"I can't believe you made me come here again." The realization only settled with Hongjoong after they had arrived and Yongguk next to him just gave a low chuckle. They both slid down from their horses, Yongguk gently patting his on the side while Hongjoong searched for something to cool his dry throat down with.

Fort Davis had changed. It had grown bigger, more houses surrounding the city hall. There were more shops and people walking around, little squealing children running together with dogs and the whole city looked more bright and nourished. They looked as if they finally had everything they needed.

So far Hongjoong had not seen any familiar faces and he was wondering how many of them were still here. So far he knew only of Kunpimook having left the place.

"Let me show you the school first. It's not much yet but I'm constantly planning to make it grow." Yongguk gave the reigns of his horse to some native boy running around. Hongjoong also handed Wave over to a little cowboy and they took off together.

Hongjoong followed closely behind Yongguk, watching him greet a few people with a big sunny grin. Hongjoong was still distracted with everything, marvelling over the pretty facades of the buildings. Yongguk laughed when he nearly stumbled into his back once.

Yongguk led them inside of the by now biggest building in the town. It was the church and on the second floor they had build three little classrooms for the kids. They were on break right now, running with laughter and screams in between their legs. Some of them greeted Yongguk as director but most of them just wanted to go play.

"Right now only the young ones have a lesson in english. The other two rooms are empty." Yongguk let him step in first and Hongjoong smiled at the remaining children inside before taking a look around.

The room was decorated prettily. Yongguk had tried to lighten up the dark corners with some wooden boards where the drawings of the little artists hung, coloring the room. They had long tables and chairs that stood in rows in front of the teacher's desk. Behind the desk was a little chalk board that could be carried around. Hongjoong guessed they had only one so far.

"And this is our lovely Miss Moore. She came here from the city to teach the little ones in maths." Yongguk intoduced the woman sitting on the desk and Hongjoong exchanged greetings with her.

"Oh, and here comes the relay. Good afternoon, Mister Park."

Hongjoong turned around, not knowing what to expect but it was for sure not a whole Park Seonghwa with blonde hair and round glasses.

Hongjoong's jaw dropped to the floor as he looked the other man up and down. He was wearing a soft pink top and an awkward smile, looking halfway pained. He also had a book on his shoulder that he now put down on the desk behind Hongjoong. While doing that he stepped dangerously close in Hongjoong's personal space, leaning his head in.

"You are wearing a different cologne.", he commented quietly, pulling back with a more easy smile when Hongjoong just gasped.

"You stayed? Didn't I tell you to-"

Seonghwa was devastatingly beautiful and it had only been two years. Apparently these years had softened him up, taking his dark edge and smoothing out the bitterness he had habored. He had become even more attractive if that was possible and for the first time in a long time Hongjoong felt that pull at his heart telling him to allow himself to fall in love.

"I wanted to go. But Yongguk here collected me on my way and asked me to start anew. No worries, the rest of the town's people agreed to forgive me. I worked hard for this."

"I agree that it was my fault. Don't be angry at him.", Yongguk easily took his side, stepping up to them to gently place a hand on Seonghwa's shoulder.

"Wooyoung and his two boys stayed too. Together with Jongho. They are working on redemption and so far they have succeeded quite well. It truly was only a matter of that bad influence for them."

Now, that was a surprise. Of course it would be easier to forgive them as the friends they believed them to be than the bandits who they had never known to begin with but it still showed quite strong resilience from the people. Being betrayed and trusting again - it was no easy feat.

"Of course me coming here and starting anew would not have worked if not for your help back then.", Seonghwa adressed Hongjoong again and he waved it off quickly, trying to step away from in between the desk and Seonghwa's tall frame.

"Oh no, nothing to thank me for. You sly fox were the one who planned it out. Making the sheriff weak for you to have a chance to live should his mission succeed was fucking superb. A+ acting skills." Hongjoong gave him a wry smile, seeing a mysterious grin also tug on Seonghwa's lips before he just nodded.

"Sadly I have a lesson to give now. Will you stay for a few days? We can catch up later." Seonghwa shyly glanced down at his feet, not quite daring to look up at the man who let him live.

"Oh, sure. I'll be in Hehetmon 2.0. Can't wait to see Yeosang now that I know he stayed actually." He turned to Yongguk then, catching him watching them with a fond grin. They just nodded at each other, taking off then while Seonghwa stayed back. The last thing Hongjoong saw of him was how he kneeled down in order to speak in children's voice with one of his students.

Yongguk led him away with another chuckle, showing him around a bit more before bringing him back to Hehetmon. After a (nearly tearful) reunion with Yeosang Hongjoong found himself in some corner vibrating in his seat with his excitement for Jongho to finish his wild dance in order to come greet him.

"I think Seonghwa fell for you again."

Hongjoong gave Yongguk an amused glance.

"He never did in the first place, what is again supposed to mean?"

"Oh, you haven't heard? Well." Yongguk placed his elbow on the desk to lean in close, whispering lowly in his hands. "His love for you was not entirely acted out. Why do you think he saved you at that time?"

"And why, dear Mister Bang did you not deem it as necessary to let me know that during the two years you had him here?", Hongjoong growled back with a sugary sweet voice. He gave a stiff smile to Yeosang who came over to place their food in front of them, winking at him. He walked off after, leaving Hongjoong to deal with Yongguk.

"It was not important then but it is now. Go meet him with that knowledge later. I'm sure Mister Park would love to explain that to you." Yongguk's smirk was all too devious while he dug into his food, leaving Hongjoong to wonder.

"He is a killer, why are you implying he would be embarassed?"

"He likes you. Also he's a teacher now, don't mix up my employees please."

It was quite obvious that there would be no more helpful information coming out of Yongguk's mouth so Hongjoong just shrugged, focusing on his food.

-

"Hongjoong! You came!"

Hongjoong spun around to find Seonghwa coming closer to him in a light jog, his glasses askew and his hair tousled by the wind. He had stuck his tongue in between his teeth while running but took it back when he stopped in front of Hongjoong.

He would deny his fixation on the red muscle.

"I'm surprised you still remember my name to be honest. You changed so much during this time." Hongjoong felt more shy than necessary. However, the blush rising on Seonghwa's cheeks was much more noticeable, supporting Yongguk's theory.

"Of course I do. This all here is because of you. You are basically a hero in our story books."

"And are you listed as a villain?"

Seonghwa gave him a smirk, much more similar to the him at that time and it relieved Hongjoong to see him like that. It was oddly calming.

"No. I'm the responsible first english teacher that Fort Davis ever had. Cleared my name fully." He looked quite proud of that and Hongjoong had to approve, giving him credit for that. He was glad that Seonghwa had managed to settle down.

"What happened with Yunho and Mingi?"

"They left. I think they are somewhere out in the desert and living their life just the two of them. I never saw them again after."

Hongjoong nodded, still patiently looking up at the other man. He did not quite now what to expect, what to do with him now that they were not rivals anymore and Seonghwa not any longer a killer he had to bring down. How should he act towards him?

"Hey, remember when you asked me whether I wanted to be your lover once?"

The sudden question surprised Hongjoong, making him choke on his own spit and cough painfully for a second. That damn desert dust of course did not help.

Seonghwa laughed at him, gently patting his back until it stopped. Hongjoong felt the embarrassment burn hotly on his face, every try to ease the awkwardness in vain.

"Uh, yeah. You said yes at that time. When you tried not to get yourself killed."

"It's still true. I figured... Nah, I want to ask whether you would try again? Let me be honest this time?"

"How are you when you are for real?"

Another smile crossed Seonghwa's features, his curls falling softly into his forehead even when he tried pushing them away.

"I won't shove a gun down your throat?", he tried all cutely and Hongjoong barked out a laugh, nodding entertainedly.

"What about the other places that gun was? I beg to differ between keeping it far away from me and just not pushing it down my throat." His voice had a teasing lilt to it, making Seonghwa rub his neck awkwardly.

"Let me rephrase that. I won't use a gun on you if you don't want to."

"I love how you did not even mention anything else. Okay, let's try. I want to see how much of that bandit I can still find in you."

Seonghwa easily complied when Hongjoong took his fingers gently in his, pulling him closer. For a long moment they just rested while leaning against each other, the wind gently tousling Seonghwa's hair.

The teacher's hand came up to carefully take the hat off Hongjoong's head, turning it in his hands.

"Is this the one Kunpimook gifted you? You wear it for special occasions?"

"Yeah. Don't you dare make it dirty. He will kill me if he has to make another one of these."

Seonghwa twirled the hat playfully on his fingers, barely even flinching when Hongjoong finally grabbed his collar to pull him down to his level. He merely let his hands come up behind Hongjoong's neck, searching his eyes for a hot second.

The air was warm when it brushed Seonghwa's hair against Hongjoong's forehead when he kissed this bandit, tasting those sweet lips that had always been his on no one else's to claim.

He might need to start working here as a sheriff again. He had not seen any other person suitable for the job and it might have just been what Yongguk had planned for him. Again he had been caught in Seonghwa's web.

But with the way those soft lips pressed against his, tasting of honey candy and Yeosang's self brewn coffee, the way his body melted against Hongjoong's form as if they were made for each other and the little gasp that escaped his lips when Hongjoong pulled him even closer by his hips, it was all worth it. It was worth falling into his web for.

And Hongjoong might always have been too soft, too forgiving. But Seonghwa was also way too pretty and so very convincing.

Hongjoong did not mind. So what if he started working here again, dating the elementary school teacher.

He could not see any problem with that.

*************

Hellooooo and thanks to everybody for reading, voting/giving kudos and commenting again! (I see them all <.<)

See you soon in the sequel of Prince of Flour: Prince of Bones!