Chapter Text
The soft and steady pitter-patter of tranquil rain falling along the rooftop of the Kiramman manor made Vi let out a quiet exhale she didn’t realize she was holding in the deafening silence of the estate. The ornate skylight above her displays most of the extent of the gloomy, humming thunderstorm reaching her ears. She sits idly in the lavish expanse of the living room, warm hues of golds and velvety greens catching her peripheral vision as she focuses on the book in front of her.
It’s a new hobby Vi had been trying to pick up; reading- after the events of the Battle of Piltover, it helped to take her mind off of things when she found her psyche wandering to the darkest depths of her mind she tried too hard to shove away or not think about. The extensive library of the mansion didn’t help to discourage her efforts either; the shelves among shelves of archaic, antiquated books that lined the accent wall of the opulent sitting room provided her much material to keep her busy.
The soft crackling of the fireplace in the distance acted like white noise in the background of Vi’s mind, and she couldn’t help but feel at ease and at home, like this was where she belonged; sitting on the plush forest green couch and surrounded by thick blankets enveloping her tightly.
A sudden clap of thunder makes the woman jump slightly, dragging her out of her pensive thoughts. She looks up, craning her neck to the glass roof adorned with gilded embellishments. The storm has begun to worsen, the clouds in the sky hanging unnaturally low and washed a dirty charcoal gray, leeching all light and sunshine from the- what would’ve been- pleasant afternoon. The lack of sunlight above Vi’s head makes for an almost calming experience; the room is dimly lit and has an almost subtle green tint to it from all of the colored furniture professionally placed in the now ataractic nook of a room.
Vi can’t help but feel a pang of worry as a flash of lightning catches her peripherals. Caitlyn was supposed to be arriving home soon- and though in the amount of time Vi knew her, she had always kept her word, the pink-haired woman felt a sense of uncertainty settle into the pit of her stomach, a lingering sense of dread nagging at her. She knew Caitlyn was responsible- and probably safe at that, but still she worried incessantly.
Without warning, the front door swings open, and the muffled sound of rain Vi had tuned out now reaches her ears again at full volume. She turns her head, seeing a disheveled-looking Caitlyn in the doorway, Enforcer uniform rumpled and hair slightly frizzy from what Vi can only assume is the humidity. The navy cloak hugged around her frame ripples somewhat limply in the air as she moves.
Speak of the devil. “Hey, cupcake.” Vi greets her girlfriend with a soft smile, looking up from her novel. “How was work?”
Caitlyn’s form is slightly slumped as she makes her way inside the mansion, kicking off her ankle-high boots and shaking out her damp umbrella, dripping rainwater on the deep mahogany hardwood in the process. There’s a somewhat unkempt aura about her as she breathes raggedly, shutting the door and leaning against the wall. “Exhausting, but otherwise alright.” Her head pitches forward, gloved hands coming up to rub her temples, probably to ward off an oncoming headache.
Vi’s head tilts slightly, her eyebrows furrowing in concern. “You okay, cupcake? You aren’t looking so hot.”
Caitlyn shifts her stare over to the couch where Vi is sitting. From where her girlfriend stands, Vi can see her usual striking blue gaze, so full of mirth and zest, now a dull fog, almost a muddy gray color. This only makes her worry heighten, and the woman stands up from the couch, carefully approaching Caitlyn’s frame.
“I’m fine,” the blue-haired woman insists, almost irritably, though there’s a slight weariness to her voice that Vi was sure she hadn’t heard this morning. The slight treading of quiet footsteps on the floor can be heard as she reaches Cait, the storm in the background still continuing faintly. “Just…just tired, is all.”
Caitlyn pushes herself off the wall, her navy ponytail scruffy with stray locks falling limply out of the loose ribbon barely keeping them in place. With a shaky huff, she starts to trudge out of the foyer with a kind of exhausted stubbornness Vi would’ve loved if not for the situation, though she doesn’t get far until her knees buckle underneath her, her vision fuzzing slightly around the edges.
“Shit-” Caitlyn mutters before almost stumbling to the floor. The world seems to spin around her, tilting nauseatingly, and her droopy eyelids she’d been forcing open all day begin to fall shut as her limbs suddenly turn in lead right in front of her tired eyes.
Panic courses through Vi’s veins, and she moves as fast as her arms and legs will allow her to. She’s quick to catch Caitlyn before she falls, wrapping her muscular arms around her waist and carrying most of her weight. Caitlyn’s head lolls against her shoulder, and alarm bells ring in Vi’s mind as she notices the slight sheen of sweat collecting on her girlfriend’s hairline.
“Cait?” Vi asks, fear lacing her tone. “Cait, c’mon, open your eyes for me-” She shakes Caitlyn slightly, terror building in her throat. Her girlfriend was passed out in her arms, unresponsive and not moving.
Eventually, Vi decides Caitlyn’s not going to suddenly become responsive at her feeble attempts to shake her awake. Her heart pounds in her chest incessantly- she could practically hear the blood in her ears as she shifts, turning to scoop one arm under Caitlyn’s knees and the other supporting her back carefully. The anxiety seems to almost consume her even more- if that was possible- as Cait’s cheek limply presses against her shoulder.
The gravity of the situation seems to fall into place as Vi feels the waves of heat radiating off of her girlfriend’s frame, rolling off her like a space heater. Vi wastes no time, breaking into a sprint toward their shared room. The only thing the pink-haired woman can hear is the rapid pulsing of her heart, throbbing endlessly out of her chest.
Just as Vi is about to set her limp girlfriend against their plush mattress of a bed, she hears a low, pained groan from her arms. She looks down, her eyes flickering over Cait’s frame.
“Cait- Cait, can you hear me?” Her voice is softer, gentler than usual, though it still holds a sense of urgency to it. She sits on the bed, Cait still in her arms as she leans against the wooden headboard, holding Caitlyn close to her chest.
Another quiet moan escapes her girlfriend’s lips, and she shifts slightly, her eye fluttering open. “Vi…?” She murmurs, her voice thin.
The singular word makes relief flood through Vi’s veins, and she almost laughs at the sound of Caitlyn’s voice, continuing to hold her tight. The hand that was under her knees carefully comes up to brush a few strands of unruly navy hair that are now stuck to her sweaty forehead.
“Yeah…yeah I’m here, cupcake.” Vi smiles gently, her gaze continuing to wander, assessing Caitlyn’s condition. There’s an unhealthy pink flush to her cheeks now that Vi was sure wasn’t there five minutes ago, and deep, sunken bags under her eyes that almost look purple. A wave of guilt washes over Vi, almost knocking her over. She should’ve noticed Caitlyn’s exhaustion earlier. Maybe if she had, they wouldn’t be in this situation- Vi clutching her barely-conscious frame in her arms, trying to reassure herself that Caitlyn would be okay.
“You… you passed out, baby.” Vi mutters. “You’re sick.” Her rough, calloused hand cups Caitlyn’s pale cheek, wincing internally at the heat pulsating off of it.
Cait only sighs, subconsciously leaning into the cool feeling of Vi’s hand, her eyes drooping shut and then open again. “I’m sorry, darling…”
Vi immediately shakes her head without an ounce of hesitation. “No, don’t apologize, sweetheart. This isn’t your fault, okay?” She notices how Caitlyn’s glossy eye has some amount of trouble staying open, and the woman pats her cheek softly. “Hey- eyes on me, kay? Stay awake for me.”
Caitlyn lets out a small “mhm”, to which Vi nods- though her alarm and panic has nearly dissipated entirely, worry and concern still swirls around her gut. Caitlyn was responsive, which was good- though she looked pale as a sheet, her usual lively expression now ashen and devoid of any warmth. The feverish blotches on her cheeks didn’t help to quell Vi’s worries either, sickly flushed and only growing deeper in hue as the time passed in slow motion.
Vi needed to take action. And fast.
“Alright, sweetheart. We need to get your fever down.” She announces, standing up so as not to jostle Caitlyn’s delicate frame. The quick trek to the lavish bathroom connected to their bedroom is silent, save for the serene storm still ravaging the earth outside the mansion and Caitlyn’s quiet, labored breathing.
It’s more concerning the way Cait’s body is completely limp in Vi’s toned, athletic arms. Normally her girlfriend would protest or writhe in her grip, insisting “she’s fine” or to “put me down, Violet”, and the fact that Caitlyn was complacent, quiet in her grip made Vi’s worry heighten all the more.
She swallows the lump in her throat as she flips on the light in the bathroom, gently setting her girlfriend down to sit on the counter. Her frame slumps almost immediately, her back leaning against the mirror and eye falling closed. Vi scrambles around the now-lit room, opening cupboards and cabinets to find what she needs.
“Eyes open, okay sweetheart?” The woman’s gray eyes dart between Caitlyn’s limp frame and the neatly arranged inventory of Caitlyn’s many drawers- an assortment of makeup and hair products meet her eyes. She crouches down to the bottommost cabinet, searching frantically for supplies. Her eyes eventually land on a thermometer, and she picks it up out of the basket that Caitlyn kept most of her first-aid and medical supplies in. A wave of relief washes over Vi, and she stands up to her full height, letting out a satisfied sigh.
Caitlyn’s body is shivering immensely, and Vi’s eyebrows furrow in more worry. The chills that wracked her girlfriend’s frame only added to her concern, and she wanted nothing more than to take all of her pain away and hold her close.
“Alright, love.” Vi murmurs, sighing and looking into Cait’s distant, glazed over eyes. She slips the thermometer under her tongue, making sure Caitlyn is still conscious before turning away to find a cool compress.
Her eyes land on a stack of fluffy fresh towels stacked on top of each other on a shelf that Vi had put away earlier that day in her regular laundry rotation. She makes a beeline over to the fancy shelf, grabbing a white washcloth and quickly returning to Caitlyn’s side. The gold sink turns on, Vi running the downy fabric under cold water. She murmurs soft words to Cait, trying to keep her awake and conscious.
The thermometer goes off, and Vi eagerly takes it out of her girlfriend’s mouth, her eyes skimming over the display. Her heart immediately drops to her stomach as she reads the numbers: 102.3.
“Jesus Christ, love…” Vi mutters under her breath. “You’ve got a crazy fever…” She anxiously wrings out the towel, making sure it's damp before placing it on Cait’s forehead. “This is gonna feel a little cold, alright? But it’s gonna bring your fever down.”
As if to prove her point, Cait lets out a hushed whimper, squirming ever so slightly against the marble counter. Her glassy eye flickers with pain, registering across her weary expression. Vi’s heart aches as she runs her hands through Caitlyn’s navy tresses, damp with sweat and oil as she continues murmuring sweet nothings to her girlfriend.
“Shhh… it’s alright, sweetheart.” Vi hums, the words almost inaudible as she soothes Caitlyn. “It’s gonna help you, okay?” She hops up onto the wide countertop, wrapping her arms around the taller woman’s body and holding it close to her own. She guides Cait’s head to lay on her shoulder, being mindful of the damp towel pressed against her forehead.
The brunt of Caitlyn’s fever is now hitting Vi in full force as she sits upright, practically holding her up entirely. The waves of warmth pooling off of her seemed to taint the cool air of the bathroom, almost making it stuffy and thick. Vi could only imagine the discomfort her girlfriend was experiencing. Another pang of anguish stabs Vi’s heart, and she subconsciously holds Caitlyn tighter, trying to subdue the chills that torment her body.
The flashes of lightning emulating from the large window of the bathroom catch Vi’s eye, and as another booming crack of thunder is released from the dreary sky, Vi shifts closer to Caitlyn. The sound of the rain tapping against the glass almost makes for a calm environment if not for the situation at hand.
“Violet…” Cait moans suddenly, disturbing the heavy and stiff veil of silence that had washed over the bathroom. Vi glances over at her girlfriend, noticing her bleary eye looking up at her.
She offers her a soft smile, trying to reassure her. “Shhh, it’s gonna be okay, yeah? I’ll take care of you, sweetheart. Just keep your eyes open for a little longer.”
Vi runs her thumb over Caitlyn’s pulsing hot cheek, her eyes darting around her sallow face. She presses a hand to the damp washcloth laid against Cait’s forehead that is now warm and uncomfortable. The pink-haired woman winces, noting how the temperature had risen so fast in such a short amount of time.
Hopping off the counter, Vi quickly runs the washcloth under the cool water again- and something inside her told her she would be doing this for a while tonight.
Though Vi didn’t mind; actually, though she would never admit it, she loved being able to take care of her usually stubborn, workaholic girlfriend. Being the Sheriff must’ve been exhausting, she thinks, as she does all the time- the topic comes up a good deal in Vi’s mind- and Caitlyn almost never took a break unless her life depended on it.
Vi’s tough exterior seemed to melt away in the brisk air of the bathroom, mulling over Cait’s condition as her eyes dart between her slumped girlfriend’s frame and the now frigid and sopping wet washcloth. She wrings it out before placing it back on Caitlyn’s forehead, her body contorting in response to the cold towel draped over her burning skin.
“Shhh.. it’s alright.” Vi murmurs softly, the gentleness in her voice a stark contrast from her usual rough exterior. She moves to run her fingers through Caitlyn’s sweaty hair, trying to comfort her as much as possible. “Let’s get some medicine in you, yeah?”
Vi moves on autopilot, her movements automatic as her mind flashes back to the faint memory of the drawer she had rummaged through earlier. She could’ve sworn she saw a small white bottle of fever reducer pills in the back, mindlessly collecting dust- it was clear Caitlyn or Vi hadn’t had to make use of them for a while.
The vague image holds in her consciousness, and Vi crouches back down to the bottom drawer, opening it up, her eyes scanning impatiently for the bottle.
Eventually the pink-haired woman finds it, her gray eyes lighting up in recognition. Without any hesitation, she pulls it out, unscrewing the bottle and shaking a few little white pills into the palm of her hand.
Vi helps Caitlyn swallow the pills, desperately hoping that her temperature will lower in the next half hour or so. She wasn’t sure how much more of this she could take- Cait barely talking, barely able to stay awake on her own.
Her eyes dart back to Caitlyn’s half-lidded eyes, and she pats her girlfriend’s leg in an attempt to keep her awake for a little longer.
“Eyes open, love,” Vi mutters. She couldn’t help the worry that seeped through her tone, unable to choke it back. She was worried- that much was blatantly obvious.
But she had done all that she could. Now all that was left was a cruel waiting game- one that Vi hated playing, but she knew she had to abide by.
“Alright… think you can sleep now, sweetheart?” Vi asks her girlfriend, not sure if she’s going to get a response or not. Caitlyn looks a little more aware now, her- what were- cloudy blue eyes a little more cognizant. That’s good… Vi thinks, trying to convince herself that Cait is on the mend.
Her girlfriend nods, albeit weakly. “Mhm…” She moves to sit up, though Vi immediately goes to her side, preventing her from standing up.
“Woah woah… I’ll carry you, cupcake.” Vi insists, wrapping her muscular arms around Caitlyn’s frame and beginning to carry her. Cait’s body falls limply in her arms, her head moving to press against her shoulder. Her piercing blue eyes fall closed, and the corners of Vi’s mouth twitch up into a smile.
Together they make their way over to Caitlyn’s bed (and technically also Vi’s- she never slept anywhere else, even in her own room; which she had, but always slept with her girlfriend), Vi leaning against the deep wood of the headboard, holding Cait tight in her arms.
Her rough hands run through Caitlyn’s navy hair, damp with sweat and oil, though she doesn’t mind in the slightest bit. She continues her ministrations, sighing softly. Caitlyn’s body is still radiating warmth, though Vi notes how it’s lessened significantly from when she first found her.
She smiles again, feeling how her girlfriend’s labored breaths begin to even out, signaling that she’s about to fall asleep.
“Rest now, sweetheart.” Vi murmurs, pressing a chaste kiss to her greasy hair. The plush mattress molds to both their weight as Vi leans further against the bed.
Caitlyn’s illness was far from over, though Vi promises silently that she’ll stay with her, continuing to cradle her tight while her body fights off the sickness that has now plagued her body.
Vi doesn’t care how long it’s going to take. She’ll stay by her side; forever if she has to.