Dark eyes, cold and void, hold Lolli captive. The room grows cold. There is a chill of elation that creeps down her spine. What an ice man. Lolli chains his gaze right back, flames turning blue in exhilaration.
“What’s the matter?” she asks, poking her pen idly into her cheek. “Can’t take the heat?”
Then, he fucking explodes…becomes a natural disaster. Lolli watches him, straight-faced, as he yells, scolds, and cracks the first threat of lightning against her wooden desk. She had hoped for some sign of contempt, but damn, he did the honor of spelling it out for her oh so nicely:
F-U-C-K Y-O-U.
Bingo. Lolli lazes back in her chair, pleased. Cool, now that I know your personal feelings towards the cause, let’s make a deal.
Then he starts walking away, and Lolli can almost physically hear a record scratch in her head – Wait, woah, what? You’re seriously gonna disappoint me a second time in ten minutes, Quixote? She sits straight up. Concern darkens her eyes as Jimin turns his back to her.
“Really…that’s it?” she calls after him, just before his hand goes to grab the knob. “You’re just gonna…give up?” She sighs, shuffling papers back into folders, and clicking the tip of her pen away. “I guess that answers my question. I asked, why should you care? And, from what you’re showing me by walking out, Yongsan is apparently worth giving up on.”
“Is it a lost cause?” she asks. “Without my field medics to help you, yes, it will be. So, make your choice. You can disappoint me all you want, but I’d think twice before disappointing the people, the places, and the ideals you truly care about.”
Giving up!? That's not what this is. That's not what I'm doing ... Am I?
His back surveilled the minuscule office, hand grasping the unyielding door frame. Light from the corridor eked into her murky office; sterile fluorescence flickering with a stranger's ephemeral shadow.
Escape drifted against his fingertips, but her eyes felt like heated daggers burrowing in his vertebrae. Her words twisted serpentine through his ears.
Why can’t she let this go?
Does this woman want me to draw blood?
A glower emblazoned into his features. His head sagged. Dark burgundy carpet felt warped under his feet; the color of dried blood mocking his unrestrained thoughts.
Uncomfortable darkness settled over Jimin as he turned to face her.
She looked satisfied with her persistent jabs that struck targeted pressure points.
Sensitive locales disabling his ability to even think of a retort to unnerve her.
“The only thing I'm giving up on is you. You claim I don't care about Yongsan.” Which isn’t true. “But you've shown that you don't care either.”
I guess ... I am giving up.
Though quick to choler, his heat ebbed the same way - leaving him enervated. Jimin leaned against the doorway, utilizing it to support his crumbling frame. A sigh escaped him, fingers coiling through obsidian.
The only thing still enduring were his apathetic eyes - trained on hers. Unflinching.
“My ward … I'll save. With or without you. I’d never disappoint the people there. I’ll find another way. I’ll find someone else. I'm sure there's help elsewhere.”
His voice muted, losing himself to vexing thoughts. There were no other guiltless choices, but he could always debase himself. Resort to blackmail or physical coercion.
All other options? Exhausted. So it's warranted.
“Sorry to be such a disappointment, but I guess that makes us even. ‘Cause you've been nothing but a disappointment since I walked through your door.”
“But you don't know anything about me. Or my ideals. Or what I want. Do you have anything left to say? Something other tha-.” He paused, hands sliding into the pockets of his jeans, a caustic laugh corroding his throat. “Actually … forget it. Just answer my last fucking questions. Are you going to help or not? Yes? Or no?”
gummygunk
romaincrisis
pixelskylines
