The sea was calm.

Bada inhaled and exhaled softly as the breeze lulled and suppressed her inner turmoil, giving her the moment to relax and let go. The waves blanketed her feet and her hands treaded the waters as she enjoyed the cool caressing sensation. The sun was peeking from the horizon, casting golden light over the sea and around the man beside her.

"What are you thinking?" Jin asked her, eyes searching hers when she looked at him in surprise.

Shushing her fluttering heart, Bada smiled at him. "I was trying not to, actually. But it's hard. I started make the others meet, but now that everything is in motion... there's this nagging voice in the back of my head telling me it could be a bad idea after all."

She sighed and hugged her knees, pulling her legs closer. Fear and guilt began piling up inside her core as she remembered the misfortune that arose when she made Jungkook and Eunsook meet. She knew it was pathetic to feel that way and should not have done that in the first place if she would feel this way.

"The Bada I know wouldn't be deterred from that."

Jin's words made her turn to him. He smiled back at her. "She would keep fighting for what she thinks is right. Aren't you stubborn like that once you make up your mind?"

Bada stared at him in wonder.

"Giving up isn't like you." Jin eyed her in adoration as the sunlight adorned him with warmth. "I'm sure you had their best interest in mind. You always do, it comes naturally to you as a crown princess."

Bada chuckled. The sea water covering her feet was cold but she felt warmer now. "How can you say something so cheesy so casually like that all the time? You're a wonder..."

"The one and only," Jin boasted and shook his shoulders. "But Bada, you're the most powerful woman I know."

She scoffed, but something was stirring her heart.

"You know what to do without asking me," Jin said above a whisper.

She nodded.

•───────────⋅⚜️⋅───────────•

"Not everyday do you see a Heavenly Virtue seeking a Deadly Sin of a different aspect. To what do I owe the pleasure of this meeting, Temperance?"

The said Virtue crossed her arms and held Pride's amused gaze with a more serious one. "Don't you think this meeting is long overdue? I had to be the one to seek you instead of you. I know you are aware that Eunsook, Jungkook and Jimin were all reincarnated instead of being erased as they said."

The only Sin left behind smiled, his expression staying calm. "Same as you. And what is your purpose for meeting me?"

She frowned. "Purpose? What else can it be other than their lives?"

"I'm not sure I clearly understand what you want?" He emphasized. "They are living well. Isn't that all?"

She inhaled deeply. "They're living for what? They couldn't meet each other and they will live without knowing each other."

He threw one leg over the other, scrutinizing her. "What's so bad about that? As we both know, they shouldn't meet. This is their new life, after all."

Her lips parted. She thought wrong. He carried different views than her and was on the same side as Humility. What was more, he would be of no help. It was only her now.

"Throwing away their chance at life just because you assume they would have wanted to meet is too self-centered, no?" Pride raised an eyebrow, making her thoughts stutter.

"But..."

"I know you are still shaken about Gluttony, but you must already know how he committed homicide and abuse of power. He was not exactly a person who deserved what you may have wanted."

His words were like poison to her. How could he speak so casually about his fellow member like that? Although he was ruthless, she could not attack back at him because she also understood his logic.

But logic was not the only thing there was.

Logic was not enough to explain existence.

There was white and there was black. There was also gray.

There was no right answer in life.

Temperance regained her composure and challenged his sharp gaze. "So I take it you're against them meeting?"

"Has Humility not told you what you shouldn't be doing? Isn't he your leader?"

She stood up, glaring at him. "I don't care about this hierarchy anymore. I'll do things my own way."

Pride smiled at how she changed after Gluttony disappeared. Or this was how many many years could affect someone. Either way, it was amusing at the least to him.

"And I know they wanted to spend their life together. It should be clear to someone who was close with them." She threw a look of disappointment at him. "Unless you did not care about them."

He watched her walk away, biting his lips in thought. "Two leaders against one but she's not even fazed."

He grinned. "I wonder how she's going to act..."

•───────────⋅⚜️⋅───────────•

"Did Temperance approach you?" Humility asked Pride when the latter walked past him in the street.

Pride chuckled, taunting him. "If she did, what can you do?"

Humility smirked. "Annoying, aren't we?"

"I'm not the one who can't control their own ally here," Pride retorted, patting his shoulder. "I'm sure you know what she's doing, running around so freely like that. I could always see some pride in her."

"Sounds like you're on the fence," Humility said, making the hazel haired man's smile falter. "Well, this matter involves more Sins than Virtues. Those Sins certain someone failed to protect. If somebody should be more concerned, it's not me."

He walked off, leaving Pride speechless before he called him.

"Wait."

Humility turned around. "What do you want?"

"You could have let me get erased that day when I was about to kill someone... Why didn't you?"

The Virtue chuckled shortly, shrugging. "Who knows?"

Pride crossed his arms. "How did you even become Humility? Are you special in any way?"

"No way. I was just a normal average person. I just had good and bad experiences and simply cherished life." Humility saluted him and walked away.

Sometimes, being special had nothing to do with anything.

Pride smiled. "What an annoying guy..."

┗━━━━━━༻♔༺━━━━━━┛

Hope you're enjoying 🫶