Work Text:
"Kissing can't be that good."
The words lingered in the air as Mira and Zoey snapped their heads towards Rumi. They were all sprawled on the couch in their pyjamas in a way that took up as much space as possible, halfway through a mountain of snacks as they enjoyed a movie marathon. Rumi had chosen a romcom which was what they were currently watching, while Mira had picked out an action film and Zoey a horror. In the movie, an argument between the romantic leads had just turned into a passionate make out session, both obviously enjoying themselves with their moans and the frantic removal of their clothes before the scene faded out. Rumi continued staring at the screen as if she hadn't spoken, breaking off a square of chocolate and popping it into her mouth, seemingly unaware of her friends gawping at her.
"Wait, what?"
Mira finally exclaimed, fumbling with the remote to pause the film. Rumi turned to them and blinked owlishly, then a sheepish grin appeared.
"It seems kind of gross? I just don't know how it could feel good."
"Rumi," Zoey said slowly, rising from where she was lying on her stomach and up onto her knees. "Are you trying to say you've been walking around looking like a fine ass snack and you've never kissed anyone?"
“It’s not that weird,” Rumi said defensively, huddling deeper into her blanket. She started to play with her braid, a habit she had when she was nervous. “I grew up alone with Celine and then I was an idol. Even if I could, I would have never dated anyone because of my patterns.”
“But you and Jinu?”
“Never happened.”
“He was such a loser,” Mira grumbled to herself, although she felt a trill of satisfaction that Jinu didn’t get his grubby mitts on her. Zoey continued her questioning.
“Not even once?”
“Obviously!” Rumi snapped. She groaned loudly and pressed her hands over her eyes.
Mira and Zoey shared a look. There was something devious in Zoey’s eyes and a smile flickered onto her face before hiding behind a façade of innocence. Mira frowned, her eyes widening a fraction in a silent warning to behave. One that was promptly ignored. Zoey crawled over to Rumi, leaning over her as she gently pulled her hands away. Her heart skipped a beat as Rumi stared back up at her, her cheeks puffed out childishly with her brows knitted together.
“Do you want to try it, cutie? Do you want your first kiss now? I could give it to you. Or Mira.”
“Me?” Mira jolted upright as if she had been zapped. Zoey gave her a sharp look, the kind that cut right through the skin and laid bare the soul.
“You want to, don’t even try to deny it.”
Mira’s eyes darted away and bit her lip, trying to ignore the heat that crept up her neck. She nodded slowly. Zoey turned back to Rumi, who was blushing so furiously there was a danger she might combust. Zoey lowered her face towards her, so close that their noses brushed. Rumi froze, breathing in short, shallow bursts as her eyes flickered between meeting Zoey’s eyes and her lips.
“So, how about it? Kiss?”
“I-... Um... Yuh, I mean, yes.”
“Excellent!” Zoey quickly sat back, leaving Rumi to blink dazedly up at her. “Mira, you’re up!”
“Zoey, what do you think you’re doing?” Mira questioned flatly, trying to ignore the way her heart felt like a beating drum. For a moment she had thought Zoey had actually gone in for the kiss.
“You know why. And I want to watch!” Zoey said with a chaotic grin. She suddenly moved and swung her leg over Rumi so that she was now seated on her thighs.
“This is fine, right?”
“Yeah,” Rumi squeaked out, not knowing what to do with her hands. She settled on curling them on her stomach, but then Zoey grabbed her wrists and guided her palms onto her thighs. Rumi visibly gulped.
Mira remained where she was until Rumi’s eyes shyly met hers and it felt like a line tugging at her chest. She felt giddy as she got to her feet, her stomach doing backflips as she walked towards the two girls who were staring at her in anticipation. Mira settled one knee down onto the couch, right where Zoey was before. She gently cupped Rumi’s cheek.
“You sure about this? Don’t feel pressured into doing something you don’t want.”
“Please Mira, I want you to kiss me,” Rumi answered, her voice low and breathy. The words ignited a fire under Mira’s skin and before she could doubt herself she pressed her lips to Rumi’s.
Mira had kissed a lot of people. Her teenage years was spent aggressively making out with anyone who looked like they could give her parents a heart attack. There had been a few genuine crushes, but if Mira was honest with herself no one drove her more crazy with want than her fellow band mates. To kiss Rumi or Zoey was a dream that she kept sealed and buried inside the deepest closet, never to be opened, or so she thought. It turned out reality was better than a dream.
Rumi’s lips were as soft and warm as she had imagined them to be as she brushed them against her own. She kissed her slowly, allowing Rumi to get used to the sensation and guided her into matching the rhythm Mira set. Her hand automatically slipped from Rumi’s cheek to grasp the back of her neck, tugging at the braid. A small whimper that emanated from the back of Rumi’s throat made Mira’s brain go blank and sent a spark of something hot to linger in the base of Mira’s stomach. When she finally broke the kiss, Mira found that she was breathless as she leaned her head against Rumi’s.
“Oh, my goodness,” Rumi panted, sounding just as mind blown as Mira felt. Mira could only hum in agreement as she pulled away and sat down.
“Guys, that was so hot,” Zoey groaned with both her hands against her pink cheeks. She shifted in a way that made Rumi’s breath hitch. “Plus Rumi was grabbing me so tight I think I have bruises.”
“Sorry!” Rumi yanked her hands back from where she had a death grip on Zoey’s legs. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
“Not in a bad way,” Zoey chuckled. Her eyes darkened. “My turn.”
Zoey grabbed the back of the couch and hefted herself forwards until she hovered over Rumi. She sneaked a salacious glance at Mira, then gently grabbed Rumi’s jaw and kissed her. Zoey was gentle but teasing, mixing slower strokes with quick pecks. Rumi let out a gasp when Zoey briefly caught her bottom lip between her teeth and sucked, one that had Zoey grinning into the kiss.
Mira felt fingers around her wrist and looked down to see that Rumi had grabbed a hold of her as if to anchor herself. Mira placed her other hand over hers, rubbing calming circles with her thumb. She had thought she would feel jealous watching them, but it felt oddly right. The kiss ended on a long, lingering note before Rumi pulled back, flopping her head against the back of the couch.
“I think I’ve died. This has to be heaven,” Rumi said shakily, her lashes fluttering closed.
“Luckily you’re still with us on Earth. That good, huh?” Mira smirked as she tucked back a stray hair behind Rumi’s ear with her free hand, the other still being held. “Not gross?”
“Not at all. That was incredible. Both of you.”
“You sure you really haven’t kissed anyone before? Because, oh my god, I’m still feeling it,” Zoey giggled, her voice containing an exhilarated tone as if she had just gotten off a rollercoaster.
“You are absolutely my first kisses,” Rumi declared, opening her eyes once more. Her expression turned shifty. “Although...”
“Oh no, what is it?” Mira said with deadpan annoyance. She knew that look on Rumi’s face, it was the one she wore when she was about to reveal that she had gone and done something without their knowledge.
“I did kind of choose that movie on purpose and intentionally brought up my lack of experience hoping one of you would kiss me. I thought I would need to ask, or do some persuading, but,” a slow smile stretched across Rumi’s face. “I never expected you would both be so eager.”
“What.”
Mira was aghast. Zoey gasped loudly.
“You conspired against us for kisses? A grand scheme to rob from me and mine so thy virgin lips be lain to siege? What foul treachery!”
Rumi stared at her with a slightly baffled but amused expression, while Mira was giving her the side eye. Zoey realised she had been shocked into speaking in English. She huffed and climbed out of Rumi’s lap.
“Wait, no, come back!” Rumi yelped as she reached out for Zoey, but the other girl dodged her hands and buried herself into the other side of Mira instead. Zoey stuck her tongue out.
“Nope! Traitors don’t get kisses from hot girls. Mira, on the other hand, needs to lay her lips on me, like, right now.”
A record scratch went off in Mira’s head. They had started kissing Rumi because the fact that she hadn’t before was a travesty that couldn’t be allowed to continue, plus Zoey had flung Mira straight into Rumi’s ruse. Technically there wasn’t a reason to kiss Zoey, since both girls had talked before about all their previous experiences at length over spa days and girls’ nights when Rumi had locked herself away in her room.
But when Mira looked down at Zoey’s adorable face she could see vulnerability hiding behind her teasing mirth. Mira knew the truth, knew that they all did. They had danced around it long enough, always having an excuse to be closer, to initiate contact no matter how fleeting. All of it led to this moment right now.
Mira wasn’t sure who started it, who leaned in first, but her whole world focused in on Zoey. If her kiss with Rumi had been a dream come true, then Mira’s kiss with Zoey was like a thirsty man who had found an oasis in a desert. It was intense and frantic in their need to claim, as the feelings that had been there all along suddenly bubbled to the surface.
Mira grabbed Zoey’s waist and pulled her closer, practically tugging her into her lap. Zoey put her hands on Mira’s shoulders to steady herself and slipped her tongue into Mira’s mouth. Mira groaned, fingers digging into flesh as she sucked and caressed with her own tongue, allowing Zoey to do as she wanted. When it was over, Zoey buried her face into Mira’s shoulder.
“I don’t think I can come back from this.”
“Neither can I,” Rumi said softly. Zoey and Mira both turned to her. She had shifted while Mira and Zoey had kissed, sitting forwards in her seat and staring like she was spectating a world-class sport with an enamoured look on her face. Her face was red and she was gripping her pyjama pants in a balled up fist.
“I didn’t know how to say it,” Rumi continued shakily, “I thought maybe I could show you, but I didn’t really know how to do that either. The words are there, but every time I try to speak them I get so scared and I can’t get them out. Even now, I can’t...”
“I’ll go first then. Rumi, Zoey, I’m in love with you,” Mira boldly stated despite the prickle of tears in her eyes. Her heart clenched when there was a moment of silence, afraid that she had somehow misread the situation and made a mistake. A loud sob came from the back of Zoey’s throat.
“I love you too! And Rumi! I knew there was something between us, I knew it!” Zoey cried, wrapping an arm around Mira’s neck as she reached a hand out to Rumi. Rumi practically threw herself at them, tears already streaming down her face as they all embraced.
“I have been in love with you all this time. Goodness, I love you both so much.”
They stayed wrapped up in each other for a long time, crying and laughing together as the emotional dam of their hidden feelings was finally allowed to flow free.
“So am I allowed another kiss now?” Rumi asked after a length of time, her awkward smile freer than ever more. Mira laughed loudly, throwing her head back as she did so. Zoey giggled and bit her lip.
“Oh Rumi, you can have as many as you want,” Zoey replied and tugged her close.
They didn’t bother to put the movie back on.