3rd person omniscient
Aether was the one who broke the silence.
"How have you been?"
The conversation was awkward, but at least it was something. A step in the right direction, if you will.
"Good..." Venti trailed off, "and you?"
"Good..."
Silence overcame them again.
"You know, I'm glad you texted." Aether began, "I was starting to worry you wouldn't want anything to do with me anymore."
Venti was taken aback, "why would I completely drop you over a drunken mistake?"
Ouch.
Aether knew it was a mistake, but does that mean he truly had to refer to it as one?
"I don't know...just the possibility of you being hurt or hating my guts or blaming the entire thing on me-"
Aether let his anxiety take over his thoughts again.
"Aether, I don't blame it on you. We were drunk at a college party- in all honesty I'm glad it was you instead of a stranger...I wouldn't want my first to be with someone I don't even know." Aether felt his face get hot.
I was...his first? Aether thought, a new weight of guilt dawning on him.
Venti must've noticed, because he panicked, "n-no! I mean I'd prefer to sleep with you than anyone else- No wait I meant- gah this is difficult!"
Aether had to hold back laughing at Venti's panicking.
"If it makes you feel better, I'd rather sleep with you than anyone else too-" this was where Aether gave up trying to hold in his laughter.
Venti just stared at him, trying to feign being annoyed. Until he eventually gave up, and they were both laughing.
Once the laughing died down, they got serious.
"Aether...can we be serious for a second..?" Venti didn't know where this newfound confidence came from, but he didn't even notice the words leaving his mouth, they just flowed out on their own, "Aether, one musn't lie about his own feelings...and I suppose mine for you are anything but platonic."
Aether took a minute to process what that meant, but once he realized he had no idea how to react.
"Venti I-"
Of course, he was interrupted.
"Hey, guys!" Xingqiu and Chongyun walked in, sitting beside Aether and Venti.
They didn't even notice they ruined the moment....Venti thought angrily.
"Hey..." Aether said, clearly uncomfortable.
Venti simply waved at the pair.
(a/n pair of deez nuts)
"How are you two?" Chongyun asked politely.
"I'm good, and you?" Aether responded while Venti kept quiet.
"I'm good."
"Hey Venti, I mean not to come off as rude, but you seem oddly quiet today...
is everything alright?" Xingqiu inquired, turned to Venti.
Venti opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted by Aether, "he's just tired, since it's so early in the morning."
Aether knew that Venti didn't like people unexpectedly showing up to talk to him, and Venti was greatful for Aether stepping in like that.
(A/n YOU'LL NEVER TAKE US ALIIIIIIIIIVE-)
"Xingqiu!" Xingqiu heard his name called by the barista at the counter.
"Well...that's Chongyun and I's order. We have to go- I'll see you two later yeah?" Xingqiu said, and Aether nodded, waving goodbye to the two blue-haired boys.
"So Venti...back to our conversation..." Aether began.
Venti took a deep breath, preparing for anything.
"I apologize it's not extravagantly said, but I do feel the same way." Both Aether and Venti blushed at this, and decided to continue this conversation where other people couldn't hear.
(a/n Sugar, We're Going Down by Fall Out Boy <3)
The two walked outside, and once they reached an area where they were alone, they stopped walking.
Aether took a deep breath, "since that's out of the way...Venti, would you do me the honor of being my boyfriend?"
Venti felt triumphant. Finally. He'd been waiting for Aether to ask for forever....
And apparently forever is about 4 and a half months.
"Of course I will, Aether." The two smiled at each other like idiots, before Aether brought Venti into an unexpected hug.
Venti dug his face into Aether's shoulder, savoring the warmth and the smell of his boyfriend.
Damn, I could get used to calling Aether my boyfriend...and I sure will...Venti thought happily, loving the pure happiness in the hug they shared.
The hug ended eventually, and the two still smiled like dorks.
(a/n this may or may not have been what happened irl when I got with my now ex...you'll never know...anyways, Wish You Were Sober is playing)
They both felt relieved at how the meeting up turned out, though neither of them expected this outcome.
(a/n I SAY IT'S A NO-BRAINER NOW💃💃💃💃)
"So uhm....now what do we do?" Venti asked, looking up at his boyfriend.
Aether was going to say something before Venti's phone started ringing, "I suppose that's already been decided for us."
The two laughed at what Aether had said, and Venti pulled out his phone, answering it.
"Hello Xiao!" Venti answered happily.
"You seem to be in a good mood...what, did Diluc give you free wine again?" Venti laughed a bit before replying.
"No, actually....I'll tell you later, okay? Anyways, what'd you call for?"
(a/n 2.2 livestream just started....I'll continue writing this later :0)
"You never updated me on how things went with Aether...I'm just making sure he didn't kidnap you or anything." Xiao was only half joking with this statement, but Venti laughed anyway.
"No, everything went fine, great even!" Venti said, "there's something I wanna say, but it's something I can only tell you face to face."
"Okay....I'm busy right now, can you just tell me tomorrow?" Xiao asked.
"Oh- yeah! I was planning to see you tomorrow anyways, since it's Christmas and all." Venti continued, "well, now that you know I haven't been kidnapped, I have to go....I'll talk to you later, yeah?"
"Yeah." A cold one word answer from Xiao before the adeptus hung up the phone, leaving Venti shocked.
"Hm....weird.." Venti mumbles, and Aether raises an eyebrow at him, "he usually says goodbye before hanging up, this time he didn't...he must be really busy."
"Yeah, being him can't be boring, I assume." Aether responded, taking Venti's hand.
"Hm....do you wanna go play video games or something?" Aether asked.
"I actually have things I need to get done today, so I'll text you later, yeah?" Venti said.
"Oh- ok. I'll see you later, then." Venti smiled and walked away from Aether, who immediately sat down on the grass and pulled out his phone.
we're dating
Xiangling
aether, I'm a lesbian u know this...and aren't you gay?
not what i meant 😐
Xiangling
then be more specific next time, smartass
me and venti r dating
Xiangling
finally...and now Xingqiu owes me $10
DID YOU BET ON MY LOVE LIFE-
Xiangling
so how was your day aether!😁
._.
Xiangling
$10 is $10 okay🙄
bite me
Xiangling
is that a challenge?
/s
Xiangling
:0
I'll talk to you later, Xiangling
Xiangling
bye-bye! (≧∇≦)
Aether turned off his phone and walked to the library for science books that he needed for his minor. When he got there, the first thing he noticed was Yanfei and Hu Tao in the corner of the room, reading about their own respective interests.
Aether tried to avoid being seen as he walked over to the physical science section of the library, but his attempt was futile.
"Hello, Aether!!" Hu Tao shouted, getting an angry glare from the librarian.
Hu Tao apologized, and motioned Aether to walk over to her and her embarrassed girlfriend.
"So Aether...Venti said you two met up to talk today....how'd it go?" Hu Tao asked, sitting back down.
Aether sat down across from Hu Tao, "well, we talked, and now-"
Aether was interrupted by Hu Tao's phone ringing. Hu Tao excused herself and walked off to answer it.
Meanwhile, Aether was left with Yanfei, who he's only ever spoken to once.
(a/n i have 2 important questions at the end of the chapter so please read the end!)
"I'm sorry about her...she just gets...excited." Yanfei explained.
"No, it's fine...I know someone who's almost the same way about certain things..." Aether trailed off, smiling as he thought about Venti.
"Ah, I can see that this person is very special to you, yes?" Yanfei laughs a bit, "I wish you the best with them."
Aether smiles, "thanks, Yanfei...and I wish the best for you and Hu Tao as well."
Yanfei simply smiled back.
Hu Tao was on the phone with her brother in the corner of the library.
"Hu Tao....what if they're together now...?" Xiao asked, beginning to panic on the other end of the phone, "I never got to-"
"Xiao, if they were together they'd have told both you and I, please just tell Venti how you feel....you can't let him get away, yeah?" Hu Tao tried to calm her brother in any way she could, and it seemed to work, as his breathing steadied.
"I'll....I'll tell him tomorrow."
Xiao then hung up, and Hu Tao sighed, wishing she'd at least of gotten a goodbye.
She walks back to Yanfei and Aether, announcing that she has last minute Christmas shopping to get done. Yanfei opts to go with her, but Hu Tao refuses. She then turns on her heel and leaves, and Aether and Yanfei decide to leave the library and go their separate ways.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
hello! i hope you enjoyed the chapter!
now, the two important things:
1) would you like a spin-off to this? it would follow what everyone does after college (I'm asking because if you vote yes, I'd get started with writing now :p). Please comment your vote....i may or may not have a lot of ideas already :p.
2) I want to write a royal au for a different ship, and I don't know which ship to do it for. your options:
1) Mitsukou (from toilet bound hanako-kun) 2) Xingyun (genshin impact) 3) Yantao (genshin impact) 4) Kaebedo (Genshin impact). Please comment your vote, the ship with the most votes will be the one used.
have a lovely day/night!
-Venti
word count: 1725