Work Text:
Rumi's clawed hand closed around the hilt of her sword, and she straightened to face a shocked Celine. "If this is the Honmoon I'm supposed to protect," she said, voice unusually deep and layered, "I'm glad to see it destroyed."
She reached for the demonic part of her, felt the darkness swirling within. She was done trying to push it down, trying to deny her true potential. Her true self. She closed her eyes and vanished in a cloud of pink dust.
There had only ever been one person who had seen her for what she truly was, and still loved her for it. He had encouraged her to embrace her dark side, to stop trying so hard to be something she wasn't.
You're a demon, just like me.
So much untapped power. It flooded her veins until she was almost giddy with the force of it. Along with it, she felt a strange tug in her chest, a relentless gravity that drew her like a moth to a flame.
She reappeared in a dusty wasteland. The threads of the Honmoon stretched above her, pulsing bright pink around the irreparable tears. Instead of despair, the sight filled her with a wild happiness. She had spent so much of her life trying to turn it gold, and it was strangely freeing to see it all unraveled. No more hiding. No more lies.
A quiet sniffle from somewhere above drew her attention, and she turned to see a figure perched on the edge of a hanok roof. He wore a black hanbok embroidered with jagged silver patterns, as well as a chain at the waist. Still, she would recognize Jinu anywhere.
Without a thought, she vaulted herself up until she was sitting next to him.
He turned, golden eyes widening in surprise. "Rumi? Why - how are you here?"
Rumi indicated the patterns covering her arms, her one discolored hand. "You were right." She laughed, but the sound was swallowed up quickly by the suffocating heat. "Turns out I'm more demon than I thought."
"You have to understand," he said quickly. "I needed to carry out the plan, it was the only way Gwi-Ma would - "
Rumi interrupted. "I do understand, Jinu." She felt so light now that everyone knew, as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. And if Mira and Zoey had turned on her, it meant they weren't truly her friends. "You did what you had to do. And we're both better for it."
"You mean that?" he whispered, sounding relieved.
She took his hand. The violet patterns that spread across his skin aligned with her own, and their palms fit together so perfectly it felt as though they were always meant to. "Of course." Gesturing to his outfit, she asked, "What's step two?"
"The Saja Boys have one last performance," he explained. He grinned at her; the sharp points of his fangs gleamed in the dim light. "You're welcome to watch."
"I'd love to," she murmured, resting her head on his shoulder. In that moment, she knew she would stay by his side. Her friends seemed nothing but unimportant distractions, and all that mattered was his arm around her waist.
That, and the purple that was slowly spreading up her arm from her one clawed hand.
The concert went according to plan. Rumi watched from the shadows, enamored by the hordes that shuffled towards the pink flames. It seemed almost too easy.
She spotted two familiar faces in the crowd. Mira and Zoey were just as blank-eyed as the rest. She searched herself for any spark of love, compassion, but found nothing but scorn. What had they ever done for her? She had come to them, laid bare and fully honest. And they had turned their weapons on her. It only took a few purple lines on her skin for her so-called friends to abandon her completely.
Still, something told her to keep them alive, if only so they could witness the new order. So when the last note rang out across the stadium, she slipped onto the stage and made her way over to Jinu. He stood looking out at the crowd, panting, triumphant at last.
"Liked it?" he asked, flicking the hair out of his eyes casually.
She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah." Stepping closer, she trailed her fingers down his arm. "Can you do me a favor?"
"Depends on what it is."
She pointed out Mira and Zoey, who had almost reached Gwi-Ma's flames. "Leave those two alive."
"I didn't take you for sentimental," he said, amused. He closed his eyes, brow furrowing in concentration.
The wall of fire behind them seemed to lean in as though listening. "The Hunter wishes to join us?" Gwi-Ma rumbled.
"Not just a Hunter," Rumi retorted. Funny, wasn't it? She had spent her entire life denying her demonic heritage, and now she was doing the exact opposite.
"Very well," Gwi-Ma continued. "I will spare your friends, on the condition that you serve me from now on."
"I will serve you," Rumi promised. She was good at lying. There was no way she was going to let Gwi-Ma rule, not after what he'd put Jinu through. Still, it wouldn't hurt to play along for a while.
Jinu grabbed her hand. "Do you want to go eat?"
"What restaurants are gonna be open now?" Rumi asked as he led her outside. "It's past midnight."
His golden eyes glinted. "I was thinking something a little different."
The soul tasted like honey.
It slid smoothly down her throat, filling her nose with its heady scent. Its warmth pooled in her belly; she was sated in a way human snacks had never made her feel.
"Wow," she said appreciatively. "I have to say, I can't blame you guys for stealing these."
"I know," Jinu replied, ducking into a narrow alleyway. They wandered the streets in search of any stragglers who hadn't made it to Namsan Tower. Most of the city had been swallowed by pink flames, but a few quieter neighborhoods remained untouched. For now.
Taking souls was surprisingly easy for Rumi, seeing as she'd only started tonight. With each one, her transformation became more complete. She could feel the points of fangs crowding her mouth, and the violet tinge had spread up both arms by now. She looked forward to turning fully; then, she and Jinu could truly understand each other.
"Jinu?" she asked, stopping to face him.
He gazed down at her, eyes half-lidded from the delicious fullness she knew he must be feeling, too. "Mm?"
"Why are you just walking around with me?" she said softly.
"What else would I be doing?" he countered.
Rumi took a deep breath. As much as she wanted to spend time with him, she didn't want to be selfish. "I thought you wanted Gwi-Ma to erase your memories."
"Well," he sighed, "I changed my mind." He lowered his voice until it was barely a whisper, resting a hand at the small of her back. "The only thing I want now is you."
And then they were kissing.
Rumi pressed herself into him, one hand flattening against his chest and the other cupping his face. He backed up until he was pinned against the wall of a nearby building.
Their lips met over and over, hungrier and more desperate each time. The kiss deepened, tongue against tongue, still tasting of sweet honey and sweeter words.
The time was ripe to experiment. Rumi nipped at his bottom lip, just hard enough to draw blood.
He pulled away slightly, surprised. "I didn't take you for a biter, either."
"I'm full of surprises," she said before bringing her mouth to his again. The faint metallic taste mixed with the sweetness of souls; the effect was almost dizzying.
One of her legs slid between both of his. He shuddered, eyes fluttering shut as his fingers tightened momentarily at her back.
Rumi decided to have a little more fun with him. "And that's it for now," she said lightly, stepping away.
"Really?" he asked. His voice positively dripped with sarcasm.
"Yup," she replied. She relished the sight of him, of what just a few kisses had accomplished: his hair was disheveled, his lips bruised, and a scarlet blush spread down his throat. "We'll have time for this later."
He shook his head at her even as he followed her out of the alley. "Are you really going to make me beg, Ryu Rumi?"
She threw him a wicked grin over her shoulder. "Only if you want to."