Wooyoung didn't leave his bed in the morning. He slumbered with San by his side, engulfed in the medium's muscular arms that mollified all pains and lulled him into a sense of security. His body ached pleasantly, throbbing all over from his bliss. Putty in San's embrace, he dozed through the early morning hours while Atlantis got busy and prepared to send off the scientists.

He still didn't show by the time Yeosang grew impatient. Everyone else had assembled at their meeting spot and Seonghwa was ready to guide them outside, but they were missing a man. And it wasn't hard to guess where he had disappeared to.

When steps ultimately sounded downstairs, impatient in their search for him, San's arms tightened around Wooyoung. He buried his face in Wooyoung's nape, holding him tight as sleep drifted from them and made space for icy dread.

They had no time. Not enough chance to say everything they wanted to say. Life would rip them apart so brutally.

When Wooyoung shivered, San's naked body crowded into him. They shared desperate heat as their bleary eyes found the figure appearing through the curtain of the attic. Yeosang didn't look annoyed, mostly stressed. Upon finding them curled around each other, he called down the stairs.

"They are up here, Seonghwa!"

Wooyoung tried to close his eyes and will them away, aware of why they had come. Aware that this meant goodbye.

Unfortunately, they didn't disappear into thin air. Seonghwa came up the stairs behind Yeosang and his gaze was understanding. Seeing them cling to each other so futilely broke his heart as much as theirs.

"Wooyoung..." Yeosang appealed, not needing to say more. In response, Wooyoung turned to bury his head in San's chest. The marks of their love dotted their bodies, a reminder only they could read. With possessive arms, San tugged him closer.

"He doesn't want to leave," he whispered, as if that changed anything. As if they didn't all know already.

"He has to," Yeosang replied. He wasn't frosty, but the urge in his voice was that of a mother who had enough of her child playing hide and seek. It was time.
Wooyoung closed his eyes and tried to gulp the tears away. His trembling hands clung to San, hopeful they wouldn't be split apart if he held on tight.
Only that this wasn't a matter of strength or willpower. There was no other option than to let go.

"You must understand, San. This isn't easy for any of us," Seonghwa agreed. Wooyoung wanted to scoff because it was easy for some of them. Even Yeosang, who looked at Yunho and Mingi with such adoration in his eyes, left them behind. He didn't cling to them until the last minute. It wasn't the same.

"Come on, Wooyoung. Let's go home. Let's take care of Petra and things at the institute and then you can come back for the next expedition."

When was that? How long would it take for another one to happen? Five years? Ten? He couldn't live without San for that long.

His skin crawled when he remembered Seungyoun was up there and just waited to continue their fight. San's grip tightened when Wooyoung curled impossibly closer. He wanted to hide in the other's skin, slip inside and make his home where no one could find him.

"I don't want to," Wooyoung croaked, the first thing he said today. "Can't you just say I died down here? Delete me off the records? I never need to return. I can live here."

Yeosang shook his head.

"Petra's death was an accident, but if we lost two valuable people within such a short time, Atlantis will be marked as a danger zone and it's much harder to return. Let's tell them your story and appeal to your uncle. You might be back in a couple of months."

It wasn't good enough. Who knew what would happen and if he could return? What if he couldn't? How would he carry on, knowing San was down here, but they could never see each other?

Stubborn, Wooyoung stuck to San. The medium's soothing hand trailing over his back couldn't ease his pain. Neither of them wanted to crawl from their cocoon of safety, the last garrison between them and Yeosang's heartless demands.

"Maybe there is another way," Seonghwa piqued up. His gaze was hesitant, apologetic of Yeosang's schedule. However, it seemed he found it unfair not to address it.

"You said you could live down here. Is there nothing that holds you on the surface? Your family, your life?"

Wooyoung's life had been ruined the moment he caught Seungyoun cheating. Everything up there would remind Wooyoung of him. Atlantis had been healing because it was so extraordinary.

"I have zero interest in going back. It's much better here." He squeezed his arms around San, showing what he meant.

Seonghwa exchanged a glance with Yeosang.

"What if he could stay?"

From narrow eyes, Yeosang tried to guess what this was about.

"What do you mean, stay?"

"I had this discussion with Hongjoong and Shxcay last evening. San's affiliation with Wooyoung caused outrage among our people, but only because they feared Wooyoung might try to take him to the surface. What if we turn the tables? If nothing holds Wooyoung in his life, he could start a new one here. Our people are fond of you, especially since you helped along during the flood. I'm sure your institute could profit off someone down here who brings messages across. He could learn our language and become a diplomat just as I, just for the other end. I would be happy to teach him."

Wooyoung lay stunned into silence by most of that speech, but he perked up at the last part. The blanket slid from his naked shoulder and Yeosang averted his gaze with a blush. However, that didn't make him forget his words.

"So sudden? I was sure more back and forth would be needed until we could settle on a favourable relationship," Yeosang suspected. The suggestion brightened his features, but he was not one to trust quickly.

Seonghwa pacified him with a blinding smile.

"You did the formidable groundwork for us to work on. I'm sure if Wooyoung stays and pursues these relations, we can build upon a future together. Even more so, since San's devotion to him is respectable to many of our people." His tender eyes raked over their figures, over the way they both were frozen with tense hope. San's hand lay on Wooyoung's back like a patch of warmth, always connecting them.

"That is abrupt, but I like the idea. At least for now, we could make it work on our end. Wooyoung's work can be done from here. What do you say?" Yeosang turned to Wooyoung. The answer already stood written on his face, but he still nodded, full of enthusiasm.

"I would like that! Please let me stay! I will be at the best of manners!"

Seonghwa snickered at his volume.

"I don't doubt that. In that case, please get dressed and accompany us to see your friends off. I will make arrangements as soon as I return to the palace."

He stepped outside with a graceful nod, but Wooyoung scrambled from the bed to call after him.

"Thank you so much! I will be there in a moment!"

While Yeosang and Seonghwa left them to their privacy and muttered about the newest development outside, Wooyoung jumped into San's arms.

"We did it, San, we did it! I get to stay and no one can send me away!" His arms enveloped San's shoulders, squeezing him as tightly as possible, and San did the same back to him. His words were choked against Wooyoung's shoulder.

"I'm glad. So glad."

They clung to each other, trembling through the spasms of their excitement, but no more tears flowed. This time, Wooyoung was motivated to part and get dressed. They hurried, so Yeosang didn't need to wait any longer and have time to rethink his decision. Though Wooyoung was slow and wobbly on his feet, San guided him by the small of his back as they rushed down the stairs.

Yeosang and Seonghwa awaited them outside, and they smiled when the two emerged, looking ruffled but refreshed.

Together, they made their way down to the beach. Some Atlanteans had come to see them off and others followed the general stream of people, forming a crowd around the area. Seonghwa had to make a path through the people to get them through.

Shxcay and Hongjoong were there to tell them their goodbyes, together with Princess Tyruss and her baby. Yunho and Mingi hovered near the front, but they were uninterested when Seonghwa dashed over to inform the leaders of their arrangement. Their eyes adhered to Yeosang and followed him everywhere.

San stayed by Wooyoung's side when they joined Kiko and Yongguk. They looked relieved to leave, but their expressions grew wary when Wooyoung's grin was a tad too bright for having to part from his lover.

A moment later, everyone was briefed, and a murmur went through the crowd. Kiko looked scandalised by Wooyoung's quick decision after knowing San for such little time, and Yongguk was surprised, but he took it with grace.

"No worries about me," Wooyoung grinned with his hand swinging in San's between their bodies. "Even if San and I argue, we made other friends here. I have Jongho and Seonghwa and Hongjoong, of course." He peered over his shoulder to catch the man's gaze. When he winked at him, Hongjoong grumbled back.

"Not that I plan to. We promised, after all." Wooyoung showed off his ring finger as proof and San preened next to him. Though he couldn't catch every detail of what was going on, he got the general gist and he adored Wooyoung's trust in him.

Things went smoothly from there. Shxcay accepted Wooyoung's presence and welcomed him to stay for longer. Though Jongho immediately suggested moving in with him, Seonghwa laughed and said they would debate it later. As an important diplomatic figure, Wooyoung deserved a room in the palace; preferably one close to San's.

Their parting wasn't marred by grief. The captain waited at the gates while the others said their goodbyes. After hugging Kiko and Yongguk, Wooyoung was hauled in by Yeosang's strong arms. The man sighed, but patted his shoulder with affection.

"I hope you won't regret this. If you ever need us to pick you up, just tell us."

"There is no regret where San is," Wooyoung beamed. Yeosang shook his head at him as he wandered over to Yunho and Mingi. Shyness blushed across his cheeks when their attention was too much for him.

"I will visit, even when I'm in no position to do the same as Wooyoung. Please have an eye on that idiot. He can be a nuisance, but he is precious to me," he asked them. Yunho and Mingi nodded.

"We'll take care of him," Yunho promised. When he stepped in to kiss Yeosang, the smaller scientist sunk into the touch, unabashed by their public setting. Mingi was next, conveying his affection through a kiss much more gentle than one would expect from a man his size.

Their pain to part resonated in Wooyoung's chest. When they pulled apart, San squeezed his hand to console him.

"Next time you come here, let us gift you pearls. They would suit you," Mingi muttered in his deep voice. When Yeosang ducked his head, the other two grinned.

"Sure... I will look forward to it." Yeosang whipped around to hide his flaming cheeks. As they assembled at the gate, Wooyoung stayed by San's side.

"Thank you once more for harbouring us. We learned so much and we will happily stay in contact." Yeosang shook Seonghwa's hand as they bowed to each other.

"Likewise," Seonghwa grinned.

Together, Wooyoung stood with the people of Atlantis to wave at their leaving frames. They were down two people and battered from their injuries, but all three of them were glad to go home. Wooyoung, on the other hand, had nowhere he would rather be than here.

The gate opened and shut behind them. Together, the Atlanteans waited for the submarine to pass by. Only after it had disappeared into the depths to be on its way home, the crowd dispersed.

Seonghwa stayed behind with the leaders and Wooyoung. By default, San never left his side.

"As we say goodbye to your friends, we greet you here as our guest once more. Let's discuss everything over dinner," Seonghwa said. By his side, Shxcay grinned while Hongjoong wrapped an arm around Seonghwa, supporting his husband privately.

Wooyoung nodded without taking his hand from San's.

"Thank you so much. I will be in your care." 

They left to return to Atlantis together while Wooyoung hoped the others had a good journey back to the surface.