Yesteryear

Hangover

Wooyoung awoke to a throbbing headache. The second he rolled over in the bed that wasn't his own, splitting pain zapped up his side and hips as well. With a groan, he slumped back down, regretting all of his life decisions.

He was no forgetful drunk. He knew all too well where his pain came from and that whatever sleep position his body had twisted into during the night had worsened his rib injury. Unfortunately, he also remembered the throwing up first in Sandalius' gardens, and then again in the corridor in front of his room. The poor slaves had ushered him to bed with a jug of water while they cleaned up after him.

Wooyoung felt miserable. He wanted to take some painkillers and not move for a day, but that was no option. If he wanted to do that, he had to go home first. He couldn't bear any sort of conversation with Linus once the other man was back on track. The man having been around and possibly seen what went down between Wooyoung and Sandalius had Wooyoung flush to the tips of his ears.

The memory of the passionate night with the Roman lord had Wooyoung bury his face in his pillow. Sandalius had been so intense and yet so tender. Like a natural, he had known how far he could take things and what Wooyoung needed. It had been one of the best nights of Wooyoung's life, and even if some memories of it were hazy, his body remembered the man's touch vividly. As Wooyoung put his hand on his hip to splay his fingers the way Sandalius had held him, a wave of giddiness overcame him once more.

Oh, Seungyoun would burn his entire throat on this tea.

Wooyoung heaved himself up in bed after a few more minutes of lazing around. His head spun like a Ferris wheel at first, but the nausea passed soon. As he drank some water, his battered body came back to life like a rusty machine. Fatigue clung to him since not a lot of time had passed between him falling asleep and the sun waking him. He felt as if hadn't slept at all, and he direly needed some sugar to kick-start his blood pressure.

Sluggishly, Wooyoung pulled his clothes over his head. He didn't bother with the toga and just stepped out into the bright corridor in just his tunic and sandals. The window opposite of his door pointed east and the ferocious might of the morning sun slapped him in the face like three of Titus' friends at once. With a wince, Wooyoung slinked into a darker corner to fester there. Walking didn't hurt, but he felt the reminder of Sandalius with every breath in his lower back. Since Wooyoung had been so on board with their drunken encounter, however, he couldn't even curse the man. Every stab of pain had been worth it.

Thankfully, he found Yunho before he had to cross the sun-bathed yard to the other part of the house. As the slave jogged through the foyer to catch up to him, Wooyoung wondered if Sandalius was up already or if he laid in a bed under an open window and surrounded by the veils of his canopy bed as he slumbered still. Had he also crashed as Wooyoung did?

Veils again. Their semblance was uncanny. Wooyoung was glad that his mind hadn't strayed inappropriately during their intimate encounter. If Suusaandar had been the one he had shared the night with, Wooyoung didn't doubt that things would have gone differently.

"Lord Wooyoung, good morning! What can I provide you with? I heard you had a rough night."

"I wish for nothing more but a bath if that can be arranged. I will have to leave soon so I hope to wash up and for you to inform your master of my departure if necessary." Wooyoung's voice was raw for several reasons. Yunho's face showed no change; he most likely blamed it on the alcohol.

"Of course. Please follow me."

They set off down the same corridor Wooyoung had crawled from together. On their way, Yunho threw him concerned glances once or twice. Wooyoung had seen no mirror in the villa yet, but he bet he looked wild. Marked by kiss marks, mussed-up hair, and tired eyes. He was glad that the slave didn't mention it, even when he was probably aware of the content of the parties his master frequented.