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It’s not like this is Aether’s first time near drowning.
The feeling of his legs and arms not being able to reach out to anything. The burning sensation as the water filling his lungs.
The fear and panic of not being able to do something as simple as breathing .
Thus, Aether never expects that he’d feel something entirely different when he’s doing this fake-drowning act.
Maybe it’s because he’s completely in control of the situation.
When he’s actually drowning, the only thing he has in his mind is to survive. To get out of the water. He does not have the luxury to think of anything else other than staying alive.
But this time, even when he’s feeling light-headed from his breath being constricted, he knows full well that he can get out of the water anytime he wants.
And that probably leaves him the opportunity to focus on something else.
.
Once he opens his eyes, he is met with the sight of a familiar face.
It instantly reminds him of the original purpose of him doing the fake-drowning act in the first place. Oh how embarrassing would it be for him if only they had dragged him out of the water ten seconds later.
Thanks to the fabric of his clothes, it probably won’t be too noticeable even when he’s currently wet from head to toe.
Now he can only silently pray no one notices the slight tent on his pants.
.
.
.
“Oh my dear Windblume, my beloved warrior, I already said I’m sorry, didn’t I?”
Aether huffs and keeps his hands on hips dismissively, his eyes averting away from Venti. He was already thrilled to see him joining the dining table. Yet Venti was too busy chatting with his old friends.
“Aether my darling, look at me please?” Venti nudges against his shoulder, his cheek squishing against his arm. “I haven’t seen them in a while, sorry for ignoring you.”
Well, in all honesty; Aether’s not actually mad.
He feels a bit lonely, but that happens most of the time and it definitely doesn’t have anything to do with Venti enjoying himself. It comes with being separated from his sister, or being a traveler.
Thankfully Paimon’s always by his side.
Venti is definitely having a lot of fun meeting Zhongli and Xiao. Especially with all the banter with Zhongli, they seem to be really close.
And even with Kazuha, Aether’s glad Kazuha’s making new friends from his previous trip to Mondstadt. And even inviting him to show him around the Alcor and having Lantern Rite feast together.
So, Aether’s actually happy with how much Venti’s having so much fun here.
But even so, he likes teasing Venti from time to time.
And he knows Venti knows he’s not seriously irked by how Venti’s spending time with his friends either.
It’s all proved when Venti smacks his lips loudly against his cheek, then pulling away and sticking his tongue out in a playful way. “Now I’m totally not ignoring you anymore, right?”
Then he winks.
Aether swears, Venti really knows his weakness.
“I thought you’re secretly giving me a hint to meet up at the Alcor so we can spend the rest of Lantern Rite together. Meeting up with your old friend?” Aether huffs, but not without stealing a peek at the bard who’s clinging all over him. Venti knows exactly how weak Aether is to Venti’s looking upwards at him. And he’s doing it on purpose right now. “Kazuha definitely doesn’t count as an old friend, especially taking your age into account.”
Venti gasps dramatically, his green eyes widen and they sparkle under the dim light. “How dare you bring my age into this.”
Oh that’s it.
There’s no way Aether can keep up the jealous boyfriend act anymore.
When he bursts out laughing, Venti starts laughing too until the room is filled with their unrestrained laughs.
It keeps going for a while, until both of them exhaust themselves and let out a long sigh before exchanging looks at each other.
Aether smiles warmly, “Did you have fun?”
Venti hums excitedly and leans on the windowsill, looking up at the lantern-filled sky, “I know a few years shouldn’t have been that long since we’ve all lived for much longer. But regardless, I still truly missed them.”
“I’m glad.”
The lights from the xiao lanterns lit up the sky, making Liyue Harbour even livelier than ordinary days.
The main celebration has ended, but the bazaar and decorations will probably stay for another week. Unlike previous years where he could only enjoy Lantern Rite without Venti, this year is different.
Venti himself is looking out at the bustling street from their rented room’s window.
He’s glad he has connections to the Qixing or it would probably be impossible to book a room during festivals like this. And of course, Venti does not think first about where he’d be staying when he visited. So of course Aether offered for them to share the room.
Or maybe that’s just Venti’s plan since the beginning.
“So, don’t you have something you’d like to tell me?”
Something to tell him? Aether wonders.
There’s a lot in fact.
But that’s just how it is all the time.
Aether would tell him stories of his travels, and Venti would tell him his.
So why is Venti asking as if there is something else other than their usual stories?
“Maybe something that has to do with…” Venti smirks, his eyes gleaming in that emerald colour, “your fake-drowning act?”
Oh.
Oh, so that’s what Venti meant.
He should’ve known.
Even when the people present there don't realise what’s happening to him at that time, there’s no way of hiding it from Venti.
As far as the wind reaches, the breeze will bring its stories to Venti.
That’s…
That’s convenient.
Not only did Venti visit at the perfect time, he also brought up the topic as easily as that.
Aether lets himself get lost in the clouded green that is Venti’s eyes. The lantern lights are incandescent against his porcelain skin, giving it the impression that Venti’s eyes gleam in the night. It brings his mind wandering somewhere.
Just by thinking about that brings Aether’s breath to a hitch.
“Then? How about it?” Aether traces the length of Venti’s arm, from the thin material on his sleeves, then down the ruffled fabric around his wrist. He slowly pulls them up, guiding him to place it right where it fits perfectly; around his lithe neck. “Wouldn’t you like to try? Steal my breath away, all weak and powerless lying beneath you. I’m putting my life in your hands, willingly.”
Just like how Venti knows Aether’s weakness against his upturned eyes, Aether also knows Venti’s.
He knows exactly how Venti likes it.
The honorary knight—a famous hero to another nation, strong and dependable. And yet a man so well-known by everyone is surrendering his all and everything to Venti.
Venti visibly swallows. His eyes gleaming dark and he grazes his fingernails gently against the thin tissue around his neck.
Just by a simple gesture as that succeeds in making Aether shudders and his knees go weak. His pants have become tight and he could see Venti’s are in a similar state.
“Are you sure?” Venti asks, his voice barely a whisper, lacking its usual cheeriness. As if a bit louder and anyone could hear their private conversation.
“I’ve never been so sure.”
The next thing Aether knows, his lips are captured by Venti as he is dragged to the bed. Not even wanting to waste another second, Aether’s hands skids around Venti’s back and skillfully loosens the strings of his corset. He recalls how clumsy he was in undoing them at first, but now his fingers know how to undress this man on top of him quickly.
For the whole time both he and Venti are undressing each other, Venti’s hand never left his neck. He’s not applying any pressure, he just keeps it there; registering the pulse under that keeps beating faster.
Seeing how Venti’s having trouble undressing him with only one hand, Aether helps him as soon as he’s done dragging the last piece of cloth away from Venti. Now Venti seems to be delighted by that and decides to let Aether do the work himself.
He places his now-free hand on his nipple that’s been hard for a while while pampering kisses on the side of his jawline.
A moan escapes his lips, and Venti captures those soft gasps.
The hand that’s been sitting forever on his neck slowly tightens itself.
His mouth goes slack from the sudden pressure, Venti switches to biting gently on his lower lip instead when he gets no response from Aether.
The pressure is there, but not too much.
Aether could feel Venti’s eyes on him the whole time. Even before he tightens the grip, he keeps his focus on Aether’s expression. And that truly makes him feel safe.
Then Venti releases his grip.
And Aether inhales sharply, feeling the oxygen entering his lungs.
While he’s still normalising his breath, Venti squeezes again, but this time quick to release his hold. The sudden action instantly sends sparks that go right to his aching cock.
It’s been leaking, and Aether only realises it now.
“Oh I wish you could see your face right now, Aether.”
Still gasping for breath, Aether tries to respond, “Aren’t you the lucky guy.”
“Hm, I am.”
After his breath is more steady, he looks down to what Venti’s been doing. But the sudden feeling of something being inserted in him makes all the sense.
“How do you like this lotus oil? It smells a bit different from our usual sweetflower oil, doesn’t it?” Venti keeps his fingers working inside Aether, gently pushing it in and out to relax his muscles.
“Yeah it—” Aether’s hips buck a bit, “ —ngh, yeah it does smell different.”
He doesn’t know if Venti’s doing it on purpose or time really has passed slower. The preparation Venti’s doing seems to be taking forever, and not to mention Venti keeps on teasing his sweet spot. Not exactly grinding it, but grazing it then leaving it untouched. Repeat.
Aether groans, he can’t wait any longer. “That’s enough already, Venti. I’m more than ready.”
Thankfully Venti listens to him and pulls out his fingers. He puts both his hands on Aether’s face, then he leans in for a kiss.
Aether could feel the faint taste of alcohol on Venti’s lips. It might be from the drinks he shared with Kazuha before they finally meet up tonight. When Venti pulls away, Aether unconsciously chases after his lips, as if he’s already drunk from that little sweetness he tasted. It is Venti’s light chuckles that makes him realise that.
In the dimly lit room, with lights from the lantern outside sways gently on the wall, Aether languidly wraps his legs around Venti, his eyes never breaking the contact. His hand leads Venti’s erect cock to his entrance.
Oh how he misses that feeling.
The way Venti slowly sinks himself in him, with the intention of both letting him get used to it and teasing him. Or the way Venti peppers kisses on his shoulders, up along his neck then to his jawline, and ending up on the side of his eye and forehead.
Quiet moan escapes from Aether’s lips, all drawn out because of Venti’s hips that start moving. But those are soon swallowed by Venti, drinking his sweet voice like a glass of wine. Addicting and all Venti wants is to keep them to himself.
He lets their tongues mingle together in a sloppy kiss, earning soft gasps and moans as they both start rolling their hips together.
When Venti pulls away, Aether tries to catch his breath.
But he can’t.
There’s definitely nothing holding his neck, yet he can’t breathe.
Venti only chuckles slightly when he sees his eyes widen. The sight of Venti’s lustful gaze, along with his glowing hair explains everything.
“ Khh—ahhh…” Aether’s eyelashes flutter, hips bucking as Venti slams into him, this time grinding on his prostate on each thrust.
The warm breath Venti blows on him sends shivers down his body. Venti’s lips ghosting over his, barely touching. The glow on his hair pulses faintly and he can feel his breath leaving his lungs.
It burns and his head is spinning.
Yet all of a sudden his body convulses in great pleasure.
All Venti needs is drawing his breath out of his lungs, and Aether is already cumming.
Only when Venti slams their lips together again that Aether can start breathing again. But Venti’s quick to capture his lips yet again, kissing him deep and not letting him go.
Iit is hard for him to catch his breath.
Then it repeats.
Again.
And one more time.
Venti doing the same thing over and over again, sucking his breath away while he keeps thrusting into him. Then releases the constriction on his lungs and lets him catch his breath again while not letting go of his mouth.
His head is dizzy and his lungs are burning.
Yet even with all that, Aether does not worry even a bit.
Just like when he’s doing the fake-drowning act, where he knows he could stop anytime he wants. This time too, with Venti, he knows Venti would give him the same security.
He’s serving his life on a platter, giving it to Venti and Venti alone.
If only Venti drags this on for one second too long, he could be dead. But that’s exactly the thrill of it. He’s letting himself be this powerless and weak under Venti.
Venti is having full control over him now.
Just the mere thought of it sends electricity up his brain and his eyes roll back. The saliva pooling in his mouth drips down his face while his hands continue to rest weakly against the sheets.
“You’re clenching me so … tight, Aether.” Venti’s breath is close against his ear, “ Ah—hah… I’m close…”
The sound of wet skins slapping is getting even louder. Usually Aether would also be moving his hips in rhythm as Venti pounds faster in him. But today his body feels weak from cumming too many times.
His head and body feels too hot from all the blood pumping faster, and yet his body has been feeling immense pleasure for a while now. It’s as if it’s been broken and currently malfunctioning.
The glow on Venti’s hair and tattoos are getting brighter with each pulse, before finally he plunges deep in Aether and pours everything inside.
Aether sucks in a deep breath and starts coughing with the big amount of oxygen entering his lungs. The euphoric feeling of his constricted breath suddenly being opened up again flows right to his cock. A string of white fluid spills all over their stomachs once again.
Both of them rest there for a moment while catching their breaths.
Aether doesn’t know if this has anything to do with Venti, but he can feel his breaths slowly coming back to normal faster than he expected. Also he notices how Venti’s hair is still glowing dimly, so maybe Venti really does help him stabilise.
“You … you’re so beautiful…” says Venti in between his gasps.
You too, Aether wants to respond, but he’s out of energy to reply to anything. And no, it’s not simply a polite response to Venti’s compliment.
Aether heard Venti; with his sweet voice chanting his name like it’s the most beautiful name in the whole of Teyvat. Aether felt Venti; with his warm hands holding him tight.
Aether also saw Venti; with his beautiful green eyes, full of love and adoration. Also with elation of having full control over him, yet his gaze never stopped observing his expression even for a moment.
Beautiful.
How could Venti showering him with all that love be anything other than beautiful.
“Let’s do this again,” Venti smiles, placing a hand over his face to brush away his damp hair, “But not in near time, I’m spent!”
Aether nods and lets out a breathy chuckle, then he looks over the window and sees the lanterns floating adorning the sky. The lights swaying gently, gently.
He’s glad he finally gets to spend the Lantern Rite together with Venti this year.