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The sun was shining bright upon the hunters as they spent their time shopping. Mira and Zoey had dragged Rumi to the mall to spend the day together. Rumi had offered no protest, for once shocking the girls.
So off they went, Mira and Zoey excited to spend time with Rumi. Rumi went with a smile on her face and a pit in her stomach.
~
“Rumi unnie!” Zoey called out, smiling. “Can we go into this store?”
Mira stood behind her, “Zoey we just went into one of these stores.”
The store behind Zoey was another plush store. The maknae was practically vibrating in excitement as she waited for the answer she knew was coming.
“Of course.” Rumi said, eyes crinkling as she smiled.
She couldn’t help it, she just wanted them to always be smiling. And seeing Zoey happy made Rumi happy.
“You really do need to tell her no at some point Rumi.” Mira said, walking in next to her.
“Yeah but don’t act like you weren’t about to say yes too.” Rumi teased, bumping their shoulders together.
Mira said nothing, but the upturn slant of her lip said everything.
Zoey meanwhile had already grabbed hold of several turtle plushies and a few different animals.
“Look Rumi I got you a-”
The words cut off as they felt a tremble beneath their feet. They straightened up, waiting for the Honmoon to guide them to demons.
But it stayed content.
“Must’ve just been a small earthquake.” Mira said, relaxing a little.
“Good I really didn’t want to spend the day looking for demons.” Zoey picked up some of the animals she dropped.
Rumi stood stock still, her heart racing. The tremor wasn’t too bad but for some reason her adrenaline was through the roof. She pulled them closer to her just as the second quake started.
They stood near the wall, watching the earth tremble around them. Mira and Zoey clutched onto Rumi, nerves eating the harder the earth moved.
In other circumstances, Mira and Zoey would blush. Zoey would be red as a tomato, clutching and feeling up Rumi’s bicep. While Mira would have a pink tinge to her cheeks as her arm circled around Rumi’s waist, clutching her abs.
But this wasn’t the time.
A loud crack cut through the shaking of the walls. Rumi watched the earth break open and in a split moment the building collapsed.
And Rumi moved.
~
Zoey groaned wincing as she bumped her head while sitting up.
“What happened?”
Shaking her head, she looked around. Eyes burning as the dust settled, Zoey could scarcely see the other figure in front of her. A tall figure meaning it was Mira, not Rumi that laid in front of her.
Zoey shuffled forward, ears ringing as she shook Mira awake. “Mira?”
The tallest groaned a little and shook her head. “Zoey? What?”
“Careful, seems we are trapped.”
“Zoey?” Mira finally snapped to coherence. “Are you okay? Where’s Rumi?”
“I’m okay.” Zoey hesitated. “I haven’t found Rumi.”
The rubble above them shifted slightly, then they saw her as the dust settled.
Rumi stood, knees slightly bent and arms raised, in front of them. One hand was braced beside her head while the other was outstretched.
She was holding the building above them.
“Rumi?” Zoey said, mind racing.
“How the fuck?” Mira started crawling towards Rumi, Zoey following.
“Rumi how are you doing this?” Zoey asked as they reached her.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” Rumi whispered to herself. “Please don’t hate me.”
“Rumi?”
Rumi looked up at Mira’s call, a demonic yellow tinted eye looked at them. Tears falling from her eyes as the patterns on her neck started to pulse magenta at the sight of them.
“I’m a demon. A half-demon.” Rumi quickly corrected. “I know things have changed but can you-“
The Halfling was cut off as the building shook above her.
“Can you guys get closer to me?” Rumi continued, closing her eyes under the strain. “I can’t reach very far but I can hold this area up.
Mira and Zoey made eye contact, then they both nodded. Slipping closer to Rumi, they watched the smallest bit of relief ripple through her as she shifted her hands.
In the distance rocks fell to the ground.
They sat in silence, trying to get their minds together while Rumi protected them.
That thought soothed the sharp edge of Mira’s anger. Rumi who was a demon (half demon her mind corrected) and lying to them for years at this point. This was the same person who made her favorite tteokbokki with more spice than most people could handle. This was one of her girlfriends who took hits to protect Mira.
Rumi always protected them
Mira breathed deeply and held for four seconds. Then let the anger melt out of her as she exhaled, a tremor vibrated through her bones. Still she fought to stay calm.
Zoey meanwhile, had went through several different thoughts. First was relief in seeing Rumi alive, then horror as she saw how Rumi held up the too heavy building. Then it gave way to terror as she realized exactly how Rumi was able to hold up the building.
But Rumi had protected them.
Zoey bit her lip, thinking back to other time’s Rumi had saved them. From taking hits to them, to protecting them from fans. So she took a breath and let herself go through the anger, letting her feel the sharp poisoned edges of it before letting it wash through her. This was Rumi who had probably been deeply afraid to let her demon hunter girlfriends know she was part demon.
A grunt broke through their thoughts, followed by the earth slightly shaking again.
“Well.” Mira said, bitterly. “Since we are here, want an explanation.”
Her tone went at odds with her action, she pulled Zoey close and they huddled near Rumi. If she had hated Rumi, she would’ve kept a small distance, but here she was nearly cuddled up to her.
“D-dad was a demon.” Rumi grunted out, strain making it difficult to concentrate. “Mom loved him. They and Celine had an interesting relationship you could say.”
A pebble fell to the floor as she shifted when the weight of the building also moved.
“They had me.” Rumi continued. “Mom died and dad was sent back to the demon realm so Celine raised me. Taught me to never show anyone.”
Celine taught her to never let anyone in. It was one of the only lessons Rumi failed, and continued to fail. Letting in Celine, then Mira, then Zoey and Bobby. Her little family that she found and may have torn apart by this discovery.
“The Golden Honmoon is supposed to fix me.” The words tasted like ash, why did she have to be fixed? “Get rid of these patterns and seal Gwi-ma away.”
Rumi took a steadying breath while the other two wrapped their heads around the info given to them. The building bore down on her, even with her demonic strength it was heavy. She sucked in a stuttered breath, her lungs working overtime as they struggled to expand under the weight.
“D-do your phones work?” Rumi breathed out.
Mira checked her pockets but came up empty while Zoey held hers up. “There’s no connection but I can turn on my light!”
Light blinded the two humans as Rumi closed her eyes for a moment, the strain getting to her.
Mira and Zoey had the opportunity to see Rumi first as she let the weight settle back down. Her jacket had somewhat miraculously survived, the torso and her right sleeve at least. The right sleeve looks like something had caught to her jacket and torn it off, revealing the set of demon patterns on her arms that grew every so often.
Blood dripped from her head to the concrete below her.
“Oh shit.” Mira started to stand up awkwardly. “Where is that coming from?”
Mira felt around the back of Rumi’s head until she hissed, finding the tender spot. She held her hand out for Zoey’s phone and beamed it at the back of Rumi’s head. Where purple hair was stained by a glob of blood.
“Good news,” Mira said as she readjusted. “Looks like it’s scabbing over.”
Rumi simply hummed, listening past the conversation to listen to the building still rumbling.
“Fuck.” Rumi said, something sharp digging in to her back. “My loves, are you okay?”
Rumi opened her eyes finally, taking in the sights of her lovers huddled beside her. She checked them over for injuries, smiling slightly when she found none. Her heart lifted seeing them look at her, not with hate or disgust but with a careful neutral.
She could handle neutral.
“Zoey...” Rumi was cut off as the ground shifted below them again.
The two quickly huddled closer, hearts breaking as Rumi groaned above them. Rumi had always reminded them of Atlas, always holding the sky for them. In this moment, she was literally Atlas. She was their only hope of making it out alive, and they knew she’d do anything to keep them alive.
As the dust swirled and shifted, Rumi’s mind slipped to a distant memory.
“Get up Rumi.”
Rumi struggled to stand up, breathing hard and heavy. Her wooden staff beside her.
“Control your breathing and get up.”
Celine, her adoptive mother, commanded her. She had recently upped Rumi’s training in preparation for their first demon hunt together. It was only their third day, and Rumi was exhausted.
“Get up and fight.”
The fierce words hit Rumi and she started to control her breathing. Then she picked up the staff and stood again. Celine’s prideful look empowered her and she got into her stance again.
Then they fought, for what seemed like only moments but revealed to be hours once they finally stopped.
“Enough, the sun is setting.”
Rumi took a shuddering breath, slowly calming her heart beat as she bowed to her teacher. Once Celine bowed back, Rumi grinned and raced over to her.
“You’re doing much better.” Celine said with a smile and a hand on her shoulder. “Soon we can start working on a long range weapon just in case.”
“Yes Celine.” Rumi was practically vibrating in excitement. “Do you think I can try the bow? I know my weapon is the sain-geom but maybe I could learn the gak-gung for mom?”
“Of course,” Celine said softer now. “In theory you should be able to use any of the demon hunter weapons from previous hunters. Your main weapon is usually the first one you draw, that is usually the one most compatible with you.”
“What does the sain-geom mean for me?” Rumi asked curiously.
“It means,” Celine leaned closer before booping Rumi’s nose. “That you are my little tiger.”
Rumi giggled.
“Now come on little tiger, I made your favorite.”
“Donkatsu! Thanks Celine!”
Celine’s laugh echoed in her mind, even as the weight of real world threatened to crush her bones.
“Rumi?”
Rumi simply hummed as an answer.
“Are you back with us?” Zoey asked. “We lost you to your thoughts for a moment.”
“Yeah.” Rumi grunted out. “I’m here.”
“How are we going to get out of this?” Zoey asked Mira. “Rumi is holding up the ceiling but there’s no way out.”
Rumi spoke up instead. “I just need to wait until the building settles fully. Then I can let go. Then I suppose I could dig us out?”
Rumi phrased her last sentence as a question. Could she dig them out or the rubble? Maybe she could punch their way out with her strength? Whatever way she could, she was getting her girls out of here.
Zoey’s phone suddenly started ringing.
“Huh, guess there’s service now.” Zoey clicked answer without looking. “You’re on speaker phone as we slowly suffocate to death.”
The twin glares from her girlfriends made her wince. “Heh, too soon?”
“While you do what?”
Celine’s voice echoed around them and Rumi paled tremendously.
“Is Rumi with you? Is Mira?” Celine’s once calm and even tone was replaced by a mild panic.
“Yup.” Mira said, casually leaning against Rumi though not putting any weight on her.
“H-hey Celine.” Rumi gritted out. “So I may have had to tell them.”
Silence.
“That’s a conversation for later.” Celine sidestepped the problem. “Why are you straining? Are you injured?”
“I’m uh, holding up a building?” Rumi’s voice went higher as she realized what she was saying.
For a moment static crackled over the speaker phone.
“You’re what!” Celine yelled out. “Which building? Where are you? Are you injured?”
It was the most frazzled they had ever heard their mentor.
“Noo.” Rumi lied badly.
“You’re injured aren’t you?”
“Why didn’t you tell us?”
“Zoey we already knew her head is injured.” Mira’s deadpan tone cut into Zoey’s panic but not Rumi’s.
The cacophony of voices hurt her head and she whimpered. The strain pushed against her head would and something sharp finally broke through her body. Rumi let out a pained gasp. Ringing in her ears finally went away allowing her to hear Celine’s voice.
“Breathe Rumi.” The calm voice soothed her.
It soothed something in her, something small. Without thinking, without censoring herself, Rumi let out a whimper. “M-mama.”
“I’m here Rumi.” Celine’s voice choked up but it was the gentlest it had ever been. “Has the rubble stopped shifting?’
Rumi listened, somehow stretching out her demonic hearing, and heard nothing. Nothing shifting that is, she could hear everything else. The groans of the injured, the last breaths of other casualties, the emergency sirens.
She could hear Mira and Zoey’s heartbeats. Despite their semi-calm demeanor, their hearts were fluttering like hummingbirds.
“It stopped.”
“Good. What you are going to do next,” Celine instructed. “Is slowly lower your hands.”
Rumi knew logically that’s what she should do but panic started to take over her mind. Latching on to the one thought she could focus on.
Keep Mira and Zoey safe.
“Wait what?” Rumi wanted to jolt but forced her body to remain still. “I can’t do that.”
“You can. Slowly.” Celine reassured. “The rubble is settled now and in theory you should be in a dome like area that will stay settled.”
Rumi couldn’t do that. Mira and Zoey were safe as long as she held up the rubble.
Zoey and Mira watched as Rumi wrestled with indecision. They knew her biggest fears even if she hadn’t said anything yet.
“Rumi it’s okay.” Zoey said softly. “Slowly and carefully.”
“Yeah Ru,” Mira joined in. “We know at the slightest sound of movement you’ll save us. But let’s see if you can let go now.”
“I can’t.” Rumi whimpered out. “Celine I can’t what if—“
“You can.” Celine cut through like a blade. “You will slowly let go of the building. If you hear it shift then you will brace yourself. But you cannot hold it forever if you want to get out.”
“I can’t.”
“Remember what I told you Rumi.” Celine said softly. “It is the very mind itself that leads the mind astray—“
“Of the mind, do not be mindless.” Rumi took a few deep breaths and settled her mind. “Okay I’m ready.”
“Slowly let go.”
Rumi slowly, almost like a turtle, moved away from the rubble. She ignored how her wounds throbbed as she pulled them away from the rocks. Keeping her attention on the sounds, she hovered under the rocks waiting.
Nothing shifted.
She lowered herself more.
Nothing shifted.
Rumi collapsed.
She fell backwards to avoid landing on her girls. Body groaning and every breath sucked in turned her lungs to flames.
“Get up Rumi.”
Rumi flipped to her stomach at the words. She knew the command. She had to get up.
“Wait Celine maybe she should have a moment?” Zoey said into the phone.
“Yeah give her a damn minute.” Mira scowled at their mentor, even if she couldn’t see it.
Celine however ignored them, hyper aware of the fact that they could suffocate. “Get up and fight Rumi.” Her voice cracked
“Celine seriously—“
Rumi got up, ignoring her girlfriends. “Okay now what do I do?”
“Do you remember learning karate?” Celine asked as she made her way through the ruined street she located their last location ping at. “You’re going to break through the rubble, carefully.”
“What?” Rumi blinked. “This is cement! I was breaking wooden boards.”
“Breaking the boards is a combination of technique, focus, and follow-through.” Celine said. “You already have all three and you have the strength.”
Right, she was a half demon. Strength was easy.
“Find the sturdiest area and have the girls stay there.” Celine explained. “This would be near a pillar or wall that you may be near.”
It took some maneuvering but the girls found the sturdiest corner they could find and sat there. Ironically, there were three intact stuffed animals there as well that they had ignored.
A polar bear, a turtle, and a tiger.
Rumi ignored the pang in her chest as she realized it was them. She smiled slightly as she watched Zoey pick them up and hold them to her chest.
“Okay now I just, what, hit the rubble?” Rumi tried to focus but her head was starting to feel fuzzy.
“Yes. You must move rapidly and do not hesitate Rumi. Strike like you mean it.” Then Celine dropped a bomb. “The girl’s lives are at stake.”
Rumi’s eyes narrowed and she shifted into her stance, a little awkwardly because she had to slouch due to the debris.
It wasn’t her stance she learned in karate, through trial and error they found it wasn’t compatible with her. So they created the stance for her and taught her the moves from karate that would flow with her fighting style. They had to find different forms from each martial arts until Rumi had created her own style.
Rumi of course knew the basics of each style but otherwise she had created her own style.
With a quick movement she struck the rubble around them.
Cracks formed in the giant rock, showing where she struck. Rumi however ignored it and turned around to see if the girls were still fine.
A little dusty but they were fine.
“Again Rumi.”
So she struck.
“Again.”
Nothing shifted.
“Again.”
The rubble cleaved in two and Rumi was suddenly standing over her girls again in preparation. Posture tense and eyes closed Rumi braced herself.
But nothing shifted.
“Okay,” Rumi said. “Do you think I could use the broken pieces to further stabilize where the girls are?”
“Hmm.” Celine thought. “In theory yes. Practicality says use them to stabilize your escape route.”
“Got it.”
Rumi worked in silence, silence that was only broken by the thumps of her fists. Time passed by slowly, not that she noticed.
At some point, since her secret was revealed, Rumi shed what was left of her jacket. Flinging it aside as the heat became unbearable. Her tank top clung to her like a second skin, soaked in sweat and blood. Every movement, muscles shifted beneath her back and arms. Her patterns flashed a blue tint every strike.
She was undeniably beautiful.
Zoey caught herself staring. No not staring, gawking, and immediately hated herself for it.
Really, she’s bleeding and barely standing. Her inner voice spat at her.
Her cheeks flushed with shame as she looked away, only to see Mira doing the exact same thing.
Mira didn’t meet her eyes but the guilt was there. In the tight clench of her jaw, the crinkle of her brows.
Mira’s voice was quiet when she finally spoke. “I don’t know whether to kiss her or punch her right now. She’s been lying to us for so long.”
Rumi’s next strike faltered and she hissed in pain.
The silence that followed was thick.
Until a voice crackled through the forgotten phone speaker. “If you want anyone to blame it’s me. Don’t you dare turn your anger towards Rumi.” Her voice cold and firm.
“Celine.” Mira protested.
“She’s bleeding and exhausted. She’s holding it together by threads. She is still working her body to death to get you two out.” Celine argued.
“We know but—“
“She didn’t lie to hurt you. Or trick you.” Celine bulldozed over Mira’s words. “She was taught to hide herself to stay alive. She begged to tell you but I taught you to kill demons, and I worried.”
Mira looked down and Zoey curled into herself.
“She became your friend, despite how it terrified her. How it terrified me.” Celine’s voice softened. “She let you in, bravely. Even if it doesn’t feel like it.”
The words were for the girls as much as they were for Rumi.
Another tremor passed through the rubble, Rumi breaking through it finally. A small tunnel had formed from where they last saw her.
Rumi fell to her knees and both girls rushed to get up.
“Wait!” Rumi called back. “Let the rubble settle again.”
“At least come back here so you’re safe too!” Zoey called out.
Rumi crawled to them, exhaustion wracking through her frame. When she got close enough, Zoey reached out to bring her closer.
“You always are protecting us, huh?” Zoey whispered, clutching to the stuffed animals.
Mira didn’t say anything. But she shifted closer, pressing her side to Rumi’s. She had never been good with words but actions meant everything to Mira. For her to be this close, meant everything.
Forgiveness wasn’t instant, but it was just beginning.
They sat in silence for a moment while Rumi took a breather. But as always, good things come to an end.
“Get up Rumi.”
Rumi was up in seconds, heading back over to the small tunnel she had made. She disappeared through it before they could stop her. A sliver of light filtered in through a crack above.
“Be careful!” Zoey called after her.
Seconds passed.
Then the crack of shifting stone split the air. A portion of the broken ceiling sagged, followed by the deep groan of metal.
“Rumi?” Zoey rushed forward.
“Stop!” Mira grabbed Zoey at Celine’s command. “Don’t go after her, it may cave in.”
They froze, waiting for Rumi to answer them.
“Rumi!”
Nothing.
“Celine. She’s not answering.” Zoey whispered, panic rising like bile. “Why isn’t she answering?”
“Calm down and breathe.” Celine instructed. “She’s alive. She’s probably busy with the rubble. Now we don’t have much time. I’m outside the collapse now. I’m making a path but Rumi has to finish this from the inside.
“What do you mean?” Mira asked.
“It means.” Celine spiritually called to the Honmoon in desperation. “I will create an opening from my end and Rumi will have to punch through the wall at the same moment. Zoey you may feel the Honmoon leave you for just a moment as I call my weapon.”
Rumi appeared again, looking absolutely miserable.
Her hands were stained with blood and if they looked close enough, they would see the bones of her knuckles. Her strong frame was sweating buckets, her tank top was now completely soaked.
“There’s just a pillar in the way. But we are almost out.” Rumi said. “Do I bring them with me to point or do I wait until I break through?”
“Take them with you.” Celine instructed. “You and I are going to strike at once and break the pillar cleanly to minimize a cave in. If there is a cave in, they will already be there next to you.”
Rumi got up, shaky and slow, but resolute.
“Come on,” She whispered, reaching to help them. “Stay close.”
Zoey clutched the stuffed animals tighter, legs trembling as she followed. Mira followed, her eyes scanning the rubble above them like it might fall at any moment.
The tunnel groaned.
Rumi stopped before a pillar, if it could be called that. The jagged slab was a mix of wood, cement, and metal. Her body screamed with every motion, her hands burning. But her eyes remained focused.
She slipped into her stance again. “I’m ready.”
“On my mark,” Celine replied.” “Three...Two…One.”
The Honmoon surged, a radiant pulse of energy passed through Zoey and Mira. They watched the strings of the energy circle around them as Celine tapped into the spiritual realm for the first time since Zoey became an initiate.
Rumi’s fist pulled back, bloodied and steady.
Then both struck.
Celine’s blade carved through the metal like butter while Rumi’s fist pulverized the cement and wood.
There was a sound like thunder.
A shock wave roared through the Honmoon, just the Honmoon but the air around them exploded.
Then the wall cracked open.
Light, and fresh air, poured into the tunnel. Zoey barely had a chance to soak it in before Rumi had physically dragged them both out.
They were out.
Alive.
Broken.
But together.
Zoey burst into tears, half laughing as she clutched her stuffed animals to her chest.
Behind her Rumi collapsed into Celine’s arms. “Y-you came?” Rumi's voice held a hint of wonder in it.
“Of course I did little tiger.” Celine whispered. “How could I not when you called me mama?”
Mira stood motionless, watching the dust settle, then turned to Rumi. Now limp in Celine’s arms.
“We need a medic,” Mira said, her voice flat, urgent.
“She’s breathing,” Celine replied. “She’s going to be okay.”
And for the first time in what felt like forever, those words felt like the truth.
~
It had been three weeks since the earthquake.
The comeback concert had ended two hours ago.
The venue was empty now, mostly. Staff shuffled around mopping and sweeping up trash and glitter.
They’d sold out the dome. It was their first full concert since everything.
From the outside, they looked stronger than ever. Flawless harmonizes, synchronized choreography, practiced smiles that shone under thousands of lights.
But.
The triumph wasn’t just what the crowd saw.
It was the way they looked at each other when the lights dimmed. The squeeze Zoey gave Rumi’s hand before they came on stage. It was the way Mira had helped braid Rumi’s hair in the dressing room, quiet but content.
Now back in their shared dressing room, which Rumi was now allowed to share since the reveal of her patters, the three of them sat on a worn couch. Still in their stage outfits for the most part, sweaty and glitter speckled. Water bottles lay half empty on the table in front of them.
Zoey was curled up against Rumi’s side, her tiger plush wedged between them. Her boots had long since been kicked off and her eyes were only half focused. “I’m dying.”
Mira scoffed. “You were the one who added an extra spin in the encore.” She took out her contacts, eyes squinting trying to see where they went. “No one told you to go K-pop Beyblade.”
A beat of silence.
“Mira you know Beyblade?” Zoey sat up excitedly, life returning to her at the knowledge. “How dare you never tell me!”
Rumi smiled faintly before dragging Zoey back against her. She had taken off her jacket, causing Zoey and Mira to first choke when it happened. Her eyes traced the faint magenta turning iridescent lines on her arms. They were faded but occasionally during emotional outbursts they flared.
“You okay?” Mira’s voice broke through her thoughts.
Rumi looked up. Mira’s gaze wasn’t sharp like it used to be. But it was steady like it always was. “Yeah, we killed it tonight.”
“I was half convinced that we’d combust half way through.” Zoey said, groaning as Rumi started to gently massage her hand.
Rumi laughed, head tilted back and truer than anything they heard so far. “I agree, honestly I’m surprised I’m not more winded.”
“Well, you held up a building three weeks ago. You can handle a concert.”
Rumi went quiet, she hadn’t thought of that. Before she always felt broken, like one stray wind would crack her composure.
After the earthquake, she had went into a three day coma at the hospital. Thankfully Celine had used the Honmoon to weave a story that everyone was convinced had happened. She had healed, but she still bore the scars of being a literal Atlas.
Her back had the scars to prove it.
“Yeah I can, can’t I?” Rumi said quietly.
The other two got quiet as well. Mira had fished out her glasses while Zoey slowly started to drift off.
All they had to do now, was wait for their driver to pick them up. So they rested, the world spinning without them for a few minutes. Right now they weren’t idols, nor hunters, nor their family name.
They were just themselves.
Together.