Chapter Text
“Bobby…” Mira whines. She sinks further into the couch, wincing as she shifts and her leg peels off the couch. “Please. I'm melting.”
“Yeah, I like Couch but this is just too much!” Zoey adds on, attempting to unstick her arm from the couch. “And I can deal with heat!”
“I'm sorry, girls. The techs say they can't get there for like, a week. And that's with the premium rush we have.” Bobby says, his tone regretful.
“It's fine, Bobby! We understand, you don't need to rush just for us!” Rumi says, scratching at her covered wrist. “Uh. But could you order us some fans?”
“Yeah, of course! I've got both stationary and portable fans on the way. Extra ice packs. Oh and ice cream! Can't go through a heat wave without ice cream!”
“Ooh, can you get the Popsicles too?” Zoey asks. “We'll still melt, but we will melt with style!”
“Anything for my girls! Hey, Mira? Take me off speaker, I wanna chat about that modeling gig coming up.” Bobby says. Rumi shoots Mira a look and Mira shrugs back as she turns away.
“Hey. You're off speaker.” Mira says.
“Ok. No gig, but tell me Rumi took off her hoodie.” Bobby pleads.
“No.” Mira says. She glances back at Rumi on the couch, in her tan hoodie and her turtleneck. Zoey is beside her, shooting concerned looks every time Rumi shifts or scratches at her arms. They're pushing the ice pack back and forth between each other.
“Of course not.” Bobby sighs. “Mira. I'm really trying, but they can't get there any earlier. I know this might…probably won't work, because Rumi, but…see if you can try to get her into something else?”
“Yeah.” Mira responds.
“Everything should show up tonight or tomorrow. Try to stay cool!” Bobby says, hanging up.
“A modeling gig?” Rumi asks. “In this weather?”
“Maybe it's a swim shoot!” Zoey suggests.
“I said no to it. It's way too hot to do anything.” Mira says, shrugging.
“Oh! I know what it's not too hot to do!” Zoey says, clapping her hands. She winces, shaking them after as Mira and Rumi chuckle.
“Ok, Zo. What is it not too hot to do?” Rumi asks.
“We can go to the pool! Pool days are the best way to cool down.” Zoey says.
“I don't know, Zo.” Mira says, wincing a little.
“Oh, don't worry, Mira. We can stay in the shallow end for you.” Zoey says. Mira glares softly. “Or not! Just. Y'know. Options.”
“That's a lot of people, Zo.” Rumi says. She shifts again. “I think I'll stay here, but you girls should go and have fun! Use the water to cool off.”
“Rumi….” Zoey says, concerned. “Will you at least change out of your hoodie? Switch to a T-shirt!”
“I'm fine Zoey.” Rumi says, feeling the sweat roll down her neck. She scratches her arm again, forcing herself to stop when both Mira and Zoey look at her hand. “I'm used to the heat, I'll be fine.”
Zoey hesitates, her eyes darting around the room. Rumi blinks the spots away, watching her curiously. Her head throbs. Zoey takes a deep breath, glancing at Mira before looking back at Rumi.
“No.” Zoey's voice wavers, and Rumi blinks at her. “No, you..you can't continue wearing a hoodie in this heat. Especially with no air conditioning!”
Rumi feels a flicker of irritated pride. This would not have been thinkable even a year ago, Zoey still struggling with voicing her needs, willing to argue. But now, she's arguing with Rumi. Rumi is beyond proud of her growth.
But did it have to be about this? Her clothes are fine.
“Yeah, haven't you heard of heat exhaustion?” Mira questions.
“I will be fine, you two.” Rumi scowls, relenting when Zoey flinches backwards, just barely. “I know you're worried, but I promise, I'm fine, I'll be fine. Have you ever seen me not be fine?”
Rumi winces internally. That was absolutely too many fines, and she can see Mira and Zoey exchange a glance, one she's always struggled to read, and she's trying to figure out how to take the question back, except she can't remember what she asked, except that whatever the girls answer with will be a lie, and she hates lying, hates lying to them, despises that she has to wear long sleeves and she's scratching at her wrist again, and…
“Rumi?” Mira calls again. Rumi’s eyes seem to focus on her. “Hey. You back?”
“I left?” Rumi asks. Her eyes flutter closed, and she forces them open. “Sorry.”
“Rumi…it's 100 degrees out there.” Zoey says, her eyes concerned. “And with the glass…”
“That number is fake.” Rumi says, squinting at Zoey, who tilts her head. “We'd be death.”
“You basically are.” Mira says.
“Oh yeah, Celsius. It's like 40 degrees out there!”
“Oh, that…that is hot.” Rumi nods. She sways, watching Mira and Zoey double in front of her. “I'm..I'm gonna go.. go nap.” Rumi stutters. “That'll help.”
“What will help is you taking off your damn hoodie.” Mira scowls, taking a step forward. Rumi flinches, and Mira stops, backing up. “Ru?”
“I said I'm fine, Mira. I don't need your help.” Rumi snaps, glaring in Mira’s direction. “You both need to relax. I've always done this, it's always been fine, and it will continue to be fine! I'm just going to take a nap, and we'll forget this ever happened.”
“O..okay.” Zoey stutters out, shrinking down. Mira nods, watching Rumi stomp her way to her bedroom.
“If you're not back out here in a couple of hours, I'm checking in on you.” Mira shouts after her. The only thing that answers is a slammed door.
“I…do you think we made her mad?” Zoey asks.
“No. You were amazing, Zo.” Mira says, pulling her into a hug. She drops a kiss on her head. “I'm proud of you.”
“But Rumi yelled.” Zoey sniffs, pushing into Mira.
“She did.” Mira agrees. She pulls Zoey down onto the couch, pulling Zoey into a closer cuddle. “ She shouldn’t have, but you know how she is when she thinks a fault or fear is showing.”
“Yeah. And I guess going after the only thing she wears didn't really help.” Zoey sighs. “Are you gonna break her door if she's not back out?”
“I'm considering it.” Mira murmurs, tightening her hold on Zoey, staring at the hallway. Rumi had been way too red, swaying, and Mira knows Rumi won't seek help.
“Taking a nap does lower the body temperature.” Zoey says, looking at her phone. “So I guess it's a good thing she's doing that.”
“Yeah?” Mira glances down, squinting at the screen. “You need help, that's way too bright.”
“Just because you're a dark user, all edge lord, doesn't mean I need to. Stop changing my settings when you borrow it” Zoey shoots back, smiling. “I'm trying to see what helps cool the body.”
“..Check for heat exhaustion and heat stroke symptoms too.” Mira says slowly. “And absolutely not, it's hilarious riling you up.”
“And how to fix them.” Zoey nods, her fingers flying across the screen. “I'm going to get you back for that one day! When you least expect it, too.”
“Really?” Mira drawls. Zoey huffs at her. “Sure. Maybe next time, I'll rearrange all your apps.”
“You wouldn't dare!” Zoey gasps, her phone dropping as she stares horrified at Mira.
‘Don’t leave them alone if you suspect heat exhaustion’ flashes on the phone before it lands upside down.
“Yep! I'll color coordinate the games, and maybe order the rest by name, or maybe…” Mira grunts as Zoey knocks into her. “Maybe by boringness.”
“Noooo!” Zoey howls, wrestling with Mira. Mira laughs.