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Rumi knows she should go home.
She knows she is supposed to ride Derpy back to her apartment and sleep for the early day she has ahead to be prepared for the Idol Awards. The idol knows she should go back, get the rest she needs to defeat Gwi-Ma and help free Jinu, but she’s stayed put in the spot she is in as if her feet have become cement.
Rumi’s eyes never left Jinu, as his never left hers. It is as if he is thinking the same thing as her, not wanting to leave.
Distantly, she feels Derpy’s head rub against her hand, blue fur soft to the touch. Even with his unblinking orange eyes, she (for the first time and the thought alone makes her giggle) can see the question hanging in the air, wondering why she has not moved.
The giggle does come out, lilac braid moving with her. Her brown eyes leave Jinu’s for a split second, looking down at the tiger with a gentle smile. Rumi rubs the top of his head, the creature purring in delight. Another soft giggle leaves her mouth, a smile widening ever so slightly.
“Don’t worry, I will hop on in a minute,” Rumi tells him, reassuring the tiger that she will get home soon.
In return, she gets a wide and toothy smile in return, pleased with her answer. He rubs his head against her waist, enjoying her comfort.
A light chuckle leaves her mouth now as she wraps her arms around his head, smiling just as wide as his. It is a little awkward, since the creature is taking up half her body, she has to bend down at a weird angle in order to even hug him, head leaning on top of the pillow soft fur.
As the half demon does all this, her eyes have gone back to Jinu. Rumi vaguely realizes that even though she broke contact first, he never did.
The demon stares back, hands in his pocket as Rumi can only describe the look he gives her as fond, gentle, soft, and (one that almost gets her heart racing, even with how far away she is, she can see the emotion as clear as day) adoring. A small, affectionate smile accompanies his face.
It’s absurd the thought that comes into her mind, one she should easily dismiss, but she does not want too.
Rumi wants Jinu to join her back home, just for the night.
Embarrassment or nervousness should fill up inside her from the thought alone, thinking about letting a man (well, a demon) back into her apartment. The home where she was taught to kill off any demon she ever saw, knowing they had no feeling or remorse they had. But, she knows deep down in her core, that Jinu was different and he is the first person to see her, understand her.
Jinu makes her feel comfortable in her skin, finally letting herself feel like she is not a mistake and a burden to someone’s life because of the purple patterns burned into her skin. Yes, their meetings were at first hostile and looking at a way to gain information on each other, but slowly they turned into something friendly, fun and comforting, allowing herself to be whole around the demon. At this point, she has begun looking forward to them, rolling her eyes fondly when she sees the self-satisfied smirk on his face as he proclaims that he is glad he was able to meet her again. The butterflies in her stomach came not long after, intensifying more after their visit (date?) at the aquarium.
Rumi’s not sure what she feels for Jinu is love, too raw and too new to describe everything that is going on with her heart. Though, right now she knows, she wants to be with Jinu and to stay by his side for however long she can.
Oh, so that’s the reason why she wants him to come back.
To be by Jinu’s side just a little longer.
Rumi hopes that Jinu didn’t notice the slight pink on her cheeks (she thinks the demon does and if he says anything about that, her fist will meet his face) as she lets out another laugh, this time being louder than before. Jinu moves his head ever so slightly, brow raised up, but his smile is still there. With a final pat on Depry’s head and a promise to be back, she walks up to Jinu. His smile is replaced with a smirk, eyes gleaming with a desire to tease her.
“You missed me that much?” Jinu asks casually, tone filled with mischief. Rumi rolls her eyes as she huffs, watching his smirk widen as he enjoys the way he is playing her. It’s a silly question for a demon that hasn’t left either.
“I could say the same thing to you, Jinu.”
“Oh, I was being a gentleman and making sure the young lady was able to get home safely.”
Another airy laugh leaves her lips, the image Jinu being a gentleman not at all aligning with the demon she knew. A teasing smile of her own grows.
“A gentleman?”
Jinu flashes her a wicked grin, fangs poking out the slightest.
“When I want to be.”
Both chuckle with each other, enjoying the light moment with each other. Right now, the weight of everything with Gwi-Ma feels so far away, almost as if the idol would have to reach into the ocean in order to bring it back. With the two of them standing there, it’s almost as if they were normal idols, hiding away from dispatch just to talk and be with each other.
It’s there the want grows, almost burning her chest with the need to bring him back to the apartment and stay with her, even if it’s just the night.
Rumi’s arms uncurl, reaching her hands out towards him, hanging in the air like an invitation. Jinu eagerly accepts, placing his hands on top of hers as he grips on her fingers tenderly. Their patterns glow faintly from the contact, illuminating their faces with a purple glow. Weirdly, it warmed her, like a thick blanket was being wrapped around her. It made Rumi briefly wonder if Jinu feels the same, filling the question for later after the Idol Awards. With small smiles on their faces, they stand there, letting the purple be their only source of light.
The peace is broken though by the demon’s question.
“Rumi?” Jinu asks softly, head cocked to the side. “Is everything alright?”
It’s the push Rumi needed, grasping onto his fingers tight.
“Jinu,” She says just as softly, eyes and smile warm. “Stay the night with me.”
Out of everything the idol expected, the demon’s reaction threw her for a loop. His eyes widened as he quickled removed her hands from her, Rumi missing the warmth of them already. For the first time, she saw more white than the brown of his irises as he stepped away from her. An embarrassed flush blooms on his cheek as he rubs the back of his head, looking everywhere but her.
“Stay the night….like stay the night in your room? Bed?”
Rumi huffs as she crosses her arms, slightly amused by his first question.
“Yes, Jinu.”
It only makes his eyes go wider. His voice reaches a level so high she thought he could hit the highest notes out there.
“Really? I thought people don’t do that..well, it’s just not very common because when someone asks—”
It takes all her will power not to groan from his reasoning, momentarily forgetting the fact that he is 400 years old. God, he is old.
(Is this the gentleman part he was talking about?)
“Oh my god, you are so old!” She exclaims, shaking her head in her head. Still, the laugh erupts out of her throat. “I don’t mean it like that! People do just come over other people’s houses just to sleep, just as I am asking you to do! I just—” Rumi starts, then pauses, as she lets out a sigh. The idol is not sure why, but she grabs onto Jinu’s hand again, rubbing her thumb across his knuckles. She looks up at him with a gentle smile. “I just want to be by your side a little longer. So, would you stay the night with me, just before everything happens?”
Rumi watches as Jinu folds, his entire face softens. He looks at her as if she is the whole world, rendering her speechless for a moment. A small smile crosses his features, the fondest she has ever seen it. The demon squeezes her hand tighter.
“Yes, of course,” Jinu responds softly, before that infuriating smirk appears on his face. “This is the first time I've ever done this with someone before, Rumi. You should be honored.”
And there he goes ruining something nice again (it did make her laugh though, a trait that makes her like him more.) She rolls her eyes again, but she doesn’t let go of his hand.
“Shut up before I change my mind.”
“Now, we can’t let that happen. Then, I will be homeless for the night.”
“Jinu!”
The demon chuckles softly, raising his free hand up in surrender. There is a tender look in his eyes, a soft smile.
“Alright,” he says, fighting the chuckle out of his voice. “Lead the way.”
An unflattering snort leaves her mouth, having to cover it with her free hand as she hears Jinu snickering behind her. With a glare that lost its bite thanks to the grin growing on her face, she turns around and walks back towards Derpy, hands never leaving each other. The blue creature stares at them expectantly, smacking his tail against the ground with excitement. A giggle slips out of Rumi’s mouth, using her free head to rub the top of his head. Derpy purrs, leaning into her head as she tells him he is a good boy. From behind her, she can hear the way Jinu scoffs and the dramatic eye roll he is doing now.
“He never listens to me like that,” Jinu tells her, giving the tiger a half hearted glare.
It makes sense actually to Rumi because how could they listen to someone that can be so annoying? (She means this with as much affection as possible and pride in the fact that his pets like her more.)
It is Rumi’s turn to smirk, the smugness dripping off of it.
“It’s probably because I’m his favorite,” Rumi shoots back, hoping it might get under his skin as she rubs the creature's head again. The demon scoffs as he drags his free hand down his face, his glare turning into a stink eye to Derpy.
“Traitor.”
Another snort leaves Rumi’s mouth, not doing anything to hide it this time. A wide grin splits on Jinu’s face, eyes briefly flashing golden.
Jinu lets go of her hand first as the tiger lays itself down, readying to take them back to her home. With his arms pressed against the blue fur, the demon jumps and places himself right near his neck. He adjusts his legs, before he turns back to her with his hand extended out towards her and that same smirk that was on his face before.
“You need my help, princess?” Jinu asks as sweetly as possible. If anybody passed by them now, even with the mythical tiger, they would have cooed how cute of an action this is. Though, Rumi can see right through him and hear the teasing tone in his voice, getting a soft scoff from her.
“What? You're going to take me on a magic carpet ride and show me the world, Jinu?” Rumi teases right back at him, thinking this moment feels a little similar from that scene in Aladdin.
The joke seems to go right over his head as he stares at her blankly, brows furrowed slightly. For the first time, the master and pet almost looked the same.
“Magic…carpet ride?” Jinu says slowly, as if the words are foreign on his tongue.
Rumi stares at him in shock, her eyes being wide this time.
He didn’t know about Disney movies? How tragic.
(She will change all that once this is all over and when Rumi and Jinu get to be free for who they want to be.)
With a confident smile, she slips her hands into his, letting Jinu pick her up and join his side.
“When this is over, I am making you watch Aladian. It’s a classic everyone knows,” Rumi makes fun of him, taking a jab at his age once more.
Instead of a snide or smart remark in return, Jinu’s face softens, staring at her as if she is the only person in the world. His eyes gleam with adoration.
“Yeah,” he agrees to her plan, voice barely above a whisper. “I would love to do that.”
Rumi’s smile becomes as soft as his, squeezing his hand gently.
“Me too.”
The demon’s hum signifies the end of the conversation as they both settle against the tiger. He leans himself down towards the side of Derpy’s neck, gently patting him to let him know it is time to go. The tiger stretches before it takes a leap in the air, jumping along the Honmoon that leads to Rumi’s apartment. The idol takes in her surroundings, letting the cool air hit her skin as she relaxes for the first time today, hopeful for the outcome tomorrow. It’s beautiful at night in Seoul, glowing warm oranges, pinks, blues, and purples as it shows the way it is becoming sleepy, ready for the day to end. The half demon is not sure when she did this, her body acting before her mind caught up with her, she leaned her head against Jinu’s shoulder, curling up against it. Normally, she would have let out a loud shriek, mumbling apologies and cheeks burning about her actions, but she doesn’t mind. Rumi wants to do this like she wants Jinu to stay the night with her, enjoying every moment by his side.
Who would have thought a demon would be able to make Rumi like this, huh?
(Rumi truly might be her mother’s daughter.)
Jinu seems to have an idea of his own, too.
The demon grabs onto both of her hands and lifts them, just stopping till where they wrap around his waist. Rumi sinks deeper into his back, his hands being an anchor to her. Jinu turns his head back towards her, the fang gleaming in the night from his smirk. She gives him a lazy gaze, even with the suspicion written all over her face.
“What do you think you are doing, Jinu?”
His smirk becomes bigger.
“I thought this was part of the magic carpet ride.”
Rumi lets out an airily laugh, amused by his understanding of what a magic carpet is, even with how wrong it was. She lifts her head up, chin pressing against his shoulder now. The half demon realizes how close they are, the urge to kiss him is strong. She woud love to do that now, but he mission to make fun of him overrides that urge. Her smile is full of teasing.
“It’s close enough. The only thing that is missing is you looking like a prince.”
Both of his fangs show in his smirk, eyes full of amusement.
“I could change my outfit right now and look like a prince.”
Rumi should be aware of how late it is and how many people are sleeping, but she can’t help but let the loud laugh escape her throat, it echoing throughout the night. She squeezes her arms around his waist tighter, a smile beaming as she gives him a soft look.
“You don’t have to do that. I like what you are wearing now, it makes you more, well, you.”
Jinu’s grip becomes more firm around her hands as his smirk turns into a grin.
“If you like my outfit so much, I can even wear it to sleep.”
She rolls her eyes fondly, smiling never leaving her face. “Jinu.”
“It’s probably a good idea too since your taste in pajama pants is horrible.”
“Jinu!”
“Please tell me those are not the only pajamas pants you own.”
“You little demon!” Rumi exclaims as she flicks his forehead with her fingers. He is stunned by her actions for a moment, her letting a chuckle when seeing his shocked expression. He recovers quickly though, eyes golden and smile wicked.
“Oh, I am.”
“Focus on getting me home,” Rumi laughs, readjusting herself to where she was before. Her head leans against his back, ears perking up slightly to see if she can hear his heart. The idol’s arms return to his waist, a comfortable grip on them as she closes her eyes. The half demon can feel the way his eyes gaze upon her, imaging one to be full of affection.
“Anything for you, princess.”
“Call me that again and I will kick you off Derpy,” Rumi threatens him, even as she snuggles closer to him and treats him like he is her pillow. The demon lets out a hearty chuckle.
“I know you like it,” Jinu says with amusement, waiting for her to respond to what he already knows the answer to. So, the idol will not give him the satisfaction, at least not yet.
“Shut up and get me home.”
“Not until I know which spot of the bed I am getting,” the demon says cockily, his smug aura palpable.
Rumi wants to not answer, being able to enjoy him not getting a satisfying answer for a second time. Quickly though, she decides that perhaps seeing him be flustered would be a million times better than seeing him smug.
She knows exactly what to say to get that flustered reaction out of him.
“Right next to me,” the half demon responds casually, raising her head up just an inch as she revels in his reaction.
Jinu’s eyes widen by a fraction, mouth forming into a small “o.” It is as if he has stopped working, the idol almost seeing a loading circle rapidly moving. Then, a real and beaming grin splits his face as his face softens. Her heart almost bursting out of her chest from the love in his eyes.
“That sounds like the best spot,” Jinu whispers out softly, as if it was a secret only for her to hear. The demon leans his head against her shoulder, their cheeks brushing up against each other. The idol pulls him closer to her, their patterns glowing brighter than they were before.
“It is,” Rumi responds just as softly, brown eyes meeting each other. She says this because it is true and that she wants him to sleep right next to each other, arms tangled around each other as they enjoy one last night of rest before defeating Gwi-ma.
It’s the reason why she asked him to stay the night with her.
Jinu buzzes with excitement, the eyes glistening off his emotion as he looks at her. It’s infectious as it rubs onto Rumi, giving her a happy grin of her own as she rubs their cheeks together. It’s a moment the idol tries to commit to memory, one she can look back fondly after everything is settled tomorrow.
It quickly disappears though with Jinu’s next words.
“Don’t take all the covers, okay?”
Rumi is going to take all the covers from him, no matter how much he will complain how cold he is. Jinu will also get a death threat for that too.
“I might choke you to death,” Rumi warns him, both knowing that her statement is not true.
A smirk grows on his face, eyes turning into gold.
“Oh, what a way to die.”
“Jinu!”
“I hope I get a kiss at least,” Jinu tells her, letting his little wish be out in the open.
“Maybe you will,” Rumi responds, giving him the cocky grin she has learned from him. Jinu’s wish makes her chest fill with worth, the butterflies stirring up in her stomach again.
Jinu lets out an air chuckle, knowing that he might (he will) get that kiss from her tonight. The demon turns his attention back towards the Seoul sky, letting Derpy bring them back to her apartment. His hands press down against her, the weight comforting as he leans back into her slightly. Jinu’s finger begins to trace her patterns, his touch as light as a feather. In an instant, her and his patterns light up, glowing the purple she has become familiar with. Warmth blooms inside her, settling like a blanket again as she leans into him deeper, shoulders relaxing.
Rumi lets herself take in as much as she can in the moment, letting the calm nature wash over her. She listens to the low rumbling of Derpy and her and Jinu’s breathing, almost sounding as if they are in sync with each other. It’s there that she feels she has experienced true peace.
In the quiet of this night, it is just her and Jinu existing and that’s more than enough for Rumi.