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Yaoshi didn't really notice Caelus until he was on the Luofu.
It wasn't due to the fact that Yaoshi was uninterested in Caelus. It was more due to outside factors.
Yaoshi was continuously hunted by Lan, which meant that they were constantly on the run. And running from Lan was extremely taxing and took up their attention more often than not. So, it wasn't often that Yaoshi was able to just stop and breathe and look out at the world.
By looking out at the Xianzhou Luofu one day, Yaoshi noticed Caelus.
Yaoshi was interested by Caelus after noticing how he ran around helping others. And Yaoshi noticed how kind Caelus was, resisting the urge to smile at the compassion he showed.
But even though Caelus was kind and didn't mind helping others out, Yaoshi noticed how Caelus seemed to burn himself out a little bit helping others. Yaoshi noticed the easy smiles that were definitely like second nature and were meant to not worry others. They noticed how Caelus seemed to be a little bit exhausted but always managed to hide it well.
It broke Yaoshi's heart to see Caelus so exhausted, but there was nothing that they could do at the given moment. It didn't change the fact that Yaoshi wanted to hold Caelus and ease his worries.
Still, Caelus always helped out others despite his exhaustion and Yaoshi appreciated Caelus' compassion. After all, Yaoshi always appreciated Caelus' actions because they wished to help out people too.
... It didn't work the way they intended, but they still didn't regret it because Yaoshi had given the people what they had asked for.
... Ok, they regretted it a little bit because Lan was now after them, but you win some, you lose some, right?
Aside from Yaoshi's thoughts of their past failures, they still wanted to care for Caelus because of how caring he was. Caelus deserved to be cared for.
The only problem was going down to the Luofu and getting in contact with Caelus. Their appearance would be too recognizable and far too conspicuous on the Luofu. Doubtless, Yaoshi would be hunted even down there simply for daring to exist on the space of the Luofu.
Yaoshi clicked their nails together as they thought about how they would get in contact with Caelus and help him. Goodness, they really had to think about this...
After a long couple of minutes of thinking, Yaoshi had a thought that would definitely work out in their favor.
It would take a lot of energy and they'd have to be as inconspicuous as possible, but taking on a human form wouldn't be an inconvenience.
This was a good idea for Yaoshi. They wouldn't be found out and they would get to help Caelus.
Yaoshi loved the idea.
(Yaoshi loved the idea of caring for Caelus to the point of encasing him in their vines...)
...
Yaoshi hummed as they wandered around the Luofu looking for Caelus.
Taking on a human form was easier than expected, but it still took up some of their power to do so. Yaoshi was lucky that no one seemed to bat an eye at their presence.
Their human form was similar to what they truly looked like in terms of their hair and main pair of eyes alongside their pale skin, but they only had one pair of arms in this form and they had decided on morphing their clothes into an emerald green cheongsam to better blend in with the Xianzhou natives.
But Yaoshi knew that they couldn't use their real name. That would give them away. So now they had to think of one... Hm...
Yaoshi turned over different names in their mind before deciding on one that they liked best. Yaling. It was a pretty name that they could use.
Now that they had ironed out that detail, they could search for Caelus without having to come up with a name on the fly. That was a good thing.
Yaoshi continued their search, looking around for the interesting little trailblazer. They searched for a while, but Yaoshi eventually found Caelus at Scalegorge Waterscape. He was looking out at the sea and seemed lost in thought. Odd... Wasn't he with friends?
Regardless, Yaoshi walked over to Caelus and tapped his shoulder. Caelus jumped, clearly startled, and Yaoshi had to hold back a snicker at the comical look of surprise on his face.
Caelus relaxed after a minute and then tilted his head. "Um... Hi? Who are you exactly...?"
Yaoshi smiled at him, placing a hand over their heart. "My name is Yaling. I'm a healer. I couldn't help but notice you standing alone here, so I decided to come over and talk with you. Where are your friends? Did they leave you?"
Caelus (thankfully) shook his head. "Oh, no, they didn't leave me. I just needed some time alone. Defeating a Lord Ravager isn't easy and... I think I just needed a minute."
Yaoshi was surprised. Caelus had faced a Lord Ravager? And he had defeated the Lord Ravager with company? Oh my...
"Are you injured?"
Caelus looked at Yaoshi with mild surprise, but he looked away. Yaoshi frowned and took Caelus by the shoulders, making him face them. Caelus was once again surprised, but Yaoshi looked at Caelus seriously. "Dear, I know it can be hard to ask for help at times, but you are not invincible. Opening yourself up to other people is hard, but it's necessary for healing. So let me ask again, are you injured?"
Caelus blinked at Yaoshi before he swallowed and looked away. "My right shoulder... aches a little bit..."
Yaoshi smiled before they had Caelus sit down and remove his jacket and shirt, leaving him in an undershirt. Yaoshi then felt around Caelus' shoulder, concentrating on what they could easily see.
After a little bit, Yaoshi hummed. "It seems you've pulled some muscles in your shoulder and almost tore a ligament. The fight with the Lord Ravager must have been intense..."
Yaoshi knew that because they had used their powers to look into his body to see the extent of the damage. They weren't pleased by what they had seen.
Caelus, for his part, cringed when he heard Yaoshi's words. He probably hadn't expected it to be so bad. Yaoshi smiled at him. "You don't need to worry. I'll help heal you. Just stay still."
Caelus nodded and held still. Yaoshi rubbed his shoulder, using their own healing abilities to help repair the damage. They would've given him a fruit from the newly revived Ambrosial Arbor, but since they didn't know if it would affect Caelus the same way it did a Xianzhou native, Yaoshi didn't do it.
Repairing this sort of damage was as simple as breathing for Yaoshi. They hummed as they worked until they pulled their hand away hesitantly. "Try moving your shoulder now."
Caelus rolled his shoulder a few times, marveling at it. "Woah... It's like I never had that injury. Thank you, Yaling. I appreciate what you've done."
"It's no trouble. Healing is within my skill set after all."
"I realize that I never introduced myself. My name is Caelus. Can I take you out to lunch sometime?"
Yaoshi blinked at Caelus. They watched as Caelus' face turned a pretty red seconds later. "A-As repayment for you healing me! I'm sorry, that sounded like-"
Yaoshi chuckled as they grasped Caelus' hand to stop his rambling. "I would love to get lunch with you."
Caelus only nodded shyly.
Adorable...
...
Caelus liked Yaling's company.
Yaling was easy to get along with with their easy smile and kind green eyes. Not to mention that they were always willing to let Caelus play with their long, blond hair as a way for the two to bond.
Not to mention the beauty of Yaling's laugh whenever Caelus joked around with them. Caelus had just made a joke one time, and the laughter that came from Yaling was absolutely melodic. So now Caelus joked more often just to hear Yaling laugh.
Caelus also noticed that Yaling was a very touchy person. Yaling liked to hug him, grab his hand or place their hand on the crook of his elbow, trail their fingers across injured skin to look for injuries, and a more recent form of affection after Yaling ended up following him to Penacony were small kisses to his cheek and forehead.
So, Caelus deduced that Yaling was a very affectionate person after that.
And yet despite Yaling's affectionate nature, they could also tell when something was bothering him, soothing words leaving their mouth as they rubbed his back. So, incredibly touchy and wonderfully sympathetic.
Yaling had soothed Caelus after he was attacked by a clone of an Emanator of The Propagation. Caelus hadn't even questioned how they had gotten on the space station and simply accepted Yaling's comfort as Yaling soothed him with words that it was dead. It wouldn't bother him again.
Yaling had also soothed Caelus after Firefly's supposed death, holding him as he cried. Caelus never questioned Yaling about how they had managed to get into the Dreamscape because he had needed comfort.
Yaling ended up staying with him in Penacony, trailing after him as he fought with his friends to solve the problems on Penacony. Yaling only healed Caelus at first, but when he expressed concern for his friends on the Astral Express, Yaling started healing them too.
The crew members of the Astral Express were wary of Yaling at first, but Yaling had a calm way of winning people over. So while they crew didn't completely trust Yaling, none of them got in Yaling's way. March even started taking photos with Yaling. So, that was something at least.
Going back to the Xianzhou Luofu for the Wardance meant that Yaling came along with the Astral Express crew. That meant introducing Yaling to their friends on the Luofu. Yaling was as charming as always as they were introduced to their friends on the Luofu.
Yanqing did end up asking if Yaling was an Emanator of The Abundance. Caelus looked at Yaling worriedly at that, relieved when Yaling shook their head with a smile.
(It was the truth... They weren't an Emanator of The Abundance, per se...)
Caelus made sure to protect Yaling when the borisins ended up attacking and ruining the peaceful, noisy scenery. He didn't know how capable Yaling was of defending themself since they seemed more pacifistic. That was fine. Some people were suited to combat and others weren't.
Once they were taken down by a young lady, Yaling had grabbed Caelus' arm before he could go and see what had happened, demanding to know if he was okay with a worried expression. Caelus reassured them that he was okay, making Yaling deflate with a relieved sigh.
That didn't mean that Yaling stopped following him. They followed him into the Shackling Prison and clung to him like an extremely affectionate leech, looking a little intimidated by the scenery. Caelus took to soothing them and they clung to him tightly in return.
And seeing all the prison guards that were taken down due to a borisin warlord being freed definitely struck a chord with Yaling as they clung to him even tighter. Caelus spared a look at Yaling's expression, finding it pained. Caelus reassured Yaling as best as he could, not even surprised when Yaling buried their face in his neck as though to block out the sight.
It must have been devastating for a healer like Yaling to see so many people dead.
Yaling took the first chance to leave with Caelus when the two could leave. Caelus figured that Yaling needed a minute to breathe after what they had seen.
Caelus did help take down some more borisin with Yaling just two steps behind him if they were needed. The Yaoqing's general, Feixiao, took care of them easily once she arrived.
What surprised him was how quickly Yaling left after the waves of borisin were taken down. And because he was curious, Caelus followed after Yaling.
Yaling ended up going to Scalegorge Waterscape and headed right for the roots of the Ambrosial Arbor. Caelus followed after them.
Caelus followed Yaling to the roots of the Ambrosial Arbor, watching with surprise when their body began to morph.
Two more sets of arms sprouted, their clothes changed to white and gold clothing instead of the cheongsam he was used to, their nails were sharper, they grew antlers, and red eyes sprouted on various areas of their bodies. It was a figure that Caelus had seen in the Simulated Universe. One he couldn't believe was in front of him.
"... Yaoshi?"
Caelus watched as their head whirled towards him so fast. Caelus was a little worried that they had gotten whiplash from that.
Because Yaoshi was still Yaling to him. Still caring and sympathetic.
Caelus was a little hurt at the fear that filled Yaoshi's green eyes. "C-Caelus...! I-I can explain...! I just wanted to help...!"
Caelus walked over to Yaoshi and grasped one of their upper arms, wincing a little bit as the Aeon's eyes zeroed in on what he did.
Yaoshi deflated quickly. "You're not upset...?"
Caelus tilted his head. "Why should I be? Yes, you have a reputation for creating abominations, but I still see you as Yaling. And Yaling is caring and sympathetic. You are Yaling to me. Caring and sympathetic, willing to lend me a hand whenever I need it. That's how I see you."
Yaoshi seemed surprised by what he said, but Caelus was wrapped in their arms a second later. Yaoshi radiated relief and Caelus felt warm wrapped in six arms.
"I'm sorry..."
"You don't have to apologize, Ya-er..."
Yaoshi pulled back to look at him, looking amused. "'Ya-er'?"
Caelus immediately turned red and averted his eyes. He didn't regret it when Yaoshi laughed, still sounding just like Yaling.
Yaoshi nuzzled their face against his, eyes shining with mirth and affection. Clearly, they liked the nickname, so Caelus wasn't too bothered.
Caelus wasn't too caught off guard when Yaoshi kissed his forehead, clearly intent on doing what they did when they introduced themself as Yaling.
He was caught off guard, however, when Yaoshi decided to press a kiss to his lips. And then did it several more times.
Caelus hid his red face in his hands, making Yaoshi laugh affectionately as they brought him back into their arms.
It was a good thing Caelus was hiding his face though...
... Because Yaoshi looked at him with a look of fond obsession on their face and with plans of trapping the mortal they considered dearest.