Chapter Text
Dan Heng awkwardly sips on his immortal's delight, avoiding the various pairs of eyes trained on him.
"So? What happened after? Did you guys kiss?" Hook asks, already halfway through the hot chocolate March made her.
"You shouldn't rush people! At least give his grace a chance to finish drinking!!" Exclaims a pouting Bailu, only to choke lightly on her snack. March quickly pats her back.
"And you probably shouldn't talk while eating!" Thankfully, the coughs subside.
What a strange company he has on the Express today.
He scratches at the back of his neck, mostly just to ease his nerves. "We've set a time to meet up tomorrow, and we'll see how it goes from there."
"And Dan Heng's been panicking ever since." March adds unhelpfully.
"Lies and slander." He quips back.
"Well as long as you're not chickening out," Hook interjects, helping herself to the chocolate bars Himeko provided them with, "then aaaaall's well, right?"
March throws him a glance over the rim of her own drink, shaking her head "I don't think he's backing out," she says thoughtfully, "he just really doesn't wanna mess things up, and that's weighting him down."
Dan Heng gulps, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down for barely half a second, but somehow, the gossiping trio catches the reaction.
"Unless... there's something else you haven't told us about?" Pipes up Hook with a widening grin. All of their gleaming eyes were practically screaming 'spill the tea'.
Dan Heng did not dare disobey. "So I'm not entirely sure this actually happened but Blade may have ..."
All three lean forward in unison. "Yes?"
"Mayhavecarriedmebridalstylebacktobed." He says in one breath.
March outright squeals.
"My ears woman! My ears!" Hook cries out, but one look at her face and he could already tell she was just as invested in this development.
"Wait-" March halts her celebrations abruptly "Back to bed?! Were you trying to leave the infirmary bed injured Dan Heng?" She's pouting at him, he could see she wanted to seize the rare opportunity to lecture him... but she hesitates.
Because then again, this is an even rarer opportunity to tease him about his love life.
Ultimately, Bailu makes the choice for her. "And how did that make you feel?" Now when did this turn into a therapy session? He thinks solemnly.
"I was very very tired at the time Bailu. I couldn't really focus on much."
"But your reaction from earlier is still suspicious." Hook interjects. "What are you not telling us?"
"..." He really did not want to get into the specifics with them. But...
"Fine. Stop looking at me like a pack of hungry wolves, goodness." he relents, "I asked him over text about that, he says I held onto him, that I wouldn't let him leave after... Thankfully it seems he didn't mind." Dan Heng remembers Silverwolf's words from before, about Ren not wanting to leave him either.
He continues, "I'd like to say it was just me being delirious from the medication, but honestly? I know that would be a lie to myself. I really did want him to st- March what are you doing?!"
"No it's just-" March sniffs wiping away an actual tear from the corner of her eye. "The fact you're opening up to us, you've come a long way Dan Heng!" Aaaaand she's full on bawling now.
Bailu reaches over to grab a tissue.
Dan Heng blushes, the embarrassment he feels reaching a new height. "I wasn't that closed off before... was I?"
March promptly pauses her sobbing to give him the most 'are you kidding me?' Look he's ever seen on her. Bailu takes the chance to dab her tears away.
"Sweetie half the time you wouldn't even admit things to yourself."
Well touché.
He sighs, settling against the back of his chair. "Well either way, we'll hopefully get to discuss things further tomorrow. Ah please leave some chocolate bars for Stelle, she didn't have any yet."
Hook puts down what would've been her fifth bar with a guilty chuckle.
"Your grace if I may ask a question." Bailu catches his attention, clearing her throat. After they re-sealed the Arbor back on the Luofu, and the events that followed, she seems to have gained ample respect for him, and he has yet to dissuade her from addressing him with such titles.
For now though, he ignores it. "Yes, Bailu?"
"You keep calling it a meet up but... Isn't this more of a date?"
Dan Heng's first instinct is to immediately deny that. But a quick glance at March's still proud expression makes him stamp down the urge. "We still have a lot to talk about before we can use such labels, but personally, I wouldn't mind it being one."
Himeko chooses that moment to check on them, and bears witness to March jumping out of her chair and over the table, engulfing Dan Heng in a suffocating bear hug, no different then that of a beaming parent. He's sure he'll be asked about it later, but for now the woman wisely chooses to head back the way she came.
In the end, Dan Heng feels a lot lighter then before their little tea party, and when it comes time to drop off the children, they each give his legs a hug accompanied by encouraging words.
Bailu's especially strike a chord with him: "This honesty you showed us today? Just make sure you bring it with you to your meeting! I know you were vulnerable with us because you trust us, and you may not trust Ren as much, but remember he isn't technically a stranger either."
"Yeah!" Hook agreed enthusiastically, "Basically enough playing cat and mouse, just cut the chase short!"
March smirks "And it wouldn't hurt to be a bit bolder."
He knows he'll probably go back to overthinking things in the morning, when it will feel like the meeting is looming ahead, but at the very least, he thinks his anxiety was dissuaded enough for a good night's rest.