Rewind | Genshin Impact

Chapter 40

CW: Panic attack

16th April 2020:

Venti sat there on his bed in silence, unmoving as he just stared at the message on his phone. 

0438479372: It's Xiao.

We need to talk.

He didn't know whether he wanted to laugh, cry, or scream. There were a million questions going through his head as his breathing started to become more rapid and his throat became dry, his limbs began shaking as he threw his phone to his right, clutching his head in his hands. His heart felt like it was squeezing in his chest as his body trembled more, tears began to roll out of his eyes and his vision became blurry. 

Breath in

Breath out

Breath in

Breath out

He could get through this, he could do this. It was going to be okay. He was going to save Kaeya, it was all going to be okay.

Was it?

It was all going to be okay.

He sat there, for what felt like hours but probably only a few minutes as he waited for his breathing and shaking to calm down, and his chest pain to subside. 

"Venti?" He looked up and saw Bennett's tear-stained face looking down at his hunched frame on the bed. "A-are you okay?"

Venti looked at Bennett and smiled bittersweetly. "No." He replied simply, before stretching his legs out in front of him and putting his phone in his pocket.

"O-oh. I uh, guess you've uh, heard the news then." Bennett said softly, as he went to sit next to Venti on the bed and wrapped his arms around the bard, Venti leaned into the touch.

"Y-yeah. I heard. I'm so, so, sorry Bennett." He muttered in between coughs. Bennett turned Venti to face him as confusion etched his face, he wiped away the green haired mans tears.

"Sorry? What are you sorry for? You've done nothing wrong." Bennett asked softly as he titled his head in confusion. 

"I, just, I'm so sorry Bennett." He said again as more tears began to fall out of his eyes, before he knew it he was sobbing. Bennett didn't push it any further as Venti threw his arms around his blonde friend and cried into his shoulder, Bennett let him.

***

About an hour passed where both the men sat together on Venti's bed, barely saying a word. Every now and then the silence would be filled by a choked sob, or an occasional question.

"Where's Chongyun?"

"He left to visit Xingqiu right about he heard the news."

"Oh.. Right."

Then silence would envelop them again as they would get lost in their thoughts and stare at the wall. Venti felt utterly defeated, he just kept failing to save Kaeya, something that should be much simpler for Venti to do then he is making it.

Venti turned to his left as he heard Bennett sigh, and saw the blonde checking his messages.

"Razor's texting me, he wants me to come over so we can talk."

"You should go, it'll be good for you to have each other during this time." Venti reassured with a kind smile, although Bennett didn't look convinced.

"What about you? Are you going to be okay here alone?" Bennett asked, worry obvious is his tone.

"Wow, way to call me single." Venti scoffed jokingly, which Bennett playfully hit his arm at. 

"Well, at least, do you want to come?" He questioned with a tilt of his head as he stood up from Venti's bed.

"Nah, I'll be fine here." Venti answered, not wanting to be a third wheel. Besides, there were more pressing things he had to do.

"Oh, uh, okay. Promise you'll be okay, yeah?"

"I promise, Bennett. Now go." Venti nodded with a soft smile, after a bit more hesitation Bennett nodded his head and left the room, and before he knew it Venti heard the front door slam shut.

He sighed, and stared at the wall for a few more minutes before he opened his phone and stared at the message.

0438479372: It's Xiao.

We need to talk.

He had to do something. He couldn't just sit here aimlessly. 

Venti: When and where?