His chest rose and fell in rhythm with quiet breaths, the arm flung over your shoulders threatening to slip off and fall to his side with every subtle movement. Venti's face rested in a relaxed expression, only disrupted by the slightest twitch on occasion. You would have quickly made the conclusion he was dreaming, hadnât your attention been on the soft plush feathers sprawling from beneath the two of you. You comb through them with your hands, being as careful as you possibly can but still admiring the fluffy texture. They were almost like little clouds under your hands. Taking in the scent of them, you caught a tinge of Cecilias, nearly drowned out by the smell of cool air. The delicate feathers ruffled ever so slightly when a gust of wind blew past, causing Venti to be stirred from his nap for a moment. However, the gentle motions of your hands caressing his delicate wings was already lulling him back to sleep. All he had time for was to draw you closer into his embrace and bundle you up in a layer of soft feathers.
Summary:
Only when your weeping started to die down could you hear his quiet humming, a melody you had never heard before. He went quiet for a moment.
âDo you want to cuddle?â
The light of the sun on the horizon was already making itself known before you had found peace for the night. You could only burn the candle at both ends for so long before the fatigue caught up with you, and when it did, it hit hard. Too many nights of overtime and covering for your coworkers left you with not only little time for your own activities, but also no time for rest.
The frustration of it all was enough to bring you to tears. In your exasperated state, you were visited by one who had heard your cries in the night. A gentle knock on your open window frame and a quiet greeting revealed to you the identity of your visitor. You squeezed the pillow in your clutches harder to muffle your sobs, even though you knew that he knew very well what was going on by now. You listened carefully for his reaction.
Venti let out a soft sigh, and with a few quiet steps made his way over to you. You felt the mattress shift ever so slightly as he sat down next to you. He placed a hand on your back, gently caressing you through the fabric of your weary pajamas. You didnât realize you were holding your breath before you let out a loud sob and could no longer keep your cries at bay.
For a moment, the two of you stayed like this. Only when your weeping started to die down could you hear his quiet humming, a melody you had never heard before. He went quiet for a moment.
âDo you want to cuddle?â
In response, you pulled yourself up and away from your tear stained mattress, and slipped both arms around his waist before leaning your whole body into his.
âIâll take that as a yes, then.â
You felt his arms come to rest around your form, gently massaging your back with his fingertips. You took in his scent, and were immediately able to tell heâd come straight from windrise. The smell of windwheel asters and freshly picked apples still lingered on him. Heâd likely been composing a new melody before he came to check up on you, and even more likely was it the one you heard him humming earlier.
âSorry I interrupted you.â You muttered, burrowing your face in the fabric of his shirt. It was still cool from the evening breeze.
âHm? Oh, you werenât Interrupting anything, darling. Just some boring practice, that's all.â He pressed a kiss to the crown of your head. âOf course, nothing comes before making sure youâre okay anyways.â
Your tense muscles finally relaxed, and as you let out a shaky breath, you could feel the drowsiness coming on again. You reached out for your blanket before remembering that too was still wet with tears. For a moment you contemplated getting up to find a new blanket, but Venti tightened his grip around you. You looked up at him with a puzzled expression.
âThereâs no need, my dear. Iâll keep you warm for as long as you need, so please relax.â
For a moment you were confused, until a dim light shone from him. It was gentle enough to not hurt your tired eyes, yet still mesmerizing as you watched his wings materialize from the light. Venti had mentioned to you in the past that he had wings once, but playfully refused to show you upon your request. Now, you found yourself thinking that the wait was worth it. The wings gently wrapped all around your body and kept you close to him. Feathers as soft as the gentle summer breeze gently caressed your exposed skin. It felt soft and warm, and in your exhausted state, you could barely keep your eyes open. Venti pressed another kiss to your forehead, and rubbed the last remaining tear from your cheek away.
âSleep well, my warrior. May your dreams be sweet.â
Warnings: None (let me know if I need to add any!)
Summary:
Oh, how much paper you wasted scribbling down cheesy pick-up lines that would, at the very most, bring you a laugh and a smug look.
âHow sweet of you, my darling, but did you really think that would work on a bard?â
Infuriating, that was the simplest way to put it, but maybe not entirely accurate. The way Venti had you completely flustered with just his words both amused you and drove you up the wall at the same time. The feeling of your heart fluttering and being the focus of all of his attention brought you a sense of comfort and joy, sure, but the fact that it was so damn easy for him to make you weak in the knees like that just really pushed you over the line.
Even worse was it when Venti wasnât just relying on prose alone to stir up such emotions in you. When he pulled you close to his side and whispered sweet declarations of his love for you in your ear, bystanders could easily have mistaken him for having said something sinful to you considering your reaction. But alas, it was simply the way he held onto you as if you were the most precious thing in the world, and the weight behind those words that you knew he had hesitated to say for so long that took a hold of your heart and refused to let go. Even when you tried to bury your face in your hands to take a step back from the situation, Venti would just gently tilt your chin so that he could see your wonderful expression. It would always incite a chuckle in him, before he kissed you softly.
You spent days and nights cultivating ideas as to how you could possibly reverse the established roles. Oh, how much paper you wasted scribbling down cheesy pick-up lines that would, at the very most, bring you a laugh and a smug look.
âHow sweet of you, my darling, but did you really think that would work on a bard?â
Little did he know, that statement had revealed to you the answer to your conundrum.
You had to quit trying to beat him at his own game, and start playing into your own strengths instead.
One afternoon while the two of you were on a stroll through Starfell Valley, you decided to put your plan into action. While Venti was going on about a particularly hectic evening at the tavern, you trailed a pace or two behind him while snatching up wildflowers as you walked. By the time you decided you had collected enough, you had already reached the small cliff top overlooking all of the valley. And lucky for you, Venti had finished up his story and had yet again directed his attention back to you just in time to see you standing there with an armful of flowers and a grin of pure joy on your face. You skipped over to a patch of grass and gestured for Venti to come sit down with you. Thoroughly bemused, he obliged. The moment he sat down next to you, you scooted closer, and reached a hand out to gently graze his cheek. He leant into your touch for a moment, until you swiftly picked a wildflower from your bouquet and stuck it into his hair. Your speedy actions and lack of explanation left him confused for a second, until the situation finally sank in for him. He offered you a warm smile in return, and tilted his head.
âI thought you were being a little quiet earlier⌠So this was your plan all along?â
You simply responded by picking another and weaving it carefully into his braids, then another, and then another. Venti found himself quite amused by your antics, and decided to allow you to play out your plan for now without questioning it. He had always appreciated your unpredictability, after all. You went at it for a while, picking out and placing flowers all over his hair, making sure to keep the placements and the colors consistent. When you finally felt satisfied with your work, you placed your remaining flowers to the side and pulled Venti closer. You held onto him, wrapping your arms around his pack, and burying your face into his neck. Taking in his familiar and sweet scent, you let out a content hum before uttering the seemingly innocent words;
âI love you, so much more than you know.â
You felt him tense up for just a split second, and you could practically hear his thoughts run wild. The thing is, Venti is great with words. He would likely argue that heâs the greatest even, but you had one major advantage that no other could ever hope to gain. That being the fact that he was a major softie for you. Heâd cling onto your form when half asleep in the morning, and thank you for staying by his side when you were about to doze off on his shoulder under the oak in Windrise. Heâd grab your hand and chatter away about anything and everything the moment he spotted you out and about in the city, and he came with you on adventures only to mess around until the moment you were in any form of danger. He was so incredibly weak for you, and all you had to do was to express your love for him in a way thatâs so unabashedly sincere that he wouldnât be able to counter it with a rhyme.
You loosened your grip around the bard, and he instantly started missing your embrace the moment your arms went away. Thankfully, he didnât have to wait very long before you pulled him down and laid his head in your lap. You kissed his forehead so incredibly gently and whispered a quiet âI love you,â before pressing your lips against this skin again. For a moment he tried to reach up to hold your face, but you took a hold of his hand and gently squeezed it with your own. Carefully, you kissed his hand over and over while intertwining your fingers together. Your other hand was busy carefully combing through his hair, being careful as to not shift the flowers out of place while doing so. When your eyes finally met his again, now wide open and with an elated and hazy look to them, you offered a reassuring and comforting smile. âYouâre gorgeous.â
The way he blushed harder than you would ever have dared to imagine will forever be one of your most treasured memories.
Snuggles. Can't get enough of 'em. Also I didn't proofread this so if you see any grammar mistakes, no you didn't <3
You have his full undivided attention when cuddling, every time
Heâs pretty strategic about cuddle locations, making sure that on warm days you two wonât get so hot that cuddles will be uncomfortable
Same goes for cod days, he makes sure you will stay comfortable so you two can cuddle for as long as possible
Venti prefers positions where he can see your face, because depriving him of the possibility to kiss it is a crime. He said so. Heâs the Anemo Archon, that gives him authority or something.
Everything about Venti is very airy and light except for his hugs
The way he holds onto you is secure and firm, but not so hard that you canât wiggle out if you really wanted to.
He essentially wants to be as close as physically possible to you
Will tangle your legs together
Forehead kisses
And cheek kisses
And nose kisses
Screw it, kisses all over your face
He has the absolute softest look on his face when he does it too, as if heâs falling for you over and over every time his lips meet your skin
Will kiss all your skin blemishes
So very gently traces your scars and stretch marks with his hands, feeling every curve of your body under his fingertips
Absentmindedly mumbles things like âgorgeousâ and the like while doing so too
If you point it out you get to see a rare flustered Venti, as he wasnât even aware he was doing it himself
Heâs pretty soft to cuddle himself, but has been hiding a surprisingly muscular figure under those poofy and frilly clothes
Suppose it makes sense, considering how he wields a bow like itâs nothing
Only uses upper body strength privileges to cuddle you better though
Has a little bit of a belly which, objectively speaking, makes for the best god damn pillow ever
Cuddling him just feels soft, squishy, firm and secure all at the same time!
He can absolutely be his usual chatty self while cuddling if you want that, going on about interesting things or recent news or just how your days went
He could sing to you as well of you ask him to, though heâll likely ask for a kiss as payment
But if youâre not in the mood for a chat, he 100% respects that and keeps the talking to a minimum
His serious side is usually reserved for Anemo Archon business, but youâre his exception
He will drop anything if he suspects youâre not doing too well and if you request a good cuddle to ease your nerves, you better prepare to be cuddled like never before!
He has this look of pure adoration on his face when you look into his eyes
Simply doesnât bother even trying to not look like heâs on cloud nine when in your presence
He adores you and he intents to make sure thereâs no shred of doubt in your mind about it
And home is where the Heart is, so mine will stay with you â¤ď¸
Venti x gn!reader
Genre: Fluff
Word count: 1.3k
Warnings: Soup consumption
Summary:
âYou know itâs okay for you to stay over even if it isnât pouring down outside, right?â You questioned, placing your forehead against his. He draped his arms around you, resting his hands on your hips.
âI just wouldnât want to-â
âI like having you around. Itâs not a problem.â
Drops of rain hammered against the cobblestone roads of Mondstadt city, drowning out all noise but that of the wind whipping to and fro. Most people would have started properly settling in for the night, with the exception of those who were just making their way home from the recently closed taverns. Even they would return to their homes in due time, and in spite of the loud winds and weather, the city of wind would fall silent. And yet, one lone house in Mondstadt City kept the flickering lights on and the front door open. Sitting in the door frame wrapped up in a blanket and with a hot cup in their hands were you, listening to the rhythmic beat of the raindrops on the roof of the portico.
You knew your boyfriend was the type of guy who would fall asleep under open skies, sheltered only by the occasional tree or bush, and at times you had enjoyed joining him on warm summer nights while whispering songs to each other under the starry sky. You also knew that even he had his limits with what was considered acceptable weather conditions, but would still hesitate a bit to ask you for a favor. Maybe he felt as if he wasnât giving enough back to you to warrant it, or maybe he feared that heâd be a burden to you, but you would be quick to shut down such thoughts the moment you suspected him overthinking it again. You had whispered your invitation to a handful of dandelion seeds and let them go with the wind before the weather got too bad, and now you were simply waiting for him to return from wherever he had been spending the evening.
You were abruptly taken out of your thoughts when the sound of rushed footsteps broke through the symphony of rainfall, and a familiar figure emerged from the blur of gray. You rose to your feet, leaning onto the door frame as you set down your cup on a small table right by the door.
âThere you are. I was about to go out looking for you.â You teased, while offering him a warm smile the moment you suspected he was close enough to hear you clearly.
âEhe..!â Venti shrugged and returned your smile. He clearly hadnât expected the weather to get so bad eitherâŚ
Not too long ago Ventiâs gnosis was taken away. While his approach to âgoverningâ Mondstadt meant that the loss didnât change much around the city, the rainstorms had been a little more intense as of late. There wasnât much you could do about it other than drag the bard out of the streets and into a warm home when it got too bad, and wait out the rain together.
You waved him in as you went to grab a towel or two. On your way back you stopped by your wardrobe to get Venti something to change into. You kept a few pieces of clothing in his size around in case of situations like this, after all.
âI hope you werenât out there for too long, dear⌠Wouldnât want you catching a cold now.â Venti pondered, wringing out his cape on your porch so as to not drag too much water into your house. You undid the bow on the cape and gently lifted it off his shoulders, placing it to the side for a moment.
âIâll be alright. Have you had anything to eat yet? I have some soup I could heat up for you.â You picked off his hat and flower and threw a towel over his head and started patting his hair dry.
âThat would be nice. Thank you.â He lifted the towel a bit and put his lips to your forehead, kissing you gently. You chuckled softly, stroking his cheek with your free hand. You picked up the clothes you fetched earlier and gave them to him, sending him off to the bathroom to change while you get the food ready.
You lit the candles dimly illuminating the kitchen and went to get a fire going under the stove. The remaining embers from when you had heated up your own drink earlier made it easy to rekindle the fire, so you swiftly placed the pot of soup on the stove and waited for it to warm up.
Listening to the quiet bubbling of the soup and the rain hammering away at the windows, you hummed a song to yourself as you swayed slowly from side to side. It was a melody Venti had sung to you one evening, long before you had finally admitted your feelings for one another. Oddly enough it always stuck with you, so when you later learned he wrote it specifically for you, you couldnât help but hum it all hours of the day. For a moment you stood there, stirring the pot and letting your thoughts wander, when your boyfriend joined your song and leant his head on your shoulder. He quietly whispered to you the words to the song, as you hummed the tune. His hands drew you in closer into a hug, and you could feel him relax against you. Venti had a tendency to keep his guard up around people. After all, good intuition is all you need to tell someone is keeping secrets, and he really didnât have an answer for most questions. Heâs a mystery through and through for most people, but you knew him in a way he didnât let most people. You knew him in a way neither the people of Mondstadt nor the archons of Celestia knew him; truly, fully, wholeheartedly. He was at peace when by your side and in your company alone. In a way it scared him how well you know him, but then again, he knows you just as well. And he adored you, so, so dearly. And itâs in those moments you share when he hugs you from behind and you sing each other songs that it dawns on him just how much he loves you.
You transferred the hot soup from the pot into the bowl and grabbed a spoon, and placed it on the dining table. Fetching yourself a small serving too, you called Venti over to eat.
You two chattered away about your days, current events, future excursions, you name it. And when you had both had your fill and returned the dishes to the kitchen, you started finally getting ready for bed.
You could feel the sleepiness wearing on you a bit, it had gotten rather late after all. Grabbing Ventiâs hand, you pulled him into bed and wrapped your blankets around him to warm him up properly. After the meal he wasnât too cold from the rain anymore, but you wanted to make sure he was comfortable.
âYou know itâs okay for you to stay over even if it isnât pouring down outside, right?â You questioned, placing your forehead against his. He draped his arms around you, resting his hands on your hips.
âI just wouldnât want to-â
âI like having you around. Itâs not a problem.â
Venti smiled cautiously, chuckling a bit at your quick reaction. He lifted a hand to cup your cheek, stroking it with his thumb. You carefully placed your own hand over his, lifting it slightly and placing a kiss on the palm of his hand.
âSeriously though. You donât need a reason to come over. Youâre welcome home anytime.â You assured him, inching a bit closer to rest your head against him.
It was quite the rare sight to see Venti rendered speechless, but that simple declaration was more than enough to snatch the words away from him. So he simply hugged you closer, and held on tightly until sunrise.
What if Venti had to take care of YOU when you're hungover đšđ¸đˇ
Venti x gn!reader
Headcanons!
I trust we're all familiar with the idea of taking care of our beloved bard when he's had one too many drinks but... what if u were the one with the hangover???
He is aware of the hypocrisy of commenting on someone elseâs alcohol intake, but he couldnât help but worry a bit for you on one particular night
Venti knew work had been stressing you out lately and wanted to bring you out a bit to let loose, maybe sing a few songs and enjoy a drink or two
When heâd managed to convince you to come with him to the tavern in the past, youâd usually order non-alcoholic drinks, but last night you were downing liquors like it was the last day of your life
Venti decided to hold back on his own drinking so he could look out for you instead
Which turned out to be a good choice, because you were completely hammered in only a couple hours or so
That is how you found yourself in your current situation; curled up into a ball on your bed with a killer headache and a head full of regret
Oh and also a very attentive and extremely worried Venti gently stroking your face and urging you to drink some water right by your side
Maybe he felt partially responsible for not reining you in more the night before and has now taken it upon himself to take care of you until you feel better to make up for it
Very very careful with you; every touch is light and gentle and he tries to move as quietly as possible when refilling your water
Heâs also basically whispering to you, he really doesnât want to cause you any discomfort
Once he has made sure youâre okay and gotten you to take a painkiller, heâs off to prepare you some food
His specialty food is literally one of the best things to serve to a hungover person???
Venti would give you a massage to help with the sore muscles too if you let him
And maybe cuddle a bit. If you insist. He totally doesnât crave to be near you or anything haha whaat
You may have been reluctant to let Venti take care of you before due to his carefree and almost avoidant attitude, but when youâre really in a pinch and in need of help, you can trust him to be there for you to the very end
I feel like itâs time to shamelessly promote my Venti loves thighs agenda, because nobody can convince me he doesnât
Venti had always thought you to be the very pinnacle of the human form, unique and gorgeous in a way nobody else could quite measure up to
But the first time you two were out at the tavern together and you sat down on the bench next to him and your thighs did that little squish thing when you sat down???
He nearly forgot to breathe for a second there
All thighs are good thighs, all shapes and sizes and markingsâŚ
But your thighs are in a different league entirely. I mean, theyâre attached to his favorite person ever! The pros never end!!!
ABSOLUTELY will ask to use your thighs as a pillow!!! Is this even a question!!!
He just wants to lay with you under an apple tree somewhere out in the whispering woods and rest his head on your thighs. The man has simple dreams.
Sometimes if heâs had a bad day heâll ask you if he can just, squeeze âem a lil
(âIt relieves stress!â Source: trust him bro)
If youâre uncomfortable with him touching them, he completely respects that!!! Heâll simply admire the gorgeous gorgeous sight from a respectable distance
One day, Venti will take you on a normal date. It sure wonât be this time around, though.
Stifled laughter fills the air one night in the Dawn Winery orchards. A hushed whisper from a wary figure encourages their companion to keep the noise down, but in the quiet night and the gentle breeze the request falls on deaf ears. Chasing through rows upon rows of the expansive vineyard, youâd have lost sight of Venti long ago if he wasnât firmly grasping your hand in his own.
âRight this way, my dear!â He chimes, stopping abruptly to make a sharp turn to the right through an opening in the rows. You stumbled a bit at the sudden change of direction, but Venti caught you before you lost your balance completely. This guy⌠He was leaving you breathless in a very literal sense. In lieu of words (as you were too out of breath to speak,) you sent him a look that conveyed your fond exasperation for him.
âHehe~!â Venti adjusts his hold on your hand and places an arm around your waist to lead you the last distance at a more reasonable pace.
âYou promise these grapes are worth the trip? And the scolding weâll receive from Diluc too?â You question, having finally caught your breath a little. Venti had expressed to you earlier in the day that he believes this yearâs grape harvest will yield the most wonderful wines, and had convinced you to come join him... Eh⌠âsampleâ the crops.
âAbsolutely. Master Dilucâs disappointment wonât last nearly as long as the taste of these delectable fruits!â Venti lets go of your hand for a moment and picks a small cluster of grapes off the bunchstem. He holds a lush indigo grape up to your lips and urges you to taste it.
The moment the sweet juice of the grape hits your tongue, youâre won over by Ventiâs earlier statements. This yearâs harvest will absolutely be a great one.
âWow⌠These are really good. But you still shouldnât sneak around out here and I will not back you up if we get caught.â You try your best to keep a serious expression, but it proves difficult in this silly situation.
âEh!? But my love, with such a charming smile on your face, dare I believe you quite enjoyed the chase?â
You accepted a seemingly simple commission regarding collecting crystal cores, only to struggle chasing after them all day. Your good friend Venti proposes an idea to resolve the situationâŚ
On most days, the melodious sound of the lyre playing would soothe your nerves and bring you a sense of peace. Today, however, it only serves as a constant reminder that Venti is absolutely not âtoo busyâ to help you collect those crystal cores and is simply choosing to watch you struggle. Seated on a boulder not too far from where youâre standing, he makes an attempt at a melody, but finds that the strings of the lyre need tuning. You try to pay it no mind and begin slowly approaching a crystalfly buzzing around in the grass, but it slips out of your grasp the moment you jump for it. You let out a frustrated sigh, quickly turning to face your friend.
âCanât you fly or something?â you ask, crossing your arms over your chest.
âYep! Shame you donât possess that ability though, or you would have caught that one for sure.â Venti smiles at you, while fiddling with the lyreâs tuning. Not a soul in all of Mondstadt would dare doubt the bond between the two of you, but people may have questions as to why you put up with each other from time to time. The bard absolutely could help you, and it would have been easy for him too, but he would much rather watch you do the work while writing a few poems about it.
âNot everything I do needs to be documented through song. There are other ways you could contribute to all of this.â You gesture around yourself to the field of crystalflies. Venti jumps off from the boulder, and adjusts his grip on the instrument.
âYâknow, there are already so many songs about legends and heroes. Iâd personally like to expand my horizons and write about more relatable topics.â
You halfheartedly throw one of the few crystal cores you had collected at him, hitting him in the shoulder. Your throw didnât pack much of a punch, but you did startle him a bit, which was a funny sight.
âAw come on! Iâve been providing you with free entertainment all afternoon, and this is how you show your appreciation? How uncivil of you.â Venti pretends to be hurt by your action, but itâs clear from the way he conducts himself that heâs merely messing around to get a laugh out of you. He may not be the most helpful of allies, but he tries his best to keep you motivated and happy. Sadly, your commission to collect crystal cores remained unfinished, and your spirits remained low. You offered him the best smile you could muster, and went on to continue your work. For a moment the bard remained silent, before an idea struck him.
âFine, I will help you⌠On one condition, of course.â
You turned to him again, raising an eyebrow. âAnd what would that be?â
âWe make it a game, of course! Whoever catches the most crystalflies before sunset pays the tab at the Angelâs Share-â
âNot in a million years.â
You were quick to answer, and the insulted look on his face as he huffs at your fast reply lures a little laugh out of you.
âWell, alright⌠How about this,â Venti saunters over to you, picking the crystal core you threw earlier up from the grass.
âThe winner simply gets a small favor from the other. Is that better?â He takes your hand and presses the core into your palm. You inspect the crystal core, the faint light still pulsing through the little trinket. The terms were more amicable this time around, but-
âYou get to keep your head start, of course.â
âDeal.â
With the addition of the competitive element, your enthusiasm for the commission has been renewed. You know that youâd not only finally get the commission done now (and even have some crystal cores left over by the end of it,) but you also have the chance of winning a favor. What should you ask of Venti if you win? You could ask to borrow his cape, maybe. It looks comfortable. Or, you could ask him to help you with a daily commission tomorrowâŚ
You spring out from your hiding place in the tall grass and snatch a crystalfly as it was about to take off. The wings dissipate, leaving only the little core behind in its wake. You add it to your bag, and start scouting for more in the area. You could spot one you had missed earlier when clearing the area around the Symbol of Mondstadtâs Hero, the grand tree in the middle of Windrise. As you climb over the twisting roots as quietly as you can muster, an especially strong gust of wind blows by. In the blink of an eye the crystalfly is gone, replaced by a very smug bard where the bug once fluttered.
âHey, that one was mine!â You finally gather yourself at the base of the tree, crossing your arms over your chest. Your protests fell on deaf ears though.
âCatching crystalflies really wasnât as hard as you made it out to be. Relaxing, even.â
âWell we canât all be literal gods, you know.â
He chuckles a bit, before taking off to collect more bugs. As he leaps over the trunk of a fallen tree in his way, he turns back to you for a moment.
âLetâs meet at starsnatch cliff when weâre done!â
You give him a thumbs up, as youâre pretty sure heâs too far away to hear you even if you yell.
Youâre strolling up the pathway to the very peak of the cliff, counting the number of crystal cores youâve gathered over and over as you go. The air has gotten a bit cooler than it was earlier in the day, and the sky is glowing with all sorts of bright colors by now. You see the familiar bard already waiting for you up ahead, strumming a tune without a care in the world. As he hears your footsteps, he turns to you and gives you a smile, never once breaking from the melody heâs playing.
You settle down next to him and clutch your bag to your chest. The moment of truth has finally arrived. You watch as the lyre in Ventiâs hands vanishes in a swarm of anemo energy, and he fully directs his attention to you.
âYouâve arrived, finally! I was getting bored here on my own.â Venti settles down in front of you.
âHow should we do this? Do we go on turns or both at once?â You tilt your head to the side as you assess the cores in your bag. Venti puts his head in his hands and thinks for a second.
âWell, if we both say how many we collected at the same time we wonât have to double-check our piles to prove weâre honest.â You nod, and prepare yourself.
âOn three, ok?â
âAlright. One.. Two⌠three!â
â21!â
â16!â
Ah. You lost, it seems.
Venti cheers and briefly celebrates his victory, as you close your bag of crystal cores shut again. You may have lost, but you canât pretend that his enthusiasm isnât contagious. With a little smile, you admit defeat.
âCongratulations, Venti. And thank you for helping me out today, too. I donât think Iâd have gotten this commission done without it, hehâŚâ
âYouâre very welcome, but donât forget that you owe me a favor now!â
âAw, I was hoping youâd be too distracted to notice.â
The two of you laugh a bit. Defeat aside, you had gotten the task done and all it cost you was whatever that bard decided to do with his favor. Speaking ofâŚ
âYouâre not getting away that easily, now. Iâve already decided what to ask for.â Venti inches a bit closer to you, taking the crystal core bag from your lap and placing it to the side.
âOh, what is it then?â
âClose your eyes.â
âUmh.. Is that it?â
âYep!â
Hesitantly, you oblige. Deprived of vision, you notice how the last rays of sunlight desperately seek to warm your skin before the sun finally tips over the edge of the sea. The soft touch of the winds is much more noticeable now, and you wonder if the winds have always been this gentle at starsnatch cliff. As you sit in anticipation, you can hear Venti shift a bit in front of you, right before a gentle hand cups your cheek and soft lips press against yours.
The moment is over as soon as it started, but youâre left in a state of shock. What just happened?
âHey, uh, you can open your eyes now if you want.â
You do, and your eyes meet his for what honestly feels like the first time in forever. On his face you can glimpse the hint of a blush, and a smile that most people rarely ever get to see from him. Venti doesnât often get serious with people, after all.
âY-you could have just asked, you knowâŚâ you stammer, averting your eyes from his surprisingly captivating gaze. â... Just wasted your favor there.â He took your hand in his own, and gave it a gentle squeeze.
âNah, I think I spent it well. What a shame I only had one though, I suppose we should catch crystalflies together more oftenâŚâ
