The entire house was quiet when Hongjoong returned.

Seonghwa was sitting at the dining table, turning pages of a book calmly, whilst San hugged Shiber close and stared aimlessly at the TV.

It was quite the peaceful atmosphere.

"Welcome back, Hongjoong," Seonghwa said absent-mindedly, turning the page.

"Hey hyung," San said, who seemed to have brightened up a lot despite the fact that he'd had to stay with Seonghwa all day, whom he had seemed so afraid of. In fact, the air between the two seemed quite more relaxed, actually; comfortably quiet.

"You guys seem a lot closer," Hongjoong commented, smiling – almost proudly.

San nodded happily, Seonghwa gave Hongjoong a reserved smile, though there was something a little...off about it.

"Are you okay?" asked Hongjoong, picking up on this quite quickly.

"Hmm? Oh, yeah, I am..." Seonghwa replied, looking up for a moment.

Hongjoong pouted in concern.

"Are you sure?"

"Mhm."

Hongjoong frowned, but didn't persist, and instead made his way over to his room to change.

As he pulled off his tie and unbuttoned his shirt, he heard a soft click and the padding of footsteps behind him.

"Hey hyung," San whispered, cautiously making his way over to the other demon.

"Hey San," Hongjoong replied. "Why're you here?"

"You seemed a bit bothered about it so I came to say that Seonghwa-hyung's just a bit...sensitive right now."

"Oh no, why?"

"He...umm.......well I....." San looked down guiltily. "I accidentally reminded him of something from the past and he...kinda had a bit of a mental breakdown." San grimaced. "He's okay now," the boy assured, "it's just that he doesn't want any reminders...which is why he didn't say anything to you."

"Oh, okay," Hongjoong nodded understandingly.

"Oh, and on a brighter note, I'm going to move to Seonghwa-hyung's room."

"Oh really?"

"Yeah." San smiled sheepishly. "I don't want to be a nuisance to you, hyung, since you need to get up early to go to work and everything."

"Ahh, cool."

"Well, bye hyung!" San said, and left the room.

Hongjoong couldn't help but smile as the little demon left the room, then got back to getting changed.

As he placed his tie on its hanger and pulled off his shirt, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. A pinkish scar had taken up its place on his right shoulder, a stark contrast to the peach of his skin. He winced as he recalled the memory, and the pain that had come with it. And the deaths that had come with it.

His eyes lingered for a second longer on the puckered line of thin red, before he turned away and got changed into some more comfortable clothes.

He slumped onto his bed, tired from the day's events.

He had had to run a little errand for Big Grey just before he had returned home. A little parcel had been handed to him, and he'd had to hand it to a woman called Do Shihwan, a Red in charge of a faction quite far across the town from where Hongjoong lived. He wasn't sure what was in the parcel, what it was meant for; he didn't quite know who this Do Shihwan was. All he had needed to do was get the parcel to her.

This kind of process had been happening for two months now; Big Grey would call, Hongjoong would report to whoever needed him, and then do whatever he was assigned. Sometimes it would be small things like handing over a parcel like today, or passing a note on, but quite often he'd be told to commit small, petty crimes, like theft. Hongjoong was reluctant to do such things, but he was never given a choice – and there was no refusing Big Grey.

Everytime he was called to headquarters and to the boss of Cherries, he would remember what Seonghwa had told him.

Big Grey wanted him in the gang.

The gang boss had never said so himself in front of Hongjoong, but it certainly was implied. The way he eyed the little demon with almost envious pearly-grey eyes, a little smirk playing at his lips, and the way he regarded Hongjoong with such wonder and curiosity – but a sick and twisted version of those things – were all Hongjoong needed to conclude that yes, Big Grey was indeed obsessed.

And today, finally, he made the offer.

"How about you join Cherries?" Big Grey had suggested; a casual, passing comment, but the weight behind the words was immense. "You're practically part of the family now, really."

So the time had come.

"I—I'm not sure..." Hongjoong replied, feigning uncertainty. He had already made his decision – and it was a big, fat no. Nothing would convince him otherwise. But, of course, Big Grey didn't need to know that. "I'd have to have a think about it..."

"Haha, don't worry about making the choice now," Big Grey assured, though his eyes gleamed. "The offer still stands – you make your choice when you're ready."

Hongjoong gulped.

* * *

As Seonghwa reached the final page of his book, he felt a vibration shake the table a little. Then again. And then again. A needy persistence that wouldn't stop.

Seonghwa sighed as he finished the page, set down his book and checked who was calling. His face immediately fell a couple of tones, and a dread wormed inside of him – it was Big Grey.

He was needed.

Seonghwa picked up, his hands shaking slightly as he did so.

"Sir," he said curtly, his voice taking on that monotonous drone devoid of any emotion as it always did whenever he spoke to the great boss.

"Ah, Seonghwa, my dear," Big Grey's pleasant voice came as Seonghwa held the device to his ear.

He didn't reply.

"I have a little favour to ask of you," he purred.

"What is it, sir?" Seonghwa asked politely, despite knowing full well that it wasn't just a favour – he had no choice but to accept, whatever it was.

"You know Yoo Jeongseok of Equarion, correct?"

"Yes, sir."

"Then you know what to do."

Seonghwa felt a sick feeling plunge into his stomach at even the thought of picking up his gun and getting his hands bloody again. Of all the days, not today. Not when the memories were starker and fresher and more vivid than they even had been, swirling around in an endless tornado that wanted nothing more than to watch him suffer.

He'd have to refuse.

"I'm...sorry sir..." he started hesitantly. "I don't think I can tonight."

"Why?" Big Grey's voice was tinged with a sort of disappointment.

"I'm feeling ill."

Even as he said the words, for some reason a little droplet of guilt – different to the type he had been feeling all day since his mental breakdown – slithered down his stomach and made him squirm.

"Ill? My dear little assassin Park Seonghwa is ill?"

That guilt immediately disintegrated, and Seonghwa clenched his fists, knuckles whitening as his grip tightened around his phone. Sometimes Big Grey could be so infuriating.

"Yes," he said through semi-gritted teeth. "I've been feeling ill all day."

"...Very well then," Big Grey decided. "I'll just have to make use of the other assassins we have at hand. Though they won't finish the job as cleanly as you do."

Seonghwa grimaced, and Big Grey hung up.

* * *

There was a clink, disturbingly loud in the silence of the night, as Seonghwa set down a steaming cup of tea.

An hour passed. Two. The tea had long since cooled by now. Seonghwa had his knees drawn up to his chest, as usual.

Silence.

There was silence.

And Seonghwa was alone. Again.

He didn't want to be alone. He wanted someone there to talk to – Hongjoong or San, it didn't matter – as long as he could just talk to someone to get the thoughts out of his head.

Seonghwa felt the shivers start to enter his body, causing him to shake violently, tremors running up and down his spine.

Please, couldn't anybody hear them? The thoughts, the images, the memories, they were so loud. So why couldn't Hongjoong or San hear them? Surely they had heard them, surely...

There was the click of a door, and Hongjoong stepped through. Upon spotting Seonghwa, sitting alone at the table, he rushed over, concern dampening his eyes.

"Seonghwa!" he whispered. "Are you alright?"

No, no he wasn't. He was terrified because the thoughts, the images, the memories, were beginning to take over again. He needed someone to talk to – he needed someone to talk to.

"Yes. I am," Seonghwa said with a sigh, unfolding his legs.

Hongjoong surveyed his friend for a moment, before settling down at the dining table himself.

"Seonghwa," he said, reaching his hands out and clasping Seonghwa's in them. "It's okay to talk if you need to. About your worries, your anxiety, anything. It's the bravest thing a person can do."

Seonghwa's fists clenched slowly inside Hongjoong's, allowing Hongjoong's little hands to fully envelop them.

"You don't have to talk now if you don't want to," Hongjoong murmured softly, looking Seonghwa straight in the eye. "It's all your choice."

Hongjoong made to get up, pulling his hands away.

"No," Seonghwa said, his voice barely above a whisper. His hands went out, reaching for Hongjoong's sleeve. "Don't go."

"I'm not going to, silly," Hongjoong laughed. "I'm just going to put this tea away. It's no good cold, is it?"

"I guess so," Seonghwa muttered.

Hongjoong returned shortly afterwards, and took his place opposite Seonghwa again.

"So would you like to talk about it?" he asked gently, after a while.

"Yes," Seonghwa whispered. He took a moment to let the words come to him, and instinctively he reached for Hongjoong's hands. "I....I......It just hurts so much," he said in a low murmur after a while, his voice breaking on the last word. The tears came gushing. "I—I don't know what to do about it! I thought—I thought that time would solve things, that it'd get better, that I'd forget, but it's turning to quite the opposite. Everything I do, the memories, the nightmares, everything gets worse and I hate it so, so much. I—I want it all to stop."

"It's okay," Hongjoong said soothingly, moving around the table and embracing Seonghwa, who had broken down again, the sobs racking his shaking frame. "It's okay." He patted the back of Seonghwa's head, rhythmically, like one would put a baby to sleep. "Just let it all out."

And so, the two demons spent the night together like this, as one let everything come flooding out, and the other sat by and comforted him.

By morning, Seonghwa was feeling much, much better.

* * *

The week passed by. Seonghwa received no more contact from Big Grey, Hongjoong on the other hand getting quite a lot more than usual, and San was beginning to settle down quite well in his new home.

He was enjoying staying rooted in one place, one home, more than he had expected. Maybe it was the strange sense of security his two hyungs gave him, or maybe it was the fact that he went to bed with a full stomach each night – either way, he was quite happy and content in his new home.

"So," Hongjoong said, swallowing the last of his lunch. It was a Saturday, meaning he was actually home for once. "You said you could see auras, San?"

San nodded, remembering with a wince the last time he had been asked that. It hadn't gone well. At all.

"Me and Seonghwa are quite curious about that ability," Hongjoong continued. "So you're sure your parents or any other member of your family didn't have it?"

San nodded again.

"Do you have any ideas why you have such a unique ability?"

San shrugged.

"I never thought about it," he admitted. "I was too busy trying to stay alive."

"Oh. I'm sorry."

"Why are you apologising hyung? It's fine now – I'm happy and finally have a home – I have plenty of time to figure things out now," San said, smiling a smile that was bright enough to power the entirety of Tala, the biggest city in all of Signeria. He leaned over and gave Hongjoong a hug. "So do you guys have any ideas?" he asked.

"Well, I was thinking it could be because of the level of Dark Energy you have," Seonghwa suggested. "Remember, when I first met you I thought you'd be from a gang because it was so powerful."

"Hmm, that's true," San said.

"Could you perhaps show us a bit of your Dark Energy? That might help," Hongjoong said.

San's face fell.

"What's wrong?"

"I...I..." San struggled to find the right words to say. "I can't control it...." he said finally with a sigh, an embarrassed blush colouring his cheeks pink. "It could get out of hand and I could hurt you."

"It's fine," Hongjoong assured. "You don't need to do it if you feel uncomfortable."

"No, I'll....I'll try," San said, looking back up at his hyung's concerned faces. "I do want to know. Why I'm like this." San gestured to Hongjoong and Seonghwa's auras.

"If you insist," Seonghwa said, getting up. "And don't worry. If things get out of hand, I'm here to stop you."

"Yep!" Hongjoong agreed brightly. "He's been trained by the best of the best, you know."

"It's nothing to boast about..." Seonghwa said, but smiled shyly to himself as he got up.

San's hands trembled as he outstretched them, standing in the centre of the living room.

It's gonna be fine, he reassured himself as his lips pursed in a straight line of determination. He could not – was not – going to lose control again. He wasn't going to hurt his friends, who had demonstrated such hospitality towards him.

A pink wisp formed right in front of his index finger as he concentrated hard.

Another joined it, and more and more, until his whole hand was engulfed in a swirling vortex of pink and black. His eyes glowed the same pink.

His Dark Energy didn't seem to be acting up – for the time being; it pulsed and swirled and danced around his hands, but nothing more. He hoped he could keep this up for a tiny bit longer.

Suddenly, Seonghwa approached. A spike of panic shot through San.

"Don't!" he yelped, and that was it; the control was gone.

Immediately, the pink vortex swelled and shot up his arm, moving to swirl around his entire body. San shrieked, the panic starting to overwhelm, as he sought any way to stop it.

But he had never been taught how.

"San!" Hongjoong cried out, and took a step forward.

"Don't come near!" San screeched, holding out a hand to stop him, but the action backfired greatly.

A shot of pink detached itself from the crowd, and crackled through the air towards Hongjoong.

"HYUNG!" San screamed, backing away in fright. He'd done it now. Hongjoongie-hyung was going to get hurt and it would all be his fault. It would all be his fault and—

And suddenly Seonghwa was there, in front of Hongjoong, a protective arm stretched back towards the shorter demon, his other arm held up in front of him as if to catch a punch. A smaller, less violent swirl of pale-violet energy sparked around his fist.

"San," he said calmly. Whereas both San and Hongjoong's faces were stricken with panic, fear, and concern, Seonghwa's was a mask of impassiveness. "You need to calm down," he said.

San didn't hear the older demon's advice. He was long gone, retreated into a space of his own, hands over his ears, whispering some inaudible chatter as tears rolled down his heated cheeks and wasps buzzed in his ears.

As his panic grew, the Dark Energy grew.

Seonghwa and Hongjoong had been backed up into a wall, as the monstrous pink energy consumed the entire room in a tornado of unrestrained disarray.

"San!" Seonghwa yelled over the roar of the energy. "San, listen to me!"

He attempted to take a step forward, deflecting any of the energy that threatened to come close with both of his hands, blades of lilac accompanying them.

"GET AWAY!" San shrieked, his pupils pinpricks in his wide, terrified eyes. "I'll hurt you!" He sobbed as the Dark Energy increased in volume once more, the incessant buzzing of wasps in his ears rising to a great crescendo. Hongjoong was forced to summon his own Dark Energy – coloured an ice blue – to defend himself.

Pink started to creep in from the corners of his eyes as more tears were produced and released down his cheeks.

"San you have to listen!" Seonghwa called as he took two more steps forwards. "You have to calm down."

San was beyond reason, however.

"Don't come closer hyung! I'll hurt you!" he sobbed, his eyes now completely flooded in a stark pink. "The wasps in my ears – there's so many of them and they'll hurt you they'll hurt you they'll hurt you—"

Seonghwa moved forwards in one swift, fluid movement and brought his lilac-coated fist down towards the back of the boy's head.

A small noise resembling a cough or a splutter was forced out of the boy's mouth as he lurched forwards, the pink receding from his eyes and leaving only the whites, and slumped to the floor.

Seonghwa huffed, looking down at the unconscious little demon boy with pity in his eyes.

* * *

"So what are we gonna do?" Hongjoong asked, as his eyes drifted over to the firmly shut door of Seonghwa's room.

San, once waking up, had refused to come out of the room or let anyone in. He had rejected dinner – something that had never happened before – and had stayed cooped up in there all afternoon.

"Whatever it is, we can't just leave him like that," Seonghwa replied, eyeing the door pensively.

Hongjoong frowned as Seonghwa's eyes returned to him.

There was a pause.

"You've got to admit it, Hongjoong," Seonghwa said. "He's powerful – and with his volatile emotions running rampant and out of check whilst his Dark Energy follows them around doggedly like a deranged puppy – he's a danger. To himself above all, if anything."

Hongjoong bit his lip.

"So what are we gonna do about it? It's not like we can send him to one of those cram school type things that teach demons how to control their Dark Energy – those are for children," he said.

"I could teach him," Seonghwa mused. "Since you'll be busy with work."

"Yeah, that might work," Hongjoong agreed. "But is it okay with you? It's not too much trouble for you or anything?"

Seonghwa smiled reassuringly.

"Of course. Why would helping San to understand himself and learn to control the power he's been so afraid of for years be trouble?"

"True," Hongjoong agreed thoughtfully. "But...will you be alright? What if he gets out of control again and you get hurt?"

Hongjoong's eyes were riddled with worry, as they often were.

"Don't worry," Seonghwa assured. "I won't get hurt. Besides, you saw me today, didn't you?" he said, a mischievous, arrogant smirk worming its way onto his face. "I can handle it just fine – like I've said, I was taught by a master. There's no need to worry at all."

"I really hope so," Hongjoong said.

* * *

San lay in his blankets. A familiar hunger scraped at his insides, but he ignored it. He was used to it. At least until he'd moved into Hongjoongie-hyung and Seonghwa-hyung's house and received the luxury of three meals a day. But he could manage for tonight – he just didn't want to face his two hyungs out there. He was embarrassed, and shameful. He'd let his Dark Energy out of control – again.

He heard his two hyung's voices drift through the cracks between the door and the doorframe.

"You've got to admit it, Hongjoong. He's powerful – and with his volatile emotions running rampant and out of check whilst his Dark