A/N: Winner of the poll... though I imagine many expected a more smutty smut, than an angsty one. Alas, the latest chapter in the Star Rail saga influenced my decision a fair bit when it came to the plot of this one. Perhaps the next one will be more fluffy~
Do enjoy - and I hope you don't mind me playing your heart strings~
Error Code
Tingyun was dead.
A fact that, even after Caelus had seen her disintegrate into motes of light, still hadn't truly dawned on him. The situation hadn't allowed it, he was so pumped up with adrenaline and anxiety that her death was shock – but the speculation from Mr. Yang kept him going, assured that Tingyun would be found, somewhere.
But with the fall of Phantylia and the saving of the Xianzhou, he couldn't ignore it any longer. Least of all when Yukong had them do the going-away ceremony. It was a sight burned into his mind whether he wanted it to be or not. Of the great Starskiffs sailing off into the unknown, destined to wander the stars until their parts wore away and they too disintegrated into nothing. Perhaps it would take decades. Maybe centuries. Possibly millennia. But one day the cherished memories of Tingyun, the thoughts and memories of those she left behind, would be gone too. Just like her.
He didn't believe it.
She had to be out there, somewhere.
Caged, tied up, held hostage. Someone knew. Someone had to know.
But no matter how hard Caelus searched, no matter how much he pushed for more aid in finding her... it was fruitless. She was gone, so they said. And in time he had to believe it too. He couldn't ignore the facts in his face, the despair in his heart. Tingyun was dead and gone. Maybe she'd been gone for a while now and simply nobody had noticed. Maybe, by the time the Astral Express arrived, she'd been taken for a long, long while. The Tingyun he knew was never the real one.
He couldn't accept it.
She was real. The evenings they spent over drinks, the liquid amber sloshing around in her flat cup as she stared at him, mirth in her eyes and a foxy smile upon her lips, listening to him tell her the tales of Jarilo-VI or the assault on the Herta Space Station. When he ran out of things to say he would listen to her speak, her lilted voice gaining a wonder that was too honest to be faked as she told him about the Xianzhou's journey through the stars; of the many places she'd seen. People she'd met, conversations she'd had, food she eaten and hotels she'd slept in-
He knew her. In the few short days he'd had time alone with her he felt like a real connection had been formed, far deeper than his friendship with March 7th and Dang Heng. He suspected she felt the same – there was no other rational for why she looked at him with such odd affection, her smile becoming softer and her eyes gentler. How she had taken him up onto the roof of the hotel and showed him the stars, many of which she could recall from memory alone, pointing out the ever-distant constellations and their historic meanings not just to the Xianzhou, but to the many planets and peoples she'd met in her travels.
How strange that a single cluster of stars meant so many different things to different people. All because of different perspectives, different lifestyles, different idealisations.
Tingyun was different too. Even among the few Foxians he'd met, she moved with a grace and spoke with a charm that was unmatched. A spell that been weaved and he'd fallen for it wholeheartedly. She'd even let him pet her tail and ears, a rarity according to Yukong due to how much effort she put into grooming her Foxian aspects. She even coiled that tail around him when he got cold one night, watching the stars with her as she ran her fingers through his hair, humming a song that belonged to a now-extinct group of people. Carrying their memory, their culture, on with her.
He was the only one she'd ever sung it for, apparently.
That planet's culture, their spirit, their song – only he knew it now. One soul amongst a universe of billions if not trillions... and only he would remember them. Even if he never knew what they were called; the name lost amidst many conversations and brushed aside in favour of staring into Tingyun's enthralling eyes.
Caelus drew a shuddering breath. His eyes stung so he blinked forcefully, keeping the threat of tears at bay. He couldn't cry now. Not while he was in public anyway. He still had his pride.
The Herta Space Station was a familiar place by now. Because of that he knew the time when the control centre was the least busy. It wasn't silent – no, it was never silent much less abandoned – but at this late hour only a couple dozen scientists lingered around, mostly comparing notes, though why he didn't know nor pretend to care. He ghosted past them, sticking to the shadows where he could to avoid even the risk of conversation.
A hiss, and the door to Herta's office opened. If anyone noticed it they didn't call out to him so he stepped over the threshold. Two more steps and the door automatically shut behind him. The interior was one he had seen many times before, his eyes barely glancing over it as he marched up to the machine at the far end, its panels opening up as if in anticipation for him. It reminded him of a flower.
Of Phantylia and her blossoms.
He wasn't aware he was clenching his fists until his arm ached from the strain he put his muscles through. Hissing out a breathe he turned his eyes onto the Herta clone stood just next to it. She stared at him, whether automatically or not he couldn't tell. She always moved with a robotic stiffness outside of battle. Auto-pathing, he vaguely recalled her mentioning. He didn't care for the specifics though.
When Herta said nothing, simply continuing to stare at him with that expressionless look, he passed her by. He didn't have anything to say to her. He wasn't in the mood for conversation anyway. Small mercies she wasn't the type for chit-chat either.
Ascending onto the main plate he pressed the activation button. A menu screen popped up before him with all the usual details so he selected a world at random. The moment the machine was done loading he looked at the character menu, stabbing a finger at Gepard and Natasha along with himself naturally-
And there she was. Tingyun.
No, not the real Tingyun. A clone of her. A compilation of data Herta had made up based off of his own memories and data she could get ahold of. She'd served him well in the Simulated Universe but ever since her passing he'd never had the heart to come back and do the Simulated Universe, such was the impact her memory had on him. And now he could see her again. A part of her, at least. A fragment.
He pressed her icon, then closed his eyes as he touched the start button. Around him the panel lights glowed a bright, luminescent blue and he felt himself be pulled forth, his centre of gravity sucked into a vortex straight ahead of him, his thoughts quicksilver – and then his feet touched solid ground once more, Rivet Town manifesting around him. It always took a second to adjust, as if the particles beneath his feet took a second to shift out of the way and let him truly touchdown, but when he did he set off at a fast stride. No looking back.
''Gepard, ahead. Natasha, with me. Ting-''
His voice choked and he gritted his teeth. ''Tingyun. Stay at the back. Conserve your strength.''
''Alrighty~'' Came a hauntingly familiar chirp.
But he didn't look. He couldn't; not yet. So with pursed lips he summoned his flaming lance to his hand, glaring at the simulated enemies up ahead.
Combat was a familiar distraction. There was no thought, not really. Gepard guarded, he stabbed, Natasha took shots and healed where needed. The enemies were weak this early in the level and they cleared them out in no time at all. All except for the final enemy around a corner, at the far end of a cavern where the choice of two rooms laid – 'Combat' or 'Occurrence'.
''Gepard, stand guard here. Natasha, stay with him.'' Caelus ordered hoarsely.
''Got it.'' Natasha's data clone affirmed; grenade launcher at the ready as she stood with Gepard, both staring down the false enemy further down the broken mine cart track.
They were too far to be in its aggro range though. They could stand there for hours and nothing would change. Confident in that he turned his back onto the two copies of his friends, his eyes closed as he drew a breath – and then he opened them.
Nothing could have prepared him for seeing her again though. The lush brown hair, the slight twinkle of mirth eternally found in her eyes, the slight reflexive twitch of her fox ears and the idle swishing of her tail... his breath was taken away just looking at Tingyun. The Foxian who had stolen his heart the moment he laid eyes on her, and who had perished as a pawn of what amounted to a demigod.
He took a step, then two. Tingyun just smiled and cocked her head at him – and then let out a little yelp as he closed the distance, arms winding around her in a tight hug. Yet despite the sudden hug Tingyun just laughed awkwardly – a soft, fluttering sound that left his heart feeling the same way, his fingers bunching up her clothes as if to confirm she was real-
But she wasn't.
She was just a clone of data. An algorithm of ones and zeros, reacting based on inputted data and not out of any form of instinct or sentience.
But...
But he didn't care.
He pulled back, hands on her shoulders, looking into those bewitching green eyes of hers. Tingyun hummed curiously, her head tilting – and he had to repress a flinch, expecting it to go further than humanly possible. But it didn't. It was just a gentle tilt. Still he reached out, gently straightening her head and caressing her neck. Nothing was broken. It wouldn't be broken.
His hand made its way to her cheek, his gentle caress earning a blush from Tingyun. ''Ah...? You're awfully affectionate today, Caelus~''
Just hearing her call his name sent another shudder through him. How many nights had it been since she last did so?
His hand fell into her left, squeezing it. ''Come with me.''
He didn't wait for he to answer and just dragged her off, further back down the path they'd just come down. No more monsters would spawn so he dismissed his weapon, eyes glancing about until he found a semi-secluded spot. An alcove between two of the buildings with some boxes next to it, blocking line-of-sight with the others. It was enough.
With a gulp he pulled her into the alcove, just a few feet of space for them to both spare. His eyes landed upon her face, her delicately-confused features, every reaction so natural he could trick himself into believing it was really her. That this wasn't the Simulated Universe, that this was his one and only chance with her, stuck in a twisted sort of purgatory. It was that line of thought that coaxed him closer, his hands landing on her hips-
And then he darted in, kissing her. Tingyun made a surprised noise but didn't flinch away, surprisingly. No she stayed still for a second and then cupped his cheeks, reciprocating. The mere idea drove him wild and he threw himself into the kiss, groaning with mad need as he ran his hands over Tingyun, overcome with simultaneous grief and a need so visceral it transcended any sort of lust or sorrow, but just a base need to know that she was real.
''Tingyun...'' Caelus groaned softly, needily.
Tingyun just giggled, the chime-like sound so painfully familiar that he wasn't sure how to feel about it – so he didn't think, he didn't feel. He just kissed her again, pushing her up against the nearest wall and savouring how perfect her lips felt as they mashed against his own, his hands soon shifting down to her hips. His fingers reached back and ran through the lush hair of her Foxian tail. How many nights of her life had been spent grooming it, brushing it?
He let out a shaky breath, letting go. His hands went to her hips and grazed down to her thighs, appreciating their thickness before grabbing her ass. Tingyun let out a cutesy 'oh' and smiled bashfully at him, not resisting as he eased them both down onto the rocky floor of the Simulated Universe and gently parted her legs. She was submissive and he was grateful for that, his throat growing tight and words failing him as he let his fingers slip up her dress.
He found the hem of her underwear and tucked his fingers under the waistband, peeling them down. A pair of lacy brown underwear that just fitted her so perfectly, tugged off and soon set aside – not thrown, but carefully set down. His palms rode up her thighs and Tingyun cooed as she let her legs part for him, her dress hiking up with the help of her right hand – and Caelus shuddered as he laid eyes upon her pussy, a neat trim of dark hair above her slit.
Caelus reached down. His pants dropped within seconds.
''Ooh~'' Tingyun's playful coo made him swallow. ''You're pretty excited, huh~''
''Yeah.'' He rasped back, shifting on top of her. ''I'll be gentle.''
Tingyun just hummed again. Whether because of her code or- no, he didn't think about it. He just rubbed his tip along her slit, shuddering at how euphoricthe simple act was, his dick aching as he nearly entered her. The first time he tried his tip slipped up and the second time it did the same, frustrating him-
When Tingyun's hand slipped down. He was surprised, tensing, but with that same chime-like giggle Tingyun gently held his cock, guided him to her opening – and Caelus groaned in primal satisfaction as he penetrated her. His tip speared between her petals and he pushed in deeper, the hotness of her insides enveloping his cock and taking his breath away. Just over half of his dick entered her when he had the mind to look up.
Tingyun smiled back at him, though a smidgen of pain could be found on her face. Immediately he stopped, his own lust halted by his love for her – coaxing his hand to her nape and lifting her head slightly, his lips meeting hers. Tingyun threaded her arms around his nape and pulled him deeper into the kiss, a soft hum vibrating against his lips, her approval palpable and soothing his worries. Still, he stayed where he was, stuck half-deep in her clenching womanhood.
''Mm... Caelus~'' Tingyun mewled – a hot, drawled sound that burned itself into his mind.
Propping himself up more Caelus gazed down into her warm green eyes, the love within unabashed. He closed the distance and pressed his lips to hers once more, the fitting perfect and a groan expelling itself from his throat – his hips rolling forth in slow, patient thrusts, gently pumping half of his dick into Tingyun, mindful to not hurt her. As if to remedy such a fear Tingyun's long legs crossed over his ass, pulling him deeper into her with a sweet moan – one matched by Caelus's own as he nearly went balls-deep inside of her.
''Tingyun~'' Caelus groaned, nay, whined out – hilting within her quivering hotness and pulling out as much as he was able.
Only to drive himself back in up to the hilt. Their moans were one and Caelus wanted to hear them even more; his hips rocking with greater and greater enthusiasm, plunging his hard cock between Tingyun's slick walls. He buried himself in her, pulling her dress open as he did so and freeing her large breasts from the bra holding them; lifting her right and sucking passionately on her nipple. The delighted laugh-moan he got out of her was orgasmic.
He let her nipple fall from his lips a second later, reclaiming her lips in another addictive kiss – snatching her wrists too and pinning them to the floor. Tingyun hummed and wriggled her wrists free, sliding her hands down into his own – allowing him to tuck his fingers between hers, holding her delicate hands. The squeeze she gave in return was matched by a delightful clench around his cock, the snugness making every thrust feel so much more intense.
''Ah, Tingyun, Tingyun...!'' Caelus groaned out, pounding her now – their flesh loudly colliding as he went balls-deep in her like a man possessed. ''I love you...!''
''Mm~! I... I love you too~!''
Her loins clenched, a slick coil around his cock – and then Caelus came. Slamming himself up to the hilt he ejaculated inside of Tingyun, burying himself within her warmth and mashing his lips against hers in a frenzied, messy kiss – their moans mutual as they came together. Spasms ran through his veins and her insides twitched and clenched with equal erraticism, extending their mutual climaxes for just that little bit longer.
Alas all good things had to end, the potent high trickling off like river into a tiny stream – until with a breathy moan Caelus pulled his dick out of her. His gaze lingered briefly on her creampied sex before lifting to her face; her blush, her broad smile, her warm, loving eyes.
''Tingyun...'' He breathed, cupping her cheek.
When a voice cut in.
''So this is what you were doing. I was wondering why you were active within the first zone for so long.'' Herta's voice could be clearly heard, as if coming over an unseen intercom. ''I do believe this is NOT what I built the Simulated Universe for, Caelus. I'm terminating the session now.''
Terminate? He didn't get the chance to speak before the world around him flickered, then began to disintegrate – the walls flaking off into chunks of light and the floor soon following suit, with him at the centre.
''No, NO!'' Caelus yelled, grasping onto Tingyun – eyes wide as he watched her Foxian ears begin to flake away and dissipate into particles too. ''You- you can't take her now! Not-''
His breath hitched, however, as Tingyun smiled at him.
Despite the shutdown of the session-
Despite the world around them turning to default black-
She smiled at him, a warmth in her eyes that couldn't be replicated by a program. A life that couldn't be made up of ones and zeros.
A temporary happiness, that no machine could copy.
He grasped for her.
She dissolved between his fingers.
Her lips moved, smiling as they did so.
'I love you.'
And then in a blinding white flash, Caelus found himself back in reality, stumbling back and tripping down the short steps of the Simulated Universe machine.
The ceiling overhead greeted him, his eyes wide, his heart clenched. But some mad fervour brought him back into motion, wisps of amber drifting past his fingertips as his flaming lance came forth to his hands.
''GIVE HER BACK!'' Caelus roared at Herta, swinging for the doll's head.
Not that it mattered as two pairs of arms caught each of his own, forcing his momentum to stall. Asta and Arlan, he realised in the back of his mind, but he was too enraged, too angry, too grief-riddled to notice.
Herta just stared back at him dispassionately. ''You were misusing the Simulated Universe. I think that's grounds enough for me to terminate the session, you pervert.''
She continued before he could speak. ''Moreover, the system detected an anomalous presence within the session. You should be thanking me for removing it post-haste.''
A beat, where his heart slowed.
Then fury reared its head and he bellowed, he shouted, he screamed at the petite doll, fighting against his friends to lop her head off.
''C-Caelus!'' Asta cried out, using her staff to hold his left arm back. ''Calm down...!''
''What's gotten into you...?!'' Arlan hissed out, the shorter boy using all his strength just to stop Caelus from swinging his oversized lance. ''Don't do something you'll regret...!''
Caelus continued to struggle though. He struggled until his rage left him. Until his legs gave out and he fell to his knees before Herta, tears running down his cheeks as he slammed a fist into the wood, his bellows dissolving into choked sobs.
Herta said nothing and merely continued to stare at his head for a moment, his pain the only sound in the room, then looked up at Asta. ''Remove him until he can compose himself.''
''...of course, Madam Herta.'' Asta murmured softly, frowning worriedly down at her crying friend. ''Come here Caelus, let's go, come on now...''
At Asta's gentle prodding Caelus shambled to his feet and allowed the red-haired researcher to lead him out of Herta's office, leaving Arlan to slowly follow – only to stop at the door.
''...Madam Herta, may I ask what the 'anomalous presence' Caelus encountered was?''
Herta's doll didn't move from her spot. ''That, I am unaware of. Whatever it is though, it's gone now.''
''...I see.''
A hiss and a clunk, and Herta was left alone in her office once more.
[END]
A/N: Don't worry though, Tingyun's just out for milk, she'll be back soon.
Any day now...