𝐆𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢 (𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐙! 𝐟𝐟)

𝙲𝙷. 𝟺𝟻 ☯︎︎ 𝙶𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚙𝚊 𝙲𝚑𝚘𝚒'𝚜 𝙻𝚘𝚌𝚔𝚜𝚖𝚒𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝙿𝚝. 𝟸

"Terrible. But now that you're here I think the pain is a lot more bearable." The mulleted man presses his lips together into a taut line and Kurenai snorts, bitting down on her tongue from commenting.

"Of course, it was a stupid question." She decides, lifting a hand and pressing it on his pale cheek. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" San raises a hand to grasp hers and press it harder to his face. "You've done me no wrong to be apologizing. And if you're talking about my injury then that's all on me. I decided to protect you and I would repeat that decision a million times over." He looks up at her with such sincerity it makes Kurenai's heart twist as Juniper's words come back to mind.

it's more of a matter of 'when'

"Your heart is too big for this world." Clearing her throat and retracting her hand to San's dismay, Kurenai sniffles softly, remembering what she was supposed to be doing.

"Really? How so?" San giggles as she works on wrapping up his injuries, her fingers lightly skimming over his warm skin as she does.

"I dunno. You just— you're just too kind to people."

"But you're not just anyone, you're—," the man stops himself before he can say anything out of line. "I do care for you deeply."

"I know. I also know that this care will be your demise if you start to put my well-being over yours." Kurenai chastises him, looking at him with a serious countenance. "Done." She sighs after a moment. Finishing up her work, Kurenai ties the finishing knot, stepping back to admire her work, but more so San.

She notices the small droplets of water running along his smooth skin as a result of his wet hair that he pushes back with puffed-out cheeks.

"Pass me a shirt, yeah?" San snaps Kurenai out of her daze, oblivious to the way she was staring at a certain water droplet that was slowly creeping down his collarbone. "There should be a dresser drawer over by the door leading to the hallway. I've got some shirts in there. You can take one for yourself as well if you'd like."

Doing as she's told, Kurenai makes her way to the black dresser that sits exactly where San had directed her. In it, a multitude of clothes lies inside prompting Kurenai to wonder where they are once more.

"Now that I think of it, you never did tell me what this place is." The tattooed woman digs with a little more suspicion in her tone than she intended. San picks up on it quickly and he chuckles, wincing when he feels a sharp pain shoot up his torso.

"I haven't shown anyone this place so it's not only you that had no clue about it."

"Is this place supposed to be kept a secret from the Meisters? Is that why only Jongho knew about it?" Kurenai passes San his shirt, choosing to give him a plain gray t-shirt to match the black sweats he already had on.

"Thanks and no," San mutters when he receives the shirt, throwing it on and smiling faintly at her second question. "Actually, this place was my grandfather's locksmith shop. We came in from the back alleyway, but if you were to see the street-view, you'd see a rusty old sign saying 'Choi's Locksmithery'. It's not supposed to be a secret, but I like having my privacy. You know, I used to live here before..."

"Before MALUS took you in." She finishes for him, walking over to stand in front of him once more. He nods sadly, looking down at his hands that lie flat on his thighs. Before Kurenai can think it through, another question squeezes its way past her lips. "I've heard you mention your grandparents once, but you never did tell me how you ended up under the Meisters tutelage."