She woke with his hand sliding across her head, softly, his other arm around her waist. Morning light seeped through the closed blinds, leaving streaks of light across the bed, and across their bodies. Sitting up from her position, head on his chest, Julia sighed.

"Did you wake up before I did?"

"I never fell asleep."

"Why not?"

"I wanted to make sure you'd be alright." Hwoarang thought for a moment of how she effected him. She tuned him down to no more than a gentleman, chasing the street thug out of him as though it had never been there at all. She ran her thumb across his bottom lip and then pressed her mouth against his in a spur of the moment action. When Julia's tongue touched his, she felt his body tense, and it drove her on.

Her kiss swept him into a blank state of mind, where he could only feel her and the rhythm of his own heart.

Hwoarang placed his hand on the back of her head, intensifying the kiss, feeling her exhalations against his skin with how close they were. Julia's hand slid across his shoulder, and they were interrupted by a courtesy alarm that shattered the concentration they shared. The two stopped kissing, and stared into each others eyes as the American voiced woman spoke over the speaker.

"Please report to the Wei Pai room immediately for an announcement and meeting regarding the current tournament. Thank you." Against what she wanted, Julia climbed off of his lap, and he stood. Neither could tell if the moment was awkward for the other as they left the room in silence for the elevators.

Julia stood against the right side of the elevator with her arms crossed against her chest, starring at him thoughtfully.

"Than you for taking care of me." He nodded, without words, attempting to bring himself back to his normal emotionally deprived state.

All his efforts found themselves to be a waste when she approached him and put her forehead against his chin. Hesitantly, Hwoarang slipped his arm around her waist, just as the elevator doors slid open. The quick embrace was broken as she walked out ahead of him, refolding her arms.

He followed behind and took a seat next to her at the back of the room, amongst the metal folding chairs and tired, worn out fighters. Hwoarang leaned forward, his elbows braced on his knees, hands folded before his mouth. She watched him. She studied him. His shirt slid up from his back, exposing skin and the waistband of his jeans. Thoughtfully, she returned his previous action and ran her hand across his back a few times before returning it to her lap.

Hwoarang smiled, leaning back against the cold metal. Their shoulders touched as they both stared ahead, neither too aware of the other people around them, of the conversations taking place, of what they were supposed to be paying attention to. He could feel every breath that she took, making him want to wrap his arms around her to feel each inhalation more closely. He could smell her skin…the smell of spices and roses. He fought with the more impure thoughts, willing them away, keeping it sweet. A sigh of impatience escaped him as the woman ahead began to drone on again.

-o-

Hwoarang knocked softly at her door, not sure if she was even around. They hadn't made plans to meet up...they hadn't really talked at all since the night before. Just a lot of stares, smiles, heart flutters. Evening had found them since the last they'd seen of each other.

So wrapped up in the book she was reading, she didn't bother to look up out of the peep hole of the door before opening it.

"Hi." His voice broke her from her trance and she smiled.

"Hi." Julia stepped aside so that he could come though the doorway and into her room. She'd been burning incense and the smell of sweet musk played in the air. It even looked a little smoky. He laughed, his hands in his pockets. Even through the incense, he could smell her skin, her sweet perfume.

"Am I interrupting your studying?" Julia shook her head as he read the cover of her book.

"Biological…stuff."

"Teach me." Hwoarang joked, smiling. There was no way he'd have the patience to learn anything like that. Patience was something that was generally thin with him.

"Only if you teach me Korean first." She sat down against the head board on the bed, stretching out her long legs. She wore a blue short jean skirt an a white, body hugging tank top, the straps of her bra tangled with the shirt straps. Hwoarang sat down onto the edge of the bed.

"I think that'd be easier." He glanced at her and smiled. He looked tired, but he looked content which was rare. It was rare to be able to tell anything but anger or annoyance, or smart assed ways on his face.

"Well…what's the first thing to learn?" Julia moved to sit closer to him, leaning forward.

"I guess…it'd be your name." She waited intently until he pronounced 'Julia' in his native tongue.

"It sounds so interesting. Much more interesting than the English equivalent. She moved closer, playfully, with a smile. "Teach me more." He paused for a second, then reached forward and ran his hand through her hair.

"Beautiful." The unfamiliar language intrigued her.

"What does it mean?" She stopped his hand once he reached her cheek and held it there against her skin.

"Nothin'." Laughing, she playfully hit his hand.

"Come on. What does it mean?" Again, he laughed.

"Nothing." Julia gently punched his upper arm, and he cried out, over acting.

"Oh shut up." Julia laughed even harder.

"Ok, ok, don't beat me up…" Hwoarang smiled, running his hand up the back of her calf, starring at her red toe nails. "It means 'beautiful'." He spoke seriously, looking into her eyes to reaffirm his belief.