Frozen Sea

22. News from 4546B

The loud and annoying ring of a telephone rose Hongjoong in the morning. He lifted his head from his pillow, groggily to look around and locate the source of the nuisance. When the bed shifted next to him, he let his empty face fall onto the soft sheets again, grumbling.

Seonghwa chuckled at him amusedly before he received the call. Hongjoong listened to his low voice talking in the background still sleepy. He cuddled his pillow as a substitute for Seonghwa's chest and allowed his eyes a few minutes more rest.

He had been awake for too long last evening. He and Seonghwa had tumbled into bed after a long talk the night before and had found time to indulge in each other despite their exhaustion. Hongjoong's body was still tingling in some places from the man's affectionate touches, and his mind was once more at peace, feeling loved and taken care of.

"Affirmative, I will notify him. Thank you for telling us." With those words, Seonghwa ended the call. For a second, the room was quiet; then, his soft steps travelled through their shared flat. He went over to feet Waddles in the living room and made some coffee while Hongjoong still rolled around in bed, too lazy to get up.

"Who was that?"

The hum of the coffee machine filled their flat, accompanied by the thickening smell of the bean juice. It already had Hongjoong more awake and turning on his back so he could blink his eyes open finally.

"Eden. He had news about Sector Zero. Remember how they sent another shuttle there last week with investors and several androids in it so they could start building offices?"

Hongjoong groggily swung his legs over the edge of his bed and ruffled his wild hair before he rose. He toddled over to the bathroom, half-blind to wash his face while giving an approving hum towards Seonghwa's question. Afterwards, he shuffled into the kitchen a bit more awake to plop down on his designated chair.

The android put Hongjoong's coffee on the table and sat down opposite of him to feet and pet Waddles on the side while they talked.

"They reported a giant lilac leviathan trampling it all to nothing and killing two androids and two humans in the process. The rest of them fled. The higher-ups regret their decision now."

Hongjoong blinked with big eyes. Seonghwa gave him a little smile, his eyes shining.

"So, it seems as if Seungyoun is still out there and doing his job," he ended quietly. Waddles nuzzled into his hand, demanding more pets. Seonghwa delivered them with an endeared coo.

"Honestly, I'm glad. I would have hated living with the knowledge that he died alone and in some cold corner on that damn planet after he tried so hard to protect it. We will never know how well he will survive with the Frozen Leviathan running free, but at least he now has the peace he wanted."

"And Yunho and Mingi are safe in their own waters." Seonghwa nodded happily before closing Waddles' cage again and rising to wash his hands. When he returned, he went over to the closet to pick a new outfit for Hongjoong.

"Anyways, we have to go to meet Eden because of it. Another statement is needed, and we have to come up with a plan on why our friend we only ever reported as very much dead is running free."

Hongjoong slowly went after him to stick himself to Seonghwa's back like a Floater and bury his head in between his shoulder blades. He was comfortable, even if the man's constantly shifting muscles under his cheeks disrupted his rest.

"Not as if those mighty couch potatoes have much knowledge about biology. We can just tell them that the possibility of it coming back was always there, and we mentioned it before. I would like to leave the Degasi out of this, just like last time."