Maybe This is Magic

by maelstromdeparture

Summary:

Hongjoong has been a lone wolf in Seoul for awhile. He didn't fit with any of the packs in the city and he sure wasn't going back home to the family pack he had left behind. He had friends around him and was content with his life, he certainly was not looking to join a hodgepodge group of magicals in the middle of the most chaotic full moon of his life. But he hadn't been able to watch the familiar manning the desk as the night wore on, getting more and more stressed and closer to the breaking point. Getting kidnapped (cough adopted cough cough) by the familiar's witch was definitely not part of the plan. Becoming a pack head? Well that had never even been in the cards as far as he knew so he sure didn't understand how he was suddenly looking it straight in the face. He had a feeling he was in for a hell of a ride from here.

Notes:

hello and welcome to the beginning of my ateez magic au

if you are coming from one of the other magic aus, hello welcome back to the chaos

if you aren't, hi! welcome! there's like three others in the same universe if you decide 'oh boy you know what i need in my life? lots and lots of kpop magic'

anyway, all warnings for this chapter consist mostly of "i do not know anything about medicine and all my science is hand wavey at best. please chalk up any and all inaccuracies to magic * insert jazz hands here *"

enjoy! :)

This is so not how Hongjoong wanted to spend the full moon. He liked his full moons quiet, a nice dark place in a park with lots of trees and bushes and being left alone until morning. Happily snuggled up in the grass and bushes in wolf form, basking in the moonlight. 

Loud arguing broke out to his left and Hongjoong was yanked out of his brief fantasy. He was supposed to be in a park quietly enjoying his full moon tonight, but no. He had to be a hero and shove someone else’s pup out of the way of an oncoming car. And they hadn’t even thanked him. 

To be fair he hadn’t exactly stuck around. Emotions and instincts ran high on full moon nights and it’s not like the car had hit either of them and Hongjoong was decidedly not in the mood to have to deal with a scared and protective pack head or worse a scared and protective pup parent. Yeah, booking it the minute the pup had bolted for his group crying for his mom had definitely been the better plan. 

Sure he was banged up, his arm was definitely broken and hurt like hell, and he almost definitely had a concussion too and if this clinic would ever get to him he might even get his arm set right before it started to heal back wrong. 

But no, the only clinic open on full moons was absolutely slammed. Hongjoong could technically have tried any of the clinics further east, but that was much further into sorcerer territory and was definitely not safe on a full moon night and he’d rather take his chances here. 

That said, he was regretting it. There were at least four different packs here and they all looked like they had been through the wringer, probably a territory fight. And there were more covens and random witches and injuries than Hongjoong cared to count. The waiting room was so full that almost every available space to sit on the floor was even taken up. And the shifter behind the counter looked incredibly frazzled as he tried to account and check in every injury and magical and curse that walked through the door tonight. 

“Kim Hongjoong,” called a young looking boy and Hongjoong stood up moving over, he was getting out of here as soon as they were done. 

“We’re low on rooms, and you don’t look too injured so we’re gonna do this in the hall real quick,” said the boy running a hand through his hair. He looked exhausted and the small fangs that flashed as he talked told Hongjoong he was a vampire and probably needed to feed sometime soon. 

“I’m Choi San, your doctor tonight. The healers are all occupied with more serious injuries, file says you’re a werewolf yes?” 

“Yeah,” said Hongjoong. “I just need you to make sure my arm isn’t gonna heal back wrong.” The vampire frowned and scanned his arm quickly, Hongjoong letting him examine it quickly. 

“Okay, it looks like it’s just a small fracture so I’ll splint it and you can either try a sling or I can bandage it to your chest for the night,” said San. “Either way as long as you don’t move it for a few days to a few weeks, whenever your healing fully kicks in you should be good. Which pack were you with? I need to note injuries for the official report on the territory dispute.” 

“I’m not part of that,” said Hongjoong gesturing vaguely to the direction of the waiting room. “I told your coworker this already? I tackled a pup out of the way of oncoming traffic and got banged up as a result. It’s not a big deal, I’ve just had broken bones heal wrong before and they suck to get fixed.” 

“You hit the asphalt?” asked the vampire frowning and scanning Hongjoong’s face. “Oh you definitely did. Okay, we’re gonna clean the worse cuts and I need to check you for a concussion.” Hongjoong grimaced but didn’t say anything, letting San do his job and get the cuts cleaned up and his arm splinted. 

“Your waiting room always that busy?” 

“On full moon nights? Yeah this is pretty typical,” said San face tight. “We’ll be slammed all night and all day tomorrow and depending on how many spells go wrong tonight could be pretty bad all week.” 

“Your coworker needs help, he looks pretty wrung out,” said Hongjoong. 

“Yunho-hyung’s tired is all. Seonghwa-hyung needs his help balancing out his own magic and we don’t have any other hands available to run the desk. Full moon is all hands on deck,” said San shortly. “It’s why we’re short on rooms, healers have the worst cases in the rooms, field medicine can handle the waiting room, couple people on house calls until 1 or 2 this morning, and I get everything in between.” 

“Sounds exhausting,” said Hongjoong. 

“Bad news, you definitely have a concussion. You’ll need to call your pack head to come pick you up, you need someone with you tonight and maybe tomorrow too, just to make sure nothing goes wrong and you’re woken up every hour or so,” said San. “Do you want a sling or a bandage?” 

“I don’t have a pack head to call,” said Hongjoong, “I told your friend this already.” 

“Of course you did. Okay, you’re staying in the office until someone can come pick you up and stay with you all night, if you’re here we can monitor you,” said San sounding more tired now than he had to begin with. “Sling or bandage?” 

“Bandage,” said Hongjoong on impulse. San nodded and had him bandaged up and sent back to the waiting room in no time after that. Hongjoong picked himself a corner and watched the chaos for a while. He wanted to sleep but it was no use trying in the insanity of the waiting room and he was stuck here all night. He could call Chan, but the chances of the mage picking up weren’t high and Hongjoong didn’t think that the phone behind the clinic’s desk could even  make a real call it looked so old. His own phone was gone, back home with his important possessions. He never took anything important with him on full moons, it was an easy way to lose everything. 

Yunho, the familiar, looked like he was absolutely ready to drop, or shift on the spot and Hongjoong couldn’t blame him. This was an absolute mess. Another wave of coven spells gone wrong came in through the door and watching the familiar fight back tears finally pushed Hongjoong to his feet, reacting on instinct not really thinking it through. 

“Sit down,” he said stepping behind the desk and grabbing a pen. 

“What? Hey, what are you doing?” complained the shifter. “Please go back to the waiting room.” 

“Sit down,” restated Hongjoong raising an eyebrow. “Your witch is using your bond to balance his healing magic and you’re clearly exhausted. Sit and don’t worry about anything else.” 

“Who? Aren’t you pup car guy?” 

“Really. That’s what’s important right now? Sit or go help your witch,” stated Hongjoong firmly before turning to the coven behind the desk. “What did you do?” One of the witch’s flinched slightly. 

“Ritual gone wrong,” he stated. “Vocal chords aren’t working on half the coven.” 

“Right, coven name?” asked Hongjoong scribbling notes down on the paper. He added the coven name to the top. 

“Yah, where do you keep your info forms. Hexes it’s like this hasn’t been updated in centuries, your system is ancient,” complained Hongjoong pulling open drawers. 

“It’s worked for three centuries,” insisted the familiar. 

“Mothers,” swore Hongjoong finally finding the form he was looking for and handing it to the witch. “Take that, sit down and fill it out. Take it with you when you’re called back.” The witch nodded quickly and ushered his coven over to a corner to start filling in the form. Hongjoong grabbed a sticky note and scribbled San’s name on it and magic and medical knowledge on it quickly before sticking it to the desk where he could see it. 

“Yah, familiar-ssi, your witch where does he rank in healing strength?” asked Hongjoong pulling file papers on different patients in the waiting room as he talked. He yanked open a couple different drawers and found colored tabs and immediately started color coding and stacking files based off of magic and injury severity. 

“Most experienced healer, strongest witch and magic user,” said the familiar sounding tired. “It’s his clinic, has been longer than any of us have known him.” 

“Great,” said Hongjoong scribbling it on a sticky note and slapping it on the desk right next to San’s. “And your name is Yunho according to Doctor Choi.” 

“Yes,” agreed the familiar. Hongjoong slapped another sticky note next to the witch’s with Yunho’s name on it. 

“Who else do you have?” asked Hongjoong and Yunho started listing magic type and medical knowledge and experience for him as Hongjoong took notes so he could accurately organize by available healer. 

“Okay. I’ve got this. Are you staying here or going to your witch?” asked Hongjoong sparing Yunho a glance. Yunho hesitated. 

“Phone is on but it’s set for emergency only,” said Yunho, “yell for me if it rings. The boys won’t know you, they probably won’t like you in our space don’t take it personal.” Hongjoong nodded shortly at that and Yunho stood up and headed back into the hallway to find his witch. Hongjoong got the rest of the files organized quickly and started going through drawers. This was an absolute hot mess. A complete disaster. It really was like they hadn’t upgraded their system since they started. 

“You are not Yunho,” stated a voice ten minutes later, pulling Hongjoong’s attention from the shifter in front of him he was getting information from. 

“No, which one are you?” asked Hongjoong glancing at the boy. He was tall with a sweet face but he looked confused and slightly anxious. Shifter if Hongjoong had to guess, probably wolf given the wild tint to his eyes tonight. 

“Field Medic, right?” asked Hongjoong. 

“Yes,” said the boy hesitantly. 

“Great, here take this stack, come back when you’re done,” said Hongjoong handing him a stack of files. “I’ll have more.” The boy just looked at him confused. 

“Go, do we really have time for you to be standing there questioning why I’m helping you?” asked Hongjoong. “The faster you take care of those the faster we get through the rest and the sooner this is over and I can get your stupid desk organized in a manner that actually makes any kind of sense.” 

“Right, okay,” said the wolf. “This is totally normal. Random strangers definitely take over running the desk for us all the time. Alright. Seonghwa-hyung is going to yell at you but it is so not my problem.” 

“Great, I look forward to it,” stated Hongjoong. “Now, patients.” The wolf snorted slightly at that but moved away from the desk and towards the door to the back, calling a name as he went. Really these people needed real help. Or at least organization and office supplies, things were just haphazardly thrown in to the drawers. Once the flood of patients slowed down Hongjoong was definitely dumping these drawers and going through them. 

The noise level increasing in the waiting room told him that the flood of patients wasn’t going to slow for a while, maybe even all night like San had said earlier. 

Said vampire didn’t comment when he saw Hongjoong behind the desk just raised an eyebrow at him and silently took the stack of files that Hongjoong handed to him. 

“You’ll be lucky to get away without a lecture from Seonghwa-hyung,” was all that the vampire had to say before calling for his next patient and starting on his stack of files. It was nearly another hour before Yunho showed back up, taking a stack of files to take back to his witch and handing off the filled in files to Hongjoong. 

“Where do you keep payment information, Yunho-ssi?” asked Hongjoong sticking the notes that he had deemed the finished colored on the files and adding them to the pile he was starting near the floor of the desk. 

“Oh, uh. Sticky notes keep track of follow up payments, the system is easy to run. You just click on one of the options for visit type and it’ll run through the card reader,” said Yunho shaking the computer awake. It looked ancient, Hongjoong wasn’t totally sure the computer wasn’t older than he was. 

“Great,” he stated. “That’s totally not a great system. How are you not losing money?” 

“Clinic isn’t run for money it’s run to help people,” said Yunho with a shrug. 

“It’s incredible that  you haven’t completely gone under,” muttered Hongjoong rolling his eyes. “I’m starting a payment tracker for you. Come back when that stack is done, I’ll have more. You have got to get a new computer, this is a monster.” Yunho just shrugged again and disappeared back into the back halls, taking a patient with him. 

They’re crawling ever closer to dawn when the next person interrupts him. The waiting room is still overflowing though their system is slowly turning into a revolving door rather than the waiting room simply continuing to fill. Hongjoong doesn’t notice the healer come in with the flood of patients, doesn’t notice for a minute until a soft smell of wood and earth hit his nose over the smells of the waiting room. 

The boy standing near the edge of the desk has sharp green eyes and messy black hair, the slight point to his ears was enough to tip him off that this boy was at least partially fae, if the mask of calm over his emotions and body language wasn’t enough. 

“Where?” he started to ask and the faerie boy just gestured to his sticky note system. 

“Second in power third in knowledge,” he stated. 

“Right,” agreed Hongjoong grabbing a stack of files to hand to the healer. The healer took them and flipped through them before handing him back a couple. 

“Disease and illness, save for Wooyoung,” he stated before gesturing with two fingers to another small stack of files. “Give me head injuries and broken collarbone.” Hongjoong nodded and handed him those instead. The boy smiling slightly at him, but enough that Hongjoong could tell a full smile probably felt like direct sunlight filtering into a dark room. 

“Wooyoung is?” 

“Plague Witch,” stated the faerie, “he and Jongho are still on call, they will be back soon, before dawn at least.” 

“Right,” said Hongjoong nodding and scribbling the witch’s name down and slapping it onto the stack of files with illnesses. 

“Come back when that stack is gone, I’ll have more for you,” he said. 

“San likes you,” stated the faerie boy. “Wooyoung is friendly, Jongho will not be. Don’t be offended.” Hongjoong nodded at that and the faerie nodded back once, shortly. 

“Yeosang,” he stated almost as if it was an afterthought as he flipped open the file on top. Hongjoong nodded and added the name to his sticky note, the healer across the room calling a patient’s name when he glanced back up a moment later. Watching the boy move was like watching a dancer, he had a kind of grace that took a lifetime to learn. As he continued checking people in the way the healer had gestured at the different files with two fingers rather than pointing stuck out in his mind. 

It was a little unusual, enough so that Hongjoong thought it was probably a pretty good indicator that the boy was at least half fae or elf and had spent a good amount of time in one of their courts surrounded by the culture. The two finger gesture was a pretty common hand gesture in the faerie courts at least. Though Hongjoong certainly wasn’t about to claim to be an expert on the matter, he only knew the handful of tales that his grandfather had told him as a pup. 

He’s been checking in covens nonstop for the past hour when the dawn finally breaks and the last two healers that had been out running emergency visits come trailing in, both looking exhausted but determined upon taking in the full waiting room. The witch takes both healing bags and ducks into the back halls, the werewolf moves over to the desk, frowning and then moving over quicker when he sees Hongjoong scribbling down information in a file for a coven. 

“Where is Yunho-hyung?” he demanded scowling. He was bigger than Hongjoong and clearly strong, likely an enhanced strength even, but he also looked very young. And the protective body language was screaming that it came from a place of fear, someone had hurt his family before and he’d be damned if he let it happen again. 

“With his witch,” said Hongjoong calmly. He knew what to do with nervous pups, this boy was hardly the first. He tried not to focus his sole attention on the boy, not wanting to trigger his instincts, they were hell already given the full moon, Hongjoong’s own were giving him a run for his money at the moment. His wolf wanted nothing more than to take this pup home and tuck him into blankets and cuddle him until the world felt safe again. 

“What gives you the right to be sitting here screwing with our system, huh? We don’t even know you. What you think because we’re a coven, not a pack that you can do whatever the hell you want?” demanded the wolf crossing his arms, clearly trying to make himself look bigger. 

“I think the fact that you’re overwhelmed, clearly needed another set of hands, your hyung looked ready to pass out or start sobbing, and that this system has apparently not been updated since Alexander the Great walked the earth is more than enough reason for me to be able to step in and help,” stated Hongjoong grabbing a stack. “You’re the last wolf, Yunho said you and your other wolf hyung, were field medicine trained, this is a stack of files with patients that will be best for your training to be able to help, come back when you’re out of files.” He handed the stack to the wolf who took it, but didn’t move. His eyes were boring into Hongjoong, as if he was trying to see into Hongjoong’s soul. 

“Look at me,” he stated firmly and Hongjoong finished scribbling the note into the file he was on and set it in Yeosang’s stack before glancing over at the wolf. 

“What?” he asked. The pup crowded closer getting into Hongjoong’s face. 

“I don’t care what you do as far as organization. I don’t care if you sit here and help all day. Stay the hell away from my hyung. Got it?” 

“Which one. You are the youngest, right?” 

“You wouldn’t be the first wolf that thinks just because he’s a born wolf with more power he can boss us around. I will not let hyung be hurt again. Stay the hell away from him,” stated the boy firmly. 

“Right,” said Hongjoong. “Does it make you feel better to know I’m a lone wolf? Never had a good pack experience, too rigid.” The pup snorted. 

“Like I haven’t heard that before,” he stated. “Don’t fuck with my hyung and I won’t cause you problems. Seonghwa-hyung will rip your head off and I’ll enjoy watching it happen.” 

“Right, so I’ve been told,” stated Hongjoong. “Take your files and see your patients so we can get you all some sleep by noon hopefully.” The wolf rolled his eyes at that but headed to the back rooms, calling a name as he went. Minutes later the witch that had come in with him was moving over to the desk. 

“Sorry about him,” he said smiling hesitantly. “Sannie says you’re helping out while waiting for the go ahead to head on home with your concussion?” 

“I’m helping out until you can take a break,” stated Hongjoong. “It’s not like this is the first concussion I’ve ever had and I doubt it will be the last. You’re Wooyoung, Plague Witch.” The witch flinched slightly but nodded. 

“Yeosang talked with you?” he asked. 

“Yep, said to give you anything with disease or illness,” said Hongjoong handing him the stack with his name on it. “Said I’d like you too.” 

“Sounds like him,” said Wooyoung with a soft smile. “He’s great, you know? And really, thanks for helping out sorry about Jongho-yah. He and Mingi, they didn’t exactly come from a good place when they joined us. He’s wary of other wolves and packs as a result.” 

“Don’t give them wolves then, got it,” said Hongjoong nodding and reaching for Mingi’s pile to sort them out. 

“Yunho just let you take over?” asked Wooyoung flipping the top file open and scanning it. 

“Well he looked exhausted and overwhelmed and like he was ready to cry so I just didn’t give him an option and sent him back to his witch,” said Hongjoong pulling open a drawer and frowning. 

“What the fuck is your filing system. This is an absolute disaster, have you never heard of organization. I swear to everything that’s magic,” stated Hongjoong frowning before just taking the drawer and upending it. “There’s no saving it. Just start over. Hwi-bin, this is a nightmare.” He started organizing the completed files into the drawer as Wooyoung watched. The witch let out a laugh. 

“Seonghwa-hyung is either going to have your head on a spike or your hand in marriage by the end of this,” he stated. “I’ll be back in a bit.” He accented the last statement with a wave of the files in his hand before heading towards the back and grabbing a patient to take with him. 

 

Hongjoong can’t say he really remembers much of the rest of the morning. By the time it starts to slow down, he has the drawers up ended around him and is sitting on the ground surrounded by papers and supplies as he sorts them. He’s tired and wants to be home curled into warm blankets, maybe with his phone playing rain sounds, but he knows that he shouldn’t sleep yet. No one will remember to wake him and really the healers needed someone to be functional and none of them should be after the night they had. Hongjoong could man the desk while they wrapped up and snuck in some sleep. 

He shoved one of the now organized drawers closed and rubbed his eyes sleepily as San moved over, handing in his last stack of finished files. 

“I’m out for you,” said Hongjoong waving a hand at him. “Go drink and get some sleep.” San frowned and crouched down. 

“I’m going to check your head first,” he said and Hongjoong didn’t complain, letting San check his concussion. 

“You’ll probably be fine to sleep for an hour or so, you just need someone to wake you up,” said San. 

“I’ll go home in a bit,” said Hongjoong waving him off. 

“You don’t have anyone to sit with you?” asked San frowning. 

“I could call my friends, but it’s unlikely they’ll pick up on the full moon. Chan’s not reliable at night in general he forgets his phone and has a tendency to overwork himself, the others are various shifters and won’t have their phones on them until probably tomorrow morning,” said Hongjoong unconcerned. “Besides with this hot mess of a system I’ll be busy all week.” San laughed at that. 

“Stay as long as you need to. We owe you after your help,” he said before standing up. “Mothers you were right, a drink and a nap sound so good right now.” 

“Go, go, no one has come in for an hour we’re about through the rest of the waiting room too,” said Hongjoong shooing him away. San laughed but headed back to the back halls and disappeared into the building. Hongjoong frowned to himself realizing that somehow ordering the vampire off to go get sleep felt natural, like he had been doing this for years. It was probably his instincts being too close to the surface still from the full moon, especially since his ended up being such a mess. 

The mess isn’t much smaller when he’s next interrupted though the drawers are much closer to good organization. He’s startled by a stack landing on the desk and an annoyed growl, attention pulled away from his organization focus. 

“You’re still here,” stated the youngest looking bitter. 

“Your system is still a disaster,” stated Hongjoong firmly. “Go find your wolf hyung, he should be about done and I’m out of files and patients for both of you. Go shift and curl up and nap somewhere, preferably together and preferably somewhere soft. It’s got to be years since you’ve had a full moon that wasn’t like this, your instincts have to be going absolutely haywire.” 

“My instincts are fine not that it’s your job to tell me what to do,” stated the wolf crossing his arms. Hongjoong raised an eyebrow at him. 

“Yeah? How long since you shifted on a full moon?” 

“That is none of your business and doesn’t matter.” 

“It does actually. One or two full moons fine, no problem you’re a little antsy maybe but technically nothing’s wrong. Enough for not shifting on the full moon to be your normal though? Yeah that’s rough on your emotional and mental stability not to mention your magic and instinct balance. Your wolf sits too close to the surface and can’t get in tune with your humanity, you’re at war with yourself. Take your hyung, your pack, and go shift and curl up. You shouldn’t have the energy to play after a night like that if you do, I’m sure you have something that can help you calm down. You desperately need rest in body and spirit, I can tell. Don’t try to tell me otherwise, I’ve been doing this longer than you and I know what I’m talking about it. I don’t want to see you back down here until at least evening. Tell your hyung that too.” The boy glowers at him before crouching down slightly to be at eye level. 

“I’d be worried the day my wolf isn’t at odds with the rest of me,” he stated after a beat. “It has never caused problems before.” Hongjoong’s heart ached at that. 

“I’m sorry it has been that way for you,” he stated after a beat. “That does not mean that it is the way it is. Go find your pack and enjoy what’s left of your full moon, pup.” 

“I am not your pup,” stated Jongho his face more confused than angry now. 

“I didn’t say you were, but you are a pup. Seriously, go rest,” stated Hongjoong pointing towards the back door. Jongho frowned but grabbed Hongjoong’s head running through a couple of tests for the concussion real quick. 

“You sleep before you leave and I will make sure Mingi-hyung doesn’t come back down before after dinner,” stated Jongho standing up and then disappearing back into the halls again. That had been strange. He was an aggressive little pup, but it was obvious it was coming from a place of pain and despite that he had just tried to check that Hongjoong’s head was alright. He’d be a good wolf someday, he had a good heart. It’s not much longer until he’s checking out another set of patients and Wooyoung and Yeosang come out of the back together, Wooyoung practically hanging off of Yeosang’s back, his arms wrapped around his neck and his head on his shoulder. Yeosang for his part did not look annoyed at all by the clingy witch, as he set their stack of files on the desk as well, scanning the mess more curiously than judging. 

“Any more, hyung?” asked Wooyoung before breaking into a yawn. Hongjoong definitely did not remember telling Wooyoung how old he was or that he could use the honorific, but something warm tingled in his soul anyway. It had been a long time since someone had called him anything like hyung. 

“No, that was it. Yunho took the last stack back a good hour ago, they should be just about wrapped up soon,” said Hongjoong scanning the stacks of finished files as he talked. He started organizing them into the correct drawers once he had finished scanning them. 

“How’s your arm?” asked Yeosang watching as Hongjoong organized. 

“Can’t hardly feel it,” stated Hongjoong firmly. He’d had enough of people poking broken arms in the past to know that he definitely did not want more attention on it today. 

“Sannie said he has a concussion,” said Wooyoung and Yeosang frowned. 

“Oh? May I look, Hongjoong-ssi?” asked Yeosang crouching down. 

“No. You have more than done your fair share of healing tonight,” stated Hongjoong. “One more concussion isn’t going to kill me. You both should rest. I’ve sent the others to bed already, do me a favor and yell at Jongho-ssi if he’s not shifted and sleeping. And really you need to figure out a better system for full moons, your wolves need to shift for at least some of them, it fucks with instincts otherwise.” 

“Yah, see I told you,” insisted Wooyoung, “but nooooo, we don’t want to assume anything Wooyoungie, they’ll say something Wooyoungie, don’t worry Wooyoungie.” Yeosang rolled his eyes at the witch’s dramatics. 

“I’ll tell Seonghwa-hyung, he’ll know how to bring it up to them,” said Yeosang. “Really Hongjoong-ssi, I can look at your concussion.” 

“No. Go sleep,” stated Hongjoong making a shooing motion as he finished organizing the files into the right drawers. Yeosang nodded once at that, apparently taking his refusal this time and stood back up, Wooyoung immediately draping himself over the faerie’s shoulders once he had. 

“You should get some sleep too, hyung, we’ll make sure someone comes and checks on you in an hour,” said Wooyoung. “Come on, Yeosangie, let’s leave him to his organizing. He seems pretty content to dump all the drawers and start over. We can bring him food in a bit.” 

“Sure, Wooyo,” agreed Yeosang neutrally, his face not betraying any shift in emotion but there was something in his eyes that Hongjoong couldn’t quite place. He decided not to dwell on it as the two disappeared into the back of the clinic once more, Wooyoung’s voice echoing slightly and lingering in the waiting room. They seemed comfortable with each other and with their coven, it was good. And it seemed like they wanted to figure out the best way to be their wolves’ pack as well which was even better. It was always nice to run into multi-magic groups that had their shit together. 

 

Yunho comes by with the finished files and says that his hyung had headed upstairs to make sure everyone else had found food and some sleep and that someone would be down to check on Hongjoong in a bit if he wanted to sleep. Hongjoong had waved him off and kept working on organizing the drawers. He doesn’t really remember drifting off after he had finished. He wasn’t even really that tired, though he did really want to shift, but that was not a good plan with a broken arm. He had settled with a partial shift, his ears coming out on his head as he organized the papers to be thrown away. Allowing himself to shift partially had been a mistake apparently as he very quickly felt incredibly sleepy. One minute he had been sleepily finishing up his foray into organizing the desk, and the next he was curled up around a nest of papers to be thrown out blinking confusedly at the prettiest witch he had ever seen. The witch was looking back at him looking a strange cross between amused, impressed, and vaguely annoyed. 

“You organized my desk,” he stated. 

“Welcome to the 21st century,” stated Hongjoong rubbing one of his eyes and sitting up, his ears flicking on top of his head. The waiting room was empty, the door looked locked, and in the distance he could hear snoring and quiet chatter. The witch huffed a short laugh at that. 

“You know people have been taking advantage of your lack of system for payments?” asked Hongjoong stretching. 

“It happens sometimes when people are desperate. We manage,” said the witch opening drawers and examining the new system. 

“No, more than half of your clients, regulars that have seen you for years, and none that need an extra hand here or there are taking advantage of your lack of system to screw you over,” stated Hongjoong standing up and pulling out the notepad he had been keeping notes on. The witch looked it over frowning. 

“And that’s only what I found with a concussion in one night,” said Hongjoong crossing his arms. “That’s a lot of money. You could update your entire system and all of your tools three times over with that, you could have a nicer clinic with a bigger waiting room and enough exam rooms, and a better phone and real system for house calls.” The witch scanned it silently as Hongjoong talked before looking him over silently. 

“Why did you send Yunho back to me?” he asked suddenly. 

“Because the kid looked ready to cry or panic shift at any moment,” said Hongjoong frown deepening. “It’s not like I wasn’t stuck hanging out around here for the night anyway and with the waiting room as it was I wasn’t getting any rest. I wasn’t just gonna sit there and watch the kid have a breakdown so I stepped in. And it’s a good thing I did too! Your system is an absolute disaster. Yunho tells me you haven’t updated it in three centuries, that’s outrageous. If your healing was as outdated they would revoke your license you know. It’s not like it’s as important but it is important.” 

“San says you yelled at Jongho to get him and Mingi to shift and sleep,” interrupted the witch and Hongjoong’s rant shifted gears seamlessly. 

“You can bet your ass I did. Someone had to and it apparently wasn’t going to be any of you. Those pups haven’t shifted on a full moon in who knows how long, that’s extremely unhealthy and I cannot believe that you all let that slide for so long. You should know better! You’re all in the medical profession! I get not understanding the instincts part of it, but really, magic is magic no matter who you are. I cannot believe they’ve been here spending all their full moons like this. No wonder his emotions are all knotted and painful, he’s been through who knows what and now hasn’t shifted on a full moon in probably years. Of course his wolf is too close to the surface and is so unhappy, of course it’s a constant fight between wolf and man, that’s what happens when you don’t have a balance it’s why full moons are so important! And Mingi! He’s very nice but he’s so soft spoken and nervous and that’s not normal for a wolf his size okay! There’s nothing wrong with being shy, but that pup reeks of nervous terror and he wouldn’t if he had a better understanding and balance with his wolf. If you’re going to have multiple magics in your coven you had better do real research and put real effort into understanding them.” 

“I’ve tried to get them to shift on full moons,” interrupted the witch a smirk on his lips as he watched Hongjoong rant. “They don’t listen to me. They listened to you.” 

“Then you didn’t try hard enough! You’re their hyung, probably by literal centuries given how strongly you feel like very old magic, they’re on the younger end of your coven and they’re definitely pups by werewolf standard, if you talk to them with authority their instincts will win out so long as they feel safe around you so either they don’t feel safe which is a ludicrous assumption given the way they act around here, or you aren’t talking with any amount of authority at all. You may be the oldest and maybe they respect you but they sure as hell aren’t following you,” said Hongjoong realizing the rant was getting away from him and he needed to pull his wolf in some before he really pissed off this witch. 

“They listened to you,” stated the witch again more firmly this time. Which put a halt to Hongjoong’s rant. That didn’t make sense actually. Hongjoong hadn’t yelled at the pup, he hadn’t pushed with any real authority he had just insisted and kept insisting. Why had the pup actually listened to him, it didn’t really make any sense unless for reasons that neither of them understood Jongho’s wolf felt safe despite Jongho himself not trusting or knowing Hongjoong at all. That was fate magic at play there and dangerous to mess with. The witch nodded seeing Hongjoong come to the same conclusion. 

“Where’s your pack?” he asked after a couple beats of silence, having effectively halted Hongjoong’s rant. 

“Don’t have one,” said Hongjoong waving it off quickly. “Left my family pack behind back home and I’m not in much contact with them. My friends are various kinds of shifters and won’t be easy to get a hold of until tomorrow as a result.” The witch nodded. 

“Good, let them know your address is changing,” he said which made Hongjoong’s brain screech to a halt. 

“I’m sorry what?” he demanded following the witch as he headed back into the halls of the clinic. 

“Tell them your address is changing. Obviously we can’t help you pack up tonight, but it won’t take long only a few hours or so in a couple days,” continued Seonghwa. “There’s still a spare room down by mine at the end of the hall, Jongho and Mingi absolutely refused to split up and Wooyoung, San, and Yeosang gave up on keeping separate rooms decades ago. There are plenty of blankets in the closet so your wolf can nest, since I found you in a paper nest I assume you enjoy that. Correct me if I’m wrong, of course. Mingi and Jongho aren’t much a fan, but they do on occasion. Honestly I think Wooyoung enjoys it more than either of them so he would be thrilled if you wanted someone to join you.” 

“Are you kidnapping me?” asked Hongjoong as the witch led him towards a set of stairs and started up them. 

“Are you claiming you are not following me of your own free will?” asked the witch shooting him another smirk over his shoulder as he opened the door to the apartment above the clinic. “Wooyoung-ah, dish up another bowl please.” 

“He’s staying?” called Wooyoung sounding excited. 

“He’s staying?” echoed Yeosang sounding confused. Jongho growled slightly from further in the apartment. 

“You haven’t even asked!” insisted Hongjoong. “This is not how you get someone to join your pack properly.” 

“Are we a pack?” asked Yunho sleepily, looking up from where he was sitting at a countertop watching Wooyoung in the kitchen. 

“It’s not my pack,” stated Seonghwa, “so I can’t ask you to join it.” 

“I’m pretty sure this is not how covens work either,” insisted Hongjoong not really sure why he was still following the weird witch. 

“It’s not,” agreed Wooyoung handing him a bowl with stew in it. “Eat, hyung, it will help you heal.” Hongjoong sat at the place next to Yunho and thanked him without thinking about it as Wooyoung shoved utensils at him too. 

“See! You’re doing this wrong if you want me to join you,” insisted Hongjoong gesturing to Wooyoung. “Which I haven’t even agreed to do yet! This is definitely a kidnapping.” 

“Hyung doesn’t kidnap,” said Yeosang joining them in the kitchen. “How is your head, Hongjoong-ssi?” 

“It’s fine. Only a dull headache,” said Hongjoong waving it off. “Did you sleep?” 

“A bit,” said Yeosang with a nod. “San-ah is still sleeping, Wooyoung-ah was feeling restless. Seonghwa-hyung could heal your concussion if you like.” 

“He needs sleep too,” insisted Hongjoong. “None of you are using magic on me until you haven’t spent the whole night using it on other people.” 

“Oh,” said Yeosang softly, apparently he had not realized that was why Hongjoong had refused earlier. 

“I told you it couldn’t be your ears,” said Yunho before breaking into a yawn. 

“His ears? What? You think I told you no because of your ears? Yeosang-ssi, that’s ridiculous,” stated Hongjoong firmly before taking a bite of the food. “Mothers this is so fucking good.” Wooyoung laughed startled at that. 

“Thanks,” he said. “Aish, I’m never going to cook for any of you again if this is the reaction I get from other people.” 

“I thought you didn’t want me to heal you because I’m fae,” said Yeosang pulling the conversation back on track, tucking his hair behind his ears so their pointedness was more obvious. 

“Of course not. You could be a gnome and if I thought you were good at healing I’d let you,” said Hongjoong rolling his eyes. “People refuse your help based off of your magic?” 

“People have their prejudice, even among magicals,” said Yeosang with a shrug. “I am more Other than many people are necessarily comfortable with. I have learned not to allow it to bother me.” 

“You seemed pretty bothered just now.” 

“Because my magic liked you, and my partners liked you. I was sad that who I am may be an issue,” said Yeosang seriously and Hongjoong frowned. 

“I haven’t agreed to anything yet,” he stated and Yeosang smiled. 

“And yet you’re sitting at our counter eating my heart’s food like it’s the best thing you have ever had.” 

“A hungry wolf isn’t exactly hesitant about free food,” insisted Hongjoong. “Your hyung hasn’t even invited me yet! Just said my address was changing and drug me up here, answering none of my questions telling me nothing, he didn’t even introduce himself.” 

“And you took over my desk, reorganized it, did all our numbers, told my family to rest, and followed me without asking or inviting either,” said Seonghwa with a shrug. “And I told you, this isn’t my pack, I can’t invite you to join it.” 

“Coven or whatever,” said Hongjoong rolling his eyes. 

“Hongjoong, you’re not listening,” said Seonghwa. “It’s not my pack.” Hongjoong frowned at that and Yeosang’s eyes lit up a little gasp escaping him. Wooyoung looked at him confused, frowning. 

“What?” he asked. 

“Seonghwa-hyung’s the oldest but he’s not leading, it’s not his pack,” said Yeosang looking at Wooyoung and Wooyoung frowned. 

“I mean I guess? I don’t know. There’s a difference?” 

“Do you listen to him like he’s leading the group?” asked Yunho yawning again after. “I mean I love hyung and he’s the oldest and he’s my witch but there’s a bit of a difference you know. And he’s never wanted to lead.” 

“Holy hexes,” said Wooyoung face lighting up as he apparently came to the same conclusion as the other two. 

“Now wait just a minute,” said Hongjoong not liking where this was going as Wooyoung grinned at him. 

“It’s your pack,” said Wooyoung leaning in and Hongjoong choked slightly, coughing in surprise at the statement. 

“What! That’s not-no-I’m not-I don’t even know you!” insisted Hongjoong sputtering as he tried to come up with a reasonable response. What were you supposed to say to a group of strangers that were already a pack that insisted that you were the pack head. How was that supposed to work? What a hot mess. Hongjoong wasn’t a pack head, he wasn’t a leader, he’d never led anything in his life, hell he wasn’t even properly a hyung. And packs didn’t form without a leader, they just didn’t. Pack heads brought a pack together, it was how it always worked. 

“That doesn’t make any sense!” he insisted glowering at the amused looking witch watching him sputter. 

“It doesn’t? Please, come up with another explanation for me then,” said the witch with a smirk. “Explain to me why our wolves, who do not like wolves they don’t know, immediately started listening to you, why Wooyoung and Yeosang both immediately felt comfortable with you, San liked you immediately, and why else would you be unable to watch Yunho come close to breaking down without stepping in?” 

“That’s just not how it works,” insisted Hongjoong. “I’ve never led anything in my life and you’re telling me the group of you, who came together by yourselves, think I should just step in and be the pack head? That’s insane! It will never work!” 

“Except that it will,” said the witch with a shrug. 

“You don’t want to at least try?” asked Wooyoung softly. Hongjoong’s attention pulled back to the other witch on the opposite side of the counter. Yeosang had an arm wrapped around Wooyoung’s waist, the other witch looking incredibly small with his arms crossed like he was hugging himself. This felt distinctly like a trap. How dare the witchling look so vulnerable and disappointed. 

“I-I don’t know,” said Hongjoong after a moment. “It won’t work, it’s just not how things are done. Your pups don’t even like me, I’d be stepping on so many toes, you all don’t even know me.” 

“Jongho-yah doesn’t like anyone,” said Yunho, “he didn’t like us at first either but he stuck around. He’ll warm up to you he just needs time.” 

“We are multi-magic, Hongjoong-ssi, not just pack,” said Yeosang after a beat of silence while Hongjoong still felt like his mind was reeling. “A leader stepping into an already formed group wouldn’t exactly be unusual for my magic and culture.” 

“Fate works in ways known only to it,” stated the oldest witch, “a group with such a variety of magic could hardly be considered traditional.” 

“You fit, hyung,” said Wooyoung softly, almost nervous. Hongjoong could see Yeosang’s arm tighten almost protectively around the younger witch. “I can feel it, you feel right. Sannie thought so too. And you’re lonely, you need us just as much as we need you. It’s not like you couldn’t leave if it doesn’t work.” 

“Right,” agreed the oldest with a nod. “If it doesn’t work, if you don’t fit, if you hate the dynamic of the group or Jongho and Mingi can’t get used to you and don’t like you at all, we go back exactly as it was. But in my experience when something feels as much like fate magic as this does, you should at least give it a good try.” 

“Hyung’s right,” agreed Yunho. “Just stick around for a week or so and if it goes bad it goes bad but it was an experiment worth trying.” Hongjoong rubbed his head. 

“I am not making any kind of decision right now. I’m in pain, I’m exhausted, and I’m still concussed, and there’s a good chance that’s the only reason you’re making any kind of sense. I’m not saying no, but I am definitely not saying yes,” said Hongjoong. Wooyoung smiled at that, though he seemed much more hesitant than earlier. 

“Excellent point, I’ll show you to your room. You get some rest and someone will come wake you in an hour,” said the oldest. Hongjoong nodded and thanked Wooyoung again for the food before following him through the upstairs, the floor was much larger than it should be from the outside so there was definitely magic at play. Seonghwa gave him the quick run down of which rooms belonged to who and where the bathrooms and closets were  before opening a door to a room with a very large window. 

“This one is yours,” he said. “Get some rest, Hongjoong.” 

“Yah, what am I supposed to call you?” asked Hongjoong as the witch turned around to leave, stopping him in his tracks. The witch hesitated. 

“Admittedly I’m not sure,” he said after a moment. “I’m Park Seonghwa of course you’re welcome to use my name. The others all call me hyung. I can’t tell you how old I am, just that I’m very old. Time is strange and it’s very messy in my head, the early years all blur together before Yunho so I truly have no idea.” 

“You look like you’re my age,” stated Hongjoong crossing his arms. “Doesn’t magic that affects age dictate that physical age rather than actual age is supposed to be the basis?” Seonghwa huffed a laugh. 

“You’re not wrong. It is why Yeosang is in the same age group as the rest despite having no idea how old he truly is. Time moves of its own volition in fae courts,” said Seonghwa with a nod. 

“Then we’re same age friends,” stated Hongjoong firmly. “Thank you for the room, Seonghwa-yah.” The witch chuckled slightly but smiled all the same, a real one not the smirk he had been giving Hongjoong this whole time. 

“Of course, sleep, Hoongjoong-ah, we’ll check on your concussion in an hour,” said the witch before leaving. Hongjoong took a steadying breath once left to his own devices and looked about the room. Seonghwa had said there were blankets in the closet, well he fully intended to make full use of them. It wasn’t long before he had a pile of soft blankets on the bed that he had shoved around until his wolf was happy and curled up in the pile to go to sleep. 

 

He woke up to cool hands gently shaking him awake. It took him longer than it really should have to pull himself awake, especially since he was in a strange place right after a full moon. But given that he was injured and hadn’t been able to actually enjoy his full moon, it made sense that his magic was struggling to balance him out at the moment and he was far more exhausted than he really ought to be. 

“Sorry to wake you, Hongjoong-ssi,” said San politely looking a little apprehensive. “How’s your head?” 

“Fuzzy,” said Hongjoong sitting up and rubbing his eyes. 

“How fuzzy? Like really fuzzy or sleepy fuzzy?” asked San frowning and carefully sitting on the edge of the bed, making sure not to touch the blankets Hongjoong had piled up around him. 

“Not sure yet,” said Hongjoong. “Could be after effects of the full moon, maybe the concussion.” San hummed at that and nodded. 

“Okay, I’m gonna run through a couple tests and then maybe we should get you some tea,” said San. “At least to help with the pain.” 

“I’m fine,” said Hongjoong quickly. 

“You were whimpering in your sleep, don’t lie to me,” said San with a soft huff. 

“It’s really fine,” insisted Hongjoong. “It’s more my arm than my head and I’m kinda bruised to hell and back from the tumble. It just all kind of aches.” 

“Well at least it’s not your head,” said San as he ran Hongjoong through a couple of checks for the concussion. “Your concussion is probably fine, you’re good to sleep as long as nothing changes, I’m still gonna stick my head in a couple times just to make sure. And when you decide the healers aren’t going to spontaneously collapse from healing you, you should let them take a look. Concussions can affect all sorts of things and I’d rather you didn’t have to deal with that.” 

“It’s not like this is the first or last concussion I’ll ever have,” said Hongjoong amused and San just rolled his eyes at him. 

“If I could help it, it absolutely would be. Concussions can fuck up your memory and all sorts of other things like light sensitivity,” said San crossing his arms. “Come on, up, let’s get you tea to help with the pain, Seonghwa-hyung’s got some of the good shit. And you really should eat something too.” Hongjoong huffed slightly but let the vampire corral him out of the room and down the hallway. The apartment had most of the lights dimmed and it was quiet as they headed towards the kitchen, the door to San’s room was open when they passed and Hongjoong could see Wooyoung and Yeosang inside, Yeosang asleep arms curled around the witch who was sitting up with a book, supported against the pillows. Wooyoung waved slightly as they went by and Hongjoong gave him a small wave back. Seonghwa and Yunho’s door was closed and it sounded like someone was in there sleeping. Jongho and Mingi’s door was similarly closed and he could hear people inside as well though they too sounded asleep. 

“Mingi and Jongho don’t ever partially shift like that, with their ears out I mean,” said San gesturing to his own head to indicate Hongjoong’s wolf ears atop his head. 

“They shift with like, just the fangs all the time,” said San curiously. 

“Some wolves don’t like shifting with ears or tails only if they can help it,” said Hongjoong. “It tends to be preference, people stare and ears and tails are more vulnerable than like fangs and claws or anything else really. I don’t usually partially shift like this around people I don’t know, but not shifting during the full moon was like hell on my instincts so not a lot of options and ears it was. Personally I like shifting with just my ears, it makes it easier to pick up on more sounds, I feel more aware of my surroundings. My fangs usually only shift partially if I’m feeling threatened, they feel awkward in my mouth otherwise so I can’t say I prefer it.” 

“That makes sense,” said San nodding. “And it makes sense that Mingi and Jongho don’t like partially shifting with ears now that you’ve explained it.” 

“Probably,” agreed Hongjoong. “They seem like they’re a little bit more jumpy than I am, sometimes instincts are like that. I’m pretty comfortable with mine but Jongho implied they were turned wolves not born and given how many full moons they’ve skipped it makes sense that they don’t feel as comfortable with their instincts.” 

“Jongho-yah talked to you? Like actually talked to you and didn’t just threaten you?” asked San, starting the stove to heat tea and pulling out a couple of mugs and starting to open cabinets, gesturing for Hongjoong to sit down at the counter again, which he did and leaned his good arm against. 

“Oh no, he threatened me,” said Hongjoong nodding. “He’s got a lot of courage it’s cute. He’s a good kid.” 

“He threatened you and you think he’s a good kid,” stated San sounding surprised, throwing a bewildered look over his shoulder at Hongjoong. 

“Well, yeah? He’s trying to protect his family,” said Hongjoong cocking his head. “Of course, especially since his body language was screaming that he was scared and he still tried to protect his family anyway. That’s admirable, he’s got a good heart, gonna be a hell of a wolf one day.” San let out a surprised huff of laughter. 

“Seonghwa-hyung’s right,” he stated. “You’re exactly what was missing.” 

“Aish, do we have to talk about the weird witch hyung’s obsession with me apparently being some kind of leader? I don’t know what I’m doing. You can’t just step into an already formed pack and lead, it’s unheard of. I’m barely even a qualified hyung, San-ah, I can’t lead.” San laughed at that and set a mug down in front of him. 

“I think you’ll find fate doesn’t usually care if we’re qualified for things. If you’re the missing leader of our little family then that’s that and you’ll figure it out. Besides you don’t have to worry too much about the hyung thing, Seonghwa-hyung has practice.” said the vampire waving a hand as he talked. “We don’t need another hyung, we need a pack head and well none of us really work. I mean we’ve talked about it in the past, tried a few different ways and it just doesn’t work. Mingi would be good maybe, but it would give him way too much stress and even he doesn’t think it would be a very good idea. We work fine as is, but well you saw what it was like after you took over the desk downstairs last night. That was the first full moon that actually moved in any kind of manner or organization and it worked. It worked really well. Also I don’t think you’re as unqualified as you think you are. Maybe it’s because it was the full moon and you were relying more on instincts, or maybe it was the magic, but you handled each of us and our different needs without even thinking about it. Sent us all up to bed or food or shifting depending on what we needed and made sure to give Jongho a job to get him going in the right direction too. Just don’t overthink it, don’t worry, just give it a good run, yeah? Trust me you’re going to be surprised how fate will work.” 

“Talking from experience there?” asked Hongjoong raising an eyebrow and San snickered. 

“Look. I am the only vampire in this family, I’m the only one from my original clan that didn’t go to a clan, I have a doctorate from many different places across a couple different centuries and working in a healing clinic surrounded by magic is absolutely not where I saw myself,” he stated. “And yet, here we are and here I am and I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else.” 

“Because it brought you your soulmates?” asked Hongjoong and San cocked his head, moving over to the fridge to pull out food to heat up. 

“When I joined them it was just Seonghwa-hyung and Yunho and they’d been traveling healers and the local healing clinic for maybe a century or more,” said San. “Wooyoung and Yeosang, it was maybe another century before they found us. It didn’t matter that neither of them were my soulmates, it didn’t matter for a century, and it’s been countless ages since and if I have a platonic soulmate they’re still on their way. But really, soulties are messy and on the one hand they matter so much and in the strongest ways but on the other, there are other bonds and other fate bonds just as important and Seonghwa-hyung and Yunho and Mingi and Jongho, they aren’t my soulmates but their souls are knotted with mine just as tightly as mine is with theirs. This is where I belong and these are my people no matter the way that may be. It doesn’t matter to me if we’ve a coven or a clan or a pack, so long as it’s them. I met them and something felt right so I tried and I haven’t regretted that a day in my life, never will.” He handed Hongjoong a plate and Hongjoong thanked him before taking it. 

“Would you have still felt like that if you were suddenly thrown headfirst into being a clan head?” asked Hongjoong. San shrugged. 

“I don’t know,” he said. “Maybe, maybe not. I’m not saying fate magic is always right is always perfect, but I do think that it should be given a chance to work. I think you’ll surprise yourself, hyung.” Hongjoong was quiet at that for a few minutes. 

“Sannie?” called Mingi quietly, pausing as he stepped into the kitchen and saw them. “Oh. How’s your head, Hongjoong-ssi?” 

“Fuzzy,” said Hongjoong before taking another bite of the food. “Did you sleep?” 

“Yes, Jongho-ah pulled me away after the last patient and insisted on sleeping,” said Mingi sounding fond.

“You shifted too, right? Shifting during full moons are important, it regulates instincts and magic, missing too many isn’t good,” insisted Hongjoong. “Jongho-ssi said you two are usually pretty busy during the full moon, that’s really not healthy.” 

“We’re fine, but yes we shifted,” said Mingi sounding like he was doing his absolute best to hold onto the mask of calm he was wearing. 

“Good, good, that’s good,” muttered Hongjoong more to himself than anything. 

“You, uh, you didn’t shift did you, Hongjoong-ssi?” asked Mingi hesitantly. 

“Can’t,” said Hongjoong nodding to the broken arm still wrapped tightly to his chest. “Hence the ears. It’s fine, one full moon won’t kill me.” Mingi nodded slightly at that. 

“One of the others can probably get it healed up for you later,” he said moving over to make himself some tea. 

“If we can convince him to let them,” said San rolling his eyes. “Yeosang-ah was all frazzled about it earlier.” 

“He was? I told him it didn’t have anything to do with his faeness,” said Hongjoong frowning. “I’m fine, it’s not the first broken bone and concussion I’ve ever had. They can heal on their own, and your healers ran themselves ragged tonight, like hell I’m letting them add me to that number.” Mingi snorted slightly at that. 

“Yeah, you definitely frazzled Yeosangie, he’d have known what to do if it had been because he’s fae,” said Mingi moving over to lean into San’s side, now cradling his own mug. “But a patient that refuses magic healing because they’re worried about the energy levels of the healer after a full moon? Yeah that’s new.” 

“He’s always struggled with it when people put his needs above theirs,” said San waving a hand. “He and Wooyoung argue about it all the time, they’re cute.” 

“Yeosang-ah likes to be helpful,” said Mingi softly. “Maybe because of growing up in fae courts, but feeling like he’s helping his family, like we need him is good for him, it makes him happy.” 

“And we already like you,” said San nodding. “And if Wooyo and I like you then he definitely likes you, especially if you explained that you weren’t saying no because he was fae. Probably won him over pretty easy.” 

“Jongho-yah will be the hard sell,” agreed Mingi with a short nod. “He’s protective.” 

“He should be,” said Hongjoong not looking up from the food. “You’re his pack and obviously you two went through something traumatic together, it’s not really any of my business what. But if that’s true, it makes sense he’s protective, can’t blame him especially since the two of you have skipped so many full moons. His instincts are probably going haywire, yours too I’d guess though given you’re different people with different personalities and different experiences they don’t manifest in the same ways.” 

“You’re weird for a wolf,” stated Mingi after a moment, causing Hongjoong to look up from his food frowning. 

“I’m not. I’m sorry that whatever past you have with other shifters has enforced that belief,” he said. “The only weird thing about me is that I haven’t been able to find a pack to settle into in Seoul.” 

“I’ve never met any wolves that act like you,” said Mingi frowning and Hongjoong shrugged. 

“I mean, in any system with a prominent leadership role, it can be pretty corrupted, it’s just the way man is,” he said. “It’s why government and organized religion can get so out of whack so fast, packs aren’t any different. They’re community based and family oriented, but there’s always been the ones that aren’t, that are about power and strength and brutality, seems to cycle through centuries where that’s more prominent. It’s not too prominent in most of the Seoul packs though there are definitely some here, but I know some of the small town packs are more like that.” 

“What do you come from?” asked Mingi. 

“Something a little in between I guess,” said Hongjoong with a shrug. “I can’t say I particularly liked our pack head or the way he ran things, but the pack itself was strongly community and family oriented. I left it behind on purpose though, I didn’t fit there it wasn’t my pack.” 

“And we are?” 

“I have no idea,” said Hongjoong shaking his head. “A lot of your pack seems to think so. You should ask one of them.” 

“Seonghwa-hyung is pretty determined he’s our missing leader,” said San with a shrug. “Wooyoung-ah and Yeosangie think he’s probably right. I don’t know, I think he could be and I think we should give him a shot, but I do feel fate magic tying him to us, however that may be.” Mingi nodded thoughtfully at that. 

“Well, if they want to give you a chance, we’ll give you a chance,” he agreed. “Eat, Hongjoong-ssi, and then sleep some more. One of the others can heal you fully in the morning.” Hongjoong nodded and watched as Mingi headed back down the hall towards his room again, taking his mug with him. San pulled him into more conversation as he finished his food and tea and before he knew it he was headed back down the hall to get more sleep, San slipping into the room with Yeosang and Wooyoung, closing his door behind him. 

 

It’s early the next morning when Hongjoong wakes up again. The light is just starting to peek in through the window and the bed is still soft and warm and he can hear someone in the kitchen and maybe downstairs too. He really should go home today, grab his phone and let his friends know he’s not dead and if he’s staying here for a few days, which his wolf is insisting that they are, he needed to grab some clothes and essentials as well. 

He rubbed his eyes and sat up, stretching before heading down the hall towards the kitchen. Yeosang was in the kitchen, he had a book open in one hand that he was flipping through, idly stirring tea with his magic as he did so, and every once in awhile brushing his hair back behind his ears so it stopped falling in his face as he tried to read. 

“Morning,” muttered Hongjoong fighting back a yawn. 

“Good morning,” greeted Yeosang not looking up from his book, but moving over towards the fridge to pull it open. 

“Wooyo, made you a plate for breakfast,” said Yeosang pulling out, kicking the door shut behind him with magic as he turned to the microwave. It was a little bit astounding, really, Hongjoong knew logically that strong magic users often used their magic in mundane ways without thinking or exerting energy but it was entirely different to see the way that Yeosang just moved and his magic took care of things without him even visually or verbally instructing it to. Hongjong sort of wanted to just sit at the counter and watch as Yeosang moved about his morning, just to watch the use of his magic. 

“That was nice of him,” said Hongjoong choosing to try and act as normal as possible, raking his fingers through his hair both as a distraction and in an effort to get it somewhat in order. 

“He and Jongho-yah are making house calls this morning, Mingi’s running the clinic downstairs with Yunho,” said Yeosang, “and Seonghwa-hyung is also out making calls and stopping at the herb shop as well. San-ah is downstairs right now too, though technically I don’t think he’s actually seeing anyone.” Hongjoong nodded at that trying to keep track of the information, maybe Yeosang’s nervous, he’s rambling a little and Hongjoong gets the feeling that the faerie is usually much more of a quiet type of person than a rambling rundown where everyone is in the morning person. 

“How’s your arm?” asked Yeosang abruptly cutting himself off, confirming Hongjoong’s thoughts that he might be nervous. 

“Achy, but fine,” said Hongjoong with a shrug. “It’ll be usable by the end of the week at this rate.” Yeosang frowned at that. Looking like he was going to ask something and then deciding against it at the last second. Maybe he had been about to ask if Hongjoong wanted his arm healed, maybe Hongjoong denying him the first time really had thrown him off, maybe he was still nervous about how Hongjoong felt about his fae heritage. 

“San said something about making sure your head wasn’t too bad,” said Yeosang, “me or Seonghwa will take a look later if you’re okay with that.” 

“Yeah, alright,” agreed Hongjoong with a short nod. “I need to stop by my apartment today, pick up some essentials and my phone, make sure my friends aren’t panicking on me from no contact after the full moon.” 

“San and I can go with you,” said Yeosang handing Hongjoong the plate and then pausing. “Unless you were wanting to go alone.” 

“Nah, more hands is probably better, besides things can always be a little wild after full moons,” said Hongjoong with a shrug. Yeosang nodded at that and turned back to his book, their conversation apparently over. Hongjoong took the opportunity to quietly observe the other boy, doing his best to look like he wasn’t watching him, instead focused on his food. 

Yeosang was beautiful, there was no other way to describe him really. He had the big eyes and delicate facial features and structure of most faeries, his ears smaller than any Hongjoong had come in contact with before though he really knew more woodland elves than faeries so it’s not like he could say for sure. They sloped delicately into their point rather than the sharper longer point of most elves. As Hongjoong observed, Yeosang’s dark green eyes shifted in shades, a grayer green taking over, only doing more to make him look pale, nearly as pale as San. In fact when he moved and the light hit him certain ways Hongjoong was almost apt to say that he maybe even shimmered slightly, but he couldn’t say it wasn’t his own imagination playing tricks on him. Of everything about him he screamed faerie and other if you gave him more than a cursory glance, in fact the only thing that seemed unusual to Hongjoong was the inky black of his hair. Most faeries with eyes as green as Yeosang’s were more likely to have paler colors of hair, but Yeosang’s was as black as the night sky itself. 

“You’re staring,” stated Yeosang and Hongjoong jerked his attention back to his food. 

“Sorry,” he said quickly. “Just curiosity, it’s hard to control it sometimes.” Yeosang set his book down and leaned against the counter looking back at Hongjoong. 

“Well, what did you see?” he asked and Hongjoong huffed slightly. 

“Your ears are shorter than any of the faerie adjacent magicals I’ve ever met,” he stated and Yeosang nodded. 

“You know elves mostly? Your family pack is from somewhere a little more wooded or mountainous,” said Yeosang and Hongjoong nodded. 

“Most elfin families are from various tree and river nature faeries mixed with witches and humans over the centuries of course,” said Yeosang with a nod. “Longer thinner ears are a common trait and genetically stronger than shorter like mine.” 

“What does that mean for you?” asked Hongjoong and Yeosang smirked slightly. 

“Here? Not much,” he said with a shake of his head. “Back home in the Other, it means I would be a stronger faerie with a better lineage and more likely to have strong magic.” 

“Do you? You said you were second strongest in the clinic,” said Hongjoong. 

“My magic is strong,” agreed Yeosang, “but healing is difficult magic, especially with Fae magic at it’s base. For San and Seonghwa-hyung it is more of a science, more logical of a use of magic. In contrast my magic and Wooyoung’s does not approach healing in at all a similar manner, it’s an art form a push and pull and a battle of wills in a messy dance. So yes, my magic is very strong, but when it comes to healing Seonghwa-hyung’s magic lends itself to it far more easily and he has centuries more experience in healing than I have.” Hongjoong nodded. 

“And San being a vampire means his magic doesn’t lend itself to healing at all, hence human medicine and a doctoral degree,” said Hongjoong nodding and Yeosang’s smirk softened slightly. 

“Six actually,” he said. “Sannie, has graduated from six different schools over the centuries in medicine. He’s brilliant, it’s why he has the second most knowledge.” 

“That’s impressive,” said Hongjoong surprised. “Why are they not all displayed?” Yeosang frowned. 

“I don’t know, actually,” he said. “The most current one is in the office of the clinic, but I can’t say I know what he does with the rest.” Hongjoong nodded. 

“Do you dye your hair that color?” asked Hongjoong and Yeosang shook his head, body language a bit more hesitant now. 

“No, this is natural. I know, it is unusual for my variety of fae,” said Yeosang. 

“Seelie, right?” asked Hongjoong referring to the fae most often associated with warmer nature and seasons. The fae that usually had green eyes magic that felt as warm as Yeosang’s did. 

“Yes,” said Yeosang with a nod. “My hair is not glamoured though, this is it’s natural appearance. It matches my magic well.” 

“Does it mean something too? Like your ears?” asked Hongjoong and Yeosang hesitated. 

“In a way,” he said reluctantly. 

“Okay,” said Hongjoong nodding letting it go, it was obvious that Yeosang didn’t want to disclose it and he wasn’t going to push. “You use glamour regularly? I know a lot of fae and fae adjacent magicals do.” 

“It makes living outside of the Other smoother,” said Yeosang with a shrug. “So yes. Most humans and many other magicals can find many common fae traits a bit off putting. I don’t use hardly any though, you would still recognize me if I dropped it.” 

“Cool,” said Hongjoong nodding. “A friend of mine uses it to glamor horns, you have any horns or anything?” Yeosang snickered. 

“No, I do not have any horns,” he said with a smile. “Mostly my glamor makes my eyes a bit softer and my appearance less Magick.” 

“Magic with the big ‘m’,” said Hongjoong and Yeosang smiled with a nod. 

“I don’t know much about magic history and belief,” said Hongjoong and Yeosang nodded again. 

“I wouldn’t expect you to,” he said. “Most don’t, even Seonghwa-hyung doesn’t have much knowledge or experience of it. It’s old, very old. And mostly unnecessary information and tradition for the human world and culture.” Hongjoong nodded at that. Yeosang hesitated a moment before his appearance shifted just slightly, his eyes widening and sharpening into his features, teeth gleaming more, skin less natural and more porcelain like, except the birth mark that appeared around his eye, marring the porcelain appearance with a soft blush. 

“Oh, that’s cool,” said Hongjoong leaning forward slightly to get a better look. “Mothers, why do you hide that, Yeosang-ah? It highlights your cheeks and eyes so well, such a pretty blush color against your skin too.” 

“The birthmark?” asked Yeosang surprised. “You think so? People stare, always have.” 

“Of course they do, you’re like ethereal,” said Hongjoong waving a hand at that and sitting back. His hair was impossibly darker now, a deep void like night sky color, glittering stars twinkling and winking at Hongjoong when Yeosang moved, the movement causing momentary glimpses of a star speckled universe within the deep black of void. 

“Do you have stars in your hair?” asked Hongjoong surprised. “Yeosang-ah, that’s so cool.” 

“Oh, sometimes, it depends,” said Yeosang shrugging. “It’s usually more black than anything else.” 

“Wow,” muttered Hongjoong and Yeosang chuckled slightly, pulling his magic back over himself and hiding the more magical features again. 

“Eat, Hongjoong-ssi, we’ll go when you’re ready,” said Yeosang and Hongjoong nodded turning his attention back to his food once more. 

 

San tugged his hood down as they stepped into the subway station and out of the sunlight. The white hoodie both he and Yeosang were wearing only served to make them both look paler, but given that it had the medical symbol on it as well as the clinic’s name across the back Hongjoong figured they were likely worn to make it immediately obvious the two of them were healers of some variety. It was standard practice of employees of the various clinics in the city to wear a white jacket with the medical symbol on it when they were out and about, even when they were technically not on the clock. 

The subway was crowded and busy and Hongjoong was so not looking forward to taking it back to the clinic either, or later in the week when he had to get to his shift for work. Especially since anti-magic sentiments seemed to be rising exponentially by the day. Things that should be perfectly safe weren’t any more, and the subway was certainly one of them. Which is probably why Hongjoong could feel Yeosang’s eyes watching every corner of their train, the faerie hypervigilant for potential problems. It was a little reassuring to feel like for once Hongjoong didn’t have to worry as much, someone with stronger senses of their surroundings was watching his back. It had been a long time since he had someone like that. 

“How’d you end up at our place anyway, hyung?” asked San curiously as the train started up. “Couldn’t have been exactly easy.” 

“You’re closer to one of the bigger parks,” said Hongjoong. “And were one of the few in Seoul that was still open.” 

“There aren’t many parks near your apartment?” asked Yeosang surprised. 

“There are, but none very big and they tend to get crowded on full moons,” said Hongjoong. “And they attract angry anti-magics too since we’re right in the middle of some of the bigger anti-magic neighborhoods.” 

“Ah,” hummed Yeosang in acknowledgement at that. 

“Why live so far into the anti-magic side of town anyway?” asked San curious. “There’s plenty of neighborhoods with high shifter numbers closer to our side of town.” 

“If you have a pack,” said Hongjoong with a nod. “As a solo shifter in Seoul, your options get limited pretty quick. Finding a single person apartment in an affordable price in the more shifter safe areas of Seoul is nearly impossible, they’re geared towards packs and family units.” 

“Oh,” said San nodding. “I guess that makes sense.” 

“My building has plenty of shifters in it, we try to watch out for each other,” said Hongjoong with a shrug. “You get a lot of various cat shifters out here, the ones that tend to be less group oriented.” It’s not much longer before they’re stepping off the subway and Hongjoong’s leading the way to his apartment building and then up the stairs to his apartment and opening the door. It’s a little messy, exactly how he left it and he heads straight in towards the bedroom to find his phone. Yeosang and San immediately start helping him shove things into the duffel bag he pulls out of the closet and Hongjoong calls the first missed call as he starts pulling out changes of clothes. 

“Hongjoong-ah,” answered the person on the other end immediately, sounding relieved. 

“Hey, hyung,” said Hongjoong glad the other shifter didn’t sound too freaked out. “Sorry it took me so long to get back to my phone.” 

“Aish, I was starting to worry. I was gonna go corner Eden-hyung to help me start looking for you tonight,” sad Maddox. “Are you okay? You usually respond bright and early the morning after the full moon.” 

“I’m fine,” said Hongjoong waving it off. “Just took a tumble and stopped into a clinic to make sure I wasn’t going to end up with a broken arm healing wrong. I’ll still be at work later this week too.” 

“Your apartment was empty when I passed it yesterday night, Hongjoong-ah,” stated Maddox and Hongjoong hummed. 

“Yeah, I know. I’m in a bit of a weird situation,” said Hongjoong. “So the clinic I stopped at was like a mess, right? And the kid behind the counter looked ready to have a break down and I couldn’t exactly go anywhere because everyone I know is busy on full moons and I maybe had a bit of a concussion, so I was hanging out in the waiting room watching this kid try not to have a break down and well one thing led to another and I kind of took over and sent him back to his witch.” 

“You commandeered a clinic’s secretary position,” said Maddox sounding highly amused. 

“Accidentally, yes,” said Hongjoong. “And it got weirder from there. Long story short, I’m maybe being kidnapped into a pack at least temporarily. I’m gonna spend a couple weeks with them see if it works.” 

“I so need more info than that, Hongjoong,” stated Maddox. “If I tell Eden-hyung that tonight he is going to flip his shit and come hunt you down and you know it.” 

“Okay, okay, less kidnapping more adoption and told I’m supposed to be in charge. Which like is just straight up insane, but I don’t even know, okay? Just too much feels right and I have to try? It’s all just crazy but I don’t want to not try? I don’t know. I’m not a good hyung, I don’t know how the hell I’m supposed to be a pack head and it’s not like they’re even really a pack, Maddox-hyung! There’s only two other wolves. And then two witches, a familiar, a vampire, and a faerie. I don’t really think this is going to work, I guess.” 

“But you can’t live with the idea of not trying,” said Maddox. 

“Exactly,” agreed Hongjoong. “I have to give it a shot. You’ll like them, they’re great. San and Yeosang are helping me pack a few things for the next week or so.” 

“The wolves?” 

“No,” said Hongjoong. “Jongho-yah and Mingi-yah are apparently coming from a bad pack situation, they don’t like me but that’s okay. That’s a fair reason to be suspicious, you get it.” 

“I’m pretty sure foxes and wolves have totally different structures, but okay,” said Maddox sounding amused. “They’ll warm up to you, it’s not like you’re scary. You’re like a little ball of fluffy puppy love.” 

“Yah, hyung,” whined Hongjoong. 

“Okay, okay, you pack up. Send me the address and keep me updated. I’ll talk to Eden-hyung, and we’ll see you at work in a couple days,” said Maddox. “Call your mage.” 

“Yeah, yeah, he’s next. I’ll talk to you later,” said Hongjoong before hanging up and calling the next number. 

“Hongjoong-ah, what the hell. You know you’re supposed to let me know you’re good after a full moon. Where have you been?” demanded Chan immediately picking up. 

“I’m fine, calm down, hyung,” said Hongjoong rolling his eyes. 

“I can feel you rolling your eyes at me,” said Chan. 

“So? I stand by that. I’m fine, Chan-hyung, don’t freak. I’m staying with a pack for a bit as a trial period. You’ll like them,” said Hongjoong shifting ears so he could grab shoes to throw in the bag. 

“How did that happen?” 

“I maybe took a bit of a tumble, had a minor concussion, and accidentally commandeered a clinic’s secretary position,” said Hongjoong. “It was a weird full moon.” Chan snorted.  

“Sounds like fate magic at play there.” 

“That’s what Seonghwa-ssi said,” agreed Hongjoong. “I’m inclined to agree. I’ll fill you in on all the details later, I’m packing a bag right now, Yeosang and San are helping me.” 

“Alright, I expect the full story. How’s your head?” 

“Cleared by two different healers and a doctor so I’m good,” said Hongjoong. “And I promised Yeosang I’d let one of them really poke around and get it healed tonight.” 

“Good, good,” said Chan. “Alright. I’ve gotta go, I’m making deliveries right now. Call me later and give me the whole story, okay?” 

“Yeah, alright, talk to you later,” said Hongjoong. Chan said his goodbye and hung up the phone. 

“You’re friends sound worried,” said San with a smile. 

“Chan’s worried, he’s a mage but he’s also used to me, Eden will also be worried because apparently Maddox and I give him gray heirs, Madds just thinks it’s hilarious but he’s a shifter too so it’s not like it’s too weird. I don’t know…for all the shit I gave Seonghwa about the whole thing, it’s not like packs don’t just randomly adopt people.” said Hongjoong sliding his phone into his pocket. Yeosang snorted at that. 

“That is true enough. Any shifter families I have known seem to just collect people, though you were right in the instance that there is usually a more formalized invitation at some point and leaders are certainly not adopted into previously formed groups,” said Yeosang with a smile. “Covens usually do not just adopt people, clans can but usually only if the vampire is still very young, and for me? Courts gain and lose people all the time, but leaders forming their own court is certainly rarer than stepping in to a previously formed one. And clearly when it comes to us, fate is not much of a stickler for the traditional.” 

“So right,” said San rolling his eyes. “My sire was so concerned about me joining them, but the clan was falling apart and he was dying and this felt so right. Nothing he could say could keep me from joining.” 

“You have other vampires, right? That you’re friends with? I mean, I can’t say for vampires but I know for wolves, not having any other shifters in their packs while it’s possible can make instincts difficult. You have to have other shifters around you even if they aren’t your pack.” 

“Vampires are not like that to the same extent,” said San shaking his head. “But yes, it is important to be connected to the other clans in the city in one way or another. You never know how magic will work with aging and time with non-traditional clans and it is important to have ties to other vampires so no individual vampires in non-traditional clans fall through the cracks. I know quite a few of the local vampire clans, but at this point it has less to do with the safety net and more to do with tradition. I’ve been with the coven for centuries, we know exactly how things work at least in respect to my magic and the others. Mingi and Jongho are our most recent additions and clearly we’re still working out the balance for the new magics and instincts there.” 

“They don’t shift enough,” agreed Hongjoong. “It’s a problem. Shifting is extremely important for shifters, you can’t just not shift it messes you up. It’s like, if you locked your magic in and refused to use it.” 

“I would explode,” stated Yeosang firmly and San grimaced with a nod. 

“Wooyo would too,” he said frowning, “but he would get all twitchy and antsy and weird first.” He paused. “Is that why Jongho is so growly and Mingi is jumpy?” 

“Don’t know, could be,” said Hongjoong shrugging. “I don’t know them well enough to guess. But it is definitely why Jongho feels like he can’t trust his wolf and is never in agreement with it.” 

“If you decide not to join us, would you check in on them still? Clearly we do not know enough about shifter magic and they are still fairly new to their own magic,” said Yeosang. 

“I think we should cross that bridge if we come to it,” said Hongjoong not wanting to agree to helping a pack even if he wasn’t part of it. That could very quickly go badly for his own wolf and emotions. He had seen it happen before, where wolves got too attached to packs that refused to allow them to join when they had no pack of their own. It was bad, to say the least. 

“Don’t be ridiculous, Sang, he’s staying,” said San cheerfully. “Need anything else, hyung?” Hongjoong shook his head and led the way out of his apartment. They trooped back to the subway and found an empty space to stand near the back corner. It was more cramped now than it had been earlier, and they gained more than a couple wary or dirty looks from clearly non-magic people. 

“Really should segregate these things so we don’t have to share a car with magic,” muttered someone further up to himself and Hongjoong rolled his eyes. San shot him a look that told him the vampire had also heard the statement. 

“You told your friend you would be back for your shifts later this week. Where do you work, Hongjoong-ssi?” asked Yeosang trying to pull both their attention back to the three of them rather than the people in the car. 

“Ah, I’m a bartender usually,” said Hongjoong with a nod. “And sometimes musician/DJ. But mostly bartender. Do you know what Edenary is?” 

“Oh, I’ve heard of it,” said San with a nod. “It’s a pretty popular magic friendly club. Really popular with various shifter magics, some of the wilder vampire clans, and quite a few younger witches.” 

“Yeah,” said Hongjoong nodding. “My friend is the owner, Eden-hyung’s a hereditary witch and does most of his magic with music or poetry, but his magic just never fit with a coven. His friends were the original employees of Edenary that got it off the ground, a safe place for magicals to go for fun nights in the middle of Seoul, and each of them different magic, they became his coven. They watch out for the rest of us that are solo in Seoul, like me and Maddox. That’s where I work, and it’s important to me that I get to keep being there, not just so I’m not fully reliant on my pack. But Edenary is a safe place for people like us in the middle of rising anti-magic sentiments, and a big part of it’s existence is watching out for solo magicals trying to find their footing. I’m not willing to give up being part of that. Besides I love it.” 

“That’s really cool,” said San nodding. “We’ll have to come by while you’re on shift sometime, see what all the hype is about it. It’d be so much fun. Wooyoungie would love to go dancing.” 

“You can take him, I’ll find a corner to sit in,” said Yeosang sounding amused. 

“You know he won’t let you do that the whole night,” said San with a laugh. “You’ll have to dance with him at least twice or he’ll be all pouty the whole night.” 

“He’s cute,” said Yeosang softly and San nodded stepping closer to Yeosang and sliding an arm around the faerie’s waist. Hongjoong was not totally sure how the soul bond between the three of them worked, it seemed messy and probably a little bit tangled up, but they clearly had it sorted and were all very happy with what they had, so it really probably wasn’t any of Hongjoong’s business. 

“Wooyoung-ah’s our extrovert,” explained San turning his attention back to Hongjoong. 

“And a little bit of an attention whore,” said Yeosang fondly. “He likes being the center of attention and apparently being with either of us makes that happen even more according to him. I don’t get it but I don’t really care as long as he’s happy, you know?” 

“I don’t mind the attention, don’t get me wrong,” said San grinning. “But I definitely don’t have the energy reserves to go actively looking for it.” 

“So Sannie is usually his partner in attention whore crimes,” said Yeosang smirking at the vampire who smacked his arm lightly. 

“Yah, you’re just shy. You don’t fluster easy at all but we know you too well. You get twitchy when too many people have been looking at you for too long. You like your quiet corners and watching us goof off,” said San and Yeosang nodded easily at that. 

“Why wouldn’t I want to watch the two most beautiful men in the world have fun together,” said Yeosang and San groaned burying his face into Yeosang’s shoulder. 

“Hongjoong–hyung doesn’t need to be subjected to us being mushy gushy yet. We’re going to run him off before he even tries to get to know our coven,” complained San. 

“Pack,” corrected Yeosang shaking his head. “We’re a pack.” 

“Right, a pack,” echoed San nodding. “It certainly feels like it fits us better, doesn’t it.” Yeosang nodded at that and Hongjoong couldn’t help but agree. The idea of this group of chaotic boys being a pack, being his pack, something about it felt right. There wasn’t any other way to describe it. It clicked and no matter how he rolled it in his head, Hongjoong couldn’t shake the rightness of the idea of them being his pack. Sure this was all kinds of untraditional and they were probably like ten shades of chaos that Hongjoong so was not prepared for, but as they headed back to the clinic, his bag packed for the next week something told him that he was not going back to his own apartment any time soon. He was in this for the long haul, he could feel it. 

Notes:

alrighty folks! here we go, fic one of i have no idea how many for ateez magic, as always this is currently unedited because i do like to finish a fic and just toss it into the abyss and let it find its wings...i'll come back to edit it at some point...probably.

the next one will be up some time soon, i have vague plot ideas for it from here, mostly the plan is explore hongjoong's relationships with the pack and getting to know the other's backgrounds and magic (yay)

thank you for reading!!!

i love you all!!! <33333

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Series this work belongs to:

• Part 1 of Meet Me In the Pouring Rain