Yesteryear

Among Gentlemen

San's home in London was a pretty flat in the upper part of a three-story building. He had no space for his plants this time, but his place was cosy where it was nestled between other houses. Upon entering, Wooyoung noticed the lack of personal items inside. Like other places San had lived in, the furniture was only sparsely decorated and left lots of empty spots inside.

And yet the few things Wooyoung saw were so distinctively San that Wooyoung couldn't help the smile on his lips. His fingers trailed over a sheathed dagger that San kept on his ancient vanity table. The leather was worn from the years he had carried it around, but Wooyoung knew it was in an impeccable condition. San took good care of his precious items.

Wooyoung left his coat draped over the back of San's armchair in the sitting room to signal that he had arrived. The rain thrummed against the windows as Wooyoung ventured into San's bedroom. His large bed was covered by tucked-in blue sheets that Wooyoung trailed his fingers over appreciatively. The soft silk smoothed against his skin sensually.

Maybe he should sleep to await San's arrival. As soon as the man returned the next day, Wooyoung would be well-rested and could dedicate all of his attention to him.

Wooyoung set his hat down on the dark brown drawer in the room's corner that matched the floral wallpapers. The room was chilly from the thinness of the English walls, but Wooyoung took the time to make a fire in the fireplace in the living room and let the warmth spread while he got comfortable.

Snuggled into San's soft sheets that smelled of a fragrant soap he kept between the pillows to spread a heavenly scent of pine needles in his bed, Wooyoung got some rest. The atmosphere of warmth, pine needles, and the rain against the window soothed his excitement at seeing San. His dreams were deep and black as he rested in the comfort of being in the same place as San again and meeting him soon.

-

When Wooyoung blinked his eyes open, the curtains were drawn shut so no sunlight would fall into his face and bother him. He couldn't remember closing them the night prior, but he appreciated them veiling the pale light from outside. The rain had let up finally to make space for a bleak grey sky that lit up the silhouettes of the buildings through the curtains.

Wooyoung shifted on his pillow to turn away from the windows and get some more dozing in. His movement ended short when he met a warm body behind him. Smooth skin brushed his when his mostly naked body slotted against a familiar one. A muscular arm came around to wrap around his waist.

Wooyoung's eyes flicked up when his breath got stuck in his throat. His eyes found the sleepy gaze already focused on his face.

San was gorgeous, as always. His hair had got shorter and was now at a comfortable length to style it easily.

San eyed the birthmark on Wooyoung's sleep-swollen lips. A smile curled his lips in those features that never changed through the years.

Sharing the same thought, San tightened his grip around Wooyoung's body.

"You're back. Just as beautiful as always," he said. His voice was still ridden by sleep, but the scratch in it only made it more attractive to Wooyoung's ears.

"I am," Wooyoung smiled. "How have you been?"

Cosy under their shared covers, they just stared at each other. Every time Wooyoung saw him, his heart filled with adoration for San once more. He imagined San felt the same. Once he saw Wooyoung again after such a long time, he must be overcome by thrill.

How fast had this time passed for San? The era of discovering America, the witch trials, and the French Revolution? Where had he been? Wooyoung was so curious about San's stories.