BigFigNewton

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“Oh, I know!” Zoey said, mischief lighting up her face. “Let’s take a new photo. One with Mira’s big girl cheeks.”

“With my fucking what?”

Rumi looked like she might be on the verge of tears from holding in her laughter. She took a deep breath, and to Mira’s surprise she nodded. “This is just for us. No one else,” she warned before she slung an arm around a giggling Zoey’s shoulders and dragged her over. Mira braced herself for the same rough treatment, hoping that her shoulder wouldn’t burn too badly. Instead, Rumi carefully wrapped her hand around Mira’s waist to pull her close.

“We’ve come so far since then. I want to keep moving forward with you,” Rumi said, painfully sincere, and Mira couldn’t help but stare at the both of them, grateful they could have this moment.

The sound of a digitized shutter rang out unexpectedly. Mira had no idea what kind of dazed look might be on her face as Zoey snapped the picture, but it probably wasn’t flattering. She peered over Rumi’s shoulder, and instead of cringing, she was filled with all kinds of mushy feelings at the sight.

Derpy sprawled across the couch in the background, and Zoey’s ability to include him so effortlessly was honestly impressive. Zoey looked happier than Mira had seen her in a long time with Rumi’s patterned arm thrown about her shoulders and her own hand making bunny ears behind Mira's head. Zoey's grin was wide and self-satisfied and matched by eyes that seemed to sparkle under the warm fairy lights. Rumi beamed up from the photo, slotted against Mira's side like a puzzle piece. Her hair spilled over her forehead and shoulders, framing her face and highlighting her effortless beauty. And Mira? A blush dusted her cheeks and a soft smile played at her lips as she looked at the two girls who formed her world instead of the camera lens. Mira barely recognized the expression on her own face.

Mira managed to rise halfway when a shockwave drove her to back her knees. It rumbled through her, less feeling than noise. Mira’s body vibrated with the force, and she was pretty sure her insides liquified. An instinctive terror, deep and primal, gripped her neck in an icy chokehold. She couldn’t breathe. She was going to die. She had never been more certain of anything in her life. She was going to die holy fuck she was gonna die–

It sounded like the world was falling apart, and Mira felt every second of it reverberate in her fucking bones.” —Hindsight, Ch. 7: Stakes on a Train

Also putting this without the lil faceless demons and smoke here because teeth and claws UwU

I truly cannot express enough how much I love this fic and how much of a reprieve in the (wonderful) angst it is. The characterization of the girls and everyone around them is just so amazing to read and Mira the absolute idiot lovergirl that you are and everyone should read this fic

Bonus