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The bathtub’s warm water is filling up Xiao’s senses, but not enough to ease his tension, and not being used to such a relaxing experience, he can’t help but stay on edge.
His exposed body starts to flush from the heat, bathed in a calming essence of lotus flower and something else he can’t quite recognize, probably coming from the traveler…
“Is the temperature alright? It’s quite hot today, maybe I should keep the water a bit colder.”
Xiao’s attention snaps back to Aether, who’s patiently waiting for the adeptus’ response.
“…it’s alright, do as you please, don’t worry about me.”
The blonde smiles softly at such words, somehow already knowing that he would hear him say that.
But the traveler can’t be tricked by Xiao.
Noticing his beautiful skin going red all over, he slowly moves in the bathtub, reaching for the handle to lower the temperature.
“Do you need help with your back?”
Xiao’s eyes widen slightly, not expecting a request of the sort.
“That’s not necessary.”
“I know, but I want to, so let me rephrase it, ahem…can I wash your back?”
The adeptus sighs, but his expression is an unmistakably amused one.
He thinks about it, as the fumes of the warm bath start to diminish and his body starts to finally relax a bit.
“If you insist.”
Aether takes that as a “yes”, so he gets closer to the adeptus, resting his warm hands on the other’s shoulders, caressing them with his slightly calloused yet soft thumbs.
“Turn around for me.”
The golden traveler’s whisper makes its way next to Xiao’s ear, making him shudder slightly.
“…Ah yes, sorry.”
Aether’s hands don’t waste any time as the adeptus exposes his back, and as if they were fruits reaching for sunlight, they immediately rest on the other’s skin, his palms warming up to the touch.
“What are you apologizing for?”
The traveler asks, his voice warm, tender, as his hands are already massaging the other with some soap.
“…For being so on edge…I’m not used to any of this, I worry about making you feel uncomfortable with my presence.”
The blonde wraps his arms around Xiao’s waist, resting his head on his shoulder too, in a way where his soft cheek presses against the hard skin of the other.
This action makes the adeptus gasp quietly but quickly, making his lungs hurt, as his hands clutch on his knees underwater.
“Don’t say such silly things, I’m at ease when I’m with you…or else I wouldn’t be here like this, I can assure you that.”
The teal starts to unexpectedly shake slightly in this warm embrace, not knowing what to do, or what to say.
“Traveler…what are you doing?”
Aether’s hands start to travel up towards the adeptus’ small but strong shoulders once again, rubbing them slowly and carefully, as he lifts his head up next to the other’s ear.
“Taking care of you.”
The blonde starts to caress Xiao’s nape with his thumb.
“Your hair looks so nice and well cared for, do you wash and brush it yourself?”
The adeptus doesn’t respond for a few seconds, and as worry starts to rise inside Aether’s mind, the teal starts to speak quietly.
“Yes…I do everything by myself.”
The traveler lets out a soft breath, that spreads along Xiao’s neck.
“How does it feel like when someone else does it for you?”
“Good.”
“Just good?”
“…just good.”
Xiao sighs impatiently, while Aether chuckles softly, his hands still exploring the other’s back, neck and shoulders.
“You’re a terrible liar.”
“What are you insinuating?”
Aether suddenly presses a tender kiss on the other’s nape, receiving a soft, choked out sound in return.
“That you’re enjoying this much more than you’d like to admit.”
At those words, Xiao suddenly shifts in the bathtub, making the water dance in many sudden waves.
As he turns around to face the other, his expression is breathtakingly beautiful, at least to Aether it is.
His face flushed, his eyebrows frowning and his eyes are bright and slightly wet, maybe from the intense sensations.
“What do you think you’re doing…? Finding a stupid excuse to bathe with me…then touching me like— like I’m— a desirable being…I don’t get it.”
The sun makes its way into the room, reflecting into the water, letting the two be bathed by both the sunlight and the reflections that adorn their skin.
Aether’s hands can’t stay away from the adeptus, not after reaching that warmth from before, and so they rest on his beloved’s cheeks.
“You’re so beautiful.”
“Stop it.”
Aether gets closer, and closer…and closer, until they’re one breath away.
“I find you to be desirable.”
“Why say such absurd things…”
The blonde’s thumb starts to caress Xiao’s lower lip in tiny movements and despite his previous words, the adetus remains close, not moving one inch, his eyes fixated on the honey ones of the perfect being in front of him.
“Because I can’t keep them inside my mind anymore, not now, not when you’re here with me like this.”
“…I don’t deserve your kindness.”
“It’s not just kindness, it’s love, affection, desire…need and care, let yourself be cared for.”
Somehow, something in Xiao’s cold resilience starts to collapse.
“…maybe just this once.”
“Then I’ll make it worth it, so worth it that you’ll crave it not just this once.”
Aether wastes no time at those whispers, his lips locking together with Xiao’s in a tender and tentative dance.
The air gets hotter, and the chilly water is not enough to freshen them up anymore.
Kiss after kiss the traveler slowly distances his lips, gasping for air.
“So? How was it?”
Xiao’s expression is priceless, his chest trying to breathe in and out to calm him down, but to no avail.
“…Good.”
“Just good?”
“…no, it was…sweet, your scent and taste are so sweet…”
Aether gets closer once more, nuzzling up against the adeptus’ neck, taking in his scent and warmth.
“Hm…you too…”
Xiao’s hands start to caress the golden locks of his beloved.
“Your hair is so soft…do you take care of it by yourself too?”
“Mhm…my sister used to brush it and braid it occasionally, but since she left…I had to learn how to do it alone.”
Aether raises his head a bit, his lips resting on Xiao’s neck.
“It was tough at first, but then I got the hang of it.”
Xiao hums softly.
“I understand…my sister Indarias, the pyro Yaksha, used to take care of my hair too from time to time, telling me that it’s a part of ourselves that needs extra attention.”
“Really? I see…then I’m glad we have each other now.”
Xiao hums again.
“Can I kiss you again?”
The adeptus can feel the traveler’s lips brushing on his neck as they form that sentence.
“Fine by me.”
And so, Aether caresses Xiao’s cheeks, as if sculpting his soft lineaments with his thumbs, kissing him more…and more…and more.