The adrenaline of their success kept everyone on cloud nine. For the entire evening, they rushed through the cave like ants through their hill. A million things suddenly needed to be resolved alongside the prior plans and they barely found the time to catch their breaths. During the hurry of dinner, Jongho finalized the call.

Everything was ready. Seonghwa needed to get to the facility in Anda as soon as possible and their equipment was packed. After another day of rest, they would depart in the morning.

Wooyoung scarcely slept that night. His excitement tingled in his bones and urged him to move. He wanted to interview Seonghwa about how he thought about his triumph, wanted to drink some of their water and wanted to go over their route once more. Seonghwa had maps for them, thankfully, even if they were based on the world before the apocalypse.

After a few hours of merciful rest, Wooyoung stumbled from his room. One last day. Though he hadn't stayed in the shelter for long, it had become a place of comfort. He hated to leave his bed behind, but sleeping in the car wouldn't be so bad either.

He sat together with Jongho and ate some beans for the morning when Mingi approached them. His stride was grander than usual and his face looked scarily serious. Almost expecting to hear he had dropped and destroyed Seonghwa, Jongho perked up. Blending with the shadows, Wooyoung silently witnessed their conversation.

"I have a favor to ask," Mingi announced as he sat with them on the ground next to the car. Jongho's tools were strewn about, meticulously checking that every screw was where it was supposed to be.

"What is it?" It was late for any grand favors.

"Take me along." Mingi crossed his legs and leaned into their little circle. His eyes shone with the same intrigue as last night when they witnessed the light of hope for the first time.

Jongho dropped his spoon and fumbled to pick it up. Beans forgotten, he tried to make sense of Mingi's change of mind. Nevertheless, his eyes sparkled.

"Why? Why now? Why not before? You weren't interested so far, even when you knew Seonghwa's abilities."

"But now I saw," Mingi stressed. "I figured it out. If we succeed, my business will boom. Everyone will want to support their saviors. This is an excellent marketing strategy. Take me along and I can supply anything you need. If we make it, everyone gets a lifelong sale. We can build a whole new market if we are the first."

A sly grin spread across Wooyoung's features. Mingi knew when to strike gold.

"I think he would be perfect for the team," he offered, always down for an opportunity like that.

Jongho nodded eagerly.

"Of course, yes! You helped us for so long, we know how good your abilities are! I had no hope that you would join us by this point, but... You are more than welcome in the team now," their leader beamed. Mingi rubbed his hands as his vision of a golden future manifested before his inner eye.

"Count on me. We will bring Seonghwa where he needs to be and be right back. Can't send you out there with the crippled leg."

"What about me?" Wooyoung complained around a mouthful of beans. His glare was playful and Mingi grinned back at him sunnily. His front tooth was crooked, giving him something unexpectedly childish despite his intimidating appearance.

"You should take a bath before we leave. Don't worry, we have everything under control."

As they always did. Jongho and Mingi made such a good team, Wooyoung would have been heartbroken to see them part into an obscure future. He could tell how heavy of a weight fell off Jongho's shoulders. He must have dreaded losing his partner, similar to Wooyoung.

Reminded of Yunho and his guilt, Wooyoung gulped down his bite.

"I should," he replied with a forced smile. He needed some time for himself anyway, and once the five of them were cramped into the car together, privacy would become a rarity.

"Don't splash over the edges," Mingi reminded him. He took over the beans to finish them while Wooyoung stood.

"Got it." He left the two to their glee about traveling together and made his way down the cave. He imagined Seonghwa felt lonely back in his room; scared of what the future may bring. Soon, he would see the new world for the first time. After a life of traveling in bags and other containers or being restricted to a building, he only heard what the outside looked like. However, he never faced it with his own screen.

Wooyoung was slow to undress, contemplative over so many things at once. His spinning feelings about San, Mission Bluebird, and everything that came afterwards. Would he stay with the team and see Mingi's business boom once the skies were clear? No, he should return to the ruins of their village and honor Yunho. Though they had no more family there, it was a place of memories. That was, if the desert hadn't swallowed it. Would plants green there once the earth was touched by water once more?

Slowly, so as not to waste any water by splashing, Wooyoung slid into the pool. It was shockingly cold, yet refreshing, as it engulfed his body.

Since he didn't know how to swim, he stuck to the incline of the dipping rock. For now, he didn't wash up, just floating aimlessly. His wet hair curled in his neck as he stared up against the darkness of the ceiling. The sole light they left in here threw long shadows across the walls.

For a while, Wooyoung enjoyed the blissful emptiness of his mind as he concentrated on the foreign feeling of his bath. He felt so light, so clean even when he had yet to scrub years' worth of grime off his skin. The luxury he experienced in recent times was unbelievable. If only he could share it with Yunho...

Upset, Wooyoung batted his eyes open, not noticing they had slipped shut. He was in the water up to his chin and though he shivered, he never wanted to leave.

Was it wrong to go on this mission? Should he continue searching for Yunho? He felt awful for leaving him behind, but he liked the shimmering hope of this mission so much. It made him feel alive like never before. Could he overcome his guilt by helping Seonghwa and saving many others? Wherever one went after death, maybe he could still show Yunho the sky?

Wooyoung knew he deluded himself, but he couldn't cope otherwise. If he thought about Yunho's eyes empty of life, he wanted to dip below the water until he couldn't breathe anymore.

No, Wooyoung should go. So he had a purpose. His rifle had a purpose.

But what about San? Wasn't the closeness to him what haunted Wooyoung's mind most? He felt as if he coupled up with another behind his boyfriend's back. How could he do things with San he had never done with Yunho, all without ever finding his body to say goodbye? And so soon after his... disappearance as well?

Wooyoung grumbled to himself. He dunked his head under, holding his breath, but only for a second. He was afraid of what would happen if he lingered. Slicking his hair back, he came back up. Water trailed down his jaw and nose.

The shock of coldness helped clear his mind, but it brought no enlightenment. San sparked a heat in Wooyoung's veins he was supposed to resist, but he didn't. Couldn't. He couldn't. If there were any possibility of warding it off, he would. Definitely.

Brooding to himself, Wooyoung scrubbed at his arms. Should he keep as much distance from San as possible? No, their encounter had been a one of a time situation, an emergency. San had ducked his head in shame ever since and didn't dare taunt Wooyoung further.

As if he were looking down on his inexperience.

Wooyoung scoffed. He wouldn't challenge San, but he bet the other raider had given up. The weakness he accredited Wooyoung would be his salvation from those foreign, addictive feelings.

As if he had been summoned by Wooyoung's grumbling, San appeared in the cave entrance. He wore his shirt instead of the vest today and it would look loose on Wooyoung but spanned around his shoulders. The sleeves were rolled up and the buttons at the top undone. Soft hair fell into his forehead, indicating he had taken a bath earlier.

Wooyoung dropped his head against the rock behind him with a sigh. The incline had no proper ledge to hold on to, so he rested on the slanting rock. Still, he cooled off as he wondered to himself how he deserved this torment. Had Yunho been his lucky charm? Wooyoung wouldn't be surprised if so.

"I fully expected to find you bathing with your gun," San opened as he came inside. His boots squeaked at every step; the laces undone.

"I'm making myself pretty for our rendezvous later," Wooyoung replied, picking up his head. He watched as San rounded the basin to Wooyoung's side. At least, he wouldn't have to face him head on.

Self-conscious, Wooyoung tried to disappear in the clean water. He wasn't as brawny as San, rather malnourished in some places and used to running rather than fighting. Back in their village, before he received his dreadful title, people called him and Yunho windhounds.

Not that San ever made such a comment, but Wooyoung felt scrawnier ever since San's strength manhandled him behind those crates.

Fuck, now that reminder was back.

"Mingi joined the team," Wooyoung said to distract himself. San hummed as he crouched by his side. The water licked at his boots, but their sole was thick enough not to mind.

"Jongho told me. About time. It was ridiculous how much he helped set this up, only to stay behind. I'm glad for another companion we can trust."

Each of them played an unexchangeable role, yes. Their group was small, but would it be enough to transport Seonghwa safely? They had no way of finding out unless they tried.

"Agreed. I was convinced they would go anywhere together when I first had Mingi's knife against my throat." Wooyoung chuckled about it now. Hadn't they met Mingi beforehand in the desert, their first encounter could have ended ugly.

San hummed, but he had nothing else to add. When Wooyoung craned his head to look at him, he caught San staring at his chest.

"Did you come to take a bath? I can get out," he offered. Mute, San shook his head.

"I just... wanted to check in on you. You seemed distressed since we got the orb down."

So he had noticed. Wooyoung's cheek flushed at the thought that San was watching him as much as he did. What were they doing? Didn't saving the world have priority?

When Wooyoung sat in stunned silence for too long, San ruffled an embarrassed hand through his hair.

"Sorry. I don't doubt you, but I figured that any concerns that might hold you back would best be resolved now." He didn't mention Yunho's name, didn't prompt Wooyoung to overthink more.

Oddly intrigued, Wooyoung propped himself up on his elbow.

"Are you worried about the mission? Or about me?"

San snickered at him, crescent eyes and everything. Wooyoung's heart did a treacherous leap that left him breathless.

"We haven't spent a lot of time around each other, but I can tell something keeps you up at night. Are the nightmares back?"

"It's you," Wooyoung deadpanned, staring up at him with challenging eyes. San was stunned into silence yet again, so he continued. "It's you and everything that transpired between us that keeps me up. What now? Are you going to remove yourself?" It would be ideal, though that thought also didn't sit right with Wooyoung.

San exhaled. His feeble smile told Wooyoung he thought as much. Once more, his hand ran through his hair.

"Depends. I can use my method or whatever you prefer."

"What is your method?" Wooyoung narrowed his eyes at him. San's smile was so dull it looked soft, even in the harsh light.

"I'd kiss you," he mumbled. His gaze never left Wooyoung's face, conveying his earnestness.

Wooyoung couldn't breathe. He stared at San because this was the moment where he should refuse, where he could shove San away and never have anything to do with him again.

But his tongue got no word out. He sat there, staring, not refusing San's offer.

When San dipped, his lids fluttered shut. A hand came up between them, tugging the bandages over his chin and soft tufts of hair tickled on Wooyoung's face where it covered San's right eye. Wooyoung studied his smooth cheek when soft lips met his own.

As before, San's touch was electrifying, even when he kissed so calmly, almost shy. He left Wooyoung the room to pull back, but the raider acted on instinct. His left arm came up, holding to San's nape from below as he tilted his head to deepen their kiss.

So warm, so nice. So right and yet so wrong.

Wooyoung hated how much he loved kissing San. Hated how this extra patch of skin irked so much interest. He could feel the roughness of the fungus spreading over the right corner of San's lips and explored it with the tip of his tongue. San groaned into his mouth, kissing so differently from Yunho, with so much more intent. It took Wooyoung's breath away and had him yearning for more.

San took it slow, parting from him sooner than Wooyoung liked. They looked at each other for a long moment before San whispered with those plush lips that caught Wooyoung's utter attention.

"You can sleep in my room tonight if you want. I won't do anything. It might help you calm down."

Why did Wooyoung nod? Why did San wait for him with a faint blush on his features, which he hid again with his bandages while Wooyoung got dressed? Why did they not say a word as they walked down the corridor, but their hands kept brushing?

San's bed was cramped, but they made do. Wooyoung turned his back to him and his heart raced. San's arm around his waist calmed him and assured him someone watched over his nightly rest.

Late at night, when Wooyoung woke with his cheek pressed to San's warm chest, a quiet 'fuck' sounded in the darkness of the room.

********
Next chapter is the last one!