#guess I'll need to rewatch it to enjoy the pain properly

[onmyo-jin]

Guess who wrote all that before watching ep 17! Guess who immediately had to write more after watching episode 17 and drying my tears! Which I suppose makes this snippet for @echo-story as well^^ Just like last time I'm still taking prompts! Unlikely last time I will actually move on to the prompts people have sent already 💜

Since he showed the scars on his back at the gates to Kunlun mountain, Zhao Yuanzhou has never once tried to hide them. He has also not breathed a word about them since that they, simply acting like they are not there at all.

Eight scars.

Eigh long years.

Those same eight years have left their marks on Yichen, but all those marks were left against his will, not by choice. To choose that reminder, not once but many times? Zhou Yichen wonders at the strength behind that, fears for the pain behind that. 

Words are hard for him, always have been, but he hopes that his actions have at least shown that he is willing to accept, even if forgiveness is not (not yet) something he can offer. As they prepare for bed he catches another glimpse of those scars, this time in a mirror behind Zhao Yuanzhou, and he cannot help but stare. (Preparing for bed tonight involves fighting off repeated attempts at teasing kisses, as they have better things to do tonight than playing around– tomorrow will be an ungodly early start, and Zhao Yuanzhou is hard enough to wake even after sunrise. Only threats of dunking iced water on him to wake him tomorrow have made him cease his bothering. Which of course means that he is now trying to tempt Yichen to continue what he just made Zhao Yuanzhou stop doing.)

"Enjoying the view, Xiao Zhuo-daren?" Zhao Yuanzhou teases, probably assuming Yichen is staring at his indecently uncovered chest instead of his back. He is in his inner robe, just barely, draping it from one shoulder in an impractical fashion he probably thinks is alluring. Yichen will not be admitting that he is right. Few things escape the demon's notice, and for anything else Yichen would assume he was posing in front of the mirror on purpose as well. But not for those scars.

"No," he answers absently, and gets to see Zhao Yuanzhou pout in a way that is more adorable than he has any right to be. He turns a shoulder to him when Zhou Yichen steps close, pretending that his answer hurt him. It gives Yichen the opening he needs, and he wraps an arm around the demon's waist to pull him close, his naked back close to Yichen's chest, the heat of him obvious even through Zhou Yichen's clothing.

"Don't think that I will forgive you so easily, daren–" his breath freezes in his mouth in a quiet gasp when Zhou Yichen leans in close and presses his lips, his acceptance, against the closest scar he can reach. Under his lips the skin is heated, the texture of the scar unusually smooth against the demon's already smooth skin. He bites the small ridge of it, softly tests it with his teeth, and is rewarded with another gasp from Zhao Yuanzhou.

"Zhou Yichen-!"

"Tell me to stop," he murmurs, an earnest offer. He's not even sure what he's doing, why the evidence of his demon's repentance pulls on him with such force, but he doesn't want to harm Zhao Yuanzhou– not this night. Absentmindedly he moves down the scar, alternating bites and kisses, receiving more little sounds from Zhao Yuanzhou in return. No request to stop follows. Those soft little sighs are his only answer.

Zhou Yichen takes it as acceptance.

ZYZ + ZYC = 20. Kiss on a scar ♥️

Amazing choice, thank you! This one went a little maudling...

I'm still taking prompts! You can find the full list here, or feel free to make up a fun addition to the list~

Zhao Yuanzhou forgets at times how easily humans scar. How they carry the visual, visceral evidence of their defeats or their victories on their bodies for the entirety of their short lifespans. He shudders at the thought: if one had to wear one's scars for life, at his age he might be covered in scars. It's probably for the best he can heal himself as well as he can.

Next to him on the bed Zhou Yichen sleeps on, unaware he is being watched so carefully. He claims he sleeps better when someone is with him, and to his credit Zhao Yuanzhou hasn't seen him have any nightmares on any of the nights they spent together. If he makes sure to thoroughly exhaust Zhou Yichen before he falls asleep, well, one does what one must to help a friend avoid nightmares.

The sweat they worked up together has since dried on Yichen's skin, but the smell of them still lingers in the room. These quiet moments feel like a luxury, and he would wake Yichen to share the moment, but waking him would break the moment too, and Yichen would not appreciate being woken for anything other than an emergency.

So Zhao Yuanzhou luxuriates in the peace alone, remembering the scars that cross Yichen's shoulders, the one round arrow scar next to his navel, the barely-visible scars on his hands. To say Zhou Yichen isn't self conscious about them would be a lie, but he forgets to hide himself between moans and sighs as they spend an evening in each other's company. It is only afterwards that he remembers, and they both pretend Zhao Yuanzhou hasn't long seen the past Yichen carries with him on his skin, like he didn't kiss the same expanse of flesh moments or hours ago.

Zhou Yichen rolls onto his side, his back now to Zhao Yuanzhou. Normally Zhao Yuanzhou would take this opportunity to lie down beside him, to pull him close, and fit them together in a way that will help him trap Yichen in bed come morning. Tonight, instead, he sits up, leaning on one hand as he reaches out and slides Yichen's shirt off his shoulder.

Lean muscles shrug in response to the cold, but Zhou Yichen doesn't wake. Instead he curls in on himself, pushing his back closer to Zhao Yuanzhou's warmth. In the moonlight the visible scars gleam like pearls, like treasures instead of imperfections.

Zhao Yuanzhou can't help himself– and why should he? He is a demon, after all. He leans in close, running a hand under Yichen's arm and to his chest to hold him in place (to hold him close), and presses a soft trail of kisses along one ridged scar, and down another. Zhou Yichen stirs, but wakes only slowly. Still languid from their earlier efforts, he only moves far enough to open one eye and stare balefully but sleepily and Zhao Yuanzhou.

"What are you doing, you ridiculous demon?"

"Hmm, I'm having my wicked way with you, can't you tell, Xiao Zhuo-daren?" Zhao Yuanzhou teases, lips barely releasing the marked skin under them to form the words.

"Why do you like them so much?" Yichen doesn't even respond to the teasing. It's no fun, except for the fact that Zhao Yuanzhou vividly remembers how he caused his current exhaustion. He finally relents his kisses, and settles down with his chest to Yichen's back, head propped up on one arm to lean over him- to be able to kiss him properly.

"I find it fascinating, the way you humans carry your past with you." 

Judging by his frown, Yichen is not moved by his kiss. "And must you enact this fascination in the middle of the night?"

"Would you prefer I do it during the day instead?" He replies in mock-surprise. They both know the answer to that, and Yichen pulls him into a rough kiss just to shut him up.

"No. Now sleep, you great ape."