There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL) novel Chapter 155

Chapter 155: Chapter 150. Downpour

"Come here," Zein reached out his arms, pulling Bassena closer and closed the door with his other hand.

The moment that drenched head touched the guide’s shoulder, Bassena held Zein tight in a movement that felt like an automatic reaction rather than a conscious response, and pulled the guide into his embrace, as if holding into a lifeline. "I’m sorry," the voice, which came from the lips pressed on the crook of Zein’s neck, was hoarse and shaking.

"It’s not your fault," Zein had no idea what Bassena apologized for, but he could make several guesses, which all had something to do with the Golden Viper and the Vaski.

"I’m sorry," Bassena still whispered weakly, and probably, it wasn’t merely a case of feeling guilty by association.

Perhaps he just felt sorry for Zein, after reading the details of how Zein’s father met his end. Or perhaps he felt sorry for his mother. Whatever he felt sorry for, Zein understood that when people felt guilty, it didn’t matter what other people said, it didn’t matter even if people said it wasn’t their fault.

So Zein just reached up and stroked the wet platinum lock and the vulnerable drenched back. "Okay," he said, in the soothing voice he used when he put the sick twins to bed in the past. "Okay, I forgive you."

It might sound insincere, since Zein didn’t even know what Bassena was apologizing for. But he also seriously thought whatever it was, he wouldn’t blame Bassena for it, so it was still the truth.

Zein felt the arms around him tightened, but the trembling had stopped. He continued to stroke the esper’s head and back as they stood in the foyer, even as his clothes got wet and dripping water pooled beneath them.

It felt like they would spend all night in front of the door at this rate, so Zein started to step back to pull away. But of course, Bassena pulled him tight like a child with separation anxiety. It was quite hard to even just try looking at the esper’s face.

When Zein managed to do that, he could see how the amber eyes, which usually blazed with the fire of life, were dim and unfocused. It was as if the esper was only there physically, moving by instinct, while his soul was trapped somewhere in the abyss. Zein stroked the wet face, and kissed the esper lightly to bring some light back into those eyes. "Come on," he said after the amber eyes flickered slightly, and pulled the esper inside.

The way Bassena followed him wordlessly was like that of a clueless child who lost their parents in the middle of the crowd. Dazed, confused; perhaps the man himself had no idea how he ended up in Zein’s room. He said nothing while standing blankly as Zein peeled the wet coat and shirt off, much like the time when the esper just woke up and feeling disoriented.

Holding the listless arm, Zein pulled the esper under the shower, and let warm water trickle down the bronze skin. Bassena stood there wordlessly while Zein filled the bathtub, and only stirred awake when Zein came back to stand at the entrance of the shower booth.

The guide lifted Bassena’s face and stared at the blinking amber eyes; there were more sparkles of life there, and he nodded in satisfaction. "Hmm," he gestured at the esper’s pants. "Undress and get in the tub."

If it wasn’t for the situation, Bassena would have thought he was entering a wild dream. But since there was no lust or desire inside that stern voice, he knew it wasn’t an innuendo or invitation, and just followed the order with a dazed mind. Once he dipped his body inside the warm--hot--water, Zein patted the esper’s head lightly and left the room.

Bassena chuckled quietly with a choked and stern voice, before closing his eyes, letting the coldness of the rain and the poison in his mind ooze away. It wasn’t until ten minutes later that Zein came back, already changing out his wet clothes, and stared at the esper in the tub.

Bassena was the strongest esper Zein ever met in his life. Since he was now tuned in to the television and news sometimes, he started to see how the world perceived Bassena; that the world think he would grow to be the strongest esper in the world once he reached his peak. Bassena was so strong he came up as arrogant and condescending sometimes, due to his lack of wariness to danger. Because of his young age, people called him fearless, sometimes reckless, and thought nothing would ever faze this young golden kid.

But Zein had seen Bassena’s vulnerable side so many times now. Most of them had something to do with him, which was quite endearing, honestly. It got him more and more realizing how much effect he had on Bassena’s life and emotions.

When he saw Bassena just lying there on the tub, head leaning on the edge with eyes closed, the esper just felt like a normal man, with worries and vulnerabilities like any other human. He wasn’t some kind of superhero or invincible monster like how people painted him to be. Those almost permanent dark shadows beneath his eyes were one of the proofs.

"Don’t fall asleep here," Zein sat on the marble tile around the tub and brushed the wet fringe off the esper’s forehead.

"I won’t get sick even if I do," Bassena opened his eyes, and the previously dim ambers had relighted once again.

"Sure, but I wouldn’t be able to use the toilet if you stay,"

"Why? No need to mind me," Bassena smiled playfully and received a flick on his forehead in return.

The esper let out a small laugh and held Zein’s hand, nuzzling into the cold palm. "Can I sleep here?" he asked after a long silence.

"I thought you come here for that?" Zein tilted his head, stroking the three scales with his thumb.

"No," Bassena closed his eyes and let out a contented sigh, clasping the stroking fingers with his hand. "I just want to see you," he said with a slight smile.

Just as Zein had thought, the esper really come to the dorm without a sound mind, just driven by the instinct of seeing the only person who could calm him down. If he was angry, he could go to the basement private chamber. But he wasn’t just angry; Bassena was drowning in his darkness, and he needed a guiding light.

He didn’t even drive there. He just teleported a long distance, right to the gate of the compound, and walked under the rain in a dazed mind. He wanted to see Zein, to feel the man’s presence, to inhale the guide’s calming scent. In a world that felt so bitter and poisonous, he wanted to see his salvation.

Bassena looked up, at the pair of brilliant blue eyes that gaze at him softly. "So...can I?"