Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

They had been out for nearly an hour by the time the sun began to lower in the sky over the hill.

Here, in the upper paths, it was quieter. Only a few tall, thin trees stood here and there. Most people seemed to prefer it below, with the lake and the benches.

They had just finished the kimbap they’d brought from home. Sitting there, they watched the first city lights begin to come on in the distance.

“Wait…” Abby looked behind them, and ahead again. “This is the other side of the tower, no? Like, the back side of my room.”

“I don’t know which room you’re in… But, uh huh. This is the view from my room. So yours faces the other side, right?”

“I suppose.” He glanced at the view again. “Anyway, is that Namsan Mountain?”

“Yup.”

The memory moved through both of them at once. He sighed.

“So we can see it from your tower… It looked nicer from afar.”

“Yeah.” Mira looked back at the skyline. “You know, I spent most of my time in my room just staring out the window.”

“Me too. But I have to admit, this side looks better.”

She smiled. “Next time I’ll show you how it looks from my balcony.”

Both of them liked looking at views in quiet like this. But this time Abby preferred looking at something else: his girl.

Luckily, she didn’t seem to notice, so he let himself take every detail. The faint furrow of her brows, the absent tapping of her fingers, the way she unzipped her belt bag to pull out the small water bottle and drink from it. Abby watched her with the guarded focus like she was his most treasured one. She was, indeed, for now. In this strange new world of his, where he unknowingly left everything behind.

“Abby. Help me with this, please.”

Abby blinked. Her voice pulled him out of the thought. She was struggling to zip her bag back.

“Let me see,” he said. She slipped the belt bag off and handed it to him. He found a dent in the zipper, with a bit of the fabric caught in it. Maybe it had snagged on something long ago and somehow it became a problem now, he thought. “Yeah, just need to press this dent. I’ll take things out first, okay?”

“Okay.”

He took everything out of the bag and tried to press the zipper back into place. Sure, Mira is strong, he thought, but she has slim, idol-pretty fingers, almost too pretty to force a bent zipper.

This time, it was Mira’s turn to watch him. She looked at him trying hard to press the zipper. Abby was always like this, stubborn. He had done the same with her, pushing through every sarcastic remark and every rejection until, somehow, he had won her over. Enough that when Celine confronted them^*1), Mira had found herself defending him and their relationship with a desperation that surprised even her.

“It’s fixed!” He declared, zipping and unzipping it a few times with the most adorable look Mira had ever seen. He was putting her things back into the bag when he suddenly looked startled.

“Mira… " he lifted a keychain attached to her keys, "...is this you?”.

It was a tiny bootleg figurine that was very clearly meant to be her: long dark pink hair and a yellow mini skirt with thigh-high boots from that famous Huntr/x performance; ruined by a rough paint job, a grumpy expression, and eyes looking in two completely different directions.

Mira burst out laughing. “Yep. That’s me. Yes.”

He choked. “You… you look like an angry housewife fussing about bills…”

"Hey!" She pinched his cheek, then laughed even harder.

“Ow!” He winced, though he actually enjoyed it.

“It was a gift from Zoey,” she said, still chuckling. “Or a joke, I’m not sure.”

“Wait, let me.” She took it from him, detached it from the keys, and gave it back to him. “Here, take a closer look. It’s actually my favourite. Maybe because it’s so weird.”

“Heh.” Abby turned it in his fingers, inspecting it closely with amusement. “Yeah… you’re right, I kind of want it now…”

Mira pinched his cheek again, laughing. “Take your time admiring it. But return it to me later.”

He was about to answer when a water droplet hit his wrist. Then another. Then rain came down all at once.

“What?!” Mira stood up, shoving the keys to her bag, zipping it shut and quickly left.

“Was this in the forecast?” Abby asked as he followed her downhill, trying to carefully walk down the slippery path.

“No. I mean, I don’t know!” Mira raised her voice over the drumming rain. She looked around. There didn’t seem to be any shelter in sight. She kept glancing to her side instead of watching the path beneath her feet.

“Mira. Careful—”

And her foot caught on a raised tree root. She adjusted instantly, but failed. She pitched forward, her hands hitting the ground first, then her knees slamming into the wet stone.

Abby stopped short—then lost his footing a second later and landed hard on his bottom.

They said nothing, but the look they exchanged made it clear they were both feeling a little pathetic. Then they laughed.

“You okay?” He sounded concerned.

Her hands scraped the ground and her knees stung through her leggings. “Just scrapes. And bruises.” She looked at Huntr/x Tower. It wasn’t that far below. “Let’s just keep going. How about you? You okay?”

He shook his head with a smile. “I’m still a dem—” He stopped. “You know. It only hurts about half as much.”

“Uh, right." Mira gave a small, awkward laugh as she pushed herself up. 

Demon boyfriend, she reminded herself. The thought still felt a little absurd. Still, she glanced back at him with a smile.

“What?” Water dripped from the tip of his nose.

“Nothing.” Still smiling, she continued walking.

Two seconds later, and she halted. “Wait, Abby.”

“What?”

“Can’t you just teleport us to the tower?”

He looked slightly surprised. "You want me to teleport you?"

Mira just realized her suggestion slipped out before she thought it through. 

"You sure?" he asked.

“No,” she said on instinct, but then added quickly, "...But we’re soaked.”

He hesitated. “...Okay."

He looked around through the rain, seeming to remember the girls’ rules about teleporting. "I don’t think anyone would see us, though. And I don’t think there are cameras here, no?"

He moved closer. "Just... hold on. I’ve never tried teleporting someone with me before.”

Then he pulled her into a hug.

Tight and sudden enough to make her heart skip. For one brief, foolish second, Mira thought he might be about to do something else.

Then, poof.

He was back in the tower. Water dripping. Without her. “Oh, shit.”

Poof.

He was back in the park again. “Mira—”.

She was still staring at the spot where he had vanished. Then she blinked at him. “Abby—”

And then she broke, laughing loudly. “Abby! You left me here!”

He stared at her for a second, looking guilty. “Sorry, Mira.” He let out a helpless laugh.

She only shook her head, still smiling.

Abby reached for her hand. “We’ll figure it out one day. Until then... let's go.”

And he guided her down the slope through the rain.

* * * * *

They reached the tower at about the time they were supposed to, though with soaked clothes now. The security guard gave them a polite nod as they passed.

Abby leaned slightly closer. “So… how do we make sure we don’t end up in tomorrow’s gossip?”

Mira didn’t even slow down. “They’re hired for exactly this. You know Rumi’s and Zoey’s relationships are still off the radar.”

“Right.”

They stepped in the elevator.

“Well, that was nice. Thanks for letting me tag along your evening run.”

“Yeah. Rumi was right. It’s weirdly nice when it’s quiet for once, without the boys and the girls around.” She gave a small laugh. “Thanks for the idea.”

The elevator doors slid open to the familiar foyer, with faint voices from the living room.

“You’re going to have dinner later?” He nodded toward the hallway.

“I don’t think so. Just want a hot shower now. The kimbap was enough.”

“Okay then. Get some rest. Good night, Mira.”

“Good night, Abby.” She walked away and disappeared down one of the inner hallways.

* * * * *

Steam still filled the bathroom when Abby stepped out. A warm shower was one of those human comforts he liked. He picked up his wet, slightly muddy pants from the floor. He was about to rinse the mud off in the sink when he noticed something in the pocket and paused.

Mira’s keychain.

He pulled it out, and a quiet laugh slipped out before he could stop it. It was still as strange-looking as before.

“Yeah… grumpy housewife Mira.”

He turned it once in his fingers, then stilled.

…Might as well return it now.

Her room was just two floors above.

A moment later, he walked out into the hallway and headed upstairs.

-------

Footnotes:

^*1)Celine confronted Mira and Abby (Mr. Patrex's Youtube video)

Reddit post of grumpy Mira keychain

Chapter Text

Clutching the keychain, Abby stepped into the hallway upstairs. And just stopped there.

The upper floor was different. It seemed to split into three directions.

“…Right.”

He looked from one corridor to the other, suddenly very aware that he had absolutely no idea which one was hers. He had never been here before.

For a second, he considered just picking one and hoping for the best.

…Yeah, no. That would be a disaster.

He rubbed his chin, trying to picture the layout from his own room downstairs. Mira had said hers faced the opposite side.

“…Okay. That narrows it down.”

Abby headed toward the far door, trying to look like he had known all along. He stopped in front of it, hesitating.

Then he knocked.

“Mira?”

No answer.

“Mira. It’s Abby.”

He was just starting to wonder if it was the correct room when the door opened.

“Abby?!”

He lifted up the keychain slightly. “I just wanted to return—”

“—How did you find my room?”
Her eyes narrowed slightly. “Wait. Did you stalk me?”

“What? No.” He looked almost offended. “You told me earlier. Your room faces this side of the tower.”

She held his gaze, studying him. Then her expression softened. “…You were actually listening.”

“Of course I was.” 

He let that go and looked at her carefully instead. She stood there in an oversized long-sleeve T-shirt and shorts, twin tails loose and nearly dry. Seeing her like this at her own door, late at night, made it harder to remember he had only come to return a keychain.

Her eyes moved over him in return. Slightly damp hair, sleep shirt, sweatpants, and the way he somehow still looked ridiculously good in them. She wasn't ready for that.

He lifted the keychain again. “Your grumpy twin was in my pocket… thought I should return it right away. In case you can’t sleep without her.”

“Ha-ha.” She laughed dryly and took the keychain from him. “…but thanks.”

“How’s your knee?”

She looked back at him. “It’s better now. Nothing serious.”

He nodded. “Okay, good—”

“—how’s your bottom?”

He rubbed it without thinking, then paused when he realized what he was doing.

They both laughed.

“I even forgot I fell on it,” he said.

She laughed again, softer this time.

Abby slipped both hands into his pockets, looking down the hallway. The keychain was returned, she was fine, there was no reason to still be standing here. He looked back at her.

“Anyway, I think you might—”

He stopped.

He didn't actually know what he'd been about to say.

Mira didn’t move. The door stayed half open.

“—want to rest,” he finished, quieter this time. The safest thing he could find.

She nodded. “Yeah.”

He was about to step back when his gaze drifted past her, into the room beyond.

“…Is that the spot we saw from the hill?”

Mira turned, following his gaze. “Yeah… that’s the view I’ve told you about earlier.”

Before he could think too much about it—

“Can I take a look?” He asked. “From your balcony, I mean. You said I could.”

Then, almost immediately, he added, “Unless you were actually about to rest. Or if I’m interrupting something. Next time’s fine too.”

“Uh…”

Mira's eyes drifted back into the room.

...and back at him at last.

“No, it’s fine."

With a soft smile, she finally pulled the door open wider. "I was actually sitting there before you knocked. Just watching the view.” She nodded toward the floor near the bed. “Come on. I’ll show you.”

For a second, Abby looked caught off guard by how easily she said it. He didn't think she let people in easily. Maybe she didn't realize she just had. He stepped inside with a teasing grin.

“I’m unlocking a new level here, aren’t I?”

Mira chuckled.

“I thought you’d need a minute before letting me in,” he joked. But also suddenly worried if she might change her mind.

She settled onto the floor by the bean bag, holding her knees up, her back against the bed. She didn't look like she regretted it. He quietly sat down beside her.

Her room was dimly lit, with city lights flickering beyond the balcony.

“It's nice,” he said after a while.  “So this is how it looks from your side.”

“Mm-hm.”

“Sorry if you get bored of me just sitting and observing like this. Twice in a day, in fact.” He grinned. “But I really like it. Enjoying the view and letting my mind wander everywhere.”

"Yeah." Mira looked at him for a moment. “So where does your mind usually wander?”

He didn't answer right away. “Hm. Just random things." His gaze stayed on the city lights. "The past. The future. You.”

A second later he realized he just slipped it out. Slowly, just enough, he turned his head, just to check.

She had turned back to the window. But out of the corner of his eye, he caught her smile. He turned back to the city lights before she could notice.

“Anyway. About today,” he said, filling the silence, “…I still wonder why the teleport didn’t work.”

"Yeah. I wonder too."

He tugged lightly at his shirt. “I mean, this is just normal fabric, right? It comes with me wherever I go…”

Then he looked at her seriously . “…So why didn’t you?”

"I have no idea." She shrugged lightly, smiling.

“Maybe…” he said, “…maybe the hug wasn’t tight enough?” His usual mischievous look returned.

She pinched his cheek, quick and sharp.

"Ow!" He caught her hand, trying to pull it off. Mira rolled her eyes, but the smile didn't leave her face.

He grinned, now curling his fingers around hers and easing her hand away, not letting go.

"Mira," he said.

"Dare to try it again?"

Mira stared at him.

Then she laughed, couldn't quite believe it.

Fine. 

If he was going to flirt, she would play along.

“If that’s your theory…”

Before he could react, she shifted onto his lap, facing him, with her knees on either side of him. The movement surprised even her, but she didn't stop.

She looked straight into his eyes, and wrapped her arms around his neck.

“...how about this, Abby…”

She leaned her head to his side, her cheek against his while she spoke, and her voice came out softer than she expected.

“…or this?”

“Uhm—”

He hadn't seen that coming either. Her breath at his neck, her heartbeat against his chest, the scent of her hair — he hadn't expected to like all of it this much. He wrapped one hand tightly against her back. The other curved to the back of her neck, her loose hair falling over his fingers.

“—okay, tight enough.”

Poof.

Mira tipped forward. To the bean bag.

“Abby?!” She rolled sideways and looked around for him. He was on the bed.

He looked amused. “Still didn’t work…”

“Abby!! Get off my bed!”

“Okay, okay…”

“Now!”

“…wait. Need focus here. I should get back to exactly where I was before…” he grinned.

Poof.

He shifted back to the floor, exactly to her on his lap again—startling her.

"Abby!" She caught herself against him, hands bracing on his shoulders.

“Sorry, Mira.” His eyes met hers, still a little mischievous.

Mira steadied herself, then let out a short, disbelieving laugh. "You were... going to teleport us to the bed?" Her eyes widened.

"...I don't know." He laughed sheepishly. "Maybe... I just wanted to."

He looked at her, his hands settling absently at her waist. "...would you have minded?"

Mira didn’t look away.

Her fingers slowly slipped from his shoulder into his hair, lightly playing with the strands.

Abby went still. The touch sent a nervous flutter through him.

Then, with a soft smile, she gave a small shake of her head.

It hit him harder than he expected.

He didn't always feel like he deserved her choosing him like this. And she deserved all the good things. She deserved better than that first kiss—the one that barely had the chance to be one^*1). This time, no one was going to interrupt them. He leaned in slowly and kissed her.

She hadn't quite expected it, even then. She froze for a fraction of a second, then she kissed him back anyway, her hand brushing down from his hair, to the shoulder, then to his chest.

Their eyes slowly fell shut. His hand drifted to the back of her head, ready to catch her when she stopped holding herself up. But instead, she slowly pushed him back onto the giant bean bag, rising onto her knees over him as she felt his grip tightened around her waist.

Their lips broke apart for just a second—she caught the surprise in his eyes before her smile told him to shut up, and she quickly leaned back in, kissing him again.

Abby caught her scent again—stronger now, everywhere, and for a second it almost overwhelmed him. He didn't pull away. His hand slipped from her waist to her bare thigh, holding there, and he kissed her harder. Their breath came faster.

His fingers traced along her thigh, sending a subtle warmth through her. Her hand followed upward, catching the buttons of his shirt—

—and he pulled her down closer, tipping her forward into him.

"—Abby—!" she chuckled breathlessly against his lips as he laughed softly against hers.

A golden ripple passing through the air with a soft hum followed, and the room brightened fast.

Mira broke the kiss first.

“What?!” She blurted, still catching her breath. Settling back onto her knees, she looked off to her side, one hand still clasping Abby’s shirt. “Did you see that?”

He was already staring off to their side, briefly startled. He pushed himself up slightly on the bean bag. “Uhh... I think so?”

Heat still lingered on her cheeks as she tried to make sense of it.

So this was what Rumi and Zoey had meant about the Honmoon. That it reacts to a hunter's voice and connection... even this— whatever this was between a hunter and a demon. She had thought the whole thing sounded ridiculous.

The new Honmoon had been rainbow, yet it was turning gold now. And Abby was still here.

But she couldn’t think it through now. Not with—

“— Mira?” Abby’s soft voice cut through her thoughts.

—not with...

...she suddenly forgot what she was thinking. She just realized she was still on his lap. He gently held her hand, which was still gripping his shirt, partly unbuttoned now. She laughed. When did that happen?

He laughed softly too, slightly shifting his hold on her hand as he curled his fingers around hers with a look that was enough to make her cheeks warm once more.

"...you want to keep going?"

The Honmoon. The demons and the hunters. The touch, the heat, the kiss. Him.

"No." She freed her fingers from his and rested them on a still-fastened button on his shirt.

"—not on the floor," she chuckled, unbuttoning the last two buttons and pulling the shirt off him.

He laughed, caught off guard, again. The next second he lifted her with him and she clung to his shoulders before he dropped back onto the bed and settled into the pillows, drawing her into him.

Their lips met, their eyes shut, Mira still on his lap pushing him against the pillow, Abby still held her waist and thigh just like before. But it felt sharper and deeper now, as she could feel the warmth of his skin when her fingers traced along his bare shoulders, down his arms, across his chest.

Mira let out a soft breath against his lips as she felt his hand slipping beneath her oversized T-shirt, the warmth of his touch bare against her delicate back. They kissed and touched slowly, but their breath came faster. Abby drifted his hand higher, slowly lifting her T-shirt up to her shoulders.

“Mira…” he breathed, “...can I?”

“Yes…” she whispered, breathless, and a faint ripple of gold passed through the room, lost to the moment as he lifted the fabric over her head.

He stilled for a second with his eyes flickered amber as he looked at her, like he wasn’t taking any of this for granted.

Mira felt it, realizing this was her first time like this with him— heat rushing up as she folded in, hiding against him. She sank closer, and the feeling of her skin against his chest struck her all at once. As he wrapped his arms around her, his lips left hers and trailed along her jaw, down to the side of her neck, the curve of her shoulder—

and that was when it slipped out of her.

"Abby—"

breathless this time, fuller, no longer held back.

The Honmoon threads flared gold, flooding the room with a soft strum, far more intensely this time that they pulled apart.

Panting, she gasped, “Abby, wait!” This time, she knew exactly what to do.

She scrambled off him, reaching blindly into her nightstand. She grabbed the remote and pressed it. A soft hum followed as the curtains slid shut.^*2)

Mira let out a breath and chuckled softly— "Okay." —and finally let Abby pull her back down.

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Footnotes

^*1)Their first kiss was interrupted by Celine confronting (and Baby) /  interrupted first kiss reference

^*2)Celine confronting them because she saw briefly golden Honmoon in the girls rooms, also the girls kept reminding her about closing the curtains / the curtains reference

And finally, the image I kept in mind while writing this chapter: A fanart in X (from this post)