There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL) novel Chapter 204

Chapter 204: Chapter 198. Every Reason

"Guide’s Right Movement?" Bassena peeked at the screen of Zein’s commlink, reading the article that Zein was opening. "You’re interested in them?"

"A bit," Zein said, leaning back to the chair--and Bassena’s chest. "I’m curious. Apparently, they’ve been trying to contact me."

Or so he heard. But since Zein had strictly told the management he didn’t want to deal with anything outside the guild for now, every request to meet him--from interviews to commercial offers--was met with rejection before they even reach Zein’s ears. The movement group was one of those requests.

Bassena, who was standing behind the chair, leaned forward and put his chin atop Zein’s crown, fingers fiddling with the beads of Zein’s necklace. "They’ve been contacting Trinity for the last two years, too."

"Oh?"

"Well, you know how we are known for a guild that treated guides the best? That’s why."

Zein stared at the esper through the mirror on the other side of the room. "And your response?"

"Hmm..." Bassena closed his eyes, moving his head left and right above Zein’s head. "It’s rather complicated."

"How?"

"They wanted us to be an advocate for their movement," Bassena explained in a brooding tone. "You know--show up at their event, actively promoting them, sponsoring funds, things like that."

Bassena then started to explain what the movement was about. Just like its name, they were advocating to uphold the rights that guides should have; the right to a fairer salary, the right to reject Esper’s request for intimate guiding, protection from trafficking and enslavement, and many more.

"It was a good movement, pushing for the law to protect guides even more," Bassena said. "But just like any good tree, there would always be bad fruits."

"Hmm," Zein crossed his arms, staring at the screen that was running a search engine for the movement’s related article journals. "Are some guides became conceited and refused to guide espers they don’t like?"

"Espers that don’t benefit them," Bassena chuckled. "And because some Temples supported them, it only became more complicated. It was part of why the cleansing fee in the Temples is very high."

"And yet, a lot of low-class guides still suffer a low income and treatment," Zein scoffed. "I can see it; the ’rights’ only applied to the high-class guides, the ’elite’ ones that couldn’t be touched because they are protected by the Temples. The people who didn’t like that shifted their distate and frustration to the lower-class guides."

Bassena hummed his agreement. It was a good ideal with flawed execution, benefiting one side and damaging the others, creating gaps and internal dissatisfaction. Misconception and infighting grew, and the movement became multi-faceted.

"We did give steady supporting funds to some targeted movements--like those dealing with preventing guides trafficking--but nor more," Bassena shrugged. "It’s not that we don’t want to support them, but I feel like it’s quite dishonorable to agree to their cause when the reason why Trinity treats guides well had nothing to do with that."

"And what is that reason?"

Bassena pressed his lips suddenly at the question, cheeks deepened in a reddish hue. Zein stared at the bashful expression that was being reflected well through the mirror, and arched his brow. It took him a minute of silence to find the answer.

"Me?" Zein blinked, turning his head to look at the esper directly. "Because of me?"

The answer to many things Bassena did in his adult life; Zein.

When Radia told Bassena he would enact their long-discarded plan of creating a guild, Bassena had told the man there was only one guide he wanted in this world. And in an effort to make sure the guide would want to join them one day, the work environment should be the best; reasonable salary, superb facilities that let them guiding in comfort, regulations that would make them feel safe.

It was a fact that had been circulating among the executive circle, and trickled down through their assistants and secretaries’ group chat. But the guide in question wasn’t privy to this information, even after being there for about half a year already.

Until now.

Zein watched the slight blush that got deepened as Bassena averted his eyes from the guide’s intense gaze.

Gods--how adorable could he be? Zein grasped the esper’s coat to pull the man down for a kiss, which they had until the door was opened.

"Oh my god, I’m so sorry for being late!" Reina groaned helplessly as she entered the room, but then paused at the sight and retrace her steps, until only her head peeking out behind the door. "Maybe I’m actually too early?"

"Yeah, wait two more minutes," Bassena waved his hands to shoo the girl off, as if he wasn’t a blushing mess a few minutes ago.

"Hey!" Reina clicked her tongue. "My team is here, or do I have to tell them to wait for you to finish making out?"

"You’re the one being late," Bassena rolled his eyes, but obediently pulled himself away from Zein when the guide patted his cheek.

Reina stuck out her tone before entering the room again, followed by the same team she brought to make Zein’s black uniform. But unlike that time, they weren’t in Trinity’s conference room, but SavAsh headquarters; in one of their VIP dressing room.

Despite her bickering with Bassena, Reina apologized to Zein. "I’m sorry, Zein! I got stuck in the material department earlier--I promised we’ll do it fast, okay?"

"Mm," Zein replied briefly, standing up so they could start the fitting immediately. "But don’t you already have my measurement from the last time?"

Just like many other events, Zein found himself being ordered by Radia to go to SavAsh one day, apparently to make some clothes to be worn at the annual gathering.

"Yes, yes, we have. But we want a do-over, in case you changed in size--you know, different environment and such. And suits need a very precise measurement, so...just to be extra careful," Reina winked while Bassena took the guide’s jacket in his hands like a devoted attendant.

"Do I have to wear a suit?" Zein asked as the team started to measure him again, staring at Bassena through the mirror again.