Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Caitlyn felt herself stir – she could sense light behind her eyes – eye, and her entire body tensed on reflex – oh.

She jolted straight up, slowly taking back her arm from –

There was sudden motion to Caitlyn’s left, and – “ow”, Caitlyn voiced, head snapping forward before she brought her hand up to rub her newly-bruised jaw under her curtain of hair.

“Fuck.” Raspy, and familiar. Still rubbing at her jaw, Caitlyn whipped over – then realized she had to still turn farther, farther than she was used to – to take in long fingers splayed against beautiful, rusty red hair, soft, even in the dark. Oh.

“Vi,” she breathed, her memory starting up again.

Vi paused her injured hissing, turning up to – oh – to see Cait, the bandages, that gorgeous blue eye, and hair, matching the cool tone of the rest of the room perfectly. She lowered her hand subconsciously, brain processing at a million miles an hour.

They held eye contact, for a second, Cait’s piercing gaze flitting between both sides, before Vi released a miniature huff of a laugh, her lips twisted upwards for a second before her mouth closed and her features were suddenly overcast, remembering. Her lips wobbled as she pressed them together, eyes shutting and face turning away on reflex, shrugging her slinged arm closer. She coughed out a single word. “Sorry.”

Caitlyn didn’t think she’d ever smiled so sadly in her life. “Don’t be,” she whispered, her own fingers brushing reflexively against her jaw, before reaching –

Vi screwed her eyes tighter, the lump in her throat pressing, constricting her next words. “Not that –”

“I know.” The sigh that escaped Caitlyn’s mouth was shaky, unstable, and she couldn’t prevent the buildup of pressure behind her eyes – shit – as she brought her hand up, swiping through thin air, before landing, and smoothing over Vi’s strong shoulder, across her back. She tried to focus on the contrast of the sling strap to the firmness of Vi’s torso, the way the tattoos felt under her fingertips, as she felt a shudder, and shake, once, twice – “You can cry,” she encouraged, before pausing. “My lo–”

“But yo–” She was cut off by an especially large sob, whining and winding its way out of Vi's scratchy throat, as Vi turned, eyes targeting the bandages before she could think. “You can’t,” Vi insisted, carefully pushing out rough words. “You’re not supposed to, your dad –”

“Well, I can’t exactly help it, right now.” Caitlyn watched as Vi’s gaze dipped down to her lips, which she could feel trembling, dangerously.

What happened next was almost comical, in any other setting. Suddenly, Vi’s breathing was slower – controlled, the same as her eyebrows, as Caitlyn watched grey eyes blink what looked like a hundred times.

Then Vi was kissing her – full, scarred lips moving against hers.

Caitlyn’s one good eye shot wide on reflex, before her instincts kicked in and she reciprocated, unthinking, eye fluttering shut. Fuck was Vi an amazing kisser, the way she pushed, and licked, and sucked at Caitlyn like she was suffocating, and needed her to breathe. Caitlyn felt the growing irritation in her throat and head pause, for a second, relishing in the heady rush of warmth that swept through her body.

Vi had her good hand up against Caitlyn’s face, thumb brushing over her cheek, as always, as she pulled back, breath shallow, as she stared, as she took Cait all in. How is this my life?

That thing Vi did with her eyes – where her pupils dilated slightly as all her creases softened – that made Caitlyn match Vi’s earlier laugh with a sigh of her own, the corner of her mouth twisting up, before the rush of love she felt made her abruptly swallow, threatening to break the dams loose. “Vi –”

And then there was warmth, and wet, at her cheek, then down to her neck, lighting her on fire. “Vi…” she breathed out, eyes falling shut, hearing the smack of kisses against her neck. “Vi, I’m not sure –” A heavy, weighty hum under her ear sent a buzz through her body, nudging at the pressure behind her eyes. “I might cry if we do this, too.” Her last words became clipped, from emotion, and she swallowed again, blinking, and hissing as the pain on the left side of her face grew with the wetness.

The wince Vi both heard and felt immediately caused her pause, and she pulled back up, and away, a bit, embarrassed. “I’m sorry, I was jus–”

“Vi.” Firm, and commanding, sadly on reflex.

Vi felt the whisper of a shiver float over her shoulders, and she turned, meeting Cait’s eye.

Caitlyn stared – the earnest, pleading look on Vi's face enough to prick at the mounting urge to cry.

“What do you need, Cait?”

Oh, Vi. Vi, Vi, Vi. Caitlyn felt her lips tremble again –

“Oh, don’t cry Cait, no, that’s –”

“I love you.” Spoken on the precipice of a sob, and then she burst, not able to help the stinging in her left eye, or the ache in her side, as she twisted to grasp at Vi, arms up as her chin tucked over a strong shoulder and she sobbed, hot tears rushing down to drip on Vi’s back. “You –” she hiccuped. “You –” But she couldn’t continue, and she just clung tighter, feeling warmth all around her in the form of a solid body and one big, safe arm.

“Shh, it’s okay, Caitlyn,” Vi soothed, hand slowly moving up and down Cait’s shuddering back. “Don’t worry about me, shh, I got you.” She felt her breath hitch, and swallowed back her own urge to sob as her brain raced through the possibilities. “Caitlyn…” She tried to pull back, but Caitlyn held tight, and sobbed harder, if possible, adding another level of difficulty to Vi’s battle against her own tears. “Caitlyn, I’m gonna need you to try to stop crying, if that’s okay.” She paused her good hand, squeezing tight, and turned to press a kiss to Caitlyn’s temple, lingering. “We’re gonna have to clear out your eye. It probably hurts like hell right now, with the tears.”

Caitlyn’s heart pulled as she processed Vi’s words, but she did her best to focus on her breathing, conscientiously slowing it down, feeling so safe still in Vi’s embrace.

Vi smiled – small, over Cait’s shoulder – at the efforts. “Cupcake, I’m gonna go run and find your dad, so he can shoot us up with whatever good stuff he keeps on tap, okay?”

A titter escaped Caitlyn’s lips, despite her expectations, and another fresh wave of hot slithered down her cheek. “You’ll have to stop doing that, if you want me to stop crying.” She laughed again, pulling back just to see Vi looking at her, eyes soft despite the quizzical expression.

“Stop what?”

Caitlyn let out another huff through her smile, in disbelief, before leaning forward to rest her forehead against Vi’s. “Being you.”

Eyes closed, Vi felt the hot breath against her chin. “Oh.” She didn’t know what else to say, or do.

But Caitlyn didn’t care. She just stayed there, in that moment, focusing on her breathing. “I love you so much.”

That, Vi could respond to. “I love you too.”

The words settled, and Caitlyn felt her lungs catch – and then again, before –

“Okay, I’m so sorry, but I have to go –”

“I know,” Caitlyn shot out, between shaking breaths. “Go get him.” She released Vi from her hold, patting her on the shoulder twice, before bringing her right hand up to swipe at her own face.

It was caught, though, by Vi, as she met Cait’s eye before softly brushing her knuckles over that ridge of her cheekbones, clearing that beautiful face from tears. She could see the damp spot on the bandages out of the corner of her eye. “You gonna be okay?”

Caitlyn sighed, pushing into Vi’s touch and closing her eye. She gently, lightly, brushed over Vi until she found the hand of her slung arm. She grasped the fingers tightly, squeezing. “Truthfully, maybe the distance will calm me.” The honesty of the statement made them both laugh, sadly, and Caitlyn squeezed again. “Okay, go, before your presence brings me to tears again.”

“Okay.” Vi shifted away, carefully maneuvering her slung arm, and swung her feet under the blanket, off the edge of the bed, grunting at the pain. She heard a heavy sigh behind her and she turned, looking over her shoulder.

Caitlyn was staring at Vi’s sling with her one eye, then her back, then her mussed hair, then her eyes, something warm, and soft, in her gaze. She shook her head slightly and huffed, before, “Go, Violet.”

Vi felt her jaw drop slightly at the name, staring back in shock, before a smile alit upon her face, twisting into pursed lips as she heaved herself up. “I’ll be right back.” Vi turned away, the beginnings of a stretch immediately halted by the pain she felt, everywhere, before she tested a step, then two, before rushing towards the door.

“To the left, up the staircase on the right, then turn around and head to the end of the hall.” Caitlyn called out, a giggle escaping her as she heard Vi's flustered “thanks” reverberate back through the room to her ear.

The room to herself (again), Caitlyn sighed, parsing through her emotions while desperately trying not to burst out into tears again. She reached up to the bandage, feeling the warm wet everywhere and cursed, rubbing her fingers together. She glanced over at the window, seeing the dark of still-early morning. “Shit,” she said, realizing that they hadn’t even successfully slept through the night.

Meanwhile, Vi was hurrying up the stairs, barely even wincing with the way her rush tweaked at her bum arm, and how tired she still felt, despite all the sleep. Her earlier cry had receded to the back of her head, not gone, but not important, right now. What was important was – “Mr. Kiramman,” she called, knocking loudly on the door.

Then the waiting – Vi traced over the dark grain of the wood with her eyes, listening for any traces –

The door flung open to reveal a very tired, worn face, beard smashed flat, dark circles accentuated amidst all the wrinkles. “Vi,” he breathed, sighing in what seemed to be relief. “Is Caitlyn –”

“We both just woke up, and, uh…” Vi felt her shoulders lift in a pathetic, tiny shrug, before she could help herself. “She was crying. We,” she corrected, “were crying. I know you sai–”

“Let’s go, Violet.” He turned back into his room and stepped somewhere, for a second, Vi only hearing the rustling and clanking of things before he reappeared in the gap of the ajar door, a small bag of medical supplies in hand. “That is your full name, isn’t it?” He stepped through, Vi making room for him to pass, and lead the way.

How did he…? “Uh, yeah…” No one had called her ‘Violet’ in years, and suddenly her…her…Caitlyn, and her father both, had done it twice in under a minute. Suddenly, she was very aware of the fact that she was in a dirty tank top and pants, barefoot, her hair likely also a mess.

Vi was still blinking back her surprise as her legs brought her to follow after him. The whiplash of the random question had seemingly shocked her out of her previously sad state, and she started imagining the implications as she descended the staircase, just a few paces behind the tall man.

Tobias was clearly rushing, the good father that he was, concerned for his daughter’s health, and safety. Regardless, he called back over his shoulder, “Violet is a beautiful name.” Just that, before he was knocking at and opening Caitlyn’s door. “Caitlyn, dear…”

The room was a bit lighter, now, the beginnings of dawn evident through the window. Caitlyn had moved to sit up, again, at the knock, and her shoulders dropped, slightly, at the sight of her kind father. “Dad,” she called, watching him rush over towards the left side of her bed, kneeling on the floor.

“Just lay down, sweetheart, I’ll shift you closer.” Tobias placed his bag on the bedside table, unzipping it and retrieving a fresh bandage, and adhesive.

Caitlyn made to shift herself over, hands falling to the bed, before she glanced at her father, and then up at Vi, both of whom were looking at her with a firm resolve. She sighed, acquiescing, laying her torso back.

Vi stepped close. “Here, I can –”

“No,” Tobias raised a practiced hand Vi’s way, before sliding both arms under Caitlyn’s shoulders, and knees, and carefully scooching her close. “I may not look it, but I’m at least strong enough to maneuver my daughter,” he said, meeting Caitlyn’s eye meaningfully as he brought up a hand to brush over her face, clearing away the errant hairs. “And you’re a patient too.”

Vi’s mouth opened, and closed, at the statement, blinking. “Where do you want me,” she said, eliciting a different tactic.

Tobias paused, dramatically, and twisted his torso, turning to stare up at Vi with an exasperated, confused sort of look that said isn’t it obvious? “On the bed, next to Caitlyn.”

Vi stared back, shocked, as she heard the two Kirammans laugh at what she guessed were her raised eyebrows and open mouth.

“Come here,” Caitlyn called through her one-eyed, gap-toothed grin, patting at her side, before clutching the blanket to throw it close, making room.

Vi went the fifteen paces or whatever it was to step around Cait’s massive bed, before gently setting herself down, and pushing herself backwards with one arm until she hit Caitlyn’s leg. She felt Caitlyn’s warm hand trace aimlessly over her back as she twisted herself, aligning, head turning to watch Tobias administer to his daughter’s eye. “Is it gonna be okay?”

She felt the simultaneous turn of two very similar faces, as they sought out her expression, Tobias snapping his gloves on.

“Not like – I know the eye is bum, now –” Bum? She lost it. “I mean, ah, shit, I shouldn’t have –”

Tobias laughed, loud, and surprisingly resonant, for the early hour. “It’ll be fine, Violet.” Tobias’ calm voice reassured, through a genuine smile. “The human body is incredible at healing itself, and repairing lost functionality to the best of its ability.” He turned back to his current work, carefully unsticking the bandages from Caitlyn’s face, the love of a father evident in every motion. “Oh,” he breathed, at seeing the wound again. “My brave girl.” He leaned down to kiss at Caitlyn’s hairline, careful to not scratch her with his beard.

Caitlyn felt herself choke up at that, and swallowed, trying to control –

“You can cry, sweetheart. Best time to do so is when the bandage is off, that way I can clean it right away.” He reached for his bag, removing a few cotton balls and bringing them close, prepared.

Caitlyn closed her eye, letting out a quick sigh, before her torso started shaking, and she started crying, the salty tears stinging all the way out of her left eye, until they rolled onto the soft cotton.

“There, there,” Tobias soothed, one hand gripping Caitlyn’s own, kissing at her knuckles, the other gently catching her tears. “Dear, do you mind telling me who you’re crying over? Let’s work through this together.”

Caitlyn opened her one, good eye, looking up at her loving, caring father, who didn’t deserve anything bad in the world. “You, baba, first.” She couldn’t stop the constant stream of tears, from both eyes, feeling the feather-soft ball brush repeatedly over her skin, careful. “For the way all of this has hurt you,” she spoke out, through shaking lips.

Tobias was crying, now, too, just a few tears spilling from each eye. “My darling daughter,” he breathed, clutching Caitlyn’s hand tight in his own. “I’m just grateful that you weren’t taken from me as well.”

“And for – for Mum,” Caitlyn choked out, hand pulling back to wipe at her other eye, coming away almost completely wet, before she reached back for Vi, brushing over the small of her back. “It still hurts…”

“I know, sweetheart, I know,” Tobias whispered, sniffling, before reaching down to kiss Caitlyn’s forehead, again.

Vi had been watching, but now, she stared in front of her, chest against her knees, doing her best to not intrude on the daddy-daughter moment, despite being inches away. She could feel Caitlyn’s hand shake against her back, and she leaned back into it, using her good hand to wipe away the few tears that had snuck their way out. The room was slowly growing lighter, the vast space in front of the bed starting to tint orange, from the sun.

Despite her attempts to remain discreet, Vi felt Cait’s fingers bend and scratch against her back, soothing. She twisted to look back at Caitlyn, who was staring over at her, a soft smile shining beneath a face streaked with tears. “And for Vi…”

Vi felt her face grow warm, again, as more tears fell down her own cheeks, one run streaming right through her tattoo. “Caitlyn…”

Tobias stepped in, gently. “Why don’t you lay down as well, Violet.” When Vi met his eye, he smiled, almost identical to Caitlyn, and tilted his head to the side, in demonstration. “Feel free to rest. Or to watch, seeing as you’ll likely take over part of Caitlyn’s care, I’m assuming?” The kind smile was still there, under all the tears, along with all the rest of Tobias’ demeanor that served as a peace offering, a chance to rebuild her relationship with him from the ground up.

Vi glanced back down to Cait, who smiled a tad wider, cried a tad harder, and patted the bed, again. “Come here, my love,” she rasped out, through a raw throat.

The pet name lit Vi’s face on fire, already hot from the tears, and she chanced a glance at Tobias, who caught her eye for a second, meaningful, blinking through his tears, before he looked back down to Caitlyn. Vi flushed warmer, looking away to steel herself, for a second, before resolving to move back, and lay down, indeed. “It’s whatever Caitlyn wants,” she said, softly, as she settled in, bringing her sling to lay over her stomach. Her other arm came up to bend over her face, wiping away what tears she could, just as her fingers were caught, and intertwined, before being laid on Caitlyn’s stomach, the back of Cait’s hand to Vi’s palm.

“Well, I want you,” Caitlyn breathed, squeezing Vi’s fingers between her own as she stared up at the ceiling. “And I’m so sorry,” she got out, before she squeezed her eyes shut and another bout of tears started.

Vi squeezed back, twisting her head to lean over and leave a kiss at Caitlyn’s temple, despite being painfully aware of Tobias’ watching eye. “It’s okay.”

Caitlyn relaxed, momentarily, at the touch of Vi’s lips, and her breathing slowed down, somewhat. “And Jayce…”

“He was a good friend,” Tobias offered, pulling out a fresh cotton ball to dab all over the wound, focused as he inspected Caitlyn’s injury with teary, trained eyes.

Caitlyn sighed, her tears finally subsiding, the tightness in her throat and head fading away, leaving just the same dull ache that she’d been trying to fill for months.

“Are we done crying, for now?” Tobias’ gaze shifted from the wounded eye to the other, a smile upon his face as he saw his daughter relax, shoulders dropping.

Another sigh, heavy, between Caitlyn’s teeth. “I think s–” A cough cut her off, and her side stung as her torso shook, involuntarily. “So. I think so.”

Tobias had already met Vi’s eye. “Water,” he requested, smile nearly twisting its way into a smirk at the speed with which the girl flung the blanket away and hopped up to crawl out of bed. “There should be cups in the bathroom, and I have a straw.”

“Yessir,” Vi responded, both feet already on the ground as she quickly paced to the bathroom.

Tobias turned his gaze back to his daughter – who was pink, at the apple of her cheeks?

“Please don’t start, Dad.” Caitlyn croaked, staring intently up at her canopy and avoiding her father’s knowing eye.

Tobias softened his expression, hearing the water running in the bathroom before leaning in close, whispering. “I just can’t believe you snuck in a girl from the undercity, and she ended up being your best partner.”

The sigh from Caitlyn’s mouth was heavy, and music to her father’s ears.

“You’ve chosen a good one, dear,” he got out, before Vi’s footsteps made him pull back, and take his hand back from his daughter’s grasp.

Vi carefully walked the quite full cup back towards Caitlyn’s side of the bed, holding it out as Tobias placed a straw inside. “That, she is,” she heard Cait say, and Vi pulled her eyebrows together in confusion. Caitlyn’s laughter – soft, but joyful – made her own mouth twist upwards, in a smile. “Don’t worry, Vi. Come on, you’re next.” She sucked at the straw, cool water soothing her used throat.

“Ah, not quite yet, dear,” Tobias refuted, holding the cup still. “I’ve barely touched your eye.” After Caitlyn quenched her post-cry thirst, he shifted on his old knees, reaching to pull a small tube out of his bag. “Any pain?”

Caitlyn nodded. “Inside – hurts like hell,” she explained. “Any of the exterior pain pales in comparison. It’s the socket, I guess.” The heavy reminder of exactly what she had sacrificed in the war settled across all six of their shoulders, and there was silence, for a minute.

Vi clambered back into bed, the rustle of bedsheets seemingly pushing Tobias back into action. “It just needs some ointment, alright, darling?” Seeing her nod, he glanced up to Vi, who was picking up the blanket to drape back over her, without jostling Caitlyn. “Actually, Violet, why don’t you watch this procedure,” he suggested, smiling at Vi’s pause. “I intend on taking care of Caitlyn for as long as she’ll let me, but just in case…” He shrugged. “It’s good for another to know.”

“Okay,” Vi instantly responded, turning on her ass so she could better face Caitlyn, legs folded and pressing against Caitlyn’s side. She reached for Caitlyn’s hand, smiling as she met her eye and felt the returned squeeze.

A softness laced through Tobias’ smile, and he let his look linger on Violet for a moment before turning back to his supplies, his shoulders pulling back in a manner that would have otherwise been invisible, had Vi not been paying such close attention to the man. “Normally, when taking care of the eyes, you’ll want her to keep her eyes closed, so that the natural pull to open her left eye doesn’t cause any pain. However, it’s been swollen shut since the injury,” he gestured, using a finger to float over the inflamed region. “So, for now, she’s fine.” He turned down to address Caitlyn. “Is that true? Does it hurt any more to hold your eye open?”

Caitlyn tested, closing her one good eye, before opening it again. “Not now.”

Tobias turned upward, smiling over at Vi. “See?”

Vi nodded. “So, as it heals, she might need to close her eyes during the ointment procedure, at some point?”

Tobias straightened, sitting more upright, his smile now beaming across the way. “Exactly.” He turned back down to his daughter. “And she’s a good student.”

Caitlyn turned her head slightly over to her father, careful to not accidentally brush the wound against the bed, before rolling her one good eye, to the snickers of both of her loved ones above. “She’d better be.”

Tobias grinned, reaching to brush lightly over Caitlyn’s forehead, before continuing. “Always wash your hands before performing any medical care, or use gloves.”

Vi nodded, attentively. “Infection.”

“Right. I’ll bring down a supply of gloves – hold out your hand?” Tobias asked, spreading his fingers wide in demonstration.

Vi obliged, watching as Tobias compared sizes, and Caitlyn fidgeted below her. Why is she…oh –

“A size smaller, then.” Tobias’ eyes bounced between the two girls, watching them shift around, anxiously. “Not to worry, I’ll have them here by tomorrow.” Kids, he thought to himself. “Once you’re clean, and set, you can remove the bandage, and dispose of it immediately. Don’t want to mix up your olds and news,” he explained. “Then, there’s typically a bit of mucus buildup along the seam.” He pointed again, hovering, and smiling as Vi leaned close, inspecting. “She’s cried most of it out, this morning, but when you clear it up, always wipe from the inner corner, near the nose,” he placed the cotton ball down, demonstrating, “outwards.” He swiped, ghosting over Caitlyn’s eyelid, over the corner of her eye. “And be gentle.”

“Of course,” Vi nodded at the obvious instruction.

Tobias smiled wide, again. “If you do it soft, and careful enough, it should feel just like a regular tug on the eyelid, and nothing painful.” His attention was cast suddenly downwards, as he made eye contact with his daughter. “Tell Vi if she’s being too harsh.”

Caitlyn couldn’t help the upward curve of her lips, as her eye darted over to Vi, looking up at her, softly. “Of course. But I doubt she will,” she said, squeezing their connected hands.

Tobias reached for the tube of ointment, uncapping it. “I think the same, except for this next part.” He held the ointment up to Vi’s eye, slowly showcasing it as part of his lecture. “This is the salve. It will always be cold to her, so beware.” He bent over, close, and brought both his hands up, positioning them. “You’ll pull down her eyelid just enough to squeeze the ointment into the socket. About the size of a grain of rice.”

“Cooked or uncooked?”

The grin that took over Tobias’ face was radiant, and he turned his attention back up. “Uncooked. Violet, you might be my favorite of all of Caitlyn’s partners.”

Vi grinned back. “Good. Let’s hope Cait feels the same way.”

Caitlyn, stuck in the middle of what was clearly evolving into a relationship dynamic she would soon regret, rolled her good eye again before letting go of Vi’s hand to whack her lightly against the knee.

(Her hand still returned to Vi’s grasp, all the same.)

“I’ll begin by pulling the lower eyelid down, and the upper eyelid barely up, just enough to place an uncooked grain of ointment into the wound, before letting go and pulling everything back.” He made eye contact with Vi, who looked on, ever-attentive. “But I’m going to do it as quick as I can, because it hurts her. Understood?”

Vi nodded, making sure she had a good view of the procedure over Tobias’ hands. “Understood.”

“Okay. I like to count down, so that Caitlyn can brace herself, if she wants.” He looked down at Caitlyn. “Ready, darling?”

She nodded, closing her other eye, and settling back. “Ready.”

Tobias leaned in, focused. “Three, two, one…” And in a motion that was barely perceptible, he did as he had said he would, with Caitlyn wincing, hissing, and gripping tighter at Vi’s calloused fingers. “Done,” he proclaimed, “with the ointment, at least.” He capped the tube, placing it aside on the nightstand, before retrieving the new bandages. “When the eye is no longer swollen, make sure her injured eye stays closed for at least two minutes. Right now, because of the laceration,” he gently dabbed another yellower sort of ointment over the cut, “I’m just going to go ahead and bandage it up, again. But after the skin heals, and we just have an eye patch, keep her laying down and with her eyes closed before placing anything back on.”

He held up the two bandages, one small, and one larger. “I place a small bandage over just the eye, and then the larger bandage over the surrounding injuries, as well.” He acted as he spoke, layering the two sheets of cotton down, and reaching for his adhesive. “And then tape it down. I like to go here, here, and here,” he pointed, “so that they don’t pull as much when she moves her facial muscles.” He taped down the bandage, before leaning back, and meeting Vi’s eye, once again. “All of this, twice a day. Does that all make sense?”

“Clear as mud,” Vi nodded, starting to smile at the proud look on Tobias’ face. “Clean my hands, trash the old, clean the seam, ointment, sleepytime, –” She smiled wider at the deep laughter that she had elicited. “Cut cream, and new bandages, or pirate, eventually.”

“And clean up again,” Tobias added on, in between laughs, expertly removing his gloves so that none of the exterior germs landed on his hands. “And,” he leaned down, kissing Caitlyn’s cheek, his beard scratching against her in a way that calmed her, momentarily. “A kiss never hurts,” he suggested, winking.

“Pirate, clean up, make out.” Vi snickered at the tsk she heard from below, as she met Tobias’ gleaming eyes, the both of them laughing.

“It’s like I’m not even here,” Caitlyn bemoaned, closing her eye.

Despite his laughter, Tobias felt the need to clarify. “I’m not sure that either of you should be ‘making out’, anytime soon, with your injuries.” Regardless, he still sent another wink, just to Vi.

Vi laughed harder, her eyebrows raising in surprise. “Whatever you say, sir.”

“Any other questions?”

“Can I do it if she falls asleep?”

Tobias’ smile melted into something soft. “As long as she’s okay with it,” he said, seeing Caitlyn nod in his periphery. “She might wince at the ointment, but everything else is fairly non-disruptive, so long as she doesn’t squirm around in her sleep.” He cocked his head. “You really are a good student,” he mused, hands having retreated to his knees, elbows cocked out.

Vi shrugged, dismissive. “It’s taking care of people. I’ve…had some experience with that.” She rolled over the elephant in the room of exactly who she had been responsible for.

But no matter – Tobias had turned back down to his daughter. “Caitlyn, dear,” he prodded, both with voice and hand, at Caitlyn’s shoulder. “Any other pain, anywhere?”

Caitlyn opened her eye, glancing over, before focusing on the ceiling behind her father’s head, the golden inlay starting to show in the swaths of early morning light. “The stab wound still aches. Not fresh, but still quite painful.” She paused, assessing. “Besides that and the eye, there’s nothing.”

Tobias sighed. “That’s good news. Everything is healing right, then.” He took in another deep breath. “Alright, then, I’ll make sure I grab pain medication for you, darling.” His gaze shifted firmly up to Vi. “Violet, your turn.”

Vi perked up again. “Do you want me –”

“Just turn around. I’ll come to your other side,” he said, standing. “That way, Caitlyn doesn’t have to worry about being too far from you.”

Caitlyn tsked as she felt Vi shuffle around. “Dad.”

“Alright, sweetheart, I’ll stop teasing.” He had made it to the opposite side of the bed, and gently sat himself down, facing Vi. “I intend on primarily treating the arm, but, any other pain?”

Vi sighed, feeling little more than the gaping hole in her heart. “Not anything you could do for me.”

Tobias paused his digging through his bag, and his shoulders slumped forward, kindly. “Oh, Violet…” he said softly, seeming to battle with himself before he reached out a hand, placing it on Vi’s good shoulder, and squeezing.

Vi smiled, out of obligation, at the gesture. She wasn’t sure Tobias would ever be able to comprehend or empathize with exactly what Jinx meant to her.

There was another sudden warmth at her hip, and she glanced down to see Caitlyn’s fingers smooth their way down to her knee, resting comfortably over the joint. She reached down to reciprocate the touch, her hand over Cait’s as Tobias resumed his treatment.

He brushed gently over the sling, inspecting the splints. “It seems to be holding up wonderfully…how much does it hurt?” Tobias asked, eyes inquisitive, face backlit slightly against the window.

“Like hell.” Vi had dealt with a lot of pain in her life, but nothing hurt like a broken bone. (Physically.)

Tobias pursed his lips, in a sympathetic smile. “I’m sure. You’re not using this arm for anything at all, right?”

Vi shook her head. “Nope.”

“No finger movements either?”

“Not at all. I’ve broken fingers a lot before, so, I’m used to resting them.” Vi saw Tobias’ eyes flash over her exposed arms, with an impressively medical disinterest. She felt Caitlyn squeeze at her knee, and she squeezed back.

Tobias seemed to decide something, then. “Violet, how do you think that you’re healing?”

Vi stilled, meeting the man’s eyes, and finding in them something close to respect, or maybe admiration? “Like normal. It’ll just take time.”

The fatherly, proud smile that graced Tobias’ face made Vi blink, for a second. “That’s right.” The man started gathering his materials and moved to stand, looking past Vi as he did. “What do I always say, darling?”

Caitlyn smiled, wryly. “Patients require patience,” she recited, years of her father’s care summarized in one sentence.

“And no sexual activity.”

Caitlyn could have sworn her good eye nearly bulged out of her head. “Ba!”

Tobias grinned. “You’ve never had to have that part of the instruction before.” He laughed at the girls’ vibrant expressions – Vi’s, fearful; Caitlyn’s, shocked. “At least – that I know of.”

“That’s not – I thought –” Caitlyn stuttered through her thoughts. “It was meant to be a funny motto!”

“Mnemonic, yes, so you’d remember. But you won’t forget this either.” Tobias finally allowed himself the tiny smirk that had been threatening to pop up during the majority of this exchange. “Violet, please don’t take this personally. It’s not often that I’ve gotten to tease, or take care of my daughter, recently. But the both of you need to rest.”

“Wha– that’s – um,” Vi stuttered, blinking. “Uh, no problem, sir.”

“And eat. You’re both famished, I presume?” His eyes bounced between the two girls on the bed.

Vi shook herself out of her earlier shock and focused, and then shrugged. “Honestly, I can’t feel it under all the pain.”

Tobias shifted to look at his daughter, who just shrugged and nodded the same. “You’ve been asleep for almost thirty hours, dear.”

“Wha–” “Thirty?”

Tobias blinked, then smiled. “Ah. You didn’t know?”

“No?!” Caitlyn had sat up, at this point, her restless nature pushing through her injured state. “How – is everything –”

“Everything is fine, dear. Mel Medarda has been adamant that both of you heal a significant amount before venturing back into your roles of leadership.” The plural made Vi feel suddenly softer, and warmer inside. “Why don’t I whip us up some breakfast?” Tobias put on his winning smile, and started for the door. “I’ll –”

“Can you send for Mel to come speak with me, when she has time?”

Tobias paused, looking back at his daughter, posture straight, belying the wound which he knew stung at her side. She’s so much like Cassandra. “Of course, dear. Although, I cannot promise that she’ll have the time to visit,” he hedged.

“That’s fine. Just – someone,” Caitlyn asked, sighing out her frustration before it mounted into another health issue.

“Hey.” Vi squeezed at the warm hand under hers, then turned to her right, more fully facing Caitlyn. “We’ll figure it out. We can schedule a time for us to get some exercise, stretch out all our sore muscles, get some fresh air, you know. The works.”

Caitlyn nodded, but not without a tilt of her head and a twist in her brow. “Since when do you operate on a schedule?”

“Girls,” Tobias called, one hand on the doorknob, halting their banter before it could deepen. “Please come and grab me again, if either of you need anything.” He paused, for a second, thinking. “I suspect there might be a lot of crying, over the next while. Just –” He let out a deep exhale. “I left some fresh bandages, if one gets too wet.” He surveyed the two of them – Violet, whose red hair was just the right shade to fit in with the colors Caitlyn had chosen for her room; and Caitlyn, who – above all else – looked at ease, with her hand in Violet’s, despite their imminent banter. Tobias felt himself smile, small, and soft, and directed his next words to the girl he was slowly getting to know, and growing to love. “Keep her alive, for me, Violet?”

“Of course.” No other answer existed.

Tobias cast them both another sure smile. “You know, you’re more obedient than Caitlyn ever was,” he remarked, taking a step back into the room, his voice projecting. “She always had something to say, or an argument to make.”

“Well,” Vi began, keeping her laughs mostly silent before turning around to look at her partner’s face. When Caitlyn’s expression was just one of open curiosity, she decided to go for it. “She is an only child.”

Vi barely saw Tobias throw his head down, roaring his laughter into the carpet, seeing as she was mostly watching that familiar crease form between dark eyebrows, and a bright, blue eye narrow before Caitlyn dramatically took her hand back and laid down, turning on her side, distancing herself from her bullies. “Too harsh,” she said, and Vi could hear the pout in her lips.

Tobias chortled harder, the sound bouncing wall-to-wall, filling the slowly lightening space. Sunrise, allegedly. “It’s – it’s because we both love you, sweetheart.” Tobias let loose another round of healthy guffaws before pulling himself together. “Okay, let me retrieve some medications, and breakfast,” he got out, just another few titters, and tears, both, escaping him. “Oh, that’s glorious. Only child…” His resonant laughter faded into the hallway as he exited the room. The door clicked shut, again.

Vi couldn’t help her smile, either, even though she knew she had made Caitlyn mad, and she picked up the blanket, scooching herself back, until she was lying on her back, head turned to face Caitlyn. “Are you sulking?”

Caitlyn sighed, almost involuntarily, but still snuggled backwards when she felt the long length of Vi’s hand rest over her waist. “And what if I am?”

Vi smiled, wide. “I’d think you’re pretty cute. Oh wait,” she leaned over as best she could, with her sling between them, to kiss right between Cait’s shoulder blades. “I already think that.”

Caitlyn exhaled out through her nose, unable to prevent her cheeks from rising into a fond smile. “No longer ‘hot’, am I?”

Vi turned her face back up to the ceiling, pulling back that memory from what felt like decades ago. “That too.” She was smiling so hard, the impending pain meds might end up going to her cheekbones. “You’re everything, Cupcake.”

Caitlyn felt the itches of a blush, and turned back around – slowly, cognizant of Vi’s sling, and the wound on her right side – Vi’s hand floating, until it rested on her side, again. “You’re amazingly charismatic.”

Vi turned back to the side, meeting Cait’s eye as she clocked the knowing, semi-flirty expression. “Oh, and you didn’t already know that, about me, Cait?”

“Just shut up,” Caitlyn said, rolling her eye as she lifted her hand to Vi’s hair, attempting to brush the long strands away, but missing. She sighed, before taking in a deep breath and holding still, slowly drifting her hand towards where she thought it needed to go. The brush of smooth strands relaxed her, and she guided it back, over her hairline, out of those gorgeous grey eyes. “Thank you for lightening the mood. I –” Caitlyn sifted through her memory. “I truly don’t know if he’s laughed that hard since Mum died. He looked – younger,” she admitted, hand feeling its way down to Vi’s cheek, brushing. “Laughter truly is the best medicine. That, and, we’re not supposed to be crying.”

Vi just hummed her agreement, watching Cait’s eye bounce around her face, before settling on her lips. “Uh, not to deny you anything, but your dad said we’re not supposed to make out, either.” She squeezed at Caitlyn’s waist – half-attention-grabber, half-reprimand.

Caitlyn blinked, then relaxed, her lips curving upwards in a smirk. “Violet, do you intend on doing everything my father says?” Her words lowered in volume as she approached, leaning forward.

“Well, yeah –” She was cut off as Caitlyn kissed her, just over her scar. “He’s the doctor. And he’s your dad.”

Caitlyn stilled, her brow furrowing in question. “Does my father make you nervous?”

Vi thought, then sighed, closing her eyes. “Yes, but let’s not get into that, right now.”

“Hmm.” Caitlyn’s hand had slid down to Vi’s shoulder, in the sling, and her thumb moved back and forth, rubbing over divots and lines. “It didn’t seem like it.”

Vi pulled her lips tight, thinking, before she chose to pivot. “Why do you both call me Violet?” She felt the movement on her arm pause, and saw Caitlyn’s eyebrow crease upwards, with worry.

“Do you not like it?”

“No, I – it’s fine, I just –” She tripped over her words, for a second, before gathering the thought she was trying to express. “No one ever calls me that, anymore.” Vi made eye contact, ready for Cait’s response, but all she saw was a kind, listening gaze, and she stared off, behind Caitlyn, as she recalled. “My parents did, and Jinx – Powder – would, sometimes. But that’s about it.”

Caitlyn’s eye moved down to track her hand, as she smoothed over the firm muscles in Vi’s arm. “My guess is that my father wants to address you by your ‘true’ name.” Her gaze flitted up to Vi’s face tattoo, and she followed the contours of Vi’s body to guide her hand over it, ghosting, seeing Vi’s grey eyes shift, above. “I just –” She sighed, biting her lip before continuing. “I suppose I’m selfish.” She moved her gaze up an inch. “I want something of you all to myself.”

Vi clocked her own breathing – calm, relaxed – before she started moving her fingers, rubbing slowly at Caitlyn’s side. “Well, you can have a hell of a lot more than just my name, Cait.” She watched the opposing doe-eyed expression closely, smirking as she saw her pupil dilate. “But ‘patients require patience,’” she whispered, faux-flirting, before turning her head back to neutral, face upwards.

“Oh, piss off,” Caitlyn huffed, playfully nudging Vi’s stupid chin away, and withdrawing her hand. “I’m already embarrassed enough by my father, and then you had to go join him in my mockery,” she lamented, shutting her eye as if she could block away the memories.

Vi laughed, pausing at the sound of it, turning to let her eyes rest on Cait. That angular jaw, pointy nose, sharp cheeks, beautiful midnight blue hair. “You know what he said about that,” she offered, appraising every one of Caitlyn’s perfect features.

And Caitlyn’s lips indeed smiled, and she opened her eye to see the expression that surely matched Vi’s words. There it was – wide, attentive eyes; the soft, upward curve of full lips; the lack of a crease between her eyebrows – all while warm fingers rubbed under her ribcage. “May I ask how you got your lip scar?”

Vi’s tongue darted out to lick up the cut, on reflex, as she found the right words. “Truthfully, I have no idea.” Her eyes darted down to Caitlyn’s pajama top, beginning to trace along the seams. “Obviously, I was bashed in the mouth, and it split open, but…”

“Happened too often for you to recall?” Sometimes, deduction was pain.

Vi glanced back up, her mouth flattening and her one, good shoulder shrugging. “I have a lot of scars like that,” she said, “especially on my back, where I can’t see.”

Caitlyn stayed silent for a moment, thinking – remembering, before, “Turn over.”

Vi let out a surprised huff. “What, you gonna kiss ‘em better, or someth–”

“Will you just turn over, please.” Despite the magic word, Caitlyn’s tone was commanding, and authoritative.

Vi scoffed. “Okay, bossy,” she ventured, chancing a glance –

The Kiramman glare was just as effective with only one eye, Vi learned that day.

She twisted onto her right side, obediently, carefully shuffling her sling over so that her bicep lay perfectly over her torso, supporting it despite the awkward position. There was rustling, behind her – and suddenly, long, lithe legs were pressed into, and tangled with hers, paired with a grunted “egh” as Caitlyn shifted closer.

Vi was so warm, and suddenly even more interesting, what with hints of the rising sun barely peeking over the edges of Vi’s figure. The mosaic of her back was now plainly in Caitlyn’s sight, for her curiosity…and pleasure. “Sweet Janna…” Caitlyn whispered, eye and hand both tracing over each toned, individual muscle, defined even through the sheer tank top.

Vi huffed out a laugh, eyes peering out the brightening window. “That bad, huh?” She waited for an answer, but the resulting few seconds of silence told her something different, and she turned to look over her shoulder –

“It’s just –” Caitlyn’s long fingers played down Vi’s trapezius, warm, and strong. “Feeling them is one thing…” She brushed her thumb over pale blue clouds. “But seeing them –”

Vi spread her back on instinct – she really, really could not help it, the fact of which sent her spiraling for –

“Fuck,” Caitlyn hissed, palm suddenly flat against Vi’s back, feeling.

Vi was no longer spiraling. “You like that?”

“Like?” Caitlyn tutted, blinking through her next split-second decision to lean in, and lick up the top of Vi’s back, tongue flicking –

“Holy sh–” Vi’s head snapped back involuntarily, and bashed into Caitlyn. “Ow – oh,” she realized, already fumbling to turn over. “I’m so sorry –”

“Vi,” Caitlyn sighed, heel of her hand over her forehead, where Vi had headbutted her. “What the hell –”

“I’m sorry, it tickled!” Vi’s voice was desperate. “That was reflex!”

Caitlyn exhaled, again, deeply, eye falling shut. “I should have warned you. I apologize.”

“No no no, it’s okay,” Vi reached over to touch Caitlyn, catching her arm, suddenly pleading for something else. “Don’t worry about it. In fact, feel free to lick me any time you want. I just wasn’t expecting it right now.”

“So you flex your back, in full – no, sorry. Your fully tattooed, muscular back, and don’t expect me to do something about it?”

“I wasn’t expecting you to lick me!”

Caitlyn’s brow had the tiniest furrow in it as she processed. “We need to have more sex,” she declared, watching Vi’s eyes widen and her mouth stutter. “I lick people when I think they’re sexy.”

A blank laugh fell from Vi’s lips. “That – what – Caitlyn,” she sputtered.

(Caitlyn had never heard Vi speak her name in such an offended manner.)

“I mean, I’ll take whatever you’re offering, Cupcake, shit,” she remembered the cool prison wall against her naked back, “but doc’s orders, remember?” Vi’s eyebrows raised in slight desperation – she didn’t know why.

“Hm.” Caitlyn played into a casual air of nonchalance, bringing a hand up to thread through her own hair, pulling it back, away from the bandage. “You’re such a kiss-up.”

Vi tsked, loud, and wet. “A kiss-up? Me?” She shook her head subconsciously, denying the accusation. “You’re the kiss-up, Miss Politics, Miss Kiramman,” she made sure to crisply enunciate the name. “Like you have no experience running around, winning people’s favor.”

“What you don’t understand, love, is that I’m really not the kiss-up.” Caitlyn closed her eye and turned on her back, smile smug on her face. “Everyone kisses up to me.”

“Ah,” Vi’s eyes widened and she nodded, as if sagely. “So she’s a brat.” She reveled in how tiny the moment was that lasted before Cait’s eye shot open again, fixing her with a glare.

“I am not –”

“Spoiled little rich girl, of course she’s a brat. You know what, I knew that when I first met you,” Vi recalled the girl outside her cell in Stillwater. “I knew that! How could I forget?”

The crease between Caitlyn’s eyes grew tighter, if possible, and she glared over at Vi’s smug expression, backlit from the window. “I do not act like a brat!”

“See,” Vi could have laughed at the setup, especially with how offended Caitlyn looked right now. “Now that’s exactly what a brat would say.”

Caitlyn’s jaw dropped, before she pouted, angrily. “Okay, people-pleaser.”

Vi’s offence sat her up, immediately. “Excuse me?” She twisted to glare down at Caitlyn.

Caitlyn’s voice twinged Enforcer, here. “I see right through your defenses, you know. Part of your ‘cool guy’ demeanor exists just to mask the fact that you care what everyone thinks.” Her lips settled into a small, petulant frown, just to emphasize her point.

Vi’s mouth hung open, and she blinked twice before her brow furrowed, and she leaned closer. “How dare you –”

“You’re mad because I’m right.”

“Listen here, Cait,” Vi got in close, covering Caitlyn’s field of view, her good arm coming up to brace her lean over Cait’s body. “I don’t need to be told what’s wrong with me.” She felt a sudden warmth somewhere at her side, but her point needed to be made. “You, however, seem to sometimes have a stick so far up your ass it’s a wonder you can even talk around it.”

“Is that so.” Caitlyn ran her hand up Vi’s good arm, savoring every dip and turn of trained muscle.

Vi paused, eyes narrowing, and glancing down, at Cait’s smirk, her wandering hand, her boo– “You’re just trying to get me to fuck you.”

Caitlyn smirked, sexy from below. “Can you blame me,” she purred, eyebrow twitching upwards as she moved her hands to Vi’s back, gripping and smoothing. “You’re quite sexy when you’re mad.” The light was hitting Vi just right, half-bathing her in shadow, as she kept her torso up, but close.

Those bedroom eyes were not helping Vi’s cause, and she shut her eyes, sighing, “I can’t,” before pulling herself back up, then back over, settling back into bed, tugging the blanket up to her chin. “Your dad specifically told us not to.”

Caitlyn huffed, her smile having softened during the adjustment. “Kiss-up.”

“Brat.”

Caitlyn watched as Vi huffed and shook her head, maintaining that foul facade, until she glanced over, making eye contact.

Vi could not help but break character upon seeing Caitlyn’s pretty smile, and warm eye, and she laughed, joyful, and grateful, for the moment. Especially as Caitlyn laughed right after her.

“I shouldn’t have called you a people pleaser.” Caitlyn reached over to brush over Vi’s shoulder, her neck, anything. She just needed to feel her partner.

Vi shrugged, gaze drifting up to the canopy of Caitlyn’s bed. Purple curtains. “It stung, a little, but you’re ultimately right. It is true,” she acknowledged, voice subconsciously growing softer with the admission. “Why do you think I’m kissing up to your dad?”

“Mm.” Caitlyn hummed, but gave neither refutation nor acceptance. She caressed the edges of Vi’s gear tattoo, on her neck, thinking. “Is it okay when I call you ‘my love’?”

Caitlyn watched Vi blink, softly, before those eyes fell downward – down, down, and then over, towards the bathroom, before finally flitting to meet her own gaze.

Vi laughed, just once, a small smile adorning her expression. “Cait, I called you ‘Cupcake’, like, an hour after we first met. You can call me anything you want.” Her brain racked up some relevant examples. “Love, Violet, kiss-up. Whatever.”

Caitlyn softened at the mention of the once-jarring memory. “Even in front of my father?”

Vi paused, at that. “He’s fine.” But her brow creased as she thought further.

Caitlyn smiled, catching the intention. “But just him? Only him?”

Vi worked her lips, turning to make eye contact. “Perhaps I’m selfish too.”

“‘Perhaps.’”

“Hey, I can’t help it, okay?” Vi shrugged her good shoulder. “You’re rubbing off on me.”

“Mm, I wish I was.” Caitlyn licked her lips, unable to prevent the smile that followed.

Vi’s eyebrows flash-tensed, before – “Did you just make a joke?”

Caitlyn huffed through her nose before she could help it. “Less of a joke, more like flirting, love.”

And the name finally settled in Vi’s brain like a perfect fit, calming parts of her that she didn’t know had been running amok. “Love.” She righted her head, looking upwards, again. The room was positively orange now, and everything looked warm, cozy – like home.

Caitlyn’s breathing slowed, for a second, her heart picking up, and a calm, relaxed smile wormed its way onto her lips. She leaned over, pressing a kiss to the angle of Vi’s jaw, and then another. “That’s what you are, Violet,” she whispered, pecking at wherever she could reach of her love. “You have the biggest heart, and you love so deeply, and so much…” Her hand moved down to rest over a strong, jutting clavicle. “No one deserves it more.”

Vi inhaled, slowly, squeezing her eyes shut once she felt her breath stutter. No crying. Cait’s long fingers scratched at her neck, soothingly, and she turned to see a loving eye and a kind smile, softly illuminated by the sun. There was no thought as Vi leaned over to kiss Caitlyn square on the mouth, communicating everything she was feeling with the soft touch of her lips.

Caitlyn kissed her back, understanding Vi’s message completely, and wholly. She felt Vi’s hand sneak over to rub at her stomach, which tensed at the sudden attention. She pushed a bit harder, muscle memory already reminding her how to match Vi’s gives, and takes, and her torso bumped against Vi’s arm, accidentally.

“Fucking sling,” Vi breathed out, as they paused to catch a breath. “Just wait ‘til I get out of this thing.”

Caitlyn laughed at the want in Vi’s voice. “I will.” And she dove back over, kissing, pressing her love into those scarred, chapped, loved lips.

The sun was an inch over the cliffside, making steady progress – slow, but steady, nonetheless.