AN: Happy Valentine's Day!
I'm sorry for not updating for so long. Tbh... I didn't get to update here as much because of my trouble with formatting and pictures... I'm not even sure if anyone pieces together the links I try to provide. ^^;
So I'll just update with just the words bit. I'm sorry that I can't provide the full experience here vs another site (so really, try out the AO3 ver under 'thelurkingredpanda' for the links and pics~)
I'll go upload the others shortly as well.
I hope you enjoy~
Extra 2
"O-o-oh!"
Venti gasps as his hand reaches out to grab onto anything that would keep his balance. He finds purchase on the bundle of hair of his statue's braids.
"Phew, that was a close one! You okay over there?"
He looks over his shoulder where Xiao should remain blissfully unaware of what just happened, so he giggles when a soft whine comes from Xiao as he buries his head even deeper into the crook of his neck.
"Venti… hold still…"
He should've known! Nothing escapes the Vigilant Yaksha!
Well, not the exact circumstances of his sudden jolt—their close call into becoming splatters on the ground by the feet of the Anemo Archon's statue in front of Mondstadt Cathedral. They will be unrecognizable blobs on the ground—indistinguishable from their human forms! The sisters, oh the sisters!,will need to clean up the mess that they've become to spare the citizens and tourists the gruesome sight before them.
Alright, maaaybe he is being a smidge overdramatic.
He's sure the Wind has their backs covered if they really were to fall to their deaths like in some cinematic. So no real problem there, ehe~
Venti scoots farther back into the statue's hood and gently maneuvers Xiao's lower body to fully sit on his lap.
So pliant, his Yaksha is, when he is asleep like this.
He cups his beloved's cheek. He wonders what it is the other is dreaming of to make his brow scrunch up ever so slightly. Is he dreaming of their accidental fall? The bard leans closer, admiring those long, long lashes that compliments the red eyeliner—usually impeccably placed to frame his honey-gold eyes—has been smudged away. His finger trails up, gently thumbing away the cracked parts.
His Alatus is so, so pretty. He'll have to remind him of that more in the future.
Once the red dust has been removed, his hand slides down and his thumb encounters something wet.
Ah, his Yaksha's cuteness is also unparalleled. He must be so, so very tired.
He smears the drool away and brings his lips to that spot for a kiss.
Venti sighs contentedly at how his beloved doesn't stir awake—a sign of a job well done. He himself admits to feeling bonelessly tired—considering how easily the Land of Nod's ferryman dragged him over to his boat without him noticing it.
He looks at his city, its citizens still slumbering away. He looks up to the deep dark blue of the sky above and watches as the stars hanging onto it begin to dim. It won't be long now 'til the sun makes its grand entrance as a brand new day approaches.
It is almost a shame that he has no control of the passage of time. If he could, he's sure it wouldn't be too selfish of him to prolong this night just a tiny, tiny bit longer. His people wouldn't mind sleeping a tad bit longer, right?
But… there's no use thinking of things he has no control of. Time slips like sand in his hands, just as it does for the others (Morax included).
He'll just have to savor all that the night has to offer. First thing's first: respite. He needs to get Xiao to a bed before the horizon bathes in morning's first light.
While it is flattering that Xiao has found comfort in his statue's presence, even making it his roosting ground for the night, it is not the most comfortable of places to stay. The Adeptus himself may not have any strong opinions on comfort—having no qualms about braving through such harsh conditions and brushing it off—but he does.
Venti wants Xiao to sleep soundly in the comfort of a fluffy, warm bed, and the one in his room in Angel's Share certainly fits the bill. Despite being of modest size, his room is one of those being rented out to guests on any other occasion, so of course the quality is nothing to scoff about! Only the more well-to-do customers book a night's stay—a luxury that most cannot afford to. And, there's no better way to enjoy such luxuries than sharing it with someone most dearest to you!
"Hold tight, liebling."
The barmaid scoops the unconscious Yaksha into his arms. Xiao grumbles something incomprehensible, making him chuckle. With a kick, they slide off their perch.
Ever reliable, the Wind keeps its master airborne as the Anemo Archon unveils his wings and uses them to glide down towards their destination.
•○●○• ◇ •○●○•
Night shifts are always never a joy. In the earlier parts, it can be quite enjoyable with festival goers still up and about, drunkards staggering their way home, and the citizens going on with their nightly rituals. But as the night grows deeper, each step he takes becomes much heavier.
With the pleasant evening chill, the ever-growing calm of taverns winding down and the blanketing peace that envelopes the residences, it does nothing to sleep he could tugging at his eyes. And worst of all? The temptation to slack off has become worse these days.
The Knights are not permitted to slack off, of course. They have to maintain a certain level of dignity, especially in national events such as Windblume.
If he were (un)lucky, he would be an audience to a certain bard's last performance of the night—on the tavern's balcony or some roof or empty plaza—the bard strumming a slow song on his lyre and pairing it with his gentle, golden voice, effectively lulling him and all his listeners to sleep whilst standing up.
He had seen the bard perform countless times, and yet, there is something in these late-night performances that speaks to him—telling him to lay down his troubles and be at peace.
Speaking of; it has been a while since he had told off the very same young man not to take too long from his walk. Should he check up on him? His negligence may reflect badly on the Knights if something were to happen to him.
Venti is the beloved star of Angel's Share—quickly gaining an impressive following since he started regularly performing at the tavern... dressed in a certain get up. His employment as wait staff after his bardly duties certainly helped his popularity.
Huffman resists the urge to hug himself as a shiver ran through him. He could only imagine the fans' reaction if their angel were harmed in any way. He knows how fans could react to such news, being in the Barbara fan club himself.
Not good! Not good! He is getting too distracted while on duty! He slaps himself awake and continues his rounds with the dignity of one of the Knights of Favonius.
Venti... he'll turn up sooner or later. He'll just issue him a warning and a talking-to when he comes up.
The said opportunity for a stern talking-to does not take too long to present itself. He spots a figure gliding down towards the marketplace fountain. The figure's flight looks rather unsteady, tittering from side to side.
That looks incredibly unsafe.
Huffman draws nearer to the approaching figure and comes to an abrupt halt, his mouth parted.
The figure is indeed the jolly bard in green, and yet on his back... is one of the most unusual but elegant gliders he has ever seen.
Is... is it even a wind glider? With the way the wings flap up and down as though nature itself has crafted them, they looked like the real deal—a true set of wings. Pure, feathery white, complimented by a golden ring on each wing. Their shape... had he seen it before? It's familiar, yet he couldn't place where exactly.
Huffman watches Angel's Share's angel fly as if he owned the skies in that small part of Mondstadt. It doesn't matter if the bard is toeing the line of the no-flight zone, as Huffman couldn't break free from his spot—too mesmerized at the sight before him. He shakes his head and pulls himself together. Residents shouldn't stay out this late, and he already decided to give Venti a warning earlier.
"Alright, alright, I'll set you down here. No need to get so rowdy!"
"Venti, you need not carry me." Venti's companion settles down, crossing his arms. "Both of my feet are in working condition."
Huffman's eyes widen at the sight of the wind glider—no those were definitely wings—dematerializing. There is no way that a wind glider can scatter light, dissolve like glitter into the air—without leaving so much as a trace—like that!
"Yes, yes, but you can't honestly think I'd ruin all my hard work?" The bard crosses his own arms, looking displeased… more like sullen, with his companion's reaction. He does perk up two seconds later, his finger in the air. "And besides, I've warned you earlier—that I'll sweep you off your feet if I catch you overworking yourself."
The companion flinches, and looks away.
"You can't fault me for making good on my promise, can you now, dear Xiao?"
"I-I…" This Xiao-person stutters, lowering his head. "I know that."
"Come now, let's not get you too worked up." Venti sidles close and steals a quick peck on the lips before skipping ahead of Xiao. "Let's get you to bed, hm?"
Once he is far enough, he turns around and offers his hand to his companion.
It-it is unbecoming of a Knight to eavesdrop, not to mention, spy on the citizens' personal affairs. But, Huffman couldn't help it because 1) he is within range of the conversation and 2) he couldn't very well barge in there just to give Venti that talking-to when they're in a middle of some kind of lover's spat. So he had no other choice but to hide himself behind one of the nearby buildings.
Huffman heard about the commotion in Angel's Share earlier tonight. He was busy dealing with the suspicious men that the Darknight Hero had brought in while the Barmaid Venti fanclub was having its breakdown. But, there is no doubt in his mind that this is Venti's rumored lover—the source of the bemoaning of every drunkard that he escorted safely home due to over intoxication.
He jumps when he realizes that he is locking eyes with this Xiao-person. He averts his gaze and does a complete about-face.
While it's best to tell-off a person when he is caught red-handed, something tells him that Venti's warning can wait.
He lets his mind wander onto other topics, such as indulging in a nice long nap after his shift and craving for an unforgivable amount of Windblume Apple Cider for any active Knight on duty, even—no, especially—during the festival season.
•○●○• ◇ •○●○•
Humans and their penchant for gossip.
Xiao will never understand the need to be fed with unreliable sources of information or the need to be deeply involved in the lives of those he never interacts with.
But, he cannot deny that he feels a triumphant sense of satisfaction at putting that human in place.
There is no place for eavesdroppers here. Not unless they are willing to relay to the others how Venti is his.
"Anything the matter?"
"No," Xiao replies, taking Venti's offered hand. "It's nothing."
"Hm, well… if you say so~"
Venti's hand feels so warm in his. That smile shot in his direction gives the same effect for the rest of his being.
—○ ● ○ ◇◇◇ ○ ● ○ —
Extra 3
Mondstadt's streets are… similar to a maze. Are all human settlements constructed this way in this age?
Xiao has seen Qingce Village's human settlements from afar and a quaint recreation of it inside the Traveler's abode up close, but they are nothing compared to the sights of a city. He had seen glimpses of grandiose structures in the Harbor from Mt. Tianheng. It is to be expected for parallels in Mondstadt to exist.
What surprises him is how constricting it feels to walk down the cobbled pathways of Mondstadt. Heh, Venti would pout, repeatedly and playfully pounding his shoulder for thinking that the Karst Mountains and other Adepti abodes to feel much freer to him than the bard's beloved City of Freedom.
He would be called a 'meanie' for sure, but just as easily as the nickname would flow from his mouth, so too would he be forgiven.
The Adeptus closes his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose as he blocks out the visual bombardment. He came back here to appease the restlessness he felt back at the inn—not to get lost in a foreign land.
Venti would've told him otherwise.
His treasure would tell him that it's a good thing to be lost in a place full of wonder! But, Xiao also believes that his bard would not mean it spatially.
No, he is not lost like that. This particular Adeptus is simply familiarizing himself with human day-to-day activities. In fact, he is partaking in one such human activity: "taking a break" on one of those benches scattered about in the city.
He takes his seat and turns his way this way and that. He straightens himself, but finds it too troublesome to keep his posture straight and alert. Sighing, he allows himself to slump forward with his forearms resting on his knees.
It all looked so busy.
Crates, basins, barrels, wagons, and stacks of hay are scattered about—but never in a way to obstruct the path. He had found knick knacks and toys around the bases of trees, under benches, and even atop of crates and barrels that were piled high. He had not noticed walking in circles a few times, seeing as the façade of buildings look the same and that there are many paths that could lead to the same area. It is only when he noticed the minor differences each house or establishment had in place did he gain a path out of the loop he found himself stuck in.
Twists and turns were common. They branch into new paths or lead to private areas; gardens, little seating areas, even empty space behind someone's house. Streets could terminate at a whim. [41] A straight path could split into two to accommodate a lone building in the middle.
And yet, the humans went about their business with clear familiarity, unhindered by the seemingly haphazard arrangements of space.
It took him a while, but as he sat there and just wracked his brain with possibilities, he grew to form some understanding.
The City is not entirely incomprehensible or unruly. It comes down to perspective, or framing. This is a setup that works for humans, not for beings such as himself. Everything has a purpose.
Humans are prone to tiring, and they age quickly, hence the presence of multiple benches. Human senses grow even weaker in the dark, the darkness inciting a sense of danger, hence their need for illumination at every turn on every street. Humans are social beings, hence the presence of drinking establishments and outdoor seating which can accommodate multiple people.
The City becomes less like a maze with the proper mindset in place. It's still like a puzzle, still full of things he couldn't wrap his head around. But, one that he can take his time to unravel.
Xiao leans back on his seat, draping an arm across his eyes.
This place is not unlike Venti himself. Full of color, so full of life. He and his people are cut from the same cloth.
And yes, much like their resident deity, they seem to be extremely fond of their drink and their songs. He could hear such manners of raucous merriment from a nearby tavern. [42] Their voices are disappointingly not on par with his bard's.
With a click of a tongue, he drowns out the noise. He does not want for his thoughts to gain speed yet again.
The Yaksha's gaze drifts off to an object on his hip.
It is the Dihua flute that he had thought he had lost forever in his carelessness. He takes it out of its case and admires it under the cloudless night sky.
It is unharmed.
That imp, taking it into his possession without permission and using it to test him in the process. Did Venti honestly think Xiao would let him off with his performance earlier?
He ran his fingers over the flute's wooden body.
Did Xiao have to ask, when the answer is as clear as day? Yes, he would because he employed the trickiest of tricks—playing their song in a different arrangement.
Xiao fiddles with the ornament hanging from one end.
At the end of the day, he couldn't be truly angry at Venti. His intentions come from a good place, and… he seems remorseful enough with his actions.
He shakes his head clear of any thoughts before he recounts each instance his treasure's eyes reflected anything other than joy from earlier. It would only make him want to storm Angel's Share and whisk Venti away back to Liyue. And he already resolved not to do just that.
His fingers halt upon reaching the mouthpiece.
•○●○• ◇ •○●○•
"Have you heard about 'indirect kisses'?"
Xiao switches the view in his eyes from Dihua Marsh to the bard who was one move away from falling backwards from his seat.
"The what?"
"Oho~ So you haven't!"
THUD!
"O-o-ow…" Venti picks himself up from the floor and bounces straight towards him with a stupid, stupid smile plastered on his face. "And here I thought you have since you've been snooping at my Inazuman reference materials."
Xiao rolls his eyes at him. It is true that he had peered into the pages of one such novel, but he had only read up to a few pages. He concluded such works to be overly frivolous for his tastes [even when he has found them educational to a point].
"No." The Yaksha does a quick once over to see if Venti had hurt himself from that bout of carelessness, and sets his sights back to the Marsh when he sees not a single scratch. "And, I have no interest in learning what it is."
"Mr. Grumpy Spoilsport is at it again, hmph." Venti pokes his cheek as he focuses on his nightly watch. A quick glance confirms that the bard, indeed, has his cheeks puffed up with a pout. The other then taps his shoulder, when the poking proved to be of no use. He shrugs the finger off everytime.
"Don't you have a song advertisement to write?" Xiao asks once he finds himself unable to concentrate on the task at hand.
"Awww, don't be like that. It's break time!" Venti whines before burying his head against the Yaksha's exposed back. Xiao doesn't comment on the ticklish sensation of having the bard's fluffy hair rub against that spot. The imp probably already knows, and that's precisely why he's attacking it. "I'll get to it, but look here first. I have something for you~"
Xiao sighs, unable to truly resist his little one's attention-seeking antics. He takes a step to his left as he turns towards the bard when a spoonful of something is unceremoniously shoved into his unsuspecting mouth in one quick motion.
"And that's…" Venti leaves the spoon in his mouth and grabs one of his hands. "... an indirect kiss."
The bard kisses his cheek, smiling into it, before balancing the bowl of the dessert into his hand.
"I've eaten a bite using that very same spoon. Enjoy~" The sprightly imp winks at him before bouncing back into his chair. He makes a show out of his renewed vigor in writing as he scribbles onto the paper without pause, giggling to himself.
Xiao's brows furrow as he takes the spoon in question out of his mouth. He held it up in the air for scrutiny before scooping a small chunk of dessert.
There is nothing substantially different with the spoon. What was all that fuss about?
•○●○• ◇ •○●○•
The spoon.
It wasn't the spoon, per se, he realizes. It's…
"Venti's lips… on..."
They also graced the mouthpiece on this flute. Would putting his lips on the mouthpiece be similar to a delayed kiss? Is that what an 'indirect kiss' is?
Xiao looks at the flute innocently laying there in his hands. He cowers in frustration.
Stupid, stupid, stupid. What in Teyvat is he fixating on?
His wretched memory—all too happy to play into that mischievous sprite's hand—provides him a clear picture of Venti's lips and the tiny, tiny bruises he left there from their—ehem—activities behind the tavern.
It's too late. That imp already has rendered him stupid. He planned for this—planted this idiotic idea into his head in advance. All for this moment when they are apart.
A month's absence should be nothing, he keeps reminding himself. And yet, why is this insignificant amount of time enough to magnify tonight's experiences with Venti?
His hands move to cover the rest of his face as heat surges—without his explicit permission—up his neck and right up to the tips of his ears.
Closing his eyes is a mistake.
He could remember Venti's sultry gaze—those aqua jewels demanding his full attention. Those eyes make him want to kiss their owner even more than ever.
Xiao takes in deep breaths and equally deep exhales. He needs to clear his mind [and conscience]. Now. Lest he subjects himself into an mortifyingly base state [43].
Pathetic. He has found himself asking where his millennia of self-discipline had run off more often than he would usually expect over the course of a single night.
His eyes dart upward, desperately disabling any dishonorable thoughts. They feed his urge to bring Venti home.
And that just won't do.
His eyes land on the nearest building and its festive decor. Blues from the roses, reds from the Windwheel Asters and yellows from the Dandelions splayed across the roofs in the form of garlands.
The flowers are everywhere.
They are on roofs, house walls, balcony railings and even inside barrels. The walls encasing the city are not exempted. He counts the flower wreaths and flower garland that stretch across its broad perimeter.
Even Venti's attire that night had flower motifs on it—of floating Dandelion Seeds and Windwheel Asters.
"Do you think I'm cute in this?"
Xiao jolts, his shoulder raising, when something pounces on him without warning. The creature paws at his lap. Slowly, he sets his gaze lower until he meets dark brown eyes, bright as it looks up at him. Its muzzle hangs open with its tongue lolling out as it pants. He knows not its breed, but it has pointed ears. Despite his lack of knowledge of domesticated beasts, he knows for a fact that this one is wearing an excitable look on its face.
Arf! Arf!
Thank Rex Lapis for bestowing mercy upon him—providing enough to salvage what little is left in him as an Illuminated Beast.
The dog closes its mouth and tilts its head to the side.
"Ah, you're right. I've dawdled enough here," Xiao says as he tentatively rests one hand on the canine's head and pets it. The action makes the dog open its mouth and loll its tongue again as it pants. "There is more of this city that I wish to explore."
As if understanding him, the dog jumps off of him and pads a few steps away before looking back at him. Its tail wags enthusiastically all the while.
Does it intend to accompany him of its own accord?
It barks once more and jumps, twirling in a contained circle 'in reply'. Seeing the Yaksha's lack of movement makes it pad closer to the sitting figure once more. It settles down by his feet, looking up to him expectantly.
It takes a few more moments of staring before Xiao obliges. Not many creatures are willing to stand in his presence; they are so quick to flee.
Domesticated species' instincts seem to be duller than those in the wild. As rare as the offer is, he might as well take it.
Just as he stands, another creature possessing little to no sense of self-preservation comes to mind. He shakes the image off as he tucks the flute back into his belt—securing it twice. He collects himself before setting foot once again into the twisting and winding streets of Mondstadt City.
The dog gets back up on his feet and runs before him before trotting leisurely toward what looks like a wider connected street.
Xiao lets it lead; it knows its way in the city more than he.
And as for the flute, he will have a… use for it some other time.
… … …
(Too bad friendships take time to form and take root. The short companionship of 'man's best friend' simply cannot compare to the ethereal sight of Lord Barbatos' statue, overlooking all of Mondstadt.
And so, a new friendship, squandered and forgotten.)
—○ ● ○ ◇◇◇ ○ ● ○ —
FOOTNOTES:
[41] One such occurrence is finding a fruit stall stand at the end of a street which could have connected to another.
And that street that gave way to a house...
[42] Apart from the slurred singing of drunkards, he could pick up the mention of Venti's name here and there.
Humans and their footling addiction for gossip.
[43]
In a clearer state of mind, he would deem his worries to be unfounded.
But for the curious, his rather embarrassing thoughts are as follows:
He feared that if Zhongli were to know of his impure thoughts towards another Archon, the elder's disappointment in him would be immeasurable. So much so that he might get disowned as his kin. And to think, only a week has gone by since he had received the invitation to be part of Zhongli's family too… what utter garbage he has become.