A Breaking Point :
The night air was cool as Minjeong once again found herself standing on the rooftops, the city below her a maze of chaos and darkness. Her heart raced, not from the thrill of patrolling the streets, but from the heavy weight in her chest. She couldn’t stop thinking about Jimin—Catwoman. It wasn’t just their dangerous encounters or the way their paths always seemed to cross. It was the way Jimin had completely consumed her thoughts.
Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed through the night, interrupting her reverie. “Get off of me, asshole!”
Minjeong’s heart leaped in her chest. She knew that voice—Jimin.
Without hesitation, she launched herself off the building, her webs carrying her swiftly across the rooftops. She landed silently on a nearby ledge, eyes scanning the scene below. Her heart clenched at the sight of Jimin—maskless, her lip bleeding, and a man standing too close to her for comfort.
"You’re even sexier without the mask," the man said, his voice slimy, his eyes raking over Jimin in a way that made Minjeong’s blood boil.
"Is that so?" Jimin responded, her voice cool and defiant despite the bruise forming on her face.
Minjeong stepped forward, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade. “Catwoman.”
Jimin’s eyes flicked up to her, recognition flashing across her face. “Spidey,” she muttered, annoyance laced in her voice. “Just great.”
The man smirked, his eyes never leaving Jimin. “Me and this lovely woman were just discussing something.”
Minjeong felt anger surge through her. She saw the way the man looked at Jimin, the way his gaze lingered on her body as if she were an object. It made her skin crawl.
“Discussing something?” Jimin scoffed. “You assaulted me.”
The man chuckled darkly and stepped closer to Jimin, his hand reaching out to brush her arm. “You’re exaggerating. Why don’t we go somewhere quieter, sweetheart?”
“Get away from her,” Minjeong warned, her voice low and dangerous as she stepped closer.
The man turned to her, his smirk widening. “What if I don’t? What are you going to do about it, Spiderman?”
Minjeong’s fists clenched at her sides. “I’m warning you,” she said, her voice steady despite the rage building inside her. “Step away from her. Now.”
The man laughed, his eyes narrowing. “You don’t scare me. You’re just some coward hiding behind a mask.”
And that’s when Minjeong snapped. Without thinking, she lunged at the man, her fist connecting with his face in a powerful punch. He staggered back, holding his cheek with a sneer.
“Pathetic,” he spat, his hand flying toward Minjeong in retaliation.
But she was faster. She caught his fist in midair, twisting his arm and kicking his leg out from under him, sending him crashing to the ground. Without hesitation, she straddled him, her fists raining down on him in a fury.
“Pathetic?” she growled, her punches growing more forceful with each word. “Who’s pathetic now?”
The man’s face became bloodied and bruised under her relentless assault. She couldn’t stop. She didn’t want to stop. All she could think about was the way he had touched Jimin, the way he had looked at her.
“Minjeong!” Jimin’s voice cut through the haze, her hand gripping Minjeong’s shoulder. “Stop it!”
Minjeong shrugged her off, her knuckles bloodied and raw. “He hurt you.” She punched him again, the sickening sound of flesh hitting flesh echoing in the alley.
“That’s enough!” Jimin said, her voice rising. “You’re going to kill him!”
Minjeong froze, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She looked down at the unconscious man beneath her, his chest barely rising and falling. Slowly, she got to her feet, her hands trembling as she wiped the blood on her suit.
“Is he dead?” Jimin asked, kneeling beside the man. She pressed her fingers to his neck, searching for a pulse. When she found none, her eyes widened in horror. “You killed him.”
Minjeong didn’t care. Her eyes were drawn to Jimin’s split lip, the blood staining her pale skin. “Are you okay?”
“Did you not hear what I just said?” Jimin stood up, her face inches from Minjeong’s, her voice sharp with panic. “You killed someone, Minjeong! You’re supposed to be a hero.”
Minjeong shrugged, her eyes cold. “So? He deserved it.”
“Deserved it?” Jimin repeated, her eyes wide with disbelief. “You’re a hero, for fuck’s sake. You don’t kill people.”
“He hurt you,” Minjeong said, her voice softer now but no less intense. “And no one hurts you.”
Jimin stared at her, her mouth slightly agape. “I don’t think you understand what just happened. You killed a man.”
“And I couldn’t care less,” Minjeong replied, her voice unwavering. “All I care about is you.”
Jimin blinked, taken aback. “Me?”
“You’re all I ever think about,” Minjeong admitted, her voice trembling slightly now. “You’re always in my head. I’m always wondering where you are, who you’re with...”
Jimin’s lips curled into a small, teasing smile. “Scared someone might take me away from you, Spidey?”
Minjeong sighed, her shoulders dropping slightly. “A little. You’re so unpredictable, Jimin. I never know what you’re going to do next.”
“And you like that about me,” Jimin said, her voice playful again, though her eyes still held a glimmer of fear from what had just transpired.
“I do,” Minjeong admitted.
Jimin took a step closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. “Careful, Spidey. I might start thinking you’re in love with me.”
Minjeong swallowed hard, her heart racing. “What if I am?”
Jimin raised an eyebrow, her expression unreadable. “Then I guess I’d have to hear it first.”
Minjeong met her gaze, her voice steady despite the storm brewing inside her. “I love you, Jimin.”
Jimin blinked, her mouth parting slightly as if to say something, but no words came out.
“Say it again,” Jimin whispered, her voice soft, almost vulnerable.
“I love you,” Minjeong repeated, her voice firmer this time.
A small smile tugged at the corners of Jimin’s lips. “I love you too, Spidey,” she said, her voice filled with a strange mix of affection and amusement. “Now, take me home.”
Minjeong’s heart swelled at the words. “As you wish, my love,” she whispered before gently pulling Jimin into her arms, the tension of the night dissolving into the quiet between them.
