5. The Great Espers

Thankfully, Bora wasn't mad at Yunho for messing up his charms and rejecting her. Her pace was still merry, and she dropped random information on Yunho while twirling through the corridors.

With her around, it was easier to forget the looming dread over Yunho's head. He made some effort to match her energy, and it was appreciated. By the time they made it to the cafeteria, they could talk casually again. Yunho didn't forget the sudden scare of her so close, but he treasured his sole friendship in this place.

The cafeteria drowned in a commotion today. About every person in the centre had assembled, and they crowded around a small area. Bora stretched her head to see, but even Yunho couldn't make out what it was about. He heard compliments and cheers, so he doubted it was the news or a fight. Since his guide shrugged, Yunho didn't bother with it. He hadn't got used to this place's quirks yet.

They were in line to get their food when the noise suddenly travelled their way. A few girls squealed and begged someone for attention, but a brusque voice told them off.

"That's enough! Let him eat already!" 

Though the assembled crowd grumbled, they backed away. Seated at their desks, they didn't stop staring. Some even snapped pictures.

Too curious since this had to be a special occasion, Yunho peered up when someone in a white uniform stepped up next to him. Golden hair curled onto the young man's shoulders and his beauty was angelic. Graceful with his posture, he assembled his meal tray.

Surprised, Yunho took in his glimmer. He had seen this person in magazines countless times, sometimes with other espers, but he never thought that gleam to be so real. 

"Oh, Mister Lux..." He stuttered, baffled to be so close. When golden eyes swiped his way, Yunho stiffened. 

Anyone could see what Lux was. How much power brimmed under his skin. An S-class esper, he was one of the most popular in their field, mainly for his looks and the many lives he saved.

Yunho would be lying if he claimed he wasn't flustered. 

Lux's eyes fell on him, and he was even taller than Yunho. With his straight shoulders and the confident angle of his chin, Yunho shrivelled away. He nervously adjusted his glasses. Though he had prayed they didn't get damaged during the rift incident, they seemed to slip down his nose easier now.

"What are you?" Lux asked, and even his voice was airy and light, like an angel's hymn. Could this person really be human? Yunho never bothered to read these magazines, but he heard about Lux since he had been in school. An awakened child who grew up in the life of an esper.

Yunho stuttered over his explanation when the eyes on them were so heavy. Though Lux was here to eat, Yunho felt he was wasting his time.

"I'm a new esper, who awakened during the recent Yongsan rift. Um... I wanted to thank you. You saved a lot of people that day." Since he left in an emergency, he never had an opportunity to see that mother and her child again and make sure they were alright. Everything felt like a dream and now he was here.

When Lux chortled, Yunho stirred from his trance.

"What's your rank? You wanna spar?" He asked, biting into his apple while he waited for the kitchen workers to fill his platter.

Yunho sunk into his shoulders.

"I-I'm a level D. I don't think I can keep up with you," he mumbled and in an instant, the bored expression on the esper's features morphed into a sneer. He scoffed down at Yunho and though his shine was the same, it turned ugly immediately.

"And you dare speak to me? Fuck off," he barked, as if he owned this entire place. 

When Yunho blanched and was about to stumble out of his way, his saviour shoved between them to reach to Yunho's chest and even lower to Lux. Bora had her chopsticks in her hand and held them up at Lux threateningly. All cute charm was gone to leave a storm cloud of rage on her features.

"You fuck off, Lux. Leave him alone," she snapped at the esper and though she barely had the power to go against him, Lux lifted his hands with a surprised chuckle. The moment his attention dropped from Yunho, he exhaled.

"Oh, Bora, babe. Don't tell me you have to babysit this nerd." When Lux gave Yunho a condescending look, Yunho realised the crowd scrutinised him like a bunch of vultures. Ready to dig into the leftovers Lux left.

But Bora wasn't afraid of his name. 

"That's none of your business. Take your slimy trail of narcissism elsewhere where I don't have to see it."

Lux laughed at her, how a person would laugh at a helpless animal pawing at a glass door. The gaze stung inside Yunho and he hesitantly stepped up behind Bora, not about to leave her alone when she defended him. But before he could say anything, Lux leaned in to hum at Bora's ear, loud enough that Yunho heard it, but not their peanut gallery.

"You know where to find me for a good time," he suggested with a wry smirk and fury flashed in Bora's eyes.

Yunho winced when she stomped down on Lux's foot with all her might. He hopped back, but his laughter was unharmed by her scowl. 

Before he could recover to continue with his jests, Bora nodded at Yunho to grab his food.

"Come on, Yunho. Ugh, that jerk sucks."

They sat outside on the terrace since Bora refused to share the same airspace as Lux. Though the esper snickered at their backs, he didn't bother them again. The crowd swallowed him once more as everyone pushed their questions on him.

Yunho shyly bowed his head at Bora once they were sitting. Though she boiled with rage, her expression made it easier for Yunho to stomach his disappointment with the nation's hero. Of course, a person as popular and rich as Lux would turn vain. Glad Bora didn't submit to him, Yunho quickly overcame his disappointment.

"Thanks," he told her, but Bora just huffed.

"That jackass deserves much worse. He's a menace to all guides here."

Yunho stabbed his straw into his juice box, but his mind lingered with her sudden offer earlier. When he peered through the windows, most people in the crowd around Lux wore green. 

His ears were red again. It was his turn to soothe Bora's glares at the cafeteria, so he tried his best to gather his thoughts.

"So... guiding... Are you- Have you guided Lux before?" He stuttered out and Bora was so stunned by the question, she forgot her upset. Although she snickered at Yunho's embarrassment, hopefully not too offended if he was wrong.

"Your mind filled in the blanks, huh? That's exactly what guiding is. Skin contact is the bare minimum we can do, but the closer the intimacy, the more you get from it."

Meek, Yunho ducked between his shoulders. 

He had a girlfriend once, if only for a few weeks. Nothing much happened between them aside from some cheek kisses and handholding, but he believed in love. And that some things should only be shared with someone special.

"So even..."

Bora nodded merrily.

"Lux is a prick. He prides himself on doing it with every guide, claiming he seeks his most compatible one, but he only really cares for the excuse to have sex. Nasty guy. Don't get too close to him. He saved many people, but hearing it will only make him more conceited." Her hair flicked over her shoulder when she jabbed laser eyes through the windows again. Yunho followed her gaze and caught Lux blowing her a kiss.

Definitely the type to play around until he had what he wanted and could drop his matches after.

"Are you compatible with him?" Yunho asked, praying she would never get with that guy, but Bora confidently shook her head. Her chopsticks poked at her side dishes.

"Generally speaking, guides and espers of the same level are compatible, but there are so-called 'perfect pairs'. A perfect pair is when the guide's abilities align with the esper's needs ideally. They happen occasionally and those people are the best matches. It can't happen across such a drastic difference in level."

"Like soulmates?" Yunho wondered, and Bora snickered at him, calling him cute with her coo.

"If you want to think of it that way. It has to do with skill level and training, but you can make a fairytale out of it if that makes it sweeter for you."

Yunho was mortified once more. He was like a child in a big new world, fumbling with every step.

At least Bora was charmed enough by her newest toddler to tend to that she forgot about her irritation with Lux.

"Isn't it weird? To do those things with people you barely know?" Yunho asked, nervously picking at his food. He didn't dare look at her, even when her shrug was careless. When his mind drifted and he imagined the guides like that, it felt awful and coercive. Abusing their abilities for intimacy.

Espers had no choice, but fighting was something entirely else than having sex with near strangers. 

"I get to know espers during training and it's part of my duty as a guide. We awaken like espers do. And there are many beautiful relationships out there between espers and guides. My aunt, an esper, married her guide. It's very common," Bora explained, but Yunho couldn't shake that feeling. Looking at Lux, who used his duties as an excuse to grab whomever he wanted and shove them down... Yunho couldn't do that.

"I don't want any more guiding than regular touches," he pleaded with her, but Bora pouted at him.

"Why? You don't like me?"

Though her voice remained light, Yunho winced at yet another mistake.

"It seems inappropriate to me," he tried to explain, but Bora was unfazed.

"You need it to be healthy and to heal on the battlefield. No rush in telling me what your deal is, but you looked like a ghost when you learned about it. Espers are nothing without guides. Without us, you are just madmen who jump into their own deaths."

Especially Yunho, who was so suspectible to it. But he would rather train harder and take every medication than feel dependent on sexual favours.

"Still. Please don't do that."

Bora studied his miserable face for a while, then she sighed. 

"You're still new to all this, so it's honourable not to jump in headfirst. But there is no consent issue here. It's give and take based on needs. I am by your side while you fight for the team."

When Yunho dug around his food with dejected chopsticks, she nudged her foot into his leg. Yunho bet that stomp on Lux's foot hurt, even when he was used to worse. Not that Yunho needed confirmation.

"We'll take it slow. I won't do something you dislike, but you will have to trust me out there, Yunho," she offered him with a grin, and Yunho exhaled. Among green grasses and with the sun bathing the surrounding gardens, it was easy to trust her. They were a pair now, so Yunho had no reason not to allow any attraction between them, even just to make guiding easier.

"I'll try..." He promised and Bora grinned back at him. Then she nodded at his food.

"Dig in. We will get to your training tomorrow and you might change your mind very soon. If you think guiding is like regular sex, you have no idea what you miss out on."

"Can we stop talking about sex?" Yunho mumbled around his food and Bora snickered at him, becoming more lively among chirping birds and the wind rustling through the trees.

"For now. But be a dear and come begging whenever you need it, hm? You are no Lux, so I'm fine with you."

Yunho's ears burnt with shame, but he nodded. This was part of his life now. And if any guiding he needed could be done with tame touches, he would have no issue.

He was just worried about what the doctor said and how many injuries would constantly haunt him. Soon, he would find out how much pain he could take before his sanity waned.

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