Divine Enmity (Catnipz)

XXVI. Jealousy, jealousy.

The four of them left the room and continued walking in silence, fatigue spreading among them and the only sounds being their occasional yawns. The air was thick with dust and a damp smell that mixed with the metallic scent of Medusa's blood. The cracked stone walls, covered in moss, seemed to silently watch them as they moved forward. Minji, frowning, reluctantly carried Medusa's head wrapped in a Hello Kitty scarf, holding the gruesome trophy as far from her body as possible. If the head had fit into her enchanted bag, she would have gladly put it there, but she couldn't.

Haerin couldn't help but steal glances at Minji as they walked. The faint light filtering through the cracks in the ceiling cast fascinating shadows on the daughter of Hades' face, highlighting her cheekbones and the determination in her eyes. She watched Minji lick her lips, bite them, and brush hair out of her face. Luckily, Minji was focused enough not to notice the daughter of Aphrodite watching her.

Haerin shook her head, trying to shake off those thoughts.

Focus, she mentally scolded herself.

We're here for Hyein, not to admire Kim.

But looking a bit won't hurt.

No.

The silence was only interrupted by the echo of their footsteps and the occasional crunch of debris underfoot. The tension between Haerin and Minji was palpable, at least to the former. The memory of them fighting, hugging after the Medusa incident, and their argument echoed in Haerin's mind, giving her a headache. She felt a sort of pressure in her chest, overwhelmed by the intense feeling.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a shout.

"Hey, brainiac! Where are you?" Hanni suddenly yelled, her voice echoing through the ruined corridors.

Danielle rolled her eyes, her expression of exasperation visible even in the dim light. "Very subtle, Pham. Why don't you launch a flare while you're at it?"

"I don't see you coming up with better ideas, Marsh," Hanni retorted, her tone mixing sarcasm and amusement.

Minji intervened before the argument escalated. "Both of you shut up, for god's sake. If there are more monsters around, they'll hear us."

Haerin couldn't help but smile a little at Minji's natural authority. "For once, I agree with Kim. We need to stay alert."

The girls nodded, but Hanni rolled her eyes.

Haerin never would have thought Pham Hanni was so... fun? She could see the lack of seriousness in Hanni from her exchange with Minji, seeing how the daughter of Poseidon loved to tease and annoy her. Haerin was very surprised at this lightheartedness after the Medusa fight. She supposed the tension had allowed Hanni to relax a bit and show her true self, less serious than usual.

I wished Kim would show herself that way too.

Although Haerin had no objection to how she had shown herself, concerned for her, vulnerable... It wasn't the serious and egocentric girl Haerin dealt with every day at the camp. She could even say that she had her comic side. It was fascinating to see her like this, though Haerin would never admit that she also really enjoyed their little arguments and teasing, that it ignited something inside her.

I guess only in extreme situations, like dying, will she behave like this.

Just as she sighed at this thought, a muffled sound came from behind a partially collapsed wall, from which a bit of light was emerging. Minji and Haerin exchanged a brief but intense look, a spark of understanding passing between them. Without needing words, they both sprang into action, working together to clear the debris.