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spumonibones · 11 days ago

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Chasing Wings: Memoria, Chapter 25

Pairing: Xiao x Venti

First Chapter (Ao3) ; First Chapter (Tumblr)

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Chapter CW: Canon compliant violence

Update Schedule: Currently on Hiatus - Recent Lore Drop messed with the story, and I'll be making a proper update about that when I have time.

Lore/Story Notes: Thought I'd do a quick update before the XVX Festival this weekend. You should totes check it out, lots of amazing artists, writers, etc will be there!

***

Guili Plains was a different place at night. Hidden in paths long since buried by nature from disuse, the rare glaze lilies would bloom to admire the moon. The last time Venti had come here at night, there had been a distraction. A content sigh left Venti as he thought over how, slowly but wonderfully, his memories of Xiao were containing more with the yaksha’s smiles. That earlier, in spite of a busy day, Xiao had stopped by each chance he could get just to say hello. Just to reassure both Venti and himself that he would always be able to return. That a little room in Wangshu Inn was there to embrace Xiao with each entrance. Last the pair spoke, Xiao promised to return before morning. It didn’t matter that Venti rarely woke in the morning, only that the pair were together on yet another new day.

With Xiao on his mind, Venti decided to return to Guili Plains. To see the ruins and rubble that remained, preserved to the extent they could be. Though he was not from Liyue, standing in the grass with glowing blue petals in full bloom, Venti could feel how deep the memories around him ran. Closing his eyes, felt the wind on his face, winding through his hair, and against his clothes. The air was cool, and carried with it the mingling scents of life. Cupped his hands behind his ears, and listened. The grass beneath the feet of nocturnal creatures, the distant and murmured conversations between Hilichurls that were keeping watch. Fainter, were the songs on the breeze. The ones that traveled across Teyvat, collecting every beat and note and lyric along its journey. The orchestra of seven nations weaving a tapestry of music that perhaps someday, even he could play for others to hear.

Not tonight, however. Tonight, he was listening for that which was quiet and distant, buried beneath time. That which was buried by the very Dust that it belonged to. Instead, he heard the sound of footsteps, slow, careful, and uneven. The walk of someone on unsteady feet, but had since learned how to carry themselves. Letting his hands fall to his side, Venti opened his eyes to look in the direction of the passing stranger. An elderly woman was looking right back at him, dark eyes peering at him. Her back was stooped forward, hands clasped behind her back. Silver hair tied back in a low bun, she had a shawl over her dress that moved listlessly in the wind. What’s an old woman doing out here at night…? Venti wondered, glancing around to try and find a mode of transportation. With the way she had moved and a body bent with kyphosis, he couldn’t imagine she just walked there.

“My my, I don’t often have company on my strolls.” The elderly woman commented, the wrinkles around her eyes with years of smiling that extended to even the present as her lips curved. “Let alone anyone from Monstadt.” She continued, having taken note of the other’s attire.

“...You come here a lot?” Venti asked, hesitating. “Did you walk here?” The question left his mouth before he could stop it, but what was said was said. The woman showed no signs of offense, only confusion in her eyes that she swiftly hid with pleasant laughter.

“Not all the way.” The woman chuckled, and walked casually over to stand next to him. Her eyes were now scanning the land around them, gaze soft and thoughtful. “Walking keeps me young. But the trip from Liyue Harbor takes too long on two legs, so I catch a ride when I want to visit.” She explained, and Venti started to feel better. The idea of an elderly person collapsing in an empty field, unable to call out for help. It sounded awful, until he reminded himself there was always someone in Liyue listening out for calls of, 'help.' “You, however, look rather young. Don't look exactly scholarly, either.” She gave him a playful glance, and he grinned at her having caught the teasing retaliation. “What brings you out to a bunch of old rocks?”

“Isn't Liyue founded by an old rock?” Venti asked, a laugh leaving him before his body tensed. That was not an acceptable way to discuss an Archon, let alone one in front of their citizens! But the woman didn't get upset - in fact, she let out loud laughter, her cackling carrying into the night.

“Oh, I haven't heard that kind of joke in years.” The woman let out a long, pleased sigh that instead of causing her to sag, almost seemed to help straighten. “I've missed it…” She whispered, tone somber. Venti watched her, curious about the reaction and who in her life got away with teasing Rex Lapis. “Still, that doesn't answer my question.” She noted, watching him from the corner of her eyes. Deep, dark eyes of black that glinted from the moon and hinted at perhaps being older than that very moon.

“Heh, I haven't?” Venti inquired, scratching the back of his head as he feigned forgetting. “I just… Enjoy listening to nature.” A half-truth, designed to easily sidestep divulging information he probably shouldn't share. Especially with strange little old ladies. “Would you like to join me, Nameless Stranger?”

“Hmm.” The old woman tilted her head, thoughtful. “Stranger… I see.” The words were quiet, and would have been lost were it not for Venti's well-trained ears.

Do I… Know you? The bard wondered, the question hovering whether he should ask or not.

“I'm Madame Ping. What might I call you, Nameless Bard?” She asked, eyes never once leaving him. A question in her eyes when Venti stood momentarily rigid, unsettled by the well of emotions and a strange pressure in his skull hearing himself called, ‘Nameless Bard.’ Something both horribly wrong, yet painfully accurate. Did she know him?

“Oh… Uh…” It was funny. Until right then, Venti had absolute confidence in his name, in who he was. But suddenly, it was pulled out from beneath him and he couldn't recall his name anymore. As though a dandelion seed caught in the wind, only it carried his identity instead of a wish. Then, an odd heat pulsed from his chest, from the spot of the strange scar, and the brief crisis passed.

“Is everything all right?” Madame Ping asked, concern on her face.

“Yes, sorry.” Venti assured her, hand on his forehead as he once more knew who he was. Or… Thought who he was. “I'm Venti.”

“Venti.” Madame Ping repeated, and then gave a nod. “A good name.” She decided, a thought she wasn't afraid to share. “Dear Venti, would you be kind enough to keep me company? I won't talk your ear off, you can listen to the night. It just gets… Lonely.” As she spoke, those dark eyes were back to staring at a memory only she could see. A time when this place hadn't been lonely. When there were people or a person that walked with her across these plains.

“I'd love to.” Venti smiled, and even offered her his arm. This time she let out a delighted laugh, and she accepted the limb with a loose hold of her hands. “And you can talk. I have two ears - one for the night songs, and one for the stories people carry.”

“Hah! Well how do I argue against that!” Madame Ping grinned, and the two began a slow walk through Guili Plains. As they strolled, Madame Ping recounted tales of her youth. Some funny, others sad. There was a familiarity about her, and as she shared her fondest recollections with him Madame Ping became brighter, almost younger. As if there was a piece of her desperate to come out, but the woman held it back for some reason.

Madame Ping knew so much, and the more he listened the more her words comforted him. They were reassuring in the way of two old friends catching up, sharing all the exaggerations of life between the last visit. An amenity that made this strange woman so easy to put his faith in.

“I couldn't help but notice you mention you used to compose songs,” Venti started, felt her eyes on him for the first time since the two began to walk, “And even argued with a friend about music. When you were studying, did you… Ever come across an old lullaby?” He held his breath after he said that, hoping his question wasn't a mistake.

“An old lullaby.” Madame Ping repeated, the eyes watching him now staring through him. “I've learned many old lullabies in my time. Do you know the tune? I might recognize it if you hum it.” Unable to find the harm this could do, Venti did as she asked. Hummed the song that Xiao had asked him for, had hoped that the bard knew words for the lost music. “...That is indeed an old lullaby.” Madame Ping said, closing her eyes as if in some kind of pain.

“Are you all right?” Venti asked, disregarding his musical pursuit to check on her.

“Yes, I'm much hardier than you think.” Madame Ping sighed, but this one was exhausted. A new tiredness was overtaking her visage, that brightness from before now extinguished. “But, I should head back. Any later, and I won't have a ride back home. Would you be so kind?” She requested him a second time, and just as before he agreed. The walk back to the main road was much quieter, Madame Ping less inclined to talk as the night got later. When two stopped and waited for a cart, she finally spoke again. “I'm so sorry to putter so much at the end. Thank you for the help, and your company.”

“My pleasure.” Venti said, this time with full honesty. “Don't apologize, I should head back myself. Any later and the person I'm waiting for, will be waiting on me.” He laughed.

“Is that right?” Madame Ping mused, an odd look on her face.

“Yes.” Venti confirmed, chest swelling in excitement at seeing Xiao soon. At knowing tomorrow evening, all his planning would pay off.

“I suppose… Heh, never really thought you were the type… Hmm. Doesn't matter, does it?” Madame Ping was muttering her thoughts aloud, soft and intended to only be for herself.

“What do you mean?” Venti inquired, brows furrowing as he tried to make sense of her comment.

“Oh, ignore me. I'm just getting a bit lost there, what with my old age. You just… Remind me so much of someone I once knew. Forgot for a second you weren't him, is all.” She assured him. Venti stood there, still supporting her with his arm, wavering if he wanted to press and ask more. A whisper in his ear, yes, ask! But then a fear clutched at him, threatened to take away something precious but never said what. “Ah! My ride.” Madame Ping exclaimed before he could decide. She patted his foreman with a fondness that strangers didn't share, and released her hold. Waved down the cart which came to a stop, and let her on.

Minutes passed as he watched the cart take her away, until he could no longer wave to her as she waved back at him. A new friend in the plains, an old friend from the plains.

Which was she?

The trek back to Wangshu Inn was one walked in a fugue. That he was now somehow sitting on his bed the only indication of that walk. But the path he took was a blur. There was this sensation, the only way he knew to explain it was like something was starting to come undone. What it was, what it meant, he couldn’t fathom. Shivered as it stayed outside his reach, and forced himself to get ready for bed.

Trusted Xiao to return when he could. For the moment, Venti just needed some rest. To sleep off whatever this was, and be able to feel the excitement for tomorrow.

Tomorrow.

Curled up in his bed, Venti closed his eyes. Tried to let his thoughts fixate on how fun and sweet and wonderful tomorrow would be. To focus on all the new experiences he and Xiao would share together, along with Xiao's family. To fall asleep, those happy thoughts trying to obscure that which lingered beneath.

When blue-green eyes opened, they immediately went wide. Beautiful buildings of stone decorated Guili Plains, a breeze carrying across a field thick with grass and glaze lilies. An entire field of the flowers in fact, the entire area coated with blue bulbs. His breath hitched, picturing how beautiful the area must be when night fell. Didn't know how he knew this was Guili Plains - he just did. If asked, could even direct someone to where the gathering was. The gathering of people he knew and lost and lost all over again.

There was that odd heat, almost painful, in his chest again. Winced slightly, gingerly rubbing the area with a frown. Looked around him, wondering if he was alone or not.

“I'm not a child.” It was Xiao's voice, yet it didn't match the way he spoke. The voice was protective, annoyed, and freshly scarred. A hurt that laced each word, and simply knowing Xiao was hurting added a different ache in Venti's chest.

“Xiao?” Venti called out, worry knitting his brows and used his teeth against his lower lip. “I know you aren't. Xiao? Where-”

“Take back what you called Lord Morax,” “He was not!” Two different voices, each Xiao's but at different points, overlapping in an equally heated reaction to words that spoke negatively of the Geo Archon. The dissonance of the change combined with the ways in which there was none, Venti put a hand against one of those gorgeous walls.

“I didn't-” Venti tried to say, but no sound left him.

“Xiao. Please. I understand you are upset, but he is my guest.” A voice, this one equally familiar as it was drastically different. Deeper, more grounded and indifferent compared to what was now closer to malleable than rigid. Glancing over his shoulder, Venti then had to look up. Crane his neck backwards, looking in awe at what appeared to be a mighty dragon adeptus. The adeptus towered above, yet Venti felt no fear.

Tried to gather his bearings, to make sense of what felt like a memory he was reliving yet couldn't possibly have experienced. Right…? Yet he was not allowed another moment to ponder, as a muted note cut through the overlapping words. The familiar and nostalgic song that started with a B, followed up by C sharp and D sharp. Those first three keys of the unnamed lullaby, Venti snapping his attention to the strange and confusing blend of what was now and what once was.

A woman, though this time he recognized her as the phantom dredged up when Liyue was still new. That had been when Xiao caught him, before Venti knew of his wings or how to fly. The warmth in Xiao's eyes hadn't been there, that fondness not yet exposed. The woman had short pale hair, somewhere between gray and brown, her image clear this time. What he had mistaken for long locks in the hazy picture before were only two parts framing her face and reaching her hips. Dainty hands that loved memorizing every note of every instrument just as Venti did caressing the song she had composed. “He loves this song.” She said, fingers plucking at her instrument. “But maybe that's because I composed it for him?” A laugh, a wink, a finger to her lips as too long sleeves fell below her wrists, asking this to stay a secret. “Promise me you'll play this for him?”

This was someone full of vitality, and love for all the life Teyvat had to offer. But beneath her eyes were the hints of weary bags, a war she didn't want to fight but was dragged into to save that same life she loved so.

Venti stood there, staring at her as the ache of loss came in waves that matched the beating of his heart. She didn't seem to notice, voice clear as she sang. As she shared with him lyrics intended to soothe - not just those around her, but also the person in front of her.

Then, she crumbled into Dust, the Wind blowing away her remains. Breath catching, Venti stepped forward as if he could somehow help each piece scattered come back together. But then something crunched beneath his feet, and he looked down.

Hundreds of bodies surrounded him, their blood staining his hands.

With a start, Venti snapped awake, beads of sweat on his forehead and soaking his back. Next to him, Xiao stirred now that the bard had so abruptly left his hold. “Venti…?” Xiao murmured, voice quiet as gold eyes glowed in the night, seeking out if Venti was hurt.

“Sorry…” Venti apologized, letting out a slow, shaky exhale. The dream was scattered, fragments that made no sense as he caught his breath. The only part that lingered, were the lyrics the bard had been seeking. At his side, Xiao carefully sat up and ran a hand in a soothing, careful up and down motion. Those bushy brows were furrowed, trying to identify what the apology was for.

“...Did you have a bad dream?” Xiao asked hesitantly, uncertain what else could have led to this.

“I… Think so?” Venti said softly, his expression matching Xiao's own confused one. “None of it made any sense, so I'm… Not actually sure?” He confessed, biting his bottom lip as he focused on the pieces that remained. “Were you sleeping? I didn't mean to wake you-”

“I wasn't.” Xiao spoke up before any more apologies could leave the bard, not wanting the other to feel guilt over an imagined slight. “I didn't want to wake you, so I was only resting until either I was called or you woke up.”

At that, the lingering remnants of that fear were gone, Venti's heart fluttering this time that awake or not, Xiao wanted to be with him. “It is nice waking up to you here.” Venti confessed, his shoulders easing along with his facial muscles into an easy smile. Put his hands on a Xiao's face, sighed as the yaksha leaned into his hold. If every morning started like this, perhaps waking earlier would be worth it.

“...We're glad it was just a dream.” Xiao mumbled, looking away as his brows knit.

“We?” Venti echoed, blinking at the word choice.

“...Me, Himmel, and Cecil.” Xiao continued in that low mumble, as if he didn't want to say that. But say it he did, knowing full well that no matter how embarrassing it was… The way Venti's eyes curved with his smile hearing it made saying those words worth it and more. Calloused thumbs lightly brushed across Xiao's wild, thick brows.

“I don't think it was entirely a bad dream. Pretty sure I can't have those with you three here.” Venti assured, and pressed a kiss to the yaksha so gingerly returned. Pulling back slightly with a sigh, the two carefully pressed foreheads together. “Tomorrow is a big day. I should get back to sleep… But,” He paused, and then continued, “I missed you.”

“I'll be here when you wake, or soon after.” Xiao promised. “But you should sleep.” He didn't sound excited about that, but wanted both of them to enjoy tomorrow to its full extent. The bard pouted, but complied. Releasing Xiao's face, Venti laid back down. Curled against the yaksha, both of their arms and legs tangling to cling to every touch they could manage.

“Hey, Xiao.” Venti said softly.

“Mmm?” Xiao hummed, resisting the urge to speak to prevent further conversation.

“I haven't sang to you in awhile… And I think I know just the song.” Venti yawned, nuzzling close into Xiao's chest. Could smell the earth, the scent of flowers, of feathers, of the sky the two shared. Felt safe, the concept of nightmares long forgotten in this moment. Not the best position to sing it, Venti didn't mind.

Lullabies weren't meant to be serenades. Could feel the way Xiao held him tighter, and the slow, wet exhale of someone finally having an important memory returned to them. Between limbs he leaned up to press kisses against the corners of Xiao's eyes, reassuring each tear was loved and allowed to fall as much as needed.

That Xiao no longer had to hold in all that loss anymore - Venti was there to hold his hand and love him as each part came loose.

#chasingwingsfic #xiaoven #slowburn

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