"So, where's your date?" Yongguk stepped out of his car with a taunting grin. Sighing, Seonghwa parked his dusty bike. He needed to wash his face. The sand and sweat stuck on it felt absolutely horrible.

"Down there. Most of our rendezvous take place in tombs." He swung his leg over the saddle and pulled his jacket off. He was wearing a white shirt underneath that exposed most of the tattoos on his arms, and the black wings on his nape completely. It stuck to him like a second skin, and he was sure that if he were to look down on his body right now, San would whistle wolfishly.

"Wow, bones and mould, that's so romantic. So what are we here for? Did he tell you a reason why you had to come?" Yongguk kicked at a loose piece of metal hanging down from the front of his car before sitting down on the heated hood of his car. It had to be burning right through his washed-out blue jeans, but he did not complain. He casually hooked his tattoed arms around his knees in a loose grip, blinking against the sun.

Seonghwa looked out over the digging site while pushing his hair back. He could see all their past faults now, all the mistakes and dangerous things they had done. The entrance in the ground had been sealed up again and marked as critical, but that would not keep Seonghwa away.

"I guess I could have brought him flowers. Maybe next time. I'm searching for pieces of an amulet here. It's supposed to be a key to Tiwanaku's treasure. He stole the first piece and invited me here to fight for the second one," Seonghwa looked out over the valley beneath them with his binoculars.

"Seems like he took his path, just like last time we met here."

Yongguk pushed his dark locks back as he turned to glance at Seonghwa wordlessly. He held his tongue, though, not giving away whatever he wanted to say.

"Your story begins here?"

"Aye. It begins with his 16-year-old self stealing away the treasure me and my friends worked hard for." Seonghwa could not help the fond smile that sneaked on his lips at the memory. He had been so angry. His spoiled kid self had immediately asked his dad to get Hongjoong back for that and make sure he landed in jail for that. Seonghwa had held himself in much higher standards than anybody else at the time. Hid dad had only ruffled his hair and laughed.

"This was never your treasure, to begin with, son. If he got his hands on it first, then it's his to take. You just need to be better next time."

And better, he was. Seonghwa trained hard to make sure he wouldn't lack any skill when he met Hongjoong the next time. And he got back at him. The second instance they had met it was Seonghwa, who had taken off with the artefact triumphantly.

Seonghwa didn't notice Yongguk's watchful eyes on him as he adjusted his gloves. He was still smiling.

Hongjoong had been such a scrawny and tiny kid then. He had not yet presented as any second gender - being later than Seonghwa had been - and thus, his physique was much harder to train than Seonghwa's. Being an alpha, it had been easy for Seonghwa to build steely muscle and use his height to his advantage. However, ever since Hongjoong had presented two years after as whatever he was underneath all those scent blockers, he had grown considerably, too.

Seonghwa's mind came to a screeching halt when the inappropriate picture of Hongjoong in that tight latex suit invaded his thoughts again. He surely had grown in that regard, also.

Shaking the horrible thought off, Seonghwa focused on the site again.

"Anyways, it would be nice to get back at him today. Will you help me dig it open?"

Yongguk slipped down from his car with a broad grin. He dusted his hands off on his black tank top before lifting his hands to put his hair together in a ponytail. He looked cute with it, not like an illegal goods dealer at all.

"Of course, that's what I'm here for, aren't I? Seeing as those dudes are still out there, I might stay anyway until you are back out. Better be safe than sorry if anybody tries to interrupt your date."

With an appreciative hum, Seonghwa gave him a finger gun.

"What a good friend you are, Bang."

Yongguk copied the stupid gesture.

"I am. Don't you dare ever forsake me, I will curse you until all of eternity."

Laughing, they made their way down the hill to the digging area. There was a pond nearby that Seonghwa used to wash his torso and face with quickly. The cool water made it easier for him to check on any of his minor injuries and patch them up. After washing the sand out of his hair too, he slipped back into his shirt, still dripping wet.

Yongguk chuckled at him when Seonghwa came back over to help him rip the wooden barricade over the hole away.

"I see you're trying to seduce him."

Seonghwa flicked a few water drops at the humoured beta.

"Be careful out here while I'm away. I don't want to pick up your pieces after I return."

Yongguk's eyes were dark when he directed them at Seonghwa. Roughly, his hands ripped one of the last few pieces off it would take for Seonghwa to spring down.

"I don't think I'm in too serious danger. And I also got weapons. Plus, I know how to use them. My chances are not that bad," he assured Seonghwa warmly, while the man was already swinging his legs over the edge. There was water underneath them, having somehow found its way in. He hoped he would be able to evade it further inside.

"I'll see you in a few hours, then. If there's any trouble, call San. He'll patch you through." Seonghwa tapped against his comm that immediately gave a low hum in response. San was quiet today, probably busy with Yunho or Yeosang in the background.

"I will, take care."

Seonghwa jumped down into the fresh water. According to San, his PDA was waterproof, and apart from that, he was carrying nothing with him that could become a problem. He held his breath as he dove deeper into the cave they had dug all those years ago. Despite not having been here ever since then, he seemed to know the surroundings as if it was his home. It took him only two minutes to breach into the sunken ruins.

The sand had swallowed the old temple right up, and now it was also flooded. Maybe it was just their luck. The current conditions certainly kept unwanted visitors away.

Seonghwa swam through a large hall he dimly remembered chasing Hongjoong through and into a hole they had made in a wall to gain access at that time. Thankfully, a flight of stairs led further up into the ruins here, and the water did not reach that far up.

Seonghwa resurfaced, dripping water everywhere and with his clothes stuck to him. At least he felt slightly cleaner now. With heavy steps, he scaled the rest of the stairs and found himself in a cold corridor. It was not too dark for him to see, so there were probably still some openings pointing to the sun further up. Still, he took out his flashlight and shone his way to avoid any possible traps.

He also kept his eyes out for a certain red-haired grave robber, but so far, there was no trace of him.

Seonghwa only found a nearly starved hyena he put to sleep with a merciful shot.

"Where is he? This place is huge, I have no idea where to search for him," Seonghwa murmured mostly to himself as he jumped up some platform that led to another one of those classic spike traps. Again, he somehow made his way over on some ridges in the wall. He despised the ground giving way under his feet much more than wolves or enemies who at least announced themselves.

"I think there's a larger place if you go to the left now. The corridors look as if they are leading to some important hall," Yeosang replied through his headset. Seonghwa checked on the layout his PDA had memorised for him so far. Indeed, it seemed as if it was leading to one central hall that looked important enough to store artefacts in.

"Thanks, dear. How is your health?" Seonghwa went right, shining his way through thick spider webs and around some stubborn plants that sprouted through the walls.

"I'm fine now. Yunho was a treasure and brought me my medicine to bed in the morning," he sighed contently and then purred. Seonghwa could imagine the picture they made right now. Yeosang was probably cuddled up in San's lap while the man was just tapping away on his PCs. Yeosang liked to just curl up there and slumber for a bit, sharing warmth.

"I'm glad. Do you want me to bring you a souvenir?" Seonghwa stepped up another flight of stairs and found himself in a room with no floor. Obviously, it had once been some hidden trap too, but the structure had long since disappeared in the thick darkness underneath. Sighing, he made his way over to the statues that framed the walls to climb up there.

"That would be nice. But don't let it be a skull, please. I didn't like the last one."

Seonghwa laughed out loud and put his lamp away before climbing up the stone skillfully.

"I see what I can do. You know, a skull is always the easiest solution."

"Try a bit harder this time," Yeosang pouted cutely, and an affectionate hum came from San. Seonghwa wanted to ruffle Yeosang's soft locks. He made himself an inner reminder to do so as soon as he returned home.

"I will."

When he finally reached the other end after five minutes of tense climbing, Seonghwa skipped over to the latter leading up to another opening further up. He finally found what he had been searching for inside.

It was the coffin of the Princess of Tiwanaku. The stone was firmly shut, but that did not repel Seonghwa. Dusting his gloves off one last time, he pushed against the lid with all of his might.

He had to use all of his strength for it even to move the slightest. Sweat ran over his forehead again, when he finally managed to open it just far enough to reach in.

Curiously, he shone his flashlight in. He came face to face with the mummified head of a corpse that had the wonderful stench of death to it.

"Lovely," San commented disgustedly.

Seonghwa did not mind him, as he fearlessly reached inside. He grasped the amulet hanging around her neck carefully, and ripped the brittle leather necklace off before taking it in his possession.

"Nice."

Seonghwa sat back, satisfied and put the piece of metal in his backpack so they could take a look at it later. Then, he closed the coffin again. He was in the middle of pushing the lid back into its place when San's voice came through.

"It's Yongguk, you have him on the line."

"Yongguk." Seonghwa closed the thing and then turned around. Hongjoong leaned right behind him on the wall, a small smirk painting his lips. Seonghwa stepped over to him and grabbed both of his wrists as they tried to reach out for his backpack.

"I just got a call from another friend, they need to meet me back in the town. Will you be alright?" Yongguk asked huskily against his ear while Seonghwa crowded Hongjoong against the wall by pressing his hands against it above his head. Hongjoong made not a single noise and just arched into Seonghwa's body with that sinful catsuit of his. His lidded gaze didn't waver.

"Sure. I already found my ticket out of here anyway," Seonghwa murmured without taking his eyes off Hongjoong's pretty face. The man had tipped his head back against the rough stone wall, exposing his neck to Seonghwa. His alpha growled at him to bite the defiant omega already, but he restrained himself.

"Alright. Have fun with him, we'll talk later." With that, Yongguk tapped out again, and San fell silent too. Seonghwa raised a brow at Hongjoong.

"I see you were faster this time."

"You just needed me to open the coffin for you."

Hongjoong's grin was blinding, his fangs showing in it.

"You got me. Now, you had it first, but I won't let you just walk out with it."

"Call your men back and let my friend up there leave in peace, then we can talk."

Curious, Hongjoong cocked his head.

"Which men? I brought no men today."