"You want to go to Lloth.." Jongho echoes, brows knitted together in confusion. "..because some guy from a race that went extinct hundreds of years ago and whom now lives in a cave, told you so?"

San pokes the inside of his cheek with his tongue. "Well if you say it out loud like that it sounds ridiculous"

"Because it is ridiculous" Jongho raises his arms up in the air in exasperation. "Seonghwa, Junkyu back me up here" The young prince turns to the werewolf who was leaning on the tree, arms crossed on his chest, then to the merman who just stood quietly while picking at his arm.

"I believe them" Seonghwa says with a shrug as he pushes himself off the tree. "San would never lie about something like that." San looks at Seonghwa with a certain glint in his eye at the mention of his name. His real name. He quickly looks away, embarrassed to be caught staring, when Seonghwa meets his gaze.

Junkyu just looks at Jongho and shrugs weakly as well. "Jongho, I'm telling you if there's a possibility that what he told us was true we can't just not do anything" Wooyoung speaks giving San's hand, which was held loosely in his, a reassuring squeeze.

San couldn't help the tiny smile that creeped up the corners of his lips.

"Don't drows hate vampires? How do you suppose we get past the border without getting attacked?" Jongho questions, his arms crossed on his chest.

"Well.. yes but if we speak our peace they'll listen. Plus I'm still part drow remember?" San points out.

"Ok" Jongho gives in after a brief silence. "What's the plan then?

They were close to Lloth but decided to rest for the night since it was getting dark. "It'd be better to arrive in the day. We'd be less likely to be accused of infiltration" San comments.

And so they settled down for the night. Jongho had set up a small fire for Junkyu to keep warm while he sat next to the merman to keep him company. The previous night when they had set up camp without a fire Junkyu shivered for most of the night and could hardly sleep, even with Jongho holding him close. The miniscule amount of body heat vampires had was not nearly enough to keep him warm.

San sat a little ways away from the fire at the base of a tree, his knees brought up to his chest, he stared blankly at the white hot flames of the fire, shimmering through a fierce yellow to a tangy orange. The color licked the trees surrounding them and created shadows on his face.

Wooyoung had gone off to go pee leaving him alone with his thoughts for the first time in the last couple hours. Someone sits beside him and he snaps his head up to meet the comforting grey eyes of Seonghwa.

The werewolf flashes a small smile at him and San returns it before returning his attention back to the fire. They sit in silence for a few seconds. "You called me San" San finally speaks.

Seonghwa turns his head to him, his eyes watching San's side profile quietly. The blazing yellow of fire making his skin glow even brighter.

"Earlier today-" San continues, his gaze shifting to Seonghwa once again. "You called me San.. not Mujin" He wanted to know why.

Seonghwa couldn't help the short laugh that escaped his lips. He shrugs. "Is that not your name?" His tone was playful, an attempt to curb his question.

"You've always addressed me as Mujin" San responds with a serious expression.

"You're right" Seonghwa says with a deep sigh as he breaks their gaze and looks at the burning open flames. The somewhat soothing smell of charred wood fills the air and wafts up his nose. "I guess, it's just hard to keep calling you that at this point in time. I fell for Mujin but.. I'm friends with San" He answers honestly and San felt his chest tighten at his earnest words.

"I see" San looks away, his fingers playing with the loose thread dangling from the hem of his pants. "Thank you for choosing to be my friend" San says quietly but he couldn't help the embarrassing blush that crept up his neck.

Seonghwa smirks teasingly, eyes still on the fire. "I mean, who wouldn't wanna be friends with me? Seriously.." He exclaims with a playful laugh. San rolls his eyes at him and pinches his arm. But a smile tugs at the corners of his lips.

Just then Wooyoung walks into the light from the dark trees and Seonghwa knew that was his cue to leave. He gives San a friendly pat on his knee and a genuine smile then pulls himself up to his feet just as Wooyoung goes to sit next San. "I'm gonna get some sleep now" He says with an exaggerated yawn. "Night"

San chuckles at him. "Yeah, sleep well".

Wooyoung just watches as he goes to the other side of the fire, and slowly lays down facing away from them. Then he looks at San, a breathtaking smile slowly grows on his lips. San returns it, takes Wooyoung's hand and interlaced their fingers, then he leans his head on Wooyoung's shoulder.

"Is everything ok?" Wooyoung asks after a long silence.

"Mhm" San hums.

"You've been awfully quiet ever since we ran into Junho" He'd been silently observing San throughout their trek to Lloth. How could he not notice when his lover was bothered by something?

"I'm ok, seriously" San gives his hand a reassuring small squeeze. Wooyoung was anything but reassured.

"Does it have something to do with the fact we're going to Lloth?"

San doesn't say anything. Wooyoung sighs and makes him sit up, placing a finger under San's chin and guiding his eyes to meet his. "Talk to me" Wooyoung says firmly while staring directly into San's glistening eyes.

San caves. Which should come at no surprise, he was always so weak and vulnerable whenever it came to Wooyoung. And with the way he was staring at him, grey eyes unyielding yet encouraging, there was no way he'd have lasted long anyways.

"They're all gonna despise me Wooyoung" San says in a weak voice. "Not only have I been alive all this time and never went back but.. I'm a vampire too"

Wooyoung's eyes soften and a tiny frown forms on his plump lips. San continues, "These people that I've grown up with, some of which I considered family, they'll all hate me once they see me again. Once see what I am" His eyes become glossy and Wooyoung could tell he was fighting back tears.

"No they won't-"

"You don't understand" San cuts. "From a young age we were taught to hate vampires. That they're all awful heartless beings. Of course none of that is true but.. they don't know any better" Tears bead at his eyes. "They'll all be afraid of me" They slowly fell, gliding down his pale cheeks.

Wooyoung wipes away at his tears when it reaches his lip. "San, you said it yourself, these are people you consider family. And even if the ground was to split open or all the oceans were dry up they would still be your family. They would still love you"

San stays quiet, eyes trained to the ground. "Look at me" Wooyoung says and San shifts his gaze to the prince's.

"No matter what happens tomorrow, I'll be right beside you holding your hand. You won't be alone because they aren't your only family anymore. You have me, and Jongho, and Junkyu... and Seonghwa. So chin up, ok?"

San nods, a weak smile tugged at his lips. Wooyoung returns it with his own blinding smile. Then he places a chaste kiss on San's lips followed by a comforting one of his forehead before embracing him. San smiles into his chest, his arms wrapped around his torso and clinging for warmth.

"Thank you" San whispers.

Wooyoung grins and presses another kiss against the side of his head. "I love you, you know that don't you?"

San couldnt help the laugh that escapes his lips. "I love you too" San says in an airy voice, eyes shut and lips in a pleasant smile.

They stay like that for what feels like forever before Wooyoung sighs wistfully. "Ahh- the mood is heavy now" He whispers in San's ears. "And I was gonna drag you away and fuck you senseless till the sun came up but.. next time I suppose"

San's eyes snap open, he sits back and pushes Wooyoung's head away playfully, an embarrassed blush on his cheeks. Wooyoung laughs at his reaction. "I was teasing. Come here" He opens his arms inviting San to snuggle into his chest. San narrows his eyes at him playfully before shifting closer to him and wrapping his arms around Wooyoung's torso just as Wooyoung wraps his arm around San's shoulder.

They stay like this, enjoying the rhythmic sound of the other's beating heart.

"Woo?"

"Hm?"

"Stop groping my ass"

"Fine" He says with a defeated sigh.

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🤕