A Barkeep And His Poet

We Should Talk

The bed is warm, and soft under my body. The bed? Opening my eyes in a rush I see that I'm on the third floor of the tavern again. However, I can't seem to remember how I got here. The last thing before waking up was Diona squirting me with a squirt bottle and then warmth. The most comforting warmth. 

I lay there for a while, trying to see if there was anyone else in the tavern. I don't hear any walking or shuffling around, so I get up, making the bed as I readjust my clothes. 

Tip toeing out of the room, I pause. 

Diluc sits in a chair, book in hand and reading glasses perched atop his nose. He looks beautiful. Red hair in a high ponytail, his bangs brushed to the side, ungloved hand lifted to turn the page, his gloves and coat hanging near the door.

The door! How am I going to get past him? I inch my weight forward, but it's a mistake. The floor creaks a loud eerie creak, one that sends shivers up my spine. Diluc looks up at me, glasses falling ever so slightly. 

"Venti?" He asks, so much for being as light as the wind. 

"Sorry, I was just leaving," I mumble, rushing for the door. I hear the book clatter to the floor and his long legs quickly making their way over to me. If I can only reach the doo- His hand pushes the door closed right as I get my hand on the handle. 

"Venti you should rest, you were worryingly drunk last night." He says, his voice quiet, just a little louder than a whisper. 

"I'm all rested up, ehe! Time to get back to my lyre." I flinch back at my voice, much too loud for how long I've been up.

"Fine," He tries again, his voice even softer. "We need to talk." His hand moves from the door to rest on mine. His other hand on my hip, guiding me into the other room. 

I let him guide me to the middle of the room, dazed. He sets me on the couch, going back to his respective chair. Picking up the book, he closes it, placing it on a side table I hadn't noticed, he puts his glasses there too.

"We need to talk?" My voice cracks, but if Diluc notices he doesn't comment. 

"Yes, Venti. We need to talk." He's still gentle, like if he's too loud then ill run. Archons, I want to run. 

"About what?" I know that playing dumb isn't going to help, especially with how red I know my face is. 

"Do you remember what you said to me a week ago? I think that you do, considering how you've been avoiding me." I send a cool breeze to try to cool me down, I feel like I'm burning up under his gaze. Like he can see through me.

"Avoiding you? Master Diluc, that's impossible, how could I avoid my second favorite bartender?"  I smile, hoping to through him off with my comment. 

It works, if only for a moment.

"Second favorite?" He pauses, if I didn't know better he looks a little hurt. "Regardless. What you said, do you remember?" 

"Second only to Diona, nothing personal, Master Diluc." I ramble, trying to use distractions to get myself out of this.

"I thought we would be on a first-name basis by now, Venti. Anyway, about last week." I'm running out of distractions, and his comment catches me by the ankle.

"We can be on a first name bases if you want to, Master Diluc. You would just have to ask." I can feel the air around me getting hotter, though I can't tell if it's me or Diluc.

"I would like that Venti." His voice is soft like he's testing waters more than anything else. And then the moment is ruined. "Now, how many times am I going to have to redirect you?"

"I can't dumb my way out of this, can I?" I sigh, standing up. "I don't want to talk about it. I want everything to go back to how it was. I'm really sorry, I was drunk and I couldn't keep myself from talking." Playing with my fingers, I continue. "I can't say I didn't mean it, and I know that you don't like me like that, so I'm kinda hoping that we can jus-" His lips, on mine. His lips (not chapped, but rough) are on my lips. His hand on my cheek, the other on my hip, pulling me closer.

He's gone as quickly as he came. He pulls back, his eyes are closed. I almost chase after him. But his hands hold me in place. 

"Venti," He pauses, breathing heavily. "Venti, stop rambling. We should talk, that means I get to speak too."

I nod, turning even redder than before. 

"I have questions, that's all." He whispers, his hands still on my waist. I nod again so he continues. "You told me, what are you wanting to happen now?" His breath is warm on my face.

"I was drunk, I wish it didn't happen." the wind cools me down a little bit, but not by much.

"Well it happened, so in light of that, what are you wanting?" He doesn't move away from me at all, if anything he holds on tighter.

"I don't know, Diluc." My voice barely above a whisper, "I was too busy thinking about how I wish it didn't happen. "

"How about you spend the day with me in Liyue? I could take you to see the sea." He says, looking at my lips.

"I can't, I-" I start, but before I can finish Diluc backs away, his hands finding their way into his pockets.

"Oh," He whispers and I realize... I didn't kiss back and I just said no to a date. What is wrong with you, Venti?!?

"It's not that I don't want to, I swear! I just can't leave Mondstadt." I shout one sentence and then mumble the next.

He looks dumbfounded. "You can't leave Mondstadt?"

"No, there's a contract that all of the Archons have. We can't leave our respective nations." I explain, "I would love to spend the day with you, I just can't do it in Liyue."

I've never seen Diluc light up like this. "That's OK, would you like to go to Starsnatch cliff? We could look at the sea from there. Or not, anywhere you want to go, anywhere in Mondstadt."

"I would love to go to Starsnatch Cliff with you."