One and a Half Vampires

9. Symbiosis

No one else bothered the pair on their way into their future. After only two hours of anxious wait, the sailors raised the anchor and bustled about the ship to set sail. Hongjoong and Seonghwa pressed against the railing to be out of their way. Through the hollering and cursing of nautical slang, they shared an excited grin. Seonghwa's coins were enough to ensure they didn't need to work while they were on board, and soon the ship turned to sail into the open water. The clear night that greeted them was breathtaking and reflected on the gentle waves lapping on the hull of their ship.

They made it out alive. Finally, they were on the journey to a faraway place somewhere where the stars greeted them. 

The wind ruffled through Hongjoong's hair when he lowered his hood. He was tentative to expose himself as if others might still be after them, but nothing happened. Everyone aboard this ship had their own reasons to travel away from this place. When hope warmed Hongjoong's chest, Seonghwa also brushed off his hood. On the railing before them, his ginger fingers settled atop of Hongjoong's to cover them. The vampire looked more breathtaking than ever between the twinkle of the night and the fathomless depths of the sea.

"Let's not fret from now on," Seonghwa suggested with a charming smile. The wind brushed through his hair as if taken with his appearance and was unable to resist the draw. Awed, Hongjoong stared up at him.

"Let's get comfortable in our new home and not provoke those who might endanger us. This is a new beginning. For you and me, but also the two of us together."

Hongjoong laced his fingers between Seonghwa's, leaning close to share his affection while the ship gradually calmed once they were on course. Some other guests mingled around, but no one disturbed the pair.

"What shall we do first?" He asked, begging to hear more of Seonghwa's voice whispering about their lives that were now intertwined. A week ago, Hongjoong wouldn't have fathomed his fate to take this path, but now, with the vampire by his side, it felt righter than ever before.

"We will find a town we like. None too big, yet none too small. A place where we can hide well. I will pick a charming home for us to live in and decorate it while you search for work. We can have pets if you want. Or sleep in coffins."

Hongjoong giggled since that had become such a central part of his perception of Seonghwa. The vampire had no issues sleeping in a bed, but it seemed he preferred the eerie resting location. 

"I still know how to cook, so you won't ever have to come home to a cold hearth. In return, I would like you to bring me flowers sometimes. The ones in the tomb reminded me I liked to tend to them once."

Hongjoong nodded before his mind gathered its wits.

"All the flowers. I will bring them to you," he promised. The shine of Seonghwa's eyes rivalled the stars above. The moon reflected its shining light on the water, dancing as if in joy as the lonesome boat cut through the silence. 

"We can settle down there. If we are careful, we won't have to leave again. With you by my side, I can live among humans without giving myself away."

"I'll be there for whatever need you might crave. You can bite me all you want, all the time," Hongjoong babbled, and perhaps he sounded too eager because Seonghwa's grin became more playful.

"We definitely need a bed," was all he said, and Hongjoong cast his face away when a fresh bout of shyness hit him. The giddiness of his heart was warm and lively and so happy to spend more time with this charming vampire.

Seonghwa chuckled at him, fond of having won this round. When he looked out over the sea, the lulling up and down of the ship across the waves cast an even more enchanting spell around them two.