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Hong Lu ran his fingers through his hair, dissatisfied. After another battle encounter had left his body in less than ideal conditions, caked in blood and other unknown bodily substances left him feeling rather unclean. Unfortunately Dante’s ability to rebuild the sinners back into working condition did not clean up the rest of the residue from fights. While he didn’t entirely hate getting his hands dirty, there was a difference between fighting in the heat of the battle and the aftermath which left him feeling especially filthy. As fresh blood drys it clings to his skin, the viscera that stained his clothes made him wish to be rid of them immediately.
It was an awful feeling.
Sighing for a moment, Hong Lu returns his attention to the bus and the rest of his team. Each one climbing onto the bus, preparing to depart once more. Ishmael tosses him a concerned look to which he only briefly stares blank faced at her before smiling as brightly as before. He momentarily disregards his current discomfort and hurriedly catches up with the rest of the sinners.
————
Hong Lu’s steps are fast as he approaches his designated room on the bus. While he’d love to stay and chat with the others he had more important things to do, and it didn’t seem like anyone else was particularly interested in talking anyways. Or at least that’s what he would have assumed, though his expectations were betrayed as he felt a gentle hand on his shoulder.
“Ah- I do not wish to bother you if you are busy, of course, but I wished to inquire if I may, with your permission, partake in a conversation with you.”
Hong Lu turns his head to the inquirer who had caught his attention. Yi Sang shifts uncomfortably on his feet, his eyes directed elsewhere.
“If you do not wish to I will have no issue-“
“Of course~ I don’t mind your company at all Yi Sang,”
They’ve done this song and dance many times before. Yi Sang would request Hong Lu’s attention only to quickly second guess himself and back down on his offer. Hong Lu had made the mistake once before of letting Yi Sang completely resend his offer and wander away but he had since learned to cut him off before he got the chance.
Hong Lu opens the door to his room and steps aside, allowing Yi Sang the chance to enter. No words were exchanged as Hong Lu closes the door behind the both of them. Though he notices the conundrum he faces now, as he had indeed planned to bathe as soon as he got back but he’d hate to send Yi Sang away as soon as he had let him in, but he didn’t wish to be caked in blood for any longer than necessary either.
“Oh, I should’ve mentioned it before but I am in desperate need of a bath, in fact I should do that right now.” He spoke almost too casually.
“Do you wish for me to leave?”
“Haven’t I already said it? I don’t mind you company,” His smile only brightened. “And I’ve been feeling terribly sore, all these fights have been incredibly tiring. I’m just not sure if I’ll be able to clean my hair as well as I should..”
It was a subtle invitation, one that Yi Sang had since been able to pick up on. Perhaps for someone else it might’ve been a strange or embarrassing request but the two has partaken in moments like this before, some more intimate than others, and this was hardly something that either of them found uncomfortable.
“If you so choose to have me by your side, you know I will not reject your presence.”
And so his answer was given, Hong Lu guided him to the bathroom where he turned the water on. Yi Sang glances around the bathroom that was decorated lavishly, more so than his own, a reflection of the life Hong Lu once had, Yi Sang assumed. He looks back towards Hong Lu, who had begun to undress.
It felt almost voyeuristic to watch, but he couldn’t force himself to look away. He was certain Hong Lu was aware of his gaze, despite the fact that his back was faced to him, and perhaps it was that reason for why Yi Sang felt less strange in staring at him in such a way. Yi Sang watched as each layer was carefully stripped away, revealing first the vest beneath the coat, then the dress shirt, and finally bare skin. His long hair draped over most of his body but even so his strong physique was revealed beneath all the clothes that would cover him up. Of course he’d seen his body before in some of his.. more revealing mirror world counterparts, but this was entirely different. This was more personal.
The moment did not last forever though, and Yi Sang was broken out of his trance as Hong Lu begins to lift himself into the now full tub. Yi Sang stops him for a moment, and Hong Lu casts a confused look towards him but when Yi Sang raises his hands into Hong Lu’s hair, removing the hair tie which held his hair up into that high ponytail he smiles once more, having likely forgotten to remove it himself.
Hong Lu lowers himself into the bathtub finally, already feeling better as all the grime would be removed from his body. Yi Sang parts with his jacket, letting it drop to the floor with the other pile of clothes, and rolls his sleeves up. He sits beside the tub and runs his hands through Hong Lu’s long hair.
Hong Lu leans into the touch.
“Ah~ I remember when my servants would wash me like this, they’d always insist on making sure I was perfectly cleaned and it always took ages,” Hong Lu reminisces.
“I hope my process will suffice.”
“It is more than enough, Yi Sang~”
Yi Sang carefully threads his fingers through his companions hair, ridding it of any blood or dirt which had stuck to it. He turned his attention towards Hong Lu’s face as he did so, his eyes were shut, he looked peaceful. It was almost a wonderful feeling, to see him in such a state. He would not say so out loud, of course, but Yi Sang found him incredibly beautiful with his hair down and his face relaxed. He considered it a great compliment to be allowed to see him like this in such an intimate moment.
“It must be different, to have accustomed to life such as this. Did you then prefer that life?”
Hong Lu opens his eyes to look at Yi Sang, that brilliant cyan eye of his seemed to glow in the dark room. A soft smile on his face.
“It is different, I suppose. Oh, but my servants were always so cold, their touch always felt so distant. I think I much prefer your presence Yi Sang.”
It wasn’t exactly the answer to the question he had asked but he decided not to press further. Yi Sang had flushed slightly at the compliment, which felt especially meaningful in this environment.
“If that is so, then I am glad for it. Thank you.”
Hong Lu sinks deeper into the water, submerging himself. He giggles from under the water and bubbles emerge from the surface before he emerges once more to speak.
“You are always so strange, but I know you feel the same,” He laughs again, this time not muffled by the water. It was delightfully melodic.
“I could not deny that…”
Many words would be left unspoken, Yi Sang would not attempt to say them out loud, all the things he thought. It was often like this, where the poet would think of a thousand words to say yet none of the confidence to say them.
So instead he dug his fingers further into Hong Lu’s hair, focusing his attention solely on that. However his hands would soon wander to Hong Lu’s shoulders instead, brushing over the soft skin, pale like ivory. His palms would trail down Hong Lu’s arms, trailing the curvature of his body. His body was quite fit, something that could not immediately be gauged when he was wearing all of his clothes but something evident in the way he fought.
He eventually reached his hands, briefly pressing his fingers against the other man’s.
Hong Lu sighs into it and Yi Sang realizes the intimacy of such an action and retracts his hands, slightly red in the face. Hong Lu looked similarly flushed though he said nothing of it, though he did seem slightly disappointed by the lack of touch.
The two would remain in silence for a bit longer. Though Hong Lu would soon break the silence once more.
“Aah, Yi Sang, it’s quite wonderful, you should join me,”
“You know that is improbable.”
“I’m sure you can find a way~”
———
They would spend much more time like that in comfortable silence, perhaps more time than was actually necessary but that is irrelevant. Though Yi Sang found it especially enlightening, and he’d suppose that it may not be the only time he partook in such an action.