Time passed too fucking fast. Wooyoung had never been more aware of every second ticking away, robbing him of the precious minutes before the inevitable future would arrive.

There was no convincing Yeosang to change his mind. He had informed Seonghwa and, though disappointed, the diplomat understood the reason for their rush. While the scientists healed, they already delved into preparations to return. Soon, the submarine captain knew, their institute on the surface knew, and everyone else knew. The date was set, and it inched closer every moment.

Wooyoung didn't know how to tell San. He was sure the man caught wind of their sudden departure, as it was the only topic making its circles in Atlantis right now. Even isolated in his room in the tower where he recovered from his injuries, he knew.

It would be only appropriate to tell him in person and announce his goodbyes, but Wooyoung couldn't bring himself to it. He grew more distant in his sorrow, barely talking to his team members unless absolutely necessary. Many times, he hovered at the stairs leading to San's room, only to surrender at the last moment. There was no explanation fitting their situation. And if there was, Wooyoung couldn't convey it. Seonghwa picked up on his struggles and offered to translate, but Wooyoung sent him away. Hiding his emotions was cruel, but bringing in a third person to transmit them was even more unnatural.

Thus, Wooyoung stayed away. San didn't chase after him, bound to his bed and his own feelings. Was he upset with Wooyoung? Did he even mind? Or had he long since accustomed to the idea and could shrug it off now?

Avoiding him during these last few days was gruesome, but Wooyoung couldn't help it. He often cried alone and wished for his lover's hug, but whenever his ring drew him toward his desires, he covered it to remind himself there had never been a 'them.'

Work didn't distract Wooyoung, and neither did his mourning. He felt selfish, caring more about his relationship than about Petra. The thought of leaving San and running into Seungyoun twisted his stomach. Though he grieved her loss and knew her parents would be heartbroken, his pain was that much realer.

Soon, it was the day before they left. Dinner was busy with organisation talks and Wooyoung gagged his food down with no interest. Seonghwa was there to advise them and explained to the captain which reefs to avoid for the safest journey back up. He cared with such devotion. Yet, Wooyoung found no joy in it.

Their packed bags sat next to the door, waiting for the call to leave. Each time Wooyoung glanced their way, he gulped down the knot forming in his throat.

Everyone left after dinner to get the last beauty sleep. Wooyoung had been plagued by restlessness for days and lost all motivation to even try. With dead eyes, he stayed seated on the bench and played with Splish Splash, who had found her way back home. Her soft, squishy body enjoyed being nudged by him and drift off only to come back to do it again.

Yeosang joined him after Yongguk went to bed. With a sigh, he parked on the bench next to Wooyoung and examined his forlorn expression.

For a while, neither of them spoke. Yeosang sought for the right words to muster and Wooyoung stared into a void beyond the room they were seated in. His head was blissfully empty, filtering away Yeosang's presence until the man figured out his phrases.

"Have you talked to San at all these past few days?"

Not much. Returning after their group meeting had been awkward, and Wooyoung had played down his predicament while he tended to his lover. Ever since he popped up rarer and rarer. He hadn't seen San in the last two days, and though the medium knew what the reason was, Wooyoung was a coward for not coming clean. Or for wasting the little time they had.

He poked Splish Splash.

"There is no need. As you said, why dig an even deeper wound?" Wooyoung's voice was so void of passion it sounded foreign even to himself.

Yeosang exhaled.

"If you go home without talking to him, you will be unhappy forever."

Of course, he was right. Not that Wooyoung thought differently. But that didn't mean he could muster the courage.

"I will be unhappy forever no matter if I talk or not. Leaving is the worst thing I could do. Aside from having to deal with Seungyoun again." With a joyless chuckle, Wooyoung buried his face in his hands. His eyes stung from exertion and a headache had been throbbing behind his temples for almost a week. Had it been that long already? Time flew by. Five days ago, Yeosang announced their abrupt departure.

"I knew this would happen." A compassionate hand found Wooyoung's shoulder, but it spent no comfort. Yeosang was at fault for this and Wooyoung wanted to put all the blame on him.

"You know best how you deal with regret. Even if you don't want to see him again, consider seeking closure. Break up officially, if it's what you must do. But don't leave both of you in darkness," Yeosang advised. He swung his long legs over the bench to stand up.

"As for me, I will spend my last night with Yunho and Mingi. We are also heartbroken to part, but this doesn't have to mean forever. Make the most out of it." With another squeeze of Wooyoung's shoulder, Yeosang left the hut. Alone in the faint blue hue of the deep sea snail slime that illuminated the shadows, Wooyoung stared at his hands.

Not even today, he could bring himself to see San. If the man came the next day to see them off, they would be cold, like strangers. Wooyoung benefited from San's injuries holding him back and stayed far from his reach. Like the cruellest of all lovers, he ignored San's mutual wish of seeing him.

Wooyoung sighed to himself and nudged Splish Splash. Yongguk was always silent, but his absence was noticeable. He stayed in the palace to have an eye on Kiko and Jongho often left Wooyoung to his devices at night to help his sister rebuild her home. In general, Yongguk and Kiko became less talkative, but they mourned Petra as would have been proper. Wooyoung wondered which of the two they hated more. Yeosang, for being reliable and organised in his quick planning for their return; or Wooyoung, who was a whiny crybaby because of a man he knew for less than two months.

Losing his joy at playing with the mute jellyfish, Wooyoung leaned back. He could take a walk and drink up all the sights of Atlantis for the last time before he left in the morning. Or he got drunk. Their alcohol would warm him and make him think of a better time. Oh, how he wished to return to the moment when he sat by that fire with his head on San's shoulder, talking utter gibberish. How unaware and innocently in love he had been back then.

Wooyoung rubbed the wistful smile off his face. He knew from the beginning he didn't deserve San. They lived in different worlds, played in different leagues. Fooling around with San had been an otherworldly and mesmerising experience, but that was all it ever was. Wooyoung had always known it would end.

Exhausted, he stood from his bench. Maybe a combination of alcohol and a walk would liven up his spirits to make it through another sleepless night.

However, as he neared the flap imitating a door that led from Jongho's home outside into the recovering residential area of Atlantis, he noticed a pair of feet on the other side of the knee-length cloth. They stood rooted to the spot as if waiting for something.

Wooyoung didn't think twice when he thrust the cloth aside to deal with this swiftly and get drunk.

He froze in his tracks when he met San's eyes. Those beautiful eyes, dark like the sea, and framed by blue tattoos that were worth kissing over and over.

In the few days they hadn't seen each other, San must have become even more beautiful, for his charm stunned Wooyoung as it hadn't before. In the pale blue light of the shell at night that imitated a moon, San's face and frame were that of a god demanding to be worshipped.

If Wooyoung didn't feel so bad, he would have fallen to his knees in prayer. Since guilt plummeted into his stomach like a rock, however, he lowered his eyes.

"Oh," he made to himself.

Had Yeosang tattled on him? He must have. Otherwise, San would still wait for Wooyoung to decide. Patient and loyal as he was.

Wooyoung ruffled a hand through his red hair, forcing himself to straighten. He met San's watchful eyes. Though he mobilised every ounce to keep looking at them, his eyes strayed off again, over his bandaged shoulder and the mangled leg that was definitely not fine to walk on yet.

"You should have stayed in bed. Your wounds need rest."

"I was afraid you wouldn't come if I stayed."

He said it simply, even, but the words bore into Wooyoung's heart like a knife. He gulped, head lowering again.

No excuse justified his selfish behaviour. He was sick and in love and he made both of them suffer instead of bearing with it for San.

"I-I'm sorry," Wooyoung stuttered in his hoarse voice. "I didn't know how to face you and I couldn't bear leaving, I-" He forced himself to breathe, feeling panic well up in his chest. He rubbed his eyes and sunken cheeks.

Pain reflected in San's eyes. He didn't look as drained as Wooyoung, but tapping in the darkness had taken its toll on him, as well.

When he stepped closer to lift a hand to Wooyoung's face, Wooyoung accepted the touch with a shudder. As if they touched for the first time, San's skin contact was electrifying. A moment later, his hand cupped Wooyoung's jaw, and they clicked together as nature intended them to.

Insignificant and crumpled in front of this gorgeous man he loved so dearly, Wooyoung relished in the touch as if he had been suffocating without it. San's sorrow as he regarded the vulnerable display of trust was his understanding.

"Come here," San whispered when he pulled Wooyoung in. His broader body dwarfed the scientist when they aligned, melting into each other to make up for the hours spent apart.

Wooyoung's lip wobbled when San kissed it. He could not reciprocate, afraid he didn't deserve it, afraid, so afraid...

But San tugged him closer and embraced him with all his warmth. He kissed Wooyoung's lips, his cheeks, his forehead, lingering touches that seeped warmth into Wooyoung's fragile soul. Soon, he lifted his hands to clutch San's shirt, finding it left his back free and was oh so alluring, but Wooyoung didn't get to appreciate it.

San kissed the tears from him that gathered in his eyes.

"I'm so sorry, San. I don't want to go. I want to be with you, craved for you all these days, but I couldn't- I didn't know how. It breaks my heart to leave," Wooyoung babbled helplessly, but San already understood. He walked them back inside so no curious eyes would cling to their hunched backs and his arms never let go of Wooyoung.

San kissed him again, deeper, warmer, chasing away the demons haunting Wooyoung's mind and chilling his heart. His back found a wall, leaning gingerly, though it didn't hurt anymore. Desperate hands clutched to San's body as he drowned in kisses. He wanted more, closer, hotter, and San chased after him with the same fervour.

They didn't speak each other's language, but they didn't need to. Their bodies explained it all.

San was about to walk Wooyoung up the stairs during their heated kisses when Wooyoung stopped him. His trembling hands pushed against San's shoulders in the lightest of touches, and the man instantly pulled back. Breathtaking in the faint light, he studied Wooyoung's apprehensive expression.

Though the tears were gone and a healthy flush had returned to his cheeks, Wooyoung wanted to hide behind his hair.

"Stop here," he whispered. "I know what you are trying to do, but you don't need to. This is not a step needed to console me."

San contemplated him and his words. Then he shook his head. When he leaned in to mutter at Wooyoung's ear, Wooyoung tilted his head to grant him access.

"I want you. I want to be close to you for as long as we can. Until dawn rips us apart."

A sob broke over Wooyoung's lips, then his hands were in San's hair, tugging him closer. Frantic lips found each other as San directed Wooyoung's fumbling steps up the stairs. Heat illuminated the lonely house as the two lovers clung to each other to relish every moment.