evil prevails

always near

Hanni exhales in relief when she hears the muffled familiar voice behind the door, clearly reflecting concern. She detaches herself from the wall and steps toward the door, unlocking the lock, turned three times. Standing on the threshold is Yuna in a dark blue military uniform with three gold stars of a colonel on her epaulets. Her long, coal-black hair moves slightly. The Alpha frowns anxiously, but when she finally sees Hanni in front of her, the worry in her eyes, not completely subdued, mixes with slight relief. Without giving her time to realize what's happening, she steps forward and gently squeezes Hanni's shoulders with her fingers, carefully examining the bewildered Omega.

"Yuna..."
"Are you okay?" the Alpha exhales, cautiously pulling Hanni towards her, hugging her fragile body lightly, and almost immediately reluctantly letting go.

Hanni nods distractedly, stepping aside and inviting Yuna into the house. The Alpha picks up a small black bag from the ground, enters the apartment, and closes the door behind her.

Yuna sits at the table, her fingers intertwined, watching the tense Hanni, who is trying hard to hide her condition behind a facade of calm. She opens the upper cabinet, standing on her tiptoes to reach a jar of coffee. Water is already boiling in the kettle on the stove, hissing softly. Hanni doesn't even ask if Yuna wants something hot to drink; she does it almost automatically, scooping coffee and a spoonful of sugar into the cup, just how the Alpha likes it. Yuna remains silent, not wanting to stress the Omega further. She knows what happened yesterday, knows that the Omega was there. She thanks the gods for saving the Omega from a horrible fate. She can't fathom that she could have lost Hanni, whom she had been protecting ever since their parents, along with Minji's, died.

Hanni nervously bites the inside of her cheek, not wanting to look at the Alpha. Yuna is already worried, having left and returned from the north, probably not even stopping by her own home but coming straight here to Hanni. She was insanely worried.

The Omega, without thinking, grabs the hot kettle handle with her fingers and drops it with a crash, jumping back and hissing as she presses her burnt fingers to her chest. Yuna jumps up from the chair, instantly leaning over Kim, whose eyes are filling with tears again. Hanni sobs, pursing her trembling lips. The warm fingers of the Alpha gently touch her wrist. The Omega flinches slightly, preparing to pull her hand from the weak grip and run away, but the caring voice distracts her from the impulse, making her freeze.

"Let me see, Hanni," Yuna asks cautiously, and Hanni slowly extends her hand with reddened fingertips, sniffing and pursing her lips to avoid bursting into tears. The burnt area of her palm hurts, but it's not this pain that makes her heart bleed. This pain is just a trigger, which Hanni herself pulled, provoking fresh memories to burst forth again.

Yuna gently takes the Omega's hand in hers and blows on it carefully, cooling the burnt skin with her breath. Hanni squints, trying to stop the cursed tears. The Alpha soothes her open palm with her thumb, and the Omega relaxes a little, opening her eyes and watching the Alpha's actions. A warm feeling spreads inside as Yuna tenderly, almost imperceptibly, kisses each fingertip. Goosebumps run across her skin. Hanni turns her head to the side, embarrassed. Yuna treats her like a child. Blowing on wounds, kissing, and silently promising that it will help. It doesn't help, actually, but it warms and lightens her soul. It's like eternal clouds part, revealing a golden shining sun. The elder smiles tenderly, noticing the Omega's embarrassment, and releases her hand, pulling Hanni fully into her embrace. Kim leans into her, covering herself as if with a soft blanket, with the familiar scent of the Alpha. Yuna is the only close person she has left.

Hanni shudders slightly, feeling the Alpha's hand slide down her spine, stopping just above her waist. With the fingers of the other hand, she gently cups her chin, brushing the Omega's lower lip with her thumb, and leans in, covering Hanni's lips with her own. She moves carefully, gently, without pressure. Hanni leans closer to Yuna, placing her hand on her strong shoulder and slightly squeezing the fabric of her thin shirt with her fingers. She opens her lips, allowing the other's tongue to slip inside, and responds slowly but willingly. She licks the warm lips of the Alpha with a pleasant citrus taste, holding back the desire to bite down. Hanni closes her eyes, feeling the last tears roll down her cheeks. Yuna wipes them away with her finger, not breaking the kiss, pulling her closer and warming the Omega, who is enveloped by the cold emanating from her very soul.