She stands in front, dressed in black, and head bowing slightly. Something she would never usually do, but for her sister, she was more then willing to. She doesn't say anything to those who walk up to express the condolences; she remains quite and she lets the hours pass in the same way. Her sisters body is millimetres away, and her eyes unconsciously retreat to the coffin every five seconds. Her little sister, her little piece of joy that kept her humanity awake was now gone. And today marked the farewell, no more clinging on, no more denial and no more humanity. Her sister was gone, and the price that Korea would pay would be immense. Her hands clasped tightly together as she bowed down to the passers but halted, her eyes rolling slightly as she made eye contact with an aunt. An aunt that had always hated her with a passion. Why? Irene could never work out. Maybe it was jealously? Maybe it was because she held Irene accountable for the death of her parents? But she felt herself take a sharp intake of breath. In no means was she ready to deal with this right now. She continued to bow respectfully, hearing the bitter scoff that escaped the lady's lips as she eyed Irene with hate. And just as she moved up her eyes caught the figure entering from the main door. And her heart stopped, her attention diverted, and for that she's grateful. He looks dashing in a suit. His broad shoulder blades highlighted for her view as his blazer flared past him with his rushed movements. His eyes catch hers, a small smile passed to her. Nothing overly forced but rather a silent act of reassurance that he was there. His eyes move to the lady in front of her and hers return back too. She is sighing slightly. As she watches the aunt take an aggressive step forward, swatting Irene's hair violently before gripping her chin forcefully. Everyone's attention seemingly turns to watch in silence as the Mafia Queen stands stripped. She remains quite, and  lets the abuse be thrown towards her. But with the tightening grip against her, she no longer cares about her image. She harshly wretched the woman's hand away, swatting it to the side, and eyes blazing. "I know you don't like me, but I've never given a shit. You blame me for the death that happens around me like I don't already blame myself. I know I'm responsible. Okay! I know I'm incapable of protecting those who mean the most to me but I do not need to hear those words from you when they are already playing in my mind like a broken record. I know you hate me and I understand it, but stop raising questions about my character. Because that I will not stand. I wasn't the one holding the gun, nor was I the one to pull the trigger. I would never ever want this. Not when this family made me their own when I had no one. You're an outsider in our family so please. Before you throw your shit at me think about what you've done to this family." Irene took a deep breath, noticing everyone's wide eyes. She stabilised herself before continuing. "If you're going to do this we can schedule another day for you to throw your abuse at me. Not today and not now." She moved to turn away but the lady grabbed for her wrist pulling her back harshly, and aiming a slap to her face. Jackson took a step forward, but Wendy held him back, as they watched Irene. The lady gripped her arms harshly shaking her. "You fucking slut, you have no idea what the hell you're even talking about. You think they picked you off the streets out of pity, you're wrong. Your parents didn't even want you to begin with. All you were Irene was a weapon to be exploited and used for what we wanted. Your second dad is actually your uncle you stupid child. He was your real fathers brother and the amount of fights that took place between them caused the destruction of this entire family. My sister was caught in the crossfire for no fault of her own, and now you've killed her daughter. They should have left you to die. They should have let you whore around on the streets and survive that way because that is all you're worth. And that all your ever be worth." Irene gulped back her emotions, her eyes meeting Jackson's who shook his head at her. Trying to get through to her through his eyes that none of it was true. But seeing the threatening step she took forward, his eyes were now begging her not to do what she was about to do. She didn't listen, nor did she acknowledge the silent pleas in his eyes, as she turned her attention back to the lady in front of her, her hand wrapping around her neck and slamming her against the wall in swift movement. She could hear the gasps in onlookers voice, but they burned out with the fire that had been ignited within her, her deathly grip tightened further as her eyes radiated that very fire. She smirked as the lady pleaded for her life but she stayed relentless. "You want to do this now. Fine. Dear aunt." She tightened her grip further watching as the lady paled. "Everything that you just said maybe the truth. But unlike your filthy heart, there are people who actually care, who actually love. If I was made to be a weapon, then watch this weapon that you wanted to exploit destroy everything and everyone." Jackson watched her with wide eyes, noticing the lady gasping harder for breaths. He shrugged Wendy's hand away, his feet rushing forward, and hand slipping around her waist. Her eyes remained fixed to the lady however. "Irene." He called out, a small whisper, as he watched her grip tighten. "Irene." He said more firmly. "Stop." He wrapped his hand against hers to pry it off. "Babygirl please." He spoke watching her grip loosen slightly until finally he managed to pull her back into his embrace. The lady despite gasping for breaths laughed sadistically. "Ah so you are a whore then." Irene's fists clenched and before Jackson could even stop her, a sharp punch was delivered to the older woman until he had successfully trapped her in his arms. "Babygirl stop." He whispered in her ear. Watching as she struggled against his grip, eyes watering. "Think about Ryujin. She wouldn't want this Irene. Please, for her." She looked towards him, his eyes softening as he nodded at her feeling her tense form relax. His arms readjusted to lead her away, but soon she stopped and turned back to the lady. He grabbed for her but she shrugged him off, walking over intimidatingly to the woman who still lay on the floor. She crouched down, patting the lady's head to soften her hair down. "You know who I am. So you should also know what I'm capable of. Show me your face again. And your husband and sons will bare the consequences of your words. I'll make you watch as I torture and kill them and I'll make you beg for the same. But I won't give you death that easily because you don't deserve that. Watch yourself." She stood back up, walking away as if the entire ordeal hadn't just happened, making Jackson admire her all the more. He watches as she enters the room for cremation, her spine rigid, as she turns around for a split second, her eyes catching his. She moves towards him, her friends watchful eyes following as she takes his hand in her own. "I need you." She whispered lowly. "Don't leave me." She begged softly and his own eyes respectively softened in recognition to her plight. He squeezed her hand walking her forward, his eyes trained to her form as they stood in the room, watching as the coffin rolled up to the fire. He could feel how callous her hands were getting as she watched, eyes wide and unmoving, a painful gasp emitting from her lips as they watch it get tipped over the edge. Her heart aching for another soul she had let down. Jackson doesn't let her watch anymore. She's gone, and he can see the force in which Irene is trying to keep her walls from tumbling. He watches her with the utmost care as her friends leave her and him alone until finally he's pulling her into his embrace, allowing her to seek comfort in his arms. Her stance remains lucid, her tears desperately wanting to flow, but as usual she restricts them. Her head buries further into his chest, hearing the soft beat that lies behind it. She gulps down the nauseating feeling and soon she allows her arms to wrap around him. For once she allows someone to provide comfort to her wounded heart, she moves closer and his grip tightens. He doesn't say anything, nor does he try to sugarcoat  what happened, no empty words that it will get better, no empty promises either. Just him. Just silence. And in his silence she receives the much needed companionship and comfort.

He takes her home for the second time. The car ride once again filled with silence. He's concerned, his gaze moving to her every now and then to reassure his own restless heart but all he can see is numbness. It scares him more, how unfeeling she can become, how she results to shutting down completely. It scares him because all he wants to do is to extend his hand to her and pull her from the depths of the darkness she surrounds herself with. He wanted to save her, because she deserved to be. No matter how cold and unforgiving she seemed, he could see that this was simply her defence, her warmth lay hidden, it just needed to be uncovered. They pull up soon after, and he follows after her watching as she rushes up the steps, stumbling in her heels until his arms shoot out to stabilise her. One small gesture holding significant symbolism. She stares at him, their eye contact refusing to break until she rips away in fear of exposing too much vulnerability. They enter in silence and he makes way to her kitchen watching from the corner of his eye as she collapses onto the couch. He fills up a glass of water, walking towards her and handing it to her. Begrudgingly she moves her head away refusing to take it. He moves to the other side, as she pushes it away. Standing up to turn away until he wraps an arm around her waist and pulling  her flush against his body, her small hands resting again his chest. His gaze is intense and soon her head falls to the side in means to avoid him. "Please." He asks gently watching as she turns slowly, he brings the glass to her lips as she sips on the liquid until finally she's done. He smiles at her. "Let's make you something to eat." She refuses. "I don't want too." "Irene-" "I don't think I can stomach anything right now." He  searches her eyes. "Please Babygirl you need to eat something. You've barely eaten all day. You don't have to finish everything just eat as much as you can handle okay?" She looks at him, her eyes searching his and seeing nothing but care. She nods as he leads her to the kitchen stools, helping her up before getting to work. She watches as he rolls up his sleeves placing an apron on his white formal shirt before getting to work. She can feel her heart softly pound against her chest as she watches him expertly work wonders in her kitchen, his own gaze crashing into hers every now and then. She doesn't know how long she been trapped staring at his form but when he lets out a soft cough to bring her back to reality she realises he's finished. She sees the lasagna in front of her, her eyes widening. "You said it was your favourite right?" She nodded slightly shocked he had remembered. He asks her where the cutlery is kept before handing her a set and grabbing one for himself. He turned back watching as she ate, a small smile on his face at his success of getting her to stomach a meal. He joins her as they sit across each other enjoying the food until they are both finished. Much to her disapproval he stands taking her plate and placing them in the dishwasher, before standing tall. "I was 15 when it happened..." she speaks softly, his back turning to her as he watches her with solemn eyes. "Mum and Dad were suddenly just killed before me. The sound of the guns I can still hear today. The menacing black figures still torment me in my dreams. My mum was shot, my dad stabbed, and through it all, I listened to them struggle to breathe, I watched the life drown from their eyes and watched them bleed out on the same floor we would play games on.  Why they were killed I don't know. They both worked for the government." His eyes widened. "But in one night I lost everything." Her eyes cast down. "My little sister who was barley 11 at the time saw their blood everywhere. And then we were forced to survive alone. We both got jobs, she did newspaper rounds whilst I had three other jobs on top of school,  we tried to earn what we could to survive, to the point where I would entertain other men to make enough to feed my sister. But exactly the same day exactly a year after my parents were killed my sister was pushed from a roof." His eyes shot up to look at her. "It was closed under suicide. But it was framed. CCTV footage deleted. My sister wasn't weak, nor would she do that...I lost it when that happened. I had nothing until my second set of parents took me in. They gave me a family, but more importantly they gave me love. They treated me like I was always apart of their family. They treated me like their oldest daughter when they didn't have too. When the entire world chose to turn its back on me, they didn't. And just like everyone else, they were also killed. Right in front of me. My second chance was taken away from me yet my humanity stayed in tact because of my sister. Because of Ryujin, and now...since they've taken that, I have nothing left in me." He took a step forward crouching down in front of her and arms resting on her lap. "Leave Jackson. I'll only destroy you in the process." Stubbornly he shook his head. "I've told you once and I'll tell you again. I'm not going anywhere." Her hand reached out to caress his face. "Please." She begged. "No." He answered, his expressive eyes pinning hers.  Their contact was broken by the ring of her phone as she excused herself. "Hey wends." She called softly as the two exchanged normal words, until Wendy spoke about the real reason why she called. "It's ready to be released." Confirmed Wendy. Irene looked towards Jackson who stood with his back to her. "Release it." "Check the news in ten minutes." "Will do." "Get some rest irene. This is about to blow up." She hummed as they ended their call. Irene walking back towards him. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry you had to go through that." She smiled bitterly. "It is what it is. If god has decided to give me such a life, I have to live it right." His admiration for her grows further as she looks towards her clock her hands finding the remote as she switches to the news, both listening carefully. "This just in massive case buried by KI and police inspectors over negligence of police officials in a case regarding the young girls Jinji Kang and Jimin Kim, two cousin sister who were murdered in a park. Police failed to respond to the emergency and subsequently the girls were killed, but shockingly it has been discovered that the police officers involved in handling the scene took pictures with the deceased bodies and then proceeded to send them onto a WhatsApp group which screenshots have been recovered and are currently on your screen. We wonder what will happen next...more details are soon to follow. I'm your host..." Irene turns the volume down, drowning out the end as she watches with a smirk on her face reporters already reporting on the unrest and riots that this had caused. Jackson's eyes fall from the screen catching the smirk on her face and the glint in his eyes. "It's been a long day you should rest." He speaks out and she agrees. "I'll sleep in your lounge." he calls noticing the reluctance on her face for him to leave. She hands him a duvet and pillows as they set him up, whilst Irene returns to her room. The both of them falling into a slumber.

It's the early hours of the morning when he hears it. Precisely 1 AM. And he hears distant crises. Soon they are getting louder and he's up on his feet in seconds running to her room and opening the door, watching as she fists the sheets tightly, looking paralysed and broken as she lets out soft cries. He rushes to her side. "Irene." He calls out as he sits down slightly, his hands pulling her up and into his embrace as she hysterically begins to scream. His heart is thumping loudly as he buries her face into his neck, her grip tight  on his shirt and fist balled around the material as she fights against him until he's whispering soft words and playing with her luscious hair. He can hear her whimper "Go. He will hurt you. Go." Shes begging over and over again until he's pushing her further into his warmth, feeling her calm down until finally her form slumps and she's out. "I'm not going anywhere." He speaks, lying her down against his chest and pulling the duvet over her. Peace being reached for them both.

TBC

Authors note:
Hey  guys hope you enjoy this one . Let me know what your thoughts are. Lots of love to you all.