Work Text:
Dan Heng is trending on twitter again.
As a popular streamer on Twitch, he does find himself trending quite often in the XianZhou Online! community — the main game his followers watch him play, but even he couldn’t have guessed the reason why he’s trending this time.
Starry @starstarstars
I tried joining Dan Heng’s xzo guild earlier today and was immediately kicked out of the guild by the guild leader the moment i mentioned him??? What???
18:46 • 04/05/2025
174 Retweets 463 Quotes 22.6K Likes
Dan Heng’s #1 @iluvdragons
omg you were kicked by the leader too? this happened to me too
Starry @starstarstars
this galacticbaseballer person is so rude…
The picture attached to the tweet, a screenshot of the conversation that had taken place, was appalling, to say the least. Dan Heng had never bothered to look at the guild chat, and had no idea that there was a sudden change in guild leader, let alone the fact that the member numbers had dwindled so low since he last checked. He boots up the XianZhou Online! application on his computer, determined to see the extent of this GalacticBaseballer’s reign of terror.
He loads into the game quickly, sighing as he reads the backlog of messages in the guild chat. How in the world did they manage to go from 48 members to 30 in such a short amount of time? Was it even worth it to salvage the guild at this point? Sure, he’d have to wait a week for the cooldown, but should he just join another guild instead?
[Guild]StarrrryNight: hi im new to this game
[Guild][Leader]GalacticBaseballer: hiii :)
[Guild]StarrrryNight: i downloaded this game bc of dan heng lol i heard he does dungeons with guild members? i hope i get to play this game with him
[Guild][Leader]GalacticBaseballer: no
[Guild]StarrryNight was banned from the guild (30/50).
[Guild][System]: Warning! Guild Buffs are only available for guilds with over 30 members! Invite more friends to join!
While checking the member list, he notices that the infamous GalacticBaseballer was online, and he begins typing a lengthy string of messages.
You whispered to GalacticBaseballer: sorry but you gotta stop constantly banning all of the newcomers the second they piss you off
You whispered to GalacticBaseballer: if more people leave and you keep banning everybody that tries to join we wont get to participate in guild events anymore
You whispered to GalacticBaseballer: we are about to lose the good guild buffs
GalacticBaseballer replies to Dan Heng quickly.
GalacticBaseballer whispered to you!: ok well it pisses me off bc most of them join bc you are here
GalacticBaseballer whispered to you!: and after two days of realising that theyre not gonna magically befriend you they never log on again and they end up hogging the spot instead
GalacticBaseballer whispered to you!: so i just weed them out early the moment they mention your name
Dan Heng’s frown softens, feeling a twinge of guilt that his profession had somehow indirectly inconvenienced the guy. GalacticBaseballer had always been a quiet player before they were promoted to leader, but they were always active in guild activities.
You whispered to GalacticBaseballer: im really sorry about that
GalacticBaseballer whispered to you: its not like you can control what ur viewers do, but until i get the dedicated guild members im after i wont stop banning everybody xD maybe i should beg my irl friends harder
You whispered to GalacticBaseballer: a xzo player having real life friends? no way
GalacticBaseballer whispered to you: youre funny :) can i have your discord?
—
Despite the unfortunate circumstances of how they met, the two of them quickly become fast friends.
Caelus never stops talking. He lives dangerously close by — in the same small city, Dan Heng learns. He’s a year younger than Dan Heng, and is pursuing a degree in communications at a local university and lives in a nearby apartment. He sends Dan Heng links to nonsensical tiktoks that he found funny. He complains to Dan Heng about the horrible weather they’ve been having — Dan Heng disagrees, he quite enjoys rain.
They exchange phone numbers and personal social media accounts. While his Twitter account is barren, Caelus posts on Instagram semi-frequently, and his face is in nearly every single post.
He’s good looking, Dan Heng thinks, looking at a photo of him cradling a live fish like it’s his baby. His bright, golden eyes remind him of citrine gemstones, and his ash gray hair frames his face beautifully. Dan Heng stalks the account for the next three hours.
Caelus
lol why did you like my post from 4 years ago
its ok i get it
you can stare at my face for the rest of your life if you want to
[Pompom_FingerHeart]
Dan Heng
you saw nothing.
—
XianZhou Online! @XZO_Official
“Awoooo!” Meet your new best friend in XianZhou Online! The Mighty Chimera might look like a delicate little pet, but they’re as hardy as those cute horns on their heads! Participate in the Chimera Festival event for a chance to obtain the limited “Chimera Friend” pet!
17:00 PM • 01/06/2025
9.8K Retweets 586 Quotes 168.9K Likes
754 Bookmarks
Dan Heng @colddragonyoung
im not falling for the chimera propaganda im a loyal tuskpir fan
21:56 • 01/06/2025
679 Retweets 209 Quotes 77.5K Likes
Dan Heng’s #1 @iluvdragons
was looking forward to the daily 14 hour long streams to try to get it like what you did for the tuskpir pet
Dan Heng @colddragonyoung
im going to get a pressure ulcer on my butt if i do that again.
Pets. A type of cosmetic item in XianZhou Online! that players are only able to get if they’re both extremely lucky and have plenty of time on their hands, despite the event lasting for a month, due to their rare drop rate in event chests. Dan Heng was only able to get his own Tuskpir pet after streaming nonstop for 2 weeks straight.
“Aren’t they the cutest?” Caelus coos. They’re on a facetime call for the 4th time that week. “I’d call mine Bubbles.”
“If you want the chimera pet so bad, then play during the event.” Dan Heng deadpans. “Personally I don’t see the appeal. I’m Team Tuskpir all the way.”
“For the amount of time I’d have to spend on this game in order to get it? I’d have to forfeit at least two and a half weeks worth of sleep in order to balance that with college!” Caelus whines. “Can’t you do it for me? Pretty please?”
“Absolutely not.” His lips nearly get bruised at the sheer force of him biting back a smile, and he angles his camera away from his mouth to prevent Caelus from seeing.
“You play this game for a living, Dan Heng. What else would you be doing anyway?” Caelus pleads. “Please? I’ll do anything! I’ll even hand deliver food to your apartment!”
His mouth moves faster than his brain. “You’ll have to be a guest on my stream.” Fuck. Caelus doesn't even enjoy being around his fans in XianZhou Online. What was I thinking?
Caelus’ boisterous voice interrupts his internal monologue. “That’s it? I’ll do it then! Thank you, I love you! What types of food does popular Twitch streamer Dan Heng enjoy?”
Dan Heng’s heart rate accelerates at an embarrassing speed, pink dusting his cheeks. “Yeah, yeah, no problem. Just… never say something like that out of the blue ever again.” He says, words muffled as his hands cup his reddening face.
—
Dan Heng @colddragonyoung
Watch me wither away as i attempt to get the new chimera pet
Twitch.tv/ColdDragonYoung
09:00 • 02/06/2025
352 Retweets 233 Quotes 46.5K Likes
There are no words in even the Kremnoan language to describe the sheer regret Dan Heng feels for agreeing to Caelus’ begging. He spends so much time clearing the same event dungeon over and over again until he feels the carpal tunnel developing in his wrists.
The attempt to get the chimera pet is somehow worse than when he tried to get the Tuskpir pet. Lower drop rate, along with the event dungeon taking much longer to clear due to the mechanics of the mobs, makes the experience excruciating. His farming route is near muscle memory at this point. Enter dungeon. Kill mobs. Earn Crates. Open Crates. Get his 7833rd wooden plank. Repeat. At some point in between dungeon runs, Dan Heng ends up sending Caelus his address and the number code to unlock his front door at the promise of being given free food.
He doesn't even know why he’s so determined to get the pet for Caelus. Was it the begging? The fact that Caelus had promised to be a guest on his stream? How was he so incredibly weak when it came to this person whom he’d only gotten to know properly a month ago?
He does not hear the beep of his front door unlocking, but a knock on his door pulls him out of his zombie-like trance. Dan Heng’s eyes remain glued to the screen, but he hears the door open and the sound of plastic bags rustling together. The person moves quietly, careful not to get his face caught on Dan Heng’s facecam.
The aroma of spices wafting from the plastic bags set on his table is what makes Dan Heng finally look up from his computer screen. The man wordlessly removes the packaging for him. Berrypheasant skewers and two bottles of mung bean soda.
Caelus looks different in real life, compared to how he looks when they’re on Facetime. His eyes are brighter, cheeks slightly chubbier. He’s cuter in real life, his brain supplies unhelpfully. He knows he’s staring, but he cannot bear to look away.
Golden eyes stare back at him, raking over his dishevelled face for a couple of seconds. A pair of warm hands reach over to pinch both sides of his cheek, effectively snapping him out of his trance. Despite the lack of words being shared, he somehow knows exactly what Caelus is thinking. Take a break idiot, you look tired.
Dan Heng shoots him a look. I know, it’s fine. Don’t worry.
Caelus sighs and leaves his room, leaving Dan Heng alone with his Twitch chat, which moves so fast that Dan Heng can barely read more than a word at a time.
phainongooner: who the hell is that
danhengbiased: a girlfriend?
iEatJingyuan: bro is barely awake rn
march7thsgf: @danhengbiased or a boyfriend! he might be bi!
blademyGOAT: he plays xzo no way he has time for a partner
“That- he’s not my boyfriend!” Dan Heng sputters, nearly choking on a skewer. “I have friends, you know!” He feels his heart beat faster at the thought of being Caelus’ boyfriend. Strange. His cheeks feel strangely warm as well, but surely that is because of the lingering sting from getting pinched earlier, right?
—
Dan Heng’s #1 @iluvdragons
@colddragonyoung what happened to your “i’m never doing a xzo pet event ever again” agenda
15:36 • 17/06/2025
186 Retweets 24 Quotes 9.6K Likes
Jelly is seeing txt 25/09 @phaibinz
This is literally taking longer than the tuskpirs did
Dan Heng’s #1 @iluvdragons
17 days of 15 hour streams to try to get this pet can @XZO_official just gift the poor guy one at this point
Dan Heng’s #1 @iluvdragons
Is nobody going to talk about the random person that visits dan heng while he’s streaming everyday?!?!?
11:07 • 23/06/2025
534 Retweets 239 Quotes 13.8K Likes
642 Bookmarks
3 weeks. It took three long, arduous weeks to get the cursed chimera pet. In this time, he and Caelus have formed an unspoken routine. Caelus visits his apartment, brings him food, and sometimes stays until Dan Heng ends his stream to hang out with him.
“What am I going to do now that I finally got the chimera pet?” Dan Heng reads a comment aloud, a small smirk spreading across his face as he thinks about his reply. “Besides sleep? I’m going to collect my debt, of course.”
Ignoring the wave of question marks that flood the chat after his comment, he swiftly ends the stream, and shoots Caelus a text.
Dan Heng
[photo attached]
guess who finally won the rng war
be prepared for featuring in one of my streams.
Caelus
uh oh
yes master dan heng…
[PomPom_Crying]
—
Dan Heng @colddragonyoung
Playing #XianZhouOnline with my mortal enemy @GalacticBaseballer
Twitch.tv/ColdDragonYoung
09:00 • 26/06/2025
356 Retweets 547 Quotes 26.5K Likes
The stream starts as per normal. Dan Heng is very familiar with the routine at this point in his career. He has streamed with other streamers before, however this stream feels much more different. Anxiety bubbles in his stomach, although it was his idea to bring Caelus onto a stream in the first place.
His worries were unfounded, however. Caelus’ easy-going and boisterous energy is well received, and the anxiety he originally had melts away.
“I have your chat opened on my phone, they’re outraged that you gifted Bubbles to me!” Caelus laughs. “Face it, guys. Dan Heng loves me more than you guys.”
iEatJingyuan: isn’t this the guy who kicked out a bunch of people from his guild
march7thmygf: our streamer is gay why why why
love4jinglius: fork found in kitchen…
danhengbiased: im sick look at how smiley dan heng is
While Caelus continues to taunt and tease his viewers, realisation hits Dan Heng like a brick. The reason why his face constantly started heating up when speaking to Caelus, why his heart recently started beating faster around him, why he was willing to devote so much time and effort for a request he made.
Oh my god. I have a crush on Caelus.
Dan Heng’s #1 @iluvdragons
Spending 15 hours a day for 3 weeks straight on an online game to get a cosmetic item for your friend has got to be gay as hell
15:36 • 26/06/2025
264 Retweets 154 Quotes 14.9K Likes
Dan Heng’s #1 @iluvdragons
THIS IS THE SAME GUY WHO BROUGHT HIM FOOD EVERYDAY? dan heng i know what you are…
—
XianZhou Online! @XZO_Official
Have a special somebody in your life? The new permanent ‘Promise of Everlasting Union’ event is going live soon! Propose to your favourite person after completion of the event and gain special stat boosts as a married couple!
17:00 PM • 01/07/2025
9853 Retweets 586 Quotes 168.9K Likes
754 Bookmarks
Dan Heng is going to confess to Caelus. He speedruns the event quest as soon as it releases. While his chat pokes fun at him for rushing the quest despite not having anyone to propose to, he is too busy planning his confession to Caelus to care. The plan is simple, propose to Caelus in-game, and confess his feelings.
The next time they’re calling and playing together again, Dan Heng leads Caelus to the marriage event wedding arch.
“What’s all this?”
“I like you, Caelus. Romantically.” Dan Heng blurts out, pressing the ‘propose!’ button that was prompted.
A loud crash can be heard on the other end of the call, and Caelus abruptly disconnects. His character stands still, and as the seconds trickle by, Dan Heng gets more and more anxious. Did he just get rejected?
Dan Heng
arw you oksy?
please repky
caelus
Caelus
im On my way! to yours
running
Dan Heng
What?
Not long after, Dan Heng hears the familiar beeping of his front door opening, and Caelus bursts into his home, sweaty and out of breath.
“You idiot, what made you think that confessing to me like that was a good idea?” Caelus asks, heaving deep breaths in between each word. “I couldn’t even accept your proposal because I haven’t done the event quest yet!”
“I forgot,” Dan Heng’s ears turn pink. “I forgot that it was quest locked.”
“I’m going to kiss you now. Okay?” Caelus leans in impossibly close, hand cupping Dan Heng’s red cheek.
Dan Heng had imagined kissing Caelus multiple times, but nothing he imagined could have ever compared to the real deal. Caelus is a hotheaded kisser — rushed, messy, and passionate, and Dan Heng can feel the build up of stress finally release from his body the moment their lips touch.
“This means that you like me back, right?” Dan Heng asks the moment they pull away for air.
“Of course I do.” Caelus laughs, giving him another peck on the lips. “And resend the marriage proposal. I’m pretty sure it’s expired by now.”
—
Starry @starstarstars
omg i managed to get back into dan heng’s guild and he's married to WHO???
18:46 • 07/07/2025
943 Retweets 553 Quotes 16.6K Likes
Starry @starstarstars
has anyone asked him about his boundaries regarding rps
Caelus @GalacticBaseballer
@colddragonyoung they’re shipping us
Dan Heng @colddragonyoung
? to where.