Chapter Text
They sit in silence.
Venti taps the steering wheel absent-mindedly as he hums a little tune.
There's been a very awkward and uncomfortable atmosphere since he offered to give Xiao a ride home from school.
Xiao is just looking out the window not saying anything.
Venti feels the urge to talk about something...anything...they talk at lunch all the time. Why is this so awkward?
He even decided to buy him food in an attempt to apologize for the awkwardness and that's what they are currently waiting but for some reason, the fast food isn't coming very fast.
Venti: M-man this is taking forever, isn't it? Venti makes a slightly awkward smile at the end.
Xiao doesn't even look over.
Venti is thinking of every conversation starter he knows...which isn't many. He's always been very awkward and "nerdy" according to other people.
Another minute or two in this silence. Venti decides to break it again.
Venti: So...uh...The weather lately?
Venti visibly cringes as he remembers that's the worse conversation starter for people who don't like small talk and as he can probably guess Xiao doesn't seem to.
The lady finally comes back to the window
Lady: Sorry for the delay! We were having some problems in the kitchen, I hope there's no problem, here's your order!
Venti grabs the drinks and puts them in the cup holder and takes a quick glance at Xiao who still hasn't moved.
He grabs the bag of food and says thanks to the lady and drives off.
He finds a place to park so he can eat, Xiao still isn't saying anything. He pulls his food out of the bag and eats while he thinks of any conversation Xiao might be interested in. He's surprised again at how hard this is because it really is easy in school to talk to him even when no one is around, so he's quite confused yet again why this is difficult.
He just continues to eat in silence, he even tried to offer Xiao his food but to no response, he's still just turned away looking out the window.
Venti: ...Man, I know I'm not that great at socializing but I must be really worse than I thought and this proves it...Haha.
Venti says that quietly not really expecting any kind of answer.
The silence continues and Venti finishes eating and decides to call it a night and drives off.
He's driving and just humming to fill the silence when he comes to a very important realization.
He doesn't know where Xiao lives. He panics cause now he has to talk to Xiao...or he can keep driving around until Xiao finally tells him.
Venti: Xiao...I know you don't feel like talking about I'm gonna need to know where you to tell me where you live.
Still silence. He hasn't even moved or acknowledged him since they ordered food and before that, it was when they got into the car.
Venti: I-I guess we can keep driving around for a little bit...until you feel like telling me.
Venti [Thinking]: Maybe he wants to spend time with me? Maybe this is just how he prefers to be around people he cares about, quiet and no talking? Maybe him not telling me is him just trying to say he wants to spend time with me but doesn't actually wanna admit it! I think I've figured it out!
Venti's mood visibly picks up (not that anyone's looking anyway).
Venti drives around in still slightly uncomfortable silence but it's definitely improved and is fairly more comfortable now since that revelation.
He hums one of Xinyan's songs but even as a hum it sounds like screeching. As he's putting effort into his solo humming performance he isn't paying attention and turns the car so quickly Xiao's head slams against the window.
Venti hears it and immediately pulls over as quickly as he can to check on Xiao.
Xiao is groaning and holding his head.
Venti: Are you okay? Are you bleeding? Do you have a concussion?
Xiao: Y-yes I'm alright.
Venti: Are you sure?
Xiao: Yeah I'm okay...I was just not expecting to be woken up like that.
Venti pauses. He replays what Xiao said in his mind several times.
Venti: I-
Xiao: Oh sorry to fall asleep on you. It was an accident, just had a long day.
Venti: F-fall asleep?
Venti repeats as to try and register what just happened but his brain is temporally failing.
Xiao looks over at Venti after the pain relieves a little bit. He's pretty sure he doesn't have a concussion cause although it hurt pretty bad, there isn't even a bump left.
Xiao: You look-...Are you okay?
Venti stares blankly for several moments.
Xiao: Ven...ti?
Venti blinks a couple of times and shakes his head.
Venti: Huh? Oh yeah, I'm fineeeeeeeee.
Xiao looks like he doesn't believe him but chooses not to say anything.
Venti: The question is are youuuuuuuu alright?
Xiao: Yeah, I'm fine there's no bump or anything my head just hurts.
Venti: Alright, let's get you home then shall we?
Xiao: Yeah, Wait do you know my address?
Venti: Nope, Where we heading?
Xiao: Oh sorry, Here gimme your phone and I'll type it into the GPS, if you'd don't mind.
Venti nods and hands over his phone. Xiao begins typing.
Venti: Oh! Don't forget about your food haha.
Xiao: Oh yeah thanks for that by the man.
Venti: Yeah no problem hehe.
Venti gets home and goes straight to his room. He has never felt more stupid and embarrassed in his life. It doesn't seem Xiao caught on though and if he did, he didn't say anything so that saves him some embarrassment. He's definitely sitting with his main friend group at lunch instead tomorrow just in case.
Venti replays the whole event over and over in his mind wishing he hadn't been so stupid, especially with his first possible (Maybe?) friend outside of the school lunch tables but surely this messed it all up. He decides he's not gonna get any sleep like this and goes on his phone to distract himself. He notices a new episode of an anime he's been watching is out so he decides he'll go to sleep after it...definitely...