A/n: Sorry I haven't updated for a while… I've been busy with university and stuff. And also starting a new fan fiction, On the Prowl. But I'm back now!
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The shrill beeping of the alarm clock cut painfully through her sleepy brain and Julia's tired hand fumbled around the desk, searching for her glasses. Slipping them on, she blinked groggily at the electric green digits as they jumped sharply into focus: 7:00. A loud groan from behind her signalled that the alarm had also succeeded in rousing her companion, and she quickly batted the off button, silencing the contraption. In the silence that followed, Hwoarang could be heard cursing quietly to himself and moving around. Julia flopped her head back down on the pillow, not sure she was ready to face the day yet.
"What the hell kinda time do you call this?!" The red head complained, his usual bad temper back with a vengeance.
Pulling herself up to a sitting position, she let out a long breath. "I'm sorry. I forgot it was set… It's so I didn't miss the hotel breakfast, I kept sleeping in." She explained quietly, staring down at her lap. Embarrassment about the previous night made her reluctant to look at him, and so she studied the ugly floral patterning of the bed sheets instead.
"Ah damn, 7am?" He grumbled, checking the clock over her shoulder. "Well, I guess I could do with some food." He stood up, yawning and stretching.
"Oh… I'm not sure they'll let you have breakfast down in the dining room. Technically you're not meant to be here." She informed him, tugging awkwardly at her hair and swinging her legs out of the bed.
"You mean I have to go hungry? Shit…" Hwoarang objected, kicking at his backpack angrily.
"We can call for room service." Julia suggested, his temper making her uncomfortable as usual. "Breakfast in bed?" She smiled weakly at him, heading over to the bathroom.
"Now that I like the sound of!" He said with satisfaction, slumping back down in the armchair and grinning at her. "Where you goin'?"
"Shower." She answered over her shoulder, closing the bathroom door behind her and therefore missing Hwoarang's mischievous smile.
Julia closed her eyes and lifted her face to the hot, soothing water, washing away her tiredness. Running her fingers through her hair, she felt a soft, cool breeze on her back, and gasped in surprise as a pair of well toned arms snaked there way round her waist.
"Mmmm…" Hwoarang mumbled, nuzzling her neck gently. Shocked, Julia tried to squirm out of his grasp, and he released her reluctantly.
"What do you think you're doing!?" She barked, trying to protect her modesty in the cramped shower cubicle, and making an effort not to look at his.
"I just thought, after last night…" He leaned in close, softly brushing her cheek with the end of his nose.
"Get off!" She yelled, shoving him away from her and folding her arms across her chest protectively. A furious scowl marred her usually peaceful face and she glared straight at him.
He met her stare head on, his eyes sparking with emotion, fuelled by her rejection. He made no effort to hide himself and instead stood open and receptive before her, a seductive smile upon his lips. "Are you sure?" He asked, looking deep into her eyes.
Her brows knitted together in an intense frown as she averted her eyes from his nakedness and subconsciously squeezed herself into the furthest corner of cubicle. "Yes." She muttered quietly.
"Fine." Hwoarang said with a sigh, turning away from her, but rather than leave the shower, he reached over for the shower gel and poured a large dollop into his hand. Julia stood gaping, mouth open, stunned by his audacity as he proceeded to lather himself up. "You know." He called over his shoulder. "If you're not interested then do you mind not staring please? I'm shy." Julia could feel his smirk without having to see it. Dragging her eyes away from him, she turned away to face the wall, confused about how to handle such a situation. She ran her hands up her arms as goose bumps covered her exposed skin. Hwoarang was very deliberately hogging all the water from the shower and Julia stood dazed, shivering in the back corner of the cubicle.
She felt the anger start to boil up inside her as he began humming cheerfully. How dare he do this to her! Finally managing to gather her wits enough that she felt she could deal with him, she spun round to face him, ready to throw him out as forcefully as necessarily. However, before she had a chance to speak, he had sealed her lips with his own, pushing her back against the wall. Pushing his tongue inside her mouth and running his hands over her body, he was sending shivers up her spine and making the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. She stared panic-stricken at him and he stared straight back, kissing her with open eyes. The fire in his gaze mesmerised her for a moment and she found herself responding to his kiss without thought. Another second later, her mind snapped back into control and she pushed him away.
"I don't get you at all!" He snapped at her, swiping his fingers through his tangled wet hair and turning away angrily. "You're clearly interested, I don't get why you're being so stubborn. Damn tease!" He protested, exiting the cubicle and slamming the door behind him. Julia sank back trembling against the wall of the shower. "What am I going to do?" She asked herself morosely. He was right, she was attracted to him, more than she'd ever been attracted to anyone else. But she didn't want to give in to that attraction. She knew in her heart that he would only hurt her. He wasn't interested in anything lasting. She'd probably never see him again after she left Japan and she desperately didn't want to fall in love, only to have it taken from her. He didn't want a relationship, he'd use her for sex, and then leave. She couldn't cope with that. But she was afraid she was already in too deep. She should never have helped him.
Hwoarang was sat on the end of the bed wearing just a pair of jeans, and tugging a comb through his hair with some difficulty when she finally worked up the courage to come out of the bathroom. He cast her an unflattering glance as she entered the room and returned to working the tangles out of his mane, cranking up the volume on the TV unnecessarily. She took the hint and went silently across to the bedside table and picked up the room service menu, scanning it discontentedly.
Hwoarang emitted soft growls intermittently as the comb caught on a knot and Julia would have suggested he conditioned it, if it weren't for the fact that he was so clearly angry. Watching him out of the corner of her eye, she saw the way he was working his jaw, clenching his teeth. His movements were jerky and violent and his glare upon the TV was so fierce she suspected he could blow it up just by looking at it. There was no way she wanted to risk talking to him in that mood. However, her stomach decided to do the talking for her, letting out a loud and embarrassing rumble. The Korean stopped what he was doing and turned to look at her, raising an eyebrow. She folded her arms around her stomach and he chuckled at her. Tossing the comb on the floor he shuffled round beside her on the bed and took the menu from her. "So we gonna order room service then?" He asked, a hint of hostility still audible at the edge of his voice.
Once their food had arrived, they sat eating in uneasy silence, neither looking at the other. Julia fixed her eyes on her food, nibbling delicately at it, making an effort to be as inconspicuous as possible. Hwoarang on the other hand, guzzled down his food as though he expected someone to take it away any second. It took Julia a great deal of control not to stare at him as he devoured everything in seconds. Once he'd finished his own food, he sat watching her food, as if waiting for it to run away. Eventually she offered some of it to him, and he consumed it gratefully.
The awkwardness between them gradually lifted and soon the atmosphere felt more comfortable. Having finished off all the food, they lay back on the bed, side by side and Hwoarang asked what her plans for the day were.
"I'm supposed to meet Xiaoyu at the end of tournament ceremony." She explained.
"Hmm…" Hwoarang exhaled, considering this. "I wonder who won?"
"I dunno." She responded, thinking about how Xiaoyu would react to the news that she'd spent the night with Hwoarang. She thought it might be best not to mention the shower incident. Xiaoyu was always a little too excited by things like that, and Julia still hadn't worked out her own feelings about the event.
"Xiaoyu's that little Chinese kid?" He asked.
"Uh huh."
"Well I guess I could stand a day hanging around with her." He mused, getting up. "When do we go?"
Julia wasn't expecting this, she'd figured he'd just go his own way today. She hadn't thought he'd be interested in going with her, and how would she explain this to her friend?
