Interstellar Fates | Dan Heng x Reader

006

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⚘❧ⅈℕ𝐓ℯℛ𝐒𝓉𝒞ℓℓ𝐀𝓇

𝓕𝕒𝓉ℰ𝒮~006❧⚘

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Jing Yuan...

He tossed and turned in his cot, restlessly fighting the nightmares that were haunting him. The distant memories that were coming to light. All because of a simple name.

Jing Yuan...!

He grunted and groaned, trying to stave off whatever was threatening his peace. But he couldn't fight his own past. Especially since it was the very thing he had run away from all those years ago. It all came back in burning bits and stinging pieces. His head pounded and he squeezed his eyes shut, not daring to let them fly open from the distress.

"No... No no no! Stay away! Get away from me!! You traitor!!" Dan Heng yelled out in his sleep before shooting up and panting heavily. His hair was even more disheveled than usual and his eyes were lined with more than just red-tinted eyeliner. He gripped the blanket that had landed beside him with one hand and had his other hand resting over his quaking heart. He was glad to have had a cabin that wasn't too close to everyone else's, and it was especially beneficial that the occupant of the cabin next to his was currently on the Luofu.

It was one thing at a time, however, and he had to take what little information he could extract from the situation. He refused to let nightmares of old haunt him so. Especially when he had no recollection of the context behind the events. How could something potentially false scare him to his core? He wouldn't let that happen again, sure, but the cold sweats were a reminder that there was still nothing he was more afraid of than learning the truth.

"Nngh... Dan Feng, what did you do...?" Dan Heng grumbled to himself as he held his aching head in his hand, soothing his temples to rid himself of the lingering pain. "What did you do to Y/n?" The question left a sour taste in his mouth. The idea that Dan Feng existed at the same time as Y/n just can't be possible. He grew more and more perplexed, but he knew the only one who would potentially have an answer was Jing Yuan. Their meeting was fate after all; he had only hoped the circumstances weren't as trivial as they were.

Shortly, sleep took hold of his weary state once more, this time quelled by his resolve to atone for the sins of his predecessor.

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"Do you know the reason behind Jing Yuan's message? It was so sudden and I... I don't even know if I'm ready to face him yet!" You laughed nervously when truth be told, your feelings were so much more complicated than that. Jing Yuan wasn't just your ex. Due to the terms in which the breakup occurred, he made a promise that he would stop at nothing to bring you back. He wanted nothing more than to live his life with you, regardless of the longevity of it.

"Y/n, I'll stave off waves of Abundance behemoths if need be. I'll slay Yaoshi, that accursed Plagues Author, if need be. No enemy could prevent me, prevent us, from seeing our lives to the end. Y/n, I would sacrifice myself a thousand times over if it meant I got the chance to bring you back to me. So I promise you... Fate will not tear us apart."

The memory of his declaration to you came flooding back, overwhelming your cognition and making you forget that you were even in the midst of a conversation. "Y/n? Did you even hear what I said?" Sushang's voice interrupted the memory overload, probably for the better, and you flinched on your bed, "N-No! I'm sorry, Su, I got lost in thought... What did you say?" You admitted with a heavy sigh and she let out a soft giggle, "No worries! Jing Yuan has been acting a little differently, but what can you expect as General of the Xianzhou? He has a lot of duties to uphold after all! We all do!" She explained which was then followed by an incoherent shout somewhere in the background. You nodded along absentmindedly until the word general came up and your eyes widened. "W-Wait... Sushang... he can't possibly be general yet! I've been gone for a little less than a year at the most! Wh-What happened?!" You jumped up from your bed in pure shock, dropping the jade abacus in the process. It responded by picking itself back up and floating at your side, but you couldn't be bothered to care much about its condition.

"Oh! No, no! You all shouldn't be here! This place is filled with mara-struck! Oh dear, Y/n, I'm sorry right now is a terrible time to talk... I'm actually on duty!" Sushang said in between more shouts and what sounded to be off-and-on screams of terror. You couldn't believe your ears. Your best friend had become the very thing she had been aspiring to be in such a short time.

Or maybe I'm the one who...

"Hmph! Wanna see what I can do? Let me through, or I'll go through you!" Her voice sounded loud and proud. She radiated that bravery and confidence that you always remembered her for, except this time it was being put to use. "Su..." You muttered softly, clenching your fists at the very prospect that you possibly missed so much time with your friends and family. The disdain hit you harder than you could have imagined and without thinking, amidst the chaos on the other end, you ended the transmission and hurried over to your wardrobe with conviction. You were done waiting. Waiting cost you precious time and moments with your friends.

Time...

Waiting cost you your time with Jing Yuan. Time you could never get back no matter how hard you tried. Frustration was starting to take root within you, and the more you thought about all that you missed out on, the more it fanned the flames within you. I was just starting to feel hopeful. The idea that you could enjoy your time on the Astral Express with the promise that you would be reunited with your beloved Xianzhou had been dangled in front of you for so long you felt. Surely, someone must have known about the possibility of time distortion! You needed someone to blame for the lack of consideration. These people were seasoned trailblazers, after all, they should have known that you would have been sapped of your time. Mom... Dad...

Did you know?

Your movements became automatic. You hadn't even realized that you were dressed in your traditional Luofu attire: the last outfit Sushang had picked out for you before you were unwillingly sent away. You hadn't realized just how far out of your room you had made it until you stood at the top of the stairs in the Parlor Car, a dark expression on your face. In a somewhat distant corner, Dan Heng and Himeko were having a conversation and from the looks of it, it seemed serious. You hesitated, your conviction leaving you for a brief second, but you exhaled and headed down the stairs towards them.

"...terribly wrong. I think I should go investigate, Himeko." Dan Heng expressed with a hard expression. Himeko nodded, but a frown adorned her lips, "Are you sure you'll be okay?" He gave a firm nod and clenched his fists, "Exile or not, my friends are still there and I need to ensure their safety. I have Cloud-Piercer and–"

"Me. You have me. I'm coming too, and neither of you will stop me from doing so." You spoke up from behind Dan Heng. He turned around to gaze at you and furrowed his brow in concern. "Y/n, it's not any safer than it was when we came and got you..." His eyes glistened with something more than just concern for your safety. It was a fear of some sort, one that you couldn't even be sure of its origin. "On the contrary, Dan Heng. She deserves this opportunity, and there is no one I entrust her with right now more than you. Just... make sure you keep in contact the entire time. And Y/n," Himeko expressed with a hand over her heart before turning to you, "I take full responsibility for neglecting to tell you about the time difference. I only realized some time ago when we received an interference from Kafka, the reason we initially made plans to travel here." She explained solemnly before stepping back and exhaling sharply.

"Please, return safely."