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Caitlyn uncaps her purple highlighter and neatly traces a line in her textbook. She has a color-coded system – purple is for information she needs to commit to memory, because it will probably be on the exam. Vi always says her textbooks look like someone threw up on them in dayglo neon, but it all makes perfect sense to her. 

It’s quiet in the library where she and her girlfriend are studying, which she appreciates. Caitlyn hates distractions when she’s trying to concentrate. As if studying her medical textbooks isn’t hard enough already, the library at the University of Piltover can get quite noisy sometimes. Thankfully it’s not too busy today, and they’ve been able to claim a table in the corner as their own for the day as they both prepare for finals, with assorted textbooks, notepads, and pens scattered across the table.  

Well, there is one distraction, Caitlyn notes, as Vi sniffles again. She’s been doing that all afternoon, and the repetitive noise is starting to drive Caitlyn up the wall. 

“Are you alright?” Caitlyn asks, a little more sharply than she intends, and Vi glances up at her from her own textbook. Her powder blue eyes are slightly watery and there’s a distinct pallor to her fair skin, which makes Caitlyn frown. 

“Yeah, why?” Vi asks, rubbing at her nose roughly with the back of her hand. But a second later her eyes flutter, and she takes a sharp breath, turning to the side with a loud sneeze. 

“Bless you,” Caitlyn says softly, studying her girlfriend through narrowed eyes. Now that she thinks of it, Vi has been sneezing an unusual amount today. It’s the middle of winter, so her allergies shouldn’t be bothering her. Caitlyn’s been so distracted with cramming for the finals she has in the upcoming week that she hasn’t paid as much attention to her girlfriend as she usually would. She suddenly feels guilty as she notices the dark, almost purple, circles under Vi’s eyes, clear evidence of her exhaustion, and concern for her girlfriend makes her heart clench faintly. 

Caitlyn digs a pack of tissues out of her bookbag and slides them across the table. “Here, darling. Are you feeling okay?” she asks softly, worry laced in her voice. 

“‘m fine,” Vi pulls a tissue out, blowing her nose unabashedly, and Caitlyn can’t help but wince a little at the heavy, congested sound. “Damn nose just won’t stop running.” 

“Hmm,” Caitlyn continues looking at her, and Vi raises an eyebrow, crushing the tissue in her fist, her nose now a faint shade of pink. 

“What?” 

“You sound like you’re getting sick.” 

Vi scoffs. “I don’t get sick.” 

Caitlyn gives her an unamused look. “Violet, everyone gets sick. It’s what my whole future profession is based on.” 

Vi rubs at her nose again with another sniffle. “I’m not everyone. Besides, you’re not a doctor yet, so you don’t get to diagnose me. I’m fine, cupcake, promise. ” 

“Alright, love,” Caitlyn sighs with a shake of her head, returning to her textbook. She has been with her girlfriend long enough to know there’s no point in pushing the subject, it’ll just make her dig her heels in further. “Just please use the tissues instead of sniffling incessantly.” 

Thankfully, Vi heeds her advice and the sniffling mostly stops after that. But Caitlyn can’t help but notice that Vi sneezes several more times, and has started coughing a little too. Caitlyn’s stomach tugs in concern, and after about thirty minutes of Vi doing more coughing and nose blowing than actual studying, she closes her textbook with a soft snap and sets down her highlighter. 

“Violet,” she fixes her girlfriend with a firm look. “Enough. You’re unwell.” 

Vi answers with a trio of grating sneezes she hastily catches in a balled up tissue. “Ugh, sorry,” she sniffles heavily, clearing her throat and suppressing a cough.  

Caitlyn lets out a long breath and gets up to come around the table so she can pull up a chair next to Vi, dropping a hand to her back and rubbing warm circles there. “Darling, please, let me take you home, you sound miserable,” she coaxes, feeling Vi’s back spasm under her touch with another cough. She runs her hand soothingly over Vi’s sculpted shoulders, trying to ease some of the tightness in the muscles there. 

“You’ll be much more comfortable there, and I can get you some medicine and tea,” Caitlyn adds, gently. 

Vi looks up at her through red-rimmed eyes, her eyebrows knitted together in frustration. “I’m not getting sick,” she protests, but her voice wavers and she sounds more petulant than sure of herself. 

“Well, something’s clearly bothering you here,” Caitlyn reasons carefully. “Why don’t we see if you feel better at home?” 

Vi pinches the bridge of her nose with a sigh and a sniffle. “I still have so much fucking work. Why did I decide this degree was a good idea again?” 

Caitlyn continues rubbing her back tenderly. “Because you knew physical therapy would be a great way to combine your interest in sports and helping people, and you’ll be great at it,” she reminds her patiently. “You can keep studying at home, love. I just don’t think you need to be here right now.” 

“Well, it is super hot in here, don’t you think?” Vi yawns, stretching her arms out over her head. “‘ts making me sleepy.” 

Caitlyn’s eyebrows furrow. The library is always ice-cold, even in the winter, the air conditioning seemingly blowing year-round. “No, darling, it’s freezing in here, actually.” 

Vi shrugs off-handedly, but Caitlyn presses the back of her hand to Vi’s forehead then gasps at the heat radiating off her. “Violet! You’re burning up,” she exclaims, moving her hand to her cheek and feeling the same fever heat there. 

“I am?” Vi feels her own cheek with her hand. “Are you sure? You know I run hot.” 

“I’m aware, and I also know what a fever feels like,” Caitlyn leans over to kiss her forehead, tutting. “Poor love. You're sick, you need to be in bed.” 

A soft blush tints Vi’s cheeks and ears. “You don’t need to fuss, Cait,” she says, rubbing the back of her neck. 

Vi, for all her cocky confidence and rough edges, goes surprisingly shy when Caitlyn gets tender and soft with her, not used to being the one who’s being taken care of. Which only makes Caitlyn want to fuss at her more, to let her know how she deserves all the tenderness and care in the world, and that she doesn’t have to pretend to be tough with Caitlyn. That she sees her softness, and she adores it. 

“Too bad, I’m going to fuss anyway,” Caitlyn smiles gently, brushing a lock of reddish pink hair off Vi’s forehead, then straightens up, decision made. “We’re going home. Meds and bed for you, darling.” 

“Ugh, fine,” Vi sighs, then coughs into a fist. “Although I’m not sick,” she adds, as an afterthought. 

“Of course you aren’t.” Caitlyn just manages to avoid rolling her eyes, and starts putting Vi’s books in her backpack for her. 

By the time they’ve made it back to their apartment off campus, the walk in the blustery winter weather seems to sapped Vi of most of her energy. She curls up onto their worn couch, and Caitlyn drapes a blanket over her, crouching down. It’s so rare to see Vi so vulnerable like this, and her heart fills with love and concern for her partner. 

She strokes Vi’s hair softly, touching the back of her hand to her forehead to test her temperature again. “What can I get you, darling?” she murmurs. “You want to try having some soup?” 

Vi shakes her head, giving her a small smile. “I’m fine, cupcake. Jus’ need t’sleep.” 

“Well let me at least get your temperature first. I think we have both DayQuil and NyQuil, which would you prefer?” 

“Whatever won’t knock me out,” Vi answers, then turns away to sneeze. “Ugh. I still gotta do some work later.” 

Caitlyn hums, still stroking her hair. “Maybe you should just rest for today, love. Your final’s not until Tuesday, correct?” 

“Anatomy on Tuesday. Neuro on Monday.” 

Caitlyn nods, frowning. She hates that Vi has so much work, but that’s the nature of grad school. It’s not like she’s any better off. 

But that doesn’t mean she can’t take care of her girlfriend as best she can. She makes quick work of getting Vi’s temperature – elevated, but not alarmingly so – and giving her a dose of medicine. She also gets Vi to drink some water, then settles down on the couch next to her. She pulls a pillow into lap so that Vi can lay down on her. 

Caitlyn can feel the tension in Vi’s muscles ease as she relaxes in her lap. She threads her fingers slowly through Vi’s soft magenta hair in the way she knows she likes, Vi’s eyes closing, and her breathing slowing. Caitlyn pulls the blanket up so it’s covering her more fully, and gazes tenderly down at her.

Few, if any, people know Vi like this – vulnerable, peaceful. Most people see her tattoos and muscles and see a hardened fighter. Which isn't incorrect, Caitlyn will acknowledge. She attends all of  Vi’s boxing matches, after all. Plus there was that one time that guy in a bar got a little too fresh with Caitlyn and Vi showed him exactly what she thought of that. 

But she’s also just so soft , Caitlyn muses fondly. Vi has the biggest heart of anyone she knows, and underneath all that toughness is a tenderhearted, incredibly loving person. And it makes Caitlyn feel more protective than she’s ever felt with a partner before. 

So, she’s more than happy to sit on the couch with her sick love in her lap, soothing her with calm touches and making sure she stays warm and comfortable. Studying can wait. Some things are just more important. 

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Vi stirs about an hour later, shifting in Caitlyn’s lap and sniffling. Caitlyn sets aside the textbook she’d been studying, dropping her hand to Vi’s hair to card through the strands again, gently working out the tangles. 

Then Vi’s breath catches sharply, and she twists to the side, sneezing noisily a couple of times. 

“Bless you darling,” Caitlyn says with a frown at the rough sound of the sneezes, reaching for the tissue box on the table and pulling out a handful for Vi. Her girlfriend accepts them and blows her nose forcefully, tossing the tissues aside before flopping back down into Caitlyn’s lap. Caitlyn resumes stroking her hair gently. 

“Ugh,” Vi groans, trying to sniffle through her blocked nose, and rubbing at it with a fist when she’s unsuccessful. “I think I’m catching a cold.” 

Caitlyn suppresses a small, fond, smile. “I would agree with that assessment, love.” 

Vi looks up at her from the pillow on her lap, her ice blue eyes gleaming fever-bright and pink-rimmed. “I never get sick! I don’t know how this happened,” she complains, a hint of a pout forming on her lips. 

Caitlyn leans down and presses a kiss to her forehead, lingering a little to test her temperature. Vi feels even warmer than before, she notes worriedly. 

“Sweetheart, not even you are immune to the common cold,” Caitlyn says patiently, skimming her fingers down Vi’s overwarm jaw. “Hopefully with lots of rest and fluids we can kick this bug fast, though.” 

Vi just groans and closes her eyes, sinking down further into the pillow. Caitlyn watches her for a moment, plying her girlfriend with soothing touches, then frowns when Vi shivers against her. 

Caitlyn tugs the blanket that had gotten bunched up around Vi’s knees back up over her shoulders, moving her hand to press the back of it to Vi’s cheek. 

“Cold, darling?” she asks sympathetically, trying to gauge how high her fever is. 

“A little,” Vi says stuffily, then muffles a flurry of coughs into her fist, her breath rattling faintly in her chest. “Ugh. Sorry,” she sniffles, pressing the back of her wrist against her runny nose. 

“Shh, don’t apologize, love, you’re ill,” Caitlyn soothes, grabbing the tissue box and bringing it onto the couch so that it’s easier for Vi to reach. “I want to get your temperature again, Violet. I think your fever’s going up.” 

Vi shrugs, burying her nose in a handful of tissues for a congested blow. “Knock yourself out,” she mumbles, tossing the used tissues on the coffee table. “Though, maybe you should stay away from me, Cait. You definitely don’t want to catch this, it’s horrible.” 

“I’m sure I’ve already been exposed,” Caitlyn shakes her head, kissing Vi’s forehead again before slipping out carefully from under her. She helps Vi settle back flat on the couch with the pillow under her head.  “Don’t worry about it, darling. Let’s just focus on you, okay?” 

Vi frowns but is clearly too exhausted to argue, her eyes slipping closed again. 

Caitlyn heads to the bathroom to look for the thermometer, and also grabs Vi’s favorite sweatshirt from the closet. Returning to the couch, she kneels and just watches Vi rest for a moment, brushing her fingers over Vi’s fever-flushed cheek. Her stomach tugs with how much she longs to help her girlfriend feel better in whatever way she can. 

Rousing Vi with a kiss to her hair, Caitlyn slips an arm under her shoulders. “Sit up for just a moment, love,” Caitlyn murmurs, helping her move to a sitting position. “Then you can go back to sleep, promise.” 

With gentle hands, she tugs the sweatshirt over Vi’s head for her, then helps her maneuver her arms into the sleeves. Vi is sleepy and compliant, which tells Caitlyn more about how terrible she’s truly feeling than anything else. 

“There, that should help with the chills,” Caitlyn gives her another kiss once the sweatshirt is on, then picks up the thermometer. “Under your tongue, darling.” 

Vi’s eyelashes flutter with a hitch of her breath and she holds up a finger, ducking away from Caitlyn into a fresh tissue with a harsh sneeze. 

Caitlyn can’t help but coo at her sniffly, rosy-cheeked girlfriend. “Aww, bless you, poor thing,” she murmurs sympathetically, brushing a lock of hair out of her eyes for her. She waits for Vi to finish blowing her nose, then offers the thermometer again, and Vi sticks it in her mouth with a thick sniffle. 

“You really don’t feel good, hm?” Caitlyn says softly, and Vi shakes her head, pouting a little around the thermometer and looking so adorably pitiful that Caitlyn leans forward to press her lips to her forehead again. “I’m sorry you have such a rotten cold, darling,” she soothes, wishing there was more she could do to help. 

She rubs a gentle hand over Vi’s sweatshirt-clad back while the thermometer works, plucking it from her girlfriend’s mouth when it gives a beep. Vi’s temperature has gone up a worrying degree and a half since she last took it, which explains why she’s feeling worse. 

“You’re a little warm, love,” Caitlyn frowns, setting the thermometer aside with a quiet sigh. “I can’t give you any more meds just yet, but let’s see if a cool washcloth helps bring that temp down a little, okay?” 

“Okay,” Vi nods with another shivery cough, then slumps back down on the couch, curling up with her knees to her chest. Caitlyn covers her with the blanket again, although she notes to herself that she might need to remove it later if Vi’s fever doesn’t start coming down. But for now, her girlfriend is shivering miserably, and Caitlyn can’t stand to see her so chilled. 

Caitlyn retrieves a washcloth from their bathroom and runs it under cold water, wringing it out carefully so it’s no longer dripping. She comes back to Vi and folds the cloth in thirds, gently placing it on Vi’s forehead. Her girlfriend hums appreciatively at the coolness, reaching up a clumsy hand to adjust the cloth more securely. 

“Cait?” Vi croaks, peeking at her through squinted eyes. 

“Yes, love?” 

Vi muffles a cough into the blanket. “Could you…could you just hold me for a bit?” 

“Of course, darling,” Caitlyn says softly, with a fond smile. Vi holds the washcloth against her head and sits up to make room on the couch for her, and Caitlyn lays down flat against the pillow, pulling Vi to lay on top of her with her head nestled on her shoulder. 

Caitlyn wraps her arms around Vi, her girlfriend heavy and fever-warm against her, their legs intertwined and socked feet brushing together. Vi sniffles and her breath puffs softly against Caitlyn’s neck, breathing through her mouth due to her stuffy nose. 

Rubbing slow circles on Vi’s back with gentle pressure, Caitlyn coaxes any remaining tension out of her muscles. Vi sinks further against her, coughing a little into Caitlyn’s shoulder, but she doesn’t mind, just pulls her imperceptibly closer. It’s quiet in the room except for Vi’s congested breathing and the distant sound of traffic outside, and Caitlyn feels her own eyelids growing heavy. The washcloth on Vi’s forehead is a little uncomfortably cool against Caitlyn’s neck, but she lets it rest there anyway, dipping her head to brush a kiss over her sick girlfriend’s hair. 

“Feel better soon, sweetheart,” Caitlyn murmurs, tightening her arms around Vi, who hums a sleepy, contented sound against her chest. 

Caitlyn can’t believe she found a love like this. 

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Chapter Text

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“I think I’ll go to the gym tomorrow,” Vi announces, as she finishes washing her face. “I’m feeling a lot better. The cold’s gone, I think.” 

Caitlyn makes a noncommittal noise next to her, using a wipe to carefully remove her makeup. “You still sound congested, love,” she points out, frowning. “Are you sure you’re well enough?” 

“Yep. It’s been days, I’m so ready to get back to my workout routine now finals are over.” Vi hoists herself up to sit on the bathroom counter and watch her girlfriend finish her night routine. The movement causes Vi to hastily smother a cough in her fist, then she sniffles. Caitlyn raises an eyebrow at her. 

“I’m fine, ” Vi rolls her eyes, swiping a hand under her nose. “It’s just the – what was that fancy word…?” 

“Post-nasal drip,” Caitlyn supplies, then plucks a tissue out of the box on the counter for Vi. The redhead begrudgingly takes it and blows her nose. “I’m not convinced you’re over your cold, darling,” Caitlyn says in that gentle tone she only uses with Vi. “A couple more days of rest couldn’t hurt.” 

“Actually it could,” Vi stretches her arms out and cracks her neck. “Gonna get out of shape. Besides, isn’t ‘sweating out a cold’ a thing?” 

“I’m fairly certain that’s not professional medical advice,” Caitlyn shakes her head fondly. She leans in to give Vi a brief kiss. “How about we see how you feel tomorrow?” 

“Sure. Just wait,” Vi grins confidently. “You’re gonna be eating your words, cupcake.” 

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As Vi slowly wakes up the following morning, her first thought is what the fuck?  

Her whole body aches, her head is pounding, and she’s fucking freezing. She tries to remember back if she had a boxing match last night, because getting her ass handed to her is the only reasonable explanation for waking up feeling like this. She’s exhausted too, she realizes as she cracks her eyes open and immediately wishes she hadn’t. What the hell? 

Then she remembers her conversation with Caitlyn last night, the fact that she’s been fighting a cold for the past few days, and everything clicks into place. 

Her next thought is that she’s never going to live this down. 

Vi groans miserably and pushes herself up on her elbows, a hacking cough making her body shake. She peers blearily at the clock next to her. It’s past nine, so Caitlyn must already be up and getting on with her day, since she wakes up ridiculously early. 

Vi slumps back down, groaning again. At least it’s winter break and she doesn’t have any classes to attend. Small wins. But she can’t believe her body is betraying her like this. She swore she was going to feel back to normal today. This is extremely fucking annoying. 

She closes her eyes and pulls the covers back up, failing to suppress a shiver. Ugh. So much for the gym. She decides that sleep is the best option right now, since being unconscious sounds infinitely more pleasant than staying awake feeling like shit. 

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Caitlyn has had her morning tea, made a green smoothie, cleaned the kitchen, answered several emails, filled out her class schedule for next semester, and put in a load of laundry, and there’s still no sign of Vi. She pulls out her phone to check the time. Vi likes to sleep in when she doesn’t have class, and she knows her girlfriend needs as much rest as she can get right now. But her sleep schedule will get off if she oversleeps too much, so Caitlyn decides to go check on her to see if she’s up for some breakfast. 

Instead of finding her girlfriend peacefully asleep and snoring, however, she finds Vi buried under all the blankets they have, shaking violently, and covered in a cold sweat. 

“Oh, darling,” Caitlyn coos sadly, immediately rushing to Vi’s side and brushing her sticky magenta hair from her forehead. Vi cracks open watery, light blue eyes, and she doesn’t need to speak for Caitlyn to immediately sense the misery there. 

“Sweetheart,” Caitlyn hums, her heart breaking to see Vi like this. “Oh, you poor thing.” 

“I feel like shit,” Vi says croakily, shaking with a cough that she smothers in the blankets. Caitlyn runs a hand over her shoulder and arm soothingly. “You can say ‘I told you so.’” 

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” Caitlyn murmurs, too worried about her girlfriend to be in a joking mood. She cups a hand to Vi’s cheek, running her thumb over her cheekbones that are dusted with an unhealthy flush. “Tell me your symptoms please, love? Chills, for one.” 

“‘m freezing,” Vi mumbles, burrowing down deeper into the blankets. “Head hurts. Chest too. Keep coughing.” 

Caitlyn frowns, dropping her hand to rub gentle circles on Vi’s sternum. “Let’s try getting you propped up a little darling. It’ll help you breathe easier.” 

She scoops an arm under Vi’s shoulder to help her move into a more upright position, placing a stack of fluffy pillows behind her. Vi coughs harshly into her elbow, then sneezes, and groans. 

Caitlyn can’t help cooing at her again. “Bless you, darling,” she says gently, pulling the blankets back up over Vi until her shoulders are fully covered. She sits down next to her, a worried frown creasing her eyebrows. “What can I do to make you feel better, Violet?” 

Vi shrugs, sighing. “Dunno. Jus’ wanna get warm, honestly.” 

“How about a bath, hmm?” Caitlyn cards her fingers slowly through Vi’s hair. “That might help warm you up. And you should have some medicine as well.” 

“Sure,” Vi nods. “Feel disgusting anyway.” 

Caitlyn presses her lips to her clammy forehead, lingering a moment so she can test her temperature. Vi’s fever is definitely back, but she doesn’t feel alarmingly hot, which is at least one small thing Caitlyn is grateful for. 

“I’ll be back in just a tick, darling.” Caitlyn tucks the blankets more securely around her girlfriend. “Just going to get the bath going and get you some medicine and water.” 

Vi nods and closes her eyes tiredly. Caitlyn pauses a moment, her concern for her partner making her hesitant to leave her side. She uses a tissue to tenderly wipe a few stray beads of sweat from Vi’s temple. She hates seeing her like this. Her normally vibrant, fierce girlfriend seems so weak and listless right now. It makes her chest fill with both protectiveness and love – she really would do anything for Vi, she deserves the world. And if Caitlyn could take the illness from her, she would in an instant. 

But she reminds herself to focus on what she can do, not sentimentality. Practical is what Caitlyn is good at. She kisses Vi once more, then gets to work. 

First she gets a warm bath running for Vi. She’s grateful that they sprung for an apartment with a large, stand-alone tub that’s big enough for the both of them. It was one of the small luxuries they could afford on their shoestring grad student budgets. She pours a few capfuls of coconut scented bubble bath into the steaming water, knowing it’s best to avoid the floral scents that Vi can sometimes have a slight allergy to. She lights a candle and dims the lights to make it more cozy, and sets out a couple of freshly washed bath towels on the counter. 

Then she pulls out their neatly organized box of medicines from the cabinet and briefly debates which will be most suitable. She decides on ibuprofen and a decongestant, but forgoes the cough syrup. It’s probably best for Vi to keep coughing that gunk up so it doesn’t settle in her lungs, even though Caitlyn knows it’s miserable. 

“Ready, my love?” she asks Vi once she’s back at the bedside. Vi squints her eyes open, and Caitlyn reaches out to gently soothe away the crease between her eyebrows with her thumb. “Take these first, please.” She hands over the pills and a glass of water. 

Vi swallows them down dutifully and drains the glass quickly. Caitlyn’s glad she won’t have trouble keeping her hydrated, at least. She winces in sympathy when Vi coughs again.

“I hope the steam helps ease your chest congestion,” Caitlyn murmurs, looping an arm around Vi’s waist to help her stand shakily. The height advantage she has on Vi comes in handy as she helps her to the bath, keeping a protective hold on her the whole time. Vi doesn’t even make any cheeky jokes about getting into her pants as Caitlyn helps her girlfriend strip her sweaty pajamas, which she knows must mean she’s truly feeling awful. 

Vi sighs as she slips into the warm, soapy water, eyes already falling closed. Caitlyn quickly sheds her own clothes and slides into the bath behind her, pulling Vi’s body flush against hers and encouraging her to relax back into her. Vi fits perfectly between her legs, her head resting on Caitlyn’s shoulder, nuzzling her nose into her neck. Caitlyn runs her hands over Vi’s smooth skin, providing comfort as best she can, knowing how soothing touch is for her girlfriend. 

“This is amazing, thanks,” Vi murmurs into her neck, pressing a gentle kiss to the exposed skin. “I feel better already.” 

“Good, darling,” Caitlyn kisses the top of her head, pleased that Vi is no longer shaking. “Just relax. I’ve got you.” 

They spend several minutes like that, Vi slotted between Caitlyn’s legs as she absently runs her hands over the other woman. It’s tranquil, the only sound is breaking the tender silence is the occasional cough or sniffle from Vi. Caitlyn lets her mind drift, playing with a wet curl of hair on the nape of Vi’s neck. 

She usually would hate being idle for so long like this. She’s not one for frittering the day away on leisure, she likes to stay productive, and there’s plenty she could be doing right now. 

But for her love? She’ll stay here all night if that’s what Vi needs. It’s strange, really – Caitlyn has been accused more than once of being cold in past relationships. And yet she’s never had a problem showing her affection for the woman in her arms. Perhaps it’s the way Vi wears her heart on her sleeve, despite how much she tries to hide it. Maybe it’s how Vi is a study of contradictions: tough, yet sensitive. Protective, and also soft. And the way she just gives and gives, rarely asking for anything in return. She spent her whole life taking care of her family, her sister, with no one to turn to when she herself needed it. Caitlyn is so in love with her, and she’s grateful every day that she gets to show Vi how much she deserves the same love and care she gives so freely. 

Caitlyn dips her head to nose at Vi’s ear, whispering softly. “Want me to soap you up, darling?” 

Vi makes an affirmative hum, so Caitlyn shifts slightly to grab a loofah, pouring a good amount of cucumber-scented body wash onto it and working it into a lather. She takes her time running the sponge over Vi’s body, appreciating every freckle, every scar, every curve of muscle and spot of softness. Vi is pliant in her arms, letting Caitlyn work the loofah slowly up her body from the tips of her toes to her back. 

“Keep your eyes closed,” Caitlyn murmurs, as she cups some water to pour it over Vi’s head. Then she squeezes shampoo into her hands and works it into Vi’s hair, scratching at her scalp lightly. Vi moans happily, and the sound sends a shiver down Caitlyn’s spine, but she ignores it. This is about comfort, not sex. There will be plenty of time for that another day when Vi is well. 

“I love you so much, you know,” Caitlyn says quietly as she keeps working the shampoo through her girlfriend’s hair, and then starts rinsing it out with more handfuls of water. “You’re my everything, darling.” 

“Cait,” Vi mumbles, coughing into a fist. She wipes water from her eyes and turns slightly to give her a quizzical look. “Where’s all this coming from?” 

Caitlyn hums thoughtfully, gently tipping Vi’s head back around so she can finish washing her hair. “I just like being able to do things like this for you. Taking care of you.” 

“Who knew me getting sick would turn you into such a sap,” Vi jokes, but her voice is fond. “I love you too, baby.” 

Caitlyn kisses the back of her neck tenderly, drawing Vi back up against her and relaxing back against the tub. She doesn’t know if they’ll stay there for minutes or hours, but it doesn’t matter. As long as she’s with Vi, that’s right where she’ll be. 

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