Moon Theory (ABO)Ch94 - later, the analysis

In his vulnerability, Noah does not reply.

It takes half a minute of shuddering breaths to regain the slightest bit of clarity. ln3osy

They’re inside a vehicle – not one of those military trucks he’s been acclimated with, but a larger van. The backseats are removed and the flooring cleared. The engine is on and humming, though the noise is nothing more than static to his ears.

All rationale is thrown away shortly after – Noah is quite simply too panicked to think.

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His fingers curl onto Shi Luo’s shirt more harshly, his pulse pounding in tandem.

Shi Luo looks at him for a long while before letting out a soft sigh. His next words are said mostly to himself, though Noah catches them anyway. “I can understand why he is so hesitant,” the doctor murmurs, deep in thought. “The signals are very… complicated.” KzuwTd

Shi Luo raises a gloved hand and strokes slowly at his own chin, his amber eyes perusing every centimeter of Noah’s body. It’s that gesture he does when examining laboratory specimens, when measuring a patient’s reaction. Noah must look so utterly disordered for Shi Luo to assume such poise.

“I’ve given it thought,” the doctor says in a calculative tone. Not showing much emotion but rather, critical analysis. “He had called me several times, as you may be aware, so I am mostly informed of your situation. And your situation is…”

When he speaks, he counts off his fingers, as if ticking off a mental list. “…Signs of instability, dependency, impulsivity. Heavy reliance on touch, yet a tendency to run away when cornered. I wonder, Xie Xing, are these reactions induced by unsettled heat… or perhaps there is something more?”

Noah is in no state to hold such a conversation, but the doctor is still studying him with the intensity of a hawk.

“Yang Rong is perceptive,” Shi Luo says. “But not emotionally so. He was uncertain of your state. Or, if I were to put it bluntly, he was uncertain whether or not you two’s relationship, proceeded out of desperation, had any inkling of feeling.”

The doctor leans forward and in a purposeful dereliction of personal space, brushes a hand against the nape of Noah’s neck. The young man shivers in place but does not retract.

“Currently, Xie Xing…” Shi Luo says with the same discerning tone. “Your vulnerability is very easy to exploit.”

The doctor hums – a low, knowing hum that sends specks of alarm down his spine. Shi Luo’s gloved hand rubs against his nape, right on his unmarked scent gland. Noah jolts in reflex, heterochromatic eyes widening in both surprise and fear. IdRWmt

“Whether it is desperation, physiology or… something akin to love, I am interested in knowing as well,” the man says as he leans closer, his warm breaths skating across Noah’s lips. “Then should we confirm?”

And Shi Luo kisses him – forcefully cups the side of his face, slides a hand behind his waist, and locks him in place.

Noah’s body is pressed against a hard surface, his spine straining against a metal frame. Miscellaneous contents topple onto the floormat, plastic kits and unknown devices clattering alongside each other. In such a dark, enclosed vicinity, Noah cannot see past a few inches in front. Just when he can see past the kerosene lamps and the soft, battery-powered candles, his vision is covered by a mop of dark hair.

Shi Luo’s lips are insistent on top of his. The doctor is a practiced kisser, sucking on the sensitive jut of his skin, gliding through the part of his mouth. And Shi Luo doesn’t hesitate in the slightest to deepen it with tongue. He brings pleasure methodically – the doctor is a manipulative kisser, knowing exactly where to move to elicit a tingling gasp. W0dxg2

Noah, pinned under his hold, is completely, utterly shaken.

Everything is so foreign.

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.

“Yang—” he tries to voice out before his mouth is blocked. All his words are muffled soft gasps when he feels a tongue scraping across the bottom of his teeth, into incoherent whines when he feels a hand dipping lower on his hip, pushing up the fabric of his shirt.

“Pa lr Vtl Oeb,” atf vbmabg lcobgwr tlw. vMF6io

Vtl Oeb rilvfr j ijafz uibnf jmgbrr tlr yjgf rxlc jcv Rbjt jgmtfr lcnbiecajglis, megnlcu tlwrfio jujlcra atf wjc.

“—!” Noah exclaims when he feels a firm pinch – not enough to injure, but the action carries purpose. “Yang Rong—“

Story translated by Chrysanthemum Garden.

“Vtl Oeb,” atf vbmabg mbggfmar jujlc. “Tbe’nf sfa ab ecvfgrajcv sbeg qgfvlmjwfca, Wlf Wlcu?”

Pa lr cbk atja Rbjt gfujlcr j rwjii rfwyijcmf bo gfjrbc. Pc yfakffc gbeut rwjmxr bo atflg wbeatr, Rbjt tjr atf yjgfra gfmbuclalbc bo atf wjc ibmxlcu tlw lc qijmf. zHrZ7J

“Mn—Shi Luo—”

“If it is physiology that controls you,” the man murmurs against his lips, “then I am an alpha as well. How do you feel?”

Noah, befuddled, only chokes out in between more forceful kisses, “Shi Luo, I don’t—“

“Then if it is desperation you feel,” Shi Luo doesn’t wait for him to respond, “I am right here in front you. Won’t I do?” tu9bKl

Belatedly, Noah thinks he hasn’t ever seen Shi Luo look so domineering – not to him, anyway, when all he’d associated with the man were prim smiles and friendly gestures.

As if purposefully inducing some sort of reaction, Shi Luo lifts his loose shirt all the way up the torso, revealing white bandages and peeks of porcelain skin. One hand remains on his hip while another circles around his chest.

His actions are too odd, too deliberate. Noah hasn’t time to ponder before Shi Luo presses a section of bruised skin, right underneath his rose-colored bud. Noah jolts reflexively, yelps in pain and takes every ounce of energy to yank the man aside.

“—What—“ he chokes out, “are you doing…Shi Luo…?” H3N9r5

The doctor only looks at him inquisitively. The gaze hints all kinds of signals – and none that Noah can catch.

“No need to look at me like that, Xie Xing,” the doctor replies. “I’ve always held foul intentions, but you’ve triggered a very unpleasant part of me. Perhaps you may consider it compensation for three nights prior.”

“…Three nights…” Noah’s eyes are scrunched in contemplation, pain and confusion all in one. “I…I don’t know, Shi Luo. I’m sorry, my head hurts and I’m… I need to know if—where—where is Yang Rong?”

Rare for him to fumble this much in his speech – really, Noah is overwhelmed by the sudden escalation. And Shi Luo, a trusted friend for a decade and half, holds intentions unknown. l4C0o5

“You have the tendency to mix fear with desperation,” the doctor comments – he’s back to analysis, the same tone he uses when scribing research articles. “And your emotional attachments are quite interesting. All sorts of mixed signals, all sorts of stimulus reactions. Xie Xing, if I kiss you again, will the reaction be more violent, or will you accept me more easily – just like you have with Yang Rong?”

Shi Luo leans forward again, but Noah flinches backward, backing against the wall, leaving as much space between them as he can.

“…It isn’t the same.”

The doctor raises a neat brow. “Is that so?” uL5I1h

“Shi Luo, I…” Noah’s gaze is downcast. “Yang Rong is different.”

“I see.” Shi Luo retracts back, takes his glasses out of his pocket and puts it back on his face. Acting as though nothing had transpired, the doctor takes off his gloves and neatly discards it on a nearby rack. He speaks while cleaning up the contents that had fallen onto the floor. “At the very least, he should be appeased by the confirmation.”

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Noah raises his hand to scrape at his lips. Saliva remains on the corners, and Noah is wholeheartedly, utterly confused.

There comes silence with neither of the men speaking. Qs1y2R

Shi Luo is still cleaning the fallen contents. He takes a glance at Noah and speaks up again. “I should inform you that Yang Rong is fine – he’s in recovery.”

Noah flicks his gaze over his surroundings, finally getting a clearer glimpse of the vehicle he’s in. He’s situated in the back of a van – an ambulance of sorts, though the interior is equipped with not just medical equipment but heavy-duty firearms and weapon kits as well. Shi Luo places several scalpels, tweezers and fallen bottles inside a cabinet up top. Noah only watches his movements pensively. Uncertainty.

The doctor notices.

Shi Luo turns to him and gives a soft smile – it hints apology, but also resignation. uBQg1w

A pang of pain is suddenly felt in Noah’s head, reminding him just how disarranged he is. The stringent ringing by his eardrum does not fade. He closes his eyes, takes several more low breaths and brings his knees together. The action makes his ribs protest.

There isn’t much heating in the vehicle.

He hadn’t known how much he was shivering until Shi Luo passes him a black jacket – one that scents of vetiver and sandalwood, reminds of a much more familiar person. There is a silver eagle insignia pinned on the shoulder pad, resting gallantly among small cuts and open patches of fabric. Noah wraps the jacket around his frame and snuggles into it.

“Xie Xing.” o15gzr

He turns at the sound of his name. Shi Luo is looking at him with softened eyes, the amber hue of it lightened by candles and kerosene lamps. His lips curve in the corners – back to the façade of the calm, collected doctor he’s known for sixteen years.

“Sorry, Xie Xing.”

Shi Luo looks quite tired too – his eye bags are telling and there is also some reddened bruise on his otherwise unmarred cheeks. Noah cannot recall a single instance in which the man looks as drained as he does now. His pristine trench coat has seen days of heavy wear, pilling at the sleeves, abrased on the hems. His dress shirt is entirely crumpled from waist up, and his tie is long discarded. His alpha musk is mixed with heavy antiseptic.

Noah asks softly, “What did I do to you three days ago?” xVQXOT

Shi Luo pauses briefly before taking out an unknown syringe from the cabinet. He crouches down by Noah and says, “Xie Xing, lift your shirt. I’ve noticed nerve damage above your ribs. Intercostal neuralgia – the inflammation will distract if left untreated.” Upon sensing the hesitance, Shi Luo pulls up the needle and explains, “An anesthetic. The injection will only be a light pinch.”

“…Oh,” he responds with a light nod. He does as requested, lifting his shirt up and looking away before the needle punctures through skin. The doctor holds true to his word, and the pain is fleeting. When the adhesive is placed, Noah suddenly taps at his wrist, prompting him to pause.

To Shi Luo’s confused expression, Noah raises his knuckles and brushes tellingly against the man’s lips. “The infection… will you be alright, Shi Luo?”

“…” Shi Luo sighs and gently pulls his hand away. “In fact, we’ve already reenacted the events of three nights ago. Only, I’ve escalated it a tad more today. Xie Xing, you have the tendency to latch onto anyone near… And to mistake me for your lover, you are truly, very naïve.” zbYXtA

Noah nods again. “…Oh.”

“No immediate symptoms of infection,” Shi Luo says, ruffling Noah’s hair, taking care to avoid the injured section. The doctor chuckles softly. “But to be so trusting toward me, I may be able to exploit you more heavily, Xie Xing. You’ve been on my operating table for sixteen years. I’ve studied every anatomical and visceral part of you. My intentions are nowhere as pure as the foolish Yang Rong’s.”

Story translated by Chrysanthemum Garden.

Shi Luo maintains a proper distance now. His touches are less intimate and more comforting, carrying no hidden agenda.

“I am surprised, Xie Xing,” the doctor says, still patting him on the head. “You’ve found an alpha lover, and an ex-colonel at that. Yang Rong is all sorts of idiotic, to put it bluntly… But on some off chance that his brain is traveled by the right meridians, he can be rather easy on the eyes.” pjBTFH

“…Mn.”

“He’d take a clip of bullets for you, run through ten more grenades for you. The buffoon would not be killed by a nuclear explosive. Rather, even if he were deemed dead, he’d crawl out of his grave, compose back to life, rip his heart out of his sleeves and hand it to you.” Shi Luo gives him a light flick on the forehead. “And he went against the military, shred himself of his status, tossed away everything – protocol and all. Is such a person trustworthy to you, Xie Xing?”

Shi Luo stands up and makes his way past the midsection of the vehicle. There is a black curtain draping down from the roof, a small divider that separates the trunk from mid. When the curtain is slid apart, a familiar raven-haired man comes into view. He’s unconscious on an inclined bed, hooked with IV drips, bandaged head to toe in white.

“He’s sleeping now,” Shi Luo says with a sigh, going over to reread his vitals. “But when he woke up an hour prior… instead of engaging me with a kiss like you had, he threw a punch to my face, shouted some nonsensical things about impermissively climbing into his bed – the usual drunk drabble you may be familiar with. I had wrestled with him for a minute too long and had to take more… suppressive measures.” Cu0saX

Shi Luo slides open a cabinet drawer, takes out a liquid bottle and another syringe needle – this one, twice as large with a twice as deadly tip. The doctor calmly fills the syringe.

Noah stares with both confusion and concern.

Shi Luo explains. “Stimulant injection. I need to wake him up, and his genetic makeup is quite a hassle to deal with. The syringe needs to be deep enough to penetrate through the carapace. Xie Xing, come take a look.”

“…?” OXbnZk

Noah braces himself against the wall as he staggers forward. Still mildly impaired from injury and from anesthesia, he hadn’t gotten a chance to take a closer look before Shi Luo injects the syringe. Rather, the doctor stabs the syringe into the man’s forearm, insistently drilling it into his vein. Noah flinches, the pain registering to him secondhand.

Shi Luo says, “Currently, this patient Yang Rong is seeing abnormally inconsistent radioactive readings. There are some interesting processes going on – his wounds are closing at a much too rapid speed, his regeneration spiked beyond natural, his body working overtime to accommodate for the high fever.”

The doctor gestures for him to come closer. “The chance of a full mutation is rare, but I’d rather not witness a full-grown girdled lizard lying on my operating table. The very thought is unpleasant, to say the least. I’ve taken liberties with his medicinal dosage, though there are some much undesired side effects. He will likely wake up in… five seconds, Xie Xing, so I’d rather you be by his side. I wouldn’t want the back of my vehicle wrecked, nor would I want my face to be punched a second time – especially if he finds out what I’d done to you.”

YzXLSm