Chapter 55 - 54. Riverside Night
"Good evening, my dear Guide,"
Zein stared at the charming smile that reminded him of the billboard’s ads, and swung the door close. "Try again."
In a swiftness befitting the Saint-class title, Bassena grasped the door to prevent it from closing, forcing his head between the gap with a twitching grin. "My bad, my bad, I won’t do it again."
"What won’t you do again?" Zein held the door handle, no longer pushing it close, but also not releasing.
"Umm...calling you ’my dear Guide’?" Bassena grinned, but upon Zein’s deadpan expression, immediately thought of another. "No? Uh—what then?"
With his free hand, the guide reached out and pinched the esper’s cheek, pulling the tough skin with a bit of magic energy until Bassena winced. "Ah—what? What?"
"Don’t use that smile at me," Zein said dryly, before letting go of the door and walking inside.
Bassena blinked and stood still for a few seconds, before smiling widely—a silly smile one couldn’t help but make in front of someone they liked, unlike the artificial one he use in commercials. He closed the door and followed the scent trail of fresh soap, eyes trailing a bead of water dripping from the dark hair.
Ah—it was the first time he saw the guide’s nape unprotected. Zein hadn’t worn his choker/mask yet, and with only a long-sleeved shirt, the expanse of fair skin available for Bassena to feast on got him gulping.
He put his hands inside his pocket, preventing any urge to reach out and touch. He stroked a conversation just to distract unnecessary thoughts. "Do you like your room?"
"What’s not to like?" Zein replied nonchalantly while retrieving his choker and putting it on. Sure, he was in the green-zone already, and wearing a mask here would just look weird and paranoid, but he had been wearing it for most of his life, and Zein found it uncomfortable to go out without wearing one. It felt like his blanket, his hiding space from inquisitive eyes.