weakness of queens - Chapter 16: Chapter 16

The fire from the warehouse still raged in the distance, its glow illuminating the night sky like a warning. But for us, it was nothing more than a challenge. The enemy thought they could shake us, make us question our strength, but they had no idea who they were dealing with.
Back at the penthouse, the atmosphere was heavy with unspoken words. The events of the night weighed on all of us, but for me, something else lingered beneath the surface-something I wasn't ready to confront.
Lisa.
She had always been by my side, unwavering in her loyalty, relentless in her pursuit to keep me safe. But tonight, as we fought together, there had been a moment-just a moment-where the air between us had shifted. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but it was there. A spark. A lingering glance. A touch that lasted just a second too long.
And I wasn't sure how to handle it.
The others were gathered in the war room, poring over maps and documents, trying to piece together our next move. I stood by the window, staring out at the city below, lost in thought.
"Jennie."
Lisa's voice was soft but firm, breaking through my thoughts. I turned to find her standing beside me, her eyes searching mine for something-answers, maybe.
"You okay?" she asked, her voice quieter now, meant only for me.
I nodded, but I knew she didn't believe me. Lisa knew me better than anyone. She had seen me at my worst and still stood beside me.
"Don't lie to me," she said, stepping closer. Her fingers brushed against mine, a barely-there touch that sent a shiver up my spine.
I let out a small sigh, my shoulders dropping. "It's just... this enemy. Whoever they are, they know too much. It's unsettling."
Lisa studied me for a long moment before nodding. "We'll find them, Jen. We always do."
There was something about the way she said my name, the way it rolled off her tongue so effortlessly, that made my heart beat just a little faster. I turned away, afraid she'd see too much in my eyes.
"We should get back to the others," I said, but I didn't move.
Lisa didn't either. Instead, she reached up, gently tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. My breath caught in my throat at the intimacy of the gesture.
"Jennie..." she whispered, and for the first time, I saw hesitation in her eyes.
I knew what she was thinking, what she wanted to say. And maybe, just maybe, I wanted to hear it.
But before either of us could speak, the door burst open, and Irene strode in, her expression hard.
"We have a lead."
Just like that, the moment shattered, reality slamming back into place. I took a step back, clearing my throat. Lisa did the same, her face unreadable.
"Let's go," I said, pushing away whatever had just passed between us. There were bigger things at stake.
The Hunt Begins
The address Irene gave us led to an old warehouse district on the outskirts of the city. It was a known meeting spot for underground dealings, but tonight, it was eerily empty. Too empty.
Lisa and I moved in first, guns drawn, while Jisoo and Seulgi covered our backs. Rosé and Irene took the other entrance, ensuring no one could slip past us.
The air was thick with tension, every creak of the old building setting our nerves on edge.
Then, a sound-a whisper of movement.
I signaled to Lisa, and we moved as one, turning a corner just in time to see a figure slipping through a side door.
Lisa didn't hesitate. She lunged forward, grabbing the guy by the collar and slamming him against the wall. He let out a strangled gasp, his eyes wide with fear.
"Who sent you?" Lisa demanded, her voice dangerously low.
"I-I don't know!" he stammered. "I swear, I was just told to be here."
I stepped closer, pressing the barrel of my gun against his temple. "Try again."
He swallowed hard, his body trembling. "All I know is... they call themselves 'The Revenants.' They've been planning this for years."
My blood ran cold.
Irene stepped forward, her eyes narrowing. "Why now? Why come after us now?"
The man hesitated, then whispered, "Because they finally found out the truth."
Before we could press him further, a gunshot rang out, and the man slumped forward, blood staining his chest.
I spun around, my gun raised, but whoever had taken the shot was already gone.
Lisa cursed under her breath. "Damn it."
I clenched my jaw. Someone was cleaning up their mess, making sure we didn't get any more information. But they had underestimated us.
This wasn't over.
Later That Night
Back at the penthouse, I found myself on the balcony once again, the cold air doing little to cool the fire burning inside me. The night had been one revelation after another, but my mind kept circling back to something else.
Lisa.
The way she had looked at me. The way she had touched me. The way my heart had betrayed me in that moment.
I heard the door slide open behind me, and I didn't have to turn to know who it was.
"You're thinking too much again," Lisa said, stepping beside me.
I let out a breathless chuckle. "You always say that."
"Because it's always true."
Silence stretched between us, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was charged, filled with all the words we weren't saying.
Lisa hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Jennie... earlier, before Irene came in..."
I turned to face her, my heart pounding. "Lisa..."
She reached out, her fingers lightly grazing my cheek. "Tell me to stop, and I will."
I didn't say anything. Because I didn't want her to stop.
And then, before I could overthink it, before I could stop myself, I closed the distance between us, pressing my lips to hers.
Lisa tensed for half a second before melting into the kiss, her arms wrapping around me, pulling me closer. The world faded away, the only thing that mattered was the warmth of her body against mine, the way our lips moved in perfect sync.
When we finally pulled apart, breathless, she rested her forehead against mine.
"I've wanted to do that for a long time," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
I smiled, my fingers tracing the outline of her jaw. "Me too."
She grinned. "Then let's not waste any more time."
And just like that, the war raging outside didn't seem so daunting anymore.
Because for the first time in a long time, I had something worth fighting for.