Work Text:
They had barely gotten out of the train station after fighting off those demons before Mira collapsed on her knees, hands coming to cover her face as her whole body wilted.
Zoey immediately kneels down beside her and puts her arms around her shoulders, in what she hoped would be a comforting hug.
“We couldn't save… any of them. Not a single one…” Mira forced her voice out through what suspiciously sounded like a suppressed sob.
Zoey’s hands tightened around her. If it was for the sake of the other girl or her own, she couldn't tell.
“But we tried. We did our best. We fought with everything we have.” Her voice was rushed, as if trying to get the words out as fast as possible to prevent the negative thoughts from lingering too much. Mira registered a distant part of her brain wondering if that was how Zoey got so good at rapping. Escaping her own mind… “Mira, it was not your fault. Not anybody’s fault.”
At that, Zoey carefully lifted her hands and touched each side of Mira’s face, a silent plea for her to uncover her face.
After a moment of hesitation, Mira complied, angrily rubbing her watery, already red eyes before Zoey stopped her and gently dried the water tracks in her cheeks with her thumbs. Mira huffed and turned her head to the side, frustrated for showing such a weak side of herself so openly. That's not how she's supposed to act. Not who she's supposed to be.
“No, I should've known better. I should've been faster.” Her shame built into anger and she got louder.
“You did your best–”
“And I was not good enough!” It came out as a half shout that echoed through the empty street. Zoey quietly gasped and pulled her hands back. It was not common for Mira to lose control and shout like that, not with them.
Mira was stunned for a second, shocked at her own reaction, unsure of what to do.
“... Neither was I.” I never am. Zoey's answer sounded way louder in Mira’s ears than it actually should be.
It took her a moment to understand what she meant. The moment it clicked, her eyes widened.
“No! I didn't mean– Yes, you were– You are… I just–” she stopped. She wasn't making any sense. Not how she's supposed to be. “I’m sorry. That's not what I meant…”
They stay quiet for a moment. Mira, gathering her thoughts in order to not explode on someone who doesn't deserve it, and Zoey, who gave her time to do so while desperately trying to shove down her own feelings so she wouldn't break down, didn't say a word for a moment, too lost in their own worlds. It was a wonder no one appeared on the sidewalk they were on. Or maybe the heavens had finally decided to give them some mercy after letting hell play with their lives for so long.
“I just– Don't get it.” Mira finally said, now more composed, after a couple of deep breaths, and ready to actually have a conversation instead of just random ramblings being thrown back and forth. “This has never happened before. We had never let this happen before. Why now? Why is Rumi acting like this? Why, when we are so close?”
Zoey's bottom lip trembled slightly, but she bit it down and audibly swallowed.
“I don't know.” She whispered, her voice barely audible. “I don't– Understand why Rumi’s acting so weirdly out of nowhere, but I know–” her voice gained a little more power, a little more certainty, “– she would never do anything to hurt anyone. Or to stop us from protecting the Honmoon. She wouldn't. We know her. She's not like that.” She repeated, maybe trying to get the idea into her own head. “So whatever it is that's happening, she has a great reason for it. I’m sure of that.”
Mira finally manages a half laugh, “You don't sound very sure.” There was an undertone of bitterness in her voice. It had been a long couple of days.
“I guess I don't.” She hasn't been sure of anything in a while. She sighed, focusing her vision on something far, far away, a landscape only she could see.
When Mira looked deep into Zoey's slightly unfocused eyes, she saw right through her fears, through the scenery reflected on her pupils, and it was her who pulled the black haired girl to a hug this time.
“I'm sorry. I was a jerk.” She said, crushing her in her arms.
“It's okay. You didn't mean to,” she got as an answer, an equally strong pair of arms circling her back once more.
“But I was. I kind of freaked out. It was not cool.” Mira buried her head against the other’s shoulder, half to hide her face out of embarrassment for talking about it out loud, half seeking more of the comfort of her friend's touch.
“It’s okay to be not cool sometimes.” Zoey rubbed soothing circles around her back as she speaked, instantly making the tension come off of Mira’s shoulders. “Everyone’s a bit freaked out now. I won't hold it against you.”
Even as Mira felt her eyes burning with the need to cry again, she held it back, refusing to get three emotional outbreaks in a single day. So she inhaled deeply one final time and got the strength to let go of Zoey, immediately feeling the cold once they separated.
“Thank you…” A beat. “For everything.” She tried to sound as earnest as she felt, placing all of her convoluted feelings into the singular sentence, in the hopes of transmitting the message she wanted to pass on.
“... Ha, it's nothing. Really.” If Zoey's voice, overcome with emotion as it was, was any indicator, Mira was pretty certain she had gotten the meaning.
She stared at her for a moment longer before speaking, “Okay, let's go home now. My knees are getting sore from sitting in the dirty street for so long. Come on.” She got up and extended her hand, helping the other stand as well. Neither released their hold as they made their way back to their apartment.
—
Later, as they cuddled on the couch, enjoying the few hours of rest they got before having to go straight back to training and killing demons, Mira heard the door of Rumi's room opening. It had already been closed when they arrived, so she just assumed Rumi had gone home first after their fight, somehow managing to avoid their little scene back there.
Quiet steps got closer and hesitated just a couple of feet from the couch, not sure if they were asleep. Mira lifted her head to show she was awake.
Rumi just awkwardly smiled and waved, clearly not knowing what grounds they were in and if she should just go back to her room and wait until the morning to make an approach.
While Mira definitely wasn't ready for this conversation just yet, she also didn't want to exclude her friend, so she simply moved to make room for her, even though there was no need, with how big their couch was, and lifted the hem of the blanket as an invitation.
Rumi visibly relaxed and immediately dove under the cover and scooted over, making herself comfortable against her side while Zoey still slept soundly, her head resting on her lap.
All close to each other, they quickly fell asleep.
Mira couldn't help smiling a little. Things weren't perfect, there was still a lot they would need to work on the next day, the world still was in great danger and they still would have to talk about what's been happening this last few days.
But that was a worry for when they woke up. For now, they were okay. For now, they could just sleep on their couch and forget the weight of the world that rested on their shoulders.