Chapter Text
The day had been chaotic, even by Zoey’s standards. Planning a last-minute birthday party for Derpy the Tiger—their loyal, slightly clumsy, and entirely beloved companion—wasn’t exactly something she’d put on her calendar. But when Zoey realized the date had snuck up on her, she refused to let it pass without celebration. Derpy had been there through every demon hunt, every concert rehearsal, and every late-night snack raid. If anyone deserved cake, streamers, and confetti cannons, it was him.
So, by mid-afternoon, Zoey was running around their shared apartment with a clipboard in one hand, a balloon pump in the other, and a headband of glittery cat ears perched on her head like it had always belonged there. She had transformed the living room into a glitter-drenched wonderland: rainbow balloons sagging from the ceiling, a mountain of snacks on the coffee table, and a neon sign that flickered “Happy B-Day Derpy!” in crooked letters.
“Okay, okay… cake: check. Sparkling soda: check. Karaoke machine: double check. Party hats… uh—” Zoey frowned, spinning in circles before spotting them dumped upside down on the couch. “Ha! Triple check!”
Meanwhile, Rumi wasn’t as frantic. The group’s lead singer had been pacing in her room, trying to decide what to wear when the sound of Zoey’s chaotic decorating echoed through the apartment walls. Rumi sighed, already picturing glitter glued permanently to the floor by the end of the night.
But before she could join Zoey, her eyes drifted to Jinu, who was sitting cross-legged on the floor of their shared room, scrolling absentmindedly through his phone. The calm expression on his face was the complete opposite of Zoey’s whirlwind energy.
That’s when Rumi noticed something odd: a pair of cat ears perched on her own head, a remnant of Zoey’s earlier attempt to “get everyone into the spirit.” She had put them on absentmindedly, and now she looked at her reflection in the mirror, tilting her head left and right.
“...Why am I still wearing these?” she muttered to herself.
Jinu looked up at her with a crooked grin, the glow of his phone casting shadows on his sharp features. “Because Zoey gave them to you. You know she won’t let anyone escape the theme once she decides on one.”
Rumi rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t help smiling. “She even gave me another pair. For you.” She held up the second headband, a black pair with little white stripes stitched into the fabric, clearly designed for Jinu’s head.
Rumi walked over to him and tried to put the ears on, stretching on her tiptoes. Unfortunately, Jinu towered over her by a good few inches, and no matter how hard she stretched, the ears hovered just short of his head.
“Ugh,” she muttered, pouting slightly. “Why do you have to be so tall?”
Jinu chuckled, his voice low and teasing. “I can’t help it. You’re just… fun-sized.”
Rumi narrowed her eyes playfully, then tugged at his arm. “Fine. If you’re going to be difficult, at least lean down.”
He raised an eyebrow in mock defiance, but then—slowly, deliberately—he bent his head forward, close enough for her to slip the cat ears over his perfectly styled hair. As her hands brushed lightly against his forehead, Jinu tilted his face just enough for their eyes to meet. For a moment, the playful atmosphere melted into something softer.
“Better?” he asked, his voice quiet.
Rumi barely had time to answer before he leaned in further, closing the small gap between them. Their lips met in a kiss that was unhurried but full of warmth, the kind that made Rumi’s knees feel like they might give way beneath her. She wrapped her arms around his neck instinctively, the cat ears still slightly crooked on his head.
When they finally broke apart, Jinu laughed under his breath, brushing his forehead against hers. “We look ridiculous,” he murmured, gesturing to their reflections in the mirror—two demon hunters in matching cat ears, lost in their own little world.
Rumi gave a small laugh too, but her cheeks burned pink. “Ridiculous,” she admitted, “but maybe a little cute.”
Before Jinu could respond, Zoey’s voice echoed from the living room like a foghorn: “EVERYBODY! DERPY’S ALMOST HERE! POSITIONS, PEOPLE!”
Both Rumi and Jinu startled, quickly pulling apart as if Zoey had caught them in the act. They exchanged a glance, half amusement, half embarrassment, before heading out to join the chaos.
By the time Derpy the Tiger padded into the apartment, his wide amber eyes blinked in confusion at the sudden explosion of cheers.
“SURPRISE!” everyone shouted in unison.
Confetti shot into the air, streamers rained down, and the neon sign buzzed louder than ever. Derpy froze in place, his tail twitching nervously as he glanced from the cake (shaped like a giant paw print) to the karaoke machine, to the pile of presents stacked precariously high.
Zoey bounded forward, practically vibrating with energy. “Happy birthday, Derpy! I know you didn’t tell us, but come on—like we wouldn’t figure it out!” She threw her arms wide as if expecting a hug.
Derpy blinked again, then finally let out a rumbling, delighted purr before bounding forward to nuzzle against Zoey’s shoulder. The room erupted into laughter.
“See?” Zoey said proudly, scratching behind his ears. “Totally worth the last-minute chaos.”
The rest of the evening unfolded in a blur of laughter and glitter. Zoey made everyone wear their cat ears for group photos, no exceptions. Even Derpy got a pair of oversized ones that sat slightly askew on his furry head, making him look both majestic and ridiculous at the same time.
Rumi caught Jinu’s eye more than once during the festivities. Every time she saw him with the cat ears on, she had to stifle a giggle. He didn’t seem to mind—if anything, he leaned into the joke, striking over-the-top model poses whenever Zoey shoved her phone in his face for photos.
“Work it, Jinu!” Zoey shouted. “Give me ‘fierce tiger warrior but make it fashion!’”
Rumi nearly dropped her soda from laughing so hard.
Later, as the party wound down, the lights dimmed and Derpy curled up happily in the corner with his cake (already half-eaten), Rumi found herself leaning against the balcony railing. The night air was cool, filled with the faint hum of the city below.
Jinu joined her, slipping silently to her side. The cat ears were still perched on his head, though slightly tilted now after hours of dancing and celebrating.
“You know,” he said softly, “this was a good idea. Zoey went all out, but… it’s nice. Derpy looks happy.”
Rumi smiled, her gaze drifting back inside. “Yeah. He deserves it.”
There was a pause before Jinu turned to her, his expression softened by the glow of the balcony lights. “And you,” he added, nudging her shoulder gently, “look cute in those ears.”
Rumi’s heart skipped at the sincerity in his tone. She glanced down, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “You’re ridiculous.”
“Maybe,” Jinu replied, leaning closer again, “but so are you. And I like that about us.”
Before Rumi could respond, Zoey’s voice broke through once more from inside: “HEY! NO COUPLES HIDING ON THE BALCONY! BACK INSIDE FOR GROUP PHOTO ROUND FOUR!”
Rumi groaned, but Jinu only chuckled, pressing a quick kiss to her temple before tugging her back inside.
And as the camera flashed again, capturing Zoey’s wide grin, Derpy’s frosting-smeared face, and the entire team squeezed together with cat ears perched proudly on their heads, Rumi realized something:
Yes, they looked ridiculous.
But ridiculous had never felt so good.