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‘I’m not scared of them, you know that right?’
Nezha blinked. his eyes are a little bleary from the short nap he’d taken on Aobing’s lap. He could feel his face prickle with a blush as he focused his sight on the source of the voice. The dragon prince blinked down slowly at him, trying his best to convey patience and serenity. He continued carding his claw hands through Nezha's soft tousled hair.
The sound of bubbling water, softly shifting sheets and smell of incense calmed Nezha. They sat within the sturdy walls of one of Nezha's temples, hidden away from the rest of the world, safe. The two princes rested together on a raised dias, surrounded by lush silk bedding and drapery.
Their relationship was still relatively new, the young gods had no idea how to act around one another, but sometimes the pull of their souls would win out against the painful awkwardness, resulting in hours of laying and resting together. No talking, no hurry. As far as they knew they would have all of eternity to enjoy each other's presence.
But Nezha had heard what Aobing had asked. He understood what he meant by them . He had hoped that he’d be able to get away with it for a while longer, but he felt suddenly queasy with regret and sadness and knew he had given himself away.
Aobing’s face pinched, as if he were able to feel Nezha’s reaction.
‘Nezha..’
They’d nearly had this discussion dozens of times before, but that didn’t make it any easier to face. Nezha sat up and began to pull away, still hoping to avoid what had been eating at him the moment he set eyes on Aobing that day. He could remember it as if it hadn’t been a small eternity ago. Flashes of memory would replay in his mind, unbidden and impossible to control.
The roar of the Wind Fire Wheels. The ringing of the Fire Tipped Spear as it split through the sky. The cruel twist of the Red Armillary Sash when it-.
Nezha twisted his face in effort to will away the awful memories that lanced through his mind.
The them that Aobing had brought up.
The legendary weapons had been hidden away since that day, hardly ever utilized now, even in the most dire of circumstances, but never around Aobing. Too many terrible things, tied to them now.
Nezha’s regret and guilt.
Aobing’s scars-
‘Nezha.’ His tone was stern now, frustrated almost pleading.
Aobing reached for Nezha’s wrist, curling around the Universe Ring there. Nezha reels from the touch, feeling overwhelmed by Aobing’s outpour of emotions. Love and understanding. Forgiveness and sadness. Unconditional adoration. Like a balm it curled around Nezha's troubled mind.
Aobing pulls his soulmate close, feeling small spots of tears seep into his robe where Nezha pressed his face.
Nezha would learn to forgive himself, Aobing would see to that. After all, they had all of eternity.