modernity - xiaoven

47.

i'm slowly writing, since i kinda need to pay more attention to the book i'm writing that kinda follows the timeline of this book. 

that i'm exclusively not sharing, so sometimes this book will reference what happens in that book, [aka like a couple of lines lmao-]

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as it turns out, trying to fall asleep after the loss of your gnosis is troubling.

venti was unable to fall asleep as he had earlier, and he was still exhausted. sitting up, he glanced around the room, until he noticed that xiao had returned and was sat on the floor, staring out the window.

"xiao?"

the other simply glanced at him and then back out the window.

"did i wake you?"

"no, i just can't sleep."

"oh. alright."

"can you help me-?"

"how?"

"earlier i managed to fall asleep with you there, so-"

"... alright."

xiao came over and sat next to venti on the bed.

"are you gonna sleep?"

"i don't need to sleep."

"please? we leave in the morning and it'd be good if you slept."

"i don't need to sleep, venti."

"and? resting is still good for you."

"... fine."

venti smiled and moved to lay his head on xiao's shoulder. "thank you."

"you're... welcome."

----

venti woke up to find that he had, unsurprisingly, attatched himself to xiao's side in his sleep.

"are you... alright, xiao?"

"yes and no. physically yes, but, my emotions are confusing."

"it's what you told me about before, isn't it?"

"it is. and, i don't quite want to admit it, but i do miss our venti."

"i understand, xiao. you'd been conflicted with your emotions about him before this journey, and now this is just confusing your body and brain. You know he isn't him, but he looks like him."

"zhongli, when we leave, may i take off ahead to make sure the route is safe? i trust in your abilities, of course, i just would like to stay away from you two in the meantime."

"it's alright, once we cross into liyue, you may head to wangshu inn, as you usually stay there, correct? i've already informed the other adepti of our return, and of venti's condition. if anything were to occur, ganyu knows to inform cloud retainer and the others."

"thank you."

"you know, last night i felt you cross into liyue. please, once you two head out on your own, stay by venti's side."

"i will. and why is ganyu supposed to inform the other adepti of anything occuring, wouldn't you be able to?"

"the rite of desencison is occuring, and i will be accompanying tartaglia, or childe as per the request of the tsarita afterward, meaning i will be fully occupied."

"be careful, he's untrustworthy, and fatui scu-."

"watch your mouth. i trust him, and he's been quite kind to me recently."

"don't tell me that-"

"hm?"

"are you two actually serious."

"in my eyes, yes. xiao, i'm not having this conversation with you. i know you don't like him, but i do."

xiao sighed, and as he did, venti slightly moved, hoping that he wouldn't realize he was awake.

"did we wake you?"

"no." venti mumbled, sitting up.

"we'll be leaving soon, jean has yet to learn that we're preparing to leave so i need to tell her. after that, we'll be on our way to liyue harbor. i'll end up splitting off from you two, since i'm needed for the rite, as well as needed to be with tartaglia due to a contra-"

"you signed a contract?!"

"it was signed long ago. i'll explain it to you some other time."

"fine. we should get moving. i'll inform jean, since you need to explain to venti how our travelling will be going."

zhongli nodded, and xiao stood and left, leaving the two of them alone in the room.