There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL)
Chapter 544 - 537. Snowballing

Chapter 544: Chapter 537. Snowballing

The meeting with the Goddess went faster than he thought, so Zein had planned to return that night. But once again, humans could only plan.

Just like how Radia’s secretary needed to charge his energy when opening the portal, the Temple had to do the same. Especially because they were going to be sending someone to another region--not only nearer to another Goddess’ territory but also out of any deities’ territory.

So, Zein had no choice but to spend the night there, chatting with Elena all through the tea-time, dinner, and breakfast. He welcomed it, though; it was quite a breath of fresh air in many senses. He also had the chance to learn how to use the staff properly from the Saintess, as well as test the effect on the Saintess and Elena.

"Zein," the girl grabbed his sleeve when the teleportation circle was ready in the afternoon the next day. "I’m going to use that staff in the future, so make sure you return it, okay?" she tightened her hold and repeated once more. "You have to return it yourself, okay? I’m not going to forgive you if it comes through someone else."

Zein blinked at the blatant threat made with pouting lips and puffing cheeks, but also sad eyes. Looking at the golden hair, and the lighter shade of blue in her eyes, Zein wondered if his parents were alive, and if he were to have a sister, if it would look like her.

With a smile that came easily to his lips, Zein patted the girl’s head. "I got it."

"Promise!"

That sounded like Bassena, somewhat, and Zein easily complied. "I promise."

The last person who bid him goodbye was the old Saintess. "Please take care of yourself more," she said with concern. "You looked paler and thinner."

That was an obvious result of lacking sunlight, and he actually gained more weight because his muscle mass was increasing--but Zein wasn’t about to argue about it. "I’ll try," he nodded.

In another world, where House Ishtera still resided in the Northern Alliance, Zein might ended up living in this Temple. Too bad, this was not that world, and Zein had to go back to where his home was. With a shimmering light enveloping him from the ground, he was transported back to the world of dreary grey and depressing darkness.

"Welcome?" Ron greeted him with a smirk. "You send people panicking."

"Because of a magic circle?" Zein raised his brow.

"The ones who used magic circle usually those shitty government higher-ups, so..." Ron shrugged. "You know how many of them are runaways."

"Pfft--not like the government would take them to a safer zone," Zein scoffed and raised his hand to the humvee driver who was running toward him, telling the person to just take it easy. "Wasting money to give them better lives?"

Ron laughed and walked the guide back to the vehicle. "Hey, give me a favor and tell me when you’re going to board that ship, yeah?"

"Why? You want a ticket?"

"Is that a question?"

"How many?" Zein glanced at the scout, who raised two fingers quietly. He raised his brow at Ron’s little grin. "You want to have a date on a ship or something?"

Ron’s grin widened a bit as he shrugged. "Just a little business with the ship’s Captain."

Zein tilted his head in confusion, but well...it wasn’t his business to prob. He patted the scout’s back before jumping into the vehicle and heading to the depths of the Deathzone.

For some reason, the closer he got to the main base, his heart was beating faster. He wondered if Bassena would sulk for the delay, or simply for knowing the Temple whisked him away again. He wondered if he would see that adorable effort to hold back that made the ember eyes twitch and the lips twisted--

"Oh, you’re back?" Bassena waved his hand and smiled cheerfully before jogging to meet Zein halfway. "Have you eaten? Do you want to change first or just have a meal?"

Zein stared at the twinkling amber eyes and the handsome smile. Not that he hated this welcome, but...

"What?" Bassena tilted his head when Zein only stared at him wordlessly without saying anything. "What’s wrong? Are you sick?" he touched the guide’s forehead to check for fever, but Zein was fine--in fact, the guide looked better than before he went out.

Bassena let out a breath of relief, but fetched a glass of water for Zein anyway. "Here, drink some."

Zein wordlessly took the glass and drank the water with a curious heart. He didn’t really expect Bassena to whine and grumble about his absence, but he also didn’t think his puppy esper would act like he just popped off to the bathroom and back in a minute.

Unexpectedly, he felt rather annoyed.

"How weird," Zein tilted his head, incurring Bassena’s confusion even more. "I thought you would sulk or something."

Bassena raised his brows for a second, before chuckling sheepishly. "Ah...about you going to the Temple instead of returning immediately?"

Zein did not reply, waiting for Bassena to continue. Honestly, he also had no idea what made him feel so upset. So, while getting curious about the esper’s seemingly lukewarm reaction, he was also curious about his own displeasure.

Bassena looked at the narrowed blue eyes in confusion, and scratched his cheeks while answering that inquisitive gaze. "Well...I already know how well they treated you, so I’m not worried anymore--oh, and I already know you will never accept their offer of being a Saint, so..."

For some reason, Zein was not satisfied. That kind of reason never prevented Bassena from feeling upset about separating from Zein even for a bit.

"And..." Bassena stroked his cold nape, swallowing. Zein’s eyes twitched--that was it; the real reason was finally about to come out. "To be honest, I’m rather glad that you have more chances to rest in the safe zone."

The previously narrowed eyes flickered at the unexpected answer. Zein would not realize it himself, but people were trying hard to look for some reasons since Zein wouldn’t leave the Deathzone the frontline if it wasn’t urgent or work-related.

Those people, naturally, included Bassena. While the esper also spent as much time in the Deathzone as Zein, he was, inherently, an esper. His constitution was different from a guide--even one blessed by two Celestial Beings.

"Haa..." Zein swiped his hair back and grasped his head in frustration.

Not for Bassena, but for himself. To think he got annoyed when his baby had such a pure, considerate reason...

What to do with him...

Naturally, Bassena was flustered with the reaction. "What? Why do you look ang--"

Instead of answering, Zein grabbed the esper’s hand and pulled Bassena toward the direction of their tent. Of course, Zein wouldn’t be able to drag around someone like Bassena usually, but between confusion and worry, the esper had no resistance whatsoever.

Ignoring anyone in their path, Zein went straight to their tent and pulled the esper inside, before pushing the man against the wall and ravishing the surprised mouth with his lips.

The kiss was harsh, as if Zein was angry. But it was also filled with longing and passionate affection. Bassena was surprised for one second, but when he was about to retaliate, the kiss ended as abruptly as it started.

As if his shock was not enough, Bassena had to face Zein who suddenly caged him against the wall with two arms flanking his head.

"How annoying," the guide spoke in a low tone.

Bassena had never felt more confused.

"Here I am feeling impatient and bothered by holding back," the pretty face tilted, blue eyes gleaming in the tent’s dim light. "But you look fine, huh?" the voice was getting lowered, and Bassena swallowed unconsciously. "Like you don’t miss me at all..."

The last part was uttered in a quiet, vulnerable voice that got Bassena frozen. For a second that felt like an hour as he questioned his own existence, Bassena felt like his heart stopped beating.

And in the next second, everything rushed twofold.

His heartbeat, his adrenaline, his love...he grasped the back of Zein’s head and pressed his lips on the welcoming pair. This time, it was more than one second, and there was no confusion there. They kissed fervently, off the wall, until Zein’s back touched the mattress.

"Damn," Bassena stared at the blue eyes that screamed desire directed at him. "I should’ve just sulked."

Fuck trying to act mature and composed.

"Yeah, you should," Zein chuckled while stroking the esper’s cheek and patting it lightly. "I love it," he whispered. "You look cute when you do."

"Fuck--"

Bassena drowned his own curse through the harsh kiss that shed all patience and consideration he had utilized while Zein was gone. It was an even longer one this time; long enough for them to also shed their outerwear and inhale each other’s scent.

"Ha..." amidst the scent of darkness and flame, Zein let out a small laugh. "Haha..."

Bassena lifted his head from the guide’s neck and looked at the laughing face in confusion. "What?"

Zein laid his head on the pillow, stroking the platinum hair gently. Possessively. "It seems...I’m the one who has a separation anxiety."

The amber eyes flickered as millions of reactions and sensations were playing in Bassena’s mind. But nothing came out outwardly, and there was no need to; since Zein already pulled him into another kiss, indulging in the fact that they were no longer away from each other.