Promises

After that explosion. We evacuated to one of the shelters. The shelter was made particularly to shelter everyone during earthquakes and storm surges. Everyone was busy treating wounds so Jisoo had to volunteer to pluck the glass shards that struck my back. Didn't even notice until she pointed it out.

"You're a dumb idiot."

"I know, Ma'am."

"Never shield me again. Or we will break up."

"I didn't mean anything by it."

"Your lack of trust is insulting."

Women, at least to me, were never reasonable. Then again, she wasn't used to this kind of thing. She was usually the one who protects rather than be protected. If anything it was somewhat rude to her.

She applied a medical patch. Then she looked at me angrily before she raised her middle finger. She took the medkit back to the nurse and then sat down quietly. Folding her arms she tugged on her red jacket and stared at the wounded civilians.

"Times are dangerous, ain't it."

"You got that right."

"Do you think another one is coming? Hit the city?"

"Hope not. I did spend time tuning the faulty lights of your safehouse. Imagine the fucking mess. I can't even think of adjusting that shit again."

"Be serious with me."

"What do you want to do? I mean if you want to get involved in that. I need a good reason. What is it to us? What will we get if we include ourselves?"

"I'm starting to think that you think I'm brainless."

"No, I do not. Never."

"Then why?"

"Because what will it benefit us? You saw that shit. Clearly they are either a big time company or the military. Now why in God's name would we get involved with folks who could do that?"

"Just pisses me off that they do that. What should we do then?"

"Truthfully? I don't know. Just think that this is a mess. Probably will have to stop on our gigs for a while. I can guess that some might even want to involve us. We do handle some mercs around this area. We can roughly guess that it should be related to that. Pacifica and this region has a lot of shit going on with them. This Trio of a City is loosely related. Remember? They have a new agreement."

"Oh that job. Pacifica must be hellish these days. I can't imagine the mess."

There was something that she wanted to mention. But she hid it in her thoughts. I wasn't going to dig into her fresh wounds so I made a mental note to avoid it.

"We're doing fine here. I think we are. Thing is if you want to get involved with their matter. I ain't going to let you do it alone. I mean let's be real here, Veda. You have your ambitions. You aren't fucking used to this kind of bullshit. If anything it's probably your actual real vacation in years."

She looked at me with quite an expression. She sighed and then looked away.

"I know. I've been doing it for years. Hard to get used to it. Not that I hate this personally. Agua was peaceful. Not bad for a city. Then this shit happens."

She poked me. She stared at me again before letting go of that stare. This woman really thinks that I could somewhat just read her mind. But I can somewhat guess that she is quite aggrieved by what happened. We were enjoying some relaxing time, then this happened. No right mind wouldn't feel angry. The thing is that she can do something about it.

There was a reason she was effective. And if anything it's because she was experienced in such matters. Even if she did avoid a rather brutal path compared to what I remember. It doesn't mean that she lost her fangs. The fangs are still around. Thing is that she was hiding it well. No, at the moment she didn't have any reason to use it. She already did her business well.

If anything it makes me worry that she is pointing her eyes at however did this. She is a curious cat. As the Senior Enforcer of her clan, she knew business, knew how to navigate through clan politics despite her young age. She was born to it. Jisoo simply was conditioned for it.

The fact that she could spend some time away from her usual work is impressive. She has done this for years and yet she knew when to put her sword down. She wasn't so vindictive. At least she knew how to differentiate friends and foes.

Thing is that I doubt she'd be this calm. I don't like to think that it was because of me. It feels arrogant. Of course despite the days that I spent with her. It sometimes doesn't feel real. There are still lies that aren't easily crossed. I wasn't that brave to cross it and she was guarding it.

We live together, but we also do not dare to cross some of the secrets that we have. No sane person would dare to bare their souls to others so easily.

Still it doesn't mean that you shouldn't care either.

"You do what you have done," I said to her. "I ain't much of a killer. No, I don't like the idea of it. I am not good with other jobs. Guess it's a waste to be so ambitionless."

"I like that about you if anything."

She said while staring me in the eye. I nodded at her words and wore my shirt quietly. We stayed in the shelter until they cleared us to go. I took my car and drove back to the safehouse. We assessed the damage caused by the weapon that detonated and so far the only problem was the shockwave breaking the damn windows.

I was about to clean up when Jisoo forced my back on the wall and blocked any path. She made me swear to her again that I'd never shield her from anything ever again.

After that strange promise I decided to clean the house. I also have to take time in making notes for whatever might happen in the future.