Work Text:
Gunwook learns three things in one day.
One, the legends of a cult that worships some sort of ocean god in order to ensure abundant, tourist filled summers in their small beach town are real. Status of the god remains unclear.
Two, his parents are members of said cult.
Three, his boyfriend is who they plan to sacrifice next.
He discovers all of this just because he’s trying to use the printer in his dad’s office to finish an assignment and finds the device to be out of ink. Naturally, Gunwook then has to root around in his father’s desk to find a replacement, and he can’t just ask where the ink would be because he’s not supposed to be in here in the first place, and it’s not his fault he found any of this information because the super secret cult information could’ve been kept somewhere other than an unlocked drawer.
Matthew takes the news surprisingly well.
“Do you think maybe we should have told them we’re dating? Surely they wouldn’t sacrifice your boyfriend, right?”
They’re in Gunwook’s bed, Matthew sprawled across him while Gunwook holds his phone to scroll through videos for the two of them.
“To be perfectly honest, I think they just assume I’m straight.”
“Oh. Do you think they’d react poorly to you dating a guy?”
“Hmm, no, I’ve never gotten the idea that they’d be against that. They’re nice to everyone.”
“Minus the sacrificing people to an ocean god cult thing,” Matthew hums, reaching up to scroll past the video that’s been looping.
“Sure, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be tolerant. Sacrificing you would be a hate crime, right? Maybe we should tell them we’re dating.”
Matthew’s nose wrinkles. It’s really only a secret because it’s something that still feels precious, shining and bright and like it should be just for them. Matthew is Gunwook’s first boyfriend and he likes the idea of experiencing a new type of relationship in private before everyone knows about it.
A cult run by his parents has certainly taken that privilege away.
“Alright. Let’s start there.”
Later, they’re both lying on their stomachs in Matthew’s bedroom, the lights low and scans of the journal Gunwook had found spread out in front of them.
“How did she take it?” Matthew asks him, and Gunwook can hear in his voice that he wants to be accepted despite the absurdity of their situation, and it makes him feel even more fond of his boyfriend.
“She said she had a feeling anyway, since you’re over so often. I guess it’s a bit obvious when I’m lovesick.”
“Gunwookie loves me.”
“Yes, so it’d be really cool if you didn’t die.”
Matthew frowns at that, setting aside a page with a crude drawing of the god the cult worshipped, confusion etched into his features. “You don’t think telling them called it off? They can’t… find someone else?” He winces at his own words, and Gunwook reaches out to give Matthew’s hand a reassuring squeeze, because he gets it, gets that both of them don’t want anyone to die, but they want Matthew to live more.
“No, I don’t think so.” Gunwook passes Matthew another page, and he watches Matthew’s face fall as he takes it in, sees the exact moment he reads the same words that had made his own stomach sink earlier.
Lamb is romantically involved with Park family’s son. No changes to lamb selection will be made.
“Lamb… like sacrificial lamb? Great.” Matthew sighs, tossing the paper aside and rolling onto his back, covering his eyes with his forearm. “I guess I just have to leave town.”
Papers crinkle underneath his hands and knees as Gunwook crawls over to Matthew and flops down on his back beside him, heart aching a little at the way Matthew instantly curls into his side, Gunwook’s arm tucked beneath him so he can pull Matthew into his chest, his other hand reaching up to run through his hair softly. Gunwook can feel Matthew’s heartbeat in this position, and he can feel the way it slows as he continues to work his fingers through the soft locks.
“I’ll go with you. If you’ll have me.”
Matthew’s eyes open then, tilting his chin to look up at Gunwook from where his head rests on his chest. “You’d leave everything you’ve ever known for me?”
It’s a tall ask, but Matthew isn’t asking, Gunwook is offering. While it’s true he’s lived in this town his whole life, it didn’t feel like his life had started until Matthew had moved here, becoming the sunshine that sustained him through the months he normally spent waiting around for summer.
“Anywhere I go with you will be home.”
Matthew kisses him for that one, soft and lingering, before settling back onto his chest, until Gunwook speaks again.
“Besides, hard to come back from finding out your parents have been killing people on a yearly basis.”
Matthew laughs and Gunwook tastes sunshine on his lips.
The legends speak of an angry god, one who for centuries would batter their small beach town with storms that drove tourists away every summer, destroying businesses and families alike.
The legends also speak of a group of people who learned to appease that god, to use the blood of someone kind and pure of heart, someone like the sun itself, to toss into the saltwater and feed the beast in exchange for a summer full of clear skies and profits.
Gunwook doesn’t know if the legends are true, but he does know he loves Matthew, and so what happens after they leave isn’t his problem.
After a few weeks of preparation, they drive away together at the start of summer, early in the morning with barely a backwards glance towards the sea, and Gunwook doesn’t notice the angry storm clouds brewing out over the sea.
All he cares about is the sunshine in his passenger seat and the future they both have together.