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“Are you still in this fight, Violet?”
Vi took a deep breath, her eyes lingering on the fire before she slowly turned looking at the woman next to her, a soft smile tugging at her lips. “I’m the dirt under your nails cupcake.” Bringing her hand up she slipped it under the eyepatch on Caitlyn’s eye tugging on it gently pulling it off. Caitlyn flinched at this, more out of surprise than pain, but didn't pull away, not from Vi, never from her. “Nothing’s gonna clean me out.” She murmured leaning forward to kiss the scar on the woman’s eye, it was a small cut but the knife had hit her eye directly, causing a loss of vision that the eye patch was a stark reminder of.
Vi sighed their foreheads resting against each other, her hand gripping onto the eyepatch staring into the woman's eyes. Taking in both. One bright and blue and one cloudy and milky, void of the vibrancy it once held. Yet to Vi, it was just as captivating.
“Vi, you don’t have to…” Caitlyn began to protest, her voice barely above a whisper, the air between them heavy with unspoken words and bittersweet truths. Words Caitlyn wanted to say but couldn't.
“Still beautiful,” Vi interrupted gently, her thumb brushing over the creamy, milky orb. There was no revulsion, but rather a profound admiration in her gaze. It was love.
Caitlyn blinked back unexpected tears a lump in her throat.
“You’re stubborn, refusing to be put down." Caitlyn let out a shaky chuckle, the corners of her mouth twitching into a smile.
“Such a way with words, Violet,” she replied. Vi chuckled, leaning forward to capture Caitlyn's lips with her own in a tender kiss. Pulling away from the kiss after a few moments Vi brought the eyepatch back up, adjusting it so it sat comfortably over Caitlyn's wounded eye.
“Vi?”
“Hm?”
"Promise me you won't ever leave," Caitlyn pleaded, her voice choked with emotion. Vi paused, the weight of the request hanging heavy in the air between them.
"I swear it on my life," Vi replied, her voice gruff and serious. Her fingers tightened in Caitlyn's hand as she sealed the solemn vow. "I'm not going anywhere."
Caitlyn searched Vi's face for any trace of deceit but found none, just unwavering resolve and an affection as deep as the ocean. Nodding slowly, Caitlyn leaned into her, resting her head against Vi's strong shoulder. The warmth seeping from Vi's skin provided a small comfort.
"My stubborn woman." Caitlyn murmured faintly, a note of gratitude coloring her voice.
"Ain't no one else I'd rather be stubborn for." And with that declaration, they fell into a comfortable silence mixed with soft crackling embers from the fire.