Wooyoung hadn't mentioned another visit soon in his letters, so Hongjoong was pleasantly surprised when Wooyoung and San appeared on their doorstep in the morning. Hongjoong sat at breakfast early and Seonghwa was still in his room when Jongho opened the door for them and exposed two grinning faces. Despite everybody in this house knowing about Wooyoung's gender, he still wore a dress to make sure that the possibility of getting seen wouldn't expose his double identity at San's side.

Hongjoong rose from his seat in surprise when the two made their merry way in while greeting Jongho. Once Wooyoung had put up his hat on the rack, he came over to hug Hongjoong. Careful of the dainty fabrics of dresses, Hongjoong held him close.

"What do we owe the sudden visit?" Hongjoong inquired once they parted. Wooyoung sunk to the cushions by his side and lightly held Hongjoong's hand. Still at the door and talking to Jongho, San giggled about not telling Seonghwa they arrived and just waiting to see when he would show up.

"Detective matters. Seonghwa mentioned that you two were at the scene of the crime this time? I am so sorry for you. You must have been spooked."

Hongjoong shivered at the haunting memory combined with what Seonghwa had told him about the victims.

"We were; we passed by the location just after the last soiree we spent together. Did you have to accompany San there?"

On cue, San came over to sit with them. He had taken off his long coat and dropped into the couch wearing an impeccable grey suit. When Jongho supplied him with tea, San sipped from it with elegant fingers while he delved into the conversation.

"I went by myself; I wouldn't want to burden Wooyoung with such gruesome visuals. With the police department, I collected all the details, so I came to discuss with Seonghwa. Last time, his input was very helpful, and we nearly caught the supposed murderer in the act."

Hongjoong nodded slowly. The topic still unsettled him, though he had calmed since the first scare during that night. Death long since couldn't surprise him anymore, just the matter in which it happened. He was glad to know people were after the killer.

"Has Seonghwa noticed yet who you are? You seem at ease with your manly tendencies these days." Wooyoung beckoned at the way Hongjoong had spread his legs apart again to be comfortable. Chuckling, he assumed a proper position.

"Seonghwa keeps being a blind fool. By now, Jongho and I are so amused by his antics, we are just watching how ridiculous his ignorance can get." Hongjoong was about to tell them that Seonghwa had seen part of his chest the night prior but bit his tongue on time. Despite looking at a clearly masculine chest, Seonghwa had failed to notice anything. Just how work-hardened did he think the women of the slums to be?

"Oh, the buffoon. He never mentioned your Adam's apple? It was one of the first things I would recognise you by." Wooyoung massaged his own throat that was usually covered by collars to hide the obvious.

Hongjoong shrugged helplessly.

"Once, while drunk, he was close enough to me to predict the truth, but he failed to remember. Or perhaps he knows, but keeps my secret with the same amusement as I fool him with."

Wooyoung drew his brows together, doubting.

"From what I heard about how he criticises you, he would hardly pass up on that opportunity. Here, in private, he gains nothing from pretending for you."

San shook his head with the same disbelief.

"I might test the waters while the two of us are alone. I won't give you away, but I feel this is a truth meant to be shared after all this time of living together," San said. Before he could continue, Jongho and Seonghwa emerged from the upper floor. Seonghwa scrutinised their guests with the same surprise as Hongjoong.

"Such a sudden visit? I expected you tomorrow at the earliest time," Seonghwa wondered as he came to greet them. Hongjoong scooted aside so Seonghwa could pass past his legs to sit beside San. Their gazes brushed fleetingly before both of them looked away at the same time.

"Me too, friend. However, we made some grand discoveries yesterday that mattered in our further approach. I wanted to discuss them with you before I made my arrangements." San grimaced, apologetic about the surprise visit. Seonghwa waved it off.

"Very well, then I shall assist you to the best of my ability."

While Jongho took this as his cue to help them to more cookies and tea given the early morning hours, Wooyoung and Hongjoong searched each other's faces on what to do in the meantime. The skies cried today, so they had no reason to go outside.

"Let's sit in my room and chat," Hongjoong suggested. Wooyoung stood with a bright grin and offered Hongjoong his hand. They linked their arms.

Before they could leave the room, however, Hongjoong hesitated. He had yet to mention his supposed homesickness to the earl, but he would like to leave the next morning. Since San carried urgent matters to discuss, Hongjoong didn't want to delay until the night to bother Seonghwa with it. Them seeing each other at night while their circumstances were so delicate might get them into more trouble.

"Lord Seonghwa," Hongjoong addressed him. He and Wooyoung turned to face the earl who had lifted his head. His eyes carried something nobody but Hongjoong could understand. Something so very private between the two of them that had Hongjoong's spine tingle.

"I have been meaning to address my homesickness towards you. I believe Yeosang mentioned it?"

For a moment, Seonghwa looked alerted at the timing so shortly after their kiss. He schooled his expression when he remembered the letter had already arrived before that.

"He did. You want some time to go home?"

Hongjoong nodded.

"If so possible, yes. I can be back during all the relevant festivities for Christmas."

Seonghwa hummed as he glanced at his calendar that was spread out on the table filled with documents.

"I don't have plans until the new year. The only festivities you would miss are those private to this household. You may utilise the entire week if you wish."

Hongjoong couldn't identify if that disappointed Seonghwa. Perhaps he had expected Hongjoong to be with him while the scent of cookies and the glow of candles among fir wreaths bathed them in the holiday's atmosphere. Perhaps he was glad to spend this cosy time without the rat catcher.

"Then I shall take my leave in the morning and return within the week, if that is fine with you?"

Seonghwa agreed.

"You may. If we don't see each other until then, I wish you a peaceful rest. I hope you return with the best of health."

Having Seonghwa in the role of someone who cared about Hongjoong's circumstances was still foreign to Hongjoong.

He smiled back.

"I will. I know my way around."

Seonghwa leaned back into his seat, assured. As Hongjoong retreated with Wooyoung, the other man glanced between the earl and Hongjoong a few times.

Up in Hongjoong's room, Wooyoung jumped him with questions.

"Your relationship got so much better since last time! Have you made up? Did you show him how your people use their fists to resolve problems?"

The man's enthusiasm made Hongjoong snicker as they got comfortable on the ground. His carpet offered a wonderfully comfortable surface to rest on, and the two spread out their skirts to sit together and spend their time in contentment. It wasn't hard to determine which of two had performed this act longer. Wooyoung relaxed with a poised elegance where Hongjoong was most concerned with not sitting on any body parts that would get numb.

"You could say that our fights ultimately forced us to make up, yes. Though we are still far from what I would describe as a cordial relationship."

Wooyoung smiled comfortingly. The beauty mark under his left eye crinkled together with his smile. Hongjoong appreciated his charm.

"I think you are doing so much better already, visibly so. I had given up all hope concerning this man, but you made it work." Wooyoung's awe flattered Hongjoong, though he could never give away the methods of utter confusion he and Seonghwa had used to pacify each other.

Hongjoong wouldn't convey the embarrassing truth to anyone but Yeosang. He didn't want it to be part of Hongjoong's legacy.

"And now you get a layoff; that is wonderful. What are your plans once you are back at your home?"

Yearningly, Hongjoong glanced around the room. He had learned to live with this luxury and the sudden lack of it would dishearten his mind. His books and the soft bed and light whenever he wished for it made up for wearing women's dresses. Seonghwa had been right about that bargain.

"I will meet the moron that I owe this mess and have a long talk with him. I might visit where I reside. Though my long absence might have got me thrown out of there already. I lived in a community bed in the shared halls. When somebody doesn't show up for a while, the overseers just assume they starved or left the city."

Wooyoung gave him a wistful smile.

"Not the life one would miss, it sounds like."

"Not at all," Hongjoong replied. "But I will use my time away from here to relish in my Seonghwa-free space. I also need a haircut under this." Hongjoong smoothed his fingers over his locks. Curiously, Wooyoung tilted his head.

"I let my hair grow out, but I suppose you aren't ready for that yet. Nor required to. Can you show me?"

Hongjoong hesitated. He sent a glance at the door to make sure he heard no voices drawing closer outside. When his hand rose to his head to draw the wig from it, Wooyoung's excitement-filled eyes examined him.

With the wig also dropped a considerable amount of heat. The heavy curls came to spill over Hongjoong's lap and fingers.

For a moment, Hongjoong endured Wooyoung's scrutiny with awkward glances between the man's eyes and the floor.

Wooyoung leaned forward to reach for Hongjoong's face and Hongjoong sat perfectly still for him. The fingers cradling his jaw on both sides felt different from the touch of Seonghwa's hands. Wooyoung's skin was rougher than Seonghwa's, but he made up for it with the softness of his touch.

"Look at you. You're so handsome," Wooyoung crooned through Hongjoong's embarrassment. The compliment meant more than others did to Hongjoong since this one didn't endorse his feminine traits, but Hongjoong's true self.

"Not as a woman. You make for a fine man, Hongjoong." Wooyoung's understanding smile was impossibly soft. He, too, understood the struggle for identity after a long time of pretending to be a woman. At least, Wooyoung could be himself at home.

Should Hongjoong tell Seonghwa? He didn't want to risk their relationship when Seonghwa had just accepted the parts about Hongjoong that displeased him. The brittle peace between them might end in even more hatred or in Seonghwa getting rid of Hongjoong entirely. Hongjoong was terrified of the silly earl finding out the truth.

"Thank you," Hongjoong muttered even as he was distracted by his dreadful thoughts.

"I hope you don't forget how you feel most happy. Seonghwa and his insults for women can go where nobody needs to hear them. Perhaps once you took a few days off to be yourself and then return here to a relatively peaceful relationship with him, you will know how much longer you wish to be part of this and whether Seonghwa deserves to know." Wooyoung withdrew his hands to sit down. Hongjoong turned the wig in his hands before he covered his head with it once more. In case someone knocked, he would have enough time to put it back on before anyone opened the door, but his paranoia kept him on his heels.

"I will think about it, yes. For now, I shall be happy that I can reign over myself for a few days without needing to worry about changing my terminology or my looks."

Wooyoung grinned before he nodded at the book about flowers he had spotted on Hongjoong's nightstand.

"Shall I tell you the story about when San didn't know the language of flowers and tried to woo me with whatever came into his hands and it led to countless misunderstandings?"

Hongjoong snickered at the imagination.

"I am dying to hear it."