"You awake?" Jimin whispered softly as I stirred on her lap. Normally it would feel good doing so, until I opened my eyes to see her puffy cheeks and swollen red eyes.
I sat up immediately and tenderly cupped her cheek with my right hand. "Hey," I whispered gently. "I'm..."
"Don't apologize, Seren, it's not your fault," she breathes.
"Still, I'm sorry, for everything that happened tonight." I pressed my forehead on hers and I felt our breaths merge, their heat a small comfort.
We stayed still for a few heartbeats until I asked, "Aren't you afraid of me?"
"Why?" She whispered back.
"When I punched that Rider, that was not human, at all," I replied, hoping that she will be understanding and accepting.
She was silent for a moment, "If anything, Seren," she finally spoke, "maybe this is the nerd in me speaking or the... friend..." she mentioned the term hesitantly, like it wasn't the term she wanted to use, "that I am to you, but... I want to... stay with you, Seren."
I pulled away to look at her eyes and saw nothing but kindness, sincerity, and something else I can't quite place — something else she keeps inside.
"I want to understand what you are, who you are, and why you are like this. I know it's dangerous but, I want to stay with you. Please don't push me away because of the danger," she pleaded quietly, her soft hands reaching for my cheeks as her eyes glimmered again with tears.
"I would have been content if you said we're still friends, Jimin. But this, this is overwhelming," I replied — and it was true. Worst case I expected was that she would shun me, and the best case was we remain as friends, distant though, because of the danger.
"Thank you," I whispered, pressing our foreheads again together. She closed her eyes, our breaths brushed our lips, they drew closer... and closer... and... "Seren, Jimin?" Joohyun's voice cut through us and we pulled away like two teenagers caught doing something red handed. Jimin wiped her eyes as she faced Joohyun, "Yes?"
"I... uh... need to go," Joohyun said. "Seulgi said human police and media are coming, it will look bad if they see me here."
Jimin and I nodded, "Yeah. Thank you, Joohyun," I said.
"Stay safe, you two. And Jimin," Jimin raised her head once again. "Blow the whistle when you're in danger," Joohyun whispered. Jimin clasped the glass whistle on her neck, "Thank you, Joohyun." Joohyun smiled, then gracefully leapt towards a broken window and into the moonlight.
Seulgi then approached me, and it was only then did I actually register the carnage that is now the Archives. The reception was split in half, shelves, tables, and chairs lay sliced, crushed, or slashed, and books and pages were strewn across the tiled marble floor. Shit — this all just needed to happen on our shift.
"Seren," Seulgi called with Yeji behind her, in the distance, I spotted Ryujin applying a bandage on Chaeryoung's hand. They are now dressed casually in simple shirts, shorts, and sneakers — they looked like normal college girls, a far cry from the big cats they were just half an hour ago.
"Seulgi, may I, speak with you in private?" I asked.
Seulgi was taken aback, then signalled Yeji to go take care of Jimin. Yeji nodded and knelt beside my partner.
Seulgi and I walked out of earshot, hopefully – werebeasts also have enhanced senses. "This better be quick, Seren, human media and police are on their way."
"I'll be quick," I said in hushed tones. "When I, uh, when we were cornered by one Rider. I, uh, sort of, punched him, and..."
"And?"
I pointed behind her, where a Rider was stuck in the wall, a fist mark sank upon his tree bark armor.
Seulgi turned to me, her face wide eyed in surprise, "You did that?"
I nodded awkwardly, "And from there," I pointed towards the other side of the hall.
"Are you sure you're not...?"
"I didn't know my parents Seulgi," I confessed. "I grew up an orphan but since I live a pretty normal human life, I always assumed I was human, but now, I'm not so sure anymore. Add to that the resistance to vampiric charm and the..." I paused, not wanting to say out loud that I amplified Seulgi's sexual drive while she was in heat.
Thankfully, the detective got the message and decided not to press any further. She then nodded in contemplation, "Alright, I'll do a research of your lineage when I can, scour the records of Verrath for any answers."
"Thanks," I muttered.
"Did this all just manifest tonight? This apparent super strength?" She asked and I nodded.
"What were you thinking at the moment? This might help us understand it better."
"Well...." I shrugged. "I was thinking about you."
Seulgi recoiled and placed a palm on her chest, "Me?"
I nodded again, "I was thinking, if I was only as strong as you, then I can beat that Rider and save Jimin, and I swung and..." I gestured again to the dead Rider stuck on the wall.
Seulgi's brow furrowed, "First of all, I'm flattered, but that does not answer anything at all."
"It only brings up more questions," I agreed.
"Well, no use pondering about it now, we have other more urgent matters." She said, walking back towards Yeji and Jimin who were talking as well in hushed tones. Yeji's hand held Jimin's as they both looked up towards us.
"Seren, Jimin, each of you will have a protector tonight," Seulgi declared. "And with what you just experienced, I doubt you and your team would have any objections if I assign you three for this, Yeji?"
"None, ma'am," Yeji replied.
"Very well, Yeji, you stay with Seren. Ryujin and Chaeryoung will stay with Jimin, any objections?"
"None, maam," Yeji echoed.
"Brief your team, Yeji. Seren and Jimin, say your goodbyes for now, you must be off as soon as possible." Seulgi commanded.
"What about what happened here?" I asked Seulgi as Yeji jogged towards her team.
"There's too much evidence of the Wild Hunt being here," Seulgi commented. "I'll say I'm speculating that they were here for some kind of artifact or codex, just to turn the attention away from both of you – I doubt Orion wants that as well. You were just part timers doing your job, I'll also have a chat with the Archives' management. As for the huntresses, we could say that they were here because of their Wild Instinct."
"Wild Instinct?" I asked, unfamiliar with the term.
"Ask Yeji later, right now, you need to go," Seulgi said with urgency.
I turned towards Jimin, "I can accompany you home if you want to," I offered.
She shook her head, "After tonight, I may need some time to... think about things."
I nodded slowly, "I understand. You won't be bored though." I said as Yeji's team slowly approached
"What?" Jimin asked.