Work Text:
Mystery is confused on why his girlfriend Zoey is freaking out over him putting milk before cereal.
The penthouse kitchen was filled with the comfortable sounds of a lazy afternoon. Rain tapped softly against the giant windows overlooking Seoul while the scent of coffee and warm pancakes still lingered from breakfast. The television played quietly in the background from the living room where Jinu sat with Hana curled comfortably against his chest while Rumi rested beside him beneath a blanket. Across from them, Mira and Abby occupied the other end of the couch in their usual position tangled together like they physically forgot personal space existed.
Everything felt peaceful.
Then Zoey screamed.
“WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?”
Mystery froze mid motion in the kitchen while holding a cereal box.
Everyone immediately looked over.
Mystery blinked slowly. “What?”
Zoey pointed at the bowl in complete horror.
“You poured the milk first.”
Silence.
Mystery looked down at the bowl.
Then back at Zoey.
“…Yes?”
Zoey looked personally betrayed.
Mira physically sat upright immediately. “Oh my gosh.”
Rumi gasped softly from the couch. “No wait, she’s right.”
Mystery looked even more confused somehow. “What’s happening?”
“You can’t pour the milk before the cereal,” Zoey explained dramatically like she was discussing a serious crime.
Mystery glanced at the bowl again. “Why not?”
“Because that’s insane behavior.”
“It still becomes cereal.”
“That’s not the point!”
Jinu looked deeply entertained already while gently bouncing Hana against his chest.
“I didn’t realize breakfast had rules.”
“It absolutely has rules,” Mira replied immediately.
Abby looked thoughtful beside her. “I think I’ve done that before.”
Mira slowly turned toward him.
“You WHAT?”
Abby suddenly looked nervous for the first time all afternoon.
“Maybe once.”
Mira looked horrified. “Abby.”
“I was tired.”
“You’re lucky I love you.”
Abby leaned over immediately to kiss her cheek. “You love me a lot.”
“That’s unrelated.”
Rumi laughed softly against Jinu’s shoulder while Hana reached tiny hands toward the television lights.
Meanwhile Zoey still stared at Mystery like he had committed emotional betrayal.
“You’ve been living like this the whole time?”
Mystery crossed his arms defensively now. “I genuinely don’t understand why everyone’s upset.”
“Because it’s weird,” Mira answered.
“It’s concerning,” Rumi added.
“It’s honestly villain behavior,” Zoey finished dramatically.
Mystery looked toward Jinu for support.
Jinu only shrugged helplessly. “I’m staying out of this.”
“You fight demons.”
“Exactly. This feels more dangerous.”
Zoey pointed accusingly at Mystery again.
“You pour milk before cereal. What’s next? Socks before pants?”
“That doesn’t even make sense.”
“NEITHER DOES THIS.”
Abby burst out laughing while Mira leaned against him dramatically.
“I can’t believe this is our afternoon.”
“It’s your fault too apparently,” Zoey informed Abby.
Abby immediately defended himself. “I said maybe once.”
“Disgusting.”
Mira looked personally wounded.
“You hid this from me.”
“I didn’t think it mattered.”
“It matters now.”
Abby gently grabbed Mira’s waist and pulled her closer until she practically melted against him despite trying to stay offended.
“You’re still my favorite person,” he murmured softly.
Mira tried not to smile and failed immediately.
“That doesn’t fix your cereal crimes.”
“It helps though.”
“A little.”
He kissed her temple sweetly while she sighed dramatically and rested comfortably against him again.
Mystery looked around the room in disbelief.
“So all of you think this is weird?”
“Yes,” everyone answered immediately.
Mystery looked betrayed now.
Zoey dramatically placed a hand over her chest.
“I thought I knew you.”
“You’re acting like I cheated on you.”
“This is worse.”
“It absolutely is not.”
Rumi burst into laughter while Jinu kissed the side of her head affectionately.
“You’re enjoying this too much,” he teased softly.
“They’re ridiculous.”
“You’re ridiculous too.”
Rumi looked up at him innocently. “Me?”
“You once cried because I finished your fries.”
“You said you didn’t want any.”
“I changed my mind.”
“You emotionally betrayed me.”
Jinu laughed quietly before leaning down to kiss her properly this time.
The kiss lingered softly enough that Rumi instinctively smiled against his lips while his hand rested warmly against her waist.
Zoey pointed immediately.
“See? That’s normal couple behavior. Not milk first.”
Mystery sighed deeply. “I feel attacked.”
“You should.”
Hana suddenly squealed happily from Jinu’s lap, immediately distracting Zoey from her outrage.
“Oh my gosh hi baby.”
Zoey instantly abandoned the cereal argument and hurried over toward the couch while Mystery watched in complete confusion.
“How did you switch emotions that fast?”
“Hana’s cuter than your crimes.”
“That’s fair.”
Zoey carefully took Hana from Jinu and immediately softened.
“There’s my little angel.”
Hana grabbed onto Zoey’s sleeve happily while Zoey completely forgot she was supposed to stay offended.
Mystery walked closer carefully.
“So are we done fighting?”
Zoey narrowed her eyes while bouncing Hana gently.
“I’m still processing.”
“Over cereal?”
“Yes.”
Mira nodded supportively. “Take your time.”
Abby whispered toward her quietly, “You forgave me pretty fast.”
“That’s because you’re handsome.”
“That’s romantic.”
“That’s manipulation.”
Abby smiled proudly before kissing her again anyway.
Meanwhile Mystery looked genuinely desperate now.
“I said I was sorry.”
“You sounded confused.”
“Because I am confused.”
Zoey looked down at Hana instead of answering.
“Oh wow look at her little socks.”
Mystery blinked slowly.
“She’s avoiding me.”
Jinu looked sympathetic. “You need a stronger strategy.”
“What does that mean?”
Jinu leaned back casually. “Give her something she wants.”
Mystery looked thoughtful.
Zoey still refused to look directly at him while talking dramatically to Hana instead.
“You would never pour milk first right?”
Hana blinked at her.
“Exactly.”
Mystery sighed before stepping closer.
“Zoey.”
“No.”
“I apologized.”
“You committed emotional damage.”
“Zoey.”
She finally looked up at him.
Mystery gently reached over and tilted her chin upward before kissing her quickly.
The kiss only lasted a few seconds.
But the second he pulled away, Zoey froze completely.
Silence.
Mystery blinked.
Zoey blinked.
Then she dramatically fainted sideways into the couch cushions.
Rumi screamed laughing instantly.
Mira physically grabbed Abby’s arm while laughing so hard she could barely breathe.
Jinu nearly dropped onto the floor from laughing while Hana squealed happily at all the noise.
Mystery stared down at Zoey in complete disbelief.
“…Did she just faint?”
“Yes,” Abby answered while laughing helplessly.
“That’s actually impressive,” Rumi admitted through laughter.
Zoey stayed dramatically collapsed against the couch with one hand over her forehead.
“Mystery kissed me,” she whispered weakly.
“You’re dating him,” Mira reminded her.
“I know but still.”
Mystery looked deeply amused now.
“So the cereal thing’s forgiven?”
Zoey pointed weakly from the couch cushions.
“Partially.”
Mystery laughed softly before leaning down and kissing her forehead this time.
“You’re ridiculous.”
Zoey smiled immediately despite trying not to.
“I know.”
Rumi curled happily against Jinu afterward while he wrapped both arms around her and kissed her cheek softly.
“You’d never faint over me kissing you,” he teased.
Rumi looked smug. “That’s because I’m stronger than Zoey.”
“You absolutely are not.”
“That’s rude.”
“You literally melted the first time I kissed you.”
Rumi looked offended. “You have no proof.”
“I remember everything.”
Rumi narrowed her eyes before kissing him again just to distract him from continuing the conversation.
It worked immediately.
Across the room, Mira watched the chaos fondly while Abby rested his chin against her shoulder.
“You know,” Abby murmured softly, “our friends are weird.”
Mira smiled warmly while leaning back against him.
“Yeah,” she admitted quietly. “But I like them anyway.”
Abby kissed her cheek gently.
“Me too.”