Chapter Text
“Okay, before we land let’s go over the itinerary!” Rumi excitedly pulled out her phone and opened her calendar to the sound of Mira groaning. The three were seated on the sofa of their new private jet, acquired in anticipation of their world tour with promises to Bobby not to destroy this one. Easy peasy now that the demons are locked up nice and tight, Zoey had thought.
“Rumi, we don’t need to plan everything down to the minute,” Mira said, rolling her eyes but unable to hide her smile. Despite the complaint, Zoey knew Mira loved when Rumi made all the plans.
Rumi swatted Mira on the shoulder. “I didn’t hear any complaints about my planning when we were in Tokyo doing promo last month. In fact, I seem to recall someone quite vigorously thanking me for that one.”
“Yeah Mira, let the woman plan!” Zoey said. She threaded her arm through Rumi’s and put her chin on Rumi’s shoulder, planting a sweet kiss on her cheek. “What wonderful things do you have in store for us?”
“Suck up,” Mira quipped under her breath. Zoey stuck her tongue out at Mira, which Rumi ignored.
“Bobby booked us a suite at a hotel in Hollywood, so I thought we could stay in and order takeout,” Rumi pointedly said without looking up from her phone’s calendar.
Zoey looked over at Mira and wiggled her eyebrows. “See Mira, these plans already sound great!”
Mira deadpanned, “scheduled intimacy is so hot.” Zoey just giggled and Rumi continued.
“Tomorrow, we have a few hours for Zoey to take us around Burbank. I mapped it and it looks like Burbank is close to Hollywood so we should be able to get back to the hotel to get ready for the movie premier after lunch.” Rumi looked at Zoey for confirmation.
“Yeah, that should be totally doable. I know exactly where I want to take you!” Zoey bounced excitedly in her seat. She actually had about 53 ideas for where to take them and would have to narrow it down.
“Perfect! Bobby already took care of getting hair and makeup booked so we can get ready at the hotel. Then we have the Charlie’s Angels movie premiere tomorrow night along with an after party.”
“I still can’t believe they used Trinity as the theme song for the movie,” Mira said with a chuckle.
“I mean we literally wrote it about how hot the three of us are, so it’s pretty fitting for three badass Angels,” Zoey said. She was particularly proud of the lyrics for that one.
Mira let out an amused snort. “But it’s so queer-coded! I still can’t believe we were able to release it without outing ourselves.”
Rumi laughed at that. “I mean those Angel’s are pretty queer-coded.”
“Especially Kristin Stewart! Yowza!” Zoey added with a little shake of her shoulders. If she wasn’t so stupidly in love with these two, she would wreck KStew.
“I think she’s just queer actually, and I’m going to pretend you didn’t just say that about a woman who isn’t me or Mira,” Rumi said, playfully nudging Zoey with her elbow. “Moving on…we have a couple days of downtime, and I planned a surprise for us. Something private, just us three.”
“Oooooh! Rumi surprises are the BEST!” Zoey looked at Rumi with a twinkle in her eye and a huge smile. Over the last 6 months, 1 week, and 5 days of their relationship, Zoey had learned that Rumi could not get enough of her and Mira, so all of her “surprises” were elaborate plans to get them alone and in bed. Zoey couldn’t wait.
Mira reached over and put her hand on Rumi’s knee, squeezing it. “Okay I take it back; I like your stupid itinerary.” Rumi leaned over and gave Mira a kiss on her cheek. Zoey mouthed suck up to Mira when Rumi wasn’t looking.
“I knew you would,” Rumi said, clearly pleased, before returning her attention back to her phone’s calendar. “Thursday, we have to be back for rehearsal by late afternoon, final run throughs on Friday, launching the world tour at SoFi Stadium that night, a press conference and fan event Saturday before flying out for the next show.” Rumi finished, turning off her phone and putting it face down on the table in front of them.
They had been working for five months, nearly nonstop, to prepare for this world tour, recording new tracks and releasing them in record time. Zoey could not have been prouder of what they had accomplished. She looked at Rumi, with her cropped t-shirt showing off her patterns. They had used them as inspiration for their entire look for the This is What is Sounds Like release and tour. Zoey thought they looked hot and knew Mira agreed.
Zoey was so grateful they had some time in the week ahead to be together before they began this tour. As excited as she was for it, she hated keeping their relationship to herself. She wanted to yell out to the whole world how much she loved them.
But they had agreed to wait until all three were ready, so she could try to exercise a bit of patience. In between recordings, photo shoots, and press events the three had privately worked on an intimate love ballad Zoey had written during their hiatus at the start of their relationship. It revealed exactly how they felt about one another and Zoey wanted nothing more than to release it so everyone would know.
Zoey knew the time would come.
As the plane began its descent, she leaned into Rumi with her head on Rumi’s shoulder, reaching across her to take Mira’s hand and lace their fingers together.
For now, she would wait until they were ready too.
***
The next morning, Zoey led Mira and Rumi through a large rotunda entrance into a café & bakery in Burbank.
“Welcome to Porto’s,” Zoey said, rubbing her hands together. She could feel the saliva accumulating in her mouth as she thought about the potato balls. It had been years since she experienced the joy of a Porto’s potato ball.
They had walked into a large bakery. The ceilings were high and the whole place buzzed with activity. Employees in yellow shirts were lined up behind a long glass case filled with pastries and desserts, assisting the crowd of people that weaved through a zig-zagging queue. Zoey pushed them to the end of the crowd.
“I promise it won’t take as long as it looks,” Zoey said eagerly, seeing their worried faces at the swarm of people in front of them.
“This is…overwhelming,” Rumi hesitated, a forced smile stretching across her face when Zoey grabbed her hand and squeezed.
Zoey leaned forward and whispered in Rumi’s ear, “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you.” Zoey felt Rumi shiver and Zoey smiled, satisfied at the effect she had.
“Maybe tone it down for the public,” Mira said with a nudge at Zoey. Zoey nudged her right back, but dropped Rumi’s hand as they started moving forward with the line.
They were all wearing their usual incognito attire to try and blend in. Rumi in her sweatshirt pulled over her head, which was ridiculous in the California weather. Zoey had on a bright blue t-shirt and her yellow bucket hat. Mira sported a baseball cap, glasses, and casual t-shirt. They blended in well in this part of California, where half the people looked vaguely familiar and effortlessly good looking, like they were on their way to step into wardrobe at any of the nearby studios.
They quickly made their way to the front of the line, where Zoey took over ordering. “We will have half a dozen each of the cheese rolls, guava and cheese strudels, picadillo potato balls, and ham croquettes!”
“Zoey, that’s two dozen pastries,” Mira said, raising her eyebrow.
Mira was right, what had Zoey been thinking? “Good point! Make it a dozen of each,” Zoey said to the employee. Mira rolled her eyes as Zoey said, “you’ll thank me when you’re still snacking on them at the hotel while we get ready.”
They were given two large yellow boxes filled with their pastries and Zoey grabbed them with enthusiasm, ushering them all back outside. Small black tables lined the side of the building, looking out over the sidewalk and busy streets. They found an empty one and Zoey got to work opening the boxes.
“Here, try these first,” she said, handing a small, fried ball to Mira and Rumi and taking one for herself. “These are my favorite! They’re potato balls.” Zoey smiled and watched each of them take a hesitant bite, anxious for their reaction.
“Mmmm,” Rumi said, her eyes widening in surprise. “These are really good! What’s inside them?”
“It’s called picadillo. It’s Cuban, made with ground beef and tomato sauce. Good right?” Zoey grabbed another and took a bite. It tasted like warm nostalgia.
Mira loved the guava and cheese strudels best, leaning over the table to feed a bite to Rumi. After trying the cheese rolls, Rumi started hoarding them for herself. Zoey sat back and enjoyed watching the two of them just casually exist in her natural habitat. It was almost surreal having them here in Magnolia Park, her favorite neighborhood in Burbank. Like bringing Mira and Rumi back in time to when she was young. It gave her an idea of where to take them next.
After they ate their fill of Porto’s, they called their driver to come pick up the rest of the pastries to take back to the hotel, while they continued on foot to their next destination. It was a short walk down the street, where they passed small shops with colorful window displays. Many had been there as long as Zoey could remember, with a few brand spanking new mixed in. She appreciated the mix of both in this neighborhood - the stability of those steadfast shops withstanding time alongside the newness and possibility.
Zoey stopped in front of their destination. The storefront was painted with bright flowers and large black letters that read “Junk for Joy”. When she stepped inside, she watched Mira and Rumi take it all in, their eyes wide as they tried to land their gaze on one thing.
The thrift shop barely had a space unfilled. Clothing racks dominated the floor, packed with brightly colored clothes and costumes. The walls were lined with shelves and hooks, overflowing with hats, jewelry, and bags.
“Zoey this place is sick,” Mira said, making a beeline to a rack of vintage concert tees.
Zoey smiled as she watched Mira and Rumi wander through the cramped store, meandering between racks full of treasures. They spent most of the morning there, Zoey kept finding ridiculous hats and plopping them on top of Rumi’s head and all three picked outlandish outfits for each of them to try on. They even snuck in a kiss or two, tucked in a quiet corner, hidden by vintage overcoats and dresses.
By the time they returned to the hotel to get ready for the premier, they all felt buoyed with giddy excitement. The air felt lighter around them as they sat for hair and makeup, listening to loud music and snacking on pastries. It was a perfect day for Zoey, spending it being silly and relaxed with her two incredible girlfriends. And she knew it would just keep getting better.
***
Mira was the first out of the limo as it pulled up to the premier. Cameras flashed as she stepped out, wearing high-waisted, wide-legged navy pants that flattered her long form and a matching cropped tank top that draped across her chest. Under the loose top, a delicate gold chain hung across her collar bone, dipping down beneath the shirt and coming out the bottom to wrap around her ribcage. Her pink hair hung down her back, with one side tucked back with a gold clip.
Zoey watched from inside the limo as Mira stepped out, turning around to extend her hand to Zoey and helping her out onto her gold platform heels. Zoey smoothed her sparkly blue mini dress down as she stood. It clung to her curves and showed off her legs, with one arm bared and the other swathed in a flowing, sheer fabric that hung down her side. Her usual buns were absent, her hair hanging loose around her shoulders. Once she had cleared the limo’s door, both Zoey and Mira turned and watched as Rumi stepped out.
As someone who kept so much hidden her entire life, Rumi exited with the confidence of a woman who loved every inch of herself. Zoey beamed at her and Mira openly stared with pride. The dress was a deep magenta, with a barely-there bodice that dipped low enough to reveal the patterns that snaked down her collar bone and between her breasts. Her arms were bare, showing off more of her iridescent lines that perfectly complemented the pink tones in her dress and purple of her hair. The skirt drifted to the ground and was completely sheer, with a slit that reached the top of one thigh, showing off the patterns of her leg. Her braid was gone and her hair was pulled up into a high ponytail so it flowed down her back. She smiled widely at Zoey and Mira, her eyes sparkling at the two of them. Zoey thought she looked radiant.
When Rumi walked over to stand next to them, Mira leaned over to whisper to them, “you two look criminally beautiful.” Rumi blushed and Zoey giggled.
“Beautiful? Please, we look fucking hot,” Zoey said, making both Mira and Rumi laugh.
They moved together, making their way through the line of media snapping photos and calling out their names to ask them questions. Zoey found it repetitive, with everyone wanting to know about their song in the movie and asking about the upcoming tour. Zoey didn’t mind as it all felt effortless for them. They smiled easily, joking with each other and with the media. Looked incredible while doing it.
Expecting more of the same, Zoey was surprised when a journalist asked, “have you seen the photos posted earlier today and the rumors circulating about them?”
Zoey looked at the other two, both shaking their heads. Rumi answered, “Zoey took us on a tour of Burbank where she grew up and then we were preparing for tonight so we haven’t really been online.”
The reporter pulled out her phone and showed them a post from Page Six, that included photos of them at Porto’s. In one, Mira had reached across the table and was feeding Rumi a bite of pastry. Another showed Zoey’s arm around Rumi’s waist and Rumi was leaning into her, whispering something in her ear while they walked down the street. The headline read “Huntr/x or Polytrix?” They were silent while they looked at the photos and scanned the article, unsure the best way to respond.
“What is Polytrix?” Mira finally asked. Zoey smiled because unlike the other two, she was online a lot, but before she could answer, they sensed someone walking up behind them.
“Ooooh, cool ship name!” Zoey’s eyes went wide when she watched a stunning creature in a loose pant suit with no blouse under the blazer walk up and lean over them to look at the photo. Zoey was looking right at the Kristin Stewart, in all her hot glory. Before she knew it, she had squealed and threw herself at her, pulling her into a huge hug. The shutters of several cameras started going off around them.
“It’s so amazing to meet you!” Zoey exclaimed. She could feel Kristin hesitantly put her hands on her waist, at a respectable spot well above her ass.
“Not that I mind a hot girl getting all up on me, but is she always this friendly?” Kristin asked over Zoey’s shoulder.
“Yes,” Mira and Rumi said in unison and Zoey could hear their amusement. Zoey let go with an unabashed smile, the reporter looking elated to have captured the moment.
“Sorry, I’m just a huge fan!” Zoey said, not sounding sorry at all. She looked over at Mira and Rumi who were trying to look stern, but failed miserably and ended up just looking indulgent.
“It’s totally cool, I’m actually a big fan of Huntr/x, so I can check being assaulted by my favorite member off my bucket list,” Kristin said with a smile and a wink. Zoey’s smiled somehow managed to get wider. “Seriously though, me, Ella and Naomi didn’t get a cool ship name like that, you three are lucky.”
“Ship name?” Rumi asked. Zoey snorted, knowing Rumi had never bothered to follow social media and had no clue what all of this meant.
“You know, when fans like to ship you as a couple for fanart or fan fic. Or I guess, a throuple in this case. It’s a cool play on words for a poly ship,” Kristin explained casually, as though this were the most normal thing. Zoey was unphased. Fans had been shipping them as couples and altogether for years. Apparently Mira and Rumi had no idea though, which she found hilarious.
“So let me get this straight,” Mira said. “The fans create art and write stories about the three of us being together…romantically?” Mira and Rumi looked startled, while Zoey tried to suppress a laugh.
“Yep, it’s pretty crazy what you can find on the internet. Charlie’s Angels fans have been doing it for every trio that has stepped into the role.” Kristin leaned toward them and lowered her voice before adding, “navigate the fan fic with caution if you choose to delve into it. But if I’m being honest, some of it is super hot.” With a smile to all three, Kristin sauntered off.
Zoey couldn’t contain it any longer and burst out laughing. Rumi and Mira joined her, because really, the absurd accuracy was too much.
The reporter seemed distracted by the sudden appearance and disappearance of Kristin, so Zoey was able to pull Mira and Rumi along the line of media without having to elaborate on the photos from earlier. After that, they were spared from anything more than the standard set of questions.
They had a moment before they walked the final part of the red carpet to pose for photos, so Rumi leaned toward them and quietly asked, “did either of you know about the shipping thing?”
“No, but she’s right, it’s super hot,” Mira said with a smile. Zoey giggled and Mira looked at her and wiggled her eyebrows.
“I totally knew and I can’t believe neither of you did!” Zoey said with an exasperated laugh.
“What?!” Mira and Rumi said in tandem, whipping their heads to look at Zoey in shock.
“Have you…looked at any of it?” Rumi asked, unable to hide her curiosity.
“Of course she has,” Mira said. “You can see her salivating at the memory of it.” Zoey smacked her on the shoulder but didn’t deny it. If only they knew!
Rumi smiled coyly and said, “if the fans are going to run with it, we may as well give them some good material.”
“What did you have in mind?” Mira asked, a wicked look in her eyes telling Zoey she was game for anything.
“Let’s just…not hold back.”
Who was this woman? Zoey thought, not that she was about to argue. This was going to be fun!
A young man dressed all in black with a clipboard and a headset ushered the three of them towards a long Charlie’s Angels backdrop with a wide walkway of plush red carpet lined with a thick gold rope, behind which photographers stood. They shouted the names of celebrities who dotted the stretch of carpet, hoping to get those perfect shots.
“This way ladies,” the young man said, leading them to the start of the long backdrop. Rumi took Mira and Zoey each by the hands and pulled them to either side of her. All three smiled at one another as they decided if the fans wanted to ship them together, then, they would give their fans what they wanted. And the cameras went wild for them.
Mira stood in the middle, with her arms around both Zoey and Rumi and a hand resting on each of their hips. Rumi leaned toward Mira, with her arm snaked up and over Mira’s shoulder, fingers grazing the top of her collar bone. Zoey moved in close to Mira’s other side and put her own hand on top of Mira’s on her hip. Zoey loved feeling Mira’s body pressed alongside her like this. It felt so natural, the way they slotted against one another and moved.
They continued like this, walking down the carpet and posing close together, always touching, looking at each other with a heated gaze, and leaning close to whisper in each other’s ears. It wasn’t like they moved as one, more like they moved so fluidly around one another. Like a dance and they were perfectly in sync.
What started as a joke for the fans and media began to feel so incredibly free for Zoey. The air around them seemed to glitter and she let herself just enjoy being photographed with them, without reservation.
At one point, Zoey saw Rumi boldly reach down and lace her hand through Mira’s, who looked down at her and smiled widely. Zoey wrapped both arms around Mira’s waist and looked adorningly at the two of them. They forgot all about the cameras and people around them for that wonderful moment and Zoey just basked in the love she had for them.
It might have been too much. Too bold. But at that moment, Zoey didn’t care. She was in love with these two women and wanted everyone to know. If there was fallout, they would deal with it. They may need to give Bobby a healthy bonus for the trouble, but it would all be okay. Or…maybe Rumi and Mira would finally decide it was time.
“Do we really have to stay for the movie because I think I’d rather go back to the hotel,” Zoey said with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes, making both Mira and Rumi laugh.
Rumi reached in front of Mira to place a hand on Zoey’s cheek, it felt so warm and Zoey leaned into it. Rumi pulled her closer so she could whisper “trust me, that is all I’m thinking about” before giving her a quick kiss on the cheek and moving back with a smile. Zoey felt her cheeks flush, fanning herself a little.
“Jeez you two, you’re going to make the fans combust,” said Mira, rolling her eyes. She added with a smile “but same.”
***
The movie was incredible, but the three of them practically jumped from their seats when it was over. Mira had already texted Bobby asking him to have the limo meet them immediately, as they would be skipping the after party.
The entire movie, seated between both Mira and Rumi, Zoey’s skin had felt on fire. They didn’t dare touch each other, at least not on purpose. Every accidental brush of skin on skin was enough to ignite something that could hardly be stopped.
By the time they filed into the limo, the divider went up and it was all over for them. Zoey practically jumped onto Mira’s lap, straddling her, Zoey’s short dress riding up over her hips. Her mouth found Mira’s immediately, and there was no gentleness, just urgency. It was all tongue, teeth, and heat.
Zoey felt Mira’s hand press against her thigh and move up slowly. At the same time, she felt Rumi move in close beside them. Zoey had no idea where her hands were, probably on Mira, but her lips were warm against her own exposed collar bone.
When Zoey finally broke from Mira, she immediately turned to Rumi, threading her hand behind Rumi’s neck to pull her in and capture her mouth this time. Mira leaned back, catching her breath and watching Zoey and Rumi, a satisfied grin on her face.
By the time the limo had slowed, all three were panting, catching their breath. Their hair was mussed and lipstick was smudged, clothes slightly askew and wrinkled. Zoey looked between the two of them and just laughed.
“We are going to have to move fast to our room before someone snaps a picture of us and it’ll all be over,” Zoey said, climbing off of Mira and smoothing her dress back down.
Rumi leaned over and gave Zoey another hard kiss, turning to Mira to do the same. “I agree, we need to move fast, or I’m taking you both right here.”
“Greedy,” Mira said, but she straightened her top and led the way out of the limo.
It was late and Zoey was grateful the lobby was empty. They stepped into the elevator to take them to the top floor, giggling when they looked at themselves in the mirrored walls.
“We are an absolute mess,” Zoey said, running her fingers through her hair in an attempt to tame it. It didn’t really help, but she had tried.
When the elevator doors opened, they made their way to their room, Mira pulling a keycard from her pocket. By the time they walked in they were still giggling, high on each other and expectation.
Mira grabbed at the first person she could, which happened to be Rumi, pulling her by the hand to tug her toward her, the other hand reaching behind her neck to pull her in for a kiss. Zoey took Rumi’s other hand, pulling them both toward the closest bedroom.
***
Zoey had never felt so relaxed as she lounged lazily in one of the oversized hotel beds with Mira and Rumi. Mira was stretched out on her back with a pillow propping her head up and her hair flung wildly to one side. Rumi was lying against Mira’s side dozing off, head on Mira’s shoulder and one leg tangled into Mira’s. Mira was absentmindedly running her fingers through Rumi’s tangle of hair and scrolling through her phone with the other hand. Zoey had snuggled up to Mira’s other side, her head propped up on one arm while the other was tracing the patterns on Rumi’s outstretched arm. Her skin was so soft and Zoey could hear Rumi’s breathing quicken each time her finger dragged across one of Rumi’s more sensitive spots.
“What are you lookin’ at Mira?” Zoey asked without looking up from where she was touching Rumi.
“Red carpet pictures from tonight,” she answered.
Zoey immediately perked up, “oooh I want to see!” She sat up and leaned into Mira so she could see the phone screen. Holy shit! Her eyes were wide as they scrolled through the image search Mira had pulled up of the three of them. “Wow! No wonder we got so worked up tonight!”
Rumi made a little grunt, and Mira held the phone down lower so Rumi could lazily open one eye to see. When she saw the images, she opened her eyes wider and gave a little exhale of surprise.
The pictures were stunning. Not even stunning…smoldering!
One captured a moment when Zoey had leaned in close to Mira’s ear to whisper something and Mira looked riveted. Another showed Rumi holding onto Mira’s hand and the way the two looked at each other was borderline scandalous, with Zoey gazing at the two of them like she wanted to consume them. They practically had hearts in their eyes. Another was taken when Rumi, still holding Mira’s hand, had leaned over and kissed Zoey’s cheek. They looked absolutely besotted with each other.
“Ooh look at that one!” Zoey exclaimed, pointing to one further down. It wasn’t one of their posed pictures in front of the backdrop, but showed them with Kristin Stewart. Or the parts of Kristin Stewart you could see with Zoey practically wrapped around her.
“Poor thing never saw you coming,” Mira said with a laugh.
“I’m going to frame that photo and hang it up!” Zoey said excitedly. She could practically feel Mira roll her eyes. Remembering what Kristin had said, Zoey had a sudden thought. “So…are either of you curious about the Polytrix fan fic?”
That got Rumi to raise her head a little and give a shy smile. “Kind of, yeah.”
“Obviously,” Mira agreed.
Zoey squealed excitedly. Mira opened a new search window on her phone and Zoey told her, “Go to Archive of Our Own, that’s where the good stuff is at.”
Mira looked over at her in shock. “How do you know that?”
Zoey rolled her eyes and said, “for obvious reasons, Mira. Give it here and I’ll log into my account.” Rumi and Mira looked at each other and burst out laughing, because they weren’t the least bit surprised. Zoey opened a search for the Huntr/x fandom and added the Mira/Rumi/Zoey relationship tag. A lot came up and she scrolled through, reading story descriptions thoughtfully before pulling one up and exclaiming “oooh, this one looks spicy! Who wants to read it?”
Mira grabbed the phone back, adjusting her glasses as she started reading it to them. By the end, they gazed at one another with a heated look in the eyes and more than a few new ideas.