Work Text:
"Here, close your eyes so it won't sting if it drips down," You were waiting for some affirmation from him, shampoo in hand sitting on the tub ledge behind him. He huffed, lifting a small chunk of the bubbles from the water before submerging his hand again; the sheer amount of foam on the surface would've probably been excessive if Xiao wasn't so secretly interested in bubble baths. You had to suppress a smile when you had figured out, a week prior, about his curiousity. He certainly acted flustered in his own sense about it.
You double check that his eyes were, in fact, closed, leaning forward to catch a glimpse.
He looked so relaxed... well, aside from the near constant crease in his brow. But you know how to smooth it out sometimes.
You finally put the shampoo on his hair, massaging from his scalp down to brushing through the longer tips. It was hardly long before his head seemed to be coaxed along with your every move, shoulders relaxing just a degree further. You could hear him sigh through his nose as you worked.
You shook your hands in the water to wash away the shampoo, gently dunking a rinse cup and shielding his forehead with your free hand. "Gonna rinse it out now," you warned, letting him brace himself for any stray water on the face or ears.
You had to pour a few times, but finally set the cup back aside to pick up the conditioner.
Gently wringing out some of the excess water clinging to his hair, you massaged in the conditioner from the tips to the roots, and made sure to get the tiny sideburns while avoiding soap in the ears.
By now Xiao seemed to lean even more into your touches, though he was doing his best to remain still about it. His eyebrow twitched when you puffed a small laugh through your nose.
"What's so funny?" He asked, opening his eyes to glance your way. He was pouting, just a little.
"Nothing. You're just cute," you said, to which Xiao's ears turned an almost strawberry color. He huffed and turned his head away, which was rapidly heating too.
"Aw, c'mon Xiao. I'm serious!" You smiled, leaning on the lip of the tub and closer to him.
"You still manage to baffle me, even after so long.." Xiao muttered, turning his head back to lock eyes with you. The sudden, intense yellow piercing through you as they always do. They softened after a moment, and he looked away. How bashful.
"Aww," you cooed, planting a kiss on his cheek. He startled, head turning back to you with that delightfully flushed face; a few emotions crossed his features before he settled on a soft glare, stealing a chaste kiss from your lips.
You blinked, but the cogs finally turned and a huge grin plastered itself on your face. You leaned forward to return the same kiss, but peppered on a few more to the corner of his mouth and his cheek. You mentally cheer at his surprised noises, and the tiny chuckles that escaped through his paper-thin indignation.
"Are you quite done?" He tried.
"You don't want any more kisses?" You pout, playful.
Xiao lifted a foam-covered hand and dropped the suds on your head, earning a small yelp that quickly melted into laughter. It was contagious enough to make him smile, if only slightly.
"I never said that." He watched for your next move. You were running your still-damp hands through your own hair, only making it wet in the process of getting the soap bubbles off.
"Ah, so you do want my kisses!" You proclaim, a large grin spreading. He was turning red again.
"I never said that either."
You leaned back on the tub lip, inches away from him again. He was glancing at your lips.
"No?" Your grin morphed into something more mischievous. His resolve hardened for a moment, only to crack.
"Putting words in my mouth..." He mumbled, glancing away. You just stayed there, letting him do his thing. It paid off when he sighed, pretend-irritated, and leaned his forehead against yours. His eyes were closed again.
Both of you stayed like that for a moment, before he moved away and started rinsing the conditioner out of his hair himself.
"Aw man, I was gonna do that." You bemoaned, but sat up anyway in preparation to leave. "I'll be in bed," he hummed in acknowledgement as he finished up, and you closed the door on the way to your shared room. You switched into your typical sleepwear and crawled under the covers. Waiting.
It was a while before he emerged into the room, hair still a bit damp. There was a towel on his pillow, anyway, so it didn't really matter. He climbed in beside you, and you gently took his hand in yours. He gave you a little squeeze.
You smiled and rolled to kiss his cheek, right under the far corner of his eye. He squeezed your hand again, and used his other to pull you closer. Even now, he was attempting to be the big spoon by coaxing your head to his chest. You had no problems with it, always glad to be able to hear his heartbeat and breathing lull you to sleep while he watches over. You suspect he does nap throughout the night, but have no doubts that he doesn't actually, fully sleep like you do. You appreciate the commitment to partake in your mortal ties, nevertheless. Sometimes you wonder if he gets bored. Maybe he just meditates.
Either way, you're already half asleep just from the comfort and him running his hands through your hair. His face was resting on the crown of your head, and you had your own buried into his shoulder.
"Sweet dreams, dove." He mumbled, almost too quiet to hear. You hold him just that little bit closer.