Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The research continued. MC barely had time to think about Jumin. That was an utter lie. She couldn’t help it. They were together now more than ever. To talk about another woman. Nothing romantic about their time together. Except that now MC was hyper-aware of everything Jumin did. Where his eyes were aimed. The almost-minuscule way the corners of his mouth moved when he was in a mood. When he was uncomfortable or upset, he acted like his tie or jacket was too tight. He’d idly tug at his clothes when he was curious about something. He ended up being so much more expressive. He denied his emotions and buried them within but he had small tells that those observant enough could see. MC learned all the habits, even before she herself realized it.

They learned more about Minji Kim and her connections to the underbelly aspects of society. She herself maintained a rather spotless record. She affiliated with other families but had no known loyalties and never broke (nor even bent) the law. From their research, she seemed to be an intelligent, tactful woman that would likely be a suitable partner for any family head. However, that knowledge burned a hole inside MC. This woman was to belong to Jumin. He had no reason to argue. Not anymore. His father had truly chosen a suitable wife for him. But MC now knew of her own feelings. She wanted Jumin to look her way, to defy his father. But Jumin didn’t want marriage of any kind, nor a woman at all. He didn’t want any romantic entanglements. Even if Minji Kim weren’t in their lives, MC would never get any closer to Jumin.

But she still longed for those moments when they met each other’s gaze. When she heard his voice from the other room. The occasions he gave the smallest upturn of his lips when she amused him.The extremely rare moments of him brushing against her, either by accidentally walking too closely or when they both reached for something. She could think of little else besides the kiss when they were together. She remembered how it felt yet was desperate to experience it again, to allow herself more memories. But she knew it would never happen.

And it never did again. Not for a long time. MC served Jumin well and he postponed the agreement with his father at every opportunity. But even Jumin knew he’d eventually have to agree. He eventually had less reason to keep MC with him at all times. She proved to be useful in many ways and it seemed they’d both forgotten her original role of being a driver. He learned that she could be used for more tasks, things he could not be seen doing. He never gave her an illegal job. She had morals (and truthfully, Jumin didn’t want to completely taint her) and Jumin respected that. But sending her places, that was fine. Delivering messages, eavesdropping, she became his personal shadow and he trusted few others above her.

Finally, Jumin asked MC to travel to the seedier parts of town. He needed her to lend a watchful eye for a certain man who may or may not have been spreading inside information of the Han family’s activities to their rivals. They had already discovered who on the Han side was leaking the information but he generally passed it to another party rather than go to the rivals himself. That way, it was harder to track where the leak was coming from. But he’d been discovered and now they only needed proof that this other man was involved as well. So MC found herself at a tavern, watching the suspect for whoever he might meet. She spent the majority of the night there but finally got what she needed. She called to be picked up and quietly slipped out from the bar. She thought no one had seen her. She thought she was done for the night.

She was, unfortunately, wrong.

Three men followed her as they left the bar. She didn’t see them, had no idea they were there. Until one grabbed her wrist and stopped her. All three smelled strongly of alcohol and held expressions that terrified MC. Expressions that screamed of danger to MC. When her wrist was not released no matter how she struggled, she frantically looked around to call for help. Then they gagged her. Pulled her into a dark alley. One stood far too close, whispering disgustingly degrading things in her ear. Things she wouldn’t dare repeat ever. She felt one man’s hand reach out and touch her back. She jerked away, inadvertently falling into another one. She tried to call out again, despite the gag. The one she fell on ripped part of her shirt off, revealing her bra. Tears began to fall from her eyes. Her brain tried to shut itself down, to tune out of everything happening. To save itself from further trauma. So when another set of footsteps approached quickly, MC didn’t hear it. When one man was jerked away, she didn’t notice. It was only when she was grabbed again and pulled away from the remaining two men that she looked to the new person.

Jumin.

He yanked her away from the assailants, firmly keeping her close. He turned her so she was facing his chest, keeping a protective arm around her. She heard him deliver vile threats. One of the men must have lunged at him as suddenly the arm not holding MC withdrew and shot forward, landing a punch. She thought she heard the crack of bone but it was impossible to know as the victim was screaming in pain and anger. Jumin kept MC pressed against his chest and walked swiftly away from the alley. He didn’t allow her to look up or look back, not that she really wanted to. Jumin walked her to the car, carefully sliding her in before finally releasing her.

She saw his face, saw the way he looked at her, and her sobs doubled. She buried her face in her hands, her entire body shaking from the fear.

Jumin watched her almost curiously. He had never actually seen her cry before. And these were no ordinary tears. These came from true fear. She had been terrified for good reason. When Jumin had found them, those men had their hands on MC. One was fondling her backside, another was trying to force a hand between her legs. The third was reaching for her breasts. But she was safe now. But the tears came hard and fast and soon she was panting, trying to breathe over her sobs but failing. He pulled her to him again, holding her gently but protectively, allowing her to cry on his shoulder. He felt her clutch desperately at his jacket, her shaking making him much angrier at the men. She was relieved to see him but she was still almost out of her mind with terror. Being held by him was a comfort. He felt warm and safe and he held her securely, as though nothing could pry them apart. She couldn’t speak, could barely think, but all she knew was that she couldn’t bear if he released her.

“Don’t let go. Please don’t let me go…” she whispered into his jacket.

He had never much been one to protect women as he usually didn’t care. He’d seen other women cry but he’d never tried to comfort them. Most likely, he ignored them. But with MC, he didn’t even consider leaving her alone. He simply held her close and comforted her as best he could. He didn’t quite know why, he merely knew that seeing her in such a state made him deeply uncomfortable. As though he couldn’t bear to see it a second longer. And that he had to stop it.

Eventually, MC’s crying slowed, her breathing regaining a normal rhythm. Jumin had at one point moved a hand to gently stroke her hair and he continued the movement as she even stopped shaking. When her breathing became too regular, he glanced down. She had fallen asleep on him. Normally, he would have shrugged the woman off, not caring if he woke her. But this time, he simply kept stroking her hair (it almost reminded him of petting his cat yet MC’s hair was somehow softer) and let her sleep against him. For some reason, it even calmed him.

Strange.

Stranger still, when the car eventually stopped, and he woke MC, walked her inside her home, and put her to bed, he felt something was suddenly missing. When he himself went to bed that night, he couldn’t help feeling that something was wrong. That he wanted something but couldn’t put his finger on what. But as he drifted off to sleep, he remembered gently kissing the top of MC’s head as she had cried in his chest and the small, nearly imperceptible sigh she’d let loose at the action.

Cute, he thought sleepily as he finally fell asleep himself.