Author Notes: Hello again, everyone!
The mangaka for Akatsuki No Yona has succeeded in making a fangirl out of me. Her artwork is exquisite, her cast of characters adorable and just begging to be loved (and shipped the hell out), and her villains as dastardly as one could hope for. I've not read all the chapters of the manga yet, but already have so many favourite characters. Hopefully, the mangaka will treat them kindly *fingers crossed*
I enjoy Geun-Tae teasing Joo-Doh about his bachelor status and can't help wondering who would be the best person to win that lovable (except when he's trying to kill Hak), grouchy man's heart. So when I read the Sei Kingdom arc, I started shipping Joo-Doh and Lili as a pairing. You know, following that age old formula of 'feisty girl + grouchy man = love' XD And each time Geun-Tae hinted to Soo-Won about taking Lili as his bride, I wanted to reach inside the manga page, smack him upside the head and say 'Stop it! Stop it! She's in love with you, not him! And besides, Soo-Won isn't free to marry anyone because he belongs to both Hak and Yona!'
Yes, I love my happy threesomes as those of you who have followed me since my VK days would already know. I hope to write something about this trio soon, but meanwhile, here's the first of a series of one shots for Joo-Doh/Lili. It follows the manga up until Chapter 126 and goes AU from there. Enjoy :)
Warnings: Fluff and spoilers for the manga up til Chapter 126. Possible OOC-ness.
Rating: 'T'
Disclaimer: Akatsuki No Yona belongs to Mizuho Kusanagi.
- Story Start -
A week after Sei Kingdom fell to Kouka, Lili went to Kuuto City with Ayura and Tetora, her bodyguards. Her father, General Joon-Gi of the Water Tribe, insisted that she express her gratitude to King Soo-Won formally, and in person.
Lili wasn't all that keen to go. She had already thanked Soo-Won when he visited her last week while she was recovering. Still, she supposed saying a quick thank you while sitting up in bed and not looking her best didn't really count as a formal 'Thank You for Saving Me from the Gallows, Your Majesty'.
During that visit, Ayura entertained the King with an impromptu sword dance while Tetora gave Lili a speedy application of make up and reminded her to behave in a more ladylike manner. Lili had tried, even using formal speech with Soo-Won, but she kept lapsing back into the casual speech she preferred.
Luckily, he didn't seem to mind and even found it amusing.
He was easy enough to get along with, Lili supposed. Kind and gentle with none of the arrogance that other nobles felt entitled to. He was also handsome - beautiful, actually - but too refined for her taste. In any case, she didn't want to get too close to him. Not after he had betrayed Hak and her dear friend Yona. Besides, she was hopelessly in love with General Geun-Tae of the Earth Tribe, a man exactly her type.
As she looked around Kuuto City, Lili caught a glimpse of Soo-Won entering an alley. Ignoring her bodyguards' dismay, she followed him to a dingy bar where she learned how he was able to get information about all the tribes and neighbouring countries so quickly. She then followed him back to Hiryuu castle, intent on questioning him about his motives concerning Yona, Hak and the four Dragon Warriors. She even left Ayura and Tetora at the outer courtyard, hoping that would induce Soo-Won to be more forthcoming.
However, the sight of General Joo-Doh and General Geun-Tae coming up to greet the King drove every thought from her head.
Aside from a brief nod of greeting, Joo-Doh ignored her as he started berating Soo-Won for slipping out of the castle yet again and without appropriate escort. As Soo-Won laughingly parried his scoldings, Geun-Tae grinned at Lili.
"What a surprise meeting you here, Lili! You look like you're fully recovered."
"Y-yes, General Geun-Tae. T-thank you for your concern," Lili replied, vexed to find herself blushing and stammering in his presence. It happened each time they met, but she couldn't help it. He was her type - over thirty five years old, wild and a bigger than life personality.
The polar opposite of King Soo-Won with his fair hair, feminine features and gentle manners.
"Here to see the King?" Geun-Tae asked with a gleam in his eyes. "I didn't think General Joon-Gi would let you out of his sight after what happened."
"Well, m-my father wanted me to uh, express my g-gratitude to His Majesty in person. Ayura and Tetora are waiting outside."
"Ohoho, looks like your father thinks the same way I do, at least when it comes to His Majesty!" Geun-Tae offered a rougish wink which served to charm and vex Lili even more.
"P-please stop hinting at that. The King's not my type at all!" She exclaimed and didn't see Soo-Won and Joo-Doh glancing her way, startled at her outburst.
Geun-Tae blinked in surprise.
"Eh? Then what is your type? Or who?"
Over his shoulder, Lili saw Joo-Doh looking extremely annoyed, and Soo-Won walking away. She expected them to go together, but perhaps Joo-Doh was waiting for Geun-Tae.
"A... a much older man," she found herself admitting. "Someone in his mid thirties and wil- eh, not as... genteel... as His Majesty."
Geun-Tae frowned at her in bemusement and then he brightened.
"Someone like me you mean?" He laughed heartily at his own joke.
"Yes! Someone exactly like you!" Lili blurted out.
Geun-Tae actually stopped mid-laugh from one 'Ha' to the next, mouth open as he stared at her.
Lili stared back, face burning, but refusing to take back her words. Alright, she would probably die from embarrassment any moment now, but she was fed up of him constantly trying to drop hints about her and Soo-Won.
"Me?"
Lil nodded.
"Me."
Lili nodded again.
"Why?" Geun-Tae stared at her. "You know I'm marr-"
"I know! I know you're married, but I can't help it, OK? I can't!"
Lili barely stopped herself from stamping her foot like a child. She looked away, biting her lip. Instead of offering a proper 'Thank You' to the King who had now disappeared inside the castle, she had ended up confessing her feelings to General Geun-Tae instead.
When her eyes stung, she prayed she wouldn't break down completely - that would be beyond humiliating for her and embarrassing for General Geun-Tae. As for General Joo-Doh, standing a dozen feet away and looking like he would rather be anywhere else than here, heaven only knew what he was thinking.
So, no mental breakdown, Lili told herself sternly. She would survive this unrequited love of hers. She had survived far worse things after all - kidnapped by Sei soldiers last week, forced into manual labour, suffering from thirst, beaten and kicked, tied up and sent to the gallows, only to escape death by a mere hairsbreadth.
Besides, General Geun-Tae was a happily married man and he wasn't the sort to play around on the side. She wouldn't respect or love him so much if he was.
And really, which man in their right mind would even look at another woman if they were married to the cutest, most adorable wife like Yun-Ho?
Heck, Lili would marry Yun-Ho herself if she were a man!
She would just have to deal with her one sided love, and that was that. A discreet throat clearing made her realise she had spaced out.
"I'm sorry," Geun-Tae said, voice gruff as if he wasn't used to apologising. "I hope you will eh, transfer your precious feelings to someone else one day if not His Majesty."
Lili gulped and nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
"Hey, what about that grumpy feller over there?"
Lili looked up again to see him jerking a thumb over his shoulder, not even bothering to keep his voice down. One look at the scowling General Joo-Doh and the corners of her lips turned down.
If Geun-Tae was the coolest, liveliest General in all of Kouka Kingdom with that infectious grin of his, then Joo-Doh was the most morose and scowling one. The scar on his right cheek didn't help either.
She looked back at Geun-Tae.
"I'm sorry," she said, keeping her voice low. "I don't think I could ever-"
She broke off when Geun-Tae threw back his head and laughed again. It was such a mesmerising sight that she had to force herself to shush him up.
"General Geun-Tae, please!"
"Ah, right." Geun-Tae tried to look contrite, but was grinning too much to make it believable. "Well, give him a bit of time and look for his good points. Doesn't have many, haha, but they're there. Right, Joo-Doh?"
That last sentence was flung over his shoulder, complete with a devilish grin.
It wasn't possible, but Joo-Doh's scowl deepened as did the colour in his cheeks. He looked mad enough to storm over and stab Geun-Tae with his sword or choke him with his bare hands.
Staring at him, a whisper of a thought slipped into Lili's mind at that moment, fleeting and irreverent. There and gone in an instant, though its imprint remained.
What would it take to wipe that dark scowl off that stern face?
What would it take to make the most surly man in Kouka Kingdom... smile?
"... must be off! Chi'Shin isn't that near, after all."
Realising she had spaced out again, Lili forced a smile to her face and bowed.
"I wish you a safe journey home, General Geun-Tae," she said and didn't realise until later that she had managed a whole sentence without blushing and stammering.
"Right. See you around, Lili." He grinned at her and nodded at Joo-Doh before striding off.
Lili experienced the same pang that always struck her when she knew he was returning home to Yun-Ho, but it felt a little more bittersweet this time.
Was it because she had finally confessed her feelings to him?
With a sigh, she bowed to Joo-Doh who jerked his head in the direction of the main gates.
"I will see you out, Lady Lili."
"That's very kind of you, General Joo-Doh, but you don't have to escort me," she said politely. "My bodyguards Ayura and Tetora are waiting for me outside."
"It is His Majesty's wish that I do so," Joo-Doh replied and gestured for her to start walking.
"If you insist," she replied and swallowed another sigh.
His silent company was sure to be even more oppressive after bearing the brunt of Geun-Tae's teasing. At least it was only a two or three minute walk. Distracted, she didn't see the stones that separated the tiled courtyard from the garden and the toe of her slipper caught on one of them.
"Oh!"
The hard ground seemed to rush up, eager to meet her, to slam against her face. She threw her hands out to break her fall, but something grabbed her arm and jerked her to an abrupt stop.
For a moment, she was unable to move, staring at her hands, fingers splayed against nothing while feeling that iron grip on her upper arm. Then it was released and she straightened up, darting a quick look at her companion.
"T-thank you."
"Don't mention it." Joo-Doh looked away, a muscle ticking in his jaw. "And pay no mind to what that idiot was saying about me. Just because he's happily - ahh, just ignore him!"
"Of course." Lili forced a smile, rubbing her arm absently.
He looked down at her, his scowl deepening.
"I apologise for my rough handling."
Lili stopped immediately.
"Oh! Oh no, I didn't mean to imply that - that you... it's fine! I - uh, I've been grabbed and kicked and slapped by those Sei soldiers so I'm used to it already!"
No sooner had those words left her mouth than she wanted to snatch them out of the air and swallow them whole.
Oh God. She was an idiot!
Tact and diplomacy had never been her strong points, but... clapping her hand to her mouth, she peeped up at Joo-Doh, her cheeks flushing red with shame.
He looked like he had been turned to stone.
A big and stern stone statue with a scarred right cheek.
"I'm sorry." Her voice came out smaller than she expected. "I-I didn't mean to imply-"
"Forget it." He turned away and started walking. "Let's go."
"Wait!" Lili hurried after him. "General Joo-Doh!"
"The sooner I take you back to your bodyguards, the better."
Why? Before she could make another faux pas?
"But I didn't mean that! You-you didn't hurt me! I didn't mean - wait!"
His strides, already twice of hers, lengthened even more. Lili ground her teeth together and broke into a run, determined to clear up at least this one misunderstanding. She grabbed his nearest hand with both of hers and braced herself as he jerked to a stop.
"Will you listen to me?!" She scolded.
He looked down at their hands, momentary surprise chasing away his scowl, eyebrows going up.
"You're... holding my hand, Lady Lili."
"That's because you wouldn't stop marching! I just said... eh, what?"
He didn't seem to have heard her, lifting his hand with both of hers still wrapped around it, and taking a closer look.
"Such small hands you have, yet so determined."
The rest of the words died in Lili's throat as she stared up at him, mouth agape and heat sweeping again into her cheeks. She pulled back her hands with a small gasp.
Joo-Doh blinked and then he looked embarrassed.
"I apolo-"
"No, don't," she said quickly. "You didn't say anything wrong."
"Ah. Then I apologise for earlier when-"
"You saved me from a fall," Lili interrupted him again. "You shouldn't have to apologise for that."
"My grip was too hard." Just like his voice. But he was also blushing. She didn't think he knew how to.
"Well... you are very strong, aren't you?" Lili said, inwardly cringing at how lame she sounded.
Joo-Doh was staring at her again.
"I will temper my strength in future," he said solemnly, as if making a promise.
Lili tossed her head.
"Why, are you expecting me to trip again? Hmph. Let's go."
Without waiting for a reply, she started walking, looking down to make sure she didn't trip over anything again and ignoring Joo-Doh who shortened his stride to match hers.
Ayura and Tetora were at the entrance, looking relieved to see her.
"Lady Lili, there you are!"
"We were beginning to worry!"
"I'm fine. Let's go." Lili told them and turned to see Joo-Doh marching off without a backward glance. Suddenly, she didn't feel like exploring Kuuto City anymore.
"I'm tired," she announced. "Let's go back to the hotel."
She wasn't surprised when Ayura and Tetora hustled her there, looking even more relieved. What did surprise her was that it wasn't General Geun-Tae who occupied her thoughts for the rest of the afternoon.
General Joo-Doh had big hands. Big, strong, calloused and so warm.
Little wonder then that he thought her hands small.
A tiny smile tilted Lili's lips before she frowned. Of all people to occupy her thoughts, why should it be the grouchiest man in Kouka Kingdom?
She tossed her head. Hmph, that was what came of having too much time on her hands!
"Ayura! Tetora!" She called. "I don't want to be cooped up here anymore. Let's go explore Kuuto a bit more!"
- Story End -
A/N: Thank you for reading! Please leave a review if you enjoyed it, would love to hear from you :)