Figure Yourself Out
Sighing, Venti walks with Albedo to his art class. They're working on drawing landscapes and portraits, depending on what group you're in. Venti has a portrait of Albedo due within the next week, but he wants to blow it off.
He wants to know what's going on with Diluc. He looked so panicked, and Venti knows he won't be able to focus on his class, much less drawing, which took a lot of attention to detail for Venti. He wasn't naturally talented like Albedo, he had to teach himself.
Sighing, Venti decides to ask Albedo what happened. "Why was Gorou yelling at Itto like that?"
"Itto said that Gorou reminded him of a Shiba, you know that Inazuman breed of dog." Albedo's face focused on the road ahead of them, focusing on where to put his feet next. So many cracks and potholes in the road and sidewalk. "It really shouldn't have been such a big deal, but I think Gorou was already upset by the coursework change."
"What do you mean 'it shouldn't have been a big deal'? Venti asks, not understanding what Albedo is trying to say.
"Gorou and Itto are dating. They're soulmates, but they're still kids so I guess it makes sense it started a fight. I just didn't expect Gorou to start attempting to lunge at Itto." Venti nods, understanding what Albedo means now that it was explained.
"What about you? Have you found your soulmate yet?" This was a question Albedo asked Venti at least three times every month. Venti did have a slight obsession with every hot guy being his soulmate, even if he didn't date most of them.
"No, but I think I made a friend, which is better." Albedo smiles, thinking about how this was growth. When he and Venti first met, Venti would do to parties and try to fuck anyone with soulmarks on their hands. Albedo was the one who got away so to say.
He wouldn't sleep with Venti despite being just as wasted.
"That's really good Venti. Was it that guy with the red hair?" Making their way up the stairs to the arts building, Venti frowns but nods.
"Why do you look sad? Do you want something more?" Albedo opens the door for Venti, who silently walks through.
"No, I don't think so, maybe? I don't know." Sighing again, Venti leads Albedo to the staircase, still fumbling over his words and emotions. "I find myself wanting him near, and I don't like the idea of him dating anyone else, but I can tell that he's not looking for anything."
"Do you think it's less about him not looking and more about the both of you feeling scared?" Albedo frowns at Venti's shocked expression, taking his hesitation as both an answer and an excuse to take the lead.
When Venti recovers he has to almost jog to catch up to Albedo before scowling at him. "There's nothing there Albedo, besides, why would he be scared? Sure he gets nervous but he could get anyone if he tried. Why would he choose me? I don't even know if the man is gay!"
"Venti, I'm going to be honest. He looks at you like he wants to trust you but can't." Albedo stops in front of the classroom door, standing just close enough that Venti can't let them in.
"What does that even mean Albedo?" Shifting uncomfortably, Venti tries to look Albedo in the eyes, but something about the way Albedo is staring at him makes the self-proclaimed bard a little nervous.
Albedo has a point, but Venti doesn't want to understand it or admit it.
"Venti, you look at him like-"
"Like he's the sun? The moon? The stars? Get a better metaphor, Albedo." Sighing, Venti almost apologizes for interrupting but Albedo speaks before he can form any thoughts.
"Like he's the one thing you want in life. Like you want him to trust you above all else. I bet you get jealous of his brother and other friends." A frown adorns Albedo's usually expressionless face. It's a knowing frown, a small pinch of understanding and pity.
"How do you even know that?" Venti asks before he can stop himself, unintentionally confirming Albedo's accusation. "I mean, why would you think that? I've never seen you around when we've hung out before."
"I saw you in the library and at Childe's party. You look like you want to rip Mona's head off every time you see them hold hands." Sighing, Albedo places his hand on Venti's shoulder. "Give him a little bit of space, Venti. Don't try smothering him in an attempt to get him to like you."
"Thanks for the advice, man, but I don't know how to do that. I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm a super clingy person." Looking downwards, Venti can almost feel a small amount of tears forming in his eyes.
Smiling, Albedo lifts Venti's head a bit, forcing the shorter boy to look him in the eyes. "I'm not saying you have to leave him alone when he needs someone, I'm telling you that you need to think before you talk to him. Don't play with his feelings, ya'know? Be sure of what you want here, don't lead him on."
"Why does it sound like you know something I don't?" Scowling a bit, Venti tries to step away from Albedo, but the hand on his shoulder keeps Venti in place.
"I mean it Venti, figure yourself out first before going after him." Venti almost falls back when Albedo lets go. The stone flooring cold under his shoes.
Heading into the classroom, Albedo frowns, not knowing if Venti would take his words into account. But he takes his seat nonetheless, not waiting for the other boy.
Venti stumbles after Albedo, nearly losing his footing. He falls into his seat rather than sitting down. There is no teacher today, the class meets by itself on Wednesday and Thursday, so Venti can talk to Albedo almost freely without the possibility of getting called on.
"I don't understand, Albedo. How do I give him space but still be there? That doesn't make any sense." Venti whispers with an aspirated sigh.
Albedo sighs too, pulling out his sketchbook and flipping to the page of his landscape. Albedo had sketched out the waterfall he would be painting beforehand so that he would already know what he was meant to do. Art came naturally to Albedo, the colors fit together perfectly in his head, but something tells him that Venti wouldn't be leaving him alone to paint in peace.
Venti rarely left him to his peace, asking him to stand still for minutes at a time to get the shape of his arm right. Venti's portrait was of Albedo working on his landscape. It's meta or something like that.
Venti stares for what seems like forever before sighing once more and pulling out his sketchbook as well, believing that Albedo wouldn't answer him. But Albedo wouldn't be able to function with Venti squirming in his seat, trying to draw but failing until his head was cleared out.
"I mean don't try to be anything more than a friend to him, don't try to pressure him into liking you." A questioning look finds its way onto Venti's face in light of Albedo's words. It takes a moment, but Venti nods, turning himself around in his desk.
Venti doesn't speak for several minutes, instead trying to focus on the curve of Albedo's jaw. "Can you look to the side for a moment?" He asks while switching to a different, sharper, drawing pencil.
Albedo obliges, turning his head to the side. Venti can hear Albedo sigh, probably irritated by how long it's taking Venti to figure out just how to hold the pencil to get the right shape. But when Venti looks up, he sees Albedo staring at the door of the classroom longingly. "Who are you waiting for?" The question comes out before Venti can stop himself.
Albedo's jaw clenches slightly, just barely, but with Venti focusing in on Albedo's face he was bound to notice. "No one." Albedo answers before sighing again. "There's a boy, he uh, he rarely misses class so I guess I'm just a little worried." Albedo shifts in his seat, uncomfortable.
Venti nods, understanding. He didn't know who Albedo was talking about, but most of the art students were very serious about their classes. Especially the art classes they're taking. Though something about the way Albedo said it makes Venti thinks that there has to be more, something Albedo isn't saying. This isn't odd, even though they're friends, Albedo rarely tells Venti anything about his personal life.
Venti knows about his younger sister Klee because Albedo's lock screen is of the two of them trick or treating together. Venti had offered to set up a play date between Klee and Nahida but Albedo had said no.
"Is he a potential soulmate?" The question slips out seconds after Albedo finishes his sentence. Albedo freezes, his skin turning even paler than it already was. Albedo shakes his head, disappointment evident in his features.
"No, He's too busy taking care of family. I wouldn't want to bother him with my silly feelings." Albedo's answer shocks Venti. Albedo had never shown interest in anyone to Venti's knowledge. Now that they're having this conversation Venti's realizes that he doesn't know much about Albedo.
"I understand. Though it's hard to sit on your feelings, are you goanna tell him anyway?" Realization his Venti not even a moment later. "Does he, uh, does his, his soulmarks." Albedo moves his eyes away from the door, turning to look Venti in the eyes. "Do they match yours?"
Albedo nods, looking down at his hands. "He's busy with family, I can't say anything." Venti smiles a sorrowful smile, He understands. He likes Diluc, but he probably has so much going on that he can't say anything either.
"How bout we promise?" Albedo looks up at this, looking Venti in the eyes again. "When I figure out how I feel about Diluc, we'll tell them together." This makes Albedo smile. Nodding with a determined look on his face, Albedo turns back to his painting.
Venti smiles too, liking this side of Albedo that he hasn't seen before.