Chapter Text
“Gyeongsu, it's not fair, you've asked me to cover for 3 fucking days and I haven't gotten any ounce of sleep. Wouldn't you just be more mercifu—”
“Aish, Y/N! Like I've told you it'll only be for a little while! I couldn't risk NOT meeting Thanos right now, I've saved money for years! And didn't you tell me you also needed money, anyway? Go and take the chance!”
“That'd be possible if I've not been restless. Mrs. Jang doesn't take new attendants and I'm really very close to passing out at the counter now.”
“Eh, the laundromat doesn't take any customers as often as you think it does — maybe doze off a little? Make sure to wake yourself up when the bell rings?”
“I've been so restless that if I take a nap I'm afraid it would take very long.. and difficult.. for me to wake.”
“Well.. you just have to learn. Ah! The flight is here. I'll call you later, Y/N. Thanks for the cover, bye!”
And just like that, Gyeongsu hangs up the call before he could even hear more of Y/N’s farewell. The girl sighed and suppressed a yawn, putting her phone down the counter and glancing around at the clock which pointed at the numbers, 10:07PM. If Gyeongsu had not snuck off she would've been home since 9PM. Particularly, Y/N is not fond of staying on the laundromat for 24 hours and ultimately at 72 hours ever since Gyeongsu took his leave — she has the morning shift while he had the night, but for now, she had to take both. While it is financially favorable as she takes extra paycheck, it was extremely tiring for her body who had not felt her bed’s mattress for days.
It was almost as if the drowsiness lunged towards Y/N itself, knocking her down on the counter and forcing her to close the heavy lids of her eyes to acquire the sleep that she had been pleading for. The emanating light of her laptop’s screen flashed on her face as it remained open and playing the movie she had fallen asleep to.
Not after a few hours, the door of the laundromat opened, followed by the audible song of the bells that announced a customer's presence. Despite it, Y/N remained asleep — all while the new customer began to unload their laundry and make use of the available machines. Several minutes in, Y/N stirred awake.
“Ah, a customer —” she mumbled under her breath, the sides of her hand rubbing her eyes in a weak attempt to scratch the sleep away, and afterwards, she began to look around to make sure she had not been asleep through a robbery. When all was well, Y/N stood up and peeked from behind one of the machines, the sight of the customer giving her a sense of relief that she was not alone in the shop. She then took strides towards the vending machine to get herself some dark coffee.
“Are customers allowed?” The unfamiliar voice suddenly struck Y/N from behind as she took a sip of her coffee, immediately, she turned around to meet the taller figure of the customer she was just sightseeing earlier — a towering pale-skinned woman with loose, short black hair and piercings; in her nose, lips, and then her ears. Y/N’s eyes lowered towards her black choker accompanied with a silver, thinner collar, then a couple more of black jewelries around her wrists and fingers. She wore a jacket over her brown t-shirt with a bunch of old band designs and pants that seemed to be larger than her destined size. Nonetheless, Y/N thought she must be a very cozy person, and soon was reminded of what she had asked.
“Allowed to what?”
“To use the vending machine.”
“Would it be out in the open if customers are not allowed to use it?”
Y/N hadn't realized how her words sounded until a moment later, feeling like the little amount of sleep had been taking a toll on her, especially when the customer’s aloofness began to subside and replaced with one of annoyance — and a mocking, silent scoff, and Y/N totally did not mean to be rudely sarcastic, as the coffee’s effects eventually occurred, she stabilized herself and spoke once more. “I mean, wouldn't that be common sense?”
“The old attendant told me it's not allowed for customers.” The girl responded, the same face that mocked Y/N’s drowsiness still masking her face. “I guess it depends on the attendant?”
“Oh, Gyeongsu told you that?” Y/N took another sip of her coffee, before chuckling, “He must be—”
“No. Not Gyeongsu.”
“You know Gyeongsu?”
“Uh— yes. We live in the same apartment building.”
Y/N nodded off. “I see. So who was the attendant?”
“Perhaps somebody who had worked here before you did?”
“I worked longer than Gyeongsu.”
The girl hummed in thought, “I see..Well, no more use on thinking about whoever it was. I'll get myself some food for the night, if you'd allow me.”
Y/N took a few seconds to look at the customer, before nodding her head and stepping away from the vending machine. “Yes, ah. Please feel free.” She soon left the girl with the vending machine, retreating to her space behind the counter and exiting the movie she'd left playing on her laptop. Afterwards, Y/N took time to finish her coffee and throw the plastic cup towards the nearest garbage bin, her eyes following after her taller companion across the room — although her eyes wasn't being met, it gave Y/N some comfort that she wasn't alone for now.
2 Days Later
“I could only hope you enjoyed every last bit of that concert.” Y/N was inside her apartment, all neat and clean and having acquired her longest nap from the last 13 hours. She bought herself a cup of ramyeon to eat for lunch, while at the same time videocalling Gyeongsu who had decided to take her shift for today in exchange for Y/N’s sleepless week.
Gyeongsu stretched his arms out, groaning as a few bones snapped satisfyingly. He yawned along before speaking, “ah, I haven't even reached 24 hours yet, I'm already so sleepy.”
Y/N scoffed. “At least now, you know how it is.”
“I think I shall be extra meaner to you. Like, let's say, I find a new job? Mrs. Jang would be so delighted to have you as the only laundromat attendant, she likes torturing us.”
“Get a new job? You say it like you could actually be accepted easily. You've been rejected to be a salesman in a cheap store and a janitor at a school. Do you think leaving this one will favor you?”
“Aish. That's because I'm not fucking pessimistic, Y/N. God, my drowsiness just dissolved just like that because of your negativity. I shall end the call now before I die from that bad energy of yours. I gotta refill my coolness by listening to the Rap Battle Master again—"
“Ugh. Yeah.” Y/N grumbled before hanging up, scoffing as she had intentionally blocked him from ranting about Thanos. She put her phone down and focused on finishing her ramyeon instead.
The day dissolved to the gloominess of the night; and to spend time, Y/N busied herself with her book. She hadn't found any motivation to stand up from her couch and to go to bed, and as the time passed, it just became more comfortable than it had ever been. That is — until the lock of her door began to tweak. Her head snapped to the side, closing her book as if it's been called to her attention and cautiously approaching the banging door. She grabbed the nearest knife she hid merely behind her door, preparing for any attacks that could possibly come from outside, she also stood on the side in order to not be hit with any piercing weapons. “Who's it?”
“Your greatest nightmare, little bitch.” The hoarse and deep generated voice from the outside replied, kicking the door open forcibly before lunging himself in. Y/N took advantage and falsely attacked from his side, only to kick him from below and to twist their bodies around so she would be entrapping him — “who the hell are you?”
“You've not gotten enough of your decoyed moves, I see..” the man says, though his face was unfamiliar to Y/N, she could only know that he is among the pathetic minions that Mr. L/N kept sending. As if their sudden absences and injured state as they returned wasn't enough of a sign that Y/N was relentless to his untrained yet money-hungry warriors, he still kept sending them as if with the biggest hope. And the one that had attacked Y/N recently isn't all so different — he must've been taught about the old training given to Y/N in hopes he would master the opposition of it, but he failed to do so. And it explains why he is as bloody as the carpet that lounges below Y/N’s door. “What's he ought to tell me this time?” She asked the bloodied boy. “Tell me before I decide to strangle you.”
The boy choked out blood, shaking his head and crying out as he realizes the severity of his current situation. “p-please.. I.. please surrender.. I really need the money…”
“Tell me what he needed to say.”
“H-he.. coughs he wants you to.. to pay him b-back.. a .. coughs b-billion won..”
Y/N's eyebrow twitched, both in annoyance and disbelief. “A billion won? For what?” She wipes the dripping blood that came from the wound on her cheek. “You know, you and your friends are starting to be more annoying.”
“I-I’m sorry.. i-i.. don't know..”
Just as Y/N’s guard was frantically lowered, the boy used his knee to lunge at her stomach, pushing her back and switching their advantages. He stole the knife that she had on her hands, yelling as he was just about to pierce through her face blindly, Y/N dodged just enough for it to hit her hair, grabbing the boy’s face and using her other hand to force push the knife away from her direction. “Fucking hell..” she murmured, knowing she was being outdone in terms of strength, she pushed him away with all her remaning strength just as when the door opened, slamming the boy’s head to the door’s knob and getting him faulty, Y/N used the advantage to kick his face, ultimately causing him to pass out.
“What the hell was that!?” Gyeongsu exclaimed behind the door, holding a plastic bag of Soju and Gimbap. Y/N quickly dusted herself off the ground and stood, kicking the unconscious man away, “An intruder.”
“Seriously!? You couldn't have pressed the alarm button instead!?”
“He was going to kill me!” Y/N retorted, her voice raised and much annoyed with Gyeongsu’s complaints yet also grateful he had opened the door. “Just.. come in, I'll take him to the police.”
“Oh, alright, but uh.. I've got someone with me..”
“What?” Y/N frowned, and so Gyeongsu sheepishly looked away.
“Y/N, you're not a bad person, right? I know and I trust that you'll be very welcoming to any people regardless of their sex—”
“What's that gotta do with anything? Who did you bring?”
“A-ah, just my neighbor in the apartment. So, you see, the landlord was very fucking annoying and decided to kick us out because, well —”
“You weren't paying your rent?” Y/N chuckled as she bent down and began to tie the intruder’s arms together.
“No! We are! Well, the thing is, we've got the lowest rent. And the landlord woke up one day and decided she will be renovating and kicking us out to comply with our.. now-previous rooms to accommodate luxurious customers. If you get what I mean.”
“Uh, yeah, as if that lousy old and haunted little apartment of hers is gonna accommodate a rich person soon — does she not know that apartments are supposed to target broke people?”
Gyeongsu’s eyes were already wandering around Y/N’s apartment, his right hand holding the plastic bag of the drinks and food while the other dragged his luggage. Behind him was Semi, his neighbor in their previous apartment which he also happened to be quite close with. “Come on,” he murmured, gesturing to her to enter while Y/N busied herself with the unconscious intruder.
Returning to his and Y/N's playful jabs, he spoke again. “Broke people, eh!? I've got money on my name, FYI, it is just that —”
Y/N caught up at the sight of their baggage, making her turn to him once again. “Hey, where are you going with that large ass luggage of yours? I've not allowed you to enter my room either!”
Gyeongsu stopped on his tracks while Semi also paused in hers, anxiously playing with her lip piercings as she showed herself to the girl, “Hey, uh—”
She turned to Gyeongsu, before looking at Y/N again. “We will just leave the luggage outside. Don't get so heated up now.” She comes back to Gyeongsu and gestures to him to get out, but before they could, Y/N stands up, her eyes much softened now as she familiarized the girl. The pretty one that she had been rude with about the vending machine but also the one who was her company in one of those nights— even though it was only all in Y/N's heads that she was being accompanied.. “Wait, I.. I didn't know you were the one Gyeongsu’s with.”
“Huh?” Semi’s brows raised, “Does that make any difference that you know now?”
Y/N’s surprised face dissolved into a smile, “It does, actually. I'm way more fond of girls, and I thought that Gyeongsu was with another boy.”
Both Semi and Gyeongsu looked at Y/N differently; while the girl was more amused, Gyeongsu’s face was a mix of shock and realization that he couldn't grasp, and before he could stabilize himself he had been pushed off by Semi who willingly accepted Y/N’s offers of true kindness. “So.. you're really gonna allow us to stay in, right?”
Gyeongsu snapped out, “Wait, what!? Semi’s all it took to convince you to even let me enter?”
“Barely.” Y/N snorted, “Treat yourselves at home. Let's discuss it once I'm done with this.” She began to drag the unconscious body out of the room, taking him outside and to the dumpsters of the building.
“What's with that?” Semi curiously asked when Y/N came out with an unconscious body, dragging it off like it was a casual evening for her — which now was. “Oh, that?” Gyeongsu turned. “An intruder, she says.”
“Does that happen often?”
“Oh, Semi. We've got no more home to return to and no more cash in our little pockets, do you think I'd care about intruders now that I've found a free apartment!?”
Y/N cleared her throat as she returned, entered the room, shutting the door close as she overheard what had just been spoken, “You must be dreaming really badly if you think it'll be free.”
“Wha—? It's not?”
“No.”
Semi crosses her arms and chuckles at Gyeongsu’s stupidity. “Why would you actually think that it's easy to pay rent? Dumbass.”
“God, fine, fine! Just don't kick us out, Y/N! We'll pay our shares!” Gyeongsu fell to his knees as he begged. “Please!”
Y/N merely stared at him, blankly at first, and then scoffed as it had begun to become painfully pitiful. She turned to Semi who shared the same pity to Gyeongsu, and then finally, Y/N kicked him faintly with the tip of her kneecaps. “Get up. I'll still have to talk to my landlord about it. She'll increase our rent for sure, so once I've talked it out with her then we'll discuss the payment.”
“Yes!” Gyeongsu cried out before standing up, while Semi only nodded and smiled, “That'll be arranged, then.”
Y/N spent the rest of the day showing both Gyeongsu and Semi around her small apartment at first; The single bathroom only had a shower and one laundry machine, but Y/N reassures them that the apartment also has a shared, larger bathroom outside and that they are allowed to wash clothes at the rooftop but only when it is not being used. There isn't much around but a small couch, a few interiors which Y/N bought. Inside a smaller room was one full bed and a large closet stuck on the wall. Y/N hadn't found it in herself to purchase any furnitures, or much better yet— she felt a sense of temporary belonging to this small space, which was the reason why she never made any efforts on making it look like it even had a person living in it.
“Ah, I should've probably thought about this more carefully before I accepted.” Y/N sighs.
“No! No no no... I'm sure we could make it work! Right, Semi?” Gyeongsu bit his lower lip as he waited for the girl's response.
“Well.. it is either we sleep on the couch or the floor, both which I'd be good with until I find my own apartment.”
“You two can stay as long as you want, I've no grudges.” Y/N retorted
Both Semi and Gyeongsu couldn't help but laugh at her remark, while it was sarcastic it was also odd for her to accept such new people, as if the intruder earlier had not already been warning her security; Semi thought, she must be either very naive or is hiding something. After all, she had knocked the intruder unconscious and dragged him out of the apartment so easily, it wouldn't take much of a genius to discern that Y/N wasn't dumb.. nor weak.
After helping the two to accommodate the small apartment room, Y/N settled their table on the center of the living room while Semi helped to bring the drinks and foods out of their plastic bag; a few bottles of Soju and Gimbap. Soon after, Gyeongsu joined them with freshly cooked Tteok-Bokkis. “Ah, let's eat.”
“If you're always gonna be this productive, I might as well help to lessen your share in the rent.” Y/N sarcastically says, though Gyeongsu seemed to take it seriously, his eyes widened and he immediately scooted closer to the girl's direction. “Really!? I'll really cook everyday for you, Y/N! Just tell me! I'll definitely use the spare of my paycheck to save up for Thanos aga—"
“Shouldn't I have a way to lessen mine as well?” Semi cut him off with equal sarcasm, though her focus leaned on Y/N more.
“Maybe I'll just make the two of you my servants with free labor, then.” Y/N responded.
The three of them ate the meals they've had for the night, at the same time talking and conversing through Gyeongsu and Semi’s old apartment and its issues, as well as Y/N’s own landlord which she described to be rarely difficult, but is extremely difficult when she is. After they were done, Y/N had told them to wash their own plates, and so they did. Y/N and Semi prepared to go to bed while Gyeongsu prepared for his night shift at the laundromat.
He watched as Y/N gave Semi an extra blanket and a couple more pillows to have on the couch, which led him to question; “Why don't the two of you just sleep on the same bed? You're both girls, aren't you?”
Both Semi and Y/N turned to him, their faces indiscernible and almost asking what is wrong with you? Before he snapped out and shook his head. “Ah, right, maturity. We're grown ups now, regardless of gender we mustn't be on each other's personal boundaries..” He began to mutter to himself. Before he leaves the room, however, he turns around to look at Y/N again. “Y/N.. are you also into girls?”