RTYY 232 - Fiery, Red Hair

Snow glanced towards the bright waters of the lake in front of him. It was the biggest lake he'd ever seen. Not that he had seen that many lakes. Still, it was so big that it might as well have been what he'd heard others describe as the ocean. From where he stood, all he could see was an endless extension of water.The weather felt warm and nice, he thought, feeling comfortable and relaxed. And the way the canopy of the trees above his head kept slowly dancing to the sound of a soft breeze produced an amazing play of bright silver spots of light, and darker wavering pools, over the surface of the water.

"I should have guessed, I would find you here."

His heart immediately replied to the sound of that deep, rich voice, and Snow turned around with a smile on his lips.

The young man standing in front of him was tall, with broad shoulders, but he easily kept an elegant posture. His features were handsome and gentle, his almond-shaped eyes the most beautiful, bright shade of green he'd ever seen. But what always caught his attention was his long hair that, under the light of sun, glowed like a burning halo around his head. He'd probably tied it up without even seeing or caring about what he was doing, resulting in a strange mess, some fiery locks that had escaped the strange bundle sliding down his back and chest.

It was just like him, Snow sighed inwardly. And he knew that this young man's mother would certainly scold him for his messy, unkempt appearance.

"I like it here," Snow declared the obvious. "This is a very important place, for me. It's where I met you, for the first time."

The man in front of him laughed lightheartedly and gave him a mischievous smile.

"So it was. Back then, when I came here for the first time, I was actually totally scared out of my mind. After all, I had been told that I was to be handed as a sacrifice to the Gods. My mother even held a small burial ceremony in my name. I was sure I had just seen my last daybreak. And then, suddenly, there you were. Floating above the cold waters of the lake, glowing like some strange, unworldly being. And I remember thinking that that was it. That my time had finally come. But, at the same time, I couldn't help thinking how beautiful you were. And that if I was to be devoured by some divine being like you, then it wouldn't be all that bad," he laughed again and Snow felt his cheeks become warm in embarrassment.

"Your people … misinterpreted the message."

"So we did. There's no way that something as gentle as you would ever be able to devour anyone," the man in front of him joked, but Snow was suddenly serious.

"But I still can't help feeling angry at the thought that they were willing to sacrifice you just like that!" he grunted and the man took a step forward, a bright smile on his face, to place a large hand over Snow's head, making him aware of how short he was, when compared with him.

"Well, they had to send someone, didn't they? And I'm the son of the Governor."

"Your father has other sons!" Snow countered, still not pleased with his justification.

"My older brothers are all married, they have their wives to look after. Since the offering was being sent to be devoured to death, the assembly decided that it would be better if the tragic event didn't make any young widows in the process. I too, agreed to do it. And besides, if they had sent someone else, right now, I wouldn't be here, talking with you. Someone else would have taken my place. A thought that doesn't please me in the least."

Snow averted his gaze, feeling conflicted. But then that warm hand was sliding down the back of his head, capturing his long silver braid in its palm and pulling it over his shoulder. Still with that mischievous smile on his face, the tall man bent down and placed a kiss on his silver hair, sending Snow's heart into a crazy beat.

"It is my honor to serve you and accompany you. To teach you all you need to know about our world. I wouldn't have anyone else stand in my place. Even if you change your mind and decide to devour me after all."

Feeling excitedly nervous and embarrassed, Snow pulled his braid from the man's grasp and turned away from him in hopes of hiding his burning cheeks from his astute gaze.

"You're an idiot, allowing others to play with your life like that," he grunted and lowered his head. "Though I am grateful for all the wonderful things you have taught me …"

Rising his gaze, Snow looked towards the shimmering lake. He had come into this world like a blank slate. A recently created body inhabited by a consciousness, nothing else. And the first thing he'd seen upon opening his newly formed eyes had been the amazed, ecstatic face of a young man with fiery, red hair.

He'd been standing on a small raft made from bamboo trees, and the small vessel had kept wavering dangerously over the unruly surface of the water. But the young man had still stood there, completely oblivious of the small storm raging around him. And then he had raised his arms towards him in a silent invitation. And Snow had descended from Heaven's safe embrace, and had set foot in the mortal world for the first time.

From that moment forth, he had taught him everything Snow needed to know, everything he needed to survive in his new home. How to clothe himself and how to braid his long silver hair. How he should behave when meeting other people, and how to use all the everyday objects they normally used. Above all, he had taught him words. Amazing words. Small sounds that immediately evoked fascinating images inside Snow's head. Like lake, which always reminded him of this beautiful place. Or fire, that always made him feel comfortable and warm. Of all the things Snow had learned and seen so far, words had most definitely been the most precious thing. They also allowed others to understand what he was thinking, he thought, turning back to look at him, his chest warming up at the sight of that gentle smile.

"I'm also grateful that you were the one they sent …" he finally admitted in a grumble, and the man laughed again, making his heart beat faster inside his chest. He loved the sound of that laugher. In the time he had been in this new place he had heard a lot of people laugh. But none sounded as warm or has happy as him.

"See? Sometimes risking one's life can actually pay off."

"But I still think you're an idiot! Playing with your life like that!" he scolded him and the man sighed with a tragic expression on his face.

"And to think that you were such a beautiful, innocent, pure kid. I should have never brought you home. Now just look at you! You have even learned how to curse." He pouted. "Please bring back my innocent LinRan!"

Snow frowned and pushed him out of his way.

"I simply call things as I see them! A bird is a bird. An idiot is an idiot!" he countered, trying to make his way back to the village, but a long arm wrapped itself around his waist pulling him back and easily lifting him from the ground. "LanWan! Put me down!" he immediately demanded, trying to force that arm to release him, but the man behind him simply laughed, his chest pressed against Snow's back sending that deep vibration directly into his body. "Put me down!"

"Don't want to," he replied and Snow couldn't help cringe when he rubbed his nose against the back of his neck. "You always smell good … like freshwater and new leaves."

Giving up on trying to fight him off, Snow lowered his head, allowing him to do as he pleased. He was always like this, he thought, small shivers running down his back when LanWan nuzzled his exposed skin. Irreverent, headstrong, impulsive and incorrigibly willful, always doing as he pleased. If the other villagers saw LanWan treating him, a heavenly envoy that was almost revered as a god, like this, they would most certainly stone him to death for his offenses. But LanWan still didn't care. And he always teased him, completely unaware of the painful, strange way that his inconsiderate actions made Snow feel.

Feelings … Of all the things he had taught him, feelings were the hardest thing to understand, Snow thought, closing his eyes, listening to the sound of his own heart beating. They were never linear, like other words.

He never felt in doubt when he heard the word flower. He could wonder what kind of flower other people were talking about. He could even recall all the flowers he'd seen, or imagine a different one, that may or may not exist. But, no matter what, a flower was always a flower, no doubts about that.

But things like happiness and sadness, like love and hate, they were much harder to understand. Feelings always got mixed up, they also easily changed. Like right now. He felt sad and happy at the same time. He felt warm and comfortable surrounded by those arms, but he was also afraid. His heart kept beating too fast and so he felt embarrassed, he really wanted to be able to run away. But, at the same time, he wished he could stay like this for just a bit longer, he didn't want LanwWan to simply let go of him.

The warm breath caressing his skin made him feel weak, almost as if his entire body could melt away, and he couldn't stop imagining how good it would feel if LanWan kept doing whatever he was doing down his back. And yet, he felt annoyed at himself, for not being able to gather enough will power to fight him off.

Feelings were such a messy thing, he thought, clenching his teeth when LanWan rubbed his nose against the back of his head.

"LanWan, please let go of me …" he pleaded, his voice sounding small and weak. And yet, in truth, he actually wished LanWan could hold on to him forever.

The sound of a deep breath reached his ears and a new wave of warmth was poured over his head.

"I really don't want to," LanWan confessed, but he still put him down, allowing him to stand on his two feet again. "I really wish I could just steal you away. I hate it that I'm not allowed to touch you when other people are around," he went on, complaining while he carefully straightened Snow's hair. "They even glare murderously at me when I speak to you. If I had known they would react like this, I would have never taken you back!" he repeated. Snow had heard him say those words more times than he could count. "After all, for all intents and purposes, I was already dead. I could have easily stollen you away."

Snow really, really wished he had done exactly that. Not that he didn't like the village and everyone that lived there. In fact, he had learned a lot, just by watching them go about their lives. He had learned how real people actually live. He had seen good and bad things. And he had learned about families and households, hierarchy, and leadership. But LanWan was right. Everything would be much better, if they would just stop kneeling and bowing every time they saw him. Snow wished he could just walk down the street whenever he pleased, and live among them like any other person. He also didn't like that they couldn't be this close to each other, that they couldn't even speak freely, that LanWan couldn't laugh or even be his usual playful self when others were around.

"Shall we go back?" LanWan asked him, offering him his hand, and Snow stared at it for a moment before accepting his offer. LanWan's hand was always warm, his fingers long and strong. And the way they lightly caressed his skin sent his heart into another frenzy beat.

With that mischievous smile on his lips, that somehow always managed to make him blush, LanWan laced their fingers together, firmly holding his hand, before towing him away. And Snow simply followed him, his emotions thrown into a messy confusion again, even though he couldn't help wish that LanWan could just keep leading him like that, all the way to the end of the world.

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Orororo? 😵😵😵😄