#ateezff

Minju had wanted to sit beside him earlier, but when she arrived, he had already placed his jacket and bag on that seat.

She’d smiled and told him she wanted to sit there, but he’d laughed softly and said,

“I just want to keep my stuff here for tonight.”

So she’d nodded and sat across from him instead.

And now here he was, moving that same jacket and gesturing for Sohee to sit.

It wasn’t just about the chair. Not really.

It was the meaning behind it — or maybe, the lack of it.

Sohee had liked Hongjoong since college. Everyone knew it. Even the guys had told her countless times to stop, because Minju liked him. And still, she hadn’t stopped.

And Hongjoong… didn’t seem to mind.

The laughter around the table grew louder, filling the restaurant with warmth Minju couldn’t feel. She ate quietly, keeping her eyes on her plate, pretending she wasn’t listening to the sound of Hongjoong’s laughter — that soft, bright tone she hadn’t heard from him in months.

The tone that had never belonged to her.

He never talked to her like that. Not once.

She’d tried to talk to him earlier — a small comment here, a joke there — but he only nodded absentmindedly before turning back to his own world.

He sat right across from her, yet he had never felt so far away.

It was like he was slipping farther out of reach with every second that passed.

When she finally lifted her gaze, her eyes met Mingi’s — her older brother, sitting a few seats away, watching her quietly.

His expression was soft but worried, like he could see straight through her. He always could.

Her throat tightened, humiliation prickling under her skin. She looked away before he could say anything.

A little while later, Sohee got up, brushing her hair behind her ear as she smiled at the group.

“I should get going,” she said.

Hongjoong looked up, eyes widening.

“Already? Stay a little longer,” he said, voice gentle. “We haven’t seen you in ages.”

“It’s okay,” Sohee laughed. “You guys have fun. I’ll see you next time.”

He stood halfway as she waved goodbye, even offering,

“Want me to walk you to your car?”

“No, it’s fine,” she replied quickly. “I’ll be okay.”

And just like that, she left — with him smiling after her, watching until she was out of sight.

When Sohee left, the table felt quieter for a moment — just the six of them now.

But even in that quiet, Minju felt invisible.

It was like Hongjoong had forgotten she was there.

Wooyoung was the first to break the silence, grinning.

“Hyungggg, she totally likes you!” he teased, dragging out the words.

Hongjoong laughed, waving him off.

“I don’t like her,” he said, smiling. “But she’s cute.”

Minju’s fork froze halfway to her mouth.

Yeosang leaned in with an easy grin.

“You should go for it. She’s totally your type.”

San nodded in agreement.

“Yeah. I’ve never seen you that happy with any girl before.”

That did it.

The sound of their laughter started to blur around her, like glass cracking quietly in her chest.

Because they knew.

They all knew.

They knew she had adored Hongjoong since they were kids — since before any of them even knew what love really meant.

They knew how much she’d loved him, how many times she’d stayed behind just to walk with him, how she always waited.

They’d promised her once that they’d be her wingmen, that they’d help her one day.

But now they were teasing him with someone else.

And maybe it was because they were adults now, and it wasn’t their place anymore.

But it still hurt.

It hurt so much she could barely breathe.

She tried to laugh along with them, to pretend it was fine, but it felt wrong — the sound catching in her throat, her lips trembling with every forced smile.

Across the table, Mingi stayed quiet.

Her older brother’s eyes didn’t leave her.

He looked sad. Angry. Worried.

But she didn’t dare meet his gaze.

Every time she did, she felt humiliated — like the biggest fool sitting in plain sight.

Like everyone could see just how pathetic she was.

The laughter around her started to feel suffocating. Every second that passed, the air grew heavier, pressing down on her chest.

She couldn’t stay any longer.

If she did, she’d cry right there — in front of all of them.

So she began packing her bag quietly, hoping no one would notice. But Wooyoung, who sat beside her, caught on first.

“Hey, you’re leaving already? Stay a little longer!” he said, eyes wide.

Before she could answer, Hongjoong finally looked up.

“Oh, you’re leaving?” he asked, his tone casual — almost distracted.

She nodded, forcing a small smile.

“Yeah. Need to get to work early.”

The others protested softly, telling her to stay, but Hongjoong just nodded once.

“Okay then. See you,” he said, already turning back to his food.

That was it.

She almost laughed at herself.

He hadn’t even looked at her twice before going back into his little bubble — the one that seemed to exist only when she was there.

He didn’t ask her to stay longer.

He didn’t offer to walk her out.

Of course, he didn’t have to — but it hurt anyway.

Because he’d said all those things to someone else tonight.

And when it came to her, he didn’t even think twice before looking away.

Maybe he was just hungry — after all, he’d spent the entire evening laughing and performing every little stunt that shattered her heart piece by piece. After all that work, who wouldn't be exhausted and hungry?

She stared at the top of his head, at how easily he smiled at his plate, as if she wasn’t even there.

The others noticed then — noticed the way she looked at him, the way realization crept across their faces too late.

Wooyoung’s voice softened.

“Minju…” he called quietly.

But she just shook her head, slinging her bag over her shoulder before walking away.

Her footsteps echoed against the tile as she left the restaurant, each step heavier than the last.

The laughter behind her faded, replaced by the quiet hum of the city outside.

She walked through the dim streets toward the parking lot, blinking back the sting in her eyes.

She told herself not to cry. Not here. Not now.

Then she heard a familiar voice.

“Min!”

She turned, and there he was — Mingi, her older brother, looking like he’d stormed out after her.

She looked down quickly, her lips pressing together, trying to hold herself together.

“He’s stupid,” Mingi said softly, stepping closer. “You didn’t deserve any of that tonight.”

That was all it took.

The walls she’d built all evening cracked and broke. Her knees gave out as she crouched down on the sidewalk, burying her face in her hands.

And she finally let herself cry.

Her sobs started to quiet a little, but her chest still heaved as she pressed her palm against her face. When she pulled it away, she stared at it — wet with tears.

"It’s not fair…" she whispered, voice trembling.

Mingi’s heart clenched. He crouched beside her instantly, wrapping his arms around her shoulders and gently pulling her up to stand. She let him, leaning against him as her tears continued to fall in quiet streams.

“It’s okay,” he murmured softly, rocking her just a little. “It’s okay. He doesn’t deserve you. You don’t deserve this treatment. I’m so sorry. I should’ve said something back there.”

She shook her head against his chest, muffling her sobs.

“I… I tried to laugh, Mingi. I tried… but it was too much.”

He held her tighter.

“I know, Min. I know.”

For a moment, the world felt still around them. The city noises faded, the distant honks and chatter of people felt far away. All that existed was the small figure of his sister shaking in his arms, and the tight, protective squeeze he offered.

“You don’t have to explain,” he said softly. “You just… let it out. You don’t have to pretend for anyone. Not tonight. Not ever.”

She sniffled, wiping at her cheeks, but she didn’t pull away. Instead, she let herself cling to him, finally letting someone see just how much it had hurt.

—

Two weeks later, it was her birthday.

She had originally planned to call everyone over for dinner, but the guys — guilty as ever — had suggested that she just call Hongjoong. No distractions. No one else. If it were just the two of them, maybe he’d actually talk. Maybe she’d finally see that he really did care. Maybe — just maybe — it could ignite something between them.

It was the afternoon of her birthday. She had called him multiple times in the days leading up to it. She’d tried three, maybe four days in advance, but he hadn’t picked up once. Not even a missed call notification.

He never forgot her birthday. Not once, not ever. Since they were kids, it had been a ritual — a text, a call, a small gesture. He’d definitely remember… right?

She had spent the whole day preparing. Cooking. Making sure everything was perfect. She set the table for two, polished the silverware, and made sure the house was spotless. Every detail mattered, even though her hands shook with anticipation.

Night fell. Still, he hadn’t called. Her heart started to thump nervously, but when her phone finally rang at 7 PM, she forced a small, hopeful smile and answered.

“Sorry I couldn’t pick up. I’m out having dinner with colleagues,” he said casually.

Her chest sank. Speechless.

“For… three days, huh?” she asked, her voice colder than intended.

He chuckled.

“Whoops. I guess our timing didn’t align.”

She rolled her eyes, the urge to scoff bubbling up.

“You didn’t even think of calling bac—forget it. Nothing. I just wanted to ask something, but it’s already dealt with.”

He didn’t even pause.

“Oh, alright then. Maybe next time you should call me when I’m out from work rather than during my work hours.”

Her lips pressed together, and she stayed quiet. She couldn’t find the words. It sounded so wrong — so snarky, so indifferent, so mean — and yet, he said it like it was nothing.

“Hello? Minju? Hello?” he called before ending the call.

The moment it disconnected, she got up, switched off her phone, and threw it onto the couch. Her hands trembled as she cleared the cutlery and set up the table again. Her laptop called to her from the counter. She clicked the email she’d been putting off for weeks and accepted the job offer in Jeju.

She had originally planned not to take it. It was too far. She wouldn’t see him. She’d miss him. But… fuck Hongjoong.

If he was going to treat her like this — if he was going to remain indifferent while treating everyone else better — she didn’t care anymore.

The tears came in full force, blinding her. She let them fall freely, sobbing as if she were drowning, before clearing her throat and telling herself to breathe. To stop crying.

She sniffled and wiped at her cheeks, shaking hands lighting the candles on the cake Mingi had gotten for her. She plated up the food she had made, carelessly, without worrying about presentation. She tied her hair back and let out a shaky breath, sitting down and closing her eyes.

She made a wish, quietly, internally:

Take these feelings away from me…

It wasn’t about the birthday. It wasn’t about the recent events. It wasn’t even about what he had said.

It was the indifference. The way he had always pushed her aside, treated others better than her, smiled for everyone but never for her. It was painfully obvious, and it hurt like fire.

If he hated her so much, why couldn’t he just say it?

She sniffled again and wiped her tears, digging her spoon into the cake without care, eating it straight from the plate. She let the tears fall freely as she ate, shoving forkful after forkful of the food she had made into her mouth.

It wasn’t elegant. It wasn’t perfect. But she didn’t care anymore.

She just let herself feel.

A while later, she was slumped over the dining table, staring at the more-than-half-eaten cake. Her lips still had remnants of frosting and crumbs clinging stubbornly, and she didn’t bother wiping them away. She just sat there, blankly staring at the plate, the flickering candlelight casting shadows across her face.

Her back ached from sitting in the same position for too long, but she didn’t move. She let herself linger in the quiet, the weight of the evening pressing down on her like a physical thing.

Finally, she pushed herself upright, shoulders stiff, and rested her chin in her hands.

Hongjoong.

The thought of him twisted in her chest. The Hongjoong who had never dated anyone. The Hongjoong who never seemed to have the slightest idea about romance.

It was becoming impossible to understand him.

It was becoming impossible to brush off the way he had treated her tonight — as if she were invisible, as if she didn’t matter, as if he only existed in a world where everyone else came first.

For years, she had told herself, He doesn’t know any better. He’s just dense. He can’t help it.

But now… it was becoming harder and harder to convince herself of that.

Because density didn’t look like this.

Indifference didn’t look like this.

And no matter how much she tried to rationalize, her chest ached with the same old truth she had buried deep down:

She had always loved him.

And he had always let her hurt.

—

A week later, they sat across from each other in a quiet little café. Minju’s sunglasses hid most of her expression, and her lips were set in a straight line, giving away nothing.

Hongjoong studied her carefully, guilt knotting his stomach. He had missed her birthday. Her birthday. He had never missed it before, not once. Seeing her now — distant, closed off, different — made his chest tighten painfully.

“I… I’m so sorry, Minju,” he said again, voice heavy with regret. He couldn’t stop apologizing. “I don’t even have words for how sorry I am. I shouldn’t have… I can’t believe I missed it.”

She didn’t flinch. Didn’t respond. She just pushed her sunglasses slightly up the bridge of her nose, staring at her hands folded neatly on the table.

He looked at her. Really looked. She seemed smaller somehow, quieter, but also… distant. Unreachable. The warmth he’d always taken for granted in her eyes was gone.

“I thought… maybe lunch would… I don’t know. I just wanted to see you,” he said, his voice cracking slightly.

Minju finally spoke, her words low, almost indifferent:

“I’m leaving soon.”

Hongjoong froze, confusion flashing across his face.

“Leaving… what do you mean?” he asked, leaning forward. “Where… why?”

She lifted her gaze briefly, meeting his eyes through the tinted lenses of her sunglasses.

“Got a job offer in Jeju,” she said, calm but firm. “So I leave in a month.”

His heart skipped a beat. A month. That was so soon. He could feel the sharp edges of his own guilt and regret cut deeper. Words failed him. He wanted to say something — anything — but all that came out was a strained whisper:

“Jeju…?”

She nodded once, turning her head slightly toward the window, as if letting him see that there was no room for negotiation.

The silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating, filled with everything he hadn’t done, everything he had taken for granted, and everything she had silently endured for years.

Hongjoong ran a hand through his hair, frustration and guilt battling in his chest. He had never felt this helpless before.

“Minju… please,” he started, voice low and earnest. “I know I messed up. I… I should have remembered. I should have called, I should have—”

She cut him off, her tone flat.

“It’s not the birthday I’m angry about,” she said quietly, her voice steady but sharp. “It’s… everything else. The way you’ve treated me all these years. The way I’ve been here, always, and you… you never noticed. Not really.”

His chest tightened. Everything else? The words hit harder than he expected. He had always assumed she’d forgive small things, that her love would somehow make up for his obliviousness.

“I… I brought you out today because I wanted to see you. To explain. To—” He hesitated, swallowing hard before continuing. “To make it right, somehow.”

Minju’s gaze flicked to him briefly, then back down at her hands. She didn’t smile, didn’t soften.

“There’s nothing to make right about the past. You’ve been… indifferent. You’ve taken me for granted for years. And now… now it’s too late to just fix it with an apology.”

He flinched at the words, the sting sharper than he expected. He reached across the table, hesitating only a moment before lightly touching her hand.

“I do see you. I always have. You’ve been right there, Minju, my whole life. I just… I didn’t realize how much I needed to show you that, until now.”

She pulled her hand back slowly, almost reflexively.

“It’s too late,” she murmured. “I can’t… I can’t keep waiting for something that might never happen.”

He swallowed, desperation creeping into his voice.

“Please. Don’t decide yet. Let me—let me show you. Just give me a chance. One chance to fix this before you go. Before Jeju.”

Her lips pressed into a thin line. Her gaze dropped to the table again. A small part of her wanted to hope, wanted to believe him. But another part — the part that had been hurting quietly for years — knew better.

“I don’t know if I can,” she whispered.

Hongjoong’s eyes softened, but the intensity didn’t fade.

“Then let me try. That’s all I’m asking. One try. Please, Minju. One try.”

She stayed silent for a long moment, letting the weight of his words hang in the air. Her heart thumped unevenly in her chest. Could she risk it? Could she let him in after all this time?

Finally, she lifted her sunglasses slightly, her eyes meeting his.

“One try,” she said softly, almost reluctantly.

A flicker of hope lit his face, and for the first time in days, he allowed himself a small, careful smile.

“That’s all I need,” he said, voice gentle, but steady. “Just one try.”

And though she didn’t fully trust it yet, a tiny part of her — the part that had always loved him — stirred with the faintest whisper of hope.

Hongjoong sat back in his chair, rubbing the back of his neck as he tried to make sense of the whirlwind inside him.

He didn’t understand what he was feeling exactly. It wasn’t just guilt. It wasn’t just regret. It was… something else, something heavier, something that made his chest tighten and his stomach twist into knots.

But what he did know was this: the thought of her leaving — of Minju leaving, moving to Jeju, disappearing from his life — was unbearably uncomfortable.

Extremely uncomfortable.

Every scenario he imagined — her packing her things, closing her apartment door for the last time, stepping onto a plane — made his stomach churn and his heart pound in a way he had never experienced before.

It wasn’t just fear of losing a friend. It wasn’t just loneliness. It was her. The thought of a life without her near him, without her presence, without her laugh, without her constant quiet energy filling the spaces he didn’t even realize needed filling… it was too much.

His chest felt tight, as if it might collapse inward at any moment. His hands clenched and unclenched, fingers tapping nervously against the table.

He realized, suddenly and terrifyingly, that this discomfort — this aching, twisting, relentless discomfort — wasn’t going away.

Because he had never considered that she might leave.

He had never thought about a life in which Minju wasn’t there.

And now… the idea of that life was unbearable.

Hongjoong’s gaze fell on her, and for a long moment, their eyes locked.

He stared at those eyes — the ones that had quietly carried so much over the years, the ones that had been patient, forgiving, and unwavering. And the more he looked, the heavier the guilt settled in his chest.

He didn’t understand what had made him treat her the way he did. Why had he ignored her, brushed her off, acted like she was just… there? It had been uncalled for. He was a jerk. A selfish, thoughtless jerk.

And as he thought back, memories he hadn’t consciously considered before started surfacing. More than once, he had ignored her, failed to notice her, not paid attention to what she wanted or needed.

Maybe it was because he had always known she’d be there. Always.

She had never left. She had always shown up. And that… that had made him careless. Complacent.

But now, looking at her — really looking — he realized just how wrong he had been.

He saw it in her eyes: the quiet patience, the constant support, the unwavering loyalty.

Whenever he had failed, she had been there to pick him back up.

Whenever he had succeeded, she had been there to celebrate with him.

And along the way… he had become selfish.

He had become rude.

He had taken her for granted.

Every past action, every careless word, every moment of indifference crashed down on him like a wave he couldn’t fight.

He had hurt her.

He had let the one person who had always loved him quietly, fiercely, entirely… go unnoticed.

And now, facing her, the weight of that truth was undeniable.

Hongjoong’s chest tightened, and he swallowed hard, words tumbling out before he could second-guess them.

“Minju… I’m so sorry. Not just for your birthday… for everything. For all the times I ignored you, or brushed you off, or acted like you were just… always going to be there. I didn’t see you the way I should have. I didn’t treat you the way you deserved. And I… I was selfish. So selfish.”

His voice broke slightly, raw with regret. He reached across the table, but hesitated, not wanting to push her away further.

“You’ve always been there for me, Minju. Every time I failed, every time I needed someone, you were there. And every time I succeeded, you were the first person I should have celebrated with… and I didn’t. I took you for granted. I didn’t appreciate how much you loved me, how much you gave… how much you are. And I—God, I’m so sorry. I don’t even know how I let myself treat you like that.”

He stopped, taking a shaky breath, letting the weight of his words hang in the air. His eyes never left hers.

“I don’t want to lose you. Not like this. Not after everything. I… I don’t know what I was thinking before, but I know now. I see it. I see you. I see everything you’ve done for me, everything you’ve been to me… and I’m terrified at the thought of losing you, Minju.”

For the first time, there was no teasing, no casual laughter, no lighthearted deflection. It was just him, stripped down, vulnerable, desperate to make her understand.

“I don’t expect you to forgive me right away. I just… I need you to know how truly sorry I am. And that I see you now. I see you. You’ve always been the most important person in my life, and I’ve been too blind to notice. But I… I don’t want to be blind anymore.”

The words hung in the air, heavy with everything he hadn’t said in years — every time he’d been dense, every time he’d taken her for granted, every time he’d failed to notice what had been in front of him all along.

For the first time, Minju could see the raw sincerity in his eyes. And for the first time in a long while, the walls around her heart quivered.

Hongjoong’s eyes softened, and a small, almost crooked smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

“You can get super angry at me,” he said, his voice low but steady. “You can throw me off the roof if you want. You can… even torture me slowly and painfully. I deserve it. I know I do.”

He reached for the jug of lemon water on the table and gently took her hand, wrapping it around the handle. His own hand covered hers, guiding it. Then, without hesitation, he lowered himself onto his knees beside her, his eyes never leaving hers as he pointed at himself.

“Drench me. Throw hot coffee too if you want. I’m… I’m asking you to let it out. All the anger, all the hurt you’ve been holding onto for years… let me take it. I’ll take it all.”

He gave a small, rueful laugh, but it didn’t hide the seriousness in his eyes.

“I’m not afraid of it. I’m not afraid of you being angry at me. I need you to be. I deserve it. Minju… I deserve this.”

There was no shame, no pride left. Just honesty. Just him, kneeling beside her, willing to face whatever she had bottled up inside — the years of neglect, the indifference, the moments he had taken her for granted.

His eyes searched hers, waiting, silently begging her to let herself be angry, to let herself release all the pain she’d carried for him.

Minju froze, her hand still trapped in his around the jug handle. Her eyes widened as she suddenly became aware of the murmurs and stifled laughter from around the room.

Everyone was looking at them.

Hongjoong, kneeling beside her like that, holding her hand and offering himself to her anger, was impossible to ignore. And Minju… Minju, caught in the moment, felt her cheeks heat instantly.

She pulled her hand back slightly, instinctively, but he held it gently, giving her a small, encouraging squeeze.

“Ignore them,” he murmured softly, voice just for her. “It’s just you and me right now. All that matters is that I… I let you be angry. That I take this from you.”

She bit her lip, feeling a strange mix of shock, embarrassment, and… something else she couldn’t quite name. Her hand trembled slightly in his grip.

“Everyone’s staring,” she whispered, still taken aback.

He gave a small, wry shrug, still kneeling, still looking up at her with those serious, pleading eyes.

“Let them stare. Let them see what I deserve. I don’t care who’s watching. I care about you. Only you.”

Her heart thumped loudly in her chest. She could feel the weight of his sincerity pressing down on her — heavier than the embarrassment, heavier than the awkwardness.

For the first time, Minju realized just how much he was willing to humble himself for her. To face her anger, to acknowledge every wrong he had done.

And… maybe, just maybe, that was the first crack in the wall she had built around her heart.

Minju shook her head immediately, tugging her hand back from the jug.

“No! I’m not… I can’t! I won’t drench you!” she exclaimed, her voice half-shocked, half-indignant.

Hongjoong’s eyes widened for a split second, then a determined look spread across his face.

“No! Throw it at me!” he shot back, leaning closer, still kneeling, his hands hovering over hers like a challenge. “I said I deserve it! Don’t let me get away now!”

“I… I can’t!” she stammered, her cheeks heating even more. “Everyone’s watching! And… it’s water! It’s just… ridiculous!”

“Exactly!” he argued, pointing at himself theatrically. “It’s ridiculous because I deserve ridiculous! You’ve been holding onto all that anger and frustration for years, Minju! Now’s the time to use it! Don’t deny me this!”

She huffed, crossing her arms, pretending to look away, but he leaned even closer, insistence in his eyes.

“C’mon, Min! Drench me! Pour it all over me! Hot coffee too! Anything! I said I deserve it!”

She groaned, rolling her eyes dramatically, but couldn’t stop a small laugh from escaping despite herself.

“You’re insane,” she muttered.

“Maybe,” he said, hopelessly, “but you’re going to drench me anyway.”

She narrowed her eyes, glaring at him mockingly.

“You’re going to regret this,” she warned, though the corners of her lips twitched as she prepared to take aim with the jug.

“Bring it on,” he said, spreading his arms like a martyr ready for his punishment. “I’ve been waiting for this moment for years.”

Minju huffed, her fingers tightening around the jug.

“Fine. You asked for it,” she said quietly, tilting it over.

Water poured steadily over him, soaking his hair, his clothes, running down his face.

But there was no exaggerated yell, no dramatic flailing. He didn’t act comical.

He simply closed his eyes, letting it fall, and when he opened them, he looked at her with a calm, almost reverent intensity.

“Thank you,” he said softly, his voice quiet but steady. “I… needed this. Needed to feel it, to know that I… deserved it.”

Minju blinked, stunned. She had expected anger, or maybe protest. But there was none. Just sincerity.

He reached out with one wet hand, gently brushing a strand of her hair from her face.

“I know I hurt you, Minju,” he said, voice low, warm. “All those times I ignored you, all the times I didn’t notice… I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize, didn’t understand, but I see now. I see you. And I see what I’ve lost, what I’ve almost lost.”

She felt her chest tighten. His eyes, wet and earnest, held hers as if trying to speak everything he couldn’t put into words.

“I don’t deserve your patience. I don’t deserve your love. But… I want to. I want to be better. I want to notice you. Appreciate you. Cherish you. And I… I don’t ever want to let you go.”

The air between them felt thick, warm, and fragile. Minju’s hand lingered near his, and for the first time in years, she felt the walls she had built around her heart begin to soften.

No more jokes. No more teasing. Just him — drenched, humbled, and entirely sincere — showing her how much she truly meant to him.

And for the first time in a long while, Minju felt… hope.

—

They walked together in silence after the incident, the streets quiet around them. The night air was cool, brushing against their damp clothes, carrying the faint scent of the city. Minju’s hand instinctively went to her bag, and she pulled out a tissue, holding it out toward him.

He stopped mid-step, shaking his head gently, his eyes soft but intense.

“Minju… no,” he said quietly, his voice steady but trembling slightly. “Don’t have mercy on me. Let me suffer. Please.”

Her brow furrowed.

“What… what are you saying?” she asked softly.

He looked at her, drenched hair plastered to his forehead, water still dripping from his clothes. But there was no trace of humor in his expression — only honesty, regret, and a deep vulnerability that made her chest ache.

“I’ve hurt you for years,” he said, voice low, almost a whisper. “I’ve been careless, selfish, blind… and I need to feel it. I need to feel the weight of your anger, the weight of your disappointment. I deserve it, Minju. I deserve to suffer for the way I treated you.”

She faltered, unsure whether to laugh, cry, or be frustrated. But instead, she stayed silent, watching him with a mixture of sorrow and something she hadn’t let herself feel in a long time — the stirring of hope.

“So don’t give me the tissue,” he said again, a small, wry tilt to his lips despite the seriousness in his eyes. “Don’t forgive me yet. Let me sit with this. Let me understand, really understand, the pain I’ve caused you. Then… maybe I can start to make it right.”

Minju’s hand trembled slightly as she lowered the tissue, letting him choose how to face his guilt. Her heart thumped, conflicted — a mix of frustration, lingering hurt, and a deep, reluctant desire to see him truly see her for the first time in years.

Minju sighed, the sound low and weary, but not unkind. She reached up and gripped his shoulder, turning him so he faced her. The streetlight haloed the wet strands of hair stuck to his forehead; his eyes were still earnest, a little raw.

She dug a handkerchief from her bag, the fabric soft with years of use, and began to dab at his face and hair with careful, steady motions — not harsh, not hurried. Her fingers moved as if they remembered how to comfort him long before they remembered how to hurt.

“You’re so stupid sometimes,” she muttered, the words half scold, half affection. “You’ll get sick.”

He let out a small, half-laugh, half-breath. “I know,” he said, voice quiet. “I deserve to be stupid. I deserve this.”

She paused, pressing the handkerchief a little harder to the corner of his lip, making sure it was dry. Her fingers brushed his skin and, for a blink, everything that had been jagged between them softened at the touch.

“Don’t make me do things like that again,” she warned, tone brittle but warmer than it had been earlier. “Not for drama. Not for prizes. For real—notice me. Remember things. Don’t let it get to this point.”

He nodded, earnestness pouring from him. “I will. I mean it, Minju. I don’t want to be the kind of person who makes you cry in the middle of the street.” He swallowed. “I’ll try. I’ll actually try.”

She folded the handkerchief and slipped it back into her bag, fingers lingering close to where his hand brushed hers as if neither of them wanted to be the first to pull away. For the first time that night, she let herself believe, just a little, that he might mean it.

Minju reached up again, her fingers gently moving the wet strands of hair stuck to his forehead back into place. She brushed them aside with care, almost unconsciously, as if the simple act could smooth out everything between them.

No matter how much I try to hate you… she thought, her lips twitching into a small, reluctant smile.

She shook her head slightly and muttered under her breath, almost to herself, almost to him:

“No matter how much I try to hate you, I always end up… coming back to be in love with you again.”

The words hung in the air, soft and fragile, but they carried years of truth.

She chuckled quietly at herself, the sound warm and a little embarrassed.

Hongjoong blinked at her, momentarily stunned, before a slow, small smile spread across his face — the kind that was both relieved and full of awe, like he could hardly believe she had just said that.

“Minju…” he whispered, voice thick, as if saying her name aloud reminded him of everything he had ignored for so long. “I… I don’t deserve you.”

She shrugged lightly, still brushing the last stray locks of hair from his face, her eyes meeting his.

“Maybe not,” she said softly, “but you get me anyway.”

For a moment, there was only the two of them — the quiet hum of the city fading around them, the past tension lingering but softening, and the truth of their feelings standing stark and undeniable between them.

And in that silence, drenched, tired, and finally honest, they both realized that no amount of mistakes could erase what had always been there.

They walked side by side, quiet footsteps echoing softly against the empty street. Hongjoong stole a glance at her, his expression tentative, almost vulnerable.

“You know…” he began, voice low, hesitant. “I never really knew what love was… not properly. Not like this, not until now. But… I always knew that what I felt for you… wasn’t platonic.”

Minju froze for a moment, letting the words settle. She looked at him, her expression unreadable, though her chest tightened.

“And yet,” he continued, voice thick with regret, “I’ve been horrible. Horrible at showing it. Horrible at noticing. Horrible at… appreciating you the way I should have.”

She tilted her head slightly, the corners of her mouth twitching as she let out a dry laugh.

“Extremely horrible,” she muttered, shaking her head, her voice edged with both amusement and lingering hurt.

He flinched, half-smiling at her words, half-wincing at the truth in them.

“Yeah…” he admitted softly. “I know. I’ve been selfish, dense, blind. I didn’t realize what I had until now. And I… I’m sorry, Minju. More than I can ever put into words.”

But before he could continue, she stepped closer and pressed her palm over his mouth, stopping the words in their tracks. Her hand lingered there, warm against his skin, her eyes burning into his.

“Stop apologizing…” she murmured, her voice low, husky from all the emotions she’d been holding in. “Just stop.”

He blinked at her, stunned, his breath warm against her palm.

Her fingers trembled slightly but she didn’t pull away. Instead, she leaned in just a little closer, her eyes searching his.

“Stop apologizing…” she whispered again, softer this time, “and just kiss me before I become crazy.”

The words hung in the air like a challenge, like a plea. Her heart was pounding so hard she thought he might hear it.

Hongjoong’s eyes widened, the realization hitting him all at once, his pulse racing under her touch.

Hongjoong’s eyes widened for a heartbeat, but then, without a word, he slowly lifted her hand from his lips, keeping it in his own, fingers curling around hers like he never wanted to let go.

His gaze locked onto hers, unblinking, searching, desperate. Time seemed to stretch between them, the world around them fading to a blur.

He raised his free hand slowly, cupping her cheek with a tenderness that made her chest tighten. His thumb brushed lightly along her jawline as he leaned in just a fraction, eyes still locked on hers, memorizing every detail, every flicker of emotion.

Her breath hitched. Every instinct screamed, every nerve felt alive, as if the night itself was holding its breath.

Slowly, agonizingly slowly, he closed his eyes and tilted his head, leaning in the final inch. Their foreheads brushed for a fleeting moment before his lips met hers, soft at first, testing, almost fragile, yet full of everything he had never said — every apology, every confession, every long-suppressed feeling.

The kiss deepened, slow, deliberate, tasting years of longing, of unspoken love, of all the moments they’d wasted ignoring what had been there all along. Her fingers twined into his damp hair, holding him closer, her body pressed forward as if trying to make up for lost time.

Every hesitation melted away as they clung to each other in that moment, the tension snapping, replaced by heat, warmth, and a raw, undeniable connection that had been simmering for far too long.

When they finally pulled back slightly, just enough to breathe, their foreheads rested together, eyes closed, hearts racing in perfect sync.

“Finally,” she whispered against his lips, voice shaky but full of relief.

“Finally,” he echoed, the word a vow, a confession, a promise — and for the first time, neither of them doubted the other’s feelings.

She felt his hand still cupping her cheek, thumb brushing gently along her skin, grounding her. The world around them had faded completely — there was only this quiet, shared space between them, where the city noises, the streetlights, and even the years of hurt no longer mattered.

Slowly, he lowered his head and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, soft and reverent, as if he were sealing a promise in that one touch. Her breath hitched, chest tightening with the sheer tenderness of it.

Then their foreheads met again, skin warm against skin, his eyes never leaving hers. He studied her face, the way her lips still trembled slightly, the faint shimmer of tears lingering in the corners of her eyes. Every detail was etched into him, as if he was trying to carry her with him, always.

That's it for this one 😭

I hope y'all liked it 💖

Not my best work but I still like it 🐺

After a long while of brainstorming, Master Choi Minho has an idea, “Why don’t we collect more taxes from the people and place military personnel around our headquarters?”.

There is a wave of silent, approving nods until Chaewon says, “That isn’t much of a plan. What about protection for our people? If their livelihoods are getting strained, they deserve to reap some of the benefits as well!”.

Resounding chuckles fill the air as her cheeks turn pink and her eyes start to well up with tears, feeling embarrassed. However, before she can speak up, Master Chungha smirks. “Oh, you know what, that would be a lovely alteration to the plan! If we were still younglings. Grow up, Chaewon; that isn’t how the world works. We maintain order, and our subjects will be at peace if we are safe. Imagine we are in danger, then they panic; how dangerous that could rapidly become!”.

Most of the Council is clapping for the Master's use of logic when the youngest female Jedi to ever be on the Council, Rei, speaks up, "Yeah, even I know better, and you surpass me by 3 years. You’ll never make it onto the Council if you stay so naïve”.

At this point, Chaewon’s knuckles are white, and she is about to burst with fury at the disrespect.

Luckily, Master Jaeyun diffuses the impending explosion just in time. "All right then, this has been a great start in figuring out how to counteract the Sith issue, but we should dismiss for the day. When we gather next time, let's be more respectful and open-minded. Until next time, stay safe, everyone. Meeting adjourned.”.

Waiting until everyone else leaves to discuss the new developments with Somin and Jihyo, Chaewon remains seated while the rest of the Council files out of the room. Adding insult to injury, Chungha and Rei pat her head as if she were a child as they leave.

As soon as the door shuts, the floods can no longer be contained in her eyes, and Chaewon breaks down. Thankfully, she isn’t alone for long as her allies rush to her side quickly.

Somin reassures her gently while gently rubbing her back, "Let it out, dear; I am so proud of you for standing up for the people and keeping your emotions in check with everything else that happened. While you do need to fine-tune the execution, it was better than staying silent."

Meanwhile, Jihyo kneeled in front of Chaewon with a fierce look in her eyes, “Say the word, and I’ll use my strength training on that prick Minho and his ‘secret’ lover. I’ve been dying to slap them both for so long!” Somin scolds, "Now, why are you listening to those rumors? Whether true or false, it doesn’t concern us or our cause. We need to stay focused, Hyo."

Amongst sniffles, Chaewon chuckles, "I appreciate the offer, but it's okay; we need to make them think we are still aligned with them for the time being.”

At this, Somin looks down at Chaewon with a motherly, proud smile as she kisses the top of her head, and they all head out before curfew is enacted.

Back at Y/N's home shop, she is just finishing her morning routine, getting dressed, and trying to make a game plan for the current list of orders when she hears the bell ring that someone has entered.

Huffing in annoyance, she heads to the front. "I thought I told Huyang to leave the sign off today. Oh well, maybe someone is just lost, and I can get them out quickly,” she mutters.

When she sees who entered the shop, she turns on her heel to walk away, saying, "Look, I have had enough run-ins with you and your gang for a lifetime, so please let me work in peace. Between your elevator ambush, your slightly creepy leader randomly dropping in to apologize for the prior event and slightly offering to work together, then that Winter chick tracking me down, burning my shop, and trying to kill me, I’m all Sithed out, sorry.”

His eyes widen as he pieces together what he has just been told with the argument he heard before leaving. Immediately, he is filled with rage and is concerned for you more than he should be.

Sadly, he doesn’t have time to waste with silly ponderings right now. “Look, I can only speak on my actions, and I apologize if I annoyed you; I was just trying to have a little fun,” he says as his signature shit-eating grin spreads across his face.

He switches modes when he realizes the extent to which you are in no mood for his usual antics. "Okay, look, seriously, I need your help."

You cackle for 2 minutes straight, "Wait, so your crew pesters and threatens me for the last 24 hours, including your insults yesterday, and you think I’ll help you? Get lost.”

Your foot is almost across the threshold of the next room when he says, “You’re right. You can refuse service to anyone. I would, too, if I were you, but I have an offer. I need you to check out and possibly replace my kyber crystal. In exchange, I will pay double your normal service charge to help show you that I am serious about my apology and for information about what happened last night. Do we have a deal?”.

Shocked doesn’t cover how you feel now, “Hold on a minute. Why do you want information about your buddy’s attack? Wouldn’t you just ask them?”

Woo sighs, “ I would, but she is quite emotional right now, and I want the truth. She acted outside of Honjoong’s permission and wounded the integrity of our organization, which, as you know, is already being threatened. She will not know that I know anything or that I got the details from you. The intel will go straight from you to me, then to Hongjoong, who can concoct a story of how he learned about the specifics.”

For once, you can see genuine sincerity in his eyes and give a nod of approval, showing that you understand everything and agree to his terms.

Moving into the connected workshop structure, he sits and watches as you run diagnostic tests on his saber.

After about 15 minutes of this, you start dismantling it in silence so you can replace the crystal that looks like it got jostled by falling off his bedside table or something.

Suddenly, you break the silence. “Wanna know why what you said in the elevator hit such a nerve? Well, even if you don’t too bad. If you can just speak your mind whenever so can I."

Looking taken aback yet endeared at your spunk, he extends his hand in a go-ahead motion.

You continue explaining, "I built this business with my mentor's help after not being taken seriously for 5 years. Just having moved into the city, having no official training, and being a human woman made for an extremely steep uphill climb to where I am now. It was nothing new after a lifetime of having no parents and fending for myself, but there is only so much a person can take. One day, Huyang found me in an alley, about to inject myself with an instant death serum I bought from this shady tent because there was no more hope in my soul. He didn’t realize what it was until he fed me, and I broke down and told him my whole life story.”

Finishing up the saber, you drank some water and proceeded, “I won’t bore you with that, don’t worry. The main point is that after being abandoned and abused multiple times by so-called friends and family alike, I learned I can only depend on myself and, eventually, Huyang. I then put these silver streaks in my hair to remind myself that there is always light in the darkness; the same is true with most people, even those on the Sith side. The way I look at it, they are just misunderstood, and if their methods changed, they would be more respected and less feared.”

Laughing, you realize, “As far as core values go, the Sith is less corrupt than the Council at this point. Your leaders apologize and are protective; you all seem roughly the same rank. On the other hand, the Council likes to pretend to be more open-minded because it has a diverse membership and cares about the people. Yeah right. They overtax and overwork their citizens, who are practically slaves just so they can live posh, secure lives while the rest of us are dying from a myriad of terrible factors. A few secret friends and I in the Council are trying to gather support to overthrow those who have let greed poison them, but who knows if success will happen in my lifetime...”

Realizing you have been rambling for a while now, you feel self-conscious and hurriedly recount the run-in with Winter and tell him which shop was damaged. Thanking him for his time, you rush him out as questions bombard you.

Why did you open up so much to him? That isn’t like you... must still be off from yesterday. That must be it. Yeah. By busying yourself with other orders, you try to forget about your lapse in fortress status.

As Wooyoung stands outside your shop with a newly repaired saber and the old crystal in his pouch, which is special as it was his first, he has much to think about on the way home, more like the burned shop.

Too much is on his mind, and he can use the longer time away as evidence that he didn’t go to your shop so Winter doesn’t get suspicious when Joong has more details about the event later.

Woo is confused on several fronts as he talks to himself throughout his trek, “Why would anyone hurt her? Wait, why do I care? Why would she tell me about her past? It must be a trick to try to protect herself. Is she that type, though? Whatever, I don’t care.”

The last point is immediately disproven upon seeing the damage that Winter caused to the shop. Instinctively, he starts cleaning up the area and making mental notes of supplies to bring next time to fix up the place.

After about 2 hours, he starts heading back, and his inner turmoil has only heightened. He shouldn’t care, so why does he? I mean, you made some excellent points. But he is also under orders to kill you...decisions must be made.

Once dusk hits, you start tidying up the shop, content with the work you got done today (and yes, still repressing the swirl of thoughts from earlier).

Huyang enters with fresh meals he bought from the market nearby. You can both rest and enjoy easy food after the stressful last couple of days.

During the meal, you confide in Huyang about what happened earlier, and he is eerily silent. Not able to take it, after about 5 minutes, you shout, "What?! Just talk, damn... it’s weird when you’re quiet.”

 Clearing his throat, he says, “Apologies, ma’am, I just don’t think you want to hear my notes on this situation as they are similar to the last run-in you had with this Wooyoung. It is admirable that he repented and was able to be sincere with you. As for you, you already know the truth deep down and don’t want to admit it. That is all I shall say”.

Rolling your eyes, you just get up and go to your bedroom as Huyang chuckles to himself.

Unable to sleep due to the mixed emotions, countless questions, and thoughts, you decide to check out your shop at dawn to assess the damage.

 It is evident that someone else has been there as soon as you arrive. All of the lesser damaged items are in one corner, and it looks.... swept. You shrug and are happy that good people exist; they could have easily robbed you, but everything is accounted for despite its state.

Wooyoung, on the other hand, had a restful night’s sleep. Being physically exhausted and pleased that Winter got scolded more due to the intel he gave Hongjoong made him pass out as soon as he lay down.

Unfortunately, he was awoken in the middle of the night. Winter was knelt by his bed, blocking his saber, shaking him awake, “Woo, I cannot sleep. Can I sleep with you instead?.”

Smiling, he rolls onto his side, facing her, and says, “Sure, c’mon in, babe.”

As soon as she is settled in, he opens his eyes and pushes her onto the floor. Yelping with tears in her eyes, she says, “Why did you say sure and call me babe just to do that?!”

Startled fully awake by her screams, Wooyoung realizes what he has done.

In truth, he was dreaming about you too domestically, and in dreamland, her request was presented as yours.

So, when he was met with Winter in reality, he was appalled not only by her presence so close to him but also anxious about the contents of the dream.

He cannot tell her that, though, so he crafts a half lie; “Oh, um, sorry, I was having a dream about this babe I met at the cantina today while I was getting my saber fixed. Go back to your own room, petulant child.”

Whimpering, she refuses, “NO! I am not a child, and I will not be treated like one anymore, not by you especially. Can’t you see how perfect we would be together? Much better than Joong and Y/N; it is so pathetic.”

At the mention of you, Woo bolts upright, “What do you mean?” Winter is confused by his sudden interest. Nevertheless, she explains, “Well, Joong went to Y/N yesterday and plans to go alone tomorrow, too. It seems like he likes her, but, knowing him, he is probably just toying with her.”

Pondering her words, Wooyoung says, “That is his business, and we should not pay any attention to anything he does not discuss with us. Now go to your own room and sleep or not, I do not care, but goodbye.”

As he turns towards the wall, he cannot help but feel a stab of jealousy at this latest information.

Winter goes to her room, kicking herself for being vulnerable yet again, but damnit, she needed a win. Multiple scoldings by Hongjoong lately, along with neither of her crushes giving her the time of day, has her dejected.

She decides to go into an intense isolation period, claiming it is “that time of the month” to ward off Joong and Woo and to get out of doing fieldwork.

The following day, Wooyoung broaches what Winter told him with his leader. "Sir, I have a question: is what she said true? I told her to keep her nose out of your business, but as your second in command, I feel I should know what is going on to aid however I can if needed.”

Shocked at the initiative, Hongjoong smiles, “Thank you for putting her in her place, and I agree. For Bibi's will to be done, there must be nothing but honesty between us. While I admire Miss Y/N’s tenacity, and she is fairly easy on the eyes, I would not be so foolish as to let animal instinct take over. She is merely a pawn in this game, nothing else. Both you and Winter tend to lack professionalism, so I meet up alone to speed up the process.”

Satisfied with his answer, Hongjoong excuses himself from the table and prepares to meet up with Y/N.

Wooyoung waits until Hongjoong is gone to leave for the burned shop and continue making repairs, feeling thankful yet insulted.

Huyang let you sleep in as you caught up on most of the orders yesterday. You awoke with lunch by your bed with a note that he would hang flyers and for you to take it easy today.

Naturally, you ate and paid no mind to the resting part as you wanted to fix your shop more.

About 2 miles from your shop, you see a familiar figure approaching you, but it can't be... it is Wooyoung!

Sadly, there is nowhere to hide from him, so you continue strutting in his direction, acting like his presence is unnoticed.

The moment he gets close to you, anxiety radiates off of him as he tries to make small talk and turns around to walk with you. “What are you doing in the middle of nowhere alone? That is dangerous.” He says.

You scoff, “Since when does the Sith care about the life of a lowly sabersmith? And I can handle myself, thank you very much. The better question is, what are you doing out here? Miss me already?.”

Silence and a heated smirk are all you are met with until you trip him and hold your lilac-hued saber to his throat, “Did you fuck with my shop more? I swear I will slit your throat right now, and you will not like it..”

Attempting to scooch away on his back, he pleads with you, “NO, no, I swear, I did not mess up your shop. I was just.. uh... scouting the area to make sure no defectors from the Sith were in hiding.”

Mainly convinced by his story, you sheath your saber and help him to his feet. He nods and says he has to be on his way but decides not to tell you that Hongjoong is on his way to meet up with you.

It is childish, he admits, but something in him likes that he got to see you today, and Joong did not.

You feel played as soon as you step into your shop; he most definitely fucked with your shop but in a positive way.

It is even cleaner than last time, and repairs are obviously underway. You pin that for the next time you see him and try to focus on the work ahead.

Wooyoung returns to headquarters to hear the sound of things being thrown and screaming; he rushes inside, worried they are under attack, only to find Hongjoong as the source of the cacophony.

Hearing the door close, Joong pauses and half turns around with a crazed look while grinning like a rabid dog. Seeing it is Wooyoung, he starts venting, "Can you believe it? She has the nerve to not respond to my attempts at communication and then stand me up at her own shop?! Does she not realize how much I could fuck up or enhance her life depending on how she plays my game? How could she not want to see me? I am charming, handsome, mysterious; everything a spunky bitch like her would want. That is fine. I will show her what happens when you reject the mighty Hongjoong!”

Before Woo can react, Joong storms into his chambers to plot against Y/N. Just a pawn...sure, Wooyoung thinks to himself.

Wanting to test his newly fixed saber, he heads to the practice room to self-spar. Engrossed in the improvements you made and the scenarios played by the holograms for practice, he only notices Winter watching from the doorway when he trips over his foot and falls.

For once, she is calm as he asks, “H-how long have you been standing there?!” “Oh, only a few minutes, but that’s all I needed to bring you down,” she replies.

Confusion colors his features, “What in the galaxy are you talking about now? How and why would you want to bring me down?”.

She saunters over and stands over him, displaying a newfound dominant aura. “Oh, now you are the naïve one, it seems. Firstly, a girl can only take so much rejection before she snaps and turns on those she once wanted most. Secondly, there is only one smith around here whose trademark is white kyber crystals. You are as good as dead once Joong finds out you lied to him about where you got it fixed.”

Panic evident in his eyes, Woo quickly defends, "Okay, true, that trademark is well known amongst the customers of Y/N, but that does not mean she has a monopoly on them; plenty of other shops have them in stock from time to time. Also, how are you still so childish? Oh noooo, I don’t return your crush, so you are going to vaguely threaten me? Geez, go to counseling or get laid, shit.”

Winter is semi-convinced, so she stays to practice for a bit. Meanwhile, Wooyoung exits to wash off the near-death experience and plans a trip to warn you about a potential second attack from Winter.

After Wooyoung bathes, he heads to your shop, praying Joong does not cross his path. He arrives about the same time as you, and being too tired to argue, you let him in while you hydrate and catch your breath from all the manual labor you just did.

As you rest, he warns you, “Look, Winter saw me sparring with my saber. Great work, by the way! Anyway, now it is seen as betraying the Sith by going to you. You could be in a lot of danger, and while I can’t directly protect you, I can give you a heads up at least."

Furrowing your brows, your only response is, “Why would you, though?” He deeply exhales, “ I don't even know, okay, but there is your warning. Have a good day.”

Confused and amused by his awkwardness, you say, “I will, actually. It has been productive so far, plus my efforts have finally shut down a gambling center where the money goes to the Council, so I am happy! Plus, I have even more followers of my cause!”

Turning away, he grins, happy to see you reach your goals, but that smile fades rapidly as you say, “By the way, I know you were the one who has been helping with my damaged shop. Thanks.”

He leaves since he does not know how to respond or why his motivation has been pro-you and anti-mission lately, but not without quipping, “I mean, why would I help you? But if you want to reward me for this supposed aid, you can give my biological saber lip service next time, doll.”

As he leaves with a wink, you are annoyed, not by him for once, but with yourself. That kind of remark usually elicits nausea and a desire to kill every man.

This time, you just giggle once he leaves and feel your entire body heat up at the thought. Yep, you are screwed.

The next day, after you both have very intense sexual dreams about each other, you decide to go to Tatooine. His reason is simply to attempt to distract his brain, while yours is to check on your small shop.

It is a request-only shop as it is the least trafficked area for you, but with recent events, you might as well check in while you collect more kyber crystals.

As you are about to leave, you get a surprise visit from Hongjoong; shocked and perturbed, you politely excuse yourself; "Terribly sorry, but I was just on my way out; you can come back tomorrow, though, if you'd like.” He does not like that at all and backs you into your workbench.

Displaying a devilish, darkened gaze of determination, he states, “Oh, you foolish girl. I do not want to make the trip tomorrow. I am here now, and I want you. Do you know how much business I could get you? I would even share what I collect from the Sith citizens from ‘taxes,’ aka my fun fund. Stop fighting this attraction. It’s just me, not like I am the big bad wolf darling, though I would love to eat you,” he states, smirking a couple of inches from your lips.

With his eyes closed, you take the opportunity to hit him in the head with one of your tools and run out, hopping on your speeder and quickly zooming away with tears in your eyes.

You are reeling from the encounter and frustrated that your heart wants to flee to Woo for comfort.

With Hongjoong yelling at you that nobody is ever going to love you if you do not let them in or just be grateful that a god like him designed to give you his attention, you decide against walking into the lion’s den; you stay the course to Tatooine ignoring your yearning for comfort.

After a while, you head to the local cantina to grab something refreshing to drink since you have been in the sun crystal mining for 3 hours now.

En route, you notice people fighting and pay no mind, believing it to just be a couple of drunkards squabbling over the bill. Until you get closer, that is, and find that the fighters are Wooyoung and Hongjoong!

Staying a safe distance away yet being able to hear every word of their conversation makes you worried. Yet, you know it would be foolish to get in the middle, so you stand there paralyzed.

It seems that your rejection led Joong to the desert looking for a hook-up at the bar, where he ran into Woo and immediately went on the offensive.

Hongjoong is slurring at Woo, “Why did you go to that bitch for your saber? You know she is mine! Now, you ruin my attempts to get rid of the blue balls she gave me earlier? You are dead, apprentice.”

Wooyoung retorts between defending Joong’s strikes. “First off, she is not a bitch, and she was the closest sabersmith. Secondly, blue balls are not a thing, and you would not be looking for a drunken desperate cunt to sink into if she had initiated it, so stop lying to yourself and to me.”

Hongjoong looks victorious, “HA, so you admit going to her! For once, Winter was the good pupil. Maybe I will send the signal for her to attack Y/N while you are busy here..since you cannot even kill her like you were ordered."

Too worried about you, Woo freezes for a split second, which is enough for Joong to pull out his dagger and slice Wooyoung’s right cheek and left shoulder.

Right after, Joong hears a speeder and does not want witnesses, so he runs away; thank goodness your idea worked.

Helping Wooyoung onto your speeder, you head to your shop. It is not an ideal reason to head over there, but you were already planning on checking on it, so oh well.

Upon arrival, you help support him off the bike as he got beat up quite a beat; laying him on the bed in the back of the shop, you start taking off his robe to assess the wound.

Always a smartass, he smirks, and then he is screeching for dear life. He stares at your attempt at stifling a laugh, "Hey, don’t look so pleased.” You snort, “Sorry, just nice to see you are human sometimes.”

He pouts and turns away, forgetting his cheek is sliced too, so he turns back, defeated, towards you while you tend to his wounds and wrap up his shoulder.

You hate to admit it, but damn, his body looks even better than you thought; no, you scold yourself, not the place or time.

You change the subject, "So why can't you kill me? Or was he drunk?". Still on edge, he barks, "I don't even know, okay?! I warn you; I fix your shop secretly; I duel my master to defend your honor. It is all worth it, but-“

You interrupt. “You don't need to get hurt for me, though, idiot.” He grins. “I know I don’t have to, but I do, and I’m not sure why, but I want to help your cause and think it’s a great thing you’re doing and-“

This time, you interrupt him with a kiss that immediately gets returned. Pulling away, you apologize, “Sorry, but I had to stop your nonsense. I think I know why you do the things you do. It’s the same reason I helped you today, and don’t mind your drop-ins as much as I let on.”

He raises an eyebrow, asking why, to which you lean in close to him again and whisper in his ear, “Because we want each other badly but are scared of being that close and getting hurt.”

Sitting up, you blush. “I mean, maybe it’s just me, but it feels like we are very similar and fated in a way; just tell me if I –“

He stops you with a hungry kiss, supporting himself with his good arm, cradling the back of your head with his left hand as his tongue explores your mouth.

Your boldness peeks through as you lightly suck his tongue and let your hands gently trail down his abs and palm his covered, very strained bulge.

He groans into your mouth as he snakes his hand under your tunic and palms your voluptuous breasts in response, rolling your hardening nipples between his fingers.

This does not last long before his skilled tongue is swirling the buds and sucking on your tits, bringing you to ecstasy quicker than expected.

Sitting up as much as he can, you remove the rest of both of your clothes and straddle him, both of your sweat mixing in an intoxicating concoction of desire and safety in each other as your hands roam all over each other, passionately making out and making up for lost time.

You feel him grow beneath you, and with remarkable quickness, you shimmy down and lick the slit of his leaking tip for a moment or two before engulfing his thickness down your throat with ease earning you a nonverbal good job on the cheek with his veiny hands.

As he approaches his climax, he pulls you up by your hair, your lips releasing him with a pop and gestures for you to kiss him.

He gazes hungrily into your eyes, “I need to be inside of you, Y/N god, like right now.” You look sideways and reveal, “I want that too, but I, um, well... you would be my first. Can we go slow?"

His energy softens as he caresses your face, tucking your hair behind your ear. “Of course, baby, I simply want to be closer to you.”

Nodding, you line yourself up and sink onto him slowly. It hurts a bit at first, but you quickly adjust to the sting, and it feels sinfully good to have your aching cunt being filled by him finally.

The shop is consumed with the sound of your delicious moans and skin coming together more and more rapidly until you are about to reach your high.

Wooyoung can tell you are close to your release and reaches down to play with your clit, “C'mon love, make a mess on me, princess” At his words, your body reacts by cumming so many times you lose count.

With his help, you ride out your high for about 10 minutes as you feel his heat fill you up three times before you both slump over in exhaustive bliss.

Over the next few days, you stay in that shop talking about everything, and he officially decides to join your cause and recant his Sith ways.

You reveal that you chose his kyber crystal on purpose because you saw the light in him. He tears up and hugs you tightly, "I know it's soon, but I love you, my moth."

You kiss him, saying you love him as well, and have for a while through light sobs.

You both return to Coruscant after going to a nearby hair studio for a change of pace.

He adds blonde streaks to his black hair to remind himself of the light inside and has his old crystal fashioned into a necklace to remind him of where he has been and that he has changed.

 You, however, exchange your silver-streaked hair for more of a rust color to match the sentiment of his crystal, promising to keep each other in check and make sure no corruption enters your hearts.

Back at the Council, you, along with Somin, Jihyo, Chaewon, and Wooyoung, expose the corrupt members despite Masters Moonbyul and Jongseob trying to rationalize their actions but failing as they all get carted away to the highest security prison.

Later that day, the secretly good trio became the new faces of the Council and immediately threw a celebration for the city's people, returning all the money that had been wrongly collected.

You and Wooyoung, of course, attend in support. As you are about to steal a kiss, you notice a familiar pair of beady eyes peek behind a pillar.

But now, they are filled with pride and wonder instead of obsession. “What did you see?” Wooyoung asks; you smile and say, “Oh, an old friend, they are shy now but are doing better, I can tell, and I’m happy for them.”