Chapter Text
“He’s everywhere... I mean everywhere.” Dan Heng murmured to himself as he sat at a cafe to focus on his work. Still, he seemed he couldn’t, as he overheard conversations about the interview a new actor who is quickly gathering fame and a massive following did that aired recently. “So, what type of girls do you think he’s into?” He overheard clearly from a nearby table. He sighed as he closed his laptop and gathered his things to pack up to head home, knowing he couldn’t focus in this type of environment.
As Dan Heng opened the front door, a small cat dashed in between his legs and hid there, shaking. He looked down at the tiny cat, then over to where it ran from. “Ren, what did you do to Dumpling for him to run from you?” he asked the dark hall. A loud sigh was heard down the hall. “I didn’t do anything! He scared himself by knocking the vase off the counter and hearing it crash”, said a deep voice as a handsome man holding a small bouquet walked out from the dark hallway. His face immediately flushed red when he saw Ren, then he quickly looked away as he bent down and picked up the shaking Dumpling to soothe him, and he quickly calmed and started purring happily. He sighed as he closed the front door before setting his work bag down and walking over to Ren. “How is your project going?” Ren asked. “Terrible. Barely got anything done.” Dan Heng replied flatly as he looked at Ren, who cocked his head like he was a dog as he asked, “Why’s that?” Dan Heng silently looked at Ren for a minute before responding, “Because of the job you decided to dive headfirst into.” Ren chuckled and responded, “Oh yeah. I guess I got lucky with that.”
Dan Heng bent down and set the eager Dumpling down as the tiny cat ran up and rubbed against the quite larger cat that just came from another room. “That’s not what I meant. I keep hearing everyone talking about the interview with you that aired a few days ago”, he said as he stood back up, now avoiding Ren’s gaze. The latter came closer to Dan Heng, trying to get his lover to look at him. “What, are you jealous?” he asked with a playful and teasing tone. “N-No!” Dan Heng replied snappily, still avoiding his gaze. “And what kind of answer is no when asked if you have a girlfriend or wife, without any follow-up clarification? People now think they may have a chance with you”, he continued. “I’m sorry, I guess it just slipped my mind. Please forgive me.” Ren responded honestly as he pulled Dan Heng towards him. Dan Heng stayed silent as he turned his back to Ren, though he didn’t move away.
Ren wrapped his arms around his lover while he rested his head on his shoulder, with the latter’s face turning slightly red. “Y-You—” he stammered before sighing. “Whatever am I supposed to do with you?” he asked calmly as he leaned his head against Ren’s. “Oh yeah, these are for you. They were in a vase until Dumpling decided to knock it off the counter.” The latter said as he held the bouquet he’d been holding up to Dan Heng, who silently took the bouquet from his lover’s hand and looked at it. “They’re even your favorite color”, Ren said in a slightly embarrassed tone. Dan Heng smiled as he finally looked back to meet his lover’s gaze and responded, “Thank you, they’re beautiful.” The larger cat went in between the two lovers’ legs and meowed. The two looked down at the cat. “Looks like Sesame is telling us he wants dinner.” Dan Heng said with a smile, “Oh yeah, that’s what I was doing until Dumpling decided to be a cat.” Ren replied as he reluctantly let go of Dan Heng, “How about we finish getting dinner ready together? Will that make up for not clarifying?” he asked. “We already do that most nights.” Dan Heng answered as he gently and playfully pushed Ren away while walking to the kitchen.
Dan Heng went to the kitchen with Ren closely behind as the cats trotted after them. he spotted the shattered vase and sighed. “Careful, I don’t want you to get hurt by one of the shards”, Ren said as he quickly went over to pick up the pieces. “I should say the same to you. Why are you picking them up with your bare hands?” Dan Heng retorted in a somewhat angry tone. Ren paused as look back at his lover as he stood up and threw the few shards he had collected away before washing his hands. “Sorry, I forgot how much you hate it when I do reckless things like that. I know it’s a bad habit of mine I still haven’t fully broken...” he replied apologetically while Dan Heng avoided his gaze. “I’ll get the broom. Just make sure Sesame or Dumpling steps in it”, Dan Heng said while putting the bouquet in a new vase and filling it with water before walking to the supply closet. Ren looked down to search for the cats and spotted Dumpling sitting next to the mess he made, with Sesame lying against the tiny cat, almost toppling him over. He walked over to the two cats before bending down to pick up the cat. Sesame meowed in protest but didn’t attempt to flee while Dumpling quietly accepted his fate. “Someone doesn’t seem too happy.” Dan Heng slightly chuckled as he came back with the broom before starting to sweep up the shards. Sesame’s tail swayed angrily while Dumpling mewed as he playfully tried to nip Ren’s nose. He sighed and shook his head as he set the two cats on a nearby chair who curled up together, before going back to Dan Heng to help him.
“We haven’t been on a date in a while. Do you want to go on one tomorrow?” Ren asked as he cleaned up after dinner, “Are you not worried about being recognised? Especially with the interview still being the talk of the town...” Dan Heng asked, “Eh, so what. Am I not allowed to take my lover out on a date just because of some gossip?” Ren asked as he walked over to Dan Heng, whose face felt hot, and the tips of his ears turned red while he looked away slightly. “I guess not, and yeah, we can go out tomorrow”, he replied. Ren pulled his lover into an embrace. “I’m so glad and lucky that I have you”, he said. Dan Heng smiled slightly as he hugged Ren back while nuzzling his lover’s chest, listening to his heartbeat. ”It’s getting late. Let’s head to bed.” He said while looking up at his lover.
Ren nodded in reply as he picked him up before carrying him to their room. “H-Hey! Put me down. I can walk there myself.” He demanded, though Ren ignored his demand and tossed him on the bed. “You never liste—” Ren interrupted his lover with a long kiss. Ren leaned back after a long while of kissing to look at his lover and said while smiling, “Goodnight, my Love.” Dan Heng smiled as he looked back at Ren. “Goodnight, Ren”, he replied while holding his hand out to place it on his lover’s cheek as Ren leaned in and nuzzled Dan Heng’s hand.
The couple went on a date at the nearby park. Dan Heng was drinking a slushie while they held hands as they were walking when he overheard some people: (1) “Hey, isn’t that Ren? But who’s that with him?” / (2) “That’s definitely him! Though I have no idea who that is with him. Wait, are they holding hands?” He glanced over to where the gossip was happening but instantly turned to Ren when he heard his lover’s voice. “Ignore them. Today is just about us.” Ren spoke as he squeezed Dan Heng’s hand slightly while looking at him. Dan Heng nodded slightly as he looked into Ren’s eyes.
They later decided to find a bench to sit together. Dan Heng sat down first when Ren tried to sit on his lap. “H-Hey! You’re too big to sit on me!” He yelled in surprise while trying to push Ren off. The latter laughed as he finally decided to move to sit next to Dan Heng, who then leaned over and rested his head on his lover’s chest as he closed his eyes whilst listening to his heartbeat. Ren blushed a bit while looking at Dan Heng and smiled as he stroked his lover’s cheek and played with his hair a bit with one hand, and held his lover’s hand with the other. The same person from earlier walked up to Ren and Dan Heng. “E-Excuse me, Ren, who’s that with you?” The person asked quietly so as not to wake Dan Heng. Ren glanced at the person and noticed the friend a bit farther away, phone out.
“You two seem close. Is he a friend of yours?” The person asked softly. Dan Heng lifted his head as he opened his eyes before freezing after seeing the person staring directly at him, with an eerie aura emitting from them. “Who are you?!” The person asked loudly and very aggressively. Ren pulled Dan Heng closer to him as if to protect him, and sternly replied, “He’s someone very special and dear to me. So, you should not be yelling at him.” Dan Heng’s face quickly flushed red as he slowly curled into a ball when he heard Ren, and the person and their friend seemed shocked. Ren stood up before helping Dan Heng up as he said, “Come on, Babe. Let’s leave.” Dan Heng nodded slowly as he got up with Ren. “Babe?! What? You said you were single.” The person yelled angrily in shock. Ren quickly walked away with Dan Heng in tow as he replied flatly, “I never said that.” Dan Heng quietly said, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make your life harder.” Ren stopped and looked at his lover and held his hand up to Dan Heng’s cheek to make him look at him, though he avoided his gaze.
“Dan Heng, look at me. You’ve never made my life harder. If anything, you’ve made it much easier.” Ren replied honestly. Dan Heng’s face was slightly red as he looked at Ren and responded, “Have I really...?” Ren stroked his lover’s cheek and said, “You know I would never lie to you about something as serious as that. Don’t you remember what I was like before meeting you? I was such a fucking mess.” He chuckled slightly chuckling. Dan Heng nodded and replied, “Right... You really were, though it’s been so long since then.” He pulled Ren to make him bend down to meet his level and gave him a quick kiss. Ren froze as his face quickly felt hot and the tips of his ears turned red. Dan Heng smiled widely and laughed a bit as he looked at his lover’s shocked face, as he ran his fingers through his lover’s long and beautiful hair. “Earth to Ren. Are you there, Babe?” He asked while slowly waving his other hand in front of Ren’s face. Ren blinked and shook his head slightly, then looked at Dan Heng.
“Huh? Yes, my Love?” Ren asked after finally coming to his senses. Dan Heng laughed as he said, “You seemed to zone out after I kissed you. Did that somehow manage to reboot you?” he looked at Ren, smiling. “I— Huh...? What?” Ren stammered in a bit of confusion. “I guess I can still catch you off guard, even after all these years!” He said in a joyful tone, smiling. Ren smiled as he shook his head slightly while straightening up. “Though you still seem to be caught off guard just by the sight of me, even after all these years”, He replied in a teasing tone while laughing a bit as he ran his fingers through Dan Heng’s hair. “N-Not my fault that is how my body reacts whenever I see you! It just can’t resist how hot you are! I mean... Have you seen yourself?!” He sputtered as he looked away, embarrassed. His face was now extremely hot and beet-red. ”It’s cute and is one of the many things I love about you.” Ren said while chuckling as he pulled his lover into an embrace. Dan Heng hid his face in Ren’s chest, and Ren kissed the top of Dan Heng’s head and said, “You really are so adorable.” He grabbed Dan Heng’s hand and said, “Come on, let’s go. The cats are probably waiting for us.” Dan Heng smiled and nodded in response.