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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.

He doesn't mind showing what he's weak against, not with Runyu. He'd meant what he'd said, about feeling like they are soulmates. And that means unconditional trust, to him. Devotion. And complete acceptance. His husband doesn't have to be perfect, to be perfect for him.

Zishu happily settles into his self-appointed task, smiling at that sigh as he works. With that lovely hair over a shoulder out of his way, he makes sure to pay special attention to Runyu's back before moving on.

"Lift up, that's all I will need to reach." He starts on rubbing that soaped cloth over his husband's rear first though. Maybe a little mischievously, but he's gentle just in case the dragon is a little sore from their passion.

Honestly, the easiest way for him to let his husband cleanse what he wanted was to slide off of his lap and lean over the edge of the tub. It was a vulnerable state to be in just to expose himself this way but Runyu realized that this was the only man he didn't mind being vulnerable for to begin with. So he made sure that Zishu had easy access to clean him, gasping softly as the sensitive skin was touched.

Sore? A little. But certainly not enough for this to be unpleasant. Runyu dropped his head forward onto his arms while he let the man work, a delicate arch to his back to make the position easier on them both.

"You are very thorough in your care of me."

Easiest this way, yes. Zishu recognizes the answering trust Runyu gives him with this position that leaves him almost breathless.

He takes extra care in answer, and after rinsing his husband's back and rear, leans in to press a tender kiss to that lower back.

"I might be an assassin, but you are my husband. You have nothing to fear from me." Another kiss and he coaxes Runyu into resting against him again. "And I like being thorough in tending to you."

Letting himself be coaxed back, he settled his back against Zishu's chest. His head fell back against his shoulder and he closed his eyes to just bask in the attention he was getting. Never would he have imagined that everything he'd wanted his entire life would be found in a man he'd been forced to marry.

Life was strange but a blessing sometimes.

"I fear nothing from you. I know that you know enough to harm me but I trust you." Turning his head, he nuzzled into his neck. "You make me feel safe and wanted for the first time."

Zishu wraps his arms around Runyu again and nuzzles his temple a little. Just content to hold him. He'd never have expected something more to come from an arranged marriage - hoped, yes. But not expected.

The nuzzle in return has him tilt his head a little, out of the way to welcome it as he hums quietly. "Just as you have the strength and power to harm or control me." Dragon.

"I don't fear your power. It is too beautiful to observe. It's part of you." He smiles and drops a kiss to a wet shoulder. "I've only treated you how I feel you deserve to be. And I won't bother pretending I don't want you."

"Power yes. But as an Immortal I can't do as much as you think without consequence." Not on his own. He didn't mind that so much though really. It wasn't like he had a desire to harm all of the mortals around him for no reason. It was one thing to aid with assassinations as part of their duties here and another to simply murder.

"You treat me like I'm valuable. No one has ever done that before."

"It doesn't matter to me," he murmurs. "You could be powerless and I would treat you the same."

No one else? That has him raise a brow before snorting quietly. "They are fools. You are valuable to me."

Fools? He'd never heard them called such before by anyone. After all, people didn't rush to his defense. This protectiveness was new and he opened his eyes to study Zishu with fascination.

"Are you upset by that? That they never treated me with value?"

Most probably didn't have the gall to, not against such powerful immortals.

Zhou Zishu is not among them. He's only mortal, but he simply doesn't care if he dies.

Or, more accurately, didn't care if he died. Now, he wants to live as long as he can stay with Runyu. So he meets his husband's gaze intently.

"Yes. You deserve to be treated with care and respect, not just for what you can do for others. But for yourself."

A good man. That was who he'd married. Runyu could only marvel over that fact as he watched how serious the man became just at the idea that others hadn't shown him respect or kindness in the past. It touched him so much to know that he could not only have everything he'd ever wanted but that he could also have someone who wanted to protect his body, soul, and heart.

Bringing a hand up, he guided Zishu's face to turn towards him. All so he could press a soft kiss to his lips. Brief but so grateful.

"Thank you."

Protect and cherish, that's what he wants to do with his husband. He looks forward to hearing all of Runyu's desires and dreams, and work to make them reality.

He softens as he's pulled in for a kiss, and it relaxes the intensity of his gaze.

"Thank me by continuing to be yourself."

"I'm still discovering who I am now that I have the freedom for it. You'll have to be patient with me." Which he knew the man would be. He'd already been nothing but patient and kind with him since they'd finally had the time to be together to know each other. It was a nice feeling really. A safe one.

"Do me a favor and do the same for me. Tell me what your dreams and desires are. I want to do the same for you and try to make them all come true."

Zishu just smiles at that and shakes his head a little. "I will be right there with you along this journey." Every step of the way. However long it takes, he doesn't care as long as his husband is happy and safe.

His smile grows at that added request and he nudges their noses together. "I won't keep anything from you. I am a simple man. My desires usually involve the safety and comfort of others." Like his dragon's pools that will be built soon.

In that moment, Runyu knew that if anyone ever harmed this man he would destroy them with his own hands. No matter what that meant for himself, he would never tolerate his husband coming to harm. He'd said he was falling for him but the reality was that he very much already had. Completely.

"Having simple desires doesn't make you a simple man." He leaned up to press a kiss to his cheek, loving how good it was that could do that anytime he wished when they were alone like this. "But I do like that you won't keep things from me. I'm tired of secrets. Having one person where there are none is just what I want now."