Aurora - You are my light (Ateez x reader)

THIRTYSEVEN 🌶

After leaving the tense situation in the infirmary behind, I could feel the fear that had gripped every fiber of my being slowly ebb away. Yet, a gnawing feeling lingered in the pit of my stomach, and a weight pressed heavily on my shoulders. The responsibility I bore, the uncertainty hanging over San, and my own fear had turned my body into a knot of tension and nervousness. Every breath felt heavier, and my thoughts kept circling the incident, unable to settle. I needed a moment to myself—or rather, a moment to escape the chaos inside me.

I slowly walked behind Yeosang through the narrow corridor of the ship until we stopped in front of the door to the washroom at the bow. The gentle sway of the ship beneath my feet and the soft creaking of the planks provided only modest comfort. "You should take a moment to rest," Yeosang's deep voice reached my ears as he nodded toward the washroom. "Seonghwa has already drawn you a warm bath." The black-haired man looked at me expectantly.

The idea of a bath, the thought of washing away the stress and fear of the day, was tempting. Yet, the moment I saw the door to the washroom, I felt my movements falter. An invisible barrier held me back. The fear of being alone, after everything that had just happened, was deeply rooted in me. It was silly—I knew I was safe—but the thought of being alone made my hand hesitate on the doorknob.

I turned slowly to look at Yeosang, my gaze questioning. He hesitated for a moment, as if wanting to give me space to decide for myself, but I could see the slight raise of his eyebrow that told me he almost could read my mind.

"Everything alright, Aurora?" His voice was quiet, his presence filling the narrow space between us in a way that was both calming and powerful.

I nodded slowly, forcing a small smile that barely hid my nervousness. "I just...," I started, but the words trailed off as I kept my hand firmly on the doorknob, not moving further.

Yeosang stepped closer, his gaze still locked on mine. "You're afraid of being alone, aren't you?" By now, he knew me too well not to see what was going on inside. The clarity in his voice and the way he looked at me made me close my eyes for a moment and take a deep breath.

"Yes," I admitted, looking directly at him. "I know it sounds silly, but I..." The words caught in my throat, but before I could continue, Yeosang stepped even closer. His hand rested gently on my shoulder.

"It's not silly," he said softly. "If you want, I'll stay with you. We can bathe together." A gentle smile played on his lips, a smile that told me he truly meant it. It was an invitation, not an obligation.

I nodded slowly, relieved by his offer. "Thank you, Yeosang." He was the only one among the Eight who could make such an offer without it feeling intrusive or making me uncomfortable.

Together, we entered the washroom near the crew's quarters. The room was much larger than the washroom I was familiar with, and I found myself wondering how many rooms and cabins I still didn't know about on this ship, though it was now supposed to be my home. Home. A strange word to describe this place in such a situation, and yet, I still couldn't quite embrace it. The room was cozy, with a large bathtub in the center already filled with warm water. The scent of soap and a hint of herbs lingered in the air, and the warm light from the lamps cast soft shadows on the walls.

A bit uncertain, I turned to Yeosang again, and couldn't help but momentarily hold my breath. Wide-eyed, I watched as he calmly began to undress, his movements graceful and confident. When he noticed my gaze, he paused and grinned. "What? Did you think we were going to bathe with our clothes on?"

To be honest, I wasn't sure what I had expected or what would happen after I'd accepted his offer to bathe together. I just didn't want to be alone. But the sight of the black-haired man, now shedding the last piece of clothing from his muscular frame, gave me a pretty clear idea of what might follow. And once again, I couldn't tear my eyes away from him.