I - One Year
One Year later
"Yerim hurry up! You're gonna be late and you're already failing one of your classes!" Jungeun's husk voice echoed achingly well in their small apartment.
Yerim grunted, responding with an equally loud voice, "I'm coming! Hang on a sec, gheez." She huffed, throwing her bag over her shoulder.
(Yerim also wanted to mention that she isn't failing one of her classes. She's not doing well, but she's passing. Not failing.)
Yerim rushed towards their kitchen, practically throwing whatever seemed edible into her bag. She figure she'll just decide whichever snack she'll eat at lunch. Yerim grabbed her thermos but stopped when she realized it was as cold as the snow that littered their streets. She stomped her feet slightly against the floor in worry that Jungeun's piercing voice would rattle their small apartment yet again.
"Ok, ok! Don't burn it. Don't burn it. Don't burn it." She halted as she was placing her thermos a few centimetres above her other palm, "And don't burn yourself." She muttered.
With a deep breath, fire lit up on the palm of her, the bright flames flapped chaotically in the palm of her hand. "Slowly." She muttered as she slowly lowered the thermos, barely touching the controlled flames. Waiting a few seconds, Yerim sneaked a little burst of fire to warm up her thermos and smiled to herself victoriously when it hadn't melted the metal or burn her palm.
Yerim took a quick swig of the bottle and sighed at the warm liquid running down her throat. She really needed the tea when it was practically freezing outside.
"Yerim I swear-"
"I'm coming, I'm coming!" Yerim giggled as she hastily stuffed her thermos into her bag; jogging around their living room and meeting up with Jungeun. "You're so impatient, ya know that?" She quickly slipped into her shoes, eyeing Jungeun the whole time.
"That's cause you're seriously too slow." Jungeun snapped back but Yerim knew better than to take that as an actual insult. With a chuckle, Yerim jumped to the older girl's side, marching happily beside her.
With a hesitant expression, Jungeun left the comforts of their apartment lobby and stepped out into the crisp winter, her feet pressing against the flurries of white on the sidewalk. She shuddered against the winter air and pressed closer to Yerim, in hopes of finding the heat she missed already.
"I'm not a heater ya know." Yerim hummed.
Jungeun let out an exasperated sigh, "You're quirk is literally Inferno fire. You should be a born heater, automatically."
"I can emit flames and throw it out, if I do that right now, my clothes might burn - yours too." Yerim huffed, crossing her arms as she smugly explained her quirk to her older friend.
Jungeun pushed off of the younger girl, grumbling as she tucked beneath her scarf further than she, probably, already has. "Unfair. Try to become a heater too!" Jungeun whined, shivering instantly when a sharp breeze of cold air passed by them. She cursed and still stuck close to Yerim. "I'll just use you for body heat for now I guess."
Yerim chuckled and let the older girl do whatever she pleases. She didn't really mind, Jungeun did always mention how naturally high Yerim's temperature was. Besides, Jungeun deserved all the heat she can garner now since Yerim's sure after she's been dropped off, Jungeun will run off to LOONA and do whatever it is they were doing.
Yerim's eyes softened.
LOONA.
****
"Ow- what the hell!"
"Don't act like the victim, idiot."
"You didn't have to do that- ow, ow! Alright, alright I surrender!"
"Olivia Hye, lay off him." A pair of familiar white wings sprung down, eyes trained on the new figure that entered into the scene. A clutter of whispers and mutters flew around, mostly in awe and admiration as those wings were truly one of a kind and recognized everywhere. "I'm sure he knows not to do it again, right?"
A pair of eyes glared at the man on the floor, his body trembled as soon as he was met with such an intense gaze. He shrunk with the floor, nodding meekly. Hyejoo, who had her foot on his back, huffed and stepped away. "He was being a pain. I asked him nicely at first Haseul." She crossed her arms, looking away.
Haseul chuckled, "Sure you did." She looked at Midnight and Hyejoo knew she was done for, "Is she telling the truth Midnight?"
Hyejoo nervously met Midnight eyes and internally groaned when her - supposed - wolf companion avoided her gaze and shook his head at Haseul. The winged hero just spared Hyejoo a sigh and quick lecture of being nicer before patting her head. Hyejoo only huffed and whined as she jerked away from Haseul's fingers.
"Ok! I apologize for the ruckus everyone! You may leave!" Haseul smiled, waving her hands as a way to disperse the gathering crowd. All the others nodded but of course without snapping a picture at the two heroes standing in front of them; some stuck around but at a certain distance so they wouldn't be caught (even if they weren't really secretive about it).
"Always swooping in to save the day, huh, Shirohato?" Hyejoo grumbled, almost about to kick the man towards Haseul had it not been for her leader pushing her away lightly.
"Yeah well sometimes I know how you get." She smirked, kneeling in front of the man. The criminal only whimpered as he looked away from Haseul's wings. "And call me Shiro not the full name - it doesn't suit me." Haseul smiled.
Albeit Haseul's wings being a snow white colour in which was always praised for it's beauty - it's really her wings that prove the don't judge a book by its cover catchphrase to be a real thing. They were alluringly beautiful, proving to be the symbol of hope when caught in the wind of a fight. It's glimmering feathers that fluttered against the strong breeze, it's wide structure created heaps of shadows that towered over the side walks, and the way it flapped against the currents made it the sign of salvation; or for the opponents side, fear.
Hyejoo would never admit it upfront, but she admired Haseul's quirk as much as many did, maybe even more.
"Where's Go won?" Haseul looked up at Hyejoo as she had just finished tying up the man's wrists together.
Hyejoo looked around her surroundings, taking note of the 3 other knocked-out men scattered amongst the street, but saw no sign of her partner. Shrugging, Hyejoo turned to Haseul, "Last I remember she was going to take someone into interrogation? Not sure."
Haseul brought her fingers to the bridge of her nose, squeezing it briefly before dropping her hand to her side. "I hope whoever she's interrogating is still alive."
Hyejoo chuckled, "Pretty sure Go won won't do that. Well, not unless you gave her permission to." She shrugged when Haseul glared at her slightly, though smiled when the leader shook her head knowingly. "Chuu's with her right?"
Haseul nodded, "She is."
There was a brief silence - well, save for the struggling man on the cold concrete. Haseul let out a sigh and gave a whole lecture, telling him off that if he were to steal again then there's no doubt she'll have him face her feathers. Obviously, Hyejoo knew this was one of her playful bluffs but the guy bought it regardless, mostly out of fear of the large wings towering over him. With one swift cut, the man was free from his makeshift shackles and scurried away.
"Do you-" Hyejoo turned away from Haseul and for a brief moment she saw Midnight shake his head at her - she paid him no attention, "Do you think they'll come back?"
Hyejoo heard a sharp breath leave Haseul but she didn't turn around knowing she for sure got her attention. "Some people are getting stronger, that attracts them. Even if they went rogue after 2 years that would only mean that they're trying to get stronger as well."
"So you're saying they will come back." Hyejoo asked, though it came out more as a statement rather than a question. She turned around to see Haseul's shoulders slumped, her wings brushed against the snow white floor.
Haseul met Hyejoo's eyes, "Yes." Hyejoo never knew a word could send such shivers down her spine, it almost felt as if her former nightmares, memories, everything was rushing back at her like a sword speeding its way towards you. "But I'm not sure when." Haseul added.
"Did you tell the others?" Hyejoo kept in her worries, choosing to hide them behind a stern expression. Though, Hyejoo knows better than to believe Haseul didn't notice her efforts. If anything, Haseul was just keeping quiet about it.
Haseul nodded, "Briefly. I don't know much yet but apparently there's been an influx of crimes in other parts of the world. Heroes are trying to keep it down, and it's working so far. So I'd appreciate it if when you find some criminals shouting about praising their leader, you keep them quiet, as quick as possible." She turned to Hyejoo and fire lit in the leader's eyes, Hyejoo almost stepped back, startled, "Can you do that for me, Oli?"
"Of course." Hyejoo nodded, instinctively bowing to Haseul. Even though Haseul was a pretty care-free leader, not one to be strict, she had a way of demanding attention - a way to keep your eyes trained on her and only her, "How about Hyun.." Hyejoo trailed off.
"Don't tell her." Haseul's eyes softened, "It's better if we keep this low since we're unsure yet."
"If that's what you think is best then I'll follow you." Hyejoo smiled, though it was forced. She understood Haseul's decision but Hyejoo couldn't help to feel guilty to keep such a secret from Hyunjin.
Haseul chuckled, "Wow, the Olivia Hye following orders? Is the world ending, or something?"
Hyejoo rolled her eyes, "Oh shut up. Just go, Go Won probably needs you." She scoffed, waving Haseul off.
With a chuckle, Haseul's wings flew open and flapped steadily against the still air. Soon enough she lifted into the air and after bidding a quick farewell, Haseul slid above the buildings, not missing the chance to have people point at her, muttering how a hero openly roamed the skies.
Hyejoo sighed at their reactions.
"Come on, I need to get to class." Hyejoo yawned, stretching out her arms.
Midnight's lowly voice chuckled, "You're going to be 30 minutes late to class." He peered up at her, his golden eyes expressed mischief and a bit of mockery.
"Well, screw it. We can still make it." Hyejoo pat his back before jumping onto him, ignoring his complaints and what not. As much as Midnight wants to complain about her impulsively using him as a ride, Hyejoo knew how much Midnight enjoyed their daily adventures, even if it was as simple as riding to school.
"Hold on tight kid-"
"Don't tell me what to do." Hyejoo smirked when she heard Midnight let out a groan.
Midnight didn't say much as he pushed off of his hind legs and began to speed towards her university. Unfortunately, due to the winter weather, running at the speed of a wolf practically had the wind slap harshly against their faces, specifically Hyejoo's. Hyejoo shuddered at the strong breeze and brought her self closer to Midnight's neck, basking in the very slight warmth he can provide.
Hyejoo closed her eyes against the wind and rather than thinking about the minutes of pure cold against her face, she thought about the moment judgement day comes. The day when she's met with the same people who ruined their lives, those monsters that took away everything from them and left them with nothing but guilt, sorrow and all that broke them. Ripped away from their hands.
Maybe she'll ignore Haseul's pleads this time. Maybe, Hyejoo won't deliberately stop Midnight from running head first at them to devour their hideous bodies. Or maybe she'll just throw away her morals and jump in herself, using every bit of her strength to rip them apart just like they did when they took everything from them.
Sounds morbid, but so what? They never held back, why should she?
Hyejoo clutched tightly onto Midnight's back, her eyes narrowing.
Sounds like a plan.
****
"Oh right, Yerim, before you go." Jungeun grabbed Yerim's wrist, barely catching her in time.
"Hm?"
"Next week, is the day, right?"
Yerim winced but nodded lightly. She slowly pulled away from Jungeun's grasp, but masking any sort of emotion with blank slate for an expression.
Jungeun cleared her throat, hoping to get rid of the bothering knot in it, "If you want you can visit LOONA? Haseul wants to see you again. I can even invite Kahei if you-"
"No." Yerim looked up at Jungeun, her eyes filled with this frustration. Jungeun opened her mouth to say something but shut it once she saw a glimmer of anger flash in Yerim's eyes, only to dissolve in this forced softness that Yerim had worn once again. With a deep breath, Yerim looked away from Jungeun, "I-I'd rather spend my time alone on Thursday, if you don't mind."
Before Jungeun could even begin to speak, Yerim had already started walking into the entrance, her back turned stiffly towards Jungeun. The older girl watched as the brunette stayed adamant with not turning back, her head hanging low.
Jungeun internally scolded herself for possibly ruining Yerim's day but she forced herself not to dwell on it. With cold feet, Jungeun turned on her heel and started walking the opposite way, her heart deflated in failure of reviving Yerim's fire.
Yerim, on the other hand, felt her body run warm, contrasting well to the winter weather. She took in a deep breath, the sliver of breeze making its way into her jacket. Yerim shook her head.
Why would I join the heroes who couldn't even save my sister.