Archive of Our Own

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A Genshin Impact Fanfiction

Deja Vu

By: Knowlee Raven

~~

His braids moved with the breeze he’d conjured, the air playing with them, making them move to and fro, the stray hairs tickling his ears, making him bring up one of his hands to scratch the itch they caused with their touch. At the same time he did this, his eyes opened up to look down onto the plaza below, seeing the people as they moved about their business. Some were eating at restaurants, others taking care of errands and then there were those who stood near the statue he sat upon, worshiping his image.

He smiled, glad that his children were enjoying the life he’d been able to give them. It was moments like this that made him proud to be an Archon or at the very least a god who could protect his people. If he could have this with no connection to Celestia, he’d take it. Though he would still wish his friend was by his side in that case. His smile fell a bit at that reminder. Even more so when knowing what today even was.

But…he would try his best not to dwell on it. Ever since he had laid his past with him bare to the Traveler Lumine, she’d been helping him to move on and go through the stages of grief finally after all these years.

It had taken some time, but it was a work in progress. Would he ever get to a point where he would be okay with it? That answer he wasn’t sure of. But…just as he learned recently it was okay to take baby steps and not have it done all at once. Lumine had even said she was learning too herself.

Well, well…speak of the angel…

His full smile returned upon seeing the sight of Lumine walking into the plaza, Paimon trailing behind her the two lost in what looked to be a deep discussion. A part of him wanted to use his Anemo powers to spy on what it was they were talking about, but at the last minute he decided against it. He needed to give them some privacy after all. He didn’t need to be privy to everyone’s conversations.

He waited a few minutes trying to see if their little talk was about to end when he saw Lumine turn her head up in his direction. In that moment it seemed as if her eyes lit up and a big smile blossomed on her face. The sight made his heart skip a beat. “Venti!”

Grinning even wider at her calling his name, Venti launched himself from his perch, using her Anemo powers to slow his descent until he landed right in front of her. Seeing her up close made his chest warm even more when he realized how beautiful she was. He didn’t think he’d ever tire of the sight. “Hello, Lumine! What brings you to these parts on this fine morning?”

Venti didn’t know how, but her smile seemed to make the world look a bit brighter even though it was already noon at this point. “Hey, Venti! Are you able to join me for a few commissions today?”

A laugh escaped his lips as his excitement built. “Out of everyone you could ask, I’m flattered you came to me. Though I do have something planned for this evening, I can spare some time to help you out with your commissions.”

“Oh? You have something planned?” Bringing her arms behind her back, Lumine tilted her head, curious. “What is that if you don’t mind me asking?”

Looking rather pleased with himself, Venti was quick to respond. "Why, I'm going to the tavern at Angel’s Share of course! For as special a day as this is, surely one must celebrate!"

For a brief moment, Lumine looked lost in thought before a look of realization appeared. "Ah, that's right! Today's your birthday, isn't it?"

Venti nodded, his smile growing wide. "Hehe, yep!"

"I knew it was getting close but apparently I lost track of time dealing with the preparations for Sumeru. Sorry about that!" Rubbing her arm, she looked away, embarrassed at the admission. "Also, Happy Birthday, Venti!"

He shook his head. There was no need for her to feel so down. "Don't worry about it. You've got a lot on your plate. It's understandable that things would slip by you. Also thanks for the birthday wishes. I appreciate it."

Her eyes tentatively reached his for a moment before darting away only to return seconds later, her expression still showing her embarrassment. “Still…I should try to do better. Plus considering it’s your birthday, perhaps we should do something you want to do today. I can go a day without commissions.”

For a second there it looked as if her floating companion had given her a look until it suddenly disappeared off his face. Hmm…curious. What was that all about? “While I admit it does seem tempting to go to the tavern early, it’s best to wait until evening when things are more lively at that time. And besides, I’d much rather do your commissions with you. Spending time with you is the thing I want the most on my birthday anyway.”

While it was hard to tell with the sunlight beaming down, Venti was taken back a bit. Was that…a blush on her face? Hmm…maybe he was seeing things.

“...Really? Well then… Do you still want to do the commissions?” She tucked some of her hair behind her ear, the action making his chest grow warm again. “You’re still free to do something else too.”

Venti smiled, removing his hand from his shoulder to hold out to his side, waving it in a dismissive motion. “Like I said, it's no problem. I want to do it because it’s something to do with you. It’s nothing less than that.”

She smiled. “Well then in that case… shall we go?”

~~

A few seconds after shooting his arrow, the hilichurl disintegrated into dust. He frowned, sending up a bit of his power to ensure its spirit would be at peace. While he never did like having to take out these beings, especially knowing their history and understanding their language as they spoke their last, he knew he had no choice but to defend himself and others from them when they made their move. Perhaps in the future that would change and they’d obtain the freedom they so desired. 

Inwardly he chuckled at the connection. As the god of freedom he unfortunately couldn’t help them as he was bound to certain rules and regulations from those above. But…another part of, a small part mind you, could.

Opening his eyes from his display of reverence towards the fallen being, Venti turned to see how Lumine was doing. It didn’t take him long to find her, the sight of her taking down a mitachurl twice her size before it fell into darkness being the sight he was greeted with. The image of her looking like a battle worn warrior made him blush.

Oh, be still his heart…

“Lumine! Are you okay?” Pushing down his feelings, Venti put his full focus on her and away from his fuzzy emotions.

Her gaze shifted from a stern glare into a more relaxed one as she let her sword disappear before turning to him, a smile on her face. “I’m fine, Venti. Thanks for asking!”

Some of the tension in his shoulders went away at her words and it was then the sheer cold from their surroundings hit him hard, making him shiver. Oh, Archons, that was cold! Apparently the action he did, caught Lumine’s eye making the concern he previously placed on her now be reversed onto him. “Venti? You okay?”

He nodded though it didn’t help that his teeth had decided to start clacking together at that moment. “I’m good. Though admittedly I’ll be better once we hide those flowers and get out of here.”

Frowning at his display, Lumine moved quickly to do just that. She pulled the snow back from the spot Flora had requested until it was deep enough to put the container that held the flowers inside before returning the frozen liquid. With the deed done, she turned back to the bard, her pout deepening at his action of trying to wrap his cape tighter around his body. She walked over to him grasping his hand tight before tugging him along to the waypoint. "C'mon let's get you back to Mondstadt. Can't let you freeze to death up here."

He chuckled a bit though it came out more as a huff due to the circumstances. "I'm surprised you're not freezing too. Especially considering you have less clothes than me!"

It only took a few more steps before the waypoint appeared in front of them. Immediately Lumine reached out to touch it and Venti felt the warmth from it start to seep into his bones. Ah…that felt much better… Lumine laughed. "Maybe it's just because I'm used to it. Either way we're done here so let's go ahead and get back. Flora's waiting on us."

It only took a moment for Lumine to focus on their destination before they disappeared in sparks of light, leaving the nestled flowers behind.

~~

Immediately Venti felt instant relief upon feeling the warmer air hit him, enveloping his body like a blanket. He sighed, glad to finally no longer be shivering. That felt so much better.

The sound of a giggle came to his ear making him turn to see Lumine with an amused grin. “Does it feel that good?”

He laughed, his hand squeezing hers. “Of course it does! Why else do you think I’d blow it all away millennia ago?”

Shaking her head, she could do nothing but laugh more. “I can see why. Maybe next time you go up there you should dress more accordingly instead of wearing your normal attire.”

"You're one to talk." He waved his hand to her outfit emphasizing how much more exposed her skin was when compared to him. "Perhaps you should do the same next time you go up there. You getting sick is the last thing you need."

Shaking her head, she disentangled her hand from his making him feel a bit disappointed by the loss of contact. "Maybe I'll take you up on that advice. Though that does also mean you need to do the same."

He nodded giving her his trademark smile. "Of course! But that would mean I would need to play a bit to get the mora needed. Clothes and the fabric used to make them certainly don't come cheap."

"That's for sure." At that the two started walking away from where they'd teleported in and started heading towards Angel’s Share. Silence fell between them as they continued their walk, although neither wanted to interrupt. With all the chaos in their respective lives this quietness made these moments a respite.

Their footsteps padded up the last flight of stairs they needed to take, the tavern in question finally coming into view. Venti couldn't help but smile. Finally he could get ahold of the Dandelion Wine he'd been looking forward to all day.

Making his way over to the door, Venti immediately spoke up, a question on his lips. "Wanna join me this fine evening, Lumine?"

While he could see that she really did, he also noticed her eyes darting away looking down one of the side streets nearest the tavern. He followed her line of sight, nothing immediately catching his eye. What was she looking for? 

Luckily he didn’t have to wait too long for an answer. "I will here in a moment. I just need to tell Flora that we got her commission done and then get the rewards from Katheryne before she heads home for the night."

Oh, well that made sense. "Ah, I gotcha. Well then I'll see you in a bit. I'll save you a seat!"

Oh, her smile was beautiful! "Thank you, Venti! I won't take that long I promise! Go ahead and head on inside."

Giving him a wave, she spun on her heel about to run before stopping and speaking again. Her words combined with the smirk she wore instantly made his eyebrows raise. "Again happy birthday, Venti! And also, don't get too surprised by what you'll see there."

Then she took off.

Well, if he wasn't concerned before, he was now. What the heck did that mean?

His eyes looked at the doorknob, a mini debate going on in his head about just leaving the tavern tonight and just going to Windrise and fall asleep. But…something told him that based on her tone it seemed like she really wanted him to go. Well, now with that in mind, he couldn't disappoint her. 

He turned the knob walking inside only to see…nothing. Why the heck was it so dark in here? Did Diluc forget to light the candles? He usually was on top of that, so then why…?

It took a few seconds but eventually a few tiny lights blinked into existence. What the-? Where did those come from? Did he miss some candles? Though if so why did he not see them during his first look through?

Before Venti had a chance to study it further and see if there was something he was missing, the rest of the candles that were splayed across the room suddenly lit, washing the small area in light and revealing familiar friends and figures from all across Mondstadt.

And while that itself was enough to surprise him, it was what happened next that took it to another level. “Happy Birthday, Venti!”

He was speechless. His mind was racing, mainly with thoughts of wondering how the hell they managed to hide themselves from the Anemo Archon of all people. Surely the winds would’ve told him something was up. Unless perhaps they decided to play tricks on him today and keep him none the wiser. They did have the tendency to do that.

Another thing his mind was honed in on was why they had done such a thing for him. Sure some of them amongst the crowd such as Jean and Diluc knew of him being their patron deity and even more people in the group just knew him as someone who helped quell the Stormterror crisis alongside the Honorary Knight and as one of Mondstadt’s most famous bards. Hell, he was even seen by Diluc as being a nuisance at times due to his drinking habits, but even so, why? And better yet, how did they find out?

In the previous instances he happened to be awake and going about his business in the city if the aforementioned date came around, he just kept it to himself, dealing with it the best way he knew how, drinking and reminiscing about the days he spent with his old friend. He treated it as just another day, content to let it stay in the background and not overtake anyone else’s attention.

But after meeting Lumine last year and her being determined to make it a bigger deal than he had been doing previously, even more so after he had done the same for hers, it changed his perspective on it a bit.

Even so, he still didn’t tell anyone else other than her and mayhaps Paimon by proxy. So how did they…? Wait… Did she tell them? If so, that would explain it. “Is…is this all for me? You guys honestly shouldn’t have. I’m not one to make a huge deal out of it, so I don’t need all this. But still I do thank you.”

With a smile on her face, Jean walked forward a few steps, hand on her chest as she spoke. “Nonsense, you do deserve this. Don’t think otherwise. While our time spent with you can get a bit…crazy at times, you are someone we look forward to seeing.”

A small chuckle resounded next to her making them all turn to look and see who it was. And it didn’t take long to see it was the Cavalry Captain himself. As he laughed, the bottle of wine held in his hands, one of Angel’s Share’s finest wines Venti noted, moved as the man spoke his piece. “While it may be hard to believe, what the Acting Grand Master said is certainly words of truth. Plus any reason to celebrate with alcohol is a good occasion in my book.”

“Kaeya!” Hands on her hips, Amber was quick to scold her coworker. However instead of making the man get embarrassed and apologize, it did the exact opposite.

“What? I’m just being honest! Surely our bard friend would appreciate that despite the reason we’re gathered here.” Kaeya’s grin widened, his hand holding out the bottle towards the person in question.

Venti smiled. Well…he wasn’t wrong. Taking hold of the wine, his eyes began searching for a glass. “Ehe, he does have a good point. And although I do still think this day isn’t that big of a deal, I do appreciate the effort you’ve all put into this and I’m thankful you all think of me in this way.”

A well of emotion balled up inside him, his heart thoroughly touched that there were those who thought highly of him despite his lazy ways. Truly he didn’t deserve this praise.

And while he was trying his best not to cry in front of his friends, (Was that the right word for it? Yes, he would think so.) Diluc, whether knowing or not, helped put an end to it. “Humph, even with all those words, we all know you’re going to drink yourself silly until you either pass out or do something ridiculous because of it. Either way, let’s go ahead and get this party over with so we don’t have to keep wondering.”

The deadpan expression that Diluc held on his face made his words even more hilarious than he was sure the man intended, sending Venti into a small fit of laughter. And although it took a few moments, eventually the bard was able to compose himself, though not without wiping away a few tears. “Master Diluc, forgive me, but the look on your face was very funny.”

Venti had to fight his subsequent laughter down from seeing the expression being prolonged though this time it shifted into a bit of exasperation, no doubt it being towards him. “Hehe, well, with that out of the way, let’s go ahead and get this party started!”

A few excited cheers broke out and a few members of the party started digging into the food and wine while Diluc walked over to the bar to play one part of the babysitting committee. Venti’s smile widened as he began to walk over to join the rowdy crew, though he did stop to look back towards the door, hoping that Lumine would come through at any moment. Surely she wouldn’t miss something like this, especially not when going by the cryptic words she spoke before they parted made it seemed that she had something to do with it.

He sighed, turning back to the group and walking forward. Hopefully she’ll wrap up what she was doing with Katheryne soon and make her way over. His birthday party wouldn’t be a celebration without her there to enjoy it alongside him.

~~

While he knew it had only been minutes since he entered the tavern, to him it felt like hours though he was certain it was just the anxiety talking. But even with that awareness, he couldn't get it to go away no matter what he did. And he had a feeling he knew the reason why.

His eyes moved from the glass of wine, untouched might he add, to the door which hadn't opened not a single time since the party had begun over nearly half an hour ago. And while normally that would be a good thing for a private party for this instant it made his nerves rise.

Where was Lumine?

Frowning, he tried to take his focus off that and to the ongoing party instead, but he just…couldn't. Not only because she was his friend (perhaps even something more if he were honest) but she also said she was coming here before they parted. And if his memory served him correctly, it didn't take this long to get the things that she earned from her commissions. So what was keeping her then?

…perhaps she was trying to get him a last minute gift? That could be a possibility, though that was slim. There weren't any shops open this late at night that he knew of. Unless she decided to whisk herself away to her teapot to get something there or teleport to another region there wasn't anyway that could be why she wasn't present.

So what was going on?

His eyes moved back to his drink, his brain contemplating on whether or not to sip some, when, after sighing, he decided to go for it. Perhaps he was worrying too much and Lumine was just fine. In fact he was sure she was on her way right now.

Suddenly the door creaked open, the noise instantly pulling Venti's attention towards it, his earlier frown going up into a grin. Well, it looked like the universe had shown him. He was worried over nothing. Lumine had now arrived.

Pulling himself off his seat, he started to make his way over, ready to chide her for her lateness when he was brought to a halt when Paimon entered the door, a frantic expression on her face.

Oh…oh no… His stomach dropped.

Restarting his steps, he began to make his way over to the floating fairy, the tone in his voice doing little to hide his nervousness. Why was she scared? Where was Lumine? "Paimon, what's wrong? Is Lumine done picking up her commission rewards?"

In an instant her eyes jerked towards him, her body flying over to him as her hands reached out to grasp his bow tightly, Venti noticing slightly that they were shaking. Nausea overtook him. She wasn't just scared, she was terrified. "Venti! You have to come quick! Lumine was coming back from going to her teapot to get you a gift and head here when she was attacked! She told me to go get help, but I don't know how long she can handle it!"

Dead silence hit the tavern. Everyone who had been there to celebrate suddenly tuned into Paimon's words, their emotions no doubt echoing the worry and anger that was filling Venti at the moment. Who had the guts to attack her? Especially in such a place as this where she had friends in high places. Venti's next words came out very pointedly as he was trying his best to reign himself in. "Where is she?"

~~

Shimmering stars trailed behind Paimon as she moved as fast as she could, trying her best to lead the small group following behind her to where her best friend was last seen. With every inch she made forward, she prayed to whoever was listening that she’d be okay and that they weren’t too late.

For those following behind her, their thoughts echoed the same, but with a slight difference. Not only were they worried about her, but they were also going to make absolutely sure whoever dared to harm their beloved friend would rue the day they made that decision.

What felt like eternity eventually came to a close when they finally reached the spot where Lumine was last seen. Paimon pointed her finger down a small area located between two houses showing that she indeed had been on her way to the tavern, but just as her friend had said, her journey was brought to a halt. “Here! It was here! Lumine!”

Immediately they all headed down the narrow alleyway, their weapons appearing in their hands ready to be used at a moment’s notice. But as they drew deeper into the area, it became more and more apparent that something…wasn’t right. The pit in Venti’s stomach grew deeper as he tightened his hold on his bow. Please…let his anxieties be wrong… He wouldn't know what to do if they were right.

The group slowly made their way down the narrow passage, all keeping their eyes peeled for the Traveler. Just where was she? Did Paimon get her location right? Or maybe…Lumine had been captured?

He shook his head. No, no, she was far too strong for that.

Deciding to use his Anemo powers to reach out and hear if Lumine was hiding nearby, Venti had only started to gather the winds to his whim, when a sudden gasp and scream caught his attention, pulling him away from his attempt. Instantly, he moved forward, the others following in his wake, going to where Paimon was at on the ground, her little knees on the ground, her hands reaching forward hesitating to grab hold of whatever it was she wanted to touch. And was that…tears in her eyes?

Confusion hit him, making him wonder why she had such an expression when the sudden smell of blood hit his nostrils. His stomach roiled. No…she wasn’t…

The color of white came into his line of sight, then yellow mixed with red. His heart stopped. The wind told him all he needed to know.

Lumine was gone.

Tears welled up in his eyes, making it difficult to see what else was going on, but from what he could hear, the others reacted the same as he and Paimon upon seeing the scene and when Diluc and Kaeya moved forward to check on her, although he knew the truth, hearing it confirmed by their words, sent him into hysterics.

No, no, she can’t- she wasn’t! This was all just a dream! It wasn’t real! …right?

His mind filled with the memories they last shared. The commissions they did, the moment they separated with him going to the tavern and she to the guild. Why the hell didn’t he stay? He should’ve made sure to wait for her! Sure, she may have been wanting to give him a gift and keep it a secret, but her safety and her life was more important than that!

And now…there was nothing he could do to change it. She was gone. Never again would he hear her laugh, see her eyes light up at hearing his songs he composed for her, nor hear her exasperation in her voice when dealing with his antics.

And then…there was the fact that he didn’t even have the chance to tell her of his feelings he held towards her. And…she never got to see her brother again. He could only imagine how he’d feel at the news.

Falling to his knees, tears streaking down his face, his heart broke into pieces. If only he could’ve stopped this. If only he could’ve done things differently, kept her from making the decision that ended her life. Perhaps they’d be at the tavern now celebrating instead of now mourning her end.

He’d give anything to get her back. To have her alive and well. But…even with all the power at his disposal, he was nothing but a mere wisp, a branch, a weak god. Even with the tricks and his connections he knew this wasn’t something he could pull off. At least not on his own.

Please…please let her come back. People need her, her brother needs her, I…need her. Don’t…let this be the end of her story. Please…

Curling up into a ball, he felt the wind brush against his face. It was warm and light. Almost as if it were comforting him, but no amount of gentle gestures could put a balm over this pain…

Please…

~~

“...as you wish… tempus retro…”

“...orter supmet …hsiw uoy sa…”

~~

His braids moved with the breeze he’d conjured, the air playing with them, making them move to and fro, the stray hairs tickling his ears, making him bring up one of his hands to scratch the itch they caused with their touch. At the same time he did this, his eyes opened up to look down onto the plaza below, seeing the people as they moved about their business. Watching them do their rounds, a strange emotion overtook him, making him feel…weird.

…Why did all this feel oddly…familiar?

He frowned, his eyes continuing to look around trying to find whatever it was throwing him off, but…there wasn’t anything that stood out. So then why…?

“Venti!” Immediately his head jerked downward pulling him out of his wonderings. It only took a couple of seconds, but eventually his eyes met those of Lumine's, her eyes gleaming upon seeing him. The sight made him smile.

Without any hesitation, he dropped from his perch, Anemo helping to cushion his fall until he landed on the ground in front of her. Her giggles at his antics only served to make his heart stammer, making him take an extra second to calm his beating heart before responding. “Hello, Lumine! What brings you to these parts on this fine morning?”

…Ah, there was that feeling again. It was unnerving to say the least. Where was it coming from? Once again he started to go down the rabbit hole he was in earlier, before her voice gently pulled him back. “Hey, Venti! Are you able to join me for a few commissions today?”

His smile fell. That feeling from before returned, growing every second. Why did he feel like he had this conversation already before? Sure, he’d had moments before where situations felt similar, but this? This was beyond anything he’d ever experienced. It felt akin to… what was that word they used in Fontaine? Ah, yes, deja vu. That’s what this felt like.

While it could be chalked up to just a coincidence, he’d lived long enough to recognize when it was or wasn’t. And this definitely felt like the latter. And that in itself made him almost immediately on edge.

“...Venti? Are you alright?” Jumping a bit upon feeling a hand touch his arm, he turned to see Lumine looking at him with concern. Oh, crap…how long had he been distracted for? He had to reassure her quick.

“Ah, sorry about that! I was just lost in thought. Although…” Bringing a hand to his chin, Venti debated. Should he ask her? While she may just brush his concerns off, she was also one if not the only one he'd trust right now to ask. Plus he needed to know if it was just him, or if it was something bigger. “Weird question, but ah… Have you felt something strange about today?”

Tilting her head, he could see she was confused. “Strange? Like how exactly?”

Waving around to the area surrounding him, Venti hoped he could properly explain what he was feeling. “Well, it’s like, to put it simply, it feels like you've already experienced something before. Almost as if you're repeating it. Like it’s familiar if that makes sense.”

Lumine’s expression turned contemplative, the fact she was taking his words so seriously was reassuring for his anxieties. “It just feels like a regular day to me. Are you feeling that way?”

He frowned, concerned. Maybe it was just him, but still for some reason he didn’t want to instantly dismiss it. Perhaps he’d keep a lookout for now just in case something suspicious popped up, but until then he should just focus on enjoying the day. It was a special occasion after all. “Yeah, it’s weird, though it could be just because we’ve met like this before and I’m remembering it funny. Either way, it’s more than likely nothing.”

Narrowing her eyes and looking him over, the concern she held before returned. “...Are you sure? We could look more into it if you want.”

He shook his head giving her a smile as extra reassurance. No need to put energy towards something that probably was just his imagination. “It’s alright. If it was something serious I’d let you know. Promise! So…you said something about commissions earlier?”

Still, even with his enthusiastic performance he could see her hesitate. However eventually she sighed, relenting. “...Yes, I did. I understand it’s last minute, so if you have plans I won’t hold it against you, but if you can come, I’d appreciate it.”

He smiled, trying to push his focus away from the nagging feeling at the back of his brain. “Sure I have no problem with that. Though I do have some plans later on this evening, I can spare you some time beforehand.”

“Plans? What kind of plans?” Was he mistaken or did that sound like a hint of…nervousness? But…why was she nervous? Now he was confused. As well as a bit concerned.

Still, he probably shouldn’t make too big of a deal of it. There probably was a perfectly good explanation after all. “Ah, nothing much. Just wanting to celebrate a bit since it is a special occasion after all!”

Realization came over her face erasing her previous unease. Hmm…maybe she just didn’t want to ruin his plans. That could explain it. “Oh! That’s right, it’s your birthday! I knew there was something important about this day, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. That’s my fault for not paying more attention.”

He quickly waved it off. No need for her to get that upset. “It’s alright. It’s a day that only comes once a year after all. Plus with your busy schedule it’s perfectly understandable why it’d slip your mind. It’s fine so don’t worry too much about it.”

She rubbed her arm, a tell of her embarrassment. “Still, I should’ve remembered. …Are you sure you still want to do commissions with me? We could do something else.”

He shook his head, taking his arm to loop around one of hers to begin making their way to the flight of stairs nearby. “Hehe, my dear Lumine, spending time with you would certainly make my day today. No need to do anything else.”

~~

"So…what's the last commission again?" Throwing his hands above his head in a stretch he looked to Lumine as she looked down at the piece of paper Katheryne had given her at the start of their journey. Already two lines had been crossed out, Lumine in the process of doing the same to the third leaving only one remaining.

Her face turned pensive before she answered his question. "We need to go see Flora about some flowers. While it doesn't go into too much detail it does say something about Dragonspine."

Instantly Venti shuddered. Automatically he knew he wasn't gonna like this one. It almost made him want to go help her with Inazuma's commissions again more specifically the ones for the cat island. Keyword being almost. "Ah, of course… well I guess let's go ahead and see what she wants. Hopefully it isn't too bad seeing as Dragonspine is not a place I like to be, but if it's for a commission it's a worthy sacrifice to make."

In the corner of his eye, Lumine gave him a look, one that looked…torn. What was she thinking? Pocketing the paper, she spoke before he had a chance to speak. “You don’t have to go if you don’t want to, Venti. Paimon and I can take care of this last one. We can meet up with you afterwards.”

Although a rejection was at the tip of his tongue it wasn’t just that made him immediately come up with that answer. A pit had formed at the base of his stomach. One that made him feel both nauseous and on guard at the same time.

It was a feeling he knew intimately.

While it didn’t come around often, however when it did, it usually meant that something very bad was about to happen. But as far as the reason behind it coming around this time, he didn’t know. Though he did have an inkling. That being Lumine was involved. Which meant he couldn’t let her out of his sight.

Shaking his head, he plastered a smile on his face despite his heightened nerves. And just like all those other times before, he was going to heed the warning. “As I told you, I want to spend time with you today. Regardless of the cold, I’ll be with you every step of the way.”

It was there for one moment before disappearing, but was that a…blush Lumine had that appeared on her face? He smirked, the glee he felt at seeing it making his anxiety disappear momentarily. She coughed, perhaps trying her best to hide her reaction. “Oh, okay. If you insist.”

Laughing, his eyes caught sight of the person they were heading to meet. “Indeed I do. Hehe! You're stuck with me for the time being so there’s no getting rid of me that easily.”

Pushing against his shoulder in jest, Venti only laughed more, causing her blush to reappear. Oh, she was so easy to tease!

Hearing the commotion, Flora turned to the couple, giving them a big smile and a wave. “Traveler! Sir Bard! It’s nice to see you! Are you here to buy some flowers?”

Lumine waved back, smiling. “Hello, Flora! Actually we’re here because of the commission you put up at the Guild. Something about flowers and Dragonspine?”

The girl clasped her hands together, surprised yet gleeful. “Oh! Yes, that one! Well, I was wondering if you could help me with something. Sara from Good Hunter said they put unused ingredients in a cool place or used ice to keep them fresh and to be used later. I was thinking of doing something like this with flowers, but when I use ice blocks they always end up looking weird…”

“Weird? How so?” Venti couldn’t help but be curious. He’d heard of the same method being used at Angel’s Share for wine to be kept for a while, so to hear it could be used for other means as well was fascinating.

“Well, it’s almost like they’ve withered, but not quite. Essentially I wouldn’t call them fresh anymore either and they’re no longer presentable to sell. Thus leading them to be a waste.” Crossing her arms, Lumine took on a serious expression. Her mind was certainly focused on solving the problem.

“It seems like it’d be best to sell them all on the same day then.” The girl nodded agreeing with her observation.

“That would be best. But there are always one or two flowers that don’t get sold. I know it’s only a small amount, but I don’t want to just let them wither away…” The girl continued to speak, explaining her problem more in detail, and while he tried his best to keep his focus, Venti couldn’t help but start to tune out the conversation as the feeling of familiarity pulled his attention more.

Just where was it coming from? Why did all of what he’d seen so far express that feeling? Hmmm…it felt like he almost knew exactly what the problem was, but somehow he wasn’t able to quite put his finger on it.

As he continued to contemplate, a strange noise sounded off behind him, something so slight and unnoticeable to everyone save for him due to his closeness with Anemo. It pulled his focus on it instead, making him whirl the winds to get them to see what the source was. And from what he could initially tell, it wasn’t too far from where he and Lumine stood.

Discreetly he tried his best to look around, Venti hoping to see if he could get a visual, but by the time he managed to move, whatever it was that had made it was no longer in sight. He frowned, reaching out to the air again to try and catch a lead when a hand gently tugged on his arm, once again, redirecting his focus. “Venti?”

He blinked, turning his attention to the woman standing next to him, the concern she had earlier back showing on her face. He was quick to put on a smile. “What’s up, Lumi? Did you get the commission information from Flora?”

She gave him a lookover, her concern never leaving. He could see the question in her eyes, but despite it, she kept it quiet, opting instead to answer his own. “Yes, she gave me what we needed, flowers included.”

He quirked a brow. “Flowers?”

Inclining to her arm, she showed the aforementioned items being held close to her body. Oh , that’s what she was talking about. “Flora wants us to put these flowers in different locations on Dragonspine. Then after a certain amount of time has passed we’ll be called back to see their progress and bring them back.”

“Oh, I see!” Although inwardly he was dreading experiencing the cold, if it was time spent with Lumine, he’d withstand it. Turning to face her, he waved his hand towards the general direction the peak lay, a smile on his face. “Well then, shall we go?”

Returning his smile, she nodded, putting the flowers away in her inventory before walking with him toward the city’s exit. As they walked underneath the arch, they began a conversation, Venti simultaneously began listening to what she was saying while also trying to figure out just what the hell it was he’d heard moments before.

~~

Venti sighed a breath of relief upon feeling Mondstadt’s much, much warmer climate hit his form. While he loved all parts of his country, Dragonspine was admittedly the part he wanted to travel the least. It’s cold weather being a huge factor in that reasoning. “Ah, that’s much better!”

A giggle came from Lumine’s direction, pulling him away from his current train of thought. “Does it feel that good?”

Again, that familiarity resurfaced. Still, he opted to keep it hidden and not tell her what he was thinking. “Of course it does! Why else do you think I’d blow it all away millennia ago?”

She laughed again, shaking her head. “I can see why. Maybe next time you go up there you should dress more accordingly instead of wearing your normal attire.”

He shook his head, letting the wind around him search out for anything else out of the ordinary as he responded to her statement. If something was going on, he definitely didn’t need to let whatever it was know that he was onto it. “You’re one to talk. Perhaps you should do the same next time. You getting sick is the last thing you need.”

She shook her head, disentangling her hand from his, bringing about the feel of disappointment at the loss of contact. “Maybe I’ll take you up on that advice. Though that does also mean you need to do the same.”

How he managed to keep the smile on his face he’ll never know as the pervading feeling from before continued to linger. His senses heightened even more as the wind still had yet to tell him anything. “Of course! Though I don’t really have the mora for it, so it’ll have to wait for a while.”

“That’s true.” Silence fell between them, making Venti notice the stillness even more as the feeling shifted into something else. Something dark.

Almost as if she could sense where his mindset was going, Lumine’s next statement took on a more gentler tone, one that shifted the conversation from what was whirling around in his head. “If you want, I could get you that as a birthday gift. Granted, I want to get you something else better, but if practicality is what you want…”

Immediately his thoughts shifted back to her. “Ah, no, that’s fine. You don’t have to go and do that. Your presence is gift enough for me.”

At that, her face went apple red, the look making her appear even more beautiful. His heart beat a little faster. She glanced away from him briefly before coming back, the blush still present. “Even so, I still need to get you something. How about you go ahead to the tavern and after I tell Flora the results and get the rewards from Katheryne, I’ll swing by the teapot to get you something there. I had…something I bought you some time back and I kept it there for safekeeping in my room.”

That little revelation made him chuckle. “Oh! So that’s why you wouldn’t let me there for the past few times I’ve been. You didn’t want me to find it. How sly of you…”

Her blush decided to stay put even as she tried to laugh to hide her nerves. "Maybe…but I did want it to be a surprise so that's why I did it that way."

"Ah, I see. Well I can't blame you there. Surprises are fun! But you didn't have to go that route for little old me. I already told you what I want. But…if you insist." A smile broke out on her face as she walked past, her path looking as if she were headed to Flora's.

She turned to look back, her hand giving him a quick wave. "You go ahead and head to the tavern. I'll be after you shortly. I won't be too long, I promise."

With that she started making her way, his eyes following her as she leapt over the barrier leading to the lower level of the city, her wind glider giving her some speed to get there faster. When she rounded the corner to go to Flora's, it was only then he let his eyes fall. She really didn't have to do all that for him.

And yet…

He smiled. She was definitely too good for him.

Starting his own journey he began walking towards the flight of steps leading to the lower level before going up another. Soon his destination came into view, making a bit of the glee he'd so desperately tried to keep hold of today return, if only for a moment.

The feeling of deja vu kept popping up in his mind making him feel as if he'd seen this all before which while it did make sense in one way considering who he was connected to, in another however? That was impossible. Her powers weren't one to be called upon lightly. So for this to be a thing, it was more than likely just his mind playing tricks on him.

But as for the other strange occurrences however? Hmm…though they were weird it could be attributed to that too since his mind was already stretched thin. Maybe it was getting too sensitive about other things and making them appear as something bigger when they weren't. 

Yeah, that was more than likely it. Either way, a night of drinking and celebrating his birthday would help put his mind at ease. And finally it could relax.

Grabbing hold of the handle, he opened the door making his way inside when the lack of light suddenly caught his attention. What the-? What was this? Surely they weren’t closed, were they? He'd have certainly remembered that the last time he was here if they were, so then why…?

All at once the light flickered on washing the room in light and momentarily blinding him before it returned letting him see the decorations and the people standing about, smiles on their faces. "Happy Birthday, Venti!"

For one of the rare times in his long life, Venti found himself speechless. How the hell did they manage to hide themselves from the Anemo Archon of all people? Plus there was the succeeding thought of: why did they do this for him? He wasn’t anyone special.

Then he remembered Lumine acting kinda off earlier when he mentioned he had plans earlier. Was this why she was nervous? Was it because she had this planned? If so, that made everything else make sense. “Is…is this all for me? You honestly shouldn’t have. I’m not one to make a huge deal out of it, so I don’t need all this. But still I do thank you.”

Out of the small group, Jean was the one to walk forward first, giving him a smile as she shook her head, trying to dismiss his words. “Nonsense, you do deserve this. Don’t think otherwise. While our time spent with you can get a bit…crazy at times, you are someone we look forward to seeing.”

Everyone gave a nod at her statement, the Cavalry Captain himself even stepping in to give his two mora, a bottle of Angel Share’s finest wines in his hand. “While it may be hard to believe, what the Acting Grand Master said is certainly words of truth. Plus any reason to celebrate with alcohol is a good occasion in my book.”

Another wave of deja vu hit him again. Okay, now this was getting irritating… Once was okay, weird, twice was annoying, but after it had now gone way past that, Venti was about to lose his mind. And though his brain was about to burst, he tried his best not to show it. Especially not when they had done their best to do this for him.

Vaguely hearing Amber get onto Kaeya for his statement, Venti tuned back in, letting them bicker for only a few moments before he interrupted. “Ehe, he does carry a good point. And although I do still think this day isn’t that big of a deal, I do appreciate the effort you’ve all put into this and I’m thankful you all think of me in this way.”

He listened, trying his best to keep track of the conversation but with how familiar it all seemed it was admittedly very hard to do. Eventually they all settled into the party, letting it get fully underway, but for some reason Venti felt a pit in his stomach that wouldn't go away no matter how much he tried.

~~

Sneaking away from the crowd, even while being the guest of honor was no easy task, and surprisingly Venti had managed to do it. Though he could chalk it up to being naturally light on his feet as being why, but with the other people in the party being who they are surely they would've noticed something. Or maybe they did and are just giving him space.

Ah, well it was no matter anyway, for at this moment he had bigger things to be concerned with.

That huge feeling of dread that appeared shortly after the festivities had begun still had yet to go away. Plus the feeling coupled with his earlier ones didn't make for a good combination.

Then there was the fact that Lumine had yet to arrive at this party when she'd clearly promised she'd be here after she got done. Surely it didn't take this long to do those errands. But perhaps she'd misplaced his present and was still looking, but…with the searing sinking feeling in his gut he was beginning to think it wasn't that simple.

Maybe he should go look for her. The locations she was headed weren't too far from here and with the teapot she could put it anywhere and get there and back. It seemed like a good course of action and with his stomach refusing to let this go, he went for it.

His eyes traveled down the path leading to the Adventurer's Guild and Flora's and while he didn't see anything at first glance that didn't mean something wasn't there. Walking forward, he kept his gaze wide looking for any traces of the woman in question or the floating piece of pottery when something out of the corner of his eye made him focus in.

It took him a few seconds but the figure before him was unmistakable and seeing them made the pit grow deeper. "...Paimon?"

Why was she by herself? Where was Lumine? His body went cold. ‘ No…please, no… ’ 

Hearing her name being called out, Paimon spun around, panic in her eyes mixed with some relief at seeing a familiar face. Immediately she flew at him, picking up speed with every inch she got closer, nearly barreling him over. “Venti! Venti!”

Trying his best to keep from freaking out, he honed in on the fact she was using his actual name and not the one she affectionately called him. That meant it was serious. The realization only made his stomach churn more.

With the wind at his back, Venti moved faster, meeting her in the middle. He held out hands, trying his best to calm her down, to get her to speak coherently, but he knew that was going to be a task in itself. “Paimon, why are you here? And where’s Lumine? Did she send you here?”

The fairy furiously shook her head, her hair nearly slapping herself in the process. Her finger jutted back towards the direction she came from the panic she expressed lacing her tone. “Venti, you need to hurry up and get to Lumine! She’s in trouble!”

Knowing there was no time to waste, he ran into the direction she indicated, her following behind as fast as she could telling him which way to turn and go. Eventually after what seemed like hours, he finally made it to the location where Paimon said Lumine was. “There! There! She’s down here!”

What sounded like fighting echoed nearby, making him run even faster, his bow materializing in his hand and an arrow at the ready. He was nearing the corner of the building where the alleyway lay, ready to make his move when the most dreadful and heart wrenching sound came to his ear.

Lumine had gasped. Loudly.

Heart rising to his throat, Venti forced the winds to move him faster, the speed he was traveling nearly causing him to trip over a cat (luckily his allergies decided not to act up in that moment) that had run out the place the fight was taking place. Finally after a few more paces he made it to his destination in a matter of milliseconds, and the image he saw both infuriated and shattered his heart into pieces.

The sword the man held was through her back. The hilt in her chest.

It was only when Paimon screamed that he finally fell out of his stupor, the arrow he’d been holding flying towards the assailant striking his shoulder forcing him to drop Lumine and cry out in pain. The person in question took one look at the now angry archer who was preparing to send the wrath of Barbatos flying towards him before taking an item out of their pouch, throwing it to the ground and disappearing before Venti had a chance to throw them against the wall for his act of desecration.

The winds around Venti shifted, searching everywhere for where they had disappeared, but somehow, though he didn’t know how, they were nowhere in the immediate area. In fact, it felt as if they weren’t even in the city anymore.

Wet coughing came from where Lumine lay, making Venti turn back towards her, quickly tearing off his cape to try and stop the bleeding. Paimon, eyes wide and tears pouring down her face, tried to figure out what she needed to do, when Venti gave her an idea. “Paimon, go get Jean at the tavern, now, fast!”

Without any hesitation, Paimon headed his words, turning around and flying as fast as she could back in the direction they had just come from. Meanwhile, Venti put his cape as best he could on either side of her wound, making sure not to move the sword too much. Though he wanted to get it out, he knew by doing that through past experience, it would greatly lessen her chances of surviving.

He choked on the word. No…no, she would survive! She wouldn’t-!

“...Ven…ti…?” His mind shuttered to a halt, focusing only on the word Lumine spoke. Oh…she didn’t sound good at all. He glanced over to the alley entrance straining with the winds to hear if Paimon was coming back with Jean.

Putting a little more pressure on the wound, he tried his best to console her all while keeping his own emotions in check. “Don’t…don’t speak too much, Lumine. You need to save your strength. Focus on staying awake for me, okay?”

She took in a shuddering breath, coughing a bit, making Venti’s heart squeeze in pain. Once more he looked towards the entrance. Where the hell were they? “...Ven…ti?”

Turning back to her, she looked at him in a way that instantly made him experience deja vu again. Though it wasn’t like what he’d felt earlier, no… It was more like that moment thousands of years ago, when…when his friend was taking his last breaths. No…no, that wasn’t going to happen to her, it wasn’t–!

Gently something pressed against the back of his hand, jerking him out of his racing thoughts, momentarily making the images disappear. Looking closer, he saw a box, seeing it sparked a memory. A memory of something they had discussed earlier.

…was this the gift she was going to give him? And now, while in the state she was, this was what she was more concerned about?

He shook his head looking back at the girl with concern, his hand opting instead to ignore the box against it. “No, Lumine, we’ll get to that later when you’re better. That can wait.”

She coughed again, blood trickling out, before she gasped for air. It was only then after a few moments passed afterward that he saw it. Her eyes were losing their luster. The composure he’d held on for so long finally started to crumble. “ No! No, Lumine, hang on! They’re almost here I promise! ”

Almost as if someone were out there listening, sure enough moments later, numerous footsteps sounded nearby, and Paimon’s voice came to his ear. Yes! Finally! They made it! “Lumine, they’re here. Just hang on for a few moments more!”

As gently as she could, Jean pushed him aside, quickly summoning her Anemo powers all while Diluc and Kaeya came to either side to assist her. Amber and Paimon took residence near him, perhaps as a way to give both him comfort and them too while they watched the trio work together to heal the one who had saved them all.

One moment passed.

…Two moments.

…Now it was three and yet…

“...Jean, is she-?” Somehow in the midst of it all, Venti managed to find his voice. His heart was pounding, hoping about everything else that Lumine was alright. …she had to be alright.

A sigh came from the Headmaster’s mouth, making the bard’s breath stop in his throat. No…no…she wasn’t-!

The look she gave him, with tears in her eyes, was all he needed to know.

Instantly he broke down. He tried to push Amber and Paimon aside, but they kept him there, wrapping their arms around him, trying their best to keep him from lashing out and running away. Instead he pressed his hands against his face, not caring for the blood still on them and fell apart, no longer paying attention to what was going on around him.

No! Not Lumine! She didn’t deserve this! She still had too much to do, so much to see! Why? What did that–that– bastard kill her? Who the hell were they? He’d find them and make sure they’d pay for their transgression against him. Venti surely wasn’t a vengeful god, but this…this was something he’d be willing to cross the line for.

Please! Please let her come back! She didn’t deserve this! I need her back! We all need her back! Lumine!

Curling up into a ball, he felt the wind brush against his face. It was warm and light. Almost as if it were comforting him, but no amount of gentle gestures could put a balm over this pain…

~~

…as you wish… …though this time… …pay attention a little more… …tempus retro…

…orter supmet… …erom elttil a noitnetta yap… …emit sight hguoht… …hsiw uoy sa…

~~

His braids moved with the breeze he’d conjured, the air playing with them, making them move to and fro, the stray hairs tickling his ears, making him bring up one of his hands to scratch the itch they caused with their touch. At the same time he did this, his eyes opened up to look down onto the plaza below, seeing the people as they moved about their business. Some were eating at restaurants, others taking care of errands and then there were those who stood near the statue he sat upon, worshiping his image.

…okay, now this is getting ridiculous. Why the hell was he back here?

As quick as the wind, before his brain could mentally prepare, images flashed by in his mind’s eye. Lumine coming to see him, a day spent with just her, a party, and then–

His eyes clenched tight as the picture of what he’d witnessed last came to him. It made him nauseous, his heart racing. He tried his best to banish the image from his head, but it continued to stay and remain.

That…didn’t happen, right? It wasn’t real, just a figment of his imagination… right?

Based on his clammy hands and the foreboding feeling that remained, he had an inkling it wasn’t. In fact, he thinks it's something that’s supposed to happen…no, he knows it will happen. And he needs to stop it.

Any doubt he had before of her having anything to do with this feeling flew into the wind, his words coming out in a whisper. “So…it was you, wasn’t it?”

The only response he received was a brush of air rushing by his cheek almost as if she were chiding him much like she did when he was nothing but a wisp of wind in her presence. The action made him smile even amidst his pain though it quickly disappeared when he realized he needed to find the person that he’d been sent back in time twice to save.

Lumine.

And if he was correct in his recollection of this day then she’d appear right about… “Venti!”

Now.

He smiled. She was right on time.

Without a moment's hesitation, Venti launched himself from his perch, Anemo pushing against him until he landed gracefully before her. When their eyes met once his feet touched the ground he felt relief flood him. She was okay. She was alive. And he would do everything in his power to keep it that way.

“Hey, Lumine! You’re just in time!” If the situation wasn’t as important as it was, he’d find her confused expression amusing. Paimon’s even more so.

The two shared a glance before returning their focus back to him. Lumine being the one who spoke first. “Venti, what do you mean by that?”

Putting her hands on her hips, her companion took that chance to voice her thoughts too. “Yeah! What do you mean by her ‘being on time’, Tone-Deaf Bard?”

Normally he would take offense to the nickname that he loathed to hear, but he put that aside for the moment. There were other things more pressing to attend to. First he made sure that no one was listening in before he answered their queries. While he trusted them with the information he was about to give, that didn’t extend to everyone else around them.

A few seconds passed and when he felt satisfied that no one was near, he finally responded. “Okay, what I’m about to tell you may sound crazy, but I assure you it’s completely the truth. I can even prove it to you if you wish.”

Catching the undertone in his words, Lumine knew to hear him out before asking anything. “Alright, I’m listening.”

Smiling, grateful that Lumine was as kind and considerate as she was, he decided to be straightforward. "We're in a time loop."

The silence that came from her and Paimon was almost deafening. Which honestly he couldn't really blame them for since the claim itself sounded almost ludicrous on its own. "...Come again?"

He smiled again hoping it was a reassurance that he really wasn't crazy. "A time loop, yes. I know it sounds really out there and it took me a while myself to see it, but we really are. I can even prove it to be fact!"

She crossed her arms curious to see how he was going to explain it. "Really? How?"

"Well…one thing for instance you and Paimon here came to ask me if I was available for commissions and expressed surprise that I had plans even more so when I told you it was my birthday today and it had slipped your mind that it was so soon. Still we go on to do the commissions anyway even with my plans as I wanted to join you." As he spoke he could see a series of emotions appear on her face and while he could see her considering it, there was still another party he had to convince.

"Paimon doesn't know, Tone-Deaf Bard. That sounds like something we normally do. Plus the reactions to it being your birthday and having plans is something anyone would do. So.. Paimon doesn't think this is enough evidence." The skepticism on her face was reasonable considering. Though he still wished she just believed him.

"Ah, I see." He thought for a moment, trying to see if there was something he could use to help plant the seeds he needed to sow. Eventually an idea came to mind. "Hmm… how about this? We go ahead and do the commissions and on our way there I'll tell you exactly which ones we're doing and how each one is going to go down. There's no way coincidences could be there."

While it could be seen that she was receptive to his earlier claims, Lumine certainly didn't look like she was going to oppose having more to support his words. Though even without those considering all the things he'd been told of what she and Paimon had been through recently, he knew she'd think anything was possible at this point. And why Paimon didn't see it that way too was beyond him. "Alright. Let's go then."

~~

"...What the hell?"

By Windrise, Venti was trying his best not to laugh, but the looks on both of their faces was so funny that it made it very difficult not to.

“Told you I had proof!” Crossing his arms in triumph, he tried his best not to look too smug. Though they were walking through town and he could easily make a getaway if they decided to retaliate, he knew it would be best to tone it down.

Lumine looked down at the paper in her hands, still perplexed at how he was able to accurately tell which ones they had and how in the Teyvat she had managed to get herself in this mess. “Okay, so…We’re in a time loop. Do you have any idea as to why?”

Silence was all that came from Venti’s end. The images he had managed to keep tucked away came rushing back making the nausea return. No, he didn’t want to go there right now, but…it was looking like he had no choice, especially if he wanted to keep that from becoming reality. “...Venti? Are you alright?”

He took in a deep breath trying to calm down, coming to a stop in their walk to try and keep focus. A gentle squeeze was felt on his lower arm, the touch helping to further ground him and calm his racing thoughts. It was okay, he was being given a chance, multiple chances even, to stop this.  He would not fail this time. He wouldn’t allow it. “It was because you…died.”

Now it was Lumine’s turn to be silent. Hell, even Paimon wasn’t saying a word. “I…died?”

Her gaze was boring into him and though he couldn’t see it, too lost in his thoughts to even attempt, he knew she was studying his face trying to read between its features. “What happened?”

Breathing in deeply once more, it took a couple more seconds for him to respond. The pain in his voice was unmistakable. “Someone, I don’t know who, somehow managed to catch you off guard and used that to take you out before you were able to retaliate and defend yourself.”

His next words were so low, Lumine would have to struggle to hear them. “I wasn’t able to save you either both times it happened.”

The tiny gasp that escaped her lips made Venti’s heart clench. While he didn’t mean for her to hear it, he also should’ve known that like him, she had moments where she could surprise you. “I’m so sorry that you had to experience that, Venti. I promise I’ll do my best to keep out of trouble and make it to where you don’t have to go through that again.”

He looked at her, shocked. Why was she blaming herself? It wasn't her fault it happened. If anyone was to blame it was the guy who was out to get her. And perhaps even himself to a small degree. He did fail to save her twice after all. "It's not your fault, Lumine. There's no need to blame yourself."

Even so her eyes turned bashful. "Still…I could do better at keeping an eye on my surroundings better. I'm sure that's what got the better of me."

She has a point there. With her being a formidable warrior it certainly is not something to hear someone getting one over on her. Difficulties, yes. But that? That was a rarity.

But…something she said did stick out to him for some reason. The word 'surrounding'. But why did it ring such a bell?

It took a few moments but eventually it came to him. He remembered the odd sound before they'd left for Dragonspine and wondered if that meant something. Hmm…his instincts told him he was onto something.

"Speaking of surroundings we definitely could afford to keep an eye on ours. I get a funny feeling it's a key to our success this time around." As he spoke, Lumine was already looking around as discreetly as she could, more than likely trying to see if there was anything that looked out of the ordinary.

Paimon, while she looked as if she wanted to pester him more, could see that it wasn’t the time. “So, how are we gonna tell?”

“Well, I know with my intimate knowledge of what’s going to happen, it will let me see those things better. Plus we probably don’t need to let whoever it is that comes up later know we’re onto him and just go through the day as planned until the last moment when we make our move.” Throwing an arm over her shoulder to help with that visual, they began walking, Paimon trailing behind trying her best to listen in.

After walking a bit, his voice lowered to an almost whisper going directly into Lumine’s ear. “I noticed last time around that it looks like they're watching us everytime we’re in Mondstadt proper so I’m sure that’s them waiting to strike.”

Catching on quickly, Lumine looked down at the list of commissions, a smile on her face. “Well then, shall we get started?”

~~

Appearing back in Mondstadt after finishing up the last commission, Venti felt his nerves shoot back up again. This was it. This was the part that always led to Lumine's death. He couldn't, wouldn't fail. Not this time.

Staring ahead, the winds circled about the area, traveling through every nearby nook and cranny, bringing him any peep or sound that seemed out of the ordinary. And yet there was nothing. At least, nothing yet.

“Venti?” Since the wind didn’t give him any answers, he turned his attention to Lumine who was looking at him, a question on her face. “What happens next?”

Giving her a smile, he waved his hands towards the area below them, the motion a way to try and keep his nerves from getting away with themselves. “Well, what happened the last two times was that we parted ways here. Myself going to the tavern and you to go cash in your commissions, talk to Flora and so forth. Somewhere in between, I assume after you went to your teapot to get me a gift, the attack happened and both times I wasn’t able to make it there in time before…”

A tight grip overtook one of his hands, making him look over. His heart jumped upon realizing it was her hand holding his own. Following it, he saw her looking at him, a mixture of concern and determination in her gaze. It was at that moment he knew that like him, she wanted to make sure this day had a different outcome and not just for her sake either. “Then we’ll do it differently. Instead of splitting up, how about we go together? Then we’ll catch them before they get the chance.”

His smile widened as he squeezed her hand back. “That is a good plan. Shall we go then?”

She nodded, the two turning to start making their way towards Flora’s. With every step they took they decided to make small talk to keep whomever it was out for her from suspecting anything all while still ensuring they were keeping an eye out.

Eventually while it took some time, they finally made it to the shop, both of them a bit surprised at seeing the girl still there manning the stand, even as the day grew closer to darkness. Even so, shock aside, they did have a commission to complete. “Flora! We’re back!”

The girl in question jumped a bit at the call of her name, her head turning towards the two, a smile forming upon seeing them. “Oh, there you are! How are the flowers?”

Lumine was quick to respond, the beaming look on her face helping to back up her words. “Snugly underground. They won’t be moving for a while.”

Flora clasped her hands together, delighted at the news. Quickly she turned and grabbed a small package from behind her stand, handing it over to the couple who took it gratefully. “Thank you! We’ll leave them there on the mountain for a while. Thanks so much for helping me out. These items are for your trouble.”

"Anytime, Flora. Just let us know when you're ready for us to go back and we'll take care of it." Venti gave her a nod to which she returned before giving them her goodbyes and turning around to head off home.

With their reward now in hand, Lumine inclined her head towards the Adventurer's Guild where Katheryne would be waiting to give them the rest of their payment. The nerves in Venti’s gut curled again knowing they were getting very close. "Looks like Katheryne is at the Guild. Let's hurry up and get there before they close."

He nodded, following behind her keeping his eyes and ears open for anything that made him suspicious. As they walked the short distance to the counter where the woman they were going to meet stood, nothing of importance had appeared yet, but Venti could feel the tension. It was there lingering, waiting for the opportune moment to strike. And that in itself was the most terrifying part so far. The calm before the storm.

"Hello, Traveler! Sir Bard! Have you two finished your commissions?" After the question was asked, she and Lumine discussed things for a short while letting Venti focus on other things and while he was doing so he did notice one thing: there was nothing he could find. Which was, to put it bluntly, odd.

Sure, he wasn't very privy as to what happened at this point since he wasn't around the last two times when it did, but still…based on what he knew at this point in time, if he followed the original path he would've been at the tavern where he'd find the party happening. And based on the short time after that she would be getting attacked and Paimon would be leaving to find him.

Seeing as that had yet to happen it made him wonder if perhaps he had his timing off or…maybe the attacker somehow found out that they knew. But, even then that didn't feel right. He, and to a small extent Lumine and Paimon, was the only one who knew and that was only due to his connections. So that crossed the second possibility out. With that figured out then he had to wonder…when were they going to strike?

"Venti? Are you ready to go?" Pulling away from his thoughts, he watched as Lumine finished pocketing the rewards and turned to look at him, wondering what came next.

To answer her questions he nodded, tilting his head back to the tavern. "How about we head there then? You did say you'd join me the previous two times."

She laughed a bit, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. "Did I? I still need to get you a gift though. Do you think we can swing by the teapot and get it real quick?"

As much as Venti did want to see what she got him, his gut was giving him a strong no. And at this point in time he didn't want to disobey. "How about we do that later after we go to the tavern? We can head there directly after that. I don't think Diluc would mind."

She nodded, albeit reluctantly he could tell. He knew she really wanted to give him that gift so much that the last time she did it almost cost her. And that was a price he wasn't willing to pay.

With that the two started to make their way back down the path they originally took to get there. Venti eyeballing each alleyway they walked past wondering in the back of his mind which one they'd jump out of. Although he knew the one it ended at, he didn't know where it started.

Luckily or perhaps not, he'd soon get his answer.

Before he and Lumine had a chance to react, Venti immediately heard the alarm bells ringing through the air telling him something was coming. Fast.

Wind whipped between them making the two fly from one another, Venti going towards the wall, Lumine towards the alleyway. The same one in which her life was supposed to end.

Turning as fast as he could it was at that moment Venti fully understood how the attacker had managed to get by him and even away the time before.

The Delusion bearing the same color as his own element spoke volumes.

It was a Fatui.

While his mind was wondering why the Fatui would strike again especially after the suspicion they were under by the Knights, he pushed that all aside when he saw the man thrust himself towards Lumine, his blade ready to attack.

Immediately his bow was out and an arrow ready to launch. Oh no, he wasn't going to win. Not this time.

Aiming fast, Venti let the arrow fly hitting its target in the back. That split second gave Lumine a chance to materialize her own weapon and she began using it to face her attacker down.

Their swords struck one another both making a loud clang everytime they made contact. As Lumine and the Fatui continued to fight, Venti ran forward, bow at the ready looking for an opening to back her up. However, before he could get too close, that’s when it happened. The moment that would make or break his success at keeping her alive.

A cat, the same one that Venti recalled running past him last time around, ran out from in between some boxes near the two. No doubt it was startled by the loud noises going on and while he couldn't blame it for panicking, it was that single action it took that made Lumine lose her footing, giving the guy a perfect opening to strike.

And the worst part? Although Venti had an arrow ready to launch and a whirl of winds to back it up and even a bunch of them at his beck and call to throw him off balance, it still wouldn't have been fast enough. The strike would still ring true.

In that second time seemed to slow down, his heart beating faster than it seemed to move. But it only took that instant to let him know what to do next. And Lumine definitely wasn’t going to like it.

Threading himself into the winds he came back together right in front of Lumine pushing her back just as the Fatui’s sword came piercing through his chest.

All he heard next was Lumine’s scream, his name passing her lips as the pain erupted from the point the blade made. His bow fell from his hand as he fell to his knees, sword pulling out just as Lumine launched herself forward.

Vaguely he could hear the sounds of the two fighting in the background as he collapsed to the ground, his mind honing in on the pain radiating through him. Damn, even Signora's attack didn't hurt this bad. And it was even in the same exact area.

Ah, well…at least he broke the cycle this time.

Darkness crept into the edges of his vision, his eyes starting to close, but before they could, he was startled awake, Lumine's frantic gaze entering his sight. He couldn't really tell what she was doing but from what he could, he knew something tight was being wrapped around his chest, she was saying something to…Paimon, was it? And then they were moving? Why were they moving?

He didn't dwell on it too long, as he was too tired to ask. But he did know that Lumine was trying to talk to him, but he didn't have the energy to respond. He was too tired, but at least he could sleep knowing she was alright. His mother would be proud.

His vision went dark.

~~

Indeed you did well my child…though it would've been better had you not been quite so reckless…

But…the deed has been done and now you would do well to keep safe in the future. You and your loved one…

Sleep well, little breeze…

The warm wind that brushed across Venti's face felt familiar and comforting almost like a mother's caress. It made him want to snuggle into it and let it wrap around his being, tucking him away into slumber.

…but the way he feels now was almost similar to it though he could do without the pain flaring from his chest. He groaned, opening his eyes slowly trying to let them adjust before even attempting to move. But even then the heavy weight on his shoulder was going to make that difficult.

Groaning again, Venti went to lift up his arm, trying to see if he could get himself out of bed, when the motion made something else grip tighter at his waist making him stop. 

…what was that? It didn't feel like pain and yet it was on him so then what…?

He turned his head, his eyes not having to look far before a mass of gold came into sight. Ah, what was this? A low groan, though not one laced with pain like his was, came from it. It moved, its face rubbing against his shoulder before lifting up its golden eyes meeting his emerald for a split second before widening and filling with tears. Upon speaking he knew exactly who it was. "Venti!"

"...Lumine? Where are-?" He wasn't given a chance to continue, her free arm wrapping around his neck and giving him a tight hug. It took him a second to get over the initial shock but eventually he returned the gesture. It took another for him to realize she was crying. The realization made his heart grip in pain. "Lumine, why are you crying?"

A sniffle came from her followed by a few deep breaths. He took one of his own, opting to thread one of his hands through her hair trying to calm her down instead of pushing her to respond. If what she was upset over was what he suspected, he would find out soon.

And soon wouldn't take that long to get here. "You idiot!"

Ah, there it was. Honestly he wasn’t that surprised she was mad about his self-sacrifice. In fact if she wasn’t that would be when he would start to worry. “Hehe…I’m sorry?”

She snorted, pulling back from her hug to give a pointed look. That expression was definitely one where he knew she didn’t believe a word he said. “Bullshit! You’re not sorry.”

Laying her head back down on his chest, he knew based on where she put it she was trying her best to hear his heartbeat, perhaps as a way to reassure herself that he was still here, that he was still alive. The action made him smile.

With that in mind, he tugged her closer, using the feel of her in his arms to do the same. He didn’t fail this time. She was okay. She was alright. “I really had no choice. I had to do that. It was that or…”

Trying his best to swallow down the tears that threatened to form from the memories, he knew deep down that if he had to go through another rewind, that he wasn’t sure what he would’ve done or how he would’ve reacted if it happened again. Twice was already bad enough, but three?

Lumine’s arm moved from his neck back down to his waist, wrapping around it tightly. The gesture gave him comfort. The kiss she pressed to his cheek only gave him more. “Go back to sleep, Venti. I’m not going anywhere.”

One of the tears he’d been holding back managed to break free, streaking down his face until it reached the bed sheet where it dried. Still, even then he was smiling. Lumine was right, she wasn’t going anywhere.

Moving around as gently as he could without putting himself in too much pain, he wrapped his own arms around her pulling her close almost as if she were a stuffed animal. He took in a deep breath, letting her scent fill his nose before releasing it, closing his eyes to relax and let himself fall back into slumber.

~~

Taking in a deep breath, Venti pulled himself off the bed, being careful to go as slow as possible to prevent any sharp pain from lacing through his chest near where the wound used to be before Lumine managed to get him to Windrise to heal. Jean had even said there would be phantom pains for a while so though he knew the aches weren’t anything serious, they were still a bother.

Finally after what seemed like a painstakingly long time, he eventually got to his feet, making his way over to his cape that hung over the backside of a chair waiting for him to put on. However before he managed to grab it, a knock on the door caught his attention. At first he waited for a few moments to see if whoever it was would just come on in, but when it became apparent they weren’t going to without permission, he decided to give it. “Come in.”

Almost immediately after he spoke, the door opened revealing Lumine to be on the other side. She smiled, no doubt glad to see him up and about before making her way over to him to help give him a hand with his cape. "I suppose by you wandering around your room that you're feeling better?"

He nodded, watching as she brought the piece of clothing over his shoulders and began tying the bow to keep it there. "There's still some phantom pains, but that's to be expected. It's still annoying though."

She giggled, the sound like music to his ears as she finished trying off the ribbon and standing back to look over her handiwork. "I can imagine. Hopefully it'll go away soon."

"Indeed." That was definitely something he could agree with. And now with that out of the way, he could inquire about why she was here. Was it perhaps connected to the thing she talked about, or rather hinted at earlier this morning?  And was in fact the reason why he was up to begin with? "So…what exactly is it you said you wanted to show me today?

She smiled, the look doing nothing to answer his question. He was about to press further to see what it was she was hiding when instead she grabbed hold of his hand and began tugging him towards the door. The grin was still on her face. "You'll see."

Following her as quickly as he could without tripping over his own feet, it wasn't until he was on the stairs walking down that he finally got an inkling of what it was she'd been working on since dawn. And with everyone's eyes on him, it made it difficult to hide the surprise on his face. "Happy Birthday, Venti!"

A grin wide as the skies broke out on his face, the memory of the past two parties being drowned out for this one. They really shouldn't have though he was still flattered either way. He turned to Lumine, his grin shifting into a smirk. "So… you were the one who organized the surprise party for me last time. That's why you wanted to spend the day with me to give them time to get ready."

At first confusion showed in her expression before turning into a blush. He laughed. He caught her. "Ah, so that was something else you caught onto too during the time loops… Am I right on that assumption?"

He gave her a nod, finding it amusing how valiant she was trying to fight against having the blush spread further, but it was easy to see she was losing the battle. “I’m very appreciative of it. It’s been a while since I’ve had a party for just me, and no I’m not counting the ones that have Barbatos as the main focus, but even so, you guys didn’t really have to do all–”

Any further argument he had was swiftly silenced when Lumine pressed her lips against his, making him freeze for only a moment before he was returning it. And while he wasn’t sure how long the kiss lasted, but considering the hooting and hollering coming from a few people in the audience it had been long enough.

The two quickly separated, their faces, not just hers this time, sharing a blush. Not only had they done that, they’d also done that in front of everyone . Oh boy…neither one of them were gonna live this down. Especially not with Kaeya and Lisa in attendance.

As he was still trying to get his mind pulled together after being frazzled from before, he felt something being placed into his hand, his fingers forced to grab hold of it. Looking down to see what it was, he was pleasantly surprised to see a gift in his grasp. The sight of it making a few past memories pop up in his mind, but instead of dwelling on them, he managed to push them aside.

That was a different time. This was now. And now…

Following her hands up, he found himself gazing into her eyes that were twinkling with happiness and most importantly, life. She smiled, Venti only taking a second to return it. “Happy Birthday, Venti.”

…Now he was content.