Work Text:
“Oh my god, you’re so adorable!”
Dan Heng slumps defeatedly in March’s arms as she smushes his cheeks. Her deceptively slender arms have him trapped in her vise grip.
It’s the usual shenanigans: Stellaron induced supernatural phenomena etc., etc.
That turned Dan Heng into a miniature dragon.
Of a cuddlable carryable size.
Unflatteringly, it does not resemble the majestic form he summons and instead looks—looks—
...not slender. or muscular. and more....fluffy.
Stealthy fingers sneak over from the side to squish his paws.
“March, March, he has paw pads.” He has never heard Stelle sound so excited in the entirety of their acquaintance. Even when she found that last trash can in Belobog.
March’s voice reaches a pitch not achievable by the Homo sapiens species.
How fortunate that he has four paws for four hands to squish.
What would Yinyue-jun Dan Feng say if he could see him now...
March looks like she is about to ascend from sheer elation and their quiet, reserved Stelle’s eyes are sparkling with delight.
...
...This degree of indignity is endurable.
Dan Heng lies back and thinks of Xianzhou.
Salvation comes in the form of Mr. Welt who clears his throat. “Don’t crowd Dan Heng too much you two. Himeko and I need to examine his condition and confirm that he is in good health.”
March reluctantly hands him over to Mr. Welt and Himeko. Two elegant pairs of hands respectfully inspect him but some instinct has him eyeing them suspiciously.
...This couldn’t be an excuse for Himeko and Mr. Welt to pet him, right?
Surely not Mr. Welt at the very least.
A hand pets over his tail while fingers squish his paws testingly.
...
Dan Heng resigns himself to being petted.
~
The conclusion drawn from Welt, Himeko, and the local scientists is that the transformation is temporary and that Dan Heng will revert to his normal state in time. The duration is hotly debated and ranges from two weeks to a year so Dan Heng settles himself in for the long haul.
If necessary, Dan Heng can scratch out words with his claws or tap out texts but it is extremely cumbersome to do so. March makes small communication cards with basic responses [maybe] [okay] [in your dreams] and so on, that he can push towards them and makes a small pouch so he can carry them around. The cards are useful from time to time and greatly appreciated though he does not use them often...it is rather nice not to have to speak at all and a nod or shake of his head is usually more than sufficient.
Conveniently, he can fly in this form, winding through the air much like the dragon he summons, so he floats between the Express crew members depending on his mood.
Some days he goes to March’s room to help her sort her photos. She keeps a numbered 1-10 stack of cards so Dan Heng can score them when she asks.
Occasionally, March seems...
Well, when it is just the two of them and Dan Heng feels up to it, he will settle himself in her lap, letting her know she can hug him if she needs it.
He draws the line at being cuddled to sleep like a stuffed animal though.
~
Dan Heng unintentionally sees a wine colored ribbon with the fading scent of begonias in Stelle’s room tucked under her pillow.
March has a sulky pout when she finds him searching out the few photos with Kafka in them, knowing who they are for, but still helps him put together a small album that he leaves on Stelle’s nightstand.
He gets a bone breaking hug the next day with Stelle’s face buried in his furry ruff.
March is mollified when Stelle squashes her with an equal amount of enthusiasm.
~
When he wants some peace and quiet, he seeks out Welt, resting draped over his neck while reading over his shoulder. If he leans forward with interest, Welt obligingly expounds on the topic he is researching or writing about.
Even more intriguing is Welt’s sketches which look alive as if they are about to come right out of his notebooks. They capture curious details and nuances that Dan Heng had missed or passed by as insignificant. It makes Dan Heng, who generally dislikes prying into others’ business, curious of Welt’s perspective. If he nudges him with his nose or floats down to tap a claw at something Welt will give his opinion and insight on it.
~
In this form, Dan Heng can safely visit Himeko and spend time with her without sacrificing his taste buds to her ‘coffee’. Her hands are nimble as she builds her contraptions, her talent as fascinating to watch as that craftsman in his forge.
Sometimes Himeko’s mind is distant, deep in thought and he wonders if she is getting lost in memories like Dan Heng does. Her silhouette is lonely those times when she forgets he is there, so he snuggles into her lap demanding pets or tickles her neck with his tail fluff until she laughs, coming back from wherever faraway place she had been.
~
The Astral Express has recently allied with the Stellaron Hunters, having run two joint missions together. The next Stellaron related incident requires their collaboration again so the Hunters will be boarding the Express for a time.
“Blade has elevated stalking to an art form. I bet he’ll know it’s Dan Heng in a single glance.”
“The red eye markings are pretty suggestive even if he’s smol, but he’s way chubbier and cuter like this.”
Dan Heng gnaws on March’s fingers with his blunt back teeth in objection to that...description.
“I’m not saying you’re fat! Ah, I mean you’re perfect sized, perfect sized!”
He smacks her arm with his tail, disgruntled. Why are they even talking about this?
“I’ll bet you one week of dishwashing chores that Blade would recognize him even if we cover up the eye markings.”
“One week? You’re on! Let me get my paintbrush...”
~
When the Stellaron Hunters walk in, Blade’s eyes sweep over the Express crew and stop unerringly on Dan Heng where he is laying across March’s shoulders.
“Yinyue-jun.”
“NOooooooo. How is that even possible?! He doesn’t even look like his dragon summon thing!”
Stelle radiates smug satisfaction while March bewails her misfortune of dishwashing duty.
The rest of the Hunters peer at him curiously. “That’s...Dan Heng?”
As Himeko and Welt explain, Blade comes over and plucks Dan Heng from March, large hand gripping his nape.
“Hey! What do you think you’re doing mister? Give him back!”
Blade holds March back with a palm on her head as he looks Dan Heng over.
“You’re fat. What are you guys feeding him?”
Dan Heng turns his head to chomp down on Blade’s gloved thumb.
“He’s not fat! He’s just—a little chubby! We’re feeding him normal food.”
“Have you seen er, Yinyue-jun in this form before?” Welt inquires.
“No. But a lizard’s a lizard. He’s a carnivore, you should feed him raw meat.”
Dan Heng is a dragon, not a lizard.
He thrashes angrily in Blade’s steel grip and sinks his fangs in drawing blood.
Mn. It tastes...
“See? He likes the blood.”
Embarrassed by the audience, Dan Heng releases Blade’s thumb and dangles docilely.
“...We’ll prepare some for him to try for dinner today then.”
Blade grunts in reply and drapes Dan Heng over his shoulders.
He is so presumptuous. Why would Dan Heng—mrgnh.
Oh my god. Blade is so warm, like curling up in a fireplace.
His lizard hindbrain takes over and he wriggles around seeking the optimal configuration to maximize his surface area exposure to the blissful heat. Blade’s front side is even warmer, maybe because of the muscles...Dan Heng burrows his head into Blade’s jacket, distantly hearing something pop off.
Nngh. So soft and warm.
The uncomfortable prolonged silence brings him back to himself.
Where his face is buried between Blade’s ti—*cough* down the front of his jacket against his bare chest.
Panicking Dan Heng quickly squirms out to see expressions ranging from amused to shocked to disapproving.
No! It’s not like that!
Dan Heng whines shifting agitatedly on Blade’s shoulders trying to will them to understand that he is not a pervert!
“Stop that.” Blade tugs his legs out from under him so he flops down and shoves Dan Heng’s face back into his jacket front. “He’s just cold.”
“We’re warm too!” March protests.
“You’re probably all decent heaters for little Dan Heng, but Bladie is a luxury brand heater.”
“I think it’s the muscles,” Stelle says thoughtfully, waving up and down at Blade’s...everything.
“Oh...I don’t think I can compete in muscles.” March openly stares at Blade’s chest, then looks down at her own and makes a Sad Face.
Blade scowls but doesn’t stop Dan Heng when he winds over to March, nuzzling her cheek when he lands. A giggle slips out of her mouth. She catches his face in her hands and brings him in for an impromptu huddle with Stelle.
“How does the tofu taste?” March whispers teasingly.
He nips her finger. He didn’t put his face there on purpose!
“Was it soft or firm?” Stelle whispers from the other side.
Dan Heng hops over to Stelle’s shoulder to headbutt her in the jaw while she cackles.
He gives March an accusing look. Was that Sad Face faked?
She pets his head which he grudgingly allows. “We just wanted to check whether you want to stay with Blade before he carts you off.”
Blade has let go of his resentment of the past for the most part, but things are still tense between them so Blade’s behavior today seems...unusual.
“Nod for ‘luxury heater’, headshake for ‘save me’.”
Dan Heng slowly nods.
“Must have been some good tofu,” Stelle whispers to March.
~
Dan Heng shrinks back, hiding in the curtain of Blade’s hair when Kafka approaches.
The dark strands are soft, trapping in some of Blade’s heat and it smells…nice?
Dan Heng snuffles along Blade’s collar. He really does smell like spider lilies. The shoulders under his feet twitch.
Is Blade ticklish?
When Blade nabs him, he snarls and claws at the gloved hand.
“It’s better to get it over with. She won’t be rough with you.” Blade hands him over to Kafka.
This traitor—!
Dan Heng eyes her warily but she only smiles and scratches under his chin, fingers rubbing pleasantly behind his horns.
It’s the smile Kafka had for Stelle that time in the Matrix on Luofu...
Dan Heng settles in for some petting.
~
Blade has few belongings to unpack, no more than a few sets of clothes. He toes off his shoes, sitting crosslegged on the bed to meditate.
The comfy heat and even rise and fall of Blade’s chest is soothing and Dan Heng dozes for awhile draped over Blade’s neck, tail hugged between his front paws.
~
Dan Heng hates to admit that Blade was right, but the raw beef really is more tasty.
…and hopefully will not contribute to his…size.
He sits between March and Stelle to reassure them, listening to the girls chatter away.
After dinner he usually goes to the Archive or the observation deck but today he hesitates, glancing longingly at Blade his personal heater who is coming around the table.
When Blade holds out a hand to him, he flies over into his arms without a second thought.
~
Dan Heng watches curiously as Blade removes his glove, unwrapping the bandages.
Blade’s hands…
He hops onto the table licking the open cut on Blade’s palm, before his human brain kicks in and he realizes how unsanitary it is. Dragon’s tears are said to have healing properties though…would dragon saliva—
“Unnecessary,” Blade states like he always does, but doesn’t move his hand away.
Since Blade isn’t flat out refusing, could he try healing them?
Closing his eyes, Dan Heng draws upon his healing magic the way Bailu had taught him and is shocked to find that it comes to him easier in this form.
…Maybe because it is closer to the true form of his ancestor?
Putting his paws on either side of the wound he focuses his magic and watches it slowly close. After healing the injury, he slumps onto the table exhausted and looks unhappily at the other wounds on Blade’s hands.
“You’re done for today. That one was the worst anyways.”
Blade moves away before he can object and starts s-stripping?
Dan Heng hurriedly turns his back to Blade.
“It’s nothing you haven’t seen before.” Blade sounds bemused.
Dan Heng thumps his tail agitatedly.
Dan Feng was the one who saw it! Dan Heng hasn’t seen Blade naked!
“I don’t mind.”
Of course he wouldn’t mind, Blade has zero body consciousness for...obvious reasons.
Dan Heng minds though. He does not need a live image to add to those—memories.
Blade scoops him into his arms with his face smushed into his naked pectorals. Again.
The sight of wounds crossing that chest, oozing blood distracts him.
Why is Blade always covered in injuries like this?
He presses his paws to the sides of the largest one feeling distressed.
Blade hooks his thumb under Dan Heng’s arms and tugs him away.
“Knock it off. You’re going to pass out at this rate. This little body of yours doesn’t have that much power.”
His arms tighten over Blade’s thumb, hugging it to his chest.
And realizes from his new vantage point that Blade is completely naked.
Dan Heng flails trying to wriggle out of Blade’s grip.
“....Now what is it?”
Dan Heng stares into Blade’s eyes and gestures—down there, with his paw.
“...Are you serious? I need to bathe and you need to bathe. Stop fussing.”
No way is he letting Blade bathe him! And why does Blade need to be naked to bathe him?!
Dan Heng wiggles more vigorously.
Blade sighs deeply, scrubbing a hand over his face. “If you behave for your bath and sleep here, I’ll take care of my wounds properly and let you heal my hands tomorrow. Deal?”
Dan Heng stills.
Sleep...with Blade? He wants Dan Heng to?
He does feel cold when sleeping in this form...and if Blade will see to his injuries...
Fine. He can just—keep his eyes closed or something.
He nods in agreement.
While Blade washes himself, Dan Heng plays swims around the tub determinedly not looking in that direction. His previous baths had been in the sink so he hadn’t realized but...being in the water like this, submerging himself and swimming around fills him with contentment. He feels...at home in the water.
Blade’s hands are surprisingly gentle when he bathes Dan Heng, careful to stroke along the grain of his scales. He takes the opportunity to study Blade while the man is preoccupied.
Blade looks...calm. Almost peaceful. Has his mara been better?
Maybe there is some advantage in being stuck like this. He has a chance to try and figure out what Blade is thinking. At the very least he now knows that Blade must have some positive feelings for Dan Heng to go to all this effort.
~
Apparently Blade sleeps au naturale.
Dan Heng voices his objection by giving Blade his backside and covering his eyes with his paws until the man gains some decency and pulls on a pair of pants.
“You’re so fussy,” Blade grumbles as he arranges Dan Heng on his chest letting him tuck his face against his neck and pulls the blanket over them.
Dan Heng falls asleep to cozy warmth and a callused hand stroking gently down his back.
[End.]