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"The autopsy reports came in and revealed the four men ingested cyanide before heading to the reservoir," Wooyoing reiterates for nth time in front of the press, trying not to squint with the amount of cameras flashing in his face.

"We tried to save them, but they died before they could get any medical attention," Yeosang follows up with, his posture far too poised for the matter at hand. But then again, Yeosang isn't easily spooked like Wooyoung is, especially when addressing the public.

"What about the message on the man's stomach?" A reporter questions, thrusting a mic into Wooyoung's face. "It said you killed him. What do you have to say about that?"

"I didn't kill him," Wooyoung responds, over this conference hearing. "I don't have anything to do with their deaths -- "

"Neither do I," Yeosang interrupts. "We're both innocent."

"So you both are claiming that it might've been someone else who killed them?" Another reporter asks, while several others type incessantly into their laptops.

"Yes," Wooyoung confirms. More clicks commence. "But we will work hard to catch them soon enough before anyone else is harmed."

"What about the rumours about you supposedly letting a villain go?"

"I did no such thing," Wooyoung simply replies, already checked out. "Now, is that all?"

Wooyoung's never been more relieved to get into a car. The comfy leather seats feel like heaven as he disengages his suit and mask, immediately feeling lighter than ever.

"Damage control: done," Hongjoong states from the driver's seat, swiping through his tablet while speeding into the road. "Now all you have to do is to attend that cocktail party tomorrow."

"Hyung do I have to?" Wooyoung groans, tugging on a grey button-down and slacks. His red hair fades off while he puts on his glasses.

"It's a fundraiser, so your presence is compulsory," Hongjoong relays.

Wooyoung groans again. "Whatever. Turn on the invisibility setting and transport me to Promise shelter."

"Why?"

"I got someone to see."

"Who?"

"Just someone," Wooyoung presses, fixing up his hair in the rear view mirror.

"So you aren't gonna tell me who it is."

"Later," Wooyoung sing-songs, staring through the tinted windows at the scenery. There isn't a cloud in the sky, the trees and buildings well cared for while the streets are filled to the brim with civilians going about their day. It's nice just watching them live their day-to-day lives without a care in the world -- this is why he does what he does.

As soon as Hongjoong stops at an empty parking space near the aforementioned shelter, Wooyoung races to open the door.

"Be careful," Hongjoong advises just as the hero steps out of the car.

"I will be," Wooyoung says, excitement thrumming in his veins. Despite the shit-fest that happened yesterday and the disaster that was this morning's conference, Wooyoung's enthusiasm hasn't been curbed. He can't wait to see San face to face again. "Be glad I'm out of your hair, hyung. You basically have a day off now."

Hongjoong scoffs, rolling his eyes. "You already know I don't get days off. I have to do some research on what you told me."

Wooyoung hesitates a bit at that, his smile dimming for a second. Yes, he'd disclosed with the older about the things he saw, but to him there was no rhyme or reason to his hallucinations and as a result he felt it was best to just put it all behind him. "Research?"

Hongjoong nods, expression sullen. "No matter how inconsquential it seems, it has something to do with you so I have to take a look at it."

Wooyoung sighs, knowing he can't argue his way out of this. When Hongjoong's determined to do something there's no stopping him no matter the pushback. "Alright, hyung."

"Have fun," Hongjoong says after a beat, and then the car door shuts and he vanishes off.

For a moment Wooyoung stays there thinking over their conversation, before realizing he'll be doing himself a disfavour if he lingers way too long on it. He's not going to let this get him down; he deserves to be carefree for once.

Before long, he's trekking all the way to Promise shelter, its beige walls and vibrant shrubbery igniting a spark of nostalgia in him despite how hard he tries to not think about the past.

As always kids are running around the courtyard, or squealing at the top of their lungs as they play around on the swings. Wooyoung remembers when he'd been a child too, and how he couldn't get to laugh out loud like these children could.

He steps in, and as soon as he does a little girl with curly ringlets wrapped in bright pink bows bounces up to him, her eyes round and smile wide. She can't be any older than nine.

Recognition flashes in her gaze as she points to Wooyoung. "It's you!"

A little surprised, Wooyoung points at himself. "Me?"

"You played the guitar last time," she exclaims, looking proud of herself for remembering him.

"Oh." Wooyoung rubs the back of his neck, realizing a bunch of other kids, even a few adults, are staring at him now. "Yeah. I uh, I did."

"Can you play it again?" The girl requests, tone polite.

"Actually, I -- " Wooyoung looks up when new footsteps descend down the stairs, and his heart rate picks up at seeing Jongho's familiar gummy smile.

The teenager's long legs allow for him to reach Wooyoung in no time, and his sweater smells like sweet apple when he unexpectedly pulls the hero into a big hug. The small girl runs off to go do something else.

"Oof," Wooyoung huffs, nearly stumbling on his heels. Jongho is definitely stronger than he looks.

"Oh my fucking god," Jongho begins as he pulls away, "you actually came again."

"That I did." Wooyoung can't help the smile that flits over his features. He didn't know Jongho liked him so much, but he certainly doesn't mind it. "Missed me?"

"You're the credit card hyung who buys me a ton of ice cream. Of course I missed you," Jongho states, brutally honest as always.

Wooyoung chuckles, not offended. He ruffles the teen's brown hair. "I missed you too, Jongho."

"And don't worry, I promised myself I won't look into San hyung's phone again in case you send more shirtless photos," the boy decides to add that very moment, causing Wooyoung to choke and sputter on air.

"I-It was just a friendly shirtless pic," Wooyoung stammers as he rushes to defend himself in front of the smirking teenager.

Jongho folds his arms, looking way too smug. "Sureeee."

I can't do this right now. Wooyoung adjusts his collar, the material feeling way too tight. "Where's um, where's San?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Jongho smirks even more. This cheeky (not so) little brat.

"Yes, that's why I asked."

On cue, San walks out of the main hall. His dark hair is loose, framing his face instead of the ponytail Wooyoung got used to seeing him with. And Wooyoung doesn't know how, but the man somehow looks even better than before, dressed in a long black shirt and ripped jeans that cling to his defined thighs. His numerous ear piercings glint in the sunlight, almost as golden as his eyes.

Wooyoung doesn't realize he's staring until Jongho not-so-subtly nudges his rib.

Wooyoung coughs while Jongho mutters a "whipped" under his breath.

"San hyung!" The teen then calls out, waving the man over. His eyes lock with Wooyoung's and the hero has to look away, still unaccustomed to how intense San can be at times.

"Wooyoung's here again," Jongho beams.

"Hi," Wooyoung greets and clears his throat.

San nods, expression unreadable. "Hi."

Does he not want me there? "Hope you don't mind me showing up unannounced," Wooyoung continues, subtly hinting at how he didn't text San his plans this morning like he usually does. "Just wanted to see you today."

"And me too, I hope?" Jongho inquires with a smile that can only be seen as sly. "Else I'm just gonna be third-wheeling this entire conversation."

Oh my god.

San seems to pick up on what Jongho's hinting at, because his back straightens and his face grows more stern. It's something Wooyoung's never seen before. "Jongho, stop it."

Wooyoung isn't the one being spoken too, but it hits him right in his core, stomach instantly pooling with heat. Oh fuck.

"But hyuuung," Jongho whines, acting more like his age. "I wanna see Wooyoung play the guitar again." He stares at Wooyoung, batting his lashes and pouting his bottom lip. "Pretty please hyung?"

"You can't expect Wooyoung to do something just because you asked," San says, sounding all strict and older brother-like. And while Wooyoung feels all warm at San defending and looking out for him, he figures there's no harm in making some kids happy today.

"Eh, why not? I guess I'll play something," Wooyoung relents, ducking his head when San looks at him. Why is he so fucking shy?

Jongho nearly explodes in excitement, dragging Wooyoung into the shelter with him without a moment's notice. Frazzled beyond compare, Wooyoung looks to San for help and the man is close behind, something like a smile blooming on his face.

It's as sudden as it is unwarranted, but it has Wooyoung's heart burning all the same.

More aware of San's eyes on him than anyone else's, Wooyoung strums along to the melody of Promise again, careful not to fuck up and make a gigantic fool of himself. It's easier when the song is one he can't ever forget, fingers more than familiar with the chords with all the time he'd spent playing the song to calm him down after brutal nights of him training with his mentors to hone his zias.

Once he's finished he's already being asked to play something else by one of the many kids gathered around him. The request is too adorable to ignore, and Wooyoung begins playing the acoustic version of Fever, a song from his favourite band that cosplays as pirates from time to time.

This song is slower than Promise, a little more sentimental. It isn't purposeful, but at that moment, Wooyoung suddenly relates a whole lot to the lyrics he had never paid thay much attention to before now. At that moment he finds himself pouring his heart and soul onto the guitar, letting his emotions guide his fingers.

Wooyoung hums a bit of the lyrics, but his focus is on getting the feelings right, not even minding it when strands of his hair fall into his eyes. He kinda makes the mistake of looking up right then, because across the yard is San, the man unabashedly staring at him.

The hero nearly trips up but catches himself on time, heart in his throat because San is still looking.

Even when Wooyoung eventually stops strumming the guitar, San's gaze doesn't drop, doesn't falter. It gets Wooyoung all feverish and nervous, no pun intended.

"That. Was. Awesome," Jongho compliments as soon as Wooyoung makes his way over to him and San. "Forget The Golden Clover. You're the coolest guy I've ever known after San."

At this Wooyoung chuckles uneasily, which he's definitely sure San picks up on with how much he's been staring at him. Act normal, Wooyoung!

"Thank you. I'm terribly honoured," he answers, doing a little cheesy bow to lighten the atmosphere.

Jongho's face twists up like he just ate a lemon. "Okay that was insanely cringy. Please don't ever do that again."

"Brat." Wooyoung nudges his arm.

San hasn't said a word the entire time, which sets Wooyoung on edge. "Um, San?"

San blinks, as if snapping out of a daze. "What?"

"I'm gonna go play UNO with Jisung and Felix," Jongho swiftly comments, quickly running off before either of them can count to three.

And Wooyoung, while he's glad he's now alone with San, has no idea what to do with himself whenever the man's concerned.

"You played well," San says after a couple moments. He doesn't look much better than Wooyoung in fact, with how much he's tugging on his sweater sleeves.

Wooyoung is so used to being the nervous one that it's more than refreshing to see San all fidgety too.

"Can we talk outside?" Wooyoung gathers the remainder of his courage to ask, wanting to have a genuine conversation with the dark haired man without little kids screaming or yelling in the background.

San nods, and before long both men crossing the road into a nearby botanical garden, only stopping once they get to a bench.

Wooyoung exhales loudly as he sits down, taking care not to accidentally topple the whole thing over. "I've been looking forward to this all week."

He sees San also taking a seat at his left side, although the man is a lot less relaxed than he is. "Looking forward to what?"

"Seeing you." Wooyoung says this a little too quickly, a little too eagerly.

"...Oh," San mutters. He suddenly pulls out his cap, ready to wear it.

"Please don't," Wooyoung pleads. "I want to look at you while we talk."

The hero doesn't know what's come over him, but then he realizes ever since his encounter with the villain that won't leave his head on Monday, he's found himself getting a little bolder with San. A little more honest.

San pauses, as if contemplating whether he should comply or not, before finally dropping the cap into his bag. Wooyoung internally cheers.

Noting how uncomfortable San seems to be getting, Wooyoung decides to change the topic. He leans into the metal bench, glancing at the birds in the sky. A few clouds litter the blue expanse, but they aren't too worrying.

"Your family name," he starts. "Just remembered I don't know it."

San runs his hand through his hair. "It's Choi. Choi San."

"Choi San..." Wooyoung repeats, glancing San's way. The man's looking at something in the distance, his side-profile excellent. The smidgen of red on his cheek makes him look like he's blushing. "It has a nice ring to it."

"I don't like using it though," San adds, his roughness of his tone taking Wooyoung aback. "I'm an orphan."

"Oh." Wooyoung deflates, feeling like a massive idiot because of what he just said. "I'm sorry."

"There's no reason for you to be."

"I just feel bad," Wooyoung admits, picking at his nails. There's a man ahead that's walking his dog, an overly excitable golden retriever that leaps over anything and everything.

"I'm...I'm an orphan too, if that makes you feel any better," Wooyoung then adds, gifting San a smile he hopes is reassuring. "And I used to stay at Promise shelter too. But I don't go about telling people this, so consider yourself lucky, I guess. Or special. Okay." Stop talking.

It's San's turn to look shocked, dark brows raised. "I didn't know you were an orphan."

"Yeah, that's because I just told you," Wooyoung laughs, though San isn't nearly as amused as he is.

"Hey." Wooyoung playfully kicks the taller's shin. "Lighten up. Please. Or I'm gonna feel like I'm doing something wrong -- "

"You aren't," San cuts in, looking everywhere but Wooyoung. "I'm just being a nervous mess."

Hearing San admit that he's nervous has Wooyoung nervous. And it's the type of nervous that makes his heart race, his body hot and his thoughts utter chaos.

It doesn't help how pretty San looks right then, his hair super silky and his lips soft and pink. His eyes are like flames burning over the hearth on Christmas when he finally meets Wooyoung's gaze, so novel yet so familiar at the same time.

Wooyoung doesn't know how it happens, but he's leaning in in no time, lips a hair's breadth away from touching San's.

San's breath hitches, perfectly still while Wooyoung tilts his head, drawing closer. The hero can't hear a thing other than his erratic heartbeat, hands shaking. He can't believe this is happening.

They're about to kiss (at least that's what Wooyoung hopes they're going to do) when wetness dampens his shirt, soaking through the material in seconds.

No way. Don't tell me --

He looks up, the cold rainfall staining his glasses in a matter of seconds. Fuck! Why now?

San is faster than he is, already on his feet and racing down the field.

"San, wait up!" Wooyoung yells, cursing the earth to hell and back for fucking this up for him yet again. He doesn't think he can ever get over how shitty this situation turned out. Doesn't think he can ever get over this embarrassment.

San doesn't seem to have heard, because he barrels across the road, quick and frantic.

Wooyoung bolts after him, hating how fucked up his vision has gotten. He gets to what he thinks is the road, but the loud distinctive roar of a car engine and screeching tires soon overwhelm his ears.

He stumbles and prepares himself for the impact, but it doesn't come. Shocked, he turns and makes out a red convertible stuck in motion in the air, inches away from his face.

Stunned beyond belief, he meets San's gaze over the road. The man startles as his hands drop, and the car hits the ground simultaneously.

Before Wooyoung can say or do a thing, San runs off.

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a/n: thoughts?