𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 | 𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢 𝐱 𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

When the Wind Falls Silent

Summary: It's incredibly strange for the eccentric bard of Mondstadt to suddenly disappear on June 16th, for someone that never seems to be able to stop himself from strumming a lyre, he sure is quiet tonight. Even the winds have suddenly stopped, the Anemo Archon would just like a moment to make the world stop. Just for a few more minutes.

A birthday in itself is a day that is meant for happiness and celebration, a day in which loved ones celebrate the joy of someone's birth. Birthdays are meant to be a fun and joyous occasion, but how could they be enjoyable when the one meant to be celebrated isn't here anymore? What becomes of the family and friends who once came together to celebrate that person's birthday? Does the day suddenly have no meaning even after that person's death?

Venti doesn't think so.

June 16th wasn't his birthday, but after he ascended to Celestia and took the form of his friend, he gave himself his friend's birthday as well. As a fragment of the Thousand Winds, Venti didn't technically have a birthday, and the only birthday he knew of was Himmel's. He remembered an occasion where Himmel had told him of this party that was being celebrated in one of the camps he helped in. When Venti was a wisp, he didn't know much of human customs until he met the bard, who taught him many things that he was curious about.

Like, what was a birthday cake? And why haven't they ever celebrated his birthday before?

He hadn't expected the bard to suddenly become flustered by that. At the time, Venti didn't know what had happened, and as he thinks back on the memory with a melancholic smile while sitting atop Starsnatch Cliff, he understands why his friend had been.

Birthdays are incredibly mentally draining for the person that is being celebrated. His friend was always so humble though. But he only indulged Venti this one time.

One time Venti was able to watch his friend blow out candles on an apple pastry. He had been able to snatch from the outside shelf at the small bakery of Old Mondstadt.

One time he was able to see a smile on his friend's face while they shared the apple pastry together.

"Huh, what do you mean? I have something on my face? Where?" The bard tilted his head to the side in confusion, wiping at his cheeks and the edges of his lips to try and get whatever it was that was on his face as Venti had mentioned. "Did I get it?" He paused when Venti had nuzzled against the side of his face in affection, buzzing happily when he heard his friend laugh. He held Venti closely in his hands as he softly kissed his head. "Thank you, friend! You've made my birthday feel so special this year, this is the best birthday I've ever had! We should do this next year after the war is over, it can be your birthday, too!"

A tear ran down Venti's cheek at the memory, his heart twisting, desperately bleeding from the anguish he still endures on this day every year. 2,000 years have gone by, and he still hasn't been able to mend the void that his friend had left behind.

Yeah, birthdays are mentally draining.

"My dear friend, I long to hear your voice still, even if centuries have passed by now. I've come to know so many people from near and far, but none have captured my heart quite like you have. And even if we are no longer together, you are still here with me in spirit. On this day, I've dedicated it to you, dear Himmel."

And if his friend could hear him, Venti wished that his friend knew just how true his words were. This wasn't Venti's birthday, this wasn't Barbatos' birthday, either. This was their birthday. They were meant to celebrate it together, and even though his friend wasn't here to celebrate it, Venti would. He'll always celebrate it.

Venti falls backward, the soft petals of Cecilia's cushioning him while he gazes desperately at the night sky. The lights of the celestial stars blur while Venti allows himself to cry.

The Anemo Archon shall be excused this one time for allowing the wind to stop as Venti's body trembles, his tears falling to the side of his face as they drip down onto the Cecilia's underneath him.

His heart cries out to anyone willing to listen to it, but as a god, Venti truly doesn't have anyone else to call out to. There is no higher being than himself, and for that, Venti is forced to comfort himself. He drowns in his agony, trying to stay afloat for his own sanity, knowing he has long gotten past these feelings. He doesn't need to be sad on a day like today. He knew in his heart that his friend would never want him to be sad over him, but Venti couldn't help it sometimes.

He really just missed him. Desperately.

"Why aren't you here?" His voice cracked as he sniffled through his tears, "You're supposed to be here. You're supposed to be with me, by my side as you sing to me again, but you're not here. Why can't you be here, Himmel?"

On nights when Venti swallows himself into the abyss of past feelings, he can't help but feel utterly alone. No one in all of Teyvat shall bear witness to Barbatos weeping, no one shall see Venti blow on a dandelion seed only to have it blow back in his face. He refuses to put this burden on anyone else, this was his heart, after all. These are feelings that he's never brought up to another after he became an Archon.

As an elemental being, he was forced to carry this burden; the past, present, and future were his burden, to carry, no matter what happened.

Even with the ability to know parts of the future and the past, he's not allowed to interfere.

There is no going back. His friend is gone, and he'll never come back. A fear Venti had from the beginning, but paid it no mind because he simply couldn't see it. The bard was strong and intelligent, sneaky and swift on his feet. There was just no possibility of him dying.

What a fool he was for thinking that Himmel was immune. Venti didn't know at the time, but humans are very fragile. He was weak and unable to save the one person he cared about most. His whole life after Himmel's death is only because of the things he had taught him, and of course, he's learned many things after, but he wouldn't have fallen in love with poetry and songwriting if it wasn't for Himmel.

Venti finds the outcome of their fate undeserving and unfair. He'd do anything to have his friend back, to finally be able to hold him in his arms, to kiss the scars away, to finally be able to voice that he loves him.

He has written many songs and poems, mastering the craft in hopes that he, too, can bring smiles to those around him just like how the bard encouraged those to fight for freedom. But honestly? In this moment he just wanted to sing for Himmel and show him just how much he's grown and all that he has learned.

But he knows it's probably silly of him to keep wanting things that are no longer attainable. His wishes go unanswered while he blows on the dandelion he had brought with him. So really there was no point in wallowing anymore, no one was going to answer his wishes.

"Happy birthday, Dear Friend. I wish you could be here so that I may sing to you as you had always done for me when I was wisp. I hope that wherever you are, you're happy and free."

Venti is met with silence, the ache in his heart never faltering as he makes up dreams in his head of him and the bard.

"Bis zum nächsten Mal, lieber Freund."

Translation: "Until we meet again, dear friend."