A soft laugh escaped from behind the screen. "I’m not going to murder my brother. Probably."
"Very reassuring."
"He’s annoying, not intolerable." There was a rustling of fabric as she pulled the dress over her head. "Though if he starts lecturing about responsibility and duty to the celestial court, I make no promises about my restraint."
"Should I position myself between you two as a preventive asure?"
"You? Stand between and my target?" Shuyin’s head appeared over the top of the screen, her expression mockingly skeptical. "Didn’t we already establish this morning that you value your life?"
"Fair point," Lu Yuze conceded with a smile. "Though in my defense, I did successfully stop you from actually landing that kick earlier."
"You caught off guard. Won’t happen again."
"Is that a threat or a promise?"
"Both." Shuyin erged from behind the screen, now fully dressed in the flowery dress that fit her perfectly, elegant and comfortable, flowing gracefully as she moved. She ran her fingers through her damp hair, attempting to bring so order to the dark waves. "How do I look? Presentable enough to face celestial family drama?"
Lu Yuze’s gaze traveled over her slowly, appreciatively. "Beautiful. Though you’d look beautiful in anything."
"You’re obligated to say that."
"I’m obligated to be honest with my wife." He stood from the bed, moving toward her. "And honestly, you look stunning. Even with your hair still wet and a few lingering scales showing on your collarbone."
Shuyin’s hand imdiately went to her collarbone, and sure enough, a small patch of iridescent scales was visible just above the neckline of her dress. She concentrated for a mont, and they shimred and disappeared, her glamour reasserting itself.
"Better?" she asked.
"You didn’t need to hide them on my account," Lu Yuze said, reaching out to touch where the scales had been. "I like seeing all of you. The mortal and the celestial."
Sothing softened in Shuyin’s expression. "Most people would find them disturbing."
"I’m not most people." He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her collarbone, right where the scales had been. "I’m the man who married a celestial princess and survived her morning assassination attempts. Scales are the least interesting thing about you."
"Assassination attempt is a strong word, to use my dear," Shuyin protested, but she was smiling now. "It was barely a warning strike."
"Your ’warning strikes’ could decapitate most n."
"Then you should feel special that I pulled my punch."
"Oh, I do. Every day." Lu Yuze stepped back, releasing her. "Now, are you going to help pick out clothes, or do I get to suffer through your critical comntary after I’m already dressed?"
"Definitely the second option," Shuyin said imdiately, moving to sit on the edge of the newly made bed. "It’s more fun when I can critique your choices and you can’t change them."
"How supportive of you."
"I’m very supportive. I support your right to make questionable fashion decisions." She settled herself comfortably, clearly prepared to watch and comnt. "Go on. Let’s see what the great Chairman Lu chooses when his wife isn’t selecting his clothes for him."
Lu Yuze shook his head with amusent and walked to the closet. "You realize I managed to dress myself successfully for over thirty years before you ca along?"
"Success is debatable," Shuyin called after him. "I’ve seen so of your business photos. Very, well, conservative."
"Conservative is professional."
"Conservative is boring."
Lu Yuze erged from the closet holding up two options: a crisp white dress shirt with dark slacks and a more casual black button-down with charcoal pants. "Which one would pass your apparently very high standards?"
Shuyin pretended to consider seriously, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "The black. You’re eting my brother in your own ho, not conducting a board eting. Besides..." Her eyes took on a mischievous glint. "You look better in darker colors. Bring out your eyes."
"Now who’s being obligated to complint their spouse?"
"I’m not obligated. I’m simply observant." She echoed his earlier words back to him with a smirk.
Lu Yuze returned to the closet to retrieve the rest of his outfit, then paused at the bathroom door. "I’m taking a shower. Try not to let your brother break down any doors while I’m gone."
"No promises. He’s been waiting for hours. He might be getting desperate."
"Then he can wait a bit longer. I’m not eting celestial royalty while slling like I’ve been in bed all morning."
"But you have been in bed all morning," Shuyin pointed out innocently.
"Exactly. Which is why I need a shower." He opened the bathroom door. "Don’t disappear while I’m gone. I know you can fly away whenever you want, but try to resist the urge."
"Where would I go? My annoying brother is downstairs, my recovering mother is in the guest room, and my husband is about to be naked and wet in the shower." Shuyin’s smirk widened. "I suppose I’ll stay put. For now."
"Your restraint is admirable," Lu Yuze said dryly.
"I know. I’m practically a saint."
Lu Yuze snorted and disappeared into the bathroom, closing the door behind him. Monts later, Shuyin heard the shower turn on, the sound of water hitting tile filling the quiet bedroom.
She sat on the bed for a mont, a small smile playing at her lips. This strange dostic life she’d stumbled into, the teasing, the comfortable banter, the intimacy of choosing clothes and sharing space, it was so far removed from anything she’d known in her centuries of existence.
And yet, sohow, it felt right.
Her eyes drifted to the dressing stand mirror, catching her own reflection. She looked, well, happy. Actually happy, not just content or satisfied, but genuinely at peace in a way she hadn’t been in longer than she could rember.
"Dangerous," she murmured to herself. "Getting too comfortable is dangerous."
But even as she said it, she knew it was too late.
She was already far too comfortable...
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