Mingi sat on the porch and glowed with happiness. He radiated like the sun, attracting all the others to share his warmth. Proud of his beautiful lover, Yunho sat by his side on the floor with Mingi's tail slung across his lap, uncaring of his dirty clothes.

"I can't believe it. It was right here all this time, and we never thought of this," Yeosang huffed with a smile as he wiped his sweat. Jongho rubbed his back. They all had the muscle ache coming for them.

"It wouldn't have been possible before you got to know Jongho. I'm overjoyed it ended like this," Wooyoung beamed. His eyes were soft for the naga in their midst, who didn't listen to them. He was too busy basking in the sunset and the wind on the entirety of his body. It skimmed fond fingers through his locks, throwing them here and there in greeting, and he looked ethereal. Though a creature dwelling under rocks and caves, he wasn't one to be denied the beauty of nature that had created him.

Yunho was in love as he marvelled up at Mingi.

"I'm contented I could help. I would have hated it if this went on and you guys were gone and couldn't look after him anymore," Jongho grinned a gummy smile as he tugged his gloves off. His fingers pushed his sweaty hair back as he glanced at the neighbouring house.

"I'll be back in a moment. They should know we are finished and I will pay the reparation costs." He took off without a word, not leaving them time to protest and split the money. Yeosang blushed when he followed the line of Jongho's broad back with his eyes.

The payment was taken care of.

Wooyoung and Yeosang sat down, as well, sharing congratulatory drinks. They relished Mingi's touched mood, basking in the success that had to wait for over twenty years.

Yunho was the first to notice when Mingi's disbelieving smile distorted into a grimace of pain. The first sobs of realisation spilt over his lips and Yunho was right by his side to cradle him in a soothing embrace. He kissed the crown of Mingi's head, letting him cling to him with all his might.

"There you go. You did so well, Mingi. You endured so much," Yunho whispered to him. Precious tears wet his shirt at his shoulder, but he didn't mind them.

"You're free now. Can go wherever you want. So many things to catch up on."

Yunho would be happy to show him, but he swallowed the words for now. This wasn't about him, or them. It was only about Mingi.

Unable to form words, Mingi cried into his shoulder for a while. Yeosang and Wooyoung watched with fond smiles, eyes glistening at the naga's joy.

By the time Mingi pulled back to wipe his face with all four hands, darkness had engulfed them. While Yunho helped with a tissue, San crawled over to the power outlet. A moment later, the fairy lights strung around the deck clicked on. They basked the group in a soft hue and led Jongho back to find them.

"What now?" Yeosang asked once Mingi had calmed. With puffy eyes and lips, the naga peeked over at him.

"Where do you want to go? You need a new nest, one that soothes your agitated spirit. But you can't build it here, as I had hoped. We leave soon."

"Perhaps you could build it in the new shop?" San suggested, meaning well, but Yeosang shook his head.

"I don't want him to be locked up in his place of work any longer. He deserves the freedom of moving at ease now that the weight on his shoulders is lifted."

Jongho mumbled under his breath, thinking whether the flat above the shop might be free for Mingi to access.

Yunho had a better idea. He had a spare room ever since he moved into his apartment. Originally, it had been planned to be his office, but he didn't like the dread attached to a lonely room of work, so he worked at his bedroom desk instead. The leftover room had become a chamber for his own sundries, full of books and seasonal decorations or hobby items.

He nervously licked his lips, but he was willing to take the shot. The worst that could happen was him getting refused.

"On the risk of moving too fast within the boundaries of our relationship... I have a spare room in my flat. I wouldn't mind you moving in there and building your nest. You could take your pillow fort right over," he offered. Shyness bore on his usually confident mind, since so many eyes rested on them.

San clapped excitedly, fixating Mingi with his stare. Everyone awaited his reply with breathless anticipation.

Mingi ducked his head, fumbling with his words.

"I- I mean, I wouldn't say no to that. It's a place to stay and I would like to be close to you." The last part of his sentence lost itself in a murmur, too embarrassing to be declared out loud. Wooyoung cooed at him.

After a moment of calming his racing heart, Mingi tried again. This time, he met Yunho's eyes.

"I gladly accept. I want to live with you."

Yunho's cheeks hurt from the force of his grin. When he hugged Mingi's tail in adoration, the tip of it shyly curled around Yunho's leg.

"Then it's decided. Mingi will live with Yunho and we will make sure the shop finds its new home," Yeosang purred in satisfaction. His ears and tails were out again, and the latter swished behind his and Jongho's bodies that leaned close to each other.

Mingi swayed over to Yunho. His eyes reflected the light and glinted in the darkness.

"I'm so excited," he whispered, as enamoured with Yunho as Yunho was with him. Yunho squeezed his tail.

"Me too."

For another while, they sat in peace outside. The cicadas conducted their nightly concert and when Yeosang shivered once, Jongho retrieved his jacket to place it around the fox's shoulders. Their shared breather, after all the hard work, was much deserved.

When the temperatures fell further and Wooyoung also shifted in discomfort, they called it a day. They cleared up their food waste and Mingi happily dusted off the deck with a broom after many years of having San do that task.

Once they had all squeezed inside the shop again, Jongho was the first to announce his departure.

"I will bring you the documents for the new shop next time I drop by," he promised. He had shrugged a worn leather jacket over his working clothes and cradled a motorcycle helmet in his strong arms.

"Thank you so much, again. I owe you a lot," Mingi said. With a sheepish smile, Jongho waved it off.

"I'm happy to support you; you are good people. And it's not the first time the corruption of my family sickens me. Call it my rebellious phase." He winked, and the others snickered.

"I'll see you off," Yeosang offered, and the two stepped outside.

San was draped halfway over Wooyoung, nuzzling into him like the cat he was.

"Let's go to my place, hm? The shop is closed for the weekend and you deserve a proper bed after all your hard work," Wooyoung purred as he traced San's lips with his finger. Upon the cat's approving hum, they dragged themselves up.

"See you soon, Mingi! Let's celebrate with a cake next time," Wooyoung beamed at the naga. San's eyes lit up at the word cake, and he nodded along before Mingi agreed with a chuckle.

When only the two of them remained, Mingi took Yunho's hands to play with his long fingers. As if bashful despite their closeness, Mingi concentrated on the movement instead of Yunho's face.

"What about us?" He asked, caution lacing his voice.

With a tilt of his head, Yunho studied the sharp angles of Mingi's features and how the light cast deep shadows into them.

"What do you mean; what about us?"

"Will we, um, will we stay as we are? Will you still visit me a lot? I feared you just had pity on me because..." Mingi left the sentence hanging in the air, shameful to admit his doubts.

Yunho cradled his hands.

"Never. I adored you since I first laid sight upon you and in the time we spent, that only grew. We will get closer as you live with me. There's no way I will ditch you now," Yunho assured him. He wasn't hurt by Mingi's insecurity, knowing years of being trapped made it difficult to bear.

Mingi battled his flattered grin before it could spread over his features.

"Then when will we leave? I don't have much here and I could pack it all in a box to take to your place."

"If you want, you can come home with me tonight. My place is a mess and you won't be able to build a nest before I clear out the room, but you can sleep in my bed tonight and start tomorrow," Yunho breathed. Once more, he was afraid that he was moving too fast, but awe had taken over Mingi's features.

"Your bed," he repeated in marvel. "I would like that. I want to spend time where you live. You visited me so often."

Yunho grinned. When he slid from his chair, he tugged Mingi's hand along.

"Then come. We can pack some of your pillows and blankets, and you move over to my place. And tomorrow, we get the rest of your stuff."

Mingi came after him with an enthusiastic jitter quivering through his entire body. To soothe him, Yunho squeezed his hand, but he was just as thrilled to bring Mingi away from this place.

Yeosang came back in while they were busy filling two bags with pillows and blankets. He leaned in the door and crossed his arms to watch them bicker with each other.

"I'll put a spell on you that disguises your appearance to humans. You won't have trouble moving outside. Just be careful not to get stuck somewhere. Cars are dangerous," he said when the two were almost done.

"Thank you, Yeosang," Mingi grinned. When he stood to engulf the fox in a hug that was a snake stifling its prey, Yeosang's ears stood at attention, but he battled his flight instinct to hug back.

"You deserve the best, Mingi. You better treat him well, Yunho. Gumihos aren't bringers of luck, as kitsune are."

The empty threat brushed right past Yunho as he shouldered the bags and rose to his feet.

"Why would I do anything else? I share your opinion." He grabbed Mingi's hand again, ready to leave. With a fond smile, Yeosang waved them away.

"Just go, you two love birdies. I'll lock up."

Mingi grinned at him and waved with all three of his free hands when Yunho pulled him outside. He saw no difference in Mingi's appearance, but the few night swarmers out on the street didn't run away screaming. To them, Yunho and Mingi must have looked like a regular couple.

Yunho took care of guiding the naga, who was trapped in marvel. He knew the city from the windows, knew its voices and had seen it on TV. Yet now that the perspective shifted, wonder overtook him once more.

"Yunho, there's an ice cream place! I want to eat ice cream in those fancy glass cups," Mingi gaped in passing. Making a mental note, Yunho snickered.

"I swear it tastes thrice as good in those. You can sit outside in summer and eat at those places and it's great."

Mingi found many more things that interested him. The karaoke bar, the cafe at the corner, the pet shop, and the flickering advertisements populating the narrow streets even at night. He petted a stray cat in passing, fond of all that looked like San, but less taxidermied.

The way to the station had never seemed so adventurous to Yunho. Yet he didn't have to drag the naga with him. Mingi was too interested in getting to Yunho's home to stall for long.

In the pink and yellow neon lights, the naga looked out of place and yet exactly where he belonged.

With a grin on his features and ready to show him the world, Yunho grabbed his hand tighter and led the naga home.