Yesteryear

The Philosopher's Stone

Seonghwa arrived at the rendezvous spot at the promised time. In his usual stuck-up and awkward ways, he sat at the corner they preferred to it in and waited for the two other boys. When he spotted them coming in, he came over right away. The usual awkwardness in his face was underlined with unwilling happiness to see the two of them. His interest in where this evening would take them shone through the facade his drawn brows created.

When Wooyoung beamed at him, Seonghwa thinned his lips. Without comment, he stood to join them at the door. He carried a bag of food and wine under his arm. The bottle looked to be an expensive one.

Seonghwa caught Wooyoung's prying eyes. He hadn't dared to look at San yet and Wooyoung amusedly concluded the man's taste in people.

"Food for us?" Wooyoung asked as soon as they had stepped outside the inn. Without the stifling heat of the stuffy inn surrounding them, all of them let go of a relieved breath. The evening was pleasantly cool on their skin.

"My master suggested I share it with you." Seonghwa's stiff voice allowed no discussion. As before, Wooyoung wondered how much truth was behind that.

"What a kind gesture," San commented. Seonghwa nodded in his direction like a wooden doll pulled on strings. His eyes dodged Wooyoung's lover still. If he was pleased with their gratitude, he didn't show it.

With Seonghwa in tow, the group returned to San's home. Seonghwa tried hard to disguise the curiosity in his face but his appreciation when they didn't drag him off into some shady alley to steal his precious paint brushes still showed in minuscule reactions.

Once they arrived at the stairs leading up to San's room, San positioned himself next to the edge. With an elegant beckon of his hand, he gestured the other two to go first. Wooyoung smiled at his chivalry before he climbed the stairs. Seonghwa followed behind him.

Wooyoung shrugged off his coat as soon as he was inside. He threw it over San's drawer and rolled his shoulders. While he stepped up behind Seonghwa to take his cloak as well, the man still looked at the abundance of greens on San's balcony. San lingered outside to cradle an early flower in his fingers and checked on it.

Wooyoung's fingers slipped over Seonghwa's shoulders to lift his coat off him. The man startled, only hesitantly disconnecting his gaze from San. In the late evening glow of Florence, the man looked like Suusaandar. While Seonghwa was busy freeing himself from his coat, Wooyoung marvelled at San basking outside.

The moment broke when San turned to join them in the room.

"Make yourself at home, please." San relieved Seonghwa of the weight of his bag and set it down on his bed. The soft fabric of Seonghwa's brown coat matched the fur on Wooyoung's cloak. He left them in a heap on the drawer before he went to close the door. While he appreciated the nightly air, he would rather keep the secrets of their conversation inside San's room rather than careening them throughout Florence.

Seonghwa sat on the bed like a solid pillar. His brows drew together when Wooyoung flopped on the bed by his side. The shift of weight on the mattress forced Seonghwa to lean into Wooyoung's side. Before he could scoot away, San already dropped on his other side. He busily unpacked Seonghwa's bag to distribute the food between them.

"Don't be shy to start talking. We've become so close now," Wooyoung purred at Seonghwa. He took the glasses San handed him to hold them while the man poured their wine. After handing one to Seonghwa, Wooyoung toasted with him before he tasted the fruity liquid. Rich and delicious, the wine simulated his tastebuds. Wooyoung gave an appreciative hum.

"My master told me a lot that connects directly to what he told you last time. I hope you remember his teachings." Seonghwa played with his glass in his lap. He denied the food that San offered him, leaving only Wooyoung and San to eat. While they wolfed down their bread, Seonghwa tried to remember where he had to begin. Despite his snappish remarks, he picked up right where Leonardo had left off.