Late in the evening, Y/n stepped into the quiet house, her limbs aching from practice. She'd barely crossed the threshold when Minji greeted her with a bright smile, her eyes lighting up at the sight of her. Despite the weight on her shoulders, Y/n mustered up her own smile, hoping it looked genuine as she walked over to her girlfriend.
Minji immediately noticed the worn bandage at Y/n's neck. "Come here," she said gently, gesturing to the chair beside her. "Let me take care of that."
Y/n didn't protest, sitting down as Minji began to unwrap the old bandage, her fingers soft and careful. She felt the warmth of Minji's hands. As Minji worked, she began sharing updates on the mission. She tried to sound strong, though the fatigue was still present in her tone.
"Looks like it'll happen in two weeks," she explained, a bit of weariness was noticeable. "The Elites are pushing hard to prepare everyone, and they're really counting on us to make the first move." Minji's eyes met Y/n's, and despite her exhaustion, she tried to remain bright and hopeful.
Y/n looked up, noticing the slight dark circles under Minji's eyes. She reached out, cupping Minji's face, brushing her thumb along her cheek. "And you... how was your day?"
Not about the mission, just how Minji felt.
Y/n couldn't deny that she felt sorry, it was supposed to be her duty, but Minji covered for her. Y/n couldn't help it really, it felt like that hooded figure could show up anytime, and she was scared to be honest.
"Busy," she admitted with a small laugh. Minji leaned into Y/n's hand, sighing as if the day's weight finally had a place to rest. "But knowing that I'd get to see you tonight helped a lot."
Y/n's smile grew, but then, unexpectedly, a strange feeling washed over her.
As Minji gently wrapped the fresh bandage around Y/n's neck, something within her started to shift, a feeling she couldn't place at first, like a whisper from a long-ago memory brushing the edges of her mind.
Then, the image became clearer. The way Minji's hands moved with such tenderness, how she leaned in, focused on every detail of Y/n's care, it all felt hauntingly familiar, like stepping into a memory she hadn't realized was still alive within her. She blinked, but the memory deepened, vivid now, with Hanni's face replacing Minji's in her mind.
In her déjà vu, she could almost feel Hanni's hands as if it were happening all over again, the same gentle care, the same focused concern as she tended to her wounds during their past missions. The scenes played like fragments. It was brief, but powerful for Y/n as she was absorbed more in her déjà vu. Hanni's voice, soft with reassurance, as she changed Y/n's bandages after a difficult battle. The way Hanni brushed a stray lock of hair from her face when she was feverish. How Hanni had sat beside her quietly, placing a cool cloth on her forehead, just being there in a way that made Y/n feel safe and seen.
She felt her throat tighten, the warmth of Minji's touch blending into this vivid memory of Hanni until she couldn't distinguish where the memory ended and reality began. A pang of confusion hit her, as she glanced up at Minji and felt as if she were seeing her through the lens of Hanni's memory. For a split second, it was Hanni's face she saw, her caring expression and the gentle way she held Y/n's gaze.
"Y/n?" Minji's voice broke through, and the memory faded like smoke, slipping from her mind. Y/n blinked, the weight of it lingering even as she tried to shake it off, the lines between past and present blurring in her heart.
Realizing she'd missed Minji's question, she let out a shaky breath and forced herself to focus. "Sorry... I think I'm just more tired than I thought," she said, offering a faint smile, feeling the memory dissolve but not the ache it left behind.
Minji's face softened, her hand instinctively moving to Y/n's, reassuring. "You don't have to say anything. Just rest if you need to."
"Do you mind if I... rest my head on your shoulder for a bit?" Y/n asked, her voice quiet.
Minji simply nodded, pulling Y/n closer. The warmth and solidity of Minji's shoulder seemed to anchor her. Before she knew it, she felt Minji's head gently resting on her own.
In the peaceful silence of the house, they stayed there on the couch, leaning into each other. And as the night slowly passed, Y/n drifted into sleep, Minji's presence grounding her in a way that no words ever could.
-
The nightmare consumed Y/n, pulling her into a scene more horrifying than anything she'd encountered before. She was face-to-face with the beast, she didn't even know if her dream portrayed the beast correctly as she never looked at him directly in the eyes. However, its eyes glinting with a menacing light as it towered over her. She felt her body, weakened and exhausted, unable to conjure the strength she needed. Every spell she tried to cast flickered out.
In the same nightmare, she was painfully aware of her loved ones, Minji, Hanni, all of them, standing nearby, watching her fight. As she struggled, each of them seemed to fall, one by one, slipping away from her reach. She screamed, calling their names, trying desperately to shield them, but her magic wavered, useless against the beast's overwhelming power. The beast's laughter echoed, cold and merciless, as if mocking her very existence.
And then, standing in the shadows, the hooded figure appeared, watching as her world crumbled. She felt the weight of its gaze, as it said, "This is all because of you. You're too weak to protect anyone."
Y/n gasped, waking abruptly, her heart racing and her muscles tense as she found herself still resting on Minji's shoulder. The nightmare's terror clung to her, suffocating her in a tight grip. For a moment, she just sat there, trying to catch her breath and steady her heartbeat, but the tension in her body must have been obvious. Minji stirred beside her, blinking sleepily, her concern instantly evident as she noticed Y/n's distress.
"Y/n?" Minji's voice was soft. She gently touched Y/n's hand, clearly sensing something was wrong.
Forcing a smile, Y/n tried to shake off the lingering fear. She straightened up and gave a small laugh, brushing it off like nothing happened. "I'm fine," she said, her voice light, "Just... a little stiff, that's all."
Minji looked at her with eyes full of concern, unconvinced, "It's okay if you have something to say," she murmured, "Whenever you're ready."
Y/n looked at Minji, she took a steadying breath before replying, "Not yet. I will... but not now."
Minji nodded, respecting the boundary without hesitation. She gave Y/n's hand one last squeeze before slipping away to the kitchen. Y/n watched her go, feeling a mix of warmth and guilt. Minji was there for her, ready to listen whenever she was ready, but the words still felt too tangled in her mind to speak aloud.
-
As Minji moved around the kitchen, focused on slicing bread and stirring eggs, Y/n slipped up behind her and wrapped her arms tightly around Minji's waist. The sudden hug made Minji pause, a surprised smile forming as Y/n buried her head against the curve of Minji's neck, holding her close.
"I love you," Y/n whispered, her voice low but filled with an intensity that made Minji's heart flutter. Minji let herself lean back into the embrace, her hands stilling as she absorbed Y/n's words.
Minji's eyes softened, and she brought her hand up to rest over Y/n's, brushing her thumb over Y/n's knuckles. "I love you too," she murmured gently.
Y/n tightened her hold, nestling closer, seeming to draw strength from Minji's presence. "Don't leave me," she said, this time her voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you... thank you for being there for me."
Each phrase was filled with vulnerability, and Minji replied to each in kind, reassuring Y/n with every word. "I won't leave you," Minji promised softly, giving a gentle squeeze to Y/n's hands. "I'm here... and I always will be."
The embrace lingered as Y/n continued, quietly repeating her feelings. She pressed her face further into the crook of Minji's neck, restricting her movements as she clung to her, but Minji didn't mind. She let the breakfast preparations wait, allowing Y/n to take all the time she needed. Every time Y/n spoke, Minji echoed her words with the same tenderness.
For a few precious moments, the world outside ceased to exist, and it was just the two of them, wrapped in the safety of each other's presence. Y/n's breathing began to slow, her hold loosening slightly as she relaxed against Minji, soothed by their gentle exchange.
When Y/n finally lifted her head, Minji turned to face her, cupping Y/n's cheek softly. She brushed a stray strand of hair from Y/n's face, her gaze filled with nothing but love and reassurance. "I'm always here for you," she whispered one more time, sealing her words with a soft kiss to Y/n's forehead. With that, Y/n felt a sense of peace settle over her. It didn't make her heart nervous, but she still craved that feeling, creating a new normality between them.