Chapter 41 – Some people appear cold and fearsome, but when they get home…
“Did you miss me?” 012 asked, his eyes fixed intently on Yu Yan.
Truths are often less charming. Yu Yan subtly glanced at the danger level rising red above his head, saying with restraint, “Perhaps, I missed you a little.”
The little bird bat, unlike him, couldn’t cheat to see those emotional affections, but his words easily revealed a rare smile.
So he became vibrant, shining in a physical sense.
Holding Yu Yan’s hand tightly and walking forward, Yu Yan didn’t struggle. He walked slowly alongside him, as if on a casual stroll, and organized his words:
“Yao’er, you can’t be like that kind of villain who wants to destroy the world because of a broken heart. That kind of villain lacks style.”
But 012 said, “In Rainbow Cage Manor, I killed the rampaging mutated beasts. Did you see it?”
Yu Yan replied inexplicably, “I saw it. Wasn’t I there at the scene?”
012 asked, “Then why didn’t you say to me, ‘Cool, your skills are impressive’?”
Yu Yan took a moment to remember that this was something he had said to compliment the hunter protagonist when they had watched a movie together.
At the same time, he seemed to understand why 012 had become a hunter.
“Hahahaha, very cool, very cool!” Yu Yan laughed heartily.
If he hadn’t specifically come to ask for praise, it would have been really cool. Unfortunately, now that he was asking for it directly, it wasn’t cool at all, only cute.
012’s place was relatively far, so they took the Underground City’s transport vehicle.
This time, the transport experience was much better than before. The vehicle was surprisingly empty, and the few people on board didn’t seem like ordinary underground city dwellers struggling for a living; they appeared to be living quite well.
Yu Yan noticed the furry ears that accidentally peeked out from one person’s head and the oddly shaped legs under another’s clothing. He guessed that, like 012, they might be high-level mutants living among humans.
012 suddenly raised a hand to stop his gaze. Yu Yan leaned in and asked quietly, “Does watching others here indicate unfriendly intent and attract trouble?”
012 replied, “Why don’t you look at me?”
Yu Yan: “…” Is that what it means?
A few more people got on the vehicle midway, both humans and high-level mutants. After glancing at the passengers, they all made the same choice—keeping their distance from 012, who was seated at the front of the compartment.
It seemed that they all knew 012 and were somewhat intimidated by him.
So, Yu Yan, who sat close to 012 and whispered intimately with him, attracted many curious and surprised looks.
One young girl, thinking she was being discreet but actually quite deliberate, sat not far from them. She occasionally shot quick glances at the two, her face openly displaying shock at the situation and doubt about whether 012 was real.
Arriving at the Golden Light District, where 012 lived, Yu Yan observed the surroundings after getting off the vehicle. The streets were not crowded but appeared quite clean.
012’s house was at the entrance of the Golden Light District. It wasn’t a typical stacked box house of the underground city but a rare standalone building in the underground city.
The house was somewhat unexpected for Yu Yan; its appearance and scale were quite different from what he would have anticipated for 012’s character.
He had expected 012 to choose a narrow, dimly lit, and secluded place away from the crowd.
As Yu Yan examined the house, someone passing by saw 012 and came over to greet him.
“Big Brother.”
Yu Yan: “?”
012 didn’t respond, and the person, accustomed to this, respectfully called out and hurried off.
It wasn’t just this one person; anyone coming out of the Golden Light District would call 012 “Big Brother,” treating him like a boss of some sort.
He hadn’t realized it, but after spending half a year outside, 012 had become a boss.
“This was the former boss’s house in Golden Light District,” 012 said. “Don’t you like it here?”
“Like it, it’s pretty nice,” Yu Yan replied, probably understanding the local rules.
The underground city had many districts, each with its own “boss.” It seemed that the former boss here had a grudge with 012 and was killed, so 012 naturally took over the position of “Big Brother.”
The house had a sizable front yard, but unfortunately, the plants didn’t grow well, leaving the yard empty.
Inside the house, Yu Yan saw the luxurious and opulent furnishings that were entirely unlike 012’s preferences and realized that 012 had likely not changed anything since moving in.
There were no signs of 012’s personal touch; dust covered the sofas, cabinets, and decorations.
“You don’t live here?” Yu Yan asked.
“Upstairs,” 012 said, following him up the stairs.
Yu Yan remarked, “This doesn’t feel like a home at all; it’s even less lively than my place.”
Human home meant “nest”. For 012, this place wasn’t his “nest.” Just as a bird might rest on a tree after flying outside but wouldn’t consider the tree its home, 012 didn’t see this house as his own.
However, looking at his human partner’s back, 012 felt that it could now be considered his nest.
The previous owner of the house had a taste for opulent, floral styles. The floors were covered with carpets, and the walls were adorned with tapestries featuring intricate floral patterns. Even the bed was large and vintage, with a high, thick mattress.
Clearly, 012 didn’t sleep on that bed.
In the corner of the room, Yu Yan saw a pile of draped curtains concealing a large, oval-shaped nest woven from white branches. That was where 012 slept.
Yu Yan thought: Some people appear cold and fearsome, capable of killing without hesitation, but when they get home, they still curl up in a small bird’s nest.
“I’ll sleep here tonight?” Yu Yan asked, pointing to the large bed with an unchanging expression. He approached and lifted the decorative bedspread.
It seemed quite clean underneath.
Yu Yan suddenly realized he had come in a hurry and left his luggage at the accommodation on Green Tree Street.
“Ahem, I’d like some water. Is there any here?” Yu Yan asked.
012 went out to get him water, giving Yu Yan the chance to move to the corner and examine the “nest.”
Despite the previous attack in the nest, Yu Yan hadn’t thought much of it and remained interested in studying the intricately crafted nest.
The white branches emitted a faint, pleasant scent, matching the aroma on 012’s cloak.
The interior of the nest was lined with something, and when Yu Yan reached out to touch it, he found it soft and fluffy, though he couldn’t tell what was underneath.
Having satisfied his curiosity, Yu Yan was about to turn around and pretend he hadn’t looked when he discovered that 012 had silently appeared behind him. Startled, Yu Yan instinctively grabbed the edge of the nest for support.
012 took a step closer, moving right up to him. “Do you want to sleep here?”
Yu Yan smiled and said, “No, I still prefer sleeping in a bed.”
012 took another step forward, his gaze fixed intently on him. He maneuvered one knee between Yu Yan’s legs and pushed him backward into the nest.
Lying back in the nest, Yu Yan found the soft, cushioned feeling quite pleasant. The faint scent of the branches enveloped him, and there was 012, a delighted little bird bat, leaning over to cover him.
His eyes were glowing faintly with a silver-blue light.
The face mask had been removed, but the cloak was still on.
Yu Yan raised his hand and pressed it against his chest to push him away, but after feeling the stirring in his chest for a moment, he suddenly changed his mind.
He unfastened the cloak’s buttons and pulled it aside, revealing a sleeveless black tight-fitting vest underneath.
Seeing the smiling person beneath him, 012 immediately understood his intentions and fiercely rolled him completely into the nest.
As Yu Yan felt the sticky sensation on his body, he recalled certain dreams he’d had, dreams that had troubled him. Yet, in this moment, he found the sensation surprisingly enjoyable.
012’s nature craved affectionate gestures and licking, not willing to leave any part untouched.
He was always cool to the touch, even in moments like this, without any trace of sweat, unlike humans.
But 012 liked the sweat on his human partner’s body; at such times, the scent of his partner would become very strong.
Yu Yan squinted his eyes and slowly moved his hand from 012’s waist to his back, stroking the base of his wings and feeling the tremors in response.
He chuckled, “Am I too hot?”
When he first met 012, he was unaccustomed to the temperature of human hands and would react with discomfort whenever touched through gloves. It seemed he had now grown used to it.
As he was counting the fourth scar on 012’s back with his fingertips—the one he had stitched—his hand was suddenly grabbed and pressed against his face.
012 lay on top of him, breathing deeply. Unable to resist, Yu Yan teased, “Can’t handle it? I endured you licking me like a little dog earlier.”
He laughed, and his chest and throat trembled with the sound. 012 opened his mouth and suddenly bit down on his throat.
Yu Yan: “Uh!”
Although 012 didn’t bite down hard, the sensation of having such a vulnerable spot controlled was unsettling. Yu Yan pushed at his head, indicating that he could bite his shoulder but not his neck.
012 didn’t choose; he continued from wherever he was moved.
The prolonged intimacy made everything that followed feel completely natural.
Yu Yan finally lost the inclination to tease 012, unable to adjust his breathing. This was a level of contact that surpassed even his dreams, everything becoming a blur of confusion.
He lost himself for a long time, and 012 was not much better, even more immersed in the moment than he was.
Yu Yan couldn’t clearly see the emotions on 012’s face, only feeling his excitement, satisfaction, affection, and cherishment through their physical closeness.
‘How could this little bird bat be so fond of me? It’s really strange.’
As Yu Yan occasionally came to his senses amid the waves of sensation, the question flashed through his mind. He pondered it for a few seconds, brushing through 012’s feathers, and was soon drawn back into the vortex.
When he finally calmed down, Yu Yan felt lazy and didn’t want to move. 012 was pressed close against him, breathing in a rhythmic pattern.
“You seem to be glowing,” Yu Yan said.
012’s skin was unique, especially so in moments like this, resembling a soft glow under the moonlight.
Yu Yan traced the arm 012 had draped over his chest with his thumb, seeming to observe it, but his mind was blank.
012 tightened his embrace, burying his face deeper into Yu Yan’s hair.
The damp hair, touched and tickled, made Yu Yan think that a comb might be useful. If 012 liked to comb, he could have as much as he wanted.
Once his body had relaxed and unwound, Yu Yan quickly fell asleep. 012 gazed at him with immense satisfaction, pulling him closer and tighter, his wings wrapping around Yu Yan completely, covering him entirely.
His, his human, his partner.
No matter what brought him here, he could now only stay forever.
