Deathless Night
Summary: After a string of successful missions, Rui Mizuki invites you into his bar late one evening as a quiet thank-you. What starts as a playful night of cocktails and teasing turns into something softer; shared conversations, a gentle escort back to your dorm, and late-night messages neither of you want to end. Beneath all Rui’s flirtatious charm lies the loneliness of a curse he can never escape, but with you, even ordinary moments begin to feel precious enough to cherish forever. By the end of the night, Rui finally finds the perfect name for the cocktail that he made only for you.
⌯⌲ Inspo song: Sandali by Cup of Joe
Moonlight shines behind stained glass windows, bleeding muted purples and crimson reds across the stone hallways like diluted wine. You had just finished returning from the library when a familiar voice called out from behind you.
“Ah, there you are.”
You turned and saw Rui Mizuki leaned casually against the doorway of the bar. One gloved hand rested in his pocket while the other lifted in an easy wave. His pale ruby-colored eyes curved with amusement the moment they landed on you. As if he’s not waiting for you all night outside, taking the time to impress you. Rui looked lighter and relaxed, brimming with excitement. He straightened his posture from the doorway and motioned toward the warmly lit bar behind him.
“Come in for a bit?”
You blinked. “At this hour?”
“Mhm.” His smile widened playfully. “I wanted to make you a cocktail.”
The way he said it made you laugh quietly.
“You’re inviting me into your bar just to make me a drink?”
“Not just any drink,” Rui corrected dramatically, placing a hand over his chest. “A special drink.”
“Why am I receiving special treatment?”
He hummed thoughtfully, stepping aside so you could enter first.
“Well… the last few missions went smoothly because of you, didn’t they?”
The warmth from the bar wrapped around you immediately. Unlike the gothic atmosphere outside, the inside of the room felt strangely comforting. Amber lights reflected against rows of glass bottles lined neatly behind the counter. Velvet stools sat empty tonight, and soft jazz crackled faintly from an old speaker in the corner. It felt less like a haunted dormitory bar and more like a hidden sanctuary. Rui walked behind the counter with practiced ease.
“So,” he continued casually, rolling his sleeves slightly, “consider this my gratitude.”
“You don’t have to thank me for doing my job.”
“Too late,” he replied. “I already decided.”
You sat at the counter while Rui began gathering ingredients with surprising professionalism and maybe that should not have surprised you. Rui was sociable by nature, he adapted to people effortlessly, slipping into conversations and roles with ease, but watching him work here inside his own space felt different somehow and it’s comforting. He moved gracefully behind the counter, spinning a shaker once in his hand before catching it with effortless precision.
“You practiced that beforehand, didn’t you?”
“Ouch.” Rui pressed a hand against his heart. “You wound me.”
“You definitely practiced.”
“Maybe a little.”
“Aha.”
He laughed softly under his breath. You rested your chin on your palm while watching him mix the drink. Crimson liquid poured over ice with a soft clink, he added garnishes with careful attention, adjusting even the smallest detail before seeming satisfied.
“You’re really serious about this.”
“Of course I am.” Rui glanced up at you. “If I’m making something for you, it has to be perfect.”
The words were spoken casually, yet somehow they settled in your chest anyway. Rui paused briefly while stirring the drink. His eyes lingered on you for half a second longer than necessary then he smiled again before looking away.
“You know,” he said lightly, “it’s kind of nice having you around Obscuary lately.”
“Is that your way of saying you miss me when I’m not here?”
“Maybe.”
Your breath caught slightly. Rui said things like that all the time, flirtatious and playful. Everyone in Darkwick Academy knew Rui was charming, but sometimes… he said things so gently that you couldn’t tell whether he was teasing or being honest. Maybe that uncertainty was what made your heartbeat stumble every single time. A few minutes later, he finally slid the finished cocktail toward you. The drink glowed beautifully; a deep reddish pink fading into darker crimson near the bottom of the glass. Ice cubes shimmered between floating cherries and rosemary, it looked elegant. Rui leaned forward against the counter expectantly.
“You’re staring at me like this is an exam.”
“It is.”
You laughed quietly before lifting the glass. The first sip surprised you immediately- smooth, sweet at first, then slightly bitter afterward in a way that balanced perfectly together. There was warmth to it and not overwhelming enough to spread pleasantly through your chest.
“…Wait,” you murmured. “This is actually really good.”
Rui gasped dramatically. “Actually?”
“I mean—”
“You doubted me?”
“A little.”
He shook his head with exaggerated disappointment, though his smile betrayed him instantly. Still, you noticed the subtle relief in his expression after your reaction, like your opinion genuinely mattered to him.
“So?” Rui asked. “What do you think?”
“I think you missed your calling.”
“Oh?”
“You could’ve become a bartender professionally.”
“Hm…” He rested his cheek against his gloved hand thoughtfully. “But then who would suffer through dangerous missions with you?”
“…You make it sound like I drag you into trouble.”
“You absolutely do.”
You smiled looking onto your glass. For a while, the conversation drifted naturally, about missions, about Obscuary, about Edward mysteriously appearing and disappearing like a ghost. Rui complained dramatically about cleaning up after him, again.
“You have no idea how terrifying it is,” Rui sighed. “I’ll walk into his room and somehow find socks everywhere like a kid and he’s nowhere to be found!”
“Maybe the socks fell.”
“By itself?”
“…Maybe the ghosts did it.”
“Don’t encourage them.”
You laughed softly. Rui stared at you for a moment and when you finally glanced back up, he quickly looked away with a small cough. You hid your grin behind your glass. Eventually, your eyes drifted back toward the cocktail.
“What’s the name of this drink?”
“Hm?” Rui tilted his head. His expression brightened immediately.
“I was thinking…” He tapped a finger lightly against the counter. “Maybe I’ll name it after you.” You nearly choked on your drink.
“Rui, that’s embarrassing.”
“But it suits you.”
“How does a cocktail suit me?”
He leaned closer slightly, ruby eyes gleaming mischievously.
“It’s pretty.”
You stared at him and Rui stared back innocently. Then he smiled when he realized your ears were turning red as you shook your head while trying not to smile.
“No naming drinks after me.”
“Fine, fine.” Rui lifted both hands in surrender. “I’ll think of another name eventually.”
The night passed quicker than expected after that. By the time you finally left the bar together, the dormitory halls had grown quieter and Rui insisted on escorting you back. The two of you walked side-by-side under the dim lantern lights connecting the dormitories. Cold night air brushed gently against your skin while your footsteps echoed softly along the stone path. Rui kept conversation easy the entire walk, pointing out strange constellations, complaining about how Lyca kept stealing snacks from Obscuary’s kitchen and telling you stories from previous missions. But every now and then, when you looked at him unexpectedly, you caught Rui already looking at you first. Like his attention kept drifting back without meaning to. When you finally reached your dormitory entrance, Rui stopped.
“Well,” he said softly. “Your carriage has arrived safely.”
You laughed quietly.
“Thank you for tonight.”
“Anytime.”
There was a brief quiet pause afterward, that kind of silence that made you strangely aware of each other. Rui looked beautiful under the moonlight, his pale hair glowed silver-blond-ish, his pale ruby eyes softened at the edges whenever they rested on you. Even the black gloves hiding his cursed hands somehow felt lonely tonight. You spoke before you could overthink it.
“Message me once you get back safely too, okay?”
Rui blinked, clearly surprised. “…Huh?”
“You walked me here, didn’t you?” you said. “So it’s only fair.” For once, Rui genuinely looked caught off guard then a small smile slowly appeared on his face.
“…Yeah,” he murmured. “Okay. I will.”
You waved goodnight before entering your dormitory, but even after the doors closed behind you Rui remained standing there for several seconds, his chest felt warm. Hearing you tell him to message you safely somehow affected him differently because it sounded sincere, it sounded like you truly worry about him. Despite all his smiles and teasing was weaker to genuine affection than anyone realized.
· · · · ──────────── ·✶· ──────────── · · · ·
Fifteen minutes later, your phone buzzed.
You smiled unconsciously while drying your hair after your shower.
Your expression softened slightly, you sat on your bed before typing again.
This time, his reply took longer.
Meanwhile Rui had just finished showering himself. Warm steam still lingered in the bathroom as he towel-dried his blond hair lazily. Dressed now in an oversized shirt and loose black pants, he laid down at his bed.
Rui hated quiet sometimes, quiet gave him time to think. About the curse, death and how his body never truly rested no matter how exhausted his mind became. Usually he distracted himself before thoughts like that settled too deeply, but tonight felt different somehow. His phone buzzed again, he picked it up immediately.
Rui smiled faintly, then another message appeared.
Rui froze for a moment, he simply stared at the screen. Then slowly his cheeks turned pink.
“…Ah.”
A soft laugh escaped him. He covered part of his face with one hand instinctively, shoulders relaxing as warmth bloomed helplessly through his chest. You really had no idea what you were doing to him. No idea how happy he became over the smallest things involving you. A conversation, a mission together, walking beside you at night, receiving messages from you before bed; simple and ordinary things. Yet Rui treasured every single one because he loves you and maybe that love had started quietly long before he realized it himself. Somewhere between shared missions and late-night conversations, between your concern for him and the way you looked at him without fear despite his curse. You treated him gently as though Rui was still someone worth holding close despite the death resting in his hands. His eyes softened while rereading your message.
Then he typed back.
Your reply came almost immediately.
Rui stared at the screen for an embarrassingly long time afterward. Then finally he laughed softly to himself and leaned back against his pillows, his heart felt unbearably light.
“…I’m in trouble,” he murmured affectionately.
A few moments later, Rui glanced toward the notebook resting on his bedside table. The cocktail still needed a name. He grabbed a pen lazily before opening the notebook to a blank page. At first, nothing came to mind, then slowly, his gaze drifted toward your conversation again. The warmth lingering in his chest, the happiness tonight brought him, the strange comfort of walking beneath the moonlight beside you. Beneath all of it the curse he carried endlessly, the Death that never slept, a life unable to tire, a night that never truly ended for Rui. He smiled softly to himself before writing two words carefully onto the page, “Deathless Night.” He stared at the name for a long moment afterward then his smile deepened.
