The X Guide-Chapter 37: Red Zone (3)

That night, Khal and Devion realized just how stubborn Ayen could be. This made them look at him in a new light. Perhaps Ayen was also realizing this about himself.

"That’s your fifth can," Devion pointed out, hesitating whether to give Ayen another.

Ayen was already a mess in his first can of beer, and now he could barely be communicated with. He was insanely drunk by this time.

"I want more..." Ayen pursed his lips, looking pitiful as he looked at the can in Devion’s hand. There was still moisture on his lips, making them glimmer enticingly.

Devion subconsciously gulped, looked away, and met Khal’s gaze, who was watching him. "What?" He shot an eyebrow at him. "Should we give him another?"

They could not figure out if this was still the backlash talking or the drunk Ayen.

"Why not?" Khal motioned for him to give the can. "He wants it."

Devion had no choice but to give the can into Ayen’s waiting hand. He quickly snatches them and drinks a mouthful.

His face was already flushed, and his eyes were drooping. Ayen was obviously drunk and needed to rest. The thing was, he did not want to stop.

The two watched Ayen empty the can in no time again, then turned again to Devion, since he was the one giving the beer to him. He licked his lips and stared.

Devion stared back at him. Ayen furrowed his brows, annoyed.

"Where?" He raised the beer can in his hand as if to remind Devion.

Devion was about to say something, but Khal’s voice sounded instead.

"There’s no more."

This interruption made Ayen turn his attention to him.

"No more?" He frowned, not believing it. "Really?"

Khal nodded and glanced at Devion, winking at him. Devion immediately understood, and before Ayen could turn his head over, Devion had already hidden the other cans.

It only needed a second.

"Yes, we only stock a few cans," Khal calmly answered the drunk Ayen.

This was also to know if Ayen was still under the influence of his backlash or if it was the drunk him talking. If the former, they could just give him another after making excuses.

Observing him while he looked upset, Ayen did not look like he was strongly pursuing the beer. So, it was indeed the drunk him being stubborn.

"Are you still being hot?" Khal attempted to divert Ayen’s attention.

Ayen had long been lying on ice, but he was still sweating. This question reminded Ayen of the heat he was feeling, and he nodded.

He arched his neck and rubbed his skin. "It’s too hot..." Ayen then suddenly cried, shocking the two so much they looked at each other in the same disbelief.

"Hey, Ayen... want to sleep?" As always, Devion would say whatever his mind came up with first.

"No. I don’t want to sleep." Ayen shook his head and continued to cry. "It’s lonely... I don’t want to be alone." Suddenly, he bawled his eyes out, completely out of character for the Ayen they knew.

"Khal, calm him down." Devion had to ask Khal, who Ayen claimed had a soothing voice or whatever that was.

Khal did not actually know if he could calm Ayen, but it was better to try.

"Ayen," he called. The first time, Ayen ignored him, and when it was the third time, Ayen sniffed and looked at him. There were still tears in his eyes. Khal could not help but reach out to wipe them.

Since Ayen was not in his usual state, he did not reject the touch. Khal subconsciously paused but smiled and wiped his tears.

"You said it’s lonely and you don’t want to be alone?" Khal’s voice went lower, coaxing Ayen.

Ayen nodded his head, looking so aggrieved that it made Khal’s heart itch at the sight. Still, he continued.

"Why don’t we..." Khal paused, glanced at Devion, who was watching, then back at Ayen to continue his thoughts. "...sleep with you?"

"Huh?" Devion reacted strongly.

Khal sighed and had to make it clear again.

"Do you want us to accompany you to sleep?" Khal looked Ayen in the eye. He also did not know if it was right to ask this of someone who was clearly drunk, but it was getting late, and Ayen had to rest.

Devion also soon realized what he meant, so he did not react much.

Ayen stared back at him; his eyes appeared deeper than usual. Probably because he was drunk. He soon nodded and reached out to grab Khal’s hand, wiping his tears.

It was also tight, but Khal barely felt the force that Ayen was giving on the hold. Khal glanced at it for a second before looking back at Ayen, who was staring at him intently.

"Accompany me... you and him..." Ayen spoke in a hoarse tone. Slowly, he turned to Devion and reached out another hand to him.

Devion looked at the hand, but it was not hard to understand what Ayen wanted, and so he accepted the hand. Ayen gripped them as tightly to him.

The feeling of holding their hands did not feel strange anymore, as they always held hands, though that was during the guiding session. Ayen felt the difference on their palm; it was not much. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

However, Khal’s was colder and Devion’s warmer. The two only watched him, not interrupting and letting him touch their hands.

These were his... espers’ hands.

The thought of that made his hazy subconscious satisfied.

"I want to sleep." Ayen held their hands and seemed not to have an intention to let go. Fortunately, he was holding a hand that would not make them feel weird walking upstairs.

Khal and Devion exchanged glances again, but let the drunk Ayen be again to do what he wanted, and they were there to support him getting up. Since he was still submerged in ice.

Fortunately, they were Khal’s creations and so did not behave like original ice, and so Ayen was not wet from being submerged for too long.

Ayen dragged them along to his current room. The bed was huge enough, but still cramped for three of them to sleep. Ayen seemed not to care about that.

Wordlessly, Ayen walked to the bed with the two in tow. Yes, still holding their hands.

He stared at the bed and then at the two and invited them in with a low, satisfied hum. "Let’s sleep together."