Wooyoung came by occasionally. While Seonghwa and Hongjoong avoided the fuming dragon on his hill as he cast rain and thunder on the palace, Wooyoung visited him at least twice a week. He always came alone, but he carried the wishes of their friends, the horses, with him to relay them to San.

Whenever the animals informed San of Wooyoung's trek over the mountain paths, he pleaded with the skies to keep his friend dry. Ever so pleased by the dragon's affections, the skies heeded his wishes.

Every time after Wooyoung had told him about the newest developments in the stable and around the castle, San inquired about the king and his lover.

One day, he learned that Seonghwa and the king's mother had got into a fight, for she seemed to be bothered by his presence by Hongjoong's side now that it had caused such a drastic fallout with the dragon king of Joseon.

Another time, he heard of Hongjoong brooding away in his palace while his advisors complained to him about having picked the wrong priorities.

Usually, neither schadenfreude nor shame filled San's chest at the news. The tension at the palace was one the humans should have evaded by treating their patron ruler better. The celestial being San would be after the ritual had to be treated with respect. In offending him, they also offended the current dragon watching over their lands. The humans' arrogance had made them blind towards the stability they received.

San was a stubborn creature. Before he didn't feel like Seonghwa accepted him for who he was and regarded him no longer as competition in a challenge San had never picked to enter, he wouldn't change his mind.

As he sat with Wooyoung on the forest ground and shared the berries and nuts, the animals had gathered for him despite his chuckles that he could do it himself, San didn't want to disrupt his peace with those matters. He was free and one with nature again. Wooyoung made a delightful addition to his isolation and San's heart healed from his presence and his pleasant demeanour that didn't press San to return.

San's claws cracked the nuts Wooyoung couldn't open. Wooyoung had cupped his hands to gather the merit so they could share it. Whenever San's claws brushed his fingers, the stable boy didn't flinch back and sat in peace.

"How is Hongjoong doing today?" San asked, his voice a murmur. In his loyalty, he still felt it necessary to inquire about his husband, even when it was nothing more than an act of politeness.

"He invited a bunch of common folks to share their matters with him again, so he was unavailable. I heard two knights talk while I prepared their horses. How the peasants fear they won't make the winter without the dragon blessing and the recent unrest in the villages about Hongjoong losing you."

San hummed. He supposed Seonghwa would have locked him up tighter if he had caught him on time. Though San would have unleashed his true form and reduced the palace to ashes if he were restricted in such a barbarous way.

Out here in nature, he felt far more collected to where his priorities lay.

"Two of my friends, Jongho and Mingi, saw him in the morning and we walked a part of the path together. I didn't tell them I went to see you, but they had the same worries. Both of them have many siblings to feed and their grandparents are too sick to make the wintry days without proper medicines. Mingi said instead of selling this year's harvest to buy the medicines, he would have to store it to live off from during the winter. Jongho considered moving to his uncle near the coastline in hopes the ocean would ensure his people's survival."

Wooyoung's lips muttered just as privately as San's, both of them focused on their task. His birthmark moved charmingly with every word, and San yearned to kiss it.

Troubled, the dragon gnawed on his lip.

"I suppose I made a mistake coming out here." His heart was heavy at the thought of returning to the stifling palace, to the bleak halls and the litany of rules and manners he had to upkeep without earning recognition for it.

Wooyoung's head snapped up. Wide eyes searched pools of molten gold, saddened under the fan of San's lashes.

"I didn't tell you to make you feel bad."

With a weak smile, San waved it off. He tasted a piece of hazelnut and Wooyoung did the same.

"I have been pondering it a lot these days. I spent some time out here and while I am free of my imprisonment, my mind kept veering to my duties even without my elders having to remind me. What do you think of it?"

Helpless, Wooyoung lifted his shoulders.

"I have few political opinions, for I understand only fragments of the way land is ruled. Since I lived under a dragon's blessing since the beginning of my days and those of my parents, none of us can anticipate the true chaos that will wreak Joseon upon the blessing disappearing. I suppose I fear what it might mean to me and my family, but the world won't end and we can make it work. A blessing is a gift we receive. It's not something we can claim boldly. Especially knowing how troubled the person giving it is."

Warmed by his hindsight of how San's personal feelings fuelled into the matter, San smiled at Wooyoung. The man grinned back.

"I suppose Hongjoong and Seonghwa are the only ones who angered me, but punishing the entire country for the misdeeds of those two would also mean making those suffer who never mistreated me. People like you, Jongho and Mingi."

Wooyoung nodded slowly. His eyes were focused on his hands as he wriggled his fingers to sort San's favourite nuts into a separate pile for him to find easier.

"And many more, yes. You haven't seen the size of this nation yet and the number of people living in it far away from Hanyang. Though most of them can understand that it was the king's imprudence that caused your refusal, they wouldn't be off better if they took Hongjoong's position from him."

"I don't want Hongjoong to be shunned. He is a good ruler. Love made him blind, but that is human and it is nothing a dragon couldn't foresee." San leaned to kiss Wooyoung's cheek as thanks for sorting the food for him. Under his lips, the stable boy flushed a lovely shade of pink.

"So you forgive him?"

For a while, San was silent as he mulled it over in his head. He contemplated the pain he went through for humans who never cared to help him, contemplated Seonghwa's deception and jealousy. Hongjoong's inactiveness as he avoided the topic was there, too.

Wooyoung waited patiently until San lifted his head and shook his head.

"I can't forgive him so easily, but I want to return. I want to do the ritual for those who deserve it."

For a moment, Wooyoung's eyes were wide. Then a smile spread across his features.

"That is a very mature decision." He leaned into San's grip when the dragon wrapped an arm around him to nuzzle him. Faint kisses brushed over each other's skin.

"I can't help it. My 1000th birthday is coming up and my mind long since adjusted to its duties."

"Thank you, San."

San hugged him tighter, eyes slipping shut as he rested his head on Wooyoung's shoulder for a while.

"I don't want your gratitude. I just want you to be happy and safe." Yet, his heart was flattered at feeling needed, and getting confirmation he helped people and didn't just stand in their way.

"If Hongjoong and Seonghwa mock you again, don't be with them. Be with me and the horses, or be with those in the city who will live in prosperity, thanks to you. We will praise you for your help," Wooyoung promised.

They parted slowly and gathered San's things. He said his farewells to his animal friends who lamented him leaving, for he made the flowers bloom brighter, the fruit of the trees sweeter, and the earth richer with his presence. In turn, he invited them to join Hangawi if they could and to flourish in the might he would give them.

With the leftover berries staining their fingers and the nuts in a pouch at Wooyoung's belt, the two left San's spot of seclusion to return to the palace. They walked in no hurry as they breached the curtains of rain that clashed on the forests and fields. As the dragon neared, the clouds cleared for a few rare rays of light that blessed the areas he passed.

Wooyoung rambled about the horses and his optimism to see San back and happy again on their journey. He inquired about San's education, about the expectations his elders had in him to become an adult supervising an entire country of humans from one day to the next. While San told him how the elders shared their ancient wisdom with the other young dragons curled up in their nests, they divided the rest of their food. Every ray of excitement and every proud glimmer in Wooyoung's eyes caused another stream of light to breach the bleak skies.

The rain let up entirely by the time they arrived at Hanyang. The sun glistened on the wet stones on the street and lured out the first careful merchants that checked whether they could utilise the precious hours of the day. Many people greeted San, for he wasn't difficult to be recognised with his antlers and his tail. Their eyes were full of hope not to be abandoned as they saw him wander among them again.

Most of them conveyed the same selfish need for his blessing as Seonghwa and Hongjoong did, but San didn't mind. As children marvelled at his antlers and old ladies thanked him for his service, he forgave those who couldn't help their fear. Wooyoung made an effort to understand him, and he did more than enough for San by that. San didn't need to terrorise everyone into submitting to his needs to deem them deserving of his presence.

As they passed the palace guards, visible excitement crossed the men's stony features. When San asked them to keep his arrival to themselves, they sealed their lips. Satisfied about his authority, San accompanied Wooyoung to the stables.

The horses greeted him with thundering enthusiasm. While half of them cursed the king and Seonghwa's existence to agree with San, the other half worriedly inquired about his feelings and whether he was sure he wanted to be here.

While San explained his acknowledgement of everyone's needs, Wooyoung fed the horses and calmed their unrest. It took them a while to settle down, and Wooyoung lingered even when he understood only half of the words spoken. When he and San found each other tucked away in the corner behind the entrance, Wooyoung wrapped his arms around San's neck with a drawn sigh.

San sent him a questioning gaze as he pulled him closer and kissed Wooyoung's lips.

"I don't want you to go back into that stifling room. The glow of your eyes is so magnificent after you have got to spend a while out where you belong. I would hate to see it dull again."

Now that he arrived, San was nervous about losing his contentment, too. He dreaded the talk with Hongjoong, dreaded the glares Seonghwa would send him.

"I'm not ready either," San muttered as he leaned their foreheads together. He had strength while Wooyoung was with him, but he knew his stomach would be in knots by the time he returned to see his husband.

When an idea blossomed in his head, he pulled back from Wooyoung. Expectant, the stable boy looked at him.

"How about we move this to the morning? Let's just stay here and have no worry in the world tonight."

Wooyoung's face lit up.

"Let's do that. Whatever you could tell Hongjoong today, he can also wait for tomorrow to hear."

Relieved to ease into this trouble slowly, San took Wooyoung by his hand as they retreated to the attic. They fluffed up their hay, pulled each other close, and watched the moon glisten in the skies as it watched over San's bliss. When San fell asleep, he expected to be restless for the palace made him miserable, but Wooyoung's soft breath on his neck soothed him into a deep rest.