inactive

“Liar,” Mira said, yet there was no venom behind the accusation. Instead, it made Rumi laugh softly as she shook her head.

“Yeah no, that didn’t even convince me,” She sighed before resting her chin on her pulled up knees. Mira and Zoey shared a sad look.

“Do you want to talk about it? You don’t have to, but we’re here for you,” The black haired hunter said while gently placing her hand on Rumi’s leg. Did she want to talk about it?

“It’s just… I keep having nightmares. About everything that happened that day,” She started, chewing her lower lip as she looked at the two. It wasn’t a complete lie, but it also wasn’t the full truth. Not the actual thing that was hurting her. When they gave her an encouraging nod, she opened her mouth to continue yet no sound came out. What did she even want to say? Where to start? How could she possibly say this to them without making them feel bad? As if able to read her mind, Mira placed a hand on her arm.

“It’s okay,” She simply said while looking into Rumi's eyes, and somehow that was enough to break through the dam of emotions she’d been trying to hold back. Tears suddenly made her eyes sting, and she quickly wiped them away.

“I can’t help it but… every time I close my eyes I can still picture you both backstage, aiming your weapons at me with looks of disgust like I’m…” She said, her voice cracking at the end. Like I’m a monster, she thought. She tried not to wince at how both of her friends flinched at the words. She knew they felt very guilty towards her, which was the main reason she hadn’t brought it up earlier. But she couldn’t hold it back any longer.

“Rumi–,” Mira started, yet stopped as the leader of the Huntrix shook her head.

“I know I shouldn’t hold you accountable for it. I know you both merely reacted how you were trained to. I know better! But… to me, it just confirmed my worst thoughts, the thoughts I had been fighting for years. That I’m a monster. A mistake. That I’m untrustworthy, that I don’t deserve good things in life and that I should just be alone. That I don’t deserve to live,” Rumi continued, her voice nothing more than a whisper. When she felt two pairs of arms around her in an embrace, she was pulled out of her own thoughts with a soft gasp.

“You’re not a monster, Rumi! You never were!” Zoey said, making Rumi look up at her face. The younger hunter had tears in her eyes and she sounded desperate.

“She’s right, Rumi. I fucked up badly for pointing my spear at you. I should never have done it, I should have trusted you, and I’ll never forgive myself for making that mistake,” Mira said, sounding equally desperate. Rumi could only shake her head at them.

“No, you… you only did what you were taught. You were right not to trust me, I lied to you both for so long about what I am,” She muttered, grabbing Mira’s and Zoey’s hands.

“And you were only doing what you were taught. I’m pretty sure Celine made you keep quiet and hide it from us, because ‘our fears and faults must never be seen’ right?” Zoey asked carefully, making their leader blink.

“How did you–” Rumi asked, yet this time she was stopped by Mira gently placing her hand on her face, making her look into her eyes.

“Because we know you, we probably know you better than you do. We know that if you had the chance, you would have told us from the start. We… I was angry and caught off guard when I saw your marks, and most of all I was scared. But this is not an excuse for what I did, because those marks don’t make you evil. You’re good, you have a good heart and we know this because we’re your family,” She said, brushing her thumb over her cheek. Unable to hold back her tears any longer, Rumi simply let go and buried her face into Mira. They both held her tightly as she cried her heart out, and for the first time in what seemed forever their leader felt safe. Protected. Finally accepted for who she really was. After what felt like an eternity, Rumi finally pulled free from the hold as she sat up.

“Thank you. Both of you. You two may have just… fixed something inside of me that broke a long time ago,” She said, using the blanket to wipe her tears away. Mira and Zoey looked at each other, before leaning in to place a kiss on each of her cheeks. 

“It’s the least we could do. We love you,” Zoey smiled while brushing a string of purple hair out of her face. Rumi couldn’t hide the massive blush appearing on her cheeks, so she opted to hide her face by yet again burying it into Mira’s shoulder, making the other two chuckle. The three of them sat like that, cuddled up and entangled with each other until they lost track of time. Their peaceful silence ended when Zoey lifted her head.

“Can I see them? Your marks?” She asked with about the kindest smile Rumi had ever seen. Her heart jumped.

“You want to see them? Aren’t you… scared or disgusted of them?” Rumi repeated carefully, looking from Zoey to Mira. They were still the proof of what she was.

“They’re part of you, and we love you. All of you,” Mira said, making Rumi’s eyes widen. She thought back of her conversation with Celine in front of the tree, when the Honmoon was about to be destroyed. How Celine had been terrified of her, so terrified she couldn’t even look at her.

Their mentor had been scared of her for who she was, even when she’d been just a child, and had forced her to keep everything a secret. So for Zoey and Mira to ask permission to see her marks, and tell her that they fully accepted her? Rumi closed her eyes and took a deep breath before slowly unwrapping the blanket from around her, revealing her crop top and the almost glowing patterns all over her body underneath. Her marks had changed after they had reformed the Honmoon, and she looked at them as if seeing them for the first time. They were no longer purple, but an almost opal color, shimmering under her skin.

“Why couldn’t you love me?!”

“I do!”

“All of me!”

“They’re beautiful,” Zoey immediately said, almost entranced by it as her hand hesitantly reached out, as if she considered touching them. After a second of her own consideration, Rumi brought her arm closer to her, giving the other hunter unspoken permission.

“That’s the first time ever someone said something positive about them,” She huffed, yet smiled. When Mira grabbed her other arm, the smile grew a little wider.

“It’s almost like you have diamond veins,” She said, her voice full of awe as she traced a single finger over one of the marks all the way up her arm. When Zoey traced a line on her side and stomach, Rumi let out a giggle and shifted away from their touches.

“Hey now, careful with those wandering hands,” She warned playfully, yet remained in the same position between them. She’d usually wear a sweater or at least several layers to cover up the purple lines all over her body, so she wasn’t used to being so exposed. And neither were Mira and Zoey, judging by the look on their faces.

“Oh?” Mira asked with a smile while sitting up straight, innocently wrapping her arm around Rumi’s shoulders.

“Now why would I need to be careful?” Zoey asked teasingly, laying herself across her leader’s legs to keep her stuck on the bed, playfully wiggling her fingers at her. 

“Don’t start a fight you can’t finish, darling,” Rumi warned with a smirk, flexing her own nails at the younger hunter. She’d beaten Zoey countless times before.

“Oh but she will be able to finish this one,” Mira chimed in from beside her, sending a shiver down Rumi’s spine. She didn’t need to see her face to know there was an evil grin there. Before she could even think about rolling off of her bed, Zoey’s hands were already all over her and Mira was pinning her shoulders down.

“I don’t think you’re ready for the takedown~!” Zoey sang teasingly, her nails dancing up and down her bare sides. Rumi threw her head back and immediately burst into giggles. 

“Zohohohoey! Get ohhohohoff!” She laughed while reaching for the invading hands. Mira’s hold unfortunately kept them just out of reach, and Zoey’s weight on her lap kept her pinned on the bed. This was mutiny.

“What’s the matter, too ticklish now that you suddenly don’t have seventeen layers of protection?” Mira teased, positioning her hands so she could wiggle a single finger into each underarm. Zoey grinned evilly and started drilling her thumbs into her hips.

“AAahahAHAaha! This is unfahahaAHAHAIR!” The oldest hunter cried out and crossed her arms over her chest, trying to shield herself from Mira. Her legs kicked so wildly she accidentally sent a pillow flying directly at Derpy, who was napping in her room. The Tiny Hat Bird flew away from his head just before it hit, and the giant blue tiger let out a purr as he slowly raised his head to look at them.

“Your tiger won’t save you, Rumi,” Zoey giggled, repositioning herself by sitting on top of Rumi’s hips. She shot her a wink before reaching her hands backwards, gently yet quickly squeezing the area right above her knees. If her legs had been kicking before, it was nothing compared to now.

“ZoeheEHEHEY NOHOHOHO!” Her laughter filled the room as she sunk deeper into her bed, feeling light and carefree. She finally could be herself after all those years, without having to constantly worry about anyone learning about her secret. 

“Zoey yes! I think this is the perfect opportunity to discuss borrowing some of her off-limits clothes, don’t you think?” Mira suggested with an evil smile, grabbing Rumi’s wrists as she pulled them away from her body. Due to her weakened state from laughing so hard, the lead hunter was helpless to stop her as her arms got pinned over her head.

“Oh that’s a great idea! I’d say one sweater each, for a week or something! And I want dibs on the yellow jacket! That’s a good start, don’t you agree sweetheart?” Zoey said in that sweet, mischievous tone as she followed up on Mira’s plan. Both of her hands reached up and dealt the finishing blow, her nails rapidly dancing under Rumi’s unprotected arms. 

“AAHhahahahA! Okay okahaHAHAY! STAHAHAP! You wihihihIHIN!” Her back arched as she used all her strength to bring her arms down, yet it was futile. All she could do was hope for their mercy. Thankfully for her, Zoey stopped her attack soon after.

“It’s a deal! And you better keep it, or else~” She giggled, wiggling her eyebrows mischievously at her. Rumi let out a playful groan.

“And then I’m the demon?” She teased, trying not to show how insecure she actually felt while making the joke. When both of them burst into laughter, she let out a relieved breath and a chuckle.

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m pretty sure Zoey’s just the devil or something,” Mira smirked as she released Rumi from her hold, shuffling until she was laying on her side next to her.

“You’re one to talk!” The younger woman protested with a grin, laying herself down on top of the lead hunter. Rumi wrapped her arms around Zoey and looked between the two of them, smiling widely.

“You’re both idiots,” She giggled. Her idiots, she thought. When they kept staring at her, she raised an eyebrow at them. “What?” She asked curiously. Neither said a word and for a second it almost felt awkward, before Zoey finally made a move. Just not the one Rumi expected. 

Zoey leaned in and cupped one of her cheeks, before kissing her on the lips. When she pulled away a few seconds later, there was a blush burning on her cheeks and a smile playing on her lips. Rumi was still trying to process what just had happened as her cheek got cupped a second time, this time by Mira who was staring at her with eyes full of love. She too leaned in to kiss her lips, and while Rumi had been more prepared the second time her heart still felt like it was about to explode. When Mira pulled away after a long kiss, Rumi was left speechless as she looked at the two of them.

“I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time,” Zoey admitted sheepishly, giving her a loving smile.

“Me too. I wasn’t sure if I still could... after everything I did. I was scared I’d ruined my chance with you,” Mira said, reaching for Rumi’s hand. This was too good to be true, Rumi thought.

“You both love me?” She asked, her heart beating faster as she looked at the two women she’d loved for such a long time. She’d never allowed herself to admit it out loud, not until she was “fixed”.

“Of course we do,” Zoey said, intertwining her fingers with her own.

“No matter what,” Mira added, giving her another kiss on the side of her head. This time Rumi wasted no time and pulled the two of them on top of her, holding them tightly.

“Then I’m the luckiest person to exist,” She said, giving each of them a kiss on their forehead. Zoey and Mira then proceeded to place kisses all over her face, neck and shoulders until Rumi was a giggling mess beneath them. 

“I’ve also been wanting to do that for a long time,” Zoey teased, giggling loudly as Rumi squeezed her side.

“So what do we do now?” Mira asked, laying on her side again as she leaned on her elbow. 

“I think I have the perfect idea. How about we go to the bathhouse and then spend the rest of the day on our couch?” Rumi suggested with a smile. The two women gasped loudly.

“Oh my god finally! We finally get to take you to the bathhouse!” Mira exclaimed, clenching a fist as if she’d won the greatest victory.

“Yes! I’ll go pack the towels, meet you at the front door in five!” Zoey yelled as she quite literally bounced out the room. 

“It’s really that special, huh?” Rumi chuckled as she stood up from the bed, looking at her wardrobe. What did you even wear to a bathhouse.

“You’ll see it when you get there. And for the record, you really are beautiful,” Mira said as she stepped in front of Rumi, cupping her chin to give her one final kiss. She couldn’t help but giggle at the flustered look on Rumi’s face. “And you’re super cute when you blush~”