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It’d been years since he’d seen his lover.
Was he even alive?
It didn’t matter. He was searching frantically no matter what could be. He had faith in Caelus, after all, and knew he was resilient.
Whenever he found Caelus, pulled the star right back to him, through wandering mazes of earth and time–he refused to let go. He’d already been pretty anxious to let his friends leave his side. Even moreso his lover.
Finally back on the express in one piece, soul and body intact, he greeted the express once again. Dan Heng would swear never to be apart for that long again, especially not with the things he’d experienced. He forced his walls down, allowed himself to be vulnerable, hugged his friends and crew tight—ending in a few tears.
His main focus, though, was Caelus.
He insisted on sleeping in his bed that night, the first night back on the beloved train. Since the moment they reunited again, he’d always had a hand on Caelus somewhere, or his tail wrapping around his leg, or some form of contact. He never wanted to break it. If he had the chance, his arms would be around the other. The usually worrying warmth became his main comfort, feeling the soft hum from the stellaron, the sound of his heart beating, his breath, everything.
Now, lying in bed with him, he kept his arms wrapped around Caelus tight. He buried his face in Caelus’ chest, his tail wrapped snugly around his waist. The height difference now apparent by the transformation did make this harder, so did the horns, so he had to be careful.
It’d been days since they first reunited, and Dan Heng wasn’t getting any less clingy, which worried Caelus. Of course, a few days wasn’t enough to undo what they’d experienced, but this was very unlike the usually shielded, resilient man. Caelus wrapped his arms right back around Dan Heng, holding him tight, to reassure him. Or at least try.
“I’m staying here, you know.”
“...I know.”
Dan Heng’s arms loosened their hold around Caelus’ body, only to duck beneath his shirt. His hands stayed on his waist, he just wanted to feel his skin against his own. They’d been too busy to actually lay down like this, to just feel each other, to express their love even though just existing together was more than enough.
Caelus got the memo, and he let go of Dan Heng to instead slip his shirt off. He tossed it to the floor beside the bed, earning the same glare Dan Heng would’ve given him before their trip to Amphoreus even began. It felt familiar, and Caelus smiled.
Dan Heng sighed, his hands quickly exploring Caelus’ skin. His fingers traced new scars, unfamiliar ones, to memorize them as well. Caelus’ arms went back to fitting around Dan Heng. The room was quiet, it felt calm for once.
Dan Heng murmured against Caelus’ chest, his hands still finding all the new scratches, bruises, and scars, “I wish you never had to experience these. If I had found you sooner–”
“Don’t blame yourself.”
“I’m not. … Okay.”
Dan Heng’s arms found themselves right around Caelus’ waist again, his face resting against his chest, his body pressed on top of Caelus’.
Dan Heng found rest this way. His sleep wasn’t perfect, but it was better than it had been. Caelus wasn’t far behind, and fell asleep soon after. This would be their routine for the next few months, still refusing to sleep alone, or be away from each other for too long.