Work Text:
1
The Archives were quiet, a sanctuary of sorts that Dan Heng cherished. This was his safe place, a little haven where he could read, study, and let the world outside slip away. Today, though, the Archives were just a little livelier because Caelus had somehow convinced him that quietly chilling together was a good idea
Caelus lay on his back, head resting comfortably on Dan Heng’s lap, while he played some simple game on his phone. Every so often, Caelus would make a small sound of frustration or victory, but mostly he was absorbed, occasionally glancing up to chat
“So…” Caelus murmured without looking away from his screen, “if you were a vegetable, which one would you be?”
Dan Heng’s brow arched, and he glanced down at Caelus, who was now grinning up at him with mischief glinting in his eyes. “A… vegetable?” he echoed, amused
“Yeah, it’s a deep question” Caelus said, feigning seriousness as he looked back at his phone “Answer wisely"
Dan Heng chuckled, humoring him “Bok choy"
“Bok choy?” Caelus made a dramatic face “That’s so… practical. But I guess it suits you"
“Well, what would you be?” Dan Heng shot back, curious to see where Caelus would go with this
“Oh, I’d be a potato, obviously" Caelus turned his phone off and grinned wider “Everyone loves potatoes. Plus, I’m versatile. You know… like fries, mashed potatoes, hash browns…”
“Not sure if I agree,” Dan Heng said dryly “but I’ll give you points for creativity"
Caelus let out a laugh, the sound light and comfortable in the quiet room. The two lapsed back into a peaceful silence, Dan Heng flipping the page of his book, while Caelus settled back into his spot, one hand resting lazily across his chest as he closed his eyes, looking perfectly at ease. Dan Heng found it almost amusing, how effortlessly Caelus could make himself at home anywhere—especially here, in his usually undisturbed Archives
“You’re always reading something heavy, you know that?” Caelus commented suddenly, his gaze flicking to the book “Doesn’t it get tiring?”
Dan Heng shook his head, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at his lips “No. It’s relaxing.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know ‘Knowledge is power,’ or whatever it is you said last time” Caelus made a vague gesture with his hand, rolling his eyes playfully. “You know, I think you’d like something more lighthearted. Like a novel. With drama, maybe”
Dan Heng chuckled “I doubt that’s my type of reading.”
“Never hurts to try" Caelus replied, shooting him a grin. Then, as if the thought just struck him, he added, “I’ll find a good one for you. Something to really shake up that serious brain of yours”
Before Dan Heng could respond, Caelus shifted, sitting up a little from his spot on Dan Heng’s lap. It looked like he was about to stretch or maybe head out—just a natural end to their usual, friendly hangout
But then Caelus leaned in, his face coming close to Dan Heng’s before he could fully register what was happening. Warm lips pressed softly against his forehead, a quick but gentle kiss, and then, just as suddenly, Caelus was on his feet, grinning mischievously down at him
“I’ll see you later, Mr. Bok Choy” Caelus said, his voice a playful tease
And with that, he slipped out of the room, leaving Dan Heng sitting there, book in hand, completely caught off guard. It took him a moment to process what had happened, his heart suddenly beating faster, a warmth lingering on his forehead where Caelus had kissed him. His usual calm was thrown off by the unexpected gesture, a million thoughts swirling as he replayed the moment in his mind.
He wasn’t sure what had prompted Caelus’ sudden show of affection, but he couldn’t help the small, flustered smile that crept onto his face
2
The Astral trio found their way in Xianzhou, March leading the group confidently, her arms linked with Qingque’s, the two chattering excitedly about all the things they wanted to see. Caelus followed close behind, an easy smile on his face as he glanced around, taking in the sights, while Dan Heng trailed slightly behind them, his usual calm aura blending with the crowd
It had been March’s idea to come here, mostly because Qingque had promised her that the shops were full of undiscovered treasures. Dan Heng had been mildly apprehensive but gave in, knowing there was no point in resisting when March was this excited. So here he was, wrapped in his Vidyadhara form, keeping to himself as he observed the lively atmosphere
“Oh my gosh, look at this, Qingque!” March squealed, pulling Qingque toward a colorful stall that displayed various embroidered fabrics and jewelry
Caelus laughed, watching March’s excitement. He turned to Dan Heng, a soft glint of humor in his eyes “Well, looks like we’re in for a long day”
Dan Heng simply nodded, his own mouth tilting in a small, fond smile. Caelus had a tendency to include him in these group outings, even when he preferred quieter activities. Still, he found himself enjoying the easy companionship
As they strolled, Caelus kept sneaking glances at him, his gaze lingering on Dan Heng’s horns. At first, Dan Heng tried to ignore it, attributing it to Caelus’ usual curiosity, but the feeling of Caelus’ gaze fixed on his horns was… different. Each glance left him feeling a little self-conscious, a subtle warmth creeping into his face, though he kept his expression composed
Eventually, Caelus turned to him, clearly caught in the act. There was no hiding the interest in his eyes “Dan Heng” he said casually, as if he hadn’t been staring “How do those feel?"
Dan Heng blinked, unused to being asked about his horns so directly “They’re… sensitive to touch. In a way” he replied, tone even
Caelus’ eyebrows lifted, his expression thoughtful. “Hmm, I guess that makes sense. They’re kind of like an extension of you, huh?”
Dan Heng nodded, feeling a bit exposed under Caelus’ curious gaze, though he wasn’t exactly uncomfortable. More… uncertain “Yes, something like that”
“Cool" Caelus said, grinning as he looked forward again, letting the conversation drift into something else. They talked and laughed as they continued to follow March and Qingque, mostly about little things—new discoveries they’d made recently, funny memories from past missions, and random questions Caelus had about Vidyadhara lore
The day wore on with the easy flow of conversation, and Dan Heng found himself more comfortable with each passing moment, letting Caelus’ lighthearted energy keep him grounded
After a while, March spotted a beautiful display down the street “Qingque, look! We need to see that!” she gasped, yanking Qingque’s arm excitedly
Qingque looked over with interest “Ooh, yes! Come on, let’s go check it out!”
Without waiting, March pulled Qingque forward, leaving Dan Heng and Caelus a few paces behind. As Dan Heng watched them go, Caelus lingered a moment, a mischievous spark lighting up his face
Before Dan Heng could even react, Caelus leaned in close. Dan Heng felt a sudden, warm pressure against one of his horns, a soft, fleeting kiss. By the time he realized what had happened, Caelus had already pulled back, grinning with that same spark in his eyes
“See you up ahead" Caelus said, his tone casual as he slipped away, moving to catch up with March and Qingque
Dan Heng remained rooted to the spot, momentarily stunned. His hand reflexively reached up, brushing over his horn where Caelus had kissed him. A strange heat rushed to his face, and he felt his chest tighten in a way that was both exhilarating and confusing. His horns were sensitive, yes, but he hadn’t realized just how much until now
After a moment to collect himself, he started walking, his thoughts a jumbled mix of surprise and the odd thrill of Caelus’ unexpected kiss. As he approached the others, he glanced at Caelus, who was chatting with March and Qingque like nothing had happened, as if he hadn’t just kissed Dan Heng’s horn and left him flustered
Dan Heng wasn’t sure what to make of the gesture, but as he joined them, he felt an involuntary smile tug at his lips, with Caelus looking up at him with a grin
He wonders how he fell for a dork
3
The Astral Express was quiet, a rare lull that hung over its polished corridors. Most of the crew had scattered to their respective rooms, each occupied with their own hobbies or taking a moment to rest before their next destination. Dan Heng enjoyed this quiet time, using it to catch up on a few of his projects. But it didn’t last long
The doors slid open with a soft hiss, and Caelus walked in with his usual relaxed confidence. He seemed slightly out of breath, as if he’d just finished running—or maybe dodging March’s newest prank
“Hey, Dan Heng!” he greeted with a grin, acting as if he’d only just stumbled upon him instead of purposely seeking him out “Thought I’d find you here"
Dan Heng glanced up, already knowing better than to question how Caelus always seemed to find him “You’re lucky it’s a quiet day" he said, but there was a faint warmth in his tone
“Guess that means we have time to kill, huh?” Caelus responded, plopping down next to him without waiting for an invitation “So, what’re you working on?”
Dan Heng hesitated, glancing over at Caelus with that look of his that was both exasperated and fond. “Just a bit of research"
“Ah, research,” Caelus replied, nodding as though he completely understood “Super fascinating, I’m sure. But… maybe you could use a break?”
Dan Heng arched an eyebrow “And do what?”
Caelus shrugged, leaning back and glancing around the room as though expecting some grand idea to strike him “You know, anything else. Maybe I could teach you that game March’s been trying to get me into. It’s pretty fun… once you figure out the controls”
Dan Heng sighed, though he couldn’t quite stop the small smile that formed “I think I’ll pass. But thank you.”
“Suit yourself” Caelus replied, leaning closer to look at Dan Heng’s notes “You’re way too dedicated, you know that?”
For a few minutes, Caelus kept chatting—about recent adventures, odd food he’d tried, even some wild theories he had about a new monster he’d heard rumors about. He shifted closer with each word until Dan Heng noticed how close they’d become. His focus drifted from his research to the warmth radiating from Caelus, their arms nearly brushing
Dan Heng couldn’t help but feel a pang of… something—anticipation, maybe? He wasn’t sure. All he knew was that Caelus’ presence had started to feel like its own kind of routine, a comforting rhythm he found himself looking forward to more and more
As he turned his attention back to his work, he suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder. Before he could react, Caelus leaned in close. Dan Heng’s heart skipped a beat, his senses tingling as Caelus’ lips brushed lightly against his cheek
“Thanks for indulging me" Caelus murmured, voice soft and slightly teasing
Dan Heng blinked, momentarily frozen “Caelus…” he began, but his words trailed off as he met Caelus’ mischievous smile
“See you later" Caelus said with a wink, standing up before Dan Heng could gather his thoughts
He watched Caelus leave, his heart pounding, He was beginning to suspect that these surprise kisses are for Caelus' pleasure to see him flustered
He sighed, chuckling to himself as he once again was caught off guard by the kiss
4
The mission had gone wrong—very wrong. What was meant to be a straightforward retrieval job had ended in disaster. The artifact they needed had been destroyed in an unexpected explosion, and to make things worse, their commissioner was far from understanding
Dan Heng stood tense and silent, his jaw clenched as the commissioner went on a tirade about incompetence, leveling insults at the crew. Normally, Dan Heng would remain composed, enduring harsh words with a steady calm, but this time was different. The commissioner’s words dug deep, disregarding their efforts, crossing personal lines, and pushing boundaries with no consideration for basic respect
“Look, I don’t care how long you’ve been in this game—this failure is on you!” the commissioner spat, his voice echoing through the tense silence
Dan Heng’s eyes flashed, and he took a step forward, fists tightening “We were not responsible for the explosion” he replied, his tone sharp, barely restrained “If you had been more forthcoming with information about the artifact, we could have—”
“Dan Heng..” March tried, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder “Let’s just… let him go. It’s not worth it”
But Dan Heng’s anger only simmered. His normally calm, composed demeanor was fraying, his breath quickening as he struggled to rein in his frustration. The commissioner, however, only gave a sneer and stormed off, leaving the three of them in silence
March sighed, giving Dan Heng’s shoulder a small, understanding squeeze “Hey, it’s over now. Don’t let him get to you—”
But he barely heard her, his thoughts still seething with irritation. His hands were shaking slightly, his mind replaying the commissioner’s words. It wasn’t often he felt this rattled, this… hurt, though he wouldn’t admit it
Just then, Caelus stepped forward “Dan Heng”
He looked up, meeting Caelus’ eyes, half-expecting words of comfort or another attempt to calm him down. But instead, Caelus closed the distance between them, placing a hand gently on Dan Heng’s shoulder. He leaned in, tilting his head, and before Dan Heng could fully register what was happening, Caelus pressed a soft, unexpected kiss to his lips
Dan Heng froze, his anger dissolving in an instant, replaced by a jolt of pure surprise. The world seemed to quiet around them, the tension draining from his body as he processed the unexpected warmth of Caelus’ lips, the calm, grounding weight of his hand
Caelus pulled back just as quickly, a warm smile on his face “Hey… it’s okay" he said softly “He’s not worth it"
Dan Heng blinked, his expression melting from shock to something gentler, almost embarrassed. He exhaled slowly, feeling the remaining tension drain away “Thank you, Caelus” he said, his voice steady, though a slight flush dusted his cheeks
March smirked knowingly from the side, crossing her arms “Wow, Caelus, I didn’t know you had such… interesting methods of calming people down"
Dan Heng’s face reddened, and he looked away, a soft, almost sheepish smile tugging at his lips “I… apologize for losing my composure" he said, glancing at March and Caelus “And for worrying you"
Caelus shrugged with a grin “No worries. Sometimes, we all need a reminder to take a breath”
Dan Heng’s heart was still racing, but for a different reason now. His gaze lingered on Caelus, silently grateful for his lover's unorthodox, yet comforting approach
5
Dan Heng was settled comfortably on one of the parlor car seats, absorbed in a thick novel he’d been meaning to read for weeks. Nearby, March and Caelus were joking around, their laughter being heard across the room
But amidst the usual banter, March leaned closer to Caelus with a smirk “Alright, Caelus, I’ll bet you 100 credits that you can’t make Dan Heng embarrassed. He’s like a rock—you’ll never fluster him"
Caelus raised an eyebrow, feigning a thoughtful look “Oh? Is that a challenge, March?”
March grinned, crossing her arms confidently “If you’re up for it, sure. But I think he’ll just stare at you with his usual expression—completely unphased"
Caelus chuckled, rubbing his chin as he glanced over at Dan Heng, who was still engrossed in his book “Alright, you’re on. 100 credits”
He straightened, taking a deep breath as if preparing for some grand performance, and walked over to where Dan Heng sat. March stifled a giggle from behind, her eyes sparkling with excitement
Dan Heng looked up, mildly curious as Caelus approached “Something you need?”
Caelus leaned in with a playful glint in his eye “Oh, just something very important”
Before Dan Heng could react, Caelus closed the distance between them and pressed a quick kiss to Dan Heng’s cheek. Dan Heng’s eyes widened in surprise, but Caelus didn’t stop there. He planted another kiss on the other cheek, then one on his forehead, then one on his nose, moving with mischievous speed
Dan Heng’s face turned a shade of pink he rarely displayed “C-Caelus—” he stammered, but Caelus only smiled, giving him one last kiss on the corner of his mouth before stepping back, grinning like he’d won the biggest prize in the universe
“Thanks for letting me borrow your face for a moment” Caelus said with a cheeky wink
Dan Heng blinked, still processing the affectionate ambush, his heart racing as he tried to gather his thoughts. His cheeks remained flushed, his typical composure utterly shattered
Caelus turned back to March, who stood with her jaw slightly dropped, disbelief on her face “And that, March, is how you make Dan Heng embarrassed,” Caelus announced, holding out his hand
With a pout and a grumble, March slapped 100 credits into Caelus’ waiting palm “Fine, fine, but only because you cheated by being cute"
Caelus laughed, pocketing the credits “Hey, a win’s a win!”
Dan Heng watched the two of them, finally managing a small smile despite his flustered state. He didn’t say it out loud, but the warmth in his chest and the lingering feeling of Caelus’ soft, playful kisses made him feel more at ease than he’d ever admit
+1
The night air was cool and crisp, a gentle breeze rustling through the streets as Caelus and Dan Heng strolled side by side. Lanterns glowed along their path, casting a soft light that made everything feel dreamlike. Tonight was special—they were on a long-awaited date, one Caelus had planned out to every detail, and he was determined to make the most of it
He’d been in high spirits from the start, practically bouncing with energy as he tugged Dan Heng from place to place “C’mon, there’s this little stall around the corner that sells the best snacks. You’ve got to try them!”
Dan Heng allowed himself to be dragged along, a fond smile on his face. Caelus’s energy was contagious, and tonight, Dan Heng found himself laughing more freely, relaxing into every moment. They sampled food from every stall they could find, from crispy skewers to sweet treats topped with powdered sugar, sharing bites and joking about their favorite flavors
“So,” Caelus said, chewing thoughtfully on a dumpling “If you had to choose one snack to live off of for the rest of your life, which would it be?”
Dan Heng chuckled, looking thoughtful as he considered it “Probably these.” He held up a half-eaten rice ball. “Simple, but they never get old"
Caelus gave him a playful nudge “Oh, going classic, are we? No wild flavors for the great Dan Heng?”
Dan Heng’s eyes twinkled with amusement “I’ll let you handle the ‘wild flavors’ Besides,” he added, watching as Caelus popped another treat into his mouth “you make up for both of us”
They continued to wander, the cityscape slowly transforming as they moved from the bustling heart of the market to a quieter area where the stars shone brighter in the night sky. At some point, Caelus had slipped his hand into Dan Heng’s, and they’d walked hand in hand without a word, a comfortable silence settling between them
After a while, they stopped by a small shop, its windows filled with small trinkets and polished stones. Caelus’s eyes sparkled as he noticed a small, delicate charm, shaped like a dragon—a nod to Dan Heng’s Vidyadhara form
Without a word, Caelus ducked inside, returning moments later with the charm carefully wrapped in a small box. He handed it to Dan Heng, his expression softening
“Here.. It’s just… something small" Caelus murmured, scratching the back of his head, a hint of shyness creeping into his usual confidence “Just a little thanks… for loving me the way you do”
Dan Heng blinked, his eyes widening as he took the box. He unwrapped it carefully, his fingers brushing over the smooth surface of the dragon charm. “Caelus…” His voice was soft, touched, and his gaze turned gentle as he looked at Caelus, feeling his heart swell with an emotion he rarely let himself indulge in fully
“Do you like it?” Caelus asked, his voice barely a whisper, but his eyes sparkled with hope
Dan Heng nodded, a rare, full smile spreading across his face “I love it. Thank you, Caelus.”
There was a brief moment where neither of them spoke, just a quiet, tender silence as they stood close, looking at one another. Caelus seemed to hesitate for a second, his gaze flickering down to Dan Heng’s lips, and Dan Heng noticed. Caelus leaned in, his intention clear—but before he could make his move, Dan Heng gently reached up, taking Caelus’s face in his hands
This time, it was Dan Heng who closed the distance between them, pressing his lips to Caelus’s in a kiss that felt like it could melt time. It was gentle but deep, full of warmth, a quiet passion that had been building for longer than either of them could remember. Caelus’s surprise melted away as he leaned into it, his hands coming to rest on Dan Heng’s shoulders, his heart pounding as they held each other close. They kissed as if they had all the time in the world, lost in each other, feeling the world fade into the background
When they finally pulled apart, Caelus’s cheeks were flushed, his eyes wide with shock and delight. He blinked, letting out a soft laugh that bubbled up from pure happiness. Dan Heng joined in, his chuckle low and warm, his expression soft as he reached up to brush a stray lock of Caelus’s hair out of his face
In the warmth of the moment, he leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to Caelus’s forehead. “Thank you, Caelus" he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper “For being here. For… everything”
Caelus smiled up at him, his gaze tender as he wrapped his arms around Dan Heng, pulling him into a tight hug “I love you, Dan Heng” he said, his voice soft but steady, a quiet certainty in the way he held him close
Dan Heng closed his eyes, hugging Caelus back as he whispered, “I love you too, Caelus”