"Lover?"

Soo-Won stands across from a sitting Ogi at his back alley hideout in Kuuto. Instantly Soo-Won realizes he's responded too quickly to what Ogi just said, so he smiles and tilts his head to feign innocence.

"She didn't seem like the kinda girl to kiss just anybody. She kissed him in front of everyone. So, I thought he was her lover."

"Hmm. Logical," Soo-Won sips his tea, then, "Anything else I should be aware of about their visit?"

Ogi glances in frustration at the hairpin in Soo-Won's hand. He isn't making it out on top this time. He's barely surviving this visit. And he isn't sure how much he can afford to hide. Soo-Won is a master in discovering secrets. But the information Ogi is privy to in this case could mean life or death for some parties. Min-Soo, Tae-Jun, him...

"It was on the lips. She grabbed him-"

"Enough," Soo-Won sets down his teacup with finality.

Ogi had caught on right away that something about that topic distracts Soo-Won. Good, he'll even embellish if he has to in order to end this "casual" interrogation.

"When they come to you again, you know what to do, " Soo-Won's words are firm as his fingers tighten around the hairpin, then he turns to leave with Joo-Doh.

"Yona Dear, you're so quiet this morning," Jae-Ha has his arm around Yona at the breakfast table in the Wind Tribe's main great hall. The dragons all sit around the meal as well as various Wind warriors - and at the very end, Hak. Both Hak and Yona are looking opposite directions, trying to suppress blushes.

"I didn't sleep well," Yona confesses, only to catch sight of Hak hearing her and looking her way in concern, "But I'm fine! Really... very... completely OK."

"You look a little red. How much did you drink last night? Trust me, Dear, if you're feeling unwell from over-celebrating, let me take care of you," Jae-Ha smiles down at his blushing princess, starting to see through her "hangover." He glances at Hak who looks away again. Yep, Jae-Ha knows - this is a "Hakover" of sorts if anything.

"How can you say that to me when you're wounded?" Yona draws Jae-Ha's attention back.

"Because when I'm near you, I heal. And so I need you to be full of life at my side. I'm sorry it doesn't work the other way around."

Yona rests her head on him as she looks at the other dragons, beaming at each other, so happy to be together and free again, "Oh but it really does, Jae-Ha. It does."

"What happened between you two?"

Hak looks up from the courtyard he's passing through to see Jae-Ha perched in a tree, "If you burst your stitches playing in trees, Yun'll stop feeding you."

Jae-Ha hops down to his side and presses on, "The unnecessary chores you're both busying yourselves with and yet you're completely distracted from them..."

Hak looks down at the water basin he's carrying. Jae-Ha proves his point, "That was a long walk to not fill it up."

"Listen Droopy Eyes, when it's your business, I'll tell you all about the Princess and I. Until then-"

"She told me."

Hak's eyes nearly burst out of his head. His breathing quickens, "Well then you don't need to ask me," and he continues on past Jae-Ha.

Jae-Ha rolls his head back in frustration at this aggravating pseudo-couple, "She said she kissed you in Kuuto and you pulled back."

That stops Hak. He flips the empty basin onto the ground, turns facing Jae-Ha, and sits on it. Temples in his hands, "She said that?"

"It's becoming very difficult for me to encourage her that you're actually interested in her without explicitly telling her that you actually really are interested in her. You're not helping at all."

"I see. Is she upset?"

"I think she's afraid of accidentally pushing you away by trying to become closer to you."

Hak's jaw drops at the thought. He thinks about the mess of the night before... damn it.

"You have to tell her."

"I know."

"You have noticed, right?"

"What?"

"She's in love with you."

Hak doesn't respond. Yeah, she's said it. Sure, she's kissed him. Even touched him. But maybe there were circumstances? Some part of him still can't accept it.

"You're an idiot," Jae-Ha waves an arm as he walks off, "Do it soon or I'll tell her how I feel."

Hak's eyes narrow at the green figure hopping away.

But as Hak's expression relaxes, his real feeling shows, one that very few times has ever emerged - he's afraid.

Yona is off alone trying to scrub laundry for some of the kind Wind grandmas. She sucks at washing clothes. Ugh, and she keeps catching her fingers on the washboard. She offered to help with this to distract herself and to get a little more time before inevitably having to face a certain someone, but she hasn't been able to focus at all. She's only been thinking about-

"Ach!" She lifts another stubbed finger to her lips. Someone grabs it.

Yona stops breathing as Hak examines her hand, "Your fingers are like prunes. You're not supposed to hold them under water."

Yona yanks her hand back, her face bright red against her will. She looks away. Oh no, this is it.

Hak watches her for a moment in silence, feeling responsible and guilty for how uncomfortable she is. He puts a hand on her back. Damn, she still isn't looking or breathing. He pulls her into his chest, wrapping his arms around her and nuzzling his face into her hair, "Princess?"

Yona breathes and hugs him back, "You idiot."

Hak smiles, "I've gotten a lot of that today."

Yona smiles, too, "Good."

"There's something... I'd like to talk to you about."

Neither is sure whether to be excited or terrified.