Steel Ocean

Jolyne didn't trust the quiet.

Green Dolphin Street Prison wasn't exactly known for peaceful afternoons, and yet, as she sat on the edge of a rickety metal bench in the prison courtyard, the air was... still.

Too still.

Like the whole damn place was waiting for something.

She stretched her legs out in front of her, boots scraping against the concrete, pretending not to notice how her shoulders felt tight.

Something was off.

And then, she realized what it was.

Someone was watching her.

Her eyes flicked up, scanning the yard. The usual inmates were scattered across the open space—some playing basketball, some smoking, others keeping to themselves.

But one particular idiot stood out.

Anasui.

Leaning against the far wall, arms crossed, staring at her like he was sizing her up for something.

Jolyne frowned.

What the hell was his problem?

She was about to say something—about to call him out on his weird stalker routine—when she noticed something else.

Someone else.

Isabella.

Standing off to the side, arms crossed, watching Anasui watch her.

And—Jolyne's stomach did an unexpected little twist when she realized it—Isabella wasn't just watching.

She was checking him out.

Jolyne's frown deepened.

Isabella wasn't the kind of person who stared at people absentmindedly.

Everything she did was calculated, like she was always two steps ahead of everyone else in the prison.

And yet, here she was, clearly giving Anasui a once-over.

Jolyne's jaw tensed.

She couldn't explain why, but it bothered her.

Not in the way it should—like, 'Oh, Isabella's interested in some weirdo, that's her problem.'

No.

It was... something else.

Something sharper.

Something she didn't like.

"You like that creep, do you?"

The words left her mouth before she could stop them, her voice a little sharper than she intended.

Isabella raised an eyebrow.

Then, instead of answering, she grinned.

Oh, no.

Jolyne knew that grin.

That was the 'I'm about to be an asshole for fun' grin.

Shit.

"I just can't decide if I want to fight him or flirt with him," Isabella said, tilting her head slightly.

Jolyne felt an immediate, visceral reaction to those words.

She scoffed—loud, dismissive—but something about it felt forced.

"That's disgusting," she muttered, rolling her eyes.

Isabella chuckled. "What, because he's a creep?"

Jolyne huffed. "Because it's Anasui."

That should've been the end of the conversation.

But Isabella didn't let it drop.

Instead, she leaned in slightly, her smirk deepening.

"Jealous?"

Jolyne froze.

Her breath hitched—just a fraction, just enough that someone really paying attention might have noticed.

And Isabella was definitely paying attention.

Jolyne's immediate response was pure, knee-jerk denial.

"Of what?" she shot back, crossing her arms.

Isabella shrugged, clearly enjoying this way too much. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe you just don't like sharing the attention."

Jolyne felt something hot curl in her chest.

Not quite anger.

Not quite anything she knew how to name.

It was just—annoyance.

That's what it was.

Yeah.

She was annoyed.

Because Isabella was being annoying.

That was all.

Right?

As if the universe wanted to make things worse, that was the exact moment Anasui decided to actually walk over.

Jolyne groaned internally.

The last thing she needed right now was his bullshit.

"Jolyne," Anasui greeted smoothly, ignoring Isabella entirely.

She barely looked at him. "What do you want?"

He leaned against the bench, smiling like he thought he had a chance.

"I just think it's fascinating," he mused, "how you keep getting caught up in all these Stand battles. You really are something else, you know that?"

Jolyne stared.

Then she turned her head slightly to look at Isabella, who was watching the exchange with barely concealed amusement.

"Oh, now you're enjoying this?" Jolyne muttered under her breath.

Isabella grinned. "Immensely."

Jolyne resisted the urge to throw something at her.

Instead, she refocused on Anasui.

"Listen," she said, voice flat. "I'm not interested in whatever it is you think is happening here."

Anasui laughed, like she was joking. "Oh, Jolyne, don't be so cold—"

He reached for her hand.

Jolyne's patience snapped.

Before she could react—

Before she could even register that she was moving—

Isabella was already there.

She grabbed Anasui's wrist before he could make contact, her grip like iron.

His smile faltered.

Isabella's smirk remained, but her voice dropped to something much colder.

"I'd rethink that," she said casually.

The shift in her tone was immediate.

Jolyne saw it.

So did Anasui.

His entire posture changed, something flickering behind his eyes—like he was suddenly very aware of the danger standing in front of him.

For a moment, the tension was thick.

And then—Anasui chuckled, raising his hands in surrender.

"No need for hostility," he said smoothly. "I was just being friendly."

Isabella's grip didn't loosen.

Her smile didn't fade.

But her eyes?

They were dead fucking serious.

"Sure you were."

A beat of silence.

Then, finally, she let go.

Anasui took a small step back, eyeing her carefully.

Then, with an unreadable expression, he turned and walked away.

Jolyne exhaled.

Finally.

She glanced at Isabella, still frowning. "You didn't have to do that."

Isabella shrugged. "Didn't have to. Wanted to."

Jolyne rolled her eyes. "Great. So now he thinks I need protecting."

Isabella smirked. "Who said it was about you?"

Jolyne stared.

And then, she felt it again—that weird, unfamiliar feeling twisting in her stomach.

She didn't know what it was.

Didn't want to know.

So she just shook her head, turned away, and muttered—

"You're a pain in the ass."

Isabella chuckled. Low. Amused.

"Only with the right person."

Jolyne pretended she didn't hear that.