Archive of Our Own

Caitlyn will never grow tired of the pure childlike wonderment that Vi has when she gets to experience something new for the first time. Her lover was denied so much of what is considered ‘normal’ in Caitlyn’s world.

Proper medical treatment.

Mousse cake.

Quiet nights not filled with sirens or gun shots.

Hot water for bathing.

Gardens of flowers.

Carnivals, carnivals especially.

And that’s where they are now for Vi’s 27th birthday. Some of their friends and family have joined for the occasion and Vi hasn’t stopped smiling all evening. Even when the reverse bungee ride had her puking when she stumbled out, she laughed and said “Alright, what’s next?”

Powder squealed when she found the cotton candy machine and ate it in a matter of seconds, enamored at how it rapidly disappeared in her mouth. Mylo was trying all of the fried food he could find, and eventually following suit with Vi and getting sick in a trash can after a particularly wild roller coaster.

Claggor greatly enjoyed all of the games, no matter how impossible and obviously rigged they were. He grinned and moved along, his smile never like slipping like his siblings. Every dancer or performer that was dressed up for their little shows always captured the group’s attention with their tricks or dances and various other talents.

“We have to do that one!” Jayce had exclaimed when an iconic ride came into view. “Wave Swinger is so fun! You’ll love it, Vi!”

Nothing more had to be said and Vi and Caitlyn got strapped into their paired seats. The ride had started, lifting them high into the air, giving them a gorgeous view of the area so full of colors and activity. Vi’s hyper eyes darted all around, taking everything in as they spun. Caitlyn couldn’t take her eyes off her, watching the wind whirl her pink hair as a she smiled with all of her teeth. She held Vi’s hand in her own the whole time and when Vi looked over at her Caitlyn didn’t hesitate to kiss her.

And oh did they kiss even more once in the ferris wheel. The moment their little carriage reached the peak and stopped for a bit Caitlyn was bursting with love. She felt so much for her girlfriend in the quiet of their sacrosanct bubble, high up and holding each other, laughing and grinning into every kiss.

One of the funniest moments of the evening was how competitive Mel truly was when it came to bumper cars. Claggor howled with laughter when Mel took Mylo by surprise who claimed he was the best at driving. It was very clear that he wasn’t.

Eventually it was Caitlyn’s chance to put her and Powder’s plan into motion. They were going to win every prize they could with their sharp shooting skills. Whatever Vi wanted, she was going to get, and Vi wanted the biggest stuffed toys hanging up high above the plethora of carnival games that surrounded them.

Caitlyn and Powder nailed every target at the shooting and dart games and got Vi the biggest toys she wanted. Soon enough, everyone had a massive plush toy that ranged from aliens to Pokemon creatures. A battle of the stuffed animals quickly ensued but came to an abrupt halt when the High Striker machine came into view.

It was titled King of the Hammer and nothing was going to keep any of them from taking a whack at it. The big mallet was heavy and required a decent amount of oomf to get it slammed down on the target. Powder cackled madly when Caitlyn hit a higher score than Mylo who blamed it on his shoulder being sore.

Jayce stepped up and got it to ring when it hit the top, the sound and music of him hitting the bell blaring with his victory for all to hear and see.

“Almost beat the best record,” the carnival attendant drawled.

“What’s the high score?” Vi immediately asked as she prepared to have her go at the machine.

“Your buddy just hit 1,119,” the attendant said. “Highest score is 1,144. No one has beaten it in over 6 years.”

Vi’s eyes widened with feral glee and Caitlyn felt her body tingle with excitement. It was her butch’s time to shine and have the best birthday of her life.

“Is that so?” Vi smirked and shucked off her jacket and rolled her shoulders back. She looked over at Caitlyn to give a sinful wink that captured her heart like it had done so many times before.

Vi took a breath, brought the hammer up and swung down with the might of a god, slamming the mallet with ferocity. Every muscle in her body had flexed with exertion, grunting with the effort of her swing.

The puck shot up the scale at lightning speed, smacking into the metal bell with a piercing DING that made the entire machine explode with confetti and triumphant music.

“New high score!” the automated machine said. “1,228! Congratulations, King of the Hammer!”

The attendant stood there, stunned, as Vi was enveloped in a deep kiss from Caitlyn that made Claggor gag. Vi punched her name in to stake her claim on the new record and was awarded with a large, fake gold belt that covered half of her torso.

After devouring her third mutton leg, Vi wanted to finish off the night with the silly hall of mirrors. Every reflection distorted them in some way or made them feel as if they were in another dimension. Their giggles filled the room as they took photos of their deformed figures or when surrounded by seemingly endless reflections.

Caitlyn felt like a child again, feeling so light and free of any responsibility. Her childhood was stressful and mundane, but tonight she thinks she has an idea of what it could’ve been like.

They were nearing the exit when the lights went off, making Caitlyn get momentarily turned around and unsure where to go. Then the lights flickered back to life, but going on and off sporadically like they were short circuiting, the fluorescent bulbs buzzing loudly. She put her hands out and felt around the panels to get reoriented from the dizziness it caused. A wave of nausea rolled through her when she looked into the mirrors swarming her and saw her younger self looking back. It lasted hardly a second before the lights fully came back on and a moment later she was at the exit with their friends.

She steps out on slightly unsteady legs and takes a breath to ground herself.

“You alright, cupcake?” Vi asks, brows furrowed.

Caitlyn shakes off the eerie feeling in her gut and smiles. “I’m fine, love. Got a little turned around is all.” She gives Vi a sweet peck on the lips and takes her hand. “Where to next?”

As they finish up celebrating Vi’s birthday, the random shudders of nausea and vertigo kept making their unpleasant appearance for Caitlyn. She does her best to remain present and unbothered for Vi’s sake, but by the time they get home she is utterly exhausted.

“Hey, you look a little pale,” Vi says as they get dressed for bed.

“I think I overdid it on the roller coasters,” Caitlyn chuckles, truly unsure why she feels this way. “I haven’t done anything like tonight in a long time and I feel wiped out.”

Vi rubs her back soothingly. “Then let’s get you in bed and you can sleep in as much as you want. Thank you for tonight, cupcake,” she smiles warmly, her light eyes so full of affection. Caitlyn wants those stunning eyes to never look away, remain forever absorbed and captured by everything that is Vi’s irresistible essence.

“Anything for you, my darling.”

They settle into bed with a few kisses and Caitlyn falls asleep within moments of her head hitting the pillow.

()()()

“Fucking— son of a—“ Vi grouches as quietly as she can while gaming in the living room. She finally gets some heals and finds some ammo to kill the last enemy for the checkpoint and exhales a heavy breath. That took an embarrassing amount of attempts to achieve but she’s glad it’s over.

Vi woke up a couple hours ago, Caitlyn still passed out asleep and curled into a ball on her side of the bed, and had some breakfast before plopping down at the gaming console in their living room. She wants Cait to get as much sleep as she can and quietly rolled out of bed to play video games with her head set on so as not to disturb her lover. After she plays one more part of this game Vi is going to check on her to make sure she isn’t running a fever or anything.

She zones back in on her game, playing on a harder difficulty than usual since she has played this so many times, and her Caitlyn Senses tingle. It’s something Vi coined because she always knows when her girlfriend is near or has entered a room.

After years of being together both have become so in tune with the other. They have learned how to read each other and speak without words needing to be said and know each other's weaknesses and respect one another’s boundaries about certain things.

Like how Vi knows she isn’t being ignored or takes offense when Caitlyn is nose deep in work, so focused that she can’t get her mind off her current goal to acknowledge Vi. How Caitlyn gnaws on her bottom lip when stressed and has specific meals she prefers when overwhelmed by life. That the Kiramman heiress always has a firearm within reach by their bed at night ever since there was an attempted kidnapping on her as a child at the age of twelve.

And Caitlyn knows Vi just as well, of course. She doesn’t sneak up on Vi and makes her presence known with a clear of her throat or heavier step of her foot. That when she finds Vi sleeping on the couch when she wakes up, it’s because she didn’t want to wake Caitlyn with a nightmare that had wrought her in her sleep, not wanting to disturb Caitlyn when she needed to get up early. She knows how defensive Vi is, her reflexes more instinctual than voluntary when something spooks her and her immediate thought is to put her fists up.

Caitlyn also knows how much Vi hates having a gun aimed at her and even just the sight of hand cuffs makes her think of times she would rather forget about.

So when Vi feels the barrel of a pistol pressed into the back of her head she knows it has to be an intruder. Her instincts kick in before her mind catches up to what could even be happening as she rapidly twists around, her head set flying off as she snatches the wrist holding the gun, and disarms the intruder faster than a flash of light.

Her heart stops when she comes face to face with the intruder who she has in a vice grip, her hand twisted up tightly in their over sized shirt to hold them still as she keeps the pistol out of their reach.

“What the fuck?” Vi whispers as she looks at Caitlyn— but not Caitlyn— but is Caitlyn. A, maybe, 13 year old Caitlyn who glares daggers at Vi. “What the fuck?”

“Let me go!” the tiny Caitlyn demands as she struggles in Vi’s unyielding grip.

It takes a moment for Vi to find her words. “…Cait?”

The girl frowns, only briefly pausing in her struggle. “Who are you? Where am I and what are you going to do to me?”

Her voice is so young, her blue eyes rich and skin spotless of any beauty marks or blemishes. Her little tooth gap is the most precious thing on her delicate face and Vi melts at how fucking adorable she is. Vi laughs unbelievably, feeling light headed and kind of crazy that this could even be possible.

“Unhand me! This-- it isn’t funny!” Caitlyn scowls, trying to appear brave, but Vi can see her fear.

“Caitlyn,” Vi begins calmly, getting serious. “I am not going to hurt you, nor would I ever want to. Honestly, I am just as confused and freaked out as you—“

“Why should I trust you?” she cuts off, her face red with anger as she smacks at Vi’s dense arm. “I have no idea who you are!”

Vi sighs but suddenly gets an idea to deescalate this mess. “Are you hungry?”

Caitlyn stops thrashing and squints. “What?”

“Are you hungry? You have been asleep for a long time and I got your favorite microwave meals in the freezer.” The girl simply stares, looking more and more fearful. It breaks Vi’s heart. “Listen, I’m going to let you go, but I need you to stay put in the living room. I swear on my life I’m not going to hurt you.”

“Tell me your full name and this address and I might consider it,” Caitlyn replies, marginally relaxing, but not nearly enough, doing her best to seem like she’s in control here.

Vi smiles. She is so cute with her face all scrunched up. “My name is Vi, legal name Violet James, and the address is 117 Progress street here in Piltover.”

“Do my parents know where I am?”

“They do, and they know me very well.” Vi sees Caitlyn relax further at the mention of her parents, although still suspicious. “You can call them and corroborate my story, but only if you promise to sit down and eat something first.”

It takes a few moments, but Caitlyn nods. She releases her grip on the shirt and slowly gets to her feet. Caitlyn’s eyes bug out when Vi fully stands and realizes Caitlyn has probably never seen a beefy, tatted, boxer with scars half naked before.

“Uh, choose a meal from the freezer,” Vi says awkwardly as she quickly grabs a hoodie off the rack by the front door and throws it on. Caitlyn has a slight blush as she heads into the kitchen. Vi breathes a sigh of relief and takes the moment to disarm the gun completely, taking it apart and removing all of the bullets to hide away in a spot this Caitlyn won’t know about.

Eventually the two are seated in the living room. Caitlyn eats her chosen meal, one Vi knows is a comfort food for her and is why she suggested she eat. Blue eyes dart around the home, occasionally glancing at Vi as she inspects every detail she can. Once Caitlyn has eaten enough, Vi pulls out her phone.

“Ready to call your mom and dad?”

Caitlyn perks up and nods, pushing her plate away as she sits up properly on the couch. She crosses her leg over the other with her hands clasped in her lap like she’s in a very important meeting despite her clothes being oversized and baggy. The word adorable sings through Vi’s mind like a broken record.

“Good day, Vi,” Cassandra greets over the phone on speaker, Caitlyn gasping.

“Hi, Vi!” Tobias greets, much more cheery.

“Hey Mrs. K,” Vi grins. “Sup, Tobi.”

“Is everything alright?” Cassandra asks.

“Debatable. I know you two are on the other side of the world right now and about to sleep, but I got a situation here with Cait.”

“Define this situation.”

Vi laughs nervously, unsure how Cassandra will take this. “I think some arcane based shenanigans took place at the carnival last night because I am currently sitting down with a 13 year old Caitlyn.”

“I’m 14 actually,” Caitlyn corrects haughtily.

Cassandra gasps and Tobias coos, “Oh! Our sweets girl’s little voice! What a treat to hear!”

“Mum, dad?” Caitlyn asks worriedly. “I don’t know what’s going on, and I don’t know if I should trust Vi.”

Vi can hear Cassandra taking a measured breathe on the other side of the world. “Everything is alright, dear,” she says after a moment, her tone gentle in a way Vi rarely hears. “You can trust Vi. Your father and I trust her very much. I don’t know what’s going on either, but you are in good hands, Caitlyn. Vi? This better be remedied before we return in 4 days.”

“Don’t worry a bit. I’m calling Jayce right after you.”

“Thank you,” Tobias says sincerely. “I know we can count on you.”

“Caitlyn,” the mom says, “do as Vi says and everything will be fine.”

“Yes mother,” Caitlyn nods and looks much more relaxed. “Sleep well, both of you.”

Tobias continues to coo over the phone as Cassandra says, “Keep us updated, Vi.”

The phone call ends and Vi goes to ring up Jayce but pauses.

“How’re you feeling?” she asks the teenager.

“Confused. But if mother and father say I can trust you, then I know I can. You said the arcane did this?”

Vi shrugs. “No idea, but it’s the most likely explanation. Jayce works with it and may have a solution.”

Caitlyn nods, brows furrowed in thought. “You had my favorite meals in the fridge,” she says slowly. “Are we… friends?”

The way she asks the question is so timid but so hopeful that Vi’s heart pangs. She remembers Caitlyn telling her how lonely she was as a child, how she didn’t have many friends and considered herself a misfit. The last thing Vi needs to do is tell Caitlyn they are a couple who are madly in love and live together, because that would break Vi’s brain if the roles were reversed.

Vi gives her the warmest expression. “Yeah, Cait, we are the best of friends.”

The shy smile she gets in return is nothing short of beautiful.

()()()

Vi called Jayce but he didn’t pick up, so she left a voice mail about needing to call back as soon as he could. He’s probably buried in work at the lab with Viktor since that’s usually when he has his phone muted so he can focus. She debates calling Ekko, but he’s doing a prestigious program in Ixtal for another two weeks and doesn’t want to disturb him. Besides, signal is shit over there.

Additionally, she calls her work place to let them know she will need the next 3 days off for a family emergency. Her boss is one of the best people she knows and agrees easily.

So, while they wait on Jayce, Vi and Caitlyn just… hang out. Vi plays an old co-op video game so Caitlyn can join and the teenager seems to finally be enjoying herself. She isn’t stiff as a board anymore and has slouched into the couch as she makes the most precious happy nosies when she achieves something and the cutest grumbles when she loses.

It’s a habit she still does to this day, but hearing it from this younger version of her is something Vi will forever cherish for its arrant purity.

At some point Caitlyn is so locked in when she gets bombarded by powerful NPCs that she sits up on her knees like a mongoose on the hunt. Vi has never struggled to stifle her laughter more than she has in this moment.

“You shot me!” Caitlyn exclaims. “Again! You— You just did it again! Vi!”

“Sorry for trying to save your ass from the swarm of zombies,” Vi chortles, losing the battle against containing her amusement.

“Stop using the bloody auto shotgun and go back to the M16 assault rifle and maybe I won’t die of friendly fire every 5 minutes!”

Vi fully laughs at that, Caitlyn giggling with her as they keep playing. “Well where’s the fun in that, cupcake? Can’t let you have all of the kills, being the excellent shot that you are.”

Caitlyn blushes at the sudden nickname that Vi accidentally slip and blushes even more at the compliment of her shooting.

“Well, thank you for noticing my superior targeting skills. Is this a game we play often?” she asks, deftly ignoring the cupcake part of that convo.

“When we have time, yeah. All the added mods keep the game interesting even though it’s old.”

Caitlyn nods and glances at Vi out of the corner of her eye. She’s been doing that a lot since they started playing.

“You can ask me about stuff, you know,” Vi tells her. Caitlyn has always been so curious, full of desire to understand and make sense of the world. It’s why she’s become such a fantastic journalist. Even as a kid, Caitlyn has been open minded to all walks of life. Vi knows she won’t be judged no matter what she asks.

The girl gnaws on her lip for a moment before asking, “Are your hands okay?”

Vi doesn’t have to look down at her hands to know why she asks that. Her knuckles are scarred and lumpy from missing cartilage. Roughened callouses and still healing bruises blot her skin. Caitlyn is trying to ask questions that aren’t on the nose, looking for bits and pieces instead of wanting to be rude. Always had manners, her cupcake.

“They’re fine, they just don’t look like it. I coach boxing at the local gym, so my hands have a special look.”

“How long have you boxed?”

“Since I could walk,” Vi grins. “Been a trainer for the last few years but I still have matches from time to time.”

“How often do you win?”

Vi smirks wickedly. “I always win. Next question.”

Caitlyn giggles adorably at her and then clears her throat. “Have you always lived in Piltover?” Ah, always so intuitive. Vi has no doubt that Caitlyn already has the answer to that.

“No, I was born and raised in Zaun. My dad got sick and we worked any job we could to afford his treatments. A couple of us landed jobs here that paid well and we got our dad in a hospital here. He’s healthy as a horse now and we moved here shortly thereafter.”

“Do you have siblings?”

Vi snickers. “Oh yeah, they’re a rowdy bunch. Got a biological sister and two adoptive brothers.”

“I always wondered what it was like to have siblings,” Caitlyn muses. “Jayce is probably the closest thing I have to a brother.”

That gives Vi an idea. She pauses the game and faces Caitlyn who huffs at the game being stopped, saying the ‘safe house is right there!’.

“Would you like to meet my siblings?” Caitlyn’s eyes go wide, her jaw dropping a bit. “Can meet up with them for food and hang out by the river or they can come here,” she shrugs. “Whatever you’re comfortable with. Don’t even have to meet them if you don’t wanna.”

“Do they not have jobs to be at?”

Vi snorts. “Oh, they do, but nothing will stop them from dropping everything to hang out and get out of work for a few hours.”

Caitlyn looks at her with awe, her gorgeous cerulean eyes shining. “Really? That… that could be fun.”

“Loads of fun, kid. Want me to text them to meet up?”

“Yes, I would like to go out. See the river too, please.”

Vi’s chest bubbles with affection. “Alright. Just tell me if you wanna bail, and we will. Promise.”

“I trust you,” Caitlyn smiles and Vi’s eyes well with happy tears.

()()()

“Oh. My. Fuck.” Powder gapes from the entrance of the cafe, stock still as she takes in teenage Caitlyn. Mylo and Claggor are in a similar state beside her.

“Close your mouths before a fly sneaks in,” Vi jabs and the three hurry over to sit down across from Vi and Cait.

“Hello,” Caitlyn greets kindly. “You are Vi’s siblings?”

Powder’s face almost breaks from her smile. “You’re so cute it’s unfair! And yeah, I’m Powder, the coolest sibling of us all.”

Caitlyn chuckles as Mylo rolls his eyes. “She says that to everyone. I’m Mylo, the most badass of the squad.”

“I’m Claggor,” her brother grins. “The most humble.”

Mylo blows a raspberry at him. “You can’t be humble by saying you are humble.”

Claggor gives him a bored look. “You need to work on your ability to read sarcasm.”

Powder leans towards Caitlyn with bright eyes. “So, has my sister been annoying you to death?” Vi huffs.

“On the contrary,” Caitlyn replies with a sweet curl of her lips at Vi before looking back at Powder. “She’s been very kind and lovely to hang out with.”

Vi’s heart does somersaults, her cheeks warming.

“Wow, the big bad hound didn’t scare you off?” Mylo teases.

Caitlyn frowns at him. “I feel quite safe, actually.” She turns to Vi. “Are siblings always this harsh to each other?”

Vi laughs. “Can be, yeah, but we have always been a handful. No one actually wants to be mean. Mylo is just an ass.”

“Hey!”

Claggor shakes his head at their brother’s grouchy attitude and grabs a menu. “He’s a softie at heart,” he says.

“Just like Vi,” Powder smirks.

“What do you wanna eat, Cait?” Vi asks her before her siblings can tease her any further.

As they eat and enjoy the company, Caitlyn unwinds more and more with each joke and silly story of Vi and her family’s past. Caitlyn is fully engaged and asking questions and making quips that leave them laughing boisterously.

“You broke your finger playing pool?” Caitlyn asks with a raised brow at Mylo.

“We weren’t exactly playing pool,” he defends.

“Then what were you playing?”

Powder snickers. “It was called Ball Breaking, but after Mylo broke his finger we called it Bone Breaking.”

“We would split up the billiard balls,” Claggor explains. “Whoever drew the shortest tooth pick got the extra ball if there was any. The goal was to throw all of yours into a certain basket while blocking the other’s balls with your own. The balls can’t come off the table and whoever gets them all in first wins.”

“And Mylo had his hand on the table,” Vi says, chewing on her meal. “And, unsurprisingly, a finger got crushed.”

Mylo glares at her. “It wouldn’t have broke if you weren’t stronger than a brute!”

“Your hand shouldn’t have been on the table.”

Before Mylo can try and argue again, Caitlyn chimes in. “She’s right, that wasn’t wise. It surely had to hurt, too.”

“Nah, it wasn’t that bad—“

“He wailed like a lost baby elephant,” Powder deadpans and Caitlyn laughs, covering her mouth when she does. Vi has noticed she’s been doing that almost every time she laughs since leaving the house.

“I was quite self conscious of my teeth as a kid due to bullying. It took someone standing up for me and telling me to never hide myself that I stopped covering my smile.”

That’s what Caitlyn had told Vi within their first few dates when Vi told her how much she adored her smile.

“Hey,” Vi says gently to Caitlyn who looks at her. “Don’t hide your smile. Smiling is one of the best things in life and it’s something you should never feel ashamed about. You see my mug?”

Vi grins and points to her missing and crooked teeth. Caitlyn watches her owlishly, nodding along to what she has to say.

“For a long time I didn’t smile, at least not fully,” she goes on. “It took me too long to realize that showing yourself, really letting the world see you for you, is something a lot of people take for granted.”

“Truth,” Claggor nods as he finishes off his sandwich. “Be authentic, don’t ever live in a shadow.”

Powder shoots a spit ball right on to Mylo’s forehead who squeaks. “Vi can get real sappy,” Powder drawls as Mylo rapidly makes his own spitball. “But she’s right. Life is soooo boring when you don’t let yourself shine.”

Mylo prepares to spit and Powder snatches his straw with blinding speed, foiling his revenge.

“C’mon, Pow,” he huffs. “I deserve a chance at payback.”

“You just had one and fucked it up. Dunno what to tell you, pea brain.”

As the two bicker, Caitlyn looks back at Vi with a vulnerable expression.

“Ever done a spit ball before?” Vi asks her as she wads up the paper from her straw. Caitlyn shakes her head. “You’re about too. Lock and load, kiddo.”

Caitlyn perks up and smiles, all toothy and beaming with her beloved gap on display as she prepares her weapon. Vi is proud of her, and even more proud when Caitlyn gets her spitball right in Mylo’s ear.

()()()

After leaving the restaurant, they all walked down to the river and skipped rocks with the occasional splash of water to make each other shriek from how cold the autumn weather was getting. Caitlyn hadn’t ever skipped rocks before but proved to be a natural and got the groove of the activity pretty fast. Vi wasn’t shocked in the slightest, Caitlyn is a maven of anything she sets her mind to.

Claggor is threatening to toss Mylo in the water when Vi’s phone rings. It’s Jayce.

“Yo, numbskulls,” she alerts the others. “Jayce is calling.”

Everyone gathers around her phone as she swipes it open and puts him on speaker.

“Was about time, Pretty Boy.”

“You know I don’t check my phone at work,” Jayce huffs and Vi sees Caitlyn light up at his voice. “What’s so urgent that you needed me for? Is everything okay?”

“Well, everything is okay, but Caitlyn somehow turned into a twelve year old this morning.”

“Like I already said, I am 14!” she proclaims with a playful swat at Vi’s arm.

Jayce gasps loudly. “Oh sweet stars, Cait? Am I really talking to little Cait right now?! She sounds so cute!”

Caitlyn rolls her eyes, grinning. “No, you’re speaking to a muppet.”

“Yeah, that’s Cait alright,” Jayce chuckles. “Wow, how’d this happen? Vi, you gotta tell me everything. Does Cait remember anything?”

“Not a thing,” Vi sighs as she scratches her head. “I think it’s arcane related which is why I called you. She was feeling dizzy and nauseous when we got home last night and was a bit pale in the face. Had her go to sleep and she slept almost 12 hours. Was about to check on her when I turn around and she has a gun to my head demanding to know where she is and who I am.”

Caitlyn puts a soft hand in Vi’s. “I’m still sorry about that, Vi.” Fuck, she’s so sweet and sincere that Vi might die.

“Dude, even teenage Caitlyn is a baddie,” Powder laughs. “Was ready to bust a cap in your ass, sis.”

Jayce hums as he thinks. “Was she feeling ill before you two got home?”

“Yeah, actually,” Vi nods. “Think it might be linked to the carnival?”

“It’s possible. A lot happened there, though, and some rides are powered by gemstones. It’s possible the current of the magic seeped out and affected a ride or game.”

“Sounds like we need to go back,” Claggor says.

“Sounds like a needle in a haystack,” Mylo murmurs which earns him a noogie from his brother.

Jayce sighs. “Yeah, and it’s way too crowded right now and there aren’t any reports like this on the news from what I can see. Tell you what, Vik and I are off tomorrow and will go there first thing in the morning long before it opens and do some tests and scope it out.”

“Oh oh oh!” Powder bounces. “Can I come with? You know I love breaking and entering and wacky science.”

“I was just about to ask!” he laughs. “We will need all the brains we can get to figure this out. There’s a lot of ground to cover. Powder, how soon can you be here?”

“Dude I can be there right now if it means getting my hands on gadgets.”

“Then we’ll see you soon. We will figure this out, Cait. Just hang tight, your big bro has got you covered!”

Caitlyn smiles softly at that. “Thank you, Jayce.”

Vi ends the call and Powder grabs her bag.

“See ya losers! Those nerds are gonna need my brilliance!” she says as she skips off to get on her hover board and zoom to the lab.

“Anything we can do to help in the meantime?” Claggor asks Vi and Caitlyn.

Caitlyn shakes her head. “I’m okay, thank you, Claggor. The clothes you brought for me fit well enough and Vi’s fridge has plenty of food.”

“That bottomless stomach,” Mylo grins and ruffles Vi’s hair who slaps him away with a laugh.

“You’ll understand if you ever get muscle mass,” Vi shoots back.

“Low blow, bro.”

“We should head out,” Claggor says with an exaggerated eye roll. “Can’t skip out of work for too long.”

She pulls the two in for a big hug and waves them off. With that, she and Cait head home. It’s about a 20 minute walk and when they’re a few minutes from the house, it begins to rain.

“Oh, bugger off,” Caitlyn grouches at the sky as the sprinkle turns into a harder rainfall. “Dear gods, that’s freezing!”

Vi laughs with Caitlyn as they start to run, the cold rain starting to soak uncomfortably into their clothes. Caitlyn isn’t as fast as Vi and she doesn’t want the kid getting a cold so she scoops her up in her arms bridal style.

“Wh-what—Vi!” she squeals into a giggle as she she clings to her neck.

“I got you princess!” Vi says as she hauls ass down the road, their house just up ahead. “Can’t have you getting sick!”

By the time they get under the small cover of the front porch, they’re both shivering and Vi hurries them inside. They kick their shoes and socks off and any extra layers like their jackets, all drenched and slapping loudly on the floor.

“Let me get the shower warmed up for you,” Vi says as she wraps Caitlyn in a towel. “There’s a heater in the living room if you need it.”

She gets the shower on and hops back to the entrance for the bag of clothes Claggor brought to lunch for Cait. They’re a little damp so she tosses them in the dryer.

“I’ll have them warm and ready on the bed for you when you finish,” Vi says to Cait who follows her to the shower.

“But Vi, you’re shivering,” she points out as Vi closes the bathroom door.

She smiles at the teen. “Don’t worry, I’ll be fine ‘til you’re done. Get cleaned up and I’ll have hot cider ready for you.”

Before Caitlyn can protest about Vi’s well being, she closes the door. Holy hell is she cold. She quickly gets out of her remaining clothes and into a new hoodie and sweatpants from the dirty laundry that she had yet to wash. It’ll do for now, and she’s been in more disgusting situations.

When the clothes are sufficiently dry, she puts them on the bed and closes the bedroom door so Caitlyn can have privacy. The hot air blowing from the heater warms up her hands and feet wonderfully and then sets to prepping the cider.

The water is boiling as Caitlyn steps out in the borrowed clothes, hair thrown up in a towel.

“Cider is almost ready,” Vi says. “You warm enough?”

“Perfectly, thank you. Now go shower before you get sick,” she demands, making Vi chuckle. She’s been bossy since day one, it seems.

“Alright, alright. Let me get your mug first.”

Vi pours the powdered contents into the steaming water in the cup and mixes it with a cinnamon stick, just the way Caitlyn loves. She hands it to her and has to hold herself back from instinctively kissing her head. It’s strange having to look down at Caitlyn. Her girlfriend has legs for days but now her head only comes up to Vi’s chin. Her growth spurt still has a ways to go. It must be why Jayce nicknamed her Sprout.

“A cinnamon stick?” Cait asks.

“Yeah, it’s your favorite add on to the drink. Bottoms up.”

As Vi heads to wash up she hears Caitlyn hum appreciatively when she takes a sip of the cider. She gets in the shower but lingers for a minute longer than her typically quick routine to soak up the heat and relax her muscles. That cold ass rain made some old injuries ache and hopes her limp won’t be noticed. Some battered bones needed metal to correct them and she dreads this time of year because of the pain the weather brings with it. She’s going to need some hot packs so she doesn’t wake up stiff and sore tomorrow and take her pain killers which will barely help, but help the best they can.

When done and in some flannel pants and shirt, Vi grabs Cait’s hairbrush, knowing how her lover likes to brush her hair out before it dries too much. On the TV a random sitcom plays, one that Vi knows Cait enjoys as background noise when she’s cleaning or cooking or doing laundry.

“Here,” Vi says as she hands over the brush to Caitlyn and heads to grab her own mug of cider. When she returns to the couch, Caitlyn is brushing her hair but looks deep in thought. “You okay?”

The girl hums and looks at the brush and then at Vi. “I live here with you, don’t I.”

Vi sucks her teeth. “Nothing gets past you, smarty pants.”

Caitlyn blushes, and Vi thinks she sees a hint of a smile. “We were at a carnival last night?”

“Yeah. Us and some friends and my siblings.”

“Sounds lovely.”

Vi smiles. “It really was. Sucks you turned into a kid because of it.”

Caitlyn laughs a little. “Can’t be all bad. I’ve been having fun so far. The company has been delightful.”

“Happy to hear that. I’ve been having fun too, you know. Only ever got to see younger you in family photos, it’s been cool to meet you like this.”

“Oh, that’s good,” Caitlyn says shyly, tucking hair behind her ear. “It’s still raining, shall we watch something or play a game?”

“I’m down for a movie marathon.” Her fingers can’t really move right now being all stiff and numb with tingles from the weather. Holding a controller would be excruciating. “What’re you in the mood for?”

The girl hums and pads over to the wall of DVDs. Vi likes having physical copies of movies and shows, not enjoying when her favorite things get taken off streaming services. Caitlyn has added her own favorites to the collection, most of them classics.

A happy noise spurs from the teen when she spots a box set of the original Star Trek movies. She faces Vi.

“What about these? I doubt we can watch all of them, but we can start.”

“Start her up,” Vi grins. She’s seen these movies so many times, having not been a fan until she met Cait who watched them often on days she couldn’t or didn’t want to leave the house. “I’ll get some snacks.”

When Vi prepares to stand from the couch, she swallows a pained groan at the motion, and pushes through the deep ache in her back and leg so Caitlyn won’t notice. Vi must fail because her Caitlyn Senses go off and she knows those intense blue eyes are watching her every movement. She’s glad Caitlyn doesn’t say anything and simply preps the first movie while Vi gets snacks from the kitchen.

With one arm full of bagged chips and the other balancing a couple sodas, she turns around and her leg twinges real bad. She swears under her breath and catches herself on the kitchen counter with the arm full of sodas, saving them from exploding on the tile, but crushing all of the chips in her other arm.

“Fuckfuckfuckfuck,” she hisses and Caitlyn rushes over.

“Vi! Are you okay?” Her young face is so full of worry and Vi hates to ever see that cute face look upset.

She smiles through the pain. “Just a little slip, I’m good.”

Vi goes to straighten up but her leg is still protesting. Stupid fucking street fights did a number on her.

“Stop lying and let me help you,” Caitlyn frowns. “Set the sodas down, I’m taking the chips.”

With a sigh, Vi relents and frees her arms, allowing her an easier time to straighten up.

“Woah, woah,” Vi interjects when Cait tries to wrap around her waist to help her walk. “Cait—“

“Let me help—!”

“I will— just— you can’t do it that way,” Vi explains and Caitlyn obeys, stepping back a little.

“Tell me what to do.”

Gods, how did Vi ever earn a kind soul such as this one in her life? So earnest and caring and ready to help anyone who needs it, no matter who they are. She’s truly the sweetest cupcake there is.

With a swallow, Vi looks at the closet by the front door. “I have a cane in there.” Caitlyn immediately goes to retrieve it and comes back.

“What else?”

“Uh,” she starts and clears her throat. “I got two hot packs that you can heat up. There’s a bigger heating pad that plugs in by the couch I lay on.”

“Okay. Can you get over there alright?”

“Yeah, thanks Cait.”

Soon Vi is settled on her electric heating pad, lying down as it warms her back pleasantly with one hot pack on the lower half of right leg and the other on the same knee. She exhales a breath of relief when the old pain begins to dissipate, Caitlyn bringing over the snacks and drinks. It’s only then that she starts the movie and curls up by Vi’s feet on the couch, nestled into the arm rest with a blanket and pillow.

Graciously, Caitlyn doesn’t ask about her current situation and they simply enjoy the movies. They laugh at the cheesy parts and do their best Klingon and Vulcan impressions.

For dinner Caitlyn heats something up for the both of them, not letting Vi get up again. Vi would be annoyed if it was anyone else. Right now she’s just full of endearment for her kindness.

“You’ve gone most of your life without any help or assistance, Vi. You’ve put everyone before yourself for so long. Please, let me take care of you, let yourself breathe and be taken care of.”

Caitlyn had said that when she couldn’t take Vi’s stubbornness anymore when she saw how much pain she was in their first winter together. She let Caitlyn care for her that day and each day since. It was also the same day they told each other how much they loved one another.

It’s approaching 10pm when Caitlyn begins to drift off, her head bobbing with sleep as she tries to stay awake. Vi is also getting very tired.

“Time we call it a day and get some sleep?” she suggests and Cait nods through a yawn.

“Yes, I think that’s best. Can you get up alright?”

Vi waves her off. “Don’t worry about me, I’ll sleep here.”

Cait frowns. “That cannot be comfortable nor supportive of your back and neck. If it makes you uneasy sharing a bed, I can sleep on the couch instead.”

“Wh—Cait— no, no that’s not—“ Vi sighs and squeezes her eyes shut. It will be so embarrassing if she has to admit why she can’t share a bed with Caitlyn.

“What is it then? Please tell me,” Caitlyn pleads.

“I… I….” she starts and sighs again. Caitlyn doesn’t budge, mulish as ever when it comes to Vi. Guess Vi is doing this after all. “Look, I could hurt you in my sleep. I get nightmares. They aren’t every night but they ramp up when old injuries flare like this, okay?”

It wasn’t easy the first time she told Caitlyn this and it isn’t easier this time either. If anything, it’s even worse. Telling a kid how fucked up your life has been, that the world isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, how it can leave grown ass adults still so fearful. As if some things can never be conquered. Vi has been in therapy and working on it all, as well as her embarrassment in regard to telling others of her issues, but it’s still hard to admit. The fact that it’s still this difficult to admit she gets nightmares tells her she needs to book a special therapy appointment next week.

“So you would rather deal with them alone, while in pain, which already exacerbates the issue, and hurt yourself more during your sleep because of your physical reactions to them,” she says plainly, but not rudely. Vi wants to curl into a ball and disappear. “I get nightmares too, you know? Ever since people tried to take me I’ve slept with a gun by my bed. But waking up alone is the worst part. It’s why we have dogs. They sleep with me and make me feel safe.”

Vi knows all of this, but hearing it from the sweet, little voice from the love of her life makes Vi want to hit something and hold her close to her chest and protect her from everything and anything.

“I would appreciate not sleeping alone,” Cait adds on softly. “You… you make me feel safe and I want you to feel safe as well, Vi.”

That nearly undoes her completely, the dam holding her tears back almost shattering.

“Okay.” It’s all she can manage right now without crying.

Caitlyn gives her a tender smile and helps Vi get in bed. She points to a night light that they sleep with every night and Vi sees a weight come off the girl’s shoulders when Caitlyn flicks it on. Waking up in the dark was something neither of them enjoy and don’t tell others. Their bedroom is a hallowed place, a space they can be bare in every meaning of the word, free of judgment.

Vi takes her sleeping pills that are basically sedatives to keep her muscles and mind relaxed to ease into sleep better, hoping it’s enough to get her through the night. Beside her, Caitlyn gets snuggled in the covers, curling up on her side facing Vi. In the dim light of the room those azure orbs glow as they always do, adding another blanket of safety over Vi.

“Do tell me if you need anything,” Caitlyn tells her.

“Only if you promise to do the same,” Vi smirks and Caitlyn huffs but she holds out her pinky.

“Fine. I promise to tell you if I need something.”

Vi curls her pinky around Cait’s, satisfied with this. The two fall asleep and neither have any bad dreams.

When Vi wakes up, her body not hurting nearly as much and shockingly rested, she sees Caitlyn snuggled into her side. Still 14 years old and smaller than Vi and cuddling with a hand on Vi’s arm as she breathes softly with sleep. Vi feels the rest of her pain fade at the sight and feeling of her gentle hand and breaths on her arm. Everything about the girl always puts Vi at ease. Her girlfriend has always had that effect.

Ohhh, a new term. The Cupcake Effect, she decides. When things go back to normal she knows Caitlyn will ask what it means when Vi inevitably says it. Her reply will be the cheesiest, most romantic crap ever but Caitlyn will giggle and kiss her breathless.

()()()

They’re having breakfast when Jayce calls and Vi immediately puts him on speaker.

“Watcha got?” she greets.

A long, loud yawn greets her back. “Got ya something,” Jayce says, sounding ready to crash into bed. “How’s Caitlyn?”

“Still a kid.”

“A teenager,” she harrumphs.

Jayce laughs and it’s weak with sleepiness. “I guess nothing changing is good news, in a way. Okay, so, we basically retraced our steps from the other night and took scans of everything and marked what was powered by gemstones, whether directly or from an extended source that shared or neighbored it.”

Vi nods as she drums her fingers on the table. “Cool, cool. Anything stick out? Or find a solution?”

Jayce yawns again. “Nothing stuck out, but we did narrow down what rides or locations could have caused this. As for a solution? Well…”

“We dunno yet!” Powder suddenly says into the speaker, having much more energy than Jayce. This doesn’t surprise Vi in the slightest. “Our best bet to fixing or undoing this wacky phenomenon is bringing tiny Cait to the carnival when it’s powered on.”

“Our hypothesis is that it could jog her memory,” Viktor adds on, sounding distracted. Vi can hear rapid typing on a computer— Viktor more than likely trying to figure this out with zero intention to stop. “What we know of the arcane is that it responds to its surroundings, much like plants in their environment. Something must have pulled it to Caitlyn, as if it was drawn to her. Or she did something, perhaps even felt something, and it triggered a reaction. The arcane isn’t sentient, but it is affected by various factors.”

Jayce makes a sleepy hum. “There’s been cases of people saying their lives improved or worsened because of the arcane. That magic was responsible. Only a handful of instances like these were actually proved to have been directly linked to the arcane.”

Across from Vi, Caitlyn listens intently, taking in all of the information and undoubtedly trying to figure this out as well.

“What kinda cases have been proved?” Vi asks.

“Some grandma said the arcane saved her from being hit by a car by shoving her out of the way,” Powder replies. “Said she was desperate to see her grandkids before they moved away. Cameras proved no one pushed her and she legit, like, floated out of the way. It looks so silly— hang on I need to send it to you, sis.”

Vi’s phone rumbles with a text from Powder with a link. “I’ll watch it in a bit,” she chuckles. “But this is good, yeah? Like, maybe thoughts can manifest certain things?”

“That’s the assumption we keep coming to with the experiences these people have shared,” Viktor says. “One man swore he visited another time line to see his twin who died when they were young. Said he was there for a week and that it was too real to not be a dream.”

“That sounds highly unlikely, but… here I am. Like this,” Caitlyn says, brows furrowed in thought.

“Jayce is officially asleep,” Viktor informs.

“Shit, I’m right behind him,” Powder mutters.

Vi grins, endeared by their dedication to solve this. “All of you get some sleep. Let those wrinkly brains cool off and recharge. When everyone is rested then we can go to the carnival and try to reverse this.”

“I am inclined to agree,” Viktor says, almost slurring his words. “Do call if something urgent comes up and we will let you know when we wake.”

“Good deal.”

The call ends and Vi leans on her arms on the table and looks at Caitlyn.

“Is there anything you wanna do in the meantime?” Vi asks her. “Could go do something.”

Caitlyn purses her lips. “You don’t have priorities to sort out today?”

“Nope.”

“Well, then I would like to go out. Where do you like to go?”

Vi takes their plates to the sink. “Tons of places. But there’s a part of town that has lots of fun shops and spots to explore that I like to visit on occasion.”

Caitlyn perks up. “Like what?”

“Let’s not spoil the surprise, yeah?” That earns her a playful pout. “Go get dressed and we can ride over there. Put on an extra layer so you don’t get cold.”

“It’s not that cold today. Surely a car will keep me warm enough.”

Vi smirks at her. “We aren’t going in a car.”

()()()

“A motorcycle?” Caitlyn gapes. “My parents would never approve.”

Vi gets her gloves on and laughs. “Oh, believe me, they still don’t. But they trust me and Older You couldn’t get enough once you took your first ride.”

Caitlyn’s excitement overshadows her skepticism as she looks at all the details of the bike. It’s Vi’s pride and joy and something she takes more care of than her own self, much to her girlfriend’s dismay.

Vi grabs a helmet and gloves for Cait. “Suit up, kid.” She does so eagerly and Vi mounts the bike. “Throw your leg over like I just did and hang on to me.”

“Right,” she nods firmly and gets set behind Vi, wrapping her arms around her middle.

“There’s microphones in the helmets so we can hear each other, alright? Just let me know if we need to stop.”

“Okay. I’m ready.”

With that, they rumble out of the short driveway and onto the street. Through the helmet, Vi can hear Caitlyn’s little sounds of awe as they make their way through town.

“Woah!” Caitlyn giggles when Vi picks up speed down a more open, long road. Vi throttles her engine, making Caitlyn laugh and squeeze tighter around her back.

When Vi gets to the parking lot and shuts her bike off, Caitlyn is beaming from ear to ear. Her cheeks are flushed and her hair is tussled from the helmet.

“So? Motorcycle approved?” Vi smirks, feeling smug.

“Very much so!” she smiles as she adjusts her hair. “I now fully understand the appeal.”

“I thought you might.”

They exit the lot and Vi sucks in a breath when Cait puts a hand around her arm, holding onto her as they walk down the strip. The simple action makes Vi melt like a lit candle, feeling wonderfully warm despite the weather. Such a gentle hand wrapped around her arm, her soft face flushed pink from the cold winds.

Their first stop is a book store, one Cait frequents when needing a new story to read. Not only books, but the place has games and stationary items that her girlfriend adores and shops through regularly. Her collection of bookmarks is massive, each one unique and special in its own way. Vi has made her a few and Cait keeps those on her nightstand, always at the ready to be put in her latest bedtime novel.

Caitlyn takes a deep breath when they step into the bookstore, inhaling the soothing scent of bound paper and dried ink. The atmosphere is cozy, sections of the place having comfortable chairs with coffee tables to relax in while taking a book for a test ride.

“Mystery section is right over here,” Vi tells her, knowing exactly where to start. Caitlyn doesn’t hesitate to tug Vi towards the shelves.

“Are 13 books really necessary for a plot about a cheating spouse?” Caitlyn balks when she skims a certain book collection.

Vi laughs deep within her chest. Caitlyn already read this whole series and couldn’t stop rambling about how crazy it got with every book, the twists and turns never ending.

“You’ll have to read and see for yourself,” she shrugs.

Caitlyn eyes her suspiciously. “You already know how it ends. Do you read mysteries?”

“Nah, not my thing. I’m not much of a reader.”

“Well, what do you like to read, if any?”

“Comics books, mostly. Graphic novels. Anything with cool fights and art in it.”

Caitlyn puts a book back that she was flipping through. “Take me to them?” Once again, she takes Vi’s arm in her hand and looks up at her expectantly.

Vi leads them to the proper section and grabs one of her favorite comic book series, Hellboy. Caitlyn oooh’s and aaah’s as they flip through some pages, delighted by the story and art style just like she did the first time Vi showed her collection of the series. Since then, Caitlyn has read them all.

The next shop is an antique store. It’s always packed with vintage and unique items that carry decades of stories sealed within them. She and Cait love to pop in every couple months to see new things and make guesses on where the items originated and who owned them in the past.

Caitlyn spots a very old cash register machine and lightly presses her fingers to its metal buttons. “It’s beautiful. What store do you think it was used in?”

Vi strokes the raised designs on the register, feeling its aged, engraved metal and the delicate craftsmanship that decorates it. She pulls the lever on the side and smiles when it cranks and dings.

“Well, since this is made of brass, then that means it was most likely before the first world war because there was a massive demand for brass. So, they stopped using it for stuff like this,” Vi says. “If it is that old, then shops were more specialized or small and family owned. I like to think it was family owned. Maybe a flower shop or shoe repair or even a tailors. This one doesn’t cost as much as others have in the past. Has a wood base, buttons don’t chime, but the lever works which is the fun part.”

She turns to Caitlyn, having been lost in her imagination of a sweet family with kids running a store together, and is met with a smirk.

“You know an awful lot about antique tills, Vi.”

“We come here a lot,” she shrugs. “Rarely buy anything but we like seeing the history. When I can’t sleep at night I’ll look the stuff up and read about it until my brain leaves me alone and I fall asleep. Then I’ll yap about it to you in the morning.”

Caitlyn’s smirk softens. “That’s cute.”

Vi blushes, grinning. “You like when I ramble about stuff. All this random knowledge gets locked in the memory bank and I got no use for it anywhere. But, you listen, you engage and ask questions and nod along while my thoughts are going a hundred miles a second.”

“Well,” she stammers. “I’ve always been curious.”

“Yeah, and always been real patient too, cupcake.” Vi realizes what she says and wrings her hands. “Uh, sorry if the nickname makes you uncomfortable. It’s reflex.”

Caitlyn shakes her head. “Oh no, no don’t worry. It’s okay, really. Um, it’s… I like it. It’s nice.”

Vi’s heart rate slows from its minute panic. “Yeah?”

“Yes. It makes me feel special,” she smiles shyly, voice soft.

It’s like sunshine has been injected directly into Vi’s blood stream. “That’s because you are special, Caitlyn.”

The girl flushes, looking quite happy as she fidgets with her skirt. She clears her throat. “I think it’s a tailors shop,” Caitlyn decides, composing herself. “A family that helped all people for all occasions and heard stories about events. They were close friends with many of their town.”

“And some people got a pin in their butt when their kids needed practice,” Vi grins, making Caitlyn laugh.

()()()

The three geniuses finally awake and it’s time they meet at the carnival. Since getting off her bike, Caitlyn’s hand has been firmly gripping Vi’s.

“Caitlyn!” Jayce shouts from up ahead when they come into view.

“Jayce?” Caitlyn asks, eyes sparkling. He doesn’t hesitate to open his arms and wrap her up in hug, picking her up off her feet.

“Tiny Cait!”

“Put me down!”

He does and beams down at her. “It’s so good to see you.”

“Likewise,” she smiles warmly.

“Cait, this is Viktor,” he introduces and Caitlyn primly shakes his hand. “He’s my science partner.”

“Lovely to meet you, Viktor.”

Viktor chuckles. “I’m having deja vu. A pleasure meeting you again for the first time.”

“It’s literally so weird, right?” Powder says around a giant lollipop. “Can we keep her?”

“Powder,” Vi rebukes without heat.

“Oh, lighten up. Are ya ready, mini Cait?”

Caitlyn nods stiffly. “Yes.”

“Let’s start retracing our steps,” Jayce says and all three scientists hold a device of some sort that glows and pulses with energy. “Cait, let us know if you feel anything.”

“How do you mean?” she asks as she takes Vi’s hand again as they start walking. Vi can tell she’s nervous.

“Like something is pulling you or calling to you.”

“You may even recall something,” Viktor adds. “Perhaps a memory or a nagging thought or idea. A desire. Trust your gut, as they say.”

As they mosey through the growing crowd of the carnival, Caitlyn remains glued to Vi’s side. Her blue eyes never stop flitting around and her brows furrow sometimes like something has her attention or she heard something. All the while, Vi keeps an eye on her and remains a steady presence.

They walk by all the rides and games and food spots like they did the other night, and the devices occasionally react.

“How do you feel?” Jayce will ask at certain locations and Caitlyn is unable to give much of an answer.

“There’s something— but I can’t place it,” she says when they get to the ferris wheel. Vi is starting to get anxious the closer they get to the end of their journey.

As much as she has enjoyed this special time with Cait, she wants her own Cait back. She wants her girlfriend. But her primary focus is helping this version of Caitlyn. Young and lost and confused and looking increasingly more upset for reasons Vi doesn’t understand.

“Cait?” Vi asks.

“Yes?”

“Are you okay? I know this is all freaky and probably stressing you out but I get the feeling you’re sad about something.”

Caitlyn slows her pace and squeezes Vi’s hand, bringing them both to a stop. Vi dips her head to meet her eyes and leaps in to action at the how scared Caitlyn looks.

“Hey, hey,” Vi whispers, putting both hands on her shoulders so she faces her, but Cait refuses to met her eyes. “What’s wrong?”

“What if this doesn’t work?” Caitlyn murmurs, her breathing stilted. “What if I get stuck here or something new happens and it’s bad? We don’t have actual answers. This is the arcane. No one truly understands it, Vi.”

She has a point. They have no idea what could happen. It’s definitely a valid concern, but seeing the fear and worry pinching Caitlyn’s face has Vi shifting gears.

“Cupcake, listen to what I’m about to say.” Caitlyn meets her eyes and nods. “Take a deep breath for me. Good, now breathe out all the way. Another big one, and let it out. Good. Now, you remember what your mom said, right? That you can trust me? That you’re in good hands?”

The girl nods again, relaxing a little. “Yes, yes I remember.”

“I promise everything is going to be okay. I won’t let anything happen to you. Nothing is going to get you while I’m here, alright? We are going to get you home,” Vi swears.

Cait’s eyes get a bit misty. “I trust you.”

“We got this, cupcake,” she smiles and Cait smiles back. “Come on.”

They keep walking and are approaching the end when Caitlyn abruptly stops. Vi turns her head to see where she’s looking and spots the hall of mirrors.

“There,” Caitlyn says, eyes narrowed. “I feel… there’s a pull from there. It’s indescribable.”

Jayce heads towards the hall of mirrors and smiles widely when his device begins to pulse in a steady rhythm, the colors moving faster as he gets closer to it.

“That has to be it!” he says and waves for Caitlyn to follow him. “Stay close.”

Powder and Jayce head in first and Viktor comes in behind Vi and Cait, all three ensuring to capture any subtle changes that may happen.

They traverse the winding halls and come to the final section where a maze of mirrors leads to the way out. Caitlyn’s step falters and rubs her temple all of a sudden.

“What’s up?” Vi asks, pausing to check on her.

“We’re here, I think.” Vi’s eyes widen. “And I think I need to go this part alone. It feels like a dream. The details are fuzzy but I have a general idea of what is going on.”

“You want us to go out?” Powder asks, a thumb thrown over her shoulder.

Caitlyn nods. “Yes, I believe so. I will be fine.“

“You sure?” Jayce confirms.

“I’m sure.”

The three move forward but Vi doesn’t. Caitlyn still has her hand.

“Vi?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you think I’ll remember this?”

Vi shrugs, a small and sad smile on her face. “I don’t know. And there’s only one way to find out.”

Caitlyn hums. “If I don’t, I want you to know that I’m going to miss you.”

Pressure instantly builds in Vi’s eyes. “I’ll miss you too, Cupcake.”

Caitlyn hugs her and Vi holds her close. “Thank you.”

Vi presses a soft kiss to the top of her head. “Of course. I always got you, Cait.” They part. “See you on the other side?”

A snort. “If I must.”

Vi chuckles and heads for the exit.

It’s barely a minute later when Caitlyn comes out. Still young, but looking sleepy and disoriented. Vi is quick to steady her, having Caitlyn lean into her side.

“Uh? Did it work?” Powder asks.

“Yeah, I think so,” Vi says as she rubs the teen’s back. “Cait exited and stepped out looking uneasy and dizzy. By the time we got home she passed out asleep in bed.”

“Hm,” Viktor nods. “Then perhaps it reverses and rights itself the same way.”

“Let’s hope so,” Jayce says. “You good, Cait?”

Caitlyn looks a bit more stable now, not leaning on Vi as much. “Yes, I’m okay. Quite tired though.”

“Then let’s get you home,” Vi decides.

It’s thankfully a short ride back to the house because Caitlyn is fighting to keep her eyes open once she crosses the threshold. She makes sure Caitlyn eats and drinks something before letting her flop into bed and the teenager is sound asleep in moments.

Vi takes the time to tidy up the house, although still keeping an eye and ear out for Caitlyn in case she needs anything. Deeming the house clean, she also prepares for bed when she realizes how late it is and feels exhaustion catch up to her. She quietly slips into bed and Caitlyn rolls over, still asleep, and curls up to Vi with a contented noise. Vi has lost count how many times her heart has exploded over the last couple days.

“See you in the morning, cupcake,” she whispers.

()()()

Caitlyn just had the strangest dream. She was a teenager again, she thinks, and was running around with a delightful group of people. In retrospect, Caitlyn can’t recall having felt so much joy and wonder during that time in her life, but in her dream she did. And it all felt so, so real.

Her body is heavier than wet cement as she comes to, her eyelids difficult to open. When she finds the strength, her eyes open and finds herself curled up on her side facing Vi’s back. An immense amount of longing surges through her at the fact that her girlfriend’s arms aren’t wrapped around her, her warmth enveloping Caitlyn like it does every morning. She tries to reach out, to feel and ground herself, but her body is still uncooperative.

The sound she makes is pitiful, muffled by the pillow, but it causes Vi to stir. She should feel bad, but can’t, not when that raspy voice says her name.

“Mm, Cait? You’kay?” Vi mumbles as she turns over, stretching her arms as she does, joints popping.

When those soft, pale eyes find Caitlyn’s in the early morning light, Caitlyn’s body blooms with affection, her insides a wide prairie of flowers. Vi’s breath audibly catches, her eyes widening when they see each other and the biggest smile splits her handsome face.

“Cait!” she says like it’s been months since they’ve seen each other and tenderly cups Caitlyn’s face like she’s made of glass. The relief of Vi’s touch makes her head fuzzy. “Can you hear me?”

Caitlyn manages to get her tongue to move and form a smile. “Yes. Just… feel heavy.”

“Yeah, you slept real hard, cupcake,” Vi smiles and kisses her forehead, making Caitlyn release a happy, breathless sound. “What do you need?”

“You,” she says, moving her arm enough to get a hand free from the sheets and feel Vi’s skin against her own. “Hold me?”

Vi nods like it’s the greatest honor in the world and wraps around her until Caitlyn is nestled on top of her, rubbing her strong hands up and down her back as she peppers kisses into her hair. Gradually, Caitlyn’s body wakes up and feels more alert. She tilts her head enough to kiss Vi’s cheek.

“How long was I out? You seem awfully excited to see me.”

Strong arms pulls her impossibly closer. “Babe, you aren’t going to believe me.”

“Mm? Tell me everything.”

Vi launches into an excited and detailed retelling of the last couple days. Caitlyn could listen to her talk all day and night but every thing Vi says tingles at the back of her mind. It’s as if something is trying to tell her something important. Like a dream she only vaguely remembers.

Then it clicks.

“Vi?”

“Huh? Yeah baby?” she says, pausing in her tracks.

“I thought it was a dream. When I woke up. All of what you just said— I dreamed that. But I’m realizing it wasn’t a dream at all.”

Vi’s brows raise. “Wait. You mean…?”

Caitlyn leans up, body stronger now, and looks down at the love of her life. She runs her fingers along Vi’s cheek and jawline.

“I remember you,” she smiles, utterly besotted. “I remember all of it— everyone involved too. The video games, meeting your family, riding your bike, the stores. It’s all so clear.”

“Woah…” Vi whispers, a smile growing on her face like a rising sun.

“You know what I remember most of all?” she asks, eyes getting teary. “How safe I felt. How well you took care of me and all the joy that came when being with you. I felt so loved and safe, Vi.”

That makes Vi’s smile wobble, tears misting her eyes too. “Oh cupcake,” she whispers as she brings a warm hand up to Caitlyn’s cheek. “I’m so glad you felt that way.”

Caitlyn leans down to seal their lips together and relishes in its tenderness. She pulls back just enough to say, “Vi, my love, you have always made me feel that way.” Then she kisses her again and Vi wraps tighter around her, pulling her close to deepen the kiss.

“I missed you,” Vi admits with a chuckle as she peppers her face in kisses. “Like, a stupid amount.”

“You certainly greeted me this morning like you did,” she giggles back, completely smitten.

“You were so, so cute,” she goes on, eyes sparkling. “I’d never met someone so precious.”

Caitlyn blushes but her grin never fades. “This is with you forever now, isn’t it.”

Vi’s smile turns wicked. “Yep. And it will be for Powder and Jayce and Mylo—“ Caitlyn presses a hand over her mouth.

“Gods— oh stop.”

“Nuh-uh,” Vi mutters against her palm before grabbing both her wrists to pull her hands away. “This is— this is a once in a lifetime stuff, babe. Do you have any idea how— how lucky I am to have had that time with little you?”

“Well, now I’m envious. When do I get little angsty Vi?”

Vi snorts. “Oh geez, don’t wish for that.”

“And why not? Maybe I want to hang out with an emo teenager with a chip on her shoulder that wants to fight every one and a lamppost just for flickering?”

“You’re changing the subject,” Vi points out. “No, no no you aren’t getting out of this. We need to call your parents.”

“Vi…”

“I promised Cass and Tobi to tell them when you got back!”

Caitlyn shoves her face into Vi’s chest with a groan. “They will be so weird about it and Jayce is going to tease me until my dying breath— and Powder—“

“Pow will absolutely ruin you.”

“I’m doomed. I’m doomed and you’re going to sit and watch and do nothing.”

“It will be the most adorable misery,” Vi smiles, overly sweet but still so sincere.

Caitlyn sighs, pulling back to meet Vi’s eyes again. “You’re lucky I love you as much as I do.”

Vi cups her face, words so warm and genuine. “Yeah, I really am. I love you, you’re everything baby.”

Tears threaten to spill again and she kisses Vi, soft and sweet, trying to show how thankful she is. Now, when she looks back on such a lonely part of her childhood, she will smile and remember how special she felt, how much she enjoyed life. She keeps their lips together when she speaks.

“And I’m so lucky to be loved by you, Vi.”