We spend hours kissing in the grass. It doesnt go any further than that. For a brief moment I wish it would have. But I shake the though away.
This is enough. Kissing Venti is enough.
Around dusk he stops, apologizing and pulling out his flute.
I don't mind, and I clap when he finishes playing. He smiles and does a bow.
"Let's go home." He says, and I nod. Holding him as we teleport right outside of Mondstadt.
For once I don't care if people see us walking together. And neither does Venti, because we carry a conversation all the way to the tavern. He doesn't hold my hand, but he lets me open the tavern door for him.
Walking in, I'm smiling, and the whole tavern notices.
"Master Diluc!" Thay call and cheer. I nod at all of them, taking my place behind the counter.
"You seem lively today," Charles says. "Talking with that woman you love?"
"Something like that." I reply, waiting for Charles to look away so I can glance at Venti.
He smiles at me, turning away when Kaeya asks him a question.
"Will you be playing tonight?" He asks.
"How much do you know, Kaeya?" Venti asks, looking at Kaeya skeptically.
"Nothing more than you've told me yourself. But I have a few hunches."
Venti smiles none the less, moving to the front of the room and pulling out his lyre. The crowd cheers and and Venti stands a moment before playing. Hugging the lyre.
He looks around, like he's contemplating something.
"This set is dedicated to friends and lovers. From past to now and from now to future."
The crowd cheers again, though I think they're all too drunk to understand what he's saying.
Strumming his lyre he sings.
Summer days and a light breeze
Fire and wind combined
Fingers entertwine
Calluses on palms find solace with calluses on fingertips
Rough skin finding comfort in holding each other
A barkeep and his bard
A Dark Knight Hero and his poet
A man and his godless love.
I don't hear the rest of his set. I'm focused on his first song.
I love him so much and there is nothing more I want to do than yell it right here in this tavern.
But neither of us would like the consequences of those actions.
"That's quite the declaration," Kaeya says when Venti finally sits down.
But Venti doesn't seem phased. "It was a song. Poets write all kinds of songs."
"Poets don't normally write love poems about our dear Master Diluc here."
I stay silent though the exchange, but Venti seems to handle it nicely.
"Then I'm not your typical poet."
"Understandable. It was a nice song. Could I commission you at some point?" Kaeya asks.
Venti looks shocked, plucking at the strings of his lyre. "Have someone you need a love poem for?"
To my surprise Kaeya blushes. "Something like that."
I smile at this, knowing who the poem would be for.
The clock on the wall goes off signaling the closing of the tavern.
Packing their things up, the patrons slowly make their way out of the tavern.
Even Kaeya leaves. Leaving Venti and I alone.
He smiles at me, and I lead him upstairs to the third floor.
We lay down in the bed, I hold onto his waist while he plays with my hair.
I've started taking better of my hair so that he can play with it. It's softer now, and less tangled.
"I'll move in with you."
"What?"
"I'll move in. I don't have much, but I'll start leaving things here." Venti says, combing through a small knot in my hair.
"I would really like that."
"I'm glad." He smiles, kissing my forehead.
"Will you still spend the night with Traveler?" I ask, pulling his face down to kiss me on the lips.
"Not as much, I'll spend more time here." This makes me smile, kissing all over his face.
"I love you." He giggles at my confession.
"I love you too, my little Songbird."
