Hongjoong stumbled down the corridor and crashed into walls as he tried to control his feet, haphazardly throw on Seonghwa's clothes and not lose his sense of direction all at the same time. His legs felt wobbly and weak like those of a newborn deer and his arms not seldomly refused to take his weight when he stumbled into another wall.

San. He needed to get to San. Did San not eat Fae? He did not know. Apparently he was harmless enough be dated by one.

San dated a fae? One Hongjoong knew?

He distracted himself thinking about the possible matches while running down the stairs, finally spotting the two through one of the windows. They were standing in the front court, bodies pressed together closely and their lips locked in a passionate kiss.

Hongjoong grimaced while jogging to the door. The fae was wearing a dark hood over his head, making it hard to recognize his face but Hongjoong already felt their disgusting sweetness as soon as he stepped into the yard.

"I will miss you dearly, love. Let's see each other again when the moon rises halfwise." San was gently caressing the other's face, too captivated to notice Hongjoong staggering closer.

"Of course. I will return to you in secret, none of our kings has to know."

San gently brushed the tips of their noses together and Hongjoong nearly crashed into a tree.

"I told you, did I not? Our side does not care. Our-"

"San!" Hongjoong finally raised his voice, promptly falling down on the last meters seperating them. For a second both men stared at Hongjoong confusedly, completely blank.

And then it was the fae stumbling forwards first.

"Hongjoong! Oh Luna, what happened?! San, did you not say he was safe with Youjin?! Hongjoong!"

Hongjoong let himself be cradled carefully, finally peeking under the hood to recognize Wooyoung's ashen expression. Somehow he knew it was not Jongho. Point to him.

"I don't understand, he seemed stable! Is it Seonghwa? Did he let himself be distracted?"

Weakly Hongjoong pointed up to the moon - or lack of it - and it finally seemed to dawn on San. His face paled considerably.

"Damn, I see. It's feeding time. Wooyoung you got to leave fast. Please take Hongjoong with you for now I will confront Youjin as soon as his head cleared up. See you soon!"

San wasted no time to turn on his heel and run back inside, leaving Hongjoong to wriggle in Wooyoung's lap impatiently.

"Can we please leave? I'm scared."

Wooyoung looked concerned for a second before cursing slightly, mumbling about how there were no dark elfes in the north.

"I think I've gotten sick... This place-" Wooyoung pulled him up on his feet again, worriedly pressing his hands on his forehead and cheeks, comparing with his own.

"You're running a fever. It told Jinyoung he should send you home immediately, that your body was not used to our climate but why would that prick ever listen to me? Now you're sick!" He allowed Hongjoong to lean heavily into his side, supporting his weight with a grunt.

"You're lucky. The winter fae arrived not too long ago down here and one of them can bring you home for sure. The rest of them are frosty enough for this winter." He huffed, dragging Hongjoong with him through the gates. The woods seemed darker here, more menacing than the other ones and less magical. They seemed like they wanted to eat them.

"Normally I fly here alone but now we are two... But I can take your weight, no worries. It's just going to take longer. Here, hold onto me." Wooyoung opened his arms, mentioning for Hongjoong to come hug him but the human faltered in his movement, still aware of what the fever was doing to him.

"No worries, we have to take breaks anyway. If one of us gets too uncomfortable we will rest first. What, you think I'm dating San virginally?" His high-pitched cackle sounded through the forest. As mortifying as the situation was, it actually helped Hongjoong calm down and finally he stepped into Wooyoung's arms, letting himself be embraced.

"There, you're safe now, friend. I will take you far away from here."

Hongjoong's exhaustion began catching up with him already, all of his struggles and fear episodes of the day catching up with him. He barely tried to stay awake, glad he was not looking downwards as Wooyoung took off.

The feeling was... relaxing. Up high in the air Hongjoong felt lighter. He felt as if the Castle of Neheg was not able to reach for him anymore. Wooyoung was gliding peacefully through the air, forming the winds as he wished as they carried them home securely.

Hongjoong felt safe.

"Say... Does San not eat fae? Are you not scared of him?"

Wooyoung smelled nice. He smelled of the meadows and flowers in their village.

"He does not. He is different from Youjin but it's not my place to tell. It wouldn't have been hard to guess if he had made you stay longer. We were all so sure he wanted to keep you so why... Did he really forget getting food because of that snotty brat?" Wooyoung himself sounded confused.

Hongjoong just made a noise of ignorance, burying his face in Wooyoung's neck again.

"Guess I'll have to teach you myself how to fly now. A good fae you are, getting in trouble with the dark prince and then not being able to fly away. What about our reputation?" He laughed softly, just joking but Hongjoong's own answer was weak.

He still was no fae.

-

The rest of their flight went in a blur. Hongjoong had abstrouse memories about them taking breaks in the middle of the forest. Hongjoong remembered frenzied pleasure while Wooyoung guarded him from a good distance away, remembered seeing the stars in the sky.

The feeling of wind ruffling his hair has become a normalty. His feet always had to get used to the ground beneath them again and when they finally arrived in the village, the morning was already showing itself on the sky, coloring grey into pale blue.

Wooyoung was basically carrying Hongjoong the rest of the way. While his pleasure phase might have stopped some time ago his body was still treating the forgein drug like a potion, trying to get him to sweat it out. All of this resulted in a tired Hongjoong with next to no sleep, an aching body and skin hotter than fire.

Wooyoung was quiet as he manoeuvred him into the hut he was staying in all that time ago (how long has it even been?).

However that hut was not empty anymore, a man rising confusedly from where he was sitting in dim enchanted lightning on the bed. Black locks glided softly over his forehead as he tilted his head questionly.

"An emergency.", was everything Wooyoung explained breathlessly, dropping Hongjoong down on the bed where he curled up protectively.

"You need to take him with you. He was too far south, er, lost in the woods. It made him sick."

The man gave a short glance towards Hongjoong who was delirious again already, not noticing the scrutiny of the other.

"You don't say."

It was sarcastic, completely deadpan and it pulled a week giggle out of Hongjoong. Wooyoung snorted.

"Yeah, yeah, Mister Know-It-All. Just help him, alright?"

Hongjoong was not worried at all, having already closed his eyes to the comforting solace of this place, of him being safe where nothing messed with his mind. Contendly he snuggled deeper into the soft furs under his cheek.

"Sure. Bring me some porridge for him. Anybody who might want to see him before he leaves?" It was eerie how that guy obviously did not know Hongjoong but seemed to know exactly well he had been here before. Were they talking about him? Were there many rumors going around of him dating the dark prince?

"Ah, yeah! There is, actually! Thanks for reminding me. I will tell the kings tomorrow that he had to leave fast. Be back in a minute." Wooyoung left hurriedly, leaving a rush of cold air from outside behind. Hongjoong shuddered.

Has it been that cold the whole time? It was winter now after all.

Sighing, he opened his eyes again, peering up to the dark man standing above him.

He was dressed in white, his tanned skin and dark hair contrasting strongly with his simple outfit. When his eyes met Hongjoong's, his gaze seemed cold.

Hongjoong saw his wings. The leathery, bony wings of a dragon.

Hongjoong also saw his ears, pointy and nearly completely hidden between the strands of his hair.

A crooked smile danced over the guy's lips and then Wooyoung was coming in, at his side a distraught Mingi who seemed close to crying. As soon as the redhead saw Hongjoong he tackled him, nearly hurting his wings in the process. Hongjoong smiled tiredly, hugging the babbling man while the stranger put a gentle hand upon Wooyoung's shoulder.

"Let him stay here a bit. I will prepare to leave at noon."

He left and with him went the frostiness.

"He's snow?"

"Yes. We finally put the spell of leaving your powers outside in here again but he somehow always manages. Whatever. Porridge."

Wooyoung balanced the steaming bowl dangerously atop Mingi's head tight against Hongjoong's chest.

Sleep had to wait again.