Jinwoo and Ma returned to their match, this time choosing to test their physical abilities against each other. Even though Ma was going all out you knew Jinwoo was holding back. His eyes constantly flicking to you.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Yoonho's voice reached your ears .You tare your gaze from

the fight in front of you and focus on him. His eyes shine with sympathy, flicking back and forth, still checking you over for injuries.

"Honestly I’m fine" you try reassuring him again but he still doesn’t look convinced. You know he's about to start fussing over you, being over protective. It'll only be a matter of moments before he asks you to go somewhere safer. You barely hold back an eye roll at the thought. You could take care of yourself. Not that anyone knew that.

Your eyes caught on Jinwoos again. Maybe he knew. He was far perceptive then the others. Maybe he had noticed your imperceptible dodge of that dagger and coupled with your unexplained strength when you pulled away from him the other day, you wouldn't be surprised if he was suspicious. With his gaze locked on yours, a smirk turned up the corners of his mouth. You were dimly aware that he still fought with expert precision despite never sparing his opponent a glance.

"Do you know what?” The words are rushed, almost frantic, they force you back to the real world. You crane your neck to look at Yoonho who now stood directly in front of you. "It's too dangerous for you to be down here. If you have to be in the room can you please go up to the observation deck." It wasn't really a question. You knew he wouldn’t let it go. He'd got himself so worked up that all he could focus on was your safety and not watching the fight he was supposed to be learning from. You wracked your brain trying to figure out what you could say to convince him everything was fine. He hadn't seen your infinitesimal dodge. All he saw was how close the dagger had been. You felt hands on your shoulders, forcing you to take a step and then another. To stop Yoonho would take an impossible amount of strength, you had that strength but could you justify showing your hand here, now? Instead you had

just let it happen. You wanted to stay in the main training area. The System wanted you to stay in the main training area. And yet you could not think of a way to do it without exposing your power. 

Suddenly the pressure from your shoulders disappeared, a gust of wind, followed by the crack of a body hitting the wall. You freeze momentarily, almost afraid to turn around.

The room had gone deadly silent, in the corner of your eye you could see only Ma stood in the ring, their opponent gone. In an instant you knew what had happened. Jinwoo.

Jinwoo had Yoonho pinned against the wall behind you. Rage barely contained. A deep purple aura spilling out around him. Yoonho tried to hold his own but he stood no chance.

"You dare touch her!" Jinwoo's voice was low "You dare try to force her to do anything. I let you protect her but she is not yours to order around." Around the room a few of the Hunters look like they might try to intervene but then think better of it. Like they knew it would just make matters worse.

"She is perfectly capable of looking after herself." Jinwoo eyes flash to yours as his lips quirks up "And anything she can't handle, I'll protect her from.” You feel your cheeks heat, reveling in him, before returning to reality and remembering he is cutting off Yoonhos oxygen supply. 

You move forwards and reach an arm out towards Jinwoo, keeping your movements slow like you're approaching a frightened animal rather than a human being.

"It's okay. I'm fine" The words don't get through so you make the final move, laying

your hand on his arm “Jin” it comes out as a whispered plea but in the silent room it was deafening..

A pin dropping would have sounded deafening in that room. A feminine gasp reached your ears - probably Cha, everyone knew she had a crush on Jinwoo. You could feel Jinwoo’s chest heaving in the effort to hold his power in check but at your voice his breathing slowed. Calmed. His aura shrinking. Slowly, almost menacingly he turned towards you, Yoonhos struggle renewed wanting to protect you from Jinwoo's wrath but you stood, unflinching. You knew Jin wouldn't hurt you. Yoonho tried and tried to get free of Jinwoo's hold but Jinwoo just stood looking at you with piercing eyes, seemingly unaware of Yoonho's fight. 

"Don't take this out on her " Yoonho wheezed out with the little bit of air Jinwoo's grip around throat would allow "Your fight is with me!" 

A dark chuckle left Jinwoo’s throat as he turned back to Yoonho, looking at him like he was a bug on his food. "You think I want to fight you?" His voice was darker than you've ever heard it before. "My only goal here is to protect her” 

Realising the men were not going to come to an amicable conclusion you decide you need to step in. 

"Jin, don't worry. Calm down." You reach a hand towards his face, as he returns his gaze to yours you cup his cheek. "I know you want to protect me, it's all you've ever wanted to do. But this is not the way to do it, especially because I don't need protection.” Your voice hardened with annoyance as you spoke. Something about what you said or how you said it got through to Jinwoo. He released his grip on Yonhoo's throat, the other hunter collapsed to the floor, gasping for breath. You dropped your hand from Jinwoo’s cheek. "You of all people know I can protect myself. I can't believe you would pull that 'macho' shit with me.” You felt like a child throwing a tantrum but you couldn't help falling back into your old ways of lecturing your best friend. He had always tried to protect you even before when he was known as the weakest hunter. Something like recognition flashed in his eyes, like after all this time he remembered you. 

No, you shook that thought out of your head. You couldn't think like that, not after all this time. It was too painful. And yet even as you tried to get yourself to stop you couldn’t help but hope. The painful thoughts filtered into your subconscious, making tears prick at the edge of your vision. Overcome with emotion you turn and run from the training room before your tears can spill.

You're running down the stark white hallway not really sure where your destination is when an arm wraps around your waist, pulling you back against a solid chest. In a movement so fast it should have left you dizzy, you’re whirled around and slammed into the wall. Jinwoo stands above you with confusion in his eyes. He traps you against the wall with a hand on either side of your head. He takes in your face, the tears streaming down your cheeks. He leans in, his face only inches from yours.

"Who are you? Why do I have insatiable need to be near you? To protect you? How do I know you?”

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