Chapter 155 - 150. Downpour
"Come here," Zein reached out his arms, pulling Bassena closer and closed the door with his other hand.
The moment that drenched head touched the guide’s shoulder, Bassena held Zein tight in a movement that felt like an automatic reaction rather than a conscious response, and pulled the guide into his embrace, as if holding into a lifeline. "I’m sorry," the voice, which came from the lips pressed on the crook of Zein’s neck, was hoarse and shaking.
"It’s not your fault," Zein had no idea what Bassena apologized for, but he could make several guesses, which all had something to do with the Golden Viper and the Vaski.
"I’m sorry," Bassena still whispered weakly, and probably, it wasn’t merely a case of feeling guilty by association.
Perhaps he just felt sorry for Zein, after reading the details of how Zein’s father met his end. Or perhaps he felt sorry for his mother. Whatever he felt sorry for, Zein understood that when people felt guilty, it didn’t matter what other people said, it didn’t matter even if people said it wasn’t their fault.
So Zein just reached up and stroked the wet platinum lock and the vulnerable drenched back. "Okay," he said, in the soothing voice he used when he put the sick twins to bed in the past. "Okay, I forgive you."
It might sound insincere, since Zein didn’t even know what Bassena was apologizing for. But he also seriously thought whatever it was, he wouldn’t blame Bassena for it, so it was still the truth.
Zein felt the arms around him tightened, but the trembling had stopped. He continued to stroke the esper’s head and back as they stood in the foyer, even as his clothes got wet and dripping water pooled beneath them.
It felt like they would spend all night in front of the door at this rate, so Zein started to step back to pull away. But of course, Bassena pulled him tight like a child with separation anxiety. It was quite hard to even just try looking at the esper’s face.
When Zein managed to do that, he could see how the amber eyes, which usually blazed with the fire of life, were dim and unfocused. It was as if the esper was only there physically, moving by instinct, while his soul was trapped somewhere in the abyss. Zein stroked the wet face, and kissed the esper lightly to bring some light back into those eyes. "Come on," he said after the amber eyes flickered slightly, and pulled the esper inside.
The way Bassena followed him wordlessly was like that of a clueless child who lost their parents in the middle of the crowd. Dazed, confused; perhaps the man himself had no idea how he ended up in Zein’s room. He said nothing while standing blankly as Zein peeled the wet coat and shirt off, much like the time when the esper just woke up and feeling disoriented.