Springing For More Change
By the time the temperatures began their slow rise, they had had to make a few difficult decisions.
Ones, they were not inherently proud of. But they hadn't been cruel. And did not leave any to suffer. Yeosang had taken extreme care and consideration in working his formula for a cure, before attempting his first try at seeing if it was indeed a cure. After injecting him and letting it have a chance to work through his system, they had sent him to get bitten by the zombies. Wooyoung made sure it was just a bite. Somehow, he'd persuaded their first prisoner to get bitten. Promising if it hadn't worked, they would end him swiftly so he wasn't suffering. His only reason to agree, at least someone was trying to make a cure.
He hadn't been a success.
Though, his change into a zombie was a little longer than it had been at the start. All of this provided Yeosang plenty of new things to work on. It gave him a chance to try and put his medical knowledge into practice. It provided him an opportunity to see how the virus had maybe mutated. Nothing yet, but he was in anticipation. And the chance to rework his formula once more. He was so close. He just needed winter to be long enough for him to succeed. After ending their unfortunate first prisoner without hesitation and thanking him for his help, Wooyoung managed to wrangle another from the group of fifteen survivors that had wandered in.
It was then a group of thirteen.
The second hadn't been too happy about the first's fate. But after being informed that they weren't going to experiment on him after he was dead, did help. Though yes, Yeosang did check the first's zombie's brain. Mostly to try and get a somewhat better understanding of it. But he was thoroughly done studying zombies. At least, until their first mutation variant came into play. After working his formula enough, Yeosang tried a new cure serum. And with a similar promise to the first, he allowed himself to be injected and taken out to be bitten. As like before, he took an incredibly long time to turn. And there was even some hints he wasn't entirely gone completely.
But, they snuffed him just the same to ensure he could find peace.
They then gathered a third. And after a similar strategy, Yeosang practiced more medicine on them. He had run a dangerous fever. And Yeosang had attempted to try and stop the spread of the virus, while letting a little make it beyond the insertion point. And Yeosang was half successful. He knew he was close to finding the cure. That he was so so close to getting it. It was the fourth prisoner they collected, that saw Yeosang figure out the last formula bit he needed for a legitimate cure.
The fifth and final prisoner, was the first one to be cured. Yeosang, had done it. He'd made a cure. And while Yeosang did like the opportunity to be a doctor for this one instead, he had a gnawing feeling in the back of his head. He could let the first cured wolf go. But he'd blab. And Yeosang would be highly sought after. After much deep conversation with Wooyoung, they saw only two options. Keep the other as a prisoner until they finally left at the snow melt, or kill him. And that was possibly their most difficult decision to make. Taking the life of another that wasn't turned. Yeosang had then decided they weren't yet ready to take a life. It wasn't that far enough into the apocalypse, that they would be willing and even eager to take another's life for any number of reasons.
So, they let him live as their prisoner.
However now, Yeosang kept his notes on the cure and everything related to the zombies well guarded and protected. He made only one other cure serum. Keeping it in a vial he also kept well protected. Thanking Wooyoung for even finding a way to ensure both were kept under literal lock and key. That way, only Yeosang knew the true nature of the virus, how it was transferred, the formula for the cure, and the cure itself. For the base variant. Once the snow began to melt and it grew only a little warmer, the two finally left the prisoner behind. They only hoped his group hadn't left without him. Would find him, and save him. But, they weren't taking chances with liquid diamond and gold. And they left at a good time as well.
The zombies, were starting to move once more.
//
After leaving Anyang behind with all their research and the cure serum, they made it to a small way house.
It was along the route between Anyang, and Incheon. Yeosang's hope was to reach Incheon, for hopefully bigger facilities. And hopefully better equipment. So he could replicate the cure. For hismelf, and Wooyoung. And then check in with a variant, and rework his formula to ensure he had a cure for each variant. It never hurt to be careful. But, Yeosang had done it. He'd made a cure. Fuck that, government and scientists. He made the cure, and they died not making one.
The fools.
And it was at their way house, that things changed for Yeosang and Wooyoung. Mostly out of desperation. For after being there only a week after having raided the nearby houses for supplies, Wooyoung fell into heat. It was his most painful heat yet. So painful, that it signaled what his next could be like. It could be painful, and bloody.
Yeosang stood at the door, eyes narrowed. His grip on the gun, ready to use to protect Wooyoung in his vulnerable state. Even as his inner wolf commanded him to help the omega. As he tried to ignore his inner alpha wolf, his eyes narrowed. Seeing in the distance the shambling mass of zombies headed in their general direction. Had they followed them as they thawed? And, they seemed rather fast as compared to before. Had they already undergone their mutation? Or, had they simply more energy from their hibernation? Well whatever the case, Yeosang had to protect Wooyoung.
Wooyoung whimpered from his spot on the floor and cot. Eyes dark with heat need, even as he grimaced in pain. He watched Yeosang's rather imposing backside. As tears welled his eyes from pain of his body, they also rose from pain of his heart. He spoke, his voice hoarse and his lips chapped and nearly splitting, "Yeo, you should go. Take the cure to Incheon. Be the hero of the world."
Yeosang blinked from his hard gaze, to look at Wooyoung writhing in pain on the cot. He shook his head, "I'm not doing that. I'm not leaving you alone and defenseless with those things headed our way."
Wooyoung whimpered and whined softly, "It's because they can hear and smell me. I'm going to be your downfall. You can't. You're the only one that knows the cure. You have to save yourself. Leave me behind to my fate."
Yeosang growled a little, eyes flaring as he did so, "I am not leaving you. We made a promise." He raised his wrist, showing the black string Wooyoung had tied around his wrist at the beginning. Their promise, they'd go together. No matter what. That they were pack. He spoke, "I'm not leaving you behind."
"But, Yeo."
He growled once more, "Enough!" He huffed, turned and closed the door. Ensuring it was deadbolted as before. He then approached Wooyoung. Without much thought, Yeosang came to loom over Wooyoung. A hand pressed into the cot at Wooyoung's shoulder area, as he brought his other up to gently cup and caress Wooyoung's cheek. He then spoke softly, "I'm not losing you. Once your heat's over, we're heading for Incheon. Together. And there, I will make more cure serums, and cure you and myself. I couldn't risk our former prisoner from taking what we had, and running with it. Hence the single vial."
Wooyoung whimpered, "But, my heat."
Yeosang softly hushed him, rumbling softly and crooning, "I've got you. Just consent."
Wooyoung nodded, even as his eyes rolled to the back of his head. Another hot and painful wave crashing into him. That was all Yeosang needed. He was quick to discard his clothing so he was as naked as Wooyoung. He pushed the fact he'd never told Wooyoung his feelings to the side. He would help Wooyoung. If after that Wooyoung didn't want anything more to do with him, he would concede. And then maybe they'd be going separate ways. But for now, he was helping his omega.
Once Yeosang was as comfortable as he could be between Wooyoung's legs, he leaned down to rest on his elbows and upper arms. With a soft low voice, Yeosang spoke, "Alpha's got you, my beautiful omega."
He leaned in, and pressed a soft kiss to Wooyoung's chapped lips.
//
Somehow, they had managed to remain silent through Wooyoung's heat.
The zombies coming for them, possibly actually moved past them. Here was hoping. Now all that remained, was how Wooyoung felt about everything. Yeosang hadn't knotted Wooyoung. Unsure he was the right alpha for that. So, he hadn't locked with Wooyoung. But now, Yeosang was worried how this last week would affect their relationship. After having regathered themselves in a seemingly awkward silence, Yeosang stood at the opened door once more. It was still dreary and grey cloudy day out. Still cold. Winter clutching hard to their corner of the world. And Yeosang, he was scared. He couldn't lose Wooyoung. Not to this, especially.
However, Wooyoung decided to ease his silent suffering. A soft sweet purring and nuzzling came to Yeosang's jawline, before a soft kiss was pressed to it. Yeosang blinked, and looked to Wooyoung in clear surprise. Wooyoung snuggled a lot more into him, purring, "My alpha."
And that, did things to Yeosang.
He cleared his throat, "Um-."
Wooyoung grinned at him, "Can't believe it took my painful heat for us to actually get together. But, we're here now." He brought his head to rest on Yeosang's shoulder, seeming perfectly content to be near him, "I'm glad you didn't knot me, though." Yeosang felt his heart sink at that, before Wooyoung continued, "I know there's one more out there. Our missing third. I want them before we go the full way." He gently leaned back, and smiled at Yeosang, "That's acceptable to you, right? Alpha?"
Yeosang nodded, "Uh, yes. It-it's fine. Um-" He turned to Wooyoung and spoke, bringing a hand to the back of his head and rubbing it in slight embarrassment, "I guess now's as good a time as any to tell you, I love you."
Wooyoung winked, "Of course you love me. What's not to love? I got a hot body, I make you smile, and bring you wolves and zombies to mess around with."
Yeosang smirked, "True enough." He brought an arm around Wooyoung's waist, holding him close, "Will you, be my mate?"
Wooyoung raised an eyebrow at him for that, "I thought we already were. I guess we just never really labeled it." He spoke softly, body relaxing, "I've always had a crush on you, Yeo. Back before this all started. I thought it was just a phase, really. I wanted to see you find your mate. I was even ready to back off when that happened. But the last year with the zombies, opened my eyes up to a lot about you. You're my alpha, and my mate. One of two."
Yeosang smiled, and gently leaned in and sweetly kissed Wooyoung. The omega sighed softly. Clutching his white military tank top in a fierce grip, and smiled as he returned the kiss. Finally, they were mates. No more stealing glances when they thought the other wasn't looking. No blatant jealousy from Yeosang, on Wooyoung just being nice and friendly with their prisoners. No more pining or guessing, they had finally confessed.
After softly breaking their kiss off, Yeosang turned and guided Wooyoung from their way house. Wooyoung went with little protest. Their possessions with them. From their guns and ammunition, to Yeosang's precious treasure trove of information. Especially the cure serum. After ensuring the general area was secure of zombies, they made to head for Incheon. Of course, they'd be stopping along the way, gathering what supplies they could. Anything to help them make it to Incheon.
Together.