started watching the wind breaker anime some weeks ago and got so hooked on it that I immediately switched to the manga and boiii...
I'm literally done for. like, I'm such a goner for the story in general and all the characters...
there are just so many amazing characters and ships and I cAN'T DECIDE WHICH ONE'S MY FAV YET BC THEY'RE ALL JUST SO GOOD ugh
but there's one ship that already grew so much on me and it's, ofc, a throuple (yea, no shit sherlock, this is me we're talking about after all)
anyway...
lemme rant about SuoSakuNirei for a bit to get this outta my system 😩 (I hope I got the ship name right, pls forgive me if not 🥲)
I'll try to keep it spoiler free but I won't guarantee it, so pls beware, just in case
I can totally see how they complement one another with their personality traits and abilities, and while I can absolutely see Nirei being completely upfront about stuff, like how he mostly is, Suo would, ofc, be the one teasing all the time (duh!), and Sakura would just be his flustered and blushy, bratty self (he's so cute pls 😩)
yet, the moment a situation gets serious or they're in a fight, one can easily notice how much they respect, value, and depend on each other. they'd work together in synch, like clockwork, and nobody would even be able to so much as breathe into any of their direction bc they would always have each others' backs and protect one another
but I can also totally picture them enjoy spending time and being silly together, and to just relax in each other's company during their off times
Suo would probably read a book in silence with a soft and content smile on his lips, while casually drinking tea, and absentmindedly stroking Nirei's hair, whose head is laying on Suo's lap
and Nirei would excitedly update Sakura about all the new info the blonde has gathered about whoever he got the chance to observe in their last fights or during whichever meeting they had, while gesturing wildly with his notebook in hand and more than once almost knocking it against Suo's head, who simply dodges it
Sakura, on the other hand, would sit across them both, stiff and upright with arms crossed over his chest, and cheeks flushed in a most beautiful shade of scarlet as he desperately tries his best not to combust whenever he sneaks a peek at Suo and Nirei. and all the while an internal fight is raging in his mind about whether he wants to join them or tries to convince himself that that's bullshit and he's certainly gone insane now, bc how could he actually want that?! (a.k.a. affection 😒)
but they'd still challenge each other, especially Sakura with his cheeky mouth would still constantly blabber about wanting to fight Suo and Nirei, too
and Suo would tease Sakura until he'd lunge at him but Nirei would immediately scold them both to cut the crap and yes– they would actually listen to him 🤭
or they would settle on arm-wrestling, which would end in Sakura literally combusting and sputtering incoherent words and sentences bc Nirei won against him –by unfair means– bc Suo told Nirei beforehand to surprise Sakura by suddenly giving him a kiss before he could win 🤭
and it would all end up in Nirei and Suo laughing wholeheartedly as Sakura only watches them, stunned to silence, while his mind's reeling, the same word repeating itself over and over in there
*cute*
before he startles, blushes furiously, and hastily stumbles out of the room bc he's totally overwhelmed by his emotions...
just quickly chiming in to say that I adore your art, your style, the expressions of each character, the ideas you come up with, and just... ugh! EVERYTHING!
especially your latest caelus and wriolette pieces literally had me squealing with joy and filled my heart with so much softness...!
they always make my day! 😩🥹
really looking forward to all the amazing art you'll share, you're doing great! sending much love and hugs!! 💖💖💖
you're so sweet ??? 😭😭😭 djsfndnsn thank you for all the kind words i just 😭😭♡♡
I just woke up but the wind breaker brainrot is already going strong again and I'm... this is baaaaad 😩 (in a good way, no worries)
so lemme just, real quick, share this hc...
Suo Hayato is a tease in every sense and situation, he rarely shows anything other than cordiality and aloofness, always bringing out either the best or the worst in the person he's facing, depending on who they are
he does and can feel a whole lot of emotions but he just always decides that it's best not to show or act on them or give his opponents any chance to slip past this carefully crafted mask he's created over years and years of practice
this also applies to how he acts towards the person(s) close to his heart, his loved ones, altho letting his mask and walls down more often around them, ofc, and especially when they're all alone and no one else can witness this
he then gets softer and absolutely genuine in his kindness, showing real affection and much stronger emotions towards his loved one
and he loves to flirt! ofc, he does. he loves to tease, to see them blush and get all flustered (especially Sakura), and he loves to just shower them with compliments and positive affirmations
(and I'm gonna seize the opportunity and continue with SuoSaku here)
yet, the moment Sakura finally snaps and flirts back, it's over for Suo. literally.
he'll freeze up, eye wide in shock, and cheeks flushing in an absolutely adorable shade of pink as he gapes at Sakura, the diligently created mask completely cracking and every emotion he's currently going through, evidently showing on his face, features changing ever so slightly from surprised to confused to incredulous; until they slowly morph into something softer, something lovelier, like, fascination, adoration, and fondness. he would even be completely smitten with Sakura while also being reminded of just how captivating he is in the first place
Suo would then simply proceed to laugh softly before closing the distance between them and capturing Sakura in a tight hug, heart racing and skin pleasantly tingling with all the beautiful emotions surging through his body
but only until Sakura starts squirming and eventually snaps bc the situation is getting too much for him as he scolds Suo for surprising him like that, while Suo just fondly laughs about it and slowly regains his composure
Had the honor to collab with @hibaridraws for this fic and she drew an absolutely sweet and soft and adorable and stunning masterpiece for it, pls go check it out on her insta and bluesky and give her all the love! 🙏🩵🩵
Find the whole fic on Ao3!
Here's the link 🔗⬇️
(pls mind the tags!)
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
(excerpt under the cut)
The next thing that caught his attention were the deep and steady breaths that the actually pretty comfortable weight on his chest was taking, apparently. Sakura frowned slightly in confusion— because since when did that heaviness breathe differently from himself, shouldn’t they be synchronized?
Within a single second, memories from the afternoon and last evening flashed before his inner eye, and in the next one, he was staring at the ceiling with eyes wide open.
He gasped quietly as suspicion dawned on him.
A quick glance down his chest confirmed what he’d assumed would be the case. His eyes grew wide with panic as he stared at Suo’s and Nirei’s sleeping figures. Both their heads were resting on each side of Sakura’s chest, while their hands laid in the middle of it, fingers loosely intertwined.
tags: AU - canon divergent; Gepard chasing Sampo; Sampo being a smug fxxker; very slightly spicy (nothing graphic or anything, no actual mentions of nsfw, just some light hinting); Gepard actually being into it; Sampo being the sassy dude he is
“Stop right there, Sampo Koski! Running is futile, I will arrest you!” Sampo’s pursuer called, just a few steps behind and hot on his heels.
The blue-haired man chuckled low to himself at the fact that it was yet to be decided who would catch whom as he took the next turn leading into another abandoned alley.
He could do this for hours; walking around in circles, leading whoever was chasing after him into the darkest corners of the underground, or finding a hideout and simply waiting there until they gave up on trying to find him. It wouldn’t be the first time he’s done that and certainly not be the last.
And he’s been running in circles for who knows how long that day already while fooling his pursuer into thinking he actually had a chance to eventually get him. But even Sampo Koski’s patience was bound to reach its limit sooner or later, so he decided it was about time he finally lured his prey straight into his trap.
Knowing the streets of Belobog’s Underground better than anyone else, he took yet another turn, this time purposefully stepping straight into a dead-end.
“Oh nooo! What to do now? I’m trapped!” Sampo called over his shoulder in an overly dramatic manner, “What an unlucky fella I am…”
He said it loud enough for his persecutor to hear him but not too loud to give their position away to the other guards. Sampo was sure that none of them would be able to find their way here anytime soon in the first place but that was exactly what he’d aimed for from the beginning.
He didn’t need anyone interrupting them now.
Sampo slowed down, taking the last few steps toward the end of the alley. He came to a stop in front of some abandoned, old, and dusty wooden boxes that were scattered there in front of the tall stonewall. They’ve been looted before, considering that some of them were open, the tops mindlessly thrown aside and others simply cracked open to access their content.
A short moment later, his scheme played out just as planned.
“Stay right where you are and don’t you dare move a single finger, Koski!” Gepard Landau called, loud and firmly, voice booming across the narrow street. “You can’t escape anymore.”
Sampo grimaced before taking a deep-drawn sigh and slowly turning around, wearing one of his trademark lopsided smirks on his lips the moment his eyes fell on the blonde.
“No need to shout, Cap. I heard you just fine,” Sampo answered as he lifted his hands in feigned defeat. “Seems like you finally got me, huh?”
The Captain of the Silvermane Guards took two careful steps forward and Sampo waited for another few moments, letting the Captain believe just for a bit longer that he was actually cooperating. But Sampo had never planned to do that, so soon enough he narrowed his eyes, gaze turning predatory as he slowly let his arms down again.
Instead of staying put, the Mercenary was now slowly approaching Gepard. His lips stretched into a mischievous smile as he watched Gepard’s eyes widen with realization and a spark of anger flashing in them.
“Don’t move!” the Captain called.
Sampo didn’t bat an eye at the command, rather taking another few steps closer to his target.
“I said. Don’t. Move!”
A low chuckle escaped Sampo.
“Aw, or what?”
The Mercenary kept moving, only stopping right in front of Gepard, and staring at him with an amused glint in his emerald eyes. The Captain was frozen to the spot and his heart must’ve been racing, considering that he was breathing heavily through his nose while trying to hold Sampo’s gaze.
“Will you handcuff me?” Sampo asked, voice low and provocative.
He wanted to see how fast he could get the Captain of the Silvermane Guards, Gepard Landau, to let his guard down and how much Sampo could get under his skin. Considering that the Captain had been on Sampo’s mind almost every day those past weeks— it was only fair, one would assume.
It wasn’t out of fear that Gepard could eventually catch him and lock him up but for several other reasons. Reasons, which would certainly make Gepard get all flustered and tongue-tied if Sampo told him about.
“Will you punish me for being a bad boy, my dear Captain?” Sampo asked again as he took a step to the side and slowly started to circle the blonde while keeping his eyes locked on him.
Sampo studied every emotion flitting across the Captain’s face, watched a single bead of sweat running down his cheek, and was captured by the way his Adam’s Apple bobbed slightly as Gepard swallowed under the pressure of being observed so closely.
And Sampo wanted to do more than just watch, fingers itching to touch, tease, and simply do whatever indecent thought was crossing his mind right at that moment. Being this close to the sole reason for many of Sampo’s sleepless nights and being able to smell his heady scent— it was hard to resist. But Sampo also knew he needed to go slow about this and ought not to make any rash decisions.
But a little teasing never hurt anybody, right?
Sampo leaned in close, nose almost brushing the flushed skin at the back of Gepard’s neck as he continued.
“Would you enjoy doing all those things to me?”
The Mercenary lowered his voice even more, barely above a whisper as he breathed. “Or would you enjoy it more if I did that to you instead…?”
Gepard visibly shivered, his adorably flushed skin puckering and Sampo had to bite down hard on his lower lip to keep himself from simply latching onto the Captain’s neck right then and there. Instead, he let his hand wander to the small of Gepard’s back, gently brushing over it as he tensed. Sampo then finished his round and came to a stop in front of the blonde again, keeping his hands to himself with a satisfied smile on his lips.
“What do you think you’re doing here?” Gepard asked and Sampo swallowed hard at how unbelievably enticing the sight of a flustered Gepard was. His flushed cheeks, the frustrated look on his face, and the way his eyes were dancing around as he tried his hardest to hold Sampo’s gaze but ended up being too shy to do so— everything combined was almost too much for the Mercenary.
“I’m going to arrest you, so don’t get ahead of yourself,” Gepard eventually said, voice low and less convincing than before.
Sampo chuckled low.
“You sure about that, Cap?”
“What do you mean?” Gepard asked, brows knitting in confusion.
What Gepard hadn't noticed until now was that Sampo, while walking around him, had taken advantage of the situation and snatched the handcuffs from Gepard’s belt.
Sampo once again leaned in close, so close their noses almost touched. And at first, Gepard flinched hard, backing away an inch or two but just a moment later he visibly steeled himself and stood his ground, trying not to show any weakness.
Which played right into Sampo’s hands.
“I mean that I am the one who actually caught you…” Sampo whispered as the soft click of the handcuffs locking echoed through the quiet alley.
That was the moment Gepard’s eyes grew comically wide in realization as his face went slack and his mouth fell open in surprise. A moment passed, then another until Gepard blinked a few times, mouth moving in an attempt to form a coherent sentence but it just didn’t work. He tried to retreat, taking two steps backward but in the blink of an eye, Sampo grabbed him by the handcuffs and pulled him back closely.
“Nuh-uh, no running away now…” Sampo warned.
Their chests touched and even through the thick fabric of both their clothes, Sampo could feel the Captain’s heartbeat hammering in sync with his own.
Sampo’s eyes turned dark with burning desire as he uttered his next words.
“I gotta admit that at one point I started to enjoy our little cat-and-mouse games because you are quite the fascinating fella. I’d love to break through that stoic and upright facade of yours someday to see what you hide behind all that. But not today and not here, my dear Gepard…”
Sampo pulled back slightly, just to satisfy the urge to see a flustered Gepard once more but the moment his gaze fell on the blonde’s face, he was completely mesmerized.
A dark crimson had settled high on the Captain’s cheekbones, accentuating the brilliant blue of his sapphire eyes, and making them shine brighter than Sampo had ever noticed before.
But that wasn’t everything that had captivated him; he was taken aback at the glint of something dark and wicked hiding in them, a secret waiting to be found out, an ardent longing wanting to be released as Gepard stared straight at him, brows knitted in frustration.
Sampo was concentrating hard, trying to find out if his mind was trying to play a dirty trick on him or if what he’d just witnessed was actually real. He decided to go for the latter as a lopsided smile spread on his lips and he stated.
“Or maybe you’re already enjoying all of this more than I’d expected from you…”
Sampo closed the distance between them, grabbing Gepard’s chin between the thumb and index finger of his right hand, and pulled him in.
Their lips almost touching, Sampo breathed.
“I hope you don’t mind…”
Gently pressing his mouth on Gepard’s for a soft peck, Sampo felt him tense underneath the touch, body turning rigid against his own for a moment. The Mercenary was sure that Gepard would soon enough start a fuss and find a way to free himself of the handcuffs. Sampo was also sure that he was about to catch one of the blonde’s relentless fists any second now.
After another agonizingly long moment, Gepard suddenly relaxed, slightly pressing forward and—
Sampo needed a second longer to realize that Gepard was actually reciprocating the kiss.
It felt like a stroke of lightning had struck him, surging through his whole body, and setting every single nerve alight with a sizzling feeling that finally settled, pooling low in his gut. Sampo willingly took the invitation, angling his head, and slotting their lips together like fitting puzzle pieces and hands wandering, cupping the Captain’s face in both of them.
But before he could get any further or enjoy this moment a bit longer, he heard the stomping of heavy boots and guards calling Gepard’s name coming closer and closer.
Sampo reluctantly retreated as he heard them yell in the alley right beside them. He knew they would find them in less than a minute, so he had to act fast. Groaning, he pulled back completely from a still very much spaced-out Gepard while fumbling for a smoke grenade in one of his back pockets to prepare his escape.
Sampo couldn’t suppress the soft chuckle that escaped him as he focused back on Gepard, who was slowly coming back to his senses and flushed a crimson red the moment realization hit him hard. The Mercenary closed the distance between them, pressing their bodies together as he uttered a last warning into the small space between them.
“You better cover your sweet little mouth now or the smoke will cause a nasty coughing fit. And I wouldn’t want that to happen to you, my dear Captain Gepard.”
He watched with an amused smirk on his lips as Gepard’s eyes grew wide and followed the grenade Sampo threw over his head. It landed a few feet away behind the blonde and continued to roll a bit further until it stopped right at the feet of one of the guards who had just stepped around the corner.
Sampo placed a quick peck at the corner of Gepard’s mouth before he unlocked the handcuffs and freed his hands. Taking step after step backward, he blew the Captain of the Silvermane Guards one last kiss as the grenade went off and thick white smoke started to fill the alley. The Mercenary winked, then turned around, and climbed up the wooden boxes in a fluid motion before swinging himself over the sturdy stonewall.
The guards were coughing violently as Sampo landed smoothly on the other side of the wall in yet another abandoned alley. He paused for a brief moment and took a deep breath, heart and mind still racing as he recalled the latest events.
Sampo was still very much surprised and would’ve never thought that a simple kiss could break so easily through Gepard’s defenses and that he would willingly let him in. It was exciting, exhilarating even and Sampo wondered how far he could’ve gone if they hadn’t been interrupted. The possibilities were endless and thinking about them sent an electrifying shiver down his spine, fueling his darkest desires, and granting him some of the wildest fantasies.
He groaned and dragged one of his hands over his face in desperation as a wicked smile spread on his face. Just a moment later he heard a guard shout his name behind the stonewall he’d just climbed over.
“Sampo Koski!”
He didn’t hesitate for another moment, not wanting to risk getting caught after all as he took off and disappeared into the maze of Belobog’s Underground alleys.
Meanwhile, the Captain of the Silvermane Guards, Gepard Landau, was still unable to move a single muscle, blood rushing in his ears and heart hammering wildly in his ribcage as he dragged a single finger over his lips. They were still tingling from the touch of someone else’s lips.
Chapped lips, though skillful and luscious.
Lips that had him captivated.
Sampo Koski’s lips.
Gepard was so lost in his mind, reliving every second of what had just happened, that he didn’t notice the smoke engulfing him until the sharp sting of it burned in his throat. He hiccuped as it became hard to breathe and immediately covered his mouth with both hands. The Captain coughed a few times until he managed to calm down again and was able to somewhat breathe normally.
He needed another moment before he eventually shook off the thought of Sampo and what had just happened between them, straightening his back, and bellowing orders.
“Koski escaped! Scatter ‘round and find him, we can’t let that happen again! And cover your mouth and nose while searching in this area until the smoke has dissipated.”
Gepard himself then moved to leave the dead-end he was still standing in but stopped after a few steps. He turned around and looked back at the wall Sampo had disappeared behind, just a few minutes before.
A thought crossed his mind, one so indecent, he tried to shake it off as fast as it came up. But it didn’t keep his face from erupting into a crimson shade of red as he grimaced and sighed miserably.
Eventually, he stomped off, determined to catch the obnoxious and sassy Mercenary sooner rather than later.
tags: AU - canon divergent; soft and fluffy; tooth-rotting fluff; bold Dan Heng; flustered Caelus; Caelus walks in on sleeping Dan Heng and is totally smitten with it and accidentally causes mayhem; but don't worry, it was the best that could've happened :3
“Dan Heng?” Caelus asked, gently knocking only once at the door to the archives. He didn’t want to startle his friend.
Caelus waited for a few moments. Seeing that there was no answer coming from the other side, he assumed that Dan Heng was completely lost in either one of his books or browsing the databank of the Express for any information he was after.
As per usual.
All the more reason for Caelus to bring him the snacks and some calming tea he’d prepared especially for the bookworm.
The Express had stopped by a smaller planet nearby to stock up on provisions not too long ago. Welt and March had been chosen by Himeko to actually go out and get them while Caelus had been assigned with looking after Dan Heng.
Which he gladly did.
They all knew that Dan Heng, once engrossed in his data research, easily lost track of time and didn’t even notice that he was actually in need of something. So they’d all decided to mostly let him be, but check in on him regularly to make sure he didn’t dehydrate or starve himself.
“Coming in now, hope you’re not undressed!” Caelus chuckled before pressing the lock on the door to Dan Heng’s room.
He blushed slightly at the idea of actually finding an undressed Dan Heng in the archives but immediately pushed the thought aside.
‘Not the right time for such indecent daydreams,’ he reminded himself.
The door slid open with a soft shuffling sound and revealed the familiar, mostly quiet room. The only sounds one could hear was the soft whirring of the machines as well as deep, relaxed breaths, accompanied by soft snoring.
Caelus smiled to himself as he took a step inside, ready to announce himself and the meal he’d brought— but instead, he froze to the spot the very next moment.
‘Snoring?’ he asked himself.
He took another, cautious step forward and craned his neck to look around the data carrier box that was blocking his view. He then spotted a very much fast asleep Dan Heng, comfortably lying on his bed and only half covered by his usual thin quilt.
Caelus stepped slowly closer, focused on not making any sound. He didn’t want to risk waking Dan Heng or even startling him. He then placed the tray gently on the desk to his right before turning around.
Caelus simply stood there and observed Dan Heng’s sleeping figure.
His handsome face and posture seemed relaxed but Caelus noticed the slight twitching of muscles and how Dan Heng’s eyes danced behind his lids.
‘He must be dreaming,’ Caelus assumed as he took yet another few steps forward and stopped right beside Dan Heng’s bed. ‘I hope it’s a pleasant one for once. He deserves it.’
Caelus smiled gently to himself as he thought those words, a sense of fondness and warmth settling deep in his chest and spreading through his whole body. The longer he gazed at Dan Heng’s sleeping face, yet another strange sensation nearly overwhelmed him.
A deeply rooted longing suddenly clutched at his heart and squeezed it tightly.
He wondered what it meant at first until the moment his body eventually acted on its own. He lowered himself into a squat as his eyes wandered over Dan Heng’s delicate features and his right hand automatically stretched out towards the black-haired man’s face.
Almost reaching its destination, Caelus’ hand suddenly froze mere inches away from Dan Heng’s cheek as the latter stirred slightly. Dan Heng inhaled deeply before sighing and finally falling back into a relaxed state.
Caelus exhaled quietly, releasing the breath he didn’t even know he’d been holding in. He noticed his hand, still hovering above Dan Heng’s beautiful face. Shaking his head slightly, he closed his eyes for a brief moment.
‘What do you think you’re doing here, idiot? Get a grip already, you can’t just touch him while he’s sleeping!’ he scolded himself. He retreated his hand and slowly dragged it over his face instead as he groaned inwardly.
The moment he opened his eyes again, his breath hitched.
Dan Heng’s pale indigo eyes were staring right into his amber ones and Caelus startled with a gasp. He wanted to retreat by standing up but instead, he felt his whole body tipping backwards as he lost his balance.
The last thing he saw was Dan Heng’s eyes growing wide in shock before he called out to him.
“Watch out!”
Knowing full well that there was the metal railing right behind him, Caelus could not do much except for bracing himself for the impact. He clenched his eyes shut and pulled his shoulders up to his ears in a weak attempt to protect his head. At the same time, his hands reached down to somewhat lessen the impact on the floor.
But against his worst expectations, he felt a strong hand clutching the back of his head instead, while another settled around his back as they both pulled him flush against a sturdy chest.
Caelus needed a moment to process what exactly had happened and as he eventually dared to open his eyes again, he found himself surrounded by darkness. He wondered if he’d actually managed to hit his head and if he’d fainted.
That was, until a very familiar scent tickled his nose and eventually filled his lungs. He realized that it was way too distinct for it to only be a trick his mind was playing.
Caelus blinked several times but the darkness still didn’t fade, instead he noticed an increasingly faster and with each moment passing louder thumping sound. It felt unsettling but at the same time strangely soothing as it almost sounded like a heartbeat; way too fast and excited for its owner’s well-being.
He tried to move but the iron grip around his body only tightened and he groaned quietly as breathing became harder.
Slowly but surely, Caelus’ clouded mind cleared again and he became aware of where and in what situation he was.
The darkness surrounding him was actually Dan Heng’s black shirt as the silver-haired man realized that his face was pressed into his friend’s chest. Hence, why breathing was hard, too.
And the by now steadily fast and loud thumping sound was nothing other than Dan Heng’s heavily beating heart right underneath where his head was currently resting.
Caelus felt a wave of panic wash over him as he tried once again to move, realizing how close they were. He tried to lean back from Dan Heng but the other man was still holding him firmly against his body. Caelus managed to at least move his legs so that he was finally kneeling on the floor and not in a crouching position anymore.
The muscles in his thighs seemed to thank him and they pleasantly tingled as the blood rushed back through them.
A few more moments passed in which Caelus finally found the courage to lift his own arms and carefully wrap them around Dan Heng’s trembling body. It must’ve been straining to stay in this position or could it be… was he anxious or even terrified?
“Dan Heng…” Caelus muttered, voice muffled against the soft fabric of the other’s shirt. “I’m okay, you can let go now.”
The black-haired man inhaled a shaky breath and slowly loosened his embrace as he released that breath again. Caelus eventually blinked against the bright lights of the archive as he took a deep breath of his own.
His eyes immediately found Dan Heng’s.
Amber stared into pale indigo as seconds passed, hands still resting on each other’s arms as they both simply couldn’t do anything else but gaze at each other.
They were both kneeling on the floor, Dan Heng panting slightly with concern evidently written all over his features as his eyes scanned Caelus’ face intently. Caelus was taken aback at the sight of his friend being so worried, almost panicked even.
“A-are you really okay? Y-you… you didn’t get hurt?” Dan Heng asked and Caelus heard the light trembling in his voice. Caelus’ eyebrows shot up in surprise and he unconsciously squeezed Dan Heng’s forearms, where his hands were still resting.
“I’m fine, Dan Heng, really. You… saved me,” Caelus reassured him with a breathless smile and just a moment later, Dan Heng’s body slumped as he let out a breath of relief.
“I’m so glad… I couldn’t forgive myself if— if you got hurt because I startled you.”
His words were merely above a whisper, almost unintelligible but Caelus could easily make out the fear and honesty in them. A soft smile naturally found its way onto his lips.
He huffed a single breath of laughter before he confessed. “If anything, I shouldn’t have been here in the first place, so it was my fault anyway. I’m sorry, I woke you up.”
Dan Heng’s head snapped up, eyebrows knitted in confusion as it was written plainly all over his beautiful face. His delicate lips were slightly parted and the sudden urge to taste them almost threw Caelus off his feet again. He blinked and dismissed the thought as soon as it popped up in his mind as Dan Heng spoke up.
“Right… What were you doing here?” he tilted his head slightly, lifting one of his perfectly sculpted eyebrows in question.
Suddenly aware of them still being way too close, Caelus practically jumped up from the floor onto his feet and moved over to the desk where he’d left off the tray earlier. A flush crept up his neck and he desperately tried to wish it away.
To no avail, though.
Dan Heng just watched him, once again utterly confused until he saw a blushing, flustered Caelus simply standing there with the tray in his hands and mumbling.
“I wanted to check in on you and brought some snacks and tea…”
Caelus’ gaze snapped briefly to Dan Heng’s but immediately away again as he flushed even harder. He smiled sheepishly at his next words.
“You know best how immersed in your books or research you can get, so you often forget to eat or drink. I ju—” Caelus took a deep breath in an attempt to finish what he was trying to say. “I-I just wanted to…”
Dan Heng’s smile was fond and understanding was written all over his face as he got up himself and took the few steps towards Caelus. It was a genuine and heartfelt smile; a smile he rarely ever showed anyone.
Caelus was one of the very few, lucky devils that had witnessed it once before, yet he was still as mesmerized by it as he was the first time.
Dan Heng then reached out with his right hand and gently cupped Caelus’ cheek as he finished what the silver-haired man was actually trying to say.
“You just wanted to look out for me,” he simply stated, voice soft and affectionate. “Thanks for taking care of me, I really appreciate you.”
After another brief moment, Dan Heng retreated but the soft smile from before still lingered on his lips as he took the tray from Caelus’ hands. He placed it on the desk beside him before grabbing one of the sandwiches and taking a bite. He savored the taste, eyes closing briefly before he groaned quietly.
Dan Heng swallowed and his Adam’s Apple bobbed up and down; and all the while, Caelus’ eyes had been fixed on him, captivated by every single movement.
He eventually snapped out of his trance as Dan Heng reached out for the cup to take a sip of the by now merely lukewarm tea. Apparently, it didn’t bother him at all as he let out a content sigh after placing it back on the tray.
Dan Heng’s eyes found Caelus’ once again, gaze tender and voice soft as he spoke.
“Thank you, Cae, that was exactly what I needed now.”
Caelus was surprised that Dan Heng suddenly called him by a nickname and once again that afternoon, a bright pink blush settled high on his cheekbones as he sheepishly rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. His eyes wandered to the ground for a short moment before he looked back up at Dan Heng.
His voice cracked slightly as he answered. “Y-you’re most welcome. I… hope it was to your liking.”
“Mhm, it was delicious,” Dan Heng replied before closing the distance between them.
He leaned in, his face suddenly close as their gazes locked briefly and Caelus swallowed hard at that. Dan Heng then moved another few inches closer, past Caelus’ face. His body was taut in anticipation until Caelus eventually felt soft lips pressing gently against his left cheek.
It felt better than he could’ve ever imagined; Caelus’ skin tingled where Dan Heng’s lips touched it, sending a pleasant warmth surging through his whole body as the tension slowly subsided, and he practically melted into the touch.
Caelus wanted this moment to last longer— to last forever even, if possible— but he dared to doubt the possibility of this ever happening again.
‘It was probably just a spur-of-the-moment thing, don’t read too much into it,’ he thought to himself.
But against all odds, Dan Heng didn’t leave much room for any doubts.
“I gotta admit, I really like this,” he whispered. He leaned back slightly, cupping Caelus’ face in both hands as he stared into the other’s eyes and continued. “Will you bring me snacks and tea every day, from now on?”
Caelus was captivated by the intensity of Dan Heng’s gaze as he swallowed hard around the lump in his throat and simply nodded. He didn’t trust his voice at that moment.
And Dan Heng seemed to be satisfied as yet another gentle smile spread on his lips before he tightly wrapped his arms around Caelus' body, who returned the embrace with just as much eagerness.
They both enjoyed the moment and their closeness for just a bit longer, reveling in each other’s scent and warmth and just the feeling of each other.
Until three loud knocks at the door eventually interrupted their shared moment.
“Dan Heng? We’re back!” March called through the closed door. “Enough locking yourself up in there. Come on, hang out with us in the parlor car, we brought something for you.”
Both men pulled back and looked at each other for a short moment before chuckling at March’s order. Dan Heng then let go and his hand slid down along Caelus’ arm until it clasped around the other’s hand.
It felt amazing.
It felt right.
It felt like the most natural thing in the whole universe.
Fingers intertwining, Dan Heng then turned towards the door and gently dragged Caelus along.
Caelus couldn’t help but smile happily, gaze fixed on their joined hands as they both left the archive and headed towards the parlor car.
