Chapter Text
The sign on the shop door signals the opening of the store. It is magic, the way the plants awake and bloom in the moonlight streaming through the skylight. It seems like a greenhouse, more than a magic shop but Taekwoon supposes it’s more welcoming that way. People like things that make them comfortable and the plants of his shop are a perfect greeting to make someone at ease, especially when some of the mythical beast he houses purr in the rooms where they’re situated.
Taekwoon basks in the calm of the shop because this is his home. He likes the plants waking up with him, with the iced coffee in his hand. Later, he will open the skylight and let the moonlight drip through the store and feed him and his plants. He is a creature of the night in the most rawest form; he is a moon witch and the moon is his saviour, her beauty bringing him the life he chooses to devote to her. Many creatures of the night come to him when the moon causes changes to them that they cannot control and Taekwoon interrupts, heals and soothes the souls of those who fight their true calling.
When Hongbin stumbles down the stairs that lead to their apartment, Taekwoon smiles at him. Sometimes, he is stunned by the beauty that is Hongbin, by how much he has changed since he was just a little fledgling begging for blood but refusing it in the alleyways of Taekwoon’s old hometown. He was frightening, terrified of himself and Taekwoon was fearful of the creature he had come to meet but when Hongbin accepted the offering Taekwoon gave him, the bite on his neck healed as soon as it appeared and Hongbin’s eyes changed from bloodshot to crimson, even when he knew that his blood was silver like the moonlight that danced on his skin.
Hongbin stares at him for a moment before scrubbing his eyes clear of the sleep that still haunts him. Dusk has only just given way to evening and Taekwoon smoothes down Hongbin’s bed hair, kissing his head when the vampire bows his head down like he simply can’t hold himself up anymore.
“Did you sleep well?” Taekwoon whispers. He’ll not be the one to disturb this peaceful night if he has anything to say about it. Hongbin won’t either; he knows how much the plants like the quiet, how much they thrive in the settling silver moonlight cascading through the skylight that Taekwoon is yet to open.
Hongbin hums, too sleepy to protest the embrace Taekwoon gives him. He expects it at this point. This is how they both wake up, when Hongbin is drowsy and still yawning from his slumber and Taekwoon is bathing in the shine from the moon he loves so much.
“Sometimes, it is strange to not wake up next to you,” Hongbin breathes into Taekwoon’s neck, something he has said before but not in so many words. Taekwoon holds him close, whispering the words Hongbin likes to hear in vampyric and smiling when Hongbin huffs a laugh.
“Your pronunciation is off,” he chastises, earning a pinch in the side for his troubles. Taekwoon raises his eyebrows when Hongbin looks at him in surprise, as if he expected to not be punished for his teasing.
“Would you rather I not tell you I love you at all?” Taekwoon offers but Hongbin shakes his head, his hair moving with him and pulls away from him with a smirk.
“Get to watering,” Taekwoon tells him, ignoring Hongbin childishly mimicking him in a voice even higher than his. It strangely sounds like his sister but Hongbin has never met his family so Taekwoon is surprised at the sound. Hongbin notices and frowns at him but Taekwoon is quick to press his cheek to Hongbin’s, a silent reassurance that everything is okay on this night.
He has orders he has to fix up and leaves Hongbin to water the plants. He pauses before he leaves and frowns at Hongbin, only now just noticing that he is not wearing a shirt. Taekwoon sighs, waving his hand quickly and the vampire squeaks when a shirt materialises onto him, along with his crystal necklace. Hongbin never takes off the charm bracelet around his right wrist but the necklace always seems to misplace itself because he wrestles with it in his sleep, not wanting it to choke him.
Hongbin holds a hand to his chest, shaking the watering can in Taekwoon’s direction when he turns around. He sighs, stamping his foot and Hongbin squeaks in protest when the watering can is filled in an instant, scoffing athim. It’s like he can tell that Taekwoon is smiling as he ascends the stairs to their apartment.
Hongbin handles a lot of the store while Taekwoon does things for their clients. He’s the one who cooks, the one who makes the potions for not only Hongbin but the others like him. Hongbin is a vampire and it is important to keep him under control during a blood moon, as rare as they may be. During a full moon, it is Taekwoon’s responsibility to keep the shifters, primarily the werewolves under control so that they do not hurt themselves or their families. Taekwoon isn’t the only moon witch in existence but he is the only one in this town. A lot of creatures stop through the town and stock up on what they need even if they don’t live nearby.
Wolfsbane is a given but Taekwoon works hard on something that could help Hongbin’s kind during a blood moon. Hongbin is fine, so long as he feeds from Taekwoon before he drives himself mad but Taekwoon hopes there is something else that he might be able to make to soothe those who have no human companion. He’s glad Hongbin is willing to test things when he experiments with different ingredients and such.
They are open during the nighttime, when moon dwellers are the most active and the few werewolves that do come in don’t flinch at the sight of Hongbin like Taekwoon feared they would. Instead, Hongbin welcomes them as best as he can but it’s no secret that vampires feel their skin crawl at the smell of a werewolf.
Taekwoon is lucky that it’s just Jaehwan who comes in later to pick up the wolfsbane that he needs for next month’s lunar cycle. He’s no stranger and Hongbin has long since learned to block his nose when Jaehwan comes in for a hug and a nice chat, like he does tonight.
“How’s business?” he asks a little louder than he should. Taekwoon blinks at him like a cat, making him realise his mistake and press his finger to his lips, shhh ing himself. “How’s business?” he repeats in a quieter tone.
“I’ve had a few vampires,” Hongbin says, sliding into the seat behind the counter, next to Taekwoon. He’s close and it’s comforting. Taekwoon takes his hand just because he can and Hongbin does not protest. “They tell me of news.”
“Such as?” Taekwoon prompts, knowing the game Hongbin is playing. He’s the only one who always plays along with Hongbin’s cryptic games.
“They tell of the sun witch, the Cha boy.” Hongbin’s crimson eyes twinkle for a moment, making him look like the true creature he is but Taekwoon finds it endearing, beautiful. “There is a demon in the area, and he belongs to Hakyeon. I don’t know anything else.”
Jaehwan frowns, confused. “Wouldn’t you be able to smell it?”
Hongbin hums, leaning against Taekwoon slightly. “You would. That’s why the vampires told me. You can smell him from outside the store, apparently.”
“He must be young, then,” Taekwoon concludes, sighing. “That witch, he knows the rules. If he has newly summoned a demon without the correct measures, it has to be reported.”
“Will you speak to him?” Hongbin asks, frowning now. He knows that Taekwoon has never once spoken to the sun witch. There’s no point, really. Their energies would collide and it would serve more trouble than good. They don’t speak because there’s no need to. They respect each other enough to not interfere but a demon is another story.
If anything, demons belong to Taekwoon’s night realm more than they do to the sun realm. It’s confusing that Hakyeon just has one in his store and there has been no odd occurrences. Taekwoon doesn’t dislike demons but he doesn’t necessarily like them because the chaos they cause.
“He’s open during the day,” Hongbin says, almost regretfully but Taekwoon smiles at him.
“I’ll protect you. You have gloves and I’ll give you one of my hats.” He nudges Hongbin’s shoulder with his own. They both know he would never let Taekwoon do something like this by himself. If it turns dangerous, Hongbin is his little guarding vampire. Taekwoon can protect himself and Hongbin knows that but he finds it easier on his heart if he’s present in the moment, instead of Taekwoon possibly coming home to him with cuts and bruises. Not that Hakyeon would .
“He opens at dawn,” Taekwoon says, checking the time on his pocket watch. A few more hours until they should go. Taekwoon will have to find the umbrella he rarely uses so Hongbin can really be protected but right now, he has some trimmings to complete and clean up afterwards. Jaehwan shrugs at the conversation, taking his wolfsbane and leaving a little more than generous tip on the countertop for Hongbin to sputter at as he waves over his shoulder.
Taekwoon looks to Hongbin once he’s gone, frowning at the money in his hand. Hongbin’s hands shake until he curses, shoving the money into the cash register with an angry, “Who the fuck leaves a sixty dollar tip?! Not like I should be complaining, but- Where does he find the money!”
Taekwoon smiles, kneeling down to start trimming the mint plants so he can cook with them later. Jaehwan is an enigma but that’s why they’re friends. Everyone's a little bit of an enigma, aren’t they? Especially the creatures that roam in the night time, the ones that Taekwoon likes the most. Because fangs and claws aren’t scary to him.
Nothing scares Taekwoon unless he lets it.
***
Hongbin looks like a rebellious teenager in his outfit but it is necessary. No skin besides the top half of his face is showing, Taekwoon’s turtleneck pulled up over his nose and the wide brimmed hat over his head and shoulders. His crimson eyes almost shine in the dark as usual and now they’re emphasised against the all black outfit and hair of Hongbin. He wears leather gloves and Taekwoon holds one of his hands to keep him close while Hongbin holds the umbrella above them both.
“Are you alright?” Taekwoon asks softly, earning a nod from Hongbin. He shifts the sleeves of his turtleneck nervously, pulling it down fro his mouth from the way he shifts so Taekwoon stills his other hand with his own and kisses him softly, just to get him to stop moving. Hongbin relaxes immediately, his cheeks flushing a little and Taekwoon grins at him.
The sun does not affect Taekwoon like it does to Hongbin but it can be draining. People, namely humans, need the sun to live, but it is the opposite for Taekwoon. He survives in the nighttime but he mainly takes his energy from stars more than the moon. The sun does help him but he is easily burnt and doesn’t like to risk it. Moon witches are sensitive to sunlight but sun witches see no issue in the night time. So long as the sun is shining, they will exist. Moon witches are a little more fragile.
They make it to Hakyeon’s shop with little to no error. Hongbin isn’t burnt but his eyes are starting to glow a little. It doesn’t matter much, since the day creatures don’t seem to mind any night creatures. It’s a little weird to see a vampire during the day but no one really stops to question them.
Taekwoon closes the umbrella for Hongbin while the vampire steps inside, taking off his gloves quickly. They make his hands sweat and he doesn’t like it very much but it’s a precaution they have to take.
Hongbin raises his shoulders to his ears, shaking out his tense muscles for a moment. He glances around, afraid before blinking and stepping close to Taekwoon when he’s inside the shop. “It feels… Ugh, it feels just like outside.”
Taekwoon huffs a laugh, rolling up his sleeve for Hongbin to touch his bare skin to cool himself down. Vampires shouldn’t be up and about during the day underneath the sun but Hongbin has always worked a little differently. It goes to show how far he’s willing to go for Taekwoon but he has his limits, too. Taekwoon is always cold to the touch, something that will never change no matter the temperatures he’s faced with and Hongbin’s body betrays him by skyrocketing his senses like this, especially in unfamiliar territory.
“Can you feel the energy?” Taekwoon asks softly as Hongbin begins to settle down. His pulse is in his fingers and Taekwoon can see the minute movement of his eyes beneath his lids as he focuses himself.
He opens his eyes and blinks, his eyes fading in and out from red and brown. “It just feels… warm. Like I’m under the shade of a tree on a hot day. The clothes aren’t really helping.”
Taekwoon takes the hat from Hongbin’s head, placing it on his own and that seems to help a little. Hongbin’s hands are cold where he clutches Taekwoon’s arm but it’s good to see him beginning to correct himself. His senses must be overloaded and Taekwoon would be the same if he wasn’t used to the energies of other witches. He used to break into fevers and sweats at the pure sight of another witch in his hometown when he was newly twelve because the overload of power was too much for his perceptions to handle. He’s grown a lot since then but the only witch that Hongbin is around often enough is him and his speciality is in night life. A sun witch is a completely different world to him.
Taekwoon senses a few people passing outside, as well as some other creatures inside the store but nothing more. He’s yet to sense a witch, especially one as powerful as Hakyeon or a demon for that matter. Was it really that strong? Vampire senses are different to witch… Maybe the vampires mistook something? But Hongbin said they could smell the demon and that's something Taekwoon cannot ignore.
Someone moves and Hongbin presses closer, lopping his arm through Taekwoon’s to keep the connection. Taekwoon feels- warm… All of a sudden, familiar when the person comes into his view, his eyes filled with black and Taekwoon finds himself smiling when the man does too.
“Is there anything I can help you with?” the man asks and Taekwoon peers at him, his bronzed skin fitting for the environment of the store. He smiles at them again and it’s accented with two sets of sharp fangs, like a snake’s.
“We’re fine, thank you,” Taekwoon answers and Hongbin crowds him from behind, nervous but not uncomfortable. If Taekwoon feels the energy from the shop worker, Hongbin feels it tenfold and they cannot risk him heating back up again when he's just gotten down to a good temperature.
“Actually,” Taekwoon says before the man can leave. He thinks he might actually be a snake from the way he moves, smooth and slow even in human form. “I’m looking for the Cha boy. I have something I wish to discuss with him.”
The man raises his eyebrow, almost in a twitch before smiling strangely. “Who might you be, then? My master does not talk with just anyone.”
Hongbin makes a low noise, something akin to a growl but Taekwoon is unbothered by the threat from the man. The man’s words only confirm what Taekwoon suspected; he's a familiar of Hakyeon.
“My name is Taekwoon,” he introduces quickly. “I am a witch, as well. There was a report by one of my clients that there is demon energy around here so I wish to discuss that with Hakyeon, if you wouldn't mind.”
The man opens his mouth to reply and Taekwoon manages to keep his gasp to himself when he sees the black tongue and mouth. He frowns at Taekwoon before there's another smooth voice calling, “Wonshik?”
Wonshik straightens, shaking out his long hair. It’s beautiful, the way his eyes change like a kaleidoscope of colours before settling back on deep black. He peers at the man at the counter and cocks his head to Taekwoon and Hongbin to follow.
“He's a forest snake,” Taekwoon tells Hongbin in a whisper as the vampire looks around quickly as they walk through the shop.
“That explains why it’s so hot in here,” Hongbin grumbles, taking the hat from Taekwoon to shove it over his eyes.
Hakyeon stands at the counter with a smile on his face, his eyes open and questioning. Taekwoon is sure he’s not delusional but Hakyeon looks like he's glowing but he supposes that's not out of the ordinary; Taekwoon does the same inside his own element. He’s beautiful, to say the least, and that's not just Taekwoon’s poetic heart singing.
Hakyeon extends his hand but thinks better of it, his golden rings twinkling in the hazy sunlight. “Our energies might not like each other,” he says apologetically. “But, it’s nice to finally meet you. I’m Hakyeon. You must be Taekwoon.”
They awkwardly wave instead and Taekwoon introduces Hongbin as well, smiling when Hakyeon gasps at the vampire and quickly dims the lights.
“I’m so sorry!” he says, leaning a little closer to Hongbin to check if he's okay. “If I had known, I'd have done the lights already. We don't get many night vampires in here.”
Hongbin thanks him, averting his eyes. Taekwoon hands him one of his little pebbles from his pocket to keep him cool since it’s enchanted. Hongbin slips away to explore, Wonshik’s eyes fixed on his back as he does so.
“They're here about a demon,” Wonshik says after a few more moments, looking at Hakyeon. “Apparently, there's been reports.”
“I’m not here to cause you any trouble,” Taekwoon defends. Wonshik’s tone isn't exactly gentle and he doesn't want to find out what the familiar can do just from being annoyed. “One of my clients told me and it’s just that I have to know. If vampires are able to smell the demon, then it’s safe to say you’ll be having more than one visitor asking about this.”
Hakyeon blinks once before taking a breath through his nose. He’s peeved , Taekwoon thinks and he sets his shoulders back when Hongbin is back at his side again, glaring over his shoulder at the hostility suddenly in the air.
“I’ve done nothing wrong,” Hakyeon says slowly, looking between them. “I did not summon him and he has since left me.” He sighs, looking down for a moment. “He's my friend. I know it sounds far fetched, but he is demon. He's not a regular demon and that is how he sees me, as a friend.”
“The concept of front doors is foreign to him,” Wonshik adds, crossing his arms. “He summons himself to us.”
Taekwoon would be lying if he said he had a plan for how this conversation was going to go. He won't report them because what can he do? He's not stupid; a demon isn't as dangerous as people may think but the energy can still be negative, especially in the presence of witches. But Hakyeon seems to know what he's handling, has handled this before so Taekwoon sighs.
“I only worry about it,” he admits, a little shyly. “A demon in the presence of witches isn't the bravest thing.”
To that, Hakyeon laughs, easing the room. His laugh is very nice. “I won't try to defend that it is smart. I’ve known that boy for a very long time, though. I appreciate the concern but it isn't needed.”
Hongbin squeezes Taekwoon’s shoulder, whispering, “The demon is nearby,” and Taekwoon nods. It isn't his issue directly but if someone can smell the presence of a demon, he's within his right to at least warn Hakyeon.
It’s ten o’clock by the time Taekwoon checks his pocket watch and sighs. Hakyeon knows now and there is nothing more they need to speak about. Hakyeon is nice to him, even wondering if he wants to take a candle with him to which Taekwoon accepts out of politeness. Hongbin is quick to leave, grabbing Taekwoon’s hand and taking him with him before Hakyeon can convince them to stay.
When they're inside their store, Hongbin collapses on the floor and takes off his turtleneck, hat, gloves and boots. He sighs in the cold landing of their store and Taekwoon can almost see the heat rising from his skin and changing into shivers. His skin is a little red, inflamed from the heat somehow.
“I didn't push you that hard, did I?” Taekwoon asks, kneeling down by Hongbin’s head. He's facedown on the floor and basically purrs when Taekwoon rums patterns over his bare back, cooling him with his cold fingers.
“No,” Hongbin answers in a sigh, turning his head to the side and smiling when Taekwoon buries his fingers in his locks. It’s about time he cut Hongbin’s hair, actually. “Just a lot of different energy. I was alright, but I'd much rather be home.”
Taekwoon smiles softly, letting Hongbin soak up the cold and the remaining moonlight that’s trapped in their store. It’s been an eventful day and it’s about time they both went to sleep. He gets them up before Hongbin can do just that and return for the day. He hopes this doesn't mess too much with their sleep schedule. He feels restless now but Hongbin is pulling him to bed and it’s okay if he just lies there with him, even if he doesn't sleep.
Hongbin moves so Taekwoon can read for a little while and soon enough, Taekwoon gives up in favour of holding Hongbin as he breathes into his neck.
“Goodnight,” he whispers and Hongbin gives him a hum in reply.
***
Wonshik bursts out of the backroom with a cloud of black smoke, coughing and slapping his chest in a flurry. He shakes his head when Hakyeon startles at his entrance, pointing back to the door with another cough.
“Hyuk is back,” he manages before he faints and Sanghyuk peers out of the doorway, scowling.
The demon grabs Wonshik by his legs and Hakyeon is quick to lift the familiar by his arms and hiss back at Sanghyuk. “Let him go, you dickhead,” he snarls, laying Wonshik back down. It’s a slow process but he begins to transform and Sanghyuk huffs at him.
“He agreed to help me,” he says but Hakyeon just lifts the snake that is now Wonshik and holds him close. The heat of his skin helps and he curls the snake around his hand, laying him over his shoulders. Wonshik may be unconscious but the warmth of Hakyeon’s skin certainly helps.
“You know his limits,” Hakyeon chastises, sighing. At that, Sanghyuk looks apologetic and he gently caresses the familiar’s face, cooing at him a little. Hakyeon can't help but smile at that, sitting down as Wonshik starts to stir and squirm closer to Hakyeon.
“He told me they're looking for me,” Sanghyuk says, nodding to Wonshik. “The moon witch and his companion.”
Hakyeon sighs again, leaning back in the chair. He knows Taekwoon means no harm, there was no hostility between them aside from when Hakyeon almost blew a fuse at the accusations. He was a little out of line in that aspect but he’ll do anything to protect Sanghyuk, no matter who accuses him.
Sanghyuk leans against the counter and Hakyeon is always proud of how much he's grown in these years. They've known each other since Sanghyuk was just a child, nine years old to Hakyeon’s fourteen. People say a lot of witches have intuition, but Hakyeon likes to think fate brought him to Sanghyuk and it was destiny that made him love him so. Maybe that's the witch in him, the supernatural that chalks it up to interpretation.
“Taekwoon only warned us,” Hakyeon says, taking Sanghyuk’s fingers and inspecting his rings. “A vampire reported that they could smell demonic energy and Taekwoon came to ask.”
“He's weird,” Sanghyuk says, frowning. “That vampire of his is young as well, only just older than me. Newly turned.”
“This isn't a competition,” Hakyeon answers, drawing away to sit down. He coaxes Wonshik gently out of his state by stroking under his scaly jaw, watching his eyes blink open. “It’s his responsibility too, since he's a moon witch. It effects him if there's demon energy around because you can be disruptive.”
Sanghyuk makes a face, looking away. “I don't mean to,” he mutters. He sounds like a pouty toddler so Hakyeon laughs in reply, looking at him.
“I know you don't, baby.” Hakyeon smiles when Sanghyuk recoils at the nickname, scoffing as he returns to the backroom with a poorly disguised groan.
Hakyeon shifts in his seat, letting Wonshik wake himself up and slide from his shoulders to the floor. He disappears into the other room, the potions room which is also where the stairs to their apartment lie. There’s a bright light and a thump, followed by a curse. Hakyeon smiles and clicks his fingers, chuckling at Wonshik’s squeak from the sudden clothes on his body.
“How do you know what size pants I wear?” Wonshik calls, confusion evident in his voice.
“It’s not hard,” Hakyeon replies, eyes on his nails as he checks for dirt. “You don't wear pants when you sleep so I have to pick them up. That, and your waist is tiny.”
Wonshik snorts, appearing in the doorway with a raised eyebrow. “Like yours is anything better.”
Hakyeon aims one of his rings at Wonshik’s head, misses, but smiles when Wonshik’s yelp follows. A simple boomerang spell always does the trick, even for his familiar who knows his every move.
“What was Sanghyuk trying to summon?” he asks as Wonshik sits on the counter, letting his legs dangle a little. “That smoke is from a ritual. Did he try and steal my blood again?”
“No, he stole mine,” Wonshik snorts, showing his finger to Hakyeon. “He's trying to summon an animal, I guess. He figured my blood would be a good substitute but…” He sticks his finger in his mouth to heal the blood, speaking around it. “He's sort of dumb.”
Hakyeon smacks his shoulder. “Watch it, boy. I raised him.”
“And yet, he's still stupid.”
“He's smarter than you!”
“Oh, yeah? Picking a favourite child now?”
Hakyeon groans, shaking his head while Wonshik grins at him, all fangs and cheekiness.
Sanghyuk opens the door again and squints through the black smoke with a frown. He waves his arm, the smoke disappearing around him before he purses his lips.
“I want a puppy,” he says, earning a hiss from Wonshik that's all fang but Sanghyuk replies with a similar one, his fangs less sharp but still big in his mouth.
“You're stupid,” Wonshik snipes, his eyes glowing. “A fucking dog? Go get one! Don't try and summon one with my blood!”
“I really don't know how you concluded that,” Hakyeon comments. Sanghyuk is smart, he knows Sanghyuk is smart but this kind of thing… It really falls under the category of complete stupidity. “Sanghyuk, he’s a snake familiar. What did you expect was going to happen?”
“I just wanted the animalistic tendencies.” Sanghyuk shrugs, not seeing the issue.
“You could have gotten that from yourself,” Wonshik spits, baring his teeth when Sanghyuk does it back but when they go to attack each other, it ends in a playfight with Wonshik on the ground, his hands pinned to the floor while Sanghyuk holds his wrists together and slaps his face softly, sticking his tongue out at him.
Hakyeon chuckles, shaking his head at the fools he calls his friends and decides it’s best he starts on dinner before it gets too late. He already checked the stock, he has nothing else to do.
He distantly wonders what Taekwoon thinks of the candle he gave him. He’ll need to make another one to replace the one he gave away but he’s in no hurry. He has plenty of time.
***
Their timelines, their realities collide and it’s strange. He would call it an eclipse but that’s not equal, is it? He doesn’t know what to call it but it becomes normal to see Hakyeon more often than not, just around.
It’s like they agreed to help Hakyeon with his ‘demon’ problem when they really didn’t. It starts with Taekwoon thanking Hakyeon personally for the candle he gave him. Apparently it was one to help with good dreams which has been affecting Hongbin more than anything. He hasn’t had a nightmare in weeks but he doesn’t want to admit that to Hakyeon. Call him old fashioned but he doesn’t fancy speaking to a sun witch about his secrets just because he’s nice. Well, that’s not really old fashioned. How many people just casually know witches?
But Taekwoon isn’t bothered, therefore Hongbin tries not to be. They don’t go to Hakyeon’s shop unless they have to because of the atmosphere, which is almost never. Hongbin doesn’t want to go through what happened last time again and Taekwoon won’t put him through that.
“Are you really sure you can trust him?” Hongbin says a few weeks after the first visit they had with the sun witch. The demon issue hasn’t come up again and Hongbin is unsure of what to think of it.
Taekwoon looks at him for a moment, frowning. He looks pretty where he sits in the centre of the shop, underneath the skylight with the moonlight reflecting from his skin. Even with his lack of sunlight, he is still a little more tanned than pale and Hongbin finds that he likes that.
“He’s… a witch,” is all Taekwoon replies with and Hongbin stares at him, stunned at the dismissive answer. Taekwoon never answers him like that, even when he’s upset.
“Do you think I’m stupid?” Hongbin asks, a little angry but not uncalled for, but Taekwoon shakes his head quickly.
“I meant that he’s like me. It’s… solidarity? I’ve never spoken to him until now but we can help each other, I suppose.” When he shifts, his jewelry moves with him and Hongbin is barely able to disguise his shiver at the sense of wealth that forms around Taekwoon no matter where he goes. He moves with a rhythm Hongbin can’t hear, drawing him closer until Hongbin is staring at him, the witch’s face laced with confusion.
“Are you afraid of something?” he asks softly. It should be patronising, Hongbin kind of hopes it is but it’s not, Taekwoon would never. He looks away but Taekwoon catches him before he can try to move away, a hand underneath his chin gently. “Hongbin, you can’t hide this from me.”
“I can try,” Hongbin says, grunting when Taekwoon’s fingers tighten and squeeze his cheeks together. He glares at the witch but Taekwoon just raises his eyebrow and lets him go, keeping close but with distance he should count as personal space.
It takes a little longer and a promise of a new console before Hongbin finally spits out, “I don’t want him to hurt you.”
Taekwoon stares at him for a moment before he smiles sweetly. Hongbin’s heart flutters like he has a heartbeat and he rolls his eyes, muttering about how it’s not a big deal but Taekwoon squishes his cheeks again until Hongbin grips his wrists and tells him to stop.
“You’re really worried?” he asks and Hongbin clenches his teeth. Obviously .
“The demon hasn’t come back up again,” Taekwoon says softly, dropping his hands when Hongbin lets him go. “Unless Hakyeon got better at hiding it. I think the demon is more of a threat to you than me.”
Hongbin rolls his eyes again. Any harder and he’s going to lose them in the back of his skull. “Thanks, that makes me feel a lot better.”
Taekwoon has the audacity to laugh at him, hugging him before Hongbin can escape. He holds him tightly, keeping him close and Taekwoon likes to hook his chin over shoulders when he hugs. Hongbin lets himself be held, lets himself be cooed over because it’s still Taekwoon that scoffs at his crimson eyes when he draws back to Hongbin’s unimpressed face.
Hongbin’s phone goes off but it’s not like he uses it or really knows how to use it. Taekwoon questions it, taking the device and sighing, answering the phone call that Hongbin didn’t recognise. Jaehwan’s voice is unmistakable through the speaker and Hongbin spies him in the window of their shop, frowning at the werewolf who just waves at him.
“The demon is back!” he yells into the phone but Hongbin can hear him loud and clear through the glass of the window. “I can smell him now! Isn’t that dangerous?”
“If you were so close to the shop, why did you think calling me was a good idea?” Hongbin asks, moving to shove his feet into his boots. It’s the middle of the night, he doesn’t have to fear the sun and Taekwoon is quick to grab his cloak too.
If Jaehwan can smell the demon now, it means trouble. Werewolves picking up scents never ends well and this town really doesn’t need another war between monsters, especially between demons and werewolves. They only just got over vampires and werewolves.
Hongbin doesn’t waste time, not hesitating to swing open Hakyeon’s shop door. The door was locked but Hongbin’s pushed through too many locks in his time to be stopped by this one. His magic isn’t strong but neither is Hakyeon’s on the door. His skin tingles a little when he steps through but it’s nothing like the first time he set foot inside the sun witch’s castle of sorts.
“Why are you here?” Taekwoon asks Jaehwan as Hongbin curses at the door when it comes off its hinges. Okay, maybe he underestimated his abilities. That, or the door is just old.
“I was coming to pick up some more wolfsbane,” Jaehwan tells him, his eyes focused in the darkness. “My brothers came into town so I didn’t want to spend the full moon with them without enough remedy.”
Hongbin can sense others around, two of those being Hakyeon and Wonshik and he stands up straight, taking a breath. He hisses when the lights turn on, clenching his fists at Hakyeon who stands next to the counter, the back room door open behind him.
Hakyeon glares at Hongbin and his voice is as cold as ice when he says, “I'd ask if I can help you but I don't think you deserve it after you've done that to my door.”
“The demon is back,” Jaehwan says, to which Hakyeon scowls at him. “It’s awful, it smells like a forest fire-”
“Who are you?” Hakyeon snaps at him, stepping closer to them. Taekwoon is the one to tell him and Hakyeon calms down considerably once he founds out Jaehwan is a werewolf and not a hunter.
Wonshik appears from the other room, blinking sleepily at the crowd. Hongbin backs away because as protective as he is, he has no right to threaten Hakyeon on his own territory. But the scents are getting stronger, the pure energy too much to ignore and Taekwoon is the one to startle when the demon stands where Hakyeon was moments ago, his hands black with char, his fingers clawed and glistening with blood.
Hakyeon looks at him, tuting his tongue. “Sanghyuk, have some decency to clean your hands.”
The room’s tension eases immediately when Sanghyuk smiles, even with his pointed teeth. He looks like a kid and somehow, Hongbin forgets what he was even angry about despite Sanghyuk standing in a swarm of static black smoke. Sanghyuk moves, his white shirt stained with dirt but he looks mature if you ignore that his magic says otherwise.
“I'd shake your hands but I’m a little busy,” he says with a smile. His voice is deep, a little nasal but cute in the strangest way. He's like a child with too many toys but it’s obvious to everyone that if Sanghyuk snaps his fingers, they’ll all explode.
Sanghyuk’s eyes glint amber when he meets Jaehwan’s gaze and he moves quickly. Hongbin can only see him because that's how he moves, only slower if he says so himself. Sanghyuk’s eyes roam over Jaehwan before he looks into his eyes, asking for permission.
“Can I have some of your hair?” he asks sweetly. Hongbin scowls, disgusted in the request and he's not alone. Hakyeon is already shaking his head, his eyes on Taekwoon as the moon witch makes a face not unlike Hongbin’s.
Jaehwan blinks at him, completely stunned but he easily pulls out a strand of his hair and gives it to Sanghyuk like it’s the most normal thing in the world.
“Have you been asked that before?” Sanghyuk laughs, taking the strand. He nods to Jaehwan, telling him to follow him to the back room. It’s silent between them all, Wonshik muffling his yawns before he gives up and goes back to bed. Hongbin supposes this seems very normal to him if Sanghyuk is someone they come into contact with a lot.
“He's my friend,” Hakyeon says suddenly, glancing between him and Taekwoon. “He's not… He wasn't always a demon. He's not dangerous or I would have stopped him by now.”
That seems reasonable but Hongbin isn't that easy. Hakyeon owes them some kind of explanation at the very least, considering that Jaehwan is roped into this as well. He rattles off questions to Hakyeon, asking how old Sanghyuk is, how long he's been a demon, how powerful he is. Hakyeon answers accordingly, crossing his arms to welcome the accusations because he apparently has nothing to hide.
“I’ve known him since he was nine years old,” Hakyeon tells him, no hesitation in his voice. “He and I grew up in the same town and I was friends with his older sister. When I was fifteen, Wonshik found me. Sanghyuk was eleven years old when it… happened.” He swallows, uncomfortable but Hongbin just blinks at him.
“You couldn't stop his possession,” Taekwoon prompts softly, reaching out to touch Hakyeon’s shoulder. Hongbin should be upset at the touching but he's not; Taekwoon never does that unless it’s with people he really cares about. Hongbin feels the pit in his stomach swim a little but nothing more because Hakyeon is not someone he fears. He trusts Taekwoon.
Hakyeon shakes his head, licking his lips nervously. “I thought Wonshik could help, as well, but there was nothing we could do. Sanghyuk was strong enough to keep the demon at bay while he grew up, which is why he has so much control now. He fused with the demon, if I had to put a name to it.”
There have always been monsters on this earth but while some like Jaehwan are the good ones, the ones that protect people no matter what they are or who they represent, it’s the monsters that hunt others who are recognised. It seems that Sanghyuk and Hongbin aren’t as different as he’d like to believe.
There’s a spark, a yelp that sounds very similar to that of Jaehwan before Sanghyuk shouts in triumph, the backroom door swinging open and Sanghyuk has an armful of puppy that licks up and down his neck and face, squirming around to get a better look at the others.
Hakyeon curses while Taekwoon coos, moving quicker than Hongbin has ever seen the witch move to pat him. He doesn’t even recoil at the fact that this dog has claws and blood red eyes. Hongbin seems to be the only one that notices but the dog has two fucking heads.
It yaps at Taekwoon, one of them nuzzling into his hand as he pats it and Hongbin stares at the scene before with wide eyes. This- This is a demon spawn, a two headed beast . It’s almost half the size of Sanghyuk already but that doesn’t seem to phase anyone besides him. Hakyeon sighs when Sanghyuk puts the dog down and it stands at his hip, the two of them shaking their ears out and drooling all over the floor.
Jaehwan is the one that it runs to next, slobbering over him as he falls to the ground, back into the doorway of the room and Sanghyuk grins like a proud father, looking at Hakyeon with mischief in his eyes. “Can we keep her?” he asks like a child, pouting when Hakyeon raises his eyebrows.
“It’s a fucking hellhound,” Hongbin spits before Hakyeon can respond. The sun witch smiles at him, gesturing because that was his whole point too, most likely. Taekwoon looks between Jaehwan on the floor who’s squealing as the hellhound licks his face and bites at his hair, pouting along with Sanghyuk.
“But it’s a puppy,” he says and Hongbin is annoyed that Taekwoon knows his greatest weakness. Taekwoon could burn a house down and Hongbin would still love him.
That seems to do it for Hakyeon, too, because he looks at Hongbin for an executive decision. Somehow, they both know they’re screwed and Hongbin rolls his eyes. Hakyeon sits on the floor, whistling once and the hellhound comes running from Jaehwan who doesn’t sit up from where he was savagely attacked by love. Hakyeon holds his hand up when the hound gets close, making it skid and slip on the floor in order to slow itself down. He stares it down, their heights a little more similar now before pointing down.
It’s skinny, something akin to a doberman. While it’s one body, the heads are fully formed, splitting at the neck. The dog looks like something out of a fantasy novel but Hongbin supposes it’s not that weird for a demon to summon a hellhound and have it look normal, especially since Sanghyuk used Jaehwan’s DNA, technically.
The dog sits on command, eyes on Hakyeon and he looks up at Sanghyuk in question. “What are you going to name it?”
“Orthrus,” Taekwoon says before Jaehwan can reply, the werewolf sitting up now. His face is red and covered in scratches but he isn’t bleeding. Hongbin would be able to smell it if he was. Taekwoon looks at him but gets no protest from anyone present. Of course he would name that.
Hakyeon looks back at the hound and decides to pat her now. The response is instant; Orthrus wags her tail and yaps into Hakyeon’s neck when she moves closer. The two of them try to lick him, battling each other for his attention and Hongbin decides to help one of them out by kneeling down to scratch behind her ears. Hakyeon smiles at him and Hongbin hopes his cheeks don’t show his full body flush at Hakyeon’s attention.
Taekwoon’s eyes are on them and when Hongbin looks at him, the moon witch smiles at him, his eyes knowing something Hongbin doesn’t. He looks at peace, almost. When Hongbin frowns at him, he just shakes his head, patting Sanghyuk on the shoulder. Jaehwan stands up finally, rubbing his face clean of the dog spit and Sanghyuk smiles at him too, reaching out to smooth down his hair. Jaehwan stares at him for a moment before smiling and Hongbin doesn’t miss the way Sanghyuk’s cheeks flush a little at him.
“Shouldn’t you two be running a store?” Hakyeon says, commanding Orthrus to lie down so she will stop trying to lick him and eat Hongbin’s fingers.
Taekwoon curses and Hongbin is quick to stand up and leave, thanking them all because his mother taught him manners and Taekwoon bolts across the street without looking for oncoming cars, Hongbin right behind him. How could they forget about the shop?
“That was nice,” Taekwoon says later when the dawn is slowly approaching. Hongbin senses Wonshik inside the shop, but not Hakyeon. He wonders what they’ve done with Orthrus and where Jaehwan disappeared to.
Hongbin looks at Taekwoon, finding him a little closer than he was before. He doesn’t think as he presses their foreheads together softly and Taekwoon smiles at him, closing his eyes.
“It was nice,” Hongbin says, smiling a little himself.