AN: I have a few more ideas... Let me now if I should do more!


II. Exasperation

He was still breathing heavily. Crossing his hands over his chest, he tried to compose himself, his mind reeling.

"Much better," he had just said. Was that even true? He hadn't quite figured that out-

"….Hak?" Yona said in an extremely tiny voice. His eyes snapped to her. He had a sneaking suspicious he knew that voice. It was the "I have another question for you" voice. Eyes averted, she looked caught, like a doe unsure whether it should dart away or stay very still. When she glanced at him sidelong, Hak raised a questioning eyebrow to suggest she could continue. As reluctant as she appeared to pester him more, she may as well say it now. She grimaced, which worried Hak, then muttered something at the ground.

"What's that?" Then, adding to his concern, she buried her face in her hands. "Princess?"

"Never mind!" came a half-muffled yell.

"Oh, to hell with that," he growled. "If you don't ask now, I'm coming over there to drag it out of you." When Yona glared at the ground this time, she spoke loud enough for him to hear. Barely.

"What do you mean... ah, well…. By saying like me?"

DRAGON GODS ABOVE.

His eye twitched.

It continued to twitch.

When he spoke, his voice was dangerously silky.

"What do you mean, what do I mean?" Ohhhhh, she definitely looked like she was feeling guilty.

"Well, that, like, means, well, we- there's different meanings," she stammered. Hak could practically feel the steam coming out of his ears.

"Oh? Different meanings?" he echoed. "Different meanings that make total and complete sense after you ask me about my non-existing fiancée?"

"Oh dear. Here we go," Jaeha murmured to his fellow dragons. Hak whipped around to give the Green Dragon a look that would melt scales before turning back to Yona.

"Different meanings, after you kissed me at Ogi's?" This time, when there was a surprised outcry from the dragons, he ignored them, continuing heatedly. "Oh, YES, there are so. Many. Different. Meanings." Aggravated, he threw his hands up in the arm. "Like as in what? Like you as a friend? As a childhood companion? As a servant? After you gave me the charm? How could you possibly not know? After all of these days together?" He stared her down. "You asked if I had a lover? NO! When would I have the time to have a lover, when I'm chasing you through the country? And why would I, when the most beautiful, passionate woman- the strongest woman I know- the woman I love- is right in front of me!" He scowled as he turned away, pacing and throwing his hands this way and that. "Love. There's another word with plenty of different meanings. So, Princess, just to clarify, just for you, I don't mean I love you like a brother, or even a devoted servant. I mean the kind of love that leaves me reeling when I look into your eyes. I mean the kind of love that moves me, burns inside of me every day- the kind of love that I would die for, that means I can't live without you, unless it would make you happier, or safer, or-" When he turned, he froze. Yona had stood and come up behind him, now only a few feet from him. She was still flushing, her eyes glittering in a way that made Hak want to sweep her up in his arms. There was a long silence, in which Hak tried to catch his breath.

Yona tilted her head to one side, watching him. To his surprise, a tiny smile appeared at the corner of her lips.

"Hak. If you are going to say such nice things, can't you be a little more romantic about it?" His jaw dropped in astonishment, as a memory of him teasing her crept into the back of his mind. He glowered.

"You aren't taking this very seriously." He exhaled, trying to stay annoyed, even as her smile pushed all those feelings away. "Here I am, spilling my guts, and-"

"Hak?" Yona took his hand. For a moment, he relented.

"What?"

"...can I ask you one more question?"

"Absolutely not."

"…."

"…."

"Hak…."

"No."

"Haaaaak…."

"No, noooo, nope."

"Hak!"

"Try again tomorrow, Princess." Still red, she pouted slightly, and soldiered on.

"... would it be alright... if I kissed you again?" Finally, a grin broke out across his face.

"Deeeeeeeeeefinitely not."

"EHHH?! But you said-"

"You asked, I answered." He smirked, leaning in. "Because this time, I am going to kiss you."