Prayers (Venti x Aether Oneshot)

Prayers

NSFW warning!

Aether sighed, staring up at the ceiling in frustration. After having done nothing but fret over the welfare of Mondstadt in the past few months, he'd had a lot of pent up stress and anxiety. Not to mention zero time alone with his thoughts. He was so exhausted that he hadn't even bothered to change. From the moment he opened the door, he had but one objective: bed.

Kicking off his shoes and dropping his sword, he flopped into bed and breathed in the scent of fabric softener before rolling over on his back and now he was here. Alone. Alone... A small smile curved into his lips at the thought. He was alone, for the first time in a long time and he planned to enjoy it.

With perhaps a bit too much eagerness, he unclasped his pants and pulled out the already stiffening appendage. The traveler cast a few instinctive glances around the room before wrapping a hand around himself. He twitched with his heartbeat and breathed a shakey sigh as he went. How long had it been since his last time?

The slow steady jerk of his hand quickened impatiently and he let out a soft grunt; he wasn't particularly the vocal type. He wondered if Venti was. Woah there. That's awfully pervy. Aether mentally kicked himself for his lewd thoughts of the particularly innocent and soft bard. Though, despite Aether's best efforts, Venti kept trailing back through his thoughts. His smile, his laugh, his dorky way of rhyming things, his slender frame, his- okay now it was really time to stop.

Elsewhere:

Venti sighed, bored and flat broke, kicking his legs at the bar like an absent minded youth. He gazed at Diluc from across the bar before calling out, "Another dandelion wine, please~!"

Diluc nodded, pouring a glass, fully aware that Venti would probably disappear before the tab was paid. Even so, Diluc could not complain and had to admit the company was quite pleasant after awhile. He'd grown fond of the anemo god even if he didn't earn his keep by traditional means. Venti sighed, drinking a sip before setting the glass down. "Something the matter?" Diluc offered. As a bartender, he'd grown quite accustomed to hearing of people's woes.

"No, I suppose not. Just bored. Drinking helps."

Diluc nodded, sympathetically, after being alive for so long it made sense that Venti would get bored. Venti sighed, deeper this time. "Well," Diluc started, almost mischievous, "You could always listen in on some prayers."

Venti shot up a glare at Diluc who'd been smirking at him, amusement glinting behind his eyes. Diluc was one of the few people who'd caught on  to Venti's secret. The secret being that Venti could passively tune out prayers unless he was thinking about it. Similar to how breathing switches from automatic to manual once you become aware of it. Diluc watched as Venti's expression changed to that of utter embarrassment. The anemo god's face has ignited with the fire of a thousand suns and Diluc, perplexed, opened his mouth to inquire about what Venti had heard. However, before he could, Venti slid off the stool and dashed out of the building. A couple patrons cast glances over at the commotion while Diluc stared at the door which had just slammed. Surely he hadn't upset Venti, right?

Venti sit outside, leaned against the outer wall of the establishment as his thoughts were clouded by lewd thoughts of him and Aether. A joke, it must've been, and a cruel one at that. How anyone had known he'd favored the blonde traveler was beyond him but he was about to go back in and give Diluc a piece of his mind when it hit him. Surely this had been a setup for Diluc to ask at just the right time which means that Aether must be in on this too. Venti's heart tightened, forget about Diluc, he was going to go talk to Aether himself.

Gods had a way of getting around and in his moments of frustration and betrayal, Venti didn't need a doorbell.

"Aether!"

"Venti!" Aether came but the look on his face was anything but relief.

The two stared at each other, wide eyed and both feeling extreme guilt and mortification. Venti blinked, so did Aether and the spell of stillness had just broken. Aether forcefully shoved himself back into his trousers and aggressively wiped at the ejaculate on his stomach.

Venti squeaked, "I'm sorry." No rhymes necessary to convey the concept of just how sorry he was, "I will um, leave now. Bye, traveler."

"Wait!" Aether was still flustered but they couldn't just not talk about it. "Why did you..?"

"I-I uh, heard your prayer and thought you were messing with me."

Aether was taken aback, "Why would I do that?"

Venti, face still aflame but with nothing else to lose spoke, "Because I favor you, and that is something a god shouldn't do." This time Venti's rhyme was unintentional.

Aether tilted his head to the side in a questioning manner, "Favor me?"

"I tried to deny for you, my deepest emotions, but I think you already understood my notion."

Aether smiled softly, standing from the bed and walking over to Venti. He placed his hands on the anemo god's waist, slender as his mind had already announced. "Will you answer my next prayer?"

Venti stared up at him, despite being the self-proclaimed charismatic bard, he was reduced to a babbling mess at just what was happening, "D-Depends... What is it?"

Aether tugged Venti closer before leaning in, his breath tickling Venti's face, "Use the doorbell next time."

Venti huffed, Aether was a pretty confident guy given the situation they'd found themselves in. Venti stepped back, face still glowing, "Uh-huh."