"So... Tell me more about yourself, Jongho." Hongjoong batted his lashed coquettishely at the dancer, having propped his upper body up on the counter of Yeosang's inn. He thought it accentuated his hips quite well but Jongho was still busy with jugging a whole bucket of water after one of his performances.

"Not much to tell, Sheriff. I sing, I dance. I make people laugh. What else do you need to know?"

Hongjoong was fascinated by the muscled chest peeking out from the low cut of the red dress, flimsy sleeves wrapping around his thick arms like another skin. How did he even get that on and off? It was amazing.

"Since when have you been doing this?", Hongjoong gently continued, nodding at Yeosang when he pushed a glass of something over to him. The bartender just rolled his eyes at that.

Hongjoong focused Jongho again, not wanting to blow his cover by asking Yeosang about his life too directly.

The younger man had just finished his bucket, roughly wiping his lips with the back of his hand. He put the bucket down on the floor next to him, his eyes lazily sweeping through the nearly empty inn.

"Since a long time ago. Mom trained me to be a singer, I took her position when the bandits took her." He shrugged, Hongjoong quickly noting that down. It gave him a good reason not to be a bandit. He would have probably protected his mother then.

"Hmm and ever had any run-ins with the bandits? Personally?"

Jongho huffed at that, turning around to show his back to Hongjoong. Hongjoong lifted his brow at the sight of the tight corset hugging his sturdy waist and the black ink covering his bare shoulder blades.

He had the tattoo of some sort of bird, stretching beautifully over his back and from his close position Hongjoong could easily see that it was covering scarred flesh, a deep wound having opened his body quite roughly once in the form of a cross.

"I spent my fair share of time being used as their scarecrow. Any more questions you need to ask?" He sounded quite annoyed by the impromptu interview and Hongjoong forced himself to a quick smile, retreating immediately after.

"No, thank you. Please tell me anything that might seem suspicious to you."

Jongho took off with a grumble, taking his own drink with him to put down at the piano to go talk with the guy manning it for the remainder of his break.

Hongjoong smoothly slid closer to Yeosang, grinning brightly when the man just rolled his eyes at him.

"I'm a bartender, since I was born and no. I told you they never come here."

Hongjoong chuckled, flicking over to the page dedicated to the man.

"You have to admit that sounds too good to be true. However, I will go easy on you, as you are clearly a friend. Can you tell me exactly what your jobs in the city include? I know that Jongho sometimes has gigs outside too. Do you run errands?"

"I do literally everything, Sheriff. The snow shovelling, watering the flowers, fishing, sometimes I also entertain our many tourists. Just how do you think these questions will lead you to an answer?"

Hongjoong gave him a patient smile, grabbing his glass to let the liquid inside swirl around a bit.

"What do you reckon I do? I gotta start somewhere."

"I don't see the point in wasting time like this. Hunt them down instead of making the whole city turn against each other. Did you hear how Mary's parents had to lock themselves in because the people wanted to skin them alive? This is dangerous, Sheriff Kim."

Hongjoong's spores clicked against each other when he crossed his feet, taking a sip. From under his hat he narrowed his eyes at the busy Yeosang, quite sure to have found a sensitive spot.

How curious that it were exactly the people most liked and needed in the town that were possible suspects. They had to think of themselves as quite safe in their spots.

"You know Seonghwa has been sleeping with Mary for a while now, right? I even heard of rumors of them planning to marry soon. How about asking him about her? She might have dropped some hints."

"Do you know of a man with long hair in the village?"

Yeosang stared at him blankly, carefully not answering. Whether he did truly not know or tried to protect somebody, Hongjoong did not know. Hongjoong did know that there were people with long hair around though.

With a sigh Hongjoong stood, giving up on the inn for today. He still had some other people to ask about the topic. Yunho for example.

He raised his hat in greeting at Yeosang who just nodded back stiffly, watching him go.

Hongjoong went to his office first, needing to collect Wooyoung first. However, when he crossed the street he noticed a figure slinking down the street slowly, multiple people crowding around them with worried voices.

Like the responsible sheriff he was Hongjoong immediately came closer, parting the crowd easily. It was Seonghwa, balancing his body with one hand on the wall next to him while the other one was reassuring the people he was fine.

"Mister Park. What are you doing out here? Were you not described to stay inside today?", Hongjoong asked him sternly, feeling his lips tingle at the reminder of Seonghwa's mouth on them when the two locked eyes. Seonghwa looked quite gorgeous today, his hair pushed back slickly instead of falling into his face and he was also wearing some of his nicer clothes as it seemed.

"Ah, Sheriff. Actually, I was searching for you. I wanted to accompany you. Wooyoung told me earlier that some investor will arrive in the city soon and I figured you might need some help but still wanted to send Wooyoung out to search for clues." He grinned a bit, his expression bordering on pained and Hongjoong was quick to rush to his side. With one hand placed around the other's waist and Seonghwa securely holding on to his shoulders they stepped away again, Hongjoong sending the people off.

"Are you sure? You might have to play pretend in front of your friends." Seonghwa smelled good, he must have taken a bath earlier that day. Hongjoong leaned in a bit more, carefully brething in his smell and meeting Seonghwa's fond eyes when he looked up knowingly.

"I can do that, no worries. I gotta distinguish clearly who is a bad person from now on."

Hongjoong felt sorry for him again. Not knowing who Mary was, getting tricked by her like that, it must have hurt. He gently squeezed Seonghwa's hip to show his compassion.

"Let's go then. We need to find Wooyoung first and while I do that you can just stay in my office. As long as you don't break anything.", he grinned, trying to lift the mood and Seonghwa also smiled crookedly, leaning close to Hongjoong's side when they started walking.

"Might fall down so I get to feel you pick me up again." His teasing tone was just shy of flirting and Hongjoong only gave him a knowing gaze.

"You know, if you just wanted my hands on your legs you should try getting well first. I'd have to worry much less about holding you without hurting you." Hongjoong gave another squeeze to the other's hip, enjoying the way his warmth seeped pleasantly into his side.

"You could just put your face there for now instead? I understand the inconvenience."

Roughly, Hongjoong shouldered the door to his office open, hauling Seonghwa in. The man giggled at the sudden rough treatment, easily falling down on the chair Hongjoong led him to. His breath was unregular already when Hongjoong dipped down, pressing his lips against that loud mouth of Seonghwa's.

The other man shut up immediately, bringing one hand up to rest against Hongjoong's jaw, guiding the kiss into something deeper. He also leaned back far against the back rest of his chair, nearly forcing Hongjoong to climb into his lap.

Hongjoong warningly bit him, relishing in the whimper that sounded.

With a bit more of resistance he escaped Seonghwa's grasp again, moving back quickly.

Seonghwa pouted at him, looking detectable and Hongjoong swore under his breath, shaking his head once.

"No. I told you I want to investigate first and I will also do exactly nothing to you as long as your health is at risk. Keep that rude tongue to you."

Seonghwa smiled sheepishly taking back said tongue that had been flicking over his lips right then, chasing Hongjoong's taste on his lips.

"Please be careful if you interview them alone. They are quick at killing."

Hongjoong nodded with newfound earnesty, stepping out again in order to look around for Wooyoung. His best take was to search at the farm of his parents so Hongjoong did exactly that. Lowering his head as to not let the sun blind him while he wandered towards the end of the street.

Wooyoung's parents greeted him easily, telling him that Wooyoung would be back from his ride soon and just to wait. Hongjoong spent that time leaned against the side of Wave, gently stroking her fur while losing himself in thought.

Seonghwa had the effect of some drug on him, kept pulling him back, yearning for more. He had become someone who Hongjoong wanted to dedicate his time and interest to very easily and there was nothing bad about that. However, Hongjoong feared for what the future may bring.

Seonghwa had been nearly killed by them twice now and Hongjoong guessed by now they must be quite fed up with him. Even more so if he was the center of the town, all hearts directed at his pretty face. Keeping him close might bring Hongjoong closer to the bandits but it might also endanger him just the more. It was only a matter of time until that annoying bandit who targeted Hongjoong started to try and kill him.

Hongjoong had to find a way to keep Seonghwa out of harm's way. Maybe he could do so even better when he kept him close by his side, even when he feared of what might happen when that burglar bandit attacked with him there.

Wave snorted slightly at him as if sharing his worry and Hongjoong gently resumed patting her. He felt sorry for distracting her with his thoughts.

It was only a few minutes after that Wooyoung came back indeed, but he was not alone. Hongjoong stayed hidden behind Wave, innocently lowering his head down further. He listened in to the conversation growing closer, quickly recognizing the second voice as being San.

"I'm wet all over. You did a good job." It was San laughing brightly, his behaviour towards Wooyoung having changed like a switch as soon as they thought themselves alone. Hongjoong found it quite intriguing.

Wooyoung responded with another giggle.

"You need to try it some time. Also how about doing it during rodeo sometime? Need the kick?"

Hongjoong lifted a brow, not daring to reach for his notebook quite yet.

"You're crazy, we'll get trampled to death." Not as if he sounded opposed or whatever.

"But it'll feel good, won't it? Worth it." Their voices grew distant when they went in through the back of the farm and Hongjoong sighed, moving to seem more peaceful.

Those two were lying about their relationship quite obviously and Hongjoong wondered why. Have there been earlier problems with relationships of this kind? Or with either of them?

He needed to find out. Wooyoung had a lot more beans to spill than he already did and Hongjoong needed them to fit the puzzle together.

When Wooyoung came back out to him with a bright smile Hongjoong just grinned at him. He pretended not to notice the way Wooyoung seemed to groan inwardly at every step, pretended not to see the marks on his neck.

He needed to know who exactly to trust first.