𝐴𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑡𝒉𝑖𝑛𝑒 // 𝐿𝑒𝑒 𝑀𝑖𝑛𝒉𝑜

twenty nine.

     "Hell no."

     "Literally."

     The joke came out weaker than Minho intended, Haneul's stoicism dampening its impact.

     "You seriously think I'm laughing right now?"

     "I think this isn't as serious as you're making it out to be."

     A huff of disbelief puffed from her mouth. "It's not as serious–what do you take me for, Minho? I'm not an idiot, this could get not only us but your friends out there killed! Not serious? I need to go home is what I need to do."

Waves of stifled panic pulsed through her, Haneul pacing the room while she tried to piece together a plan.

"Just take me home. It'll have taken a miracle for someone I know not to have called the police at this point, and I'm sure Jisung and Hyunjin are worried sick about me. Not to mention the angels know about you and definitely think I've been abducted–"

Minho bit back a stinging comment. "Stop–I don't want you to mention them. It literally sets my nerves on edge."

The glare she flashed could've curdled milk. "Your nerves? Am I just an afterthought now? I can't believe you–you're so–"

Haneul crossed the room quickly and struck Minho in the chest, pounding her fists as hard as she could into his sternum. The demon stumbled back into the bedroom wall, stunned from words as she continued her assault.

Catching one of her wrists, Minho spoke so gently that Haneul barely heard him. "Hey, stop. Come on."

"Don't tell me what to do," spilled out as Haneul breathlessly grabbed his shoulders to slam him into the firm wall.

Minho caught the back of her neck, and though Haneul braced herself for his retaliation, she instead found her cheek being pressed against his shirt. His arms circled her back and squeezed Haneul close, the demon's head falling back to rest against the cold material behind them.

"Just stop. I'm... sorry."

Haneul's fingers curled and gripped Minho's shirt until they ached, but she didn't push away. She didn't know if she wanted to.

     "I can't stand you," she said stonily, squeezing her eyes shut. "I've been floundering with this new life, needing your help and you just... you keep making it worse."

     His arms were unyielding, and Haneul felt him tense just a bit as she spoke.

     "I know."

     Abruptly, Minho released her. "It's for the best, honest. You don't want to stay closer to me than you really need to. It'll make it worse if we're... friends."

     Haneul scoffed. "Friends? You think we're anything close to friends? You look at me like I haunt you, Minho. I don't know exactly what's going through your head, but it's certainly not being my friend."

     His jaw clenched, and Minho finally looked at her. "I do regret treating you a certain way, but you're exaggerating. You're my ward, and–Hell, I came in here to brief you, not have a heart to heart. Seungmin's coming with a change of clothes for you. Get ready quickly."

     Hanuel blocked his path to the door. "No. The angels said that protecting me was your punishment. What happened to you? Who am I to you? These dreams and visions... stop making me feel insane and talk to me."

     Some indecipherable emotion flashed in his eyes, and Minho firmly gripped her shoulders. "I'm bound to never speak of my transgressions. I literally can't tell you anything. Even if I wanted to," he commented with a meaningful look.