Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Zoeys grip on the knife tightened as she tried to make kimbap from scratch, okay, now I need to add the rice, then HAHA! SUCCESS! Now I have to cut it

Zoey reaches for the knife that she put on the counter, she picks it up and then slips, sending the knife flying and her falling on her bottom

Ow.

“Shit, I think I nicked my hand” Zoey looks at her hand and yep, she had cut a bit of skin, ouch mira was not exaggerating when she cut her hand when cooking yesterday

She grabs the knife from the floor and puts it in the sink and opens the cabinet, “Toothpicks, paper plates, AHAH! Bandages!”

Mira had noticed the clattering of the knife and poked her head through the door “you good?” Zoey puts her hand behind her back “yeah I’m good”

Mira noticed her hand behind her back “Your a terrible liar, show me what you’ve done” Zoey reluctantly shows mira her hand “Zoey! You could have just asked me to bandage that for you and I wouldn’t have cared! Are you okay?”

Zoey finally looks at Mira’s face “yeah, yeah I’m okay” Mira sees the hesitation in her eyes “stop lying, tell me”

”Fine, no it hurts quite a lot actually but I really didn’t want to worry you”

Mira’s expression immediately softens “I wouldn’t have worried much if you would have told me! Please just tell me next time if you need help and I will!”

”Alright then, I will”

-

It was early in the afternoon and the sun had just started to set- the once blue sky now melting into a slight pink and orange tint near the sun

Her phone was propped against the salt shaker on the table as she called rumi, who was at the store.

One ring, two ring “hello? Zoey?” The speaker crackled
“Hiya Rumi! What ya doing?”

“Just looking at clothes at the store, why?”

“No reason, just curious but can you get me some shrimp crackers? I’m starving and I don’t wanna cook and we have no snacks”

”Alright, I’ll get your shrimpy crackers AND some snacks if, you do the laundry for the week”

Zoey huffed, rolling her eyes dramatically “fine, but you have to also get ice cream.”

”DEAL!” And she hung up

okay, god forbid she asks for snacks without having to do laundry

Zoey sighs dramatically, shoving the clothes into the washing machine

“where’s the other sock Mira?”

no response

“Mira?”

Again, no response, maybe she’s asleep? Zoey looks at the time: 22:42 oh my god, how long had she been doing laundry for? She checks the time she phoned rumi, 22:01

okay, damn

the doorbell chimes as rumi walks in the door with snacks

“RUMI!”
“Hiya zozo, where’s mira?”

”dunno, she didn’t respond when I called her so maybe asleep?”

Rumi rolls her eyes “Classic mira, I’ll check”

”okie but where are my shrimp crackers?” Zoey starts digging in the bags

”they’re here, now stop digging in the bags before they get everywhere” Rumi sighs, clearly tired of her antics

“YESS!” Zoey exclaims “VICTORY!

-

Rumi knocks on the door,

No response

I guess Zoey said she might be asleep, but it’s a but early, she knocks again

Nothing

“Mira are you awake? I’m coming in”

From inside rumi could hear rustling then nothing. Okay, nothing to worry about, right?

A pause, then more rustling, then another pause

Oh

“I KNOW YOUR AWAKE!

”Am not!” Mira retorted

“Am to!”

“Am not!”

”Am to!”

”Am not!”

”Your literally responding to me!

Silence

Rumi opens the door and sees Mira ‘asleep”
”okay if your ‘asleep’ then I guess your not getting any snacks bye bye”

Again, silence

“Okay more for me!”

Then rumi shuts the door. Odd much?

whatever, I guess I’m going to sleep to.
Night Zoey, night mira

“Night Rum!” Zoey responds from her bedroom, sleepily

Rumi smiles, “Good night, love you”

Silence

Rumi realises her mistake and makes a run for her room and slams the door
Okay. I’m not having a nervous breakdown imagine I didn’t just tell my friend I love them

Rumi can feel the heat rising up her neck
Okay, that didn’t work. I’m going to sleep
She settles into bed and finally closes her eyes, for a much needed sleep

Chapter Text

 Rumi pressed her head against her bedside table and sighed, the clinking of pans faintly in the kitchen and the sunlight seeping through her curtains 

She pressed closer to her pillow and closed her eyes, maybe if I close my eyes hard enough I’ll forgot what I did yesterday and nope, that didn’t work 

her phone buzzed in her pocket, once, twice, three times then silence 

Rumi looked grumpily at her Phone, squinting as if it was a foreign language and the name reads simply, Jinu 

She checked the time, frowning, 8:47

a bit early to be phoning someone but whatever 

“Hi jinu..”

”Rumi, how are you?”

”are you just phoning to ask how I am?”

”…” 

“well?”

”Wanna meet at this boba shop down town with your friends? I’m honestly so annoyed at someone right now so yeah,” Jinu responded grumpily

”hmm..” Rumi said thoughtfully “alright then, meet at 9:45

”Alright then, bye”

And the soft beep signaled the end of the call, leaving Rumi alone with her thoughts 

She glanced up at her door 

Guess I gotta get ready 

Rumi put on her green turtleneck shirt and black joggers and checks the time again 9:12 okay damn,

She shouts the girls, asking if their ready or not 

Zoey responds almost instantly, “Yep!”

That happy tone in her voice.. WAIT BRAIN SHUT UP!

Rumi feels heat creeping up her neck, why do I feel like this when Zoey is around? I mean, she is so silly, and cute… and pretty.. and-

Mira knocks on her door, interrupting her train of thought 

“I- come in!”

”Ready?” Mira says clearly unaware of Rumi completely short circuiting 

“Yeah!” Rumi replies a little faster than needed 

“alright then..” 

And just like that they got in the car 

zoey turns on the radio and played whatever song was on, which was One way Or Another- Blondie

“OO I LIKE THIS SONG!” Zoey exclaims eagerly 

“One way or another- I’m gonna find ya, I’m gonna getcha getcha getcha getcha getcha one day, maybe next week!, like my singing?”

“Yeah, it’s really good!” Rumi responds quickly, she wasn’t sure what was happening but her heartbeat definitely stuttered 

“yeah it’s amazing Zoey!” Mira mumbles sleepily”

They pull up at the boba shop seeing Jinu inside and sit in his booth 

“Hiya Jinu” Rumi huffed “Why are we meeting so early though”

“Cause…”

”cause why” Rumi mumbled 

“cause I said”

”THATS NOT A REASON!”

”stop being mean” Zoey said lightly 

“Yeah RUMI” Mira huffed 

Rumi looked At them again 

“Taking Jinus side I see well then I’m leaving!” Rumi says clearly lying 

“WAIT NOOO” Zoey yells loud enough for half the shop to stop what they’re doing and look “IM SORRY!” She says pouting 

Rumi slaps her hand over zoeys mouth”

”SHUT UP” Rumi says frowning and turning away, clearly not meaning it 

“Fine.” Zoey groaned 

Rumi sits back down and talks to Zoey about shop etiquette and stuff 

“Well, this was fun, but we have to go,” Rumi says looking at the setting sun

“We have Coursework to do, so cya”

“Fine, enjoy being bored for the next few hours” Jinu said eventually, his voice soft with amusement, he leaned his head against the chair  “or just say you hate me save the heartbreak 

“WERE NOT EVEN TOGETHER JINU” Rumi said scowling 

“Yeah I know I just love annoying you” Jinu said, sighing dramatically 

-

They stand outside in the cold winter air, waiting for Mira to pay 

“So,” Zoey started “About what you said yesterd-“ 

“Yes I know what I said yesterday” Rumi interrupted “I was just… sleepy that’s all”

Zoey pretends to agree, but not buying it at all

”alright then, but wanna know a joke?” Zoey leaned in closer 

Rumi heart skips a beat “Sure, what is it?”

”Why was the math book sad?” Zoey starts 

“I don’t know, why was the maths book sad?” Rumi responds quietly, already knowing the answer 

“Because it had to many problems!” Zoey shouts, catching Rumi off guard, giggling like a child 

Rumi laughs along, poking her head into the shop to find Mira talking to Jinu 

“MIRA! HURRY UP” Rumi shouts making Mira jump 

“Fine!” Mira growled “Bye Jinu.” 

“Bye!” Jinu says smugly

They all sit silently in the car, Until Zoey cuts through the silence with another joke 

“What snake is good at maths?”

”I don’t know,” Mira starts “What snake is good at math?”

”An adder!” Zoey said, almost to fast 

They all snicker, and they drive home with the radio mumbling something about the weather, and how it’s going to snow tomorrow,

Maybe I can confess, maybe some day.

Chapter Text

The rain wouldn’t stop, and seouls skyline was completely blurred, coated with a thick fog that wrapped the city like a curse

Mira squeezed her eyes shut, she couldn’t afford to show them, not yet

Two nights ago fighting demons had gone horribly wrong, a powerful one has ambushed them in the hallway, Mira has rushed in without waiting for their signal and got attacked awfully but hasn’t shown them, not yet.

“Not fighting no demons, no training, just.. us?” Zoey had said earlier after Mira recommended going out somewhere

“Like a day out.”

They had agreed to go to this little cafe tucked between shops, not noticeable if you weren’t looking for it

Rumi was sat straight, but Zoey and Mira were completely the opposite, slouched and leaning back on the chair

Zoey was spinning her straw dramatically when she lost control and flung across the cafe

“Uh oh..”

The straw hit someone across the head and they looked around the cafe to see who it was

Zoey sunk even more into her chair, like trying to vanish

“Rumi,” Mira started

“you look like your trying to interrogate the croissant”

“I’m just, still tense about that battle from the other day”

…

“Valid” Mira huffed

“At least I’m not grumpy” Rumi said with a smirk

For a second Mira wanted to defend herself- then just sighed and let her shoulders relax a little. Zoey noticed, and smiled softly. Not her usuals cheeky grin; but it was quieter, graceful

“No snarky comeback?” Rumi chuckled Mira shot her a look

“Fine fine, have it your way” Rumi sighed

The next stop: The arcade 

Zoey dragged them in, practically beaming ear to ear with excitement 

Mira was stopped at the entrance like she had been dropped into another dimension, And Rumi made a beeline for the claw machines 

“MIRA MOVE YOUR LEGS OVER HERE” Zoey said dragging Mira towards a Rhythm game “let’s see if your ‘perfect timing’ works outside of fights”

Miras coordination was usually flawless but the flashing lights and music completely threw her off

She lost to Zoey three times in a row 

“you fight demons but this rhythm game defeats you”  Zoey teased 

“It’s not that, it’s just.. this game is… unpredictable..?” Mira mumbled, her cheeks faintly pink 

Meanwhile rumi had Actually won a huge stuffed turtle from a large claw machine and casually handed it to Mira 

“Since your hopeless at games here”

”thank you” Mira snickered 

Zoeys jaw dropped 

“YOUR SHOCKING!”

And Zoey storms off 

“uh should we go after her?” Mira suggested 

“Nah she had it coming to her” Rumi giggled

Zoey went back over to the Rhythm game and was playing solo when Mira walked over.,

Fine, here’s a deal, off you get 95% accuracy on the hardest one with me, I’ll give you the turtle 

“ITS A DEAL!” Zoey practically shouted 

They selected the mode and started 

The crowd around the machine grew, apparently it’s not every day that you see two girls in street clothes- one radiating chaotic energy, the other deadly calm, having a rhythm battle like it’s life or death 

Round one- Zoey crushed it again, jumping up and down singing dramatically 

Round two- Mira started to adjust, her footwork sharpened. She didn’t match Zoeys energy but her accuracy skyrocketed 

By round three Zoey was grinning ear to ear, hair stuck out in all directions from all the spinnin and Mira was completely focused, lips pressed tight, the giant turtle sat on top of the machine like a silent mascot 

When the final best hit the screen flashed: 96% accuracy, new high score!

“HAHA! THE TURTLE IS MINE NOW!” Zoey cheered running off with the turtle

Meanwhile rumi had moved on to the Photo Booth. “Okay lovebirds, get ready to immortalise this”

”Were not-“ Zoey started

“She right” Mira cut in, grabbing Zoeys hand and pulling her inside 

“Cmon ‘Rhythm princess’ it’s part of the fun!” Mira chanted 

The three of them crammed themselves into the booth. Zoey threw her arm around Mira shoulders, and Mira completely stiffened, Zoeys arm was almost dead on the wound from the battle that happened the other day 

Mira moved Zoeys hand slightly and smiled for the photo 

okay 3… 2… 1… FLASH

The first photo, Mira was mid blink, and Zoey slipped over 

second photo, Zoey gave Mira paper bunny ears and rumi paper cat ears and herself paper dog ears from the prop box outside 

The third photo, all three smiled at the same time- a genuine smile, the same type of smile that could heal quiet wounds 

Zoey grabbed one copy and put it in her phone case 

Mira and rumi grabbed theirs, Mira holding hers and rumi pocketing hers

Mira looked at the photo in her hand and smiled

”We should do this more often,” rumi said, voice softer

”yeah, we should” Mira said quietly 

Zoey grinned “and next time I’m teaching you how to win racing games 

“Yeah, next time”

Mira, still sat on the roof, with the worn photo in hand, “next time,” she said quietly

  “If there is a next time.”