It was near midnight, and Angel's Share was closing up for the night. The last few stragglers were putting on their coats and walking out into the cool Mondstadt air.
It was a relatively calm night, except for one thing.
"Master Diluc!"
The man in question looked up from the glasses he was wiping to place the voice. A frown set on his face once he noticed who was calling for him.
"Venti. I thought you had already left."
"Oh, don't look so disappointed to see me," Venti said, a pout on his face. He leaned forward in his bar stool and rested his face on his palm. "You looked a bit lonely, so I thought I'd stick around."
Diluc sighed and set down the washcloth in his hands. "Quick to assume, bard."
"Oh?" The smile on Venti's face quickly morphed to a sly one.
"Don't make such faces."
Venti laughed, finding himself amused at the slightly heated tone that Diluc's voice had taken on.
"So Master Diluc, care to share what has you so dressed up?" Venti eyed the outfit Diluc had on; it was different from his usual garb.
He wore a white vest layered above a black dress suit. A tie hung off his neck, neatly tucked into his vest. His hands, which were back to wiping down a glass, had black gloves covering them.
"Nothing special to it," Diluc responded, tugging down Venti's beret in mild irritation to interrupt his staring.
"Ah, I find myself quick to disagree with you on that." With one hand pushing his beret back in place, Venti used his other to tug Diluc by the tie down to his eye level. "It's simplistic, but you make it work."
Diluc fought to keep his face disinterested, but Venti didn't miss the red tint that his ears were taking on.
"I would rather not take compliments from someone with your sense of fashion."
Venti frowned at that. "A bard such as myself needs to find a way to be eye-catching."
"Really," Diluc deadpanned.
Venti tugged down a bit more on Diluc's tie and leaned in to whisper in his ear. "I still caught your eye, so don't be one to judge."
He let go, revelling in the way Diluc's face flushed at his words.
"Still annoying as ever," Diluc huffed as he neatened his tie.
"Don't be like that."
Venti tapped his fingers on the counter, his mind wandering as he watched Diluc continue to work on closing up Angel's Tavern for the night.
After setting down the final glass, Diluc walked out from behind the counter and stood in front of the waiting Venti.
"Tavern's closed now, you'll need to take your leave," he said, crossing his arms.
Venti laughed and stood up. He put his hands to Diluc's waist, humming as he pressed himself against Diluc. Unfolding his arms, Diluc took to wrapping them around Venti and pulling him even closer.
Standing up on his toes, Venti tilted his head up and put his lips up to Diluc's ear.
"Can I take my leave with you, Master Diluc?" Venti whispered, drawing circles on Diluc's waist with his thumbs.
Diluc made a noise in his throat. "If that's what you'd like."
With a smile, Venti met Diluc's lips with his own and said: "Then take me home."
