It was early night now, between one and two o'clock,
Though Venti was too drunk to check for sure...
*He recently drank some more~
From the bottles master Diluc saved for him~
...
The party turned out quite nice, all things considered...
Like when he opened his eyes to see everyone frozen due to his singing and becoming a cinematic scene...?
*So what if he didn't realize that he shifted into his Archon form and made a bunch of Anemo Crystalflies appear all over the city...?
He was drunk, it wasn't his fault that he didn't notice. And the city looked a lot better with all those Crystalflies fluttering EVERYWHERE!
Besides, it was HIS city and he was simply doing some home décor in order for it to look prettier and even more "homey"! No harm done!
...
Though, it seems that some more Glaze Lilies have popped up...?!
*They were pretty, but there were way too many of them to not clash with his design!
...
Oh, well, the ambassadors could buy some of them!
He could probably even "ask" the Blockhead and his Wallet to buy some!
*Yes, that sounded like a marvelous plan! And it would help the(his) economy as well!
Maybe they could even build some fun stuff in his side and backyard!
Like making some Luna park attraction near Wolvendom and...!
"Venti, seriously...", Vennessa interrupted him, sounding weary, as she was flying overhead, "... What are you even thinking about...?"
...
Huh...?
Vennessa…?
When did she get here...?
*And why did he suddenly hear a sigh...?
...
"She was escorting you all along, Barbatos. Ever since you left the party. For your own safety, remember...?", the winds informed, sounding a little concerned, "...Are you sure you are feeling alright...?", there was suddenly a pause, "...Well, other than being drunk, that is."
...
Yeees…?
…
Probaaably…?
...
Mayyyyyyyybe…?
...
...
Actually,
He wasn't too sure about it...!
...
Hehe~
Hehehe~
Hehehehehe~
...
And the sigh was back!
"...Now that you reached the Cathedral, I am going to excuse myself.", Vennessa said in an unbearable voice, "...Just remember, Venti, don't do anything stupid, okay...?", then a sigh was heard again, this time a long one, "...I had enough fright and headache for one lifetime..."
And then she flew higher and out of sight,
Making the Archon wonder what she meant by that...
*He wasn't going to randomly do something stupid, right...?
…
And then he saw a familiar form!
A white, blue and yellow form!
…
Who turned out to be Barbara...?
...
Why was she standing by the Cathedral doors...?
And was it just his drunken imagination or was she also fidgeting...?
*Was she cold or something...? It was night after all. She should probably go inside...
...
"She is waiting for you.", the winds told him in an unreadable voice, as he got nearer to her, "...She was for a while now."
...
Huh...?
Why would she...?
...
...
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!
...
...
It's because he was in "Limbo", isn't it...?
*Just like that time after his "death"...
-I traumatized you again, didn't I...? -He finally said, before she could even greet him. -You are probably going to have nightmares once more, unless...
-No, it's okay! I am going to be okay! -Barbara interrupted him, sounding and looking frantic, as she was waving her hands to the sides and reminded him of a Swablu. -You don't need to force yourself to sleep in the same bed with me! You already got stronger from everyone's faith and don't need me as a battery anymore and...!
-I traumatized you, it's my fault you are going to have nightmares, again. -Venti interrupts her, sounding guilt stricken now. -...It's only right that I help you get through it. Besides...-He continues while taking her hand in his and teleporting them both to their room, before using Anemo to take off her outer clothing, leaving her in a nightgown of some kind. -... All your life, you were so devoted to Mondstadt, it's citizens and myself. You shouldn't feel as if you owe me something, as if you are undeserving... -He said while gently laying her down on the bed, before joining her, much to her growing embarrassment. -... Instead, I should be the one who repays you. Cuddling together with you is no hard or unwelcome task. I actually like it a lot. So much that sometimes I wish the night was longer~ -He wishfully added before she could voice a protest, his wings appearing seconds later and enveloping around her, moving her slightly closer to him and making her unable to pull away. -... You still smell so good~ -He gratefully and unintentionally flirtatiously said, making her blush even more now. - The Fresh Spring fragrance I came to love so much and can't seem to get enough off~
By this point Barbara was as red as a tomato and at a complete loss for words,
Which he found out to be extremely adorable...
*She was such a cute Deaconess~
HIS cute Deaconess~
...
" We think that you broke her...", the winds told him, sounding unsure, "...She might faint from embarrassment soon...?"
...
Huh...?
...
Really...?
...
...
Just from this...?
"Yes, Barbatos, just from this.", the winds told him, sounding concerned again, " You are being very touchy and flirty right now..."
...
Is that so...?
...
It seems like she just fell asleep...!
She must have been so exhausted indeed...!
...
Poor child!
*And still so cute~
"...It might not only be from exhaustion, but also from you...", the winds mumbled, before suddenly pausing, "But, yes, she is cute. She was as red as the ripest and reddest tomato! Just like you were a while ago!", they cooed, sounding overly happy, "And you both are so cute, cuddling like this! If you both blushed madly at the same time, it would have been cuteness overload~"
...
That's...!
...
Well...
...
...
If he taught her the "puppy eyes" and they both used it at the same time,
Would they be able to get away with basically anything...?
...
...
MAYBE HE SHOULD CHECK IT OUT SOMETIME!
It was ten in the morning!
As he was inside of the Grandmaster's office!
Writing a letter to his people in the Abyss expedition!
Hoping that their next letter won't be as embarrassing as the first!
*Or he might just need to install a permanent pillow fort to bury himself in!
The last one turned out quite comfortable if he says so...!
"Barbatos, you are getting off track.", the winds interrupted him, their voice unreadable, "...A little like this night, in fact..."
...
This night...?
...
For some strange reason,
He didn't quite remember what happened…!
*Did he manage to get himself dead drunk after all...?!
...
What's more, Barbara was acting weird after she woke up in the morning,
Getting embarrassed the moment she saw him and trying to look at anything but him...
...
What could have happened between them to make her have such a strange reaction...?
...
"You were acting overly touchy and flirty.", the winds informed him, before a chuckle was suddenly heard, "It was cute, but to the poor Deaconess…"
...
She must be very embarrassed now,
That explains her reaction for sure...
*So, it was similar to that time with traveler, right...?
When he unconsciously made them into his "body pillow"...?
...
"It was similar, yes. But it was a different kind of cute.", the winds admitted, before there was suddenly a pause, "...And we seem to be getting off track again."
...
...
Oh, right!
He didn't notice!
*Was it an effect from yesterday...?
...
...
He was currently writing a letter for those in the Abyss expedition,
And before getting distracted, also wondering on how he should repay them and the others...
*With a reward only he should be able to give...!
...
Anemo Crystalflies were out of the question,
There were already enough of them all over the city and inside the Cathedral.
*For some reason people didn't want to get rid of them or catch them for their cores...
...
Then, there was the "blessing", like the one he infused master Diluc's claymore with.
*If he goes with it, there would be a danger of those weapons being lost or stolen...
...
And that time he temporarily linked some of the winds to Kaeya.
*The link broke due to him being in "Limbo". He wasn't aware it worked like that...
...
"We will accept any decision you choose, Barbatos...", the winds told him, sounding deadly serious, "...As long as most of us can stay with you."
...
Oh, then...
...
They won't mind if he linked some of them to his people...?
...
It would help, greatly,
Especially to those who were in the Abyss ri...
"Yes, Barbatos, we don't mind it.", the winds reassured him, interrupting his thoughts, "We don't mind, as long as you don't leave yourself unprotected."
...
Then, to "transfer" them to those in the Abyss,
The winds could "hitch a ride" inside of the letter's envelope...!
...
It would definitely be cramped, though.
Were they really okay with this...?
"Yes, Barbatos, we are.", the winds reassured him, sighing deeply this time, "We can endure this much, in order to repay your people for saving you.", they truthfully admitted, "...On the condition that no more than two of us can be linked to each one of them."
...
"No more than two "...?
Even though there were thousand of them.
*So, they were concerned for him that much...
...
Two it is, then,
And no more than that!
...
He already promised to be more careful,
Leaving himself with "the short end of the stick" would violate it...
*And would make everyone fearful for his life. Again.
He already hurt them all more than eno...
-Venti, are you feeling alright...? -A concerned voice interrupted his thoughts, as Jean was leaning before him, a worried expression on her face. -...Are there any complications due to...Well, yesterday...?
She asked in a fearful voice,
Wondering if they rushed it too much...
...
They were just able to save him from "Limbo",
And yet they let him drink and then even hosted a party...
...
What if there was something wrong with his body because of it...?
What if he wasn't able to fully "heal" and was going to suddenly collapse...?
...
...
It was hard enough to save him the first time,
A second time, no matter how hard they try, might be...
-I am okay, Jean! I am fine! There is no need to worry for me! I am just thinking deeply of something, that's all! -Venti reassuringly said, as he interrupted her horrified thoughts. -In fact, even since being "awoken", I feel a lot better. I feel stronger, thanks to your FAITH. -He gratefully admitted, smiling warmly at her now. -... Do you remember my song from yesterday...? That's what I have been thinking deeply about! How to repay you all for everything you did for me.
Truthfully, even if he linked some of the winds to his people,
And also infused their weapons with "blessings"...
…
Would this really be enough to repay them...?
-Lord Barbatos! Venti! You don't need to do that! There is nothing for you to repay! -Jean said, looking and sounding frantic, as if horrified by the mere thought that he planned to repay them. -We did what we had to, as Mondstadt's citizens to it's Archon! It was our choice to save you and...!
- And it's my choice to repay you, because I feel grateful. -He interrupted her, still smiling warmly and making her pause. - Whatever it's something you "had to do" or not, you still saved me. Again and again. Even at the expense of your own health. -He explained, sadly remembering how exhausted everyone looked when he "awoke" and how the traveler even fainted. - You did more than enough and I am truly thankful for it. - He gratefully said, before suddenly smiling mischievously. - I am simply showing my appreciation, in return for your overwhelming kindness~ That's all there is to it, you don't need to overthink and accept it as is~
He sing-sang before almost laughing at his Dandelion's shocked expression,
She didn't expect that kind of answer from him, did she...?
...
She was adamant on refusing his act of appreciation,
Just like her younger sister, thinking she was undeserving of it.
*Moments like these made him realize that it would be better if he wasn't a god,
That it would be easier for him to connect with people if not for his "position"...
...
Maybe it was the real reason he liked living as "Venti"...
...
Not to "remember his friend by" like he decided so long ago,
But as an easier way for him to make friends and to get close to others...
...
...
He got quite selfish over the years...
...
" That's not true, Barbatos and you know it! Wanting to be close to others is not being selfish!", the winds reprimanded him, sounding slightly mad, "It's simply wanting their company. It's not wanting to be lonely!"
...
So it was fine...?
...
It was fine to live for himself,
And not just as a remembrance of his friend...?
*Using his friend's form as a way to become close to people...
...
But he already was both "Venti" and "Barbatos",
Even though he didn't quite remember when it happened.
*And as "Venti", was he even acting like his deceased friend...?
He mimicked his behavior at the start, but after a while,
Didn't he become his own person instead...?
...
"You did, Barbatos. You might look the same, except for your eye and hair coloring, as well as your clothes. But from what we saw of your friend back then, you are vastly different.", the winds started, sounding both thoughtful and reassuring, "...Excluding your memory and knowledge. Your behavior, mannerisms, likes and dislikes. They are different as well.", there was a pause and then suddenly an amused chuckle, "...And your friend didn't hate cheese, drowned himself in Dandelion wine and had an allergy to cats! Nor did he pull pranks on others, was called a "winged menace" and managed to make the huge commotion you did in nearly a month and a half!"
...
Okay! Okay! He got it!
He was different from his friend!
...
He wasn't stealing the life his friend could have had,
He was living a life of his own, separate from him...
*Would they have been twins, were he still alive...?
...
...
And Jean was looking towards him in concern, again.
*As if something bad happened to him, just because he became quiet...
...
He wondered for how long it would stay like this,
Probably for a while, since this month and a half...
*He should really take better care of himself now.
-Jean, I am okay! I am fine, truly. -He couldn't stop himself from saying, as he tried not to sigh. -I know that you are worried and I also know why. But, nothing bad is going to happen to me just because I pause to think deeply or "daydream". I am not going to suddenly collapse and die. -Like that time with him in "Limbo" probably was...Which explained why she was so scared. -And since I am stronger now, thanks to everyone's Faith, even if I make a bunch of "Sigils of Permission" (Which I am planning to make and send with the letter to the Abyss expedition members)...-He explained, noting that her expression didn't change for the better and even got worse after his last sentence. -... I won't collapse from exhaustion like last time! Especially not when I am already planning to have everyone meet up before the statue, so I could address some matters, including how to repay you all...- To think he would need to explain all of this...Just how deeply did he hurt everyone...? -...So, please...Stop making that heartbroken expression...- He couldn't help but plead, feeling guilty again, the guilt gnawing on him. -...It makes me feel like I am no better than Decarabian was...