𝐴𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑡𝒉𝑖𝑛𝑒 // 𝐿𝑒𝑒 𝑀𝑖𝑛𝒉𝑜

eighteen.

She could never know.

     Furiously, Minho flew through the cloud bank, those words running over and over in his head as the husk of the Underworld sun cast its feeble light onto his back. He'd used what little strength he had left to materialize there, but the fear-fueled panic in his gut overpowered his physical weakness.

     She could never find out.

     It wasn't out of concern for her; he'd already made it clear that he didn't care about anything other than her survival. He didn't.

     That was just the way his punishment had been doled out. He was cursed to protect this human soul until her death, and the human could have no knowledge of the misdeed that had led to his fate. At least, not from his own mouth.

     The thought of Haneul learning about his past from another divine being who'd been sly enough to weasel the truth out of someone made Minho's vision turn red.

     She. Can't. Know.

     He would make sure of it.

-

     "So, what? What excuse do you have now?"

     Nervously, Haneul covered her friend's mouth, casting a grimace of apology towards miffed costumers. "Keep your voice down, you're disrupting tables."

     Jisung looked ready to launch the tray he was gripping across the room. "Fuck costumer service, your side is being held together by stitches," he hissed, an older man dubiously watching them with a slack jaw.

     Hastily, Haneul grabbed Jisung's neck and forced him into a bow, apologizing profusely to the costumer before shoving her friend into the kitchen.

     "What the hell, Ji?" Haneul yanked him over to a more secluded corner of room. "I get that you're upset, but you can't just—"

     The man cut her off, outrage filling his face as he let the tray clatter to the counter. "Upset doesn't even come close, Haneul. You see what's happened to you since you met him? Since you let him stay in your home?"

     He dragged a hand through his tousled hair, avoiding her eyes as he took a deep breath. "I just think you should let Hyunjin and me help you; we've been in contact with an informant of his in Heaven, and he has a pretty good idea of how to shield you from the brunt of the attention you're getting. A way to... hinder your ability to sense supernatural activity, and therefore you'll be noticed less, something like that."

     Haneul's breath caught as she backed away, her fingers tingling as she registered his words. She couldn't believe that this whole time, he'd been working behind her back with strangers to try and fix her. He hadn't come to her to explain any of it, just figured that he knew best.

     "And what if I don't want that?"

     The words seemed to stun Jisung, and he faltered back a step. "What do you mean?"

     Licking her lips, Haneul continued, a humorless chuckle leaving her mouth. "What if I don't want you to help? I don't think you realize the severity of my situation. Demons have nearly killed me several times in the past month; even Minho had a close call. I don't think you know what you're getting yourself into."

     Jisung's eyes darkened. "So you're on a first name basis now? You're friends with the demon?"

     Her hands dropped to her sides in exasperation; she was finished with him. "Yes, Jisung. I am. He's my... my guardian. He's kept me safe so far, and almost died to protect me just last night."