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"It's nearly Halloween."
Perched on the counter so he can comfortably watch Yunho and Mingi dig through their box of old invitations and theme cards, San pulls the spoon from his mouth and drops it back into his bowl of ice cream before grinning wickedly, a familiar glint of mischief in his brown eyes as he appraises one and then the other.
"It feels like it's been forever," he whines, scratching first at the back of his neck with a low hum before lifting his fingers to drag them through his hair. "It's so hard to just... relax sometimes."
"I mean, it has been a year since our last party," Yunho muses with a grin. "That's kind of how time works, kitten."
There's something there in Yunho's voice that suggests he knows exactly what San means. It's not that it's been a year since their last Halloween party. It's that it's been close to 10 months since they were able to relax and not worry about showing off anything... 'supernatural' around a certain someone. After what had felt like a lifetime of only ever having to hide who they were when they went out willingly among the mortals they lived with, suddenly having to hide themselves at home had taken some getting used to. And not without its own set of risks and mess ups.
"We should tell him," Mingi's voice cuts through the silence, drawing the two's gaze towards the oversized male staring absently at the pile of invitations in front of him.
They'd already come up with a theme for the party. Most of the invitations had gone out, but Seonghwa had been a little apprehensive to send any invitations to the local wolf pack. In the past it had been fine. But they got... playful with mortals.
Yunho would hate to have to skin their friends for getting a little too friendly with their boy.
"...yeah, we should tell him."
San's response is quiet, dejected almost, before he slides forward and off the counter with a low huff of air. "We should have told him months ago... before--"
"Before we became the most complicated pack in the history of our peoples?" Yunho interjects with a grin before he shakes his head. "We've got a week. But we need to tell him before the party, it's not fair otherwise."
There's no response from either San or Mingi after that, their attention focused on the list of items Seonghwa had requested, as well as on the last stack of invitations they really should send out. Yunho would never hear the end of it if he didn't invite Yeonjun's pack. Whether from Yeonjun... or from his ornery mate. Especially not when it had been Hyunjin's idea initially for a blacklight party.
'It'll be fun, you know. I hear humans have blacklight parties all the time. They get special paint that glows under the blacklight and they stand around in the dark with only those lights on. We don't need paint. Not really. All of us have something that glows under their lights... what do you guys think?'
It had been surprisingly easy to convince Seonghwa and Yeosang to go along with it and soon enough, Seonghwa had devised a list of everything they might need to achieve their goals, including the addition of paints just in case anyone wanted to get a little more fancy (and so Hongjoong could light up with them.) Maybe it's because this is Hongjoong's first Halloween with them all, or because they all have someone they want to impress... but the energy in the house had been.... more this year. Like they wanted this all to go well, despite knowing just how much they had to tell Hongjoong, how much they had to trust that he wouldn't run screaming and vehemently denying them all as 'monsters'.
If he even believed them in the first place.
Mingi sighs, rubbing his face. "I've already told my cousins they aren't allowed to give him food or do anything too... Fey like that might hurt him. Threatened to de-wing them if they tried it."
"This week then," Yunho nods. "We tell him this week. I'll make sure the others are aware... it may be easier to try it in small bouts rather than all at once. He might think something's wrong if it looks like we're staging an intervention."
--
Somehow Seonghwa draws the short straw.
He'd later claim that he wanted to go first, as the eldest and the one responsible for keeping them all safe with his magic, it was his responsibility to make sure their boyfriend was happy and safe and aware. But it was obvious he hadn't expected to go first, so when he shuffles into the dining room the next morning, eyes bleary and hair a mess, he isn't even entirely sure how to begin.
Seonghwa's mid yawn when Hongjoong notices him, the pretty little curl of his mouth when he smiles enough to draw the alicorn even further out of his slumber. There's no words when Hongjoong waves him over to the table and tugs him down for a morning kiss, no words when Seonghwa curls his fingers under Hongjoong's chin to draw him in deeper.
"Mm, morning sunshine," Seonghwa grumbles softly against Hongjoong's mouth, mischievous grin ticking up at the way the younger whines softly. "You're looking very nice today. Do you have time to talk before you leave?"
There's almost a sigh, an agreement, but then Hongjoong's eyes flick up to the old clock hanging on the wall behind Seonghwa and he yelps.
"Ah shit, sorry Seonghwa! I'm late and this lecture counts towards my final grade! We can talk later, okay? Give the other boys a kiss for me and tell them I'm sorry I couldn't stay for breakfast!"
It's all Seonghwa can do to not laugh at himself in disbelief as Hongjoong pulls out of his hold and then leaves, shouting out a farewell to the house and getting a myriad of responses in return.
Mingi tries later that same day. Except Hongjoong's lecture goes for 4 hours and he spends two hours after studying. It's not until mid-afternoon that Mingi finally just calls him to ask when he'll be home and if he wants to chat while on the way to his next location.
"I'm sorry Mingi, can this wait until later? I promised Yeonjun and Hyunjin that I'd pick up their cat from the vet while they're stuck at work!"
When Yunho tries to bring up the subject of their less than human genetics while cooking dinner, he starts to think that maybe something or someone is interfering. Like some sort of bizarre divine intervention......or just really well planned out comedic timing. Because no sooner do the words 'can we talk about something?' come out of his mouth, does Hongjoong burn his wrist on the sauce pan he'd been leaning over. Almost at once, the conversation is dropped in lieu of making sure Hongjoong is okay.
"No it's not a third degree burn, San. He's fine."
"What do you mean he's fine? He burnt himself."
"Ah, it's okay Sani, I was just a little clumsy."
"This is why you shouldn't cook."
"Huh?"
"I mean... you should let us cook for you, Hong. Let us take care of you like we like doing."
Yunho eventually shoos them all out of the kitchen so he can finish dinner in peace, but not before enlisting Wooyoung, San and Jongho to try the next day. If anyone can get through to Hongjoong despite the bizareness of the day's activities, it's any of those three.
--
Hongjoong is already gone by the time Wooyoung and San wake up, much to Yunho's amused annoyance as he's the one they pile into bed with to pout and whine about how Hongjoong doesn't love them and didn't even say goodbye. They spend the rest of the morning in bed, Yunho wedged between a needy kitten and a needy puppy that he adores.
Surprisingly... or unsurprisingly, if you're Yunho and you expected it to go this way, Jongho very nearly succeeds. The young dragon slips out of the house an hour or so after Hongjoong leaves, seemingly knowing exactly where to go to find him.
"You know, you upset the duo when you left without saying goodbye," Jongho prods with a small, amused smile. "They spent all morning clinging to Yunho, being all pitiful and cute."
Hongjoong laughs at that, arm linking with Jongho as they step out of the cafe Jongho had found him in. "They'll live. Besides, it was after ten. It's hardly my fault the entire house seems to be nocturnal. I'll make it up to them later."
Jongho hums softly, thoughtful, eyes lifting to appraise the clouds. "It's going to rain.."
Gaze following the other's, Hongjoong frowns at the sky. "Are you sure? I know there was a potential for it but--"
"Trust me," Jongho taps the side of his nose before gently pulling Hongjoong out into the plaza more just as the rain starts. "You know I always know when it's going to rain... just like Wooyoung always knows when a storm is coming."
Despite knowing Yunho and the others are going to shake him senseless for not saying anything, there's something entirely too endearing about the way Hongjoong laughs as he jumps from puddle to puddle despite being soaking wet, and somehow Jongho forgets entirely that he's meant to be talking to Hongjoong about something much more serious than rain and puddles.
(What a terrible way to live one's life, he thinks idly as he chases after Hongjoong, arms around his waist to pull him close with a laugh.)
--
No matter how many times they try, no one can seem to bring it up to Hongjoong. Somehow, something gets in the way every single time.
And then, as if the cherry on top from a mischievous trickster god, it's Halloween.
The house has been immaculately decorated. Bowls of candy and snacks have been prepared. Not a single inch of the house or the yard has been left untouched, not even the pool. And yet, they still haven't told Hongjoong. Not even with him spending so much of his free time helping set things up, between the decorations and the paint station and making sure the fridges were stocked with drinks and cold food and whatever else they might need.
Honestly, Hongjoong's excited and nervous. This is his first Halloween party with the boys. His first time meeting some of their extended friends. Obviously he'd heard about the parties in the past from other friends, but seeing all the prep that went into one was a little overwhelming and he had no idea what he was in for. (Literally.)
The morning of, Yeosang finally decides that they should just tell him before the party starts. When they're in 'costume', so to speak. When it'll be easier to explain when they look like themselves. He trusts them, Yeosang argues. It should work.
It should work... Right?
Hongjoong looks good in his costume, they decide, when he trundles down the stairs and into the living room about an hour before the guests were due to arrive. San and Seonghwa had managed to find clip in wolf ears that matched the snowy white of his dyed hair, as well as a matching tail that sat in place with a collection of clips. With the addition of some colored lenses, he made a very cute werewolf.
"...woah, you guys..." despite them all gushing over how cute he was, Hongjoong's focus is on his boys instead. Eyes darting from location to location as he takes in the seven of them in their 'costumes'. "...I feel a little underdressed now."
San hums, tails flicking absently behind him before he slinks closer and pulls Hongjoong into his chest. "You make an excellent werewolf, Hong. Your costume is wonderful."
Hongjoong responds with a noise, eyes lifting to gently touch one of San's ears before he turns to stare at the wings protruding from Seonghwa's back. "...Seonghwa, those are beautiful. And Mingi--"
Seonghwa's wings, feathery and black and cascading down the length of his back were one thing, but the shimmering gossamer wings fluttering faintly against Mingi's back were something else. He watches the way Mingi flushes with color, green hair falling into equally green eyes as he shakes his head.
"My mother gave them to me," is all he can say in response, a choked out wheeze of flustered delight as the others chuckle.
Nodding slowly, Hongjoong slowly turns to appraise the others. Wooyoung with his fox ears and pale blue markings reminiscent of lightning bolts littering his skin; Yeosang, who was already a stunning individual, suddenly almost too beautiful to look at, with skin that almost shimmered and faint leaf markings covering parts of his body; Jongho with long white hair, silver horns that curl up and back from his forehead, patches of silver scales that glint from beneath his clothing and deep golden eyes that appraise Hongjoong carefully. And Yunho... who suddenly looks like some sort of creature from the deep ocean.
"...you're all so beautiful," Hongjoong utters in an awed whisper, cheeks bright with color as he stares at them all.
Yunho responds first, grinning as he reaches out a hand to Hongjoong. "We should talk to you about something. Before the party starts."
Hongjoong goes willingly, fingers curling in Yunho's palm before reaches up with his other to gently brush his palm over one of the swirling marks cascading down the other's forearm.
"These parties... for us they're a little different, Hongjoong. It's--" Yunho pauses, eyeing the others before he exhales. "We use them as a time to relax and let go. To enjoy ourselves as ourselves. These--"
"Aren't costumes," San interjects, tugging lightly on one of the black ears protruding from his hair. "It's us. Ears, tails, wings, horns and all."
"You see, Hongjoong. We're... different. Not human. This-- is who we are. Mostly."
Wooyoung snorts quietly, "yeah, mostly because some of us are too large to occupy a house and it'd be a little hard to explain a unicorn or a dragon just sitting in the backyard."
Yunho shakes his head at the others, before smiling at Hongjoong again. "Anyway. We wanted to tell you earlier. Way earlier, when we all first started...dating. But honestly, how do you tell someone you care about that you aren't like them? We didn't know how, so we didn't... but these parties are for us and our friends, protected by Seonghwa's magic so we can be ourselves for a few hours and not worry about the outside world. And we're all so fucking sorry we didn't tell you before now and we'll all understand if you don't want to be here anymore."
To his credit, Hongjoong remains quiet through the entirety of Yunho's speech. His only movement being to look quietly and carefully at each of his boys before he finally focuses all of his attention on Yunho.
It's obvious this has worried all of them for months. He can tell by the way Yunho's hands shake in his, by the way Yeosang and Jongho have barely even moved, barely even breathed. By the way Mingi's leg has slowly been bouncing up and down since the conversation started.
Just as it had been obvious six, seven, eight months ago that there was something different about all of his boys. He's known for months that something was different, but it hadn't been his place to ask so he'd simply waited until they trusted him enough to tell him.
Expression going soft and fond and syrupy sweet, Hongjoong lifts his hands to gently cup Yunho's face before he kisses him. When he pulls away, he can't help but laugh at the confused, panicked look on Yunho's face, as if his kiss had been a final goodbye.
"You silly kraken," Hongjoong hums, almost enjoying the way Yunho's eyes become impossibly big seconds later as realization kicks in. "You really thought I didn't know? I found you asleep in the pool about eight months ago. I have to say... the tentacles are very cute."
San's the first to respond, exploding into a fit of giggles that could almost be manic as Yunho just open-closed-open-closed mouths at Hongjoong in disbelief. "We were so worried over nothing. Oh my god. How long have you known about all of us?"
Hongjoong turns towards the others, grinning. "I mean, I didn't know what all of you were," he admits with a shrug. "But I knew you weren't human. Yunho and Yeosang were the only two I knew definitely, one because of the pool incident and two because I caught Yeosang communing with his tree in the backyard. It's kind of hard to hide that when you're fusing with a tree while buck naked."
Yeosang's features redden at that, and he waves a hand with a quiet laugh. "I thought I felt you there. You brat, spying on us like that. Having us worried for no reason."
"You were butt naked in our yard, Yeosang. And the rest of you... I just figured, but this is something else."
Seonghwa sighs, rubbing a hand over his face. "Well, that's one less thing to worry about. Do you also know about--"
"Yeonjun and Hyunjin? Who do you think gave me the idea to be a werewolf?"
"And you make such a cute one at that!" The appearance of two new voices draws all of their attention towards the front door and away from Hongjoong, just as Yeonjun and Hyunjin close the door behind them, arms laden with boxes.
Hongjoong grins, sliding out of Yunho's lap. "You're early. The boys were finally telling me everything."
Yeonjun's grin turns wolfish then, eyes lifting to appraise the others before he turns back to Hongjoong just as Hyunjin sets down the box he'd been carrying to lean into Hongjoong's space.
"You do make an excellent wolf, Hongjoongie," Hyunjin hums, reaching out to gently tug on a lock of his hair. "If you'd like to make it permanent... we could absolutely assist with that."
Somehow Hongjoong manages to keep Wooyoung and Mingi from absolutely demolishing the two wolves, all the while laughing at the way Yunho and Seonghwa huff with annoyance and reach to pull him closer into their little group.
And somehow... somehow, the party goes off without a hitch. Even with one of Mingi's cousins offering Hongjoong a cupcake that hadn't been on the table with all the other snacks.