Quiet days were always Hongjoong's favourite. For hundreds of years, peace of mind was a luxury he just didn't have so he was always grateful when he simply had a moment to himself. Seonghwa saw his husband by the window of the café with a book in his hand enjoying the silence. He looked so relaxed and it made him smile.

"Hyungs," Mingi called as he hung up his apron. "I'll be going now. See you two tomorrow!" He gave the two a wave then left, leaving them alone. Seonghwa grinned at that. He'd been waiting all day to be alone with Hongjoong. With that, the dark-haired demon locked the door then waltzed over to Hongjoong's table.

The younger hardly paid him any mind, focussing instead on his story. Seonghwa cleared his throat and tapped the table - still no response. "Joongie," he called.

Nothing.

"Joong? Hongjoong? Baby boy?"

"Yes?" Of course he'd respond to that one. Nevertheless, Seonghwa didn't mind, happy to finally have his attention.

"Are you ready to go home, hun?" Hongjoong looked baffled for a moment, not realising that he was so deep in his book that he had completely lost track of time. He laughed it off though and gave Seonghwa a nod. His husband grinned and kissed his forehead then took his hand. In the blink of an eye the pair was teleported into their living room.

Seonghwa glanced around for a moment and furrowed his brow. "Where's Sannie? He usually greets us when we get back."

"I dropped him off at Wooyoung's house this morning," Hongjoong replied as he put his book on the shelf. He then made his way over to the fireplace but soon eyed Seonghwa suspiciously when he was silent. "You're not saying anything."

"Oh...no?"

"I was expecting you to groan or be up in arms or something."

"I'm not opposed to San having friends you know," Seonghwa scoffed. "I just don't want him having intimate relationships with humans." Hongjoong sighed and stood from the fireplace. He placed his hands on his husband's hips with the shake of his head.

"I thought we went over this? We can't dictate who he befriends or who he falls in love with. He's a smart boy...most of the time, and we should trust him to make his own decisions. No matter how unethical they may seem." Seonghwa pursed his lips, muttering a few things under his breath before inevitably nodding and placing a kiss on Hongjoong's lips, making him giggle.

"Fine. Well, I guess it's good that Sannie's not here. It gives me a chance to clean his room." Seonghwa almost seemed excited by the fact. "Ooh! Then I'll get started on some food. What would you like?"

"Your choice. Whatever you make will be fantastic." The two exchanged one more kiss before Seonghwa skipped upstairs. Just as he expected, his son's room wasn't tidy in the slightest. The bed sheets were on the floor, his desk had random objects scattered across it, school supplies floating aimlessly through the air and there were footprints on the ceiling. Seonghwa shook his head at the sight. The joys of having a chaos demon as a son he supposed.

Oh well. More fun for him then.

About a half an hour later, Seonghwa came down with a laundry basket and a grin knowing he had tackled San's room in record time. As he strolled past the living room, Seonghwa noticed that Hongjoong had fallen asleep in the fireplace. The demon cooed at the sight and went to take him to their room. Suddenly he remembered he was nowhere near fire resistant and opted to leave him be now. He'd move him upstairs when he was more awake.

------------------------------

"Welcome back Hongjoong," a voice greeted. Hongjoong's eyes shot open, his breath heavy and face covered in sweat. He flinched back when a hand came down on his shoulder. "Whoa! Calm down Joong! It's just me."

"H-Hobi?" Jung Hoseok, Hongjoong's co-worker for years. He was a cheerful person who always had a smile on his face. Always. It could be quite unnerving given their profession, but eventually you get used to it. "I hear you've been spending a lot of time with Park Seonghwa?" He said casually as they stride down a long, winding hallway. Hongjoong followed behind.

No longer frightened, a grin appeared on the younger demon's face. "Maybe," he replied with a coy smirk. "Despite the rumours, he's actually a pretty special person."

"Special you say?" Hoseok mused just as they reached a wall of weapons. He chose a whip while Hongjoong chose a small pouch of metal objects. "And here I thought you'd be alone for another century." Hobi giggled.

Hongjoong scoffed at him. "Oh please, I get out. I've known him a while, but things are...different now."

"I can tell. You're smiling, I haven't seen that in years." The demons pushed past two large, red double doors. Just behind them is a sight that would terrify any man. Strung from every part of each wall were humans wailing in pain, as each limb of their body was stretched to their limits by spiked, metal chains that dug right through their skin.

Neither demons were phased. It was a scene they'd seen many times to the point the endless cries of agony meant nothing to them. Hoseok scanned the room until his eyes landed the person he wanted to start with. "You take left, I'll take right." Hongjoong nodded and went to the opposite side of the room.

He crouched down in front of a random victim and pulled out a clipboard. "Number 110567, serial killer. 20 victims, 20 years." He read off boredly.

"P-Please! I repented! I already served my time! Let me go!" He pleaded. It was no use. He was begging to someone who had heard every excuse in the book. Hongjoong paid him no mind. Taking out one of the metal rods in his pouch, a bright flame flew from its tip as Hongjoong clenched his hand around it. Slowly he traced the man's legs with the burning object, eliciting a horrid cry of pain from him. Yet Hongjoong hardly reacted. He continued his work until a familiar voice called out to him.

"H-Hongjoong...p-please s-stop..."

The serial killer was no more. Instead, Seonghwa was in his place, clenching in pain. "Hwa?"

"Dad..." another voice whimpered. Hongjoong whipped around to see his son getting lashed by Hoseok's whip. His body arching and bleeding with every hit. "D-Dad...it hurts..."

"S-Sannie!? Hoseok! Stop!"

Hoseok chuckled at him, it was low and distorted in a way that had Hongjoong wary and frightened. "Why? We've been doing this for decades. Why stop now?" The whip slashed right across San's face, the teen crying out in pain as blood slid down his cheeks. Hongjoong sprinted towards him but was suddenly pulled back as something snaked around his legs, sending him to the ground. He tugged at the chains but they wouldn't budge. "Don't tell me you feel sorry for these creatures," Hoseok hissed. "Each of these humans here, they all have families, just like you! But because you've gone soft and your heart has become weak, you feel sympathy!" Hongjoong cried in discomfort as the older demon yanked his head up by his hair. "You never should've left Hell. What makes you think you deserve to leave?"

"I...I had to! I refuse to be emotionless for the rest of eternity!

Hongjoong suddenly came tumbling out of the fireplace, his eyes squeezed shut and body trembling. Even from the kitchen, Seonghwa could sense him in an instant and immediately teleported to his side. He gasped at the state of his husband and quickly brushed off the ashes and patted out the flames, hissing under his breath at the heat. "A nightmare..." The demon placed two fingers on Hongjoong's forehead as he muttered a few incoherent words.

Bits of black mist travelled from where Seonghwa was touching right into his body. He shivered at the new intrusion of thoughts, terrors and emotions but it soon turned to energy coursing through his veins. With a shaky breath he then sat his husband in his lap and stroked his red hair. "Joong? Hongjoong can you hear me?" The younger stirred for a moment before jolting up, his breath raging. He threw himself in Seonghwa chest and the older immediately embraced him, rubbing circles around his back and whispering soothing words to comfort him.

"S-Seonghwa I..."

"Shh, give yourself a moment to relax." The pair sat in silence, allowing Hongjoong to stew in his thoughts. A demon's nightmares, if they even had them, were always more intense than those of a human. It was as if they were seeing and feeling the world through a more horrifying lense. Hongjoong hadn't gotten very far in his but he knew if he did he would've been stuck in there for much longer. He was thankful that he had Seonghwa to pull him out of it.

After about three minutes Hongjoong's breathing had finally slowed down. Seonghwa asked him if he was okay, to which the red-head nodded, and they soon migrated to the couch where they once again embraced each other. "Why did you do that Hwa?" Hongjoong asked quietly as he leaned against his husband's shoulder. "It's going to keep you up for days..."

"There was no way in Hell I was about to leave you laying there in fear, Hongjoong. Besides, I don't really need sleep anyway." The younger demon shook his head, moving away from Seonghwa and looking up at him.

"Seonghwa," he said seriously. "You saw what I was dreaming of. Everything was in explicit detail. Why would you-" he was suddenly hushed when Seonghwa put a finger to his lips, a slight but tired smirk present on his face.

"You think I'm going to let you suffer alone like you did those first hundred years? I'm not letting you do that ever again," Seonghwa took Hongjoong's hands, gazing at him fondly. "From now till the end of time we promised to take care of each other. Whether it's the biggest or tiniest thing in the world, I'll help you through it. I may not know why your nightmares are back but I won't ever feel that way again."

Hongjoong closed the distance between them as he brought Seonghwa into yet another hug. The older continued with whisper sweet nothings as he felt his back become wet from a few trickles of tears. He made sure to hold his husband for as long as he needed because he knew exactly how he was feeling. Every time Seonghwa would close his eyes he would see flashes of Hongjoong's nightmare, and he could do nothing but watch his torment. He could see every lash done to San's body, every burn on his own and every tear on Hongjoong's face as he saw it happen.

It was a painful sight, and knowing Hongjoong used to see things like this every time he closed his eyes had Seonghwa distraught because he hadn't done anything to stop it. As long as his love alright now, he could rest easy.

After more hugging and a few more rounds of kisses, the day carried on as usual for them. Seonghwa spent most of his time cleaning up the house, somewhat thankful it was smaller than their home in Hell, and Hongjoong was off in the basement melodiously tapping the keys of their piano. Out of all the instruments he played, the piano would always be his favourite. Something about it brought back floods of pleasant memories that he was always happy to remember. He spent much of his time in the basement as well since it was the easiest to control temperature wise, and everyone knew not to go in there without reason because it would be at least eighty degrees.

As Seonghwa tidied the kitchen (again) after finishing lunch, he noticed something, or rather someone, out of the corner of his eye. A man dressed in all black with a crowbar in his hand was slowly making his way around Mingi's house. "In broad daylight?" The demon scoffed. "Idiot."

The robber was thrown back just before he could break one the back windows. He groaned as he hit the back fence but flinched when he saw Seonghwa looming over him. "Now what do we have here?" The thief didn't say a word and suddenly lunged at the demon, swinging his weapon at him like some sort of madman. However Seonghwa was quick to avoid any of his attacks with swift boredom. He had seen children that fought better than this buffoon.

Getting tired of the foreplay, Seonghwa grabbed the man's arm and twisted it behind his back, earning a loud cry of pain from. "Oh hush it's not that bad." The demon groaned. As looked down at the man, Seonghwa was suddenly reminded of the raging nightmare he had been trying to distract himself from making him wince and drop robber. The thief thought it'd be a good time to escape only for Seonghwa to reach down and yank his leg in a direction it certainly shouldn't go then aggressively stomp on his other one. "Hold something for me, will you?"

While the man continued to scream from the new amount of pain, Seonghwa grabbed his face and pressed his fingers against his forehead with his free hand. The white in the demon's eyes began to disappear, replaced with an inky black colour that soon transferred to the thief below him. Slowly, dark trails of mist left Seonghwa's eyes and were transferred to him, bringing the nightmare with it. Seonghwa let out a breath of relief as he finally felt his mind become free. Meanwhile the robber was now squirming and twitching with discomfort, choking from the pain and horrible images in his head. Yet Seonghwa felt no pity for the man.

"If only you had chosen a better neighbourhood," He deadpanned. "If this was Hell I'd be feasting on your soul right about now." Seonghwa made a light tsk. He was sure Hongjoong wouldn't like it very much if he took the soul of a human, thief or otherwise. "You should be thankful I'm not hungry or you'd be dead within seconds."

He was contemplating just leaving the crying man here but that may not be the nicest sight to see. Seonghwa had recently learned that Mingi was majoring in music and composition and he figured he wouldn't want to get back from class to see a half dead intruder on his lawn. So with a groan, Seonghwa hoisted him over his shoulder and teleported himself to an alley way across town. He simply tossed the man next to a dumpster with a smirk then dusted off his hands. "Say hi to Hoseok will you? I'm sure he'd love to know that I sent him another play-thing."

With that, he left the man curled in a ball of his own tears, endlessly spazzing as he clawed at the skin on his face. Think he's got it bad? Thanks to this guy Seonghwa used too much energy and now has to walk back home. "Aish," he groaned. "Stupid humans..." Just as Seonghwa was about to exit the alleyway he felt a strange disturbance in the fill air, followed by the putrid smell of blood. However he didn't think much of it until he was able to identify the odd energy. At that his eyes widened and he sprinted back towards the dumpster in a panic. He glanced around the corner cautiously before his mouth fell agape at the scene in front of him. Three men on the ground, each of them dead.

Now, murder never deterred Seonghwa, he nearly committed one a few minutes ago. However it was the aura around the scene that made him falter. "Sannie...?" The teen was nowhere in sight but his chaotic energy still lingered and Seonghwa was able to detect it in an instant. Two men had their necks snapped, and remnants of foam and chaos magic coated the third. "Why would he do this?" Seonghwa thought to himself. Was he close to a power outage? Was he stressed? Was it self defense? If so, then why would he go as far as killing them? All these thoughts had the demon filled with concern but one in particular had him worried.

Should I tell Hongjoong?

"Absolutely not," he said to himself. "He'll just worry himself or put San on house arrest." Both of which no one wanted. Seonghwa knew his son could hardly handle standing still, let alone staying at home all day. Then again, maybe this wasn't him? Perhaps another chaos demon had just visited the area and had a little accident. Despite Seonghwa's better judgment he'd much rather believe that than the idea of San killing anyone.

Soon realising he was hanging around a murder scene, the demon teleported back to the front door of his house, nearly collapsing against the railing immediately. Seonghwa clutched his head in pain and cursed under his breath, suddenly remembering Earth's odd power restrictions. Nevertheless, he made his way inside with a bit of a stumble, looking around for his son. "Hongjoong," Seonghwa called, signaling his husband to fly up from the basement. "Is Sannie back yet?"

"No," the red-head replied with the shake of his head. "I'm about to pick him up now."

"Don't worry about it. I'll do it." Hongjoong narrowed his eyes at the older demon. He noticed the tired look on his face and figured he was just trying to distract himself from the nightmare he assumed he still possessed. As such, he was quickly denied.

"I don't think so," he said sternly. "You look exhausted and I don't want you teleporting across town." Seonghwa scoffed at him, moving past the younger demon to snatch the car keys off the hook. He jingled them in Hongjoong's face instantly making the younger lung for the metal object. Hwa rolled his eyes and held them just out of reach from his shorter husband. "But you hate driving!" Hongjoong whined.

"I hate idiot humans who don't know the difference between red, yellow and green and can't use a crosswalk. I'm not opposed to using the vehicle itself. What, don't trust me?"

"It's not that! It's just that whenever either of you leave the house I genuinely fear for the people you interact with." Seonghwa rolled his eyes once again. Without warning he teleported the two of them upstairs and threw his partner onto the bed. "Hwa!" Hongjoong whined as Seonghwa crawled on top of him. Hongjoong didn't even get a chance to protest as Seonghwa shut him up with a kiss.

"I want you looking pretty when I get back, alright?"

The younger demon nodded as he bit his lip eagerly. "Yes oppa." Seonghwa smirked and delivered one last kiss to his husband before teleporting back downstairs. Once again, he tripped under his feet after the excessive moving. Still, with Hongjoong distracted he shook it off, remembering why he had grabbed the bastard keys in the first place.

When he reached Wooyoung's "house" Seonghwa nearly gagged at the sight. Cramped, beige and dowsed in Febreze and holy water. He was only at the front door and he already hated it. Seonghwa wouldn't be surprised if some sort of Karen popped out. Just as he was about to open the door, it suddenly swung open. "Oh, hello!"

Speak of the devil.

"Can I help you?"

"Yes, I'm here to pick up my son." The woman furrowed her brow at him.

"Son? Do you mean San? But I thought Hongjoong-" The demon glared at her, nearly wanting to choke her for even saying his husband's name. Call him petty, but the man was exhausted at this point. So why bother being polite?

"In the devil's name I really don't have time for this." Seonghwa pushed past the woman, storming into the room and instantly wanting to vomit at his surroundings. Banners, crosses, a bible, even more holy water. God it was putrid to him.

"Just what on Earth do you think you're doing?!" Mrs Jung shouted. Seonghwa, not having the patience for conversation, turned to the woman with a grin. She was a little taken aback by the sudden mood swing and stumbled against the kitchen counter.

"Relax." In one swift motion Seonghwa grabbed the woman by her hair and brought her to his face. Her eyes slowly rolled to the back of her head while Seonghwa casually covered her mouth to prevent any screaming. Once he was done, he carelessly tossed her to the couch then dusted off his hands. The faint sound of giggling filled caught his attention just a few rooms down and that was exactly where he headed next.

With no warning Seonghwa kicked the bedroom door open, startling the two teens into each other's arms. "Father!?" San exclaimed, still not releasing Wooyoung. Seonghwa narrowed his eyes at them and beckoned San to his side. The teen sighed reluctantly and stood up while sending his friend an apologetic glance.

"Wooyoung you should tell your mother to stop drinking so much wine, the poor woman's passed out." Said Seonghwa as he practically dragged his son out. Wooyoung followed after.

"W-What? My mother doesn't drink..."

"That's not what the sorry sight on your couch says." The blonde gasped once he saw his mother face first on the couch surrounded by empty wine bottles and caviar. "Have a good evening now!"

Once they were outside the door, Seonghwa didn't waste time taking the stairs and simply teleported them right into the car. Effectively not learning his lessons from before since he was less than five minutes from passing out at this point.

San hadn't said a word since they started driving but Seonghwa could tell his mind was brewing with thoughts. It wasn't until they reached a traffic light did he finally speak. "I won't allow it," he said. "I won't let you guys hurt Wooyoung or his family!"

Seonghwa didn't tear his eyes away from the road. "But he's a human."

"I don't care!" Shouted San. Seonghwa could feel the car shake with his pent up energy but he was keen to keep his son calm.

"You don't mean that." He replied with a straight face. He could tell San was getting irritated.

"Father, I really care for Wooyoung."

"Is that so?" Hummed Seonghwa, turning down an empty street. "Would you do anything for Wooyoung?"

"I would kill for Wooyoung." The car came to a grinding halt. San jolted at the sudden stop but Seonghwa's face barely changed. He only glanced over at his son, an unreadable expression that San felt shoot through him as he quickly covered his mouth. "Y-You know?"

Seonghwa didn't say anything and simply continued on the route back home. "Does Dad know?" San whimpered, his head now hanging low.

"No," said Seonghwa. "I haven't told him yet. But San, he'll find out eventually. You can't keep doing things like this, even if it's to protect someone you love. You're rushing into things as well and you have to be mindful of the rules around you. Do you know how your father would feel if he found out you killed three people? He'd be furious!"

"They deserved it though! They were going to hurt Wooyoung. He can't get mad at me for that!"

"I didn't say mad." Seonghwa responded darkly. "You've used your powers in front of people outside of our home, refuse to wear your contacts and constantly come home tired because you're creating unwarranted boats of chaos! By now, someone could've found out you're not human. All of which you and I have been hiding from your father. He wouldn't be mad, he wouldn't even be angry. He'd be furious, something I never want to see again."

The older demon let out a shaky breath and released his hands from the steering wheel once they pulled into the driveway. There were dents from how tightly he was holding it. "You're still young," he said wearily. "So you've got time to learn the ins and outs of this world. But the universe won't wait for you to pick up on its ways. So San, listen to me when I say:

Stay away from Jung Wooyoung. If he makes you feel vulnerable enough to act like this, I don't want you anywhere near him until you have enough self control. Do you understand me?"

San remained silent. He knew what he did was wrong, but wasn't willing to give up on Wooyoung because of it.

"I can't make any promises."