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Zoey leaned in as close to her reflection in the mirror as she possibly could without being completely pressed against the glass. Her bangs were pinned back with a few fuzzy clips, head tilted up and eyes stretched wide as if that would help her see everything better. As she turned her head side to side to check her application, she heard a sound from the other room.
The bathroom door was open, allowing her to see her bed, where Mystery was sitting. His pale hair was sleep tussled and a few strands stuck up on the sides of his head. She watched as he rubbed a hand down his face and breathed a quiet, “Zoey…”
Heart squeezing in affection, she smiled and called out a “Good morning,” before focusing her attention back to her face in the mirror. She listened to the rustle of the covers as they were pulled off and then strained a little more trying to hear any footsteps, silent as he was.
They had a date last night which ultimately culminated in the two of them watching a movie and then and falling asleep in her bed. It wasn’t the first time Mystery had stayed over, but it was the first time he had stayed over the night before Zoey had to go to a planned event—this time it would be an appearance on a variety show. It was currently 5 am. Far earlier than they usually woke up when they were together. But she needed to get ready—she liked doing her own makeup—and then travel from her personal apartment back to the Huntrix tower to regroup with Rumi, Mira, Bobby and the rest of their staff before the event.
Rumi had actually left to spend a week with Celine for the anniversary of her mother’s death, and Mira had made a visit to her family to celebrate a cousin’s graduation. So Zoey had the place all to herself, but she couldn’t exactly bring Mystery there without anyone spotting them. Not even Rumi or Mira knew about her and Mystery yet and she really didn't want them to find out by having it suddenly trending on Twitter!
Luckily, she had an apartment for these situations! Well, not exactly this kind of situation but it was still nice to have. It was more for when she needed a place to run or hide from sasaengs and couldn’t take the predictable paths to the Huntrix tower.
Mystery appeared in the doorway and Zoey watched him in the mirror as he wandered sleepily behind her, his hands closing around her waist. His face pressed into her shoulder and she felt him inhale against her skin. When he didn’t move for a few seconds, she resumed in trying to attach her false lashes.
Just as she finished her right eye, she felt the weight lift off her shoulder. A smile tugged on her lips when she saw him tilt his head down in the mirror’s reflection. His hair fell perfectly in front of his eyes but he was definitely staring at her skin. She had applied a very light layer of glitter to her neck and shoulders, it was the first time she had done so since meeting Mystery, and it sparkled faintly with every shift in movement. “Ah. Mystery—” She couldn’t get her warning out fast enough before he was quickly ducking his head down. His tongue pressed against the side of her neck, dragging slowly, experimentally, before pulling away.
There was glitter on his tongue and a damp line on her skin that was now glitter free. Zoey couldn’t help herself, she burst out laughing. When she finally collected herself, Mystery was still standing there with his tongue out, lips twisted with affront and betrayal. “Aw. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to laugh.” She laughed against his cheek and pressed a kiss to his chin to placate him. Mystery let out a whine in response.
“It’s edible body glitter. You can just eat it.” Zoey watched as his tongue slowly retreated back into his mouth, like he couldn’t quite believe her but didn’t know what else to do. Zoey can’t say she didn’t see this coming, in fact she had bought edible glitter for this exact reason. There was no way Mystery wouldn’t try to lick her after seeing it, not to mention he was always trying to lick or bite her, and this only proved she was right.
Mystery watched silently as she reapplied some glitter to the disturbed patch on her skin before his head tilted back up to her face, where one eye is still unfinished, and frowned. Mystery had also never seen her do her makeup before. “They make my eyes look bigger.” She explained simply, starting to attach another set of fake lashes.
“…And that is appealing?” He followed her movements as she started drawing fake lower lashes.
Zoey rolled her eyes and fluttered her lashes at him in the mirror. “Obviously. You never noticed? Don’t I look cuter?” She didn’t wait for a response before returning to her task. Mystery let out a low hum, “Zoey is always cute.”
“…Ugh. Stop. I'm trying to focus.” That comment had no business making her face feel so warm, she felt giddy all over. Mystery leaned back in and nuzzled the top of her head, nibbling the ends of her hair clips. And she should really stop him, her hair is going to get frizzy.
“Zoey is the cutest.” Mystery’s fingers drummed patiently on her stomach as she tried her best to ignore him. She pulled one of the clips out of hair and winced when it caught. Mystery lifted one of his hands and gently untangled her hair. He moved onto the next clip, carefully unclipping it and setting it aside for her. Zoey let him remove all the hair clips before she lifted her own hands and started fixing her bangs.
“…like a rabbit…cute. Pretty. Soft…” It was murmured into her hair, almost a whisper. She could hear a soft growl mix into his voice and felt his hands tighten around her. Zoey quickly picked up one of the set aside hair clips and shoved it into Mystery’s hair, pushing his bangs out of his face, revealing a one of his eyes and snapping him out of his trance. He quieted down and blinked at her, his pupils dilating slightly. Zoey did not need whatever dog or hound instinct it was that Mystery had to potentially ruin her makeup before she was even done!
Mystery let out a high pitched whine when he realized. “Zoey…”
“No! I'm not even finished with my hair!”
An hour later, she stood at the door to her apartment, putting her shoes on as Mystery stood behind her. She could practically feel his unwillingness rolling off him in waves. “Won’t the others be wondering where you are?” Zoey tried instead.
“I'm with Zoey.” He said, so simply. “They're not dumb.” That brought a huff of laughter out of her. Or maybe he's just not hiding it at all.
Zoey stood up and turned around to look at him. If Mystery had dog ears they would no doubt be drooping. He looked so miserable standing there, head slightly lowered like an abandoned puppy.
He immediately perked up and happily approached her when she finally held out her hands. Zoey placed both her hands on his cheeks and leaned up to press a sweet kiss to his lips. Mystery chased her as she pulled back, drawing her in for another kiss. And another. And another.
"I really have to go now. Be good.” Zoey laughed, finally pulling back far enough to escape his advances. Mystery pouted but let out an “Okay.”
“I'll text you. Don’t follow me.” She reached out and patted his head for finality before he was gone in a puff of pink smoke.
Later, they would be trending on Twitter because Mystery was seen wearing a hair clip that the fans swore they only ever saw Zoey use. And Zoey knew he did it on purpose because it was just in his hair! It wasn't even holding his bangs back or anything! He was wearing it just for funsies!
Zoey had to frantically dig through her online shopping carts and claim it was a common hair clip anyone could find if they looked hard enough! And that only lead to another spiral of, so did Mystery purposefully buy those hair clips? Was he secretly also a fan of Zoey’s?
Rumi and Mira both gave her very unimpressed looks. She even saw Bobby give her a side-eye!
Argh! Bad saja boy!