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There was so much that went into a full-blown tour. The music, the choreography, the rehearsals, the travel, the late nights, the early mornings, the fan engagements, exhaustion upon exhaustion, a list that went on and on. All while protecting the world and hunting demons in the dark. It was a sacrifice, one that often took a toll on the trio of pop stars, but a price they were willing to pay for their fans. At the end of the day, it was their fans that drove them to work hard and be the best idols they could be.
During their very limited breaks and downtime, the girls tended to collectively choose to spend that time with the couch, staycations at home, days when the couple don’t leave the bedroom. If they had to leave the comfort of their penthouse, it involved the spa, or a bathhouse, a place where the entire goal was to completely detox, refresh and relax.
On occasions where they don’t feel like staying at home, the three of them take turns picking and choosing a destination for ultimate relaxation. This time it was Zoey’s turn, and she enthusiastically presented her two girlfriends with what she had been itching to do for the longest time.
“Camping!” Zoey stood in front of the couch where Mira and Rumi sat awaiting what she was possibly going to say. She clasped her hands together, “Think about it! Just us out in nature”
“Camping.” Mira repeated, as more of a statement than anything. She was apprehensive on the idea. Sure, yeah, outside is nice, outside is relaxing but outside also comes with bugs, poison ivy, and owls hooting throughout the night. The girls were demon hunters, sure, but there was no winnable battle against the humidity. “You mean, Glamping” With a trailer, electricity, a bathroom that wasn’t a bush or a hole. “You mean, Glamping, right?” She repeated, stone faced.
“Nope!” Zoey folded her arms and shook her head, “That’s not real camping. I mean fire pits, and tents, and---” There was a sudden feeling of doubt that crashed through her. Was Mira going to hate this? Was this a stupid idea?
“I think it’s a great idea” Rumi spoke up, “It’s something we’ve never done before?” She glanced over at Mira with a look. It was wishful thinking that she could read her mind. If we do this once, we never have to do it again. Just let her have this. “I can’t say I’ve ever done that before.”
“Besides” Rumi added, “It feels more private. Even if we go to a resort, or a beach, we still have to be on.” They would still be out in public, which was a situation that could always go in eighteen different directions.
“If you hate the idea...”
“No” Mira could see the start of Zoey’s spiral. She got up from the couch to step over to the shorter girl, resting comforting hands on her shoulders, “This is your turn to pick what we’re going to do with our time. If this is what you really want to do”
“I don’t want you to be miserable,” Zoey shook her head. This was their time off, precious time that they didn’t often have.
“Just think about it...” Rumi tried to stay positive about the idea. The third member of this trio got up off the couch and came over to her girlfriends, “Stargazing, sitting by a fire, sharing a tent.” Her brows rose. If Mira couldn’t read her mind, she hoped she would read her suggestive tone. A tent would be new for the three of them.
“Hiking” Zoey added, though missing Rumi’s point of trying to make this romantic. “Creek hiking, fishing, cooking over an open fire”
Mira bit back at the comment that popped into her mind. What the fuck was creek hiking? How was that different? And most importantly, Will there be snakes? A snake slithering, grazing past her leg in unclear water, did not scream like a relaxing break activity.
“We could go canoeing!”
“Yeah, that all sounds great” Mira eventually sighed, relenting. No, she wasn’t thrilled about this in any sense, but how could she say no when Zoey was clearly so excited about this? She didn’t have the heart to. If Zoey and Rumi were happy, she would be happy. “But we are getting a fuckton of bug spray” Bug spray, bug candles, the only thing Mira wanted to feel on her body this camping trip was the light teasing touches of Zoey and Rumi on her legs. No bugs. No snakes.
“Ohmygodyes” Rumi was quick to agree with Mira’s sentiment. While she was more open to Zoey’s idea of the wilderness as their vacation break of choice, she had that sense of ick in the back of her mind that she couldn’t quite shake. Only...hide her hesitation better than Mira.
“We are going to have SO much fun!” Zoey threw herself at the two girls, wrapping her arms around them in a hug. Only for moments later for her shoulders to relax, to be serious in the moment, “...Thank you for indulging me”
“Of course,” Mira didn’t waste a second kissing the top of Zoey’s head, putting the ugliest demon of doubt to rest.
*****
To Rumi and Mira’s surprise, Zoey was a beast at setting up their tent for the weekend. While it was no glamping trailer, Zoey was sure to pick out the biggest tent she could find so they could use an air mattress and still have as much extra space as possible. Anticipating how the three of them were planning on spending the night, Zoey made sure they had as much extra room as possible.
And though Mira said she was open to whatever ideas came their way, she successfully talked Zoey down from creek hike to just a regular hike. Mira made sure they were prepared, wearing a backpack for worst case scenarios and of course, snacks. Mira and Rumi held hands as Zoey excitedly led the hike, walking backwards when she felt like she was on a good long stretch of path so she could look back and smile at her girls. “I promise that this will SO be worth it!”
The trio were fit, as with their professions both in the public and underground, but the heat of the day had been getting to them. “Stay hydrated” Mira had been carrying everything for her girls, so Zoey wouldn’t have to have anything in her hands. “Zoey!” She tossed a water bottle her way.
“This is kind of nice...” Rumi mused, quietly, appreciating the greenery of the trees as they walked by. With life in the city, everything was always so hustle, bustle, and rushed that they didn’t get many opportunities to be around nature. The sounds of the waterfall off in the distance getting closer at every step, birds calls, everything felt slowed to a stop out here, like they were in their own little bubble where they couldn’t be disturbed. It was just them.
To Rumi, it didn’t matter what they did or where they went, only that the three of them were together. With Mira at her side, holding her hand, and Zoey enthusiastically leading them down the path, telling them fun facts about whatever bird calls they heard, it was perfect. It was peace.
Zoey rushed over to hold Mira’s other hand, wanting to experience the moment of wow together as a couple, “Okay...prepare to be AMAZED. 3....2......1” Counting them down, she continued to walk them forward, and around for a turn in the path.
When Zoey was looking up great places to camp, she wanted to find somewhere that was super private, but also a place where she could be wowed by the beauty of mother nature. To show Rumi and Mira something that they’ve never seen before. The sound of the waterfall was much closer, but seeing it’s might in person as the water flowed and crashed into the pool below was breath taking. The air cooled down around them, and when standing close enough they could feel just a bit of refreshing mist on their skin.
“Wow” Rumi stared at it wide eyed, a smile coming to her face, completely awestruck by their reward for taking this hike.
“Okay, yeah, this is cool” Mira could agree with Rumi’s sentiment of wow. “Selfie?” She suggested padding herself down as she searched for her phone. As the tallest, she typically was used to the selfies involving something in the background. Mira held the phone up, Rumi right behind her at her shoulder, and Zoey taking the moment to kiss Rumi’s cheek for the photo. An image to capture the memory of them taking a chance and doing something different.
“Oh ah! Yes! I love it” Zoey’s grin was wide, “That’s one we need to print out when we get home”
*****
Canoeing was a bit more of a chaotic time for the three girls as it wasn’t something they were well versed in. Though the three were known for their teamwork, it couldn’t stop them from flipping their boat when they hit choppier water. It left Zoey and Rumi cackling as Mira tried to get back onto the overturned canoe to hold onto it like a cat dreading being in the water. Still...Zoey thinks that over all they had fun? She hoped that they were having fun, and really having fun, not just pretending that they were for her sake.
That night was a chance for them to truly wind down after the excitement of activities throughout the day. Zoey had started a campfire for her girlfriends while Rumi and Mira sat near each other. A blanket draped around their laps as they watched their girlfriend tend to the fire, build it, nurse it. She could smile, seeing the way Rumi rested her head on Mira’s shoulder, and Mira tilted her head against hers. The night was what Rumi was most excited for, to be under the stars. Zoey had hoped she could use the fire to make it up to Mira, especially.
“I know this isn’t your like, top favorite vacation destination” Zoey glanced back down to the flames, during the night, with just her girls, she felt her emotions bubble. There were no fun activities to distract why she really wanted to make this their relaxy trip. She chanced looking over to Rumi and Mira so peacefully snuggled up together and suddenly wanted to retract into herself, “But...ugh, it’s probably stupid.”
“What is it, Zoey?” Rumi tilted her head up, frowning in concern as Zoey seemed to start closing into herself. “Hey, what’s wrong?” She was under the impression that it was a good day. The memory of Mira gripping onto a flipped-over canoe while Rumi and Zoey laughed would be a story they could reminisce on when they returned home.
“C’mere” Mira moved her arm, inviting Zoey to join them on the log, underneath the warmth and safety of the blanket. “Talk to us”
Zoey welcomed the invitation, sitting down next to Mira and wrapping her arm around her, resting her head on her other shoulder so she could be comforted by her girls, “I’ve always wanted to go camping for the longest time, it just seemed so fun and” With a heavy sigh her shoulders slumped, “I never had friends to go with, or...never had people who wanted to go with me” She admitted, her voice small, “I dunno, I thought it would be something fun we could share.” Zoey glanced down, dejected, “But you hate it”
Mira could feel that most of what Zoey’s insecurities were, was directed at her specifically, so she was the one that spoke. “I don’t hate it” She was logical, practical; she could see the value in what was out here, why Zoey wanted to do it so badly. “Do I think we should have gotten a kayak instead? Yes” She laughed, no one got hurt, no one had their phone in their pocket that got destroyed. “It’s been.......” She tried searching for the word, “Tranquil”
“I think this has been my favorite part,” Rumi added, her hand reaching under the blanket to caress Zoey’s knee. Her thumb softly stroked at the skin to comfort her, assure her, “I can’t put my finger on it” To why she felt so at ease. Was it the fire? The stars in the sky? Or just being close to her girls.
“Next time. We get a trailer” Mira iterated, “I will need a toilet and a shower”
“Yeah, okay, yeah that’s fair” Zoey could agree that she didn’t quite think that part out when she first organized this whole idea. Well. She knew what the situation was; she didn’t know how bad it would feel until the first time she had to pee. “Wait, seriously? A next time?”
Rumi smiled gently, nodding her head in affirmation. It wouldn’t be any time soon, of course, not when couch was their favorite option, but she would be open to doing something like this again. “A camping trip 2.0, maybe next time with caves” She suggested as a reason to come back, “And…seconded on the trailer. Glamping.”
Mira could feel the way Zoey was easing into her side, relaxing, even smiling, feeling her reach a state of peace. With one arm wrapped around Rumi, the other Zoey, Mira could enjoy the simple quiet moment. The only thing heard was the popping and cracking of the fire.
Time feels different there. Minutes stretch comfortably. The pressure to be somewhere else or do something else melts away with the glowing embers. Though for Zoey, it was getting to be too quiet, “Oooh, I still have to show you the best part of a campfire” She quickly removed herself from the blanket, and Mira’s hold to go ruffle through her bag across the way.
Mira frowned at the sudden loss of body heat that Zoey provided, having to adjust the blanket to try and make up for her absence. She and Rumi had to adjust on the log they chose as their outdoor couch’. Sitting on the hardwood over time had been starting to make their butts fall asleep. “Wasn’t this the best part of a campfire?”
“Nooooooo” Zoey paused, she did enjoy snuggles with her girlfriends. So instead, she put a finger up, “Okay, fine! This is the like SECOND best thing at a campfire”
“Should we be worried?” Rumi whispered over to Mira, not knowing what Zoey had in store for them. This weekend so far had been nothing but surprises for the pair that didn’t do much outdoors.
“I’m not sure” Mira watched intently as Zoey impaled some marshmallows and held that stick over the fire as to cook them. “Interesting, what’re you doing?”
“I’m making us s’mores. Yummy, delicious, gooey fantastical s’mores” For being so down not too long ago, Zoey bounced back stronger than ever, a grin on her face as she meticulously turned her skewer. “Shhh, I’m trying to get a perfect blend, I need to concentrate”
Mira and Rumi exchanged a glance, both of them have heard of the concept, but neither of them had tried one before. It was Rumi who asked, “What is a perfect blend?”
Zoey glanced up from the fire for a moment to see her girlfriends watching her with an adorably dumbstruck look in their eyes. “It’s the ratio of graham cracker, to marshmallow to chocolate. You can’t have too much chocolate, or marshmallow eesh, and if there’s not enough graham crackers something’s totally off. A perfect blend is when it’s all in sync”
The shortest member of this trio felt satisfied with the heat and the light toasting browning on each marshmallow to pull it away from the fire. She didn’t want to give them something charred unless they specifically asked for something more smokey. If this was their first s’more ever she had to make sure it was perfection. She sandwiched the gooey marshmallow with chocolate and graham crackers to hold it all together. “I promise! You’re going to love it but, uhm, fair warning! It’s going to be a little messy so” She would have to find some napkins.
Mira and Rumi graciously took Zoey’s creation from her, gently. Even holding the s’more was gooey and messy. Mira pressing hers too hard from the start made the marshmallow squish and started to ooze over the side. Muttering a quiet curse, of “Oh shit” Mira had to eat the s’more from the side, though despite her efforts she couldn’t stop it from seeping down her wrist.
“Zoey” Rumi had kept her s’more together a bit cleaner than Mira did when she put it in her mouth. She closed her eyes and let the flavors wash over her. Pure bliss, she completely understood what her girlfriend had meant by the perfect blend. The gooey softness of the marshmallow and the crunch of the graham cracker all coated with the sweetness of the melted chocolate. “This is incredible”
Messy, but incredible.
Mira nodded her head as she agreed with Rumi’s sentiment, only she was too busy trying to lick the rest of the marshmallow that oozed onto her hand.
“It’s one of my absolute favorite things” Like the chocolate, Zoey’s heart melted upon seeing the two most important people in her life enjoying one of her favorite desserts. “It’s kind of like us.” Zoey giggled, she bent forward to kiss a little extra tidbit of chocolate off of the corner of Rumi’s lips.
“Don’t say because we’re wet and sticky” Mira laughed, licking the chocolate off of her fingers.
“I mean we make for a perfect blend” Zoey sat down next to Mira, holding a handout under her own mouth as she took the first bite of her s’more. Compared to the other two she was a prepared pro. “Mira, you’re the graham cracker, you’re the sturdy one that keeps us together” She kissed her girlfriend’s cheek with a giggle.
“I’m the marshmallow” Zoey added with a grin, taking a big bite of her s’more, “The ooey gooey, melt in your mouth sweetness”
Rumi tilted her head, knowing that there was only one more part left of a s’more, “I’m the chocolate?”
“Mhmm!” Zoey leaned over Mira for the sole purpose of kissing Rumi on the lips, “You’re the melted chocolate, the heart of the s’more that keeps everything together”
“The perfect blend” Mira mused out loud. On Zoey’s way back she took a moment to kiss Mira as well. “I like that” A s’more needed all three to function as the best, albeit messiest of snacks. “Will you make me another, please?” She asked Zoey beside her, “But this time, burn the hell out of the marshmallow”
Zoey gasped at the request, “But I’m the marshmallow!” She squeaked; she just explained the significance of a perfect blend.
“Ah, what can I say? I like ‘em toasty” Mira teased, adding a thank you when Zoey had gotten up to make her another s’more.
“If you don’t mind…” Rumi wanted to add, “Would you make me another perfect blend?”
“Yup!” If her two girls wanted some nice sugary treats, Zoey was going to deliver. As she made Mira’s first by sticking her marshmallow into the fire, she couldn’t help but glance at her girlfriends. Catching a moment where Rumi kissed Mira and then relaxed, smiling over at Zoey. The shorter girl’s cheeks warmed up like the fire beside her, and at that moment she could feel that everything was how it should be. Zoey, Mira, and Rumi, together…the perfect blend.