"I have never been this wanted and loved before. Felt this safe or this happy. You really want me and I can feel it when you look at me. When you touch me."
Runyu opened his eyes now to gaze up at his husband. He smiled warmly at him and gave him a gently little kiss. "I was alone and cold for so long until I met you and you asked to join me in the bath."
"I do," he murmurs softly. "Never doubt that." He meets that gaze unflinchingly, willing himself to be easily read.
The gentle kiss makes him smile again and he answers it, letting it stay gentle and sweet. "I waited so you could have some time to yourself. It didn't matter that people were grumbling, I didn't let them disturb you." Another undemanding kiss.
"Anyone who bothers you now, will have to answer to me."
Runyu gave a soft laugh. "I couldn't stand to be in that room any longer. To have to celebrate something I never asked for with someone I didn't know. Now I find that I can celebrate but I prefer it like this. Alone with you."
He would have lots of eyes on him in the years to come. Especially since a part of him hungered for revenge against his father and step-mother. But that was not something to consider in this moment. All he wanted was time to be with his husband.
He grins. "I hate feasts like that. I usually drink to dull the roar. Quieter celebrations like this are much nicer." He brushes fingertips over his husband's face, enjoying staying right where he is. Keeping his beloved warm, while continuing to prove his interest in and love for him.
"Any time you do not want to stay somewhere, let me know. I will see to it that you are not disturbed. It doesn't matter the reason for it." He'll even keep his cousin from throwing a fit and causing trouble if it means his husband is happier.
Zishu presses another gentle kiss to soft lips he's already grown addicted to kissing. "Aah. Me too."
"I would hate to leave you alone to endure. I can find it in me to stay if it means keeping you company."
Gently, he traced the lines of Zishu's face as he returned the soft kiss. Those were always so nice. They made him feel so desired even without the addition of sex.
"Will you tell me more about the things you like? The things that make you happy? I want to know more about you."
He sighs under those fingertips, leaning into them with a soft smile. "Your company would make it easier to bare." He thinks he can handle anything now, with this husband of his beside him.
Zishu nuzzles his husband's fingers as he thinks about what to say. He could respond with a playful question, but decides to set teases aside. Runyu deserves honesty - though the tease itself would be honest as well.
"Other than honing my martial arts, I enjoy reading. Studying. Learning all I can. I paint, when my hands grow restless and I have an image that needs to be brought out."
He nuzzles their noses together. "And I ride, whenever I get the chance or excuse."
But he found that admirable. The signs of a quality leader to be strong and intelligent and also creative. He hummed softly as he gazed up at him fondly. The more they got to know each other, the happier he was with this arrangement.
"I like to read as well. Though I'm no fighter or artist. And I've never ridden a horse."
"Outside meditation, I hate being idle." And he'd never ask his men to do something he wasn't willing to do himself. It often has put him at the front of the lines.
Zishu delights at that obvious fondness and beams down at his beloved husband.
"Teaching someone how to ride can be...enjoyable," he murmurs, tone a bit playful, just as the glint in his eyes is. "I will make sure you are not barred from reading anything in the library or our rooms. You can make requests for more, I will see them granted."
The idea of having access to every book imaginable again brought a sparkle to his eyes. It was something he'd spent a great deal of doing in his life and he was pleased to be able to read again.
"Please. Teach me to ride. I will put myself in your...very capable hands." But really he was the most excited about the books and scrolls.
Expense...really doesn't matter to Zishu. He has a great deal of wealth thanks to his position. Seeing his husband happy is far more important.
He smirks at the request but keeps the kiss soft and slow in answer. Here is a scholar. An intelligent dragon who holds his heart and soul, and he has no interest in trying to take them back. "Later, beloved." Another kiss, just because.
"What do you enjoy doing?" Because he wants to know just as much about his beloved.
His life hadn't been as interesting as this man's. Of that he could be sure. It was why his list would be vastly shorter. Still, Zishu deserved a proper answer to his question and so he chose to give one.
"Reading. In truth I wasn't really given a lot of time for personal things. I always had to be so much more than necessary to keep the Empress from attempting to show her displeasure of me." Runyu's smile lingered but no longer reached his eyes.
"Before my marriage to you I learned things. She knows that I know them. So I think she arranged this so I wouldn't be able to do anything about it. For that reason I haven't had much time for learning what I enjoy outside of conversations with my brother. And even those could be rare." The truth was that he'd been largely isolated and then needing to prove he didn't deserve more attention than he was getting.
What matters to Zishu is a person's heart. And he believes his husband's is a good one. He listens, watching the dragon's expression as Runyu answers. He presses a tender kiss to a pale cheek.
"Then she has made a mistake in bringing us together. When I am immortal, I will help you however you need. In any way. I do not care what I need to do if it helps you."
He could still feel that kiss lingering on his cheek even after it ended. Lightly, he trailed his fingers over Zishu's face in response, watching him and finding himself able to smile again.
"Thank you." It meant the world to him that Zishu would make him such a promise. It was everything he needed and more.
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chiming
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Date: 2022-09-10 09:41 am (UTC)From:Runyu opened his eyes now to gaze up at his husband. He smiled warmly at him and gave him a gently little kiss. "I was alone and cold for so long until I met you and you asked to join me in the bath."
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Date: 2022-09-10 09:46 am (UTC)From:The gentle kiss makes him smile again and he answers it, letting it stay gentle and sweet. "I waited so you could have some time to yourself. It didn't matter that people were grumbling, I didn't let them disturb you." Another undemanding kiss.
"Anyone who bothers you now, will have to answer to me."
no subject
Date: 2022-09-10 09:50 am (UTC)From:He would have lots of eyes on him in the years to come. Especially since a part of him hungered for revenge against his father and step-mother. But that was not something to consider in this moment. All he wanted was time to be with his husband.
"I'm grateful we have this week for just us."
no subject
Date: 2022-09-11 01:02 am (UTC)From:"Any time you do not want to stay somewhere, let me know. I will see to it that you are not disturbed. It doesn't matter the reason for it." He'll even keep his cousin from throwing a fit and causing trouble if it means his husband is happier.
Zishu presses another gentle kiss to soft lips he's already grown addicted to kissing. "Aah. Me too."
no subject
Date: 2022-09-11 06:19 am (UTC)From:Gently, he traced the lines of Zishu's face as he returned the soft kiss. Those were always so nice. They made him feel so desired even without the addition of sex.
"Will you tell me more about the things you like? The things that make you happy? I want to know more about you."
no subject
Date: 2022-09-11 07:06 am (UTC)From:Zishu nuzzles his husband's fingers as he thinks about what to say. He could respond with a playful question, but decides to set teases aside. Runyu deserves honesty - though the tease itself would be honest as well.
"Other than honing my martial arts, I enjoy reading. Studying. Learning all I can. I paint, when my hands grow restless and I have an image that needs to be brought out."
He nuzzles their noses together. "And I ride, whenever I get the chance or excuse."
no subject
Date: 2022-09-11 07:11 am (UTC)From:But he found that admirable. The signs of a quality leader to be strong and intelligent and also creative. He hummed softly as he gazed up at him fondly. The more they got to know each other, the happier he was with this arrangement.
"I like to read as well. Though I'm no fighter or artist. And I've never ridden a horse."
no subject
Date: 2022-09-11 07:29 am (UTC)From:Zishu delights at that obvious fondness and beams down at his beloved husband.
"Teaching someone how to ride can be...enjoyable," he murmurs, tone a bit playful, just as the glint in his eyes is. "I will make sure you are not barred from reading anything in the library or our rooms. You can make requests for more, I will see them granted."
no subject
Date: 2022-09-11 07:33 am (UTC)From:"Please. Teach me to ride. I will put myself in your...very capable hands." But really he was the most excited about the books and scrolls.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-11 07:43 am (UTC)From:He smirks at the request but keeps the kiss soft and slow in answer. Here is a scholar. An intelligent dragon who holds his heart and soul, and he has no interest in trying to take them back. "Later, beloved." Another kiss, just because.
"What do you enjoy doing?" Because he wants to know just as much about his beloved.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-11 10:09 am (UTC)From:"Reading. In truth I wasn't really given a lot of time for personal things. I always had to be so much more than necessary to keep the Empress from attempting to show her displeasure of me." Runyu's smile lingered but no longer reached his eyes.
"Before my marriage to you I learned things. She knows that I know them. So I think she arranged this so I wouldn't be able to do anything about it. For that reason I haven't had much time for learning what I enjoy outside of conversations with my brother. And even those could be rare." The truth was that he'd been largely isolated and then needing to prove he didn't deserve more attention than he was getting.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-13 05:10 am (UTC)From:"Then she has made a mistake in bringing us together. When I am immortal, I will help you however you need. In any way. I do not care what I need to do if it helps you."
no subject
Date: 2022-09-13 07:02 am (UTC)From:"Thank you." It meant the world to him that Zishu would make him such a promise. It was everything he needed and more.