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Dan Heng certainly wouldn’t mind if his mornings always started like this.
No nightmares to speak of, not even any dreams really. He simply opened his eyes to a new day and a sight of Stelle comfortably sleeping in his embrace. The Vidyadhara caught himself thinking that this is how he wanted to spend the rest of his life – beside her.
It has already been months since Dan Heng and Stelle got together after that fateful expedition to Amphoreus, and their subsequent marriage soon after. While they did participate on a couple of minor expeditions (which they agreed to only if they went together), it was largely decided by the crew to let the pair rest and spend time with each other. They needed that badly after all.
While Dan Heng did try not to move around much, he still ended up unconsciously running his fingers through Stelle’s hair, which ended up waking her.
“Mmm… Can I stay like this for a bit?” She mumbled sleepily. While Stelle was a hyperactive raccoon during the day, none of that energy could usually be found during the mornings. It was a trait that Dan Heng found adorable.
“For as long as you want to, Starlight. Sorry for waking you up.” He gently pecked her in the forehead and slightly tightened his hold on her, to which she mumbled something vaguely resembling gratitude and pressed her face into his shoulder.
It was only around noon when the pair decided to finally get up, slowly making their way into the bathroom to wash up. After being done with that, they went to the Parlor car, finding only Himeko and Pom-Pom inside – the only two people left on board besides them, since March, Welt and Sunday were deployed for a new expedition.
“Passenger Stelle! Passenger Dan Heng! While I know, you’re still resting for now, it is no excuse to continuously skip the set breakfast time for the crew!” The conductor’s angry huff made Stelle smile, while Dan Heng had the decency to look away in embarrassment.
“Don’t be so strict on them, Pom-Pom. Let us let them have their time for now. Knowing these two, once they are ready to keep going like usual, they’ll be up on time.” Himeko gave the pair a motherly smile, showing them to their usual seats at the table. “How are you feeling today, by the way?” The navigator asked them once everyone was seated at the table.
“I slept well, thank you.” Dan Heng responded with a small smile and looked at Stelle. “I don’t think I even had any nightmares lately.”
“Yeah, I slept great as well!” Stelle’s more energetic response made everyone present smile. Even after everything that had happened, she truly never changed.
“I’m glad for both of you.” Himeko smiled in response. “Now, let’s eat. Pom-Pom did go all out with the breakfast today after all.” Hearing that, the pair breathed a collective sigh of relief, now aware that Himeko wasn’t the one preparing breakfast once again.
***
Having finished eating, both Stelle and Dan Heng decide to spend some time in the Archives: The Vidyadhara started organizing data from the latest expedition while his wife sat nearby, occasionally asking him about the things she saw in the reports. Overall, the archives were quiet as usual, save for the occasional banter.
“Hey, do you think we can take the next expedition? Just the two of us?” Dan Heng looked at Stelle, hearing her sudden question, and raised his eyebrow.
“Are you sure? There’s no rush, you know?” While he wasn’t exactly surprised at his partner’s eagerness to get back into the action, he still thought that they both needed a bit more time, even if that was only his selfish side talking, wanting to shield Stelle from danger.
“Yeah. I know it’s been great, and I love spending time with you here, but… I guess I can’t sit still after all. Sorry you ended up with a rabid raccoon as a wife.” She sheepishly responded, laughing nervously. “Still, think about how much time we can spend together on an expedition? It can’t be worse than Amphoreus, right?”
“Well, if you’re so eager, I’ll be glad to go with you, Starlight. Anywhere.” Dan Heng took her hand in his own. “And don’t be sorry for being yourself. That’s why I love you after all.” Having said that, he leaned in, kissing Stelle on the lips. It was a quick, gentle kiss, far from the passionate ones he was capable of. The reason for his restraint was simple: there was still work that needed to be done, there would be time for other ‘activities’ later.
“Can’t we just ditch work for today? You fire me up like nothing else can.” Stelle breathed out as they separated. “Please?”
“Sorry.” It was difficult for Dan Heng to resist the masterful puppy eyes of his wife, but he persisted. “If you want both of us to go back into the field, we need to finish up with the work here.” He brushed aside a stray lock of her hair. “I’ll make it up to you later. Promise.”
The rest of their stay at the archives went in a similar fashion. They went out once for lunch and once for dinner, eventually retiring back to their room for the night. As the automatic lights dimmed on board of the Express, signifying the arrival of nighttime, the pair laid down on their bed, facing each other.
“So.” Stelle purred, sliding on top of Dan Heng. “I think I want to cash in that promise of yours to ‘make it up’ to me.” She looked incredibly seductive as she peered down on her Vidyadhara mate with her golden eyes.
“Well, you’ve been a good girl today and waited until the work was done…” He trailed off, a hint of a smile on his lips. “I think you deserve your ‘reward’.” With a quick movement he turned them both over, ending up on top of Stelle, before leaning down and kissing her passionately, making her moan in the process.
The night was still young and Dan Heng had a lot of ‘making up’ to do.