Destined

The Little Rabbit and the Archon

                                                                           ❉ ╤╤╤╤ ✿ ╤╤╤╤ ❉

"An Adepti? I beg your pardon?"

You looked at Venti with confused eyes, even thinking that he was going on about nonsensical things.

Venti did not respond as he continued to reach and grab onto one of his many charms that swung from his waist. Holding out a bamboo charm that was sculpted to mimic a dragonfly, the bard finally spoke after a moment of intense silence.

"Here, you must remember this," Holding out the small toy, you hesitantly took it from his dainty hands. "You gave that to me when you were only a little girl, surely (Y/N), you remember the times we played together?"

To you, Venti still was speaking about things that were foreign to you. Although, he made it seem quite convincing. Tracing your fingers over the withered bamboo dragonfly, you couldn't help but find it to be... familiar. How could you not remember this? You could only remember fragments of such early days and then again, you could faintly recall the time someone had come to collect you from the home you were born, and forcefully take you away. Albeit, you scratched the idea out as it was your parents' wish to send you someplace else, or at least that is what all the women in the Yukaku had told you.

"If I were truly an adepti who has lived for close to two thousand years, how are you still alive to tell me?" You asked the bard, the question nipping at your mind. Venti smiled cheekily, giggling as he brought his face close to yours. "Can you keep a secret, little bun?" You nodded, a blush creeping up on your cheeks as you felt his warm breath upon your skin. "I'm the Anemo Archon."

"Thanks for keeping my secret, little bun! You're a true companion of mine."

As Venti shared his secret, a hidden memory struck you like a bolt of lightning, appearing and then disappearing within a flash. What was more baffling was the fact that you had reunited with an old, forgotten friend and failed to recognise him. Emotions were spiralling inside of you like a whirlpool, and without thought, you leapt into Venti's lap, wrapping your arms around his petite figure.

"Barbatos..." You wept your old friend's name, feeling his arms embrace you. Even though you could smell the strong scent of wine upon the bard, the familiar smells of the fresh Monstadt wind and cecilias were still there.

"It's good to have you back, bun." Venti said softly, a genuine smile decorated his face as he comforted his friend that was unjustly taken from him. "P-Please tell me, can I return to Liyue?" You asked with uncertainty, breaking away from the hug. Venti gazed at you with fondness in his eyes, in all honesty, he didn't want you to leave Monstadt just yet.

"I'm sure the other adeptus are very eager to see you once again, after all, you've been labelled missing for more than 20 years now." Venti answered, brushing a stray hair from your face. "Cloud Retainer will be more than overjoyed." He giggled, you only looked in confusion as your memories were still hazy.

"I'm sorry, I still can't remember many things..."

Taking your chin with his fingers, Venti made you look into his eyes. " You will remember soon, do not fret. I should be the one apologising. To think that not even I, a god, could protect you from abduction." The bard deeply sighed, cursing himself for not being there for you as much as you were for him.

Encasing Venti's soft cheeks with your hands, you sternly looked him in his emerald-blue orbs. "The past is gone, we must look ahead now." You advised, causing the bard's cheeky smile to arise once again. To hear him giggle this time was different, this time it sent butterflies fluttering throughout your stomach.

"A tune," Venti grabbed his lyre, plucking a few strings. "for your return, fair maiden."

                 .•° ✿ °•.

Sitting atop a small mountain's peak, a man drowned within his own solitude, only a lyre and the atmospheric sounds surrounding him were his only company. Although seeming quite content on the outside, the man was suffocating on this inside due to the emotions that he dwelled and contemplated on.

Letting a tear run freely down his cheeks, he watched as the Liyue sun took cover behind the great mountains that his archon friend so carefully created. After the great war, dread and regret were all that the man had come to know these days.

Interrupting his deep thoughts, the lonely archon heard a rustle and snap coming from within the bush behind him. Rushing out like a skittish cat, a young girl had presented herself before him.

"G-Good evening, sir," She spoke, her petite hands nervously fidgeting with the skirt of her hanfu. "I see you come here every week; you are always so sad. Why is that?"

The anemo archon could only stare at the little girl as she tried to pull herself up onto the tall rock that he sat on. Breaking away from his depressing thoughts, he giggled, finding the little girl quite adorable as she desperately tried to hoist herself up.

"Need some help?" He asked, reaching out both of his hands. The small child nodded, letting the young man lift her up by the armpits. She giggled as her bosom landed on the rock, grasping onto a little bamboo dragonfly by its tail. "So, what is your name, sir?" She asked innocently, her pointy rabbit ears twitching at the smallest sound.

The archon pondered on whether or not he should share his true name with this stranger. Alas, he thought no harm could be done as she was only a child and would probably forget after he left.

"My name is Barbatos. What is yours, young rabbit?"

"(Y/N)! Guess what?" Quickly changing the subject, the little girl showed the archon her hands with all small fingers outstretched. "I'm half-adeptus, half-human!" She stated with authority, making the archon laugh at her cuteness.

"You are quite special then, aren't you?" Barbatos replied, making the girl feel elated as she was called special. "But," He interrupted, whispering into young (Y/N)'s ear. "I'm the anemo archon."

(Y/N) gasped in surprise, her small hands covering her mouth. "You must be Mr Morax's friend!" She giggled, taking the archon by surprise as she embraced him with her tiny arms. "Please be my friend, sir Barbatos!"

The pure happiness that radiated from the small adepti was quite contagious as Barbatos began to feel a tiny smirk stretch out upon his face. Patting (Y/N)'s back, the archon began to feel something that he buried deep within him long ago, something that he thought would never return to him; the feeling of friendship and the joy that it brings.

"Of course, little bun."

"(Y/N)! Where have you run off to now?!" A stern voice broke through the peaceful moment between the two immortal beings, causing poor (Y/N) to jump in fright, her ears standing up straight.

"Uh oh, Cloud Retainer is mad! I gotta run!" She hurriedly informed Barbatos, leaping from the rock and landing upon the stone ground. "Barbatos," The archon hummed in question. "promise you'll be back next week?" She asked, her eyes twinkling with hope.

"Alright, as long as you run along and not get into too much trouble!" He requested, (Y/N) nodding and humming in agreement.

"Bye now!" (Y/N) waved, launching herself into a sprint as she desperately tried to reach her guardian. Barbatos waved back, giggling as he watched the rabbit adepti trip over a small rock.

Deeply sighing, the archon scratched his head as he still tried to process everything that had occurred. "What have I gotten myself into now?" He asked himself.

Resting his hand, he felt something clunky beneath it. Picking up the small toy that (Y/N) had left behind, Barbatos smiled, fidgeting and twirling the bamboo dragonfly between his fingers.

"Maybe this is fate. Oh Celestia, what are you trying to do now?"