TW: Bullying

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Yet another commotion startled Seonghwa from sleep. Like last time, multiple male voices echoed over each other in the corridor, but this time, there were more. Since he was used to being woken by imperative business only by Seungyoun, Seonghwa stirred when the servant's voice mingled among the others.

Before he got to piece together his surroundings and guess from a distance what this morning's unrest might be about, his door burst open. Steps hurried for his bed and Seonghwa sat up, always on alert for a sudden attack poised at him.

However, instead of Seungyoun with news about discontent in the city or a fight between his husbands, it was Yunho who came running in. The head servant was on his heels, pale with his dread at what might happen for waking Seonghwa so brusquely.

"Seonghwa!" Yunho cried, his voice choked and full of pain. In a haste, Seonghwa opened the curtains of his bed and blinked into the room. Untamed hair cascaded over his shoulders and bewitched those of his husbands who hadn't seen him outside of his courtly getup yet. Jongho, Yeosang, Wooyoung and Mingi followed Yunho's call of despair, but the other two weren't in sight.

"What happened, are you alright?" Seonghwa extended his arms when Yunho fell to his knees by the side of his bed, a familiar pose but so stricken with despair as fat tears rolled over his cheeks. His slumped body cowered on the ground and the others witnessed his agony with frozen features.

Yunho sobbed something under his breath and it took Seonghwa to swing his legs over the bed and grasp at Yunho's shoulder to understand.

"Buddy, Buddy."

Fear washed over Seonghwa. Did Yunho think his loyal friend had taken off after not seeing him once he woke up? Seonghwa should have woken him. Ugly guilt gnawed at his heart.

"No worries, he's here," Seonghwa replied, disoriented from sleep. However, when his fingers felt over the bed by his side, it was empty and cold.

Seonghwa whipped around, confused if he had misjudged the distance to the animal, but no heap of golden fur smiled at him from his sheets. Only Yunho's wailing filled the room.

With a graceful movement, Seonghwa sunk to the floor by Yunho's side. Only now that frigid dread cleared his mind, he noticed Yunho clutched something to his chest. He stifled his tears in the mass of gold that looked hauntingly similar to his dog.

How did he squeeze it to his chest like a flaccid blanket?

Now that he was near, Seonghwa picked up on the faint whimpering coming from the item. It was pitiful and small, crying with Yunho, but very much alive.

That was Buddy?

"What happened?" Seonghwa inquired, nudging Yunho's shoulder so he would uncurl and show Seonghwa what he was holding on to. When it unravelled over his lap, no paws thumped onto the ground and no eager tongue came to lick at Seonghwa's face. What had once been Buddy fell apart like a sad blanket.

Seonghwa clasped his hand to his mouth in horror. He had seen things as those before, as presents from the humans to his father. They were the skins of mighty animals such as boars or bears, and they were used as carpets to show off the skill of the hunter.

As if that wasn't bad enough, however, Buddy's head was still intact, and he whimpered miserably over the heap he had become.

Seonghwa's stomach churned, but the dog was alive through some miracle. Though he couldn't move and flopped over Yunho's lap like a wet rag, he whined along with his master.

"Jongho-" Yunho gasped. His reddened eyes raised to give the golem a vindictive glare. "He sat on him!"

While Seonghwa gasped and sought the golem's eyes, Jongho lifted his stone hands that were lazily shaped with just thumbs and a general flat as the rest of his fingers.

"I did not! I would never do something like that," he insisted. Though Yeosang by his side didn't look convinced, Mingi's frown was deep from Yunho's suffering.

However it had happened, something went horribly wrong.

"He was with me last night. What happened in the meantime?"

"When I woke up, he was like this... He is so flat; what else could it be? You broke every bone in the poor fellow's body," Yunho hissed at Jongho. He cradled Buddy in his protective arms, shielding him from Jongho with his shoulders.

Seonghwa ran worried fingers through the fur of Buddy's head. His ears still twitched at the touch and something wasn't right. If he were no more than a skin, there shouldn't be life.

"Don't you think he would bleed if Jongho squished him?"

Yunho stared at Seonghwa, offended he might even suggest Yunho was wrong.

"Something took effect, that much is clear. But I don't think any life would be left in him if this was Jongho's doing," the elf appealed. His cool fingers soothed Buddy, but Yunho had yet to calm from his upset.

"Then what else do you reckon this is? Look at him! I woke up and stepped on him before my bed and heard him whimper, and I-" Fresh tears pooling in his eyes, Yunho shook the sad blanket Buddy had become. A moment later, he curled back around him to whisper apologies into his fur.

Seonghwa's hand slipped from the dog to the man, spending the same comfort for him. The tears found no end, as Yunho feared his best friend was gone forever.

"It's not Jongho's doing. But I am almost sure I know who is at fault," he assured. When he got to his feet and adjusted the robe tied to his waist, his husbands dispersed to let him through. This time, the dark line of Seonghwa's brows screamed danger. No one dared come in his way as he passed them with flying garments. Their curiosity had them huddled behind him, and Yeosang was closest, so he could hold Seonghwa back if he did something reckless.

The moment Seonghwa's fingers knocked on the door to Hongjoong's chambers, Yunho sucked in a breath. He had followed in secret, stubbornly choking down his sobs to wait and see about the Seonghwa's explanation.

As usual, Hongjoong's door opened without him appearing. It gave a view of the sorcerer, propped up lengthwise on his divan and with his legs thrown over each other. He held a book in his dark-clad lap, and around him, his spells weaved themselves by the power of his mind. Bundles of herbs came together to hold still when pieces of rope slung them into a hug. Small cauldrons stirred themselves and in the washing basin, a rag and a cutting board battled for cleanliness.

Hongjoong continued his page and looked up in mild surprise when he wasn't addressed until then.

"Damiana? Can I help you?"

Cold towards the nickname, Seonghwa nodded his chin at Yunho.

"Not me. What did you do to him?"

"To Yunho?" Hongjoong played innocent. A smirk broke through his facade, showing off his canines and the poison behind his joy.

"You and I were the only ones who knew where the dog was last night and now he is a skin of himself. Care to explain?"

Hongjoong stretched his neck, catching sight of Yunho's brooding expression. His sadistic smirk broadened. His fairy-like features made him look like a devilish pixie.

"What a tragedy. My deepest condolences. At least the dog is still around, no? Seems like it could have gone worse. Perhaps it can be fed back into shape," he mocked. As attractive as his villainous side was, Seonghwa clenched his teeth in disapproval. Hongjoong could take these matters to war and torture their enemies. Not the dog of their light-hearted human.

"Told you it wasn't me," Jongho grumbled where he stood in his corner, untouched by the emotional dilemma but satisfied he got to brush off the suspicion.

Yunho shouldered past Seonghwa into the room.

"You knave! What did he ever do to you?! He's just a dog!" Fury Seonghwa wouldn't have expected from the friendly giant spat over his lips. His gaze was cold like the night and all the fun was lost from his voice.

Hongjoong scoffed a laugh.

"Maybe if he weren't such bothersome of a mutt, I wouldn't have acted. All the time, he yaps us awake in the evenings and mornings, he gets between our feet under the dining table and now he interrupted something intimate. This will keep him in the place he belongs. See, you can still talk to him." The cruellest smile yet formed on his lips.

Gathering all his courage, Mingi stepped up while Yunho stood, flabbergasted. Even Seonghwa needed a moment to digest such sadism.

"Y-Yunho and Buddy never did anything to you. He's a dog, so you shouldn't be so mean."

"Shut up, lapdog," Hongjoong growled at him. Instantly, Mingi sunk into himself. He clutched his hands into fists, not daring another comment. Sympathetic, Yeosang patted his shoulder, complimenting his attempt.

Finally, the mage put his book aside and rose. His long legs stood on heeled boots, accentuating his slim build as he flicked a hand dismissively at a potion that was done cooking.

"Fine, you caught me. Whatever will I do to wipe that scowl off your face, my lovely prince? Shall I bow before the human? Suck his cock?" He made to drop to his knees in front of Yunho, but Seonghwa caught his shoulder. A light push was all Hongjoong needed to stumble back on coy feet. His smile was most entertained by the drama. Not even the icy anger on his husband's face deterred him.

Seonghwa should have known better than to reconcile with him a mere day after the last incident.

"You will turn Buddy back into what he once was and keep clear of him. I allowed him here, and this is my home. I also want you to apologise to Yunho."

Hongjoong bowed the bow of a court jester. It was deep and overly humble, mocking Yunho for running to Seonghwa for help.

"I am so sorry about your inability to deal with conflict yourself," Hongjoong smirked. He batted his lashes at Yunho and sent a burst of magic at the blanket of a dog before Seonghwa could complain.

Buddy's body lurched and transformed, growing in Yunho's arm. With a cry of joy, Yunho went down on one knee to lower him to the ground. After a few more cracks, the dog was back to normal and jumped up at Yunho with a wildly wagging tail.

"You're back! Oh, I was so worried," Yunho cooed as he hugged his friend. In turn, he received all the kisses to make up for the prior lack.

Satisfied, though still disappointed, Seonghwa turned to Hongjoong.

"I hope this doesn't happen again," he warned. The elegance behind his threat didn't deter Hongjoong. As he returned to his divan, he shrugged and flicked the book back into his hand.

"That depends on him and the dog," he replied nonchalantly.

Seonghwa shook his head and turned. Jongho and Yeosang left them to their devices, relieved no blood had been spilt. They took Mingi with them, talking about the garden and its beauties to describe them to Mingi's eyes.

Before they could leave Hongjoong's room, however, Yunho halted in his tracks. While Buddy sat at his feet with patient eyes, Yunho reached to cup Seonghwa's chin in his hand.

"Thank you, my love. I knew you'd pick the better of us two," he breathed against Seonghwa's lips. His eyes were open to stare at Hongjoong over his shoulder while they kissed.

Not one to feed the flames usually, Seonghwa indulged this one time. He kissed Yunho back and allowed the man to hold his waist clad in nothing more but his thin robe with a large hand.

Hongjoong scoffed, the focus on his book lost.

"What is this, your petty revenge? What a child you are."

Yunho ignored him as he pulled back to meet Seonghwa's eyes. His free hand found that of the elf, tugging gently.

"May I repay you for your help? I will take good care of you," he offered. Half of it was meant; the other half sought to get a rise out of Hongjoong.

Having played enough, Seonghwa drew Yunho along.

"Prove it," he invited as he took the man over to his own room.

Hongjoong's door needed a moment to shut, and when it did, it was obnoxiously loud. Yunho stifled a snicker, catching Seonghwa to press a deep kiss to his lips. Eyes locked, he held onto the humble elf.

"I meant it. Let me bring Buddy to Mingi, then I will be with you."

Seonghwa let him go with a smile.

"I will await you."