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They’re in Europe for a school trip, fresh Italian air, artisan food, posh and artistic France.
Jungeun is trying so hard to make the most of her time with Jinsoul because she feels it already slipping away. The Blip lit a flame in her of new fears and anxieties. Losing her closest mentor and fighting against a space titan didn’t help either. How had she just felt like she blacked out for a few minutes when years had passed? Life had bounced around as she struggled to resettle with Aunt Suzy suddenly knowing more about pop culture than her. Even still, she could never be the same.
Her web slinging activities had resumed soon enough though, even on the trip with Mysterio and these new monsters. They served as an excellent distraction from her personal demons. She can save the world and she can find solace in that, however, it only ebbs the throb that the hero can’t save herself. She has this power, time to kill, so why not? There are always people to rescue. (Uncle Dongwook probably never meant for his philosophy to be used as a shield, but Jungeun quickly puts the notion to bed as it causes the hounding of her head to increase.)
Jungeun’s thoughts swirl and tumble in her head as she struggles. She’s been crying a lot lately, she’s too fragile with grief and self made exhaustion. Her nights are fitful at best (plagued with cramming, explosive thoughts or nightmares) while her days cooped up in school are spent dazed.
Jinsoul is worried, she knows that, keenly aware of the gazes that leave her skin tingling. She sees right through me, she thinks. But she doesn’t press her to open up about her inner turmoil and Jungeun in turn let her in with bits and pieces of what she’s feeling.
The process has been grueling as Jungeun is inconsistent with her feelings and whether or not she’ll talk about it. She’s apologetic to her friends and Jinsoul for all of it, so much she books herself a therapy appointment through S.H.I.E.L.D. to get help, but that’s not for another two months. There’s a whole plane of time stretching to feel like an eternity, who knows what could happen, most especially with her lifestyle.
For now, she has her friends and Jinsoul who choose to burden themselves with her. An aged up Yerim, now in her grade and classes, makes careful watch of her and it scares her how old and mature she is now. Though only Jinsoul and Jiwoo know of her spectacular extra activities, she’s apparently concerning everyone and sets off alarms left and right.
Her days are getting better (she’s steady), even if the shadows linger on her face. Things start to look up on the trip as she smiles and laughs like a bird squawking. She gets out of bed to walk with Jinsoul in the city streets. They go on a few romantic dates and have hushed conversations in Jinsoul between the younger slipping out to deal with these new elemental monsters.
Jungeun and Jinsoul can’t bear to be apart for too long. The older shares the hero’s sentiment in how limited their time in the world really could be. They maybe aren’t being as much of romantic partners than they are being pillars, but that’s just for now as things start to settle back down.
There have been more romantic and darling moments exchanged over the past few days, starting with Jungeun sneaking into Jinsoul’s room for the night. The whole debacle started with a text from Jinsoul saying she had forgotten her teddy bear at home and couldn’t sleep well. Jungeun in turn, went and retrieved a stupid over priced French teddy bear and a bundle of roses. She bypassed the chaperones all together by instead using the outside of the building and knocking on Jinsoul’s window twenty stories above Paris. (There was no balcony either, Jungeun was just clinging to the window with an arm full of roses and a teddy bear at sunset, effectively scaring Jinsoul shitless.)
Their romantic antics are continuing this evening as they go to the theatre with seats next to each other.
“Jungie,” Jinsoul clutches her arm. “Are you feeling alright tonight?”
Jungeun finds a fond smile easily as they walk through the grand doors. “I’m feeling just fine, I’m sure the show will be good.”
“Alright, just double checking.” Jinsoul leans into her, the hallways must be making her cold. “You don’t have to go anywhere, do you?”
The looming threat of their time together is inevitable in this line of life. They make an excessive amount of dates fully knowing maybe a quarter will actually be fulfilled.
It makes Jungeun hesitant to answer, if she does, it’ll just make all her problems real and vibrant again. Maybe it can just slip away and Mr. Beck will handle it… (They both know she has to go anyways, she has to, help is help… no matter how small Spider-Girl feels in comparison to Mysterio.)
—“Jungeun, Jungeun.” Jinsoul says now, quietly and standing in front of her lover. Her tone is dimmer, but firm. “It’s okay if you have to go… just come back to me in one piece, maybe before I wake up? I know you… have to go. I’m not mad.”
The hero nearly says back that she’s just so sad when Jungeun has to leave. Rather, she replies. “I’ll only go if I have to, have to. I think Mysterio can handle it, you know? We’ll just enjoy the show tonight and dance our way out of the theatre in a few hours.”
Jinsoul looks unconvinced, but her smile soon fills with conviction that tonight will be fine, even if it’s a lie. This is the life they’ve chosen and she decides she’ll take what she can get.
It’s an hour into the show, thick accents, lots of French, and some quirky arts that a dreaded ring comes to the hero’s ear.
She taps her ear monitor and drawls lowly. “Give me a minute, I can’t hear you very well right now. You better make this worth it, Park.”
The older girl who had previously been on resting on her shoulder hears and immediately stands up, pulling her girlfriend with her. Jinsoul has an unreadable look, but nevertheless iniates their leave.
They hold hands tightly as they exit out of the theater into a cool alleyway. They don’t talk, but Jinsoul’s hand tightens when they here a distant boom and screams that follow.
She suddenly stops in the alleyway, clutching onto Jungeun’s jacket collar and holding her face with the other. “You—You— go—you have to go, Jungie.”
—“Soul—“ Jungeun grasps her waist gazing back in her lover’s eyes. “Look—“
—“No, you have to go. People need you.” Jinsoul doesn’t look at her this time, her jacket collar squeaking with how tight the grip is. “It’s okay. I know you have to leave.”
Jungeun swallows harshly, this shouldn’t be happening. Her evening was supposed to be of fine food and entertainment but suddenly she’s thrust into another attack and reclaiming her role of protector. She just wants time with Jinsoul.
The earpiece buzzes.
Jungeun cries out. “Damn it, Park!”
Her voice cracks all the way through the phrase as she’s trapped in obligations against her want.
She mutes the earpiece after that. She has to go now.
The audio is loud enough that Jinsoul hears it, looking stricken, despite her encouragement that it’s okay to go. Her head drops to the shoulder in front of her. “You have to go, please, Jungie. I’ll be okay.”
She lifts her head, after a long moment. Her hands move up to gently grasp the hero’s face, her fingers running down her jawline. “Just-Just get back before I wake up and come back to me in one piece…”
Jungeun leans into the cool touch. Her forehead carefully knocking the taller girl’s. She squeezes her eyes shut. She swallows roughly and nods. “Okay, I can do that. I’ll be back before you wake up."
Jinsoul smiles and kisses her chastely. She pulls back to give a weak smile as she unbuttons the hero’s shirt to reveal the blue and red costume. “Go, I’ll see you soon. I love you.”
Jungeun grins back. “I’ll see you later. I love you. Stay safe.”
Then she’s web slinging up into Paris with her extra clothes flying back to Jinsoul as she becomes Spider-Girl to save Paris.
”Keep safe, Jungeun.”
...
Jinsoul blinks dazedly seeing the honey golden streaks of sunlight pouring in through her hotel room’s windows. She’s not quite sure what’s woken her up so suddenly after the melatonin and stressful night. Her lover is noticeably absent, leaving her in cool, plush sheets alone.
She turns to bask in the sun with the intention of going back to sleep when she notices the window open. She swears she hadn’t opened it before. She doesn’t dare hope—
Until she hears the hiss of water running in her bathroom.
She quickly throws away the covers, trying to quell the relief that has yet to be confirmed. She pads to the bathroom, opening the door to find the light on and her girlfriend hunched over the sink, washing her face of grime.
“Jungeun.” Jinsoul says softly.
The hero looks up with a tired smile, yet still blistering with affection for her. Looking around the washroom, the Spider-Girl suit is a little torn and bloody, abandoned on the floor next to a backpack. Jungeun changed into her owl all over shirt and red boxers, sporting a brilliant bruise by her left eye and a few cuts. “Hi, dear. Just so you know, I came in five minutes ago and you were sound asleep, so I was here before you woke up."
“You’re-You’re, ah, you’re safe, you’re alright.” Jinsoul says as she swiftly finds a towel to dab dry the younger’s face. She’s careful around the bruise and cuts. “Barely, barely in one piece, but you’re here… thank god.”
“Yes, hi.” Jungeun wraps her arms tightly around the other’s waist. “I say we go back to bed, it’s still early.”
“Okay, anything you want.” She quickly agrees and throws her arms around the broad shoulders that embrace her. She’s very unexpectedly pulled off the ground and by instinct her legs loop around the hero’s waist.
A sleepy mumble is felt in her ear. “Thanks, I’m a little tired."
Jungeun carries her back into the main room and they topple onto the bed with soft giggles. The younger makes sure to tuck her head in the older’s neck when they start to lay down.
There’s a few minutes of yawns and chuckles as they try to get comfortable in the warm sunlight. The covers are pulled over their tangled bodies and their breathing starts to sync.
The younger sighs out, content with her head in the older’s back and arms looped around her waist. “I’ll tell you about it later, I’ve only just gotten a moment to spare.”
“Okay.” Jinsoul’s hands touch the ones that press into her belly. A feeling of warmth spreads with the knowledge that she’s the first stop Jungeun has after super heroing all night. It’s still early and today was to be their free day. It’s okay if they just stay in like this, only the two of them, all day as they sleep in expensive sheets and absorb Parisian sun. There’s probably not much Jungeun even wants to do, she’s so tired. Jinsoul continues quietly,”Let’s just stay like this all day…”
“Yeah?” Comes the sleepy murmur back.
Her chest swells,”Of course, just rest… You’ve earned it.”
“Thank you, for everything. I love you.”
I love you, so so much. “I love you too.”
....