Tidal-Bore

27. New World

Few weeks passed but Wooyoung assimilated himself into Atlantean society as if he grew up there. With motivation for these new surroundings and the excitement they brought, he quickly made friends with more people. The old lady weaving blankets down the street from Jongho's home, the group of young kids who tended to the forlorn jellyfish around the city, and the guy working at the shore to make sure nothing dangerous slipped through the net. Now that he was there to stay and not as a guest, he quickly became part of their community. People everywhere taught him their language and praised him for his quick adjustments. Whenever there was a cultural event, Wooyoung was there to soak up all new information like a sponge.

Since it took a while to figure things out at the institute, he had time off work to establish his new life. As Seonghwa promised, his new diplomat role got him his own room in the palace, and they specifically arranged him to live in the same tower as San. From time to time, he consulted the newest arrangements on the surface with Yeosang via the radio and then skipped up the stairs to see his lover. The man fully recovered from the shark incident and he happily spent his every free second with Wooyoung.

Petra's funeral went smoothly. Though her parents were heartbroken over the loss of their young daughter, the institute honoured her death during such a grand mission. Wooyoung dictated Yeosang a letter through his words, in which he expressed his condolences. For a while, he heard nothing about Kiko and Yongguk as they took time off to recover and deal with their grief. Only Yeosang was back on track, because returning to Atlantis and finishing his reports was in his interest as well.

Through some unfortunate miracle, Wooyoung's laptop made it through the flood so he was forced to hand in his results at the deadline despite his new situation.

After another while of bliss and getting to be at San's side whenever he wished, Wooyoung found himself approached by Seonghwa and his beautiful smile. He graced Wooyoung with a nod before his eyes strayed to the blue pearl shimmering on his finger, marking him as San's to everyone's eyes.

"I have been contemplating, Wooyoung. The Night of Pearls bound you to San, and a lot has happened since then. In our eyes, you are already promised for life, but I wondered whether you wished for a ceremony. To make it official for your eyes, as well."

With big eyes, Wooyoung stared at him. His other hand settled over his ring on instinct.

"You mean like a wedding?" He got out and Seonghwa nodded with his patient smile.

"I can help you arrange it."

"I would love that," Wooyoung breathed without missing a beat. It was still soon by surface standards, but they had been tied to each other for a while. Wooyoung planned his entire life around staying here. He wanted everything with San. "But let me ask him first."

Wooyoung rushed up the stairs so fast he almost fell and cracked his jaw. In San's room, the man catnapped in the artificial breeze coming from the open balcony door. The white curtains billowed with motion and light cast over San's body to highlight the exposed peeks of skin on his stomach and arms. His scars disappeared with healing, but Wooyoung always rediscovered them when they explored each other's bodies late at night. Though scary memories clung to those wounds, he adored them on San.

"San! Will you marry me?" Wooyoung asked as he clambered onto the bed by the man's side. Surprised, San lifted a brow at him, but his hand dropped naturally to guide Wooyoung's left knee across his body so he could sit on top of him. Idle fingers ran over his thighs.

"Again?" A teasing sarcasm tilted his voice, but his smile was fond of Wooyoung's enthusiasm.

"Seonghwa said he would help us with a proper ceremony! I know it's not the same as for us, but it's similar! Can we? Pleeeaaase? I always wanted to get married."