Tidal-Bore

26. Cry for Help

Wooyoung didn't leave his bed in the morning. He slumbered with San by his side, engulfed in the medium's muscular arms that mollified all pains and lulled him into a sense of security. His body ached pleasantly, throbbing all over from his bliss. Putty in San's embrace, he dozed through the early morning hours while Atlantis got busy and prepared to send off the scientists.

He still didn't show by the time Yeosang grew impatient. Everyone else had assembled at their meeting spot and Seonghwa was ready to guide them outside, but they were missing a man. And it wasn't hard to guess where he had disappeared to.

When steps ultimately sounded downstairs, impatient in their search for him, San's arms tightened around Wooyoung. He buried his face in Wooyoung's nape, holding him tight as sleep drifted from them and made space for icy dread.

They had no time. Not enough chance to say everything they wanted to say. Life would rip them apart so brutally.

When Wooyoung shivered, San's naked body crowded into him. They shared desperate heat as their bleary eyes found the figure appearing through the curtain of the attic. Yeosang didn't look annoyed, mostly stressed. Upon finding them curled around each other, he called down the stairs.

"They are up here, Seonghwa!"

Wooyoung tried to close his eyes and will them away, aware of why they had come. Aware that this meant goodbye.

Unfortunately, they didn't disappear into thin air. Seonghwa came up the stairs behind Yeosang and his gaze was understanding. Seeing them cling to each other so futilely broke his heart as much as theirs.

"Wooyoung..." Yeosang appealed, not needing to say more. In response, Wooyoung turned to bury his head in San's chest. The marks of their love dotted their bodies, a reminder only they could read. With possessive arms, San tugged him closer.

"He doesn't want to leave," he whispered, as if that changed anything. As if they didn't all know already.

"He has to," Yeosang replied. He wasn't frosty, but the urge in his voice was that of a mother who had enough of her child playing hide and seek. It was time.
Wooyoung closed his eyes and tried to gulp the tears away. His trembling hands clung to San, hopeful they wouldn't be split apart if he held on tight.
Only that this wasn't a matter of strength or willpower. There was no other option than to let go.

"You must understand, San. This isn't easy for any of us," Seonghwa agreed. Wooyoung wanted to scoff because it was easy for some of them. Even Yeosang, who looked at Yunho and Mingi with such adoration in his eyes, left them behind. He didn't cling to them until the last minute. It wasn't the same.

"Come on, Wooyoung. Let's go home. Let's take care of Petra and things at the institute and then you can come back for the next expedition."

When was that? How long would it take for another one to happen? Five years? Ten? He couldn't live without San for that long.

His skin crawled when he remembered Seungyoun was up there and just waited to continue their fight. San's grip tightened when Wooyoung curled impossibly closer. He wanted to hide in the other's skin, slip inside and make his home where no one could find him.

"I don't want to," Wooyoung croaked, the first thing he said today. "Can't you just say I died down here? Delete me off the records? I never need to return. I can live here."

Yeosang shook his head.

"Petra's death was an accident, but if we lost two valuable people within such a short time, Atlantis will be marked as a danger zone and it's much harder to return. Let's tell them your story and appeal to your uncle. You might be back in a couple of months."