Morning Breeze (Aether/Venti) [unfinished]

Act 5: Hangovers And cuddles

Kaeya walked up to the bar.
"Aether, Diluc."

"Kaeya. You're late."

That was the end of their conversation, it seemed.

Kaeya hoped to turn to Aether to break the silence, but he had already left the bar. He walked up to the table at the middle of the tavern where Venti was located. The bard hadn't noticed him before.

"Aether! When did you get here?"

"Just now."

"Did you scare everyone away with your mighty blade?"

Aether chuckled and pointed at Kaeya.

Venti hadn't noticed him either.
"Yeah... yeah that makes sense."

He tried drinking from the bottle he was holding but found it empty.
"Huh... when did i finish this?"

"How much did you have?"

"Ehe, enough to kill three men!"
He put up four fingers.

"Right, time for a break."

"Nooooo~"

Venti's protest was playful. Aether helped him off the table. Realizing the bard wasn't very good at walking right now, the traveler improvised. He lifted Venti off the floor and held him like a princess.

"H-hey! What are you doing?"

"Helping you out."

Venti didn't spend long resisting. By the time Aether was out the door, he was fast asleep.

Paimon was waiting for them outside, giving the sleeping bard a disapproving look.
"Let me guess, he had too much to drink?"

"You should have seen everyone when Kaeya walked in, it was hilarious."

"Now Paimon regrets leaving!"

Aether looked at the bard in his arms. He was beautiful, even more so when resting. If you ignored his wine breath you'd think him to be a work of art. The bard burped and Aether turned his face in the opposite direction. Dandelion wine. Very charming, Venti. Explaining this to jean will be a challenge.

It turned out getting through the front door was the true obstacle. Aether had to try and move as carefully as possible to not hit Venti's feet against the doorframe. Lisa happened to be walking through the main hall right that second.

"Oh my! What is all this~?"

Aether gave her an embarrased smile.
"If it helps, i found him like this."

"What a shame..."
She was always like this

"Do you have a place he can crash until he can walk again?"

"Of course! Klee has already been in time out today so that room is free."

"Thanks Lisa!"

The room had a large sofa and plenty of space. It doubled as meeting room when Klee behaved, which wasn't often lately. It didn't even have a lock. It seemed the one rule she took seriously was to stay until she was allowed out.

Aether made sure to be gentle when putting Venti down. He wanted him to be comfortable, after all. He found his fingers moving a lock of hair out of the bard's face. He fought the urge to kiss him and turned to leave the room.

"Don't go..."
Venti's hand intertwined with Aether's. A faint pull to keep him from walking away.

"You're still awake? How are you feeling?"

"Like i'm rolling down a hill and floating at the same time."

He sat down on the sofa with him.
"Want me to stay with you for a bit?"

The bard nodded.

----

"What's taking them so long? Paimon can't wait forever!"

Lisa found the fairy's impatience amusing.
"how about we ask them?"

She opened the door and peaked inside with Paimon looking over her shoulder.

"Oh my~"

On the sofa lay Aether, and in his arms, Venti. The two seemed to have fallen asleep. Lisa closed the door again, doing her best to stay quiet. How surprising. She knew the traveler was quite the flirt but never expected that to include other boys. It seemed there was more to him than she first thought.

"What was that all about? Are they sleeping?"
It seemed Paimon wasn't as good at reading the room.

"It seems they could both use the rest. Let's leave them to it, yes?"

And so the honory knight and the tone-deaf bard spent the night in eachother's arms. Every so often Venti shifted to a different position and Aether made sure he was still holding him close. He was reminded of their date at Windrise. He hadn't felt this calm since back then. It was obvious who made him feel so safe.

It took a couple hours for Venti to wake up again.
"Aether... Are you awake?"

Aether let out a sleepy yawn.
"I think so."

"Mhh... Where are we?"

"Favonius."
He moved his face closer to Venti, enough to smell his hair. Now the alcohol had left it, he smelled like cecilia flowers again.

"How did i get here...?"

"I carried you."

The idea made him blush causing his hair to light up.
"Does anybody know we're here?"

"Yes but they'll leave us alone."

Venti put his ear on Aether's chest. His heartbeat, his breathing. It assured him that Aether was really here.

"I missed you."
An air of sadness coated his words.
"After all these years i had almost forgotten how much that could sting."

"Venti..."

Aether coiled his arms around him, holding him as tight as he could without hurting him. Moments like these made him wish he could keep the bard all to himself, to keep him safe. Ever since he was forced to watch Venti's gnosis get taken from him, he felt powerless. As if Venti would wither away if he didn't watch over him every waking moment.

Sniff...sniff...

Aether felt a wet spot form against his chest.
"Venti? Are you crying?"

The bard looked up, tears streaming down his cheeks.
"Will...will you leave me too...?"

"No, no! Of course not!"

"Not even when you find your sister...?"

Aether was caught off guard by this question. It's been months. Lumine wasn't in Mondstadt or Liyue, and he doubted she'd be in Inazuma or any of the other nations. He had to admit he was losing hope. Nonetheless, Venti was right. The intention was to go back home to his own world once he was reunited with his twin.

"Rex lapis- No, Zhongli told me..."
He noticed the bard's surprise when he mentioned the geo archon.
"...He told me the archons have successors sometimes. That you and him are the only original archons left."

Venti wiped his tears with his sleeve.
"That's true..."

Aether continued:
"So you don't have to be here for Mondstadt to have an archon."

"I don't think i follow."

He looked into the bard's turquoise eyes, holding his head in his hands.
"If i really have to leave when i find my sister, if i truly can't stay, why don't you come with me?"

The tears continued.
"I'd love that."