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[Aether lets go when prompted, sniffling and taking in a shaky breath to try and calm back down. It felt more difficult than usual, but-- he finds himself distracted from his tears when he sees the kizuna effects showing up between the two of them. He has no reason to assume either are for him, but-- when Xiao pets him on the head, the ends of his own hair tint green.]

[But then Xiao leans in and kisses Venti and... huh. Come to think of it, why did he know to come? Neither of them spoke his name, after all. And Xiao's never suddenly appeared any of the other times Aether has been in distress-- which has been rather often in Nippon lbr. Were he and Venti always this close...? Well, it makes sense, in a way. Both had lived on Teyvat for a long time. Maybe they were already acquainted?]

[In any case, he opens his mouth to respond, but wisely thinks better of it, and just nods.

[ He reaches up a hand to brush his fingers over Xiao's cheek, though his attention stills on Aether anyway. Venti is glad to see the display of the bond between the two. Aether has been a bright spot in his own life, so he has to assume the other has been a bright spot in Xiao's, too. ]

You could feel it, couldn't you?

[ There was still a lot to figure out about bonds, but he's certain that could be something. ]

Sorry for worrying you. Aether, is it alright if Xiao carries you? I'll be right behind you.

[ His face is still puffy and shows every sign of crying. But he's working to keep it together as much as possible. He has to. He can get back easily, and though he doesn't like the idea of not being right at their side - he knows how to get home. ]

[ It was subtle, the way he leant into the touch to his cheek as eyes fell closed briefly before nodding in assent. ]

I could. There was no way I was ignoring something like that.

[ He's torn between the two of them, the one who holds his heart and the one who's left an irreplaceable mark on him and his life. Both have meaning to him and to see them both in this state hurt him a little. ]

Don't apologize for that. It's alright, Venti.

[ A part of him just wants to pull his boyfriend close and tell him it would be alright, to brush his fingers along his cheeks sweetly. There's also the wish to thread his hand through Aether's hair and give him a forehead kiss, a fleeting thought he has to push aside for now. ]

...I'd carry you both if I could. You both appear to need it...

[Somehow, seeing them like this just makes him feel guiltier. It was his own weakness caused his bond with Venti to break in the first place, and now he just being an inconvenience, getting between them when it was so obvious they'd rather be with each other right now. It's not all that different from the time he and Childe were injured, and Zhongli had to focus on his wounds first. It's was frustrating, feeling so weak.]

[Which is why, rather than wait to be picked up, he pushes himself up to stand. He's visibly unsteady on his feet, but-- despite the tears in his eyes, his expression is more determined now. Surely he can at least manage this much--]

I-I... can walk. It's fine.

[ Aether, Venti swears to himself that you're going to accept this ride home. He shifts, joining the other and then reaching a hand up to brush through Aether's hair with a small, gentle smile that manages to appear. ]

Aether - Xiao's going to take you home. I'll be right behind you.

[ Yes, he'd love some time with Xiao. Yes, he'd love the opportunity to really be held and close to the person he loves. But, Aether is important to him and he's not about to leave him behind. He's not going to make him walk home. And he is going to make sure that he comes to their place with them. He's going to make sure that Aether still feels loved and cared for. ]

I promise, okay?

[ Xiao rose to his feet and watched the two of them quietly, endeared by the soft words and contact between the two of them even as he came up to stand next to Aether with a hand on his shoulder. It's a gentle touch and after a second of debate, leant in to place a kiss to the side of Aether's head. ]

Mm. It will be alright. We aren't leaving you.

[ Only when he's given permission by the blond will he move to pull him into his arms, also of the thought that something in him didn't like seeing the blond this way. No way in hell would he ever let Aether walk home in this state, also aware of the fact Aether needed attention now and he could always cuddle Venti later when it was just the two of them. ]

[Between Venti touching his hair and Xiao giving him a soft kiss on the temple, he feels like he's being spoiled. Being treated so kindly and gently right now makes his heart ache, but he knows fighting it won't help matters either. They aren't going to let him walk back when he hardly looks like he can manage to stand.]

[Not that he really wants to fight it -- which is why he won't fight it when Xiao goes to pick him up, curling up in his arms. He doesn't look happy about it, just giving a soft sound of affirmation in response -- but the kizuna between them is far more honest, taking the form of a little golden wind wisp that circles around Xiao, and then Venti.]

[ Venti shifts to Xiao's side, so that they can both take off and make their way back home. He has every intention of getting the attention he wants from Xiao at a later time. After all they both care about Aether. They want to see him doing well, and if he's upset... they will do what they can. Which at this moment, is taking him to their place and ensuring that he feels safe.

And he can rest.

Everything had been a bit of an emotional overload for the both of them. Venti is used to pushing things like that down so he decided he would deal with his own feelings at a later time. They would be easier to manage anyway once he knew Aether was feeling better and safe.

His eyes fell on Xiao's and he nods. ]

Let's go home.

[ There's something almost protective in the way he held Aether close, but comfortably.

He'd spotted the little wisp circling around and smiled for a short moment, though looked sidelong at Venti out of concern. They both needed rest, and inherently aware that his boyfriend was keeping how he was really feeling all inside for the time being. It wasn't the place to mention it, so he just nodded at those words and waited only a short moment before he and Aether disappeared.

Only to re-appear at his and Venti's place, just inside the front door where he took a few steps forwards to wait for Venti to appear as well. ]

I'm not sure what happened, but just... try to rest. You're welcome to stay as long as you wish, Aether.

Edited 2021-10-20 10:30 (UTC)

[Perhaps it's because the newly reformed bond is so fresh, but somehow it aches when he's no longer by Venti's side, even if only for a brief moment. The guilt of everything that's happened was still weighing heavily on him, and he almost found himself wishing he could just turn off his emotions -- even if only for a moment, to catch his breath. At least then he'd be able to control himself right now.]

[A few more tears leak out, but-- he reaches up to wipe his face quickly.]

....thank you... Xiao.

[ Venti appears not even a full minute after them. He needed a moment to calm himself down. To make sure that he wouldn't burst into tears again. He has years and years of practice suppressing his feelings. Part of him feels still so fragile, thin glass ready to crack and shatter with even the smallest thing. But he has to keep face because that's what he's always done. It's not to seem like he doesn't feel anything, but rather to keep anyone else from being concerned about him.

When he appears, his face and eyes still show those signs of crying. Red cheeks and bloodshot eyes. But he otherwise looks calm - he's pushed it down far enough for it to not surface for now. ]

Welcome to our home, Aether. Let's go...relax, I think.

[ Relax means...lay down, really. Cuddle. Hold onto one another. Stay close for now. Venti hopes it makes him feel the bond is less fragile. ]

You're quite welcome.

[ There's a soft tenderness to his voice that he usually kept from others most times, gentleness in the way he held Aether close to him. It almost felt like this once strong traveler may break if he was mishandled at this point.

Even with his focus on the blond, it didn't go unnoticed how his boyfriend showed up almost an entire minute after he did. That look he caught on Venti's face pained him in a way he couldn't put into words, his own expression shifting to concern but he refrained from saying anything. Not now, anyway. ]

You two need it more than I do. Let's go.

[ As if he isn't going to stay in the room and watch over the two of them. Which he totally was.

So he'd headed towards their room after shooting Venti a look over his shoulder. Their place was relatively clean and well-maintained for what it was worth, so it didn't take long to reach their bedroom where he made to carefully kneel down and set the blond down on their bed. One clearly meant for two people, so it wasn't small and would fit the two of them comfortably. ]

[Aether isn't focused too much on his surroundings yet, but he doesn't miss the little signs. "Our" home. One large bed in a single bedroom. He wants to ask why they never said anything but... he hardly had the right to ask anyone something like that right now. Maybe they just never saw a reason to do so.]

[But while he's set down by Xiao, he's quickly sitting up once more, reaching out to grab his arm. His eyes flicker between Xiao and Venti, before he very quietly asks--]

...stay?

[He doesn't want to come between Xiao comforting Venti right now, but-- he also doesn't want to be apart from either of them. He hated how fragile he felt right now, but more than that, he hated the thought of feeling any sort of distance between himself and either of them.]

[ Venti looks between them, and he steps up, placing a hand on Xiao's arm as a signal. He steps forward nodding towards his boyfriend, his love. And his attention shifts to fall back onto Aether. ]

Of course we'll stay. Both of us.

[ He settles in next to Aether, and he eyes the spot on the other side of him. Right now? He's comforted being close to them both, and this will work for now.

After all, they would have their own time together later. He settles in, and gets close. After all, it's a space made for two that is now going to fit the three of them. ]

[ A lot of it just had to do with that Xiao wasn't the type to flaunt things and his relationship with Venti was no different. Though it wasn't like he tried to hide it either, proud of how much he loved his boyfriend more than anything else in the world.

He hadn't expected it at all when that hand grabbed onto his arm, surprise clear on his face though he never quite got the chance to really ask why Aether'd done so. It took only one look at him, along with that soft touch to his arm from Venti that had him giving in without so much as a second thought. ]

Mm. If that's what you want, I have no problem doing so.

[ Xiao's voice was soft, and impossibly light as he moved in close on Aether's other side. It wasn't hard to settle in comfortably, touches gentle and warm as his eyes fell closed. This was nice and it had a warmth settling in his chest. ]

[With both of them laying at his side, he felt a warmth blooming in his chest. Was it the kizuna that made this feel so nice, or would be have enjoyed this regardless?]

[A tired sigh leaves his lips as he settles down and closes his eyes. He won't fall asleep, but this way, it'd be easier to relax and maybe calm this deep inexplicable ache in his chest.]

["I'm sorry" is what he really wants to say right now, but he figures neither of them want to hear that. So instead, he murmurs--]

Thank you.

No need to thank me.

[ He's sure Xiao shares a similar sentiment. Because they are both like this. They both want to help him and they both want to ensure he is doing well. He closes his own eyes, snuggled in close for now because even though he's still sad about it all - and he doesn't understand it - he does feel better. He does feel relaxed.

And it's been a long time since he cried.

He'd forgotten that it is exhausting. ]

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