Tags & Trigger warnings: Emetophilia, vomiting, Food poisoning, sickfic, caretaking, Hurt/comfort

Summary: Xiao doesn't eat much, but there is one thing he doesn't mind eating, almond tofu, so when it becomes the source of his suffering Xiao doesn't handle it well.

Posted to Ao3: July 15th 2021

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There were few foods that Xiao truly enjoyed, being someone who preferred bitter and sour foods rather than sweet ones. And there were even fewer foods that didn't make him feel sick to his stomach, this was fine in Xiao's eyes, after all, eating wasn't truly a pleasure he needed as an Adepti but was one he didn't mind indulging in now and then.

Especially when it came to the Almond Tofu at Wangshu inn. There was just something about it that made Xiao almost nostalgic for days long past, it had an almost soothing effect on him.

Easing the pain and burden he carried if only for a few precious moments.

He looked up as the Innkeeper Verr Goldet approached the Inn's balcony, the usual small blue plate in her hand.

She sets the plate down on the ledge with a smile as she looks around. She knows he's here even if she can't see him at the moment. "Here's your lunch Xiao, I hope you have a fun time with your friend, " she said, her smile ever-present.

Unable to see him she gave a small wave in his vague direction before returning inside.

Once she was gone Xiao gave a soft sigh allowing himself to appear as he reached out and picked up the plate.

As usual, it was almond tofu, the white almost gelatinous cubes of the desert arranged neatly on the plate, a sight that Xiao had seen for a while now, one that he was used to.

And yet that still didn't stop the small amount of happiness that flared to life inside him as he picked up the spoon with his usual scowl on his face.

As he took a bite he gave a small hum of satisfaction as that warm wave of nostalgia washed over him. The dish was just as good as it had been the day before, although there was a slight hint of something buried beneath the rich bitterness, it was sour almost, not too overwhelming or noticeable however and it reminded Xiao faintly of lemongrass.

But it wasn't ruining his meal so he didn't care. A soft sigh left his mouth as he set the empty plate and spoon aside the warm feeling of nostalgia slowly fading.

Climbing to his feet Xiao leapt down off the balcony before picking up the empty plate once more, he vanished from the sight of humans as he made his way inside the inn and down to the kitchen.

Placing the plate silently on the table in the corner he returned upstairs to his spot on the balcony. He noted that the sun was almost at its highest point, meaning that it was almost afternoon.

Barbatos, or Venti as he preferred to be called nowadays, was supposed to meet Xiao at the inn around noon. Having known that Xiao preferred not to be away from Liyue for a long period of time.

Xiao did faintly wonder if the Anemo Archon had gotten lost somehow, while this was not his first time in Liyue much of the land had changed while he slept.

Xiao is wondering if he should perhaps go to Liyue's border to briefly check when he hears a soft familiar giggle and the scent of Cecilia flowers, carried by the wind enveloped him.

Xiao senses Venti's presence before he sees him, his senses as an Adepti easily catching the subtle change in elemental particles.

"I'm here," Venti said cheerfully as he appeared beside Xiao in a tiny burst of Anemo.

His usual grin was on his face as Xiao turned to him, the sight bringing the smallest smile to Xiao's face.

"So you are," Xiao murmured as he climbed off of the balcony.

Giggling, Venti wrapped his arms around Xiao in a hug, his smile only growing when the Adepti's face flushed pink and he froze, glancing away.

Xiao was never good with PDA even when no one but Venti was around to witness it.

"Please release me, before someone sees," Xiao said almost shyly.

"Fine, fine," Venti said, pouting slightly as he released Xiao from the hug. Instead, he reached out grabbing his hand, lacing their fingers together.

"Better?"

Xiao nodded slowly, his face still pink.

"Good, I missed you by the way," Venti chuckled, reaching up with his other hand to cup Xiao's cheek. He gives Xiao a brief kiss.

"I missed you as well," Xiao said after a moment, his voice was soft as if he was afraid someone other than Venti would hear him.

"That's good, I was starting to think you'd forgotten me," he chuckled. "How is that old idiot by the way. The Traveler told me he decided to live as a human nowadays."

"Rex Lapis is well, and he is happy, that is truly all I could ask for," Xiao told him simply.

Venti nodded. "Of course, now are you gonna show me around Liyue? I haven't been here in years."

"Where would you prefer to go first?" Xiao asked.

Venti closed his eyes for a moment, giving a soft hum. "I passed a little village on my way here, that's definitely new so let's go there first."

Xiao nodded knowing exactly where Venti meant, after all, Liyue was his home. "Qingce village it is then."

~~~

Admittedly Xiao felt like he was having fun as he almost proudly showed Venti around Liyue answering many of the questions he had.

And Venti knew this as well if the brief small smiles he saw on Xiao's face every now and then were anything to go by. Seeing Xiao smile at all was a rare sight, so Venti cherished the few he did get to see.

Although Xiao was dealing with another problem at the moment, growing a bit quieter than usual, and since he was already a man of few words, to begin with, that was saying something. He still spoke to Venti however so that was a plus.

The issue was a strong pain in his stomach that brought with it both nausea and sensitivity. The normally form-fitting clothing he wore felt uncomfortably tight against his abdomen, the cloth feeling as though it were digging into his skin.

He'd attempted to adjust it one of the times when Venti's attention had been elsewhere and had found the skin on his stomach abnormally taunt and bloated beneath his finger.

And the mere touch had sent pain streaking across his stomach and made his nausea only grow so he'd given up rather quickly.

The nausea had started off as a light queasiness shortly after he and Venti had left for Qingce village, it was noticeable but not a hindrance to his condition so he ignored it as just like the pain in his stomach this was not an abnormal occurrence.

Perhaps it was just one of those days his body decided to dislike eating despite having been fine earlier.

But at the moment the nausea was reaching almost unbearable levels, enough that the world seemed to sway and spin before Xiao's eyes despite the fact that he wasn't moving. He could feel the almond tofu he'd eaten earlier still sitting in his stomach with a strange uncomfortable heaviness, refusing to digest which only added to the pain he felt in his stomach at the moment.

"I leave for a few hundred years and now I barely recognize the place anymore," Venti said, eating an apple as they walked back to Wangshu inn.

The sun had begun to set on the horizon painting Liyue lands in familiar soft orange hues.

"How many of those do you have?" Xiao asked, eyeing the small cloth sack Venti was carrying in one hand.

He knew Venti loved apples but Xiao was just generally curious.

Venti gave a small hum as he opened the bag of apples. "About fifteen."

Xiao opened his mouth to say something when his stomach made a low gurgle noise. Embarrassed, he quickly looked away, his face flushing pink as he stared at the ground.

Venti giggled as he smiled at Xiao. "Want one? You sound hungry."

Xiao simply shook his head not meeting Venti's eyes, although he did swallow hard the thought of putting anything in his churning stomach at the moment only made his nausea worse.

"Did you at least eat breakfast?" Venti asked despite already knowing what to expect.

Xiao slowly nodded, stopping when the motion made his stomach practically flip inside of him. "I had almond tofu before you arrived."

Venti gave a soft hum as he nodded. "I won't make you eat then, but if you do change your mind you can always have one of the apples, okay?"

Xiao just gives another nod, too embarrassed to look Venti in the eye when his stomach gives another low gurgling noise.

When Venti turns his attention away from Xiao, Xiao brings his hand up to his stomach, his fingers ghosting over the still taunt and bloated flesh there. His eyes widened slightly when he felt his stomach actively churning beneath his fingers.

He was used to nausea but this, this didn't seem like the usual nausea he got from time to time. Typically it'd go away on its own eventually easing up as the day went on, this only seemed to get stronger.

He neither knew what was causing it or how he ended up like this but he doesn't like it.

As he and Venti return to the inn Xiao crosses his arms, eyes closed as he tries to breathe around the pain and nausea enveloping him.

The elevator shifts and Xiao swallows thickly when it feels as though his stomach plummeted to the floor when the elevator begins moving.

Xiao is rapidly regretting not taking the now fixed staircase or at least just jumping up onto the balcony like he should've in the first place. It's not as if anyone can see him and Venti at the moment, at least no humans can but Venti was apparently tired of walking, so elevator it was.

Xiao glares down at his stomach when it gives a soft gurgling noise. He doesn't like it, it feels strange.

Still, he says nothing, enjoying how the cold crisp night air felt on his skin. Smelling Cecilia flowers in the wind he glanced over at Venti who was happily eating his third apple.

Meeting Xiao's eyes he grinned. "You seemed a bit tense," Venti explained simply.

A bit tense was an understatement at this point, Xiao was convinced his stomach was trying to kill him for some reason. It's nothing he can't deal with, however, or so he thinks.

"So this is your room," Venti said, eyes wide as they entered the room that Verr Goldet had given Xiao years ago. "You don't use it much do you."

Despite the room being perfectly maintained it didn't truly feel like Xiao's room, but more of a random room at the inn.

"I do not require sleep, Verr was simply being considerate," Xiao explained simply.

Venti gives a soft hum as he removes his cape and hat, setting both aside on the nearby dresser, he flopped onto the bed sighing loudly as he removed his shoes. "Well I plan to visit you a lot, definitely at least twice a week, so it can be our room. Sleeping can be pretty nice though when you get used to it," he said giggling.

Xiao merely watches Venti as the other closes his eyes and yawns. Noticing Xiao staring at him, Venti grins, patting the space on the bed beside him, "Come on Xiao, lay down with me, you have to be as tired as I am."

Xiao glances away, his cheeks flushing pink however he does set about removing certain parts of his clothing. Carefully laying the pieces neatly beside Venti's hat and cape as he readies for bed.

Venti is simply watching him, humming to himself when Xiao turns back around. He meets Venti's eyes for a moment before glancing away, his face still dusted pink.

Venti giggles again, opening his arms wide as Xiao joins him in bed resting his head on Venti's chest. "See! Much more comfortable isn't it," Venti said, chuckling as he ran his fingers gently through Xiao's hair.

Xiao merely nodded slightly, inhaling the Venti's soft scent, an almost soothing warmth settling over him. His aching stomach is ruining his attempts at trying to actually relax, however.

That and the ever-increasing nausea that leaves him almost light-headed, he swallows thickly trying to clear away the amount of saliva overflowing in his mouth. It tastes salty and vaguely sour which Xiao dislikes.

As Venti speaks Xiao merely listens using his voice as a sort of anchor. It helps distract him every so slightly from the tantrum his stomach is throwing inside of him, Xiao feels awful and for some ungodly reason, it isn't getting any better. He squeezes his eyes shut, his breathing slow as he tries to focus on anything besides the pain in his stomach and the way it's churning.

He hears it give a low growl but he's in too much pain at the moment to really feel embarrassed right now.

"I don't think I'll ever be able to get over the fact that the Traveler doesn't have a vision. They seem human as well, although a bit strange, but I truly can't judge," Venti said.

He'd been talking for some time now, switching through the many stories he remembered from days long past, as well as things in Mondstadt that had caught his eye. Xiao had been completely quiet but from his breathing, Venti knew he wasn't asleep despite not being able to see his face. Xiao being quiet for long periods of time was just something Venti had gotten used to, Xiao just wasn't a talkative person by nature.

Venti is about to continue talking when he feels something warm and slightly wet on his chest. Frowning he tilted his head to the side, trying to peer into Xiao's face slightly.

"Xiao? Are you okay?" Venti asked worry and concern clear in his voice.

Xiao takes a shuddering breath before slowly raising his head to look at Venti. And Venti's eyes widen in shock, his usual talkative nature nowhere to be found at the moment because Xiao was crying.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Venti asked softly cupping Xiao's face gently in his hands. It's then that Venti notices that Xiao looks incredibly pale.

Xiao grimaces then he shakes his head slightly. "My...stomach hurts. It won't stop," he whispered sounding almost ashamed to admit it.

"Have you been feeling bad the whole day?" Venti asked as his thumb gently brushes over Xiao's cheek. He makes sure to keep his voice low as he speaks remembering that Xiao tended to be more sensitive to noise and touch when sick.

Xiao nodded slightly grimacing again when his stomach gives a loud gurgling noise. "I thought it would pass, but it won't go away."

Venti scowls his eyes glancing down at Xiao's stomach, was it just him, or did it look a bit bloated. He reaches out carefully intending to touch it but instantly stops when Xiao practically flinches away.

He leans forward slight pressing his lips to Xiao's forehead, giving a soft hum as he drew back the scowl still on his face. "You don't have a fever," Venti muttered although more to himself than Xiao. "You don't think you ate anything strange did you," he asked despite already knowing the answer.

Xiao was an extremely picky eater, and while there were a small handful of foods he did seem to find acceptable at least he always went back to almond tofu.

Xiao simply shakes his head again and Venti gives a soft sigh. "Do you want anything? If you need something just tell me."

Xiao is quiet for a moment, swallowing a few times before he speaks. "The stories, I'd like to hear more of them. They help a bit."

Venti nodded as Xiao rested his head back on Venti's chest his stomach giving a low gurgling noise. In hindsight, Xiao's quietness all throughout the day makes so much sense but Venti doesn't focus on that his fingers carefully carding through Xiao's hair as he begins telling another story.

Xiao is trying his damndest to focus on Venti's voice, just hearing it soothes him slightly although he can't focus on what he's actually saying even slightly. His stomach will not shut up gurgling angrily as if yelling at him, but at the current moment, Xiao is too focused on just trying to breathe that he can't find the energy to feel embarrassed.

He feels sour, disgustingly bitter-tasting bile bubbling at the back of his throat and he swallows hard trying to clear it and the excess saliva building up in his mouth.

Xiao raises his head again and Venti looks down at him. "I...I think I'm going to be sick," Xiao whispered his eyes closed as he takes careful deep breaths.

"Okay, alright, let's get you to the bathroom," Venti said. He moves carefully as he lifts Xiao off of him a bit to climb out of bed.

Then he grabs Xiao's free hand gently guiding him to his feet. Thankfully there is a bathroom in their room, so Xiao won't have to walk too far or worry about anyone besides Venti seeing him.

Xiao is quiet as Venti leads him, a hand over his mouth and his eyes closed since the room spinning before his eyes definitely isn't helping his condition.

He opens his eyes ever so slightly when they stop walking realizing that they're in the bathroom. He silently kneels in front of the toilet his eyes closed, he just wants the pain to stop and hopefully, when he finally does throw up it will.

Venti bites his lip as he lays a gentle hand on Xiao's back, his other hand coming up to brush his hair back from his face. "It's okay, I'm right here. Once you get it up everything will be fine," Venti tries to reassure them, incredibly worried especially considering that Xiao still has tears running down his face.

He winces when Xiao jolts slightly leaning forward as a loud gurgling burp leaves his mouth, Xiao's face flushing pink with embarrassment.

"Don't worry, it's alright. It's not like you can help it," Venti told him as he carefully rubbed Xiao's back.

Xiao opens his mouth again only for another loud burp to leave his mouth bringing nothing with it. Xiao glares down at the toilet putting as much malice as he can into it which isn't much considering his current condition.

"Maybe it's stuck, or it's not ready to come up yet," Venti said, scowling when another loud burp comes up resulting in Xiao bringing nothing up but air.

Xiao shakes his head his face pinched in pain as a near river of drool drips from his mouth, there is a horrible painful pressure and heaviness in his stomach, the nausea is still there as well overwhelming him leaving him light-headed and barely able to form a coherent thought as he helplessly continues drooling into the toilet.

Seeing no salvation anywhere in sight at the moment Xiao hesitantly allows Venti to lead him back to the bedroom. Xiao practically whimpers when Venti leaves the room for a brief moment eventually returning with a bucket which he hands to Xiao.

Xiao merely takes it saying nothing as he holds it up to his mouth panting, allowing much of the excess drool gathering in his mouth to fall into it.

Venti continues rubbing his back with one hand and running his fingers through Xiao's hair with the other, at first he doesn't even know if what he's doing is helping but then he sees a small amount of tension in Xiao's form ease up slightly.

It's getting late into the night when Venti finally sighs the noise mixing with a yawn that leaves his mouth. "I don't think it's going to come up Xiao, at least not right now," Venti told him gently. "Perhaps you should try sleeping, it may do you some good," he suggested.

Xiao merely groans but nods slightly. Anything, he is willing to try anything at this point if it gets the misery to stop.

Adepti do not need sleep but if they wish to do so they can, even so, Xiao can count on one hand the times he willingly attempted to go to sleep.

But he's willing to try if it'll help him escape this hell, Venti lays down beside him holding one of Xiao's hands beneath the blankets. He gave it a reassuring squeeze as he yawned his eyes slipping closed. "Goodnight," Venti said softly.

It doesn't take long for Venti's breathing to even out, and Xiao isn't surprised considering they'd had quite a long day and have been having an equally as long night so far.

Closing his eyes Xiao attempts to sleep as well but every time he thinks he's on the edge of sleep the pain streaking across his stomach immediately drags him back to wakefulness.

His free hand goes to his bloated stomach as he gently begins to rub it, trying incredibly hard not to think about how he can feel it gurgling beneath his fingertips.

Honestly, he'd probably be handling things a bit better if he knew what exactly was causing his symptoms but he doesn't which leaves his panicked and distraught mind jumping from one horrible scenario to the next.

A particularly sickly sounding gurgling noise comes from his stomach and Xiao swallows hard feeling bile burning at the back of his throat, bitter, slimy, and disgustingly sour.

When it doesn't immediately happen again Xiao relaxes ever so slightly his own exhaustion quickly catching up with him despite the pain.

He glances over at Venti but closes his eyes once more when the room seems to sway in a blur of colors before his eyes. He groans softly giving an audible swallow as he attempts to clear the excess saliva from his mouth, faintly somewhere in his mind he feels as if he's drooling and he is but with Venti asleep and misery still consuming him, he can't bring himself to care too much.

He's once again on the very edge of sleep when his stomach makes another sickly gurgling noise, which he ignores because by this point his stomach has been gurgling the entire time. Although he can't help but faintly think that it sounds somehow different than the other gurgling noises it's been making, almost...ominous.

That is all the warning Xiao's body gives him, in the next second his stomach hitches, practically convulsing and Xiao's eyes snap wide open as a sudden rush of vomit gurgles up his throat, filling his mouth.

Panicked and nearly choking Xiao rolls over away from Venti as the disgusting slimy mixture spills onto the blankets and sheets. Gasping, he coughs his hands coming up to cover his mouth as he hiccups then burps the noise loud and wet as his stomach heaves again, the slimy, slightly watery slurry coats his hands as it sprays through the cracks in his fingers as it splatters heavily onto the blankets.

Xiao can feel tears gathering in his eyes as he desperately presses his lips together and tries to swallow, trying to force back the wave of his own stomach contents currently flooding his mouth.

He whimpers the noise weak and desperate as his stomach heaves again forcing more of its contents into his mouth. It tastes disgustingly bitter and sour as it coats his mouth, and he can feel the mess on the blankets against his skin, it's hot, almost searing the texture of the pale mush feeling like slime on his skin.

His face burns with shame when he feels Venti shifting beside him, but he's too busy trying to keep himself from making an even bigger mess to really do anything else.

"Xiao..." Venti asked softly, his voice heavy with sleep.

He's slow to wake up, he usually is but then he hears Xiao make a strange noise almost like a muffled hiccup, and seconds later there's a loud guttural retch and a heavy splattering noise.

Venti sits up instantly, his eyes wide as he looks over at Xiao, and the sight breaks his heart.

Xiao is crying, practically sobbing his hands covering his mouth. His hands are coated in what looks like thick pale, slightly watery slime. The same mess is coating the blankets and sheets where Xiao is laying as well.

"Okay, okay, it's alright," Venti murmured, his hand going to Xiao's back, rubbing it when his shoulders shake with a barely suppressed retch. "Just get it up."

As Venti speaks he tucks Xiao's hair back from his face noting with a grimace that some of the vomit got in a few of the longer strands.

"I-I....I'm sorry," Xiao manages to gasp out before he gives a gurgling burp adding to the sickening slurry beside him.

"Shhh, it's fine. It's not your fault," Venti told him softly.

When it seems like there's a brief pause in Xiao's retching Venti helps him sit up, and although he does it as carefully as possible Xiao gives a small weak groan as he begins gagging over his own lap.

Venti quickly places the bucket in Xiao's lap and seconds later a wave of pale almost milky-colored bile gurgles up Xiao's throat, splattering heavily into the bucket.

"W-what's happening to me. I-" Xiao begins only to get cut off by a strangled retch that has him lurching forward, another wave of pale bile and murky saliva splashing into the bucket.

Why was this happening to him? What in the name of Celestia was even wrong? Was the corruption he carried finally destroying him? The very thought of that made Xiao panic, fear digging its claws into him deep.

Fear not only for himself but for Venti as well.

"You... need to leave," Xiao managed in between his panting.

Venti scowls as he climbs out of bed coming around the bed to Xiao's side. "Xiao, hush, I'm not leaving you," Venti told him.

He moved carefully, minding the small puddle of sick on the floor caused by the vomit dripping off of the edge of the bed and the blankets.

He reaches out to help Xiao out of bed but freezes when Xiao flinches away a strangled retch leaving his mouth as he brings up more bile and saliva into the bucket. "You...have to. If you don't...the corruption will kill you, please," Xiao begs practically pleading with Venti.

Venti sighed, shaking his head as he reaches out taking Xiao's face in his hands once he finished retching. "Xiao, Alatus, I'm not going anywhere. It's not corruption making you feel like this, I'm pretty sure you ate something bad," Venti explained.

Xiao's eyes widen almost comically and he looks away, his face is burning with embarrassment, and he just kind of wants to disappear.

"Did the almond tofu taste weird when you ate it?" Venti asked as he carefully guided Xiao out of the bed.

He needed a bath and Venti needed to clean up and change the sheets, which shouldn't take him too long.

"Sour, it tasted slightly sour," Xiao whispered, he shudders just the thought of food had him retching emptily over the bucket.

Venti merely nodded, giving a soft hum as he led Xiao into the bathroom. In hindsight, Xiao having food poisoning made too much sense and Venti can't help but be upset at himself that he didn't see the signs earlier.

He's in the middle of filling up the tub when he hears Xiao retching again, he looks at him then reaches out a low hiss leaving his lips as he tucks Xiao's hair back out of his face to avoid getting any more vomit in it.

Xiao eventually sits back after bringing up a trickle of bile, his hand wiping at his mouth.

His stomach is still aching although the god-awful pressure that had been there has eased up significantly. He still feels sick as well even after getting up most of the almond tofu that had been festering inside his stomach.

"I'm going to go change the sheets and clean up okay? I promise I'll be back in a few moments," Venti told Xiao, giving him a small smile.

Xiao merely nodded resting his head on his knees as he curled up in the bathtub, clutching at his stomach. His face is red with shame and embarrassment, he feels as though he couldn't look Venti in the eye.

Plus since the sheets needed to be changed the innkeeper Verr would need to know why. This entire situation was just an embarrassment that Xiao felt as though he would never live down for the rest of his immortal life.

True to his promise Venti soon returns to the bathroom carrying a towel and a white nightgown in his arms. He's changed clothes as well and is wearing a nightgown identical to the one he's carrying.

"Verr gave me these, it's a good thing we're about the same size," Venti muttered as he set the items aside.

Xiao merely nodded slowly, his gaze still on the water in the tub. Shame feels etched into his very being, there's no way he's going to be able to look Verr in the eye again.

"Don't worry, I told her I was the one who got sick," Venti told him, seemingly knowing what was on Xiao's mind.

This gets Xiao to finally look up at him. "Thank you," he whispered.

Venti gave a soft giggle as he sat down on the edge of the tub, rolling his sleeves up. "I'd do it again anytime for you, besides it wouldn't be the first time something like this has happened to me."

As Venti speaks he begins carefully washing Xiao's hair, a smile crawling across his face when Xiao leans into his touch with a soft sigh.

It's soothing honestly, Venti's gentle touch, and Xiao loves it. It always had a way of relaxing him, even in the past.

"Now let's get you back to bed," Venti said once Xiao had finished his bath and gotten dressed. He looks between himself and Xiao for a moment before giggling.

"We match," Venti pointed out cheerfully as he guided Xiao to the now clean bed. A slight grin on his face.

Xiao says nothing, merely blinking, his stomach is still aching and he feels exhausted.

Still, as he rests his head on Venti's chest before they go to sleep, he glances up.

Venti meets his eyes with a smile. "What is it?"

Venti is expecting Xiao to look away, considering the other man is shy.

Instead, Xiao looks him dead in the eyes and smiles warmly. "I love you."

It feels as if Venti's brain short circuits and for a few moments he could only sit there, eyes wide and face turning red his words failing him as Xiao closed his eyes and went to sleep.

Eventually, when the shock wore off he smiled, reaching out to gently run his fingers through Xiao's hair. "I love you too, Alatus."