小心
originally written 6 may 2025.
“Here,” Venti says, as he casually deposits his Gnosis into Xiao’s hands. “Take good care of it for me, please~”
Xiao, with his almond-shaped eyes now wide as saucers, stares first at the chess piece, then back up at Venti. “…Lord Barbatos,” he begins.
“It’s ‘Venti’ now,” the bard gently corrects him.
The yaksha sighs. “Venti,” he once more tries, and Venti blithely beams at him in approval, in pretend obliviousness. “You cannot possibly be serious.”
“Oh, but I am.” Venti’s smile falls away, and he clasps a hand over Xiao’s when the latter tries to return the Gnosis. “I won’t force you if you refuse, but…” He falters briefly, distracted by the way Xiao’s expression shifts minutely, from shock to resolve.
“The winds are changing,” Venti explains, softly. Then, even more quietly, he admits, “I don’t feel safe.”
I want someone to guard this little heart of mine.
Xiao does not draw back his hand, but neither does he continue to try to actively return the Gnosis. He says, “Would it not be detrimental to your nation to have its Archon’s source of power kept out of reach for too long?”
“It won’t be for long,” Venti reassures him. “Just until I can find Dvalin again.”
A pause.
“Are you sure you want to trust your heart with me?”
(His love is scared, Venti knows. It’s obvious from the way the wind stills around him, like a rope tied up too tight, a leash kept taut for the safety of others. And for that, Venti leans in until their foreheads touch.)
“I am,” Venti says, “for I’ve already done so for centuries.”
A blush like a fever burns across Xiao’s face, and he slips away from Venti’s touch. Venti lets him, fond smile creeping across his face as the gentle breeze surrounding Xiao deigns once more to breathe.
“That… that’s different,” Xiao insists. “Immaterial. Your Gnosis…” Carefully controlled, dark, smoky wisps of karmic debts sublimate from his person in demonstration.
Venti clasps his hands behind his back. “There are ways to fix that,” he easily replies, a playful gleam in his eyes. “A kiss to make it better, perhaps…”
The burn of karmic debts immediately vanishes as Xiao’s hand tightens around the Gnosis. “It’s not that simple,” he argues, though an excitement in his eyes suggests he is amenable to trying anyway. “For as long as my duty persists, fresh debts will yet accumulate.”
“And for as long as this mere wisp of the wind holds breath, I shall forgive them for you.” Venti holds out a hand, palm up, in offerance to Xiao. “I won’t force you if you refuse.”
Xiao reaches back to him. “I know,” he says and brings the little god-heart close to his chest.