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It had been six weeks since the Idol Awards, and Huntrix had been sticking to their three month hiatus. (Zoey and Mira had also instituted–at minimum–an hour of Couch Time each day so that they could all relax together. Attendance was mandatory.)
Rumi, Mira, and Zoey had had a lot of hard conversations over the past six weeks. They had all opened up and been honest about why they did what they did, and though they’d apologized and started the process of forgiving each other, everyone was still hurting. It was taking a while for those wounds to heal and that trust to be rebuilt.
On top of that, Rumi wasn't comfortable in her own skin. Her whole life, her patterns had been a source of shame, and now she was covered in them from head to toe. Even if they sparkled now, Rumi wished they had disappeared. She was relieved that Mira and Zoey accepted her, and that she didn't have to hide anymore, but it was hard to get used to seeing a new person in the mirror. She had been forcing herself to wear tank tops and T-shirts, figuring the best way to deal with this change was to face it head-on. Trips to the bathhouse had been helping a lot, too. (Regular people couldn't see the patterns.) But sometimes she got startled by her own reflection, and the old fear came back.
Mira could tell Rumi was having trouble adjusting. It was a major change for all of them. On bad days, Rumi flinched if they touched her bare arms or shoulders.
This bothered Mira. Was it a reflex or was Rumi genuinely scared? Either way, Mira had to show Rumi that she was safe with her and Zoey, and that they weren't afraid of her.
She had an idea.
One afternoon while Rumi was out, Mira summoned Zoey to her room.
“Zoey, two-person huddle.”
Zoey excitedly joined Mira on the bed. They put their hands on each other's shoulders and leaned in so their foreheads pressed together.
“Okay, I’m sure you’ve noticed that Rumi still gets nervous about being touched sometimes,” said Mira.
Zoey nodded. “A case of ‘old habits die hard’?”
“Then let's kill them.” Mira grinned wickedly.
Zoey mirrored her grin. “How?”
“More skinship. I need your expertise.”
“In the time it took you to say that, I came up with four ideas.”
Zoey's expression shifted into something more thoughtful. “Hiding like that all her life means Rumi’s been missing out on things she might really love, like the bathhouse…”
Her enthusiasm flooded back. ”So let's show her what she's been missing!”
“Yeah!”
They shared a fist-bump and got to work on their plan.
Step 1: Positive Associations
“You look like a sparkly tiger.”
When she made this declaration, Zoey was giving Rumi a shoulder rub.
“We’ve got to get Rumi to associate her patterns being touched with positive feelings,” she’d told Mira. “Affection and compliments. Make sure she feels accepted and loved.”
“A tiger?” said Rumi.
“You have stripes that sparkle, and I’ve always thought you were kind of like a tiger. Fast and fierce, but majestic, you know? Your braid even looks like a tiger’s tail.”
Rumi chuckled, partly from that and partly because Zoey’s hands were working on the spot between her shoulder blades. Though Derpy was the only tiger she’d personally met, if she had to be compared to an animal, a tiger was a really cool one.
Since she had always kept her shoulders covered, Rumi had never had a proper shoulder rub before. But now she was in a camisole, ten minutes into her first one and she already knew she was addicted. She felt like she was melting into the couch.
Zoey suddenly remembered something. “Oh! Don’t worry, you're at least 500 times smarter than Derpy.”
“So is a rock,” said Mira.
“If I’m a tiger–"
“A sparkly tiger.”
"–what animal would Mira be?”
Zoey didn't even hesitate. “A mama bear.”
Mira and Rumi considered it for a moment, then both nodded.
“As for what animal I would be, you have no idea how long I’ve spent thinking about it. I still can't decide.”
Rumi thought for a few seconds. “The first thing that comes to mind for me is ‘puppy’, but that seems too easy.” She relaxed even more, sinking deeper into the couch cushions.
“It's got to be something energetic,” said Mira.
“And it’s got to be something cute that you see and want to hug immediately,” said Rumi, who had now finished melting into the couch. The shoulder rub was over.
Zoey held up a hand. “Alright, I need clarification: Are we talking about what animal I am most like, or my spirit animal, or my patronus? Because those are all different.”
“Patronus?”
“I swear, one day I will get you two to watch Harry Potter with me!”
This turned into an hour-long discussion filled with internet quizzes, hand-drawn Venn diagrams, and Harry Potter lore. In the end, Zoey declared that her spirit animal was a turtle and the other girls decided that she was most like a bunny (“Because they're adorable but can still scratch your face off”). Zoey still couldn't figure out her patronus.
Step 2: Advanced Snuggling
Zoey liked to sit in Mira's lap and be held. Mira generally encouraged this, because snuggling was Mira's absolute favorite thing. This was a sworn Huntrix secret, surpassed only by “we hunt demons” and “Rumi’s hair is naturally purple”.
When they did this, Rumi would usually come and practically glue herself to Mira's other side. Zoey had offered to switch places with Rumi several times, but she’d always decline with a lame excuse like “I’d get too hot” or “I’m not a kid” (Zoey would have taken offense to that if she wasn't so comfy). That never stopped Rumi from letting the other girls use her lap as a pillow, or wearing unseasonably warm pajamas while sharing a bed at a sleepover.
“We know Rumi likes snuggling,” said Zoey. “So it’s time to take it to the next level: Advanced Snuggling!”
Mira realized that Rumi had probably been afraid to sit in her lap. Her arm would have been close to Mira's face for an extended period, meaning her sleeve could roll up and expose her patterns. Now that wasn't a problem.
Rumi walked into the living room, dressed in pajamas and prepared for the hour of mandatory Couch Time. She was trying to pick the perfect spot to sit when Mira called out to her.
“Rumi.” Mira pointed down. “Lap.”
Rumi froze. “Seriously?”
“Seriously. Zoey has been hogging this spot for years. You’re overdue.”
Rumi glanced around, looking for escape routes.
Zoey piped up from a pile of cushions. “C’mon, Rumi: it's like getting hugged for a really long time!”
Rumi still hesitated.
Zoey kept going. “Scientifically, hugs are like, really good for you. Psychologists have done studies–”
“See? It’s good for you,” Mira cut in. “Zoey and science said so.” She patted her lap.
Rumi knew she wasn't going to get out of this. She rolled her eyes. “Okay, fiiiine.”
She carefully sat on Mira's lap and turned sideways. There was a stack of pillows behind her that she could lean back against if necessary. She shifted around for a few seconds and finally settled into place.
“Happy now?” she said, less than thrilled with the situation.
In response, Mira draped one arm around her back and the other across her middle and then clasped her hands together. She held Rumi securely, but not so tightly that she’d feel trapped. “Comfy?”
Rumi looked grumpy. “I feel like a 5-year-old.”
Mira gently patted her head. “Rest, my child.”
Rumi elbowed her but showed no inclination to get up. Mira figured that at this point she was just pouting for appearance’s sake. And the pout disappeared when Zoey came over, squished close to Mira’s other side, and set Rumi’s bare feet in her lap.
Rumi loved foot rubs, especially after a long dance practice. Or a run. Or combat training. Or if she was sick. Or–
Zoey grabbed one of her feet and pressed her thumbs into the spot just under the ball of her foot. She started kneading, and Rumi wiggled around happily before settling down again. Her eyelids fluttered shut and her body went slack, leaving her practically cradled in Mira’s arms.
Zoey and Mira exchanged smirks. Foot rubs were Rumi's biggest weakness.
Afterwards, Rumi curled up on Mira's lap, still in her arms. With her eyes closed and her head resting on Mira's shoulder, she looked like she didn't have a care in the world. She had taken to Advanced Snuggling really well.
Zoey’s smile disappeared when she realized she had competition for Mira’s lap.
Step 3: ???
Yet again, Rumi found herself sandwiched between her sisters while sitting on the couch. "You guys have been acting weird and clingy for days. What's going on?”
Zoey and Mira exchanged glances. Mira gave a slight nod.
Zoey started. “We wanted to show you that we love your patterns and that you’re always safe with us.”
“Where’s this coming from?”
“Sometimes you flinch if we touch them, or even just touch your skin,” said Zoey. “Like, maybe you’re not used to it yet? So we thought some extra skinship would help you get more comfortable.”
Rumi was amused. “You could have just asked me what was going on.”
“True,” said Mira, her voice monotone. “However, Zoey named one part of our plan ‘Advanced Snuggling’ and that made it way too funny not to do.”
Mira was trying her hardest to keep a straight face. So was Zoey, but she was doing a much worse job.
Rumi looked from one to the other and burst out laughing. The others immediately lost their composure.
“You guys are crazy. You know that, right?”
Zoey nudged Rumi’s shoulder. “Just so you know: if you were ever legit uncomfortable, we would have stopped.”
Mira glanced at Rumi. “But you looked really comfortable during that shoulder rub. And the foot rubs. And the Advanced Snuggling.”
“Alright! I get it.” Rumi sighed good-naturedly. “To be honest, I’m glad I don't have to keep you guys at arm’s length anymore.
“Actually,” Rumi murmured. “I’ve wanted this for a really long time. To be close like you two have always gotten to be.” Rumi stared at the floor as she said it. Her cheeks were pink.
“Aww… Rumi, are you blushing? You are so cute!” Zoey cooed. She clutched Rumi's arm and tried to get a better look at her face. Rumi kept turning away, clearly embarrassed.
Mira all but pushed Zoey out of the way and threw her arms around Rumi’s shoulders, burying her face in the crook of her neck.
Because Mira understood. She understood longing for someone to get close, starving for touch and affection. A childhood spent being pushed away and rejected had forced her to toughen up, to put up walls and pretend it didn’t bother her. Then she'd found her sisters, and they gave her the love she’d always wanted. With them, she could let her guard down and be soft.
But Rumi had never truly been able to let her guard down. She'd always had to hide, afraid they’d hate her or worse. So all this time, Rumi had been right there, forced to keep her distance when she actually wanted to be close.
Mira’s heart ached just thinking about it. She vowed that Rumi would never have to hold back or go without again.
“Mira…? Are you good?” said Rumi.
“Mm-hmm.” Mira broke the hug and quickly composed herself.
She felt like crying, but she didn't want to start the Chain Reaction. If one of them cried–especially her–the others usually started crying too. They’d shed so many tears in the last six weeks that Mira just wanted everyone to chill tonight.
Then Zoey nuzzled against Rumi's cheek and said, “We’ve been waiting for you, unnie.”
Now Rumi looked like she was 0.5 seconds from bursting into tears and setting off the Chain Reaction.
Mira thought fast and squeezed Rumi’s side, making her jump and laugh instead.
Rumi had always refused to join tickle fights, and was so anxious about anyone trying to tickle her that Mira and Zoey had quickly stopped trying. Rumi still liked to watch their battles and pick a side to root for. Now, Mira was sure that the reason Rumi got so invested in their tickle fights was because she wished she could join in.
She didn't know how right she was.
“What’s so funny, Rumi?” Mira said casually. She examined her hand, wiggling her fingers, and then made eye contact with her.
She searched for any hint of fear in Rumi’s eyes, any indication that she should back off. Instead, Rumi's eyes shone with mirth and she was trying–and failing–to keep that weird, silly grin off of her face.
Mira raised an eyebrow. “You wouldn't happen to be ticklish, would you?”
“Um, I dunno…” Rumi really didn't know. It had been so long since she’d last been tickled.
Zoey looked concerned. “Then we should check. Officially. For science.”
Rumi sat up straight, staying as still as she could. Which wasn’t very still, since she was quivering with anticipation and nerves.
Zoey and Mira performed an examination, looking for tickle spots. They methodically poked and lightly scratched their nails along Rumi’s skin.
Behind her ears. Rumi squeaked.
Her neck. Rumi giggled and shuddered.
Her armpits. Rumi laughed and squirmed around.
Her sides. Rumi shrieked and completely lost it.
Zoey and Mira pounced, fingers skittering up and down her ribs, then poking and pinching her sides. Rumi’s laughter bubbled up, burst, and filled the room.
Then Mira went after Rumi’s exposed stomach. That really did it. Rumi squealed and kicked and flailed around but never tried to get away. She ended up flopping facedown onto Mira’s lap to keep her belly safe from their fingers. She had her arms crossed, gripping her sides protectively, so Mira attacked her lower back next.
Zoey, now in danger of getting kicked, slipped off the couch and popped up at Rumi's side, jabbing her fingers into her exposed armpit. Rumi shrieked again and laughed harder than before.
Mira started tickling right behind her ears. Rumi hunched up her shoulders to try to protect that spot, so Mira’s teasing fingers moved to just underneath her shoulder blades. Violent squirming followed. Zoey was poking her side, expertly avoiding the hand Rumi was half-heartedly using to protect herself.
Eventually Rumi begged for mercy and Zoey and Mira relented.
For several minutes, Rumi lay there, still facedown on Mira's lap, breathless and giddy.
“The test is conclusive: the subject is ticklish,” Zoey said in her most official tone of voice, grinning madly.
Mira was shaking with muffled laughter at the sight of their uptight leader faceplanted in her lap, still twitching from getting tickled within an inch of her life.
Rumi giggled as much as she could for someone still out of breath, then looked up at them. Her braid had started coming apart, her face was flushed red, she had tears in her eyes from laughing, and she wore the biggest, silliest smile that Mira and Zoey had ever seen. They would make sure they saw it often.
The plan had worked.
Rumi wasn't just comfortable with her skin being touched now, she loved it. After all, she’d been craving it for years. And since she knew that she was safe with her girls, Rumi could finally let go and relax. She looked especially peaceful snuggled in Mira's lap. Zoey was conflicted. She was happy for Rumi but also pretty sure that Rumi stuck her tongue out at her once.
Everyone was still working through the emotional fallout from the Idol Awards, and Rumi still struggled to accept her appearance, but the time they spent together was slowly rebuilding the trust that had been broken. Everyone was vulnerable, but everyone was loved.
And the tickle fights were a blast.