Work Text:
Venti was Aether’s best friend. Which could simply not be true to most, Aether was the quiet traveler ever so kind to all and Venti was a drunk bard.
It was quite silly how others can paint over other traits far too easily and only ever see one or two.
Running through a field in Mondstadt, Venti and Aether hand in hand as they headed towards the city’s entrance. The two of them just screamed chaos, Aether giggling uncontrollably as Venti rambled off about something dramatically. The guards whisper amongst themselves when they cross the gate and into the city, completely baffled by the appearance of them both and their high energy.
They dash across the streets all the way to the Angel’s Share, accidentally slamming the door open and immediately gaining the attention of everyone inside. Aether at least looks sheepish for it, Venti does not. The bard only drags him in further, completely ignoring Kaeya and Diluc who stare at the two with a baffled look.
“Good afternoon, fellow alcohol lovers!” Venti cheers, making Aether roll his eyes in amusement while Diluc sighs heavily and Kaeya snickers.
“May I ask while you both have decided to intrude?” Diluc questions with a deadpan, crossing his arms and raising an eyebrow.
Aether looks innocently to Diluc, while Venti just looks smug. “Aether has agreed to try alcohol for once!” The bard waves the hand that isn’t holding onto Aether’s rapidly in the air in excitement, as Diluc’s face remains the same and Kaeya’s eyebrows perk up.
“Ohohoho, so the baby faces want some wine, huh?” Kaeya laughs out, “You’re gonna have to prove you’re both adults. Go on.”
Aether sticks his tongue out at the cavalry knight, and Venti slams his small bag of mora on the bar. “Aether is five hundred years old and I’m Barbatos, gimme two dandelion wines-”
“Wh- wait-” Kaeya chokes on his own spit as Diluc sighs tiredly.
“If I serve the both of you, I’d be setting a bad example.” Diluc shakes his head, glancing over to the others in the bar that are now minding their own business again. “...Don’t tell people you’re both gods in public, you’ll make certain people look stupid.”
“Wait-” Kaeya glares over at Diluc, the man does not look his way.
“Aether technically isn’t a god-” Venti starts, but is interrupted by Diluc taking his mora bag, “Hey!”
“Go upstairs, no one is up there at the moment. I’ll come up there shortly.” Diluc waves them off and turns away from them, grabbing two glasses off the shelves.
Venti and Aether share a glance before giggling and tripping over themselves as they run over to the stairs. They push each other playfully and almost fall up the stairs several times.
Diluc has a fond look hidden as he makes one dandelion wine and something Aether wouldn’t dislike.
Alcohol didn’t taste great if it’s your first time having it.
“You’re just gonna- wait, goddamn it I am stupid.” Kaeya brings up a hand and pinches the brim of his nose. “I had my doubts…. And yet it was glaringly obvious.”
“Hm. A bard that looks exactly like the statue of Barbatos appears one day and seems that he knows far too much about Mondstadt already,” Diluc looks over to Kaeya in amusement, “No, not obvious at all.”
“Rude.” Kaeya lets out a long sigh, “What about Aether then? What’s your explanation for that?”
Diluc seems to ponder this for a moment, before shaking his head. “An old soul is easy to see. I suppose it’s only natural to assume…” He doesn’t say anything after that, only finishing the two drinks and walking away from the cavalry knight. It leaves Kaeya to his thoughts, the man frowning down at his small shot glass that was emptied a while ago.
The energy those two carried when they burst in like that…. It reminded him of when he was younger.
When he and Diluc were younger.
His head perks up when he hears Venti’s cheer, which is shushed quickly by Diluc. Amusement flickers through him and he lets out a laugh, perhaps one day…
He’d share a laugh with his brother again.
….
When Aether is presented with the milkshake, he at first pouts. But then Venti lets out a cheer, saying something about how Diluc actually made him something with alcohol and his eyes widened. He hesitates at first, but when Venti basically chugs his dandelion wine his energy spikes back up and he takes a sip from the milkshake.
It was… Really good. Aether brightens, giving Diluc a large smile that makes the red head nod once fondly. “I thought you’d like something that didn’t taste of alcohol, especially for your first time.”
The blonde nods at that, still smiling and taking another sip from his milkshake. He taps his hands against the table happily, not even paying attention to Venti who holds up an empty glass to Diluc with a pleading look and getting utterly denied.
Aether turns out to be an extreme lightweight, and just a drunk that looks at the world with wide eyes and utter fascination. Venti, sadly not able to get drunk with one drink, still finds his entertainment in picking up a salt shaker and showing it to Aether. Then Aether taking it in his hands and looking at it as if it held the world’s answers.
Venti ends up having to carry Aether out of the bar, the blonde on his back giggling the entire time and Diluc shouting after them to not do anything stupid.
No promises, Venti thinks with a gremlin of a laugh. He takes Aether towards his statue, using Anemo in order to get up and onto the cupped hands of it. He keeps an arm around Aether’s waist as to make sure the drunken traveler wouldn’t fall as they sit down with their legs dangling off the edge.
Aether’s expression is quite silly, Venti thinks with a giggle. He looked utterly amazed.
“I’m still surprised I managed to convince you to drink with me, even though I didn’t get more than one glass.. At least you’re a lightweight! So lucky.” Venti laughs out fondly, “If I could get drunk off of one cup, I’d never have to plead with Diluc for more!”
Aether blinks at Venti, eyes still wide as if he was actively listening though he just seems fascinated by the fact that Venti is talking. It makes the bard snort and pat the blonde on the head. “Hm, although you certainly aren’t as loud as I am. What can I do to get you to share my energy, eh?” His head pat turns into a hair ruffle, making Aether whine but not push away the hand. “Maybe next time we try coffee instead. Extra caffeine and a dash of alcohol! Yes, perfect!” He sighs dreamily at the thought, but everyone in Mondstadt shudders randomly as if the bard’s thought spread to all of them.
Yeah, that would be an awful mix.
“Ah… But right now it doesn’t matter. Your presence is all I need right now, whenever I’m with you- it feels like anything is possible.”
When Aether puts his head on Venti’s shoulder at that, Venti only laughs and leans his head onto Aether’s.
Oh, the feeling of freedom shared with another. What a wonderful feeling.