modernity - xiaoven

12.

because i got my art work done early, and im not allowing on my phone im writing.

i love the next few chapters because i got to project onto xiao and it was great.

tw: idk but kaeya makes two sex jokes in this chapter.

---------------------------

xiao did not end up going to sleep.

he'd ended up scrolling through a few random sites, before getting sidetracked by a message from venti.

[venti... :)]

v: i'm bored

x: why should i care.

v: because i want to talk to you.

v: anyways can we meet up on friday instead of saturday??

x: i guess.

v: i'm not getting any motivation :(

x: we can meet up today if you want?

v: sure!

x: where and when?

v: wanmin restuarant and like an hour?

x: alright. it might take me a bit longer.

v: why?

x: i need to sneak out, i'm supposed to be asleep

v: wait why sleeping now?

x: i stayed up all night, my dad and his boyfriend, i think, cannot be quiet.

x: my room is connected by a wall to his.

v: i feel bad for you.

x: dont. i have insomnia anyway.

v: alright!

v: seeya soon!

----

setting his phone down, xiao stood up before quietly walking over to his dresser. he quietly got through his morning routine, before going silent in hopes that zhongli had not heard him.

grabbing his phone in case he was gone for a while, xiao slipped his window open and slipped out, beginning his walk to the restaurant.

he was heading over early, but he was hoping to stop by a coffee shop to get some form of caffeine in his system. he could always wait until zhongli left for work, but he might not even be working today.

which meant he had to get himself coffee outside of the house. he didn't mind this, although it included actually interacting with people. [and occasionally being flirted with, but he never really notices that and if he does he just doesn't care.]

quickly rushing into the coffee shop he'd always gone to, he only waited in line for a short moment.

"hey, hun. the same as every time, right?"

"mhm."

the woman at the counter nodded, handing him a simple black coffee after around two minutes.

"never thought you'd come in again, dear. but, we love havin' ya."

"i'll always come here for coffee, when i can."

"mhm. i just had thought that your father was cracking down on your coffee addiction."

"he's barely managed to get me to stop."

the woman nodded again, smiling.

"well, off you go darlin' "

"bye."

"bye!"

----

once he had left the coffee shop, xiao continued his walk to wanmin restaurant, sipping on his coffee every so often. he made it there shortly, since it wasn't too long of a walk there.

luckily, it was only around 20 minutes until he and venti agreed to meet up, so he could try and get something to eat.

or not, since they didn't have any food he particularly liked, and he wasn't in the mood to drain his wallet on something he prefered.

standing outside, he leaned against the wall of the building, scrolling through his phone mindlessly when he got a notification from the group chat.

[barbie toes' friends]

k: i think bedo is broken

j: what happened? he literally just got off.

k: bennett was being his usual self and let it slip he's not straight.

k: no label yet, but bedo heard and he's frozen.

j: is there anything else?

k: yeah that's not the full story, but basically bennett's in a relationship.

x: who, what, why?

v: where and when?

l: in sync, perfect.

x: what in fucking teyvat.

v: anyways guys i should fix the groupchat name.

k: don'tttt!

venti has changed the chat's name to [barbie toes' mondstadt friends (+xiao)]

v: it's long but idc.

k: that's what she said.

v: mhm! bye everyone i need to get off.

k: to what?

x: ...

----

glancing up from his phone, xiao noticed venti running over.

"were you early?"

"possibly. i had to get coffee."

"why not make it at home?"

"my dad would kill me, besides i'm supposed to be asleep right now, remember?"

"oh yeah! want to head to my hotel room, since it's close and there's a coffee machine there if you want any more."

"i guess we can go there."

"off we go then!"

"where are we heading?"

"oh yeah- can i hold your hand? it'll be easier that way since i tend to run-"

simply, xiao nodded and the other grabbed his hand, rushing off.