#i keep them exclusive to thoughts. diluc is only like this in his head he never expresses it

[somniumfae]

when you are trying to be nice and supportive but your friend is experiencing emotions that she is unwilling to admit to herself

[primofate]

Headcanon

Scenario: Levels of Intimacy

Characters: gn! reader x Diluc, Kaeya, Albedo, Childe, Zhongli, Xiao, Chongyun, Venti, Dainsleif

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Diluc

When you first start dating, is a man of few words, but definitely shows that he cares. Is the type who sends you flowers but doesn't say anything about it.

Gradually warms up a bit more as time passes.

Is not a fan of public displays of affections but you'll notice that he'll touch you in subtle ways. Touching your lower back to steer you to the right path, touching your shoulder to get your attention, touching your arm when he just feels like it.

You'll catch him looking at you once in a while and when you ask what's wrong he shakes his head and will say something like, "Nothing, just got distracted,"

When you're alone, will lay his head on your lap for whatever reason. Will usually be reading a book and the next time you glance at him he would have fallen asleep, peaceful look on his face.

People will notice that his mood changes when you're around. He's a lot less on edge and will take a more relaxed stance.

People will also notice the gentle look on his face when he talks to you, compared to the stiff look he gives others.

Will give heaps of forehead kisses.

Kaeya

Has no problem showing affection right from the beginning.

Cheek kisser. Anywhere, anytime. Whenever he feels like it, for no reason at all.

When you're out in town, the type who will sneak up behind you, cover your eyes with his hands and ask, breath above a whisper and near your ear, "Guess who?" you know who it is every time.

If not that, then he'll just hug you from behind and "Caught you, you're coming with me," mischievous glint in his eyes.

People will notice how he can't seem to take his eyes off of you.

Is somehwhat flirtatious but always reminds you that you're number one. "I might look like I'm joking, but trust me, I'm serious about you,"

When you're alone, is the type who will take you in his arms, drop you in bed and just cuddle with you while playing with your hair.

Albedo

Doesn't say much when you first start dating. Actually you don't even know when exactly you guys started dating, you just had a hunch that it was happening because he starts to give you kisses on the top of your head whenever you would part ways with him.

When you ask about it, "Hm? Dating...? Yes, I suppose that's what you call it. I'd rather call it as an exclusive privilege to you,"

Asks for your company whenever he can. You don't do much, but just watch him work. He's happy with just being in the same room as you.

Will sometimes be conscious about the fact that you might be bored "Here, would you like to try?" is just an excuse for him to guide your hand on how to do specific alchemy experiments.

When he feels tired and burnt out will just appear next to you and hug you round the waist, rest his head on your shoulder and murmur "Just a small break,"

When you're out in town together and someone comments about it being rare to see Master Albedo accompanied by someone, he would reply back gesturing at you, "They are... My life partner. So, it's only natural you'd see us together."

Life partner=his word to indicate that you're dating

When you're alone, would ask you to fix his hair or tie his hair up cause "you're the only one who knows how to do it properly, aside from me,"

Childe

Absolutely cannot keep his hands to himself.

Always greets you with some form of hug, usually bear hugs or let me nuzzle into your neck hugs.

Would glue you to his hip if he could.

Visibly happy in public with you, dotes on you and asks you what you'd like to do today.

People can literally see hearts hovering around his head when you're around.

Hand holding a must.

Will not let you do any manual work or labor. Got something to carry? Will take it from you. Need to wash the dishes? Just use his vision. Having trouble with that jar? He might break it for causing you so much trouble.

When you're alone, will always be the big spoon and trail kisses on your neck.

Has a permanent smile plastered on his face when he sees you. "You're just too cute!"

Zhongli

This man is gentle and yet manages to be firm about what he wants, which is you, and no one else.

Does not show a wide range of emotions, he's either calm and collected or agitated and cautious, depending on situations that concern you.

Agitated and cautious because he feels like you're such a fragile thing.

Will enjoy watching your face light up at his suggestions and will get that soft hint of a smile on his face. "Strange, this effect you have on me. Quite an extraordinary thing, and that would be saying a lot considering I've been around for thousands of years,"

When he accompanies you out to town will walk a step behind you but regularly check on you by standing next to you, and reaching out to touch your shoulder that is further away from him. Thus you're momentarily in a semi-side hug. "Everything alright?"

When someone in public comments about you and him making a cute couple, he feels a sense of pride and confirms it. "It is as you say. I wonder from time to time how I've managed to have someone like them stay with me,"

When alone with you, is the type to pull you on their lap and keep you there for as long as he can while he works.

Xiao

Is totally a cold one even if you start dating. But it doesn't mean that he doesn't care, he just has his own way of showing it.

However the more you grow on him the more you find out that he gets flustered unusually easy.

When you suggest a date, for example, his face will get that subtle hint of red. "I-I don't have time for that,"

Sometimes he would say he wouldn't want to do something with you, but then when he finds out you went and did it by yourself he gets moody. "Huh? You already went to get ice-cream?!" will glare at nothing in particular until you say you can go with him next time. "Fine..."

Has periods of being worried that you're tired of him. You know when it happens because he gets quiet, and he will suddenly just grab your wrist, look at the ground, and mumble "... I know I'm not the best at showing and saying how I feel but..." you understand anyway, and are happy with just that.

Is actually extremely possessive. Usually will not hold your hand when walking around town but when a man somehow approaches you he's there in the next second and pulls you into a back hug while staring the guy down.

When you're alone, loves to have you lay your head on his lap and have quiet conversations with you.

Chongyun

is a shy boi and rather unsure of himself.

will gain confidence along the way.

“U-Uh, would you like to hold hands, maybe?” you tell him he doesn’t have to ask at all but he still asks the first few times anyway

Is very thoughtful about your schedule and workload, will constantly worry about you when you seem like you’re tired or overworked

When he knows you’re too tired he gets this sudden assertive side of him “That’s enough for today isn’t it?”

Will add a kiss to your temple, on the side of your forehead.

Sometimes will start to panic about something and turns to you for help. It’s actually something easy to solve so you help him and he would sigh and say “What would I do without you?” and leans in for a hug.

When you’re alone, has a surprisingly assertive side that pulls you in for a hug whenever he feels like it. Sometimes you’d fall together in bed and just cuddle while talking.

Venti

“A-ha! There you are!” will open his arms and wait for you to come to him. If you do, he does his trademark laugh and hug you tight. If you don’t, will stare at you with a questioning face but break into smile and say “Oh, too shy cause we’re out in public? Come on, it’s just a hug!” 

Has no issues telling everyone in town that you’re a couple. “Oh yea, have you met Y/N here? Cute right?...And all mine!” Cue the trademark laugh again.

loves to sit on the sofa, lean his back on the arm of it and have you in his arms just looking down at you do your own thing, mostly reading. If not, then just taking naps with you there.

When the two of you are alone, he sometimes gets this sad or thoughtful look on his face, which is super rare on his usually cheerful demeanor. You would ask what’s wrong and he would snap back to reality saying, “...I was just thinking about...how it would be without you,” jumps back quite quickly and grins, “but that’s not gunna happen, you’re stuck with me till the end!”

Out in public when someone comments you’re such a cute couple he would readily agree and give you a side hug, arms round your shoulder, cheek pressed up against yours. “We’re the cutest you’ll ever see!”

Dainsleif

the definition of protective is this man

is very subtle with his touches, affection and words, but despite that you can feel his unparalleled loyalty to you and is surprisingly gentle.

loves to greet you with a one handed hug and a kiss on the side of your lips.

Out in town, will start off just walking beside you but you wouldn’t even notice when he had slipped his hand in yours. His type of hold is the type of hold that makes you feel like he’s never letting go until you do.

While out adventuring with you, will have these moods where he’s just clingy. Will pull you by the wrist, trap you in between him and a tree and lean in for a kiss on the lips, gently.

Will pull back a moment later, cheeks flushed pink and apologize. “Sorry, I don’t know what’s gotten into me,” 

loves to have you lean on his shoulder when you rest, and will watch you doze off peacefully.

[thewangshuinn]

May I request platonic Diona big sister relationship? Perhaps reader helping her with drinks and they both decide to sabotage Diluc's wine but Diluc catches them? This is dumb sorry lol

A/N: hey anon how does it feel to be the most inspiring person here I love this sm. I would also like to make clear I have never seen a wine cellar in my life please just go with me on this. Also I'm so sorry about the long wait! I've been busy and unmotivated.

Diluc shampoo commercial when?

Thank you so much for your request, and I hope you enjoy!

Exclusive Specialty

Pairing: PLATONIC Diona x reader

Warnings: none really, a few alcohol mentions? Non-proofread we die like kazuha's friend

Diona Kätzlein was certainly a force to be reckoned with.

This was nothing new to anyone who visited the Cat’s Tail- the feisty little bartender was clear about her hatred of alcohol, and those who consume it, since the beginning.

And as a part of the wait staff, you got to hear her remarks more than most tavern-goers in Mondstadt.

It is in this way, that you had come to be close to her. You’d immediately taken a liking to the small child from Springvale who’d wormed her way into the patrons’ hearts, despite her hatred to be called cute. You were one of the few who were willing to listen to what she said- you let her ramble on and on about everything she thought because no one seemed to take her seriously.

After all, she was just a kid who ran away from home. She was just a child, alone in a big city with dreams she was too small to reach.

Diona, though she’d never say it, adored you. Her father didn’t listen to her anymore- he barely did anything with her, really. No one else wanted to hear what she had to say. They’d laugh and they’d pat her head and tell her she’s adorable and to go back to her mixing now.

But you were different.

You got supplies that she asked for, and persuaded Margaret to give her free reign. You tried her drinks when she asked, and always acted like you despised them.

Even if you didn’t.

You offered suggestions and she taught you how to help her. The two of you would stay up late with mugs of warm milk against Mond’s chilly nights, and she would gleefully mix horrid ingredients together as you watched over her shoulder and built off of what she gave you.

You would have interesting talks, then. You could mention something offhandedly, and she would ask about it.

You’ve exchanged stories and songs, in typical fashion for citizens of the Jewel of the North. She knew every detail about you, and offered you every detail about her in exchange.

But it was also within these late-night meetings that the two of you schemed. Whether it was simply how to make it through the next day or sneak out during festivals to celebrate, your plans were generally hazy and laced with sleepiness.

That is to say, they were never very good.

You didn’t know that, though, which is why you made a very daunting proposal one night.

“Why don’t we just sabotage the Dawn Winery? Wouldn’t that get rid of the most successful wine tycoon in Mondstadt?”

Diona shook her head, punctuating the motion with a yawn. “I’ll never step paw in the Dawn Winery! I can’t deal with anyone or anything so ridiculous!”

“...But if we destroy the winery, we destroy the wine industry. The ends justify the means.” You shrugged.

She appeared to mull over this for a bit.

Silence stretched between the two of you for a moment.

And then she positively lit up. “Let’s go! Let’s go right now!”

Dragging you out the door, the little bartender ran into the night.

~

You’d planned everything out on the way there. Diona had gathered a ton of ingredients on the way, and was also to be responsible for getting inside. She was a great climber and a silent crawler, and one of the bedrooms on the third floor left the window open for fresh air.

Since the wine cellar was attached to the house and you were both exhausted, it seemed like the best bet.

Except that she landed on the bed.

You didn’t know it, and she scurried off too quickly to see if there had been anything in that bed in the first place.

Your job was to keep watch outside the wine cellar until Diona opened the door for you, in case any guards, servants, or otherwise restless inhabitants came with suspicions.

You smirked to yourself when Diona opened the door. “For the greatest tycoon in Mond, someone isn’t too worried about security.”

Diona giggled triumphantly in response, dragging you inside.

And then you stopped short, tugging the child’s hand so that she was behind you.

Standing before both of you, looking annoyed and sleep-deprived, was Master Diluc Ragvindr.

The owner of the Dawn Winery.

You took an unconscious step back, but Diona had stepped before you into a fighting stance.

Both of you anticipated an attack.

But Diluc just looked annoyed at being woken up. He dragged a weary hand over his face, highlighting just how luxurious his unbound red hair was.

“Just go.”

His voice was soft and tired, but it was not unthreatening.

“Leave. And don’t come back.”

You heeded his words immediately, eyes only on his pyro vision, and dragged a hissing and kicking Diona away.

Perhaps you can take down the wine industry some other day. For now, you were just glad your little companion was safe.

[ynainna]

The Grave of Cecilias

synopsis: Despite it having been several hundred years since the end of the Archon War, Venti’s heart is still heavy with the grief of those he’s lost.

word count: 1,800

pairing: venti x f. reader

genre: angst

warnings: some spoilers from the recent last archon quest (aka the ver 1.1 story update), bad writing lol, angst (but not really I think?)

notes: look, originally my first fic was going to be a Diluc fic so it would be a perfect catalyst for my dumbass self but Venti is just perfect for some angsting time. Sorry in advance for my writing lmfao. I also think some of these facts are inaccurate but I’m a bit stupid and didn’t completely connect some dots from the wiki that I should’ve and due to the fact, ya know, p l o t. Feedback is also welcome but pls be nice about it. This is also extremely bad and  I high key think this is horrible lmao. It’s so bad.

In the days of the Archons, years before the eruption of the Archon War, Gods roamed. Each God was responsible and represented different things, often symbolizing what their powers were. In which there was the God of Dust and the God of Blizzards. Gods had been abundant that it isn’t a surprise that there was once a Goddess of Flora. 

It is no secret that gods gained their power from the worship of others. Due to the Goddess of Flora often being pushed aside to give way to the stronger gods, she had very little following from the people of Teyvat, making her one of the weaker gods. Instead of growing bitter at both her situation and her people, she had embraced her lower status. She was often heard saying, “It is better to be loved by a few who love you for yourself than to be loved by the whole for greed,” in response to them asking about it.

In her small following, there was a civilization that had worshipped her the most. The small civilization had been the ones responsible for the creation of the Cecilia Garden, their gift to the ancient god who had favored the common white flowers, Cecilias, as her favorite.

Cecilias, in the age of the Archon War, wasn’t a rarity and was often the cause of the white sea. The only traces left of the said white sea in the records were from the Cecilia Garden where it was said that it was such a common flower that it was written as “the sea of white flowers”. 

The legends tell very few stories about the fate of the Sea of White, often only found in the debris and faded writings in the ruins of old. Cecilias of this day and age are often only found to grow in the high cliffs, specifically numerous on the infamous Starsnatch cliff. 

Not many know the history of Starsnatch Cliff. Long before it was Starsnatch Cliff or the place where the last of the Cecilias grow, it was simply the plains. 

Cecilias were abundant in the age of the Archons, never far from your sight at every turn. It is a wonder to a few on how a flower had only grown exclusive to one area. 

While not many know the history of Starsnatch, the most one would have to know is it was where the end of a love story between two gods, torn apart by war, was.

Venti’s favorite flower is Cecilias. It’s not his favorite flower due to its simple beauty or even its rarity but due to its history. Prior to the Cecilias, his favorite had been the Dandelions, which was no surprise to others. He had only started to favor the Cecilias near the beginning of the Archon War and even then that was only due to you.

Starsnatch Cliff is many things but to Venti it had only been a reminder of his grief. 

To Venti, it’s your grave.

Venti has lived for more than a thousand years so it’s a given that he would have a few missing memories of the past and a hesitance to recollect any memories from the age of the Archons. Despite it, there are a few he remembers very vividly.

He remembers your smile. It was a soft curve accompanied by cheeks tinged with a faint glow of pink. He remembers your eyes, twinkling, crinkling in the corners in your glee. 

And while he remembers very few things now, he has always remembered every part and memory he has of you, good or not.

The last he has of you was near the beginning of the Archon War.

The first he has of you were at the end of Decarabian’s reign and the death of his dear friend.

He remembers, mourning his death, readying his burial when you appeared with your gentle hands and kind understanding smile. In your hands had been Cecilias, freshly picked.

With your hands you guided him to a place and helped him bury his friend, silence was the only thing between you. You were kind enough to ignore the tears and the sniffles. You finished at sunset. The only trace of you that was left was the picked Cecilias he had first seen you with. Despite his grief, Venti felt the corner of his lips tug up to a small smile.

He doesn’t ask until later on in your friendship about why you had given his friend the Cecilias. You only answer with a small smile at his question. To this day, he still doesn’t know why but he has a feeling.

He treasures the memories of him loving you and mourns the memories he retains of everything of the love lost between you.

The Archon War had not been kind to anyone, even to you and to him. 

It is common knowledge that the Archon War had killed off a lot of gods, many of whom are buried under the grounds and some being sealed off. It was a time of turmoil, you don’t expect or hope to come out of it alive, you only fight and hope it is enough to survive another day.

You were the Goddess of Flora, responsible for the growth of the world’s vegetation. Due to such low status, your responsibilities were very little. The growth of vegetation, the worry for the changing of seasons, and your people had been the only things that were your responsibilities. 

You had no desire for power nor anything more. You had only wished to care for your people to the utmost best of your abilities and to continue living the way you had lived.

But war does not discriminate.

It didn’t matter if you didn’t have the desire to fight others. You fight or you die. You, a god once often seen at the sidelines or invisible, was pushed into the fighting ring built by greed and arrogance.

While you may have not wanted to fight in the war, you had to, if not for you, for your people. In your death, your only thought had been about your people and Barbatos. It had only ever been them.

It’s raining. Venti thinks the world is laughing at them or maybe the God of Storms or Rain is mocking them for being weak, for falling in love at a time like this where it is a sign of weakness.

His hands are bloody and shaking as he holds you closer to his body. His sight is blurred by his tears that are blending in with the rain. Grief is clogging his throat and he can’t breathe. There’s not enough time for anyone to save you.

The previous battle had taken a toll on both of you and Venti. While Venti’s were only fatigue and mild injuries, yours were fatal. You had taken a wound to your gut and while it isn’t often a major injury to gods, your powers had been drained and the fatigue you feel is what makes it fatal. There’s nothing that can fix it.

You know it.

He knows it.

But despite this, logic can’t seem to get through Venti’s panic. His mind is going rampant and he can’t seem to know where to put his hands or what to fix. 

You look at him with your heavy eyelids, lips quivering as you strain your body to move. With great difficulty, you bring your bloody and mangled hands towards Venti’s cheeks, landing heavily. Venti freezes, his eyes wide at the contact.

With a heavy heart, he turns his head towards you to meet your eyes. His hand slowly creeps up to the hand on his cheek. He feels his grief to come back up, scratching and clawing at his heart. When your eyes meet, you smile. Strained and quivering, but a smile nonetheless.

He feels his breath hitch at your smile. You smile like the sunset, the gradual end. The tears come up again, you had only ever smiled like the sunrise and to see it grow smaller, to see it fade is another type of pain.

“Love, no,” he whispers, throat dry as he looks at your eyes. “Don’t leave me. Hang on, please. You’ll be okay. Please. Please. Please...” Venti pleads, voice growing hoarse as the grief creeps back up with ravenous hunger. 

“Barbatos...” you wheeze out, eyes slowly fluttering as you try to hold on for him, just for a few seconds, “I...I... I love...you. T-Thank you...for... for-for lo...ving me.”

“No love, stop. Stop trying to say goodbye, please, no. No. I love you. I love you so much so please don’t leave me. I can’t do this without you,” Venti heaves out with a raspy voice, clutching your hand with a harsh grip in hope of keeping you here, with him.

“Don’t leave me” he cries out.

Even with your injuries and numbness, the sight of his tears and grief caused a pang of pain to erupt. 

“Love,” you rasp out, tears pouring out of your eyes, that were once glittering and now dull, “you have... to let me go.”

“NO!” he denies your pleas. 

“Please... just give me more time with you... anything for you. Please.”

You cough, blood coming up and the cold hands of death creeping closer to you.

“I love you... so much. L-Live on for me... please.”

You don’t hear anything after that, not your lovers sobbing and pleading for you to come back, to hold on.

Not long after, you fade into a million different golden dust. No body left to bury.

In your death, the Cecilias slowly disappear from the world despite your followers trying their utmost best to keep it from dying away. But without their god and with no protection, even they eventually fell. With their fall, the Sea of White was no more.

In memory of you, the world created a grave for you. 

Due to his love and memory of you, Venti caused the winds to only carry the Cecilias seeds to only fly around your grave and causing your grave to be the only place where Cecilias grew. Despite it having been several hundred years since the end of the Archon War, Venti’s heart is still heavy with the grief of those he’s lost.

History doesn’t write of the Goddess of Flora, there isn’t a lot of text written about her in fact. No hints about a possible connection with the Anemo God. And no one needs to know.

All who does is Venti. It’s all he has left of you that’s his and his alone.

In your death, the winds had howled and grew rough and sharp. 

Long before Starsnatch Cliff was anything, it was your grave.

It was the Grave of Cecilias.

[softzhongli]

summary: a closer look at the most exclusive group chat in all teyvat. we have two oblivious idiots in love, two horny bastards afraid of their feelings, a grumpy cat and his sunshine boyfriend and one very single and tired girl... among many many others warnings: swearing, probably some angst info: crack fic, multi-chaptered, social media au, not much difference they just have phones lmao pairings: childe x kaeya // xiao x venti // zhongli x diluc + lumine and other characters requests: open posted: 28/02/2022 a/n: not me deleting the chapter on accident before i saved it yet again 🤡 ANYWAY we’re back to kaeya!! wohoo!! sorry but i just like to write angst for him better than childe asdfghjkl but be happy cuz this chapter ended up being waaay less angsty than i anticipated lmao plus!! we’re getting closer and closer to zhongluc y’all! also can y’all believe we’re 20 chapters in already? damn! I just wanna thank every single one of you for reading this! you have no idea how happy that makes me and how thankful i am T^T love you, besties! 🖤 and see ya in the next chapter of “who’s gonna fall the victim of kinga’s unhealthy need for angst next?” 😂

PREV II MASTERLIST II NEXT

"Kaeyaaa" Venti wined and with a pout on his face, poked Kaeya's cheek.

Both of them were sitting in Diluc's tavern right now but lately, Kaeya was even more of a regular than Venti. It was definitely not a good thing. And it was partially due to Xiao whisking Venti away as early as he could.

Venti knew Xiao was worried about him. It was incredibly sweet of him and Venti's heart always thumped a little faster, with nothing but love on a mere thought. But he was so worried about Kaeya and Childe he couldn't just sit around. He wasn't doing anything special but he felt like maybe just being with Kaeya would help at least a little... in some way. Of course, he trusted Diluc with Kaeya, how could he not? In truth, coming here was more to ease his own worries than to do something about the situation Childe and Kaeya found themselves in.

Lumine and Thoma were both in Inazuma, Zhongli was normally in Liyue and Xiao clearly said the other day that Venti's his main concern even in a situation like this. And yeah it did make him feel incredibly good. Knowing that no matter what, his wellbeing was on the top of Xiao's list. There was nothing more obvious than Xiao's love for Venti and seeing as his boyfriend’s normally the most reserved and closed-off person in the world probably, Venti wouldn't have it any other way. Everyone knew Xiao was incredibly in love with Venti and vice versa just by looking at them whenever they're both together or just by the way they talked in the grou chat, and that was enough for Venti.

But with only him and Diluc left in Mondstadt on a day to day basis they were responsible for keeping an eye on Kaeya. Just like Zhongli was with Childe when he's in Liyue.

Venti knew Zhongli was right in saying they should let Kaeya and Childe figure things out on their own. It would be good for them in the long run because with the way they were so concerned about each other there was no way they wouldn't end up together. But the journey to that point was so painful to watch. They all hated seeing them like this. Both Kaeya and Childe were always there with the flirty and sarcastic jokes and now even the chat was gloomy without those two.

"You know something, right? All of you. You know something about Childe." Kaeya looked from Venti to Diluc to Zhongli and back. "I'm not trying to get that information out of you or anything. Don't worry. I wouldn't do that to him." He added in more of a whisper.

"You're right. We do." Zhongli was the one to confess after a minute of silence. He then looked at Diluc who just skinned his head. And Venti had to admit it was kind of amazing... like they were communicating just with gestures. "I'll admit that it was mainly my idea for us to stay out of it. Everyone is very eager to help you both but we also feel like this is something you should resolve between you two. Take however long you need. We are your friends and we will support you both."

"Diluc I swear if you're not gonna make this man yours, I will propose to him right now." Kaeya looked directly at Diluc and to be honest the three of them had no idea if he was actually joking or not.

"Ha, you can try but there is exactly zero percent chance Zhongli would accept." Venti patted Kaeya's shoulder, trying to somehow loosen the atmosphere with a joke.

"That is true." Zhongli simply agreed and just like that, Diluc's face was red. "I'm sorry." He added but the smile on his face that appeared after he glanced Diluc's way was saying anything but sorry.

"Okay, be honest with me" Venti cast his gaze to Diluc and Zhongli. "Are you two already dating and just fucking with us for fun now?" With squinted eyes he followed every little of their movements. He decided it'd be better and easier to focus on Diluc since he wasn't even able to stop himself from blushing with Zhongli around. If there was someone to let the secret out, it'd definitely be Diluc.

"Oh, does it really look that way? Hmm" Zhongli hummed, with such a proud smile it almost made Venti roll his eyes. "But to answer your question, no, we're not dating." He answered simply. "Not yet at least." He added and how was it possible that the only ones who reacted were him and Kaeya? How was it possible that the only reaction they got out of Diluc, the same Diluc who was able to go deep-red in the face just when Zhongli’s name was mentioned in passing, was that annoyingly lovesick smile on his face? It was so out of character, Venti almost convinced himself that they must be in an alternate universe for it to actually be true.

"What do you mean 'not yet'?" All of this was absolutely driving Venti crazy.

"Hmm" Zhongli debated for a moment. "I think that's enough questions for today." was what he eventually said and Venti never wanted to strangle someone more than Zhongli in that moment. He knew there was no reason to try and dig deeper because if Zhongli decides to end a topic there’s no changing his mind. It was absolutely infuriating but there was nothing Venti could do at this point. He was sure Zhongli would be more than happy to go into more details if Diluc was the one asking but the chance of him willingly wanting to talk about his love life was as high as for Venti to break up with Xiao... and that would more than once hundred percent never happen.

“Kaeya can we talk about you again? Because I swear to everything that is holy that I will commit murder tonight if I have to focus on those two for a second longer.” Venti gestured in Diluc and Zhongli’s direction not even looking at them.

“No one asked you to do that.” Diluc huffed and if not for a fact that this red haired grump was in charge of his alcohol, Venti would definitely be screaming his lungs out, out of frustration.

Where was Lumine when he needed her....

“There’s nothing to talk about, you know that.” Kaeya sighed, shrugging.

All the frustration Venti felt a moment before was gone in an instant. Pure worry and concern taking its place right away.

“I know we said we won’t pry but if you want or need our help you just have to ask.”

“I know and I appreciate it but what Zhongli said was right. This is between Childe and I. I want to talk to him and at least... apologize? But I’m also so scared to see him face to face? It’s ridiculous! I mean... I’ve seen him naked so many times but just the thought of actually seeing his face terrifies me.” Kaeya laughed but there was no happiness in it.

“Because you’re scared of loosing him.” Zhongli finished what Kaeya most likely wasn’t able to.

“Yeah.” Kaeya admitted and hid his face in his hands but the way his voice cracked was enough for the rest of them to know it was tears he was really trying to hide.

Venti was sure his heart was about to break just by looking at Kaeya in that moment.