Author's Notes: Standard disclaimers apply.
Sunlight on Roses
Sunlight on roses.
That's what Boyan's hair looks like, spread across Da Qiao's lap, just so the early morning light can pick out the few strands of sun-dyed gold among the brown. Together like that, under her favorite willow with the flowers in full bloom, they cut a pretty picture.
The slow rise and fall of his chest indicates he's asleep. She doesn't seem to mind. They say that the masks people wear cease to exist when they're asleep, which is certainly true for him. It's as if an invisible hand took that shimmering, meticulously crafted veneer of practicality and self-possession, and peeled it away to reveal the boy that lay beneath.
I'm glad that she remembers how much of that boy he still is. Deny it as he may, he still needs someone to make him tea on a rainy evening without him having to ask, to watch the beauty of the setting sun with him, to hold him in silence when things get rough and words don't feel like much more than sound given brittle structure. She is able to be all these things to him, reminding him again and again that leaning on another is no sign of weakness. She should know, as she has found support in him as well.
It wasn't long after Sun Ce's death that she began to turn to him for that support. I frowned upon it at first, because our late lord was as dear to me as a brother, and it seemed strange that she would seek new love so soon. I thought her fickle, with my black-and-white concept of love, but out of politeness I didn't speak to her about it. Lu Xun, however, I questioned quite often, asking him why.
"Lady Qiao has always loved Lord Sun Ce," he replied, always so serious and honest. "Some part of her will continue to love him now that he is gone. But, my lord, the loss of one so dear opened a wound. Would you prefer that it remained unhealed for the rest of her life?"
His words, briefly, allowed me to see what she must have seen when she decided to open her heart to him. Perhaps, in these matters, he is wiser than I. And I cannot deny that I can rest easier at night knowing that they both have someone special to turn to.
Outside the window of my study on the verandah, I see him stir. Eyes of gold drift open to gaze upon a face made lovelier than it is by- what else?- love.
"Da," he whispers, his voice still thick with sleep. I can imagine him smiling, and her smiling back as she brings her face down close to kiss him good morning.
"Did you sleep well?"
"Too well." He laughs. He hasn't laughed in a long time. I have to remember to thank her for that. "Lord Zhou Yu must be-"
"Lu Xun!"
The sound of my voice seems to jerk him upright, stiff as a board. I'm tempted to laugh, but my throat doesn't seem to want to form the sound. I hate to ruin the moment for both of them. Really, I do. But in times such as these, each one is allowed only so much idle time. And we have all tarried enough, as it is.
"I'm sorry to barge in like that, but are you rested enough?" I inquire, waving the scroll in my hand as if it would explain my actions. "These plans won't settle themselves, you know."
"I'm coming, Lord Zhou Yu. I'm coming," he calls back before turning to her a final time. "See you later?"
She smiles. "Later. Go, now." She turns to me then, a delicate hand raising itself to wave. Her dark eyes dance with hidden laughter, and I almost think they mean to say "Now you understand."
But that might just be me.