#gwcci

━━  ❀ “Let’s say YOU AREN’T, AND I AM then.” Something like a snort. He crosses his arms, nudging the edge of the boat with a booted heel. She couldn’t fool him, he thinks, as much as he wouldn’t be able to fool her. “Come with me anyway. Sit for a while, if you don’t have anywhere to be. Take a day off, while you still can.” He grins - perhaps a RARE sight not afforded to many, but So finds that he doesn’t particularly care in this moment. “I won’t tip you in, I promise.” 

SHE’S   SILENT   AS   she   concentrates,   looping   stems   one   over   the   other   until   her   piece   is   complete.   ❛   this   is   the   first   time   i’ve   ever   tried   to   make   a   flower   crown,   &   it’s   probably   ugly,   but   ---   ❜   she   carefully   places   the   wreath   above   the   other’s   head,   admiring   her   masterpiece   for   a   moment   before   giving   them   a   thumbs   up.   ❛   it   looks   perfect   on   you   !   the   lilies   really   bring   out   your   eyes.   ❜

She had this little habit of catching him completely off guard. Small touches or brief and quick kisses that would stall the rotation of the earth and slow everything down. Eyes frozen and trained on her face, arms slowly outstretched towards her, and then she’d be off doing whatever she was doing previously like nothing had happened. This playful side of her that he was the only one privileged to see when they were alone. But even when there were other people around, she would so nonchalantly move her fingers against his arm or hand as if she’s not doing it on purpose. And no one had noticed, but it was impossible for him not to dwell on each touch, feeling the heat spread from wherever she would gently press her skin against his. At first, Jung-hoo felt like maybe he was reading too much into it, or just revealing and realizing to himself just how much her presence affected him.

 But he had seen the tiniest of smirks and smiles that would titter over her features before disappearing. Just long enough for him to see. In return he had started playing along, making sure to drag the palm of his hand against her lower back if he was walking behind her, or to be close by as looking at something she was holding. Stolen glances, kisses, moments, touches. The living room was empty of other people, but still they weren’t alone in the house, and she was a bit more daring than he was used to. 

                                                   Again, caught off guard.

»»———— “ - You weren’t JESTING - ”  Breath condensing in the air, appraising gaze falling on figure half shrouded in the shadow of bamboo shoots - his own sword glistening underneath moonlight, stained slick and red. It’s strange to see someone else look so much like DANGER - especially now, the other’s silhouette slight in the dark. It strikes him belatedly then that everything she’s said has been TRUE - that perhaps she is that undefeatable devil she had named herself after all. Narrows his eyes - Lady Hae’s cousin has more than one mystery around her, it seems. Curiouser and curiouser. “ - WELL?” Folds one arm behind back, cleans sword on nearby grass.  “I hope you’ve left someone alive to question?”