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It's a chilly December evening, Xiao and Venti lay on opposite sides of the couch while watching Christmas movies together. There aren’t many days they’re allowed to laze around like this, especially during the holidays with all the Christmas and New Year specials happening, the lives of a famous idol group is hectic. Xiao would rather be working out right now but Venti whined that watching Christmas movies alone was sad so he dragged him from their private gym to join him.
A quiet rattle comes from the door and the two look and see Aether arrive back home with his twin sister, a fellow idol albeit a solo idol, Lumine in tow. Lumine often comes over to visit Aether, it's always nice to have her around as Venti and Kazuha both refer to her as their little sister. Aether greets them with a quick ‘hey’ before rushing to the kitchen to probably prepare for the twin’s latest culinary experiment. Lumine waves from the door and greets the two before quickly running to catch up with her brother.
“You two better not use my booze this time or I swear to the archons I will clobber you both!” Venti yells from his spot on the couch. From the corner of his eye he sees Xiao getting up from the couch. “Where ya going Xiao? We’re not even halfway through the movie yet.”
Xiao hesitates and responds, “I’m going to the restroom.” He then heads down the hallway opposite of the bathroom.
“Uh huh, yeah unless you’re planning on pissing in the kitchen sink instead I don’t believe you.” Xiao rolls his eyes. “Perhaps you’re actually going to the kitchen to stalk a certain visitor that you have a crush on.” Venti teased with a smug look that Xiao instinctively threw the nearest pillow at.
“I’m not stalking Lumine.”
“Oh ho ho, so you’re not denying that you like Lumine?” Xiao turns away but Venti could see the blush on his ears. “Wait so you like Lumine?! Like, like like Lumine?!?!”
When Xiao continues to not deny it, Venti leaps off the sofa and starts to sprint towards the kitchen. “OMG, Lumine! Xiao- ACK!”
Xiao grabs him by the collar of his shirt and glares at him pointedly. “Do not say another word.”
Lumine sticks her head out from the kitchen entrance. “Are you two ok?”
“We’re fine Lumine,” Venti gives her a thumbs up, “Xiao is just being a cowa- ACK!”
Xiao jabs at his side, “Venti is being Venti, ignore him.”
Lumine giggles, making Xiao blush like a schoolboy, before going back to whatever she and Aether were doing before. Venti gives Xiao a smug look, and Xiao sighs and releases Venti from his grasp with a huff.
“Xiao, my friend, mi amigo, you need to tell her. You’ve clearly got it bad dude.” He gestures to his face. “Like, so bad.”
“I will kick your ass Venti.
“Fine, guess we’ll have to do things in a more roundabout way.” Venti huffs before pausing the movie and heading to his room in a hurry.
Xiao has a bad feeling about this.
“Everything is set, Operation Xiaolumi is a go.” Venti whispered to himself as he seated himself at the first table he had reserved for himself. Despite what the others may think, Venti can be somewhat clever when he puts his mind to it. Using his connections, he managed to score two last minute reservations at a popular restaurant, one for himself and one for the targets of his scheme. He even managed to get one of the waiters in on his plan using his charm. He had everything all planned out.
Venti hid himself behind the menu when he saw Xiao walk in the restaurant. Of course, being the simp he is, Xiao would show up when he was invited to hang out with him and Lumine randomly by Venti a couple days ago, not knowing of his plan. Everything was ready when Lumine had arrived, they spoke for a bit before they apparently decided to wait for Venti at their table. Venti could see their confusion while speaking to the matradee so Venti had guessed that was when the two were informed that the only reservation under Venti’s name was for two and not three. He soon received a text from Xiao about the situation. Venti snickered, it was all smooth sleighing so far. He responded to go ahead and get seated, and that he suddenly got caught up in something so he wouldn’t be able to come anyway.
This was where everything went wrong.
While they were heading to their seats, Xiao, being as paranoid as he is, looked around the restaurant, Venti swore he and Xiao made eye contact before Xiao got distracted by the waiter telling them to be seated for now and that someone will be there to help them shortly. Venti cringed when the two awkwardly didn’t say anything for a while, there was a tension around them. It wasn’t hostile but it wasn’t exactly romantic either.
His thoughts were cut off when his accomplice came to his own table. “What can I get you sir?” he asked with a wink. Venti winced at the lack of subtlety.
“I would like the couple’s spaghetti please.” The waiter nods and walks away.
Not even ten minutes later, Xiao and Lumine, who had silently sat there the entire time, had a large bowl of pasta placed in between them. It was clearly meant to be shared between two, as the amount was far too much for the average person to be able to eat on their own. Venti smiled, it would be just like in that movie Lumine seemed to enjoy, “Gentleman and the Boette: The Story of Two Cats”.
At least it would have been had Lumine and Xiao not taken one look at eachother then took individual portions to put on their bread plates to eat. Venti almost slammed his head onto the table in frustration. He supposes that the next phase of the plan will work.
He waved the waiter down. “May I have the almond tofu parfait please?”
The waiter returns to Xiao and Lumine’s table with a serving of almond tofu parfait with two spoons. There was no way for them to split this, Venti thought, they’d have to share it like the couple they are meant to be. He allows himself to giggle menacingly, like a villain who's so close to succeeding in their plan, until he sees Lumine slide the parfait over to Xiao. He suddenly remembers Aether talking about a small concern he had about his sister not too long ago.
Lumine was put on a diet made by her agency.
Venti smacks himself in the face and groans, of course he would forget this. Now they’re about to get the check. He slouches over and slides his hand down his face in frustration. When he saw the band he realized that this restaurant had a live band. He got an idea and waves down his accomplice.
“Hey I need you to do one last thing for me.”
The singer finishes the song and holds the mic closer to her. “This song is dedicated to the lovely couple at table 32~” she waves in the direction of the aforementioned ‘couple’ Xiao and Lumine, who blush and sink into their seats. “Come up to the dance floor!” Then the two panic internally.
After a full minute of awkward silence Lumine gets up, “I, uh, we’re good. I have to go- I have an appointment I can’t be late to. Sorry!” She speedwalked to the exit with Xiao not far behind.
Venti almost curses out loud with how awful that backfired. He completely underestimated their introvertedness. Watching that was worse than watching a public proposal where the person being proposed to says no. He rests his forehead on the table and lets out a long frustrated groan. He stays that way until a timid “Excuse me” gets his attention.
“Sorry it didn’t work Venti, here’s the check for your tables. I, uh, wasn’t able to get that discount. My boss changed her mind after the thing with the band made the entire restaurant uncomfortable.”
Venti almost cried, the bill was almost $250 dollars, so much for the greatest plan ever that wouldn’t destroy his wine savings.
“And that’s how my plan went, I swear to the Archons Kazu my plan was flawless and it still didn’t work!”
Kazuha chuckled, “Perhaps your plan was doomed to fail from the beginning.”
“What does that even mean! Stop being so vague!” Venti pouts at his friend’s amusement. “Anyway, where’s Xiao? I know Aether is going to be a bit late from traffic but I haven’t heard a word from Xiao yet.”
“He has something going on today so he won’t be here for practice.”
Venti crosses his arms and nods, “I guess it has to be important for him to skip practice, especially it being so close to the New Year’s performance. Ah, don’t tell Aether I tried to hook Xiao up with Lumine, he’d kill me.”
“Of course, we don’t already have one member so close to being on his hit list we don’t need another.”
“What does that- ugh whatever, let's just start stretching. I don’t want Jean walking in and seeing us doing nothing.”
In the snow-covered park, Xiao stands with his hands in his pocket. The snow brings him feelings of melancholy, a reminder of his humble beginnings. Lost in thought, he does not notice the soft crunching of snow behind him.
“Boo!” warm hands wrap around him from behind and cold lips kiss the back of his neck. “Hi Xiao, did I scare you?”
“Hmmm, not really.” He takes a gloved hand and kisses it. “I missed you, Lumine.”
“Awww, Xiao, we just saw each other earlier silly!” Lumine nuzzles into the crook of his neck.
“I couldn’t hold you though, I miss holding you. We haven’t had that much alone time together with the New Year’s performances coming up.”
“We could always just tell them, with Venti’s whole thing at the restaurant it’s pretty clear he wants us together anyway.”
“Lumine.” He turns around and holds her close to him. One hand on her waist and another tilting her chin upwards. He softly kisses her, the feel of her lips intoxicating, especially when she kisses back. The world seems to disappear and it's just the two of them. Their bodies warmed each other even through the heavy coats they wore. When they part for air they become lost in each other’s eyes for a moment.
“As much as I’d like to claim you, show the world that you're mine and mine alone, I don’t want to risk your career. Besides,” he looks to the side, embarrassed, “I don’t want to be killed by Aether.”
Lumine giggles, “Are you sure? I’m sure Aether won’t kill you since you make me so happy.”
Xiao moves his hand from her chin to her cheek and rests his forehead on her’s. “This is more than enough, just having you is more than enough.”
Lumine sighs and wraps her arms around his neck, and hums a soft tune. Xiao moves his hand to mirror his other hand at her waist and the rock from side to side in a slow dance. The snow continues to fall on them as they grow more and more lost in eachother. The world fades from view again until it’s just them alone again, like the image they have to keep for their fans and the lies they have to tell to stay together don’t matter. All that exists in that moment is each other and their love.
“Lumine?”
“Hmm?
“I know it's a bit early but,” he takes a small box with a green ribbon delicately tied around it from his pocket, “Merry Christmas my love.”
Lumine gives him a bright smile and takes the box, “Aww, thank you Xiao!” She kisses his cheek and unties the ribbon to open the box. She gasps when she sees a beautiful butterfly necklace. “Xiao, it’s gorgeous! I love it. Will you help me put it on?”
“Of course.”
When she turns around he carefully clips on the necklace. Then he blows cold air onto her neck.
“Eep! Xiao! No fair!”
Xiao smirks and chuckles. “Pay back from earlier. Besides, you always have the cutest reactions.”
Lumine pouts with her reddening face. “A-anyway, I have something for you too!” She pulls out a small, light blue pouch. “I hope you like it, I wasn’t sure what to get you but I saw Zhongli had one of these and I thought you would like one too.”
Lumine shifts nervously as he opens the pouch and pulls out a gold pocket watch. Xiao doesn’t say anything when he opens it to find a small photo of them on their first date. Xiao was standing stiffly as Lumine made a heart with her hands, he hovered his hand above her shoulder, you could practically see the anxiety rolling emanating from him in contrast to Lumine’s enthusiasm and excitement.
“I-if you don’t like it I can always return it, it’s no big deal. I was j-just strapped for ideas and I- ack!” Xiao pulled her into a tight hug.
“I love it, Lumine. I’ll cherish it.”
Lumine finally relaxes, “I’m glad!”
Xiao releases her and Lumine kisses him. “Merry Christmas, my sweet Xiao.”
“Merry Christmas, my darling Lumine.”