Holy Entrance

Jeht held the small device in his hand, the weight of its significance sinking in. It was a hearing aid, a technological marvel that had the potential to bridge the gap between him and Bliss in a way he had never imagined. He looked at Bliss, his heart racing with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. This was a pivotal moment, a chance to break down another barrier in their communication.

With a deep breath, Jeht approached Bliss, the device held delicately in his hand. He could see the miner's initial hesitation, a flicker of uncertainty in his purplish eyes. Jeht's fingers were steady as he gently lifted the hearing aid towards Bliss's ear, giving him a reassuring smile.

Bliss took a cautious step back at first, his body language reflecting his instinctual wariness. But then, as if realizing that Jeht meant no harm, he stopped retreating. His gaze remained fixed on the device, a mixture of curiosity and apprehension in his eyes.

Jeht's heart pounded in his chest as he inserted the hearing aid into Bliss's ear, the simple act carrying profound significance. It was a gesture of trust, a step towards understanding, and a demonstration of his commitment to bridging the gap between them. As the device settled in place, Bliss's fingers twitched slightly, his expression a mixture of surprise and uncertainty.

Leaning back slightly, Jeht looked into Bliss's eyes, his own filled with hope.

"Can you hear me?"

He signed, his fingers forming the question with a hopeful grace.

Bliss's reaction was immediate and intense. His eyes widened, his body stiffening in astonishment. And then, to Jeht's delight, a warm blush spread across Bliss's cheeks. It was a reaction that spoke volumes, a mix of shock and realization that he was hearing Jeht's voice for the first time.

Seeing Bliss's blush, Jeht couldn't help but feel a rush of elation. It was a small yet significant victory, a breakthrough that he had worked hard to achieve. He took a cautious step forward, wanting to ensure that the hearing aid was working properly. Bliss's reaction was immediate, as he stepped back and turned his face away, his embarrassment evident.

Jeht understood Bliss's need for personal space and respect. He didn't want to push too hard or make Bliss uncomfortable. With a gentle smile, he raised his hands in a placating gesture, giving Bliss some space.

"There's no longer a barrier between us."

Bliss's blush deepened, his gaze still averted.

---

“Are you fucking kidding me?!”

Jeht yelled in anger when he saw someone assigned by Olga bring him and Bliss into the huge bathroom.

"So we're going to shower together?!"

“I don't know what's on your mind, but that's not the case. You just need to wash the miner, sir.”

“Huuuhh…”

Jeht replied when the attendant answered with a straight face.

“I don't prefer to wash myself without my care products. No offense."

He turned to Bliss. Bliss had a hard time walking because he hadn't moved properly for a very long time, so Jeht was holding him by the arm with one hand. As it was the first time they had stood side by side, Jeht noticed that the difference in height between them was obvious. Bliss's head was just above his shoulders. From this point of view, he could see Bliss's gray-purple hair, which had grown a little over time, much more clearly.

“You will take your last bath with me before you enter the mine. Are you excited?"

Jeht had asked this as a joke, but his face fell as Bliss grimaced and shook his head negatively.

"Why?! I thought something was finally starting to happen between us!”

Then Bliss took a step back. If he could walk on his own, he wanted to get away from there immediately. Jeht pretended to be even more shocked at his reaction, placing his other free hand on his heart.

“I can't believe you treated me like this after all those good days we had. Ridiculous! But last night-"

“Sir, you keep me busy for nothing. Could you please handle this on your own?"

The woman's monotone voice cut Jeht's sentence like a knife. Jeht didn't say anything more, fearing that if he continued any longer, the woman might inflict violence on him. He went into the bathroom with Bliss.

It was a bathroom big enough to be a hot spring, with shower heads and seats lined up side by side along its walls. It was probably designed so that many people could take a bath at the same time. There was a large bathtub in the middle of the room. They put a small table next to the tub. There was shampoo, shower gel and washcloth on the table. They were items made for Bliss.

“They even prepared everything. It means our work will be finished quickly.”

He put his hands on his hips and turned to Bliss.

“Okay, take off your clothes.”

Bliss did nothing, just kept waiting. Jeht thought for a moment that he might not know the meaning of that sentence. He grabbed his shirt and lifted it up to his navel.

“Your clothes.”

Jeht saw Bliss's eyes drift towards his abdomen. He hoped he had understood this time, but Bliss then continued to do nothing. Jeht's impatience was starting to take a toll.

“If you don't take off your clothes in 10 seconds, I will, okay? One, two…"

Bliss didn’t neglect to turn his back to make him feel a little more comfortable. That should have worked. Behind him, he could hear Bliss taking off his clothes in a fury. He grinned as if he had won. He was fond of using this trick.

A short time later, Bliss gave Jeht a light nudge from behind on the shoulder. Jeht turned around. Bliss had taken off all the rags he was wearing. Although he had been eating properly since arriving here, he was still so skinny that the bones in his ribcage and the scars on his body were clearly visible as he breathed. Jeht couldn't help but feel a little sorry for him. If he were to hit Bliss as a joke, he would probably break most of the bones in his body. He made a mental note to never do this.

“You will catch a cold. Get in the tub now."

Jeht turned on the faucet as Bliss stepped into the tub. Hot water filled the tub.

Jeht poured the shampoo onto Bliss's hair, his fingers working the liquid into a lather. The sensation was unfamiliar to Bliss, his eyes reflecting a mix of curiosity and uncertainty. But as the warm water cascaded over his head and Jeht's skilled fingers massaged his scalp, Bliss's tension gradually eased.

Jeht's touch was gentle yet assured, his movements purposeful. As he worked, he began to hum a soft melody, the sound filling the small space with a sense of tranquility. The melody was accompanied by a subtle swaying of his body, a light dance that added an element of playfulness to the moment.

Once the shampooing was complete, Jeht rinsed Bliss's hair with care, his fingers working through the strands to ensure that every trace of soap was gone. Bliss closed his eyes briefly, savoring the sensation of water and touch, a sense of purity and renewal washing over him. He was experiencing something new, something beyond the confines of his silent existence.

With the hair-washing complete, Jeht's attention turned to the next step of their impromptu ritual. He reached for the shower gel, intending to continue their cleansing routine. But as he stretched out the washcloth, he was met with a surprise – Bliss's swift movement to grab the washcloth from his hand.

Jeht blinked, surprised by Bliss's action. He watched as Bliss held the washcloth with determination, his fingers moving in fluid signs.

“I can do this."

A grin spread across Jeht's face, his eyes lighting up with admiration for Bliss's determination. He didn’t miss this opportunity. He leaned over to Bliss's ear, where the hearing aid was attached, and whispered.

"Are you embarrassed?"

He loved how people reacted to embarrassment, and he was sure Bliss would do the same. As it happened, Bliss pressed his hand to Jeht's face and gave it a gentle push. It was a sign of genuine embarrassment.

This fueled Jeht even more.

"You are so sweet!"

He squatted beside the tub and took Bliss's face in his hands. Bliss didn't seem to expect this, his eyes widened.

"You're so cute that I want to kiss you."

Bliss's face puckered from Jeht's grip. His lips protruded forward, resembling a baby duck. Drops of water dripping from his hair were dripping onto Jeht's hand. His eyelashes were long, his eyes were wide. He had a very elegant face. Jeht had noticed it at that moment. When Bliss didn't react, Jeht moved a little closer to him. He was pushing his limits.

"If you don't push me in three seconds, I'll really kiss you."

He was looking directly into Bliss' eyes. He started counting.

“Three, two…”

Bliss didn't push him.

"…one."

Jeht filled the distance between them and kissed him.

He didn't expect to do it himself, but when Bliss didn't respond, he felt compelled to do it. He thought that not standing by what he said would make her look like a worse person, which he didn't expect to be so serious about the kiss. The warmth and softness he felt on his own lips lasted only a few seconds. Then, he pulled back. It was just like kissing a cute animal.

That's when it occurred to Bliss to push him. Jeht suddenly found himself pinned to the ground on his back. Bliss's face was red and he was breathing fast.

"Hey! If you were going to push me, why didn't you do it before I kissed you? By doing this, you are making me a molester!”

He tried to stand up, but Bliss lifted the washcloth and pointed it at him. A few drops of water landed on Jeht's face.

"Ok! I'm not getting up. And I'm sorry. I wouldn't have done it if I knew it would bother you so much. But…!"

He tried to stand up again, but didn't dare as Bliss frowned and squeezed the fiber in his hand.

“Calm down.”

Jeht raised both of his hands like a criminal.

“But I counted from three. It's partly your fault for not reacting just in time."

Bliss' frown softened at Jeht's statement. He slowly lowered the hand holding the fiber as he averted his eyes. It was as if he had a realization.

"I guess we're both quilty here, right?"

As he tried to stand up for the third time, Jeht asked softly. He might have made such a move, but he didn't want Bliss to hate him. He didn't want him to think he was just a freak.

Bliss seemed to understand that too. He turned his gaze to Jeht, staring at him for a few seconds. Then he took a deep breath and began to wash his body with the washcloth in his hand. He wasn't mad at Jeht.

"Thank you."

Jeht didn't bother with him anymore. He moved away from the tub and sat down on one of the benches, quietly waiting for Bliss to finish.

---

The glass elevator, large enough to fit almost 50 people, began to descend rapidly. The farthest corners of Orion could be seen as the elevator descended. This city, which was built layer by layer because it was quite high from the ground, almost resembled the caste system of ancient India. Those living in the lowest strata didn’t have status with those at the top due to their living conditions. This wasn't a rule set by Orion, it was something that had been formed within the city over time. Those who could not hold on to the chain of life threw themselves into the lowest strata, and that had passed like this ever since. Orion's benefits were beyond reach.

“Is this your first time seeing Orion?”

Jeht asked as Bliss watched intently out of the glass elevator. Bliss's yellow miner's overalls had made him very different from what he had been in the cell. He looked like an ordinary citizen of this country. Bliss nodded in agreement. He continued to watch the city until the elevator entered the cloud layer.

The elevator shook a little as it entered the clouds, the lights flashed a few times. Bliss looked nervously at Jeht. Jeht raised his hand to indicate that it was okay.

“It happens all the time. It is nothing to be afraid of.”

Then the elevator went inside a dark tube. It was a sign that they were approaching the Underland.

“We have arrived.”

The elevator reached its destination and the doors opened. They were at the entrance of the mine.