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It's December 23th. Snow covers the streets and buildings. It’s a beautiful sight, worthy of being seen in Chrtistmas movies and all, but it certainly makes it difficult to get around.
Most people are already on vacation this close to Christmas Day. That’s also the case for Dan Heng even though here he is: at Star Rail High School, the place he works for as a History teacher. At least he isn’t working. As much as he is dedicated to his job, Dan Heng would never trade the peace of his vacation for extra work.
Himeko was supposed to check the school grounds today to verify if everything is alright. The Staff Christmas Party is tomorrow night and they’ll start decorating tomorrow morning. Something happened and Himeko had to ask Dan Heng to do the checking instead.
Dan Heng stared at the list of places he had been tasked with checking, nodding at each item listed before putting his phone back in his coat pocket. He already checked his half of the school, the other half was Kafka’s responsibility. He was surprised he didn’t cross paths with the woman while going around but it’s a bit of relief. She always had this smile on her face as if she knew something he didn’t. Or worse, as if she knew something he didn’t want others to know.
As he approaches the school gates, he can see a delivery car. The delivery man seems to be about to press the intercom before noticing Dan Heng approaching.
“I have a delivery for…” He pauses, reading the details. “Dan Heng.”
What? “That’s me.” Dan Heng answers confused. He hadn’t ordered anything recently and if he did, he wouldn’t give the school address.
The delivery man nods. “Can I see your documents? I’ll also need you to sign here.”
Dan Heng goes through the whole procedure before being handled the delivery. There is a heavy-looking pink box and a Christmas-themed basket full of treats. He picks the note glued to the basket and reads it.
‘Dan Heng, I hope you’re having a nice day! I heard you’re at school today, soooo… Have these treats as a reward!
While you’re there… Do me favor and return those documents to my desk? Pretty please? – March <3’
He sighs softly, sometimes he can’t understand March at all. Wouldn’t it be easier to just return them herself tomorrow? When she is supposed to come here to decorate? Why go through all the trouble of arranging a delivery? He sighs again and shakes his head. There's no point in trying to make sense of his friend’s questionable choices.
He picked the basket first and then the document’s box that was as heavy as it looked. Dan Heng made his way back to the school’s main building. The teachers’ room was on the fourth floor. He had two choices: take the stairs or take the staff elevator.
Dan Heng stared at the stairs at his left, his usual choice when going to the teachers’ room, but the weight on his arms was a clear sign that it would be way more tiring. He made his way to his right, towards the staff elevator.
Once inside the elevator, he pressed the button to take him to the fourth floor. He stared, motionless, as the doors slowly started closing. He prepared himself for the elevator to start going upwards as soon as it closed. Suddenly, just as the door was about to close, a hand appeared preventing it from closing.
Dan Heng was proud of himself for not letting an embarrassing noise escape as he just had one of the biggest scares of his life. His heart was pounding against his chest as if trying to escape. As the doors slowly opened again, it revealed the most annoying grin he had ever seen.
“Scared?” Annoying voice. Annoying chuckle. Annoying teacher. “Come on, you look like you saw a ghost. It’s Christmas time, not Halloween.” The annoyance stepped inside the elevator too.
Taking a deep breath, Dan Heng questioned the man. “What are you doing here?”
“Same as you.” He simply answered.
Dan Heng felt like huffing. Of course he isn’t going to elaborate. “Where is Kafka? Wasn’t she supposed to be here?”
That annoying grin grew wider. “Where is Himeko? Wasn’t she supposed to be here?”
The elevator doors finally closed and it started going upwards. Staring deep at those red eyes, Dan Heng questioned his own life choices.
“Looks heavy.” The man commented. Dan Heng followed his gaze towards the box March asked him to place on her desk. “Did you forget there’s no work today?” He teased.
Dan Heng finally huffed. It was amazing how Ren always managed to annoy him. Ren works at Star Rail High School as a P.E teacher. They started working at the same year and for the longest time their dynamic is annoying and provoking each other.
“Shut up, Blade.” This time Dan Heng was the one smiling as a frown appeared on Ren’s face. ‘Blade’ is the nickname their students gave since the man ‘can be as sharp (and scary) as one when teaching’.
The display showed that the elevator arrived at the second floor. Ren crossed his arms, annoyed and tired of the nickname. “Not you too.”
Dan Heng remained silent as he focused on the display instead of his co-worker. The floor changed to the third.
“You know, I could help you ca-”
And everything shook.
The elevator shook violently and the lights went out. The suddenness of it all made Dan Heng lose his balance, having both arms occupied meant that he couldn’t try to hold onto the walls and he felt like he was going to fall. Ren didn’t even budge from his place and as if to show off how much of a good balance he had, he used one hand to help support the box while the other grabbed Dan Heng’s waist to help him stand.
As sudden as it happened, everything went quiet.
“Are you okay?” Ren asked, bringing his face closer to Dan Heng’s to try to get a better look at his facial expression.
Dan Heng took a deep breath before nodding slowly. “I guess? Thank you…” He looked around. It was dark inside the elevator since none of the lights were on. “We should press the emergency button and try to contact someone…” He suggested trying not to panic.
Ren nodded and moved towards the panel to find the emergency button. Dan Heng felt cold as the hand on his waist left and he was back to supporting the box by himself, he slowly placed the box and the basket in a corner. Picking up his phone, Dan Heng opened the ‘Astral Express’ group chat.
[ Dan Heng ] I’m stuck inside the elevator. Can someone contact the emergency?
(!) Failed to send the message
Dan Heng stares at the ‘No signal’ in amazement. You gotta be kidding me. A voice takes his attention away from his phone. “I pressed the button. No idea if it really worked.”
Dan Heng stares at Ren’s direction and towards the elevator’s panel and display. There’s no indication that the emergency button worked. “I have no signal.” He waved his phone before putting it away. “My message couldn’t be sent. If the signal comes back it’ll probably be delivered.”
Ren checked his phone and groaned. He also didn’t have signal. “Not much to do now.” He shrugged and sat on the floor, his back against the wall opposite to the doors. “You should sit down too, no point in tiring yourself out.”
Dan Heng sat down without complaining. Sitting down while avoiding panicking is the best option for him. What an unlucky situation.
“This sure is an unlucky situation.” Dan Heng looked surprised at Ren’s direction. “Guess I can cross ‘Getting stuck in an elevator’ out of my To-Do List.”
“You want me to believe you have a To-Do list? And that it includes this whole situation?” Dan Heng let out a laugh of disbelief.
“What?” Ren answered in an annoyed tone but Dan Heng had a feeling the man was smirking. “Don’t think I have one? I’ll let you know that another item on the list is: Making sure the school is in perfect condition the day before the Staff Christmas Party.”
Dan Heng laughed again. “Sure, it sure is.” He shook his head as he tried to contain his laughter. “Are you coming to the party tomorrow?”
“Yes. Even if I wasn’t planning to, I’d end up being dragged.” Ren chuckled. “What about you?”
Dan Heng could understand the ‘being dragged’ part, March would definitely do that. “Yes, I’m coming.”
The Staff Christmas Party was, as the name suggested, a party organized by the school to celebrate Christmas on the night of December 24th. All staff members were invited, and could bring a plus one, but attendance wasn’t mandatory. Many people don’t attend since they prefer to spend that time with their families. But even so, a good number of people still attend the party.
Dan Heng doesn’t have a good relationship with the individuals who constitute his birth family, so spending Christmas with them is not an option. On the other hand, the relationship he has with some staff members, in specific the little group they named ‘The Astral Express’, is very close to what he would call a family, so is more than happy to spend this time with them.
“That’s good.” Ren laughed. “I was worried about not being able to annoy you there.”
Dan Heng let out a groan of disapproval. “Is that another item on your To-Do List?”
“Oh, wouldn’t you want to know?” Ren teased. “Close, but no. The actual item is: Annoying Dan Heng every day of my life.”
Dan Heng repeated. “Every day of your life?” He stared searchingly at Ren but couldn’t make out anything in the darkness.
Ren coughed a little. “So you want to hear another item? Well, I can’t let you down. An already crossed item was: Carrying a beauty in my arms.” He chuckled. “Can you guess who the beauty was?”
Dan Heng groaned in frustration, he could feel his cheeks heating up. Definitely not a blush, it’s the cold. “That’s incorrect. You didn’t carry me in your arms but on your back.” He protested, remembering what happened that day when he sprained his ankle.
“That’s just a small detail. But you agree with the beauty, huh?” Ren was definitely smirking.
Dan Heng wanted to huff in exasperation but restrained himself. As a distraction, he picked up his phone again to see if the message was sent. Much to his disappointment, the message wasn't sent and he still had no signal.
The disappointment on his face could probably be seen by Ren, since his phone lit up his face before Dan Heng put it away. “This can take some hours, but there’s no need to worry too much. Help will arrive.” Ren reassured him.
“Yes…” Dan Heng nodded. “Worst case scenario: they’ll find us tomorrow when they arrive to decorate. And…Well, we won’t starve with this basket of treats.” The worst case scenario, his brain supplies, is the elevator falling down.
Imagining this happening is enough to send shivers down Dan Heng’s back. His whole body trembled and he felt colder than ever.
“Dan Heng?” He didn't answer Ren. “Dan Heng, are you okay?” Ren moved from where he was so that he could sit beside Dan Heng. This close he could notice Dan Heng’s body trembling. “Are you cold? Let me-”
And Ren hugged Dan Heng, letting him rest his head against Ren’s chest. At first, Dan Heng tried to put some distance between them out of surprise but listening to the other’s heartbeats and the warmth that enveloped him had a calming effect. They stayed hugging in silence for some minutes.
Once Dan Heng stopped trembling, Ren didn’t interrupt their hug. “What’s with the box and the basket? Did a secret admirer give you some treats?” He chuckled and tightened their hug.
“No, that’s all March.” Dan Heng answered, he closed his eyes and relaxed. “She asked me to place some documents on her desk.” Ren only grunted in agreement. “Are you hungry? You can have some.”
Ren shook his head. “Not necessary.”
They stayed in silence for more moments. “Why did you take the elevator? You usually take the stairs…” Dan Heng asked. He knew that because somehow they always met each other when taking the stairs.
Ren didn’t answer immediately. “...because I saw you get into the elevator and decided to follow.”
“Why?” The question left Dan Heng’s lips before he could think. “Because you wanted to annoy me again?”
“Not really.” Ren softens their hug so he can stare better at Dan Heng’s face, despite the darkness making it difficult. “Maybe because another item on my list is: Telling Dan Heng that I like him.”
Dan Heng doesn’t react when he hears that. This brain is working and asking questions way too fast, almost short-circuiting, for him to react in any way. When he finally realizes what is happening, his face heats up and he tries to hide it by burying his face on Ren’s shoulder.
Ren chuckled before gently grabbing Dan Heng’s face with his hands and lifting it up to face him. “Don’t hide.” He whispered before kissing Dan Heng’s forehead. “I want to add ‘Making Dan Heng happy every day as his boyfriend’ to my list, can I?”
Dan Heng’s lips trembled in disbelief and embarrassment. He let out a nervous laugh as he tried to pull himself together. “As if you’d need my permission to do whatever you want…” He made it sound like a small complaint but he couldn't hide the smile on his lips.
Their faces are already close, so Dan Heng doesn’t need to move much to kiss Ren on his left cheek. “You…” Ren starts but is interrupted with Dan Heng giving him another kiss on the cheek.
That’s when Dan Heng’s phone vibrates and starts making notification sounds. “Oh, they probably received my message.” He makes a move to pick it up but soon stops when Ren kisses his cheek this time. “Is that how it'll be?” He chuckles.
Ren kissed his other cheek. “There’s no need to answer them now, they already know all they need to.” There were more notification sounds.
Dan Heng smiles and kisses Ren’s nose in agreement.
<<>>
They spend the next hour cuddling until the emergency arrives to rescue them.