fated_dance | Open Post

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only | Expand All

Zhou Zishu can be a very cold, cruel, even viscous man. Generally at the order of Prince Jin, or for the sake of that man.

To keep his promises to Runyu, he will be just as ruthless if necessary.

He watches as his husband realizes how intensely he means what he said. He reaches up to rest a hand against Runyu's cheek, gazing serenely into the other's eyes. At peace with his choice.

Here is someone he can just be himself with. Just exist, no pretense is needed. It's a gift he knows Runyu understands.

He has made mistakes - many of them. But agreeing to this marriage is not one of them. And he knows that if his husband seems at all unhappy wherever they are living, they will leave. Taking the risk of being hunted - Zishu knows how to disguise himself, and his husband is a dragon. They can manage it.

He'd never had someone who would have his back so thoroughly. But just a look in those eyes told him that this one man had decided that he really came first. Runyu wasn't someone to hide away or abuse or cast aside or use for power. Not in Zishu's eyes. Instead he was someone to be treasured and cared for. Loved and made to feel that he was actually worth something.

Despite the fact that a moment ago they'd been teasing about going another round, that was suddenly the last thing on the dragon's mind. Instead, he cupped this man's face and lowered his head down to press a kiss to his lips.

Words couldn't express his gratitude. He could just hope this would.

Nor will he be. Zishu doesn't want another person to command or control or use. Not when that person is his spouse. This one person, if no one else, is his equal. He believes Runyu when the other had said he doesn't see mortals as being below immortals.

Teasing comes and goes. Some things are just more important. This kiss leaves him sighing, eyes fluttering closed as he opens himself to those feelings. Answers them.

He is a man who is so used to having to hold his heart closed, for fear of it being used and abused. Yet this dragon has slipped inside and made a home, so easily. He welcomes him now.

The kiss was slow and tender, just meant to be meaningful in communicating emotion. As much as sex would have been fun, he found he just wanted this now. To share in this with this man he'd given his trust to. Even when the kiss ended, he was still lingering near, resting his forehead against Zishu's.

There was so much they'd have to learn about each other. So much they didn't know. Right now none of that mattered. Runyu felt as if he knew this man better than anyone else did despite how little he knew already.

Letting out a content sigh, he opened his eyes as he lifted his head to gaze down at the man. Gently, he stroked the lines of his face before offering him a soft smile.

If he's created a sex monster, he'll be happy to live with it! But just this closeness, it feels just as good. Zishu doesn't try to change the nature of this kiss, just relaxes into the emotions shared.

Trust.

Even when it ends and his husband rests their foreheads together, he just breathes. Lets them settle into the part of his heart that is filled with his dragon. They don't have to tell each other everything right away. They'll learn as they go, just by talking every day or observing. Zishu already feels he knows the most important things when it comes to Runyu. Trusts that his husband will tell him if he's ignorant of some important fact.

That particular sigh is what coaxes his eyes to open again, and he smiles back, leaning into the gentle hands on his face. Normally he wouldn't like being on his back, under another. Not so with Runyu.

He turns his head just enough to press a kiss to a hand, eyes not leaving his husband's. No demand, just a desire to continue expressing affection.

Deciding that this was all he wanted for the time being, he lowered himself down to rest on top of him. Nuzzling his head to rest against his neck, he closed his eyes and let his fingers trace soft patterns on his chest. Eventually they'd probably have to get cleaned up but he was happy to not move from where they were for awhile. Happy that he could seek out affection and know that he would receive it.

"You're different from anyone I've ever known," he observed quietly, his voice only barely loud enough for Zishu to be able to hear him. "I know you'll wear a mask outside our spaces but the real man I see now is what I mean."

Lightly, he stopped the patterns to rest his hand over his heart. Just so he could feel it beat.

"I've never trusted anyone with all that I am."

Feeling the same way, Zishu only moves to throw part of the blanket over his dragon before wrapping his arms around him. He tilts his head to welcome that nuzzling, content to keep his dragon warm from under him like this.

He listens to that soft voice, feeling it sink into his heart, into his soul. He'll know it anywhere now. He hears acceptance for what he shows the rest of the world, and runs a gentle hand over his husband's back, slow and affectionate.

"Who you see is who I really am," he answers, just for Runyu. "I don't feel the need to hide anything from you." He lifts his head enough to nuzzle the top of his husband's head.

"You don't have to trust me with all of yourself. What I have seen already is enough." He's made his decision. "Anything you want to tell me, I will always listen."

"No. I trust you. I simply don't want to talk about it right now." Which meant that he planned to tell Zishu more about himself later. In this moment though, he didn't want to darken the mood. Runyu was happy to be content and have someone hold him, petting him, keeping him warm. It was comfortable and he only wanted this for now.

"Later. I will tell you later."

Lifting his head a bit, he pressed a kiss to his neck. Right above the mark he'd left. "I want to stay like this right now. At peace with you."

His hand smooths over Runyu's hair and he smiles softly. Accepting those words and content in their position. He could argue that he'd only meant he wouldn't push - but he chooses to just give his dragon's waist a little squeeze to indicate his acceptance.

The kiss over the mark on his neck has him shiver and his eyes slip closed.

"Aah," he hums softly. "Then we will. It's comfortable." And yes. Peaceful.

"If I become too heavy please let me know."

So far Zishu didn't seem to mind and he could tell the man was strong. But they were still similar in size like this. The least he could do was make sure that the man was comfortable for as long as they were cuddled together. His husband was working to make sure he was comfortable so he could at least extend the same to him.

He presses a kiss to Runyu's temple. "I will." He trusts that should that happen, they'll either settle on their sides, or clean up before going properly to bed for the night. He's not too picky which ends up happening - he has no doubt they will not sleep alone from now on, barring him going on missions.

"I like holding you like this," he admits softly.

Runyu smiled, lifting his head a little so he could look at him. After pressing a kiss to his cheek, he moved a hand up to rest his chin on it. All to better be able to look at the man that he was talking to you.

"Mm. Do you? What else do you like?"

Because he was finding he liked hearing these things. A great deal.

Zishu finds himself grinning a little, able to breathe easily despite the warm weight of his dragon over him. He opens his eyes enough to look down at his husband and starts threading his fingers through Runyu's hair. Smoothing it out, admiring it. Enjoying just getting to touch.

"Your eyes." It could be sappy and sound false. But there's a peacefulness in his gaze, a steadiness, that belies any hint of deception. "I could listen to your voice for the rest of my life, and I feel I would not tire of it."

Runyu let out a soft laugh. "They're not so special, you know. My eyes or my voice." At least not to the dragon who wanted to think more highly of himself but didn't see himself through the same eyes as those around him. He'd been beaten down far too often in his life to see the same thing.

But, that pain wasn't in his eyes. He wasn't thinking about it at all. He was too lost in this moment with his husband.

There's a soft seriousness in his gaze as he shakes his head a little. "They are to me." Zishu continues the gentle touches over hair, then on over his dragon's back. Enjoying getting to touch and be at peace with another living being.

"You're going to spoil me with attention and kind words."

But he was honestly enjoying it. It was so different from the life that he'd led up until now. Here he felt wanted with this man. Valued, treasured. "May I ask why you think they're special? What you like about them?"

"Aah? I want to spoil you," he answers with a warm smile. And it's sadly so very easy.

He hums at the questions. "You can ask me anything. I like your eyes because there's a gentle strength in them. I look into them, and I feel at peace." He leans up to press a kiss to his husband's forehead. "And I like your voice because it feels warm."

His eyes closed as he leaned into the kiss. It felt nice. Warm. Opening them again, he gazed at the man who had such kind things to say about him. It was so hard to see them but he believed that Zishu really saw him that way. That fact made him smile.

"Your eyes sparkle when you're happy. Did you know?"

He could say more! But those two things are paramount.

His eyes widen a little at the comment, then he chuckles. "I do now. I haven't had much reason to be happy for a while. Until today." Because of Runyu. Oh, he can pretend to be happy, and has. But those who really know him, if they're not distracted, can see through it.

Runyu thought about those words for a moment. They were sad but they rang so strongly for him. Just thinking about them had him lost in thought for a second before he found what words he wanted to use.

"I haven't either. I wasn't prepared to but you've surprised me." His eyes focused on Zishu again and gentle fingers traced his cheek.

"I feel sure I will be happy with you though. With you I feel freer than I've ever been in my lifetime."

Zishu doesn't rush him to speak, only continues to rub gentle affection over his back and hair, gazing peacefully up at him. Content to wait to hear that voice whenever Runyu chooses to speak.

He smiles at the eventual words chosen and leans into those gentle fingers. Even if it's a sad thing to say about someone who has lived so long. He's glad he could surprise his dragon!

"I want to make you happy. And I like that you feel free with me. I don't think dragons should be caged."

"Is that why you're going to make me dragon pools? So I can have more freedom?"

Honestly, he loved the idea. It made him feel safe to be himself when they were alone. In spaces that were just for them and no one else. He smiled a little more and leaned forward so he could give him a soft kiss on the lips.

"Maybe after you make them and we're sure we're alone I'll show you my real body."

"And so you can enjoy being in your element without fear of discovery."

Zishu hums into the kiss, answering it just as softly. Dragon pools. The name makes sense and he nudges their noses together.

"I would like that if you did. I am sure you are just as beautiful in your real body as you are in this one."

"I'm sure you've gathered that what I see of myself doesn't match your own vision. So I will let you decide when you see me."

Too many years of being forced to hide. Or not being wanted. Or being in the shadows of others. As confident as he was in what he could do and what he was, he wasn't nearly the same in who he was. Runyu let himself nudge noses with him again.

"I'll let you teach me how to see myself as you do. Please be patient with me while I learn."

"What you have done has been to protect yourself. Now, when it's just the two of us, you can be yourself. I am a patient man when it matters - and you matter." His arms slip around Runyu's waist to give him a little squeeze.

"Allowing yourself to listen and try, is enough. You're not alone anymore."