Mingi's business flourished. He was an expert at communicating, and people trusted his confidence. Whenever someone haggled with him, he replied with such cunning that he ended up with a better deal than if his customer had agreed to the initial offer. It was an art. Wooyoung wished he could speak that well, but he and Yunho could only sort and hold the items they wanted to get rid of and those they received in return. Usually, Mingi made use of anything that came into his hands, but he was mindful of their limited space now. Only what they needed for the journey got exchanged. Soon, Wooyoung was rich with bullets and they got rid of their excess water bottles.

In the fort, many personalities showed their interest in trade. Mingi didn't bat a lash when a water gatherer in a long coat approached them. They constantly donned their hoods and even here, the stranger blended into the crowd under his sandy clothing.

"You have a lot of water," he noted when he halted before them. They traded away nine bottles and Wooyoung still cradled three in his arm. In their world, water, ammunition, and medicines were the most sought-after goods. Many stumbled away with their arms full of riches and smug smiles today.

"So we do. Want some?" Mingi asked as he turned to scrutinize the stranger. The tassels and decorations dangling from his hat jingled.

For a long moment, the customer considered their wares. When he spoke again, he hadn't moved on to a point of interest.

"Did you gather it yourself?"

"Traded it with other gatherers," Mingi replied, bored. Usually, water gatherers dealt their wares themselves and for ridiculous prices, since they possessed a rare good. Trading it outside of their telltale coats usually meant one murdered them and looted their backpacks.

The gatherer didn't argue. He took off, not aggressive enough to accuse them. Behind the trio, the fighting ring attracted a new crowd as another person dared themselves into the ring. Mingi frowned after the odd man, so Wooyoung followed his gaze.

"Is he trouble?"

Mingi dug his cigarettes out of his coat pocket and tucked one between his lips. He offered one to Wooyoung, but he mutely shook his head. This wasn't the place to relax and though the crowd thinned since the ring diverted their attention, they should be ready for more business.

A light flamed on and briefly lit the shadow of Mingi's hat. His sharp eyes, the hardened features.

"I don't fuck with slave traders, is all. My passion isn't the trading itself but I do believe some things shouldn't be exchanged. Lives being one of them."

"Slave traders?" Yunho perked up, following their eyes. The water gatherer joined a group of his folk and exchanged his information. Since they veiled their faces in scarves and hoods, Wooyoung couldn't tell their reaction. Huddled together, they pushed between the crowd to make their way to the ring. They didn't look any more suspicious than the rest of the rugged raiders here, but Wooyoung had his own reasons to avoid them. He didn't like how they always teamed up against anyone who crossed them. They rarely fought fairly.

"The guy in the middle? He's wearing chains on his wrists, which means he doesn't belong to himself. That group owns him," Mingi muttered. Without taking his eyes off, Wooyoung helped Yunho pocket a pack of ammunition since his hands were full.

Indeed, the young man in the heart of the hustling group carried himself with his back straight and his chin high. No hood obscured his features. Dark hair framed a calm face and tickled over a red mark next to his eye. His black shirt was tattered, granting a view of his muscular arms. They were weighed by heavy iron chains that dragged behind him across the ground and kept him from running off. Though the pressure on his limbs had to ache through his entire spine, he didn't bend under their weight. Steady fists dragged the rusty iron around his wrists as he made for the fighting ring.

"A person owning another person? How does that work?" Yunho uttered, just as enraptured by the peculiar sight. The water gatherers ushered their person to enter the ring and discussed with the overseer that his chains needed to stay on him, otherwise, he might break free and hurt everyone. Close enough to listen in, the group watched as the gatherers packed the long ends of the chains, making sure their prisoner didn't slip away as he faced his opponent from the crowd. While they seized each other up, bets got made. Few bet on the bound fighter since he had such a massive disadvantage.

Fascinated by his uncommon beauty and the steely strength rippling through his body, Wooyoung listened to Mingi with one ear.

"That's what slavery means. It's a new concept some madmen brought from the South. They capture people like animals and keep them locked up in chains and cages. This one does their fights for them. They can earn resources through his wins and then drag him into the next battle. He guards them, but not because he chose to," Mingi spat bitterly. He cast his eyes away to breathe out the smoke and Yunho eyed him from his peripherals.

"You know a lot about this," he noted. Mingi barked a cynical laugh.

"My whore mother was the slave of the bastard who raped her. Can't say my birth made the situation any better. Her life was his to take," he said with such a cruel nonchalance that even Wooyoung shuddered. So Mingi came from the south. He didn't need to ask to know what happened to that brutal father for Mingi to be out here and free now.

Stunned, Yunho fell silent. Their eyes automatically trained on the ring when the overseer announced the start of the fight. The slave remained in his chains and Wooyoung could see how they dragged on his posture when he ducked for an attack. Even with that handicap, however, his strength was impressive. He launched forward, chains jangling, desperate to win before his bindings would lead to his demise. Perhaps he would get mistreated if he didn't win. If they owned his life, they ruled how well he fared. To an extent, his only way to improve his situation was by winning.

The longer Wooyoung watched, the more he agreed with Mingi that this was messed up. He had little knowledge of this, but Wooyoung would hate to spend his limited life ensnared and hoping that his owners wouldn't kick at him like an infested dog. They weren't blessed with much out here, but at least everyone got to fight for themselves.

Not this person, however. And though his strength fascinated Wooyoung as he quickly gained the upper hand with swift ducks and accurate punches, it was difficult to look at him.

Yunho seemed to agree. They turned their backs to the rabid crowd, eager to see one of them fall. The shock of the bound man's skill kept the stakes high, and the bets grew grander, raking in more wins for those who claimed ownership of him.

Mingi dealt with another customer and nodded to himself as soon as the man took off with his new rations.

"I think this is as much as we need. Let's get back to the others and get a move on." His voice gave no hint about whether the sight of the slave upset him. On the contrary, his unshakable resilience against all outer disruptions was almost scary. Wooyoung admired him. Too often, he submitted to the weight of his emotions burdening him. Had San not been there after Yunho disappeared, who knew what would have happened to Wooyoung? Mingi thought about his duties first, and Wooyoung could learn a lot from him.

"Sounds good," Yunho agreed and Wooyoung lowered his head to draw his bag shut. When a shadow fell over him, he threw his hair out of his eyes to glance up.

The water gatherer from earlier was back and this time, he brought his friends that weren't occupied with holding down their fighter. They loomed in their waterproof coats, surrounding the trio of traders.

Leery, Yunho looked around.

"You are carrying something you took from us," one of the gatherers grunted at Mingi. Wooyoung could see him roll his eyes, tongue clicking when trouble came their way after all. It was no wonder in such a place, but they tried to dodge any unwanted attention.

"It's ours, I told you," Mingi barked and beckoned Yunho to pack the two remaining bottles. Behind them, the ignorant crowd cheered at a sickening thud of a fist on flesh. Wooyoung felt the weight of his gun against his leg. From this close, the rifle was useless, but he didn't want to start shooting here. Too many people who would resolve the upset with a quickly drawn gun even if they weren't involved.

"No one who isn't a gatherer has that much water. You would have traded it away long ago," the stranger hissed at Mingi. "You better follow us into our building, then you can explain yourself in peace. Wouldn't want us to alert everyone of your scam, would you?" A sly smirk echoed in his voice and Mingi rolled his shoulder.

"No need. We're leaving." He jerked his chin at his two companions and they crowded behind him when Mingi shouldered past the guy. Wooyoung glared at them from behind his fringe. Neither profited off a petty fight. Even if they stole the water, taking it off their hands wouldn't bring a dead water gatherer back.

This was why Wooyoung didn't want to get involved with them. So weirdly territorial.

Wooyoung was just about to squeeze past the looming ring of figures when the one who had spoken caught Mingi at his wrist. The moment his hand clamped shut, Mingi's free palm flew below his coat to draw the guns strapped to his back. He moved with chilling speed, but these people had planned for resistance. Two of them stepped in to wrestle back Mingi before they could call for help. In case the traders defended themselves, they might get accused as agitators.

"Get the kid. That's the one we want; Death," their leader hissed at his group. Instantly, hands reached for Wooyoung and he leveled his gun. Yunho was by his side with his knife drawn as they poised their weapons at their enemies. Subtly, the crowd of water gatherers moved them towards the alleys to make them disappear where no one would see.

"Shit. What do you want from me?!" Wooyoung hissed as he kicked back a coat drawing too close. The math wasn't too difficult. They were people to own slaves, so whatever purpose he was to serve, it wouldn't be fun.

"Should we run?" Yunho hissed as Mingi wrung himself free. He was hesitant to shoot, but his eyes flared with ire.

"The lifts go slow and if they are familiar visitors, their word gets favored over ours. Let's try to knock them out and dip."

The water gatherers giggled about their plan. Wooyoung flipped out his knife, not as spectacular as San's but he wasn't too shitty with it. Though he wished San was here to deliver some of those kicks that sent anyone sprawling.

Loud cheers drowned the hastily made plans as the trio ducked defensively between their enemies. All the voices and faces disoriented Wooyoung, and he snapped his teeth at the hands tugging on his jacket and trying to wring his weapon from him without garnering too much attention. By now, they were tucked into a seedy alley between the cramped buildings. The shadows swallowed them and the ground was mushy here, robbing them of their balance. Looming, the hoods of the water gatherers drew in, easily four times the number of Wooyoung's group.

Determined to take them on even if it meant getting away with a few bruises, Wooyoung used their new location as his signal not to hold back. He lunged at the first one with his knife, only to suddenly get rammed away by a heavy body. Metal dug into his side, making him stagger into Yunho's waiting arm. Feeling as if hit with a boulder, Wooyoung shook off his confusion and scrambled back into position.

Their fighter had arrived, and he took no significant damage in the ring. When he joined the side of his owners, the towering hulk of muscles was terrifying.

"Get them and leave the kid alive," the gatherers ordered. With murderous eyes, their chained dog closed in on the huddled group.

Maybe more than a few bruises.