A/N: A quick note about the unposted chapter that goes before this- if you'd like the e-mail I need your address. Also, replying to messages from FF do not work. That's all.

Disclaimer: Tekken and all it's characters are not mine, they are copyright to Namco.

Questions, Questions, Questions

Rolling over, Hwoarang began to push the covers down, intending to stumble out of bed and shower before his brain caught up and told him to just laze about before training. The ambition to start his day was inhibited, however, by the soft yet solid obstruction that filled half his bed and blocked his path. His immediate thought was 'Hyun-Ok' due to recent routine, but the brown hair spread across his pillow contradicted the automatic assumption.

Leaning over, he brushed several strands away from the woman's relaxed face... and the night's events suddenly came flooding back to him. He no longer felt the need to get out of bed.

The act of waking up and investigating who lay beside him had taken but a moment. In fact, Hwoarang's smirk was still spreading when Faith opened her eyes, unconsciously turning towards the touch that swept across her cheek.

The groggy woman let out a small gasp, her eyes growing wide as her entire field of vision was filled by the cockily grinning Korean. As handsome as he was, she was still startled to wake up to a face only inches away from her own.

"Good morning, alley cat."

Her wide-eyed surprise quickly narrowed to early morning grouching.

"Stop calling me that, damnit."

"And we have the first curse of the day! I think that's a record."

Faith's frown deepened, her lips pressing together as she tried to think of a smartass remark in return. Unfortunately, her brain didn't start officially working until at least five minutes after waking up.

"Don't think too hard," the redhead taunted, leaning in to kiss the delicate spot just behind her ear. He got the desired result as she shivered, her expression softening.

"That's more like it," he purred, lips wandering down her jaw.

Faith knew she should push him away before the teasing went any further; before she lost the use of intoxication, as slight as it may have been, as an excuse for the previous nights enthusiastic abandon. But he'd already moved over her and the attentions felt too good to push him away.

Besides, it hadn't been five minutes yet.

"Where are you going in such a hurry?" Hwoarang inquired, walking into the bedroom and briskly towel drying his hair.

Glancing up, Faith quickly averted her eyes. Did he have to strut around naked? Thinking it over for a moment, she concluded that yes, yes he did. It was all too fitting a trait to add to his list of noble qualities.

"Heading back to my apartment. I have to make sure Eun got back home safe and then get out of these clothes," she replied blandly, pulling on her boots.

"You could just call her. And you've already proven you have no problem getting out of those clothes here."

Choosing to ignore the bait, Faith got to her feet and headed for the door. Before the faintly blushing woman was out of the room, she was halted by two somber questions.

"You gonna just disappear again? Catch a flight back the U.S. and not tell anyone?"

She didn't respond at first, not quite sure how to reply. There really wasn't anything left for her back in the States except her parents, and she no longer spoke to either of them anyway. Going home just reminded her of Melody and the depression she'd gone through, while here in Korea there were memories of hurt and healing. Eun was here, along with Scar and the other acquaintances she'd made, not to mention the man who was watching her expectantly at that very moment. She wasn't quite sure how to describe the relationship they had, one night didn't make you lovers, but he was definitely a motive to stay.

"I won't just disappear," she stated, leaving leeway for either option.

Glancing out of the corner of her eye to gauge his reaction, she saw his nod, and then continued to watch as he pulled jeans and chaps up over stout legs and...

"I can take 'em back off if you want."

The amused remark made her start. Absorbed in her peeping, she had turned and gone from unobtrusive peeking to outright staring.

"Considering I'm leaving, that won't be necessary."

"You sure? 'Cause," he began to unbutton his pants with a devilish smile, "I don't mind puttin' 'em on later."

His offer was met with rolled eyes. "Goodbye, Hwoarang. Don't commit too many felonies today."

"I make no promises."

One two punch. Flying eagle. Low kick, switch stance, and follow up with machine gun kicks. Doggie lift and snap kick. Push hands and then firecracker the invisible opponents ass.

Sweat poured off the Korean as he went through his repertoire of offensive skills, switching smoothly from one to another without pausing for breath. His white do bohk clung to his form as if painted on, the tie to his pants being the only fabric to flutter with the aggressive movements. Even his bright coppery locks were plastered down, sweat-soaked several shades darker.

It had been a brutal training session, and Baek showed no signs of letting up.

Catching glimpses of his master, Hwoarang could see that the Killing Hawk was not done scowling at him, his face as set as it had been all day. Still, the displeasure of his mentor and the ruthlessness of the day's workout were not enough to dampen the biker's spirits or make him regret arriving late. The morning's activities had been too enjoyable to simply abandon for an extra couple hours of training.

Baek clearly disagreed. In his opinion, nothing was worth prioritizing over training, and nothing short of a near death experience merited tardiness. As such, he would push his pupil twice as hard until the boy learned once and for all that his rules were not to be broken.

"Again! Straighten those extensions and get those legs up higher! Higher! And pick up the pace, you're not a child. Stop slacking!"

Heeding the orders with a grunt of determination, Hwoarang began the sequence yet again, pushing himself to do it faster and more forcefully this time through. His body screamed for a rest, however short, and a drink of water to replace the gallons of moisture that seemed to be seeping out of him. He would drop from exhaustion before asking for either.

"That's enough," the older man interjected when he was satisfied with his students performance. "Wind down and catch your breath. We'll spar when your knees stop trembling."

"Yes... Master..." the redhead panted, bowing respectfully but resenting the insult to his stamina.

Willing his legs to stay strong, he picked up the water bottle waiting patiently on the floor and looked around the nearly finished dojang. Wryly, he laughed to himself about the early breaking in he was giving the fresh wood that had recently been so predominant in his fantasies. The reality of the building wasn't nearly as enticing as it's imagined counterpart.

"Come oooooooon! Why won't you spill!?"

"Because it's none of your business."

"Aww..." the bottle blonde pouted, thrusting her lower lip out like a disappointed child. "That's not how girlfriends are supposed to be. We're supposed to share stories like this... What if I asked simple yes or no questions? That's not too invasive."

Faith sighed, giving her friend an exasperated look. She'd been harassed from the moment Eun could draw enough breath between rounds of vomiting to form a question. Of course, that was after she had arrived home, collected the clothing strewn about the living room, woken up the unconscious naked man on the floor and convinced him to dress, kicked out the dressed man, and then hauled her friend to the bathroom to hold her hair back.

So all in all, she'd had a short moment of peace before the questions had started.

"I'll answer if I feel like it."

"Yes! Finally!" Eun leaned eagerly across the counter where her friend stood making a simple dinner. "So! First things first... Was it good? Was he good? Was he as good as he looks"?

"Yes, yes, and yes," came the reply, a smile twitching at the corner of the reluctant informant's mouth.

"Ohoho! Is he a closet romantic or did he give you a nice, rough roll around? Does he make a lot of noise? Did yoooouuu?"

"Thatis none of your business."

"Pffff. Fine. But... What about the first question, mm?"

"Wasn't exactly a yes or no question."

"Argh! Do you gotta be so difficult about this? It's not like I'm going to go flaunting your private life to the world!"

"You would if you were shitfaced and someone asked." Faith ignored the offended look that statement received and continued on, "I don't like flaunting my private life, even to you. If I really wanted to share, I would."

That took the wind out of the eager woman's sails. She seemed to deflate, a look of dejection on her face.

"Don't give me that crap, Eun. You don't have to know all the details about everyone's business."

"Not everyone's. Just yours... Would you at least answer me one little question?"

".... Depends on what it is," the harangued brunette replied cautiously.

"Are you gonna see him again?"

Faith simply smiled.

Returning home, Hwoarang dropped boneless into bed. Parts of him hurt in ways that he had forgotten they could hurt. He'd always thought he'd dealt with the harshest, most rigorous punishment his mentor could dish out, but he had been wrong. So wrong.

Raising his head to look at the time, he let it drop back down immediately.

'Food...' he thought despondently, calculating how much effort it would take to drag himself to the kitchen.

Thinking was as far as he got, however, his body sinking gratefully into the mattress once it had plopped down. Mind growing as heavy as his weary body, he allowed thoughts of eating to slip away as his eyelids slid shut. The last thing to cross his mind was that the pillow his face was buried in smelled comfortingly feminine after a ruthlessly masculine day.

Standing in the immaculate hallway, Hwoarang couldn't help but feel wary. The last time he'd stood in front of this door, the reception had been hostile and the unfavorable news delivered bitingly. It didn't help when the same blondie opened the door, although to his surprise he was greeted with an amused smirk instead of a hate-filled glare.

The look irritated him.

"Faith here?"

"She's sleeping."

Hwoarang stared at the woman, confused. It was six o'clock in the evening, what the hell was she doing sleeping?

Laughing at the puzzled expression on his face, Eun elaborated, stepping back and signaling for him to come inside.

"She fell behind on her work and had to stay up all last night and most of today to meet the deadlines. I was thinking about waking her up when you knocked. Since you're here though, I'll let you do the honors. Her bedroom is the one on the left."

Eyes following the direction Eun pointed, Hwoarang saw that there was a short hallway with what he could only assume were bedrooms on either side. Narrowing his eyes suspiciously at the overly friendly woman, the biker made his way to the left-hand bedroom, quietly opening the door.

The room was dark and noticeably warmer than the rest of the apartment. Weak rays from the streetlights outside leaked through the blinds, barely strong enough for the furniture to cast shadows. Focusing on the faint outline of the form on the bed, the redhead stepped away from the doorway and allowed some of the light from the living area to add a little more illumination.

As his eyes adjusting to the dimness, Hwoarang felt a predatory smile pulling at the corners of his mouth.

Faith lay stretched out on her bed, dreaming away with her back to the grinning fiend. The blankets around her had obviously been tossed and turned in, their twisted lengths half-covering and half-ensnaring her. The scene was so peaceful that the Blood Talon couldn't help but immediately think up innumerable ways to shatter it.

He settled on one of the milder ideas that came to mind. Creeping over to the bedside, he lowered himself gently to the mattress and ran one hand, still chilly from being outside, down her spine...

THWAP!

Holding the stinging side of his face, the biker glared at the grumpily mumbling denizen of the sheets. As soon as his cool fingertips had made contact she had jumped, automatically lashing out in a blind but accurate fashion before curling away from the source of irritation.

'What a fucking bear,' Hwoarang cursed mentally, rubbing at his tender cheek.

No longer willing to wake her nicely, he grabbed her by the shoulder and shook.

"Get your lazy ass out of bed! It's six, you goddamn grizzly!"

Jerked to consciousness, Faith was disoriented and slightly panicked. The cold hands that gripped her were too big to be Eun's...

"What the f..!"

The starting string of obscenities would have grown as the bewildered woman yanked away from her 'attacker', but she was so effective in distancing herself that she began to slide off the other side of the bed.

Hwoarang seriously considered letting her fall for a second, it's the least she deserved for smacking him, but decided to catch her despite the petty violence. Seizing her by the elbows, he pulled her back to stable seating, laughing at the clumsiness.

Gathering her wits, Faith recognized the voice of who was sitting on the edge of her bed. As the pieces clicked together, the response was instantaneous.

"Would you stop doing that! I don't need the shit scared out of me every time I wake up!" the ruffled American cried, pulling a blanket protectively over herself.

"No." The definite reply was accompanied by a tug at the duvet shield, the fabric quickly being gathered in his lap until he pulled away from her completely with a final jerk. "It's too funny watching you spazz."

"Hwoarang!"

He smirked at the irritated exclamation, playing singular keep-away as she lunged for her covers.

"What's with the modesty?" he teased, holding her back with one hand and holding the prize away with the other.

"It's cold..." she admitted begrudgingly.

"Cold?! It's a hell of a lot warmer in here than the rest of the place!"

Despite the disbelieving tone he threw the stolen blanket over her head, letting out a snort of amusement as he listened to the muffled huffs and curses of aggravation as she pulled it off.

"What the hell are you even doing here? And why the hell are we sitting in the dark?"

"What are you doing in bed at six, grandma?" the redhead shot back.

The response was a high velocity pillow to the face.

"Ow!"

".... Ow? You act like such a badass all the time and you say ouch to a pillow?"

Faith laughed in amusement at the tough biker's yelp as he grumbled and got up to flick the lightswitch on. Blinking away the brightness, her mocking laughter quickly died, replaced by a wave of guilt. The area around his left eye was a mass of bruising and swelling, and the darkened puff of his lower lip made it look as if even smiling would hurt. Those were just the most prominent areas of discoloring, however, as a variety of smaller injuries graced his features.

Noticing her sudden concern, Hwoarang shrugged nonchalantly before flopping down beside her, hands tucked behind his head.

"Baek may look old, but he can still pack a punch."

"It looks like he beat the shit out of you!"

Another shrug. "Been a rough couple of days."

"Do... Do you need ice?"

Hwoarang snorted. "A little late for ice at this point isn't it?"

"I did smack in you in the face just now..."

"Is that an apology?"

"Closest to one you'll ever get."

The cheeky reply made him smirk.

"Fine. I don't need it, but you can fetch me some ice."

"I'm not fetching you anything. Now get your ass off my bed and come to the kitchen."

Snickering quietly to himself, Hwoarang got up and followed as she strode into the tidy cooking area, standing on the other side of the island-like counter. Mind far from ice as he admired the qualities of her shorts and camisole pajamas, he was slightly startled to have a chilly packet thrust under his nose. Regaining his cocky smirk, he took it and held it to the still-smarting cheek.

"Thank you, mommy."

"Grandma and mommy, huh? Got a fetish for the older ladies now?"

"Only the MILFs."

Ignoring the lewd statement, Faith shook her head. "What are you doing here anyway? Had to harass me at home since I wasn't at the shop today?"

"No... I was gonna see if you wanted to go out tonight."

"Like a date?"

The dubious tone was matched with eyebrows arched in equal skepticism.

The redhead shrugged loosely, disconcerted by her lack of reaction. "Something like that."

"I dunno... People might think I abuse you."

"As if you could," the Korean quipped, half-smiling as he pushed back the finger she had playfully begun to circle in the air above his injuries.

Before the light exchange of teasing could continue, a third voice broke the mood.

"As much as I'd love for you to get out and have some actual fun, Faith, I already ordered out for you, so your ass better be here to pay for it." Completely oblivious to the dirty look the redhead was giving her for eavesdropping, Eun added, "You can always have fun staying in with bruise boy though."

Faith growled in bug-eyed response, swatting at the now giggling blonde. Dodging, the brightly dressed roomate flounced towards the door.

"I'll be home after two! Don't do anything I wouldn't do!"

"That doesn't rule out much," the flustered brunette grumbled, still kicking herself mentally for not informing her roommate that 'bruise boy' was bilingual.

Hwoarang, however, had immediately latched onto the suggestion with a grin. "She makes a good point."

"Don't get your hopes up."

The warning glare she'd begun to give him was ruined by the onset of a yawn, and for the first time Hwoarang noticed how tired she looked.

"Fine. Instead of going out we can stay here and you can clear up some things I've been wondering about." Another eyebrow quirk response prompted him to add, "And you can ask me anything you want in return."

"Wow. First a date and now 21 questions? Keep it up and I just may start to think you liiiike me, dye job," Faith drawled out, doing her best tween girl impression as she leaned against the countertop.

Hwoarang smirked. "Don't get your hopes up."

She returned the expression. "Wouldn't dream of it."

With that, she sauntered out to the living area and dropped onto the couch, not caring if he did the same. A heavy thump on the other side told her he had.

"So you wanna play... what did you call it? Twenty-one questions?... or not, alley cat?"

Faith chuckled lightly, ignoring the use of his pet name for her. She found the fact that he was unaware of the meaning of the game adorable, considering he was such a ladies man. Besides that, she could retaliate with her own questions if necessary.

"Sure, flamehead. Shoot."

He grinned.

"You thought I was dead sexy when we first met, huh?"

Sighing, Faith rolled her eyes. This was going to be a long game.

"Wasn't really focusing on your sexy factor, but yes, I had a passing thought that you were attractive. You ruined any impulse to act on that thought when you opened your mouth though."

"But you still wanted me."

"I was more worried about being surrounded by a gang, actually. Why'd you help me that day anyway?"

"'Cause I'm such a gentleman," he replied, using his suavest voice. The incredulous stare he was receiving told him that answer wasn't going to slide. "Just saw something in your eyes, if you want the corny truth."

"The plain truth would be fine."

The remark was absentminded as she tried to think back on what she may have looked like that day. She'd felt more pissed off than anything, which didn't really strike her as translating into 'damsel in distress'.

"Why did you stick around afterwards? Taking care of me when I was sick and all?"

"I dunno. I couldn't really go far with my leg busted up like it was, and then you just looked so helpless stumbling around the bathroom that one day that I couldn't not help you. Would've gone against my instincts to just leave you like that."

The redhead recoiled from the description of himself. He'd known he had been really sick, but to hear her call him helpless stung his pride. He immediately switched to a topic he was confident on.

"How'd you get into fighting? Your technique isn't that bad."

Faith couldn't help but blink at the abrupt switch of topic. The fact that he'd complimented her didn't even register due to the complete 180 in conversation.

"Uh... Well... I had a lot of pent-up aggression as a kid. It was a good outlet for that and learning self-defense. I'm a perfectionist with shit like that, so I had to learn it right or I wasn't happy. I can't believe you actually remember my technique."

"Mmhm..."

Watching her thoughtfully, he contemplated his next words.

"You should let Master Baek train you."

The invitation was greeted with a fit of laughter.

"Oh yeah. A master of Tae Kwon Do teaching me. That's funny!"

"It's not a joke. The dojang will open up soon and he'll need students. You'll just be a few steps ahead of all the new guys. Well, a hell of lot further along than a few steps considering you didn't get knocked out within a minute against me."

"You're really serious..."

"No shit. Do I look like I'm joking?"

Biting back a smartass remark about his looks, she contemplated the offer for a moment. "I'll need more time to think about it. Eun doesn't need me at the shop anymore, so it'd be something to do when I wasn't working."

That made him perk his ears up. "So you're staying in Korea then?"

"For now."

"Why are you staying?" he asked, leaning in close with a smirk. "Come on. Confession is good for the soul and the game's still on."

Placing a finger in the center of his chest, Faith pushed him backwards, switching their places and leaning over him. "Practice what you preach, bike boy. It's my turn. So... Why do you come and see me all the time?"

Hwoarang stared for a moment, trying to think of a snappy reply. The bright eyes boring into his own sparkled with amusement at his hesitation, which only agitated him.

"'Cause I wanted to get lucky," he bit out, bristling.

Faith was undeterred.

"You wouldn't have come here tonight if that was the case. And you wouldn't have paused if that was really your answer. Whatcha hidin', Hwoarang?"

"You tell me, Ms. Know-It-All," he growled, unsettled by how uncomfortable this discussion was making him. "'Cause if you don't know, you really should wipe that smarmy fucking look off your face."

"Ooooh. Touchy, touchy!"

Hwoarang was on the verge of getting up and leaving, but was prevented from doing so when she suddenly pinned him in, an arm on either side of his head as she brought her face close to his.

"You look unsure of yourself, Blood Talon. That's a first."

"That's because I think you just lost it," he muttered, shifting uncomfortably as she pressed closer. "What happened to being uptight about everything?"

Faith smiled at that, biting back a laugh and leaning in so they were almost touching. Breezing past the lips he had parted expectantly when she'd moved, the American spoke softly into his ear.

"Go out like you planned. I'll give you my answer on the training situation the next time I see you."

Pulling back, she hopped off the couch and away from him in one smooth movement. It took the redhead a moment to process her absence. As the warmth of where she'd been pushed against him faded, he felt a swell of indignation. Shoving up from where he'd sank into the cushions, he leveled an accusing finger at her.

"You are a cocktease! First you say 'don't get your hopes up' and then you pull that shit!"

"You're just overly excitable."

"Damnit, woman..."

The accused tease snickered, beginning to walk backwards toward the kitchen.

"Don't seem to be leaving very fast."

"I'm not leaving until I get my answers, and if that means I'll be here 'til morning then so be it."

As he finished speaking, he darted forward and scooped her up, moving so quickly she couldn't stop him.

"Hwoarang!"

Strutting down the hallway, it was the redhead's turn to chuckle as he ignored the protests of his squirming passenger.

Can't say I'm particularly thrilled with this chapter, but there it is. Please excuse any typos or awkward phrasing, I'm getting this up before I leave for a short vacation with no net access. Also, there's not gonna be sex all the time, but this chapter is for those who don't want to read the preceding lemon. :)