[The attempt to wipe away his tears is appreciated, though the gentle correction has Venti swallowing down a noise that might suspiciously have been one of pain. A burning question is on his lips that has even him scared, and he's never been one to shy away from asking before. Perhaps in metaphor, Zhongli has already answered this question, but he wants to hear it plain.
Was their entire friendship dependent on the fact that Venti was the reincarnation of Barbatos?
It's a question he bites back against asking. Partially from fear, but mostly because he doesn't want to address his own pain with that right now. It's already a lot just trying to unpack some of Zhongli's, and he's putting his friend over himself.
Despite his small frame compared to his friend, Venti's able to keep himself surprisingly steady as he holds up Zhongli's weight. With his arms around the brunet's head and shoulders, he sniffs softly and pets his hair. Stars above, this man knows how to break his heart in a million different ways.
He takes a few deep, steadying breaths as he tries to stop the flow of his own tears. After a moment, Venti starts to hum softly. An ancient lullaby that he hasn't given voice to since his parents died. It feels appropriate right now, when Zhongli is at the end of his rope and seeking help, seeking comfort, if only at the basest level.
Who is the wind to deny the tired mountain a chance to finally rest?
So, instead, he hums his lullaby, and then he begins to quietly sing the words to it. A language he hasn't spoken since leaving Wales, yet still he remembers the meaning of the words and how to say them. For Zhongli, he sings because he has truly and fully believed that music has the power to heal the soul since picking up his very first instrument.]
no subject
Was their entire friendship dependent on the fact that Venti was the reincarnation of Barbatos?
It's a question he bites back against asking. Partially from fear, but mostly because he doesn't want to address his own pain with that right now. It's already a lot just trying to unpack some of Zhongli's, and he's putting his friend over himself.
Despite his small frame compared to his friend, Venti's able to keep himself surprisingly steady as he holds up Zhongli's weight. With his arms around the brunet's head and shoulders, he sniffs softly and pets his hair. Stars above, this man knows how to break his heart in a million different ways.
He takes a few deep, steadying breaths as he tries to stop the flow of his own tears. After a moment, Venti starts to hum softly. An ancient lullaby that he hasn't given voice to since his parents died. It feels appropriate right now, when Zhongli is at the end of his rope and seeking help, seeking comfort, if only at the basest level.
Who is the wind to deny the tired mountain a chance to finally rest?
So, instead, he hums his lullaby, and then he begins to quietly sing the words to it. A language he hasn't spoken since leaving Wales, yet still he remembers the meaning of the words and how to say them. For Zhongli, he sings because he has truly and fully believed that music has the power to heal the soul since picking up his very first instrument.]