Suddenly a cold voice drifted from behind Xiao's head.
"If you can't go on, we can stop here for today." Heine stood nearby but it seemed as though an insurmountable distance separated them.
Didn't he already leave?
When did he come back?
"I'm alright......"
The researchers had assumed that the long distance running was the end of the training session.
They were all wrong.
Winn takes them over to a wall designed to simulate a rock climb. Everyone lifts their heads to follow the height of the structure with a blank look on their faces.
"Climbing is a basic skill for combat troops. You don't expect to climb a cliff with all of your gear, but you may have to. Climbing is the best way to improve your coordination and strength. Now that the warm up is over, we can formally begin your training."
The last syllable had just fallen when all of the researchers collectively groaned as though they were dying. They had just opened their mouths to protest when Winn grabs one of the rocks from the wall and crushes it in his palm. As the debris sifted through his fingers, the researchers went silent.
Soon, a group of researchers are hanging in the air. Winn was shouting evaluations of their technique, which ended up being a looping yell of "Wrong!" Several of the researchers fell asleep while hanging in the air and the few that struggled, to complete the climb, were uselessly attempting to get a good grip of the wall.
Xiao dangled from the air, frustrated. Every movement was incorrect and Winn seemed to be exceptionally strict with him.
"Xiao Yan! Aren't you a technical soldier? Is all your knowledge of physics and mechanics useless? Surely you understand the concept of force!"
Xiao became so flustered he just wanted to let go of the rope and land on Winn's face.
Heine easily climbed to wall to reach Xiao's side. of course, he didn't even bother with a safety rope. His posture was clean as his limbs easily stretched up the rock, his long legs pushed powerfully off of the wall. His lean figure and skilled movements were gorgeous and captivating.
He reached and grabbed at a rock protruding out from the wall, then his left leg raised, moving him fluidly upward, until his hand holds the inside of Xiao's knee, the side of his face is almost touching his back. At the close contact, Xiao can feel his breath.
As he touches him Xiao recalls the intensity and warmth of Heine's palm.
Distracted by his thoughts, Xiao stumbles and Heine grabs onto his shoulder, his arms tightening around him.
"Don't be afraid to fall." The command was short but full of power.
"understand."
This is not the first time Xiao has fallen from heights with Heine, he has done so on many missions, but it is the first time he is able to take a moment to look closely at Heine. His face is very close and his perfectly chiseled features are so clear and exquisite that his eyes blur. Even still, he cannot drag his gaze back.
Winn stands on the ground, looking up at the wall, with a thoroughly baffled look.
"Hey Mark. If you were to just stare at the Boss, what would happen?"
Mark is absentmindedly scribbling circles on the ground. He answers casually with no intonation.
"He would cut off my head."
"Then why is Xiao Yan still alive?" Winn's eyes are reddened to the point of tears, the other researchers thought his strange glare was directed at them so they scrambled to work harder.
What Winn wasn't saying was that he had never seen Colonel Burton look at someone the way he was looking at Xiao Yan. He had never seen him lean in so close to a person, almost as if he wanted to kiss him.
The researchers hanging from the ropes looked over at the scene with curious eyes. They would never have thought that the infamous Heine Burton would spend so much time and patience giving instructions to a single research tech on rock climbing techniques.
"Climbing requires you to depend on the strength of your thighs and knees, it is pointless to try to use your calf muscles."
Heine's arm stretches over Xiao's crotch and then he nods, indicating for Xiao to let go. If it were anyone else Xiao wouldn't trust them enough to lean his whole body weight on them, but it is not the first time Xiao has been held in Heine's arms.
The crowd of techs grew tense as Xiao let go of the rock, completely trusting Heine to support him.
"Now, place your hand on my leg and feel how my muscles move."
Winn jerked his head up at that statement and his jaw almost hit the ground.
"M....Ma....Mark....did you hear...."
"Hear what?" Mark frowned in irritation over Winn's hysterics.
"The boss just told Xiao to grab his thigh!"
"What...grab his thigh. Obviously he wants him to feel his how strong it is."
When Xiao Yan was told to grab Heine's leg, he was surprised... and instantly stripped of all fatigue. He swallowed hard and his eyes met Heine's. He sees the serious intensity glinting and knows his instruction is indeed an order. Xiao quickly placed his palms on Heine's legs. As Heine climbed up, Xiao could feel his leg muscles contract and explode with power. The sensation was amazing, one simple movement and Xiao could feel the sheer strength radiating from this man.
Heine released Xiao but guided his climb, helping him to gain a grasp on the wall. He instinctively mimics Heine's movements. He mentally replays Heine's grip and use of force.
Gradually, he moves up the wall.
"Pay attention to your center of gravity." Heine's palm pressed against Xiao's back, adjusting his posture.
He took a deep breath and centered his stance, his actions becoming increasingly coordinated,
After a few more attempts, Xiao no longer needs any guidance from Heine. Although he can't be considered skilled, he reaches a height of over 10m before his body starts to give out. Heine, who had been following his movements, supports his body before he falls completely from the wall. Xiao's heart slams crazily against his chest and he lowers his head to see Heine looking up at him with a steady gaze.
.
"Keep going." At that moment, Xiao Yan finally understood the meaning behind Heine saying, "Don't be afraid to fall".
After the morning training session is over, Xiao leans against the bottom of the rock wall, contemplating just sleeping on the ground. His mind is too tired to even think, he just wants to go to bed.
Someone dragged him off of the floor.
"Don't bother me... let me sleep..."
Xiao figured that it was Mark laughing at him again. He waved him away, then his wrist was sharply caught and he fell into the other person's arms.
"Sleep after lunch."
AH! Not Mark!
Xiao Yan opened his eyes to see Heine's face in front of him. His whole body tightened and shook..
"Let's go."
Heine footsteps were slow, Xiao easily followed. They arrived at the restaurant to eat lunch. The other researcher's have already eaten, leaving just Heine and Xiao Yan at the dining table.
Xiao was drowsy and fell asleep before his fork even reached his mouth.
"Open your mouth."
Without thinking, Xiao parts his lips and something is stuffed inside his mouth. The fragrant scent moves from his nose to his taste buds and his stomach growled in response.
He opened his eyes to see Heine holding a fork and feeding him.
Stunned Xiao overreacted, knocking against the dinner plate as he almost fell from the chair.
Heine steadies the plate and continues to bring a forkful of veal to his mouth.
"You need to replenish your protein."
"Ah...oh..."
Xiao Yan opened his mouth and carefully chewed the piece of beef, Heine slowly pulled back the fork. The friction between his lips and the fork cause Xiao Yan's heart to beat wildly. He watched Heine lower his head and gracefully cut into another one. A piece of beef was sent to his lips again.
"I... I can eat it myself..."
If someone were to witness Heine Burton feeding him, they would die from a heart attack.
"Can you hold the fork?"
Xiao Yan tried to lift the fork and found that his fingers were shaking.
It is because of the climbing training.
When Heine brought the food to his lips again, he recalled the scene of Heine at the climbing wall, he thought of his patience , his palm on his....
No...Not the time to think of that...
Xiao Yan finally finished eating the steak and drank a full glass of milk. He walked groggily back to his room, following the heels of Heine Burton.
When he returned to his room, he fell into bed without any explanation.
He heard someone gently call his name, a sweet deep voice wrapped him in indescribable warmth. He instinctively reached his arms around and hugged him close. Without the slightest refusal, he was covered in that warmth and felt the soft brush of hair against his cheek. He heard a slow whisper and then a moment later, the arm was gone. The unexpected emptiness confused Xiao but he was too tired to mull it over.
Time shifts in blurs and between them he realized that someone had removed his uniform, picked him up and set him in warm water. Gentle hands stroked his skin and kneaded his muscles. Xiao Yan was feeling way too comfortable for his consciousness to stir him awake.
He let out a slight sigh of contentment and felt lips on his cheek, then grazing the corners of his mouth. Soft lips kept brushing against his mouth over and over again. The repeated contact became somewhat awkward, but heartwarming. Xiao tried to kiss back, but was refused. Instead his chin was kissed and licked and then the pressure became increasingly forceful. The movements became frenzied and his throat was sucked hard enough to numb his skin, blood leaking through his pores. Xiao reached his hand out to push them away and his palm was covered in rough kisses. The unique feeling of his warm tongue on his palm excited Xiao Yan. He stopped struggling as lips fell on each of his fingers, and teeth sank gently into his wrist...
_________________________
If not for the alarm, Xiao was certain that he would have continued sleeping until noon the next day.
His whole body was sore, the effect from suddenly increasing his activity level has stressed every muscle fiber his body contained. No matter how advanced the Shire's technology had become it wasn't able to circumvent this effect.
Xiao slowly lumbered out of bed, he looked down at his body in surprise. He didn't know how or when but he was wearing clean pajamas. He vaguely remembered Heine taking care of him in the restaurant.
Had he even changed his clothes?
His lips pulled at odd angles as he muttered to himself, "Ugh, What are you thinking Xiao Yan? You want to die that badly?"
After the day's training Xiao was so tired he wants to die, and Casey...well forget it ...that guy was probably already dead or back in his room. As Xiao walks slowly out of his dorm, a figure walks toward him broadly grinning.
"Oh - well! I heard that you had the most perseverance of all the researchers!"
"Maaya..." Xiao Yan weakly lifted his hand.
"Let's go! Let's eat! After dinner, I will personally use my muscle press on you."
Xiao felt as though Maya's words were a gift from God. Muscle press massagers are kept at the special mission headquarters even though they are the last thing the special forces need. Xiao Yan is so sore he can only stand stiffly in the tub to bathe. The pain is worse than the training.
Maya's muscle press massager is top notch. At the moment Xiao was lying atop a towel on the sofa as Maya relaxed his thigh muscles. Xiao Yan lazily blinked his eyes and let out a contented groan.
"Hey... can you please not say anything?" Maya deliberately squeezed his thigh hard. Xiao Yan yelped at the force.
"Oh, shit! That hurts! Why can't I say it aloud... I've been so uncomfortable for so many days!"
" It must be good, judging from those sounds, or are you trying to seduce me?"
"Come and get it." Xiao dangled his leg provocatively but his sore muscles made his posture appear broken and clumsy, tt was not a tempting position in the slightest.
.
Maya shook her head silently and whispered: "If the Colonel heard that I don't know if he would kill you or me."
"What?"
"Nothing! Just stop babbling!"
When Xiao Yan was about to fall asleep, Maya asked again: "Have there been any other hallucinations?"
"No...shouldn't have..." Xiao Yan thought for a moment. He suddenly remembered being held in the bathtub and kissed, but he was not sure whether it was a dream or not.
"Oh well, you should be able to sleep after this."
"... rest assured ... if there are more illusions ... ... I will see a doctor ..." Xiao Yan sentence drags and he finishes in slumber.
Maya sighed helplessly and whispered: "You are a hopeless fool."
_____
After two weeks, Xiao Yan is pleasantly surprised to find that his body had less fat, he could even see some muscles definition on his arms. His physical quality has improved significantly.
After week three, he is able to climb the wall quite efficiently. Although he is immensely proud of this feat, Mark informs him that it is the most basic requirement of the special forces.
.
"All right! Everybody takes a ten-minute break!" Winn claps and the other researchers are relieved. Only Casey remains, awkwardly dangling in the air.
This guy's physical training has shownno progress, he is even more clumsy than the 40-year-old researcher.
"I guess even geniuses have weaknesses!" Xiao Yan stood on the ground and looked up at Casey, whose tears were falling down his cheeks.
"Stop being so cocky! Get me down!"
"What?" Xiao Yan put a hand to his ear.
"I said get me down!" Casey's face was flushed, looking so adorable in Xiao Yan's eyes.
"Wait for me Baby. I will come get you down." He speaks in an over exaggeratedly flirty voice. Xiao smiles and begins to climb.
Winn and Mark whistle suggestively below.
Xiao climbs up to where Casey is hanging, he is not certain how he has gotten himself in such a tangle. His safety line is all twisted up. Xiao patiently takes Casey's leg, finds a foot hole and places it there. He Repeats this for every position on his way back to the ground.
Winn watched from below, his stare becoming more intense and delving. Mark curiously cocks his head.
"What are you looking at?"
" I just noticed that Xiao Yan's back is quite sexy, makes me want to tear off his combat suit..." Winn's voice is serious.
Mark's almost spit all over WInn. "What the hell, what kind of nerve do you have?"
"Just thrust right into that body and listen to him shout, then when I'm feeling good just shoot a lo---" Winn is easily speaking such words.
Mark doesn't want to hear anymore.
Suddenly a shadow looms over both their heads, all light eaten in its presence. They look back and meet the cold eyes of Hein Burton.
"Boss..."
"Boss...er..."
Mark who was paralyzed by winn's words almost collapsed on the ground.
Xiao Yan reached the bottom and climbed off of the wall to see Heine Burton in full uniform.
The formal attire set off the lines of his face, and the flow of his muscles. He appeared leaner and taller, his beauty untouchable.
Casey was on the ground sitting on his butt and panting.
"Remove the rope and climb up." Heine looked at Xiao Yan as he barked the command.
All the researchers, who were lounging around, look at the situation with incredulous expressions.
Casey's tired and exhausted face settles into serious lines "Colonel Burton, what did you just say?".
"I don't repeat orders."
Heine's eyes rest on Xiao.
Winn and Mark just shrug their shoulders.
Xiao sighed, he understood his point. In an emergency situation, it might not be possible to attach everyone's safety ropes, not to mention getting in the mentality of knowing a fall could be fatal. Xiao took off his safety gear and looked up at the nearly 20m high wall, mentally planning his ascent.
Kathy stopped him as he prepared to climb.
"You do not need to meet all the requirements of the special task force."
"This is not a requirement of special task forces. It is something that I should strive to accomplish."
"You will fall! You are not a special soldier you don't have their healing power!" Casey implored.
"I won't fall."
Xiao Yan patted his shoulder and looked up at the wall
While practicing, he knew in his heart that there was always a safety rope. Xiao Yan, truly, was not afraid of falling. However, reality is a place where dangers abound.
Fear is the most effective way to train.
Step by step, Xiao Yan climbed up.
Heine's eyes follow him
The power in Heine's eyes project outward like a force supporting Xiao Yan's spine. No matter the adrenaline pumping through him, he moves carefully, climbing steadily higher.
"That kid is doing well, seems his heart is quite stable." Winn looked up touching his chin thoughtfully. Glancing to the side he sees Heine's still profile glued to where Xiao is climbing.
He stands silently and watching carefully. He uses his eyes to send Xiao to an unparalleled height, while diligently guarding the ground below.
Halfway up, Xiao's foot slips and he almost loses his grip on the wall. Everyone yelps and Casey closes his eyes.
Winn watched as an extreme emotion flashed through Heine's gaze. Heine moved under him, arms ready to open and safely catch the falling figure.
But Xiao Yan steadied himself and everyone exhaled in relief.
Casey indignantly stomps up to Heine and yells, "Do not think that just because you are a Colonel we must comply with everything that you say. If anything happens to Xiao Yan, I will submit a report to the military services."
Heine stood silent for a long while before he replied..
"Why are you so afraid. Why do you stop him from reaching where he longs to go?"
Casey raised his head and looked up to find that Xiao Yan had climbed to the top.
Xiao looked down and flashed a triumphant smile.
The group of researchers began to applaud, even Major Winn and Mark clapped for him.
"Xiao Yan! Slow down! Be careful."
Winn and Mark both pay close attention to Xiao as he makes his way down, both ready themselves to catch him, should he slip.
In this moment Xiao has won more than just applause, he has earned their respect.
"Haha! I did it. I really did it!" Xiao bounded up to Heine, his eyes shining like two moving stars.
"Yeah." Heine said softly. A strangeness in his voice squeezed through the air, splitting cracks in the ice surrounding Heine Burton. In that moment, something quietly bloomed beneath Xiao Yan's burning gaze.
Since his body has finally adapted to the training , Xiao is not as exhausted. Once he made it back to his room, he is overtaken with boredom. He begins to feel trapped. All the researchers are quartered and protected within the Headquarters of the Special Task Force. The building has no bars or cinemas, he can't even hook up to a terminal to play games. Xiao Yan is about to go stir crazy. Right when he thought he was going to descend into a deep depression, he discovers Gordonhas actually moved three research rooms to HQ.
Xiao Yan was escorted to one of the room by an officer. The officer opened a hologram display conveying Gordon's orders.
"Xiao Yan , if I have do nothing but train with the special forces all day I imagine your brain will rust. I applied to the Central Academy of Sciences to move your research room here. We look forward to you completing your projects with us."
The call is over.
Xiao Yan finally understood his situation. He was under house arrest for supervision and protection. In fact, he was under house arrest to complete the so-called research. His research results must not fall into the hands of the Surge...Nor can his brain.
A smile lit his eyes, he has some aspirations for his project.
He wants to continue his research.
Every other day has been filled with nothing but training and sleep, Xiao Yan is bored and ready to use his brain.
He connects to the terminal and recalls his precious data. Perhaps because he has stepped away from it, he finds that he can look at the project from different angles than before. His whole body starts thrumming with new ideas. He was unsure how long he was hooked up to the terminal, he just knew his eyes were getting difficult to open. He needed to rest.
Opening the door he discovers that the two guards are no longer there. The passage is empty and eerily quiet. Xiao is instantly alarmed.
What happened?
Xiao Yan goes on alert.
At that moment, a figure flashed over and Xiao Yan pressed the alarm device on the com, instead of arranging his thoughts. The other person's fingers grabbed his arm and pressed him against the wall.