Chapter Text
Zoey and Mira sat in awe as they gazed at the demon in front of them—Rumi—covered with patterns they had been taught to hate. But when the two exchanged a glance, they only saw acceptance in each other's eyes, and maybe something more. Something that could only be explained by the halo of sunlight around Rumi and the change in her since the reveal of her true form. They hadn't seen her this relaxed, well, ever. There was always another song, another show, another tour, another day spent hiding within turtlenecks and lame excuses, another night spent muttering to herself when she thought they couldn't hear. This new her made something inside them twinge, a familiar thought surfacing in their minds simultaneously. Maybe I should tell them what I really am.
This of course lead to a barrage of worry in both of their minds, Zoey overthinking about being "too much" and Mira panicking about the aftermath and the instincts that could arise when given the chance.
Rumi was curled up across from them, wearing an off the shoulder T-shirt and sweatpants, her arms bare for the world to see. She had a pillow tucked against her chest as she stared down at her hand, her patterns glowing faintly. They looked so different, almost pretty, she thought. She lifted her gaze to her girls, who seemed equally lost in thought, worryingly so. She tipped her head to the side, feeling the warmth from the sun on the back of her neck from the windows behind her.
"What?" She murmured slowly, raising a brow. Zoey let out a guilty giggle and fiddled with the edge of her sleeve. Mira escaped the slow downward spiral of her frantic thoughts, anchoring herself to Zoey's voice.
"Well, see, the thing is, uhm, I," Zoey stumbled over her words for a second, her cheeks flaming red, "I'm not fully human either! I'm a werewolf, to be specific."
Mira let out a disbelieving breath, her eyes widening as she stared blankly in front of her.
"What?" Rumi whispered. A mixture of emotions surfaced in her gut, bubbling uncomfortably, betrayal, understanding, shock, all battling for her attention.
"My dad's a vampire." Mira stated bluntly, her body frozen solid.
The three sat in an uncomfortable silence for a long moment. Rumi scratched absently at her wrists, her patterns itching familiarly. Mira's fangs ached and the light from the window was just a little too bright, despite how gorgeous Rumi looked bathed in it. Zoey glanced between them anxiously, feeling the sensation of her wolf ears twitching even though she hadn't let herself shift in weeks, which probably wasn't a good thing now that she was thinking about it. She distracted herself by focusing on Mira's avoidant gaze, wondering what she was thinking.
They all straightened as the Honmoon twinged, like a harp string being plucked. The Honmoon had been better since it turned iridescent, but some really powerful demons still managed to get a claw or two through the strands. At least they weren't out of a job, well, one of their jobs.
"Talk about this later?" Zoey checked, receiving quick nods from the others.
Soon they were leaping across rooftops, the Honmoon gleaming proudly beside them as they followed the pull.
"So… you can shape shift into a wolf?" Mira asked casually as she summoned her gok-do, its iridescent glow highlighting her jaw. Zoey was a little lost in the soft light over Mira's skin to answer, until Rumi tapped her arm gently.
"Later." She murmured as she dropped into a dark alleyway. She quickly swung her saingeom towards a squirming blob in the darkness, the light from her blade illuminating its harsh features. It screeched and leapt back, its eyes filled with a dark hunger. Mira shuddered, feeling a wretched sort of kinship with that kind of hunger. She quickly brushed it off and went to guard Rumi's flank. The demon slunk across the ground, circling them in an effort to find a weak spot.
Zoey darted forward, whipping her three shin-kals into the air, one slicing a cut across the demon's chest. The other two sticking in its skin, the first in its thigh and the other in its shoulder, forcing a feral cry from its throat. She couldn't help but feel a pang of regret in her chest. Remember when those same weapons pointed towards Rumi? She stumbled back, her fist connecting with its chin as the demon lunged for her, teeth snapping an inch from her face, its breath smelled of woodsmoke. Rumi was in front of her within the time it took for her heart to skip a beat, expertly driving the beast back with a deliberate swipe of her blade. Her eyes flashed in a way that Zoey wasn't afraid to admit made her knees a little weak. Then Mira was there, her gok-do slicing through the air and meeting the meat of the demon's neck. Its dying scream echoed in the silence as it dissolved into dust. Rumi inhaled slowly, habitually fixing a strand of hair that had fallen into her eyes, her gaze soft when she spoke.
"I think we need couch time, snacks, and a long talk," She muttered, giving them a half smile. Zoey released a breath she had been holding and nodded, leaning against Mira's side.
Eventually they landed in a heap on their shared, large beanbag chair, cozy in their respective pajamas, though Zoey had stolen Mira's hoodie. Rumi stretched out over Mira's lap, and Mira's head was resting on Zoey's chest, with Zoey's legs splayed out over Rumi's.
"So…" Zoey began, her hands absently carding through Mira's hair, "It's kinda funny that we're all not human, huh?" This elicted a snort from Mira and unsettling silence from Rumi. Mira gently took Rumi's hand in hers, both perfectly manicured from their idol work but calloused from their life as demon hunters.
"I'm… feeling a lot right now," She tried to explain, the words coming slow and unfamiliar to her lips. After all, secret keeping was kind of a habit by now, just expressing herself felt incredibly difficult.
"Anything specific or?" Mira drawled when Rumi trailed off, her thumb brushing over Rumi's patterns tenderly.
"I," She sighed and brought Mira's hand to her cheek, pouting into her knuckles, "I feel upset you both hid this, maybe not upset but betrayed? I don't know. It's stupid and I know that. I'm a hypocrite," She mumbled, her face warming under their attentive gazes.
Zoey hummed thoughtfully, "No, I could see that, I kinda feel similar? I don't know, Mir, help." The words fell like stones from her lips, desperate and a bit amused.
"Uh, shit, I dunno, you feel like you understand the motives but the actions hurt even though you also did them?" Mira tried, her eyes fluttering half shut as she melted into their warmth, her lips pulled in a thoughtful frown, "I think we should just feel it all and then let it go. This is a good thing, no more secrets, no more lies. We just have to come to terms with the fear and insecurities that led us all to hide ourselves." This statement lead to agreeing hums and then a peaceful silence only accompanied by their breaths. Mira's words always seemed to do that, actually. Or maybe that was just what honesty did.
"At least it's all out in the open, right? No other world shattering secrets?" Rumi asked with a huff of laughter.
Zoey smirked mischievously and giggled, "Well I did eat the last kimbap…" Mira feined shock and put her hand against her chest.
"You did what?" Mira shook her head, "Well, that's one step too far-" The rest of her sentence was drowned out by the other girls' uncontrollable snickers. Zoey leaned her head down to be next to Mira's ear as Mira continued, "Seriously, I don't know if I can trust you now…" She drawled, a glimmer of amusement dancing in her eyes.
"Shush you-" Zoey murmured playfully, pressing a kiss to the dancer's cheek. In response, Mira sat up a little to barely press a kiss to Zoey's lips. Rumi inhaled slowly, watching them with narrowed eyes.
"Do you have fangs, Mir?" Rumi asked, hurriedly making an honestly unnecessary excuse as to why she was observing so intently. As for the rapid beat of her heart, well no one could really tell that except for maybe Mira.
"Do you?" Mira shot back with a twinkle in her eye, reluctantly leaning back against Zoey's chest.
"I do," Zoey commented innocently, causing both the other women to look up towards her.
"I never noticed fangs…" Rumi murmured, her cheeks flushing as a barrage of memories flitted inside her mind like butterflies.
Zoey waved her hand as if to stop Rumi's train of thought, "Oh, no, no, when I'm transformed, y'know, as a wolf and all." Rumi hummed in understanding, letting her eyes close in an effort to compose herself.
"So you really shift on full moons?" Mira toyed with Zoey's hand, methodically dragging the tip of her finger over her nails and knuckles.
"Yeah-"
"Does it hurt?" Rumi interrupted, her eyes suddenly golden with worry, "When you transform?"
"Uhm…Well," Mira tensed at Zoey's non-answer.
"Zoey." Rumi shifted her weight, trying to catch Zoey's gaze, "It's okay… I get it." The rapper nodded slightly, tucking her face against Mira's hair.
"It hurts. But just for a minute. I never really remember the in-between part of my shifts. Something about a wolf brain being incompatible with a human one and skewing the memories."
Rumi silently reached up and squeezed Zoey's forearm.
"Now that we know, we can help. That goes for you too," Rumi looked towards Mira with a faint smile, "We've got each other. Buoys in a storm or something." Mira's gaze softened, warmth flooding her body.
"Yeah, no more lies. Just support."
"Do you drink blood?" The blunt statement lingered in the air before Mira spoke.
"Uh, no, I technically don't need it to survive, but I get," She hesitated and sucked in a breath, "Cravings. They're not incapacitating," Not like Father's, not like him, I'm not like him, I won't be like him— Mira swallowed and refocused. "They're just annoying, I usually bite something and it goes away."
"What do you bite?" Zoey draped her arms around Mira's shoulders.
"My arm sometimes, if I'm in a pinch."
Rumi hummed disapprovingly at that. "You shouldn't have to hurt yourself," She protested and Zoey made a noise of agreement, firmly squeezing her arms around Mira's shoulders.
"Next time, you could bite me…" Rumi blurted out, then flushed deeply at the implication, "Uh, I meant like," She stammered, "I didn't-" Mira smirked and leaned over Rumi, dragging Zoey with her, since the rapper was still clinging to her back.
"Oh yeah?"
Rumi swatted at her lightly, "Shut up!"
Zoey burst into giggles as Mira leaned back, her eyes gleaming. The laughter was infectious and soon their mirth bounced off their apartment's walls.
"What? You're taking back your offer?" Mira teased, though her expression was vaguely serious. Rumi felt like her face was burning, her patterns glowing erratically.
"I-" She stammered, "No? It's a good idea!" She shifted her weight, lifting her chin so she looked up at Mira. Herr signature confidence returned as she moved a strand of hair from her eyes,"It'd be good for you, I wouldn't mind." Then it was Mira's turn for her face to change to the color of her hair.
"I don't wanna hurt you," She protested, trying to be nonchalant about it and failing miserably. Zoey's eyes sparkled with amusement behind her, a grin pulling at her lips.
"You wouldn't be hurting me, ok? I trust you, you know that," Rumi murmured, her voice achingly tender.
"I've never done it before, I can't be sure I wouldn't hurt you," Mira muttered.
Rumi pursed her lips, "We could figure it out. We could." Mira just shrugged in response, trying not to react at Rumi's persistence even while her heart danced a jig in her chest. She leaned down and the demon grinned, her hands sliding up to cup her face gently. Their lips met in a gentle reassurance, with Rumi letting her tongue flick out to trace Mira's fangs. Mira let out a soft laugh and they parted, both flustered and warm. Zoey whined quietly, pouting behind Mira.
"This is so sappy." She smushed her face against Mira's neck and Rumi shifted even closer to them, her head leaning against Mira's stomach. Rumi yawned which set off a chain reaction of them all yawning. Their eyelids grew heavy, bodies melting into each other, hands clasped as conversation dwindled.
Eventually they all dozed off, lulled to sleep by the warmth from each other and the relief of honesty.
When Mira woke, she found herself being used like a human teddy bear. Zoey was wrapped around her from behind, snoring softly on her shoulder, while Rumi was curled up around Mira's hips. She shifted her weight slightly, causing sleepy noises from Rumi as the demon pressed her face against Mira's hip. Mira let out a low sigh and fished her phone from her pocket, absently scrolling for a while before a notification appeared at the top of her screen.
Full Moon Tonight
Mira liked to know where the moon cycle was, she felt more powerful then, probably something to do with her dhampir blood. But now that she knew about Zoey, this held a very different connotation. One that made worry gnaw at her bones as she turned her head to see the sun slipping below the horizon. Zoey stirred behind her, groaning softly as she stretched out.
"Mimi," She slurred against Mira's cheek, but she quickly stiffened, feeling her body itch, phantom limbs making their presence known. Mira sat up, her eyes narrowed with anxiety, unintentionally waking Rumi up, who was immediately aware of the change in the room.
"What's going on?"
"It's a full moon."
"Shit."
"I," Zoey started, her eyes darting towards the window, watching the sun scurry away from them like the bastard it was.
"Don't even, we've got you, okay? How can we help?" Rumi insisted, rolling off of Mira so they could both face Zoey. Zoey flushed faintly.
"I usually just get really hot, I shift, after that my memory is fuzzy, and then I wake up in my closet." She shrugged sheepishly, her hands pressed into her lap.
"I'll go turn the air conditioning on," Mira stated and walked purposely towards the thermostat. Meanwhile, Rumi leaned forward.
"Do you need anything specific before or after your shift?" She asked quietly.
"Well, from what I remember, I'm usually really hungry during my shifts, so I'll just stay in my room so I don't mess anything up."
"In your room? What do you mean? Do you like it better in there?" Rumi blinked at her in confusion.
"Well, I'll lock myself in there," Zoey explained, like it was obvious. Mira had returned at that point, and her expression was one of absolute disappointment, so much so that Zoey felt her non-existent ears flatten against her head. "So that you guys don't have to deal with me? I'm too much in that form." In all forms, actually, but they already know that. She glanced between them worriedly and the other women shook their heads simultaneously.
"No, no honey, we'd like if you stayed with us, so we can help you through it," Rumi spoke gently, her gaze soft and earnest. Zoey hesitated, her body steadily becoming warmer.
"But-"
"No buts, let us help," Mira muttered sternly, her arms crossed over her chest, "Please," Her last word was softer, pleading. Zoey relented with a slight nod, her arms wrapping around her knees. Rumi anxiously cast her gaze towards the darkening sky, the first stars gleaming brightly out at the trio.
Zoey wet her lips, her cheeks burning as her body temperature rose. She pulled off Mira's hoodie and tied her hair back in a loose bun. Mira gently rested her hand on Zoey's back, letting out a soothing hum. Sparks of fire swam through Zoey's bloodstream. She felt like she was inside an oven, her hands twitching. Rumi scooted closer, hesitantly grabbing her hand.
"We've got you, it's okay," She murmured as moonlight began to stream through the windows. Zoey's body began to tremble violently, and her breathing quickened. She stretched out her limbs as her body got hotter and hotter. A familiar ache flooded her system and she doubled over, preparing herself, but unable to speak to prepare her girls. She let out a horrible scream, there was a grotesque sound of bones snapping and being pulled from their sockets. The heat burned their hands where the girls touched her. Fur slowly replaced skin, bones reformed, senses heightened, a tail swished against the floor, claws dug into the beanbag chair.
Mira let out a shocked breath as she took in the sight of a wolf in the place of her girlfriend. Her fur was black like her hair, and she stood at waist height.
"Woah… hi Zo," Rumi smiled faintly, tentatively reaching out. Wolf Zoey snorted, her ears twitching wildly as she stumbled back, her paws sinking into the plush beanbag.
"Shh, it's okay, it's just us. Rumi, Mira, your girls, okay?" Mira drawled quietly, crouching down to meet the wolf's— no, Zoey's—eyes. Zoey let out a pitiful whine, her body vibrating with residual aftershocks.
Zoey saw two beings. Patterns. Wrong. Tall. Blood? Fangs. Women. The moonlight was too bright. She could hear an incessant buzzing in her ears. She was hot, so hot, and hungry. She was moving, chasing a scent, limbs extending with the loud pop of bones, claws scraping across the hardwood as she bounded towards the scent. Pain. Pain. Run. Down the hall, into the dark. Dark, dark, clattering of nails against floorboard. Loud panting breaths. Voices and footsteps. Behind. Run. Pain. Whimper. Quiet. She collapsed into a small space, curled up as small as possible, legs tucked underneath her heaving chest. Her snout nosed at the source of the scent. Meat.