Chapter Text
“Stelle?!”
Dan Hang woke up in the new cycle alone. Stelle was missing, March hadn’t come to Amphoreus, or so he was under the impression. He wandered aimlessly hoping to find the one person in this planet that he called his family. There was nobody. He was alone. Again. And so he sat and waited, his heart yearning for the face he had gotten so used to seeing in the bustling city, in the slow express mornings, the meetings, the quiet peaceful nights.
“Stelle. Come back..” Was all he said before he began his long wait. The most he did was reminisce. He recalled how he almost had to give her CPR when they first met and how March 7th pushed him out of the way upon seeing her eyes open. Stelle was so puzzled and dazed. Cute. That was all he thought. Then, he thought about Belebog. Their first trailblazing expedition together. The fact that they had almost been arrested after staying the night in Gothe hotel. Then when Stelle had been stabbed but came back more determined than ever, the lance in hand. That was what had actually opened his eyes. It was the fact that she bore a smile and a laugh even after the most challenging trials that they had faced. Even when she learnt of the stellaron that was in her body, it didn’t stop her. She boarded the express as strong as ever when she could have taken the easy route and just stayed on the space station and help Herta with her research. Then, the Xianzhou. The way she didn’t judge him for his past and his links to Dan Feng, the high elder. The fact that she was as patient as she was in the shackling prison, knowing how hard it was for him to step foot there after being forced to endure punishment for something that he hadn’t done. The fact he was seen as nothing but a sinner and a traitor in the eyes of the Xianzhou. She just seemed to…Understand. And to him, that meant a lot. To have almost no memories but still understand and sympathise with him. That meant a lot to him when to others it would mean absolutely nothing. The fact that even though he hadn’t gone to Penacony with them in the beginning, she came back with stories of her adventures and success. The photos that March took were proof of that. She was able to make such a drastic change with just her presence was something so beautiful and inspiring. However, he didn’t have the words to tell her that without it coming out wrong. It was hard to express your complicated feelings after knowing someone for only two/three years. It was killing him. But he didn’t care. To trailblaze with such a person was enough for him anyway. He knew however that Amphoreus was not going to be like the other planet expeditions after crashing in the express car. The sight of Stelle…Bleeding, dead in his arms. That was nothing short of a horror story. He clung to her, dragging her out of that damned express car that day, pleading her to wake up. He had never been so desperate before.
The vines slowly began to grow around cloudpiercer and his legs. He wouldn’t move. No. He couldn’t. Not until Stelle returned to him safely. Even if that meant waiting an eternity for her. He’d circle the infinity sign that made Amphoreus well Amphoreus for decades if it meant seeing her again. He was willing and would stop at nothing. Absolutely nothing until Stelle was in his arms.
On Stelle’s side, she woke up in the shimmering wheat fields of Aedes Elysiae. There she met Cyrene…? Mem…? Not that that mattered in all honesty, they had the same characteristics and memories. However, Stelle would go fourth and call out to Cyrene. To that, the journey of beginning to change the very laws that were forced into Amphoreus with the help of new faces such as Hysilens and Creydra - the imperator. Unfortunately, this journey of changing the laws ended with a difficult decision for Hysilens. She would either take the life of herself or Cerydra. She took Cerydra’s and Cerydra took this chance to change the laws. Lygus got trapped, luckily. However, so did Stelle. For quite some time too. The journey was long and to Stelle, it had only been what? A few hours? But it had been far…far longer than that in the outside world. That was when Dan Heng saved her and brought her right back to his side.
The minute his hand managed to grasp hers, he refused to let go. He almost slipped due to the force he pulled her at. He wouldn’t lose his guiding light again. Not a chance. When Stelle was grounded he still wouldn’t let go. His knuckles turned white from how tightly he was holding her. It was as if when he let go she would disappear again but this time would never return.
“Dan Heng…Have you gotten taller?” Was one of her first questions.
“I’ve been through quite a lot since you’ve been gone.” He managed with a smile.
They embraced and he looked down at her, his eyes full of a form of yearning that she’d never seen before. He wanted to just drop to his knees and confess his undying love for her. But he wouldn’t. Not now. He didn’t want to scare her away. He was too involve with her to take such a risk.
“You know…It’s felt weird not having you by my side in Amphoreus for so long..” She smiled, a slightly nervous laugh escaping her lips. He couldn’t remember the last time her voice gave way to real nerves like that.
“Yeah…It has..Hasn’t it?” Deep down he was relieved that she’d missed his presence. It gave him hope that maybe one day his feelings may be reciprocated.
They had yet another long journey ahead. They learnt that March was present in Amphoreus but had no idea where to find her. Oh yeah…And Irontomb. Irontomb was probably the biggest problem they face right now. Especially since it was a Lord Ravager that would merge with Phainon. However, even though Dan Heng was worried about Phainon, he was glad that Stelle hadn’t spend that long with him. He could tell that Phainon had some sort of unknown attraction and care towards Stelle because Dan Heng had been there too. He had been working out his feelings, confused and slightly nervous. He’d heard of Dan Feng’s previous relationship with Yingxing however he’d never been in one himself. Anyway, him and Dan Feng are two completely separate people so he would never link his love life with the High Elder that belonged to the Xianzhou when he didn’t. Dan Heng belonged to the express and he’d made that very clear the minute he managed to get comfortable and warmed up to the express members.
That night, the two found somewhere to stay and settled for the night. As Stelle was getting ready, Dan Hang was sat facing the other way.
“So…How’ve you been, Dan Heng..?”
“I’ve been…Fine.”
“Seriously? Fine? No cool fighting stories or no cool story for your new look and sudden growth?”
“…No.”
“Okay then…” Stelle decides to change the topic. “So how did you manage to find me?”
“I just used to earth and water to locate you.” He stated calmly.
“Really..? You went to those lengths just to find me?”
“Well yes I-“ He paused, realising the error in his words.
“You…? Stelle questioned, now suspicious.
“It’s nothing…Do not worry.”
“Please tell me…I know you didn’t spend that long searching for me just for things to end up being awkward..What happened to us being from the express?”
“Stelle-“
“Why are you hiding things from me!”
“Because I’ve waited over a thousand years for you and I have no idea how to tell you how much I love you!”
.
.
.
Well that was definitely not what she was expecting to hear. She stood froze in place, only half dressed into her night clothes. “What..?”
“Just forget I said that. It was said in the heat of the moment.”
“Was it a lie?”
“What…?”
“Tell me the truth. Was that a lie? Do you love me or do you not love me?”
“I..”
“You do?”
He just sighed, nodding in defeat, unsure what to even say. He’d gone and made things worse than they already seemed to be. He just got up and went to the balcony, staring at the sky blankly. Stelle quickly finished dressing and rushed out, staring at his back for a moment before wrapping her arms around him, her eyes shut as she took in the moment. Dan Hang nervously turned around, quirking an eyebrow. He didn’t understand why she was hugging him after they just practically had a shouting match over the awkwardness of the room just to end up in it being an angry love confession and an admittance to his yearning over the past thousand years. She needed him to understand that the feelings were mutual and that she too had been waiting for him to appear. She hadn’t expected him to just sit down and wait however. Maybe that was what the difference was between them. She kept moving in order to reach him while he sat and waited for her to return to him. She was like home to him in a world of peculiar faces and disasters but he wouldn’t trade that for anything.
“Stelle…?”
“I feel the same, Dan Heng.”
“…? Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
He slowly turned around, returning her embrace, sighing as the tension lifted from his body. He had spent a thousand years yearning for her touch and it was honestly worth it. In his eyes this was perfect. He felt at peace, his tail moving itself to wrap around one of her legs, pulling her just that tiny bit closer, enhancing the intimacy of the moment. The two stood in a comfortable silence for a moment before Dan Heng leaned in a little more, watching her as he raised a gentle hand to cup her chin, tilting it just a small amount so they could have clear eye contact.
“May I…” He started, watching her, hoping she would understand what he was getting at.
She watched him, not wanting it to be that easy for him. After all, she still had a teasing side that was especially strong in times like these. “May you…What?”
“You know what I’m getting at, Stelle.”
“Do I…? Hmm…” She smiled, placing a hand teasingly on his shoulder, indicating she was fine with it underneath all of the joking.
He smiled weakly, leaning in as he adjusted his hands, slipping them under her jacket and back around her back to hold her close. That was when it happened. They kissed. It wasn’t lustful…No. It was full of care and patience. The two had waited that long to reach each other so why would they lose their patience over a simple kiss that they’d both clearly been waiting for? They took it slowly and savoured every little moment, staggering back into the room, closing the balcony door and its curtains behind them. Stelle’s hands were currently exploring Dan Heng’s new build as if it were a painting that was hung in a museum. The two sat on their bed. Enjoying the moment of rare intimacy and pure love.
Eventually, the two ended up laid on the bed in each others arms. Dan Heng planted kisses all over Stelles face and neck, being as gentle as possible. He whispered sweet nothings into her skin as he did so, ensuring they were whispers that nobody else would know of but Stelle. He carefully threaded his fingers through her hair, sighing as she leaned into his touch. “When I saw your wounds bleeding profusely that day…I thought I had lost you. I prayed for someone to bring you back to life even if there was no hope left. I’m so glad that I did.” He murmured, his head resting on her own. Stelle quietly moved closer. “I always come back. You know me, Dan Heng.” She smiled, trying to push away from the melancholy topic. He nodded along, allowing her to do so. He knew how awkward it was to be told about the moment of your death when you were still clearly alive. The two’s weapons laid on the floor on top of each other, similar to how the two were currently laying, signifying that no matter what universe they were in, they would always be brought together by fate.