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Blade wakes up in an unfamiliar place, his thoughts clouded and hazy, until they are cut off by a familiar face and the rising heat in his chest.
And Dan Heng wakes up to face the feelings that he's been avoiding.
Blade isn’t sure how he ended up here, he can’t recall last night's event even if he tried. It was as if he was actually a walking corpse previously, but he woke up with the realization of his situation. Tucked in an unfamiliar bed and an unfamiliar ceiling greeting him, he groans in discomfort. His head hurt and his eyes burned. He stays still for a while, eyes closed shut as he tries to chase away the uncomfortable feeling. He feels his right side move, the sound of fabric shuffling. What the hell? His eyes shot wide open and his head whips to his right. He freezes.
The stellaron hunter doesn’t move, hell he doesn’t even dare to breathe. How the hell did he end up here? Whatever the reason was, Blade was sure to move and stay hostile. But he doesn’t, his body doesn’t let him. For the love of God, out of all the timings, why couldn’t his body regenerate and let his bodily pain fuck off. He really was cursed, how unfortunate. He curses under his breath, imobile and motionless on the bed. His gaze falls onto the person that laid next to him. Dark hair complimented his pale skin, his lashes long and his lips slightly parted. His face is calm, a quiet demeanor hung around him, the total opposite of himself.
He must’ve stared for too long because in the following moments, the man beside him opens his eyes and they both freeze. Emerald eyes looked at him in shock? Or maybe fear. But neither move and they gaze at each other, questioning their situation. But the raven haired male is braver than Blade, he speaks up, his eyes not leaving his.
“Did you sleep well...?” he questions the hunter, his voice quiet. He doesn’t reply though, a long drag of silence fills the room and leaves them both uncomfortable, worse for Dan Heng. The other takes a deep breath before exhaling, it seems like he was holding his breath. “Okay…so a no then?” Another question is thrown at him. Blade shakes his head in disagreement. “Slept fine,” He barely mutters, his voice so deep and small. He hoped the nameless heard him, he wasn’t fond of repeating himself, or speaking in general. The other doesn’t say anything but hums in reply, turning his body away so that they both laid flat on their back.
“Are you gonna try and kill me now?” The vidyadhara lets out a small laugh, but Blade did not find it funny. “You looked terrible last night, you really need to let go of this stupid goose chase.” Another sigh escapes the dark haired male and he faces the swordsmith again. His eyes search through his own. What was he looking for? Blade wonders, but Dan Heng's expression is one he is not familiar with. So looks back at him, brows furrowed and lips in a frown.
He’s starting to think the dragon has a thing for staring contests, because he doesn’t break eye contact, not once. He holds his gaze intently, as if he was trying to tell him something through his eyes. ‘C’mon catch on what I’m trying to say,’ but he doesn’t get it. He was never good at deciphering or reading people. It was frustrating, yes. But then that meant less problems for him, less problems of understanding what burden the other person shouldered.
The silence is broken once again by the other “Why?” He asks one more time, expression sadder than before. ‘Why?’ The question echoes through Blade’s head. Exactly What Why? Wasn't it already obvious? Does the dragon not know, or is he playing stupid? Blade’s own questions ran through his mind, like an endless cycle that’s about to burst if it went on for any longer.
“Are you solely after me for revenge? Is that it, or is there more?” he pauses, then his breath hitches before he could start again.
“If your drive for revenge is that strong–tell me why was it so easy for me to take your sword from your hand? Why was it so easy for me to drag you to my bed and fall asleep soundly?” There goes more questions, it fucking bothered him. What was he saying? Was there really more to His revenge? All he could do was glare at those emerald eyes that yearned for more, sensible, answers. So Blade tries, he tries really hard to recall last night's event.
He followed Imbibitor Lunae on foot, he remembers that. Yes, okay, he remembers those same emerald eyes looking at him, tiredly, glowing under the moonlight. He doesn’t recall their conversation, but he remembers how the latter dragged him to bed. “I was tired,” He reasons, in hopes the endless questioning would stop and he could gather his consciousness to get up and leave.
“Is that fucking all?” Dan Heng snaps at him, he’s sitting up now, eyes still on the stellaron hunter that still laid on the mattress. And Blade flinches for the first time in forever. His eyes widen, he’s shocked. But why? Everything was confusing him. Was revenge not the point of his chase? Was there more to it that he wasn’t aware of? Or was Dan Heng messing with him?
“Sometimes- Fuck-” Dan Heng stutters, his eyes turn into glossy beads and Blade looks at him with pure confusion and curiosity. The vidyadhara was a mix of emotions. From afar, where Blade would watch him, the dragon is quiet and reserved. He is protective, especially over that pink haired girl. He only speaks when he deems it necessary. But when the boy was with him, he was the opposite of everything he saw. He was angry, and he spoke with a sharp tongue, his gaze was harsher than when he would look at his fellow crew mates.
Dan Heng starts again, gripping at the mattress cover to keep himself grounded. “Sometimes I get flashbacks from His time, and sometimes I can almost feel what he felt. Like as if it were my own. How ironic is that?” He stops again, he inhales sharply, tears were threatening to fall. “Last night I told you that I’m not him and will never be him, but I get these flashbacks, these memories and they’re so vivid. So vivid that I start to question my own person.” His shoulders are shaking now, he’s sobbing now. With every strength he could muster from his body, Blade sits up and he grabs Dan Heng by his shoulders, causing him the raven haired male to gasp at the sudden action.
And what shocks both of them is lips meeting lips.
It’s a short exchange, but it’s warm and soft, a little painful if you ask Dan Heng.
The vidyadhara blinks through his tears, trying to process what the Hell just happened. Blade doesn’t say a thing though, nor does he. They look at each other at bewilderment, both unsure what warranted the sudden kiss. But loss of lips against lips doesn’t last long, because Dan Heng is diving in for another kiss. He doesn’t know why, but his body moves on its own. What’s weird is that the stellaron hunter doesn’t fight back, in fact he invites him.
He lets Dan Heng push him back onto the bed, his hands awkwardly laying on his side as he lets the man on top of him encase him between his legs and hands. What should’ve felt wrong, felt so right. And Blade has the urge to chase that warm feeling, he does not know why, yet–, but for now he’ll do whatever his body says.
Dan Heng takes charge and sets the pace between their heated kiss, it’s not fast, but it’s not slow either. His hands grace though dark blue locs, tilting the owners head, deepening their kiss. It’s the right pace, Dan Heng notes in the back of his head. He must be going crazy right now. Who in their right mind would make out with their stalker who's been trying to kill him for revenge. But deep inside, Dan Heng couldn’t resist. Those rising feelings, that he kept at bay for God knows how long. Denying them a place in his heart, he denied every part of Dan Feng. But this felt so right? Oh yeah, he definitely was going crazy.
Like fuck, why was Blade not pushing him off. Why was he relishing their kiss like he was waiting for this all his life. He confused him even more. Up until now, he had a clear understanding of who the stellaron hunter was—a clear thirst for blood and revenge. Until last night. With those tired eyes meeting his own, his compliance, and them sleeping next to each other, and not to mention, Blade calling out to Dan Feng’s name in tears last night.
Dan Heng doesn’t usually like to sleep in, but prior to this, he woke up earlier than the hunter. Only did he close his eyes again when he felt the other shift in their wake, his gaze falling onto the raven hair who pretended he was still asleep.
His lips kissed the other as his hands traced through the rough structure of the man below him. There were faint scars that scattered across his face, more notably across his cheek and the corner of his mouth. He traced them with his fingers making the man underneath him hum a pleasing tone. They were breaching uncharted waters, one that they may not make out of. This could be stopped if Dan Heng pulled away, but something kept him going. Something pulled him closer to the hunter. The only reason Dan Heng could make up was that, this wasn’t him . It was Dan Feng. Or was it? God damn him, really.
Blade on the other hand melted into the dragon’s touch. Feeling a little more sure of himself, his hands make their way to Dan Heng’s sides, holding them gently. Blade doesn’t have the best memory, with the mara corruption seeping through his brain, the memories that he used to hold were but a fleeting image. But this? Something about this—him being beneath the incarnation and being kissed so tenderly felt so right. So he withdraws from his inner fighting and lets the heated moment devour him.
Pulling away, Dan Heng rests his forehead against broad shoulders, they’re firm and well built. Letting his weight drape over the stellaron hunter, they both pant from the lack of air. They stay like that; the dragon on top of the bladesmith, his hands on each side of the other’s chest as his face rests on broad shoulders.
“I’m sorry I…I don’t know what took over me-” he bites his lip, he’s lying. “No, I do know. I just…I just don't want to admit it. I’ll hate it.” Another sobs escapes his lips, but this time Blade wraps his arms around the smaller frame, placing a soft kiss on the crown of the male’s head. The vidyadhara whimpers at the affection, ‘No no no’ Dan Heng shakes his head, he wants to refuse the existence of his predecessor, he wants to reject Dan Feng’s existence. But it felt impossible.
The more he tried to run away, the more that sickly feeling in the pit of his stomach grew. It made him sick. But it also comforted him. Weirdly enough, that gave him the excuse to accept the fact, he just made out with his mortal enemy, who his previous reincarnation had romantic feelings for.
When Dan Heng woke up in the middle of the night, that night, he saw a man with white hair and blue eyes. Eerily resembling a familiar face. One that he doesn’t feel fond of. More nights pass by and he’s greeted by the same man, continuously in his dreams. But they felt so…fond, so lovingly. He wanted to throw up.
Then last night happened. Forces of waves came crashing down, drowning every and any resolve he had, and he’s forced to face the man who had chased him endlessly.
Blade on the other hand, only had remnants of a distant memory. The painful death he experienced, the painful rebirth and revival of his heart. The awful imagery that passed through his mind when he recalled the endless torture he endured, leaving him empty and numb. His blood-curdling screams echoed through his head. When he regained his consciousness and the memory of a certain dragon elder had reappeared once again, his body filled with anger, with rage. Discarding any sort of survival instinct and self preservation, Blade chased after the man who resembled the one who cursed him.
An unquenchable thirst for revenge.
Or so he thought.
As time flew by, and countless exchanges of blades. The stellaron hunter lost his footing, losing the very reasoning for his anger, his endless goose chase. It left him empty and miserable, losing his memory, forgetting what he was meant to do. Blade was left to fill in the blanks.
But then he wakes up next to the man who cursed him—well, looks like him. And with one look at his face and seeing those tears fall down, suddenly whatever anger he harbored, left his body, like a fleeting moment, and his soul was comforted.
He’ll be honest, the hunter has no excuse for suddenly kissing the reincarnation. But it felt right to do so. Slotting their lips together, putting their bodies close together, letting their warmth mingle with one another. It felt like this was the answer. Was he wrong? Was he able to forgive Dan Feng? And maybe Dan Heng as well?
Whatever reason he had to hate Imbibitor Lunae was now imaginary. Whatever reason Dan Heng had for rejecting his past incarnation was now a bygone. And for once the two found equal ground.
Dan Heng doesn’t know how long they’ve been lying like that, but it must’ve been awhile, because the rise and fall of the chest he laid on was now calm. He lifted his head to peek at the man beneath him, only to see that he was sleeping soundly. He debates, should he wake him? He still has a lot to say, a lot to talk about. But if he’s being very honest right now, he’s tired. Exhausted from crying and the endless thinking. He goes over it in his head quickly, he’ll talk about it later he decides, and lets the rhythm of the heartbeat lull him to sleep.
Morning passes and the two wake up to basking under the orange sun, it’s noon now.
If you told past Dan Heng that he would end up in the same bed as his mortal enemy, he would shoot daggers at you. But here he is, legs tangled between another, a pair of arms wrapped around his waist, and his head lying on top of someone’s beating heart. Waking up dazed, the vidyahara found it funny. In no universe or scenario would he think he’d end up in such a situation. Somehow he isn’t hostile, neither is the stellaron hunter, who continued to sleep peacefully. ‘Seems like he really needed sleep…’ Dan Heng coos at him, a little sad at sight of the visible eye bags under the hunter’s eyes.
It’s a little domestic honestly, this whole scene was so bittersweet to Dan Heng. He let out a light hearted laugh, which seemed to wake the sleeping man, who then fluttered his eyes open, his focus landing on Dan Heng who laid on his side. “Sorry, did I wake you?” He looked at him a little sorry, afterall he looked like he really needed that rest. Blade shakes his head again, seems like this was his favorite way to communicate.
Supporting himself, Dan Heng attempts to get up, only to get pushed back down by a gloved hand. He lets out a defeated sigh, ‘More sleep it is then,’ But he’s in no mood to argue, he’s tired too. Tired of being chased, tired of pushing away these feelings, tired of thinking, tired, tired, tired. He lets another sigh, that gets engulfed in a kiss. It was so sudden Dan Heng squirmed in Blade’s embrace. Pushing himself off (with much effort, but still held down by strong arms) he gives a surprised and confused look at Blade, who only offers him an unfazed look.
“You sigh too much.” Blade points out the countless sighs that escaped the dragon’s lips.
“And you barely talk.” He retorts, but there’s barely any venom. This makes Blade smile and it’s a genuine one. And wow, he actually looks good. Maybe the lighting, yeah it’s the sun’s fault, stupid orange lighting making the man look beautiful.
Those thoughts are interrupted by another kiss, this time it’s a longer one, soft and slow. And Dan Heng immediately melts at the contact, his body turning jelly-like. Thank god there’s a pair of study arms to hold him up! But the kiss is no more than lips against lips, there’s no tongue, no clashing of teeth. ‘What a virgin kiss.’ Dan Heng laughs at the inexperienced kiss, it’s not bad, not at all, it’s quite charming actually.
“What’s so funny?” Blade’s voice sends a train of electricity down Dan Heng’s body, it’s deep and rough. “Nothing– just thinking about how you kiss like a virgin.” He laughs again, his lips curl up. Blade frowns, “And somehow you’re any better?” he quickly nags at the nameless. “Definitely better than yours.” Somehow Dan Heng lets down all the walls he’s built and discards all reservations, because now he was flirting with his mortal enemy.
“Alright, then show me how better you are at it than I am.” Blade says it more like a challenge than a question, which tugs at Dan Heng’s competitive spirit. And of course, he complies and shows how a proper kiss is done.
His hands find its way on each side of the stellaron hunter’s face, cupping it. He gives a short peck on the corner of the lips first, then he places his lips on the other, licking the bottom lip. Unresponsive, Dan Heng pulls away, “Open up,” he says and Blade follows. He opens his mouth and Dan Heng’s tongue drags against his, feeling and savoring every part of the hunter.
Humming into the kiss, Dan Heng guides them to a sitting position. Settling himself on Blade’s lap, wrapping his own legs around him, a hand cupping his cheek and the other grabbing a fist full of dark blue hair. He tugs at the hair, which produces a low moan from the male. Giggling at the reaction, Dan Heng deepens the kiss hoping to give the hunter a taste of what an actual kiss feels like.
Pulling away, the two are breathless, cheeks tinted pink, lips flushed and swollen. A satisfied smirk creeps up the dragon’s lips. Seeing Blade’s blown expression was enough to tell him that he enjoyed it.
“That’s how you give a proper kiss.” He laughs one more time, before getting off of Blade who chased after his warmth. His gloved hand lingering on Dan Heng’s unclothed one.
“So that’s…uh a little unexpected. I have no idea what warranted this transaction.” God why did he say it like that, he’s making it sound weird. “I still have a lot to ask you, we still have a lot to talk about, Yingxing.” and it’s that name that makes Blade freeze, frozen stiff in place.
That name, he hasn’t heard it in forever, heck he’s pretty sure he’s forgotten about it until this very moment.
“Blade? Yingxing?” he calls out to the man who stayed unresponsive.
“Hey…” Dan Heng’s gaze softened when he saw tears fall down the hunter’s cheek. He reaches out a hand to the man, who flinches, but he doesn’t move. He lets the dragon’s hand hold him once more, letting out a painful sob. That name must’ve struck a chord in the man, because he doesn’t reply to any of Dan Heng’s calls, instead he sat there crying tears that had been bottled up for years. And all the raven haired could do was hold the man in his arms, trying to soothe whatever pain he felt at the moment.
“I’m sorry I didn’t know you would react so negatively to that name. I heard it a few times in my dreams, usually addressing someone who looked like you, but with white hair.” He explains to the man who sobbed in his arms.
The man doesn’t say anything as usual, but his cries die down as the vidyadhara combs through his hair. This was so odd, so not, what they’re supposed to be. They should be fighting, tooth and nail, cussing each other out in blood. Yet here they are, in bed, in each other’s embrace. In such a tender and loving (?) moment.
Dan Heng thinks, if he lets go of this man he will crumble–they’ll both crumble. And so he doesn’t, he holds him carefully and tenderly, making sure he doesn’t slip away from his grasp. The scene must look bizarre from the nameless’ point of view, but Dan Heng couldn’t care less right now.
What he does know is that something, someone , was pulling him towards the man in his arms and he isn’t allowed to let go. He has no other option. Like a boulder placed on his shoulder, if he moved he would be crushed.
“Say that name again,” Blade croaks out.
“Yingxing,” he calls the name again, Blade lets out another sob, as he feels blurry memories fill him. The memory of Dan Feng calling out to his name with so much love. It shook the stellaron hunter to his core. He remembers now, it's vague, but he can feel it on his fingertips and dares not to let go.
“Yingxing, look at me.” Dan Heng calls out to him one more time, this time Blade–or rather Yingxing looks back at him through teary eyes. And they both break.
Whatever wall they built up, whatever shell they wore, has now shattered.
With a mutual understanding, it's heartbreaking, it stirred and twisted their hearts. The realization of what was past and what was present. The misunderstandings and tribulations. Dan Heng understood Dan Feng at that moment. He understood that overwhelming love he had for Blade– for Yingxing .
With both hands cupping the hunter's face, the vidyadhara brokedown at the sight, his lips traced his past lover's face. Kissing every part of him, in hopes it would fill in the cracks of his heart. Blade melts at the touch, his hands holding the others.
“I can’t explain right now but i-”
“Shh no it’s okay, I understand. No words are needed Bl– Yingxing. It’s okay.” He reassures the male who held his hands. They share another passionate kiss, this time it’s full of love and understanding. And fuck yeah, it feels so right. So, Damn, Right.
Dan Heng wished he didn’t have to harbor such heavy feelings– but something about it, the reunion and reconciliation felt so worth it. It felt both foreign and familiar. He really felt like he was going crazy.
That doesn’t matter right now though, what matters right now is that he needs to kiss every part, every corner and crevice of the man he held. So he kisses him, slowly and carefully. Making up for the lost time, to let Blade, Yingxing know that he’s here and he loves and misses him. Whatever they needed to say to each other was felt through kisses and feather touches. Crazy how a simple caress on the cheek made Dan Heng understand that overflowing love Dan Feng had, or has , for this man. All he wanted to do was cry. This was too much for him.
Call it a blessing or curse, Blade thanks to whatever Aeon who planted their paths back together. This is what he needed, this is what was missing.
It was Dan Heng.
With one last cry and pull, their part away, eyes on each other, hands still lingering on clothed skin, the door of the room slams open. Dan Heng is quick to react and pushes Blade under the thick blankets as fast as he could, covering the man as much as he can.
“March, have you ever learned how to knock?” Dan Heng shoots the pink haired female a fussed look, who grins in return. “I didn’t expect you to be here! I haven’t heard you come out of the room, so I thought you woke up early and went out.” She gives her excuses, which the dragon rolls his eyes at.
“Hey, have you been crying?” March notices his tear stained cheeks and his red puffy eyes. Shit. “It’s nothing March. Just allergies, now get out.” He lies through his teeth. “Uh uh yeah, I totallyyyy buy that.” She raises her brow at him.
“Are you sure you’re alright? Cause first of all, it’s noon and you’re still in bed. The Dan Heng I know Never, sleeps in. Not even on the weekends.” March says, trying to snuff out his lies and whatever he was hiding. “March I’m fine I promise,” He tries to pry her off his back.
“Hmm…okay whatever you say Captain edge lord. Just know, if you ever need someone I’m always here for you, ‘kay?” She gives him a big smile. “I know, and thank you March. Can you now leave so I can get changed?” And there’s a sneeze, a particularly loud one. March raises her brow and Dan Heng goes stiff.
“See? Allergies.” he tries to cover up the ungodly loud sneeze that Blade let out under the blankets. But March is quick to catch on and next thing they know, she rips off the blanket from the bed to reveal the stellaron hunter that hid underneath.
“What is he doing here?!” She screams in both fear and confusion, Blade stares at her frozen in place. “I- I can explain!”
“Explain what? That you’ve been sleeping with one of the stellaron hunters!? Oh Himeko is so hearing about this!” and she’s storming out the room, too fast for either of the two to catch.
“We are so fucked,” was all Dan Heng could say before flopping onto the bed next to Blade who laid there quietly. But silence doesn’t last long because Dan Heng let's out a hearty laugh, one where his nose crinkles and his eyes are closed shut. All Blade could do was stare at him in wonder.