Chapter Text
When Soonyoung wakes up the next morning, he feels reborn. His body and mind are well rested, his limbs are relaxed, he feels like an absolute champion. He rolls over to face the window beside his bed, and the sunlight that streams in and warms his cheeks makes him smile. He can just barely see the scenery of the town, and while he’s sure it was tragic, he’s almost glad that this is where fate decided to have him crash land.
He sits up to stretch what parts of his body he can and rub the sleep from his eye. He takes a minute to take in the room while he’s still waking up — hardwood floors, a pod bed, large closet, bedside table, and a lamp shaped like a Larzorian leopard. It’s nothing special, but it’s cozy, and he likes it.
Soonyoung swings his legs over the side of the bed and stands, embarking on a maiden voyage to the nearest bathroom. He washes his face and takes a couple swigs of some mouthwash, feeling even more refreshed than when he first woke up.
He walks a bit further in the bathroom to get to the shower, and just as he pulls back the curtain to turn on the water, he startles as he’s greeted with a slimy green face and wide yellow eyes. He yells, and this creature yells back, and in what he supposes is a defense mechanism, melts right in front of him and slithers down the drain. While he’s leaning against a wall to catch his breath, he decides that maybe a shower can wait.
. . .
Soonyoung trudges down some stairs after a while, finding that they lead into Wonwoo’s shop. He can see that it’s still pretty early, so there’s not a customer in sight, but Wonwoo is still behind his counter, hard at work. He’s got these huge goggles on that look like they could magnify an amoeba, and he’s hunched over a very tiny workbench. Soonyoung doesn’t make his presence known until Wonwoo stands up to stretch, lest he lead to a grave mistake being made.
“Oh! Morning, Soonyoung,” Wonwoo greets with a crooked smile, looking absolutely ridiculous with telescopes sitting upon his face. “Hope you slept well.”
“Like a brick. I probably haven’t felt this good in years,” Soonyoung reassures him. “Though, just now was pretty rough. I went to take a shower and there was this little guy in there? He turned into a puddle when he saw me.”
That makes Wonwoo laugh. “I see you met Channie.” He takes off his goggles and sets them down with a massive clunk on the counter. “He gets scared at pretty much anything, so don’t take it personally. He hasn’t seen anyone new in a few years, so I can imagine the shock.”
Soonyoung hums thoughtfully. “Is that something his species does when they’re scared?”
“Most of the time, yeah. His brother, though, he’s different. Sharpens his exterior like a porcupine in self defense.”
As if on cue, another creature stalks into the room with the same slimy green skin and yellow eyes Soonyoung just encountered. He’s much shorter than him, and less put together, yet he radiates the aura of someone who shouldn’t be messed with. Though, he could also be getting that from the glare he gets thrown before the creature turns his attention to Wonwoo.
“What did I say about telling my biology to strangers?” He grumbles.
“Nothing too threatening, because I keep doing it,” Wonwoo chirps in reply. “Soonyoung, this is Hoon. Hoon, Soonyoung. He’s staying with us until his wounds heal.”
Hoon seems to soften then, perhaps realizing that Soonyoung won’t be a threat. He turns back to him, and reaches out to briefly shake his hand.
“Stay out of my stuff and we’ll make good friends.” Hoon says, and then he’s gone, out the front door and into the bright light of day.
The interaction kind of has Soonyoung reeling, and he can’t help shooting a quizzical look in Wonwoo’s direction. He laughs again when he sees it.
“He’s got a funny way of making pleasantries,” is the only explanation he offers.
“I don’t think that was all too pleasant,” Soonyoung grumbles.
The rest of the morning goes by fast. Wonwoo makes the two of them breakfast, Soonyoung helps him clean up the shop before it opens, and while some customers are being assisted, Soonyoung finally gets a chance to shower without fear of scaring any other aliens.
After he gets himself dressed in the clothes left for him by Wonwoo, the two of them decide to head into town, as Wonwoo has errands to run that could use some extra help. They visit the local market to do some grocery shopping — even though Soonyoung’s pretty sure Wonwoo spends half his budget on ice cream. Next, they head to an auto shop, where Wonwoo puts in an order for a bunch of materials Soonyoung can’t even try to make sense of. They go to a bookstore next, and the only thing Wonwoo buys is a thick, dusty book titled ‘Cyborgs for Numbskulls.’ They’re walking to their next destination before Soonyoung has the chance to comment on it.
As the two suns set on Chuora City, the last place the two decide to stop in is a small tavern just around the block from Wonwoo’s shop. It’s cozy and dimly lit, with colorful lights strung up every which way. A huge screen sits on a far wall, broadcasting the news in an alien language. Everyone that isn’t paying attention to the weather report is gathered around a pool table, engaging in what seems like an exciting game, or seated at the bar, and that’s where Wonwoo decides to go.
He drops all his bags on the floor next to him and motions for Soonyoung to do the same. As they’re getting comfortable in their seats, the bartender stalks over to them. He’s a skinny creature with sparkling purple skin, amber eyes, and silver hair very neatly slicked back. With one set of hands, he cleans out a mug, and with the other, he’s wiping down the bar in front of them.
“Hello, boys,” he greets, voice soft and velvety. “Will it be the usual for you, Won?”
Wonwoo nods, and Soonyoung watches as the bartender frees up one of his many hands to fill a tall glass with a metallic blue liquid. He tops it off with a paper umbrella before handing it over.
“And what about your cute friend here?” He purrs, turning his attention to Soonyoung with a smirk. “Could I interest you in anything off our secret menu? It’s all very tasty.”
Soonyoung’s cheeks flush as he stammers out, “I-I don’t drink. I think. Just water for me.”
Wonwoo chuckles from beside him. “Leave him alone, Yoon Jeonghan. I’m sure you’ve got someone waiting at home for you already.”
“Why, Wonwoo, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Jeonghan reaches down behind the bar and comes back up with an ancient looking bottle of wine. “We recently scored a bottle of Codix ‘78! It’s not something I plan to offer up to just anyone.” He looks back at Soonyoung, grinning, and says, “Though, if you are ever craving a taste of Yoon ‘95, it’s always in stock.”
Soonyoung, far too flustered to come up with a reply, turns to Wonwoo instead. “So, have you two been friends long?”
Wonwoo smiles over his glass. “Not really. We met when I moved here after graduating college. Believe it or not, he’s my landlord, too.”
“Make sure you’re not late on rent this month, Jeon,” Jeonghan sing-songs when he brings Soonyoung a cup of ice water.
“He kids. I’ve never been late paying my rent.”
“Oh, is that right? Because I very clearly remember you missing a day after a night out with that teeril—“
Wonwoo cuts Jeonghan off with a cough, muttering something like “we don’t talk about that,” before losing himself in his drink. Soonyoung can see that the tips of his ears have gone pink and it makes him giggle.
“He’s been so cool up to this point,” he comments.
Jeonghan scoffs. “Please, he’s just trying to impress you. Jeon Wonwoo hasn’t been cool since he fixed the Grand Commander of Khepri’s ship. It’s endearing, though.” He leans forward on the bar then, touching Soonyoung’s personal bubble but not quite invading it. “Enough about him, though, what’s your story? Everyone who walks in here’s got one.”
Soonyoung blushes again. “Oh, I- uh. Can’t quite remember, if I’m honest.”
“Sorry, I have that effect on people.”
“No, I mean! I just can’t. Not right now, at least.” He pinches the top of his straw and swirls around the ice cubes in his cup. “I crash landed here yesterday, so I don’t have any memory of who I was before that. I don’t know if I’ll ever get it back, but I suppose I’m not too worried right now.”
Jeonghan is quiet for a few seconds, but then he smiles a warm smile and places a comforting hand on Soonyoung’s shoulder.
“You couldn’t have picked a better place to crash, then. Chuora’s a great place for reinvention, and you’ll never forget that.”
He leaves after that, going to prepare drinks for the winners of the pool game, and once they’re done with their drinks, so do Soonyoung and Wonwoo.
They walk down a back road, as Wonwoo says the main streets get busy at night. The night air is crisp, and the way the moonlight shines through the tree leaves makes Soonyoung weirdly contemplative.
“Is it true what Jeonghan said?” He asks Wonwoo. “About reinventing yourself here?”
Wonwoo hums thoughtfully. “For most people. Sometimes the people that end up here never change since the day they showed up. You just gotta wanna make yourself new again. Why do you ask?”
Soonyoung shrugs. “I don’t know. I just feel like if I can’t remember who I was, maybe it’s for a reason. So I’m just keeping my options open.”
Wonwoo flashes a smile at him. “Nothing wrong with that, then. You’ll find your answers in due time, Soonyoung.”
And really, that’s all Soonyoung can hope for.