Through the Looking Glass (TXT x Itzy)

seventeen

After a quick round of scissors paper stone (which was sneakily sabotaged by taehyun and chaeryeong), it was decided that beomgyu would have the delightful job of babysitting ryujin. The girl didn't mind, of course, but beomgyu looked like he'd rather fall out a window. There were many details to be discussed, as chaeryeong gleefully reminded, such as how long ryujin was planning to stay and how she would even live there. Beomgyu was aghast, to say the least, considering how they had known ryujin for a full two days. Ryujin didn't say anything, only toying with the idea that this may be her only chance to be free. Even if it just meant a few days.

After crazy amount of debating and bickering, beomgyu slouched down with a defeated sigh, allowing ryujin to stay, much to the hollering of the other duo. "This is why i am in need of good healthcare," beomgyu complained, as taehyun and chaeryeong shared a high five.

So beomgyu decided he had to have a chat with her.

"If you're gonna stay here, you need to help pay rent," Beomgyu told her carefully. Ryujin nodded, "Of course. What kind of jobs are there here?"

The boy stared at her, wondering why she was acting as if he were a search engine. Seeing as to how he was silent and struggling, Ryujin intercepted and asked, "What kind of job do you work?" Beomgyu blinked, then flushed in embarrassment as he replied, "I'm training to be an idol, but I have some part-time jobs so I can pay rent."

Now it was Ryujin's turn to frown, "An idol? What kind of thing is that?"

Beomgyu looked offended, "You don't even know what an idol is? Have you been living under a rock?"

After a good long sigh, Beomgyu explained, "An idol is a person who performs, you know, singing and dancing. And it's my dream. I've never wanted anything more."

Ryujin didn't look fantastically impressed, but nodded anyways, "Fine, what jobs do Taehyun and Chaeryeong have?"

Pursing his lips, Beomgyu then said, "Taehyun is a medic in a hospital, and Chaeryeong...honestly I don't even know. She has a massive inheritance and she basically lives on it. Picks fights, parties...that's her."

"Huh," was Ryujin's only reply.

"Well then," she picked off from her left over train of thought, "I'll find a part-time job myself. Come with me?"

"No-"

"Yes."

"Fine."

-

So they hit the streets, beomgyu muttering how he had better things to do, ryujin simply drinking in the sights and sounds of the foreign city.

It hit beomgyu that he really knew nothing about this strange knife wielding girl. She could be a serial killer for all he knew. That thought made him ever so slightly increase the distance between them.

But ryujin couldn't care less.

Here she was, in a city where not one person ogled her like an artifact on display as she walked, no one commenting on her posture or snickering at her clothes. Which, now she thought of, where pretty nice, though seeming of reasonably cheap quality, ryujin had to admit that they were practical. A pair of grey sweatpants and a cropped hoodie, perfect for the cool weather of the city. She felt comfortable, which was rare, since she was often decked out in fanciful royal wear or heavy ornaments.

-

It appeared that ryujin was not the slightest bit interested in finding a job, instead it seemed she was ready to test beomgyu's patience to its limit.

They had been wandering for hours, and it took beomgyu a good two hours to realise that ryujin was not looking out for job offers but instead literally anything else.

But the girl had succeeded, as in the end, beomgyu was too tired to say anything.

So he steered the girl towards the direction of their home (his home, she was a parasite), ryujin like an excited puppy who was torn between wanting to return home and desiring to sprint around like a mad man.

"What's that?" Ryujin asked, perking up at the sight of the glowing and dazzling claw machine, looking absolutely enticing. The darkening sky made the machine stand out even more, the brightest thing in the area.

"It's a claw machine," Beomgyu laughed, "You can get stuffed toys and stuff from there. Kai is great at it, but it's pretty tough, it'll be cheaper to just buy a toy."

But Ryjin was drawn to the game like a moth to a flame. "What do I do?" Ryujin asked, eye trailing over the adorable plushies and fingers running over the controls.

"You slip in a coin, then it'll move," Beomgyu instructed gently, and without hesitation Ryujin yanked out a coin and jammed it in. Immediately, the machine burst to life, whirring and music blaring.

The princess moistened her lips in concentration, acting as it was a life-or-death scenario. Like a normal person, she failed to snag a stuffed toy on the first try, causing a waterfall of expletives to rush from her lips.

"Such a pretty face but such a terrible mouth," beomgyu teased, momentarily forgetting that this girl owned a knife and a snake.

"Like you can do any better," ryujin scoffed.

"Oh yeah? Well, watch and learn."

Wiggling the joystick in anticipation, beomgyu promptly repeated that phrase two more times before he gave up as well.

Bursting into a fit of giggles, ryujin comforted helpfully, "at least we didn't waste too much money on it. Maybe we should ask your friend kai to get us the stuffed toys instead."

an: haven't been feeling great so came back to my comfort hobby. my style of writing changed a little, I stopped capitalising some stuff lmao. hope you guys enjoy this rushed one heh :'')