Archive of Our Own ^beta

There’s something dangerous about this. Stelle’s almost docile in this pleasure-drunk state she’s in, obediently settled in Dan Heng’s lap while his fingers prep her. It’s obvious she wants to squirm, but her body stays determinedly placid. It’s only mostly successful; her thighs still twitch each time his fingers move, but Dan Heng can appreciate the effort. 

“You’re doing well,” Dan Heng places a kiss on her twitching brow. “There is no need to fear, I will go slow.” 

“I-I’m no coward…” Stelle laughs, unconvincing. She won’t look him in the eye. That won’t do. 

“There is nothing cowardly about being nervous,” he snorts quietly through his nose, rubbing her lower back with his free hand. “Ease for me, you’re too tense.” Stelle simply responds with an annoyed whine that makes Dan Heng’s breath stutter. 

She’s far too cute like this, Dan Heng can’t help thinking. Stelle is always endearing, but she’s unbearably tempting when the mischief takes a backseat. Here is Stelle with her guards low and Dan Heng will be damned if he hurts her. 

“I know you said not to touch you there, but I don’t think we’re going to get you loose without clitoral stimulation,” Dan Heng feels Stelle freeze. “Relax, I won’t touch it unless you give the say so. From my research, it will be hard for you to reach an orgasm like this. I will get you there without it if I must, so do not feel pressured.”

“...But that- I’ll cum!”

“That would further our objective,” Dan Heng acknowledges. 

“I don’t want to cum!” Stelle shrieks, surprising him. “I just want you to get me ready.”

“...I’m sorry?” Uncharacteristically, Stelle buries her burning face in his shoulder. “Stelle?” he raises his hand to steady the back of her head. 

“I… I can’t cum twice in a row, okay?? I get too sensitive and it hurts- and I’m a total pussy! There, I said it! Go ahead and laugh at me!” she huffs so hard he can feel the warmth of her breath through his clothes. 

Dan Heng cannot pretend he understands, but Stelle is clearly distressed and that has to be rectified. “That is nothing to be ashamed of,” Dan Heng wishes he could see her face, but he doesn’t have the heart to pry her off of him. “While those with vulvas have a shorter refractory period, it is not uncommon to still need time. We can take a break, or even stop entirely if you finish.” 

“Then what the hell are you going to do?” Stelle shakes her head. “It’s unfair if you don’t cum too.”

Oh, this silly girl. “I get enough pleasure watching you, but if it really bothers you, you may assist me… manually.” His ears warm.

If Stelle had a tail, it would start wagging. She tentatively glances up at him. “I can give you a handjob!?” 

Perhaps I’m not the only one who enjoys servicing. 

When Dan Heng stiffly nods his consent, she throws her arms around his shoulders and cheers, “Let’s fucking go!?? Yippie!”

…He really does not understand her, but at least she’s happy. “You are a strange one,” he chuckles, nosing one of her biteable red cheeks. 

“Simp,” she giggles, “That tickles…” Dan Heng can’t resist intensifying his affections, delighting in her responding laughter. It’s almost enough to forget his hand is still down her underwear, but he’s painfully aware of it. A part of him is thankful they’re both still clothed, entirely naked skin to skin contact would probably make Dan Heng overheat. 

“You are much more beautiful happy,” Dan Heng kisses her cheek obscenely, knowing it’ll make Stelle smile. It’s difficult not to give into that beastial urge to lick her skin raw, but he can’t have her comparing him to a cat again. It’s bad for his reputation.  

Dan Heng lightly nips the spit covered cheek he just kissed. Unexpectedly, she moans. 

Stelle quiets and freezes like a spooked animal when she realises what she’s done. Dan Heng’s tongue feels heavy in his mouth. “Can I make you do that again?” he asks, voice huskier than he’d intended. 

“It’s embarrassing…”

This is what gets Stelle bashful? Really? 

“You’ll survive… please?” 

She bites her lip, eyes batting rapidly. “Then you too…” her arms tighten around him. 

In through the nose, out through the mouth. 

“I will make an effort,” Dan Heng concedes, as if it’ll be hard to be vocal if Stelle keeps being so… so… 

He needs to lose this stuffy jacket. Dan Heng slips his hand out of Stelle’s warmth and shrugs off the layer, trying to ignore his girl’s bulging eyes on his flexing arms. 

“...Give that here,” she makes grabby hands. 

Dan Heng blinks, but obliges. He doesn’t know where to rest his hands when Stelle throws her own coat behind her and drapes his over her shoulders. Pleased, she wraps it tighter around her with a small smile. 

In, out. “You’re going to end me,” he certainly sounds close to death, voice punched. 

Stelle smirks and takes a deep inhale of the fabric. 

“Minx,” he growls. 

She has the gall to wink cheekily. Dan Heng’s hands drop onto her thighs and massage the gooey flesh to keep himself busy. 

“Ah…” Stelle's eyes flutter.

This dizzying heat will kill Dan Heng. “Can I?” he eyes her chest. She blinks an eye open, gasps, then nods shyly. This damn girl…

Given permission, Dan Heng drags his hands up from her thighs to where her heart can be felt pit-pattering like his. Gently, he takes the mounds into his hands and indulges in a few, light squeezes over her shirt. 

“Harder,” Stelle mumbles.

Dan Heng swallows and nods. With more force, but leagues less than he truly wants to use, he fondles her. One of his fingers brushes against something pricked, and he zeroes in on that. A groan from Stelle is all he needs to know he’s on the right path, and he finds the other breast’s nipple to stimulate it between his fingers as well. 

She’s squirming proper now, thighs clenching and unclenching in his lap. Dan Heng hisses, feeling his own member pulse in his pants at the movement. He’s been hard for a while, but now it’s nearing painful. It stirs a desperation long dormant, encouraging him to press his face in Stelle’s chest and nose her collarbone. 

“Dan Heng!” she squeals, bringing him into her breasts with an arched back. “That feels good… C-can you-?”

“Yes,” Dan Heng slips his hands under her white shirt. “Lift your arms up.”

Stelle obeys. Dan Heng almost wants to tear it off of her, but he reigns the impulse in, carefully pulling it over her arms and tossing it to the opposite side of Stelle’s bed. The movement makes his coat fall off her, but the view is worth the loss. 

The sight of her scar-covered bare stomach rapidly rising and falling is embarrassingly erotic, but that damn sports bra covers what he really wants to see. “May I?” he asks, hands hovering over her back. 

“Please,” Stelle moans.

Thankfully, It doesn’t have any hooks so Dan Heng doesn’t have to embarrass himself figuring out how it works. The removal process of it is the same as the shirt and it’s off blissfully quick. 

“You’re gorgeous.” Dan Heng cups Stelle’s breasts. She’s running so damn hot it feels like his hands are burning. “A-and soft…” He squeezes, breath going taut when feeling how little resistance there is without the bra in the way. Everything fit so nicely in his palms it was dizzying. 

Stelle keens loudly, kicking her legs behind him. It was good her room was in the party car, far from the other’s quarters. He needs to hear more, see more. 

“Stelle,” Dan Heng groans, “I want to remove your pants. May I?” 

She nods distractedly. Unexpectedly though, she resists Dan Heng’s attempts to make her lay back. Not minding his confused expression, she simply reaches behind her and slips her arms into Dan Heng’s discarded jacket. 

“Oh,” Dan Heng breathes. “You…” He thought it was just teasing earlier, but Stelle seemed to sincerely find comfort in it. Did she know what that was doing to him? Rubbing herself in his scent… aeons. 

Stelle falls back onto the bed obediently this time, looking up at Dan Heng with half-lidded bedroom eyes while wrapped in his jacket. It’s too inviting too soon. He busies himself with making her comfortable, pulling her hair up from under her neck and spreading it above her head. Next is brushing the stray bangs out of her face and caressing her cheek to calm her rabbitting breaths. 

Dan Heng stops fidgeting when she whines, miffed. An amused laugh escapes him. He presses an apologetic peck into her temple. “I’m annoying you, hm?”

Stelle shakes her head, undoing all the careful work he put into neatening her hair. “I just want to feel you…” She tugs at his shirt. “Please?”

He wants to obey so badly, but… “Forgive me, I… I don’t want you to see anything ugly tonight.” 

She tilts her head. “...I won’t make you take them off, but you definitely aren’t ugly.”

“I-I appreciate your words, but my scars—”

Her face falls and she swallows. “Are mine ugly too?” 

“Aeons, of course n–” Oh. 

They stare at each other until Dan Heng clears his throat. “My apologies, I wasn’t thinking. …I’d still like to keep my clothes on a little longer.” 

Stelle doesn’t object, simply smiling softly at him and nuzzling her cheek into his palm. “Okay.” Dan Heng is going to overflow with affection unless he gives some over to Stelle. He indulges in a kiss to her cheek, then her lips, and finally the swell of her breast. 

He spreads her legs, massaging them gently this time. Dan Heng considers removing that useless blue band, but it’s undeniable that he’s fantasized about playing with it before. He rubs his thumb over the smooth rubber, “I have always wondered the purpose of this. Can you explain it to me?”

Stelle throws a sleeved arm over her face. “Promise you won’t laugh?”

This should be good. “I swear.”

“Dunno what it was back then, can’t exactly remember, but I keep it on ‘cause I noticed you staring…”

“You wanted my attention?” Dan Heng huffs. 

The pout returns. “You promised not to laugh.”

“Forgive me,” Dan Heng’s cheeks ache with a smile, annoying her further. “It’s just that you never needed it. I would think of you anyway. Though, I am flattered… It does suit you, perhaps I’ll keep it on?” He pulls the band taut with one finger, then lets it slap back in place. 

She groans, embarrassed. Dan Heng takes the hand she's hiding behind and entwines their fingers together. “There is no need to hide from me.” He brings it to his mouth and kisses her knuckles while slipping his thumb under the rubber to soothe the indented skin under it.

“You’re cruel…”

“Says the minx,” he snorts. 

“Why, you—” Maybe he is mean for delighting in the squeal she lets out when he hooks his thumbs under her shorts and pulls them down in a quick fell swoop. 

“Aeons, Stelle,” Dan Heng bites back a Xianzhou profanity. 

Her plain white underwear probably wouldn’t be considered ‘sexy’ by most, but it doesn’t matter when it lets him see the wet spot on her crotch. It’s far from soaked through or anything hyperbolic, but seeing even the small evidence of Dan Heng’s successful efforts is thrilling. His fingers weren’t bone dry in her earlier, but this was much more than then. 

A finger presses into the centre of it and swirls to feel it out. Stelle goes tense at the touch. Dan Heng wants to do something selfish. “May I try something?” He winces at his vague wording, but before he can clarify, she’s nodding her permission. 

Hm. She should be more careful. It would be best to explain what he wanted anyway, but Dan Heng wants to see what she sounds like surprised. Besides, he reasons with himself, he’ll stop if he must. Just a little scare would be fine… and teach her a lesson. It’s harmless.

Before he can psyche himself out, Dan Heng leans down to lick her through her underwear.

Stelle jerks. “You can't just- fuck-” Her smell gets stronger and callused hands pull him in by the hair.

The first taste was just fabric, but the second yields a mild tangy flavour. It's neither good nor bad, just confusing. It tips over into being pleasant on virtue of being evidence of Stelle’s arousal.

Dan Heng pulls back and hovers his fingers over the band of her underwear. “Can I-?”

“Yes to anything you’re going to say,” Stelle rushes out, “Just keep touching me!”

He sighs. “At least listen before responding.”

Stelle pouts down at him. “Please?”

… “The second you say ‘stop’, I will.”

“If only ‘start’ followed that rule…” 

Cheeky tease, but fine, whatever the brat insists. 

Dan Heng gently pulls the panties off her and watches fondly as she kicks them eagerly into the stratosphere. With someone clearly being impatient, he doesn’t waste any more time.

It's a much more potent taste without a barrier. His lips and tongue slip in the mess and his nose and cheeks are tickled by her public hair. It's not really glamorous, but Dan Heng finds himself enjoying it. The mouth feel is certainly nice and it’s easy to keep going even without Stelle’s hands urging him. 

“Dan Heng! Shit- that feels way too good oh my god-” Stelle sobs, rolling her hips onto his face without shame. 

It's all very welcome, but Dan Heng selfishly wishes for some control. He grabs shaking legs and bends them over his shoulders. Thighs lock around his head with feet dangling uselessly down his back. It all feels like pressing his face into a heated pillow times ten.

His mouth finds a bulb and Dan Heng licks it. Stelle's moans encourage him to do it again, then to experimentally flutter his tongue all over it. 

“Fuck!” Stelle yelped, hole leaking more down his chin. 

Dan Heng gets an idea. Sweetly kissing her clit goodbye, he turns his attention to her entrance. He pokes the tip of his tongue in and groans. It's slightly loose from his mechanical fingering earlier, but would that be enough to shove the entire thing in?

Carefully, he tests the waters, seeing how much he can slip in before the canal starts to resist the intrusion. Dan Heng gets an inch in and gently swirls his tongue around the bumpy tunnel. The twitchy way Stelle clenches on him does hinder his efforts, but it also feels weirdly nice.

That’s how she’ll feel on my… Dan Heng pants harder into her crotch.

It's overwhelmingly warm and spongey, easily giving way to more of his tongue with some patience. Inquisitively exploring the tunnel bumps him into a slightly harder spot deeper in that makes Stelle squeeze down hard, almost pushing him out. He taps it tentatively again to confirm his suspicions. Dan Heng notes the location down and then lavishes it in gentle attention. 

“Oh aeons—”

Dan Heng bears his weight down on her harder, almost bending her in half. One of his hands goes to her waist to help her roll her hips while the other snakes down to play with one of her breasts.

More slick leaks into his awaiting mouth. The taste, starting to grow on Dan Heng, overwhelms him. He has a feeling this will pavlov him. The urge to touch himself is devastating. 

“I’m gonna cum. You’re gonna make me cu-u-um! Fuck, fuck, fuck!” Stelle screams, “Don’t stop, please!”

Something in Dan Heng cracks. The air starts to whip and an unwilling transformation bulldozes through him. Before he can panic, warm hands wrap around his glassy horns and pull.

Dan Heng should pull away, scold her- but it feels good. While vidyadhara horns are not erogenous zones the same way the base of the tail is, any place touched by a whimpering Stelle will be sensitive. Traitorously, his thick tail wags on the bed behind him.

I want to eat her and swallow her whole.

Maybe part of loving someone was that it could never be divorced from wanting to consume them. Their attention, their time, their affections—you want all of it. To be loved is to be eaten. Since cannibalism is frowned upon, putting your mouth on the person you loved is the closest way to reach that bliss. 

I want her in my stomach, Dan Heng thinks.

A chorus of highering sounds signals Dan Heng to strengthen his ministrations. Then, a series of rough nudges to Stelle's clit with his nose has her jerking rapidly into his mouth till she orgasms down his throat.

Dan Heng happily licks up her release until Stelle starts to push his head away. He obliges reluctantly and sits up to observe her. She's messy faced in his sweat-drenched jacket, chest still moving rapidly as she calms down. Stelle has never looked more wrecked, more attractive.

Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand doesn't do much, so Dan Heng moves to clean his mouth in the bathroom. Whining, Stelle pulls him into a bruising hug by the shoulders.

“Don't go,” her cheeks are still wet from tears he didn’t even notice. Dan Heng's heart breaks.

“I'll be back,” he goes to kiss her cheek but stops. Stelle whines harder. “I should wash my mouth first…” he reasons fondly. 

“Am I that dirty down there?”

“Of course not, but- mm-” 

Stelle kisses him sloppily, and Dan Heng only thinks about retreating once before he gives in. Oh, what the hell? She eats from the trash anyway. 

“Let me– mmph— get a towel to clean you—”

Stelle paws at his back. “Nuh uh.”

“What do you even mean?” He scoffs into her lips. 

“You're not allowed to leave,” she pouts, still dazed. “Hold me, now.”

Well, alright then. 

Dan Heng sighs and pulls her into his lap, hissing when her thighs brush over his aching erection. The urge to buck up is tantalising, but Dan Heng reminds himself to wait. Stelle needs him right now. Even if she looks like a wet dream right now, naked and sweaty with only his coat on.

“Was I too rough?” He asks, cradling the back of her head with sticky fingers. Ugh, Dan Heng cannot wait to clean up. 

Stelle shakes her head. “N-no- it's just… intense. I liked it, promise.” She sniffles, rubbing at her reddening nose. “Just please don't go…” 

“I'm right here,” he reminds her, gently drying her cheek with his clean thumb. 

“You can't leave, okay? Ever ever ever!”

Oh, so that's what this is about. 

Dan Heng remembers the cold refusal to talk to him she showed when he was forced to  reveal his true form, the very one he’s in right now. He spent days afterwards trying to ease her back into their old dynamic to no avail, left to a total loss as for why Stelle couldn't stand the sight of him anymore. Foolishly, he even entertained his worst insecurities, that it was Dan Feng she saw in him now. 

He was almost relieved when she confessed her true fears. Dan Heng had simply shook his head fondly and reminded her not to put words in his mouth. Stelle had smiled so brightly when he'd declared to her that the Xianzhou could not bribe him back even if they tried that he’d fallen for her all over again. That was well before they actually got together, but Dan Heng always considered that the moment he became hers. 

“I'm not going anywhere,” Dan Heng swears, pressing his forehead to hers while carefully minding the horns. “The Express is precious to me, you are precious to me. They will have to drag me from you all kicking and screaming.” He kissed her frown away with a small smile. 

“Dan Heng…,” she begins tearing up all over again. “Dan Heng-”

Stelle fists his shirt and lets herself properly cry. Silently, Dan Heng holds her with all the bruising strength he'd been denying himself earlier, his heart unable to bear even air separating them. 

If only this silly woman would understand that she now belonged to the Astral Express the kind of way a heart belongs to a body. Maybe there were days before her, but an after would be fought tooth and nail unless she decided it herself. 

You were never discardable, Dan Heng wants to tell her, Can't you see how all of them flock to you, unable to forget you once you've touched their hearts? Even those damned Stellaron Hunters still look at you with fondness. You have always, always been loved. 

There is nothing about you that doesn’t endear. 

But now is not the time for heavy pasts, it is just for holding each other. Dan Heng will tell her all that later, once she's calmed and clean. 

Stelle rests her head on his clothed shoulder, open mouthed sobs dampening the fabric.

This damned shirt feels like a barrier.

“I'm so stupid…” 

“It's normal to feel emotional after sex,” Dan Heng pets her hair. “Especially since this is your first—”

“But it's not my first time,” Stelle confesses. 

Well… way to go, Dan Heng. Boyfriend of the year. 

“That's fine, after experiencing any kind of intense emotions it's common to feel a sort of ‘drop’. I was reading this one article about how in BDSM-”

“-You aren't mad?” Stelle blinks, surprised. 

“...About?”

“That I didn't tell you…” 

“I… I won't say I'm not curious, but I wouldn't have treated you differently even if I knew. You have no reason to be ashamed.” Though, Dan Heng is shocked. Stelle certainly seemed new to sex. That'll teach him not to judge a book by its cover.

Stelle's tears have slowed down, but she keeps shaking the same way she did when she dissolved into sobs. She starts to make this new, awful hiccupping noise.

“What's wrong?” Dan Heng sits up. 

“I don't remember any of it.” 

Dan Heng's blood goes cold. “Did someone hurt you?” Cloud Piercer would be fed their blood. 

“No! God, Dan Heng! I have amnesia, remember!?” 

Thank the Aeons. “Then… wait…”

“Firefly isn't subtle.” 

Oh. 

Dan Heng thought he was imagining those longing glances from the Stellaron Hunter. Pity blooms in his chest for that wispy girl. Although the decision to relinquish Stelle was made for what the Stellaron Hunters considered a good cause, Dan Heng cannot imagine the torment of letting this rascal go. He’s almost surprised some instinctive animalistic jealousy didn't awaken in him, but this story is just too sad to get possessive over. 

“Does it bother you that you don't remember?” Dan Heng winces at his own words. 

“Duh,” Stelle averts her teary eyes. “I would kill to have those damn memories back.” 

“Then until you do, this was your first time,” Dan Heng decides, pressing their foreheads together again. “Does that sound better?”

“I- That's not how it works!” 

“Rules were made to be broken.” 

She huffs, “Don't use my own catchphrase against me. It's stupid and it doesn't make sense!”

“So?” Dan Heng clicks his tongue, “It only matters what you decide. Dan Feng's memories come to me in dreams, does that mean I am not allowed to say my first time was today?” 

Stelle gapes. “No way in hell Dan Feng fucked.” Then, she belatedly covers her mouth, horrified by her own words. “I cannot believe I said that, I am so sorry!”

Dan Heng snorts and covers it up with a cough. “You are forgiven.” 

“...Anyway, you and Dan Feng aren't the same person. The me from before is still me, right?”

He hums, fiddling with her hair. “There is this paradox called ‘The Ship of Theseus’. In the story, there's this glorious ship that people want to preserve because it belonged to a famous hero. As time passes, parts of the boat start to degrade and need to be replaced. Eventually there comes a day where no original piece of the ship remains. The question now is, ‘is it the same ship?’”

Stelle blinks, confused but earnestly listening. “Okay, so what's the answer?” 

“There is no right answer,” Dan Heng has to suppress a laugh seeing Stelle's offended face. “Not satisfying, is it?” 

“As satisfying as getting a five star on hard pity,” Stelle frowns. “That's so stupid, it's obviously the same ship.” 

“Curious. I always thought the opposite.” 

Stelle hums, rubbing her chin in thought for a moment until some thought hits her and she snaps her fingers. “We flip a coin to decide.”

“...Or we can agree to disagree?”

“...party pooper.” 

Dan Heng flicks her forehead with his dry hand. 

Stelle pouts, clutching her head. “Ow, what gives!?” 

“I forget how childish you are sometimes.”

“And yet you still want to stick your dick in me.”

Dan Heng hisses, “Stelle.” He’d gone soft during their conversation, but just one mention of sex and his pants were feeling tight again. This was worse than puberty.

She lets go of his shirt and wraps her arms casually around his shoulders, twirling a lock of his now long hair with one of her fingers. “That wasn't a no.” 

“This is a serious conversation.” 

“Then why'd you bring up some stupid thinky stuff?” She asks, poking his cheek with a hair-wrapped finger. Dan Heng has to resist the urge to bite after her hand when it retreats. 

“To make you understand that there's no straight answer to questions about identity,” Dan Heng explains, “While I am not Dan Feng, you are well within your right to say your past self is still you. Neither of us are wrong because it's our decision to make.” 

“Oh… couldn't you have just said that? Let me guess, you wanted to sound smart, huh? Awww your ears are wiggling-” 

He drags a hand down his face. “Forget I said anything.” 

“No, no! I promise it was super cool! Master Dan Heng! Please teach me more about stupid ships! Master-” Stelle goes quiet, blushing hard. “Is… is that you poking me?” 

Dan Heng groans. “No, Stelle, I stuffed a gun down my crotch earlier— of course it's my genitals.” 

“...Just say ‘cock’, man.” 

“Never,” Dan Heng swears. 

“I can't believe I want to fuck a guy who can't say the word ‘penis’.” 

“‘Penis’ is fine, actually—” Dan Heng hears himself and goes quiet. 

“I was riding your face five minutes ago, you can't seriously think saying ‘cock’ is that bad! What’s next? ‘Dick’? At least tell me you’ll say ‘pus—’”

“Shut up,” he frowns, suddenly very aware of the drying slick on his face. “Seeing as you're cracking jokes again, am I right to assume you have calmed down?” Because Dan Heng wants to go to the cleaning stage now.

“I guess? I'm still not sure about all that philosophy shit, and I don't want to think that my old life doesn't count… but with you all that stuff feels lighter. Guess it's hard to stay sad when a pretty dragon man's cock is still poking your ass.” 

Dan Heng's not acknowledging that last part. “I'm glad I could help. No matter your past experiences, I still want you to enjoy yourself with me. You… did enjoy yourself, yes?” 

Stelle gives Dan Heng a hypocritically judgemental look. “I came in your mouth, take a damn guess.” 

“You could have just said ‘yes’,” Dan Heng rolls his eyes. Nonetheless, he's glad that she's smiling again, even if it is at his expense. “Can I get a towel for you now?”

Stelle shrugs, pauses to think, then shakes her head. “Nah, I’m just gonna get dirty again. But I do kinda need to pee…”

Dan Heng furrows his brows. “Are you sure? We don’t have to do anything more.”

“I'm not feeling pressured you little teddy bear,” she giggles, nuzzling their cheeks together. “Can't we try? Please?” 

Dan Heng winces as the drying slick on his face smudges into her skin. “You're so messy…” 

“You like it,” Stelle grins. Devastatingly, she is right.

He sighs. “Fine, go use the lavatory. If you still want to go again afterwards, I'll give it to you.” 

Stelle pumps her first. “Yay!” She must really be pleased because she forgets to make fun of him for saying ‘lavatory’. 

She stumbles while getting to her feet, legs quaking slightly as she shuffles to the bathroom, coat trailing behind her. Dan Heng uselessly attempts to not gawk at her covered rear with a reddening face. 

This girl, he muses for the nth time.

Dan Heng notices one of his bangs in his face and clicks his tongue. He lazily blows it out of the way and grumbles when it just falls back into his eyes. This stupid form…

He takes a deep breath, closing his eyes, and imagines an egg breaking reverse. Dan Heng feels it work for a second, but then the transformation buffers and stops. 

Just a fluke, Dan Heng thinks. He tries again. 

His tail retreats slightly before tumbling back onto the bed with a heavy thump. Ugh. Dan Heng attempts to shift back one more time before giving up.

Truthfully, he had a suspicion this would happen. During his yearly cycle it was impossible to stay in his incognito form for long, the damned horns itching under his scalp when he tried to deny himself. It is decidedly not that time of year, but Dan Heng suspects the forced transformation is a symptom of heightened arousal, not just his rut. 

These damned vidyadhara genetics…

At least his clothes didn't rip this time. Aeons knows how, but he's greatful nonetheless. Dan Heng likes these pants. Even if they're bunched up uncomfortablely right under his tail. Well, it can't be that bad if he didn't care about it until Stelle left. 

Thinking about Stelle again has that traitorous limb behind him moving on its own again. He can hear her in the bathroom, but she’s not with him. 

Dan Heng lifts the dirty hand to his face, eyeing the dried up slick with inquisition. An impulse leads to him sticking one of his fingers into his mouth. 

“Ghhh…” 

It's definitely more enjoyable fresh, but this… this isn't bad either. His legs tense, trying to rub against his penis …fine, cock.

It should be okay to indulge just a little…

Dan Heng smooths a palm down the tent in his pants and immediately finishes in his underwear with a start.

…

…no. No, no. That can’t have happened. 

But it did, he realises, looking at the darkening spot in his pants. 

That… that wasn’t even satisfying.

Dan Heng considers breaking one of the windows and jumping into space. He settles for putting his head in his hands.

Stelle, with her chronic awful timing, exits the bathroom at that very moment with a whistle. “My bad, babe, I think I washed most of my cum off with the bidet so either we crack open some lube or— hey, are you okay?” 

Dan Heng sits up like a startled deer. He needs to run.

“Hey, hey…” Stelle walks up to him and inspects his face. “What's wrong?” Dan Heng flinches.

Stelle stares and steps back. Just when Dan Heng thinks she's about to leave, she seats herself next to him on the bed. 

Dan Heng's shoulders relax, but he can't bring himself to turn his head and look at her. 

“Dan Heng?” she tries again, tentatively hovering a hand over his shoulder before rescinding it. “Did something happen? Did… did I do something?” 

“No, no. You could never,” Dan Heng wets his dry lips, at a loss for what else to say. All he knows is he can't let Stelle think this is on her, it's not her fault that Dan Heng has no self control. 

His response emboldens Stelle into laying her palm over his spit-covered fingers and squeezing. “Then what's bothering you?” 

The contact makes Dan Heng shudder. Despite himself, he turns over and buries his head down in her shoulder, future neck pain be damned. 

“Dan Heng? Dan Heng? You're scaring me…” Her grip on his hand tightens clumsily. 

“I'm sorry,” Dan Heng whispers, “I'm so, so sorry.” 

Stelle tilts her head. “Sorry for what? Dan Heng, talk to me, please.”

“I…” For lack of better words, he gestures to his dampening crotch. 

For an awful moment, Dan Heng thinks she's going to get angry. She's quiet… she's never quiet. The silence stretches on like the long wait before the big jumpscare in a horror movie. But, the big blow up never comes. Dan Heng peers up at Stelle…

…only to see her physically struggling not to laugh to the point of tears, her face slowly turning red from the effort of keeping her mouth shut. 

Dan Heng blinks back tears and sighs. “You can laugh. I know I'm pathetic.”

Stelle lets out one tiny giggle, then a rapturous burst of laughter. “Dan Heng, you are so cute!” She grins, pulling him into a bone-crushing hug and biting his cheek. 

Wait, what? Dan Heng stays still like a spooked cat while Stelle attacks him with affection. “I-I- What?” His stupid tail perks up despite everything.

“I can't believe I missed it!” She pouts against his skin, “You're no fair…” 

“I'm sorry?” Dan Heng ignores the burning heat radiating from his ears. 

“Let me lick it clean?” Stelle asks with a cheeky grin, hand hovering over his waistband. 

“What? No! That's unhygienic-”

The hand retreats immediately. “But you ate me out!”

“You are not licking up my semen.” 

Stelle cringes away from him. “Ew, you make it sound so gross… Just say ‘cum’, man.”

Dan Heng facepalms. He cannot believe he's still attracted to this woman. “You are unbelievable.” 

“Good,” Stelle smirks, “Gotta keep you on your toes, right?” 

He snorts. “There's surprising me and then there's being impossible.” 

“You're impossible. Do you know how stupidly pretty you are? Bet your dick's pretty too, somehow.” 

“...What are you even talking about?” Dan Heng wants to say genitals aren't pretty, but remembering Stelle's perfect vulva in his mouth has him changing his mind. 

Maybe he should say there are no pretty… dicks? But then he imagines Stelle with one and can't quite picture being disgusted. Dan Heng knows he'd gladly put his mouth on anything as long as it was Stelle's. 

…So maybe penises could theoretically be ‘pretty’, but Dan Heng still doubts his is. 

“My Dan Heng,” she giggles, rubbing their noses together. “He's perfect in every way.” 

Dan Heng averts his gaze but can't bring himself to pull away. “You are being dramatic.” 

“Nuh uh! He's so hot and dreamy… plus, his mouth doesn't quit. Do you even know how good you made me feel? I've never cum that quickly in my life.” 

Dan Heng pauses. Was… was Stelle trying to make him feel better?

“Even fucking vibrators didn't make me feel this way…” She sighs dreamily.

She was, he realises, as she continued blabbing about how much pleasure he gave her. What a roundabout way of doing it. Dan Heng felt his lip twitch. She was so bad at this… but, like everything else about Stelle, it was way too charming for what it was.

“You felt good too, right? That's why you came?” Stelle grins. “That's really hot…”

“You-! Mmph!” Dan Heng is interrupted by Stelle's eager mouth against his. “Mmm…” He hums, cupping the nape of her neck and pulling her closer.

What had he been worried about again? Ah, well, if it was important he'd remember later.

“Dan Henggg…,” Stelle whines, breath puffing against his lips, “N-next time you have to cum in front of me, okay? It's no fair…”

Dan Heng flushes. “W-we'll see about that…” Aeons, Stelle's voice was doing things to him.

Stelle tries to move into his lap, but Dan Heng stops her. He chuckles at her resulting pout and kisses it. “I'll be back,” he assures her, “Just let me change out of these pants.” 

She sighs dramatically. “Fine.” Stelle sits back on the bed with a petulant glare aimed at Dan Heng. “I better get a reward for this.”

Where did that come from? 

Even Stelle seems to realise what she's said is weird. She winces, but doesn't let that break her annoyance.

Curiously, his… err, cock twitches. Dan Heng tries not to think about what that says about him. He smooches her cheek, delighting in the stubborn way Stelle insists on frowning despite her growing blush. “Be patient and I will.”

Stelle pauses, then swallows. Her nostrils flare. 

Oh.

Dan Heng has a hypothesis, though he's a bit afraid to test it. But occasionally one must pull a Boothill and bite the bullet. 

He smooths a hand down her hair as if petting an animal. “...Be good for me?” Dan Heng cringes at his awkward tone. Why did he even try that? It's obvious he isn't the type of guy who can pull that off–

Stelle audibly shudders, eyes doe wide and back arching slightly. Dan Heng takes a deep breath to calm himself… it doesn’t quite work, he still wants to eat her. “Can you do that for me?” He tries. 

She jumpstarts into nodding. “I promise, I swear–”

He kisses her hairline, making Stelle close her eyes in bliss. “I know, I know.” Dan Heng smiles softly at her, tucking a long bang behind her ear. “Do you want me to run you a bath?” He doubted anything was getting done considering they'd both finished. After his display, Dan Heng doubts she's still raring to go.

She shakes her head. Dan Heng raises his eyebrows. Stelle bites her lip. 

“Can… Can I have more?” 

Dan Heng internally counts to ten, then replies, “Okay.” 

Stelle covers her face. “I-I don't know if I'm still sensitive or not but… it's… I'm getting wet again,” she admits, embarrassed. 

Dan Heng's teeth start to ache. “I'll be gentle,” he promises, “I'll take care of you. Just- just give me a minute.”

“Fine, but first…” She points at her other cheek expectantly. 

His first thought is, ‘spoiled brat’. The second is, ‘I'm liking this too much’. 

…Just one more kiss shouldn't hurt. 

A single peck to the apple of her cheek is all Dan Heng can limit himself to. In truth, he wants to kiss her into the mattress and love her till she's sick of it. 

I'll do it, he swears, I'll clean up, then I'll spoil her silly. 

Dan Heng remembers reading about this kind of dynamic. The one of the ‘soft dominant’ who derives pleasure from equal parts servicing their partners and gentle shows of power over them. He'd considered it, but ultimately decided against implanting a dynamic so early. But then Stelle looked at him like that and all logic flew out the window. How was he supposed to hear her huff and not want to lick the pout off her face?  

In through the nose, out through the mouth. 

Although it aches his heart, Dan Heng retreats to the bathroom. 

The mess in his pants is disgusting. Dan Heng is thankful he didn't let Stelle convince him into letting her put her mouth on it. He leaves his discarded clothes on the floor in lieu of contaminating the rest of Stelle's hamper and hops in the shower to wash the filth off of him. 

Dan Heng is careful to keep a distance between the handheld shower head and his crotch. It wouldn't be right to get it too close and dirty it. He tries to search for something gentle in Stelle's cabinet to wash his genitals, but the closest he gets is some offensively pungent Soulglad scented bar soap that can't possibly be good for sensitive areas. But beggars can’t be choosers he supposes. Dan Heng will just have to buy her something better later. 

Does that count as a reward? Probably not. What even is a reward in this situation? Pleasure? No, he was always going to give that to her. Dan Heng should rephrase the question. What would Stelle want the most right now? 

“I just want to feel you…” She tugs at his shirt. “Please?”

Would… would that work? 

Dan Heng recalls the blissful heat of Stelle's skin. He'd consider feeling her a reward, but was that really enough for Stelle? And more importantly, could Dan Heng do it? 

I want to feel her, coexists with, I'm afraid. 

It's daunting enough in his regular form, but with his true appearance? Dan Heng looks down at his scars and scales and can't dredge up anything but loathing. It's irrational, but there's a fear in Dan Heng that Stelle will see him and be disgusted. 

Logically, he knows he's objectively good looking, and more importantly, that Stelle finds him attractive. But that little voice in the back of his head doesn't want to listen. It tells him, you look just like him, and that's the one thing Dan Heng cannot deny. 

It's not a question of how Stelle could react, it's one of how Dan Heng himself would. 

The original goal of the day was to penetrate Stelle, as per her request, but Dan Heng had very carefully avoided thinking about how naked he would be. 

He knows that if he asked to stop the sex here, Stelle wouldn't argue. If Dan Heng only wanted to orally or manually pleasure her now, she'd accept it happily. 

…But she'd love it if he pushed through, wouldn't she? 

Dan Heng could do it for her. Maybe then it wouldn't feel as terrifying to do something that, truly, he himself  always wanted to do as well. 

He shuts the water off and crafts a plan while drying himself off with one of the fluffy towels Stelle stole from March. 

That… could work. Worst case scenario, I retreat and change. It's a good thing I brought sleeping clothes. 

“Stelle?” Dan Heng calls out through a crack in the bathroom door. “Can… Can you close your eyes for me?”

Please don't ask why. 

“Okayy!” 

Dan Heng loves this girl so, so much. “Keep them closed,” he replies, cautiously stepping back into her room.

Stelle has migrated to the other side of the bed, powered on phone opened on videos of raccoons next to her. Her eyes are shut, but she clearly looks antsy. Dan Heng bites back a smirk. Too damn cute…

“Move onto your side,” Dan Heng asks, trying not to run back into the safety of the bathroom. 

“You better not be pranking me…”

Dan Heng laughs. “That's more of your thing, isn't it?”

Stelle pulls a face. “Lies! Slander!” 

“Yes, yes,” he relaxes, “I'll make it up to you.” What had he been afraid of again?

“You better…” 

“Don't move.” That's all the warning Dan Heng gives as he slides behind her on the bed.

The mattress dips with his weight and Stelle freezes. “...What are you doing?” 

Dan Heng answers by wrapping shaking arms around her waist and pulling her clothed back into his chest. 

He immediately short circuits. 

“...Dan Heng?” 

“Give me a minute,” he pants into her hair.

Dan Heng is not going to survive Stelle. Even through the layer of his jacket on her, she's way too warm. His arms feel like they're going to burn, and he loves it. 

“You're so warm…” Dan Heng grazes his teeth up and down the skin of her neck, then bites. 

Stelle yelps, kicking his shin in surprise. “That hurt, dummy!” 

Still in a trance, Dan Heng licks the indents of his teeth clean. “You're mine,” he grunts, “My girl, my Stelle.” He noses the wet skin, delighted to breath in his own scent marking her. 

“And you're mine, you territorial little shit,” Stelle elbows him, “What's gotten into you!?” 

Dan Heng shudders, leaning his forehead against his mark. “I'm sorry, I'm sorry… just, say you're mine. Say you are and I'll give you everything,” he whines. 

Stelle unconsciously rubs her thighs together. Dan Heng notices, and feels himself drool down his chin. “Say it,” he begs, “Please.”

“Dummy,” Stelle sighs, a tad too breathily. “Who else would it be but you?” 

Dan Heng moans, squeezing her tighter against him. His desires are torn between ripping his jacket off of her to feel more and leaving it on because she's in his scent. He settles for flexing a hand over her stomach. It lets him feel every breath she takes, and the way they get faster under his ministrations. 

“Thank you, thank you…” 

He kisses her ears, then nape. “Stelle…”

“Can I turn around?” Stelle gasps. 

Dan Heng stops. This must be a record time for sobering up. “I…” 

Stelle stops squirming. “Dan Heng?” 

“...You may,” he forces out. 

It doesn't convince Stelle. She lays a hand over the one on her stomach and squeezes. “Forget I said anything. I've seen this position we're in before. I think it's called—” 

Dan Heng takes a deep breath. “You are too good for me, truly.” He nuzzles his face into her hair. “Too kind, too… perfect.” 

“...What's wrong, Dan Heng?”

Hesitantly, Dan Heng drags a firm hand up and down Stelle's front from her collar to her twitching thighs. Stelle's breath stutters adorably at the touch. He swallows the drool in his mouth and kisses her ear. “I'm going to turn you around, but you can't open your eyes yet.” 

Stelle nods silently through gasps. 

Carefully, Dan Heng maneuvers her till their chests touch. He hisses at the sensation. 

Though she doesn't break her promise, Dan Heng gets the sense that Stelle's eyes are blown wide. “Are… are you naked? Oof!” 

Dan Heng presses their bodies together and just about dies. Soft, warm, perfect— Perhaps he's overused those words, but how else could this sensation be described? This is true love, not just devouring Stelle, but also melting together into this sweaty, soft mess. 

He wants to lock eyes with her, desperately. That desire is what leads him to tentatively say, “You can open your eyes.” Dan Heng kisses her head. “Just… don't stare too much.” 

Stelle blinks one eye open, then the other. Her eyes water for a bit while adjusting to the air. She rubs them harshly which makes Dan Heng wince. Then, she looks up at him and smiles. “Hey,” she giggles, pressing their foreheads together with smiling eyes.

Dan Heng gulps. “...Hi.” 

“You’re so beautiful.” She rubs their noses together. “Best. Reward. Ever.” 

How did she… “Oh, Stelle…” He blinks back tears.

Stelle takes one of his legs and wraps hers around it, something she always does when they (literally) sleep together. Dan Heng presses his knee up till it taps against the sticky mess in Stelle's crotch. She squeaks and squeezes down on it. Dan Heng rocks his leg up again and Stelle moans. 

“How do you want it?” He shudders, nosing the side of her head.

Stelle blinks back tears. “I don't care, just… just fuck me, already!” She begs. 

“I need to prepare you–” 

She groans, and not in the good way. “Dan Heng, if you don't shove it in me–” 

He’s starting to sense an impending argument. “Let's compromise,” Dan Heng offers, pulling his leg back and pressing Stelle's thighs together. “I'll go in here.” He pokes at the space between them. “Is that agreeable?” 

Stelle shudders. “Yes! Put it– ah!” 

Dan Heng cups her mound and slathers her slick on his fingers. He rubs it over her inner thighs, then shoves his cock between them and thrusts. 

“Fu-uck!” Stelle screams, squeezing him involuntarily. “Oh my god!” 

“Ha,” Dan Heng rasps, “You're going to suffocate me, ease- ease up–” He tries to wrench her thighs open, but they keep twitching closed again. In a last ditch effort, he takes both her legs and presses them to her chest. 

Stelle throws her head back and wails. “Shit! Dan Heng!” 

“I know, I know,” he grunts, feeling faint. “Just enjoy yourself, I'll– ha… take care of you.” Dan Heng pushes her onto her back and climbs on top of her. “Is- is this position alri– Hngh! Mmm…” 

Arms wrap around his shoulders and pull him into a sloppy kiss. His hips jut forward with the movement, making them both whimper into each other's mouths.

“Harder, please…” Stelle sobs, taking it upon herself to hold her own legs up to her chest. The blue band on her thigh shines with sweat. Dan Heng doesn't know how he resists finishing on the spot. “I need it!”

Dan Heng grabs her hips and bucks against her core proper, hissing at the way his cock drags through her slick seam. It's a struggle not to immediately orgasm, watching Stelle look up at him with a pornographic face while still in his damn jacket. 

She looks… mine.

If this is already heaven, being inside her will kill him. 

He bears his weight down on her harder. Dan Heng's testicles slap against her hole and his drooling tip smears pre-cum up and down her clit. Each sticky kiss between their crotches makes Stelle jump and cry. 

I'm going to die, Dan Heng realises, But I'm going to die happy. 

Stelle's nails dig into his back like a cat on a scratching post. “I'm, whoo… I'm gonna cum way too soon–” 

“Do it.” He wraps his palms over her breasts and squeezes. “I need it.” 

She whines, shaking her head into the sheets. “No, no! Wanna… wanna come with you inside.” 

Dan Heng groans. “Okay, fuck, okay… Let me grab a condom–” He regretfully lets go of her chest and tries to reach for the box on the nightstand when Stelle grabs him.

“You're a fucking vidyadhara! It's not like you're getting me pregnant!” Stelle wrestles him back against her, almost getting a horn in the eye in the process. Dan Heng holds her down and carefully pulls his head back. She’s frowning up at him, legs squirming in his hands. 

“The mess, Stelle–”

“Lick it out of me then, dummy!” Stelle shouts. “Or just let it drip out of me! It can even stay in me forever.” 

Dan Heng's nostrils flare. He seriously considers it for a moment, but then remembers his responsibility as the rational one. From his research, the clean-up process for it did not look good. Dan Heng had to avoid anything extreme like douching at all costs. “No, be good, Stelle,” he growls into her ear. 

Stelle goes limp like a scruffed kitten. “This is bullshit…” she bemoans when he pulls away, as if she’s watching him kill her family and not just fishing up a condom.

“I'm saving you a lot of discomfort, Stelle,” he scolds. “I wouldn't be able to clean it all out.” He tears the wrapper open and slips the condom on as fast as he can. 

“You say that like it's a bad thing.” Stelle pouts. “‘Wanted to get bred…” 

Dan Heng can't tell if he wants to clean her filthy mouth out or shove his tongue down her throat. Maybe he could do both? “You need to watch less porn,” he sighs, easing Stelle's legs down. “I need to check if you're stretched,” he warns, prodding at her wet hole with a finger. “I need you to relax, or this might hurt.” 

Stelle nods her consent, still making a face. It’s honestly the best Dan Heng could hope for right now. He knows she’s not actually mad because Stelle throws one leg over his hip and pulls him in. He squeezes it with his free hand.

One finger slides in surprisingly easy. Dan Heng expected it to be stretched from his earlier ministrations, but it's still mesmerising to watch. Another goes in with no issues as well. It's the third that causes problems. There's some resistance, and Dan Heng can tell if he forces it, Stelle's going to be in pain. He can't have that.

He pulls the third finger back and focuses on stretching with two in increasingly large scissoring motions, starting small at first. Dan Heng feels Stelle’s foot twitch near his tail. Cooing, he rubs comforting circles on her hip. She whimpers and spreads her legs wider in response. 

“Let’s move you up the bed a little,” Dan Heng suggests, “I don’t want your neck hurting later.” Stelle makes an agreeing sound dismissively. He smiles and shakes his head in exasperation. “I’m going to cannibalise you,” he teases. Stelle doesn’t react beyond a nod. His stomach sinks and the grin falls off his face. That confirms his suspicions, she’s absolutely not listening to him. 

“Stelle,” he chides, “Stelle.” Dan Heng pulls out his fingers. 

That’s what finally gets Stelle’s attention. “Hey!”

He grabs her face. “There you are,” he sighs. “You scared me!”

“It’s not my fault you make my brain go all fuzzy,” she scoffs, sticking her tongue out at him and blowing a raspberry. 

Susceptible to subspace, Dan Heng notes. “I need you to be lucid if we’re continuing.” Stelle opens her mouth to argue, and Dan Heng silences her by flicking her forehead. “You don’t need to completely focus, but I need you to understand when I speak. How else will I ensure your comfort? You might have been agreeing to something completely outside of your wants for all you knew!”

Her eyebrows scrunch.  “As if you’d ever hurt me.”

Dan Heng carefully ignores his swaying tail. “I could hurt you without meaning to!”

Stelle’s face softens. “...Fine, but stop being so great at sex if you want me to focus.”

He snorts despite himself. “I’ll try?”

“NO! Do not—”

Dan Heng rolls his eyes and lifts her up. “You’re a pain,” he lies, setting her head down on a pillow. He neatens up her hair, mostly for his own sake, then takes another cushion and slides it under Stelle’s hips. 

Stelle’s face erupts into a shit-eating grin. “You’re a masochist, then.” Cheeky little… He’s definitely ruining her now. 

“May I put my fingers in you again?” he asks. 

“Do I need to give you permission to breathe while you’re at it?” Stelle huffs, pushing up her chest and bracketing her breasts with her arms to entice him.

She’s lucky she’s cute. “Not funny,” Dan Heng says, lip twitching traitorously. Stelle giggles. Unrelated, Dan Heng’s tail wags harder. 

Stelle finally notices the movement. Dan Heng can practically see the lightbulb go off in her head. Before he can stop her, she reaches behind him with her foot and rubs the base of his tail. 

Dan Heng moans, back arching. Stelle laughs deviously, and does it again. He grabs her foot and bends her until it’s brushing her cheek. Stelle freezes. 

“You,” he growls, “Are very lucky that I cannot stand the thought of punishing you.”

His girl blinks, swallows, then nods. Satisfied, Dan Heng eases his hold on her and kisses her ankle. “Good,” he acknowledges. Dan Heng lets her foot go, only for Stelle to protest. 

“That was… really hot,” Stelle whimpers, trying to get her leg back in position. “Do it with my other one too. Fuck me like this, please.” 

“...” Dan Heng sighs. “You’re going to have trouble walking if I—”

“Good! Let them all know I got dicked down by my sexy boyfriend!” Stelle begs, “You’ll take care of me after, right? Do I really need to walk if I have you?”

He stares at her, praying for her to add on a ‘kidding!’ She does not admit to joking. Aeons, she’s serious. “Stelle!”

“Please?” she deploys the puppy-dog eyes, they’re unfortunately super effective. 

“I would rather die than hurt you.” Dan Heng tugs gently on her ear. 

“Ouch! Hypocrite!” She cups her ear and hisses at him like a feral animal. 

Dan Heng cannot believe he’s somehow still erect. He sighs again. “...I will agree on one condition.” 

Stelle perks up. “You will let me take as long as I want with aftercare, are we clear?” Dan Heng asserts. Stelle wilts.

She clicks her tongue. “Fine, but you better fuck me so good I’m catatonic when we’re done.” That doesn’t even sound hot? Oh, well, best to make do with what one has. 

“...The second you start to feel pain, you need to tell me,” Dan Heng begs. “You don’t need a reason to want to stop either. I-If you aren’t enjoying yourself you have to say something.”

Stelle massages the back of his neck. “And you wonder why I feel so safe with you,” she snorts, lightly scratching his scalp. Dan Heng’s body responds with a purr. Stelle smirks. “I’m more scared of Peppy than I am of you.”

Dan Heng wheezes. “The dog from Herta Space Station?”

“His name is Peppy, you uncultured swine.”

“...Okay.” He really does love this strange girl of his. “You wanted to be held like this, correct?” Dan Heng asks, bending her into a ‘mating press’ with the weight of his chest, if he can recall correctly. “Does anything hurt?”

Stelle goes limp again, breath hitching. “Yes, I mean, no! I feel fine, I swear on Tuskpir.”

Dan Heng barely drudges up any exasperation this time. “Alright.” He brings his fingers back to her vulva and tries her entrance again. This time, a third finger goes in with a little stretch. Dan Heng flexes his fingers slightly. Stelle hisses, but it seems to be one of pleasure by the look of her face, not pain.

Is this enough? Dan Heng wonders, eyeing his penis. He pulls out of Stelle’s warmth and compares his fingers to it. Girth wise, he’s dwarfed by his own digits. Dan Heng breathes a sigh of relief. If three fingers can fit, he definitely will. His length might cause issues, but Dan Heng will make do with even just having her around his tip. 

“Am I finally ready?” Stelle whines. 

“...I believe so,” Dan Heng cautiously answers, “But any pain and–”

“And I’ll bite your dick off, got it!” 

Why are you into this? Dan Heng asks his penis in vain. 

He lines himself up, suddenly feeling heavy with apprehension. This is the moment of truth. Now or never. Gently, he pushes just the head of his cock into her as a test. 

The first thing Dan Heng thinks is, ‘Those bastards were lying about the condom dulling the sensation’. Stelle twitches on him, and it almost makes Dan Heng thrust ahead recklessly. 

“Are… are you alright?” Dan Heng asks, sounding like a dying man.

Stelle reaches for his hand. Dan Heng squeezes it and rubs his thumb over her knuckles. He gives her a moment to breathe. “It feels weird,” she admits. 

“Do you want to stop?”

“No.” Stelle shakes her head furiously. “It’s just… new.” 

Dan Heng understands the sentiment. He brings their joined hands to his lips, briefly licking the slick still on his fingers in passing. “I will go slow,” he swears. Stelle nods without complaint, intertwining their fingers together.

With held breath, he slides slow amounts of his cock into her. The world seems to slow for them, and it focuses on the slide of their bodies together. Inch by inch, bit by bit. After what feels like forever, he’s gone in to the base. 

Surprisingly, Dan Heng doesn’t finish prematurely again. It’s good, insanely good, but the first order of business is and always will be, “Are you–”

“Y-Yeah,” Stelle pants, grabbing his shoulder with her free hand. “Just, gimme a sec…”

Dan Heng caresses her cheek. “As long as you need.”

Stelle snickers weakly. “What… what if I made you wait an hour for fun?”

“Then I’d wait an hour,” Dan Heng answers with zero hesitation, petting her face. 

Her eyes widen. “You really do love me, huh?” she says, in awe. 

Dan Heng wants to reply with something like ‘duh’, but he can’t really bring himself to tease her now. “More than anything,” is what he settles on. 

Stelle blinks up tears. “I mean, obviously I know you do, but… I think it just hit me. You love me,” she hiccups, crying more tears that Dan Heng gently wipes away with his thumb, “You love me.”

“I love you,” he agrees. Stelle cries harder. “I love you,” he repeats, voice thicker. 

“I love you too,” Stelle echoes, gripping Dan Heng like she wants to shatter bone. 

Dan Heng smiles. “I know.” He kisses the side of her hiccuping mouth. “Take your time,” he urges, “Let it all out.” 

“Why do I keep fucking crying today!?” Stelle complains through sniffles. 

“You’re feeling a lot today, Stelle. It’s completely normal.”

“Why aren’t you crying then?” she fires back. 

He gets admittedly stumped. Stelle huffs. “I’m a damn crybaby,” she bemoans. 

Dan Heng giggles. “My crybaby,” he coos. Stelle tightens down on him involuntarily. Dan Heng hisses. 

“Sorry!” Stelle tries to cover her face with her hands, but only manages to pull one away from him because of Dan Heng’s firm grip on the one he’s holding. “I-I didn’t mean to!” She shields her eyes from him in shame. 

Hm. Dan Heng pinches her cheek. “Let me see you, Stelle.” Stelle grumbles in protest. He tries again, “Be good.” She clenches on his cock again but doesn’t give in. “...Please? Can you do it for me?” 

Bingo. Stelle stops pressing down on her eyes as fiercely, allowing Dan Heng to pry her wet hand away with minimal whining. “Good,” Dan Heng praises, leaning his forehead on hers. “My perfect Stelle.” Even if he anticipates the next squeeze, it still winds him. 

He watches her limp hand fist the sheets next to her head. “What do you want now?” Dan Heng asks, licking his lips. 

Stelle shyly spreads her legs, brushing them against Dan Heng’s nipples by accident. 

“Say it with your words,” he groans. 

She looks at him with something akin to betrayal. Dan Heng doesn’t break eye contact with her. He sees the exact moment she concedes, the telltale pout on her face giving her away. 

“Fuck me?” Stelle looks up at him expectantly, biting her lip in embarrassment. 

What else is Dan Heng supposed to do except obey? 

Stamping down the nerves in his stomach, Dan Heng thrusts in once. 

Stelle makes this high-pitched gasping sound like she’s been shocked. 

“Too much?” Dan Heng noses her cheekbone.

More tears fall down Stelle’s wet face. “You’re so deep,” she sobs.

“Does it hurt?” he asks, alarmed. 

Stelle shakes her head. “It’s too good,” she clarifies, “I’m gonna die by dick.”

Dan Heng winces. “Please try not to…”

She wipes her red nose roughly. “I want more, Dan Heng.” 

“I’ll give it to you,” Dan Heng promises, pulling out slightly then rocking his hips into where he recalls her g-spot being.

This time, Stelle yelps. “There! Aim there!”

Found you, Dan Heng thinks. He bears his weight down harder. Stelle chokes, throwing her head back. “Agh!”

He’s not going to last, he quickly realises. The steady squeeze of Stelle’s warm hole and the stunning sight and sounds of her underneath him are quickly sending him to the edge. Dan Heng has found his kryptonite, and it’s Stelle happily getting loved on in his jacket. What is he supposed to do? Not go mad? Pom-Pom would learn to fly before that.

Dan Heng can concede on having low sexual stamina, but he can’t let Stelle go unsatisfied. 

The easiest solution is just making Stelle orgasm faster. 

He releases her face and snakes a hand down to Stelle’s clitoris. With every push into her, Dan Heng sharply presses down three of his fingers on it in a spiraling motion. Stelle drenches his cock, so he repeats the motion again and again. 

“Give in,” he growls into her ear, “Let go.” He kisses it. 

Stelle yowls, unable to do anything but take and enjoy it. “Dan Heng! Oh!”

“Stelle,” he purrs, “Stelle.”

Both of them squeeze each other’s hand painfully tight. Dan Heng bears down on her harder. Air doesn’t deserve to separate them. He keeps massaging her clit with a sandwiched hand. Something in Stelle breaks during his onslaught, leaving her to giggle dumbly as she tightens and tightens, before breaking down on Dan Heng’s cock. 

Dan Heng finally lets himself go. He moves once, twice, and he’s orgasming into his condom. They rock together through the rush until they lull to a gentle stop. 

“Hhh..”

He slides out of her hole then falls on top of her, completely drained. Stelle oofs. Dan Heng makes an apologetic sound. She lets go of the bed to bury her hand in his hair. He can’t bother to muffle a whimper.

They stay like that for a while, just breathing together while coming down from heaven. 

This is why they call it a ‘little death’, is Dan Heng’s first coherent thought. He doesn’t even notice himself drooling until it drips onto Stelle’s neck. Stelle hisses like a hot pan catching oil. Dan Heng makes an apologetic noise and tries to lick her skin clean, but only succeeds in making an even bigger mess. 

Stelle nudges his shoulder. “Bathroom...”

Regretfully, Dan Heng gets off of her. You’ll have plenty of time to hold her when she’s comfortable, he reminds himself sternly. He still has the urge to cry when their hands separate. 

Stelle sits up with the grace of a weakly stringed puppet. She does an adorable full-body stretch that tests Dan Heng like nothing else, then tries to hop off the bed. Keyword: tries. Her legs buckle immediately.

Dan Heng’s reflexes are the only thing that keep Stelle from eating the floor. She blinks up at him like a confused bunny. “I told you that you’d have trouble walking,” he sighs, adjusting his hold on her into a princess carry.

“...I remember no such thing,” Stelle blatantly lies, burying her face in Dan Heng’s neck.

Dan Heng snorts sardonically. “I’ll still take care of you, you little liar,” he assures her.

He holds her carefully, opening the bathroom door with his hip in favour of keeping both arms full of Stelle. Dan Heng pulls her out of his jacket despite her weak protests (and carefully removes the band on her thigh), then sits her on the toilet and turns around to give her privacy.

“Can you wait outside?” Stelle asks. “‘Don’t want you to hear me… you know.”

Dan Heng very carefully doesn’t mention his hearing in this form trumps walls. “Alright, give me a yell when you’re done.” 

Outside, Dan Heng covers his pointed ears with his hands and hums a random tune to drown out the sound. He mostly succeeds. Oh, well. Just another thing Dan Heng’s taking to the grave, err… egg.

“Master Dan Heng!” Dan Heng’s favourite voice calls out. 

His traitorous tail wags. “Don’t call me that,” he protests half-heartedly, stepping back in. 

Stelle makes cute little grabby hands at him. Dan Heng somehow holds himself back from attacking her in bites when he picks her back up. He carries her to the sink where she washes her hands. Dan Heng kisses her temple. “I’m going to put you down now,” he gently shushes Stelle’s resulting whines, “Just for a moment. I need to use the toilet too. Then I’ll prepare you a nice bath. How does that sound?”

“...You’re putting in the damn duckies, you got that?”

Dan Heng chuckles. “I think I can do that.” He sets her on the bathroom counter. 

Stelle closes her ears and loudly sings ‘Sway to My Beat in Cosmos’ by Robin. It’s difficult to take off a condom while laughing, but Dan Heng manages. He quickly finishes his business and cleans his hands. 

A part of him wants to make Stelle cycle through the song a couple of times, but Dan Heng chooses mercy. He taps her shoulder. “I’m done.”

Instead of turning around, Stelle simply leans back until Dan Heng catches her. “‘M tired…” she yawns. 

“Brush your teeth first, at least,” Dan Heng sighs. 

“Do it for me?”

Dan Heng sighs harder. He still does it. 

“Sucker,” Stelle giggles through a mouthful of paste. Dan Heng finds himself agreeing as he moves her toothbrush. There are much worse fates than helping the woman you love rinse her mouth. 

Stelle grins with clean teeth. “Kiss?” She points at her lips.

“...Give me a second.” Dan Heng swipes his own toothbrush and cleans his own teeth in record time. Somehow, there’s still slick on his face, which he washes off quickly with the facewash he bought for her a few months ago. Once he’s done, Dan Heng smooches Stelle. “Happy?”

She nods. Dan Heng kisses her again. 

“Stay here, I’ll run a bath.” His heart warms at her resulting pout. Dan Heng gives her one more kiss to soothe her then walks to the tub.

“Do you want hot or cold water?” Dan Heng asks. 

“Cold…” she yawns again. 

Hm, that’s Dan Heng’s preference as well. His tail wags slightly faster. “On it,” he inclines his head to hide his dopey smile. 

Dan Heng opens the spout the tiniest bit. He manoeuvres the handle around until the water eases into a suitable temperature against his hand, then opens it fully to let it rush out. As it steadily fills the the bath, Dan Heng brings the toiletries over from the shower box and sets them by the ledge. 

There’s an alarming level of rubber ducks by Stelle’s tub. They stare at him blankly. Dan Heng has the strange urge to topple them over. Those rubber ducks have seen her naked more times than he has, it’s unfair.

He resists, gently placing them in the bath to bob around uselessly. Dan Heng flicks one in petty revenge. The bastard stays upright, taunting him. He narrows his eyes. A hand descends on the unlucky duck, holding it under water. After Dan Heng lets it drown for a minute, he lets it go. The fucker rises back up like Blade. 

The water level begins to rise dangerously. Dan Heng lets the offending duck off with a warning look and turns the spout off. 

“It’s done,” Dan Heng announces. 

Stelle jolts out of an upright nap. “I didn’t kill Hanu!” 

“...” At least she won’t drown if Dan Heng holds her up. “Let me help you up.”

She’s ragdoll compliant, allowing Dan Heng to easily carry her into the bath. Some water overflows down the sides of the tub when he sets her down. Dan Heng will have to remember to clean that so he doesn’t slip on it and take Stelle down with him later. 

“Aren’t you getting in too?” Stelle sleepily tilts her head. 

Dan Heng stills. “I didn’t want to assume…”

Stelle opens her arms with a pleading expression. Dan Heng gulps, and gingerly steps in. 

More water tips over when he sits, flowing out like a waterfall. Stelle hums happily and climbs into his lap. Dan Heng chokes. She nuzzles her face in his neck. “You’re warm,” she giggles. 

Deep breaths in, deep breaths out. “You are too,” he says, cradling her her nape. The grooves from his teeth still lay there. 

“Are you purring?” Stelle gasps up at him in wonder. 

Dan Heng averts his gaze, throat still rumbling like the Astral Expresses’s engines. “Don’t tease,” he begs. 

“My kitty cat,” Stelle teases, making two peace signs then flipping them upside down near his horns. She sticks her tongue out in concentration. “The ears would suit you,” Stelle decides. 

“You’re the cat here,” Dan Heng argues, using a nearby shower cup to dump water on Stelle’s head while shielding her eyes. “My shoulders look like your victims.” He holds back a laugh at her offended expression. 

“We’re even then,” Stelle huffs, pointing at her neck. Dan Heng has to agree, it’s far from a bad tradeoff. 

He can’t admit that though, so he picks up a bottle of shampoo and squeezes some into his hand. Stelle gives him a confused look.

“Shouldn’t you wash everything else first?” she asks, sincerely. 

Dan Heng stares at her in horror.

“I mean, obviously not! I was joking! Haha!” Stelle rubs the back of her neck, looking embarrassed. “That’s awful! It like… uh..”

He sighs. “You shouldn’t leave shampoo residue on your skin after a shower,” Dan Heng explains, “So it’s best to wash the body after using any hair products.”

Stelle nods along sagely. “That’s exactly what I was gonna say.”

Dan Heng’s lip quirks. He lathers the product between his hands then begins applying it to Stelle’s hair. Gentle massaging motions to scrub her scalp, then long swipes to coat her medium hair. Stelle closes her eyes in bliss. 

“Enjoying yourself?” Dan Heng chuckles. 

Stelle sticks her tongue out at him. It results in her accidentally tasting a dollop of shampoo. She gags, spitting it out like an offended cat. Dan Heng pats her back with a lathered hand while she coughs. “Careful,” he warns. 

“Bleh, pfft– ptooey!” 

“There, there…”

He had wanted to take his time watching her hair, but he probably didn’t have the finesse for it yet. Dan Heng will have to remember to ask Miss Himeko and March for tips. He uses the shower cup to rinse out her hair, then gets to work on cleaning her face. Once that’s done, the only thing left is…

Dan Heng flushes. “Stelle, could you handle washing yourself?”

His girlfriend frowns pointedly. 

“...Very well.” It’s not like Dan Heng minded. 

Washing Stelle feels as intimate as making love to her did. If this is a 2-for-1 deal every time they have sex, Dan Heng is a dead man. He’s careful to massage the areas where her muscles are tight with a firm, but gentle pressure. 

Stelle relaxes into his hands, rubbing her eyes. Dan Heng clicks his tongue. “Don’t be so rough,” he scolds. She blindly reaches for a rubber duck and squeezes it near his chest, dousing him in a bullet of water. “...Those things can shoot?” he asks in horror. Stelle smirks silently. “You cheeky thing.”

I need to love her until she forgets what it’s like to be lonely. 

…Please, forget soon.

She’s surprisingly well-behaved, all things considered. Stelle’s a being with antsy energy, the kind where she needs to always be doing something to be calm. He loves that about her, as he does everything Stelle-related, but this relative calmness is nice too. 

“Fine, but you better fuck me so good I’m catatonic when we’re done.”

Seems Dan Heng fulfilled that request as well. Didn’t take as much as it sounded like it would. He could stand to do this again to calm her down. 

Dan Heng kisses her forehead. “There, you’re done.” He rinses his hands under the waterline. “We’re almost done, just bear with me while I dry you off.” 

A hand on his wrist stops Dan Heng from getting up. “But, what about you?” Stelle asks. 

He smiles and shakes his head. “You’re sweet to ask, but I’ll clean myself after I’ve taken care of you. I only have two hands.”

“Make it four,” Stelle declares, grabbing one of the bottles he set aside and pouring too much shampoo into her hand. 

Dan Heng narrows his eyes. “What are you—” Warm hands descend onto his head, scrubbing furiously. “Ow– Stelle– be gentle!”

“Sorry,” Stelle grunts, slowing down. 

“Please tell me you don’t wash your hair that roughly!”

Stelle averts her gaze. “I said I was sorry, okay?” She withdraws her hands. Her lower lip trembles slightly. 

Oh. “..It’s alright,” Dan Heng assures her, “Water under the bridge.” He grabs her wrist and brings it back to his hair. “You may continue.”

Any amount of hair damage is worth Stelle’s eyes lighting up again. “You sure?” Her voice is so hopeful it makes something in Dan Heng break. 

“I beg thee,” he leans his head down, “Please?”

“Well, if you insist…” 

She slips her hands back under his massive hair. Dan Heng doesn’t know how to care for his natural length himself, so he can’t quite tell if Stelle is doing anything damaging. But, it feels significantly nicer than his own hands, and it’s Stelle. His purring comes back with a vengeance and he forgets all about washing her face. 

“Your hair’s so soft,” Stelle mumbles in awe. 

Dan Heng blushes as her wrists brush his horns. “You’re exaggerating.”

“Nuh uh,” Stelle insists, “It’s way softer than mine.” Dan Heng wants to argue, but she finds a spot behind his ear that has him leaning completely into her hand. “You’re really cute.”

Pot calling kettle. “You keep saying that…” Dan Heng whines. 

She giggles. “It’s true, even your dick is pretty–I checked.”

“What!? You—”

Stelle leans closer to brush their noses together. “Thank you for today, Dan Heng. It was perfect.”

His breath catches. “You… you were the perfect one.”

“Then we were both perfect,” Stelle declares. “As perfect as a won 50/50.”

Dan Heng shudders. “I-I—”

“I love you, Dan Heng.” She grins at him and throws up a sudsy peace sign like the one he always does in pictures. “Do it back!” Stelle demands. 

Confused, Dan Heng obliges, raising his own two fingers. Stelle pushes the tips of their fingers together and makes a ‘chuu’ sound with her lips pursed. She pulls them back and presses them together again, making the same noise. 

Unbidden tears slip out before he can even process what’s happening. One becomes two, two becomes four until he’s full on crying. 

Stelle freezes. “Dan Heng? Are you okay??? OOF—”

Dan Heng pulls her in with bruising strength and sobs into her wet hair. His hand cradles her bitten nape. “I love you, so much,” he hiccups. “I-I never thought I’d have something this beautiful.”

He thinks of the baby dragon that’s still stuck down in the bowels of the Shackling Prison, the one who thought no one would ever love him. 

We made it, Dan Heng. 

Dan Heng hears Stelle panic, and frantically kisses her face through the vicious tears. It confuses more than calms her, but Dan Heng can’t stop either. 

He reaches for her hand and intertwines their fingers as deep as ivy on brick. “Thank you, thank you— Thank you—” Dan Heng brings their joined hands to his forehead. “Thank you for being everything I ever wanted.”

In this wide galaxy, I am delighted to have found you. 

The lonely are primed by hurt to believe no one out there exists for them, and they’re right. You will never find another ‘half’. Instead, you will find people who choose to spend another day by you. They make you feel whole by making you happy. ‘I choose you’ is worth more than any ‘soulmate’. 

Search or wait, you will all find each other one day. It is pattern, not fate. Too many good people exist in this world to stop believing. 

“You are the best thing I have ever chosen,” Dan Heng nuzzles his wet nose against her temple. 

Being your’s makes me happy. 

Stelle dunks her hands underwater to wash the shampoo off, then brings them to his face to wipe his cheeks. “Guess we’re both crybabies, huh?” she sniffles. 

“Don’t cry,” he begs, “Because I’ll cry harder then.”

Her wet eyes glare at him. “Too damn late!”

Dan Heng laughs through a fresh batch of tears. 

I am so, so glad I lived.