Seonghwa had an odd dream.

He dreamt about Hongjoong and the sparkles on his skin. About how he made Seonghwa's muscles ripple under his skin as he threw his head back and his ash-blond hair fanned over the pillows of his bed. Seonghwa's lips were parted in silent gasps and moans that filled the room and Hongjoong's heart like the melody of his deepest desires.

They had done unspeakable things, things that by sheer memory alone had Seonghwa's cheeks burn up and his mind stutter as it yelled at him.

Why? You may ask.

Seonghwa didn't know himself. Either he had mightily underestimated Hongjoong, and his power or his weak mind had succumbed easier than he usually would.

The day of Wooyoung's birthday was the first one he managed a clear thought again. Thoughts, for that matter, that didn't evolve about the demon above him, his spread wings and a devilishly handsome smile on his face. He had been quite out of it the two days prior, and Hongjoong had cared for him with heartwrenching patience. Both days, he took Wooyoung to kindergarten and explained to Yunho that Seonghwa wasn't feeling so well, but no, they didn't need his help and attempted his best at cooking which turned into him ordering food to the house.

Seonghwa barely moved those two days. He burnt up with a fever that was unlike any he had ever experienced, and his mind was stuffy and foggy for a while. Many of the little thoughts that crossed him were dedicated to Hongjoong and the invisible mark he had left on Seonghwa, but he proclaimed those to be dreams.

On the day of Wooyoung's birthday, once he was sober, however, Seonghwa awoke to a rush of chilly truth.

Hongjoong was in the same room as him, getting dressed to pick up Wooyoung early to celebrate their day together. An uncanny relief flooded his features when he spotted Seonghwa sitting up with a groan.

"Seonghwa! Are you alright? How do you feel? Here, have a drink." Hongjoong ditched everything he had been doing just a moment ago to run over and sit by his side. When he handed Seonghwa his drink, he held the glass normally and not like usual with his fingers wrapped over the rim of it so that four of them drowned in liquid. The little gesture alone had Seonghwa chuckle before he took it from Hongjoong.

"Better. But oh god, I've never been high, and I didn't think it was that bad." Seonghwa had to clear his throat to utilise his dry voice. It scratched in his throat after not talking for so long.

Cautious, and without ever letting his eyes stray from Seonghwa, Hongjoong sat the cup back down.

"I now know why Yeosang advertised the condoms anyway. I bet it would have been bad enough if I didn't come inside."

Seonghwa fought his embarrassment as his hands curled in the blankets. Oh God, he really had a lot of explaining to do. How would he ever face Yunho again? The man had been the biggest sweetheart towards Seonghwa and supported him tirelessly, and this was what Seonghwa thanked him with?

"Are you back to normal, or do you still experience symptoms? Wooyoung was super worried about you, but he also laughed at the way you stared at the ceiling dreamily most of the time." Hongjoong reached out his hand to push a strand of loose hair behind Seonghwa's ear, but he faltered within the movement. Before Seonghwa could comment on it, he dropped his fingers.

"I feel about as always, even if rusty. I can pick him up. I owe him a lot of attention now." The blanket got kicked away without a care in the world as he got up to take a shower and get dressed. He swayed like the pendulum of a grandfather clock in the first second but quickly rediscovered his ability to stand. Once he had thrown on a shirt, he glanced at Hongjoong, who was still glued to his spot.

"What is it? If you feel guilty, don't blame yourself. I knew it was a big step to take."

Hongjoong bit his lip insecurely. Once again, he looked tiny and forlorn in his big sweater.

"I also don't want you to regret it. If this puts a strain on our relationship, Seonghwa..."

Shaking his head, Seonghwa shut his drawer. More hope settled in Hongjoong's features.

"I won't push any of this on you alone. We both carry the responsibility, and we both are adults. We can sort this out without lots of anger. For now, let's not make anything grand out of it and focus on Wooyoung," he suggested quietly. Finally, Hongjoong could smile again. He agreed and jumped to his feet to follow along as they picked up their birthday boy.

-

Wooyoung was in awe at the mountain of presents he had gotten. One was addressed from San, two smaller ones from Yunho, Aeri had sent one, Seonghwa had gotten him five, and even Hongjoong had settled on something finally. They had gotten doughnuts on their way back since Seonghwa didn't have the time yet to bake a cake for him, but given the circumstances, Wooyoung had agreed quickly to bake one together with him later.

The trio sat on the carpet in the living room, ready to unpack. Wooyoung couldn't wait until his birthday party on the weekend with his presents, so they celebrated now without the other guests.

"Ohh, this is from papa! I will open this one first, hehe." His clumsy little hands pulled on the paper and the strings that Hongjoong definitely hadn't organised himself. What appeared was a demon-themed Halloween costume. The shirt-pants-combo came with a little mask, a pair of wings, and a spooky set of gloves that resembled Hongjoong's claws as good as possible. Wooyoung was overjoyed to receive it, and ripped his clothes right off his body to change. A few minutes later, a little red and black demon sat between them and unpacked his things. Seonghwa snapped a few pictures of both of them.

Since it was a special day, he had even allowed Hongjoong to free his horns and wings (as long as he was careful with them) because Wooyoung pleaded to match. On the picture, he looked far more menacing than in real life, but Seonghwa chuckled about it anyway.

"Thank you! That one next!" Wooyoung made grabby hands at the big present from San. Once Seonghwa had handed it over, the boy and Hongjoong made quick work of the wrapping by using their claws. Soon, Wooyoung was presented with a backpack that looked like Toothless and would match his hoodie. Squealing, Wooyoung put it on his back and posed adorably for the pictures. San had even filled the backpack with sweets and socks and school supplies that the boy might need. Wooyoung was over the moon.

Wooyoung unpacked Yunho's gift; next, a Playmobil set of grown-up Toothless with the white baby dragon he had later. It matched one of Seonghwa's presents, where he also got Light Fury, Toothless' companion, with a black baby version. Once they were sorted around Wooyoung like his personal guards, he could resume with the presents. The other one from Yunho contained more sweets.

Aeri had gifted him a book about forest animals that made noises when opened. After spending a few minutes tantalising the neighbours with it, Wooyoung moved on. It was the gift he cared least about since it brought no real emotional value for him, but it wasn't too bad.

Seonghwa's other presents consisted of a new package of Legos, the new shoes he had bought the boy a while back, a squirrel plush that Wooyoung named Perry the Platypus, and a starry sky night light since Wooyoung disliked his old one and the starry sky could remind him of Hongjoong. Wooyoung was in a hurry to set up the light and turn off the normal ones, to squeeze Perry into his collar to carry him with him, and pull on the shoes, too. He also wanted to play right away, but for now, the group remained curious at the two leftover gifts that were still seated on the table.

Unsure, the adults exchanged glances.

"This one is from Yongguk!" As if it was the most normal thing in the world, Wooyoung snatched the present. Both Seonghwa and Hongjoong glanced over his shoulder curiously as he opened it.

"Food!"

"No!"

Seonghwa snatched the bath bombs from Wooyoung's eager hands before he could eat them. They looked pretty and colourful in the little light that rained the room with stars and galaxies.

"Those are for when you take a bath; they make your water cool colours," Hongjoong explained while his hand slid through Wooyoung's hair. The boy looked awed. Before he could run to try them out, though, Seonghwa handed him the last present and kept the bath bombs by his side.

"I think this was in the mailbox a few days ago? It has no card or anything." Clueless, they scratched their heads while Wooyoung unpacked.

"More food!"

"No!"

Once Seonghwa had handed Wooyoung some of the cookies from San, he opened the seal of the container with play dough. The green slime unattractively slapped in front of Wooyoung for him to squish.

"Cool!" For a moment, Wooyoung busied himself with the green mass. In the meanwhile, Hongjoong and Seonghwa scrutinised the wrapping from all sides.

"There." Hongjoong pointed at a corner on the inside of the wrinkled and ripped paper. There, in a corner as if the person had been insecure even to write it or hoped it wouldn't get found stood two words written in tiny letters.

"By Jongho," Seonghwa read out loud. Then, he let the paper sink. That name rang a bell.

"Oh, he's your guardian angel. That adds up." Hongjoong leaned back, satisfied to have solved the riddle. Wooyoung still talked to his dough as they warmed up to each other.

"Jongho? That's what my angel is called?"

"Yeah, he's a sweetheart but shy. Stuck up, too. He holds himself to the rules of you not being allowed to see him with passion. He won't even stand in the distance or pass by as a stranger as most of them do."

Seonghwa hummed, intrigued. Then, he focused back on Wooyoung.

"Alright, champ. Want to do some baking? You get to decide how much sprinkles you want."

Wooyoung rose like an ancient god in a lot of funny clothing. So, an ancient god. His face was dead serious, and he had lowered his voice to Batman tone when he spoke.

"All of them. Give me all the sprinkles."

Then, he zoomed off into the kitchen with all of his new things attached to him so he could play there. Giggling among each other, Seonghwa and Hongjoong followed him.

Hongjoong got tasked with all the stirring while Seonghwa did the rest. Since it was his birthday, Wooyoung was exempted from work. They played a few birthday songs for him in the kitchen and spent their time in good fun.

"Dad, how are you today? Is your cold better finally?"

Wooyoung spoke up once Seonghwa had put the cake in the oven and washed his hands. He joined the two of them at the table where Hongjoong was piecing together the Playmobil set for Wooyoung with great concentration, and Wooyoung still squished his dough.

Yunho had asked something similar earlier. With remorse in his chest, Seonghwa had made up a white lie and denied their usual hug since he just couldn't bear it at the moment.

"Yeah, I'm good. I hope Hongjoong taking care of you wasn't too chaotic."

"No, not at all! Papa is so much fun! He even introduced me to his friend Mingi! Mingi is also so much fun!"

Curious, Seonghwa inclined his head in Hongjoong's direction. The man waved it off.

"He isn't that much fun, actually." A fond smile tugged on his lips anyway. Seonghwa didn't ask anymore.

"I'm glad then. But I'm better now, and we can play lots."

Wooyoung 'yay'-ed quietly at that before he let his dragons fly around the room. He showed them the cake in the oven, his presents, and introduced Perry to his game, too.

Once the cake was done they enjoyed it with every sprinkle on it Seonghwa could find in the house. The ratio was entirely off, but Wooyoung loved it.

Later, they played with the boy in his pillow fort while the blankets above them shone like a starry sky. Wooyoung adored it lots, and once more, Seonghwa was glad that he could sweeten the boy's birthday all by himself. Hongjoong's presence was a great plus, and the man's star-glowing face magicked all the happiness onto Wooyoung.

They slept in the living room that night in between mountains of presents that were too hard to sleep on, but none of them minded.