Work Text:
It started with one shirt.
Rumi found it slung haphazardly across the couch in the penthouse and immediately knew it was Zoey’s. She tried to convince herself that it was only because she recognized the pattern, but deep down she knew it was because she smelled it. Something thrummed in her chest as she snatched up the shirt and hurried to her room, completely bypassing the dirty clothes hamper. That night she held it close, pressing her nose into the soft fabric and inhaling Zoey’s familiar scent.
She slept better than she had in weeks.
Next, it was a hoodie.
Rumi had no excuse. She watched Mira take off one of her crop top hoodies, the one that showed off her midriff in an infuriatingly tantalizing way. When Mira turned her back, Rumi had snatched up the garment and disappeared into her room. She was acutely aware of the patterns on her skin practically pulsing with light. She stashed the piece of clothing with Zoey’s shirt. Together they created a scent that was akin to heaven. She lumped them into a comfortable ball and fell asleep with her head laid on it like a pillow.
For the days following, what felt like half of Huntr/x’s wardrobe made its way into Rumi’s bed. Rumi gathered shirts, hoodies, tank tops, robes, and even underwear into a beautiful nest. She put the comfiest items in the middle and the pokey ones (why did Mira have to wear so many spikes?) around the edges. She reveled in the beautiful scent, her mind in a hazy bliss. She didn’t know what came over her, only that she needed to be completely surrounded by her girlfriends’ scents.
“When’s the last time someone’s done laundry?” Mira called from the living room. “I can’t find my favorite t-shirt.”
Rumi looked down and was greeted with the sight of the t-shirt in question making up the dead center of her nest.
“I did a load yesterday, but there was barely anything in it!” Zoey said.
“Rumi?” Mira said as she knocked on her door. “Do you know where all the clothes are? Did Bobby take them to get dry cleaned again?”
“Um…” Rumi called, her face ablaze. She looked around the room, unsure what to do with her offending mound of clothes. “Maybe you should go ask him!” She scrambled from bed, trying to tear the nest apart to shove them under her bed, but she couldn’t bring herself to destroy it. All she wanted to do was curl back up and go to sleep.
“What’s going on?” Zoey asked. “You sound weird!”
“Weird? I’m not weird! You’re weird,” Rumi said in a rush.
“Rumi, I feel like we haven’t seen you in days. Are you okay?” Mira asked.
“We’re coming in!” Zoey announced.
“No! No! I’m fine, I promise!” Rumi said as her eyes flew wide. She was helpless as she watched the door fly open and Mira and Zoey stepped through.
Their eyes immediately landed on the nest of clothes.
“So thaaaaat’s where they all went!” Zoey said.
“Rumi…what’s going on?” Mira asked and crossed her arms.
“I can explain…” Rumi began.
She in fact, could not explain. She had no good reason for it other than she needed to. Everything in her being compelled her to nest, to bring more, to surround herself with Mira and Zoey. Now that they were here, well…it sounded like a very good idea for them to be in the nest with her. The patterns on her skin pulsed and glowed and she felt the thrumming in her chest start anew. She climbed back into bed and sidled down into the nest and looked at her girlfriends with wide eyes.
Mira’s expression softened. Zoey jumped up and down with glee before flinging herself into the nest with Rumi. She wrapped her arms around Rumi’s waist and nuzzled into her neck. Rumi looked up at Mira and held out her other arm in invitation. Mira rolled her eyes, a smile on her face, before climbing in alongside them.
“It’s a nest! It’s so cozy!” Zoey exclaimed. “Do demons nest?”
“I’m not sure…I think they must,” Rumi said. “I just feel like I have to. Your scents…they smell like home.”
“You could have just asked for extra cuddles,” Mira said and kissed Rumi on the cheek.
Rumi’s whole chest rumbled with the force of her purr. Surrounded by her girlfriends and their amazing scents. Wrapped in their arms, safe and warm and loved. She looked between them, tears brimming in her eyes. She didn’t know how she got so lucky twice.
“Yea! Next time you just have to ask,” Zoey said. “I’d like to be invited to the nest building. Also, I really, really need my underwear back, okay?”
Rumi let out a bark of laughter, her cheeks ablaze with a blush. Maybe she did go a little overboard.
“Next time no underwear. I promise.”