I'd never seen a single Infinity Council member in real life before.

He was more intimidating in real life: a tall, broad shouldered man with dark crimson Marks spiraling across his cheeks and down his neck. If it weren't for the signature glow all the Marks beheld, it would've looked like he was painted in blood.

Fitting for the renown leader of the New Order's military.

Those smoldering eyes blasted right through me and I immediately looked away. Vaguely I realized I'd basically just thrown myself all over the General's son before his eyes.

At first glance, I couldn't see how Jimin was related at all with this towering man. However, there was something about those lidded eyes hooding an intense gaze, same formed jawline and solid chin that were similar.

"Father." Jimin straightened his shoulders and I saw another way the two were related. Both stood tall, spine straight, and chin high. The postures of well trained soldiers. "This is Hwang Jiyeon. She's my assigned human under Order #327."

I wilted under the man's gaze and it was all I could do to stand straight. It was like the very weight of this man's authority was pushing me down. It didn't wasn't hard to guess why this man had been appointed the leader of warfare.

"Why is she here?" General Konu raised a single, dark brow.

"Is there a problem?" Jimin countered and I almost gaped at him.

We were standing in front of one of the leaders of the New Order. And Jimin had blatantly challenged him.

General Konu's eyes narrowed dangerously but his face didn't reveal anything. "Get her back to where she belongs. Then meet with me in a few hours. We need to talk."

For a moment I thought Jimin was going to talk back again. But the silver-haired Outworlder just clicked his mouth shut and gave a single, terse nod.

General Konu's heavy gaze flicked back to me. For a moment tense silence filled the air. Then the general turned around and began walking away. I didn't know whether I should thank the General or just be relieved to no longer be held under those intense eyes.

Jimin extended his hand and I automatically wrapped my arms tightly around his arm. "Let's go," he murmured in my ear.

The police officers and guards let us through and the crowds shifted and pulled to either side, allowing us to walk through. I could feel the hostile glares burning into the back of my neck and the dark mutterings rippling around me.

Jimin kept his shoulders straight and he remained tall and dignified the entire time though. I tried my best to replicate his confidence, but I couldn't lift my head and meet the stares. Instead I just hugged his arm tighter, focusing on the muscles beneath his sleeve. Solid. Anchoring.

As we drew farther away from the building, less people stared at us, unknowing what had taken place. By the time we reached the hotel, no one gave us much of a second glance.

The pandemonium had died down, however sirens wailed everywhere and the sky was filled with official Infinity aircrafts sweeping the area.

The sounds became muted when we stepped into the hotel. Jimin immediately lead me to the elevators and leaned against the button for the UP. The fact he hadn't said anything since the encounter with his father sent shivers of concern through me.

Should I say something? No better leave him to his own thoughts. But then what did that make me? I should say something, right? At least make sure he's okay. Oh hell, he was obviously not—

The soft ding of the elevator broke me from my string of uncertain thoughts. I continued to cling to him and we entered the small compartment. With his free hand he hit the 12 button.

And then he shoved me against the elevator wall, his mouth hot on mine before the doors had even fully closed.

I gasped but he was relentless, immediately taking advantage of my parted mouth and plunging his tongue into my mouth. My hands flew up grasp the front of his shirt as I struggled to keep my balance at his ferocity and the moving floor beneath me as the elevator ascended.

He was breathing hard and his strokes soon left me equally breathless. Both of us were gasping, moving against each other and groaning in one wild, heated moment. Releasing all the remaining terror, tension, and yes, even anger upon each other.

Then the elevator came to a stop and the female robotic voice announced we'd reached the twelfth floor. Jimin stepped away from me just as the doors opened.

An anxious looking woman was waiting right outside and I briefly thanked the stars above that she was too occupied to take in Jimin and I's bedraggle appearance and connect dots. But then again, part of me was past caring what other people might judge or think of me. I'd had enough of people's judgements for the rest of the week.

Jimin took my hand into his and calmly lead me out of the elevator, nodding once at the still oblivious woman, and then plodded down the hallway as if nothing had happened.

However I could see he was trembling a little bit. I pressed closer to him, trying to mentally commune with him that I was here for him. That he could lean on me without hesitation.

Jimin paused in front of our hotel room. Horror coursed through me as I suddenly realized that I didn't have the room key.

Relief quickly washed over me when he reached deep into his own pocket and produced his set of room keys. Small blessings.

We entered the suite and I was taken aback by how normal it looked for a moment. After so much smoke and destruction seeing the neat couch and peaceful hotel smell in the air was a shocker.

Then I caught a glimpse of dark smoke out the hotel bedroom and swallowed hard. Silly to think a mere hotel room could keep out the horrors of what just happened.

Jimin gently sat me down on the couch. "Wait here. I'm going to get a few washcloths to clean our faces."

I didn't protest and my legs immediately gave out. I finally began to feel the burning muscles through all my limbs and I took in all the bruises and scratches all over my body. Part of me felt like maybe I should feel more pain with so many injuries.

I heard the faucet run and then Jimin was back, sitting down beside me, the cushions bending under his weight.

"Hold out your hands," he instructed.

I obeyed without second thought. One glance at my hands and I winced. Several scratches ran over my knuckles and palms with numerous broken nails.

Jimin began to gently run the damp towel over my hands. Red immediately stained the white towels. In the short minutes he'd been in the bathroom he'd washed off the dried blood from his face.

"Are you okay?" I asked softly. With the fast regenerative healing, Jimin could've sustained a very critical injury and I wouldn't even know.

A small choked sound escaped him. "I'm fine," he whispered. His hands began to tremble but he continued focusing on wiping off the blood and dirt from my hands and then up my arms. "I should be the one asking you that. You look like a herd of elephants trampled you."

Not far off, I thought with dark amusement.

"I was so scared," I whispered.

"I know."

I could feel a sob working up my throat again but I swallowed down with effort. "Jimin, I... I didn't know... I saw the building explode and... and...."

He glanced up at me and for the first time I saw tears glimmering in the back of his eyes. "I know," he whispered.

And I knew he did. He understood me. Understood all my fears, all my panic. I clenched my jaw, reigning in my emotions.

He moved on to my face now, gently wiping away the dirt, tears, and blood from my face. "When you stepped in front of the gun, Jiyeon... god what the hell were you thinking?" He whispered harshly.

"I thought for a few minutes that I'd lost you," I replied. "I couldn't lose you right after I found you."

"And what about me?" Jimin paused and gazed right in my eyes. "Do you know how I'd feel if you'd gotten shot? If you'd died? Moreover for my account?"

"Better me than you."

"No." Jimin abruptly threw the towel down ferociously. This was the closest I'd ever seen him angry. "Don't you say that. Don't... don't die, Jiyeon, you hear me? Don't you die on me."

And then he was kissing me again.

I let him push me down on the couch and ravage my lips, ravage my body with his. My own fingers tracing the Marks, his beautiful Marks.

His hands grabbed my wrists and pinned them above me as he sank the rest of his body upon me, pushing me farther down into the cushions and I ravished it. I let our bodies press down upon each other until it felt like we were one as we kissed each other, the taste of smoke and fear lingering on our skin and lips.

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