The Pursuit of Shin Ryujin || Ryeji ff

- 13

Remember when Yeji said the only thing she was afraid of was Ryujin? You don't understand how true that was. As Ryujin stood there, eyes filled with rage and one hand coiled around the handgun, Yeji feels more terror than she had ever felt before. More than when Ryujin danced along the ledge of their high school's balcony.

"Ryujin, just let me explain." Yeji began, edging towards the other woman.

"I knew you were lying, motherfucker!" Ryujin yelled, "I knew you were just making up bullshit about not being with the Mafia!"

Yeji took another step forward, saying, "Ryujin, please just put the gun down and let me explain."

"Why, Yeji?" Ryujin asked, wearing a mocking smile, "Does it have bullets in it?"

"Ryujin—" Yeji tried again but Ryujin cut her off.

Slowly, Ryujin asked, "Is... the gun... loaded?"

"It is but—" Yeji began but Ryujin wasn't listening. She was going off on one of her rants, cursing everyone (Yeji especially) in Korean. Yeji would've been turned on if she wasn't so fucking terrified. Thoughts of Ryujin accidentally shooting Yeji or worse, shooting herself, replayed through her mind.

Finally, Yeji pleaded, "Ryuddaeng, please, you're scaring me."

Ryujin gave her a bewildered look, saying, "I'm scaring you? Me? I'm not the one in the Mafia, Yeji!"

"For fuck's sake, just put the gun down, Ryujin!" Tears welled up Yeji's eyes as she said, "Put it down and I'll explain everything."

Ryujin stared at Yeji for a long time, her face softening at the sight of her crying. She breathed in deeply, put the gun on the counter and said, "Explain."

Yeji could feel her heart beat slow down, and her lungs opened up. Now that the gun was not any threat to Yeji, she could think again.

Quickly, Yeji said, "The gun is for protection. Uncle Junho didn't want me to be unarmed in a neighbourhood as dangerous as this."

Ryujin crossed her arms over her chest and asked, "Why would he let you move here in the first place?"

"He knew how badly I needed to get out of that house, away from my parents. He picked somewhere no one would ever come to get me." It was only a half-lie. The last part was true, at least.

"I came." Ryujin said, as if it was a normal thing to do.

Yeji smiled softly at this, saying, "Of course you did: you're Ryujin."

Ryujin's face softened immeasurably. She looked so worn down and scared that Yeji wanted nothing more than to hold her. Anything to get that look off of her face.

"Promise me this is just for protection." She said after a moment, "And Yeji, I swear to God, if you're lying to me—"

Yeji quickly answered, "I'm not, I swear to you, Ryujin. That is all this gun is for."

Ryujin leaned back against the kitchen counter. She put her face in her hands and Yeji could hear the distinct whimpers coming from the other woman.

"I know I keep blowing up at you. I just..." Ryujin said, her voice cracking and her body shaking, "I'm just so scared, Yeddeong."

Yeji immediately swooped Ryujin up into her embrace. She didn't care if she wasn't supposed to hold Ryujin like that. All that mattered to her was that Ryujin was vulnerable and needed her.

"I know you are, Ryuddaeng." Yeji murmured, stroking her hair, "But you've got it all wrong about Kai's family."

Ryujin was pressed tightly against Yeji, so Yeji could feel her frown against her neck. Not to mention how Ryujin's arms tightened around her shoulders. She was strong for such a skinny woman.