#jaehaxreader

[ponderingmoonlight]

yotd men walking in on you in a hot spring

Pairings: Shin-Ah x fem!reader; Hak/Kija x fem!reader; Bonus with all yotd men hehe

Word Count: 4,6k

Warnings: it's getting heated in Hak's part y'all hehe

I would super duper appreciate it if you like even though you're not a fan of Yona of the Dawn but because of me hehe <3

Shin-Ah accidentally protecting you from danger

The hot spring’s warmth soothes every aching muscle in your tired body, the gentle lap of water against the rocks almost hypnotic. You tilt your head back, letting the steam curl around you like a protective cocoon while you can’t help but let out a sign of relief. When was the last time you��ve had some time for yourself? Away from constant danger, away from the snide remarks of Hak and Jae-Ha who annoy you straight to the core. No, it’s just you and the moon-lit forest around the spring which hums with life - chirping crickets, rustling leaves, and the distant call of a bird.

But then, the forest goes quiet.

The sudden stillness prickles at the back of your neck. You sit upright, scanning the tree line, your heart thumping louder than the now-muted sounds of nature. What on earth was that? Should you…call for the boys?

“SOMEONE HEL-“

Before you can call out, a shadow moves. There’s a blur of movement, and then he’s there.

Shin-Ah steps into the clearing like a ghost, his sword glowing faintly in his grasp. His golden eyes flash across you, scanning the surroundings with deadly precision.

“Shin-Ah?” you call, startled, your voice cracking slightly.

You instinctively sink deeper into the water, heat rushing to your face. There might be something dangerous out there, but…

You’re still completely naked.

His head snaps toward you, his gaze meeting yours. For a moment, his body remains rigid, and you swear his grip on his sword tightens. Then, slowly but surely, recognition dawns. His posture softens just slightly, though his eyes dart around the spring’s edge.

“Danger,” he murmurs, his voice low and clipped.

He’s still scanning the shadows as if expecting something, or someone, to emerge.

“Danger?” you echo, confusion lacing your tone.

“I didn’t…wait, is there something out there?”

Shin-Ah takes a step closer, the faint glow of his dragon power intensifying. You can see his chest rise and fall beneath his cloak as he breathes deeply, his heightened senses working overtime. Then, from the bushes nearby, there’s a rustle and a loud, sudden croak.

Your heart skips a beat, your body instinctively pressing against Shin-Ah’s. You’ve never really been a fighter, only joined because Yona is your best friend. You can’t die out here, butt-naked in a hot spring while taking a bath, right?

A frog leaps into the clearing, landing with an awkward splash near the water’s edge.

For a moment, neither of you move. Then Shin-Ah’s shoulders slump, his sword’s light fades as he lowers the blade. The danger was nothing but a…frog?

You burst into laughter, the tension in your body evaporating while you’re forced to hold onto Shin-Ah’s shoulder for support.

“You thought a frog was dangerous?”

Shin-Ah turns back and glances at you, his mask hiding any expression, but the way he hesitates and fidgets with Ao’s tail betrays his embarrassment. His ears, you notice, are bright red by now.

Still smiling, you tilt your head at him.

“You didn’t have to rush in so dramatically, you know. I was perfectly fine. Even though I have to admit I was glad seeing you when I heard that strange noise.”

But then his eyes flicker down to the water - and widen slightly as realization dawns.

Your body is pressed against his, your skin burning through his wet clothes. But it’s not only the fact that you’re touching him.

You’re…you’re nude.

His entire body stiffens, and he takes a quick step back, his hand gripping Ao a little too tightly while he stumbles back like an idiot.

You follow his gaze and remember too late: you’re naked in the hot spring. And to top it all off, you pressed your naked body against his.

“Shin-Ah!” you shout, sinking deeper into the water, your face burning hotter than the steam surrounding you.

“Don’t look!”

“I…I wasn’t!” he stammers, his voice higher-pitched than usual.

He turns so quickly that he almost trips on the hem of his cloak, spinning on his heel to face away from you. You can see the tips of his ears glowing crimson beneath his hood.

“I… I didn’t notice. I mean - I noticed, but I wasn’t looking-!”

Before you can stop yourself, a giggle escapes your lips. Did you ever feel more embarrassed than right now? Well, no matter how embarrassed you feel, one look at Shin-Ah’s tensed back tells you more than urgently that he feels 10 times worse.

“I hope I didn’t scare you with that body of mine-“

“Scaring me? Your body isn’t scary at all! I mean…I mean…-“

“What’s going on back there? (y/n), are you-…What the hell is going on here!?”, Hak blurts out while stepping into the scene.

“Hak, get lost!”, you shriek, hands desperately trying to cover your sensitive parts.

Hak pauses, taking in the scene with his signature smirk growing wider and wider by each passing second. His gaze bounces between Shin-Ah, who is still stiff and glowing faintly, and you, nearly submerged in the water.

“Well, well,” Hak drawls, crossing his arms with a cocked eyebrow.

“This is a unique look for the two of you. I didn’t realize you were having private lessons in…whatever this is.”

“It’s not like that!” you yell, mortification threatening to drown you more thoroughly than the hot spring itself.

“And don’t look, you idiot!”

“Oh, don’t worry, I’m not looking-” Hak teases, though his eyes deliberately flick to Shin-Ah.

“But it looks like Shin-Ah got an eyeful.”

At that, Shin-Ah’s head snaps up, his wide, horrified gaze fixed firmly on Hak.

“I… I didn’t! I-!” His voice wavers, flustered beyond words, as his golden eyes dart everywhere but toward you.

Hak’s grin only deepens.

“Relax, mask boy. I’m just saying, I didn’t expect you to be the bold type.”

“Hak!” you cry out, but before you can yell at him again, you feel the soft weight of something warm drape over your shoulders.

You glance down and see Shin-Ah’s thick fur cloak now shielding your exposed body, the comforting smell of his presence surrounding you.

Shin-Ah has turned to face Hak fully, standing between you and him like a shield. His tall frame blocks you from Hak’s line of sight entirely, his glowing gaze unwavering as he steps forward.

“Leave,” Shin-Ah says softly, his voice uncharacteristically firm.

“Oh? Feeling protective, are we?” Hak quips, unfazed.

 He leans lazily against a nearby tree, clearly enjoying the situation.

“Fine, fine. I’ll go. Just don’t take too long, or I’ll have to assume you’ve been turned into frog food.”

He waves as he retreats, calling over his shoulder,

“You’re welcome for the rescue, by the way!”

The silence that follows is almost as loud as Hak’s teasing had been. You sigh, pulling the fur tighter around yourself as Shin-Ah glances at you hesitantly. His ears are still red, his mask tilting slightly downward.

“Thank you,” you murmur, your voice soft now.

“For the cloak… and for standing up to Hak.”

Shin-Ah nods slowly, his hand resting on Ao’s head for comfort.

“Sorry,” he whispers, his voice almost trembling.

“I didn’t mean… to make you uncomfortable.”

You smile despite yourself.

“It’s okay. You were trying to protect me.”

Shin-Ah stays silent for a moment before finally stepping back toward the shadows.

“I’ll… make sure no one else comes. Enjoy the rest of your bath.”

And with that, he disappears into the treeline, his presence lingering like the warmth of his cloak around your shoulders.

Kija and Hak walking in on you during an argument

The hot spring’s warmth envelops you like a comforting blanket, its soothing waters easing every ache and strain from days of travel. A sigh escapes your lips as you let yourself relax, sinking further into the water. What a hell of a week this was, the only truly comforting thing that happened was meeting Zeno. But stumbling over that hot springs? Priceless, without any doubt.

It’s been far too long since you’ve had a moment to yourself. Away from Hak’s endless teasing, away from the group’s constant chatter, and away from Kija’s persistence that he protects you from every little thing. No danger, no distractions - just you and the peaceful sound of the water lapping against the rocks.

But the peace is short-lived.

As usual.

A rustling sound breaks the stillness, and you freeze, your gaze darting around without a real aim. You listen closely, heart starting to race. The forest, once alive with the faint hum of crickets, has fallen silent. You sit up in the water, eyes scanning the darkened treeline.

Before you can call out, voices cut through the night.

“Hey, white snake! You think she fell into the spring or something?”

Hak.

Your heart skips a beat.

“Hak, don’t even say that!”, Kija’s voice follows, loud and frantic.  

“Why would you assume something so catastrophic?! What if she’s injured - or worse?”

Footsteps crunch against the forest floor, and you feel panic rising as they grow louder. No, no, no. This cannot be happening. They aren’t on their way to you, right?

“Wait! Hak, Kija, don’t-!” you call out, your voice echoing off the rocks, but it’s too late.

The two burst into the clearing like a pair of wayward storms, Kija with his dragon arm glowing faintly in preparation for an attack and Hak looking as relaxed as ever, his glaive resting lazily against his shoulder.

The moment they see you, time seems to stop.

There you are, chest-deep in the water, steam curling around your bare shoulders. Kija’s dragon arm immediately lowers as his jaw drops, his pale skin quickly turning a deep shade of crimson. Hak, on the other hand, raises an eyebrow, the corners of his mouth twitching in amusement.

“What are you two doing here!?” you shriek, sinking deeper into the water and flapping to cover yourself with your arms.

Hak is the first to recover, his trademark smirk spreading across his face as he leans casually on his glaive.

“Well, this is unexpected. Thought we were here to save you from drowning, but it turns out you’re just having a nice soak.”

He pauses, letting his gaze flicker to Kija’s dumbstruck expression before adding,

“This might be even better, honestly.”

“Don’t look!” you yell, your face burning hotter than the spring.

“I’m not looking,” Hak replies, though the playful edge to his tone says otherwise.

“Not really, anyway.”

“Hak!” Kija snaps, finally coming to his senses.

He spins around so fast you almost feel the wind from his motion, his back now firmly to you. His hands tremble as he clenches his fists at his sides.

“This is highly inappropriate! Miss (y/n), I…I deeply apologize for this unspeakable intrusion!”

Hak snorts.

“Unspeakable? Bit dramatic, don’t you think?”

He tilts his head, clearly enjoying himself.

“Relax, white snake. She’s fine. No harm done.”

“Fine?! This is mortifying!” Kija hisses through clenched teeth, refusing to turn around.

His dragon arm flexes, his knuckles white.

“We should never have come here!”

“You don’t say,” you mutter bitterly, your embarrassment mounting by the second.

Hak’s smirk widens.

 “Oh, come on. It’s not every day you walk into a scene this memorable. You’ve got to admit, the timing’s kind of perfect. And the view is even better”

“Hak,” you growl, the water splashing as you resist the urge to throw something at him.

“Shut up and leave already!”

“Oh, I’ll leave,” Hak replies, holding up his free hand in mock surrender.

He glances at Kija, who still looks like he might pass out from sheer humiliation.

“But I don’t think Kija’s feet are working anymore. Guess it’s just you and me, (y/n).”

“GET OUT!” you scream, splashing water in Hak’s direction.

He laughs, dodging the spray with infuriating ease.

“Alright, alright. I’m going. No need to get violent.”

He turns, throwing an exaggerated wave over his shoulder.

“Next time, though, maybe leave a note if you’re sneaking off for a midnight soak. Could’ve saved us all some trouble.”

As Hak strolls off, still laughing under his breath, Kija hesitates, his back rigid and unmoving.

“I… I’ll make sure Hak never speaks of this again!” he promises, his voice high-pitched and frantic.

“Miss (y/n), please forgive us for this - this indecent situation!”

Before you can respond, he takes a shaky step forward to follow Hak, literally running away for dear life.

You still fail to catch your breath. As if Kija being here isn’t worse enough, why on earth did it have to be him? You’ve had a crush on Hak for as long as you can remember, still always admiring him from afar. Did he…look at you, maybe even find you attractive?

Out of instinct, you shake your head vehemently. What kind of nonsense is this? As if a guy like Hak would even look your direction.

You take a deep breath, trying to calm your racing heart and chase his stupid perfect face out of your thoughts as you sink back into the warmth of the spring. There’s no use in interpreting too much into this situation. After all, it was probably Kija who worried about you, right?

But your pulse quickens again when you hear that familiar voice you tried so desperately to chase away.

“Don’t worry, it’s just me.”

You barely have time to react before Hak steps back into the clearing, his eyes gleaming in the moonlight, leaning casually against a tree as though nothing’s changed. His easy grin makes the air around you feel heavier.

“Hak,” you snap, trying to control the heat rising in your cheeks.

“What are you doing back here?”

He raises an eyebrow, taking a slow step closer, not at all bothered by the situation.

"Just making sure you’re all right, of course."

“Stop messing around. I told you I’m fine.”

You try to sound convincing, but it comes out strained. It’s hard to focus when his gaze lingers just a little too long. His eyes trace the curve of your shoulders, down your arms, your body beneath the water, and you can feel the weight of his attention like a physical touch.

Hak seems to notice your discomfort and smirks even wider.

“I know. You’re fine. But you’ve been avoiding me all day, so I thought I’d check on you.”

“I’m not avoiding you,” you mutter, your voice wavering despite your best efforts.

“It’s just… uncomfortable when you keep making things weird.”

His smirk doesn’t fade as he steps forward, and you instinctively inch back, but there's nowhere to retreat. He’s just a few feet away now, his body blocking the space between you and the edge of the spring. You feel like dying and flying at the same time.

"Is it weird though?" Hak asks, voice dropping to a husky whisper as he leans in, his presence overwhelming you.

“You never told me to stop… not really.”

You blink, and before you can protest, Hak continues, his tone darker now, almost teasing.

"You don't mind when I get close, do you? Not really."

The air grows thick, the steam around you suddenly feeling even hotter than before. His gaze locks onto yours, intense and unyielding. You’ve never seen him like this before, and the sudden shift in his manner makes your heart race. What on earth has gotten into him?

“Hak…”

Your voice comes out breathy, betraying your attempt to remain composed.

He smirks, but there’s something different about the way he’s looking at you now - something that sends a tingle straight down your spine. His hands flex at his sides as he steps closer, his body almost touching yours.

"You sure you want me to leave? Because I'm not getting that impression."

You’re too flustered to answer, heat rushing to your face, your body tense beneath the water. You're caught between the urge to push him away and the strange pull that draws you closer. His eyes flicker downward to where the water clings to your skin, and he breathes in slowly, as if savoring the moment.

"Don't look," you mumble automatically, your tone half-warning, half-pleading.

"I’m not."

Hak’s voice is low, teasing, but there's an edge to it.

"But if you didn’t want me to look, why are you hiding under the water like that?"

You glare at him, biting your lip to keep from responding too quickly.

“I’m not hiding.”

He takes another step forward, closing the distance until you can feel the heat of his body radiating against you.

“Sure you’re not.”

His voice is low and seductive now, each word making your heart beat faster. He leans in, his breath warm against your ear as his fingers brush the edge of the water.

“I’m just trying to make sure you’re okay. And it seems to me you’re not so fine with me leaving. Aren’t you?”

Your breath catches in your throat, and before you can stop yourself, you gasp when his hand barely skims your shoulder, sending a shock of heat through your body. Your instincts flare up, and you try to pull back, but his presence is suffocating, and there’s nowhere to go.

You glance at him, eyes wide with something between irritation and panic, but your words get caught in your throat as he steps even closer. The tension between you is suffocating now, crackling with something raw, something primal, something that makes the air heavy and thick with desire.

"You’ve been avoiding me all this time," he whispers, his lips brushing your ear, sending a shiver through your body.

"But you can’t hide from me forever, (y/n)."

You shiver, unable to speak, your breath coming faster as his hand traces lightly down your arm. His fingers linger just long enough for you to feel the warmth of them against your skin, igniting a fire within you.

“W-what are you doing?” you manage to breathe out, barely able to get the words out past the tightness in your chest.

Hak’s lips curl into a half-smile, the teasing edge still there, but there’s something deeper behind his eyes now.

“I’m just making sure you understand what I’ve been trying to say.”

His voice is thick, husky now, like the air between you both is too thick to bear.

The space between you both is impossibly small, and you’re not sure if it’s your breath or his that’s filling the air, making everything feel suffocating. You can’t remember the last time you felt this close to him - felt this seen by him.

But somehow, you never want it to end. No, you want him to stay like this, you want to feel him this close to you.

You want him, none other than Son Hak.

“Maybe…I want you”, you breathe into the night.

Bonus: all the men hehe

The hot spring is supposed to be your reward. After days of trekking through rough terrain, dealing with bandits, and sleeping in the dirt, this feels like heaven itself. Even Yun had chimed in, saying you deserved a moment to relax, offering you some alone-time in the hot springs. They had specifically assigned this hot spring to you, promising that no one would disturb you. Sometimes, they are able to act nice.

You sigh cheerfully, the warm water easing every ache and pain in your body. It’s peaceful, calm, and the perfect chance to relax.

Until the door to the changing area slides open with a loud clack.

You jolt upright, your heart leaping into your throat. Before you can even process what’s happening, Hak strides in, wearing nothing but a small, damp white towel slung low around his waist. Water drips from his messy hair as he steps confidently into the spring, seemingly unaware of your presence.

“Man, this is going to feel great,” Hak signs, stretching his arms overhead.

You feel like seeing a ghost. Didn’t the old lady tell you in front of everyone else that the hot spring number three will be reserved for you only? Are you mistaken?

“H-Hak?!” you sputter, your voice echoing in the steamy air.

He freezes mid-step, his dark eyes snapping toward you. For a moment, neither of you say anything. Then, his signature grin returns, twice as mischievous as usual.

“Oh? Didn’t expect to see you here,” Hak comments smoothly, his tone dripping with faux innocence.

“Don’t mind me - this is my assigned tub, too.”

“What?! No, it isn’t!” you snap, your face turning bright red as you sink lower into the water, desperate to hide yourself.

Before Hak can reply, another voice calls out.

“Wait for me, Thunder Beast! Don’t hog the spring!”

Jae-Ha appears, his towel slung over his shoulder and his long legs carrying him gracefully into the clearing. The green dragon freezes mid-step when he spots you, his eyes widening slightly before a sly smile spreads across his face.

“Oh my,” he jeers, tossing the towel around his neck like he’s suddenly a model.

“This is quite the surprise. If I’d known we’d have company, I’d have brought wine to celebrate.”

“Get out!” you yell, your face burning as Jae-Ha perches casually on the edge of the spring, clearly ignoring you.

“Oh, don’t be shy, darling. We’re all friends here,” Jae-Ha teases, kicking one leg lazily into the water.

Before you can scream again, a third figure enters. Kija, holding his white cloth with a prim sort of dignity, strides in with his nose held high.

“Hak, I told you to wait for the rest of us before-”

His words trail off as he spots you, blue eyes widen in sheer shock.

There’s a beat of silence, and then Kija’s face turns bright red. He spins on his heel so fast he nearly trips.

“What are you doing in here?! This is improper!”

“Me?” you shriek, waving a hand at him.

“You’re the ones barging in here!”

“Don’t yell at me!” Kija shouts back, his voice an octave higher than usual.

“I wasn’t told this spring was occupied! Especially not by you!”

“STOP SOUNDING SO DISGUSTED!”

He whirls back around to glare at Hak and Jae-Ha, who seem far less mortified than he is.

But there’s no time to argue or for further protest, because Zeno skips in next, humming a cheerful tune. He’s the only one who doesn’t even hesitate, wading straight into the water without a care in the world.

“Ah, nice and warm!” Zeno chirps, sinking into the spring as though this were a casual picnic.

He glances at you and tilts his head.

“Oh, you’re here too? That’s great! Makes it more fun!”

This can’t be true, right? They have to be a hallucination, every single one of them. But something about Hak’s slight grin tells you it can’t be, that this is bitter reality.

“Zeno, get out!” you groan, holding your hands over your face.

“What? Zeno didn’t do anything wrong!” he protests, grinning wide as ever.

Your sanity shakes on the edge as yet another figure appears. Shin-Ah stands in the doorway, frozen in place as he takes in the scene. His glowing golden eyes flicker between you and the others, and you can see the color rising in his ears even beneath his hood.

“Shin-Ah, please tell them to leave!” you plead, clutching the edge of the spring for dear life.

Finally someone with a little bit of sense. He nods once, almost robotically, before turning to departure - only for Ao to leap from his shoulder and dive into the water with an enthusiastic squeak.

“Great,” you mutter as the little squirrel starts splashing around.

“To be honest, Ao is the only one I really want here.”

“I-I’ll take Ao,” Shin-Ah mumbles, clearly flustered as he steps toward the spring, only to stop dead when his foot slips on a wet stone.

He stumbles, barely catching himself, and the towel around his waist slips a little before he falls straight into the water.

Straight against you.

Your naked self, to be exact.

“Shin-Ah!”

 “I-I’m sorry!” he stammers, his voice barely audible as he scrambles backward, his movements awkward and frantic.

He dashes away from you as if you’re the plague, his face so red you think steam might start rising off him.

Before you can fully process what just happened, a low whistle cuts through the tension.

“Well, isn’t this interesting?” Hak drawls, leaning back against the rocks with that insufferable smirk of his.

He crosses his arms over his chest, looking far too amused for your liking.

“Guess we know what Shin-Ah’s type is now. Didn’t think he’d make such a bold move, though. Props to him.”

Your jaw drops.

“What did you just say?!”

Hak shrugs, feigning innocence as he gestures toward the flustered Shin-Ah, who looks like he wants to melt into the water and disappear.

“I mean, falling into you like that? Pretty smooth move if you ask me. Maybe I should take notes-”

“You should take notes on leaving me alone!” you snap, your voice practically reverberating off the rocks.

“Seriously, Hak, of all the idiotic, inappropriate - HOW IS THIS FUNNY TO YOU?!”

Hak raises an eyebrow, clearly entertained by your outburst.

“Come on, it’s a little funny-”

“IT’S NOT FUNNY!” you scream, throwing a handful of water in his direction.

He dodges effortlessly, of course, laughing even harder.

“You’re impossible!” you huff, clutching the edge of the spring to keep yourself from launching at him.

“First, you barge in uninvited, then you make inappropriate comments, and now you’re making jokes about this?! What is WRONG with you?”

“Plenty of things,” Hak admits with a shameless grin, earning himself a chorus of groans from Kija and a small splash of water from Zeno, who seems to be trying to cheer you up.

“Shut up, Hak,” Kija mutters, pinching the bridge of his nose.

“You’re going to get us all killed.”

Jae-Ha chuckles from his perch on the edge of the spring.

“To be fair, Thunder Beast does have a knack for digging his own grave.”

“That’s it!” you shout, pointing furiously at all of them.

“I’ll kill every single one of you right now!

Finally, Yun storms in just in time, his face already set in a scowl.

“What is wrong with all of you? I can’t leave for one second without laughing around like idiots and talking trash-”

He stops, taking in the chaos: you half-hidden in the water, Hak smirking, Jae-Ha lounging, Zeno grinning, Kija fuming, Shin-Ah frozen, and Ao splashing around like it’s a game. Yun pinches the bridge of his nose. So, that’s what’s going on here. Did all of them not listen to what the old lady said earlier?

“You were all supposed to be in the other spring!” Yun yells, his voice echoing so loudly that even Hak winces.

“Do none of you listen?!”

“It’s fine, Yun,” Zeno interferes, waving him off.

“It’s cozier this way! And being naked together helps with bonding!”

“Oh, I know something you can do naked that helps with bonding as well”, Jae-Ha comments with a slight grin.

You let out a strangled noise, your head sinking into your hands.

“I’m going to lose my mind…”

“Relax,” Hak says with a laugh, slipping into the water like nothing is amiss.

“We’re all friends here, right?”

“Out!”

[ponderingmoonlight]

can you write a complilation with hak, shina, jaeha and kija with the any men getting caught up in a snow storm with you please? Thank you!!

I went ham on this and don't feel ashamed hehehe

Getting caught up in an snow storm and saved by Yona of the Dawn men

Pairings: Hak x fem! reader; Shin-Ah x fem!reader; Jae-Ha x fem!reader; Kija x fem!reader

Word Count: 6,3k (I went soo hard on this)

Warnings: Yona men being as charming as ever, reader getting saved by every single one of them, near-death experiences

To all my lovely followers and supporters out there: Even if you're not a fan of Yona of the Dawn, I'd totally appreciate you leaving a small like for this work and support me, it truly means the world <3

Hak

The wind shrieks around you, a relentless force that makes your every step feel like a battle. Snow pelts your face, tiny shards of ice biting into your exposed and icy skin. Your breaths come out in short, ragged puffs, visible in the freezing air. You can barely see Hak through the wall of white, his broad frame just a dark outline against the snowstorm.

How did the two of you end up here? You were supposed to collect a few logs of wood for princess Yona who felt cold in the castle, a pretty standard task both of you normally complete within two hours.

Normally, when there isn’t a snow storm brushing against your body so harshly that you’re barely able to stand. 

Your legs are growing heavy, the snow swallowing your steps, but Hak moves with determined ease, his hand gripping yours tightly in order for you to keep his track. Every time you stumble, he steadies you with a firm pull.

“Don’t slow down,” he grumbles, his voice rising above the roar of the storm.

“We can’t stop out here.”

Oh, you surely try. But at this point, it feels impossible. The cold is gnawing at you, your fingers and toes numb despite your gloves and boots. Another gust of wind pushes you sideways, and your legs buckle. Faster than your muscles are able to react, your knees give in and race towards the even colder snow underneath.

 Before you hit the ground, Hak’s arms are around you, strong and unwavering.

“Hey,” he says, crouching slightly to meet your eyes, his face barely visible beneath the snow clinging to his hair and cloak.

“You okay?”

You nod weakly, even though your body screams otherwise. You’ve never seen this much worry in his eyes, not when it comes to you. As one of Yona’s servants and the best female swordswoman walking this country, he never really had to concern about you. But now, with your lips turning blue, your teeth shivering uncontrollably and that emptiness that starts to fill your gaze, he can’t help but pull you closer. Why did you decide to wear that stupid dress for a stroll outside mid-December anyway?

“Just… cold,” you manage to press out.

“Cold?” he echoes with mock amazement.

“You don’t say. And here I thought you were just taking a nap in the middle of a blizzard.”

His teasing grin doesn’t quite reach his eyes, though. They’re scanning you, sharp and assessing. Are you still well enough to carry on? What will he do if you faint right here and now?

Without waiting for an answer, he scoops you up in his arms. Almost instantly, a new-found wave of heat rushes straight into your cheeks when his hand squeezes your waist, his arms almost swallowing you whole. Fuck, you hate that he does that to you, you hate the effect Son Hak has on your otherwise strong body. You never thought you’d fall for a man, never turned your head for a single male individual that came to the kingdom in order to propose to you. But Hak?

You gasp in protest, but he doesn’t even flinch at the weight of your body inside his arms.

“Stop arguing. You’re not walking in this condition. And no, you’re not heavy.”

“I can walk,” you grumble, though your trembling limbs betray you.

“Sure you can,” he replies, sarcasm dripping from his tone.

“Right into hypothermia. Let me handle this, alright?”

Hak strides forward, the storm battering against him as if it’s trying to force him back. And him? He’s solid, his body a barrier between you and the worst of the cold. Every step is deliberate, each movement steady despite the snowdrifts reaching up to his knees. You hate that you can’t help but admire that bastard who managed to get stronger than you when you were only 6.

Finally, he spots a massive tree with low, snow-covered branches forming a natural canopy.

“That’ll do,” he mutters, adjusting his grip on you as he pushes forward.

When he reaches the tree, he sets you down gently against the trunk, brushing snow off the spot before you sit. His coat is off in an instant, and before you can protest, he wraps it around your shoulders.

“Hak, no,” you mutter, your teeth chattering.

“You’ll freeze-”

He silences you with a look, one eyebrow quirking upward in that signature way of his.

“Don’t start. I’ve survived worse than this. You? Not so much. Just stay put. Or do you want to keep me warm?”

You open your mouth to argue, but the look in his eyes, steady and serious, stops you. Instead, you huddle deeper into his coat, the lingering warmth from his body spreading through the fabric.

“I’d rather die”, you lie gruffly.

Hak raises an eyebrow, his grin spreading slowly, almost devilishly.

“Oh, really?” he teases, his tone dripping with amusement.

“Is that so? Because from where I’m sitting, you’re practically burrowing into my coat like a squirrel getting ready for hibernation.”

Hak kneels in front of you, his hands working quickly to untangle a scarf from his bag while that dirty grin is still plastered onto his face. He wraps it carefully around your neck, his calloused fingers brushing against your chilled skin. The contact sends a spark of warmth through you, awakens that heat inside your body you never fail to miss whenever he touches you by accident.

“There. Better?”

You nod, but your shivering doesn’t want to stop. He clicks his tongue, clearly unhappy with the situation, and without warning, sits down beside you. His arm wraps around your shoulders, pulling you firmly against his side.

“Maybe there’s no way around me keeping you warm, brat”, he comments with a sly grin his whole side pressing against yours.

“What are you doing?” you shriek, even as you instinctively lean into his warmth.

When was the last time you were this close to Hak? Were you ever this close to him?

“Keeping you alive,” he replies simply, his tone matter-of-fact.

“It’s kind of my job.”

“You’re not my babysitter but princess Yona’s,” you mumble, though you don’t pull away.

He chuckles, the sound low and comforting despite the raging storm.

“Oh, really? Could’ve fooled me.”

For a while, the two of you sit in silence, the storm howling around the tree but not quite reaching the small pocket of shelter you’ve found. His body is solid and warm against yours, his cloak spreading out to cover you both. Every so often, he adjusts it, ensuring not even a sliver of cold air gets in.

“Look,” he announces eventually, nodding toward the horizon. The wind shifts slightly, and you catch a glimpse of the snow-covered landscape beyond the tree. It’s bleak, but there’s a strange beauty in the endless expanse of white.

“It’s kind of peaceful,” you admit, your voice quieter now, the cold stealing your energy.

“Peaceful,” Hak repeats, snorting.

“Only you would find peace in a blizzard.”

You glance up at him, noticing the way his eyes soften as he looks at you. There’s a fondness there, mingled with his usual exasperation. Is this…affection? You’ve seen the way he looks at Yona while your eyes were glued onto him a thousand times and never failed to wonder if he’ll ever look at you the same way. With those almost soft eyes, his mouth slightly opened, his face only inches away from yours…Are you dreaming?

“You’re unbelievable, you know that?”, he murmurs into the wind.

“I try,” you reply, managing a small smile.

Hak shifts, pulling you closer as another gust of wind shakes the branches above.

“Stay awake. No nodding off. You do that, and I’ll start telling bad jokes to keep you conscious. Your call.”

You groan, burying your face in his shoulder despite your heart almost skipping a beat.

“Anything but that.”

He laughs, the sound rich and warm despite the cold.

“Thought so.”

The warmth of Hak’s laugh lingers in the air, curling around you like the faintest hint of spring within the frozen storm. He shifts slightly, his arm still securely around your shoulders, and leans in just a little closer - close enough that you can see the snowflakes melting in his dark hair, the faint smirk playing on his lips while you forget to breathe.

“You know,” he begins, his tone taking on that familiar teasing lilt that always makes you both want to smack him and listen intently.

 “I think I deserve a thank-you for saving your life. Again.”

You snort softly, your breath visible in the cold air.

“A thank-you? For saving me again? I can’t remember a single time you’ve had to save me. Don’t push it, thunder beast.”

He arches an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed with your lack of gratitude.

“Thunder beast, huh? You’re lucky I’m too much of a gentleman to leave you here for the storm to chew on.”

“Gentleman?” you echo, scoffing.

“Since when?”

“Since the moment I decided not to make you walk in that ridiculous excuse for winter gear,” he quips, nudging you lightly with his shoulder.

“Seriously, were you planning to duel the snowstorm with that dress? Or were you just hoping to look so pathetic I’d have no choice but to save you? Or…did you hope I’ll take it off for you?”

Your cheeks flush—not entirely from the cold—as you glare up at him. Did he really just say that?

“I don’t need you to save me. And I don’t need you to take off my clothes”, you retort stubbornly.

“Sure, you don’t,” he agrees easily, his grin widening.

“But you do need me to keep you warm.”

He shifts again, pulling you even closer until your sides are flush against each other.

“Not that I’m complaining. I could get used to this.”

You roll your eyes, but the warmth of his body and the teasing tone of his voice make it hard to stay annoyed, let alone calm down your thundering heart.

“If you’re so warm, why don’t you go out there and finish gathering the wood?” you challenge.

“Oh, I could. But then who would you snuggle up to when the storm gets worse?”

“I’m not snuggling!” you protest, pulling back slightly, only for another gust of wind to blow through, forcing you right back into the shelter of his side.

“Uh-huh,” he replies, looking entirely too pleased with himself.

“Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone. It’ll be our little secret. To be honest, I’d love to be your little secret.”

“Hak-” you start, intending to argue, but he cuts you off with a sly grin.

“Relax. If you wanted to be close to me, all you had to do was ask. No need to freeze half to death for an excuse.”

Your jaw drops, heat rushing to your face as his words sink in. You sputter, trying to come up with a comeback, but he just chuckles, his voice rich and warm, as if he’s already won.

“See? Speechless,” he teases, leaning back against the tree as if this entire situation was the most natural thing in the world.

“Guess I really do have that effect on you. Not that I didn’t notice the way you’re looking at me already.”

You narrow your eyes at him, trying to muster some semblance of control over your expression, but his grin is too infectious, his presence too comforting despite the storm raging around you. Finally, you let out a resigned sigh.

“You’re insufferable,” you mutter, leaning your head against his shoulder despite yourself.

“And you love it,” he shoots back without missing a beat.

You don’t reply, but the small smile tugging at your lips while you snuggle even closer to him says enough.

Shin-Ah

The blizzard roars with a cruelty that shakes the trees lining the mountainside. Shin-Ah sits quietly near the entrance of his cave, his dragon eyes piercing the white chaos outside. Snow swirls violently, carried by the howling wind, blanketing the landscape in an unrelenting storm. He’s used to the solitude of this place, the stillness that comes with living so far removed from others, but tonight the storm feels… different.

A nagging feeling tugs at his chest, a restlessness that keeps his gaze fixed on the swirling snow. Something is out there. Or rather, someone.

Then, through the blinding white, he sees it: a faint, staggering figure. At first, he wonders if it’s his imagination, a trick of the storm his mind plays on him all over again. But as the figure stumbles closer, barely a shadow against the blizzard, he knows it’s real. He watches, heart pounding as the figure collapses into the snow and stops moving entirely.

Shin-Ah doesn’t hesitate. Without a second thought, he grabs his thick fur cloak and bolts out into the storm. The snowdrifts are deep, the wind nearly throwing him off balance, but he presses forward. His boots crunch against the ice, his cloak flapping violently behind him as he approaches the fallen figure.

When he reaches you, his breath catches in his throat. Your body is half-buried in the snow, your skin pale and lips an alarming shade of blue. Your clothes are soaked and unsuitable for weather this extreme, offering little protection against the icy cold. You murmur something faint, your voice so weak it’s swallowed by the wind.

You’re…you’re a woman, the most beautiful creature he ever laid his eyes on.

Shin-Ah drops to his knees, his arms sliding under your limp body as he lifts you effortlessly. You’re lighter than he expected, your frame alarmingly cold to the touch. His grip tightens instinctively, his heartbeat thundering in his chest.

“You’re safe now,” he whispers, even though you can’t hear him.

He turns and strides back toward the cave, his body shielding you from the worst of the wind. Snow clings to his cloak, to his hair, but he doesn’t stop until you’re both inside, away from the storm’s wrath.

Who are you? And how did you end up here?

When you’re senses slowly but surely become yours again, the world feels… muffled. Warmth wraps around you like a cocoon, chasing away the bone-deep chill that had consumed you. What happened last? Weren’t you out frantically looking for a shelter in the cold? But why? Why did you leave the safety of your house? Because your brother, your father…Your father…

It takes effort to open your eyes, your body still heavy with exhaustion. Because something horrible happened back home, because you were supposed to die next. You had no choice but to leave everything you knew and loved behind.

The flickering glow of a fire dances against the rocky walls of a cave, casting long shadows. How did you end up here?

It’s then you notice the weight against you. No - around you.

A strong arm encircles your back, pulling you gently against a broad chest. The heat radiating from him is overwhelming, but it’s the only thing keeping you from freezing again. You shift slightly, your head tilting up to see the person who saved you.

A man, to be exact.

His golden eyes meet yours, wide with worry and a hint of relief and shock. His face is partially obscured by a mask, but the parts you can see - his pale blue hair, the soft curve of his jaw, the glint of his eyes from behind that mask - are striking. He looks… ethereal.

“You’re awake,” he declares, his voice quiet but filled with unmistakable concern.

Your lips part, but no words come out at first. Your throat feels dry like the desert, and your mind is sluggish as you try to piece together what happened. Memories of the storm surface -its cruelty, your body failing against the cold, and then… this man. He saved you, right?

“Where am I?” you manage to whisper, your voice raspy.

“My cave,” he answers simply, his words hesitant, as if unsure how much to say.

“You were in the snow. I… found you.”

You shift slightly, wincing at the ache in your limbs. The fur cloak wrapped around you smells faintly of the woods, and its warmth is comforting. As your body continues to defrost, the reality of your situation sets in. You were alone in the storm, and without this stranger’s intervention, you might not have survived.

“You saved me,” you mutter softly, your voice tinged with awe.

He nods, but his gaze drops, as though he’s embarrassed by the admission. A complete stranger around your age just saved you?

You shiver involuntarily, the cold still clinging to your edges. Without thinking, you press closer to him, seeking out the warmth he offers with the chaos that occupies your mind. His body stiffens slightly, his golden eyes flickering with something you can’t quite name, but he doesn’t pull away. Instead, he adjusts his hold on you, his arm tightening around your shoulders as he pulls the cloak more securely around you both.

“Don’t let go,” you whisper, your voice barely audible.

His eyes widen, surprise flashing across his features. For a moment, he looks as though he might speak, but instead, he nods, his grip on you firm and steady.

Did you…just ask him to hold you? You, that foreign but stunning girl he just met? To be honest, he didn’t have the chance to greet a lot of females those past years.

But none of them were as stunning as you. None of them made him take off his mask, let alone force him to stare for hours.

“You’re still cold,” he murmurs, his voice soft, almost shy.

You don’t answer, instead nestling deeper into his warmth by instinct. The steady beat of his heart beneath your cheek is soothing, a rhythm you didn’t realize you needed until now. You haven’t felt this safe in a long time.

As the minutes stretch on, the tension in his body begins to ease. His hands, large and calloused, adjust the cloak again, and his movements are careful, almost tender.

“Thank you. For saving me.”

He meets your gaze, and for a moment, you think you see a faint blush dust his cheeks, though it’s hard to tell in the dim firelight.

“You… shouldn’t have been out there,” he replies, his tone laced with quiet worry.

“I didn’t expect the storm,” you admit.

“I was trying to make it to shelter.”

His brows furrow slightly, and he glances toward the cave entrance, as though still wary of the storm beyond.

“You’re safe now,” he mumbles, his golden eyes meeting yours again.

The warmth of his arms, the gentle crackling of the fire, and the safety of the cave create a bubble of peace you hadn’t thought possible after the chaos of the storm. Slowly, your eyelids grow heavy again, but this time, the exhaustion feels manageable – bearable, even tolerable with his warmth wrapping around you like a blanket.

“Stay,” you murmur, your voice tinged with sleepiness as you clutch the edge of his cloak.

His eyes soften, and though he says nothing, his arm around you tightens ever so slightly.

“I’ll stay,” he whispers after a moment, his voice so quiet it’s almost lost in the crackling of the fire.

And as you drift off, warm and secure in the arms of this stranger, you can’t help but feel like you’ve found something more than just shelter from the storm.

Jae-Ha

The storm hits hard, the sea turning into a thrashing beast of dark waves and biting wind. Snow whirls through the air, sticking to the decks and the sails of the pirate ship as it rocks and creaks against the violent ocean. Jae-Ha stands near the prow, his sharp emerald eyes scanning the endless horizon of white and grey. Huh, what an unpleasant surprise. He was never able to enjoy the gashing wind of white, especially while being out on the dark sea.  

The captain barks orders to the crew, their voices rising above the howling wind as they secure the rigging and steer the ship away from the worst of the waves. But Jae-Ha’s focus is elsewhere. Something feels off today, the way the shore in the distance moves feels so foreign.

It’s then he sees something - or rather someone. A small, fragile figure hovering unsteadily on a drifting piece of wreckage, bobbing dangerously close to the jagged rocks.

“Captain!” Jae-Ha calls, his voice slicing through the storm like a blade.

The captain turns, her face grim.

“What is it, brat?”

“Someone’s out there,” Jae-Ha replies, pointing toward the figure.

The captain hesitates, glancing at the churning sea and the relentless storm.

“The waves are too rough. It’s suicide to go out now. Even for you.”

Jae-Ha’s smile is sharp and determined as he steps toward the ship’s edge.

“Fortunately for them, I’m not particularly afraid of a little danger.”

Without waiting for permission, he leaps into the air, his dragon’s leg propelling him high above the waves. The cold wind cuts through him, but he doesn’t falter, his gaze locked on you.

You’re barely clinging to the broken plank of wood, your fingers numb and stiff from the freezing spray. Your body is drenched, the cold seeping into your bones, and your strength is fading fast. Each wave threatens to drag you under, and you’re starting to think this is it.

Oh, you definitely didn’t expect your life to end like this. Just yesterday, you knocked on that door asking for work before ending up as a prisoner ready to get sold.

Is this really how your life ends now? In that cold sea you normally love so much looking at, the ocean you long for each and every night, now your ice cold grave?

Then, out of nowhere, a shadow appears above you. A man descends from the sky like a vision, his green hair flowing wildly in the wind, his piercing gaze locked onto you. Before you can process what’s happening, strong arms wrap around you, lifting you effortlessly from the icy grip of the sea.

“Got you,” he comments, his voice warm and steady despite the chaos around you.

You barely manage to look up at him, your vision blurry and your lips too cold to form words. He holds you securely, his body radiating warmth, and you can’t help but lean into him as your consciousness fades, forcing you straight into sweet nothingness.

When you wake, the first thing you notice is the warmth. Soft blankets are wrapped around you, and a flickering lantern casts a warm glow over the small cabin you’re in. The sound of muffled voices and the creaking of a ship’s hull reaches your ears, and the faint smell of salt and damp wood lingers in the air.

“Ah, so you’re finally awake,” a smooth, teasing voice declares.

You turn your head and see a man – without any doubt, the one who saved you from that cold sea. He’s sitting beside the bed you’re lying in, his long legs crossed gracefully, his chin resting on one hand as he watches you with a playful smile.

“Where…?” you croak, your throat dry and your voice weak.

You’re still feeling too weak to even think properly, the cold still sitting in your core.

 “You’re on the Sea Dragon,” he replies, leaning back slightly.

“A pirate ship, if that doesn’t scare you too much. Though I’d say you’ve been through scarier things lately.”

The memories come rushing back - the storm, the waves, the freezing cold. You shiver at the thought, and his smile softens.

“Easy there,” he coos, leaning forward to tuck the blankets more securely around you.

His hands are warm, his touch surprisingly gentle for someone with such a commanding presence and piercing gaze.

“You’re safe now.”

You blink up at him, taking in his striking features. His green hair falls loosely around his shoulders, and his violet eyes are both sharp and kind. There’s a mischievous glint to him, but beneath it lies something deeper, something steady and reassuring.

“Thank you,” you manage to say, your voice barely above a whisper.

He chuckles softly, the sound rich and comforting in your still echoing ears.

“No need to thank me. It’s not every day I get to play the hero. Though I must say, you certainly know how to make an entrance - floating out there like some tragic damsel in distress.”

His tone is light, teasing, but there’s genuine concern in his gaze as he reaches out to brush a strand of damp hair from your face.

“You’ve been through a lot. Just focus on warming up for now”, he continues with a soft tone lacing his seductive voice.

As he speaks, he pours a steaming cup of tea from a kettle on the small table beside the bed. He holds it out to you, his movements graceful but deliberate.

“Here. This should help.”

You take the cup with trembling hands, the heat seeping into your fingers. He doesn’t look away, his watchful eyes ensuring you’re steady before he releases the cup.

For a while, the two of you sit in silence, the storm still raging outside but feeling a world away within the cozy cabin.

“Why… did you save me?” you ask eventually, your voice small.

Back in your hometown, nobody really cared for something apart from your looks. You were always expected to marry one of those stinky officers, the most disturbing man living on this earth. To be honest, you would’ve rather died on there on the sea than marrying a man who beats a woman just for the fun of it. But that man sitting next to you…Does the sparkle in his eyes mean that he genuinely cares?

Jae-Ha’s smile softens, and he leans forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees.

“Because I could,” he replies simply.

“And because no one deserves to be left alone out there.”

There’s a sincerity in his voice that catches you off guard, a vulnerability beneath his teasing exterior.

“Dying out there on the sea would have been better than getting sold to one of those disgusting officers”, you blurt out before you can stop yourself.

Jae-Ha’s eyes widen slightly at your outburst, the corners of his teasing smile faltering. For a moment, his playful demeanor slips, revealing a flicker of anger - not directed at you, but at the cruel fate you narrowly escaped. He heard rumors about beautiful girls getting kidnapped and sold, how they got ripped out of their homes straight into slavery and old men’s beds. How much he hates them, how badly he wants to hunt them down and kill them for doing…

His gaze meets your still haunted eyes, your empty expression. No, this isn’t the time to think about something like that.

Then, just as quickly, his grin returns, though softer and less sharp this time.

“Is that so?” he muses, his voice warm and low.

“Then I suppose I’ve done more than save your life - I’ve rescued you from a fate far worse than the sea’s cold embrace.”

He leans closer, his intense gaze locking with yours.

“You’ve certainly had quite the adventure, haven’t you?”

His words carry a touch of humor, but there’s no denying the genuine concern in his tone. He reaches out again, his fingertips brushing a damp strand of hair from your cheek. Oh, if he only knew what a mess your life was until now.

Until now? Your eyes lock with his out of instinct, take in that easy grin that rests on his face. Even though you don’t even know that stranger’s name, he surely feels better than that miserable fate that was ahead of you. Maybe, just maybe…

You’re safe now.

You find yourself sinking deeper into the warm cocoon of the blankets, the heat from the tea in your hands finally reaching your core. Despite the lingering fatigue and the faint tremor in your limbs, you feel safer here than you ever did back home.

Jae-Ha studies your expression, his smile taking on a softer, almost fond quality.

“You’re quite the mystery, you know. And I’d love to hear the full story someday. But for now, let’s focus on getting you back to feeling human again.”

You nod weakly, your eyelids growing heavier by the second. The warmth, his soothing voice, and the rhythmic creaking of the ship are lulling you into a much-needed rest. As your grip on the tea cup slackens, Jae-Ha deftly takes it from you, setting it aside with practiced ease.

“Don’t fight it,” he murmurs, his tone softening even further.

“You need rest. And I’ll be here when you wake up.”

“Promised?”, you mutter.

“Totally promised, fine lady.”

You barely register his words as sleep overtakes you. Your body shifts slightly, instinctively seeking out the closest source of warmth. Before either of you realizes it, your hand finds his, your fingers curling weakly around his as you drift off. Your head tilts, leaning toward him, and before long, you’re nestled against his arm.

Jae-Ha freezes for a moment, caught off guard by your unconscious closeness. His expression softens further, a mix of amusement and tenderness playing across his features.

“Well, aren’t you full of surprises,” he murmurs to himself, his voice barely audible above the muffled storm outside.

Carefully, he adjusts his position, allowing you to lean against him more comfortably. He pulls the blankets higher, tucking them securely around you, his movements uncharacteristically cautious. As your breathing evens out, Jae-Ha leans back slightly, watching you with an expression that’s unusually serious for him.

“Rest easy,” he whispers, his voice almost lost in the gentle creak of the ship.

“No one’s going to hurt you now.”

And despite the storm raging outside, the cabin feels like the calmest place in the world.

Kija

The snowstorm came down on you with an almost vengeful fury, battering your body with icy wind and stinging flakes of snow when you only went out to find medicine for your mother. Each step is a struggle, your limbs growing heavier by the second. The forest path is long gone, erased by the blizzard’s wrath, and all you can do is press forward in the hope of finding shelter. A warm place, maybe even a fire…

Your cloak is soaked through, its weak protection no match for the elements. Every breath leaves a sharp sting against your throat, and your vision blurs as exhaustion sinks deeper into your bones.

“Just… a little further,” you whisper to yourself, though the words barely reach your ears over the roar of the storm.

You don’t know how much longer you can last. But just when you’re about to lose hope, faintly, through the swirling snow, you see a light - a small, warm glow flickering against the white chaos.

Desperate, you stumble toward it, your legs barely holding you upright. Is it a cave, a little village, even? The glow grows brighter, steadier, and soon you see its source: a man holding a lantern at the edge of an enormous rock. His white hair gleams in the dim light, and his piercing blue eyes widen in alarm as they lock onto you.

What a strangely beautiful man, something you’re never seen before. Maybe he’ll be able to help you, maybe he knows a place where both of you can stay-

Before you can call out to him, your strength gives out, and you collapse into the snow.

“Hey!”

His voice is sharp with concern, and within moments, he’s at your side, kneeling in the snow.

You distantly feel his hands on your shoulders, warm and strong, as he lifts you into his arms. Normally, you’d protest vehemently against a stranger picking you up and carrying you like a bag of rice. But under this conditions, with your fingertips already numb from the nagging cold, you can’t help but nuzzle against his neck.

“You’re freezing,” he murmurs, his voice laced with worry.

“Hold on - I’ll get you somewhere safe.”

Somewhere safe, huh? While darkness stretches over you like a veil, you can’t help but imagine a warm bed near a fireplace with that stranger lying beside you…

When you come to, the first thing you notice is the crackling of a fire and the soft scent of pine. Warmth envelopes you, the biting cold a distant memory now. Your eyelids flutter open, and you find yourself lying on a bed of soft furs, a thick blanket tucked snugly around you.

“Awake at last,” a gentle voice says.

You turn your head to see the man from the storm. He’s seated beside the fire, his elegant features illuminated by its glow. His white hair cascades over his shoulders, and the faint markings on his pale skin catch the light, giving him an otherworldly appearance.

You fainted. When did you lose consciousness? How did you end up here?

“You gave me quite the scare,” he continues, his tone light but tinged with genuine relief.

“Where…?”

 Your voice comes out hoarse, barely above a whisper.

“You’re safe,” he assures you.

“We’re in my residence, not far from where I found you. The storm hasn’t let up, but this place will keep you warm and dry until it passes.”

His words are reassuring, but your thoughts are still sluggish, the events of the blizzard a hazy blur in your mind. Your gaze wanders around the well-decorated room without a real aim, taking in the gorgeous sight of white dragons engraved into the ceiling above.

“You saved me,” you say softly, the realization dawning on you.

He smiles faintly, his gaze steady and kind.

“I couldn’t leave you out there. You were half-buried in snow by the time I reached you.”

He reaches for a steaming cup beside the fire and offers it to you.

“Here. It’s a medicinal tea. It should help warm you from the inside.”

You accept it gratefully, your trembling hands barely able to hold the cup steady. His fingers briefly brush against yours as he steadies it, the contact sending a strange warmth through you that most definitely has nothing to do with the tea.

“Thank you,” you mutter after taking a cautious sip.

He inclines his head, a soft flush coloring his cheeks.

“There’s no need for thanks. Helping others is… important to me.”

The minutes stretch into hours as the two of you wait out the storm. He tends to the fireplace with practiced care, occasionally glancing over to check on you. Despite the fierce wind howling outside, the well-decorated room feels like a sanctuary, the warmth of the fire and his quiet presence a balm to your frayed nerves.

Eventually, you find your voice again.

“Who are you?”

“My name is Kija,” he replies, his tone gentle but measured.

“I was passing through the area when the storm hit.”

He hesitates, his gaze dropping to the fire.

“I didn’t expect to find anyone else out in such conditions. But I watched you from the window and couldn’t leave you out there alone.”

You nod, still trying to piece together how you ended up here.

“I was gathering herbs. I thought I could make it back before the weather turned, but…”

A small, wry smile tugs at his lips.

“The mountains are unpredictable. You’re fortunate my village is nearby.”

His words aren’t boastful - they’re simply true. Still, you can’t help but feel a pang of gratitude for this kind stranger who had risked the storm to save you.

As the fire crackles on, the two of you fall into an easy rhythm of conversation. Kija’s calm demeanor and soft-spoken nature put you at ease, and you find yourself opening up in ways you hadn’t expected.

When another gust of wind rattles the small cracks underneath the window, you shiver involuntarily, the memory of the storm still fresh in your mind.

“Are you still cold?” Kija asks, his brow furrowing with concern.

“A little,” you admit, though you try to downplay it.

After all, Kija just opened up about him successor of something that is called the white dragon, a droplet of dragon blood that gave him the power of a dragon’s claw. He’s like a king in this village, a god to the people who look up to him. How did you never hear about the four dragons before?

Without a word, he shifts closer to you, wrapping the edges of the blanket more securely around your shoulders. His hand lingers for a moment, warm and steady against your arm.

“You’re shaking. Come closer to the fire.”

You hesitate, but the genuine worry in his eyes convinces you. He adjusts his position, leaving just enough space for you to sit beside him.

As you settle near the fire, his proximity sends a new kind of warmth through you - one that has nothing to do with the flames. You glance at him, taking in the way his features soften as he watches the firelight dance.

“Thank you,” you mumble again, the words feeling inadequate for the depth of your gratitude.

He turns to you, a gentle smile gracing his lips.

“You don’t have to keep thanking me.”

“I mean it,” you insist, your voice trembling slightly.

“If you hadn’t found me…”

Kija’s smile fades, and he looks down, his expression turning serious.

“You don’t need to think about that. You’re here now. Safe. That’s all that matters.”

Something in his voice - a quiet resolve, a protective instinct - makes your heart ache in the best way. Despite the storm raging outside, you feel more at peace than you have in days, maybe weeks.

For a moment, the two of you simply sit there, the silence between you filled with unspoken understanding. The fire crackles on, and outside, the storm slowly begins to ease.

Just like the storm inside you.

[ponderingmoonlight]

Yona of the dawn complilation coming this evening 🤍

[notchesandbullets]

The Pirates of Awa (Protective!Soft!Jae-ha x Pirate!Reader)

(This is the first chapter of my fanfic, "Ryokuryuu's Lifeline" but I originally intended for this to be a oneshot, so it can be read as a standalone.)

Words: 3.5k

"Captain, I've got the—" 

You stopped dead in your tracks at the sight of the unusual group before you. There were five of them, a tall man with black hair, a man with white hair and an abnormal claw for a right hand, a masked man draped in blue with a squirrel on top of his head, a young boy with feathers in his hair and a cloaked girl, red hair peeking out from underneath. 

Your hand holding a bag full of food dropped down to your side, as you strode over to Captain Gi-gan. Jae-ha was near her, but the other crew was scattered all around the ship's deck, poised for a fight.

"Whoa, did I interrupt something?" You asked the captain, hands raised up in faux innocence. Captain Gi-gan's mouth quirked up in a smile, and she gestured to her side with her pipe. You grinned, hoisting yourself up on the ship's rail and leaned forward, resting your elbows on your legs.

The captain ordered the all fighters in the middle, and your eyes widened as the three tall men stepped forward, immediately getting surrounded by the pirates. You caught Jae-ha's gaze, raising an eyebrow questioningly. He smirked, tilting his head to the side, getting you to focus back on the fight unraveling in front of you.

Your eyes widened and your mouth dropped open in shock as your comrades were wiped out in mere minutes.

"How are you feeling, Captain Gi-gan?" The tall man wielding a spear mocked, "Do you want us now?"

Ah... Jae-ha probably recruited them for our next mission.

"It's no use, Captain. Their strength is abnormal." Jae-ha spoke up, and you watched as he closed his eyes, leaning his head against the wall behind him. "It's like having three of me."

Captain Gi-gan tapped her pipe to her shoulder thoughtfully. "Very well." One by one, the pirates gradually began to pick themselves up off the floor.

"Y/N!" The captain called over her shoulder.

A wide smile spread across your face as you pushed yourself off of the railing, bounding over to the captain. Captain Gi-gan turned back to the mysterious but incredibly strong warriors. "Beat her and you pass."

"Captain!" Jae-ha protested immediately, lilac eyes filled with disbelief and concern. Captain Gi-gan shot him a sharp look, silencing him quickly.

Jae-ha turned to you, silently pleading, but you just shot him a reassuring smile, turning back to face your opponents as the three fighters began to circle around you.

"Hey, Hak," The man with white hair addressed the one with the large spear, "Are you sure it's a good idea to fight her? She's unarmed."

Even the masked man seemed reluctant to draw the sword strapped against his back. You rolled your eyes, drawing up your arms and curling your hands loosely into fists.

"White Snake, if you can't fight then you should stay back where it's safe." Hak shot back.

The white-haired man sputtered incredulously and you let out a laugh, eyes shining with excitement. "C'mon," You taunted, "Are you going to make me wait all day?"

Your three opponents shared a look before Hak rushed at you, swiping at your feet with his spear. You leaped clean over it, landing lightly on your feet. The wind rushed past you as you felt the strength behind his attack. He came at you again, and you dodged him again. At this point, the other two had started to join in. You crouched, then jumped back as you evaded the strikes aimed at you. You could tell, though, they were still holding back. Bringing up your arms in a defensive position, you feigned losing your footing, causing the masked man to stumble so his strike wouldn't hit you and you saw your opening.

Curling your hand into a fist, you punched him hard in the shoulder while he was off balance, and swept your leg under his feet. He fell down hard, sword landing a few paces away. You turned your attention back to the other two.

You heard a shout.

"Shin-ah!"

White hair streamed behind him as the man with the claw launched himself at you.

Your eyes twinkled with mischief and you sprang forward to meet him. His right hand grew abnormally large in size as you both got closer to each other. You ducked under it as he slashed at you, catching his upper arm from the outside and pushing down harshly on his shoulder, slamming him into the deck. Wood splintered under the force and you looked up, grinning as you caught the dark look in Hak's eyes.

This was what you wanted.

You moved first, darting forward precisely. He swung at you, much faster than last time, and you didn't get out of the way in time. Your cheek stung from the new abrasion, but you barely noticed it. Not missing a beat, you grabbed a hold of his spear the next time it danced closer to you, just missing the bladed end as you grabbed the staff firmly at its halfway point. Stepping closer to him, you thrusted the blade down firmly; using it as leverage to flip backwards, yanking it out of his hands. You landed in a low crouch right behind Hak as his weapon clattered on the wood deck a few feet away, kicking him forward in the back harshly. Hak tripped for a second before catching his footing, spinning swiftly on his heel to face you.

He didn't see your leg coming. 

Your kick caught him ruthlessly in the side, sending him sprawling hard to the ground.

Hak's eyes held subtle approval as he picked himself up off the ship's deck. You readied your stance again, bouncing lightly on the balls of your feet as the three formed in a semi-circle in front of you.

"That's good enough." Captain Gi-gan interjected, effectively causing the four of you to relax. "You pass."

The boy and girl that arrived with Hak and the others let out a cheer at the captain's announcement, and you held out your hand for the fighters to shake.

"Great match." Despite the cut on your cheek, your eyes glowed brightly, body still buzzing with adrenaline. "It was fun! Let's have another one soon!"

Hak shook your hand, resting the other on your shoulder for a split second before he went back to the cloaked girl's side. The white-haired man followed suit a little more reluctantly, and the one called Shin-ah just tilted his head, looking adorably confused.

You shouldered past the crew who were looking at you with a mix of awe and admiration, breaking out of the crowd on the other side and joining Jae-ha's side. His eyes were shadowed by his green hair, and you bent your head, pouting.

"What's the matter, big guy?"

It was a running joke between the two of you, because he was so tall. He would often make fun of you, teasing you every second of the day and using his height as means to do so. You furrowed your brow in concern when he stayed unusually silent, but before you could inquire further, you were cut off.

"Go home." Captain Gi-gan's sharp voice cut through, startling both you and Jae-ha out of the bubble you two were in. You pushed through the crowd once more, this time, with Jae-ha trailing right behind you. He was so close to your back that you could practically feel the warmth radiating from his form.

You both arrived in time to see the white-haired man step forward. "If this person cannot join, then we—"

"Kija." The cloaked girl intervened, "It's fine. It's as Captain Gi-gan says."

Your eyes widened in astonishment.

It.. couldn't be...

"But..." You caught sight of familiar violet eyes flashing with grief and determination. "There's a reason I can't retreat either."

You didn't hear Captain Gi-gan's next words as you frantically pulled the pieces together in your mind.

Red hair.

Violet eyes.

Princess Yona was alive!!

Your mouth dropped open. The rest of her group was staring at you oddly, except for Hak, confused by your reaction.

"Princess?" You whispered. Yona's head shot up, recognition overcoming her features as a wide smile broke out across her face.

"Y/N?!"

You both reached for each other at the same time, meeting in the middle, embracing tightly.

"I can't believe it." You murmured in disbelief, "You're alive!"

Yona sniffled, nodding her head against your shoulder. You pulled back after a few seconds, wiping a few tears from the corner of your eye. You caught Hak staring at you, leaning against his spear leisurely with a cocky smile on his face.

You rolled your eyes with a grin. "Yeah, yeah, it's good to see you too."

Then, you turned to your captain, bewilderment flickering in Captain Gi-gan's gaze as she studied you.

"I trust her." You announced determinedly, "Will that be enough?"

Surprise flitted across Captain Gi-gan's features. You rarely said those words. It took months and many trials for her to gain your trust and even longer for Jae-ha, who you were closest to out of everyone in the crew.

You must've had some history with that girl. Captain Gi-gan noted to herself.

"She needs to complete a task to gain my trust. One that you cannot do." The captain said pointedly to you, noticing that your stance had widened defensively in front of Yona.

"It's okay," Yona placed a reassuring hand on your arm, causing you to look at the princess in surprise. "I can do this."

Captain Gi-gan gave the princess the task of collecting senjusou from the Vanishing Cape. It was a rare medicinal plant that had special properties, enabling accelerated healing. Her comrades had protested against it, but you didn't miss the way the young boy's eyes lit up at the prospect of faster healing, easily concluding that the kid, whose name you learned was Yoon, must have some knowledge in the medical area.

Jae-ha had taken Yona to complete her trial, and you stayed behind with everyone else that was left behind as well.

When you asked him directly about his knowledge on medicine, Yoon seemed taken aback, but then Hak bonked him on the head, answering for the pretty boy. "He patches us up after our fights and takes care of any other injuries."

Yoon rubbed where Hak hit him. "I wouldn't need to if you rare beasts would stop being so careless!" He snapped, glaring at the former general.

"So," You sauntered over to Hak as Kija began bowing, apologizing profusely to the pretty boy. "Glad to see that you're alive."

He grinned, uncrossing his arms, extending them for a hug. You laughed lightly, accepting it without hesitation.

"How long has it been?" He asked, pulling back.

"Several years at least." You concluded, counting your fingers.

Hak chuckled, ruffling your hair fondly as you tried to swat him away.

"Still causing trouble, I see." He teased.

You huffed. "Hak, you big meanie!" You whined childishly.

Yoon looked at you curiously. "How do you two know each other?"

You brought your arms up to rest against the back of your head. "I was a servant in the castle for years but then I left. I served as the late king's personal attendant."

"Speaking of which," Hak looked at you curiously. "Why did you leave?"

You shrugged, "His Majesty wanted me to see the world." Closing your eyes as you remembered what he said to you on that day,

Don't regret your life by not living it.

Then, you turned to Hak. "What brings you here all the way to Awa? Along with..." You glanced at his companions. "Everyone?"

"We're on a mission," Hak crossed his arms. "The Princess is searching for the four dragons."

"Yah, Thunder Beast!" The pretty boy hissed. "I thought we were keeping that a secret!"

Hak cocked his head to the side. "Not from Y/N."

You grinned, gaze turning serious as you faced his friends.

"I'm not a threat," You promised. "I would never bring harm to Her Highness."

Yoon eyed you suspiciously. "Why?"

You sighed crossing your arms against your chest. "Contrary to what you might think of me, I remain loyal to the late king, and Her Highness. I have no ulterior motives."

He frowned, not completely satisfied, but you ignored it. After all, you were used to it.

A pained smile broke out on your face but then, it suddenly vanished.

"There's a storm coming." Captain Gi-gan muttered to herself. "That girl's going to be in trouble if she doesn't hurry."

You and Hak exchanged a panicked look. He banged the blunt end of his spear against the deck, gaining the attention of the captain.

"Take me to her." He demanded, jaw set. The captain sighed but motioned for them to follow her as she made her way off the ship.

There was a knowing gleam in your eye, grinning slyly at Hak as you and the others trekked off the ship and up a grassy incline. "Still like her, do ya?"

"Shut up." He shot back, a pained smile stretched across his face and didn't reach his eyes.

You stopped dead in your tracks. "Wait, you really haven't told her?"

He sighed, "It's complicated."

You let the subject slide. There obviously was more to it, but he didn't seem in the mood to talk, his whole body tense the entire walk up to the cliff-side.

You could practically feel Hak's glare burning into you when they arrived, staring at the nearly vertical drop. "She'll be fine." You reassured him. "Jae-ha's with her."

"I don't trust Droopy-Eyes within an inch of my life." He mumbled.

You let out a hearty laugh, "Droopy-Eyes?!"

Hak grinned. "What? It fits him."

"Just like White Snake?" You smirked, raising an eyebrow.

"Don't call me White Snake!" Kija exclaimed, pointing an accusatory finger at you as a vein popped out of his forehead. You stuck out your tongue playfully in return.

Yona retrieved the senjusou and delivered it to Captain Gi-gan. You shared a side glance with Hak as they returned back, soaking wet. Your expression cleared when Yona explained that she nearly was swept off the cliff, but Jae-ha saved her.

That she didn't accomplish it without his help.

But then, as Yona announced she would go back down and get it by herself this time, you couldn't help it. Barking out a laugh, they all turned their attention towards you.

"Sorry, sorry," You apologized, waving your hand, "You've just come a long way since back then, haven't you, Your Highness?"

The red-haired princess beamed at the praise, but there was a sadness behind it. You patted her on the shoulder comfortingly, glancing up at Jae-ha, who had yet to meet your gaze. You frowned. The others went to Yona as you walked over to the brooding green dragon, smiling for a second as you faintly heard Yoon yelling and scolding the princess for being an idiot. You knew he was just worried about her.

"Yah, Jae-ha." You elbowed him in the ribs, frown deepening when he didn't playfully push you away or make a teasing comment about wanting to touch him. "What's the matter with y-"

You were cut off as he grabbed your chin, tilting it upwards so that you could face him. Your heart started to beat faster, his face was so close to yours. Gently, with the utmost care, he moved your head to the side, eyes darkening as they landed on the strip of blood stark against your cheek. The blood had since dried since the sparring match, but you didn't get a chance to clean it, so it still stung faintly.

Jae-ha's jaw clenched at the sight, not missing the way you tried to hide your wince as he brushed over your cut. His violet eyes grew dark, fixating on Hak.

The Thunder Beast looked up, rubbing the back of his neck guiltily. He could practically feel Jae-ha's glare burning into him.

The green dragon bared his teeth, breath becoming heavier as his eyes flashed in anger and Hak took a step back, trying to ease the tension and show that he wasn't a threat.

"Jae-ha..." You murmured softly, still standing between them, acting as a shield.

He barely heard your soft voice through the red haze, jolting a little bit more out of it as he felt your fingers tentatively brush against his hand. His chest was still heaving and he looked like he was about to murder the former general.

"Jae-ha..." You hushed gently. Taking a chance, you wove your fingers together with his, bringing your other hand up to embrace him carefully.

"It's okay," You whispered, breath hot as it fanned against his neck. You closed your eyes. "I'm okay."

Jae-ha closed his eyes, releasing a shaky breath as he slowly began to calm down and come back to you. You held him close to you, repeating words of reassurance until he fully relaxed against you.

After his breathing had steadied for a few moments, you dropped your arm and tried to pull back. You were stopped, your hand still joined with his. You looked at him, puzzled. "Jae-ha?"

A small gasp escaped from your lips as you felt his other arm curl around your waist, pulling you flush against his chest. You were sure you were red by the heat you could feel on your face. Looking up at him questioningly, you were surprised to find him staring straight back at you, unusually serious.

He dropped his face down close to your ear. "Don't scare me like that again." He whispered brokenly. Your mouth opened in shock as realization dawned on you.

He was worried...

You nodded slightly, and you swear you felt him hug you tighter. Then, the two of you pulled apart. You did your best to squash the rising disappointment and ache at the loss of contact, blushing when you turned around and saw everyone else staring at the two of you.

You had forgotten that they were there.

Jae-ha shot Hak one last warning look, which the Thunder Beast dipped his head in grim understanding.

If he ever hurt you again, Jae-ha would not hold back, no matter how much he was impressed by Hak's combat skills. Your safety came first before anything else.

Shortly after, Captain Gi-gan had let Yona join, thoroughly impressed by the young girl's stubbornness and sheer will, and the group had dispersed. The captain, Shin-ah, Kija, Yoon and the pirates went back to the ship for dinner, with the pretty boy snapping at the pirates' teasing remarks the whole way back. Yona had held back and then disappeared in the opposite direction, the others too far ahead to notice she was not with them. 

You looked in concern at Yona's retreating form, turning to Hak, who just shrugged his shoulders before following the princess. You made a move to follow the pirates, stopping when you noticed that Jae-ha wasn't following you.

"What do you need?"

Jae-ha looked up in surprise at your genuine tone. He let out a sigh, "Nothing, don't worry about me."

You crossed your arms, sticking your bottom lip out in an adorable pout that made Jae-ha unable to contain a fond smile.

"Don't you remember what I told you would happen if you tell me not to worry?" You questioned, mischief twinkling in your eyes. His brow furrowed in confusion for a second before the memory came flooding back to him full force.

"Y/N," Jae-ha protested, backing away with his hands out in front of him to ward you off. "Wait!"

You didn't.

Running full speed, you launched yourself at him with a battle cry, tackling him to the ground. He landed with an 'oof', wrapping his arms securely around you as you two slid back several feet, before stopping just short of the treeline.

"Geez..." Jae-ha's eyes fluttered shut as he caught a whiff of sweet jasmine from your hair. It washed over him in waves, bringing with it a soothing sense of comfort.

Of course, having you so close, it was proving to be difficult to calm himself down.

He looked down at you, who was snuggled in his arms contentedly, your arms circling around his neck.

"I warned you..." You mumbled into his shoulder. "You can't push me away. I'm not going anywhere."

Jae-ha felt his heart beat a little faster.

"Now, what do you need?" He caught the concern in your eyes and contained a tremble as a flood of emotions almost overwhelmed him. 

Pulling you impossibly closer to him, he rested his chin on top of your head. "Stay with me?" He asked you quietly.

You closed your eyes.

"Always."

[notchesandbullets]

An Unexpected Alteration to the Operation (Hak x Stubborn!Reader x Jae-ha)

Prompt: An undercover operation gone wrong, Jae-ha and Hak sweep in to show them not to mess with their girl. (Spoilers for the manga [Chp 81] and implied smut)

Protective! Hak x Stubborn! reader x Protective! Jae-ha

Words: 3.4k

Night was creeping up slowly, but the atmosphere was frigid inside the quaint hotel you and the dragons were all staying at. Not because of the temperature, but because two men were looking at you as if you had grown another head. Yoon and Yona had long since been asleep, exhausted by the day's events, and Shin-ah and Kija were keeping watch over them.

Violet and cerulean eyes narrowed at your innocent expression.

"I'll be fine." You insisted, almost rolling your eyes. You had been trying to convince them that your undercover plan was a good idea, and they weren't having it.

"You're not going." Hak stated flatly and Jae-ha nodded in agreement, causing you to raise an eyebrow. Those two never seemed to agree on anything except when it came down to keeping you safe.

"Hak, Kija and I are more than enough." Jae-ha reiterated what he had been saying for the past hour as they were preparing for the operation. This time, you did roll your eyes.

They were going to infiltrate the red-light district to find out who was smuggling nadai into the Water Tribe. The only issue was they had to be convincing as customers while not breathing in the toxic air or drinking the nadai-laced alcohol there.

Alright, you didn't want them to go for a number of reasons, even though you knew they could handle themselves in a fight. But you didn't like them fighting in a battle that you weren't going to be a part of, and you had every reason to be on the front lines this time around.

"And I'm supposed to ignore that you willingly took the nadai, right? That you were fully aware of what it was, and yet you still took it." You jabbed a finger at his chest. "I had to watch you writhe in agony for hours on that bed and there was nothing that I could do about it."

The green dragon winced at your harsh tone, but knew that you were upset at him for putting you through that. To be fair, he didn't expect it to have that kind of effect, but the look of pain on your face when he woke up wasn't worth it.

Neither was Hak's punch to his face, but somehow that was more bearable than seeing you hurting.

"I'm going." You said with finality. Hak and Jae-ha shared a look.

Then, you were staring at the ground.

You thumped on Hak's back. "Hak!! Put me down!!" He had slung you over his shoulder and Jae-ha just lifted his hands up in mock innocence.

You puffed out your cheeks. The traitor.

"Sure, sure," He said dryly. "In a second."

You struggled in his hold the entire way to your room. He practically flung you down on the bed with such force, causing you to bounce several times upon impact. You glared at him, but Hak brushed it off. You glanced over to Jae-ha for help, but in a fraction of a second, he was on top of you.

"Jae-ha!" You yelled out in surprise and then shock as you tried to move your arms. He had tied your wrists to the headboard! You growled, eyes flashing in anger, but stopped struggling when you saw the hidden fear lingering in the depths of their eyes.

They really were scared for you, of what would happen if you went there and things went wrong. They were worried they couldn't protect you. Hak and Jae-ha both agreed that they would live and die for you and Yona. The red-haired princess was the heart and soul of their entire group. She bound them all together, connecting each of them to the others in the process.

But you, you were their lover. You were their entire world.

If anything happened to you, they would never forgive themselves. You went lax in the bed as realization dawned on you. They were already so critical of themselves. Jae-ha for being the oldest in the group, excluding Zeno's immortality, felt responsible for everyone. And you knew Hak still felt guilt and resentment towards himself for not being able to protect the king the night of his murder.

"If you behave, we'll reward you later." Hak promised, leaning over to press a chaste kiss to your forehead.

"Ah, Y/N," Jae-ha's eyes sparkled with playfulness. "You get to have fun when we get back." He winked and you blushed under the circumstances.

They departed with a wave of farewell, and you let out a heavy sigh.

Sorry, Jae-ha, Hak... There's no way I'm not going to be by your side.

You wiggled your hands, grinning when you felt them loosen. Jae-ha always tied them so you had the option to slip out of them, when the three of you did, other things.

It seemed it was Jae-ha's second nature by now, and you were lucky that it was. You leaped up out of the bed, snatching the dress you picked up earlier and got ready quickly.

You had to hurry if you were going to slip in with the other girls.

As soon as you were satisfied with your appearance, you ran off into the night. You found the red-light district easily, and as soon as you stepped inside, you ran into the girl from earlier, A-Rin.

You held up your finger to your lips as you saw her eyes flash in recognition. The men were still lurking around, which meant that Hak, Jae-ha and Kija hadn't carried out their plan yet. But they were nowhere to be found, which meant that it was already underway.

You subtly gathered the girls into the back of the store, but you were being too obvious.

"Hey! You!" Your head snapped up at his grating voice. "What do you think you're doing?!"

You covered half of your face behind your hand, smiling brightly, eyes crinkling at the corners giving off faux innocence. "I just thought the customers could use more alcohol, my lord."

He scoffed at you and you resisted the urge to wipe the smirk off of his face. "You can do that yourself."

You bowed your head, submitting to his authority. As soon as he was out of earshot, you turned to the terrified girls beside you. "On my signal, make sure you stay behind me." You whispered.

They nodded, and then they scattered. You picked up a jug of alcohol, most likely laced with nadai, carrying it to one of the rooms. As you slid the door open, your eyes met Kija's shocked ones calmly. There was one other girl in the room, and your eyes landed on her darkened fingernails. It would seem she was an addict too. You gestured for him to stay quiet and he shut his mouth, slipping back into character.

He quickly poured the nadai laced drink down to the floor, ignoring the other girl's protests. But her voice caught the attention of one of the nearby men who was walking by and you gritted your teeth.

"Kija!" You cried out, wrapping your arms around the trembling girl as she screamed. He slashed at the man with his dragon claw, knocking him out cold. "Go! I'll take care of the rest!"

He nodded, then sped off. You gritted your teeth as you assessed the situation. The men started to surround you. It would be at least a few minutes before Jae-ha and Hak made it to this room. You needed to hold them off for as long as possible.

"Stay behind me." You instructed the girl who was shaking in fear behind you, and shielded her from their sight with your body. "I won't let them hurt you."

Your teeth bared in a snarl as the first one launched himself at you, but you caught him in his stomach with a punch. As he flew back, another took his place and you unleashed a series of kicks that Jae-ha had taught you.

He fell but there were too many of them. You dodged their attacks, striking where you could but it wasn't enough. You struggled to maintain your ferocity, adrenaline pumping through your veins but then you saw one of them reach for the girl behind you.

"DON'T TOUCH HER!!!" You screamed, tackling him to the ground, landing a flurry of punches on his face. You were pulled off of him by the others. As you violently struggled in their grasp, your eyes locked on the terrified girl's.

"Run!!!" You managed to yell out before a hand wrapped around your throat, cutting off your air supply. She fled the room, and that brought you a small sense of comfort. They started tearing at your clothes, scratching your skin with their dark fingernails. They didn't have any weapons, but their grips were tight and you could feel the bruises starting to form at your neck and arms.

Hak... Jae-ha....

The door burst open, splintering under the force.

"Unhand her right now." Hak demanded, cobalt eyes black with rage.

Jae-ha's normally calm and pleasant features were contorted murderously, and his violet eyes flashed with fury as they landed on the bruises on your skin.

"You have two seconds to get away from her before I rip your throat out." Jae-ha snarled, baring his teeth venomously.

They rushed at the men. The pace that they cleared them out was alarming. Hak didn't have his spear, but his prowess in battle was never to be underestimated as you watched him deliver lethal blows to their throats and the back of their heads. The addicts crumpled under their attacks, each one faring worse than the last.

Jae-ha spun around in a blur of green, taking out anyone who rose from the ground after Hak was through with them. The nadai addicts were unable to feel pain due to the drug. This time, Jae-ha actually didn't mind it.

They had touched what was his.

He could kick them down as many times as he wanted and they would keep rising. His eyes glinted dangerously in the candlelight. They would never lay a hand on you again.

What you didn't see was the blatant anger behind their calculated strikes. You didn't notice that they injured the men, not immediately killing them, putting them through agony as Hak drove his fists into this flesh. He didn't stop until he saw blood. Jae-ha's mouth curled up in a sadistic smirk as he heard the shattering of bones, bringing down his dragon leg with everything he had.

Hak and Jae-ha were going to make them feel every ounce of pain they dared to put you through, piercing through the nadai haze.

None escaped their wrath.

You wished you had enough energy to watch them. Then, you sunk to the ground, unable to stay upright any longer, completely exhausted.

"Y/N!!" Jae-ha called out, panicked, catching you swiftly as you fell. The men didn't get up anymore. They were either injured beyond repair or dead. "You have to stay awake!"

"Kija?" Hak frantically turned to the white dragon, who urged him on.

"It is finished." Kija responded, turning to the men that were still alive, now tied up. "Leave the rest to me."

The Thunder Beast gave him a nod of thanks, before picking you up in his arms. Jae-ha followed him all the way back to the inn, keeping an eye out for any stragglers. He was wary the entire way back, but Hak's body was tense with anger.

He let out a soft sigh.

Children... So troublesome... He thought tenderly to himself as he watched Hak settle you into bed, taking a seat next to you. Jae-ha followed in shortly after, tucking the blankets under your chin snugly.

"Yoon should look at her." Hak broke the silence and Jae-ha nodded.

"I'll go get him."

As he got to his feet, Hak stopped him. After the events of this night, he wasn't willing to take any chances. "Be careful." His dark blue eyes were serious.

Jae-ha shot him a confident smirk. "When am I not?"

He sped quickly down the hall, entering the room. Shin-ah was asleep not too far away from the princess and their little doctor. Jae-ha immediately shook the youngest awake.

"Yoon." The pretty boy groggily opened his eyes. "Y/N's hurt."

Yoon shot up, nearly knocking Jae-ha over as he tore past him in his haste to get to you. Besides Jae-ha and Hak, you were closest to Yoon. He cared about you so much, even if he had an interesting way of showing it. But you always prioritized his and Yona's safety so much so that you were always getting hurt trying to protect them.

He flung open the door, panting heavily. Hak hadn't moved from your side, but gestured for Yoon to keep quiet.

"She's asleep." Hak informed him as the pretty boy took a place on the opposite side of him. "She passed out on the way back."

The dress you had put on was nearly shredded, angry, red marks darting into view from underneath the fabric as you breathed.

"She wasn't supposed to be there." Yoon snapped. "What happened?"

Jae-ha closed the door softly behind him, alerting Yoon of his presence. "We don't know exactly." He exchanged a worried look with Hak.

Then, guilt flickered over his expression. Hak looked at the older man curiously. Jae-ha's eyes were shadowed. Hak stood up, walking to the green dragon as the kid fussed over you.

"The knot." Jae-ha whispered. "I tied it like I always do. She must have slipped out of it."

Hak stiffened, then punched him in the gut.

Hard.

Yoon nearly leaped to the ceiling, eyes bugging out of his head when he saw the Thunder Beast hit the Ryokuryuu full force.

"Not your fault." Hak stated firmly, flexing his hand open and close as Jae-ha stared at him, dumbfounded, wheezing in staggered breaths. "Wipe that guilt off of your face, you'll make Y/N cry."

Jae-ha chuckled softly as he finally caught his breath, gaze oddly appreciative as Hak went back to your side. He knew it was Hak's way of snapping him out of it. Neither one of them could find it in themselves to be angry with you, they knew what they signed up for when they started this little arrangement. They knew you were headstrong, but even more so when their lives were the ones in danger.

Love certainly made people do crazy things.

And Hak and Jae-ha would give you the world if they could. You stirred, and Jae-ha caught the movement out of the corner of his eye. Pushing himself off the wall, he went to your side, staring at you intently.

Hak looked like the embodiment of tranquility, but his knee was bumping against Jae-ha's nervously and if Jae-ha peered closer, he was sure he would be able to see the terror hidden in the depths of his eyes. The former general did his best to school his expression, but you and Jae-ha had learned to read him like a book over time.

You blinked your eyes open slowly. Your eyelids felt so heavy, and you wondered why it felt as though you fell from a height of five stories. You tried to sit up, but a firm hand pushed you back down by your shoulders.

"You're not going anywhere." Hak ordered, tone leaving no room for argument.

"Lay back down." Jae-ha echoed firmly.

You pouted and the men suppressed a groan. You were too tempting even in this situation. You didn't do as they said, choosing instead to sit against the headboard.

"She's fine." Yoon reassured, mistaking the tense atmosphere for concern. He wasn't wrong, but this time around, the pretty boy genius wasn't completely right either.

"She's got a couple of cuts and some bruises, but nothing major. She'll heal soon, but," You winced as Yoon turned his sharp gaze on you. "No more fighting."

You grinned sheepishly. "Yes, mother."

"I DON'T REMEMBER GIVING BIRTH TO YOU!!" Yoon yelled, throwing up his hands in exasperation before filing out of the room, muttering about how 'it was said once and now it wouldn't go away' for the life of him. He's dealt with you enough for one night. He was sure Hak and Jae-ha could straighten you out.

With the three of you left in the room, you nearly collapsed under the weight in the air as it shifted from concerned to heated. You met Hak's cobalt eyes guiltily, flickering to Jae-ha's burning violet, then back again.

You opened your mouth to speak, but was cut off as Jae-ha's lips smashed onto yours.

You let out a muffled squeak, eyes automatically closing. You almost jumped out of your skin as a pair of hands landed on your hips, urging you to scoot forward. You did so, with a little difficulty, doing your best not to break your kiss with Jae-ha. Hak started to kiss the back of your neck, sucking gently on your sweet spot, causing you to moan into Jae-ha's mouth.

Jae-ha pulled back, panting heavily, violet eyes swirling with desire. Your head fell back onto Hak's shoulder as Jae-ha started to gently kiss over the bruises that had formed on your neck.

Hak's breath was hot on your ear as he breathed, "Do you have any idea how badly you scared us today? Huh, Y/N? Do you like watching us lose control of ourselves around the people who hurt you?"

You whimpered pathetically at his words, wanton hunger shooting through your body at his words instead of humiliation. Jae-ha traveled lower, marking up your collarbones.

"Y/N..." He whispered, an unspoken question hanging in the air.

Your fist had since made its way up to your mouth in an attempt to stifle the embarrassing sounds that were spilling from your mouth. You almost didn't hear Jae-ha's question. Hak hadn't stopped murmuring in your ear, and his words were making you flush all over.

"You liked watching us like that? Knowing that the only people who will ever be able to touch you like this is us. You're ours." He nearly growled, fingers tightening into the flesh of your hips.

You mewled wantonly at his words, closing your eyes.

"Y/N." Jae-ha's velvety voice cut through your desire-induced haze. "Let us hear you."

You didn't bring down your hand, so Hak did it for you, weaving his fingers with yours, dropping it back down to the sheets. You squeaked as Hak pulled you against his chest, blushing as you felt his hard muscle against your back through the clothes.

Jae-ha pulled off your tattered dress, leaving you only in a cloth covering your chest and your underclothes. He leaned up to kiss you again, capturing your lips in a heated kiss.

"Do you want this?" He asked heatedly, breath fanning against your exposed skin, sending a shiver down your spine. "Tell us what you want, Y/N..."

You bit your lip and Jae-ha let out a low groan.

"I want you." You paused, tilting your head up to meet Hak's lidded gaze. "Both of you."

The growls they let out made your core heat up, and you pressed your thighs together. The movement didn't go unnoticed by your attentive lovers and Jae-ha settled between your thighs after coaxing them open. With him directly in front of you and Hak pressed behind you, the fire radiating off of them was making your head spin.

"C'mon," You breathed, tired of their teasing. "Please."

Hak shot a smirk to Jae-ha. He loved it when you got like this. When he reduced you to a babbling, incoherent mess beneath him and all you could do was moan and chant his name over and over again as he drove into you at a maddening pace.

"Hak," You swiveled your head to meet their eyes, both blown wide with lust. "Jae-ha."

Jae-ha's breath hitched in his throat and Hak almost passed out from the next words that left your lips in a whisper.

"Take me."

[notchesandbullets]

When You Have a Nightmare (Jae-ha's Version) Modern AU

Words: 900

Your eyes were glazed over with tears.

"Y/N, I've got the-" Jae-ha froze as his eyes landed on your shaking form. "Y/N!!" He rushed to the bed, suffocating you in a hug. A beat later, he pulled back, looking you directly in the eye. "What's wrong?!"

"....N-Night...N-Nightmare..." You stuttered out quietly, still trembling.

Jae-ha's eyes softened tenderly, and he did his best to hide his worry from you. After all, he didn't want to scare you more than you already were. He quickly shrugged off his jacket, placing it carefully around your shoulders.

Your hands automatically went up to slip your arms through the sleeves, hugging it close to you and burying your face into the material.

Despite the fear still lingering in the corner of your mind, you smiled as Jae-ha's scent flooded over your senses, calming you down.

He moved to go get some water for you from the kitchen, but halted as you cried out, "Don't leave!"

In your haste to stop him, you misjudged the distance between your position and the edge of the bed. Your hands scrambled to find purchase as you found yourself tipping off the bed. Jae-ha caught you in a split second, lifting you up in his arms effortlessly.

"Geez, Y/N." He breathed shakily.

That was close.

You stammered out an apology, trying to hide your face in his neck.

He bumped his nose against yours, and you felt heat rise to your cheeks. Biting your lip, your wide eyes gazed at his innocently.

Jae-ha walked to the kitchen carefully with you in his hold. He set you down on the kitchen counter as he moved to get you a glass of water, but you refused to let go of him, arms wrapping around his neck and legs locking around his waist.

He sighed, leaning forward to rest his forehead against yours. "Y/N..."

"Jae-ha..." Your vulnerable whisper made him pause.

"What do you need?" He asked gently. You were always clingy after you first woke up from a bad dream, not that he minded it, but he wanted to make sure you were alright.

You bit your lip nervously, eyes darting around. "Just, don't leave me alone?"

He cupped your jaw, and pressed a soft kiss to your lips. "Never, Y/N."

His jacket almost swallowed your form. It was draped over casually, the shoulders nearly falling off of your slim ones.

Jae-ha swallowed thickly.

You looked incredible in his clothes.

You noticed his nervousness and mistook it for something else.

"What's the matter?"

Then, your eyes went wide, automatically assuming the worst. "Did I do something wrong? I'm s- mmph!"

Jae-ha's pillowy lips collided with yours, effectively silencing you. You relaxed in the kiss, mind going hazy with pleasure as his moved with yours in sync.

He knew you well enough to know when your thoughts were running rampant. He was having none of that tonight.

"There's absolutely nothing for you to apologize for, Y/N." He whispered, breaking apart from your intoxicating lips reluctantly. "I was just thinking about how beautiful you look in my clothes, love."

You heart stuttered, and your eyes fluttered shut at the pet name. He had a habit of mentioning it at the best of times, and it never failed to send your heart tunneling into the next reckless thing.

You loved it.

You loved him.

"Jae-ha..." You were speechless.

He sent you a soft smile he reserved especially for you. Picking you up carefully, he walked over to the sink, setting you down on the counter beside it. He moved with grace, taking a glass off the top shelf from the cabinet above you.

You squeaked as his chest was pushed into your face accidentally.

Jae-ha pulled back, smirking when he saw your red cheeks. He set down the cup behind you, placing his arms on either side of you.

"Are you nervous, Y/N?"

His smug expression grew wider as you stammered, "N-No!"

The low chuckle he let out made your body flush. You hoped he couldn't hear how hard your heart was pounding.

Jae-ha shifted back slightly, giving you a chance to recuperate as he filled up the glass with some cold water. He handed it to you, faltering when he saw your petulant pout.

"Y/N, c'mon." He urged lovingly. "It'll be good for you."

You took the cup from his hands hesitantly, tipping it back to take a sip. His hands absentmindedly rubbed your sides comfortingly as you grimaced from the shock of the freezing temperature.  

The water did clear your mind a little bit, as much as you hated to admit it. Jae-ha did always have your best interest at heart. You polished off the glass in a minute, letting out a refreshed sigh.

It really did do wonders.

Jae-ha studied you closely as you finished. He knew you got cold easily, but the chilly water would help you snap out of whatever you had just dreamt, and enable you to go back to sleep.

Your head lolled onto his shoulder, thoroughly exhausted. He patted your hair fondly, leaving the now empty cup where it was to bring you back to bed.

His hands slid under your thighs, holding you securely against him as he began the trek back to your bedroom.

He gently set you down, tucking the blanket around your form. You mumbled something incoherent, and Jae-ha suppressed a laugh.

You were adorable when you were sleepy.

He leaned forward, hovering over you, trying to hear what you were saying to him.

"Stay..."

Came the tired mumble and Jae-ha let a tender smile slip onto his face. He got under the covers, gathering you up in his arms. His heat made you snuggle closer to him.

Your legs subconsciously tangled together with his, and you buried your face into his chest.

Jae-ha waited until your breathing evened out, indicating you were finally asleep. Brushing a stray lock of hair out of your eyes, he planted a sweet kiss on your head.

He would always be there for you.

No matter what night terrors awaited, he would always be there to pull you out of it.