XV - Plan B
"Deeper downtown?"
Haseul nods, straightening her back as she looks up at Yerim, "Is that ok with you?" Her voice was as gentle as it always was.
Yerim blinks and she meets Hyejoo's eyes for a split second, inwardly grimacing at the way the latter seemed to look unimpressed (as she always is), "Of course! It works for me!" She smiles, as brightly as she could muster up.
Their leader lets out a fond chuckle before moving onto the others. "Everyone will pretty much stay in their same areas, however, Jiwoo and I will also pay close attention to the other side of downtown." She points to the large red circle drawn onto the paper, tracing her finger against the red marker, "Keep in mind that the areas outside of downtown are also prone to criminal activity. Especially since it's midnight, ok?"
Chaewon peaked over Jiwoo's shoulder, pushing herself against her toes, "So pay close attention to alleyways and stuff?"
Jungeun nods, "Like what we normally do."
"What if we encounter them." Hyejoo chirps, leaning against their table. She takes note of the way everyone suddenly keeps quiet, dipping their heads either in thought or wonder at the question - or rather, statement.
It takes a couple of moments for someone to interrupt the deafening silence until Haseul decides to speak up, "It's best we don't engage." She sighs, "We have little to no information on what we're up against. What we can do however is to observe them - run if you need to - and see if you can find something out about them."
Yerim looks up from their map, "Any outstanding features or anything related to their quirk?"
Haseul hums, "Exactly." She crosses her arms, "We need all the info we can get."
Everyone nods, their eyes plastered on the map spread out on the table. It was clear they were all left uneasy at the news; however, this just meant that they had easier access to information, which, in a way, is much better than having to wait for other heroes.
Haseul sighs - it is a good thing. But this whole situation is practically a double edge sword waiting to be used. Their senses were left to fend for their own, having little to no clues about their opponent's quirk. Not even an obvious mark or memorable appearance that can give them just a bit of knowledge; they have nothing.
"Are there any more questions?" Jungeun says, getting the attention of everyone else. She slightly shifts under their gaze, blinking away the feeling of her heart pumping out of her chest uncharacteristically - Jungeun concludes it's out of hunger and totally not out of anxiety. Regardless, no one says anything, just shrugging as they meet eyes with one another (except Hyejoo and Jiwoo).
Haseul claps her hands together, a blinding smile plastered across her face, "Keep in touch!" She rolls the map, keeping it tight and small in the palm of her hands, "As I said before, don't engage, alright!"
Chaewon throws a flimsy thumbs up, "Got it."
~
"Jiwoo."
Jiwoo almost trips forward as she stopped, shyly scratching the back of her head when Haseul chuckles fondly, muttering an apology that Jiwoo doesn't believe is sincere at all. She only huffs, crossing her arms in an attempt to act the least bit of irritation - but the growing smile on her face falters. "Hm?" She mutters out.
Haseul looks away, the feathers on her wings fluttering as a rush of wind brushed against them. Albeit the midnight sky was as dark as it presented, Haseul's snow-white wings never fail to shine against the moonlight, marking itself known to anyone that happens to look up at the buildings. Haseul walks towards the edge, her eyes seemed distant and almost hesitant.
"You know you can trust me," Haseul turns her head, "...Right."
Jiwoo felt a shiver run up her spine, her neck feeling a tinge of freezing air creep against it as if someone was breathing down her whole body. Guarding her still, watching and waiting for an answer. She felt uneasy, to be gazed at so unexpectedly by their leader. Haseul, who was as quiet as the warmth amidst the winter air, just stared at her.
Haseul's expression was stone cold. Her eyes eerily still, and her mouth zipped shut in a calm yet expecting manner. Jiwoo felt her fingers curl against her palms as she tried to decipher Haseul's face, but there was nothing to go off of. Haseul's everything was confusing; too difficult and complex for Jiwoo to dissect.
Gulping subtly, Jiwoo nodded discreetly, "Of course." She answers, laying herself calm as she faced Haseul with a blinding smile.
Haseul watches her, and Jiwoo fears that she saw right through her faltering grin and her clever façade - knowing Haseul, she most likely did. But rather than saying anything, Haseul sharply turns on her heel, her wings spreading to large lengths, feathers flapping harshly against the bones of her physical quirk.
Haseul hums, "Good." Is all she says before breathing in, "I'll scout around the area and get a birds-eye view, you stay here and keep an eye out for anything strange. I'll be back!" Haseul shouts as she violently swings her wings forward, lifting her in an elegant form, and then gliding away, her figure getting smaller as she circles around their assigned sector.
Jiwoo breathes out, realizing she had been holding in a tight breath since the moment Haseul's giggle had faded along with the midnight wind. Her shoulders lazily droop back to their sockets, her chest heaving slightly heavily as she takes a moment to sit down.
She closes her eyes, wanting to feel the cold air against her cheeks in an attempt to dry the little beads of sweat gathering on her forehead.