A Street Dancer with a Black Bandana (Xiaoven)

Ten: Bloody hands.

September 26th, Nine pm.

Venti was on the couch hugging a pillow, as he watches the tv, a show he watched playing at medium volume. (Gilmore Girls <3)

He was thinking about earlier, he never really noticed, but today, when he was hugging Xiao, his hands. They had some sort of scars. He knew he shouldn't pay much attention to it, but it made him uneasy, and how his father looked at him, and Xiao was shaky and scared. Something was wrong. He also didnt pick up Venti's call.

A loud knock on the door makes Venti lose the thought, and he groans, pausing the show.
He tosses his blanket and pillow off, making his way to the door. As he opens it, he can hear sobs.

Once the door was fully open, he sees Xiao sobbing, and hyperventilating. His hands bruised and bleeding, along with his lip and looked like his nose as well.

"Alatus!" He pulls him inside, closing the door, checking him, "Hey hey, what happened!?" Venti gasps, holding his hands, and he sits him on the couch and ran into the bathroom, grabbing the box of bandaids, and some rubbing alcohol, and a rag, then run into the living room.

He kneels infront of Xiao, taking his hands in his, "Who did this?" He asks, damping the rag with rubbing alcohol, dabbing away the blood off his face, and Xiao hiccups, leaning his head on Venti's shoulder, trying to speak but no words come out.

"Okay, shhh...Breath with me." He inhales slowly, and exhales, shaking the bandaids out onto the ground.

Once Xiao calmed down, Venti was able to clean his hands. Xiao almost cried each time he cleans his wounds, whimpering softy. "Can you tell me what happened?" He tucks his phone away after a few pictures of the wounds, and Xiao shakily exhales, "My dad- he uhm--i messed up a note today, and he noticed-" He whimpers, "He hit me again- Ganyu w-wasnt there to stop him. I th-thought he had stopped..B-but I- I was wrong! He hit my hands with- with a belt-" He chokes out, starting to cry once again. Venti gently kisses his knuckles, "I'm so sorry, sweetheart." He hugs the smaller, a tight, comforting grip.

Xiao felt so safe. And he realized it wasnt just a crush. And maybe..Just maybe he was in love with Venti.

"C'mon, let's get you in bed, you need to sleep. You can stay here for as long as youd like." Venti speaks softly towards Xiao, and opens the bedroom door.
He helps Xiao sit on the bed, and goes through his dresser. Xiao was still wearing the suit from his performance. Dark patches from blood when he held his hands against his chest, tear stains on his pants, and a rip in the knee, Venti assumes he fell on the way over.

Xiao looks around the room. A tall oak dresser, covered in random things. Clothes, decor. Books. A bookshelf was in the corner, but very little books. It mainly held decor.

On the wall there were papers, hastly scribbled paragraphs, and then those designs that Xiao had seen the first time hed been here, but they were more organized, better lineart, and colored more. They're outfits, labeled in names.

Venti/Diluc/Kaeya/Razor/Bennett/Albedo- Light blue
It's a crop top button up long sleeved, underneath another long sleeve but black, a hat, with a mask, the pants are sorta baggy, the black shirt tucks into it.

Kazuha/Scaramouche/Gorou/Ayato/Heizou/Thoma - purple

Chongyun, Yanfei, Hu-Tao - Red

The others were covered, some names he didnt recognize, nor met. Then a calendar that was a month behind, more photos hanging in spots. In the corner of the room is a basket almost flowing over with clothes, the bed in the middle of the room.

Venti gently touches Xiao's shoulder, "Here, a hoodie and some sweats, you can put your clothes into my basket, I'm washing them tomorrow." His voice is so soft, gentle, as if he spoke to loud hed blow out the weak flame of a candle, or broke a dam.

Xiao nods, "Hey, it's okay. You're safe here. We can talk in the morning, okay?" He smiles at the smaller, and Xiao engulfs him in a hug, and Venti hugged back, not letting the smaller go till he let go. Xiao felt the emotions Venti was feeling. Anger, sadness. As if this thing happened to himself.

They stood there for a good ten minutes until Xiao pulls away, nodding. "Thank you.." He mutters, his voice wavering, as if hed sob again if he spoke too much.

Venti's hand is soft against his cheek, as he wipes away a tear, "Of course, Alatus. Let me know if you need anything." Venti replies softly, as if hed break if Venti spoke too loud. Treating him as a porcelain doll that had been cracked too much and one wrong move he'd shatter.

Venti leaves the room, picking up his phone, dialing a number. As it rings he sighs. No answer ever came and Venti sits the phone down, looking at Xiao as he walks out of the room, "You okay?" Venti asks, and Xiao shrugs, "Dunno.." He mumbles, walking to Venti. He practically fell into Venti's body, hugging him.

Venti places a soft kiss on Xiao's head, running his fingers through his hair, "You tired?" Xiao nods, sighing, "You're so warm.." He mutters, pulling Venti closer, if that was possible.

"Mm, do you need anything? Or want anything?" Venti speaks softly, holding the smaller in his arms, "Mm..Sleep..Lots of it."

"Okay, you can lay in my bed, sweetheart." Venti picks the smaller up, carrying him to the room, pushing open the door with his foot. He holds Xiao in one arm, as he fixes the pillows, pulling the blanket up, and he sets Xiao down, moving hair from his eyes.

His hand kinda hovers, as he stares at Xiao. Its silent. Neither of them dared to break the silence, so they stared.

Venti wanted to kiss Xiao, but he doesnt, instead he looks away, sighing, "I'll be in the living room. Yell or come out."

"As in gay or out of the room?"

"I- I guess whichever? I-I dont know-" Xiao giggles softly at his joke, "I mean, I am Pansexual so. Somewhat gay."

Venti smiles so fondly at Xiao, "I'm glad you trust me with this." He grins, "Guess I can tell you I'm gay." He says, and Xiao's eyes widen. Ganyu wasnt wrong. He felt relieved, like maybe just maybe Venti could like him back.

Venti sighs, "Get some sleep." He pulls the blanket over him, and starts leaving the room, looking back towards Xiao, watching as the younger snuggles into the bed, sighing.

Venti doesnt close the door, but he leaves the room. He sits on the couch, and sighs. "That fucker." He mutters to himself. He was angry now. Not at Xiao. He could never be mad at him. How could anyone hurt their children.

Hes been through this, and still doesnt have an answer. Now seeing Xiao like this...It makes him wish he had an answer for it.