There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL)
Chapter 635: Side Story 1. The Twilight Zone - 17

Chapter 635: Side Story 1. The Twilight Zone - 17

As they were admiring the combination of Zein and the bouquet, a knock was heard once more from the door. This time, it was their wedding organizer head, Senan’s eldest daughter. "The guests are seated and Sir Vaski is on the dock," she informed with a wink, opening the door wider as a sign for everyone to leave for the venue.

"Not going to be a Vaski for much longer," Reina commented after finishing her touch-up due to crying a bit earlier.

Elena giggled and patted her dress, looking around after making sure the pearl accessory that Zein gifted her three years ago was still intact. "Are we going down now?"

"You should, Miss," an old man leaned against the door frame, smiling. "It’s my turn now."

They bid Zein goodbye and flew some kisses before running down the stairs while giggling. From the sound of it, the chaos inside the house had shifted outside. The guests had come through the land and the air, making Zein feel grateful about widening the front yard and the helipad. The sound of the crowd carried through the window, and he was sure the Anzus members were teasing Bassena as much as they could, since the esper couldn’t get angry no matter what today.

Zein smiled and lightly patted the banquet over his shoulder while greeting Tian Yu with his chin. "You look good in that, Old Man."

"Technology is amazing these days, isn’t it?" the old man laughed.

Rather than buying a new one that he wouldn’t be comfortable with, he found something from his chest and got SavAsh to ’revive’ it. It was not something that today’s store would have, but that was exactly why he wanted to go with it.

It was something he might wear to Alteroan’s wedding if he were invited back then.

"Can’t believe they managed to fix my old coat and make it look new!" he gazed at Zein for two seconds before nodding. "Are you ready?"

"Yeah."

Getting down the stairs was more complicated than Zein had thought. He never had this kind of outfit, with tails that swept the floor like a cloak. Thankfully, Reina left two of her staff to help him with that, but it put relief in Zein’s heart knowing that the ’tail’ end could be detached later for the reception. He certainly didn’t want to go around with such a burdensome fabric, unless...

Did they want him to just sit down during the reception? Was that it?

But then, he caught the sight of an enlarged wedding picture of his parents. The fluttering veil that her mother used...it was there as the tail to his vest, just like Roan’s tie was around Bassena’s neck.

Heh--thinking that it was troublesome felt somewhat disrespectful.

"Please stand by behind the door until I give you a signal."

Before realizing it, they already survived the stairs and reached the back door leading to the garden. While Reina’s staff were fixing his coat, Zein observed the venue through the door’s glass and the windows.

It was just as he remembered this morning, except that the long tables now had food and somehow several ice sculptures, and of course, there were people. A lot of them.

Actually, it wasn’t that much since the total number of guests was not even reaching a hundred. For Zein, however, it was massive. He saw the Iron Shield coming from wherever post they were stationed before so they could see the ceremony; several Old Houses’ heads were seated under the shade of the tree; the members of Anzus including Senia; guides including Abel, Nadine, and Dheera--because of course she won the lottery--talking enthusiastically to Elena...

He saw all kinds of people he met in his life, from when he was still in the red-zone, to when he fought in the Deathzone. Those people, those guests, were like his life journal, and at the peak of it was a fidgeting tall man whose hair was fighting a summer breeze, standing and waiting at the edge of the dock.

Zein took a deep breath and closed his eyes briefly, allowing the sound of beautiful strings to enter his senses. He glanced at a slightly raised platform where several members of the clan showcased their hidden passion for music.

"Our household is really talented," Zein chuckled, recalling how much he heard them practicing yesterday. Arlo--who was surprisingly rather good at double bass--told him they had been practicing since April.

"Indeed," the old man smiled at the view in satisfaction. For a patriarch of a clan, the event might look small, but the guests were definitely top-tier. Just from this, he knew that Zein had received the respect a patriarch deserved. He glanced at the guide and smirked. "You’re surprisingly looking good with that bouquet."

"Oh, good--because I didn’t think I suited think kind of thing," Zein chuckled.

"Well, it’s probably because you’re pretty," the old man laughed. "He heard somewhere that face makes the fashion or something like that."

Zein scoffed, wondering where the old man heard that kind of stuff. Reina, probably. He looked at the bouquet in his hand and smiled. "Hmm...I’ve only ever held a bouquet once before."

"Yeah?"

"When I visited my mother’s grave."

"Oh..."

The old man cleared his throat awkwardly and Zein laughed. "Honestly, I don’t think I’m suited to this kind of event either."

Wearing custom outfits, a ceremony with many witnesses, a party waiting afterward...

This kind of setting was more suited for Radia, Han Shin, and people who used this kind of thing. But that means it was also suited for Bassena. In fact, people like Bassena and Radia were made for grand ceremonies and lavish receptions; those glittering chandeliers and fancy delicacies.

But Bassena crossed that option because he knew Zein wouldn’t want that. And Zein held back from a mere registry office marriage that he thought suited him the most because he knew Bassena wanted to offer him a proper celebration.

A compromise. Each of them made a compromise of what they actually wanted for this wedding. And instead of feeling disappointed or lacking, they felt it was much better than what they initially wanted.

And that was what marriage was supposed to be, right? They made a compromise that would make them both happy.

As Zein’s face started to turn melancholic from those thoughts, Tian Yu asked him curiously. "Are you nervous?"

"No," Zein snorted. "I can’t hear anything from here."

The old bachelor cackled. "Well, I wouldn’t know either."

"I’m not nervous, but..." Zein listened to his heartbeat for a while. "I’m rather excited."

"That’s even better, isn’t it?" the old man winked. "Your boy, on the other hand..."

They watched the man at the edge of the dock that had been moving his legs non-stop while his upper body was frozen. Even from inside the house, Bassena looked like he could jump into the lake with a slight ’boo’.

"He’ll be fine," Zein smiled softly at the cute sigh. "He’s always fine during the real thing."

"And that’s what matters most, isn’t it?"

"Yes," Zein smiled. "Yes, it is."

Just then, the door creaked open, and they could hear the music changing. Everyone was silent except for the music. Even the many birds on the trees seemed to hold back their chirping. Zein closed his eyes for a moment and when he opened it, there was nothing in front of him.

Nothing but the man standing still like a statue on the dock. Staring straight at the pair of ambers far away, Zein stepped out of the house.

The more he walked, the closer those eyes became. At one point, he was tempted to just walk quickly and ran toward the unblinking amber eyes. Perhaps that was why someone needed to walk him, because every time he looked hurried, Tian Yu would hold him back while chuckling slightly.

Even during that moment, Zein did not feel embarrassed. It was weird, but he was truly excited. He didn’t care about big events or lavish receptions, but he cared about being with his esper. He did say he wouldn’t mind having their relationship without this kind of legal binding, but...

It still made him excited. As excited as the first time he tasted candy. He felt like a child again, even while carrying children inside his body.

"Pfft--okay, okay...here you go," Tian Yu grabbed Bassena’s frozen hand and slammed Zein’s hand on top of it. "Here--what a bunch of impatient kids."

The old man scoffed and went behind the table at the edge of the dock. Naturally, he would officiate it too, because...why not?

Zein held the esper’s hand, squeezing it until Bassena flinched and came to. "You’re alright there, baby?"

"...no?" Bassena coughed and cleared his throat. He looked up, and then down to his groom, swallowed, and looked up again.

Even without an enhanced hearing, Zein could hear how hard the esper’s heartbeat was. He chuckled and rubbed the clammy hand with his thumb. "It’s fine; I’ll be here."

Bassena took a deep breath. "It’s fine," he nodded. "You’ll be here."

Tian Yu pressed his lips to stifle his laugh, afraid that if he let it out, Bassena would get flustered and nervous again. "Are you ready?"

"Uhh...no?" Bassena laughed nervously. "But I don’t think I will ever, so...let’s just go."

This time, the old man couldn’t help his chuckle. "Alright," he shrugged his shoulder a little bit before clearing his throat and raising the volume with his mana. "Dearly beloved..."

Zein took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Hearing the sound, feeling the wind, and seeing the memory at the back of his eyelids. The memory that never happened. Or perhaps it was, in another world.

Cheerful sounds and trusted hands embracing him, lifting him up high, so high he could see the whole lake and sky as if they were blending with each other. His mountain and blue flower, supported him from every stumble.

At that moment, as his paladin and his mountain was by his side, holding his hand, his dream melted into reality. At that moment, he could see high, high in the sky, where the blue was blending.

He didn’t have to be in a dream. He didn’t have to be in another world.

At that moment, with his hand on his esper and another one on top of his children, Zein was as happy as the child in that dream.