Grandma Kim and Kim Rok Soo

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Grandma Kim felt drenched in sweat. It was hot and her arms shook from using her ability. She was far too old to be so important, but as she had her responsibility, she was going to do so with all her effort. Her arms slowly drooped down as she furrowed her brows. She finally let them drop as her ability finished onto Park Jin Tae.

He stood up with a disoriented look, no longer in pain from his previous injuriues. He stumbled before standing up straight and going to the door. Grandma Kim slowly relaxed and scrunched up her fingers into a fist, exercising her weathered, calloused hands, fragile from the strain of work. Grandma Kim wrung her elderly hands before speaking out.

"Leader Park, please be careful for the rest of your missions. At least for this week." Grandma Kim held his hand as she warned in worry. His hand was just as calloused, or even more so, but his hands had gotten tougher and stronger over time. This poor boy had far too much anxieties for his age. He shook off her hand and narrowed his eyes at her.

"Don't tell me what to do." He walked towards the door with more conviction with clenched fists. He paused for a few seconds in the door frame, and Grandma Kim noticed his reddening ears. It was clear that he was contemplating something, and that he was clearly hesitant on it. "I will." He whispered to her before walking out of the room, leaving her alone. 

Grandma Kim smiled fondly. That boy was good at heart, even if he struggled to show it. He grew up, and is still growing up, in harsh conditions that made his violence useful. If he could control that anger, he would be on par with leader Lee. Unfortunately, that was a soft spot of his. She shook her head, and slowly walked to her chair.

It wasn't good for her to stand too long after she used her abilities. It would make her really shaky and sometimes she would cough up blood. Which isn't something she should do to be a good role model. She sighed in relief when she made it to her chair and sat down. She leaned back and went back to reviewing her memories. At this age, that was all she did in her free time. Minutes? Hours? Both words held no weight to her anymore, and she didn't know when she snapped out from her zoning out. 

"Grandma Kim?" A quiet, yet serious voice came from the doorway. She didn't even need to open her eyes to know who the voice belonged to. Especially since the voice was also very youthful as it was monotone. The voice was also gentle; only a few people spoke to her with such care in these trying times.

"Kim Rok Soo." She responded and indicated him to come in with her creaky hand. His light footsteps shuffled to stand next to her chair. She opened her eyes and looked up at him with a smile, before noticing the red droplets that leaked from his head. She stood up and took a few steps closer to the boy, who responded by flinching and stepping back.

"What happened? Come here." She beckoned him closer, sadness filling her heart as she saw him take steps back. That boy had obviously not had a good childhood even before the monster apocalypse. She did not take offense to his behaviour, but nonetheless felt sorrow for his inbuilt fear of adults. 

"No. I know what you're doing." He took three more steps backwards. "Don't waste your energy on me, you can use that healing another time." Kim Rok Soo said with a conviction but also with a softness, to avoid hurting her feelings. "Its not that bad, I'm fine." He said as he quickly swiped off the side of his forehead.

"Oh? How old are you? Who's your elder?" Grandma Kim put her hand on her hips at the attitude. Kim Rok Soo flinched before refiguring his posture to stand with a hunch. She knew why; her stare made him feel as if he had disappointed her as she looked up at him with an annoyed expression.

"You are, ma'am." Grandma Kim hid her smile at the sudden formalities, and waddled closer to him, who took a step away from her reach. "But this wound is not too serious. Don't waste your ability on something useless."

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