Moon Theory (ABO)Ch102 - afterward, a visitor

thank you to vaesen, gofa and domdom for the ko-fis!! ; w ;

[nexus laboratory, one week later] 7XOpvt

“The preliminary analysis is as follows…”

Aria carries with her a notepad, all of its pages filled with words. She flips to a middle section, traces her manicured nails over the messy script and squints a bit before continuing.

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“After conducting three experimental trials, specimen 23 remains unresponsive to external stimuli, but seems to display some signs of recognition. Its aggression level is measured to be…” She squints again, seems to have trouble reading the scrawly handwriting, and coughs a little. “40 on a 62-point scale. Specimen 23 is stable unless in presence of a trigger mechanic – namely, other anomalies or humans. However, it’s gotten relatively mild around Ming Tang. Perhaps it senses no threat from him.”

She walks down the long-spanning laboratory with Shi Luo by her side. The doctor is listening attentively while simultaneously studying the clear tanks in front. There are dozens of them in just this one room. Inside are various, unknown creatures – one tank per creature, the temperature artificially regulated. G4zfbL

Aria tries to report as best as she can. “We’ve sedated specimen 24. Not only is it unresponsive to external stimuli, but its aggression level fluctuates to the high 50s. We had to cover the tank with another layer of borosilicate.”

They stop in front of a large, brown bear. It takes the form of a half-human – partially human face but with rounder protruding ears, black hair but with brown fur covering its limbs. It isn’t the most exquisite sight, but the anomaly is leagues less grotesque than the others they’ve seen. One such example is the strange thing the next tank over – a human-wasp with a stinger growing out the vestigial tail.

Shi Luo taps on the circulation tank, feeling up the sturdiness of it. “You’ve recalibrated the piston?”

“Yes, yes.” She nods fervently. “Have I done it right?”

“It is properly done,” Shi Luo tells her with a smile. He taps the glass more firmly, observing the hybrid bear as it growls at him. “But some parts of your analysis are lacking. Specimen 24 – unresponsive to external stimuli yet able to sense minor disturbances in its tank. Which is it?”

Aria coughs again and flips through the notepad, somewhat nervously glancing at the words. “Well… it’s what he has—I have written here. I may need to do another experiment… but doctor, I’m running on two hours of sleep and ten shots of caffeine… T-There are bound to be some mistakes…?”

“Three hours of overtime work today,” he says as he pats her head affectionately. He rearranges a strand of hair sticking out. His tone and action do not match his stabbing words. “Referring to an intern’s analysis report that is filled with gibberish, having Ming Tang substitute for your afternoon shift, lying and taking an extended two-hour restroom break. Aria, your actions are all duly recorded.”

“…Boss!” Aria sobs out, throwing away the notepad and clinging onto Shi Luo’s arm. “The truth is I’m running on six hours of sleep! The healthy, recommended amount is eight a night! We’ve been researching nonstop for the past week…!” DBAbjw

“It will be a routine for the next few months,” Shi Luo states, pushing up the rims of his glasses. “Fifty thousand casualties, thirty thousand infected samples, twenty thousand recovered embryos – and nearly all of them tested radioactively. With half our biopsy specialists out of commission or yet recovered, we would have to overcompensate.”

“…I know,” Aria says dejectedly. “But I sometimes think… our efforts are futile. The city will never be recovered, Doctor. Civil unrest, distrust, fear – amidst all this, the city is placing all hopes on us and research is never about certainty.”

They pass through another section of the lab. The lighting in here is brighter. In the center are two large dual monitors. The blue screens shine down on a young teenager sleeping in front. His short black hair is pooled onto an opened textbook. The desk he’s passed out on is stacked with papers, books, messily-scrawled notepads.

Shi Luo takes off his coat and covers the teen’s back. H9y 0z

“We do not care for certainty,” the doctor responds. “As long as there is advancement, there is hope.”

“…Is there hope, Dr. Shi?” Aria sighs and rubs her tired eyes. “I’ll be honest… In this lifetime, I do not know if we could ever overcome. Fifty thousand casualties and for a smidgeon of progress – is it worth it? Research has gone further than it ever did, of course, but what if we need to sacrifice tens of thousands more? We run on a time constraint, Doctor, and it’s a miracle we’ll still be alive decades later.”

“It took decades of cosmic history for the first humans to reach the moon, nearly a century more for humans to concretely plan to explore Mars. The costs, the sacrifices – astronomical. And you believe we may overcome interstellar fields in but a few generations?” Shi Luo chuckles as he takes a remote from the desk. He presses a few buttons and dims the room. “It is alright, Aria, to continue as you are.”

“Boss…!” Aria sobs out. “I love you!” o2ZbA

Shi Luo ignores her completely. “Never mind the overtime – the lab is closing early today. I have a few commitments. You may leave Ming Tang in here. Lock the doors on your way out.”

“Y-Yes!” Aria sheds a tear. “I’ll be energized for tomorrow, Shi Luo—I mean, Dr. Shi!”

Story translated by Chrysanthemum Garden.

Shi Luo gives her a small wave in return as he exits the middle section. Before he leaves the lab, he pulls open a cabinet and puts an aluminum packet inside his pocket.

He takes an elevator down twenty floors, passes the reception area, says a few words of courtesy to the workers. When he leaves the building, his expression becomes stoic. He takes off his glasses, tucks it into his white coat, and heads forward. MijeBY

We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.

In the aftermath, a week after the outbreak, the inner-city streets are still in quarantine. Not a single civilian is allowed in nor out, with the exception of patrol police, armed guards and select employees. Every facility is heavily inspected, and every person screened. Shi Luo walks toward a slate-gray building, a facility the same color as all the others around it, with no distinction whatsoever if not for the unit number by the entranceway.

—

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“The accommodations are quite good,” the doctor comments. “The border residents would pay thousands a month to live here.”

Behind the gated door, sitting peacefully on a chair is Xie Liwei. Dressed in a plain black shirt and a pair of trousers, the man still exerts an aura of power. He places the book he’s reading down on the desk and turns around.

“It is only that the city does not have proper detainment centers.” GK51q2

“There are no arrests,” Shi Luo says as he leans against the adjacent wall. “Normal citizens would be thrown out into the slums… but as for you, I suppose you get special treatment regardless. Will you be executed?”

“Why have you come?”

“To pay respects to my past caretaker.” Shi Luo stares at the white ceiling. “Because I am certain you will be leaving confinement soon.”

“Where do you suppose I will go?” TFZCct

“Who knows,” Shi Luo responds. “Wherever you escape to is not my business. I’ve already two fugitives to take care of.”

There is silence for a while before Xie Liwei speaks, “Where has he gone?”

“Out of your reach.”

“I see.” 90xB4N

Silence again. The exchange is extremely stale – but again, communicating with the ex-general is akin to speaking to a steel wall. Sound traverses through, but the older man replies in single sentences and short words. Ten seconds with him is followed by a minute of tension.

“Shi Luo.” Xie Liwei makes no effort to move from his spot. “Take care of him.”

Story translated by Chrysanthemum Garden.

The doctor lets out a laugh – a low chuckle that turns increasingly more mirthful.

“Amazing,” Shi Luo says after some seconds more. “You shackle him to me, Xie Liwei.” WtLPzm

—

[current location: unchartered]

Water trickles down his hair, slides down his sharp jawline, rolls to collarbones and down. The droplets catch the scabs on his abnormally pale body. With the bandages taken off, dozens of scars come into view, fading short by his hip line. Soap suds slip from firm muscles down to a secretive place.

The steam fogs the full-body mirror to the side. Noah has his eyes closed in the shower. VDrxAm

Five minutes later and he’s still standing underneath the showerhead, unknowingly drifting off into space. His head wobbles and rests onto the wall. The hot water is comforting to his skin, and he allows himself to doze for some more seconds. The lights flicker overhead. Two flickers later, they turn off completely, and the room is in complete darkness.

And in the darkness, he hears a low whisper.

“I’m going to kill you, Noah.”

Noah jolts up. He whips his head sideway only to see nothing – no ghostly apparitions, no glowing blue eyes, none of that beastly thing he conjures in his mind. zxqbd2

“…How persistent,” he breathes out, calming his palpitating heart. “I should have run away from you long ago.”

Shampoo is being washed down to his eyelids and he lets out soft sigh, bringing his hands to scrub at them. Perhaps his eardrum is indeed so damaged he’s started to hear illusory voices.

“You should not have been born, Noah.”

“…” Noah turns off the showerhead. “The memories are wrong… You’ve never called me Noah. I’ve discarded the name you gave me, so do not look for me anymore.” KYrM4i

“Xie Xing.” It’s his father’s voice this time. Cold, commandeering, the worst kind. “You will not see me again.”

He replies quietly, “You do not have to appear before me.”

He grabs a towel overhead. He wipes over his million scars and imperfections, scrubbing down particularly hard on his ribs. It becomes silent once more, the last beads dripping from the showerhead. A minute later, his body is clothed and mildly flushed. He leans against a wall mirror, staring up at the lights that have started up again.

“I’m sorry, Xie Xing.” FOGQgy

Noah freezes.

It’s his father again – how odd for his imagination to rouse sentimentality. General Xie had never told him anything of the sort. Noah chuckles lowly and rubs at his eyes.

Story translated by Chrysanthemum Garden.

“…I’ve gone insane,” he whispers.

An uncanny, out-of-character delusion in the form of a brooding Xie Liwei – yet, Noah remains frozen in place for some time, pondering it over and over again. With a slight shake of his head, he unlocks the restroom door and steps out. zwMfsD

The place is small and dingy – barren and outdated too, missing the most basic of necessities. Quite dusty as well, with corners that haven’t been cleaned in an unfortunate number of months. It really is a small and dingy place hardly big enough for even one person to live in.

There are several packs of cigarettes on the living room table, several cans of tuna, several more opened cans of grub left hastily. Then there are random piles of clothes on the sofa and while some are admittedly neatly folded, several other pieces are thrown onto the adjacent chair as though it were a laundry basket. The more recent additions on top, the sweat-stained shirts, smell heavily of musk.

The place has as much personality as its owner.

In the single, unlit bedroom, Yang Rong is throwing on a new shirt. He had just gone out somewhere – or he had run a marathon or two, judging from the sweat on his back. Underneath the dark fabric of his shirt are several thin bandages, changed for likely the twentieth time. 5P7uRI

Noah goes to him and presses up on his side.

Yang Rong, with his shirt halfway buttoned up his torso, turns at an angle.

“Hmm? What’s wrong, kitten?” he asks. There’s slight worry in his tone. “Tired? Then you should go back to sleep. Rest up for a week or two more… or even a month if you need. Rong-ge will take care of you well.”

Noah wraps his arms around him – unfortunate that he isn’t able to encircle Yang Rong’s frame entirely. “Yang Rong…” 3fDhu9

“…Hm?” Yang Rong is surprised by the clinginess. “What is it?”

“Getting your attention.”

Yang Rong pauses a little before chuckling lowly. He turns around and wraps the younger man into an embrace. “Well, kitten, if you want my attention…” his voice drops to a teasing murmur, “all you have to do is call my name cutely and give me a ki—”

Noah pulls him in for a kiss. 1Do3Au

One hand curls on Yang Rong’s dark shirt while the other rests on the base of his neck. Noah’s lips are warmed and moistened, soft to the touch. He presses onto Yang Rong slowly, testingly, yet hinting of impatience. The colonel – ex-colonel, though the label is long engrained into his mind – doesn’t hesitate to reciprocate, capturing him deeply in kind. Yang Rong lets out an appreciative hum and settles a hand on his jaw, coaxing him to deepen the kiss.

Noah lets out a soft whine when Yang Rong slides in a tongue – and the man is so expectedly yet roguishly skilled that it has Noah a little weak to his advances. Still, the stubborn part of him tries to vie for dominance, and the more displeased part of him pushes Yang Rong down onto the bed. Yang Rong, of course, only complies out of regard, smirking as Noah licks the jut of his lower lip.

“Tell me the truth, little kitten,” Yang Rong laughs quietly against his mouth. “How much do you like kissing me?”

Noah bites him in return – not deep enough to draw blood, but firm enough to make a point. Yang Rong, merciful enough, slides a hand on the dampened locks of his hair, appeasing him with circular rubs – “yes, yes,” the man replies as he places a soft kiss on his cheek, “Rong-ge will stop talking nonsense.” V4CtX6

In the room lit up with only one golden lamp, the two settle in silence on the bed. Yang Rong is sprawled onto his back and Noah is rested on top. Their chests are touching, and there is not even a millimeter of space between their pounding hearts – rather, when Noah pays closer attention, only his own pulse is pounding like so. He takes a quiet, deep breath before kissing Yang Rong again – even more insistently this time, licking and biting for access.

Yang Rong appeases him all the same, matching him in every pace, appeasing his every gasp and purr. Saliva glistens his mouth when they part, and Noah’s cheeks are flushed a scarlet hue. Yang Rong rubs at the mole on the corner of his lips.

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“Is something wrong?” the colonel whispers. “How are your injuries? Your ear? Tell Rong-ge if anything is wrong.”

“Nothing is wrong, Yang Rong,” Noah murmurs. “I only felt like kissing you.” W4LYra

Green eyes trail over his form, carrying with them every bit of perceptiveness. Noah feels a little bare under his scrutiny and subconsciously, he shifts away. Yang Rong holds him still.

“You are doing it again,” Yang Rong says quietly. “Noah, tell me what you’re feeling?”

“…” Noah sighs softly and burrows himself into the man’s hold. “…You cater to me too much, Yang Rong. A person like me… I come with kilograms of baggage.”

“Baggage?” Yang Rong hoists himself to a sitting position, taking Noah upward with him, and flashes a grin as if to prove a point. “Rong-ge can carry all your weight on one hand, and still have reserve energy to carry one thousand more kilos.” 9a2f7r

How dangerous – the calming, soothing tenor of his voice is enough to make Noah go entirely defenseless. He is rooted in place, unable to look away from Yang Rong’s intensity – the intensity of his character, that is. The man exudes battle-hardened poise, danger and more; yet Noah is drawn to his tenderness all the same.

How unexpected – under that powerful façade is a handsome vigorousness Noah cannot hope to match. Noah is struck right in his core. And his ears are quite blazed red by now. He dips his head forward, tapping lightly against Yang Rong’s chest.

“…Yeah,” he whispers. “…Yang Rong, I think I…”

He doesn’t finish his sentence, merely shaking away the thought, snuggling himself closer to the man. KEudts

“You can ask me questions too,” Yang Rong tells him with a soft smile. “Such as where you are, what time it is, how long you’ve been in and out of sleep… Little kitten, you can ask what’s happened.”

If Noah focuses a little more, he can make out a clock in the far-right corner. The time is past twilight, peak darkness hour. But there is lull in spending it in here, in this small dim room, in somewhere unknown and far away from where he is familiar with. He is isolated away from a burning world and Noah, in hypnosis, thinks he isn’t as lonely as he had thought.

Noah says, “It doesn’t matter.”

When he kisses Yang Rong again, the other man takes the lead. Yang Rong tilts his jaw for easier access, slips a hand up the curve of his back. Noah feels every part of his calluses, his hardened bumps, his palm that’s held thousands of firearms. Yang Rong presses testingly at a patch of tender skin – the spot below a scab. He arches involuntarily at the touch, letting out soft, small gasps that the colonel swallows up greedily. WrRHXD

“—Yang Rong,” he rasps out in between. “Yang Rong—it’s—”

“Does it hurt?” the man whispers, his breaths skating across Noah’s lips.

Only a little, a part of Noah’s brain would like him to respond, but he is too lost in the feeling of Yang Rong’s hands on him, too distracted by the fingers that have slid underneath the fabric of his damp shirt and onto his chest. Yang Rong rubs a finger – again, testingly – on his perk, prompting yet another whine.

Noah’s eyes are scrunched up, his mouth parted for exhales. MTlmf6

“Is it alright?” Yang Rong murmurs, sensing his discomfort. “Tell me with words, Noah.”

As composed as the colonel sounds, heat radiates strongly from his body, interflowing with Noah’s own. In this position, Noah can see his hardness jut against his trousers. The air hints alpha musk, sandalwood, the same vetiver scent that Noah has come to associate with the raven-haired colonel.

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“…Yes,” he breathes out. “It is alright, Yang Rong.”

Author: sorry for the slightly delayed update! i’m really anxious + overwhelmed by real life eeep 7dVvRB

anyway, we all know where this is going — nsfw content warning for the next 3 chapters (yes i wrote 10k words of smut i have nothing to say to defend myself)