Rewind | Genshin Impact

Chapter 41

Hiii! I just want to firstly, apologise (you'll see why soon) and secondly, if yall see any mistakes at all please lmk this was written and edited on minimal sleep TTwTT Anyway thanks for reading!

Valley Bridge, an hour.

Venti could have laughed at how unironic that was. Of course it was Valley Bridge, what else should he have expected?

The bridge which caused him so much pain.

Although, despite his distaste towards the bridge he still put his cloak on, put his hat on, pocketed his phone, left their apartment and called a cab (all after taking a swing of vodka).

Before he was prepared for, the driver turned around in his seat to face Venti and say the dreaded words, "your stop."

Venti sighed dramatically in his hands which made the driver quirk an eyebrow at him, however thankfully he didn't comment. 

Venti swore under his breath as he handed the driver his money, making a point to not give him a tip. He found the driver lucky enough as it is that he wasn't stuck in this hell, if anything Venti deserved a tip for what he's been through.

He got out of the cab and, a bit more aggressively than called for, slammed the door shut. Which resulted in him being flipped off by the driver but at this point, he couldn't bring himself to care.

Venti looked at the beautiful trees with red, orange and yellow leaves, making him want to scream. Why the hell did Xiao want to meet at such a beautiful location?

What did Xiao even want to talk about?

Venti made a point not to think about this. The mere uneasiness of all the possibilities made his stomach churn. He felt something was off ever since last night when Xiao seemed to be examining his every move. Screw that, he felt something was wrong the majority of the last time loop, though for some time he actively ignored it because of his feelings.

But he couldn't let his feelings get in the way this time, Kaeya deserved more than that.

He saw the bridge and lake up ahead, and as expected Xiao was leaning forward on the bridge, facing away from Venti. Of course, Xiao looked beautiful as always. 

Great.

Just great.

He stormed up to the bridge, stomping evilly on the leaf's as he did so. Only when he was a few feet away from Xiao did the other man notice him.

 "Venti.. You came.." He said softly, vulnerably, nervously? Venti had never heard him use that tone before, but he wasn't going to let it halt him.

"Yes. I came. So will you please explain what the hell is going on?" He questioned impatiently as he crossed his arms and tapped his foot on the ground.

Xiao sighed in his hands and pushed his hair out of his face, then turned to face Venti fully. "Before I talk, I request that you let me finish talking, explaining, before you interrupt."

Venti hummed in agreement and motioned for him to continue, Xiao averted his gaze before looking back at him again, his face hardening with determination.

"It's been the same for me too." He said firmly, but Venti could still see the nervousness flickering in the others eyes as confusion overtook the bard.

"The same...?" He questioned.

"I've been repeating the time loops too." 

"You've been - wait WHAT?!" Venti screamed out, hurt began to spread everywhere as he took a few steps back, Xiao began to reach his arm out but seemed to think better of it. "This whole time?!"

"This whole time." He confirmed.

"But.. I don't understand that doesn't make sense. What..? Why wouldn't you tell me?! I confided in people, I confided in you... Why wouldn't you tell me?!" His voice began to raise as he looked at Xiao accusingly. 

Why wouldn't Xiao have told him??! It made no sense!

"Because, contrasting you and your foolish views on life, I've learned that not everyone is trustworthy." Xiao replied, keeping his voice steady.

"But I'm trustworthy! I literally investigated this with you every single time loop! How am I not trustworthy! I told you everything!" 

"That could have been used as a coverup, Venti. If you were guilty wouldn't you make it your role to seem as innocent as possible? Besides, in your regard, it seemed a bit like you were searching for the perfect person to frame. Especially if you were repeating time loops and interviewing who could be guilty. The power that comes with that, especially if you are the person who is committing the crime, is significant."

"But it's not me!" Venti shot back. He knew it was a bit dumb, but he felt so cornered and at the time he couldn't think of a better response.

"Well I know that now." Xiao deadpanned, "or else I wouldn't have called you here. I knew the second you didn't come to me at the beginning of the fourth timeloop, something was wrong. At first I thought you figured the whole ordeal out and was avoiding me for that exact reason. But then I realised that was a rather unlikely possibility, and I saw you regularly go into Xingqiu's study. I went in there while you were talking to Amber and saw your set up. It took a bit of contemplation, and then I realised you were probably telling the truth all along. Why would you put all that effort into it if you were the murderer? Unless you were so keen on finding the perfect person to frame that you were recording his own private conversations. But I don't think anyone would go to that effort." He said is so casually, so laid-back as if it was an everyday affair, that it just made Venti mad.

"Well how do I know it's not you?!" Venti shot at him. 

"It isn't." He shrugged, as if he thought that would put an end to that idea.

"Yeah, okay, as if I'm going to just believe that." Venti said, as he started to giggle a little, then it turned into a small laugh, then before he knew it hysterical laughter. Xiao looked at him uncertainly, unsurely. But the situation was so insane and so.. Funny? Venti was so overcome by emotion he didn't know, and didn't care at this point.

Eventually, his laughter subsided and he stood up fully, still giggling as he asked his next question. "Well... Lets say it's not you and you truly suspected me the whole time, why would you then 'help' me? Why would you stay by my side?"

"I had to make you trust me, so you gave me information and I gave you.. Less important.. Information." He answered. "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer." 

"That's what Scaramouche told me..." Venti softly said. "That's what Scaramouche told me, that exact phrase! And he said it in relation to you!" He began to laugh a bit again at the whole situation, which just made Xiao more puzzled. 

"That seems like something he would say. Further, after I realised you were innocent, I knew I couldn't do this without you."

Venti felt anger begin to rise at this, "so I should just.. What? Trust you?" He seethed. 

"I don't see you having many other options." Xiao said softly.

"Well, how do we even know that everyone else isn't repeating time too?! That the murderer isn't repeating too?! You should go find someone else to partner with." He spat harshly, which Xiao shook his head out.

 "There is no one else. Trust me, I checked. It's just us." 

Venti turned away from Xiao, shaking his head. "No. No I will not work with you. Just, stay out of my life." He said, feeling regretful when his voice noticeably broke.

He began to take a few steps away, when he heard Xiao again, "I know you hate me, and I promise I will stay out of your life after everything is sorted out, but for now, work with me. Not for me, but for Kaeya. He at least deserves that."

Venti was going to scream, more at himself then anyone when he hesitated, turned around, and sighed.

"Not for you, for Kaeya."