's anew. The God of Time would be there to treasure every story that is weaved, but their subjects remember such moments in a different light: the strum of the strings and the lilt of Barbatos carries with it a hint of serenades.

It seems as tho the faceless God enjoys the Anemo Archon's tales the most.

Whenever it is the Gunnhildr's clan that performs their tale of courage in honor of defending Mondstadt, life and freedom, Barbatos' happiness was the most extraordinaire. The winds breeze by to caress everyone with comfort.

The Imunlaukr receives praise from the God of Time when they are the one on stage. Of courage and bravery, with their desire to not only protect the city of Mond but to appease the Gods, time slows when they follow their script. As if honored by time to stay and linger for the amusement.

And finally, the Lawrence clan holds with them a different reaction, for when their time has come it is quiet. Other clans would comment that perhaps the Gods do not favor their performance but they continued regardless, and they carry with them the essence of wisdom and strength, from the frozen lands to the new city. And only after they perform are they graced by the softest winds and the kisses of youngness that they carry with them even after.

This clan's performance sings with expertly woven symphonies and journeys of hardships through the cold, not harsh but comforting, soft melodies and that of longing. During their performance unbeknownst to their eyes is when the wind embraces the passage of time, where it is in its calmest moments, cradled between his arms and resting against his chest.

The bloodline of the Lawrence always ends the rituals for the morning, for the God of Time had finally found themself free from the shackles of the storms, peacefully resting in the arms of freedom. And it is in these moments that the people appreciate the lessened harshness of time.

Time is harsh and unrelenting, and should always be moving.

The God of Time protects time, nurtures time, and urges time. No force or law shall break the equilibrium of time nor tip its balance. And this unbreakable rule applies to them.

For this reason they ask one day, to the Anemo Archon, why they praise Time. What do they expect from time. And there Barbatos finally sees the burden of a thousand years, of the constraints of that whom is held down by prayers, held down by incapability.

Time only knows harshness. And they cried to the winds without restraints, for not once will they be able to gift the people that so desperately long for their blessings.

And for once, the wind was silent.

For once, the winds... understands the insanity of being one with time. A force made to be unmoved and unrelenting, to be shackled to a single tale when you are burdened with the pleas of many others.

Time is harsh, because they are meant to be.

So when the Anemo Archon finally desired rest and detachment to procure the essence of freedom, they too felt the chance to finally breathe. "Can you set up my awakening five hundred years from now?" Venti laid his head upon the lap of Time, teal eyes and smile somber yet gentle and reassuring. "Preferably at the peak of Ludi Harpastum, if you would allow." An hour glass manifests next to him, allowing his wish.

"When you wake, I will be here," they mumbled as the archon lets his eyelids rest, feeling a soft kiss to his forehead that lulls him to sleep.

"Tell me the tales like a balladeer." And he slumbers away the years.

"When I came to be, the Lawrence ruled over Mondstadt, governing with the most disgusting aristocracy. It was only right that they lost the blessings of thy winds, after all it is only for those who fought to be free," Venti sighed with pure disappointment, "Honestly."

"What happened to your Time friend, then? Did they tell you what happened during your sleep?"

The windborne bard looks at Paimon with a wide yet steeled gaze so daunting it made her squeak and hide behind the traveler. Who silently watches as Venti once again sighed and resigned to strumming his lyre.

"They're gone." No rhyme, no smiles, no cryptics.

Barbatos sought out the help of the winds of Teyvat to tell tale on the dwellings of the God of Time yet came out empty handed. And his only salvation, the oldest of the Seven, can only shake his head as he too does not know of the whereabouts of the God.

The fragments of time lingers in cursed windswept ballads and stories. And as the years go by, all worshipers and records had forgotten about the deity.

They only sing praise to the wind shrine now.

Now who shall nurture the stories brought by the winds?

I seem to have a knack for hurting Venti.

@creation-magician @boxofteenageideas @zelos-simp @ellitx @your-local-venti-simp @indigodreamtime47

#genshin impact #genshin imagines #genshin impact x reader #exile.flower #Genshin impact venti #venti x reader #god of time #gender neutral #bonafide specials #bruuuuh #what is this #i dont know either

219 notes · View notes

justalittleraven · 3 years

Text

Faded Nostalgia

A/N: Hi! This is my first proper fic, pretty nervous about it, but I did say I wanted to start properly writing, so here I am. Enjoy.

Rating: T (Mentions of alcohol, allusions to death)

Pairing: Zhongli&GN!Reader (can be read as romantic)

Wordcount: 557

Summary: It’s Venti’s birthday and Zhongli doesn’t want to visit, there’s too many emotions and thoughts weighing heavy on him.

The room was tense, the very air heavy and a bit hard to breathe. Zhongli was being stubborn, which was unusual. This was… a special occasion, though, and you could sort of understand him. You weren’t happy with him, but you could understand.

“Li…” you try to speak up, but it’s hard to find words. What does one say to an old man who is about to make a decision he will surely regret?

“I don’t feel like I know him anymore. We are strangers, I know nothing of him, and he knows nothing of me. It would be embarrassing to visit now.” His usually calm voice was full of bitterness, full of unspoken feelings, loss. How many did he have to lose?

“You’ve told me that. It won’t be as bad as you think, you’ve known him for a long time. You can reconnect.” You may have sounded a bit more indignant than intended, but this had been going on for too long already. The stuffy air was giving you a headache already.

“How am I supposed to do that? I don’t even know where he is, if he’s still in Mondstadt or has fled to Celestia knows where!” He folds his arms tighter, arms slightly shaking from his emotions. He had already resigned himself to losing everyone, hadn’t he. Time after time, Zhongli was the one who sent adepti off when they departed, but Barbatos was still very much alive.

You sigh. Standing up from leaning against the wall, you walk to the window, shut tight and curtains drawn. Some fresh air would help.

There was a light breeze outside, not uncommon in the early summer weather. You finally felt you could breathe properly, some of the tension gone. The room wasn’t quite as hot anymore, and the headache was already fading.

“Take that bottle of Osmanthus I know you have to him. You always met in Liyue to drink, you should try something new. The atmosphere in Mond will do you good, I’m sure.” You look back at him as the curtains billow in the wind. He’s staring off into nowhere, clearly thinking, though he seems to have calmed. He looks back to you before speaking.

“I’ll… try. I can try.” He looks uncertain still. Anxious, really. You smile at him. “You’re trying, and that’s all I could ask for. You don’t even need to be long, just try to talk to him, okay? It’s his birthday.” He nods, giving a small smile in return. He goes to fetch the wine, you get his coat, which really is too many layers for the weather, but Mond is milder than Liyue. He’ll be fine.

“See you later then. Try not to throw any mountains at him this time.” That gets a chuckle out of him. It’s a lovely sound, one which you don’t hear too often lately. The man just has too good of a memory. You hope this will help him let go and relax for a bit, even if it means getting drunk with an old friend.

“I will try my best, don’t worry.” And with that, he’s out the door, the wine with him. The wind continues to blow, mild and gentle, until Zhongli comes back, a lazy smile on his face and perhaps a bit unsteady on his feet.

#genshin impact #Genshin #genshin fanfic #genshin zhongli #zhongli x reader #zhongli x y/n #zhongli x you #zhongli & reader #thanks to my mentor juni for helping me #wouldn't have posted this otherwise #i'll try to post when i get inspiration #maybe i'll take requests but i haven't figured anything out yet #my writings & thoughts

52 notes · View notes

stargazer-balladeer · 3 years

Text

Written Letters [Venti]

[Venti x Gender Neutral! Reader]

Inspired by: Yours Truly — Paradise Fears

Notes: I hope you’ll like it. Originally, it was for Diluc but I think it’ll be more sadder if its Venti :) sorry.

Warnings: Angst..

Word Count: 1,604

Whenever Venti asks Aether paper and quill, both Aether and Paimon stares at him with shared confuse look before giving the Wind Archon what he asks for. He always seem to be writing, but what? At first, it didn’t bother Aether. But as they spend time together more and more, Aether starts to notice a trend. For atleast once a month, Venti would ask for a paper and quill and just writes. Of course, it wasn’t Aether’s business so he didn’t dwell on it.

However Paimon, being Paimon, noticed it immediately and asked the wind Archon. “Hey Tone-Deaf Bard!” Paimon began. Aether turned to her and send her a warning look, to which Paimon ignored. Venti, however, didn’t look up at what he’s writing about and just gave the Emergency Food a hum. Paimon huffs but decided to ignore it, her curiosity wanting to be fed. “Why do you keep writing? Is there someone you keep messaging to?” Paimon asked.

Aether noticed how Venti stopped writing momentarily before resuming. He also noticed how Venti’s lids lower as a sad smile replaced the usual happy-go-lucky grin. Aether grimaced as he realized that Paimon might’ve struck a sensitive chord on the God. So he quickly grab Paimon by her back and pulled her towards to him. Paimon yelped in response. “Sorry, Venti. You know how Paimon is—“ “What do you mean by that?!”

After that, Aether never questioned why Venti writes letter after letter for the rest of the year.

The second time it happened, Aether didn’t expect it to happen honestly. But it happened. Someone was curious. And that someone is Kaeya. They were at Mondstadt that day, in the Tavern to be precise. With his favorite wine on the side, and him solely focused on the letter he’s writing. Everyone in the tavern was surprised seeing him not drinking his wine and ordering another, even Diluc was surprised. Though Diluc doesn’t really like being in someone else’s business so he didn’t pay attention to it. But the one who minded other’s business is none other than his brother, Kaeya.

“What are you writing, Venti? A love letter, perhaps?” Kaeya asked, with a hint of teasing in it. Venti smiled, lovingly if I may add. Which surprised Aether, Paimon, Diluc & Kaeya. “You can say that.” Venti said mysteriously as he continues writing. “Oohh! So Tone-Deaf Bard does have a lover!” Paimon gushed as she flies in front of Venti. “So! Who is it? Can we see her? Where does she live—?” “It’s a them.” Venti cuts Paimon off.

“Them?” “They don’t want to be referred as she or he. So I use them and they instead.” Venti explained as his eyes light up and made a dramatic movement of his hand, showing he finished his letter. “Done!” “Can Paimon see?” Paimon asked as she tries to read it but Venti covers it before she could read it. Which resulted in her pouting. “Hey! I was reading!” “You weren’t supposed to be reading it. It’s a secret.” Venti said with a cheeky smile on his face.

Paimon huffed while crossing her arms in front of her chest. “Stingy, stupid God.” Paimon mumbled angrily as she flies towards Aether. “Are you going to send it?” Kaeya asked, still trying to pry answers from the Wind Archon. Venti smiles sadly as he nods. “Yeah.. hopefully they’ll receive it.” And by using his wind powers, he lets the folded letter fly with the wind. They watch as the wind flies out of the door of the tavern. “Do you think they’ll receive it?” Paimon asked as Venti nodded his head. “Of course! My wind will surely guide the way..”

The third time, Venti and Aether were closer than ever. Many considered them to be siblings by how close they’ve gotten. Even as months go by, Venti keeps writing and writing. Aether knew that his curiosity will reach its limits, and by the Gods, was he right. They were in Liyue, trying to help find Qiqi her Cocogoat. They decided to search for it tomorrow.

Aether notice Venti was writing yet another letter, but this time, his quill wasn’t moving. His brows were furrowed together. Aether watches as Venti’s eyes sparkle when he found something to say only to diminish once he didn’t like it. When he heard Venti sigh, Aether decided to step in. Paimon was asleep by the bed, so Aether knew that this is going to go smoothly without the Emergency Food interfering and interrupting.

“You okay, Venti?” Aether asked as he took a sit next to Venti. Venti jumped a bit before turning his head to Aether and smiled at him. “Hello Aether! Fancy seeing you still up this late of a night.” Aether smiles but quickly frowns as he shoots Venti a concerned look. “You haven’t answered my question, Venti. Is something troubling you?” Venti sighed as he slumped in his seat. “I.. am having a difficult time trying to come up with words.. who knew that a bard will have a hard time trying to find his word?” Venti chuckled weakly at the end.

Aether frowns as he hesitate to ask. “Can I... Can I see it?” Venti stares at him for a couple of minutes before slowly nodding, clearly hesitating. Aether reached for the paper Venti was writing on. He read the first thing he saw — “Dear [Y/N]..? Wait.. isn’t that—?” “They were amazing, weren’t they?” Venti sighed, lovingly, and stared at the window before him longingly. He has a lovestruck smile on his face. Aether stares at him before continuing to read. “It’s been so long since I last saw your face. Too long that I may have forgotten about it. I guess you can tell that I’m just joking that part, right? Though it would be nice to see you laugh and smile again. How’s life in Celestia? I hope Vennessa is keeping you safe from harm. Though I doubt that any creatures would harm you there.” Aether stops reading as he looks up to look at Venti.

“[Y/N].. are they..?” Venti nods his head sadly while staring longingly outside. In the distance though, you can faintly see Celestia. The place where people with gifts of the God, Vision, go to. “They might not be here anymore, but that doesn’t mean they’re really gone.” Venti explained as he swings his feet up and down. Aether remained silent as he looks back at the letter Venti wrote. “I still clearly remember your words. Why am I still holding on, you ask? Because their the only ones I have left of you. A constant reminder for me that you lived. But I know that you know that this letter isn’t about that.” Aether stops since the letter ends there abruptly.

Aether might not look like much but he knew what does wording mean, where that sentence is going to. He slowly looks up to see a pain-filled Venti, a Venti he only saw now. “You’re saying goodbye?” Aether whispered in pure disbelief. Venti chuckled weakly as he nodded. “I.. couldn’t wait any longer. I waited for them and yet they haven’t return. I want closure to what our partnership.” Venti weakly explained, as if in pain while explaining it to the outsider.

“.. are you sure this is what you wanted, Venti?” Venti’s eyes leak out a tear then another then tears started sprouting out of the Wind Archon’s eyes. “I-.. I’ll remember them, of course! I couldn’t forget them, even if I tried! But all I wanted.. is closure.” Venti sobbed as his hands flew up to cover his eyes. Aether hugs Venti in a brotherly embrace. Aether knew what it felt like, losing someone you cared about and wanting closure. He knew better than anyone what Venti was feeling. Afterall, he felt like that with her, a love he couldn’t have, forbidden.

Aether’s eyes watered at that thought as his embrace tighten a bit. “If you think that’s correct, then so be it. I’m sure [Y/N] would think so too.” Aether said as he release Venti from the hug. He stared straight at Barbatos’ reincarnation’s eyes as he smiled gently. “We’ll be here for you — me, Paimon, Diluc, Kaeya, Amber, Jean, Lisa, Dvalin— everyone. So don’t be afraid to open up to us.” Venti stares at him before nodding and smiling softly. “Yeah.. I guess I needed that.”

“Now. Let’s get to work on your letter.”

[Y/N] watched from afar as Venti laughs happily with his newfound friends, with a loving smile tugging on their lips. The letter they recently received in-between their finger as they turns it around. Their gaze switched to the letter as they bring it in front of them. “Thank you for everything, Venti. Always keep smiling for me, okay?” They whispered as they rip the letter apart, watching it as the pieces fly with the wind. They watch until they couldn’t see it anymore. Their gaze fell upon the Wind Archon tackling Diluc into a hug.

At the same time, an eagle flew by. Squeaking loudly as it flies above [Y/N]’s head. They giggle as they nodded. “Yes yes, I know, Vennessa. I’m coming.” They turn to Venti one last time before disappearing completely “May we meet again, my dear Venti.”

Venti’s head snapped at one of the rooftops, he noticed only particles of light flying by it. He blinks before smiling. “Whatcha looking at, Tone-Deaf Bard?” Paimon asked as she tried following the Bard’s gaze. Venti laughs happily as he turns around. “Nah. Just thought I saw something.”

[x] Main Page || [x] Mondstadt Page

#genshin impact #genshin impact x reader #genshin impact venti #venti #venti x reader #genshin impact venti x reader #venti headcanons #genshin impact headcanons #self req❣️

273 notes · View notes

hajimeiwaswife · 3 years

Text

STRINGS

Word count: 4,1K

Warnings: major character death, little angst

Summary: two lovers reunited by the power of music.

"Traveller! Be careful!" Xiao shouted, reaching to Aether in time to safe him from being knocked by a giant rock that fell out of the mountain.

"Thank you, Xiao." the boy said, out of breath, before resuming the fight against their enemies, the ones that had taken his sister away from him.

Xiao recognised easily the odour of blood, having spilled so much by himself in his past. If it had been any other time, he would have fought harshly and precisely, but now that he had finally found happiness, he didn't want to die. Or worst, his significant other to die.

Years took upon the Adeptus to finally open up to the Anemo Archon, who didn't give up on him ever since they met. Barbatos, or Venti, as he liked to go by, had been by his side trying for the Adeptus to comprehend human emotions, feelings that he already had inside of him. He had been so patient with him, so caring, that now Xiao finally understood what it was to be loved. But what if this battle took it away from him? He was terrified.

The sound of explosions surrounded the landscape, lifeless corpses on the ground above pools of scarlet liquid decorating the grass. The touch of Death wrapping those who sighed their last breath, too many to be count. The Adeptus was heading into battle again when he felt someone grab his shoulder, the gentle hands of his lover.

"Not there," Venti stated, taking Xiao's hand in his, "you're needed in this other area. The Millelith are having trouble."

He took his orders, not without giving him a nod to indicate respect and, in Xiao's language, a 'take care'. Venti, however, took the Adeptus' nape and kissed him briefly before running away, laughing mischievously. Poor Xiao, flustered as ever, followed the way he had been indicated and started fighting in all his might again, powerful lance in hand.

Hours of battle passed, more dead around the survivors to assimilate. The Adeptus was tired and in need of checking on his loved ones, but he continued to fulfil his duty, he understood that if he was exhausted, humans would be in their limit. Nonetheless, after everything went quiet, he breathed as if he had been deprived of oxygen for centuries.

The silence was appalling, announcing the misfortunes and desperation that waited for those who were still alive. Xiao took a look around, sighting Aether with Paimon, Zhongli, Kaeya, Diluc, Jean and some of the Knights of Favonious. He also saw some of his fellow Adepti and the Qixing. But he couldn't find Venti, the Anemo Archon was nowhere to be seen nor to be heard.

A bad feeling sunk in the bottom of his stomach, with shaking legs he started walking along the path of corpses, wishing to be mistaken and to not find his lover laying within them. When he saw no green in the clothes of the dead, he felt relieved, knowing that the Archon was somewhere else, until he saw the blue braids he loved so much.

His heart dropped while he approached the corpse, green clothes now red from blood, characteristic hat lost somewhere in the valley, aquamarine eyes, once full of life, now looked at the sky without emotion, lifeless, no soul behind them. The Adeptus' knees gave up and fell next to his lover's body. He was speechless, in shock, completely gone from reality as his brain tried to understand what was going on in front of him. 'Please, let it be another nightmare.'

With tremble hands, Xiao took Venti's body in a cold hug, the Archon's head on the Adeptus' chest that rumbled in a hurt scream, shouting to the skies and letting them know he had had enough, he had lost the person he loved the most. Swaying them both from side to side, Xiao cried, caressing Barbatos' hair. "I love you, please, don't leave me." Xiao begged, heartbroken. "I know I never told you, but I think- no, I am in love with you. At last, I understand my feelings. Please, Venti, don't go."

Aether came next to Xiao, pitying his friend's sobs that didn't stop. He also felt sad by Venti's loss, he considered the Archon his friend, and he was going to cry and mourn his death. Along with him, the survivors of Mondstadt as a whole kneed in front of the dead Archon and the Adeptus, bidding their goodbyes to Barbatos, the Archon of the City of Freedom.

2000 years later, in another dimension...

Xiao was late, he had overslept and had lost the train to the Conservatory, again. He had spent the night studying Harmony II and lost track of time. What was sleep for a student, though? 'Never heard of it.'

Running across the street, trying not to lose his piano sheets, he finally got to the bus station, the only transport apart from the train that could get him to his destination. It was to its fullest, so he would have to be standing, not very practical to study. He eyes followed the Chopin Nocturne nº20, thinking the rubatos in his mind and trying to memorize the digits in the final scales. He sighed, if he hadn't had spent so much time studying the Harmony rules in the Gregorian Era, he would have had enough time to practice piano. But organization wasn't his best attribute.

He trusted his ability reading at first sight and closed the folder, looking out the window. It was a good day, the sun was shining and lighting the path of those who walked in their way to their jobs, schools, universities or even who were just strolling. The few trees the city had were full of green leaves that were swaying to the sound of the pre summer breeze, warning people of the incoming heat wave. Xiao wished to finish the year as soon as possible so he could go to the beach and stroll and listen to music with the dancing waves of the ocean.

The rest of the morning went without incident, his inner talent allowing him to feign having study and his teacher praising his musicality. Xiao was a sensitive person, he felt too deep, different from what everyone who knew him thought of him because of his rough facade. His musicality and deep feelings were what made him an expert in Chopin, being the best in his region to play the musical pieces of the Polish composer.

He exited the place and walked to the train station thinking about his incoming exams, music was definitely one of the tougher and more beautiful things he had ever experimented. At the same time, he started listening a guitar melody and a sweet voice accompanying it; Xiao looked to the source of the sound and saw a boy his age playing an acoustic guitar and singing inside the train station. He had dyed dark blue hair, nearly black, that degraded into a light blue the nearer it came closer to his hair tips. He had enough hair to pull it into a bun, giving him a carefree look that matched his crop trousers, white t-shirt and denim jacket. But when they both made eye contact, Xiao swore to had seen those eyes before, gentle aquamarine gaze looking back at him.

The pianist stood there for a few minutes, listening and admiring the singer, but he had to go if he didn't want to lose the train. He just hoped he would see the singer again, captivated by his songs and, especially, his eyes.

Indeed, he saw the man every day since at that same spot, at the same hour, different songs. Xiao envied him, he also wanted to compose, but was too focused learning classical pieces to invest more time in composing his own ones, but he was positive one day he would.

It continued like that for a month; the man would be there, playing and singing while Xiao stood there for some minutes listening to him. He was so familiar and strange at the same time that Xiao had no choice but be intrigued by him. Until one day, the man wasn't there.

"What?" Xiao looked around, but the dark blue haired man wasn't in his usual spot nor in any nearby.

For a week, the singer didn't appear and Xiao started to think he would not see him again. Much to his disdain, he felt sad; he always waited for the time of the day where he would see and hear the man, it was like a ritual for him. Now, all of a sudden, it was gone.

Walking out of the train, distracted looking for the man, he didn't notice his folder opening and the piano sheets getting lost among the people.

"Hey!" he heard behind him. Even if he had never heard him talk, he knew it was him, his voice sounded as sweet as when he sang. He turned around and saw the singer behind him, shaking some papers in his hands, "I think these are yours!"

Xiao took at what the singer had in his hand. He was still rather shocked by finding him again after so long, but he paid attention to the papers to recognise them as his piano sheets, the ones he needed for his exam tomorrow.

"Thank you," he said nonchalantly, taking them from the other musician.

Their hands touched for an instant, a short among of time for any other mortal, but enough for them to feel a tingle inside their chests. Xiao took the sheets quickly and put some distance between them both. He didn't know what that feeling was and he definitely didn't want to discover it.

"You're welcome!" answered the man, smiling brightly after falling silent for a few seconds after the incident, "I see you play the piano, are you majoring in music?"

"Yes," replied the pianist, looking at everywhere but the man in front of him.

"That's so cool! I would have loved to learn music officially, but I had to conformed with learning by myself."

"I see."

"Hehe! I always saw you pass while I was playing, it's cool to know that I had a fellow musician listening to me!"

"Hmm, you're not that bad."

"Why, thank you."

The singer felt how closed up the pianist was, so he took it as a compliment, comprehending that maybe he wasn't really used to interacting with people. Meanwhile, Xiao was panicking. He had been looking for the man for weeks and now he couldn't even talk properly.

"What's your name?"

"My name?"

"Yes!" the singer waited for the other man to reply, patiently.

"...Xiao," said the pianist after considering telling him or not, "and yours?"

"I'm Venti, nice to meet you!"

Again, them both felt like those names were too familiar, a similar sensation like the one before arose in their stomachs. Venti smiled, something that Xiao noticed to be frequent, as in the two minutes they had been interacting he hadn't stopped smiling.

"Well, I hope I see you around! Maybe one day we can play together."

"I guess so, yes."

With a parting nod, Xiao turned around and went to his daily classes, not without thinking about their encounter. Something felt odd in the deep of the situation, he just couldn't think of what it was. Feeling like you know someone without having actually met wasn't something that happened at Xiao's life.

Returning from the Conservatory that afternoon, he first heard the guitar and voice, and then saw Venti playing at the train station. 'So, he's back, definitely'. He passed by him, Venti's eyes on Xiao already, giving each other a smile from the singer's part and a nod from Xiao's, and then parting.

The following weeks followed the same dynamic. Sometimes, Venti ventured to talk to Xiao, small talk, enough to get the pianist to open to him. He learned that Xiao was majoring in music specializing in piano, that he had his final exams in June and that he had a cat. The singer felt happy to have collected so much information for someone who rarely opened up.

"I was thinking that maybe we should play together," Venti said, one afternoon after Xiao returned from his classes. They had decided to have a coffee every Thursday to catch up and so they could have more normal conversations and not rushed ones at the station. Or, better said, Venti offered and Xiao just followed.

"I don't play your type of music."

"Ah?" said the singer, confused, "What do you mean with 'my type of music'?"

"Well, I'm specializing in classical music." Xiao shrugged his shoulders, returning to his almond and chocolate muffin.

"Well, yes, but that doesn't mean you can't play other styles."

Xiao continued eating, listening to Venti rumble about pop, rock and R&B. The pianist knew which styles they were, their characteristics and the most popular singers for each style, but something in the way Venti talked made him want to listen nonstop. The young singer was passionate about what he did, just as Xiao was about his profession.

"So? What do you say?"

"I don't know," Xiao started, biting his lip, "I don't think I would be good on it."

"If you can play Chopin and Mozart, you can play four chords on repeat."

Like that, Venti took Xiao to the little studio he had with Aether, his producer. Both musicians were really young, but had already launched a couple EPs. Xiao was amazed by the studio, there was a little keyboard, an acoustic guitar, an electric guitar and then the recording studio and the production table.

"Do you like it?"

Xiao just nodded, directing himself to the keyboard and switching it on. The keys were less harsh than a piano's keys, but he was sure he could manage to play on it. The sound was more electric, just what he expected.

Venti, on his part, was following Xiao's movements, happy to see him interested in what he could offer. He had been feeling dizzy in the pianist's presence for quite some time now, and he was sure he was falling for him. He was determined to show him how he felt and to open Xiao's mind.

"You can come here whenever you want, I would love to play with you," Venti said, smiling brightly when Xiao sat on the bench and placed his hand on the keys, "Can you play something for me?"

The pianist thought for some seconds, deciding on what he could gift Venti's ears with, and decided to play Fantasia in D minor by Mozart. A beautiful and complete piece by his favourite composer, he enjoyed so much playing him that got lost in the moment. The most difficult thing was to keep balance between the left and the right in the sense of sound, but for the rest Xiao had everything so clear that the melodies kept falling out of the keyboard.

After nearly ten minutes, hi finished. Venti was shocked by the way the man played, emotional and emotionless at the same time, a technique enviable. If he could do that in a keyboard, what could he do in a piano? What could he do in a harpsichord to keep up with the real instrument Mozart used?

"Sorry for the quality, a keyboard doesn't make justice to the piece." Xiao said, timidly, standing up from the bench.

"Nonsense," started the singer, still moved by the little performance, "it was incredible. You're such a good pianist!"

"I'm just mediocre." mumbled the man, blushing furiously.

"No mediocre pianist can do what you had just presented, Xiao."

They looked at each other on silence for a moment, Xiao noticing his heart rushing again. Something about Venti made him feel dizzy in a good way, it scared him, but also desired to know why he felt so attracted to the singer. Venti was just admiring Xiao's features, skin kissed by the moon, eyes deep as gold wells, rough expression that was becoming in a vulnerable one. He reminded him of a cat, wanting to make it look as he was independent and surly, but that actually was a sweetheart who needed love and care as any other human being.

'Maybe he'll let me love him in a near future.' thought the singer, gazing at a distracted Xiao, who was touching the acoustic guitar.

They decided to try and play something together, improvising in the moment and giving each other inspiration to think of better ways of following the music. Xiao had to admit to himself that it was fun and that it sounded good. He never thought he would be able to improvise to pop music, but there he was, following a guitarist and singer man.

Venti opened his mouth and started singing an, of course, improvised melody. Xiao nearly stopped playing, too distracted with the sweet and hypnotizing voice of the other man. Every time he heard him sing a memory came to his mind, one of that same voice singing just for him. Memory? No, it couldn't be. It felt like a dream, a very far away dream he had when he was a kid.

Venti, on his part, had the same memory whenever Xiao appeared when he was singing. He saw a lyre, green clothes and tattoos, golden eyes that returned his caring gaze; he also heard his own voice. What it was he didn't know, but that it had a meaning, he was sure.

The following days, after a hard time convincing Xiao, the both of them started composing a song. The chords were not the usual for the 21st Century chords, they reminded of an old Era, one forgotten by the human kind, one that only the two of them understood. The melody was melancholic, similar to a letter to a loved one you lost. The lyrics were heart-breaking, Venti provided a cruel perspective of love, requited love that did not fulfil the dream of both lovers of becoming true for centuries of being apart.

Xiao was in love with their creation, wanting to play more and more, getting lost in the music that Venti gifted him with. He didn't care about the heartache he felt whenever Venti called him 'friend', he didn't care about the goose bumps every time the singer touched his hand, he didn't care about the overwhelming desire to kiss him when he smiled. He only cared for giving him the best piano version he could offer.

"Crimson red blinded my vision, there and then you took the decision," sang Venti, fingers moving within the strings of his guitar, "'I'll see you again', you said, 'when the sun goes down and I don't feel regret."

Xiao played, keys sounding too much for his liking, he really disliked the keyboard, but it was his only way of playing with Venti. He had considered inviting him to his house, but the acoustic wouldn't have been that good.

"Arrows flied, swords were wielded, but your kiss was enough to put me out of war. Let me tell you, everything but you was a blur."

The pianist couldn't take it anymore, the lyrics had been giving him a headache ever since Venti wrote them. He loved them and hated them at the same time, it was like they were mocking him, remembering him of something he lost, but he couldn't remember what it was.

He stood up from the piano, storming out of the room and living Venti confused. The singer knew how Xiao could be, but that didn't make him feel less worried. He had never left a rehearsal, always playing his best and taking part actively in the decisions taken for the song. What could have trigger him so much to make him exit the room?

"Hey!" Venti called out, stopping Xiao from going out the studio, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." replied the pianist, tone piercing.

"Don't even try that with me," said the singer, annoyed, "we're passed the state of putting a facade."

"Really, it's no―"

Venti didn't know what crossed his mind. He was so angry, frustrated, annoyed and disappointed in Xiao not trusting him after so much effort to get to him that he kissed him out of desperation.

The pianist couldn't move, not understanding why he had a pair of lips on his, but liking the feeling of the kiss. Hesitant, he placed one of his hands on Venti's waist and the other on his left cheek and corresponded the kiss.

Hearts content and reunited, jumping in euphoria; souls greeting each other after being apart for so long; bodies finding like you find an old item you forgot you had but that you deeply cared for. They separated, a thread of saliva connecting the two of them.

"W-what?"

"Come with me, my lovely adeptus."

"Adeptus? What's that?" asked Xiao, confused, still grabbing Venti's waist.

"I-I don't know, it just felt... right? To say." replied an equally confused singer.

Venti dismissed the topic fast, carrying Xiao with him to the studio's couch. He made the pianist lay on it while he topped him, kissing him again and again, taking away his shirt after checking for his consent.

The windows tarnished because of the heat, moans of pleasure could be heard as they both took care of the other in a loving way, caressing, kissing, biting their bodies. When Venti entered Xiao after preparing him, they both saw the stars. Love noises filled the empty and soundproof room, fastened breaths demonstrating the effort of being in love, orgasmic euphoria filling the empty space on their chest, gifting them the chance of reuniting something that didn't consummate on the past.

No amount of time could break the bond they created at that moment mixed with the one they forged two thousand years prior. Post orgasmic music running between them as they recovered from the love-making session.

Venti got up, searching for towels on the little bathroom of the studio to clean both of them, trying to extend the blissful moment before they had to talk about it, focusing on the aftercare.

"Thank you." whispered a tired Xiao after getting cleaned up and being helped to put his clothes on.

"It's nothing," said Venti, shy for the first time the both of them had met, something that didn't passed Xiao's observant skills.

"Do you... regret this?"

"No!" exclaimed Venti after noticing the insecurity on the pianist's voice, "No, of course no. I was just, you know, wondering if..."

"If?"

"Wondering what this leads us to."

Xiao thought for some seconds, he knew he liked Venti, it would explain his body reactions whenever he was near him, and he understood what had just happened as Venti returning his feelings. For what he had read on books, that meant they were dating, but he could be wrong.

"I guess I'm your boyfriend," he mumbled, gazing at the floor.

"B-boyfriend!?" asked Venti, surprised of the statement the other man made.

"Isn't that the term for the person you are dating?"

"Uh... yes, but you hadn't asked me to be your boyfriend..." Venti was amused and shocked with Xiao's bold attitude, but he blamed it to the pianist's lack of experience.

"Oh, then, would you be my boyfriend?"

"But don't make it so... cold!" Venti face palmed, laughing at the situation they had at hand. He had to say, though, Xiao's ignorance on the topic was adorable, his heart was melting at the man's confused gaze.

"Then how?"

"Forget it, yes, I'll be your boyfriend." Venti replied, still laughing.

"Okay, good," said Xiao, nodding and processing the information. "now what?"

"Now we continue with the song, that we have to finish recording it."

Venti stood up from the couch, giving Xiao a small peck and 'hehe'-ing after. He positioned himself on the guitar again, shaking a little at the amount of emotion running through his veins. The pianist was still on sitting, watching Venti's every move the same way he looked at his piano. The singer was touched by the sincere look on Xiao's eyes, meaning he did feel the same.

"C'mon, little Adeptus, go play the piano half as good as you played my body."

The blush on the other's man face was imminent, causing Venti to find his new favourite thing: teasing the music student.

Music had reunited the lovers that war separated once, being the conductor channel of an Archon and an Adeptus to find their way back to the other's arms. Their past kept a mystery from them both, but their souls did remember each other, hugging and causing the two men to love as much as they once did. A bright future waited for the two talented musicians now that nothing could separate them again.

The air was pure and clear again.

#xiao x venti #xiaoven #venti x xiao #xiao #venti #xiao genshin impact #venti genshin impact #genshin impact #musician venti #musician xiao #pride 2021 #happy pride 🌈

32 notes · View notes