Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The energy of the crowd was still buzzing through Zoey as the three members of HUNTR/X entered the backstage elevator. They could still hear the roar of the crowd behind them. Zoey grabbed  Rumi’s shoulders, shaking the singer back and forth with a squeal of excitement. Rumi laughed softly, planting a kiss on her girlfriend's head. "You were awesome out there, Rumi!! And that high note–" Zoey squealed again, shaking Rumi more aggressively. 

Mira regarded her girls fondly, gently putting a hand on Rumi's waist to stabilize her. The dancer smiled softly when she saw Rumi's ears go pink and Mira leaned over Rumi's shoulder to casually kiss Zoey. Between them, Rumi squeaked and turned even more pink. "S-seriously?" Rumi mumbled, resting her head on Zoey's shoulder.

The rapper giggled softly as the elevator opened. Bobby was waiting right there along with their staff. "Girls, that was amazing! Zoey, I will never understand how you rap so fast AND get all the words." Bobby shook his head with a small smile. Staff members wrapped the three idols in soft bath robes, offering water and snacks as they walked back towards the dressing rooms. "The next show is in two days, so you three have the day off tomorrow. Zoey, I know you grew up around here so I figured you might want some time to just relax."

Zoey nodded politely, but anxiety gripped at her heart. Burbank was only a fifteen minute drive from the venue they were at now. Zoey's childhood house was twenty five minutes away. Mira glanced back, tipping her head to silently ask if Zoey was okay. The maknae put on a smile. "That sounds great! You're the best, Bobby." Zoey turned to Mira and Rumi as they reached the dressing room that the three idols shared. "You're getting the tour, Zoey edition. I'll show you all the best places that you won't see anywhere else!" 

Zoey was grinning, but Mira could tell it was forced. Rumi must have gotten a similar vibe. Zoey never really talked about what life was like growing up in America. Occasionally, she would mention some insane thing her dad did when she was younger, but never gave details. And Zoey's mom—the three times they had met her—used to talk about him. "Zoey, if you'd rather not wander around so close to where you used to live, we can find something else to do. Or just stay in the hotel all day." Mira nodded at Rumi's words.

But Zoey just shook her head. "It's fine!! I want to show you two where I grew up." Zoey smiled at them again, praying it looked genuine. It didn't. But Mira and Rumi didn't push. They knew that once Zoey decided to do something for someone else, it was nearly impossible to get her to change her mind.

The hotel sheets were soft under Zoey as the maknae face planted into bed. Rumi flopped down next to her with a sigh. Zoey rolled closer, nuzzling into Rumi's neck until the scent of the half-demon's honey vanilla shampoo filled her nose. Rumi draped an arm over Zoey's back, running it through the damp ends of the younger girl's hair. "Okay...I'm going to sleep like this." Zoey announced into Rumi's neck. 

"Are you sure you don't want a pillow?" Rumi asked softly, kissing the top of Zoey's head.

"You are my pillow, unnie." Zoey snuggled closer, clinging on to Rumi happily. Rumi just shook her head, inching up the bed until her head was on the pillows. Mira flicked off the lights as she emerged from the bathroom.

The pink-haired idol raised an eyebrow. "Oh, so I dare to brush my teeth and you two start cuddling? I see how it is." Zoey looked up from Rumi's neck, reaching towards Mira and doing grabby hands at her. Mira smiled softly. "You're adorable."

“And you love us…” Rumi mumbled softly, already falling asleep. Mira shook her head affectionately and climbed into bed on Rumi’s other side. This was how they had slept most nights since Rumi started sharing a bed with her girlfriends, but it seemed Rumi had other plans. The half-demon suddenly rolled over, yanking Zoey up and over and landing the maknae in the middle of the cuddle sandwich.

Mira chuckled softly, draping one arm over Zoey and resting her hand on Rumi’s shoulder. “What, didn’t want to be in the middle of the sandwich, princess?”

Rumi kissed the top of Zoey’s head before speaking. “I just thought our little turtle deserved to be in the middle….” Zoey’s cheeks flushed at the nickname, pink spreading softly over her nose and cheeks. The younger girl buried her face deeper in Rumi’s neck with a whine, causing the older girl to giggle slightly. “Am I not allowed to call you that?”

“You are…! I’m just still getting used to you being so…” Zoey trailed off, but Mira picked up the sentence for her.

“So open. So willing to participate, to use silly names.” Zoey nodded along as Mira spoke.

“Not that we’re complaining!” The maknae added quickly. “We love that you’re more comfortable. It’s just new, ya know?” Rumi nodded in understanding, snuggling closer to Zoey.

Soft purrs rumbled up from the half-demon as she closed her eyes. Zoey started gently tracing the lines of Rumi's patterns through the fabric of her shirt. She watched, mesmerized, as soft pulses of yellow and pink followed her fingers. How could we ever have been scared of her...? I feel so bad. Zoey tugged Rumi closer. Rumi was already asleep in her arms, but Zoey clung to her tightly. Mira felt Zoey tense up and started rubbing the maknae's back.

"Zo...?" Mira spoke softly, not wanting to wake Rumi. She propped herself up on one elbow to look at Zoey better. "You're all tense. What's up?"

Zoey was quiet for a moment before she spoke. "N-Nothing... I just got caught up in my head for a minute...sorry."

Mira huffed softly and kissed the back of Zoey's neck. "Don't apologize for that. Good night, Zo."

"Night, Mimi..." Zoey felt Mira lay back down, the dancer's breathing evening out slowly as she fell asleep. But Zoey didn't sleep, not yet. Words danced through her head, sharp as knives.

"Ew, who would want to date you?"

"No wonder she's lonely, who would want to hang out with someone so childish?"

"Maybe if you weren't always writing in those dumb notebooks you'd have more friends."

Zoey shut her eyes tightly, trying to shut out the memories. When she eventually fell asleep, her sleep was full of the inside of lockers and trashcans and closets while mocking laughter rang in her ears.

Chapter Text

Rumi woke up first, immediately noticing the small whimpers and hiccuping noises coming from Zoey. Propping herself up slightly on one elbow, Rumi could feel the maknae shaking. Zoey was having a nightmare—and a bad one, if the way she was grabbing and pulling at her hair in her sleep was any indication. “Zoey…Zoey, wake up.” The half-demon reached out, gently putting a hand on Zoey’s shoulder.

The maknae jolted and whimpered. “I’m sorry…I’m sorry…I-I’ll stop…” Rumi could feel her heart breaking at how scared and small Zoey sounded. Mira had woken up by this point and she too sat up, flicking on the lamp on the nightstand. 

“It’s a nightmare. It’s just a nightmare, Zo.” Mira spoke softly, like she was used to Zoey’s nightmares. Zoey suddenly jolted and gasped, sitting up fast. Mira and Rumi inched back, letting the younger girl have the breathing room she needed. Zoey’s eyes darted around the room, wide and frantic as she looked for something—or someone—who wasn’t there. 

“Hey…” Rumi reached out softly, relief flooding her body as Zoey turned to look at her. “Are you with us, baby?” Zoey blinked for a moment before nodding slowly. It was Mira who moved first, more sure of how Zoey would react to touch after one of her nightmares. The dancer placed a gentle hand on Zoey’s shoulder, rubbing soft circles with her thumb. Rumi mirrored the gesture on Zoey’s other shoulder. 

They sat in silence like that for a few minutes, Zoey’s breathing gradually slowing and evening out and her hiccups fading. “S-Sorry…I just…” Zoey mumbled with a sigh.

“You had a nightmare. I get it…” Rumi squeezed Zoey’s shoulder gently. The maknae turned her head and leaned closer, resting her cheek on Rumi’s shoulder. “You don’t need to apologize, okay?”

Mira nodded in agreement with Rumi. “I know I said this once, Zoey, but if you keep apologising for having feelings I am going to snuggle you to death in a pile of turtle plushies.” Mira gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind Zoey’s ear, her fingers brushing the younger girl’s cheek softly. Zoey’s cheeks were always so warm after she woke up, and they felt so soft under Mira’s fingers. 

Mira’s ‘threat’ managed to get a small laugh out of Zoey. The rapper nodded softly. “I-I’m trying…I promise. It’s just…”

“Hard.” Mira finished Zoey’s sentence gently. “It’s hard to un-learn stuff...I get that, Zo.” Mira pressed a kiss to the crown of Zoey’s head, lingering as she breathed in the scent of Zoey’s shampoo. “Do you want to talk about it, Zo..?”

Zoey shook her head. “I-it was nothing…! Just a little bad dream.” Mira and Rumi exchanged a look, like they could smell that Zoey was lying. The maknae wiggled out of bed before either of them could say anything. “Come on! We’re awake and there's this breakfast place I’ve been wanting to take you guys to for years.” Zoey vanished into the bathroom, leaving Mira and Rumi looking at each other.

“She’s hiding something.” Rumi spoke as she climbed out of the bed and headed for the dresser.

Behind her, Mira sighed. “Yup.” The dancer popped the end of the word, stretching before swinging her legs over the edge of the bed. “Normaly she’s making jokes about how absurd her nightmares are…this one must have been bad.”

“Or real.” Mira looked up at Rumi. The dancer sighed like the thought hadn’t occurred to her. “I mean...I’ve had enough trauma-induced nightmares to know what one might look like…. She was apologizing in her sleep, Mir.” Rumi heard Mira sigh again as the pink-haired idol crossed the room to get clothes. 

“And this is why you and Zoey are starting therapy after this tour.” Mira kissed Rumi’s bare shoulder, causing the half-demon to squeak a bit.

“Yeah…Bobby said he found someone.” Rumi shoved Mira away playfully as she spoke when the dancer leaned in to kiss her shoulder again. Mira just laughed softly as she and Rumi got dressed.

Although it was still early, the three girls went in disguise to the diner. Better to get odd looks for Rumi’s unseasonable hoodie than to get bombarded by fans and paparazzi, as Bobby always said. “Seriously, Rumi, how are you not melting your ass off? You’re in a hoodie and leggings in the California summer.” Zoey raised an eyebrow at the half-demon, who just shrugged.

“I guess I’m just used to it.” Rumi responded, wiping sweat away from her forehead with the back of one hand. Even as Zoey sighed at her, part of her got it. Zoey had once been that girl wearing long pants and a hoodie even in the summer—not to hide demon markings, but to hide other things. 

Zoey forced herself to put on a smile. “Come on, you’ll love this place! The owner, Mr. Montgomery, used to let me study in a booth for hours.”

Mira pauses outside the door, turning to squint at Zoey. “You studied in a diner…?”

Zoey paused, one hand on the doorhandle, realizing what she’d just said. “Uhhhh…only sometimes. When I really needed to focus and home was loud.” Grabbing Mira with one hand and Rumi with the other, Zoey dragged both of them into the diner. It was a small place that smelled of eggs and slightly burnt toast and coffee with too much sugar. The old man behind the counter looked up, greeting the three of them with a warm smile. His skin was weathered in a way that suggested years of exposure to the elements, but his eyes sparked with a friendly light. 

“Well...either my eyes are finally going, or you’re Zoey.” He chucked softly, coming around the counter to offer Zoey a hug. Zoey wrapped her arms around him like he was a long-lost friend. “I was beginning to wonder if you’d ever come back here, kiddo.”

“Being halfway around the world made the travel time a bit longer than it used to be.” Zoey smiled as the old man—Mr. Montgomery—chuckeld. 

“I’ve saved the corner booth for you. Go sit, Lizzy will take your order soon.” Mr. Montgomery waved them towards the booth even as Zoey was already pulling Mira and Rumi towards it. 

Rumi slowly lowered her hood as they sat down. “How often did you come here when you lived in Burbank?” Zoey blew out a long breath before responding.

“Uhhhh….like once or twice…”

“A week?” Mira raised an eyebrow.

“A day.” 

Both Rumi and Mira paused, slowly turning to look at Zoey. “A—A day.” Rumi repeated. Zoey nodded like this was the most normal thing ever. 

“And I thought my parents were bad…” Mira muttered, more to her menu than to either of the others at the table. 

Zoey’s head whipped around to look at the dancer. “My mom isn’t bad!! You’ve met her before, Mimi. And dad is…well, he’s dad. You know how he is.”

“No…we don’t, Zoey. You don’t talk about him much.” Mira lowered her menu to look at Zoey next to her. The rapper opened her mouth to respond when a new voice cut through the air. 

“Oh my god. Zoey!?” The maknae flinched at the sound of this voice. It was high-pitched and radiated obnoxious energy in a way that grated on Mira’s nerves. Rumi instantly looked uncomfortable as a blonde-haired girl in a crop-top and jean shorts slid into the booth next to the half-demon. Rumi shot Mira a look, as if to ask if this was really happening.

Zoey swallowed hard, her voice coming out much softer than Rumi or Mira had ever heard her sound. “H-Hi Britney…. What are you doing here?”

The blonde girl laughed like she couldn’t believe Zoey even asked. “Well, I heard Huntr/x was in town and so obviously I had to come and find you, Zoomzoom!” Britney leaned across the table, inches from Zoey’s face. “I mean, who would have thought that our little Zoey would grow up to be a world-famous idol!”

Mira had managed to hold her tongue and not snap at Britney the second she had sat down—or punch her, for that matter—but seeing how Zoey flinched and pressed herself closer to Mira at that stupid nickname Britney had called her was the final straw. “Excuse me.” The dancer’s words came out as sharp as her waldo. “I don’t know how it is here in America, but in most places it’s considered incredibly rude to sit down at someone else’s table.”

Rumi lowered her menu, turning her head to give Britney a glare. “And who are you, anyways?” Mira and Zoey both saw the faint flicker of gold in Rumi’s left eye. But Britney just scoffed lightly and raised an eyebrow.

“Wow, no need to bite my head off. I just wanted to say hi!” She rolled her eyes at Mira and it was only because there was a table and Zoey between them that Mira didn’t punch Britey then and there. “Are you this rude to all your fans? It’s really not a good look. I mean, I expect it from Mira, what with the whole black-sheep, edgy badass thing. But you, Rumi?” 

Zoey laughed nervously, but Mira just narrowed her eyes. “Only when said fans interrupt our breakfast by inviting themselves to our table.” Britney just shrugged, still leaning forwards into Zoey’s face. The rapper could smell her perfume and it made Zoey’s stomach churn.

“You didn’t answer my question. Who are you? How do you know Zoey?” Rumi had toned back her glare, but the faint flickering of gold in her left eye wasn’t lost on Mira or Zoey. Luckily, Britney didn’t seem to notice. 

The blonde girl flashed an obnoxious grin. “Oh, Zoey didn’t tell you? I’m her girlfriend!!” 

Girlfriend.

That one word made Rumi and Mira freeze in their seats. Zoey had told them she’d dated two people before—one guy and one girl—but hadn’t mentioned how those relationships ended. Zoey’s eyes widened in panic and she grabbed for Mira’s hand blindly. The dancer let her take it, rubbing her thumb over the back of Zoey’s knuckles.

“E-Ex…” Zoey sounded terrified as she spoke, her voice trembling. Britney blinked, long and slow. Rumi tensed. Mira’s free hand clenched into a fist. “W-we broke up…years ago…when you…” Zoey trailed off as Britney’s expression hardened. 

“Did we? I don’t remember that.” Venom filled Britney’s tone as she glared at Zoey. It was like a switch had flipped and her entire personality changed in a heartbeat. Mira and Rumi glanced at each other.

“I— I-it was your idea…. You told me…” Zoey fell silent as Birtney leaned closer to her. One hand reached out to grab the maknae, but Mira caught her wrist.

Before Mira could say any of the thousand things she wanted to say, it was Mr. Montgomery who spoke up. “I think you need to leave.” The old man had arrived at the table so quietly that Zoey jumped when he spoke up. Behind Mr. Montgomery was a girl around Zoey’s age—probably his granddaughter—who was glaring daggers at Britney. The blonde-haired girl scoffed and opened her mouth, but Mr. Montgomery just lifted one hand and kept speaking. “You’re harassing a regular patron and her friends. Leave now before I have to call the cops.” 

Mira loosened her grip, allowing Britney to yank her hand free. The blonde girl rolled her eyes and stood up, almost shoving the old man in the process. “Whatever.” Britney started to storm off before she paused, eyes falling on a pot of coffee that was sitting on a nearby table. “Hey faggot, catch!!” 

Mira shoved Zoey under the table as soon as she saw Britney grab the coffee. Rumi dove after Zoey for cover, but Mira wasn’t about to let anyone call Zoey that. Zoey was one of her girls. Mira performed a frankly impressive sitting jump, clearing the back of the booth before the scalding liquid could hit her. The dancer landed cleanly and, in one fluid motion, connected her elbow with Britney’s face. The blonde girl went stumbling back, bumping into a table. 

“You—” Britney pressed her hand to her nose. Mira was honestly impressed with restraint—she hadn’t been aiming to break Britney’s nose like she had done to Celine months ago—and the blonde girl would probably be okay in a few hours. “Fucking bitch…call the police!! She assaulted me!”

Mr. Montgomery’s daughter, Lizzy, just sighed. “Britney, the security cameras will show you harassing these three before attempting to throw hot coffee on them. Do you really want your daddy seeing his ‘perfect daughter’ get charged for attempted assault?" Britney sputtered for a moment before turning on her heel and storming out. 

It only then occurred to Mira that jumping like that from a seated position wasn’t something most Idols—hell, most people—could do. Thank you Celine and your training, you good for nothing bitch…

Rumi and Zoey slowly emerged from under the table, thankfully unharmed. “I-I’m sorry, Mr. Montgomery—!!” Zoey started, looking like she was on the edge of a panic attack. Rumi gently took Zoey’s hand in hers.

Mr. Montgomery just shook his head. “You didn’t do anything wrong, kiddo. Come on, let’s get you three some breakfast. Want your usual?”

Zoey paused, taking a shaking breath before nodding. “Y-yeah…” Mr. Montgomery nodded. Lizzy led the three idols to another booth—tucked in the far corner away from the door and near the kitchen door. Mr. Montgomery followed them.

“And what about you two, Miss uhhh… Miss Huntr/x…?” The old man shook his head, muttering to himself. “That doesn’t sound right at all, George…” 

Rumi couldn’t help but smile softly as they sat down. “Whatever is good enough for Zoey is good enough for us. Please and thank you.” Mr. Montgomery nodded, disappearing into the kitchen. They could hear him yell something about this needing to be the best breakfast they ever made. Zoey had gone completely silent, looking down at the table in front of her.

“Hey, Zo.” Mira reached over the table, gently putting her hand on Zoey’s shoulder. The maknae took a deep breath, leaning on Rumi’s side which got her an arm around the shoulders. “She’s a bitch. Okay? Anyone who breaks up with you is a fucking bitch.”

Zoey shrugged. “She was the first person who wanted to date me…. She was my first kiss, for crying out loud. And—and we broke up after a few months…when I…when I wouldn’t…I refused to sleep with her…” Zoey gasped softly, like she was trying not to cry. 

Rumi felt her heart shatter. “Oh god, Zoey…” The singer pulled Zoey closer, kissing her on the head, then cheek, then nose, then other cheek. “She didn’t deserve you. Okay? She didn’t deserve you if that’s how she’s going to treat you.” Mira nodded, squeezing Zoey’s shoulder. The rapper nodded a bit, burying her face in Ruim’s chest. They sat like that for a while, Rumi and Mira just holding Zoey. Eventually, the kitchen doors opened and Mr. Montgomery and Lizzy came back out with three plates that they set down in front of the girls.

Mira blinked down at her plate. “Z-Zoey…what the fuck is this??”