Sunkissed

"Oh, Miss Mei... I think you got burnt!"

The shade of the palm dapples her skin, obscures the brightness of the sun enough for him to see how red her bare shoulders have become.

It's their fifth date, and it was going relatively well, actually.
Shisan had finally decided to go out and get beach-appropriate attire and necessities for an outing with her... with Liuqi, having previously hoped she'd never have to. But despite her original skepticism about enjoying wet sands and harsh waters, they had a nice time.

They busied themselves together, swimming a little bit but mostly sitting and talking. It was Liuqi who did most of the actual talking, but Shisan has a way of communicating quite clearly in nonverbal ways. Clear enough for him, at least.
That's all that really matters.

She keeps being surprised when she finds herself talking nothings with him.
He's so... different. From how he used to be, when she knew him before. Her time with him years ago, when the both of them took lives for a living yet barely had one for themselves, talking wasn't an option. He was nothing but a wall, immovable and unfaltering and cold. Words fell rotten when he did decide to bless her with his voice.

He's different now.
He doesn't stop talking now.
About anything, everything, big and small. Was this who he kept hidden away?
His wonder and amazement at all around him astounds her; life used to be a burden to him, a curse, the concept of corporeality a simple nuisance.

But the Ocean has gifted him with a laugh, it seems, and he shares the sound of it with her often.

"What?" she asks, having been lost in the newfound comfort of sharing a breeze with someone.
"Your shoulders, they're red," Liuqi says, leaning over and widening his eyes when he sees her mostly bare back as well.
"Oh no, you're definitely burnt! Did you even put on any sunscreen?"

He raises his hand as if to touch her, but thinks better of it and shrinks back. She wouldn't have minded his touch though, and surprises herself yet again with the thought. But her surprise only lasts a moment as what he says sinks in.

Sunscreen!
"Oh god, I'm so stupid," she laughs, the sound of it still new to her as she hides behind her hands in embarrassment. "I didn't even... It didn't even cross my mind."
How stupid do you have to be to forget sunscreen when you live on a small island, one that's known for its warm weather and lovely beaches?

"I'm sorry," Liuqi mutters, still staring at her. "I always put mine on at home, I guess I assumed you did too. I should have asked."
She shakes her head with a smile, noting the way he seeks out blame for her. "Don't apologise. I've lived in cold and cloudy Xuanwu all my life, so the thought of sunscreen doesn't come naturally to me."

He nods, understanding. "Your back looks pretty bad."
Liuqi doesn't take his eyes off her, and she recognises the obvious worry in his furrowed brow. But he takes her scrutinising as offense and blinks quickly, blushing.
"I-I mean, your back is pretty!" he sputters, looking anywhere but her. "Beautiful even! Uh! I, I meant the burn, the burn looks bad..."

Shisan has learned that Liuqi has a tendency to wear himself out like this. He makes a mistake or slip in his wording, and frets like crazy. But she never stops him. She lets him run his mouth til he either finds the thing he meant to say or gives up trying.
A little part of her is amused by him and his funny mannerisms, but she also wants him to stop being so nervous, so afraid of her.

It's only been a few months since she left the League, and it's been so many years since she joined. She can't help but feel slightly flattered by his fear of her. It's just her conditioning; in the League, fear meant respect, and respect was all anyone sought for. Respect and status.