Both of them turned, startled by the sudden shout. A young girl, a few years younger than them, came running up to Han with an eager expression. Jet instinctively stepped back, giving them a bit of space. 'Does Han know this girl?' he wondered.
"Xiao Yu? Is something wrong in the village?" Han asked, his brows furrowed in confusion.
The young girl, cheeks red and flushed, smiled brightly as she held out a wooden box to him. "Well, I made dinner with a little extra, and I thought you might like it."
Han blinked, visibly taken aback. Before he could respond, Xiao Yu pushed the box into his hands, her face deepening in color. Without another word, she spun around and dashed off, leaving Han standing there in confusion.
Jet couldn't hold back his laughter. "Do you know her?" he asked, watching Xiao Yu disappear down the road.
"Kind of," Han replied, still looking at the box. "Her father and mine served together in the military."
Curious, Jet gently took the box from Han's hands and opened it, revealing a meticulously prepared meal. He giggled again, leaving Han even more perplexed.
"With an Omega like that giving food to an Alpha, it's pretty obvious she likes you," Jet teased. "She said it was 'a little extra,' but this is a feast. And tracking you down across the village? That's dedication."
Han rolled his eyes, scoffing. "Don't read too much into it. I don't like her. Besides, my father's already talking about arranging a noble bride for me, with his military rank and all."
Jet's eyes widened slightly. "Your dad is a general? Why didn't you tell me that before?"
Han shrugged. "I don't see him much anyway. He left me here in the village years ago. He comes back occasionally, but most of the time, I'm here with the villagers."
Jet tilted his head thoughtfully. "Don't you want to follow in his footsteps?"
Han shook his head, his expression firm. "No. He made his choice, and I've made mine. I'd rather stay where I belong."
Jet nodded thoughtfully, watching Han's face for a moment before he handed the box back. "She went through all this trouble, so at least eat the meal," he said with a playful grin.
Han huffed but didn't refuse, tucking the box under his arm as they resumed walking toward the village. The air between them was peaceful, punctuated by the soft rustling of the autumn leaves.
"Do you ever think about leaving the village?" Jet asked, breaking the silence.
Han glanced at him, his brows furrowing slightly. "Sometimes. There's not much here for me besides the people. But what about you? Do you ever wish for something outside the city?"
Jet chuckled, shoving his hands into his sleeves as he walked. "Sometimes, but I think I'd miss the noise too much. The quiet out here is nice, but the city has its own charm."
Han nodded, and they fell into silence again until they reached the edge of the village. "This is where we part, then?" Han asked, stopping near a small path that led toward the outskirts.
Jet turned to him, giving a small smile. "For now. I'd say thanks for walking me, but I think I'm the one doing most of the walking lately."
Han smirked. "You could call it even since I'm doing most of the teaching."
Jet laughed, stepping back. "Fine, fine. I'll see you tomorrow, then."
Han nodded, watching as Jet disappeared into the path that led to the city. He stood there for a moment longer, the weight of the wooden box suddenly feeling heavier in his hands. Shaking his head, he turned and headed back to his home.
Jet walked into the courtyard of his family home, the warm glow of lanterns lighting the way. His mother was sitting in the main hall, embroidering quietly. She looked up when she saw him enter, her expression a mix of relief and mild irritation.
"Back late again?" she asked, setting her work aside.
Jet smiled sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. "I lost track of time. We were out by the river."
His mother sighed but didn't press further. "Go wash up and eat. There's food waiting for you in the kitchen."
"Thanks, Mother," Jet said, bowing his head slightly before heading to his room to freshen up.
Once alone, he sank onto his bed, the events of the day replaying in his mind. The playful sparring, Han's calm guidance, and the small but meaningful moments they shared. Jet smiled to himself, pulling his blanket over his shoulders as he stared at the ceiling.
"I'll have to make him laugh tomorrow," he murmured to himself, already looking forward to their next meeting.
—-
The soft rustling of leaves filled the air as Jet and Han sat under the familiar tree by the hillside. The sun cast golden hues across the landscape, making the moment feel both serene and intimate. Jet leaned back, his hands folded behind his head, while Han sat cross-legged, staring off into the distance.
"Han," Jet began, breaking the silence, "you've never really talked about your past. What was it like growing up?"
Han was quiet for a moment, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "It was… simple," he finally said. "My mother passed away when I was young, so it was just my father and me. He was in the military, so I spent most of my time with the villagers while he was away."
Jet frowned, sensing the weight behind those words. "That must've been hard. Did you miss him a lot?"
Han nodded. "Every day. When he came back, he'd always bring gifts—small things from the palace he visited. But it wasn't the gift I wanted." He paused, his voice softer now. "I wanted him to stay."
Jet felt a pang of sadness for him. "Did he ever… stay for long?"
"Not really," Han admitted with a faint smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. "But I guess that's why I learned to be independent early on."
Jet sat up, his expression thoughtful. "You're really strong, Han. I mean, not just physically but… here." He gently pressed his hand on Han's chest, feeling a soft heartbeat. "It takes a lot to grow up like that and still be someone people look up to."
Han chuckled lightly. "People look up to me? You must be joking."
Jet grinned. "Oh, I'm not joking. Even the little kids in the village follow you around like ducklings. You're like their hero."
Han shook his head, a small, embarrassed smile forming. "That's just because I fix their broken toys."
Jet tilted his head, pretending to scrutinize him. "You know, I've never seen you laugh properly. Like, a real, out-of-control laugh."
Han raised a brow. "Is that important?"
"Of course! Everyone deserves a good laugh," Jet declared. "And I'm going to make it happen."
Before Han could protest, Jet leaped up and started striking ridiculous poses, mimicking a village elder they both knew. "Ah, young Han! Fixing toys again, are we? Have you thought about settling down with a nice Omega yet?"
Han's eyes widened slightly, and then a deep chuckle escaped him. Jet, encouraged, continued his antics, now pretending to trip over his own feet.
Finally, Han couldn't hold it in. Laughter bubbled up, genuine and warm, the sound filling the quiet hillside. Jet stopped, triumphant, and pointed at him. "There it is! The legendary Han laugh!"
Han shook his head, still smiling. "You're ridiculous."
"Maybe," Jet admitted, flopping back onto the grass, "but at least I'm funny."
They sat in companionable silence after that, the mood lighter. But Jet couldn't help glancing at Han from the corner of his eye, feeling a warmth in his chest that he couldn't quite explain.