Yesteryear

Babylonian Spices

The next time Seungyoun came over, it was evening. Wooyoung would be discharged in three days, so there was no need for Seungyoun to even drop by anymore, but Wooyoung appreciated his efforts. The hospital could get lonely with no one else to talk to but his therapist, who explored Wooyoung's dark mind spaces.

"I brought your spice from Babylon," Seungyoun gushed right away as he sat down on his beloved chair. He pulled a spice jar out of his bag and set it down in front of Wooyoung ceremoniously.

"Don't knock it over, it was expensive!"

Wooyoung read the label of the very modern-looking glass and rose a brow. It was his arm's last day in its sling, but still used the hand to hold things.

"Cinnamon?"

"No, dumbass, I just had to put it somewhere that wasn't a folded piece of paper." Seungyoun leaned back triumphantly as they eyed the red strings in the tin.

"It's saffron. Not that you couldn't find it today with some effort, but I'm sure this old version carries an even more distinct taste. It's been two thousand years. This is the realest it gets."

Wooyoung cradled his fake cinnamon with awe.

"Thanks. It's precious." Wooyoung bet it carried the unique smell of Babylon's bazaar, but he didn't want to open it here and risk spilling it over his sheets. Not that the nurse would be mad at him if she saw Seungyoun was here.

"Want to try it out? I brought some goods." Seungyoun looked left and right before he showed Wooyoung the inside of his bag. Like some shady drug dealer, he carried other spices, a package of rice, various vegetables, and even some chicken around. When Wooyoung stared into the bag disbelievingly, Seungyoun giggled.

"We can hijack the hospital kitchen. One bat of my eyelashes and they won't be able to resist," Seungyoun whispered. His conspiring had Wooyoung lean closer to add to the secrecy between them in the otherwise empty room.

"You think you can do it?"

"Watch me. I just have to convince them to let me stay after visiting times, then the kitchens will be ours." Seungyoun winked at Wooyoung before he left his bag at the side of the bed and got to his feet. While he slipped outside, Wooyoung carefully placed his saffron back into the bag as well, so it was at the right place once it was needed.

Wooyoung got to idle around some and used the time to type a message to his mom, who had been worried endlessly about his condition since he confessed to her he got shot with a bullet used in the wars. She had nearly fainted when she had heard about it. He could convince her not to come to Prague right away to coddle her precious son, assuring that Seungyoun took good care of him. She had let go of the frantic need to pack her things after a while, but still demanded daily updates.

With his restricted fingers and his left hand trying to type, Wooyoung hit send and waited for Seungyoun.

The man didn't need long to return. The big grin on his face spoke of his success. He was up to no good, as usual.

"Got it," he hummed as he showed off the key dangling from his finger. Scoffing, Wooyoung slid out of the bed and into his slippers while Seungyoun picked up the bag.

"How, what did you promise her?"

"Nothing your virgin ears need to know of," Seungyoun promised. When Wooyoung grimaced, Seungyoun broke out in more laughter.

"Somehow, the thought of you banging my nurse makes me uncomfortable. That's an unforeseen power you have there."

"Better obey my every command or else I will have her mix poison in your meds."