Sensitive instincts would overwhelm him throughout the decision of staying behind the Express, in spite of disliking crowded areas where people gathered. The dragon understood this wasn’t a world where he was banished nor not welcomed. It simply wasn’t something he looked forward to, as well as offering the trailblazer some time to acquaint himself in Penacony’s hospitality. With their promised vacation it wouldn’t be long until they were…under the paths of both the IPC and the Stellaron Hunters. Dan Heng figured nothing bad would occur, yet the dragon’s instincts of sensing danger from far away ended up flaring up in between hands that held books to read over. Repeating every word in memory was one habit he picked up as well as coping with staying behind. Perhaps the thought of his companions being in danger was surfacing by a mere gut feeling, followed by the Express’ conductor noting that nervous sentiment he tried hiding away. As always they had a knack for exposing those lies — the guise of appearing stoic and collected under hardship. Ever since the sudden awakening to a nightmare by Caelus, and Pom Pom spilling the details of his crying, he couldn’t shake the feeling of something happening to everyone. He didn’t wish to remain in the Express after being told such a thing and the conductor didn’t mind if they were to contact Yang and Himeko to make arrangements for his reservation. Heng would simply share the same room with Caelus, if needed, or head back after seeing everyone had made it safely.

Upon sending the message was the moment Dan Heng began packing his weapon and venturing to Penacony. Luckily, the archivist wasn’t in need of having too many things and those rooms would contain everything he needed. All his thoughts were consumed getting there in time…help out his friends, should they were in harm’s way. Even the lack of a friendly response to their message was cause for concern though those worries soon lowered faintly when meeting with Himeko and Yang. Their conversation was strangely interrupted by the shocking arrival of Heng, both equally surprised that he ventured down. After explaining the choice of coming they couldn’t fault his nature of wanting to check on the other two — their bond was noted as being strong. He merely brushed off the notion, despite their attempts at teasing him and later directing the dragon towards March and Caelus’ rooms. March was greeted with the cheery complexion that hadn’t come across troubles which wasn’t surprising to him in the slightest. She rarely expressed troubles nor sadness, unless something dire occurred to her. All that was missing was heading towards the one who was undergoing turmoil based on his instinct. Upon entering, no words could come out as eyes widened faintly by his arm being grasped by the trailblazer. A freed hand lifted up just to rest upon silver hair to ease the troubles he might have been experiencing. Those arms slightly released from the grip, later wrapping around the male’s waist for an embrace.

𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐔𝐄𝐃 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 @miraiq’s 𝐀𝐍𝐒𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐀𝐒𝐊:

‘You, Tohru? Fight?’ Realizing how that must’ve sounded, Tohru’s eyes widened with bubbling protests spilling from her lips. “Oh, no! I’m not looking to fight anyone!” While it was true the thought of hurting anyone made her so sad her heart felt like it’d fall to pieces, Tohru went quiet. How could she explain? Should she not have asked him? What did Kyo think of her asking such a thing?

What did he think of her?

For some reason that thought alone made her heart flutter. “I just… I thought…” She had good intentions, they swelled in her chest, or it was the butterflies scrambling to find the right words to decipher exactly how she felt about Kyo. But Kyo was right… she did have Uo and Hana to protect her.

Was she being bothersome asking in the first place?

“I wanted to learn from you, Kyo. There’s this look on your face when you talk about fighting, or when you’re in the middle fighting… even though it makes me so nervous seeing you fight…” There was a fondness in her smile then, mind conjuring the exact one she was thinking about. “But you’re so strong, and know so much and…” Tohru began to trail off, wracking her mind to find the point and where she was going with all this.

Fighting the slightest of stammers, her smile brightened upon finding it. “Because if you taught me… I could understand you more and that thought made me really happy.”

❝... Maybe if it was your business or concern... But no, this was only between me and the ones who sought me as an enemy. Nothing more.❞ They are acting calm and composed - compared to the mess behind them prior. Eivor looks the stranger up and down - icy azure gaze studying every inch of him to see if he was a threat. ❝Who are you, anyways?❞

while the holidays were a welcome break for many in the underground, there was no rest for the weary and as usual, she felt obligated to make it a special time for the kids of the underground. and thankfully she had help bringing toys to them this year. while her fingers ached from carefully stitching together bears and bunnies and all variety of creatures, it seemed much easier than what serval was putting together with bits of metal.

The sudden drop of a confession had made him chuckle with confusement for what his childhood friend insisted. Maybe it was the little poke at his buttons he was trying to make, but it only succeeded in conflicting the Faerghus prince. Was it really being a nag when becoming protective of his kingdom, especially his friends? He never understood why both he and Ingrid got the same reaction out of Sylvain when they looked after them. Perhaps it was too much overprotection, or both Sylvain and Felix had a way of getting themselves caught into trouble.

Dimitri merely extended a hand to the other’s head and let it rest against it gently to ruffle up his hair to a mess. He had to be mindful of that overbearing strength he carried, and rather grateful it was kept under control for this gesture. “Maybe if you’d stop getting yourself into trouble, then I wouldn’t be the good nag that I am! Or wait…” Did he misheard the word ‘pretty’ or being ‘good’? At that moment, the blonde chuckled nervously since it was the first to be called pretty by anyone.

Hearing him say those things was difficult, especially when he thought about the meaning behind those words. Perhaps there were matters that the trailblazer wasn’t ever prepared to openly confess to the Vidyadhara. Of course, he’d never push on the matter since it could linger troubling memories into play. The dragon never anticipated pleasant thoughts to surround the former Stellaron Hunter since it’s a given for how they found him. That memory played well in Dan Heng’s head, for certain reasons that he would wish to divulge one day. Right now wasn’t the time since he was heeding the phrase being commonly used when saying they all had a dark past none of them wished to talk about.

Arms folded across his chest in concern, wishing there was more he could aid in erasing such ghosts. The man before him wasn’t meant to undergo turmoil at every waking corner. He’d gladly confront any painful memories that haunted him, just to give Caelus a chance at sleeping well tonight. What replaced a difficult task was arms extending out to wrap around the other’s body. The protective nature he carried was evident, wanting both him and March to be happy during their trailblazing. They were the smiles he wanted to protect with every fiber of his being.

He’d wield his spear while they enjoyed their time, seeing how they were abandoned worse than himself. He could take whatever pain if it meant they could be safe and happy on the place he called home…the Express.

Dan Heng wasn't sure what to think when Caelus had dragged him to to finally explore the streets of Penacony. He hadn't gotten the chance after the Express had gotten hijacked by Boothill and the plan in tandem with Acheron and Black Swan had unfolded, what with the Dream becoming totally unstabilized, but the Dreamscape had somehow steadied and in their interlude until The Family and IPC's negotiations were concluded, that have the Express free rein while Welt and Himeko dealt with the unstable Stellaron.

The Golden Hour was beautiful, and despite the crowds, he found himself smiling more than he thought he would. Whether it was because of the zealous, sentient standees or the spheroids that narrowly mowed them down, or the festive atmosphere in the eternal midnight, he didn't know. Dan Heng just felt that he could enjoy more than he ever felt he could, and that alone felt like a gift.

So, when Caelus dragged him to the sentient band levitating and playing a lively, jazzy tune, he couldn't help but dance along. It wasn't something he normally did, and he didn't have a fifth the finesse that Caelus did while dancing, if because of his own shyness, it was still--

Dan Heng hadn't known what to expect the moment Caelus tugged him close and gazed deeply at him, a hand on the small of his back, but words dissolved on his tongue the moment the Trailblazer leaned near and pressed their lips together.