White Blood~ (XiaoVen)

Seven: Keep me up till 4 am.

Xiao rubbed his eyes, it being four in the morning.

"You tired?" Venti asked, looking at him.

Xiao nods, softly, as he closed his eyes.

Venti lightly shook him, "Hey, no sleeping. Its hard, but Morax said no sleep. C'mon, lets walk, buy you some snacks, and a coffee." Venti helped him up, his body supporting Xiao's.

Xiao let out a hum, tiredly rubbing his eyes.

As they walked, Xiao leaned against Venti, mumbling softly

Venti hums, sitting Xiao on a bench, and clicked buttons on the vending machine, grabbing a granola bar, and pack of m&ms.

He handed Xiao the granola bar, and went to the coffee, pressing more buttons.

~

Seven am.

The two arrived in the Childrens area of the hospital, Venti was talking to Klee, introducing them.

"This is Klee." Venti picked up Klee, exhaling.

"Im Venti's best friend! We watch my little pony together!" She wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Klee and i have been in the hosptial for the past three years together. She arrived a few weeks after me. But, we like to say we've been here from the start.

Klee nodded, giggling.

Venti sighed, leaning against the wall, holding Klee, ignoring the seering pain in his chest.

Xiao looked at Venti, noticing the slight discomfort that showed in his face.

"Want me to take her?" Xiao asked.

Venti shook his head, "Im fine." Venti breathed softly.

Xiao nods..

After spending around twenty minutes with the kids, Venti was taking Xiao to his room.

Zhongli smiled at the two, "Atalus. Barbatos. Sit, both. Both of you need to be checked."

Venti huffed, but nodded, sitting on his bed. Xiao sat on the other.

Tartaglia, well, Childe as people called him, walked into the room, clicking a pen.

He smiled at Zhongli, and stood next to Venti, "Any new things that seem abnormal?" He asked, as he looked at Venti, checking the machines.

"Uhh, my strength. I was only able to hold Klee for about two-three minutes till i had to put her down." Childe nods softly, "Guess its affecting your strength. Hmm.." He sighs, "Everythings normal..Uhm, deep breath." Childe spoke.

Venti made a look at Childe, and Childe nodded, "Yeah, i know."

Venti inhaled, a breath, and then wheezed, and coughed.

Childe exchanged a look with Zhongli, sighing a bit, "You uh...
You sound fine!"

Venti nodded, "Thanks." He spoke, a slight hint of anger in his voice.

Childe nods, gently touching Venti's shoulder, a look of sadness lingered in his eyes.

Once Zhongli was done, he let Xiao sleep.

Xiao collapsed onto the bed, sighing, finally able to sleep.

Childe and Zhongli left the two males to sleep, and Zhongli spoke.

"What was the issue?"

"It sounded..bad..I think..I think somethings gonna happen to him. Something bad." Childe spoke.

"Dammnit. Double his check ups. Keep a close eye. I refuse to lose him." Zhongli spoke, walking away after he signed a few papers.

Childe glanced at Venti, seeing him writing..

~

Xiao woke up to the sound of a pen going across paper, and soft mumbling.

His eyes adjusted to the lights, that were dim, nearly dark.

Venti's face was illuminated by his laptop screen, a pair of round gold glasses rested on his face.

He was mumbling, his eyes dragged across the book that lay on his lap, his fingers dragged delicately across the paper. The way his hand flicked when he wrote.

Xiao looked at his hands, they were small, not much smaller, slender fingers, dull nails, long, but not sharp. Each finger nail held peeled off nail polish. A greenish color, and blue.

How had he not noticed that before?

He had wireless headphones on, they looked slightly worn out, but  he was mumbling a song. He let out a cough, inhaling.

He shakes his head, scribbling something out.

Venti sighed, running a hand through his hair.

Xiao felt his face get slightly warm.

what the hell..

Venti reached into a drawer, sifting through the contents, grabbing a clip, a string,
And then he grabbed pins, he got up, walking to an empty wall.

Xiao watched, sitting up, rubbing his eyes.

He listened to the clanking of the tank, and the sounds of Venti's feet touch the ground. They were soft, yet heavy in the silent room. If he came running at Xiao from behind, he probably wouldn't notice.

He hung up the string, pushing the pins into it, to hold it up.

Xiao watched, as Venti's delicate hands hung up papers.

Drawings. He looked closer, a Zhongli. A few others he couldn't recognize.

Venti looked around, jumping, and letting out a shriek of terror, making Xiao jump from the sudden noise.

"WHAT THE FUCK-" Venti yelled.

"Im sorry!"

"Its four am! Why are you awake!?" Venti pulled the headphones off.

"I woke up- I'm sorry- i didn't mean to scare you!" Xiao said, his heart beating fast.

Venti held his chest, panting, "Jesus Christ, Atalus." Venti breathed out.

The way Venti said his name. It was...Was beautiful.

"Sorry.
Why are you awake?"

Venti shrugs, "Cant sleep. Get some cancer and you'll understand."

A small laugh left Xiao's lip, "Maybe."

Venti smiled, "Sorry if i woke you." Walking over, he sits near Xiao's bed.

He reached up, putting his hand against Xiao's forehead, "No fever. That's good."

Venti scanned Xiao's face, "Lemme see your bandage." He said.

"You must know what you're doing." Xiao said, humming 

"I walked into trauma. I've seen things. Even helped."

"Seen..What..?"

Venti smiled, a painful one.

"Death. Bl0od..S/icid/l people. I stitched someone up, their...Their wrists..." He whispered, his own finger tracing his wrist.

He (venti) laughed, "Sorry."

"Nothing to apologize for." Xiao spoke.

"I uh, i went to Morax, sobbing, and crying to him, asking how he can do this. How is this easy for him? I don't Know. It was a few months ago." Venti explained

Xiao nods, "Okay. Stay here. I need to get you new dressings."

Xiao nodded once again.