There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL) novel Chapter 56

Chapter 56: Chapter 55. Just Like That

The first touch of their lips after two months was filled with caution. Even while Zein didn’t show his objection, Bassena only pressed his lips lightly, amber eyes staring straight into the deep blue.

He kissed once, and paused, waiting for rejection. And then he saw the blue eyes move, the long lashes fluttered, and Bassena pressed his lips harder, bared of any more inhibition. It didn’t take coaxing for their lips to part and slot snuggly, as if kissing was just a daily occurrence for them. The esper felt Zein shift slightly, feeling a hand reaching for his hair. _{freēwēbnovel.com}

"No," Bassena caught the guide’s wrist, breathing low against the wet lips. "I didn’t ask for guiding."

The amber eyes were firm. He had thought about it a lot during the past two months, during the days and nights in which the guide’s presence always stayed firm inside his heart. Zein always attributed his attraction as a byproduct of guiding attachment, locking their possible relationship as a mere guide and esper.

But that wasn’t what Bassena wanted. At least, that wasn’t all.

In the past, he thought having Zein guide him only for the rest of his life was what he was after. But that wasn’t it. When it occurred to him that Zein might never want to speak to him ever again after that night, it was devastating. He wanted to be with the man, even if he couldn’t guide him.

But what could he do, to this man that saw the world as a treacherous place filled with disgusting power-play?

Bassena thought then; he simply had to show him that there was no power-play in the relationship he pursue. That it wasn’t about an esper and a guide. That it wasn’t just a guiding attachment.

That right now, he kissed Zein as a man—not an esper looking for guiding.

The blue eyes stared deeply, calm like always. But there was a slight ripple on its surface, as the reaching hand halted and slacked on the esper’s hold.

"I got it,"

The soft sighing sound was all Bassena needed to resume their kiss, deeper this time, no longer being cautious. It was filled with longing, and done as if he was kissing a lover he hadn’t seen in years. The kind of kiss that made the other person melt in unavoidable pleasure.

But even as he felt Zein kissing him back, Bassena knew it was just a physical reaction. He had realized before, that despite his principle of avoiding sex with espers, the guide wasn’t some prude, bashful man. He was true to his desire, and did not shy away from physical contact.

But that was exactly the problem. Zein built a wall around his heart even when he bared his body. For him, it was just a matter of physical needs and nothing more. Zein seemed to sternly follow this mindset, for whatever reason. Perhaps fear, perhaps survival.

When they parted their lips, Bassena wanted to laugh at himself. It felt like karma, the world getting back at him for breaking so many hearts in the past, seeing people as a lump of flesh and tool for satisfying his carnal needs.

Seeing how calm Zein was, even after the passionate kiss that made the esper’s heart race with anxiety and joy, he couldn’t even feel disappointed or sad. It just felt like divine retribution, and he couldn’t help but let out a soft chuckle at the end.

"What?" the guide tilted his head, the blue eyes remained as nonchalant as ever. Pretty. Pretty and cruel.

Bassena let go of the wrist he had been holding all this while, and looked down, placing his palm above the guide’s steadily beating heart. "I’m gonna try it no matter what," he smiled, saying it more for himself than for Zein. The amber eyes flicked upward, staring at the confused face. "Obtaining your heart, that is."

Zein did not give him any reply, but the fact that the guide didn’t scoff or tell him off was enough for Bassena.

"Did you say that to all your past lovers?"

Bassena, who was in the middle of shuffling back into his seat, paused. He looked at the impassive face who just spat out a provocative question with a smile. "I have no past lovers."

Zein raised his brow, staring dubiously at the handsome face plastered all over the Eastern Federation’s billboards.

"I’ve never gone out with anyone," Bassena smirked and started the car. It was the truth; at most, he played around and have one night stands during his academy days. And then he was getting too busy climbing the towers and taking revenge. As a public figure prone to scandal, Bassena didn’t really attend parties anymore after founding Trinity, and his sexual activity consisted of being guided.

Although, he never did that again in the past two months.

"Why?" Zein, somehow, sounded quite intrigued.

Bassena had no idea whether he could take this positively, or protect his mind by not raking up false hope. "Obviously because I’ve never fallen for someone before," he smiled. Either way, he would just blast through it head-on as he planned. "Before I met you, anyway."

Zein pressed the button of his mask, hiding his face and with it, any expression Bassena could catch. "And you fell for me, just like that?"

Bassena chuckled as the car drove through the bridge, the river still sparkling with city lights. It also sparked some old memories; of a glowing mirage, of a humble low-grade potion, of a scribble over torn paper. "Mm, just like that," he said easily, with a soft smile and warm amber.

Zein pressed his lips as the blue eyes hardened. Perhaps it would be nice if he also had clear memories of that day, instead of a blurry sensation of trying to survive. Unlike Bassena, he had no great impression of that day, and he didn’t think he would reciprocate the kind of feeling Bassena hoped for.

Obtaining his heart—Zein looked down, at a tight seal he placed there, the heavy locks around his neck. It would be better if he could. Perhaps the curse he put on himself could be lifted then.

Was that why he just let Bassena try? Humoring the esper’s attempt to win him over?

Perhaps, this time, Zein did want his heart to be taken, if it was possible at all.

"Don’t go crying if you failed later," Zein crossed his arms, staring absentmindedly at the glittering dark river.

"It’s alright," Bassena smirked, glancing at the guide with curled eyes. "At least I know you’re interested in my body," and then he added with a joyful tone. "And I already received your hand pat, so I’m okay."

"You’re as persistent as ever," Zein sighed, leaning back into the car seat again.

Bassena laughed openly, without an ounce of discouragement. "I won’t be able to become the world’s strongest if I’m not," he even had a leeway to wink, looking as flirtatious as his commercial ads.

"Hmm? Aren’t you the strongest already?" Zein narrowed his eyes as he turned to look at Bassena. Was this esper bragging or something?

"You mean because I’m the youngest Saint-class?" Bassena smiled deeply. "I can say I’m the strongest in my generation, but I can’t be too complacent and say I’m the strongest with the veteran Saint-class still around."

Zein raised his brow. That was actually quite humble of the esper, not something that Zein expected. Bassena was quite young for the amount of power and success that he had, so if he was getting arrogant and full of himself, it would be quite understandable.

Was it because Radia Mallarc put a tight leash on him? Zein vaguely remembered that the Bassena he met in that cave four years ago was still quite the arrogant brat.

"I might be able to surpass them someday, but for now, I’m still lack in experience," the esper added. Despite his humble words, however, there was a high level of confidence that he’d surely become the undisputed strongest one day.