A/N: Spoilers for Venti story quest and backstory. Yes, I was having a Venti moment while writing this

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Venti was sitting on the Archon statue again. I could see his little legs dangling over the edge of the statue's cupped hands.

Usually, I would wait beneath the statue for him to come down and we would accompany each other to the tavern—or he would already be there waiting. I was worried I was late as I entered Angel's Share after having been so engrossed in a book time became non-existent, but the bard was nowhere to be found. I had thought it strange since he was always at the tavern by that time, and Charles hadn't seen him all day.

So I thought about all the places he might have been, before ending up near the Favonius Church. If he hadn't come down by now, something was definitely wrong. "Venti!" I called. No response. "Hey, Venti! Tone-deaf bard!" Not even utilising the Traveller's companion Paimon's nickname worked. I was sure he could hear me—perhaps it just simply did not register. Sometimes, thoughts were so loud they drowned out the surroundings.

I sighed and made my way towards the statue. I had seen the Traveller climb the giant figure many times, often starting by running up the flat surface of its cape. I wasn't nearly as skilled as the Traveller, but that did not stop me from trying.

I slowly, carefully, made my way up the slope of the cape, my hand running along the statue itself for support. It began to grow steeper and I found myself gripping the edges of the cape as I shimmied upwards, before grabbing the arm of the statue. I took a breath as I balanced myself, then hoisted myself up—or at least tried.

I could feel myself slipping backwards and I cried out in fear—I was very high up—only to have my wrist grabbed by small cold hands and pulled back onto the statue. "You really should be more careful!" Venti said with light reprimand in his voice. "Who knows what could've happened if I wasn't up here already."

I smiled gratefully at him. "You're the only reason I came up here, Venti. What's wrong?"

"Hmm? Whatever do you mean?"

"Well, you're usually down by now and in the tavern, drinking and singing away—but not today. You've been coming up here more and more frequently. I'm worried for you."

He offered me a closed-eye smile. "There's no reason to be worried, Y/n! I'm fine!"

"Are you?" I pushed. Oftentimes people will say they're ok the first time you ask. When you ask again, sometimes their mask will break and you can see the true emotions buried beneath.

Indeed, his smile wavered.

I sighed a little. "I knew it... And you're hiding it from me."

Venti nodded his head towards the Archon statue's cupped hands. "Come—sit with me." There was something almost... unnerving at how serious and calm he was. I adored his playful personality and his energy, and to not see that there alarmed me.

Venti sat back down at his usual place, overlooking Mondstadt as the lights from the buildings lit up the city, akin to a field of stars. He patted beside him and I sat down, our feet touching as they dangled together. I smiled at him and he returned it, placing his hand on mine as he noticed the concern in my eyes.

We turned back to the city. There, we sat in silence, offering no exchanges of words nor glances, only the touch of our hands as I rubbed my fingers over Venti's hand. I waited for him to speak—to tell me of his troubles—but as the quiet dragged on, though not uncomfortable, I was beginning to feel that he would not say what was on his mind.

A slight sigh left my mouth, barely audible, when Venti finally said, "I find that sometimes, not even the tavern can cheer me up—can help chase away the thoughts that swarm my mind." I turned my head to find him gazing up at the stars, reflected in his aqua-green eyes. A light huff of a chuckle left his mouth. "Which is why I'm glad to have a friend beside me—to know our fates are intertwined."

I opened my mouth to say something but opted not to—to let him say all that was on his mind.

"It is often in the calmest moments I find myself suddenly attacked by grief, as if it were lurking around a corner, waiting for me to let my guard down to jump me as I pass."

"Grief?" I echoed—an innocent but curious question. I begged the Four Winds to give Venti the courage to speak to me—to let every burden he carried be shared upon our shoulders.

Venti sighed. "2,600 years ago, the Anemo Archon was crowned upon the fall of Decarabian, the God of Storms." He took another breath, as if he were preparing to say something that would be extremely and utterly life-changing—not that whatever he said would change what I felt for him. "I... was crowned the Anemo Archon."

My heart stopped for a split second as I contemplated his words. "Wait..." I said. "Y—you're... You're the Anemo Archon?" I was surprised, but it didn't show in my voice as much as my bewilderment at that statement. Had we been drunk in the tavern, I would've shrugged it off as Venti just... well... being Venti.

But as he nodded solemnly at me, I realised that he wouldn't joke about that. Not here—not now.

I squeezed his hand, our fingers still together. "I expected a great many things but... not this... You're the Anemo Archon..." The tone of my voice had now changed to awe as I gazed at our hands. "And yet, the form of a young man is what you take... You would've been let into many a tavern if you had chosen something else," I laughed to try and lighten the mood. Venti didn't laugh with me.

For a moment, I was worried I had offended him, but as I gazed into his eyes, there were no such negative emotions—at least, not directed towards me. "This form..." he began, "is modelled after a friend. A dear friend." Venti took a deep sigh. "He fought for Mondstadt... was key in its liberation... but he does not watch the world with me as we had planned. The crowning of the Anemo Archon... was built on the fall of someone who was much more deserving of life than I was."

Immediately my smile dropped. Oh. Oh. There was no point in trying to keep the mood happy, I realised. I knew an apology was wasteless and Venti would refuse it anyway. And I realised... that I had nothing to offer the Anemo Archon who had so dearly cherished and looked after me—nothing but myself.

I squeezed his hand tighter. If that was all I had then... that was what I would give. I leaned against him, closing the gap between us and holding our hands on my lap. A shuddering breath left his body as he rested his head on my shoulder and I found myself wrapping an arm around him, holding him close in a tight hug.

Time became lost as the world disappeared, only the two of us left. I could make out my subconsciousness controlling my body, undoing Venti's braids and running my fingers through his unbound hair in a calming gesture. It must've been soothing because he sighed contently.

After an undetermined length of time, I heard a voice, soon making it out to be Venti saying my name. "What is it?" I asked, my hand now gently rubbing his back.

"I must be crazy..." he breathed, "but... with you here, I feel as if I have nothing to fear." My gaze slid to him and I found him looking at me, a faint smile on his face despite the pain in his eyes. "You are my greatest and most trustworthy friend—and now that feeling has developed into love with no end."

My cheeks flushed slightly as I stilled, every part of me freezing and then melting and then freezing again and then—

He brushed a strand of stray hair behind my ear. "Are these feelings reciprocated, Y/n?"

My breath hitched as my mouth gaped open and closed, the words I wanted to say clogged in my throat. "I—I think..." It was then I decided to shut myself up and let my actions speak for me, pulling the bard close into another tight hug as I rested my chin on his shoulder. I felt his arms wrap around my back in response. "I think I love you, too... And through whatever grief you feel, I'll hold your hand and we'll brave through the storms together."

He chuckled into my hair. "That is why I love you." He pulled back, the sorrow in his eyes not fully gone but... at least the light and fun had returned enough to warrant a bright smile from the both of us. "You must be tired, Y/n. I'll escort you home."

I shook my head and waved my hand in gentle dismissal. "Not at all. I'd much rather stay here with you."

Venti stood and placed a hand on his chest—over his heart. "Ehe, is that right?" And I smiled in response to the lightness in his voice. "Then how about I sing you a song that I wrote especially for you until the sun rises?"

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A/N: I love Archon angst. Prepare for more

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Completed: 21-06-23
Published: 3-07-23
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Fanart credits: https://twitter.com/FridaynightCat/status/1671913117302013953?cxt=HHwWgoDSweeH6rMuAAAA