Chapter Text
Chapter 6
“Wow. I can’t believe the great Rainyguy is gracing me with his presence.” Jin announces as Jimin slides into the booth with him. It’s always a little hard to tell if Jin is being sarcastic or genuine. There doesn’t seem to be anything malicious in the relaxed way he is seated in the diner. His facial expression is open and friendly. He also seems to have ordered and eaten two dishes in the time it took Jimin to arrive but hey, Jimin’s not one to judge.
“It’s good to see you, Jin.” He says, warmly. He holds himself back from blurting the question he really wants to ask, the one that burns hot on his tongue. The one about you. “I didn’t think you would want to see me after everything that happened with…” Jimin trails away, or rather, his voice dies in his throat before he can voice the words. He phrases it like there was some massive falling out, but really he’s not sure what happened. One moment he was furious with you for not answering your phone and the next you were packed and storming from the apartment. It’s not like he’s hurt by it, or anything ridiculous like that, just confused. It’s not like you were partners or anything or expected to give him even just one single phone call, just a phone call to let him know you were ok. It’s not like you have to tell him what’s wrong or anything. It’s not like it’s eating him up inside not knowing where you are or why you left or coming home to an empty apartment each night. In fact, he’d even go so far as to say he likes being alone! There’s no mealworms kept in the pantry and there’s no weird little birds living in shoeboxes in the laundry and he doesn’t have to go to sleep fearing he’ll wake up with a snake wrapped around him or a squirrel sleeping on his stomach. The apartment is empty and dark and lonely, just how he likes it. In fact, he’s better this way! You can’t distract him with those big, warm eyes of yours or your bright smile or your cute laugh or the way you fill him with this immense sense of contentment every time he succeeds in making you happy. That day he had allowed himself to get all these feelings out of his system, the day of the river cruise, hadn’t been enough, so you had done him a favour by leaving. Now he wouldn’t be bothered by them anymore.
Across from him, Jin laughs. He’s got an infectious laugh, one that is silly and full-bodied and Jimin finds himself smiling slightly in spite of everything.
“My mother always taught me to keep friends who makes good connections close, and with all your recent successes, you fall into that category.” Jin says cheerfully. Jimin blinks a few times, once again unsure about the joking nature of Jin’s comment. Would it kill the guy to tack on an “I’m joking” for the benefit of those who did not have empathetic powers like you? Jimin finally settles on offering a tentative smile.
“Thank you, I guess.” He says, slowly. “It’s still a little hard to believe.”
And it is hard to believe, how neatly everything fell into place for him after your abrupt departure weeks earlier. His mum had rung him the next day, like she’d been watching him and waiting for you to leave. She’d had a partner at the ready, a technopath named Charlotte and he’s been able to work on a provisional licence pending submission of the official paperwork to signal the change in partnership. And he and Charlotte work really well together. She had formerly been a hero but is happy to work as his sidekick. Her experience and skill have led to them taking down villains faster than ever (even if her reluctance to do the grunt work like manage evacuation of the area has led to some potentially dangerous situations). Jimin is literally living his dream. He’s in the newspaper every other week for dismantling a heinous crime ring or taking down a supervillain. And today he’s even receiving a medal for hard work at a gala thrown in his honour. He should be ecstatic. Overjoyed. Everything’s fallen neatly and perfectly into place like pieces of a puzzle slotting together since you left him.
So why does it feel so wrong? Why does he feel like every success is a failure? Why does he feel no joy in achieving what has been his sole goal since birth? He feels like someone has taken a piece of sandpaper to his heart, and now he’s chafed and raw but still with jagged, painful edges.
He… he misses you.
“Man, ditching (Y/N) was the best choice you ever made.” Jin says cheerfully, as he scans through the menu with vigour. It’s like he didn’t just eat two whole dishes by himself. Jimin can only watch incredulously and Jin flags the waitress. Jimin feels himself stiffen with anger at Jin’s words.
“Well, I mean… it’s more that she ditched you, isn’t it?” Jin says, after ordering another three dishes- two for himself and one for Jimin. Jimin opens his mouth to speak, but Jin cuts him off with a raised hand and releases an odd smile. It’s got a hard, tense edge to it. Gone is the friendly demeanour- Jin has a motive in asking Jimin to lunch. The realization clicks into place as Jin rests both elbows on the surface of the table and leans forward to watch Jimin with eyes that seem lazy but have an attentive edge lurking beneath the warm brown. “So weird, right? How she just cut off contact with everyone? She won’t even talk to me. She’s been ignoring all my calls.”
Jimin tries to conceal the way his figure stiffens with curiosity. He had assumed that you had only cut him out, because of the rude way he’d spoken to you. But if Jin has also been cut off, then…
“I wouldn’t question it, normally,” Jin says. “If it was anyone but her, I’d have thought they’d just had enough of us and wanted new friends. But the thing is, Jimin…” He tilts his head to the side and for the first time Jimin registers the concern that lurks behind Jin’s façade. He’s just as scared for you as Jimin is. Jimin feels himself soften at the recognition of a kind of kinship with Jin. “She’s not like that. She’d never do this sort of thing without a good reason. The longest she’s ever gone without speaking to me is a week because one time I thought it would be funny to sneak into her room and give her a bowl cut while she was sleeping.”
Jimin bites his lip contemplatively as he consider Jin’s words. It does kind of go against everything he knows about you and respects about you. You are not the kind of person to storm off and quit over Jimin doing something petty like losing his temper. You stuck it out through the worst of Jimin’s temper tantrums, and while it doesn’t excuse him lashing out like he did, this is relatively small when compared to some of the stunts he’s pulled.
“Jimin, what happened?” Jin finally asks, cutting straight to the chase of why he even asked Jimin out to lunch in the first place. He’s not accusing in his tone, or angry. Just… worried. It is the gentleness with which Jin asks that has Jimin caving.
“I… I don’t know.” Jimin admits and his voice cracks without his consent. “We got a distress call that day, but she didn’t answer it. I…. I kept trying to call her but she wouldn’t pick up, and then when I came home, she was just sitting on the couch. Just staring into space. Two people had ended up in the ER in the time it took that distress call to be answered and so I just… lost my temper. I got really mad at her and the next thing I knew she was storming out of the room.” He admits. His voice rasps with unshed tears. Out loud, the situation is even more distressing and confusing and he feels like he’s opened up a part of him he’d been too stubborn to acknowledge was even there. He feels open and bleeding and vulnerable. Like Jin is a heart surgeon and shaking his head at the disappointing things he finds there. “I… I’m so sorry. I didn’t even get to tell her I was sorry for losing my temper.”
Jin watches him with an unreadable expression. Then his face softens into a comforting smile.
“You really had me worried there for a second, buddy.” Jin says suddenly. “That you had something to do with it… But I guess you really had no idea.”
Jimin pauses and glances up at Jin with confusion.
“I’m sorry for not telling you this earlier, Jimin, but there’s something you don’t know.” Jin says, his voice soft and sad. “I couldn’t be sure that you hadn’t helped convince her to leave which is why I didn’t say anything. But I know now that you didn’t do it… Jimin, I got brunch with her that day and the last time I saw her she was driving off in some sedan with your new partner Charlotte and your mother.”
Jimin’s eyes widen and his heart drops into his stomach.
“What?” He asks. Jin shrugs and runs his hands through his hair in distress.
“I didn’t want to ask you because I thought it was too convenient. You spend a whole day with her, softening her up- you should have heard her gushing about you, and then your mum swoops in not a week later with a new partner and she vanishes? And literally the next day you’ve got a provisional licence with your technopath partner?” Jin asks. He narrows his gaze. “But hearing your side of the story… don’t you think it’s interesting that (Y/N), the most conscientious and hardworking sidekick around, the most forgiving and gentle person you will ever get to meet, just up and leaves over a minor argument? And doesn’t answer her phone on the one day she spends a few hours with your new technopathpartner? Someone who can control technology?”
Jimin too feels the beginnings of suspicion take root in his heart. He had had the thought before, that things slotted in too neatly following your departure but now things he hadn’t realised start to slot into place as well. Why had you just been sitting there, numbly in the living room and not answering your phone? Why had you brought up Emma shortly before storming out and how had you found out about what happened to her? How had his mother known you had left the very next day? How did she have a partner ready almost instantly? And almost all the paperwork had been finished too- the only thing yet to be completed is for Jimin to submit his signature signaling his consent. He had been holding out, though, refusing to submit it because… because…
Because of you. He’s finally brave enough to admit it, even if it’s just to himself. Because you were his partner. It doesn’t matter how well he works with anyone, or what the skill set of literally anyone else is or how quickly he can reach success with someone else. He doesn’t want success just for the sake of succeeding. He wants success with you. With his partner. He doesn’t know how you did it but somehow you wormed your way so firmly into his heart that a few weeks after your departure with literally all his dreams come true he’s still an emotional mess. He’s still holding out for you, hoping you will call like some poor idiot who got dumped. And it really feels like he’s been dumped or rejected. Perhaps that is why he’s been battling what he now admits is a broken heart for weeks now.
And he can deal with what it means that he’s so heartbroken over your departure later. After he’s gotten you back. Because with Jin’s words and the revelation that came with it, Jimin now knows exactly what’s gone wrong. And he’s got a lot of fixing up to do if he wants to see you again.
And he does. So much. He wants to see you.
“Well, I better be going.” Jin says suddenly, cheerfully. “Can you do me a favour though? I seem to have lost my address book. I keep all my friend’s contact details in it. I’ve been looking for it everywhere and can’t find it!”
Jimin blinks- there is a small black book next to Jin’s hands that wasn’t there before.
“You mean that-“ Jimin asks, pointing to the book in question, but Jin cuts him off.
“Ugh, never mind. I’ll never find it. I might as well just accept the fact that it’s lost.” He laments. “Keep an eye out for it if you do see it though- the first entry just so happens to be (Y/N)’s parents address and probably where she is hiding out right now as we speak. Oh well- see you later, Puddle Dude.”
And with that, Jin takes his leave, leaving Jimin alone with what is most definitely his “lost” address book.
++
As much as Jimin would love to go straight to you and confront you and get you to return to working with him, there is someone he must confront first.
Jimin’s mother is the kind of woman who likes to have control over everything. It comes with the territory of her ability to manipulate the elements, he supposes. And so naturally, if they are throwing a gala in her only son’s honour, then she will be there early. To ensure the decorations are to her taste and the food an acceptably luxurious enough level for her son to enjoy. Jimin has always been grateful for the way she’s always been there to handle every stressful situation in his life. And he had been so relieved when she’d been willing to accept him back into the family after he’d so forcefully cut her from his life. Ready with a sidekick and most of the paperwork. He had thought she was looking out for him, saving him from yet another disastrous situation. He had thought her a hero in the truest sense of the world.
Now he looks back and feels mild disgust and discomfort. He doesn’t know what exactly his mother did to you but he knows she’s more than capable of manipulating a situation in her favour. It was how she’d become such a successful hero. Because she could read a situation and take the sometimes dodgy steps necessary to ensure a favourable outcome for all parties she deemed important enough. And now she’s used those skills on you and Jimin is furious.
She stands at the entry to the function room, the place where the gala will be held after Jimin receives his medal that night. She is speaking to three people in business attire, and gesturing to various parts of the room. Likely she is not pleased with the simple decorations. Plain white table clothes and no embellishments in sight.
“Mother,” He calls, striding quickly across the last distance that separates the two of them. She blinks in surprise and turns to Jimin. A warm smile spreads across her face. Over the years, she has aged well but Jimin can see the faintest hint of gray hairs beginning to gather at her temple since she hasn’t had a chance to dye them back to black recently.
“Jimin,” She cries warmly. She tugs him towards her to press an affectionate kiss to his cheek and tilts her head so that he can do the same but he pulls away. A surprised expression flashes across her face at his rudeness, but she covers it quickly. “What brings you well? I was just sorting some last-minute details here with the gala tonight. Have you seen Charlotte? I heard she wanted your opinion on her dress and told her to come straight her so that I could-“
“I’ve been doing some thinking, Mother.” Jimin cuts across her smoothly, his tone cold and slightly detached. Inwardly though, he quakes at the blatant disrespect he is showing his mother and he is afraid what revelations this confrontation will bring. He has no doubt in his mind that his mother is the mastermind behind your departure, but he fears what exactly she’s done. What she’s capable of. He doesn’t know how far she is willing to go to get what she wants and frankly that terrifies him. Curiosity crosses her gaze.
“About?” She presses. She is still warm in her demeanour towards him but there is a suspicious and uneasy edge that lingers in her posture that he is only able to recognise because this is his mother. He knows his mother. He was raised by the intimidating woman who now stands before him.
“About (Y/N).” He says simply and her expression shutters and the warmth in her expression is instantly replaced with a cold, distasteful anger.
“Oh?” She asks, but the exclamation sounds gritted like she’s restraining the urge to clench her teeth. “What about (Y/N)?” She spits your name out like it’s a curse word and it is this that has Jimin feeling the first sparks of fury.
“I just think that it’s strange, is all,” He says, aiming to say the words loose and airily, but instead they come out tense and hurt. “I heard you spoke to her, before she left.” Jimin’s mother laughs, but it is uneasy.
“And you think I said something to her?” She exclaims. “Oh Jimin, I did no such thing! I just thought it appropriate to get to know her better, since she was clearly sticking around to be your sidekick.”
“Don’t lie.” Jimin retorts, and he just barely manages to restrain himself from snarling the words. His mother looks taken aback at his fury. She blinks a few times before attempting a smile.
“Jimin, darling, don’t-“ She reaches out, in attempt to console him, to dissipate his anger.
“What did you say? What did you talk about? Why did she leave?” He doesn’t mean for his voice to break on that last question but it does. His mother looks just as shocked as he feels that it happened. Then her expression hardens into anger
“I don’t appreciate you chucking accusations like this. If she wanted to leave after what happened with Emma, then that’s entirely her decision-“ She begins.
Jimin’s eyes go wide.
“Emma?” He cuts her off. “How… how did you know about Emma?” His voice starts to shake, even as he says the words. And Jimin had been angry before, uneasy, hurt, confused and suspicious, but now he’s feels a freezing cold pain settle in the centre of his chest. Like a razor blade it spread rapidly outwards. He had known, that his mother had something to do with your disappearance, but the definite confirmation of his suspicion hurts more than he could ever have imagined.
His mother’s eyes go wide as she registers her slipup.
“Oh… I… Well you see…” She says, as she desperately scrambles for an answer. Then her face sets and she faces him head on, clearly done with skirting around the issue. “I did it for you Jimin. Emma did go to hospital because that woman was incompetent and all I did was let her know as much. Anything else was entirely her decision.”
“Emma was in hospital because she was an accomplice to that villain and got hurt while trying to reverse the damage she had done. That had nothing to do with mine or (Y/N)’s failures that night.” Jimin replies stonily. “And you knew as much, didn’t you? You would have done your research- surely you’d know the only reason she’s not in jail is because she’s brain dead. And she’s brain dead because she realised the errors of her ways and tried to fix it and yes, we failed her because we couldn’t stop her in time. But you used that, didn’t you? You used her injury, her situation, her pain, and (Y/N) sense of justice to get the outcome you wanted, didn’t you?” He doesn’t mean to shout but his voice climbs in decibel. “You probably didn’t even tell her that! What lies did you feed her to make her leave?”
“I DID IT FOR YOU!” His mother screeches, and her eyes bug out of her head. Veins bulge in her neck with the force of her cry and her cheeks go bright red with the exertion. “ALL OF THIS! ALL I’V EVER WANTED WAS FOR YOU TO BE SUCCESFUL BUT YOU HAVE TO FIGHT ME AT EVERY. SINGLE. STEP.”
“Don’t pretend.” Jimin snaps. “You did this for you. For you and that stupid reputation you and father value so much. I hope for your sake and the sake of that stupid reputation you value so much that the general public never finds out this is what the nation’s heroes are like behind closed doors. Make sure to stay away from me and (Y/N) from now on.”
He faces his mother and clenches his fists
“Listen carefully, mother, because I will only ever say this once.” He tells her slowly through clenched detail. “I’m going to be a great hero. I’m going to work hard and succeed on my own merit, in my own way. And there may be a few mistakes along the way because (Y/N) and I are inexperienced but we will get there. And you can be there or you can back off, but if you want to be there, then know this: We’re doing this on our own. Not because of some stupid name and legacy we shouldn’t have to live up to. Keep out of our business.” Jimin turns and makes to leave, before he remembers one extra detail.
“And I don’t know how you could stoop low enough to have Charlotte block (Y/N)’s phone like that but I hope you know that two people went to hospital and one is still in critical care because you stopped her from answering that distress call.” He says, as a parting shot.
To his surprise, his mother looks angry.
“How dare you. I would never have Charlotte do such a thing, and I don’t care what you think- I know I was acting on your behalf to get rid of your useless sidekick but I would never endanger the life of a civilian like that. I’m just as much a hero as you are, Jimin, if not more. I don’t know anything about any distress calls being blocked.” She snaps.
Confused, this halts Jimin’s retreat. He knows his mother. He knows when she’s lying and… she’s not. She’s telling the truth. She really didn’t have Charlotte block your phone. But it is too much of a coincidence for you to miss your phonecalls within the two hours of hanging around a technopath like Charlotte… Jimin’s eyes widen.
“Mum, where is Charlotte right now?” He demands. Confused at the sudden turn of conversation, she pauses to consider.
“Well she was supposed to get here ten minutes ago, but I haven’t heard from her.” She says. She calls the attention of a passing worker. “Have you seen Charlotte?” She demands. The worker pauses to consider.
“That young pretty lady? She saw the two of you were conversing and left quite quickly, much like the rest of us did.” The worker informs them. “She wanted me to give you this, actually, it’s why I came back in here.” He says, holding out a familiar black book that Jimin had thought was in his pocket. It’s Jin’s address book.
Jimin’s heart leaps into his throat and he sets off sprinting before his mother can get a word in otherwise.
He has a bad feeling about this.
++
At the academy, it was compulsory to attend weekly counselling sessions, whether you needed them or not, and it’s compulsory to attend them fortnightly at Headquarters now that you are graduated. They were and are essential in teaching young and old heroes alike in a harrowing career how to care for themselves, and to catch any young villains in the making early before they gained access to public trust and government resources. And the number one thing they had stressed to you and continue to stress to you is that the loss or injury of a civilian is not your fault. Yes, heroes and sidekicks are gifted with special, unique abilities that put them above the normal population. And the gene that allows these wonderful abilities does enhance your abilities slightly above that of the normal population, so you are quicker, fitter, slightly stronger and with better reflexes, but you are still only a human. Falling from a three-storey building or taking a bullet or getting his the wrong way will still lead to your death. Though you are above the average population, you are still a fragile, pathetic human who can die and will die. So you cannot save everyone. You will not save everyone. And it is important that you cope with failure in a healthy way.
And so, like you have been the past few weeks, you continue to tell yourself you are fine. You have been taught that while it’s impossible to combat the initial thoughts of despair and anger at your failures (Jimin is especially bad at dealing with such emotions), taking the necessary steps towards self-care are what is needed to ensure a long and fruitful career in such an industry. That’s what you’ve been doing, while staying at your parents’ house. Eating well, exercising regularly, taking long, luxurious baths with bath bombs you purchased from the pleasantly scented body shop you pass on your morning trips to the café. You read a lot and pick up a few hobbies. The Labrador your neighbours own is an incredibly thoughtful and kind listener and always willing to lend an ear about your troubles. You’re ok. You’re really ok.
If only you could convince your parents as much!
“It’s really fine, guys.” You reassure them as they try and conceal the news report informing everyone of Jimin’s (or Hydro’s, as the general public knows him) recent successes. “I knew what I was doing when I left. I’m not going to resent him just because he’s doing well.”
Your father is easily convinced, but your mother has always been able to read you far better than you are comfortable with. The look in her narrowed eyes nears a glare but you know it’s just her scrutinizing you for the slightest sign that you aren’t as ok as you continue to insist you are.
“I’m really ok, mum.” You say, but it sounds false even to your own ears. “I’m fine.”
You know the longer you remain under her careful examination, the more likely your pathetic façade of togetherness will crumble.
“I’m going to go to my room.” You announce but the words are pathetic and weak.
Inside your bedroom, you crumble weakly against the doorframe. Because that’s what you are, isn’t it? Weak. Despite the knowledge that you shouldn’t carry the burden of Emma’s coma, despite the knowledge that you did everything you could, you can’t shake the guilt. You can’t stop picturing those other two nameless faces that were seriously injured because you couldn’t do something as simple as pick up your phone. Had everyone who had recommended you quit been right? What if your powers had been different? If you’ve had the powers of super speed or even mind-reading, would those people have been hurt? Instead all you can do is tell when someone is sad and communicate to a rat that it shouldn’t be living in your building. You’re useless. All your effort has been in vain. You lean forward to rest your face in your hands.
A knock on the door jerks you from your downward spiral. Hastily, you scrub at your face. You hadn’t realised you were crying.
“One second, mum, I just,” You cry, scrabbling to your feet. “I’m fine, I already told you-“
It’s not your mother standing at your bedroom door.
“Your parents let me in.” Charlotte announces, walking past you to enter your room despite you not extending the invitation. She regards your bedroom with mild disinterest. There are posters on the wall, following your childhood crushes- some are heroes, some are actors. There is a photo collage of you and your friends throughout your years together at the academy plastering on of the walls and your bedspread are cupcake themed. Jin had bought them for you for your birthday one year. “They were just stepping out for a moment, so they didn’t see me in.”
“I…” You start, but you are speechless and puzzled at her presence. “Why are you here, Charlotte?”
She doesn’t answer, staring at a poster of a famous hero from when you were a child posted right above your bed. The very same one that inspired you to pursue the path you are currently on. She reaches up and presses her fingers against the glossy surface.
“I’m also a fan of this hero, you know. They inspired me to go into this line of work as well. I was always drawn in by the glory and fame they had for doing something like saving people! And I was on a fast track to being the same until a certain incident last year… Would you like to hear the story of how I ended up without a sidekick?” She asks, rather than answer your question. You are on your guard, uneasy at her presence and the way it seems to electrify the air.
“Not really, but I have a feeling you’re going to tell me.” You respond. She laughs, but it isn’t a friendly sound.
“They quit. Call it difference of opinion… said they couldn’t bear to work with me another moment. That I was a sham of a hero. That I was only in it for the glory and that I didn’t really care about people.” She tells you. She regards you with eyes that are cold. Like you are a bug she’d like to squash under her feet. “Me? A sham? I haven’t been able to work for a year because of that entitled bitch. And then, finally, an opportunity falls into my lap. Yes, it’s a bit of a demotion, working as a sidekick, but he has impressive specs and a good family. And he’s good at what he does and I still get the glory I used to when I was working as a hero.” She says. “And his mother practically begged me to work with him… how could I refuse?”
You glance at the door. She had shut it behind her, and you get the distinct impression that perhaps it was out of a desire to keep you trapped in here with her. The sensation of electricity crackling through the air grows stronger and you become aware of a strange dark emotion swirling with her. It is one you have only ever sensed around criminals and villains.
“And I was going to work like that. Until I retired- How could I complain? Sure, the government’s strict rules had ruined my career for good, but I was happy with my second chance.” She tells you, and putrid anger is beginning to creep into her voice. She clenches her fist and rips the poster away from the wall. You cry out in protest. She whirls around to face you, her eyes wide and glaring. “But then I overheard an argument that he was having with his mother today! And it sounded like he wasn’t happy to work like that anymore.”
At your desk, your computer explodes with a flash of light. You cry out in shock, throwing up your arms to protect yourself. The electricity in the air is real now, not just tension you can sense- it sparks around her.
“But I’m not ready to retire, and you’re standing in my way. He’s not allowed to call it quits on me. Not when I finally have my career back!” She cries. You swallow and step backwards, towards the door. She spots the action though and sends your ruined computer crashing towards the door. “What’s wrong?” She asks. “Are you afraid? Do you want to run away?”
Your bedroom is on the second floor. You don’t think you can make the jump without seriously hurting yourself and even then she could just follow and you would be prone and injured. What are your options? How can you get away from this woman?
“I won’t kill you.” She reassures you, even as her eyes glow electric blue from using her powers and her hair dances with static electricity. “I would have been simply happy with an agreement from you not to go back with working with Jimin, but you know, just for my state of mind I’d like some insurance.”
A jolt of electricity from the wall socket fires at you- you flinch and dive out of the way. A poster stuck to the back of your door sparks and catches fire.
“Luckily in this line of work I don’t need to seriously injure you- can you imagine that? A hero seriously injuring a civilian? The press would have a field day!” She says. “Just a mild injury- enough that you won’t pass a physical exam and be cleared to return to work.”
You wrench the door open and leap over the carnage of your computer, sprinting down your hallway but there are more electronics out here than in your bedroom. An electric cord from your desk lamp flies out and snakes around your wrist.
“Should I do something easy?” She asks, as she walks towards you while you frantically try and unwrap the cord from where it is tangled around you. You give up and turn once more to sprint down the stairs while dragging the lamp behind you but she grabs the cord with her hands and suddenly the two of you are engaged in a tug of war. “Like break your ankle? Or arm? Maybe a mild spinal injury?”
She releases and the suddenly release of tension has you tumbling down the stairs. You cry out in pain as you land on the bottom floor, against the landing.
“Or maybe I should cut out your tongue? That’s a double win- that way you can’t blab to the press or police?” She suggests, and a new cord plugged into the wall snakes around your neck and pulls tight. You gasp as you feel your supply of oxygen cut off. You scrabble at the cord. “Or maybe I should kill you? Is that the way to keep my career?”
You glare at her, struggling desperately to release yourself from the wire choking you but she’s using her powers to hold the electric cord in place.
“You’re crazy.” You gasp through your constricted airway, even as blackspots start to swim in your vision.
“And you’re dead.” Charlotte tells you.
“I feel like it’s your career that’s dead, Charlotte.” You hear a familiar voice call. Your eyes go wide and the two of you whip around to face Jimin, who is standing in his full hero gear, concealing his face. The tension releases on your neck and you crumble to the ground, gratefully drinking in the oxygen. Charlotte’s eyes go wide.
“Jimin!” She cries. “W-what are you doing here?” Jimin’s face is obscured by his helmet, but he tilts his head to his side.
“I think the better question,” He asks, releasing the lids of two bottles hanging off his belt. Water flows out of them and pools into two levitating orbs on either side of him. “Is what are you doing here, Charlotte?”
Charlotte has gone very pale, and she glances at where you are still crumpled on the floor.
“I…” She begins, scrabbling for an explanation that can get her out of this situation.
“Wrong answer.” Jimin calls.
And then chaos explodes.
It’s hard, in your injured state to keep track of the fight that ensues. At one point Jimin breaks into the kitchen and turns on your tap- he sends a barrage of icicles shooting at Charlotte. She sends your blender flying towards him and Jimin repels it with an ice shield.
You scrabble to your feet though a wave of dizziness overcomes you. You are a highly trained official- you should be helping your partner, not lying on the ground. You don’t have your super suit or your weapons on you. You’re essentially a civilian in this state. But you cannot allow Jimin to fight alone. The tv slams into his side and he cries out in pain. You glance around. How can you stop her?
She’s a technopath, so she draws her powers from the technology around her. She could only use your technology against you when it was plugged in or when there was battery powered. Your house is filled with electronics, so it’s not like you can suddenly clear them out. But… you can cut off power to your house?
As soon as the idea hits you, you stumble into action. You are still injured from falling down the stairs and your body is shaky from being strangled earlier, but you know where the switch is for your house.
Outside the night air is cool. You limp towards the power box and throw the lid open, slamming downwards on all the switches.
It takes a few moments, but all light flooding from you parent’s house shuts off. You sigh in relief and stumble back towards your front yard.
There isn’t a sound coming from your house. Did… did Jimin lose? Was your shutting off of the power not sufficient to stop Charlotte?
You crumble to the ground, exhausted and injured.
“Jimin.” You call softly. Then again, more loudly. “Jimin!” You cry. It isn’t long before you are sobbing in hysterics at your front door. Jimin’s name is almost indistinguishable in your warbled, anguished tone.
Then the front door bursts open in time with your front lawn lighting up with the red and blue of police sirens. Jimin drags Charlotte, restrained with handcuffs from his utility belt behind her.
He beat her.
++
The aftermath is strangely calm. You warn your parents what happened and get them to book into a hotel room for the night so that they can survey the damage in the morning. Jimin remains in costume to complete the arrest on Charlotte. Once you are cleared by the paramedics, you huddle in a blanket on your doorstep, waiting for the last of the police to leave for the night. You are a mere civilian without your uniform and prefer to remain that way.
It’s cold and Jimin’s body radiates heat when he finally settles beside you. He’s in his civilian clothes- formal suit and tie and dark dress shoes. He must have come straight from some sort of formal function. Jimin takes one look at your shivering form and wraps an arm around you, tugging you in close.
“Are you ok?” He asks in a low voice. You don’t respond for a moment, just reveling in the warmth of his body and appreciating the warm sensation his proximity gives you. You turn to face him and at this proximity he is unearthly beautiful. You can count each of his eyelashes and his concern presses heavily against your senses.
“I’m ok.” You say, but the sound is raspy and choked. Apparently it would take a few days for the swelling around your neck to go down and your voice to return to normal. Other than that, you are uninjured, however, save for a few bruises. You could go back to work this instant if you so pleased, according to the paramedics.
“I feel like… we have a lot to talk about…” He says slowly, but his words are slow and spaced apart as if he’s distracted by something as he stares at you. The words choke in his throat and die. “I… I missed you.” He confesses, like it is a shameful secret. “So… so much. I’m… sorry for yelling.” His voice cracks with the weight of his emotions. “And for taking it out on you- it wasn’t your fault. What happened to those civs… and what happened to Emma…”
He trails away and tenderly wipes at your cheeks with his free arm. It takes you a little while to understand that you are crying. He mirrors your expression- a single tear slides down his face.
“That wasn’t your fault either.” He tells you. You aren’t sure why, but you feel something in you snap and give way at his words. All the emotions you’ve been trying to hold back suddenly come bursting forth and you find yourself sobbing hysterically into his arms. He pulls you close and wraps his arms around you securely. One hand gently smoothes through your messed up hair while the other holds you against him so that you are completely encased by his figure.
He doesn’t say anything or attempt to explain until the last of your sobs have died away and you have just been leaning into his embrace for a few moments. When he is sure you are done, he begins his explanation.
He starts with Emma. Though his mother had told you that it was you in your mind-controlled state that injured her and lead to her comatose state, it turns out that story was a lie designed to manipulate you. Emma had been a young and accomplished engineer and when her gifted sister had enlisted her help to get revenge against the city that had taken their parents away from them, she had agreed. It had been her to design the mind-control beam and tank that had caused all that destruction. But when you had shown her kindness and helped her when her sister, the villain from that day had run wild, she had realised the error of her ways. You taking the hit for the family had been the trigger point for her to not let her machine be used to bring harm to others. While Jimin had been distracted trying to stop you from killing him or any of the civillians, she had somehow climbed into the doomsday decive despite her injured ankle. She had disabled it once and for all but the ensuing collapse had been what resulted in her now-braindead state. A terrible tragedy, but something that neither you nor Jimin could have prevented. Jimin had decided not to tell you to save you the heartache of another citizen that no one could have really saved and you had never asked. He had been to preoccupied with the whole beating-you-to-a-pulp thing and had thought it had been put behind you.
Rather than feel angry at his decision to keep the truth from you, all you can feel is relief that you weren’t the one to cause her coma. A fresh round of tears well up in your eyes and you tuck your face into Jimin’s neck.
After promising never to keep secrets like that from you again, he then moves on to the two people in the ER. One has been discharged, and is well on the way to complete recovery and while the other remains in care, the doctors are confident they will make a full recovery. Your phone hadn’t worked because Charlotte had tampered with it. She had been using her powers as a technopath to suppress any incoming calls. He’s especially sorry for that one- he said some especially nasty words that have him choked and embarrassed as he apologises.
He finishes his explanation with Charlotte and his mother. His mother, desperate to get you to quit and have a more “appropriate” partner work with her beloved son and to recover their tattered relationship, had gone through the resumes of every sidekick and hero currently on the waiting list. Charlotte’s had looked the most promising, and when she contacted Charlotte, she had agreed almost too easily. What his mother didn’t know, and what Jimin is most apologetic for, is that Charlotte had skipped out the last few months of psychological evaluation but lack of government attention to those on the waiting list had allowed her to get away with it. So the developing villainous tendencies, which had been noted as concerning but undeveloped from very early on in her career, had gone unnoticed and probably would have continued to go unnoticed until she overheard the confrontation Jimin had had with his mother that afternoon, confronting her over her role in your resignation.
Lastly, he scolds you for carrying all the burden on your own. He informs you that the kind of unhealthy mindset you took on would burn you out very early in the career and he can’t work if his sidekick burns out before she’s even reached her twenties.
Midway through his explanation, the two of you had moved inside and were seated close together on your ruined couch. You could worry about what had happened to your house in the morning. What you are more preoccupied with is the way he holds you close and leans his head against the crown of yours. You can feel the vibration of his words as he speaks.
“Which leaves one last thing…” He says at last. He pulls away and you look up to meet his gaze. There’s something soft and warm in his eyes. “For me to explain. You remember the day of the river cruise?”
How could you forget? It was the day when you realised that what you were feeling wasn’t just a highschool crush. It wasn’t feelings of warmth towards you platonic partner… it was love. You loved Jimin- you had fallen in love with him. Slowly, you nod your head.
“You remember how I asked you not to read my emotions?” He asks you. Puzzled with where he’s going with this, you nod. “Well… why don’t you read them now?”
You hesitate for only a moment, before reaching out towards him.
Instantly you are overwhelmed with the swirling intensity of the emotions he is feeling right now. Relief, at your safely, joy, to be reunited….
But the one that shines the strongest and most intensely is what leaves you speechless. Because it is the same emotion you feel when you look at him, the one you have been fighting for months, the one you’ve been trying to hold off ever since being allocated as his sidekick.
It’s love. Jimin loves you.
“Jimin,” You say softly, completely thrown. He smiles.
“I don’t need an answer.” He says. “I’m really terrified right now, but don’t feel pressured to answer or reciprocate, or anything like that. I just wanted you to know, so that you knew what you were getting into, if you came back to working with me.”
“Jimin…” You say once more. You want to give him an answer, but the words remain stuck stubbornly in your throat. He cuts you off before you can voice your answer aloud.
“Come home.” He begs. “Please. I’m scared of what I’m feeling… but I think I’m more scared of not seeing you again. I know… I know a lot has gone wrong. Not just today, but through our whole relationship. But, we’ve gotten through everything, and we’ll get through it. So what do you say? Will you be my partner again?”
“I will. But on one condition. Don’t… don’t be scared of what you’re feeling.” Is what you manage to say rather than the confession that sits stubbornly on the tip of your tongue. He gives you an odd look and offers you a hesitant smile.
“Yeah?” He asks. “Don’t be scared?” You nod determinedly.
“At least… don’t be scared alone.” You say. His eyes widen just slightly. “Be scared with me. Cause I’m scared of what I’m feeling too.”
He just stares at you, speechless for a moment.
“What I’m trying to say is… you’re not the only one who’s scared of-“ He cuts you off by pressing his mouth to yours. The kiss is intense, but short and sweet. When he pulls away his cheeks are flushed and he looks slightly breathless.
“Was that ok?” He asks you. You feel slightly breathless and air-headed as well, but you offer him a nod.
“Yeah.” You say softly. “It was.”
You are about to lean in for a second kiss. Because this moment is perfect and you want it to last forever. You love Jimin and he loves you, and while not everything is sorted in the moment, it will be. So you lean towards him and his eyes flutter shut in anticipation but the sound of his phone going off interrupts you.
It’s the familiar sound of a distress call. But rather than be disappointed, the two of you smile at each other. Because this is what you do. The two of you are heroes, and bruised and battered as you are from the events of the night, together you can handle whatever this call has to offer- no, whatever life has to off. Because you’re partners.
And that’s what you’ll do. For the rest of your life, as partners, you will fight side by side. For every obstacle, every fight, every difficulty, the two of you will overcome it. Together.
“Feeling up to it?” Jimin asks.
You offer him a smile and nod.
“Let’s do it.”