_{there’s a push. it’s deliberate, it’s subtle and jennie seems to do it with everyone she meets. it’s not like pushing buttons, it’s more like testing waters. she wants to see how long people can hold on until they read her intentions, if they can read her intentions. it’s how she weeds out those who will prove unnecessary in the long run. it’s also how they’ve made it this far in their relationship, because he can just listen and roll his eyes at her statements, at her constant drift from the topic. she tends to do that with herself, even with the spotlight on her and the rest of the girls she manages to act as if it isn’t.}

_{modesty is a gift so they say, some people wear it as a burden but jennie always wears it with class. he can only smile.}

_{“eyy, you really had me going there. i was about to pull up your entire history to this date and prove to you exactly what you survived through. survival? yg boot camp is more like it, you’re a soldier now meaning rookie no longer applies. once you’re in you’re in and you girls are more than deserving to be considered big leagues. i’ll let you claim the title when you wish though, whether it’s two, three or four years from now.” his arms extend, as if he can see the years spreading through the air. it’s not that mino’s loose, not that he’s soft. he gives credit where it’s due because in this industry a pat in the back is seen as an unearned pedestal and the beauty of a compliment is lost in a sea of negative connotations. he doesn’t want that for her and it’s something he’s seen since he met her. she can rate her own growth, judge by her own expectations now, and it’s not his place to insist anything different.}

_{“i’m always supporting you though! i wouldn’t dream of scaring off your fans? yah are you saying i look scary? the scary sunbae? is that a good or bad thing?” despite the protective nature he has all he wants is the best for her. yg is only the beginning of that, but he can’t help being nervous. jennie’s a big girl now and that’s something he accepts. “if it’s between me or the girls i think the girl crush is the more suitable choice don’t you? how could i, a snot-nosed boy compare?” so he laughs in the midst of this acceptance. he laughs to calm his nerves.}

_{“it’s jennie style by the way.” he’s not even looking her way this time, he’s been lost in his thoughts so much recently that when it happens he just assumes everyone will fall into line. it’s going to backfire when someone snaps him out of it and snaps at him but for now mino knows he can trust her with the lapse in character. “your rapping i mean? it’s jennie style. or rather the building block to jennie style let’s put it that way? and here i thought you were gonna ask your beloved oppa for tips, you’ve already crafted it i should’ve known.” he makes up for the lapse with a joke, and dramatics. he always does.}

_{She gives him a look then a poke on the corner of his lips when she catches him with a knowing smile and she doesn’t know what for. She doesn’t say anything, though, and leaves it as it is. The reason had to be something along the lines of him expecting she’d do what she just did so she’s dodging a bullet with dismissing instead of getting it out of him only to get picked on for it.} 

_{If she were being honest, his words put her at ease. Jennie was the type to check on what people said about her, years and years there’s been negative feedback which was the very reason she’s overwhelmed over the support she’d been getting. Comments in favor of her were almost a foreign thing. “Soldier. Mm, I like that. I sound hardcore. So I’m in war now, right? Out here in the industry. Please take care of me and look over BLACKPINK prettily.” She bows politely, palms pressed against her thighs as if on broadcast.}

_{“You can’t blame me… I watched you with kids and they don’t exactly think you look friendly. It’s not me!” The tip of her tongue sticks out just slightly as she suppresses a smile that somehow still slips to manifest within her features. “There’s perks to it, though. It’s why you’re rightfully my big brother. You can scare off people that try to harm me. That’s what brothers do, right?” She nudges him with a cheeky smile painting her face this time, eyes curled into crescents and all. “It’s a good thing.” She ends with a pat on his shoulder to reassure. Up to him how he’ll take it but knowing Minho, he was amenable for the most part.} 

_{“You’re no snot-nosed boy, though! Aigoo.” The protest is matched with a crease of her forehead and a slight tilt of her head. “So many girls would chase after you. Oppa’s just a liiittle awkward.” She pinches the air within her forefinger and thumb, eye peeking through the small gap within it as the other flutter close to a wink. “Not a bad thing either. It’s more like… cute. See how I’ve got no match? You’re a little awkward but still a fan favorite, a ladies’ man.” Whatever this was, was just them passing the ball to each other so there’s a raise of her eyebrow to wrap up the comeback.}

_{She perks up when he blurts it out of nowhere amid what seemed like him slinking into reverie, with how his attention was shifted elsewhere she’ll never know where exactly. Something bothered him lately and she couldn’t pinpoint nor did she try to ask him. Not just yet, at least. She will, eventually, because that’s just how she was. It was always hard to pry things out of him and it proved exhausting for the young lady, even a little frustrating but in the same way, that’s where her worries root from. Someone has to be patient with him. He, who’s been that person with her. She, who’s equally stubborn, if not more. Or maybe less at this point as she’s grown to be a bit more of an open book. Either way, she could relate and if there’s anyone to aid a person going through something, best it was another who’s had a glimpse of what it might be like even just by a tad.}

_{“I do need tips, still. I’m a rookie! Much to improve on and many years to catch up on. You’ve had plenty of experience. You went underground all the way up. I’ll learn a lot from you.” He’s not exactly one to talk, he’s just like Jennie with the compliments.}