○ Exclamation #2: A Lamentable Situation!
Venti watches on with knitted eyebrows as the Yaksha double-checks all of the purification paraphernalia he usually carries on his person. He has his arms crossed and his foot begins tapping impatiently on the hardwood floor, in hopes that it would draw the other's attention on him. He catches each tentative glance that finds its way to him, and he finds it incredibly rude that the stubborn Adeptus simply carries on as if he sees nothing of note.
It is in the darkness of the night where evil extends its vicious claws and preys on the weak. As a Guardian of Liyue, Xiao believes he must press on, even if he is under intense scrutiny of a former Archon.
"And where do you think you're going?" Venti asks a tad bit testily. "Don't tell me you're—"
"I'm off to do my rounds."
Venti groans in frustration, face-palming. "Did Ganyu send in another report while I wasn't looking?"
He makes a small window between his fingers to peek at the Yaksha's reaction.
"No, but it is my duty to—"
The former Archon walks in front of Xiao to block his access to a window. His hands are on his waist; determination to make the Yaksha stay written on his face.
"As the Anemo Archon, the one who has granted you your Vision, I reassign you to bed rest for tonight's mission."
"Nonsense," says the Yaksha in his usual gruff manner. This bard has no power over him to do such things. "And hush, you don't know whose ears are on the ground."
"But we're at the topmost level of the inn."
Xiao huffed. This cheeky… That isn't the point.
"If you are not willing to comply, then hand it over," Venti goes on, ignoring that scoff just now. He outstretches his hand, making sure the other knows he's serious.
"You're not authoritarian in the same vein as Archon Baal." The Adeptus sneers, his eyes narrowing. Why is Venti so persistent in stalling him? "What authority do you act on when you yourself had your Gnosis 'confiscated' by force?"
He finds a bit of satisfaction making the bard flinch. It doesn't last long since Venti takes that taunt as a signal to go on the offensive.
The former Archon steps forward and takes Xiao's left hand into his. There was a smile on his face, a glint in his eyes, and a cheerful little tune on his lips. He watches Xiao's wary eyes as he brings the gloved hand to his face.
"No, I am not." The bard kisses his knuckles. Half-lidded eyes watch as Xiao's eyes show surprise, dimming the wariness in them. "But, I can always try convincing you to choose to stay~"
Venti puts down their joined hands and leans closer to the Adeptus's face in a painfully slow manner. His fingers intertwine with Xiao's own as he stared deeply into golden irises. He starts off with a peck on the corner of the other's mouth, and then another on the lips. He pulls back just enough to search for permission to continue. He receives a nod and the Yaksha is the one to lean in with the intent to capture Venti's lips himself.
Xiao's clumsiness makes his nose collide with Venti's, to his dismay and embarrassment. Venti just laughs and rubs his nose affectionately with his. He turns his head to the side, hoping to hide his blush, but the bard uses his other hand to turn his attention back to him. He sees the bard close his eyes. He gulps and does the same, this time tilting his head before diving in.
It starts slow, and gradually builds in tempo. Xiao believes he has learned much from his little menace and is trying to show the other that he could take the lead. And so he does and Venti's eager to follow. A few stray kisses land on the cheek and the jawline. One of Venti's hands finds its fingers entangling with Xiao's hair, while Xiao's hand cups Venti's cheek.
It all comes to an abrupt stop when Xiao feels a jolt go down his spine.
"No, wait."
Xiao gently places the hand he has on Venti's cheek on the other's chest. He pushes lightly and turns his head away in an attempt to gather his thoughts about the unfamiliar sensation. Venti withdraws, letting the hand on the other's hair slip away and giving him space. But the bard refuses to let go of the Yaksha's hand.
The young Adeptus is no fool, and he realizes the former Archon just touched his Vision, while the other just smiles brightly at him. Another foreign feeling washes over him—panic—as he tries to dislodge his hand from Venti's hold, but the former Archon's grip is unrelenting.
"Just what are you doing, Venti?" He hisses as the wave of panic quickly dissipates.
The former Archon grazes his thumb on the teal jewel again and enjoys how still the Yaksha has become as the jolt travels from his forearm down to the spine. The small whimper that escapes the proud Adeptus was beautiful, a harmonious chord in his ears.
Venti hums in feigned obliviousness, smiling. Xiao's Vision is as prickly as its owner—it doesn't like to be touched by anyone else. Confiscating it will not be easy, but Xiao doesn't need to know that.
"Cut. It. Out."
The bard gives up on it for now and releases his grip on the other's poor hand. This little warning should be enough to make the Yaksha take him and his request seriously.
"So what will it be, Mr. Workaholic Knight?" Venti takes a step forward, scolding the Xiao while poking the other's chest. The Adeptus responds by taking a step back. "You are going to get to bed right this instant and have me transport you to the Land of Nod. Or else…"
Venti gestures to the Vision on Xiao's glove, which makes the Adeptus take a step back once more. Xiao finds the back of his calves touching the edge of the bed. One last poke was enough to have him sit onto the bed's edge.
"See? That wasn't too hard now, was it?" Venti coos while ruffling his hair.
"Cut it out." Xiao takes hold of Venti's wrist to stop him from further hair-ruffling. He lets go and makes an attempt to get back up by swerving and then standing up immediately. "This and the nicknames, they're humiliating."
He briefly wonders if any of the racket they are causing is making it into the Boss Lady Goldet's ears.
"Oh, so this is how you want to play it," Venti muses aloud and he swiftly block's Xiao's attempt to get out of bed. "You know… those nicknames will just get longer and more embarrassing the more you refuse to rest, Mr. Vigilant-'I-Sprained-My-Foot-because-of-a-miscalculated-landing-but-I-can-still-fight'-Yaksha."
Xiao opens his mouth to retort, but finds himself closing it, resigning to his fate with a sigh of exasperation. He gingerly removes his battle gear, starting with his hand protectors. There is no use resisting when Venti is proving to become more and more obnoxious with each push of resistance he gives. He lifts up his right leg to remove his boots, when he slightly winces in pain.
"See?" Venti gets to his knees and begins gently assisting in removing the other's footwear. "Silly Yaksha, just because we bandaged it up, it doesn't mean you're good to go."
Once the gear and paraphernalia are out of sight, tucked into their respective drawers, Venti helps Xiao get into the center of the bed. He lounges right beside him. He takes Der Frühling out and plays one soothing melody after the other. He pretends not to watch as Xiao closes his eyes.
"Resting is not a sign of weakness. It's all part of one's fitness," Venti whispers once Xiao's breathing has become steady and slow. "So let me stand watch for you. Take it as a token of my love for you."
Venti knows it already. He's a coward—only having the courage to air out his feelings aloud (ironically, in the form of whispers) when the recipient is not around or is blissfully dead to the world. He tests his luck and tries to say that name he has been itching to try on his lips for a good while now.
"Ala—"
He stops when he feels his charge shift and languidly cracks an eye open.
"What.. is it?"
Of course, Yaksha aren't so taken into sleep. It would take more than a handful of minutes for one to completely doze off or get startled awake. He should have learned this by now. If Xiao heard what he just said, the other doesn't show any trace of it, and so the cowardly bard assumes it to be so.
"A lamentable situation you've found yourself, huh?" Venti smoothly recovers from another impulsive attempt. "Being bullied into submission by a foreign Archon, and being unable to do your Archon's bidding is truly lamentable."
"And whose fault do you think that is?" Xiao turns to him for a moment, his golden eyes showing his unamusement.
Venti giggles, stroking dark locks of hair gently.
"But… it's not so bad." The Adeptus admits silently, closing his eyes once more, curling his body closer to the bard lounging beside him on the bed.
"Hm? How so?" Venti whispers and leans in to kiss the crown of the other's hair.
"To have an Archon sing them to sleep is not an honor anyone could afford to."
Venti pauses for a moment before laughing.
"Well, at least you're aware of your privileges." The bard lightly pinches the cheeky Yaksha's cheek. "Now, where's that show of sincere gratitude?"
"You haven't transported me to the Land of Nod just yet." Xiao yawns, for the first time in decades. "Make good on that promise first."
"Yes, yes, my Handsome Sleeping Beauty."
Venti sings to him old lullabies originating from Qingce Village, following it up with some humming of Liyuen flute pieces until he has undeniable proof that his ferrying job has been done—successfully this time.
He can't help wondering what reward he'll receive after a job well done. He knows he shouldn't expect, but he does have the whole night to let his imagination get the best of him.
A/N: Author was mostly grinning when she wrote this chapter.
(The #5 and the +1 would go together with the way things are set up! But nothing is set in stone just yet... [just prepare for a word bomb, just in case])