#okay that got more venty than i intended so I'm just going to stop there

[fitzfunnymoments]

I have been feeling absolutely terrible today but then I remembered art fight is coming up and that made me feel a little bit better so yayyy

[fraink5-writes]

In the Names of Freedom - Chapter 14

Congrats to tumblr for not being consumed by more controversy (than usual lol) in the week since the last chapter!

Ahem, here is chapter 14, edited by the most lovely @leio13!

Summary: After confirming the death of his latest target, Xiao’s secret mission is interrupted by an eccentric stranger in green, who claims to be Xiao’s protector! But the reality is much more convoluted… What destiny could possibly link Xiao with Venti—an assassin of hitmen?

This chapter can also be found on Ao3 here. Without further ado, please enjoy!

Xiao's first order of business was dealing with his job. He slipped into the Adepti Agency office in his usual discreet fashion. Ganyu was at the reception desk, of course, but she was strangely on the phone. Xiao was not particularly eager to voice his own business, so he waited in silence for the call to end.

"A lyre?"

…

"Do you really think that will help?"

…

"...Nnh…"

…

"Y-yes, but…"

…

"Don't you think you should pursue another trail?"

…

"N—"

…

"Oh! Someone's here, so I need to go—bye!" Ganyu hastily hung up the phone. "Sorry to keep you waiting, Xiao!"

"It's fine. …Who was that?"

"Oh, you know… Keqing." Ganyu sighed. "Recently, she's been obsessed with this case… She thinks it can turn around Liyue's crime problem in the right hands… But last time she almost made a breakthrough, she got knocked out by an unknown assailant. If this case really is that big of a deal, I'd say she was lucky she was only knocked unconscious…"

"Oh." Xiao forced his head up and down. "Yeah. Definitely."

"Right? So I think she should give up on it, but nothing ever gets through to her… Oh! I'm sorry again! I was carrying on… What brings you here, Xiao? …Let's see… Oh, it's the end of your time off, so you must be here for another assignment…" Ganyu shuffled through the papers on the desk.

"Actually, is Morax here?"

"Morax? No… He's on a business trip currently. Now that his schedules opened up a bit, he said there were some more distant cases he wanted to look into." 

That wasn't too surprising. When Xiao was younger, Morax went on many business trips, leaving Xiao in the care of the Wangshu Inn. He had settled down a bit as he got older, but even now, at least 70% of the Agency's far-reaching cases went to him.

"Do you need him for something?" Ganyu asked, still busying herself with the papers.

"Not particularly." Xiao shrugged. "I was just hoping to take another vacation…"

"A… vacation?" Ganyu blinked several times. "When?"

"Now, preferably."

"Oh, uh… That… shouldn't be a problem…" Ganyu's eyes scrambled across her desk until she grabbed the phone again. "But let me call him to make sure!" Her loud voice betrayed her panic. "...Um… Hello, this is Ganyu…"

…

"No, everything is fine, but…"

…

"I'm with Xiao, and he says… he wants to take a vacation…" She hastily whispered the last part as if it were forbidden knowledge.

…

"...Um, now…?" She glanced at Xiao for reassurance. He nodded. Then she suddenly smiled back at Xiao. "He says it's okay!"

Morax said something from the other side of the line.

"He wants to know where you're going."

"Mondstadt," Xiao responded in a loud voice. 

Morax was the first to respond through the phone.

"Oh, that's great!" Ganyu beamed at Xiao. "Your vacation is approved. Please enjoy your trip!" 

"Thank you."

While Ganyu was stuck on the phone with Morax, Xiao took the opportunity to duck out—almost. "He says he wants to hear all about it when you get back!" Ganyu called after him.

"Of course." With that, Xiao took off. He had intended on heading straight back to his apartment, but instead, he found his mind and feet wandering. So even the police want that lyre? What is the big deal? The answer was probably straightforward—it was connected to Venti, the infamous “Mole.”

Xiao’s feet finally stopped when he reached a humble flower stand at Yujing Terrace. Behind the counter was a familiar elderly lady, publicly known as Madame Ping. Apparently, she used to work at the Adepti Agency, but as she had retired shortly after the death of Morax’s late wife, Xiao only knew her in the capacity of Zhongli’s old friend. “Is that you, Xiao?” She called out. “It’s been so long. To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“Good afternoon, Ping.” Xiao began with the customary pleasantries.

“Good afternoon.” She grinned wryly. “Don’t tell me your father still has business for this retired old lady?”

“No, actually, I have a personal favor to ask you… Have you heard anything about a lyre going up for sale?” When she was younger, Ping was a great musician, so even now that she had retired, Xiao was certain that she was more likely than anyone to have ears in the music scene, above and below ground.

“A lyre?” She tilted her head, meeting her chin with her thumb. “I can’t say that I have.” She smiled suddenly. “Are you getting into music again?”

Xiao blinked.

“Your father used to tell me all the time about how you used to love music. He would say that when you couldn’t sleep, all it would take was one song from me or Guizhong, and you’d be out like a light.”

“He did?” Xiao did have some memories of falling asleep to soothing music, but he had no idea that other people knew about it. His cheeks got warm.

“Oh yes, he did! And he was so happy about it.” Ping smiled fondly, and Xiao couldn’t help but catch her nostalgic contentment. “I will look for this lyre for you. Can you describe it for me?”

“Uh, sure.” Xiao tried to recall the details, but when he had listened to Venti play, he had been too caught up in his voice to notice the lyre’s appearance. “It’s made with a medium brown wood and has blue strings. Oh, and it’s decorated with flowers from Mondstadt. Sorry, I wish I could describe it better. It should be circulating through the market after the original owner left it behind at a hotel. …Or it could be in the trash already.”

“What a shame that would be.” Ping frowned. “We can’t have that, so I’ll track down this lyre, but, Xiao, I’d like to ask you a favor as well.”

“What is it?”

“Can you tell your old man that, when business lets up, a certain old lady would love for him to visit again?”

Neither Xiao nor Madam Ping could possibly know when that’d be; nevertheless, he went along with it. “I’ll tell him when I next see him.”

“Thank you, child.”

Finally, after somewhat settling the issue of the lyre, Xiao could return home to his apartment for however brief a stay it would be.

[05aaphrodite]

I can't let you escape, not even to your own world

Pairings:Yandere! Venti x reader

Warnings:4th wall breaking,Slight crack fic,Reader death

(Plz don't let my friends see this lmao)

______________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐_______________

I chug all of my soda then slam it on the table "Aight, let's go farm for Venti's talent mats" I grabbed my controller then push the left joystick forward, after all of these grinding... I finally manage to get him on his rerun, I was skeptical that he would come home but surprisingly, I did a single pull then I got him, I'm grateful that I got my dream team, Xiao,Diluc,Venti,Bennett I will be saving for a Klee rerun.

My phone beeped a notification, I peek at it and it's my friend gc, I put down my controller then grab my phone

(A/n: Btw, the gc is based of my friend gc lol)

❀Genshin Gang❀

Diluc's hairtie

Y'ALL GUESS WHAT??

Albedo simp

OMGGGGGG CONGRATS BHIEEE

E_supremacy

CONGRATSSSSS

Xiao come home plz

I TOLD YA, YOU WILL GET HIM

Ventea

Hope all😭😭

VENTI CAME HOME

BROOOO CONGRATS OMG

ZHONGLI COME HOME

JK JK CONGRATS TOO

Diluc's hairtie

I was losing hope until I wished one more time😭

ZHONGLI COME HOME

CONGRATSSSS AGAIN, AND TO Y/N, BOTH OF YOU GOT VENTI

VENTI CAME HOME

THANKS PALL

E_supremacy 

Now my Zhongli is happy :D

Diluc's hairtie

YESSES

A smile plastered on my face, I'm so happy for them! My attention was stolen when Venti decides to say his idle line "Come on Traveler, let's go! The world is full of lost ballads just waiting to be rediscovered." I put my phone down then grab my controller again "Ok ok, I will pay attention to you now" I chuckled humorously "Good! Just don't make me murder your friends."

The moment he said that line, my thumb suddenly stopped pushing the joystick, did he just..... did I just heard that right? Murder... your friends? What does he mean by that? Someone never mentioned this voiceline of his, I should check the character icon. I clicked on the character icon then proceed to his voicelines, I checked every details but I can't seem to find it, maybe it's a bug? The fact that I was talking to my friends.... maybe Mihoyo intended it?

I shrugged my shoulders then continue to the domain to farm for talent materials. After countless of grinding, I started to have fun with his wind current while harassing random hilichurls for fun, I made him sat at the Barbatos statue "You finally came home..." I smiled as I touch the screen, Venti looked at the camera then smiled "That's so cute! He smiles when he looks at at camera!" I awed, I continue to fawn over him.

⌣ ‿ ‿ ‿ ‿ ‿ ‿ ⌣⌣ ‿ ‿ ‿ ‿ ‿ ‿ ⌣

I woke up by the sound of my ps4 opening, the bright light illuminated my body, and to my surprise, my ps4 opened by itself "What the fuck?" I stood up from the bed then went to investigate it. The creepiest thing is that Venti is the only one in my party, and he is sitting at barbatos' hands, and then I remembered the hacked accounts in genshin, this could be a sign..

I hurriedly grab my controller then check my characters, all of them were Venti! I can't find a single character other than him! What's going on!? I check my weapons but they are okay, I checked my profile and nothing changed but my icon was set to Venti, i checked my primogems and fate but nothing changed, in fear of getting hacked, I contacted Mihoyo for customer support, I can't lose Xiao, I whaled for him! I restarted my ps4 then go back to sleep, in hopes that it will be resolved next morning.

I rubbed my eyes then stretch my arms wide, I look at my ps4 then my phone, I grab my phone then text on the gc

❀Genshin Gang❀

VENTI CAME HOME

Guyssss, something weird happened yesterday 

ZHONGLI COME HOME

Why?

VENTI CAME HOME

My ps4 opened by itself and Venti was the only one in my party, I tried to change my party set back to normal but all of them were Venti

Albedo simp

Welp, sounds like a bug

But hey, freemogems :D

VENTI CAME HOME

My weapons and primogems were untouched but the weird thing is that my character icon is set to Venti, but I didn't change it

This is like a Ddlc reference lmaooo

Xiao come home plz

Aight, time to report to Mihoyo for free 600 primogems 

E_supremacy

Be careful, maybe you're getting hacked? You should change your password incase

VENTI CAME HOME

Yep bro, I will change it

I put my phone down then open my ps4, I prayed to myself that everything is back to normal. Happiness washed over me when I saw that my original party is deployed "must've been a crazy bug.." I chuckled, I change my icon back to Xiao then continue with the grinding "Ooohhh timmie's birds" I smirked, I switched to Xiao then climb the nearest cliff, I glide then plunge on the birds "Free fowls!!" I exclaimed then claim the fowls, my character suddenly switched  back to Venti, I didn't even press anything other than claim fowls "You know I'm getting impatient.." Venti said, again this was not even in his voice lines, then I notice that something is odd with my venti, he kept saying weird lines everytime my attention is drifted to somewhere else, could it be Mihoyo's doings? I hope so, I don't want a ddlc fiasco again.

After farming for his ascension materials, I quit genshin then read some fanfictions in Tumblr, I came across a Kaeya fanfic then proceed to read the contents. All of a sudden, my ps4's screen started to distort, my eyes widened at the sight of it, then a bright light surrounded me, making my head dizzy

.

.

.

. 

"Traveler, you're awake" I woke up to a familiar voice reaching my ears, I blinked my eyes slowly to realize that I'm not in my room, where am I? My jaw dropped when the person I saw in my eyes is none other Venti, this is impossible! He's not real! "Venti...?" I tilt my head in confusion, there's no way this is real.... this must be a dream! The bard showed a genuine smile before putting down his lyre "I'm happy that you pulled for me, I will go crazy if you pulled for him instead, hehe." Venti had a patronizing smile after that, my eyes widened as I sat up "Venti? There's no way that you're real!" I said, feeling my empty pockets, Venti sighed as he stood up, he had his lyre in his hand "Come on Traveler, let's go celebrate the windblume festival." the God reached out his hand, I was reluctant to respond to his offer, he seems a bit suspicious to me, considering my ps4 sucked me in Teyvat. Not to mention, he said these weird lines when I was communicating with my friends, and my controller would move on its own when I'm playing another character "What are you waiting for?" A smile was om his lips, I took his hand then stood up "Ok, let's go." Venti giggled as he led me in Mondstadt, I gaze behind to see the Vennessa tree.

No way.... all of this seemed real... the designs.... the npcs.... all of them are accurate! The only difference is that I don't see control menu "Isn't it beautiful? Traveler?" Venti turned to me, I nodded with hesitant. As my eyes scanned the whole city, Fischl and Bennett were talking to each other, Kaeya,Rosaria, and Diluc at the same table, although Diluc seems poker faced, Barbara was performing for the crowd, Jean and Lisa are eating together, Albedo,Sucrose, and Timaeus are experimenting,Amber is seen gliding, everything seemed lively more than the actual game.... "Come on Traveler!" The bard took my hand without giving me time to consent.

The rustling sounds of the leaves snap me back to reality, it still feels like a dream, did Mihoyo said something about this? The atmosphere is so lively and different "Uh oh woahhh!! Watch out!" Amber then crashed into Noelle, I giggled slightly then turn to the bard who was playing the lyre for a small crowd, as the sweet melodious tone halt to stop, the crowd clapped their hands, I smiled a little bit as I made my way towards him "Did you like it?" Venti inquired, I nodded then smiled, the bard chuckled as he took my hand then led me somewhere.

I realized we were getting far away from the festival, perturbation washed over me "Venti.... where are we going?" sweat dropped on my temples, Venti looked at me with a menacing smile "Somewhere..." 

He led me to starsnatch cliff, the breeze of the wind soothes my nostrils, I can't believe all of these are real.... Venti picked a Cecilia flower then hand it to me, I narrowed my eyes "Are you really.... real?" I gaze at his eyes 

"I'm aware that all of us are just video game characters, that's why I'm a God"

My eyes widened as he said that, he tucked the cecilia behind my ear "Y/n, will you stay here forever..?" The bard took both of my hands, his puppy eyes gleaming, I do want to visit Genshin.... but that does not mean I will abandon my world 

"Venti.... I have my friends and family there..." I said, I averted my gaze to the floor, his grip on me got tighter "Y/n, your world does not need you" his tone was a mix of devastate and anger "All you need is me, you belong here" 

My eyebrows furrowed, what does he mean by that!? "No! I can't just leave everyone! My friends care about me!"  I screamed in frustration. He then uses his anemo powers on me that sent me flying through the air "Arghh! Let me go!!" I desperately try to break free

"Don't you see that I love you? I don't like it when you control me everyday" Venti was feigning sadness on his tone 

"Because you're never real!" I retorted back, a grin was marked on his face "I ever regret pulling for you!" I yelled. The bard went closer then cup my cheeks "So? You already got me, you did this to yourself" then his hands swayed, causing me to fall of the cliff, my life flashed before me, this is it....

"May your soul rest in this game"