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Caitlyn had learned from a very young age that her quirks were improper and things that needed to be hidden.
Her mother had no interest in seeking a doctor to figure out what made her daughter so different, sure that it was just dramatics, and her father didn't mind his daughter's quirks, so he saw no need to seek a medical professional over such things.
As she grew older, she also grew better and better at hiding the things that made her different. She simply endured the constant overstimulation, suppressed the urges to fidget, and learned to stop talking so damn much whenever she got excited about something.
That was just what she had to do, after all.
That's part of what made Vi so scary. She didn't feel like she had to hide so much around Vi and, in turn, it became harder to. Her brain wanted so badly to pull back that mask and just exist authentically, but she couldn't do that... Right?
One evening, she was rather exhausted, and her mask began to slip far more than it should've been. She didn't know what to do. She couldn't fight it off anymore, but Vi was with her. What if Vi thought she was crazy or improper?
She hid her face in the shorter woman's shoulder as she began to wring out her hands slightly, a low hum emitting from her throat. As nice as it felt to allow herself the fidgets, lord it was embarrassing (and scary).
"I'm sorry" Caitlyn breathed, horribly humiliated over the shameful display she was putting on. Vi shook her head, wrapped her arms firmly around the taller woman's torso, and hugged her very close.
"Is this okay?" Vi asked. Clearly, Caitlyn was in a fragile state at that moment- She didn't want to potentially make it worse. Caitlyn nodded. "You don't need to apologize, ever"
"This is improper"
"No, cupcake" Vi pulled back to cup the other woman's cheek and smiled reassuringly. "I've noticed the fidgets, all the things you try to hide. You do a good job covering them up, sure, but you don't need to"
"I can't lose you" Caitlyn breathed, surprising herself as the words left her lips. Vi shook her head earnestly.
"You're not gonna lose me" Vi told her. "Not over this. I promise"
Caitlyn clung to Vi tightly, no longer fighting off the humming and the fidgeting.
Vi swore she would hunt down and kill whoever made Caitlyn so afraid of being herself.