Work Text:
“Dan Heng, we need to start dating!”
This was not a combination of words that the Vidyadhara was expecting to hear today. Nor ever, really, if he was being honest. It’s not that he didn’t like Stelle – quite the opposite, actually, but when she had burst through the door into the archives with such a declaration, Dan Heng, at a loss for words, dropped the book he was holding.
“Elaborate.” He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as he sensed the incoming headache. “This is rather sudden of you.”
“Oh… oh!” Stelle seemed to understand what she said as her face flushed bright pink. “I… didn’t mean it like that.” She seemed crestfallen, as she said that, fidgeting slightly. A small gesture, but one that didn’t go unnoticed. “There’s just this café on Penacony… and they have discounts and special menu for couples, so I thought…”
It finally clicked for Dan Heng what Stelle had wanted from him. On one hand, he was, to his own surprise, a bit disappointed that she didn’t actually mean to start dating him. On the other – he was glad that he was still the one she went to for this.
“Okay. I don’t mind. I wasn’t really busy anyways.” He put away the book he dropped earlier, and stood up.
“It, okay if you’re busy, I’ll just- Wait, you’ll do this for me?” Finally catching up with Dan Heng’s response, Stelle immediately beamed, throwing her arms around him. “You’re the best! Let’s go!” Once they separated, she took his hand in her own and dragged him to the Space Anchor, teleporting them both to Penacony.
“Stelle, are we in a hurry?” Dan Heng asked, still flustered from the sudden hug. He looked down, noticing that they were still holding hands.
“I mean, it’s not like they’re about to run out of stuff soon… I guess I was just excited.” She smiled in embarrassment, sticking out her tongue. “Oh, sorry!” Stelle exclaimed, noticing that she was still holding the Vidyadhara’s hand.
“It’s fine. I don’t mind.” He said, shaking his head and squeezing her palm back in return, which caused both of them to look away in embarrassment. “If there’s no rush… we could just walk around like this. I didn’t see much of Penacony before since I had stayed on the Express.” Dan Heng was surprised at his own suggestion: it had almost sounded like he was offering Stelle to go on an actual date together.
“Sure! I know just the place!” She beamed, immediately dragging him along, which Dan Heng allowed with a wry smile.
‘Just the place’ had ended up turning into visiting half the stores at Golden Hour, which, while didn’t excite Dan Heng that much, still entertained him by virtue of observing Stelle’s fervor with which she explored every place she came across. It filled him with happiness just seeing her smile like that. He knew that as much as Stelle was goofing around on the surface, she put tremendous effort into every expedition, often brushing with death in the process. She deserved every second of rest she was getting right now and he would be damned if he allowed something to interrupt that.
Before they knew it, the pair had ended up at the café that was their goal from the beginning. It was already rather late so most people have dispersed, leaving the place almost empty. Dan Heng followed Stelle inside and they settled at the table for two. Almost immediately, a server came up to them with a smile, placing a couple-specific menu in front of them.
“Wow, you haven’t even asked if we were a couple! Are we that obvious?” Stelle seemed to blush at the idea, even if she was the one who said it in the first place.
“If you, dear guests, will allow me this moment of pride, then I’ll just say this: I have been working here for a long time and have something of a keen eye for couples. You see – people often attempt to pretend that they are together, just to receive the benefits in this establishment.” The server’s eyes almost sparkled. “But there is always a difference between a pretend couple and a true one: They do not interact in the same way at all.” Having said his piece, the server strolled away to the next table, leaving the pair to figure out their order, both their faces slightly pink.
“So… I guess we successfully fooled him? Hehe…” Stelle giggled quietly, trying to hide her embarrassment. “Do we really appear… so close?” Dan Heng’s ears didn’t miss her quiet question.
“I… wouldn’t be against that.” He quietly added himself, not knowing for sure if Stelle heard him.
***
The rest of the meal has been spent in quiet embarrassment, with occasional small talk in-between. After finishing their food and splitting the bill, they left the café, coming to a stop nearby and looking at each other, while avoiding direct eye contact.
“It has… been a good day, Stelle.” Dan Heng finally said with a small, almost resigned smile. “Ready to head back?”
“Wait!” Stelle exclaimed, but immediately looked down as she unintentionally raised her voice. “There’s… one more place I’d like to go to. With you. It’s important.” She still didn’t look him in the eye.
“Lead the way.” Dan Heng held her hand with a small smile on his face, his teal eyes giving Stelle all the reassurance she needed.
By the time the pair had arrived at Dream’s Edge, it was already night. Neither of them spoke as the Vidyadhara followed Stelle to the Front Observation Deck. The night view of the city skyline was breathtaking: Buildings and city lights under the night sky, which seemed to stretch on endlessly – courtesy of this entire area being a dreamscape. Dan Heng approached the end of the platform and peered over the railing, taking in the view.
“This is… beautiful.” Was all he could mutter.
“Yeah… Firefly showed me this place, you know? I just thought I wanted to see it again. With you.” Stelle stood by him, close enough for their shoulders to touch. “I didn’t really to come here alone. Or with anyone else, for that matter.”
For a moment Dan Heng could only hear the sound of his own heartbeat – awfully quick for his liking, as he turned his head to face Stelle, who was looking at him. Oh, how ready he was to lose himself in those golden eyes of hers, and forget the world around him. He didn’t even notice himself leaning in, or Stelle doing the same, only coming to his senses when they met in the middle, their lips connecting in a gentle kiss.
They separated after a few seconds that felt almost like an eternity.
“This… doesn’t feel like a part of the whole ‘pretend dating’ deal, no?” Stelle’s attempt at a joke was aimed at covering up her embarrassment. It didn’t exactly land. Or work, since Dan Heng had seen through that, but he still took it in stride.
“No, it doesn’t. Because it’s not. Unless you wanted it to stay a ‘fake’ date?” He teased her in return, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her close.
“Well, no! I just- Give me a sec, will ya!? I was crushing on you hard for the past several months, I didn’t think I’d ever get this far!” Dan Heng’s teasing instantly shattered Stelle’s defenses, reducing her to a blushing, bumbling mess.
“That makes the two of us, then.” Dan Heng eyed her with a barely noticeable smile on his face. “I wasn’t really sure what I wanted or needed to do with my growing feelings for you, so I just… was content with not acting on them. Until I wasn’t. Today. On our date.” Now he was the one who felt like a bumbling idiot. They certainly did make quite a pair together.
“So… does that mean we’re officially dating now?” Stelle asked, looking up at him with a sly smile. “Because you’re not getting rid of me easily!” She then wrapped her arms around him the same way he was holding her.
“And who said I was trying to get rid of you?” Dan Heng pressed his head in the nape of her neck. “You’re the one who is stuck with a scion of Permanence now.” Having said that, he lightly bit her neck, just hard enough to leave a mark, but not enough for it to bleed. “And of course, we’re dating now, I’m not leaving you. Not now, not ever.”
“Good.” She breathed out, not expecting the bite. “I won’t let you go either.”
They continued to stand there as the sunrise coated their surroundings in beautiful light. Instead of that, however, the only thing they were seeing was each other.