Wherever The Wind Blows - Aether x Venti

Chapter 13: The Next Step

Aether POV:

"This is quite nice!" the green bard giggled as he walked on the small trail.

"Venti, you've been here like a thousand times already. We first met here, remember?"

Venti grinned and looked at me with his green eyes.

"I know, but we've never gone on a walk together here before. That's the nice part about it."

I smiled.

"By the way, it was definitively a good idea to leave Paimon with Noelle and Lisa, if she was here she'd be accusing us of flirting!" Venti said and giggled.

"She definitely would. We've been spending a lot of time together, you and me."

Venti sat down on the grass as he smiled at me.

"I know, it's so much fun hanging out with you."

I smiled back and sat down beside him. The gentle breeze combed through his soft hair and I blushed slightly at the sight of the beautiful bard.

"I kinda want to play something." Venti said and grabbed his lyre. "Any requests?"

"I really liked the song you played at the Weinlesefest. Can you play it again?" I asked him with a smile.

Venti nodded and giggled as he played the song. I closed my eyes and listened to the music and the sound of Venti's voice. Venti started to play another song once the first ended.

"You're so cute." I said without thinking and covered my mouth.

Venti stared at me for a while with tinted cheeks, and then he suddenly started to laugh. I smiled too, but I was confused.

"Thanks, you're cute too." Venti said with a bright smile. "No, you're beautiful."

"Stop, you're making me blush!" I chuckled.

Venti giggled and looked me in the eyes for a while. He then leaned in closer to me. I felt like the world disappeared around me and I leaned closer as well. Our faces were so close.

Then suddenly, we were interrupted by the sound of footsteps. I grabbed Venti's hand and dragged him with me as I hid behind a bush. A group of Treasure Hoarders walked past us.

"What in Teyvat are they doing here?" I whispered with an annoyed tone.

Venti shrugged.

"Maybe they're on a treasure hunt?" he whispered.

"Maybe... but we have to stop them."

Venti grinned and giggled quietly as he grabbed his bow.

"Let's do it."

The Treasure Hoarders were quickly defeated. I questioned them and they were about to search for treasure around the Statue of the Seven. After telling them that they would not be allowed to do that, I let them go. I gave Venti a high five as we watched them run away.

"Mission success." he giggled and grabbed my hand.

I intertwined my fingers with his and smiled.

"So, what now?" I asked.

Venti shrugged.

"Maybe we can stay here for a while longer?"

I nodded and smiled at him.

We sat down under a tree and ate some apples. Venti strummed his lyre while taking a bite of the red apple in his hand. I watched him as I was lost in thought.

I'm going to Sumeru soon, but what am I going to do when I have to leave Venti? I'm definitively going to regret not telling him how I feel, so why can't I do it?

I took another bite of my apple.

...I just don't want to lose my friend.

"Aether?"

I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard Venti's voice.

"Yes?"

Venti looked at me with his green eyes.

"Are you okay? You've been staring at me for a while."

I blushed and nodded.

"I was just thinking."

Venti giggled and moved closer to me.

"Thinking about what?" he asked with a grin as he put his head on my shoulder.

I felt my whole face turn red and I was too flustered to speak. Venti continued to look at me.

"I-I was just thinking about what I'm going to do when I get to Sumeru." I said when I finally managed to speak again.

"Oh.. so that's where you're headed next?" he said.

I nodded.

"I was thinking of leaving soon."

Venti stood up as he finished his apple and put away his lyre.

"How soon?" he asked.

"I don't know." I answered and got up as well. "Why do you ask?"

Venti smiled softly.

"It's nothing. I guess I just wanted to spend more time with you."

I felt like I had hurt him somehow.

"I mean, it's not like I have to leave tomorrow. We can still hang out, right?"

Venti nodded hesitantly.

"I think... I just want you to say that you're going to stay forever." he smiled.

I looked at him with a confused look on my face.

"You do? Why?"

Venti didn't answer. He stayed silent for a while before he took a step toward me and grabbed my scarf and kissed me.

A/N

Aaanndd cliffhanger- Please do not kill me, I still have so many things to write.
:)

I'm so tired rn, I just want to go to sleep for like a week.

It was really fun writing this chapter. It's really short, but I couldn't think of anything else to write. :)

I think I want to rewrite this chapter in the future, but this is good enough for now.

Have a great day!