Coincidence or Fate?
cradle_of_chaos
Disclaimer: I do not own Genshin Impact or its characters.
A/N: Top Xiao, Bottom Venti! Ehe~ Zhongli is a daddy XD
CHAPTER 3
"You're here again, Alatus." Barbatos smiled warmly at the warrior he loves the most. "Are you sure you are not skipping work?" He lightly caresses the warrior's cheek, removing some dark green locks from the guy's gorgeous face, long hair swayed along the tender wind.
"I have apples." Alatus said as an excuse trying to suppress his smile while he handed the small basket of red fruits to the Anemo God. They both know that it's just an excuse. Barbatos often stays at the East Wing side of the Anemo Faction territory because he enjoys relaxing under the big ancient, monumental oak tree. While Xiao is one of the high-ranking warriors stationed at the West Wing. It would take 30 minutes (sometimes an hour) just to go from the West wing to the East wing and vice versa.
"Would you like me to play the flute, or shall I give you a kiss as a thanks for bringing me these sweet apples?" The God of wind said teasingly, biting one of the apples.
Alatus blushed. He decided not to answer the question. If he told the Archon that he prefers the kiss, he would be teased more.
"Clear your schedule for today and come with me." Barbatos suddenly said, floating towards the amber brown-eyed guy.
"Where to?" Alatus answered softly, slowly catching the floating God into his arms, and lifting the teal-eyed God into a bridal style. He hates to admit it but he is deeply in love with the Anemo God.
"To the God of contracts. Then let's visit the God of eternity." Barbatos whispered, giving him a quick peck on the lips. Alatus blushed more with the sweet gesture. He can taste the sweetness of the apple from the Archon's lips. Barbatos saw right through him again. The warrior gazed at the Anemo God lovingly, thinking that this celestial being has the ethereal beauty he'd fallen so deeply in love with.
[Xiao's POV]
It was warm. It was warmer than the usual temperature. He opened his eyes and saw the usual ceiling of his apartment. This time, he could say it was more of a sweet dream rather than a nightmare. Unfortunately, as usual he could not remember what the dream was all about. He wanted to cry. He badly wanted to remember that dream. But what else can he do?
His chest felt heavy. Suddenly, he smelled something fresh; it is the smell of the shampoo he has been using. His cheek tickles as some hair strands touch his face. He checks what or who it is, and becomes aware that Venti is hugging him as if he is a body pillow. He was hesitant to move. Staying in that position doesn't bother him in the slightest. So this is what it feels like sleeping beside someone, he thought. He always tells the dark blue-haired guy to sleep on the sofa but always ends up sleeping beside him on the bed. He mulls over the time when this guy slips to his bed. Probably in the middle of the night when he was already in a deep sleep.
It's been more than a month since Venti started living with him. Good thing his grandma sends food from the crops she planted which is enough for the two of them to last for a few months. He is also not a big eater so the food supplies are not an issue. He starts getting used to living with the Bard. Venti's music and songs relaxes him. Even Venti's presence is enough. And for the first time in a very long time, Xiao didn't feel alone.
A smile creeps to his lips. He'd grown to trust this Anemo being, rather, he was able to put his trust in Venti from the first time he saw those teal eyes.
Venti already explained that he was a newbie guardian tasked to drive Xiao's bad luck away. Xiao knew that there were other guardians who tried to help him since there were some unknown people/beings visiting him before, saying the same thing like Venti; but they didn't even last for a day. Xiao even tried to call for exorcists and priests before, but it also did not resolve anything.
Venti was the first one who lasted for a long time together with him. It's already a miracle, and he prayed that the time would stop. He doesn't want to go back to the time when he was alone after finding someone who could stay with him.
Living with Venti is like living with a normal person. Except that Xiao is the only one who can see and hear the teal-eyed guy. Accidents seem to lessen too which proves how powerful Venti is. Another thing to keep in mind is that this bard loves to drink; and Xiao is too anxious to buy alcoholic drinks from the store, even if he is already a university student and is in the legal age. Good thing, one of his professors gave him wine which he gave to Venti. He was surprised about his professor suddenly giving wine, but he accepted it without asking why. The professor claimed that they just have a lot of wine, and the wine is a reward since Xiao's been on top of his class and has excellent grades. Xiao started suspecting his professor since the latter started giving him a bottle of wine, one week after Venti arrived. He has been receiving wine from the said instructor once a week ever since.
Venti buried his face deeper unto his neck. Xiao flinched at the sudden movement, bringing his mind back to the present. His amber brown eyes wandered down to Venti's exposed legs that were strangling his waist. He gulped. He can feel the dark blue-haired guy's warm breath into his skin.
.dangerous.
He panics a little. What do you do in a situation like this? He's never been close to someone before. He sensed his dragon slightly rising down there. 'Please not now'. He was scared that Venti would notice his erection. The dark blue-haired guy moved, slightly brushing the bump on Xiao's boxer shorts. He gulped for the second time, sensing that his pet is getting harder. He is a just healthy young man, and this is normal - he reasoned out to himself.
"Hnngh." Xiao's eyes widened, hearing the dark blue-haired guy's voice. He thought that Venti was moaning but was not.
He stared at Venti's face, eyes slowly opening, revealing the teal colors. They stared at each other for a moment.
"Good morning." Venti mumbles in his husky morning voice. That was sexy, Xiao paused by the idea, then looked away. He responded with a 'Hn' to Venti, trying to hide his cheeks that is lightly blushing. Venti always makes him flustered and he wishes that he'll get used to it too. He was thankful that he was able to stop himself from pinning Venti on the bed.
Their morning passed peacefully. His cup didn't shatter like last time, and he was able to drink coffee peacefully again that day.
He suddenly felt a gentle wind brushing against his shoulder. He looked up and saw Venti floating. The first time he saw it, he stumbled and fell from his seat. Venti explained that he is doing a cleansing ritual and drives some negative energy away from him. The ritual is comforting; it's like Venti is hugging him from the back and Venti's wings enveloping him in a warm embrace.
Xiao finishes his breakfast and goes to school, Venti following him. This has been their routine for a month. When his class finishes early, he would go to the library to work on his projects and assignments.
Soon his classes were done. They were on their way to the library, Venti following Xiao behind, when Xiao saw the professor that has been giving him wine. There stood a handsome instructor near the door of one of the classrooms; with dark brown hair which is styled in a windswept fashion with a longer fringe that hangs from the right side of his face. It fades to amber brown at the tips and is pulled back in a long ponytail that falls beyond his waist.
"Zhongli-sensei." Xiao greeted. The professor looked at who greeted and only nodded back, and then turned his eyes at Xiao's side.
Xiao followed where Zhongli was looking, realizing it was Venti's way. Could it be that his professor can see Venti as well? As far as he knows, only him can see Venti. There was a little jealousy birthing from his heart. Yes, he highly admires and respects Zhongli-sensei. He never had a father, and it was Zhongli who had been a father figure for him. Even so, he wanted to at least keep Venti all to himself. He frowns a bit, carefully not to show it in front of his professor.
"I'll be going first sensei. I'm heading to the library." Xiao bow once again as a courtesy. He gave Venti a small signal to follow him.
"Go ahead." Zhongli watches as the 2 guys leave. Xiao was right - the professor can see Venti following behind Xiao. Zhongli went back to the empty classroom to pick up his materials and prepare himself to go to the faculty room.
"Isn't that the Anemo God? What is he doing here on Earth, and with a human? That human is also interesting - he is covered with a lot of negative energy. With that vast negative energy, it is natural to attract bad luck. Poor human soul." A mysterious mythical creature commented, appearing out of nowhere and floating near the professor. The creature was a quadruped toad-like dragon; it's neither scary nor disgusting. The creature is rather cute. The door from the classroom is open and the students pass by the hallway. Yet only the professor can see and hear the dragon-like creature.
"Azhdaha, that is not negative energy nor bad luck. That's what they called a Karmic Debt, a curse from fighting and slaying heavenly beings for so long." The brown-haired instructor corrected, fixing his eyeglass.
"A tremendous karmic debt on a human? He's not an ordinary human then." Azhdaha questioned, he saw a lot of human being with karmic debt, but he had never heard and never seen of a human having a karmic debt as worst as those from Xiao.
"The two of them have a history. Circumstances happen." Zhongli wanted to try to help the dark-green haired warrior once more, like what he did before. It was not Xiao's fault. It was a great chaos in the heaven's realms back then. However, it is best to let them be for a while. Tsaritsa's whereabouts are still unknown. He needs to visit heaven realm's again to speak with Dvalin and Ei about this. Xiao and Venti will be safe on earth for now, but that will not be too long.
Sometimes, karmic debt relates to very close relationships that have crossed lifetimes, which is where karmic relationships come into play. A person may be repeatedly drawn into a relationship with one particular person. Zhongli knew about this. He was not even surprised to see the 2 of them together. Furthermore, Zhongli has been silently watching over Xiao when he discovered Xiao as a human attending University. Zhongli doesn't know if it is luck that he saw Xiao one time from the street. He followed and learned that Xiao will be enrolling as a University student. Zhongli went through great lengths and even had to apply as a professor in order to watch Xiao closely. He is not sure before if Xiao is Alatus or they are just have the same appearance. He observed him closely to figure out why Xiao has a vast of negative energy surrounding him; until Zhongli saw the Anemo Archon together with Xiao which confirms Zhongli's hunch that Xiao and Alatus are the same individual. It also seems that the Anemo Archon has not yet regain his memories.
"So you know what happened between them." Azhdaha inquired again, glancing suspiciously at the dark brown-haired professor.
"No. Not the whole truth." Zhongli might not know or might know the whole story. Either way, he is on Xiao and Venti's side, and would be happy if they find the way to each other's arms again.
"Time didn't blink when they loved each other's moments of glad grace, and with love true to their oath; one loved the pilgrim soul in the other, And the other loved the sorrows of the warrior. Their story was beautiful and at the same time painful."
Wherever Xiao goes, Venti goes with him; to the point that he had to close the door and forbid Venti from entering the bathroom together.
"But what if something happens and I'm not there?" How many times did Xiao hear Venti said it?
Sometimes, he knows that the bard is just teasing him. There are also times that he gives in; however, his heart can't cope up with Venti's gestures and touches during those times. Although Venti did not mean it or it doesn't mean anything, he feels like his heart will burst with the actions or closeness.
He didn't know that Venti's touch and gestures actually have meanings. Xiao's hands are always cold and the dark blue haired-guy wants to give warmth to Xiao. He wanted to embrace Xiao...always...all the time. And he too cannot understand why. He was too anxious to be separated from Xiao for too long. He feels that he will lose Xiao the moment he takes his eyes from him.
They didn't know that both of them crave and yearn for each other's touch.
For the heart and body can remember things that the mind forgets.
to be continued...
Notes:
A/N: I love this chapter! I was giggling while typing this. Xiao and Venti are both precious ahhhh. I wanted to share about the story where Barbatos is always in the East Wing with the Oak tree, imagine the Windrise location.
I also imagine Xiao with long hair like this: www_zerochan_net/3187588 (please change the underscore into . coz I am not able to save it with the direct link)
And Barbatos as cute and breedable like this www_pinterest_ph/pin/8373949297763151/
Thank you for reading this chapter. Hope you continue to support and read this fic.
Chapter 4 will contain smut and bedscene. Please be warned. Imma upload the next chapters this December. Thank you!