Chapter Text
There were many perks that came with dating Rumi, but one of Mira’s favorites was getting to sleep in late while wrapped around each other. The Rumi of years past would never have entertained lounging of all things, but here she was, sprawled lazily atop Mira. Rumi was unfairly pretty in the morning light, with soft features and even softer eyes just for Mira.
“You going to get up today?” Mira asked, perfectly content to hold Rumi here as long as she wanted to stay.
Rumi sighed into Mira’s collarbone as a warm shaft of sunlight crept across the bed, then she pressed her forehead to Mira’s neck tightly as if shielding herself from the reality of morning giving way to afternoon. Mira felt the curve of a smile against her skin as Rumi breathed out, “No, I don’t think I will.”
“What if I need the bathroom?”
Rumi pulled back just enough to squint at her, and she scoffed when she saw Mira’s wide grin. “Should have planned better,” she muttered before burrowing back under Mira’s chin.
“Alas,” Mira said gravely. She closed her eyes and ran a gentle hand along the back of Rumi’s neck, tracing iridescent patterns she knew by heart. “Demoted from girlfriend to mere pillow.”
“Promoted,” Rumi corrected. She pressed a light kiss to Mira’s shoulder, relaxing contentedly into the embrace. “Not just anyone can be such a talented pillow.”
Mira tried to figure out what exactly that meant. “I’m good at… lying still?” She yelped when there was a sharp pinch at her shoulder, right where Rumi had kissed her a moment before. “Did you just nip me?”
Rumi had plenty of weird habits and ways of showing physical affection, and her getting bitey wasn’t exactly new. It did have the unfortunate side effect of sending Mira’s gay little heart into an instant meltdown, but she tried to temper that with the knowledge that Rumi only ever did this when utterly relaxed.
“And I’ll do it again,” Rumi grunted, sounding for all the world like she was in control of the situation despite the deep flush settling across her cheeks and creeping toward her ears.
“Is that a promise?” spilled out of Mira’s mouth before she could stop it.
“What, no,” Rumi groaned. “I’m not going to bite you. That’s– I’m not… It’s weird.”
“Damn, way to call out my freak flag flying high.”
“Your what flag?” Rumi scooched down just enough so she could rest on Mira’s chest and actually look at her. Her face cycled through a few complicated emotions until she softened completely, looking at Mira like she was something precious. “I meant it was weird of me, not you,” Rumi said quietly.
“Oh,” Mira said numbly, not at all prepared for Rumi look at her with such tenderness. Their relationship wasn’t anything new, and yet Mira still found herself in awe that Rumi was here with her. That Rumi wanted her and loved her just as fiercely. “It’s kinda hot, though.”
Mira also appreciated that Rumi found her bullshit endearing.
Rumi laughed openly, obviously caught off guard. “Mira, that’s not–” Rumi’s giggling gave way to laser focus. “Wait, you’re being serious?”
Mira wondered when Rumi would get the memo that Mira found literally everything she did super hot. At this rate, they’d probably have grandchildren before Rumi truly understood that Mira was down bad for every oddity that might crop up. A little admonishing nip was nothing in the grand scheme of things.
“Of course,” Mira said, because apparently she did need to spell it out. “You’re like, stupid attractive.” Okay, no, that was not the direction she had meant to go in. “I love every part of you, on good days and bad. I love you when you’re mopey, I love you when you sing your heart out, and I love you when you act like you’ve been possessed by a fancy cat.”
Rumi’s smile put the morning sun to shame. “Love you too,” she said, and she reached for Mira’s cheek to brush her thumb across it reverently. “So, so much.” Rumi scrunched her nose as Mira’s words seemed to catch up with her. “Mira, I don’t act like– what? What do you mean a fancy cat?”
Rumi giggled, which turned into an insultingly hearty guffaw in Mira’s face.
“You headbutted me last week!” Mira defended her romantic and accurate declarations. She took the hand at her cheek and laced their fingers, happy for the connection between them.
“I told you I didn’t mean to!” Rumi squawked indignantly amidst her runaway laughter. “I was happy to see you!”
“Rumi, that’s cat behavior!”
Rumi shook her head, words obviously failing as she continued laughing like a lunatic.
“Rumi, you fucking purr,” Mira deadpanned. “You purr and knead the blanket. And,” Mira stressed, “you only do it on the Egyptian cotton one.”
“Oh my god, I am a fancy cat.” Rumi giggled helplessly atop Mira, and Mira could only keep a straight face for so long. She loved this dork so much it hurt, and she was so lucky to have that love returned.