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Xiao had never been someone talkative and this stayed true even around the Anemo archon, known more as venti now. Xiao was also not the type to listen to others but with Venti he felt entranced with his words, it was physically impossible for him to not give venti his full attention while he spoke, trying to take in every single word he said.
Maybe those feelings were not ones that a worshipper should have for a god, he didn’t even know *what* those feelings were. None of that mattered right now however, at this moment all that mattered was the person in front of him telling him about ballads of freedom while looking up at the stars, The one and only Barbatos. His words putting Xiao under a spell he could not escape in the same way he couldn’t stop looking at him.
Maybe Venti felt xiao’s stare but he stopped telling his stories to look at him and ask if he was okay, after all he had been quiet for an unnormal amount of time even by his standards.
“im okay, please keep going” these words seemed to calm down the archons worries and brought him back to his energetic way of telling stories, except this time he told them while looking at xiao instead of at the stars, no one that saw them would ever think of this as a normal friendship but that’s what venti called this “relationship” nothing more than friendship. These words did hurt Xiao but never enough for him to voice his opinions, his opinions were irrelevant especially compared to an archon (or at least thats what he thought).
Venti continued telling his story but now a bit worried on Xiaos well being, he had been acting off all day even after they had eaten almond tofu. He also felt a bit embarrassed with Xiao staring so intently at him and now even more while they stared at each others eyes. The fact that they were laying down next to each other on top of wangshu inn, during a pleasant night didnt help the feelings venti had towards xiao. This felt very much like a date or at least not a casual hang out, he didnt even notice when they had started holding hands.
It was now quiet, only nature noises could be heard along with their breathing, they were just looking at the stars now, sometimes venti would steal glances of xiao and they would look at each other, just for a second. The thought of kissing went and left their mind until they couldnt ignore it. Sure it was a human thing that neither of them had ever been interested in, but right now? it felt so perfect and now neither could stop thinking about what it would feel like.
it had been hundreds of years of these feelings piling up inside of each other, all just waiting to be spilled in this night. Venti was the first to move, he rested on his elbow to look down at xiao, xiao blushed a bit from this position but also wondered what venti was going to do next, he didnt expect venti to put his hand on his cheek before caressing it.
Venti leaned close and in less than a whisper said to xiao “can i?” xiao didnt respond before he closed the gap of space between them. It was by far a perfect kiss, it was messy and they were more focused on getting closer and closer to each other than anything else, it was physically impossible to be closer at that moment but that didn’t stop venti and xiao from holding onto each other as if their life depended on it.
They werent human but they still needed to breath, venti was the first to pull away for air, some of their saliva still connected by a string between them. They were both flushed and lips a bit red from how long and desperate the kiss was and they didnt waste any time before going back to kissing. This time xiaos hand on the back if ventis head close to his neck and ventis hand on xiaos waist.
Time passed by, neither were sure how long exactly had passed but they were still kissing, neither with any hint of getting tired anytime soon. Venti took xiaos face in his hands and kissed all of it, there was no place on xiaos face that hadnt been kissed by venti.Xiao would never complain about this tho.
It felt now like they should talk about their feelings… Both of them knew out of the two Venti was a lot better about talking about feelings so he pulled back from all the kissing, immediately missing the warmth but also being able to normally breath for the first time in a while. He took xiaos hand and kissed it.
Xiao had never been more embarrassed. That didnt matter because venti started talking,
“Xiao… i dont know what your feelings are towards me but i feel great affection towards you. i want to spend all of my time with you and cant seem to stop thinking about you, since we first met in dihua marsh.”
Xiao was dumbfounded. How could the Anemo archon feel this way towards someone like *him*, someone with a bad karmic debt, someone who couldnt explain their feelings and someone who didnt even understand human emotions… did he feel the same for the archon? he must, but since when? and how had he not noticed before. All the time they spent together, there were so many signs that he chose to ignore because he thought he had no chance. But he felt the same about venti, he never wanted to be away from him, he wanted to protect him and be with him forever.
oh
Venti was getting worried from the lack of response from xiao, that he sat up completely and felt utterly embarrassed, how could he have thought confessing to the conqueror of demons was a good idea. Now he had messed everything up. “Its fine if you dont feel the same- i shouldnt have said all that. im really sorry xiao please-” he turned back to look at him but xiao cut him off “please don’t apologize- im just confused. I feel great affection towards you too- no, i love you. don’t apologize” (this is so fucking corny)
Venti basically threw himself to xiao to kiss him again this time a much slower kiss taking their time to say i love you to each other.
xiao pulled away for a second to ask venti “why would you think id kiss you if i wasnt in love with you?”
“i just wasnt sure.” for the first time venti looked more embarrassed than xiao about what his words.
“but you offered me a kiss.. why?”
“such a foolish reason im afraid… i just wanted to kiss you”
Xiao was the first to kiss him this time and they never wanted to let go.