Fallen

Fury

There was a profound sense of calm by her side; her soul felt it before her mind could register its presence, and she instinctively knew it was—

"Good morning."

Sunlight and the rich baritone voice slowly dissolved the darkness in front of her eyes, bringing into focus a familiar face which never failed to leave her heart beating a little faster.

She should be feeling disoriented, waking up in someone else's bed, but ironically, Seri wasn't.

This was a place she knew, and truly enjoyed being at.

"Is this a dream?"

Smiling faintly, his eyes indulgent with a love he reserved for her, Jeong Hyeok shook his head. "Did you sleep well?"

"...better than I have in a long, long time." Seri gently smiled, before drawing another deep breath as she stretched to dispel the remnants of sleep. "This pillow smells of you. I really like it."

That brought a rush of warmth to the former soldier's cheeks.

"This ratty bed can't possibly be comfortable..." Eyes running over the misshapen foam mattress, his tone was laced with amusement and endearment.

"It is."

Her satin-bound eiderdown quilt, with its persistent crisp laundered scent, surprisingly paled in comparison to the haphazardly stitched patchwork blanket currently wrapped around her.

"How about you? Did you sleep well?" The Governor's daughter sheepishly asked, knowing very well that the Captain had graciously given his bed up for her.

With a crinkle in the corners of his eyes, Jeong Hyeok replied with a throaty chuckle and a mock reproachful expression. "Could have been better, I guess. You see, I had to sleep on the couch because someone took my bed..."

"Hey! You willingly offered it to me." Seri retorted good-naturedly, wrinkling her nose at him before her expression softened. "Come here."

Accompanied by the gentle rustle of the patchwork blanket, the Governor's daughter opened her arms in invitation, smiling when the Captain slowly shifted forward to sit on the bed by her side.

The old wire bed frame creaked in protest at the combined weight of the lovers, eliciting embarrassed chuckles, as Jeong Hyeok shifted one leg and firmly hoisted his bad leg up with a hand.

Leaning into Seri's embrace, with hardly any distance between them given the space constraint, Jeong Hyeok closed his eyes, relishing the peace that washed over him when she tightened her hold on him.

"...does this make up for it?"

"Almost."

She pressed a tender kiss to his forehead, something which could not have been physically possible considering their height difference, except for when lying down side by side.

"Better?"

"Almost." He pretended to ponder, enjoying the sight of mirth coloring her delicate features.

"You're being greedy, Captain."

"Perhaps I am." He breathed against the creamy column of her neck, snuggling closer when she laughed at the ticklish sensation from his morning stubble.

This time, unlike the last when they had shared this bed, there was no constant emotional struggle, no impending farewell, and no heartbreaking agreement to forget everything they had shared.

Attempts to cut each other out of their respective lives had led to pain beyond they could imagine.

Despite promising Cha Sang Woo that she would stop seeing Jeong Hyeok, Seri had found herself hopelessly gravitating towards the Captain, spiraling deeper and deeper down this vortex of mutual attraction.