A Street Dancer with a Black Bandana (Xiaoven)

Four: Lunch date.

September 10th, 3:35 pm.

Venti starts packing as the other dancers messed around, Scaramouche was talking with Kazuha, them both smiling fondly at eachother.

Xiao grabs his own bag, humming softly, Kaeya was on the phone, a smile on his lips.

Gorou had already left, he needed to go saying it was 'urgent'.

Xingqiu had left already, but he made Xiao stay.

Venti finishes packing, and tying his board to the bottom of his backpack, and he walks over to Xiao, "You still down for lunch?" He asks, smiling, and Xiao nods softly, and Venti yells something to the others and they all nod, "Be safe!" Kaeya says, winking.

Venti says something in German, making Xiao's stomach do a flip. The words came out smoother than any pick up line.

Kaeya gasps, "You did not!" Venti grins, grabbing Xiao's hand, pulling him with him.

He didn't let go of Xiao's hand until they reached a small restaurant, and he held the door open for Xiao, watching him walk in. He keeps a hand behind the shorters back, near his waist.

They both walk to a table, sitting down, "You sure its okay for you to miss practice?" Venti asks, and Xiao nods, "Yeah..I'm always practicing so..My dad doesnt really..Let me do things besides practice the Violin." He answers, hes hesitant.

Xiao pulls at his nails, and Venti reaches into his bag, grabbing a small squishy ball, handing it to him.

Xiao takes it gently, fondling with it, "Right. You been playing long?" Venti asks, "Mhm. Since..I was young. Five I think. My mom was a Violinist. When she died my father made me take on her legacy. The one and only 'Yaksha'." He scrunched his nose at that, "I was raised around others who played with instruments, but never had an actual friend. Besides Xingqiu. That was against my will. He just followed me around like a lost dog." He smiles a little, but the smile leaves the moment it shows.

"I get that, my group I have now..Theyve always just been my only friends. I met them..four years ago? We met at the studio. Well, Kaeya and Diluc I've known since I was Fifteen. And we kinda just stuck. Kazuha and I kinda just clicked. It's not the same as yours. But I get it." He smiles, tapping the table with his fingers, "What about you? How long have you been dancing for?"

"I am 24..uhh.." He counts on his fingers, "Since I was seventeen so Seven years." He answers, "I self-taught myself for a bit, then my friend, who became a dance instructor, he helped me with alot. I learned alot from him so." Venti grins, "He and Kaeya helped me alot. Not with just dancing. But, myself."

Xiao takes the words in, he had never really found someone who helped him in ways. He was always alone. Dealt with it on his own. Hid away. Pretended it didnt matter. Pretended it wasnt there.

"Ive..Never had someone like that. It seeks nice." Xiao answers, squeezing the squishy ball, avoiding eye contact.

"It takes a bit, to find someone. Or maybe you dont. And that's fine. You find yourself." He smiles, pulling his wallet out, sitting it on the table.

After they ordered they talked about multiple things, learning about eachother.

The two felt a pull to eachother. Something that pushed Xiao to know him, and something the pushed Venti to tell the boy what he wanted to know.

Xiao learned that Venti's favorite color was green, his favorite flower was a Cecilia, he liked apples, or anything with it. He preferred wine over other alcohol, claiming it burned.

Venti learned that Xiao's favorite color was blue, his favorite flower was a Qingxin, he had a sister (younger by two years), he knew how to draw, claimed he wasnt any good. Showed the tattoo that he got without his father knowing. "Oh! I have a few!" Venti smiles, "Ones on my upper thigh, and another around my chest;" He points at his chest, "Another on my hip;" He drags his finger from his hip closer to his knee, "Ends here."

Xiao hums, "What is it?" Venti hums, "I can show you. But then again, this is the first date~." He teases, "I do have a picture though." Xiao blushes, watching Venti go through his phone, humming softly, "Its, sorta recent."

Venti hands the phone to Xiao, and he gently takes it, looking at it.

Its Venti standing next to Kazuha, both standing in a pose. Venti had his left hip showing, his hand holding up his shorts, Kazuha was showing his side, holding up his shirt, a few butterflies, surrounded by maple tree leaf's. It went from his side and upwards towards his chest.
Venti's went from his left hip, and nearly his knee. A snake, with two large flowers on it in the middle, parts of the snakes body peeking out, and butterflies with leafs colored and lined with black. The snake had diamond shaped scales, and the stomach lined.

Xiao studies it, in awe. "Its beautiful."

"Looks better in person." Venti doesnt attempt to take the phone back, just letting Xiao look at it.

"The person who did it, I know them. They can do something for you too. I can give you his number if you want." Xiao nods softly, he likes this person's work.

"Yeah, thatd be cool." He smiles, and hands the phone back, and Venti smiles. "Let me see your phone."Venti says, and Xiao hands it to him, after opening the phone app.

A minute later Venti smiles, and hands it back, seeing a message to Venti, it was named as 'Venti 💙🌹'

He smiles softly, and tucks his phone away, "Thanks." And Venti nods.

~

After they finished eating, Venti was walking with Xiao, taking the other home. Xiao stops at a gate, sighing, he didnt wanna face his father.

"You sure you're gonna be okay?" He asks, and Xiao shrugs, "Let's just hope hes not drinking." He says weakly, pushing open the gate, "Uhm..Thanks."

"Hm?" Venti tilts his head, "What for?"

"Just..Today, I guess. You treated me like..A normal human." His voice quivers, "You didnt treat me like some celebrity...You just-- treated me as a human." He answers, "Thanks." Venti smiles, "Of course. If you wanna go out again, let me know. I know a few places." He smiles, and Xiao nods. "Okay..Goodnight, Venti."

That was the first time Venti had heard Xiao say his name, it was...addicting. Soft. Foreign in Xiao's mouth.

Venti cant help but blush and smile,

"Goodnight, Xiao."