There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL)
Chapter 639: Side Story 1. The Twilight Zone - 21

Chapter 639: Side Story 1. The Twilight Zone - 21

In the middle of October, as miasma started to accumulate again, dungeons started to appear around the Far East district. Espers had started to be stationed there: those who would work in Trinity’s branch next year, the members of House Ishtera who were dealing with their new mountain and estate, and the former red-zone dwellers like the Scarlet Moon.

But taking care of dungeons appearing on the surface of the sea was a rather complicated matter, especially if it was a high-ranking one. And so, despite an eight-month pregnant husband at home, Bassena still had to go prevent another Kraken set loose at the sea. He thought it would be alright, and he’d just stay with Zein all the time afterward.

Who knew that something would really happen when he was in the middle of the sea?

Bassena stepped out of the dungeon gate nonchalantly as if he was just taking a stroll instead of clearing a red dungeon, but the moment he stared at his commlink, blood drained from his face.

"Sir?" Lex stared at the frozen Bassena, who looked like a terrified statue. Before he could say anything more, however, the commlink which had been flashing red suddenly vibrated.

Both high-ranking espers flinched, and Bassena might drop the commlink in the sea if it wasn’t already attached to his wrist. He couldn’t even press the accept button because he was trembling so much, and Lex had to do it for him.

[Bas--]

"Z-Zein--Zein! What--"

[Sush] a swift, low-voiced command came from the supposedly almost-in-surgery guide. [Calm down]

"How can I--"

[Calm down, or I’ll cut the call off]

Like a toy with an off button, Bassena stiffened immediately. His breath was still stuttering, not exactly calming, but he stopped rumbling. It gave Lex a chance to put an earpiece for his boss so others couldn’t hear the conversation. The contact gave Bassena enough clarity to take a deep breath and calm himself further.

[Good, now listen to me carefully]

"Okay..."

[First, don’t panic] Zein spoke with a calmness that started to make Bassena feel ashamed of himself. [I’m already in a hospital now. Senan and the others are here--Shin and Reina are on their way, I heard. Someone else...I don’t know. The point is: I’m not alone]

Alright--alright, at least Zein was cared for. Ayya should be there too, and probably Calix and Laurel. Yeah, the most important thing was that Zein wasn’t alone.

Still...

"W-what happened?"

Bassena was confused. Zein was completely fine when he left. The guide told him he would stay at home watching animal documentaries and eating fruits since his body had become heavier with the twins growing and his tummy showing.

So why a surgery all of a sudden?

[Ah, I was having a bad cramp earlier and called the doctor] Zein explained. [She came and checked on me, and it seemed like the twins were in a weird position]

"W-weird?"

[Yeah, they were tangled by something--it kind of looked like they were wrestling or something, haha--ugh]

"H-honey?!"

[It’s fine, I shouldn’t laugh. It makes my stomach tense] Zein chuckled despite saying he shouldn’t laugh.

Bassena had no idea if he should be calm since Zein was so nonchalant about it or become more worried since Zein sounded like he couldn’t care less about his condition. For all he knew, it could all be the guide’s attempt not to freak him out by acting like nothing was wrong.

[Anyway, I went to the hospital and we decided to take them out to prevent further complications. They are fine for now, but if we let them like that, it might be dangerous]

Bassena felt so stupid all of a sudden. Of course the surgery was about the C-section!

"B-but...it’s supposed to be in two weeks..."

[Well, they’ll be a bit premature, but the doctor said they’d be fine] again, the nonchalant tone that only made Bassena more confused. [Ah, the doctor said we’ll go in thirty minutes]

"W-what?! B-but--"

Bassena turned toward the helicopter they used to reach the ship. Even if they used that to fly to Mortix headquarters in Area-14 to use the portal to Althrea, it would still take hours. Not to mention the traffic from Mortix to the hospital and--

[Now, phase two]

"...huh?"

[Are you on the island?]

"No, I--"

[Can you teleport there?]

"Y-yeah, but--"

[Do it now]

Just like when he was told to stop and calm down before, Bassena immediately teleported right after the command came, leaving his confused assistant behind. He landed just on the outskirts of the island and made the construction worker flinch in surprise.

"Okay, I did. What--"

[Oh, already?] Zein chuckled and winced again before continuing. [Alright, have you seen them?]

"Them? Who--"

At that moment, in the middle of the empty yard in front of the construction site, the air vibrated and distorted before forming a portal. A black-dressed butler stepped out and bowed slightly toward Bassena.

"Your express transport service is here."

* * *

Hmm...that should be enough. Zein closed the commlink and placed it on the side table before leaning back and exhaling slowly. That was what the doctor told him to do: to breathe slowly and calmly, relaxing his body.

If he had to be honest, he had a bit of his own panic episode when he felt a sharp pain earlier, for a second thinking he was about to lose his babies, just like how he lost his little brothers. For a few seconds, he just stood there with the pain, looking down past his slightly protruding belly.

It was only when he didn’t see any blood that he could take a deep breath and think clearly. He told Bassena’s old nanny, Nayla, and called the doctor to their penthouse. An hour later, he was in the hospital.

Everything honestly felt like a blur as he went through examinations and called several people in between while waiting for the message he sent Bassena to get through. The moment it did, he called his esper, and all he had to do was wait.

"Phew..."

"Have you reached your husband?" Doctor Nam came to check on him and smiled. "Looking at your expression, it seems like you did."

"What do you mean?"

The doctor chuckled. "You look less tense now," she winked, and the nurses nodded in agreement.

Was it so? Zein didn’t really realize it. Well, wasn’t it natural to feel better knowing your partner would be there? Just then, he heard hurried footsteps outside and his lips curled almost automatically.

"Oh, he’s here," Zein glanced at the door just when it slid and showed a panting, messy esper.

"Zein!"

"Sush, don’t shout."

Zein told him off immediately, but Bassena still rushed in and looked over him. "H-how--"

"Yes, it’s kind of painful," Zein reached out and tapped his finger on the esper’s lips. "But it’s manageable, so don’t worry. Come here."

Bassena bit his lips and buried his face on the guide’s shoulder. "I...I--shit!"

"Language," Zein warned the esper--a slight revenge for always telling him off about swearing during the pregnancy.

The nurses giggled because of it, and Doctor Nam told them to get out of the room, giving the couple a bit of time before Zein entered the preparation room.

A long, frustrated sigh came out of Bassena’s mouth. "It happens again."

"It’s not," Zein pushed Bassena back so he could see the esper’s messy face. "You’re here before it happens."

"Ugh--"

"Take a deep breath and keep calm," Zein stroked the bronze cheek and smirked. "Don’t you know who I am?"

Bassena blinked and Zein tilted his head. "If my mother could give birth to me in that harsh condition, I should fare much better, right?"

That...did not calm Bassena at all knowing the end of that story. But Zein smiled and continued.

"Unlike her, I’m not alone. I have my friends and family here, excellent doctors and nurses, and..." he caressed the side of the esper’s face. His esper. "I have you," he whispered. "You’re here."

Unlike his mother, he would give birth with his esper by his side. Well, not exactly by his side, but right outside the recovery room.

Looking at the guide’s smile over those slightly paler lips, Bassena couldn’t help but think how beautiful and radiant his husband was. Even while Zein clearly looked like he was lacking blood.

"...I love you," Bassena whispered softly, so just only Zein could hear it. Only Zein and their sons.

"Yeah, I love you too," Zein smiled at how easily he could say the words now. "Come and kiss me."

Bassena leaned down and pressed his lips over the slightly dry pair, the kiss that spread to Zein’s cheeks and temples, before ending on the guide’s forehead.

"Now, wait calmly for us."

With that last command, Bassena staggered to the lobby where other people had been waiting: the nervous Senan, Han Joon and Radia who sent him there, as well as his Ayya. He heard Han Shin and Reina were on their way too, but he couldn’t care less about who would come. He was too distraught to even address those who were already there.

"Haa..."

He buried his face in his palm, feeling all kinds of guilt and self-disappointment. He shouldn’t have gone. Even if there were still two weeks before the schedule, he shouldn’t have been too complacent about it.

"It’ll be fine, Bas," Radia patted his back. "Doctor Nam is one of the best, and we found out early."

"B-but...why? He was all healthy when I left--why..."

"He is healthy," Han Joon patted his head and stroked it. "Thanks to your care, his condition is good."

"You’ve done your best, Young Master. I’m proud of you," Ayya took a seat beside him and held his hands. "Rather than thinking that it’s something bad, why don’t you see it as your children being too eager to see you?"

Bassena blinked. They wanted to get out early? Was that it? He raised his head, and although it sounded like a silly thing, he wanted to seek reassurance--which Radia and Han Joon gave by nodding confidently.

"I...I see..."

"Yeah, so let’s calm down, and we can go through the post-natal care list one by one while waiting, alright?" Ayya patted his hand and smiled warmly, and for a bit, he pretended like it was his mother who said it.

"O-okay," he nodded. "Yeah, okay--let’s do that."

And an hour later, Bassena heard the cry of his sons for the first time.