“Me?”
Lucas questioned in disbelief. His muffled voice trembled pitifully.
“Yes, I could never have lived like you did. At such a young age…”
Iberis trailed off. Lucas had vowed revenge before even recovering from the shock of losing his parents, cared for his sister whose growth was stunted by psychological trauma, and became a doctor at an age when his peers were entering university, skipping grades repeatedly.
In the meantime, he devoted himself to research, often sleepless, establishing the Blake Medical Equipment and Pharmaceutical Company and growing it into a respectable enterprise. Although it was a special appointment, he also completed military training intermittently and joined the Defense Force as both a military doctor and guide.
And he proudly proved his abilities so that no one could disparage him as a parachute appointment. These were achievements Lucas had accomplished alone as he grew from a boy to a young man.
The guilt of not being able to protect his family, the sense of guilt for deceiving those around him, the loneliness of having to harshly push away those who approached with kindness for fear of his false identity being discovered.
Lucas was here now, having endured the endless anguish and adversity that had tormented him. How could one not praise such a person as admirable?
“You’re really, really amazing, Luke.”
Thud. Iberis pressed his forehead against Lucas’s and whispered, meeting his gaze. Seeing the golden eyes, once full of brilliant vitality, now reddened and moist, made his heart ache.
“You too, Major…”
Lucas was about to say that you’ve had a hard life too, that if I were you, I could never have endured it. But as warmth gently settled on his heated eyes like snowflakes, he couldn’t utter the words that had risen to his throat.
“You’ve been through a lot, it must have been really hard, right?”
Chu chu. Iberis tilted his head and kissed Lucas’s heated cheeks and nose in turn. A dejected appearance didn’t suit Lucas.
But not knowing how to cheer him up, Iberis just kissed various parts of Lucas’s face at random. This was all he could do, lacking the eloquence to comfort others.
“…Yes.”
Lucas closed his eyes and bit his lips at the endless shower of affectionate kisses. Somehow, the inside of his eyelids stung. Suddenly overcome with emotion, he wrapped both arms around Iberis and hugged him tightly.
“…It was hard, sometimes to the point where I wanted to give up everything.”
Lucas mumbled, burying his face in Iberis’s embrace. These were inner feelings he had kept deeply buried in his heart, not sharing even with Winfried, who was like a mother to him, or Caleb and Thomas, who were like brothers, fearing his desire for revenge might waver if he spoke them aloud.
“I often felt achingly lonely. On such days, it felt like I was the only one left in this world.”
Lucas exhaled sharply, like someone who had just emerged from water, after confessing his weak, long-hidden true feelings as if in confession. Perhaps because he now knew not only his parents’ enemy but also all those directly and indirectly involved in their deaths, he felt more liberated than embarrassed at revealing his vulnerable side to Iberis.
Maybe he had wanted someone to understand all along.
Lucas tightly bit his lip to hide his trembling. Over the years, he had to be a reliable guide for those with the same goal as him, and a strong fence for his sister who needed care.
Not just that, he had to appear to Winfried as a trustworthy partner worthy of working together, not just as the pitiful son of a dead friend. Otherwise, she would surely have stopped him from becoming an avenger under the pretext of protecting him.
So Lucas thoroughly hid his expressions and never complained, no matter how difficult and tired he was. If he showed even a little weakness, everyone would worry and be anxious about him.
But there were days when he wanted to take off his false mask and lean on anyone. On such days, he had to control his restless heart all night. All he was allowed was to endure and endure, even if his insides festered.
“Was it like that?”
Iberis gently stroked Lucas’s hair. He felt a pang in his solar plexus as he felt his lover’s shoulders in his arms spasm intermittently. He felt pity and sympathy for Lucas, who couldn’t even cry freely at the moment he learned the truth he had been searching for so long.
“I’m sorry, I want to warm you up… but my body is cold…”
Iberis gently hugged Lucas back and repeatedly pressed his lips to Lucas’s ear visible through his disheveled silver hair.
When his heart was heavy and cold, when his body was tired and his hands and feet were numb… When Lucas shared his warmth, it was like magic, relieving fatigue and warming his heart. Lucas would probably never know how much of a comfort that had been to him.
Only after meeting Lucas did Iberis realize that someone’s body heat could be a strength to live through a painful life. That’s why he wanted to return the gentle comfort he had received to Lucas as well.
However, born with a lower body temperature than others, no matter what he did, he couldn’t give Lucas the warmth like a sunny spring day. It was at least fortunate that Lucas didn’t find his ice-cold body uncomfortable.
“No, it’s enough. I prefer it, actually.”
Lucas tightened his arms around Iberis and burrowed into his embrace. Inhaling deeply into his lungs, he was enveloped by a refreshing scent like the air on a snowy day. The fragrant yet fresh smell of skin gradually cooled his insides that were boiling with anger and sadness.
“Thanks to you, my heated insides have calmed down.”
“Really…?”
“Yes, and my heart has become warmer than ever.”
Lucas, who had now regained his usual expression, slightly curved the corners of his eyes. His lips also formed a gentle arc. It was a sincere smile, not a forced one.
“Thank you, Major… Thanks to you, I’ve regained my spirits.”
“What did I do?”
“You comforted me.”
Lucas nuzzled his cheek against Iberis’s chest like a child seeking affection. His solar plexus no longer stung, nor did he feel nauseous. Now he understood why Winfried had wanted him to interact with people and form precious relationships. She must have been concerned about situations like this.
“Only you could do this. So don’t say you’re sorry for not being able to warm me up.”
Lucas looked up and gently pressed his lips against Iberis’s. A hug wasn’t enough. Lick, after enjoying the soft sensation, he extended his tongue to lick, and the lips reserved only for him parted slowly.
“Mmm, Luke…”
Lucas let out a low groan as the breath that escaped between Iberis’s slightly parted lips tickled and dispersed on his skin. Then he pulled Iberis close abruptly.
“Ah!”
Iberis let out a short exclamation as he momentarily lost his balance. When he came to his senses, he was already feeling the soft blanket against his back.
“Lucas…”
As a shadow fell over his face, Iberis’s gray eyes wavered like waves. He watched Lucas getting closer and closer, then gently closed his eyes.
Chu, chuuck.
Instead of a deep kiss, Lucas repeatedly pressed his lips against Iberis’s and pulled away. He enjoyed the marshmallow-like softness for a moment before opening his mouth to gently bite the tender flesh.
Chup, chup.
As their lips locked deeply, the sound of tongues colliding and saliva mixing echoed softly in the bedroom.
“Haa…”
Feeling his cheeks and neck gradually warming up, Iberis raised both arms. As he embraced the firm neck and ran his fingers through the tousled hair, Lucas hesitated for a moment. But soon he pressed his body against Iberis’s as if charging forward.
As their bodies overlapped as if they had been one from the start, hair that seemed to contain the starlight of the night sky spilled down. It looked so much like tears Lucas was shedding that Iberis willingly offered his embrace to his lover who clung to him with all his might, as if Iberis were his only lifeline.
* * *
“Huff, gasp.”
Yuki ran down the corridor, breathing heavily. Some people glanced at her as she ran frantically, wondering what was going on, but she had no mind to care about such things. Her destination was the information room of Mars Guild.
“Ka, Karas-san!”
“Oh, Yuki-san.”
Karas, who was putting something into a large box, greeted Yuki warmly without being surprised by her sudden appearance. It was his usual refreshing smile.
“Are you looking for me? My goodness, your hair is all disheveled.”
Karas made a fuss seeing Yuki approaching him. Then he raised his hand to roughly fix her hair that had become a mess from running from the guide room to the information room.
“Huff, huff. There’s something I want to ask Karas-san…”
“Hm? Me?”
“Is, is it true that you’re quitting the guild?”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
