(written for @fluffyjuly day eleven: cold & day twelve: proud of you & day thirteen: surprise hug)
Fandom: KPop Demon Hunters
Word Count: 1950
Itâs a rainy, windy evening in Seoul, and Mira sits on her balcony railing, legs dangling into the air, trying to ignore the phone sitting on the floor.
She closes her eyes against the blurry brightness of the lights below, and breathes in and out, repeatedly, keeping count of each second. In for four, hold for four, out for eight.Â
Itâs an old, very familiar technique, one that Miraâs learned many times throughout the years. It was taught to her by Celine when she first started training to be a Hunter. Before that, by the young therapist her parents sent her to when she got expelled from school. Before that, by the family doctor when she got a cut on her leg from purposefully-not-purposefully smashing a porcelain bowl on the wall.
Sometimes, this mindful breathing thing works, calming her heartbeat down, letting her control her feelings. But sometimes it doesnât. And today is definitely one of those times.Â
Mira growls frustratedly, kicking her foot out in the rain. Thunder roars in response, deep and graveling. It feels like a reprimand. She scowls at the clouds.
Still, it doesnât manage to drown out the quiet voice behind her, as her door opens and fluorescent light streams out.Â
âHey.â Rumi calls. âYou okay?â
Mira sighs deeply, and curls into a ball. She doesnât respond.Â
She hears Rumi sigh. âOkay.â
The wind changes direction, and it blows towards Mira, droplets of rain getting under the awning onto her. She closes her eyes again, inhaling the smell.
A moment later, warmth suddenly encompasses her, and she blinks, startling.Â
âYou looked cold.â Rumi mutters, as she wraps her own throw blanket around Miraâs shoulders. Itâs the really garish, yellow one. Rumiâd picked it up in Canada because the ugly dog printed on it had made her cry. Zoey still has a video of it, probably for blackmail.Â
The weight sits on Miraâs skin, comforting and soft, and she shivers as another gust of wind comes her way. Huh. She hadnât even realized she was cold. âThanks.âÂ
âNo problem.â Rumi climbs on the railing and sits down next to her. Her hair is out of her normal braid, for once, falling over her face and bare arms, highlighting her markings in the low light of the moon.Â
They stay quiet for a little bit, just listening to the sounds of the rain hitting the ground below and the rolling of thunder. It feels nice. Miraâs always loved this kind of company, the kind that doesnât demand, only offers.
âSo,â Rumi draws out the word, trying to be casual, âdo you wanna talk about it?â
No, the guarded teenager in Mira shouts.Â
Yes, the lonely child in Mira admits.
âI donât know.â Mira shrugs, off-handedly. She pulls the blanket closer to herself. âHowâd you even know I was out here?â
âI didnât see the box of gukhwa-cha in the kitchen.â Rumi answers. âYou always make a cup before bed. And you always forget to put it back in its place after.â
Mira huffs. âOh, come on, get off my back. It always ends up in the right cupboard anyway.â
âYeah, Mimi, âcause I put it back. Every time.â
The exaggerated irritation in her voice makes the corners of Miraâs lips turn up. Rumi always has a way to uplift her mood.Â
âSo,â Rumi begins again. âWhyâre you not sleeping on time?â
âWhy arenât you?â She flits her gaze to Rumi, and watches her pout. âItâs 1 A.M., and you need to get up early. Youâre doing that interview with that news reporter in the morning, right? The really mean one.â
âYeah, heâs super old and super backward.â Rumi plays with a strand of her hair. âLike, yes, haraboji , Iâm wearing tiny shorts and dancing on stage. No, that does not mean Iâm a whore. Can you please take your meds on time? The nursing homeâs waiting.â
Mira barks out a laugh, loud and surprised. It echoes down into the streets below.Â
âYâknow, when you say stuff like that, it proves youâre spending way too much time with me.â She manages to get out. Rumi winks at her.
âHey, youâre never wrong.â She bumps her shoulder with hers. âYou tell it like it is. Itâs a good thing.â
Something painful twists in Miraâs chest at the compliment, making her amusement die down a little. âA good thingâ. Right.Â
Rumi must notice the change, as the smile wilts off her face too.Â
She shakes her head. Itâs not Rumiâs fault her simple words hit where it hurts. Itâs not her fault that the fact that sheâs here, making sure Miraâs warm and not alone, is making some of the lava burning in Miraâs chest recede.Â
She takes a deep, deep breath, and confesses, âI got another text today.â
From the corner of her eyes, she sees Rumi blink for a second, before understanding dawns on her face.Â
âOh.â She replies blankly. âDamn.â
âYeah.â Mira agrees. She nods towards the floor behind her, and Rumi turns to see the phone, the screen and case cracked through.Â
She shrugs, a little self-conscious. âOops.â
Rumi turns back, looking barely bothered. She shrugs too. âWeâll get you a more pink one.â She states, and Mira huffs again. âWhat did they want?â
âThe same thing they always want.â Mira says dryly. âThey wanted to âreconcileâ.â
Rumi rolls her eyes, displeased, but Mira continues, âAndâand they told me Iâm being âimmatureâ for ignoring them.â
Thereâs a shocked pause, and a choked gasp. ââImmatureâ?â
âYeah.â Mira mutters, flicking some water off her flip-flops. âImmature and disrespectful.â
She can feel the stare on the side of her face. âAreâare they serious?â
She smirks ruefully, shaking her head. âApparently. Iâd show you the proof, but I think I blocked Mom again.â
The thunder roars again, and this time Mira tries to think that itâs in indignation.Â
âI couldnât figure out what to say.â She continues, her fists clenching in the blanket. âI justâI got so angry. It was like they forgot theyâre the ones who kicked me out. Theyâre the ones who told me I was an embarrassment in their lives. And now they wanna reconcile? Why? âCause suddenly Iâm famous? And I have money?â
Mira groans gutturally, as her eyes burn again. Sheâs so tired of having to go through these emotions. Sheâs tired of feeling like sheâs listening to Gwi-Maâs voice again, telling her how unworthy she is of a family that loves and accepts her.Â
âI was doing so well.â She grits out finally. âThings are looking up for us. We have a whole new tour lined up. The new Honmoon is getting stronger day by day. We do weekly spa parties and couch nights and fan eventsâand itâs all wonderful! I was so happy. I know it probably didnât show, because of⌠how I always am, but I was. Happy.â She waves a hand towards the phone. âAnd my parents ruined it. Again.â
Mira pulls up her legs into the warmth of the blanket. Frustrated. Angry. Upset. Just like she was before. Just like she'll probably always be.
It happens so quickly she doesnât have time to be surprised. Two sinewy, silver-lined arms wrap around her, squeezing her tightly.Â
Rumi buries her face into the crook of Miraâs collarbone, voice broken as she says, âIâm so sorry, Mimi.â
Mira only blinks, and she continues, âYour parents donât deserve you. Theyâthey suck. They never realized how awesome and kind-hearted you are, and they still donât. And they keep demanding stuff from you when they lost the right to. Theyâre the worst. And if I ever met them, I swear to god I would probably throw hands.â
Mira snorts, one hand grabbing Rumiâs wrist. âYouâd have to wait in line. Iâm pretty sure Zoey called dibs on that. After Bobby.â
Rumi sniffs, but chuckles. âYeah. Imagine the havoc Bobby would wreak on your parents. Heâd scare them shitless.â
âAnd then theyâd never contact me again!â Mira exclaims, a little hysterical. âThat sounds like a plan. Who needs family counseling when Bobbyâs got your back, right?â
Thunder rolls, and Mira gives the sky a look.Â
âAnd us.â Rumi adds, voice a little soft around the edges. âWeâve got your back too. Youâre my family, Mira.â
Miraâs eyes burn again.Â
Rumi strokes a hand down her back. âI think I get what youâre feeling. Not to the same extent as you, but I do. Celine never wanted to see me for what I am either. She made me keep so much from you, because weâbecause Iâ was afraid that would push you two away.â
Mira squeezes the wrist in her hand. She keeps going, âShe wanted me to be the picture-perfect version of me that fit her expectations. And your parents did that to you too. The only difference between us is that you were actually brave enough to leave without looking back.â
Rumi pulls back but grips Miraâs upper arms, making her look at her. Rumiâs eyes are bright and just a little wet, matching Miraâs.Â
âAnd you are that. Brave, I mean.â She says, unwavering in her conviction. âAnd strong. And compassionate. And sweet, yes, that too. Youâre always there when any of us need you. Youâre our first call when we want to have fun, or when we need to vent. And the fact that youâre sometimes blunt, or that you can seem a little rude, doesnât take away from any of that. Your parents didnât want to see it, and thatâs the worst. I am so sorry for that. But I promise you that we do. And we are so, so proud of you, for being as amazing and as unique as you are.â
The words arenât loud, but they still echo between them, too large to ignore. Mira takes a shaky breath, trying not to let the tears spill.Â
And then the thunder rolls again, this time like a powerful agreement, and it nearly makes the building tremble with its force. Mira and Rumi look at each other for a second, before bursting into wet laughter.Â
Mira laughs until the tears roll down onto the blanket, and Rumi wipes them off with her fingers like itâs second-nature. And maybe it really is.Â
A loud buzz reaches their ears suddenly, and they freeze.Â
Itâs coming from the broken phone on the floor.Â
Immediately, Miraâs heart thuds, hard, and without thinking she grabs both of Rumiâs hands.Â
âI donât want to talk to them.â She whispers, nearly frantic. âI donât want to.â
âOkay.â Rumi answers immediately, nodding once. The determination set in the thin line of her lips is familiar. Mira relies on it like itâs second-nature. Maybe it really is.Â
Rumi jumps back onto the floor, and slowly picks up the lit phone. She taps on it once, Mira watching anxiously.Â
And then her face melts into a smile.Â
âItâs Zoey.â She tells her. âShe made us each a cup of tea, and she has some Disney movies loaded up in the living room. Weâve been summoned.â
Miraâs breath leaves her lungs in a gust, happy disbelief mingled in it. Something soft sparkles in her chest, a feeling sheâs getting more and more used to, the longer she spends time with her girls. âReally?â
Rumi only grins, and holds out a hand for Mira. The silver scars wind up her wrist towards her fingers, cracking through her skin. Theyâre beautiful. Imperfect. Unashamedly her. No matter what Celine says.Â
Mira takes it, and squeezes. âThanks, Rumi.â
Rumi winks again, and pulls her off the railing hard enough for her to tumble onto the ground. The thunder roars, laughing.Â