He was nervous. Sleeping in the same building as prince Yuen? He didn't like it... but as they stepped back inside and Zen hurried to dry his master, he acknowledged that there could be far worse situations. The man had earned just enough of his trust for him to calm down as he finished dressing his master for the evening.

Once he was done, he turned, intent on finding the other prince so that he knew exactly where he was, but warm fingers wrapping around his wrist stopped him immediately.

Zen turned back around with a curious smile, but when he was met with his master's unhappy frown, his lips turned downward.

"You should not walk around like that," Qi said as he quickly grabbed a towel and began patting down Zen's damp, naked body. He made sure that he was completely dry before helping him into a light undergarment robe.

I am always naked around you...

Qi covered Zen's chest a little more than necessary with the robe, then tied the belt tightly before leaning back with a reassured expression.

"One more moment. Please turn around," He said as he grabbed a length of silk from one of the dressers nearby.

He was perfectly capable of tying back his own hair, too, but he did as told without an ounce of hesitation. If his master wished to do it, then he would gladly accept the assistance.

Except... when his master had finished, Zen found himself with quite a few extra lengths of hair before his eyes. He reached up to brush the most bothersome bit aside, but Qi was already tucking it behind his ear with careful fingers. Instead of removing them afterward, however, he allowed his fingertips to slowly but gently travel downward along his jaw until he was cupping part of his face.

"I suddenly feel as if I have been asleep for a long, long time. When did you become such a handsome young man?"

Unsure of what to say, Zen licked his lips and looked down at his bare feet. That's when he realized that him and his master were standing nearly toe to toe. The hand resting against his cheek calmly moved its thumb beneath his jaw at that moment, then tilted it upward until their eyes met once more.

"Why are you embarrassed, my Zen?"

Was he? He truly did not know. Though after a few moments of thought, he reached forward and began writing on his master's chest.

"My heart is beating fast again. Perhaps I am getting sick."

Qi grinned, looking as if he planned to poke fun at him a little, but then calmed his smile and sighed out a calming breath as he reached up to pat Zen's hair.

"I promise you. You are healthy and well. Your heart is just trying to tell you something in a language that you do not quite understand yet."

Before Zen could think more on the subject, Qi turned and sat himself down at the table and began pouring himself a small cup of cold tea.

"Do as you wish until I finish my tea. Afterward, I'd like to rest for the evening," Qi said with a knowing look that Zen didn't understand.

Either way, he nodded and without really thinking, immediately turned to seek out the other prince. The man was easy enough to find. He was in the bed originally intended for himself. He found that he didn't really mind. It was not his real bed and he had barely even touched the thing since being there.

Zen observed him silently from a decent distance away. He was resting rather haphazardly on his belly, all of the blankets from the bed beneath his bare body. It was clear after only a few moments that he was completely and utterly out cold.

Slightly more confident, Zen stepped closer as his eyes ran all the way from the man's toes, up his legs, backside, back, and finally, head, which was turned away. Prince Yuen was fit, but in a lean way. Muscle chorded along the back of his legs and arms, both of which were normally hidden beneath beautiful dark robes.

He is quite beautiful, himself.

Moving a little closer to the head of the bed, Zen watched as more and more of the man's face came into view. He had some of it tucked against his raised left arm, but some of the left side of his face, along with part of his nose, was still visible.

He looks younger when he's asleep, too.

Zen was actually curious, now. Who was older, prince Yuen or his master?

Your master is older by almost two years.

Zen quickly jumped backwards, startled by the sudden voice in his head. It was clearly that of the man before him, but when prince Yuen didn't move a single muscle, he tilted his head, confused.

I am tired, little guard.

Frowning, Zen took another step backward, but then hesitated.

You will be very cold without the blankets over you.

He felt a pressure of annoyance in the back of his mind, but when the man refused to speak again, he decided to take things into his own hands. Turning, Zen returned to his master's sectioned-off room and dug through a small chest until he found a heavy blanket.

After checking that it was still free from dust and smelled fine, he carried it over to the other prince, bowing to his master as he passed him, still calmly sipping his tea at the table.

When he returned to the other room, prince Yuen was still in the exact same position, and when he stepped closer, he got no response.

Your highness?

Nothing...

Deciding to just forego his remaining hesitance, Zen walked forward and carefully began settling the large blanket over the man. He split his attention between his task and keeping an eye on the prince's face. Much to his surprise, though, the man never said or did anything more. He truly had fallen asleep.

Quietly, he finished his task and stepped back, observing his work for only a moment before turning and hurrying back to his master.

Qi was over by the bed by the time he returned and was releasing his hair from the tie that had held it away from his face while it had somewhat dried. Wanting to help, Zen retrieved his master's hairbrush and carefully climbed onto the bed behind him so that he could gently work out any remaining tangles. Once done, he retrieved a small towel and dried what he could of the remainder.

As he moved to get up one last time to set the towel aside, he felt an arm slip around his middle and pull him backwards. He landed gently in his master's lap, guided by the man's hold. He didn't fight it, of course, and after a few moments he even allowed himself to relax as he felt his master nuzzle into the crook of his neck.

Err.

He tried really hard not to jerk his shoulder or laugh, but soon, little mute giggles, which were only audible due to the little breaths of air expelled forcefully with each gasp, soon found their way free from his parted lips.

Thankfully, his master did not torture him for long, but instead took one final nip at his neck before leaning to the side, taking them both down to the blankets with him. Qi's arms finally loosened at that point, allowing Zen to slowly roll over until he was face to face with the man. Their noses brushed softly and he could feel their breaths mixing together in the space between them.

"What are you thinking, my Zen?"

What am I thinking...

He hesitated as he sifted through his thoughts, surprised that they weren't nearly as frantic as they had been in previous similar situations. Once he'd decided on what he wanted to say, he slowly lifted his hand between them and pressed his finger to his master's chest.

"I am thinking about how I am beginning to get comfortable being so close to you. It is still hard sometimes, because I am your servant and you are my master, but you said that in such a situation, you do not wish to control any of my actions..."

Qi smiled and nodded, seemingly pleased with his thoughts so far. Reassured, Zen licked his lips, drawing his master's eyes downward from the motion as he pressed his fingers back against his master's chest to continue writing, except...

"I cannot think of any other words at this moment," he eventually scribbled out before pressing his forehead against his master's chest.

When he felt Qi's familiar fingers begin sifting through his hair, he closed his eyes and took in a deep, calming breath through his mouth, then released it through his nose.

"Tell me, my Zen. Does it bother you that prince Yuen is here this evening?"

It had bothered him earlier, but once he'd gone over to check on the man and had found him exhausted and falling asleep, he felt his frustration drain away.

He had truly just wished for an evening's reprieve from his father.

In response to his master's question, Zen shook his head. He got a pat against his hair in response.

"It would seem that we have a visitor," Qi said quietly at the same time Zen sensed something approaching.

They both got to their feet at the same time the other prince walked around the corner, a pair of loose pants hugging his waist. Zen wasn't sure how the creature had actually gotten inside, but the translucent vulture quickly hopped over to its master before jumping up onto his proffered arm.

"You did very well, Liall," prince Yuen said with pride as he turned toward them.

Qi stepped forward, staring at the bird with curiosity.

"Is something wrong?" he asked, making Zen's own suspicions heighten.

When the other prince moved his arm toward his chest, Zen stepped slightly in front of his master. He seemed to have not needed to worry, though, because the man was doing nothing to them. Instead, the large bird he held slowly began merging with his own body, disappearing into his bare chest without so much as a feather drifting down to the floor.

"I needed a place with a strong barrier so that I could release my spirit form without my father knowing," he said as he lifted his eyes back to them.

He had only heard whispers of such things existing...

"Surely you remember having already met him, little guard?"

As if conjuring up the memory from his words, Zen's eyes widened as the images played before him.

The bird from my daydream. When I was sitting beside the devil's koi pond.

Prince Yuen smirked and walked forward, stopping only a foot or so away before reaching his hand out. Zen hesitated when he felt his master gently touch his shoulder, but he knew the signal well and retreated so that Qi could handle the rest of the situation.

When his master raised his hand to settle beneath the other man's, Zen licked his lips and narrowed his eyes. Prince Yuen moved his hand a few seconds later, leaving a small piece of torn paper behind.

You called upon such a revered creature to fetch you a tattered note?

Even as he thought such words, his eyes were focused on the little damaged piece of paper his master was unfolding between his careful fingers.

Wait a minute...

Upon the paper were very few words, but they were enough to make him begin to shiver with worry.

The emperor has begun orchestrating an attack on his highness', prince Qi's, lands using the Didui tribes at the border as pawns.

There were a hundred questions that came to Zen's mind one after the other in response to the simple line of text, but he couldn't think of a single one to actually inquire about.

Pushing aside his own confusion, he took a small step closer to his master and grabbed his hand, squeezing it reassuringly.

We must go... and I will gladly stand by your side the entire way.