CG!Diluc and Little!Venti
(venti getting overwhelmed in angel's share, and dadluc coming to the bard's aid.)
-aka a small draft I cooked up because I couldn't sleep.
Venti was never really one to be...quiet. it was an odd sight to see at the main bar of Angel's Share - Venti being completely silent. Usually he was up and about, yelling at other patrons across the bar, or playing his ballads, which would undoubtedly gain him a crowd and a half. A crowd for the fellow in green meant simply one thing:
The bard would ask for payment in glasses of wine and only the richest apples, which he would snack on during his breaks.
But not tonight. For the entire night was his break.
Diluc finished serving a table, glancing at the other, who was slumped over his barside, quiet as a mouse. Not a single glass has been by his side all night, and he'd gotten to the tavern half an hour ago. Usually, not ordering or drinking anything would give Diluc the right to kick him out, but he could tell something was wrong.
"Venti." He simply said. "Are you okay?"
The bard in question forces a smile on his face, looking up at the man. "Why, of course." His voice is dead, long gone from this realm. Usually, he's cheery, but it was probably a facade.
He simply nods, ordering apple juice, to his suprise.
Hours pass, and he seems to get worse. More patrons leave, and as the night progresses and more alcohol finally hits people's bodies, it gets louder. People start to yell, and there's a fight or two between people that doesn't escalate much, but Venti can see blood.
With the sight of the crimson dripping onto the wooden floorboards of the tavern, he leaves. It wasn't a lot, most likely sourced from a nosebleed, but he's seen enough blood in his lifetime. The door clicks behind him, and not a single patrons notices.
When Venti's able to calm down, he slips to the side of the building, and silently cries. It doesn't take Diluc two minutes to follow the sound, and find the other.
"Luc..." He coughs out. Diluc slips himself next to him, and he can't help but feel worry and concern course through his mind.
"I'm here, kiddo." He says. The 'kiddo' part wasn't really intentional, as he had cared for Kaeya a few days ago, and his brain was probably still in 'Caregiver' mode. Curses. "How do you feel, Venti?"
He sniffles, hardly able to get words out. "Fuzzy....an'...an' I wan' it to go away. But it won't...". He manages. "Am I dyin', Diluc?"
Diluc shakes his head. "You're not dying. Did the blood upset you?" Seemingly, he's attempting to change the subject.
"mhm." Venti nods, wiping his eyes on his sleeve. "I saw a lot of blood in th' Archon War. Blood is scary."
Diluc nods, offering his hand to the other. "I understand. War is scary, kiddo. You're so brave for going through that." Diluc is simply just testing the waters. He knows that Venti is the Anemo Archon, and that he's lived through almost 3000 years. He's sure to have seen things which have left him unsettled and traumatized no doubt.
Something that a mortal like him can hardly comprehend. But still, he tried to help.
"mhm. Had to hurt people, but I didn't wanna-" Venti choked out, curling up into Diluc's side in order to not burst out crying in the middle of the street.
"You said you felt fuzzy earlier, yes?"
Venti nods. "it happens sometimes, an' I don't know why. My brain just goes all..weird."
"and how do you make it stop, Venti? Have you found a way?'
He nods. "Sometimes I just get blankets and wrap them 'round myself. Sometimes it just goes away after a bit."
"you could be experiencing age regression, Venti."
The bard falls into silence once more. "What's that? Is it good...?"
"it depends how you look at it. It's when you feel like a kid again, and do kid things. There's a few things it's linked to, such as stress or PTSD." Judging by the fact that Venti's an archon, not to mention an old archon at that, he suggests that Venti has some form of PTSD, or maybe even some sort of survivor's guilt. But, he puts that aside and carries on for now. "Sometimes people can feel mentally young, and they do activities like that. They use items like pacifiers, teethers, bottles, you know?"
Venti shakes his head. "Never been a kid. You're just sayin' words."
Diluc chuckles, realising that he's right. "You're right. Just...try sucking on your thumb, it might help with your thoughts."
Venti nods, doing just that. He finds himself cooing and chirping at the feeling,
"you can chirp?" Diluc questions.
"ah, okay. Do you want to go back to your place tonight, or do you want-"
Diluc cuts himself off, as he feels Venti crawling into his lap. "No leaving me."
With a chuckle once more, he scoops the other up with an exaggerated grunt, resting the younger against his chest. "To the winery, I suppose."
Diluc trusts that Venti won't sneak to the basement and get himself intoxicated beyond relief, as he's probably very deep in his headspace, judging by the fact that his thumb hasn't left his mouth, and every single shiny thing under the night's sky seems to catch his attention.
Venti eventually settled into his shoulder, putting like a cat as he dozes off. Diluc lets him, making sure they he is safe and content before walking to the winery. He's sure to get the other fed and clothes, perhaps with a stuffed animal, too.
The thought of the bard being homeless passes his mind, but decides to leave that until Venti is much...bigger in headspace.
