There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL)-Chapter 708: Side Story 3. Stellar Blossom - 43

Their patience only lasted until the end of the stairway to the bedroom gallery. When Radia stumbled on the last stair because he kept trembling, Han Joon did not just catch him, but picked up the man in his arms.

There was no gap in reactions; the moment Radia felt himself getting carried, his shaking hands grasped his husband’s--yes, his husband’s--face and pressed their lips together. It had been too long. Far too long.

They had been separated twice before Joon fell into a coma, and both times, it was longer than these mere few months. And yet, these mere few months felt like a crueler torture.

During the first eight years, Radia was mainly angry. During the second three years, he had a lot of distractions in his hand. But these few months...he had to see Joon’s life slipping out slowly, and while his presence was not forgotten, their long relationship was.

As much as Han Joon felt impatience, Radia had to hold back a lot more. Way more.

Radia, who hadn’t been able to have this kiss for a long time, and Joon, who had thought he wouldn’t be able to have this kiss for a long time...both of their longing tasted like decades had passed between their separation.

And they could taste the impatience, the longing, in the way their lips trembled against each other. They had kissed thousands, ten thousand, millions of times--and yet, they were fumbling clumsily like it was their first time. Their stuttered breath mingled as Han Joon hurriedly walked to the bedroom, and their wet gasps echoed loudly even against the sound of a slamming door.

Their kiss was clumsy and all over the place because Radia kept on gasping as if he were choking. At some point, tears were dripping from the crimson eyes, soaking both of their cheeks and lips, flavoring their kisses.

Through eyes glistening in tears, Radia gazed at the man between his hands. While yet his ’husband’, at the very least, this Han Joon was already his. Already the man he poured his young heart in; the one he made promises with.

The one who called him Dee and Darling and made his whole world shaken up with just a gaze and a smile. The same gaze and smile that he saw through his tears at this moment.

Yes. This Han Joon was already his.

"Joon..."

That name, uttered with a softness that only a decade-long relationship could produce, a softness that he heard the morning he woke up in the hospital, made Han Joon’s lungs cease functioning for a second.

He had been longing for that tone, for his name to be called that lovingly, ever since. It was enough to make his legs wobble and crash against the side of the bed.

That didn’t stop them from slotting their lips together, even as Han Joon fell and slid to the floor. His grip never loosened--if not tightened--around the man who was heavier than the nineteen-year-old in his available memory.

Ah...it reminded Joon that time had passed between them--time he didn’t know. Twenty years was gone from his memory, longer than the time he knew Radia currently.

He held Radia tightly, pulling the man into a heartfelt hug. As he buried his face on the other’s neck and inhaled the gentle scent deeply, his chest shook from both thrill and sadness. "How long--"

"Eleven."

"Months?"

"Years."

"Fuck!"

The curse brought a bitter smile to Radia’s lips. Fuck, indeed. "And three years more while you’re in prison."

"Even prison? Haa..." Han Joon let out a hollow laugh before leaning back against the side of the bed. He closed his eyes and let out a heavy sigh. "I didn’t think...it would be that long."

"Because you’re stupid," Radia grumbled, all the while caressing the regret in Joon’s face; the furrowed brows, the stiff lips, the shadow under the closed eyes...

Han Joon opened his eyes and chuckled. "I guess," he smiled bitterly and leaned into the touch while sighing in both regret and relief. "Haa--Dee..."

"Mmh," Radia leaned forward and cradled the pitiful young man.

Young man. It was funny, but it was the only time Radia could act like he was older. He wanted to indulge his man, his lover, his savior. And at that moment, as he tried to digest leaving Radia for eleven and three years, Han Joon looked vulnerable and pitiful.

In a weak voice, Han Joon whispered miserably. "Do I really manage to hold back for that long?"

"No," Radia chuckled. "You caved a little bit after I established Trinity."

"Ah..." Han Joon nodded. "I could guess a little why I did that."

"You said it wouldn’t matter anymore since the threat became so extensive that you couldn’t help but stay as close as you could," Radia informed him, but Han Joon snorted in response. "Was that not the truth?"

"It is," Han Joon smiled. "But I don’t think it was the whole truth."

"What was the other half?"

Han Joon narrowed his eyes as he tried to recall the time he heard ’Trinity’ when he was still mentally fifteen. At that time, he only knew it was a guild that Radia established to support Mortix. He did not have any thought about it other than a slight bitterness because he, a non-esper, wouldn’t be able to work there.

But hearing it after he regained more memory...it was different.

"I was probably angry...and envious," he muttered. The anger and envy were also apparent in his current speech.

Radia narrowed his eyes. "Elaborate."

"Because it was our promise," Han Joon said with a frown. Yes. It was the promise they made. The name they choose. The guild that they should establish together once Bassena got his license. "You even keep the name and the logo, even though I wasn’t there. I was annoyed now, even though I knew it was my fault and you were probably doing it to spite me."

"Don’t get cocky," Radia scoffed. "I made the guild because Bassena needed a place after he destroyed his clan, and I couldn’t have Shin only working as a researcher in Mortix."

Han Joon tilted his head and pulled Radia’s waist on his lap. "That’s all?"

Radia gritted his teeth and turned his head away. "Fuck! So what if I was being petty?!"

Han Joon chuckled and pulled the man even closer, kissing the reddened neck. "Adorable," he whispered fondly. Even after twenty years, Radia was as lovely as in his limited memory. "I can’t wait to remember the time you proposed to me with this scar."

"Shut up!"

Han Joon laughed against the scar, causing Radia to shudder and squirm from the ticklish sensation. "So, I think I would be petty too and approach you again just so I could assert my place in your life."

Radia blinked and pressed his lips while leaning on Joon’s shoulder. "Honestly?" he whispered with a smile on his lips. "I like that reason more."

Han Joon smiled and pressed his lips on Radia’s temple. "What did I do, anyway?"

"You’ll remember it later."

"I want to know now."

"So demanding," Radia raised his head and clicked his tongue playfully. "Do you want me to explain you with words?"

Placing his hands on the mattress behind Joon’s shoulder, he pressed his knees against the floor and looked down at the sparkling dark eyes.

"Or would you like to re-enact it?"

Han Joon smiled deeply. "Do I even need to answer?"

* * *

It was an outbreak; a dungeon gate that was failed to be detected on time because it hidden so deep inside the mountain. The beast crawled out of the cave and caverns one day, and the whole mountain became a raid zone. Trinity, a new guild at that time, participated in the operation, along with some other guilds, the association, and the governments.

The one coming from the government’s side, naturally, was Mobius.

It wasn’t the first time Radia saw Han Joon in eight years. And by saw, he meant caught the sight of the man who infuriatingly got even more handsome with short hair and a stiff military uniform. They fit well with his proper posture and deep gaze.

But that was the extent of his contact before; seeing the man accidentally from a distance, or watching the man secretly from the screen. That was it.

That outbreak, where they had to work together, was the first real contact since Radia slashed the man’s neck.

"I was staying back near the guild’s van since my summons was the one doing everything," Radia said. "And then you approached me when there was no one around."

Han Joon, who was standing in front of the window, closed his eyes to imagine what he might be feeling at that moment. An eight years of separation. Eight years of not touching Radia. He was sure he would watch the man closely to prevent the system from harming Radia, but he wouldn’t get close.

He recalled the longing he experienced for the past few days, when Radia put a wall between them. He recalled the twisted jealousy he felt earlier when he knew Radia built Trinity without him. And then he amplified those feelings eightfold.

"I felt so incredulous at that time," Radia scoffed. "You were the one who left, but the way you look at me--"

Radia froze when he raised his head and saw the black eyes. The deep, sharp, unblinking gaze.

Before Radia could snap out of the daze, Han Joon had already grasped his waist and the back of his head, sealing Radia’s thoughts with his lips.

It was harsh, impatient, childish--and Radia responded to it instinctively: by clutching the man and kissing back for a few seconds before his rationality kicked in.

Radia pulled back, bewildered, and Han Joon frowned. "Why?"

"No, it’s just..." Radia blinked in astonishment. "You looked...exactly like that day."

"Yeah?" Han Joon chuckled, shattering the immersion slightly. "And did you react in a daze like this?"

"Probably?" Radia held onto Joon’s shoulders. "I was angry and frustrated, but...at that time, I also just missed you too much."

Han Joon smiled. "Let’s see..." he brought his hand to the air and placed it on the side as if there was something there. "You said you were near a van, right? I was probably pushing you against it, and...since we couldn’t just continue outside, I would open the car’s door and..."

He grasped Radia with his other hand and flung the summoner to the bed.

"...shoved you inside," he climbed the mattress and hovered above Radia, smiling deeply. "Making sure you could not escape."