A Street Dancer with a Black Bandana (Xiaoven)

Thirteen: Big crowds.

September 27th, Two twenty three pm

Venti and Kazuha wave at eachother, and Kaeya's talking with Gorou and a tall male. Scaramouche was sitting on the ground, playing on a switch.

Heizou was fixing his shoe. "Got the whole crowd today, huh?" Yanfei teases, and Ayato laughs from behind her, "Nah, today we're watching. We did yesterday's dance. We may join in. But," He shrugs, "Chongyun twisted his ankle pretty badly. So, hes staying at the apartment." Venti nods, "You two live together?" Xiao asks, and Ayato looks at him, his eyes scanning his face, then his hands. His eyes narrowed, making Xiao uneasy, and hide his hands with the sleeves of the cardigan.

Ayato hums, "Yeah. Me, Heizou, and Chongyun do. Just till they can get back on their feet." Heizou looks up at the mention of his name, and Ayato waves his hand, and the boy stands up, "C'mon, I gotta get to work. Ive got third shift." He groans, and Venti chuckles, "Me too, Zou." The boy laughs softly, and they walk to a spot. Xiao sorta recalls Venti mentioning his job. He did a night shift, Chongyun called him a night shiftie. He worked as a bartender he said. He didnt question it, gotta work where you can.

"You and Diluc on the same shift?" Kaeya asks, and Venti nodded, "Yup, itll be great." The sarcasm was heavy. "If you hate it so much, just quit." Ayato laughs, "Ahh~ I cant, unless you want a fourth person invading your apartment." He says, and Ayato hums, "Right, right. Well,"

"The jobs..Not bad." Hes hesitant about it, but he sits down, pulling his phone out, hooking it to a small speaker.

Xiao stands with Yanfei nearby, "Why cant we get free drinks." Kaeya whines, and Venti laughs, "Because you're dating Diluc, the owner. And we need the money. I need it. My fucking rents coming up. Im three hundred short." He says, "So, I've gotta pick up some extra shifts. Or, get a second job."

Xiao listens in, and an idea hits him. He could give Venti the money, someway to repay him for everything hes done for him.

A good twenty minutes or so Venti and Kazuha are talking to eachother, more hushed voices, water bottles in their hands. Xiao was sitting with Yanfei messing with his sleeves. He wasnt sure what to do. He didnt grab his phone. And he would have to go get it soon.

Xingqiu pokes Xiao from behind, and he hums softly, "Hm?"

"Hey, we..didnt hear from you yesterday. Are you okay? Your dad seemed mad." He speaks, sitting next to him, and Xiao shows him his hands, "Yeah..He was.." He mutters, and Xingqiu gently grabs his hands, "That fucker! He hit you again?" And Xiao just nods, while Xingqiu checks the wounds.

"I dont wanna talk about it."

"Alright. How about the clothes you're wearing? Those are definitely not yours." Xingqiu speaks, looking at it, and Xiao shrugs, "Venti's clothes. He let me borrow em."

"Speaking of him~ his bandanas gone." And Xiao cocks an eyebrow in confusion, "So?"

"You're dumb." Xingqiu sighs, "Kazuha still has his on, as does Heizou." Xiao rolls his eyes, "I dont know what you're going on about." He says, and Xingqiu rolls his eyes, "Look it up then. Because I will literally cry tryna explain that to you."

"How come you know?" Xingqiu shrugs, watching as Kazuha hands Venti a paper, muttering.

Venti nods, responding softly. Xingqiu hums, "Wheres Chongyun?" He asks, "Why? Gotta cruuuushh?" Xiao teases, nudging Xingqiu with his shoulder, a small smile on his lips. "You've been smiling more." Xingqiu says softly, "Oh." Xiao nods, "Its a good thing, it's nice. Seeing you smile. It's been awhile. I remember when we were kids you smiled alot. But as we grew..It stopped. I missed it." He smiles softly, putting an arm around his shoulder, and pulling him into his arm, a hand on his head.

Xiao was..speechless. Xingqiu was right. Something happened. And he became quiet, tired. Hard to love or stay with. But, Xingqiu stayed.

Venti and Kazuha walk away to the others. A rather large crowd had formed, making Xiao anxious.

He moved closer to Xingqiu for safety. The music was loud yet not that loud. It might just be his sensory making everything louder.
Hed never seen the crowd be this many people. Trying to count how many was impossible for him. He watches the dancers, trying to focus on them.

A song plays, its unfamiliar, and yet, has a..feeling familiar to him.

He watches Venti and Kazuha start off a slow movement, slowly circling eachother, and then a hand raises up, and then to their lips, as if they're going hush to the crowd. Theres a deep emotional connection to the dance. Xiao watches them. Venti has Kazuha against him. The vibe it gives was lost lovers, or betrayal in a way. Or two forbidden lovers dancing at a ball. He couldn't place the feeling.

He sees Scaramouche staring at the two as well, his eyes following Kazuha though, while Xiao's follows Venti.

It felt like an eternity to them, but they stop, heavy breathing, small smiles on their lips.

If Xiao hadn't known Venti was single, hed think they were dating. The thought made his stomach churn, Venti being with someone else. He felt rather stupid for being jealous about it.

Venti smiles at him, softly, fondly. It makes Xiao break into a small smile.

Xingqiu gasps, "He likes you!" He shakes Xiao, making the boys eyes widen slightly. "He does not, shut up."

Xingqiu looks at Venti and back at Xiao, "I'm sure he does."

A bit later people told the dancers how good they were, and a girl stayed behind, talking to the group. Xiao couldnt help but walk over, standing next to Scaramouche.

"That was amazing! You guys should come dance at this place we perform!" She says, and Kaeya hums, "We dont do..Clubs." He says, "Oh! No! Its not a club! We're street dancers too. We'd like to perform with you. Kinda like a dance battle." Venti listens, looking at Scaramouche, his eyes flicking to his knee and back up to his eyes, and the boy shakes his head. He hums, "Maybe. I work all this week. So, i dont know if I'll be able to perform. Not to mention the outfits." Venti says, and Ayato hums, "I said I'd help. Just bring me everything. Ayaka can sew."

"Ayato!?" She asks, and Ayato is baffled, "Oh, shit. Kokomi. I'm so sorry it's been awhile since I've seen you!" He smiles, hugging her.

"Aaah~ we have to dance with each other sometime!" They all talk, and Xingqiu hums, "So you're basically the girl group of them?" Xingqiu chimes in, and she laughs, "Yeah, pretty much."

Kazuha and Scaramouche were talking to eachother, Scaramouche was using Kazuha as support, a hand on his knee.

"Well, I got stuff to do." Venti says, smiling, "Its nice to see you, Kokomi."

He bows slightly, walking towards Xiao, "You ready?" He asks, and Xiao nods, waving to Xingqiu as they walk. "They totally like eachother." Kokomi says, and everyone nods, "Yup." Yanfei nods.

"Shit! I'm driving them, hey! Wait up!" She runs after the two.

"Anyone else know why Yanfei was here?" Heizou asks, and everyone stops to think about it. "Huh. No, actually."

"Weird."