heng_like_a_dragon

[As much as Dan Heng wants to explain himself, the words simply won't form. He feels too much, and he knows he'll say the wrong thing or explain it in a way that won't make sense because of it. That Blade tells him it's okay and strokes his hair brings him comfort. It makes him relax his grip marginally.

At least Blade understands that this is something he hasn't forgiven himself for and is hard to talk about. Dan Heng's past still has him bound in chains. Though he struggles against them, even he has to yield to the ones that are too strong for him at the moment. If it's even possible to break them.

The High Elder is silent as he listens. He tilts his head slightly into the kiss planted in his hair, but he remains quiet for a few heartbeats longer.]

I... can't trust myself to be selfish yet. Too many had been hurt.

[Too many hurt, and all of them let the blame fall onto Dan Heng's shoulders for Dan Feng's crimes. Even Blade. Even Jingliu. Perhaps even Jing Yuan. No matter who he is or the different person he's become in the next life, that blame follows him as an unwanted shadow. Dan Heng can't dismiss it out of hand entirely... but he also doesn't want to fall into those same pitfalls the previous Dan Heng did.]

But I know you can break free from that cycle. I know you will.

[Never has that been in any doubt. Blade will someday reclaim what he's lost and make his own future.]

I have much to overcome myself. [Dan Heng takes a deep breath and then looks up at Blade's face.] But I will show you that I'm still one of the Nameless at heart. I can still blaze a trail for myself.

[He'll prove that he's just as much a Trailblazer as he is Imbibitor Lunae.]

[They both have so much horrible history following them, and the weight of a negative karma that can be felt in every memory, in every step taken. He would never make light of it. Even so, his dearest wish, he realizes, is for them to just be free. The spirits of Dan Feng, Imbibitor Lunae, and Yingxing, Furnace Master, deserve to be put to rest. And deep down, Blade knows that those two would also want their future incarnations to be happy. It's not something that he's able to articulate at the moment but he feels it strongly.

His hands move upward, sweeping instead up the dragon's slender neck, callused fingertips drawing over his cheeks until he frames Dan Heng's face with his hands. His touch is full of reverence, not violence, and his eyes carry nearly enough warmth to dispel the cold.]

Of course you will, [he echoes with conviction.] Once you put your mind to something, there is no changing it.

Teach me yet again. Show me what it means to carve your own path.

[He leans in and rests his forehead against Dan Heng's, a tiny smile lingering on his lips. He brushes his thumbs beneath the other man's eyes.]

... I am beginning to understand why I fall for you every time.

[He's so beautiful, even when he's telling Blade no.]

Edited 2023-11-04 11:05 (UTC)

[Dan Heng doesn't pull back or anything like that as he feels Blade's hands go up his neck to his face. His eyes meet the other man's red eyes, seeing their warmth and feeling the reverence in his touch. This is... a lot. It's intense, but Dan Heng doesn't mind it. It takes a great, passionate fire to get through the icy distance he puts between himself and others.

They both wish to be free from their karma, and he can see that in Blade's eyes. His partner saying that there's no changing his mind gets a small smile from Dan Heng.]

What was it you told me? Ah, yes, 'watch me.'

[The Vidyadhara man is a little surprised when his partner rests their foreheads together, but his eyes and the tiny smile captivates him. Blade's words combined with both their proximity and the thumbs brushing under his eyes has Dan Heng blushing lightly. And yet—]

... I see why my heart remembers you every time, even if it takes my mind some time to catch up.

[Blade's a little surprised to hear his words quoted back at him, and then a touch embarrassed, but... his smile brightens, regardless. It's brief, but impossible to miss.]

Yes.

[And he will keep that promise one day. He is certain. He just has to break free of this damn demon first. He puts that out of his mind for now, ignoring the seething of said demon, and focuses on the gorgeous man between his hands.]

... I... I want to kiss you and never stop.

[He settles for kissing Dan Heng's forehead instead.]

But you would probably kill me, so I won't.

[The bright smile is a good look on Blade. A look that Dan Heng's been seeing so much more often these days. He wants nothing more than to make sure that Blade will have even more reasons to smile brightly in the future. For now... it's something he'll commit to memory and put it somewhere safe in his heart.

That gets a quiet huff of laughter from him, and a slight darkening of his blush.]

You can do that once we get home, but not out here.

[Dan Heng hesitates for a moment... and then gives Blade a quick peck to his lips before pulling away.]

That'll have to tide you over until we get back to your place. Unless you have things you need to do at the forge.

Okaaaay... [He sounds petulant, but he isn't serious about it. He's entranced by that blush, and rubs his thumbs over Dan Heng's cheeks again.

Just that little peck gets his tail wagging at light speed again. He lets his partner pull away, though.]

Consider me free. [He hasn't been possessed by a new project yet but now that he's told Dan Heng about his plans, that'll probably be tomorrow.

He twines their fingers together again, and sneaks in a quick kiss to the dragon's fingertips before relenting.]

[Dan Heng isn't sure what the fascination is with his face right now, but he won't ask. He's just entertained by the fact that little gesture of affection has gotten Blade's dog tail to reach new speeds.

The dragon shakes his head with a subtle fondness in his expression. He keeps hold of Blade's hand as they make their way back to the other man's condo.]

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