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gemsmrt · 1 year

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The Fated Duo

This is a continuation of the Weinlesefest fic form a few weeks ago. It ended up a lot longer than that bc I have been writing over the course of several days. Also I apologize if not everything is lore strict. I did try to tie the lore in as best I could, but I did not write the previous part of this story with lore in mind LOL.

I wrote this with each section intending to be a few days/weeks apart from each other, no specific dates, but I do try to mention that time has passed between each cut.

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"I understand I am not indebted to Liyue anymore, however; I would like to stay to protect it. At least for now. I have never known anything else, and while I try to understand this new way of life, I would like to respect the place I have guarded and called home for so long." Xiao takes a deep breath.

He knows Venti does not need to know all of this, but if he intends to travel with him for the time, he believes that Venti deserves full honesty.

Venti stares at Xiao where they have made camp for the night, sitting across each other, a bonfire in between the two. "I see, well, I am not one to stay in Mondsadt for long periods. I don't mind staying in Liyue with you for as long as you may need. I do have one request, however." Xiao stares at Venti, a look of confusion, "I will, of course, assist in purging evil and protecting your land. I would like to take some time of leisure while we are here together."

"This seems fair..." Xiao can feel another request coming.

"As well," He knew it, "I would like to know of your history in Liyue."

This... Well, he should have seen it coming, but was still distraught by the request, "I'm sorry? I'm sure you already know much of Liyue's history, being a travelling bard."

"I don't mean Liyue's history, I mean yours." Xiao is not sure how to take this, there's only a handful of people that really knew who Xiao was. Was he really ready to give that all away to what was practically a stranger to him? "It doesn't have to be all at once, it can be snippets over a long time. I just wish to get to know you, the real one. Outside of the silly novels that are sold at the Wanwen Bookhouse."

Xiao sits, fingers curled around his chin, contemplating for a few moments, "Very well." He looks up to see the giddiest grin on Venti's face, "But-"

"Oh?" Venti intrudes, quickly cut off.

"These are two requests, and you had originally stated you only had one request." Xiao can't help but feel sad at the way Venti's smile is torn from him. "Therefore, I would like to ask a question in return for the second request."

Venti giggles, the bright smile coming back, "Very well. Ask away, and I shall try not to lead you astray." The rhyming again... Will Xiao ever get used to it?

"You stated earlier you wanted to travel with me in order to get to know me better. I don't understand this. It is not that I do not want you here, please don't misread this. I would just like more clarification as to what it is that piques your interest in me?" Xiao doesn't think that the Archon has ill intentions, especially since he is a long friend of Zhongli, but he would rather be careful in such situations.

"Oh? Is that all? Very well, I shall try to enlighten you on some of the meaning in my interest." Venti sighs, takes a deep breath, and looks to the ground, "When I had met you in Guyun all that time ago, the sorrow from your soul felt irreparable. I never thought the tune I had played that night would have done as much as it has. I just... played in hopes that something, anything could have eased that pain."

Venti takes another deep breath and looks to the stars, Xiao's gaze never falters from him, "When I saw you again, in my own nation no less, I could not help but feel our meeting was-" a short pause, as Venti looks deep into Xiao's soul, "fate. I don't know how else to describe what I felt after seeing you again. It was as though the stars themselves heard me screaming, to know if you were okay, if you were alive."

"Venti..." Xiao had felt the strings of fate pull him there. Hearing Venti explain it in this way felt like a relief to him.

"I know it may seem silly, but it feels as though our lives are intertwined in more than just this one. I feel we may be fated to meet each other in every life we have ever lived, and every one we may live again. That's why I want to spend my time travelling with you. I want to understand what this connection truly is. I want to know if we are meant to be travelling companions, if we are meant for something more, or if what happened was just pure coincidence. I promise, I do not mean to harm you in this accompaniment. I hope that, even in knowing my reasoning, you would still let me travel with you for the time being. However, I understand if after hearing all of that you never want to hear from me again." Venti says with a small, fake chuckle. Eyes looking back up to the stars, hands planted behind him.

Before Xiao realizes, he has moved to the other side of the fire, sat next to Venti, closed his eyes, and leaned his head on Venti's shoulder, "Yea, I think I get what you mean. Not in as many words, but I want to understand our fate as well." He notices the way Venti has tensed up at the sudden closeness, he still does not understand why it feels so comfortable, but he pulls his head up and opens his eyes towards Venti, "I would not like one of us to accompany the other, I would like to travel together. As a duo, of sorts." A small smile brims from his face.

"Sure, a duo, I like it." Venti gives a small smile back at him, and then continues to look up at the stars. Xiao gets comfortable back in his position on Venti's shoulder, noticing he does not stiffen up this time. The two relax into the night together.

-----------------

"Wanshu Inn?" Venti questions, "This seems awfully casual for a vigilant yaksha."

Xiao sighs, "Yes, well, while I reside at the Inn, the top of the Inn is a good vantage point to see where the most evil appears. And..."

"And?" Venti puts up a questioning eyebrow and playful smirk.

"They... have a really good almond tofu." Xiao looked away from Venti to hide his blush. Venti chuckles, though Xiao can sense it is not to be demeaning.

"I didn't know the Vigilant Yaksha allowed himself such human indulgences." Venti says, looking at Xiao as they walked on to the elevator together.

Xiao, finally able to compose himself, "It... has a texture to it." One of few things that Xiao allows himself to enjoy is eating, and he has found out he is quite particular to texture in food.

"I see, you'll have to order some for me while we're here, then." Venti smiles up at Xiao, cheeks flushing pink.

Xiao can't help but think its cute.

As the elevator reaches the top, Xiao sees a familiar face. "Xiao! What a surprise, it's been a while since you've take the elevator, let alone since we've seen you."

"I didn't mean to worry. I took a last minute, uh, vacation, I suppose." Xiao puts his hand behind his head, not able to look at her.

"I see, I didn't expect you to be the type, but I'm glad. You look refreshed." He finally looks up and sees Verr smiling up at him, "Well, are you going to introduce me?"

He knows his cheeks are red, but between Verr and Venti on either side of him he has nowhere to hide it. "Right, Verr, this is Venti, a travelling bard from Mondsadt. Venti, this is Verr Goldet. She's the boss here at the Inn."

"It's a pleasure to meet you!" Venti says extending a hand out.

Verr meets his hand, shaking briefly, "The pleasure is mine, I assure you."

"We'll be needing a room." Xiao interrupts.

"Xiao." Verr says, smile quickly fading, "You know you always have a room here, no matter what."

Xiao realizes he should have clarified what he meant, "I am aware, Venti will need his own room for the night."

"Oh, will he?" Verr says, eyes pointing to Venti, who has shrunken into himself. Xiao pulls him away from Verr and the other Inn patrons.

"It's just... I may not have enough to stay here for a long period. Since this is where you normally stay, I assume this would be more of a permanent residence." Venti's voice is soft, letting out a small sigh Xiao is sure he wasn't aware came out.

Xiao rarely dealt with others emotions, and he did not want to hurt Venti being overtly blunt. He takes a moment to think about the options, "You are free to stay with me in my room. If this arrangement is uncomfortable for you, though, we could continue camping as we have been the last few nights."

Venti looks up, the twinkle back in his eyes, "I just- I don't want to intrude on you. Would your room be big enough for both of us?"

"Don't worry about that. I'm usually perched at the top of the room anyways, plus..." Xiao looks away, the amount he is willing to admit for Venti's sake, he almost can't handle it, "I've always thought to room was meant for more than one person."

"Well, I'm glad I can help fill the space, then." Xiao looks back to Venti, smile bright and big as if he was never sad in the first place.

Verr seemed to have taken the hint, and left to go take care of the Inn. Xiao takes some time to show Venti around the Inn, and how to get to his secluded room at the top of the Inn. Before he shows Venti the room they will be sharing, he places an order for two almond tofu up to the room. Finally, he shows Venti the door, where they will be staying for the unforeseen future. He definitely felt nervous, as he hadn't been in this room for several weeks, and did not know what state he had left it in. Not that Xiao was untidy, but he had never properly shown the place he lived before. In this scenario, he gave himself allowance to feel the nerves he was feeling.

He turns the knob, allowing himself in first so as to lead the way. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, some loose notes on a desk. It seemed fairly dusty, but that was to be expected. Everything else seemed like his normal. "Please excuse the dust, I've been away for several weeks."

"Of course." Venti says as he enters the room, "Woah-"

"Is something the matter?" Xiao's eyes scan the room, looking for anything that may be abnormal.

"Oh no, nothing! I just.." Venti starts to dust with anemo around Xiao's things, "I guess, I didn't expect you to be such a collector. Not that there's anything wrong with it! It's just a, surprise, from you. That's all."

Xiao shouldn't be surprised at Venti's ability to manipulate the wind, and while he is referenced as the weakest Archon, he was still an Archon after all. Xiao knew he was powerful, he just didn't know how he has so much control over the wind in this small space, not moving a thing out of place. He just stood there, mouth agape, in awe of Venti.

"I'm sorry, did I say something wrong?" Venti dusts his hands off, removing the last of the dust in the room, as if he had touched any of the dust, which he had not.

"No, absolutely not. I just can't believe how well you manipulate the winds." Xiao finally says, closing his mouth.

Venti has that mischievous grin on his face, "Well, I am the Anemo Archon after all, did you not expect me to have full control of the wind?"

"I am more impressed with the small, fluid motions you have with the wind. I have never been able to control it like that." Xiao says, looking down at his hand, balling it in a fist.

"You have only used it as a weapon, it is to be expected." Venti says, grabbing Xiao's balled up hand, releasing it. He didn't realize Venti had gotten so close. "If you would allow for it, I can teach you how beautiful the wind truly is." He looks up to Xiao, not more than two inches apart. Xiao sees the way Venti is smiling at him, and he can't help but smile back.

"I think I would like that, to fully understand the winds and my abilities." The peace he's felt since he met Venti, it's starting to become more absent minded to him, more familiar.

Venti breaks his gaze from Xiao, pulling their hands apart, and plops down onto the bed, "That will have to be a project for another day. For now, I want to just relax, all the travel and stress of finding a room has me beat." Xiao giggles at how quickly Venti seems to be ready for sleep, but he can't blame him. The day had been a stressful one for both of them, a lot of new things happening. Even so, Xiao couldn't be happier with the circumstances that brought them together. Suddenly there's a knock at the door.

"Before you completely pass out, I want you to have my favorite dish." Xiao opens the door and greets the server, "Thank you, you can set them on the table there." The server promptly sets the dishes on the table and walks out of the room. "And if you can still stand, I'd like to eat with you."

Venti dramatically sighs, standing up and walking over to the small dining table in the room. The table has always had two chairs at it, but Xiao has never shared a meal with anyone in here. He's sat with Verr plenty of times in the dining hall to eat, but never in his room. Venti's the first person who's spent more than a few mere moments in the room with him, and now he's going to be there to share more memories together. It's strange, how quickly his circumstances have changed, and how quickly he is adapting to such changes.

Venti sits across from Xiao, pulling the first bite to his mouth. Once he bites down and swallows, he can see the glitter in Venti's eyes, "Wow, you weren't kidding about that texture. That's amazing!"

"See? I told you. While it is not the only reason I've stayed, it has made the experience more bearable." Xiao says as he goes to take his first bite, letting the bite melt into his mouth. The only way he can describe the flavor is like a sweet dream.

"Did you choose to stay in this area? I'm quite curious, if you don't mind telling." Venti asks between bites.

"I did, like I said, the top of the building is optimal to see the locations where most evil needs to be purged, not to mention..." Is Xiao about to admit this? The pause grabs Venti's attention, Xiao continues before he can intrude, "I thought I may get to see you, or rather hear you again." It sounds desperate, but it was honest. He wanted to be fully honest with Venti.

Venti looks at him, almost as though he was punched in the stomach. "I- But- Were you- looking for me?"

"Not directly. My duty swore me to Liyue, so I was never able to leave the nation. It was more so a hope, that I would hear that flute one more time, at least once more." He looked up to see Venti crying. He moved his chair to the other side of the table, and held Venti's head in his lap, setting his hat on the table, combing through his hair. He wasn't sure what came over him in that moment, but he continued without thought, "I don't feel any resentment. I knew not what you looked like, and you never knew what that meeting meant to me. You couldn't have, with how brief it was. More than anything I am grateful to not have met you sooner. I feel as though you would not have liked me over the last several hundred years, and meeting you before now would have been in vain."

"Please don't speak of yourself that way. I could see the kindness in your soul, even then. If I had not been so selfish then, if I had stayed a moment longer, maybe I could have lifted your burdens then." Venti sits back up to look at Xiao.

"Even if you had relieved the karmic debt at that time, I still held a contract with Morax. I would have still been in Liyue fighting in the Archon war, and I'm not sure I would have survived the war without the weight of karmic debt on me." Xiao takes a pause, he holds Venti by the shoulders, looking him in the eyes, "You said yourself the other day that our meeting was fated, and I believe that as well. The day that I met you, Venti, in Springvale, that's where I believe our fates meant us to meet."

Venti shakes Xiao's hands from his arms, wrapping Xiao's hands in his, eyes looking down, "I just wish I could've been there for you before.." He stops shortly to look back into Xiao's eyes, "But I suppose there's a lot of things we wish for with hindsight. I'm sorry for worrying you, Xiao, I will try not to look at it with this mindset. I am glad we met, truly met, when we did as well."

Almost absentmindedly, Xiao pulls a hand away from Venti, bringing it up to one of his braids, twirling it through his fingers, "And I am sure, with time, we will come to understand exactly why we met when we did. However, for once in my life, I would like to live in this current moment, with you."

"Sure, I can do that." They sit there like that for a moment before Venti gets up to go lay down on the bed. Xiao moves the chairs back where they were and sets the dishes in the sink not too far. He will bring them down to the kitchen later. He grabs his spear to head out and keep watch when, "Could you... Stay here? At least until I fall asleep. I know you'll be right outside, but could you just stay in here for a bit longer?"

"Of course, Venti." Xiao goes to his desk to clean up some of the scattered notes, and opens on book to write. Xiao starts to write of his fated meeting until Venti falls to sleep, where he then goes to sit just atop their room, viewing the beautiful scenery in the dead of night. Ah, yes, peace. Maybe he could get used to it, after all.

-------------

"Behind you!" Venti says, Xiao ducks while Venti shoots his direction, a gust of wind follows and pulling all of the enemies to one spot directly in front of Xiao. Xiao suddenly feels a burst of air pull him up. He leaps from it and plunges down on to the enemies, eliminating them all in one fell swoop.

Xiao could get used to this kind of ease in battle, "Not bad." He doesn't mean for it to come out condescending, but it does anyways.

"Not so bad yourself." Venti winks, Xiao looks away, feeling flustered, "Glad you caught on to the wind lift."

"Your fighting style is very... different, but very easy to catch on to." Xiao is honestly surprised with how easily their fighting styles meld together during battle. They are both anemo users, so he shouldn't be surprised, "Watch out." Xiao swiftly moves around Venti to stab the enemy behind him.

Venti's anemo arrows glide gracefully around Xiao, pulling many more enemies together. Xiao darts to the enemies, now all floating in each others air. Xiao darts up and down, defeating all of the enemies, clearing the domain.

"That seems to be the last of the demonic energy in this area, we can head back now." Xiao and Venti exit the domain, heading back to Wangshu Inn.

Venti suddenly stops in the middle of the road, "Actually, I was wondering if you would accompany me to Mt. Aocang."

Xiao turns, expression confused, "What business do you have there?" Xiao knows Cloud Retainer does not like to be disturbed by mortal needs. While Venti is no mortal, Cloud Retainer may easily mistake him for one. He's not sure he is ready to explain whatever relationship he has with Venti to the people he cares for quite yet.

"None in particular, I just quite like the scenery atop the mountain." Venti pauses to look at the sky, "And I was hoping to see an old friend."

"You know Cloud Retainer?" Xiao is quite startled by this, Cloud Retainer knows the Anemo Archon?

"Yes, she was one of the first Adepti I met when I gained this mortal body. She actually helped me figure out how to use my power in this body. Funny, isn't it?" Venti Chuckles.

Xiao can't help but let out a little laugh, "A bit. I can't guarantee Cloud Retainer will see you. We should bring some Jewelry Soup with us, as it's her favorite. She may be more favorable to see someone with an offering."

"Do they have to-go containers for soup at the Inn?" Venti ponders as they continue.

"I believe so. We will head there to ask." Xiao and Venti make their way back to the Inn. Fortunately there are in fact to-go containers for soup, which they already had prepared in a big stock pot. They are able to quickly grab the offering and head to Mt. Aocang.

As the mountain starts to come into view, the gleam in Venti's smile brightens, "Woah, it's so much prettier than I remember!"

"Cloud Retainer has worked hard to make the area around her abode presentable for the passer-by that are allowed near it." Xiao explains without question.

"I can't wait to see what it looks like at the top, come on!" And just like that he's skipping and jumping up the mountain. Xiao rolls his eyes, but smiles as he follows along carefully with the soup.

Suddenly a wind brushes them. Xiao can tell it's not from Venti, as it feels like it's trying to push them off the edge of the cliff, "Who dares to enter this land without jurisdiction?" The bird lands to look at the two, now protected from the wind by Venti's own control of it. "Oh, hello Xiao. You should have warned one you were coming." Cloud Retainer comes to meet the two, winds subsiding.

"It was a last minute stop, I apologize." Xiao bows, offering the soup to Cloud Retainer.

"Apologies are not necessary." Cloud Retainer gladly accepts the offering.

"Hello, my name is Venti, formerly Barbatos. I was- am the Anemo Archon. I am not sure if you remember our meeting, as it was when I was freshly an Archon." Venti abruptly realizes he should bow as Xiao is, and quickly gets to bowing position.

"How could one forget that fresh face. Venti, one is glad to see you are still in good health. Zhongli explained some of what happened to you." Cloud Retainer's face twinges, "If you two would like, you are welcome to visit one's abode."

"While I appreciate the offer, I would request permission to just enjoy the view from the top of Mt. Aocang, Cloud Retainer." Venti raising his head with a kind smile towards Cloud Retainer.

Cloud Retainer returns the smile, "Of course, take all the time you would like atop the mountain. And both of you are always free to come visit one's abode any time." Cloud retainer looks to Xiao.

He knows it's been a while since he has visited Cloud Retainer, while he would like to say he has been busy, he's more so been nervous about his karmic debt affecting his long friend. While Cloud Retainer was an adeptus, Xiao was still wary as he processed the new anger he felt at the news of Bosacious. "Of course. We will come back to visit another time."

He can't help but look at Venti as Cloud Retainer leaves., who starts to stare at the scenery around them, "It's amazing, this view, isn't it?"

Xiao, who doesn't break his gaze, "Yea, it is."

--------------

"Hey." Venti said, appearing right behind Xiao at the top of the Inn. Venti had actually caught him by surprise.

"What are you doing up here so late, aren't you usually out cold by now?" While neither of them needed to sleep, Venti liked to indulge in it still, if only for a few hours. He said he likes the feeling of dreaming.

Venti sat down right next to Xiao, thighs touching, "I thought I could take patrol today, and let you rest up for once!"

Xiao was a little caught by surprise, he rarely ever slept, "The adepti don't require sleep, I will be fine."

"Right, the gods don't require it either, but you still tuck me in to bed without complaint." Venti looks up with a light blush, "I just figure since you've been a little grumpy the last few days, I could return the favor for once."

Xiao furrows his eyebrows, "I have not been grumpy." He knows he has, but he doesn't think it has anything to do with sleep. He's never needed it before, so why now?

"Yea, sure. That's definitely not how a not grumpy person would say that." Was his tone really that mean? "Listen, if you let me tuck you in to bed, I'll play your song." That perked his ears up, he can hear the soft giggles coming from Venti.

"On the flute?" Venti's played the song again a handful of times on the lyre, but not again on the flute.

"Why, of course!" Venti materializes the flute immediately upon request.

Xiao grabs his chin to think for a moment, "Very well…" And the way Venti perks up, how could he say no?

Xiao gets settled into the bed and Venti sets his flute down to tuck him in. "I could teach you, you know, how to play the flute."

Xiao can't help but feel so safe tucked in this warm cocoon he's been wrapped in, "I would have to think about it. Perhaps in the future I would be willing to learn."

As Venti finishes tucking in all the corners, he leans up to Xiao's forehead and gives him a sweet kiss, "Sure, it doesn't have to be soon by any means. Just a suggestion." Xiao can feel how warm he gets from the small gesture, but Venti doesn't seem to notice. He picks up his flute and starts to play the tune he knows and loves. Of course, it doesn't give him quite as visceral a reaction as it did when he played it that fateful day, it still brings him so much warmth and joy. When it's played on the flute as it is now he can't help the way it makes him feel so loved.

He doesn't think Venti loves him, not at all. He still has a hard time understanding why Venti wants to spend time with him at all. He understands that it's the music that makes him feel this way, not the artist playing it. Before he realizes Xiao slowly starts fade in and out of consciousness, before he fully fades out. He starts to dream.

He and Venti are sitting on a cloud, spinning around hand in hand. That's right, they're dancing. Dancing in a cloud, away from all of the troubles of the world. They are laughing and smiling together, beginning to do more intricate moves. Xiao feels lighter than air, lighter than life itself. He dips Venti and goes in for a kiss when-

He wakes from his dream, slowly opening his eyes back into the real world. He feels so groggy, like when he had slept for several weeks. He darts up.

"Good morning, sleepy head." Venti says, biting into an apple, "Don't worry, you were only asleep for around six hours, I think. It's more than I thought you would sleep."

As he realizes that it has not in fact been several weeks, he yawns and moves to the side of the bed, "Well, good morning." He gets up to go to the small table Venti is sitting at, noticing the plate of his favorite dish sitting there with a cup of dark liquid.

"I thought you may want something to eat once you woke up. And I got you some coffee, in case you needed a quick perk up." Venti gets more nervous as he continues, "I've never seen you drink it before, so I'm sorry if you don't want it. It's not my preferred drink, but I know a lot of people like it in the morning, so-"

"Venti." He sees how nervous Venti gets, thinking he's made a mistake, "It's fine, don't worry. I actually don't mind coffee with a little bit of.." He grabs the spoon by his almond tofu, grabbing some of the syrup collected at the bottom of the plate. He stirs the bit of syrup into his coffee cup, setting the spoon back on the plate.

Venti seems quite perplexed, "I've never even thought of that! Do you mind if I try it?" The glitter comes back into his eyes.

"Sure, knock yourself out." Venti takes the cup and has the smallest sip Xiao has ever seen someone take.

"I can't believe it. It's delicious. You know, Xiao, you may just turn me into a coffee lover." Xiao grabs the cup back and takes a sip. This makes Venti startle a bit and blush. After Xiao looks at him confused, Venti says, "You know, since we both drank from the same spot, it's almost like a contactless kiss."

Xiao almost chokes on the hot liquid in his throat. Why… would he says that? Sometimes Xiao thinks this whole accompaniment is just a ploy for him to kill Xiao, slowly and painfully. He knows that isn't true of course, but it makes him laugh to think about. "You're ridiculous, you know that?"

Xiao finally goes to take a bite of the almond tofu in from of him. "Yea, but sometimes you're even more so than I." Venti giggles, Xiao just eats up his dish and finishes his coffee. They have an otherwise silent, but happy morning.

-------------

It's finally the day they agreed to start Xiao's anemo training. He will admit to being nervous, stepping into an uncharted territory. It's something he has done quite a bit over the last several weeks, but it still makes him nervous every time. Venti had asked to meet at Mt. Tianheng in the afternoon that day. Something about having to make preparations for their training beforehand. Xiao figured Venti was probably just as nervous as he was, and needed the time to put himself together.

When Xiao had made it to the top of Mt. Tianheng the first thing he noticed was the fact that Venti was shirtless. Now seeing the tattoo on his chest, Xiao wondered if his attire was chosen intentionally to cover it, and if there were any other tattoos he had. He sees a large strip of fabric around his waist holding up a loose pair of pants, similar in style to the ones Xiao wears, but completely white. Elastic held the bottom of the pants just below his knees, and he wore no shoes.

It takes him a moment to realize Venti is also floating, legs crossed, palms on his knees, facing upward. Venti's eyes are closed. He's meditating, floating in the air. There is so much Xiao has to learn about the wind. Up until now, he has really only used the wind to assist in his speed, making his attacks all the more powerful. Seeing the way Venti is using it now, seems so much more graceful. It acts like an extension of his being, as if they are one in the same. The Anemo Archon is truly a sight to behold.

"Just on time, as one would expect from the Vigilant Yaksha." Venti says, releasing his position, and slowly making his way to the ground with the wind. "Are you ready to get started?"

"Yes, I am." Xiao tries to speak confidently through his nerves, and cannot tell how those words come out in the process.

"Good. Now, to start, I need you to take everything off but your pants, and belt, of course." Venti notices Xiao is unable to hide his confusion and mild embarrassment, but continues, "I didn't mean for that to sound so forward. This training is easier with minimal clothing to disrupt the flow of the wind. Now, please, if you would. I can look away as well, while you get undressed."

Xiao finally manages to calm himself, "No, that won't be necessary." Xiao removes everything but his gloves.

"I'm sorry, but you will need to remove your gloves as well. You will need, and eventually want, to feel the wind through your fingertips." Venti says, weaving the wind through his fingers, "If you're worried that I'm going to judge your finger being calloused or beat up, fear not! Mine are quite calloused on their own from playing instruments for as long as I have, see?" Venti points to the tips of his fingers, which were quite calloused, but not gross looking in any way.

Xiao sighs, "No, that's not quite the reason." It's almost the opposite. He has how dainty and delicate his hands looks. As he pulls his gloves off he sees the way Venti looks at them, with glitter in his eyes.

Venti pulls Xiao's hand into his own. Looking at them as if he's never seen anything like it, "Your hands they're..." Here it comes, people would always refer to them as small, delicate, like a porcelain dolls, and laugh at Xiao, but, "Beautiful, just so absolutely lovely. The wind will love your hands." Venti's smile is wide and bright, "Nevermind that, let's start your training."

Xiao just knows he's blushing, "O-okay." He pulls his hand down to his side.

Venti grabs two leaves off of the nearby tree, placing one of them in Xiao's palm, "I want you to hover your other hand over top and have the leaf float between your two hands, like so," Venti puts the leaf between his hands and hovers the leaf between them, as he had instructed, "Do you think you can do that?"

"Yes, I believe so." Xiao promptly places his other hand just above the one holding the leaf. He concentrates to try and flow the anemo particles between his hands, but it just sends the leaf flying.

Venti quickly picks it up with his control of the wind and places it back in Xiao's hand, looking at him with a small smile, "Don't try to force it. You're not trying to use the wind as a tool in this practice, you are simply guiding the wind through you." Xiao takes a breath, and nods his head at Venti. He closes his eyes, focusing on the winds direction. It's almost like he's asking the wind to help him, rather than trying to pierce through as he normally would. "Yes, just like that!" Xiao opens his eyes and sees his leaf floating. While it may be a bit wobbly, and he doesn't have full control over it, the leaf is floating. "Amazing progress already. Now, I want you to continue this until you can hold the leaf still with the wind, no turning or tipping, just like this." Venti goes to demonstrate just how still he is holding the leaf.

"Alright, I can try." Xiao says, he doesn't actually think he can, but he has to start somewhere.

"Do or do not, there is no try," Venti lets out a soft little giggle, "I don't expect you to be able to do it right away, and you should not either. Just continue with the practice, eventually you will find more ease in it. I will be meditating over on the other side here, so as to not disturb you. Please send a whisper my way when you think you've got it, and I will evaluate." Xiao agrees with a nod, and Venti moves to the other side of the mountain, back to floating in grace as he was before.

Xiao continues to focus on the leaf and wind, noticing the subtleties of the wind through his hands. He feels the way the wind shifts through his fingers, using his anemo abilities, he asks the wind to steady between his hands. The leaf suddenly stops wiggling back and forth, steady around him. He can see the current of wind around the leaf spinning it, but its only spinning, no other movement is happening around it. Xiao smiles a bit to himself, then refocuses his anemo energy, requesting the current to stop the spinning leaf. Within only a moment, the leaf is completely still within his hands, floating, not moving in the slightest. Xiao then lets out the smallest whisper, "Venti, I'm doing it." And Venti is next to him within an instant. Xiao tries not to react to this, so as to not interrupt the practice.

"Oh wow, I'm impressed. This has only taken you about 10 minutes to learn this comprehensively." Venti says while observing.

"This training has been quite different form anything I've ever experienced, but it still is, at the essence, learning abilities I already had available to me." Xiao can't help but smirk at Venti's words.

"I suppose you are not called vigilant for nothing," Venti whisks the leaf out of his stance, "But, my dear Yaksha, you still have much to learn." Venti guides the leaf down the mountain, into Liyue harbor. "So, do you think you're ready for the next challenge?"

Xiao nods before Venti turns to walk away, "I think I understand well enough to move on to the next practice."

Venti grabs Xiao's spear and his own bow, "Good, but the practice isn't necessarily changing, it's just getting a bit more difficult." Venti tosses the spear towards Xiao, who grabs it, "I want you to do the same practice with your weapon."

"Excuse me?" Sure, he had mastered it on a leaf, but a leaf is practically weightless. His weapon on the other hand, quite heavy, "How do you expect me to hold up my weapon with just the wind? That's ridiculous."

"So your telling me you don't use any amount of anemo power to make your weapon easier to use?" Venti starts to walk towards Xiao.

"Sure, to make it faster, but what does that have to do with this?" Xiao is honestly perplexed.

Venti grabs on to Xiao's weapon with one hand, noticing with it all of the wind surrounding it has vanished, plunging it into the ground, "And to make it faster, you make it lighter, and you do that with anemo power, clearly." Xiao's eyes narrow, he's never been so angry to be proven wrong, "I don't mean to upset you, Xiao, honest. It's as you said earlier, this ability is one you've always had at your disposal. You just need to realize how you already use it."

"I... see your point. Still, there is no grace period between this and the leaf. Is there nothing in between that I can train with?" Xiao hates to question the method, but it seems like a drastic difference with this ability.

"Very well, I suppose you could start with my weapon," Venti hands Xiao his bow, "and in the meantime, I can show you how to do this with your weapon. It does change a bit, as I don't want you to do this with your weapon flat to the ground."

Xiao nods, exchanging his weapon for Venti's, ready to follow along with Venti's movement. Venti, never letting the weapon touch the ground, lets go of the weapon, moving his hands slowly away. Xiao can see the wind current swirling around it for a moment while Venti settles into place with the weapon. Xiao begins to copy the movements, asking the current to flow between his hands again. The bow floats for a moment, only to spin off and hit the ground a few feet away just a second later. "Sorry..."

"Don't worry, it's a durable weapon," Venti picks it up with the wind and puts it in Xiao's hand again, "Try not to flow the wind current around your hands, but rather around the bow. Does that make sense?" Xiao nods, refocusing his senses, this time, as he lets go of the bow, he asks the wind to keep the bow in place in front of him, and the wind obliges. The wind flows through Xiao's hand and around the bow. He notices the current of wind is stronger around the bow than it was when Venti did this with his spear, "Wonderful! I was right, the wind just loves you. Now, see if you can get the current to dissipate just a little, while still holding the bow up."

"Alright." Xiao asks the winds to lighten, and the wind does in an instant. His requests to the wind seem to come through faster now. The bow is still perfectly still in the air, and the wind around it is very light, "I... can't believe how easy that was."

"I think your ready to start with your own weapon now, dear Yaksha." Venti says, with that sparkle in his eyes.

Xiao is still hesitant, "But your weapon is still much lighter than mine is. Do you really think I can do it?"

"You didn't realize you used the same ability form your own weapon on mine, did you?" Venti says, grabbing his weapon and putting it back into Xiao's hand. This time it's so much heavier. Did Xiao really do this without realizing?

"I... didn't." Venti hands Xiao his weapon, and once again they swap. Xiao is now holding his own spear. He focuses his anemo energy around the weapon, and barely has to think about his request this time before the wind follows him. The wind flows around his spears just as it did around the bow. "It really seems weightless like this."

Venti giggles, "Yes it does, and you've been using something like this around your weapon for a very long time. Now I'd like you to try this with just one hand, wrapping around the polearm, but not touching. I don't expect you to get this as quickly, so take your ti-" Xiao was executing the moves as Venti was speaking them. With his spear, the wind seems to understand exactly what to do around him. "Good gods, you are an easy student to teach."

"It's just more natural with my spear. It's an extension of me, and I think the winds understand that." Xiao looks up to the tip of his spear, higher in the air than normal. He's had his polearm since long before his fellow Yaksha passed. He feels it is one of few pieces left of them.

"Then this next part of training may be easier than I anticipated. We may just finish before sundown." Venti grabs Xiao's spear and places it off to the side with his bow, "The last technique I want you to learn is levitation, like you saw me doing while meditating."

This stuns Xiao quite a bit, "You think I can do that before sundown?" There's already been a lot of new today, he certainly could not levitate like that, not today.

Venti chuckles, "No, not quite like that, the amount of stillness I have will take time. We will start much lower to the ground, as well with something much simpler. Although, you make think it looks more difficult at first."

"I suppose there is no harm in attempting, but I make no promises." Xiao is very reluctant, but Venti seems to have a lot of confidence in him. He wonders how many other students Venti's had before him.

"That's the spirit! I promise, I won't push you after this. Now, I assume you know Vrksasana(Tree pose)?" Venti comes face to face with Xiao.

"We're... Doing yoga?" Is now really the time?

Venti hides just how much he wants to laugh, "No, no. It's just a good pose to start this training exercise. It creates the least amount of surface area and a good amount of balance for you to levitate on."

"I see, yes I know Vrksasana well." Xiao was well versed in yoga poses, so this won't be difficult for him.

"Good, get into that position and then follow my instructions." Xiao nods, putting his hands together by his chest, fingers pointing to the sky, left foot going up his right thigh, toes pointed to the ground. "Now, I want you to remember the feeling of the wind that went through your fingers as you were levitating the leaf and weapons, and transfer that wind to the bottom of your foot, and push that wind down." Xiao focuses on the feeling of his anemo power, and requests the wind to go to his right foot, and push down as instructed. It takes a moment for the wind to build up, but he feels the wind tangle around his toes and foot, and the push into the ground pulls him into the air. He gets a little wobbly, almost falling out of position, but quickly corrects himself. "Very good! See, I knew you could learn this before sundown."

Xiao is still a bit wobbly in his pose, but is able to keep himself upright, "It feels very different than I was anticipating. Almost like I'm wearing a wind shoe."

And that apparently broke Venti because he burst out laughing, "I'm sorry, the analogy is just funny. It's kind of right, though, for starting out. Eventually you'll want to turn it into more of a wind carpet, then you can move currents under the 'carpet' so to say."

"Oh, well then," Xiao focuses back to the winds under his foot, requesting the wind to make a carpet under him as he releases his pose. Once he feels the wind release his right foot, he sets his left foot and sets it down, in the air. "Yes, this feels a bit better."

"Impressive, but Xiao, you may want to lower a bit." It's not until Venti says something that Xiao realizes how high above the mountain he was. The wind under Xiao falters and he starts falling, "Xiao!" Venti exclaims as he speedily makes his way up to Xiao to grab him in the air, floating the two of them down back to the mountain. "Are you okay?"

Xiao, seeing Venti was holding him with both legs in one hand and shoulder blades in the other. He unconsciously wrapped his arms around Venti's neck in the process, and realizes how close the two were, "Yea, fine. You, uh, didn't have to do that, but thanks." He just knows he's blushing, but it's okay because he sees Venti is as well.

"S-sorry, I didn't think. You're my student right now. I didn't want to see you hurt." Venti's looking in his eyes, not letting go. Xiao isn't breaking that gaze. "I know you can protect yourself, but I guess I wanted to protect you for once."

"You've been protecting me since the moment we met, Venti. All the way back then, up until this very moment." Venti perks a small smile from the corner of his lip. He notices Venti slowly leaning towards him, and he can't help but reciprocate and lean into him as well.

Now, only inches between them, "And I will continue protecting you, for as long as you let me." Venti presses his forehead against Xiao's, and Xiao can't help but want more. He can't say why or when it started happening, but he's longing for more of Venti. Even in the short weeks since that fated meeting, since they came back to Liyue together, he's felt so much for one being in this short time. The short touches they've shared, he can't help but want more of it. Maybe it's too soon, maybe he should sit with his feelings for longer. Regardless, now doesn't seem like the time to discuss this.

"And I will be here to protect you, Venti, for as long as you'll have me-" He nearly chokes the words back, that is not what he meant to come out. Oh well, he thinks, the words are out there. He separates their foreheads to look back into Venti's eyes, which seem slightly distraught, surely by Xiao's words, "I will be yours, Venti, for anything- everything, as long as you will have me." He's surprised with how easily the words slip from his tongue.

Venti looks surprised, almost terrified, Xiao tries not to jump to conclusions, "Oh Xiao, I- Wow. I was not expecting this, not so soon at least, I-" Venti draws in a deep breath, "I just want to be very clear with this, are you saying you would like to be more than travelling companions?"

Xiao nods, "I guess what I'm saying, if it's what you want as well, that I want to be your boyfriend." He has picked up enough from his encounters with humans to understand romantic relationships. He's never truly understood why the humans participated in them, at least not until now.

Venti's mouth agape, he quickly gains composure, "I just didn't expect you to be so straight forward." Venti chuckles, "I would be honored to be your boyfriend, my dear Xiao."

"And I, Yours." Xiao pulls one of his hands from Venti's neck up to his cheek and pulls his face to Xiao's for a kiss. It was short, but filled with more love, more happiness than Xiao's ever held.

"Who knew you'd be such a romantic." Venti smiles, "Although now that we are here confessing to one another, I can't help but realize how, uh, exposed we both are?" Venti set Xiao down.

He didn't think about it until now, his bare chest was just touching Venti's, and he professed his feelings. He was physically and emotionally exposed. He has to be bright red at this point, "I- uh, I assume you brought your regular clothes with to change?" He feels dizzy.

"Afraid not. Just the shoes, I did bring a blouse with, so I'll be fine until we get to the Inn." Venti smiles at Xiao, still red as an apple, he assumes.

"A-alright. I'll just, um, go change. Over here. There's a cavern just below. You can, um, change down there, you know, if you want privacy." Suddenly Xiao is a complete mess with words. He can't stop thinking about their chests, touching. Oh Gods, will he ever get over this?

Venti just chuckles, "It's fine, I'll just change by the tree."

"R-right." Xiao turns to go grab his clothes when-

"Xiao?" Venti grabs his arm, Xiao looks back to him, "Don't, uh, worry so much about everything, okay?" Was he that easy to read? Xiao just nods and turns back. They each change on opposite sides of the mountain. "Ready to head back?"

Xiao's head had finally cleared a bit, while he's still thinking about everything, he's much less embarrassed at this point. He grabs Venti's hand, interlacing their fingers, "Yea, ready." As they headed down the mountain it started downpouring.

While this worried Xiao, Venti did not have the same sentiment, "Actually, do you wanna go jumping in puddles?"

Xiao's realizes they never discussed when they would train next, but right now, looking at Venti smiling at him, he didn't mind not knowing, "Yea, why not."

-----------------

I meant for this to be more angsty but then I got really sad and said you know what? Kiss. And it made me feel better so its staying. Sorry if pure unadulterated fluff isn't your thing, but if it wasn't you wouldn't be at the bottom of this post reading this, now would you?

I have been having big kazuscara feelings and with the scara splash art coming out this morning and the new archon quest coming out like tomorrow, I may be writing a kazuscara fic sooooon hehehehehe

annnyways, i did one proofread over this but let me know if there are any other areas, and give me your thoughts on this!

#xiaoven #genshin #genshin impact fanfics #xiao #venti #verr goldet #cloud retainer #fanfic #i dont remember if i mentioned anyone else in this #it's mostly just been these two #i want to make them meet chongyun and xingqiu eventually #also want to bring back zhongluc too #i have a lot of ideas but i dont know how well i will execute them #xiaoven fluff #fluff #long post #longpost

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