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He couldnt sleep again. His room was too stuffy and hot and the thunder made him pace for hours.
Groaning, Heathcliff threw on his sinner coat before exiting his room. The brunette stood in the hallway, wondering what he was even doing.
Ishmael usually didnt sleep well either so maybe he could talk to her. He furrowed his brow, if he went to Ishmael, there would be one of two outcomes, either she would play into the warm side their sibling dynamic and let him stay with her, or she would throw something at him.
He untimely decided to test out his luck and made his way to her room, quietly opening her door.
But she wasnt there, all there was was the raging storm and rushing waters confined in her room.
He sighed and his shoulders slumped, she was probably in Dons room then. Heathcliff debated going back to his room and trying to sleep once more till he caught a wiff of smoke from Ryoshus room.
Maybe he just needed some fresh air.
The british man made his way down the hall, the unfamiliar quiet of the hallway was unnerving, as he was all too used to the loud bickering that tended to accompany the sinners.
He finally made it to the actual bus where Dante was sleeping, clock head leaning against Vergilius’s shoulder and his on their head, small flames emitting a soft orange light and probably keeping them warm. Charon had also passed out, curled up on the seats while using Vergilius’s lap as a pillow and Dantes coat as a blanket. The scene made Heathcliff wish they were allowed phones or cameras, so he could use this moment as blackmail against Vergilius.
Instead he just scoffed quietly and exited the bus. A content sigh escaped his lips as he streached, breathing in the fresh night air. Tonight Charon had parked them in a forest away from civilization in who knows what district.
The moon was full and illuminated the scenery. Heathcliff thought he could get used to being able to see the stars. He remembered Rodion rambling about star signs and then Ishmael butting in to talk about the northern star and constellations. He wondered if any constellations were visible right now. Maybe he would be able to see if he was up higher…
He turned to climb onto the bus, only to be greeted buy a startling teal eye gazing down at him.
Heathcliff almost screamed when be saw Honglu watching him from atop the bus, but he remembered how Vergilius was still inside and would kill him if he woke anyone up.
So he decided to just whisper yell at the other man.
“Bloody hell, what do you think you were doing watching me without making a sound!”
And of course, Honglu just smiled, “I didnt want to bother you when you looked so peaceful for once!”
The taller man grumbled before remembering his initial goal. Heathcliff began climbing up to the top of the bus where he sat down on the edge next to Honglu, leaning back on his forearms to get a better view of the sky.
A moment of silence passed between them before Heathcliff decided to break the silence. “So, erm, I remembered Ish saying something about constellations so i came up here to see if i could see some.” He pushed himself back up right, cardding a hand through his already ruffled hair. “Now im curious if you know any…”
“My, my~ Heathcliff wants to learn about constellations from me?” His grin grew and he took the brunettes hand.
Heathcliff groaned and turned away, but he kept his hand intertwined with Honglu’s. “Forget I ever asked, Im gonna go back in.”
The raven laughed, “Wait no, I would love to teach you about constellations. Im not as knowledgeable as Ishmael, but I do know a little.”
“…Alright”
Honglu smiled again before gently pulling Heathcliff back to his side. He pointed up at a cluster of stars, and the brunettes eyes followed. “That over there is Orion. The easiest way to spot it is by the three stars that make up his belt.”
Subconsciously, Heathcliff moved closer to the raven, their shoulders and thighs touching, providing warmth in the cold night. Now that he could see where Honglu was pointing more clearly he could make out where the belt was.
“Those three?” He brought his hand up next to Honglus, both pointing at the constellation. The shorter man gently took Heathcliffs hand, carefully outlining the rest of the stars that made up the constellation.
“Now you’ve learned your first constellation.”
They were facing eachother now and Heathcliff only just became aware of how close together their faces were. Honglus teal eye practicly glowed in the soft night light. All of his hair was down, unlike Ishmael who tended to sleep with her hair braided. The ravens breath was soft on his face. Everything about him seemed to be soft.
The brunette reached a hand up to caress his cheek, Honglu just leaned into the action and Heathcliff internally asked himself what he was doing. His sleepless mind seemed to not know how to think properly.
His next sentence came out in a whisper, “You’re like the moon, beautiful and radiant.”
Maybe it was the lack of sleep, or the way Honglu smiled that pushed him to lean into the raven.
Honglus lips were soft, as expected. It was a strange feeling against his own chapped ones. Kissing Catherine had never felt like this, but Heathcliff would take this over what he had in the past any day. Honglu tasted sweet, and Heathcliff wondered if it was due to those green or white candies the other man was so fond of. A nice hint of strange flavors that we're nothing recognizable for some reason... he would have to ask the raven if he could try some later.
It was a short while before they parted, soft breaths against eachothers faces.
“If i’m the moon, then you’re my earth, Heathcliff.”
His face flushed and he turned back to the sky in an attempt to hide it. Honglu just leaned his head against the tallers shoulder, humming quietly.
“What are you humming? It sounds almost familiar.”
The shorter man broke off into a questioning hum, “I actually don't know, it just came to me i guess.” He smiled up at the brunette, “But you know what they say, the moon sings to the earth.” Heathcliff let out a gruff chuckle, running a hand through Honglus long black hair, admiring how the moonlight brought out the undertones of blue and purple. “Im positive you just made that up.”
Honglu laughed, light, airy, and soft. “Perhaps, but i guess you’ll never know.” Heathcliff rested his head atop the shorter mans, “Keep humming, its relaxing.”
“Anything for you, my earth, 我想你筆月亮漂亮.”
A gentle snore was heard from the world as the moon began to fall asleep, leaving the sun to rise in the morning.
But no matter what, the earth and moon would always find eachother again, and the moon would sing again to the earth.
-
That morning Vergilius made his rounds to wake up the sinners, noticing that 3 werent in their assigned rooms. Ishmael was easy enough to find, as she had spent the night in Don Quixotes room. However, Honglu and Heathcliff were no where to be seen.
Vergilius was about to accept that they had died some where and he would need to recruit new sinners until he stepped outside with the other sinners to start their assignment for the day.
Rodions giggle while she pointed to the top of the bus was a warning enough. Heathcliff and Honglu had fallen asleep sitting on the roof of the bus, and Vergilius was about to murder them.