Chapter Text
Rumi woke, coughing up air as she spluttered awake. Her eyes felt heavy; blinded by the light reaping through the curtains. Busy sounds of traffic and city-life came from the window, creating a comfort that Rumi enjoyed — Rumi had always been a city girl, and it wasn’t that she hated the suburbs. She just loved the city more.
She snuggled in tighter to her covers as the cool air nipped at her nose. Rumi yawned, reaching for her phone.
She scrolled through instagram for a while, laughing at a post Mira had tagged her in; She, Mira and Zoey had gone ice skating the night before, and Mira had somehow managed to take a photo of her mid-fall.
Rumi drew her quilt, yawning as she slipped out of bed. Derpy watched her as she stretched. Rumi wandered over to him and scratched beneath his head, he purred into her hand, closing his eyes. “Mornin’, Derp.” She said, voice raspy from sleep.
She stumbled to her bathroom, nearly tripping on air. Rumi brushed her teeth as she showered. Something no one knew she did — not that it would be bad if someone found out. It was the means of how they found out that would be concerning.
“Or maybe it would be thrilling.” Rumi said to her own reflection.
Rumi hummed as she braided her hair — the same as she had done so many times before. After she had finished weaving little flower hair accessories into the braid, Rumi slipped into her comfiest trackpants, topping it with a cute crop-top that had a graphic print of a turtle on the front. She remembered being gifted the shirt by Zoey for Christmas the previous year.
Rumi traced some of the near-translucent patterns on her neck. It was strange that she had hidden them for most of her life, and now that they were shown, they were never questioned. Never judged. Never rejected.
Rumi softly smiled as she peered at herself in the mirror. Taking a deep inhale, she made for the door.
— —
The leader of Huntrix took her time as she walked down the hallway — the savoury smell of pancakes hit her nose, causing her to smile and clutch her stomach when it rumbled. Rumi approached the living room, bobbing her head as an earworm sang in her ear; Huntrix released their song ‘What it sounds like’ officially, a little less than a month ago, and it had been stuck in Rumi’s head ever since.
Rumi shivered as she remembered the night of the idol awards. The thought disappeared when Rumi turned the corner. Giggles and softly-spoken voices carried through the air. “There she is!” Zoey squealed, running over to Rumi and hugging her the same way a toddler would hug a dog.
“Happy birthday, Rue!” Zoey beamed. Rumi wrapped her arms around Zoey, planting a kiss to the top of her head. “Are you hungry?” Rumi sighed into the hug,
“I’m starved, I don’t think I’ve eaten since we had those shitty ice skating rink nachos.” The small girl's face lit up,
“Good- Well- That’s not good. But, we made you pancakes!” Zoey said, nearly jumping up and down.
From across the room, Mira snorted, “We? Who’s we?” She stood behind the frying pan, spatula in hand. “You were watching funny animal videos the entire time.” She placed her hand on her hip and slanted.
“Do you know how hard it is to cook when you’re squealing in my ear every two seconds?” Mira snarked with a sideways smirk.
Zoey rolled her eyes dramatically as she let go of Rumi. “I helped!” Zoey took Rumi’s hand and led her to the marbletop counter. “It was just in a– moral support kind of way.” Mira chuckled lightly, placing a plate down in front of Rumi.
Rumi licked her lips — A stack of four pancakes sat before her. They were coated with maple syrup, sliced strawberries, sliced bananas and blueberries. Rumi grabbed a set of cutlery and began scoffing it down. She got about four mouthfuls into her mouth before Zoey yanked the plate from her.
“Don’t eat so fast, we have stuff planned.” Rumi stared at Zoey, waiting for her to slide the plate back.
“Say you understand.” Zoey said, teasingly with a glare. Rumi’s mouth was still filled with food, her cheeks stuffed, almost resembling a hamster. She sighed (Somehow).
“Fine.” Rumi almost spat out everything as she spoke.
Zoey slid the plate back to Rumi, who was pouting over her food being taken off her.
“Good girl.” Zoey said with half lidded eyes, a smug smile creeping across her face. Rumi frowned, chewing slowly.
For the past few months, Zoey had fallen into the ‘good boy’ trend. It was infuriating, but Rumi was also kind of into it. Though she would never admit it.
“We don’t want you to get sick before the fun even begins.” Mira said, watching the tension build.
Rumi turned her head, “Fun?” Mira had an evil grin on her face.
“Fun.” She said with a nod.
— —
Rumi finished her pancakes — slowly, just as Zoey had made her — and the girls made their way to the bathhouse. After they had finished, they walked to the car, full of joy and cracking stupid jokes. Mira drove while Zoey and Rumi sat in the rear, chatting about nothing truly important. Zoey’s phone rang, interrupting a conversation about which animal would be the best at fighting zombies.
“Oh! It’s Bobby!” Zoey clicked the accept button and the call came through the car. “Hi, Bobby!” All three girls said in unison.
“Hi, girls!” Bobby replied, sounding a little glum. “Happy birthday, Rumi!” Rumi chuckled, not thinking anything of it.
“Thanks, Bobby!”
“Any plans for the day?” He asked, waiting for an answer. Rumi hastily replied, “We finished at the bathhouse, but–” Rumi opened her mouth then closed it.
“We have plans. But Rumi has no idea what we’re scheming.” Zoey said in a villainous accent, adding an evil laugh at the end.
“Sounds exciting!” He paused, “Sorry, can I be a pain and steal Mira for a moment. I need to talk to her about something.” Bobby mumbled, as he spoke. Causing Zoey and Rumi to frown.
“You can’t tell all of us?” Rumi said suspiciously, biting her lip as she waited for his reply.. Zoey shifted uncomfortably, lifting her leg and pulling a stray potato chip from the seat.
“I-” Bobby struggled to speak.
“Is everything okay, Bobby?” Zoey said, trying to hide the worry that was creeping into her voice. There was a long pause, then he sighed.
“I’m not gonna lie–” Zoey grasped Rumi’s hand and squeezed. “Something did happen. But I- don’t want to ruin your birthday, Rumi-” Rumi’s heart felt as if it would burst out of her chest and onto the floor in the car, “I’m going to tell Mira, then it’s up to her to decide if you need to know just yet.”
Zoey was close to hyperventilating and Rumi hung her arm over the back of her neck, pulling her close. Mira pulled the car over, “I just- I think this is better- for all of you.” He added ‘sorry’ before Mira took the phone and stepped outside. Zoey began sniffling and Rumi hugged her before she started to properly sob into the leader's chest.
Mira was outside for a few minutes, she opened the door and sat back in the driver's seat.
“Okay. Yeah, I understand. Bye Bobby, stay safe.” Mira said, voice shaking. She tapped on the phone, and handed it back to Zoey. She slipped it into her pocket quickly and focused her attention on Mira.
Rumi and Zoey watched her, expecting her to say something. Mira sat silently, running her hands over the steering wheel for a moment before turning on the car and beginning to drive again. Rumi could feel the cold hand of uncertainty over her. She watched as Mira drove, she could tell by the way she sat at the wheel — still and dazed, Bobby had told her something bad.
“Is everything okay, Mira?” Rumi reluctantly asked, unsure if she wanted to hear the answer. Mira nodded, humming, but remaining silent otherwise. Rumi became overwhelmingly concerned, worried for her girlfriend.
“R- Rumi.” Zoey said through quiet breaths, drawing Rumi from her mind, “Y-Your patterns.” Rumi glanced down and gasped. They were pulsing vibrantly, painted a dark blue color as they glowed. She watched them for a moment. Silently begging for them to stop.
“Are- Are you okay, Rue?” Mira said, looking through the rearview mirror. Her throat sounded tight, and her voice was strained. Rumi looked up at the mirror; Mira’s eyes were puffy and red, her cheeks flushed. Tears ran down her face, collecting at her chin. Her mascara had been smudged and left black streaks either side of her face.
“Mira — are you crying?” Rumi realised it was a stupid question and regretted asking immediately. Rumi heard Mira’s breath catch and she sat with her mouth open, searching for words.
“No, why would I be? No, of course not. I just– Allergies.” Mira tried brushing off Rumi’s question, but it didn’t work. Not even a little. Mira looked in the mirror again, reading the concern on Zoey and Rumi’s faces. “I’m fine, guys. Really. It was just– Someone I knew, who died.” Mira wasn’t lying. But she wasn’t telling the entire truth either.
Zoey’s face softened, “Oh, Mira.” The Makneh leaned forward, wrapping her arms around Mira’s chest from behind. “I’m so sorry,” Rumi said, scrunching her eyebrows, “We can go home if you want Mira.” Mira shook her head slightly. Rumi knew she wanted to say yes, but something was stopping her.
“I don’t want you to feel like you have to stay just because it’s my birthday. It’s not fair on you.” Rumi halfheartedly smiled at Mira in the mirror, searching her eyes.
“Guys, I–” Rumi paused, fiddling with the end of her braid, “I really don’t care what we do,” she looked at Zoey, then at Mira, “as long as I’m with you two, I’ll be happy.” Rumi sat forward, placing a kiss on Mira’s cheek.
“You two will always be the best gift I could ever get.” Zoey rested her head on Rumi’s shoulder as Mira turned the car around.
“Thank you, Rumi.” Mira said with a soft smile. Rumi grinned, “Don’t even worry about it. I’m here for you, and you–” She pinched Zoey’s cheek, “Always.”
— —
When the elevator doors opened, the girls made their way through the apartment. Mira sat on the couch and Zoey carefully placed herself in her lap. Rumi rummaged around in the kitchen for a while before joining the others with her arms full of snacks.
Zoey recommended ‘The Shining’, as it would scare Mira into becoming distracted from her problem. Mira had agreed, although she knew it wouldn’t work. She needed to figure out how she was going to tell the girls about what had happened, because one way or another, they would find out eventually, and she wanted to make sure she was the one that told them.
Rumi sat beside Mira, and Zoey rested her legs over Rumi’s. Rumi stroked up and down Zoey’s smooth shins, causing her to giggle every now and then. And every now and then, Mira would smile. Not because she had forgotten. Not because she was going insane. Not because she was in denial. But because she knew that her two girls would make everything okay. Even if the world went to shit.
The movie ended, and Rumi shifted in her seat, facing towards Mira. “Mira, I think we should talk about what happened.” She hesitated before reaching out and taking the pink-haired girl’s hand. “Keeping it all pent up and inside– It’s not healthy.” Zoey kissed Mira on the cheek then rested her forehead against Mira’s shoulder.
“I don’t mind that it’s my birthday. Forget about that. There is always next year and the year after that. You are hurting. I can tell.” Rumi paused, kissing Mira’s hand softly, “I want you to talk to me. To Zoey. We are here for you. Always and until the end. Please don’t keep it from us.” Zoey agreed, softly. Rumi lifted Mira’s chin, she was shaken to see Mira crying. Tears ran down her cheeks and she sniffled, leaning into Rumi’s touch with a light hum.
“I-” She searched for words that wouldn’t come.
“Take your time, love.” Zoey said, searching Mira’s eyes, hugging her closer.
“It’s about Celine.” Rumi’s breath caught. Her heart stopped. She could suddenly feel her pulse everywhere — In her chest, creeping up her throat like a tiger stalking its prey, thumping against her eardrums like a war drum.
“She was– She was murdered last night.” Rumi’s eyes filled with tears, Celine had been horrible to her, but she was still family. Rumi still loved her with all her heart. She didn’t want to see her, but she didn’t go as far to say she wanted her dead.
“I’m sorry, Rumi. I’m really sorry.” Mira broke down, sobbing into Zoey’s chest.
Rumi stood to her feet. Walking slowly to her room. “Rumi?” Zoey’s weary voice wavered. “Rumi, where are you going?” Rumi opened her mouth, sucking in a deep breath. “I just– I just need a minute. Alone.” She neared leaving Zoey’s sight before stepping back. “I’ll be back in a moment, I’m going to just freshen up.” She added before slipping into her room.
— —
Rumi fought back against her thumping head, her blood was boiling. A hateful rage was causing her patterns to pulse a violent red. The same color as the blood that will be spilt for Celine. For her motherly figure. Her first ever best friend. She looked at herself in the mirror. Her demon eye stared back at her, vibrant yellow, tinged with black by the slit that sat central in place of the iris.
She clenched her fist on the basin. A sting set into her palm, she gasped through gritted teeth, looking down at her hand. It was a dark blue; Red if you accounted for the blood that was seeping from an open wound in her palm. Her claws had sliced a clean cut straight through the middle of her fighting hand. Her microphone hand.
She suddenly felt even more rageful, slamming her fist into the basin, splattering her blood across the gilded white marble. She screamed, her voice raspy, the same as it had been when she spoke to Gwi-ma. She punched the mirror, shattering it into a million pieces. It made the mirror look better, it made her look better, Rumi thought to herself. It hid her demon eye. It hid her shame. It’s a thing of beauty. If she hadn’t been so overwhelmingly furious, she would have laughed. She played the lyrics in her mind.
‘I broke into a million pieces and I can’t go back.’
She gritted her teeth, clenching her jaw so tight that it hurt. The taste of copper filled her mouth as she glared at herself in the mirror.
‘But now I’m seeing all the beauty in the broken glass.’
She heard footsteps approaching outside the door to her bathroom. “R- Rumi. Are you okay? Is everything okay?” There was a slight pause, “You don’t need to let me in, just– I just need to know you’re okay.” Zoey’s voice trembled as she spoke. Rumi closed her eyes, breathing in shakily.
She didn’t want Zoey or Mira — or anyone — to see her like this. “I–” Rumi stared at the shattered mirror, the dent in the basin. She scowled at her reflection. “I’m not okay, Zoey.” Rumi hesitated, hovering her hand over the door handle. ‘She wants to help. She wants to know that you’re okay.’ Rumi thought to herself. She grasped the door handle and pulled. The door creaked open, painstakingly slow.
Rumi heard Zoey’s breath catch. “Oh, baby.” Zoey’s voice was soothing; understanding. She wrapped her arms around Rumi, without hesitation. Without fear. Without judging her. She just hugged her, regardless of her demon side showing. Rumi broke, spluttering into Zoey’s shoulder, her demon hand clutching at Zoey’s back. Zoey didn’t mind. In fact she was into it. But this was a serious moment, Rumi needed her. Mira needed her.
She rubbed circles on Rumi’s back. “You look beautiful like this, you know?” Zoey whispered softly, she planted her lips on Rumi’s. “I don’t deserve you, Zo.” Rumi said through gasps, buried in the Makneh’s shoulder. “Why did this have to happen?” Rumi sobbed harder, “My life was finally becoming what it should have always been.” Zoey sighed, hugging Rumi tighter.
“I love you so much, Rue. I love Mira so much, too. Did you know?” Rumi couldn’t respond, she couldn’t nod or shake her head. She just cried and cried. And cried some more. A few minutes passed; The two swayed together in time with their heartbeats. Zoey eventually convinced Rumi to come out into the living room so that she could comfort Mira.
— —
They found her curled up on the couch, looking out the window. The sun had begun to set in the sky, casting purple shadows over the apartment. It was pretty, but none of the girls could appreciate it at the moment. Rumi hunched forward as she walked to Mira. She could feel tension in the air as she sat down.
She could feel Mira’s eyes on her; She didn’t know if she was watching with hate or admiration. Rumi felt sick, “You look–” Rumi cut Mira off, “I look hideous.” Mira shook her head, pulling her lips tight. “You look stunning, Rumi.” Mira could see the uncertainty in Rumi’s eye, “Truly, I mean it, Rue.” For the first time in a while, a soft smile tugged at the corner of Rumi’s lips.
“I think–” Rumi averted the gaze of the two girls, “I think we need to redo my bathroom.”