𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍. dead man walking

MIGUEL'S BODY FALLING IN THE AIR JUST BEFORE THE STAIR rail made contact with his body and sent him into a ❨ seemingly ❩ lifeless slump waking Jieun up in the middle of the night.

Jieun told herself she wasn't scared but she could see her body movements were tighter and her appetite reduced. Her smiles were shorter and her silence longer.

Slipping out of bed, she tiptoed silently down the stairs and across the house toward the warm bed that had welcomed her more than once. But a pair of menacing amber eyes stopped her in her tracks as she passed the kitchen.

Her grandmother was standing in her nightgown, drying her hands on a towel as she skidded to a stop in front of her.

"Your bedroom is the other way," she mutters in Korean.

"I couldn't sleep," she whispers.

"Running to your dad's bed after a nightmare won't help, you're not five anymore."

Jieun's forehead wrinkled as she glared at her, since the moment she got back from Korea she had done nothing but belittle Jieun, not even phased by the death of her son, but infuriated that Jieun managed to get herself suspended for two weeks. ❨ which, to be fair, was also a big deal, but Jieun didn't think that'd be the only thing occupying her mind. ❩

"It's helped before."

Jimin scoffs, spinning toward her and planting her hands on the counter. "Maybe if you hadn't done what you did the other day, sleeping wouldn't be a problem for you." Jieun didn't respond as she watched her grandmother fold the towel precisely and placed it on the cold surface.

She began to walk away from her, but Jieun was quick to stop the frail woman, grabbing her by the arm and turning her toward her. "You can pretend all you want that you're stone cold without emotions, but I'm not buying it. I think you've gotten very good at hiding them since harabeoji."

It became almost impossible to keep from swallowing, but she refused to let her see her tremble in her presence. She thinks she's intimidating her, but it's all a front, a way to keep from showing emotion, and Jieun was ready to call her grandmother's bluff.

There's a subtle squint in Jimin's eyes. Traces of surprise in her expression. Jimin backs up, waving her hand off, and mumbles "I'm going to sleep, don't disturb me."

Jieun wanted so badly to continue telling her off, how she didn't seem to care about her son, her father, at all. Asking her why had she decided to come here to raise her if she didn't care to. With a scoff, Jieun turned in the direction of her father's room.

It was the door closest to the front entrance, the memories played in her mind as she passed.

The flowers in the pot beside the door weren't simply dead, they have dried like the ornamental blooms her mom once suspended in the kitchen. Somehow the petals remained stuck fast, radiating around the brown center, its pure chocolate hues so bold in the moonlight.

She took the dead flowers as an invitation to bring fresh ones the next time she went out. Her father loved them. He loved their fragrance and the petal colors. They were happy memories to her, that much was clear. It is as if the flowers were another kind of photograph she looked upon with fond reminiscence.

Opening the front door, the wind greeted her skin. She had always thought of the wind as so free, chaotic even, yet it too had its path, even if there were infinite possible destinations. It is air with passion, a drive that powers onward, every direction an option.

Jieun carefully held the fragile petals in her hand, she could feel the cold wash over her skin, again and again, only to be met by the beat of her heart, again and again.

Then, the grass was straight and silent, the leaves dangled more as if they had been painted there. Should a person be able to feel the beating of the bird's wings; that would have been the only breeze. It was still, utterly still.

There was a crunch of gravel behind her, not the kind of continuous noise you'd get from a rolling car, but the defined short crunch of a footstep. The darkness pressed in on her as she fought the urge to turn around. Then there came another crunch, this time lighter and slower as if the maker of the noise was trying to be quieter, to sneak up on her perhaps.

In a swift violent motion, she swept the ground, knocking the figure to the ground. She snatches the figure by the arm and throws them hard against the wall across from the potted plants. One hand held the figure firmly against the chest and the other was pointed to their face. A biting hatred on her face as her voice boomed so loudly it made the figure flinch.

"Tell me who the fuck you are, or I swear to God you won't wake up in the morning." Jieun frowned at the figure, noticing their labored breathing.

"I..." the figure paused, male. "It's me, Robby."

Jieun's eyes shot forward, sending a punch in his gut, Robby cursed. "You have some nerve." She continued to hold Robby, eyes filled with rage. How dare he come to her front doorstep? After what he did to her best friend?

Robby coughed. "Please, I had nowhere else to go." He managed.

"I don't know what made you think this was a safe place for you." She said, letting the boy go harshly as Robby stumbled back. "You should be rotting in juvie for what you did."

"I didn't mean to!" Yelled Robby, Jieun shushed him, glancing at the door to make sure her grandmother didn't wake. "You have to believe me, I didn't..."

Jieun said nothing and instead went back to the dead flowers, inspecting them for any further damage. "He's in a coma because of you." She said, dropping her tough girl act. "You can't stay here. The police are looking for you."

"I know, just, just one night. Please." He pleaded, his voice breaking.

Before Jieun could take another look at the boy she shut the front door behind her.

For a moment, other than the sputtering sound of the wind picking up again, all Robby could think about was how fucked he was.

Robby stepped back from the door, a layer of tears he refused to let spill filled his eyes, and fear washed over him. He felt as though he could collapse at any moment.

A creak was heard, then a voice. "Only one night."

The house was dark, almost pitch black from the thick light-blocking curtains. "Quiet. My Halmoni is asleep." She calls to him softly. He rustled just enough for her to know he at least heard her.

She heads upstairs, Robby following. They get to the front of a door and Jieun waves a hand, gesturing for him to join her.

Her room was filled with plants, flowers in bloom, calm pastels, and soulful browns. It was just tidy enough to show that she cared about the space and just messy enough to show that she was able to let her creativity roam free.

Nearby her bedroom window were the tips of trees, a way to watch the seasons change in real-time. From the bare wands of the wintry days to the promise of spring buds and green leaves of the summertime awaiting their golden days. The rest of the room was simple, pretty though it was.

The tension in the room was so thick it was suffocating. Robby let out a heady breath and watched as Jieun's posture stiffened. Jieun's feather-like steps led her to a chair, she sat slumped, hands folded on her stomach, twiddling her thumbs. "You look like you just killed someone." She sucked in a breath, "oh shit, too soon?"

"Very funny." Robbys' eyes trailed from Jieun to the room to back to Jieun. She didn't even look at him. Her eyes were on her lap and he can only assume she was regretting letting him stay.

Then, Jieun made a quick movement that had Robby in a state of panic. He had a scruffy appearance and messy hair which had never suited him.

Robby bit the inside of his cheek, eyes everywhere but on Jieun. She moves closer with those eyes that looked so deeply into his own, "You ever thought of a makeover?" Her breathing became softer, the pensive look melting into a smile as soft as the morning light. His body squirmed just a little. There was something about that gaze of hers he'll never find in another as if at that moment their souls have made a bridge.

Still trying to gather his thoughts which were a scrambled mess, Jieun heads to her bathroom, coming out shortly with a pair of scissors.

Robby backs up, "Now, wait a minute ―"

"Oh, stop being a baby, and let me cut your hair."

"How do I know you won't make me bald?"

She stares at him with blank stare. "You don't." She deadpans.

He was fiddling with the straps of his jacket ― keeping his distance from the girl with the scissors in hand. Jieun rolled her eyes, then hands him a bottle of water. He looks from it to her, in confusion. "What's that for?"

"It's water. You drink it," she said in an obvious tone.

Taking it from her, he held it in his hands and stared straight ahead. He thought about what he would have to do after the night, once Jieun kicks him out he was really on the streets. His mom was in rehab, Sam wanted nothing to do with him, he couldn't possibly go to Johnny since he seemed to care more about Miguel than his actual son.

Why Jieun had been a potential option to him, he didn't know.

She hated him, rightfully so, so why did his feet lead him to her? And why did she let him stay?

"Why're you helping me?" He said in a feeble whisper.

"Drink," she almost demanded.

"I'm not thirsty."

"You look like shit. You need to stay hydrated. I'll make sure you get some food in the morning, but right now, drink the damn water."

He was on the run and she was concerned about his hydration. "Jiji, I ―" She cuts him off by snatching the water bottle back out of his hands. Unscrewing the top, she tosses it to the floor and then hands the bottle back to him. This time, he didn't take it. He just stared at it dumbfoundedly. "This is insane, I told you I'm not thirsty. I wanna know why you're helping me."

"You drink, and I'll answer. Deal?"

"Why are you so concerned with me drinking this damn bottle of water?" He grimaced, "are you trying to drug me or something? Because I said no to you cutting my hair?"

"Don't be ridiculous, Hobbit. If I wanted to drug you, I'd shove a pill down your throat myself."

Robby craned his neck, a bit taken back. "Okay, then."

"I figured you've been running around like a lost puppy, the least you can do is try not to get dehydrated."

"Since when do you care about me or my health?"

"I don't care." She said quickly. She turned her head to face him. "But, I'd rather not have another dead body on my doorstep."

Tipping the bottle back, he took a long swig, so he didn't have to respond to that. Little good it does, because she's still looking at him when he swallowed down the water. Watching her, reading her expression, waiting for a response for what felt like the longest seconds of Robby's entire existence, Jieun shook her head slowly.

"A haircut helps when you're in hiding," she said calmly. "Or, um, that's what I heard, anyways."

"Jiji," his chin dropped to his chest, "I'm so sorry for what happened with Miguel, you have to believe me, I didn't mean for any of that to happen."

She let out an airy and sarcastic chuckle. Pressing her lips into a thin line, she thinks to herself. Helping him was like pointing a gun at his chest. She could shoot him ❨ kick him out of the house ❩, but then she might as well turn the gun on herself because she'd never forgive herself for being so cruel. That and for betraying Miguel.

Helping the enemy, as he'd say.

As much as she hated what Robby did, she couldn't bring herself to kick him out.

Because when she was in need, though with a few mishaps, Ben Sparrow took her in.

With the way she was treating Robby, it seemed Ben influenced her more than she thought. "Sit down." She motioned to the chair. He obliged.

Half an hour passed, and the haircut was several inches shorter than Robby had hoped for. But it was too late now. His dark locks lay on the floor and he could feel the cool breeze on his neck where there should have been hair.

As he turned his back to her and her eyes adjusted to the mirror, Jieun took in a moment to admire how stupidly handsome he was. The hair he had before easily hid his heavy brow and strong jawline, she wondered if he knew how easily he could get any person he wanted if he actually tried.

"I promised you an answer." Robby side-eyed her from his vision in her mirror. Jieun sighed. "I had no control over what happened to me, and maybe that makes this situation different but," she paused. "When I needed someone, they took me in. And, if that makes me a traitor to Miguel, Tory, any of the Cobra Kai or Miyagi-do's, then so be it." Breathed Jieun, making Robby gaze at her solemnly.

"Some things are more important than the right thing," Jieun said softly, reassuringly.

The side of his lips curled into a smile. "Thank you."

𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑'𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄

since the show skipped the two week suspension im gonna make a few chapters on that, maybe just like 3 but im planning something for robby and jiji hehheheh

much love,