#丹穹 #dancae

A story of how Caelus was hiding part of the truth of everything that happened to him... (Of course this is mostly just my delusion )

.

Part 1

.

At the end of version 1.4

...

Inside the archives there quietly sits Dan Heng with a book and a pen on hand. Reading meticulously on the pages and writing down information. With a sound of the door opening he puts down the items on hand, with a smile he greeted the silver hair that visited his room.

"Welcome back, Caelus." He said.

After the door behind closes "Dan Heng! Dan Heng! You won't believe what happened!" He started with glee.

Of course he reciprocated the smile "Have a seat, you can tell me all the details-"

Though before he could even finish, Caelus was actually already on his way, upon sitting he pulled out an item "This! I played Aetherium Wars!" Thus he started.

This was what happens every time he comes back from a mission, since he was still recuperating from what happened in the Luofu he hasn't join them, thus every time Caelus comes back. He will be back with an item and a story behind it.

...

Events after version 1.5

...

Writing his notes on the paper on the desk Dan Heng cannot help but continuously look at the clock. Making sure to also check on the date. At most times he looks at the door whenever a presence comes near. But alas, the very person that he was waiting for has not shown up for a long time.

Going out of the room to look for a certain silhouette his eyes trails off to March. "March, have you seen Caelus?"

"Oh, Caelus, he is resting in his room." March said.

His room? Dan Heng thought, an odd thing that is for sure. He was sure that he usually goes to the archives first, or maybe he just came back and went to his room first. With this he decided to wait back in his room and continued on to his work.

Feelings of worry stirred inside him, as for sure, after asking where Caelus was it has already been days. Did March might have said it wrong? Maybe he might have heard it wrong? But one thing is for sure though, he misses Caelus and his voice dearly, he does receive messages from him but he hasn't seen him.

Yes, his mind is still occupied by recent events that happened to him, but Caelus and his safety is different. With that he decided to stay at the parlor car from time to time to wait for him, which caught Himeko and Welt's attention.

"It's odd seeing you here often." Himeko greeted.

"Ah." He paused putting aside the book he is holding, hesitating a little to ask about Caelus.

"Is there maybe something in your mind? You know you could always ask us."

He looks down thinking twice but he has to make sure "It's Caelus, I was thinking if I could wait here and greet him... I haven't seen him for a while." Himeko unconsciously glanced at Welt.

She was surprised as did Welt "He hasn't visited you?" Himeko showed a frown, with a genuine worry on her face.

The information that sunk into Dan Heng is that Caelus is avoiding him. The words that Himeko said meant that Caelus comes back to the Train but he does not go to his room to visit. As he was about to ask where Caelus has been. The door to the parlor car opens, it was Caelus who is wearing a very anxious expression on his face.

He doesn't like that expression, and it worried him. With haste he walks to a looking down Caelus "Caelus!" He calls out, to which shocked him.

Caelus, didn't show glee nor even a movement that expresses his normal happy self, instead he was greeted by a flinching Caelus, though it might have deceived his eyes but he was certain that his expression has fear plastered with it for a moment "Caelus?"

Upon seeing Dan Heng, Caelus wears his normal gleeful expression that he wears "O-oh! Dan Heng. I just came back after our last meet. It's been a while, huh..." He looks away from him.

Dan Heng's eyes opens wide at the lie that he has heard. Caelus just said that he just came back but he for certain knows that he already heard half of the people in the train that said he went back multiple times after meeting up with him.

Of course he wouldn't let this go "It has indeed been a long while." His brows frowns but first and foremost "Welcome back." He bit his lips "Caelus, is there something wrong? I will happily listen."

Caelus chuckles, it was an awkward laughter from Dan Heng's ears. Placing a hand on the back of his head scratching his head "What is this Dan Heng, why so serious." He wears the same exact smile that Dan Heng likes seeing on his face.

'How unfair, all my worries will vanish before I even get to the bottom of the issue.' Dan Heng thought.

"Everything is just fine! Since I just came back, I was actually just on the way to your room."

On the way to his room? Or on the way to your room? The thoughts that blurred his ears from hearing Caelus' words "C'mon, let's go to the archives! I'll tell you all about what happened on the Luofu." Caelus grabbed his hands and then led them to the archives.

'Luofu? What happened on the Luofu?' though he decided to remain silent and wait instead of what Caelus will tell him, for now he indulged himself on the warmth from his hands.

Upon entering the room Caelus did tell the events that happened on the Luofu, with of course excluding some parts, especially the important parts where he wanted to say that he was very lonely and scared.

Events after 1.6

...

Perhaps this was a new pattern, or he was definitely being avoided he thought. With other things clouding his mind, even the case with Caelus is also clouding his judgment. "Let's just wait..." He lowered his head as he continued on to the task at hand.

It's been so long once again, so instead of cooping up in the room and having a low chance of seeing Caelus, he decided to just work outside again. With this, he might have a higher chance of meeting him.

So far it was up to no avail, the ones inside the train has been asking what is with the change of environment and all he replied is that 'This is the most effective way to meet him.' though not once has he net him yet.

This worried the people on the train. Were they fighting? Did something happen between the two? All in all they don't exactly know also.

Of course excluding the time that he received messages from him which is the only way he can communicate. He wants to see him also, hear his voice, see his face, maybe something has happened to the Luofu that made him like that. He won't get answers if he thinks too much, he just know one thing, and that is the place where he started not visiting anymore.

With those in mind he decided to sometimes work on or visit the parlor car more often, even sometimes visiting his room. Until one day finally the familiar silhouette emerges from the parlor door. With a troubled and exhausted expression his heart ached 'What happened? Why are you wearing those expression..." He ran to him immediately.

"Caelus!" He puffed as he went to him. Again surprising him with a shocked expression and pulling back from him. As he was about to reach for his hands, Caelus draws back his hand, Dan Heng froze on spot.

"Hello, Dan Heng!" It's that facade again, he doesn't like it one bit, and he is able to tell.

"What are you doing at the parlor car? It's unusual to see you here." It was a genuine question, he was actually also curious.

He decided to not lie to at least to ease the other "I was waiting for you to come back."

A faint blush can be seen and a chuckle escaped from his voice, he was really touched "I see, thank you. I'm back."

"Welcome back." Dan Heng smiles but his eyes weren't, it was frowning.

An odd silence filled them after, something that he is sure that is not normal "Uhm... Dan Heng, I'll be heading first to my room. I'm a little tired so I'll just rest for a bit."

Usually even if he is tired he will head to his room first and will make himself at home even with his refusal. But he did not this time or even the other time.

Respecting his wishes to let him rest "Alright, I'll see you later then... Have a good rest." Caelus wore a smile and waved to him.

Dan Heng patiently waited for Caelus, but alas days went by and Caelus did not visit his room. He was expecting him after his 'rest' that he would visit him in the archives. But it seems to be a wrong move.

Unease has taken over, he decided to go to his room, but no one was answering, he knew his presence was not inside but he wished he was wrong. Next he decided to go to the parlor car, again the familiar silhouette is nowhere to be found. He of course wanted to ask the people inside the parlor car but Caelus is always all over the place so better yet ask the person himself.

Using the beacon he sent a message to Caelus. "How are you?" Is what he really wanted to ask. He wanted to check up on him.

"Hm?"

"I'm doing fine."

"That's an odd question coming from you." Caelus replied.

"Was it really that odd for me to ask if you are doing fine?" he replied

"..."

"I guess not."

"Is something the matter?"

Dan Heng was mixed feelings at the reply.

"Shouldn't I be asking you that?"

Caelus did not reply, he knows the answer already. Him not replying immediately was already an answer, he was hiding something.

"Can we talk? Right now."

He sees him typing, confirmed he was hiding something, he basically dodged the question. "Alright, I'll just say goodbye to the General. Where should I meet up with you?"

'The General? Jing Yuan, why is he with him? Ahhh... Something did happen on the Luofu.' Dan Heng's mind swirled into confusion, anger, not understanding what was happening anymore, he had so many questions and he needs to cool himself down.

"Can we talk inside the archives?"

"I'll be there in a moment."

…

A little while later Dan Heng felt a presence near the door, he waits for a moment and not get ahead of himself if it was Caelus "Dan Heng, it's me."

It's unusual for Caelus to even ask permission to come inside, he usually just charges inside and then drag him into his stories. Those push are what made him be able to open up more.

"Aren't you coming in?" Dan Heng waited, is what he think he should have done but instead he pulled Caelus in, locked the door shut held his arms and then look intensely at his eyes "Why have you been avoiding me."

"W-what do you mean… I'm not avoiding you." although he was directly looking at him his eyes sometimes linger elsewhere.

"Why are you lying?" Dan Heng's grip tighten, Caelus winced a little but Dan Heng didn't budge. His mind is clouded from, worry, overthinking, and oddly enough jealousy.

"I'm sorry if you think I am avoiding you, but I was just pretty tired on the recent events that has happened." He started not avoiding his gaze, meaning it was the truth. "I just didn't have that much time…" He avoided his gaze.

"Time? I feel like that is something that you do have a lot." Dan Heng's voice was full of anger.

"What?" And Caelus did not take it well.

"You were not even there! So how could you even say that you know very well that I do have time?!" Caelus was not able to hold his voice down, he was surprised that in front of him, Dan Heng was mad at him at something, though technically he did not tell him everything but he just does not wish to add into his burdens.

"Then what? Because I did not have enough time anymore, because of what happened in the Luofu that you immediately went to a different man?" he was worried about Caelus, but his jealousy overruled his emotions.

"Do you think I'm that low…" Dan Heng did not want to say those words, truly even he was surprised. He does not even want to bother explaining to him why he was with the General.

"I just wanted to try my best to not falter in front of you because I don't want to add into your worries. I try to compose myself but this past months… I just can't, so I ended up running away." Caelus looks down trembling.

He immediately embraced him "I'm sorry… Will you tell me everything?" Caelus shakes his head pushing him as he tries to leave the room. But Dan Heng has got a good grip on his arms.

"Please... Please tell me the truth." Dan Heng pleaded to Caelus, his heart was aching, his head was spinning from these emotions that he feels like he is going insane from the thoughts that he was thinking after the events on the Luofu.

Caelus' smile turned upside down, a tear trickled on his cheeks "I am sorry for making you think all of those. I just did not want to add into your burdens." Dan Heng's hearts hang in balance, it was all because of him that Caelus has been lying to him. "But me not telling everything to you for you to end up thinking that…"

"Caelus…" Dan Heng tried to reach out to his hand but Caelus flicks it away.

Though he can't blame him as he has been hiding some things from him too, but it was to protect him, and this is how things ended up "On the Luofu I was trapped all alone inside a mirror, I got possessed and used by the Heliobi, where I even was almost sucked in by it. On Herta's Space Station I was all alone on my own all over the place finding a way. Hearing the voices of those creatures asking to be recognized…" He doesn't wish to remember everything.

He placed both his hands on his face "I was so alone and scared! I was all on my own... With no one, without you... but I can't bear to add to your existing troubles…"

Dan Heng wore a pained expression, it's not that he was weak, it's not that he doesn't want to go with him, it's not that he also wants to hide everything. It is just that everything is just too much for him to handle and he is just not ready yet. Seeing Caelus cry saying the words lonely and scared it broke him inside. Especially the fact that he thought he was replaced by a different man, which was a foul.

Taking his hands he embraced Caelus as tightly as he can and lets him cry his heart out "I'm sorry..." Slumping down on the floor Dan Heng paused, lost for words but then said "I'm here..." Repeating those two things in a whisper over and over again trying to calm a crying Caelus.

-After some time-