Before you read, here’s Part I, Part II, Part III, and Part IV!
Category: Romantic Fluff, Angst
Fandom: Yona of the Dawn
Characters: Soo-Won, Yona
Requested by: @lilc77 (Tumblr)
Hey, friend! I hope you’re ready for more YonaWon! This is for the first of the batch that you requested for the theme “sexual tension and desire.” I thought it would fit perfectly within my ongoing “Dawn and Dusk” series of oneshots, so I hope you enjoy the latest installment!
The study echoed with gentle flip of pages. Yona sat among the towering tomes, her legs tucked primly underneath her so the thick, leather-bound book could rest on her thighs. Her dawn-colored eyes scoured the printed words carefully, though in the back of her mind, she doubted that a biological survey of Kouka Kingdom’s bird species would prove fruitful in her endeavor. Though she knew nothing would be hidden in the text, she entertained herself for a few moments more with the detailed illustrations of the songbirds and descriptions of their behavior. She got like this from time to time, looking for escape in the useless paragraphs after yet another day of finding nothing.
Her fingertips skimmed over the inked drawing of a finch, its feathers painted in brilliant watercolor hues. The “sunrise finch,” it was nicknamed, not only for its brilliant red and yellow plumage, but also its propensity to be the first of the indigenous birds to rise. It awoke in the mere minutes before dawn to herald the oncoming sun with sweet tunes of the morning. Yet as the golden sun spilled across the trees, it would fall silent, its beautiful song swallowed up by the dawn chorus of other birds. Brief and fleeting, like the sunrise it worshipped.
Yona wondered if that was her fate, to be brief and fleeting like the dawn.
Sighing, she closed the book and replaced it on the shelf. Rather than grab another from the small stack beside her, she sat there a moment, reaching back to massage the flesh of her shoulder. Though soaking in the bath— however brief that was thanks to her surprise encounter with Soo-Won— had improved the strain significantly, she still found it twinging throughout the day. Perhaps I should retire early and give it some rest, she wondered, but looking down at the books next to her, Yona knew that would not happen. She had to keep searching, searching for any clues to the puzzle that existed between herself and Soo-Won.
She turned to the window, where the moonlight streamed in to bathe the study in white, at least where the soft yellow light of the lantern beside her could not reach. She wondered if there was a bird that also called to the setting sun and rising moon. Did it mourn the loss of the sun, or did it welcome the appearance of the stars and night sky? Perhaps there was no bird at all, but a king’s fanfare is close enough, she supposed. Dusk had ruled this land ever since her father’s death, as the pale moon sat upon the throne, merely reflecting the light of the sun. A false light, but, did that mean it was no less worthy? She wondered that as she gazed at the sliver of moon hanging low in the sky. Dusk, dawn… It was all light, wasn’t it, chasing away the darkness?
Who am I to truly say which is better? Yona thought with a sigh, looking back down at her lap. She felt her eyes begin to burn with the familiar sensation of salty tears brewing in the ducts. She often got this way when the watchful nights closed in, cast in light only by her flickering lantern. Everything was still so confusing; she knew not what path to take, what she should do for her people. It was maddeningly frustrating. She really only knew one thing these days, and that is that she still loved Soo-Won, achingly so, despite everything that had happened.
The first tear slipped down her cheek just as the door to the study opened. Yona quickly swept it away with the sleeve of her kimono as Soo-Won walked in, a look of mild surprise on his face.
“Ah. You’re still here? It’s awfully late.”
“I could say the same to you,” she said, but not icily. “I wanted to look through another book or so before finishing up for the night. What about you?” she asked as he navigated through the stacks upon stacks of volumes covering the floor and sat at his small desk. He picked up his quill with a tut, uncapping the inkwell and dipping the pointed tip of the writing utensil into the black muck.
“I have some reports that I have not yet read or signed off on,” he explained, skimming the contents of the first page before scribbling his signature on the bottom. He set it aside for the ink to dry, then began reading the next.
Yona looked back to her stack of books, knowing that she should pick one up, but her desire to investigate any further had suddenly vanished. She looked back to the shelf, then stood to retrieve the book of bird species. She flipped back to the page about the sunrise finch, then slowly walked over to Soo-Won. He glanced up when she approached, then looked down at the open book in her hands.
“Soo-Won… Have you ever seen this bird?” She turned it around so he could see the illustration. He studied it for a moment, then nodded.
“Yes… They actually nest in the palace gardens,” he explained, and looked up when Yona gasped in delight. How had she never known such a gorgeous bird had a home in the plants right outside her window? Well… It wasn’t exactly often that she found herself up before dawn. However, that would soon change. She would wake up first thing tomorrow to catch a glimpse of this bird.
“Thank you. I’ll leave you to your paperwork,” Yona said, then looked down at the bird and its brilliant sunrise plumage. She wondered if it would be as stunning in person. She was sure it would be. The anticipation brought a smile to her face, and so she replaced the book on the shelf. The sooner she got to sleep, the sooner the dawn would come.
Soo-Won spoke as she headed to the door.
“You were crying.”
She stiffened. He had seen? She’d thought she’d been slick. She could feel his aqua eyes boring into her back, making warmth spread all over her back. His stare beckoned her like a siren call; she was helpless to his song, causing her to turn slowly around to face him. His expression wasn’t judgmental, not that she had expected it to be in the first place— it was sad, or guilty, even.
He turned in his chair so he could hold his hand out to her. Entranced by that silent magnetic melody, Yona’s body moved of its own accord; she crossed the room to take his outstretched hand. His touch was soft as his fingers moved over hers, giving just the slightest tug to pull Yona until she was standing in front of him. He reached up with his free hand to brush over the tear stains she’d thought she’d scrubbed away, ghosting over the slightly reddened skin with a heartbroken look.
“How is your shoulder?” Such an innocent question so at odds with the way his fingers skipped down to her shoulder, fingertips inching under her kimono to brush over the skin. She tried not to twitch at the electricity that shot through her nerves. Her body was stunned, electrified by his ministrations, but her tongue seemed to work just fine.
“It’s better.”
He didn’t say anything, just tilted his head while continuing to massage the top of her shoulder. Her heart thumped against her chest as her kimono sleeve slipped fully off her shoulder, exposing her upper arm and even the barest hint of the curve of her breast. Soo-Won’s eyes flickered up to hers, inspecting the minute twitches of her fate for discomfort. He didn’t find any, because why would he? By now, he knew the depths of Yona’s feelings, the way she yearned for his touch despite everything that had happened.
When did his other arm snake around her hips? It had circled around her without her knowing, so she gasped when she felt him pull her forward until she bumped against his knees. He quirked a brow— a silent invitation. She bit down on her lip, debating.
Would any good come from yielding to her desires? She should focus on ferreting out his plans for her kingdom, not yielding to her more base compulsions. Yet as Soo-Won’s aqua eyes met hers, she felt her inhibitions melting away as easily as that silk had slid off her shoulder. With a breath of his name, she climbed onto his lap, pressing every inch of their bodies together that she could. Soo-Won’s hands pushed into her dawn-colored hair with a reverent sigh, prompting her to crane her head back into his palms.
He pressed his mouth to the column of her throat in an open-mouthed kiss. He lingered there for several moments, and then murmured against her skin, “I’m sorry. Ever since we met again, I have caused you pain.”
Yona’s throat bobbed against his lips as she swallowed. Her eyelashes fluttered to fight back the tears, but they came anyway. Soo-Won must have felt the tears dripping down into his hair, because he sat up to press wispy kisses over her ruddying cheeks to catch the salty streams. “My selfishness has caused you pain,” he murmured against her face. “I tried, but… Yona, I love you so…”
“I know,” Yona said with a shuddering breath. “I know. I love you too, Soo-Won, though it vexes me.” She curled her neck so she could bury her face into his hair. She inhaled deeply, and the scent of him flooded her nose— parchment, rose water, and a crisp coolness she could only characterize as moonlight. She wondered if she smelled like the dawn, spicy and warm?
Soo-Won kissed the junction of her neck and shoulder, drawing her out of her thoughts. Just as a small bit of lucidity returned to her, he began a path up her neck and over her chin to claim her lips in a steamy, hungry kiss. Yona perched on his lap while his fingers roved up and down her back, leaving sparks in their wake. She tangled her tongue eagerly with his, and he tasted like cool moonlight, too. Her mind clouded over like it was filled with cotton as heat built up within her, like she was a pot filling with steam.
Just as she felt ready to burst, he pulled away. Cool air rushed through her, chilling the warmth inside of her, and she exhaled shakily. Soo-Won petted her cheek with that sad look on his face again. She still trembled atop him, not sure how to feel. These short, passionate moments between them had become such a regular occurrence that it was hard to feel guilt or shame anymore.
“Soo-Won,” she murmured, and his fine eyelashes fluttered when he looked up at her. They’d just exchanged some very passionate kisses, but she still blushed when she meekly asked, “Would you… Would you show me the sunrise finch tomorrow morning?”
He seemed surprised by her question, his eyes going wide. Then, his face relaxed into a sweet smile.
“I would love to. It has been a while since I’ve seen them myself.”
When Yona prepared to get off him, his hands tightened around her hips.
“Stay?” he asked, quietly, pleadingly. Yona tensed at first, then slowly relaxed when she saw the way he was staring down at his desk— so sadly, so miserably. Yona knew she ought not to, but she draped herself over him anyway, nestling her head on his shoulder. He held her against him with one arm while he turned to resume tending to his documents. Yona closed her eyes, focusing on the feeling of his chest rising and falling against hers, his heartbeat thumping against her sternum. It didn’t take long for hers to synchronize with his. Lulled by the melody of their tandem breaths and heartbeats, Yona found herself drifting into a comfortable sleep. The dawn would come eventually, and Yona would have to tend again to her priorities. However, for at least a few sweet hours, she would allow herself to bathe in the cool white light of the dusk— in Soo-Won and his deep, unconditional, heart-wrenching love for her.
Enjoy this oneshot? Feel free to peruse my Table of Contents!
Hi! Can I please request 1) Physical Touch w/ YonaWon & 2) Quality Time w/ YonaWon for your Languages of Love event? Thank you!
Absolutely! Always happy to provide some good AkaYona content and quench your YonaWon thirst! :)
Forever
She hated when he got like this, and there was nothing she could do.
Soo-Won shivered underneath the sheets, sweat slicking his straw-colored hair to his forehead. Pained groaned bubbled from his lips as he scrunched up his face in agony, breaths leaving his body in ragged gasps. Yona dipped a rag in cold water, saturating the soft white fibers, and then wrung it out. The water cascaded back down into the small wooden tub like rain, gradually dwindling into a few drips. Yona then gently draped it over his forehead, hoping to alleviate the heat from his fever just a little.
Yona’s fingers skimmed down Soo-Won’s clammy face, lamenting the hot flush painting his cheeks. The rest of his skin was comparably pale, sweaty and sunken with illness. His attacks were coming more and more frequently, and growing more severe. Very soon, he would become bedridden. It was a tragic end, even for the man that had caused her so much confusion and grief. She was no closer to discovering the truth of their twisted little tale.
“Oh, Soo-Won,” she murmured, petting his cheek softly. In his feverish stupor, he turned into her touch, nosing against the tips of her fingers. “What is to become of us?”
“Don’t worry about that.”
She jumped slightly, realizing that the barest sliver of his teal eyes were hazily gazing up at her. A small smile curled at the edge of his trembling lips. She hadn’t realized he was awake. He turned further into her touch, his cheek perfectly cupped into her palm. “I don’t want to think about that right now,” he said, voice hoarse from pain.
“All right,” she said softly. Soo-Won continued to nuzzle into her hand, relishing the coolness it offered compared to his inflamed flesh. “Just rest,” she told him, knowing that he was fighting to stay awake. She could see it in his expression, the grimace painting his face as he tried to cling to consciousness. “I’ll take care of you, Soo-Won. Just rest.”
“Forever?” he whispered. Her heart fluttered in her chest, but she could see from the glaze over his eyes that he was slipping into delirium. Tears bubbled up in her eyes as she nodded, swallowing thickly as the words lodged in her throat.
“Yes, forever,” she forced out. Soo-Won released a relieved sigh, his eyes fluttering closed. His face slumped into Yona’s hand, but she didn’t mind; she continued to stroke his cheek with her thumb, soothing him through the thrall of his fever fit. She tried not to think about how short that forever could be, just focused on easing his pain as much as she could because that was her duty right now. She took his hand in her free one, squeezing the fingers tight.
“Forever,” she whispered, the tears slipping down her cheeks as she squeezed her eyes tight.
Enjoy this drabble? Feel free to find more on my Table of Contents!
~~~~~~~~~~
A Gift, Not a Given
They kneeled in the garden together, the afternoon sunlight shining down on their small shoulders. Yona’s pudgy fingers-- being only five years old sure made delicate tasks hard-- shook slightly as she tried to weave the flower stems together into a suitable crown. Try as she might, though, they kept slipping free and falling down into her lap. Soon, the bent stems would begin to fray and peel, and she would have to go find fresh flowers to try and build her crown.
“I’m sorry, Soo-Won,” she pouted as she picked up the flower and tried weaving it in again. “This is taking so long, I’m sure you’re getting bored.”
“No, it’s okay, Princess Yona,” the boy smiled, turning to face her. His blond hair swished around his shoulders, catching the bright sunlight to shine like pale gold. He really was a handsome boy, so much so that it brought heat to little Yona’s cheeks. “I enjoy spending time with you! Plus, it’s such a nice day to spend in the garden, don’t you think?”
“Yeah!” Yona smiled, buoyed by his pleasant attitude. She went back to weaving the stems, twining them around each other so the bright pink blooms faced the front. “I like spending time with you, too,” she chirped while still looking down at her work-in-progress. “Father is so busy all the time... It’s nice to have someone who’s willing to spend time with me.”
“It’s a shame,” Soo-Won tutted. She looked up to find him reclined against the trunk of the tree they were sitting under, staring up to observe the way the light played through the leaves. “You never know what might happen. He should enjoy his time with you while he can.”
Yona blinked, confused by his statement. Her eyes then flooded with tears.
“D-do you think something bad will happen to my father?” she asked, voice thick with fear and sorrow. Soo-Won hurriedly jolted upright, waving his hands in a placating gesture.
“Th-that’s not what I meant!” he sputtered, and Yona calmed down a little, sniffing loudly as her nose was now stuffy with snot. Soo-Won smiled wanly, rubbing the back of his head in embarrassment. “I just meant that every day is a gift, not a given, you know? You can’t take anything for granted.”
“Oh,” she said with a small nod, even though she really didn’t get it. Soo-Won chuckled and patted her head while she looked down, putting the finishing touches on her crown. She stood up to put it on the older boy’s head, but she’d overestimated a little-- it drooped down, one end sliding over his eye. “Aw... I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” he laughed while pushing the flower crown back up. “I love it because you made it for me, Princess Yona.” She smiled bashfully, fisting her dress and turning her body from side-to-side. She definitely wouldn’t take these carefree days and Soo-Won’s company for granted, not ever. He was her most special friend.
Enjoy this drabble? Feel free to find more on my Table of Contents!
Before you read, here’s Part I, Part II, and Part III!
Category: Romantic Fluff, Angst
Fandom: Yona of the Dawn
Characters: Yona, Soo-Won
Requested By: Yonawon (Ao3), Snowbunny (Ao3), and Yona (Ao3)
“Ah!” Yona exclaimed when fiery, red-hot pain rocketed from her shoulder down her arm as she reached for a book atop a towering, wobbly stack of tomes. She retracted her hand on instinct, and as the stretched, overworked muscles shortened, the rapid fire of her nerves dwindled to steady, persistent pulses translating into dull, throbbing pain. Her other hand reached around her back to caress the skin over her shoulder blade. She winced as her fingertips skimmed over the surface of her back; even the nerves supplying the skin were irritated, making dull pain flare under her touch.
“I guess this is my body telling me that I’ve been working too hard,” she sighed and dropped her hand to her side. The other, she let down slowly, not wishing to aggravate the already tender muscles. She cradled it to her side protectively, putting her shoulder in the most comfortable position possible— holding her arm to her chest so the effects of gravity didn’t pull against the muscles of her upper arm and shoulder. “I can’t do much work like this,” she pouted and looked around.
It had been many days since Yona had been at Kouka Castle. After a whirlwind of events, she had found herself appointed Soo-Won’s personal assistant; they both knew it was Yona’s way of keeping tabs on the young king and ferreting out his plans. Yet, Soo-Won either didn’t care whether Yona discovered his goals for herself or not, or believed them to be so well-guarded that Yona couldn’t possibly pierce the deepest recesses of his scheming mind. Whatever the case, Yona had set to poring through the volumes upon volumes of books within Soo-Won’s personal study, hoping that one of them contained at least one shred of information that could illuminate at least some aspect of his endgame.
Though Yona had spent nearly every evening for the past fortnight rifling through the countless pages, reading paragraph upon paragraph and word upon word, none of her efforts had borne fruit. She frowned, experimentally palming at her sore shoulder once more. She winced at the fiery pain that spiderwebbed through the network of nerves tracking to her spine. No, if Yona spent any more time tonight forcing herself to continue on, she would be lucky if tomorrow she could move her arm at all— and she could not afford such a delay.
“I must rest,” she told herself sternly, “so that tomorrow I can get through twice as many books.” A bold promise, one she was not sure she could follow through on, but one she made regardless. She had to will herself to stop somehow, after all. Sighing, she forced herself to stand. Her knees groaned and cracked in protest, too, as she had been kneeling for many hours. She couldn’t help but smile wanly at herself. Hak and the others would scold me something fierce for working this hard, she thought. Yoon would probably make me spend a whole day in bed!
Thinking of her friends sent a cold barb of ice through her heart. Though as of late she’d managed to see them more, the fact that she was still relatively isolated never ceased to cause her pain. Loneliness was one of the greatest pains of all, she’d learned. Her eyes drifted to Soo-Won’s desk, where a royal decree lay half-scrawled, the ink long dry, and the pain coursed through her anew. Though she missed her friends dearly, Yona would be remiss not to admit that she felt the loneliness when in the presence of the man she loved so much yet could never have.
She was the dawn, and he was the dusk; so alike were they, but yet they never could exist in the same sky. Such a thing was an abhorrence of nature, a cataclysm waiting to happen. Yet that didn’t keep Yona from reaching out with her sunbeams, catching what kiss of the moon she could before her day faded into his night. Back and forth, push and pull, fleeting glimpses of fierce desire that fizzled out into sparks as they were painfully reminded of their place— that was how Yona and Soo-Won were forced to exist, now and forever.
Why am I thinking of such things? She thought wearily, running the hand of her good arm over her face. It only made her sad and confused and tired. Bath… I need a bath, she decided tiredly. A warm soak would also do well for her strained muscles. She shuffled through the very slim pathway through the towering stacks of books, careful not to bump the precipitously arranged heaps with her hips. She made it to the door without incident, though she was a little winded. She took a moment to catch her breath, still nursing her throbbing shoulder.
If I remember right, she thought when she finally opened the door and crept out into the empty halls, the closest baths are this way.
She set off down the hall, with only the moonlight for company. It streamed in through the many windows lining the stone halls, white rays rippling into her dawn-colored hair to dye it a shining rose-gold. The moon kissed her form like a tender lover, not unlike the man embodying the cold, fading light of dusk that had embraced Yona three times now for that same reason. She shuddered as she felt the ghosts of his kisses on her lips, her skin— even now she longed for that pale touch, that white kiss of the moon, though it was wrong of her.
She wondered which was stronger, the light of the sun or the shine of the moon. Would Yona’s dawn brilliance eventually force Soo-Won into surrender, bringing Kouka into an age of peaceful, warm sunlight? Or would Soo-Won triumph to spill dusk across the land, with the dull shine of the moon a false light belying the shadow under threat? She supposed it didn’t matter. For the sake of her people, the dawn must prevail over the dusk, she told herself.
Even if she longed for that dusk, for the kiss of the moon washing over her and showering her in brilliant starlight love.
The moon was absent from the sky, she noticed, as she stepped out into the palace gardens. The stars even seemed to have lost some of their glow, twinkling weakly against the indigo backdrop of the atmosphere. The weak gleam reflected off the frosted glass panes of an outdoor bath pavilion surrounded by hedges cut into spirals, their leaves dyed green-blue in the gloom. A cool breeze rustled the plants and grasses and Yona’s dress as she padded down the round stone path to the pavilion. Its door squeaked when she opened it, long and ominous, like she was unwelcome. Inside, the starlight kaleidoscoped through the watery glass to spill over the bath, illuminating the white tiles and refracting on the ornate spout system in the wall, a mosaic of a woman with shining gold hair bathing in a forest stream.
Yona loosened her gown as she walked to the mosaic, turning the knobs. Warm water burst forth, barreling into the empty pool on the floor of the bathhouse. Yona kneeled at the edge as it filled, watching the steam rise through the air in wispy white tendrils to cloud the frosted glass panes. It only made the starlight refract more, sending the beams spearing down in thin lines to pattern the bathhouse like raining diamonds. It was oddly beautiful, in a way, though Yona still felt discomfited without the moon.
The air was steamy and warm by the time the bath filled and Yona flipped off the tap. She shimmied out of her dress— carefully to avoid tweaking her injured shoulder— and folded it up to lay it on a nearby bench. Then she slipped down into the water. She couldn’t help the unabashed moan that bubbled up in her chest as the warm, slightly bubbly water enveloped her body. It felt like it was leaching the weariness from her body like withdrawing a poison; she was surprised she didn’t see black tendrils leaving her body. She sunk down to her shoulders, drawing another, higher-pitched moan from within her; the warm water worked into her tightened muscles, teasing them apart with gentle encouragement. She found that she could even move it somewhat with it buoyed by the water, though dull pain still throbbed within the sensitized fibers.
She slowly tipped her head back to dip her head under the surface. She hummed as the water kissed her scalp and soaked her dawn-colored locks, further filling her with a sense of contentment. There really was nothing like a good bath to clear your mind, she thought blissfully and fluttered her eyes closed. She listened to the gentle ebb and flow of the bathwater sloshing against the sides of the tub and the small drops dripping from the tap plunking into the water. Bathed in starlight, Yona relaxed for what felt like the first time in years, allowing all of her troubles to leach out into the warm, steamy water surrounding her being. For just a few precious moments she could pretend that she was adrift in a warm summer sea, slave only to the tides and wind to wander where should would. No destination, no worries— only the vastness of the open sea.
Yet in the endless ocean, storms materialized when you least expected them.
“Yona?”
She splashed in the water, whirling around to face the entrance of the bathhouse. Her foot slipped on the slick bottom of the tub; she shouted on instinct, causing her mouth to fill with the warm water when she fell backwards. Her arms flailed at the surface, and she came back up spluttering and pink-faced from the heat of the water. Through the water droplets arcing in front of her face, she could see Soo-Won staring at her in confusion, standing in the bath with the water just lapping at his waist. It seemed he’d entered the bath without realizing that she was there at first, then happened to see her at the end of the pool.
Yona squatted down in the water while covering her chest, her face turning nearly as red as her hair. She was so shocked that she didn’t even register the spike of pain that rocketed down her arm.
“S-Soo-Won!” she squeaked, still trying to process his sudden appearance. “Wh-what are— H-how— I-I…” Her hands constantly roamed over her body, feeling exposed despite the steaming water covering her. Soo-Won continued to stare owlishly at her for a few seconds, then realized she was in fact naked and hastily turned to the side, one hand over his blushing face.
“... This bath is reserved for the king only,” he informed her quietly. “I didn’t expect anyone to be here… I thought that Kye-Sook had started the bath, since he knew I was coming here.”
Yona sank down into the water until only her eyes floated above the surface, like a frog perched in a pond, to hide the embarrassed look that appeared on her face. How could she have forgotten a detail like that? I can’t believe this… Me, naked in Soo-Won’s private bath? How mortifying! She lamented. She stewed in the water for a second before slowly popping her head up again.
“I… seem to have mistaken this for the general royal baths. My apologies. I’ll leave immediately.” Blushing at the awkwardness of the entire debacle, she crab-walked across the bottom of the pool. Soo-Won walked to the middle of the bath, keeping a respectful distance to the princess. However, she could feel his eyes boring into her form, and the water felt like it was boiling around her with how hot her body became. She hovered at the edge of the pool, unable to climb out to retrieve her clothes with his heady stare. She could hear the water swishing as he slowly moved closer, and the heat rose and rose until her body felt like it was on fire. Just as she chanced a glance over her shoulder, Soo-Won suddenly grabbed her by the shoulders and forced her down under the water.
Yona immediately panicked, but Soo-Won kept her from flailing by grabbing her arms and forcing them flat to her sides. This sent shockwaves of pain sparking through her shoulder, making her release a pained scream under the water. Through the bubbles swirling in front of her face, she could see Soo-Won looking over his shoulder, his mouth moving. He’s talking to someone! She realized, and the fear flushed from her body. He wasn’t trying to drown her; he was trying to keep the newcomer from realizing that she was there! Despite the instinctual urge to swim to the surface, she forced herself to squat there under the water. Just as her lungs began to burn with the need for oxygen, Soo-Won looped his hands under her armpits and hauled her up.
“I’m sorry, Yona,” he apologized as she slumped against him, coughing and hacking. “Kye-Sook came so suddenly. It would be troublesome if you were seen like this…” Yona only nodded weakly in understanding. As she did so, the pain in her shoulder flared anew, making her grasp it reflexively. “Yona? Are you injured?” he asked, concern lacing his voice.
“It wasn’t you,” she reassured, her voice still scratchy from the warm water that had flooded her throat at her sudden dunking. “I strained my arm in the study… I came here to soak, to try to make it feel better.” He hummed thoughtfully, a hand ever-so-gently skimming over the skin of her shoulder. She twitched at the touch, even just his fingertips eliciting pain. She looked back to her kimono folded on the bench, within reach yet so far away. “Soo-Won, I should— ahh …!”
Her words cut off in a surprised gasp when she felt his lips press into her shoulder. He lavished the inflamed muscles with tender kisses, peppering over her shoulder blade before circling over her shoulder and then back down. One of his hands spread over her belly, pressing her back against him, while the other gently grasped her chin to turn her face to the side to allow him more access. A low moan coiled in Yona’s throat at his feathery lips grazing over her skin, sending sparks of pleasure shooting through every nerve in her body.
“You’re already here,” he purred into her skin, the tip of his tongue flicking over her shoulder and making her shudder. “Why not stay with me, as you promised before?”
“ Soo-Won ,” she groaned. His kisses grew deeper, rougher, needier . The fog was descending over her mind again, that heady desire to just submit to the love she’d nursed for years and years, that need to escape from their reality for just one moment. Her breaths left her body in soft pants and her eyelids fluttered as he began kissing up her neck, nipping at her flesh with his teeth before kissing it tenderly to soothe the tingling skin. “Please,” she pleaded, though she wasn’t sure what for. She was so dizzy and light-headed; it was so hot, the steam didn’t have enough oxygen to fill her breaths, it felt like. Then there was Soo-Won lighting a fire under her skin, his arm tightening around her middle to pull her up onto her tip-toes so he could lavish her neck further in hot, messy kisses.
“I want you so badly ,” he whispered in her ear, breath hot and heavy against the side of her head. She could feel the pain in his voice; it was the same pain that gripped her in these moments, like vicious claws carving deep scours into her heart. “The world is cruel, Yona, so cruel .” Her head fell back against his shoulders as his head dipped down to begin kissing her collarbones and the top of her breast. “No matter how much I want you, I know that we can never be, and that is what vexes me the most,” he whispered against her skin, and then she felt the tears drip from his lashes and onto her body.
“I know,” she whispered, turning her face into his long tresses of golden hair. Pale, like the moon trying its best to mimic the radiant gold of the sun but falling so utterly short. He was the dusk, clinging to the light of day with such desperate hands, but she would slip from his fingers soon enough— she always did as the air cleared and reminded her of their painful reality. Soo-Won seemed to sense the fog of her mind clearing, as he peeled himself away from her— but not before noticing the large scar stretching down her back. His fingers skimmed over the marred skin, in reverence, in wonder, in horror? She wasn’t sure.
“I hate what has become of us,” he sighed and began kissing the skin around her scar. Yona’s eyes fluttered, tears squeezing through her eyelids to stream down her cheeks, and allowed herself just a few more moments to savor Soo-Won’s touch. He worshipped her like a goddess, like a fleeting dream, like a hope about to evaporate between his fingers. “Yet this is always what we were going to become, wasn’t it?”
“I don’t know,” she said, opening her eyes to look at the frosted glass panes in the ceiling. The starlight shone within the wispy white of the glass, trying its best to pierce the veil and bathe her in dusk. But Yona was the dawn, and she could never exist in the light of the dying and diminished sun. She was always meant to exist among the fire, among the light, among the day. Soo-Won was her opposite, her antithesis, her beautiful paradox. He belonged here among the stars and the night, bathed in the white glow.
He pressed one last kiss between her shoulder blades as she pulled away from him; she slipped loosely through his arms, as he offered no resistance.
“I must go,” she informed him, with more weight behind her words this time. “Kye-Sook will surely come back if you linger here too long… Like you said, it would be troublesome if I was discovered here like this.” When she gripped the edge of the pool, he turned around, giving her the privacy to slip back into her dress this time. The water cascaded from her form as she rose from the pool and soaked into her dress when she slipped it on her person; it made her skin cold as it evaporated. The chill washed over her like the moon had sapped all her warmth, but that was all right. Yona was the raging fire of the dawn; by the morning she would be blazing anew, spilling the red-gold light of the sun for all to see.
Like the dusk clinging to its last glimpse of the sun, Soo-Won watched her with sad blue eyes as she left the bathhouse, taking the last rays of light with her. The clouds had drifted over the sky, snuffing out even the stars.
~~~~~~~~~~
When Yona arose the following morning, she found that her shoulder had improved considerably despite the excitement in the bathhouse. She massaged the rest of the ache out of the muscles as her attending ladies set to dressing her as they did every morning. When she dropped her slip down her body, the ladies began to replace it with a new one, but suddenly gasped.
“What is it?” Yona blinked in confusion, looking back to the maid. She was pink-faced and holding a hand to her lips; she averted her eyes at Yona’s inquisitive gaze, seemingly unwilling to speak. “What’s wrong?”
“M-my lady… You have strange… bruises ?” the maid explained tentatively. Yona’s eyebrows shot up her forehead, and then she looked into the mirror. Her face immediately blazed red when she spotted the purple spots littering her shoulder, neck, and upper chest. Soo-Won—! She realized in mortification. The maid knew full well those were not bruises dotting Yona’s skin, but had the wherewithal not to accuse Yona of any indecency. Yona swallowed thickly, then cleared her throat to regain some sense of dignity.
“Ah, yes,” she said. “I slipped in the bath last night; it seems I bumped myself more than I thought. There’s no reason to worry,” she assured the maid with a smile. The handmaiden looked unsure, but nodded in acceptance of Yona’s poor excuse. The princess tried not to allow her discomfort to show on her face as the maid finished dressing her.
That snake knew exactly what he was doing, she grumped half-heartedly. Marking me like that… The audacity!
Yet as much as she internally complained, Yona could feel those marks blooming on her skin like full moons, a cool reminder of the fierce love blooming amidst cool fate— of the dusk clinging so desperately to the dawn, wanting to pull that red light into the shadows for itself.
Would Yona be able to escape, or would she succumb to that magnetic draw, unable to resist the temptation of the beautiful moon? No. No matter how much her heart yearned for Soo-Won, she could not subject her country and her people to a world without dawn. Her heart heavy, she marched back toward the study, eager to dive back into the tomes and search once again for anything, anything that could illuminate Soo-Won’s mysterious motives for usurping her throne, for throwing the cycle of dawn and dusk into disarray.
Enjoy this oneshot? Here’s Part V! Feel free to peruse my Table of Contents!
Dawn and Dusk Part V (Yona/Soo-Won; Yona of the Dawn): "Dusk had ruled this land ever since her father’s death, as the pale moon sat upon the throne, merely reflecting the light of the sun. A false light, but, did that mean it was no less worthy?"
Untitled Milo/Kida (Atlantis: The Lost Empire): "Fight as Kida might, even if she survived this battle with the rising dawn, would she emerge better for it?"
Dawn and Dusk Part V (Yona/Soo-Won; Yona of the Dawn): "It awoke in the mere minutes before dawn to herald the oncoming sun with sweet tunes of the morning. Yet as the golden sun spilled across the trees, it would fall silent, its beautiful song swallowed up by the dawn chorus of other birds. Brief and fleeting, like the sunrise it worshipped."
Dawn and Dusk Part V (Yona of the Dawn): "She turned to the window, where the moonlight streamed in to bathe the study in white, at least where the soft yellow light of the lantern beside her could not reach."
Cherry-Orange Blossoms Chapter 8 (Bakugo/Uraraka; My Hero Academia): "He coughed weakly, a flower petal surging up his throat to land on his pillow. Scowling, he grabbed it to crush it in his fist, smothering the soft silky petal into a crumpled mess."
Untitled Link (The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild): "The fence surrounded a spacious pasture. Wildflowers bloomed amongst the lush green grass, dotting the landscape with soft pastels of yellow and blue and white."
Untitled Bakugo/Jiro (My Hero Academia): "He wordlessly took her phone to scroll through the options, eventually settling on a soft rock song. Kyoka took her cellphone back and held it to her chest as the music began to slow from the tiny speakers, accented by the pounding of the rain in her opposite ear and the silence growing between them."
Untitled Ace/Hancock (One Piece): "“Ah… As comfortable as I can be after being beaten like a dog, I suppose,” he smiled wanly. Hancock returned the smile with a soft one of her own, sitting on the edge of his bed. He regarded her with a mixture of apprehension and curiosity."
Soo-Won/Yona: Dawn and Dusk | Dawn and Dusk Part II | Dawn and Dusk Part III | Dawn and Dusk Part IV | Dawn and Dusk Part V | Mad World | Mad World Part II
Hak/Yona: Jealousy | Heard Part II | A Most Dangerous Game Part II
General Oneshots
Yona & Lily: Little Talks
Yona & Hak & Soo-Won: How It Always Will Be | Whatever May Come | The King and The Warrior | A Most Dangerous Game
As Yona knelt amongst the fur-lined blankets and feather pillows strewn across the tent floor, she could not help but wonder if she had made the right decision.
Alliance. The word bounced around in her otherwise empty cavern of a skull. Such a simple concept, yet for Yona, it carried enough implications to capsize even the stoutest of packhorses. An alliance with Soo-Won. His name was both titillating and dreadful. It made her skin crawl like a parade of ants marched over it, but also sent a pleasurable shudder traveling up to her spine to the base of her neck. Though it had been so long ago, Yona could recollect their night in the encampment so vividly, as if it had occurred only yesterday. Her body hummed with the ghosts of his hands roaming over her clothes. Her lips burned with the phantasms of his hot mouth and tongue. Her heart raced as his whispers echoed in her ear.
"If not forever, then just for tonight?"
Yona's head rolled on her neck as another tingling tremor rocked her body. Her eyes then snapped open, and she released an affronted gasp. Her nerves ceased their singing as she forced every memory of that night from the forefront of her mind. Screaming irately, she flung one of the throw pillows across the tent. The fabric rippled with the blow, and as it was close to the flap, the entrance fluttered wildly to allow some of the cool evening air to whoosh into the tent and kiss her pink, heated skin.
I am venturing into dangerous, unknown territory, she lamented woefully.
Yona had realized that to discover the hidden secrets and nuances of her country, she would have to do some rooting in Hiryuu Castle- and carefully observe the new king, Soo-Won. Thus, she had proposed an alliance between the Sky Kingdom and the cohort of Celestial Dragons. They were a long way from home, and so after marching all day, the soldiers had thrown up an encampment for them to rest for the night. Yona had been given her own tent at Soo-Won's insistence, pitched several yards from her dragons' and Hak's. She had already seen the shadow of the Thunder Beast flicker over the fabric walls as he stubbornly patrolled the perimeter.
Ironically, or perhaps purposely, Soo-Won's royal tent was also nearby. Yona could see its flags lazily flapping in the wind from the entrance of her tent. The realization that Soo-Won rested within walking distance from her position produced a visceral reaction with her. That dichotomous disbalance she had experienced the last time she had been under Soo-Won's care reignited within her; she had the urge to run to him, to throw herself at him. Yet she also had the desire to wrench up her tent and pitch it as far away from his as she could.
The roiling emotions exhausted Yona. The cushions and comforters embraced her as she sprawled onto them, lying on her back to frown at the pyramidal cloth ceiling. Dusk was descending; she could tell by the red-gold light filtering in through the fibers, and how the glow faded with each passing moment. She fingered the tassels of the embroidered pillow that cushioned her head as nausea twisted her belly into painful knots. Tears prickled in the corners of her eyes. With a woeful sniffle, she rolled onto her side and hugged a pillow to her chest.
Yona wanted to be strong, for her country and her people and her friends. Yet, it was so hard to be strong when the weight of so much responsibility crushed her. During moments like this, when the world and darkness came closing in, Yona would allow herself to brood on this thought: I wish none of this had ever happened. I wish Father were still alive, and Soo-Won was still Soo-Won.
Of course, she knew such wishes were incredibly selfish. Her people had suffered needlessly under her father's reign, and Soo-Won's intentions- regardless of if they were surrounded by murder and secrecy- were to restore the country to peace and prosperity. However, Yona was but a young girl thrust into a world of betrayal, war, and strife. She could only bear so much weight upon her small shoulders until she collapsed. Yona would eventually dry her tears, dust off her kimono, and rise to carry the responsibilities again. Yet, for just a few short moments, she just wanted to be a normal girl allowed to wail her frustrations into the plush of a pillow.
The fabric was surprisingly breathable as she buried her face into it, and shrilly screamed. The fibers muffled the sound, but it accomplished the intended effect. Yona felt the tension melt from her muscles, and the tears stopped flowing as readily. With a petulant sniff, she pulled away to find smudges of water and snot staining the wine-red material. She turned it over to the clean side before laying her head on it, arching her back to stretch her aching spinal and shoulder muscles. Perhaps they were phantom pains from her imaginary load, but they hurt, nonetheless.
Just as Yona was beginning to drift into the twilight of half-sleep, she heard the flap of her tent flutter. She peered through the gloom to see a tall shadowy figure framed by the starlight. In her bleariness, she assumed it to be Hak, and so that was whose name she uttered. Her dawn-red eyes fluttered rapidly as the figure stepped into the tent, and she caught the flash of long, straw-colored hair and kingly white robes.
"No, Yona, it's me."
Yona jerked up as Soo-Won spoke. All traces of weariness flushed from her system as adrenaline gushed into her veins. Holding the pillow to her torso like a shield, she regarded him warily. With the fading light streaming in through the now-open tent flap, she could see a sad frown on his fair features. "You still fear me?" It was an honest question, not laced with the false croons of manipulation. Soo-Won genuinely lamented the idea that Yona feared him.
Pursing her lips, she adjusted herself and rested the pillow on her lap to feign ease. It wasn't that she thought Soo-Won would do her harm; she feared to let her guard down around him, because her old feelings were drudging up again. She had to be careful and sound of mind, lest they swallow her entirely so that she drowned in euphoria and things that she wanted so badly but could never be.
"It's not that. I was nearly asleep; you just frightened me."
"I see." His voice rang hollowly, devoid of emotion. Perhaps he believed her; maybe he didn't. Either way, he crossed the small tent to kneel a respectable distance away yet close enough to reveal familiarity. "I came to see if you had settled in well,” he reported simply. Yona shuffled her legs underneath her to keep her calves from growing numb.
“Yes, indeed. I thank you for your hospitality,” Yona uttered robotically, just reciting the gratuitous words that had been ingrained in her as a child. Soo-Won continued to gaze at her measuredly. His piercing eyes unsettled her deeply, causing her to fidget and squirm relentlessly. Her skin flushed, and her nerves tingled with the expectation of his hands wandering the planes of her body. Her tongue flickered out to wet her lips. Immediately, Soo-Won’s eyes dropped to stare at her pink mouth with a raw intensity. The passionate look made Yona’s hot body flush further with want.
Just as she found herself leaning forward to crawl towards him, she stopped herself.
No! Yona, do not yield to such base temptations! She scolded herself. If she could have slapped herself, she would’ve. As her muscles tensed, Soo-won’s gazed raked back up to her dawn-red eyes. “As I told you, I was nearly asleep. I’m quite tired,” she grumbled. The order, unspoken, burned within her words. Soo-Won continued to stare levelly at her with no apparent intentions to move. Must I speak it plainly? She thought with a scowl forming on her lips. “Soo-Won-”
“Do you love me, Yona?”
Her face flushed nearly as red as her hair. She pressed her lips together to form a thin white line. Her mind flew to their passionate encounter in the tent just across the border from Sei. I love you. She had almost uttered the words. Of course she loved him. Of course she loved him. She had loved him for so long, and despite everything that had happened so far, she still loved him! Frustrated tears sprung to the corners of her eyes and her bottom lip wobbled. She didn’t want to say. She couldn’t say, because if she did, everything would change.
Yet say it she did.
“I do love you, Soo-Won. I love you so much it pains me,” she whispered. A tense silence settled between them, broken only by the chirping of the crickets inhabiting the long grasses surrounding the tent. Slowly, he crawled forward until he was seated in front of her, knees just barely brushing hers. Yona stared forlornly at her hands, which were clasped in her lap, to watch the tears puddle on her skin as they dripped down from her chin. Soo-Won’s fingers came into her circle of vision to wrap lightly around her own. His index finger trailed along the side of hers, and the tender touch sent electric sparks jumping along her nerves. Her red eyes watched as his finger continued to lightly stroke over her skin. “Soo-Won,” she sighed quietly.
“I know,” he frowned. His hands slid up Yona’s arms, pushing up the long cotton sleeves of her modest kimono. Goosebumps rose in the wake of his touch, making her nerves wail in reverent choir along her forearms. “You can’t forgive me.” Yona swallowed thickly as a hard lump formed in her throat, and she gave him a tiny nod. Every time she would even consider forgiving him, she would envision her father’s body slumped on the floor, a puddle of blood slowly forming around him and staining his kingly clothes ruby red. His hand suddenly brushed over her cheek, and she automatically sought out more of his touch, pressing her face into his palm. Her tears smeared over the soft plane of his hand.
Why? She lamented. Why do I love him so, when I should do nothing but despise him? Well, it was because she knew it was complicated, the little voice in the back of her head chimed helpfully. It was oh so complicated. He held both her cheeks now, leaning forward to press his forehead against hers. His voice was softer than the first breeze of spring carrying the aroma of the budding flowers. “Yona, I never intended for you to get hurt. More than anything, I wanted you to understand, and be by my side to watch this country of ours return to former glory.” A flood of acid burned her mouth at the word ours. He was the king, and she the princess, so grammatically it was correct. She still loathed the idea of sharing responsibility for her people with Soo-Won. Yet, that was the reality- their reality.
“I don’t understand anything anymore,” she whispered back, sniffling. “The further I delve, I just grow more and more confused… Please, Soo-Won, just tell me plainly- why did you murder my father? What are you trying to accomplish with your rule? I must know!” she begged. Her hands leaped forward to curl into the silk fabric of his robes, twisting them into tight knots. A shadow darkened Soo-Won’s face as he lowered his head such that it rested against her collarbone; she had to crane her head back to avoid getting a mouthful of his pale gold hair. His arms slid around her waist to hug her tightly. He remained silent for several seconds.
“I can’t tell you, Yona,” he said finally. Yona’s body slumped down with a cold rush of disappointment and defeat. She closed her eyes and tilted her head back further to peer up at the pyramidal ceiling of the tent. Dusk had descended in full; the light gracing the world was now a soft silver. No, she thought morosely, of course you can’t. Yona would have expected a visceral reaction to his words- anger, hurt, frustration. Instead, she just felt cold and numb. The emotions swirling around in her body- the love, hate, desire, and fear- exhausted her thoroughly.
“Not yet. Not yet.” She looked down at his head, and her eyes widened. Soo-Won’s entire body slumped heavily against her, and his fingers clawed into the back of her kimono, as if he was clutching onto her to avoid being swept out into a stormy and perilous sea. Yona regarded him piteously; he looked so… weary.
“Soo-Won,” she murmured. Slowly, she leaned down to press a light kiss to the top of his head. In response, he tightened his grip on her. Yona stared silently down into his straw-colored waves of hair, and then slipped her fingers into the threads to stroke them absentmindedly. It was true that Yona bore a heavy burden, trapped in this web of mystery, but undoubtedly Soo-Won bore the weight of the world as well. She rested her cheek against his head with a small exhale. “I cannot forgive you… But I can understand that you have regrets,” she murmured. He shifted against her, pressing his nose into her sternum.
“There is so much right now that I don’t know and don’t understand,” she said thickly as the tears sprung to her eyes. They beaded across Soo-Won’s hair like dewdrops as she buried her face into it. It was all too much to bear. For a few short moments, Yona wanted to pretend that everything was all right, and she could love Soo-Won freely. “But I know that I love you. So I shall stay with you, at least for tonight.”
Soo-Won’s body stiffened like steel in her arms.
“Are you sure, Yona?” His voice was a low rumble that vibrated deep in her bones and made her eyes flutter sensually. The tip of his nose nudged aside the front of her kimono to trail along her collarbone before traveling slowly up the column of her neck; Yona craned her head back to allow him access, only responding with a small simpering whine. His hands secured around her hips to hold her solidly in place. She felt her mind descending into a hazy, blissful fog.
No political games, no cat-and-mouse chase, no murder plots or kings and princesses embroiled in a struggle for a throne. Simply Soo-Won and Yona, like she had always wanted. Perhaps it was unwise of her to submit to her feelings, but Yona had committed to flinging herself into the pit of oblivion.
I just want to imagine that things can be between us, if only for one night.
Yona didn’t recall falling backward, but in the next moment, Soo-Won had her pinned underneath him. He peppered searing, open-mouthed kisses up the length of her jugular; the titillating sensation made her keen and mewl and paw at his clothes. Finally, he pulled himself up so that his face hovered over hers. Yona’s face was flushed and heated, and she panted slightly with expectation. Tenderly, he brushed the pads of his fingers over her lips.
Then he dove down to capture her mouth with his own. Yona’s back arched as he swept her into a passionate, messy kiss. One of his hands pushed into her tresses of dawn-red hair while the other coursed over her curves, stroking harshly over the soft fabric. The tip of his tongue swept over her bottom lip, pleading for entry, and Yona readily complied. The muscle fervently tangled with her own, and every swirl within her mouth sent pulses of heat through her already flushing body. That cascade of emotion began rippling through her, the confusing waterfalls of hurt and sadness and happiness and hate and love that pooled together in a chaotic maelstrom. As it took hold of her, her movements became sluggish and half-hearted.
She wanted to keep kissing him, but oh, how she desired to shove him away and curse him and taint his name with obscenities. At one point, her eyes cracked open to see Soo-Won’s sea-green eyes boring into hers. It felt like he could see into the depths of her very soul. Those blue irises were like a tremendous oncoming wave of reality and accusation that threatened to overtake her any moment, and Yona felt panic flood through her veins. Her body stiffened, like she had been petrified.
Did she really want this? Or was it just pure escapism?
Yona wasn’t sure how long they kissed, but he finally pulled away in that moment. She sucked in a big gulp of air, chest heaving for oxygen.
His eyes were lidded as he nosed her cheek. With her red eyelashes fluttering, she peered wearily at him. His sea-blue eyes regarded her with a rapt fascination, like he was drinking every minute detail of her face; his index finger continuously stroked her other cheek in feather-light touches. Yona was not aware she was crying until she felt the wetness roll down her cheek. The tear caught on his fingertip as it moved over her cheekbone, spreading the salty water over her skin. Soo-Won smiled wanly as he again rested his forehead against hers.
“You hate me, don’t you?”
The heavy mist that had descended over her mind was clearing, leaving behind the bitter taste of regret. Yona’s throat bobbed as she attempted to swallow the hard lump in her throat, but it remained stubbornly lodged there. The teardrops clung to her red eyelashes as they flapped repeatedly. Soo-Won had obviously sensed the complicated feelings gripping her and had ceased his actions accordingly. She wasn’t sure whether she was disappointed or relieved.
Hate. Yona had never considered how strong the word was until that moment. She worried her bottom lip with her teeth as she pondered the question.
“You? No. I don’t hate you. I hate what has become of us,” she murmured finally. She knew she could never bring herself to hate Soo-Won, not really. She could only direct all that hate to the complicated reality that had developed between them as a consequence of her naivety and ignorance. How pathetic of me, she thought wryly. Yet, that was the reality of it, something Yona had to live with. Soo-Won smiled dryly and slowly sat up. His blond hair was soft as it brushed over her exposed neck and shoulder.
“That’s an eloquent way to put it,” he chuckled. The iron edge to his voice cut through Yona like a knife. With a weary sigh, he swept his hair behind his shoulder. He then glanced out of the flap of the tent, which was still flapping in the night breeze. The white moonlight streamed in through the triangular-shaped gap to bathe over Yona and ignite her red hair into ruby threads. While she basked in the light, Soo-Won was framed by the shadows. The darkness cast harsh lines onto his face, making his usually soft and pretty features hard-edged and intimidating. His eyes glinted at her like chips of aquamarine, thoughtful. “I hate what’s become of us,” he echoed, but more like he was analyzing the statement than agreeing with it.
Though Yona had offered to stay with him, Soo-Won rose to leave. She knew that it was for the best; it was unwise to complicate their situation any further. She rolled onto her side as he made for the entrance of the tent. Resting her head on the wine-red pillow, she closed her eyes and exhaled deeply. Her heart still hammered in her chest, reacting to the ghosts of Soo-Won’s hands on her body and his lips against hers, hot and heavy.
“Yona,” Soo-Won called suddenly. She opened her eyes to peer curiously at him. He smiled faintly at her, silhouetted by the moonlight. “See you at dawn.” Then he was gone. He pinned the flap behind him, and the tent became enveloped in darkness. Yona stared at the place he had been for several seconds. Then, she sighed deeply and rolled onto her back to stare up at the ceiling of the tent again.
There was nothing to do but what for dawn to come. Dawn, after this long, long dusk that Yona had been trapped in since the night of her father’s death.
Enjoy this oneshot? Here’s Part IV and Part V! Feel free to peruse my Table of Contents!
