Shackled Freedom

12. The Fuel Station

Wooyoung merrily dragged San behind him as they made it back to the jeep. Mingi was still in the same position as before, relishing his cigarette, and Wooyoung caught the wry smirk on his lips when they passed him. On the other side of the car, Yeosang was free of his shackles. The rusty iron chains had fallen off him and Yunho treated his bloodied wrists that were scarred with years' worth of wounds. When the two approached, he glanced up, but no more upset crossed his gaze. He simply accepted Wooyoung's decision.

Jongho came springing as soon as he saw them.

"Yeosang asked to join us! Since Seonghwa will need all the helpers, we want to take him along. Is that fine with you two?" Excited and utterly blind towards their intertwined hands (or maybe this was what he had assumed about the two all along) Jongho bounced on his feet. His scar crooked his grin, but Wooyoung smiled back.

"No problem, as long as he's tame. Have you made up your mind what you want?" Wooyoung asked past Jongho towards the hunched slave and Yeosang glanced up with skittish eyes. He didn't fault Wooyoung for the bloody nose and Wooyoung forgave him for the rude grip. When he crouched next to Yunho to check on his injury, he was pleased to find it patched up. Obediently, Wooyoung held still while Yunho searched him for injuries that might need treatment in return. Luckily, no one got seriously hurt.

"I have followed them for so long that I can't think of anything else to do now... I would have been stuck there forever if you didn't help me," Yeosang muttered to himself. The intimidation of a fighter was gone, and even San regarded him with less apprehension.

"Our story is messy, but it's something to believe in," Wooyoung offered, well aware of its effect. Seonghwa was living proof that the world was more.

Yeosang nodded, ready to hear them out.

"I can fight and I learned medicines from my parents. If I can be of any use to you, let me come along."

Wooyoung stood when Yunho gave him a concluding pat. His few bruises would heal and ultimately, the visit to the fort improved their situation.

"We have many fighters but no proper medic! Be welcome!" Jongho cheered. When Yeosang sent everyone a shy smile, his eyes got stuck on San. He hesitated at the sight of his bandages, but Wooyoung waved it off in his stead.

"A story for another time. While you introduce him to Seonghwa, let's figure out the car situation. How will we fit everyone in? I can't keep riding in someone's lap." Wooyoung pointedly didn't glance at San when he said that, not giving him room for imaginations. Not that his mind was any clearer. Their kiss reignited his interest in exploring San's foreign body with his fingers and his lips.

Mingi came striding over while Jongho ushered Yeosang to the other side of the car, where Seonghwa hovered. Nervously rubbing his fresh bandages, Yeosang complied. His movements weren't practiced to the missing weight of the chains. Often, his twists were too jerky, the muscles too strong for minuscule movements.

Wooyoung would like to hear more about him and about Mingi's vision when he recognized Yeosang as a kinsman, but it could wait until everyone got more comfortable with one another.

"Someone could sit in the back." Mingi's hand patted the door of the trunk. "We can rearrange some stuff and switch from time to time if it gets cramped. Though a smaller person fits best among all this junk."

An offended gasp came from Wooyoung when San and Yunho looked at him at the same time.

"Not me! I need to be ready to shoot. We can put Yeosang in the trunk, or Jongho."

His argument about being their most relevant defense saved him from the cramps of his life. If he squeezed into the middle, he could best shoot in all directions, but that would also mean he would have to hold on to Seonghwa occasionally. Not that he was bad company.