Ayen remained in his position, silently watching the two bicker. He noticed that the two seemed not to mind his presence, or probably did not care.
Either way, it was the same for him. Ayen was not too intimidated by their names and reputation. Contrary to the famous rumors, the two seemed to get along just fine, perhaps a little too well.
As for whether the two were in a relationship based on their earlier position and what he was witnessing, Ayen did not bother to guess. He obediently waited, as that was all he could do.
"Hey," Sounding calmer now, Devion patted Khal's shoulder as he glanced at Ayen, who stood not far away from them. "Do you think he's a bit weird?"
The corner of Ayen's eyes twitched.
Between us, who was weirder exactly? Who was the one caught in an intimate position with his supposed rival and never appeared ashamed about it?
Unfortunately, Ayen could only retort like this in his mind. It might not look like it, but no matter how fucked up his life was, he did not want to get killed and preferred a natural death.
"How so?" Khal asked, now also standing and putting on a shirt. He brushed his black hair, which smoothly parted, and his handsome face became more defined.
"Hey, you—"
"My name's Ayen." Ayen cut him off.
Devion briefly paused, then his brow shot up, now looking at Ayen a little more seriously. His face, which resembled a serene angel, greatly contradicts the tone of his voice. However, once he stared like this, even Ayen forgot he was an arrogant fellow based on his tone.
"Okay, Ayen, satisfied?" Devion cocked his head and swept Ayen from head to toe, then back, before their eyes met. "You're a guide from the association?" His eyes narrowed and seemed to scrutinize Ayen's face, which still showed an indifferent expression.
Devion put a hand to his chin as though wanting to remember something. But then he gave up, turned around, and looked at Khal, who arrived at his side.
"I haven't seen him before. Look, I didn't know the association had a guide this pretty."
"He's a man." Khal pointed out the obvious, but his sharp gaze also began to stare seriously at Ayen. In fact, his gaze was more intense than Devion's.
Ayen had to bite the inside of his right cheek so he could meet their eyes. He felt like to be taken more seriously, he had to do. It was definitely not because it also meant losing.
Devion rolled his eyes and sneered. "I know, Mr. Obvious. Calling a man pretty isn't wrong, especially to describe him."
Khal seemed to agree as he nodded. "For once, you're right."
Offended, Devion was about to snap again, but a huge arm snaked around his neck and also covered his mouth while he was at it. He did not fight it but could only glare at Khal as a result.
Ayen realized that the two were almost equal in height, with Khal having a slight advantage; their body size also was not much different. Only that Khal had more defined muscles than Devion.
He blinked at the two, watching how Khal expressed a smile, or more like a smirk.
"Now, beauty..."
"Ayen." Again, Ayen cut him off.
His smile faded slightly, but it remained. It did not help that a giggle sounded beside him. Despite his mouth being covered, Devion still managed to let out a sound.
"Mm. Ayen..." Maybe it was only Ayen's illusion as Khal appeared to slowly spoke his name as if to clearly emphasize the name, sounding through gritted teeth. Even if it was, Ayen would not care much.
Devion snickered again, but the hand covering his mound tightened, causing him to punch Khal's stomach to loosen up, which he did.
"As far as we know, there's no stationed Guide Association branch here. Or more like, aside from us, no one is stationed here." Khal looked Ayen in the eye and finally expressed the most important question here.
Devion did the same. Ayen also sighed in relief, waiting for the two to bring it up before he did. Unbeknownst to Devion and Khal, Ayen's first impressions of them were in the negatives.
Ayen took a deep breath, and unlike the two, he was straight to the point. He immediately told them what happened and specifically made it clear the location of their yellow zone before the massive gate appeared, and the details pointing to the events leading him to this place.
"I have someone with me... she..." Ayen looked back and then returned to the two. He exhaled and finally let out his intentions. "Please... help us."
The two did not know how heavy these words were. It had been years since he asked for someone's help. Throughout his tragic guide career, he never once uttered these words again.
He was a loner, and he most preferred to remain that way. And in the past year, this changed a little; someone was always pestering him, someone, stupid enough to include him in her life.
Ayen spoke these words, more specifically for Keeran. Even if he died here, no one would grieve for him, and his pathetic life would only end. Keeran was different. She deserved to live and continue being naive and kind.
His thoughts were disrupted by a voice.
"That's impossible." It was Devion, whose mouth was no longer covered.
The light in Ayen's, which was always dimmed, decreased further. His heart sank, and his lips pressed to each other tightly.
Hah. Of course. He mocked inwardly. No one would help him. Asking would only be embarrassing himself over again. Suddenly, he hated that he even tried.
Why would he think someone would waste their time to save him?
"The gate connected to that yellow zone of yours probably is not this one. It's impossible, right, coldboy?" Devion's voice sounded again; this time, Ayen paused his thoughts again.
Khal narrowed his eyes, grinning, but a threat lingered on them. "Try calling me that again."
Devion averted his gaze and acted like nothing had happened. He looked at Ayen, who was now paler than before, but probably thought he was only scared, remembering what had happened.
"We patrolled this gate, and we did not notice an anomaly like that. So, Ayen, can you lead us to the entranced you used?"
Ayen did not answer immediately; he only blankly stared at Devion.
Khal, who still had his shoulders around Devion, spoke this time. Their faces were serious, and the earlier demeanors were like an illusion.
"Let's treat the woman you're with first."
Devion nodded. "It's on the way, as you said, the entrance is around where you left her."
He slapped Khal's hand and freed himself.
"Tsk. The headquarters sure are bastards. Those old men..." He complained.
"Now, now, want to raze the capital with me?"
Devion's angel-like face showed a disgusted expression.
"Want to die? Those bastards aren't worth it."
Khal laughed at this, agreeing.
Ayen watched the two, but with a different expression this time. Wait... he could not understand. His hands clenched and forced out a word.
"You'll... help us?" His voice was too weak, but as SS-class Espers, they heard just fine.
Khal and Devion looked at him in a confused expression before nodding.
"Come on. Ayen..." Devion teased and slowly spoke the name with a suggestive meaning, earning a slap in the back.
"Stop being a flirt in front of me."
"Eh, jealous?"
"Devion sweetheart..." Khal's voice sounded so gentle yet seductive.
"Stop! Stop! Asshole! Look, I have goosebumps."
Their voices echoed, and once a few steps away, they realized Ayen only stood frozen, not following.
"Hey, Ayen, what are you waiting for?"
Ayen looked up and finally processed what was happening.
These two... did not reject him? They were going to help them.
He stared at the two and thought they were weird. Ayen sighed and slowly walked until he passed them. His expression could not be seen, showing complex emotions which he quickly suppressed.