Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Coughing, she glanced back and saw as more smoke filtered under the crack in her door, slowly filling the only place she had left to run. The window refused to open and she banged on it, screaming herself hoarse.

She was going to die here.

…

The building Young-mi had moved into was in a bad shape. The floors were made of cracked stone that had once been polished, now rough and only polished due to the amount of people who walked the halls everyday. Paint peeled on the walls and the lights often refused to work. She hated using the lift, mostly because she had been stuck inside it for a few hours while repeatedly pressing the button for assistance and checking to see if she could use her phone to get a signal.

The stairs weren’t much better. Filled with clutter, old bicycles and various items that people didn’t care to carry down to the bins, Young-mi dodged and avoided tripping as she slowly made her way to her floor.

She was quite lucky to be living near nice people. Her neighbours were quiet, and rarely gave her anything to complain about. Their floor wasn’t the cluttered mess that the others were and for that she was grateful.

She was also glad not to deal with some of the other residents, who loved to smoke in their hallways, and some who she suspected of doing unsightly things in the lift. Young-mi still had nightmares of seeing an older couple stumble out while adjusting their clothes.

But apart from those things she was happy with the place she lived. The rent wasn’t too much, and since the area could get rough with locals fighting tourists tended to stay away.

It wasn’t exactly peaceful but it was close enough and she would take whatever she could get.

Reaching her floor, she shouldered the door open and took a second to catch her breath. Even after using the stairs everyday she still wasn’t quite used to how drained it left her. Privately she pretended it was because of the obstacle course she had to navigate around, but it was mostly because of her lifestyle choices. She was not a fan of the gym, and her only form of exercise was walking to do her food shopping.

Getting to her door, she placed the heavy bags on her doorstep and fiddled with her keys. Finally unlocking it, she pushed the door open and made her way inside, carrying the heavy bags to her kitchen before going back to shut her door and slide the bolt to lock it once more.

Young-mi gave it a wiggle and groaned as she felt the bolt get stuck and refuse to move. She really needed to call maintenance to try and fix it or else she would have to climb out the window and try to avoid falling off the rusty fire escape.

She wasn’t a fan of heights so the last option wasn’t something she even wanted to entertain.

In the morning she would have to unscrew the bolt and try to fix it, but that could wait, for now all she had to do was unpack and then get back to finishing up some art commissions.

She had a panel to finish before her upload for her webtoon, and a few pieces to complete before sending them off. The deadlines weren’t close so she felt a lot more relaxed than normal. Her fans had been tweeting her non-stop since she left the last update on a cliffhanger, and so she was excited to see their reactions when it finally got resolved.

…

The night started like any other. She had finished all of her work for the week, and had gone through some of the comments under her webtoon. There was praise for the dark storyline, and the harsh style of her artwork as the tone shifted from sweet to dangerous. The careful line work she was known for was replaced with jagged and quick lines that gave a sense of urgency.

Young-mi had grinned when she saw that some of the readers had connected the dots and explained the undertones to the story and how it paired with her work to other readers. The current analysis going on in the comments had her smiling through her exhaustion. All the time and hard work she had poured into her work had been worth it.

Jun-hee had sent her a flurry of messages in all caps, demanding to know where the plot was going and if her favourite character would survive. Of course she couldn’t spoil it, but she sent a teaser sketch that had her phone vibrating from the amount of emojis and gifs sent into their chat.

After being distracted for too long, Young-mi took a shower, changed into some comfy pyjamas. Settling in bed, she scrolled aimlessly on her phone and waited for the impending tiredness to sink into her bones. The day had been uncomfortably warm, and now all she wanted was to relax and then try to get some sleep.

If that was even possible. Lately she hadn’t gotten much, it was obvious under her layers of foundation that thankfully covered the shadows under her eyes. She could do little about the redness in her eyes, but no one had pointed it out yet so she was content with ignoring it until it became too pronounced.

Sniffing, she frowned. It smelt like someone had burnt something, like paper.

It was probably someone on one of the lower floors, deciding that it was quicker to burn rubbish than to take the trip downstairs. That had happened far too many times, and so she chose to ignore it and go back to her phone.

Snorting at a dumb meme that came across her feed, Young-mi checked her notifications and responded to a few emails she had left sitting in her inbox for far too long. Sighing in relief, she finally allowed herself the time to catch up with some of her favourite creators.

It was halfway into the second video that she noticed that smell again from before.

The scent of burning had gotten stronger and had now taken on an acidic smokey quality. It penetrated her nostrils and refused to leave, giving her a worrying thought.

This wasn’t normal.

It smelled like more than just a few items burning.

Climbing out of bed, she opened her bedroom door and gasped as she saw smoke beginning to crawl under her front door. It was slow but showed no signs of stopping which only made her panic increase.

How had she been so oblivious?

Hurrying to her closet, she dressed quickly and went back to the door. Before even daring to touch anything she checked the door handle by using the back of her hand and then reached for the bolt.

It didn’t budge.

Young-mi grunted and tried as hard as she could to shift the piece of metal but it didn’t slide at all. The damn thing was stuck in place and no amount of shaking it or pushing it would do the trick.

She was stuck inside a burning building, with the only hope being the fire escape that was probably older than her grandparents.

Rushing back to her bedroom, she shut the door behind her and grabbed her phone. Once it was safely zipped in the pocket of her jacket she went to the window. It was a single pane with a lock on the handle.

The key should have been sitting in the lock but currently it was nowhere to be found.

Fuck.

Outside she could see flashing lights of a fire engine as it pulled up. Tiny figures jumped out of the vehicle and began to unwind hoses and grab ladders to begin rescue missions.

It gave her some sense of relief, but knowing they were still extremely far away troubled her. With all the thick smoke beginning to inch into her apartment she pulled a scarf off the back of her chair and wrapped it over her nose and mouth. Grabbing a thick blanket off her bed, she stuffed in the crack of her bedroom door. It was the only thing she could do while she tried to think of a way to escape.

She could break the glass but then she would be faced with the danger of having to climb down rusted metal that looked in dire need of replacing.

Looking around her room she felt panic building steadily. There wasn’t anything she could use, the only thing heavy enough to break the glass was her desk chair but she could barely lift the thing.

Suddenly she was regretting not joining a gym.

Checking her bedroom door she saw that smoke was beginning to seep through tiny cracks. The blanket was doing a solid job of keeping most of it out but she knew it wouldn't be able to stop the smoke from getting in.

Going over to the window she spotted people rushing past her level and frantically began banging against the glass. She used her hands, balling them into fists as she tried to make as much noise as possible.

Neighbours she had gotten to know stared at her in horror but didn't stop to try to help, they continued rushing down the steps and out of sight.

It was fruitless anyway, what good could they possibly do?

It didn’t stop her from screaming at them.

“Help me! Please don't leave me to die!”

She tried to hit the glass harder and even tried in vain to wiggle the lock again. Nothing worked but it was better than giving up.

Coughing, she glanced back and saw as more smoke filtered under the crack in her door, slowly filling the only place she had left to run. The window refused to open and she banged on it, screaming herself hoarse.

She was going to die here.

Just as she was giving up hope, she spotted a dark shape moving up the metal steps. Ignoring the urge to cough, she looked closer and almost sighed in relief.

Reaching her window, a firefighter knocked on the glass and gestured for her to back away. The person was well practised in their actions, taking off their pack to grab an axe.

Young-mi scrambled further back and covered her ears as she watched the axe swing back and slam forward into the glass, sending cracks splintering through it. Another swing and the glass finally shattered, leaving jagged edges and a fine coating of tiny pieces of glass all over her floor.

Watching as the firefighter knocked the rest of the glass out, Young-mi waited until the hand waved her over and rushed forward. She took the offered hand and let the firefighter steady her as she climbed through the hole that used to be her window. It was awkward and slow but she managed to safely plant both feet on the metal grating and immediately slammed her eyes shut.

“Why did I have to live so high up?” She grumbled quietly, her hands shaking as she was gently guided away from her window. Under her feet glass crunched against metal, which made her reluctantly open her eyes and come face-to-face with her fear of heights. Vertigo rushed her and she hurried to step forward and hold onto the railing with a white knuckled grip.

Suddenly the nice views (if you could call them that) and the peace of living high up didn’t seem worth it.

Beside her, the firefighter gently touched her shoulder, causing Young-mi to look over at her. Unable to talk because of the loud sounds of the engine, the water hoses and the sound of the fire raging, the firefighter motioned for Young-mi to follow, and together they made their way down rusty steps.

One floor at a time.

The grip Young-mi had on the railing was so tight that her hands ached, and faintly she could feel tiny bits of rust breaking off into her hands as she slid her palms along the metal rails. Whatever comfort she had garnered from having the cool metal in her hands dissolved.

The building had been old, she had known that when she signed the lease, but it was one thing to know it and another to feel it under her hands.

“Fuck..fuck..” She muttered, her breathing coming out too fast. Her vision swam and she stopped in her tracks. “I can't..I..”

Sliding into her field of vision, the tall figure reached for her hands and peeled them away from the rusty rails. “Hey, look at me. You are safe, I won't let anything happen to you.”

With the solid figure blocking the view to the ground, Young-mi began let herself cling to the calming presence of her silent rescuer. Together they stood with nothing but the sound of the engines below and the faint summer wind blowing over them. With time the heaving of her chest and the heaviness of her lungs slowed until she was breathing at a normal pace once more. Each one felt easier and once she felt safe enough to continue the trek down the steps, Young-mi nodded and gently pulled her hands out of the gloved hold.

After what felt like forever there was only a ladder to go down but even that made Young-mi feel nervous.

What if she slipped and fell? She couldn't afford the medical bills, especially now she was most likely homeless.

As if noticing the hesitation, the firefighter turned to face her. “The ladder isn't strong enough for the both of us to go down together. I will go down first and you will follow after. You won’t fall, I promise.”

Even above the noise, Young-mi found that the firefighter seemed calm and collected. It wasn’t too much of a surprise, whoever they were they seemed to be in charge. As the head firefighter they must have done similar things plenty of times.

“Nod if you understand.” The firefighter said, looking through the visor of the helmet. Dark eyes watched her intently, studying her for any sign that she wouldn’t be able to do what she had been asked to.

Young-mi nodded and inched closer to the tall figure. “I understand.”

“Good.”

The firefighter went down first and motioned for Young-mi to follow. Keeping her eyes focused on the metal bars, Young-mi slowly made her way down. She took one bar at a time, placing both feet on each rung to keep herself steady. It wasn’t as scary as she had thought and in desperation to get down, she sped up.

It was an error and one she hadn’t put much thought about.

Her foot slipped and with a yelp she dropped the last few rungs and into the arms of her firefighter, who grunted but managed to keep them both from falling to the ground. The person adjusted their hold, shifting Young-mi so her arms were around her neck while the firefighter had one arm around her back and the other under her knees.

Young-mi closed her eyes in shame and tucked her head down as they moved away from the ladder.

She was being bridal carried by a complete stranger who had just saved her life. If the minor smoke inhalation didn't kill her, surely her embarrassment would.

“Young-mi? Young-mi!?” Geum-ja, a friend from one of the lower floors called out to her. It was embarrassing to be noticed but she glanced over and nodded at the woman. “Are you ok?”

“Yeah. I'm fine.” She quickly responded, and loosened her hold on the firefighter's neck. “You can put me down now.”

The firefighter nodded and carefully dropped her back on her feet. She wobbled, feeling a little lightheaded and felt hands grasp her waist. “Sorry, I think I need to sit down.” She gave an apologetic look to her neighbour, who gave her a sympathetic smile and shooed her off.

With the arm of her firefighter tucked around her middle, Young-mi was gently escorted to the back of an ambulance to be checked over. Since other people were in need, she sat quietly and waited for a paramedic to come and see her. There was no rush, and the urge to cough had slowly left her, making her lungs feel nice and clear.

She perched in the back with her legs dangling, and pulled out her phone.

Young-mi: Jun-hee, don’t panic but there was a fire at my building. I’m ok, but I might need to stay with you for a couple of days.

Jun-hee: Are you ok? Oh my god, yeah of course you can stay. You can move in.

Jun-hee: I’ll come and get you. 10 mins.

Young-mi: Thank you :)

Looking up from the screen she froze and nearly dropped her phone.

The firefighter had removed the helmet and revealed herself to be the most beautiful woman Young-mi had laid her eyes on.

With a shake of her head, dark hair fell into a neat bob. Her eyes were equally as dark but held so much warmth to them. The height had taken Young-mi by surprise too. She towered over most of the people that rushed around them, but it suited her. She looked regal, like she belonged on the cover of a romance novel as a dashing knight that rescued damsels.

Instead of sharp features the firefighter had a soft face and a small scar under one of her eyes. It was barely noticeable in the darkness, but the light from the inside of the ambulance gave Young-mi the opportunity to get a better look.

This woman was so pretty that Young-mi’s breath caught in her throat.

Aware that she had been staring for a while, she looked down shyly, flushing as she went over each time she had touched the woman's arm. Then there was the added bonus of falling into her arms and being carried away so easily, almost as if she weighed next to nothing.

Strong and beautiful was a deadly combination for someone like Young-mi.

Looking back up she watched as the woman removed her gloves and ran her hand through her hair to get it out of her eyes. The defined veins on the back of her hand were yet another thing that Young-mi found attractive.

Gripping the blanket tighter she continued to watch, allowing her eyes to absorb all the details on show. It wasn’t her fault, after all she was a lesbian with eyes. It was only natural that after a shocking event, she would seek out a distraction. A gorgeous one that had successfully made her forget about her current situation.

With the helmet tucked under her arm, the firefighter nodded at the paramedics, who had finally come over to give a check up, and gave a quick overview of how she had found Young-mi. Her details were perfect, so much that Young-mi stared in shock at how effortless the firefighter delivered each fact.

“..her apartment was filled with smoke when I arrived. It looked like she had placed something by the door to try and stop the smoke from entering. There could be some smoke inhalation but I think she was very lucky to escape when she did.”

Once finished the firefighter nodded and watched as the paramedic went over to his colleague before giving Young-mi a check up. As predicted everything was fine, the lack of exposure to smoke and the quick evacuation had given her a clean bill of health.

Once the paramedic was gone, Young-mi stole a quick glance over at the firefighter and flushed deeply. She was already being watched and froze like a deer in headlights as she saw gorgeous brown eyes widen at being caught.

The woman stared for a second too long before clearing her throat and stepping forward. Her hands tightened on her helmet, “How are you feeling?”

“I'm ok, a little shaken up but I'm guessing it's normal.” Tearing her eyes off the firefighter, she looked to her building. “I can't believe I've lost everything. I don't know what I'm going to do.”

As she finished talking, Young-mi felt her throat thicken and her eyes get watery.

Placing the helmet next to Young-mi, the woman gave her a look of sympathy. “I won't give you false hope, but my colleagues told me that the fire didn't reach your floor. The worst thing you'll have to deal with is smoke damage. That being said, you won't be able to live here anymore. The building has been in a state of disrepair for far too long, it's no longer safe to occupy.”

“I..” Young-mi felt a few tears slide down her face. She couldn’t believe she had lost everything, that in next to no time at all she had lost her home and most of her things. She wasn’t an idiot, she knew that even if her things had survived being burnt, the smoke damage had probably ruined most of her things. “Ok, thank you.”

Frowning, she wiped at her cheeks and ignored the sting in her eyes. “I didn't get your name.”

The firefighter offered her a smile and routed through her pocket until she found a tissue and handed it over. “Cho Hyun-ju, Chief firefighter.”

“Oh.” Upon hearing the name of her saviour, Young-mi cleaned herself up, using the excuse of her tears for the sudden redness on her face. “Thank you for saving me, Hyun-ju.”

Nodding thoughtfully, Hyun-ju opened her mouth to say something when another firefighter jogged over. He had his helmet off and his jacket half zipped up. He looked messy in a boyish way, and grinned as he spotted his colleague.

“Boss, we’re finishing up, Jung-bae wants you to stop flirting and to come and help us.” He winked at Young-mi as he said this, which made her flush and look away. “I can cover for you if you need a few extra minutes.”

“Dae-ho, she’s just lost her home.” Hyun-ju stated firmly, watching as his grin faded. Softening, she gave his arm a pat. It was a nice gesture and one that told him that he wasn’t in any trouble. “Tell him I’ll be over soon.”

Giving Young-mi a guilty look, Dae-ho rushed off into the crowd, leaving them in an awkward silence.

“I’m sorry about him, he’s new and eager. His heart is in the right place.” The defense was unneeded, especially since Young-mi had seen just how guilty Dae-ho had looked after making the joke, but it added another layer to the woman in front of her. Strong and courageous, and good to her team.

An honourable person.

There was something else too, something that made Young-mi’s pulse jump and her fingers slip against the soft fabric of the blanket.

Hyun-ju hadn’t denied flirting, instead she had shifted the conversation so it didn’t implicate her.

That was something for her to think about later on.

“Do you have anyone to stay with?” Looking up, she saw that Hyun-ju was looking at her again, she took a breath and rocked on her heels as she waited for a response.

Young-mi had been so lost in her thoughts that she hadn’t replied and instead she had left Hyun-ju to awkwardly try to continue their conversation. For what reason she wasn’t quite sure, but she wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth.

“My friend Jun-hee said I could move in with her. She’s been looking for a roommate so I guess this is perfect timing.” Young-mi said with a growing sadness to her tone. She sighed and tugged the blanket around her tighter. “I just wish it wasn't like this.”

Swallowing down her self pity, Young-mi chose to focus on the woman in front of her. She couldn’t change her current situation but she could allow herself to enjoy the view in front of her.

Despite her lack of luck, meeting someone as kind and attractive as Hyun-ju had made her feel incredibly lucky.

She took in the way the jacket sat on her frame, baggy and protective, which made her imagination run a little wild. Blinking away those lingering thoughts she watched as her forehead creased and relaxed, before her mouth opened to break their peace.

“Well, if you ever need anything you can come to the precinct, I’m located at Gyeonggi Northern Fire Department. I..uh..I would be happy to help you with moving. If you would like some help.” Hyun-ju offered, shifting on her feet and moving a tiny bit closer as she spoke. It must have been subconscious because she chuckled a little and forced herself backwards when she realised just how close they were.

It was sweet and so Young-mi felt herself relax further in her presence.

“Why would you offer to help me?”

“Because I..” Hyun-ju froze, and looked over at her with a searching glance. There was an undercurrent of nervousness to her which was something she hadn’t seen before. The quiet confidence she had held within herself wavered as she seemed to be thinking about her reply.

Looking like she wanted to try again, Hyun-ju picked up her helmet and ran her fingers over the dirty visor. “I like to help people, and I hope I’m not being too invasive but I feel like you could do with some help.”

Young-mi softened at that, and watched as Hyun-ju smiled at her. Clearing her throat she looked away, gathering herself before meeting her solid gaze. “Once it’s safe to go back inside I’m going to need some help packing up my things.”

“Of course. I’d be happy to help with that.”

Swapping contact details, Young-mi watched quietly as Hyun-ju put her helmet back on and retreated to her engine with her colleagues. It felt bittersweet and oddly sad. She had enjoyed the brief conversation and knew that she would be taking up the offer for help with her things.

She would do anything to see Hyun-ju again.

Chapter Text

Hyun-ju couldn’t stop staring.

The worst part about it was that she knew it was a problem. If she continued, the young woman sitting in the ambulance might actually start thinking about getting a restraining order against her. Even with that in mind she couldn’t look away from her.

In her defense she hadn’t quite managed to get a good look at her until now, not when she was busy trying to keep her calm and get them both down without killing either of them. Now, seeing her sitting in the ambulance, bathed in artificial light that shouldn’t make anyone look good, Hyun-ju was lost for words.

Young-mi.

She had heard an older woman calling her that name as she carried her away from the building. The name had stayed with her, and so had the urge to actually talk to her. Sure they had spoken about the state of the building, but it held no substance. Nothing deep enough to grab attention or give her any hints about who this woman was.

Of course she was still at work and any kind of flirting, especially with someone who had just lost their place of residence, was inappropriate. But it didn’t stop her from wanting to. Morals aside, she was allowed to look and so far that was all she allowed herself to do.

Silently she took in every tiny detail on offer, from a smudge of dirt on Young-mi’s jaw to the traces of rust still on her palms. But the thing that captured her attention from the start had been her eyes.

Those brown eyes had dragged her in, though still a little red from tears they held so much emotion that it was impossible not to fall into them. She was so pretty in the most subtle of ways, and the more Hyun-ju stared the more she felt inclined to get to know more about her.

What were her plans for the future? Was she allergic to anything? Did her heart race when they locked eyes for the first time?

The last one was pure fantasy and so she forced it away and chose to focus on the scene in front of her.

The paramedic finished the check up, thankfully stating that Young-mi was fine, loud enough for Hyun-ju to hear. It settled the racing in her chest and put to bed any kind of worry that had mounted there. As predicted there was no signs of smoke inhalation and for that she was thankful.

There would be no hospital trip.

Nodding at the man, she waited for him to leave before moving closer to Young-mi. She felt helpless, like there was a magnetism that only she could feel. This perfect stranger had dragged her in, over and over and Hyun-ju allowed it. There hadn’t been a choice in the matter. All it had taken was one look and she was done for.

“Do you have anyone you can stay with?” She found herself asking, watching as the young woman nodded, her phone clenched between her hands like a lifeline.

“My friend Jun-hee said I could move in with her. She’s been looking for a roommate so I guess this is perfect timing.” The sadness was clear but there was also hope underneath it all. Despite the tragic outcome of the night, she would be ok.

Even knowing Young-mi would be perfectly fine, Hyun-ju found herself saying, “Well, if you ever need anything you can come to the precinct, I’m located at Gyeonggi Northern Fire Department. I’m Cho Hyun-ju, the Fire Chief for that location.”

It had clearly taken Young-mi off guard because she stared at her for a full minute before responding to her offer. One hand let go of the phone to grip the blanket between her fingers. “Why would you offer to help me?”

“Because I..” Hyun-ju froze, not knowing exactly what to say. She didn’t just want to help because she felt drawn to Young-mi, it was more than that. She had joined the Fire service to help people, and right now she saw that the woman sitting in front of her was in need.

Trying again, she picked up her helmet and ran her fingers over the dirty visor. “I like to help people, and I hope I’m not being too invasive but I feel like you could do with some help.”

Young-mi softened at that, and Hyun-ju felt a tiny smile pull at her lips in return. She hadn’t overstepped and in return she could do something good and help someone that deserved it.

The young woman looked away, before shyly looking back again once she was ready to answer. “Once it’s safe to go back inside I’m going to need some help packing up my things.”

“Of course. I’d be happy to help with that.”

Swapping details and promising to meet the next day, Hyun-ju pulled on her helmet and left with a final smile, heading off to go back to work.

Leaving Young-mi hadn’t felt right, which to Hyun-ju was a new feeling. Normally she liked to avoid forming attachments and kept a healthy distance between her work and her personal life. But the second she had locked eyes with Young-mi she had felt her resolve crumble, leaving her open and vulnerable.

It must have been written on her face because Jung-bae nudged Dae-ho as she walked over. He lowered his clipboard and gave her a pointed look, he didn't say anything but he hardly needed to. The smile on his face said it all.

“Final checks completed?” Hyun-ju asked, taking a measured look at the clipboard. “Is the equipment in good shape? I made a note last week that some items need to be replaced before the worst of the wild fires start-”

A gruff clearing of the throat of her boss stopped her in her tracks.

“How is she, Hyun-ju?” Her boss asked, and for a second she imagined ignoring him and climbing into the vehicle.

She could offer to clean the engine, it would take a while but she would do it if it meant escaping an awkward bonding moment with a man that viewed her like a daughter.

Instead of choosing the easy way out she fiddled with her jacket like a child and nodded softly. “Yeah, fine. No major smoke inhalation.”

“Good.” Handing the clipboard to Dae-ho, Jung-bae waved off any complaints from the younger man and gestured for Hyun-ju to follow him. They walked around to the otherside of the fire engine, away from any curious eyes before he stopped and turned to face her. “Are you ok? I noticed you didn’t join the others in attending to the fire but you focused on rescue. Was that wise considering what happened last time?”

Even if the question was difficult to process, the fatherly way he was to her made her shoulders sink and any tension slowly leave her body.

He was the kind of parent she wished she'd always had, but in some ways she felt grateful to have him now. He was a mentor and a true friend, so much more than a boss.

“When we drove up I thought I was going to panic. I haven't exactly been the same since..well, you know.” Letting out a heavy sigh, Hyun-ju leant against the side of the vehicle. “I knew it wasn’t a good idea to go into the building, and I noticed that people needed help on the fire escape. I was fine going up. I directed people, and then I had a girl trapped in a bedroom.” She paused heavily, remembering just how scared she had felt seeing someone trapped. “For a second I thought it would send me back.”

The panic had seeped through her, leaving a cold sweat to run down her back despite the warmth from the heavy equipment and the fire floors below.

As if noticing that she had gotten lost in thought, Jung-bae tapped the vehicle next to her so she blinked and returned to the present. He was gentle about it, offering her a smile as she adjusted her stance.

Once he was sure she was back, he continued softly but firm enough that she knew she had to keep talking. “But it didn’t. You kept going.”

“I had to. I grabbed my axe and managed to get her out. I didn’t even think about it, I was running on adrenaline and my years of experience.”

“And then?”

Fear. It had motivated her to get them out of that situation and had thankfully worked on her side. She was hostage to it like she once had been, now she used it like a tool.

“I looked at her, at how scared she was and I knew everything would be fine.”

Jung-bae sniffed thoughtfully. “You saw that she needed you to be strong. That's something to be proud of.”

Pride wasn’t what she currently felt. Her thoughts kept drifting to Young-mi and how she had looked at her while they spoke in the ambulance. Her gentle eyes had traced over her in such a clinical way Hyun-ju had almost felt worried that Young-mi had picked up on her nature. Of course the way she held herself made her identity obvious and so did the deeper tone to her voice, but nothing had been said to highlight that she knew and that she thought it was a problem.

It felt oddly refreshing to just exist without the pressure of trying to fit in. At work she rarely thought about it. Mostly because people didn't care too much about a transgender women being hands on when it came to dragging them out of burning buildings.

And now, away from another burning building she had faced someone and felt like she had been seen for who she was. Young-mi had accepted her so easily without needing to say a word.

“-seeing her again?”

Hyun-ju blushed and raised a hand to remove her helmet so she could run her fingers through her hair. Would there ever be a time where she wasn’t completely lost in thought? It was getting awkward and judging from the look her boss was giving her it seemed to tell him something about her sudden dynamic with Young-mi. “Umm, I didn't catch that. Could you repeat the question.”

Chuckling, Jung-bae nodded. “I said will you be seeing her again? She looked quite taken with you.”

Putting the helmet back on, she rolled her eyes and straightened up, moving away from the fire engine. “You're just as bad as Dae-ho. No one is taken with anyone. I was just making sure she was ok. It’s part of the job.”

Her boss had a glint in his eyes that said he didn’t believe a word she said, but he allowed her to pretend that she hadn’t felt anything as soon as she had locked eyes with Young-mi.

He didn’t need to know how her heart had fluttered at the sight of kind brown eyes staring back at her.

Leading her back around to find Dae-ho and the rest of their team, he nudged her arm and glanced up at her with a fondness that made her heart ache. He was the closest thing she had to a parent and just knowing that he supported her meant the world.

“You didn’t answer my question.” He pressed gently, like he knew that pushing too much would cause her to go quiet. “Or should I pretend you didn’t act out of character with her?”

Damn him and his prying.

Watching as Dae-ho walked over to them, Hyun-ju sighed and gave in. “I’m helping her move her things out tomorrow.”

A grin appeared on the younger man’s face. “Sounds like an interesting first date.”

Returning his smile, Hyun-ju dropped it and stepped forward into his space. She was purposeful and confident, and made him stumble back a step as he felt the energy shift around them. She tightened her jaw deliberately and tilted her head just like she used to when she was training in the military. She knew well enough that it was sure to make him uncomfortable.

“Finished with your checklist?”

“Y-Yeah.”

“Yes, Chief.”

“Oh, uh..sorry. Yes, Chief Cho Hyun-ju. Everything is finished and we’re ready to go back to the station.”

She watched him squirm for a few more seconds before relaxing and stepping around him to head for the cab. “Relax, Dae-ho, I’m just messing with you.”

Jung-bae laughed and followed after her. “That was mean.”

“He knows it's a joke.” Climbing into the cab, she waited for Jung-bae to slide into the driver's seat and turned to a quiet Dae-ho who was still holding the clipboard. He still looked a little nervous and unsure and guilt reared up inside her chest.

She hadn’t wanted to upset him and so she nudged him playfully with her arm and watched as he glanced back at her. “Sorry about before, you ok? First onsite fire for you, wasn’t it?”

“It’s fine, I know you’re just messing with me because I'm new,” He said with a nod, rolling his shoulders to release tension he probably only just noticed. “Yeah, I was a little nervous but it went ok. I kept telling myself it was just like a drill and it helped.”

“Good. Next time will be easier.”

“I hope so.”

As they pulled away, Hyun-ju tried to look for a glimpse of Young-mi, wondering if she was still waiting in the back of the ambulance. She leaned forward and found the vehicle occupied with a paramedic clearing things away. The blanket that had previously draped over Young-mi’s shoulders sat in the exact spot she had been. Folded neatly like she was never there.

…

The next morning, Hyun-ju pulled into an empty parking space outside Young-mi’s apartment building. Climbing out of the vehicle, she gathered all the necessary tools from her backseat and locked the door.

With everything ready, she turned back to look at the building. From the outside the building looked unchanged with its structural damage on the lower floors only obvious from the burnt edges to a few blown out windows.

On the drive back to the station the previous night, she had been filled in on the cause of the fire; a cigarette and flammable liquid, which had unfortunately spilled in a rather messy apartment. With too many items piled into such a small space the fire had spread quickly.

Thankfully there had been zero fatalities, with only minor injuries reported.

It had been a miracle considering how bad it had looked, but in all her time working for the fire service she had come to understand that some people were just lucky.

Young-mi had been extremely lucky, and as she thought about the woman she spotted her standing by a beat up car a few feet away.

Dressed in baggy jeans and a long sleeve t-shirt, Young-mi waved at her. Her hair fluttered in the wind, causing it to dance across her face and cover her eyes. In a state of pure annoyance, Young-mi pushed her hair back and tucked some of the strands behind her ears. When that did nothing she gave up and laughed, dropping her hands in defeat.

Hyun-ju let out a breath.

She couldn’t use the excuse of adrenaline rushing through her system, or the building excitement of heading into danger. All of those excuses were flimsy at best, and she wasn’t a very good liar.

The woman standing a few feet from her offered her a smile and then slowly walked over to her. “Hyun-ju, it's good to see you again.”

Up close Hyun-ju could see smudged eyeliner and mascara dotted on the pale skin of the younger woman's face.

The incessant fluttering didn't stop.

“Hi, I'm sorry if I'm a bit late. Were you waiting long?” She checked her watch and winced once she saw the time. “I promise I’m normally punctual.”

“Nah, it's not a problem.” Young-mi promised, her eyes softening kindly. “Did you bring something?”

Hyun-ju raised her hand, showing the small stack of masks she had brought along. They were all highgrade and would stop any possible damage or inhalation of anything dangerous. It was a precaution that Jung-bae had suggested, handing her a bunch of them with a dangerous twinkle in his eyes. “It’s nothing fancy. It’s better to be safe and not breathe anything toxic in.”

Young-mi nodded and took one gratefully. “I’m glad at least one of us thought to bring masks. I just bought thick gloves-”

A slam of a car door interrupted their conversation, which made them both jump. Hyun-ju glanced towards the sound and watched as a woman similar in height to Young-mi joined them.

“Hi. You’re Hyun-ju, right?” Jun-hee gave her a polite wave before glancing over at Young-mi with a growing smirk on her face. “So, this is the mysterious firefighter you wouldn’t stop talking about? You didn’t lie about her height or her looks.”

If possible, Young-mi looked like she wished to be swallowed by the earth. Her eyes were glued to the floor, while she elbowed her friend. “Jun-hee, stop it. She’s here to help me, not to be accosted.”

Between the smug look on Jun-hee’s face and the adorable embarrassed flush on Young-mi’s face, Hyun-ju bit back a smile and picked up some of the flatpack boxes. She could also join in on the teasing but a part of her just wanted to enjoy that Young-mi had been talking about her.

Handing over an extra mask to Jun-hee, Hyun-ju gestured to the building and watched as things slowly settled down. Young-mi finally looked up at her, though the eye contact was fleeting. “Do you have everything you need?”

“I think so.” Turning to Jun-hee, Young-mi handed the rest of the flatpack boxes over. “If you both go up the stairs I’ll use the fire escape and I’ll get the door open.”

Jun-hee gave her a confused look. “Did you forget your keys?”

Sighing in annoyance that could only be directed at herself, Young-mi crossed her arms over her chest. She looked uneasy and avoided looking over at the metal ladder she would have to climb. “No, the lock on my door likes to jam and that’s one of the reasons I was trapped. I have to try and unlock it so you can both get in.”

“How about I unlock the door and I’ll let you both in?” Hyun-ju offered, watching as tension slowly began to leave Young-mi’s frame. “I know you don’t like heights.”

As she started walking over to the fire escape she heard Young-mi call over to her. “What about the lock? It’s difficult to open.”

Without an ounce of smugness to her tone, Hyun-ju glanced over her shoulder at the two women and replied, “I’ll get it open, firefighter, remember?”

She didn’t wait to see a reaction, she simply nodded at the other residents who were milling about with their possessions in various boxes and containers, and began to climb up to Young-mi’s apartment.

Compared to the rush of climbing at night, the walk up the rickety steps felt almost peaceful. Each time she set her foot down there was a sound that left her feeling unease, but she wouldn’t let that stop her. She had a job to do, and she wasn’t too far from the window.

As she got closer she noticed glass littering on the metal grate, some had fallen to the ground, but many pieces had been lodged between metal and crunched under her boots. It continued for another floor until she spotted Young-mi’s open window.

Finally on the correct level, she walked over broken glass and quickly assessed the edges for any pieces that may catch her. Luckily she had been diligent and knocked most of the glass out of the way with her axe.

Before entering she made sure to put on her mask and adjust it. Even if the bedroom had been well ventilated in the last few hours she didn’t want to risk it.

Swinging a leg over, she climbed through the window and landed on a pile of scattered broken glass. Her foot slipped a fraction and she gripped the sill before steadying herself and making her way inside.

The bedroom seemed relatively fine with very minor smoke damage. The blanket stuffed in the crack of the door had done a good job in keeping most of the smoke out. As she checked for damage she couldn’t help but notice photos placed around the room, pinned to the walls and framed on the somewhat messy desk. Photos of Young-mi and who Hyun-ju assumed were friends of hers. In plenty of them she was beaming with her eyes crinkled, her arms thrown over the shoulders of the same group of people.

In the closest photo Hyun-ju could see was Young-mi standing in the middle of a group. There was a man she vaguely recognised with spiky purple hair throwing up signs with his fingers on as he posed, another man standing next to him copied the gestures but he seemed to lack the confidence of his friend. On Young-mi’s left was a man with curly hair and glasses, too busy waving at the camera to notice Jun-hee standing on her tiptoes next to him, her hand behind his head giving him devil horns.

Looking back to the clear joy on Young-mi’s face, Hyun-ju felt that familiar fluttering in her chest.

Forcing herself to look away, she noticed that a number of drawings also filled the room. They ranged from serious studies of anatomically correct people to cute cartoons with silly jokes scrawled underneath. The sheer creativity was something completely new, and yet another thing for Hyun-ju to focus on.

Young-mi was an artist and a very good one at that.

Letting her gaze fall back to the desk she took in the chaos of pens and markers and pieces of broken charcoal littering the surface. But that wasn’t all, next to a thick bulging notebook was a drawing tablet.

It made sense that the young woman that had made a space inside her head was a digital artist too. Young-mi didn’t seem like the type of person to settle with just one medium.

Humming thoughtfully, she gave the room one last look before deciding to move onto the next room. The last thing Hyun-ju needed was to get distracted whilst looking at things that might be private. She was many things, but a snoop wasn’t one of them.

Removing the blanket from under the door, Hyun-ju opened it and walked into an open plan living area and tiny kitchen. Unlike the bedroom it hadn’t been so lucky. The smell of acidic smoke clung in the air, which only made her walk faster to get to the front door.

Remembering what Young-mi had said, Hyun-ju gave the lock a wiggle. It moved a fraction with a bit of strength put behind the motion of her hand. Another few shoves and it slid into place, leaving her to unlock the door.

As she pushed down on the handle, she let it swing open and found the two women already waiting for her.

“I thought you said the lock was stuck?” Jun-hee questioned behind her mask, her head tilting cutely as she glanced between Young-mi and Hyun-ju.

Young-mi sighed in exasperation. “It was!”

Nodding, Hyun-ju pushed the door further open and stepped back to let them in. “It just needed a little bit of brute force.”

As they walked in, Hyun-ju watched as Young-mi's face fell as she looked at the smoke damage in her living space. Most of the furniture was damaged, stained and stinking of that acidic smell that never seemed to leave fabrics it permeated.

Stepping closer she gently touched the back of her hand with her pinky. “I'm sorry.”

Sucking in a breath, Young-mi forced a nod. “It’s not your fault.”

Turning her hand, Young-mi let their fingers graze. The brief touch sent a bolt of electricity through them, and Hyun-ju pulled away in shock.

“Must be static from the door handle.” She murmured, half to herself. She knew it wasn’t, but Young-mi seemed to take her for her word. “What is most important to you?”

Judging by the question it hit home, and silently Hyun-ju offered a tissue to the young woman. She knew just how awful it was to lose things, and instead of offering an unnecessary comment like ‘things can be replaced’ she waited patiently.

Then.

“My artwork.”

“Ok.”

…

Together they worked in tandem, Hyun-ju stayed in the kitchen and living area, letting the two girls focus on the bedroom. She hadn’t wanted to pry and judging from the devastation on Young-mi’s face she knew it was best if she let Jun-hee handle it.

Her gaze kept drifting to the direction of the bedroom where she could hear a quiet conversation happening. She couldn’t make out the words but it didn’t sound sorrowful, in between quiet murmurings there were moments of laughter that eased her heart and made her go back to packing the household items into boxes.

Once the glasswear had been safely wrapped up and packed away, Hyun-ju slowly made her way to the bedroom and knocked on the door before daring to step inside.

Jun-hee looked up at the sound and accidentally nudged Young-mi who was writing on a piece of paper. Her arm jolted, sending a line of ink across the page. “Jun-hee, wh-”

“Hyun-ju! How's it going?” Jun-hee asked, a few closed boxes labeled ‘bedroom’ were scattered around the floor. She leaned back on her hands and looked to Young-mi, who covered the paper with her hand in what looked like embarrassment.

“Good. I'm nearly finished. I just wanted to borrow a pen to label the boxes.”

“Oh, sure. Here.” Handing over a black sharpie, Young-mi gave her a look of appreciation. “Thank you for helping me with this, I'm very grateful.”

“You don't need to thank me. I wanted to help.” Holding up the pen, Hyun-ju gave her a quick nod, smiling behind her mask. “When you're ready let me know and we can start carrying the boxes down to the car.”

“We’re nearly done. I can give you the keys if you want to make a start?” Jun-hee offered the car keys and gave her a wink as she took them. “I trust you not to steal my baby.”

“Your baby is perfectly safe.” Hyun-ju promised with a laugh.

As promised, Hyun-ju labeled each of the boxes and set to work, starting with the most delicate items and making sure to lock them in place with seatbelts. It took a few hours but she moved quickly and efficiently, even going as far as taking a suspiciously heavy looking box out of Young-mi’s arms to place in the boot of the car.

“Is that the last one?” She asked, breathing a little heavily but still feeling energetic enough to continue if needed.

Young-mi took off the mask and nodded. “Jun-hee’s bringing down the last one, everything else is being collected to be recycled later on today.”

A fine sheen of sweat laced Young-mi’s hairline, and with a groan she used her sleeve to wipe it away. In doing so the material bunched up, showing off the beginning of a tattoo near her wrist.

Hyun-ju had never been more glad for still choosing to wear her mask. Her face was practically burning as she stared at Young-mi.

“You have tattoos.” She stated, earning a soft laugh from Young-mi.

“Uh, yeah. My friend Nam-gyu has a tattoo studio. I go to him for everything.” She pushed the sleeves of her t-shirt up to reveal pale skin covered in tattoos from various forms of media. The main ones that caught her eyes were a dragon curled around Young-mi’s arm and a sword broken into pieces just below it. Tilting her arms, Young-mi grinned as she proudly showed off all the designs. “I watch a lot of anime and obsess over Lord of the Rings far too much. Smuag was my first tattoo. I drew him myself.”

She watched as Young-mi traced over the dragon with a fondness that only caused more aching in Hyun-ju’s heart. “It’s beautiful. They suit you.”

Another warm smile was aimed at her, with Young-mi pulling down the sleeves. “Thank you. My parents weren’t too happy about it but I don’t care. It’s my body, it’s my choice what I do with it.”

That rang extremely close to home, so much that Hyun-ju’s breath hitched in her throat. She blinked, and wiped at her eyes to keep from tearing up. It wasn’t exactly the same but she felt it deep within her bones.

“Yeah, I understand that completely.” Not wanting to allow any sadness to ruin her day, Hyun-ju removed her mask and slipped it into the pocket of her jacket. “I should head off, I have a long shift tomorrow.”

“Oh, I was going to ask if you wanted to go out for a drink.” The disappointment on Young-mi’s face was almost enough to make her change her mind. “How am I supposed to thank you?”

As Young-mi quietly thought it over, Jun-hee joined them with the final box. “I left the keys with the landlord just as you asked.”

“Oh, thanks.”

Once the box was placed in the car, Jun-hee clapped her hands together. “So, are we going for drinks? Hyun-ju, are you in?”
“Nah, I have to head off. You two have a drink for me.” Hyun-ju offered, her gaze going back to Young-mi. “Have fun, you worked hard today.”

“Thank you for helping me. I don’t think we could have done it without you.” As she said this, Young-mi closed the distance and wrapped her arms around Hyun-ju, pulling her into a hug. “I’m so grateful to you, and not just for today. I won’t forget that you saved my life.”

Before she could think about it, Hyun-ju’s arms circled Young-mi’s back and held her close. The relief of having her back in her arms felt so good that she sighed and let her head fall forward, brushing her cheek against her hair. “You’re welcome, Young-mi.”

An awkward cough from Jun-hee broke the moment, and they pulled apart with matching embarrassed smiles on their faces.

“Let me know when you’re free. Whether you like it or not I’m buying you a drink.” It was said with a confident grin that had Hyun-ju’s stomach doing somersaults. “Message me.”

“I will.” Hyun-ju promised, smiling as the two women climbed in the car. Jun-hee waved through the glass, and Young-mi hesitated before holding up her hand. Her thumb crossed her index finger to form a heart.

Returning the gesture, Hyun-ju watched them drive off before going over to her car. It was only when she sat in the driver’s seat that she released a breath she didn’t know she had been holding.

She wasn’t sure how to deal with what she was currently feeling. She didn’t even know Young-mi, at least not well enough to explain why she was so hung up on her. Sure, Young-mi was pretty but it wasn’t just about looks. There was something else about her that called to her, that made her want to get to know her.

The only thing she was certain of was that she was going to see her again.

Chapter Text

“Are you going to tell me what you were writing on that piece of paper?” Jun-hee asked, a smirk already on her lips. “Or is it just for your sexy firefighter?”

Young-mi crossed her arms, not willing to look over at her friend. They had only just left Hyun-ju and already Jun-hee had set upon, wanting to know every little detail.

It was a deliberate choice, mainly due to being stuck in a moving vehicle with no easy way out. Since the conversation was already set she couldn’t stop it or steer it into another direction, all she could do was try to get through it as best as she could.

That being said, talking about how attractive she found Hyun-ju wasn’t the worst topic, in fact it was something she had taken a lot of time to think about.

All day she had snuck glances at her. At first it had been innocent but as the day wore on and Hyun-ju had shrugged out of her jacket, Young-mi had found her eyes drifting. She had nearly bitten her lip clean through when she first watched Hyun-ju carrying heavy items to the car. Her arms were imprinted in her head in such a detailed way that she was already itching to draw them.

She could fill entire sketch books with drawings dedicated to her.

“Young-mi?” Jun-hee sang, matching her name to the music playing on the radio. “Are you daydreaming about her?”

Tugging her sleeves further down, Young-mi played with a frayed edge on her cuff and pulled on it until it became longer. “I wanted to write her a thank you note, but I’m not good with words.”

There was a reason why she was an artist and not a writer.

“Oh, that’s easy.” Clearing her throat, Jun-hee began, “To Hyun-ju, thank you for rescuing me and taking time out of your day to help me move my things. I’d love to see you again because I can’t stop thinking about you-”

“Ok, I get it.” She snapped, earning a laugh from her friend. “I don't think this is funny. I'm suffering over here.”

“I wasn’t even finished, but fine.” Stopping at traffic lights, Jun-hee sighed and adjusted her hands on the wheel. “What are you so afraid of? Just ask her out. If she says no then it's her loss, but I have a feeling she won't.”

“And why's that?”

“She offered to climb the dangerous fire escape because your silly ass jammed the lock. Then she insisted that she take every heavy box from you, even though you are perfectly capable of carrying them yourself.” Seeing the light go green, she pulled the car forward and carried on until they reached their street. “There's also the fact that she couldn’t keep her eyes off you.”

Young-mi froze.

“She couldn’t keep her eyes off you.”

Now that she thought about it, the same could be said about the previous night. While tucked safely in the ambulance she had noticed Hyun-ju’s heavy gaze on her.

It had felt unlike anything she had ever experienced. If she had to describe it, it was like she was being looked at for the first time. Hyun-ju’s gaze had been searching and so far from innocent it had left her with sweaty palms and a thundering pulse she could hear in her ears.

Hyun-ju stared at her and saw her, and whatever she had picked up on she had clearly liked.

“Maybe she just wants to hook up?” She mused, not hating the idea but also trying her best to disregard the slight disappointment at that being the reality of the situation.

“Honestly, if she just wants casual then I must be legally blind.” Jun-hee hummed, a soft laugh bubbling from her lips as she added, “She definitely wants to sleep with you, but she wants more. Trust me.”

God.

Could she trust such thoughts?

The idea that Hyun-ju would want her like that left her face burning, and her throat dry. She was aware that she was acting like some nervous virgin, and not casual and confident like she usually was with women, but Hyun-ju was different from the others. No one else had disarmed her and left her wanting to know more.

Huffing out a breath through her nose, she tilted her head and glanced at Jun-hee. Her friend must have been waiting for an answer, but had given up expecting one.

Not one for disappointing anyone, Young-mi snorted. “Trust you? Weren't you the one who nearly got pregnant by MGCoin?”

The car came to a smooth stop.

“Ok, firstly he seemed nice at first and I thought he was cute. Secondly, the condom broke. It happens to plenty of people. I sorted it out.”

“What about the other thing?” Young-mi asked faintly, feeling a laugh already building at what was coming. “Mr Moneybags definitely gave you something to remember him by and it wasn’t a potential fetus.”

“How was I supposed to know he would get our friends into crypto debt?” Rolling her eyes, Jun-hee unbuckled her seatbelt. “Thanos still brings it up. It drives me insane.”

Laughing, Young-mi undid her belt and turned to look at her friend. “It’s fine. He paid it back before the loan sharks could sell his organs.”

“Ugh, that’s gross.”

Nodding to herself, Young-mi watched Jun-hee for a moment, taking in the way she swept her bangs out of her eyes and checked her make-up in the sun visor mirror. “Thank you for today. I owe you so many drinks.”

Humming in agreement, Jun-hee smoothed her thumb near the corner of her eye. “Thousands.” Flicking the visor back up, she gave Young-mi a wink. “You know I’d do anything for you.”

“I do and I hope you know it goes both ways.” As much as she hated being overly sappy, Young-mi meant every word. Jun-hee was her rock in the difficult times. She was the sister she had always wanted and hopefully after today her friend would finally know. “Gyu isn't my only sibling. You're the little sister I always wanted.”

“Stop it. If you keep going and make me cry I'll be so upset.” Jun-hee countered, her eyes growing a little watery. “I didn’t wear waterproof mascara today.”

“Sorry.” She wasn't.

Sensing a need to change the topic, Young-mi gave Jun-hee’s hand a quick squeeze before letting go.

“If she does send me a message and things go well, do you think the others will like Hyun-ju?”

“Yeah, I mean the boys might be a bit protective at first but when they see her with you I'm sure they'll warm up to her.” Thinking it over, Jun-hee turned off the radio. “You don’t need their approval. As long as she treats you well and you like her, the rest is up to you.”

Approval wasn't needed but wanted.

But she wasn’t completely sure how they would handle it.

Hyun-ju was older than her, clearly in her late thirties by a rough estimate, while Young-mi was a newly turned twenty-seven.

But it wasn’t just her age.

To her knowledge none of her friends were transphobic, Nam-gyu and Thanos had friends that had transitioned and Yong-sik was open to dating anyone that caught his eye. But there was a lingering fear that they might have different views when it came to her.

It was hard to tell and left her feeling a little nervous. Young-mi guessed that Yong-sik and Thanos would be fine, but it was Nam-gyu who she was most worried about.

She had known him longer than the others, mainly because they had grown up in the same area. He had patched up her scraped knees, and gave her sweets she wasn’t supposed to have. He had chased her bullies away and been there for her when her parents effectively disowned her.

His lack of communication with his family meant that somewhere along the way they had become default siblings. He was her older brother who watched out for her, snuck her into clubs he worked at and did all of her tattoos. In return she was the family he had always wanted, giving him someone to look after.

In all the years she had known him he had been troubled. He suffered from substance abuse from drugs, but tried to keep on the straight and narrow for her. Lately he had made strides, going months without touching pills. She was proud of him and always made sure that he knew that.

But on the flipside he was annoying when it came to her safety.

He wasn’t possessive of her, he knew she was an adult but he was overprotective and was blinded by it at the worst of times.

“Anyway, I think she'll get points for saving you.” Jun-hee added, “Carrying you away from a burning building is going to work so well in her favour.”

Oh.

She was worried about the wrong thing.

The fire.

He didn’t know about it.

Raising a hand to her face, Young-mi groaned. “Gyu is gonna be such a pain when he finds out about the fire.”

“Oh shit, he doesn't know?” Jun-hee sighed, opening her door and climbing out. She waited for Young-mi to do the same and looked over the roof of her car at her friend. Instead of making a joke about it she offered a sympathetic smile and continued, “Let's get you moved in before you tell him. I'm not in the mood to do heavy lifting while pissed off.”

The thought of telling him before having to shift a mountain of boxes left a sour taste in her mouth, so she nodded at her friend and shut the passenger door. “Good idea.”

…

Later on, after hours of moving her things into the apartment, Young-mi collapsed onto the sofa and slipped her phone out of her pocket. She tapped the screen and smiled as her lock screen appeared. The photo was of their group after a night out, all wearing hoodies looking extremely hungover, but happy to be together.

It was one of the last nights they had spent as a group before Nam-gyu and Su-bong had gone to Japan to promote the latter’s rap music.

Despite being proud of him, and Nam-gyu for acting as his manager, the months they had been gone felt like a lifetime.

Sure, they messaged in the group chat frequently but it wasn’t the same as being able to poke their cheeks with chopsticks, or drinking cheap and nasty alcohol until Yong-sik threw up.

“You know,” Jun-hee started, walking in from the kitchen with two glasses of wine white in her hands, “The sooner you do it, the sooner we can order takeout and watch some random crap on the TV. Plus I still want to go out.”

Taking the glass with a grateful nod, Young-mi sipped at it and hummed in delight. “Thank you, and yeah I know. I just..I don’t want him to freak out over nothing. He’s busy with work.”

Sitting near the window, Jun-hee nodded understandingly. “You have to tell him soon, they’ll be back in a month and in that time he could find out from someone else. Wasn’t Yong-sik’s mother there?”

“Oh fuck, I didn’t think about that.”

“He should hear it from you, it will make him worry less.”

Placing the glass down, Young-mi snorted. “Are you my therapist now?”

Jun-hee grinned sweetly and took another sip from her drink. “Nah, you couldn’t afford me.”

Young-mi: Gyu, I'm no longer living in the apartment.

Young-mi: There was a fire on a lower floor, and the building became unsafe to live in. I'm ok.

Young-mi: I've moved in with Jun-hee and I can’t wait to see you!

Gyu: what the fu k?

Gyu: call me.

He picked up on the first ring and before saying anything, Young-mi winced. This wasn’t going to be pleasant.

“Hi, Gyu.” She tested, gripping her phone in one hand while holding onto the sofa cushion with the other. “How’ve you been? I hope you’re bringing me back gifts.”

Any idea of trying to distract him backfired, as he cleared his throat. “There was a fire?”

He was too calm and that was worrying.

“Yeah, listen it was-”

She didn’t get to finish, instead she listened as he sucked in a harsh breath. “If you're hurt I'll hunt down the motherfucker that started it.” He said firmly, even over the phone she could tell he was furious. His overprotective streak often caused tiny issues between them and it seemed that right now was no different.

There was a muttering in the background before she heard him typing. “You're on loud speaker. I'm with Thanos.”

Young-mi rolled her eyes. “When are you not with him?” It was more of a quiet observation, but as she said it she felt a strange sort of silence coming from the other side. “Sorry, that was rude. Hi, Su.”

Su-bong let out a quiet chuckle, he sounded more relaxed than Nam-gyu which made breathing easier. The last thing she needed was the two of them making threats about something they didn’t understand. When the two of them were angry it was near impossible to get through to them. “Hey, lil’ sis, you're not hurt are you? You can tell your big bros the truth. We won't get mad.”

She highly doubted that, not unless she wanted someone to end up with a black eye again.

“Nope, no injuries. Hyun-ju got me out before anything bad happened.”

Oh.

Oh fuck.

“Hyun-ju? Who's that? Have you got a girlfriend?” Thanos interrupted, his voice littered with interest. “You gonna share with the class, babygirl?”

“Umm, she's not my girlfriend.” Looking over at Jun-hee for help she watched as her friend mouthed ‘Tell them the truth’ before going back to scrolling on her phone. “She’s a firefighter.”

Nam-gyu made a noise in the back of his throat like he was working out a complex mathematical problem. “And she saved you?”

“Yes.”

“So you couldn't get out? Were the stairs blocked?”

“I don’t know anything about the stairs, they were usually filled with crap so maybe they were.” Picking up her glass she took a long sip from it before continuing. “The bolt on my front door jammed, so I couldn’t get it open. I tried my bedroom window but the key was missing. Hyun-ju had to smash the window and helped me climb down the fire escape.”

As she spoke, Young-mi became increasingly aware of just how crazy the series of events sounded. So many things had gone wrong in such a short amount of time.

Twin sounds of annoyance sounded out.

“That fucking landlord..” Nam-gyu started and forced out a quiet manic laugh. “When I get my hands on him..I’ll fucking kill him.”

Swearing under her breath, Young-mi locked eyes with Jun-hee. Her friend simply rolled her eyes and muttered something about how stupid their friends sounded, before going back to sipping her drink like she didn’t have a care in the world.

Gritting her teeth, she placed the glass back down. “No, no you won’t. It’s done. Please don't start anything..I don’t have the energy to deal with anything right now.”

There was a moment of silence that told her everything she needed to know. They weren’t going to kick off, if only for her sake.

“Fine, but only because you asked us not to.” Nam-gyu promised, sounding exactly like a little kid that wanted to disobey his parents. “What are you doing now?”

“Fuck that.” Su-bong interrupted, getting close enough to the mic that she could hear his breathing. “You gonna tell us why you know the firefighter's name?” Thanos asked, amusement humming in his voice. “Is she hot?”

Sighing, Young-mi rubbed the bridge of her nose. She thought about lying but even over the phone she knew they would know.

“If I say yes will you promise you won't be weird about it?”

Maybe he would surprise her.

The sound of a hand slapping over his heart, was followed by an incredibly unserious statement. “I’ll be super respectful. I swear on Nam-su's life.”

Or maybe not.

Before she could speak, Nam-gyu let out a few curses and a brief scuffle sounded over the phone. Young-mi could only imagine them smacking each other, elbows flying and feet kicking at shins like they were preteen boys who didn’t know how to fight yet.

That was what she was used to, and so with a muffled laugh she chose to listen.

“What the actual fuck is wrong with you!?”

“What? A hot lady is a hot lady? What's your problem?”

“I don’t care about that bit. My problem is thats not my fucking name. It's Nam-gyu! Nam-gyu! You absolute moron. I’ve known you since you were ten, you dumb fuck.”

“Yeah, and it’s always been Nam-su.”

“I know my own name, dickhead.”

Ignoring their on-going bickering, Young-mi bit her lip and decided to cut in. “Gyu?”

A brief hush descended and he apologised under his breath.

“Sorry, got carried away. Yeah?”

“I haven’t known her long but I think I really like her.”

He sighed fondly, and for once there was no teasing from either of her friends. Not even Jun-hee laughed, she looked over at her with a soft smile.

“And do you think she likes you?”

“I think so.”

“Has Jun-hee met her?”

From across the room, Jun-hee called out, “She’s really nice. She helped us move Young-mi’s things out.”

“She did?”

“Oh yeah, she wouldn’t let her carry anything heavy. And when she wasn’t too busy she couldn’t keep her eyes off Young-mi.” With a wink she added, “Or her hands.”

“Her hands? Do I need to be worried?”

Scowling, Young-mi turned off the loud speaker and jumped to her feet, deciding it was safer to continue this conversation in another room. “Ignore her, she's talking about a hug. Hyun-ju isn't someone you need to worry about.”

“Fine, but when we get back to Korea we want to meet her.”

A noise of agreement came from Thanos. “Yeah, we need to know her intentions with you.”

“Intentions? Be serious. It's not like she's going to ask to marry me.”

Rolling her eyes, Young-mi continued the conversation for another half hour, before Su-bong had to leave to prepare for a show. He made his departure a big song and dance, and shouted a goodbye loud enough that Jun-hee probably heard him.

“I better go too, we’re fully booked tonight.” Nam-gyu said through a yawn. “It’s exhausting but a lot of fun.”

“Please try to get some sleep.”

“I will if I find the time.”

“Ok,” Smirking to herself, she lowered her voice and playfully asked, “Are you and Su-bong a thing yet?”

“Young-mi.” He warned.

“I'm not stupid. I see how you look at him when you think he’s not looking.”

Nam-gyu sighed, not in annoyance but in something that sounded like sadness.

“We…It's complicated.”

“You don’t want him to risk his career.” Young-mi stated, and her heart sank as she heard him agree. “And you don’t want to ruin your friendship with him.”

“When did you get so smart?”

“I’ve always been smart, asshole.”

“Yeah, you have.” Clicking his tongue, he yawned again before whispering down the line. “If we became a thing, would you be ok with it?”

“I’d be so happy for you, Gyu.”

And it was true. She liked Su-bong, even if he was chaotic and had dragged Nam-gyu through hell on more than one occasion. He had been a solid friend to her, and silently agreed with keeping Gyu off drugs.

She knew that he had personally used them. She had seen the colourful pills he tried to hide in his cross necklace and the blown out irises that came from a massive high.

But that was years ago, back when he haunted dingy clubs. Hooking up with random women as if it would magically fix his issues with his sexuality. Thanos was different now, he was at least attempting to stay clean while he worked on his music and it seemed like rapping had saved his life.

“Thanks.” Then quietly he added, “I need to go, kid.”

“Ok. Be safe, don’t do drugs or talk to strangers.”

“My job is talking to strangers.”

“Tough shit.”

Laughing, he pulled away from the phone to cough. “Alright. I'll talk to you tomorrow. Let me know what happens with this girl. If she messes you around I'll go and talk to her.”

“She won't. Bye Gyu.”

“Bye.”

…

Hyun-ju: Hi. If you're still interested in buying me a drink, I'm free tomorrow night.

Young-mi stared down at her phone. The message had been sent in the early hours of the morning. She tried not to read too much into it, but knowing that Hyun-ju didn't bother waiting a few days to reply made her heart skip.

“Jun-hee! Hyun-ju sent me a message, what do I say?” She called out, leaving her bedroom to rush into her friend’s room.

It was still early so Jun-hee was still in bed. Glancing to her doorway, she waved her in and tugged the covers off so her friend could slide in next to her. “Ok, show me. I can’t give proper advice until I’ve seen what she’s said to you.”

Taking a look at the message, Jun-hee grinned. “This is your chance to get some alone time with her.”

Handing the phone back, Jun-hee began to give out ideas for a perfect response. Young-mi was quick to follow her advice, typing so fast that she had to go back and correct the spelling in a flustered rush.

Young-mi: Of course I am :) Are you into something casual or fancy?

Hyun-ju: I'd prefer casual.

Young-mi: Ok. It’s a date. I'll send you the address of the bar.

…

In the breakroom of the firestation, Hyun-ju stared down at her phone with excitement swirling in her belly.

It's a date.

She had read that part repeatedly until her eyes felt blurry, and yet she couldn’t stop herself from repeating the same action.

A laugh interrupted her private moment and tore her eyes away from the screen she watched as Jung-bae and Gi-hun strolled in. Their shift was about to start and so they were obviously coming in to raid the coffee machine before their favourite flavours ran out.

“Ohh, you look happy.” Jung-bae noted with a pleased look on his face, before shamelessly glancing down at her phone. “Are you talking to the girl from the other night?”

“What girl?” Gi-hun asked, leaning forward with interest. “Did you meet someone special, Hyun-ju?”

Flushing, Hyun-ju locked the screen and placed it face down on the sofa next to her. She wasn’t exactly embarrassed about the messages, but she wasn’t keen on sharing them with anyone. “Um, yeah. A few nights ago I helped a girl get out of her building.”

“Hyun-ju saved her life.” Jung-bae added with a grin. “I saw you carrying her. It would have been romantic if her residence wasn't burning down behind you both.”

Oh god. She hadn’t thought anyone from their team had seen her.

“How many people know about that?”

“Well, since Dae-ho was the one to see it..” Jung-bae went quiet, seemingly counting in his head before huffing out a breath. “Everyone knows.”

“Great.”

Gi-hun went over to the coffee machine and let it splutter to life. “If it makes you feel better I had no idea.”

“It doesn’t, but thanks.” She replied, slipping her phone into her pocket and standing up from the sofa. “Have a nice shift, I hope it goes smoothly.”

Jung-bae nodded in thanks and elbowed Gi-hun, handing him a cup and pointed at the coffee machine. His friend chuckled and took the cup, preparing it without a fuss.

In all the time she had known him, Gi-hun had always put on a happy front. Despite the problems in his personal life, he smiled constantly and rattled off dad jokes like his life depended on it. Hyun-ju mused that after a nasty divorce and seeing his child move overseas, he had earnt that right. The entire thing had nearly finished him off, but Jung-bae had forced him to join the fire department which had saved his life in more ways than one. It had given him purpose again and kept him out of debt.

Hyun-ju admired him a lot. He understood pain, and always looked out for her without her asking him to.

“Do you want a drink before you go?” He asked, glancing over his shoulder with one of his soft smiles.

“No thank you, if I drink coffee now I won’t get any sleep.” Raising her arms above her head, Hyun-ju stretched and rolled her neck. Spending hours sitting at a desk doing mountains of paperwork had made her shoulders feel stiff. “I’ll see you both later on. Don’t let Dae-ho near my snacks.”

Gi-hun handed Jung-bae’s cup over and turned to face her, he clutched his cup between his hands and smiled at her. “I’ll hide them somewhere safe, he won’t touch them.”

Watching them fondly, Hyun-ju offered them a wave and headed towards the door.

“Hyun-ju?” Jung-bae called out with a grin on his bright face. “Have fun on your date. You deserve to be happy, ok?”

The words made her soften, and she nodded before quickly leaving the room. Heading down the corridor she fetched her bag and coat and left before she could get roped into any more conversations about her love life.

Climbing into her car, she checked her phone again. As promised there was an address for a bar that she recognised faintly. It was tucked away from the main streets, out of sight of tourists and notably had become a well kept secret amongst the locals.

The second message made her pause.

Young-mi: I’m looking forward to tonight :) and I hope the rest of your day goes well.

With her heart beating furiously, Hyun-ju replied quickly.

Hyun-ju: That’s very kind, thank you! I’m looking forward to seeing you again.

…

A few miles away, still laying beside Jun-hee, Young-mi squealed and tilted the phone at her best friend. Her hands were shaking, and so Jun-hee gently took the phone and read over the message with a soft look on her face.

Handing the phone back, she turned on her side and watched as Young-mi re-read the message over and over again.

“I’ve never seen you like this.” She commented, and shifted closer so her head could rest on her friend’s shoulder. “I love seeing you happy.”

“Will you help me get ready later on?”

“Try stopping me.”

Chapter Text

6:51

Hyun-ju stared at her car's radio clock, watching as the numbers slowly ticked closer to seven. She had been sitting in her car for thirty minutes just watching the time slowly pass while trying not to lose her mind.

Nothing was working. She had tried playing music but found that it made her anxiety rise too much. Radio shows and the news didn’t help either, and the syrupy voice of the weather reporter just made her roll her eyes.

The high chances of rain couldn’t affect her half as much as seeing Young-mi again would.

Settling back against her seat, Hyun-ju tapped her fingers against the handle on the car door. The agitation she felt was clear in how furious she was hitting the heavy plastic, over and over she repeated the same sequence until she let her hand drop to rest on her knee.

She needed to relax.

Looking through the windscreen she began to watch the passers by. Walking down the street she couples walked hand in hand, laughing together, so blissfully unaware that they were being watched. All of them seemed so wrapped up in their own worlds, just swimming in happiness that made a wave of jealousy wash over her.

She didn’t want to get her hopes up but seeing happy couples made her want exactly what they had. It wasn’t just the physical side to a potential relationship, but the ease of having someone know her better than she knew herself.

She longed for a connection, and wagered that it was the main cause of her current panic.

Before her transition, Hyun-ju hadn’t dared to let any kind of panic take hold of her. She used fear as a tool, and had taken it with her when she moved forward in her personal journey and joined the fire department. The only time she had felt it was during a rescue mission gone wrong, an event that had haunted her for months.

Closing her eyes she frowned.

The memory of that night was so clear.

It was supposed to be an easy job, something so routine that she could do it with her eyes closed. There was a fire in a residential building, nothing outlandish and certainly not something she was unprepared for. Hyun-ju had organised the team, dividing them between actual firefighting and rescue operations. In-ho had led the firefighting branch, nodding at her as she led her team into the stairwell.

The first few floors were easy enough, with only a few issues such as helping some of the older residents down the stairs and encouraging people to leave their homes.

The real problem was the higher they went the thicker the smoke became. Even with their masks they couldn’t see far in front of them, but that hadn’t stopped them in their mission. They continued banging on doors and shouting as loudly as they could, gathering more and more people as they went.

As always Hyun-ju didn’t have the time or the oxygen to waste, but that didn’t mean she hadn’t tried. She had managed to get a few young children out and ordered Jung-bae and Gi-hun to carry them to safety.

Things had been going smoothly and that was when everything crashed around her. The next floor was empty of people, but the stairwell was filled with thick smoke. Hyun-ju pushed through it and managed to get onto the next level. Most of the doors were flung open from where people had escaped, all except for one right at the end.

Staggering over to it, she banged as hard as she could, until she heard a faint sound from the otherside. Through a lot of coughing and gasping breaths, Hyun-ju could just about understand her calling for help. She was panicked, but her voice was growing quieter as time moved on.

Hyun-ju had planned on breaking down the door with her axe, but the sway of her pack sent her falling to the ground. She felt like she couldn’t catch her breath, and that her vision was getting increasingly blurry. She fought to climb to her feet, her hands desperately reaching for the door handle before she fell back against the tiled floor.

Jung-bae and Gi-hun had dragged her out.

She had found out days later after waking up in a hospital bed that the woman had died in her apartment.

Scared and alone.

Due to a psych evaluation she had been ordered to take time off and seek therapy for the trauma. All in all it had been a few months of healing, of her therapist reminding her that she wasn’t superhuman. That it wasn’t her fault and that no one blamed her.

But that wasn’t completely true. She blamed herself and her stupidity at not having another tank ready to swap over. It was a simple mistake and one she hadn’t yet forgiven herself for.

“Breathe. It's over. You're in your car.” She reminded herself, her breath unsteady as she followed the steps her therapist had given her. She was going to be fine. “It wasn’t your fault.”

As her breaths evened out and she no longer smelt traces of smoke in the air, Hyun-ju sighed and opened her eyes again. Fear was something she no longer refused to feel, she had felt it in that building moments before passing out, and she felt it when she saw Young-mi trapped behind glass in a building that felt all too similar.

She hadn’t let it consume her, instead she used it and saved Young-mi’s life. In doing so that event had altered her life, and made room for someone important to come in and shake things up.

Young-mi had unknowingly put her back on track. She had set her mind back into focus and helped to shove the remaining monsters back into the shadows. She had saved her too, and maybe if things went well she would help up telling her that one day.

Glancing back at the clock she felt a nervous buzz of excitement flow through her body.

It was time to go.

…

As Hyun-ju stepped inside the cozy bar, she noted how lovely it was. Dotted around the space were tables with couples and groups of friends, all chatting and laughing while sharing plates piled with fried food and tall glasses of beer. The sweet smell of soju lingered and she relaxed a tiny bit. Alcohol was a good social lubricant and if she did find it hard to keep up conversation she could use a glass or two to help herself out.

Casting her eyes further she looked towards the bar and felt herself stop in her tracks. Sitting at the bar with a sketchpad open was the woman she had been looking for.

Young-mi was perched on one of the stools with her legs dangling and the tip of her boot hitting the spindle with each kick of her foot. Her face showed a level of focus Hyun-ju could only dream of, as she leaned over the paper with a quiet determination.

As Hyun-ju inched closer she watched as Young-mi’s expression changed from focused to pure frustration as she made a mistake.

“Arms aren't hard.” Young-mi growled to no one in particular, before correcting her mistake with one fluid arc of her wrist. The pencil was loose in her grip, which seemed to give her the freedom to fix any errors. “I know how to draw.”

A man behind the bar strolled over and placed a drink within reach, but not close enough that she might accidently nudge it. “There's your drink, Young-mi. Please try to drink it before the ice melts.” He said with a fond smile at the artist.

“We can't all be perfect like you, Ali.” Glancing up at him, she grinned and made a show of picking up the glass and sipping at it. “Anyway, I have to finish this before my date arrives. It's a gift for her.”

Hyun-ju's eyes widened and she took a hesitant step backwards so the paper was no longer in her line of sight.

“A gift for your date? That sounds romantic.” Ali noted, glancing down at the paper with interest, his eyes softened as he caught the subject of the drawing before he added, “I hope she deserves your kindness.”

“Oh she definitely does. She saved my life and I haven’t stopped thinking about her since.” Young-mi confessed, pausing in her drawing to look at him. “Do you think giving her this would be too much for a first date? I want to show her that I’m serious and that I’d like to see where things could go but I don’t want to scare her off.”

Hyun-ju’s heart melted at that, already thoroughly won over by how sweet Young-mi sounded. There was so much hope and longing in her voice that the older woman squeezed her fingers together to keep from reaching out and touching her arm.

She should announce her presence but she wanted to know what else her date would say.

Ali shook his head thoughtfully. “I think it shows just how much you care for her. It’s a nice gesture.” He chuckled to himself before adding, “Anyway, we’ve been friends for years and you haven’t drawn me anything. She must be quite special to you.”

Hyun-ju didn’t see Young-mi’s reaction, but she saw her foot slip entirely off the spindle. It was adorable and unexpected. Feeling even more tension leave her shoulders, she kept watching and listening in.

“Ah, sorry.” Taking another sip of her drink, Young-mi briefly flipped over the page and wrote something down. “There. I’ve left myself a note so I can remember to draw you something. As long as you stop teasing me about Hyun-ju.”

“Thank you.” Looking up, the man - Ali - spotted Hyun-ju and gave her a curious look. Without taking his eyes off her, he continued, “When is your date, Hyun-ju, supposed to arrive?”

“Any minute now.”

With a polite smile, Ali nodded at Hyun-ju before looking back at Young-mi. “Can I guess what she looks like?”

Young-mi scoffed, head down while she continued adding to the drawing. She was clearly distracted by her work, but it didn’t stop her from finding amusement at his new game. “Go ahead. This is going to be interesting.”

Taking another look at Hyun-ju, he cleared his throat and began describing her. “I’m guessing she is tall with soft brown eyes and hair brushing just above her shoulders? Pretty too.”

The pencil dropped from Young-mi’s hand and rolled off the sketch pad and onto the smooth surface of the bar. “Did you get all of that from my drawing?”

“No.”

Young-mi grabbed the pencil and gave him another look. “Then how?”

Ali snorted and went back to fixing another drink for a customer that had joined them at the bar. “Young-mi, if you turn around you will see who I was describing. Now go and have fun on your date.”

“What!?” Turning harshly in her seat, Young-mi’s eyes locked onto Hyun-ju and she let out a surprised gasp. “Oh, fuck. Have you been there the whole time? You look so pretty.”

In return, Hyun-ju blushed and allowed herself to take in Young-mi’s outfit.

She was a vision, made up of a classic graphic tee that looked like it had been shredded. The thick material frayed in multiple places, showing off a mesh-like material undershirt that teased tiny flashes of pale skin. A pair of matching flared jeans and dark combat boots, with the addition of some silver rings and a thin chain dangling around her neck to finish the look.

Fuck.

She felt so..underdressed. She hadn’t thought to dress sexy, instead she had chosen a dark blouse that was unbuttoned near her throat, and simple tailored trousers that showed off the slight curve to her hips.

But then again, from Young-mi’s reaction, maybe she had made the right choice. Especially since her eyes had spent extended seconds on her hips, and the pale skin of her neck that was on show, and her lips that she had painted in a soft shade of her favourite lipstick.

Hyun-ju had felt studied, but not like a bug under a microscope, but like a precious gem that was coveted by anyone looking at it.

She felt beautiful.

“Thank you, that’s so kind of you to say.” She did briefly wonder about lying but Young-mi didn’t look too embarrassed, and she guessed that the artist was a lot braver than she looked. “I will admit, I heard some things..all of them nice. I’m very curious about your drawing.”

Young-mi grinned at that and sneakily closed the sketchpad with one hand. Slipping off the barstool, she gathered her supplies and slipped the pad under her arm while gesturing to a booth a ways from the other occupied areas. “I suppose I can live with that. It makes me look good.”

The confidence was so attractive, and with a shy smile Hyun-ju followed after her and sank down onto her side of the booth. “You look very beautiful tonight, Young-mi.”

“Do I?”

The beginnings of a smirk pulled at her soft lips, which made Hyun-ju swallow. “You know you do, and you're getting a kick out of making me flustered over it.”

“Maybe a bit, but I’m sure you'll survive. I'm not as dangerous as a burning building.”

Hyun-ju chuckled at that and leaned over the table to get closer to her date. “I disagree, you are far more dangerous.”

“Then aren't I lucky that you like danger?” Young-mi flirted shamelessly, her eyes once again flickered down to Hyun-ju’s lips.

If she had less control, Hyun-ju would have closed the gap between them right then and there. She hadn’t been flirted with like this before and as much as it was probably well used lines she couldn’t help but fall for it.

She was hook, line and sinker for Young-mi.

But with that came the main issue that always reared up at the worst of times. She wasn’t sure if Young-mi knew that she was transgender, but it scared her to think about the possibility of her not knowing at all.

Would Young-mi feel deceived and cheated at learning the truth? Would she run away from her or look at her in disgust?

Oddly enough she didn’t think Young-mi would do any of those things, but the little voice in the back of her head taunted her to the point she felt her hands beginning to shake.

She had to do it.

She owed it to the woman in front of her.

Clearing her throat, Hyun-ju straightened up and forced herself to meet Young-mi’s curious gaze. It was like staring at the sun, she blinked but kept looking as she tried to work out how she was going to do this.

“Young-mi there's something you should know about me. I-”

A gentle hand enclosed over her own and the shaking stopped.

“It’s ok, you can tell me.”

“I transitioned a few years ago. I was born male but I always knew I was a woman, ever since I was young.” Ignoring the telltale burning in the back of her throat, Hyun-ju continued. “I'll understand if you want me to leave. And I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner.”

“Please stay.” A kind smile washed over Young-mi’s face and she squeezed her hand. “Thank you for feeling safe enough to share that with me. It doesn’t change how I see you at all.”

“Really?”

Young-mi nodded, her thumb rubbing against Hyun-ju’s hand. “I guessed that you might be transgender, but it wasn’t my place to say anything.” Pausing, Young-mi cleared her throat awkwardly. “I'm not planning on running away or changing my mind. I like you and I want to get to know you. I’m sorry if I came across a bit strong with my flirting. I promise I’ll tone it down, I won’t jump on you like a jungle cat.”

The last bit was said with a bit of humour, enough to make Hyun-ju let out a watery laugh, as she looked away to take a moment to calm herself down. She couldn’t believe the things Young-mi had just said. Her words were, like her, too perfect and if she chose to accept them she would be taking a massive risk. “I..”

“If I said anything wrong I apologise.” Young-mi squeezed her hand again and waited patiently to hear a response.

It was so kind and seemed effortless coming from her. In the past, people Hyun-ju had known always made it seem like it was so taxing to use the correct pronouns or even just using the right name, her chosen name.

Young-mi didn’t give her that impression. She cared deeply and it showed in her gestures of kindness.

“Y-You didn't. I'm just not used to hearing things like that.” Staring at their hands, Hyun-ju turned hers over and let their palms press together. “It really doesn't bother you?”

“No, not at all. It's who you are, and I like you just as you are.” Young-mi promised, and gingerly she reached over with her free hand and wiped away a stray tear. “Can I show you something? I think it might put you at ease.”

Nodding her consent, Hyun-ju watched as Young-mi briefly pulled away so she could grab her sketchbook and flick through the pages until she found the one she wanted.

“I planned on making it a gift for you, but it's not finished.” Young-mi murmured, eying her sketchbook. She looked like she was itching to continue, but forced herself to continue looking for the right page. “I thought I had enough time to finish it but I’m a perfectionist.”

“A gift? You didn’t have to do that.”

“I wanted to.” Young-mi said quickly, flushing at how eager she sounded. “It’s the least I could do.”

Finally on the right page, Young-mi flipped the page and turned it so Hyun-ju could see.

On the page was a detailed drawing of her from the night they met. In the picture she was standing with her helmet tucked under her arm, gazing forwards with a softness that made Hyun-ju feel shy. Young-mi had captured so much detail in the clothes but also her features. The gentle curve of her face and slope of her nose was so accurate that she laughed delightedly.

“Do you like it?”

“Like it? Young-mi, it's incredible.” Hyun-ju tore her eyes away from the drawing and smiled as she watched a growing flush rise to her companion's cheeks. “You've made me look very pretty. Maybe too pretty”

“This is how I see you.” Young-mi pressed, her finger gliding down the paper as she pointed out certain details. “I don’t like to embellish, it's not my style. What you see on the paper is what I saw that night. It's what I still see.”

Swallowing nervously, Young-mi once again took Hyun-ju’s hand. “When you took off your helmet I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I’ve never seen anyone so candid in their beauty. I had to draw you, I hope you don't mind.”

“I don't mind at all, although I thought you said you were going to tone down your flirting?” Hyun-ju mused, trying her best to ignore that her heart was beating so fast she was sure that Young-mi could hear it.

At that Young-mi did look a little embarrassed but she shrugged. “I don’t think I can, but I can promise that I’ll be on my best behaviour.”

“Hmm, we’ll see.” Hyun-ju ran her eyes over the flushed complexion of her date. “Buy me a drink and I’ll let you flirt as much as you want.”

…

As promised she received a glass of beer, which she enjoyed over a shared plate of chicken. The conversation was light, with Young-mi asking her questions about her profession while trading little stories from her own.

“So what made you want to do a webtoon?” Hyun-ju wondered, remembering all the mediums that had littered Young-mi’s desk at her old place. The walls had been covered with drawings, all in different styles that showed off serious talent. It was no wonder that she had begun creating and posting a story online for people to follow. “It sounds very impressive.”

“Oh, thank you.” Young-mi hummed thoughtfully, looking pleased at the compliment. “I wanted to see if I could do it and to also prove to myself that I can stick to something and see it through to the end.”

“And..” Biting her lip, Hyun-ju leant forward and lowered her voice. “Could I see it? I'd love to support a local artist.”

“I can’t say no when you look at me like that.” Young-mi blushed, pretending to fan herself with her hand. “I'll send you the link..but it's a little..”

“What?”

“Steamy. There is a storyline and a reason for it, but I don’t shy away from physical intimacy.” Young-mi confessed, not ashamed of herself but still embarrassed at having to say those words out loud.

Hyun-ju arched an eyebrow.

“I..uh..I mean in the comic.” Clearing her throat, Young-mi glanced away and flushed further when she heard Hyun-ju’s soft laugh. “But..um..in real life I don’t either. I’m not a prude.”

“Well that makes me want to read it more.” Lacing her fingers together, Hyun-ju sat back and took a moment to enjoy the colour that had risen on Young-mi’s soft cheeks. “You don’t need to look so nervous, I think you look so cute when you’re flustered.”

Instead of replying, Young-mi popped another piece of fried chicken in her mouth. It was so adorable and utterly childish that Hyun-ju bit back a laugh and once again let her eyes fall to the sketchbook. “I know we haven’t even finished our first date..but I want to see you again.”

Maybe it was too eager but she couldn’t hide it or try to dampen how she felt. It felt pointless to do such a thing when it was obvious that Young-mi felt the exact same way. The chemistry between them had been sizzling from the moment they had locked eyes, and right now, as she sat opposite her, Hyun-ju could see a similar interest burning in Young-mi’s warm eyes.

They both wanted the same thing.

“I want that too. I was worried about sounding too eager but if I’m being honest there are other places I want to take you to. There’s a cafe where customers can paint cups and plates, I’d love to take you there.”

“Only if you teach me all the proper techniques, seeing as you’re the artist.” Hyun-ju replied softly. She curled a hand around the glass of her beer and sipped at it while she watched as her date blushed deeply at her comment.

Knowing that she could make someone like Young-mi blush made her confidence soar to unknown heights. The only problem was that she couldn’t help but notice that it traveled down her throat, which happened to look very kissable.

Huffing out a breath, she swallowed down her latest discovery and placed her glass back down on the table. She couldn’t afford to think about suggestive things, not when they were at the beginning of exploring their possible dynamic together.

“I’ll teach you anything you want.” Those dark eyes traced her face before settling on her lips. “I have a feeling that you’re a quick learner.”

“I..”

Oh god.

She was speechless.

“Too much?” Young-mi asked gently, the heat in her eyes had dimmed to a more manageable level. It was like she was trying to show that she wasn’t pushing for anything, at least not right now.

“Maybe a little.” Hyun-ju admitted, before taking Young-mi’s hand. “I like the flirting, I’m just not used to it being directed at me.”

If she was being honest, no one had ever flirted with her. Not as her true self. She cringed to think about when girls would try and flirt with her, knowing that they wanted something she couldn’t give.

But now, with Young-mi, she didn’t have the same fear.

Letting their rings clink together, her date nodded softly. “I plan on changing that. I won’t go too far and if you need me to stop you can tell me and I’ll info dump about a video game I’m obsessed with.”

Oh.

Hyun-ju sighed, completely lovesick. “That sounds wonderful. I can’t promise that I know a lot about gaming, but I’m willing to learn.”

For you.

Entwining their fingers, Young-mi nodded eagerly. “When I get my PC set up I’ll invite you around and show you Stardew Valley, I think you’d enjoy it.”

Even knowing next to nothing about video games Hyun-ju felt a twinge of excitement in her chest. It didn’t matter what they did together, she just wanted to be near Young-mi as much as she could.

“What’s it about?”

…

Hours flew by, with Young-mi choosing to open a fresh page in her sketchpad to doodle some of the characters from memory. She gave brief backstories, and gave spoiler free details about events like the mayor’s purple shorts, and the winter market. She explained the mines and how many times she had died during her first try at completing all 120 floors.

Hyun-ju was hooked on every word, and took a lot of joy in watching Young-mi bring each character to life.

“So I can romance anyone I want?”

“Nearly everyone. The creator of the game ran out of time. But who knows, maybe they’ll be an update in the future.”

“I see.”

Humming she looked over each drawing of the romanceable characters and nudged Young-mi’s hand. “Will you draw your character for me?”

“Oh, yeah I can do that.”

Finding an empty space on the page, Young-mi began to sketch her farmer, adding fun things like a piece of straw dangling from her lips, and exaggerated heart eyes. “There’s my character.”

“She’s a flirt like you, huh?”

“Of course.” Laughing to herself, Young-mi continued drawing, making another study, but this time the character was holding a sword proudly. “That’s more accurate. I haven’t actually started romancing anyone yet.”

“I’m shocked.” Hyun-ju said, completely deadpan. “Has no one caught your eye?”

For a split second Young-mi glanced at her, her eyes softening, and her lips parting as if she wanted to say something. At the last second she chose not to, shaking her head and looking back at the drawings. “I’ve been putting in the work to make my farm habitable for my animals. Finding a wife can wait.”

“I think I know who you would choose.” Hyun-ju said with a grin, before pointing at the drawing of Leah. “It has to be the cute artist that lives near the woods. Or maybe even Abigail, the gamer who likes adventure.”

“Both options sound good to me.” Placing the pencil back down, Young-mi leaned back and gazed at Hyun-ju again. “There’s someone else I would pick-”

Before she could finish, Ali walked over to their table with an apologetic look on his face. “Ladies, I’m sorry to interrupt your night but it’s closing time.”

Hyun-ju’s eyes widened, and she quickly glanced at her phone. They had been talking for hours and hadn’t even noticed how much time had passed. “Oh, sorry. I guess we lost track of time.”

“It’s not a problem. I understand. My wife and I were the same on our first date.” Ali said with a grin, as he removed the empty plates and stacked the glasses on it. “I hope you both enjoyed your night.”

“We did, thank you Ali.” Hyun-ju answered with a shy smile. She gave a quick glance to Young-mi before reaching for her bag. “I’ll just get some money for th-”

Young-mi tutted and handed over her card before Hyun-ju could say anything else. “Hyun-ju, I asked you out. I’m paying. Please put your purse away, this is my treat.”
She gave Hyun-ju a wink before sliding out of the booth. “I’ll go and pay then we can leave.”

Stunned into silence at the cheekiness of the entire moment, Hyun-ju simply nodded and watched as Young-mi followed after Ali. As the sound of the transaction filled the air, Hyun-ju picked up the pencil and wrote a little message on the page, before closing the sketchpad and placing the pencil down.

“Ready to head off?”

“Yes.” Gathering up her jacket and bag, Hyun-ju turned and saw her date rubbing her hands over her arms. Despite looking amazing on her, the thin t-shirt was doing nothing to keep her warm. “Are you cold?”

Still fiddling with her bag, Young-mi nodded and looked up to meet Hyun-ju’s kind face. “Yeah, but it’s fine. It’s my fault. I left my jacket at home.”

Shaking her head, Hyun-ju handed over her jacket and slipped it over Young-mi’s shoulders. It was a bit too big for her, but it looked adorable on her tiny frame. A spark of possessiveness rushed through her, and Hyun-ju slipped their hands together. “I know it doesn’t go with your outfit but I would rather see you warm.”

That and it gave her the excuse of seeing Young-mi in her clothes.

After giving Ali a wave goodbye, they left the bar and began the short walk to Hyun-ju’s car. It was parked a few streets away, something that Hyun-ju was grateful for. It meant she could enjoy having Young-mi’s hand in hers for longer.

“Did you enjoy tonight?”

The question made her pause. Of course she had enjoyed herself, but she felt a little melancholy at having to part ways. They had spent hours together, slowly getting to know each other and personally she had really liked what she had found out. Young-mi was smart, kind and caring, she loved dogs and wanted to adopt one when she got her own place. She was afraid of heights, and yet she was extremely brave.

Hyun-ju liked her so much that she knew this wouldn’t be their last date. This was going to be the first of many.

Wetting her lips, she glanced down at her date. “I loved every moment.”

Every moment spent with you.

A hitched breath escaped from Young-mi and she stroked her thumb over the back of Hyun-ju’s hand. “Me too. I don’t care if I sound too eager, I can’t wait for our next date.”

Feeling her cheeks heat at the thought, Hyun-ju led them to her car and unlocked and opened the door for Young-mi. “I wish we could stay out longer.”

Young-mi let out a groan of agreement. “As much as I’d love to keep you out all night, I don’t want to rush anything. We have something good and I think we should see where it goes.” Once Hyun-ju was inside the driver’s side, Young-mi continued, “I want us to take our time.”

“So, if I asked you if you wanted to come to mine for coffee?” Hyun-ju teased, watching as Young-mi accidentally let the seat belt drop out of her hands. A gorgeous blush rose to her cheeks and she coughed out a surprised laugh.

“I’d want to say yes.” She confessed, finally clicking the metal into place. “But I also want to take things slowly. Get to know you properly.”

Feeling touched at the sweetness of her answer, Hyun-ju swallowed down her desire to lean over the console and kiss Young-mi right then and there. If she did she knew she wouldn’t be able to stop, and for both of their sakes she chose to ignore how she felt and pull away from the curb.

“I’m just teasing you.” Driving past the bar, Hyun-ju forced herself to look away from Young-mi and concentrate on the road. “You’re going to have to give me directions or else you’ll have to come home with me.”

“Don’t tempt me.” Young-mi murmured under her breath. Running a hand through her hair, she eyed Hyun-ju for a second before giving the name of the street. “It’s not far from here. Keep using this street and then take a right when you reach the 7/11.”

The rest of the ride went by quickly, with the pair of them sneaking glances at each other like preteens with their first crush. They shared the same energy, both giddy and not willing to hide it. They didn’t need to, they had both made their intentions very clear during their date.

“I’m up here on the right.” Young-mi pointed to a small road that led up to another street with residential buildings. “I can hop out here if it's easier for you.”

Maybe it would have been, but Hyun-ju frowned and pulled up to a curb not far from the street Young-mi had pointed to. It looked dark with flickering street lights that made her uneasy.

There was no way in hell she was letting Young-mi walk up there alone.

“Let me walk you.”

Young-mi didn’t get much say in the matter but she didn’t seem to mind. In fact as soon as they were both out of the car she found Hyun-ju’s hand and began to lead her to her place of residence. Once they had walked up the small road, Hyun-ju spotted Jun-hee’s beat up car a few metres away.

“So this is the new building?” Hyun-ju mused, and as they got closer she began to stare harder at the building. After years of dealing with old buildings with terrible structure she couldn’t help but be a little obsessive over it. “Is it better than your old place? It looks safer.”

It wasn’t as high as the other building, and it looked like it had been built somewhere in the last twenty years. The windows looked sturdy and the drain pipes were actually attached with metal clips, with no signs of plants growing out of them.

As dodgy as it looked at night, Hyun-ju guessed it looked a lot safer during the day.

“Well it doesn’t smell of smoke and my neighbours aren’t trying to start riots in the stairwell, so I’d say it's fantastic.” Glancing up at Hyun-ju, Young-mi carefully bumped into her, making the taller of the two look down. “I appreciate you walking me to my door, but you really didn’t have to.”

Taking in the soft smile that she had quickly grown to love, Hyun-ju nudged her back playfully. “I like knowing you got in safely. It puts my mind at ease.”

Fishing her keys out of her bag, Young-mi gave Hyun-ju’s hand another squeeze. “Stop being so perfect. It’s making it difficult not to ask you inside.”

Letting their hands drop, Hyun-ju took a step back and gave Young-mi room to breathe. In truth if she didn’t move she would be tempted to ask if she could come up, and that wasn’t what they both wanted right now.

Instead of giving in to her basic wants, she kept her distance. It was easier this way. “Maybe some other time. I still want to see this farm of yours.”

Young-mi laughed. “That’s definitely on the cards.”

Nodding quickly, Hyun-ju paused before moving forward and pulling her into a much needed hug. “Thank you for tonight. I had a lot of fun.”

Young-mi hummed and snuggled into her chest with a pleased sound. “I did too. It was the best first date I’ve ever had.”

It felt like torture to let her go, but Hyun-ju had to. She couldn’t stand there all night, even if the idea made her glow with happiness. “I’m glad to hear it. The second date will be even better.” Pulling back she smiled and took a few steps backwards, watching as Young-mi began to unlock the main door.

Glancing over her shoulder, Young-mi paused. “Will you message me when you get home?”

Hyun-ju felt another smile pull at her lips, while her heart stuttered in her chest. She would never get used to having someone care about her like that. Never in her thirty-six years had she ever had anyone say such a thing. “I will.”

“You better. I won’t sleep until I know you got home safe.” It was partly a joke but from the way Young-mi was looking back at her, Hyun-ju knew she was serious.

Holding up her pinky, Hyun-ju winked at her. “I promise I’ll let you know when I get home.”

With one last shy wave, she watched as Young-mi entered the building and walked out of sight. Her phone buzzed a few seconds later.

Young-mi: I’m inside *photo attached*

The photo in question was a selfie, with Young-mi smiling at the camera, still wearing her jacket. She looked so beautiful that Hyun-ju almost dropped her phone.

Hyun-ju: I’m glad to see it.

Biting her lip she took another look at the photo before deciding to be brave.

Hyun-ju: You look beautiful. Sleep well.

Slipping her phone into her pocket she hurriedly walked back to her car. The dark didn’t bother her, not when she was radiating happiness. The lights flickered above her and faintly she felt her phone buzz again.

Holding in the urge to look at it she rushed to her car. Finally in her seat she grabbed her phone again.

Young-mi: Thank you x

Hyun-ju stared down at the message before breaking out into a massive smile. She might not have had the courage to kiss her, but seeing the x at the end of the message left her just as satisfied.

Once she had driven home, Hyun-ju changed out of her blouse and trousers, into soft pyjamas and climbed into bed.

Hyun-ju: I’m home. Goodnight, Young-mi x *photo attached*

…

Curled up in bed with her drawing pad on her lap, Young-mi opened the message from Hyun-ju and felt her heart flutter. Hyun-ju had sent her a photo of herself looking cosy in bed. It was completely innocent with her hair slightly messy and a big smile on her face.

“Fuck.” Young-mi whispered, staring down at the picture with wide eyes. “I should have kissed her.”

Chapter Text

“I still can’t believe you didn’t kiss her.” Jun-hee said, laughing at the blush that appeared on Young-mi’s face. “She flirted with you all night, practically eye fucked you from what you’ve told me-”

“There was no eyefucking! I never said that.” Covering her burning face with her hands, Young-mi groaned. She had thought that giving the details of her date would be fine but now she had to deal with being teased by Jun-hee who was enjoying herself far too much. “I hate you so much. Do not tell our friends about this. I’ll never forgive you.”

“No, I fully plan on letting them find this all out in their own time.” Still laughing, Jun-hee pretended to wipe a tear from her eye and continued with the onslaught. “Hyun-ju gave you her jacket, drove you home and then insisted on walking you to the building. She did all of that, and you didn’t at least ask to kiss her? Did you want to? Or did you panic because she’s hot?”

Swallowing down her lingering embarrassment, the artist dropped her hands and sighed. “As hot as she is, there was a notable lack of panic. I wanted to kiss her. We both wanted to, but we decided to take things slowly.”

Jun-hee narrowed her eyes. “You talked about how much you wanted to kiss and still didn’t? You’re a pair of idiots. If I were you I would have taken up upstairs.” Her roommate raised her eyebrows in a suggestive manner, causing Young-mi to throw a cushion at her head.

There was no way of defending herself, not when she felt her chest aching at the thought of wanting to kiss Hyun-ju. Never before had she felt such levels of desire. Holding back felt like an impossible task but one that she felt she needed to do. She didn’t want to rush anything or take a single moment for granted. Hyun-ju deserved more than a quick fumble.

But it wasn’t just lust she felt, privately the idea of having carnal knowledge of Hyun-ju made her head spin, but that was the crux of the matter. It was the singular need to be close to her. Getting to know her was just as important and maybe even more so.

The few hours they had spent together on their date hadn’t been enough. Her thirst for her wasn’t quenched and likely wouldn’t be until she saw her again.

Almost like she was drawn to it, she felt her eyes drifting to glance at the jacket hanging up by the door.

The jacket she had borrowed and forgotten to return.

Hyun-ju’s jacket.

It had been too long on the arms, and had dropped below her waist, making her look like a child wearing oversized clothes. However traces of Hyun-ju’s perfume lingered on the collar, and wearing it made her feel like she was being hugged by the taller woman.

If she wasn’t currently being watched by her best friend she might have felt inclined to go and pull the item of clothing on.

The yearning she was doing was beyond pathetic, if she wanted a shred of her reputation back she had to gather herself and quit looking like a sad puppy. It wouldn’t fool Jun-hee, but it would make things feel better, even if it was just an act.

“Doing that wouldn’t have felt right. I don’t think she's dated anyone since she transitioned.” She admitted, and looked back at her friend. “So, As soppy as it sounds, I want to give her the romance she truly deserves.”

Then quietly, “I want to give her everything and show her what it feels like to be wanted and cared for.”

A stunned silence filled the apartment, saved only by Young-mi shifting on their sofa. She wiggled until she managed to get comfortable and then cast a reluctant look at her friend. “You must think I’ve lost my mind.”

Jun-hee took a while to respond as she thought about what she wanted to say. If it was anyone else in their friend group, Young-mi would have been scared of the silence, but Jun-hee was kinder than the others. She liked to joke and tease, but she always knew when to stop.

“No, I don’t think that at all.” Jun-hee said, with a soft smile on her face. “I just think you’re falling in love with her, so it’s natural that you want to do everything right. I also think you’re incredibly lucky to have found someone that you want to do all of those things for. Hyun-ju is a very lucky woman.”

She then snorted, and got up from where she was sitting and sat down beside Young-mi. “Do you think Hyun-ju knows any cute firefighters? I’m starting to get a little jealous.”

“I’ll ask, maybe you’ll get lucky.” Laughing in disbelief, Young-mi found herself slipping their fingers together and resting her head on Jun-hee’s shoulder. She had never felt so grateful for spilling her feelings. The support from a woman she considered her sister was exactly what she had been looking for, and now she had it she felt so much more confident in her actions. “Thank you for being my voice of reason.”

Turning her head, Jun-hee pressed a kiss to her hair. “Young-mi, if I’m your voice of reason you’re fucked.”

Rolling her eyes, Young-mi sat up and pulled out her phone. She typed in her password and found the messaging app in record time. Opening the chat she smiled like a lovestruck teenager.

Hyun-ju: I have an hour lunch on Saturday. Would you like to do the pottery painting then? x

Young-mi: I’d love to x

Seeing as Hyun-ju hadn’t responded, she decided to quickly add another message.

Young-mi: I still have your jacket, should I drop it off at your work, or would you mind if I held onto it? x

Hyun-ju: It’s up to you. I know it’s in good hands so I’m not too worried about it x

Young-mi: Oh, I’m taking good care of it. I promise x

Young-mi: The perfume you were wearing on our date is still on the collar. It smells so nice x

Hyun-ju:...

Hyun-ju: I can’t believe I’m jealous of a jacket x

Young-mi: Oh? x

Hyun-ju: If you’re not currently busy you could drop it off today. I’m working an extra shift as a favour, but it might be nice to get my jacket back x

Hyun-ju: I would also love to see you again x

“Hyun-ju is such a flirt.”

Tilting her phone away, Young-mi let out a sigh and side-eyed her roommate. “Do you have to read my messages over my shoulder like some creep?”

Jun-hee laughed unashamedly, still trying to get a glimpse of the screen. “As your best friend, yes I do. Now tell her we’re on our way. I have a cute firefighter to find, and you..you have to return her jacket and try not to kiss her.”

Rolling her eyes, Young-mi quickly typed a response before rushing off to get ready.

Young-mi: We’re on our way x

Hyun-ju: Really? x

Young-mi: Do you really expect me to say no after a message like that? x

Hyun-ju: Ask for me at the front desk x

Hyun-ju: I'll see you soon :) x

…

It was mid-day when they pulled up outside the fire station, and Young-mi could already feel butterflies swirling in her belly at the thought of seeing Hyun-ju so soon after their first date. If she was being honest, she felt a little nervous, mainly due to not wanting to look too eager. The last thing she wanted was to put Hyun-ju off, or worse make it seem like she was clingy.

In fairness to her, she only came to drop off the jacket. If, by some unfair event, Hyun-ju was too busy to see her, she would simply drop it off at the front desk and go on with the rest of her day.

It wouldn’t be a problem.

Biting her lip, she checked her phone for any updated messages. There weren’t any so she still had some hope they would get to talk.

Since Hyun-ju had dropped her off, even going as far as walking her to her door, she was all Young-mi could think about. She hadn’t stopped going over just how beautiful Hyun-ju looked as she laughed. One of Young-mi’s favourite things was watching how Hyun-ju’s eyes would crinkle at the corners, while she tried to stifle the deep tones of her laugh.

She wasn’t sure if it was ok to admit but she found the little slips of tone adorable.It was a tiny thing but it showed that she was comfortable enough to be open. That she could be relaxed now that Young-mi knew of her transition.

Then there was the way Young-mi had watched Hyun-ju’s eyes dip down to her lips before she bid her farewell.

Young-mi bit her lip and leaned back against her seat in the car. She should have kissed her. Damn the urge she had to take things slow with a woman she cared about so deeply it scared her.

It was the right choice.

But fuck, that didn’t stop her from wishing she had curled her fingers into the collar of Hyun-ju’s blouse and tugged her into their first kiss.

She could only imagine just how soft Hyun-ju’s lips were.

Would she be gentle? Or would she take the lead and demand more from her?

Either way, Young-mi didn’t mind.

“Daydreaming about her before going to see her is peak gay behaviour.” Jun-hee interrupted, flicking Young-mi’s nose with her finger. “I'm surprised you didn’t want to stop at the market and buy her flowers.”

She knew that Jun-hee was kidding, but bringing flowers to their next date sounded like a good idea. The chances that Hyun-ju had ever been given a bunch was extremely low, which both saddened her but also made her want to change that for the better.

“I'm saving that for next time.” Young-mi promised, unbuckling her seat belt. “I know I've asked you a million times, but does my outfit look ok?”

“It’s cute and casual.” Fixing the way her skirt had fallen, Jun-hee made a few more adjustments before nodding in satisfaction. “Yeah, she's going to like seeing you in this.”

Unlike the previous night, Young-mi had forgone any mesh and decided to go with her favourite cropped band tee and a black flared short skirt with matching tights. It wasn’t supposed to be alluring, but she privately hoped that Hyun-ju would appreciate it. She had added her perfume to her pulse points and dusted on a light layer of make-up.

Giving one last check in the mirror, she nodded at her reflection. Her eyeliner wasn’t quite perfect and she was doubting the length of her skirt, but there was no changing anything now.

Climbing out of the car, Young-mi let out a low whistle as she stared at the massive building. When Hyun-ju had spoken about her place of work she hadn’t mentioned how large the station was. It was a grey giant, with windows lining the front and massive sliding doors for the emergency vehicles. A few of the doors were open, with some of the fire engines sitting outside in the afternoon sun.

To the side there was a smaller entrance with a lobby and a front desk. It was for general queries and walk-ins so it wouldn’t be too strange to just walk in and ask to see if Hyun-ju was available.

As she stepped inside the building, Young-mi covered her mouth to stifle a laugh. Behind the main desk was a man she vaguely recognised from the night of the fire. Signaling to Jun-hee, they crept forward and watched as the man threw a gummy in the air and effortlessly caught it in his mouth. He cheered to himself, before coughing once he realised he had an audience.

“Oh, sorry I was just-”

Jun-hee smirked and marched over, cheekily stealing a single gummy and copying him. She did it with such ease that Young-mi rolled her eyes.

A few years ago they had decided to practice the trick until they all could do it flawlessly. Annoyingly, Jun-hee was the only one who picked it up quickly. Young-mi had hit herself in the eye and chin more times then she could remember.

The man brightened at the spectacle and offered her another gummy which she refused with a laugh. “I’m not here to steal your snacks.” Gesturing to Young-mi, she pointed at the jacket which hung over one arm. “We’ve come to deliver a jacket to Cho Hyun-ju. My friend took her out on a date last night and she graciously gave her this jacket to keep her warm. Everything I hear about that woman makes her sound like she stepped out of a romance novel.”

“Jun-hee, he doesn’t need to know that.” Young-mi hissed, her cheeks colouring at having her business aired like that.

“Oh yeah, I remember you from the other night.” He noted, before grinning like he had heard something amusing. Pushing aside the bag of gummies, he sat up straighter in his chair. “So you’re the reason she’s been smiling all day.”

Young-mi looked over at him in surprise. “She has?”

Folding his hands on the desk, he nodded. “Yeah, which is weird because it’s her day off. I knew something was up when she came in, she was typing on her phone with a massive grin on her face. It’s rare to see anyone happy to come in on their day off.”

“Oh.”

Jun-hee inched forward, nearly touching the front of the desk with her hands. “So she was called in on her day off and she's smiling?” Turning to wink at Young-mi, she chuckled to herself. “Isn’t that interesting, Young-mi?”

Ignoring the teasing from her friend, she stepped forward and joined her at the front of the desk. Once there she glanced at the orange work uniform the firefighter was wearing. Silently she wondered if Hyun-ju would be wearing the same thing, or if she would be wearing her work gear.

She wouldn’t say no to seeing her in that helmet again.

Blinking her minor fantasy away, she forced herself to concentrate back on the conversation.

“-it’s the happiest I’ve ever seen her, which probably doesn’t count for much because I’m new.” He mentioned with a laugh before glancing back at Jun-hee and offering her a playful salute. “I’m Kang Dae-ho. The latest recruit to the precinct. I’m a trainee firefighter.”

Just like clockwork, Jun-hee returned the gesture with the beginnings of a soft flush growing on her cheeks. Her eyes dropped to his arms before making a noise of appreciation. “I’m Kim Jun-hee, I’m Young-mi’s best friend and roommate.”

“She’s single.” Young-mi added, stepping forward so she could slip her free arm around Jun-hee’s shoulder. “Just in case you were wondering.”

A swift elbow to the side sent Young-mi stumbling away, making her groan and laugh at the same time. Revenge was sweet and seeing as the two of them were now blushing she considered her work done.

“That’s good to know.” Clearing his throat, he pointed towards an inner door. “She’s just through there doing a demo for some of the local school kids. I’m sure she’d be more than happy to have a few extra people watching.”

“Are you sure? I wouldn’t want to get in the way.” Young-mi straightened up and clutched the jacket tighter, suddenly feeling nervous at seeing Hyun-ju again. “We could wait here until she’s finished.”

Jun-hee scoffed and took her by the arm. She threw one last look towards Dae-ho before leading Young-mi over to the door. “No. You’re going through this door. I didn’t drive you all this way to chicken out.”

Seeing as she had no choice but to go through with it, Young-mi shrugged her off. “Alright, alright. I’m going.” Glancing over her shoulder she looked at Dae-ho who was watching them with amusement dancing in his eyes. “Thanks for your help.”

“Anytime. I’ll talk to you later.” The last part wasn’t directed at her but at her blushing friend, who threw him another smile before they left the room.

As quietly as they could, Young-mi and Jun-hee snuck into the room and made sure to stand by the wall so they wouldn't accidentally interrupt anything.

A foot away from them was a group of enraptured children, aged between six and eight years old, all focused on the massive fire engine in the middle of the room. Zeroing on the cab, Young-mi watched as a firefighter decked out in full work gear opened the door and slid out of the driver’s seat. Taking off the helmet, the firefighter shook her hair and looked out at the crowd. Hyun-ju grinned at the kids and waved politely.

With the helmet in her gloved hands, Hyun-ju held it up for all the kids to see. “This is my personal helmet. It’s part of the uniform we have to wear when we fight fires. No one is allowed inside the building in any unauthorised clothing. We take safety very seriously here.” Once finished, she let some of the kids hold the helmet, and even fetched a smaller one so they could take turns in trying it on.

Taking a step back, Hyun-ju nodded at the teachers and let them take photos for the parents of the children. The smile on her face stayed the entire time, which only served to make Young-mi’s heart swell in adoration.

“Does anyone remember what Firefighter Seong told us?” A round of hands rose in the air, all waving desperately. Picking one at random, the little girl stepped forward.

“That you practice putting the uniform on as quickly as you can!” Her voice echoed in the cavernous room, and Hyun-ju grinned happily.

“That’s correct. We practice a lot so when we get an alert we can get to our location and save as many people as we can. Sometimes we save animals or important historical buildings like the temple that burnt down in the forest fire last year.”

Seemingly pleased at how well the kids were listening, Hyun-ju pointed to the cab with a gloved hand. “Now, before you go to watch the demonstration outside. Who wants to take a photo in the fire engine?”

The kids all raised their hands, some jumping in excitement while others rushed forward. It was complete chaos but if Hyun-ju was overwhelmed she didn't show it, instead she lifted each child up and let one of her colleague's take the photos for the teachers, who had to focus on controlling the excitable group. It took a while but slowly Hyun-ju worked through the crowd.

Young-mi stared unashamed. Just like on the night they met, her heart began to pound and her fingers clenched to keep from shaking.

Sure, last night Hyun-ju looked completely gorgeous, but seeing her interact with kids was something totally different. She made them laugh and put the quiet children at ease with her calming voice. Not to mention that she looked so attractive all decked out in her gear that Young-mi could barely look anywhere but at her.

“You want to have her babies so badly.” Jun-hee teased, whispering into her ear. It was a silly comment but it made Young-mi flush deeply and shuffle on the spot.

It was far too early to entertain such things, but undoubtedly Hyun-ju would be a wonderful mother. She clearly loved children and it didn’t take a genius to see that they loved her too. Her joy was infectious, which even led to some of the stern-looking teachers to smile and join in on the fun.

A short older man strolled over and clapped his hands together. It made the children go quiet and look at him curiously. “We're going to do the demonstration outside, so everyone please say thank you to our Fire Chief Cho Hyun-ju. You'll see her later on for the tour, now let's get going.”

“Thank you!”

“Thank you Miss Hyun-ju.”

“Bye!”

As they filtered out of the main room and outside, Young-mi watched as Hyun-ju waved at some of the stragglers before they walked out of sight. If she hadn’t been won over on their date, the expression of pride would have done it for her.

Taking a hesitant step forward, Young-mi felt an automatic smile pull at her lips. “That was the cutest thing I've ever seen.”

Hyun-ju looked startled, and glanced over. Her face immediately went red and she began straightening her uniform. “Young-mi, I..I didn’t see you come in.”

“We snuck in.” Jun-hee voiced, waving over at Hyun-ju. “Dae-ho said we could watch as long as we were quiet.” Giving Young-mi a tap on the arm, Jun-hee started walking backwards where they had just come from. “Anyway, I don’t want to interrupt anything, so I’m going to try and get his number. Message me when you’re finished flirting and I’ll see you at the car.”

Not even bothering to shoot down her claims, Young-mi waited for the door to shut, leaving her alone with Hyun-ju. “I’m sorry about her. She’s..passionate about my happiness.”

“It’s not a problem.” With the shock at being watched having worn off, the firefighter gestured for Young-mi to come over to the engine. She took the jacket from Young-mi and placed it on a nearby bench before returning to her side. “I thought I would be finished by the time you came by. I’m a little embarrassed that you saw me in teacher mode.”

Joining her by the massive fire engine, Young-mi let her eyes drift over the uniform before meeting Hyun-ju’s gaze. “Don’t be. I thought it was cute. You’re amazing with kids.”

It was yet another thing for her to freak out over later on. There was no doubt that she wouldn’t be able to get over the soft look on Hyun-ju’s face or the sheer delight she had in getting to share important information to the younger generations. It was beyond attractive, it was pure and only made her want her more.

“You think so?” A light blush coloured her cheeks, before Hyun-ju cleared her throat. “I’ve always liked the idea of having kids.”

Young-mi’s heart skipped a beat, and wordlessly she found Hyun-ju’s gloved hand. “You’d be such a good mom. Any child would be lucky to consider you their parent.”

It wasn’t the type of flirting she had imagined she would be doing, but the look on Hyun-ju’s face at her comment made Young-mi internally cheer. The firefighter looked like she was about to cry, but not out of sadness. There was so much joy in her that she stepped closer to the older woman. Once again the urge to kiss her came bounding back and with all the power in her heart, she stepped back and dropped her hand from Hyun-ju’s glove.

“I’m enjoying seeing you in your work gear.” She said, wanting to divert the conversation back to less heavy topics. Talking about children when they hadn’t even kissed each other was silly, and not something they needed to get into so early on. Raising her hand, she grazed over the jacket, focusing on the main zipper that ran down the middle. “I didn’t get to appreciate the view last time.”

“I should have guessed that you would like it.” Hyun-ju’s breath hitched in her throat and she shifted on her feet. “ I'm curious. Which part is your favourite?”

The helmet in Hyun-ju’s hands drew Young-mi’s eye, and so she nodded at it. “The helmet. I like seeing you take it off, you shake your head and your hair spills out and you look so beautiful I can hardly think.”

That brought a tiny smile to the firefighter’s face. It was shy, almost like she didn’t quite believe the words said to her.

Just imagining that Hyun-ju wasn’t used to compliments made Young-mi’s heart ache. It felt wrong that such a beautiful woman, both inside and out, had been treated poorly just because of her identity. Of course she wasn’t naive, she knew that their country wasn’t as accepting or forgiving as others, but that didn’t stop her from wanting it to be.

Didn't they deserve more?

Licking her drying lips, Young-mi made sure to look directly into Hyun-ju’s eyes. “I mean it. I think you’re beautiful.”

A single tear slid down Hyun-ju’s cheek before she scoffed to herself and wiped it away with the back of her glove. “You don't have to say things like that. I already like you.”

Sensing that her next words could make or break them, Young-mi responded slowly. “I know, I said it because I wanted to.” Then a smile crossed her face. “So, you like me?”

“Young-mi..”

“You like me and you want to kiss me.” She teased, watching as Hyun-ju tried and failed not to smile. It was so lovely to see her happy, that Young-mi darted forward and pressed a light kiss to her cheek. “It’s ok, I like you too and I plan on kissing you a lot in the future.”

“Does that not count as a kiss?” Hyun-ju questioned, and despite the obvious flush to her face, she seemed like she had received a wave of confidence from nowhere.

“No.”

“So if I kiss you here,” Hyun-ju murmured, and shifted forward to place a gentle kiss dangerously close to the corner of her mouth. She smirked as she pulled back, her eyes darted between lips she wanted to kiss and eyes she couldn’t stop gazing into. “It doesn’t count?”

Young-mi swallowed and clenched her hands into fists to keep from grabbing Hyun-ju’s collar and tugging her into something they would regret. It was so difficult not to give in, but they were at Hyun-ju’s place of work, and she had only come for a quick visit.

She couldn’t-

“As long as I don’t kiss you on the lips, technically I could kiss you anywhere.” The musing thought made her breath hitch in her throat. Young-mi didn’t know if she could fight herself if Hyun-ju continued to be playful like this.

“Like your neck, I’d kiss every inch before moving down and,” Gripping the helmet tighter, Hyun-ju sighed heavily. “What I wouldn’t give to continue that sentence.”

“Please don’t.” Young-mi laughed shakily. “I..If you do I won’t be able to stop myself, and I don’t think it’s wise to make out at your work.

“No, no. You’re right. I promise I’ll behave.” After a moment she raised the helmet in her hands and carefully placed it on Young-mi’s head. “Just as I thought. You look so cute.”

Adjusting how it sat on her head, Young-mi giggled. “First your jacket and now your helmet. What next?”

“Hm, I have a few oversized t-shirts that would look nice on you. They’d be more like dresses since you’re so tiny.” Hyun-ju said with a chuckle. “Although, I like your current outfit very much. That skirt looks lovely on you.”

The earnest sounding compliment after all the flirting sent Young-mi into a fit of giggles. She covered her mouth and bent forward as she tried to gather herself. “Sorry..I’m not laughing at you. You just went from being all flirty and sauve to complimenting my clothing.”

Hyun-ju let out a small laugh. “I could keep flirting but that might lead into something else, and when we have our first kiss I want it to be somewhere we won’t be interrupted.”

Sobering up, Young-mi took off the helmet and handed it back. “I want that too.”

“Good.” With the helmet back in her hands, Hyun-ju glanced over at the open doors. The demonstration was still going on, and going by the sounds of water and laughter they had a little time before they would be interrupted. “Do you want to sit in the cab? I could take your photo.”

The height of the steps to the cab made Young-mi pause. It wasn’t anything too significant, and nothing compared to the fire escape she had climbed down, but it still made her feel uneasy. The last thing she wanted was to slip and accidentally make a fool out of herself in front of Hyun-ju.

Picking up on her unease, Hyun-ju put the helmet down and took off her gloves, placing them beside the helmet. “I’ll help you get up and down. I won’t let anything bad happen.”

“What if I fall?”

“I’ve caught you before, haven’t I? Anyway, I wouldn’t mind if you fell for me.” She winked cheekily, before returning back to her usual attitude. Apart from the brief flirtiness, Young-mi could spot the kindness shining in her eyes. There was nothing but reassurance echoing her statement. Hyun-ju meant every word. “I promise, I’ll be right here.”

Staring back at her, Young-mi took in the way Hyun-ju looked at her. She was so soft and encouraging, making sure to give her a gentle smile that said she wasn’t forcing her to do something she didn’t want to. It was all up to her and for that Young-mi felt her chest go warm with adoration for her.

As time was going on she was finding it harder and harder to keep from letting herself fall in love with this woman.

She was perfect in every way.

Swallowing down any lingering reservations, she held out her hand and let Hyun-ju lead her over to the door of the cab. “I trust you.”

Opening the door to the fire engine, Hyun-ju stepped back and nodded. “Ok, I’ll be right behind you as you climb up. If you slip I’ll grab your waist.”

The initial climb up wasn’t as frightening as she had thought. She had trust that Hyun-ju wouldn’t let anything bad happen, and in a few steps she was sitting in the driver’s seat.

The cab itself was quite roomy, with space enough for three firefighter’s to sit comfortably. There were additional seating just behind and some extra equipment stashed in compartments. It was impressive how they managed to utilise the space.

“Have you driven this before?” She glanced down at Hyun-ju and gripped the wheel to feel more secure. “I’d be terrified of crashing into other cars.”

“I have and I can’t say it isn’t scary at first. We all need to know how to handle our vehicles, just in case any of us get hurt on the job.” Climbing up on the lowest step, Hyun-ju pointed to the middle seat. “That’s my spot. I normally assess the state of the fire before sending anyone in the buildings, and if needed I tackle rescue and recovery. I try to help as many people as I can.”

Sliding over to sit in Hyun-ju’s seat, Young-mi gave the driver’s place a pat and blushed as she watched Hyun-ju eagerly follow after her.

With the door shut the space inside the cab felt a lot smaller. She wasn’t even touching Hyun-ju and yet she felt like she was pressed against her.

Letting out a calm breath, Young-mi shifted so she was half turned towards the firefighter. “It sounds stressful, you have so many lives to think about. Yours included.”

It was silly but she felt a little spike of fear curl in her belly. She knew just how dangerous Hyun-ju’s job was, but now that there were feelings involved and she was sitting in the vehicle that transported her to numerous locations that could endanger her, it left her nervous.

Between them on the seat, Hyun-ju found her hand.

“I always take precautions, and never take unnecessary risks.” Flipping her hand over, Young-mi let their palms grazed and their fingers interlock. “Now that things are changing I’ll be extra careful.”

The gentle slide of their fingers made Young-mi pause. “Oh?”

“Now that I have someone to care about. I don’t want her to worry.” Her voice sank deeper, making Young-mi’s eyes flutter closed. She liked how it felt like Hyun-ju’s voice ran through her, like electricity through a wire. She had never felt so alive, and made sure to enjoy sharing a little moment like this. Opening her eyes again, she glanced over at Hyun-ju.

“I knew what I was signing up for, but that doesn’t mean I won’t worry about you.” Shifting over she dared to lay her head on Hyun-ju’s shoulder. “I love that you’re passionate about your job, it makes me happy to see you thriving and knowing you have good people around you.”

She hadn’t known Hyun-ju for very long, it had been only a few days but that had been enough for her to understand just how important this job was to her. She lived and breathed for it, loved her colleagues and enjoyed taking care of people she rescued. Even the little things, like teaching children basic fire safety or doing mountains of paperwork, all of it brought her joy.

Hyun-ju loved firefighting, and who was Young-mi to try and stop her from doing it? She couldn’t dream of doing such a thing. It was far too cruel and she couldn’t bear to hurt her like that.

Lifting her head from Hyun-ju’s shoulder, Young-mi found herself pressing another kiss to her cheek. She kept it quick and pulled away before she could feel inclined to keep going. Hyun-ju’s jawline was annoyingly kissable, so much that she sucked in a breath and turned her head.

“If you keep kissing my cheek I’ll end up kissing you.” Hyun-ju warned, however she was smiling as she said it and pressed her lips to Young-mi’s temple in return. “I’ll always be grateful that I joined the fire service. I found my place in the world, made friends and started to live again.”

The positivity was infectious, and Young-mi found herself smiling in return. “I’m glad it gave you so much.”

“It gave me you too.” Then she quickly backpedalled, tensing as she quickly recovered from her mistake, “I mean..you’re not mine. You don’t belong to anyone. Especially not me.”

“Relax.” Chuckling at her panic, Young-mi pulled back enough so they were looking at each other. “It’s ok, I know what you meant.”

Seeing the tension leave her shoulders, Young-mi watched as Hyun-ju fully settled down. “So I haven’t ruined my chances?”

“I don’t want to start something here, so all I’ll say is that I wouldn’t mind being yours.” She didn’t look at Hyun-ju when she said it, knowing that with the tension between them being thick, it wouldn’t take much for them to throw all caution to the wind.

“Really?” Hyun-ju breathed, before letting out a shy little laugh. “That’s good to hear.”

Letting the sweet laughter wash over her, Young-mi relaxed into the seat and took a moment to just gaze at the woman beside her. Even in the slight darkness of the cab, Hyun-ju looked so pretty.

She wanted to voice it, to go into detail about how seeing Hyun-ju in her work gear made her feel. How she had felt in a constant state of breathlessness around her and how hard she had to work to keep herself in check.

There would be an ideal time and place to share those thoughts, but the darkness of a cab that already felt too cosy wasn’t it.

The reward wasn’t worth the risk, even if she longed for it.

Instead she chose to sink into how much she adored the woman next to her. That was the safe option.

“I wish we could stay here forever.” She admitted, and watched as Hyun-ju nodded in agreement. “I suppose we should leave. I don’t want any of your colleagues giving you shit for being alone in here with me.”

Lifting their joined hands, Hyun-ju kissed her knuckle before letting go. “I can live with the teasing. I’m the one who gets to spend my shift talking to a pretty girl, making her laugh and discussing our future dates. If any of them say anything I’ll assume they're jealous.”

She gave one last grin before opening the door of the cab, and sliding out. “Whenever you’re ready I’ll be here to catch you.”

Deciding to trust the firefighter, Young-mi slid forward and fell neatly into Hyun-ju’s awaiting arms. It was so smooth that she felt surprised at how gently she was set on her feet.

“Is this what you do with everyone you invite in your fire engine? Let them fall into your arms?” Yes, flirting just as she was about to leave was wrong, but she couldn’t help it. Making Hyun-ju blush had become a new favourite pastime of hers, and since it was harmless she considered doing it more often.

“No, you're getting special treatment.” Letting her hands slip from her waist, Hyun-ju moved to close the cab door. “Why? Are you worried about me having other people in my arms?”

“Maybe.” Young-mi teased, before shaking her head. “As long as you don't take them out on dates I think I'll survive.”

Nodding as if she was taking notes, Hyun-ju moved back so she was within touching distance. “There’s no chance of that happening. I only plan on dating you.”

Hearing something like that shouldn’t have pleased her, but it did. She knew that Hyun-ju was completely out of her league, and not just looks wise, but personality. She was the whole package, and in return Young-mi felt like she had nothing to offer. The only thing she could give was pure and honest feelings, and so far that had been as easy as breathing.

If things continued to go well she wanted to hopefully start a relationship and build something solid on the foundations of their dates.

As more time went on it was becoming increasingly obvious that her goals would be reached.

“Good, because I don’t like sharing with others. Not when it’s someone I really like.” She tapped Hyun-ju’s cheek and backed away before she could retaliate.

“Young-mi..I-”

A loud cheer from outside sounded, and Hyun-ju turned to see the group of children returning. “I think this might have to be goodbye. I promised them I’d give them a tour.”

She looked a little frustrated, but she put the helmet back on and gave Young-mi’s hand a squeeze. “Still on for Saturday? You can make fun of my painting skills.”

“I’ll have to teach you some techniques.” Glancing down at their hands, Young-mi softened. Holding hands was such a simple thing and yet she felt like she could float from happiness. “I have a feeling you're not as bad as you think. I think you might be hiding some secret talents from me.”

Giving her hand one last squeeze, Hyun-ju regretfully dropped it and put some distance between them. “You’re going to be so disappointed when all I can do is paint basic shapes.”

“Oh, I don’t know. You might be the best painter of triangles I’ve ever seen.” They separated as the group walked further into the room. It felt like reality had come crashing down around them, leaving their sweet little moment in the past. “I'll message you later. Have fun with the tour, Fire Chief.”

Heading back over to the door she came through, she turned back to send Hyun-ju a wink. It was amusing to see her firefighter red faced and slightly speechless at the gesture. It was a final gift, one that she gave as freely as her heart.

Noticing that the lobby was completely empty, Young-mi pulled out her phone. She didn’t doubt that Jun-hee had worked her magic on Dae-ho, she always seemed quite capable of getting whatever she wanted.

Young-mi: I’ve finished flirting.

Jun-hee: So have I

Young-mi: You managed to get his number? You work fast.

Jun-hee: Of course I did. He could barely take his eyes off me.

Jun-hee: You spent a lot of time alone with your firefighter. Did you give in and kiss her like you’ve been dying to?

Snorting at the message, Young-mi walked out of the building and straight to the car where she found Jun-hee sitting comfortably in the driver’s seat. Her phone was clutched between her fingers and her lipgloss was smudged.

“You kissed him!?” Young-mi exclaimed with a laugh, opening her door and sliding in. “He must have been amazed by your gummy catching skills.”

Tucking her phone away, Jun-hee quickly wiped at her mouth, getting rid of any traces of gloss she had missed. She didn’t look embarrassed at being caught, more smug and proud of herself. “It worked, didn’t it? He gave me his number and he’s taking me out for a drink tonight.”

Clipping in the seat belt, Young-mi settled back into the seat. She felt a little jealous of how easy it was for her friend. She was effortless with her various attractions in a way Young-mi never would be.

Noticing the silence, Jun-hee looked over at her. “Something is telling me you weren’t as lucky.”

“I kissed her cheek.”

Saying what happened sounded silly, but she couldn’t possibly begin to explain how she had felt in the moment. It wasn’t just a kiss on the cheek, it was a promise that she made them both. She planned on taking it seriously, and the kiss was just the first part.

Annoyingly, Jun-hee let out a tiny giggle. She wasn’t trying to sound mean, but it came out harsher than intended. “Wow, at this rate you’ll have your first kiss with her when you’re thirty-five.”

Crossing her arms over her chest, Young-mi sighed loudly. “Every relationship I’ve had has been fast and burned out quickly. I don’t want the same thing to happen to whatever I have with Hyun-ju. I don’t care how long it takes, I really like her and I want to see where this goes.”

A hand covered her own. “I’m not judging, I’m just not used to seeing you like this. I highly approve of her effect on you.”

Patting Jun-hee’s hand, Young-mi shifted in place. “I know. We’re going on a date on Saturday, and I’m thinking of inviting her around to watch a movie after her shift.”

“Want me to make myself scarce? I can hang out with Yong-sik and Min-su, it's always funny to watch them get drunk.” She laughed to herself before biting her lip. “Yeah, on second thoughts maybe not. Se-mi would kill me.”

That was an understatement. Se-mi would hunt them down if they repeated the last night out they had as a group.

“Nah, you can join us. Give Min-su a break, you know he doesn’t drink much.”

Driving back to their apartment was a far more enjoyable affair. After meeting with Hyun-ju she felt calm and more settled than she had in her entire life. It was refreshing being around someone who lacked drama, and didn't care for acting up for attention.

All her previous relationships had felt so childish in comparison. Nothing deep or meaningful, just too much drinking and sex that left her feeling empty and unsatisfied.

Young-mi stole a quick glance at her messages with Hyun-ju. She hoped more than anything that they could build something strong and loving. All she had wanted since she was a kid was a family and while she had her friends, she wanted a partner to be at her side.

Young-mi: I really enjoyed seeing you today x

Young-mi: I couldn’t say it at the time but you looked unfairly attractive in your work gear x

Young-mi: I've always thought firefighters were hot..but you are on a whole different level x

Exiting the chat, she turned off her phone and smiled to herself. There was no harm in telling the truth now that she was a safe distance away from Hyun-ju. If she had mentioned it when they were alone or worse, in the confinement of the cab, she could only imagine what could have happened.

Fogging up the glass with amorous activities hadn’t previously been a fantasy of hers, but now it certainly sounded appealing.

It was only when they were back at the apartment that Young-mi decided to see if Hyun-ju had seen her messages. She was a little nervous, the confidence she had in the moment of pressing send had rapidly left her.

Hyun-ju: fuck

Hyun-ju: You have no idea how badly I want you

Hyun-ju: shit..sorry I shouldn’t have said that

Young-mi held her breath, her fingers slipping over the screen as she typed a quick response. Her heart was in her throat and she kept as quiet as possible so she didn't accidently get the attention of Jun-hee who was in the other room.

Young-mi: I want you too x

…

After hours leading excited children around the fire station, Hyun-ju finally had time to herself. She had taken to hiding in the female changing room, keeping away from any prying eyes that might try to ask her why she was so flustered. She didn’t need the hassle, so she had decided to sit on one of the benches with her phone cradled between her hands like it held all the secrets to the universe.

Young-mi: I want you too x

The message on the screen was practically burned into her head.

She had never thought anyone would ever desire her like that, and never allowed herself to dare to imagine it.

Just knowing Young-mi wanted such a thing with her made the beginning pulse of arousal spark in her belly. She wasn’t quite ready to have sex, but she knew she wanted it, and wanted to have it with Young-mi.

She trusted her explicitly with her heart and when the time came she would also trust her with her body.

Chapter Text

Hyun-ju was in love. She was sure of it, just like how she knew the sun would rise in the east, and that she was allergic to strawberries. It was just a simple fact that she lived by and would continue to do so until her heart gave out.

It was the first thing that crossed her mind as she entered the cafe. She had spotted Young-mi through the glass and felt her heart kickstart into a fierce rhythm. By now she was used to the reaction, but it didn’t stop her from feeling like a giddy teenager.

A bell above the door rang softly as she pushed it open and stepped inside. The cafe was decorated in soft pastels with plain cups, plates and bowls ready for painting. On other shelves were items that were in the process of drying, all showing various stages of artistic talent. On some were splodges of paint, while others had little animals and intrinsic designs detailed on the sides.

Already with an item in mind, she turned to the table Young-mi was sitting at and easily moved over to her. Like always her love was pouring over her sketchbook, so consumed in her actions that she didn’t even notice the chair opposite her being occupied.

Her date was wearing a long sleeved t-shirt that was already stained with paint in many different colours. Somehow it didn’t surprise her that Young-mi liked to wear her art, her self expression was vivid and really showed her character.

“Drawing something nice?” She asked, smiling brighter as Young-mi’s head darted up. “I love seeing you in your element.”

Dropping the pencil onto the paper, Young-mi reached over and gently touched the back of Hyun-ju’s hand. They couldn't touch like they wanted to, not if they wanted to keep people from staring at them. Holding hands could wait, but an innocent brush of hands wouldn't be seen as suspicious.

“I was just doodling while waiting for you.” She sat back and turned the pad around so Hyun-ju could see. On the page were different characters with rows of expressions and speech bubbles with jokes in them. “It’s for my new webtoon, the one I mentioned on our first date. I'm just practicing for some upcoming chapters.”

“These are amazing, Young-mi. If you don’t mind, I'd love to read the story. Only if you’re ok with it.” Glancing down at the page she chuckled at some of the more funny expressions. Pointing at one of them, she looked up. “This one is my favourite.”

“Of course you can. I can send you the link later on, as long as you promise to let me know what you think.” Tapping the end of the pencil against the paper, she looked down at the particular drawing Hyun-ju was pointing at. “Why that one?”

“She looks like you.”

The flirting was casual enough to get away with, and certainly enough to send a message. On the flipside it also gave her the opportunity to see Young-mi blush again which was always a perk.

“You are too much.” Closing the sketchpad, Young-mi tidied away everything apart from pencils and an eraser. “Now, what are you thinking of painting on? I'm choosing a bowl for my ramen addiction.”

A ramen addict? Now that was something that didn’t surprise her. She could imagine Young-mi up late, making runs at 2am to the local convenience store. It was an endearing thought, and so she smiled to herself and began to tap on the table idly.

Looking over at the shelves brimming with items ready for paint, she zeroed in on a mug. The size of it seemed perfect for the large quantities of coffee she liked to drink before a long shift. It also had a thick handle that looked sturdy enough not to snap in her hands. “I'm in need of a new coffee mug.”

Young-mi blinked in surprise. “You’re a coffee drinker?”

“Worse.” Hyun-ju leaned closer. “I like black coffee. No milk or sugar.”

“Ugh, I can’t believe it.” Shaking her head in mock horror, Young-mi laughed to herself. “Oh well, it doesn't matter. I still think you're cute, even if you have terrible taste in hot drinks.”

As predictable as snow in winter, Hyun-ju felt a slight warmth rise to her face. It was impossible not to react in some way, especially when it came to Young-mi. “I'm assuming you like hot chocolate? Something sweet to match your personality.”

“Let's just say that I enjoy the taste of sweet things.” The hand on hers slipped forward and began tracing up the length of her middle finger. “Like I know you will be.”

“Young-mi!” Hyun-ju felt a little scandalised at her words, having never been on the receiving end of such flirting she wasn’t used to it.

Young-mi’s hand paused the flirtatious movement and then quickly jerked away as her own words dawned on her. With her face drained of colour she sat up straighter, looking completely apologetic. “Sorry, I just..since you sent that message I thought..”

Oh.

The message.

Hyun-ju’s flush deepened, and she lowered her gaze to the table. It wasn’t that she was embarrassed about it, but it was very different talking about it when the very woman she had admitted to wanting was sitting opposite her. There was nowhere for her to hide, no changing rooms to lock herself in. She had to deal with the consequences of her actions head on and hope she was strong enough not to turn as red as a tomato.

“I meant it,” She began, wincing as her voice sounded slightly deeper than she wanted it to be. “I still do, but we haven’t..we haven’t even kissed yet and I don’t want you to think I’m so desperate that I would forgo it and jump straight into bed with you.”

She was babbling uncontrollably, and even glancing around the cafe to judge if anyone was listening in on their conversation. They weren’t, but her brain could be unkind at times, and make her jump to conclusions. Biting back her nerves, she leaned forward and bravely met the encouraging eyes of Young-mi. There was zero judgement there, only patience which gave her the courage to try to calm down.

“Can you tell I don’t do this a lot?” It was supposed to be a joke, but it sounded a lot more self deprecating than she wanted it to.

“I plan on kissing you first.”

“What?”

Young-mi smiled at her confusion and bravely linked their fingers together. The confidence of before had returned, but this time she wasn’t giving off any flirty energy. She seemed more put together and serious, which Hyun-ju admired.

Shifting forward so she could whisper, Young-mi began to explain herself, “Hyun-ju, I don’t want to take you to bed until I’ve learnt exactly how you like to be kissed. I’ve been dying to kiss you since I dropped off your jacket at work.”

“So have I.” Hyun-ju responded, her eyes predictably dropping to Young-mi’s lips. They were painted in a layer of clear gloss that shone under the bright lights of the cafe. As she stared she felt a longing to know if it had a flavour to it. Something fruity and artificial, that would leave her wanting to go back in for a second taste.

To linger on dangerous thoughts like that was maddening, and only served to wind herself up. It wasn’t the time and place for that, so she forced her eyes back up and tried to act like she hadn’t been close to kissing her in front of a cafe full of people.

Young-mi hummed softly. “I can tell and honestly I’m so flattered that you want it too.” A soft pink grew on her cheeks and she let out a sigh. “I think I should go and get our items, or else we won’t get to start our date. I’d be so sad if we didn’t get to paint anything before you have to go back to work.”

Nodding, Hyun-ju released her hands and watched as Young-mi left their table. The smaller woman went straight for the mugs and pointed to each one until Hyun-ju held a thumbs-up. With a pleased smile on her face, she returned with enough paints for them to share, additional brushes and their chosen items.

“When you said you wanted a mug you weren’t kidding. This is massive.” Young-mi picked it up and tried to wrap her hand around it. “My fingers aren’t even close to touching.”

“My hands are bigger, I need the surface area more than you.” Taking the mug she cradled it in the palm of her hand and wrapped her fingers around it comfortably. Despite the length of her fingers they didn’t quite wrap around the entire mug. “See? It’s perfect.”

“I..uh yeah.” Averting her eyes, Young-mi cleared her throat and looked far too interested in the selection of paint brushes. “It’s like it was made for you.”

Hyun-ju frowned and looked at the mug. She didn’t fully understand why Young-mi was acting strange. Her grip wasn't remotely odd, she just had her fingers wrapped aro-

Hyun-ju bit back a laugh as the realisation hit her.

“You have a dirty mind.”

Young-mi made a noise of disagreement, though her face was still flushed and she kept her eyes down. “I don’t. I just noticed how nice your hands are. There's nothing dirty about that.”

“Is that right?” Hyun-ju mused with a light smirk on her face. Placing her mug down, she casually flexed her hand and stretched out her fingers as if she were about to play a piano. Subtly she watched as her date's eyes darted up to catch the movement. Nothing but heat echoed in her gaze.

“Stop it.”

“What?”

“You know what.” Young-mi complained before picking up her pencil and starting to sketch something on the pottery. “Do you have any ideas for what you want to paint? I can help you with the designs.”

It was a sweet offer, but Hyun-ju couldn’t bear to ruin one of Young-mi’s drawings with her careless painting skills. She was far too clumsy and internally cringed at the idea of failing to stay within the lines.

“No, it’s ok.” Glancing down at the selection she found the exact colours she was looking for and began to gather them up. “I have an idea. It won’t be anything too amazing, just a few flags.”

Young-mi paused mid sketch and looked up. “It will be amazing because it’s something you’re passionate about.”

Dipping her brush into paint, Hyun-ju ducked her head in a quick nod. She wasn’t sure if she would ever get used to having someone say kind things so effortlessly. Years of torment with people that treated her poorly, who made her feel less than human had caused unknown levels of damage. However, Young-mi was like a light in the dark. She had made her feel safe in her identity and listened without judgement. Even just having her near made her feel calm and settled in a way she hadn’t ever thought she could.

The kindness was something she wanted to get used to, and with the newfound trust shared between them she knew it wouldn’t take too long.

Still, it was completely ridiculous how things had come about.

She was aware that she was doing things in the wrong order. Most people built trust and then fell in love, but she hadn’t really had a say in what her heart wanted. After the rush of the rescue, after making sure she was safe, she had removed that helmet and had an unobstructed view of Young-mi. She had fallen under her spell with a simple glance.

Her life had changed in seconds, and gladly it seemed that the same had happened to Young-mi. It was as if they had both been struck by the same bolt of lightning, and now bore matching scars that wrapped around their hearts. Instantaneous and unplanned, she decided to follow her heart which led to her sitting in a cute cafe on her break, gazing at a woman she completely adored.

Never had she been more grateful for a fire.

“I’m so glad we met.”

Maybe it sounded random, but if Young-mi thought anything of it she didn’t show it. Instead she just smiled shyly and nodded, her eyes flickering from her bowl and up to Hyun-ju’s eyes. The look said more than words ever could, but it didn’t stop her from replying softly.

“Me too. I feel like I’ve been looking for you everywhere, I just didn’t know it at the time. Does that make sense?”

Like a red string had connected them from the very start. Maybe it had been tangled for years and now had finally come undone at a point of crisis.

It was a rather romantic idea but it felt correct.

“That’s exactly how I feel.” Hyun-ju agreed, her entire being blooming with affection for the woman in front of her. “We fit together quite nicely.”

“I wouldn’t want to be paired with anyone else.” It was said casually, but something about it felt final. Like Young-mi was trying to say something very important without scaring her or making their date too serious.

The heaviness of the statement didn’t make Hyun-ju panic, instead it brought a calm over her and made her feel pleased. If Young-mi was trying to say what she believed, then they were in the same boat. They both shared the same feelings and desires for the future.

Young-mi was falling for her too.

Adjusting her grip on her paintbrush, Hyun-ju gently nudged Young-mi’s foot under the table. It wasn’t a kiss on the cheek or a hug, but it was the closest she could get without grabbing the attention of the entire cafe.

The action conveyed a response that she wasn’t ready to voice yet.

I’m so far gone for you that I can barely see anyone else.

“I never asked what you were drawing for your ramen bowl.” Tilting her head, Hyun-ju could barely make out a shape etched onto the pottery. It was far too light for her to make out what it was, so she sighed and sat back. “Or is it a surprise?”

Young-mi made one last marking before placing her pencil down with a pleased huff. She carefully picked up the bowl and turned it so Hyun-ju could finally see the design.

On the side of the bowl were cartoon faces, and on a closer inspection it was obvious who they were supposed to be. She recognised them from the photos she had snooped on while heading inside to open the door to the apartment.

“All of your friends. That’s so lovely.”

Young-mi grinned, before pointing to the two faces in the middle. Surrounded by tiny love hearts in cartoon form were the two of them. Like in real life they were gazing at each other, seemingly oblivious to whatever the others were doing. “Do you like the tiny firefighter helmet I gave you?”

She did.

She loved it.

She loved her.

Hyun-ju nodded, letting her smile practically take over her face. “It’s perfect. I can’t wait to see the finished product.”

Placing the ramen bowl back down, Young-mi glanced at the mug with a curious look in her eyes. She hesitated for a moment before leaning in closer. “Can I see yours?”

The paint was still wet in places, so carefully Hyun-ju turned the mug to show off the various pride flags she had painted. “Like I said, it’s not as good as yours but I’m enjoying this. It’s quite relaxing.”

Young-mi rolled her eyes and laughed. “Yeah, yeah, mine is the best.”

“I love how modest you are.” Hyun-ju shot back.

“It’s definitely your favourite thing about me.” Young-mi joked, before clearing her throat and pointing to one of the tiny painted trans flags that were dotted all over the mug. “I don’t know if you know this but I heard that the girls with this flag are really cute.”

It was silly but it made Hyun-ju giggle and cover her mouth with her free hand. “Young-mi.”

“What? It's true. I’m looking at a girl with that flag, who happens to be really cute.” Then, looking a little braver, Young-mi added, “Do you think she would say yes if I asked her to watch a movie at my place tonight? Jun-hee’s going on a date with Dae-ho, so it’ll be just us.”

An offer to extend their date? How could she ever refuse. Returning her mug to the table, Hyun-ju smiled. “I’d love to. If there aren't any call outs I can be at yours for seven-thirty.”

Picking up a paint brush, Young-mi bit her lip and started to carefully paint the faces. “That sounds perfect. The number of the apartment is 317, if you send me a message I can come down and let you in the building.”

“I’m looking forward to it.” It wasn’t a lie, but Hyun-ju did feel a flicker of nervousness. It would be the first time she would be spending time alone with the younger woman, and at her apartment of all places. “I might be a little late, I can’t turn up in my work clothes.”

“Oh, I don’t know. I think the orange shirt looks good on you.” Young-mi winked before swirling her brush in the cup of water and choosing a different colour. “Wear something comfy, I won’t be dressing up. I’m going to be in an oversized t-shirt and shorts.”

Hyun-ju sucked in a breath. She could only imagine just how cute Young-mi would look dressed like that. All soft and casual, and entirely hers to adore. It sounded so good that she even went as far as thinking about her wearing some of her clothes.

Back in her closet she had a simple black t-shirt that would look extremely good on the smaller woman. It would fall nicely on her frame and suit her preferences to darker clothing. Making a note to bring it along to the movie night, Hyun-ju thought back to what she was going to wear.

“So no dresses?”

“Nope. Save that for our next date.”

“You can’t keep planning all our dates. It’s not fair.”

“Fine, but I do want to take advantage of all this nice weather we’ve been having. I want to take you on a picnic.” Young-mi said with a soft grin, turning the bowl in her hand as she moved onto the next bit. “You can wear something pretty and relax while I tend to your every need.”

Hyun-ju snorted, finishing up the final flag before putting her paintbrush down. “And what do you get out of that situation?”

“I get to look at you being all pretty for me.”

“You only want to look at me?”

Young-mi froze, before looking over at Hyun-ju with a light flush spreading across her face. “I plan on a lot of hand holding and having you cuddled up to me.”

It was clear from Young-mi’s expression that she was holding back on what she actually wanted to say. She worried her lower lip between her teeth, and eyed Hyun-ju with great care.

“Anything else?” Hyun-ju asked with a smirk, completely enjoying the effect she had on her date.

“Maybe a kiss.”

Sliding her hand across the table, Hyun-ju stroked her fingers over Young-mi’s pulse point. She couldn’t feel it thundering, but she knew it must be.

Their flirting was comparable to a tennis match, with each of them lining up shots confidently and scoring points. Young-mi had been up to two love, but after that last comment Hyun-ju figured they were drawing equally. “I'd let you have more than one.”

“Fuck..Hyun-ju.” Young-mi cursed under her breath, the sweet blush on her face deepening as she let the words wash over her. “You’re too much.”

Tracing her fingers back down to her date’s palm, Hyun-ju chuckled but relented in her teasing. She wasn’t cruel enough to continue making things worse, even if she did appreciate just how lovely Young-mi looked when she blushed. Tracing one last circle on her palm, she pulled back, giving Young-mi space to breathe and settle down.

She knew that all the constant teasing they were doing was leading somewhere. There was only so much tension held between them before it spilled over and judging by how they were acting it wouldn’t stop at a single kiss.

Logic told her it wouldn’t be that simple and in a way she had accepted it.

Young-mi understood her boundaries and wouldn’t dare to go past any of them, but Hyun-ju didn’t know just how far her hands would dare to wonder if they started to fool around.

Or if she would want them to stop.

It was tricky and not something she needed to dwell on, especially since she needed to head back to work in a few minutes. Time had flown by, with easy conversation and far too many flirty lines swapped back and forth.

It felt like the clock on the wall was taunting her, that it had decided that she had had too much fun and now needed to go back to the real world. Her world filled with smoke and flames, and cats stuck in trees and children with their heads trapped in railings.

To trade Young-mi for any of those things felt like a crime.

Giving the clock on the wall a solid glare, she sighed and looked back at Young-mi. “I really hate this but I have to head back to work soon.” It wasn’t what she wanted, and if she was being honest she was tempted to call in sick and take the rest of the day off.

“Oh?” Young-mi tore her gaze away from Hyun-ju to look at the clock on the wall. “How did forty-five minutes go by that fast?”

“My mom used to say that ‘time flies when you’re having fun’. I wish time would slow down when I’m with you.” As sappy as it was, she meant it. It wasn’t fair that everytime she had a moment with Young-mi it always felt too short.

Placing her paintbrush down, she reached for Hyun-ju’s hand and squeezed it. “I wish you could stay.”

Covering her hand, Hyun-ju nodded sadly. She would give anything to stay for another hour, or even the rest of the day. She’d work double shifts (if that was legal), or wash all the emergency vehicles they had back at the precinct.

The only saving grace was that they would be seeing each other again in a few hours. It wasn’t as satisfying as staying, but it would do.

“Will you take my mug with you? I don’t want it to get smashed at work.”

Young-mi nodded, watching silently as Hyun-ju began to clean her side of the table. She gathered her brushes and the paints she had used and handed them over to the owner. While at the front she paid for their items and ordered a hot chocolate for Young-mi to enjoy.

Going back to the table, she gave Young-mi’s shoulder a squeeze. “Everything is paid for, and I bought you a drink to enjoy while you finish painting.”

“You didn’t have to pay.”

“I did. You paid last time.” Smiling down at the younger woman, she noticed an eyelash stuck to her cheek. “Stay still for me.” Delicately she brushed it away with her thumb and held it out for Young-mi to see. “Make a wish.”

Closing her eyes for a moment, Young-mi nodded to herself and opened them again. She gave Hyun-ju a quick look before blowing the eyelash away and making her wish. “I’ll see you later on. Be safe at work.”

“What did you wish for?”

“If I tell you it won’t come true, and I really want it to happen.” Young-mi admitted quietly, before reaching to fix Hyun-ju’s jacket. “Remember, comfy clothes and let me know if you want any particular snacks.”

Hyun-ju couldn’t hide the smile as she let Young-mi adjust how her jacket was sitting on her frame. It was so domestic that it left her feeling like her insides were made of caramel.

The melty feeling stayed with her as she walked back to the station, staying even when Dae-ho wiggled his eyebrows at her and asked her about her ‘hot date’.

Flipping him off, she went back to her desk and carried on writing up reports and responding to emails about an upcoming event they were tied to. It was mindless work but kept her nice and busy into the next few hours. Young-mi still played on her mind, with her hands dotted with paint and her smile bright as she showed off her art like a proud parent. She was a good motivator and helped her push through the slog of the last hour before she could sign off.

Just as she pushed her chair under the desk she watched as Dae-ho strolled out with his bag slung over his shoulder.

“I heard you have a date with Jun-hee, taking her anywhere nice?” She called, making him stop in his tracks.

A shy grin pulled at his lips and he rocked on his heels like an excitable school boy. “Dinner and then we’re going back to mine to hang out.”

“Be good to her, she’s my..she’s Young-mi’s best friend.” The awkward save sounded lame to her own ears, but watching Dae-ho wince made her feel even worse. She wanted to call Young-mi her girlfriend or partner, but they hadn’t had that conversation yet. She didn’t feel comfortable putting a label on their relationship when she wasn’t even sure if that was what Young-mi wanted.

“Hyun-ju, I like her. I don’t plan on messing this up.” Gripping the strap on his bag he shifted the weight of it so it sat closer to his body. “She makes me laugh and she doesn’t mind that I’m a rookie still in training. Plus she owns her own business and she makes all these candles and body care. She’s so smart-”

“Ok, loverboy. I get it.” Hyun-ju interrupted, holding up a hand to stop his speech. “She’s pretty and smart and she makes your head spin.”

“You sound like you know how it feels.” He gave her a knowing look. “Are you seeing her tonight?”

Grabbing her own bag, she let out a breath and nodded. She had entertained not sharing anything with him, but she figured he would end up finding out anyway. “I'm going to watch a movie at her apartment. She's given me strict instructions about wearing comfy clothes.”

“Awh, that's cute.” Then he let out a sharp laugh and covered his mouth in surprise at the volume of the sound. “Jun-hee is such a great wingwoman.”

“I’m inclined to agree.””

“Don’t you understand? Originally we were only supposed to have dinner, but the plans changed. She must have known about your movie night and wanted to give you both space.” He opened the door for her and followed out after, hot on her heels. “Smart and considerate. She keeps going up in my estimation.”

“You should tell her that.”

“And have her think I’m a simp? Nah, I need to play it cool.”

“She already thinks that.”

…

Hyun-ju: I'm downstairs x

Young-mi: Ok, I’ll be right down x

Sliding her phone back into her pocket, Hyun-ju climbed out of her car and locked it. She figured that since Jun-hee was out for the night she wouldn’t mind if she used her parking spot. It was closer to the building and safer since it was parked in a residential area.

Making sure she had everything, she took a breath and headed straight for Young-mi’s building. As promised she was in a pair of comfy sweats and a soft short sleeve shirt, but she had reapplied her make-up after a quick shower, wanting to look like she put in a little effort into her appearance. It wasn’t much but she was sure Young-mi would appreciate it.

Peering through the glass she watched as her girl came into view, rushing down the stairs with a bright smile on her pretty face. She was lithe on her feet and practically skidded to the door. Tugging it open, she held out her hand for Hyun-ju to take and began to lead her up to the apartment.

“Hyun-ju, it should be illegal for anyone to look this gorgeous in loungewear.” She murmured with interest, glancing back to drag her eyes over the outfit. “Gray looks very good on you.”

“Thank you, I like..everything you’re wearing.” She knew it sounded flirty, but she couldn’t find it in herself to keep the thought inside. “I mean..it suits you. You look so soft and adorable.”

As they reached the door to the apartment, Young-mi fumbled with the keys before getting the door open. She hadn’t said a word, and it was starting to make Hyun-ju feel nervous.

Had she said something wrong?

“Young-mi?” At her silence, Hyun-ju followed her inside and waited as the door clicked shut. She was about to say her name again when she felt warm arms slide around her neck, pulling her into a hug. “Oh, are you ok?”

Her date sighed happily and snuggled closer, sinking into her arms like she was always meant to be there. “Yeah, I’ve just been craving this for hours.”

Dropping her bag, Hyun-ju wrapped her arms around Young-mi’s waist and held her close. It was the first hug since the meeting at the fire station, which felt like a lifetime ago.

She found refuge in her date’s neck and buried her face into the comforting warmth. Young-mi smelt heavenly. The sweet scent of body lotion and a perfume she had remembered her wearing the other night washed over her. It wasn’t overpowering, but just enough to make Hyun-ju’s head spin. She barely stopped a pleased noise from escaping her lips before speaking up. “Fuck, Young-mi..you smell so good.”

God, she wanted to stay pressed close to her forever. To sink into her embrace and merge into her body and soul.

“You like it? It’s a lotion from Jun-hee’s shop. It helps keep skin moisturised, soft and smooth.” Young-mi mentioned with a pleased hum, not wanting to let go anytime soon. “I’ll have to get you some.”

Slowly, she began to slide her hand up and down the arch of Young-mi’s back, Hyun-ju nodded slowly. “I’d like that. Dae-ho mentioned that she also makes candles.”

“Yep, she’s so talented. She gets me to test out the different soaps and lotions and give her reviews.” Leaning into the comforting touches, Young-mi cupped Hyun-ju’s nape and pulled her in closer. “I love having you like this.”

It was odd. Hyun-ju had slept with women before and she had known physical pleasure, but nothing could ever match up to this. As simple as it was, getting to hold Young-mi close, breathing her in and enjoying her warmth, it was the most sensual thing she had ever experienced.

Inwardly she knew why. It was because she was finally with someone who saw her for the woman she was. She wasn’t playing a role that didn’t fit her, she was living her truth with someone who respected her for it.

“I feel so safe with you.” Hyun-ju returned, smiling so much her cheeks hurt. “I hope I do the same for you.”

“You do. You’ve never stopped saving me, Hyun-ju.”

The hand on her nape slipped up and began to stroke through her hair. The motions were incredibly calming and continued for a few minutes, until Young-mi started to faintly scratch her nails over her scalp. A soft groan of pleasure halted the pair of them, and awkwardly they pulled out of the lingering hug.

“Sorry..I have a sensitive scalp.” Hyun-ju defended weakly, quickly grabbing her bag and holding it to her chest like it was a shield.

Young-mi shook her head and stepped back. She had a healthy flush that travelled down her throat and under her shirt. She was looking away, not in shame but like she knew she needed a moment to gather herself before she met Hyun-ju’s gaze. “You shouldn’t apologise for enjoying yourself.” She took a hesitant step forward. “It’s just us here, and I won’t judge you for anything.”

That familiar thick tension was back in full force and with the knowledge that they were alone, Hyun-ju felt the strong urge to pull Young-mi back in. There would be no interruptions and no need to hold back from affection. They could indulge to their heart's content if that was what they both wanted.

She could kiss her.

“Young-mi..I-”

“I should put the movie on before we do something we regret.” Young-mi burst out, before pointing over to the sofa. “Please get comfy and I’ll get some snacks. I’ll be a minute.”

It was strange to feel both relief and disappointment, but Hyun-ju took them both in her stride and did as she was told. She picked a spot and allowed her body to sink into the cushions while she tried not to think about how good it felt to have Young-mi in her arms.

It was fruitless, she knew what she wanted and even more pressing was that Young-mi wanted the exact same as her.

Turning, she watched as her girl moved around the kitchen. At first she seemed focused, but her eyes kept betraying her and straying to look over at Hyun-ju.

“Young-mi, come here. The snacks can wait.” It said like a command, and just like when she was a sergeant the tone of her voice was very effective. Young-mi left the packets on the countertop and willingly sank into the space beside the firefighter. “I wanted to kiss you in the cab of the fire engine. I wanted to kiss you at the cafe when you were covered in paint.” Taking a shaky breath, she reached over and took one of Young-mi’s hands in her own. “I want to kiss you now too.”

“You do? I wasn’t sure if you were ready, or if I was just reading into things.” Young-mi confessed, her shoulders relaxing as she finally understood Hyun-ju’s reasoning.

“Trust me..I want nothing more. I’m just out of practice and I haven’t made a move on anyone in years.” Clearing her throat she stared at the joined hands for a second. “I might not be very good.”

A finger tilted her head back up, and Hyun-ju swallowed nervously as she realised just how close Young-mi was to her. The younger woman offered her a smile and teasingly stroked her fingers across her jaw. “If it’s ok with you, I’d like to be the one making a move on you. All you need to do is relax and stop doubting yourself.”

“But I-”

“I’m going to kiss you now.” There was a flicker of hesitation. “Only if you want me to.”

A simple nod was all she needed to give. Young-mi shuffled closer until their thighs were pressed together, and gently she cradled Hyun-ju’s face in her hands with the same care as if she was handling a statue made of glass. So soft with every touch, she leant further in until their noses brushed.

Letting her eyes flutter closed, Hyun-ju focused on the placement of her hands, which at some point had fallen to Young-mi’s hips. She could feel the soft material of her t-shirt, bunched up in her fingers. She pulled on the hem and finally felt Young-mi close the gap between them.

Petal soft lips pressed against her own in one of the most gentle kisses of her entire life. A quiet moan came from one of them, but in the thick haze Hyun-ju wasn’t sure if it was her that had uttered it. She was too far gone, too lost in their first kiss. It went on until their lips were ghosting and they were both getting light headed from sharing air.

Hyun-ju felt intoxicated like she had just inhaled fumes.

Opening her eyes she came face-to-face with her girl, who wore a matching stunned expression.

“Fuck.” Young-mi breathed, her chest rising and falling as if she had just finished a marathon. “You don’t need practice at all.”

Hyun-ju huffed out a laugh. “Yeah, but I still want an excuse to do it frequently. Your mouth is like heaven.” Sneakily, her gaze fell to Young-mi’s soft lips. They parted and she found herself sinking forward to press a single kiss to her mouth. It lingered long enough for Young-mi to start to return it, pushing forward a little harder than before.

“Hyun-ju..I’m never going to get anything done anymore.” Her date whispered hotly, before letting their noses graze once more. “I’d happily spend the rest of my life kissing you, right here.”

“That sounds too good.” This time, Hyun-ju was the one who cupped her face, blinking away the threat of tears. She was overcome with emotion at finally getting to kiss the girl she was crazy about. “That was my first time being kissed as..as me.”

“Was it worth the wait?” So earnest and eager for an answer, Young-mi looked slightly impatient. She was still so close, but had backed off just so she could get Hyun-ju’s reaction.

“I’ve never been so happy that I did.” Bringing her in for another kiss, Hyun-ju sighed happily. Each kiss was chaste, but no less amazing. Her lips felt like they had electricity running through them, and every time they kissed she felt her mouth tingle. She knew it was due to the rush of hormones, the release of dopamine that told them to keep going and never stop. It was addictive, and made her want more despite knowing it wouldn’t be a good idea.

Still high off their first kiss, she pulled back to lean against the sofa cushions. “I just need a minute. You’re making it hard to think clearly.”

Young-mi giggled at that and wisely chose to put a tiny amount of space between them. She brought her knees up to her chest and hugged them, all while gazing at Hyun-ju with dark eyes. “I promise I’m not saying this to try to push for more, I fully respect you, but I swear kissing has never felt that good.”

Kissing has never felt that good.

If a simple kiss felt that good then how good would other things feel?

Blushing deeply, Hyun-ju forced herself to nod. “I feel the same way.” Her response felt lacking but it was getting harder to watch her words. The moment their lips touched she felt all caution fly out the window, leaving her wanting to spill the contents of her heart out.

She couldn’t do it. Not if she wanted to keep things easy and let herself get used to being wanted. This had to be slow. They both deserved something tender.

Getting up from the sofa, she briefly looked at Young-mi but avoided the tempting sight of her mouth, her gaze stayed firmly above, keeping to the heaviness of her eyes which seemed like a safer choice.

“If I get the drinks and snacks, will you set up the movie?”

“Of course. There’s drinks in the fridge, and the snacks are on the countertop.” As she moved from her place on the sofa, she paused. “Oh, and your mug is on the kitchen table. It looks so pretty.”

“Not as pretty as you.” Hyun-ju added under her breath, and went off to grab their desired items. As promised her mug sat on the kitchen table next to the finished ramen bowl. The difference in artistic talent brought a grin to her face, she lingered on the cartoon version of herself and the many hearts that circled her and Young-mi.

I hope she loves me too.

With her arms full, she made her way back to the sofa which had now been covered with a soft layer of blankets. Young-mi helped her unload the food, and placed the cans of soda down, before tugging her down next to her.

“I have to warn you. During movies I like to cuddle.” Young-mi mentioned, already snuggling into Hyun-ju’s side.

Pretending to sigh in annoyance, Hyun-ju wound an arm around her and let her fall against her chest. “I guess you’re lucky I like having you in my arms.”

“Good answer,” Young-mi laughed softly and turned her head to press a kiss to Hyun-ju’s cheek. Finding the remote, she pressed play and snuggled back against Hyun-ju, both of them feeling happier than they had been in a long time.

…

The early morning brought bird song, and golden rays that made Young-mi’s hair glow. There was a peace that she had never known. Hyun-ju was the only one awake in the apartment, and for a brief moment she could just enjoy having the woman that had captured her heart in her arms.

A blanket had been draped over their lower halves, probably the work of Jun-hee. She had sent a few side eye emojis, with messages teasing her about how she found them asleep on the sofa. It was all quite juvenile and yet it made her blush and lock her phone without responding.

Now, a little later on in the early morning quiet she let herself relax back onto the sofa and gently card her fingers through her love’s hair.

Having Young-mi in her arms was comparable to having something very precious and would do anything to keep her close. She was careful as she played with her hair, and listened to the soft noises of her breathing.

Soft breaths fanned against her collarbone, tickling the skin but not enough to make her laugh. Despite the combination of those things, a smile worked its way on her face. She had never been so happy.

“Hmm.” A quiet groan highlighted that she was no longer the only one awake, and with a hum she continued brushing her fingers through the soft strands. The gentle motions could have sent her back to sleep, but Young-mi’s eyes fluttered open stubbornly. “Hyun-ju?”

“Hi sleepy head.”

Another groan and then Hyun-ju felt the younger woman shift and try to sit up. “Oh, I slept on you.” A bloom of colour exploded across her face, and Hyun-ju’s heart fluttered. “I hope I didn’t keep you awake.”

“It was the first night I slept without having a nightmare.” Finding her hand, Hyun-ju squeezed it gratefully. “Thank you for helping me.”

A sad smile crossed Young-mi’s pretty face. “I didn’t know that you suffered from nightmares. Is it from your time in the military?”

“No.” Swallowing down her discomfort, she willed herself not to get too emotional. “There was a woman that was trapped in her apartment. I passed out before I could get to her and when I woke up they told me she had died stuck in her flat. It was an accident but I guess I never really forgave myself for not getting her out of there.”

Letting a few tears fall, she blinked rapidly to clear her vision and gazed up at Young-mi who also had tears in her eyes. “That’s why I was determined to get you to safety. I wasn’t going to let it happen again.”

And she hadn’t. She had managed to save Young-mi’s life and in turn she felt like her life now meant something. She no longer carried around guilt like a chain around her neck, she was far from letting it go and putting it to rest, but everyday she grew stronger and forgave herself a little more.

Young-mi sank back down, lifting her hand to wipe away the rest of Hyun-ju’s tears. “It sounds like you tried your best and nearly died yourself.” Her voice sounded so hollow when she mentioned Hyun-ju’s possible death, and she let out a heavy breath. “Is that why you were so protective over me? Why you waited for the paramedics to tell you everything was fine?”

“That played a part in it.”

Hyun-ju bit her lip hard enough to sting. How could she even start to explain what had gone through her head? Admitting that she fell in love at first sight sounded like madness, and even she knew that such things sounded cheesy.

Meeting Young-mi had felt like getting a second chance at redemption. Every moment with her felt like she was earning back pieces of herself that she had thought were shattered beyond repair.

One day, when things had moved forward she would tell her the entire truth.

Seemingly taking her for her word, Young-mi leant forward and placed a single kiss to her lips. “I won’t push for more because I hate seeing you upset. Just know that I’m so grateful that you’re here with me.”

A slow blooming smile grew on Hyun-ju’s lips. “You kissed me again. You must like me, huh?”

Young-mi pressed a finger to Hyun-ju’s lips, forcing her to go silent. “You have no idea how much I like you.” Lifting her hand she replaced it with her lips, trading gentle kisses that matched the ease of early mornings with a lover. “Hyun-ju, I like you so much.”

“I like you too.”

She knew what Young-mi was actually wanting to say, and for that it made her want to tell everyone she knew just how lucky she was. Instead she pulled back and gently cupped Young-mi’s face. “Can I tell you something?”

“Yes.”

“When I woke up to you still asleep on me, it made me realise that you fit perfectly in my arms.” Hyun-ju murmured softly, stroking her thumb over Young-mi’s plump cheek. “It’s almost like we were made for each other.”

Shifting closer, Young-mi moved until they were once again pressed together. Her face was inches away, she was so close that Hyun-ju could practically count her eyelashes. “I think we were. I can’t imagine feeling this way about anyone else.”

Hyun-ju’s phone buzzed with a fresh notification, and with a sigh she reached for it, unlocking it with swiftness. “It’s from Jun-hee.”

“Isn’t she in her room?” Young-mi asked with a frown, her eyes narrowing as she glanced at the closed bedroom door.

Opening the message Hyun-ju sat up and tilted the phone so Young-mi could also see what had just been sent.

There was a photo with a message underneath. Tapping it with her thumb enlarged the photo so they could get a better look.

In a wash of early morning light, the photo was of the pair of them asleep on the sofa. Young-mi’s head was resting on her shoulder, while Hyun-ju’s arms had wrapped around her, keeping her in a close embrace. They were cuddled up so sweetly that Hyun-ju’s heart ached when she saw it.

Even asleep they looked perfect together.

Unable to help it, she pressed a quick kiss to Young-mi’s cheek. “We look quite good together.”

“We do.” Young-mi agreed, leaning closer as she smiled down at the photo. “Can you send it to me so I can make it my phone wallpaper?”

Tapping out of the image, Hyun-ju let out a shocked laugh once she read the message below the photo.

Jun-hee: Are you both decent? I need to pee :)

Hyun-ju: No.

“Hyun-ju! That’s mean.” Young-mi exclaimed with a laugh, the sound so lovely that Hyun-ju felt her chest warm with affection.

“Fine.”

Hyun-ju: That was a joke.

Jun-hee: Did your girlfriend tell you off?

Hyun-ju ignored looking in Young-mi’s direction, not wanting to see her reaction to the message. However she heard her suck in a breath, and felt her stomach clench.

Hyun-ju: If you don’t come out in five minutes I’ll be having a long shower.

Just as she thought, the door to Jun-hee’s room opened, and she walked out with her phone in her hand. She walked over to the sofa and smirked at practically seeing Young-mi on Hyun-ju’s lap. “You're lucky I like you, Hyun-ju. I was going to send the photo to Nam-gyu but I thought he might burst a blood vessel.”

The previous humour that had taken over Young-mi’s face drained away leaving her looking miffed. She raised a hand and pointed it at her friend in a clear warning. “Don’t you dare. I want him to meet Hyun-ju properly.”

Taking in the sudden change on Young-mi’s face, Hyun-ju frowned as she tried to think if she knew anything about the name “Nam-gyu? Isn’t he one of your friends?”

Holding up her hands, Jun-hee grinned innocently. “Kind of, he’s more like her older brother. They grew up on the same street, he looked after her when her parents couldn’t.”

In the short amount of time she had known Young-mi, she hadn’t mentioned her parents once. All of her stories sounded fairly recent, like she was trying to keep a distance between her past and her present.

“If he’s important to you then I want to meet him.” She said confidently, watching as Young-mi beamed at her happily. “Does he know about me?”

“A little, I mentioned that you saved my life and that I like you, but nothing too personal. I wouldn’t share anything about your transition unless you gave me permission to.” Giving Hyun-ju a reassuring look, she found her hand and squeezed it. “I’m really excited for you to meet him.”

Having had enough of the PDA, Jun-hee placed her phone down and went straight for the bathroom. Just before she entered she called over her shoulder to Hyun-ju, “As long as you treat Young-mi right you'll be fine.”

Watching the bathroom door close, Hyun-ju looked back at Young-mi with a soft smile. “Have I been treating you right?”

“Give me another kiss and I'll give you an answer.” Young-mi retorted, winding her arms around Hyun-ju’s neck. “What do you say to that, Fire Chief?”

Smirking, Hyun-ju tossed her phone to the side and settled her hands on Young-mi’s waist. “You’re making me sound so much cooler than I am.”

Chuckling she leant in and kissed her.

She didn’t really care to hear the answer, she knew she treated Young-mi right. There was still a lot to prove and meeting family and friends was an important step she wanted to get right.

Chapter Text

It had been two weeks since they had first kissed and Young-mi was going out of her mind to do it again. Ever since Hyun-ju had regretfully left the apartment that morning, they hadn’t found any time to get together. With Hyun-ju busy with preparing for the wildfire season, Young-mi hadn’t wanted to push her, she could tell that she was exhausted from the long shifts and travelling to meetings at other stations. Giving her space to exist as a person without the added pressure of herself as a distraction was the least she could do.

Young-mi’s own work was also picking up, she had backlogs of commissions to start for paying customers and had spent entire days locked away in her bedroom. Jun-hee had taken to making sure she drank enough and ate regular meals, but even then it was a struggle.

Between the two of them the topic of future dates had disappeared and looked like it wouldn’t be returning anytime soon.

Spending all that time apart had been nothing but torture, with the only soothing balm being the video calls that they tried to do whenever Hyun-ju’s work schedule allowed it. It wasn’t always at the same time but they made it work, and honestly Hyun-ju was worth the awkward hours.

But it wasn’t just the distance that made things tricky. Young-mi had become too distracted and had let her work pile up for far too long. It wasn’t just down to her budding relationship with Hyun-ju, but the fact she had to move to a new area and sort out all of her documents.

It was nothing but a headache, but she tried to power through it.

As well as the commissions, Young-mi had to update her webtoons and go through her emails for any professional work or collabs with other artists on various projects. The work never seemed to end, with more things being piled on each day. On top of all of that she wasn’t getting much sleep. She had lost count how many times she had fallen asleep in the middle of the day, her face smushed into her desk, leaving her neck in the most uncomfortable position.

Things were getting so dire that she had to make a choice. For her own health she needed to take a break and get away from social media for a short while. Once the majority of her art was completed she would take a well earned break, hopefully with the one person she hadn’t been able to hold in a fortnight.

Rubbing her tired eyes, a moment from their last video call sprang to mind;

“I hate that we can’t do this in person.” Hyun-ju complained, her video was a little blurry and out of focus due to the terrible nature of the wifi of the station she was currently at. She grumbled and leaned closer to the camera. “Can you still see and hear me?”

Young-mi nodded, and placed her bowl of steaming chicken ramen down on her desk. Since the call started she hadn’t taken her eyes off of the pixelated form of her firefighter. It was partly because the video could be cut off at anytime, and also because she wanted to burn her image into her head.

All the perfect little things, like the way her bangs fell across her forehead and the tiny scar under her eye that she longed to kiss. Her soft smile, and her laugh that gave her butterflies whenever she heard the joyous sound.

She missed it all.

“Yeah, you’re just blurry. Still beautiful though.”

Hyun-ju made a soft noise in the back of her throat and took a sip from her drink. “When I get back I’m going to personally make sure all of the fire stations in the area get stronger bandwidth. If I can’t see you in person then I need to see you in ultra HD.”

She winked at the camera, making Young-mi choke out a laugh. “You know it’s not fair to say things like that when I can’t come and see you.”

Hyun-ju shrugged. “I’ll make it up to you.”

“How are you planning on doing that?” Young-mi asked with a grin, happy to play along. “You look far too confident.”

Swallowing a bite of food, Hyun-ju nodded slowly. Despite the terrible video quality it was obvious that she was fairly amused. “You like my confidence. As soon as I’m back I’m making sure we find the time to get together. You need a break and so do I.”

Getting to spend any time away from the stresses of their jobs sounded wonderful, but also too good to be true. With more dangerous dry weather coming up she was sure that Hyun-ju would be far too busy to take a holiday. Still, for her own peace of mind, Young-mi decided to go with it.

In the grand scheme of things, dreaming about the future was harmless.

“I want to take you on a picnic, somewhere pretty with flowers and clear open skies.” Sighing, Young-mi picked up her chopsticks and began eating. “I want to take you to Jeju.”

“I’ve never been.”

“I’ve been once. Nam-gyu forged my dad’s signature and paid for the school trip so I didn’t feel left out. He never told me where he got the money from but it was probably something dodgy.” Young-mi said with a chuckle. “Anyway, I know you’d love it. We could rent a little place and explore the coast. We could eat salt bread and swim in the sea.”

Hyun-ju smiled at that, like she had already made up her mind about their hypothetical trip. “I’d really like that. We could turn off our phones and just enjoy being together.”

The call had ended not long after that. Hyun-ju’s internet had gone down, leaving Young-mi staring at her reflection in the black screen with nothing but longing in her heart.

Young-mi sighed at the memory and took out her phone. Thinking about Hyun-ju had made her miss her sweet face and since she had a small collection of selfies and photos of Hyun-ju, she knew exactly what to do. Opening her gallery she found the folder and tapped on it. Inside was a modest selection, most of them sent between paragraphs of sappy messages and flirty comments.

Her favourite was a candid photo of Hyun-ju at a desk. She was mid sentence, busy pointing to something on the screen, while a group of younger administrators paid close attention. They were looking at her with so much respect that Young-mi felt pride well up in her chest.

That was what Hyun-ju deserved. After all the hard work and trauma she had gone through, being viewed as an integral part of the Korean Fire Service was something to be proud of.

There was also the photo that Jun-hee had taken of them asleep on the sofa, which she had made her background. Besides it being their first photo together it was also their only photo, unless screenshots of their video calls counted, which she didn’t think did.

She cherished it, grateful that even if her friend was trying to tease them, at least they had it.

Running a hand through her hair, she left her desk to stretch her legs. Looking at photos of Hyun-ju was only making her miss her more, and she didn’t want to linger in those feelings. They only had a few more days of separation before her love was coming back, and yet it felt like she had years to wait.

Her distractions were becoming limited. She didn’t feel like drawing, and she wanted to give her eyes a break from staring at a screen. Glancing around her room for something to do, her eyes landed on a framed photo of her friends.

Kim Jun-hee grinned at her from the picture, she was posing beside a hunched over Nam-gyu, who had clearly drunk too much on one of their nights out.

It was a funny memory and one that left her heart singing.

If there was one person that could make her smile at a time like this it was her best friend.

Leaving her room, she wandered into Jun-hee’s bedroom and slumped on the end of her bed. “Hi.”

“I’m shocked you left your bedroom. Are you still moping over Hyun-ju being away?” Jun-hee asked, not bothering to look away from her phone as she idly typed something. “You’re acting like she went away to war.”

Young-mi opened her mouth to respond but faltered. Maybe she was being a little too dramatic about her situation. Jun-hee was right, Hyun-ju would be back soon, and unlike war she would come back unscathed. Two weeks was nothing and all the yearning she had been doing suddenly seemed so pathetic that she cringed and rubbed a hand over her face.

It wasn’t like she had spent all of her time moping. She had completed projects and kept up to date with her ever exploding inbox. In fact she had spent far too long busy with work and spending all of her free time on video calls, she hadn’t really had the chance to hang out with Jun-hee.

The guilt washed over her and in a few seconds she moved to sit beside her. “I’m sorry. I know that I’ve been neglecting our friendship.”

That was putting it lightly and judging from the eyebrow raise from her friend, Jun-hee clearly agreed.

“Yes you have, but I can’t be mad about it. This is the first healthy relationship you’ve been in.” Putting her phone down, Jun-hee slipped her arm around Young-mi’s shoulder and pulled her into a hug.

That made Young-mi groan and lower her head in shame. “That’s the problem, we’re not technically in a relationship yet. We didn’t get to have that conversation before she was sent away.”

Jun-hee let out a fake gasp, complete with a hand pressed to her chest for added effect. “I can’t believe this, I thought you were close to proposing to her by the way you were acting.”

“It’s a bit early for that.” But the idea of marriage didn’t scare her, it sent a flare of excitement through her that she had to shut down. She didn’t want to jump the gun. “Do I really come across as that intense?”

“I was just kidding. Don't over think.” Taking a long look at her friend, Jun-hee brought her hand to Young-mi’s cheek and studied her face quietly. “You should try and get some sleep, you look really tired.”

“I know, it's just really hard. I have so much work to do and I'm stressing out about silly things.”

“Like Hyun-ju being away?”

“A little.” Letting her hands fall into her lap, Young-mi kept her head down. “With anyone else I wouldn’t care about being apart for a few weeks, but with her it feels like my own personal torment. I feel like I’ve lost my mind.”

“Love has turned you into such a sappy mess.” Jun-hee teased, taking one of Young-mi’s hands and squeezing it. “Have you spoken to her about how you're feeling?”

Young-mi shook her head. “I don’t want to sound too intense and scare her off.”

That and she felt insecure of being completely head over heels so soon into a relationship. This had never happened before, no one she had ever dated made her feel this way.

Giving her shoulder a squeeze, Jun-hee encouraged Young-mi to lay back with the back of her head resting on her pillow. “You’re overthinking because you’re tired. Trust me, after you’ve had some sleep you’ll feel so much better.”

“I don’t want to bother you.” Young-mi murmured, her speech already slurring as sleep began to take her. “Can you wake me if Hyun-ju calls?”

Jun-hee nodded, and shifted over to give her friend more room. “Of course I will. Don’t worry, just focus on getting some rest.”

With her worry settled, Young-mi finally let her eyes close and slowly fell into a restless sleep.

…

Jun-hee: Hyun-ju, I know you’re busy but when you come back I need you to make sure your girlfriend sleeps. I don’t care if you have to physically carry her to bed. She’s tired and needs you.

Jun-hee: She’s sleeping now but it’s not enough. She’s been so overworked that her brain can’t settle. I’m really worried about her.

Hyun-ju: I’ll ask to come back sooner. I didn’t realise how bad things were getting.

Hyun-ju: Thanks for letting me know. She’ll be my first port of call when I get back.

Hyun-ju: Has she been eating outside of the video calls? She always eats when I see her, but if she’s not sleeping then she’s probably not eating either.

Jun-hee: When she remembers. I try to get her to eat but she’s so focused on her work that I think she forgets.

Jun-hee: She’d kill me if she knew I told you this but she misses you.

Hyun-ju: I miss her too.

Hyun-ju: Thank you for looking after Young-mi. She’s lucky to have a good friend like you to look out for her.

…

Young-mi: I miss you x

Hyun-ju: I miss you too x

Hyun-ju: Just so you know, I'm coming back a day early x

Young-mi: Why? Is everything ok? x

Hyun-ju: Apparently I finished my work too quickly and they have nothing else for me to do x

Hyun-ju: Or maybe they just want to get rid of me haha

Young-mi: Definitely the first. I know you’re good at your job x

Hyun-ju: Thank you :) I know you’re really busy at the moment but I’d really like to come over and see you x

Young-mi: I have a commission to finish so I’ll be in all day tomorrow! I can’t wait to see you x

Hyun-ju: I’m counting down the hours until I see you again x

Hyun-ju: Until I can kiss you again x

Young-mi: Are you flirting with me? x

Hyun-ju: …Nope, not at all x

Young-mi: Hah. Liar x

Hyun-ju: :) x

…

Just before noon there was a knock on the otherwise silent apartment’s door. It was loud enough that it broke Young-mi’s concentration, making her rush out of her room and towards the front door. Unlocking and pulling it open she couldn’t help the smile that appeared on her face.

Standing with a bunch of fresh flowers clutched in her hands, was Hyun-ju.

Her love looked a little tired around the eyes, but no less beautiful as she stood in the doorway, gazing back with fondness in her dark eyes. Instead of her work clothes, she was in a long black skirt and a dark blue blouse that hugged her figure nicely.

So nicely that Young-mi’s breath caught in her throat at the sight of her. A tiny part of her felt like a rogue, but in truth she couldn’t keep staring.

Getting to see Hyun-ju in person after two weeks apart felt almost surreal.

“Hyun-ju!” Darting forward, Young-mi stood up on her tiptoes and circled her arms around the taller woman’s neck bringing her into a tight hug. “It’s so good to see you. I missed you so much.”

Instead of going for a kiss like she wanted to, Young-mi chose to bury her head in her neck, breathing in her perfume and the unique scent that only belonged to her. It was nice to just sink into the embrace and let herself fully relax for the first time in days.

Faintly she registered a pair of strong arms slipping around her waist, keeping her close.

“I missed you too.” Hyun-ju returned happily, the smile on her face was evident in her voice. “Video calls could never replace this. I promise I won't leave again for a while.”

Humming in agreement, Young-mi allowed the embrace to last a few more seconds before she pulled back and gently led Hyun-ju into the apartment. As much as she could have spent all day standing in the hallway outside her front door, she didn’t feel like sharing Hyun-ju with anyone else.

Closing the door with one hand, Young-mi pointed to the flowers with a curious glint in her eyes.

“Did you buy me flowers?”

“I had to. My beautiful girl deserves beautiful flowers.” Hyun-ju said quietly, whilst holding out the small bouquet. She had a tiny smile on her face but her eyes sang with emotion.

“That’s so sweet.” Taking them, she bowed her head to sniff them. “Thank you, these are beautiful.”

With the flowers cradled in her arms, she headed straight for the kitchen to put them in water. In all her time dating she hadn’t ever been gifted with flowers, it was such a small but sweet gesture that she couldn’t stop smiling like a fool.

Hyun-ju was treating her like she had always dreamt of being treated. She felt seen, but most importantly she felt loved.

Practically skipping back to the taller woman, Young-mi took her hand and collapsed onto the sofa with her. “I’ve never received flowers before. You’re really romancing me.”

Hyun-ju gazed at their joined hands for a few seconds, before finally looking into her eyes. Nothing but affection lived in her beautiful eyes, leaving Young-mi to feel utterly speechless at the sight.

“I hope it shows just how serious I am about you.”

Lifting Hyun-ju’s hand, Young-mi pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “Trust me, I know. I could tell just by the way you look at me.”

Everything Hyun-ju did felt like an act of love. The tiniest amount of affection like the brush of a hand, to the firm press of a kiss to her temple. It all screamed that she loved her deeply and that the thing building between them was only going to get stronger.

A slow bloom of colour settled on Hyun-ju’s cheeks at the sweetness of the gesture, and without waiting she purposely let her eyes dip down to Young-mi’s mouth. “Could we..Could I kiss you?”

Young-mi’s heart tumbled. “You don’t have to ask.”

“But then I wouldn’t get to see you get flustered. It’s one of my favourite things.” Hyun-ju admitted, before closing the gap between them.

Like their other kisses before, Young-mi didn’t try to demand more or try to deepen it. Having the simple pressure of Hyun-ju’s lips against her own was exactly what she had been craving and she allowed it to take over. Faintly she registered a hand cupping her face, whilst the other cautiously touched her hip.

Breaking the kiss, she let out a breathy giggle. “You’re allowed to touch me, baby.”

Hearing her lover release a sharp exhale, Young-mi pulled back to see what was wrong. The blush on Hyun-ju’s face had increased, and she stared wide eyed at the smaller woman. “You called me baby?”

A nervous flutter erupted in Young-mi’s belly and she swallowed and nodded. “I did. Is it ok that I call you that? It just slipped out.”

“Yeah. I think I like it.” Hyun-ju’s hands tightened a fraction on Young-mi’s hips and she moved in to steal another kiss. “You can call me whatever you like.”

The cheesiest line popped in her head, and Young-mi internally winced.

Can I call you mine?

Nah, she couldn’t say something like that without fully succumbing to the same disease that Dae-ho suffered from.

One of the hands on her hips shifted up and caught a sliver of her bare skin. It was an innocent touch but Young-mi shivered. The words felt heavy on her tongue as if they were waiting patiently for her to say them. “Can I call you mine?”

Hyun-ju rolled her eyes, but followed it with a nod. “I thought that was obvious. I’ve been pining for you since I left.”

If Young-mi’s heart hadn’t been fluttering before it certainly was now. She was entirely won over and leant forward to capture her lips again. Over and over they kissed until she felt a gentle hand pushing her back.

Dragging her eyes away from the temptation that was Hyun-ju’s mouth, Young-mi looked for any signs that she had done something to upset her. “Did I go too far?”

“No, no you were perfect. I’d love to kiss you all day, but I did have something I wanted to talk to you about before we get carried away.” Hyun-ju shuffled so there was a tiny gap between their bodies and cradled one of Young-mi’s hands between her own. “Jun-hee told me that you weren't sleeping much, and that you weren’t eating regular meals.”

A worried look crossed her love's face, which made Young-mi’s heart clench. She didn’t like knowing she had caused enough concern for her best friend to tell Hyun-ju about it.

Had she really neglected herself that badly?

She did think about softening her experience but with the way Hyun-ju was looking at her, she couldn't find it in herself to do it. Lying wouldn’t help and she didn’t want to hide anything from her.

Covering Hyun-ju’s hands with her own, she nodded slowly. “I suppose that’s a fair assumption. Lately I've been a little stressed out. I had all of these deadlines to meet and I had to make a choice between sleeping and finishing the pieces for my clients.”

Lifting her hand she rubbed her eyes and blinked away her tiredness. Despite her nap the previous day, the endless hours of overworking herself was catching up to her. Not even the wonderful distraction of having Hyun-ju within touching distance could stop her desire to go and lay down.

“How much do you have left to do?” Hyun-ju asked gently, “Because I’m two seconds away from carrying you to bed.”

“Not much.” Young-mi said, before letting an involuntary smirk pull at her mouth. “My sexy firefighter carrying me to bed? Yes please.”

Hyun-ju huffed out a quiet laugh and shook her head. Her cheeks had darkened but she didn’t look like she was complaining at the straightforward flirting. In fact, it looked like she enjoyed it quite a bit. “You are too much.”

“You didn't say no.”

“I didn’t say yes either.”

“Fair enough. I can use my legs to walk there myself.” Stealing one last kiss, Young-mi stood up from the sofa and held out her hand. “If I take a nap will you stay with me? I'm not insinuating anything, I've just missed you and I want you close.”

Please don’t leave me, not when I’ve just got you back.

She wiggled her fingers and grinned as Hyun-ju slid her hand into her own. Like always they fit perfectly together.

“I'd love nothing more.”

The walk to her bedroom didn't feel as charged as she had thought it would. With zero expectations she felt relaxed and gingerly allowed Hyun-ju to see her room.

Like her previous room she had her art plastered to the walls. The colourful pieces were different from the melancholy drawings that had last taken up space. It showed off her emotional growth, but also the fact she had turned into a sappy mess for the woman beside her.

“I thought you were allergic to colour.” Hyun-ju murmured with a soft smile on her face. She kept looking around the room, until she found something that made her stop. “Is that our photo?”

Young-mi nodded shyly, and allowed Hyun-ju to go over and take a closer look. “I know it might be a bit much..I wouldn't blame you if you thought it was strange.”

Shaking her head, Hyun-ju turned away from the photo. “No, I don’t. It’s lovely. I'm going to print a copy and keep it in my locker at work.”

“I'll print out a copy for you later on.”

Glancing back at her bed, Young-mi winced. It was a soft tangle of blankets and plushes that took up a lot of precious space. Feeling a little embarrassed, she began to fix the blankets and adjust the pillows until it looked nice and neat. She had left it in a bit of a mess and was now regretting that Hyun-ju had seen it like that. “Does this pass inspection?”

Hyun-ju snorted at that and leaned over to pretend that she was inspecting the sheets. “No, but you didn’t need to fix the sheets. Not when we're about to mess them up.”

“Don’t say stuff like that.” She whined, her face heating as inappropriate images flooded her head. “I'm supposed to be going to sleep.”

Now it was Hyun-ju’s turn to look embarrassed, and she nodded and pointed to the bed. “Yeah..that was an accident. I keep forgetting that you have a dirty mind.”

“I think you like it.” Climbing onto the bed, Young-mi shifted until there was room for Hyun-ju to join her. She patted the space before shifting to lay down. “Come and cuddle me.”

Just like on the sofa, as soon as Hyun-ju lay down, Young-mi settled against her like she was made to fit there. “The only downside is that I’m going to find it hard to fall asleep without having you with me. You’re so comfy.”

“Well, you can always sleep over at my place.” Hyun-ju offered, beginning to stroke a hand up and down Young-mi’s back. “I have a black t-shirt that you can sleep in. I can’t wear it without feeling dysphoric but I think seeing you in it would heal something in me.”

“As long as it doesn’t upset you.” Young-mi agreed. “I like the idea of wearing your clothes. It’s a shame I can’t give you anything of mine. You’re so tall it would look like you’re wearing children’s clothes.”

“Hmm, I just had to go and fall for a short stack.” It was said with nothing but affection, and a few kisses pressed into her hair. “So tiny and sweet.”

“You’re being mean.” Young-mi grumbled, sleep beginning to take her. “M’not gonna kiss you anymore.”

“You’re not going to be able to stop yourself from kissing me.” Hyun-ju replied, her laughter so soft and loving that Young-mi happily let it carry her into her first peaceful sleep in weeks.

…

A few hours later, Young-mi woke up to an empty bed with her heart sinking. She knew she hadn’t imagined having Hyun-ju back, surely she wasn’t that far gone that she could have hallucinated seeing the woman she loved.

But what if she had?

No.

At least..that was what she kept telling herself as she stumbled out of bed. But there were no signs that Hyun-ju had ever been there, no articles of clothing or things moved in her room.

A cool sense of dread washed over her.

Opening her bedroom, she called out into the hallway. “Hyun-ju? Baby?”

“I’m in the kitchen.”

Young-mi hurried down the hallway until she saw Hyun-ju leaning against her countertop with a mug clasped between her hands. In the hazy afternoon light she almost looked like she belonged there. “I’m sorry I left you but I was thirsty and you looked so peaceful I didn’t want to wake you up.”

The closer she got the more she noticed about her lover. Hyun-ju’s eyeliner was smudged at the corners of her eyes, her blouse was loose at the collar and untucked at the waist. It felt like a privileged thing to see such a put together woman so casual, relaxed enough to break her neat habit and seek comfort.

She was so beautiful without even trying.

“I thought..I was worried that I imagined everything. You weren’t there when I woke up.” She was aware of how small she sounded, but she didn’t try to hide it. The exhaustion of the last few days had sent her head into a spin, enough that she had genuinely thought she had begun to lose her mind.

“Come here.”

Waiting for her to place down the mug, Young-mi settled into the warmth of Hyun-ju’s arms. The panic she had briefly felt left her as she followed each breath her lover made. The rise and fall of her chest, the beating of her heart, all of it relaxed her.

“I'm so glad you're here.” She whispered, and shut her eyes to combat the threat of tears that already stung her eyes. She didn’t want to cry like some pathetic little girl, but her emotions were on a knife’s edge. She felt spread too thin, like she could shatter at any moment. “Can you just hold me for a bit?”

Hyun-ju nodded and shifted her hand so she could tilt Young-mi’s head up. Gazing into her eyes, she smiled before leaning down to give her a lingering kiss. “I’m going to take you out tomorrow. We’ll take my car and get away from the city.”

Getting away from everything sounded so good. Away from deadlines and emails demanding more changes to art she had already completed.

She had a feeling that this trip was going to be amazing for her mental health, and with that she returned each kiss with gentle enthusiasm.

“That sounds really nice.”

“Maybe we can take some lunches and find a nice place to eat and spend some time together. Would you like that?”

Young-mi nodded, and brought Hyun-ju down into another kiss. “Will you wear a pretty dress for our date?”

“You’re determined to see me in a dress, aren’t you?” Hyun-ju laughed shyly. “I’ll wear something pretty just for you.”

As stunning as she already was, Young-mi had a feeling that seeing Hyun-ju in a dress might actually short circuit her brain. If she looked good in her work gear then getting to see her lover in something pretty would be a completely new experience.

“What should I wear? I want to match you.” Thinking back to what items she had in her wardrobe she made an excited noise and bounced on the balls of her feet. “I think I know exactly what I’m going to wear, but I want it to be a surprise for tomorrow.”

Pouting, Hyun-ju slipped her arms around Young-mi’s waist and tugged her closer. “I don’t even get a sneak peak?”

“Nope.”

“What if I paid you in kisses?”

As tempting as it sounded, Young-mi shook her head. “It’ll be worth the wait.” Though as she spoke, she circled Hyun-ju’s neck to bring their lips closer together. “However, I’ll still accept those kisses. If you’re willing to let me have them.”

Turning them, Hyun-ju easily lifted Young-mi up so she was sitting on the edge of the counter, and slipped between her legs.She smirked against Young-mi’s lips as she whispered her response. “I think that can be arranged.”

With soft giggles they shared kisses and quiet conversation. So wrapped up in each other that nothing else mattered.