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Chapter Text

Prologue

Her suit was immaculate as she walked into the chairman's office. The Chairman as always stands overlooking Seoul city akin to a sentry, gaze protective over its people and as he notices her presence, turns sheepishly apologetic.

She doesn't mind- working as the Chief of the Korean Hunter's Association's Monitoring division required a certain level of anonymity. It was better than being a hunter hounded on by the guilds to join them; She was fifteen years old when she was officially classified as an Awakened Hunter, however she was not naïve to the world and its cruelty, opting a loner status.

Then when the dungeon break in Jeju Island happened- she had to change a bit of her opinions after nearly losing her life to the throes of violence and the chaos of war. At 19 years old, Woo Jin-Chul had already lost her parents, lost a battle that cost them Jeju Island and lost the battle within herself.

That was until the chairman visited her in the hospital and asked her to join the Association.

She was a broken tool unable to move forward-she could even retire and live the rest of her life off the enormous funds from countless raids. It wasn't enough. She needed a reason to keep going, to put one foot in front of the other and the chairman came to her with one reason-yet one reason was enough.

Protect.

She wore the Korean Hunter Association's uniform black suit, two pair of sunglasses- as to ensure that if the first one broke, a second one was stored in her pocket as a 'just in case' and her light orange hair slicked back, combed away from her forehead. Her armor she put away, lock and key- better to remain forgotten, bad memories repressed as she did it.

She enjoyed her job as a desk official, often going into the field to evaluate majority of dungeon breaks, classifying them or overwatching the various recruits as they did their duty.

(Unbeknownst to her, Woo Jin-Chul had become a cryptid in the eyes of the hunters; untouchable, holding a clipboard inside a dungeon, marking them down like a spectre of doom. No Weapon or armor in sight. Just a plain old black suit, black sunglasses and a stern look on her face constantly.)

"Jin-Chul!" the chairman greets- he always reminded her of a happy, gruff grandpa. Unusual for a man with the epihet like 'the S rank among S ranks' yet surprisingly it suited him.

"Chairman Go." She bows and sighs as she sees his expectant gaze. She sits on the couch facing the man who has become a pseudo- boss/parent hybrid for her all these years. He places a file on the coffee table in front of her. She scowls.

"Human Resource has brought up an interesting situation to my attention, Jin-Chul..."

She grits her teeth.

"I do not need a vacation, Sir." It had been the same argument since she first started in the Association- it even had a betting pool on it, much to her disgruntlement.

Besides the mandatory therapy she still has to go to for her past as a former hunter during the Dark Period, she resisted this beyond normal- sue her, she was spiteful. She needed the therapy, however she did not need a vacation.

(She believed that no one, at least the younger hunters from this current crop would understand just how much danger earlier hunters had to endure just to survive; she loved her work because they would never get to feel the utter helplessness she had to live through just to live and breathe. A vacation would only force her to slow down enough to stew in her thoughts. It would kill her.)

The others probably accepted the past, some became more egotistical and over-the-top in their arrogance, some died. Many of her close friends died-not from dungeon crawling or illness or old age- they stopped bothering to live.

No one hunter from the Dark Period was 'sane' in a sense; No matter what the other S ranks say, she just looked sane from the outside. Her suit needed to be immaculate, perfect even, and the issued black sunglasses were a totem, a remainder to herself to stay composed. To keep a lid on her mana and breathe, fixing her gloves.

"Jin-Chul, you know I view you as my own daughter. I can't help but worry..."

She knows the mask she kept up went down when the chairman straightened as she slumps into the couch.

"Three days." she surrenders, making him smile, "That's just to stop whatever this situation with whatever HR thinks exists."

Fine.

Jin-Chul can handle three days- afterall, what can happen in three days?

(Jin-Chul doesn't realise alot can happen in three days- like a bad dungeon break with plenty casualties, pile up of paperwork and alot of antsy S-rankers trying her patience when all she wanted peace and quiet.)

Chapter Text

Sung Jin Woo knew something was strange about the suited woman who visited him in the hospital. Even the system classified her as "The Forgotten Hero" - She was calm, kind unlike the people similar to her rank.

After evaluating him, she kindly thanked him for his corporation and even gave him a nice gift basket.

When he started to increase his levels and power- he starts to notice just how strange Woo Jin-Chul really was, besides the strange title and the simmering power under her skin. The Chief of the Korean Hunters Association's monitoring division was a woman even the system warned not to over step his bounds with and rightfully so- with many titles and question marks on her stats, denoting her actual strength.

Even the Chairman couldn't compare to the limitless power she held concealed, Sung Jin Woo was often very careful when interacting with the Chief- often quite respectful to a point that it even surprises her.

"Mr Sung Jin Woo, I must warn you about Hwang Do-Su and the lengths he would go to hunt you down and those close to you..."

Sung watched as she sighs despondently, handing him a cup of coffee- he blinks, not really expecting to even have any refreshments or even the time of day with someone as busy as herself. It was nice.

"The Association will do its part in protecting your civilian family and friends-However, if Hwang Do-Su confronts you, the right to defense will be yours."

The teen nods, not expecting anything less- he looks, analyzing her as she looks tired and weary, nursing the Styrofoam cup of coffee with a sigh.

The next time Sung Jin Woo realizes that the Chief was amazing was that the S-rank of Japan seem to recognize her. She looked like she'd rather be anywhere but the gym holding all the gathered S-rank but being the second to the Chairman meant she had no choice-and surprising was that she was fluent in Japanese.

(Sung finally knows what the epihtet 'The speaker of many tongues' came from- he knows the numerous titles had to mean something, like what did 'Ashborn's Fated' even mean?)

The Japanese S-rank captain even bowed low, smiling as they spoke- the translator whispered that the two were from the Dark Period and served together when the dungeon breaks first started in the USA.

Sung could see that despite her smiles, it was tense- and if the sudden frown on the Japanese captain's face made everyone more frigid, even Sung was ready to intervene. He slowly lifts a hand to pat her shoulder and murmurs something to her. She shrugs and smirks. Then everyone continued like nothing was amiss.

"Chief, are you alright?" Baek Yoon-Ho asks her; everyone was worried over the little conversation. She looks to the man built and refined akin to the White Tiger Moniker he held with a soft smile.

"Just being nostalgic. You know old people stuff, Mr Baek Yoon-Ho..." She shrugs.

(Sung Jin Woo finds the comment the comment strange until he hears the rumours of 'Awakened too young' 'Child soldier from Korea' 'National Level but shackled'; He looks over the internet articles about Chief Woo Jin-Chul with shaking hands. She was so young- practically a baby if serving at seven years old were true: Then how, despite her young age, led the 1st Jeju dungeon break raid, only to come back, crippled mentally- having to seal the Island with some of her team still inside with half her mana maintaining the perimeter...only for it breaking just a week ago.)

"Jin-Chul?" The Chairman looked worried as she took her usual space beside him.

"I'm fine, Chairman." She whispers assuredly, standing in attention. She puts on her gloves.

During the second Jeju raid as everyone gathered, the Japanese captain looked pissed. He seemed to be growling at the chairman. The translator sighs as well.

"He's pissed that Chief Woo Jin-Chul isn't allowed to fight- says he'd trust her with his life than the rest of Korea's S-rank..."

The Chairman murmurs his reply to the translator.

"Chief woo Jin-Chul is tasked with aerial and naval zones protection. If any of the ants escape, they would attack either Korea or China. She can handle them. I trust her."

Eavesdropping from their shadows, Sung Jin Woo was surprised and judging by the rest, they were surprised at the news as well. The Japanese captain looked...enraged by the news.

"You would keep her away from the raid? You don't trust her- don't lie to me. You can lie to the rest of your idiot wannabe S-ranks but don't lie to me."

Their team follows him-he snarks to the translator to the translator who pales.

"Of course you don't want Jin-san to participate in the bloody raid. You're afraid that your people will blame her for their mistakes like all those years ago...I remember. I was there."

As Sung Jin Woo flew on Kaisel, he gapes as the black suit clad Chief, taking another hunter's weapon only to kill the dozens of the flying ants, landing on the naval boat with a huff. The A-ranked mages on the boat as well as the other boat gape at her nonchalant attitude.

"Yo! Mr Sung Jin Woo! Catch!" she throws an ear comms to him, giving him and Kaisel a thumbs up. They were all still gaping at her.

"Man, Kids these days sure are reliable..." She muses quietly, "Maybe, I should retire?"

('No' Sung Jin Woo thought fondly, 'We still need you, Chief...')

***

Everything was shot to hell and the mages couldn't keep up- three of the flying ants escaped towards China but Jin-Chul knew that he could handle them.

"This is Chief Woo Jin-Chul to the Association Chairman. Permission to interfere with the raid with 50% capacity." She lands on another boat after taking down another dozen ants. The mages all yelp in surprise- Jin-Chul muses that it must be the salaryman-esque of her clothing and continues the assault.

(Jin-Chul doesn't know that the legend her being the Cryptid of the Association made her into somewhat of a legendary boogie man of Korea's Hunter's; All the hunters who see her had finally realized that she actually existed and wasn't some camp fire story S-rankers told to scare the lower ranks. Now they dread of evaluation mark downs despite the disaster happening in front of them.)

"Standby. Permission to only help from afar- long ranged, AOE* talisman and healing expansions are given all clear. Standby. Do not leave your marked zone."

She sighs but its enough to help out the hunters on the island. She outreaches her hands, black eyes glowing molten gold.

(All the Jeju Island based hunters all stare in awe as a massive AOE Shield and healing came over them; Goto Ryuji looks up and smiles fondly. Sung Jin Woo defeats Beru- whilst the two S-ranks get miraculously healed. Baek Yoon-Ho feels the tears roll down his face as he feels their pulse.)

Sung Jin Woo watches as everyone celebrates; except for Chief Woo Jin-Chul, who stood at the Hunter's Memorial stone. As if greeting an old friend, pouring Soju shots instead of food and candles. She looked devastated, kneeling.

"I could've saved you guys as well...forgive me for being a coward all those years ago..." she whispers. His shadows made it easier to hear her words.

Sung keeps his distance, perking in surprise as Baek Yoon-Ho stands beside her crumpled form.

"I...wanted to say thank you for saving Min Byung-Gyu..." he looks to the stone, "Everyone is celebrating but I figured you'd be here."

"Baek Yoon-Ho..." She slowly stands, straightening her suit and gloves. "Does... it get easier?"

"...no...it doesn't get easier." he admits but smiles, "However, people still need Chief Woo Jin Chul to pick up the slack and help out the new hunters into the fold."

She chuckles. He helps her up- gentle, as if being rougher would break her.

"I guess that's true. I'm not the Chief of Korea's Hunter Association's Monitoring division by slacking off..." she grins.

Sung Jin could hear the pain she suppressed in her voice alone- he knows it well since it was exactly how he used to see himself. He fears- not for dungeons nor other hunters but fears what the mind could do and its danger.

He fears the danger she posed to herself.

Chapter Text

When he stepped foot in Korea after so many years, he didn't expect to see a familiar face to greet him. A pleasant surprise compared to the reason of his visit.

"Hwang Do-Su, On Behalf of The Korean Hunters Association, I welcome you." her voice even sounded dead as always. He grins as he towers over her- she sighs.

"Still working as a deskie , Jin-Chul? Why don't you cross the ocean and join me in the US? I'm pretty sure we'll appreciate you far better than these jackasses here..." he smirks, "Plus A-ranks get better pay there than here..."

"I'll have to decline that offer as always-I'm quite happy where I am."

"We both know that you're staying because of the old man, Jin-Chul." he injects malice into his words, "Once the old man kicks the bucket, where will you really belong?"

She opens the door for him to the van- he should've expected her to stay as cool as she always been; Even during the Dark period, when hunters panicked and broke, she had stayed calm- helping civilians to safety as she beat back dungeon breaks as legendary as the Kamish one, alongside Thomas Andre and other national level hunters.

(To think she'd keep up the farce of A-rank on all her papers when in reality Korea had a genuine National level hunter posing as a deskie- it was an insult to all her achievements and he grits his teeth remembering, hearing rumours of weak civilians blaming her for what happened in Jeju all those years ago.)

Hwang Do-Su was there in that raid- not allowed to enter with the rest since he was newly minted as an S-rank, but he was there to see the utter devastation and chaos. He understood that she had no choice- it was either Jeju Island or the entirety of Korea- plus, she had to leave comrades behind, helpless civilians. That could fuck up any sane adult but she had to make that decision at the age of 19 years- barely an adult, to a point that he's surprised that she stayed sane. Then the media shit storm that attacked her for not doing enough, that she failed the raid because she was arrogant.

Hwang Do-Su knows that's the last word he would use to describe Woo Jin-Chul- honestly, a more accurate description of her was 'loyal to the point of being an utter idiot'. 'Stick up her ass', 'disciplined nutcase', you get where he's going with this, right?

(He knows the rumours spread to the top Hunters in the world- disgusted by how one of their own, the youngest of them being shunned, they increasingly antagonized their own governments with arrogance. To show them that their power had a price and it could not be based on the sentimentality of patriotism. To make sure they don't forget the true form of those from humanity's darkest times. If kindness and loyalty was seen as a weakness, then they'd be callous, after all why shackle yourself to the weak like the former commander who was effectively cut down?)

As she drove, Hwang Do-Su observed her quietly. Her hair was neatly slicked and combed back, the black issued suit fit her dimensions perfectly- tight enough to look composed but loose enough to allow fast paced actions. She was a soldier who thought she got out of the war only to be stuck in a war of attrition.

The fact that most S-rankers would instinctively be wary of the simmering power underneath her skin despite her best in suppressing the overflow of Mana, often amused Hwang Do-Su. She probably didn't know that they feared her more than him- He was crazy, out of control, rabid dog of an S-rank, who left Korea but Jin-Chul was the ever calm, right hand of the Korean Hunters Association, yet they feared her more.

He admits that he does get wary of her presence but that was due to actual experience. The many years fighting alongside her, he had only seen her angry once.

However, once was enough.

(Some assholes thought that they could get away with raping a civilian- she strung them by their intestines as an example and kept them alive via mana technique, just so they could starve to near death; after cooking their own junks and feeding it to them, did she finally let them die. The laws of the dungeon crawling were simple, you did what you had to do to survive and the powerful could get away with anything- sure, she ensured that it didn't happen again but those days, the dark period, made even Woo Jin-Chul ruthless and justice was skewed at best.

He remembers that Thomas Andre talk about it with a grin. Hwang Do-Su remembers the way guilt ate at her expression...and the way that she admitted to being the last to leave because they at least deserved to be buried. She was freaking ten years old at the time.)

"As always, the Korean Hunters Association is obliged to offer whatever services an S-rank needs; besides the exception of personal details of civilians, we can provide and render any service available." She looks to the mirror of the car. A glance.

He narrows his gaze on the double speak. She continues to look ahead on the road.

'Touch Sung Jin Woo's civilian counterparts, you deal with me.'

"I came for the brat! Not his family members, Chief." he gripes. She looks to the mirror then nods.

"We'll provide details of his schedule." She extends a sort of peace offering. He accepts it.

***

The fucker was stuck in a red gate-that motherfucker-

"He entered the gate knowingly? Man, kids these days... " he heard her chuckle as Baek Yoon-Ho tells her. Hwang Do-Su realizes just how small the chief really was compared to the usual S-ranks around them. He knows that she is really powerful, and on paper she was an A-rank but...

She was dainty, looking lithe enough to attribute it to training but if he didn't know any better, he would've assumed that she was weak...that is, if not for the barely suppressed power in her veins. She takes out her flip phone. They both blink at it.

"I need to inform the Association." she walks a few steps away, "What a disaster..."

Only leaving the two of them to face each other.

"What the hell are you even doing in Korea, Hwang Do-Su? And why is the Chief wasting her time babysitting you?" Baek Yoon-Ho glows white growling.

"Oh. You jealous?" he scoffs, "Stay outta my way. My brother's murderer is in there with your baby guild members- I'm here to kill him."

"If you mean to kill Sung Jin Woo, it'll be over my dead body!" the white enveloped him like a mane-like haze. "My Guild has rights over this place, don't test my patience..."

"Let's see if your patience is as powerful as my rage." Hwang threatens, ready to deal out a few blows.

Before they could rip at each other's throats out, a familiar figure takes the hits, sleeves ripped due to the sheer mana force as she holds both of them back. Her mana leaks out with unnerving coldness as her gold eyes admonishes them.

"Compose yourselves. This is the civilian district. There will not be a second warning."

Hwang winces as her mana roars, the familiar tattoo glowing on her forearms as she lowers her arms. Baek only nods, guilty for instigating the fight in the first place, his white mana slowly dials down. Jin-Chul only sighs looking at her ruined sleeves dusting the ash off, pocketing her glasses- not wanting to tempt fate.

"Chief...sorry about your suit, I know how much you care about it." Baek apologizes, taking off his own pristine jacket covering her. Her molten eyes slowly fade to dark black, widens at the act. Hwang feels an ugly lurch in his core at the sight of her soft smile at Baek Yoon-Ho.

"Oh...thank you, Yoon-Ho." she envelops the bloody thing- like a child playing dress-up or a lover in her man's shirt- Hwang huffs off the buildup in his chest and stands between them. Baek Yoon-Ho looks confused.

"Since the Chief promised the association to find my accommodations, I'll be needing her help." Hwang smiles toothily- Baek Yoon-Ho only raises a brow at his antics. Jin-Chul shrugs and bows in farewell, accompanying the S-rank from the USA to the van.

Chapter Text

He remembers molten gold eyes fading to black as the short stack from Korea sighs. The kid had a habit of sighing- he doesn't know where she gets it from, it came from nowhere, well he usually didn't care for other people so she would've learnt it from one of the many dead hunters that went alongside them.

She wore a black ops suit, silver armor and gauntlets- he knows the armor grows as she did but little Jin was still shorter than everyone and younger, so she was the subject to all friendly teasing.

Thomas did what he did to earn his keep but even he knew but even he knew Child Soldiers were out there; Jin was seven, already Awakened and one of the S-ranks- She saved lives and that was enough for everyone. No one knew what type of fighter Jin was and it showed.

Jin was a mage? Then why did she walk like an assassin! Jin was definitely a healer! Then why was she better in melee than the guys in the actual melee class? Jin was a long ranger! Why did she excel at close combat? She had tank attributes but was too thin-

Thomas asked once they were assigned lookout in the dead shift; Jin shifts.

"I...not know, Mr. Andre." She fumbled over her words- still not used to English, "No questions. Just fight."

Whenever there was a battle, she was the first to run towards danger. The first to pull out her weapon and mutilate the enemy- the first to raise ranks, sped to become their commander in strategy; Then the governments around the world got their faces out of their collective asses, did they return to their homes to keep dungeons from breaking.

"The kid got into trouble." Christopher calls him one day.

Thomas scoffs about to end the call only to hear-

"Liu Zhigang went to Korea to see little Jin." Thomas pauses.

Jin? Little devil Jin? Of course he'd remember the little short stack- how old was she now? Nineteen years old? She was the only one from the Kamish raid that kept her head down, hating the attention and the breech of privacy, whilst the rest of them got their rewards. Thomas gifted her the mana stone core they found, after all she was the one who dealt the finishing blow.

[ "You're a mage, right? Here, short stack!" he throws the core, chuckling as she fumbles. Jin sighs.

"Again, not a mage, Mr. Andre." her armor caved in due to Kamish's claw.

Liu Zhigang laughs brightly carrying her suddenly, cheering despite her yelps of 'don't break the bloody core, Liu!' Siddharth Bachchan chuckles from where he landed and Christopher Reed slumped on a concrete wall laughing along.

Thomas Andre feels exhausted and warm.]

"What did little Jin do that got them all bothered?" he growls. "She won't even swat a fucking fly if she knew she could save it?"

[ He remembers the tattoos they all got with the end of the raid as a reward- However, Christopher took one look at the one on his arm and decided to make it go all over his back using mana crystal lasers Siddharth designed himself; he joined in after Sid, the idiot, got his leg tatted, Liu did his chest, bragging that at least he'd take the weapon head on- Jin only shook her head in disapproval, only to get her forearms tatted in a strange tribal blade design. ]

"She... lost a raid. The one on Jeju Island." Christopher grits, "The one you refused to help..."

A sudden chill creeped on his back as his chest seized. Little Jin with her bright smile and 'not mage' mage habits; The short stack...actually got hurt-

"Chris, tell me. Is little Jin ok?" Thomas hears Christopher breathe raggedly from his end. Shit. Shit. Shit- Please-

"Liu said she was in intensive care- Thomas, its bad. She had to cripple her mana supply to erect a barrier...The kid's parents were in Jeju, Thomas. That's why she was rushing back to Korea- little Jin's an orphan now."

Thomas always assumed the kid was alone because she was drafted but for the Korean government to rip the kid from her family, fighting for many years to finally earn her freedom- only to return to watch a dungeon break kill her parents?

He grits his teeth, clenching his fists.

[ "Pick up. Pick up- Jin! Are you alright?-

"Oh..." he could hear shuffling- shit, the kid was still in the hospital? "Mr. Andre..."

Thomas' tongue felt like lead in his mouth. He covers his face, the other hand shaking, holding on his call.

"Kid." He sobbed, "I'm so sorry."

The kid sighs, sniffling from her end.

"I...understand, Mr. Andre. You hate debts." Another pained sigh, "I understand-

She sobs and sobs and sobs- then softly, slowly she stops.

"I...I don't think I want to fight anymore. I've already told Liu to go back home..."

She breathes softly. He waits.

"Kid? Jin-

"I don't want to talk to you anymore, Mr. Andre...Please."

His heart breaks.

"Alright-

The call beeps, ended written in red on his phone. ]

***

The next he hears of her is when Hwang Do-Su returned back from Korea, offhandedly mentioning it Laura. At first he didn't recognize her until-

"Woo Jin-Chul is the Chief of the Monitoring Division for the Korean Hunters Association. I always heard rumours that she was pretty strong- it wasn't a lie. She could take on two S-ranks alone if she wanted to-

He walks over to the file to see a photo of the kid- Sure she looked all together, but it was definitely her. Its little Jin. Of course.

"I think she and that S-rank Baek Yoon-Ho are dating." Hwang Do Su huffs, "You never know with us Koreans-

"Oh?" his aura shuts them up immediately, "Little Jin's dating who?"

( He wasn't overprotective over the kid- no, he just wanted to know who this Baek Yoon Ho actually is...No, Christopher, he wasn't acting like a helicopter parent; he was just curious...)

***

Yet he meets her afew months later when he visits Korea to meet the Chairman Go Guen Ho- She stood behind the couch like a sentry. He feels quite hurt when she ignores him.

[ "Hey Kid!" he calls over the campfire, roasting some meat. She stops stuffing her mouth with food, perking up. The night air forced her into Liu's many oversized fur coats- the brat liked stargazing.

"Mm!" she mumbled into her food. She looks to him earnestly.

Damn. What a cute brat.

"Promise me you'll take me on a tour around Korea if I ever come by later?"

She grins, bits of meat all over her face- she just turned ten a week ago and instead of a birthday, she ended up ending two nobodies who couldn't even follow orders to keep the civilians safe and rape one of them- she should've had cake with candles, not constant danger and insubordination.

"Sure, Mr. Andre!" She grins wolfishly.]

"You look good, Jin..." he doesn't want to lose the brat's friendship; Isn't that so pathetic to want friendship with a kid?

[ "Sure, Mr. Andre" ]

"Thank you, Mr. Andre- It's good to see you as well." her voice...its gotten softer- oh.

He smiles, lip softening only to turn looking stern when facing the Chairman with a vicious look.

"You probably hoped I'd be here to help with the new Jeju raid coming up, but you should give up. I hate debts and Korea doesn't have the capital to pay me."

[ "I...understand, Mr. Andre. You hate debts." Another pained sigh, "I understand-]

He looks up to see a fond smile on her face- as if she already expected this...damn brat.

"Plus, the brat owes me a tour around Korea." he admonishes, making her laugh, surprising the two men.

"Sure, Mr. Andre. I promised, didn't I?" she smiles. All was well with the world.

Chapter Text

There was a reason the two of them were affectionate with each other …and never honestly spoke to Thomas about the reason they paired dead shifts.

(No matter what the man says, Liu Zhigang would swear up and down that the man is an over protective helicopter parent. And Christopher agreed- they never agreed on anything!)

Woo Jin-Chul was her own woman and she knew what she wanted- and apparently, that was him. He wasn't experienced, due to the whole world being in an utter shit-storm; so who actually had time to even sit down for a meal, let alone actually having sex? Plus, they had all the time in the world; they didn't need to rush and he enjoyed the simple need of holding her close, keeping warm.

(He remembers their soft kisses, chapped lips and mirthful eyes- he remembers caressing her face in his rough, calloused hands. She loved the cracks in his hands, 'You're a sword saint, of course Liu...' He remembers burying his face in the crook of her neck, trying to fight the dark and loneliness.

He remembers her smiles.)

Call him old fashioned but he he believed that the only way he'd remotely get laid is after marrying and becoming the luckiest man in the world.

(Christopher gives them a look, like he did not believe a single word they said- hey, they never gotten to actual penetration but no one said no to a make out session; especially with an eighteen year old whose forgotten more ways to kill a man then learn.)

Then he was ranked a National-rank and everything changed- well, on the outside at least but on the inside, he's still the same man since the incident...and no matter how the Chinese Government tried to entice him with women, he only had one in his mind.

(He owed her himself- that night, the cave...their bodies mingled together, hot despite the rain. He was lucky or not, honestly he'd be happy either way if Jin actually got pregnant- but fate only allowed them that night before the Kamish raid. At the very least they could find comfort with each other if it was their last time...)

Then the damn Jeju Raid happened- Liu didn't understand why she didn't ask him to fight for her. He would leave everything to do whatever she asks.

He stays by her side, calling Christopher to tell 'that damn man his pseudo daughter is in the intensive care unit' whilst slumped against the hospital walls with a choked sob. Everything felt numb, hecantbreathohmygodIcantloseyou-

He holds her hands, (whilst his own are cold and clammy- oh please be ok, I love you, I'll say it over and over until you never doubt my love for you. Stay with me- we did not survive hell only for you to leave me like this-) until she wakes- as she cries in his arms, he forgets the whole world, the cold air of the hospital room and only focuses on that she's warm and breathing and alive. He tells her that he'll take care of her from now onwards, that he was an idiot to think they would let her retire when she was most probably the strongest in her generation.

She smiles, a sad smile, head encased in bandages and her laugh melting a cold in his chest, a cold that had built up over time, just gone...oh, he loves this woman- he can't stop the tears that ran down his face as she tries to fight through the pain in breathing as she told him of her reason to join the raid in the first place.

"My parents died in the raid- they were farmers in Jeju Island..." She held onto his own tangled fingers. The smile is filled with so much want and pain that he wants to rage at how unfair the world was to her; She deserved so much better than this and without her the Blessing of Anteras would had been unknown to humanity until too late. The story of how to leave this hell will never be known to the world, well to the strongest in the world.

"They wanted to meet you- actually, they wanted to meet Mr.Andre first, mostly to thank him for taking care of me and keeping me safe...but they really wanted to meet the man who literally proposed in the throes of climax..."

He blushes red, mortified at the implication. She holds his face close to her bruised face.

"You told them?!" he hoarsely whispers. His throat dry, just from the memory alone of that night- survival and desperation does bring out the most animalistic sense of a human being.

"Well, you were rushing for plane tickets and we've known each other for so long that it was obvious- you're honorable to a fault, my love..." She whispers, chuckling near his neck. He gulps, chuckling as he grins into the soft kiss.

He takes out a pair of silver necklaces with rings on their ends. It was Sid's craftmanship for sure.

"Marry me, Jin. I want no one else. I want to spend the my every waking moment with you. I want to grow old with you- Please don't make me wait..."

She holds him as he does her- she then laughs with tears in her eyes. Their necklaces glinted.

"You know, Mr. Andre is going to kill you once he finds out that we're married..."

He blinks, only to beam- ignoring the very real threat of Thomas- knowing she said-

"Yes, Liu Zhigang! I'll marry you!" She laughs with tears in her eyes; Liu isn't going to lie, he kissed her senseless when she did.

***

Firstly, they were both stupid- Liu Zhigang was again, a National ranked hunter (as well as herself but that was more due to her distaste for fame and the drafting of the government and all its paper work- that she kept her status only-in-the-know.) They were also both honorable fools dedicated to their nation's safety.

It wasn't going to keep them apart- they actually promised to keep the timetables and Liu had so much free time that it was ridiculous. So, he finally figured out a new strange dynamic for their relationship.

"You want to be a house husband? Would that be a waste of your talents?" she looked up from her book- her legs straddled on his lap as he rubs the soles of her feet. He waves his own book at her- the pile of gag manga Goto sent him as a joke for their wedding day, which coincidentally was her birthday. She actually liked the set. 'The way of the house husband' on the cover- she raised a brow.

"It's not like we need money- and you actually like working with the old man. Plus, I like mundane chores and soap operas at lunch- its perfect!" he hugs her thigh, kissing her like a starving man that had found an oasis. She shivers, glaring half heartedly with a blush on her face. He slowly makes his way up, a trail of kisses up her body makes her clench her eyes shut, lower lip chewed on by her own teeth.

He angles his mouth to her neck and to the tips of her ears, he takes his time- as always, teasing his wife was surprisingly a turn on for him.

"And...I get to take care of you..." he whispers, gently, lovingly- eyes peering into her hooded gaze. She rests her hands on his chest, slowly reaching his face and running her hands through his hair, softly scratching the back on his neck as he spreads her legs apart. Her face flushed with want- he groans, remembering an important detail.

"I don't have a condom-

"That hasn't stopped us before?" she says slyly- he gulps. They've been married for 12 years yet she still got him to lose every ounce of self control with just afew words. He kisses her cheek slowly, taking his time. He can feel the grin she wore on her mouth just by her moans alone as he slid his fingers inside her warm, core- his mind was such a heady place if just making her satisfied could make him want to come like an idiot.

"I want you..." She begs, her cries as she came apart with his fingers again- he kisses her, tongue captured like prey within hers- shit, he doesn't like being rough, but it was one of those nights. He hauls her to him, sliding into her with a hiss on his lips- crap, if he's going to come just like this, he'll never hear the end of it. He needs to pull out-

"Don't..." she moans, legs trapping him- he shutters to a stop, looking at her incredulously. She gives him a meaningful look. A soft look in her lustful gaze...oh, no.

He grunts as she clenches around him, hisses for her to stop- She ignores him, encouraging the animal inside him with her soft throaty cries of more.

He listens and abandons his sanity and thrusts into her. Deeper and hard enough for her to scream. He's glad that their apartment is soundproof...

"Jin...hah, please- I can't-fuck!" he moans, head between her neck as he thrusts into her. Again. Again- every movement was agonizing, every gulp of air was filled with her scent. She digs her nails into his back, every thrust as he goes deeper, her nails drag on his back. It excites the already pumping adrenaline in his blood.

"Tell me..." she says, out of breath as he slows down- he does not stop. He's not stopping. He smiles at her words. He knows what she wants.

"I. love .you." he says between each thrust- the buildup explodes, his mind goes...actually, he can't think right now. She pulls on his hair as he came inside her, and cries, burying her face at the crook of his neck, teeth grazing his neck.

He knows she's sensitive after if her blissed out look indicated anything-after pulling out, he pulls her legs apart and rests his face in between her legs.

He wasn't done...not until she's as boneless as a cat, not until he gets rid of the stress of the day from her system.

"My Love...you don't need to-

Oh, but he does- he does.

(When Liu Zhigang makes the usual breakfast for a Saturday morning, he realizes that the bed broke; he blushes in mortification as the movers look to him in worried concern and mild respect, Jin just laughed it off- Liu wasn't annoyed by the costs, more to the fact that this is the sixteenth bed this month they had to replace.)

***

It was another damn Jeju Island Raid, again.

"Liu Zhigang, I received a call from the Chinese Government for your return to protect its borders." Chairman Go Guen Ho chuckles over the phone. "I'll ensure Jin-Chul stays in a further perimeter- so don't worry..."

He hated leaving Korea- it meant leaving Jin alone for long periods of time and not being there after the raid. It was too personal. That damn Mana barrier made her too sick to move on some days and as she continued to maintain it- nosebleeds, nausea, and fainting spells. He had to beg her to stop or it would kill her-

(He would rather die than live without her- she became the reason he woke up at all and even foolishly patient enough for the taste of her lips.)

When he returned from the airport, she stood there- wearing casuals and hugging him. They both sigh, inhaling the other's scent. He holds her tight.

"I'm sorry I took too long to come back- paperwork." he chuckles. She smiles.

When they reached home, she slowly gets him to sit down with her mega watt smile. He caresses her face with worry- she's too pale. She didn't need to work so hard-

"I'm pregnant." she says casually, like ripping a band aid.

He blinks...Then he screams in excitement, carrying her in his arms, crying and smothering her with butterfly kisses. She laughs and returns the favor, hands running through his locks.

"I'm going to be a father! Jin, this is amazing- I'm so happy!" he cries, he honestly couldn't help himself- she was his everything and now they had a little one to share all their love. She cries happily too. Both of them laugh without no filter.

Again. Thank heavens their apartment was soundproof...

"Baek Yoon Ho actually noticed at first, you know the White Tiger Guild leader? His beast mode actually sniffed the baby out!" she grins, "The man is a mother hen, I'll tell you-

"Well, We'll have to say thanks to Baek Yoon Ho for looking out for you...I don't know what I'd do if I lost you..." he murmurs in fear. "I can't lose you, Jin..."

"I promised you, didn't I? That I'll always come back to you, Liu...my love, my life..." she says eyes filled with a soft sheen- ah, tears. He can't do tears. He'll just cry with her again.

"Waow, way too cheesy" he jokes but buries his face in her hug. "I love you."

She gives him a kiss.

"I love you, too..." She murmurs back.

They both enjoy the calm.

Because if the years have taught them is that there will always be storms ahead; whether it be raids or life just trying to be a bastard. He'll protect his little family for as long as he can and is able to move.

He promises.