Don't leave me || Xiaoven ff

Epilogue

The roofs of Liyue were glowing in every shade of orange, red and gold in the setting sun.
The day of lantern rite had come.

"I suppose you won't stay here and eat with us, Xiao?" Verr asked.
Her and the others in Wangshu asked the Yaksha to celebrate with them every year but never had he agreed.
Xiao shook his head, before looking back at the mountains that blocked the sight on Liyue city.

Verr left. She wasn't surprised, neither disappointed.

In the past two weeks, Morax had visited Wangshu quite often and explained the situation with the faked death to Xiao. Slowly he began to understand though it still seemed twisted and complicated.

The Yaksha stood up and jumped down from the tree onto the terrace. He had sat there for two hours now, doing nothing but starting at the sky, thinking and waiting for the sun to set.

It's time, I better get going.
Verr looked at him as he walked down the stairs.
"Where are you going? Are you celebrating this year?" she asked.
"I'll-... go and watch the fireworks."
"Alright then, happy Lantern Rite, dear vigilant Yaksha," she replied, smiling.

Xiao nodded, before running down the remaining stairs and taking the road towards Liyue.

It didn't take very long for him to get past Mt Tianheng and he walked down the path towards the great bridge, connecting the two sides of the river.

From afar, he could already see the bard standing in the middle, looking at the sun's reflection in the water.
A smile appeared on Xiaos face, as he saw the person that saved him back then.

Venti turned around and looked at him, the moment Xiao set foot on the bridge. He looked so beautiful. The lights from the lanterns that were hanging on the bridge reflecting is his eyes, his cape flowing in the wind. After all simply perfect.

"There you are. I was worried you wouldn't show up."
"Sorry," Xiao mumbled, stepping closer to the bard and looking over the sea.
Venti smiled. "It's alright. Now that we're here, where should we go?"

Xiao shrugged his shoulders and said, "Please just nowhere with too many people."
The bard laughed.
"Of course not Xiaoxiao."

Venti took Xiaos hand, making his heart jump, and dragged him across the bridge and up the stairs towards Bubu Pharmacy.

"Where are we going?" the Yaksha asked, looking back at the docks.
"I know a spot with a nice view," Venti replied and continued on his way past the pharmacy and up the stairs until they reached a cliff at the foot of Mt Tianheng.

The two of them sat down.
"I brought some almond tofu!" Venti said, taking out a small box and handing it to Xiao together with some chopsticks.
"Thanks," the Yaksha replied, his face slightly red as he took the food.

Venti smiled and took out some fried Radish balls and grilled tiger fish for himself.
They ate in silence as the sun slowly sunk behind the horizon.

Suddenly, Venti stood up.
"I just have to go and get something from the city, I'll be back in a few minutes," he said, smiling at the Yaksha.
Xiao seemed a bit confused but nodded and smiled back slightly.

The bard ran down the stairs and around a corner behind Bubu pharmacy, out of sight.
Since he had nothing better to do, Xiao picked some flowers on the lawn at the side of the cliff.
He tried remembering how Venti had woven the Cecilias into a flower crown.

A bit helpless, the Yaksha sat down, trying to make one himself but the flowers kept falling apart. In the end, it looked nothing like the one Venti had made.
Frustrated, Xiao gave up, laid the batch of flowers aside and waited in silence until the bard came back.

Only a few minutes had passed as Venti came in sight around the corner. It looked like he was carrying something but Xiao wasn't sure.
As he came nearer however, it became clear that he carried two rather large objects.

"Look, I ordered these a few days ago. Aren't they pretty?" Venti said, raising one of the objects. It was a lantern, Xiao noticed. A really pretty one indeed, with drawn Cecilias decorated.

"They are."
Just like you.
Xiao smiled. It was an honest smile, the most honest smile in years- probably even decades or centuries.

Venti sat down beside the Yaksha again and laid down the unlit lanterns behind them as his gaze fell upon the failed flower crown next to Xiao.

"Do you want me to teach you how to make these?" he asked.
"Hmm?"
"The flower crowns. Do you want me to teach you?"
Xiao nodded and almost laughed as he thought about his miserable attempts of making one.

The bard chuckled and said, "I can show it to you the next time we visit Starsnatch cliff."
Xiao nodded again and kept smiling as he took Ventis hand and squeezed it softly.

Venti suddenly almost jumped with excitement.
"I think it's time!" he said, pointing towards a floating light over the city.

He leaned back to the lantern, giving one to Xiao and keeping one for himself, before taking out a small bottle with a fire Seelie bottled up inside of it.

After lighting his own lantern, he handed it to Xiao.
"Ready?" he asked, after Xiao had laid the bottle aside again.
"Yes."
They looked at each other before slowly letting go of the lanterns.
Xiao closed his eyes.

For a peaceful future. For Morax.
For Venti...

Xiao squeezed Ventis hand slightly again.
The bard looked at him.
"Did you wish for something?" he asked, looking in Xiaos golden eyes. He nodded.
Venti smiled and turned his head towards the sky.

"Look!" he suddenly said, pointing at somewhere in the stars.
Xiao didn't see anything until a firework exploded in beautiful yellow and orange sparks.
More and more firework exploded, lighting up the sky.

Xiao looked at Venti. The bard was looking at the sky, the light reflecting in his turquoise eyes.
Venti turned towards the Yaksha, their faces only inches away from each other.

Then, they closed the gap separating them.
Their lips touched and Xiao felt like something was exploding inside of his head. Like sparks of happiness were sent through his body.
The moment felt like it lasted forever.

Venti leaned back a bit and looked in Xiaos eyes.
Then, he wrapped his arms around the Yaksha.
"I love you Xiao. I didn't realize but now I am sure."
Xiao stayed quiet, hiding his face in Ventis neck.
There was a silence between them for a moment- no uncomfortable one though.
The only sounds were the fireworks in the background.
Then Xiao broke the silence.

"I love you too Venti."

————
Yass! Actually finished this story. There will probably be a bonus chapter for the sake of a friend but that's it then.