Breeze After the Rain

by puffles 44

It's Venti's birthday, and he hasn't seen his favorite person since the events of the Chasm. A reunion, a talk, and emotions running high. Is Venti's wish too much to ask? Xiaoven Fanfic.

2. Chapter 2

A/N: Aaaaahhhh, it's finally done!
I'm sorry it took so long to finish this fic ? but also thank for your patience. I hope that my dropping a bomb would make up for my absence. I am finally free from heavy angst! I do hope you enjoy~ Now for some reminders and acknowledgements: This chapter has flashbacks in between, so if you see that the section is in italics, then it's most likely a flashback. I sure hope that you guys kept the tissues I handed out last time, since you might need them again. Here are some eye drops since this chapter is quite long. Some themes in here are a bit heavier than my usual fare, so again please exercise caution. Oh, please pardon me if there are grammatical/spelling mistakes. I'd like to greet my friend Fei a Happy Birthday! I hope this chapter finds you well, and that may you be showered with many, many more blessings to come!? I also want to give a big Thank You to RatchetRachel for sacrificing her sleep and her eyes for this monstrosity of a chapter. ?

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Liyue… he didn't think he'd find himself there, sitting on the Liyuen soil that evening.

Venti raised his head and took a deep breath, savoring all the night had to offer him. Tonight, the moon did not shy away from its onlookers and continued to treat them with its ethereal glow. The gentle scent of Glaze Lilies, wafted down the slopes of Mt. Tianheng and Yujing Terrace, treating him to a surprise. The grass around him tickled his hands and sides, swaying in tune of his mellow humming.

He perked up and whipped his head toward the sound of footsteps and rustling grass.

"Ah, Morax, you're finally here."

He waved at his old friend with enthusiasm.

"Sure took your sweet time, huh?"

He chuckled and beckoned him to sit beside him, but the older man chose to remain standing.

"Ah yes, says the bard who fled with no warning," Zhongli said, crossing his arms.

"Now, now, I didn't flee," the bard denied, scoffing. "You make it sound as if I didn't take a liking to your tea—which I liked, by the way."

Venti paused as the person on his lap groaned and turned to his side. Xiao's hand landed on top of his and held onto it.

"I just had something urgent to attend to," he continued nonchalantly, unable to hide the smile in his voice. "As you can see."

Zhongli didn't wince at the state that the Yaksha was in. He didn't look as worried as Venti imagined him to be. He looked… contemplative at best with his hand cupping his chin and his brows furrowed slightly.

It was a stark contrast to Venti's own reaction upon finding Xiao unconscious on the ground—running around like a headless chicken. He called out his name as he fumbled around, unsure which part he should tend to first. The wounds on his face and arms? Or were there more on his legs and waist?

He had to cradle his beloved in his arms first for a long while before patching up whatever wounds he could find.

Then again, Morax's reaction might not be as odd as he made it out to be, now that he thought about it. Surely, He must've already seen him in this state earlier—battered and bruised.

But he can't help wondering what face the old man had when he first saw Xiao, just as he emerged from the Chasm depths. Was worry more defined in his features than it did now? Did he have the urge to go to him then, but had to rein himself in?

Weeell, he was talking about a man who embodied the very definition of 'composure' after all. Perhaps his reaction wasn't as different as the one he had at present, and had no trouble walking away—assured that he had friends to help him out.

Venti played with Xiao's bangs with his free hand. "I really wish he learned how to lighten up as quickly as you did, Morax."

His muttering broke Zhongli's concentration, and he chuckled in response.

"Are you sure, Barbatos?" He asked, finally kneeling to have a better look at the fallen Adeptus. "It took me millennia to be well-acquainted with leisure."

Venti watched, keeping his hand out of the way, as Zhongli inspected his handiwork with the bandages, and frowned when the older man seemed to be unsatisfied with his work on the arm wounds.

"And one pretty boy from Snezhnaya who spoils you rotten to embrace it, I'm sure," the bard added under his breath.

The funeral parlor consultant raised an eyebrow and shot him a look in his direction. The bard knew well not to repeat his statement (unless he wanted to be turned into one of Wangsheng's clients).

"Nothing," Venti said as he properly tucked in strands of Xiao's bangs that he messed up earlier. "I was just complimenting your taste in men."

That comment didn't merit him a full-blown smile, but he caught the beginnings of it on the old dragon's features. He smirked, knowing that deep down, Morax was pleased to hear it all the same.

"Welp, since you're here, I must be off." Venti declared as he gently withdrew his hand from Xiao's grasp. "Outstayed my welcome and all that, hehe."

"Isn't your song more effective than my remedies?"

Zhongli asked, his question taking the bard by surprise.

Truth be told, it pained Venti to leave Xiao like this but…

Zhongli shook his head and continued before the bard could utter another word.

"He needs you, now more than ever."

Venti turned and saw how peaceful Xiao looked in his sleep on his lap. There was no denying that his presence brought comfort (and mayhaps, safety) to the Yaksha.

"Please stay by his side."

He sighed, scratching the back of his head. It wasn't often that the old coot would ask favors of him.

"Since you asked so kindly, father-dearest~" He cooed in a sickly sweet tone, beaming as he did. "I shall stay, even, if it defies poor Xiao's wishes, ehe~"

Oh, wow. Zhongli didn't like that one bit.

What happened to that stone face of his?

"Barbatos, don't make me revoke—"

"Relax, I merely jest!" Venti giggled some more, patting his good friend's shoulder.

Perhaps, there were just some jokes that simply continue to go under the blockhead's radar. He looked at said blockhead's direction, who seemed to have stood a good distance away from him. A shiver ran down his spine.

"Hey… you didn't honestly believe that I'll go around earnestly calling you 'father-dearest' for all of Liyue to hear, did you?"

The two eldest of the Seven shared a look between them, sweat trickling down their temples. Venti broke eye contact first and laughed nervously as he readied himself to lift Xiao up.

"No," Zhongli confirmed after clearing his throat. "I didn't."

An unspoken contract had been formed that night. They were never to speak of the incident ever again.

"Good, hehe, good…"

A grunt from his charge brought Venti's attention back to him.

They better get a move on.

He was getting himself and Xiao off the ground when a burst of light blinded him.

An Adeptus Gate stood in front of them. The arch was made of Mora, and a sheet of gold and Cor Lapis swirled inside it.

He wouldn't put past Morax to create such a grandiose display with his powers, but whether or not this was the time and place to create such displays was…

Venti chose to hold his tongue, not daring to question the ways of the Adepti. At least for his mausebär's sake. [4]

He brought his mausebär closer to his ear to whisper sweet nothings to calm him. He would've preferred smoothing out the angry creases on Xiao's forehead, but his hands were full at the moment.

He took one last good look at the gate and sighed.

If Childe could use Mora as a catalyst, then only Celestia knew how else Morax—the creator of Mora itself—could wield it. [5]

"Please tell me that Childe didn't help fund this." Venti flashed his blockheaded friend a crooked smile before brisk-walking his way into the unknown.

He didn't need an answer, but he did hope that the people of Liyue are just as blind as the people of Mond when it comes to recognizing their Archon.

Zhongli tailed him.

There were no floating islands nor branching silken bridges in the domain—only a dirt road dissecting the sea of golden wheat.

Venti didn't have the time to stand and bask in the tranquility of the space. Rather, he grumbled at the fact he had to traverse the length of this transitory space as Xiao grew restless in his arms. Couldn't Morax have made a direct portal instead?

The Anemo Archon gritted his teeth. His beloved's nightmares were starting.

Phasing through the end portal, the view of the Marsh under the ever-full moon welcomed him.

Wangshu Inn.

The sight disoriented him, at first, since he expected the portal to lead them right into Zhongli's home. He shot a look at the consultant, who was busy dematerializing the gate and avoiding eye contact. Heh, someone's pushing his fatherly duties into him.

On second thought, it made sense. The location matched the request, and it may be for the best. It was his pleasure to care for their silly Yaksha, and Wangshu Inn was a safe haven.

The lanterns swayed as a light breeze came passing through.

The reception was empty. Not even Wei was around to snooze atop the countertop.

Venti checked in on said silly Yaksha, and smiled. His words got through and were enough to soothe. He readjusted his hold on his big baby. The poor thing must be beyond exhausted to miss all of the ruckus around him.

His plan to give Xiao a peck was thwarted by a boot tapping on the floorboards.

His eyes sought out the killjoy of a consultant. Zhongli cleared his throat; he was already standing by the foot of the stairs going up.

Venti pursed his lips and quickly nosed Xiao's hair before making haste—this time, taking care of not jostling his beloved around.

They met Huai'an along the way. Deeply concerned, the innkeeper offered his help. Venti quickly thanked him with an apologetic smile, but declined with a shake of his head.

Xiao was leaking miasma from his wounds. They weren't closing at the usual rate. Both former archons knew that exposing humans to it for too long would cause them to fall ill.

They'll need to keep the Yaksha in his Adeptus Abode for the meantime.

Zhongli dealt with the preparations as Venti laid Xiao on his bed.

The younger Adeptus groaned as they did so. He started to mumble and moan in his sleep in the short time Venti left his side to unlock his Abode. [6]

"Hey there, Ming-Ming!" Venti called out, waving slightly, when he spotted the top of a familiar-looking head peeking by one of the windows of the room. "Come out, I can see you, you know!"

The little ghost girl was startled but tentatively let herself inside when Venti beckoned over with a smile.

"What happened to big brother Xiao?" She asked, upon seeing the Yaksha on the bed, sweating with knitted brows. She looked close to tears. "Will… will he be alright?"

Venti gasped, covering his mouth with both hands and leaning away from the little girl.

"Could it be? You think that your big brother is deathly ill and he won't get past this?"

"Ventiiii! Dusky Ming is serious!"

Venti chuckled and ruffled her hair as he moved to wipe away her tears.

"Now, now, you know that I was only joking."

Dusky Ming swatted his hand away, forcefully wiping the tears away herself. She's a sweet and strong child.

"Big brother Xiao just had a rough time these past few days," he answered more seriously. "Big brother Venti will nurse him back to health, and the three of us will be playing before you know it."

The bard held out his pinky.

"Promise."

Dusky Ming sniffed, glaring at him for a good minute before presenting her own. The bard hooked their pinkies together and sang out their promise.

As a final gift before sending her away, Venti plucked Cecilia out of thin air and placed it on the curve of her ear. Dusky Ming scrambled to catch it, but to her surprise and great delight, the flower stayed on and didn't slip right through her.

With one last hair tousling, Venti followed Zhongli into Xiao's Abode.

—○ ● ○ ◇◇◇ ○ ● ○ —

From the wilderness of Mond to their quaint lodging in Liyue, the scenery changed from a blink of an eye.

Quaint as it may be, the view from there had always been breathtaking—the kind that never fails to make one pause.

It was a common sight to the Inn owners, the long-time guests, and those who lived there, but one can't deny that there were still moments when the scenery can catch and gobble you right up. The world was ever-changing after all.

"My, aren't we out of place?" Venti said, chuckling, taking it all in. Oh, how he missed it! "No clouds of whites and grays—not a speck, not a trace!—or the telltale signs of incoming rain!"

With a contented sigh, Venti looked over his shoulder. His smile had waned and disappeared into a thin line.

No luck.

Wordless and motionless, Xiao looked more like a weathered statue of the fierce yet gentle Yaksha that he knew and loved than the real article himself.

With a shake of his head and a few hard taps on his cheeks, Venti's smile was back up again. He couldn't let the first thing that Xiao saw—upon coming back to his senses—be a frown!

He threw open one more set of window shutters, letting the sun and the wind in. Being stuck in a stuffy room is the last thing that they needed.

The bed and the furniture looked untouched, impeccable even. Venti felt the tiny twinge of guilt, seeing the mess they made.

Water pooled in small puddles on the floorboards, the biggest of which was where the owner of the room stood.

They really were out of place, weren't they? Two wet chicks, standing in the middle of a sunny, warm place.

Well, he could do something about that, couldn't he?

It'd be just like last time. Minus the injuries… and the soaked clothing, of course.

The bard started with the easier items, removing his beloved's necklace, his gloves, his shoulder plate and censers, his thigh straps and boots.

It didn't take long to run out of paraphernalia to remove.

Pliant as he was, Xiao still hadn't made a peep, and his eyes remained unseeing.

It was hard to keep up a smile when there was little to smile about, when he could no longer ignore the cracks, when he knew that he could've prevented all this.

Venti reached for his brethren's gift to his beloved and lifted it off of the Adeptus' head.

Windwheel Asters—blessed by the Wind that they turn in the lightest of whispers—and Dandelion flowers were the stars of this arrangement. A variety of small, white, pink, and lavender wildflowers were sewn in between, and into the grass that held it all together.

The little ones were so talented; their craftsmanship rivaled Flora's handiwork. Not to mention, Xiao looked absolutely gorgeous—radiant—while wearing it. His liebling's smile made his heart sing; his huffs of amusement and chuckling made his heart laugh with him.

Their little quips, their little spats, and oh their little dance! Those were everything he could've asked for, and more.

He paused.

A crack, something splintered inside.

He knew it was real; they all happened. But…

Venti put down the flower crown onto the desk. He had towels to fetch.

Why does it all seem like it was all but a pleasant dream now?

He bit his lip and clenched his fists. He should've kept his mouth shut.

It's true.

Xiao had always been honest with him, and Venti knew that this was a matter important to the Yaksha. He wanted to repay that honesty with his own.

"Just for a brief moment, I had a taste of it myself—that Karmic Debt of yours."

But, there was always a time and place for everything. It was too late when he realized that he made a mistake. He was a disgrace to his profession, to err at the manner and opportunity of delivering a confession.

He bit back a sigh. Despite Venti's efforts of toweling off all the rainwater from Xiao's hair, his lover remained unresponsive.

He cupped his silly Yaksha's face and pecked a kiss at the corner of his lip. He whispered an apology as he pressed their foreheads together.

"I'm sorry," he repeated with closed eyes.

But who could truly blame him? Barbatos was never known for his impeccable timing.

—○ ● ○ ◇◇◇ ○ ● ○ —

Dark…

Xiao's eyes fluttered open. He could hear a fish plopping back into the water, and the whispers of the wind through the swaying bamboo. There was no harsh sunlight to blind him—only the soft glow of nearby plants, Small Lampgrass and Night Flowers [7], served to greet him.

He sat up, languid as he rubbed sleep from his eyes.

He was in his abode, this much, he knew. The realization didn't alarm him as much as he thought it would.

Pillows, mats, linen and blankets surrounded him, some even draped over him. The assemblage vaguely reminded him of a fort…

No, a nest… much more like a nest.

He shook his head furiously, and with it the ridiculous thought.

An elevated wooden tray to his right caught his eye. On it were a pitcher of water, a cup, and a wooden box, which piqued his interest. Lifting the lid, he was met with two meticulously prepared Lotus Flower Crisps. Of the original three, only two remained. Crumbs were all that was left of the third piece.

He huffed, refusing to acknowledge his amusement with the thief's antics, and took one out for himself. They still felt warm to the touch.

The Adeptus ate the treat in two bites, and the last one met a similar fate. He put a hand on his stomach upon hearing its loud protest. Heat surged to his face, and the immediate thought of requesting for Almond Tofu only embarrassed him further. He helped himself with a cup of water to wash the shame away hydrate himself.

If Venti were here, he was sure to encourage him to eat more, whilst teasing him for eating only sweets to appease his hunger.

He felt around his torso and sure enough, he found no traces of shredded fabric. A quick inspection ascertained that his wounds have also been mended—only a patch of gauze remained on the side of his face.

He closed his eyes and shook his head once more in hopes of dispelling the vivid scenarios his imagination was conjuring, and the heat that continued to burn inside him.

Besides, he had idled for far too long.

•○●○• ◇ •○●○•

Apples, Ceclias, and Petrichor were the only things that filled Xiao's mind. Some fainter than others, some stronger than others, the scents that clung to the sheets in his arms soothed his mind.

He could have left the used linen and dishes in his room for the Inn's attendants to take care of, but he found some fulfillment in helping out with clearing out his own messes. It was also a 'show of gratitude and appreciation' to those around him. [8]

Descending down the stairs to the kitchen, he heard a very familiar voice.

The tone of his [master's]—no, Zhongli's voice was unmistakable.

It glued the Yaksha in place, disabling him from taking even a step further.

He wasn't expecting him here.

Had the Prime Adeptus merely sensed his awakening? Or, had the Yaksha been out of commission far too long—to a worrying degree—that Zhongli himself had to check up on him?

A new wave of shame washed over him, prompting him to bury his face into the ball of linen in his arms. His mind swam with self-reproach until the sound of a stool's feet being dragged across the floor reached his ears.

A tentative glance confirmed that Zhongli-daren was headed his way.

This was ridiculous.

Why did Xiao feel compelled to shy away akin to a child who had done a misdeed worth hiding?

The sound of footsteps ceased at the step right below his own, and could feel Zhongli's intent gaze on him.

Where were his manners? Rather than stay frozen, he should at least greet him. It was common courtesy.

"Good Af—"

"Let me lend you a hand, Xiao."

They both blinked in surprise.

"Good Afternoon to you too, my boy." Zhongli was the first to recover, and took on the ball of linen for himself and patted Xiao's head. "I take it that you had a good rest?"

Before Xiao could begin to process what just happened, the older man had run down the stairs, asking the cook as to where he was to place it.

The Yaksha then hurried to the sink to put down the used dishes, wishing that Zhongli wouldn't sense or have had the chance to glimpse his growing embarrassment. He was grateful that Yanxiao kept his opinions to himself. The cook patted his shoulder with a smile.

Xiao took a calming breath, squared his shoulders, and took a step towards Zhongli who waited for him by the foot of the stairs.

There was no need to feel so tense. He blamed the resurgence of racing thoughts on the bard who had infected him with his brand of overthinking.

This visit was not unaccounted for.

Former General Alatus took it upon himself to go on a mission to explore the innermost depths of the Chasm despite his master's attempt at dissuasion. He did it to uphold his duty—his promise to the others to know their fate—and to satisfy his own desires. To some degree, he recognizes that it was an act of selfishness.

But he cannot deny the satisfaction and peace of 'knowing' brought him.

It was only natural for Rex Lapis to expect a concluding report from him after the whole ordeal.

And… as part of Zhongli's family, it would only be natural for him to inquire of his health.

"Would you mind accompanying me for a meal?"

Xiao blinked, then turned his attention to the spread of food on the table. There was a plate of Almond Tofu, yes, but on the table were two baskets of dim sum, two vegetable dishes and three varieties of soup.

He nodded almost absently as he was led to the seat far from where the Almond Tofu was. In fact, it was nearer to where Zhongli sat than the seat being offered to him.

"I apologize for withholding your prized dessert for the time being, but I believe that it is necessary to employ measures that have you eat something with more…" The older Adeptus cleared his throat. "...substance."

"I—" Xiao immediately took his eyes off the Almond Tofu and bowed when his stomach made an unflattering sound.

"Perhaps, I was mistaken?" Zhongli's amusement shone through Cor Lapis eyes as his chuckles spilled freely. "And I needn't coerce the good chef into this scheme of mine?"

"I humbly accept," came Xiao's murmur-like reply. His eyes still on the ground below and heat on his face refusing to leave. It even reached all the way up to his ears.

He could still hear the elder Adeptus' chuckling as he served him the white-colored dumplings (Crystal Shrimp, was it?). Zhongli did it with such relish and contentment that he found it… endearing.

Indeed, how could he refuse Zhongli when he seemed to be enjoying his company?

"Not at all, mi—Zhongli-daren. Your suspicions are correct," Xiao admitted as he regained his composure, whilst gratefully receiving a bowl of clear soup with thinly shredded ingredients. "I would have requested nothing but a bowl of Almond Tofu before resuming my duties. And, to answer your question earlier, yes, I am fully rested."

His assurances were not assuring at all, judging from the Zhongli's concern was etched on his features.

The older man put down the serving utensils to look him in the eye, his arms folded neatly onto the table.

"I am not here to impose my understanding with your body's needs, as you are and will be most familiar with it," the elder Adeptus began. "But I urge you to please listen to it more closely. Some creeks are quieter than most."

The Yaksha straightened his posture and bowed to show his respect. "Thank you for your advice. I will be more mindful next time."

"Good, now raise your head," Zhongli said. "We shouldn't let the food grow cold."

The older man resumed piling both of their sides with food while asking Xiao for more details with regards to his health. The Yaksha felt more at ease as they talked—the weight of his unattended duties was disregarded within this moment.

Once satisfied with the division of food, the two say their graces in silence. Once Xiao was done with his, instead of focusing on his meal, he turned his attention to his companion

He couldn't explain it, but he felt as though a burden had been lifted off Zhongli's shoulders too as they conversed, and it made him happy knowing that.

"I'm glad to be having this meal with you."

The words came out before he could process them.

Zhongli blinked, the Full Moon Egg still suspended in the air by his chopsticks, must have felt the same surprise as him.

Yet, he didn't feel the need to scramble and make excuses for it was a genuine sentiment on his part.

A small smile spread on his elder's lips—no, his kin's lips—and he found himself reflecting it too.

A shared moment of warmth between two Adepti kin.

Zhongli put down his food and reached one hand from across the table to grab onto his. "I, too, feel blessed to share this meal with you, Xiao."

With one quick squeeze, his kin withdrew and proceeded with his meal.

Xiao basked in that feeling for a little longer before puzzling over which dish to sample first. It was almost overwhelming for someone whose food staple consisted of mainly three (now, four… no, five. He should give up on counting at this point [9]) dishes up till then.

A glance at Zhongli confirmed that he too was interested in Xiao's first choice in the matter. Rather than be pressured, Xiao saw the situation for what it was.

It was an opportunity to learn more about each other and each others' preferences. The prospect excited the Yaksha and allowed him to relax more into the meal.

He quickly took note of the contents of Zhongli's meal—a couple pieces of Full Moon Egg, a bowl of soup and a pile of each vegetable dish, one pile higher than the other—as he made his own choice to test a familiar dish: Crystal Shrimp.

When inquired of what he thought of it, Xiao gave him his honest opinion.

"Some time ago, Lumine introduced a chef from the Harbor and had me sample a set meal," Xiao explained. "Part of the set was Crystal Shrimp, but unlike hers, this had been seasoned more lightly. It's also good since doing so highlighted the freshness of the shrimp used in the dish more."

"Ah, Xiangling. She's a force to be reckoned with in the kitchen." Zhongli chuckled. "She is quite the character, and her dishes speak for themselves. She's a champion, spearheading a food revolution in both Li and Yue cuisines."

"A food revolution, huh?" Xiao mused with a huff.

"Why not try the Stone Harbor Delicacies next?" Zhongli suggested.

He cast his eyes to the heap of vegetables beside the Crystal Shrimp in his plate. He glanced up, and felt Zhongli's palpable excitement. He looked back down and tried not to make a face when he recognized the Violetgrass under the brown glaze. To him, it looked peculiar—suspect—but if Zhongli had recommended it next, then… it was worth a taste.

He took a little bit of everything into his chopsticks and ate it in one bite.

"It's good," Xiao commented, blinking rapidly. He picked a few more pieces for another round. "The Matsutake isn't too overpowering, unlike I expected. And I could still taste the fragrance of the Violetgrass."

"And the saltiness of the soy sauce and sweetness from the oyster sauce only served to compliment—harmonize—the three main actors in the dish." Zhongli added, nodding along as he brought another bite to his mouth.

To Xiao, the older man's smile only grew more radiant. He found himself smiling too as he ate more of the food.

It was nice; bonding with Zhongli was nice.

Eating felt as though he was nourishing not only his flesh but his spirits too. His heart was also getting its fill of gladness.

He simply didn't expect to be bonding over food, of all things.

Then, as if to prove him wrong, memories of him and Venti in their various picnic grounds break time sessions resurfaced in his mind's eye. He swallowed the last of the vegetables on his plate (and with it, his previous statement about bonding over meals.)

Meal times were especially great for creating and strengthening bonds.

"Now then," Zhongli called as he wiped his mouth with a napkin. "Tell me, have you heard of the tale of how to make 'Stone Soup'?"

Xiao shook his head. "I have not heard of such a tale."

Before him, a bowl of soup with finely shredded ingredients swirled in tranquility. Its constant, fluid motions almost drew him into a trance. The only thing that prevented him from being sucked into said trance was Zhongli's own lecture about to take place.

"Oh, not even that wily bard has brought it up?"

Another shake of the head. Stone soup? He couldn't fathom how any human would want a dish that tasted distinctly of stone.

Xiao attempted to pick up the shredded pieces, only to have them break by mere touch of his chopstick's tip. He had to commend the outstanding knife work that was responsible for this mesmerizing dish.

The spoon did the trick; it disrupted the gentle swirl of ingredients as he dipped into it.

"A shame, it is said to be the most delicious soup to have ever been made."

Xiao almost snorted the thinly sliced tofu out of his nose. Almost.

He shouldn't cast doubt on Zhongli's words. Rex Lapis' knowledge exceeded all that walked on Teyvat's soil.

Yet, he still failed to comprehend how mere mortals would appreciate the taste of stone in their soup, and declare it to be the best there was.

"How so?" Xiao asked as he brought another spoonful of this soup to his mouth to savor it properly this time.

The soup had a certain depth to it. There was strength in its carefully maintained lightness, making it a refreshing meal. However, the flavors were still too strong from him, and he had to place it farther away from his side of the table.

"It contained a secret ingredient." Ever attentive, Zhongli served him the next type of soup for him to enjoy in its place. "You have had Jewelry Soup before, yes?"

Xiao nodded, remembering once more that energetic chef Marchosius—or, what's left of him—had been following around and the meal she served him.

He took his first taste of Yanxiao's version, and yes, it was very similar to hers. But found this version more to his liking.

"Do you mean the stone?" Xiao asked.

"The secret ingredient is indeed a chunk of stone." Zhongli took a new napkin and tidied Xiao's cheek; the Yaksha gave up on bristling under his kin's attention and focused on the topic at hand.

"Did the stone truly add that much flavor to the soup?"

"That depends on who you ask. To each, his own, as they say." There was a twinkle in Zhongli's Cor Lapis eyes. "But one thing was certain, all who tasted the Stone Soup felt immensely satisfied."

Intrigued, Xiao kept his silence as he worked his way to finish his share of Jewelry Soup, which prompted the elder Adeptus to begin his tale.

"Once, there was a pair of hungry travelers that came upon a prosperous village. The travelers knocked at the doors of each house, asking if they had food to spare. The answer would vary from door to door.

"'We don't care'

"'We don't want to share.'

"'We don't have any to spare'

"Our poor traveler friends heard the old phrases over and over right up to the last house in the village."

By the time Xiao finished his soup, he wondered why he was being told this absurd tale.

"Our poor traveler friends were not so discouraged to simply give up. They built a fire right outside the village's outskirts and decided to make their 'magical soup' to share with everyone.

"Up, they climbed the village well and called the villagers' attention.

"'If anyone had a big black pot, we, master cooks, will make the most delicious soup anyone's ever tasted!'

"A door opened wide and out came a man holding a gigantic pot for the travelers to use.

"'I love to eat,' said the man. 'I'd love to taste what two master cooks can whip up from it.'"

Zhongli took a long sip of his tea before pressing forward with his tale.

"The travelers filled the pot with water and heated it atop of the fire. Soon white smoke wafted in the air and the villagers came pouring out. Someone from the crowd asked what they were making.

"'We're making a most unusual soup,' said one of the Travelers and dropped an ordinary stone into the pot. "Stone Soup! And we think that we'll find that little something that can make it a whole lot tastier in this here village!'

"'Now, if only we had a carrot…' trailed the other Traveler. "But where will we find one? Everywhere we asked, there was none?'

"Both Travelers looked at each other with sadness in their eyes then back to their audience.

"'But perhaps, we can't make the soup after all.'"

The more Xiao listened, the more he was confused. Questions buzzed in his mind, yet, he couldn't find himself airing them out.

He knew he would be asking all the wrong questions—that he's missing some vital clue. Zhongli continued with his tale, with or without regard for the Yaksha's brewing thoughts.

"A young girl came forward and offered a carrot. The Travelers rejoiced and asked if someone had a potato. A man from the back of the crowd handed his, and soon all the villagers found something in their possession to add to the concoction—an onion, some garlic cloves, a piece of ham, and someone even brought loaves.

"The pot simmered and produced a lovely smell as more and more ingredients were added in. The villagers began setting up their tables, bowls and utensils—for a feast is on its way!

"And, at long last, the Stone Soup had finished stewing away. One by one, the bowls were filled, and soon everyone had a taste of the mysterious dish.

"Everyone cheered and marvelled at the flavorful soup born from a stone!

"The Travelers left the village with a reminder, saying: 'if anyone wants to make some Stone Soup, all they have to remember is the recipe'."

The tale came to an end. Zhongli thanked him for listening and asked him for his thoughts.

Xiao opened his mouth to answer, and closed it once more as he was unsure what to say.

The meaning of the story eluded him and the points for reflection remained unclear. To show his attentiveness, he went on to ask the questions he had been meaning to keep to himself.

"Why," Xiao started. "Why did the villagers have a sudden change of heart?"

"It is not a change of heart, per se," Zhongli answered and stroked his chin, "but a change in interest. You yourself became curious about the veracity of the claims made on the Stone Soup, were you not?"

Xiao blinked, seeing the truth in the statement. He asked another question upon seeing the older man's satisfaction in expressing his interest.

"Why didn't the villagers realize that they were being tricked?"

"One's belief in an experience can be suspended, should the right conditions be met. And in this scenario, those conditions have been met," the elder Adeptus explained. "Their motivations have shifted from suspicion into that of excitement and of competition. They have reached a point where there is no room for doubt, yet plenty for faith."

The gleam in his eyes didn't escape Xiao's vigilance. There was something to glean from this answer that he couldn't point his finger to at the moment.

"Then why didn't they chase the travelers away if they were being a nuisance in the first place?"

"Based on the villagers' reactions to the hungry travelers knocking on their doors, these villagers are the type to exert the least effort on matters out of their concern." The older man replied slowly, as though considering his words with utmost care. "This is but a humble guess, but I believe that the villagers would rather focus their attention toward something they find more meaningful than unwanted visitors."

Xiao nodded. The reasoning is sound.

"Why did you share this tale with me?" Xiao asked as his final question.

"We are both enjoying soup as a part of our meal, are we not?" Zhongli asked back, without missing a beat. He tousled Xiao's hair with a sliver of a smile. "That's all that there is to it."

Was it? Xiao was not convinced and was ready to challenge it. But judging by the elder Adeptus' demeanor, he would say not a word more about the topic.

Smiley Yanxiao came to his side, with as much stealth expected of a former crook, bearing a fresh batch of Almond Tofu.

The sight of it made Xiao feel fuller than he was, but he wasn't wasteful, nor was he ungrateful.

He ate it, one spoonful at a time.

It was not as sweet, and less of a treat as he remembered it to be.

Zhongli was a step short at beaming at him as he ate.

He gulped down the last of the 'treat' and carefully placed the dishes onto the table.

In the end, Xiao was still a mere child in Morax's eyes.

•○●○• ◇ •○●○•

The sun blazed overhead, yet neither men were fazed by its heat.

"In his final moments, Marshal Vritras regained his memories and his sense of self. His final sacrifice, the monster activity from Khenri'ah was subdued, allowing for peace to prosper in the land."

The Vigilant Yaksha remained in his position with one knee planted onto the wooden floorboards, and his head bowed behind Rex Lapis.

This would be his final report on the matter—the final time he would relate the fate of one of his brethren to his Lord.

Should he feel relief? A sense of accomplishment? Grief and loss? Is 'should' even the correct term for when asking about one's feelings?

"Did he—?" Rex Lapis asked, pulling him out of his thoughts. "Did Bosacius seem to have… regrets before his passing?"

Regrets?

"I had glimpses of his memory as I ascended to the surface." Xiao closed his eyes, and remembered with clarity the moments the marshal held close to his heart. Despite the madness that consumed him. "With those fragments, I believe that he found peace in knowing that he had fulfilled his contract to Rex Lapis in the end."

"Is that so?" The Lord of Geo asked, gentle with his words—proding, coaxing Xiao to remember more.

"Yes, but there is one other thing. Bosacius… he…" Xiao clenched his fist as a past ache bloomed in his bosom. Yet, he refused to shed any tears and let his voice waver. "He called out for Menogias… for me… for us, his brothers and sisters. This is merely speculation, but if I may speak my opinion. I believe that he may have wanted to see us one last time—for us to see him strong and triumphant—before the inevitable came for him."

"I see, may Bosacius finally rest in knowing that his deeds saved all of Liyue. I wish for his soul to know and find peace."

Xiao silently sent his wishes for the Wind to carry to wherever Bosacius may be. There was nothing more he could do for him. The things he learned from the Chasm were all but shadows of a past long gone, tucked away into the deepest chambers of the land.

Heavy footsteps drew closer to him. He dared not lift his head without permission, and soon, a shadow cast over his entire form.

"Does that conclude your report?"

"Yes."

There was a sense of finality in his reply—akin to a book that had been shut closed.

Instead of being granted permission to lift his head and stand, Xiao was overwhelmed by Rex Lapis himself. His eyes grew almost as big as saucers as he lost his balance. Both of his hands were in the air, grasping at nothing, but it didn't matter since he didn't fall on his back.

Rex La—no, Zhongli stooped down to his position and trapped him into a hug.

"Xiao," Zhongli called, hugging him tighter, caressing the back of his hair. "Welcome back."

Xiao's hands slowly found their way onto the elder Adeptus' back. He began to breathe regularly (he didn't know he had been holding his breath until then), and allowed his head to lean on the taller man's shoulder.

The Yaksha recognized this exchange, and the line he was to reply with. He exchanged it dozens of times with a certain someone (although, theirs varied slightly), and he was unsure whether it was appropriate to say it to Zhongli.

Was a reply even expected of him?

"I-I'm back," Xiao whispered. His face heated up as if lit by a thousand night lamps, yet he remained steadfast and didn't look away (any more than he already was).

He was not used to being part of a family. He hoped that he didn't say anything too strange.

A hand settled heavily onto his head before it started patting him. Xiao looked up and saw Zhongli covering the lower portion of his face with a fist.

"Did Venti teach you that?" The older man asked with a chuckle.

"He let me practice."

"I was about to commend him, but it seems that it won't be necessary."

Xiao snorted and he turned his head away. It was rare for Zhongli to show his approval of the bard's actions without a snide remark.

"Just as Bosacius considers you as his family, one of his brothers, I consider you as my own." Zhongli touched the gauze still on Xiao's cheek. The younger Adeptus nodded, and the older man took it off. The spot was fully healed. "It is my responsibility to keep you safe. I, nor he, would have let you fall into the void. Remember that, Alatus."

Xiao nodded, and as he locked eyes with his kin, he was taken aback by the softness he found in them. They… they were so similar like the aqua pools that overflowed worry for him when he did a reckless stunt some time ago [10]. Liquid amber full of concern requested that he listened.

Zhongli took the opportunity to steady the Yaksha by the shoulders, so that they could see eye to eye.

"I want to make it clear: There is no debt to be paid." Zhongli spoke with as much authority as his former position, but with the gentleness of a father reasoning with his son. "I act based on my principles and my desires. You have no control over those actions, hence you bear no responsibility for the result of any actions."

Zhongli openly sighed and pulled him into another embrace.

"I didn't 'save' you; I simply wanted you safe." The elder Adeptus continued. "Do you remember what we agreed upon when I asked you to be a part of my family?"

"Family looks out for one another, and relies on one another all the same."

"That's right," Zhongli whispered and ruffled Xiao's hair. "I'm glad that you remember well."

Zhongli withdrew from the embrace and helped the younger Adeptus rise to his feet. He walked towards the balcony railing, where he studied the view that extended all around them.

Liyue was the land that brought them to life, and the land they both offered their lives to protect. One chose to lay down the mantle and live and breathe more freely—to live for himself—and the other continues to toil away for it was his own chosen expression of freedom. One was wiser in his years, and the other was still on the road, accumulating and experiencing his own brand of wisdom.

"Your life is not yours alone, Xiao. And perhaps… it may have been from the start." Zhongli said as he placed his hand on his kin's shoulder as the other remained behind his back. His eyes continued to appreciate the beauty of their homeland. Xiao watched each pat land on his shoulder as the elder Adeptus continued. "There are and will be people who will choose to be with you, and you with them. Please believe them—believe us—when we say that we are grateful that you are here with us."

The Yaksha closed his eyes and mustered the courage to reach out and enclose Zhongli's hand in his.

"I will," he whispered before staring up to the man he once saw as his savior and master. "I promise."

Zhongli turned to him and a small smile was present on his face. The traces of concern have been chiseled out of his features. He responded with a solemn nod.

"I know that there are still things that you would like to sort out, in here and in here." The older man touched his forehead and then his bosom. "Take as much time as you need to recover. Measures have been put in place of your absence [11]. There is no need for concern, or immediate return to your duty."

Xiao nodded. "Thank you… for everything."

"You're welcome." Zhongli gave him a firm nod. "And, thank you for coming to me instead of immediately heading down to the Chasm depths."

Xiao found himself smiling the ugliest of smiles, and perhaps a tear slipped out as he nodded. He wiped it with his wrist, seeing that Zhongli was more than willing to do it for him. Seeing him cry was humiliating enough.

"Don't hesitate to seek me out, yes?" Zhongli waited for his weak 'yes' before continuing. "Good. I must be going now. Director Hu must be seeing stars now with how full her hands are with managing our combined duties. Take care."

Zhongli drew closer and kissed the top of his head in one quick motion. Xiao flinched but found it not at all unpleasant. The elder Adeptus headed to the stairs, but stopped midway.

"I almost forgot, please head over to see Barbatos once you've sorted yourself out." His tone sounded… tired all of a sudden. "He must be worried sick. I'll never hear the end of it, if he suspects that I didn't endorse him during my visit."

Xiao's mouth fell agape, a familiar heat creeping up to his face and ears. He never felt the need to be buried alive as much as he did at that moment.

That Venti—

Zhongli turned and continued his journey, without commenting further as an act of courtesy. The younger Adeptus stewed over his words.

"And Xiao, one last thing."

Zhongli's voice bounced off the walls of the stairwell—his sudden almost gave Xiao a heart attack.

There was more? What else had the imp been up to during his absence?

"You may perceive my actions as… 'my contribution to the Stone Soup', so to speak." [12]

Xiao blinked, processing what he heard as the sound of footsteps faded in the background. He didn't give chase.

A small quirk of the mouth gave the illusion that he was smiling. He may not have witnessed Cor Lapis eyes twinkle with untold knowledge, but he was most certain that it did as he spoke those words.

—○ ● ○ ◇◇◇ ○ ● ○ —

"Show me."

Xiao shot up from his seat and headed towards a petrified Venti. He nearly stepped on the bard's discarded cape. He pulled the bard towards him by the waist until Venti's back was flush against his chest. He buried his face into the crook of his neck and inhaled deeply.

He smelled strongly of Cecilias, apples and rain. Traces of alcohol came with every whiff, but he savored it all the same.

Venti's love for wine was secret to none, and he wouldn't be himself if he didn't drink his fill from time to time.

"You claim to be fine, meaning that it left no lasting damage."

Once Xiao had his own fill of Venti, he raised his head to whisper to the shell of his bard's ear. "Please show me."

Venti shivered against him and put down his arms (since he caught him just as he was removing his cape). He slightly turned his head towards him, his unlidded eyes and sly smile warned him of the kiss his bard was about to steal. It was a chaste peck on the corner of his mouth.

"Alright, alright, geez! You almost gave me a heart attack!"

Rather than a pout, Venti blessed him with his bright smiles. His laughter was divine.

"One special strip tease coming right up!"

Xiao's world came to a halt.

Strip—

"Venti." He grit out, his voice deep and guttural.

Mere moments ago, Barbatos informed him that one of his greatest fears had already happened and somehow passed it off as a compliment to him. Then just now, he treated the consequences of his near-death experience as if it were nothing.

He flipped the brazen imp. His fingers dug into the fabric on Venti's arms.

"Now is not the time for tasteless jokes. I—"

A squeak. His voice broke.

He looked up and saw fear in Venti's aqua pools. Realizing his own strength, he immediately let go of the bard and sank to the bed as he held head in his hands.

"Venti, I need to know." Xiao continued—defeated, desperate. "The others, they—"

Dread ensnared him in its ice-cold grip, making him tremble even in the middle of a hot summer's day. Images of black blotches and spidery scars on limbs and torsos populated his mind. Karmic Debt touched everyone of his for the first time differently; not everyone can be so lucky. Unsightly as they were, they were marks of a survivor.

He swallowed thickly, yet the knot in his throat refused to go down.

He would never forgive himself if those inky marks managed to taint Venti's form. A Yaksha's Karmic Debt is for Xiao, and Xiao alone, to bear.

"Forgive me, I was just teasing."

The space beside him dipped with Venti's weight. Skillful, slender fingers coaxed his hands to part, in hopes of seeing his face. The bard's remorsefulness only fueled Xiao's guilt.

"I'm sorry for going too far."

Seeing that the stubborn old finch won't budge, Venti slung an arm over his shoulders in an effort to hug him. He drew him closer, scooting over to remedy the distance between them, and took Xiao's silence in stride. He hummed an airy tune—one that never failed to calm the Adeptus—and by the end of the song, Xiao had put down his hands and leaned his head against the Yaksha's own.

"Does the thought of me experiencing your pain frighten you so much?"

Venti's voice was quiet, yet curious. It was a genuine question, whether or not he knew the answer to it already.

Xiao withdrew, and saw the same sad smile from earlier. At that moment, he thought he grew to understand its meaning a little bit more.

His whole body answered in his stead—throwing itself onto Venti's awaiting arms, and tackling him onto the bed. His body clung onto the bard (not unlike the bard himself did in that secret garden) without his permission. Despite his show of restraint, he was unable to keep his tears walled off. They rolled down silently, dampening Venti's dress shirt even more, as he tightened his hold onto what he deemed was the most precious thing in all of Teyvat.

Blood flowed as he bit on his inner lip, preventing a shout of frustration from coming out.

He knew better. He knew that he should push Venti away and make his escape. He should hide himself away—very much like Bosacius did—far from the reaches of society.

That would keep Barbatos—no, everyone—safe.

Safe from him.

Yet… why can't he let go?

Venti returned his embrace with as much enthusiasm. It surprised him.

"That's right, come here. Don't push me away." His bard whispered as he held the back of Xiao's head in his hand, encouraging him to let it all out. "Pushing me away won't solve the problem. Let's tackle this together, yeah?"

And so he did. Xiao burrowed his face deeper into his bard's chest and let the tears flow.

He almost lost Venti…

He could very well have lost him entirely and he would have been the last to know.

All because of a mistake from long ago. All because of his cowardliness. All because of his pride and innate stubbornness.

Xiao could have lost what's most precious to him.

Confusion swallowed him whole—his mind trapped in a fog. He didn't know what to say or do. What was the right thing to do? And should he subscribe to what was 'right'?

Venti ran a soothing hand down Xiao's back and repeated the motion until he became more pliant and lax. Gently, the bard guided the both of them to lay on their sides, and made sure not to disturb their positions too much. Once comfortable, the bard continued rubbing soothing circles on his back.

A kiss by the edge of his hairline, a promise to stay, then followed by another kiss on the temple and an assurance of his love, Venti's soft touch and sweet nothings eventually quelled Xiao's tears.

"Xiao, darling, look at me." Venti cooed as he lifted the Adeptus' chin with a finger. Xiao complied, looking up at him with his vision still blurry. "Feeling better now?"

Xiao shook his head, his hands forming into fists.

"I… A-at the very least, I should have been there." The Yaksha hated how much his voice wavered, croaked. "You shouldn't suffer for my sake. I can't—"

"Shhh," Venti hushed him with a finger. "Weren't you also dealing with a lot on your plate at the time? Cut yourself some slack. There was nothing more you could've done. It wasn't your fault."

Xiao pursed his lips and looked away. He can't accept that. It was impossible that he couldn't have done more, much less that none of it was his fault. His association—his bond—with Venti had grown so strong that this happened. If only he didn't—

"Baobei, focus!" Venti's hands were all over the Yaksha's face, rubbing and squeezing his cheeks in an attempt to reel him back from the void. "As I've told you time and again: I'm fiiiine. Promise!"

As much as he hated doubting his treasure, Xiao couldn't help it. It is not that he believed Venti to be weak, no. Never. He… It's just that his beloved was a master at charades, and a skilled illusionist. And for the sake of keeping everyone's moods afloat, and their worries at bay, the Adeptus was sure that Venti would stop at nothing to achieve that.

Barbatos is too kind, too caring for his own good.

Venti let him go with a huff and sat himself up on the bed. He rolled up his sleeves as far up as they could go.

"See? No aches or pains; no scratches, no bruises, no nothing. My head is clear and I've sent the old crones' voices packing!"

The bard looked at him expectantly, and sighed when he barely drew a reaction out of him.

"Still don't believe me? Then come up here." Venti as he took one of Xiao's hands and pulled him up. Once seated, he presented both arms to him. "And feel."

Absurd. He was absurd. This was exactly what he asked of Venti earlier, yet why did he feel so hesitant?

Xiao took one of Venti's arms, handling it as if it were a fine piece of silk—lifting it by the tips of his treasure's fingertips, his other hand gliding down from the curve of his shoulder down to his elbow and his wrist. His eyes closely followed the trail of his inspecting hand, and found no trickery involved. He planted a kiss on his musician's knuckles, and looked up—his eyes seeking permission to inspect the other arm.

Venti chuckled and flicked his forehead with his free hand before presenting it to him.

Xiao didn't scoff or mutter in annoyance. It was well-deserved.

Same as before, he treated his treasure's arm with as much reverence as he could muster. He sought out bruises and scars that were non-existent as Venti observed with a wordless smirk. By now, him kissing Venti's knuckles translated to an 'all clear'.

"You won't be satisfied with just my arms now, will you?" Venti began unbuttoning his dress shirt. "When you said you wanted to 'see', you meant everything, yes?"

Xiao gave him a curt nod and helped by untying his corset, as well as unbuckling the ornamental belt on his bard's waist.

"The other Yakshas… it didn't matter the rank," Xiao explained as he neatly set aside the discarded clothing. "They carried with them scars of the first time their debts had been collected. The scars manifested on their faces, their arms, their hands, and feet, amongst other places."

"I see…" Venti trailed off, handing him the shirt as his eyes focused elsewhere. "And by this train of thought. Hmmm, let me guess. You were seeing yourself as some menace to society or a living burden again, weren't you?"

"I…" Xiao took his time to fold the article of clothing before turning his attention back to his bard. Blazing aqua eyes demanded an answer. "I only wished that you would never experience it, or carry that burden with you… for the rest of your life."

"Gotcha," Venti said with a chuckle, bopping the Yaksha's nose. "I knew you were circling back to those thoughts when you went silent on me! I don't know whose overthinking is worse, yours or mine?!"

Venti jumped out of bed with a prance to the side and took a stabling step to face him.

"But I don't blame you." He shrugged before grinning as he skipped towards him. "For I'm guilty as charged too."

The bard cupped Xiao's face.

"My silly, silly boy…"

Golden eyes widened as a pair of wings erupted from Venti's back, sending a small blizzard of feathers everywhere.

Dazzling metal rings reflecting the sun's rays right into his eyes blinded him for a second. As floating masses of color subsided, it was then replaced by a picture of pure white—not a feather out of place—Venti's wings curled around them as their owner leaned over and rubbed his nose against his.

"Everyone has a bag or two they lug around everywhere they go. No one is exempt—not you, not me, not the Traveler or Zhongli."

With a giggle, Venti withdrew far enough to give Xiao some ample space to inspect his body to his heart's content. He took one of his hands and placed it on the space where his Gnosis would have been.

"And I'll be more than happy to carry yours and more."

The Yaksha, too dumbfounded to think—let alone speak—shook head lightly and blinked a few times as he did. Incomprehensible, his senses must be lying to him. How could what he was experiencing be real?

His mind still struggled comprehending—rather, accepting—the meaning behind his beloved's words.

There in his chest, Xiao's heart beat furiously as it tried to escape its confines, and there in the palm of his hand, he could feel Barbatos' own heart beat at the same pace as his.

He closed his eyes and covered his mouth with his spare hand. This… can't be real. Why was he loved to this extent?

It was madness, but Venti's words and antics always had a touch of madness in them.

"There are and will be people who will choose to be with you, and you with them. Please believe them—believe us—when we say that we are grateful that you are here with us."

Zhongli's words rang true in his ears, and he would be a fool to refute it. Now more than ever, when an Archon himself—who accepted and cherished him more than anyone else—willingly stood and presented himself to him.

"Xiao-baobei," Venti called out, each syllable dripping with honey.

It brought him back to reality. A small smile greeted him upon his return.

"I know that you're having a moment, and you're too busy beholding my beauty—which, what can I say, is unavoidable and something I really appreciate—but could you…" Venti scratched at his cheek as a small laugh came tumbling out. "... maaaybe hurry it up a little? It's getting very uncomfortable with these wet clothes still on, and my wings are getting tired from holding this position. I can't spread them out without knocking something or the other."

"O-of course." Xiao got to his feet, gulping and promptly resumed his thorough investigation.

Venti only hummed his approval as his hands fell to the sides, leaving the hand still on his chest to roam freely.

And roam it did. Xiao's hand traced the markings there, the lines forming diamonds and the triangular spikes.

Venti's braids had been undone prior, and those dark, winding locks cascaded down past his clavicle and shoulders. He let each one tangle and cling around his wrist as he felt for possible bruises in the area.

It was common to hit oneself on various objects or fall on hard surfaces in the midst of an episode.

His fingers then traced around Venti's neck.

The bard made a small sound when his breath ghosted upon a spot on the curve of his neck. He checked in on him—a faint flush spread on his treasure's cheeks.

"Carry on," Venti urged him. "Don't mind me."

Were it not for the situation at hand, Xiao may have allowed himself to entertain and act upon a completely different train of thought. He knew Venti would only be happy to indulge his curiosity.

With a nod, Xiao continued by examining his angel's blinding wings. He never heard of the markings traveling as far as one's wings. Yet, one couldn't ever go wrong by acting with caution. He touched each feather with reverence and endeavored not to disturb them too much.

Barbatos had always been constant with the care of his wings, and always pestered Xiao to care more for his own wings—to the point of volunteering to groom them himself.

Despite this particularity, it was not often that Barbatos had his wings out, but the Adeptus had some idea which areas elicited a reaction and took great care to note any new ones he discovered [13].

"You can put them away now," Xiao informed as he crouched and moved onto the torso and waist.

A soft sigh escaped the bard as he retracted them and had them vanished from existence with a burst of blinding light, making Xiao groan.

Must everything that Barbatos do come with so much fuss?

A few blinks restored his vision, and after worshiping inspecting every last bit of the god's exposed skin for blemishes, he gave his navel a kiss.

He was done; the gnawing anxiety abated.

He laid his head there for a moment of rest. A hand reached out to card across his hair and he hummed his appreciation over the gesture. He knew it was too early to celebrate, but he allowed himself this comfort.

"Ready for the final stretch, hm?" Venti asked with a giggle.

Xiao then looked up, searching for permission in those aquamarine jewels.

"Go on, do whatever it is that you have to do—for the sake of some peace of mind for both me and you~"

Xiao nuzzled in place of a nod and set out to lower Venti's garments. His shoes had been discarded long ago, the shorts- and stockings-removal felt like a breeze.

He felt and prodded Venti's lean thighs, partly distracted by the glow of the zig-zagging pattern there. The bard himself put up his foot on the bed, aiding him in his search for any offending marks, especially those that may lurk behind his knees. The same thoroughness was applied from the legs right down to the soles of his beloved's feet.

The Yaksha breathed a sigh of relief.

All clear. There were no signs of corruption anywhere else he looked.

Upon raising the foot close to his lips for a kiss, Venti withdrew it in a flash.

"Satisfied?" An awkward smile did nothing to hide the apparent embarrassment.

Xiao nodded, giving the bard a small smile of his own, before rising up and grabbing a nearby towel to wrap Venti in it. He pulled him close into another embrace, not letting go of either the towel or his beloved.

The bard squirmed in his hold.

"Hey now, you're just going to wrap me up again after going through all that trouble?" Venti nudged him with his elbow. The Adeptus didn't budge and only buried his face into his neck. "Shouldn't you be pinning me down on this fine bed and start eulogizing about every inch of perfection you've witnessed of this form?"

"Mmm." Xiao stood his ground, and only moved to hug him tighter—too preoccupied with relief crashing into him like waves. Venti was safe and in his arms. There was nothing more he could wish for.

"Ah, woe is me!" Venti snuck out his hand from the towel's confines and stuck a dramatic pose with it on his forehead. "You had me believe that that would've been your modus! Dearest, was it your motive to confuse?"

Xiao lifted his head and 'bit' onto his idiot's cheek with only his lips. Marking him now would only defeat the purpose of his actions. Said idiot flinched and pushed him off, one hand caressing the afflicted area—his eyes glossy in mock hurt.

"My motive," Xiao said, scoffing at the theatrics, "was to ascertain your well-being."

He swatted Venti's hand away and gave the cheek a good pinch. "Did I make myself clear?"

Xiao let go and made sure to properly cover Venti up with the towel and tuck its loose corner to hold it in place. He caught the imp blowing a raspberry just as he turned around to fetch him a fresh set of clothes.

"Had you believed me the first time, then you wouldn't be subjected to my teasing now, would you?"

Xiao huffed, and Venti, who seemingly had caught onto his better mood, beamed at him. For a moment, his aquamarines shone, gleamed, like the precious jewels that they were. Rather than reflect, they radiated a light of their own.

The bard skipped towards him, a smirk present on his face. He proceeded to poke at Xiao's face until the other conceded, turning to face him.

And that was how the Vigilant Yaksha was caught. Venti's arm hooked around Xiao's neck, and heavy lidded eyes enticed the Adeptus enough to obediently let himself be guided back to the side of the bed.

"Put on some clothes before you catch a cold." Xiao whispered, as he foolishly pushed said clothes onto his imp's chest

"How about a 'no'?"

The clothes fell to the ground with no one to catch them.

Xiao frowned—a small growl slipping past—and Venti swooped in, silencing his displeasure with a kiss.

"Later," the bard revised his answer, his eyes inviting and his tongue hungry, before pulling Xiao back into the kiss.

The intensity made Xiao's knees buckle, having him land square on the mattress. His imp spared no time climbing onto his lap and draping himself over him.

It left the Yaksha breathless and unable to complain.

"Now that you've 'ascertained my well-being', as you put it, I want you to understand that… whatever happened back then wasn't your fault."

Venti hugged him even tighter, his legs hooking around his torso.

"None of it was. The domain was highly unusual in its hunger—its obsession in taking any and all life. The old lizard explained it to me."

"Stop calling him names." Xiao scolded, lightly pinching him on the arm. Venti only laughed in response, moreso as he nosed Venti's hair, which was still damp from the rain. He wasn't up for strictly reinforcing it.

In hindsight, it was a clever move. It prevented any chance of escape, should Xiao oscillate back to his thoughts of running and hiding himself away.

What Venti brought up was exactly what frightened him more. The domain knew Xiao's weaknesses and exploited them. It demanded so much from him to the point it affected Venti, who was nowhere near its vicinity.

And even if the Anemo Archon was drawn near to the Chasm during their confinement, its evils were contained under heavy lock and key. It shouldn't have had any influence on the surface, and vice versa.

The Wind itself couldn't reach him there.

Could mere association—the bond that they shared—be enough to cause such drastic consequences? Was it brought on… by their happy accident?

Was this what Zhongli had been hinting at with his words?

Venti let go, just before a chill ran down the Yaksha's spine.

How could he have been such a fool?

"Now these babies may not look much."

Barbatos began, his playful voice reeling Xiao back into their reality. With shining eyes and mischievous smile, he flexed his arm muscles the best he could. A mass barely rose from the plane of his arm; he gave the pathetic lump a proud pat.

"But if my memory serves me right, they've quite easily pushed literal mountains off to the sea, back in the day!"

The wink that followed was the proverbial cherry on top. Just like that, the weight on Xiao's mind had been swept away. He couldn't help snorting and snickering at his jester's antics.

"Well, what'd you know?" Venti chuckled with him. "I can instantly make the sourest of frowns take on the most radiant glow!"

"What are you up to this time?" Xiao asked, caving in and joining in the bout of chuckles.

"Listen, all I'm trying to say is…" The chuckles died down and Venti rewrapped himself around the Yaksha's form. The tone of his voice was soothing to the ear. "It takes more than that to break me. No matter how long it takes, I'll still come out on top!"

Xiao saw where his treasure was coming from.

He did.

But there were some matters that will remain unacceptable.

"Venti…" Xiao began, his own arms wrapping around his treasure. "That's why I was beside myself when you informed me. I'm not doubting your strength or your ability to withstand its effects. It's just… you weren't supposed to experience it in the first place."

The Yaksha remembered that moment when he was in freefall. The mask on his hip cracked and the platform beneath his feet shattered. With the last of his Adeptal energy, he upheld his duty and led everyone to safety.

For that moment, he felt unbearably light.

No shackles, no responsibilities, he was almost like a feather. Yet unlike a feather, his descent into the darkness below was fast approaching and the light from above, glimpses of the clear blue sky were drawn from memory, rather than the real thing.

It must had been a memory for he saw Venti's figure in free fall with him.

"Isn't the wind nice?" Said the imaginary Barbatos with his charismatic smile, and…

Xiao wished he could feel the wind for one last time as he closed his eyes.

And unlike before where he scooped his idiot into his arms [14], a warmth enveloped and caught him—transporting him to safety.

"I know that, my love, I sincerely do." Venti broke the Yaksha's reminiscent thoughts as he clung onto him tighter and nuzzled his shoulder. "I don't know if it helps my case but, if I had the chance to go back in time— with the knowledge that I have now—then I'd do it all over again. One hundred percent."

Xiao's eyes widened upon hearing the confession; it was something he expected to hear from the bard.

But why?

Why did his heart ache and bleed as though something had seized it?

"If what I experienced back then was enough to afford you even an ounce of comfort, then I'm nothing but thankful for your body's last-ditch effort."

"Enough."

Venti may have tried to lighten the mood by attaching a joke at the tail end of his speech, but Xiao was having none of it. The Yaksha took him by the shoulders, and ripped the bard off him.

Hints of hurt swam amidst the surprise in those deep aqua pools, but he couldn't help it. No matter what anyone said, the idea would never sit right with him.

"Don't say such reckless things with ease."

"Reckless?"

Xiao looked away, crumpling under the guilt brought on by the look on his treasure's features and the disbelief in his voice. "There's nothing to be thankful for."

"You're here with me now!" Venti clenched his fists, wrinkling the fabric of Xiao's shirt. His voice strained. "Is that not worth my gratitude?"

"Barbatos, you could have died back then," Xiao barks back, whipping his head up whilst covering the other's fists with his hands. "I could have lost you… without me knowing anything!"

"And? How about me?! I was much, much more prone to losing you!" Venti's response came equally as heated. "Especially with that lackadaisical approach of yours to your own survival!"

The Adeptus pursed his lips. It was a bitter thought, an accurate remark, a point he couldn't refute.

"I-I," Venti stuttered then let go as his tone took more of a defeated stance. "I didn't ask to shoulder your pain back there in the Chasm. It wasn't my call to make. It just happened."

Xiao flinched, his eyes widening at the confession.

That's… right. Venti didn't ask for this. He wasn't just comforting the Yaksha with his earlier assertions, he was also comforting himself, as he had no control over the situation.

The God of Freedom himself was robbed of his free will. Laughable, lamentable, a spot that Alatus never wished for Barbatos to ever be in his company.

Xiao chewed on his lip in frustration. He shouldn't have been so harsh.

"But even now, your stupid pride won't let you acknowledge any help as good—even if it were from those who love you! If Morax didn't step in, I—" Venti groaned loudly, burying his face in his hands instead. "We're talking in circles!"

Xiao could only grip the edge of the bed as he stewed in the soup of vile emotions with self-reproach as its base.

"What exactly do you want me to say, Alatus?"

It was not a question, but a plea. Venti was exhausted, his eyes dull and robbed of the brightness he had always adored.

"That I should give up on you? That I should turn tail and walk away just because the path before us is fraught with difficulties and peril?"

Yes.

'Yes', is the logical answer, and perhaps, it was the 'right' answer. His mind had been screaming it for the longest time. The voice that he had successfully learned to repress ever since that night on Starsnatch Cliff had come back to gloat and reprimand him.

Venti continuously granted all that which he desired and even those that he never dreamed of desiring. Xiao grew too comfortable—complacent and spoiled—that he had stopped being in touch with reality.

In reality, Barbatos should have turned his back on him and saved himself long ago, before further harm should befall him.

Yet…

There was a part of him—he hated to admit it, the selfish, more honest part of him—that yelled 'No'.

It was a voice that refused to be silenced, ever since he had tasted the sweetness in a life where Venti was his partner, his mate.

Despicable. How low had Adeptus Xiao had fallen for his judgment be clouded by mortal desires?

Xiao opened his mouth, yet no answer came out. Not even a croak. His throat was dry as he was struck with indecision.

As the last remaining Yaksha, he did not spend millennia toiling away, fulfilling a doomed and thankless job all for naught. He persisted to exist alongside mortals—living in the edges of their imagination—to keep Liyue and its inhabitants safe.

From unseen perils and from himself.

With Venti (and to some extent, the Traveler), those self-imposed lines were blurred. With Venti, it was safe, alright, and all under control; he helped him tread beyond them again and again. With Venti, it was easy to forget; the weight of his sins, the reflection on the mirror were mere dots in the bigger picture he painted him to be.

Venti says something to him yet he couldn't discern the words. He shakes his head by instinct.

He didn't want to lose Venti. Not now, not ever.

But what does 'losing someone' even entail for a Yaksha? Which is the heavier choice? To immediately lose someone's favor—their presence—in his life or to slowly (and inevitably) poison them with his Karmic Debt until they breathe their last?

He will lose Barbatos should he ever choose one or the other.

If so, then shouldn't the most sensical choice triumph?

•○●○• ◇ •○●○•

'Where did he go wrong?'

Venti pondered as he watched as the emotions drained away from the Yaksha's features. The light in his eyes dimmer and dimmer still.

"Xiao?"

The air around them grew stale, and chill ran down Venti's spine. He tried again with a crooked smile and his hand waving right in front of him. "Oh, Xi~ao-bao~"

Nothing, no response.

Deafening silence swept across the room, as though the birds outside knew it was unwise to make even the smallest chirp.

He couldn't even hear Xiao's breathing.

"Alatus… I-I," Venti trailed off—pinching and wringing his forearm—in distraught.

It was happening again, and it was all his fault.

He was so sure that with one last push, he would've won Xiao over, and, and—

Venti closed his eyes and breathed out a sigh, releasing his grip on himself in the process. He was a disappointment.

Xiao would snort at his disgraceful display if it were any other day and any other set of circumstances, for sure.

A grown man past two thousand years of age losing his cool over a simple matter—a difference of views… How childish.

He looked at his reddened fingers and palms before turning back his attention to his beloved.

"Xiao, if you could hear me, I want you to know that…"

Venti cupped his beloved's cheek and peered into his unseeing eyes.

Would his words reach him now?

His thumb drew soothing circles onto his cheek.

"I didn't mean to put you in a spot like that. You don't need to answer the question if it bothers you so. I'm sorry, liebling, so very sorry."

The bard petted his cheek one last time before he withdrew, and to his surprise, Xiao shook his head.

Stunned, he wondered if this was an answer to that careless question of his.

He waited for a follow up to the head shake, but there was none.

Of course, there wasn't.

Xiao was too deep into the spiral to give him a genuine reply. There was a waging war inside the old noggin, and the bard knew better than to poke his head where it didn't belong. His beloved Yaksha will come back to him in his own time, at his own pace.

'Beloved'.

He repeated the word in his mind. Since when did he start referring to the proud Adeptus that way?

Venti dismounted from his seat and parked himself by an open window.

He stuck his head out to marvel at the clarity he remembered from earlier. There truly was not a cloud in the boundless blue sky in this part of the world; it was the perfect weather for a walk.

His hands trembled on the windowsill.

His sights were drawn to the ground below. They could be walking by the bridge over the Inn by now, on the way to wherever their feet would take them if only he knew how to better handle his emotions, how to better conduct himself, how and when to hold his tongue.

With what he had asked, he showed Xiao a lack of trust… and he knew all too well that it was more than enough to unroot any and all of his efforts up till now.

He gripped the edge of the windowsill, in hopes of steadying them.

As much as Venti berated himself about asking, he couldn't deny its importance—that even if he doesn't ask it now, it would, eventually, rear its ugly head into another conversation—as long as his deep-rooted concerns weren't addressed.

He didn't want to acknowledge it. He feared Xiao's true answer.

If Xiao told him 'yes' then and there… he would've honored it and left without another word.

He watched Xiao's slumped figure on the bed. Should he leave? Xiao clearly needed time alone, and so did he. Maybe he'd go to Angel's Share and drink his sorrow away until the morrow.

Yet, it played back in his head… the way Xiao held him close, desperately clinging to him. He could still feel his touch if he concentrated enough. The memory faded out and another took its place—Xiao's careful examination of him. He teased the Yaksha about it, but he knew full well that what transpired was nothing less than a form of worship.

He couldn't just leave Xiao like this, not when he yearned for his presence and was so desperate to ascertain his safety.

But what did Xiao want? He was back to where he started.

The thought seized something inside him. If he didn't know any better, he would say it was his heart that was seized.

And then what? Could he still show his face back at the Inn after that? If not… then could he still, at least, refer to Xiao as his beloved?

Let's say that it was his heart… But didn't he exchange that old thing for a Gnosis—that he couldn't even protect—all the way back?

Could hearts even grow back? A silly thought, but an entertaining notion without a doubt.

Otherwise, what else was would the claws of dread be seizing inside the gaping hole in his chest?

He chuckled. If there really was a heart inside him, then Xiao truly was proving himself to be quite the proficient heartbreaker! (Even when he gave him this nickname in jest.)

He chuckled some more. The notes sounded odd in his ears.

He had really done it this time, didn't he?

He was better than this. He knew he was.

Venti usually had a better hold on his emotions. He never let his frustrations get the best of him. At his best, he used them to fuel his humor—a witty retort or a self-deprecating comment.

Never to antagonize.

That's right. Should the seasons pass, and their romance were not to last, Alatus would undoubtedly remain to be his beloved.

He knew that much was true. Barbatos wouldn't put it past himself. After all, he was never good at letting go, despite the years worth of practice he'd had.

He shook his head, ignoring the stinging behind his eyes. His chuckles sounded more sincere this time.

What melodramatic thoughts was he entertaining this time? There was no use in agonizing over events that may not come to pass!

Deep breaths, Barbatos, deep breaths!

He had to pull himself together, not tear himself asunder! What's most important was to hold onto his determination and

Xiao still needed him, and he had to right his wrongs.

He clapped his cheeks with his cold hands. Focus, Venti, focus.

What did he do wrong, and how can he make it better?

All he had were words.

What else could he say? Wasn't saying too much cause his beloved to spiral into oblivion in the first place?

Venti's eyes snapped wide open as he took in a sharp intake of breath.

That's it.

He spoke too much; he didn't listen enough.

While vivacity and loquacity were his prized qualities as a bard, these were not suited in a heart-to-heart.

His overbearing assurances brushed off Xiao's concerns as one would remove eraser shavings from a completed piece. Inadvertently, he imposed his thoughts—piling on words to shape the result to his preferred outcome—onto Xiao.

His words… they now felt empty. Was that how Xiao perceived them too?

Venti trains his gaze onto his beloved. He hadn't moved from his spot on the bed.

If words wouldn't reach him, then perhaps…

The bard walked away from the window and sat beside his beloved, leaning his head onto his shoulder and draping his arm to reach the other.

Xiao was cold, but he didn't mind. He was cold too. He held him close and embraced him the best he could.

He replayed all their conversations, held onto each expression, and caught all tears his liebling had shed.

How could he be called the God of Freedom when all he has done was strip it away from Alatus with his very own words?

While Venti had his words, Xiao had his actions.

Rather than wonder how he could make things better, he had to consider if it needed to be better?

No.

No, it didn't have to be 'better'. Not at this very moment.

Xiao should have the freedom to express his grief, pour out his emotions. This kind of pain… It was fresh and new to him.

Venti had no right to restrict its flow, or persuade him to think contrary to how he felt.

Because he isn't alright, because they weren't alright. Accepting that fact is what makes it alright.

How could he forget his own teachings? Xiao would flick his forehead and scold him about it should be look back on this.

He sighed. He failed his beloved again. How many more times would he fail him in the future until he had had enough?

"It's true that I had no choice in the past, but I've had some time to reflect on it, you know," he ended up saying—relying on words yet again.

The bard would have hummed a tune to pass the time if only the notes didn't escape him.

"From all the multitudes of 'even ifs', 'what ifs' and 'should haves' that we've circled through, I realized that, for me, it all boiled down to one thing."

"And what's that?"

Flinching, Venti pulled himself back and watched in amazement when Xiao's eyes follow him.

"You're back," he whispered before wrapping his beloved in a more proper embrace, squeezing him as a sliver of warmth made its way back into his being. His lips twitched upward, and he knew he wore the ugliest of smiles.

Xiao hummed in agreement. "I can't be gone for too long, lest your mind wanders off too far and create the wildest assumptions."

He talked back! Xiao sassed back at him!

"Speak for yourself!" Venti pinched his cheek as a way to cover his overflowing excitement. "You yourself have just emerged from the pitch dark pit of despair of yours."

Xiao swatted his hand away, and in one quick motion, brought his face close to his. There wasn't a hint of shame or embarrassment in his features, only genuine curiosity. He even flashed him a smile as he tuck his loose hairs behind the shell of his ear.

"So, what is it?"

Venti blanked out; the only thing in his mind was how the spark of life came back to his beloved's honeyed eyes and the softness of his smile.

"On second thought," he said, withdrawing only the slightest bit, once he got a hold of himself. He tapped his chin in thought as his expression into one of mock mischief. "Make that two things."

"Does it matter how many there are?"

"You'll point it out later if I don't correct myself now~"

His statement made the Adeptus snort. He pursed his lips to prevent giggles from spilling out of him without a care in the world. He couldn't help it if his liebling was a nitpicker! A trait the Adeptus got from his father. He had to bite his lip upon seeing him hold back the urge to roll his eyes at him. Ah, the similarities were so uncanny!

"It doesn't matter. Let's hear what you have to say. I'm prepared for your lecture, anyway."

Venti covered his mouth as he gasped. "A lecture? What makes you say that?"

He kept mum about the rhyme this time.

"A hunch," Xiao answered with an amused huff. "Tell me what I missed, Teacher Venti."

And just like that, they were back to enjoying a bout of banter, and finding comfort in each other's expressions and gestures. Venti wanted to bask in this feeling of normalcy forever.

He knew that he had to earn it, and Xiao's self-satisfied smile was just the push he needed.

"Rather than a lecture, how about a few reminders instead?" Venti bopped his nose with a finger. "Mein mausebär is oh-so forgetful after all!"

"Enlighten me then." Xiao grabbed him by the wrist and closed in on him. His golden eyes pierced through him, prying open the door, where he kept his innermost secrets, wide open. "What's so important that an archon has to personally remind me of it?"

Oblivious yet greedy, Xiao's child-like innocence knew no bounds.

Venti, in his opinion, was already an open book. What else was there to pry open? He chuckled; Xiao's eagerness, his curiosity, never ceased to amaze him.

"It has nothing to do with my being an archon or you being a Yaksha, silly baobei." Venti breaks free to flick his beloved's forehead. "Alatus just often forgets that he's loved."

"That's…"

"You're loved, Alatus," he reminded him—gently, kindly—rising up to kiss his forehead and caress his cheek. "You're loved."

"I…" Xiao's eyes shift all over the place, unsure where his gaze should land. "I know."

The admission tinted his cheeks a pretty shade of pink. His eyes landed on his lap.

The bard hummed as he nodded with fervor. A little encouragement goes a long way; it kept his observant lover relaxed and more likely to open up.

"You may remember now, but sooner or later, doubt will sneak in and wipe it all clean." The gestures he used to accompany his speech drew another snort from the Yaksha. He collected Xiao's hands and encased it with both of his. "And that's where I come in!"

Xiao stumbled with his words again before he settled for an "I'm sorry".

Venti shook his head.

"Nothing to apologize for!" He held up their hands for him to nuzzle on. "In fact, I should be the one apologizing."

He could tell that his beloved was still uncomfortable talking about such matters openly. Apprehension was in his eyes. The poor thing must be overwhelmed and confused.

"And, for sounding as if I were making light of them. I'm not and I let my emotions get the best of me. I'm so, so sorry, Alatus."

"Don't—don't apologize, Barbatos."

Xiao's teeth gnashed as he pulled back.

"It's all my fault. I'm responsible for all of this. You shouldn't shoulder any of the blame. You shouldn't bear the consequences of my mistakes. You shouldn't—"

"Perhaps," Venti interjected, pulling Xiao's face back close to his own, "perhaps I shouldn't, but I will. I have my own faults too, and I can't have you owning up for my mistakes too, now, can I?"

Tremendous guilt swam in golden waters. There was nowhere else to hide the pain. Venti would kiss it away if he could.

"Not when you have Liyue already resting upon your shoulders," he whispered and kissed the Yaksha anyway.

He wasn't very good at keeping promises, it seemed. He promised himself to listen more, to be more understanding, to be more patient. Yet… he couldn't watch Xiao tear himself down.

Alatus was ruthless, not only towards his enemies, but towards himself. He knew that—heard Xiao's self-deprecating speeches multiple times, yet something about if felt… off. Xiao's words carried a certain decisiveness, a certain heaviness, that went beyond self-discipline.

Where was all this vitriol coming from?

When he withdrew, Xiao whimpered. Venti was sure that his beloved would've tugged at his sleeve if he were clothed. He kissed him again, and again.

If he did it enough times, maybe he really could make the pain go away.

It would not, however, change how Barabtos' godhood did not truly exempt him from the effects of Karmic Debt, and erase the shadow of doubt that had been cast after the fact had been brought into light.

"Do you remember what I said earlier?" Venti asked.

"Which part do you want me to remember exactly?" The Yaksha sounded irate, but there was no bite to it. "You talk a lot, bard."

"That, I do! That, I do!" The bard laughed. "Ah, but, I assumed your intuition was strong enough to know exactly what I meant."

"Why are you disappointed?" Xiao huffed and pinched Venti's cheek. "Even you, an Archon, couldn't peer into the minds of others."

"Fair point," the bard conceded with a chuckle. Xiao let him go, but he caught his hand and gave it a kiss. "My silly, silly boy, let me jog that memory of yours!"

He rose from the bed and guided Xiao's head onto his chest. They both refrained from the tiniest of sounds as they indulged in each other's presence. A connection was being made—the warmth they shared, their breathing syncing with each other's, the beating of their hearts answering the other's call.

There was no need to rush. There was something in this moment worth cherishing.

"Everyone has a bag or two they lug around everywhere they go," he repeated, combing his fingers through his beloved's scalp. "No one is exempt—not you, not me, not the Traveler nor Zhongli, and I would gladly take on yours and more."

He combed his fingers through his hair and would kiss the top of his hair every so often.

Xiao wrapped his arms around his waist, pulling him closer. He breathed in, and asked, "Why?"

There was a tremor in his voice; the Yaksha himself trembled as he spoke.

"Because love endures, Xiao."

Venti wiped away a stray tear. One got away the moment his silly lover looked up to him with his golden eyes walled with unshed tears. His desperation to understand moved Venti just as it always did.

"I'll admit, falling in love with you was not my intention, but staying in love with you is."

Xiao closed his eyes as he nodded, embracing him tighter. Venti could only stroke his back comfortingly as a way of support; riding the tides of emotion was an exhausting task.

"I… I almost forgot what made it so hard for you to approach people, make connections, and accept the love being given to you. Your time in the Chasm reminded me of it," the bard continued, knowing that he still had the Yaksha's attention. "The experience was, by all means, unpleasant. My head was foggy with so many voices speaking, demanding, all at once, and my senses were assaulted by senses not my own."

He laughed and his hand stilled. "And yet I can't discount the fact that those episodes allowed me to understand you a little bit better."

Venti slid down until they were level with each other's gaze. It caught Xiao off-guard and it showed. His surprised face is absolutely adorable! There was no way he was going to enjoy this opportunity!

"Maaaybe," he sing-songed whilst pinching Xiao's nose, "it made me fall harder for you, ehe~"

"Yow're widicuelous," the Adeptus retorted with his voice distorted from Venti's antics.

"And you're too serious!" Venti barked with laughter, letting him go and bumping their noses together immediately right after.

Xiao sighed. "Understanding you is a more grueling challenge than I anticipated."

"Oh? You're giving up then?"

His mausebär answered, one eyelash kiss later. "No."

There was no stopping his facial muscles from breaking out his widest grin yet. Pride swelled up in his chest as he ruffled Xiao's grayish green hair. "That's my Xiao-Xiao! Never one to give up without a fight~"

"But I still need your guidance," Xiao whispered; Venti almost melted in his seat upon hearing the endearment. "Help me understand you better… liebling."

The bard withdrew, straightening his back. He had to pull himself together if he were to sate Xiao with his curiosity. He was no walking library like Morax, but he'll do his best.

"What do you wish to know?"

Xiao contemplated his first question. "Isn't love meant to be free?"

"'Free'... in what sense?" Venti blinked. He wasn't sure what prompted this question. "In the sense that it is unbound by any rules, in the sense that there is power within choices, or in the sense that there is monetary value?

"All that you've mentioned, everything."

"Yes, anyone is free to love and be loved unconditionally." He smiled. They had talked about love before, but never quite picked up from where they've left off. Right then was as good a time as any. "Love is many, many things. It can be liberating, a source of courage and a source of comfort—"

"Then, tell me." Xiao seized his shoulders and stared deep into his soul. His wretchedness was in full display. "Why does mine come with a price?"

Venti flinched, his heart dropping to the floor.

Ah, so this was where it came from.

"Why must you need to pay for something I wish to offer with no charge? I want love freely, Venti. I want to love you freely."

"That's—" Venti dropped his gaze, and fell silent.

He did good in bringing out the emotive side that Xiao had long since suppressed, but maybe he did it a little too well. It turned his mind into a blank slate, wiped away all thought, leaving only the desire—the need— to comfort this deeply wounded soul.

But how?

It was an honest-to-goodness, simple question, yet it was one that genuinely stumped him. There was no simple answer, and it would be cruel, tone deaf, if he were to answer in a literal sense.

"That's because our world isn't an ideal world." He gently shooed off the hands that were pinning him in place. "An ideal world does not exist."

He took trembling hands into his, soothing them with his touch, and that didn't work, he brought them to his face for him to nuzzle.

"Yes, there is still freedom in loving someone, but the same can't be said upon realizing that love. The number of factors that come into play is comparable to the number of stars in the sky."

There was no amount of comfort that he could give to Xiao's grieving soul. He was trying; he was trying.

"We just strive to make the most of what we have—to see the 'good' in a world that is less than ideal."

In truth, he grieved for him too. He grieved of their love and how it will end—a doomed love that will end in ruin.

Was it selfish of him to keep holding on? Was it selfish of him—too arrogant of him—to believe that he could fill in the gaps that Xiao's sorrow had left him with?

"And even then, there is still freedom to be found—whether to pursue it or let go, letting nature take its course."

He chuckled. He was right; it all did circle back to this. Some things needed to be repeated over and over for it to stick.

"When one chooses to pursue love, opportunities to create the 'good' that one wishes to see become bountiful—they arise in many ways, shapes, and sizes."

He steeled himself to meet his beloved's gaze again. It takes courage to fly, right?

"To put it into perspective… loving you may come with a price, but it's one that I freely and determinedly, stubbornly, choose to pay. And in the time we've spent together, we've made a bunch of good memories, haven't we?"

Now that the words were out there, he let his own emotions flow out. His own flood gates opened once more, but not through a crack brought in by the weight he held back. He raised the barriers and let them flow.

"I love you, Alatus."

So please don't be so hard with yourself, and allow me to be selfish with this love of ours.

•○●○• ◇ •○●○•

Steady and gentle as a stream leading to the ocean did their emotions flow.

Venti's lecture, his point-of-view, was sensical and grounded. It addressed what the world was, yet at the same time he managed to inject his fanciful manner of thinking—bottling up a concoction of playful optimism, helpful reminders and… a strong resolve into a special blend for him to carry with him always.

Despite the tears, Venti's light-hearted laughter triumphed in lifting his spirits higher, high enough to get him out of the hole he had dug himself. It wasn't the same as earlier where intense emotions forced their way through and broke the container that suppressed them.

Light and carefree as the dandelion seeds that blow across Mond, Xiao could almost feel himself drifting with them. What kept him rooted was the sight of Barbatos himself as he tore down his walls for him—to have a glimpse of a gentle being's heart at its core.

He was witnessing a moment of vulnerability—the kind of which Barbatos would never afford himself until now.

He was informed that the Anemo Archon's Breath cost unimaginable sums of Mora, as it carried the promise of 'breathing' new life into things of old or deprived of vitality.

Human folly was beyond the Adeptus' comprehension, but for this moment. He somehow understood it.

An Archon's… No, Venti's tears were precious deep-sea pearls, born from malaise and cultivated by the passage of time. The tears he refused to shed had finally begun their trail down his face and dropping onto their hands.

Xiao wondered if he were to catch them with the palms of his hands, would he experience the feelings behind each one too?

This display of tenderness and acceptance intimidated him at first; Venti's affection for him was much too overwhelming. He didn't allow it to unnerve him. He stood strong and let it wash over him until it all settled within him.

Rather than overwhelm, what it did was move him. It urged him to act.

"I love you too, Barbatos."

He dropped everything—his pride and honor as a long-lived Adeptus—to cling onto the one he loved. It was just now that he had his face pressed onto Venti's shoulder that he realized that his tears had flowed too and blurred his vision.

Venti was right; this world and their circumstances was not ideal for their love to prosper. He had to make difficult decisions, to make the effort, to keep it alive—just as his beloved did.

Sniffling, sobbing and hiccuping, he bawled his eyes out, not unlike a small child. These sensations felt strange yet familiar at the same time.

Yes, he admitted. He had clung onto his beloved earlier on. His instincts and desperation drove his body into action.

Now, it was different—neither had influenced his actions.

It was his will which drove him to act this time—his willingness to present himself in his humblest and most honest state—to the one who possesses his utmost trust.

Barbatos soothed him with humming and circular hand motions on his back, but never coaxed him to stop. He even encouraged him, not with words, but with his own tears wetting the fabric on his back.

Xiao was a mess, but so was Venti. Without needing to see it, he felt his treasure smiling through their tears.

He understood right then, that this was the most intimate that they had ever been: this shared moment of release.

It was fine. They were going to be fine.

"I love you Alatus," Venti repeated as he adjusted his hold on him so that he could kiss his forehead, "always."

The promise only caused more of his tears to come spilling out.

"I-I just don't want to—hic—hurt you." Xiao found his voice foreign in his own ears as he spoke in between hiccups. He wriggled in Venti's hold until he was let go. He scrubbed away his tears yet they failed to cease. "I don't—hic—deserve to have so much."

"What are you talking about, liebling?" Venti uses part of the towel he was wrapped in to dry the Yaksha's tears. "It's not too much at all, in fact… you deserve much, much more."

"That-that can't be true…" He sniffed and refused Venti's attempt to clear his nasal passages with the towel end.

Venti stood up without warning, wiping away his own tears—a grin now plastered onto his face. Xiao was too stunned to dodge. He was pinned onto the bed by a full-body tackle as Venti's laughter rang in his ears. It knocked the breath out of him.

How many times must he learn to never underestimate Barbatos? Despite his usual feather-like lightness, the Archon knew how and when to impose—manipulate—weight, thus effectively keeping his target in place.

He should've known that resistance was futile; struggling only left him panting from the exertion, and his bard laughing with more mirth.

"Oh, but it is." Venti sat up to look straight at him, cupping his face with one hand. He adored the brightness they held—akin to shimmering aquamarine—as he spoke. "You deserve the world, my love."

His treasure kissed his cheek before settling down on his chest, curling his body on it. It was in this manner that Venti was comparable to the creature he so detested: a cat. His impish lover stretched before curling up and began scribbling illegibly on his chest with a finger.

With Venti, it was difficult to distinguish the difference between nonsense and teachings.

"No, I don't de—"

"Shhh, and even if you don't, I want you to start believing that you do—just because I say so, ehe~"

Spoken like a true jester.

Xiao snorted; he hadn't noticed when his tears had stopped flowing

He brought down his hands to naturally find their place onto his bard's body, cradling him like the treasure that he was.

Aqua eyes fluttered shut as he clung onto his shirt. "You're still doubting… Do you want me to turn that into an order?"

"No need."

Venti yawned. "Good."

Xiao felt a tug on the corner of his lip and an urge to comb through Venti's dark locks.

"It… isn't doubt, per se," Xiao corrected, "but apprehension. It lingers."

He was not good with words. There were ideas, concepts, and emotions that he still struggled to identify and name.

But at that moment, he was certain that he wanted to silence his doubts.

Xiao wanted to believe, not only to heed Zhongli's words, or to indulge Venti's requests, but for himself. Wasn't he a proud Adeptus? Shouldn't he be capable and have confidence in himself in seeing things through?

"Hmmm," Venti mused aloud as his scribbling slowed. "So it's not that you're doubting me and my abilities, but you couldn't help but be afraid of what's to come, right?"

Xiao paused his hair-combing just as Venti's scribbling came to a complete stop. The bard punctuated his question with a hard poke to where Xiao's heart lay. Venti wormed out of the embrace and propped himself up so that they would see each other eye-to-eye.

"Don't worry," Venti assured, grinning from ear to ear. "I'm just as afraid as you are."

"Afraid?" Xiao had to blink and rub his eyes. "You're afraid?"

"Can't you feel me practically shaking, and paralyzed from fear?!"

"Is that so?" The Yaksha had caught on. He knew that tone. "I thought it was born from anticipation."

"Oh, you give me too much credit~"

"You are one of the Seven, what is there to fear?"

In that moment, Xiao caught a flash of emotion behind the aquamarine pools he so loved as they widened for a fraction of a second.

Surprise? Hurt? Disbelief?

He couldn't tell. It came and went in an instant.

But he didn't miss the way Venti's breath hitched and how he skillfully converted it into a chuckle. He didn't miss how he shuddered as a shiver coursed through him. He didn't miss how Venti's reply started out differently from what came out.

"I'd like you to turn that question to Morax."

It was odd.

Venti was trembling with laughter, yet his instincts told him that there was more to it than mere amusement. Despite this, Xiao found himself chuckling right alongside his treasure.

It was a complicated feeling.

"Let's say that you're right." Venti caught his breath and maneuvered himself to trap Xiao in between his arms. "That loving you will hurt me—cause me more harm than good—and that what happened to both of us while you were in the Chasm will happen again…"

The Yaksha could only gaze up and hold his own breath.

"Then, what of it?" Venti asked, his voice dripped with fond exasperation and his eyes…

"When that time comes, won't you be there to hold my hand?"

They held his burning conviction. He wanted to be with him. Venti wanted to be with him.

The request, coupled with Barbatos' steadfastness, only continued to bedazzle the Adeptus.

"I was over the moon when you told me that you love me for the first time, you know." Venti ventured on before whispering the rest, "even though it felt like an afterthought since you passed out right after."

Venti's giggling only made him flush at the memory. It was a raw confession back then, and an embarrassment in hindsight.

Xiao believed that he could have done better.

"Since then, I pursued this relationship in spite of knowing that there are risks—real life perils—involved. Since then, I saw you put your best foot forward—learning as you go—as you show your affection for me in your own special way," Venti continued his speech.

Xiao didn't believe that his manner of reciprocating Venti's love was by any means special, but he can't deny being swayed. Warmth and tenderness enveloped the Adeptus; affection surged deep within him as his beloved caressed his cheek. He could do nothing but lean into it and feel the lingering fear soften and melt away from his touch.

"Since then, I too have learned how to practice what I preach."

Xiao gave him a look, making the bard flinch.

"Admittedly, not… very consistently, ehe." Venti scratched his cheek sheepishly. "But you're quick to remind me, aren't you?"

"Of course." The Adeptus nodded. "One must be strict with oneself if they ought to influence others, Teacher Venti."

A light flush surfaced on his beloved's cheeks, but refused to acknowledge it.

"Then tell me, my dearest student, in the short time we've been together…" A finger found its way to a lock of Xiao's hair, and it began to twiddle with it. "Perhaps, it was all too easy to forget about those pesky problems, wasn't it?"

Xiao's eyes grew as wide as saucers. He became more conscious of his beating heart—heard its thumping loud and clear for a few seconds as a realization dawned on him.

To forget… He… Venti—

Venti knew.

The Adeptus stifled a chuckle. Of course, Venti knew. He was just praising noting Barbatos's ability to read into the machinations of his mind, despite claiming otherwise.

"It was," Xiao affirmed, his voice laced with… yearning, to go back to a time of blissful ignorance. "It was."

He circled his arms around Venti's neck. He pulled himself up to meet his bard's lips. When he let go, Venti followed him, bringing their foreheads together.

"Then, let's prepare and make plans for emergencies like the one back then."

"An escape plan for when I find myself trapped? Or, do you mean… when…"

Xiao couldn't bear to say it. A stabbing pain at the mere thought of what had happened; his imagination most able to conjure images—

"Why not plan for both?" Venti suggested with a small smile and a peck on the corner of his lip.

Xiao breathed a sigh of relief. His bard mentioned nothing about what he had noticed and simply shifted them both so that they lay on the bed sideways before continuing.

"You could give me tips on how to handle an episode as well~"

Venti turned his head towards him, placing his hand over his and slotting his fingers into the gaps.

"Oh! and we should use a code word should the time for when you hold my hand comes around, ehe."

Venti, as he knew, was a free spirit. Rigid structures such as 'plans' only held him back, and only resorted to them in times of necessity. For his beloved to suggest making plans…

"I agree, we should. What do you suggest we use for a code word?"

It was refreshing—a breath of fresh air. An easy smile made its way onto Xiao's features.

He liked it. Not just the enthused reception or the saccharine tone, but that fact that… They were working together as a team, as partners.

It certainly felt like a step in the right direction.

"Grilled Medaka," Venti suggested with as much severity as he could muster.

Xiao snorted and covered his mouth before an accompanying bark of laughter could get out.

"Go on, laugh! What's holding you back?"

The smirk on his imp's face was infuriating enough to merit a comeback.

"Is this your way of hinting your hunger?"

It didn't take long for Venti to drop the smirk with a 'hmph, killjoy', whilst turning his gaze away and forgetting how the blossoming redness of his ears still gave him away.

Xiao savored his success until the next suggestion was brought to the chopping block.

"'Broken Lyre'… sounds like a common occurrence, given your occupation."

"You're right, I break lyre strings often enough to create false alarms left and right." A yawn from Venti completely shot the suggestion down.

Another half an hour of a rather lively discussion, ranging from food to instruments, from fauna to flora later, they had settled on 'Windswept Qingxin'.

"Should I get you something to eat?" Xiao asked as he prepared to leave their bed.

"Noooo," Venti complained, prolonging the o's in a whine, and pressed his back to his chest. He took Xiao's arms and had them wrap around him tighter; his lower limbs entangling themselves around the Yaksha's own. "Stay, and let's talk about the other safety measures some…"

A yawn.

"… other time."

"Alright, as you wish." The Adeptus settled down and kissed his exposed shoulder. "Tired?"

"Mm," Venti answered with a nod. "I've talked a lot today, haven't I?"

"Nothing more than the usual."

Venti twisted around to face him and pinched Yaksha's nose. "Why you little—"

He sighed and let go with a grin.

"I know that most of what comes out of my mouth can be considered 'excessive flowery rubbish' by an Adeptus of your caliber."

"So you are self-aware."

Xiao bit his lip, preventing a smirk from slipping, as Venti puffed his cheeks in annoyance. Adorable, especially when the flash of annoyance melted into laughter.

"Anyways, I just want you to know that I mean well, and that it's alright for you to take in what's useful to you and leave the rest. You're entitled to your opinion, and I have no right to demand you to change for me."

That wasn't entirely true. Venti had the right; Xiao believed that his treasure did. He kept his silence as the sadness in his bard's voice echoed in his mind.

"I apologize… I realized that I had been overbearing and acted too much like a spoiled child—one who would do everything to get his own way."

Xiao shushed him. Venti was apologizing again for a crime he did not commit.

"Don't misunderstand me," the Adeptus whispered with a sternness that blew Venti's eyes wide open.

He left a trail of kisses from his shoulder to his neck, and paid special attention to the sensitive spot he discovered earlier on.

"Flowery drivel or not, overbearing or not, the 'rubbish' you speak of has served their purpose. They expressed what was needed and moved your points across."

He lavished it with a series of soft, long kisses until he was sure no unwanted retorts would try to persuade him otherwise.

Indeed, no such retorts spilled from his treasure's lips. [None but the delectable sounds reserved for only his ears.]

"The use of words comes naturally to you; it is how you love. I don't see why you need to apologize for it. I think it's wonderful."

It wasn't flattery.

Xiao was truly grateful for having a bard as his lover: he had a way with words. Venti knew how to communicate his intentions effectively, and at the same time had a firm grasp of the Yaksha's intentions—as though he were siphoning the meaning straight from his mind—and granted these strings of thought a proper, communicable form. One could say that what was formed is not mere proae but a tapestry that painted a clearer picture.

There was an art to it that was still lost to him, but nevertheless appreciated with utmost sincerity.

And so it pained him to hear Venti antagonize himself in this manner.

Ah… it was the same, wasn't it? The taste of bitterness, the sense of helplessness and the agony of having one's heart wrung by an invisible force just as the person dearest to one ran themselves down.

Xiao looked up and took Venti's face into his hands. A single tear slid down onto the back of his hands. Venti closed his eyes and brought his hands to cover his.

"I understand, Barbatos, I finally do. You don't want to lose me as much as I don't want to lose you."

His treasure nodded, obviously holding in his sobs. When a whimper escaped, Venti made up for it with enthusiastic nodding.

"And in turn, I vow to take your sentiments, your concerns… your advice and your reminders to heart." He wiped away the tears cascading his beloved's features.

Was it cruel to smile in moments such as this? He didn't know.

"I love you."

Xiao had to pause. No matter how many times he has said these words, their weight never changed.

To hold onto a feeling, a desire, so strong that it rivaled—no, surpassed his devotion to his duty—still felt unfathomable to him.

Yet here he was, declaring a truth he couldn't deny.

"And I want to keep believing in us."

Rather than be peppered with kisses, like he expected Venti to shower him, he embraced him. Wordlessly. Desperately. Passionately.

Xiao didn't panic. These tears weren't born from pain; he knew that much. Bliss, perhaps? Yet his heart remained heavy all the same—heavy with acceptance, bursting with love.

He waited for Venti to calm himself, and when he did, he sniffed and laughed to himself. "Since when have I become such a crybaby?"

"Today." Xiao replied without skipping a beat.

He received a hard flick on the forehead, and it was well deserved.

"Yeah, thanks for reminding me how much I've been disgracing myself before a Venerable Adeptus such as yourself." The bard scoffed as he furiously wiped his face with the towel wrapped around him.

"How can One be considered 'venerable' when One causes an Archon to weep?"

Venti paused and slowly turned to him before barking in laughter.

Xiao loved this rambunctious laugh of his. He was willing to play into this game if it made his beloved the happiest. He had to admit, banter and acting tickled their inner-child.

"Touché," his bard conceded with glee. He shrugged before venturing on, "and as an act of absolution, you will tell me what you've been up to till now."

"Where does the most generous Anemo Archon want his servant to start?"

"You're really getting into the role, liebling. I appreciate it." Venti chuckled and brought their noses together, the tips touching before rubbing them together affectionately. "Wherever it is you're comfortable with. This is your story that you'll be sharing after all."

"I'm no story teller, Venti. It may not make sense if—"

"And that's what makes this story Xiao-flavored!" His bard cheered. "Wherever you start, whatever detail catches your eye, it's all good! Those things are what you deem important. What's important to you is important to me."

Xiao considered it, and pondered his options.

"Listen, I'll ask questions if I'm genuinely confused, alright?" Venti added when he noticed that his winning smile wasn't winning the Adeptus over.

"Then…" Xiao breathed in in preparation for his story telling session. "I humbly accept."

He watched Venti settle back in his embrace, using his arm as pillow support and snuggling close as he rested his eyes.

"As you know, I sought after Zhongli-daren's approval for this mission. He came over to the Inn—"

"Oh! From the very beginning? How typical of Xiao-Xiao!" Venti clapped his hands in delight, then his energy decreased, his demeanor shifted into one of concern. "But are you sure that you're…?"

Xiao kissed the top of his head and continued his tale, "and waited by the balcony. He stood tall with his back to me…"

Venti didn't interrupt him anymore. He kept his reactions to himself. Bouts of giggling, exasperated sighs, all manners of remarks were all kept to a minimum as to not disturb Alatus from recounting the final chapter of his duty to his fellow Yaksha. As promised, he would voice his interest wherever applicable. Most of his questions concerned the environment whenever a new area was uncovered. He said that it helped in better visualizing the new space.

Venti had never set foot in the depths of the Chasm since Rex Lapis and Azdaha's fight took place centuries past.

But as the tale drew closer to darker—more familiar—events, Venti's enthusiasm waned. Gone were the giggles, even from moments of levity; gone was the commentary, even when the infamous confrontation between him and Yelan came past; gone were the sighs, even when he talked about the fatigue their group was experiencing in every front.

The silence and lack of animation worried him, but he chose to press on. If he had learned anything from watching his bard perform, it was that 'the show must go on'.

"And the rest is as you know it. You found me collapsed by Pervases' Temple and nursed me to health until I roused."

Xiao caught his breath as he let his thoughts roam free, now that he wasn't taken hostage by the need to recreate a sensible narrative.

Knowing what he knew now… Venti had assisted him a tremendous amount in this personal endeavor, even without being physically present. It stumped him how it was possible that despite the multiple stressors and triggers for his Karmic Debt, he had remained… relatively stable in the Chasm Bed.

If their bond is at the bottom of this, It would not be an exaggeration for him to say that Venti had been keeping him sane through it all. At the cost of his own wellbeing…

And this is how he repaid him? With a mere tale?

"Listen, Venti, there…" Xiao gulped dryly. A sudden knot had formed in his throat. "There is something that I have been keeping from you, and it may explain our inexplicable connection from the time I was trapped inside the Chasm Bed."

Xiao held his breath. He could hear the blood rushing through his veins and the sound of his beating heart brought him immense discomfort. There was no response from the former Archon but a small shuffle indicated that he was listening.

He won't make excuses. His continuous dismissal and trivialization of his actions were what led to Venti's misfortune in the first place.

It was time for him to face it and take responsibility.

"Barbatos, we may still be bound to each other—through marriage—by means of Adepti Tradition."

Time grew agonizingly slow from that moment forward

The words were out; Xiao had confessed. All that was left was the anticipation of Barbatos' reaction.

Yet it wouldn't come soon enough.

With each passing second, all the Yaksha could hear was the increasing rate of his beating heart and all he could focus his gaze on was Venti's features. Xiao had never felt himself sweat as profusely as he did in that moment.

An eternity had passed when his serene expression twisted in annoyance.

"Nooooo, Xiaaaaoooo," Venti whined as he thrashed in place. The suddenness of the rejection made Xiao jerk backwards, completely extracting himself from the bard's vicinity. Perplexed, the Yaksha watched as the bard rolled off to the edge of the bed and… fended off(?) some unseen attacks with his hand. "Don't take my bottle awaaay!"

Xiao felt his throat dry up as he realized what was unfolding.

"Hehehe, Don't worry, I won't let him take you away." Venti rubbed the pillow on his cheek as though it were one of his most prized vintages. "Dandelion wine from Dawn Winery really is…"

The rest of the sentence became incomprehensible muttering that quickly transformed into horrendously loud snores. By the time the snoring toned down in volume, Venti's form splayed over his side of the bed with his hands possessively clinging onto the pillow, mid-nuzzle. The towel that once protected his decency now wrapped nothing of importance.

A small chuckle came out of the Yaksha.

Unbelievable.

His heart rate slowed, no longer ringing in his ears; the tension in his body relaxed. He breathed out a sigh, not one of disappointment… but of relief. He massaged his temples with one hand and let it slide down his face as he processed his disbelief.

Just how long had Venti been asleep?

Xiao glanced at the mumbling drunkard and shook his head. This turn of events may have been unexpected, but he can't deny that he felt that a weight had been lifted all the same.

The topic of their 'marriage' was not something he would have brought up under normal circumstances. Could he even call it as such when the ritual had failed and rendered the 'contract' null?

He crawled towards his exhausted lover. He raked his finger through the midnight blue locks. He already noted his partner's state earlier on, and wondered if he should commend or reprimand him for enduring exhaustion for so long. Nevertheless, he believed that Venti deserved more than what he had given and was receiving.

If their mutual suffering back in the Chasm truly was a side effect of a marriage bond between them, then Venti deserved to know the truth.

Xiao leaned over to gaze longingly at his treasure's sleeping face whilst dodging the careless swatting when he leaned in too close. He refrained from stealing a kiss for he didn't deserve it, and instead focused on bundling the sleeping Archon up with the discarded towel and a blanket.

"Sweet dreams, liebling," he whispered before settling by his side.

Perhaps, some secrets were meant to remain hidden, for fate itself decided for them to be so.

—○ ● ○ ◇◇◇ ○ ● ○ —

"A-owwww," Venti hissed as he rolled himself onto his back on the wooden floorboards. His hands flew to his elbows, and thankfully realized that they were in no way bruised.

He took great effort to peel open his eyes as he sat up. He managed to get one open and used it to assess the situation.

He fell off the bed, and Xiao was on his belly with an arm stretched across what he assumed to be his former position. He was sound asleep with some drool pooling on the pillow under him.

How cute.

Perhaps he had tired the Adeptus by regaling him with a tale. He did feel guilty having slept halfway through the tale and missing out on the juicy bits (the conflict in beliefs!), but it was simply out of his control. Sleep swept him away when he least expected it!

Well, no use crying over spilt milk, and besides, watching a peacefully sleeping Yaksha was a treat on its own.

With his mood brightened, he conditioned his body with a big stretch before hopping up to his feet and headed to their drawer. He better get himself dressed before Mr. Grumpy-Prim-and-Proper gets up and scolds him.

It wouldn't take long for the Yaksha to realize his absence and stir himself awake.

Judging from the sun's position, the day was not over yet—some time in the early afternoon. He could still afford to lounge around as his sleeping beauty slept before basking in the sun for the rest of the day.

It truly was lovely weather for a stroll.

He pulled out his designated drawer. Aside from his discarded wet clothes, and those he set aside for later, there should still be two sets of paja—

'Prepared nothing good enough as a birthday present', his butt! That silly old Yaksha really was selling himself short!

Venti shook his head, unable to contain his growing smile.

Just earlier, worried about not having a roof over his head for the days to come, and yet here came his darling knight, swooping in to remind him that he had more than that.

"I'm home," he whispered as he brought one of at least(!) two more sets of his usual attire to his chest. [15]

"Welcome home, Barbatos."

The next thing Venti knew, there were hands on his waist and that he was being kissed on the jaw. He almost dropped the fresh batch of clothes.

"Ah, you're up now! Don't sneak up on me like that," the bard chastised, giggling as he placed the clothes back where he fished them out of. He cocked his head at just the right angle to catch his liebling's lips. "Thank you."

"What for?"

"Don't play dumb with me. You had these," he spread his hand to showcase the new additions in his drawer, "made just recently. Yet you claim to be empty-handed for the occasion."

"Those aren't birthday presents."

"Presents, nonetheless."

Xiao shook his head. "Necessities."

Venti rolled his eyes, and crossed his arms. His beloved was as stubborn as always, but… he can't deny that it scored the Yaksha some brownie points this time. A smile played on his lips.

"Since you insist that they aren't 'good enough' as birthday presents…" He spun around to face his lover and leaned in, their faces a hair's breadth away from a kiss. His hands falling on top of Xiao's. "…then would you mind if I chose my present then?"

Venti loved seeing it—the moment when Xiao's desires sparked to life before the Adeptus could douse the fire with his admirable self-restraint—and knowing that it was he who was responsible for igniting it.

"I don't mind," Xiao whispered.

Archons! His mausebär was too cute for Teyvat. Just look at him wrestle with himself, fighting back his desire to bridge the gap and kiss him right then and there!

"Come and join me for a walk?" Venti asked, spinning away from his lover's hold and picking up his clothes from where he dropped them.

"No?" He taunted, looking him in the eye as he dressed. It was his duty to teach his beloved not to let an opportunity slip after all. "Well… you're welcome to hole up here and mope around all day if you're not feeling it, but ti's a waste of a bright, sunny day if I were to do the same!"

"No, that's not—" Xiao turned his back on him, clearly flustered that he witnessed Venti in the act of clothing himself. "I-I'll go."

It was impressive how the Adeptus didn't let it show in the tone of his voice, save for his adorable scrambling for words. His jittery hands were another telltale sign.

"Splendid!" The bard announced his delight, chuckling.

"If we're going out…" Xiao took a tentative look in his direction before turning away immediately. "Then there's also someone I want to introduce as well."

"Oho?" Venti chirped as he tugged on the laces of his corset. "My Xiao-Xiao wants to take me somewhere?"

"Yes."

After he put on his new cape and his new beret, he skipped his way back to his benefactor. He placed his hand on the Adeptus' shoulder to grab his attention. "Then Lead the way, Mr. Expert Tour Guide!"

"How do I look?" The bard twirled, showing off the old-yet-new ensemble, and ending it with a bow. "I must say, they fit like a glove. You've come to know me quite well, haven't you, Mr. Observant Yaksha? Right down to the measurements!"

He saw Xiao bristle slightly under his gaze.

"Aren't you going to see the Traveler today?"

Cute.

The bard pretended to give it some thought, when quite frankly, there was none to begin with. He grabbed his little one's gift and placed it onto his beloved's head.

They really did a good job with the flower crown; it suited Xiao in every way.

"I don't think Lumine would mind if we meet her some other time," he reasoned. "It's my birthday today, and I'm entitled to spend it with whomever I please. I'd rather spend the day with you alone."

He hastened to the study table to grab his calligraphy set while mumbling about writing up a quick notice to their friend as a courtesy.

"So, who are we meeting?" He said, glancing up at the Yaksha. It was a surprise he didn't complain at all.

"One of my brothers [16]." Xiao said before turning his back on him and vanishing into thin air.

Venti was left flabbergasted with his mouth hanging wide open.

Xiao left before him, and the bard knew nothing about their intended destination! The nerve of man! To think that it was Xiao who wanted to make it up to him, yet he leaves without bringing the birthday celebrant with him?!

"Hey, wait up!" He hollered as he scribbled his name and tucked the note into his pocket.

He scrambled up to the nearest window and saw no traces of his beloved. He clicked his tongue and hopped out of it anyway.

Venti glided down to a tree by the bridge and closed his eyes, concentrating on his hearing. If only that idiot made a sound, he'd know in an instant where—

The rustling of leaves and the presence behind him put his thoughts on hold. A gentle breeze passed by and The Wind patted his cheek as it did, as if it wanted to remind him of something.

"Are you ready? I asked the cook if he had some food to spare."

"Just a moment," Venti whispered as he opened his eyes and took in the sight of his new home. "I may have forgotten something."

He sent his good wishes along with the wind to the land of his birth, and hoped that his waiting by the tree in Stormterror's Lair counted towards his annual visit to his friend.

A thought came to mind as he reminisced of the events from that Place [17], including its latest addition.

Everyone talks about the warm hope they feel when one sees a rainbow over the horizon after the rain, yet why doesn't anyone talk about the touch of the first cool breeze? Doesn't it inspire hope and soothe the soul with the same ease?

Venti chuckled, and plucked a couple of Silk Flowers and added it to Xiao's flower crown.

He'll just have to drag Xiao back there some other time for a proper introduction.

—○ ● ○ ◇◇◇ ○ ● ○ —

"Gaaaaaah! Paimon's being blown away!" The pixie screamed a sudden gale swept through the plains of Windrise. "Maybe it was a bad idea waiting for the bard here."

There were heavy storm clouds headed their way, but it didn't prepare them for this onslaught. They were just glad that they didn't bring the cake with them, or it would surely have been ruined.

"But he wasn't in Mondstadt City, remember?"

Lumine grabbed Paimon by the hand before her self-prophecy was realized and shielded her from the wind until it died down.

"Paimon, you okay?" She asked upon releasing her.

The fairy had gone all quiet all of a sudden in the midst of the gale.

Paimon's eyes were closed and her hair was a mess. Small twigs and pebbles have become one with her fluffy hair. She gave a small groan and nothing more.

The Traveler teleported them into their teapot abode, laid her clearly winded onto the couch, and tended to her after unloading the picnic basket onto the tea table.

"Eh? What's this?" The Traveler plucked out a piece of damp paper as well as… a flower (?) from her hair.

A Silk Flower… It looked like it was freshly picked.

The Traveler turned her attention to the note. The writing only started to bleed, but was mostly intact and legible.

'Sorry for the short notice, but I can't meet today. I'll make it up to you in some other way~ '-Venti'

She turned back to the Silk Flower in her hand and gave it a whiff. It smelled like the ones from Wangshu Inn…

Lumine chuckled once she put two and two together and sighed. Paimon may be seeing stars now, but she'll be seeing red once she broke the news to her.

—○ ● ○ ◇◇◇ ○ ● ○ —

FOOTNOTES:

[4] If they weren't pressed for time, Venti would've gone on a whole rant about it. And it may look something like this:

"This old fossil… as pragmatic as he was, he was as subtle as a rock. He might as well declare to all of Liyue that the gig was up—that Rex Lapis was alive all along.

"The gossip rags are going to have a field day!

"Who else had the ability to set up such a grandiose display than Rex Lapis himself?

"What was with that gate? It was so enormous that Azdaha (may Rex Lapis and may Guizhong bless his soul) would have no problem passing through it.

"He didn't know what was more woeful: his inability to bury his face into his hands or being acquainted with this Rex-Incognito-wannabe.

"A shame, if only the real thing knew how to be and remain incognito as well as his fictional counterpart."

[5] Venti could still not wrap his head around that time Childe used up a whole bag of Mora to rain spheres of Hydro on him.

The man's weapon mastery was astounding, no doubt. But so too was the Mora wasted on the endeavor. A bag of Mora… there, just, flowing down the proverbial drain and (literally) watering the old dragon's crops like rain.

The amount of wine—cheap or vintage, he cared not the quality—that could've been bought with that sum!

Venti would have nightmares about it from time to time.

[6] Not all Adepti use tea-, ehem, Sereniteapots as vessels for their abodes. The Adepti in Jueyun Karst preferred to reside in domains atop cloud-touched mountaintops. Sea Gazer preferred to reside in a cave surrounded by the flowing waters of Mt. Tianheng. Rex Lapis himself preferred residing where humans dwelt.

Adeptus Xiao didn't need the vastness of land that a teapot could accommodate. His abode is but a single island in the middle of an eternal night, encased in one of his humble censers.

One day, a bard clothed in green, stumbled his way into this mysterious island. The false moon, a swirl of white, pale light, hung low in the starry night sky. The pond he fell into glittered as though it were a treasure trove of jewels. All around him were bamboo and a few berry bushes here and there.

The only man-made structure was a Liyuen-styled gazebo.

"That's barely a house at all!" remarked the bard, as he waded towards it. "

Once the bard reached a point where the water level sank below his knees, he took his cape and gave it a good wring. With a little more wading, he reached the gazebo's steps and sat right down on the stone floor with a sigh.

The view from where he sat wasn't bad at all.

"It doesn't resemble proper mortal housing, but it contains all that I need."

The bard in green flinched and raised his head, meeting the owner's golden eyes.

They held no signs of surprise or agitation. His lips showed not a smile or a frown.

He didn't know if he was in trouble or not. He had his complaints, but he kept them to himself.

"Ehe, are you going to throw me out now for trespassing?" The bard asked, scratching at the side of his cheek with a finger.

The Adeptus's gaze only shifted toward the pond before them, and leaned his back onto one of the entrance posts with his arms crossed over.

The bard followed where the Adeptus' gaze landed. The reflection on the pond showed a visage of tranquility, reflecting not only the state of the realm, but of its master's heart. Sitting cross-legged, he leaned closer to the reflection and he caught a glimpse—traces of a smile.

With a soft chuckle, he cast his eyes to the sky and let it swallow him whole.

The Adeptus was right; it really was enough.

[7] Of Unkept Promises the Night Flowers Speak

These were new additions to his abode, and took little effort to have them grow and prosper. Despite Xiao's inability to remember the full name of this flowering bush, he can't deny growing a liking to them.

Freshly plucked by Venti's own hand [7.1], and tucked on the shell of his ear, the bard sang to him praises meant only for his ears.

They even compliment the Small Lampgrass he had been cultivating around the pavilion in his spare time.

[7.1] "With this, my dear, it's as if you were with me on that night where spirits only grew higher and the tales were spun tighter!"

Venti told him of a Forest Guardian Yokai whose wonderous self was captured in stone. He was surrounded by these curious luminescent plants. He plucked one as a keepsake after having a 'Tall Tale Showcase' with the young Tanukis as the audience.

Drunk with Tanuki Sake—none questioned its make—the stories and cheers went on till the morning's break.

'Damn that Kitsune for making me wait!' was the last sleep-laden grumbling the bard heard down the forest trail.

Having heard from the fair Trav'ler of the Kitsune's fate, the bard dare not speak of it—not until well outside the Forest Gates.

[8]

A certain cheerful bard once informed him as said bard slung an apron around his waist and tied its strings for him.

He looked rather pleased to see him help out Chef Yanxiao with the dishes that one time, and from then on, he made it a habit to 'show his gratitude' to the Wangshu Inn staff more often in hopes of making Venti proud and seeing that soft smile of his whilst tousling his hair into a mess as he did.

[9] The new inclusions are Rice Pudding and Sweet Egg Rolls.

(Will they be featured in a different fic? Definitely.)

[10] A Yaksha's Mask contains immeasurable power in exchange for a fraction of their very own life and sanity.

One can surmise the frustration of one certain Anemo Elemental Sprite to be just as immeasurable when the last Yaksha needlessly used his mask…

"Idiot! Idiot! Idiot! What do you think you're doing?!" Venti snaps the moment the Xiao's Yaksha mask dematerializes. He pounds his fists on the other's chest and flails in the Yaksha's arms. His voice drips with so much worry and panic, it startles the Adeptus into letting go of his grip on the mortal form of the former Archon. The bard gracefully lands on his feet—to the Yaksha's relief—and continues his tirade. "You needn't go so far as to use your mask to get to me! You could've gotten hurt!" Venti fusses around him to see if there are external injuries on Xiao's person. "Calm down, Venti. It isn't much; it was only one jump." Xiao tries to get the bard to stand still by placing his hands on the bard's shoulders. The sight was both foreign and familiar at the same time. He sighs and looks at Venti, whose troubled aqua pools make him a tinge bit guilty. He feels a trickle of cold sweat slide down his cheek. Why is Venti going into hysterics over a trivial matter?

—"Of Exclamations, Alabaster, Small Lampgrass, Small Lanterns, and Street Lamps", Chapter 4

[11] The 'measures' came in the name of the 'Traveler and her party' who were set to monopolize all the increased bounty- and commission-rewards brought upon the situation.

The [extremely 'out of shape' Fa—] sponsor would oftentimes tag along to have his fill of battle for the day.

[12]The tale of the Stone Soup has many variations. The version that I used and am fond of this the one illustrated in this video.

[13] Barbatos may try as hard as he might to muffle the sounds threatening to come out of him, it was all but a series of futile attempts.

Nothing escapes a Yaksha's trained eyes (he could see the flush deepen in color as well) and ears.

[14] This references the same story as footnote 10, you may view it here.

[15] Prior to a clothes shopping trip with Childe and Morax from a while back [15.1], he only had two sets of his usual attire. One would be the clothes on his back and the other is something he would change into once he sends the dirtied set off to the launderer (which could be the himself, or one of Wangshu inn's staff).

The said shopping trip gave him two sets of pajamas and two sets of indoor wear. More formal outdoor wear can be rented, if needed.

[15.1] A story for another day~ (AKA, the author is sorry for robbing you of this fic. I was torn between starting that fic or Paying Debts at the time...)

[16] Rather, Bosacius' Relics.

Wangshu Inn did not only function as a shelter for weary travelers but it functioned as a hub of intelligence.

Information isn't uniform.

From news from the Harbor to neighborly gossip; from the legendary tales of the Adepti to scummy practices of cult leaders and fake martial arts schools, one can glean and pick up grains of the truth. With enough experience, that is.

And while not an expert, the Vigilant Yaksha was no greenhorn.

One such story piqued Adeptus Xiao's interest: rumored treasure—dubbed as "the Yaksha's Inheritance" or "the Millelith's Treasure"

Legend has it that the Millelith were commanded by Rex Lapis to stand guard over the ore veins after a calamity had befallen upon the Chasm. Monstrosities poured out, and Millelith could only do so much to suppress the onslaught. And amidst the chaos, a Yaksha took charge of the situation and led a group into the Chasm's inner depths which quelled the unrest.

No one knew of the Yaksha's name, and descriptions of him were generalized: One who possesses "fearsome strength"; One who "drew strength from a mask"; One whose "presence stemmed the tide".

If one were to find the 'correct' offerings, the memorial would unveil the rumored treasure.

Something—a flicker, a spark of hope—lit up within Alatus.

This rumor may lead him to finally fulfill his duty to his fellow Yaksha… one of his brothers. He may finally know of Bosacius' fate.

It was worth mentioning that the Traveler's name was brought up in conversation.

He needed to investigate the matter himself.

His initial findings led him to a hollowed out entrance, hidden away by the terrain itself. Deep inside this fault was the Lost Valley domain where he found most of Bosacius' possessions.

He was here. Marshal Vritras was here.

This was proof enough for him to seek out Rex Lapis' blessing to dive even deeper.

Note: info reference here are from the World Quest "The Millennial Mountains".

[17] In a rift somewhere Stormterror's Lair, was a haven where one would spot a magnificent tree, surrounded by crystal clear waters of a shallow pond where fish thrived happily and the fireflies came out to play in the evenings.

The air in the area buzzed with some sort of energy that manifested as a wisps and specks of gold.

A small wooden bridge allowed one to cross to the other side where a grotto lay. Crystals of various shapes and forms could be seen—a rich mineral outcrop. Yet one could feel a certain sense of importance—a monumental event must have taken place here. Yet there are no tombstones, memorials or markers to be found, for there laid no corpse underground. That brave young man's remains are forever one with the Wind.

This haven did not possess a name, and was only known to blacksmiths for its bounty of curious crystals. (Or so they thought, for there lived a keeper of this place).

If you ever find yourself in the vicinity of Stormterror's Lair, catch the endtail of song or a whiff of Cecilia blossoms—heck, you may even witness a flurry of white petals come past with the breeze!—then know that the secret haven is within reach, and that keeper of this place had just gone for a visit.

---

A/N: Well, I hope this clears up some mysteries from where I left off last chapter! And okay, I 1/2 lied. I still have some extra content for this fic, but... that can wait. Let me first recover from all the angst I went through and the buckets of literal tears I've shed while writing this. (I can't believe I worked on this for 6 whole months agdbsjndjd) Hmmmm, I'm planning to work on any of the following: verg lateXiao birthday fic, Lantern Rite 2022, Paying Debts ch 7 and Shapeshifting ch2. Any preferences in which one I should tackle first? Also, if you have any questions let me know! I'll be happy to answer~
And if you can ? please let me know what you think?
Thanks for reading! ?