Wooyoung pulls himself to his feet with an impatient sigh. Jongho had been gone a while and he knew he was probably fine but he still couldn't help but worry.

He goes to peek out the windows, pulling the curtains to the side a little to see people walking about outside despite it being really early in the morning. Thus is life in a city that quite literally never sleeps.

He groans out of boredom now and falls back on the bed knowing he can't just walk out of the Inn without being noticed. Finally, and as if on cue, the door opens and Jongho comes in first followed by Junkyu. Wooyoung exclaims with glee.

"Thank fuck. Finally" He jumps to his feet. "I've been bored out of my mind. Did you go swimming? Why are you wet?" He asks once he noticed the younger male looked a little damp and so was his hair.

Jongho briefly shakes the droplets from his raven black hair and runs his fingers though it. "Yeah for a little. Junkyu was showing me how to swim"

The merman smiles shyly from behind Jongho, his hair a little damp as well. Wooyoung was surprised but nods, a small smile on his lips. "So I need to go back for my mom" Wooyoung immediately gets to the point. "Who's coming with me?" He rubs his hand together.

Jongho gives him an incredulous look. "I highly doubt she's still there. Jaejoong must know by now you're missing and he wouldn't be stupid enough to leave her there. Or he did but he knew you'd be dumb enough to go back for her so right now he could already have a trap waiting for you"

Wooyoung glares at him. "So how do we save her?"

"We lay low for now. It's too dangerous for you be moving around. And I can't lose you again. I won't" Jongho's voice was just as firm. It was clear he wasn't going to back down so after a long stare down Wooyoung groans and backs down.

"Fine" He spits out, bitter and annoyed, as he sits back on the bed. The younger vampire watches at his older brother sulks quietly, his lips in a slight pout and eyes trained to the ground.

Jongho breathes a sigh of relief at the fact he wasn't going to fight to him on this then he goes to sit next to him on the bed. He gently takes his hand and gives him a small squeeze. "We'll save her once everything settles down. I promise." Jongho's voice comes out calm and reassuring.

Wooyoung doesn't say anything for a couple seconds before he sighs loudly and sits up right. He knew first hand how horrible the last 4 years in that prison was and he knew she was there for much longer than he was. So the prospect of leaving her there for longer, it pained him. But he decides to trust Jongho.

He squeezes Jongho's hand in return and turns his head to him, flashing a small smile one Jongho returns. Wooyoung then rests his head on Jongho's shoulder. "So everyone thinks I'm dead?"

"We had a big funeral and everything" A strained laugh escapes Jongho's lips.

"I'm sorry I worried you guys" He says not only to Jongho but to the brunette servant who was still standing by the door.

"Don't apologize" Jongho warns. "It's not your fault and you know that"

"Still" A small silence settles. "By the way..." He starts again. "You- you haven't heard anything from San have you? He probably thinks I'm dead too"

Jongho froze at that. His already cold blood was basically ice now. But he doesn't say anything. He glances at Junkyu who was now seated on the couch across the room. The merman also looks back at him with sadness and solace in his bright blue eyes. Wooyoung continues speaking, not noticing how the two males reacted at the mention of San.

"We should go find him as soon as we can. I can't imagine how devastated he was once the news reached him" Still silence. Wooyoung's brows furrow and he looks up at Jongho who now is avoiding his eyes.

"What? Have you heard from him?" He watches the side of Jongho's face since the younger was still looking straight, refusing to meet his gaze. Immediately Wooyoung began thinking of the worse. He snaps his head towards Junkyu waiting for a response from him too but he too looks away, the corners of his lips dipped down even so slightly.

"What's going on? What is it?" His voice comes out a bit annoyed that they were suddenly acting so weird.

"You should tell him, Prince Jongho" Junkyu was the first to speak.

"Tell me what?" He looks back at Jongho, expectantly and impatient.

"Uhm- Wooyoung, San is- he's dead" Jongho's words hung in the air for what felt like an eternity. The silence was almost defeaning and Wooyoung tried to process what he just said.

"That's not true. Seriously, don't joke like that. It's not funny" He finally says with a forced laugh. But Jongho doesn't laugh and Wooyoung's chest grew even tighter.

"T-that can't be p-possible.." His voice was scratchy. Like a child seconds away from bursting into tears. Jongho quickly takes his hand again, and gives him a tight squeeze. He finally grew the courage to turn and look the boy in the eyes and his heart nearly broke.

Wooyoung looks back at him with glossy big eyes, lips quivering and head shaking no over and over again. "Tell me it's not true"

Jongho felt tears pool at his own eyes at the sight of his brother's heart breaking right before his eyes. He pulls him in for a comforting hug and Wooyoung numbly falls in his arms, glossy eyes still blown out with disbelief. Slowly a singular tear slides down his cheek then another follows. But he doesn't sob or break down like Jongho thought he would.

Instead he's wiping at his eyes roughly and sniffing back the tears. "I-it's ok" He says, pulling back from the hug and flashing a tight lipped smile. "I'm ok. There's nothing anyone can do about it now" He says with a weak shrug.

Jongho furrows his brows, not quite understanding how and why he was being so... accepting. He loved San. And to hear that the man you love is dead after basically waking up from a 4 year coma yet be so relaxed about it? "Wooyoung, he was killed... by Jaejoong.. Aren't you.."

Wooyoung tries to control his shaky breathing then shrugs again. "It's fine" He presses almost like he was trying to convince everyone that he wasn't upset but really was trying to convince himself. "It's all in the past, right? Better I move on"

Jongho doesn't say anything, just watches him silently and Wooyoung runs both hands over his face before brushing through the unruly mess that is his raven black hair.

"I'm going to clean up for a bit" He announces as he stands up. "I still have blood and dirt in places blood and dirt shouldn't be in" He laughs at himself as he made his way to the bathroom.

"Oh o-okay" Jongho just follows him with his eyes until the bathroom door was shut closed. He turns back at Junkyu who also had a look of confusion etched on his expression. What just happened?

San's mind was blank. Getting Wooyoung back was the only thing that he thought about for years and now that he's about to finally reach the end of his journey he wasn't sure how he felt.

He stood in silence in the bathroom as he slowly washed himself with a cloth. The rising morning sunlight peeking over the horizon and illuminating a stream of faint light through the window.

Taemin had offered him a bath and some clean clothes seeing as his old ones were torn and soiled and he gladly took the offer. He quietly cleans himself of all the blood and hardship over the last couple hours, splashing a handful of warm water over his face from the metal pail.

His mind was blank because he was afraid of where it would go once he let himself think. He had questions about how he'd been alive this whole time and didn't even try finding him. If he was even alive that is. He groans in frustration and squeezes the cloth soaked with water over his head. The water streams down this face through his wet hair.

After what felt like an eternity, he was out. Seonghwa was already washed up and just dressing up when San walks into the shared room Taemin lended them. His pants riding low on his hips and toned stomach flexing as he reached for his black hooded top. He turns to San upon his entrance, his hair damp as compared to San's which was wet.

"You're done" Seonghwa comments, his voice gentle yet uncertain.

San draws his eyes away from his lean body and made his way to the bed. "Yeah" he says, reaching for his own lended clothes which layed neatly folded on the bed.

Seonghwa nods silently then throws his top over his head. Afterwards he turns to leave deciding to give the drow-vampire some privacy while he got dressed.

They'd obviously seen each other naked before but something about being in the room with San while he was half naked made Seonghwa insides burn up. And it was especially hard because he couldn't do anything about these feelings. At least not anymore. All he could do was swallow them down and at the very least do his best to make sure his friend was happy even if it meant him sacrificing his own.

Upon the door shutting, San felt his stomach sink. He sits back on the bed, now alone in the room, and he places both hands over his face in a long tired distressed groan. He loves Wooyoung and he's missed him every day for so long but... he likes Seonghwa. And as much as he wanted to convince himself the werewolf was just a short lived distraction for him he knew they definitely had something between them. Something real. But something he had to forget about.

Wooyoung is the one. It's always been him. And it'll always be him.

After dressing up and feeding once more, Taemin and his pack sees them off. The party from the orevious night was mostly over besides a few stragglers that still lingered about. Seonghwa, San and Taemin make their way outside, the morning sun kissing their skins. "I'll forever be greatful for your help Taemin" San says earnestly as he throws his bag over his shoulder. "If there's ever a time you need me don't hesitate to reach out"

Taemin waves it off and leans on the door frame, a lucid smile on his lips. "Yeah yeah. You better get going. And say hi to Hwasa for me"

San scoffs a laugh but he flashes a genuine smile back. "Sure." Just then Chaelin comes poking her head through the door from the inside and resting her chin on Taemin's shoulder.

"Aw you're leaving already?" Her bright red painted lips in a small playful pout. "That sucks. I still think you're an asshole for biting me back in the woods but I kinda like you. Weirdly"

San's brows crease, amusement evident on his expression. "I like you too?"

"You too, wolfboy" She says to Seonghwa who looks a bit surprised she was addressing him. Though his surprise quickly turns to mocking. "Aren't you a wolf too?" He refers to the random nickname.

"Yes and no. See ya" She says quickly, winks at them then disappears back inside before anyone could say anything else.

"Ignore her" Taemin warns lightheartedly.

San couldn't help but laugh a little. Goodbyes were shared and soon they were off. Just as they reach the large rusty gate out of Rowdows Covert San turns to Seonghwa to ask for the nth time. "Are you sure you want to come with me?"

"Mujin" Seonghwa says firmly, looking him straight in the eyes. "Stop trying to get rid of me"

Seonghwa noticed he got a little awkward at the mention of his name or rather his alias. "Oh that's right..." Seonghwa catches himself. "That's not your real name. What do you prefer I call you?"

They talk quietly as they made their way through the woods. San looks at him with a soft half smile. "Whatever you want" He says with a shrug. "I can be San or I can be Mujin. It doesn't matter"

Seonghwa smiles back at him. A smile so sweet it turned San's heart to mush and his knees to jelly. "Alright, Mujin"

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.