[ looking at him this way, a pale crescent of stolen moonlight against an equally pale backdrop of stone, it would be easy to mistake wu yu as delicate. his every muscle weaves in a tight defense over bone, and those that shine through do so at such thin angles that his veins show blue through translucent-wet skin — cheek, jaw, collar, wrist. the flutter of his lashes feels heavy, like he would sink under despite their mutual tethers, the familiar lay of hands. it would be easy to think of him in every way that he is not, that he is not under the constant anxieties of being stolen, used, negotiated with. that he is not coveted. that he is not lethal nor perfect. to be standing here whole and alive is a gift, but the searching maw, the teeth of the creatures lurking below, circling in the flood... that fearful instinct holds fast. they are somehow here.

but where is here?

bu chonghua doesn't know either save the clues he's gleaned since awakening in a similar miraculous state given the most immediate previous memories he has. that he doesn't immediately move to assuage wu yu with such knowledge will be apparent to him. exhaling slowly through his nose, bu chonghua sits obedient and square in wu yu's grasp, though the workings of his body are hardly quiet. his mind churns, his lungs are timed strong and steady in his chest. his emotions swell into the cage of his ribs where his heart paces like an animal waiting to be let loose.

better judgment keeps him steady, but old habits die hard.

looking at him a long moment, bu chonghua slides his grip upwards along his cheekbone, fingers clutching over the contour of his ear to grip into the damp strands of hair behind it. leaning in, he presses a long kiss to his opposite brow. ]

I know of other ways to draw attention, Wu Yu.

[ for the circumstance, the words come easily and immodestly. he's being completely serious and yet the gratitude he feels that they are together makes his voice gravelly with emotion. what he means is this: he is going to take you out of here one way or the other and there is likely not a force on heaven or earth that can deter him. ]

If you don't want me to pick you up, we can do it this way.

[ bu chonghua separates from him long enough to turn around and kneel, offering the broad expanse of his back. he glances behind him and waves his hands to draw wu yu forward — perhaps if they'd met much early, again as children or as silly teens with less than the world to lose should they make a single misstep, this would have been something they could have done already.

he gives a choice without really giving a choice. your steed awaits. ]