modernity - xiaoven

22.

i'm about to speedwrite 25 + 26 so i can post 24. 

this chapter sucks but writers block hit midway through it.

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since that night, the two hadn't exactly met in person. they'd gone over the lyrics over call, since xiao exactly hadn't wanted to leave his home. [venti didn't push for details.]

they'd facetimed a few times, and messaged, and fuck, venti could feel his feelings for the other growing.

it was just a small crush, no, he was in love. it wasn't aesthetic attraction, no, he genuinely liked this man.

but he also knew, it wouldn't end well.

none of his relationships, platonic or not, ever had. [there was a reason he's ace, afterall.]

glancing down at his phone, he noticed that one, the lyrics he'd typed were obviously about his 'crush', and two, he had a message from xiao.

----

[xiaoooo!! <3?]

x: i have to say something.

v: yeah?

x: remember when you mentioned helping someone at the mall?

v: yep!

x: that was me.

v: i know.

v: i recognied you

v: recognized*

x: oh.

v: yeah. i dont judge you for it btw.

x: okay...

v: anyways! wanna hang out?

v: wait

v: sorry

v: i forgot

x: we can... i don't think they're going to be in this part of town recently.

v: really! can we go to the same park we'd been to before.

x: sure. meet me at the bench we sat at after swinging.

----

venti got there before xiao, and he sat there, idly swinging his legs. he was too excited to be seeing his friend, after not seeing him for his time in liyue.

"hey!" venti shouted, as xiao got closer.

"hello."

"whatcha want to do?"

"we can walk around, as long as you watch for the three, since you know what they look like."

"okay!"

venti stood up and walked to where xiao was, and they met there. "which way?"

"i can show you my neighborhood."

"really?"

"yeah."

"wooo!"

----

the two made it to xiao's neighborhood, and venti was hyper.

"can i see your house?!"

"i guess?"

"i'll show you mine, if you ever come to mond!"

"alright?"

and that's how the two ended up in xiao's room, just chatting. [luckily, paimon hadn't been allowed in xiao's room during the time he was sulking, so venti wasn't sneezing to all hell. oh, and venti still didn't know that xiao has her.]