Work Text:
“So that’s the Astral Express,” Hyacine remarked as she stared wide-eyed at the large metal vehicle hovering on transparent rails reminiscent of Cyrene’s power.
“I wish we could invite you all onboard and have the Heirs meet the conductor,” Dan Heng said. He took a sideways glance at Little Ica. “I’m sure we’ll go through our stores of food and snacks in no time.”
Hyacine giggled and reached out to poke them on their cute chubby stomach. “Don’t worry, Little Ica would have been on their best behavior and share all the tasty new treats with everyone!”
On cue, their stomach grumbled. The two of them laughed, one high and clear as a bright blue sky, the other low and deep like falling rocks.
Today was the day of their departure. Just as they had arrived on a single car, now they were to leave with the rest of the train. The Heirs and Nameless had come together as a group one last time to say goodbye but after the initial light hearted conversation, they had separated into smaller groups. She could hear the older man named Mr Yang stutter over his words as he talked to Phainon. Lady Aglaea was in deep conversation about clothing with Miss Himeko. The rest were scattered about around the Express.
Naturally she and Dan Heng wandered off together with Little Ica in tow of course. She didn’t miss the knowing look Ciphy gave her or Cassie’s encouraging smile. A result of the so called “girl’s talk” they had in the far too few days of respite after Irontomb’s defeat. It didn’t really amount to much besides teasing back and forth with reddened cheeks but it did help knowing she didn’t need to keep her feelings hidden from them. Dan Heng was another matter. Hyacine wondered if Grayie or Anaxa showed him similar gestures as they walked away. He was remarkably calm for their farewell.
Oh she should have not thought of that. She blinked quickly to stave off any tears from forming.
Ah, she wished she could see him off with a wide smile with no tears at all. No, she wished for so, so, so much more than that.
“I wished we had time to visit the Grove together.” The sentence left her mouth before she realized it. “I could give you a proper tour. No Black Tide to fight this time, we could have walked around seeing all the stuffy scholars and stressed students.” She walked a few paces in front of him and spun around. “And the Twilight Courtyard! There’s so much there to show off. My collection of soft plushies, all the flowers and plants used for soothing teas and calming incense. The patch of grass right next to Little Ica’s apple tree is perfect for naps!”
Dan Heng watched her with a small smile. “Professor Anaxa’s lessons would have been an experience to remember.” A twinkle appeared in his eyes as he looked her up and down. “Though I suppose I may have become distracted if he was accompanied by his teaching assistant.”
She pouted at him even as she felt a rush run through her body. “No, I don’t think so. You’re too serious and studious for thinking about that in class. You aren’t the type to fake an injury either to use that as an excuse to go see me.” She tilted her head, trying to imagine what would be the most realistic way for their paths to cross in her hypothetical, never to come true scenario.
“A meeting in the library then. Studying late at night, pouring over research. Running into each other in the stacks. Bringing an injured dromas to the infirmary.” He gave out suggestions in rapid succession. “Or maybe you’d ask for my help to reach the higher scrolls.” He reached out and patted her hat a bit, her cotton candy colored twin tails fluttering about.
Hyacine laughed and pulled away from his headpat. “You’ve been reading Cassie’s stories haven’t you.” She searched his face for the smallest of reactions. “I didn’t think romantic novels were something that would be appropriate to add to the Archives.”
He looked away, shoulders raised slightly, one hand touching his wrist, all of the telltale signs she learned to read as his embarrassment.
“Those naps would have been amazing,” he said, returning his warm gaze back to her. “Laying on the grass, watching the night sky together.”
“It does.” Oh how easily she could imagine it all. The twinkling of the wind chimes, swaying of branches surrounding them like a comforting cocoon, Little Ica’s adorable little snores. His strong arms around her as she rested her head on his firm chest, hearing his heart beat. The timbre of his voice tickling her ears.
Part of her wanted to say something really romantic to him. The Sky and Earth being together. A rainbow bridging the gap between them. Another part of her wanted him to lean down and let them kiss, let their lips say those three little words instead. But she kept their conversation and her wistful fantasies going instead.
“We could have traveled Amphoreus together.” She kicked a rock absentmindedly, watching it travel through the air. “After all that fighting, what could be better than a nice comfy vacation.”
Dan Heng’s eyes became clouded with memories. Perhaps he was reliving his arduous trek.
“In the end, I never really got to show you my command over water. Aside from helping you travel to the Vortex of Genesis."
She shook her head in rueful agreement. “The beach would have been perfect. I never got to go to any of the beaches to relax or swim.” She tapped the snout of Little Ica. “Little Ica gets the most adorable sunburn when they sunbathe for too long in Ohkema, I wonder how toasty they’ll become at the beach.”
“I… never really thought about using my power aside from combat and cleaning purposes,” Dan Heng said, looking at his hands. The corner of his eyes crinkled as he gave her another one of his smiles that made her heart flutter. “But with you… I wonder if those bubbles would be enough to protect you from getting drenched.”
Hyacine laughed. “That’s so unfair Dannie! There’s no way I could beat you in a water fight.” It would be extremely fun though. Something that had to be captured in a photo, the normally stoic Dan Heng playing around with his powers all because of her. She really wished they could escape to a beach at the very second. The waves splashing over her bare feet, the strange almost ticklish sensation of the sand being pulled as the tide receded. Sunset would be perfect, catching the water as she splashed him, the rays hitting his hair perfectly, catching his eyes twinkling as he splashed her back.
A wail brought her out of her stupor. She turned to see Lady Tribbie and Trinnon sniffling as they buried their faces against Grayie, hugging them tight.
“Looks like it’s time.”
“Yeah.”
There was only thought running around Hyacine’s mind as she faced Dan Heng. Should she finally say it? They had grown close in the Cycle of their arrival and she was happy that they easily returned to that same degree of closeness after the final battle. He may have grumbled once or twice about her hugs, especially in the presence of others, but he hugged her back with equal strength. He graciously offered his shoulder to rest on when she was tired from healing people and he silently listened to her complaints about small inconsequential manners.
She didn’t think she was good enough at reading his micro expressions to say for certain if he felt the same way as she did but Cassie and Ciphy reassured her that he did. After all, he asked them both more questions about her, about all the Heirs really, but they said he really wanted to know more about Hyacine. And judging from his comments about her wishes for them, he must have a miniature version of her running around in his head.
But now he was leaving and she didn’t know when she would see him again. If she would ever see him again.
Her fingers found their way to his, intertwining them together. Her mouth and tongue were poised ready to say it, three simple words. But her voice didn’t come out, dying in her throat.
She closed her mouth and started again.
“Bye Dannie.”
She sniffed and huffed. Her voice was full of sadness and regret. She squeezed his fingers hard.
Dan Heng brought their hands down and pulled her closer to him. His eyes wandered all over her face.
His lips trembled, his throat bobbed as he audibly swallowed twice. His hands were firm. He took three breaths before speaking.
“Bye Hyacine.”
They embraced. She closed her eyes to focus all her energy on memorizing the moment. The soft crinkle of their clothes, his gentle scent, the slight raising of her feet needed in order to fit snugly between his arms. He was sad too, his voice wavered just like hers did. She couldn’t blame him for not saying anything else besides goodbye when she couldn’t muster up the courage to say anything else either.
They rejoined the group to say their remaining farewells, giving out more hugs and handshakes. Throughout it all, Dan Heng kept close to her, dragging his feet as he made his way with the rest of the Astral Express onto the open door of the train.
She caught the last glance he sent her way, lips still trembling as if they had something more to say.
Even as the tears finally spilled from her eyes, she gave him the brightest smile possible in return. She barely saw his own smile before the door closed and the engine roared.
Any other time she would have marveled at the way the train lifted upwards to the sky, chugging along faint shimmering tracks. Her heart hurt more the further it traveled from them. In no time at all it was a distant speck in the wide blue sky above.
Hyacine pressed her palms against her lips, eyes closed for a moment as all the memories she had of him flashed in her mind. The next second, she opened her teary eyes and flung her hands out. An iridescent bubble flew from her hands, floating up after the Express until it popped.
She heard the hard thump Mydei gave Phainon on the back, the loud honks as Cassie lent Lady Tribbie and Trinnon a handkerchief to clean their noses.
“Hyacine?”
She turned around to face them all. They were closer now, brushing away tears or letting them fall freely, ready to offer each other support as they waited for her to speak.
Her lips tried their best to keep her smile, the corners dipping up and down, blinking rapidly as the lump grew heavy in her throat. Her bottom lip quivered.
Cassie and Ciphy both took a step forward and it all came out at once.
A heart reading sob tore out of her, tears flowing freely down her face. She felt arms wrap around her, a tail curling her hips, and cried harder, clutching onto them tightly. Little Ica nuzzled her neck.
Dan Heng was gone. Her rock was gone.
“Dan Heng…”
He didn’t know who said it. The voices blended together into a murmur that seemed so faint. His eyes were trained toward the windows of the parlor car, his body leaning over a table.
He heard faint whispering and then footsteps shuffled away from him. Still, a pair of eyes watched him. Whoever it was took a few steps towards him and he heard a quiet intake of breath.
No words came, only silence as Amphoreus grew smaller and smaller in the darkness of space. The quiet steps eventually walked away, and silence returned. It was for the best. He didn’t want their sympathy right now.
Hyacine was gone. He gripped the table harder. His rainbow was gone. Tears welled up in his eyes until all he could see was that beautiful shimmering mobius strip turning into a blurry blue.