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It was another one of those nights.
Those nights in which Barbatos appeared before Morax and they both gave each other pleasure. Eternal and ephemeral nights at the same time. The two Archons marked each other's skin, with caresses, kisses, and silent words.
At dawn, Morax wished Barbatos would stay, but Barbatos would always say goodbye and disappear into the winds.
Oh, how he wished Barbatos would never leave, but he wouldn't put chains on the God of Freedom. Even if Morax was the God of Contracts, he would never dare to bind Barbatos, his beloved Barbatos, whose essence was already completely impregnated in his heart, and, perhaps if he had a soul, surely it would also be full of him.
Barbatos was free to come and go, he would never stop him, but sometimes he couldn't ignore the pain he felt in his chest when he saw him walk away from him, leaving him alone in his bed before dawn. Sometimes he liked to think that Barbatos thought the same as him, but Morax had mercy and never, ever asked him to stay with him longer. They both had responsibilities and although Barbatos said that he would not interfere for Mondstadt unless it was absolutely necessary, he knew he cared too much to leave it for long.
The two were Archons, but within Morax's chamber, fully exposed to each other, it was only Zhongli and Venti.
Zhongli would never ask him to stay.
Venti never stayed.
Zhongli would never ask him to stay, with those words, never, but...
Before dawn, the singing of birds was usually heard, but that morning there was a loud and overwhelming sound outside the Abode. Venti, hugging Zhongli, opened his eyes slightly and looked at the open window. Outside there was rain, a very heavy one. Zhongli straightened up and also watched the rain. It didn't look like it was going to stop anytime soon. Maybe, that way...He could...
"It's nice that it's raining." Venti said as he stood up and searched the floor for his clothes. "It will be less hot around here; I hope it will soon reach Mondstadt."
Zhongli felt a little scared. Would Venti leave with this heavy rain? Could he fly through the heavy dark clouds? Could he see more than lightning and the dark sky?
"Venti..." Zhongli said carefully. "If you want, you can stay until the rain stops."
Venti paused for a second, serious, but then laughed nonchalantly.
“Zhongli, it's just a breeze and rain. That's not going to stop me." Venti said, very sure of himself. “Or are you worried about me?"
Zhongli snorted. Deep down, he was worried too, but what he wanted most was for Venti to stay, he wanted to hold him and never let go. Sometimes the time they were apart was hard to bear. He comforted himself knowing that they would soon see each other again.
“No." Zhongli said as he stood up. “I know it won't hurt you, but-
“Then everything is fine. I will go."
“Venti, wait-
Venti put on his clothes quickly and when he was about to jump out of the window, Zhongli stopped him. His two arms of Geo's energy wrapped around Venti's small hip. Venti sensed Zhongli's closeness and noticed that he was still naked. There was silence. The rain was the only thing drowning out the awkward and strange silence in the room. Zhongli lowered his head and could smell Venti's hair, the scent of wild Cecilia.
"It’s dangerous for you to go out now." Zhongli muttered.
"I’m the Anemo Archon." Venti replied as he grew nervous at the contact. He put one of his hands on one of Zhongli's hands. That kind of reaction was not normal for Geo Archon. Maybe finally...
"The rain can get worse in a short time." Zhongli insisted as he felt his heart beating rapidly within his chest. Venti could feel Zhongli's heart pounding on his back and his own as well, racing with excitement.
But the rain was unpredictable in some cases. As soon as the dark stormy cloud had appeared and scattered drops across Liyue, it disappeared just like that, it was guided by the winds, and thus, the only sound remaining now was the waterdrops falling from the trees. The first ray of sunlight of the day peeked out from behind the mountains. Zhongli cursed the sun, as it was the sign of his beloved Venti he should go. Venti giggled a little and then removed Zhongli's hands from his body as he looked at him tenderly.
"There is no rain anymore." Venti said with a little smile.
Venti shook his head once and then leaned closer to the window. When he was about to take flight, he heard Zhongli's voice, like a prayer, a plea, a wish never revealed.
"Please stay..." Zhongli said.
Venti looked at him and then looked away to stop looking at him. He spoke, but his voice sounded sad and confused.
"I thought you wanted me to stay because of the flood." Venti said with some bitterness. "Now I can go" Venti stuck one leg out the window and then the other.
"Venti, don't go." Zhongli pleaded as he took a step towards him. Venti froze, sitting on the edge of the window, his wings tucked behind his back.
"Why would I stay?" Venti asked without looking at Zhongli. He was watching the raindrops fall through the leaves of the trees.
But Zhongli knew that he had no reason to stay. Possibly Venti thought that seeing each other and making love was enough, but he couldn't be sure, just as he didn't want to ask him what he thought. Zhongli knew that he had gone too far with stopping him before, but right now he decided to try and repair that mistake.
"I would never tie you up, Venti." Zhongli said with an apparent calm smile. “It's okay that you want to leave, I understand. You’re free and even if I love you, I…I'm not going to stop you. "
Zhongli realized that he had made another mistake, he had never told him that he loved him before, he had never fully opened his heart to Venti before. Venti was startled and looked at Zhongli, his emerald green eyes were sparkling with accumulated tears.
"Do you love me…?" Venti said nervously. "Zhongli, you..."
He decided to be honest, at least.
"Yes, I love you." Zhongli replied. “But it's okay for you to go. It's not really a bad thing, I'm not trying to stop you. "
"You stop." Venti said as he hugged himself. “Do you think I don't have enough freedom? Do you think you can really stop me if you want to? "
"I…"
"You can’t." Venti said.
Venti moved a hand and blew up a robe that was on the ground, the robe flew off and hit Zhongli gently, preventing him from seeing for a few seconds. Zhongli pulled the robe off his face and when he saw the window, Venti was no longer there. They had not ended that discussion well. Zhongli shrugged, obviously sad and uncomfortable, and just proceeded to put on the robe that Venti threw at him. Sure, being naked in front of him wasn't the best way to be while they argued over a sensitive matter.
Zhongli was preparing to leave the room and start preparing for a new day at work, but a strong and familiar wind current could be heard outside. Zhongli turned to the window and saw Venti inside the room. He was looking down at the ground, his wings drooping a bit, his small body trembling slightly.
"I know you’re never going to try to stop me because you think your word is law and you don't want to tie me to you." Venti said without looking at him. "And it may well be, but we both know well that it's not like that with me."
"Venti-
"Just listen to me." Venti asked as a plea. Zhongli nodded. "You think that freedom is getting away from everything, living alone, doing whatever we want, singing all kinds of songs, but...There is also freedom in other things."
Venti walked towards him and took both of Zhongli's hands. Zhongli didn't say a word, he was very surprised, and without a doubt, when he saw Venti's gaze, full of affection and small tears, he felt more confused. Venti giggled a little and squeezed his hands gently.
“Freedom does not always mean leaving. It can also mean staying and I… I’m free to stay with you, Zhongli. " Venti finally said. "It's just that...you've never asked me."
"I... I didn't want to pressure you." Zhongli said, embarrassed. "My apologies."
"I understand you and I love that about you." Venti said with a flirtatious smile. “I… I love you too. I always thought that you didn't-
Zhongli hugged him, interrupting him. Venti cried out in surprise but returned the hug. Zhongli gently kissed Venti's head and then, the God of Contracts spoke:
"Then I’m free to love you forever." Zhongli said.
Venti flinched and felt his heart pounding harder. Zhongli noticed Venti's heartbeat increase. With a voice drowned by the cry of happiness, the God of Freedom spoke:
"If that's your contract..."
Fin.