Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was strange really, how quickly the tide can turn when you don’t pay attention for just one second.

One single second.

And yet, it was all Rumi needed to get hit by the weapon of a massive Demon the trio were fighting.

It had knocked her against a brick wall and the horrible pain came a few seconds afterwards.

She’d broken her arm and at least one or more ribs that had been fractured at the least if not broken too.

Not only that but she’d hit her head as well and red crimson was pouring freely from the gash that now decorated her face, just above her right eyebrow.

“Rumi!” Zoey screamed and quickly rushed to her leader’s side, dodging the Demon’s massive mace before it could hit her as well.

“Fucking bastard!” Mira growled, anger boiling within her and overflowing when she unleashed a barrage of attacks on the Demon, not caring about her own safety. “Die!” She screamed and buried her Woldo into the Demon’s chest who then turned into a pile of pink ash.

Mira’s weapon disappeared and she too joined Zoey who was already trying to remove Rumi’s jacket.

“N-no, just-” Rumi tried, the pain in her head increasing. It felt like her skull was going to shatter along with the bones in her arm. “P-please, I j-just need-” She cried, desperately trying to keep her jacket on, keeping her patterns hidden.

“Rumi, baby, please we just want to see if-” Mira started, peeling away the leather jacket to try and see if she was bleeding from any other places than her head.

Rumi tried to stop her and neither of the girls understood why, blaming her erratic behaviour on the fact she had hit her head against the brick wall and gently pushed her hand aside.

“No- no, no, please.”

Mira saw it first, the familiar purple patterns, demonic patterns that had decorated every Demon they had ever fought. Her heart clenched in her chest at the discovery and she swallowed thickly.

Zoey was still trying to comfort Rumi, offering words of love, affection and encouragement. Then she noticed Mira, how she stopped talking, stopped moving and was just staring at Rumi’s skin that was still hidden from Zoey’s gaze.

“Mira, what-” And then she saw it too and Rumi’s heart shattered at the look on Zoey’s face.

“Z-zoey, Mira, p-please,” She begged, pleading desperately but her secret was out now and there was literally nothing she could do. She was bleeding and heavily injured, tears streamed down her face feeling so extremely vulnerable in her current state.

“I’m-” Zoey started, her voice caught in her throat for a moment, eyes still wide from shock and her hands trembling. She grabbed her phone from her pocket, dropping it on the ground due to her hands shaking so much. “Hospital.” She finally managed to push the single word past her lips.

Mira nodded and watched the Maknae get back on her feet. Watching her leave made Rumi whimper softly, her chest was rising and falling quickly and her breathing was becoming more and more frantic, panicked.

“N-no, don’t l-leave,” Her voice hardly above a whisper, the pain from her arm and ribs starting to overwhelm her. She grabbed onto Mira’s wrist who instinctively pulled away. Rumi’s eyes widened in terror and the redhead’s facial expressions were a mixture of anger and sadness. 

“Just-” She started, slowly lowering Rumi to the ground. “Lay down.” 

Rumi was feeling weaker by the minute, her head was spinning. Before she knew it she was retching and shaking violently on the ground. A part of her was glad she hadn’t eaten yet that morning.

“M-mira,” She mumbled, tears mixing with blood the way she laid down. “M-mira, please. I didn’t w-want-” She tried to reach out, ignoring the horrible pain coming from the arm she tried to move, wanting to feel Mira’s comfortable touch like she had many times before. However the redhead didn’t seem to want any of it, avoiding Rumi’s gaze and locking her jaw which she did when mad.

All Rumi could do was lay there and look at her fellow Hunter who was actively avoiding any type of contact unless absolutely necessary. And it broke her.

This is all you deserve.

You’re a mistake.

You should never have been born!

“N-o.” She breathed, closing her eyes and letting the darkness swallow her whole.

Chapter Text

The next time Rumi opened her eyes she was in a lot less pain.

The soft beeping of her heart monitors the only sound in the room.

She moved her head to the side, trying to look around but stopped when her world started to spin so badly she felt herself getting nauseous.

“Wh-ere-” Her voice was cracking badly and her throat felt like sandpaper.

She didn’t have much time to think about it when the door opened, Bobby and Celine walking inside. Where Bobby looked incredibly worried with red, puffy eyes, Celine looked angry.

Her heart clenched at Celine’s facial expression and the machine that showed her vital functions started to pick up speed.

“I was so worried!” Bobby cried and rushed to Rumi’s bedside, hugging carefully on her right side since the left was pretty much all bandages and her arm was set in plaster.

She let out a soft, pained grunt but smiled nonetheless. “You must be hungry! I’m gonna order you something to eat! Or better yet I’m buying everything from the shop downstairs! Whatever, I’ll be right back!” He said excitedly before exiting the room. Leaving Rumi with a seemingly furious Celine.

“W-where are-”

“Your friends?” Celine finished her sentence and Rumi nodded. She took a few steps closer, uncrossing her arms from her chest and holding a cup of water to Rumi’s lips to drink from.

The Hunter drank eagerly wanting nothing but to clench her thirst. She settled back against the pillows, still waiting for Celine to answer. The former singer set the empty cup aside, crossing her arms once again.

“Where do you think they are?”

“I don’t-”

“They know what you are, Rumi.” She said, anger in her voice and a deep frown on her face. 

“But- I’m- I’m still m-me.” Her voice was breaking and what was left of her shattered heart was being stomped on.

“You’re a Demon, Rumi.” Celine almost growled the word Demon when it left her mouth. “It’s your own fault that they know, you should’ve been more careful. Did you learn nothing during our training sessions?!”

“I’m s-sorry I-” The rest of her words died in her throat, feeling overwhelmed. It felt like someone had a hand around her neck and started squeezing. 

“Pathetic.” Celine shook her head disapprovingly. “Look at yourself, your mother would be so disappointed.” Her words were like venom, spreading slowly throughout Rumi’s being until it's all she felt.

Celine left the room, feeling too disgusted by the presence of her adoptive daughter to stay. Leaving Rumi sobbing and absolutely heartbroken.

If her girlfriends didn’t even want anything to do with her, or the person who raised her and was supposed to love her unconditionally, who would?

The answer came in the form of her manager, Bobby.

But, it didn’t matter what he tried to cheer her up, Rumi’s spirit had been broken and the days she stayed in the hospital she lost the will to do anything.

She started to refuse food, saying she wasn’t hungry and with each passing day she looked more and more thin.

Bobby decided that she needed a change of surroundings, that being in a hospital 24/7 wasn’t good for anyone’s health.

Strangely enough it seemed that the demon blood inside her made her healing somewhat faster than with normal humans. Her arm healed faster and she was allowed to take off the plaster after a week. It was still somewhat sensitive but she could use it as long as she didn’t push it and started lifting weights or anything else heavy for now. Her ribs were a different story altogether, they still hurt whenever she tried to move and she for sure couldn’t even lay down on her left side to sleep.

It was one of the reasons she hardly slept at all, the moments she did she’d subconsciously roll onto her damaged ribs and wake up in pain.

Rumi didn’t really care, only half listening to what the doctors said whenever they were in her room. However her heart skipped a beat when Bobby told her she was going home for the remainder of her recovery.

There would be a private nurse during the day and night. During the day she’d be in their penthouse itself while the other nurse would be in a separate room a few floors down. Rumi would only have to press a button and she’d come running.

The lead singer nodded, allowing the nurse to do her job but if she was honest, she didn’t really care.

Her will to live or get better had vanished when she got back home. It was the first time in, well she didn’t even know how much time had passed since everything happened, forever that she saw Mira and Zoey again.

She was wheeled into the penthouse by EMT’s and they stood in the living room. Rumi’s eyes locked with them for a brief moment and they looked, worried? Concerned? She was sure her medication was messing with her head again and turned her gaze away. She didn’t want to force them to look at her, after all, she deserved nothing but the pain her very existence caused her.

She cried herself to sleep every night. Not from pain but pure loneliness. Neither Mira or Zoey had stepped into her room once since her arrival. A part of her knew it, knew they wouldn’t but a small part, buried deep, deep down inside her still hoped that they still cared about her.

She’d no longer feel Mira’s arms around her. No longer would Zoey surprise hug her from behind and laugh at her antics. 

She was alone in the world and secretly, she wished that that Demon had killed her instead. 

Death would surely be more comforting than this, surely. Perhaps she’d see her mother, then again her mother would hate her too. She was sure of it, just like Mira and Zoey. She was a disappointment, a half Demon bastard.

A mistake.

The only reason Celine hadn’t killed her as a baby was because of her mothers dying words. Begging her to take care of the very thing that caused her death to begin with.

Celine had considered killing her, she knew very well because she had told her so many times. Reminded her on occasion that the only reason she was still alive was because of her mercy and her undying devotion and love she had held for her mother.

It was the third night that she was home. She laid in bed, having cried herself to sleep but waking up once again due to rolling onto her damaged side. 

Her breathing was ragged and she pushed herself in an upright position, feeling the world spin for a second before it settled.

She was so tired, so physically and mentally exhausted but she needed her medication if she was to hope for any more sleep during the night. She had seen herself in the mirror earlier that day and she was shocked at what she saw. Dark circles under her eyes and her face looked thinner, her cheeks sunken. Lack of sleep and appetite would do that to a person.

She looked around for her water bottle or any liquid she could take to down the pills. There was none she could see in the mid lit room, the only source of light being from the moon shining down through the curtains, at least not close enough for her to just reach out and grab it. 

She sighed deeply and looked at the small device next to her bed. She could call the nurse but the very thought of calling her just to get her something to drink sounded utterly ridiculous.

She moved carefully to the edge of the bed, whimpering in pain with every sudden move no matter how slowly she tried to move it still hurt.

With her legs now over the edge, she came to realize how heavy they felt but she slid off of the bed anyway which turned out to be her biggest mistake.

Her knees buckled and her legs just refused to support her, sending her to the floor instead. She tried to grab onto something, anything to keep herself in an upright position and failed miserably with that too, sending every item from her side table to join her onto the floor.

The pain was horrible but at least she didn’t fall on her left side, the side that was damaged already. Landing on her right instead didn’t seem to do anything to lessen the pain however. She cried out in absolute agony, trying desperately to get up and failing at that too.

You’re weak.

Pathetic.

You should’ve died at birth…

Her heart was beating so fast, her head spinning and her lungs burning trying to breathe faster than she should.

“P-please-” She whispered, her voice soft, trying desperately to calm herself and failing. “H-elp.” She looked at the open door, thinking she saw a pair of feet, wondering how much damage the fall and heavy medication had already done to her brain. She blinked and the next second they were gone.

‘Please, don’t leave. Don’t leave me!’

Again…

Chapter Text

“Careful, she might have hurt herself even more,” Zoey’s voice seeped through the thick, foggy cloud that surrounded Rumi's brain.

She had no idea that she fell unconscious and was now dreaming, then again anything was better than laying on that cold floor.

“Yeah I know, I’m trying. Shit, just-” It was Mira’s voice this time.

Rumi felt a sharp pain from her ribs and whimpered pathetically, trying to move but warm hands didn’t allow her to do so.

I thought dreams were supposed to be painless.

“Let us help you ba-” Zoey cleared her throat. “Rumi, we heard something fall and well-” The rest of the sentence was lost and Rumi had no time to think about it. Hands carefully moved her and strong arms eventually picked her off of the floor.

When she opened her eyes she looked into Mira’s and felt her heart skip a beat when she noticed the worry in them.

“M-Mira? Am- did-” She took a shuddering breath, unable to believe what she was seeing with her own eyes. 

“Did she hit her head again, you think?” Zoey asked, looking from Rumi to Mira and back.

“I’m not sure,” Mira said, carefully placing Rumi back on her bed. The injured woman whimpered in pain again and when Mira tried to pull her arms away, she grabbed onto one of them. Not wanting her to leave. She felt hopeful when the redhead didn’t pull away this time.

“Don’t- please, don’t leave.” She started to breathe faster, feeling panic rising in her chest while her heartbeat quickened. “Please- I ju-just- I c-an’t-” She started crying and hyperventilating, with all the oxygen she still felt like she was choking.

“Rumi, Rumi please, calm down.” Zoey said, her voice soft while joining their leader in bed, settling next to her and holding her hand in her own. Intertwining their fingers.

“Breathe slowly, okay?” Mira said, now sitting down on the edge, holding Rumi’s other hand in her own and cupping the side of Rumi’s face with the other hand. She started to breathe in through her nose and out through her mouth as an example for the injured woman to follow and lovingly removed some of the tears with her thumb.

Slowly but surely Rumi’s heart came back down to its normal rhythm thanks to the breathing exercise but the tears seemed like a never ending stream.

They stayed like that for a while. Zoey comforting Rumi with gentle touches and Mira doing the same while continuing to remove those pesky tears.

Finally after what seemed like an eternity Rumi felt calm enough to speak and she looked at the girls sitting with her. “Why- why didn’t-” She took a final deep breath to calm herself. “Why didn’t you come to see me in the hospital?” Her voice was soft, as if she already knew the answer, still, she wanted to hear it from them.

Mira and Zoey looked at each other, clearly confused before looking back at the injured woman. “What do you mean?”

“Didn’t- Celine, she said that- she told us you didn’t want to see us.” Zoey then said and swallowed thickly, feeling horribly guilty.

“Yeah, she said you didn’t want us to visit, you didn’t want us to-” Mira set her jaw, slowly realizing what really happened. “You didn’t want us to see you like this, that you didn’t deserve it. That-” She shook her head in disbelief, anger boiling inside her. “I’m going to kill that fucking bitch.” She growled.

“That’s not important right now.” Zoey said, keeping herself in check for Rumi’s sake but she obviously felt the same as Mira. “Rumi, what happened…?”

And Rumi told them what happened at the hospital, what Celine had said and even though she hadn’t outright told her they didn’t want to see her, it was heavily implied and she had pulled her own conclusions from it.

“Yeah, okay, I’m gonna find a hole deep enough where we can bury her in.” Zoey said, looking at Mira who nodded in agreement.

“Guys, just-” She shook her head, suddenly feeling more exhausted than before and trying to get rid of the fogginess once again. “I’m sorry-” She said with a cracking voice. “I’m exhausted.” She sighed, her body feeling extremely weak suddenly after telling them about what had happened and she felt her eyes fluttering shut.

She felt two hands cupping her jaw on both sides of her face and the softest kiss was pressed against her lips. When she opened her eyes again she saw it was Zoey who had just kissed her and she felt her cheeks flush.

“Z-Zoey.” She whispered and the Maknae smiled softly. 

“Do you want to sleep in our bed?” Mira asked, sliding off of the edge. “You know, like before? It’s fine if you don’t-”

“Yes!” She yelped and she heard Zoey giggle. “But, uhm, could you perhaps give me a bottle of water first? My ribs- they are the reason why I don’t sleep much.” She said softly. “And, well-”

Zoey quickly got off the bed to grab the bottle near the door before bringing it back and giving it to Rumi. “Is something else keeping you awake?” She asked, giving the injured woman her medication.

Rumi lowered her gaze after swallowing the pills, wondering if she should tell them.

“It’s okay, jagiya, you can tell us.” Mira said, and Rumi felt her heart flutter hearing her use that pet name.

She swallowed thickly, feeling her heart once again pounding in her chest and she was almost positive Mira could feel how fast when the redhead picked her up and from the bed. She whimpered softly, feeling strangely vulnerable but safe.

“It’s okay baby, I got you.” Mira reassured her, pressing a soft peck against Rumi’s cheek while walking out of her room.

She rested her head on Mira’s shoulder, allowing herself to relax.

“I didn’t sleep much because- because of the pain, but also because I was having horrible nightmares.” 

They walked into their shared bedroom and Mira put Rumi down in the middle of their shared bed after Zoey made sure she had enough pillows to rest against.

“What- what were they about?” Zoey asked hesitantly although she had a nagging feeling in her gut she already knew. “Was it about us?” Her voice was hardly above a whisper and Rumi lowered her gaze. The look on the injured woman’s face broke Zoey’s heart and was answer enough.

“I- I felt so alone,” Rumi whispered and the tears came back in full force. She felt her chest tighten and wondered if she should tell them about the dark thoughts that occupied her mind during her stay in the hospital. She came this far already, so she decided to push further and broke down when she confessed that she had considered ending her own life. “I thought- you both- t-that you h-hated me- I thought t-that it w-would be b-better if- if I just-” She couldn’t even look at them anymore, burying her face in her hands and just cried while four arms wrapped protectively around her body. She buried her face in the crook of Mira’s neck instead, grabbing onto their clothes for dear life, not wanting to let go. Not wanting to be alone ever again.

Both Zoey and Mira whispered sweet nothings and words of comfort to their girlfriend who looked so broken in spirit, who wanted nothing but to be loved and accepted for who she was instead of having to hide away a part of herself out of fear of being rejected.

“We’re here, sweetheart,” Zoey murmured softly, placing a soft peck on Rumi’s cheek and wiping some of her own tears away. “We’re not leaving you. You never have to be alone again.”

Mira nodded at Zoey’s words, feeling her own throat closing up and she had trouble speaking but tried to anyway. “S-she’s right, Rumi.” Mira whispered, holding the injured woman just a little tighter and Rumi ignored the pain of her ribs. “We love you, so, so much baby.” She pulled back, cupping the lead singer's face with both hands. “Don’t you ever think we hate you.” She shook her head at her own words. “We love you, all of you.” She pressed her lips softly against Rumi’s for the most tender kiss Rumi had ever felt before the redhead wrapped her arms back around the shorter woman.

They just sat there, wrapped in each other's arms, the silence in the room comforting and the only sound in the room being their slow, steady breaths.

The silence however, was broken by Rumi’s growling stomach and the trio chuckled lightheartedly. “How about I make us something to eat?” Zoey offered and Mira smiled softly at her.

“Do you need help?” Mira asked but Zoey noticed how Rumi was holding onto the redhead’s shirt and she shook her head.

“I should be fine, babe.” She nudged her head towards Rumi. “Make sure our queen is comfortable and awake when I come back.” She let out a giggle and loved the blush that formed on Rumi’s cheeks from the pet names being used.

The two sat there in silence, Rumi fully resting against the pillows behind her back, feeling more relaxed now than she had been ever since shit hit the fan.

Mira was holding her hand and brought it to her lips, kissing the back before placing it back down. “I take it you didn’t sell your soul to Gwi-Ma and there is a different reason why you have these patterns?” There was no anger in her voice, just genuine curiosity.

She nodded and took a shuddering breath, giving Mira’s hand a gentle squeeze. “Yes.” Her voice was soft, fragile, like she was about to break apart. She felt the tears well up her eyes again, hating how vulnerable she felt, how weak.

“It’s okay, Rumi, you don’t have to tell me now.” Mira assured her.

“I’ll- I’ll wait till Zoey’s back.” She said,

“Won’t be long!” Zoey yelled from wherever she currently was and both Mira and Rumi let out a lighthearted chuckle.

“Is there something I can do?” Mira asked, her thumb lovingly stroking the back of Rumi’s hand but the other woman shook her head.

“Can- could you-” She felt her face grow hotter by the second. God get yourself together. She swallowed thickly at the voice in her head, maybe it wasn’t the best time. She had just missed them both so terribly. Her eyes moved from Mira’s to her lips then back again and the redhead showed a lopsided smile. It dawned down on her what Rumi was trying to ask.

She moved slightly, getting a bit more comfortable and her body turned towards Rumi before leaning in. She put her hands on Rumi’s shoulders, keeping her injuries in mind while she slid them up to her neck and kept them on her jaw, her fingers gently tickling the back of her neck right where her hairline began.

Rumi felt the hairs all over her body stand up when Mira touched her so delicately, feeling her heart skip a beat when their lips finally met and GOD did she wanted it to last. The kiss was soft and slow and perfect and filled with nothing but love. It was innocent, just their lips moving, no rush or pressure to deepen it and when Mira pulled back they were both blushing.

Rumi, not wanting to let go just yet, wrapped her arms around Mira’s neck, pulling her back in, holding her firmly against her own body. Wanting to feel her presence, her warmth and the comfort and reassurance it brought her.

She felt the redhead return the hug, mindful of her ribs she hugged Rumi back and placed a tender kiss on her neck.

“I’ve missed you both so much,” She mumbled, hiding her face in the crook of Mira’s neck, inhaling her scent that was so familiar to her.

“We missed you too.” Mira said and she meant it. Pressing her lips against Rumi’s sensitive neck made the injured woman shiver. “Sorry-”

“Don’t-” Rumi shook her head. “It feels good.” She admitted, she didn’t know how much she had truly missed their touch up until now. And god she didn’t want it to stop.

They just sat there, in comfortable silence. One of Mira’s hands started to stroke her back affectionately and Rumi wished she could get even closer to the redhead.

Eventually, Zoey came walking back into the room, holding a platter with several bowls of food and snacks.

The two reluctantly let go and Rumi’s eyes widened at the amount the Maknae had made in such a short time. “Oh my-” She saw fresh kimchi, some kimbap and even a big bowl of cheese tteokbokki. “This- this looks amazing, Zoey.” the injured woman said and felt her appetite return. 

“Holy shit- I didn’t even know we had anything to begin with.” Mira said and helped Zoey place the platter on Rumi’s lap.

The injured woman noticed there was only one pair of chopsticks. “Is- will you guys not eat with me?” She asked, looking surprised. The amount of food on the platter is enough to feed all three of them.

Zoey smiled shyly. “I mean, I figured you were hungry, so I just put all this together quickly and warmed up some left overs.” She then turned to Mira. “I’m not surprised you didn’t know, considering I’m the only one doing any shopping around here.” She grinned and Mira pretended to be hurt by falling backwards overdramatically onto the bed.

“You wound me, Zoey!” She joked and the trio laughed.

Zoey pulled out two extra pairs of chopsticks after they settled. “I brought two more, just in case.”

Mira quickly got up, picked one pair and kissed Zoey on the lips as a thank you. “Thanks babe, you’re the best.”

Zoey grinned. “Oh I know.” She winked and the trio started to eat together even though both Mira and Zoey made sure that Rumi would eat first.

The two only started eating full force once Rumi assured them both she was full and she let out a light giggle seeing her girlfriends fight over the last piece of kimbap. 

It wasn’t before long that everything was cleaned out and the platter was put somewhere where it was out of everyone’s way.

Zoey and Mira helped Rumi get more comfortable, helping her turn and lay down on her side. Putting pillows wherever needed to make sure she had the support she needed. She eventually ended up with Mira’s pressed against her back and Zoey being her little spoon.

“Is this okay for you?” Zoey asked, looking backwards over her shoulder and she saw Rumi nod. “If you need anything, just wake us up, okay?”

“Thank you.” Rumi mumbled softly, pressing a soft kiss on Zoey’s exposed shoulder and wrapping her arms around the Maknae’s waist, keeping her close. She felt her heart flutter when Zoey put her arms on hers.

Mira’s arms were placed carefully around Rumi’s waist, avoiding her ribs. The redhead had refused at first simply because she didn’t want to hurt Rumi but the injured woman had insisted, wanting nothing more than to feel them both as close as humanly possible. Of course Mira caved, because, well it’s hard to say no to a woman like Rumi.

They just laid there, enjoying the comfortable silence and tender touches here and there, until Rumi’s soft voice broke it.

“My father was a Demon.” She said, her voice hardly audible but they both had heard. “It’s- it’s the reason why I have my patterns.” She swallowed thickly, feeling a familiar sting behind her eyes. “I’m sorry- I’m sorry I didn’t tell you both that you had to find out like this.”

“Don’t be, it’s not your fault you have them in the first place.” Zoey said, giving Rumi’s arm a gentle squeeze of reassurance.

“We are sorry though,” Mira started. “We definitely could have handled it better than we did. We should have trusted you.” Her voice was full of regret. 

“I’m surprised you managed to hide these for so long.” Zoey said, her hand moving over Rumi’s arm. “Considering they cover both your arms.”

“They- I wasn’t born with them. They started showing when I was really young and they got worse when I got older. The more I tried to hide them and the more Celine reminded me of my heritage, the worse they got.” She heard Mira growl behind her.

“I’m going to punch the bitch in the face next time I see her.”

“Same.” Zoey said. “We need to make sure we get it on video so we can rewatch it whenever we feel like.” The trio chuckled light heartedly before the silence returned.

“You- must’ve felt so lonely.” Zoey said, sadness seeming into her voice. She turned around in Rumi’s arms when she didn’t get an answer but heard the woman behind her sniffle softly instead. She cupped her face with both hands, wiping away any tears.

Rumi finally broke down and cried, sobbing her heart out and allowing herself to be vulnerable while holding onto Zoey for dear life. As if the Maknae and the redhead were the only reason keeping her anchored. Finally, after all these years she was allowed to be herself, to have her walls broken down by the two people she loved the most in this world. Walls she had guarded and put up after being scolded for showing any emotion towards Celine who had just told her to suck it up whenever she was hurt or upset.

She had no idea how long the three of them laid there but eventually her body stopped shaking and the tears finally stopped coming, perhaps she had no more tears left to shed. It didn’t matter, she felt exhausted and had trouble keeping her eyes open.

“I’m- so tired.” She whispered, feeling herself drift off already.

“Sleep jagiya,” Mira and both kissed her. One planted a peck on her delicate neck while the other pressed a soft kiss on her lips. “We’ll be here in the morning.”

“We’ll never leave your side again.” Zoey promised, tenderly caressing her cheek before turning back around again, settling back in her former position as the small spoon.

Rumi was halfway to the land of dreams when she heard Mira’s voice whisper, like from a distance.

You’ll never be alone, ever again.

Chapter Text

The next day came far too early than either of them wanted it to. All three buried underneath the warm blankets, limbs entangled with one another.

Rumi couldn’t even remember when the last time had been since she slept so well as she did last night.

“Goodmorning sleepyhead,” Mira’s voice was hardly above a whisper and Rumi felt her arms tighten just a tad more around her body. It made her heart flutter.

“Morning.” She murmured, voice still thick with sleep. She put her arms on Mira’s, opened her eyes for a moment before closing them again. “Where-” She cleared her throat, trying to sound less hoarse. “Where’s Zoey?”

Mira yawned and stretched her body lazily before she settled again. “I think- I think she said something about being hungry.” She unwrapped her arms from Rumi’s body to lay on her back.

The injured woman hardly had time to feel disappointed at the lack of contact when Mira carefully moved her between her legs. “There you go.” She mumbled and Rumi felt her heart starting to beat faster now that she laid on top of the red head.

Her back pressed against Mira’s chest, both of them in a slight upward position.

“Is this okay? Are you comfortable?”

“Yes- yes, very comfortable.” Rumi knew her answer came out too fast and sounded much more nervous than she should be but she couldn’t help it.

Mira let out a soft chuckle, she noticed of course, she always did. “You sound nervous, jagiya.” 

Mira’s warm breath tickled the skin of her neck, sending goosebumps all over her body and a shiver down her spine.

“I’m- I’m sorry, I just, I don’t want to hurt you.” She felt embarrassed, her cheeks undoubtedly matched Mira’s hair color by now.

“You’re the one injured and you think you can hurt me by laying on top of me?” Mira said, there was amusement in her voice. “You’re adorable.” She pressed a light kiss on Rumi’s neck who let out a soft, longing sigh.

They just sat there for a while, Rumi enjoying the warmth and closeness with Mira’s arms protectively around her body. She felt safe, she felt wanted and loved, genuinely loved not the type of love Celine would show her when she was a child.

If you could call it love at all.

With everything else Celine had said and done, Rumi still wanted her affection, always seeking her out and accepting the scraps of attention she received from her adoptive mother. Were it a small word of praise or if they would stand next to each other during a photoshoot, close enough that she could almost feel the warmth but just out of reach.

“How are you feeling?” Mira’s voice broke her train of thought, pulling her back to the present. “I noticed your patterns have spread, they seem to cover your entire body now.”

Rumi felt her chest tighten and her first instinct was to try and hide them, try to cover up that part of herself.

“I’m- I’m sorry, Rumi, I didn’t- I didn’t mean to-” Mira apologized, grabbing Rumi’s hands to stop her from trying to cover herself. “Don’t hide, please.” 

Rumi heard the slight cracking in Mira’s voice, heard how sincere her plea was and she nodded. “I’m sorry, it’s just the first thing that crosses my mind.” She admitted but felt Mira squeeze her hands gently, reassuring her and offering her real support.

She felt Mira’s hand move after letting go of her hands, one hand moved up and stopped on her throat for a moment before it continued to slide up slightly more and stopped on her jaw. The redhead gently turned her head to face her and Rumi felt her heart stutter at the love and adoration she saw in her eyes.

“Mira-” She whispered, her entire body felt like it had been lowered in hot water. Suddenly the room felt entirely too hot with Mira being so close she felt her breath on her lips.

“You are so beautiful, Rumi.” She whispered, caressing the soft skin of her face before pressing their lips carefully together.

It was slow, just lips brushing over and against lips, there was no rush behind it, just love, patience and understanding.

Rumi’s heart was hammering in her chest, pounding so hard she was sure Mira could feel it. She didn’t want this to end but they both needed air and broke apart to gaze in each other's eyes for a moment. They were both panting, both their faces flushed and their mouths slightly open.

“Rumi-” Mira started but Rumi’s hand snuck behind her head and pulled her back in, kissing her again but she was the one taking the initiative to deepen it. The whimper she pulled from Mira seemed to feed a hunger inside Rumi she had never felt before and she craved more. Wanted to hear more of those sounds, wanted to coax and pull every little noise she possibly could from the taller woman.

“Oh MY! ” Zoey’s voice startled them both and they could almost feel their souls leaving their bodies. “Don’t mind me, I’m very much enjoying the show.” Zoey grinned and dodged the pillow Mira threw at her. “Rude, also, weak throw. I’m used to better aim babe- oof!” The next pillow had been a full hit right to the face.

Zoey let out a giggle at her girlfriends who were trying to act normally, not as if she had just caught them making out. She crawled onto the bed with them, putting herself between Rumi’s and Mira’s legs and leaned over Rumi to kiss Mira first.

Deep, passionate and sensual and even though they had kissed hundreds of times before, it still left them breathless and eager for more each time it was broken.

Mira then watched, eagerly awaiting for what was going to happen next when Zoey moved to Rumi.

“You have one of those kisses for me too baby?” Zoey asked hopefully, but if Rumi would tell her not yet she would be fine with that too. She didn’t have time to worry or think before Rumi’s hands cupped her face and pulled her in. This time the kiss was deepened almost immediately.

The sounds Zoey and Mira made were addictive to say the least and Rumi wanted, no, she needed more. She pulled the Maknae fully on top of her, wanting to feel her body, that comforting warmth. She did her best to ignore the stinging of her ribs and how they throbbed from the extra pressure on top of her.

Zoey put her hands flat on the mattress, trying not to put her full body weight on the injured woman below her. There was a heat rising within the Maknae which unfortunately decided to settle below her waist. She drank in the soft moan that escaped Rumi’s throat and whimpered in response when she felt her Unnie’s hands slide under her crop top. Touching her skin so delicately, nails carefully scraping over sensitive flesh.

She pulled back, breaking the kiss and taking Rumi’s hand in her own in an attempt to distract herself. “Baby-” She panted heavily like she’d been running. “Holy shit, let me-” She tried calming her racing heart, smiling reassuringly down at both Rumi and Mira. “Sorry- need to catch- my breath.” She explained and started fanning herself with one hand.

“Seems I’m not the only one you’re leaving breathless with your kisses, baby girl.” Mira said and let out a soft chuckle when Rumi turned her head and buried her face in the crook of her neck. “Awwwww, look how shy she is.” She teased and Rumi muttered a soft ‘shut up’.

Both Mira and Zoey laughed and eventually Rumi joined in.

“As I was trying to say,” Zoey cleared her throat again. “As much as I’d love to see where this-” She gestured with her hands between the three of them. “Is going, I don’t think you’re quite ready yet, jagiya.” She added the last bit with a soft, loving smile.

“But-” Rumi looked worried, a little unsure even. “Don’t you want me?” The sadness in the loaded question was obvious.

Her expression tugged at the heartstrings of both Mira and Zoey. “Of course we do, like, a lot.” Zoey said reassuringly and quickly cupped Rumi’s face with both hands. She noticed the tears in them and felt her heart clench. “We just want to make sure you’re healed properly.”

“She’s right, Rumi. The last thing we want to do is hurt you when-” Mira swallowed. “W-when that happens.”

“However, your kisses, my god.” Zoey grinned. “You sure we’re your firsts?” 

Rumi smiled, genuinely smiled, feeling lighter and wanted. They didn’t say no because they didn’t want her, they said it because they have her best interests in mind. They were probably right to, all things considering her ribs felt okayish but nowhere near what they needed to be just yet. Her Demon half had some good qualities after all, faster healing being one of them.

“Anyway, I wanted to tell you all breakfast will be done soon before I got distracted by the two most beautiful women in existence. Like, seriously, it’s insulting how amazing you both look. How dare you.” Zoey continued, grinning from ear to ear.

“You’re ridiculous,” Rumi muttered. 

“No, I’m awesome.” 

“And modest too.” Mira chipped in, carefully moving from behind Rumi. She could hear Zoey laughing from the living room.

“Would you like me to pick you up like last night?” Mira asked, getting off of the bed but waited by the edge. “Or do you want to piggy back ride me?”

“I’m- I need the bathroom first,” She smiled. “You go already, I’ll be there in a bit.”

“Are you sure? Do you need any help?” Mira offered but Rumi shook her head.

“As long as I don't fall, I should be fine.” She grinned at Mira. “I don’t plan on falling.” She joked which made them both laugh. 

Mira gave her a soft peck on the cheek before she left the room to join Zoey. 

“Damn, that smells great,” The smell of freshly made food spreading through the apartment. “I’m glad you took those cooking lessons after nearly burning the palace down.”

“That happened once!” Zoey yelped, nearly dropping the pan with boiling water. “That doesn’t prove anything!”

Mira grinned, sitting down at the kitchen island on one of the stools. “Uhu, sure it doesn’t.”

“Where’s Rumi?” She asked, adding the last few ingredients into one of the pans.

“She needed to use the bathroom.”

“Alone?”

“I offered to help, she said she should be okay. Besides, where is that nurse? I thought Celine hired someone?”

“Oh, her. I sent her on her way, told her we no longer needed her services,” Zoey said and was surprised by the look on Mira’s face. “What…?”

“Nothing, just impressed.” She said, eyeing her girlfriend up and down. She reached across the countertop and guided her around it towards her. “I forgot to tell you, you’re also beautiful.” She chuckled and pecked Zoey’s lips.

“I’m trying to cook.” She muttered.

“Mhn-hm, sure you are.” Mira teased, pressing their lips together again for a longer, deeper kiss. “Also, you’re burning the eggs.”

“Shit!”

Mira laughed and watched Zoey run back around, trying to save the eggs on the stove. Unfortunately they were beyond saving and Zoey opted for just making new ones.

Suddenly, they heard the familiar ping of the elevator and the doors sliding open. Celine walked out, looking more agitated than they had seen her.

“Celine, what an unpleasant surprise.” Mira deadpanned and let out a deep, annoyed sigh.

“Have you both lost your minds?” Celine asked, standing only a few feet away from Mira and stepping forward into her space.

“About? We need specifics.” Mira said, narrowing her eyes towards Celine, feeling the anger from last night coming back.

“The nurse. I was called by their office a few hours ago,” She took a few steps forward. “Do you know how hard it was to find someone to take care of it?”

It?

“I’m- I’m sorry,” Mira started, unable to wrap her mind around the fact Celine called Rumi a thing. “Who are you talking about?” She wanted to give her a chance, one chance to correct herself.

Zoey had long forgotten the food on the stove and turned off the fire when she joined Mira on the other side of the counter. “Yeah Celine, who are you talking about, because if you’re talking about Rumi like she’s just some thing , you better leave.”

“You both know damn well what I mean,” She snapped. “That half Demon bastard-”

She never finished the sentence and for one split second the only sound in the room was that of a slap, followed by Celine falling to the ground.

Mira was standing over her, eyes dangerous when she grabbed Celine by the collar of her pristine white shirt, pulling her up seemingly without any effort.

“Say that again, I dare you!” She growled. “Say it! SAY IT!”

Celine didn’t seem scared, hesitant yes but she faced Demons, real threats in her life. She wasn’t scared of some girl, even if she was a hunter. She pushed Mira off of her and wiped some blood away from the corner of her mouth before straightening her clothes.

“You two didn’t want to have anything to do with her either.” She said, remembering clear as day how Mira and Zoey came to her after finding out about Rumi’s secret.

“Or did you two forget? The betrayal? How hurt you were? Wondering if you did the right thing.”

Mira and Zoey felt their blood run cold because they knew what was coming. It had been a brief moment, one that spilled past their lips when they felt hurt and betrayed. But never would they ever have acted on that thought and thinking back to it made them feel sick to their stomach.

“Wondered if killing her wouldn’t have been more merciful instead of letting her live.” She almost growled the words and scoffed.

“Shut the fuck up!” Mira screamed and lunged forward, punching Celine once while the two fell to the floor. The redhead on top of their mentor and trying to land punch after punch on that disgustingly smug face.

“Mira! Mira stop!” Zoey’s voice pulled Mira out of her frenzy and the redhead looked at the Maknae who wasn’t looking at her but at the door leading to their shared bedroom. In the opening stood Rumi, the patterns along her body glowing a dark purple and spread all the way up to her face. Her face frozen in shock as the tears slid down her face.

Chapter Text

She remembered that brief moment well enough, she and Zoey both did like it was yesterday.

“You should’ve just killed her, be done with it, that would’ve been more merciful than her living like this.” Celine’s words had been sharp and the two members of Huntrix looked at one another.

For a fleeting moment, perhaps even less than a heartbeat, they let their hurt and feeling of betrayal get the better of them. Celine had taken their silence that they agreed with her, which they didn’t, in the slightest.

They were ashamed they thought about it, no matter how quickly the moment had passed after. They were hurt she lied to them for all these years, sure but to end Rumi’s life because she was a Demon?

No, never.

Mira would rather die than kill Rumi and Zoey felt the same, she knew it.

But it didn’t matter now, not anymore. Celine’s words probably caused irreversible damage to one of the two people in the world she never wanted to hurt.

She looked at Rumi, the shock and terror and betrayal on her face shattered Mira’s heart and she forgot all about Celine. Rumi’s patterns glowed a deep purple and she looked like she was about to bolt, run off and disappear.

She knew her injuries wouldn’t let her but Rumi still tried. She was fast, keeping in mind her broken ribs but Zoey was faster.

The Maknae caught Rumi before she could even take ten steps towards the door, arms firmly around the injured woman who was using her own arms to push her away.

“Rumi, Rumi please-” Zoey tried but Rumi didn’t listen, she cried and struggled and whimpered in pain in an attempt to break free.

Mira looked down at Celine and pulled her off of the floor only to push her towards the elevator. The doors opened and the redhead all but threw her in and pushed the down button.

“Mira-” Zoey’s voice came, sounding desperate while using all her might to prevent Rumi from breaking free.

“I’m coming.” She said and within 2 seconds she stood behind Rumi, her arms now also holding onto their leader who was still trying to break free from their arms.

“Please, Rumi, just-”

“No!-” Rumi sobbed, her breath ragged and her voice hoarse from crying. “L-let m-me go! Please!” She begged, hating herself for simply existing.

Both Zoey and Mira knew there was no point in talking for now, so they remained silent, letting Rumi rage and cry and scream and hit them both with closed fists. It didn’t hurt them, not physically at least but their hearts felt heavy from guilt. They couldn’t imagine how Rumi felt, hearing from the mother figure in her life that her girlfriends wanted to kill her, no matter how brief the moment itself had been.

It shattered Rumi and whatever they shared last night was completely wiped away, any meaning behind their words seemed empty and hollow.

But Rumi loved them, loved them both and a part of her understood their reasoning but it didn’t make it hurt any less. So she tried to get away, struggled to break free, using her fists to hit both of them but they didn’t budge, they didn’t let go and somewhere buried deep inside her held onto the fact they still loved her.

She had no idea how long they stood there but her body grew tired, her ribs throbbed, her throat hurt and her eyes were red and puffy. She eventually stopped hitting them and wrapped her arms around Zoey’s neck and shoulders, clinging onto the Maknae while she cried in the crook of her neck.

She felt her body grow weaker, exhaustion taking over slowly and she felt herself slide down onto the floor along with Zoey and Mira who simply refused to let go of her.

Zoey sat down onto the ground, legs crossed and pulled Rumi on her lap, one of her arms wrapped around Rumi’s torso, holding her close and her other hand held the back of her Unnie’s head.

“Just hold onto us baby,” She whispered and Rumi wrapped her legs around Zoey’s waist like a desperate koala.

Mira sat on her knees behind Rumi, chest firmly pressed against the shorter woman to offer her some sort of comfort even though she wasn’t even sure if she wanted it from her. She tried removing some of her own tears but they just kept on coming so she eventually just gave up, tucking herself behind Rumi and kissed the back of her neck as a small sign of her affection.

Rumi shivered from the simple gesture and it was as if her heart stopped for a moment when she felt Mira pulling away. Her hand immediately shot to Mira’s wrist to stop her from moving away. As much as she had tried to get away from both of them earlier, she didn’t want them, either of them to leave. Not really.

“I- I thought-” Mira stuttered and swallowed hard, feeling her heart skip a beat when Rumi continued to hold onto her wrist while pulling her arm back around her body.

Mira’s arm was smushed between Zoey and Rumi but the redhead was more than relieved that her girlfriend didn’t want her to go. Instead she wrapped her other arm back around Rumi, joining other hand on Rumi’s stomach.

They don’t know how long they sat there.

Minutes, or even hours but eventually the thickness in the air seemed to settle even though it still felt tense.

Rumi took a long, deep breath before slowly releasing it. The trio got up from the cold floor in silence and while both Mira and Rumi sat down on a barstool, Zoey walked around the island to warm their long forgotten food back up.

They ate in silence, cleaned up and spent the rest of the day doing things to fill their day. Either watch tv in the living room, scroll through tiktok or browse and watch videos on youtube. 

Eventually, the day came to an end and Rumi, somewhat half asleep already on the couch, got up after tucking away her phone in her hoodie and headed towards her room.

Not the room they had shared last night, but her own. Both Mira and Zoey jolted up from the couch, following their leader who was ready to walk into her room after opening the door.

“I- I need-” Rumi started and both her girlfriends stopped dead in their tracks at how much effort the injured woman put into leveling her voice, straining it in a way she didn’t want to show her true feelings. They noticed how her hand was shaking, how she didn’t look at them and avoided eye contact all together.

It broke their hearts.

“Rumi,” Zoey whispered, wanting to take a step forward but unsure if it would cause their Unnie to run off entirely.

“I need- some space.” Rumi then finally said, there was no anger in her voice but she sounded hurt, vulnerable, fragile in a way where Rumi was scared to break into a million pieces. “Please-” She shook her head and rushed into her room before they could see her tears.

And they respected Rumi’s wishes, as much as it broke them on the inside. If she needed space for now, no matter how long, they would give it to her.

Rumi slept on her own during that night, and many nights after although she didn’t sleep much because the nightmares came back. If she slept a few hours each night without waking up bathing in sweat or screaming in terror she would be lucky.

The girls always, always knocked on her door whenever they noticed she woke up, asking if she was alright, if she wanted them to come in but she said she was fine. But in reality she wasn’t fine, far from it even.

Her appetite declined and she started losing weight and while her ribs had finally healed, her mental health had taken a blow along with her physical state.

It had been about two months since she asked for space when she couldn’t take it anymore. The lonely nights, the horrible gruesome nightmares that terrorised her during her sleep, her desperate, agonizing feeling of need and want for the two people who she loved so dearly. The two people she’d give her life for, and the two people who she hurt but hurt her back.

She couldn’t blame them but the sting of betrayal in her heart matched the expression on their face when they had noticed her patterns for the first time. 

She laid in her bed, crying bitter tears of regret while feeling utterly alone. Once again she had woken up, her shirt soaked and clutching her chest where Mira had stabbed her and her throat where Zoey had sliced it open. Rumi had laid back down and grabbed a pillow, holding it to her chest as she screamed and cried in it to muffle the sound.

Eventually, she let go of said pillow, throwing it somewhere in her room. She couldn’t keep doing this to herself, to them because she knew they loved her, she knew it deep down buried underneath the hurt, the guilt, the self loathing and feelings of betrayal.

So she got up, her legs and hands shaking when she left her bedroom and knocked softly on the door leading into the room Zoey and Mira shared.

“Come in.” Mira’s voice came muffled from the other side and Rumi noticed it was just her in the bed, holding a book using the light next to her on the nightstand.

Rumi noticed the surprise, almost shocked expression on Mira’s face and for a moment she thought she made a mistake before Mira almost yeeted the book aside and immediately opened the duvet for Rumi to join her.

Rumi didn’t need to say anything, Mira understood, loud and clear. The very fact that the leader stood there, the silent plea in her eyes and a trembling lower lip, was all the communication she needed.

So Rumi stepped forward, her eyes never leaving Mira’s as she crawled carefully on top of the taller woman. Only breaking eye contact when she laid down. Her arms found their way around Mira’s body, holding onto her like she was an anchor. Her head resting on the redhead’s chest and Rumi listened to the gentle and mostly stable heartbeat beneath the warm skin. She closed her eyes, but the tears still slipped past her lids and onto Mira’s shirt.

Mira held her gently, kissing the top of her head like she had done many times before. Offering whatever comfort she could to Rumi in what she craved the most by caressing her body affectionately. There was no need for words at this moment, not right now.

Rumi felt herself drift towards slumber, using Mira’s heartbeat as her lullaby when she heard a door open and close.

She registered Zoey's voice and a soft smile spread on her lips when she felt a dip in the mattress followed by another hand that started to caress her ever so tenderly.

That night was the step in the right direction, of course it didn’t magically fix everything but they no longer felt like they walked on eggshells. They were open, more free.

They talked with one another, shared how they felt and apologised where needed. Rumi no longer slept alone either and officially moved into their room, her intense nightmares became a thing of the past.

They went out as a trio now more often to fight Demons because for some reason a new boyband made their debut that turned out to be a group of Demons trying to steal the very souls Huntrix fought so hard to protect.

They decided to wait for a perfect opportunity to strike because attacking them during or just after Soda Pop was way too public and suspicious. They didn’t have to wait long and Huntrix faced the Saja Boys when they tried to steal the souls of a small group of fans.

The ripple through the Honmoon sent them a warning and they didn’t waste any time but headed into the direction it came from. They struck without warning, taking down Baby first who was in the middle of sucking the soul out of his victim when he got turned to ash by Mira’s Woldo. 

Abby followed suit when Zoey ripped his abs to shreds thanks to her loyal knives. 

Only Romance, Mystery and Jinu were left standing, growling and attacking the trio one on one.

Rumi faced Jinu, slicing nothing but air while the Demon leader of the Saja Boys continuously dodged her attacks. He laughed at her, grinning wickedly and using his sharp claws to try and injure her wherever he could. But he wasn’t the only one who was good at dodging and reflecting attacks.

Romance and Mystery were taken care of relatively quickly, seemingly less well trained in the ways of combat than their leader. However, they didn’t count on the fact that Jinu summoned other demons in their stead.

“Fuck!-” Mira growled trying her best to take down as many of Jinu’s lackeys as she could with Zoey by her side but there seemed to come no end to the stream of lesser Demons they kept sending back to Gwi-Ma.

“Shit- we can’t hold them!” Zoey yelled, stabbing and slicing and throwing her knives at every possible target.

“Rumi! We need you!”

Rumi kicked Jinu’s chest, sending him flying against some crates that stood next to a wall before turning around and throwing her sword into the ever growing pile of Demons that seemed to overwhelm her fellow Hunters. “I’m coming! Hold on!” She ran towards them, resummoning her sword and slicing through dozens of them, freeing her girls from their grasp.

She jumped up and forward, using the wall to send herself backwards into the air before landing back down onto the ground with a loud roar. The powerful ripple it created along with the force that sent the lesser demons flying in every direction, pulverizing them in the process. 

She had to catch her breath for a moment but got back up to check on her girls who were rushing towards her already.

“Oh my god, are you okay?” Rumi asked, her heart pounding in her chest, eyes wide and breathing ragged.

The other two looked just as disheveled as their leader, a few cuts here and there but nothing serious. She pulled them into a hug, sighing in relief.

Relief that was short-lived.

Rumi should have known better than to turn her back to an enemy but she had been too concerned about the wellbeing of Mira and Zoey. There was a part of her that thought Jinu had also been taken care of by the ripple that she had caused. The sheer force when she came down had sent the others flying after all. But Jinu wasn’t the same, he wasn’t the mindless Demon like she had faced before.

And it was Mira who saw him first, crawling out from between the destroyed crates like a predator and in full Demon form. Zoey was second but by the time Rumi noticed, it was already too late.

Somewhere in the back of her mind she heard Mira scream and when she finally turned around all she could do was catch the redhead before she fell to the floor.

Zoey had sent her knives flying, hitting the target but not enough to kill him up until the end when the damage was already done. There was a knife lodged between his eyes and he stood there, motionless. Blood dripped from his clawed hand, the hand which he used to slice open Mira’s back because she jumped between Jinu and Rumi to catch the blow.

Jinu died laughing, his body turning to ash and the knife disappeared when he was gone, leaving the trio behind.

“Mira! MIRA!” Rumi screamed her name, lowering herself to the ground while the redhead felt her knees give out from under her. “No, nonono! Why! Why did you do that!”

Mira looked up at her, a faint smile on her lips as her blood colored the ground red. She looked at her as if the answer was the most obvious in the world.

Because I love you.

Chapter Text

Blood.

So much blood.

It covered the ground.

Their hands and clothes.

Rumi and Zoey had desperately tried to stop the bleeding with whatever they could but the crimson kept on coming.

Mira had lost consciousness a few minutes after the attack and Zoey called the emergency services with shaking, bloodstained hands, blood that now covered her cellphone.

They would arrive in a few minutes and Rumi never realized just how long those minutes could last.

They tried turning her on her side to get a good look at the damage and perhaps get a better chance to stop the bleeding by pressing down on it directly.

But when they lifted Mira’s sweater slightly both of them felt their heart drop at the sight.

From about the middle of her lower back to just around her hip were four deep lacerations that had blood oozing out of them like water from a broken faucet.

They tried to stop it but it was a losing battle, they weren’t trained to deal with these types of injuries and they prayed to whichever deity was willing to listen that the EMT’s would arrive in time.

They arrived after what felt like an eternity and Mira was taken after they had stabilized her enough for the ride.

Bobby, like the angel he was, arrived there with a car while the EMT’s were still working on Mira and the trio drove like a bat out of hell behind the ambulance.

Apparently Zoey had called him after calling the emergency services and Bobby being the amazing person he is, took it upon himself to answer in this time of need.

They arrived at the hospital only a few minutes after Mira but she was already taken to an OR by the time they got inside.

They were told to go to the waiting area where Bobby started making phone calls and both Zoey and Rumi started pacing around like animals trapped in a cage.

They didn’t even know how long they waited there but it was already dark outside by the time someone called on them.

They were led into a small office where a doctor informed them about Mira’s current status. The lacerations itself didn’t seem like much from the outside but most of the damage had been done where they couldn’t see it. She had managed to fix it to the best of her abilities but Mira would need to be taken care of whenever she would be allowed to go home. A careful eye must be kept on her to ensure that she wouldn’t do anything to worsen her condition or god forbid, pull her stitches.

“So- so she’s- she’s going to be okay?” Rumi asked with a trembling voice, holding onto Zoey like she was the only thing keeping her intact right now. 

The surgeon took a deep breath but nodded. “She’s young and healthy, as horrible as her injuries were, she should make a full recovery. She will be allowed to leave in about a week, if her wounds heal the way they should and if she doesn’t get an infection.” 

Both Zoey and Rumi hugged the doctor who seemed surprised but smiled reassuringly. “You can go see her, she should wake up in a few hours. Or perhaps freshen up at home?” She smiled and told them to ask one of the nurses about what room Mira would be in after they made up their mind of what they would end up doing.

It wasn’t a choice really, they were going to see her, fuck changing clothes and they headed to the desk where the doctor had told them to go to but Bobby (ofcourse) had beat them to it.

She had been taken to a private room, normally she had to go to a recovery room for closer observation, but Bobby didn’t want anyone gawking at her so asked to have her moved to a room with more privacy. Money obviously being no issue.

It didn’t take them long to get there but when they arrived, Bobby opted to give the three of them some alone time.

Rumi and Zoey walked deeper into the room, listening to the machines their girlfriend was attached to make the usual, steady and soft beeps.

She looked pale, of course not surprising considering how much blood Mira had lost, still it made her look so more fragile now under the light of the dim lit room, more vulnerable.

She laid on her left side, the side that had been sliced open up to take the pressure off wrapped in thick gauze and bandages. She even had a cannula in her nose to provide extra oxygen and several IV bags hanging next to her bed that were attached to one of her arms, providing the needed medication and much needed pain relief.

They sat down on some of the provided seats after pulling them to the side of the bed Mira was facing. Both women took one of the redheads hands, holding it like it was the most precious thing in the world and just watched her.

Watched how she breathed slowly but steady and listened to the soft beeps that indicated Mira’s strong heartbeat. 

Zoey brought Mira’s hands to her lips and kissed the back carefully, like she was scared that the small gesture could hurt her girlfriend somehow. “She’s- sh-e’s going to live.” She whispered and let out a choked sob, the tears she managed to keep at bay since their arrival in the hospital coming back in full force.

Rumi tried to keep it together but seeing Zoey break apart broke her right along with her. The two cried, finally letting out their fear through their tears.

They sat there switching between crying and caressing Mira’s face, arms, anything they could reach really. Whenever the nurses came in to check Mira’s vitals, check her incisions or adjust her medication they would always move out of the way, only to quickly return to their seats once the nurses were gone.

A few hours had passed since they joined Mira in her room and out of the blue Rumi heard a sound that made her heart beat faster and caused her anxiety to crawl back out of the seemingly very pits of hell itself.

She recognized those footsteps anywhere…

Celine.

She hadn’t seen her since that day where Mira had punched her on the kitchen floor. The very thought of seeing her again made her feel sick but she knew Bobby wouldn’t let her in, of that she was certain.

Her heart dropped when the sound stopped and she heard Celine’s voice just outside the door, arguing with Bobby.

“What in the fuck are you doing here?” He asked and Rumi swore she could hear him growl all the way from where she was sitting. Holy shit, Bobby.

“Checking on my investment.” Celine said, she didn’t sound impressed in the very least. “Move out of my way, now.”

“How about you crawl back from whatever hellish place on earth you just spawned from and leave these girls the fuck alone. They already went through hell, they don’t need to add a visit from the devil incarnate to add to their list of shitty things that happened today.”

Zoey was about to get out there herself, although she was incredibly impressed by Bobby and the fact he could actually cuss when the right people were involved. But a third, extremely sleepy sounding voice suddenly caused her heart to skip a beat and turn her attention back at Mira.

“Da hell, why do I hear the devil herself outside? Did I die and go to hell?” Mira groaned and grunted in discomfort that turned into a surprised yelp when both Zoey and Rumi got up and kissed her feverishly all over her face. 

“Ohmygod, whasshappening?” She blinked confused. “My girlfriends ain’t gonna be happy with you two when I tellem you kissssed me.” She grinned and let out a sound that was a mix between a snort and a chuckle.

“We are your girlfriends, you dumbass.” Rumi muttered and let out a tearful chuckle. This new information to Mira’s drugged up brain caused the grin on the redhead's face to grow so big they thought it would split her face in two.

She eyed them up and down as much as she could considering her current position and wiggled her eyebrows while whispering ‘reallyyyyy?’

Zoey smiled, putting one of Mira’s hands against her tearstained cheek and her other hand on Mira’s face. “We’re so happy you’re awake baby.” She whispered.

“Me toooo,” Mira sighed longingly, the after effects of the anesthesia hitting her hard and a part of Zoey wondered if she should film her so she could show her later.

She decided against it and instead opted to press her lips against Mira’s for a soft, slow kiss. “I love you.” She murmured against her lips after breaking the kiss and slowly pulling away.

“You love I too.” She blinked in confusion and crunched her face for a moment in thought. “Wait, that didn’t sound right.”

Both Zoey and Rumi laughed and Mira turned her gaze to their leader. “Can I get a kiss from you too? You’re my girlfriend too, right?”

Rumi smiled softly and nodded. “Yes, yes I am.” She leaned in and followed Zoey’s earlier example, kissing Mira tenderly and slowly on her lips before pulling back slightly to look into her brown eyes. “You love I too.” She joked and all three laughed softly.

They were startled when the door opened but it was Bobby who entered and not Celine. “Oh my god, look who’s awake!” She said and tried to not cry in his excitement.

“Boooooobbbyyyyyyyy!” Mira grinned, enjoying her after surgery drugs that were clearly still in her system. “Did I hear you talk to the devil?”

He blinked a few times but realized this must be the anesthesia speaking and he nodded with a thumbs up. “Yup, very much so. Send her packing though, so you’re very safe with your two guardian angels right here. And don’t worry, I had some security come over to stand outside your door, Celine won’t set a foot inside if she doesn’t want it chopped off.”

“I’m tired,” Mira whined. “And hungryyyyy.”

“How about you girls go home to get changed, cleaned up and come back here while I’ll see what I can do about the food situation?” Bobby offered like the living breathing angel he was.

“I waaaaant kimbaaaap.”

“I don’t think that you’re allowed to eat that yet, but we’ll see.” He heard Mira whine while looking at the other two.

“You sure, Bobby?” Rumi said, reluctant to leave but both she and Zoey could definitely use a shower and some fresh clothes.

“Sure, with the drugs she’s getting, she’ll fall asleep again soon.”

“I can hearrrr youuuuuuu. Oh pretty pink elephants.”

“Yeah, she’ll be fine.” Bobby promised and fished his phone from his pocket before settling next to Mira on one of the chairs. “Look at these pretty little sheep, Mira. How about you make me the proudest manager and start counting them for me, kay?”

Mira let out a soft giggle. “Yes dad.” 

Zoey and Rumi could see Bobby freeze for a moment and saw a tear slide down his cheek accompanied with a warm smile before he could turn around. He cleared his throat, no doubt to level his voice before he spoke. “Yeah, no worries, she’s in good hands.” He reassured both Zoey and Rumi who watched him put his phone in front of Mira’s face to count the animals on the screen.