Z:IGSG -- Chapter 6

 Chapter 6- Together

Grant had been alone for so long, so utterly alone, he'd nearly given up hope of ever finding a mate. Yet here in this tiny starport, he'd stumbled upon a treasure like He Lin. As a male zerg, He Lin wasn't just strikingly handsome with a voice to match—he was gentle and considerate, practically flawless.

Grant's fingers tapped the tabletop as he scanned the room, suddenly finding the zergs around him unbearably intrusive. A welcome banquet? All he wanted now was to hurry back to the starship and be alone with his mate.

He Lin noticed Grant's distraction. After enduring a round of toasts with a stony expression, he leaned close to Grant's ear and whispered, “General, I'm a bit tired. Shall we head back?”

Grant was more than happy to oblige. Rising, he declared in a deep voice, “Gentlemen, I have matters to attend to at headquarters. Please excuse me.”

Governor Bao, who had been scratching his head on trying to curry favor with them, saw Grant and He Lin rise one after the other. Though he wanted to urge them to stay, he dared not do so. Instead, he laughed awkwardly, "Of course, of course. Military affairs come first. Take your time..."

The other guests rose as well, all expressing understanding.

Grant and He Lin walked out of the banquet hall together into the corridor. There, the captain of the personal guard stood staring bored at the overhead lights, while the other two members held their light brains, arguing over which male zerg streamer could rival the handsomeness of the gentleman who had successfully calmed their general.

The personal guard was notoriously strict about discipline; such a scene would never normally occur. But the sheer shock of witnessing the general lying in the arms of that handsome male zerg had left the guards completely out of sorts.

Hearing the door open, they turned in unison, instantly snapping to attention and saluting.

Grant glanced at them, unexpectedly showing no intention of punishing their dereliction of duty. Instead, he turned back and extended his hand toward He Lin.

He Lin raised an eyebrow slightly.

This female zerg admiral appeared tall and formidable, cold and fierce—yet she was actually initiating a handshake.

Grant offered his left hand. Logically, He Lin should grasp it with his right to walk side by side.

Yet He Lin extended his left hand as well.

Grant was puzzled when the male zerg stepped forward, wrapping his right arm around He Lin's waist. Instantly, they stood in intimate proximity.

The guard captain and his men exchanged glances, shock evident in each other's eyes.

And a hint of envy.

Male zergs were rare and temperamental. Due to their smaller builds, they preferred delicate sub-females over the towering females.

This particular male zerg, Lord He Lin, though lacking in noble lineage, possessed a considerate and gentle nature, striking good looks, and formidable psychic powers capable of soothing even their Admiral.

More importantly, his physique and face were nothing short of a divine gift! To have such a male zerg as their leader was truly a stroke of luck.

Grant, held close in He Lin's embrace with his hand firmly clasped, felt a sudden wave of embarrassment. He masked his shyness with a frown and hummed contentedly.

After taking a few steps, he suddenly remembered something, halted, and turned to address the captain of the guard: “Milenka.”

Milenka snapped to attention: “Present!”

“By noon tomorrow, investigate and compile all available information on Lord He Lin. Send it to my holo-computer,” Grant ordered. “Also, summon Fio from the home star. Have him prepare the equipment for the psychic assessment and physical examination.”

He still harbored doubts about He Lin's rank and the fact that he had never been paired with a female zerg.

Milenka saluted. “Yes, General!”

Inside, she rolled her eyes. General, Lord He Lin is standing right beside you. Is it really wise to order an investigation of him so bluntly?

After giving his orders, Grant's gaze swept casually over the face of the male zerg beside him, as if searching for some flaw.

But he was bound to be disappointed. He Lin's expression remained utterly unchanged throughout. Noticing Grant's gaze, he even offered him a smile.

Was he being overly suspicious?

Hmph. Best if that were the case.

Grant chose not to spend the night at the Governor's residence. Instead, he led He Lin around to an open area behind the compound.

There, suspended silently against the night sky like an aerial fortress, was a colossal starship nearly as large as the Governor's residence itself.

“This is my starship,” Grant told He Lin. “You'll stay here until we return to the home world.”

He Lin shook his head.

Before Grant could frown, the young man before him smiled. “It should be us staying here, General.”

A wave of warmth washed over Grant, instantly washing away the nascent irritation that had begun to form.

Us.

How had he never noticed before how deeply that word pleased the zerg?

The starship hatch opened, and the elevator descended slowly. Grant squeezed He Lin's fingers. “Go up. Take a shower in your quarters, then comfort me again.”

--

Before being selected by the Administration for the Data Management Department, He Lin had undergone an extended period of operative training due to his exceptional appearance.

The curriculum covered, but was not limited to, how to convincingly play assigned roles, repair worldlines without arousing suspicion, and control and manage one's emotions.

Within the role-playing modules, the system provided detailed instruction on how to engage intimately with protagonists—from kissing to consummation—down to the most minute details. After all, love was undeniably the most perfect tool, without equal, for persuading a protagonist to willingly sign a soul-selling pact with the devil.

Yet this was He Lin's first time putting it into practice. Earlier in the lounge, when he'd used a kiss to bewitch Grant, the movements of his lips and tongue still carried a hint of awkwardness only he himself could detect.

Sacrificing one's body for a mission was the most normal thing in the world within the Bureau.

Especially since He Lin was merely inhabiting a mission-specific vessel—this body would be destroyed once the task was complete. So despite it being his first time, there was no need for burden, either physically or emotionally.

Yet perhaps because he was a high-ranking Administrator, long isolated from human contact, He Lin always felt a peculiar sensation when embracing the warmth of another’s body.

The spacious main cabin was dimly lit, warm light casting a hazy glow that lent an ambiguous warmth to the room's simple furnishings.

He Lin stood at the cabin entrance, watching the tall, blonde military female before him turn his back as he removed his uniform jacket.

Bow tie, cufflinks, shirt...

Broad, sturdy shoulders, intricate zerg tattoos, and pitted, mottled scars lay exposed before He Lin without reserve.

Indeed, a general who had fought countless battles and earned numerous military honors bore so many scars.

He Lin chuckled, stepping forward, his mind already rehearsing the next act he would perform.

Grant tossed his shirt onto a nearby chair, distinctly aware of the zerg approaching him from behind.

He didn't move, remaining rooted to the spot, tacitly allowing the other's actions.

Soon, He Lin's steps halted mere inches from Grant, so close Grant could distinctly smell the clean scent emanating from him.

Faint, yet pleasant.

A warm, dry palm gently pressed against Grant's back.

“General.”

Fingers like feathers slowly traced the scars across Grant's back. Grant's back had endured enemy gunfire and military whippings, but never such gentle caresses. He frowned involuntarily, trying to relax, yet his body tensed uncontrollably at this unfamiliar sensation.

He'd expected He Lin to touch his zerg markings, not that his ugly scars would capture the other man's attention.

“Does it hurt?” He Lin asked.

Does it hurt?

How could it not hurt?

The physical strength and regenerative abilities of S-class female zergs were nothing short of miraculous. There had been cases of S-class military females having half their bodies severed, only to recover completely after six months in a healing pod. Such was their formidable resilience.

Grant was no different. Shot? Remove the bullet, spray on hemostatic agent, and he was back in action. Whipped? The wounds scabbed over overnight.

So no one ever asked him if it hurt.

Grant hurriedly pulled He Lin into the cabin, stripping off his clothes. His intention had been to go further, to taste the physical and mental pleasure of being soothed by a male zerg.

Yet now, a simple, unexpected question caused him to drift into thought.

When he snapped back, Grant’s voice carried a hint of self-mockery: “I believe now that you’ve been playing the role of a female zerg all these years.”

The hand on his back slid to his waist, pulling him into a warm embrace. “Why do you say that?”

“Male zergs don't care about females,” Grant replied. “Especially not for an S-class military female like me.”

“Hmm...” He Lin murmured. “Is it forbidden to care for you?”

It wasn't forbidden.

Though unfamiliar, though strange, the sensation wasn't unpleasant.

So Grant merely hummed softly, turning to wrap his arms around the male zerg's neck.

He Lin stood slightly taller, forcing Grant to tilt his head back slightly to reach He Lin's lips. This sensation was undeniably novel for a military female. Unconsciously, he leaned into the embrace, attempting to press his body against He Lin.

He Lin held him steady, his tongue darting out to leave moist trails along Grant's lips and teeth.

The hand resting on his waist grew restless as the kiss deepened, no longer content with merely holding his slender frame. Fingers traced his spine, pressing gently, as if counting upwards and upwards.

Finally, they paused upon the dark golden zerg markings.

“General, your zerg markings are truly beautiful.” " He Lin's lips remained pressed against Grant's, and the slight friction of his words made Grant's already flushed earlobes burn even hotter.

His arms had shifted from embracing He Lin to resting lightly on his shoulders. Beneath his touch, he could feel the other's firm muscles, and Grant suddenly wondered what the male zerg's body looked like beneath that white shirt.

He Lin, too, sensed the subtle movements of the female zerg nestled in his embrace and his own thoughts. He smiled, ending the kiss. “Didn't you say you wanted to shower first?”

Grant leaned against He Lin's shoulder, idly playing with the buttons of his shirt. “Hmm. Should you go first, or should I?”

Then he remembered something. “You go first. I'll have my subordinate send some clothes you can wear.”

As he spoke, Grant took a few steps back, about to reach for his shirt by the chair to put it on. But He Lin hooked an arm around him, pulling him back into his embrace.

“No need to rush for clothes. Tomorrow will be fine.” He Lin deliberately lowered his voice, leaning close to Grant's ear so his breath could tickle the female zerg's ear. “Let's wash together, General.”