Interstellar Fates | Dan Heng x Reader

008

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⚘❧ⅈℕ𝐓ℯℛ𝐒𝓉𝒞ℓℓ𝐀𝓇

𝓕𝕒𝓉ℰ𝒮~008❧⚘

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"This... Why does Cloudford look like this?" Dan Heng muttered to himself as he inspected the surrounding area. The ground was littered with discarded weapons and traces of abominations. Some Cloud Knights were even scattered around the area, drained and depleted of their will to keep going, which was more than reasonable given the current state of the Xianzhou. "From what I've been told about the Stellaron, it's probably been increasing the activity of the mara-struck, further agitating them and possibly even speeding up the mara in the citizens themselves. We should be careful..." You picked up one of the dropped spears and turned it over in your hands to get a good feel for it. He looked over at you and hummed to himself, "Y/n, is this what you spent your time doing? Studying about the Xianzhou and the presence of mara?" He asked softly as the two of you started making your way further into the maze that was Cloudford.

"I told you... all of my friends had something they were good at. Yukong was destined to be an ace pilot... Fu Xuan was blessed with the wisdom by Nous... Basically, everyone was going to do something good for the Xianzhou. They all just happened to be on the combative side of things, whereas me... Well, I chose to read. I read every book I could find, every document, scroll, parchment, and even classified records that I could get my hands on. I read them all because I believe that I can do something to save them in the future. It's all I want..." You admitted softly as you both walked side by side past the towers of cargo. "It's honorable, yet naive. Do you know how many people have tried to do what you're aspiring to do?" His words weren't anything new to you, but that didn't stop them from hurting.

"Yeah well, it's the only thing I have going for me, Dan Heng." You snapped back at him before seeding up ahead. "Wait, I didn't mean to offend! It's just that... I feel as though you are capable of so much more than that. It's basically a setup for failure, and I don't want to see you fail." He hurried after you and gently placed a hand on your shoulder. You paused briefly, your eyes flickering over to meet his with a sudden hesitance. How can he say these things so easily? "I know I don't know you, but that doesn't mean I don't want to know you. I want to see you, the real you. But only if you'd let me, Y/n." His voice was soft but his gaze was hard. It bore into you as if digging to find your soul: the real you. But you wouldn't let him in. You couldn't. He didn't deserve it.

But it's so easy to get lost in... him...

"Dan Heng..." Your voice was barely above a whisper, your eyes searching within the mysterious darkness that was him. He gave your shoulder a gentle squeeze and offered the faintest of smiles, "Y/n... I mean it when I say you make me feel unexplainable things... I don't know what it is, and I'm not sure I ever will know, but I do know that you are the source... I've never felt–" Dan Heng stopped abruptly, his hand reaching up and gripping his hair restlessly. His face started to contort into an expression of pain and his knees started to buckle underneath him. "What the hell is this...?" He grunted before letting out a distressed groan and dropping Cloud-Piercer entirely. "Dan Heng!" You were quick to try and help him to his feet, and with your assistance, he was back up but slightly bent over with his hand nestled in his locks.

"What happened?" You asked as you reached up and placed your hand on his forehead softly. He let out a shaky breath and slightly leaned into your touch, "My head... My memories are struggling to resurface, so much so that it's giving me a terrible headache... I'm fine though, thanks." He took your hand in his and gave it a gentle squeeze, one that made your heart melt and your body erupt into chills. "Are you sure?" I just don't want you to let go... Your thoughts eluded you, and as if to revoke the nonsense, you tore your hand away breathlessly, "N-Never mind... We should keep going..." You muttered softly and picked up his weapon for him.