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╭┈─────── ೄྀ࿐ ˊˎ-
❝ bloody knuckles&clockwork hearts pt i ❞
For the record, when Sung Ilhwan said he wanted a peaceful night, he did not mean this.
This being, a standoff in a dirty alleyway near the side of a convenience store between a few mobsters and what seems to be a teenager. Practically a baby!
The kid bares their teeth, a tangle of messy hair flopping into their eyes. "Don't touch me."
"Aw, are you scared?" Righty—the one on the right—coos.
The man in the middle—Ilhwan's gonna call him Eyebrows cause those are some seriously bushy ones—laughs. "Come on, kid. Just give us all your money and we'll let you go. Promise."
"Yeah," On the left, Lefty chuckles. "Promise. . ."
"You're really stupid." The kid snaps, and Ilhwan groans inwardly. God. Where are the self-preservation instincts of kids these days? He's seen Hunters with more will to live than this kid in particular. They can't be older than, what, twelve? Thirteen? Jeez. "I already told you, I have no money. I spent it all on noodles."
That piques his interest. The kid is scrawny and clearly malnourished, but with lithe packed muscle, the kind that comes with years of serious training. They bounce lightly on the balls of their feet and from this angle, he can clearly see the way the child's eyes flicker between the three men, the alleyway, and the ladders on the walls. Scouting for escape routes, Ilhwan's brain helpfully reminds him. He's seen this before, many times. On Hunters giving in to their 'fight-or-flight' instincts. On street kids with their steely-eyed calm, looking for their next target. The kid's eyes flash once in his direction, cautious, before they turn away. It's almost imperceptible but Ilhwan catches it. Of course he does. And the fact that the kid noticed him before anyone else despite him cloaking his Mana signature. . .
Hm. Interesting. . .
Eyebrows' grin fades slightly. "Okay, kid. Be serious." He reaches out to grab them by the arm, and the kid stops dead. Ilhwan isn't sure if they're breathing anymore, their face is tight with suppressed. . .something. "We don't wanna hurt you, but we will if you don't listen."
Ilhwan sighs. Guess he's gonna have to step in.
Kyunghye would never forgive him if he let a child get hurt.
"Hey," he says, melting out of the shadows. The men startle.
"Wha—"
"How did—?"
"Let go of the kid," he jerks his chin to the aforementioned kid, who is watching him with narrowed eyes. He can almost see the thoughts running wild. What is he doing? Why is he helping me? Believe me, kid, he thinks. If I knew, I wouldn't be here. "'Cause I don't wanna hurt you, but I will if you don't listen." He mocks.
