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[The combination of Itachi's assistance and the buoyancy of the water allow him to find his balance, and he ducks his head at Itachi's words. He is beyond protesting it or making a whiny fuss about it, but it's still hard to hear Itachi speak of his worth so plainly.]

Then I'm glad. [Is what he says eventually, resolving to make time for a few more sketches. It's rare he has time for the intricate paintings, but it's easy to find a few minutes for a simpler sketch.

One of his hands twines in Itachi's hair and he leans forward to kiss him again, reveling in the closeness and the quiet of the moment.]

Mm. How long can you hold your breath?

（ it's said with — just the faintest trace of mischief. a rare thing, in him. ）

[His brow furrows and he laughs.]

A little more than three minutes. Why?

（ he frees up one hand, and murmurs: ）

Then take a deep one.

（ he forms the signs for the suirō no jutsu, and water coalesces around them, enshrining them in its embrace before it drags them down beneath the surface.

with the bioluminescence, and the additional help from wei ying's talismans, the underwater world is as lush and alive as anything on the surface, visible even without the sharingan. fish dart by, jeweled in the light, curious at the intrusion into their territory. itachi curls an arm around his companion, as much to gauge his body language and discomfort as they descend — though the pressure is equalized by the barrier — until they gently touch the ocean floor.

Inform me when you need to ascend. ）

Edited 2023-09-04 23:21 (UTC)

[He's instantly reminded of Xrisora, though it's entirely different experiencing an underwater world in his regular human body. There is something to Itachi's jutsu no doubt that makes movement beneath the water easier he thinks then it would be normally and he takes full advantage. His eyes dart this way and that and for a long moment he simply gazes up at the bright swirl of water and light above them, mesmerized by the beauty of it.

He turns to smile at Itachi and then nods his head in the direction of a bright collection of coral that's caught his attention.]

This is amazing. You know, the last time we did this you were a dragon. [There's laughter in his eyes that doesn't breach his lips.] How long can you hold your breath?

（ he observes the coral with curious interest, and then with a faint curve to his mouth: ）

Longer than you.

（ he is plainly teasing. though the truth of it is — not by much. his lungs were too damaged, too long by the illness that ravaged his body, and short of a transplant — which he is certain mccoy would offer, and perform — there is not much to be done for the scar tissue. ）

[Don't make him snort, Itachi, he'll drown! Wei Wuxian shakes his head, rolling his eyes dramatically to get his reaction across as his eyes remain bright with amusement.]

This man! [He almost grins before remembering to conserve his air.

And then a minute later his eyes grow wide and his jaw falls open, just a little. Not enough to take in any water, but enough to cut his air supply down by at least a minute—or it would be if not for what he does next. With a few twists of his fingers, he crafts two bright red arrays and one of them sinks into each of their chests. Itachi will find that he can instantly breathe underwater.]

I forgot! Don't make fun of me, I've never had a chance to use it on a mission!

（ this is the story of how itachi just stares at wei ying, love of his life, absolute buffoon, for a solid fifteen seconds.

and then he just cracks the dumbest smile, and reaches out to ruffle the man's hair. devoid of oxygen, all he succeeds in doing is stirring up a messy halo of long black tendrils drifting free of the tie he'd put it up in. ）

You are ridiculous. Please, never change.

[He can't even defend himself, he IS ridiculous. He lets out a soundless laugh and covers his face with his hands for a moment.]

It lasts for at least thirty minutes but I can always refresh it again. [He lowers his hands and steps towards Itachi, taking him by the hand and tugging him along.]

How soon do you need to be back? [They'll probably need to get out of the cold before then anyway, but it's helpful to know.]

Midnight is the longest I can be away before they miss me. However, I can send a clone. So long as they do not stray too far beyond the radius of my sensory abilities, it would fool them. I believe the captain's intention was to anchor not too far for the night.

（ so, you know. he's got time. ）

Good. [The Captain and the crew of the Silent Plunder have had enough of Itachi's time lately, now it's Wei Wuxian's turn.

As they walk along the bottom of the sea floor, a long snake like fish swims by and it takes him a moment to remember it's name. Eel he recalls. A name he wouldn't have known without how he'd read up on ocean life after Xrisora. Wei Wuxian follows the creature at a sedate pace, watching as it winds through the narrow tunnels of a structure of coral.

He only barely resists the urge to reach out and try to skim a hand along its spine. Eventually though, the eel winds out of the coral and around his legs, prompting Wei Wuxian to kneel to get a better look even as it darts away again.]

I think it's curious. [That makes two of them.

Wei Wuxian stays where he is and extends an arm, and after a while the eel approaches again, twining around his arm once before disappearing back into the coral for good this time. He lets his arm fall to his side again and resumes his spot at Itachi's side.]

Do you know what makes the water glow like this?

Yes.

（ and for a time it seems like that is all he has to say on the matter. wei ying asked if he knows, not to clarify that knowledge.

instead he watches, as the eel roams — makes its stop with wei ying, curiously encircling his arm before its retreat. red eyes track its progress as it dips back beneath the shadow of the coral.

he cannot help but wonder how, exactly, sharks might take to the man. he knows from long experience that they are neither as bloodthirsty nor as cruel as people say. would kisame object to that assertion, he wonders? or would he accept it as truth, now? four years of partnership no doubt resulted in considerable insights being made on both sides — although kisame would still despise him for the role he played as a double agent. if he had known, it would have come to blows long before his death.

finally — ）

There is an algae in the water. It produces a bioluminescent effect.

Algae! [Who would have thought? The world really is such a strange and amazing place. He doesn't know how something like algae can make an ocean come to life with light, and he makes a mental note to research it when they get back.

In the meantime Wei Wuxian continues to explore the ocean floor, investigating, picking up a handful of shells, and occasionally pausing to simply take in the view. Eventually he feels a chill beginning to settle into his skin and he motions for them to retreat back to the surface.]

（ ascending is a simple affair — and once they break the surface, he draws a long breath. the transition from breathing underwater to breathing above is ... not uncomfortable, explicitly, but certainly strange.

and then he hauls himself up out of the water, intending to walk across the lagoon to return to where they'd shucked their clothing, not terribly interested in troubling himself to swim the distance. the air is a cold chill against his skin and there's a faint involuntary twitch as he suppresses a shiver.

once they've returned to the shore — ）

May I use your Qiankun pouch?

（ he keeps rough stock of its contents — and is well aware that wei ying carries all manner of useful items out of habit besides. he will certainly have blankets, easily substituted for towels as they dry. ）

[Having followed Itachi out—likewise a little too cool to stay in the water—he nods his agreement but reaches for Itachi's hand to pause him in place.]

Here, let me. [He traces a symbol into the air in glowing red characters and it settles into Itachi's hair, drying it instantly. That one hasn't seen much use either, but it comes in handy now and he smiles at Itachi as he moves past him to retrieve his qiankun pouch. Instead of handing it over, he pulls a blanket from inside of it, easily able to figure out what Itachi might be looking for, and then sets a warming array on the blanket before handing it to him.

Itachi will find the blanket nice and toasty when he uses it, and Wei Wuxian returns to squeezing his hair out before using the same drying talisman on his own hair.]

（ it's such a simple thing. here, let me. yet — he does not remember the last time he heard such a thing, much less as far as rendering assistance to him has gone. he starts faintly when wei ying sets the talisman to warm him — he is aware of the ability so that is not what gives him pause — but had not expected...

ah, but it does not truly matter what he expects, does it? wei ying has proved him wrong at every step. somehow, neither personal betrayal nor learning of the massacre has driven him away. and here he is, thinking first of itachi's own comfort.

his fingers clutch at the blanket, curling into the warmth reflexively. his teeth click together, caging a sentiment he decides is better left unsaid.

ultimately, he sends a clone off to collect firewood, and he sinks down onto the black sand; for once contented with not doing anything especially useful or pressing in the moment. instead, he simply watches wei ying as the man dries himself and once he is acceptably devoid of water — ）

Come here.

（ he lifts one corner of the blanket, offering the spot beside him. ）

[Wei Wuxian pauses as he reaches for his trousers, glancing up to meet Itachi's gaze and immediately breaking into a smile. Cute definitely isn't the first word he associates with Itachi, but right now it's the only one that fits. Extremely cute even.

He leaves his pants on the floor and goes, kneeling to sit beside him and huddle into Itachi's side. Even without the warming talisman it would be cozy, but the combination of Itachi's body heat and the array warmed blanket have him sighing in contentment.]

This is much better than just getting dressed.

Don't get comfortable.

（ but even in contrast to the words, he folds the blanket in around them both, and tugs the man in against him, curling an arm across his shoulders.

the clone, meanwhile — fully dressed, thank you — returns and deposits an armful of driftwood before self-dismissing. itachi, in a languid manner better suited to a cat satisfied in a sunbeam, reaches out with one hand to do the flickering hand seals of a fire jutsu — and then the wood sparks to life. it's dry enough that it burns almost entirely without smoke, casting shadows in an ageless dance around them.

he does not speak for a long while, gaze fixed on the flames. then: ）

This is... pleasant. Thank you for joining me.

[Warmth suffuses him from head to toe and he closes his eyes, reveling in the peaceful contentment drifting over him. Even if it isn't as rare as it once was, this level of physical closeness with Itachi isn't common and he isn't going to take it for granted.

His eyes flutter back open at Itachi's words and he hums softly in agreement.]

Thank you for asking to meet. I really...ah, I really like spending time with you like this. You know I love exploring the worlds we visit. It's always better doing it with you.

I would like to posit the theory that you are, perhaps, somewhat biased in this.

（ but there's a hint of playfulness to his tone, accentuated in the way that he turns his head to press a kiss against the crown of the man's hair, dried now with the help of the talisman but still faintly tacky with salt. ）

[He lets out a boyish laugh and shakes his head once Itachi's lips have drawn away.]

Me? Biased? Slander! I have never been anything but completely just and unbiased in my entire life. [As he makes the claim, he slips one hand out of the blanket, just enough to hold three fingers up and cross them with his thumb on a swear.

His smile brightens if possible and he shuffles in the blanket, motioning for Itachi to lay back if he's willing. The blanket is big enough to still cover them entirely even if they lay down, and it seems a more comfortable position.]

It's going to be so annoying going back to the Hawking without you. Obviously you should just come back with me instead. I'll smuggle you in inside of my qiankun pouch.

（ there is a moment where it seems like he might refuse, stiffly upright despite wei ying's gesturing. then, by degrees, he eases back, settling with one hand behind his head and the blanket still tucked well around them both. ）

I would think that would almost be as uncomfortable as being sealed into a scroll. No, thank you. There is work to be done aboard the Silent Plunder.

[He lets out a dramatic sigh and then curls in towards Itachi to fix him with the full breadth of his feigned pout.]

Fine, fine, but only because I'm pretty sure people wouldn't actually survive in a qiankun pouch. [Though now that he's thinking about it...]

I wonder if someone had an air supply...[Hmm. Not for long of course, not without food or water. Would they even be able to access it? He probably shouldn't try crawling into a qiankun pouch, right?

He reaches down to catch Itachi's hand in his own, threading their fingers together.]

I'll settle for drawing you more pictures until this mission is over.

（ he sees that hamster wheel turning at mach speed, and he does not approve. at least for the moment. so itachi just puffs out an exasperated murmur, rolling his eyes faintly. out of the water, they're darkened again. it has been a long time since he felt the need to keep the sharingan active around his companion. ）

Very well. And it is difficult to say what will come next. If we can be reasonably certain the orb is on Dracness... mm.

From what Leixi said, it would have at least been there at some point. Maybe if there are dragons there, they can help us. Who knows, maybe the one that carried the High Queen's daughter is still alive. [It was a dragon after all, it must be long lived.

He reaches up to push back a few hairs that are about to fall into Itachi's face and smiles at him warmly.]

And if the dragons can't help us, we figure it out when we get there.

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