TIC Chapter 62

 Chapter 62

“Let’s go.”

Just as Hein issued the order, zombies continued to approach in an unending stream.

The grappling line at Xiao Yan’s waist shot upward, latching onto the aircraft; he swiftly lifted off the ground and stepped into the cabin.

Mark abruptly hoisted Luther onto his shoulder. As they ascended rapidly, Luther—watching the ground recede further and further beneath him—felt his heart nearly stop beating. Mark somewhat roughly tossed Luther into the cabin and pinned him down in a seat. Luther was still shaken, but across from him, Xiao Yan smiled as he reached over to secure his safety harness.

Mark was grinning broadly, clearly reveling in having deliberately scared Luther. Xiao Yan cast him a helpless glance, recalling that he, too, had once been the target of this squad of special forces soldiers’ pranks.

A few minutes later, they successfully entered Base 2. Shen Bing, arms crossed, had been waiting for them in the hangar bay for quite some time.

Hein stepped out of the cabin and walked past Shen Bing, offering only a brief nod and a quiet, “Thank you.”

Luther and Shen Bing exchanged military salutes.

Xiao Yan studied Shen Bing; the man was just as stern and unsmiling as when they had first met, yet he appeared significantly more haggard. With one base after another outside Char City falling victim to—or even being destroyed by—the surging zombie hordes, the situation at Base 2, serving as the primary research hub outside the city, was indeed far from optimistic. Shen Bing’s gaze swept past Luther’s shoulder to meet Xiao Yan’s eyes, a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing on his lips.

“Long time no see, Second Lieutenant.”

Shen Bing articulated the title “Second Lieutenant” with particular clarity.

Xiao Yan immediately snapped to attention and saluted Shen Bing.

“Shen Bing, you know Xiao Yan?” Luther asked.

“The last time I saw him, he was just a rookie—the kind who’d get himself trapped inside his own subconscious.”

“And when exactly was this ‘last time’ you speak of?”

“Roughly a year ago.”

“It seems he’s grown a great deal over this past year; certainly, no one would mistake him for a rookie now.” Luther regarded Xiao Yan with deep admiration.

Shen Bing established contact with Char City; a special task force was scheduled to be dispatched within three hours to escort Colonel Luther—along with the viral samples—back to Char City. These three hours of downtime were incredibly precious to Xiao Yan. While Shen Bing, Luther, and Hein were deep in discussion, Xiao Yan sat in his chair, his head lolling to the side, and drifted off to sleep. Shen Bing had arranged a rest room for Xiao Yan; just as the quartermaster stepped forward to wake him, Hein silently scooped him up and—with an air of absolute entitlement—carried him out.

Shen Bing craned his neck, watching this scene unfold with astonishment. Mark and the other special forces operatives were playing some ancient card game, while Liv was organizing her gear; none of them seemed in the least surprised by Hein’s actions.

“Since when did Colonel Burton become so close with Xiao Yan?” Shen Bing asked, turning toward the group of special forces soldiers.

“Xiao Yan is our designated tech specialist! Aside from him, the Boss wouldn't take any other rookies out on a mission!” Mark turned back and grinned, wearing an expression that seemed to say, *You didn't even know that? You're really out of touch.*

“I think the Boss personally handled Xiao Yan’s combat training, too, didn't he?” another special forces soldier remarked as he tossed down a card.

“Hey! I taught him a thing or two as well, you know!” Mark interjected indignantly.

Liv chimed in coolly, “Actually, Wynn did most of the teaching!”

“Major Wynn was originally supposed to be deployed on this mission, too, but Major General Gordon reassigned him to protect Lieutenant General Averell at the Central Academy. Otherwise, Wynn would probably be thrilled to see how Xiao Yan performed in actual combat.”

“No wonder he’s not like your average tech specialist...” Luther murmured with a sigh. Yet, deep down, Luther knew full well that not every researcher—even if they underwent special forces training—could ever hope to reach Xiao Yan’s level of combat proficiency.

Shen Bing pressed his temples in exasperation. None of this explained why Hein would personally carry Xiao Yan to the rest room. After all, one shouldn't forget that this particular Colonel rarely allowed anyone to get close to him—nor did he ever seek closeness with anyone else.

Hein gently laid Xiao Yan down on a bed. As the back of his head sank into the soft pillow, Xiao Yan let out a faint murmur and fluttered his eyes open. Through the narrow slits of his eyelids, he saw Hein’s lowered lashes; his gaze seemed to drift down leisurely from hundreds of thousands of meters above, finally falling into Xiao Yan’s eyes.

“Colonel Burton…” Xiao Yan’s eyes, previously heavy with sleep, snapped wide open as he greedily traced the contours of the other man’s features.

“You still have two hours of sleep time left.” Hein’s hand, which had been cradling the back of Xiao Yan’s head, was about to withdraw.

But in that very instant, Xiao Yan reached out and seized his wrist.

Hein’s body paused almost imperceptibly, while Xiao Yan continued to gaze fixedly at him.

They were safe now; Xiao Yan had successfully brought the research data regarding the Comet Virus to Base No. 2. Yet, deep within his heart, he knew full well that this did not mean he had truly become strong.

“Colonel… if you hadn’t retrieved that medical kit for me, I might very well be dead right now.”

Xiao Yan didn’t expect Hein to offer any reply; he simply could not forget the image of Hein—his combat uniform torn open—enduring the biting cold to dive deep beneath the water’s surface.

“You won’t die. Otherwise, keeping you by my side would be utterly meaningless.”

That answer pressed against Xiao Yan’s heart. The answer he had been seeking all this time was, in this very moment, crystal clear.

Hein attempted to rise, but Xiao Yan held him fast. Though Hein possessed the strength to break free with ease, he chose instead to remain exactly where he was.

Xiao Yan tilted his head up slightly; just as his lips were about to make contact, Hein turned his face away, and Xiao Yan’s lips brushed against his cheek instead.

In that instant, a faint tremor ran through Hein’s body—a sensation Xiao Yan felt distinctly.

Deep within his mind, something was surging wildly—a force he could no longer contain.

“Go to sleep, Lieutenant.”

Hein’s voice was a flawless mask, concealing his emotions completely; he withdrew the hand Xiao Yan was holding and sat up straight.

Just as Hein rose to his feet, Xiao Yan spoke: “Colonel… could you stay here?”

Hein offered no reply.

Xiao Yan’s heart began to pound wildly; never in his entire life had he felt anything quite like this. He remembered the sheer terror that had seized him underwater when Hein’s chest was pierced by a sharp blade. He feared that his wounds would fail to heal in the freezing temperatures; he feared becoming a burden to Hein.

“You don’t need to go to such great lengths to protect me; I’m not the President of the Federation.” A faint smile touched his lips as Xiao Yan spoke with utter earnestness. “To the Special Operations Forces, you are an irreplaceable legend.”

Those special forces soldiers—men who walked the razor’s edge between life and death—needed a spiritual anchor like Hein.

“I have never been irreplaceable; all legends eventually become history. But you—you are far more extraordinary than I am.” Hein sat on the edge of the bed, his back turned to Xiao Yan.

“What makes me so special? Is it my brain-interface speed of three hundred quadrillion? Or is it because I conducted the final environmental research on the Comet Virus?” Xiao Yan had never felt capable of such audacity before; who else would dare to question Hein Burton in this manner?

“Because, to me, you are irreplaceable.”

In that instant, the world seemed to melt into a soft, gentle embrace.

Xiao Yan’s fingers tightened their grip on the bedsheets. He sat up, seized by a sudden illusion: that he had fully crossed into Hein Burton’s domain. Just as Maya had once said, perhaps this man truly had no boundaries when it came to him—for, without even realizing it, he had come to accept and embrace every facet of Xiao Yan.

“Colonel... I want to look at you. It is exhausting to constantly have to stare at your back.”

Hein finally turned his head slightly. His gaze remained outwardly impassive, yet Xiao Yan could sense a distinct warmth radiating from within it.

“Come to think of it, ever since the very first time I saw you, I’ve never been able to stop watching you. Even when threatened with having my eyes gouged out, I still couldn’t help myself.”

Xiao Yan’s voice was calm and unreserved. In his mind’s eye, he saw the scene of Hein cutting down the zombies—the flash of golden-brown hair sweeping past his vision, an overwhelming force that seemed to sear itself directly onto his optic nerves. That was the primal imprint; the more he tried to erase it, the deeper it became.

“Go to sleep, Lieutenant.” Hein’s voice deepened, yet it carried not a trace of coldness or detachment. “I’m not sure what drives every sudden impulse that rises from the depths of my heart—whether it’s to kiss you or to hold you. But I know this much: every time I look at you... it has nothing to do with the X-virus.”

Perhaps ten or twenty years from now, Xiao Yan might feel embarrassed—or even regretful—about every word he had just spoken.

Yet, deep within him lay a delusion bordering on arrogance: the belief that this man would spare no effort—would even risk everything—to protect him.

Hein remained silent; yet, this silence did not make Xiao Yan anxious. For no matter what he said, at least the man hadn't stood up and walked away. He listened to him speak—sitting perfectly still—accepting every part of him without reservation.

Xiao Yan opened his medical kit and loaded the very last vial of solvent into his auto-injector.

“What are you doing?” Hein finally turned to look at him.

“This is the final dose. Once I use it up, I’ll likely fall into a deep slumber for days on end. But I intend to use it to do exactly what *I* want to do.”

With those words, Xiao Yan abruptly injected the serum into his own muscle.

That world of absolute clarity descended upon him once more—though this time, it was unlike any previous instance. There were no looming crises, no missions to complete; every distraction was stripped away, revealing the raw, unvarnished truth.

“Colonel... I don't want to waste these precious few minutes.”

In that instant, Xiao Yan keenly observed Hein’s pupils constrict; the man’s entire composure shattered into fragments.

The man’s lips crashed against his—a kiss of such wild intensity it defied belief. Xiao Yan was pressed down hard, even as he reached out, attempting to pull Hein closer.

Hein pinned Xiao Yan’s wrists above his head; all rational restraint dissolved as his tongue completely claimed the space within Xiao Yan’s mouth.

Unsatisfied with mere lip-to-lip contact, Hein pressed his palm firmly against the back of Xiao Yan’s head and abruptly sat upright. Xiao Yan knew with absolute certainty that he and Hein shared the same desire: to touch one another without a single millimeter of separation—to be so close that even the air between them felt superfluous.

Xiao Yan knelt astride Hein’s waist, gripping the man’s shoulders. He gave a slight, teasing thrust of his hips—a sensation that, for Hein, felt like being violently yanked down from the heavens—and in response, Hein tightened his hold on Xiao Yan even further.

Gradually, the frenzy subsided; the intensity of their kiss softened, giving way to a slower, more tender rhythm. Xiao Yan closed his eyes, savoring the sensation of Hein’s touch—his warmth, his scent, and even the way his tongue grazed the inside of Xiao Yan’s mouth with every pass, sending tremors through his heart.

Hein’s kisses remained intense and forceful; less an act of undeniable command, they felt more like a man treating every passing second as if it were the very last moment of his life.

The effects of the drug were gradually wearing off, and Xiao Yan’s physical endurance was waning; within Hein’s embrace, his bones creaked and groaned under the strain. Yet Hein remained reluctant to let go, kissing him with a tenderness Xiao Yan had never imagined possible. To Hein Burton, the outside world seemed to hold no significance whatsoever; only the warmth radiating from Xiao Yan felt real.

Suddenly, Hein pulled away completely, bracing his hands on either side of Xiao Yan’s head as he lowered his face, panting heavily. Hein pressed his lips against Xiao Yan’s cheek and temple, his palms moving slowly, gently—as if to confirm that he was truly there.

"Mm..."

To Xiao Yan, the sensation of Hein’s lips against his skin stood in stark contrast to the man’s usual coldness and severity—a dichotomy so profound that it made him savor Hein’s kisses all the more. Instinctively, he drew his knees up, pressing them firmly against Hein’s waist; he knew that he was the only person in the world privileged enough to revel so unreservedly in Hein’s embrace. It was a feeling of indescribable fulfillment.

A wave of exhaustion washed over him; Xiao Yan could hold on no longer. With the sound of Hein’s breathing—deep and resonant as the midnight ocean—filling his ears, Xiao Yan drifted into a deep, heavy slumber.

Hein buried his face in the crook of Xiao Yan’s neck, his fingers gently brushing aside the stray strands of hair near his ear.

"You fool... don't ever do something that dangerous again. I nearly killed you."

Xiao Yan remained utterly unresponsive, lost in his deep sleep. Hein shifted his position, wrapping an arm around Xiao Yan’s shoulders to pull him close, drawing him fully into his embrace.

Two hours passed in the blink of an eye. The special task force dispatched by Charles finally arrived at Base No. 2.

The aircraft’s hatch hissed open, and Jean stepped out, his long legs striding onto the tarmac—his face devoid of even the slightest trace of a smile. Hein approached, followed by Mark, who was carrying the still-slumbering Xiao Yan on his back.

"What happened?" Jan’s gaze fixed upon Xiao Yan, his brows knitting tightly in concern.

Hein offered no reply; he simply stepped through the hatch and sat down with a cold, detached air.

As Mark passed by Jan, he sensed the oppressive atmosphere radiating from the man—a palpable aura of tension that made him involuntarily shudder. He hurriedly carried Xiao Yan into the cabin, where Hein personally secured the safety restraints for him.

Jan did not take the controls himself; instead, he took a seat directly opposite Hein.

They departed from Base 2 and set a course toward Shire.

"For this mission, Lieutenant General Averell had specifically intended for Casey to take part. Why did you bring Xiao Yan along instead?"

In the otherwise hushed cabin, Jan’s voice was soft, yet it cut through the silence with striking clarity.

"I will not stop him from doing anything he wishes to do, nor will I stop him from seeking the answers he desires." Hein’s voice remained utterly placid—so devoid of inflection that it was impossible to discern a single emotion within it.

Jan closed his eyes and let out a weary sigh. "That answer will place him in even greater peril than ever before."

The aircraft arrived safely at Shire, returning to the Special Missions Unit headquarters.

Maya was already waiting in the hangar bay. When Mark emerged from the cabin carrying Xiao Yan, the young man looked absolutely terrified. "Mark! What happened to Xiao Yan? Why isn't he responding at all? Don't tell me... he’s been invaded by one of the 'Blockers' from the Swarm again?"

Mark gave an impatient shrug. "It’s nothing serious! He’s just tired—he’s fast asleep."

Maya leaned closer and, only then, heard the faint, soft sound of snoring drifting from Xiao Yan’s nose.

"Maya, take Xiao Yan back so he can rest."

Having issued that order, Hein proceeded to Major General Gordon’s office to submit his mission report.

The Major General sat behind his desk, a faint, subtle smile playing upon his lips.

"Although I know there is no mission you cannot complete, I must admit I still broke out in a cold sweat when I heard that Colonel Luther’s aircraft had crashed."

Hein’s gaze remained steady and composed. “Is Second Lieutenant Xiao Yan still asleep? We took it upon ourselves to bypass Lieutenant Colonel Casey in favor of Xiao Yan; Lieutenant General Avil has quite a few strong opinions about that.” Major General Gordon observed his subordinate’s expression with a hint of amusement.

Yet, there wasn’t even the slightest ripple of emotion in Hein’s gaze.

“Fortunately, Colonel Burton expressed great admiration for Xiao Yan in front of Lieutenant General Avil; at least he validated our choice.” Major General Gordon paused. “Hein... Xiao Yan is no longer an ignorant student, nor is he merely a technical officer. More people will soon be prying into his mind, attempting to decipher his thoughts. One day—sooner or later—neither you acting alone, nor even our entire Special Operations Unit, will be able to fully protect him.”

“By that time, he will have learned how to protect himself.”

Major General Gordon gave a helpless chuckle. “You place a truly blind trust in him.”

“Is there anything else, Major General?”

“Tell Xiao Yan that, effective immediately, he is forbidden from accessing any non-isolated terminal systems. Furthermore, without a direct order from Lieutenant General Avil, he is strictly prohibited from discussing his research with anyone. As his designated supervisor, Colonel Burton... your responsibilities are now far heavier than they were before his deployment to the Antarctic Base.”

“Yes, Major General.”

Hein strode away with unhurried steps. The moment his long legs carried him across the threshold, the communications officer, Jessica, found herself glancing in his direction almost involuntarily. This was hardly the first time she had seen Hein entering or leaving Major General Gordon’s office; the man possessed a unique aura—one so cold it seemed to cut him off entirely from the rest of the world. Jessica knew that this man’s emotional spectrum operated on a scale of near-absolute precision; even his indifference and composure were utterly pure.

Yet, in that fleeting moment as he lowered his gaze, something—subtle, almost imperceptible—seemed different than before.

As Xiao Yan’s designated supervisor, Hein used his own fingerprint to unlock the door to Xiao Yan’s room. The room was dimly lit, and the steady rhythm of Xiao Yan’s breathing could be heard clearly in the silence. Hein swung one leg over the edge of the bed, sitting down sideways beside Xiao Yan; he gently stroked Xiao Yan’s forehead, his fingers lingering at the tips of the young man’s dark hair. "Mm..." An involuntary low moan escaped Xiao Yan's nose.

Hein braced himself against him...

...leaned close to his ear, then slowly lowered his head to cover his slightly parted lips.

The faint furrow in Xiao Yan’s brow smoothed out; his fingers twitched instinctively. As he shifted onto his side, Hein propped himself up. Xiao Yan curled into a fetal position, his knees coming to rest right against Hein’s legs. Hein’s body stiffened slightly, remaining rigid until Xiao Yan settled into stillness.

Hein sat quietly, while Xiao Yan shifted through several different sleeping positions. Eventually, he settled on lying flat on his back; the blanket had slipped to one side, leaving only a corner draped over his abdomen. Hein reached over and pulled the blanket back up to cover him.

Xiao Yan’s eyelids fluttered, then slowly opened. His thoughts were still hazy, but as his eyes gradually adjusted to the darkness, he realized that someone was right there beside him.

The line of the other man’s spine, the contours of his profile—to Xiao Yan, they were utterly familiar, instantly stirring a tumult of emotions within him.

He still remembered that moment back at Base No. 2—that kiss in which the other man had overwhelmed him with sheer, absolute force.

Xiao Yan held his breath in his throat. He didn’t know how long he had been asleep, nor how long Hein had been keeping watch by his bedside; yet, that uninhibited kiss—shared without a single reservation—felt as though it had happened just moments ago. Xiao Yan gazed intently at Hein; even in the dim light, the sharp features of the other man’s face remained deeply etched in his vision.

After an indeterminate amount of time had passed, Hein made to stand up, but Xiao Yan reached out and grabbed hold of him.

“I want to look at you a little longer,” Xiao Yan murmured, pursing his lips. He felt utterly shameless; he knew full well that if he held onto Hein, the man would stay—or rather, that whatever request he might make, Hein would grant it.

Sure enough, the Colonel sat back down, leaning slightly closer. Xiao Yan could clearly make out the elegant curve of his forehead and the high bridge of his nose.

Xiao Yan turned onto his side and, with complete earnestness, voiced his second request: “I want you to sleep beside me.”

Hein lay down. Even though he was clad in a combat uniform—a garment utterly devoid of warmth—Xiao Yan’s arm instinctively reached out to wrap around him. Hein’s hair brushed against Xiao Yan’s ear—a soft, fleeting sensation that seemed to gently stir the very depths of Xiao Yan’s heart. “I want to kiss you.”

As Xiao Yan spoke these words, the man holding him visibly tightened his embrace. Xiao Yan’s lips tentatively reached out, brushing against Hein’s nose. Closing his eyes, Xiao Yan felt he had never kissed anyone with such reverence as he did in this moment. Hein lifted Xiao Yan; before Xiao Yan could fully register what was happening, he found himself lying atop Hein, gazing into eyes that held a deep, profound intensity. To Xiao Yan, this was tacit consent; he lowered his head and pressed his lips against Hein’s.

He did not let his tongue slip inside; Xiao Yan knew Hein did not want him to lose control due to the X-virus coursing through his body. Moreover, Xiao Yan found himself savoring the sensation of their physical connection in this moment even more—rather than being driven mindlessly by raw lust, he cherished this deeper experience.

Xiao Yan gently grazed his lips against Hein’s; as he tilted his head, their noses brushed against one another, and Hein began to return the kiss. Gradually, Hein propped himself up with one hand on the bed while the other pressed against Xiao Yan’s back, helping him sit up; Xiao Yan remained kneeling before him. Whenever they felt themselves teetering on the brink of losing control, they would pull apart; yet, once they had regained their composure, they could not resist the urge to kiss each other once again.

They repeated this cycle over and over—without a single spoken word, yet with a feeling of overwhelming fullness welling up within their chests—neither of them ever tiring of the other.

It continued until the communicator on Xiao Yan’s wrist began to flash, and Mark’s voice rang out: “Xiao Yan! Are you still sleeping?! It’s been two whole days! You’re going to starve to death!”

A sudden rumbling sound filled the air; Xiao Yan, who had until that moment forgotten everything else, suddenly realized just how ravenously hungry he was.

Pressing his forehead against Hein’s, he couldn’t help but chuckle. “That guy Mark really is annoying!”

“You’ve been asleep for nearly two days; you really ought to eat something,” Hein said, gently nudging Xiao Yan to get up before reaching out to switch on the bedside lamp.

The dim room was instantly flooded with light. Xiao Yan walked toward the door, but then—as if suddenly remembering something—he turned back around.

“Colonel.”

“Mm.”

“We’ll have plenty of time together from now on.”

“I know.”