Aurora - You are my light (Ateez x reader)

TWELVE

The rest of the day passed without further excitement or events, much to my relief after the tumultuous start. Unfortunately, I still hadn't figured out the kiss or what San was trying to accomplish with it. I deemed it wisest to continue avoiding him and prevent such a situation from happening again. Until evening, I distracted myself by reading a book about mythology.

It worked surprisingly well because when my stomach growled for the first time in hours, pulling me away from my book, I could see evening approaching through the windows of my room. I placed the book on the extended windowsill where I had been sitting for hours and stretched my stiffened body from prolonged sitting. Shortly after, I made my way to the kitchen.

As Seonghwa had announced to me in the morning, he was already waiting for my arrival there. When he spotted me in the kitchen doorway, he scrutinized me with a questioning look. I nodded to confirm, without him even asking, if I was feeling better. From the adjacent dining hall, I could hear voices and laughter. Wooyoung stood at the kitchen counter, preparing dinner, and although he noticed my entrance, he ignored me. Well, thanks a lot, whatever I did to you.

"Good to see you, Aurora. Dinner is almost ready, let's join the others, we'll have a drink in the meantime," Seonghwa said, gesturing with two well-filled wine glasses towards the dining hall. Oh no. I could really do without a group gathering where half of them would prefer to throw me overboard. Seonghwa noticed my hesitation and stepped closer to me.

"Come on, they won't bite." He looked at me encouragingly.

"I'm not so sure about that," I replied, still unconvinced, and my thoughts drifted back to the kiss. Wooyoung, who still didn't even spare me a glance and was abusing an onion with his kitchen knife, chuckled contemptuously. And if so much hadn't already happened that day, my inner rebel might have taken on the fight with him. But for the well-being of all, I ignored him and followed Seonghwa reluctantly into the dining hall.

Perhaps this was a good opportunity to find out more about these eight. A few drinks had loosened many tongues in the past. As long as the tongue from San's mouth stayed put, I would engage in this endeavor.

The six men were sitting cheerfully at one of the four wooden tables in the dining hall, which could accommodate four times the crew. The benches were lined with animal fur, and on the table stood several candlesticks with flickering flames. A fireplace in the corner provided cozy light for the gathering. I wondered about so many sources of fire on board, considering that the ship, like any other, was mainly made of wood, which was highly flammable. But I couldn't imagine they would expose such a valuable ship like the Treasure to such a risk, and remained puzzled about it.

When Seonghwas and my presence were noticed by the six, their heads turned, and I could discern practically every emotion in their gazes. From a shyly smiling Yeosang to an angrily sparkling Mingi, everything was represented. Only San ignored me. Fine by me. I smiled as kindly as I could muster at the group and gestured a slight bow, as I had noticed some of them do, then I took the free seat next to Yeosang and Seonghwa graciously took the seat to my left.

The captain sat at the head, and on my opposite side, sequentially Yunho and Jongho. The free seat next to Jongho was apparently intended for Wooyoung, who was still in the kitchen. San sat at the other end, and thankfully, Mingi sat at the far end of my bench, next to Yeosang. So, at least I wouldn't have to make direct eye contact with him. Both Seonghwa's and Yeosang's presence made me feel more comfortable in the group, although my little heart raced excitedly again when Yeosang smiled at me sheepishly. Damn, how could one person look so divine?

Perhaps he was one of Aphrodite's lost sons, I thought. That would at least explain his extraordinary beauty. Because as I had learned in my book about Greek mythology earlier, Aphrodite was the goddess of beauty, love, and sex. With these thoughts and Yeosang's body, which I could perceive next to me, I felt flushed, and I felt the blush rise to my face as I shyly returned his gaze and then quickly averted it.