Some smut towards the end of the chapter!

******

The stars were as ideal as the astronomer promised, because the group made it back into familiar territory without bigger hitches. Once, while near the border of the Sky-Reaching Highlands, a rogue group of goblins attacked them and injured one of their stags. They were quickly taken care of without Seonghwa's involvement and to rest the limping animal; the soldier rode along on a companion's stag afterwards.

Soon, familiar towers penetrated the mists, and Seonghwa's heart sang at the joy of returning home.

"Hurry ahead and inform everyone we are here, hm? Go, Buddy!" Yunho cheered on his dog and he raced off, whirling up the snow and surprising birds and fairies alike. Chuckling, Seonghwa relished the crisp air for a moment longer.

There was no more hurry now. All the pieces were assembled in their spots. He almost looked forward to the war council and to settling on peace.

By the time the troupe came riding in, the servants bustled about to greet them. Seungyoun stood with Seonghwa's kids on each hand and Aodhán bounced in his spot. The moment Seonghwa dismounted by slipping into San's waiting arms, the two babies raced at him.

"My loves," Seonghwa greeted as he sunk into the soft blanket of snow. They cuddled against him eagerly, accepting his embrace as he kissed their cheeks in greeting. Squishy arms hugged his neck as Aodhán squeezed him as tightly as he could.

"I have returned with good news and your fathers are safe and sound with me," Seonghwa grinned, glad to keep his promise. Buddy ran around the little gathering, yapping happily.

Before Seonghwa could search his person for the snow crystals Hongjoong retrieved for them in the forest to play with, Morana pulled back from him. She stood on wobbly feet with her hands clutched into fists, but the frustration on her expression didn't blaze like the day Seonghwa left.

"S-Sorry," she stuttered, not looking at Seonghwa. Aodhán took her hand for support and the look in his eyes gave away they had talked about this. The bond of their souls was as close as the one to Seonghwa.

"Morana sorry," she repeated, and Aodhán glanced at his speechless father, full of hope.

"We missed you," he supplied as if they had feared Seonghwa might permanently leave them because of Morana's outburst. The darkspawn baby looked utterly downtrodden and Seonghwa tugged them into an even gentler embrace. Behind him, Yunho and Mingi patiently waited, but matching smiles played around their lips.

"I'm also sorry," Seonghwa whispered into Morana's hair. "Sorry for making you sad."

Morana sniffled.

"Morana sad... Emmya sad... Don't want sad," she mumbled, afraid to ask too much, but Seonghwa was so glad she figured out her needs by herself.

"It's all right, darling. Let's be happy now, hm? It's nice to be back and to hug you." For good measure, he squeezed the two again, kissing Aodhán's smiling cheek as thanks for being a good older brother to her. His giggles soon delighted the courtyard.

"Here, I have something for you," Seonghwa said as he pulled back. He retrieved the crystals and handed their curious hands one each. When Morana's eyes sparkled at the sight, he rubbed her back.

"A present for you. I promise not to leave again."

"Thank you, Athair!" Aodhán cheered before he hopped off to show Yunho. Morana stayed for a moment longer, almost bashful under Seonghwa's loving gaze.

"Emmya thank ou," she muttered shyly. When he lifted her with a grin, she had to smile and cuddled into his neck sweetly before he handed her over to Mingi.

Seungyoun beamed at the emperor once he neared. While the servants helped the others dismount and get rid of their gear, Seonghwa accompanied him inside.

"Welcome back, Your Majesty," his closest friend beside Yeosang greeted Seonghwa warmly. "Nothing out of the ordinary occurred in your absence and your children spent a pleasant time with your parents."

"That is good to hear," Seonghwa hummed, and the castle greeted him with its heavenly choir. Soldiers and servants smiled at him when they rushed past, and Seonghwa allowed Seungyoun to relieve him of his heavy coat.

"What about the titans? Have they decided in our favour?"

Not one to torment his anticipation, Seonghwa allowed his body to glow, delighted to be back in safety and under his beloved moon.

"Let us call an assembly with the folk soon. I have a good deal of favourable news to share."

Excited, Seungyoun clapped his hands. He rushed off to inform the kitchens to prepare a late meal. Though their journey was long and endured few breaks on the dangerous spread of land, Seonghwa was energetic. He looked forward to having dinner in the comfort of his home and kissing his husbands to thank them for their support.

On his way up the stairs, Seonghwa regrouped with them. San carried Morana on his shoulders and Wooyoung told her about his adventures from below. Aodhán hopped between Yunho and Mingi, holding their much larger hands, and Sunny rejoiced in her reunion with Buddy.

Hongjoong took off first to check on his spells that needed constant supervision. After running his fingers through Aodhán's hair, Seonghwa smiled at Jongho and Yeosang.

"Feel free to relax in the winter garden. I will call for you once we will have dinner," he offered and Yeosang hooked his arm around Jongho's. Finding his Pebble was like a constant hunt for a needle in a haystack, but somehow, she always reappeared.

"Will do. Rest a bit, Hwa," Yeosang grinned with a goofy wave of a branch sprouting from his temple. 

"We should drink together again soon. Those mushrooms were so much fun," Jongho added as an idea and Wooyoung immediately perked up. He huddled closer to offer his mystery knowledge to Jongho, which was probably illegal in Seonghwa's lands, but the elf willingly didn't hear anything about that. While they discussed a week-long celebration of their win, Seonghwa sought his two babes with his eyes.

"I will have an eye on all our troublemakers while you catch your breath," San offered, and Mingi nodded along. 

"I can't keep an eye on them, but I will add my ear," he promised, eager to help now that they returned. 

Seonghwa chuckled.

"Thank you. I shall take a bath first and see you later."

Everyone dispersed to catch some leisure by themselves. However, Seonghwa only made it to his door when long legs jumped up the stairs behind him. Yunho jogged over and reached for Seonghwa's wrist as the elf turned. The curious tilt of his head brought him into Yunho's arm, pulled close against the handsome knight's chest.

"Wait. Come here," he uttered as he pressed Seonghwa's wrist to his lips, kissing it full of reverence. 

Noticing his need in his scent and the darkness of his eyes, Seonghwa cast a discreet glance down the corridor. Though empty, anyone could come through and Hongjoong would definitely hear.

Was this Yunho's revenge?

Too tired for adventures tonight, Seonghwa guided his human into his chamber with him. Gentle fingers trailed over his cheek and chin, making him shudder. Then Seonghwa stepped from him and undid the leather vest that laced up his front.

"Give me a moment. I still smell of the journey and the battle." 

Yet again, before he could make it to the bathroom, Yunho caught him. He tugged the elf against his chest and buried his face in his hair to breathe in his scent. Though his fingers found the hem of Seonghwa's vest, they didn't pull it off him. They lingered as if unsure whether they even wanted to undress him.

Whenever Yunho didn't get a lot of sleep, his mind became addled, but today he unveiled yet another surprise to the confused elf.

"I like it."

A beat passed while he sucked a mark onto Seonghwa's nape. Both of them still wore their dusty travelling clothes and Seonghwa's hair begged for a nice round of brushing. He had looked much more gorgeous on other days, yet he felt the needy press of Yunho in his embrace. 

"The dirt?" Seonghwa asked incredulously. 

When he turned his head to the heavy human on his back, Yunho stuck to him as if addicted. He kept sucking in Seonghwa's scent.

"You so rarely smell anything but sweet. Though musk is foreign on you, this is so delicious."

Seonghwa swore Yunho's eyes rolled back a little.

Yunho had many peculiar hobbies but the ones that would always put Seonghwa off most were anything concerning grime. In those moments of pleasure, he found a personal appeal of letting loose and being messy for once, but he could never fathom what drove Yunho's mind.

Perhaps he was merely as obsessed with Seonghwa as he always claimed. 

"Aren't you hungry?" The elf asked, feeling odd to be unclean when they held him. Different races set different standards, so he didn't mind it on them, but he was supposed to be pure for them.

Not for Yunho, judging by the poking parts of him.

The human grumbled into Seonghwa's nape, never tiring of convincing him of the most bizarre ideas at the most unfortunate timing.

"We still have some time until the cooks will be finished. Until then, I can eat you up."

Ever so weak to his loves, Seonghwa turned. He wrapped his arms around Yunho's nape and tugged their chests flush until his scent filled Yunho's nose. He took in Yunho's handsome features and lean frame, the eyes that could be so innocent until they sparked with ideas.

"What do you want to do? Let's not keep them waiting," Seonghwa muttered and immediately, Yunho dipped to kiss him. He giggled in delight when Seonghwa couldn't help his curiosity yet again.

"I can help you wash up. Just let me do it," he suggested, and though that look in his eyes chased the same shivers down Seonghwa's spine as a spark of danger, he never refuted it. Ever indulgent, he caught Yunho's lips in a passionate kiss and the human walked him backwards into his bathroom.

Peculiar as his ideas were, Yunho knew their heat would dissipate very abruptly if he lifted Seonghwa onto his bed in his travelling clothes.

As soon as the door fell shut behind them, Yunho trailed his lips down Seonghwa's neck. He laved a hot tongue over the spots of him that were clammy and kissed away the taste of the outdoors. Bit by bit, he undressed Seonghwa, pressing him onto his dresser until he could bury his face in the pit of his arm. 

Confused, Seonghwa moaned. His body reacted since the skin there was sensitive, but he didn't understand why. When Yunho tugged on it with cautious teeth, he could easily spread the elf's legs to stand in between.

Though Yunho didn't do anything outlandish, their difference today was Seonghwa's unclean state. When Yunho buried his head between his legs to suck at him, Seonghwa tried to push him off, warning him he wasn't clean.

But Yunho was as enthusiastic as ever. He groaned at the taste he found on Seonghwa's skin and swallowed him deep until the shame was washed away by lust. As Seonghwa's noises filled the bathroom and his fingers clutched to Yunho's dark locks, the human moved an eager hand between his legs. 

Though they were worn from travel, this was enough to push Yunho over the edge. He pressed the sole of Seonghwa's foot to his length, bucking the spilling tip between his toes. As Seonghwa was trapped by strong arms that demanded him to come in Yunho's mouth no matter how he squirmed, the elf soon gave it up. He allowed Yunho his odd pleasures, and the splashing of the fountains behind them drowned out their noises of delight.

Only after Yunho had kissed and licked everywhere he found even the slightest scent on Seonghwa, he got to take a bath. As Seonghwa washed Yunho's hair for him, he wondered yet again if Yunho was like this because he grew up with dogs as his siblings. 

Either way, Seonghwa found him charming. And perhaps he should be less strict with his cleanliness when it was for Yunho's pleasure.

When they left the room together, both of them smelled of Seonghwa's soap. Their shared grin was secretive as they interlaced their fingers and walked down the stairs to join the others for a late dinner.