A Street Dancer with a Black Bandana (Xiaoven)

Twenty-One: A Homey Feeling.

Venti and Xiao change in the bedroom while Max was with the cat in the other room.

"I didnt know your dad was in town." Xiao says, as he slips on a clean tanktop, and then a flannel, and throws his pants into the dirty clothes, and Venti hums, "I didnt either. Are you sure it's okay he comes to dinner with us?" He asks, "If you wanna stay we can stay."

"No, no, I'm okay. Are you? I know today was..yeah."

"I'm okay, baby. Are you?" He nods, "Yes, Ah-Ti, I'm fine." He kisses Venti softly, putting his arms around his neck. Venti smiles, kissing him. "I love you. I feel like I dont tell you that enough.." He whispers, and Xiao smiles, "I love you too."

Once the two finish dressing, they see Max on the couch on the phone, immediately smiling at Venti, "Hang on." He puts it to his chest, "Hey, kiddo." He seems so genuine. He is being genuine.

"Hey, who is that?"

Max smiles warmly, "I was waiting to tell you, but.." He pulls a picture up, and it's a photo of him and another male. "Its my fiance, I was waiting till a better time, but..He and I met a few years ago, and I proposed a month ago." He smiles, and Venti is visibly excited and shocked, hes jumping slightly, "That's amazing! When can I meet him!?" Hes smiling like a child on Christmas. "Well, if it's okay with you two, maybe dinner tonight?" He asks, and Venti looks at Xiao, "Oh, yeah, that's okay." He says, smiling softly.

~

When they arrive at the restaurant, Venti, Xiao, and Max are standing outside, and a Male walks up. Hes tall, maybe 6'3, at the most. Hes got a similar skin color to Kaeya, but a bit darker, and freckles. His hair is tied in a bun, its black with blue streaks in some parts. He waves excitedly, running over. He basically tackles Max into a hug, kissing his cheek, "Hi, baby!" He says excitedly, "Hey, love."

He looks at Venti, offering his hand, "Quinn! You must be Venti!" He says, and Venti nods, smiling. "Mhm! It's nice to meet you." He shakes his hand, "Shall we head inside?" Quinn says, and they nod.

~

Once everyone sat at the table, Venti and Quinn talked with Yanfei and Kaeya, and the others (the introverts) sat in silence watching. Xiao and Max watched their two lovers talk.

Xiao hums, "You called me your son-in-law earlier today, how come?"

"Seems right. He loves you. He really does, I never saw him look at someone the way he will look at you. When you aren't looking he stares at you. He can be talking and looking at you. His attention is on you at all times. Even when you dont see it. He looks at you the way I looked at his mother. He looks much like her.." He whispers, sighing softly, "He has her eyes, her facial expressions. Her energy. Hes basically another her."

"Oh.." Xiao whispers softly, "He rarely talks about her..I've never thought to ask either."

"His mother was..a beautiful woman. Talented too..But she died. When Venti was twenty. She divorced me after she gave birth, and I raised him. I..was not a good father while he grew up, and he needed someone to raise him the way he should have..But, seeing him now..Maybe I did decent..Yes, I did horrible things that keep me awake at night. And, I cant ever forgive myself."

Xiao nods, "Can I ask how she died..?"

"Of course. She..overdosed. Her brother found her. We didnt go to her funeral." He says, chewing on his fry.

"Ah..I see. Well, even what you did, you raised a good kid." Xiao says, "And he does forgive you. Really."

Max smiles, patting Xiao's shoulder, "That's good to hear." He says softly.

~

After Dinner the group split up, and headed different ways.

Max and Venti are both sitting on a bench nearby, talking.

"I..Wanted to apologize."

"For what?" Venti leans back, looking up at him, "For not being the father you needed. For..doing what I did to you. I should have let you express your feelings, be yourself. It's my fault, my own internal homophobia.." He stares at his hands, "I loved your mother. I did. Dont think I didnt. But, Quinn..Hes..Hes someone I love too. I dont know what I am. But, I love Quinn, so very much. I'm sure you understand." Venti nods, "Dad..I-.. Its okay. You know this already. I forgive you. Maybe what you did doesnt exactly change things, and yes, you could have done much better. But we cant change things. And you, you finding yourself, its amazing. I struggled with it so much, I still do. I'm on quite a few different kinds of Medications, and theyve helped me alot more than I realize." He says, looking up, "And I.." He sighs, and Max pat's his shoulder, "Dad, I needed you when I was younger. Shit, I still do. And I want you in my life." He says, and Max nods, "I wanna be in your life, Venti."

"Okay. So be in it. Call me more. Join us at dinner, come to Xiao's performances, come to Chongyun's and Xingqiu's. Be in mine and Xiao's life too."

"I will. I promise."

Venti hugs him, and Max carefully hugs him back, "I am so..so proud of you, Venti. I always have been.." He mutters, and Venti laughs, teary eyed, "I've always wanted to hear you say that to me.." Venti whispers, his voice cracking, "I'll always tell you this." He says,

They pull away, smiling at eachother, "Okay, uhm, I do need to go though. I have something tomorrow."

"and that is?"

"Veerrrryyy big performance. My group, and Yanfei's are gonna do stuff. Diluc has been a faceless dance teacher, and shes tired of being faceless. Hiding her relationship with Kaeya. I mean, mines most likely all over the place right now." He laughs, "Ah, shit. Xiao won't really be able to go anywhere without someone with him for awhile." Max hums, "I can walk with him to where he needs to go, if you want. Personal body guard!" He jokes, and Venti smiles, "I'll talk to him about it later."

~

The car ride home is quiet, like usual. But a comfortable one. Xiao's mind was all over the place. He wanted home right now. Venti. "You okay?" Venti puts his hand on his thigh, gently squeezing.
"Mhm..Jus' thinking."

"About?" Venti asks, and he shrugs, smiling.