For a third and last time, Wooyoung and Yeosang went to eat together. This time, they asked the inn to pack the food on the plates they brought from Yeosang's home so they could carry them in their baskets. Yeosang showed Wooyoung the way to the old watchtower where he had originally come from. Since the tower wasn't in use anymore, it was free for anyone's enjoyment. It was also a popular dating spot, as Yeosang had told Wooyoung with a bashful blush hidden behind his hand.

With a smirk, Wooyoung had slung his arm around Yeosang's shoulders and teased him about whether there was a person in town that Yeosang would like to take up the isolated tower for dating purposes. When Wooyoung pointed out how peaceful of a kissing spot it was, Yeosang had grown redder than a tomato.

The tower wasn't occupied when the two arrived. They climbed up the winding staircase and emerged on the stone flat on top. Wooyoung whisked some fallen leaves aside while Yeosang spread out their picnic blanket. Their food was still warm when they distributed it between them.

With the delicious meat melting on his tongue, Wooyoung leaned back to stare out into the colourful forest. He wondered what San was doing. Had the thief group moved on already after the sheriff returned to hunt them? Or was evading him an easy play for them? As long as San was safe, Wooyoung didn't mind either way. They had made a promise, so both of them had to keep it.

"Your friend... Are you thinking about him?"

Yeosang's abrupt question ripped Wooyoung out of his thoughts. He hadn't noticed that he had been smiling subtly, but he hid it now by taking another bite of bread.

"All the time, yes. I apologise for drifting off," Wooyoung said around his food. He washed the big bite down with a sip of ale.

Yeosang shook his head.

"No need to apologise. I see how you two match each other. You must be very close." When Yeosang's voice drifted off oddly at the end, Wooyoung raised his eyes to check on him. He found the researcher's eyes stuck on the slope of his neck. He dimly remembered San leaving visible marks there in their shared night.

"We are. Do your beliefs go against two men together? Is that why you are apprehensive?"

This time, Yeosang shook his head with vigour.

"I believe in the bible but not in all of its rules. Too often, I felt attracted to men to condemn those men who lie with them. I'm not too firm of a believer, although I count myself to the more dedicated ones. Even though these beliefs spread through the lands among non-believers, since they are so popular. But no, this is not about the bible. I just heard some things about your friend, I believe. Although his name wasn't San in those rumours."

Wooyoung inclined his head curiously. Rumours about San sounded promising.

"His name is Alisander, and we also knew him for the terror he brought upon travellers when he was still a lone rogue. The people at church whispered about him since his name isn't one from here and neither is his face. He sticks out, but they feared him too much to ask questions."

"Did he also steal from the townspeople?" Wooyoung inquired. He was surprised that his emergency lie had lined up with San's life, but ever since they had spent so much time together in Norway, Wooyoung believed he had gained quite a good grasp on the man's personality.

"Similar to you, he often robbed those who wandered the woods by themselves. But contrary to Hood, he had a run-in with the sheriff before. Only because he survived that fight, Robin Hood took him under his protective wing." Yeosang's voice had dropped to a low whisper as if he feared the rustling treetops might listen to them. Wooyoung leaned closer as if they shared dark secrets about witchcraft.

"How did that battle go?" Wooyoung demanded to know. His intrigue with San had ignited once more and Yeosang's shuffling made Wooyoung's eyes gleam even brighter. Pride bubbled in his chest already because he knew how skilled of a fighter San was.

"They duelled on a clearing further south in the forest. The sheriff voiced the concerns of the town and asked Alisander where he was from, but he got no definite reply. I think he said something along the lines of 'everywhere and nowhere' if the ladies didn't exaggerate."

The corners of Wooyoung's lips twitched. That sounded very much like San.

"The sheriff is one of the most skilled fighters in the kingdom; that's the only reason he got this rank in Nottingham. And yet, Alisander played with him as if he were a child. A man double his age! Despite his youth, Alisander can sword-fight better than all of our knights. Did you know that?"

Wooyoung just nodded, not giving more information on their relationship. He could be glad that Yeosang was halfway drunk again already, or he might be far more suspicious. Maybe it was for the best that Wooyoung would leave tonight.

"So Alisander won, but he refused to claim his accomplishment. He disappeared into the forest without another trace. We thought he had moved on, but then he reappeared with the thieving group of Robin Hood. I never knew I would meet him so up close. Since I never saw him before, I didn't even assume it could be the same person at first. But I think it is."

"I presume he has a bounty on his head, then?"

Yeosang nodded and emptied his drink. Wooyoung also hurried to scrape the remnants of his food together before it would get cold.

"He does. A good price too, one that could get you a fine piece of land or a noble horse. The sheriff probably fears him more than Robin Hood, but Alisander moves well in his shadow. It has been a few years since then, so the threat of the lone rogue got forgotten."

Yeosang ended his tale with a thoughtful nod. Then he flinched when a crow next to them croaked as if in response. Wooyoung chuckled. Maybe Huginn and Muninn - Odin's magical ravens - accompanied San around.

"It's impressive he has friends, still. Especially peaceful ones like you." Yeosang diverted the topic to a lighter tone and Wooyoung grinned again. The playful swaying of his upper body relieved some stress on Yeosang's forehead.

"Outside of his lifestyle, he can be an interesting person, yes. I never sword-fought him, but I believe you when you say he is an expert. He carries his sword like one," Wooyoung said.

Yeosang leaned in conspiratorially again. He smelled of alcohol, but Wooyoung didn't mind as they stuck their heads together.

"I can't imagine what he is like as a lover," Yeosang murmured.

"Is it a sin for you to listen if I tell you?" A smug grin laced Wooyoung's voice. Yeosang blushed again, but brushed it off by stretching his arms over his head.

"I'm just saying... He must be an interesting companion." Yeosang shrugged. When he found a spot of sauce on his tunic, he winced and tried to scratch it off.

"Oh, he is. He's strong, too, so he's absolutely able to wrap my legs around his waist and-"

"Alright, I heard enough! Thank you for your unholy insights."

Wooyoung giggled at the sudden yell that interrupted him. Yeosang's curiosity battled his shame a while longer as they put their plates back into the basket.

Peace returned to them as they sat in the forest a while longer. Both of them hung in their own thoughts and listened to the nature around them creak and rustle. The woodpecker was back in the area and worked hard on its new home. Wooyoung tried to spot it as he looked out from the tower that was overgrown by the tall trees around it. He found one of the crows with blue shining feathers instead.

"Now that you collected your information, will you return to Loidis right away?" Yeosang shuffled up to Wooyoung's side to lean his back against the cold stone of the railing. When he saw Wooyoung tapping his toes, he copied the movement with glee.

"I will probably leave in the morning, yes. I would have liked to say goodbye to San, but I doubt that going there while they are being pursued by the sheriff is a good idea. I don't want to get caught in the fight."

Yeosang picked up a leaf from his side to rip it apart. The crunch between his fingers tingled in Wooyoung's ears pleasantly.

"I agree, that isn't a wise idea."

But it would be fine. Because next time they saw each other, San would take the time to spend all week with Wooyoung while he tickled answers about immortality out of Leonardo da Vinci. Wooyoung couldn't wait to team up with him and spend every minute with the other man. The time they had spent together in Norway had been so precious to Wooyoung, even if it hadn't been out of his free will. Within so few years, compared to their usual meetings, he and San could be free as birds.

"I was worried about him last night, but now that you told me he had run-ins with the sheriff before and emerged triumphantly, I am relieved. I would never doubt his skill but I think knowing that he will be safe no matter what is an immense comfort," Wooyoung sighed. To relish in the atmosphere and the white noise of the forest, he leaned his head back and closed his eyes. Nature rustled and hummed around them. The warm sun heated a patch of Wooyoung's head with its hot rays.

"If he ever breaks into my house again, I will remind him of you and take that as my safety precaution." Yeosang muttered those words mostly to himself, but they made the corners of Wooyoung's lips jump still.

"You better make sure that even if they break in again, your precious goods can't be stolen. Maybe you can loosen a board on the floor to hide your books under, or you store them hidden in the attic."

Wooyoung blinked his eyes open to search Yeosang's face for a reaction. The other man's lips had opened in a comedic shock. When he nodded, the shine of new ideas he hadn't considered before brightened his eyes.

"That's glorious advice. Do you also have to hide your books from robbers? Or do the robbers where you come from not steal books?"

"Most of our robbers can't read, yeah. They find books stupid and pretentious so they rip them apart." Wooyoung gestured with his hands dramatically. Yeosang gasped in shock.

"So I hide them, yes. They are precious to me."

Yeosang took that advice to the heart.

For a while longer, they idled around until two newcomers down on the path demanded to use the tower. The two boys packed up to return to Nottingham. The forest had darkened already as the sun disappeared behind the horizon. Yeosang scrutinised some thick scrubs suspiciously, but nothing jumped out at them.

By the time they passed the big gate of the town again, Wooyoung pondered if he had anything else to do in this place. Yeosang lingered close by his side still, unwilling to let go, but both of them were tired as well.

Maybe he would stay until morning after all. He had planned not to since it would be yet another night that he might as well spend in his own bed, but Yongguk would appreciate if Wooyoung didn't fall asleep on the table while they discussed his trip.

Thus, Wooyoung directed his smile at Yeosang, who swung the basket around in his hand.

"I will come by your house in the morning to have breakfast with you and Ada, then I will leave. Take a rest until then and thank you for your help with your studies."

Yeosang shyly brushed his hair behind his ear and smiled at the ground. Wooyoung found him charming, in a way completely opposite from San.

"I know your heart belongs to San, but can I, uh- can I demand a kiss on the cheek as repayment for my help?"

Yeosang averted his eyes as if he was too embarrassed to spell his simple request out. When Wooyoung's fingers caught his chin, the man's cheeks were warm from the blood rushing into them.

"But of course you can."

What Wooyoung had with San was far from a fixed relationship. It would take San about five hundred years to develop an at least halfway acceptable opinion on how courting worked outside from just taking whatever he desired.

Wooyoung's lips met the corner of Yeosang's mouth. His warm kiss was far enough on the cheek that he fulfilled Yeosang's request, but teasingly close enough to what Yeosang hadn't dared asking to make the writer blush and give a tiny squeak.

When Wooyoung stepped back, Yeosang buried his face in his sleeve, but Wooyoung still saw his grin. Amused, he smirked at Yeosang's shy advancements.

"Go home and rest. I'll see you in the morning," Wooyoung promised. Yeosang took off with a hasty nod. He stormed away like a schoolgirl with a crush.

Wooyoung watched his disappearing back to make sure Yeosang wouldn't run into any people and get into trouble. Once the other man had disappeared from sight, Wooyoung returned to his inn to catch up on his lost sleep, too.