Chapter Text
6:49AM.
private DMS between Kaeya and Venti.
Kaeya: Venti
Kaeya: venti
Kaeya: venti, are you alright?
Kaeya: please answer
Kaeya: Venti??
Kaeya: venti please.
Kaeya: just a text?? Atleast tell me where you are
Kaeya: ill bring.. uh.. dandelion wine?
Kaeya: god i sound desperate rn with these messages
Kaeya: just let us know your alright, eh?
Kaeya: please.
Venti is online.
Venti: hi
Kaeya: venti you prick!? I was about to go offline n all. Its dark outside still. Please tell me you havent gone wandering.
Venti: …might seem crazy what im bout to say..
Kaeya: fucks sake venti, where are you?
Venti: why
Kaeya: because i fucking care for you godamn it!? Whats so hard to understand about that!? He made you feel like this right? Ill fucking kill him venti!!
Venti: no, kaeya stop.
Venti: im fine
Venti: …
Venti: im at windrise, highest branch up
Venti: you’ll see it if you look up
Venti: if thats why you wanted to know where i was anyway
Venti: considered going stormterrors lair but it was a too long trek
Kaeya: thanks, venti.
Kaeya has stopped typing
in the ‘bootyticklers’ groupchat’
Kaeya is online
Kaeya: i swear to god whoever this @Xiao guy is i better see u Treating venti right asshole
Kaeya: ob fuck o just dropped my phone. It landed rihry in a bowm of warer. You lucmy fuck.
Kaeya is now offline
…
Xiao is now online
…
Xiao: huh?
Xiao is now offline
….
…
..
Third-person POV:
Kaeya’s panting, chest heaving as he shoves his boots onto his feet, hissing as his toe slams against the end of it due to it being on the wrong foot. He curses, taking it off and redoing it on the other foot, hopping as he tries his best to maintain balance against the wall. He huffs in annoyance, tying the shoe more aggressively than usual. As soon as he had confirmation where Venti was, he immediately got out of bed and changed hastily into a clean pair of clothing. Actually, it looks a bit different than usual. Probably because he had to completely forgo the fluffy white cape. Well, he didn’t really, but he wants to be as quick as possible. He wraps his hand around the door handle, before realising he can see a bit more than usual, and curses, quickly turning and rushing to the bedroom, placing his eyepatch over his eye before rushing out the house.
Kaeya was making a hasty walk towards Windrise, towards the large tree in the middle that raises high above the Barbatos statue and many buildings in mondstadt. Its a very old tree, after all.. Anyway, Kaeya makes it just underneath the tree nearby to the statue, panting, And quickly yelps upon feeling something wet hit his hair. Its not raining, meaning..
“Hey..” Comes a raspy voice from above in the tree branch as Kaeya looks upwards, catching sight of a tear just about falling off his cheek. “hey, uh.. do you want to come down, or am i climbing up?..” He asks softly, hands moving to his hips as he looks up with squinted eyes.. eye? Anyway, A soft breeze raises underneath Kaeya, lifting him off the ground, he quickly recognises it as being his elemental skill, just a bit stronger to raise him higher. Kaeya from this is able to sit on the branch beside him, tutting sympathetically as he catches sight of the fat tears rolling down ventis cheek.
“Whats up, venti?” Kaeya asks quietly, his arm moving to wrap over ventis shoulder softly, pulling him beside him for a hug. His hand rubs ventis shoulder softly, in a soothing motion. He mumbles in a gentle tone, “You know I am always there for you, right? We didnt exactly get off on the right foot.. ynow, considering.. but youre really not that bad of a guy, yeah? I think they exaggerated your guys’ evil villainness a bit much, but hey, you got a close friend out of it so who cares. Sorry, im rambling arent I? Haha..” He chuckles softly, Venti long having since zoned out.
Venti’s Pov:
He’s talking, I think. I don’t know. I cant focus, really. It’s strange, having a friend who would drop everything for you like that.. It feels nice, brings a funny warm feeling to my chest. Not a weird one, a comforting one, in a way. Its peculiar. Doesn’t feel right. Im usually the one comforting, yknow? Hah.. Why am i narrating as if he can read my thoughts. I miss him, to be honest. He reminds me of |him|. Always cared. Does care. It’s.. Nice. I.. I don’t know how to react, I think I’ve realised. It’s been a while, to have someone care for me like this, I mean. Someone who really.. cares about me.. I just.. I don’t know why I crave the acceptance and love so much, why do I? It’s unbefitting, to be honest. I.. I’m sighing, I think. I feel a bit.. hows it put, out of it, right now. I guess.. reading Xiao doesn’t care about me set me off, huh? I know he cares. He isn’t good at showing it but.. I know he cares. I donmt think he’s been shown much love, really, so I don’t expect him to fully know how to show it. Never expect it. Why should i hold expectations of others when I can’t meet their expectations of me? The old man said it himself, I’m a disgrace to the arts- oh.. i think Kaeyas talking to me again. I guess I’d better try to listen this time..
Kaeya’s POV:
I don’t think he’s listening. Thats alright. I think. I would react the same to if someone I cared about said things like that to me. I did react the same. I know venti loves the guy and all, and I know I shouldn’t judge so quickly because I really don’t know him all that well, so I’ll try my best not to. But it.. hurts, to be honest, to see him like this. I know i shouldn’t care for him as much as I do.. he’s an archon, for crying out loud, but.. Mondstadt’s home.. not Khaenri’ah, not whatever my father wanted me to do before sending me here. Mondstadt is home. And Mondstadt is only home because venti let it be home. I suppose I owe him really, everything. I wouldn’t be here if he wasn’t so welcoming. I suppose it suits him though doesn’t it. He doesn’t seem like the kind of person to want to hurt someone. Not want to. Never want to. I guess theres never a choice though really with the heavens, celestia.. it’s.. yeah.
Third-person POV:
“-ora for your thoughts, Venti?” Kaeya chuckles softly, gazing into Venti’s green hued orbs, they seem so far away, like in a different world all together, like he wasn’t there at all. “Yknow, if i could visit where your thoughts go when you zone out, i’d probably be the calmest man out there.” Kaeya chuckles softly to venti, causing Venti to break into a little smile and look at him, but his mind grimaces. ‘You really wouldn’t..’ he would think, but nobody would know. How could they? It’s his mind.”…Why do you care for me, Kaeya?” Venti would ask, and he’d get a simple shrug in reply, before the voice beside him speaks once more, “Yknow, this branch really doesnt feel stable. Anyway, I think, I think it’s because thats just who you are, Venti. You’re.. kind to those around you, no matter the harm done. Sure, you have your dark moments and your self doubts, but.. Everything youve done has been for your nation really, has it not? So that doesn’t make you a bad person, and therefore should be cared for. You care for everyone around you, it’s only natural for them to care back, hm?” The response from Kaeya would be, but upon noticing the drifting eyes again he would snap his fingers infront of the green-clad one’s face. “Mora for your thoughts, Venti?” Kaeya would ask once more, causing Venti to grow embarrassed. “I also think.. it’s because I owe you a-lot. If you hadn’t allowed me to stay here when you realised, then, I wouldn’t have met those I know now. I wouldn’t have met you. I.. I can’t explain it really. I guess, I just do? Its hard. Caring for others, I mean, but you make it so easy. It saddens me, because you’re so easy to care for, yet those around you don’t. It fucking pisses me off..” Kaeya continues, and he mutters the end bit, but Venti still hears it anyway. He leans his head onto the shoulder of Kaeya, his hat resting in his hand. “I don’t know why it affected me so much. I know he loves me. He said it. But he also said he didn’t care. But he did? It confused me, made my heart break, just a little bit. I don’t think he meant it to be mean. Just a joke, really. Perhaps didn’t know how to respond? But hearing your lover say they don’t care… It hurts, yeah?” Venti finally explains abruptly, Kaeya’s shoulder getting slightly wet with Venti’s new round of tears. “It’s alright, Venti. Cry as much as you want, god knows you need.. It.. wait, you’re god aren’t you.. Never mind.. Anyway, I understand. Well, maybe not in the way you are experiencing it, but.. I understand what it’s like.” Kaeya clarifies, and if as it begins raining, soon after the branch begins to freeze at his end, than that’s his business and no-one else’s. If his grip tightens on venti as he experiences a flashback, then that’s no-one else’s problem but theirs..
The Flashback- Kaeya’s POV:
He wont stop. Why wont he stop? Its raining. It burns. It burns. Holy fuck it hurts so bad. I’m bleeding, I think. He’s.. why is he attacking me? Has everything meant nothing to him? Why is he attacking me? I’m his brother. Does that hold no meaning? I’m screaming. I’m screaming, and I’m screaming loud. His claymore is burning into my arm. It hurts so fucking- oh god it’s like fucking torture! My head cant- why.. I.. I know why he’s doing it. Betrayal. He’s hurt. But Is that not what he’s doing to me in return? Hurting me? Does he even care for me anymore? Did I- oh.. I think I said it aloud..
The Flashback- Third Person POV:
Diluc’s attacks were brutish, un relentless. His claymore is red hot, burning with the power of his vision as he violently clashes with Kaeyas sword, catching him on his hands and arms at times due to the large nature of the Claymore, Trying to send him away. If he hesitates upon seeing Kaeyas bleeding, screaming, sobbing form, then thats his business. It’s his problem. His problem for trusting a lying little traitor. His problem for believing him.
His problem for attacking his only family left.
It’s his problem. Not one he plans on fixing, like. His fire burns bright despite the rain pouring down on them, undeniably hurting Kaeya further. If Diluc’s mind screams at him for attacking his defenceless brother, then his mind can do that, and he won’t listen.
“DO YOU EVEN CARE FOR ME ANYMORE!?” Kaeya would scream at his
Older brother
Oppressor as he parries an attack, forcing them at a standstill to receive an answer, his arms flexing against the weight of the claymore with his obviously weaker sword, struggling to keep it there.
“Why would i care for a backstabber like you..” The redhead would reply, pushing Kaeya to the ground, his hand hesitating as he thrusts his claymore over His stomach, only for it to be encompassed in ice as a Cryo Vision hangs lowly in the air, freezing the water droplets into diamond like ice drops. The ground at the redheads foot freezes, and the blueberry hair coloured one would back up with speed, staring into The redheads eyes. Diluc’s eyes would search Kaeya’s eyes, only seeing
Hurt
resentment as he quickly gets up on shaky feet and bolts away from the Dawn Winery.
End of FB
Kaeyas POV:
Theres a hand on my cheek, I think. Oh.. its.. venti? I..Oh, it’s not raining anymore. That’s good.
Ventis POV:
Hes lost in thought. A flashback, maybe? A memory? Perhaps a daydream. …
Third-person POV:
“Come back to me, Kaeya. Why do you go so far away, why must your eyes travel so far into a realm of hurt, child? Oh dear.. so young.. so full of life.. yet so full of hurt and pain.. I wish I could make it better, take you away to a better place..” Venti would sooth, holding the crying Kaeya to his shoulder. Soft words, comforting words, words Kaeya thought he’d never really hear again. It reminds him of his mother. The memory far away, too for to be fully recovered no matter how desperately he would hope so. It’s too much like her, and a sob he desperately tried to conceal breaks its way from his throat like a nasty ghost that had possessed him. It’s like the falling down of a dam, he doesn’t know if it’s the memories or the just overall emotional atmosphere that caused him to break down like this. He sobs into Venti’s shoulder, having seemingly switched positions since before, so now Venti was holding Kaeyas trembling form in his arms whilst whispering soft comforts in his ear. Hes so much like her. The way he acts. His hugs. How he speaks. How he comforts. He doesnt know why he reminds him so much of her, because they were completely different in their own ways. After a while, Kaeya trembles a little less, and his sobs turn to sniffles, but he doesn’t move, hugging Venti tighter instead.
“You alright now?” The green clad bard would ask, rubbing kaeyas back comfortingly. If Kaeya had snuggled a little bit closer into the warm hug, then that was between them. “Say, you never brought the dandelion wine, did you?” Venti would tease, resulting in a groan and a soft smack upside the head from kaeya as he would lean away from the comforting hug.
After a few moments of silence after both had calmed down and fixed themselves up, Venti would get an idea and take out his phone. “Pose!” He would yell, getting up his camera, taking a picture of them both with only their lower faces revealed, sitting in a branch in windrise. Kaeya would ask to sign into his visigram(Instagram) on Ventis phone, and get permission from the Archon. He would take the phone, pressing on the app icon and logging out of Venti’s Visigram, choosing to log into his own and get up photos. He would quickly see a picture of Venti and Xiao kissing and would flush red, swiftly pressing on the photo of them both on the branch and typing in a small caption ‘Hangin out with the dumb bard in #windrise <3’ ,and pass Venti his phone back afterwards. If they sit there and laugh together for hours, then thats their business, and nobody else’s.
09:23AM
Diluc is now online
Diluc has sent one image to the groupchat
|Hangin out with the dumb bard in #windrise <3’
Diluc: @Kaeya
Diluc: ??
Venti, Xiao and a few others are now online
Venti: heyhey! My phone broke, so borrowing ventis! -Kaeya
Venti: what about it??-Kaeya
Diluc: nothing, just.. why are you sat in a branch, you fools.
Venti: mean:((( Nyway, cos Venti was sat here and needed cheering up, duh! Plus, what places are rlly open at 06:48am, huh?-Kaeya
Diluc: you've been out there.. on a branch.. at -2 degrees.. in THAT outfit, FOR A MULTITUDE OF HOURS??
Diluc: ITS BEEN RAINING!! WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!?!?
Venti: not like u care anyway, Ragnvindr. -K
Venti is now offline.
Diluc: I see how it is.
Diluc: brunging that up in here
Diluc: fucking asshole
Diluc: …
Diluc is now offline
09:30AM
Xiao is typing
09:45AM
Xiao: @Venti did i seriously upset Venti that much?
Venti is now online
Venti: yeah. Youd best fix it. He deserves better.-K
Xiao: ..I know.
Venti and Xiao are now offline
Wanderer: jesus christ the beef is crazy
R aiden ei is now online
Wanderer: .
Wanderer is now offline
Raiden Ei: Kunikuzushi? Oh, hes already gone. Nevermind, then.
Raiden ei is now offline.