Daddy, you're blushing!

21

TW: mention of self-h4rm

Venti could not believe he forgave Albedo that easily while he can't find himself doing the same for Xiao.

That man has done lots of things to him... He made him suffer. He tried cutting his arms many times, and he succeeded. All because of him... And yet he forgives him like he didn't do anything.

There was something wrong with him, he knows that.

As he made his way toward Hirang's hospital room, he sighed before opening the door, knowing that he might see Xiao in there.

When he opened the door, he saw Hirang and Xiao sleeping on her bed, hugging each other.

Venti stared at them with a smile... He looks at Xiao. His eyes looked so red... And swollen. Has he been crying?

He played with his hair. He wasn't awake. There wasn't anyone holding him back from the things he can do, he tried looking for Zoe at first, but it seem like she wasn't really in here.

He held Xiao's face and kissed his pale lips, thinking that it would make the pain go away — but his tears only fell when he closed his eyes, wetting his precious face.

Xiao may not be his anymore, but he'd continue loving him, always.

He left the flowers for Hirang beside the bed and left with tears still falling. He can't afford to see him anymore... It just hurts him. When he came home, Aether was already there. He hugged him with happiness, hearing him giggle.

“Don't leave me like that again...”

“Sorry, I had... Too many things on my plate.”

“So many things happened...”

He told Aether every single thing that happened when he was gone. Aether hugged him, saying sorry for not being there for Venti when he was at his lowest point— Venti said it was alright, he knew Aether had something in mind too that he wasn't telling Venti. He was worried that Aether might not be okay. He was scared that he'd lose him if he doesn't know what this was all about sooner.

“How about you? How are you?”

Aether looked down, rubbing his runny nose. “I'm okay... A lot of things had been going on... and I just feel so tired.”

Whatever it is that he was going through, Venti will always be there for him... Just like how he was always there when he was the one who needed someone.

It has been a month ever since all of that happened.

Everything was going back to normal, Albedo was a part of their friendship once again. Venti hasn't... Seen Xiao ever since. But he was still in touch with Hirang as Zoe became his friend.

“Aether, you look so ugly. Why are your eyebags so big?!” Venti said as he fixed his hair. This man was never ugly! He can never go out of his house looking like this, weird.

“Let's spend our time together,” Aether said with a smile... A genuine one. Venti laughed, teasing him. Being serious doesn't fit you! “Are you sure? You look tired, I don't know what's happening at preschool anymore that it gets you this exhausted.”

“Bitch, my new students are monsters, what do you expect?”

Venti laughed... an awkward one. Aether had been spending time with him for the whole month, with the people he loved... With Kazuha. I mean, it's usual for them to hang out, but doing it every day was very tiring too. He didn't know if he was just being a clingy friend or if there was another root to this...