The night was quiet, and Dawn Starport seemed finally to exhale after the long stretch of battle. In the temporary base’s rest area, the lights stretched softly along the corridors like gentle streams, casting faint silver gleams.
The cabin door clicked softly, and just as Gu Qing hung up his outer robe, familiar footsteps sounded outside.
“Knock, knock.”
He walked over to open the door, and before he could speak, Milton suddenly leapt into his arms.
“Gu Qing—”
Milton’s voice was low, almost broken, trembling with emotions he could not hide. He pressed his forehead against Gu Qing’s chest, arms wrapped tightly around his waist, as if fearing the warmth would vanish the next second.
Gu Qing froze for a moment, then returned the embrace.
For that instant, the world seemed to quiet to the beat of their hearts alone.
Milton buried his face in the crook of his shoulder, his body shivering slightly. Gu Qing felt the damp heat at his neck and realized that Milton was crying.
He asked nothing, only raising a hand to stroke Milton’s soft silver hair, pressing him closer.
“You fool…” he whispered.
Before the words fell, he bent down and kissed him—starting from the corner of Milton’s reddened eyes, brushing each tear away. The kisses were gentle, tenderly soothing a long, harrowing nightmare.
Milton’s fingers clawed at his back, desperate, as if to hold Gu Qing inside him forever. Their chests pressed together, bodies almost fused.
Gu Qing traced kisses over his eyes, forehead, and brows—each a silent reassurance, a release of the emotions long restrained.
“Don’t cry… I’m fine. I promised you, I won’t die so easily.”
Milton finally lifted his head, silver hair tousled, violet eyes still glistening with moisture. His gaze spoke a thousand unspoken words—fear, longing, and a resolve never to let go again.
His throat quivered. “I thought… I’d never see you again in this life.”
Gu Qing gently brushed the hair from his face, cupped his cheeks, and whispered, “I’m here, always here.”
Then he kissed him.
Unlike the previous gentle kisses, this one was deeper, charged with desire—the kind of passion born from surviving life and death, reunion igniting feelings that could no longer be restrained.
Milton lifted his head to meet him, hands tracing Gu Qing’s neck. He held him tightly, the kiss possessive and urgent, as if to carve their bond into each other’s souls.
Breath mingled, lips and tongues entwined; all the longing and worry poured into this one embrace. Gu Qing circled him fully in his arms, pressing the kiss with focus and depth, speaking through every touch the love and attachment they had long suppressed.
After a long while, Gu Qing drew back slightly, forehead resting against Milton’s. He whispered, “I missed you so much.”
Milton, tears still clinging, responded softly, “Don’t ever leave me again.”
Before more could be said, Gu Qing moved, lifting him effortlessly and carrying him to the bed.
Milton’s hands clutched his neck in surprise, face flushed. “You… what are you doing…?”
Gu Qing said nothing, laying him gently on the bed, covering him completely, and kissed him again—urgent, burning, the suppressed emotions finally erupting. Breath came faster, yet he carefully restrained himself, keeping control.
Milton lay back, silver hair spilling across the sheets, violet eyes rimmed with red, tears glistening. He clutched Gu Qing’s back, fingers digging into the fabric as if to fuse him into his being.
Gu Qing’s kisses deepened, hungry and insistent. Tongues danced together, sometimes slow, sometimes fast, savoring the reunion and the unrestrained desire.
Fingers ran through soft silver hair, tracing ears and neck, sliding to chest and waist, exploring the warmth and delicate texture. The kisses moved downward from lips to jaw, collarbones, each one mixing longing and possessive need.
When Milton trembled, letting out a faint, bewildered, and affectionate whimper, Gu Qing forcibly reined in his own racing heart.
He inhaled sharply, pressing foreheads together, voice low and husky. “Not here,” he said, gentle yet firm. “I won’t let this… be your first in a place like this—amidst a battlefield.”
Milton paused, violet eyes shimmering. He reached up to brush Gu Qing’s hair, that one soft gesture nearly undoing him.
Gu Qing stared at him, chest heaving violently, summoning all his restraint. Finally, he pulled Milton close, pressing his cheek to his chest.
“I missed you… almost to madness,” he murmured.
Milton closed his eyes, trembling slightly. “I know.” He held on tighter, nose brushing his chest.
Night deepened. The starport continued to operate, and behind the cabin doors, they held each other, confirming silently that they were still there.
In the depths of Gu Qing’s mind, the silver light orb huddled in a corner, frozen like a powerless mechanical sphere.
…actually, inside, it was screaming:
“Ahhhhhhh!! What kind of… gentle yet naughty interaction is this?! I’m exploding!! (Little fireworks!)
“Gu Qing, you old fox, you swordmaster! How dare you reject my Mimo at a time like this! This is… not a rejection, this is—this is perverted-level self-control seduction!!
“I thought you’d… but you said ‘not here’! Damn it—!!!”
At dawn, Gu Qing quietly awoke, moving through the small kitchen, cooking eggs and porridge skillfully, preparing a simple yet nourishing breakfast. A rare moment of peace, a chance to forget war and enjoy quiet with Milton.
Suddenly, the door burst open with a thud.
“Gu Qing!”
Ais dashed in like the wind, throwing himself into Gu Qing’s arms, holding on tightly.
“I finally see you again… thank goodness you’re safe.” His voice trembled, eyes reddened. “When the frontlines went silent, I really thought—”
He cut himself off, pouting stubbornly. “Hmph, you weren’t bitten by monsters, right?”
Gu Qing laughed, gently returning the embrace. “I’m fine, don’t worry. I promised I’d come back.”
Ais nodded heavily, relieved. “Hmph, I knew it. You’re so ridiculously strong, there’s no way anything could happen to you.”
Then he immediately bombarded him with questions. “What happened on the battlefield? What did the monsters look like? Were they really that scary? How many did you cut down?”
Milton stepped out of the bedroom, silver hair slightly tousled, a light morning robe draped over him. He quietly observed the lively scene, his gaze softening as he watched Gu Qing surrounded by their friends.
Gu Qing patted Ais’s head, smiling. “Breakfast first, then we’ll talk.”
The three of them sat around the small table. Gu Qing served the meal while recounting the battlefield experience. Ais listened, eyes wide, gasping in disbelief, peppering him with questions.
Suddenly, a flash of silver light—
“Mimo! Long time no see!!”
The light orb shot from Gu Qing’s consciousness, colliding into Milton’s arms with a soft ‘plop.’
Milton smiled, cradling the small, soft body. “…Little orb.”
“Ahh, Mimo’s hug is still so comfy—hmph! Gu Qing never hugs me! Bad fox! He only cooks and fights, hmph!” The orb pouted and twirled, filling the room with warmth.
Soon, knocks sounded at the door.
“Is Bladé here?” Veli’s clear, anxious voice called. He peeked in, followed by Il and Phili. The three froze at the warm scene, instinctively softening their steps.
“We didn’t mean to intrude… just wanted to check on you,” Il said quietly, green eyes full of concern.
“You went to the battlefield alone… we never got news…” Phili added, brow furrowed with long-held worry.
Veli came closer, examining Gu Qing carefully. A relieved smile spread. “Good thing you’re really okay.”
The small room, though now crowded, remained peaceful—reunions bringing lightness and comfort after long separation.
Ais immediately cheered, “Come on, come on, breakfast! Bladé cooked something amazing, I’m starving just smelling it!”
Gu Qing smiled, serving more portions. “There are a few extra ingredients, barely enough to make it work.”
Everyone sat together, nibbling at the warm food. Questions continued to pour at Gu Qing.
“Hey, hey, Bladé, you really cut a monster in half with one sword?” Veli’s eyes sparkled, fork paused mid-air.
“I heard you recovered a lot of lost territory for the Star Alliance!” Il leaned forward, voice rapid, eyes shining. “How did you do it? One swing and whole groups of monsters fell? You’re like a disaster-level weapon!”
Phili didn’t speak but nodded enthusiastically, eyes glinting as he ate.
Ais perked up, no longer glued to Gu Qing. “Right, right! I also want to know! Those monsters, even heavy weapons couldn’t pierce them, right? How did you just cut through them? Did you have secret weapons? Or are you just ridiculously strong?”
Questions swirled like a tide, surrounding Gu Qing completely.
Milton sipped tea at the side, occasionally adding explanations, his gaze soft as he watched Gu Qing enveloped by friends.
The silver light orb nuzzled against Milton’s shoulder. “Mimo~~ I missed you! Did you miss me? You got even more handsome! Waaaah!” it squealed, burrowing in.
Milton chuckled, holding it close, fingers lightly stroking the silver glow. “I missed you too. You’ve worked hard.”
The orb proudly spun. “Of course! I’m no ordinary little orb~ I’m super capable!”
A long-awaited reunion quietly unfolded in the small room. Friends marveled at Gu Qing’s exploits, while Milton and the orb shared gentle, familiar warmth.
Bathed in morning light, the room buzzed with lively, cheerful energy—a stolen moment of peace amidst the chaos of war.