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23
Goodbye

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JISOO

"Jisoo, calm down," Jin says, trying to get me to stop hyperventilating. We just got home from a taxi ride consisting purely of my sobs. "Listen to me."

"What is there to listen to?" I bark, shoving his arms away and stomping to the couch, where I'll probably be for the entire night. "What if this is it, Jin? What if I never see him again? The surgery is tomorrow morning!"

There's this horrible ache in my chest. It's like I'm in an ocean, and everytime I try to swim up, the haunting fact that I may never see Jungkook again weighs me down like thick, chunky boots that are permanently glued to my feet.

"Shh, come'ere." Reluctantly, I let myself succumb to the warmth of his arms. I almost want to laugh at how easily I let my walls down around Jin these days. "It's not over yet."

"How are you so sure?" My voice is muffled against his pink hoodie, his signature attire and a strangely casual fit for someone who calls themselves something as obscure as a guardian.

He pauses for a moment. "Jisoo..."

"Yeah?"

Pulling away from me, he settles himself onto the couch, and takes a huge breath. I've never seen Jin look so nervous before. I furrow my brows, still wiping the tears that are endlessly spilling out of me, even when I convince myself that it'll be okay.

"Your wish," he states simply, as if I would understand.

"I can only use it once I defeat The Sender, right?"

Jin shakes his head, sighing before continuing. "No."

"What?!" I straighten my back. I don't have to? Have I been wasting all this time going around for nothing? Before I can start getting angry, that heavy feeling weighs me down again. "Jin, wh-what does that mean?"

"You had the chance to make your wish as soon as you got your powers," he explains, "But it comes at a cost."

"What is it?" If I can save Jungkook now, I will.

"Your powers."

Oh.

"A-all of them?"

"All of them," he confirms. "You'll lose me, too." At this, my gut fills with alarm. I'll lose Jin? "You won't be able to see me, use your powers, or work with V as a superhero anymore. The only thing you'll have is your memories."

His words take a moment to sink in. I have to choose between my brother and being RC.

The decision is tearing a hole in my heart, but I know my choice; I have to save my brother. He's all I've ever known and the only person I've ever truly loved. Jungkook has been there for me through everything, and vice versa. I can't live without him. Though, I won't deny that Jin has wormed his way into my heart (along with another specific guy), but choosing him over my brother is something I can't ever fathom doing.

Yet at the same time... I'm going to miss Jin. So much.

"J-Jin..." I trail off, watching as he sends me a somber look.

"It's okay, Jisoo. I'll respect your choice."

"But–"  My meek voice cracks through sobs. "What about The Sender? Who'll take care of him?"

"V is here for a reason, y'know," he chuckles, trying to lift the mood. A box of tissues gets thrown to my lap, and I fumble around with it before plucking one out to blow an enormous glob of snot into it.

"I'm glad he is," I sniffle, though I can't help but worry; is he going to be okay all on his own? Taehyung is capable, no doubt, but it sucks that I can't be with him to defeat The Sender. "You'll help him, right?"

"Of course." Jin sighs again, this time his tone darkening. "But the current suspect for The Sender won't be easy for him to take in."

"Who is it?"

Jin waits for a few seconds before revealing.

"Namjoon."

My eyes widen, and I practically jump off the couch. "Namjoon? As in Dr. Kim?"

He nods, lips pursed. "Think about it. Isn't it weird how right after you met him, Jungkook got the wrong medication? Or how he's conveniently a doctor who would have access to his medical records?"

My breath gets caught in my throat. Jin is right. Today he mentioned my bracelet too. What if he knows that I'm RC, and is using Jungkook to weaken the team? If he only had V to worry about, Namjoon would be more powerful. It's starting to make sense... and I hate it.

Taehyung would be devastated.

"Holy shit," I let out. "How the hell is Taehyung going to go against his own brother? He's already less confident when Namjoon's around—he can't possibly fight him!"

"But we don't know if Namjoon is The Sender yet." All too casually, Jin stands up and pats down his pants.  "We have to find out, but if you're not here, then it might be hard for him to do that on his own."

I feel like I'm drowning with no way out. Every choice I make will result in someone I care about getting hurt.

"What the hell am I supposed to do then?"

I can't save Jungkook without leaving Taehyung and Jin behind, but I also can't not use my wish on him. I can't do this. Jin chose the wrong person.

I scream, sob and let myself completely detonate into madness, Jin watching all of it from across the room. I hear him sigh in the back, before coming to the couch with a glass of water and more tissues.

The water I took from him dribbles down my chin as I (try to) drink.  After I've steadied my breathing a bit, he helps me wipe my tears (and snot). He's babying me and I'd usually hate it, but in my mess of a state right now, it's somehow comforting.

"Use your wish on Jungkook," he says softly, " I want you to be happy, and saving Jungkook will ensure that. Yoongi and I can figure it out with Tae. Don't worry, 'kay?"

"Are you sure?"

He smiles, ruffling my hair. "Positive."

TAEHYUNG

"You have to go to that mall's rooftop to meet RC right now," Yoongi says, much more nonchalantly than I'm comfortable with. "She needs to talk to you."

"I have to–what?" I splutter, sitting up straight from my bed.

"Meet with RC. I just got a message from her guardian." He yawns and leans back on the chair tucked in the corner of my room. "Well? Go ahead and transform. She's probably already waiting."

"I can't do that!"

I'm unprepared. The last time we talked she confessed that she loved me and I didn't even have the chance to tell her that I didn't feel the same way and–oh my fucking gosh. What if she's trying to ask me for an answer? I still need time to conjure up a minimum 500 word response on why I think she's a cool person but I can't like her in that way.

I have to be loyal to Jisoo. Now that we're... more than friends(I think), I definitely can't return RC's feelings.

"You have to," he orders, using a stern voice that I don't normally hear from him. "It's important."

"C'mon, can't you tell her guardian to tell her that I need more time to think about it? Or think about how I want to respond?"

"You don't even know what it's about," he deadpans, "Just bite into the bracelet already so I don't have to see you in those atrocious teddy bear pajamas anymore."

I huff at the insult, but I'm more concerned about whether or not I should actually go. One more look at Yoongi's oddly scary facial expression, and I finally decide to chomp into the bracelet. A purpl-ish light momentarily flashes around me, covering my body with the ninja-like attire I've learned to get used to recently.

With one more hesitant glance to my bed, which I have cleverly stacked pillows on to resemble my figure, I jump out the window to meet the cold night.

It can't be so bad... right?

RC will understand, for sure.

I just hope that this won't affect our teamwork.

___

There she is.

Her long black locks flow through the wind and her figure is illuminated by the moon and stars scattered among the deep blue sky. She sits at the edge of the rooftop where we last spoke, and I would think that she'd be nervous but if anything, she appears sad.  Her shoulders are slumped and her head hangs low as she watches her feet dangle over the city. She probably knows that I don't like her like that already.

I make a slight thump when my feet hit the surface of the roof.

RC whips her head around, letting a soft smile crinkle her bloodshot eyes. "Hey."

"Hi."

She chuckles, though I don't miss the way her tone is strained. "Sit with me."

Tentatively, I make my way to the edge and plop down next to her, gulping hard. We don't say anything for a second. I'm scared to say something, but I also can't fight the urge to clarify everything.

"Look, RC," I start, shutting my eyes but also turning to her. "You're a really really really cool girl, and you're honestly the most badass person I know an-and... I'm really happy that you like me like that and I honestly feel super duper honored but I'm–" my voice betrays me for a moment, cracking a bit, "I-I'm not in love with you." Gasping for air, I only now realize that I said it all in one breath. "I'm sorry."

She gapes at me for a moment.

And then she bursts out into a fit of laughter.

Oh no.

Is this a coping mechanism? Is she laughing to ease the pain away? What have I done? Her light, airy wheezes echo into the night, flying over the sparkling city below and I remind myself that looking down at my dangling feet makes my stomach drop ever so slightly when I try to avoid her gaze.

"It's okay," she speaks through chuckles, "Really. Thanks."

Her tone is genuine, surprisingly, and I let myself relax a bit.

"Cool," is my awkward but relieved response.

Maybe I freaked out over nothing. She's a chill girl and there's no way that she likes me that much. This must've just been a small crush.

"Yeah," she agrees, and then jabs my side with her elbow. "But that's not why I called you out here."

"Huh?"

She chuckles again at my bewildered expression, before placing her hands behind her and leaning back to look at the sky. I wait for her to say something, ignoring the embarrassment in my gut. Let's pretend that I didn't say what I said in the past two minutes.

The moment of silence lasts a little bit too long. When I glance at her again, I find that her eyes are watering. So she is sad.

"I'm not going to be RC anymore," she finally reveals.

"What?!" My jaw drops. Immediately, I search her face for any trace of this being a lie. I really want it to be. Please be untrue.

"I have to lose my powers." She faces me with a bittersweet smile. "I called you out here to say goodbye."

"W-why?" Air becomes scarce all the sudden. I never imagined what things would be like without her. Heck, I don't think I can even do a mission without her. "Will I be alone from now on?"

"I... I have to use my wish. It's for the family member I was talking about last time," she explains, "I'm sorry. I didn't want you to be alone either."

"The wish? But we haven't even found The Sender yet!" I counter, more angrily than I intend to. "Why does using your wish mean that you have to leave me?"

"Because if I use my wish, my powers will disappear."

I'm left opening and closing my mouth stupidly. She stares at me with a guilty look, and I almost want to be mad at her but I know that I can't. RC is my partner. I need her to do this whole superhero thing.

Shit. I've totally been taking her presence for granted with how I compare myself to her constantly–but maybe doing that is just in my genes. Either way, I've been too jealous to realize how important she is to me.

"Y-you..." I trail off, unable to find other words to say. I don't even know how to express what I'm feeling.

"So!" Her attempt to lighten the mood is with a preppy tone. "I wanted to say my final words to you, as RC. After all of this, we can meet again properly," she explains.

"But how will we meet after if I can't defeat The Sender?" Again, I sound more angry than I am.

RC flinches, but ultimately plasters a smile onto her face. "You can. I'll still be here, but just on the sidelines," she reassures, "I believe in you."

"Why?" I yell, "You're always hogging everything on missions so I can't even defend myself properly anyway! There's no reason to believe in me."

The words tumble out of my mouth without much thought, but I'm not actually mad at her. I'm scared. I don't think I can do it and I want to blame someone other than myself.

"V..." A trace of hurt flashes in her face but she shakes her head to wipe it away. "You're wrong," she says firmly, "You can and will do it."

"But–"

"No buts," she interjects. "I've always wanted to tell you this." She takes a deep breath. "You're amazing, you know? I promise that it's true. I needed you in every mission we've had, whether it was because you saved me or for your adorable encouragement." I almost want to call her a liar, but she keeps talking. "I don't care if you believe me or not. If you don't believe in your worth, then just know that I always will."

My worth... I sure have been questioning that lately.

"Don't ever forget that," she continues, "I mean it."

A lot of people have made me insecure, RC being one of them, but she somehow manages to make me feel valid, too. My words get stuck in my throat and my nose stings with the desire to cry at her sincerity, but I don't want to let myself.

Seeing that I'm not saying anything, RC speaks up again.

"You're the best partner ever, V."

Awkwardly, but with good intent, she leans over and wraps her arms around me, nuzzling her face onto my collarbone. The embrace is fleeting, with her pulling away only a second after.

The busy streets below us bustle with various sounds, from cars honking to the chimes of various restaurant doors opening and closing. They are the only things that fill the tense air for a moment.  I'm still frozen, but this time it's not because of anger, confusion, or shock of her leaving.

It's because I'm perplexed by the way my heart skipped a beat.

"Well! I guess it's time for me to go now!" Even for RC, the silence becomes too much to handle. She abruptly stands up with choked laughter, and turns back to me one last time. "This is it! For now, of course."

As her footsteps start to tap away, it's like another being possesses my body. I sprint to her, and grab onto her wrist with an alarming amount of trepidation.

No words come out, again, but she senses my panic.

"V?"

My gaze falls to my hand around her wrist, then slowly up to her face. Those eyes. They're the only thing I've ever seen of her, and I've always brushed off how familiar and... inviting they looked. But then, her image blurs, becoming a blob of purple and black.

I'm crying.

I'm going to miss her.

She's equally shocked, fumbling around with her arms. "Are you okay? Oh gosh, I didn't mean to make you cry! Hey, look at me," she mutters, frantically trying to make eye contact with me. "It's not over! You got this, really!"

The frustration I had earlier dissipates; her pure concern is somehow cute. Gosh, I really let my inner competitiveness get the best of me. I should've appreciated her more. Through tears, I let myself chuckle, finally looking at her.

"Okay," I say, "Thank you."

RC blinks a few times at the sudden change in emotion. "Oh... okay. You're welcome."

I laugh again. I've been angry over nothing. Maybe I can do it, after all. I have all the power of Yoongi and RC's luck on my side.

"For the record, you're the best partner ever too," I admit.

The gleam in her eyes makes my heart do that weird thing again. I don't have time to panic over it when she aggressively and pulls me into a tight hug. Her hair smells like strawberries.

With one more smile, she pulls away, and walks backwards to the edge of the roof.

"Thank you," she says, just loud enough for me to hear as she waves. "This is not goodbye!" And then she jumps off, disappearing into the night and leaving me alone.

Alone with the rapid thumping of my heart.

One that I definitely should not have. Am I going crazy?  I can't be feeling these things with another girl. I'm supposed to like Jisoo. Guilt and excitement simultaneously fill my gut, my feelings more confusing than ever. It's hard to coherently think, the only thought circling my head being:

I'm fucking screwed–again.

Author's Note:

hehehe... did i get you with that chapter title? i hope you enjoyed! i can't believe there are only like, five chapters left TT. please comment theories (if you have any)! i'd love to hear them and reply with ambiguous emojis to confuse you!

and of course, thank you so so SO much for reading!

<3 adoremei-