Chapter Text
Vancouver International Airport, Canada
The med student - Seonghwa - and I left the jet after San's team. For the past hour or so, we explored both the inside and the outside of the hangar, the runways, the taxiways, and the apron, but all the vehicles we had found so far were too small, didn't have enough fuel, or we just couldn't break into them.
Luckily, we hadn't encountered any Invincs yet, and the parkas that we took from San's jet were keeping us warm. Or at least, it was keeping me warm. I looked at Seonghwa, who was walking next to me. One of his bare hands was holding up his shirt to cover his nose and mouth.
I ripped out one of my gloves and passed it to him. "Your fingers will fall off at this rate." I wasn't exaggerating. The temperature had dropped at least two degrees after midnight, and we had been exposed to the cold for a while now.
He slowed down, watching me with wide eyes. Then, eventually, his hand dropped from his mouth, but instead of reaching for the glove like I expected, he just put his hand in his pocket.
I waited for him to talk, which he did, but only after turning to stare ahead instead of at me. "You know, you don't have to care about me. It doesn't matter if my fingers fall off - heck, I don't care if my head falls off. If I die, I die."
My jaw dropped open. I hadn't heard Seonghwa say a sentence longer than two words since we left the plane, and I didn't expect anything like that to come out his mouth. I knew Seonghwa wasn't as... determined and friendly as the others, perhaps almost aloof, but this attitude was far from what I imagined.
When I snapped out of my trance, Seonghwa was already a few steps ahead of me. I scoffed, but pushed down the angry words from my throat as I recalled what my general used to tell me: compliments are more effective than admonishments.
Taking my other glove off, I picked up my pace and stood in Seonghwa's way, not letting him go any further. Ignoring the look he was giving me, I pulled out both of his hands from his pockets and forced my gloves on them. "I know you just feel bad, and you don't want me to freeze. But don't worry about me, I'm definitely fitter and stronger than I look. We can take turns, if you really feel uncomfortable."
Seonghwa didn't push me away, which was a relief. But instead he tried to yank his hands away. This man's temper. I had a tight grip on him, though, and he just stared at me ridiculously. "You don't have to go out of your way to--"
"No," I said, before he got to finish, "I do. Because you're part of my team now, and I was taught to take care of my teammates before I lose them all."
I didn't mean that last sentence to come out so grim and foreboding, but it just slipped out. I was glad when Seonghwa opened his mouth in shock, but closed it before any words could come out. He relented and accepted my gloves.
We resumed our walk towards the other side of the Domestic Terminal, hoping to find a car, or maybe a truck there. The silence between was almost interminable, until I couldn't stand it anymore.
I looked left and right, making sure we were not in imminent danger. It seemed like Mingi actually killed all the Invincs in the area while we he was landing the plane.
I took a deep breath and said, "I'm sorry."
Seonghwa snapped his head at me so quick I heard a small crack of his bones. His eyebrows knitted together the same way he did when he stitched up Yeosang's wound, but this time his expression was one of confusion rather than concentration.
I looked straight ahead and continued walking, my own way of controlling my nerves. "For shouting at you back then. When we were flying to Vancouver."
It took him a while, but I eventually caught a glimpse of recognition in his round, naturally shiny orbs. They glistened under the artificial runway edge lights on the ground and whatever was left of the moonlight after it shone through that thick layer of pollution in the sky.
Seonghwa's voice was so soft, I could barely hear his "It's okay."
He cleared his throat, hid his face from my eyes. "I deserved your... lecture. You reminded me of who I used to be - a person who vowed to help others to the best of my ability. But now... it- I don't know—" He sighed, started over. "Anyways. I'm sorry, too. For snapping at you earlier. From now on, just leave me alone, okay? I don't need anyone to care whether or not I'm alive."
He sped up, and I knew the conversation stopped here. I let it go, even though I sensed that he was hiding a lot. Something struck me, and I wondered if his nightmare had anything to do with it. He didn't say, but back when Mingi and I poured water over him to wake him up on the flight to Vancouver, I could tell from his pallor that his dream was far from pleasant. I decided not to probe: everyone warmed up at different speeds, and I believed he would talk whenever he was ready.
So instead, I talked about my story. I went backwards in time, starting from how I found my way onto that jet in Gimpo International Airport, how I had lost my comrades and my general, how I had enlisted right after high school because I didn't have money, all the way to how I was always an orphan. Seonghwa perked up at this. Everyone did. "I guess that's why I treasure - treasured - my unit so much. They were the only family I had. I can't help it but to look out for you and the others. I feel... more hopeful when I'm around people. A team. I'll stop if you find it uncomfortable, but I will keep trying to get as many people as I can into those spaceships."
Seonghwa nodded. "I see." I didn't expect much, and once again he was back to giving short answers. I found myself smile. He reminded me of my general, who never spoke more than necessary.
I wanted to ask him more about Mingi, but he shushed me harshly and shot his arm out to bar my way. His eyes darted around our left side, where the terminal was. "Did you hear that?"
I didn't, not at first. But now, I could faintly make out some screams. I gave Seonghwa a look, who nodded at me. Invincs. Judging by the volume, they must've been on the opposite side of the terminal, probably closer to the International Terminal and the Arrivals Hall.
"We should hurry." My gaze landed on a mini truck in the distance, and I pointed at it.
We started for it, Seonghwa's long legs making him speedier than I imagined. He got to the door before me, and peeked through the window. "Key's in the ignition!"
"Stand aside." I slid my rifle belt down my shoulder and use the butt of the gun to smash open the window, swiping the leftover shards away from the frame before reaching my hand to the inside of the door and unlocking it.
I turned the key without climbing in, praying that the engine would start. It tutted a few times before dying off. I tried again, and it sputtered. I could feel Seonghwa's intense gaze on me. I might've been imagining it, but the screams seemed to be growing louder by the second.
Two more tries, and I was about to give up, but Seonghwa shoved me to the side and wrapped his fingers around the key so tightly his fingers blanched white. He pushed the key into the ignition with so much force I felt the truck shake, and then he turned the key so hard I thought it might snap.
It didn't, but the engine roared in response. I blinked at Seonghwa, impressed. I peered at the fuel gauge - almost full. This was it. Two to three people could sit at the front, while the rest could pile in on the cargo bed at the back. It was the best we had, especially since we were running out of time and the Invincs were catching up.
"Alright, who's driving?"
Seonghwa looked down at his shoes. "I don't know how."
It stunned me a little to see him so embarrassed, but I managed a soft acknowledgement before scrambling into the driver's seat. Seonghwa circled round and sat next to me.
I backed out and began heading towards the plane, which should take less than five minutes.
"I guess med students just don't have the time to learn, huh," I broached, trying to start small talk.
Through my peripheral vision, I saw Seonghwa shrug, but then he tensed up suddenly when an ear-splitting scream startled us. My eyes darted to the side mirror. Nothing was following us from behind, yet it sounded so close. Unwilling to risk it, I sped us up, as did my heart.
Before leaving San's plane, I had made sure Mingi left the entry ramp open. It would take us and our new truck straight into the vehicle bay at the back. As the ramp entered my vision, something occurred to me and I cursed.
"The trio is still in the terminals," I explained to a confused Seonghwa. "Do you think they're safe?"
I drove up the ramp and turn off the engine. We unbuckled and jumped out, hurrying to close the ramp before any robots could find their way in. The others could still enter from the cabin door.
Seonghwa closed the truck door. "Don't worry, from what I've seen, Jongho seems to be a strong kid. Unless..." He met my eyes. "Do you think...?"
I could guess what was on his mind. Jongho could very well leave San and Wooyoung behind. It was obvious he would do anything to stay alive, if not only to protect his older brother. For now, at least, other people didn't matter to him. For now.
I was snapped out of my rumination when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I was surprised Seonghwa would initiate physical contact.
"The three hours you assigned are almost up. I guess we'll find out soon enough," he said in a flat tone, still betraying none of his emotions, though my intuition told me he was worried about them. To some extent.
I nodded and we walked up a short flight of stairs and through a door that led to the back of the cabin. Seonghwa stopped by the galley for water, but I continued until I got to the front, where Yeosang and Yunho were resting.
They both sat up straighter when they spot me. I asked how they were doing.
"I talked to Mingi after you left, hyung," Yunho said. "He should be sleeping in the cockpit. I slept all the way here, so I pretty much just sat here and did nothing."
"I found some books in one of the bedrooms." Yeosang pointed towards the back of the plane, where I had just passed through. "Nothing important, though. Just fiction. How about you?"
Seonghwa walked in, and we told them our find, including the Invincs that we heard.
Yunho shot up from his seat. "Did you see Jongho on the way?"
My heart clenched at the worry in his tone. I shook my head slowly, and he started pacing between the rows of seats, biting at his nails. I reassured myself by thinking that, at least, Yunho's voice didn't sound wheezy or harsh.
To distract all of us, I asked if anyone is cold. We left the doors open and the heaters off to reserve fuel. The cabin felt like a fridge. Yeosang replied with a "no", then continued with his book, but Yunho only shook his head subtly.
I sighed, about to turn around to ask Seonghwa the same question, when I heard pounding footsteps coming from the door. Everyone perked up, and we watched Jongho fly up the airstairs. A few seconds later, San and Wooyoung emerged. All of them were panting.
Jongho's eyes darted between me and Seonghwa, then he waved at San. "Close the door!"
San dropped his bag and fumbled with the handles, until Wooyoung went to help him pull the stairs up and fold the door close with a loud thud. I felt the plane vibrate a little, and the commotion must've woken Mingi, because he came out from the cockpit and asked what was wrong.
Yunho yelped before anyone could answer, and hurried to his brother's side. He was the first one to notice the thin trail of blood coming out from the cuff of his hoodie sleeve.
"You're bleeding! Where did you get hurt?" Yunho turned Jongho's arm this way and that, which only made the latter wince.
"I'm fine, hyung," Jongho said, rolling his sleeve up. "Just a small scratch."
"What happened? Was it the Invincs?" I stepped forward. "Is that an umbrella in your backpack?"
Jongho twisted his neck around, almost hitting his head on the handle that was sticking out.
I smiled. "You must've taken it for Yeosang as a walking stick, right? For his leg?" Maybe Jongho wasn't as cold towards strangers as I thought he was.
He looked at me like I said something ludicrous, but didn't comment on the umbrella. Instead, he dropped his pack and headed to his seat next to Yunho's. "You can ask them what happened to my arm."
I looked at San for an explanation. He was avoiding my gaze, and Wooyoung pulled him away. San dropped his head as they sat down. Jongho rolled his eyes and whispered something to Yunho.
I felt something boil inside me. We were supposed to be a team, yet every one of them looked like they were hiding something from each other. I opened my mouth, wanting to demand an answer from anyone, but Seonghwa beat me to it.
"Jongho, let me take a look at your arm."
Jongho pulled back at first, but his hyung wouldn't let him budge.
"Hongjoong."
I jumped. Seonghwa never called me by my name before.
"Jongho says the airport is overrun by Invincs. We should leave as soon as possible."
Right. I took a deep breath, and loosened my grip on my rifle belt I didn't know I was holding. Then I nodded at Mingi. "Are you well-rested enough to take off now, pilot?"
Mingi sucked on his lips, slightly reluctant. But eventually, - and I knew he knew we had no choice - he went back into his cockpit and told us, through the speakers, to buckle up.
"We're heading to Toronto International Airport."