Work Text:
Dan Heng stares blankly as the door to the archives opened, the room dark filled with the sound of the soft hum of the Express. Dan Heng steps inside tiredly, his tail practically dragging along the floor. He brings himself to tiredly sit on the futon on the floor, uncaring of whether he would dirty the sheets with his dirty boots.
Dan Heng stares blankly ahead of him as he recalls the day’s events. The fighting, the screams of pain and… him.
“Caelus please!”
Dan Heng turns as he notices the shelf full of crochet plushies and projects Caelus had gifted him over the course of their journey together.
He remembers how Caelus had seen an older woman make a scarf for her grandchild. The man deciding to try it out and immediately enjoying the experience. The first crochet piece he’d been given was one of a crochet penis with a blushing face embroidered onto it. Caelus had given it to him as a joke which had resulted in Dan Heng chasing him down the halls of the Express, Caelus screaming and laughing as he ran as fast as he could before he was caught by a flustered Dan Heng. Later getting temporarily banned from the archives.
Caelus had to come up to the archives a couple days later with a crochet dragon, done in black, white and teal yarn. The man smiling at him apologetically.
“I’m sorry, Dan Heng. It’s the only way”
The next one he’d been given was a white bear, inspired by one of the creatures found in the snow plains of Jarilo-VI. Caelus had returned with a smile before the presenting the little stuffed animal to him. Happily talking about his trip with March to Dan Heng.
“There has to be another way” Dan Heng’s voice cracked with desperation.
Dan Heng could feel tears begin to well up in his eyes as he looked through the small pile of stuffed animals lining the shelf he’d designated for Caelus’ projects. He remembered watching the other sit around in the parlor car, quietly mumbling to himself as he counted the stitches.
There had been a moment when Caelus had made mistakes in his crochet and had come to Dan Heng in the archives, pouting. The man would cling onto him, whining about his mistake. Caelus would cling onto him, refusing to let go. Dan Heng would wrap his tail around the other and both of them would stay like that while Caelus gamed on his phone until he felt better. Caelus would then return to crocheting and working through his patterns.
Dan Heng watched as Caelus sadly smiled at him. He knew. He knew there was no other way. There was nothing he could do.
Dan Heng turned to look at the long teal dragon Caelus had made for him after the event on the Luofu. Dan Heng had been feeling nervous, he wasn’t sure whether the crew would accept him or not. A couple days after the whole debacle, Caelus had presented the dragon inspired by his water dragon to him along with stating that he’d accept Dan Heng no matter what.
Dan Heng smiled sadly as tears slowly streamed down his face. The dragon would often be set down where Dan Heng worked on cataloguing the archives. Sitting beside him and giving him motivation, according to Caelus.
Looking at the small place Caelus used to store his supplies, Dan Heng noticed the unfinished crochet piece Caelus had been working on before the recent events went down. Caelus had said he was planning to make a bird. He’d only managed to make half of the bird’s body before the whole crew were called.
Dan Heng sat there, staring at the unfinished piece before picking up the crochet hook and yarn. He began to look up videos and instructions on how to crochet. Turning on his phone to check the link to the pattern Caelus had sent to him. Slowly, Dan Heng began to crochet the stitches according to instruction video.
“I love you, Dan Heng”.
—-
A knock could be heard coming from the archives door.
“Dan Heng, are you ready?” The sound of March could be heard from beyond the door. Her voice sad and missing the usual energy and enthusiasm the girl had.
“Yeah, I’m ready.” Dan Heng replied tiredly as he opened the door.
The girl smiled sadly as she took Dan Heng’s hand. “Then let’s go say our good byes, shall we?”
Dan Heng nodded, allowing March to lead the way as they both joined the other remaining members of the Astral Express crew.
——
In the archives, with the long teal dragon wrapped protectively around it, sat a small white bird with golden eyes, finally finished.