Chapter Text
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The rain calms Zoey—that’s why she’s out here in the streets, bathing in it. She loves the feeling of the cold pearls of the water against her skin, though she wasn’t expecting the strong chilly breeze that came with it. Zoey wasn’t even actually planning to bask in the rain—she just wanted to take a small and relaxing walk to take away some stress she’s been feeling lately.
It had been a rather restless week for not only her, but also her friends. Ever since the appearance of the Saja Boys—a demon boy band—Zoey and her friends had to work double time to take them down. Practice hours increased, and training was harsher. But today—just today—the girls (reluctantly) decided to take a break. Zoey didn’t waste that opportunity, immediately heading to the comfort of her room and catching up on the K-dramas she missed, and watching hundreds (if not thousands) of cute turtle trivia videos.
The ravenette’s thoughts drifted from one thing to another as she started to walk back to her home—she’s dripping wet though, she didn’t bring a coat or an umbrella. She didn’t mind—not when she was having a great time in her little world. But she was pulled out of her thoughts when she heard a loud bang, like something had fallen on the floor. Zoey was unsure of what that ‘something’ was—which is why she went to check it out. She recalls where the sound had come from—from left, across the alley. She went on with instinct from there, hoping it was right.
As soon as she took a turn, she was greeted by the sight of a man lying on the floor, underneath a streetlight. Zoey’s eyes went wide with panic, immediately coming to the man’s aid. He looked familiar, Zoey thought. But never mind that, helping him was more important—she could always find out later. The poor man looked ill—all pale and shivering from the cold wind, Hypothermia is a bitch. She didn’t ask questions like “Are you okay?” She didn’t have time for that.
Zoey decides that she must bring him to the Huntrix penthouse, it’s warm there. She carries him on her back. After making sure he’s secure, she starts walking back to the penthouse. It was only a 20-minute walk from where she was—10 if you’re a trained hunter like Zoey.
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The elevator dinged, signalling they had arrived. Zoey felt a bit bad—leaving a wet mess in the elevator. But she didn’t mind, not when there was an unconscious person on her back. She mentally prepares herself for whatever Rumi and Mira might have to say about the person—stranger—she’s bringing in on her back. The doors open, and Zoey is met with the sight of a worried Rumi and Mira. Mira speaks first.
“Zoey! Where have you-” Mira was stunned. She didn’t expect a stranger to be on her back. But when she looked closer, it hit her—That stranger is a Saja Boy! Mira’s protective instincts flare up—she’s ready to attack. Rumi speaks up next.
“..Isn’t that one of the Saja Boys..?” Rumi muttered, skeptical. Underneath the skeptical facade, her guard went up.
“Zoey. What is that doing here?” Mira side-eyes the.. thing, her nose scrunching up in disgust.
The maknae was confused. Saja Boy? Then it clicked. “WAIT, WHAT?!” Wow, she can be so slow sometimes..
“Okay, wait! I swear, I didn’t realize it!” Zoey bites her lip, a habit she does when nervous.
“What? What do you mean you didn’t ‘realize ’ ? Zoey, he has bright ass hair!” Mira retorted, frowning.
“Eek! I’m so so so so, so sorry! Look—when I first saw him, he was on the ground! The first thing I thought was to help; I couldn’t just leave him! But you know, I guess I should’ve taken note of his appearance, like maybe-” The maknae starts to ramble, saying so many things at once, like what she should have and should not have done. In between those things, she says a hundred apologies; her words were flying all over the place—she didn’t even realize she was still standing in front of the elevator and carrying the Saja Boy.
Rumi finally speaks up. “Okay, okay. Look, we - She gives Mira a look, -aren’t exactly.. mad, we were just worried for you; and in my opinion, it was kind of you to help, Zoey.”
“Did it have to be a Saja Boy..?” Mira grumbled. Rumi just gave her another look.
“Again, I’m so sorry.. I really didn’t realize..” If I were to describe Zoey’s face, I’d say she looked like the ‘TnT’ emote.
Rumi sighs. “Alright, enough. Zoey, why don’t you set him down on the couch?”
“NOT OUR PRECIOUS COUCH!” Mira’s eyebrows knitted in frustration, her frown deepening.
The braided girl sighs. “We just need to discuss this further, okay? Besides, Zoey’s been standing there for who knows how long while carrying... that. Her back probably hurts.”
“Fine..”
The maknae sighs in relief, finally able to remove this thing from her back. She walks to the couch and carefully sets him down on the pristine white couch. Mira looks down at him with an intense stare—as if scrutinizing every rise and fall of his chest as he breathes.
Rumi takes a deep breath. “What are we going to do? Are we just going to leave him there? We can’t leave him out in the rain.”
“We could just wait until he wakes up, I guess. All I know is that I’m not going near him.” Mira suggested.
“And if he doesn’t until morning?” The purple-haired woman asked.
“Well, we could-”
“Wait!” Zoey suddenly said, all eyes are now on her. “He’s my responsibility. I’m the one who brought him here. Let me deal with him.”
“And how are you going to do that?” Both Mira and Rumi questioned.
“I could... take him to my room?” The maknae suggested sheepishly.
“What? No.” The pink-haired woman protested.
“But there’s a heater there! Look at him, he’s cold!” Zoey immediately exclaimed.
“And what about you?” Rumi said.
“I’ll just sleep on the floor... or the couch.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“Yes! I promise. I don’t want to give you guys any more trouble than I already have.”
Rumi and Mira share a look, as if they’re communicating through their eyes. Then Mira sighs. “Fine..”
“YEY-!” Zoey exclaimed, but then remembered the sleeping outsider. “Yey…!”
“But when it wakes up, we’re kicking him out immediately—or maybe kill him.”
“Noted.”
Rumi and Mira go to their respective rooms, leaving Zoey alone with the Saja Boy on the couch. She sighs, having to carry him again. She swears that if she has to carry another heavy thing, her back would snap. She takes a deep breath, preparing for the heavy weight she’s about to put on her shoulders again. Gently, she lifts him and puts him in a piggyback like earlier. Zoey takes graceful steps, trying not to lose balance and fall. Carrying him isn’t as bad as earlier, she thought. Probably because she didn’t have to run in the heavy rain. She finally made it to her room, though she struggled with handling the doorknob since she was carrying a sleeping body on her back. She delicately sets him down on the bed and even tucks him in. She even goes as far as putting one of her favorite turtle plushies next to him. Zoey takes an extra pillow, then settles down on the floor and prepares for sleep.
‘Did I just bring hell home? I hope not.’