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It was another mundane day at Luofu. Jing Yuan was met with more paperwork than he had in a while. This was probably due to the incident with the Stelleron hunters and the Astral Express Crew visiting the ship. Since they were outsiders, more questions were asked by the Ten Lords commissions. Jing Yuan almost dozes off writing the part about Kafka’s escape, from Fu Xuan’s interrogations, at the divine commissions.
He feels something warm, slowly spreading from his hip, he jolts up at the sensation. Dispelled from the sleepy haze he was in, he reaches in his pocket and takes out the jade abacus, the Allying Oath he had shared with the Astral Express. He examines it carefully in his palm, feeling his chest tense as someone speak from it:
“General Jing Yuan?” it was a warm woman’s voice calling out to him. “Are you there?”
“Miss Himeko? What’s up?” It didn’t sound like March or Stelle. So it could only be Himeko.
“It’s Dan Heng… he’s not okay… he keeps roaring and breaking things. He won’t open the door.”
Jing Yuan tenses up further, his eyes dilating.
Another husky voice, that Jing Yuan recognized as Welt, says “He needs you Jing Yuan.” He never heard the old man this vulnerable, Jing Yuan’s mind swirling into thousands of questions and theories.
“I’m on my way”
He didn’t bother putting on his uniform and was standing in front of Dan Heng’s room. Surrounded by the young man’s crew mates, March is weakly knocking on the door, her eyes are puffy with tears dripping down. Jing Yuan gently puts a hand on her shoulder.
“Please Dan Heng open the door!” she pleads in misery.
“Go AWAY!” Jing Yuan hears a growl behind the door. He furrows his brows, he notices it sounded hoarse.
“Dan Heng,” the silver haired man beckons March behind him. “I am going to open this door with Lightning Lord, if you don’t let me in.” his glaive appears in his hands ready to strike. He has to see Dan Heng. He has to see if he's okay.
“He’s been acting odd ever since we landed on a planet with shackled creatures…” He hears Stelle mumble. Ah… they don’t know the depth of Dan Heng’s time in his prison.
The door slams open and a something teal whips fast out and snakes around the Generals neck and waist. The air is beaten out of him as he is hoisted in an immense speed away from the crew into the room, barely hearing everyone screaming “General” in alarm. Jing Yuan isn’t afraid however.
He is gently put down on the cool surface of the room, he looks up at the owner of the long tail that had hoisted him in. The black haired youth face was obscured by a menacing darkness from all the lights being turned off, his eyes were glowing a bright teal, but there was fury and pain in them. Jing Yuan's heart twists in retaliation, those emotions he had never wished to see again stand before him again like the day he had freed him.
Dan Heng was transformed into his vidyadhara form, but he had a more wild appearance than he usually had, his talons were out and fangs stretched out, dripping with drool. His stance was in a defensive position, ready to attack those who tried to hurt him. His tail stiffened in a place to feel the rumbles of an intruder. Like a frightened cat he was on his fours, stuck in a pose not daring to move, and Jing Yuan was sure he too would be hissed at if he moved.
“Why are you here?” the Vidyadhara speaks with a tremble in his voice. Jing Yuan looks at him calmly, not responding.
“WHY.” Dan Heng raises his voice “DID YOU COME HERE JING YUAN?”
Jing Yuan’s golden eyes softened at him, raising his hand towards the tail that is still wrapped around his shoulder, he strokes it gently.
Dan Heng closes his eyes involuntarily and Jing Yuan can hear a small purr coming out his wet lips. Jing Yuan steps closer to him, still petting his dragon friend's tail, using his other hand to reach out to Dan Heng’s head. Dan Heng is quiet and watches him silently, unable to hide his purring in his throat. Jing Yuan softly pets his head and Dan Heng closes his eyes whimpering and leans into his touch.
“You’re not there anymore. You’re safe.” Dan Heng hears him speak for the first time in his room, the oh so sweet honey dewed voice calming his nerves and anxiety.
Jing Yuan crouches down and sits in front of Dan Heng, wrapping his arms around the smaller man. He continues to stroke his hair and Dan Heng lets out a gasp of relief as his talons shrink down and grips tighter onto the taller man’s arms. The golden eyed man gently caresses one of his horns, Dan Heng presses his face further into his chest, muffling his purring. He feels his fangs getting smooth.
Jing Yuan leans his head on top of his forehead, and Dan Heng can feel his breath on it, reassuringly reminding him of the warmth he saw for the first time in the shackling prison. The General's eyes that had been glazed with bright sunshine and kindness. He who had been so kind to set him free… to let him live his life.
They sat there for a while, breathing in each other's scent.
Jing Yuan feels his heart ache, he feels anger and hatred towards those who imprisoned Dan Heng with the same fate as Dan Feng. Now there are wounds deeper than what Dan Heng had ever deserved. His Dan Heng who deserved nothing but love and protection. He wishes he bore his pain instead. Because it was unnecessary for Dan Heng to feel this weight of burdens. Burdens of the past that didn’t belong to him.
As if on auto pilot he doesn’t realise it but he places a kiss on Dan Heng’s forehead. His mind still swirling with the thoughts of the prison and the unreasonable injustice that had been done to the young man since birth.
Dan Heng turns a deep shade of red, but Jing Yuan doesn’t notice.
“Jing Yuan…” he hears Dan Heng speak under his chin. Jing Yuan looks down at the soft dark grey blue eyes, he is back to his human form, the older man feels a swelling happiness bubble inside of him.
He sees his face is glistened with tears, tired from the flashbacks no less, he wipes down his friend’s tears with his fingers, giving him a proud smile, reassuring him he is not alone and this is not his fault.
“Dan Heng… I am so sorry.” he presses his forehead against his love, he is aware how close they are, how vulnerable this act is, but he cannot help it. Dan Heng sighs contently at the touch.
“I am sorry for almost attacking you…” Dan Heng hesitantly says. Jing Yuan shakes his head, denying his statement “No you were just being defensive. You were very calm around me to be honest… “
“It is the effect you have… General.” Dan Heng said with a serious and sincere face. Jing Yuan couldn’t help but laugh at his earnesty. Dan Heng smiles a little seeing him laugh.
“You should… tell your crew about your time in the prison Dan Heng… otherwise… you know they might think something physically is wrong with you, when it’s much more complicated than that.”
Dan Heng stares at him in silence. He nods.
“I don’t know how to… break it to them. I am really bad at talking about my feelings.” Dan Heng admits, in which Jing Yuan squeezes his hand reassuringly again.
“I can help. I’ll be there, if you want my support. It might make you less nervous.”
“Yes… I would like that.” Dan Heng looks at him with a different expression, that Jing Yuan couldn’t read. He tilts his head questioningly.
“Dan Heng?”
“Hm.”
“What is it? Something is bothering you still?”
“Not really…I just can’t figure it out… how to describe my emotions towards you.” Dan Heng says, rubbing his neck, blushing.
Jing Yuan feels his cheeks burn up too. He turns away from Dan Heng’s eyes, not daring to hope what this meant.
“I look at you and I want to kiss you a 100 times, is that normal?”
Jing Yuan would be dead and deceased if it wasn’t for March barging in to demand Dan Heng’s apology for snapping at her.
They would have to talk about Dan Heng’s emotions after calming down March.