The X Guide

It was already the next day. Both Khal and Devion only had a few hours of sleep, but they were espers. Lack of sleep for a few days would not affect them much.

Ayen had slept for about six hours this time. It was better if he were asleep most of the time so he would not feel the side effects.

"Do you want to eat something?"

Devion asked Ayen after they managed to recline his bed. His weaknesses were apparent, and while his mind was clear, Ayen did not seem to be conscious at all.

"Or... Do you want to do something?"

Ayen blinked slowly, lost in thought. The two did not disrupt him. Actually, Ayen was not thinking about food or anything at all.

He was only looking at the two espers in front of him. His mind was foggy but also clear. This did not make sense, but it was truly that way.

It was as though his system were fucked up, but he realized it all the more at this moment. Keeran was right. He just snagged the two most powerful espers in this world... not just one... but two.

Ayen stared at them and the way they looked at him with concern. His system was fucked, but his mind even more so. Why... He felt so happy all of a sudden.

To have such concern pouring out for him... It was as if he were precious enough to be cared for. Maybe he was for them.

They were his espers... lovers...

"Ayen?" Devion could not help but call his name after a few minutes of being unresponsive. He looked at Khal, who also shook his head, indicating he had no idea what was going on.

Khal looked at the vital signs equipment and saw no abnormality.

Just as he was about to also call Ayen’s name, Ayen opened his mouth and spoke.

"Vege...table," Ayen’s voice was still hoarse, but it had more strength than the last time. "Soup." He coughed slightly to clear his parched throat.

A small smile managed to appear on his face.

"I want to eat... with you."

He had no appetite, but suddenly he thought of that vegetable soup. The one Devion first served to him. It had become one of his favorite dishes.

Maybe because of the memory about it? It was a good comfort meal for him, who was not in good shape now. The two espers were stunned for a moment before their faces lit up.

Devion quickly nodded his head joyfully. He held Ayen’s hand and grinned at him. "Of course. I’ll cook that for you."

Khal also smiled and stood up, finally remembering to give Ayen a warm glass of water. Devion did not linger. After giving Ayen’s forehead a kiss, he left to cook.

Khal was left behind to take care of Ayen. He truly felt the shift in their dynamics. Nothing changed, but at the same time, everything seemed to be different.

After helping Ayen take a sip of the water, which he managed to halve in a few minutes, Khal was attentive to know that Ayen wanted to clean himself.

There was already a bathroom there. Khal attentively and carefully removed the vital equipment connected with him, even the IV.

"Careful," Khal soothingly rubbed Ayen’s back as he groaned from getting up from the bed. "We can stop here for a moment," he said as they paused just by the foot of the bed.

Khal had wanted to carry him, but Ayen initiated that he wanted to move. He felt weak, but he was not paralyzed. If he did not move, then he might feel weaker for a few more days.

Ayen’s hand wrapped around Khal, using him as a support and leaning into him. His insides occasionally throbbed, which made him gasp.

Khal sighed and looked at him, holding Ayen tightly.

"You’re stubborn."

Ayen looked up at him. Their gazes met, and the indescribable warmth in his chest spread. "You like stubborn people."

Khal chuckled lightly at what he said. He could not help and pinched Ayen’s cheek. "No. You got it all wrong." He leaned in and put a peck on Ayen’s lower lip. "It just so happened my lovers are very stubborn."

Ayen could not laugh with his condition, or in general, but he did smile at that. It was as though the backlash symptoms of last time had returned to him at this moment.

These two brought up the side Ayen had long since forgotten.

"If you say so..."

Khal laughed with this soft Ayen. The two did not just stop teasing each other at that. While they progressed slowly, they still managed to reach the bathroom.

This time, Ayen was not insisting on doing the work at all, and he let Khal help him wash. Ever since, Ayen has not been embarrassed about being naked in front of the two. Not to mention now, when Khal had already seen and even tasted everything of him.

There was no desire being ignited there; Khal found him so soft and adorable, even. Of course, they could not stay for too long in the bathroom.

Once done, Khal took a change of patient gown for Ayen.

Unlike earlier, Ayen let Khal carry him towards the bed, as he was truly tired. Khal then connected the vitals once more and put a different IV on him.

"When’s the result coming out?"

Ayen asked, eyes closed and feeling relaxed. Khal was drying his hair and brushing it so soothingly that he almost fell asleep again.

Khal paused a bit, but since Ayen asked it, he answered seriously.

"They need a week." He then changed the subject. "Devion should be returning by now."

He did not lie, but he just did not like that Ayen was thinking about the test results more than his own condition. It was the same last time about Keeran’s situation.

However, he did not voice this displeasure. Ayen did not insist as well and hummed as a response. How could he not realize Khal and probably even Devion were not fine about this whole experiment?

Ayen remained glad. Despite their obvious disapproval, they let Ayen do what he wanted.