Bathtime

Sharing isn't part of Wu Fan's vocabulary where Tao is concerned, but there are exceptions to the rules. When the younger trainee shows up jittery as a kitten in a thunderstorm, mussed and rumpled, sporting a bruised cheek and and a torn shirt, it is all Wu Fan can do not to go charging after whichever son of a did this to him. But Tao never lets him, he digs his fingers into Wu Fan's shirt and doesn't let him go. "Gege," he sniffles and buries his face in Wu Fan's shirt, trembling as Wu Fan his back soothingly. "What happened, Taozi?" The elder asks him, knowing well he won't get an answer. Tao simply shakes his head and Wu Fan knows he needs more than this to calm his frazzled nerves and restore his smile. "C'mon," he says gruffly, keeping an arm around Tao's back as he leads them to the bathroom. A few questioning eyes in the hall are met with Wu Fan's solemn gaze and a nod - he mouths five minutes before closing the door behind them. Though the young Chinese trainee is taller than most of the others and a fearsome martial artist, he is the target of dangerous levels of envy and prejudice. The others have had years to learn and overcome and evade the bullying but Tao is still new. Kris has his theories but Tao is tight-lipped and has yet to confirm his suspicions. It infuriates Kris but his anger frightens Tao so he keeps it  tightly sealed and applies himself to the task at hand, methodically and gently trying his best to undo damage already done.

Kris takes care undressing Tao, touching him gingerly as though too rough handling might break him. Tao allows his warm hands to strip him and guide him to the tub where Wu Fan has drawn a warm bubblebath for him. He settles with his knees drawn up to his chest. Kris daubs at Tao's face with a washcloth, wiping away saline tracks. An inquisitive head pokes in the door five minutes later, it's Sehun with Kai in tow. They bounce over to the tub and Tao looks up, eyes glimmering with the first sign of sunshine through clouds. Sehun drops to his knees by the head of the tub, grabbing a loofah to scoop up some of the foam and scrub Tao's back. Kai settles at the side of the tub, rubbing a hand over Tao's knee before poking his cheek with a sudsy fingertip - clear of the bruise. Tao squints one eye and his lips twitch with the shy beginnings of a smile. Kris busies himself with lathering up Tao's hair, massaging