Home; I Found With You // Ryeji FF

skeptical.

The running water was soothing to the stinging pain on her forearm. She winced as she felt the cool steam against her swollen skin, gently running her fingers over the tender area. Ryujin could feel the skin starting to swell, forming small blisters. It had been a couple of days since they saved Lia from the lighthouse, and she had hoped that the burn would have settled down by now. But the persistent throbbing and the sight of the blistering skin told her otherwise.

With the small hand towel hanging on the rack beside her, Ryujin gently dried her skin and pulled on her favorite sweater. Taking a quick deep breath and glancing at herself in the mirror, she headed out of the bathroom and made her way to the dining area.

"Morning, Seul. What's on the agenda for today?" she asked the older woman who was sitting at the dining table, setting up some sort of station.

Since their arrival at the cabin, Seulgi had assigned various tasks for the group to do—patrols, small repairs around the place, or gathering dry wood for the fireplace in the living room.

The lieutenant looked up from the table and gave Ryujin a warm smile. "Do you know how to clean your firearm?"

Ryujin shook her head, which prompted a chuckle from Seulgi. "Sit with me, I'll teach you."

Seulgi picked her pump shotgun up from the ground and placed it on the makeshift station, motioning for Ryujin to sit beside her. There was no doubt that she had done this more than a hundred times before with the way she dismantled the weapon and explained each step as she went along.

"Okay, first we'll start with disassembling the barrel from the receiver," She said, unscrewing the barrel and setting it aside. "Since this gun has been sitting under my couch, there is a lot of buildup and residue here."

The younger watched closer, nodding as she took mental notes. The only experience she had with cleaning firearms was with her mother. It felt like a lifetime ago.

"Next, we'll remove the trigger assembly," Seulgi continued, demonstrating how to carefully take out the components. "It's important to clean each part thoroughly to ensure smooth operation and prevent jams."

As Seulgi explained the finer points of gun maintenance, the sound of laughter erupted from Lia, disrupting the lesson. "What are you doing, Choi?!" Seulgi asked loudly to be heard.
Ryujin turned her head towards the kitchen, where heavy footsteps signaled the arrival of Yuna and Chaeryeong.

"We're heading out on patrol," Chaeryeong announced, a hint of annoyance in her tone as she hurried past Lia's laughter.

"Stay safe, guys!" Ryujin called after them as they made their way out of the cabin. "What's up with them?"

"Childish things," she replied before continuing with her lesson.

In the kitchen, Lia wandered back to Yeji, howling with laughter. "God, I love teasing them," she said with tears in her eyes, still recovering from the amusement.

Yeji also couldn't contain her chuckles, both her hands gripping the edge of the counter. "I don't know how they put up with us," she managed between giggles.

The scientist searched through the cabinets, looking around for any ingredients for dinner. There were bagged grains, rice, and beans—enough to create a decent meal. She smiled to herself as she found a can of tomatoes and some spices tucked away.

"Yes!"

Yeji strolled over, curiosity piqued. "What's up?"

Lia stretched on her toes, her fingertips barely grazing the canned beef. "Just trying to get some protein," she replied, finally grabbing the can with a victorious smile.