oughhfdjfbds i live for your lee xiao stuff so maybe 12 or 28 (whichever you prefer ndjjdsn) with xiaoven and lee xiao?? only if you want to of course aaaa
a/n: HEY GIRLIE..... writing this literally made me go nuts dont look at me im so in love with xiao it’s embarrassing
prompts:
12. “Why are you holding back? Laugh!”
28. “Sorry, I forgot how ticklish you are.”
word count: 1.3k (under the cut)
“Xiao, c’monnn! I was only teasing,” Venti yelled, a slight pout on his face as he watched Xiao continue to walk away from him. He was aware that his energy could be a bit much sometimes, especially for someone like Xiao who had almost no relationship experience when the two confessed their feelings, but still... Upon realising that his apologies were getting him nowhere, Venti thrust himself a few feet ahead of his partner on a wind current, folding his arms to block Xiao’s path.
“Xiaoooo... I know I shouldn’t have done it, I’m sorryyy! It’s just- you act really cute whenever I hug or even touch you, but I’ll stop if it makes you uncomfortable, I mean it. I know you’re not a huge fan of PDA.” The Anemo Archon trailed off, twiddling his thumbs like a cartoon character caught in the middle of a crime.
Xiao flinched, coughing sharply behind his hand to distract from the the light pink hue overtaking his cheeks. “Barbatos, what have I said about you calling me cu-... that?” He huffs quietly, glaring at the man stood before him. He quickly averted his gaze at the sight of Venti’s puppy eyes, choosing to focus on a patch of flowers nearby instead.
“Nooo! Don’t start calling me Barbatos again, I already said I was sorry!” Venti whined, latching onto one of Xiao’s sleeves and making a show of wiping his faux tears on it. He giggled playfully when Xiao pulled his arm back in disgust, trying to wipe away the wet patch on his usually pristine vest.
“Besides, you do get all cute whenever I try show you any affection! Just yesterday, you yelped and jumped about 3 foot in the air because I poked you to get your attention. I know that I sometimes forget how ticklish you are, and I admit that maaay be my fault, but you can’t say that wasn’t at least the slightest bit endearing.”
Xiao tensed up at the memory, a shiver making it’s way up his spine as he furrowed his brows. “It wasn’t,” he said, though he still refused to look his partner in the eye’s.
Looking back on it, Venti was aware he should’ve quit while he was ahead. Xiao had a short temper, and Venti’s wallet was far too dry for him to buy the Adepti more bowls of Almond Tofu as a peace offering. But still, Venti wouldn’t be a very good bard if he kept all of his quick-wittedness and sharp tongued retorts to himself, would he?
“Oh my god, you’re blushing. That’s precious.” He giggled, reaching up to brush his thumbs across the warmth of Xiao’s face.
“I am not!” Xiao hissed, taking a step backwards and embarrassing himself further when he had to steady himself, having tripped over a small rock that he hadn’t noticed just moments before.
“You totally are- ahhh! Xiao- oof!” Venti gasped, finding himself lying flat on his back with Xiao straddling his waist, the Adepti’s hands grasping at the grass surrounding the sides of the bard’s head. “That could’ve hurt, you know!” Venti frowned, bottom lip jutted out comically.
“You fell on grass, there’s no way that wo- stop changing the subject!” Xiao growls, leaning down so he was nose-to-nose with his partner.
“Your eyes are really beautiful from down here.”
Xiao glared down at the bard, fists clenching. “I’m not cute, not beautiful, so stop saying it- oh...” He looked down, his face turning almost as red as a strawberry as he realised the position they were in. He had meant to get his point across, not stra- Well, not whatever this was.
“Aww, cat got your tongue, love?” Venti cooed. It was mean, he knew it was- but not taking advantage of how flustered Xiao was would surely be a lot meaner, he concluded.
‘L-love?!’ The pet name echoed in Xiao’s head, and he let out a quiet noise akin to a whine, making Venti swoon. He squirmed in embarrassment as he felt a pair of hands creep up to his sides, their thumbs trailing back and forth in a way that only Venti knew could get to him.
“You have to use your words, Xiao. What was it you were trying to say, hmm?” Venti smirked, his tone sickeningly sweet as he watched the other struggle to stay still.
“Barba- Venti! Mmh-hhah...! Quit it! Let me speak,” Xiao managed to get out through his huffs, biting his lip in an attempt to hold back the laughter bubbling up in his throat. “Mmh-hmm-hm! Nooo- this isn’t fahair...!”
Venti hummed contentedly, rolling his eyes. “You could just get off of me, you know? I’m not gonna chase y-“
“No!”
“Ouch, cutting me off was rude,” the bard pouted. “Suit yourself, though.” And with that, Venti raised his legs to better support Xiao’s back, noticing that he was struggling to balance. Thumbs were suddenly replaced with 5 nails on each side, gently scribbling up and down.
Xiao positively squealed, slapping a hand over his mouth to try and muffle the sounds, the other flying down to grab handfuls of grass to anchor himself.
Venti wasn’t too surprised, really. Xiao had always been a stubborn one, and it usually took a lot of persistence to crack him. But sitting in Venti’s lap, laughing? No, giggling, and hardly making a move to escape? That was new. He wasn’t complaining though, and as his nails wormed their way into his partner’s exposed underarms, scribbling playfully at the skin, he couldn’t find it in himself to care.
A shrill squeak filled the air, and the poor Adepti squeezed his eyes shut even tighter, refusing to give Venti the satisfaction of seeing the pleading look behind his eyelids. “Ple-eehe- mmh-hmmm! Not there, ahh!”
As precious as this was, the bard did want to hear some proper laughter. It’d only be fair, after all. “Why are you holding back, my love? You’re allowed to laugh, you know.”
And laugh he did.
The teasing lilt to the bard’s voice finally broke through Xiao’s resolve, and a wave of panicked giggles spilled from his lips as he squirmed from left to right, shaking his head. “Nooohoho- ahh! Ventieehee, it’s not fair, ahaha!” Xiao half-squealed, half-growled, his legs shaking with the effort of keeping himself upright. “I caha- no! No no noooo! Not thehere, pleaaase!”
“Not where, hmm? Venti cooed softly. “Right heeeere?” He made a point of flexing his fingers in Xiao’s underarms, being rewarded with an adorable cackle and a frantic nod. “Just lift your arms, I can’t do much if I’m trapped-“
Xiao frantically raised his arms, finding it almost impossible to feel embarrassed about how easy it was for his partner to get him to do just about anything in this state. He just needed Venti’s nails out of there. His relief was cut short as he felt the tickling return tenfold, helpless cackles bursting out of his chest like fireworks, leaning down to bury his red face in Venti’s shoulder.
“I wasn’t lying though, Xiao. You do look really beautiful from down here.” Venti mumbled, mostly to himself, unable to take his eyes off the squirming man in his lap. His hair was strewn all over the place, mouth wide open as giggles flowed out of him like honey, the grin on his face making the bard’s heart do cartwheels. It had been a while since he’d heard Xiao laugh like this, and he hoped to savour it for just a little while longer.
All good things must come to an end, of course, and Venti stopped his attack mere moments later, having noticed tiny tears pricking at the corners of Xiao’s eyes. He watched thoughtfully as his partner came down from his giggle-high, a smile tugging at his lips when Xiao finally calmed down enough to rub away the lingering sensations on his sides.
“Sorry, that was uncalled for. I didn’t mean to go so far,” Venti said, an apologetic expression on his face. He carefully propped himself up on his arms, using surrounding rocks for support as he sat up. The bard pressed a quick kiss to Xiao’s pink cheeks, and as he finally made a move to stand up, his partner spoke. So quietly that Venti couldn’t hear him, in fact. “What was that, dearest?”
Xiao placed a hand on Venti’s chest, swallowing thickly as he gently shoved the bard back down into the grass.
“You- you didn’t have to stop...