Archive of Our Own

A year had passed since Hongjoong had returned to stay with Seonghwa and his little family of three (four, including Snoopy and five, including Perry the Platypus-Squirrel.) Like every year, New Year loomed around the corner, but unlike other years, Seonghwa's home had yet to glow with its spirit. Despite Wooyoung's and Hongjoong's love for Christmas, it had been cut short, and the family had yet to get in the mood for the new year.

The reason everything was slow this year was Yunho's moving in with them. The rush of remodelling Seonghwa's home so another adult fit in kept them all on their toes, and the preparations both delighted and drained them to the point of not caring about regular festivities.

New Year was only a couple days away, and the plan was for Yunho to live with them from the first of January. Not much would change since he was always around already, but Seonghwa liked to make things official.

For Wooyoung, the excitement of his ex-kindergarten teacher moving into their home occupied his every second. Every day, he bounced from the walls when another step of preparing stood on the schedule. Yesterday, they had moved out Seonghwa's things from his office and distributed them between his room and the living room so he could work wherever he pleased. Wooyoung had lugged around the boxes with felting wool inside and proudly wiped his sweat after they had arrived in Seonghwa's bedroom across the corridor safely.

Once the adults had cleared out the furniture and Seonghwa cleaned the entire room, it was time to give the room a new tone, one fitting for Yunho.

All four of them had assembled in the living room for the ultimate battle plan. Wooyoung perched in Hongjoong's lap and played with the demon's wings while Yunho and Seonghwa sat pressed shoulder against shoulder as they studied the home decor catalogue for inspiration. Snoopy laid in her dog bed in the corner, cosy and comfortable. Her move had been the smoothest.

"Perhaps we should buy a bigger bed for your room? Or you take mine and we put the big one in my bedroom since it has more space." Seonghwa poised his body with one arm supported by Yunho's shoulder and his legs crossed. Yunho held him close around his waist, while his other hand helped Seonghwa flick through the magazine.

"We rarely sleep in one bed as three people, so maybe getting one of the same size would be fine. We can switch rooms if we want to sleep in specific pairs," Yunho mused. Hongjoong was picky with where he slept, and often enough he had denied Yunho and Seonghwa of his company to sleep with Wooyoung in their pillow forts. Since he was unpredictable, spending the money on a bed that would scarcely get used would be a waste.

"Then it's the bed, the nightstand, and the table extension for the kitchen. You can bring the shelf from your home?"

Yunho nodded.

"We can get San to help and then I can do that in the evening while you three are building furniture. Then all we need to do is paint it first," Yunho concluded.

Seonghwa glanced at his watch. If they started painting now, being at the furniture store on time might get difficult. He chewed on his lip, about to suggest another day when somebody else perked up from the carpet.

"I will do the painting with Woo!" Hongjoong announced proudly, having listened to their conversation under the facade of playing with Wooyoung. When Seonghwa rose his brow at the demon, Hongjoong's smile widened. It was just a tad too angelic to be believable.

"You know how to paint walls, papa?" Wooyoung asked, awestruck. Hongjoong's smug smirk that he got whenever Wooyoung found him cool appeared.

"Of course I do. Want to do it together with me? I'll show you how. We don't even need a ladder!" Gloating with his skill, Hongjoong turned to get permission from Yunho and Seonghwa. The two men eyed him warily.

"You're sure you won't mess it up?" Seonghwa detached his body from Yunho to write the ID numbers of the objects from the catalogue they had picked. He had measured the room earlier, as well as the table that needed more space for all four of them to fit (even if Hongjoong's eggs barely took up any space.) With the slip of data in his hand, Seonghwa stood from the couch, ready to take off with Yunho to go shopping.

"As if. The colours are there already and you gave me all the paint rollers I need. Wooyoung might get dirty, but I will take care of that. You know I won't mess up with him around."

Seonghwa imagined Hongjoong dunking Wooyoung into the bucket with paint to let him run through the house like a little white poltergeist. Wooyoung would have the time of his life.

He sighed. They were on a time frame, and Seonghwa and Yunho had to go together to figure everything out. Taking Wooyoung with them would only allow the demon more chaos.

"We'll let him, hm, Hwa? If something goes wrong, we can fix it later." Yunho also stood from his seat. With his movement, Snoopy rose her head, interested where her owner was going. Wooyoung slipped from Hongjoong's lap to sit with her and petted her long golden fur.

Hongjoong grinned at his two boyfriends with the innocence of the world written on his features.

Seonghwa gave in with a curt nod.

"We'll count on you. Make sure Wooyoung is taken care of."

In that aspect, Seonghwa could trust Hongjoong blindly. The man tended to mischief but never when it was about Wooyoung. His love for the little human surpassed every evil bone in his body.

"Aye, sir!"

Seonghwa left the room, satisfied with that answer. While Yunho walked a quick round with Snoopy, Seonghwa got ready to go furniture shopping. He put on some of his less treasured clothes for heavy carrying and dust and dirt getting stuck on him. When he was about to return to the living room, Hongjoong showed up at the door, looking for him. Downstairs, Wooyoung giggled with Yunho about the snow that had got stuck in Snoopy's fur.

Seonghwa halted in the doorway to place his index and middle finger under Hongjoong's chin. With a delicate grip on him, he nudged the man to angle his head up to match Seonghwa's gaze.

A subtle smirk played around the corners of the demon's mouth. Despite the cute skirt and the pink sweater stolen from Seonghwa's closet he wore today, his impishness glinted in his eyes.

"You better behave. You know Yunho deals out punishments and now that he's here, you better think twice before you mess with our things," Seonghwa whispered against the demon's lips. Hongjoong's hands lazily played with Seonghwa's hips; slipping under his shirt to make him jolt when icy fingers brushed his warm skin.

"Your threat doesn't faze me. The tall mortal can see how well his punishments function while I have you on my lap, drunk on demon cum."

Seonghwa growled against Hongjoong's lips. He denied the man of a kiss when he surged forward, dealing his own sanction. Hongjoong pouted when Seonghwa left him hanging to stride down the corridor but slinked away to the bathroom to talk with Mingi via the mirror a moment later.

Seonghwa grouped up with Yunho in the kitchen. After hugging Wooyoung goodbye and telling him to have an eye on Hongjoong, Seonghwa slipped into his coat. He handed Yunho his keys before he waved at Wooyoung, who stood with Snoopy by his side, and grinned at them cutely.

Outside, the two of them piled into Yunho's car. The seats in the back were still flattened and covered by the plastic tarpaulin that Yunho had used to transport the furniture his mom received for her home. The stress of the past few days caught up with Seonghwa as he slumped into his seat and sighed.

Yunho glanced at him with a fond smile.

"Tired?"

"Unbelievably so and I'm not even the one moving."

When they stopped at a red light, Yunho leaned over to kiss Seonghwa's cheek. Blushing, Seonghwa revelled in the warmth lingering in the spot.

"The more people involved, the more stressful it gets. And you are trying for a fun holiday for Wooyoung, too," Yunho said. His smooth and secure driving lulled Seonghwa in and had him sinking into his seat bonelessly. For the time of their drive, he could relax.

"How are you feeling? Now that you actually move in with a mess of a single dad, his kid, and a demon? Is it what you imagined?"

Yunho chuckled, not taking his eyes from the road even as Seonghwa eyed his handsome side profile.

"It's everything I could ask for. I get to live with a wonderful man whom I love so dearly and his adorable family. How could I complain about the short-lived stress down the path?"

His sunny grin lit up the car in a good mood. Seonghwa sighed dreamily at his boyfriend, ever so charmed by him.

"I think there is nothing better than having you here to be with me. I nearly forgot the excitement of life until you and Hongjoong teamed up on me," Seonghwa reminisced. Back when he had been holed up with Wooyoung and dedicated no second to himself, life had become an exhausting repetition. Now somebody else could watch Wooyoung from time to time and Seonghwa got to feel once more what it was like to be wooed. Since he had not one but two men with him to tend to Seonghwa's worries and distract him from the trot of life, Seonghwa lived in bliss.

"Knowing you are happy makes me happy. I would like to make every day a happy one for you."

Seonghwa's heart expanded with how much love he had to give for Yunho. Happily, he sat at his boyfriend's side to watch the landscape pass.

By the time Yunho had pulled into the parking area of the nearest furniture store, the first thing Seonghwa did was to release his seatbelt to kiss the other man. Yunho's fingers came up to massage Seonghwa's nape while they kissed, unbothered by the other guests outside, who pushed their trolleys through the mix of snow and mud on the pavement and peeked through their front window curiously.

When they left the car, Seonghwa's boots squished disgustingly on the moist mixture. He wrapped his scarf (Yunho's scarf) tighter around his neck, the heat of the kiss still tingling on his lips.

After snatching a trolley, the two men marched inside. Yunho looked ridiculously attractive with his lower arms loosely placed on the handlebar as he pushed the cart alongside Seonghwa. In no hurry, they lost themselves in the store's maze.

Seonghwa saw a lot of things he wanted to buy additionally to their furniture plans. Wooyoung had wanted a cool bowl that was all his now that he was 'all grown up' and 'didn't need plastic bowls anymore', so Seonghwa got him one with a cool blue pattern on it. He also bought a heart-shaped pillow with little wings that Seonghwa adored a lot, but Hongjoong would loathe if handed.

Since Yunho brought most of his own things over, they stocked up mainly on stuff both of them had needed for a while; some boxes for Yunho's shelf, and a new set of sheets that would fit the large bed. Seonghwa liked the yellow set, but after Yunho had whispered into his ear that Seonghwa would look even more alluring on the dark blue velvet ones, he had given in.

Their fun trip brought them through the entire store and through some corners twice. Seonghwa got some paints for wall pictures since he had an interest in some personal decoration at home these days. When he lingered at a charming 'live laugh love' board for several longing seconds, Yunho wrapped an arm around Seonghwa's waist to pull him along. Sulking, Seonghwa accompanied him to the towels.

By the time they got to the heavy stuff, their trolley was full of fun decorative items that Seonghwa couldn't wait to put in his home. While Yunho had steered him away from the boards, he could easily write something just as homey on the walls with his new paints.

However, as they entered the area where they were supposed to search the massive warehouse for the boxes by number, Seonghwa searched the pockets of his pants for his note in vain. Yunho waited patiently while Seonghwa patted down his body and bag several times.

"Oh no," he muttered under his breath. Yunho chuckled and walked them over to the catalogue in the corner, ready for these moments.

"I still remember what it looked like earlier. Don't worry, honey."

They stood together and searched the numbers out once more. However, as it got to the extension for their table, both of them found themselves hesitant. They needed to get the measurements right for that to work and they didn't remember those.

"I'll call Joong," Seonghwa decided as he got out his phone. He followed Yunho around as they collected the nightstand and searched for the bed.

It took the demon a while to pick up the old phone Seonghwa had given him for emergencies. After several rings, he answered with a cheery greeting. Seonghwa guessed Wooyoung had forced him to clean his hands first before the demon touched the device with paint fingers.

"What's up, mortal?" The demon asked huskily over the phone the second he was on. Seonghwa put him on speaker but kept the volume low so only Yunho and he heard Hongjoong's possibly indecent responses.

"Hey, I lost my notes about the table measurements. Could you measure it again for us?"

Hongjoong chuckled deviously, but Seonghwa didn't let it get to him. Maybe the trickster demon had stolen the slip of paper in revenge for not getting kissed.

"Sure thing. Come, fledgling, short table measuring break."

In the background, Wooyoung trampled down the stairs behind the soundless demon as they wandered into the kitchen. Seonghwa waited while he and Yunho idled in a corner where they bothered nobody. Yunho's hand played with Seonghwa's on the handlebar of the trolley, gently intertwining and releasing their fingers.

It took the demon a while to answer again; only the pitter-patter of their steps in the kitchen being heard.

When the next answer came, Hongjoong spoke close to the phone again.

"Our table is 93 Smarties long and 27 Smarties wide," the demon announced. Wooyoung ran over in the back to yell into the phone louder than necessary.

"93 and a half!" Seonghwa could hear him chewing.

Seonghwa buried his head in Yunho's shoulder. With a sympathetic coo, Yunho pet his hair.

"They are big Smarties," Hongjoong added as if that was any help.

"Hongjoong... How about you take the meter to measure it?"

"I wish I had any idea where that thing is. Are Smarties too difficult? Wait, let me get the salted pretzels from the shelf, they are bigger..."

The visions of the mess that the kitchen would become flashed in front of Seonghwa's inner eye. He clutched the phone, not minding curious onlookers as he hissed into the speaker.

"Hongjoong! The meter is in my bedroom. Just get it."

"Can't do; my arms hurt from painting the room. In pretzels it's-"

"Then tell me how big one Smartie is," Seonghwa begged, exasperated with the demon. Yunho by his side couldn't help him either.

"We just put them away, goddamn you, mortal. Fledgling, let's not do any more pretzels, get the Smarties out again."

The kitchen had to be a chaos.

"Can't you just take something bigger to measure? Maybe a plate or a shoe?" Seonghwa could at least look that up or measure on his own feet to calculate the length.

"Oh. Oh, yeah, I can do that. Heave ho." Hongjoong grunted over the speaker, causing Seonghwa and Yunho to exchange a worried glance. Wooyoung's giggles over their phone were their sole reassurance that everything was alright.

"Alright, the table is about one Wooyoung long. Perhaps plus one Yunho finger? You know how long those are."

Seonghwa wanted to hit him, but he was busy scrawling the numbers down. 140 cm in length, good.

"Around hm, one third Woo broad? Or half?" The demon made an act out of sounding oh so smart. The teasing undertone in his voice gave him away.

Seonghwa was about to yell at him when a distinct voice switched out with Hongjoong's. The deep timbre was just as exasperated with the demon as Seonghwa was.

"140 x 40 cm, Seonghwa," Yongguk said. His quiet tone had the demon shut up with a grumble. Relieved about the answer, Seonghwa wrote that down.

"Thank you, Yongguk," he breathed. His palms, that had clutched the handlebar in irritation, relaxed enough for Yunho to play with his fingertips again.

"No problem." Yongguk handed the phone back to a huffing demon and retreated. Hongjoong muttered dejected insults at Yongguk.

"We will talk about this when I get home," Seonghwa threatened. Wooyoung's feet hit the ground as he scurried off with a giggle that lost itself in the distance.

"He was just impatient. You know I would have told you soon."

This time, Yunho leaned closer to the phone. Even his angelic patience ran thin with their resident evil. Bothering the two already tired adults while in public took things a step too far.

"Hongjoong? Behave now, will you? I won't soothe Seonghwa's fury if I feel you deserve it." His low voice carried a well-veiled warning. It had Seonghwa gulp when he felt sorry for stressing the other man out as well.

Hongjoong scoffed.

"Yeah, yeah. I'll go back to painting your room now. You better be thankful." He ended the call before the two humans got to nag him.

Exhausted, Seonghwa put his phone away. They wasted no more time in getting the bigger tabletop and checking out of the store shortly before its closing hours. After piling their things into the car and securing them, the two of them dropped into their seats. Seonghwa had a migraine that throbbed dully behind his eyes.

Yunho had more endurance left, fuelled by his wish to lift some weight off Seonghwa's shoulders.

"If you want, I can pack him when I bring the rest with San later. It's one of his days."

Seonghwa shook his head.

"I was about to suggest we postpone the other trip so you wouldn't have to go through another hassle today," he replied with a distorted smile. When he crossed his shivering legs, Yunho automatically reached to turn up the heat. Seonghwa blended into his seat, soothed by the warmth.

"No, I will do that today, then we get to relax tomorrow," Yunho said easily. "If you want me to take him off your back, I will do that."

"It's fine; I will watch him, so you have your peace for a few minutes. If San bothers you, just threaten to take away the anime figures he got in his Advent calendar."

Yunho chuckled as he steered them down the lane to their hometown. Usually, Seonghwa would have been delighted to watch him drive, but he was too tired to mind much.

"You know I wouldn't threaten San," Yunho reminded Seonghwa. Ever so kind, he wondered if he was supposed to bring San some chocolates as payment for his services. With Seonghwa endeared by Yunho's kindness, the rest of the journey back passed in a flash. Soon, they halted in Seonghwa's driveway and Seonghwa flung his seatbelt off his body.

"Do you want to press Hongjoong against the wall or shall I?" Seonghwa jumped from the car first and opened the trunk so they could unload. He carried the box with random items first while Yunho grabbed the nightstand.

"Wouldn't that be giving him what he wants? You go first, he might think he gets around a punishment."

Wooyoung and Hongjoong waited for them in the kitchen and peered outside with matching faces of children knowing they had messed up. For Wooyoung, it was cute and easily forgiven. In Hongjoong's case, it had Seonghwa glaring back harder. He caught the moment when Hongjoong's pout grew into a vicious smirk, fangs elongating, before they disappeared from the window. When they opened the door seconds later, the angelic smile was back on Hongjoong's lips, all fangs and horns gone as he grinned at them.

Sometimes Seonghwa wondered what his neighbours thought of Hongjoong. Did they view him as a bumming family member? Or as Seonghwa's sugar baby?

Seonghwa shoved the thought off. Not that important.

Hongjoong knew he was in trouble. The way he held Wooyoung on his shoulders in front of him gave him away. Using the child as a protective shield, Hongjoong stayed strategically out of reach as Seonghwa stumbled past him and into the kitchen. The demon probably felt the vicious aura wavering off Seonghwa.

The two pranksters turned in accordance with Seonghwa's movement. Wooyoung's hands were hidden behind his back in an innocent gesture and his smile was bright. They stayed right in position, shielding each other while Yunho and Seonghwa set their things down.

"Hongjoong, why don't you show me your hard work in Yunho's room? I can't wait to reward you with the delicious eggs we got on the way," Seonghwa suggested, sugary sweetly.

Greed flashed in Hongjoong's eyes, but he caught himself in time. Seonghwa was met with a just as fake smile. Hongjoong's hands were glued to Wooyoung's shoulders.

"I insist Wooyoung accompanies us. He did most of the work," Hongjoong said. He respected Seonghwa's threatening gaze, but he wasn't intimidated yet. Not when he knew Wooyoung served as his protection.

"But somebody has to help Yunho carry the heavy stuff," Seonghwa said with mock trouble marring his brow. Instantly, Wooyoung was convinced.

"I'll help!" He yelled, ever the knight in shining armour. With a skip, he took Yunho's hand to pull him outside, his alliance with Hongjoong forgotten. Seonghwa's smirk darkened as he was left alone with Hongjoong. The demon squealed, finally properly alerted. When he dashed up the stairs to flee from Seonghwa's grabbing arms, Seonghwa chased right after him. Their feet trampled up the stairs as Seonghwa hunted Hongjoong down. The demon ran in patterns like a rabbit, dodging Seonghwa on his way down the corridor.

Just when he was about to stretch out his hand for the bedroom door and hide in the most inconvenient spot of the entire house, Seonghwa's hand grasped the back of his shirt.

The sudden pull of Seonghwa's hand ripped Hongjoong around, having him collide with the wall. His little giggles were pressed out of his chest when Seonghwa crashed his body into that of the demon and pinned him down. Like the devil he was, Hongjoong arched into him and wrapped his arms around Seonghwa's middle to grope the man's butt. As if a massage might soothe Seonghwa's anger, Hongjoong gave him his best puppy eyes.

"Aw, why so mad, you big, evil mortal? Did my ways of giving information displease you?" Hongjoong dug his claws into Seonghwa's behind without breaking skin. Usually, Seonghwa would have flinched at the threat of pain, but he remained resilient this time. His withering glare didn't waver.

"You-" Seonghwa began the talk of Hongjoong's pitiful life, only to break off right after. His eyes had caught onto something red from the corners of his eyes and he interrupted himself to glance over. Without loosening his arm from Hongjoong's chest, Seonghwa stared into what had once been his office and was Yunho's room to be.

The entire room - including the ceiling and the floor -was painted a deep, bloody red. As if a human had exploded inside, it bathed the room in a cruel colour, jarring to look at.

A sticky note stuck to the partly opened door.

'I tried to stop him - Yongguk'

Seonghwa's jaw was on the floor. He didn't even mind Hongjoong's idiotic giggles, simply horrified.

"How did you do that?!"

Hongjoong pulled Seonghwa closer by his butt so he could grind their crotches together. Too distracted, Seonghwa swatted at him without pushing him off.

"This one was entirely on you, actually. I hid the paint bucket under Wooyoung's bed for an entire week and you didn't notice." Hongjoong grinned like a satisfied cat. As if to shake his trance off, Seonghwa whipped his hair out of his face.

"Hongjoong, this is horrendous..." Seonghwa didn't even have words and every second of shock pleased Hongjoong more.

"I know, right? It's pure chaos. Yunho deserved it for being so difficult."

Seonghwa had forgotten all of his anger as terror took him over. When he stepped back from Hongjoong, the demon looked disappointed for a second but schooled his expression to one of triumph. His hands dropped from Seonghwa to expose the red stains clinging to his palms as if he had just slaughtered someone.

"Later," was all Seonghwa said before he retreated downstairs. Victorious, Hongjoong followed him so they could help Yunho bring in the rest of the furniture inside. Yunho eyed Seonghwa's pale features but most likely assumed Hongjoong had won the game, as always.

After they had stored the packages in the living room for the time being, Yunho snatched up his keys again. He hadn't bothered taking off his jacket, knowing he would need it again in due time.

"I'm going," he announced with kisses to Seonghwa's and Wooyoung's foreheads. The mischievous wave of the demon's claws got a playful glare in return.

"You two better not bother Seonghwa."

"We would never!" Wooyoung exclaimed. Yunho ruffled his hair before he left. A moment later, the engine of his car started again.

Seonghwa sat on the ground with the two troublemakers for a few minutes, just drinking some water to replenish his energy. Both of them grinned at him in a way not even Yeosang could replicate.

"I can't believe you let him do this, Woo," Seonghwa said, disappointed. When Wooyoung's brow furrowed, Seonghwa emptied his bottle and put it away to get to his feet. Only assembling the bed was left for tonight, then he could rest. He hoped for some soothing Yunho kisses later, but he knew Hongjoong would get in between to get the punishment he had tried so desperately for. Perhaps they should deny him for a day as revenge.

"But he said red is Yunho's favourite colour. Isn't that true? He likes you with your red shirt very much, daddy." The boy looked between the demon and his exhausted father, puzzled.

"Like the blood of his enemies," Hongjoong added, not helpful.

Still unsure, Wooyoung tapped over to Seonghwa to hug his waist when he took notice of the man's distress. With a sigh, Seonghwa hugged him back before he waved the two of them to go.

"Let's build the bed upstairs so we don't have to carry it later. If Yunho has you repaint the room, then you get to move it by yourself," Seonghwa said to Hongjoong. The demon shrugged, not too concerned with that. As long as he could easily fix his pranks, he never cared too much about them.

With Hongjoong's help, (and Wooyoung clutching a corner) Seonghwa heaved the bed up the stairs. In the harrowingly red room, they all sat down to build the bed. Hongjoong read the manual to Seonghwa, and Seonghwa double- checked every step while Wooyoung handed out screws and wrenches as needed. He sorted the rest of them by size.

It took them a while and Seonghwa was slow due to his hunger, but they got done until Yunho returned. Right on time, as they hoisted the mattress on the bed, the chattering of the two men downstairs got loud. With them came the smell of pizza that travelled up the stairs and had Seonghwa and Wooyoung exchange a knowing gaze.

"Last one in the kitchen is a nunu!" Wooyoung cried before jumping to his feet. Seonghwa called after him, reminding him to pay attention on the stairs. Without paying much attention to him, Wooyoung raced ahead.

Hongjoong observed Seonghwa while he fixed the sheet on the bed like a wolf eyeing his prey. Seonghwa felt his malicious intent before it hit him. A moment later, he rolled over the bed when Hongjoong trapped him under his body. His disinterest had Hongjoong paw at him like a cat.

"Are you mad?"

"I'm not mad, I'm too tired to be mad." Seonghwa didn't fend the demon off as he put his head on Seonghwa's chest. For a moment, they rested there, just glad to have done their work despite Hongjoong's disruptions.

San giggled with Wooyoung when Yunho called for them.

"Honey? I brought pizza! Let's finish up for today!" Yunho called up the stairs. As always, the energy he provided got Seonghwa moving. He pushed the protesting demon off to stand and made his way to the kitchen. Hongjoong trudged after him, ready to sit with them during dinner time.

They ate in the living room with some of them strewn over the sofa and armchair, and some on the ground. Wooyoung's favourite person of the evening was San, since he brought vitality where the rest of them was depleted. Hongjoong was still tense, waiting for Yunho's reaction to his room.

"So, you two painted it all? I want to see!" San announced, speaking of the devil.

"About that..." Seonghwa began. Yunho didn't even know yet.

Wooyoung, far too cordial and worried to lie for long, spoke up first. His hands fiddled in his lap nervously.

"We painted it red. It was papa's idea!"

Yunho's smile turned disbelieving, but he kept up his mask well.

"Red," he repeated with frozen features.

"It looks sexy," Hongjoong purred; back to his shenanigans.

"You can show me after dinner." Yunho's tone was that of a mother who got bothered during a phone call when she had no other choice but to say yes, but threatened with the repercussions. Seonghwa had to chuckle when Hongjoong ducked his head.

Wooyoung fell asleep where he laid halfway across San's lap to eat. His feet had been kicking in the air earlier, but with time, they dulled to sleepy twitches as he chewed with half-closed eyes.

"Thanks for your help. If you ever need us for moving, we will be happy to help." Seonghwa said to San as they piled the empty pizza boxes together and handed San the leftovers. San waved it off, one strong arm supporting the sleepy boy on his lap. Wooyoung had the most adorable short-and-round-genes that squished his cheeks in this position, just like Seonghwa back in the day. Whenever they looked at pictures from Yunho's childhood, the gangly boy with the long limbs made Wooyoung snicker. Seonghwa already knew that the day Wooyoung would lose the fat of his cheeks, heartbreak was imminent.

"Nah, it's fine. This shall be my good deed of the day." San carefully handed Wooyoung over to Yunho, who pretended to groan at the heavy weight before he carried Seonghwa's son off. Slumbering in his arms, Wooyoung subconsciously bunched a fist into Yunho's shirt as if he were a baby still.

San stretched his back before he patted Seonghwa's, and then Hongjoong's shoulder.

"Call me if you need any more help with moving stuff. And tell Mingi I said hi."

Hongjoong grinned a fanged smile.

"Will do."

Ever since San got introduced to the demon in the mirror, he couldn't constrain his curiosity. The concept of Mingi sitting around in some office in the supernatural realm Hongjoong was from and replying to the calls of idiotic teens amused San to no end. Whenever he came by to see Mingi in their mirror, he swore up and down that he just had some business questions.

Seonghwa always thought San spent a lot of time alone in the bathroom during those questions.

San bid the duo his goodbyes. When Yunho came down the stairs while San put on his boots, San whisper-yelled a 'bye' at him, too. Once he was off, the three adults were left alone in the living room.

"So," Yunho began. When he crossed his arms, a sheepish smile spread on Hongjoong's lips.

"You two gotta be tired. I will crash in Woo's room so you two can rest and we'll finish up tomorrow." Hongjoong jumped to his feet with a motivated clap. Before he even reached the bottom of the stairs, Yunho already caught up with him. His long arm came to lie around the tiny demon's waist, pulling him close in the illusion of an affectionate gesture.

"No, no, you need to show me your work of today first so we can praise you for it," Yunho crooned in Hongjoong's ear. The demon tried to release himself from Yunho's hold on him with a coy giggle, but he didn't get far. Yunho pulled him back in with a smug grin.

"Ah- You can just check it out while passing through, it's no big deal. No need to be all fancy about it." Hongjoong pretended to be flattered, but his wary gaze flickered between Yunho and Seonghwa. When he noticed the third man approaching them slowly, the demon squirmed harder. His weak pushes against Yunho's chest did nothing to the tall man.

"I insist. How could I let you off with little or no praise after you did such a good job? And you did a good job, didn't you?" Yunho nuzzled Hongjoong's ear, making the demon jolt. He whined high in his throat, body arching into Yunho involuntarily.

"You already know I painted it red," Hongjoong whispered in protest. His eyes clenched shut when Yunho gently bit at the lobe of his ear, where no piercings were.

"Show me, then. What do you have to lose?"

Hongjoong gave in ultimately. He turned to the stairs with a sigh and went ahead. Yunho grinned at Seonghwa before he took his boyfriend's hand to follow the demon.

Now that it was time to hear Hongjoong's excuses, Seonghwa felt more awake. What better way to get rid of his stress by using the cheeky demon who basically begged for it.

The second they stepped into the red painted room, Yunho sucked in a harsh breath. The onslaught of red slapped him across the face, just as it had done to Seonghwa earlier. When Seonghwa closed the door behind them, he noticed that even its backside had been painted red. In the red room with the single bed, Seonghwa was trapped between horror house and brothel vibes. It all depended on the light source they would put in this room for the night if anyone wanted to sleep here.

Worrisome, how Wooyoung had seen nothing wrong with it.

Hongjoong just opened his mouth to give them some smug explanation of why he had chosen chaos over friendship in this case, when Yunho reached for him again. With two sharp movements, he had twisted both of Hongjoong's arms behind his back and forced him to bend over. Hongjoong's surprised squeak got muffled in the mattress as Yunho ruthlessly pressed the demon's face into it.

"Sadly, I can't hear you. Tell me, Hongjoong, why do you always become such a brat whenever you want something? You could ask me to bend you over a flat surface and you know I would gladly. Seonghwa asks, and he gets what he wants with no issues." Yunho pressed his hips into the demon's wriggling butt. Another keen got muffled in the pillows when Hongjoong pushed back needily.

"I guess that's too easy for him. Or he likes it when you are mad at him. Don't hold his wrists too tightly," Seonghwa muttered from his corner. He had crossed his arms in irritation, but he was pleased seeing the demon shut up. For once, Hongjoong was quiet.

Until he turned his head to press out a reply. Even when Yunho loosened his grip on him, the demon stayed in position, trusting their lover.

"You aren't wild enough in normal mode. Sure, you top people, but you don't dom them," Hongjoong said with a roll of his eyes, as if that was obvious. Yunho lifted his brow at that bold statement.

"Oh? We must have different ideas of what a dom is, then. Tell me what you want me to do."

Huffing, Hongjoong turned his head away, acting disinterested even as he dirtily ground his backside into Yunho's crotch.

"You wouldn't understand. You treat me like you treat Seonghwa, so precious and dotingly. That's not the way I like it. Even if I explained, you wouldn't be able to do it. Not to mention how boring it is that I have to tell my lovers how to do me."

Yunho gave a disbelieving smile. Seonghwa saw it in the twitch of his hands holding Hongjoong's wrists how he wanted to spank the demon for that statement. Yunho resisted, but maybe that was how Hongjoong wanted to play?

The next time Hongjoong turned his head to smirk up at Yunho, his horns sprouted from his head, knocking off his makeshift halo and giving away the character of his thoughts.

"I could show you what I mean on Seonghwa. Unless you are too protective for that."

Curious, Yunho glanced at Seonghwa to get a reply to that. Seonghwa shook his head.

"What, he gets to do me the way he wants and for you to fuck him into oblivion? No way. This is a punishment. If he gets what he wants, he feels reinforced in his behaviour," Seonghwa declined. Not that he wasn't interested in those methods the demon mentioned, but Hongjoong didn't deserve them for messing up the room.

Yunho switched both of Hongjoong's struggling wrists into one of his huge hands. With the other one, he beckoned Seonghwa closer until he could grasp the man's chin and kiss him.

"This is why I love you. What do you suggest we do?"

Seonghwa considered it, how Hongjoong so desperately pressed against their boyfriend, whose demeanour remained perfectly calm despite the growing tent in his palms.

"Maybe we should just go to sleep and leave him here," Seonghwa suggested. His lacklustre reply had Hongjoong ripping up his head only to fail at rising because Yunho increased the pressure of their arms on his back.

"No! I did bad, didn't I? Don't bad boys get punished?"

"That is a punishment, you devil. You thought you could get away with pranking around and then getting us to do what you want? No way," Yunho chuckled, his voice dark. None of Hongjoong's whines swayed him as he dedicated his focus to Seonghwa again.

"I have an even better idea. How about we use this sexy room for something nice and our poor little demon can't participate because he messed up."

Seonghwa grinned as he pressed up against Yunho's body.

"I like that idea."

Carelessly, Yunho shoved Hongjoong onto the bed, parting the contact of their bodies. The demon rolled off, struggling with his horns in the sheets for a moment before he sat up to glare at them. Not heeding him, the couple kissed. Yunho nibbled on Seonghwa's plush lower lip before he sucked it into his mouth.

"Unfair!" Hongjoong exclaimed. When he still got no attention, he huffed like a child and sat on the bed to cross his arms. "Fine! I don't want to take part in the vanilla sex of two old men, anyway."

Seonghwa spared him a glance when Yunho kissed down his neck and left sweet little marks in his wake. His fingers slipped under Seonghwa's sweater, roaming his heated skin.

"Says you who can't even say what he wants. Pathetic."

Hongjoong's eyes widened at the word. For a moment, Seonghwa was unsure whether he had gone in a wrong direction with that one, but the demon didn't complain. He scowled angrily, but held his tongue. With a moan, Seonghwa tipped his head back to make more space for Yunho's wandering lips.

Yunho's large hands held onto Seonghwa's waist, making him squirm with the promises those heated fingertips on his skin provided.

While Yunho pulled Seonghwa's sweater over his head, he cast a glare at Hongjoong.

"Get moving and bring the lube over. Work for your rewards." His snappish voice did things to Seonghwa's stomach. Heat collected between his thighs as he pressed his crotch to Yunho's. With a moan, his head dropped to the man's shoulder when their lengths aligned through the fabric of their pants.

Grumbling, their resident evil left the room to comply. While he opened the bedroom door, Yunho pulled Seonghwa closer to grind into him deliciously.

"You know he'll get cranky if we exclude him," Seonghwa whispered against Yunho's neck as he littered kisses all over it. His boyfriend cautiously walked the two of them backwards to back Seonghwa up against the bed. His hands supported Seonghwa as he sunk down on the new mattress while his hands and lips trailed down Yunho's torso. The planes of the man's stomach greeted Seonghwa with warmth as he pushed up his shirt.

"That's why he may watch. Think you can resist your addiction to him?"

Seonghwa chuckled as he unbuckled Yunho's pants. In the hellish red of the room, his boyfriend seemed even paler.

"I can try. Want to test out on me what he is missing? I don't mind you going rough on me."

Surprise tipped Yunho's brows even as lust pooled in his eyes. His fingers treaded into Seonghwa's hair when the man opened his legs for Yunho to step in between and took the reddened tip of Yunho's length in his hand. Their eyes never parted from each other as Seonghwa dipped in for a first taste and swirled his tongue around Yunho lazily.

"Want to give me a safe word? I won't hurt you, but I wouldn't want to go too far either."

Seonghwa's lips wrapped around Yunho's leaking tip, lids fluttering. His concentration was nowhere but on pleasing Yunho and relishing in the little shudders that wracked his body. The taste of the man lingered on Seonghwa's tongue.

When Seonghwa pulled off for a moment without ceasing the movement of his hand on Yunho, his boyfriend exhaled.

"How about 'Squirrel'?"

Yunho snickered. His fingers wrapped around Seonghwa's curls to pull him closer.

"Works for me."

Pleased, Seonghwa sunk his mouth back onto Yunho. The texture of Yunho's soft skin on Seonghwa's tongue was pure heaven. Despite Yunho not supplying the aphrodisiac that Hongjoong carried, Seonghwa throbbed in his pants out of his desire for the man. Knowing what was to come and how effortlessly Yunho could send Seonghwa to cloud nine had Seonghwa pinch his thighs together, only to get stopped by Yunho standing between them.

Hongjoong slipped into the room and closed the door behind him with a grumble. The glare he cast at them bounced right off Seonghwa's heavy gaze on him.

The lube landed next to them on the bed when he threw it on there. Seonghwa inched his fingers to grab it while Yunho adjusted the way he was going at Seonghwa. The first switch was subtle and warned Seonghwa of the next level. When Yunho lowered his second hand to Seonghwa's hair to hold his head in his big hands, Seonghwa hummed at him encouragingly.

The mattress dipped as Hongjoong sat down against the headboard and drew his legs up against his body. He watched them with a glare, but Seonghwa believed to feel his expression slipping when Yunho thrust down Seonghwa's throat.

Trusting, Seonghwa allowed Yunho to take his mouth as he wished. The sound of the other man's moans was music to his ears and Seonghwa grew more eager with each one of them. It didn't take the two of them long until Seonghwa's nose buried in the neatly trimmed hair of Yunho's pubic bone. Seonghwa swallowed around the man, trying to adjust to the size and the slobber of spit on his lips.

Yunho muttered a curse under his breath before he picked up the pace again. Seonghwa's eyes teared up, his raw throat working to adjust the sudden onslaught. When he blinked up at Yunho, he found the man looking back at him. He bit his lips at the sight of Seonghwa's flushed and teary face.

"Fuck- Hwa," Yunho groaned, fingers in Seonghwa's hair tightening.

Seonghwa was keenly aware of Hongjoong observing them; heard his quickened breath somewhere in the back. When he imagined the angle at which Hongjoong could watch Seonghwa, more heat curled in Seonghwa's belly. His trembling fingers weakly clutched onto Yunho's thighs.

Yunho thrust down Seonghwa's throat one, two times more, coating his throat with a mixture of his pre-come and spit before he pulled off. Hot and throbbing, he slipped from Seonghwa's lips. Seonghwa wanted to chase after him, wanted to offer coming in his broken throat, but Yunho was resolute as he hauled Seonghwa up to turn him around.

Hongjoong sucked in a breath when he saw Seonghwa's fucked out expression and his swollen lips. He kept his hand off himself for now, but Seonghwa saw the blue undertones shimmering on his collarbones that gave away his desire.

Seonghwa landed with his stomach on the mattress. He whimpered when Yunho climbed on top of him and throned over Seonghwa with his tall frame.

"Your hands," Yunho ordered authoritatively. Shuddering in the best ways, Seonghwa pinched his wrists together and rose them over his head. A moment later, Yunho wrung his shirt around them and knotted them up tightly. When he flung them back down, they landed near Hongjoong's spot.

"Make sure he stays there," Yunho said. His dismissive voice brushed past Hongjoong, but the demon still put his hand on the bindings. Seonghwa squirmed when Yunho hooked his fingers under his pants, hauling them down Seonghwa's legs.

Yunho made sure that Seonghwa's chest remained pressed to the bed and only his hips were lifted on trembling knees before he laid down behind him. Seonghwa buried his head in his arms when his heavy length got disregarded in favour of Yunho groping his butt to expose his entrance. Quivering, Seonghwa laid beneath him.

"Yunho, please-"

"Please what? Don't just call my name hoping I know what you want." Yunho's grip turned punishing, leaving marks as it dug into Seonghwa's skin. His hot breath fanned over Seonghwa's most sensitive place.

He knew perfectly well what Seonghwa wanted. It was part of the game to resist.

Seonghwa couldn't form words, too caught up in his deliriously empty mind to think too much.

With a grumble, Yunho licked over Seonghwa's entrance to draw a shaky moan out of him. The tall man's hands held him in position even as Seonghwa tried to push closer to him. Ruthless impatience had Yunho digging his tongue into Seonghwa's entrance with a groan that resonated in Seonghwa's body. Seonghwa shook and trembled; his body overwhelmed at the abrupt heat that consumed it. As he tried to writhe away from the hot tongue breaching him, Yunho warningly trapped him in place once more.

"Yunho- Too much, I can't-" Seonghwa squirmed around himself, trying to release the strain on his arms, trying to grind against something when his throbbing arousal hurt.

For a moment, Yunho hesitated, unsure if Seonghwa meant it. Seonghwa had to push back faintly to remind the man that this was part of their plan. If he needed Yunho the stop, he would sound the safe word.

Yunho slipped back into his role instantly. One of his hands dropped from Seonghwa to uncap the lube while his tongue still had Seonghwa shudder from all the dirty things it did.

"You'll take what you get," Yunho growled at him. When his hands came back up, they were slick with lube. Seonghwa's body was willing to open up for him as he hooked both thumbs into Seonghwa's entrance to open him up. When his tongue joined back into the mix, Seonghwa thrashed in the sheets. His fingers dug into the mattress and Hongjoong's hand while the demon watched them with big eyes. He bit his lip at the sight of Seonghwa falling apart underneath Yunho so deliciously. His free hand pressed against the bulge under his skirt.

Seonghwa choked on his breath when Yunho's thumbs slipped deeper and got a good grip around Seonghwa's muscle. They pulled him apart obscenely until Yunho could fit his tongue in effortlessly and licked Seonghwa's inner walls.

Desperate for friction, Seonghwa rubbed his chest on the sheets. He couldn't hold himself up any more and felt like he might just go up in flames if Yunho didn't get inside of him soon.

"Inside, please-" Seonghwa drooled all over the fresh sheets. When Yunho's fingers plunged deep inside of him, his head flew up with a gasp. The sudden press against his prostate had Seonghwa's knees give in when Yunho fingered him open at a punishing pace.

The speed, the roughness, and the carelessness behind each motion wound the coil in Seonghwa's stomach tighter. Yunho's dominant side was so attractive to him, and Seonghwa desperately needed more.

"Yun-"

"Enough demands, doll. We'll do it the way I want." With Yunho's harsh interruption came the click of the lube bottle. Shivering, Seonghwa anticipated his next move. His fingers clutched onto Hongjoong's, sharing the enraptured need of the demon.

Yunho manhandled Seonghwa again once he was ready. Seonghwa's heaving chest came into view as Yunho stared down darkly at his squirming body. Seonghwa's length wept against his abdomen pitifully, but it garnered no more but a flick of Yunho's fingers.

"Are you watching, demon slut? This is what you want?"

Hongjoong shivered next to Seonghwa. Both of their gazes were locked onto Yunho's hardness that laid against Seonghwa's thigh. It was so swollen that it looked obscenely big against Seonghwa's slender body. The idea of having it inside robbed Seonghwa of his ability to breathe.

Seonghwa whimpered when Yunho lifted his legs onto his shoulders, folding Seonghwa to his will. For a second, their gazes brushed and Seonghwa's heartbeat skipped at the unusual blackness in Yunho's eyes.

The next second, he plunged inside Seonghwa deeply.

Choking on his own spit, Seonghwa threw his head back. His legs dug into Yunho's sides, clutching and pushing at him without meaning to get him away.

"Too big! I can't- Splitting me in two- You'll rip me apart," Seonghwa sobbed, new tears clouding his eyes. Yunho inside of him was so hot, so thick as he pressed against all the right spots. Seonghwa wound himself, trying to push impossibly closer to his lover. Through the mess of sweat and tears he had been reduced to, he heard Hongjoong's hand on his pretty demon dick, slick in its slide.

Yunho settled for a moment to let Seonghwa get accustomed to his size. None of the usual gentle kisses and words of praise rained upon Seonghwa. Yunho grabbed at his chest with impatient hands, making Seonghwa jolt as he tugged on his nipples.

Seonghwa didn't hurt since his body was accustomed to this, but the faint stings of pain and discomfort only made it better.

Hongjoong still trapped Seonghwa's hands with his claws, reminding Seonghwa he was watching.

After flicking his hair back with a dismissive shake of his head, Yunho went to work. In the position he had picked, Seonghwa was trapped under his broad body and couldn't do anything but take every slam Yunho delivered deep inside the smaller male. Little noises and whines that Seonghwa hadn't known his throat was able to produce escaped him at every thrust against his prostate that Yunho nailed without fail.

Seonghwa ached into the occasional brush of Yunho's stomach against his hardness. His lips babbled a litany of Yunho's and Hongjoong's names that drowned out in the noise of sex.

"Tighten up for me. Want you to keep my cum inside of you for as long as possible," Yunho growled as he leaned towards Seonghwa. The position put a strain on Seonghwa's thighs, but he didn't mind. Hiccoughing and crying, he did as he was told and got rewarded with another one of Yunho's guttural moans.

The drag of his length against Seonghwa's insides was maddening. Seonghwa craved release, craved anything Yunho had to give him. When his boyfriend finally reached out to press a hand to Seonghwa's middle and rubbed him with punishing speed, Seonghwa saw white.

For a moment, Seonghwa didn't hear or see anything. All he knew was the overwhelming explosion of his orgasm in his belly that had his muscles spasm and his release spilling all over his and Yunho's stomachs. As fast as it came, it boiled down, leaving Seonghwa as no more but a sprawled wreck. Limp, he watched as Yunho leaned over him to use his body to get off.

Seonghwa's whimper was subdued by his broken voice when Yunho came deep inside of him. Dwarfed by the man's tall body, Seonghwa shuddered at the imagination of being nothing more but a toy for Yunho's use.

If they weren't such doting lovers, the sound of that wouldn't be so bad. To be a slave for Yunho and do anything as he wanted for the primal delight of release.

Yunho stayed lodged inside of Seonghwa while he softened to keep him nice and stuffed even after. Their sweaty skin had turned clammy as every spot Yunho touched seemed to become too hot.

Yunho's rough demeanour fell off him like a coat. From one moment to the next, his sharp eyes softened back to those sweet puppy eyes Seonghwa knew them as. Lips that had spit curses and orders came down to kiss Seonghwa gently and breathed the affection he had been lacking into him. Warmth flooded Seonghwa and combined with the bliss of his release.

As soon as Yunho had freed Seonghwa's hands, Seonghwa reached to wrap them around Yunho's back. He was in the mood for another round, a slow and loving one, but the shuffling of the demon at their side reminded him they still had a guest to deal with.

Hongjoong was very quiet. When Seonghwa craned his neck to look up at him, he was surprised to see the demon hadn't come yet. His deep blue length rested between his thighs, angry and begging for release. He had held back for them.

Yunho put Seonghwa's legs down in a more comfortable position and slipped free from him while he regarded the demon. His expression of deliberate defiance wavered when he examined Seonghwa's face and the trails of tears and drool left on his face.

"Your verdict?" Yunho asked as he stretched. His spine cracked satisfyingly while Seonghwa trailed a sleepy hand over the man's thigh.

Hongjoong gulped. On his side, Seonghwa busily disentangled Yunho's tattered shirt to slip inside of it. It smelled wonderfully of the other man.

"I've been good," Hongjoong muttered. His brows were knitted together tightly, and he looked small in his position. With intrigue, Seonghwa laid on his side and watched the two of them interact. After his orgasm came sleepiness and even if the room was bathed in a horrid red, Seonghwa was content to see his two boyfriends next to each other as he blinked his eyes to stay awake.

"You think you deserve a reward?"

Hongjoong nodded gingerly. The look of submission suited him. For once, he wasn't all loud and bratty about what he wanted.

Considering him, Yunho glanced at Seonghwa. A lazy smirk curled around his lips.

"Can't do. We're both spent and if you put your come anywhere near us, we won't sleep tonight. I can merely offer we sleep together in one bed."

Hongjoong's indignant huff was worth it. After getting shown what Yunho could do if prompted nicely, he had built new expectations for the evening, forgetting this was a punishment.

When Hongjoong snarled at Seonghwa, Seonghwa closed his eyes without fear. The demon's many teeth long since didn't scare him anymore.

"You'll pay for this, mortal. Who are you to assume you are the only one who can deal out punishments? We're all worth the same, you keep saying that."

"Yes, in our relationship. Not in matters concerning Yunho moving in and you making it harder for all of us. Now, will you sleep with us or not?"

Huffing, Hongjoong left the room in the bathroom's direction. Yunho collected all of their clothes strewn around and handed them to Seonghwa before he carried the combined bundle over to Seonghwa's room to sleep without the nightmarish red. While Seonghwa curled up on the sheets, Yunho got him a washcloth and stripped the other bed.

They were cosy under the covers together by the time Hongjoong returned. Grumbling and muttering, he wedged between them to deny Seonghwa of his aftercare cuddles. When Seonghwa just hugged Hongjoong instead and pressed a kiss to his nape, Hongjoong swatted at him under the sheets.

They fell asleep together and without trouble to start a new day in which Hongjoong hopefully would have learned his lesson.

-

The morning came with more snow. Seonghwa watched it falling outside the window while he slurped his coffee. He had prepared breakfast for his family already to have on the quaint and quiet morning of the holidays. No school kids roamed the streets on the way to class, and only a few neighbours were out to free their driveways from the several centimetres of fresh snow that had accumulated there overnight. The clop of their shovels against the concrete of the pathways disrupted the sleepy tranquillity of the early morning.

Snoopy laid at Seonghwa's feet, happy with his company as she napped with the occasional twitch of her ears.

Yunho shuffled down the stairs first. He had tried to comb his hair into an acceptable style for a lazy day inside spent worsening the ache in Seonghwa's arms and shoulders from their hard work. Despite his morning cleanse, however, the man still looked adorably ruffled. Sleepiness clung to his eyes.

Seonghwa smiled as he poured the man some coffee. While Yunho sipped on it with half-closed eyes, Seonghwa leaned to put Yunho's favourite jam on the bread rolls San had brought the day prior for breakfast, knowing they would forget collectively.

Yunho wakened gradually while he ate. Soon, he was conscious enough to eye Seonghwa over the rim of his mug.

"How is it you wake up looking so gorgeous every morning? Even in your cosiest and laziest moments, you are so pretty," was his first comment of the day. Seonghwa looked down at his soft sweater and rather plain looks today. A shy smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

"It must be because I sleep so remarkably well in your arms," he flirted back. Yunho's gentle smile warmed the room.

They ate in peace for a while and discussed their plans for the day. Yunho mentioned Hongjoong was up already and Yunho had left him upstairs to fix the mess in Yunho's room. After last night's punishment, the demon had gone to work begrudgingly. Once new paint job had dried, they would have to carry up Yunho's other furniture. Some of it needed to be disassembled and pieced back together after passing the narrow corridor. It would be a long day. As long as Hongjoong behaved, however, it could be fun.

They were halfway through their second cup of coffee that they savoured after eating had ended for both of them when Wooyoung trotted down the stairs. Seonghwa lifted his brow at his son when he saw him wearing a hat and gloves in combination with his pyjamas. Wooyoung clambered into his seat, energetic as always.

Yunho prepared Wooyoung's favourite chocolate cream roll while the boy waited patiently for Seonghwa to hand him his hot chocolate.

"Ready for a snow expedition?" Seonghwa asked as he set down the cup in front of his son. Wooyoung struggled to wrap his gloved hand around the handle. He hummed, satisfied with his first sip.

"Let's play outside today, dad! So much new snow fell and I want to build snow Toothless before all the other kids trample around!" Thrumming with excitement, Wooyoung looked between Yunho and Seonghwa. They played in the snow all the time, but Wooyoung never stopped adoring it. He just didn't like snowball fights, which were Hongjoong's forte. They usually meant he got snow into his clothing and got too cold to continue playing.

Seonghwa looked at Yunho, seeking silent conversation. When his boyfriend responded with a shrug, Seonghwa wrapped his fingers around his mug again with a smile. The ring Hongjoong had gifted him twinkled on his finger.

"Why not? We can have some fun playing before we go back to work."

Wooyoung cheered in his seat, startling Snoopy, who came over to press her cold nose against his foot. Squealing and giggling, Wooyoung ate as fast as possible so he could play sooner.

When they all went upstairs to get dressed in their winter gear and collected Perry for playing, Seonghwa found a downtrodden demon in Yunho's room. He sat on the floor like a heap of sorrow with his wings out while he painted over the ruined wall. His pouty face didn't notice Seonghwa at first when he leaned in the door to watch him.

Hongjoong had finished one wall and worked on the next. The random and downtrodden brushes of his paint roller made for a depressing picture.

Seonghwa cooed at him, and Hongjoong turned, the plastic under his body rustling.

"Good morning, Hongjoong," Seonghwa greeted him. His soft voice got nothing but a troubled sigh from the demon. He went back to work with zero motivation.

"Morning, mortal."

Pity swelled in Seonghwa's chest. He wasn't good at punishments, that's why Hongjoong only got cheekier and more spoiled by him every day. Already, Seonghwa couldn't bear the moping demon anymore.

"It's still early to be doing this. How about you come outside to play with us in the snow?"

Hongjoong shook his head. His horns followed the movement dutifully.

"I promised Yunho to fix this. He said I'd get a reward if I'm good."

Seonghwa's sympathy for Hongjoong's chaos-loving soul clashed with his pride in Yunho that his plan had worked and got the demon to obey for once.

When Seonghwa struggled for a reply, Hongjoong glanced at him again.

"Maybe after I'm done. I know Wooyoung would enjoy my company," he said with a fanged smile. Seonghwa liked that idea.

"Alright, then later. Thank you for working hard." Seonghwa tiptoed over to give Hongjoong a kiss on the forehead. He stepped back from the seated man before Hongjoong could brush him with the paint roller. His mischievous giggle followed Seonghwa as he left the room.

Wooyoung already stood in the corridor in his snowsuit when Seonghwa passed him. Chattering, Wooyoung came after him while Seonghwa put on some warm clothes and told him about his dream about dinosaur nuggets that fought socialist rockets. The politics of their world deeply concerned Wooyoung's seven-year-old soul.

Once they were dressed and Yunho's scarf that they all shared was tucked around Wooyoung's neck warmly, they went out to play. Under Wooyoung's command, they divided the workload to erect the statue of the biggest snow Toothless the world had ever seen in their backyard. When Seonghwa reminded Wooyoung they might run out of snow, Wooyoung explained to him very seriously that both Seonghwa and Yunho had cars and they could easily expand the area from which they got snow.

They were outside for at least two hours trying to keep the snow from falling off Toothless' wings every five minutes. After several adjustments to position and size, Wooyoung was satisfied with a much less grand version of the dragon than planned. In return, Yunho built Wooyoung a snow cave using his shovel. He wormed around in it in glee while Seonghwa greeted the neighbour who came over from snow shovelling to compliment their work.

After several hours of playing, Seonghwa was thirsty and cold, wishing to be back in his comfy home. With his hands stemmed into his hips, he watched Yunho and Wooyoung expand their cave system. His fond grin when Snoopy chased Wooyoung around stuck permanently to his features.

"Boys, how about we go back in and heat up? We still have some furniture to move."

As soon as Seonghwa had ended, he was met with protests.

"Nooo! I want to continue playing!" Wooyoung yelled, muffled by snow and his scarf. When he popped out of the cave at a different entrance than Seonghwa had expected him to come out of, Seonghwa chuckled. Snoopy played whack-a-mole and circled around the snow hill.

"Please, daddy? I can just stay here and play and you can go in. Snoopy can watch me! I'm not good at carrying heavy things." Wooyoung frowned to himself in upset at his little arms.

Yunho exchanged a gaze with Seonghwa. They wanted to finish the furniture today so Yunho could bring the rest of his things over. Why was resisting Wooyoung so difficult?

"How about we go in and send Hongjoong to play with him? He should be done with the room by now," Yunho suggested. When Wooyoung exclaimed his delight at that proposal, Seonghwa also nodded. With Yongguk and Hongjoong around, there was no risk of Wooyoung accidentally running onto the street. They played wildly, but always safe.

"Yes! Papa can play with me!"

Seonghwa accepted the offer. If Hongjoong wasn't finished yet, they could take over for him since he had sulked for long enough.

Yunho stayed with Wooyoung to finish the cave while Seonghwa marched inside to lure out the demon. Snow fell from his shoes and coat to leave wet spots in the entrance area. As Seonghwa wandered up the stairs, he grimaced at his wet pants where the snow had snuck into his boots.

Hongjoong worked on the last upper corner of the room and finished up as Seonghwa came in. The demon had removed the easily peelable layer of paint from the door and the floor and repainted the ceiling. Most of the room had dried off, too; just the wall he still worked on shone wetly.

"Hey, Joong," Seonghwa announced himself as he walked in. The demon turned, wings folding to take up less space in the room.

Proud of his work, Hongjoong gestured around. He grinned when Seonghwa smiled at his success.

"Good job here. How about I will finish this, and you get to play with Woo? Yunho and I want to continue here in a while. Don't worry about your reward, too. You worked hard." When Seonghwa's hand ruffled the demon's hair, Hongjoong leaned into his touch with a pleased purr.

"Thanks. If you will release me from this hellish circle of boredom, I will gladly sink the world into chaos with Wooyoung."

Seonghwa took the brushes from him with a snicker.

"Yeah, do that. Have fun and don't scare the neighbours."

Hongjoong skipped off with a happy bounce to his step. While Seonghwa dressed in comfortable clothes and left out the others to dry, Yunho also made his way in. The squealing of the two boys plus puppy outside continued on.

Seonghwa and Yunho existed together in peaceful silence as they finished painting the room. From time to time, Yunho left lingering touches on Seonghwa's waist and back or dropped sweet compliments about Seonghwa's hair, his face, or his concentrated expression on him.

By the time the two finished and left the room to dry, it was time for lunch. Seonghwa cooked early since Wooyoung would be ravenous after this much playing. As he stood in the kitchen with his apron wrapped around his waist and cooked in the peaceful warmth of the room, Yunho spied on the two playing boys from the window. Their giggles and cries had Seonghwa smile without knowing it.

"They are trying to build a snow Snoopy. Snoopy keeps knocking it over," Yunho commented like an amused sports moderator. When he came back over to join Seonghwa at the stove, Seonghwa chuckled, too. Through the lacey white half curtain draped over the kitchen window, he could only see their shadows whizzing past.

While Seonghwa cooked, Yunho fixed the extension on the table so they all could eat together there. The soothing noise of screws clicking and wood groaning as he tightened them into it accompanied their domestic togetherness.

When the dishes were done and sat on the warm stove ready to be eaten, Seonghwa regarded the table. The extension was sturdy, not giving in to the gentle press of his hand. If it had bent under the weight of a motivated Wooyoung throwing himself onto it, it wouldn't have lived for long.

Yunho snuck up to wrap an arm around Seonghwa and kissed him. Humming, Seonghwa sunk against his taller body. Yunho's nimble fingers cradled Seonghwa's jaw to keep his head turned sideways.

"Satisfied with my handiwork?" Yunho whispered as he leaned their foreheads together. Cosy, Seonghwa settled his hands on Yunho's arm holding him.

"Always gotta make sure it withholds the weight of a motivated kid," Seonghwa chuckled back. He pecked Yunho's lips before he leaned over the table to feel for the area the extra piece connected. He didn't trust the hinge that allowed them to fold the extension up or down to resist a lot of weight. Maybe they should turn the table, so Wooyoung sat at the side without extension.

Yunho stayed behind Seonghwa and ran his hand down his spine. As he pressed up against the man, Seonghwa noticed with a blush how inviting him bending over the table must look. With Seonghwa trapped underneath his body, Yunho supported his weight with one hand on the table while he nosed at Seonghwa's nape.

"Is this your preferred testing method?"

Seonghwa ached against Yunho, touching him in all the right spots.

"This isn't an offer to break the table but we can see if it can deal with gentle you." Seonghwa reached to draw Yunho down to his level by the collar of his shirt. They kissed sweetly while Yunho's warm hand ventured under Seonghwa's sweater to roam across his chest and waist.

The noise of the two troublemakers outside drowned out in the rush of Seonghwa's blood through his ears. Like a present, he trembled in Yunho's arms full of anticipation as the man unravelled him like a gift. Soon, Seonghwa's pants landed on the floor and he stood only in his soft beige sweater and the apron that bunched over his waist.

The slick of Yunho's spit sufficed for him to slip his fingers into Seonghwa. His entrance was still soft and willing from the throughout handling it had received last night. The memory of Yunho towering over him to show him heaven had Seonghwa tightening around his fingers deliciously.

They were just about to take the next step and get Yunho inside of Seonghwa when the dull thump of something meeting a car interrupted them. Yunho stilled, his fingers still wrapped around Seonghwa's weeping length. Seonghwa also squinted at the window suspiciously. Their duo of mischief had fallen silent.

Yunho was the first to move. He strode over to the window, not bothering yet to fix his open pants. However, as he peered outside into the yard, his fingers flew to his zipper to close it.

"Hongjoong's using Wooyoung to wipe the snow off my car," was everything Yunho said. He gave Seonghwa an apologetic grimace before he hurried for his coat and jumped into his boots. While he went to check on the car - and Seonghwa's son turned ice scraper - Seonghwa turned to clean up with a sigh. He was left hanging, but the moment was over. Maybe Yunho and he found some more peace after eating.

He was about to pick up his pants to slip back into them when the main door flew open. A rush of icy wind accompanied Hongjoong as he rushed inside, screeching in delight as he escaped from Yunho. He slammed the door shut and jumped out of his boots.

When he spotted Seonghwa, who had hastily pulled down the apron to hide his obvious nakedness, the demon skittered over to hide behind Seonghwa.

Seonghwa grimaced when Hongjoong's snow-powdered and cold jacket pressed against him. A beat passed, then two. The door remained closed as Yunho stayed outside to explain to Wooyoung that he wasn't the best tool used to clear a car off the snow. Seonghwa believed to hear his son ask Yunho to show him how to do it on Seonghwa's car.

When nobody came after Hongjoong, Seonghwa huffed.

"Wooyoung is not a plaything," he nagged the demon.

Hongjoong peered over Seonghwa's shoulder. When he knew himself safe, he relaxed.

"He didn't get wet or anything. Large area cleaning with offspring in a snowsuit sounds very effective to me."

Before Seonghwa could retort, Hongjoong gave a surprised hum. His freezing fingers suddenly grabbed onto Seonghwa's naked butt to spread him apart. The snow clumps sticking to Hongjoong's woollen gloves burnt on Seonghwa's skin and he squawked indignantly.

"What were you and Yunho doing inside here, hm? Did I interrupt something?"

Seonghwa squirmed when the demon hugged him from behind. More coldness seeped into Seonghwa's naked thighs and his nape when snow dropped from Hongjoong onto him.

The demon's evil hand found Seonghwa under the apron and gave a few icy jerks to his throbbing hardness.

"Your dick is still hard. You couldn't finish?"

"We couldn't even start, you devil. Way to take revenge." Seonghwa indented to sound stern, but he ended in a helpless moan when he felt the press of Hongjoong's quickly filling length through his clothes. He couldn't help pressing back against it; one hand coming down to support himself on the tabletop once more.

"I can make up for it," Hongjoong offered. His hands roamed Seonghwa's waist, dipping between his legs to cup his balls and electrified them with icy coldness. Seonghwa gasped under his breath.

He didn't give a verbal reply, but his body's needy press against anything it could get gave him away. Seonghwa's brain was keenly aware of their location and how wrong this could go, but his body rejoiced at the idea of getting to feel the kick of Hongjoong's addicting come that had been denied to him yesterday, despite being so invitingly close.

Hongjoong slicked himself up with the surplus of slick his body produced naturally. When he adjusted his stance to push Seonghwa lower, Seonghwa clung to the table with both hands.

When Hongjoong buried deep inside, both of them choked out a moan. The hot demon dick inside of Seonghwa contrasted with the cold touch of snow and ice to the rest of his body. Hongjoong had enough mercy to take off his gloves, but the rest of him still dropped ice-cold melting water onto Seonghwa.

The draw of Hongjoong's ridges against Seonghwa's insides was familiar to Seonghwa by now, but they never stopped driving him mad. Today, too, Seonghwa's eyes rolled back in his head from how deliciously they filled him.

"I bet I'm doing this better than Yunho ever could. His cock may be bigger than mine, but he can't unravel you in this way."

Before Seonghwa could remind him of his place, Hongjoong slammed into his prostate cheekily. The combination of his skill and the aphrodisiac seeping into Seonghwa's body from the inside turned Seonghwa's head into mush. Every thrust felt ten times as intense as normal and Seonghwa saw stars as he submitted to the starry demon digging his claws into Seonghwa's waist.

"More, please."

Seonghwa buried his face in his hands with a groan when Hongjoong picked up his speed. When his deep thrusts punched every breath out of Seonghwa a moment later, his head flew back up.

Seonghwa tried to minimise his noise by digging his teeth into his lip, but some drool collected in the corners of his mouth. Eyes rolled back, he was but a body for Hongjoong to get off. The creaking table supported him loyally.

"So different from yesterday now, aren't you? Where did the oh so dominant man go? I only see a pretty housewife begging to be bred." Hongjoong's pace turned punishing. Even when Seonghwa whined and hiccuped around every thrust that filled him in a way Yunho never could, Hongjoong didn't relent. With his horns and wings on display, he slammed into Seonghwa's body until the fabric of his pants against Seonghwa's butt chafed his skin raw.

"Hong-" Seonghwa's eyes flew open when a harsh smack landed on his butt. It stung, but only for a second before the pain turned into an overwhelming zap of pleasure that travelled straight into Seonghwa's twitching length.

"Shush. Do you think you are the only one who can give commands? Do you think you have anything to say after taking Yunho like that last night? If you wanted us to be rough, you could have just said it. Wasn't that how you worded it?" Hongjoong's clawed fingers dug into the cheek he had slapped, gripping onto the sensitive skin as he slammed into Seonghwa. Each thrust forced Seonghwa against the edge of the table.

Seonghwa saw white when pleasure overwhelmed him. His body clenched around Hongjoong so much he couldn't move anymore, so he held still as he jerked Seonghwa to completion. Hot come stained the inside of his apron as he laid on the table, heaving and panting. His vision stayed blurry for a while as Seonghwa heaved for air.

Hongjoong loomed over him to look down on the mess he had reduced Seonghwa to. His fanged smirk appeared on his face when he dipped a claw into the puddle of drool Seonghwa left on the table.

"Want me to come inside?"

He stayed perfectly still, not moving an inch even as Seonghwa weakly pushed against him. It took him a great effort to lick his lips and press out a barely audible 'yes.'

"Beg me." With a look of triumph, Hongjoong stared down at Seonghwa. Delirious with pleasure, Seonghwa tried to form words that came out as a babbled litany. His body clenched around the heat inside, wanting the hard dick to move again and fill him up.

"Please... Hongjoong-"

"Tell me what you want," Hongjoong recited in a vexed repetition of last night. Stung in his ego, Seonghwa struggled harder on his mission to speak. He wanted it. Wanted it too badly to give it up for his pride.

"Come- inside. Breed me like- Like a pretty housewife," Seonghwa rasped, disrupted once by Hongjoong's claws digging into his backside.

"What do good boys say?" The smirk on Hongjoong's face was broad and evil, carrying all his sadistic superiority. Wincing, Seonghwa submitted to it.

"Please."

Hongjoong didn't hesitate as soon as Seonghwa had choked out the word. He slammed inside Seonghwa's eager body again and again while Seonghwa drowned in whimpers and moans.

It all happened too fast for Seonghwa's body to build, so a dry orgasm shuddered through him seconds later, leaving him sensitive and spent on the table when his legs gave out.

Wet squelches accompanied Hongjoong's last few erratic thrusts before he buried deep inside. His claws held Seonghwa spread open as he sunk in to the hilt and until Seonghwa's body lurched from how far he went.

Warm come filled Seonghwa and immediately smoothed out his pain. The heat came with the feeling of weightlessness and all of his muscles gave up all their tension at once. Come dripped out of him next to Hongjoong's length.

When the demon pulled back, Seonghwa slid from his sweaty spot on the table. His knees buckled and he would have hit the floor if not for the chair the demon pulled out for him at the conveniently right timing. Slack, Seonghwa hung on it, like a doll tossed in a corner, only that he carried a spaced-out look. The dumb expression didn't register with him. Seonghwa's head was blissfully empty.

Hongjoong skittered around to clean up. He put Seonghwa's pants back onto his legs, threw the apron in the laundry basket, and wiped down the table. Seonghwa got to bask in his peace while hot demon come still trickled from him.

By the time Hongjoong called Yunho and Wooyoung to come in, Seonghwa had returned to his senses mostly. When Yunho glanced between them after picking up on the lingering smell of sex that hid under the scent of food, Hongjoong gave him an ironic smirk. Yunho narrowed his eyes at the demon but kept his comments to himself so he wouldn't disturb Wooyoung.

The little boy dumped all of his soggy clothes in the corridor and came to the kitchen only in his undershirt and the thin pants he wore under his warmer pair of pants under the snowsuit. While he scaled his chair, Hongjoong distributed the food as if he were a waiter in a noble diner. Wooyoung didn't wonder why Seonghwa had dropped his task of feeding them for today. He was too busy rambling about his cave and snow Toothless and all the adventures he had in the yard today.

Seonghwa was quiet during dinner, still recovering from the demon who had bent him over the table so abruptly. At least, they could be sure now that the table held the weight it promised.

After they had finished eating, Hongjoong and Wooyoung took off to watch Wooyoung's afternoon program while Yunho and Seonghwa got left with the furniture. After they had cleared off the table, Yunho looked Seonghwa over before they would join the kids in the living room.

"Everything alright?" Yunho pushed back a stray strand of Seonghwa's hair. Even the small touch had Seonghwa shiver, all senses still heightened from his encounter with Hongjoong.

"He just took his revenge. Once you give him his reward for painting the room, make sure to close the cycle, but let's not exclude him this time."

Yunho pressed a doting kiss to Seonghwa's lips.

"Your wish is my demand, honey," he whispered. When Seonghwa grinned, Yunho took his hand to lead him over to take care of the furniture. Snoopy altered between running between their hands to get pets and chilling with Hongjoong and Wooyoung while they watched TV.

Seonghwa and Yunho worked in concentration to get the job done after several disruptions. Thankful for the distraction provided by Hongjoong, Snoopy, the TV, and Jongho, who stood in the corner looking scandalised by the way they lifted things according to Wooyoung, the two adults altered between loosening screws and carrying furniture. The process of relocation took them a while, but Seonghwa was fuelled by the good food and the delight his family brought him.

They finished after it had got dark outside and the light of the street lamps bathed the snow on the window in a golden shine. All of Yunho's shelves were up in his room and he hauled his belongings upstairs to sort in the first few.

Seonghwa allowed himself a brief break on the armchair while Yunho cleared out the last boxes. Finally, their living room looked like a living room again.

Wooyoung cosied up in Seonghwa's lap without taking his eyes off the TV. His fingers played with Perry mindlessly as the blue shine of the screen flickered over his round face. The sleepy caress of Seonghwa's fingers in his hair didn't register with either of them.

When Yunho returned after carrying up the last box, he dropped on the floor in front of the couch Hongjoong had stretched out on with a huff. Snoopy came over, tail wagging, as she laid next to him to enjoy his pets. Hongjoong also reached out, running Yunho's hair through his claws as if Yunho were his dog.

Tomorrow was the last day of the year. San would come by for a little get-together, they would call Aeri to wish her a happy new year, Yeosang might show up with some papers claiming to work when he actually wanted to check on their little family, and the angels would hiss less at the resident demon. Seonghwa couldn't wait to celebrate Yunho's official junction with them. Today, he appreciated their work and the cosiness of his family huddled together in one spot. Seeing them at ease filled Seonghwa's heart with adoration.

When Seonghwa noticed his eyes slipping shut five minutes into his rest, he sighed to himself. He was still tired from the day prior and the long playtime in the morning. After a lot of excitement, he deserved some good sleep.

Seonghwa nudged his foot against Yunho's knee, instantly garnering his attention. The man craned his head, looking up with those adorably big eyes that had the shine of the Christmas tree in the corner reflecting in them.

"I think I will sleep early; can you make sure everyone has what they need before they go to bed?"

Yunho grinned at him, bright even in the late evening hours.

"Count on me. You get cosy and worry about nothing today."

Relieved, Seonghwa nodded. Once Wooyoung had climbed from his lap to stretch out on Hongjoong instead, Seonghwa left the room to go brush his teeth. With closed eyes and nearly falling into the sink, he finished up to stumble into his bed.

Seonghwa awoke briefly when Hongjoong joined him in bed a while later. The demon stretched out beside him with his wings out to scratch on the wall above the bed and one arm loosely wrapped around Seonghwa's waist. With his heat in his back, Seonghwa fell into a deep sleep that recovered his energy for a full day of celebrations.

-

Yunho prepared breakfast in the morning and woke Seonghwa with kisses when he overslept. For a few minutes, Seonghwa just leaned in his arm and kissed him while his brain gathered its functions for another day.

After breakfast, Yunho and Seonghwa sat together in the kitchen as usual for some quality relaxing time. Their legs were intertwined under the table, and they shared the cosiness of the winter morning.

When Wooyoung came in giggling and clutching something in his hand, it came to no surprise that Hongjoong was right on his heels. He didn’t chase Wooyoung, but they looked as if they had some devilish fun together.

Wooyoung picked something out from his hand and shoved it into his mouth. He gave Hongjoong one, too, while Seonghwa still craned his head to see what it was.

“Snacking before breakfast?” Seonghwa called Wooyoung out without heat. The lift of his brow got his son to giggle at him with his bright, cheerful smile that was lacking a tooth in a corner. His eyes crinkled under his curly hair; kudos to Aeri.

“They are rocks!” Cheerful, Wooyoung put another one in his mouth.

Yunho’s and Seonghwa’s faces fell at the same time. Yunho knelt immediately to pry Wooyoung’s hands open while Seonghwa stared at Hongjoong in disbelief.

“You’re feeding him rocks?! Those are no good; spit them back out, Wooyoungie.” Seonghwa worriedly handed Yunho a napkin. But even as the tall man held it under Wooyoung’s chin, the boy shook his head.

“I already swallowed them.”

Seonghwa’s concern grew. He looked between Hongjoong’s grin of playfulness and Yunho’s troubled expression as his stomach twisted in worry.

“Should I get ready? We better check this out in the hospital, even if they were small ones.” Seonghwa stood from his chair while Yunho hunched over Wooyoung’s wrist to take one of the vicious little things into his fingers.

“It’s fine, mortal. No harm in eating some rocks,” Hongjoong brushed it off. The roll of his eyes darkened Seonghwa’s features.

“What are you saying? Eating them can rip his stomach open. You can’t feed a human rocks!” Too nervous about his little son, who had gone pale with worry, Seonghwa skipped the nagging Hongjoong deserved. He was on his way out of the room to get his keys when Yunho’s voice stopped him.

“I think these are fine, Hwa.” When Seonghwa turned, Yunho also ate a rock right in front of his eyes. He grinned at Seonghwa’s shocked expression disarmingly.

“They are made of chocolate.”

Surprised, Seonghwa blinked at him. His hands settled on Hongjoong’s arms mindlessly when they came around his back to hug Seonghwa’s waist. The demon leaned against him in an apologetic embrace, but Seonghwa could feel his grin hidden on his shoulder.

“Sorry for the scare. Of course, I wouldn’t give Wooyoung real rocks.”

Relieved that he didn’t have to die, Wooyoung went to hug Yunho. The teacher picked him up with one arm while he came over to Seonghwa. His thumb touched Seonghwa’s plush lips when he slipped a rock inside his mouth for him to taste. Upon Seonghwa’s first hesitant bite, the texture carved in and offered a rich chocolate taste under a coating of sugar.

“There, it’s all fine,” Yunho beamed at him. Wooyoung attended as his father chewed thoughtfully, looking as sorry as Hongjoong should feel.

“I didn’t know those were a thing. They are good,” Seonghwa conceded. He gulped down the stone and gently whacked Hongjoong’s fingers on his stomach.

“Idiot. You scared me.”

Hongjoong’s devious giggle was muffled by Seonghwa’s sweater. He hugged him tighter, squeezing all the love into Seonghwa to be forgiven.

“Sorry, mortal. I should know better than to challenge your mother instincts.” The innuendo that sentence carried didn’t pass Seonghwa. He blushed before he freed himself from Hongjoong’s arms.

“You two go play. We’ll set up the rest of Yunho’s room and then we can have our party.”

“Can I visit Changbin until the afternoon? He said Yeonjunnie would be around today, too, and we could continue our game!” Wooyoung bounced on Yunho’s arm, excited to go. Instantly turned into putty, Seonghwa grabbed his phone to discuss it with Changbin’s parents.

One call later, they decided Hongjoong would bring Wooyoung over to Changbin’s house since it was within walking distance. Wooyoung would get home at four so they could celebrate New Year together. Until then, they would have one less troublemaker running between their legs while they worked.

Once Hongjoong and Wooyoung were gone, Seonghwa and Yunho made their way up the stairs. They unpacked Yunho’s things and sorted them into the drawers and shelves.

“Hwa, what will you tell your parents?”

Seonghwa looked up from where he colour-sorted Yunho’s books into his shelf. He preferred the aesthetic over logic, and Seonghwa had fun sorting them for him.

His parents had mentioned calling later during their last chat. Since they lived nearly the entire country away, they had decided against celebrating together, but they wanted to come by soon. Seonghwa had yet to explain his peculiar living arrangements to them.

“Concerning Hongjoong?”

“The three of us. They might not need to know he is a demon, but they should know about this threesome of a relationship.” Yunho folded some shirts on the bed while he watched Seonghwa. His curious eyes settled heavily on Seonghwa’s face. A smile played around the other man’s lips.

“Should I tell them we plan to marry? Or would you rather I explain the lack of another marriage by the presence of a third person?”

Seonghwa didn’t look up from his books when Yunho sucked in a harsh breath. He got to put down one last red book before Yunho already crossed the room to catch Seonghwa in his arms. Pushed up against the wall next to the shelf, Seonghwa giggled when Yunho tripped over the corner of the carpet that some demon must have flipped over. Not minding the interruption, Yunho pressed Seonghwa against the wall to tower over him. With a fond smile, Seonghwa leaned his head back against the wall.

“You would marry me?” Yunho breathed. His voice trembled, giving away both nervosity and thrill.

Seonghwa wrapped his arms around the man’s waist and held him close. Some of his peace seeped through his hands into Yunho’s back.

“Of course. I love you; you’re my overgrown puppy,” Seonghwa smiled. The delight in Yunho’s smile made him grin.

“But Hongjoong…” Yunho let the sentence hang in the air. His insecurity about the demon shone through rarely, but it stuck. Yunho could share, but he couldn’t divide his love for Seonghwa.

“Hongjoong doesn’t age, and he isn’t part of this world. I couldn’t marry him even if I wanted to. So why not marry as the two we planned to be and Joong gets to stick around as he does now. I love him, but I don’t love him the way I love you.”

Yunho was touched beyond words. Suspicious wetness shone in his eyes as he embraced Seonghwa without ever parting their eyes from each other.

“That’s why I have two hands, you know?” To show him what he meant, Seonghwa lifted his hand with Hongjoong’s ring on it. The other one was free for Yunho to claim.

“Glorious hands. I will anticipate asking you every day from now. Thank you for reserving one of them for me.” Yunho brought up Seonghwa’s hand to his lips to kiss it. His lips brushed Hongjoong’s ring, accepting its beauty on Seonghwa’s finger without complaint.

“Me too. So it’s no problem if I tell my parents of that plan?”

Yunho nodded hastily.

“You’re welcome to. I will make it a reality. Anything for you.” He cradled Seonghwa’s hand in his larger palm as he leaned in to kiss the other man. Seonghwa’s belly swooped as he angled his head to respond, and their lips melted into one. The adoration in his chest both warmed him and made him anxious, but he wasn’t scared around Yunho. Yunho was everything Seonghwa could ever ask for.

They still stood at the wall kissing sweetly when Hongjoong appeared next to them in the doorway soundlessly. Used to his sneak attacks, Seonghwa didn’t startle. He parted from Yunho and leaned his head against the man’s shoulder when Yunho pulled him into another hug. Attentive, Hongjoong met Seonghwa’s wet gaze.

“You look as if you just told him you’re pregnant. Oh, no. Am I the father?” In mock horror, Hongjoong clasped his face with his painted fingers. He had to smile when Yunho cuddled Seonghwa tighter. His clinginess was accompanied by some tremors of excitement that melted Seonghwa’s heart.

“I told him there was no issue for us to marry, even with you around. He looked out for your feelings too much to even consider.” Seonghwa’s hand brushed Yunho’s back, offering comfort for the years of Yunho taking care of Seonghwa.

Hongjoong cooed as he stepped into their little circle. His hand grew claws as he put it under Yunho’s chin to turn his head around to face him. For once, his smile was honest as he wiped the few tears of happiness dotting Yunho’s face.

“Oh, you adorable human. I am not in your way. Regard me as an addition, not as an obstacle,” Hongjoong crooned at him. Yunho nodded with a sniffle.

“A fun-sized addition,” Seonghwa added. When Hongjoong scowled at him, Seonghwa stuck out his tongue childishly.

“Watch your speech, mortal. You know whom you are playing with.” Hongjoong grabbed Seonghwa’s collar with his free hand and yanked him in for a kiss. Sharp fangs dug into Seonghwa’s lips but never made do on their threat. Seonghwa chuckled and kissed back softly, enjoying the surprised shudder seizing the demon at the genuine affection.

“About that.” Yunho’s voice returned to normal. When he let go of Seonghwa to grab for Hongjoong instead, the demon squealed in surprise. Yunho already had his head tipped towards Hongjoong’s full chest as he picked up the demon to carry him over to the bed.

All brattiness lost, Hongjoong mewled and clawed at Yunho’s hair when big hands found his chest to massage it.

“I remember promising you a reward. Let me make do on it.”

Chuckling, Seonghwa went to close the door when Hongjoong got louder. As he went to help his boyfriend undress their mouthy demon, he postponed sorting Yunho’s stuff a while longer.

Ultimately, they got done with everything before the New Year and shared their celebration with success. On the first of January, Yunho moved in with them officially, and Seonghwa got to live with his adorable family as he had wished.