There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL)
Chapter 109 - 105. Azure Promise

Chapter 109: Chapter 105. Azure Promise

"You like it?" Bassena asked after Zein stopped looking outside the window.

The esper had been waiting for Zein, watching the guide overcome his initial anxiety, and then savoring the way those blue eyes looked at the closing sky and distancing ground; a solemn, soft look with a tinge of sadness. But there was also joy and excitement dancing there.

It was beautiful.

Bassena regretted not taking Zein on a flight faster. Even if it was just to fly around Althrea, he should have planned for one.

But for now, he just watched the man. It felt so serene despite the sound of the aircraft’s engine. He couldn’t bear to distract the guide until Zein finally leaned back and shifted his gaze from the window.

"I do," the guide answered shortly, and Bassena didn’t miss the softer tone in that melodious voice.

"I can take you to a sky date, then?" Bassena asked playfully. But Zein didn’t tell him off or anything, and instead hummed an affirmation that got Bassena stunned for a second. "Really?"

"Mm,"

The blue eyes looked so soft then, that if it wasn’t for the mask, Bassena would have already stolen a kiss. So the esper distracted himself by talking about the place they were about to visit.

"I think you’ll like the place we’ll be staying at too," Bassena said, prompting Zein to turn his face to look at the esper. "It’s in a lake."

The blue eyes blinked, processing the information. "There’s a lake in the Capital?"

"There is, although it’s an artificial one," Bassena explained. "But it’s pretty big and nice, since it was made to make the Capital looks pretty."

Zein looked up for a bit in ponder, before responding. "To show off?"

Bassena chuckled, but confirmed the conjecture. "Well, you could say that. A lot of hotels were built around the lake, and the surrounding morphed into a commercial district. It wasn’t far from the federation building, so foreign envoys used the place often."

"Mm," Zein looked out of the window again, marveling at how fast they moved through other zones and cities. Looking at the window, he asked suddenly. "Can we see the lake from the room?"

Bassena smiled at the question that was filled with hidden excitement. "Of course," he liked seeing the rare glittering sparks inside those beautiful blue eyes, which slowly shifted to look at him. "You can even see it from the bed, as long as you’re not closing the curtains. Why else would we stay there otherwise?"

The sparks grew even brighter. "Really? From the bed?" Zein asked in a tone that felt like he’d beat the shit out of Bassena if the esper lied.

"Yeah," Bassena replied with a sure and firm tone, although it was pretty hard to stifle his laugh. "You can just spend the time in your room looking at the lake if you want. It’s visible from two sides of the wall."

Zein bit his lips unconsciously, before turning his head to hide his smile--although it was already hidden beneath the mask. And Bassena looked at the guide’s slightly reddened cheek peeking out of the mask with satisfaction, feeling like he just accomplished a great thing.

It was Lex in the front seat that had to hold back his sigh, because it was him that had to prepare everything. Looking at the hotel room that had an unobstructed view of the lake, and then booking the corner suite. It was expensive, yes, but that wasn’t the problem--Bassena Vaski and Trinity had money to burn. What was difficult was demanding the availability of the room itself. A room--or rather, a floor--like what Bassena wanted for Zein was in high demand, and needed to be booked months before. Lex had to use Bassena and Radia’s names to get that suite.

But looking at the guide’s sparkling eyes and flushed cheek, and looking at the Serpent Lord’s soft gaze and tender smile, Lex thought that the hustle was quite worth it.

* * *

"Ah, there it is," after flying for a while, crossing areas and zones, Zein could finally see the metropolis--another place with tall buildings and dense protection.

Althrea was big, but Rexon was even bigger. Just like Althrea, it was surrounded by a big wall. But perhaps since it was the Capital, there were eight points of entrance to ease traffic. If Althrea had a beautiful, aesthetically pleasing vibe, Rexon’s atmosphere was more stoic, sturdy, and focused more toward functionality.

Zein looked out the window again, almost pressing his face to the glass. Building was building, but he wanted to see this lake. He didn’t care about the castle-like structure that functioned as the presidential building. His eyes focused to chase the image of glittering water.

"Nick, can you circle the lake for a bit?" Bassena asked the pilot after looking at the eager pair of sapphires.

"I’ll ask for permission, Sir."

As the chopper turned direction, Bassena leaned closer to the guide, and whispered to the microphone. "Almost there,"

And just a second after the esper said that, Zein caught the glittering surface a bit further away, surrounded by tall buildings, monuments, and gardens. Zein didn’t dare to blink, as if worried that the glittering surface was just a mirage, and it would be gone once he closed his eyes.

Althrea had rivers that ran through the city and moats that surrounded it like a set of ribbons, but there was something different about a large body of water. And as they came closer to the lake, Zein held his breath.

It was huge. It was many times bigger than the only other lake he had seen--the one made by the fragment’s core. And just as Bassena requested earlier, the helicopter went to circle the lake, and Zein almost got up from his seat to be able to look down.

Fortunately, he had some level of self-restraint.

The lake was blue and turquoise, reddish along the edge as it reflected the yellowing leaves. Zein could see ships and yachts sailing across the water, trailing white foams behind them, and he wondered if he could ride one too.

"Yeah, we could," Bassena answered him--apparently, he muttered the question aloud. "We can do it after your guards arrived tomorrow."

Since they came with an aircraft, Zein’s shadow guards would come through the land, and they could only reach the place by dawn. But the one who usually chauffeured Zein to Mortix, Jock, would be the only one showing himself--like usual.

Zein wondered if there would ever come the day when he saw the faces of his guards. Bassena said he better not, since that would mean Zein was under serious attack.

For now, Zein’s safety was totally under Bassena’s responsibility.

After circling the lake once, the helicopter headed to one of the hotels--looking grand and luxurious even with a glance. Even before they landed on the rooftop, there was already someone waiting for them--for Bassena, at any rate.

Once again, Zein had to face the belting wind of the deadly blades, and he didn’t let go of Bassena’s helping hand until they were well away from the helicopter. The waiting man, who seemed to be the concierge, talked with Lex and guided them to their suite.

"Are we in the same room?" Zein asked quietly.

Bassena gave him a smirk, and replied in a whisper. "If you want," he said. But seeing the guide’s raised brow, Bassena added quickly with a sheepish laugh. "Just kidding. There are several rooms in the villa, so you can pick the best one."

"The one where I can see the lake from the bed?"

Bassena chuckled and nod. "Yeah, that one."

They went inside the elevator, and Zein caught the concierge secretly glancing at them. But he knew people were getting curious about him, as well as his relationship with Bassena, so Zein didn’t really care about it. Bassena, however, shot the man a cold stare, prompting the man to look at anything but Zein.

It was a short descent to their floor, and Zein found out there were only two double doors flanking a wide hall. It was the first time Zein found out a hotel room could contain a lot of chambers. He felt like entering an apartment rather than a hotel room.

They didn’t even arrive at the suite yet, just the outer area where spaces for attendants and bodyguards were provided, including a lounge and bedrooms. After crossing another hallway that split this area, Zein saw another double door, and they finally arrived at the main suite.

It was big and nice and luxurious, blah blah--Zein didn’t care. His eyes instantly caught the glass wall that flooded his vision with the blue lake, and he crossed the room immediately, totally ignoring the concierge’s explanation.

Slowly, he put his palms on the glass, as if wanting to touch the lake directly. Again, the blue eyes were staring unblinking, and Zein almost pressed his forehead at the cool glass.

"It’s bigger than the fragment’s lake, right?" Bassena stood beside him, slightly behind, staring at the blue orbs.

"Mm," it wouldn’t beat the feeling he had back then, when he laid his sight at the first lake he had ever seen, but the vastness of the water got his heart tremble.

Looking at it from here, the lake felt even bigger, as his vision was filled with the color of the water that reflected the sky. The location of the hotel and the room itself gave him an almost clear view, without any other building obstructing it. Across the lake, there was the administration complex with the presidential palace and parliament building, as well as the monument commemorating the heroes’ sacrifice during the age of the apocalypse.

"Bas..." Zein spoke suddenly, quietly. "You’ve seen the sea, right?"

Bassena stared at the unblinking blue eyes, replying softly. "Yes."

"Is it bigger than this?"

"Yeah," the amber eyes never shifted from the guide’s face, "It’s so big that you can’t see what’s across the water," the blue eyes shook slightly, and Bassena added. "The one in the southern kingdom is in pretty turquoise color, but further in the deeper area, it looks deep blue."

"...like my eyes?"

"Like your eyes."

Zein pressed his forehead against the glass wall, looking at the unseen distance. "If we can get rid of the Deathzone, will we also have a sea?"

"We will," Bassena said firmly, as a promise. "And we’ll build a seaside house where you can gaze at the sea all the time."

The hands on the glass wall curled into fists, and Bassena said it again in full conviction.

"I promise."