Winter Hearts

For Siana

Hongbin stepped off the wagon and looked around. A little way ahead was the entrance to the little pathway that cut across the long northern face of the promontory the ancient city sat upon. It looked like it was an easy incline, mostly straight, and was gently buffeted on each side by airy shrubbery that swayed in the breeze and had tiny purple and pink flowers.

Although he felt certain that Ken was complaining largely for the benefit of fun footage, he couldn't see what the fuss was about. This was definitely the prettier approach to the main gate before the final climb to the city gate.

Since meeting that morning, he had felt a gentle calm in Leo's presence. He was glad to see that he had not felt any sudden resurgence of his feelings towards Siana when he saw her, not even when he had noticed them across the way along with the others. In the tram, when he was listening to Hyuk's interrogation of Leo, he had begun to feel a sense of ease, even a sense of relief, that they were all finally talking about it. And on camera to boot.

Whether that footage made it to air, he knew depended on many other factors. He just liked that it was all out in the open.

When Hyuk had finally posed that question to Leo, Hongbin suddenly felt conscious of how Leo would reply, only because he had just heard his confession the night before. He had gone still, hoping against hope that Leo didn't hold back, and let himself be free with his answer.

"In time. That is my plan," was what he had said, and it had felt as if Leo was making that promise to him - the him that had admonished Leo for not considering the consequences for Siana, and the him that had privately wanted her for himself.

Hongbin looked around for Leo, and found him standing at the beginning of the footpath, peering at it as if to search for the end. He walked up to stand beside him.

"It's a nice walk, but it doesn't even lead to the city gate. Just another approach to the ticket booth," he said amicably.

Leo looked at him and smiled.

"We're all going to the same place anyway," he said. Hongbin laughed and glanced over at Ken who was cutely whingeing into the camera.

"Some of us want to be dropped off by helicopter," he sighed.

"And others aren't in it for the journey," Leo giggled, looking at Kkomae who was glancing at the time on his phone.

"We just find friends who will come with us or meet us there," Hongbin nodded sagely, raising one eyebrow.

"And sometimes we comment on our journey as if we are recording a live documentary!" Hyuk said as he came around them and with a swooping action recorded them both with his phone camera.

"And other times we throw the scribe to the wolves!" Hongbin said as he gave Hyuk a disdainful look.

"But not before lunch! Let's go!" Hyuk turned on his heel and began walking briskly up the path. Hongbin and Leo laughed.

Ravi came up to them and brushed past.

"If I'm gonna break a sweat the view better be worth it," he mumbled.

"Hyung, it's the Acropolis, the view itself will make you sweat!" Hyuk shouted over his shoulder.

Ken swept by, cheery and adorable.

"Shoes!" he squealed, shooting them a wink as he passed them. Min Seok kept the camera on him and kept apace.

Kkomae came up with the other camera, fixing it on Leo.

"Leo-ssi. The point of this long walk is to get some to-camera chatting with the city of Athens in the background. Please, PLEASE say something to vindicate my decision to come this way."