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Runyu felt another tear and this time he brought up a hand to cover his face. This man. He was utterly unreal. And yet here he was saying all of this things while resting right on top of him.

"You can't be real," he murmured around another laugh. "Yet I know you are and I don't know what to do with that."

He can't resist the grin and curls to press a kiss over Runyu's heart, nuzzling his chest a little since that handsome face is covered.

"I'm right here with you," he confirms. "You'll figure it out."

"If it weren't for the fact that I haven't gone to sleep yet I would think this a dream." Sighing gently, he lowered his hand after making sure there were no more tears. He was so used to having to hide those and most of his emotions in general that it was going to be hard habit to break to let himself be fully free with them alone with his husband.

"I'm falling for you. Just a night and I am."

Zishu is a patient man. He'll encourage Runyu to accept all of himself, to be free even if just when they are alone together.

He brushes his husband's hair back again, gaze following where his fingers move, tracing over a cheek, brushing along where those tears had fallen. Those words echo in his own heart and he marvels at them.

"I know myself," he murmurs, absently. "I saw you before the ceremony and started to fall for you even then. Now, starting to learn more about you...Now I am certain. There can be no one else for me but you."

"Before the ceremony?" He'd already been falling for him just upon seeing him? Before he'd ever known anything about him? Runyu watched him as he leaned into the touches, craving them and unable to hide the fact. Finally, he smiled and ran his fingers through Zishu's hair.

"You make us sound like soulmates."

Wouldn't that be nice. Them. Soulmates. Someone tied to the other through fate. Was that even possible? He didn't know but he knew he was enchanted by the idea.

He grins, mostly at himself, but isn't embarrassed by his admission. It's the truth, and he refuses to lie to this one person. Fingers through his hair have him humming a little, and he doesn't stop his own gentle little caresses to his husband. Anywhere he can touch, he'll happily lavish with attention and affection.

"Is that so strange? I've always thought that to find one's soulmate, the one person they are meant to walk beside in life, it would be a marvelous thing. I'd be content with life with my soulmate." His gaze doesn't leave Runyu's as he speaks.

He'd never been flustered in his entire life. Yet those words had his heart fluttering and he blinked in surprise before looking away. This man's soulmate. That would be nice actually. To have someone that was his and destiny had decided that for them.

If that was so then fate had truly been kind this time.

"My husband really had no shame for the things he says," Runyu finally stated but ended up smiling, happy regardless. "You know, we're going to have to bathe again before we can sleep."

He's starting to love flustering his husband. Watching Runyu look away has him grinning wider than before. He doesn't require any answer, it's enough he just waits patiently, content to watch.

"Should he be embarrassed by speaking his heart?" He answers in kind, unwilling to resist the playful little tease. "Aah," his eyes remain amusedly bright as he hums, as if the news of them needing to bathe a second time before bed is a novel one.

"Are you almost ready to sleep?"

"I am used to being awake at night. I think being awake more during the day will be the greater challenge." So he wasn't really that tired but sometimes it was easier to remember logistics than anything else. Runyu returned his gaze to him and gently tucked some of Zishu's hair behind his ear. Such a handsome man...

"When do you sleep, Zi'er?" he asked, the pet name slipping out easily again. He was liking it more and more as he kept using it. "I can make when I sleep when you do."

That way they could always be together.

He's starting to love that pet name.

"Usually later at night. I'm not what one would call a morning person, except by necessity."

To have someone who would adjust their sleep schedule to match his, just so they can always sleep together...to always be together...has him shiver. He can think of no better answer but to kiss his husband softly, lingering just a moment.

He hadn't expected his words to have that kind of effect. But he had to admit that he rather loved it. Sighing into the kiss, he threaded his fingers through his hair to hold him as it lingered on. A soft smile was on his lips when it ended. He'd never tire of this affection. That much he was certain of.

"Late at night. Rising in the morning only by necessity. I can do that."

He's content to keep kissing his husband, only breaking it for air before pressing in for another. Slow. Languid. It leaves him smiling, too.

"What do you like to do? If left to your own devices, what do you do?"

If left to his own devices? He thought about that a moment or so before realizing he'd also really never had free time before. They'd always made sure he was extremely busy at all times. Duties and such to keep him under their control.

"Read. But I also like to play Go when I have a partner. I suppose the rest of the time I would be so busy that if I had a moment I'd find somewhere I could just rest my eyes for a time."

Runyu gazed up at Zishu. "And you?"

Facts he's learning about his husband as time passes, even as little they've been together so far. Zishu carefully pulls out, biting his lip at the motion. Then slips from bed, reaching to help Runyu up to walk back to the bath tub as he waits for the answer.

Another reader. It makes him smile and he uses his inner force to heat the water back up to a comfortable temperature. "I'll show you to the library in the next few days," he promises. Stepping back into the water, he holds out his hands to his husband, to help him back in.

"I like to read, too. And take walks, or ride."

Gasping at the feel of him sliding from him, he frowned a little at how empty it left him. Still, he was pleased to hold his hand as they moved to the water, more so at Zishu helping him into it even though he didn't require the aid. Feeling bold, he let himself straddle him so that way he could face his husband while they spoke.

"I enjoy walking. Though, I have never ridden before," he informed him, resting his arms on his shoulders. Honestly, Runyu was loving how comfortable he could be just being able to sit like this with Zishu.

"Will you teach me?"

Help isn't required and they both know it. That isn't the point. What is, is showing his husband affection and care. How he intends their marriage to be based on, more than just an arrangement to control them, or keep them out of the way.

Zishu likes Runyu's boldness and wraps his arms around his waist, welcoming him close. Just to hold for a bit before he'll start washing him.

The arms around his shoulders is comfortable, as is just being with Runyu.

"Of course." No requirements need to be met. No need of an exchange. Just a desire expressed to learn, and he's happy to answer it.

That caused a warm and pleased smile to appear on his face as he pressed a soft kiss to Zishu's lips. It was brief but it was enough to let him know that he was grateful for the chance to learn. Much like he was to have his arms around him like this.

Just a few hours and he knew he was happier than he had ever been in his long life.

"Is there anything you'd like in return?" He was hardly trying to bargain with his husband. Rather, Runyu wanted to offer a gift to him in return. Simply because the thought of it made him happy.

He smiles at that kiss, understanding the sentiment behind it.

Zishu tightens his hold on his husband, enjoying just getting to hold him. He rests their heads together.

"I don't need anything in return," he wants to make sure that is clear before he continues. "I am not a strong swimmer. I think, as my husband's element is water, that I should try and improve, so we might swim together sometime."

So, Zishu would teach him to ride horses and he would teach him to swim in exchange. The thought sounded lovely honestly. Humming softly, he pressed a playful little kiss to his nose.

"Alright. I will teach you to swim so that no water will conquer you."

He had no idea where Zishu's energies actually aligned since mortals could have different patterns from Immortals. Still, he didn't mind aiding him in the task. If only because it would mean being able to touch him in so many fun ways while they swam.

The silly little kiss to his nose makes him laugh and scrunch his nose up just a little.

He looks forward to these lessons. Teaching his husband to ride will present just as many excuses to touch as swimming lessons will. And he's certain they will find more reasons to - just because. For the pleasure of it.

"And no horse will be able to throw you off when I'm done."

"If one does then I'll have to let you catch me." After all, he could easily keep himself from hitting the ground. But where was the fun in that when he could let Zishu romantically save him instead?

Smiling brightly, he pushed his fingers through the man's hair, using the dampness of his skin to start getting it wet. He could use his magic but not yet. He liked doing it this way.

"You're very handsome, you know," he commented then, admiring those features since he had them all to himself awhile longer.

Zishu smirks and holds Runyu close, thumbs rubbing gently along his sides. "And I would. Then help you get right back on, to avoid teaching the horse you'll give in when met with resistance."

And for the delight of catching his husband and be ridiculously romantic, of course.

He loves that bright smile and relaxes under those hands. Content to let Runyu get a head start on this bathing a second time thing. Eventually he'll reach for a washcloth and soap it up to start scrubbing gently at pale ski.

He raises a brow at the comment, as if surprised. "Aah? Am I?" His lips twitch, though. Amused. "I am glad you like my appearance."

"You are. I'm very pleased by your appearance."

Moving his wrist then, he looked to the water in the tub and guided a portion up into Zishu's hair. Careful to keep it from getting in his husband's eyes, he made sure all the strands were wet before reaching for soap as well so he could start cleaning his hair. Slender though he was, he still had plenty of strength to give the man a fine scalp massage.

And it was a fine excuse, despite not needing one, to keep playing with his hair as well.

Oh. He sighs under the gentle ministrations, eyes fluttering closed to enjoy both the washing itself...and the massage.

Slender doesn't mean weak. Besides, his husband is an immortal dragon. He's already enjoying that subtle strength of body and vibrant intelligence.

Eventually he starts rubbing the soapy cloth over Runyu's back, along his sides and up his arms, smoothing his free hand after the cloth for the simple pleasure of touching as he rinses the soap off.

Runyu smiled more as he watched the way Zishu melted under his attention. That was something he would remember for the future. For now he used his powers to rinse the soap from the long hair, threading his fingers through the strands to ensure there were no tangles.

Only then did he sit back so that way Zishu could take his turn to clean him, reaching back so he could pull his hair over his shoulder and let the man scrub his back more easily. Watching the attention taken to his skin, he sighed happily. He could really get used to this, he decided.

"Should I move so you can get my legs as well?" he asked as he shifted to offer his other arm to him for cleaning.