Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was another shift, just like any other. Mira’s ankles ached after staying on her feet for over ten hours straight, with nothing but a jumbo-sized coffee and a protein bar to keep her going, and there was an unknown sticky substance on her sleeve. But with her shift finished, soon she would be out of her scrubs and in the shower. Mira sighed, relieved, just thinking about the steaming hot water washing over her.

“Bed three clear?” A pink-haired doctor asked as she walked by.

“Gone to radiology, all yours,” Mira twirled around to give him a wave goodbye as she headed out.

“Thanks, get some rest”

“See you tomorrow,” Mira smiled, the change room in her sights.

Emergency medicine wasn’t her first choice; in fact, it wasn’t even on her list, but it was on her parents and they paid. Even with all her drinking and partying, she made it through med school, and although she hated to admit it, she loved this job. The energy, the horror and the beauty of it all. This was where she was meant to be.

“I need help now!”

Mira turned her head with a frown. It wasn’t unusual for those in the waiting room to lose patience. But this girl was pale, banging her hand on the bulletproof glass, her eyes manic and pleading. Stirring something in Mira, she couldn't turn away from.

“Sit down, junkie, or you can both leave,” A nurse yelled.

“Please, we’re not-uhh. She’s really sick”

Tears welled in the eyes of a girl with black hair, messy two-sided buns. A determination in her expression, Mira could see, she wasn't going to take no for an answer.

"Dammit," Mira muttered.

The clean clothes, the shower, and her bed would all have to wait, Mira thought, as she made her way back down the hall. Scanning her security card, she walked into the waiting room, hands on her hips.

"Alright, where is your friend?"

"'Girlfriend', she's right-" The girl turned around, eyes wide in fear as she scanned the overcrowded waiting area "Rumi!"

Rushing forward, she shoved people out of the way, and all turned to her with judgmental frowns.

"I'm fine Zo" A tall purple-haired girl dragged her feet, exiting the restroom. Looking even paler than the first girl, so breathless, she couldn't even finish her sentence and leaned on the wall for support.

"No, Rumi, you need to see a doctor" The girl rushed over, catching Rumi just before her legs went out from under her.

"We can't afford it," Rumi mumbled.

"You two, come with me," Mira ordered, signalling them to follow her.

-

Lying still, to still the white sheets almost matched her skin tone. Rumi was the same age as Mira, but you wouldn't know it. In this state, so helpless, she was like a child. Eyes closed, mumbling incoherently, sweet dripping out all over her body.

"Did she take anything? You can tell me," Mira questioned her hands, shaking as she placed sensors over her wrist, trying to get a reading on her pulse.

"No, it's just been so cold lately usually when she gets like this, she comes out of it, but we haven't had much food and" Zoey's voice was strained, breaking off, her hand stroking through Rumi's hair.

Mira's heart sank, and she looked up to Zoey with sympathy, upon realising the couple were homeless.

"I don't need your pity, ok, just help her"

Mira nodded, she completed her workup, noting that Rumi's blood pressure, heart rate were all too low; in fact, all her vitals were at a high risk level. Zoey looked to her with pleading eyes, eyes that needed answers.

"Ok, her temperature is too high, I'm going to need to bring it down and give her some fluids, but she needs rest. Do you have somewhere to stay tonight?"

Zoey shook her head but didn't take her eyes off Rumi tears began streaming down her cheeks. A sight that caused Mira to stiffen. This wasn't the first time she came across desperate people she couldn't really help, couldn't offer more than a band-aid to. Never had this feeling occurred within her, though, pulse racing, head spinning, she needed to get away, regroup.

"Stay here, I'll be right back," Mira sighed, watching Zoey entangle her hands with Rumi's.

Feeling a need to hold them both close, take them home to her empty penthouse apartment, gifted to her from her father, once she got an internship here.

Mira's stride was determined as she rushed through the halls, almost bumping into people a she brushed past. Her mind was still on Zoey and Rumi; they were so strong and yet completely helpless. They needed a lot more than some antibiotics and a blanket. But what if she did offer more than a Band-Aid? Took them somewhere warm, filled their bellies and their hearts. Mira had this thought while she rushed through the hospital halls, grabbing everything she needed before walking back to Rumi's bed.

"She's hot though," Rumi mumbled

"You can barely breathe, yet you work up the strength to tell me you think your doctor is fine" Zoey rolled her eyes.

"She's talking," Mira sighed, relieved.

Quickly hooking up the IV bag and taking Rumis arm to insert the needle into her vein, but she flinched away. An act Mira didn't expect to sting, but she found herself feeling burned by this rejection.

"We don't have insurance," Rumi protested.

"Don't worry about that," Zoey whimpered out.

Mira moved closer once more, but Rumi shook her head.

"No, you can't, you can't if I refuse treatment" Rumi looked at her with raised eyebrows as if this was some chore she had just talked her way out of, not her life.

Another surge of adrenaline rushed through Mira at the thought, infuriated by Rumi’s cavalier and borderline suicidal attitude.

"You'll die," Mira spat. The words came out before she could stop herself.

Always blunt, but her bedside manner had never reached this level. Both Zoey and Rumi looked to her with stunned expressions, as Mira's determined eyes met theirs.

"Let me take care of you." Mira's words weren't pleading; she didn't plead. Just stated her intentions clearly and composed, reaching for Rumi's arm once more. Rumi nodded, and her body untensed, letting Mira take control.

-

Standing with her hands on the bench, Mira tried to regain her composure. What was this, just overexhaustion, when she had had longer days, no, no. Then why was her heart racing? Why couldn’t she focus on anything but Rumi’s eyes? Her patient didn’t say much, but her cold, anxious eyes told Mira everything she needed to know. Zoey did all the talking, rambling on a list of things that she thought Mira might need to know, including favourite foods or how Rumi made a strange whistling sound when she was deep in sleep. Most of this information is irrelevant to Rumi’s treatment, but Mira wouldn’t dare tell her to stop. Aware that this constant drabble was keeping Zoey calm. Well, as calm as she could be while the girl she loved was fighting for her life.

Splashing cold water on her face did not affect Mira’s rising stress or concern; she couldn’t escape this feeling, growing so attached. Latched onto them like a magnet pulled in by their adorable collective hotness. Getting emotionally involved was exactly what she was trained not to do, and she had spent her whole life avoiding intimacy in any situation. A life of structure and discipline that Mira mostly spent at the hospital. Returning to her apartment only for sleep, she had no social life and avoided her family, often taking shifts on holidays. Mira should go home; someone else could take over Rumi’s care, but as soon as the thought entered her mind, it was silenced by her racing heart. Her breath hitched, and she burst back out of the restroom, desperate to check Rumi’s vitals again. As she stepped out, he was waiting, standing by the door, arms folded with a judgey smirk. His pink hair stood out in his white coat. He was a fellow intern, so flirty with everyone; she had nicknamed him Romance. It was supposed to be an insult, but he seemed to enjoy this teasing. They had been in the trenches together and developed a mutual respect, but Mira still despised him.

“Don’t say it,” Mira sighed, walking away briskly.

“Didn’t say anything,” Romance shrugged, a shit eating grin on his face.

“Don’t,” Mira added firmly without even looking back.

Despite her cold demeanour, she knew he was just being supportive in his own way, obviously having noticed she stayed back to help the girls. A small smile on her face that quickly vanished upon hearing what sounded like a scuffle coming from Rumi’s room and the monitors beeping intensely. Mira felt the blood rush from her head and ran over.

“I’m staying,” Zoey argued while the same nurse from the reception was standing over Rumi, hands on her hips, yelling at Zoey.

“This isn’t a hotel”

“Where is she? The doctor will tell you, I-I can stay”

“You think we're just going to let you both sleep here?” The woman's words began inaudible, muttering under her breath.

“No, if she goes, I’m going to,” Rumi stuttered out, already sitting up.

Zoey shook her head, frowning at Rumi, but the nurse was already turning off the equipment and grabbed Rumi’s chart, shaking her head and sighing.

“That’s my patient” Mira gripped her arm, pulling her away forcefully, glaring at the nurse. She knew she shouldn’t, but the look of distress in Rumi’s eyes had her lose all her self-control.

Snatching the chart back out of the nurse's hand, Mira needed no more words to say back off; her glaring eyes did that for her.

“I knew you were trouble. I’ll be taking this up with your attending,” the woman warned, backing away, she straightened up her shirt

“Go for it, make my day” Mira folded her arms, sure that she would regret this later, but she still smiled, watching the nurse walk out in a huff.

“I think you scared her,” Zoey stated, looking up at Mira in awe.

A look that had Mira squirming. Mira gave her a small smile, but she couldn’t think of a quippy response. Couldn’t breathe, her eyes went to the screen indicating Rumi’s vitals, numbers that made her heart jump.

“You know, you're kind of intense,” Zoey noted, like it was a compliment.

Mira looked up with her eyes wide, smirking at the thought of her composed, stern demeanour affecting Zoey.

Mira paused for a moment, locking eyes with Zoey, “It's been a long day”.

“Your friend told us, said you were supposed to finish your shift, but you stayed,” Rumi eyed her curiously, guilt in her expression.

“What?” Mira scoffed, confused, before she realised she was referring to Romance “He’s not my friend”

“Right, noted,” Zoey stifled a laugh, to which Rumi chuckled at but it came out in a horrible rasped cough.

“Sit back,” Mira ordered, putting her hand on Rumi's shoulder, pushing her back down.

There was silence as Mira adjusted the medications being funnelled into Rumi through the drip and made notes on her chart. Having to squint just to stay focused, she could feel their eyes on her, their smiles as she worked. It wasn’t hard to imagine what they were thinking; they probably wondered why Mira helped them if it was going to make her so frustrated, then why did she do it? That was the big question, wasn’t it? What was she doing? One look in their eyes and Mira was melting, throwing out a life raft as if she had them to spare. Already having decided to put herself down for the bill, it wasn’t the money that was the issue; it was putting her career on the line. Not many doctors paid for patients' treatment out of their own pockets, and she knew it would cause a stir. But not all doctors were trust fund kids like her.

A hand gently gripped around Mira's wrist, a touch so soft and warm she gasped and looked over to Rumi’s tired eyes.

“Thanks,” Rumi croaked out.

That's it, to gaze upon her was a gift; her guilty smile as she thanked Mira for merely doing her job. No, it was more than that. She could see it now in Rumi’s expression; she didn’t think she was worthy of saving.

Chapter Text

Lying in the hospital bed, Rumi didn’t move; her arm felt heavy and cold as Mira adjusted the central line. This stillness had Mira’s thoughts spiralling, seeing all those whom she wasn’t able to save, in her. But Mira never felt like this; her heart strained, and the muscles ached as if she had just finished a ten-mile run.

“Why isn’t she getting better?” Zoey asked through a choked gasp as she held Rumi’s hand, stroking it with her thumb.

“I don’t know,” Mira's head shook, trying to make sense of the readings while Rumi remained in a state of distress.

Zoey didn’t yell or accuse, just looked at Mira with desperate pleading eyes, and her heart skipped a beat. Mira gulped, closing her eyes, while she tried to think. Her mind was running through all the memorised medical textbooks, but suddenly the words were meaningless drivel.

“Is there anything else you can think of that she may have come into contact with or-”

“No, she tells me everything, I would know if-” Zoey’s voice broke, tears started to stream down her cheeks. “Just fix her, please.”

“I need to do a more thorough exam?” Mira stated it like a question.

Zoey nodded her head.

Mira pulled back the curtain around the room, quickly lifting the blanket and Rumi’s shirt. Her skin was pale and soft. Signs of malnutrition were clear, and small scars all over her, but they were old wounds that had healed. Feeling around for any lumps or bruising to indicate internal injuries, but still no clear indication of what caused these symptoms. Pulling her shirt back down, Mira huffed, frustrated, before moving down to her legs, and that's when she saw it. A cut that ran along her upper thigh, and it was deep, the skin around it red and swollen. Rumi had probably been slowly bleeding out for days.

Mira felt her stomach drop, wondering how she could have missed this? Why hadn't Rumi or Zoey mentioned it? The infected wound must have been causing her severe pain.

“Why didn’t you tell me about this?” Mira’s tone came out harsh and cold, and she regretted it as soon as she saw the hurt look in Zoey’s eyes.

“What is it? Let me see?” Zoey rushed over to the other side of the bed where Mira stood and gasped at the sight of the wound, clasping her hand over her mouth.

Mira had already moved to grab bandages and ointment, but Rumi needed blood, and she needed it now.

“I didn’t know, she didn’t tell me,” Zoey's words became a faint whisper.

Tears in her eyes, Mira could see that this deception had caused her deep hurt, as if someone had driven a knife through Zoey’s gut.

“Rumi didn’t tell you? She probably didn’t even realise how much blood she was losing.”

“Blood she lost blood,” Zoey croaked out, pulling her hands into her chest.

Mira could see Zoey getting paler; it felt like she had two patients at once.

“Sit down, Zoey. I’m going to get Rumi some blood,” Mira grabbed a plastic chair and placed it right beside Rumi, knowing it was the only way Zoey would follow the instructions given.

Ripping back the curtain, she crashed right into someone tall and familiar, his grin gone. Romance stood before her with a pitying look.

“Hey, I’m heading out but-”

“Not right now,” Mira grumbled.

“Here,” Romance handed her a bag of O-negative blood. “I overheard.”

Mira didn’t even say thanks, just snatched it and rushed back in, hooked the blood up to the drip and began massaging the bag for faster release. Her eyes were on Rumi, then darting back up to the screen, indicating her vitals. Zoey remained silent, a kind of silence that concerned Mira, as she had barely stopped talking from the moment they met. Now, she was doing nothing but trembling as she sat by Rumi’s bedside, eyes wide. Desperately clinging to hope as if Rumi were her anchor, without whom she would be adrift.

“It will be ok, she’s already improving,” Mira placed a hand on Zoey’s shoulder.

“She is?”

“See here, this number is her heart rate, it's already picking up,” Mira explained, pointing at the screen.

Nodding her head, she turned back to Rumi, placing her hand on her cheek, a look of distress mixed with disappointment.

“You don’t know how this happened?”

“I have my suspicions,” Zoey's jaw tightened, and her eyes went dark.

Not wanting to pry, Mira let the subject drop, focusing on getting her suture kit ready. She caught Zoey's wide, terrified eyes at the sight of the needle and thread.

“You don’t have to stay for this?”

“I’m fine.”

Putting on a fresh pair of rubber gloves, Mira grabbed a stool, wheeling it over to the bed. She lifted Rumi’s frail body to get a better look at the cut along her thigh. Quickly cleaning the wound before she started stitching her up.

Mira had never felt such pressure, feeling Zoey's anxious eyes on her. It was a simple suture that she had completed hundreds of times, but never had she felt such hopeless resolve. Wondering who had done this to Rumi? Why hadn't she gone for help sooner?

Hearing Zoey wincing, Mira turned her head, unable to stifile her smile upon seeing Zoey’s hand half covering her eyes, but she still peeked. Having to manage loved ones recoiling away as she worked was common practice. Most who were bothered by the sight of blood would just leave, and Zoey clearly was, but she didn’t leave; she couldn’t. Remaining still as Mira continued to work, precise and delicate with every tug of the thread and every insert of the needle.

“Is she going to be ok?” Zoey’s trembling voice asked when Mira was done.

Pausing, Mira couldn’t answer. Was she going to be ok? That was unknown; all she could tell Zoey was what she knew was true.

“I stopped the bleeding, but it's infected; she’ll need antibiotics.”

Mira explained before rushing to the medication dispenser, tapping her hand on the ancient equipment, aware that it would take time to scan her ID and dispense the correct dosage, time she didn’t have to spare.

“Dammit, come on.”

“Hitting it definitely helps,” Romance teased.

Unamused, Mira simply glared at him, and he chuckled, scanning his ID as it always seemed to load faster for him. Immediately, the screen stopped spiralling and let her enter the correct codes and dosage.

“I thought you left?” Mira smiled at him. She couldn’t help it; maybe he was a true friend, and it was time to drop the tough girl act.

“On my way out, I assume you're staying” He smiled, his jumper over his scrubs and backpack strung over one shoulder.

“Night shift for me,” Mira gave him one last smile before heading back.

Zoey had remained still, standing in the exact spot she was when Mira walked out, her face pale, her hands at her sides. Mira brushed right past her, no time for coddling right now. Sitting back on the stool with such force that it rolled forward, and she had to grip the bars on the bed to stop from falling. But it barely slowed her down, applying ointment to the cut. So red and swollen, Mira lavered on a thick layer of antibacterial cream before wrapping her leg firmly, with gauze and a bandage, while Zoey remained still behind her.

“Please, Mira, is she going to be ok?”

Doctors have to tell the truth; it's one of the first things they teach you about patient care: never make promises you can’t keep, never guarantee a recovery. Locking onto Zoey’s desperate eyes, eyes she could not bear to see heartbroken, Mira nodded her head.

“Rumi’s going to be fine”

Zoey let out a deep sigh of relief, stepping closer to Rumi and holding her hand, as Mira let out a gasp, stepping back. In reality, she knew the odds, considering Rumi’s malnutrition, exposure to the elements and the fact she lost so much blood, along with an infection. It was about fifty-fifty. The truth was Mira had done all she could, and Rumi needed to fight now.

–

Absentmindedly, Mira fiddled around with whatever she could, not able to leave them alone. This was usually the part where she’d move on to another patient and check back in later, but not this time. It wasn’t awkward to be around them, no, it was easy, and she could tell Zoey didn’t want her to leave either.

The tension had eased as Rumi’s vitals showed a sharp improvement, and Mira breathed a sigh of relief, but it was clear something was still troubling Zoey. Standing hunched over the bed, tears hadn’t stopped trickling down her cheeks. Her eyes watched Rumi’s every slight twitch of movement intently.

“Why don’t you get a coffee?” Mira encouraged.

Zoey shook her head.

“She’ll be fine, I promise. You need to take care of yourself, too.”

“Says you,” Zoey scoffed.

“What do you mean?”

“You were supposed to leave hours ago.”

“Shifts tend to get extended around here.”

“Do you usually give your patients this much attention?” Zoey asked, but Mira could see what she was really asking. Have you ever felt this way, so immediately and overwhelmingly entrenched in someone like this?

Mira didn’t say anything but shook her head, giving Zoey a knowing look, because no, this had never happened to her. There was no time for these kinds of feelings in her life, this gut-wrenching need to be with another. On the occasion someone did flirt with her, she gave them a smile, but she inevitably brushed them aside, an act that felt impossible with them.

-

Obsessively checking vitals, her notes, even physically checking Rumi’s pulse periodically, just to make sure she was ok, Mira couldn’t make sense of this. Why would this beautiful woman have so little fight in her? Even a little irritated at Rumi for getting to this critical state. A desire to wrap her arms around her, nurse her back to health, and ensure she never reached this critical level again consumed Mira.

It wasn’t just Rumi that she wanted to take care of, though. Zoey was looking more exhausted by the second, and she could see her struggling to stay awake.

“Please, Zoey, Rumi is going to need help once she wakes. You can’t be there for her if you don’t take care of yourself.”

This logic seemed to work on Zoey, and she let out a sigh, begrudgingly standing up, but her hand hadn’t left Rumi’s. A wistful longing stare, one that required answers, answers she knew she had to wait for, and she leaned forward tenderly kissing Rumis forehead.

“Don’t leave her alone?” Zoey looked to Mira with firm eyes as she asked.

“Never.”

Zoey smiled but didn’t let go of Rumi's hand, instead placing it in Mira’s to hold. Zoey’s gentle touch sent a fire through her veins. To have that trust from a stranger granted to her had Mira’s heart racing again. Taking Rumi’s hand, she held it delicately like it was a flower she didn’t want to crumple. Zoey didn’t take her eyes off Rumi and Mira as she backed away.

“They have coffee and cake in the staff room,” Mira winked.

“I won’t be long,” Zoey nodded.

“Take your time.”

Zoey disappeared through the curtain, and Mira let out a deep breath, trying to calm herself. Most people hated emergency rooms, only enduring them in the most painful moments of their lives, but Mira had always found comfort in them. Hearing the bustle just behind the curtain of voices, strained, rushing about, the beeping of monitors was like a calming symphony to her. This, after all, was the safest place in the world, and she got to be more here than she ever was under her parents' judgmental gaze. People relied on her on their worst days, but never had she felt this kind of ache in her chest as she did watching over Rumi. Now she knew why people hated emergency rooms.

Suddenly, Rumi's hand gripped tighter, and she sighed, a small smile on her face. Rumi was deep in sleep. Mira knew that only because she was making the whistling sound Zoey had described to her earlier. Mira had to refrain from reaching up and brushing away the loose strands of hair over Rumi's face. Distracted as she watched Rumi, she was surprised when her arm was suddenly pulled closer to Rumi's chest. Snuggling into it like Mira was a comforting teddy, Rumi rolled over, pulling Mira with her.

“I love you,” Rumi mumbled.

“Uh, um, Rumi,” Mira whispered, barely able to form words.

Aware that this declaration of love wasn't meant for her but Zoey, it still didn't make it feel any less amazing. Mira had a wide smile on her face as a warmth overcame her because although a simple “I love you” might be commonplace in most people’s lives, Mira couldn’t remember the last time she heard it. If she ever had. Growing up, her parents weren’t the affectionate type, and she never let anyone else get that close.

“Rumi,” Mira said again, only a little louder.

Her eyes shot open, and Rumi paused for a moment, taking in what had just happened. Her cheeks went bright red, but she still clung to Mira.

“I’m sorry, oh-” Rumi's ears turned red as well, seeing she had taken Mira’s hand.

“It’s ok.”

“It is?” Rumi frowned, bewildered.

“Can I have my hand back, though?”

“What? Oh, right, I’m sorry.” Rumi’s face somehow burned even brighter, and in that moment, she probably wished she hadn’t lived through this.

Slowly, Rumi unclenched her hand and lifted her arm, releasing Mira from her grip, and she pulled away with eyes locked onto Rumi’s.

“Zoey?” Rumi gasped.

“She is just getting a coffee, asked me to wait with you.”

Rumi's whole body untensed, and she sighed in relief.

“You stayed with me? How long was I asleep?”

“Not long enough, you need more rest,” Mira raised her eyebrows.

Rumi looked up at Mira with confusion in her expression, and she reached down to her thigh, feeling the wound. As she touched the bandage, her eyes went wide with realisation.

“Yeah, I had to do an exam. You should have mentioned you had a cut.” Mira's tone was hoarse.

“I didn’t think it was relevant, I just have the flu or something.”

The sound of Rumi’s trembling voice and her apologetic eyes looking up at her were pulling at her heartstrings. A sensation that had her reeling, and all this emotion spilled out in a gruff tone.

“You have an infection from an open wound, and you lost too much blood; you almost died.”

Mira has an intense look as she tells Rumi what had happened. Any other patient would have been surprised or a little scared, but not her. She just nodded like Mira was updating her on the weather.

“Rumi, this is serious.”

“I didn’t think it was that bad. I thought I could fix it, and Zoey wouldn’t have to know!” Rumi's voice broke, and she looked up to Mira with puffy red eyes.

Frowning at Rumi, Mira sighed at the realisation that Rumi brought herself to the brink of death, all due to a secret. The truth was only half out, though. Mira had no real context or idea why Rumi had chosen to keep this injury from Zoey in the first place. But her regret was clear. Even if it was only that she got caught.

“I didn’t want her to worry,” Rumi chuckled slightly, maybe seeing the irony in that, but it stirred something in Mira, a need to ease her emotional stress.

“It’s ok,” Mira blurted out the words, her hand wrapped around Rumi’s once more, squeezing it. She had no right to say that, no real idea if that were true.

There was a beat, a pause where Rumi looked at her in a way that sent her heart a flutter, as if she was hoping for her to pry further.

“How did it happen?”

“It’s stupid,” Rumi huffed.

“I bet it was,” Zoey huffed, standing before them with a cup of hot coffee in hand and a look in her eyes that was both overjoyed and devastated at the same time.

“I can explain,” Rumi muttered, sitting up again, which prompted Mira to gently push her back down.

“You went on another job with Jinu, didn’t you? Even after we decided it was too much of a risk?”

Rumi nodded, shrinking back into her bed and hiding from her girlfriend's wrath.

“We need the money.” Rumi’s voice was soft and unconvincing.

“You could have been caught, or killed!” Zoey gripped her cup tensely, and tears welled in her eyes.

The couple shared a look layered with mixed emotions ranging from anger to deep love, and Mira suddenly felt like a third wheel. Realising there was a lot more going on than she needed to know. Stepping back, Mira straightened up her lab coat as she walked towards the curtain.

“I’ll, ah, give you two a minute,” Mira averted her eyes.

“You don’t have to leave,” Zoey said, eyes darting up to Mira.

“I have to fill out some paperwork. I will be back.”

Mira didn’t have any idea where she was going, but she managed to put one foot in front of the other, making her way to the exit. The automatic doors opened to the ambulance bay, and she placed her hand over her mouth as tears rolled down her cheeks. Rumi’s lost eyes haunted her, wishing she could just make it better. But there was no quick fix or pill for this kind of hurt.

Chapter Text

Mira placed her hand on the wall to steady herself. The adrenaline had worn off, leaving her feeling fatigued as she walked through the halls alone. No one seemed to notice, as they went about their day, her colleagues chatting by the desk looked right through her. The rest of the world went on around her while she just existed. This shouldn't be so jarring. She had been alone for as long as she could remember; it had never bothered her before, but why now did it feel like she had a big gaping hole in her chest?

Zoey’s loving eyes, even while she was infuriated with her girlfriend, captivated Mira. Every touch they shared was electric. To top it off, they were both just so adorably hopeless. Mira had to restrain the urge to pull them close and hold them tight every moment she was in that room. Her frustration, love, and jealousy for what they have created a swirling storm of mixed emotions, and she suppressed them all.

Until she was staring at her locker, Mira hadn't realised she had already walked into the change rooms, but paused before opening it, blankly staring at the combination lock. Knowing she should pull away from them, before it was too late, before she got too attached. Hand this case over to another doctor and go home. Just another shift, another life saved. Letting out a deep breath, she opened her locker, and she scarfed down her stash of seaweed crisps and candy she kept stored for emergencies. As soon as her blood sugar rose and her stomach stopped aching, she felt a guilt wash over her. What about Zoey and Rumi? They hadn’t eaten all night, had no shower waiting for them, or a warm bed. With that thought in mind, a determination swelled in Mira. Gripping her wallet, Mira rushed out of the staff room, down the hall to the billing department. From there, she could put all of Rumi’s medical expenses on her platinum card and find out if there were any empty patient rooms upstairs for her. Knowing that her parents would be infuriated at the thought of Mira using her trust fund to pay for a patient's care brought a smile to her face.

Rushing back through the ward, her eyes went straight to the curtain, concealing them like they were hers. Butterflies were swirling around in her stomach, her heart was a flutter, while simultaneously her stomach was in knots. Mira hadn’t experienced this exact feeling since she was in her first year of medical school, obsessing over this hot girl who sat next to her in the lecture hall. They didn’t talk much, just shared a look as they smiled, or when they chuckled lightly at their professor, they would stop mid-sentence as if they forgot what they were saying. Mira wasn’t even sure if her study buddy was gay; she never asked, always slamming on the brakes before she even gave it a chance. This time, though, that wasn’t the problem; they were definitely queer, but they were already in a loving relationship, and they didn’t need her. Mira had all these thoughts running through her mind as she made her way through the cafeteria. Making sure to pile up her tray with as many pre-packaged snacks as possible, before getting a bowl of tteokbokki and rushing back to them.

Mira was unable to deny the excitement she felt before tugging at the curtain and seeing them again, but when she did, Mira froze. She felt herself burning up, as her eyes took in Zoey, leaning over the bed, her hand on Rumi’s cheek in the midst of a passionate kiss. The monitor was beeping as Rumi’s heart raced. Zoey pressed up against the bed, on her tippy toes, just to reach her lips.

“Take it easy,” Mira's voice was barely audible.

They broke apart both with bright eyes; the mood had shifted as Rumi’s health continued to improve. Take it easy, what was she saying? Why did her voice come out like that, all sultry?

“Mira, you're back” Rumi smiled, her eyes lit up, and for a brief, beautiful moment, Mira felt all the love she was craving from the people around her.

“We thought, maybe you left,” Zoey said with sadness in her expression.

“No, not yet.”

Mira looked away, feeling her skin tingle. This was downright inappropriate, and she needed to get a hold of herself. Focus on doing her job.

“It’s time to move you to an inpatient area, though,” Mira placed the food down and began fiddling with the wires and connections, readying to move the bed and the equipment that was saving Rumi’s life.

“Wait, does that mean we’ll get a different doctor?” Zoey's eyes were desperate, looking at Mira. She could see Zoey's fear, and she shook her head automatically.

“I’m not technically on shift; they don’t need me down here, so I can take you up to your room.”

“What’s all this?” Rumi asked with a frown, her eyes on the tray of food that Mira placed on the small tray attached to the bed.

“I just grabbed some snacks.”

“‘Some’ snacks, looks like got one of everything?” Zoey chuckled, her eyes wide with excitement.

“I didn’t know what you liked.” Mira could see how crazy she looked buying them food, paying the bill, but she couldn’t stop herself; they needed more than medicine.

Still, her focus went back to her job, unclipping the brakes on Rumi’s bed and pushing her out into the hall with Zoey walking alongside, they made their way through to the lifts.

It was much quieter and darker on the inpatient floor, and Mira realised she hadn’t really ever been up here, having to look at the signs to find the right room. Sighing, Mira found herself a little turned around, having been under the impression they wouldn’t have to go too far.

“Do you know where to go, Doctor?” Rumi smirked, looking up at her.

“I usually stay in the pit,” Mira sighed.

“Are we lost?” Zoey asked, slightly concerned.

“No.”

“We walked by that same man in the wheelchair twice,” Zoey pointed at an elderly man snoring as he slept.

“Huh, wait, it’s right through here.”

Mira finally spotted the empty room she had assigned to Rumi and rushed in. Locking the brakes back into place. Mira averted Rumi’s eyes as they followed Mira, suddenly very self-conscious of how weird this all was. They must have known this was not normal, even if they just picked it up from the confused stares of the nursing staff as they walked by.

But somehow it didn’t matter to them; they just accepted it, accepted her. Now they were where they needed to be, Mira checked Rumi’s vitals again. She could feel Rumi’s adoring eyes following her every move.

“Please stay, just a little while longer?” Rumi asked, and Mira nodded.

Seeing the fear in Rumi’s eyes fade as soon as she did had her reeling, like a teenager with a crush. Rumi and Zoey had a firmer grip on Mira’s heart with every moment they spent in each other's orbits. Right now, she just couldn’t take losing that and decided she would stay with them a little while longer.

“I love these,” Zoey grabbed a bag of choco churros, stuffing them into her mouth.

“She really does, one time she ate ten packets one after the other.”

“What’s wrong with that?” Mira chuckled.

“Well, she later vomited it all over me,” Rumi teased.

Mira sighed, noticing Rumi hadn’t even glanced at the food, hoping that Zoey would bring it up while she adjusted the drip. It seemed as though Mira was being too subtle, and Zoey was just too exhausted to notice her girlfriend's lack of interest in eating. So she took action, pushing the tray closer.

“Aren’t you going to have something?” Rumi questioned.

“I got this food for you,” Mira chuckled.

“Oh, thanks,” Rumi’s eyes went wide as she awkwardly smiled.

Mira couldn’t help but be firm with her. Still frustrated by her recklessness, if Rumi wasn’t going to take proper care, she gave Mira no choice but to take control. She watched closely until Rumi began to eat before stepping out again. Mira made her way down to storage, pulling out a trundle bed, no longer willing to see Zoey's tired eyes and frail frame. Both these girls would get rest; she would make sure of it. The halls of the hospital were getting busier as they were opened to visitors, but she managed to weave her way through unnoticed, back to their room.

“How long will I be here?” Rumi asked about a slight shift in her mood, as she eyed the bed with wide eyes.

“Until I say you can go,” Mira frowned, noticing the anxiety in Rumi’s eyes, wondering where it was she needed to be so badly.

“I like her,” Zoey said, a mouthful of chips.

“At least tell us what to call you, other than Doctor,” Rumi smiled.

“It’s Mira.”

“Thanks for saving my life, Mira,” Rumi said her name slowly and with reverence.

They continued to eat, talking with their mouths full, giggling, and speaking over each other as they shared stories about themselves. Mira remained quiet, sure that if she did share, they’d see just how empty her life was, but she watched them closely and listened intently. Now that Rumi had more energy, she could see her fire and her goofiness shining through.

“Hey, I wanted that,” Rumi groaned when Zoey picked up a packet of ramyeon.

“You cannot handle this level of spice, Rumi!”

“You're never going to let that go, it was one time,” Rumi huffed, but there was a spark in her eyes now, and Mira couldn’t help but smile upon seeing it.

“Never let you forget,” Zoey chuckled.

Rumi lunged forward to grab the cup of noodles and audibly whimpered, obviously having pulled at her stitches. Zoeys froze her eyes wide and lip trembling upon seeing the agony in Rumi’s expression.

“Be careful,” Mira moved quickly, her hands went to the wound, checking the bandage, but there was no blood.

“Sorry, I just forgot,” Rumi said, her whole demeanour instantly changed as if she just remembered where they were and why.

“Let me know if you're in pain, I'll up the dosage.”

Rumi nodded but didn’t ask for more, smiling as she looked down at Mira's hand still on her thigh. The little happy bubble the three of them were in had just popped, and they fell silent. Zoey put the cup noodles down and stepped back. All of a sudden, this lighthearted mood had dissolved, and Mira was desperate to have it back, to feel that connection with them again.

“When I was ten, I went through a phase where all I would eat was Ramyeon, and I refused anything else. My parents got so fed up they banned it from the house, thinking I’d eventually cave and eat something else.” Mira paused; the words had blurted out before she even realised she was sharing this part of herself.

They both looked at her with captivated awe in their eyes, waiting for her to continue.

“Did you?” Zoey asked.

“No, my brother. He snuck a whole bunch into my room and kept telling my parents he was making tea so he could get hot water.” Mira paused, smiling with a light in her eyes as she recalled.

“We built a fort out of pillows and just ate noodles all night.” A vision of them came to the forefront of Mira's mind, and she smiled. As if she could feel him there, the scents of the musty pillows and the spicy noodles felt like home.

“What happened? Did your parents find out?” Rumi asked, with wide, curious eyes.

“Yeah, well, we weren’t as covert as we thought; plus, we overslept and were late for school.” Mira's smile faded. The happy story wasn’t all that happy in the end. Then it all came flooding back, the shame and isolation she felt growing up, and tears welled in her eyes.

“My parents acted like my brother wasn’t even involved, blamed it all on me, ‘the bad influence'” Mira chuckled as if this was all just some long-resolved childhood trauma that she didn’t carry with her every day.

Zoey smiled sympathetically, reaching her hand over the tray of snacks where Mira’s hand rested, and she squeezed it gently.

“Sorry, I don’t know why I told you about that?” Mira felt herself tense up, taking in a deep breath.

“The point is, we all have a love for ramyeon,” Rumi smiled up at them.

“Even if they're too spicy?” Zoey raised her eyebrows, smirking at Rumi.

“Too spicy, too much, or banned,” Rumi’s eyes glanced to Zoey, then Mira, and for a moment, time stopped, and her words carried a bigger meaning than she intended.

That the three of them simply fit together, their quirks, their history, making them exactly what the other needed. Having let their jagged edges meet the light, they could see the beauty underneath all the layers of emotional walls. Even if it was just a glimpse.

Suddenly, Mira felt an urge to move out of this moment; she couldn’t let herself get caught up in them, aware this was only temporary. Wouldn’t let them warm her heart, knowing it would feel colder than ever once they were gone.

“Does it hurt?” Mira asked Rumi.

Stepping away and letting go of Zoey’s hand felt worse than she thought it would, and she winced slightly.

“No, not anymore, promise,” Rumi smiled up at her.

How could she look at Mira like that, so much love in her eyes, those beautiful eyes looked right through to her soul. It made her heart skip a beat.

“Well, uh, got to keep up with medication or it will just come back, and we’ll have to redress the wound soon. You’ll have to be careful not to get that bandage wet.” Mira was just talking; she didn’t know why, but she had to say something, anything.

“Guess that means we can’t go to the bathhouse anytime soon,” Rumi raised her eyebrows, looking at Zoey knowingly.

“We're still banned anyway,” Zoey looked at Rumi pointedly while she smiled at her.

“Banned?!” Mira questioned.

“Rumi started a fight,” Zoey teased, giggling slightly.

“Like it was my fault, you almost joined a cult,” Rumi scoffed, eyeing Zoey pointedly.

“How was I supposed to know that completing a survey for free entry to a bathhouse shouldn’t require my blood type and my place of birth, or my mother's maiden name?” Zoey paused, frowning as her mind seemed to catch up, “Oh, right, I should have caught that”

“Plus, that guy was a creep,” Rumi shuddered.

“How do you two get through the day?” Mira sighed, overwhelmed.

“Skin of our teeth,” Rumi laughed, but even that movement caused her to wince in pain.

Zoey let out a sigh, looking over at Rumi with sad, wistful eyes.

“I’m fine,” Rumi smiled up at her.

A comment that had Zoey rolling her eyes, but the subject was dropped, and they continued to talk about their misadventures and finish off the snacks. After about two hours, Zoey started eyeing the trundle bed longingly, but she didn’t move. Mira had seen this before, loved ones too afraid to rest, terrified that while they sleep, the unthinkable would happen. That by staying awake, they could somehow stop it. The truth was, it was all out of their control.

“Ok, you two, time to rest,” Mira instructed, putting the tray aside and dimming the lights.

The look of apprehension on Zoey's face, even as she began to tuck Rumi in, was plain and had Mira trembling. Desperate to wrap her arms around them both, promising that this moment of joy they are experiencing right now can last. They can rest, tomorrow will come, and they will still be ok.

“You’ll stay?” Zoey asked as she lay down to rest.

“I’m not going anywhere, promise.”

Zoey didn’t take her eyes off Mira as she lay still on the bed, her hand entwined with Rumi’s, even though the trundle bed was much lower than the hospital bed. Within minutes, they were both sound asleep, and it was so peaceful, so perfect in this moment, and Mira couldn’t help but smile proudly.

Her legs were numb, and she knew they would hurt tomorrow, so she sat down, but she couldn’t rest. It was her responsibility to watch over them now. She was on her phone researching nearby shelters and anyone who could offer care. Aware that once Rumi is discharged, she will have to return for a check-up and possibly receive additional medications and wound care. Afraid that once they walked out, no one else would help them, that Rumi would get sick again, and this time she wouldn’t be there. But her eyes were only seeing fuzzy blurs on the screens, no matter how much she adjusted in her seat or rubbed her eyes. Mira just needed to rest them for a minute, just a minute. She told herself as her eyelids closed and she faded off.

“Hey, Mir.”

A shot of adrenaline surged through Mira, and she felt a hand on her shoulder shaking her awake, awake! No, she fell asleep. Standing up before her eyes even opened, Mira looked around to find both girls still asleep and sighed in relief. But it was Romance who’d woken her up.

“You're here? I thought you went home,” Mira frowned, confused.

“Well, I’m back, didn’t expect you to still be here.” Romance gave her a concerned look, not judgmental. Probably confused, as in the year he’d known her, she’d never let slip the veil revealing the lonely girl beneath it all, until now, until them.

“I-I was just resting my eyes,” Mira coughed, straightening up her scrubs.

“On-call room is free,” Romance said with only a slight smirk.

“I have to keep monitoring her,” Mira mumbled, her hand to her temple.

Those big, flirty eyes were trying to persuade her to stop, to rest, and usually she brushes him off, but she was just too tired.

“I’ll watch over them.”

Mira nodded. She took one last look back at both of them, remembering her promise to Zoey.

“Ro, the second anything changes, or she wakes or…”

“I’ll come get you,” he nodded, a promise in his eyes.

Chapter Text

Mira hated sleeping in the on-call room, a cramped space with bunk beds and the smell of cleaning chemicals always lingering. The bustle of the emergency room was muffled, but she could still hear the chaos through the thin walls. Not once in her two years had she ever been able to truly rest in here, but right now, so utterly exhausted that her feet dragged along the floor, sleep would be inevitable. Even the itchy wool blankets didn’t bother her in that moment. Mira was out as soon as her head hit the pillow, still in her scrubs, her shoes remained on her feet. Romance was right; she really needed to sleep.

Remaining still as she slept until the sound of thunder woke her, like a warning call. Mira slowly opened her eyes, torn away from a peaceful dream, the details fading as she woke, but the feeling remained. Mira felt loved and safe and knew she was dreaming of them, Zoey and Rumi, cuddling up close. Unfortunately, no one was holding her, and she had slept on her side. Her body was stiff, and her mouth open, leaving it dry, her lips cracked. Slowly getting up, she stretched out her back and arms before grabbing a plastic cup and filling it with water from the small tap in the corner. Catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror, Mira adjusted her hair. According to the clock, she had only slept about 3 hours, but it was enough and she was anxious to see them.

Mid-morning was the closest the emergency room got to a slow period; beds were still full, but it wasn’t life and death, as it was more broken bones and gaping wounds. Walking up to Rumi’s room, Mira’s hair stood on end upon sighting a grey bag and an unknown man through the doorway, and someone else in the bed. Immediately, her heart was racing. Where was she? Has something happened? Why didn’t anyone come and wake her? Rushing back down to the emergency room, she found Romance there, his eyes wide and mouth open to talk, but she cut him off.

“Where are they!?”

“I’m sorry, they already left. I was stuck in an emergency procedure,” Romance winced as he said it, backing away.

Mira could see the guilt in his eyes, knew that it wasn’t his fault, but that didn’t change anything. It didn’t change the fact that she had let them down; she wasn’t there. That they were gone.

“You didn’t wake me. I’m Rumi’s doctor; I decide when she gets discharged!”

“Girl seemed like she wanted to go,” Another colleague shrugged, overhearing the conversation, quickly shutting his mouth when Mira turned her glare towards him.

But no one offered further support or shared Mira’s concern for Rumi’s well-being, giving her a pitying look as if she were the one who needed help. Letting out a sigh, Mira rushed off, eyes desperately peering around for a sign of Zoey and Rumi, before grabbing a tablet from the desk. Opening Rumi’s patient file, she couldn’t believe what she was reading. Rumi had signed herself out, despite advice to remain, taking no further pain medication or antibiotics with her. Mira felt her blood pressure drop and slammed the tablet back on the desk. It was only in this moment that Mira realised how much she had trusted Romance, relied on him, but all that faith was gone now. A fact she wanted him to know, her vengeful glare was squarely aimed at him.

“Sometimes, you just can’t save them,” Romance said, sighing, ready to place his hand on her shoulder, but she flinched away.

“Don’t patronise me,” Mira spat.

“You should head home,” Romance added, still looking at her with sympathy, but she shook her head.

“When did they leave?” Mira stated coldly,

Trying her best to hold back the tears welling in her eyes. There was no other way to describe the feeling, but it was as if Zoey and Rumi had been stolen from her.

“Mira, please let it go.” Romance words were not even heard, though her ears were ringing while her thoughts spiralled.

“When!?”

“About twenty minutes ago, some guy showed up, they were arguing, but they left with him.”

“No, no, no, no,” Mira mumbled her thoughts spiralling, hoping they hadn't left with this Jinu they had mentioned earlier, the guy who seemed to be the cause of Rumi's injuries.

Mira stormed out of the hospital as quickly as she could grab her things. She probably looked crazy, but she didn’t care. Without a word, she took Rumi's medication and ran out to where her car was parked in the street. Putting on her coat, a storm had rolled in while she slept, and the rain was cold, soaking through her clothes, before she could get into her black SUV. Without even considering any other option, she began looking for them, scanning every street corner, any place they could likely be.

Sure that she would drive all night to find them, but she wouldn’t have to, as she pulled out to the street. Mira slammed on the brakes, unable to believe her eyes. Crossing the street in front of her, Zoey was a few steps behind Rumi and a boy in a grey sweatshirt. While Rumi’s and Zoey remained in just their t-shirts, strolling through the pouring rain to the other side of the road. Sharply, Mira turned the car, illegally crossing over three lanes, before slowing down alongside them and rolling down the window. Mira could hear Zoey arguing with her arms folded, stomping her feet in the puddles as she followed them.

“Rumi, I want to go back,” Zoey pleaded.

“I’m fine, I swear,” Rumi sighed in a petulant huff.

“What the hell are you doing?!” Mira yelled more desperately than she thought she’d sound.

“Mira?” Zoey turned, stopping in her tracks with a frown on her face.

Rumi didn’t even look at her and didn't stop walking, being tugged along by a man in a hood, a man she presumed was this Jinu. Mira put the park brake on, blocking traffic. She got a few beeps from the cars behind her and ignored them. Abruptly jumping out of the car, Mira slammed the door. Her anger was mounting as she spotted the rain soaking through Rumi’s bandage, the blood trickling down to the pavement. Having no right to be this angry and disappointed in her, she barely knew Rumi, and yet she intended to drag her arse into the car if she had to.

“Stop!” Mira yelled through the rain.

Rumi glanced back to face Mira, and all her anger faded away with one look in those anxious eyes. With one glance, Rumi said so much. I’m scared, I’m confused, I’m running.

“I said stop, Rumi!” Mira yelled.

“I can’t,” Rumi whimpered out as Mira stepped closer, but she backed away with every step Mira took.

Zoey was at Mira’s side now, looking to her for help, begging for it with her eyes. Rumi still shied away like a stray animal, too afraid and confused to accept it. Bolting at the first sign of trouble.

“You will be right back in that emergency room, or worse.” Mira's voice broke; she wouldn't dare say the words, but her mind couldn’t help but picture it: Rumi lying on a metal slab in the morgue.

Rumi turned and kept walking, but the boy didn’t, glancing back at Mira with a confused frown.

“Wait, Rumi, maybe you should go with her.”

“Jinu?” Rumi scoffed.

Jinu folded his arms, raising his eyebrows at Rumi.

“You said you needed someone to pick you up from the hospital, but left out the part about you being the patient?!”

“They’re just being dramatic, I feel fine,” Rumi said unconvincingly.

“Rumi! Stop it, stop pretending you're ok, you don’t have to be ok!” Zoey yelled, breathing so heavily that her whole body shook as her fists clenched.

All three of them froze. Jinu looked like he was about to run into the road rather than face Zoey, while Rumi froze, her girlfriend's desperate pleas seemingly breaking through those emotional walls for a brief moment.

“I am not going to watch you die. Get in the car,” Zoey quietened down, and somehow this was scarier; her arm up, she pointed at Mira’s car.

A look shared between the couple, layered with deep understanding and heartache, and Mira wondered where this fire was when Rumi discharged herself. Before she could even ask Zoey why she let Rumi walk out, she was under fire.

“And where were you!?” Zoey turned to Mira, arms folded.

Somewhat startled, Mira paused before speaking.

“Asleep, I got my fr-another doctor to watch over you both, but-”

“I trusted you, I thought-” Zoey’s words trailed off, but there were no tears in her eyes. They just seemed dim, the spark was gone, and she looked hopeless.

“I’m sorry”

Zoey's anger towards Mira faded quickly, and in her expression was nothing but longing. For what Mira didn’t quite register.

“No, it’s not your fault” Zoey let out a deep breath, defeated.

Rumi stepped closer, her arm on Zoey’s back, and she stroked it gently, trying to soothe her, but there was no time for this. Rain was still pelting down on them. Mira’s heart raced, and she opened the car door.

“You need to get out of the rain, Rumi. You'll get sick again.” Mira’s eyes went to the blood mixed with the rain trickling down her leg.

“What’s the point!? So I stay in a hospital bed another day, then what? We still don’t have a place to go, I don’t have time to recover and Jinu needs me,” Rumi stated.

Mira turned to him, having forgotten for a moment that he was still standing there.

“I wouldn’t have asked her for help if I knew she was sick,” Jinu stuttered out as both Zoey and Mira glared at him.

“You should have never asked her at all!” Zoey spat.

Jinu recoiled slightly before letting out a defeated sigh. Rumi shook her head, ready to keep arguing, a desperate fear in her eyes, but Jinu spoke first.

“Rumi, just get better. I can handle ‘him’,” Jinu stated, but he had no confidence in his voice.

“Wait, handle who, what's else is going on, you two?” Zoey's eyes went wide as if she knew exactly who Jinu was referring to.

“His boss, Jinu owes him money” Rumi turned back to Jinu with sympathetic eyes, “and you shouldn’t have to face it alone”

“Rumi, you can’t help me, nobody can” Jinu let go of Rumi’s hand, a fire in his eyes and anger that had Mira on edge.

Before Rumi could continue to argue, she was cut off by an excessively loud and prolonged car horn, which disrupted their discussion, and Mira rolled her eyes and turned around.

“Go around!” Mira yelled, gesturing to the white Mercedes that was honking at them, to just switch to the other lane and move along.

“Ok, ok, I’ll get in the car,” Rumi sighed, her paleness somewhat returning and her movements sluggish.

Zoey held Rumi’s hand as she limped towards the car, while Mira’s eyes darted back over to Jinu with a hateful glare.

“You're getting blood on the seat, Rumi,” Zoey said as they climbed in.

Mira closed the door behind them, letting out a sigh of relief. The rain was still pouring down, and she gave one last withering glare to Jinu, still unsure of his intentions in all this. Then walked around the car to the driver's side and took off.

It was silent, as all three of them tried to take a breath, aware that her emotions were heightened. Mira decided to wait before speaking. But her mind wouldn’t rest; her focus was on their shivering in the back of her car, and she blasted the heating. The sound of the fans' exhaust was the only sound apart from the catchy K-pop song playing on the radio for a few minutes, until Rumi spoke.

“I’m sorry,” Rumi blurted out anxiously.

It caused Mira to frown sympathetically. Not expecting this, she thought maybe Rumi would yell at her or tell her to leave them alone. After all, what right did she have to interfere like this? If Rumi wanted to leave the hospital and refuse care, that was her right.

Mira knew that logically, but logic seemed to have no place in her world since meeting them. She couldn’t face her feelings right now, even as her pinning, her frustration with everything, was all mounting to a critical point. Now it was impossible to hold back, straining under the pressure, she finally said something.

“So that was ‘Jinu’?” Mira asked pointedly.

“Yes, he was just trying to help. We did a job together, but we got into some trouble.”

“Why do you take on everything alone, and why do you think you need to save him, Rumi?” Zoey sighed, exasperated.

“I don’t understand?” Mira frowned at them through the rearview mirror.

“Jinu, he finds work for me, odd jobs, I owe him,” Rumi explained sheepishly.

“Work?! Is that what we're calling breaking and entry, stealing! With his group of idiots?” Zoey spat.

“We don’t take from anyone who can’t afford to lose it,” Rumi argued.

“That's not the point, Rumi, you lied to me again!” Zoey gasped out, but she didn’t cry this time, just had a devastated look in her eyes.

"That's why you discharged yourself, to go out on some crime spree,” Mira scoffed, furrowing her brow.

“If I do this one last job, we’ll be free!” Rumi paused, turning to Zoey with desperate eyes “We can make a fresh start,” Rumi argued, turning to Zoey with pleading eyes.

They understood what Rumi was trying to do and why. But it wasn’t the way to handle things, and Zoey just shook her head, causing Rumi to wince.

“You knew you’d have to leave, that's why you asked me how long you’d be admitted” Mira sighed as she realised this.

“Jinu was counting on me, I-.”

“I need you to be ok. I don’t care about money,” Zoey stated firmly.

“I’m really sorry,” Rumi said again with big puppy dog eyes.

Mira’s eyes were so focused on them in her back seat that she almost hit the car in front of them, but slammed on her brakes just in time. Great, a self-sacrificing badass and her naive, albeit strong-willed, girlfriend had captivated Mira’s heart, and now, Mira had no choice but to look after them. It was too late; they had woven themselves into her heart, and any attempt to separate would leave behind a scar, and Mira already had one too many.

“I should have stayed awake,” Mira sighed, her shame becoming an overbearing weight on her chest.

“You promised” Zoey’s anger had faded; all that remained was a deep sadness.

Zoey’s wide eyes were looking up at her through the rearview mirror. Mira could see she was exhausted by her life. Begging Mira to remain in it, to tag in when Zoey needed a break.

“Zoey, I-I won’t let you down next time,” Mira could barely utter the words caught in her throat, horrified that she had been entrusted with Rumi’s care and failed. Now locking eyes with Zoey, she gave her a look that promised it would never happen again.

Zoey nodded and began to sob out of relief, and Rumi wrapped her arms around Zoey, letting her cry into her shoulder. A few minutes went by as Zoey was soothed in Rumi’s arms. Mira’s hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, wishing she could hold them both right now.

“Where are you taking us? I don’t want to go back to that hospital,” Rumi asked, looking out the window with a frown.

Probably confused that they hadn’t already arrived back at the hospital, as they had been driving for a few minutes and it was only a block away.

“Uh, my place,” Mira stated, a little surprised herself.

Mira had started driving there before she even realised it, caught up in the conversation, it was automatic. Now that she was pulling into the underground car park of the luxury apartment complex, she knew this was the right place to be. Aware that Rumi needed more care, but it wasn’t anything she couldn’t offer with the personal supplies she had in her apartment.

Chapter Text

Mira could hear Zoey and Rumi shivering behind her as she unlocked the door to her apartment, trying to recall what state it was in when she left the previous morning. Had she put the dishes in the sink, made her bed or left her life-size unicorn pillow on the couch? Cringing at the thought of them seeing it. Did any of that matter right now, though? When she needed to get them dry and warm?

Opening the door, Mira rushed down the hall to the bathroom, grabbed two towels and turned on the heated lighting. A million things running through her head. Starting with, what the hell was she doing? Bringing them to her place, which was less of a home and more of a way station, she visited between shifts at the hospital and gym. What would they think when they saw the piles of cardboard boxes coated in dust, she never bothered to unpack? But all those thoughts were silenced by her fears that Rumi would get worse again. That they would have nowhere safe to go, and she found her resolve.

“Sorry, my place is kind of empty. I haven't finished moving in,” Mira said, but when she turned around, she realised she was talking to herself.

Frowning, Mira sighed, walking back down the hall to the entryway. Like two stray cats, they stood awkwardly in the doorway. Mira raised her eyebrows at them, still shaking with droplets of water dripping from them, forming a puddle around their feet. In the dim lights, they seemed so helpless, all their fire washed away in the rain.

“What are you doing? Come in,” Mira scoffed, gesturing with her hand for them to come forward.

“No, we'll ruin your floor,” Rumi argued, looking down at her soaking wet shoes.

“You can just give us the medication, we’ll go,” Zoey added, as she clung to Rumi’s side.

“Ughh,” Mira sighed.

They were so adorable. It was infuriating, standing there out in the freezing temperatures, soaking wet, Mira grabbed one of their hands each and pulled them inside and over to the main bathroom. A room she had yet to use as her bedroom had an ensuite, it was a big space with floor-to-ceiling tiles. Not a speck of toothpaste in the mirror, or a single watermark on the tile. In fact, there wasn’t much of anything in Mira’s apartment.

“How long have you lived here?” Rumi asked, her eyes peering around, and she frowned.

“Two years?” Mira had to think hard, unsure if it had actually been longer.

“I thought you said you were still unpacking,” Zoey chuckled.

“I haven't been here much,” Mira shrugged, her eyes wide, suddenly realising how ridiculous that was.

“In two years?” Rumi gawked.

Mira didn’t see them sharing a concerned look, focusing on finding her at-home bandage kit and double-checking she had all the medications Rumi required. Barely noticing as the girls slowly eased up, Zoey even unlatched from Rumi’s arm. Looking around the bathroom, they shared a knowing glance. Mira didn’t have time to wonder why; she had found the thermometer in her med kit and quickly took both their temperatures.

“Way too low. A hot shower is the quickest way to warm up,” Mira stated before turning the water on as hot as it would go.

“Do you ever take a break?” Rumi asked with a slight chuckle.

“What do you mean?” Mira scoffed, opening up the linen cupboard, which was empty. She groaned, frustrated, but spotted a shopping bag at the bottom. Opening it up, she found two white fluffy robes inside with the tags still on.

“You're so on, all the time, it must be exhausting.” Rumi's eyes locked onto hers, and she had so much light in them now, so much concern for her that Mira stuttered slightly.

“I take breaks,” Mira shook her head, her focus breaking from the task in front of her as she realised that answer wasn’t true.

“When was the last time you had a holiday?” Zoey asked before she prodded further, “A day off?”

Mira walked back over to them while discreetly pulling the tags off the robes.

“I don’t know, please get in the shower,” Mira hung the robes up and turned on the water, ferrying them into the shower with their clothes and shoes still on.

At this moment, averting their eyes, Mira didn't really take in what was happening. That she, a person who hadn’t even had her family visit or brought a date home, ever. Somehow, without even taking a moment to consider it, Mira had invited two beautiful women into her double shower. A space she never used herself, not too keen on the fact that it had no door, just a gap in the glass and with two large shower heads. It just always made her feel all the more alone.

Not now, though, now she had plenty of company. Zoey smirked, splashing the water over Rumi’s face, and she had a moment of surprise before she struck back. Both girls began splashing like children, and they giggled. Zoey managed to cup the water in her hands, throwing it in Rumi’s face with a pointed look, indicating she was still upset with her girlfriend. Rumi spluttered a little before lunging forward, but still in her shoes, she slipped backwards, and Mira caught her arm before she fell.

“Be careful!” Mira's voice broke, and her heart raced; she couldn’t stand it, anything happening to them.

“Sorry,” Rumi sheepishly smiled, staring into her eyes.

“Honestly,” Mira smiled, shaking her head.

Mira’s eyes stayed on Rumi while Zoey slipped out of her shoes and tugged at her soaking wet pants. They were stuck to her skin, and she grunted, leaning against the wall of the shower to gain a better balance.

Mira's eyes went down to Rumi’s wound. “Let me check your cut?” she asked.

Rumi nodded, and Mira pulled down her pants, revealing her thigh, a bandage soaked with rainwater and a little blood. Delicately placing her hand over it, Mira unclipped the pin and unravelled the cloth.

Solley focused on the wound; the whole world fell away. Mira carefully surveyed the infected area, relieved to see the swelling had gone down and the stitches were still in place. So clinically focused, she didn’t even notice their clothes were coming off. It wasn’t until the steam fogged up her glasses that she looked up. Eyes wide, Mira gulped at the sight of them in the bras and underwear. Rumi and Zoey smiled at Mira.

“I’ll go,” Mira stuttered out.

Picking up their clothes quickly, she backed away, ashamed of the warmth and desire spreading through her body. She became stiff as she resisted the urge to lay her hands on them and kiss their lips. This wasn’t right. Was she taking advantage? This wasn’t what she wanted, was it? I mean, it was, of course, it was. Not like this, though, not yet.

“Better put these in the wash,” Mira mumbled.

Only catching a glimpse of their disappointed expressions as she bolted out the door and closed it behind her. Leaning up against it, she breathed heavily, unable to calm herself, for the third time in the last twenty-four hours. What were these women doing to her?

“You scared her off,” Zoey sighed.

“Me, you started it,” Rumi chuckled.

Listening to the muffled laughter through the door, she imagined they were kissing, holding each other in a tight embrace as the hot water washed over them. Mira stood up straight, marching to her room, shunning herself for listening in on the couple's intimate moment.

She’d never felt so at peace with them and never so alone at the same time, the kind of loneliness that was always there but she never noticed. Standing alone in the hall, she could only see what was missing from her life. Not a single photo frame in sight, no clutter, not even a fake plant, in an apartment nobody really lived in. The presence of their love for each other made her feel a euthoria while devastated at the same time, because she wanted what they had.

They were right, though. Zoey and Rumi had scared her off a reaction so instinctual that Mira only noticed the pattern as she leaned against the door. Going over it now, it was clear she had always slammed the door, usually abruptly and in the face of anyone wanting to get close to her. A defence mechanism, push them away before they leave, like everyone else did, like her brother eventually did. It was better that way, safe in her comforting bubble, no one could get close enough to hurt her. But her bubble had burst, now Mira was an open wound, burning and stinging in the aftermath of them.

The pile of wet clothes still in her arms, Mira shoved them into the washing machine, slamming the door and poked at the keypad forcefully when selecting the wash cycle. Trying to distract herself, trying not to picture them in her shower, they were in her shower! Walking into her bedroom, Mira spotted her giant teddy used for late-night cuddles and shoved it away in the cupboard.

Barely about to squish it in and close the door, she catches herself in the reflection of the mirror on the wardrobe. Eyes wide in horror, at the sight of her dishevelled hair and crumbled wet scrubs. Marching over to the ensuite bathroom, she pulled off her shirt and pants, getting into the shower. Without really thinking about it, she runs the water cold, not wanting to take any heat from them.

–

Mira felt a sense of regained determination now that she was feeling fresh and clean, but it was strange to hear voices from down the hall, even in an exasperated whisper. Not bad, strange, but the good kind that resulted in a warm fuzzy feeling spreading through her body. Mira smiled, anticipation building in her as her hand reached for the door, ready to see them again, hoping her abrupt exit hadn’t made things awkward. Freezing immediately upon catching sight of them standing in the hall. Zoey and Rumi were in the robes and nothing else, smelling of her rose-scented soap.

“I put your clothes in the wash,” Mira stated.

Mira didn’t know why she said it, what else was there to say. I’m sorry I took off I want to shower with you, to feel their hands caress her body amongst the steam. Kiss you under a gush of water, my mouth moving from your lips, then along your neck. Mira would need to shower again if she kept thinking about it. As she had this thought, they stared at her blankly, smirks on their faces.

“Thanks,” Zoey smiled while she eyed Mira.

“It shouldn’t take too long for it to dry.”

“We don’t mind the robes,” Rumi smirked, wrapping it tighter around herself.

“Very cosy,” Zoey noted.

Rumi's smile quickly faded, a look of agony clear in her eyes, but she was trying to hide it, silence herself, afraid to ask for anything more. Mira's eyes went to Rumi's leg; she could see her putting her weight on her left.

“I need to redress the bandage and give you more pain relief.”

Mira walked forward past them and into the lounge, furnished with only a couch and a TV mounted to the wall, no coffee table or cabinets. Mira had nothing to fill them with, never making time in her life for hobbies or trinkets; everything was bare. Rumi remained still, staring blankly, until Zoey nudged her forward, and she walked over to Mira.

“Sit, leg up, come on,” Mira encouraged, pointing to the couch.

“Help yourself to the food and drinks,” Mira advised Zoey as Rumi did as instructed, sitting leg up on the couch and pulling back the robe so Mira could work on re-dressing the wound.

“How’s it look?” Rumi asked, sounding a little concerned, which filled Mira with a sense of relief that she was finally understanding the seriousness of her injury.

“Well, all your running around pulled at my stitches, but they held,” Mira sighed, relieved.

“I wasn’t running, I just- I was running,” Rumi sighed, defeated.

“From what?” Mira spoke as calmly as she could manage, but it still came out with intensity.

“I-” Rumi's mouth moved, but the words seemed to be lost between her head and her mouth.

All while Zoey was making her way through the kitchen, a curious look in her eyes, she opened up the fridge and grabbed the only thing in there, apart from a few half-empty sauce bottles.

“You know this is mouldy,” Zoey didn’t look annoyed or disgusted, just concerned, placing the noodle box in the garbage bin.

Mira grimaced as she couldn’t even recall the last time she had ordered takeout from a noodle restaurant, and she frowned before shrugging it off. Her focus was still on cleaning Rumi’s cut properly.

“Ok, do you even live here? You have barely any furniture and no food in your fridge,” Zoey pursed her lips, thinking intently.

“I... sleep, here.”

Zoey paused from rummaging the cupboards, looking to Rumi while Mira kneeled at her side, not noticing their shared concern for her. Mira had no room for this disruption, wanting to get back on topic, to get to the bottom of Rumi’s flight response at the hospital. Always told she was overbearing, a kind of intensity that scared off most people. Mira was used to it, but the thought of them being afraid of her had Mira reeling. It was unbearable.

“Rumi, please, why did you leave? Was it me? Did I do something to-” Mira asked, she hated how pathetic she sounded, as if anything Rumi did was about her.

“No, no, you're amazing, uh,” Rumi paused, her cheeks burning red, “I mean, I just, I’m not used to it.”

“Used to what?” Mira scoffed.

“Having a safe place to sleep,” Rumi paused, letting out a deep breath “My whole life, I’ve only known one thing, that I’m a mistake, a burden. I didn’t want to be a burden for you, too,” Rumi whispered the words, her eyes darting up to Zoey as if checking if she heard her.

“Rumi, you're no burden,” Mira gasped out.

Distracted by Rumi’s confession, at the thought of her being so hopeless, Mira forgot to tell her she was about to dab the wound with antiseptic. Rumi seized up, taking in a sharp breath, and Mira could see the pain in her face and instinctively reached out her hand to comfort her.

“I’m sorry, I have to disinfect it.”

“It’s ok,” Rumi said through stuttered gasps.

“Serves her right,” Zoey tried to sound angry, her arms folded, but all she had in her eyes was love for Rumi.

“It’s going to hurt for a while, but you’ll get better. Pain is a part of healing,” Mira said, locking eyes with Rumi knowingly.

Walking over, Zoey had a glass of water in her hand, handing it to Rumi before grabbing a pillow and propping it behind Rumi so she could sit up comfortably. Mira continued to clean the wound before wrapping it with a fresh bandage.

“So, are you not a fan of communal showers?” Zoey smiled at Mira with a grin.

“I thought you’d want me to go,” Mira frowned, somewhat confused.

“Rumi and I, we don’t mind your company,” Zoey shrugged, and Rumi nodded.

“Noted.”

Unable to contain her smile while pinning the bandage in place on Rumi’s leg, could it be that this wasn’t just her, that they wanted her too? Mira couldn’t hold herself back anymore. They had given her the green light, and she wanted to know them, every part. As if the buckling flood gates had finally broken down, she knew they had a permanent place in her heart now. Even if they didn’t have one in her life, she was ok with that. In fact, it brought her immense joy that she even had this time with them. Not that Mira wanted it to end, but she didn’t know how to hold onto them, so trained at pushing people away, it was a hard concept to grasp in the abstract. Mira's heart began to race as she tried to find the right words, the right way to tell them how she felt. Rumi and Zoey had been talking this whole time, and Mira wasn’t even listening to what they were saying to each other.

“I’ll make up the bed in the spare room, take these, ok?” Mira instructed, handing Rumi two capsules.

“You want us to stay the night?” Zoey gasped.

Mira smiled and nodded her head as she got to her feet.

“I don’t know, you’ve already done so much, uhh,” Rumi stuttered out.

“You have to keep taking your medication and resting, or the infection will come back.”

“I know-” Rumi started to say, somewhat exasperated.

“Then why did you leave the hospital without them?” Mira shot back teasingly.

Rumi’s lip trembled in response, and she could see she had made her feel guilty, which was not her intention.

“I promised Jinu I’d help him.”

“Right, it just seems like more than that, you didn’t even want to get admitted? Then you tried to sneak out while we were asleep,” Zoey looked away as she said it.

Mira trembled at the sight, seeing how terrified Zoey was to make any sort of confronting statement, but she needed to.

“I was scared,” Rumi placed her hand on Zoey's shoulder to get her to look into her apologetic eyes, “I thought if people found out about how I was injured, that they’d call the cops or something.”

“How were you injured?” Mira raised her eyebrows pointedly.

“It was just a graze,” Rumi blurted out the words, and her eyes went wide when she realised.

“Graze from what?” Zoey asked, her tone shifted as she realised.

“It was a bullet, wasn’t it?” Mira had been thinking this since seeing the wound, but didn’t want to say.

Rumi nodded.

“That's it, you are never, ever ever ever hanging out with those guys again.”

“What, Zoey? Come on, I’m fine.”

That was it; something snapped in Mira. Fine, she kept saying she was fine. After risking her life for money, not seeking help, until she was at death's door and still hesitated to take it. After all that, Rumi fled the first chance she got. None of it was fine.

“You're not fine, you have a bacterial infection, Rumi, you need medication and rest, you’ll stay here tonight.” Mira knew how she sounded, but she didn’t care. Someone had to make her understand, and Mira was happy to fill that need.

“Ok,” Rumi shrugged, while giggling slightly.

“I told you,” Zoey smirked

“I am everybody's type," Rumi teased with a confident smile.

“What?” Mira frowned, looking between the two. “What's going on?”

“You’ve got it bad,” Zoey smirked, looking up at Mira.

“What do you mean?”

“You think I don’t know when someone is into my girlfriend?” Zoey smiled while wrapping her arms around Rumi’s waist.

Mira stood still, mouth gaping open, not expecting them to be so forward. She was usually the one to make a move. That was her problem; she never did anymore. Instead, she found herself in this limbo, not making her feelings clear, while simultaneously obsessing over them. There was no point in denying now, though.

“Who said I was only into Rumi?” Mira smiled; her gaze upon them was warm, smiling with her eyes.

Zoey and Rumi’s eyes reflected this back at her, all three of them pinning for more, and yet they remained still, not ready to push any further.

“But we can’t take advantage of you, I mean we can figure a place to stay we always do,” Zoey stated with a fake confidence Mira could see right through.

“You’ll stay here,” Mira demanded before realising she was coming off a little too intense “Until tomorrow, at least.”

“We shouldn’t,” Zoey shook her head.

“I don’t really live here anyway, won’t even notice,” Mira breathed out a laugh.

Acting as nonchalantly as possible, because the truth was the opposite, their presence there was already everything, lighting up her dim apartment with life.

“Ok, just one night,” Rumi nodded.

Chapter Text

Arms full of grocery bags, Mira sighed as she closed her car door by nudging with her hip before making her way to the lifts and up to her apartment. All the noise, the intensity of the emergency room had already been forgotten; all she had on her mind now was cooking dinner and what movie she would watch with Zoey and Rumi. Last night, they had decided on a classic musical, but Mira was hoping to convince them to watch a horror movie this evening. In fact, she had been looking forward to it all day, so distracted by the thought of coming home to them, she didn’t even consider extending her shift as she usually did.

The mere memory of cuddling up on the couch brought a warmth, in awe of the mundaneness, how easily they’d slotted into a stable routine. The days were already perfectly folding into each other, usually including a late dinner, before checking on Rumi’s healing progress and re-dressing her bandage. Spending the evening on the couch, they got more comfortable with each other, slowly inching closer day by day. Last night, Mira sat between them, with one leg curled up into her, the other dangling down. After some nagging from the girls, Rumi lay long ways with her legs elevated, quickly falling asleep, her head resting on Mira’s shoulder. To her left, Zoey continuously changed positions until Mira pulled out her snuggling-size unicorn plushie just for her, and she spent the rest of the evening lying atop it.

Mira wasn’t sure how it happened exactly, but their one-night stay had become a week, always making up an excuse to extend for another day. More time to heal Rumi’s injury, or because there was rain forecast, or just because they wanted to try a new meal together. Mira felt her chest tighten at the thought of them running out of reasons to stay. The first time Mira left for work, she was terrified, wondering if they would leave while she was gone, but every night she returned home, they were there. Even started to unpack some of those moving boxes, washing and folding her clothes, and last night had dinner waiting for her. She loved it, even if it was a little burnt. It was just nice to have a reason to come home, to have something to look forward to outside of work. Made Mira’s life feel like so much more than she ever dreamed it could be. Gave her hope.

The elevator dinged, stepping out, Mira smiled, hearing them shuffling around from behind the door sent a flurry of adrenaline surging through her. Smiling as she entered the apartment to see Zoey sitting up on the kitchen countertop, legs dangling over the side, and Rumi strolling up towards her.

“Give me those,” Rumi grabbed half the bags from her tired arms, and Mira smiled, seeing her so full of life; her strength returned.

She could help but admire Rumi’s biceps as she carried the bags over to the counter with ease, in Mira’s tank top, which was much better suited for Rumi. Clinging to her chest, it rose a little as she placed the bags on the bench, exposing her waist.

“Any updates?” Zoey asked with excited eyes.

“Patient zero turned out to be a false alarm, so no outbreak, oh, then Ro and I had to hold down a patient today, stop him from biting a nurse, he thought he was a vampire.”

“Just when I think I hear the craziest story, you come home the next day with another,” Rumi chuckled.

Mira’s eyes darted to the couch, and she could see a throw rug and other items sprawled out around the place. Realising they had started unpacking her moving boxes, she smiled.

“What have you two been up to?” Mira raised her eyebrows, surprised by how good it felt to see her empty apartment becoming a home.

“Not much really, unpacked a few things, Zoey found a whole new channel featuring kittens interacting with turtles, and made me watch for hours.”

“There’s a channel for that?” Mira frowned, thinking it over before shrugging.

Zoey sighed, eyeing Rumi with a knowing glare, to which she responded by rolling her eyes, but there was a hesitation in Rumi's movements. A kind of subtle squirmishness that had Rumi tapping her fingertips along the bench. Mira could see Rumi was readying herself up to say something, but was holding back, seeing her fight this inner turmoil made Mira’s heart race.

“Jinu called,” Zoey stated pointedly.

“I was getting to that,” Rumi sighed, her eyes darting around.

“Really?” Zoey scoffed.

“Most people don’t just rattle on about their drama as soon as people walk in the door.”

“Wait, Jinu, why?” Mira asked, but they were now so caught up in their own back and forth that they failed to notice.

“So you're not avoiding the subject,” Zoey teased.

“You two are the ones who get all tense and grumpy every time it’s brought up,” Rumi counted.

“That’s because we're concerned,” Zoey frowned, but her tone remained relaxed while Mira grew increasingly worried.

“Hey! Tell me what’s going on now?!” Mira raised her voice, and they both turned to her with guilty expressions, seeing how stressed she had become.

“See what I mean, you got her all worked up about nothing,” Rumi sighed.

Rumi walked over, taking the rest of the bags out of Mira’s hands, placing them on the bench just as Zoey jumped off it, her feet slamming to the ground, making a slapping sound.

“Nothing! Nothing is you stealing for him and getting shot, while making your escape,” Zoey had a crazed look in her eyes, her chest heaving with every beat of her heart.

“It was a graze, its healing” Rumi's eyes bulged, her hands animated as she got herself worked up.

But one glance up to Mira and Zoey's disapproving eyes and she shrank back down, lowering her voice.

“Jinu just wants to catch up,” Rumi shot out quickly.

“No,” Mira stated firmly, instinctively moving in front of the door.

“That’s what I said,” Zoey let out a deep breath, relieved to have the backup.

“I’m just telling you guys because I don’t want to keep any more secrets, but I’m going to see him.” Rumi puffed out her chest as if this meant they’d back off.

“I’m coming then,” Mira stated firmly.

“I said that too,” Zoey grinned broadly.

“I can go alone, he just wants to talk,” Rumi’s voice hit an octave too high, and Mira could see in her eyes that even she thought it was a bad idea.

“That’s what phones are for,” Mira shot back.

“I think he feels bad about everything that happened, wants to make it right.”

“I can help with that,” Zoey smirked, punching her palm with her fist.

“No, you're not going to hit him,” Rumi sighed, frustrated.

Dragging her feet, she made her way over to where Zoey leaned on the bench with pleading eyes, and Zoey grinned. Despite their heated words, they smiled at each other, and Rumi wrapped her arm around Zoey’s waist, pulling her in close.

“Can I hit him then?” Mira teased, but she knew this was no joke, as the desire to take a swing entered her mind.

“Nobody's hitting anyone,” Rumi sighed, defeated “Fine. I won’t go.”

Mira knew Rumi sounded reasonable enough, but that didn’t stop her from going into a panic, thinking the worst and was relieved that she backed down. That's when Mira saw it out of the corner of her eyes, a black bag on the floor with their belongings in it. Which consisted of all their clothes, a few sentimental items and some hair care products.

“What’s that?”

“We packed, now that I'm better, we figured we should get out of your hair,” Rumi stated quietly, her eyes darting around.

“You’re leaving?” Mira stuttered out, and her whole body stiffened.

It was happening again, like the ground had been pulled out from underneath her feet, and Mira was desperate to cling on. Why, though she knew this was coming, this situation was never going to be permanent. That eventually they would have to go back to their lives and leave Mira to hers. Get back to focusing on her career; she had no time for anything else. Right?

“I got a job today,” Zoey smiled excitedly.

“That’s great,” Mira tried her best to sound positive, but it came out bitter.

“We can’t just stay here forever wearing your clothes eating your food oh actually, I started making a list of all the money we owe you,” Zoey stated, pulling out a notebook three pages full of scribbling notes.

“You're not paying me anything” Mira’s words were firm as she folded her arms.

There was nothing to say; clearly, Mira misread things between them, playing out a fantasy that the three of them could stay like this forever. Why would anyone want to stay here, putting up with her bluntness and aggressive nature, which was usually a constant liability to those around her. Except all that seemed to work with them, at least she thought it did.

“There has to be something you want; you saved Rumi’s life.” Zoey's eyes lingered on Mira as she looked up from her notebook.

“I didn’t do it for a reward,” Mira frowned, a little insulted.

“No, that’s not what she meant, sorry, this is all coming out wrong,” Rumi stepped forward, reaching out her hand, and she took Mira’s.

“You don’t have to feel obligated to take care of us anymore.” Rumi smiled at her, that same earth-shattering smile, and Mira’s knees buckled.

“Obligated?” Mira repeated, confused.

Had she been so naive, thinking there was something more between them, reading all the signals wrong, or maybe she had been mixing them up so much they thought she wasn’t into them? Mira still couldn’t say it in any meaningful way. How much she loved being needed by them, or let them know that she needed them too. Their presence in her life fundamentally changed her. But truthfully, she had no idea what effect, if any, she had on them.

She felt herself tense up, forcing the wall back around her heart, and she walked past Zoey and Rumi into the kitchen. Mira felt an anger burning her up inside. Why did this happen? Why did they come into her life? Why did they make her house a home if they were just going to leave her?

“Better start cooking, don't want to hold you two up,” Mira stated pointedly.

“Mira?” Zoey said her name with so much emotion, like she was calling out to her heart.

But it was muffled. The bubble was already back up around her heart, making it sound like Zoey was miles away. Unpacking the groceries in abrupt movements, slamming draws and ripping open cupboards. Not even looking in their direction, but Mira heard footsteps on the hardwood floor creeping over to her.

Rumi didn’t say anything but was at her side, blocking her path to the cupboard, taking the can of corn from her hand and staring into her eyes longingly. Mira’s breath hitched, and she couldn’t hide the tears that were welling in her eyes.

“We thought you’d want us to go,” Rumi said after a long pause.

“Let's make one thing clear, in no way did I feel like you two have been a burden in my life.”

“Ok,” Rumi said.

“And you don’t have to go.”

“Ok,” Zoey said, leaning closer, her elbows on the bench.

“And we're watching a horror movie tonight,” Mira smiled, still not really making things clear, but for now, at least they were staying for dinner and another cuddle on the couch.

It was after dinner, when the movie was about halfway through watching the movie, looking at the clock, Mira saw the time 10.13 pm. Noting it was at this time a week ago, she heard Zoey's cries for help. The moment this all started, the moment the fire inside her burned again, brighter than ever. The couch she used to avoid, usually choosing to just lie in her bed, scrolling through her phone until she fell asleep. That couch was now her favourite place in the world, because they had decided on a horror movie, and Zoey curled up into Mira’s side, hiding behind her oversized hoodie. While Rumi was once again asleep, her head resting on Mira’s shoulder, drowsiness was a side effect of her medication and her body's healing.

The truth of it was. They were the ones taking care of her now, not once in her life had she had this to come home to, to be welcomed and loved. With queries about her day and stories of their own to share, their warmth just made her feel whole.

Made her house a home, and she loved them for it.

–

The half-open window let the cool breeze roll in as Mira tossed and turned in her king-size bed alone, not quite asleep but not really awake. Pulling away from her dreams, she couldn’t bear to let her subconscious mind take over, knowing it was going to pull her into a fantasy. A world with Rumi and Zoey clinging to her side, hers to protect, to love, and to please, but she didn’t want it if it wasn’t real. Pulling her from this dreamlike state, Mira could hear a voice calling out, no, it was screaming out.

Jolting awake, Mira sat up in bed upon hearing visceral screams from down the hall. She wasn’t even sure who it was in her disoriented state. It wasn’t until Mira burst into the girls' room that she saw Zoey thrashing about, her eyes shut tight.

“No, don’t leave!” Zoey wailed through sobs.

Rumi was awake, an exhausted look in her eyes, eyes that had experienced this horror one too many times and Mira knew then this wasn’t Zoey’s first nightmare. Rumi gently shook her girlfriend's shoulder, a desperate sadness in her expression.

Her attempts to wake Zoey weren’t working, and Zoey was still thrashing about, and her foot struck Rumi's wound, causing her to wince. Mira rushed forward, jumping onto the bed, straddling Zoey and holding her down with a hand on each of her arms. Feeling her still squirm underneath her grasp caused her heart to sink, but she could no longer hurt anyone, including herself.

“You're ok, we’re not going anywhere,” Mira said softly.

Zoey’s eyes shot open. The visceral fear in them dissolved quickly, and she looked up at Mira with love. But as soon as Rumi whimpered at their side, Zoey’s concern returned, her eyes wide with horror as she realised what had happened.

“No, did I hurt you!?” Zoey choked out.

“It’s fine babe, I’m fine,” Rumi stated with a trembling voice.

“Stop saying that,” Zoey said in a breathless cry that made Mira shiver.

“You're a mess, both of you,” Mira's hand cradled Zoey’s cheek, bringing her attention back to her.

Mira hadn’t moved; she didn’t want to. Her concern for Zoey hadn’t wavered, but a desire rose in her. One that was now present in Zoey’s eyes as she looked up at her, still pinned down underneath Mira. A yearning she had been holding back from the moment they met was overwhelming Mira, impossible to deny. Now it was right in the open, clear in the way, there three of them set their eyes on each other.

Mira usually slept in a singlet and underwear. It had never been something she thought was strange until now. Until she was seeing the two practically fully clothed in tracksuit pants and shirts, but she did run hot. Zoey surely noticed her eyes going down to Mira’s waist as she remained on top of her.

“Are you ok?” Mira asked as she stroked her hand through her hair and pushed it behind Zoey's ear.

“It was just a bad dream,” Zoey sighed, her guilt still present.

“And you?” Mira’s hand gently stroked Rumi’s thigh right below the bandage as she lay beside them.

“Just a little sore,” Rumi responded with a shrug.

Mira smiled, finally hearing the truth from Rumi about how she felt gave her a great sense of relief. Rumi leaned closer, her hand on Mira’s back, rubbing it tenderly.

“Are you going to make it better, doctor?” Zoey smirked, and she felt Zoey’s hips press against her.

Mira’s gaze moved from one to the other, and they didn't just grant permission; they begged her for it. Zoey licked her upper lip slightly, eyeing Mira like she was her prey.

“It seems you require immediate attention. Recovery is going to be long, I suggest bed rest,” Mira leaned forward, her lips pressed up against Zoey's cheek.

Mira could feel Rumi’s hand slowly stroking along her back, the final confirmation that this was ok, that she could kiss Zoey, and she did. Their faces crashed together roughly, hard enough that one of Zoey's teeth dug into Mira’s lip, and she moaned in response. As far as first kisses go, this was unorthodox. Mira had been thinking about this from the moment she first laid eyes on Zoey. Still, she wasn’t expecting this, the tickle of her bangs on her forehead, the taste of salt, her whole body buzzing as the kiss deepened. Her breathless gasp as she pulled back just a little to send a shot of adrenaline through Mira.

“Better,” Mira whispered in Zoey’s ear.

“What about here?” Zoey teased, her thumb slid across her neck.

Mira grinned, her cheek grazed along Zoeys, and she moved down to her neck, the feel of her skin so soft and warm sending a shiver through Mira’s body. Sucking and even nibbling a little, before she pressed her tongue against Zoey’s skin.

“I need some of that healing,” Rumi said, hand clenched on Mira’s back, fingernails digging in a little.

“I thought you were ‘fine’,” Zoey mocked.

“Finally willing to admit you need help,” Mira stated.

Rumi gulped her eyes on Mira’s chest as Mira smirked, seeing the same desire in Zoey's eyes. She tried to get up her neck craning, trying to reach her, but Mira turned to Rumi, who had shuffled closer, pressed up against them.

Mira knew by now that she spooked easily and wasn’t going to take any chances of Rumi changing her mind. Wrapping her arms around her waist, pulling her close and kissing her neck all the way up her jawline to her mouth, each touch tender and gentle. Rumi’s hand clasped Miras's head, pulling at her hair a little. Rumi seemed to have lost all spatial awareness. Falling back on the bed, she pulled Mira with her. The three of them were now in a tangled mess of limbs as Zoey shifted herself to the side. With Mira now in the middle and Rumi finally relenting, she let out a breathless gasp.

“What took you so long?” Zoey asked, clinging to Mira's arm and snuggling in closer.

“I didn’t think you wanted me; you already have each other,” Mira mumbled out.

“Are you kidding?” Rumi sighed, eyes wide.

“Hotshot doctor, please, you must have known we were falling for you,” Zoey teased her arm, reaching across Mira and gripping onto Rumi.

“Oh, if I knew, I would have had you in my bed on the first night, " Mira chuckled, somewhat frustrated with herself.

The idea that she almost lost this, out of stubbornness, out of her sheer inability to believe that anything good could come into her life and want to stay.

“I can’t remember the last time I spent in the same place for more than a week,” Rumi said as she let out a deep breath, her body relaxing.

Mira tensed up at the thought, shuffling, she pulled her arms up and wrapped them around Rumi and Zoey.

“How did you...?” Mira trailed off.

“End up as street rats?” Rumi chuckled lightly.

Mira nodded, kissing the side of Rumi’s head tenderly.

“I came here on a one-way ticket from America, thought I’d take my shot at becoming a K-pop star,” Zoey shook her head, snickering at the thought.

“You just left your family?”

“Oh, they left me long before that, my father walked out on my mom and she was never really present after that,” Zoey said so casually as if this wasn’t a tragedy.

“Is that what you were dreaming about?”

“Just a memory, the day my father left me with my mother, didn’t even say goodbye.” Zoey's eyes went distant, and tears welled in them.

“Zoey, I’m so sorry.” Mira turned her head, so Zoey’s eyes were just inches from hers as she looked into them.

“Oh I got nothing on Rumi’s origins,” Zoey shrugged, blowing it off.

At that mention, she felt Rumi tense up in her arm, and Mira frowned, turning to Rumi. Who was lying on her side so her head was facing Mira, their foreheads touching.

“Never knew dad, mom died right after I was born,” Rumi said through a sharp breath.

“Oh,” Mira said as her eyes went wide and her hand tightened around Rumi’s waist.

“I was raised by my mom's friend Celine, but I could tell she never wanted to be a mom, so I left.”

“Rumi?” Mira gasped.

“I guess I never really let myself open to her, looking back on it.”

Mira was quiet for a moment as she pictured this all playing out, her heart racing. She pulled them both in closer.

“How did you two find each other?” Mira asked, curious.

“Rumi found me one day, busking on a street corner.” Zoey smiled as her eyes lit up, recalling it. “Tried to leave me a tip, but I asked for her number instead.”

“Best thing that ever happened to me”

Rumi suddenly moved, lying on her side, she wrapped her arms around them, so full of life and strength. Holding on tight for a full minute. They didn’t speak, just listening to the sound of their breathing, and Mira felt herself melting under them.

“I love these late-night consults,” Rumi snuggled in closer, her face nuzzled into Mira’s shoulder.

“I plan on being on night shift for a while,” Mira teased, kissing Zoey's forehead, then Rumi’s.

Holding them in her arms, she pulled them in closer for a tighter embrace, and they both nuzzled in on her chest. Breathless, to be held by them, she felt no shame, no fear, just a coziness like they were her home and this place was just where they lived.