ari.
the lapse in their strange barbed parlay gave them a second to look back on things; to allow themselves to remember what it had really been like. they knew her sweet side and her barbed side and had cared about both, and whilst it wasn’t perfect – nothing was – she’d made them feel like they could put all the awful things aside for a while. “ she is. she’s a little more thoughtful now she’s – now we’re both – growing up, but still the same old mina. ” it was easy to forget they were only five years older than the girl as they tried to shield her as best they could from danger, go out looking for intel alone so she wasn’t the one who had to deal with any of it. but then she’d open her mouth and talk back, and they’d remember that were basically both kids, left alone and desperate in a world that wouldn’t help. “ oh, you … you were. ” they said nervously. they didn’t want her to get the wrong idea and think they were trying to ingratiate themselves, but she had always deserved better than someone who would have to take off in the end. someone who she could be safe and stable with. it had left them with a lot to consider after running away – they’d never stayed with someone that long before eun. never long enough to develop feelings as strongly as those. “ i know what it seems like. but believe me, she’s safer there now than with me. ” for a time, at least. “ she knows exactly what to do if anyone who isn’t me tries to enter. we’ve practised. ”
with a small nod, eunbyeol remained quiet again -- something that was rare to see. she was fesity and bold, often didn’t bite her tongue even if her sharp words would h u r t. but this was ari and, like anything related to them, she couldn’t help the soft spot that still somehow lingered behind. ‘ well, she was always the prettier sibling so i’m assuming she’s only gotten prettier, she’ll give me a run for my money soon. ’ it felt familiar to joke about such topics, as if they were back in the past where nothing could hurt them and they were normal kids, mostly. perhaps offering them a ride hadn’t been the best choice, eun hated to admit that their presence was making her remember things she had long past buried under several locks to forget. however, the pain had faded with time and all that remained were empty memories of a time long gone. ‘ i hope so because then i’ll be the one to kick your ass, i’m sure you remember i have a mean right hook. ’ the smirk that bloomed on her lips was playful yet her words were serious. their drive through the short cut felt longer than it should have, but considering the previous hostile atmosphere mostly turning into awkwardness, it wasn’t so... awful. eun returned to the main road after another five minutes, remembering his directions to find the off-the-road motel them and their sister were apparently staying at. ‘ this place looks... like a fucking horror film. ’ it was somewhat giving her chills, maybe because she wasn’t used to ever frequenting such places. ‘ hey, i... ’ eun bit her lip, unsure of what she was going to request, since it was out of the blue. ‘ do you think i can see mina for a bit? i’ve kinda missed that brat. ’
