This chapter is now rewritten
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"So what if I can't? What's it to you?" Y/n's retort dripped with passive aggression, but it seemed to roll right off the blader's shoulders without leaving a mark.
In the soft glow of the starlight, the blond blader's features seemed to sharpen, casting a captivating sensuality around him. Y/n couldn't help but notice how the dim light accentuated his chiseled jawline and piercing gaze, causing her to feel suddenly self-conscious about her own attire—or lack thereof. Instinctively, she crossed her arms in a feeble attempt to cover herself, though it did little to ease her discomfort. Despite her attempts to hide it, the blush creeping up her cheeks betrayed her inner turmoil, though she hoped the darkness would conceal her embarrassment.
Closing the distance between them, Free took a few measured steps forward, his eyes flickering over her scantily clad form. His lips curled into a knowing smirk as he observed her futile attempts to shield herself. "Oh, don't worry about me. Your attire—or lack thereof—is of no concern to me," he remarked casually, though the mischievous glint in his eyes suggested otherwise. "Just remember, there are tigers lurking in these woods."
Y/n's scowl deepened at his teasing tone. "You're just trying to scare me," she shot back, her voice tinged with defiance.
Free shook his head, his smirk never faltering. "Believe what you will, but ignorance won't protect you from what's out there," he replied cryptically. "But hey, if you want a medal for your keen observation skills, I can arrange that too."
Y/n narrowed her eyes at the blader, bracing herself for a snarky retort, but she restrained herself. Why waste her breath on him?
"What are you doing here?" she demanded, her tone sharp with curiosity and perhaps a hint of irritation.
Indeed, what was he doing here? She scanned the darkened pathless forest beyond him, unable to fathom the allure of wandering through such eerie surroundings at this hour. The thought of getting lost in those shadows sent a shiver down her spine.
Free's response was characteristically nonchalant as he shrugged and glanced around, though Y/n knew he was well acquainted with these woods. "None of your business, L/n," he replied, his expression as impassive as ever.
Y/n huffed in frustration and brushed past him, venturing deeper into the forest with reckless abandon. She suppressed the tendrils of fear creeping into her mind, determined to quell any sense of unease as she plunged further into the darkness. Her vision seemed to narrow, consumed by the enveloping shadows, yet she pressed on, fueled by stubborn determination.
Behind her, Free lingered for a moment, watching her retreating figure with a thoughtful expression before quickening his pace to catch up with her.
"Don't be stupid, you might get lost!" Free's voice called out after the ignorant girl.
Y/n couldn't help but snort in response. "Yeah, but you don't care, remember?" she shot back, her tone laced with sarcasm and defiance.
Free groaned in frustration, halting in his tracks as he contemplated letting the stubborn girl go, thinking she would learn her lesson if she indeed got lost. However, curiosity gnawed at him, urging him to see what she would do next. Climbing a nearby tree with practiced ease, he followed her quietly, intrigued by her audacity.
As Y/n ventured further into the depths of the forest, a triumphant smile played across her lips. She had outwitted him this time. With each step she took, she willingly embraced the possibility of getting lost, relishing the freedom and allure of nature's embrace. Though she knew there would likely be consequences for her impulsive decision, she pushed aside such thoughts for the moment, allowing herself to become immersed in the beauty and mystery of the wilderness.
As time stretched on, the stars that had initially guided her path disappeared into the darkness overhead, leaving Y/n enveloped in an inky blackness that seemed to press in from all sides. She extended her arms tentatively, feeling her way through the void, her senses on high alert for any sudden movements or sounds that might indicate the presence of unseen creatures lurking in the shadows. With each stumble or startle from the hoot of an unknown creature, she gritted her teeth against the discomfort, refusing to acknowledge the growing number of cuts and bruises adorning her bare feet, each step sending a sharp sting shooting through her.
Despite the unease creeping into her heart, Y/n pressed onward, her own humming serving as a feeble attempt to drown out the small voice of dread whispering in the back of her mind. Alone in the darkness, she couldn't shake the realization that there was no one else out here, no friendly faces to offer reassurance or guidance.
Her thoughts drifted back to Japan, where she had spent most of her days cloistered within the confines of her room, avoiding the outside world whenever possible. The mere thought of venturing beyond the familiar walls of her sanctuary had always filled her with a sense of unease, yet there had always been a lingering longing for something more, something beyond the confines of her own solitude. And now, here in BC Sol, amidst the vast expanse of wilderness, she found herself experiencing a strange sense of liberation, venturing out alone into the unknown depths of the forest in the dead of night—or was it early morning? She hazarded a guess that it must be well past 2 am, though the exact hour seemed inconsequential in the midst of her solitary journey.
"Are you done being a reckless idiot?" A recognisable voice, tinged with unmistakable irritation, called out from behind.
Y/n's heart leaped into her throat, and she spun around, stumbling backward slightly and wincing as a sharp pain shot through her foot. Her pulse raced like a drumbeat echoing through the silent forest, and she couldn't shake the feeling that every rustle of leaves and whisper of wind was magnifying the sound. She wanted to convince herself that she wasn't scared, just startled by Free's sudden appearance. But why was he here, of all places? The question lingered in her mind as she squinted into the darkness, trying to discern his expression, but his features remained obscured by the shadows. However, the edge in his voice left no doubt that he was thoroughly aggravated.
"What are you doing here?!" she shot back, instinctively taking a step back from his looming figure.
Free snorted in exasperation. "You really are stupid, aren't you?" Before Y/n could unleash a torrent of retorts to bite off his head , he swiftly silenced her with a finger pressed against her lips, his tone growing more irritated. "I was ensuring that you didn't end up lost and wandering aimlessly through this dense, unforgiving forest. Do you have any idea how vast and treacherous these woods are? You'd be nothing but rot for the snakes if you got lost out here!"
Y/n pursed her lips in anger against Free's finger before quickly pushing his hand away. As much as she hated to admit it, he had a point. She struggled to find the right words to express her conflicting emotions; on one hand, she was grateful that he had followed her to ensure her safety, but on the other hand, his demeanor towards her rubbed her the wrong way, even though she knew she had been acting recklessly.
Focusing on the stinging cuts on her foot, Y/n forced herself to speak up, her voice barely above a mumble. "I never asked you to follow..." she trailed off, the weight of her own stubbornness heavy on her tongue.
Instead of a response, Free's dark figure leaned in closer, and Y/n felt her cheeks flush with heat as she instinctively took a step back. But before she could retreat any further, Free's hand gripped her thigh firmly, holding her in place and sending a jolt of electricity through her veins.
"The hell do you think you're doing?!" Y/n exclaimed, her voice laced with a mixture of indignation and nervousness.
"Relax, would you?" Free's response was calm, his hand tenderly brushing against the top of her right foot, eliciting a wince from Y/n at the contact. "Are you sure you can walk back? Your feet are pretty fucked up at the moment."
Y/n gulped audibly, her breaths quickening as Free bent down lower to inspect the cuts, the top of his head brushing against her leg. Her heart hammered erratically in her chest, and her cheeks ignited with heat as if they were ablaze.
"Well, can you?" Free's question snapped Y/n out of her daze, and she blinked, her hand instinctively reaching up to touch her burning cheek, a confused expression crossing her features before she remembered that he couldn't see her in the darkness.
"Can I what?" she replied, her voice slightly breathless.
Free glanced up, catching the embarrassed and unfocused expression on Y/n's face, and a mischievous glint danced in his eyes as he decided to playfully tease her further. "Why are you blushing?" he added, his tone teasing and deliberately provocative.
Y/n opened her mouth to respond, but found herself at a loss for words, the rush of blood to her cheeks betraying her annoyance at being caught off guard. However, before she could dwell on her frustration, a wave of confusion washed over her.
The blush faded from her cheeks as Y/n frowned down at the dark figure before her, perplexed. "How can you see that?" she questioned, her tone a mixture of disbelief and bewilderment. How could he discern her expressions and the state of her injuries in this darkness? It didn't make sense. She could barely make out his silhouette, let alone any details.
Free's chuckle echoed softly in the night air as he straightened up, causing Y/n's heart to quicken at the proximity of his warm presence. She could feel the heat emanating from his body, his breath ghosting across her face as he leaned in closer, his voice a low murmur near her ear.
Her cheeks flushed anew as she wrestled with conflicting impulses, torn between the urge to slap him for his audacity and the sudden, inexplicable desire to kiss him. But before she could act on either impulse, Y/n raised her hand to push him away, only to find herself met with unexpected resistance. Despite his seemingly slender frame, Free proved to be surprisingly strong as he resisted her attempt to create distance between them.
"Silly girl, there's a lot of things I could see," Free's voice trailed off in a low, seductive tone as his hand glided down from her shoulder to grasp her wrist firmly, sending a shiver down her spine. "And a lot of things I could do," he whispered, his words hanging in the air like a forbidden promise, before pulling back.
A startled screech escaped Y/n's lips as she recoiled, her wide eyes locked with Free's. What she saw sent a chill down her spine, her mind struggling to comprehend the sight before her. Maybe it was just her ignorance, and encounters like this were normal in the world she had stumbled into. Or maybe... Free wasn't human. The mere thought sent a wave of terror crashing over her, her heart pounding wildly in her chest as she stared into his eyes.
His eyes, once as dark as the night itself, now glowed with an intensity that rivaled the brightest flames, casting an otherworldly light that seemed to pierce through the darkness surrounding them.
Clutching her chest with trembling hands, Y/n finally found her voice, her words tumbling out in a mixture of fear and disbelief. "Jolly jeers, what the hell are you?!"
For a moment, the darkness seemed to deepen as Free's head tilted to the side, as if considering how to answer her question. His gaze drifted past her, lost in thought, and a heavy silence settled between them before he finally spoke.
"Just a person, like any other, who occasionally gets questioned by a nosy girl," Free replied, his tone reverting back to its bored drawl.
Y/n huffed in frustration, turning her gaze away from him, refusing to believe his explanation for even a second. As she surveyed the darkened landscape around them, she noticed that the sky was beginning to lighten slightly, indicating that dawn was approaching. It must have been nearing 4 am by now. The realization hit her like a ton of bricks—she had spent over three hours wandering through the forest, and exhaustion was beginning to weigh heavily on her. She winced as she shifted her weight, feeling the discomfort of numerous cuts and bruises on her feet.
Chewing nervously on her lip, Y/n's mind raced with thoughts of the consequences awaiting her if she didn't make it back in time. Chris would probably kick her out, and the thought of being ridiculed by her peers sent a chill down her spine. The prospect of falling asleep halfway through training only added to her mounting anxiety.
"I... I need to get back!" Y/n exclaimed, her voice trembling with panic as she clutched her head in distress. Her words tumbled out in a frantic stream, her worry escalating with each passing moment. Completely consumed by her own thoughts and fears, she seemed to forget that Free was even there, her mind teetering on the edge of a full-blown mental breakdown.
Y/n jumped in surprise when Free's hand gently gripped her shoulder, causing her to instinctively meet his glowing gaze. Though the glow had dimmed slightly, his eyes still held an otherworldly luminescence that captivated her attention.
"Hush. Calm down—" Free began, but Y/n interrupted, her voice trembling with anxiety.
"No! She'll—" she protested, but Free silenced her once again by placing his index finger against her lips. This time, she didn't resist, allowing him to speak.
"I'll tell Chris to let you sleep in because you're not feeling well," Free offered, his voice a soothing murmur against the backdrop of the forest's silence.
"What if she doesn't listen to you?" Y/n mumbled against his finger, feeling a flush of embarrassment at the intimate gesture, especially in the presence of the mysterious creatures of the forest.
"Oh, she always listens to me," Free chuckled, and Y/n couldn't help but glare at her own thoughts as she detected a hint of smugness in his tone, her mind racing with the potential double meanings behind his words.
"Right," Y/n frowned, her slight disgust evident in her tone.
"Be a bit more grateful; that's the second time I've saved your ass," Free murmured, his voice soft as he leaned in closer to her face.
Y/n turned away, taking a step back to create some distance between them. "Yeah, yeah, but I have to do something in return, like you said. And I keep to my word," she asserted, her resolve unwavering.
Free rolled his eyes in response. "We'll see about that."
"Yeah..." Y/n scratched her neck awkwardly before mustering up the courage to ask, "Sooo, how do we get out of here?"
Without a word, Free took her wrist in his hand and began leading her in the direction she thought he assumed would lead them back to BC Sol. Despite the exhaustion weighing heavily on her and the stinging pain in her feet, Y/n felt a sense of relief knowing that Free was guiding her back to safety. She stumbled occasionally, but Free's steady grip on her wrist prevented her from falling.
After a while of walking through the gradually lightening forest, Free came to a sudden stop, turning to face her with a concerned expression.
"Wait. You can't walk," he stated matter-of-factly.
Y/n blinked at him in confusion. "But I can?"
Free raised an eyebrow skeptically. "So you're not tired or in pain at all?"
"Well, I can still walk though," Y/n muttered bashfully, avoiding his gaze.
Before she could protest further, Y/n yelped in surprise as Free effortlessly swept her up into his arms as if she were as light as a feather. Despite her protests, Free continued walking, carrying her with ease.
"Hey! PUT. ME. DOWN!" Y/n demanded, trying unsuccessfully to wriggle out of his grasp.
"Nope," Free replied simply, ignoring her protests as he carried her effortlessly through the forest. Y/n couldn't help but feel a rush of embarrassment as she realized she was being carried bridal style by the Golden boy, her cheeks flushing crimson as she avoided making eye contact with him at all costs. Despite her discomfort, she couldn't deny the strange sense of comfort she felt in his arms, their bodies fitting together almost seamlessly like two pieces of a puzzle.
"Put me down... please," Y/n pleaded softly, her voice tinged with a mix of exhaustion and embarrassment.
Free sighed, but he didn't falter in his stride. "What's the matter, Y/n? I'm not going to murder you," he remarked dryly.
Y/n bit her lip nervously, hesitating before voicing her concern. "I'm heavy. You'll get exhausted," she confessed, her insecurity evident in her tone.
Free's expression immediately twisted into a disgusted frown, and Y/n's heart sank as she awaited his response. "You're kidding me, right?" he scoffed incredulously. "I'll tell you once and for eternity: you're not heavy."
Y/n remained silent, torn between believing his words and the persistent doubts lingering in her mind. Meanwhile, she heard Free mutter something under his breath, his frustration palpable. "Why do all girls think they're heavy for fuck's sake..."
Struggling to keep her eyes open, Y/n fought against the overwhelming fatigue that threatened to consume her. Despite her best efforts, she couldn't resist the soothing rhythm of Free's footsteps as he carried her through the forest. And before she knew it, the exhaustion won over, and she succumbed to the warmth and comfort of sleep within the secure embrace of Free's arms.