Chapter Text
⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁
Vi sighs gratefully as she drops heavily onto the plush sofa. The thing is ridiculous, really, she can’t believe she let Caitlyn talk her into buying it. Nobody needs a couch that’s as overstuffed and expensive as this thing is. But then again, her wife has a way of getting what she wants when it comes to Vi. No one should have eyes that pretty, it just isn’t fair.
Vi chuckles to herself as she cracks her knuckles and stretches her arms, rolling out the tightness in her shoulders. She never imagined that someone like her, who came from a dysfunctional family that didn’t have two pennies to scrape together, would call ‘home’ a three story townhouse with things like velvet sofas and a wine fridge, of all things. Not to mention falling head over heels in love with a lawyer . Past Vi would probably give her a good right hook for going soft. But hey, maybe there are worse things.
She’s just examining her knuckles to see if she’ll need to wrap them after today’s boxing session, when the door opens and Caitlyn hurries in out of the frosty air. Somehow, even in a snowstorm, she still looks immaculate in her perfectly fitted navy suit, high neck silk blouse, and stiletto pumps. She doesn’t need the heels, what with being six feet tall barefoot, but Vi can’t say she minds her gorgeous wife towering over her a little.
“Hey, you,” Vi smiles, standing up and heading over to give Caitlyn a kiss. “How was work?”
Caitlyn sighs and neatly hangs up her coat, dropping her purse on the side table. “Well, besides the majority of attorneys in this city being absolutely incompetent, not terrible.”
Vi gives her a sympathetic grin, moving closer to crowd her back up against the wall. “Hmm,” she breathes, teasing Caitlyn’s neck with a barely-there kiss. “Want me to take your mind off it?”
“Yes please,” Caitlyn hums, wrapping her arms loosely around Vi’s neck. “But let me shower first, I’m freezing and the weather was quite nasty.”
Vi nods and pulls back a little, frowning out the front window at the ever-increasing snow flurries. “Yeah, I’m glad I got home when I did,” she says pensively, still looking out the window.
Caitlyn tips Vi’s face toward her with a finger on her chin. “You’re worried about Powder,” she states, not needing to ask.
“Ugh. Yes,” Vi sighs, running a hand through her hair. “I’d feel better if she had an actual place to live, not just a van that could break down at any moment and leave her freezing to death.”
“She knows she’s welcome here anytime,” Caitlyn reminds her gently. “And we offered to help her get an apartment but she chose this. She’s – what was the word…?”
“A ‘digital nomad’,” Vi snorts. “If that’s not the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever heard.”
“Listen, I argue for a living,” Caitlyn chuckles, slipping out from Vi’s arms to head into the kitchen. “Who’s to say traveling the country in a van is any less of a solid career choice.”
Vi shakes her head, following Caitlyn and pulling out a chair for her at the kitchen island. “Sit. You’re tired and I’m sure your feet hurt from those torture devices. I’ll get dinner started.”
Caitlyn obliges and starts massaging the arch of her right foot. “They’re painful but effective,” she shrugs.
Vi is just filling a pot with water when the doorbell rings. Caitlyn moves to get up, but Vi gestures for her to stay put. “Rest, baby. I’ll get it.”
Vi’s still musing about what city Powder might be in now, and whether she’s staying warm, when she pulls open the front door.
“Hey sis. Miss me?” Powder smirks from the doorstep, wiggling her fingers in a wave.
⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .
It takes less than a few seconds for Vi to whisk her sister in from the cold, dust the snow out of her hair, and settle her on the couch with a blanket tucked around her shivering frame.
It’s not until Vi sits down on the coffee table across from her that she gets a good look at Powder, and her stomach clenches with concern immediately. Her sister is even paler than usual, which is saying something, contrasted with an unhealthy flush running across her cheeks. Her eyes are glassy and red-rimmed, and she’s shivering violently even in the warmth of the living room.
“Holy shit. How did you end up like this Pow?” Vi curses, tugging the blanket tighter around her sister and clapping a hand to her forehead. “Fuck, you’re burning up.”
“I’m fine,” Powder tries to assure. “Just picked up a cold or something.”
“Or flu,” Vi sighs, tucking some of Powder’s neon blue hair behind her ear. “Why didn’t you come sooner? Or told me you were sick? I would have come to get you.”
“I can handle myself,” Powder glances away. “I wouldn’t have bothered you at all, if my stupid van hadn’t decided this was the perfect time for the heater to stop working.”
Vi groans, torn between further scolding her sister, and getting her tucked into bed immediately.
It’s then that Caitlyn walks into the room curiously. “Hey Powd-,” she starts, then freezes. “Shit.”
“Exactly,” Vi nods in frustration and Powder shrugs sheepishly.
“Right,” Caitlyn snaps her fingers, and gestures for Vi to help Powder up. “Shower to warm her up, food, bed. In that order.”
“Your wife’s sure bossy, isn’t she?” Powder grumbles, but she lets Vi gently tug her to her feet nonetheless. “Although that’s kinda your type, sis.”
But she’s unable to make any more quips as she’s cut off by a cough, twisting away from Vi to cover her mouth with an elbow.
“I don’t like the sound of that cough,” Vi frowns, guiding her sister toward the guest bedroom with a hand on her back.
“I’ll get her some water, you get her in the shower?” Caitlyn says, turning to disappear into the kitchen.
“I’m not dying, I can shower myself,” Powder complains, once the cough subsides. “Should have known better to come here with a cold, makes you go all rah-rah protective sister mode.”
“Someone’s gotta look after you, since you’re clearly shit at doing it yourself.” Vi grumbles, sitting Powder down at the edge of the guest bed. “Stay there, I’ll get the shower warmed up for you.”
Vi heads into the ensuite to get the shower running, steam immediately filling the bathroom. She makes sure Powder’s favorite shampoo and body wash are still in the shower from her last visit, and puts a clean towel out on the counter. Then she rifles through the medicine cabinet until she finds a thermometer and a bottle of Tylenol.
“Under your tongue, now,” Vi hands the thermometer to Powder, fixing her with a look, daring her to disagree.
Powder groans and rolls her eyes, but sticks the device in her mouth anyway. “Happy now, sis?” she mumbles around it.
“Quiet,” Vi murmurs, shaking two pills out of the bottle into her palm. “And no, I’m not happy, Pow-pow. You know I’ll always take care of you, but I wish you would at least not let yourself get this sick before you come to me. And living with an actual roof over your head might help. I don’t understand why don’t just stay here, or at least get an apartment.”
Powder grumbles something but Vi shoots her another sharp look that has her quieting until the thermometer beeps. Vi plucks it from her sister’s mouth, frowning at it. When Powder gets sick, she gets sick, ever since she was a kid. Spiking ridiculously high temperatures is an unfortunate part of that.
“What’s her temperature?” Caitlyn returns, holding out a glass of water to Powder, who downs it thirstily. She peers over Vi’s shoulder at the thermometer. “Wow. Will she be all right?”
Vi nods, proffering the pills to Powder. “Believe it or not, 102.8 is pretty standard for her. I’ll take it again after the meds have had a chance to work, should bring it down a little.” Caitlyn smooths a hand over Vi’s back, no doubt hearing the worry in her voice.
“As riveting as my body temperature is,” Powder interrupts, after swallowing the pills. “I’m fucking freezing so I’m gonna shower if that’s cool with you two. Or are you gonna sponge bathe me too, sis?” she smirks.
“Quit being a smartass,” Vi rolls her eyes. “I know you feel like crap. Go get warm, but don’t take too long. I don’t want you to overheat. Yell if you need something.”
Powder stands in a mock salute, but she sways a little on her feet and Vi steadies her with a hand on her elbow. She helps her sister into the bathroom, and Powder shoos her out with assurances that she’ll be fine.
⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .
The shower seems to sap whatever is left of Powder’s energy, and with it goes her snarky jokes. She’s quiet as Vi pulls back the covers on the bed for her, helping her get comfortable against a few stacked pillows. Powder’s wearing a pair of pajamas borrowed from Caitlyn, the sleeves and legs rolled up several times, and Vi makes a note to remember to pick up a pair or two of extra pajamas to keep around the house for whenever Powder pops in next.
Vi sits on the edge of the bed next to her, running a hand over her neon blue hair. She feels protective of her little sister on a regular basis, but even more so when she’s down for the count like this. It reminds her of all the times she took care of Powder as a kid, nights spent staying close to her side, laying cool washcloths on her forehead when she was sick. “How you feeling, kiddo?” she murmurs.
“Tired,” Powder closes her eyes, leaning back. She coughs roughly into her elbow. “Sick.”
“Sorry you’re sick, Pow. I know it’s no fun,” Vi says gently.
“I’ll be fine,” Powder mumbles. “Jus’ need t’sleep.”
Vi smiles softly at the childlike note to her voice, pressing her palm to her sister’s cheek. “I think your fever’s going down a little, that’s good.”
Powder nods sleepily, then cracks her eyes open. “Vi?” she asks hesitantly.
“Yeah, Pow?”
“Can I stay here a couple days?”
Vi chuckles gently, tucking another strand behind her sister’s ear. “You’re not going anywhere until you’re better. And I need to have a look at that van of yours too.”
“Thanks,” Powder murmurs. “Y’know. For taking care of me or whatever.”
“Anytime,” Vi smiles softly. “Now sleep.”
Powder’s eyes drift shut.
⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .
Vi settles on the couch next to Caitlyn, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. Caitlyn snuggles up to her, resting her head on Vi’s shoulder.
“How is she?”
“Out like a light,” Vi chuckles. “Fever’s coming down.”
“You’re a good sister,” Caitlyn murmurs, looking up at Vi through her lashes. “It’s one of the things I love most about you.”
“Not my devilishly good looks?” Vi smirks.
Caitlyn nudges her playfully. “Who said you’re good looking?”
“I’m wounded, cupcake!” Vi clasps her chest dramatically. “Shot in the heart by my one true love.”
“Your ego can take it,” Caitlyn rolls her eyes, but cuddles in closer to Vi’s side and presses a kiss to her cheek. “Love you.”
“Love you more.”
⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ .