A few nearby titans witnessed Seonghwa's return with his blood-soaked husband and immediately meandered closer in alarm, but Seonghwa assured them they wouldn't need medical aid.

"The others are near the border. Could you send someone to pick them up? We got attacked," Seonghwa asked the titan kid running around, Astraios. He played his pranks on them in the past, but he rushed off on quick feet now. The kids likely mentioned it already upon their sudden return, but movement came into the titans now as they checked for any more intruders close to their border and rushed to fetch the rest of Seonghwa's family.

With the titans so close, Seonghwa was assured the others would make it back home without issues. He could focus on coaxing Mingi to sit down while Seonghwa lit a fire to heat some water.

It didn't take Morana long to pick up on Mingi's scent, even when Hongjoong brought them to the privacy of Seonghwa's room. The demon girl came running, her brother by her side, and a cloud of rage distorting her features. She barged into the cave without hesitation, not thinking for long enough why they might be back already without the others.

Her loud voice made Mingi flinch, and he curled into himself even when his grimace softened as soon as he heard her.

"Emmya, how dare you! I'm a grown woman now, I can-"

Seonghwa looked up from the fire and Aodhán had already noticed he was in no mood to jest around. He had recognised the state Mingi was in and tentatively reached out for his sister, but Seonghwa spoke up first.

"Morana, not right now. Mingi isn't feeling well," he warned her quietly, and Morana's mouth instantly snapped shut. She found her father curled up on the bed, clutching his arms around himself and barely reacting to the relief of knowing Morana was fine.

"You're safe," he merely whispered, but it was feeble and he didn't dare reach for her.

Unafraid of the gore, Morana closed in on him, but she hesitated to reach out for a touch. She could tell something was off and that this wasn't just a side of Mingi hidden to her so far.

"Of course I am, but I couldn't protect you. Are you all right?" She inquired, searching Mingi for injuries, but his black hair was so clotted with orc blood that she could barely tell.

"What happened? Did he get hurt? What of the others?" Aodhán also fretted, but Seonghwa lifted to his feet to usher them away. If the rest of the family was still in danger, he wouldn't be so relaxed, so his kids accepted their bad timing.

"Morana, let's run a bath for him so he can wash off. Aodhán, would you notify Seungyoun that we are back and the others are on their way?" Seonghwa asked them, patient despite his nervosity about Mingi's state. He was still burning up, heating the small cave like a furnace. Seonghwa doubted he would become volatile again, but he wanted to make Mingi feel safe before he retreated further into himself and snapped.

Aodhán spun on his heel to dash for the tunnels.

"Yes, athair."

Morana also came to Seonghwa's aid, carrying the cauldron of boiling water for him as he coaxed Mingi to come along to the cave Jongho had reshaped for them to create a spacious pool. It was naturally full of water from the river outside, which they used for cooking and drinking until Yeosang poured leftovers or bath water to the plants, but the additional kettle heated it nicely. Mingi's body would do the rest.

Seonghwa helped Mingi take off his clothes, staining his hands with still drying blood. He was glad that Mingi's bruises and cuts were superficial, none bad enough to need immediate treatment.

The demon both shied away and leaned into his touch, undecided what he sought. He was scared to hurt Seonghwa, so Seonghwa stuck close to him when he helped him sit down in their pool.

Morana was with them, and she brought the soaps and scented oils Seonghwa liked to use. Mingi mentioned how calming he found their scent and they helped him today, too.

"What was going on? Did you get hurt? I could have fought for you," Morana muttered as Seonghwa washed the grime out of Mingi's hair and smoothed his touch over his horns. The demon sat sunken into a heap, but he exhaled to the warm water and the scented oils clearing his head. He looked fatigued by his frenzy, so Seonghwa was gentle with his massage around his ears.

Mingi played with his fingers in the water. His brow was furrowed, and the fear lingered in his voice.

"I can't remember what happened... They were crying my name and when I woke up, I was full of blood. I thought I hurt someone," he whispered, trying to rub off the sticky film that already left his skin and instead murked up the water.

"Only our foes, my love," Seonghwa assured him, but Morana scrutinised the sunken demon, his clenching fingers.

"Did you kill them? I didn't think you'd kill anyone," she deducted, and Seonghwa sighed inwardly. She had no sense for when to speak and when to be quiet. Honest and blunt, she was strong as much as ignorant.

But it seemed to help Mingi focus. He didn't startle away from the idea, aware of what this might mean.

"I... I think I did. Without even knowing, I- I didn't know I had the ability to kill. How did I do that?" The fear in his voice was a stranger to himself. Morana handed him the soap so he could wash up, distracting the demon's clenching and unclenching fists. As the scent of thyme and honey filled the cavern, the demon gradually relaxed. The water was dark with dirt, but his skin was cleaned, hair softening.

"You weren't yourself and yet didn't touch any of us, not even Thistle. You know who your enemies are," Seonghwa explained. He admitted his own fear when Mingi lost all reason, but he listened to them when it was time to stop.

Morana looked proud of him as well. Her grin was infectious, making Mingi smile when he heard it in her voice.

"That's good then, right? You helped them fight." Morana threw Seonghwa a look that told him she was still upset about being sent away at a critical moment. She would rant about it later, but for now, Seonghwa was glad she focused on her father.

"He did," the elf said as he cupped the water into his hands, gently tilting Mingi's head back to pour it over his head. The demon was still overheating, making the water steam around him, but Seonghwa endured the warmth. Mingi would need lots of rest and food if this was his breeding period. Seonghwa would make sure he was tucked in bed before he caught up with Seungyoun and the titans on the attack.

But after a few moments of pondering, Mingi said something that had Seonghwa pause.

"Maybe... Maybe I should stay like this. Despite the violence. I can finally be useful. I can be your weapon." The demon turned his head with the realisation, searching Seonghwa's reactions. Immediately, the elf's hand stilled on his shoulders as he took in the hope in Mingi's eyes. The shy smile of relief.

Through the years, Seonghwa liked to think that Mingi found comfort with this family. That he settled in and learned to communicate his needs and accept who he was. None of them was perfect; they were all still working on their character, every day. A difficult balance in a time of war.

But that decade apart broke whatever trust Mingi may have gained. Seonghwa might be back, but their security wasn't easily rebuilt. Mingi changed, and he had nobody there to help him through that change. His terror of being unworthy, of being left alone, was greater than ever.

Seonghwa tried to see it from his perspective. From the demon boy, who got bullied for a genetic disability he had no fault in. From the perspective of someone, who never felt he was enough compared to the elite of the empire.

As much as Seonghwa wanted to protect him, he didn't want to hold Mingi back. If he wanted to be a fighter, he could be a fighter.

But was that truly him? Was that what he wanted?

Other moments wouldn't have been near as critical with Mingi's strength by their sides. But that wasn't Mingi. The one who killed those orcs had been nothing like Seonghwa's timid husband. It wasn't that Mingi hated fighting, but he was a risk to himself and others without sight.

Now that he went berserk, that drawback seemed solved.

But Mingi was scared. He wasn't in control and there was no telling if he might not hurt someone he loved next time.

Seonghwa wouldn't risk his health like that. His sanity.

Delicate fingers cradled Mingi's jaw, and the demon leaned into his touch, trusting the tender touch. The black of his eyes was gorgeous and deep, shiny like onyx. Seonghwa saw the same Mingi in him, despite his changes.

"You are not my weapon, hawthorn. You are my love. I was afraid you might get hurt," Seonghwa whispered to him. He didn't take the decision from the demon, but he shared his feelings as he hoped Mingi would.

The demon's brows furrowed. Morana splashed through the water as she washed up, ignorant of sappy conversations.

"Were you afraid of me?" Mingi muttered back to him and his large, heated palm covered Seonghwa's when he turned his head to kiss at his palm. The elf wasn't hurt badly, but Mingi still cradled him with caution. Ran his free hand over Seonghwa's hip and waist, feeling his skin to shape him out in his mind.

"Never. I know you return to me no matter what. Even when things are different now. You are still you." He caressed his fingers through coarse fur, over the heavy horns. Each touch gentle and patient as the seated demon dwarfed his lithe frame.

"What if I hurt you next time? I'm scared, but I want to fight for you." Exhausted, Mingi leaned his forehead into Seonghwa's stomach. He held him like the thinnest of glass, soaking up the cool comfort of his skin. Seonghwa brushed his wet hair out of his eyes.

"You mustn't," Seonghwa breathed. "You asked me to be yourself a fortnight ago. Even if your berserker doesn't get hurt easily, even if you can fight with it... The you of the past is more than enough for me. I will love you no matter what, but my darling, don't sacrifice your sanity for me. I couldn't bear losing your beautiful soul to have a weapon. San struggles with the same conflict."

Mingi took a moment to think about it long and hard, about San's meticulous training, about the many times he witnessed the angel crumbling in some way because the burden he put on himself was too tough. Of course Seonghwa would be there for him through it, but there was no guarantee Mingi would be sane enough not to hurt him during his heats right after.

So Mingi just sighed heavily.

"I'm exhausted, Seonghwa," he muttered, and Seonghwa supported him to stand, tugging him to the edge of the pool to help him towel off. Morana enjoyed rolling through the water by herself for a few more moments before she came hopping after them.

"Come, go to bed. I will bring you dinner to your room," Seonghwa promised. Hongjoong would have to help Mingi figure out who he would become and what the repercussions might be if he chose to embrace that demonic transformation. Seonghwa knew he was selfish, wishing they could go back to the past, but he would allow Mingi to be who he wanted to be.

After getting dressed, Morana and Seonghwa brought Mingi back to his room. He squirmed under his blanket, quickly overheating, and Morana ran to fetch Aodhán for a few cooling spells until Hongjoong was back. In the meantime, Seonghwa sought Seungyoun to check in about dinner, so Mingi could regain his strength before the worst would hit him.