Work Text:
“Mr Yang, could I talk to you about something?”
Welt looked up from his book to see Dan Heng, looking unusually nervous.
“Of course, is there something bothering you?”
He saw Dan Heng glance around the open carriage nervously. March was playing with Pom Pom in a corner, while Himeko was chatting with Bronya, who was visiting the Express for a short while.
The Stellaron siblings however, were both watching them intently, giving Dan Heng a thumbs up when they saw he was looking at them.
Ah, so this was something that Dan Heng had already discussed with those two, but didn't want anyone else knowing.
“Do you want to come to my compartment?” he offered, aware of the way that Dan Heng was fiddling with the glove on his right hand.
He looked back at Welt gratefully.
“Yes please.”
Welt closed his book, making a mental note of the page and left it on the seat as he stood up.
“Let's go.”
Dan Heng followed him silently as Welt led them to his room. Despite never having been inside, Dan Heng did not stop to look around like March had done, he merely stood in the middle of the room until Welt sat down on his bed and patted the space next to him.
He sat there, staring at his knees and continuing to fiddle with his glove. Welt saw that he would have to prompt Dan Heng to start the conversation or else he would be too nervous to talk.
“So…” he ventured, trailing off to allow Dan Heng to continue at his own pace.
“... So I spoke about this already with Caelus…” Dan Heng started.
And naturally that meant Stelle got involved too, Welt supplied in his brain. He said nothing though, silently encouraging Dan Heng to keep going.
“And… you know how some people experience different kinds of sexual attraction?”
“Like, bisexuality, pansexuality and such?”
Welt could admit to himself that his knowledge in the area was not as comprehensive as it could be – there was only so much time you had to research cultural awareness when running an organisation, among other things. After that… he supposed it had simply slipped his mind. There was a lot to learn about raising a child after all.
Still, he knew the basics and he was confident that he could support Dan Heng through whatever the man decided to reveal.
“Yes… sort of. I… Well you know how Vidyadhara can't reproduce?”
This was not the direction he thought it would go in but he could certainly take this in stride.
“I did hear as such, yes.”
Dan Heng paused, clearly working himself up to say his main point. Welt waited patiently, knowing that the man wouldn't appreciate being nudged into talking before he was ready.
“What I'm trying to say is… I'm asexual.”
For the first time since they started the conversation, Dan Heng looked up to meet Welt’s eyes. He could see the apprehension swimming in them as Dan Heng waited for whatever reply would come.
On the one hand, Welt was touched that Dan Heng trusted him enough to come out to him, but on the other… his heart hurt slightly at the idea that Dan Heng might ever think he would be upset because of this.
He knew this was probably not the case. From the limited research he had done, coming out was often quite stressful, regardless of whether the other person was known to be accepting or not.
“Dan Heng,” he started, keeping his voice as gentle as he could, “I am glad you felt able to trust me with this. As long as you are happy with who you are, that is the only thing that matters to me.”
The sight of Dan Heng tearing up was the only warning Welt got before the man flung himself forward to hug him.
“Thank you,” Dan Heng whispered into his shoulder.
Welt smiled and raised his arms to hug Dan Heng back.
“There's no need to thank me. We're all family here after all. None of us would see you any differently because of your sexuality.”
There were definitely wet patches on his jacket. Well, he wouldn't mention it unless Dan Heng brought it up.
Dan Heng's arms tightened around him minutely as he replied
“I know that. It's… different hearing it though.”
Giving Dan Heng a squeeze, he raised one arm slightly to rub soothingly at his shoulder. The man tensed, as if unused to the motion, before relaxing into it.
Thinking about it, he probably was unused to it given that he spent his early life in a prison cell and had only recently started opening up to the crew. Welt's chest hurt just picturing it. He was so, so thankful for March, Stelle and Caelus’ efforts in helping Dan Heng to come out of his shell. All four of them were amazing, helping each other work through their issues. Welt knew that both he and Himeko were incredibly proud of them.
“I'm not judging you, I understand that it can be an emotional experience and I will support you in any way that you need.”
“Oh.”
Aeons, he sounded so young that Welt couldn't help clutching him tighter.
He had no idea how old Dan Heng actually was - and doubted Dan Heng was completely sure either - but to Welt, Dan Heng was one of the younger members under his protection and he would be for as long as he continued to travel with the Express, and even after that.
That meant that it was also his job to guard the moments of vulnerability that Dan Heng shared with him, so Welt stayed sitting on his bed holding the man in a protective embrace until he was ready to leave it.
Eventually, Dan Heng did pull away, clearing his throat and straightening his clothes in obvious embarrassment.
“Thank you. Again. For…” he trailed off, looking awkward.
Welt chuckled lightly.
“You're welcome. Do you want to go back to the Parlour Car now?”
“Yes, please.”
Welt stood up and walked to the entrance of his room, hearing Dan Heng rise behind him. He pulled open the door, gesturing politely.
“After you.”
He could see that Dan Heng looked a lot more relaxed leaving than when he had walked in and internally sighed in relief.
Perhaps he should switch out his book with some articles about gender and sexuality when he sat down again.