Chapter Text
Deep inside the cold, dark prison laid a small child, hands and feet chained. His body quivered and shivered from the cold. The clothes given to him did nothing to keep the cold away. The child curled up in the corner of the cell, the chains digging into the tender flesh of his wrists and ankles. Dried blood caked under the cruel metal. Despite the discomfort, he tried to sleep. Sleep was the child’s only comfort.
Most nights he’d dream of water and lotus flowers. There was always a Vidyadhara in the middle of the giant lotus flower. He was nice to the child. Dan Feng is what he called himself. Dan Feng was the one to tell the child that his name was Dan Heng. Dan Heng felt safe with Dan Feng. The older Vidyadhara would let the child curl up next to him and enjoy the feeling of warmth and comfort. Even when Dan Heng was forced to awaken and leave Dan Feng in the dreams, Dan Feng was still ever present in his mind.
The guards were mean to him all the time. Dan Heng had yet to find out why. No one told him why he was in jail or why he was hated. All he knew was that a great crime had been committed. But what had he committed? He couldn’t remember, and Dan Feng wouldn’t elaborate. All the older Vidyadhara had told him was, “You haven’t done anything wrong. You are not to blame.”
If he wasn’t to blame, why was he suffering for it? Dan Feng never had an answer for that. In the waking world, Dan Heng liked it when the general Jing Yuan visited. Jing Yuan was kind. He never hurt Dan Heng. Even though the visitations were few and far between, Dan Heng looked forward to them. Dan Feng also liked it when Jing Yuan visited. While Dan Heng slept, he’d tell his incarnation about Jing Yuan and his time with the High Cloud Quintet. Though, he’d get quiet and sad when Dan Heng would ask what happened to the Quintet. Eventually, Dan Heng stopped asking about the Quintet. And eventually, Jing Yuan stopped visiting, too.
Alone. Dan Heng felt alone during his waking hours. When he wasn’t shivering in the corner, the guards would take turns tormenting him. When they weren’t tormenting him, he was trying to sleep. The prison was no place for a child, yet they never let him out. “Too dangerous” is what they claimed. Dan Heng didn’t understand. He learned not to question things. Questioning things ended with him in pain or with his confusion growing.
Eventually, his body gave into the darkness and Dan Heng slept.
—
“Are you kidding me?” An ear twitched as the child twitched, mind waking up. He owlishly blinked his eyes. The guards were gone and three people stood in front of his cell. A woman with magenta hair and fashionable clothing, a younger girl with silver hair in a high ponytail wearing a more punkish style, and a man. Dan Heng’s blue eyes locked onto the man’s reddish orange eyes.
“A child? Kafka, why is there a child?” the silver haired girl continued speaking. A holographic screen appeared and the girl started typing frantically.
The older woman, Kafka, Dan Heng guessed, tapped her chin. “It seems this is what Elio told us we’d know when we’d find it.” Dan Heng bristled at being called an ‘it’. Such words weren’t a new thing, but each time he heard them, he got bothered by them. “You okay, Bladie?”
“I can feel…” The mara tried to take hold and his cold, hate-filled stare never faltered. His hand gripped the hilt of his sword tightly. And despite the hatred, Dan Heng felt as if he knew the man. He couldn’t remember anything, but he felt a sense of familiarity from him. The same familiarity he felt with Jing Yuan.
“Hm, interesting,” Kafka hummed, looking from Blade to Dan Heng. “Is he…” she trailed off, glancing at Silver Wolf. “How much longer do we have?”
“Three minutes give or take,” Silver Wolf replied, still occupied by the screens.
“Well, we found the target,” Kafka narrowed her eyes and turned to Blade. “It’s up to you. There are loopholes. We were just instructed to find it. Not to do anything else.” Though, Kafka felt uneasy leaving a child to rot in prison. Silver Wolf shot Blade a ‘don’t say the wrong thing’ look.
Dan Heng swallowed thickly, shivering. He opened his mouth to whisper something. Kafka turned her head to look at him. “Y…Ying–” he coughed, throat dry and hurt. His teal eyes widened and pleaded silently with them. Dan Heng didn’t even know what he was pleading for—to be freed or to be left alone.
Blade’s jaw clenched as he stared at the young Vidyadhara. The once vibrant horns and teal eyes were dull and void of hope. He curled his lip into a sneer. Though, something felt wrong. Deep down, his emotions stirred. Logically, he knew the price for Dan Feng’s crimes would be a forced molting and reincarnation and exile. Key word, exile. If the reincarnation was supposed to be exiled, why was this child imprisoned?
“He…help me,” Dan Heng whimpered, curling into a ball on the floor. Or as much as the chains would allow him. The child didn’t know why he asked for help. No help ever came, but this time, something seemed different. These people weren’t cloud knights. Who were they? The lock clicked and Dan Heng ducked his head, his small tail wrapping around his body.
“What are you doing, Kafka?” Blade snapped, narrowing his eyes. “We need to get out of here.” He scoffed as he glared at the pitiful sight before him.
“Elio brought us here for a reason,” Kafka hummed, inspecting the chains. Her eyes glanced at the wounds on the young vidyadhara’s body. Dan Heng looked too small and thin. “He wanted us to find this child.” Blade grit his teeth and looked away.
“Uhh, sorry to interrupt,” Silver Wolf spoke up. “But we have to go. My sensors indicate the Cloud Knights are coming.” She zoomed in on one of her screens. “Blade, who’s that?” the young girl looked up at Blade, pointing to the well armored man in the lead.
Blade’s blood ran cold. “It’s the Loufu’s General,” he grunted. “Kafka, we have to go.” He gripped the hilt of his sword. Kafka stood up and nodded, stepping out of the cell. “We still have business on the Loufu,” she reminded Blade. “Best not to get caught now.”
Dan Heng’s eyes widened as the cell door shut again. “Wa-wait,” he coughed, scrambling up. “Please…please don’t leave!” he cried, tears welling in his dull eyes. “Help me, please!” his cries echoed out into the prison as the three Stellaron Hunters ran off, their footsteps fading in the distance. Dan Heng crumpled to his knees, sobbing. “Please, help me.”
Chapter Text
Dan Heng squirmed in his chains, sniffling back his tears. Yingxing left. The other two left. He was alone once more. The prison seemed to grow impossibly colder. He shivered and curled up in the corner of his cell, trying to warm. It didn’t help that Vidyadhara ran colder than normal humans. For the first time in a long time, he wanted to be free.
Time ticked by slowly. Jing Yuan didn’t visit Dan Heng. Instead, the General was more focused on capturing the Stellaron Hunters. So, instead, the Cloud Knights were the ones guarding him. Dan Heng noticed there were more guarding him this time around. Dan Feng offhandedly growled it was probably the Preceptors giving the order to add the extra guards. Aeons forbid that a child escape from prison.
“Get up,” a cold voice snapped and the loud click of the cell door opening rang out like boisterous thunder. Dan Heng flinched when a few Cloud Knights approached him. Shivering and swallowing back bile, he tried to get up on shaky limbs. He hissed when cruel hands grabbed his arms, hauling him to his feet. One of the Knights backhanded him. “Silence,” he spat.
Dan Heng shrieked, hissing and snarling like an animal. The guards tightened the chains, forcing the vidyadhara to be immobile. He chest heaved as he began to hyperventilate. “No…no, please. I didn’t…I didn’t do anything,” he begged, heart pounding in his chest.
“We know those criminals were here,” the Knight sneered. “How typical that you criminals always seem to find each other.” He slammed the butt of his spear into Dan Heng’s stomach. The boy coughed up blood. “The General seems to believe you have no part in this, but the Perceptors think otherwise. After all, once a criminal, always a criminal.”
“I didn’t…” Dan Heng pleaded, eyes wide.
“I don’t care,” the Knight cruelly scoffed, grabbing Dan Heng’s hair and forcing the young Vidyadhara to look him in the eyes. “The Perceptors have given us special permission to make you keep your mouth shut and to punish you for helping these criminals.”
“I didn’t help them!” Dan Heng shrieked, body freezing up. His tail flicked anxiously, his eyes full of fear and pleas for mercy. “Please, stop,” he whimpered, grunting again as he was struck again.
“Quiet!” The Knight bellowed. “You will not speak.” He turned and nodded to a couple more Knights. “You are allowed to scream and cry, but you will not utter one word,” he ordered Dan Heng. “Consider this your mercy.”
Dan Heng shrunk back, slowly nodding his head. It was better to obey and get it over with that to fight back and get hurt more. His body stiffened as the cell door shut, sealing his fate. Two Knights were in the cell with him. He squeezed his eyes shut and let out a shuddering breath. He struggled to keep his breathing under control.
The Vidyadhara shrieked as a sharp pain bloomed in his leg. Looking down, a knife had been impaled into his thigh, blood already beginning to pool and run down his leg. He yelled out, tears welling in his eyes.
“Aw,” the Knight cooed, mockingly running a hand through the child’s hair. A gesture much too kind and cruel for the situation. “Did that hurt?” he grinned maliciously. Dan Heng whimpered, instinctively pulling away from the Knight. The Knight smirked and nodded to the other Knight. “Soon, this will all be over, and you’ll be a good little dragon again,” he told Dan Heng.
Dan Heng furrowed his brows in confusion, eyes shooting wide open when firm hands gripped the horns on his head. He grunted and struggled, hating the harsh grip on his horns. The grip grew tighter, forcing his head still. Pain bloomed in his head as the hands pulled. He gasped out, wincing and groaning as he felt his horns being pulled from his skull. He screamed and cried out, fat tears streaming down his face.
The Vidyadhara thrashed and screamed, his body twisting away from the immense pain. He could feel the horns loosening from his head. He panicked and wailed, blood beginning to bead at the base of his horns. He didn’t hear what the Knights were saying, but he couldn’t mistake the amusement in their voices.
After what felt like hours, a sound similar to breaking glass rang out and the pressure in his head vanished. He let out a blood-curdling scream and slumped forward in the chains, blood trailing down his head from where the horns used to be. He sobbed and fell to the floor as the chains loosened. He curled up into a fetal position, ducking his head into his arms.
The Knights left him alone. Their cruelty knew no bounds as they dropped the broken horns next to Dan Heng before they left. He laid there, finally letting the darkness envelope him. Finally, he was safe in his dreams. He relaxed, embracing the feeling of the water. Dan Feng was nowhere to be found, but the safe feeling was still there. The lotus petals seemed to close around him, protecting him in the dreamscape.
Dan Heng’s eyes shot open when he heard screams. He flinched as the bodies of the Cloud Knights slumped against the cell bars, red eyes barely holding back fury stared into the cell. Dan Heng softly smiled when he saw Blade. He didn’t know why. Blade left. But he came back now.
Blade’s eyes peered into the cell. His eyes widened, fury growing as he noticed the drying blood on Dan Heng’s head and the broken horns on the floor. “What happened?” he gruffly asked, gripping his sword.
Dan Heng blinked owlishly at him. He swallowed thickly, wincing as his throat burned from screaming it raw. “Pun…punishment,” he whispered, tears welling in his eyes. “They…thought I was…helping you.”
Blade acted as if those words didn’t pierce him. Guilt bubbled up but was quickly shoved down. “We’re leaving the Xianzhou,” Blade found himself speaking. He didn’t even know what possessed him to break back into the Shackling Prison.
“Oh…” Dan Heng’s voice grew quiet and he looked away. Blade frowned and grunted, slashing the cell’s lock. He pushed into the cell and loomed over Dan Heng, sword menacingly raised. “Wha…what are you doing?” Dan Heng whimpered, curling in on himself and squeezing his eyes shut
“Stay still,” Blade demanded before quick a flash breaking the chains that kept the Vidyadhara captive. Dan Heng gasped. The chains fell from his wrists and ankles. They were gone. His eyes darted to look up at Blade, silent with shock. Blade frowned as his conflicting emotions warred in his mind. What was he doing?
Blade sheathed his sword, crouching down to extend a hand out to Dan Heng. “It’s now or never. Take my hand or I’ll walk out that door and leave you to suffer like this,” he threatened, eyes hardening. “I won’t wait forever.”
Chapter Text
“My, my,” Kafka hummed, eyes twinkling with amusement. “So you did go back for the kid.” Blade had regrouped with Kafka and Silver Wolf in a hotel within the Loufu. Silver Wolf was ready to open her little glitch portals to get them to a safer place. Probably back in their main base where Firefly was waiting for them to get back. Cradled in Blade’s arms was Dan Heng. The young Vidyadhara was passed out, tail curled round Blade’s arm to keep him from falling.
“Not a word,” Blade growled, narrowing his eyes at Kafka. He found her amusement annoying and his arm was starting to tingle with numbness from how tightly Dan Heng’s tail was gripping him. “How long until you can get us out of here?” he asked Silver Wolf.
“In a couple minutes,” Silver Wolf popped a bubble of bubblegum.
“Be quick,” Blade grunted, turning to look at Kafka. “The General will give us as much time as he can,” he said, frowning as Dan Heng shifted in his arms. “We can’t hold the Cloud Knights off for long.” His red eyes stared down at the Vidyadhara, noticing every wound, bruise, and mark visible on his body. He could feel anger rising, and in turn, the Mara.
Kafka raised an eyebrow, sharing a look with Silver Wolf. “The General is helping us?” She narrowed her eyes. “Bladie, what did you do?”
“Don’t worry about it,” Blade told her and his eyes hardened. “Everything is fine. We need to get back to the base and wait for the next script. And, he needs medical attention.” Almost instinctively, Blade tightened his protective grip on Dan Heng.
Dan Heng blinked at Blade, eyes widening like saucers. He hesitantly reached out to put his small hand into Blade’s, hissing in pain as his sore muscles protested the movement. His dull eyes filled with tears. These tears weren’t tears of pain or fear, but rather tears of hope. Blade was freeing him.
“Come on,” Blade gruffly murmured, grasping Dan Heng’s hand. Dan Heng stood on shaky legs, yelping as he fell forward. Before his face smashed into the rock, Blade caught him. The mara-struck warrior sighed, groaning in irritation. Dan Heng squirmed in Blade’s hold and tried to stand up and walk, only to trip over his tail. “No, no!” Blade groaned, catching Dan Heng again.
“Sorry,” Dan Heng murmured, looking down.
Blade sighed heavily. Carrying the child wouldn’t be easy if Blade had to fight off Cloud Knights, but it wouldn’t be impossible. “Hold on,” Blade commanded, scooping Dan Heng into his arms. Dan Heng squeaked and wrapped his arms around Blade’s neck, his tail securing itself around Blade’s arm.
In Blade’s other hand, he brandished his sword, ready to fight whoever got in his way. He shifted his weight to get a better hold of Dan Heng. The Stellaron Hunter stiffened when Dan Heng snuggled close, burying his head in Blade’s neck. Blade grumbled and stepped out of the cell. “Don’t fall asleep on me,” he snapped.
The Stellaron Hunter carried the Vidyadhara child through the Shackling Prison. Blade did his best not to jostle Dan Heng too much as he fought and killed any Cloud Knight that dared get in his way. Blade carried Dan Heng to the gates of the Shackling Prison. A bloodbath remained where Blade had been.
“Did you have to kill them?” Blade narrowed his eyes and Dan Heng whimpered, hiding his head in Blade’s neck once more. Jing Yuan stood at the gates, alone. He held his guan dao, pointing it at Blade. “They are the protectors of the Xianzhou. I can’t have you killing all of my men.”
Blade narrowed his eyes. “You don’t want a fight with me, Jing Yuan,” he scoffed, flicking blood droplets off his sword. “They wouldn’t have died if they just stayed out of my way.”
Jing Yuan’s eyes darkened when he saw Dan Heng clinging to Blade. Sparks of electricity emanated from the General at the sight of the blood and missing horns. He sighed heavily and lowered his weapon. “I fought valiantly against my old friend,” he started to speak. “But he managed to escape.”
“What are you going on about?” Blade raised a questioning eyebrow. Dan Heng squirmed in his arms, glancing back at Jing Yuan with teary eyes. The Stellaron Hunter took notice of how Jing Yuan closed his eyes. A tell when Jing Yuan was sad or upset.
“You managed to escape with the child,” Jing Yuan continued, opening his eyes. “I call for reinforcements, but they arrive too late. You, Dan Heng, and the rest of the Stellaron Hunters have gone.”
Blade’s eyes widened in understanding. He grunted and started walking. He paused, standing next to Jing Yuan. “Don’t underestimate the Perceptors.” Jing Yuan nodded and allowed Blade to leave.
“I see,” Kafka nodded, putting a hand on her chin. Silver Wolf cheered and opened up a portal to the base. “Well, Bladie, let’s go.” She sauntered through the portal and Blade followed suit. Dan Heng shivered when he saw the portal. “It’s okay,” Blade sighed, attempting to comfort Dan Heng and walking through.
Inside the base, Blade took Dan Heng to the small medical bay. It took an act of the Aeons to get Dan Heng to let go of Blade’s arm and be calm enough to let him and Kafka tend to his wounds. The Vidyadhara cried and wailed, panicking and clinging to Blade. His small fangs clamped down onto Blade’s arm the moment he tried to reach for any medical supplies.
“Ow, you brat,” Blade hissed, yanking his arm back. Dan Heng growled, tail flicking. Fear filled his eyes and Blade glanced at Kafka. “He’s just going to keep hurting himself. I can’t treat his wounds with him acting like this.”
“Don’t look at me, Bladie,” Kafka laughed in amusement. “I’m not using Spirit Whisper on an already traumatized child.” Blade raised an eyebrow, knowing full well Kafka could use her Spirit Whisper. She just enjoyed seeing him suffer. “This started when you tried prying him off of you,” she pointed out, ignoring the glare.
Blade huffed and stared down at the Vidyadhara. “Fine, I won’t let go,” he grumbled, adjusting his hold on Dan Heng who made a satisfied purr. Blade groaned and started inspecting the wounds on his head where the horns used to be. “It’s not as bad as it looks,” he told Kafka. “They just need to be disinfected and bandaged. Once the wounds have healed, the horns will grow back.”
Blade frowned, anger rising. “His thigh needs to be disinfected and bandaged. Everything else…should correct itself in time.” The bruises would fade and any cracked ribs should heal properly if Dan Heng would not overexert himself. Some of the bruises swelled, but again, time would heal those.
Dan Heng sniffled as exhaustion washed over him. He could feel the pull to sleep, but he shook his head. “No,” he whined, dragging out the ‘o’. “Not yet,” he pleaded quietly. The lull ebbed slightly.
Blade raised an eyebrow. “This will hurt for a moment, but then you’ll feel better,” he said. Kafka brought over a wet cloth and Blade carefully dapped the wounds on Dan Heng’s head. Blade winced as Dan Heng whimpered and bit into his shoulder. “Let go. I need to set you down on the bed so I can clean your thigh,” he ordered, gently tugging on Dan Heng’s hair.
The child grimaced but didn’t make a fuss as he was set down. Blade carefully cleaned and bandaged Dan Heng’s thigh. He noticed Dan Heng’s eyes drooping. “Sleep. You’re safe here.” Dan Heng was gently pushed back on the bed and he finally allowed himself to be pulled into sleeping. Blade put some cream on the nastier bruises and put a blanket over Dan Heng. He looked down at Dan Heng, the child sleeping in a curled up position.
“Thank you, Yingxing.” Crimson eyes widened and Blade reached for his sword. His heart pounded as he recognized the fading voice of Dan Feng.
Chapter Text
Dan Heng wouldn’t leave Blade alone and the mara struck warrior was getting tired of it. Kafka was no help at all. She found the entire situation amusing and adorable. Most of the time she doted on the young vidyadhara, often helping him adjust to his newfound freedom. Silver Wolf had already tried to indoctrinate Dan Heng with her games and “lore” speeches Blade had no interest in. But everytime, Dan Heng found his way back to wherever Blade was.
Ever since the Vidyadhara was rescued, he didn’t speak much. He seemed content to just listen and do his own thing. Blade didn’t care. He enjoyed that Dan Heng kept quiet, but he couldn’t help but want to hear the child speak. Seeing a child so quiet was unnerving. Especially since Silver Wolf was always talking and most planets the Hunters would visit children would be laughing and playing around. Yet, then again, those children weren’t subjected to the horrors Dan Heng was.
Blade still didn’t know the full extent of Dan Heng’s injuries. Kafka had found needle wounds on his arms and legs. The mara had almost struck immediately when Kafka told him the news. Blade had to be alone for hours before the mara subsided. It was bad enough they had tortured Dan Heng by ripping out his horns. Did they really need to inject him with whatever the hell they wanted?
Speaking of the young Vidyadhara, Dan Heng purred softly as he curled up next to Blade. Yet again, he had sought out Blade, not caring that Blade adamantly tried to push him away. “You’re such a brat,” Blade growled when Dan Heng smirked triumphantly and curled up next to Blade, tail curling around Blade’s leg. He begrudgingly put his arm around Dan Heng and pulled him close. He was too exhausted to deal with a meltdown at the moment.
A page flipped and Blade looked down. “What are you reading?” he asked quietly, taking calming breaths. Staying calm usually kept the Mara at bay. Dan Heng glowered up at Blade, tail flicking him. Blade huffed, rolling his eyes. “Am I distracting you? Find it annoying?” The glower hardened and Blade fought the urge to be smug and ‘antagonize the child’ as Kafka called it.
The tail flicked him again and the glower softened. Dan Heng lowered the book. “It’s about the Xianzhou,” he mumbled softly. “HIstory…and ge..geography…” He stumbled over his words and went back to reading, tensing slightly. Even though he talked around Blade, Dan Heng still feared he’d be hurt for speaking out.
Blade raised an eyebrow at the book of choice. “Again?” Dan Heng sheepishly covered his face by pulling the book up higher. Blade rolled his eyes, ignoring the warm feeling blooming in his chest. “We have another script soon. You, Firefly, and Silver Wolf will be at one of the safe houses.”
The only acknowledgement Blade got was the tightening of Dan Heng’s tail around his leg. “Kafka and I will take care of our target and should be back as soon as possible. Don’t be too much of a handful for Silver Wolf and Firefly.” Dan Heng frowned at him, squirming. “I know, I know,” Blade scoffed, rolling his eyes once more. “You’ll keep to yourself. Kafka will probably get you some more books.”
Dan Heng perked up at the mention of more books. Despite everything, he was a voracious reader. He’s read almost every book the Stellaron Hunters owned, and he yearned for more. Dan Heng had a passion for learning all that he could. Blade found it endearing in a way. He also found it annoying when Dan Heng would ask him about the contents of the book as if Blade took the time to read all of them. The vidyadhara would also go on long rambles about what he was reading. Blade looked back down as Dan Heng’s tail smacked him again. Dan Heng pointed to a section of the book about the Vidyadhara.
Blade had known Vidyadhara tended to be very loyal to people they deemed worthy of said loyalty. He frowned as he caught onto what Dan Heng was implying. “No, don’t,” Blade gruffly scoffed, narrowing his crimson eyes. “I don’t want your loyalty.” He still had a mission to kill Dan Feng. Of five people, three must pay a price. He just wouldn’t kill a child. Dan Heng looked down and frowned.
The Stellaron Hunters made it to a dystopia-like planet. The entirety of the planet was cities and buildings. The air wasn’t fresh or clean but still breathable. Everything was operated by machines and the people living on the planet were worse for wear. Dan Heng decided after ten minutes he didn’t like the planet. It was too stuffy. The water wasn’t right. He didn’t like it.
Firefly and Silver Wolf kept Dan Heng company in the house while Kafka and Blade went to find their target. Dan Heng read his books while Silver Wolf rambled on about some purple guy and animal robots. Firefly was resting as her illness was flaring up. Dan Heng tapped his fingers against the window of his room, looking out at the city. He worried about Blade and Kafka.
“Then go find him.” Dan Heng blinked as he heard Dan Feng’s voice. He felt a pull to go find Blade and make sure he was safe. He wanted to help. Setting his book down, he opened the window and crawled down the fire escape. He kept his head low, his tail wrapped around his body to keep people from being suspicious about him. Dan Heng wandered around, following the pull. He was brought to a darkened alleyway. His body froze.
“Blade!” Dan Heng shrieked as the warrior slumped to the ground, blood pouring from a wound in his chest. Blue eyes widened frantically, and small hands tried to stop the bleeding. Tears welled in his eyes. “Come on, get up!” Blood covered his fingers.
“You were supposed to stay back, brat,” Blade coughed up blood, groaning at the ever growing pain. Dan Heng’s pitiful wails echoed in his ears. He could feel pressure on his wound, and a small part of him appreciated the concern. But, most of him was too tired to care. Pain, death, repeat. A painful cycle Blade was used too after 700 years.
Dan Heng stubbornly shook his head. “You were hurt. I just wanted to help,” he cried, trying to use his cloudhymn magic. He sniffled and tears dropped onto Blade’s chest. The vidyadhara couldn’t lose Blade, not right now. He saved him. Dan Heng owed Blade his life.
“Dan Heng,” Blade snapped, grabbing Dan Heng’s hands firmly. “We’re out of time. Go back to the safe house,” he demanded, crimson eyes glaring at the young vidyadhara. “I’ll be fine.” He coughed up more blood, black spots dancing across his vision.
“Liar,” Dan Heng growled, tail flicking. The sticky blood felt wrong on his hands.
“Go!” Blade roared, eyes flashing with mara. Dan Heng stumbled back, eyes wide. Blade was angry at him. Dan Heng whimpered and clouds formed in the sky, a light rain beginning to fall. He ran through the streets and climbed back up the fire escape and into the safe house, curling up in the corner of his room, blankets covering his shivering form.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Dan Heng grabbed his tail for comfort. “I just wanted to help. I’m sorry.” The blood on his hands began to dry. He ignored the comfort from Dan Feng, clinging tighter to his tail. Blade was dead and he just ran. Maybe he was no better than—
“Quit your mindless babbling,” Blade’s voice growled. Dan Heng’s head shot up, eyes wide. His mouth gaped open like a fish, shock in his eyes. “I can’t die. Not yet. Now stop crying. It’s unbecoming of the High Elder,” he snapped, grabbing Dan Heng’s hands. “You need to get cleaned up.”
“Ho-how…” Dan Heng trailed off, eyes becoming hazy and distant. “Yingxing…I’m sorry,” he murmured, tears pricking the corners of his eyes. Blade’s grip instinctively tightened. “Shut up,” Blade mumbled, carrying the vidyadhara to the bathroom. “Next time, stay here like you were told.”
Dan Heng nodded, lip wobbling. “I’m sorry,” he sobbed, trembling in Blade’s arms. “I’ll listen. I’ll be good. Please don’t go,” he begged, clinging to Blade as if he was about to disappear again.
“Stop crying, I’m here, aren’t I?” Blade scoffed, setting Dan Heng down on the side of the bathtub. He cleaned the blood off Dan Heng’s hands and checked his head. His horns had yet to grow back. Blade frowned and silently cursed the Perceptors. He’d kill them if he could. One day, he’d make everyone pay, and maybe then, he’d be free to die and be reunited with Dan Feng and Baiheng.
Chapter 5
Notes:
I apologize for the long wait. I was on a week long camping trip and I discovered I am partially allergic to the sun! I am finally recovered from the sun poisoning I got, so I pumped out a chapter for y'all!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
If Dan Heng was clingy before Blade died, then he was glued to Blade’s side now. The child Vidyadhara didn’t leave Blade alone for a second now and panicked whenever Blade even got a scratch. Blade was starting to get very, very annoyed with the child, but somehow he didn’t have the heart to push Dan Heng away. The longer Dan Heng clinged to him, the more Blade slowly realized he didn’t want to hurt this child.
Currently, Blade was attempting to help change old bandages that had bled through and checking Dan Heng’s head for infections as his horns slowly (and painfully) grew back. Dan Heng tried to sit still and endure the dull pain, hissing every so often when the wounds were irritated. Everytime Blade went to gently check his head, Dan Heng would duck away, eyes growing wide as saucers.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” Blade said roughly, trying to keep calm with the uncooperative child. “Please, just let me check the wounds and it will be over.” Dan Heng shook his head firmly. He bared his teeth and tried to bite Blade’s hand when it got too close to his head. Blade growled and pulled his hand back, flicking his wrist. He huffed, narrowing his crimson eyes. “Don’t be a brat. Let me check.”
Dan Heng shook his head, quivering. “No,” he firmly growled. His tail wrapped around his body like a protective embrace. Fear filled his dull eyes. “It hurts,” he hissed at Blade.
“I know it hurts,” Blade sighed heavily. “Let me check to make sure they aren’t infected. Infection will only make it hurt more.” He gently raised his hand to try to check the head wound. Dan Heng hesitated, tail flicking. He squeezed his eyes shut and flinched when Blade ran a hand through his hair, fingers pressing on the bandages. “There. All done.”
Dan Heng opened his eyes, tears welling up. Blade groaned. “Don’t cry. It’s okay.” Blade wondered if he was so emotional as a child. Was Dan Feng this emotional as a child? He shook those thoughts away. He didn’t need to think about that right now and give the Mara a chance to take hold.
“I’m sorry,” Dan Heng whispered, curling in on himself. He clenched his jaw shut and avoided Blade’s gaze. The guards didn’t like when he would make too much noise. He allowed himself a little bit of freedom, but now Blade told him not to cry. He swallowed back his tears, blinking rapidly.
Oftentimes, Dan Heng would think back to the Shackling Prison. The memories tormented his already tortured mind. His head constantly ached where his horns were regrowing. His other injuries were sore. Kafka had given him painkillers, which helped for short periods of time. Going to find Blade had been a mistake in more than one way because going down the fire escape and wandering the city had aggravated his wounds, opening a few of them.
Pain was something Dan Heng was very familiar with. He didn’t think he knew what it was like to not feel pain at all. Even with the painkillers, the pain only dulled, never completely going away. Dan Heng didn’t even want to think about the mental and emotional pain. He couldn’t understand it. To him, all of his pain melted together in one giant pile of goo. Everything hurt all at once.
“Stop it,” Blade huffed, folding his arms across his chest. “You’re overthinking. Just like he used to do.” It was uncanny how eerily similar Dan Heng was to Dan Feng. Blade knew they were reincarnations, but it still freaked him out. The Mara didn’t see a difference and would try to strike him if Dan Heng acted too much like Dan Feng.
“Sorry,” Dan Heng whispered, coming back to the present reality. His tail was still curled around his small body. Dan Heng knew he was smaller than he should be.
“Stop apologizing,” Blade groaned, picking up Dan Heng with ease. “You need to rest.” The tail unwrapped from around Dan Heng’s body and wrapped around Blade’s arm. At this point, Blade was used to it. He carried Dan Heng from the infirmary to the main living area where Silver Wolf was playing her games with Firefly. Kafka was nowhere to be seen.
“Oh, Blade!” Firefly sat up when Blade entered the room with Dan Heng. “Kafka wanted me to tell you she was dealing business with the Nameless so she might be a while.” The young girl smiled softly and went back to playing with Silver Wolf.
Blade fought off a groan. He wasn’t a big fan of the Nameless, but he had to admit they were formidable opponents and allies depending on the situation. He held Dan Heng tighter, a subconscious thought that the Nameless would try to take him away if they knew the Stellaron Hunters were caring for a child. A small part of Blade thought the Nameless would be a better place for Dan Heng, but then he felt Dan Heng’s tail tighten around his arm.
“Who’re the Nameless?” Dan Heng asked, eyes wide with curiosity.
“A group who follow the path of Trailblazing,” Blade told Dan Heng. “They follow a fallen Aeon known as Akivili. I don’t know their exact goals, but I know they aren’t too fond of us.” He gently set Dan Heng down on the small couch, sitting beside the Vidyadhara.
Dan Heng’s brows furrowed as he thought about what Blade was saying. The word Nameless somehow felt familiar to him in a way he didn’t quite understand. Deep in his mind, he could feel Dan Feng grieve and flashes of a Foxian woman with light purple hair and green eyes filled his mind. The name Baiheng rang out in his mind like a mournful wail.
“Baiheng…” Dan Heng repeated the name quietly and next to him Blade stiffened. Dan Heng blinked owlishly up at Blade. His eyes seemed distant, full of anguish and sorrow that didn’t belong to the child. Blade swallowed thickly. “Who—”
“Don’t,” Blade snapped firmly, crimson eyes narrowing in anger. “Don’t talk about her. You know what you did.”
Dan Heng flinched and ducked his head while Dan Feng’s presence in the back of his mind disappeared. Usually, Dan Feng’s presence would disappear when Dan Heng didn’t need him. “Sorry,” he apologized. “I won’t mention her again.” Dan Heng didn’t know what he did, but he did know talking about Baiheng made Blade mad.
Blade sighed and glanced down at Dan Heng. “I don’t know what’s going on inside your head, if you’re him or not. But if you feel like you remember names, keep them to yourself,” he said bluntly. His words weren’t unkind, but Dan Heng didn’t want to push it. He was grateful Blade bothered to give him a warning and a boundary. In the Prison, he would have to learn the hard way what to say and what not to say.
The mara-struck blacksmith did not like clinginess. However, he found that he didn’t mind Dan Heng practically being attached to his hip. He wrapped an arm around the child’s shoulders and pulled him close. “Rest,” he murmured, watching as blue eyes slowly drooped and closed. The only sounds in the living room were coming from Silver Wolf and Firefly playing their game. Dan Heng snuggled close to Blade and Blade closed his eyes, letting the peaceful, domestic feeling wash over him.
For the first time in a long time, Blade wasn’t in pain.
Notes:
Hey guys!
I hope you enjoy this chapter! Kudos and comments are greatly appreciated!
Have a wonderful day!
~Kat
Chapter 6: Panic
Summary:
Whumptober Day One: Panic Attack
Chapter Text
The Nameless crew of the Astral Express was nothing like Dan Heng expected. The arrival of Kafka with the Crew immediately put Blade on edge. Dan Heng had tensed up as well, keeping close to the warrior. Firefly and Silver Wolf didn’t seem too phased. The Astral Express Crew consisted of a pretty woman with red hair, a white dress, and a black jacket; an older man with brown hair, glasses, a cane, and a light gray shirt with a dark gray jacket and black pants; and three smaller children who seemed around Dan Heng’s age. One girl and the boy had gray hair and yellow eyes. They both held baseball bats. The other girl was loud and energetic with pink hair and cotton candy eyes.
Dan Heng wasn’t sure what to think of them. His tail curled around Blade’s leg, and the man glanced down at Dan Heng, glare softening momentarily. The young vidyadhara warily stared at the Nameless while Kafka started to explain their temporary allyship. Silver Wolf got annoyed while Blade was firmly against the idea. Dan Heng didn’t know what to think. Dan Feng’s memories of Baiheng and the Nameless were all good, so wouldn’t the current Nameless be good, too?
The Vidyadhara noticed how Kafka seemed to smile at the similar-looking boy and girl. It didn’t take a genius to see she had some kind of history with them. Dan Heng also noticed the other Stellaron Hunters seemed to know those two children. But he didn’t ask about their history for fear of making them mad. His tail tightened around Blade’s leg and he shrank back when the energetic girl grinned and waved at him. Dan Heng hesitantly waved back. He didn’t pay much attention to the adults speaking. He let go of Blade’s leg and stepped out.
“Hi! I’m March 7th! This is Stelle and Caelus,” the energetic girl introduced herself and her friends. She held out a peace sign and held her camera in the other hand. “Who are you?” she tilted her head childishly.
Dan Heng quietly answered her, “Dan Heng.” His tail flicked anxiously. A warm feeling washed over him, and he relaxed slightly. If Dan Feng thought these people were safe, then Dan Heng was safe. “It’s nice to meet you,” he murmured softly. He decided he’d wander off with March 7th, Stelle, and Caelus while the adults started talking about a Stellaron on Jarilo VI. Dan Heng found himself in the Archives of the Express, eyes wide with awe at the sheer amount of books and information.
March 7th insisted on taking pictures of him and Dan Heng would give a peace sign and try to smile. Emphasis on trying to smile. He didn’t know how to really smile. While Stelle, Caelus, and March chattered amongst themselves, Dan Heng curled up in the Archives to read. He read for hours, soaking up the knowledge. His tail curled around his body and the stacks of books surrounding him grew taller and larger with each book he finished.
“You’re a fast reader, Dan Heng!” March exclaimed in awe, her eyes shining as she watched him read. “Mr. Yang told us that you were a Vid…Vidyadhara,” she stumbled over the word but managed to say it correctly. “What is that?” she asked, tilting her head childishly. Stelle and Caelus blinked at him, both wondering the same thing.
Dan Heng set his current book down. “Umm, Vidyadhara are decendants from the Aeon of Permanance. We typically have draconic features, I think. We, umm, reincarnate and live on the Xianzhou.” His tail flicked anxiously. “The High Elder or the Imbibitor Lunae is supposed to be the leader and protector of the Vidyadhara.” It suddenly dawned on him how little he actually knew about his own species. He flushed in embarrassment.
“That’s so cool!” March grinned from ear to ear. “I mean, these two have Stellarons in their bodies.” She pointed to Stelle and Caelus. “If you’re a dragon, where are your horns?” Stelle spoke up. “You have a tail, but…no horns.” She gestured to his head.
Dan Heng froze. The question was an innocent one. She didn’t know. So why was he suddenly thrust back into his cell, chained up and screaming for them to stop. His body seized up and he didn’t know he was crying until March had yelled something. He whimpered and curled in on himself. Dan Heng clawed at his hair and painfully pulled.
“No, stop!” March panicked. “Get Mr. Yang!” Dan Heng barely heard her. He could feel their hands on him, pulling until his horns gave out. He sobbed and cried, begging for them to stop. The world around him blurred, all the noises merging together to loud static. His heart pounded in his chest, and his tail thrashed wildly. A stack of books fell and everything went blissfully quiet.
“Hush, little one,” Dan Feng’s soothing voice murmured. Dan Heng opened his eyes to see the giant lotus flower and the calm water. His lip trembled and his wails echoed across the peaceful atmosphere. “It’s alright. They’re gone. No one can hurt you now.” He gently ran his hand through Dan Heng’s hair, fingers softly brushing the small nubs that were growing back in. He frowned.
Those Cloud Knights were lucky Dan Feng was too weak to do anything or else he would have made the eternally suffer for what they did to his incarnation. They were equally lucky that Blade didn’t go hunting them down. One day they’d get their dues. Dan Feng would make sure of it. Before his time was up, he’d make sure every last one of them suffered for what they did. Cloudhymn flowed through his veins as he anger grew. The calm water surrounding the lotus started to turn to tumultuous waves.
“Don’t worry, little one,” Dan Feng growled, waves growing stronger. “I won’t fail a second time.” The water rose higher and higher before quickly descending back to a calm pool as Dan Heng whimpered. The older High Elder sighed softly and let the younger Vidyadhara curl close and cling to his robes.
The lotus flower and Dan Feng disappeared the moment the door opened and Blade came into the room. The Stellaron Hunter found Dan Heng shaking violently, softly crying. “Shh, shhh,” he tried to comfort, awkwardly scooping up the child. Dan Heng weakly cried and clinged to Blade. Crimson eyes darkened and Blade swore he’d kill the ones who hurt Dan Heng. The mara flared before settling back down under Kafka’s Spirit Whisper. “It’s alright. I’ve got you.”
Dan Heng sniffled and buried his face in the crook of Blade’s neck. He could vaguely hear March crying and apologizing. Blade shot her a glare but softened when he could see how upset the twins were as well. He heavily sighed and brought Dan Heng back to the Stellaron Hunters, gruffly telling the three trailblazers everything was fine and that Dan Heng just needed to calm down. Kafka stayed back to explain things with Welt and Himeko.
It took a while before Dan Heng had calmed down enough to let Blade put him down. Each time Blade tried to deposit the child onto the bed or the couch, he’d cry and dig his claws into Blade’s jacket, pricking his chest. Reluctantly, Blade held Dan Heng until he’d worn himself out. But, something kept Blade from leaving Dan Heng alone. Against his better judgment, he stayed watching over the young High Elder as he slept.
“Damn brat,” Blade muttered to himself. “Why can’t I just kill you and be done with this?” he stared at Dan Heng. “What are you doing to me?”
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