As so often, Seonghwa stirred from his nightmares in the middle of the night. His fright subsided quickly, then he exhaled a deep sigh, trying to calm the rising fear in his chest with steady breaths. His dream had been haunted by shadowy figures, tugging at him, coming after him. He was running, but they were catching up steadily. Ultimately, a sharp cry from Hongjoong startled him awake.

Seonghwa closed his eyes, trying to block it out. These dreams brought back memories. Haunting visions he never had the time to find closure with. Of his family in pain, his children crying out in fear.

The caves were cool and dark. Hongjoong wasn't here, so Seonghwa told himself he was fine. One cave over, his mage was either reading or slumbering peacefully.

It was all in his mind.

Still, Seonghwa was glad when the massive, warm body by his side stirred in response to his movement. A large palm felt over his stomach, finding his hip to draw him close to a warm chest. Seonghwa happily snuggled into it.

It was better that Mingi couldn't see his state. He might have heard the hitch in Seonghwa's breath, but he soothed him with hugs as best as he could. They always helped him, so Seonghwa reassured him back with a gentle arm on his waist, not speaking a word.

Mingi also couldn't sleep. He lay awake by Seonghwa's side, gently caressing his skin and gliding his fingers through his hair. When he felt Seonghwa lift his head, he also tilted his, elevated by his arm so his horns wouldn't press into the mattress.

"Why can't you sleep?" Seonghwa whispered to him, voice the mutter of a night breeze even when they were alone. The titans usually slept during the day like Seonghwa and Mingi, wearied by the bright sun, so others would be out and about. San training the twins outside, Aodhán studying. They all slept during different times naturally, but Mingi slept less than he had in the past. Fearful of falling back into his trance.

"Thinking about Hongjoong and his book," the demon admitted. They all knew why Seonghwa couldn't sleep. Sometimes, it got so bad he needed Hongjoong to brew him a sleeping potion. They were delicious and warded the dreams off, but Seonghwa didn't want to rely on them every day. Even when Hongjoong promised to brew him a bunch.

Gladly distracted by Mingi's concerns, Seonghwa peered at him through the dark. Saw the silhouette of his demon shifting in the faint glow of his own skin and the mushrooms in the corner, fluorescent in their shine.

"He can help you now. Isn't that good? If the demons ally with us again, we can find out more about your condition."

There would have been experts in the Crystal Sphere, but they were either dead or fled. All the other kingdoms banished the demons from their lands, even the peaceful locals. No one else could help them out.

But Mingi's hum was conflicted.

"I want to be normal again, yes... But I'm worried about what he said about the rut. I don't want to hurt you. Maybe it's better if you lock me up when that happens. Somewhere where I can't destroy anything with these claws and horns. It's only two weeks. I managed ten years last time." Insecure, he drifted off, but Seonghwa already firmly shook his head.

"I won't do that. You should never ever feel alone and forgotten and locked away again. That will be much worse than anything a fever can do to you. Hongjoong said sleeping together would help you. We don't have to make another imp. We can just soothe your strain in the normal way," Seonghwa argued, holding on to Mingi when the demon's legs rubbed against each other nervously. His hooves had hard edges, but they rested far enough below Seonghwa's feet that they only clicked into each other.

Mingi breathed a shuddering breath, trying to imagine it. Neither of them knew exactly how bad his rut would be since he was much larger and much more dangerous than a regular dog or cat. However, Seonghwa had a bunch of very powerful husbands and magic at his exposal. They would have options.

"I hold back so much whenever I'm inside you. Because it feels so good. Because I want to bury deeper and deeper and never let go, but I don't want to hurt you. If I lose my mind with the need to breed you... I will hurt you. Definitely," Mingi predicted, coiling further away in his fear.

Seonghwa came after him, pressing their bodies into a soft hug. Soothing Mingi with his light.

"So we will invite someone else. Sinister as the story of our people is, elves can endure the forceful treatment of the demons. And I love you. You couldn't hurt me even if you tried."

Mingi clung to him in response, cradling the elf close to bury his nose in his hair and breathe his scent. The beat of his two hearts was erratic in his chest, scared what he might do. But his grip was ever gentle.

Seonghwa trusted him like no other.

Warm breath caressed his ears. Mingi held him like a fragile flower, but Seonghwa could feel his desperation, his unconditional devotion.

"I'm too scared. So scared something could go wrong. That I'll hurt you or one of the others. You shouldn't have to endure. I'm not like those who want to hurt you."

With a fond huff, Seonghwa pressed a kiss to Mingi's collarbone. He ran his fingers through the dark fur covering his shoulders, thick and coiling around his digits.

"I know you aren't. And that's exactly why I know I can hold you without either of us getting hurt. We're here for you, hawthorn. Tell us if you start feeling weird, then we can help you, all right? You are safe with us, no matter what your body does," Seonghwa promised him. Once the rut came, nobody would be fully prepared. But they stood with each other through everything else. Helping Mingi was just another facet of being there for each other.

And thanks to Hongjoong, they didn't go in blind. The most shocking part was already unveiled.

Mingi sighed heavily. He made no promises, but Seonghwa and Hongjoong would have an eye on him.

After a few moments of silence, Mingi hugged Seonghwa close, squeezing him into the tightest embrace he would dare. Happily, Seonghwa hugged him back, unabashed at the sweetness of his soul singing louder, likely heard by some of the others.

Mingi tilted his head, searching for Seonghwa's lips, and Seonghwa stretched to meet him in a kiss, sealing his promise. When he playfully tugged on Mingi's lower lip with dull teeth before kissing it to ease the sting away, Mingi couldn't help his smile. When they pulled apart, his huff was less strained and more pouty.

"I just want to embrace you like everyone else. Want to make you feel loved and satisfied. This body of mine always holds me back," he sighed, bothered with the cards he had been dealt, but Seonghwa cherished him as he was.

The elf pushed himself up, carefully grabbing Mingi's massive horns. The base was thicker than his fingers could wrap around and Seonghwa bent over them gracefully to press a kiss to the hard bone.

"You know I adore your body, yes? From your horns, to your gorgeous eyes..." Seonghwa scooted lower, kissing Mingi's fluttering lids. "To your sweet lips, your strong arms, your chest, your gentle hands, everything about you." Seonghwa peppered all the places he named with kisses, trailing his worship of his demon down every finger and to the tail that moved under the blanket restlessly. The places he couldn't reach, he skimmed with his hands, appreciating Mingi's firm thighs and the curve of his waist.

Mingi was putty below him, fully unwinding as he cherished the feeling. Quiet noises of appreciation fell from his tongue and Seonghwa's soul was filled with happiness at the assurance that Mingi knew and Mingi believed him.

The demon found his words after Seonghwa pressed another kiss to his lips, confirming it for him.

"I believe you... I do, after so many years, when I wouldn't believe anyone else. I'm just... I'm just never normal, am I?" Mingi exhaled, sprawled onto his back now. He was exhausted by this whole ordeal and Seonghwa couldn't blame him. He stayed tucked under Mingi's arm, head resting on the demon's chest as he curled up next to his lovely husband. They were both tired, but the company they kept each other was cosy. Mingi had closed his eyes, resting at peace as Seonghwa let his fingers dance on his chest, ever adoring the contrast of their skin.

"Who ever is? What I love most about you all is how unique you are. Everyone is lovable in their way. Even when Wooyoung rips up my carpets and Hongjoong sets a curtain on fire. Don't get me started on all the things Yunho and Buddy get up to." Seonghwa's dark hair spilled over Mingi's body like the night. Their contrasts couldn't be harsher, but they were perfect pieces for each other. Seonghwa was soft where Mingi was rough and together, they created a middle. Morana was proof that the junction of a demon and an elf didn't have to be a dreadful ordeal.

"I know those," Mingi had to chuckle as each of them thought back to Yunho up to no good. The demon chuckled. His free hand was twirling Seonghwa's hair around his fingers, so comfortable now with touching him freely. Seonghwa cherished the moment.

"You have so much love in your soul. I admire it, but it's what always gets you hurt, too," Mingi muttered, thoughts already drifting. "I don't understand everything, but I noticed that. It's how people keep abusing you. To me, your kindness may be a strength since I am scared of my own violence, but to Yongguk, those orcs... Are you only helping because you are so kind? To me?"

Seonghwa had to think about it for a moment. This discussion was usually only between Yeosang and him since the dryad was a master at picking up on Seonghwa's self-sacrificing behaviours. The elf liked to think he learned from being an emperor and from losing everything he had once, but did he really? Wouldn't he make the same mistake again, hoping to extend his kindness even to those who held a blade to his neck?

"I'm not perfect," Seonghwa admitted quietly. As much as people made him out to be their sole star, their leader and their light, his perfection was practised and well-maintained. A mask he wore for those who needed him. Kindness came naturally to him, but as did weakness. "I'm not perfect, and that's how this war could happen. Because people like you might have been strong enough to kill my brother when it was time, but I wasn't."

Mingi stayed put, allowing him to sort his thoughts. His introspected thinking had hit the mark, as so often. Seonghwa struggled to come to terms with those questions himself.

"But to love means to sacrifice, to me at least. It means trust. If I am ever in pain because of you, I would be happy if that means I helped you. And I am even happier if you trust me to bear that burden. It's true, I often live for others and not for myself, but... That's the only thing I know to do."

A common problem among elves, but even more so among their royals. Their bodies, their words, their lives, they were not their own. They lived for their folk, for their lands, for their empire. Seonghwa didn't know how to be selfish. He learned it only after his husbands arrived.

Mingi turned around to pull him into another embrace. Seonghwa cuddled into his chest, grateful for his heat in the lonely cave.

"I think I understand," Mingi whispered. "Still, please be careful when you sacrifice yourself for us. It's only worth it if it means we can be happy and together. Not like last time."

Seonghwa accepted the guilt that panged through his insides. He closed his eyes, sleepy against Mingi's chest.

"No. Never again like last time." That much was a promise he intended to keep.