A path that would take Wooyoung three hours on foot without breaks ended up taking almost an entire day with the added weight of Jongho hanging from their shoulders. They marched until sundown and took frequent breaks to check on Jongho's injury. So far, it didn't get infected, but there was little hope even with their medications. Coyotes gnawed on fouls and getting the fungus spores directly into one's bloodstream increased the risk drastically.

Jongho needed a dry and clean place to rest. And once the desert darkened with the night's gloom, their goal finally came into sight.

A massive cave spanned the bottom of the cliff. It was sealed by a sturdy iron gate with military-grade security panels. The entrance was big enough to allow carts to pass through - if one found an operating one among the debris - and though it was painfully visible; it looked like a fortress.

San whistled through his teeth.

"This is where you live? Maybe we should hear you out. No fanatic builds all that."

Pale in their grip, Jongho huffed in offense.

"You were the ones who decided I was a madman. I know what I offer. Only the truth. Always the truth." He ended in a whimper when his injured foot dragged over a dip in the ground. Wooyoung glanced at the soaked bandage.

"Let's hope you have medication just as fancy in there to save your life. Otherwise, it's of no use to you in death."

They dragged Jongho over to the entrance, and Wooyoung exhaled. Though he didn't trust the unexpectedly complex hideout, at least they were out of the desert.

While Jongho punched in a code to open a smaller door within the gate, Wooyoung skimmed the metal with his eyes. What lay beyond there? An ancient governmental structure? A science lab? An army of people, perhaps, who would overwhelm Wooyoung and San to force them to join their cult?

"I do," Jongho muttered as the door opened with a heavy clang. "Just get me in there and everything will be fine."

Wooyoung ducked in first, hauling Jongho along. San came last, and he tugged the door shut with a resounding boom. The cave echoed back at them and the mismatched colors of various light sources flickered.

Before Wooyoung got to skim the nearby tables with his eyes and figure out what Jongho had been working on, a shadow moved behind him. The time it took him to let go of Jongho sufficed to get him ensnared. Instead of down to his weapons, his hands flinched up when a cold blade pressed to his neck. It was a massive knife, big enough to hack off a limb. Not keen to get to know it, Wooyoung presented his palms in empty, fingerless gloves.

"Who are you?" A grumbling voice hissed behind him, and Jongho winced as he spun with the help of San's arm.

"Don't hurt him, Mingi! He brought me here!" He called in alarm. Wooyoung breathed flatly, betrayed eyes directed straight ahead at the wall.

Of course, Jongho wasn't alone. Of course, someone waited to trap them here.

A moment of silence, then the knife disappeared.

"You're injured?" A head of orange and yellow hair dipped by Wooyoung's side to examine Jongho's leg. Recognition flared in Wooyoung's eyes the same moment San opened his mouth.

"The trader."

The man in question rose to look at the two properly. Finally, he realized, as well.

"It's you two. These are the ones you sought?"

"Yes," Jongho pressed out, hopping over to Mingi's grip. The tall man balanced him, used to the other's body. "They were so kind to drag me here after coyotes attacked, so I insist you let them live."

Mingi put the knife away and stabilized his accomplice. He looked less intimidating in this setting and without his wide-brimmed hat, though his gaze was still sharp and calculating.

"Stay here. I'll tend to him and will be back."

"We'd rather leave," Wooyoung retorted, not leaving San room to answer. The trader wasn't so bad of a person to run into, but who knew how many more people hid down there? Jongho was taken care of, so Wooyoung's conscience was clear.

"Please," Jongho grimaced. "At least stay the night and let me repay you. I'd be dead out there without you. I know you don't like it, but one night in a proper bed won't hurt you, Death."

That caught Wooyoung's attention. San, too, shuffled closer until their shoulders brushed. His heat seemed to spring right over and lit a spark in Wooyoung's stomach that he indignantly stomped back out.

"A bed," San whispered. "I'd love us a bed for once." The twinkle in his eye was shrewd, but Wooyoung related. He turned his head to Jongho, who balanced on one leg like an injured bird.

"Two beds, yes?"

A pause. Mingi looked between them with just as much wonder as Jongho.

"I thought you two- Nevermind. We have more than enough beds, yeah. You can get comfy and I will provide you with food in the morning."

Wooyoung mulled it a while longer. San would definitely stay and there was no point in going out just to make a fire where it was dangerous.

Finally, he gave in.

"Fine. Take care of yourself before you pass out," he grumbled.

Relief took all of Jongho's pain away, but Mingi dragged him along before he could break out into a dance of joy.

"Come on, let's get you treated. You can celebrate later. You two, wait here. I'll be back," Mingi said before they disappeared deeper into the cave. San and Wooyoung were left in the entrance hall. The latter rubbed his throat while San grinned like a child at the prospect of getting a bed.

"Is your neck alright?" He stretched out his hand, but Wooyoung whipped away before he could leave another one of these fleeting, dangerous touches.

"All good," he assured as he stomped over to Jongho's working table. Most of the stuff on there was too cluttered to make sense of, but Wooyoung recognized weapons and their holsters, among other inventions. What had they been preparing for? Clearly, they expected danger if they needed firearms and mercenaries for their protection.

Only half in interest, Wooyoung studied the mechanic's work. It was a pleasant distraction to being along with San all of a sudden. Somehow, the silence between them felt stifling now.

When long minutes passed and no trader was in sight, Wooyoung put down the foreign weapons and sunk onto the worn chair before the working bench. He played with his fingers and polished his gun while San strolled around the cave. He regarded its rugged walls with great interest, but Wooyoung knew scoffing at him would warrant a comment he wasn't ready for.

Inwardly, Wooyoung grumbled to himself. They reached the cliffs, but he had yet to be rid of San.

Though aware of the tension in the air that was almost more suffocating than the perpetual dust clouding the skies, San walked at leisure. A grin shifted his bandages, as if he knew something Wooyoung didn't, and it ticked the raider off even further. He scowled behind his mask.

Just when he got fed up enough with San's maddening circles to speak up, Mingi emerged from the shadows. He rid himself of his heavy coat and the body below was lean. His sleeves were rolled up, hands washed of any blood.

"How is he?" San asked, mostly out of politeness. Jongho didn't owe them anything.

"I think your disinfecting the wound regularly may have prevented an infection. Thank you for that. The fungus doesn't grow in here since the air is too dry, so he should make a quick recovery."

"Are you his accomplice?" Wooyoung wondered, glad that the tall trader disrupted their spell. Mingi crossed his arms, dominating the room, although he was outnumbered. Were Wooyoung any less honorable, he would beat him and steal the weapons. Alas, Yunho and he learned not to be cruel needlessly. Aside from the lives it cost, it always upset Yunho.

Ignoring the painful jab at his heart, Wooyoung listened to Mingi's explanation.

"We met a few times as he gathered supplies for his cause. I find shelter here in return for my services. Though I find him most peculiar, I don't specifically work along with him."

"Then you know what he is doing? His mystery cure?" San added, contemplating the darkness of the cave. Nothing at the front gave such away. Unless Jongho planned to shoot at the dust cloud until it lifted. Which Wooyoung wouldn't put past him.

Mingi gave another nod, but this one was vague. He still studied them like a hawk, and he seemed distrustful of San's bandages. Wooyoung almost told him to fuck off, but he was too confused where that thought came from to do it.

"It's legit, in case you are wondering. At least legit enough for a purpose in this hell."

"Respectable," San agreed and Wooyoung conceded. He, too, was a mess now that he didn't know anymore what he was doing. Everything sounded like an excuse to run from his past and the one he left behind.

"He asked me to offer you shelter for as long as you need. You can have your own rooms and eat as you please. We owe you a lot." Though his expression didn't get any lighter, Mingi agreed with the exchange. Judging by his protective demeanor around Jongho, he was confident to fend the two off if the raiders turned on them.

San peered at Wooyoung, but Wooyoung overlooked him.

"You can thank him for his concern. We will stay a night, but he shouldn't mistake this as our consent to join his weird sect. We will be gone as soon as we rested."

This time, Mingi looked pleased.

"As you wish. Follow me."

He spun on his heel to lead them deeper into the cave system. Wooyoung marched past San and the other let him pass with a mocking gesture of chivalry.

Though the major nosy part of Wooyoung wanted to peer into every corner and explore the branching corridors that consisted of jagged rock and man-made hallways that led straight into the darkness, he kept his gaze ahead. He wouldn't give in to his curiosity. Jongho lured them into his lair already, despite all their defenses.

"All of our rooms have locks. You don't have to fear an attack in here, but you may lock yourselves in." Mingi rounded a corner to one of the proper hallways. Instead of delving deeper into the cool mountain, they passed a row of doors.

"Are you hungry?"

Wooyoung shook his head, too on edge to eat.

"In the morning, then." With that, Mingi opened a door to his left. It was one of many squeaking metal entrances in a gray-tiled hallway. The inside was just as barren of decoration, but it wasn't necessary. A worn mattress rested on an iron bed frame and a little table offered space to put their bags down. It looked like a cell without a window, but Wooyoung would take it even if it was a trap. Couldn't be any deadlier than the outside.

"I'll bring you blankets and leave you alone. Don't wander, if your life is of any worth to you. We have security cameras."

"Is it just the two of you?" Wooyoung asked. He leaned in the door to the first room, backpack in hand, while San ventured into the room one door over. He seemed satisfied with the roof and the bed.

A longer pause. Mingi stared into the darkness of the hallway. It was utterly silent. Wherever Jongho was, they didn't hear him from this place.

"...just us two, yes," Mingi conceded, aware it put danger on them and their fancy shelter. Mutual trust was needed to pass this night.

"But our systems are on highest alert, so let's all behave," he suggested. Since he was willing to allow them in, Wooyoung was willing to sleep in peace.

"Sounds good. Then have a good rest." He marched into his room without bidding San a good night to wash up and feel like a human for once. The lack of sand in this place was disturbing, but Wooyoung's clothes soon made up for that.

Once he laid down, he noticed it was the first night in a while that he slept without San's heat or Jongho's eyes on him. Put off by that as much as the silence and the lack of wind, it took Wooyoung a while to understand he was safe. Only then, he relished in the bliss of his bed and drifted to an admittedly magnificent sleep.