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"Excuse me.." a feminine voice called, Venti ignored the voice, thinking she wasn't speaking to him. Or, rather said, he wasn't quite in the right state of mind to even acknowledge it.
"Excuse his sorry behavior," a rough voice came, finally Venti turned around, "are you here to deliver something?" the redheaded bartender asked.
Noticing his curious glance, the woman quickly took a step forward before giving a neat letter to Venti, the bard merely raised his eyebrows with a faint smile on his face. A smile that grew into a wide grin as he recognized the handwriting.
Only one person wrote this neatly.
"What could the old blockhead want now?" Venti mused to himself, murmuring a quiet thank you to the woman who began talking to Diluc absentmindedly.
I hope this letter reaches you without issues Barbatos--
"Blah, blah, blah," Venti murmured as he skipped the paragraph-long worthy introduction that Morax always seemed to include in letters.
I seem to be in quite a predicament and would like to request your aid.
At this Venti once again smiled to himself, he was the last person Zhongli would ask for help. Why he needed his help was beyond him, but only made Venti more curious.
I recently confessed my feelings to someone dear to me, however, it seems the feeling wasn't mutual.
Without warning, Venti choked on his own saliva. He ignored the attention brought to himself, he didn't need to read anymore and without warning quickly sprang to life, sobering up instantly as if never having touched any wine.
"Where are you going?" Diluc called after him, where's my mora? Were the unspoken words.
Venti didn't say anything, at this time he had more pressing matters at hand. He left the tavern and shut the door behind him, Diluc leapt after him but just as he opened the door the bard was gone. Leaving only a peaceful wind behind him.
"Curse that bard," Diluc grumbled in annoyance.
At the familiar tune, Xiao's head perked up. He had just finished his daily dream-- Almond tofu and was just about to dispose of some fatui amongst other things. When the anemo archon seemed to poof out of nowhere.
Xiao wasted no time interrupting him, "Barbatos." he almost growled out, sounding far more aggressive than intended.
"Xiao!" the bard burst with a grin, without warning he skipped forward and embraced the now stiff Adeptus.
"Look how you've grown," Venti mumbled to himself, "a few... Millimeters at least!" Venti added. At the sight of Xiao fuming, he laughed loudly.
"What are you doing here Barbatos?" Xiao sighed in annoyance, looking much more composed, however, the faint red left on his face showed his true feelings.
"I'm here to give love advice to Morax." Venti grinned as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
Much like Venti had just minutes before, the Adeptus choked on his own saliva, "What?!" he almost screamed.
"Calm down," Venti waved nonchalantly, "it was about time for him, six thousand years and no romance? Can you believe that?" Venti laughed with a dismissive shrug.
"What the fuck."
"Anyway," Venti sang brightly, "why don't you come with me?" Venti suggested enthusiastically.
Xiao visibly grimaced, not bothering to show his dismay. He hesitated however, he couldn't let this stupid drunk ruin his master's chance at love. And Xiao knew for a fact, that's exactly what Venti would do.
"I was.. Meeting someone." Xiao hesitantly admitted, still somewhat unsure of what to do.
Venti cocked an eyebrow and smirked, but before he got a chance to no doubt make a sly comment another voice interrupted.
"Hey.. Venti?"
"Traveler!" Venti burst with a joyful smile, Lumine gave a slightly confused smile. Her eyes flickering to Xiao, he merely gave an apologetic look.
"I didn't know you were busy.." Lumine trailed off, taking an unsure step back. Venti noted the fact that for once the floating fairy known as Paimon wasn't with her.
"I'm not--" Xiao quickly blurted, Venti again noted the fact that Xiao was unusually flustered.
I see how it is. He thought with a devilish smile.
"Here's the thing," Venti began, once again explaining the situation, Lumine listened intently while Xiao sighed and picked up on the bits of information that Venti had accidentally left out.
"He fucking proposed to that," Xiao paused his mind fumbling at an appropriate word, "fatui pig?!" he fumed.
Venti laughed at his choice of word, "Indeed-"
Before Venti got a chance to speak Xiao interrupted again, "And-- And you said, he rejected him?"
If Xiao already didn't have an anemo vision, Venti was sure he would be given a pyro one right about now. Since he was literally fuming with rage, he looked ready to shed blood. Fatui blood.
"Don't," Venti sighed grabbing hold of Xiao's collar before he could do anything, "he proposed with chopsticks." Venti sighed once again.
Xiao furrowed his eyebrows, confused why that would change anything.
"Chopsticks?" Lumine commented with clear confusion.
Oh. Xiao thought, as his mind began putting the pieces together.
Venti snapped his fingers with his free hands, "I'm sure that poor boy didn't even know."
OH. Xiao thought again, this time inwardly facepalming.
"So you came here to.. Tell him that?" Lumine questioned almost looking doubtful.
"Duh," Venti rolled his eyes jokingly, "and share a few words with the suitor." he winked suggestively causing Xiao to groan.
"I was just asking Xiao to join me, why don't you both come?" Venti suggested.
Just as Xiao was going to answer Lumine beat him to it, "good idea," she paused glancing towards Xiao, "I'm not sure you'll help that much on your own." she emphasized the word help causing Xiao to chuckle silently.
Venti glanced towards Xiao, silently waiting for an answer.
"Fine," Xiao mumbled. "Fine." he snapped a bit louder.
"Then let's not waste any more time!" Venti said with booming laughter, his eyes shun brightly and Lumine glanced towards the tips of his braids. A split second after noticing they were glowing, did the three of them disappear.
"Do you think they even noticed we were here?" mumbled one of the servers.
"At this point, I need to question my life choices before answering that."
"And that's why we're all here." Venti finished the story with a dramatic bow, Zhongli merely glanced towards Xiao and Lumine before taking an elegant sip out of his cup.
Xiao was sweating bullets while Lumine swallowed nervously, both fully expecting the ex-archon to be less than happy with the situation.
"Thank you for offering your assistance." Zhongli merely thanked, giving a subtle smile as he gently put down his cup of tea.
Venti grinned, giving a nod while Lumine and Xiao exchanged strange glances.
"Of course," Venti began taking a seat in front of the ex-archon. "So you proposed?" he hummed with slight amusement.
Zhongli gave a nod, "Indeed, he accepted them.. But also ignored them?" Zhongli furrowed his eyebrows in confusion as he spoke.
Venti held up a hand as Xiao took a step forward, stopping him from speaking and moving any further.
"Have you ever considered that he might not be aware that it's a proposal?" Venti hummed, Zhongli leaned back.
"It's a-" Zhongli stopped abruptly. Realization flashing in his eyes.
Venti laughed loudly, through his laughter Zhongli could've sworn he heard the bard say blockhead but for Venti's sake, Zhongli chose to ignore it.
"Are you two even romantically involved?" Lumine suddenly burst, not being able to stop. Xiao gave her a quick glance that screamed "What the fuck?!"
"Of course they are," Venti rolled his eyes answering for Zhongli, "you don't propose without-" he stopped mid-sentence.
"Unless you're a blockhead.." he trailed off slowly looking back to Zhongli.
The ex-archon merely gave a sheepish smile, one that he tried to hide by taking another sip of his tea.
He cleared his throat before answering, "We.. Spend a lot of time together."
"Let me get this straight," Xiao jumped into the conversation, "you proposed to that fatui scum, without ever letting him know of your feelings-- or ever knowing his?"
Being scolded by Xiao was something Zhongli had never expected to happen. Even the yaksha seemed to be flabbergasted by Zhongli's cluelessness.
"I was hoping proposing would show him how I felt," Zhongli admitted with a quiet sigh.
"Maybe in the old days, friend," Venti began with a surprisingly soft tone, "you should've began by being intimate, ask him to a date."
Zhongli nodded, listening intently.
"That harbinger is almost dumber than--" Xiao stopped instantly, "words will not reach him." he quickly added praying silently that Venti wouldn't give him away.
Lucky for Xiao, the anemo archon merely gave him a shit-eating grin, "I know what you were going to say." was written all over his face.
"You have a point," Lumine mumbled thoughtfully, "maybe it's a case of actions speaking louder than words?" she mused more to herself than to anyone else. But Zhongli gave a nod nonetheless.
"You're right, he has been asking to spar with me since he arrived after all." Zhongli smiled softly to himself.
"Right.. Fighting, the language of love." Xiao sarcastically commented.
Knowing Zhongli would take his words seriously, Venti quickly spoke again. "Ask him to go on a date." he enthusiastically blurted.
As Zhongli was about to speak a knock on the door interrupted him, well it was more like a frantic banging. Xiao instantly whipped his body around, a spear materializing in his hand.
"Calm down, It's Childe." Zhongli quickly explained.
"Does he always knock like that?" Xiao scoffed, Zhongli gave a nod, "what a Buffon." Xiao grumbled under his breath.
"He asked me to have a meal with him at--" Zhongli didn't get to finish before Venti interrupted.
"He asked you to a date." Venti dramatically swooned onto Xiao, the Adeptus merely grimaced before taking a step back causing Venti to almost hit the ground-
"I'll heed your advice, thank you." Zhongli suddenly stood up, his three guests instantly realized what he was about to do.
Without a word, Xiao disappeared in familiar green sparks, Venti gave a thumbs up to Zhongli before doing the same thing. Leaving Lumine to sigh in annoyance before leaping out of the window with no hesitance.
"Were you dying in there?" Childe joked as Zhongli opened the door, he hoped Zhongli didn't notice the very obvious dent in his metal door from the maybe a bit too hard knocking.
Zhongli looked behind him as if expecting something, Childe stared in slight confusion at the sight. For some reason, Zhongli looked oddly flustered. Something that caused Childe to inwardly grin.
They exchanged pleasantries before leaving the building, Zhongli as usual began rambling about something off-topic while Childe listened with mild interest, Zhongli noted him looking slightly distracted. Which truth be told, Childe was.
Especially considering he knew they were being followed, not only had he spotted green anemo particles on top of buildings but he felt the elemental energy.
Zhongli didn't react if he noticed he didn't seem to care at all. Which he did, but to him being followed by the anemo archon, Xiao and the traveler was not a problem. The three of which were stealthily following them.
"We'll just see how it goes! Act as backup!" Venti had said pulling Xiao and Lumine along with him.
"This is a bad idea." Lumine had sighed in response but followed nonetheless.
And seeing Lumine go was enough to convince Xiao, who was hoping for an excuse to murder Childe.
"You seem distracted, is everything okay?" Zhongli paused his rambling to ask, Childe gave a signature grin and nodded.
"Just dandy," Childe grinned, turning his attention back to Zhongli.
Great, I was feeling a fight anyway. Childe thought with an inward grin, other than being stalked. The walk went, as usual, they got to the restaurant that was surprisingly empty.
"It's very empty." Zhongli mused as he looked around, Childe didn't reply and instead gave a rather sheepish grin. He didn't know how to tell Zhongli that he just bought out the restaurant for the night.
Actions speak louder than words, Zhongli thought to himself as he suddenly reached out and grabbed Childe's hand. Somewhere in the distance, a cheerful voice screeched "Nice!" Childe on the other hand momentarily stiffened. A faint blush appeared on his face which he tried to hide by turning his head.
Zhongli assumed that he felt uncomfortable by the gesture and was about to drop Childe's hand when the ginger suddenly curled his fingers around his and gave a light squeeze.
"Kill me already," Xiao grumbled as he watched the scene unfold.
"It's going surprisingly well," Venti mumbled in slight awe, the three of them watched in silence as Zhongli and Childe walked, hand in hand towards their seat.
"When do you think you'll return to Snezhnaya?" Zhongli suddenly asked, both Venti and Childe inwardly groaned.
Childe scratched the back of his head with a grin on his lips that didn't reach his eyes, "I'm not sure, her majesty the tsaritsa, for now, wants me to stay here.." Childe trailed off.
"Ah.." Zhongli replied, "your loyalty is admirable." he added, however, the conversation had now become slightly depressing.
That was until a soft tune started playing, Childe furrowed his eyebrows as he looked around for the source but quickly relaxed. His entire posture seemingly changing in an instant.
"That's.. Quite nice." Childe commented Zhongli on the other hand was glaring at something behind Childe. Something Childe didn't bother checking.
"Indeed.." Zhongli agreed if stares could kill, Venti would be dead.
You're supposed to help me, not put him to sleep. Zhongli's gaze seemed to scream.
"Y'know I've been meaning to ask," Childe ever so lightly slurred, "do those chopsticks you gave me mean anything?" Childe curiously asked.
Zhongli stiffened lightly before answering, "they do have a meaning, yes."
"Hm," Childe hummed lightly, he suddenly shook his head and sat straight up again, "Let's go for a quick walk." he suddenly said appearing fully alert again.
"A walk?" Zhongli furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.
"Yeah, before our food finishes," Childe grinned, "and so I don't fall asleep." he added with a sheepish grin.
"Alright then." Zhongli nodded, he stood up following Childe who seemed to bounce out of the building.
"Shit, he's coming towards us." Lumine realized.
Xiao rolled his eyes, "don't worry he can't see us. A mere mortal--"
Xiao was interrupted by a hydro-infused arrow flying right past his face.
"Duck!" Venti shouted a few seconds later.
"Sorry Zhongli, it appears we have some company," Childe gave a smile to his companion as if he hadn't just tried to kill an Adeptus. "Not very skilled assassins though," he added more to himself than to Zhongli.
"Wait, Childe!" Zhongli grabbed Childe's shoulder before the ginger could make another move.
"time out," a voice shouted, Childe, watched as Venti nimbly jumped down carried by a gust of wind.
"This is Barbatos," Zhongli sighed into his palm, embarrassment written all over his face, "and this is Childe." he pointed towards the ginger.
"And the other two?" Childe hummed through a smile, Xiao appeared next to Venti instantly and Lumine nimbly scaled down the building.
"Hi." Lumine sheepishly grinned.
"Idiot must've given us away." Xiao scoffed, glaring at Venti.
"Did you like the tune I played?" Venti ignored Xiao and excitedly grinned at Zhongli and Childe.
"It was quite pleasant." Zhongli admitted.
"Do I get paid for this?" Lumine grumbled.
Fucking Barbatos? Childe thought as he stared at the bard, this is the anemo archon? He thought with disbelief. Then turned back to Zhongli and was instantly a bit calmer again, if that's the geo archon then I guess that's not too far of a leap. He thought with a shrug.
"Wait, wait," Childe suddenly held his hands up, "great, reunion and all.. But why were you following us?" Childe asked, confusion written all over his face. If not for Lumine's presence he probably would've tried to attack Venti and Xiao by now.
"Well.." Venti trailed off with a dismissive smile.
"Actually yes, what were you doing?" Zhongli crossed his arms.
"We were just making sure your date was going well." Venti blurted, Childe opened his mouth to answer but quickly shut it. Venti giggled at the sight of the bloodthirsty harbinger being reduced to a blushing mess.
"It's not- not a date." Childe huffed, however his expression said otherwise.
"It hardly looks like a date," Lumine mumbled motioning towards Zhongli and Childe, "they just look like friends," she commented. Childe had no idea why that struck a nerve so badly.
Childe was just about to give a snarky reply when suddenly he was pulled in by Zhongli, a spear flying right past where he had just stood, he stiffened as Zhongli wrapped an arm around him.
"At least now you look like a couple." Xiao huffed dryly, clearly having known what Zhongli would do.
"That was uneccesarry Xiao." Zhongli snapped, Xiao inwardly winced at the harsh tone but didn't say anything.
Childe on the other hand was in heaven, every breath he took smelt like Zhongli, silkflowers, and glaze lilies alike. He relaxed ever so slightly in the consultant's hold before snapping out of his trance and taking a step back.
He'd never seen Zhongli blush before, but now he stood in shock as Zhongli cleared his throat and averted his gaze.
"It could be a date.." Childe mumbled quietly, "I mean-- if you want to." he quickly added hoping nobody would comment on his stutter.
Venti leaned towards Xiao, "Good one, Xiao." Venti whispered with a quiet giggle.
"Well," Venti exclaimed loudly, "I think our work is done," he announced proudly.
"I never thought I'd see the geo archon and the 11th harbinger act like this," Lumine grumbled staring at the two blushing men that for some reason refused to make eye contact.
"I'd like that." Zhongli suddenly said, "a date." he quickly added.
Childe snapped his eyes back to Zhongli, clear surprise in them.
"Let's get out of here," Venti whispered to Xiao, the Adeptus nodded and grabbed hold of Lumine, disappearing instantly. Venti stole one last glance before following.
"Really?" Childe couldn't help but ask.
Zhongli gave a nod, "I wasn't aware you thought of me as anything other than a friend after you rejected my proposal." he admitted, then instantly stiffened.
"Proposal..?"
"That's what the chopsticks mean, it's an ancient Liyue tradition," Zhongli explained, as he spoke he inwardly scolded himself for not having known better. Of course, he wouldn't know.
"Wow," Childe merely replied, "I guess we can talk about that after our date can't we?" he suddenly chuckled his playful demeanor returning.
"Of course," Zhongli replied, somewhat surprised at Childe's reaction.
"If you feel.. The way I do then," Childe paused momentarily, "this shouldn't be a problem right?"
Zhongli was just about to ask Childe what he meant when the ginger suddenly leaned in, planting his lips on Zhongli's. The geo archon, while otherwise, an unmovable wall felt his legs shake at the action.
The kiss was sweet, albeit brief, Zhongli found himself chasing after Childe as the ginger moved his head backward. A clear blush visible on his face, he put two fingers on his lips as if surprised with his own actions.
"A date, a proposal and a kiss," Childe hummed, "could this day get any better?" he playfully asked trying to not look like the blushing mess he was.
Zhongli chuckled lightly, "I guess we'll have to see later," he hummed with a faint smirk on his face, "come now, the food must be done by now."
Childe remained silent and unmoving for a few seconds, a few precious seconds he desperately needed to take in what he had just heard.
"Are you coming?" Zhongli turned towards Childe, who was still frozen in place. He reached out a hand and gave a soft smile.
"Yep!" Childe returned the smile and grabbed Zhongli's hand, feeling unusually warm in his chest.
A few kilometers away, the anemo archon and the traveler high-fived while a very grumpy Adepti watched on.