Ch 27 – Companionship for the Lonely

Curtis held Yu Xi firmly and didn’t let go. Yu Xi wanted to return to Kersz’s embrace, but Curtis had no intention of giving Yu Xi back.

This kid really liked children. He had originally been holding Yu Xi in his right arm, but then it began to tremble. 

Just when Yu Xi thought Curtis was going to let him go, he switched to holding him with his left arm instead.

His left arm also began to tremble shortly after, so Curtis tried using both hands, but he wasn’t able to hold on for long that way either. Finally, he asked Yu Xi if he wanted to sit on his shoulders.

“I’m afraid of heights.” Yu Xi felt that this human needed to get some exercise.

Curtis wanted to buy a baby carrier, but Kersz pulled Yu Xi back into his arms and didn’t give him the chance.

After securing Yu Xi in his embrace again, Kersz heard a very small sigh.

He glanced down at Yu Xi, who wriggled in his arms, adjusting his position until he found the most comfortable way to lay down.

Yu Xi looked very relaxed.

As Kersz spoke to Curtis with a smile on his face, he would occasionally tickle the child. Yu Xi tried to dodge his pestering hands at first, but when leaning away and light warning smacks were ineffective, he realized that Kersz was getting a sick pleasure out of this.

When Kersz reached out again, Yu Xi grabbed his fingers. But he didn’t shove Kersz’s hand away, because he knew that if he did, it would only come back and tickle him again.

Yu Xi clamped Kersz’s hand tightly in his arms.

Kersz: ……

“Are you sick in the head?” Tau asked Kersz in a whisper.

He noticed that Kersz’s ears were a little red.

Tau recalled that Kersz had never been prone to blushing before. Faced with his current appearance, Tau felt goosebumps rising on his skin.

Kersz looked at Tau with a smile: “You finally noticed.”

Tau remained silent.

Kersz moved his fingers slightly again, and Yu Xi quickly grabbed them.

This robot was really amusing.

Kersz laughed out loud.

Curtis looked on with envy: “You two have such a good father-son relationship.”

No, that was not an accurate description of their relationship.

Tau worried that Curtis, this fool, would attempt to replicate this interaction with the Supreme Governor.

“Perhaps you and your father just don’t have enough intimate contact.” Kersz gave him a beaming smile.

Tau’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Curtis was already an idiot, and Kersz was digging another hole for him.

Fortunately, Curtis wasn’t drunk this time and didn’t immediately call his father to act like a spoiled child. He just gave a wry smile and waved his hand dismissively.

Curtis asked Kersz if he had arranged for accommodations, and if he wanted to stay at his place.

Kersz declined the invitation.

Curtis was indeed a fool, but if their relationship developed too quickly, the Supreme Governor might grow suspicious. It was better to proceed gradually.

When the three of them returned to their lodgings, Yu Xi assumed his adult form. “How can a fool like him gain access to that big white dog system?”

No sooner had he finished speaking than Kersz rushed up and hugged him.

He nuzzled Yu Xi’s cheek, and Yu Xi could feel that his breathing had become heavier.

“Are you alright?” Yu Xi asked.

“I’m fine~” Kersz was fully blushing.

Yu Xi stared at Kersz for a long moment, then came to a sudden realization: “Do you have a strong need for control?”

Kersz smiled and asked in return: “Why do you say that?”

“You seem to really like holding me. Or rather, you seem to really like holding my small self. Is it because I look more harmless?” 

“You’re not harmless. If you were angry enough, you could wipe out the entirety of human civilization.” Kersz felt that Yu Xi’s analysis was incorrect. “You’re more dangerous than any of the people in power here.”

Yu Xi thought for a moment: “But you think I’m easier to control than they are.”

“To put it another way,” Kersz corrected, “You’re less likely than them to hurt me.”

“But it would be easy for me to kill you.”

“But you won’t.” Kersz shrugged. “Just like you said, you could hurt me easily and I wouldn’t be able to resist, no matter what you wanted to do.”

“I know I’m pathetic. Please have mercy on me and don’t ask any more questions.” Kersz pouted, looking very pitiful. “If you insist that I admit it, then even though you’re strong enough to kill me, you’re so honest that I feel perfectly safe.”

“I never really had a good life. Look at my former friend.” Kersz caught Tau as he passed by and pushed him toward Yu Xi. “I once thought of him as a close friend, but he was sent by the Supreme Governor and never actually opened his heart to me.”

“Given my status and situation, compared to others, I only feel secure when I’m with you.” Kersz released Tau, who regarded him with a frown.

For the past few days, Tau had been unable to access the StarNet on his datapad, and had therefore been unable to send his father any messages.

Tau felt that Yu Xi’s vigilance toward him was unnecessary, because Yu Xi was terrifyingly powerful. He was also worried that he would fly into a fit of rage and attack the Supreme Governor.

Nobody here was capable of stopping Yu Xi.

Tau felt that his mission was being sidelined by Yu Xi’s monstrous strength, and that his only option now was to cooperate with him.

In the past, Tau lived every second of his life for the missions. He needed to constantly accept and complete missions, and if one day he failed, death was the only fate that awaited him.

This was the case for all Illegitimates. He wasn’t special.

But now, he found himself having to think about other things, because his mission had been interrupted.

He lay in wait at Yu Xi’s side, looking for a way to either kill him or get him to work for the Supreme Governor.

Just that necklace around Yu Xi’s neck would be enough to take everyone out.

Tau felt helpless, as if he had been forcibly released from a cramped space.

He had a constant desire to act, but was acutely aware that nothing he did would be of any use.

“Go ahead and finish your work.” Yu Xi’s blue eyes flared slightly, and Tau’s half-finished dinosaur figurine appeared in his hand.

Tau: …..

It seemed that Yu Xi had a multitude of spatial compression devices on him.

Tau took the dinosaur, as well as the craft materials Yu Xi handed him.

Tau’s lips pressed into a thin line. He glanced down at the half-finished product in his arms, then back up at Yu Xi.

After looking back and forth several times, Tau was satisfied and left with his little figurine clutched in his hand.

They had picked a three-bedroom suite with two living rooms. Tau went into one of them, then came out again.

“Can I stay here?” Tau asked, pointing toward the room he had just entered.

“Of course you can.” Yu Xi nodded.

Tau pursed his lips again, then clutched his figurine and went back inside.

Yu Xi stared at Tau’s door in puzzlement.

“Was he smiling just now?” he asked Kersz.

“I think so.” Kersz felt that Tau was pursing his lips to hide a smile, especially since he widened his eyes at the same time in a way that made them sparkle.

“Is he very happy? But I’ve kidnapped him.” Yu Xi didn’t understand.

“Maybe he’s happy to be kidnapped.” He couldn’t do anything anymore, couldn’t accomplish any missions, which allowed him to finally relax.

It was like having freedom forced upon him.

“He doesn’t need to be accountable to anyone anymore.”

Yu Xi nodded in apparent understanding, then noticed Kersz touching his hand again: “What are you doing?”

“I’m feeling the temperature of this powerful and ferocious robot~” Kersz said.

“I’m not ferocious.” Yu Xi had never killed anyone.

“I know. And it’s precisely because I know that I’m so greedy.” Kersz pulled Yu Xi’s hand to his chest. “I like holding you. And you like being held by me, right?”

Yu Xi’s pupils dilated slightly.

“Do you want to touch more?” Kersz asked.

Yu Xi: “You’re tempting me.”

Kersz: “That’s right~ So, are you tempted?”

Of course Yu Xi was tempted. He dragged Kerz into a bedroom, and without speaking a word, got to work.

He liked Kersz’s powerful physique. While Yu Xi had previously been concerned about human “personal space,” now that Kersz had given up those rights, Yu Xi couldn’t be held accountable.

Kersz was a little anxious at the realization that he had become somewhat dependent on Yu Xi.

Perhaps it was similar to Tau’s situation. Yu Xi was powerful beyond comprehension, and his presence had become a kind of safe haven for him.

And the things that Yu Xi wanted…..were so simple.

Yu Xi’s personality had not yet fully matured, and all he wanted was some form of companionship.

No, perhaps it wasn’t quite so simple.

Kersz himself didn’t open up to others easily…..but he and Yu Xi had become friends.

Fortunately, this space pirate wasn’t an antisocial bastard who wanted to drag everyone down with him, so perhaps he wasn’t such a bad friend.

“Hey!” Kersz’s eyes suddenly widened. “What are you doing?!”

“Taking a taste,” Yu Xi said, holding Kersz’s arm.

“Did you bite me just now?” Kersz asked him.

“Yes, I felt very strange.” Yu Xi nodded, saying seriously, “When I touched you, I felt that you were especially cute, but then I thought of the things you do behind my back and also found you somewhat hateful.”

Kersz blinked.

“Then I had an inexplicable craving. I wanted to chew you up and swallow you whole, but you would die if I did that, and I don’t want you to die.”

“So I took a bite.” Yu Xi didn’t bite very hard. There wasn’t even a bite mark.

Kersz swallowed hard. “How do I taste?”

“Like meat.” Having said this, Yu Xi felt that the description was too vague. “Very, very tasty meat. If humans were food, you would definitely be the most delicious dish.”

Kersz: “…..Thank you for the compliment.”

Yu Xi smacked his lips: “Can I taste some more?”

“Taste?” Kersz’s voice trembled slightly. Did Yu Xi even realize how lewd his words were?

This behavior had gone far beyond what was permissible. Logically, Kersz should stop him immediately, but he didn’t say a word.

In the end, Yu Xi touched Kersz’s entire upper body. Yu Xi felt that he was very sensible, and didn’t touch certain parts of his body that should not be touched casually. 

Furthermore, considering the specific connotations of lip contact, Yu Xi avoided touching Kersz’s mouth.

He just touched everywhere else.

Yu Xi thought that Kersz was exceptionally good and generous, and felt that he had become much more tolerant of Kersz’s petty schemes.

And as for Kersz…..

Kersz couldn’t sleep. He looked at Yu Xi sleeping soundly beside him and didn’t understand how he was able to doze off.

Just now, Kersz had felt like his mind was about to explode. Yu Xi’s enthusiasm almost led him to believe that he had developed the desire to explore matters of love and romance.

He had thought that they were about to enter a messier, more intimate relationship.

Yet in the end, Yu Xi stopped once he had “tasted” enough and simply rolled over and lay down next to Kersz. He looked blissfully happy, and said that this was the luckiest day of his life, that he had never touched a human like this before.

He also solemnly thanked Kersz for his generosity, then fell asleep with a radiant expression on his face.

Kersz stared at Yu Xi’s sleeping face for a long time.

Then, with a sigh, he got up and went to the bathroom. He had a minor problem of his own to solve.

He had gotten too excited. His relationship with Yu Xi was getting better and better, and Kersz was stimulated by the intimacy.

Kersz wanted to find a way to ensure that his and Yu Xi’s relationship would always be unique, and that no matter how many humans Yu Xi abducted in the future, the special nature of their relationship would remain unchanged.

“I really have lost my mind a bit.” Kersz smacked his head.

Was he truly craving a sexual relationship?

Or did he just want to keep someone who treated him well?

“Mmm……ahh!!” In the middle of his self care, Kersz glanced toward the door and saw a pair of glowing blue eyes.

When had Yu Xi gotten here?!

Yu Xi’s eyes shone with an unnatural brightness. Upon realizing that he had been discovered by Kersz, he slowly closed the door.

Such was his fright that Kersz no longer had a “little problem” to solve. He rinsed off and changed his clothes.

Upon leaving the bathroom, Kersz found Yu Xi lying in bed asleep like he had been there all along. As if the blue eyes he’d seen had been an illusion.

“Yu Xi?” Kersz called out.

Yu Xi didn’t respond.

Kersz approached the bedside and gave him a gentle nudge.

Yu Xi still didn’t respond.

“What did you just see?” Kersz whispered in his ear.

Yu Xi trembled slightly.

Kersz: “Ha! You couldn’t control yourself, could you?”

Yu Xi had no choice but to open his eyes, looking somewhat at a loss: “I didn’t mean to.”

Kersz: “Hm?”

“I really did fall asleep, but I woke up as soon as you left.” Yu Xi defended himself, “I thought you needed to go to the toilet, so I waited outside the door.”

“Wait a minute. You thought I was using the toilet, so you waited outside the door?”

Yu Xi nodded.

“So do you always wait outside the door when I’m using the toilet?!” Kersz was astonished.

“It’s because my bed is empty.” Yu Xi didn’t think it was a big deal. He had always done this.

When the ancient humans kept cats and dogs as pets, those animals did the same thing.

Yu Xi was simply waiting for the human to solve his problem, after which he would return to bed and continue sleeping with him.

“But this time was different.” Yu Xi silently looked away, avoiding eye contact with Kersz. His hands gripped the edge of the blanket tightly. “I waited by the door for a while, and then I heard a sound.”

Kersz: ……

“It was a very soft sound, like a sound of discomfort.” Yu Xi had thought Kersz was hurt.

“I usually respect human privacy, honest!” Yu Xi excused himself again. “I thought you were injured, so I went to check on you.”

At first, Yu Xi didn’t realize what Kersz was doing, and was just relieved to see that he wasn’t injured.

“But you kept making that sound, like the meowing of a small kitten. A kitten with a deep voice. Then I realized what you were doing.”

And with that knowledge, Yu Xi’s rationality told him that he should quietly shut the door and pretend like nothing had happened.

But Yu Xi’s rationality didn’t seem to have any effect whatsoever, and he remained motionless, spying through the crack in the door. Judging from his actions, he didn’t seem conflicted at all.

“I wanted to keep watching…..but then you saw me.” Yu Xi was still a little regretful. “You looked so good just now, really.”

Yu Xi really liked Kersz’s tense body and expression of indulgence, though he couldn’t quite put his finger on what kind of liking it was. He felt like he wanted to push open the door and suddenly leap inside, making Kersz jump. But he also worried that Kersz would put on his habitual mask and hide his true feelings.

Kersz looked into Yu Xi’s eyes and found himself unable to speak.

Yu Xi’s eyes were still dimming and brightening, which clearly indicated that his emotions were still in a state of flux: “So did you become like that because I bit you?”

After a moment of silence, Kersz nodded with a burning face.

“I understand, it’s a secret of the human body caused by excessive touching.” Yu Xi pulled the blanket up to cover the lower half of his face.

“It’s not exactly a secret…..whatever, go to sleep.” Kersz felt that he shouldn’t continue talking to Yu Xi.

“If I hear that sound again, I definitely won’t open the door.” Yu Xi said this with a hint of disappointment. He wanted to see more, but feared that the human would object.

“En.” Kersz got back in bed and pulled the covers over him, closing his eyes.

Damn it, he seemed to be getting excited again.

Why?

Was it because he caught Yu Xi watching him?

Did he have a fetish for being watched? But he hated it when anyone tried to control him.

In the middle of pondering whether or not he was a masochist, Kersz fell asleep.

That night, Kersz dreamed of many things. His family, friends, and teachers, then the framing, accusations, and betrayal he experienced later on.

Kersz practically relived his entire life through these dreams.

Kersz killed countless perpetrators, and felt like he was losing his mind. He was both exhilarated and wracked with grief and indignation, and didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Drenched in blood, he continued running forward.

He felt that this road had no end, or that perhaps death was the only end that awaited him.

Only death could quench his burning resentment.

But as he ran and ran, Kersz felt that he was at the end of his strength.

He collapsed to the ground, heaving for breath.

“Are you tired?” someone suddenly asked him.

Kersz looked over and found someone sitting next to him. It was Yu Xi.

“What are you doing here?” Kersz asked.

Yu Xi thought for a moment, then shook his head: “I don’t know. I…..I wish someone would tell me what I should do.”

Yu Xi: “Maybe I’m waiting for someone.”

“Maybe? Then will the person you’re waiting for actually come?”

“I don’t know,” Yu Xi said, somewhat lost.

“What if you never see them again?” Kersz asked in puzzlement. “Have you considered that they won’t come?”

Yu Xi looked very sad.

Kersz sat up and dusted himself off: “Don’t be sad. I’ll wait with you for a while.”

Yu Xi didn’t seem to understand: “But don’t you have your own things to do?”

Kersz plopped down next to him: “I don’t know what to do either. I wish someone would tell me how to make things better so that I can stop being so angry.”

“Being angry is very miserable,” Yu Xi said.

“It is.”

“Waiting is also very miserable,” Yu Xi continued.

“Yes.”

Neither of them had found an answer yet. Fatigued by his anger, Kersz suddenly rested his head on Yu Xi’s shoulder, and Yu Xi tilted his head down to rest it against Kersz’s.

Kersz woke up.

He stared at the ceiling for a while, then turned to look at Yu Xi.

What was this robot dreaming right now?

Yu Xi dreamt of waiting.

He was surrounded by robot vacuum cleaners in a variety of colors. Yu Xi paced back and forth, scratching his head and rubbing his hands together.

Finally, a white robot vacuum cleaner emerged from the ward: “It’s born! It’s born!”

Yu Xi rushed to the robot vacuum cleaner, which carried a bundle of blankets on its back. Yu Xi picked up the bundle, inside of which was another robot vacuum cleaner the size of a palm.

Then a patient transport bed was pushed out, and Yu Xi saw Kersz laying on it. He hastened over and took Kersz’s hand: “You’ve worked hard.”

Yes, Kersz had reacted because of him, even though his reproductive drive wasn’t strong to begin with.

So while it was probably due to Yu Xi’s excessive behavior, was it possible that……Kersz wanted to start a family with him?

Yes! This human wanted to start a family with him! 

They would raise a bunch of little robots.

Why robots and not humans? Because Kersz was incapable of giving birth to humans. He was male.

Yu Xi felt that this was very scientific.

Still half asleep, Yu Xi murmured: “K-Kersz, are you trying to feed the baby?”

Kersz: ?

“You’re so good, but a robot vacuum cleaner doesn’t have a mouth.”

Kersz: ? ?

Wait, what kind of dream was Yu Xi having?!

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Chapter 26 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 28