Work Text:
Rumi had just put Hana down for her nap and now Jinu and Zoey are fighting for her attention on who wrote the best maid of Honor and Best Man speech for Mira and Abby's wedding.
The penthouse had finally gone quiet after an unusually chaotic morning.
Hana had fought her nap with the determination of a warrior, which meant Rumi had spent nearly an hour softly singing, rocking, pacing around the nursery, and negotiating with a baby who clearly believed sleep was optional. By the time Hana finally drifted off against her shoulder, Rumi herself looked ready to collapse.
Still, the second she stepped quietly back into the living room after laying Hana down in her crib, she immediately sensed trouble.
Zoey and Jinu were both sitting on opposite sides of the couch staring at her expectantly.
Rumi stopped walking immediately.
“…Why do you both look like that?”
Zoey sat upright dramatically while holding several papers in her hand.
“Perfect timing.”
Jinu pointed toward himself calmly. “I was here first.”
“No you weren’t.”
“I emotionally arrived first.”
“That doesn’t count.”
Rumi blinked slowly before sitting carefully in the armchair nearby. “What’s happening?”
Zoey gasped loudly like she had been waiting for this moment all day.
“We finished our speeches.”
“Wedding speeches,” Jinu clarified.
Rumi immediately smiled. “For Mira and Abby?”
Zoey nodded proudly. “Maid of honor speech.”
“And best man speech,” Jinu added smugly.
Zoey narrowed her eyes at him instantly.
“Why are you smug already?”
“Because mine is better.”
“You haven’t even read it yet.”
“I can feel it spiritually.”
Rumi laughed softly while leaning back into the chair.
“Okay,” she said warmly. “Let me hear them.”
Zoey immediately jumped up first.
“Me first.”
Jinu looked offended. “Excuse me?”
“You always go first.”
“That’s because I’m memorable.”
“You’re annoying.”
“Rumi likes annoying.”
Rumi smiled innocently. “Unfortunately true.”
Jinu grinned proudly before leaning over the couch to kiss her quickly.
Zoey physically recoiled.
“Oh no. Don’t start.”
Rumi looked confused. “Start what?”
“The weird couple thing you both do.”
Jinu blinked. “Being in love?”
“Yes.”
“That sounds personal.”
Zoey groaned while shoving her papers dramatically against her chest.
“Can I read my speech before you two become unbearable?”
Rumi gestured dramatically. “Proceed.”
Zoey cleared her throat seriously before beginning.
“Mira,” she read emotionally, “you are one of the strongest people I know. Even though you complain constantly and threaten violence whenever I touch your skincare products…”
Mira’s voice suddenly echoed faintly from her bedroom.
“BECAUSE YOU USE TOO MUCH.”
Zoey pointed triumphantly toward the hallway. “See? Passion.”
Jinu snorted while Rumi tried not to laugh.
Zoey continued reading while pacing around dramatically, occasionally wiping fake tears from her eyes whenever she reached emotional parts. Honestly, the speech was sweet. It was filled with stories about Mira protecting them during difficult times, supporting them through tours, heartbreaks, and sleepless nights. By the end of it, Rumi actually looked emotional.
“That was beautiful,” she admitted softly.
Zoey immediately looked victorious.
Jinu crossed his arms confidently. “Cute.”
Zoey gasped. “Cute?”
“Very heartfelt,” he added casually. “But now it’s my turn.”
Zoey narrowed her eyes suspiciously while Jinu pulled folded pages from his pocket.
Rumi already noticed the tiny smirk on his face.
Oh no.
Jinu cleared his throat before beginning calmly.
“Abby,” he started, “I knew you were serious about Mira the first time she stopped insulting you for five consecutive minutes.”
Rumi immediately laughed.
Zoey looked betrayed already.
Jinu continued reading while occasionally glancing toward Rumi with amusement. His speech somehow balanced sincerity and teasing perfectly. He talked about Abby’s loyalty, how much he genuinely adored Mira, and how obvious it was that they were meant for each other.
Then he added:
“I also want to thank Abby personally for surviving Mira’s mood swings during wedding planning.”
“HEY,” Mira shouted again from the hallway.
Jinu ignored her completely.
“And honestly,” he continued smoothly, “watching those two together reminds me a lot of me and Rumi.”
Zoey rolled her eyes immediately.
“Of course he mentioned Rumi.”
Jinu looked over at Rumi warmly.
“Finding someone who feels like home changes everything.”
The room softened slightly after that.
Even Zoey looked touched despite herself.
Rumi smiled quietly while Jinu finished reading before setting the pages down.
Silence.
Then Zoey pointed dramatically.
“Okay but mine made more emotional sense.”
Jinu looked offended. “Mine had structure.”
“You flirted with your wife during it.”
“That improves speeches.”
Rumi tried very hard not to laugh while Zoey looked desperately toward her.
“Well?”
Rumi pretended to think deeply.
“Hm…”
Zoey leaned forward hopefully.
“I think…” Rumi started carefully.
Jinu already looked amused because he knew exactly what she was about to do.
“…Jinu’s was slightly better.”
Zoey gasped like she had been physically attacked.
“WHAT.”
Jinu immediately nodded proudly. “Thank you, my love.”
“You are biased!”
Rumi blinked innocently. “Maybe.”
Zoey pointed accusingly between them.
“This is corruption.”
Jinu leaned toward Rumi again while smiling smugly. “I married the judge.”
Rumi laughed softly before he kissed her temple affectionately.
Zoey looked deeply uncomfortable already.
“Okay,” she muttered. “That’s enough.”
Unfortunately for her, Rumi and Jinu had already silently decided to make things worse.
Jinu casually rested his hand along Rumi’s thigh while she leaned closer against him naturally. Every few seconds they exchanged little looks that made Zoey feel increasingly like she was intruding on something private.
“You’re doing this on purpose,” Zoey accused.
Rumi looked surprised. “Doing what?”
“The eyes.”
“What eyes?”
Jinu smiled lazily at Rumi again.
“Apparently we have eyes.”
Zoey physically gagged.
“I hate this apartment.”
Rumi burst into laughter while Jinu wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her directly into his lap.
Zoey stared at them in horror.
“You have a whole couch.”
“She likes sitting here,” Jinu answered immediately.
“I can answer myself.”
“She definitely likes sitting here.”
Rumi smiled against his shoulder while he kissed her cheek slowly.
Zoey covered her face with her speech papers.
“Oh my gosh.”
Jinu looked toward Rumi thoughtfully. “You know…”
Rumi already looked suspicious. “What?”
“If my speech wins officially, maybe I deserve another baby.”
Zoey choked violently.
“WHAT.”
Rumi immediately burst into laughter while Jinu looked entirely too pleased with himself.
“You can’t say things like that around me!”
Rumi leaned against him weakly laughing while Jinu kissed her forehead again.
“He’s joking,” she promised.
“Are you sure?” Zoey asked nervously.
Jinu looked thoughtful. “Mostly.”
“JINU.”
Rumi smacked his chest while laughing harder.
“You’re impossible.”
“You married impossible.”
Zoey stood up suddenly.
“No. Absolutely not. I refuse to stay here while you two flirt yourselves into another child.”
Jinu looked proud. “That’s the nicest thing anyone’s said to me today.”
Rumi buried her burning face against his shoulder while Zoey grabbed her speech papers dramatically.
“I’m taking my speech to Mystery.”
Rumi blinked up at her innocently. “You’re leaving?”
“Yes.”
“Because of us?”
“Yes.”
“That sounds dramatic.”
“You’re both sitting in one chair.”
Jinu looked down casually. “There’s room.”
Zoey pointed aggressively. “GOODBYE.”
The apartment door slammed dramatically behind her moments later.
Silence.
Then Rumi immediately dissolved into laughter again while Jinu kissed her cheek repeatedly.
“You’re evil,” she giggled.
“You started it.”
“You went along with it way too fast.”
“I enjoy making Zoey uncomfortable.”
“That’s concerning.”
“You still love me.”
Rumi smiled softly before kissing him properly this time.
Meanwhile outside in the hallway, Zoey nearly collided with Mira walking toward the apartment carrying shopping bags.
Mira blinked. “Why are you storming out?”
Zoey looked emotionally exhausted.
“Your friends are disgusting.”
Mira immediately understood. “Rumi and Jinu?”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
Zoey explained everything dramatically while Mira slowly started laughing harder and harder until she nearly dropped her bags.
“They made eyes at each other while I was reading my speech,” Zoey complained.
Mira looked impressed honestly.
“That’s actually kind of genius.”
“No it’s not.”
“It absolutely is.”
Zoey narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “You’re enjoying this.”
Mira grinned slowly.
“You know…” she said thoughtfully. “Maybe Abby and I should learn that trick.”
Zoey looked horrified.
“MIRA.”
“What?”
“You’re supposed to protect me.”
Mira laughed while opening the apartment door.
“No,” she corrected proudly. “I’m supposed to annoy you.”