They arrived just as the sun was setting behind the mountains, watching the sky change it's colours in the most mesmerizing of all ways while they were still floating in the air. Only then they found their way downwards between leafless trees and bushes, gently landing at the outskirts of the village. This time it was Wooyoung waiting for them and he ran towards them with a big smile and happily waving fingers to come hug Hongjoong. He looked like he was glowing, his whole face healthy and Hongjoong felt glee overcome himself too.

Happy friends meant happy Hongjoong.

"I am so excited, you are finally here! It did not feel like 4 months! Yongguk, you too, we missed you." Wooyoung refrained from hugging the tall halfling, both of them exchanging polite greetings only.

Some how it felt strange now, after all the time Hongjoong had spent with Yongguk. Yongguk knew the fae much longer than him and still it felt as if Hongjoong had brought a new friend.

"The whole place is bustling already! Can you hear it? People from far out started arriving yesterday and everybody is really boisterous! They are singing over there, sorry in advance if you two will not sleep at all.", he laughed in this high and squeaky voice of his, mentioning for them to follow.

"Some witches?"

"Yeah, those too! I can take you to them later if you want. Hongjoong, do you want to share your room with Mingi and me by any chance? We do have a shortage right now."

It was obvious that Yongguk needed his own space.

"Sure. But if one of you gets any visitors and I hear one noise, then I-"

Wooyoung interrupted him with a loud laugh.

"Oh, no worries, the important night is the one tomorrow and few people will return to an actual  building then. After the first guests have left you will get your own hut back." He winked at Hongjoong playfully and the other fae just answered him with suspicious eyes.

-

The first night passed restless just as Hongjoong had anticipated. Mingi was heavily laying splayed over Hongjoong's smaller body, pinning him against the bed with his softly snoring form. Wooyoung was laying on the ground, a plush doll of some dog that Hongjoong had never seen before tight in his arms.

Hongjoong laid wide awake from the nerves, only falling into a fitful sleep after a long time and he was not rested at all when Mingi woke him just a bit later for work. It took them a while to disentangle their bodies again.

"We will go put up the lanterns! Stop looking at me like that, I know you're tiny. You have pretty wings to use, remember?"

They were getting ready together with Wooyoung, washing their bodies quickly at the near stream. There were some fae going around and working on fabrics for the night here but everybody greeted each other politely, no real pressure was being made.

"Do you have something to wear tonight? If you don't, I can lend you something for sure!", Wooyoung was asking on the way back, ready to split. He bounced on his toes far too energetically.

Hongjoong hestitated, for one moment distracted by the thought of their clumsy Mingi in festive clothing. Endearing.

"I do. But thank you." He could not stop the blush rising in his cheeks, Wooyoung hooting immediately. Mingi just smiled confusedly.

"Seems like the right reaction to me. Wait with getting ready for me! I know how to do face paint!"

They promised to meet again by nightfall in their shared hut, Wooyoung then leaving to attend to the fabric team. Mingi and Hongjoong were crossing the center of the village to get to the place by the forest where they would start.

Hongjoong dodged a lot of fun looking creatures on his way. Most of them where somehow humanoid with more or less animal characteristics. The little imps between his feet were probably the most tricky little things, laughing evilly whenever he nearly kicked one.

When they arrived at their workplace there was already a fire team setting up multiple stacks of wood for big bonfires, a food team setting up a table. The cool air was heavy with magic, tasting like strong wine and making Mingi a bit tipsy too. Hongjoong might have been protected but he was still glad at that moment that Mingi was not doing the flying here.

They worked together with some other fae, putting up colorful lanterns at this part of the trees. Mingi disentangled them together with two giggling ladies whose constant advances the redhead was completely oblivious to and then gave them to Hongjoong and one of the other boys to put up.

It was a tiring task, constantly having to lift the heavy things up and down so Hongjoong was glad when he soon was tasked with sitting in the trees and fixing the ropes to thick branches securely while the other teams switched (except poor Mingi).

They still had fun, laughing and sharing fun stories with Hongjoong about the last solstices. He learned that it was one of the fae's favorite nights to hide changelings in the human realms, taking human children away. There were also some legends about King Arthur and his people having a few encounters with fae during those times.

Hongjoong was fastening the very last knot while Mingi was standing at his table and kept asking him to take a break finally, when a visitor came by.

"What is this, snow already? Is it not a bit too early for that?"

Hongjoong recognized the light voice immediately, turning around on his branch with a big smile.

Youjin was standing beneath him with a cheeky grin, what could only be San in travel clothes close by his side. Both looked certainly very dark and while Mingi looked mildly confused he did not choose to comment on it, instead waiting impatiently.

"Want to see the first snow fall?", Hongjoong called down to them just as delighted, watching as Youjin opened his arms invitingly. He did not hesitate further, instead dropping in the arms of his horned lover trustfully.

Youjin caught him with a huff and no exertion at all, pulling him in close to kiss the corner of his lips in greeting. Hongjoong blushed prettily, distracting himself by poking Youjin's piercing cautiously. It did not hurt.

"I exchanged it. Never a good idea with all those pretty fae here."

Hongjoong sometimes asked himself how far the friendliness of the fae went. Did they gift sacrifices to the dark elves? Or did they travel over to the human world to get food there? It sounded less strange for sure.

However Youjin was here in peace as far as Hongjoong was concerned so he just nodded, let himself be put down onto his feet again.

"Go find your loverboy, I can manage on my own. Send Eden to me if you find him." Youjin shooed San off and the other grinned brightly, jogging into the other direction. The fae mentioned Mingi to come follow, letting Youjin take his hand and swing it between them playfully as they were walking.

"We were just going to take a break and search for some food. Want to join us?"

Youjin booped his nose with a coo, making Hongjoong swat at his hand indigantly.

"I know the festivities in good hands. Small hands. But good ones. I would absolutely like to but one of my friends got lost here and it has been a while since he- well, let us call it 'saw' people." His dark smile was enough for Hongjoong not to question him further, just shrugging.

"Fine by me. We will see each other tonight I guess. Good luck with finding your man." He was already pulling his fingers from Youjin's, the other's gentle touch disappearing, when he suddenly grabbed Hongjoong shoulder again, pulling him close.

"Hongjoong, this night... Be mindful of what you agree to, alright? The magic here is strong enough to bind even you and only few people will leave alone after tonight. It is that kind of celebration."

Hongjoong softened further. From all people it was Youjin looking out for him, warning him of getting himself into uncomfortable situations and somehow it made Hongjoong proud. This was Youjin's human side shining through and he admired it's stamina.

"I will, thank you. However I shall not make you promise to find me before something like that happens. I know your dark heart well enough to know you will try too."

Youjin stepped back, winking knowingly and then he left, leaving Mingi and Hongjoong to find food by themselves.

"Who was that?" They were walking again, Mingi desperately trying to match Hongjoong's shorter steps with his long legs.

"Youjin. But in his true form."

"Oh, uh, the darkling prince? You seem- unsettlingly comfortable with each other?" He spoke so quietly, so very afraid to criticize the other and Hongjoong wanted to coddle him forever. How was this overgrown fae such a pure cutie?

"He's my friend, it's alright. But thanks for your concern, Mingi." Hongjoong smiled and Mingi just shrugged shyly, scratching his head.

"Come on, there's food over there. I'm starving right now."

And so the day commenced.