From the Darkness

24. The Disruption

Wooyoung postponed figuring out his newest developments with San. He stole out of his room in the morning while San still slumbered, bandages loose around his jaw to expose softly breathing lips and expression lax. Though his rugged handsomeness begged Wooyoung to stay, he shut the door behind him quietly.

He didn't pretend it didn't happen. But he needed time to sort his thoughts. San wasn't teasing him any longer. Genuine interest carried in his every gesture. But Wooyoung felt both hot and cold with his pursuit.

During his quick trip to his room, Wooyoung picked up his belongings. He shouldered his new rifle and slung his bag over the same arm. As he grabbed his bottle of water to carry by hand, he couldn't believe the luxury he experienced here. Even water had become a regular consumption good.

Would he return? If everything went well and the clouds disappeared from the sky, would they still come back? Wasn't this place the best home?

No, once the fouls and the deserts were gone, they could live as Yunho wanted. In a beautiful house above the ground, with windows looking out over the landscape instead of being barred up.

Wooyoung would find out. For now, he bid his farewell to this room and thanked it for its service.

Since he was the first at the car, he loaded the bags and crates with the equipment they gathered inside. Jongho joined him later, with Seonghwa in his arms. He still yawned and Seonghwa chirped at him to take it slow, as excited as he was.

"Mingi went out to check the route for fouls. San?"

"Still asleep," Wooyoung muttered. He didn't mention how peaceful San was in sleep. How warm his body and how soothing the weight of his arm. The water stripped away their filth as if taking away armor.

Thankfully, Jongho didn't ask how he knew either. He simply accepted the response and continued munching on his breakfast.

"How are you feeling, Seonghwa? Are you ready?"

The AI was perched in the open trunk of the jeep, overlooking the room. Instead of his usual screen with the torch, he displayed a map. A green line marked the path from their location up to the CRC. Right now, he was zoomed out so far that Wooyoung had an overview of various state and country borders. This would be a long trip.

"I can't wait to go on this adventure since I was made for this purpose. Though I am glad my power functioned so far, I'm afraid it won't operate on such a grand scale."

Wooyoung gnawed on his fingernails. For once, they didn't taste like dirt or had crunching sand stuck below. His squeaky cleanliness weirded him out.

But remembering his bath meant remembering his kiss with San and the night of coziness that followed. Wooyoung wasn't ready yet to address the tingle in his lips.

"Don't worry. You have the satellites to help you, right? You only need to do as much as you are able to, and they will take care of the rest."

Of course, none of them understood the details as well as Seonghwa did, but their support helped his nervousness.

"You're right. I should concentrate on the pilgrimage first. We need to be safe since many dangers lurk out there." Seonghwa declared it as if he planned to defend the rest of them and Wooyoung chuckled where he sat with his gun against his shoulder. He slept unfairly well, yet he was exhausted from his escapades.

San joined them soon when Jongho finished his checkup on the jeep's fuel. They transported several canisters of it but it wouldn't last them all the way. They would need to find old fuel stations and hope they had leftovers that didn't get blown to bits.