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The first time was an accident. A simple kiss against Zhuzhi-lang’s cheek; the rough skin of Wen Ning’s bottom lip pressed against the unsightly smattering of scales. The swiftness of the action was the only thing that kept Zhuzhi-lang’s reflexive twitch at bay.
The second time might not have been on purpose. The scales near Zhuzhi-lang's knuckles were lighter in color, a washed out greenish-yellow. So it was quite possible that Wen Ning had simply failed to notice they were there at all when he lifted Zhuzhi-lang's hand to place a dry kiss along the faded scales.
But by the third—a slow, deliberate kiss against the sickly green patch of scales just below his ribs—Zhuzhi-lang had picked up on the pattern. And he didn’t know how to feel about it.
“What is Wen-gongzi doing?” he asked, voice deceptively level. He felt, not uncomfortable necessarily, but something close, and the more formal term of address slipped out by instinct
“Kissing you.” Wen Ning lifted his head; his clear, black eyes held an earnestness that made the tips of Zhuzhi-lang's pointed ears flush. A trace of uncertainty entered his tone, “Sh–should I stop?”
“No.” It was an honest and immediate response. It wasn’t that Zhuzhi-lang didn’t enjoy it. How could he dislike such gentle affection? But… “I’m just a little confused.”
“About what?”
Zhuzhi-lang knew better than to think he was being teased but the sour feeling of embarrassment still filled his stomach. “Please forgive my bluntness but there are many better places to kiss. Nicer places…without…”
“Scales?”
“Mm.”
Wen Ning seemed to consider this. His eyebrows pulled together as he rested a careful palm over the spot he’d just kissed. “But they’re so pretty.”
“They’re ugly,” Zhuzhi-lang countered mildly. “You don’t have to lie to spare my feelings. I know what I look like.”
Wen Ning was silent for a long moment and then: “They shine in the light.” His eternally hoarse voice was as quiet as ever but the words he spoke were loud in Zhuzhi-lang’s ears. “Like jewels. Have you noticed?”
Zhuzhi-lang went out of his way to never look at his reflection so…no. He hadn’t. If that was even true. Though, he didn’t think Wen Ning would lie to him.
“You’re not teasing me, are you?”
“O–of course not!” Wen Ning haltingly assured. “Zhuzhi-lang is very pretty. Every…every part of you.”
A telling rush of blood colored Zhuzhi-lang’s cheeks. “I used to be prettier.”
“I like how you look now.”
“But A-Ning hasn’t seen my other appearance.”
“It doesn’t matter. You could stay in your snake form forever or look fully human tomorrow. I wouldn’t care.” It was rare for Wen Ning to speak so much at once; he cleared his throat. “I’ll always think you’re handsome.”
Zhuzhi-lang’s mouth parted but there were too many things he wanted to say, and in the end he simply leaned over to cup Wen Ning’s cheeks. Light trickled in from the small window across the room and Zhuzhi-lang couldn’t help but glance at the backs of his hands. The scales did shine in the light.
“I feel like I’m in one of Junshang’s novels,” he confessed with a shaky smile.
The corners of Wen Ning’s lips turned down. “Don’t you dislike those?”
“Not all of them,” Zhuzhi-lang said. “Even the worst ones have a certain charm.”
He brought Wen Ning in for a kiss. And out of the corner of his eye, Zhuzhi-lang could still see the soft way sunlight made his scales gleam.