The Guide is Actually a Body-Switching Esper [BL]
Chapter 102: Reward or Punishment

Chapter 102: Reward or Punishment

Four hours later, the reinforcements finally arrived. By then, the scene was littered with the monster corpses, so much so that it was difficult to walk, stepping on the bloody, squelchy flesh, covered in sticky glowing goo, and partially frozen.

Finally, Lane and Damien could take a break. Not like Lane needed it, he could still carry on fighting, but at least now he could drag Damien to the healing station. Which he did, grabbing the man by the wrist, as soon as the newcomers replaced them on the front lines.

After getting somewhat scolded by Lane, Damien started to focus more on the fight. Not that he could resist checking up on Lane, to make sure that the man was okay, and earning himself another injury - this time, on his left forearm - but he most certainly got better.

Meanwhile, Lane wasn’t injured in the slightest, not even a scratch. Using his ability to repel the monsters, none of the dogs had a chance to get a taste of him. Only the sleeves and the pants of his uniform were partially melted, unable to withstand such a high amount of Toxic Ooze. The Association’s uniforms might have been made from a material much sturdier than regular clothing, but in the end, it was still cheap equipment.

The cold evening air ticked his exposed skin, quickly cooling down his muscles, warmed-up from the fight, but Lane barely even noticed. He just dragged Damien along, passing plenty of other Awakened, from the Association and the Guilds, wandering around, heading either to the front lines, or stumbling back to the rest points after their replacements arrived.

"They’re minor injuries, there’s no need to go to the healing station just yet," Damien protested, as he tottered behind the man much smaller than him. They looked funny from the side, the two of them, with Damien four or so inches taller, and with a much larger frame, being dragged around so helplessly by Lane. Not that either of them was in the mood for a laugh. "There are plenty of people who need it more..."

Lane clicked his tongue, only tugging on Damien’s wrist more. "Not this again. Is it going to be like last time? You’re just going to leave it unhealed, and walk around with injuries for weeks?"

"It won’t take weeks to heal."

"That’s not the point!" Lane finally stopped, shooting Damien an angry glare. "Just because others are injured as well, that’s not a reason for you not to seek treatment! What if it was me with those injuries, hmm? Would you tell me to wait, because they’re not serious enough?"

"...No." Damien’s face instantly darkened at the mere fought, his perpetual frown growing deeper.

"Then shut up and follow me!" Lane didn’t waste time studying Damien’s expression, just pulled the man, resuming the walk. For some reason, he was annoyed, so very annoyed! He was the only one who could currently bite Damien, okay? He wasn’t going to share with some ugly, stinky monsters! Or anyone else!

They barged into the healing station. It was set up in a school gym, within the evacuated area, but a safe distance away from the Gate. It was very simple, just a field infirmary, with rows of narrow hospital beds, some separated by the curtains, and then plenty of people just set up on the ground.

"Minor injuries to the left, grave to the... Ah." The member of the infirmary team paused in his words as soon as he lifted his eyes from his tablet. "Team Leader Lennox? Are you injured? Then, please head to the back Sir, there are eight empty beds there... And what about the man with you?" He moved his eyes to Lane.

"I’m alright, thanks! I’ll take my Team Leader there," Lane smiled, and he quickly dragged Damien away before he could ask any questions or protest. Damien hadn’t been at the Association long enough, and wasn’t too used to getting injured, so it was natural he didn’t know. But, in the field hospitals, not everyone received equal treatment. That’s why there were plenty of people lying on the ground, even though there were empty beds... Because those beds were only reserved for high-rankers.

Even though high-rankers rarely needed them.

Although unfamiliar with the situation, Damien was smart enough to catch on. Seeing the people on the ground, then the private empty beds, and the fact that he was directed there, he quickly connected the dots. "It shouldn’t be like that," he muttered, his frown so deep his brows almost came together, separated only by a deep wrinkle.

Lane only shrugged his shoulders though. "Should or shouldn’t, what are you going to do about that? High-rankers are more important, so they are valued more, and receive special benefits. Think about it as a compensation of sorts, for all that stupid restrictions we have to endure." He sat Damien down on the bed. "Take of your shirt, I’ll take care of your leg."

Having said that, he took out one of his daggers, wiped it clean with one of the disinfectant wipes waiting on the table, and cut out the leg of Damien’s pants, removing the bloody part that stuck to the skin slowly, and revealing the wounded calf.

"Compensation? Stupid restrictions?" Damien was not done. "Those restrictions are necessary! With such a great power, it is only..."

He never got to finish though, because a member of the infirmary team lifted the curtain and stepped in. "Hello, may I take a look at your wounds first? One of the healers will be here soon..."

"Ah, there’s no need to rush! Please take the healers to take their time, and take care of those who need it more first. I’ll be fine with just the basic first aid." Damien raised his hand, quickly stopping the first-aider.

The man was clearly surprised - who would refuse the healing when it’s offered to them? - but didn’t argue. Even if Damien was a VIP patient, he still couldn’t spare too much time for him. There were countless injured waiting for him outside...

So, he put on a pair of fresh gloves, and moved on to disinfect Damien’s wounds.

Fifteen minutes later, it was all done, and the man excused himself, leaving Lane and Damien alone again.

"Do you have some sort of grudge against healers? A healing allergy? Or maybe one of your exes is a healer, and you’re afraid you’ll run into them?" Lane asked as soon as the first-aider was gone, his face twisted in a weird expression.

"Of course not. I just think that rather than waste their time and energy on my minor injuries, the healers should focus on saving lives first." Damien paused, and then added quietly, "And I don’t have any exes."

"No?" Lane lifted his brows. He half-expected it, with how prudent and difficult the man was... But then again, he was so hot and handsome, and came with some benefits, such as homemade pastries and sweet treats, and his voice was also nice... And he was caring... So, it’d be weird if no one had ever been interested in him before. Not to mention... "How come you’re such a great kisser then?"

"What?" Now it was Damien’s turn to be surprised. "I am?"

"What, you didn’t know? Why do you think I bother you about it so much then?" Lane chuckled, moving onto the edge of the bed, and leaning over Damien, who was resting on the pillows in a half-sitting position. His upper body was still exposed, with the first-aider having only finished bandaging his wounds a moment ago, and Lane could feel his body heat. His breathing quickened, and he instinctively shuffled closer toward the warmth, until their bodies almost touched.

"Since we’re on the subject... How about you reward me for a job well done?" He asked, his eyes stuck on Damien’s red, soft lips.

"...We’re in public."

"If not reward, then how about you accept your punishment for getting injured?" Lane drifted closer and closer, so close he could hear Damien’s heartbeat.

"Xavier..." Damien still wanted to protest, but he didn’t oppose it when their lips finally touched. He just closed his eyes, and let Lane claim him, do whatever he wanted to him... He even moved to embrace the man, but Lane stopped him.

"Your injuries," he muttered, before deepening the kiss. His hand sneaked underneath Damien’s back, tracking the line of his spine, while the other kneaded his waist.

"Damien?" All of a sudden, a voice came from behind the curtain. "Are you in here? I’ve been told that you..."

The curtain got pulled to the side with an energetic swish, and two women walked in, the speaker falling instantly silent at the sight awaiting them.

For a moment, everything became perfectly quiet and still.