Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Why are we flying commercial again?” Mira griped for the umpteenth time. Rumi heaved a sigh. They had been through this a hundred times already. 

“Because Bobby said it would make us look more approachable to fans,” Zoey explained, her nose nearly flush to the pages of her notebook. A particularly punchy lyric had gripped her mid-stride across the airport, and she was hastily scribbling it down. 

How she was able to concentrate amid the boisterous cries of fans and the fretted shouting of their security detail was beyond Rumi. 

“Soo approachable,” Rumi murmured to the girls. 

Her comment was lost amid the din of HUNTR/X FOREVER, WE LOVE YOU GIRLS, TAKE US WITH YOU, RUJINU BEACH TIME and other shouts from the crowd. 

Well, that last one was a bit weird, Rumi frowned. Her eyes flickered in the direction of the call but quickly averted upon catching sight of the dozens of Rujinu signs lining the terminal. There were plenty of Miromabby and Zoeystery ones as well. 

It was a slow trek to their departure gate, as their guards were quite literally creating pathways where there were none. Rumi clutched the straps of her carry-on, resettling the pack’s weight on her shoulders. 

This was going to be a while. 

***

Their phones chimed simultaneously as they finally approached the plane entrance, their journey through the humid little boarding tube almost complete. It was Bobby. 

Hi girls! Hav a great flight, I’ll catch u when u land ltr! Oh ps - I may hav forgot to mention its a joint vacay w/ the Saja Boys. They’re on the same flight as u, so cool! :) 

Rumi stared at her phone, trying to make sense of the insane text while continuing to move forward. 

“No fucking way, Bobby can’t be serious– AGH! ” She tripped over the lip of the plane door and stumbled into the cabin. Mira and Zoey shuffled in behind her.

“We are honored you chose to fly with Air–” but the attendant’s voice faded into the background as Rumi beheld the sight before her.

The girls’ mouths dropped in near-unison upon seeing the stupidly handsome demon boy band lounging in the seats before them. 

Romance gave a slow wave at Mira, before patting the empty seat beside him. She returned it with a death glare as she sliced a finger across her neck. 

Abby wiggled his fingers at Zoey, who blushed bright red and giggled before Mira elbowed her in the ribs, stopping her short. 

Mystery and Baby stared out their window, notably the only two paired up and without an empty seat. 

Which left Jinu. Rumi hated how easy enough it was for her to find him. In the last row of first class seats. His eyes were already trained on Rumi. 

Watch yourself, he mouthed with a sly smile. She pursed her lips, flustered. 

Of course. Of COURSE the Saja Boys would be awaiting them in first class. It was just like Bobby to spring something like this on them on top of an already chaotic plan. 

“So fortunate our managers thought to organize this joint vacation for us,” Jinu said loudly for the benefit of the passengers nearby and the flight crew hovering excitedly around them. “It’s an honor to travel with HUNTR/X under the care of such great pilots and attendants.” 

The staff all tittered excitedly at his praise, even the one middle-aged male pilot. Rumi fought the urge to roll her eyes and instead plastered on a wide smile as she made her way back to Jinu’s row to store her carry-on. 

“The honor is ours, of course. We love coordinated events with our hoobaes , clearly ,” she huffed as she hefted her bag to one side and attempted to lob it into the overhead compartment. 

“Allow me,” Jinu volunteered, standing to take her bag and stow it. He was tall enough to easily slide it into place. 

“Thanks,” Rumi muttered. Then, “I want window seat.” She slid into his vacated seat without waiting for a response.

“Since you asked so nicely,” he murmured as he took the aisle seat and buckled himself in. 

She attempted to ignore him, donning her headphones with a flourish and switching them to noise cancelling mode. But then, to her utter annoyance, she felt her arm slip as Jinu planted his elbow on her armrest. She turned slowly, intentionally, as she alternated outraged stares between his profile and the affronting elbow. He didn’t return her gaze, too busy reading the book in his lap.

Rumi cleared her throat theatrically. Once. Then twice. That seemed to catch his attention, if only slightly. 

“Should I ask an attendant to get you some water?” There was a smile in his voice, though his expression remained unchanged, his gaze still focused on the pages before him. 

“It’s my armrest,” she huffed, crossing her arms. 

“Excuse me?” He looked up now, confused.

She angled her head down at his elbow. “It’s mine. The armrest. That’s how it works.”

“How what works?”

Rumi threw up her hands. “Armrest etiquette! God, you’re so old!”

“It’s just an armrest, calm down,” he chuckled, shifting in his seat away from her before resuming his reading. “Here. If it means so much to you, I’ll let you have it.”

“It doesn’t mean that much to me,” she groused but smacked her elbow down on the armrest again all the same.

“Seems like it did.”

“No, it’s just the principle of the thing.”

“Sure, Rumi,” he turned to her now, smiling. “Whatever you say.” 

There was a heat to his gaze. She saw as his eyes darted from hers to her mouth and back again. Rumi glared, if only to keep herself from melting under the weight of his full attention. 

This “vacation” couldn’t be over soon enough.

Chapter Text

Gwi-Ma worked hard, but apparently not as hard as Bobby and the elusive Saja Boys’ manager. 

When they arrived in Honolulu, three nondescript sedans awaited them. Each driver held their own sign:

MIRA, ROMANCE, ABBY

ZOEY, MYSTERY, BABY

RUMI, JINU

“Pile in, pile in!” Bobby waved to them excitedly, brooking no argument as he shuffled them to their respective vehicles. “See you at the resort!”

The door slammed and locked before Rumi could haul herself upright. From the corner of her eye, she spied Jinu gracefully entering from the opposite side. He lowered his shades as he examined her hapless sprawl across the seat.

“Uh, could you make room?” he smirked. 

“ Excuse me?”

“Oh, sorry. Could you please make room?” 

“I can’t believe this is happening.” Rumi huffed in outrage as she righted herself. 

“Me either,” Jinu chimed unhelpfully. “I always wanted to take a vacation.”

“Are you vacationing from eating souls, too?” she snapped, turning to glare in his direction.

He chuckled as he shook his head. “Your children’s stories need updating. Higher demons don’t eat souls.” 

“ Really . Well then how do you manage to sustain yourselves?”

Jinu tutted disapprovingly, his expression feigning reproach. “That’s really forward of you, Rumi. I didn’t think we were there yet.”

At her gasp of shock, he threw his head back and laughed.

***

SPOTTED: HUNTR/X’s Rumi and Jinu of the Saja Boys Seen Exiting Car Together at Honolulu Resort

RUJINU in real life??? Rumi and Jinu hold hands outside of posh Hawai’i hotel

Everything seems Golden in Hawai’i: Rumi seen clutching Saja Boy Jinu’s hand!

His little soda pop? Jinu finds a love connection in Honolulu - with Rumi of HUNTR/X!

***

It was the end of day one on “vacation.” The gossip rags and online tabloids were already having a field day. 

That night, Rumi glared so hard at the list of news clips Bobby’s assistant had texted her that she practically melted the phone. All of them – every single one – used the same photo some desperate paparazzo had managed to capture: Her hand held reverently in Jinu’s as she exited the unmarked black sedan, his head dipped in deference to her like some old gentlemanly Hollywood heartthrob. They had even gotten his lazy smile. As though he had done this countless times for her. Would do it countless times more. 

As for Rumi, her expression was unreadable. Nose upturned, oversized sunglasses blocking her eyes from the camera, lips poised in a perfect pout. One slender, impossibly long leg slipping from the car in graceful motion. In her attempt to downplay Jinu’s close proximity, she had somehow delivered to the public a photo that captured him in an even more positive light. 

To any outsider, he looked like an enraptured devotee to the arguable queen of K-pop. The fans would run wild with this. She practically bristled with rage.

He had to have done it on purpose, she reasoned. These Saja Boys were scarily good at knowing what would appeal to fans. Was their manager also a demon? Surely not. They had to be human, like Bobby. After years of kicking their sorry butts so easily, it was impossible these underdwellers had suddenly learned the carefully practiced art of maximizing fan appeal. And yet. Someone, or some thing , was really putting the odds in their favor. 

Rumi had a headache. A nearly six foot tall one named Jinu. 

Chapter Text

“Can you still hear him?” 

Jinu shifted to look at her. In the dimming light of the setting sun, his patterns flashed briefly across the skin of his forearm. They rippled like lightning. Rumi couldn’t help but stare, fascinated.

Rumi had been making her own way down to the beach when she had found him. Sitting in the sand, arms resting atop bent knees. Staring out at the water and receding light. From far away, he could have been anyone. It was a secluded resort, yes, but they weren’t the only celebrities staying there. Somehow Rumi had immediately known it was him. 

Between the fatigue from traveling and the stress of modifying their reservation so she could have her own room (Mira and Zoey were still rolling their eyes about it), she was too exhausted to fight with Jinu this evening. Plus, the Saja Boys hadn’t appeared to be remotely interested in delivering souls to Gwi-Ma. At least not today, anyway. And Rumi knew they had had ample opportunities. 

With that in mind, she had unceremoniously plopped down beside Jinu and mirrored his pose. He hadn’t acknowledged her presence beyond a mere nod of his head. After a few minutes of silence, she had asked her question. 

“It’s… faint,” he murmured. “Like shouting but from really far away.”

“Hmm.”

“It’s nice, actually,” he huffed a laugh. “I feel like I can think more clearly.”

“Do you think it’s the distance?” she mused.

“Maybe,” Jinu conceded. A pause, then, “but maybe it’s also the company.”

Rumi’s head whipped in his direction now, meeting his gaze fully. “What do you mean?”

“I mean… I don’t know what I mean,” he shook his head. “Forget it.” 

She opened her mouth to reply but was interrupted – a beach vendor had made their way toward them. 

“Sunset photos for a pretty couple? It’s golden hour, perfect time for pictures!” The girl looked to be about their age, with cameras looped around her neck and keychain photo samples dangling from her belt. 

“Oh no, no we’re not–”

“She’s not my type–”

Rumi glared at him, suddenly affronted. “What do you mean? I’m everyone’s type!”

“Don’t be so sure–”

“Oh like you’re some big catch, sitting out here brooding–”

“This was my quiet time, you just showed up unannounced–”

“It’s a resort beach, anyone can show up–”

“Yeah but right next to me? Stalker behavior–”

“Oh, fuck off, you’re so–”

“Nice work, they left,” Jinu chuckled, throwing her anger completely off kilter. She blinked once, processing. 

Jinu leaned into her, pointing up the beach to where the vendor had scampered off in search for the next unsuspecting couple. His face was close to hers, his chest pressing against her shoulder. Too close. And he smelled good . Too good. Like sandalwood and jasmine. Her stomach felt like it was full of champagne bubbles all of a sudden.  

“Oh,” Rumi replied lamely, too befuddled to come up with a more articulate response. 

“We make a good team,” Jinu laughed, sitting back. 

Rumi cracked a smile at this. “Yeah…”

“You know, you could be really frightening if you let your full demon out.” He was watching her again. She could see him gazing at her from the corner of her eye. She wished he would stop, if only because it bothered her how much she liked it.

She couldn’t tell if his comment was a compliment or a challenge. Worse, she couldn’t tell which one she would prefer.

Chapter Text

Her phone lit up on the nightstand, its buzzing louder as it vibrated on the slick ceramic surface. Rumi pried her eyes away from the trash TV show she was hoping would lull her to sleep and leaned over to pick it up. The lock screen displayed the time, 00:56. Who would be texting this late at night? The light from under the connecting door to Mira and Zoey’s room had gone out hours ago, so it couldn’t be the girls. 

It was an unknown sender, a string of unfamiliar numbers. 

POTENTIAL SPAM: Are all reality shows bad, or is it just American ones?

Rumi frowned at the message, debated reporting it as junk and blocking the sender. But then, spam didn’t normally text about television shows. Could it be…? Only one way to find out.

RUMI: Who is this??

Her message immediately relabeled as Read. Three dots bubbled up as her mystery correspondent began writing. A second more, then –

POTENTIAL SPAM: Choo Choo.

Rumi rolled her eyes. Of course her hunch had been correct. Jinu . She imagined him, a 400-year-old demon, in his room a few doors down trying to navigate an iPhone. How long had it taken him to figure out how to message her? She snorted a laugh before proceeding to save his number under the little red devil emoji. Then she replied.

 RUMI: Your usual postal service not on duty tonight?

👹: You would know, they spend more time with you now.

It was true, she would know. Currently the tiger and bird were curled up on the other side of her bed, sleeping peacefully.

RUMI: They’ve developed a sense of taste, clearly.

She smirked at her comment before plopping her phone down beside her. She tried to focus on the show again, willing herself not to check for his reply. Or think about him replying. Or think about him at all. But after a few minutes of silence, Rumi cracked. She unlocked her phone to view their conversation. Sure enough, he had read it. Ten minutes ago. 

Had she offended him? Did she care if she had? She bit the inside of her lip, considering. She never broke her rule for anyone – the rule that said you never double text. “No boy is ever worth it!” She could hear Mira and Zoey reciting in unison inside her head. 

But, fuck it , she thought. She had already broken other, much more important rules when it came to Jinu. Why stop now? She typed out another message.

RUMI: (this was a joke ^)

The message relabeled as Read instantaneously again. Fuck . Maybe he had just set his phone down, then. In which case, when he returned to it she would look weirdly desperate for having texted twice. 

Or maybe she was just overthinking it. It was probably that. Definitely that , she reasoned. It was past one o’clock, a time when her mind always seemed to find a lot more meaning in words and deeds than it did in the light of day. She needed to relax, forget about Jinu, and focus on the trash television that would grant her sweet, sweet rest. She willed the god of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, some man named Guy Fieri, to bring her sleep.

It wasn’t but a few seconds after she closed her eyes that her phone vibrated again. In a flash, Rumi whipped it up to her face. 

👹: Sorry. Abs and Ro were fighting. 

She quirked a smile, her self-conscious fears suddenly evaporating. What did demon boy band members even fight about?

RUMI: You know, most people are sleeping at this hour. 

👹: Guess you and me aren’t most people.

The message sent a thrill through her abdomen. She didn’t stop to consider why. 

RUMI: Guess not 🤔 

👹: Woah

RUMI: ?

👹: How’d you get the little face to come up?

Rumi shook with silent laughter, her best attempt at not waking her sleeping companions. 

RUMI: Seriously, you’re too old!

👹: Rude

RUMI: Go to bed, old man. I need my beauty sleep. 💁‍♀️

👹: Really? Not sure you need any.

That fluttery sensation was back in full force this time. Was he really making a pass at her? Surely not. At least, not for real . She stared at the message for a moment longer before willing herself to put the phone down. She didn’t know what she would say even if she did want to reply. Witty banter wasn’t her forte at this time of night either, it seemed. 

She was drifting, nearly asleep, when her phone vibrated. She lifted it enough to read the message previews.

👹: Hey, Rumi ?

👹: 🤓😎😻

👹: Found them

A demon has no right being this cute. That was her last thought before sleep overtook her.

Chapter Text

She didn’t want to leave him on Read, but it was a quarter past ten and Rumi still hadn’t come up with a good reply. She was supposed to meet the girls in fifteen minutes for a late morning workout. Zoey had proposed it; they had only been off for two days but Mira was practically vibrating with unspent aggression – probably from being so close to a group of demons she couldn’t punch to death. 

Rumi sighed. Nibbled on her thumb nail as she absently watched Derpy and Sussie (as she had affectionately dubbed them) entertaining themselves on her bed. The bird had found a long bit of string and was dragging it across the comforter as the tiger pawed after it, twisting this way and that in a silly spectacle. Rumi had tried capturing a picture of the scene to send to Jinu, but they were spirit animals. Of course they didn’t appear in the captured image.

Her brain fully devoid of any cool, edgy ideas, she finally opted for the tried-and-true girl move: a selfie. Flipping the camera to front-facing mode, she lined up the shot to capture herself from the chest up. A simple peace sign, half-grin, her hair bunned up for her workout. She looked fit and sleek in her black exercise gear, complete with a high-neck zip up to hide her patterns. Perfect. Or, if not perfect, at least it would do. 

She sent the picture to Jinu, along with the text: Brave face for someone about to do a late morning workout. She set the phone down and began putting on her socks and trainers. 

Her phone buzzed less than a minute later. Rumi snatched it up quicker than she cared to admit. 

👹: Probably cooler if you ditched the long sleeves.

She frowned at the screen. He knew why she couldn’t do that. What was the point of bringing it up? She chose to deflect his comment. She didn’t want some written record of her discussing her patterns. Rumi was growing more sympathetic toward Jinu, but it didn’t mean she trusted him.

RUMI: I heard sweating more makes you more fit. 💪

👹: I think there’s better ways to work up a sweat.

She felt her jaw slacken at the same time the fluttery feeling returned to her stomach. Lower, even. To a part of her body that she didn’t give much thought to most of the time. Before she could think of how to respond, though, Jinu had already followed up with a second message.

👹: Like dancing. Your manager told us about a club we should make an appearance at. 

RUMI: As in, Bobby has already made plans for us to go there?

👹: Sounds like it. 

She audibly groaned. Damn it, Bobby. It was becoming clearer and clearer that this vacation was really just a joint PR tour for the bands. Which, if he knew the real circumstances, was completely and utterly absurd. 

RUMI: Good thing we’re working out Mira’s rage this morning, I guess. 

👹: I’m sure Abs and Ro wouldn’t mind helping her out with that. 😹

RUMI: You’re ridiculous.

👹: 😉

👹: I’m getting good at these. 

Rumi huffed a laugh. 

RUMI: See you later then, I guess.

👹: See you soon, Rumi.

Chapter Text

He had failed to clarify that by See you soon, Rumi , he had really meant See you downstairs.

She and the girls had barely begun their workout stretches before all five members of the Saja Boys traipsed into the gym. Of course, their attire matched their personas perfectly. To none of their surprise, Abby sported a retro bodybuilder crop top that showcased his abs for all to see. Mystery looked, well… mysterious in baggy grey sweats and an oversized hoodie (with the hood up, of course). Romance had a carefully curated Lululemon ensemble, while Baby strode in wearing an oversize tee and basketball shorts. Mira and Zoey ogled them each in turn as they made their way to the other side of the gym, but Rumi barely spared them a glance. It was Jinu (always , annoyingly, Jinu) who captured her full attention. Jinu, who was dressed in perfectly fitted black joggers and a simple ribbed tank top, also black. 

The sight of him had her stomach doing somersaults. So much so that she nearly toppled over performing her standing quad stretch. She flushed, quickly recovering.

“Ladies,” Jinu murmured as he breezed by them, dipping his head at each one in acknowledgement. But when he met Rumi’s gaze last, he winked. “Looking good.”

Her eyes widened at his utterly shameless flirting. In front of Mira and Zoey no less. 

“Did he just wink at you?” Zoey stage whispered, her eyes tracking him as Jinu joined his fellow band members on the treadmills. They loped on the tracks in a glorious display of male athleticism. 

Rumi shook her head, a weak attempt to dispel her lust-addled stupor. It seemed the girls were attempting the very same.

“Ignore them,” Rumi huffed. “They’re just trying to distract us.” 

Mira released a wordless growl and lunged to the pair of hanging sandbags in the corner. Gloveless, she began punching with abandon. 

“I-can’t-wait-to-smash-their-stupid-hot-faces-into-mush,” she panted.

“Same,” Zoey agreed, crossing an arm across her body and continuing her stretches, though Rumi didn’t miss the way her eyes strayed back toward Mystery. 

It was a suboptimal workout, if the girls were being honest with themselves. (Which they weren’t, of course.) As they made their way back to their rooms, Rumi reflected on how fortunate it was that Mira was so strong. She had completely failed as her spotter when she’d happened to glance over at Jinu dead lifting 150 kg with ease. 

The sight of his muscles rippling, the flash of patterns when he exerted them. It was still playing on repeat in her mind, leaving her too hot and bothered for comfort. 

“I need a cold shower,” she grumbled to Mira and Zoey.

“Sameee,” they chimed in unison, both looking more flushed than their lackluster workout should have warranted.

Chapter Text

Rumi squinted as a strobe light flashed directly into her eyes. The intermittent beams sliced through the foggy haze of the dance club, rendering her temporarily blind. Between that and the pulsating music she could literally feel thumping in her chest, it was incredibly disorienting. But also a little thrilling. They rarely visited places like this back home. Not because they didn’t like to party, but more so because they rarely had the free time to go. Even when they did, Rumi always felt guilty about taking the time off. But then, she’d also feel guilty about cancelling on the girls to workshop new lyrics while they went out. It was an illusion of choice, really. She would feel guilty no matter which option she picked. 

Tonight was clearly another PR setup by Bobby and the (still-unidentified) Saja Boys’ manager, but regardless, Mira and Zoey had been champing at the bit to get to the club. Shortly before their driver had arrived, they’d pounded on the door that connected Rumi’s suite to theirs, merrily chanting, “ Club, club, club!”

Rumi had affixed her most convincing smile before sliding back the lock and greeting them. 

Zoey wolf whistled as she and Mira inspected her outfit. 

“Damn, girl,” Mira smirked approvingly. “The club is not ready for this fit.” 

Rumi laughed as she twirled to give a 360 degree view. Despite her hesitancy about going, she had still gone all out with her attire: a deep green bodycon mini dress and thigh-high black suede boots. Though the dress was modest with its mock neck and long sleeves, the cutouts along either side of her rib cage did wonders to accentuate her waist. 

“They’re not ready for any of our fits,” Rumi corrected. “You both look amazing!” she added, gesturing to the girls’ clothes. 

It was true - they did look amazing. Zoey wore a pleated leather mini skirt and corset top with cap sleeves, while Mira had opted for a skin tight jumpsuit with a plunging neckline and sheer panels along her sides. Both were wearing chunky heel knee-high boots – maybe not so perfect for dancing but very perfect for stomping. 

“Just in case,” Zoey explained when Rumi pointed out their choice of shoes.

“We’re not saying we’ll stomp on a Saja Boy’s foot tonight,” Mira clarified. “But we’re also not not saying it.”

It was a losing battle, Rumi knew, and besides, they were already due to meet their driver. Rumi rolled her eyes in a mock display of dramatics before linking her arms with theirs.

“Let’s just have fun tonight,” she proposed as they had made their way downstairs. “No dealing with boys – demon ones or otherwise.” 

*****

Her proposition had held up for maybe an hour. It had been a valiant attempt, but once the cocktails started flowing and the music flipped to 00s club classics, any inhibitions - including even Rumi’s – became toast. 

She was dancing with some random guy who had been ingratiating himself with the girls all evening (decently attractive but appreciated more by them for his connection to the DJ and bartenders) when she saw him. That warm, fluttery feeling immediately hit her stomach, intensified by the liquor in her system.

Jinu slouched against the lip of the bar, watching her dance with the guy whose name she had forgotten seconds after he had said it. There was a smile playing about his lips. It grew wider as her gaze met his. He lifted the glass in his hand as he maintained eye contact, lifted it higher for a moment as if to say Cheers .

He looked good, Rumi thought. Too good. Dangerously good. She supposed they all did, now having noticed the rest of the Saja Boys fanning out to his right and left. But they barely held her attention before her eyes were snapping back to Jinu’s.

Suddenly, she felt bold. Maybe even a little reckless. In the corner of her mind where Sober Rumi had been sequestered, she could hear shouting that this was a bad idea. But she couldn’t bring herself to care – not when Zoey and Mira were equally distracted by booze and dancing and cute club boys. Not when Jinu looked as good as he did. Now when he only had eyes for her. 

Feeling behind her for the nameless guy’s hip, she reoriented herself and ground against him. It was a sensual, suggestive move. One she had seen plenty of girls do to their dance partners before but never mimicked herself. She could feel the guy’s jerk of surprise, replaced quickly by enthusiasm. Perhaps he thought she was finally warming up to him. 

But her attention was far, far away from him. He was a prop – she was luring in a bigger fish. 

As she curved her body this way and that, syncing to the tantric beat of the music, she thrilled at the way Jinu watched her. His gaze scorched a line across the room, straight toward her. After a few moments, he pushed away from the bar, standing to his full height as he downed the last of the dark liquid in his tumbler. He looked as though he were readying himself to go. She balked. Whether it was elsewhere in the club or back to the resort, her response was the same: No. She didn’t want him to go anywhere, except perhaps closer. 

Without giving it a second thought, Rumi crooked a finger at him, beckoning him to the dance floor. She lifted her lips in a coy smile as she swung her hips again to the left, then the right.

She watched as his brows lifted slightly, a smirk playing at his mouth. Then, to her delight, he began making his way toward her. She pushed off from the nameless guy in an instant, her mind emptying as she met Jinu halfway.

Chapter Text

It tickled, the feeling of his lips against the shell of her ear. Even in the dense, heated air of the club, it sent a shockwave of cold chills down her neck and spine. Rumi shivered involuntarily, clutched his forearm for some additional balance.

“...sure this is a good idea?” Jinu was saying to her, the words finally registering above the sensation of his mouth brushing against her skin. She knew he was shouting over the thumping music – it had shifted to some bubblegum EDM beat – but it felt like a whisper, a quiet challenge. 

Rumi tucked her head into him, her cheek pressed against his, her lips at his ear now. “I’m thinking yes.” She craned her head back to look him in the eyes, holding his gaze for a moment before dipping to his mouth. He was so perfectly kissable , her drunken brain thought. She smiled then, a lazy one. Like a cat that got the cream. 

With her hand still gripping his forearm, she curled into him so that her back was now against his chest. Jinu stayed still, allowing her to guide his arm down, toward her hip. When she released him, almost instinctually he moved to clutch the curve of her there. His grip felt deliciously good, proprietary almost. His palm was searing against the thin fabric of her dress. 

The DJ transitioned into a new track then, something far more sultry than before. Their bodies immediately synced, swaying in tandem. Acting on impulse alone, she stretched an arm up to wrap around his neck, her fingers brushing through the hair at the nape of his neck. It was soft, silkier than she expected. She resisted the urge to tug on it. 

He was good at this kind of dancing, Rumi thought. For being a 400-year-old demon, Jinu had certainly done his homework when it came to blending in with modern century young adults. Her muddled mind conjured the image of him researching club dancing before this trip, and she let loose a giggle. Jinu bent forward to look at her, curious, but she merely shook her head before letting it rest back against his chest. The heat of his body behind her was addicting.

They resumed their swaying. The music was slower now, more sensual. Rumi thrilled when he brought up his other hand to clutch her other hip, properly trapping her against him. Brazenly, she ground into him, earning a tighter grip from his fingers and what she could have sworn was an involuntary curse. To her delight, moments later she felt a hardness against her backside. She couldn’t stop herself – she ground into him again. The sound of his breathless laugh behind her was even more intoxicating than the alcohol, but a glare from a nearby club goer made her realize just how debauched her behavior was becoming. Jinu didn’t seem to mind in the slightest.

Rumi spared a glance across the club, a pinprick of self-consciousness rooting its way through her liquor-infused confidence. She spied the guy she had abandoned stewing at the bar, his eyes like daggers trained on them, taking up the post Jinu had vacated earlier. There was a cute blonde vying for his attention, but he didn’t seem to notice. And, to her complete surprise, there was Zoey a few seats down from them. She was absently stirring the straw in her drink, her lips drawn into a giggle as she reacted to something Mystery was saying to her. They were head to head, his hand wrapped around her kneecap. Interesting. It didn’t take long to scan the crowd and find Mira. She was not too far from them on the dance floor, sandwiched between Abby and Romance as they rocked against each other rather suggestively. Rumi let loose a drunken cackle, prompting Jinu to look toward the direction she was staring. She felt his rumble of laughter against her back. 

“Looks like everyone is having fun tonight,” he said, his lips against her ear again. She could feel his grin. She returned it, squeezed her eyes shut as she concentrated on not turning her head to the side like the loud ( really loud) voice in her mind was telling her to. In one move, her mouth could be on his like she wanted, it was saying. But Rumi wasn’t so far gone as to forget herself completely.

“Wanna get another drink? Go somewhere quieter?” he asked her, squeezing her hips. She groaned inwardly. He and that voice must be conspiring against her, she reasoned. The suggestion sounded so divine to her now-aching feet, she couldn’t resist saying “ yes. ”

Chapter Text

It all happened in a matter of seconds – or at least that’s what it seemed like to Rumi, whose mind and body felt like they were still swimming in a pool of artificially colored cocktails. 

She hadn’t been watching the bartender make their drinks, but Jinu had. It was the reason she now suddenly found herself tugging on his back belt loops, doing her best to pull him back from the bartender he was so desperately trying to throttle. 

“... the fuck did you put in that drink? ” he was growling at the man behind the bar who had taken to cowering against the shelves of liquor, just out of Jinu’s reach. Rumi spared a glance down at the drink she’d ordered, forgotten on the lip of the bar. Sure enough, there was a small tablet fizzing surreptitiously in the bottom of the glass, the bubbles blending in with the soda water toward the top. 

A detached part of her noted how embarrassing it was that Jinu had been more vigilant about this sort of thing than she had – she, a woman of the 21st century who had heard horror story after horror story about girls unknowingly being drugged at bars and clubs. She knew better, she chastised herself. She shouldn’t have let herself get so carried away. 

But further self-reprimanding would have to wait as she realized with horror that Jinu’s fingers had elongated into claws. Flashes of his patterns rippled across his forearms, the intervals quickening as he struggled to reach the bartender. Rumi was strong, but she knew she wouldn’t be able to hold him back for longer than a few more seconds.

“...paid me extra, said she wanted to try one, I swear !” The bartender’s voice was shaking with fear as he slid down the cabinet wall, his hands up in surrender. 

Who paid him extra? Rumi wondered.

“ Jinu, c’mon, let’s just go,” Rumi managed through gritted teeth, slowly losing her grip on his back. If he heard her, he didn’t respond. His patterns flashed again and this time, they remained. Rumi paled. He was going to kill the man. There was no doubt in her mind. 

She scanned the crowd around her desperately, looking for an ally. Her eyes locked suddenly on Baby, who had appeared on the opposite side of Mystery and Zoey. He was readying to knock back a shot glass of something clear when his eyes met hers. It was perhaps the first time they had ever directly acknowledged one another. 

“ HELP ,” she shouted at him, her muscles straining as Jinu heaved against her once more. 

Thankfully, Baby needed no further explanation. Quick as a flash, he clapped Mystery on the shoulder and darted to Rumi’s side just as her arms finally gave out. He wrapped his own around Jinu’s middle and dragged him back, Mystery rushing to his aid moments later. Together, the two of them managed to wrangle Jinu back from the bar, though he was still fighting like mad to get to the bartender. 

“ Let me go,” he snarled at them, his voice pitched so low that she barely recognized it. He was losing himself almost completely to his demon side, she realized. 

It was rash and probably a little stupid, she knew, but Rumi moved to stand before him, lifting up on tiptoes to clutch his face between her palms. She forced him to meet her eyes, gasping a little as – this close – she could take in the violent shade of gold they had become. 

“ Jinu , please. Just focus on me,” she pleaded. “You have to calm down. You can’t lose yourself in this crowd of people.”

“He was trying to drug you,” he spat, but she knew the ire in his voice was not meant for her. 

“Yes, but you didn’t let him,” she returned. Her thumbs swiped delicate arcs across his cheeks. “I’m fine, I’m right here. I’m safe, because of you.”

Jinu said nothing but continued to stare at her with an intensity that she distantly thought might make other girls a little apprehensive. For her, it only seemed to endear him to her more. 

“Let’s just get out of here,” she tried again, giving him a small smile. “Go back to the resort. Forget this happened.” 

“Yeah, c’mon man,” Baby reasoned from his side. His voice was surprisingly deep given his title as the youngest Saja Boy. “We don’t wanna cause a scene.” 

As he continued trying to cajole his bandmate, Rumi registered the wide berth that the crowd of clubbers had at some point afforded them. She could see they were talking, some more animatedly than others, murmuring behind cupped hands. Mira, Zoey, and the rest of the Saja Boys joined them in the dead space. 

The music quieted for a beat as the DJ transitioned tracks. Then – 

“ That’s HUNTR/X!” 

The shout emanated from the depths of the crowd at the same time another voice called “ The Saja Boys are here!” And, like a mighty tidal wave, the crowd suddenly surged, absorbing the space that Jinu’s altercation with the bartender had afforded, crushing them all into a densely-packed stampede. 

“ We gotta get out of here! ” Zoey panted, locking arms with Rumi and Mira as they began elbowing their way to the exit. 

Rumi craned her neck around in search of Jinu as the girls carried her forward, exhaling in relief as she spied him only a few feet behind her. His eyes had already been on her. Still gold, but not nearly as vibrant. He nodded once, reassuringly, as they continued shuffling forward.