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“Do I have to be here?” Vi’s voice was tired, cried raw, and her question rang out in the cool of the dungeon, bouncing off stone as the echoes of the others also faded into a crisp, taut silence. Vi kept her gaze firmly on the table, despite feeling and hearing the other three turn towards her.
They had been in this meeting for hours now, and all they had accomplished was running in circles so hard there was a trench around the problem. Ambessa and Dr. Reveck still had Viktor, Noxus was set to flood the cities’ ports and lay siege, Ekko still wasn’t back, Isha was dead, Vander was dead, Jinx was –
“We’d…appreciate, your feedback, Vi,” Mel started, slowly, and – fuck her – cautiously. Vi peered up at Mel, from underneath her own brow, just to see a farce of sympathy carefully laid over sharp features.
Vi turned her head, meaning to look at Jayce, but the flash of blue in her periphery pushed her head back down again. “This is so – eugh,” Vi let out an irritated sound. “So topside of you guys to just – just sit and talk, while horrors are happening outside.” Don’t think of her. “How many people are being killed while we’re safe in this stupid bunker?”
“I understand, but –”
“Do you, Mel?” A second of silence, as Mel’s mouth shut and she stared, concerned, back at Vi. “Do you? Do any of you know what it’s like –” A hot sigh, before hands reached for the edge of the table. “You know what –”
“I saw my brother, who I thought was dead –”
“And I held my dad who WAS dead and your mom’s army destroyed him again! Made him into a monster! Before he was killed aga-” Vi sighed aggressively. It isn’t worth it. She pushed against the table, her chair scraping back –
“Vi, we need your help to make sure that doesn’t happen to others.” Now it was Jayce, careful in his tone, but firm in his gaze.
“Oh really. I haven’t even said a word the last ten minutes.” Silence again. “And none of you even noticed.” Vi heard a tut to her left, exasperated, but chose to ignore it and push forward. “Besides, all you want me to do is punch people. Fight. Close-range, in the most danger. That’s what those gloves are for, right, pretty boy? All I’m good for.”
A sigh at the nickname. “Vi, we need a plan –”
“Well, clearly you don’t need me to help make one. Besides, the last time you and I made a plan, remember how that went?” Memories of the shimmer plant poured like ice down everyone’s backs. “And did you have a plan when you blasted a cannonball-sized hole in Viktor’s chest?” That shut him up, too. “Just –” Vi made to stand up, before pausing. “Come get me when you’ve decided how you want to sacrifice the only sumprat on your team.”
Mel straightened, offended. “How – we would never –”
Vi was on her feet, now, and slammed her hand against the table, causing everything on top to clatter, momentarily. “Wouldn’t you? Wouldn’t you? Isn’t that what you guys have been doing my entire life?! I’m sorry that this meeting reminds me of another one, that you were all present at,” she pointed an arc across the table, “where I was told that diplomacy and negotiation were more valuable than the lives that had already been taken by your ignorance and prejudice.” She had heard another sharp inhale, to her side. “I don’t know if you’ve forgotten, but I was in Stillwater for seven fucking years just because. Just because! No charges, isn’t that ri–” Vi paused, closing her eyes and re-focusing.
“Vi, we’re trying to save more –”
“You know what? I’m sick of saving. I’m sick of caring.” Pause. “I’m just sick of being the fucking hero, okay? Every time. I’m sick of trying. My entire life I’ve been cleaning up others’ messes. Just –” She stepped back, away from the table, before turning, away from the person next to her. “Not like it ever even helped. Best if I…” Her voice trailed off, and she sighed again, softer this time. “Just forget everything I said. Make a plan without me.” She started towards the door, which meant winding her way around the long table.
“When Jinx came to get you.” Oh, fuck. “You weren’t saving anyone’s life then. Just wasting away, punching your life away.”
Vi couldn’t help it – she had paused at Caitlyn’s voice – cold, fucking collected.
“How did that feel?”
Vi tutted, and bristled, twisting her head around in irritation. “I was saving myself,” she got out, before, “Commander.”
Caitlyn whipped her head towards her – her – towards Vi. “Vi –” She seethed, feeling her features fall familiarly into anger.
But she was met with only a disappearing mop of red hair, a hand held out behind her, middle finger perfectly on display. Caitlyn felt her own brow crease instinctively before she looked over at Jayce, then at Mel – both of whom just stared resolutely back at her, Jayce with wide eyes, Mel with something close to pity.
Caitlyn’s first, primal instincts told her to scream, to roll her eyes, to shoot something – ugh, Vi was so – but instead, she closed her eyes, bit back a sigh, and took a deep breath. Right. “I’ll be right back.”
She followed Vi upstairs, through the halls – the constant swinging, and catching, and swinging again of the doors obviously tipping Vi off that she had a pursuer. And Caitlyn knew that Vi knew that it was her. Vi’s gait was quick, and those broad shoulders never sank, still tense and primed for danger. Caitlyn felt her lips worry at the sight.
(Just for a moment.)
Reflexively, Caitlyn paused as soon as she saw Vi stop at the door of the study. “If I locked this door, you’d just…break in…” Vi sounded so tired. “Wouldn’t you.”
Caitlyn took in a quick inhale, preparing. “It is…” My house. But that wasn’t worth it. The breath came back out as a sigh, and heard Vi’s own exhale before she entered the room.
Two seconds of pause, and thinking, before Caitlyn’s legs carried her through the threshold as well.
As she entered the room, she noticed that Vi had perched herself against the edge of a desk, arms folded, head staring out into the light filtering in through the curtained window. Caitlyn turned around to slowly, gently shut the door, hoping to set her tone, before turning around and approaching, leaving a good six feet’s worth of tension between her and her…between her and Vi. She couldn’t help it – her arms came up to cross over her own chest as well.
Neither said a word. Perhaps for twenty seconds.
And perhaps that fact was what prompted Vi to begin. “You didn’t say anything when I asked to leave.” Her gaze was still trained at the window, and she focused on the few rays of sunshine that brightened the room immensely, for their small size.
Caitlyn stared at Vi’s turned head, the furrow in her own brow starting to rein in a blossoming headache. She opened her mouth once, paused, and then closed it again, slowly, before sighing through her nose and opening it again. “I’m not going to tell you what you can and can’t do.”
“Still followed me in here.” The dust specks hovered aimlessly. Carelessly. Did they even appreciate the warm sun in which they basked?
Caitlyn opened her mouth again, lips and tongue smacking louder than she would’ve wanted, as she thought through her words. “You were right. About everything.”
Vi closed her eyes, and huffed out a laugh. “I think what everyone fails to understand is that when I’m not making the biggest fucking mistakes of my life, I usually am.”
“That…” Not worth it. Caitlyn sighed. “Is forming a plan to take down Noxus one of those huge fucking mistakes?”
Vi’s gaze first fell down, to where the sun hit the carpet, illuminating a simple yet wealthy design. Classic fucking Kiramman. Then over, more in front of her own feet. Over again, somewhere in the vicinity of long legs. Finally, up, to look into the bluest blue. “I don’t know.”
Caitlyn stared back, feeling pity creep into the crevices of her features, just barely.
“But do you blame me for not wanting –”
“No.” Firm, followed by silence, and eyes staying locked.
Vi’s brow creased as she stared Caitlyn down. “Okay,” Vi’s voice was suddenly more alive, in the pissed-off kind of way. “Are we gonna talk this out, or are you just gonna interrupt me whenever you feel like it?” Her lips settled into a frown. “I didn’t plan to have company here, you know.”
“I don’t blame you for anything.”
Vi widened her eyes, annoyed, and felt her torso turn a smidgen more. “Didn’t answer my question. You know, Cupcake, for a commander, you’re a pretty shit communicator.”
Caitlyn’s eyes narrowed, and her voice turned darker as she tsked. “Don’t call me that.”
“See,” one of Vi’s hands had come up to wave in front of her, emphasizing her words, “and I thought you weren’t going to tell me what to do.” Her tone of voice and body language played relaxed, in a way that absolutely pissed Caitlyn off.
“I’m no – you – ugh,” Caitlyn groaned, angrily, losing the battle as she glanced away, to the wall. “I came in here to talk.”
“Well, then, ques-”
“I think.” Spoken to the bookcase.
“-tion answered.” Vi paused, feeling her eyebrows get angry again. “You think? Well,” she let out a cruel laugh. “What are the other options, then? Staring contest? Gentle touches? Trauma storytime? Or is it kiss, make up?”
The top corner of Caitlyn’s lip curled up in distaste, and she shook her head at the wall.
“Like that isn’t tainted by past events.”
A poisonous glare. “Oh, fuck you.”
Vi’s mouth moved, reminiscent of a smirk, but too angry to match its usual effect. “That’s an option as well. Not the one I would’ve expec-” She was cut off as Caitlyn stepped into her space and shoved her by her torso, diagonal to the desk. Vi’s jaw dropped, in angry disbelief. “Wha-”
In a beat, Caitlyn again stepped closer, powering through her legs to push all of her momentum into her hands against Vi’s chest, watching her flail as her ass slid off the corner of the desk. “What the hell –”
Caitlyn swung at Vi’s face, open palm, expecting the resulting grab to her wrist, but not expecting a returned shove at her sternum. She stumbled back, confusion etched clearly on her face amidst the anger, as her mouth hung open.
“Get the fuck off of me!” Vi’s expression nearly perfectly matched Caitlyn’s own. “The fuck’s your problem? You think you have a right to touch me after all this?”
Caitlyn shut her mouth, the corner of her mouth sneering upwards, again. “Fine. Then you just punch me.”
Vi grew angrier, if possible, and twisted her neck as if she had a kink in it, closing her eyes. Hot air hissed out between blown-up cheeks. “Like I said. Shit communicator.”
Something in Caitlyn snapped. “Will you just let it out already?” She stepped close, brow tightened in anger and voice severely ticked off. “Clearly you’ve got some shit to work through, and if you don’t want to beat me up about it, then curse me out.” She crossed her arms again, subconsciously. “Tell me everything you hate about me.”
“What,” Vi laughed, sardonically, shaking her head, “so you can stand there and give me the silent treatment again?”
Caitlyn huffed through her nose. “I thought I wasn’t supposed to interrupt.”
Vi felt her moral backbone snap. “You know what I hate about you? About all of this?” She pointed her finger in a circle, gesturing everywhere. “You guys always think you’re better. That you’re doing the right thing. That you’re good, when in reality, your fucking existence is a slap across my face! You know how many Zaunite kids,” Vi pointed behind her, out the window, “have died of sickness? Starvation?”
“Thousands. Innumerable.”
Vi’s frown tightened. “That’s right. How many topsiders?”
Caitlyn clenched her teeth. “I don’t know.”
“And you wouldn’t, because that shit doesn’t happen up here. Because all we do is dirty your streets, ‘use up your resources’, and ruin your fancy parties. You know how fucked up it is that the Hexgates service every other nation except the Undercity? ‘City of Progress,’ tch,” Vi nearly spit out her distaste. “Your city, hell, your last name is built on the labor and deaths of my people.”
Everything on Caitlyn’s face tightened. “How dar– my mother –”
“What. She what. She did one good thing one time?” Vi spit the words out, before closing her eyes and blowing mental steam out her lips. “Sorry. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry she died, Cait. I’m sorry that your grief is still fresh. I’m sorry that anyone has to die because of all of this. But that’s exactly what I’m trying to tell you,” she pressed the backs of her fingers into the palm of her other hand, percussive. “The system is flawed. At its core. My sister wouldn’t have launched a fucking rocket at the Council if she’d been from Piltover. She’d’ve had a kind, pleasant, fulfilling life. Isn’t that fucked up? That it’s where you’re born, who raises you, hell,” she thought of Jayce. “Where you manage to immigrate to. But you know what my sister’s doing right now? Considering taking her life since the only ounce of true happiness she ever had was in raising another little girl, fulfilling her dreams as best she could with the scraps that Topside leaves for Zaun. And then Isha died. It –” Vi sighed, hot, and heavy, and looked towards the ground. “It doesn’t work. It doesn’t fucking work. I thought…” She shook her head, pushing the notion away.
“Vi, I’m sorry –”
“How much of Stillwater is from Zaun.”
Not done, apparently. Caitlyn closed her eyes, jaw tight as she pursed her lips, and calculated. “Most.”
“You don’t think that’s a little fucked up, officer? That all the Enforcers with their stupid beat sticks and bolas come across the river and haul dozens into prison? Oh wait, I’m talking to Miss Martial Law, here –”
“That was a mistake.”
“Damn fucking right it was! Why the hell would you listen to Ambessa? Mommy issues too fresh?”
Caitlyn’s fists clenched at her sides. “Vi –”
“She’s from Noxus! You – she – argh,” Vi let out another frustrated groan. “She was playing you!”
“I know,” Caitlyn spoke, voice soft, face still tense.
“And you just had to use all your family resources, devote all your time and money to chase after some sick revenge plot that wouldn’t even have healed you.”
Assertive. “I know.”
“Be honest. Be so fucking honest with me here, Cait.” Vi stepped closer, face covered in anger, and pain. “How long were you sidled up with that self-serving war-pig? She oinked poison in your ear, and you just ate it.”
“I know!” Caitlyn charged forward, arms coming loose to shove at Vi again. Only, this time, Vi caught both her wrists and pulled, bending her torso forward before a booted heel pushed into her hip, launching her backwards until she hit the ground, ass first.
“You don’t wanna fight me, Cupcake.” Vi glowered down at Caitlyn, for once in her life. “Not with no weapons.”
Caitlyn scrambled up to her elbows, glaring up at Vi. “You’re just –” She spoke through gritted teeth, moving to sit up. “Repeating everything I’ve already told myself.”
“Well,” Vi put on a mocking expression. “You fucking deserve it.”
The sigh that fell from Caitlyn’s mouth was inevitable, and she stared at the carpet underneath her legs. “I know.”
Something settled, inside Vi, and her shoulders dropped a millimeter. “Why should I trust you?”
Memories flashed, unbidden, through Caitlyn’s mind. “You shouldn’t. Or,” she sighed. “You don’t have to. But just because –” her voice strained as she stood up, “you’re right about everything doesn’t mean you shouldn’t help.”
The immediate re-tensing of all of Vi’s features would’ve been comical, in any other setting. “Will you –” She tutted, staring far off, before returning her gaze to the eyes across the way. “Did you not hear my whole speech in the meeting? How I’m sick of playing hero? It never works, it never fucking works. Everything I touch goes to shit. Okay,” a sick laugh escaped Vi’s mouth as she gave in, momentarily. “Look. Say we make a plan. We charge in on Ambessa. Everything goes well. Well, you know what I've learned? Everything goes well ‘til it doesn’t. ‘Til your sister blows up a lab and gets the Enforcers on our tails.”
Something clicked inside Caitlyn, and her expression turned into one of confused awe.
“‘Til your dad hands himself in for your crime. ‘Til fancy pants and pretty boy upstairs decide, once again, that Piltover lives are too valuable to be used in a war that’s already happening. ‘Til I can’t stop my partner from almost shooting a child. But you know what? It doesn't even matter now, ‘cause Isha’s dead anyway –”
“Vi –”
“And so’s my sister, practically. And so is everyone I end up caring about!”
“The explosion was my fam–”
Vi bristled. “I don’t wanna talk about it.”
“But Vi –” Caitlyn took two steps forward, clearly into Vi's space.
And Vi stepped back, annoyance clear on her face. “I said I don’t wanna talk about it! Damn, you got ears?”
“That was –”
“You know what happened the last time I thought one of my mistakes was fixed? Hm, let’s see, oh yeah. He turned bloodthirsty and then Isha blew him up. Again. Fucking again.”
Caitlyn lunged and grabbed at Vi’s collar. “I was there!”
Vi stared back, irritated, up into Caitlyn’s urgent eyes.
“Gods, I – that was you?! What the fuck,” Caitlyn muttered, eyes dancing between Vi’s. “What the actual fuck.”
“Will you, stop touching –” Vi shoved back at Caitlyn’s torso, intent on escaping her grip, but lithe fingers held on tight, causing the tank to rip at the strap, and down the side, slightly. “What the hell,” she reached to loosen Caitlyn’s grip and batted the arm away.
But Caitlyn just let her arm drop, still standing straight. “I was in the hallway outside with Jayce when it hit. He got blasted, and then he had to face trial for illegal experimentation on magic. Vi,” Caitlyn searched Vi’s face for any trace of interest. “You’re the reason Hextech exists. That’s how Viktor and Jayce first met, is sneaking around fixing Hextech until it was operational.”
Vi stared, processing, before turning and punching through the top of the desk.
Shocked, “What is your problem?!”
“Oh, sorry,” Vi dramatically paused and spun on her heel to face Caitlyn again. “My ex just told me that I contributed to the institutional exploitation of my own people and the death of her mother. Sorry if I’m having a hard time coping!”
“Your ex.”
“Is that all you can focus on? Gods, you are such a shit communicator. Fine,” her voice hardened. “Is that why Maddie never got anything done?”
The gasp that left Caitlyn’s mouth was loud, and completely involuntary.
“Couldn’t follow your shit instructions? You know, I can’t believe you fucked little Miss Sunshine just to try and cope with the fact that you were the villain.”
“I –” And Caitlyn slapped Vi, right across the face.
Vi blinked herself back and stared, aghast, into Caitlyn’s eyes. “So I break furniture, and you harm me. So fucking –” She squatted and swung a leg underneath Caitlyn, sweeping her to the floor. “Typical of topsiders.”
But Caitlyn had grabbed hold of Vi’s arm, yanking her stomach down onto her bent knee.
They both got the wind knocked out of them, but Vi recovered faster, turning and landing a punch to Caitlyn's stomach before her legs were kicked out from under her, her face smushing down into the floor.
Caitlyn used the extra moment to kick at Vi’s shoulder, but Vi caught her by the ankle and pulled, aiming another punch right at the same place she had just hit on Caitlyn’s side.
Caitlyn winced, painfully – a double-hit was brutal – and she whacked Vi upside the head as she made to sit up, using the second of reprieve to roll out of Vi’s grip, making it to her knees and hands before –
Vi had somehow made it to her feet and kicked her, square in the ribs, toppling her over onto her side before Vi practically fell onto her, using her legs to cinch Caitlyn’s arms to her sides, one hand rough against her collarbone, the other pulled back for a headshot.
There was a fleeting moment – a barely perceptible length of time – where their eyes met, charged.
Vi let out a yell and pushed her fist down – stopping an inch from the floor, hovering over the carpet, two inches away from Caitlyn’s ear.
Caitlyn just stared – no surprise, no pity, no breathing, even, no nothing – up at Vi. Every instinct she had carefully honed over months was telling her to flee, to run, to fight, to yell, to –, to – but she could only stare up at Vi, watching.
Vi’s eyes flickered from where her fist was still above the floor, to – fuck you – to Caitlyn’s eyes, slightly wider than normal, lasered in on her own, watching. Her gaze bounced right and left before Vi closed her eyes, tilting her head in irritation, and relaxed her hand, placing a flat palm against the floor and pushing herself up off of Caitlyn. “I said, you don’t wanna fight me.”
Caitlyn watched Vi stand up, fully, immediately turning to stare back out the window.
“Too much reflex right now.” Vi took a peek down at her hands, rubbing her thumb over her knuckles, before tightening her fist.
Caitlyn slowly sat up, a hand unthinkingly pressing into her new bruise, on her left side. “Did it help.”
She saw Vi sigh, the slow depression of a tense torso, but no words came.
Caitlyn exhaled herself, wincing again as she twisted herself over, onto her knees, making herself as small as possible. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for the person I’ve been for the last six months. I’m sorry for letting grief and rage consume me. I’m sorry for hunting your sister. I’m sorry for ditching you. I’m sorry for never reaching out.”
Vi bit her lip before turning back around, looking – tired. Exhausted. “Cait –”
“And I’m sorry for who I am. A Kiramman. Piltover’s princess. I’m sorry for everything my people have done to you, just to for profit, for useless metrics that mean nothing. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for being so stupid and naive and putting my trust in the wrong places. I’m sorry for being part of the organization that murdered your parents. And I’m sorry for all the shit you still haven’t yelled at me for.
“And if it helps, I’m sorry for ever breaking you out of prison. For bringing you back to the fucked-up world we live in.” She sighed, and her voice became soft. “I’m sorry for meeting you.”
Silence. Each could only hear the sounds of the other breathing.
“What can I do,” Caitlyn paused, wincing through her words, and cursing the catch in her throat that meant… “Is there anything I could do to rebuild our trust. Just for restitution’s sake. I…” She sighed, heart heavy. “I’ll do anything. Donate my fortune. Leave and never come back. Protect Jinx with my life.”
Vi stared down at Caitlyn, hand to her side, staring down at the grain of the floor wood. “Why do you need me so badly?”
Caitlyn turned her face up, to stare at the way Vi’s skin glinted in the sun. “Because you do the right thing, Vi.” Caitlyn sighed, shifting on her knees to ease the pain. “You always do.”
Vi just kept staring.
“You always have. Gods,” Caitlyn sighed again, feeling the way her bruise ached with each breath. “I know I broke my last promise, so you have no reason to trust me. But – if you decide to, this time…I’ll promise you anything. I swear. On my mother’s grave.”
Vi closed her eyes and hissed out a long sigh before practically collapsing to the ground, back up against the remains of the desk, one leg extended, one leg bent. A hand came up to run through her hair before resting against her brow, covering her eyes.
“Beat me up every day for the rest of your life, if you have to. Kill me after this is all done. I don’t care –”
Vi had tutted again, before exhaling. “Cait, I would never –”
“I’d deserve it, if you did.” Caitlyn sighed, shifting off her knees onto the ground, legs extending out to the side. “Why’d you pull that last punch? Why not let me have it?”
Vi’s head turned away from the question, as if trying to escape, before she sighed. “I don’t know.” There was another few seconds of silence before she spoke up again, voice sounding rawer than ever. “I don’t know why I do anything anymore.”
Caitlyn felt empathy creep into her own expression as she stared over at Vi – bandages all over her body, a darkening bruise where she had kicked into her shoulder. Eyes closed against the horrors of the world. Still healing. “My dad taught me once – as long as you’re still fighting, you still care…It’s when you’ve given up, that you’ve truly lost.”
Vi sighed, before turning back to Caitlyn and opening her eyes, peeking at her calm expression from under her hand. “I suppose that’s why you’re here?”
Hearing Vi use those words nearly drew out a surprised laugh out of Caitlyn, but she settled for wide eyes and a disgruntled-sounding breath, instead. “I don’t know,” she admitted, turning to stare above Vi, out the window.
Vi watched Caitlyn’s contemplative manner for a few seconds, eyes simply searching sharp features. That crease between her brows was still there. “My dad taught me that fighting only causes more problems.” She turned to stare over at the bookshelf. “Never gets you anywhere.”
The sunlight had crept along, orang-ing as the longest ray lapped up against Vi’s foot, lengthening by the millisecond. “Do you think they could’ve both been right?”
Vi wiggled her toes, slightly, feeling warmth against her exposed ankle. “I don’t know.”
Caitlyn turned, inching herself onto her bum, hissing as she used her arms to scoot closer to Vi, laying her back against the tilted desk leg.
Vi sighed. “See, I beat you up, and where did that get us? Just more bruises to heal from.”
Caitlyn settled parallel to Vi, both staring forward at the far end of the room, where the door stood closed, keeping all their words confidential, just to each other. “Maybe.” Caitlyn ran her eyes over all edges of the doorframes, momentarily stopping on the corners, and hinges. “Maybe we learned that despite it all, you still care.”
The loosening of Vi’s jaw was nearly imperceptible, as she thought, and thought, and thought, and felt, before her lips curled into disgust as she felt her throat get scratchy and heat pool behind her eyes. “Fuck off, Cupcake,” Vi reached over to lightly shove at Caitlyn’s shoulder, intent on creating distance between them. The first tear seeped out of her right eye, and her forehead came down to her knee, as she felt her torso start to shake, hiccuping with her breaths.
Reflex, instinct, whatever it was compelled Caitlyn to smooth her features and scooch closer, immediately reaching for the other girl, drawing her close.
Vi felt strong arms surround her and pull, and she tilted over, sobbing, into Cait’s lap.
Caitlyn let her cry – gods know she deserves it – as one of her hands started slowly brushing Vi’s longest locks behind her ear, repeatedly.
Vi almost cringed at the contact, at how vulnerable she felt. “Gods,” she choked out. “You make me so –” She struggled for the right word, bringing a hand to cover her face when she couldn’t find one, feeling hot tears against her fingers.
Caitlyn sighed, feeling tears prick up in her own eyes. “I know,” she squeezed the words out through her suddenly tight throat, as a drop fell down onto Vi’s clean, beautiful hair. “You make me crazy too.”
Vi barked out a singular laugh into her palm, shaking herself away from tears, for a second. Those were not the words she had been expecting. “That’s what we are, huh.” She took her hand away, opening her eyes to stare at the far door, sniffing. “A couple of crazies.”
Two huffs of a strained laugh, and another loving stroke behind Vi’s ear. “We’re so fucked up.”
Vi’s hand came to rest over Caitlyn’s shin, the same leg she was currently using as a pillow. “So fucked up.”
Caitlyn’s hand moved to settle over Vi’s shoulder, feeling the warm of skin-on-skin contact as she pursed her lips, brow drawing tight, again. “I’m really sorry for everything, Vi. I fucked up your life, and I’m sorry.”
Vi sighed, breath hot against Caitlyn’s thigh. “Wasn’t just you. It’s just…” She sighed, bringing her finger to trace over the seam of Cait’s pants, feeling her breathing slow down.
The feather-light touch tickled, and Caitlyn felt her leg muscles contract, tensing. “Was I one of your big fucking mistakes?”
Vi’s gripped at Cait’s leg, reflexively. “Never. I just…” She twisted her lips, thinking. “Life is hell. Life is hell, and I thought you were a mistake for a while. But…I’m pretty sure you’re not.”
They sat there in silence for another few seconds, both calming their breaths.
“I’m sorry for all that shit I said to you.”
Caitlyn huffed, and shrugged, her hand moving minisculely up and down on Vi’s shoulder. “Don’t be. I deserve all of it.”
Vi took her hand back and turned, twisting her head and body so she stared straight up at Caitlyn, clocking the exhaustion under her eyes and the alarming softness of relaxed features. “Not all of it.”
Caitlyn made a face. “Eh,” she shrugged, corners of her lips curling upwards, something pursuing a smile.
Vi couldn’t help her laugh, “tch, dumbass,” and she lifted a hand up and back to swat at Caitlyn’s side, feeling her head bounce up as the leg under her tensed, again. “Oh, I’m sorry for –”
Caitlyn caught Vi’s gesturing hand, both stilling and silencing her. “It’s fine.”
Vi gripped Caitlyn’s fingers, looking away. “It’s not, I hurt you –”
Caitlyn squeezed back. “I’m just glad you let it all out.” She watched as grey-blue eyes shot back up, making eye contact for a few golden seconds. “Or most of it, at least. The relevant stuff.”
Vi huffed lightly, through her nose. “It’s a mess in here,” she brought their joined hands close, so she could point over her heart. “Fuck. Gods help the world if the rest of it ever breaks loose. Who’s gonna clean all that up.” Her hand came to rest over her collarbone, Cait’s fingers still jumbled up in her own, pressing into her.
Her rhetorical question was met only with silence, and she looked up to see – ah, fuck –
Caitlyn just peered downward, lips settled in the softest, smallest smile, love adorning all her features, she was sure.
They knew. They both knew.
Vi closed her eyes, taking in a deep breath, feeling her shoulders relax again. “I’m so tired of having emotions.”
Caitlyn laughed, bright as the setting sun. (Vi cracked a smile herself, at the sound.) “Tell me about it.” She lifted her head up, feeling the relief in her neck as she turned to peer at the sunlight, now stretched almost the entire length of the floor. She sighed, brow creasing again, fingers instinctively tightening in Vi’s grip. “Gods, I’m sorry for even getting mad at you earlier, this is all my fault, and –”
“Just –” Vi held up her free hand, eyes still closed. “Shut up, please, Cait.”
And Caitlyn did.
“Can we not do any more apologies right now. Just…” Vi opened her eyes, seeing Caitlyn watching her from above.
Caitlyn waited for an answer, but none came. But that was alright. She stared back over at the door, trying to figure out how long they had already been gone.
They stayed silent, for a minute or two, enjoying the quiet, and the still that had draped itself over the room. At some point, Caitlyn’s fingers had maneuvered themselves to smooth over Vi’s chest, laying flat over her clavicle.
“You were really there?”
Caitlyn’s gaze flicked downwards, confused. “Wha–”
“The lab explosion?” Vi’s brows were pulled together, in question.
“Oh. Yes,” Caitlyn sighed for the nth time. “I was.”
Vi worked her lips, staring away up at the ceiling. “What the fuck.”
“I know,” Caitlyn subconsciously nodded. “What the fuck.”
“Damn. I was fifteen,” Vi counted back, eyes tracing over some of the goldwork that covered every inch of the walls.
Caitlyn felt her fingers bend, gripping slightly at warm skin, as she tried to follow where Vi was looking. “I must’ve been about that age, too. Fourteen, maybe. Turning fifteen.”
“Hm.” Vi chanced a glance upwards, watching as Caitlyn’s gaze also was drawn back, between them. “You were probably still beautiful.”
Surprised, Caitlyn scoffed on reflex, huffing out a couple of disbelieving laughs in an attempt to quell her impending blush. “At fourteen?”
Vi laughed, Cait’s familiar prissiness cutting through the past few months, for just a moment. “C’mon, Cait. I know you have mirrors.”
The warmth in Caitlyn’s face went up a few degrees, and she looked away, abashed. “You have no idea what I looked like back then.”
“Mm.” Vi hummed, something reminiscent of a smirk sitting behind her lips, fading into something sickeningly gooey and messy as her eyes tracked over the entirety of Cait’s face. “For some reason, I have a feeling I don’t need to.”
Caitlyn’s face was on fire, and she kept her stare resolutely away from the look below.
“What a pretty blush.”
A wet tut lefts Caitlyn’s mouth before she could help it, and she closed her eyes, patting Vi’s neck and hinging her knee, twice, just barely. “Get up.”
Vi obliged, pulling herself upwards, using her hands and legs to twist, trying to align herself into her previous position, settled next to Caitlyn. “Do all the girls get –”
Caitlyn kissed her – grabbed Vi by the sides of her face and kissed her, feeling instant relief at how quick Vi responded, throwing strong, warm arms around her waist. She pressed once more, then once more again, arms sneaking around Vi’s neck, before drawing back, feeling the warmth of their mingling breath against her lips before she opened her eyes, Vi somehow immediately following suit.
Vi’s eyes flickered between both of Cait’s, just as they had before.
“Just you,” Caitlyn whispered, before reaching forward for another kiss, light, this time.
But Vi pressed into the kiss, lingering, before pulling back, heat flooding her face.
Caitlyn smiled at the sight, scraping her nails through Vi’s hair. “What a pretty blush.”
Vi let out a disbelieving, yet happy huff from her lips, one side of her mouth rising quicker than the other until she smiled, bright, pulling Caitlyn close again, pressing their lips together.
They kissed for another few moments, pressing, thankful, before Caitlyn pulled back, again, resting her forehead against Vi’s, catching her breath. “You’re my hero,” she breathed out, unable to hold back the sentiment any longer.
Vi pulled back, arms still around Cait, and a bittersweet smile twisted its way onto her lips before she could help it.
“I mean,” Caitlyn started backtracking the moment she felt the distance. “You’ve saved my life, saved me, multiple times –”
“I know.” Vi squeezed at Caitlyn’s waist, watching blue eyes dart back into her own and feeling a long torso tense at the pressure. “Sorry. But if those are the requirements…” She peered back, bouncing between Caitlyn’s eyes.
Caitlyn felt something in her gaze soften. You don’t have to say it. “Well.” She huffed, turning away from the embrace, eyes glancing towards the door. “Ready to go save some more?”
Vi huffed to herself, watching Caitlyn slowly start, a hand pressed to her bruising side, before wincing, and pausing a second. “Here,” Vi rushed to stand, practically jumping onto her feet and extending a hand down to help Caitlyn up.
Caitlyn stared at it, the familiar gesture causing a smile to worm its way onto her lips. She reached up to take it, feel Vi pull her up, and close, settling into her warm side. She brushed her hands lightly over the shoulder she had booted, earlier, apologizing with a touch.
Vi felt the brushes of calloused fingers over her own skin, and she stared over, and up, at Caitlyn’s messy hair, then at her own torn tank top. “They’re gonna think we had sex, aren’t they.”
Caitlyn suddenly stilled, and blinked, before smiling, and laughing at the ridiculous notion. “I don’t know,” she admitted, calming herself as she turned back to the door, seeing the metal knob glint between evening shadows.
Vi looked over. “You know what?”
“Hm.” Caitlyn stared a couple moments longer, before turning to meet Vi’s resolved gaze.
Vi shrugged with just one shoulder, tilting her head slightly. “Maybe it doesn’t matter.”
Caitlyn’s small smile matched Vi’s own, as the words sunk in. “Maybe it doesn’t.”