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Stretching his arms high until he's on tiptoes, Venti hears a satisfying crunch from his spine — always a surprise that this body can be more human than he understands how. The bard almost loses balance, but Xiao supports him just in time. Unfortunately, there's little relief beyond that.
Taking a seat at the railing and tilting back instead, Venti looks up at the sunlight dancing through the yellow leaves of the tree surrounding the inn. When closing his eyes, the wind and the free fall behind almost fulfill that itch between his shoulder blades. Huh. Maybe that’s the cause.
“Did you sleep well last night?” Xiao asks with a hidden worry.
“I did. I even went back to sleep after you warned me.”
At Venti’s request, whenever the yaksha has to leave to deal with any threat, he wakes Venti up first. He doesn’t like waking up alone with the notion of Xiao potentially being in danger.
Danger last night was just a few rambunctious hilichurls too close to the inn bridge. Even if Xiao stayed out on patrol until morning, by knowing where he was, Venti could rest unbothered.
“Some morning exercise would do you well, especially when you insist on staying in bed for so long,” Xiao lectures, earning a dismissive complaint.
“And miss the view I get while watching you? No thanks,” Venti retorts anyway.
The mere daydream of Xiao’s arms when maneuvering the spear, and the muscles on his back, could get Venti drooling. Xiao huffs equally dismissively, pulling the bard away from his fantasies.
“You won’t lose sight of anything if you’re following closer.”
Now, that’s an interesting proposal, even if Venti knows Xiao doesn’t mean it beyond face value. But the bard knows that when time for practice arrives, he will either keep his precious extra hour of sleep, or sit in the back with breakfast to get rid of that insistent morning drowsiness.
“Good point, but…” For once, Venti chooses the easy route. “I suspect that the cause is my wings. I don't remember my last chance to spread them. Now my back feels tense.”
Xiao's face softens, understanding crossing his eyes. But Venti doesn’t miss how he discreetly recoils in reflex.
“If you wish to unfurl them, I can keep guard and watch your back,” he mutters, gaze wandering above Liyue’s scenery.
Venti doubts they are in that much danger, but he knows where the gesture comes from, and just how to get Xiao to ease. He remembers the scars, and the first time the subject piped up without ways to avoid it. At the time, the yaksha got a few wounds on his back. While Venti helped clean and bandage a cut too close for comfort, he couldn’t help his fingertips from wavering near the uneven skin.
The yaksha jolted, turning into a mess of goosebumps, followed by Venti’s apologies and Xiao’s explanations that he didn’t mind. In fact, he enjoyed it, and expected the archon to touch him more, even in places previously avoided.
What broke Venti’s heart anyway was learning that Xiao has been without his wings for longer than he had them, to the point of not remembering what it felt like, save for a few instincts stuck to his very core, either by nature, or survival. And now, Venti wants to avoid another gloomy response.
“We can go back to the room, no one ever bother us there. I miss the feel of the wind through my feathers, but it would be a headache if anyone sees me like that.”
Jumping down from the railing, Venti extends a hand, waiting for Xiao to reach.
“Wait, I might have a better idea.” The yaksha steps back, summoning his Serenitea Pot.
Finally, he holds Venti’s hand.
A smile grows unbound to Venti’s lips, who hops for a hug instead, sending Xiao stumbling. He doesn’t even register entering the realm while Xiao holds him for dear life. Only that his winds soften the fall as they land in the soft grass, tangled in each other.
Since it’s already convenient, Venti leans down and captures Xiao’s lips and gets reciprocated right away. It’s freeing, as every single one of their kisses so far, and that alone wraps the winds around his body. A familiar, yet rusty amount of Anemo energy takes away a mortal guise and brings forth wings, casting a shelter over them.
Xiao opens his eyes as if awakening from a daze, and Venti will never tire of this look. The yaksha basks in the view for a moment, then pulls the archon closer again, and the previous kiss deepens. As a matter of comfort, Venti fixes his posture on top of Xiao. There’s little fabric left between their bodies now, and the friction separates their mouths, giving way to a shared gasp that immediately travels downward.
Light as a feather, Venti’s giddy at the prospect, even as Xiao’s face colors a deep shade of red. This is far from the most obscene thing they ever did, yet Xiao still gets flustered about intimacy, mainly out in the open like this, even where no one could see or interrupt.
For now, they can continue this inside, later.
“What’s all of this, out of the sudden?” Xiao asks instead, hands wrapped around Venti’s waists, preventing their bodies from separating.
“For one, I think the teapot is a great idea.” Venti steals a peck during the sentence. “And also, just because we can.”
A shy smile appears on Xiao’s face, like clouds dissipating to reveal the sun after gray weather. Yet another look Venti will never tire of.
“I think we can fully relax here,” Xiao adds. “You can even take flight and nothing will disturb you.”
“Of course, this place is feeling like home already,” Venti agrees.
Continuing the initial plan, Venti rises from the floor and helps Xiao up.
“Only because of you,” the yaksha remarks softly, staring at the grass for a second. “And I don’t mean because you decorated most of it…”
Oh, his poor heart. Venti could hop into another hug with these words. Of course, this place only feels nicer with Xiao here. Holding his face and planting a smooch on a cheek will do for now.
“Hey, Xiao, want me to try carrying you as I fly?” Venti suggests.
Surprisingly, Xiao shakes his head right away.
“Could be dangerous if you’re sore and haven’t spread your wings in a while. One of us might get hurt.”
“Hm, right… Probably both of us.”
They can always do it another day, anyway. Not long ago, as the two explored Minlin, Venti had the thought of using the wind currents flowing around the mountains to glide. Now he can upgrade the idea into an actual flight!
“I’ll admire you from here,” Xiao voices his support, gaining one more kiss before the departure.
Barely restraining the spring in his step, and once more stretching high up to fully spread his wings wide, the archon soars.
Xiao’s face instantly falls into awe, Venti is faster than anticipated. Previously, he had only seen the archon floating at lower heights, reaching for tree branches, pestering Rex Lapis at shoulder level… Or dodging things thrown at him during chaotic meetings with The Seven.
Now, light and nimble, he covers as much of the sky as the realm allows, and Xiao didn’t even know teapots extended this far. When nothing else is left beyond, Venti comes down to circling the highest treetops, hands extended to the foliage. It reminds Xiao of when anemo slimes flock together to do the same thing, and it brings a smile to his face.
For the rest of the time, Xiao loses track of Venti. He walks to the nearest garden, checking the growth of the Qingxin and the Cecilias side by side, planted by them, covering a plot of the back of their house. Just a little longer and the flowers will finally bloom. And to think Xiao had no prospects for gardening at first.
Or for this entire place, in fact. He gave full freedom for Venti to decide on furniture and decor inside and out — finally, a roof above his head. Initially, due to Xiao’s lack of ideas, and now because the bard filled every shelf and every room with life above all else. As a result, he quickly fell into the graces of the teapot spirit, and now gets to execute every idea he comes up with in the snap of a finger.
Speaking of which, followed by a gust of wind that intensifies the floral smell, Venti wraps his arms around Xiao’s shoulder, feet still not touching the floor.
“Can’t wait to see them bloom!” The archon exclaims. “And we should plant some Windwheel Asters, too! Remember me to ask for more seeds from the teapot birdie, later.”
“Sounds good,” Xiao joins, “but why not do it right now?”
“I need a break,” Venti explains. “Wanna go inside?”
With a nod, Xiao directs to the door, and funny enough, dragging a flying Venti behind, who doesn’t let go of his perch. Only after entering the house, he settles down to walk.
“I’ll grab something from the kitchen while you rest,” Xiao announces, already taking the corridor.
When Xiao comes back with the apples and grapes in stock for Venti, he finds the archon leaning over his arms at the back of a sofa, gazing out the window in front of him. An ever-gentle breeze graces his hair, caressing each feather. The sunlight bathing him almost seems to reflect delight with the warmth. Venti closes his eyes, a sweet curl to his lips, wings relaxing after a deep rise and fall of his chest.
If Xiao were an artist, he would paint the scene, obsessing over every detail about the blessing of having Barbatos as a muse. No brush could dream of making such a divine view justice, though.
“There you are,” the archon coos, lavishly taking space on the couch. “Come here, don't be shy.”
At this point, Xiao knows how much Venti enjoys being watched. He's not a bard for nothing, after all. It is also an interesting moment to realize that the robes draping over his torso slid right off one shoulder, exposing his chest with the archon’s marks there. The yaksha rarely sees it entirely, usually hidden by Venti’s human guise.
Gods above and below, Xiao should be used to this by now. They have seen each other in far more debauched circumstances, but the archon will never be less marvelous. He has to look away or the awe will become too evident.
Said archon sends a wind to push at the yaksha’s back, tempting him into approaching. Finally, Xiao remembers how to act normally and how to walk to the sofa, leaving the fruit basket at the coffee table.
“Like what you see?” Venti asks, as if reading the previous thoughts. “You don't mind comfortable clothes, do you?”
“Not that there is much clothing to begin with,” Xiao teases, relishing how Venti’s smile grows when he joins in the jest.
Contrary to what his comment might suggest, Xiao keeps in memory every single variation of the robes adorning the divine body.
“Only the best for you, darling.” Said divinity winks mischievously.
And Xiao is never mad for never winning their banter.
Holding an arm out to receive his apple, Venti takes a bite and keeps appreciating the view quietly while placing his legs to rest on top of Xiao’s lap. Xiao leans as well, allowing his gaze to melt fondly at the company, daring to place a hand over the closest thigh. Who could look away when Barbatos is right within eyesight?
Maybe Xiao’s mind remained clouded by their initial kiss. Or with every one of Venti’s actions carrying the intentions he sees more often during their most intimate moments. The way he adjusts and crosses his legs on top of Xiao’s, the occasional brushing of skin…
Breathing in, holding for a moment, and then slowly out, Xiao tries to place his thoughts back into decency. But the heavy-lidded gaze Venti directs over him right after renders his efforts useless.
When done with his fruits, Venti wiggles a bit, fingers trying to fix his wings after clutching his back against the sofa’s armrest. That changes the tone a little, as Venti pouts, bothered by his lack of results. Some of his feathers are fuzzy and wrinkled, and looking closely now, there are even a couple of tiny leaves stuck here and there.
“Do you need help grooming them?” Xiao suggests out of the blue.
Venti halts, blinking a few times. The yaksha didn’t think much of the suggestion, but maybe he should.
“Uh... of course, only if you're alright with it,” he tries to fix.
Faster than anticipated, the archon starts to position himself with his back to Xiao.
“I’m alright. I just never allowed someone else to do this before, so it didn’t cross my mind at first.”
Upon hearing this, before reaching for the downiness in front of him, Xiao hesitates.
“Venti, are you sure...?”
“Yes. I wouldn't let anyone other than you,” Venti settles quickly again. “I wouldn't want it, otherwise.”
Can’t get more confirmations than this, so Xiao continues, first by pulling out the leaves and tossing them through the window. When proceeding to the base, a few goosebumps bloom from Venti’s back, advancing to his arms, and a little gasp leaves his lips. Soon, he recomposes to a more relaxed angle, where Xiao can brush his fingertips through and neatly fix the feathers.
It’s not a hard task after all, would only be easier if Venti could stay still. The only particular challenge is the fluffy parts, where Xiao combs from the less messy length to the longer ones. This time, a shiver runs down the archon’s body, and Xiao nearly feels within himself.
“Hm– Hmm,” Venti emits.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, it’s nice,” the archon whispers.
A very rare shyness is audible in Venti’s tone from admitting to the source of the whimpering, but Xiao suspected as much. More daringly this time, the yaksha sweeps his fingers from the base to the edge, enjoying how easily his hands slide through, returning the feathers to proper silkiness.
Venti tries to hold back, but a low moan still escapes his lips, and his whole body flutters. Xiao doesn’t move. Breathing in, holding, and he misses this time. He waits for either a snarky remark or a request for more, only to see how Venti avoids looking back, ears red.
“I’m almost done,” the yaksha announces instead.
“Oh… So soon?”
So he is enjoying this, despite the rare bashfulness. Good to know.
“I can massage your back and shoulders too if you're still sore.”
Venti offered something like this for Xiao before, and the outcome was far more than just back and shoulders.
“As long as we don't stop there…” Venti confirms the thoughts.
A quick smile crosses Xiao’s face, and he moves to press an affirmative kiss to Venti’s nape. The god immediately angles his body to allow more, and Xiao kisses between his shoulder blades, right above where wings connect.
“Never mind, let's just do it,” the archon suggests, back to normal.
And before Xiao can react, Venti surges around and climbs onto his lap. There’s only a second to stare at each other, waiting for any stop signs.
“Do you also…” Venti begins.
Of course, Xiao’s response is pressing their lips with no more delays, tongues meeting and entwining together. Their arms find a place around each other’s bodies naturally, the warmth and closeness enhancing every little move.
Venti makes quick work of removing Xiao’s top, only to glue them perfectly chest to chest again. If anything, the archon only further adjusts their bodies, straddling over so the new position allows Xiao to feel his already hardening cock.
Which probably started while Xiao caressed his wings. That sends the first heat wave down his pants, tightening the hold on Venti's waist. With it, the kiss grows into an impatient pace, each nibble contrasting the soft way those wings circle the yaksha’s body, trailing feathers leaving shivers in their wake.
Forced to separate for air, Venti dazedly sways back, plush lips parted and bright. Seeing the extension of neck displayed, Xiao brushes aside a braid and leans into the skin to spread kisses and nibbles all where his mouth can find. Each one of Venti’s whines is music to his ears from this close.
“Are you not curious if any bite marks will stay once I’m back to my usual?” Venti wonders.
Well… Xiao wasn't truly considering biting that hard, or leaving any bruises, for that matter. But he often surrenders to Venti’s whims, so now the curiosity is set. Truth is, Venti is the one guiding their pleasure more often than not. It’s how things flowed more naturally from the start, how Xiao finally felt comfortable enough to let go.
And how freeing it feels to let go. Each time Xiao caves to this desire, he enjoys it more and more. It's good when the voices are quiet, when the pain is absent, and he can focus on their moment for a while. Especially to a point where wanting something, or giving it away entirely, feels alright.
“May I?” Xiao asks first, anyway.
A little muffled tittering comes out from the archon.
“Sure. It’s not like you’ve never done it before.”
Never while Venti looks like this, like he just descended from heaven straight into Xiao’s arms. Their differences shouldn't matter anymore, the yaksha signed up to love and adore the bard and the archon as one and the same.
But Xiao, the greedy thing he’s becoming, wants it to matter. He wants to do the worshipping, wants his actions commanded by the filthiest requests. And having who he’s always known as Lord Barbatos, whose holy thighs clasp like a vise, whose hips won’t stop rocking against his hardening… It’s hard not to want it to matter.
He won’t let Venti wait any longer, though, so pushing aside the inner crises, the yaksha sinks his teeth into the side of the exposed neck. Venti's back arches, and he squirms, tangling locks of hair in his fingers. Xiao’s brain floats, anticipating more. He is content with pleasuring this way, but…
Xiao adjusts his own legs, having the archon nearer into his groin and dragging a gasp from both. Venti takes the chance, intensifying the back and forth of their hips, now with better friction. Xiao's suddenly too aware of his tight pants.
More grinding follows. A sly grin appears on the archon’s face as soon as Xiao groans, hands grasping the flesh under his palm.
“You know you don’t have to hold back,” Venti mellows, as if he’s not slowly driving Xiao mad with each grind. “C’mon, you can continue your work from before.”
“I know, I just. I want you to– Ahh.” This time, Venti shared the moan. Xiao has to hold a knee to cease the movement and focus. “Venti, do you want me to… You know…”
He shallows the words, defeated. Can’t even bring himself to say it, how pathetic. Must be telepathy, or Venti's miraculous understanding of Xiao's questionable communication.
“I was planning on that. Of course, only if you want to.”
Saying it out loud directly might be easier than trying to make up other words, was Venti's advice once, trying to get into his thick skull again.
“Since you're… I was thinking if you could be in control,” Xiao drags out the suggestion. “Or tell me what to do, and what you want.”
“Hm, I think we can have both,” the bard replies, and Xiao quips a brow. “I can be on the receiving end and also tell you what to do. What do you think?”
“Sounds good.” Xiao doesn’t take long to consider. “I trust you.”
Not losing time anymore, Venti moves his lover’s back to find support on the sofa, enough to have access to the yaksha’s neck, where his fingers stay wrapped around one side. On the other, the archon licks an extension of skin until reaching a pulse point, then bites his earlobe, then the shell. Tilting Xiao's chin with his thumb, Venti doesn't think twice before sucking a visible spot in the middle, close to his jaw.
Xiao writhes closer with ragged breaths and exposes more of his neck to the god’s advantage. The nibs peppered here and there soon followed by more love bites and hickeys that will hopefully bloom into more bruises.
Another sharp sucking, a lower one to the side, another sweet kiss after. Venti only breaks the contact to slide a hand down Xiao's chest, teasing a nipple, then down his stomach, and intentionally taking time through every defined line until reaching the bulge in those pants. While Xiao mindlessly bucks up into the touch, Venti smirks.
“Now, my dear, finish stripping for me. Let me see all of you.”
The yaksha wiggles out of their repose to stand up, and since Venti didn't specify how, he rapidly removes all that is left of his clothes. There’s instant reward in the fact that the archon also kicks out the rest of those robes in one go. He only keeps that single pure, white stocking on his right leg and the fingerless cuffs.
“Ah, you truly are beautiful,” the archon beholds at the sight, as if for the first time.
At least, Xiao doesn’t fight the compliments anymore, even as he faces away, blooming more heated beauty to his features. In a shot of bravery, his gaze turns back up.
Venti is instantly made aware of how Xiao's eyes travel through his body, observant of the archon’s pattern around his left thigh. And of course, he does the same with an obedient Xiao, holding his intense gaze, waiting for more directions. Venti unveils on the sofa again, a relaxed hand hanging from the armrest. Spreading his legs, he won't let the handsome yaksha wait anymore.
“I want you to use your mouth.” He makes sure the command lands softly, no risks of crossing a too-demanding line while he's like this.
Xiao nods, golden irises shrouded by a low smolder. Truly a sight. And to think that not long ago, he would bury anything remotely similar to a desire of his own.
“Should I be on my knees?” Xiao proposes, expectantly.
Averting his eyes for a second, Venti bites his lip. Xiao’s done it once before, he didn't ask at the time, and it could simply be the most comfortable position, so he naturally settled with it. Does going full archon mode really change that much? He never cared or considered it, but maybe Xiao does.
And Xiao also rarely asks for anything, so Venti doesn’t want to deny that. He will overthink it later, when they're not in the middle of the act.
“Yes, on your knees,” Venti confirms.
Xiao’s heart does a little flip. He crouches down between Venti’s legs, glad that a hand finds his hair to hold back the longer strands as he devotes kisses and nibbles all over the soft, smooth, sweet, silky skin. Gods, Xiao could get addicted to this. Probably already is.
Even if he tried, like this, he couldn’t think of anything other than Venti. His breath catches in his throat. The thrill sends a little spasm at his cock, dripping with pre-cum. Xiao parts his lips, sucking at the inside of Venti’s thighs, earning the best moan so far, and a slightly harder twist of his hair.
“I know you like my thighs, but I'm running a little impatient over here,” Venti says, patting Xiao at the same spot, who gingerly rests his cheek against the right thigh.
The yaksha huffs a protest, but unlike his grouchy moments, it's low and purring-like. Xiao places an apologetic kiss, right above the tattoo, before enveloping a hand around the base of Venti’s shaft and pressing his lips to the leaking tip. His other hand grips a thigh again, the archon reacting with a trembling inhale, and an early wave of bliss on his face.
“Just open a little more,” Venti encourages.
Within the momentum, Xiao finally takes the archon into his mouth. His hands are too rough and calloused for prolonged handling, even if Venti never mentions it. Soothing fingertips push Xiao's hair out of the way, a pull uniquely insistent and caring that only Venti can balance.
Perhaps because Barbato's physical body is a making of his own, and like this, he’s closer to elemental than to human, that he doesn't taste like much. Not that Xiao has anyone to compare to. And he isn't complaining either, it is easier on his tongue. Mild.
“You're taking me so well…” Venti’s voice brings Xiao out of his mind. “Are you enjoying yourself like this?”
The yaksha wants to open his eyes and look up, affirming what he just heard, but the idea is a little intimidating. For now, listening to Venti’s breathing becoming heavier by the minute, and the occasional tightening hold will do.
On the other side, Xiao isn’t sure if he’s truly competent at… this. He can only believe that if the archon requested as much, then it’s at least enough. Venti always seems so confident and shameless in everything he does. The yaksha has yet to find the guts to try the same.
What Xiao can do, though, is push Venti’s length further down before slowly pulling out again. Until he has to focus solely on the task at hand, easier to get lost in the back and forth like this. Not having a gag reflex turns out to be helpful.
“Xiao, nng,” Venti tries to call. The hand holding Xiao’s scalp slides to his jaw, compelling a pause. “Won't you look at me, my love? I miss your eyes.”
He wants to resist, but ah, Venti makes it sound like surrendering is a mercy. So, Xiao looks up, meeting heavy lidded emerald eyes of pure, unabashed lust.
“There, good boy,” the archon bestows. “So pretty.”
Xiao loses it, a whine betrays him. He ignores a burning shame, contradicting how his cock turns impossibly harder.
Sounds cruel to stop the praising now, but with no breaks, Venti’s voice soon turns back to more profane sounds. The archon watches Xiao’s head up and down with renewed motivation, hollowing out his cheeks to pull out. He pats Xiao again, hopefully an extra relief.
“Do you want to come like this?” Xiao asks, voice a little hoarse, his pupils slightly in a cat-like look.
Aside from the effort he puts into the job and a single line of saliva down his chin, Xiao is looking too collected. A beautiful view either way, but a madly passionate part of Venti’s brain wants to see him more disheveled than this.
“Can you be nice and swallow it all up?”
“Gladly,” Xiao surprises him with a reply.
Honestly, this one. A little giggle escapes Venti, but he couldn't resist. Xiao probably always had this hidden sass, and Venti is endlessly fond of being the one witnessing it. The yaksha doesn’t hide a shy smile, and Venti’s heart only swells more.
Deliberately, the yaksha goes back to his previous task. Xiao circles his tongue around the head until the archon has to grip the armrest first, or he would risk hurting Xiao with too much force. It's also becoming increasingly difficult not to jerk his hips up, even if Xiao could take it, even if it would satisfy that sinful wish of watching his lover ruined even further.
A mere thought, accumulating enough heat that he could come already. The hand at Xiao's head tightens, and the sound that leaves him is lovely and resonates to Venti’s entire body, so he follows with one of his own.
He clenches the armrest harder.
Just like that, Venti comes. His hips raise with the arch of his back, not too much to choke, and Xiao just screws his eyes shut for a second before another staggering whimper passes through. He doesn't let go for another minute or so, and Venti has to slant back at the rest, winds knocked out of his lungs. Licking every last drop while looking up, Xiao’s eyes nearly ask if he's doing good.
The archon hopes Xiao knows what he's done by merely watching those reactions, because praise alone wouldn't suffice. While both try to recover air, Venti is ready to drop to his knees and shower him with affection.
“Wait…?” Xiao halts before further movement. The archon abides, only a question on his face: “Just a minute.”
Xiao lowers his head over Venti’s plush thigh again, a finger gently tracing the patterns of the glowing tattoo on the other side. This is the closest to worship Venti will accept.
It is a shame, Xiao thinks, how the god allows this view so rarely. Sunlight now floats right above his head, shimmering through locks of hair and enhancing the angelic, yet pleasantly debauched, figure.
If Xiao is a sinner and this is the result of his sins, then he will take pride as a prize.
“You look smug,” Venti observes, looking down at Xiao like he’s brighter than the sun. “But you must be aching by now.”
“Hm, barely noticeable,” Xiao answers, and it’s true. He didn’t exactly pay attention to himself while having Venti like this.
“Since you’ve been so good to me, what would you like next?”
Xiao doesn’t need to think too much. Venti looks comfortable like this, but they will need more space. Call him soft or a helpless romantic, but he prefers to take things further into their bedroom. So, instead of answering, he stands up and takes the archon into his arms, whose surprise dissolves into little laughs as he hugs Xiao for support.
Unlike the first time this happened, when Venti passed out drunk at Wangshu Inn’s balcony, now he kicks his legs back and forth and kisses all over Xiao’s neck and chest. This memory seems from so long ago now, and it’s probably been only a few years. The yaksha never had so much to experience in so little time. He doesn’t think he could ever go back to the previous dull, Ventiless routine.
He places Venti sitting on the bed, but doesn’t let go of the half hug. Instead, he pulls Xiao for another kiss. For someone who just asked if Xiao is starting to ache, he takes time with their joined lips, their curled tongues, the sweet bump of their noses.
“You could…” Venti starts, in the rare moment their mouths part, “start preparing me.”
To which Xiao agrees, as Venti caresses his cheeks with a thumb.
When Venti gets up to search for the lubricant somewhere, Xiao misses him. Next time, he’ll gather his words and ask to be on the receiving side again. So Xiao can finally surrender to Barbatos’ gentle, freeing mercy. That should be a fully divine experience.
To avoid the short wait, he places a few pillows against the headboard, leaving one to raise Venti's hip. Should do the trick to not cram his wings, allowing their freedom.
For now, Venti comes back, aware of Xiao's gaze through his body as he climbs into the bed. He eyes the pillows, and for a moment considers if Xiao would like to be the one pressed there instead. Pinned down on the mattress, winding away all of his walls, and pliant to be given nothing but pleasure. That's surely an idea for later.
“Such an attentive lover,” he observes instead, taking the space.
He fits neatly. Part of him knows Xiao's awareness of the quirks that come with a pair of wings is reminiscent of the yaksha’s own experiences.
“Are you comfortable?” Xiao whispers, maybe noticing Venti's trailing off.
Again, Venti's poor heart. How can he love someone so much? He hopes Xiao can feel it where words can't fulfill.
“I’m fine, my dearest, go ahead.”
Xiao doesn’t wait for more than a heartbeat to grab the lube and coat his fingers and Venti’s rim. He probably is aching by now, as much as he insists otherwise with his iron-clad will. But Venti knows he's also into being edged, so the current circumstance can't be too much of a problem. They have a safe word, and things are not there yet.
With that in mind, the archon relaxes as Xiao's finger circles his rim a few times, before pushing in, waiting for Venti’s whining to even out, then picking up a timeless rhythm. Xiao watches his and Venti's every move and expression with scrutiny. He's so painstakingly careful that it became a kink of its own merit.
Sometimes, the archon has to guide his lover in remembering that he's not fragile or inexperienced. Nonetheless, Venti learned to enjoy all the sweetness. To take time and appreciate every step rather than rush to an empty climax.
(Venti knows, too, that this is partially his own fault — He was just as painstakingly careful with Xiao during their first time. And knowing how the yaksha follows so piously…)
Similarly, Xiao goes for the second finger, not without adding some extra of the oily substance first. Venti can tell he's overly cautious of some rough calluses and uneven scars, but the archon doesn’t mind those at all. Those are precisely the little details that make Xiao Xiao. These hands, these fingers, the warmth, those intense eyes — His loving yaksha.
Venti squirms, not hiding any of his singing, all of which Xiao likes to hear. His cock already spasming again when Xiao seeks the spot which blurry Venti's sight. Gods, he's desperate again.
“Keep going, my love,” Venti encourages.
Recompense comes from spreading those two fingers until Venti grasps the bedsheets, then sliding a third one. Feeling hazy, but knowing he can take it, he thrusts lightly into Xiao’s hand for good measure. With the angle of that pillow under him, every slide in and out brings waves of pleasure.
After long enough, as if analysing a work of art he’s happy with, Xiao pulls out.
“How do you want me?” Xiao’s blush looks permanent at this point. At least his embarrassment has never stopped him from doing anything.
“I want to ride you,” Venti tells.
How delightful a view, the flame that lights Xiao's widening eyes with this mere suggestion. His usual response has a hidden excitement now. Venti can't hold back a smile as Xiao extends welcoming arms.
As foreseen, Xiao is the one lying against the pillows now, although adding the one under to the pile at the headboard. Gladly, the archon straddles his lover, slowly adding another layer of lube to Xiao's pulsing, leaking shaft, then levelling his knees to align and… Wait.
“Xiao, can you hold any longer?” Venti asks. Better safe than sorry.
Xiao nods again, albeit a little peeved.
“Until I come first?” Venti prods a little more.
“Yes, I’ll wait,” he delivers, the exasperation in his voice telling otherwise.
Venti nearly breaks the moment. This time, he holds the giggling in more of a huffed sound from his throat. As they’re finally properly lined, he lowers his body until close, but Xiao jerks off, hissing, dripping pre-cum into Venti’s fingers.
“Look who’s impatient now,” Venti teases, satisfied with watching Xiao fall apart already, despite always enduring so well. “I thought you were going to be good?”
Before any protests, the archon starts to sink into Xiao’s length and startles even himself with the groan that leaves their mouth. Extending the moment for as long as he can, gloating at Xiao taking a long, trembling breath to hold himself together.
Steadily, the archon bottoms out. He doesn’t need that much of a wait before moving, but fearing Xiao would cum despite his stubbornness, Venti enjoys feeling deeply full for a very long couple of nice minutes.
“Venti, please, I need you…” comes Xiao’s late response, followed by a strained cry. “Please…”
These words… These take Venti’s mind to places he usually avoids. A breathy tune laden in adoration that nearly sounded like prayer. The dim light of the tattoo marks around his body resonates with Xiao’s veneration, unfettered as the wind itself.
“Please what, my little bird?” It can’t hurt too much to want another vow.
Xiao jolts up again, this time taking a hiss from Venti as well.
“Please, can you move?” Xiao tries once more, shutting his eyes as a lovely red claims his face all the way to his ears and chest. “I’ll be good.”
That’s all Venti needs.
He raises his knees slowly, then drops back down with a loud yelp echoing from both. No more breaks as he initiates an even pace, not too desperate. Sufficient to satisfy, but not dizzying yet.
Xiao's hands travel up to Venti’s waist, giving some support, encouraging sharper moans and harder movements. He holds on to those arms, adjusting balance to intensify the up and down, occasionally grinding some more. Venti has to admit he's a little rusty for this, and his legs mildly burn with the back and forth. On a side note… Maybe he should consider those morning exercises, after all.
“Xiao… h-mm,” he tries, breaking the pace, “You feel so good. So good to me.”
For a chance to rest, Venti dives again and starts rolling his hips, rutting insistently against Xiao, whose head is thrown back as he holds the small of Venti's back, pulling closer, deeper. The archon shuts his eyes, shivers taking over, and even his wings are jittery. It's hard to bring himself out of the clouds, but leaning forward, the yaksha greets him in an embrace and a hand to his cheek. There's also a bonus friction of his cock between their bellies now.
They meet in a sloppy kiss, a hungry thing — it's complicated to stop heaving when Venti won't stop squeezing so deep and so close. It's also complicated to keep their mouths apart when it feels so much better to have them busy.
Venti then places kisses at Xiao’s neck, brings his hands over his chest, bites his shoulders, ears, everywhere he can reach. When the archon recovers strength, he raises his torso to pick up pace again. The conscious part left in his brain wishes he could utter more praises for his lover, but he's missing breath for that.
More and more heat swirls below his navel, and he could come untouched, but he also needs more, and Xiao is being so patient and so nice… With a deep breath that sounds like another groan, Venti gathers his words.
“You can touch me, Xiao,” he mutters. “Don’t hold back.”
The yaksha obeys, his fingers still a bit slick from the lube, more, better, than anticipated. Venti can't hold back another fluttery, tightening spasm, which gets Xiao gritting his teeth. He also begins thrusting up, meeting Venti's own. The moan earned from that, nothing short of a sinful hymn.
“Venti, nhm…” Xiao cuts his sentence, burning red.
But it’s unsuccessful, and he can no longer bite back his louder side. A grin already surged at the archon's lips, and if he had the oxygen, he would be giddy.
Inclining slightly to make sure every slide and thrusting will hit that satisfying spot, Venti loses himself into it. The yaksha doesn’t stop though, and he quickens his strokes to match his thrusts upward. Venti meets him equally now, so clouded by chasing release he can't feel tired or sore.
Until his head and pelvis are whirling and he is coming, hard, with a broken whimper and a strangled moan. Gone is the controlled pace he took, only passionate driven movements are left. Anticipated by more music to his ears, Xiao doesn't fall too far behind, and Venti feels himself filled to the brim with his lover’s spent.
He only has half a mind to notice that the pleased grin never left lips, and even better that Xiao seems just as blissful.
Holding down on the mattress, Venti doesn’t fall forward just yet, giving some time for Xiao to even his breathing. It’s a loss to slide off from Xiao’s softening cock so soon, but he needs to straighten his legs. The mess he came with barely an afterthought.
Then, Xiao brings him closer, Venti finds comfort and rest at his lover’s chest, probably one of his favorite landing places in the entire universe. His rapid heartbeat, lungs expanding and releasing until calm again. The warmth, the loving arms around his body, hands caressing his hair, his back, and then his lax wings blanketing the two.
Venti closes his eyes, but he doesn’t want to sleep, just bask in their moment.
“Tired?” Xiao whispers.
“Just a little sore, but I’m fine.”
Very gently, the yaksha rolls Venti to the side, making sure his wings spread behind and over the mattress rather than beneath them. The archon soon entwines their limbs, bringing Xiao closer and placing the other wing over them like a cocoon.
“How about you?” Venti whispers back.
The poorly held back smile that surges over Xiao’s lips should be enough.
“I’m alright,” he adds anyway.
Venti smiles back, hints of his usual mischief coming through, and a hand diligently plays with Xiao’s hair.
“You did great,” the archon mutters, and hearing it like this, from so close, Xiao nearly floats away. “You’re always good to me, my sweetheart.”
In a way that sounds more like Venti means it overall, rather than just praising from a filthy moment. In a way that Xiao knows it’s real. The yaksha doesn’t have to fight his inner demons to accept it.
There’s a breeze fluttering the curtains, and as the world is silent, the sound of the wind chimes in the window frame fills the room. A symphony of other wind bells outspread through the garden joins in. Home of Winds, Venti had called this place, while hanging those little trinkets one by one.
Now, there’s one hanging in the window back at Wangshu Inn’s room. To remind the yaksha that home isn’t far, as long as he can hear the wind.
When Venti sets his hand over Xiao’s beating heart, he returns it by placing one on the bard’s cheek and sealing their lips, lingering sweetly for as long as a deep breath. Xiao captures Venti’s bottom lip, then the kiss deepens naturally, but remains tranquil for as long as their oxygen allows. As if a promise of more.
“I love you,” Venti tells, words following the wind's rhythm.
“I love you, too,” Xiao replies in a beat.
Venti knows as much, of course. Xiao knows as well. He just likes that he can say it now. And, as the archon put it earlier, just because they can.
“Want to stay here all night?” Xiao suggests. “Or for how long you’d wish?”
Venti lights up, a mix of surprise and hopefulness on his face. Xiao suspects he has further plans as well. The two can shower, and Venti can take the skies once more. Maybe even tackle their questionable cooking skills for dinner, share a bottle of wine, and finally have the rest of the night to decide what else to do with each other.
“I want to, let’s do that,” Venti joins, capturing Xiao’s lips once more.
The outside world can wait. Gods dead and alive, forgive the yaksha for thinking this, but Liyue will not fall apart for a night or two. Right now, enjoying their time together is the priority.