Chapter Text
When Yoon first suggested that maybe Hak had gone into town to see a woman, it sent Yona’s thoughts reeling. Could that actually be the reason he was acting so weird and insisting on going into town alone? Had he met someone in Awa the last time he was here with Mundeok? He’d never mentioned anything about it before.
Yona knew what men and women did together. She’d known ever since she’d stumbled across two servants in a closet after a celebration in the palace. After that, she’d asked one of the older ladies-in-waiting about it and received a detailed explanation that only led to more questions. The same lady-in-waiting had also assured her, with some embarrassment, that Yona’s more personal explorations of her own body in the bath and in her chambers were not unusual, either. In the months following, Yona had often found herself wondering if Hak had ever... entertained himself with any women during his travels. After all, it wasn’t unusual for other young men, especially soldiers, to engage in such things outside the palace. Not to mention, Hak was on the receiving end of female (and even sometimes male) attention almost everywhere they went; between that and the often colorful way he was prone to teasing her, it did seem possible that he might have experience of his own in that department. It used to drive her wild with curiosity, and for many months she had desperately wanted to ask him about it, never summoning the nerve.
But a lot had happened since then, and even though she still wondered, the un-poseable question eventually lost some of its intrigue over time. After all, she now had more important things to worry about. It wasn’t until Yoon’s comment that some of that curiosity came rushing back.
Even with the question of Hak’s experience floating closer to the front of her mind, she could not have anticipated seeing him here, sitting in a brothel in broad daylight. Yona was absolutely gobsmacked. His look of shock and embarrassment when he’d been found out, and the stuttering way he tried to explain it away - all washed right past Yona, and left her trying desperately to process what she was seeing, and what it meant. Through a mysterious tightness in her chest, she reasoned with herself. This was the first time they’d been in a proper city, without the immediate threat of danger, since they’d fled the palace. Of course he would want to take some time to himself and unwind. I just didn’t know he’d want to do so here , of all places. And if he is here, that must mean this is something he’s done before.
Something about that left her feeling oddly bereft; she didn’t like knowing that there was a side to her best friend she’d never seen. It made her feel inexperienced, and a little foolish. Still, even if she didn’t like it, she was determined to support him as he had always supported her.
Slowly walking over to her, Hak nervously began his explanation, “Um, you’ve got the wrong idea, Princess…”
“Listen Hak,” she was determined to power through, “from now on, just tell me if you want to visit a woman of the night. I didn’t realize you were into that kind of thing.”
“I’m not…” His face looked drawn and an aura of mortification and irritation came off of him in waves.
Yona could understand his embarrassment. After all, spending time with a woman was one thing, but paying to spend time with one was a different matter altogether. And Yoon’s chiding was not helping.
Kija’s condemnations were even worse. Yona reasoned that this attitude likely stemmed from his regal and naive upbringing, so similar to Yona’s. She had largely given up this attitude since beginning her adventure, and could perhaps better empathize with Hak’s very human temptations. Even so...
“Now hold on, I am not the pervert you two are making me out to be!”
Yona found herself petulant with betrayal. Why hadn’t he told her? Why couldn’t he just be honest about it? And what was he getting from them that he’d risk getting caught to have? Yona wanted to come to his defense, but she couldn’t resist teasing him a bit in revenge.
“Come on, guys, quit saying all these bad things about Hak! We should support him, even if his interests are immoral and degrading!”
Unsurprisingly, this only seemed to make him more irritated.
“You’re not exactly helping out with my situation here, Princess...”