Chapter Text
He supposed the first time they met it didn’t really register for him at the time but now…he looks so much like him. Doesn’t really act like him but maybe that’s a good sign but it could just be that-an act. Ugh this is frustrating.
“Mr. Yang? Are you okay?” March’s voice reels him back into the present and he just sighs.
“I’m fine. Just…thinking.” He says, not looking at her. She squints her eyes at him, something was wrong, she could tell.
“Doesn’t seem like the good kind of thinking.” She says as she sits down by him. “Wanna talk about it?”
“Ah I don’t wanna bore you.” Welt says, dismissing the offer but feels pressure on his shoulder. He looks down and sees March staring up at him, her eyes pleading as if to say in her own March way- ‘teelll mmmeeee’.
“Talk to meeeee.” She says, smushing her face more into his shoulder.
“Alright alright.” He gave in. “Remember the other person that was with me when we got you out of the ice?”
March took a moment to think. Recalling a blond man standing close to Mr. Yang. Though the two didn’t seem….fond of each other now that she looks back.
“I do. You didn’t seem too friendly with him.” March says.
“Yes well that alone is a long story. But point is.” Welt says, trailing off a bit. A light bulb goes off in March’s head as she looks to Welt then over to where Dan Heng is, he was talking to Luocha.
“He does look an awful lot like that person.” She whispers. “I don’t know much about him but is Luocha making bad memories show up again for you?”
“You could say that.” Welt sighed. The two talk, well more so March letting Welt do the talking as she just listened. The two didn’t notice Dan Heng and Luocha approach them until the pink head looked up. Her face immediately looked sour when her eyes landed on the merchant beside her friend.
“Ah still not a fan of me I see.” Luocha says, holding his hands up in mock surrender. March could feel Welt grow tense and she frowns before shooting the blond another glare.
“What do you want?” She asks, looking more at Luocha than Dan Heng.
“I was wondering if I could speak to Mr. Yang.” The merchant says. “As someone so well traveled as him-”
“Absolutely not.” March interrupted him before he can even finish speaking.
And that’s how the day went. Luocha would try-key word TRY- to talk to Welt but March was always right there, shooing him away, tugging Welt elsewhere, or just interrupting him every other word. Had he done something wrong? But he’s barely spoken to either of them so what could it be?
~~~~
“Miss March.”
“Hm?”
March glances up from her camera and sees Luocha walking over. She gets the annoyed look on her face before leaning back in her chair.
“What?” She asks. Luocha sighs and sits across from her.
“Have I done something to upset you and Mr. Yang?” He asks and March looked like she had a realization. “I’d hate to have offended either of you.”
“No you’d didn’t it’s just…” March sighs. “Like Mr. Yang always says. The universe is vast beyond compare and you just…”
The merchant waits for her to continue.
“You just happen to look like someone Mr. Yang knew back on his home planet and…he-they- didn’t really leave nice memories.” March whispers. “Every time you get close to him I can see him tense up, like he has to be on guard around you.”
Luocha was surprised. Of all things he was expecting to hear this was nowhere close to what he had thought of.
“I’m sure you’re a good guy but when he looks at you. All he sees is that horrible man.” March went on to say. “Just give him some time and space.”
“Of course of course right. Please apologize to him for me. Had I known sooner I would’ve kept my distance more.” Luocha says, bowing his head a little.
“Sorry I should’ve explained. Instead I was being a jerk.” March sighed.
“No no Miss March! If I was in your shoes I would’ve acted the same. You were just looking out for him. I completely understand.” The merchant says. “I can’t imagine what this person has done.”
“I didn’t know him for long when he was on the Express but he and Mr. Yang didn’t really get along.” March hums. “Must’ve been a great relief when he up and left.”
They stopped talking. Although Luocha didn’t fully understand the history between Mr. Yang and the one he looks similar to he understood one thing.
The universe truly is a cruel being.
~~~~~
It was later in the day when he hears a commotion outside the hotel. Yelling and lots of it. Welt hurried out as he could hear the clear voices of the trio, mainly March.
“What’s going on out here?” He asks as he steps out of the hotel. Caelus reacts faster than the other two, standing in Welt’s way.
“Mr. Yang go back inside.” He says, blocking his view.
“Why? What’s wrong?” Welt asks.
“My my my. You’ve gotten quite the crew here since we last saw one another huh old friend?”
Welt sees past Caelus and is met with emerald eyes. Eyes he didn’t think he’d ever see again. Caelus catches him when his knees give out and Dan Heng and March move to stand in front of them, weapons out.
“March I’m hurt. Is this anyway to greet an old friend?” The man pouts.
“What do you want? How are you even on the Luofu?” March hisses, creating an arrow with her ice, ready to use it.
“Reasons aren’t really that important. I merely wanted to say hello to an old friend.” The man says, looking to Welt who was shaking like a leaf in Caelus’ arms.
“He isn’t your friend! I’m not your friend! Go away before I make an igloo out of your head!” March snaps.
“March who is this?” Dan Heng asks.
“Void Archives.”
The two look over to Welt, who looked like he was on the verge of tears. What in the world happened between these two?
“Ah so he finally speaks.” The man, now labeled as Void Archives, smiled.
“We aren’t on Earth and there’s no more Honkai. What the hell could you possibly want from me now?” Welt grits out.
“What can’t I say hi?” Void Archives asks and attempts to step closer but got the end of an arrow pressed into the bottom of his chin.
“Take a step closer and it goes through your jaw.” March threatens, arm drawn back on her bow to make a point. Void Archives holds his hands up and steps back. Seeing the guy again, it all makes sense why Welt was almost as terrified at seeing Luocha. They almost look identical. Minus the unkept hair on this Void Archives.
“Come on, Mr. Yang.” Caelus whispers, picking up the older man and taking him back inside the hotel. Not without a parting message from VA.
“Earth or not. I’ll always find you. You are the World aren’t you?”
Caelus frowns when he hears a choked sob from the man in his arms.
“Go. Now. I won’t ask again.” Dan Heng ordered, his spear pointed at Void archives.
“Alright alright. I’ll go. I can take a hint.” VA says, backing away.
“Really? If that was true you would’ve left 20 minutes ago.” March retorts. She shoots an arrow at his feet and he jumps away. That was the final push to get him to leave.
Dan Heng and March hurried back inside and find Caelus on the ground, holding a crying Welt. They didn’t hesitate to hurry over and hug the older man with their friend.
“It’s okay, Mr. Yang we scared him away. If he comes back we’ll do it again!” March whispered to him.
“I’m sorry I shouldn’t be reacting like this. I thought I had moved on I-” Welt’s voice was shaken.
“Don’t. It’s okay.” Dan Heng says. “A past is hard to leave and forget.”
That was enough to quiet him and he cried more as the three held him, not saying anything and just letting him cry.