Looking down at the water and food they had brought them, Snow closed his eyes and activated another of his golden arrays, taking the opportunity to cleanse and purify the entire room. Of course, like ZaiWin had made a point to remind him, no matter how many times he cleansed that place, it would still get gradually tainted again. But, since the small room had no windows, their only source of light and warmth a few fire crystals spread around the room, as long as they kept that door shut, they should probably be fine for a few hours. Hours Snow would definitely need to recover his energy. Which led to another problem. Anyone could easily come into that room whenever they pleased! A problem that he urgently needed to fix!
Turning back to glare at the closed door as if it were his worst enemy, he quickly froze it shut under several layers of thick ice. Sure, that would probably lower the temperature of the entire room. But at least they could rest without having to worry about being suddenly surprised by some unexpected and unwanted visit.
As if to confirm his previous theory, by the time Snow finished his task, he felt too tired to keep their golden shields up. He definitely needed to rest. And his first thought was how nice it would be, to simply seat down, lean against ZaiWin's chest, and sleep for a while.
The sound of a low chuckle made him jump, his cheeks heating up, and absurd fear that ZaiWin might have overheard his thoughts flooding his brain.
"Does that mean that you don't want anyone to disturb us?" ZaiWin asked, his still raspy voice echoing all over that empty place, and Snow's cheeks heated up even more.
"It's just … it's safer this way," he mumbled back, feeling embarrassed for his less than innocent thoughts.
At least he was sounding like himself again, Snow thought, feeling a bit relieved. He was definitely in desperate need of any little word or gesture that might confirm that ZaiWin really didn't blame him.
Picking up the buckets of water, ZaiWin carried them to the other side of the room, away from the frozen door that kept emanating icy-cold air.
"And here I thought that you were eager to spend some undisturbed time alone with me," he breathed as he passed by him, and Snow felt the heat spread all the way to his ears.
Yes, it was good that he was sounding like himself again. But how could he joke like that in their present situation?!
Grabbing the tray of food that they'd left them, and that basically carried two bowls of now cold vegetable stew and two loaves of bread, Snow followed ZaiWin.
Putting down the buckets of water, ZaiWin went back for the pile of clean clothes. Amongst them was also a soap bar and a cut throat razor. They were really confident that he would behave, ZaiWin ironically thought at the sight of the sharp blade. Or maybe someone had just gotten tired of his less than civilized appearance. Whatever the case, he was glad that he'd finally be able to shave.
"Take off your clothes. I'll help you clean up," he offered, setting down the pile of clothes
Snow's heart immediately jumped at the sound that, and he quickly shook his head.
"You first," he replied before he could even consider the repercussions of those apparently inconsequential words, and ZaiWin raised an inquisitive eyebrow, a frightening smirk stretching his lips.
"Does that mean that you'll help me clean up instead?"
Snow gaped, his eyes wide, unable to decide how to answer that.
"Very well."
To his shock and disbelief, ZaiWin actually pulled his tunic up, over his head, and dropped it on the floor, at his feet.
Snow swallowed dry, following ZaiWin's every movement as he freed his disheveled hair, only to tie it up again, in another of those heavy knots.
"I'm ready."
For what?!
Staring up at him, Snow couldn't help gawking. Of course he had seen him bare-chested before. But never like this, with ZaiWin standing up in front of him, so close to him, like that. It was rather … intimidating, the way he towered over him, his relaxed, confident posture.
Even though Snow knew from personal experience that ZaiWin was considerably strong, his body didn't openly show any of that strength. Sure, he could easily see the way his chest muscles moved every time he breathed, but he was more lean than muscular, his arms long, his shoulders wide. Snow really wished he could have a body like his. Which would probably never happen, he thought with dismay. ZaiWin had been practicing and fighting with swords and other weapons since he was a child, while Snow had been lying on his back, chained to a bed, year after year.
Like before, he couldn't help staring at the few scars marking his otherwise perfect skin. Every time he looked at them it pained him to see the many times he had been injured, even if some of those scars were from smaller, probably lighter, wounds. Still, they all must have hurt, that he knew from experience. And he wished he could have been by his side all those times, to quickly heal him.
Glancing at the bucket at his feet, Snow looked back at him again.
Well, he had washed ZaiWin's face and neck a few times, while they'd been on the road. And, true enough, since ZaiWin had looked like he really enjoyed it, Snow had even wished he could undress him so he could wash him better. But now, that he was actually standing there, bare-chested, clearly waiting, Snow couldn't help feeling a bit intimidated.
"Erm … you're too tall," he argued in a small voice, and ZaiWin smiled, as if he'd just earned a prize, promptly sitting down where he stood.
What was that? Somehow, Snow was left with the annoying impression that, up until that moment, when he had opened his mouth to say those unnecessary words, there had actually been a way to refuse him. That ZaiWin had actually been expecting him to spit out some kind of excuse and avoid the entire matter. A precious opportunity he himself had just thrown out the window.
With a sigh of resignation, Snow searched the pile of clothes for something he could use to wash him, and found two clean cloths, probably included with their clean clothes exactly for that purpose.
Taking a deep breath, he dipped the cloth into the cold water, twisted it until it stopped dripping, and awkwardly approached ZaiWin, uncertain about where to begin. His shoulder, Snow decided, and he softly brushed the wet cloth against his skin.
ZaiWin did his best not to laugh. He had only meant to tease him, expecting him to tell him to take a hike at any moment. To think that he would actually do it! Snow's innocent personality was just too cute. Well, it had also got them in a lot of trouble, this time around, he reminded himself, allowing Snow to do as he pleased, feeling the cold, wet fabric slid down his arm.
As to be expected, Snow's initial awkwardness eventually faded away, and he became completely focused on his new task, gently washing ZaiWin's body as best as he could, given the circumstances.
The mere fact that the stickiness that had been making him itchy was finally being washed away was more than enough to make ZaiWin feel a lot better. Not to mention that the sight of Snow so intent in caring for him, his gestures soft and gentle, was making his heart beat impossibly faster inside his chest. And so, when Snow leaned closer to clean his neck, it was all he could do not to grab him and kiss him again. That is until he caught sight of the bruised broken skin of Snow's lips. And suddenly the cold of that water was nothing compared to the cold fear and regret that immediately took over his chest.
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A/N: See, one must always be careful about what they wish for 🙄. You're so lucky that he didn't undress his pants as well, dear Snow 😌. Tsk, tsk 😁
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