•.*”zeus land”*.•

Let me know if any links are broken! I will not be deleting any of these so they should work forever :)

(M) = mature/smut, (A) = angst, (F) = fluff

Kim Jungwoo - Enough

Kim Jungwoo - Study Abroad (M)

Kim Jungwoo - Long Day? (M)

Kim Jungwoo - Knife’s Edge Part 1 (M), Part 2, Part 3

Kim Jungwoo - Bottoms Up (M) (little A)

Kim Jungwoo - Here, There, & Everywhere (F)

Kim Jungwoo - Star Ocean Part 1 (M, A), Part 2

< Other Precious Stars >

Park Seonghwa - Red & Black

Seonghwa - Beauty and the Beast

Hongjoong - The Little Mermaid

Choi Jongho & Choi San - Hot Baristas

Ateez - Texts from my former irl best friend to lovers

"Tell me again about Fire-Nite" the scent of rubbing alcohol tickles your nostrils as you clean his skin, "The one that happens in a few days".

"That's your favorite huh?" he chuckles warmly and turns his head routinely. He's continued to heed your advice not to look.

You laugh, "Kinda, but... I just can't even imagine what that looks like! A whole crowd of sweaty people "

"It sounds strange but when you're there to experience it- it's magical" he tenses slightly as the needle punctures. "As I've mentioned water is precious on Terra so we can't afford to waste it. It gets so hot near the bonfire that the night air is cool in comparison. Helps with the summer heat waves"

"Still sounds smelly to me" you sneak a glance at his blood pressure reading, "I mean don't you waste water washing your clothes afterwards?"

Jungwoo falls silent, pink spreading across his face. "Well..." he bites his tongue, "nevermind actually".

"What?" you prod, but his lips stay sealed. "What? What?" Eagerly you jab his side with your free hand, "Spill. What's the big secret?"

"There's another holiday tradition on Fire-Nite but it's kinda..." he scratches the back of his neck, "I'm not sure it would still be your favorite if I tell you".

You huff and put your hands on your hips. "Try me". The mention of water makes you feel thirsty. You take advantage of his silence to fill two cups, pushing one into his free hand "It's like you forget I'm from Terra too".

"A lot can change in 150 years, culturally speaking" he still avoids your piercing gaze as he takes a sip from his glass.

You have a propensity to impatience, which he is triggering. "You're not making any sense" you grumble.

"Okay fine," he chugs the last of his cup, "you want to know why we don't wash our clothes on Fire-Nite?" his eyebrows raise dramatically.

"Obviously", you gulp some water.

"We burn our old ones. And walk around naked" he crosses his arms matter-of-factly.

A spray leaves your mouth before you can stop it. Using your sleeve you wipe your face bashfully, "You're lying".

"One hundred percent truthful! No one has to let it all hang out but, you know, it's symbolic" he appears nostalgic, staring into his empty cup. "Shedding the old and embracing the new" the man sports a rare chesire grin, "It's not uncommon for people to uh- 'take advantage' of the evening hours when it's dark and the fire dies down"

You set your cup on the table before any more can be spilled. "You mean like..." you trail off and he nods coyly. You scoff in disbelief, "What has the planet come to? I mean- who would take part in such a wild tradition?"

The question was rhetorical, but the loaded silence which follows provides an answer.

Wide-eyed you gawk at Jungwoo sputtering, "No way... You have?!".

"I'm a grown adult" he puts a hand over his heart, "And my undergarments stay on".

You groan, shaking your head in mock-disgust as you prep to remove the needle.

He chuckles at your reaction. "But there's something about dancing with the wind on your skin when it's usually so hot. Like everything just stops for a while" he recounts wistfully.

You draw out the needle silently and hold a cotton pad against the wound. In the background the various instruments chime as they begins to cleanse the air. A painful reminder of how manufactured this environment is. Perfectly air conditioned and stark bright white from the fixtures overhead. There's nothing real here. Except for the person in front of you.

In comparison, the view of Terra is marvelous through the bay window. Even after the beating you'd endured you couldn't bring yourself to close it. Rich yellows, oranges, browns, and faint splotches of blue create a painting unlike anything you'd ever seen.

You can't help but picture what he must've looked like on those nights. The light of a fire glowing against his warm skin, spinning and laughing without a care in the world. Your lips turn upwards faintly at the image, then your shoulders begin to sink. He will never get to experience that freedom again.

"You're cutting off circulation here" Jungwoo complains.

"Sorry," you quip and loosen the tension in your hands. But your eyes still return to the image in the window. Impossibly out of reach.

"I've made peace with this fate, if that's what you're thinking about" he reassures in that dulcet tone he'd used on you before. You can't think of an adequate reply, mindlessly tilting your head in acknowledgement. Electing not to tell him that you still haven't made peace with this fate for him. He should be out there, frolicking and doing damn near anything but sitting here withering away.

It's been more than enough time for the pin-prick to form a clot. Unwillingly you rip your gaze away from the window and search your desk drawer for the small bandages. As you rummage, a misplaced chemical bottle rolls to the front. Hydrochloric acid. For a long time you stare blankly at the bottle. But then a dangerous thought comes to mind. But you couldn't. It would never work.

But what if it did?

"Doctor?" Jungwoo calls from behind, "I think it's going to bleed again if you don't hurry".

At the risk of looking insane, you suddenly turn towards him. "What if you escaped?" you sputter.

He balks, "Come again?"

You slam the drawer shut, bandage tape in hand. "We could stage an emergency," you explain, wrapping his wound as quickly as your words flow, "they'd have to send a soldier up here. In case I'm also in danger"

He lowers his voice, like these words could be heard from millions of miles away, "Then what? Wouldn't they just call for backup when they realize it's a trick?"

"No. The Dios project is extremely secretive. Only a few know I'm even up here." You bite your thumbnail pensively. "It would just be one, armed with a stunner most likely and not a blaster. Killing you would be useless". You start to pace the lab and feel his incredulous eyes follow your movements.

He shakes his head, "How are you so sure?"

"A patient attacked me once," you shiver at the memory, "he doesn't care if I'm injured as long as the experiment isn't harmed before they can be evaluated for further use".

"Doctor-" he starts calmly, but you interrupt.

"You pretend to hold me hostage, we create a smoke screen with some chemicals-" you take a bottle of ammonia off the shelf and roll it in your palm, "Then we steal his stunner and take him down".

Jungwoo still seems doubtful. "How would we get off the station?" he argues.

You scoff, "That's the easy part. The guard has to have gotten up here somehow. You'll just 'borrow' their vessel".

"You mean 'we' borrow it?" he corrects.

The quiet that follows feels heavy. It drags out. Another whirr from the oxygenator.

"'We', right Doctor?" he prods, his expression grows severe.

You gulp, "He can't afford to kill you".

Unexpectedly Jungwoo fumes, standing from the pod and startling you. "Don't tell me you're thinking of staying behind in that scenario." he condemns, "When we both know what would happen to you".

You shake your head disapproving, "We can't care about what happens to me". Before he can retort you silence him with a finger to his lips, "My life means nothing. But it'll be a century before he can find someone with your genetic profile again."

"Well it meant something to your crew" Jungwoo grasps your forearm firmly, "Their lives would be lost in vein".

That gets you fired up. Your reactivity triggered in full force from the low-blow. "How dare you," you spit. What is he not getting about him being the Emperor's prized pig? If he dies, the Dios serum is basically lost. "Do you understand what's at stake here?! Do you really?" you shout, struggling to loosen his hold.

He's unphased and unflinching in his argument. "We escape together. Or we deal with the consequences together. That's it".

You shake your head, baffled at his stubbornness. He is unaffected by your glowering. "Fine," you shake out of his grip angrily, "But if the port door is open and I can't make it: you go. Promise me". You fix him with a glare that could kill, "Promise me!" you order.

"I promise", he scolds, "But don't ever say that your life doesn't matter again. Because it matters to me".

Your emotions hang in the atmosphere, neither one of you completely past the argument but neither wanting to be alone. You haven't fought like that since the first day. Over time, you'd begun to grow attached to each other as if tied by some invisible string. No other patient had formed any semblance of connection with you. But this bond you share makes it feel as if you’d known him forever.

He breaks the silence first, "Okay so... we're doing this?". Resolutely you nod. He sighs deeply. "What did you have in mind?" he questions.

...

Tomorrow evening comes faster than it ever has. You’ve spent the entire morning prepping. The supply bags have been packed, everything is stashed, and the only thing left to do is execute the plan. "You ready to get out of here?" he asks.

"I feel like I'm going to throw up" you rub the back of your neck, "But I'm ready for it to be over".

"Me too" he stands there somewhat awkwardly, looking like he has more to say but ultimately doesn't. Instead he offers a palm out to you. You shake it firmly, touch lingering for a second or two too long. But there's no time to worry over it now.

You'd normally be pulling blood samples from him at this hour. This is when you make the call, telling the operator that he's 'had a violent breakdown' and that you 'need backup immediately before he destroys the lab'. After which, all you can do- is wait. It should be about 20 minutes until the dispatched ship, the Celernavis, is docked.

In the meantime, you trash the station. Throwing glass into shelves, ripping various cords apart. The Emperor had always gotten to destroy things. Sometimes using your body to do so. Now you'll get to have the last laugh. It feels almost cathartic when suddenly Jungwoo cries in pain. You rush over to find his hand bleeding profusely.

"I cut it on a broken test tube" he waves you off, wincing "go mix the smoke before he gets here. The blood will make it more believable".

As much as you'd prefer to bandage it now, you know the first aid kits have already been packed. And there's no time to waste. So you nod curtly and proceed back to the chemical shelf. You mix ammonia and hydrochloric acid together, quickly sealing the top. You've just hidden it in your pocket when you hear a ship docking.

Panic sets in, "Jungwoo I-" you quaver.

He holds his bloody palm up, "Save it for when we get in the ship" he dismisses commandingly.

He jumps straight into his act, tipping chairs over, throwing books through the shelves, and breaking anything that wasn't already broken. Blood smeared along every object he touches.

The port door opens. "Doctor. What happened?" the guard sneers.

"He- he- he's gone mad. I think a b- bad reaction to my test" you shudder excessively. Desperate to sell the scene, you cling to the guardsmen "Please help me" you whine. It appears he's bought it, and he laughs obnoxiously.

"Don't worry baby" he poses, flexing his arms "they sent you Asinus. The strongest guard in the galaxy sweetheart" he winks in a crude manner. You hold back your urge to gag. A bottle goes flying in his direction which unfortunately he dodges. If tensions weren't so high you might've cracked a smirk at Jungwoo's blatant annoyance.

"Now relax Terran, you're gonna take a nice little nap now..." Asinus warms up his weapon, a stunner as you'd predicted. Your hand slips into your back pocket, waiting for the right moment. Just as his aim lines up, you throw the vial sending smoke billowing through the entire lab. Coughing, you attempt to get your bearings. You couldn't have known how difficult it would be to see. The gas created by the chemicals is corrosive and it nips at any skin you have exposed. Alarms begin to sound, the atmospheric balancer speeds up as it attempts to deal with the polluted air. Fumbling through the dust you get a grip on the cold metal of the stunner only to be elbowed right in the ribcage by Asinus.

"You think you're so smart huh?" he wrestles with you, but you hold on for dear life, "Old Asinus is going to have a real good time with your punishment". With one last pull you topple to the ground as the smoke is sucked from the air. Asinus doesn't hesitate firing the stunner at you.

Your body jerks and convulses harshly as the electricity shoots through every limb. It won't kill you, you know that. But you wished it had upon realizing your plan failed, again. You lay there motionless only able to blink up at the guard towering over you. You think you see a shadow move behind him. As Asinus leans down, ready to gloat at his victory, a wheeled desk chair collides with his skull. He flies across the room with a pained grunt. A loud clank resonates as the stunner is sent flying onto the tile floor.

Jungwoo makes it there before the burly guard can. Asinus lunges forward and he fires. He goes down in one blast to the head. Jungwoo continues to fire two, three more times. Ensuring he's down for a while. He breathes heavily and scoops the two packs over his shoulder, tossing the weapon uselessly to the side. He hovers over you, "Can you stand?" he frets.

You try, but you can hardly lift an arm. Asinus is twitching nearby, bound to get himself moving soon. "Jungwoo... go" you whimper.

But he will hear none of it. His arm shakes with effort when it loops under your shoulders. He's not the strongest, especially not after spending weeks on the station, and he nearly drops you as he trudges. "You promised" your cries don't persuade him. The Terran lumbers toward the ship bay, straining with the dead weight of your body and the supplies slung on his back. You can feel the blood on his hands seeping through your coat.

"I carried you once" he heaves and makes he way through the door, "I'll do it again". Sirens blare and lights flash rapidly. It's so loud, making it difficult to concentrate. Although you can't feel your legs, you try to hobble in sync with him to no avail. You make it to the cramped ship, designed for one, and he lays you on the floor as gently as his limited strength will allow. Throwing the bags into the corner, he quickly slips into the command seat. He flips levers and buttons until the door to the craft is sealed, looking practiced. Jungwoo exhales slowly to calm his nerves and opens the huge docking bay door. You start to make out the shouts of Asinus over the roar of the engines when you speed off into space.

The Terran's brow is furrowed for a long time, appearing deep in concertation as the ship lurches and weaves. You lay there helpless from the effects of the electric shock earlier. You've got no idea how much time passes in tense silence, it could've been 10 or 20 minutes. But finally the ship steadies and Jungwoo slumps into the chair, eyes closed, breathing returning to an even pace. Before too long, he makes his way to the back to check on you. He smooths your hair on your forehead. "Sorry. There was a lot of debris to dodge," he mumbles, unsure whether you're awake or not. "I was a cargo pilot. A smuggler, actually" he breathlessly laughs, "You never asked".

Feeling is returning slowly to your body. You mutter something and he leans down to hear as you repeat, "horrible driver", His bright laughter sings like a chiming bell. You never thought you'd hear it again after tonight.

"In my defense; this is easily the fastest thing I've ever driven" he wipes the sweat off his brow, "I hope I get to keep it".

Reality catches up with you now that there’s time to think. “Where do we go now?“ you whisper. You know nothing of the universe as it is today. 150 years passed in the blink of an eye. There's surely not a familiar place anywhere. Beginning to hyperventilate, you wheeze, “This was a mistake”.

But Jungwoo anticipates it with his extraordinary patience. "Breathe. In and out. “ You follow his instructions, breathing in for four, and out for four. It helps to keep you grounded, for now. He continues but gestures for you to keep controlling your breaths, “It's on autopilot to my hometown, that’s the safest port for us to go. I know the crews and none of them have any interest in sticking their nose in royal business. Unless they want to get caught doing something illegal themselves".

You nod, blinking slowly and keeping your breathing steady. Then you remember something, “Your hand”. You grasp at one of the packs and dig for the first aid kit. “Can’t believe you actually hurt yourself”. Grumbling, you flip open the red box and take out some wipes and a green bandage patch.

“This feels familiar” he points towards the bandage, “When I patched you up. And you threw a calculator at me” he pouts playfully.

Your eyes roll so hard they could’ve knocked loose, “Only because you asked too many questions”. For the first time you're able to examine his wound as he lays it across your lap. His palm is covered in bright red. The dried, unwashed blood trails up his forearm. You sigh, “You’re lucky it’s not too deep or you would’ve needed stitches. And with no painkillers”. He shudders at the mention of anything needle-related.

After sufficiently surveying the injury site, you rip open a wipe and begin to clear away the mostly dried blood. He winces occasionally but otherwise allows you to work. When your skin brushes, you remember how delicately he'd wrapped your torso. Who would've thought you'd get to return the favor? It takes four wipes to clean his arm completely. Before he can bleed again and ruin your work, you tear open the green bandage with your teeth and secure it.

“Thank you Doctor,” he slumps a bit against your side, “You should rest. We won’t arrive until tomorrow morning at the earliest”.

You do feel exhausted. The emotional and physical toll of the great escape has come to roost. Without protest you slump further into the wall and onto his shoulder, noting that you’ve gotten accustomed to his touch by now. “We did it” you murmur and close your eyes.

“We did” he agrees.

…

When you wake, you’re alone on the craft. The floating, rocking sensation is no longer there. You've landed. Briefly you start to panic, but spot Jungwoo outside the front viewing window. He’s chatting with someone. They don’t look human, with six sets of eyes and pinchers for a mouth. The folks passing by outside possess an array of features. Like a melting pot of the galaxy. Jungwoo shakes their insect-like hand and makes his way back on the ship.

“You’re awake,” he chirps, “Welcome to Terra. Or should I say, welcome home”. He’s got stacks of clothes on the control panel and hands a pile to you. “I traded that Volucris merchant one of the first aid kits for these, I hoped you wouldn’t mind but the lab gears sticks out too much here”.

Unfolding the fabric reveals a long, dress-like garment and some matching knee length pants. They’re maroon colored and the material is almost like linen. You give your thanks but can’t help but notice something is missing. “Um, are there shoes? I imagine my lab boots won’t fit in either”.

Jungwoo pats your shoulder, “Won’t be necessary”. You’re perplexed but have no choice but to go along with it. He turns around to give you privacy to change, doing his best to cover the window with his body. You slip into the pants first. They fit close enough to the skin so nothing could snag, but allow just enough space for air to flow through. Next you put the dress on over your head. Similarly, it fits nearly perfectly. There’s extra fabric around the neck, but you’re not sure if it’s purpose. Maybe a design choice? Both pieces feel cool to the touch and light as air.

You tap on his back to let him know you’re done. He spins around and looks particularly pleased with your outfit, “You, my friend, are going to fit in just fine” he brags.

It’s your turn to give him privacy and in a matter of moments he taps your back just the same. You wear very similar tops, identical in cut and length, except for the color. His shirt and full length pants are a dark dusty cyan.

Suddenly his expression turns serious. “Look,” he begins, “It’s been a long time since you’ve been here.“

“Yeah duh” you hum, following him closely as he exits the craft and taking in the scenery. The hangar is made entirely of yellow-brown stone. Almost as if someone carved this space out by hand. An abundance of oil lamps, and the enormous gap in the ceiling provide all the light. Spacecraft of all origins land and embark through the giant opening.

“Let me finish”, he’s leading you towards a set of massive wooden doors, “If the archival photos we had in school were real, things will be… very different. I just want you to be prepared”.

Jungwoo reaches over and pulls up the fabric that had been bunched around your neck to cover your nose and mouth. Then adjusts his own. Perhaps it helps you hide your nervous expression. “Yes I know, you told me there’s not a lot of water left” you address.

He pushes open the wood doors to reveal a sprawling… desert?

Large buildings cast in stone draw shadows in the dunes. Sand covers the entirety of the ground below. Immediately the heated wind warms your skin from the outside inward. Dotted palm trees are seemingly the only green thing in the entire city.

It’s beautiful. But it’s so different. Where are the leafy trees? The grass? The insects even?

“Where this city stands was a giant lake in your time,” he shouts over the whipping gusts, “Stay next to me, the market just started and I’m starving”. Barefoot he steps out into the sandy streets. You follow suit, hesitantly dropping one foot at a time. It’s not as unpleasant as you’d expect but you have to walk quickly to prevent sinking in.

As you travel, you hold the back of his sleeve for support, fearing you’d be left behind should you trip in these dunes. There’s people bustling everywhere. No one is phased by the harsh wind, instead going about their business with faces covered and tents fastened tightly to boulders or stakes in the ground. You can hear laughter echoing between the tall buildings that line either side of the street.

Eventually you reach a clearing, the town square it seems, which is filled with all sorts of vendors. Savory smells drift into your nostrils and your stomach growls painfully. After a full day without eating you’re ravenous. Jungwoo appears to have the same thought and makes a beeline for the food carts, stopping in front of a sign reading “kebabs”. It amuses you to see that even over a century later, that name is still the same. Blessedly it also means you can still read your native language for the most part.

He hands you three of the six he’s ordered and you waste no time in finding a short wall to sit and eat on. You have no idea what kind of protein you’re consuming but you’re too hungry to ask. The spices and seasonings taste a bit different but largely the same as you remember.

Your companion points to a poster strung up on the side of a clothing vendor, “You wanna go?”.

In the glare of the sun it can be difficult to make out the lettering, but the enormous flame and crescent moon in the center of the artwork reminds you of something. “Fire-Nite! That’s tonight isn’t it?” you exclaim and he nods. “I think we have to go so I can see this ridiculous tradition for myself”.

He waves you off playfully and tosses the empty sticks of his kebabs into a receptacle. “My house is very close to the square. You can borrow some festival clothes from my older sister” he states matter of factly. He must’ve thought about this ahead of time, but you’re not sure when.

Hurriedly, you finish your late lunch and place it into the same receptacle as he had done. You see it’s full of wood, mainly sticks from the market, and wonder if that has anything to do with the holiday.

Turning a few corners you at last arrive at a group of houses all smashed together. None of the homes have doors per se, but rather open entrances with fabric over the front to keep some of the flying sand out. Jungwoo pushes you behind him in anticipation and peaks his head through the entrance, “Mom? I’m back” he calls out. He waits for a beat of silence. “Sis?” Again silence. He shrugs, “Guess they’re still out at the market”.

Jungwoo takes your hand and leads you inside. The home is small, with one large bed in the center of the room. The back wall is full of shelves and in the corner is a worn-looking wardrobe with closed double doors. He passes by a chest which at first glance appears to be just a rock. Likely painted that way to keep it from getting stolen.

"You can borrow some of my sister's ornaments from that chest there. She wouldn't mind since they’re older" he rifles through the wardrobe until he fishes out a clump of fabric which he promptly shoves into your outstretched arms. "Go ahead and change first" he smiles warmly and waits next to the entrance outside.

Unfurling the black garment, you can't make out an arm or leg hole anywhere. "How exactly do you put this on?"

He leans in the doorway with a hand over his eyes, "It's called a sun wrap. You wrap it around yourself until you've covered everything and then secure it with a pin. There should be one still stuck to it".

You fumble for a few minutes looking for the pin and finally spot a aglint of silver amidst the midnight colored attire. Then you start the process of wrapping yourself. The material is gauze-like and cooling to touch. Without a mirror, it's difficult to tell what is looped around where but you manage.

"You know, I saw all the same body parts when I patched you up" Jungwoo teases, "Come out before we miss the start of the bonfire!".

"Alright, alright" you grumble. Your newfound shyness threatens to keep you inside. But eventually you demurely step out into view. The chain around your waist jingles a bit with each step, intricately made charms contacting with a soft clink. You managed to wrap the long airy fabric into something that covered your undergarments, but not by much. Most of your midsection and legs remain entirely exposed. The dark fabric secured only by a small flower-shaped brooch on your chest.

It's disarming, the way his eyes slowly trail down your figure. An unfamiliar look crosses his face, so briefly you could have imagined it. "And what are you looking at?" you chide.

"You" he states plain and simple. He seems caught off-guard by his own comment and shakes his head to reset himself. "I'm going to go uh- get dressed" he clears his throat and disappears into the dwelling.

Jungwoo seemed a bit off ever since you'd arrived back on Terra. But just now he appeared especially odd. Maybe his body is still reacclimating? That compounded with the adrenaline of your escape wearing off is sure to be affecting him in some ways.

He takes a fraction of the time to get dressed. Likely because he appears in a fraction of the clothes. It's your turn to balk at his outfit. He wears just a pair of tattered baggy pants and a small scarf to cover the lower half of his face. Suddenly he reaches over to pull up the scarf around your face as well, "Can't have anybody recognizing us"he murmurs.

Your heart skips several beats. Briefly you're concerned about the atmospheric pressure change causing arrythmia but are pulled from your thoughts by the start of a loud drumming. Jungwoo perks up and takes your hand, pulling you down the street. "It's starting we gotta go!".

When you arrive at the square courtyard, a crowd had already formed. People have already begun dancing and spinning exuberantly. The other Terrans are lively, holding large wooden cups that splash amber onto the ground when someone laughs too hard.

You companion elbows your side, "Did they have Aqua Vitae in your time?"

"Aqua who?" you reply in confusion. Jungwoo hauls you towards a wooden stand where a small line is already forming. "I thought you said water is precious now on Terra?" you rasp next to his ear so that only he can hear. Not that anyone would have anyways. They're too busy pulsing to the drum beats.

"Two sir" he grabs two wooden containers and nods at the stall owner. You take one from his outstretched hand and curiously swirl the orange-tinged liquid. He takes a gulp of his own and winces as it goes down, but not in pain. "This is definitely not water".

Curiosity gets the best of you and you take a small sip. The burn slides down the back of your throat and causes your eyes to shut tightly. "Certainly not water," you cough, "back in my days we called this 'alcohol' better known as 'liquid courage'."

"You don't have to drink it all, I just thought you may want to try it". Considerate as always, Jungwoo starts to swipe your cup but you stay his hand.

"No. I need this". You'd already decided to live out the philosophy of Fire-Nite to the fullest. "'Shed the old, embrace the new'. Isn't that what you said?" you smirk. Throwing caution to the wind, you take three big gulps of the stuff and whimper as fire is lit in your stomach. You limbs already feel looser, the pent-up emotions of your body forgotten.

"Woah there, slow down." Jungwoo laughs heartily, "It's only just starting". The pair of you make your way toward the crowd and finish off your beverages. What started as a single drumbeat has become a full ensemble. Instruments that bellow, chime, and holler create an exhilarating rhythm. Performers on the large stage take turns leaping through the air spitting fire out of their mouths somehow. As the music crescendos a woman steps out from the crowd. She waves her arms in a loose frenzying dance and droves of people join her. They begin sort of jumping and running, flinging each other around and colliding like a human tornado.

A man about your height smiles at you as he passes by, "Dance with me?". Although you would have declined, Jungwoo slides an arm around your hips to keep you from being drawn into the rowdy crowd. It makes your chest thump strangely again. The man takes the hint in stride and nods before disappearing into the mass of people.

The outskirts of the inner circle are all dancing and swaying about. All semblance of order abandoned as they exchange partners and give each other sultry looks.

For a while you merely observe the festivities from afar. The man beside you allowing you to drink it all in. The culture shock is starting wear off, likely because the alcohol is starting to kick in, and you recall the reverence with which he described this night mere days ago.

'There's something about dancing with the wind on your skin... Like everything just stops for a while'

You shake off his hold and he appears startled and confused. You lean into your newfound spontaneity and coyly twist your limbs in an imitation of one of the dances you saw earlier. He watches speechless as you step backwards towards the dancing, swaying and turning about. You motion him to come closer, beckoning with one finger. The distance between you is sizeable but closes quickly. That indiscernible expression he had earlier returns only this time accompanied by a lopsided grin.

In a blur, your bodies phase into the crowd becoming one with the music. Though you're never far from the orbit of the other. A woman, looking to be in her mid twenties, dances next to you and playfully bumps her side with yours. In your old life, you'd have snapped or cursed at her. But this life is new. You laugh as you take this stranger's hand and twirl her in a mock-waltz. Jungwoo’s smile nearly reaches his ears when he steals your hand to spin you about in his own rhythm.

The air could only be described as electric. It’s exactly as you’d envisioned it. He’s breathtaking in this light, this atmosphere. Another rotation and dizzily you fall with your back against his chest. It’s sweaty and hot as you’d expected, but it doesn’t feel dirty. Oddly you don’t mind smelling a bit like him, the sanitary scent of the lab long forgotten.

Then, you see it happening. A scrap of cloth sails above you straight into the burning flames. A roar of cheers erupt as the crowd begins to burn all manner of items. Pants, shirts, hats all thrown and reduced to dust in the excitement. Just as Jungwoo said most people are content to shed just the outer layers and are left in lacey panties, bras or briefs. In the middle of the circle however, there’s nothing left to the imagination.

Jungwoo pivots you by the shoulders to face him. “See I was telling the truth” he smiles. The man makes blinders with his hands to shield you from the lewd events around you. “Come on it’s time to take you back” he starts to lead you away from the people but you dig your heels in. His head cocks, perplexed by your unwillingness to leave.

You’re not sure what in the world (or in the liquor) takes you in that moment. But it steals you completely. Your fingers fiddle down to the small flower brooch fastening your entire ensemble and pause. Your gaze meeting his in an invitation.

The thudding in your chest is back but you now know the cause to be thrill. He’s never seemed more alive to you than he has today. So carefree and vibrant. All that time, humanity had persevered while you were sleeping. And fate, chance, luck- the very forces you once cursed, had ultimately led you home. Led you to this man before you.

"Really?" he's flabbergasted by your implication. Especially considering how much you'd protested it before.

"This guilt inside me," you take his hand sincerely and place it over yours covering the brooch, "I don't need it anymore".

His expression is disbelieving but encouraging, "Go for it".

Your grin stretches wide and mischievous as you loosen the brooch letting the gauze it once pinned crumple to the ground. Jungwoo turns his head in modesty, but you direct his chin your way and push the silver ornaments into his palm "Hold these". With a running start, you throw the black mass with all your might.

Your parents, your friends, even those horrible monsters who spat and punched as you'd drawn their blood. You think of them all now. All the people you've lost, and the people you'd accompanied to their deathbed.

The wrap sails high in the air, narrowly missing its target when the wind gusts in your favor. It falls into the roaring flames triumphantly, taking with it all your grief. The weight of your perceived moral failings reduced to nothing in a matter of minutes. You feel free of them at last.

You companion wipes a tear you hadn't noticed forming, smiling somberly. "You okay?" he coaxes.

Nodding, you joke "You were right. The breeze does feel nice". You spinning around in one last twirl and Jungwoo laughs brightly.

"I can give you a shirt when we get back. Not sure you want to meet my family in your underwear". He holds out his hand for you to take. And you do because it just... feels right. You walk back to his home in comfortable silence. The sensation of warm sand in your toes makes you sleepy.

As you cross the threshold, Jungwoo guides you to the wardrobe quickly and grabs a shirt off the shelf. "Hello? Mom?" he calls out, gesturing you to cover up quickly. No response. He quirks a brow and tries again, "Mom? Sis?". Nothing. "They should be back by now" he mumbles.

Jungwoo sets the silver pieces back onto the chest where he'd found them earlier and steps outside again. You follow close behind as he wraps his knuckles on his neighbor's entryway.

An old but eccentric man answers immediately, "My boy! What are you doing here? he exclaims".

"Mr. San, have you seen mom and my sister?"

The old man, Mr. San, leans back against the rocky wall with his arms folded. "Well you don't need to show off my boy. The whole neighborhood has heard of your new living arrangement by now" he lectures. He acknowledges your presence, "Oh? Or did you come back for some alone time?" he jeers. Now that you're sobering up your faces turn bright red. Mr. San chortles, "I knew it. Not much privacy for two royal palace servants is there?"

The blood drains from your faces. Jungwoo chokes, "Oh yes. The palace. Not very uh- private."

"Your secret is safe with me boy". Suddenly an older, tall and surly looking woman shoves past him.

"Should have known one of you'd be back to the house eventually to take the rest." She jabs her taloned finger into Jungwoo's chest, "Some good you did when the royal procession arrived to escort you. Your poor mother and sister were so swept up in the parade they hardly had time to grab anything you'd left behind! And where were you huh? Up ahead gloating?" she chides.

He's frozen in place. Eyes glossed over. You tug his arm towards his house and call over your shoulder, "Sorry to bother you!". The old man waves merrily and gets a lashing from the woman as they shuffle back inside.