The loud and annoying ring of a telephone rose Hongjoong in the morning. He lifted his head from his pillow, groggily to look around and locate the source of the nuisance. When the bed shifted next to him, he let his empty face fall onto the soft sheets again, grumbling.

Seonghwa chuckled at him amusedly before he received the call. Hongjoong listened to his low voice talking in the background still sleepy. He cuddled his pillow as a substitute for Seonghwa's chest and allowed his eyes a few minutes more rest.

He had been awake for too long last evening. He and Seonghwa had tumbled into bed after a long talk the night before and had found time to indulge in each other despite their exhaustion. Hongjoong's body was still tingling in some places from the man's affectionate touches, and his mind was once more at peace, feeling loved and taken care of.

"Affirmative, I will notify him. Thank you for telling us." With those words, Seonghwa ended the call. For a second, the room was quiet; then, his soft steps travelled through their shared flat. He went over to feet Waddles in the living room and made some coffee while Hongjoong still rolled around in bed, too lazy to get up.

"Who was that?"

The hum of the coffee machine filled their flat, accompanied by the thickening smell of the bean juice. It already had Hongjoong more awake and turning on his back so he could blink his eyes open finally.

"Eden. He had news about Sector Zero. Remember how they sent another shuttle there last week with investors and several androids in it so they could start building offices?"

Hongjoong groggily swung his legs over the edge of his bed and ruffled his wild hair before he rose. He toddled over to the bathroom, half-blind to wash his face while giving an approving hum towards Seonghwa's question. Afterwards, he shuffled into the kitchen a bit more awake to plop down on his designated chair.

The android put Hongjoong's coffee on the table and sat down opposite of him to feet and pet Waddles on the side while they talked.

"They reported a giant lilac leviathan trampling it all to nothing and killing two androids and two humans in the process. The rest of them fled. The higher-ups regret their decision now."

Hongjoong blinked with big eyes. Seonghwa gave him a little smile, his eyes shining.

"So, it seems as if Seungyoun is still out there and doing his job," he ended quietly. Waddles nuzzled into his hand, demanding more pets. Seonghwa delivered them with an endeared coo.

"Honestly, I'm glad. I would have hated living with the knowledge that he died alone and in some cold corner on that damn planet after he tried so hard to protect it. We will never know how well he will survive with the Frozen Leviathan running free, but at least he now has the peace he wanted."

"And Yunho and Mingi are safe in their own waters." Seonghwa nodded happily before closing Waddles' cage again and rising to wash his hands. When he returned, he went over to the closet to pick a new outfit for Hongjoong.

"Anyways, we have to go to meet Eden because of it. Another statement is needed, and we have to come up with a plan on why our friend we only ever reported as very much dead is running free."

Hongjoong slowly went after him to stick himself to Seonghwa's back like a Floater and bury his head in between his shoulder blades. He was comfortable, even if the man's constantly shifting muscles under his cheeks disrupted his rest.

"Not as if those mighty couch potatoes have much knowledge about biology. We can just tell them that the possibility of it coming back was always there, and we mentioned it before. I would like to leave the Degasi out of this, just like last time."

Seonghwa gently shook Hongjoong off to sit him down on the bed. He started throwing clothes at him as if going to the meeting in his mostly naked glory was not okay. Lazy and with the pace of a sloth, Hongjoong started to put them on.

"I'm positive that Eden will respect those wishes. We will discuss the exact script with him first and then hold a conference with the department leaders. The other four will be there, too."

Hongjoong clumsily got stuck in his shirt, and Seonghwa had to aid him in sorting his limbs through the fitting holes. While he did, Hongjoong leaned against his chest again sleepily.

"Great, can't wait to waste my day with them. The bosses, I mean, not Woosan this time. Let's eat together with them afterwards. We should invite Eden, too. He did a lot for us." Hongjoong wrapped his arms around Seonghwa's waist as soon as he was dressed halfway, blocking any attempts to get done with the rest, too. With a knowing chuckle, Seonghwa ran his nimble fingers through Hongjoong's hair, making him sigh into the pleasant touch.

"That is a good idea. I will only agree once you get dressed, though."

"Come on, we both like naked me more!"

"Affirmative. And I like naked you enough to detest having you parade that nakedness in front of some older adults. Now come on, let us get it over with."

Grumbling, Hongjoong appeased his wishes. At least he got a few more kisses out of it.

-

The restaurant was full once they entered, which wasn't a surprise since it was one of the most popular places in the space colony. Some people inside threw dirty glances at the newcomers and their androids that especially Jongho held in his arm very obviously. Hongjoong ignored them.

"Come on; I reserved us a private booth."

Eden had to lean down to speak to Hongjoong over the merry chatter in the heavenly smelling place. He nodded and beckoned the others to follow as a waiter brought them further to the back. It was quieter there, and there was enough space for all of them where they could sit protected from curious eyes. Hongjoong immediately cuddled up against Seonghwa.

"Oh God, I hated that earlier. How were they all so disappointed? Didn't they literally send us to see if it was too dangerous or not? How could they not have expected that outcome?" Wooyoung was angrily filling his glass with water to down it like a shot. Jongho next to him worriedly patted his thigh.

"I presume that they had different expectations when we did not immediately die or give up after a few days." Seonghwa's dry comment had a dark edge to it that made them all nod grimly. Wooyoung downed another shot of water.

"Oh, concerning that, by the way. I talked to Cho Senior earlier. I didn't disclose any more information, but he was on our side considering sending people there to die."

Hongjoong quietly accepted the glass San had filled for him. Yeosang piped up next to him.

"Well, it makes sense. He still believes he lost his fifteen-year-old son here, right?"

"Yeah. I actually got him to talk a bit. About Seungyoun. Do you want to hear it?"

They agreed since it would distract them all from the exhausting fight earlier, and they had nothing better to do while they waited for their food.

"So, we know that Seungyoun invented a vaccine when he was still young. I'm convinced that this was how he protected himself from the virus during all those years. His genius mind had all the information he needed."

It added up. Seungyoun had had a huge advantage to Yunho and Mingi, who had worked at the engines and knew next to nothing about scientific research.

"Makes a lot of sense. He was a weird kid."

Hongjoong grimaced at San, who just shrugged. He wasn't mad, just a little disappointed.

"According to Cho, Seungyoun always had a knack for animals and their ways, though. Less so for anything that involves fighting and betrayal. He sounded very proud of his son."

"Well, and he can be. Seungyoun saved a whole planet before it could crumble under his hands. That's a lot if we think about it."

"He also survived there without the advantage of becoming the same kin that Yunho and Mingi had. Considering how alone he must have been, I think he stayed very stable." Yeosang approved of Hongjoong's praise softly. His newly blond hair made him look like a little angel.

"I agree. Cho was also super bitter about the Degasi. He said that your case would also have gotten covered up if not for the Sunbeam. They buy the silence of the media and families."

Their faces darkened at that news. It was only ever about money and replacements. Maybe Seungyoun had chosen wisely by staying there. While it was lonely, it was also straightforward and predictable.

"Who knows, maybe he will build a rocket and come back for revenge one day. With Yunho and Mingi at his side. With how they hit it off, I wouldn't be surprised if he returned to the Crater one day to become friends with them again." Wooyoung made them laugh with that comment.

They took a short break from talking afterwards to receive their food. Funnily enough, Hongjoong had ordered fish. Despite having gotten sick of the taste long ago, he had also found an odd liking for it.

His friends laughed and bullied him about it, but he took it with grace, commenting on how his fish was far better than whatever they were eating anyway.

The conversation continued after they all had savoured the first bites of the delicious food.

"Anyways, I think keeping quiet about him was a good idea. We protected his identity and goals, and you could make do of your promise towards him." Eden nodded at Hongjoong proudly, making the man sit up a bit straighter to shine in glory.

Wooyoung threw his napkin at him, booing.

"So, where do you want to work next? There's this desert planet they recently discovered with some antique temples and huge scorpion-like aliens on it." Eden casually cut his meat while the desk erupted in groaning. The older man's lips twitched into a cheeky smile.

"Oh, come on! Why do you always send us to such weird locations? I can already tell you that a desert is a super bad place to live in! Then we can also return to Earth!" San kicked his legs like a child, receiving a hit back from Hongjoong when he grazed him. For a second, they all childishly kicked at each other.

"Well, not what the big bosses care about." Eden laughed amusedly. "They just point at planets and say go there."

Jongho tiredly rubbed his eyes. Yeosang put his elbow on the table to lean a bit closer to Hongjoong.

"Hongjoong, you always wanted to rise in ranks and become a boss, right? Now is the time. End this nonsense." He blinked at the human coyly.

Before Hongjoong even got to finish his bite, they all already cheered loudly. They just screamed over him, not letting him speak even as he defensively waved his hands.

Seonghwa squeezed his thigh comfortingly, his grin infectious.

"Why are you asking me?! Eden is way closer to that and perfectly sane, too!"

At that, the chaos started again, this time directed at Eden. The poor man suffered for a moment until a waiter came over and asked them to quieten down politely. Afterwards, the pushing only got murmured under their breaths.

They finished eating in relative silence so their food wouldn't get cold. Then, they all turned to Eden again, expectant.

"Alright, how about this. I will send you guys as my team to a planet that actually might be helpful. You go there, disclose information and data, and get us a new living habitat. And since the exploration will be so successful, I will raise in ranks and put a word in against any other stupid missions. Deal?"

They all enthusiastically agreed to that. It was a plan, and while the future might still turn out different, it was at least something that would keep them stable for now. Hongjoong would be happy as long as no more people had to die or be forgotten, and as long as he could be with his friends.

Until maybe one day, he could look back without bitterness and be glad to have taken this route. Just like Seungyoun.

*****

And we're finished!

So guys, thank you so so much for joining me here and having fun with me! I hope this book lived up to your expectations and that it offered a good ending for the story!

I also want to apologise for any inaccuracies that this story might have with the final version game. I wrote this before Below Zero was published, so if they change the colour of the leviathans, it's not my fault xD

Now, I'm in the middle of preparations for the last book of my pirate ateez Overshadow series, I will start that one later today. For now, many thanks to all the support and feedback I got on this work! As usual, I had lots of fun and hope to see you guys again soon!

Join me on Twitter @Susimau_s if you want some background info and insights on my stories, or also just to talk!

I'm also not sponsored by Subnautica or anything, but I can recommend the game to anybody, it's a lot of fun and the real story to this planet is far more exciting than mine xD

So bye everyone, thanks for everything!