Yeosang calmed in the hot water. It replenished his energies and made exotic flowers sprout all over him as he calmed himself with their scent. He leaned against the edge of the tub, exhausted from his dread, and relished in Seonghwa's tender fingers in his hair.

"That was dangerous, Hwa. Staying calm agitates such people further," Yeosang muttered, reprimanding him even now. The silken dark strands of his locks were interwoven with twines and twigs.

"He wouldn't have dared. I never would have let him lay a hand upon you."

Yeosang frowned, lax face distorting until Seonghwa carded his fingers through his hair once more.

"I'm talking about you, fool. He said such revolting things. What if he had been more aggressive?"

"He wasn't," Seonghwa soothed him. "And San was there to help."

The seraph perched on Yeosang's bed, watching the two. He had yet to rid himself of his weapons belt and whenever something clattered downstairs; he checked outside the window. The rustle and bustle of the tavern stayed regular. Whether they got apprehended or escaped, the two evildoers didn't return.

Yeosang conceded. With tired eyes, he allowed Seonghwa to go, leaving each of them to find their rest.

The dryad grew up more sheltered, more innocent than Seonghwa. While the prince had to see everything, both the delights and the sordidness of people, Yeosang remained in the palace as his playmate. Encounters like this were ugly, but Yeosang had been startled by its unpredicted approach.

San and Seonghwa retreated into their room. It was next door to Yeosang's and if anyone entered the dryad's chamber, they would hear. Though the inn owner swore up and down to let no orcs inside and holler if one passed her. With a smile, Seonghwa thanked her for her protection.

San closed the door behind him and turned to face the wall while Seonghwa took off his coat. He undid the laces of his dress, letting it slide down his arms to pool on the floor. Playful twinkles danced over his skin when his jewellery remained in place.

His water was still hot, and San provided more from the crackling fireplace. When he sunk to the ground behind Seonghwa, a plea swam in his eyes.

Seonghwa handed him a cloth as he leaned back.

San unravelled his hair first, tugging the pins and pearls from it. The rush of ink flooded over the rim of the tub, coyly engulfing Seonghwa's shoulders.

"How did you know what was going on?" Seonghwa asked him. The question burnt on his lips since the seraph plunged from the skies to attack the orc, but he didn't voice it while he was occupied with Yeosang.

"Your bird arrived at the palace, informing us of your early departure. I wanted to have an eye on you, so I stayed nearby."

"Hmm, a guardian, are you?" Seonghwa closed his eyes, leaving his body to San's hands, that washed his shoulders and chest with mild caresses.

"It is my duty as a knight and as your husband," San replied, almost too smooth, too trained.

Seonghwa didn't mention it.

"Thank you for being there. It might have ended terribly otherwise."

San didn't question him. Didn't pry about what Seonghwa would have done to get out of that situation. If he would have submitted to protect Yeosang and the people or if he would have dared an attack. After all, the angel fulfilled his purpose and stopped anything worse from happening.

"I was meaning to talk to you. About what happened between us. I wanted to catch you after I returned from the Cliffs of Zephyr, but then..."

"Yunho happened," San finished for him. Seonghwa snickered.

"Yunho happened."

A beat of silence passed. The sloshing of the water as San moved around the tub to cradle Seonghwa's leg was the only sound that filled the room. Smooth, the rag slid along its length. San's fingers brushed along his skin, leaving a trace of heat. It reminded Seonghwa of the warmth they shared, of the fever. Passion.

Seonghwa rested his head against the ledge of the tub. The humid air curled the tips of his hair.

"I wanted to apologise. What I did... Despite knowing of your virtuous aspirations, I took advantage of you. I shouldn't have forced you." He felt guilty ever since. Though San lost none of his attractiveness to Seonghwa and the desire shared between them made Seonghwa's body tingle in a special way whenever he thought back, he often reprimanded himself for losing his poise. San complied with his sudden attack, but he hadn't wanted it. Once more, Seonghwa's status as a prince and husband summoned misfortune.

The rag dipped between Seonghwa's toes, not shying away from spotting the most minor spots of dirt. Shuddering, Seonghwa left San the room to think. His nervous fingers splayed on the edge of the tub.

"Your memory fails you, my peerless paramour," San replied after a long break. He switched to Seonghwa's other leg, cradling it with a warm hand as the other ran the cloth down his skin.

Seonghwa held his breath, afraid to break the intimate glow weaving around them by insisting on his fault.

"You may have surprised me with your unforeseen desires, for I hadn't considered you would become their captive. But I was at fault as much as you were. I selfishly pressed you down and chased after demonic greed. My words of virtue mean nothing if I indulge in such debauchery."

And debauch Seonghwa, he did. His pleasure never felt so explosive before, so frenzied. It had taken everything away from Seonghwa and made him forget who he was for a little while.

It had been most blissful.

"Yet, I felt it unjust. I didn't want to imperil our relationship with each other. If you so wish, I won't touch you again. Our harmony means more to me than animalistic instincts." Seonghwa struggled to say those words. In cherishing others, it was natural to seek their closeness. It was the same between him and Hongjoong or Wooyoung or Yunho. He didn't wish to look down on their expression of adoration.

San's fingers slipped under Seonghwa's knee. Their eyes met when the rag glided across his unblemished thigh.

"I wish you do no such thing. Though I was unprepared, I enjoyed myself that day. Your touch woke a fire inside me that startled me, but its flame feels meant to be." San lowered his eyes, cloth dipping across the place he didn't dare touch and coming back up on Seonghwa's flank. He sat close enough that Seonghwa would only need to lift a finger to skim his arm.

"Pardon my change of heart, for I wished to be your virtuous knight, untouched by evil. But I desire you, my prince. If you still want me, I will worship you eternally. I cannot deny how my thoughts keep wandering back and how my body aches to embrace you again."

Seonghwa let go of a breath he didn't realise he was holding. When a surprised chuckle escaped his lips, San let the rag sink to look at him.

"I wonder who debauched who among us two. Be my knight and be my worshipper. A hard-working guardian deserves the embrace of his prince as a reward." He leaned forward, hair cascading down his back when his hand found San's jaw. Upon guiding him closer, San became bewitched by him. Their lips met to seal their oath.

San sighed into Seonghwa's mouth, relieved that they no longer had to dance around each other in embarrassment. With a rich chuckle, Seonghwa swallowed the sound. His head tilted to kiss San deeper, to convey both apology and promise.

They kissed that night, if fleetingly. Seonghwa remembered messy tongues; each other's names moaned in deliriousness. This time, they took the proper time to taste each other's lips. San tasted like the sun, and Seonghwa hadn't noticed that before. Now that he drank up its warm rays without getting burnt, he understood for the first time why people craved it.

San put the rag aside so he could sit next to the tub comfortably. Slow lips dragged over each other as his fingers slipped into Seonghwa's nape, burying in his soft hair to cradle his skull. The rough fingers that wielded weapons so scarily became but a breeze on Seonghwa's skin when they trailed his adoration across him.

They didn't move from their places until the water cooled and Seonghwa's neck became stiff. Until late at night, San perched by his side to engrave Seonghwa's name into his lips and whisper it with reverence when the beautiful elf graced him with his affections.

Nobody dared attack them that night. Later, after San lifted Seonghwa out of the tub and carried him to the bed to warm him back up with his embrace, Seonghwa dreamed without worry, for he knew San watched out for him.

-

The day after, they returned to the Moon Castle. San didn't leave their sides and though Seonghwa wished to stay in the village and relish its people and their weaving craft for a while longer, Yeosang was shaken and deserved a break within the secure walls. Thus, they prepared their boat and sailed homeward.

If Yeosang minded the addition of San, disrupting the twosomeness of the friends' rare time together, he didn't voice it. He sat with his beetles and his worms, soothing himself when their wriggling and crawling were as natural as ever, assuring him the world outside the inn was fine.

Seonghwa hoped he could relax in the gardens upon their return. If Jongho was by his side, steadfast and unperturbed, he would recover from his scare.

Upon their arrival, they didn't mention the incident to the others. When Hongjoong scrutinised San with a wary gaze for why he arrived with them, Seonghwa assured him San simply helped them carry their bags through the forest. Since the sorcerer had so little time to spend with Seonghwa and didn't want to agitate him, he conceded.

Seonghwa noticed how worn out he was when he sat at dinner with them. He rested little in the past days and his travels kept him on his toes. Balancing the needs of his husbands and his political relationships was a lot at once. The rare time of peace Yeosang granted him had been marred by the orc.

During lunch, Seonghwa had trouble concentrating on the quarrelling around the table. He missed a question or two that would have demanded his witty response and all of them glanced at him at some point, wondering where his mind was. Nobody asked, for most blamed it on having been busy with San last night.

This time, it was Mingi who approached Seonghwa. His tremors had got worse now that the time came for him to return to the Cavern of Nightfall. When he sat next to Seonghwa after everyone else left to be at their leisure, Seonghwa felt bad for not catching his discomfort earlier.

"I, uhm, I prepared for our trip. Seungyoun helped me," the demon began. He hid behind his hair, not showing his unmoving eyes to any other.

Seonghwa refilled his wine cup and eased it into Mingi's hand. After a few tentative sips, the demon exhaled. He gathered his wits to continue.

"If you need a break from all this, we can wait another day. The king will be impatient, but once you are there, he will mind his manners."

A delicate hand found Mingi's unoccupied one on the table. The demon flinched at the first touch, then he allowed Seonghwa's fingers to slip between his large ones.

"Let's not keep him waiting." He didn't want Mingi to get scolded. The Cavern of Nightfall was a difficult ally to navigate, especially when they already announced their displeasure about Mingi's presence by Seonghwa's side. Seonghwa was tense himself, and he didn't want to torment Mingi by claiming rest. He could sleep once he finished his travels.

Mingi stayed silent and Seonghwa brushed a fond hand through his messy hair, carding it into place. Perhaps he should ask some faeries to tend to him, help him where he overlooked the small things.

"I know you dread going there, but I will be by your side. If anyone attacks you, I will fight back."

A small smile snuck on Mingi's plush lips.

"My prince... I can't see you, yet I can tell you are neither broad nor brawny. Don't fight a horde of demons, please."

"They will get to know me if they bother you," Seonghwa jested, purposefully lowering his voice.

Endeared, Mingi squeezed his fingers. He was as ready as he could be.