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"Good evening, Dan Heng." You greet the ebony eyed boy as you stepped into the parlor car of the Astral express. You yawned out a tad before stretching your arms wide open. The mysterious individual had been traveling aboard the Astral Express for a few months now. The crew had encountered you back in Xianzhou Luofu during the event of a Stellaron being snuck onto the ship. You were stranded for quite awhile before you had met the crew. It was quite a funny encounter to them all because you had bumped into Caelus while you were grabbing some mung bean soda from one of the vending machines stationed by Central Starskiff Haven.
You yawned once more still feeling the left over fatigue from your evening lazy nap. "Good evening, [Y/N]. There's coffee, tea, and left over juice from March 7th on the refreshment table. Pick whichever you prefer." Dan Heng says with a blank facial expression, not showing any single emotion. His gaze was still as he looks towards the vast darkness in the sky and he takes in a deep breath and exhales audibly. "If you wanna chat, you're welcome to do so." He says, his eyes still struck outside the glass panes of the parlor car, watching the infinite stars that were still within the skies.
You stifle a small smile as you stand next to him. "We're on our way to Shenzhou now, aren't we?" You asks him as you grab a bottle of iced tea from the countertop. "I haven't been home in so long." You say with longing and honesty as her eyes quickly gaze upon the planet the two of you were approaching. "Indeed, we have just entered the outer rim of the Shenzhou system. It's been a long journey for us on the Express. You're feeling nostalgic, right?" Dan Heng gestures for you to take a seat next to him, while takes a sip of his green tea.
In the short period of their intergalactic travels, Dan Heng had managed to make a special bond and connection to the you who was but a stranger to the crew and himself just a few months ago.
"Believe it or not, but I miss the greenery and autumn-esque ambiance of Shenzhou." You quip. "I haven't been home in for so long. I wonder how my brother Shennong is..." You ponder quietly, looking at the small cluster of stars passing by outside the Astral Express.
You had gone to Luofu to deliver and pick up dried herbal medicine from Luofu's local pharmacies as your dear brother requested. You were supposed to have returned 5 months ago to Shenzhou before the Stellaron outbreak.
Dan Heng chuckles at the not-so distant memory of how he met you once more and suppresses a bubbling chuckle.
"It's so peaceful and quiet like this, isn't it?" Dan Heng chuckles softly as he turned his eyes to you. "What is your brother like, if you don't mind me asking? It is good to know there are still people like you who want to go back to their homeland. Although, I will also add...that there's no place like the Astral Express and its crew. I would choose the Astral Express over home every time..." Dan Heng says while he crosses his arms.
You nod and laugh lightly in agreement.
"My brother is an expert in the art of healing through medicinal herbs that are found in Shenzhou. He and I grew up as the guardians of the forest deep in our homeland that hold the sanctuary of tranquility." You say as you glide your fingers across the cold glass panes of the Astral Express.
"Sounds like your bond with your brother is quite strong, huh? Do you have any interesting stories from your past?" Dan Heng takes another sip of tea.
"It's rather quiet here in the parlor car, don't you think? How about we share some memories about what we've experienced before and where life has taken us?" He asks again, this time while smiling warmly, the smile being so out of place with his usually distant and quiet demeanor it is rather strange to look at.
You gave the boy a warm smile before sharing a small story.
"Since my brother and I used to play a lot in the deep forests, I remember quite clearly that flowers and wildlife around us would sing and dance around in my presence and would always greet me and guide my way home if I was ever lost." You say as you sit next to Dan Heng, plopping yourself next to the red leathery couch of the Parlor car.
"Shennong would hear and see the same thing, but he says that the conversations the plants like to tell him are of which medicinal herbs to use if I got hurt or injured while we're playing, so I'd say his bond was perhaps way deeper towards the forest." You ramble on about your past to Dan Heng mindlessly, tapping your finger on your chin as you continued on.
Dan Heng continued to listen intently, putting his full attention on you. His curiousity piqued of such a mythical and peculiar story that it sounded like it was a fairy tale coming to life from one of his books.
"Wow, that's...unusual, to say the least. Plants that can speak and express their feelings and thoughts? That's... really amazing. It shows that they were really fond of you, for them to sing and even guide you back home?"
"I wonder...were you and your brother both born with that ability, or did you develop that later on in your childhood?"
Dan Heng continues to listen intently and to make no other movements besides listening to your story and staring out of the window.
"I would really like to admit that perhaps they were fond of me, but I'm not 100% sure because I can't really understand the plants that are in the Parlor car at all, or perhaps it's just me..." You trail off as you continued to pondered for a bit.
Dan Heng shifts his gaze and looks over at you, and the small smile on his face breaks into laughter. He covers his mouth and tries his hardest to suppress it but he fails miserably. The boy laughs so hard his eyes start to tear.
A laughing Dan Heng was such a rare sight to behold. But it was the best thing you could ever lay your eyes upon.
Dan Heng wheezes while gasping for air in an echo of laughs.
"[Y/N], it's just you!"
The boy tries to stop laughing and try to act calm and composed again, but a few giggles still escape from his lips.
"I'll have to say, this might be the first time I've experienced this kind of conversation with someone on the express." Danheng quips as he looks at her with a sly half-smile.
"Don't laugh!!" [Y/N] says flustered and a little embarrassed. "It's not my fault that the plants like Pom-Pom more than me!!!" You defend yourself as you buried your face in your hands. A blooming red starts to paint your face as it reaches the tips of your ears.
Dan Heng stops laughing and chuckles at your amusing reaction.
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry. I just never would've expected that answer from you, that's all. It just goes to show how differently you think, you know? You and Pom-Pom and me... We're all very different people, aren't we?" Dan Heng's facial expression turn blank again as always, but the sound of his tone conveys a lot of emotion. He sounded relaxed and amiable, as he's comfortable talking with you.
Before Dan Heng could say another word, Pom-Pom's loud voice from the speakers catches everyone's attention onboard. Pom-Pom announces that they had just arrived in Shenzhou and that they'll be staying over for an 7 day period.
"Oh, we're here." You say as you stand up from the couch a little too quickly, hinting at your excitement of being home once more on the land of tranquility.
Dan Heng also stands up and brushes the dust from his outfit.
"Oh, that is some wonderful news indeed. An entire week's worth of rest. That is much needed for us." Dan Heng chuckles as he picks up his bag.
"Are you ready to go, then?" He asks, looking at [Y/N] with a ghosting smile.
You nod in excitement as you hurriedly hop off from the station, ushering Dan Heng to follow you.
"Slow down, [Y/N]!!! I'm sure your brother's waiting for you with open arms." Dan Heng says as he tries to catch up to your fleeting steps. Dan Heng says this with a smile on his face.
He starts walking to the parlor car's doorway when he suddenly stops, with a sudden question in thought . He turns around and look at [Y/N], and he speaks with a soft, quiet tone of voice.
"Do you ever... think of us... as friends?" He asks as he stood still.
You halt and pause for a moment.
You look at him with a questioning smile and tilt your head to the side slightly.
"If I didn't, I would've never told you that I could technically speak to plants now would I?" You lightly chuckled and beckon for Danheng to hop off to the station and follow you again, your bag slinging behind your arms as you lead the way.
"Come on!!! Shennong is impatiently waiting for us back at our place." You smile. Dan Heng returns the smile and shakes his head, laughing a little at your enthusiasm.
"Yes, you do have a point there. Perhaps you do find me a bit interesting, huh?"
Dan Heng asks rhethorically with a soft chuckle, putting one foot in front of the other, taking on the journey to Shennong's house located on the outer skirts of Shenzhou.
"You seem very excited to see him. I wouldn't blame you, of course. It's been a long time since you last saw him, hasn't it?" Dan Heng says as he strolled next to you, following your thrilled pace.
"A little too long. Let's just hope he won't make me try any of his new medicinal concoctions." You chuckle sheepishly as you delightedly lead Dan Heng down to your childhood home.
Dan Heng chuckles along with you as well, the journey to your childhood house seemed to fly by very quickly and soon, he finds himself standing on the doorstep to your house.
"Well, is this it? Are you ready to go and see your brother?" Dan Heng leans over a wooden pillar, looking at you earnestly.
You nod as you opens the circle doors engraved with jade and fragrant wood. A warm and aromatic oriental smell of agarwood greets Dan Heng's nose as he carefully steps into the house.
"Shennong!! I'm home!!" You call out to the red-headed herbal practictionist.
Dan Heng seems to follow along and take in the scents in the air. It feels different from the calm and relaxing feeling of the Astral Express. The maroon leather-scented cushions from parlor car are but a forgotten memory now.
He walks in and sees Shennong rushing up to greet you, his eyes lit up with a warm and friendly smile on his face. He decides to stay in the background for the time being and watch your warm reunion.
Shennong tumbles from the cedar wood stairs from the second floor yelling out, "COMING!!!!"
The moment he heard his beloved sibling's voice once more, the red-haired man tosses his wooden staff across the room as he sees you, engulfing and tackling you into a bone-crushing warm hug. "[Y/N]!!!' Shennong cries a little dramatically, yet you can feel the genuine longing he has for you.
Dan Heng smiles softly and let the two of you bond once more after being away from each other for so long. It's clear how much love and longing you have for each other, and to see that, is something very special to him. You and Shennong have such a strong and healthy relationship with each other. Dan Heng walks over to the wall and leans against it, deciding to stay and watch how the reunion plays out for a while longer.
"I've missed you so much, [Y/N]-DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW LONG IT'S BEEN!???" The man says to you, shaking you around as he cries. "I've gotten so tired of making up stories, since 𝙇𝙄𝙏𝙀𝙍𝘼𝙇𝙇𝙔 𝘼𝙇𝙈𝙊𝙎𝙏 𝙀𝙑𝙀𝙍𝙔 𝙋𝙇𝘼𝙉𝙏 𝘼𝙉𝘿 𝙁𝙇𝙊𝙒𝙀𝙍 𝙄𝙉 𝙎𝙃𝙀𝙉𝙕𝙃𝙊𝙐 𝙈𝙄𝙎𝙎𝙀𝙎 𝙔𝙊𝙐." He whines as you chuckle to yourself.
Dan Heng chuckles along with the two siblings as they play around. Their relationship really is something special, isn't it? It makes him feel happy seeing two people get along so well and have such healthy relationship and loving affection for each other. Dan Heng listens closely to what the two of you have to say to each other and all that happened.
Shennong's eyes lit up as he looks over to Dan Heng. His eyes locking right onto Dan Heng's.
"Okay-okay, sidetrack a little, but who's the boy? Your lover?" Shennong hits your shoulders playfully as he wiggles his eyebrows. A creeping blush paints across your cheeks as you were too shy to answer your brother, surprised from the sudden assumption that Dan Heng was your significant other.
𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩?
𝘋𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘶𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘢𝘸 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘊𝘢𝘦𝘭𝘶𝘴.
"He's-!"
Shennong cuts you off before you could answer him.
"Because if YOU are-" Shennong now points at Dan Heng. "You can have my blessing, as long as you keep my sibling happy, but if I ever hear- HEAR a single teardrop fall from their eyes you're going to have to face the wrath of a veteran, experimental, slightly sadistic herbal practicioner-" Shennong threatens on and on as he circles around both a blushing you and Dan Heng.
You could clearly see Dan Heng's face turns red and he's taken aback by Shennong's sudden question about him.
Dan Heng's face shows all of it. He stammers when Shennong suddenly faces him directly, and he's speechless, once again. He clears his throat and tries to speak but he can barely get any words out. He doesn't seem to know what to do or say in the face of Shennong's protective and stern look. It's like he's judging Dan Heng on his every word or movement.
Dan Heng looks over at you for assistance, but you're just as much at a loss as he was.
"We're not dating!!" You say as you tightly held onto Shennong's forearm. "He's a good friend of mine I made while I was on the Astral Express." You say trying to calm the situation down. Shennong then pauses for a moment.
The air in the room stills.
"Then why do you smell like the wind?" He asks raising an eyebrow to you.
Dan Heng's eyebrows raise in confusion.
"Smell like the wind?" He asks with a puzzled expression.
How can someone smell like the wind? Can you smell the wind, even? Dan Heng questioned to himself before looking up at Shennong in curiosity. Dan Heng looks back at you to see if your facial expressions give away any hints about what Shennong means by that statement yet, you are just as confused as he is, although you're also trying to keep the situation with Shennong cool by trying to de-escalate the over-bearing tension.
Maybe smelling the wind is some sort of phrase or phrase in the language of Shenzhou? Dan Heng thought to himself.
"Pardon?" You say a little taken aback. Shennong fluttered his eyes close taking a whiff of the air between you and Dan Heng. "You can't mistake it. You smell like the wind, [Y/N], you smell like him." Shennong points out bluntly.
Dan Heng's shocked and confused expressions turn into a bright red one out of embarrassment. His cheeks and ears are as red as a tomato, and his mind starts racing at the implication of what Shennong is saying or even suggesting. Dan Heng opens his mouth in an attempt to refute Shennong's accusation, but he doesn't seem to have anything to say. He can't seem refute what he says, because he knows Shennong is somewhat right.
𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘦...?
𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴...?
How does Shennong understand the feelings Dan Heng has for you? Is it true that people of Shenzhou can smell the feelings of others? Dan Heng can't help but seem to look back at you to see your reaction, going back and forth from staring at you, to staring back at Shennong.
"Your elemental resonance is wind, am I correct?" Shennong says as he turns to face Dan Heng, looking at him with a small smile gracing on his lips.
Dan Heng nods his head in agreement, though his facial expression was a bit awkward at the moment. "It's true that my elemental resonance is wind."
"Why do you ask? Does that have something to do with the whole scent thing? Can you smell that too?" Dan Heng questioned Shennong with a soft chuckle, and a very visible blush is still apparent on his face, though not as bad as it was before. Dan Heng clears his throat and continued to keep the conversation going.
"So, what is this scent or smell thing you speak of anyway..? How do you pick up on the smell of feelings? It's all very intriguing to me." Dan Heng looks at Shennong with slightly squinted eyes, curious and wondering how the red-headed herbal practitioner was able to pick up on his blossoming feelings for you.
"My dearest sibling's elemental resonance is with the earth. They've been connected to nature and to flora for as long as I can remember." Shennong says as he crossed an arm around his waist, explaining his swift deduction.
"Their signature scent is always of something earth-related, whether it be the smell of grass when it's rained on, or the smell of the soil when it is fertile and hearthstone-like." Shennong says. "But this time, they don't smell like any of that. It leads me to believe that you've imprinted on them." Shennong says while poking your cheek.
Dan Heng looks at Shennong with his eyebrows raised out of surprise at the practiotioner's analysis of the situation. It was very thorough, and quite logical, after hearing his reasoning.
Yet, another thing about Shenzhou and how it's people function that is different from the world that Dan Heng was used to. He can only nod again, in agreement, and if that was what Shennong is saying is most likely true.
"I guess...you can say we've become quite attached to each other, in the months and time spent since we've met. I can't believe it myself even, just how quickly the connection between us developed..." Dan Heng twiddles with his fingers a little as he says reveals his inner most thoughts to Shennong.
Dan Heng takes a deep breath and thinks of what will come of this situation. He has no choice here, He feels like he must be honest and come clean. Dan Heng looks at Shennong once more, this time with a resolve etched deep in his gaze and with a soft smile on his lips.
"Alright. Shennong, I have to admit it. You're right, I am... in love with your sibling. It's something I'm not even sure if I believe myself, but it's true...does that bother you?" Dan Heng asks in a sincere and concerned voice, his heart was practically sinking in dread as he waits for Shennong's response.
Shennong hummed to himself, fluttering his eyes close, giving himself a moment to think of an answer, causing a deeper pit of dread to settle down Dan Heng's stomach, although the ravenette looked completely composed on the outside.
"I may have just met you..." Shennong started off placing a finger on his chin. "But no. It doesn't bother me." He says honestly. "In fact, I would wholeheartedly support the both of you if you and my little sibling would end up in a relationship. I can definitely hear the surrounding nature agree with me as well, and I for one, will always agree with them." Shennong chuckles, patting both you and Danheng's shoulders.
The wave of relief that washes over Dan Heng in that moment is so great that it's almost as if he's been washed away by some great flood. The fact that Shennong is okay with the two of you being with each other is simply amazing to him. It's the best thing Dan Heng could've ever wished for in this moment. It's become another aspect of Shenzhou and all of its people that he truly appreciates and admires.
Dan Heng smiles softly towards Shennong. "Then I promise I'll do my best to take care of [Y/N] and to be a good man. You can have my word on that one." Dan Heng swore to both himself and Shennong.
Shennong shared another bright smile with Dan Heng, it was a nice moment for the two, until well... perhaps they were forgetting about how someone felt towards this... odd situation.
"Ahem..." You cleared your throat. "Did you two forget that I was still here?" you crossed your arms around your chest, trying to sound a little intimidating, although it ended up being more of an adorable act, since a very visible tint of bright red was still evident on your cheeks.
Dan Heng giggles a little at the sight of your cute attempt at being intimidating, and smiles gently. "Yeah, I believe we did." Dan Heng chuckles and nudges her shoulder. "We were kinda distracted at the moment, so you'll have to excuse us for being so." Dan Heng's smile grows into a wide grin and his body language is a lot more relaxed. The boy was really glad he's got that all cleared up with Shennong. This whole thing was a lot less dramatic than he was expecting it to become, instead the whole day had been very heartwarming.
You shake your head and click your tongue. "It's alright." you smile. "You both can go and converse with each other first. I want to go to the garden. It's been so long since I've seen... well everything." You say as you turn away to the backyard garden.
"That's a great idea, actually." Dan Heng nods his head and looks over towards Shennong. Dan Heng grins as he continued to speak with the red-headed man. "So, now that that's all said and done, I must admit- I'm curious to learn more about you. Why did you become a Herb Practitioner, and what did you do before that? You seem very passionate about it all and very knowledgeable." Dan Heng asks the question with a curious look on his face, while he leans against the cedarwood walls again and crosses his arms, wanting to hear more about Shennong and his backstory.
"I became a herbal practitioner because I was deeply connected to nature around Taixuan and Shenzhou. It was my calling." Shennong says as he picks up his jaded agarwood staff.
"I was passionate in helping Shenzhou grow and heal. During the era when the honkai attacked Shenzhou, the city called out to me. It was my purpose and my duty to aid and heal the land where tranquility lies." He says, twirling his staff around his calloused fingers.
Shennong's words gave the ravenette the feeling of deep devotion and a sense of duty. It's something he really believes in, and is willing to put his entire life towards. Dan Heng can only nod at his story with respect. "Quite the noble cause you're supporting. I can't imagine anything more admirable than wanting to devote your life to healing the land, and to help it keep growing." Dan Heng speaks in an even tone, but bears respect and admiration for Shennong's life choices and ideals. Dan Heng believes that Shennong is something special, for sure, just like you.
As Dan Heng and Shennong continued to converse with each other in the living room, You were lying down on the grass, staring at the inky midnight firmament above Shenzhou. The grass and flowers surrounded you as you rest your body atop the tickling sea of green. You let an exhale escape from your lips as you raise your hands above, tracing the stars in the night sky, drawing lines. With every twist and turn of your fingers, a sense of nostalgia washed over your psyche. The gentle breeze of the night, the lulling rustle of the autumn leaves shiver around everywhere, and the twinkling lights of the diamond-like stars above had silent tears escaping in your eyes as everything that you love was reflected and mirrored into the crystalline droplets that nested in your gaze.
Dan Heng sees you looking up into the night sky, the ebony haired male can tell that seeing the stars stirs up some strong feelings and emotions in you. It's as if your mind is somewhere very far away, lost in your own thoughts and memories as the stars shine overhead.
𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧? 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘴? 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥?
Everything seemed like it pointed towards that revelation. You seem so content in your own thoughts right now, like you're lost in your own little world. Dan Heng looks at you with a soft look in his eyes, wondering how, and what's best to deal with this situation.
After a while of silence, Dan Heng slowly moves closer to you. He kneels down beside you and puts an arm around you in a comforting way. A warm, soft hand touches your shoulder and he gives it a little squeeze.
He's waiting to see what you do with his display of actions. It's not often he does something that's so forward, so this is most likely a ground for him, but he feels more than comfortable enough with you to actually do something like this. He hopes it might make you feel a little better. At the very least, it'll show you that you are not alone out here in this moment.
You look to Danheng, head turning sideways. You were a little startled. Danheng's sudden appearance suprised you because not long ago you had overheard them still conversing with one another. Your glassy eyes stare into his ebony ones, looking directly deep into his soul.
You did not say a word, even your breath was as silent like wisp of wind.
Dan Heng's heart skips a beat at seeing you turning to face him. The look you give him was so... intimate.
𝘈𝘭𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘪𝘵 𝘷𝘶𝘭𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦.
It's as if you're letting him in on what's truly going on inside your mind and feelings. Your beautiful, glassy eyes stare into his stygian ebony ones, as the both of you become extremely close to each other, and that's when the atmosphere becomes almost otherworldly. Dan Heng's soul is in awe at the feelings that wash over his entire being. He tries try to look away but he just can't, his mind is blank at this moment in time. He's utterly speechless.
The silence in the air finally broke as you uttered a few words from your lips. Your volume was small, almost as if you're was afraid to say these words to Dan Heng.
But you did anyways.
"... 𝘈𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘦?" You ask, barely above a whisper.
Your voice was weak, as fragile as a shattered mirror that's just waiting to be broken again.
Dan Heng realizes it's at this moment that the gravity of what he's going to say, in how his voice may affect the outcome. He takes a deep breath in and looks at you, his heart nearly jumping out of his chest at what he's got to say. He smiles softly and nods his head in a reassuring way, his eyes locked with yours.
"More than anything in the world. Nothing else matters right now other than the two of us, so I can proudly say yes, I want to be with you, no matter what we may face in our lives." He says, his voice clear and confident.
"𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵?" You ask, your voice managing to be even more quiet than your previous tone.
You look at him, waiting for his answer.
Anxious for his response.
Scared for his reply.
His heart sinks at your words... but this must be addressed, and he has to be honest with you. He thinks for a second before he musters an answer, and his mouth curves up at the corners as he tries his best to convey to you that you're not an extra burden to him, but the opposite.
"𝙔𝙤𝙪'𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙨 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜. 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙮 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚, 𝙢𝙮 𝙚𝙛𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩, 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙮 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚- 𝙞𝙩'𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪, [𝙔/𝙉]." Dan Heng smiles lightly and giving your shoulder a little squeeze.
"𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙖 𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙 𝙡𝙚𝙛𝙩 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙘𝙠, 𝙄'𝙙 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪."
Dan Heng says simply, his answer being as direct and to the point as possible. "Every second that I'm with you is a second more that I get to know you, and to spend my time with you. when I hear the way you're talking, I know and believe that every second I have will become precious to us both... I'm willing to dedicate every breath, every living moment to be with you."
Dan Heng give her an assuring squeeze. He speaks softly as to match your soft tone, and his voice is filled with a genuine and pure sense of love.
"That'll just mean that I'll have to love you even more... in the little time we do have together, right?"
Tears were silently streaming down your eyes as Dan Heng spoke nothing but his true feelings to you.
"𝘐𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮, 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘶𝘱..." you say as you buried your head into his chest, sobbing quietly.
"𝘽𝙪𝙩... 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙬𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙪𝙥 𝙨𝙤𝙤𝙣, 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙄?" you say looking up to Dan Heng's eyes, tears still sprawled across your tinted cheeks.
Dan Heng's heart continues to break while seeing your tears, he knows a response needs to be made.
He sighs, trying to find the right thing to say, the perfect thing, perhaps. He look into your eyes, trying to find a way to say what he needs to say.
He knows that in the end, the only thing he can do is be honest, as hard as it may be.
Dan Heng slowly nods his head.
"𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩'𝙨 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙚, 𝙬𝙚... 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙪𝙩, 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙬𝙚 𝙙𝙤 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧... 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙗𝙚 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤𝙤, 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩?"
You nod, your grip onto Dan Heng growing ever so strong. You nuzzles your nose onto the ebony haired male's neck, letting more warm tears slip down from your eyes.
"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry Dan Heng..." You weep with ragged breaths.
"𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘰, 𝘐 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘶𝘱..."
The tears that fall from your eyes and your words of regret are heartbreaking to bear for him. You're filled with so much sadness and despair and it's all because you don't want to return to the harsh reality of it all. All this is making him feel so useless and powerless...
"𝘐𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘥𝘰 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶...?" He thinks to himself.
His heart is pained at how much you are suffering, and he wishing beyond whatever he's able to express in words that he could just take away even just a fraction of your pain and sadness. Your hugs and words are filling Dan Heng with an emotional mix of sorrow and guilt.
In a sudden moment of impulse, he reaches up and wipe away your tears. Dan Heng's gentle hand caresses your soft and warm cheek. While he does this, a single teardrop from his own eye joins your own. The two tiny streams of water runs down both your faces, dripping gently towards the soil beneath. He tries to smile for you, to try and ease this whole situation.
It's a smile of genuine love and comfort, but at the same time, it's also a smile of apology and anguish. He's never felt this much pain and emotion before in his whole life and, at that exact moment, He can't hold it all in anymore.
"𝘋𝘢𝘯 𝘏𝘦𝘯𝘨..." you say his name weakly.
"Thank you... I love you so much it hurts. Everything about you is perfect, the way you carry yourself, your personality, your voice, your eyes, your hair. Everything."
"It hurts to know that I will never truly get to meet you, and I would do anything to be with you, but unfortunately this is how it will always be. I know you are universes away, we're worlds apart, but thank you for everything. Thank you for helping me through everything that's been weighing me down. Thank you for helping me sleep at night. Thank you for comforting me... Thank you for being there... or as close to being there as you could." You say with a quaver in your throat.
"It's hurting my heart that you weren't ever really there, and that you never will be. I just needed the words "they aren't real." to wake me from my fantasies. Even if I don't know you, if I haven't felt you, even if we are separated by worlds... 𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦."
You continue choking on your words as you spoke, your cries resonate through the field you were both lying upon as the stars were only but a witness of everything that you had always wished you could live in. Your heart broke at the sight of reality and how truly terrible and painful it was to live in such a truth that you could only pray for as a lie.
𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘋𝘢𝘯 𝘏𝘦𝘯𝘨. 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦, 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥, 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦.
Dan Heng's eyes grow wide as you give your impassioned speech. He can feel his heart being torn to pieces while listening to your words.
It makes him so happy to know that you feel the same way that he does towards you, but the sadness that you feel about the distance between, and the harsh truths about reality nearly pushes the ravenette over the edge.
Dan Heng looks at your face with a mix of love and sorrow. His fingers brush the tears away in a soft and gentle way, his feelings are being reflected his own eyes.
"I-I wish I could be there too..." His words come out quiet and barely audible.
"But you can't.... 𝙔𝙤𝙪'𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡." You whisper.
"𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦, and I'm forced to wake up soon..."
The unimaginable pain and the sorrow that he's realizing that the both of you have to go through is almost unbearable. The mere thought of losing you in this next moment is enough to make his head split. He looks down to you, his eyes filled with sorrow, but he manages to smile just a little bit.
Dan Heng's voice is barely audible. He parted his lips, trying to say something but it's as if his vocal chords are trying to stop him from speaking the next words yet, he still forces them to utter the truth, no matter how much it hurts.
"𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸..." Dan Heng manages to choke up.
A flood of tears flow down his face as your words reach him, and he realizes the entirety of the events that have just unfolded. He feels a burning pain in his chest, as if his heart were literally being pulled and ripped apart. In a swift moment, you'll be gone.
This will be the last time he will get to see you, and he's powerless to do anything to stop it. All he can do is watch the tragedy bloom forth right in front of his eyes and take comfort in his final moments with you.
"𝘍𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭, 𝘋𝘢𝘯 𝘏𝘦𝘯𝘨...." You say in a soft whisper it was almost like it was never even uttered aloud.
"𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪."
Dan Heng feels my heart shatter once more to a thousand pieces as you recite your last words in this ending dream, he somehow manages to hold back a scream of agony, unwillingly wanting to let you go. He takes a deep breath and nods his head in a single, stiff movement.
Dan Heng tries his best to muster up all the love he has left in his soul to return your words.
"𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰𝘰..."
Dan Heng says this in an equally soft tone, the words feel so right to say, but they sting at the same time.
The truth hurts... Tears continue to roll down his cheek as he declares this.
𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩, 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙪𝙥 𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚.