Chapter 52: Bound by Scars

They'd been on an adrenaline run, deep into the dense jungles of the island. Fighting and fending off monsters, and struggling to survive. Night was falling fast with no refuge until Genie spotted a mothervine cave.

They eventually killed the monster and cleared the cave to make it safe. Kairo erected a barrier over the entrance with Genie's aid.

"Right. Well..." Kairo panted for breath as he slumped to the floor, feeling his exhaustion.

Genie's eyes widened with concern when he saw sap poison eating into Kairo's cloak and shirt.

"Quick, take them off!"

Kairo yelped and scrambled out of his impacted clothes, so the top half of him was naked. He blushed when he saw Genie had done the same after spotting the acid poison on his clothes.

"Wait. I'm a guy. I shouldn't feel embarrassed having my shirt off." Kairo tried to justify his shyness.

"We better rid the sap poison from these," Genie said to keep his mind off Kairo's chest, but he kept stealing glances and feeling his cheeks burning with blushes.

"Right." Kairo nodded as he laid out his impacted clothes and had Genie pour a neutralizing agent on them.

"Best to let the solution dry out," Genie added and started a campfire with leftover wood from the mothervine, then huddled before it.

Kairo sat next to him, convincing himself that sitting topless before a campfire was normal between men.

As a peaceful night settled around them, Kairo's thoughts lingered on Yanmu's words regarding the borders.

"Hey, do you think with Manfred-nun dead, the war will carry on?" He didn't hide his concerns for the continuation.

"Give me a moment." Genie closed his eyes as he opened a mind-link to Lyon when he felt he had enough magic for it.

"Genie. Where are you?" Lyon calmly asked.

"Not sure. Judging by the flora, I think along the Kracken Bind Coast on an island. Manfred-nun's dead."

"I guessed as much when I felt my cosmic power stir. It was the Andes Scroll?"

"Yes. And there's more..." Genie brought Lyon up to speed with the border situation.

"Good. I'll deal with that. Support should reach you soon." Lyon ended the conversation. Genie closed his link.

Kairo noticed he was heaving for breath. He placed his hand on his back and fed his magic into him to replenish his spirit energy.

"Thanks. My brother's aware; said he'll send support. We just need to wait it out here."

Kairo reluctantly pulled his hand away, relishing the warmth he felt from Genie.

They sat in silence, uncertain on how to address their feelings for each other. It was Genie who made the first move.

"Say, Kairo, what do you think about what Manfred-nun said on the ship," he coyly asked as he hugged his knees.

Kairo coughed to clear his throat and thought over an answer. "Now that your brother is aware, I'm sure he can do something to avert the border war."

Genie groaned. Obviously, that's not what he was referring to. After some silent deliberation, he let out a frustrated sigh and stretched out his body. If he went about the bush, he would get nowhere. The uncertainty of Kairo's feelings for him was chipping away at his heart.

"Not about the war, about us!" He stared into Kairo's eyes. "How do you feel about what he said about us?"

Kairo's eyes darted about the ground as he thought. He didn't want to offend the man and lose his trust, yet he still wasn't one hundred percent certain. Until he was, it would be disrespectful to Genie to approach the matter halfheartedly.

Genie frowned and flicked his forehead.

"Hey!" Kairo rubbed his sore spot better.

"Let me guess, you're strewing over how to answer my question without hurting my feelings, because you're not sure what you're feeling. And until you're sure, you won't answer."

Kairo gasped with shock and awe. "How... Did you read my mind?!"

Genie groaned. "I don't need to read your mind, goofy! It's all over your face."

Kairo pouted and looked away, as he did, he noticed a deep scar on the side of Genie's stomach. He looked at his own, similar, scar in the same location. "Is that from when he struck each other in the homage battle?"

Genie looked at it and nodded. "It's a treasure to me." He gulped down his desire when he saw Kairo's hand itching to touch his scar. "You can touch my scar if you like."

"What? No! I mean..." Kairo became flustered; his face was burning red with blushes.

Genie's expression became mischievous. "Can I touch yours?"

Kairo's mind was spiraling with thoughts and feelings he had never gone through before, but he didn't want to say no. In fact, he wholeheartedly wanted to say yes. He nodded and waited with anticipation. He felt aroused by Genie's gentle and tender touch.

Genie leaned in close for a kiss, but stopped.

Kairo was panting for breath as he felt his body aching for more of the man's touches. So much warmth filled his heart to ease all his confusion and uncertainty toward what he felt for Genie. He loved him, but was it the same for Genie? This question added reality to his emotions and grounded his desire.

Genie sensed a shift in the man's expression, and pulled back. He bonked Kairo's head to make him pout and rub it better.

"If you don't want me to, I won't do it." Genie stifled a chuckle when Kairo's expression was like a sad malkin kitten. He cheekily added. "Or maybe you do, but you're not sure how to ask if I also like you."

Kairo's pout deepened as he grouchily added, "Can you stop reading my mind?!"

Genie burst with laughter, feeling relieved and relaxed.

Kairo dropped his pout and eased back onto his elbows. "Ok. I'll be an adult and ask. Do you like me?"

An endearing smile warmed Genie's countenance. He leaned close to Kairo and answered, "If I say I want to kiss you and hold you forever, would that be the 'like' you're after?"

Nothing was uncertain anymore. Kairo's mouth eased into a smile as he said, "Yeah, that's the answer I need to hear."

"Then I'm going to kiss you right now. Be prepared for me to hold you forever." Genie leaned in and pressed his lips to Kairo who was open for it. When he saw that Kairo wanted more, he kissed him more passionately, easing him gently to the ground. They spent the night blissfully declaring their love for each other.