Work Text:
It shouldn’t have come as such a surprise that Jinu’s never had a proper Christmas before. Christian celebrations weren’t exactly permitted during his original time in the human world and even if they were, Rumi knew he didn’t have the time or the means to celebrate them. Not before his deal with Gwi-ma, not after when he was made to live in the palace, and certainly not when he was pulled down to the demon realm. Just one of the many things he didn’t have the privilege of experiencing because of the life he was born into.
And while Zoey and Mira knew this too, that didn’t stop their jaws from dropping when he casually mentioned that year was gonna be his first actual (and modern) Christmas in the week leading up to it.
“It wasn’t as big of a deal back then,” Jinu said with a shrug, but she could tell his insides were fidgeting under their shocked stares. Then, with a joking glare, he added: “And don’t say I should know some things because I’m old enough to have probably crossed paths with Santa Harabeoji.”
Mira snorts. “The kids mostly just call him ‘Santa’ these days, so you’re not making a great case for eliminating any age-related jokes.”
“You’re saying you’re still one of the kids, then?”
Mira throws a fry at him and the air around them eases up again with the following laughter. Rumi was already planning on making the days leading up to the 25th special for him but now she was determined to spread the holiday cheer like she’s never done before.
Which becomes much easier said than done when everybody in their friend group seems to have the same idea.
Introducing Jinu to classic Christmas movies and Huntrix favorites? Zoey had it covered. She had him stuck to the couch for two whole days as she made him watch a variety of Western and Korean stories that they’ve rewatched over the years. She even quizzed him between breaks to make sure he paid attention.
Taking Jinu to a Christmas market? Mira announced with no pretense that she was replacing some of the old decorations in their unit and that he was coming along, since taking either Zoey or Rumi — or both — would take forever with how sentimental they’d get about the decorations that would be set aside for new ones. And that it would be a chance for him to get some things to decorate the Saja Boys’ place, too.
(“If you’re having us over, I refuse to eat in a home that doesn’t look a little festive,” Mira deadpanned as she dragged him out the door.)
Going last minute shopping for gifts? Even the boys managed to beat Rumi to it; she didn’t even get the chance to ask Jinu if he’d go with her to the handful of stores she had in mind when she read Abby’s text that stated they were gonna be doing just that after lunch. Then proceeded to make a fool of themselves at the skating rink they came across nearby.
Better be some good gifts — plural, she texted back before flopping on her bed with a groan. Was it selfish of her to be annoyed that she was missing out on doing the holiday activities with him? Probably, but she thinks she can feel that way as his girlfriend, and Christmas was supposed to be a special time for couples. Still, Rumi was glad Jinu was being included and thought of so much by the people around him.
Just maybe a little too much for her liking. She needed some Jinu time too.
Which is why, in a separate group chat without him, Rumi makes it clear that the entire 23rd and 24th until their Christmas Eve dinner was going to be reserved for just the two of them. Her not-quite-scolding-but-forceful-enough text went without complaints and received six thumbs up reactions within thirty minutes.
– – – – –
“You’ve been snooping.”
“I have not been snooping!”
“Jinuuuu.”
“Ruuumiii.”
Rumi narrows her eyes as her gaze flits from him to the gifts piled under the tree and back. She had a feeling they weren’t arranged the same way she arranged them the day before, but she decides to let it go. But if he was snooping, she did think that was cute. Even cuter that he assumed she kept his gift under the tree and not hidden away somewhere else.
“Okay, fine,” she singsongs, though there’s still a half-suspicious glint in her eyes. “You’re still on the nice list.”
Jinu smirks at that, leaning down slowly as he says, “I’ll happily get myself on the naughty list, you know.” His arms wrap around her waist as he noses at her neck, and Rumi almost surrenders to whatever naughtiness he had in mind when he places a featherlight kiss to it. Almost.
But she put themselves in charge of making the dessert for later, and it was already a quarter past three in the afternoon, so she had to practice some restraint.
“I take it back. You are so not on the nice list.” Rumi tsks and wriggles out of his embrace, refusing to look at him because she knows he’d see she enjoyed that.
“I’ll get on the naughty list cause I’m about to make you open a present before Christmas Day, actually. That’s against some sort of Christmas law, right?” What? She turns, hating the smug look on his face but hating that she definitely looked even more flustered than she was a second ago. Jinu sighs exasperatedly. “But you know, I wouldn’t be opposed to what you thought we’d—”
“No, no. Just get the gift and don’t finish that sentence.”
Jinu lets out another chuckle before disappearing in a cloud of lavender smoke, then reappearing a moment later with a flat, rectangular box in his hands. It was Rumi’s time to sigh exasperatedly. “Thought you said you weren’t gonna do that with short distances.”
“Well, we’re already breaking one other rule today.” Because, as she pointedly told him at the beginning of the month, gifts were only meant to be opened on the 25th. “Besides, you’re still gonna be opening something from me tomorrow. I got you two gifts because I’m such a great boyfriend.”
He places the box in her hands and robs her of the chance to reply with a quick peck on the lips, steering her towards the couch with a giddy hum. Rumi is excited to open it, in spite of herself. It wouldn’t be the first time someone special has gotten her a gift, but Jinu was different — in more ways than one. His gift could be the simplest thing in the world and it would still be special because it came from him.
Although the confidence seems to wear off of him the minute she starts to rip off the wrapping paper; first she notices him shift in place, then hears him clear his throat nervously. When he starts bouncing his leg, Rumi leans back against him in an effort to make him stop and silently tell him to relax.
His arms tighten around her once she’s down to just the box, and when she opens it, her breath catches.
Inside was a maedeup bracelet, similar to the one they were given by the lady in Naksan Park. This time, much fancier: the quality of the thread used was finer, a crystal attached to one of the loops, the golden chain with the clasp for adjustment. But what really caught Rumi’s attention was the specific knot he’d chosen. The Dongsimgyeol maedeup was the eternal love knot, and while it had become highly commercialized over the years, people in relationships didn’t give it to their partners lightly. There’s weight to such a gift no matter what the occasion is.
Jinu clears his throat again. “I got it when I was out with the guys the other day. They wanted to get ones for the girls too, but I said they should get another gift idea cause I saw it first and… well, it’s kind of our thing.”
Her patterns are glowing faintly as she twists in his hold to throw her arms around him, a burst of warmth spreading through her chest. “I love it,” Rumi says quietly. “I love you.”
And she does, she really does. Her heart hasn’t been the same since the moment she saw him in that alleyway, even as they went at each other’s throats for weeks, even as she felt it shatter when she lost him and pieced back together when she got him back. Rumi knew that nobody but Jinu would ever make her feel that way. Not in this lifetime and not in the next if they didn’t find each other again.
“This is one of the most thoughtful gifts I’ve ever received.”
Jinu releases a sigh of his own, allowing himself to relax against her. Apparently a lot more nervous about what she’d think about his gift than he let on. He wraps one arm firmly around her waist and runs a hand gently down her back, saying, “I’m glad. So glad. I really wanted to make it special for you.”
“I’ve been trying to make the past week special for you,” Rumi mumbles into his neck. “But someone’s been dragging you with them before I could even plan anything.”
“Oh, believe me, I wanted to do everything our friends made me do with just you the entire time I was getting dragged along.”
She breathes out a laugh and so does he. Nice to know they’ve been in the same boat the whole time. “Annoyed as I got, I did like that they were spreading the spirit of Christmas to you, too.”
He makes a noncommittal noise in the back of his throat before leaning back to look at her. “I mean, I guess I wouldn’t have wanted you at that skating rink. If you saw me, you would never let me live it down.”
“I’m sure one of the boys has a video — that they will show to me even if they look ridiculous in it too because they owe me,” Rumi says with a quirk of her brow.
“Besides…” She takes the bracelet out of the box and secures it around her wrist, her expression so fond and full of love when she looks at him again. She was glad she allowed him to break one Christmas rule for this; the moment wouldn’t have been the same with all their friends around. “This means we have an eternity to do everything we missed out on this year, doesn’t it?”
Jinu grins, cupping her face in his hands as he leans closer again. “All the time in the world, baby.”