Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“And why can’t I take Vi?” Caitlyn demands, fork scraping along her plate before she picks up her mug.

“Because I have already said no,” Cassandra mutters, lifting her steaming cup of tea to parted lips.

“Mother, if you’re so adamant that I invite a guest then I choose her, and if I can’t take her then I simply won’t go,” Caitlyn says around her drink, setting it down to push the remaining crumbs of pound cake around on her plate, knows what’s coming before it’s even uttered.

“Caitlyn, I can’t have you skirt yet another gala. You are going, end of. Now, who you bring is an entirely different matter. You represent all of us, your family. Bringing someone like her–”

“Like what, mother? All she is a girl from the Undercity, what could she possibly do that could be seen as untoward?”

“She’s simply not like us, Caitlyn, she is not from this world, she will not thrive. I’m quite sure she’d find the event entirely unfitting.”

“And how would you know if you've not had a singular meaningful conversation with her.”

“I don't need to speak to the girl to know what someone from the Undercity is like. Inviting her to something like this would be like inviting a fish to swim outside of water; unnatural and suffocating. Do her, yourself, and me the favor of just taking someone from our circle. Why not invite Madeline?”

“Because I don’t want to take her! Maddie is my friend and I enjoy her company, yes, but I would prefer to take my girlfriend! Besides, Maddie is already on the guest list.”

“Did you say girlfriend? Now, Caitlyn, do not tell me you two are serious,” Cassandra says around an unsuspecting laugh. Caitlyn averts her gaze as she sinks lower into her seat, can feel heat rising up her neck. Her mother lowers her cup of tea onto its plate with a clatter. “You mean to tell me you’ve been seeing her this entire time? Just how serious is this relationship?”

“Quite serious, if what I’ve heard from my study on occasion late at night is anything to go by,” Tobias mutters, clearing his throat as he stirs his cup.

“Serious enough that I’d like to start introducing her to this world, my world. Why is that such a bad thing, I don’t…. wait, what?” Caitlyn says, turning to face her father, heat spreading over her cheeks. He waves her off.

“My dears, why don’t we just remember the entire point of the event. It’s a benefit to help the youths of the Undercity, ones just like our daughter's partner. Maybe Caitlyn bringing along– Miss Lane, is it?”

“Vi is fine, father,” Caitlyn says around a sigh.

“Right, well, as I was saying. Maybe Caitlyn inviting Vi can set a great example. Of our two worlds coming together, as one, so to speak.”

“How absurdly unnecessary,” Cassandra mumbles, taking a sip from her cup.

Caitlyn sighs again. “Mother, please.”

“Why is this so important to you? Why can’t you just bring Miss Nolen, she’d be great company and a great example.”

“I want it to be Vi. Mother, I love her and I’d like it to be her standing with me tomorrow night, not just a friend.”

“Love? My dear child, what on earth do you know about love?” Cassandra nearly balks.

Caitlyn stands, the contents of their long coffee table clattering with the movement. “Infinitely more than you if your tone and manners is anything to go by,” Caitlyn spits before turning on her heel to disappear into her room.

“Caitlyn Kiramman, you get back here, we are not finished!” Cassandra yells after her.

“Let her go, dear,” Tobias mutters, reaching a hand across the table to take hers. Caitlyn marches through the house to her room, making sure to slam her bedroom door for good measure.

“Didn’t go well, I take it,” Vi comments, head hanging upside down from the end of the bed. “Did you snag me anything?”

“I’ll send Matilda down for something later. And when does anything involving my mother go well,” Caitlyn sighs, sinking back against her door. Vi turns over, crawling off of the bed to slowly approach Caitlyn, her arms immediately going around her middle.

“What was it about this time,” Vi murmurs, placing feather light kisses along her collarbone as Caitlyn’s arms lightly fall on her shoulders.

“You and tomorrow's gala.”

“Me and the what now?” Vi pulls away, lips still pursed. Caitlyn leans forward to press her lips against hers, quick and chaste as she further wraps her arms around her neck, a sheepish smile pulling the corners of her mouth. 

“Come with me. I can get you a suit and everything, you wouldn’t have to worry about anything except showing up,” she mutters quickly, closing the space between them before Vi can respond. Vi hums into it as Caitlyn attempts to deepen the kiss, her grasp on her waist going tight as Caitlyn’s tongue slips between her lips.

“Hmm, Cait– mhmm, Caitlyn I don't, aaa–” Caitlyn bites her lower lip, earning her a hiss. Vi presses into Caitlyn’s side, tickling her until she’s the one pulling away. “Babe, what gala?”

Caitlyn sighs as she pulls away entirely, leaning back against her door with her hands behind her back. “There’s a benefit. They’re collecting donations to give back to the Undercity, starting with your schools, then businesses, and so forth. It’s an event my mother insists I go to, and I kind of, sorta, basically fought to have you come as my plus one.”

Vi blinks, her hands going slack and pulling away from Caitlyn’s waist. “You want me to go to some fancy schmancy dinner in some fancy get up to schmooze money from donors who have more money then my entire family combined would see in our lifetime?”

“Well when you say it like that–”

“I’m in.”

“You’re what?” 

Vi pulls Caitlyn back in, hands reaching down her back to grab ass as she slots herself between her legs, eliciting a breathy exhale. “I’ve been stealing from Topside since the moment I learned how to crawl. You’re telling me I get to go legit and help with Powder and Ekko’s future in the process? Cupcake, I’m in,” she breathes as she presses an open mouthed kiss to her lips.

“So you’ll come?” Caitlyn murmurs, moaning when Vi rolls her hips, giving her that just enough friction.

“After I make you come, sure.” Vi trails a hand around Caitlyn’s hip, slipping past her underwear to meet coarse hairs before slipping them between folds. She pulls her hand out and sucks two fingers into her mouth as Caitlyn pulls off her shirt, chest already bare underneath. Vi is quick to coat her fingers, hand already trailing back into Caitlyn’s underwear to sink spit slick fingers into her core.

“Oh gods,” Caitlyn cries, lifting a leg to spread herself, hooking her calf around Vi’s hip as she pulls her flush, lips crashing together roughly. “Harder, harder.”

Vi moans into her mouth as she obliges with three fingers, her free hand grabbing at the softness of Caitlyn’s chest, her lips traveling to the corner of her mouth to start marking her neck but Caitlyn hums a quick no.

“I’m wearing a strapless dress, no hickies,” she mutters, taking hold of her face to pull her back in. Vi moans into her mouth, fingers pumping in and out faster.

“Please tell me I get to fuck you in your dress. I’ll go packing, take you quick in some random closet. You’ll look so pretty bent over on my strap. Tell me you’re wearing lace– oh gods, please let me fuck you in your dress, ” Vi nearly whines as she finds that spot to make Caitlyn start to shake.

“Shit, I’ll let you have whatever you want, whatever– oh, you want– aaa,” Caitlyn cries as she’s pushed towards her end, her body shaking with each curl of Vi’s fingers. Caitlyn’s hand travels down Vi’s working arm, hand curling over her forearm as she presses down harder. “I’m so close.”

“Already?”

“Oh, oh!”

“Oh fuck,” Vi groans, working Caitlyn through her orgasm, relishes in her cries as her grip in her hair and arm go tighter with each racking wave. “Fuck, I love the way you moan.”

“I–”

The clearing of a throat followed by rapping along the door makes both women freeze. “Caitlyn, dear. I’ve spoken with your mother and she’s agreed to allow Miss Lane to accompany you. All that she asks is to properly meet her, preferably tonight at dinner. Can I, uh, count on your being here later tonight, Miss Lane?”

Vi’s eyes are as round as saucers, her lips parting but no words coming out. Caitlyn widens her eyes as she nods, dropping her leg from around Vi’s hip, motioning for her to reply.

“I–  yes, sorry, I would love to stay for dinner, sir, thank you for the, uh, invitation,” Vi says awkwardly, her own face pulling into a wince as embarrassment eats away at her. 

“Good, good. I, uh, do recommend some formal wear. And for you to come in through the front door for dinner.”

“Noted, yes sir, thank you sir. You have a lovely daughter by the way– ow,” Vi hisses as Caitlyn pinches her.

“May I ask what you’d like so I can let the chef know?”

Caitlyn puts a hand over Vi’s mouth then. “I’d do well with the usual and she really likes yanagidako, so if they could please make something out of it.”

“I’ll be sure to let them know. It will be nice to formally meet you later, Miss Lane,” Tobias says, footsteps soon retreating.

Caitlyn pinches Vi again around a giggle. “What was that!”

“What was what? Your dad just caught us fucking, we’re oh-for-three in meeting the parents for the first time, holy shit,” Vi says around a fit of laughter. Caitlyn can’t help but laugh with her as a hand comes up to hide her face.

“Oh gods, we really have been caught after the fact by every one of them, haven’t we? Do you think we have too much sex?”

Vi immediately stops laughing. “Don’t ever put those words together in the same sentence ever again,” Vi says, curling her fingers to make Caitlyn gasp.

“Okay okay,” Caitlyn says, gasping again as Vi starts moving her fingers, lips coming together. “Again?”

“Oh yeah,” Vi says around a grin.

“But we need to find you a suit, we can have something– oh, we can have something tailored by tonight, okay,” Caitlyn moans, reaching for Vi’s zipper, fingers quick to reach in to meet slick folds. “I need to put my mouth on you.” Caitlyn pulls Vi’s hand out from her pants before she drops to her knees, deft fingers working fast to open her belt and zipper before she pulls her pants down past her knees. Vi settles her hand against the door as she kicks away at the hem of her jeans, fingers carding through blue hair.

Caitlyn pulls one of Vi’s legs over her shoulder as she sinks her tongue between folds, earning her a groan as Vi’s forehead hits the door, mouth dropped and eyebrows perched. “Fuck, your mouth. You feel so good.” Vi rolls her hips, feels Caitlyn’s tongue go flat and it makes her keen as her knees attempt to buckle. Caitlyn hums as she sinks two fingers in, feels her head knock against the door as Vi pushes forward. “I’m sorry, oh shit, I’m– oh! Oh!” 

Caitlyn hums again as she kisses over her core before she focuses on Vi’s clit, fingers working fast until they find that sweet spot to make Vi shiver as she continues to roll into her face. “You know what, I’ll wear whatever you want, I’ll, fuck, I’ll even wear a dress, heels, shit, fuckfuckfuck.” It takes a few minutes until Vi’s breath gets caught in her throat, her body going taut as her legs shake. She gasps when it starts to teeter close to too much, uses her grip in Caitlyn’s hair to pull her away.

“What did I just agree to?” Vi asks around an exhale, lowering her leg before she pulls away, hand reaching down to help Caitlyn up to her feet. “I started saying something and then I blacked out,” she says around a chuckle before they kiss and Vi hums at the taste of herself on Caitlyn’s tongue as she sucks it into her mouth. “I don’t care what I agreed to, it’s worth it.”

Caitlyn pulls away, a cheeky smirk pulling the corner of her mouth. “So you’ll wear a dress?”

“I’ll what?”

Vi fidgets in the button up Caitlyn offered, has opted to stay in her jeans and boots. She agreed to clean up a bit but only agreed to change out of her classic red jacket, nothing else. Once situated, Caitlyn follows her towards the window that Vi climbs out from, stopping for a moment to share a chaste kiss before Vi makes her way towards the front door.

Caitlyn is quick to change into a blue sundress, one to match the shirt that Vi left in. She applies a bit of blush, mascara and lightly tinted lip balm, hears the front door bell ring as she slips on some flats. She nearly trips as she makes a bolt for her bedroom door, wanting to be there when one of the maids opens the front door.

She’s descending the stairs towards the foyer just as the door closes behind Vi. Vi’s eyes widen when she spots her, can’t seem help but drag her eyes up and down her figure. Caitlyn nearly skips into her arms where a light oof escapes Vi as she catches her, her eyes still lingering over her dress.

“You look–”

“Like a cheeky sneak peak to tomorrow's big debut,” Caitlyn finishes, giving Vi a light peck before she wipes away the residue of her lip balm from her lips.

“Ladies, if you’ll follow me, dinner is about to be served. Your mother awaits,” Matilda says pointedly, tipping her head knowingly as Vi and Caitlyn separate, held together only by their intertwined fingers.

“This way,” Caitlyn stage whispers, tugging along Vi as they both giggle behind Matilda. They only stop and fully separate once they enter the dining hall, Tobias and Cassandra already seated at either head of the table, leaving two place mats on either side of the table perpendicular to them.

They take their seats, the maids ready to deliver everyone’s meal once everyone is settled. Caitlyn is quick to slip off her shoes and drag a foot up Vi’s leg towards her knee, making the other woman nearly tip over the glass she was reaching for. Vi gives her a pointed look but Caitlyn only turns her head innocently.

“Good evening mother, father. This is Vi, Violet Lane. Vi, these are my parents, Cassandra and Tobias Kiramman.” Caitlyn says smoothly as she further trails her foot up Vi’s thigh. Vi subtly takes hold of her ankle as she turns towards the two with a cool grin.

“Pleasure to finally meet you both, officially,” she says, breathing a quiet sigh of relief when Caitlyn pulls her foot back, but not without an uncontained chuckle.

“Is something funny, dear?” Tobias asks, leaning back as the maids and butlers approach them with their plates. 

“Nothing father, just not used to such a formal hello from Vi, is all,” Caitlyn chimes, picking up her fork and moving around her risotto.

“I can be formal,” Vi mumbles around a grin, reaching a foot forward to wrap their ankles together under the table as she picks up her glass, her own plate of rice and garlic-style yanagidako being served.

“So. Violet. How exactly did you and my daughter meet,” Cassandra asks, lifting her glass of wine.

Vi lowers her own glass of sparkling soda, nearly chokes on it in a rush to reply. She wipes her lips with the cuff of her sleeve as she clears her throat. “It was after a soccer match. We played against each other like, man, how long has it been? Two months? Yeah, something like that. We, uhh, caught each other in the locker room and exchanged numbers,” she says in one breath, heat rising towards her cheeks.

“Right, that’s exactly how that day went,” Caitlyn says around her fork full of risotto, trying to hide the smirk that wants to overtake her lips. “But we don’t have to talk about–”

“You mean to tell me you’ve known each other for two months and you two are already saying I love you to one another? Quite the fast development.” Vi and Caitlyn share a look with each other from across the dining table as Tobias clears his throat. 

“It’s as they say, to be young and in love. I think it’s quite sweet. I’m just happy our dear daughter has found someone worthy enough to feel such grand affections, aren’t you dear?”

“I suppose,” she breathes, fork scraping along her plate. Caitlyn fidgets in her chair, anxiety slowly starting to eat away at her chest. She feels the tip of Vi’s shoe touch hers and she relaxes, marginally. She clears her throat.

“Father, after dinner I was thinking about having Vi fitted in one of your old suits and have it tailored for tomorrow night, is that alright? I think the dark navy one, the one you wore to Amara’s showing last month.”

“Yes dear, that would be quite alright,” Tobias says around a grin, spearing a forkful of his salmon and asparagus.

“Violet,” Cassandra calls, folding her hands under her chin as she leans forward. “If memory serves, you were the goalie of your team. You made quite the save against my Caitlyn, not many can succeed at such a task. Can I ask what got you into the sport and position?”

“That would be Sevika and Vander, my coach and my adoptive father. Back when my parents were alive Vander–”

“I’m sorry for your loss, dear,” Tobias murmurs, tipping his head.

“It’s alright, it happened a long time ago,” Vi mutters, eyes bouncing between Cassandra and Caitlyn. “But yeah, Vander, my dad for all intents and purposes, he, uhh, he actually got me into boxing at first. I would practice a lot with him and at this abandoned arcade in the Lanes. Powder, she’s my genius of a sister, she fixed it up and I just fell into this one game in particular. There was this killer machine that you could spar with, I couldn’t stop until I was covered in sweat and filled up the entire leader board, then I had to work hard to best myself after that. But then I got myself into a bit of trouble, got into one too many fights, skipped too many classes. I was actually on probation when I started playing soccer. Think it’s been, what, six? No, seven years since I started, yeah.”

“Wow. Quite the change, boxing to soccer,” Tobias starts, motioning for a refill of his glass.

“I’m sorry, did you say probation?” Cassandra asks, features pinching together.

“Mother, please.”

“No, no it’s okay. It was academic probation. I was skipping out on too many classes, fell real behind, even for Undercity standards. Honestly I just fell in the wrong crowd, started fighting a lot. But then Vander and Sevika helped me channel all of it into soccer, figured I could use my fists to knock balls out of the net instead of knocking people out, so. Yeah. Don’t know where me and my brothers and sisters would be without Vander, Benzo and them. I really need to break that habit, huh? Dad and them.”

“I see. Well, that’s quite the journey you went on. Quite the common occurrence when it comes to what happened with your parents, I’m afraid,” Cassandra laments. “It’s truly tragic how often we hear stories much similar to yours. Parents taken by that poor air quality you all suffer in. It’s why the Kiramman family developed that air filtration system, to help minimize the spread of that toxic factory smog. 'The people of the Undercity deserve to breathe,' we say.”

“I didn’t… I didn’t lose them to the grey,” Vi mutters, eyes now locked on Cassandra. Caitlyn tenses, rolling her fork between her fingers, can sense a bubble threatening to burst around them, but Cassandra barrels on, oblivious.

“Was it gang violence?” She asks, unsuspecting as she forks another mouthful. “Seems quite prevalent, although not as much since we made that truce and started getting more involved with the communities–”

“They were killed by enforcers.”

A beat.

“Enforcers deployed on counselor order.”

Caitlyn drops her fork mid chew while Tobias chokes on his wine and Cassandra lowers her glass with a clatter.

“Ah,” Tobias breathes, lowering his glass.

“Vi, we don’t have to continue this conversation,” Caitlyn attempts.

“Well, I’m sure the enforcers had their reasons –” Cassandra starts.

“Reasons to orphan children?” Vi says evenly, her shoulders rising and falling with each hurrying breath.

“Vi, we don’t have to get into this now,” Caitlyn offers, extending her hand to take Vi’s but she pulls away from her touch, as if she’d been burned.

“I actually don’t know why I agreed to this dinner,” Vi mumbles, wiping her mouth, the chair scraping loudly across the floor. “This was a bad idea, I think I’m gonna go.” 

“That’s really not necessary, my dear,” Tobias starts, splaying his hands across the table, trying to command calm.

Cassandra clears her throat as she motions for the maids that line the wall of the dinner hall. “That’s honestly probably for the best, Matilda, show her the door,” she calls.

“Mother–”

“I know where your fancy damn door is,” Vi scoffs. She shares a glance with Caitlyn and for a split second hesitation floods her features, but ultimately Vi turns away and leaves.

Caitlyn looks towards her father who only subtly tips his head when their gazes lock on one another as he brings his glass to his lips to take a rather large drink. Caitlyn barely excuses herself as she pushes back her chair to chase after Vi.

“Caitlyn, I’m sorry but–” Cassandra starts.

“You’ve said enough,” Caitlyn mutters before she runs out after her. The front door is just swinging shut when Caitlyn reaches the foyer. She curses under her breath as she continues to run, nearly colliding with the door. She opens it and steps out, focuses on not missing a step as she descends the stairs two at a time. 

By the time she gets to the bottom Vi is nowhere to be seen. She pats her dress, remembers her phone was left on the nightstand in her room, didn't expect to need it as anyone she would care to contact were already home with her. She curses again as she runs for the gates, surprised to find it locked once she approaches. Did she jump the fence? she thinks. Then Caitlyn remembers the side garden. She bolts to the right, her flats slipping off her feet as she runs through the field. Then she sees her, at the foot of Caitlyn’s window, having just jumped out with her bag and board in hand.

“Vi!” She yells, fast approaching.

“Cait? What are you– oof,” she nearly topples over at the force at which Caitlyn collapses in her arms, Caitlyn’s arms going around her neck as her board and bag slip from her grasp as her arms slowly come around Caitlyn’s middle, but not to pull her in. She gently shoves her, her hands removing her arms from around her neck. At the look on Caitlyn’s face she takes her head in her hand and sweeps her thumb over cheekbones, a torn expression on her face as her other hand settles on Caitlyn’s waist.

“Vi, you don’t have to go,” Caitlyn starts, her hands coming up to hold onto Vi’s wrists. “My mother, she’s–”

“Your mom is your mom and I can’t do this right now, I can’t be here right now. I gotta go, I gotta clear my head because all that’s going through my mind right now are Mylo’s words and I don’t want them to, but I’m thinking about it and I can’t get it to stop.”

Caitlyn’s breath catches in her throat, her grip tightening on Vi’s wrists. “But you said it wasn’t true, that we shouldn’t listen to a thing he says–”

“I know, that’s why I have to– babe, I have to go.” She adds emphasis as she steps away, the hand she has at Caitlyn’s waist shoving her away. “Don’t call me, don’t text, just– give me a minute, cupcake, I need a minute.”

“And of tomorrow’s gala?”

“I… I don’t know, just let me go home for now, my dad’s probably waiting for me, I haven’t been home since last night. I’ll text you, no, I’ll call, okay? Just, can I get a minute?”

“Okay, if that’s what you need,” Caitlyn says, pulling her hands behind her back where she pulls on her fingers until they pop. Vi collects her stuff, approaches Caitlyn to pull her down and kiss her forehead before she makes her way across the garden. Caitlyn sighs heavily, deflating with each step Vi takes until she’s over the fence and gone. She considers going back to get her flats, to go through the front door, but the chances of running into anyone is high and she doesn’t want to chance it, so she follows in Vi’s usual lead and clambers through her own window to get to her room.

Once inside she sighs again as she walks towards her bed. She falls back heavily on it, feels the way it rattle her bones as she bounces against it until she's laid flat, unmoving. She covers her face with her hands before she’s swiping down harshly, lashes starting to dampen. There’s a knock at her door and she groans, sitting up on her elbows. “I’m retiring early, please let me be,” she calls, falling back down. They knock again before he clears his throat.

“My dear, if I could have just a moment.” Caitlyn sighs as she pushes herself up, making her way to her door. She opens it and gasps, surprised to see him there with the suit they’d talked about over dinner laid across his forearm. “I figured you two would want these–”

“I don’t think she’s coming,” Caitlyn says lamely, fingers extending out to touch the edge of a hem. She sniffs, can feel herself on the verge of tears. Tobias brings his free hand to cradle her face, thumb sweeping lightly across her lashes.

“Well, just in case, lay this out. Maybe she’ll change her mind, hm?” Caitlyn nods around another sniff as she takes the suit from him, her fingers dancing over the fabric before she blows a raspberry and deflates again. She tries to smile but can only muster a tight lipped grin. He takes it, smiles enough for the both of them as he steps away. “Good night.”

“You too.” Caitlyn shuts her door, lays the suit over the chair of her desk where she brushes away at the creases the movement caused. With a final sigh she goes through the motions and does her nightly routine, settles into a loose cami and shorts, decides to put on one of Vi's hoodies she long since left behind for her before she gets into bed.

And once there and settled, she finally cries.

Chapter Text

Caitlyn finds herself in a rather secluded corner of the Medarda Manor like the last time she was here, is checking her phone for the umpteenth time when she feels something tug at her hair.  “Hey, Sprout– ow ow!” Caitlyn turns around and grabs Jayce by the wrist, twisting until he taps her fingers for mercy.

“Serves you right,” she says around a grin. She looks over his shoulder, making eye contact with her mother who’s currently talking with counselor Medarda. Caitlyn rolls her eyes, letting go of Jayce as she turns back to look at her phone, still no notifications. She sighs, pocketing it. “What do you want, Jayce?”

“Jeez, what’s got you in such a sour mood,” he mutters as he turns his wrist, thanking Viktor who approaches with two glasses of whiskey held between his fingers. 

“Who do you think,” is all Caitlyn says, grabbing a chute of champagne that walks past on a caterer’s tray. She downs it, throat working quickly as she sets it down and grabs a second glass.

“Do you need this?” Viktor offers around a grin, offering his glass.

“No, no. That was my first and this one will be my last. I got myself into a bit of trouble last time, so I’m taking it easy. I just really needed that one,” she mutters, sipping lightly from her current drink.

“Can we know what happened or,” Jayce asks, genuine concern lining his features. Caitlyn sighs again and she explains last night, the dinner, the words shared, the way Vi left and the way Vi left her. Jayce and Viktor listen, Viktor’s face occasionally pulling into a knowing glance as he sips from his glass while Jayce nods along.

“And now I’m here with Maddie, and don’t get me wrong, she’s my best friend and I love her company, but I wanted to come with Vi, and now… well now I’m avoiding Maddie because she insists we talk to donors but I can’t be bothered, not right now.” 

“She's important to you, this Vi,” Viktor asks, lifting a hankercheif from his pocket to cough into, Jayce’s hand settling on his shoulder.

“Quite,” Caitlyn laments, taking a large pull from her glass, halfing its contents. “I understand her, Vi, why she left the way she did. My mother isn’t an easy woman to please or to necessarily like. Hells, I love her but find it difficult to like her myself some days. She means well, but it’s still grating the way she speaks of those from the Undercity, of Vi.”

“It’s something we have to deal with when we try to integrate with those from Topside. It's as it was for me. A poor cripple from the Undercity, you can imagine how difficult it was to, as they say, climb the social ladder.”

“You were our brightest student, Viktor, have consistently outshone the rest notably the last few years,” comes a voice from below. Heimerdinger tips his glass to Viktor and the rest. “To come from the Undercity is to overcome many hardships, my boy, and you’ve done so exponentially with your Hextech, regardless of my initial reservations. With this new truce, may the connection between Zaun and Piltover grow so that those with even half of your wit and resolve, Viktor, can be given the opportunity to thrive as you have the way they deserve. To Zaunites!”

“To Zaunites,” they cheer, clinking their glasses together before taking a sip.

“To Zaunites?” They all turn towards Maddie who has her eyebrows quirked, a question in the purse of her lips as she tips her glass.

“Yes, my dear girl! To our dear neighbors! Now if you all will excuse me, I need to find my dear poro. I think I lost him by the shrimp table,” Heimerdinger says before scurrying off for his pet.

“Why are we cheering for the Undercity,” Maddie asks quietly, Viktor and Jayce excusing themselves with a tilt of their heads, not without a wide eyed pointed look from Jayce before they disappear into the crowd. Caitlyn deflates, turning towards Maddie and taking her hand in hers.

“Why not,” is Caitlyn’s one and only response as she lifts Maddie’s hands to kiss her fingers. Maddie’s cheeks brighten marginally but Caitlyn looks away before she can catch it, or the way Maddie’s eyes linger on her lips.

“I suppose,” Maddie says as she dips her head, hiding behind her fringe before clearing her throat. She lifts her head, shoulder bumping into Caitlyn’s. “Have I mentioned how lovely you look tonight,” she says, jutting her chin towards Caitlyn’s deep red dress, a thigh high slit with a complimentary set of lace trimmed black heels that ties halfway up her calves. Caitlyn smiles small, disappointed in the fact Vi isn’t here to see it, to find out that she did indeed put on black lace underwear with thighhigh tights, but she smiles nonetheless.

“Thank you. And so do you. I don’t think I’ve seen you in a suit like this before. It’s funny, it almost looks… like….” Maddie smiles sheepishly as she motions over Caitlyn’s shoulder. Caitlyn turns her head to find her mother before turning back to look at Maddie accusingly. “Did my mother send for you to wear this?”

“She called my mum and the maids, asked that we coordinate our looks for tonight.

“Ah.” Because of course she’d dress Maddie in a suit similar to the one Vi was meant to wear. “Well, you too look lovely, sans my mothers meddling. The color suits you.”

“Thank you. You know, we could take a turn together, if you’d like.” Caitlyn opens her mouth to respond no when a voice booms from behind.

“Miss Kiramman, Miss Nolen!” comes Mel’s voice, scaring the two women. “Sorry, didn’t mean to frighten. Now, don’t you two make a lovely pair, you’re both beautiful tonight! Now, how has it been, talking to our donors of the night? You know, having two students advocating for their rival school can do a lot, you’d be surprised. May I introduce you two to Lady Crass? It won’t take more than a moment!”

And like that Caitlyn is thrown into the thick of it. First it was Lady Crass, then Sir Fletcher, Mrs Rounding, Professor Taylor, and on and on and on until Caitlyn found her mouth too dry to even speak. She and Maddie excuse themselves, Caitlyn breaking her two drink rule to quench her thirst with yet another chute of champagne. 

“Gods, I thought we’d never get away. The counselor sure has a way of persuading donors, don’t you think?” Maddie asks around her own glass of gin.

Caitlyn groans around her drink, motioning for the doors that lead outside. “Take a walk with me? I need to get away from all the noise before my brain decides to start leaking out of my ears,” she says around a chuckle as she loops her arm around Maddie’s shoulder, her arm going around her middle.

They walk side by side under the familiar weeping willow trees, although this time they’ve flowered so they’re surrounded by lovely light shades of pink. Caitlyn can’t help but smile as they pass by a rather disheveled bush, remembering the last time she walked underneath these trees. She sighs at the memory of Vi’s rough touch, a shiver going up her spine she blames on the chill air. Maddie seems to sense that Caitlyn’s mind has wandered, says as much as she pulls away to better look at Caitlyn’s face.

Caitlyn only shrugs. “Just thinking of Vi. I really wish she was here, is all.” Maddie hums, her features pinching together at the mention of Vi. It makes Caitlyn stop in her tracks, her arm falling from around Maddie’s shoulder as she tilts her head to the side. “What, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing, it’s just, I thought you and I– I don’t know, I thought we were having a good time?”

Caitlyn blinks, confusion coursing through her as she takes Maddie’s hand in hers, intertwining their fingers. “Of course, you know I enjoy your company. Mentioning Vi doesn’t change that, I just… I miss her.”

“But you just saw her yesterday,” Maddie nearly balks. Caitlyn’s spine straightens as Maddie approaches her, a hand going over her waist. It sends a small alarm through her mind, but she brushes it off. She starts to realize she hasn’t been a good friend to Maddie since she started dating Vi, and she’s starting to realize how much it’s affected their friendship. She sighs, shaking her head at herself.

“I’m sorry. You’re right, I shouldn’t be so obsessed. Besides, I’m here with you.” But Maddie’s sighs, hides behind her fringe, making Caitlyn’s brows pull together. “Maddie, what is it?” Caitlyn asks, tipping Maddie’s face up to look at her as she subtly removes her hand from her waist, their hands still held together.

“Caity, it’s just…. You know I care for you, right?”

“Of course. You’re my greatest friend,” Caitlyn says around a small smile, stepping close.

“I’d do anything for you. You ask me to jump, I’ll ask how high, anything.”

“I would never ask too much of you, you know that,” Caitlyn says, rubbing her thumb across the back of her hand.

“I love you,” she breathes, and Caitlyn nods, small smile to her lips.

“And I–” suddenly Maddie is closing the distance and their lips are coming together. Caitlyn hums in surprise as Maddie’s hands take her face, turning to deepen the kiss. Caitlyn doesn’t mean for it to happen, doesn’t mean to kiss back. She tries to pull away but then Maddie simply moves with her and, quite frankly, Caitlyn can’t believe this is happening. Suddenly she’s surrounded by strawberry shampoo and her stomach turns.

She places her hands on Maddie’s shoulders and shoves, fingers immediately coming to her lips. Maddie’s lips part but no words come out as Caitlyn steps away. 

Caitlyn is the first to break the silence. “How could you do that?” she asks, voice thick with betrayal. She looks down at Maddie’s lips where her lipstick is smeared and it makes Caitlyn’s head spin, stomach turning on itself again.

Maddie seems to find her voice. “Caity, I’ve been in love with you ever since you first sat next to me in Miss Prescott’s class when you offered to share your colored pencils. Ever since I fell off my bike when we were eight and you kissed it better and told me all my pain would go away. Ever since–”

“Maddie stop,” Caitlyn begs, her lips feeling like static.

“But Caity–”

“It’s Caitlyn!”

“Caitlyn–”

“That’s enough,” comes a new voice and both women turn towards it. Cassandra stands at the end of the trail, head held in a manner that it’s impossible not to feel small as she looks down her nose at the two. Caitlyn approaches slowly and her mother opens her arms, beckoning for her to move close. Caitlyn nearly trips as she rushes into her mother’s arms.

“Mother, I–”

“Violet is waiting for you inside.”

“Wha– Vi is here? Here?”

Cassandra sighs as she lifts a gloved hand to wipe away at the mess on the corner of Caitlyn’s lip, uses a knuckle to lightly wipe away a rogue tear. “I had quite the chat with the girl. She’s… well, anyway, she’s waiting for you. You ought to find her,” is all she says as she steps aside, motioning for Caitlyn to enter, has an eyebrow perched that tells Caitlyn she is not to ask any further questions, so, she doesn’t. Caitlyn makes for the door, for Vi, for an escape from this cursed trail. Just before she can make her escape she hears her mother speak. “As for you, Miss Nolen. I think you ought to go home.”

“But–”

Caitlyn doesn’t lag behind to hear the rest. She feels her heart beat in her chest, ringing in her ears as she enters the foyer where she finds Vi. Vi who’s dressed in the suit Caitlyn left laid out across her bed, the cuffs rolled up around her forearms and pants hanging loosely off her hips, obviously unfitted, but she looks good nonetheless.

Vi who’s smile immediately disappears the moment her eyes land on Caitlyn. She crosses the room in hurried steps, hands immediately taking her face. “Cait, what happened?” she asks, concern laced in her voice, but Caitlyn only shakes her head.

“Nothing, love, it’s nothing,” Caitlyn mutters but she doesn’t even believe herself. Vi’s eyebrows pinch together as she wipes away a tear, her eyes falling to Caitlyn’s lips as Caitlyn tries to speak but no words come out. Vi blinks, lightly shakes her head as her thumb sweeps the skin just below Caitlyn’s lips, the pad of her thumb coming away a dusty red.

“Cait?”

Caitlyn immediately grabs at the lapels of Vi’s suit, pulling her close. “Vi, it’s not what you think, I swear it–”

“And what do I think?” Vi asks, face full of questions, anger in her eyes.

“It was Maddie, she–”

“Maddie?”

“I didn’t want her to, she just– Vi, you have to believe me–”

“She kissed you?”

“Yes.”

“When?”

“Violet–”

“When?” Caitlyn’s breathing starts to become hurried, shoulders falling and rising with every breath as her head starts to spin and Vi’s anger immediately dissipates. “Baby, I’m not mad at you, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

Caitlyn’s hold on her lapels only get harder. “Vi, I promise you I didn’t mean to, she just threw herself onto me, I couldn’t believe it was happening, I swear, I swear to you I didn’t want it to happen, Vi, she didn’t ask she just kissed me, I swear to you I didn’t want anything like that to happen between us, Vi please, please–”

“Shh, okay, okay, I believe you, I believe you,” Vi whispers quietly, pulling Caitlyn close, pressing a kiss into her cheek as Caitlyn’s arms go around her neck. They stand there for a moment, not without a few sideways glances from other patrons but they don’t pay them any mind as they just hold each other.

After a few moments Vi is the first to break the silence. “She fucking kissed you,” she barely breathes and Caitlyn’s arms only go tighter.

“I’m sorry. I should have listened to you, I should have believed you when–”

“When I said Nolen was in love with you? Yeah, well…” Vi sighs as she finally pulls away, anger making her hands shake as she wipes away at the corner of Caitlyn’s mouth again, sadness in her eyes.

“I’m truly sorry,” Caitlyn mumbles, straightening out the creases she left in Vi’s suit, a wince overtaking her face at the wrinkles left behind.

“It’s not your fault,” Vi mutters, leaning in again to kiss her cheek. Caitlyn tries to turn her head but Vi just barely pulls away before their lips can touch. Vi’s eyes squeeze shut as she takes Caitlyn’s hands, seems to be considering something. After a moment Vi just sighs and opens her eyes.

“Dance with me.”

Caitlyn blinks, surprise making her eyebrows attempt to escape into her hairline. “Dance? Really, now?” Vi steps close, lets her nose skim up Caitlyn’s neck, over her ear and across her cheekbone until their nose to nose, lips a breath apart.

“Dance. With. Me,” she murmurs, pulling away with a cheeky smile as Caitlyn tries to close the space. Caitlyn’s heart jumps up her throat at the little passes of rejection, but she nods, lets Vi’s hand take hers and drag her across the foyer and towards the dance hall.

They make their way across the sea of bodies until they reach the center, Vi’s hands on Caitlyn’s waist and Caitlyn’s around Vi’s neck as they sway to the slow beat of the music, arms length apart. They avoid each other's gaze, seem to watch anything but each other and it makes Caitlyn’s heart break.

After a couple of slow songs Vi blows a raspberry, hangs her head for a moment before she lifts it, starts to slowly close the distance between them. They still don’t touch other than where their hands and arms meet, but they’re closer.

“I don’t want to fight,” Vi says, taking another step. “It’s not your fault, I know I just… she fucking kissed you and it’s just really, really pissing me off. I can’t get it out of my mind.”

Caitlyn sighs, taking another step closer. “If I told you it was awful would it make you feel better?”

Vi snorts a laugh, stepping even closer. “Maybe a little,” she murmurs, her thumb sweeping lightly against the exposed skin of Caitlyn’s lower back. “Just tell me it didn’t mean anything.”

“It meant nothing,” Caitlyn breathes, closing the distance between them, her arms overlapping as she brings their faces close, their lips still not touching. Vi’s hands tighten as she takes a deep inhale, turning her head to bring their lips even closer. Caitlyn’s heart rattles in her chest, her breath caught in her throat.

“Cupcake, I really want to kiss you–”

“What’s stopping you?”

“Knowing she was here, touching you, kissing you,” Vi nearly groans as she rolls her forehead along Caitlyn’s, their lips brushing together with the movement.

“Then erase her,” Caitlyn murmurs. “Don’t let her do this, don’t let her get in the way, please. Gods, help me forget it, get rid of those damned strawberries,” she begs, fingers digging into Vi’s hair, into the nape of her neck.

“Cait–”

“Violet–”

They crash into each other like waves along the shore, as they’re meant to. Caitlyn hums into it, her arms coming down so she can take Vi’s face and deepen the kiss. Vi obliges, tongue dipping past Caitlyn’s lips to tangle together. They pull into one another, the beat of the music dictating their motions. With each beat they sway, continue pulling together until they become one, unable to distinguish one from the other. After the song stops they pull apart, lips this side of static.

The song changes into something more upbeat, one that makes one want to sway and dance into one another, so they do. Caitlyn pulls Vi close again, thighs spreading to allow one another to dip into each other. It’s then that Caitlyn feels it against her thigh. Both women gasp as Caitlyn sways into Vi’s strap, Vi’s hands slowly sliding further down Caitlyn’s back to sit just above her hips, fingers pressing into the material of Caitlyn’s dress, pulling them together.

Caitlyn pulls away marginally, keeping them connected at the hips as they continue to dance along in similar fashion to other couples that surround them. She subtly rolls her hips to confirm her suspicions, the corner of her mouth quirking into a smirk when Vi exhales a shakey breath. “Vi, are you…?” 

Vi smirks as she drops a hand to subtly grab ass before pushing Caitlyn away at the hips to turn her so that she can press herself flush against Caitlyn’s back. “I told you I’d come strapped,” she murmurs as she presses her knees into the back of Caitlyn’s, having her sit in her lap as they continue to dance along to the beat of the music. Cailyn gasps as she feels the strap press into her, making a point of rolling her hips with each sway along to the beat, making Vi’s breath slowly go ragged.

Caitlyn sighs into it, turning her head as Violet’s nose skims her shoulder, neck and cheek. She brings a hand over Vi’s hand and face, kissing her from behind as she presses back into her with the beat of the bass. “Violet, I need you,” she barely breathes, can feel the strap pressed against her ass.

Vi only chuckles in her ear as she presses a kiss to her shoulder. “After a few more songs, cupcake. Told your mom we'd behave,” she says around a breathy exhale.

"You spoke to my mother?"

"Later."

They continue to dance, the music remaining this side of upbeat and fast tempo. They dance around each other, spinning, pressing together, and teasing so much that by the end of the fourth song both are nearly breathless, desperate for each other.

“Vi–”

“I need to be inside you right now,” Vi nearly groans, grabbing Caitlyn’s hands and intertwining their fingers together and lifting it up to press a kiss to the back of her hand.

“Follow me,” Caitlyn murmurs, taking Vi’s wrist to lead them around the crowd of people. They disappear down a hall and then another and another until the music and chatter is nothing but a dull background. They open a door and enter the room, Caitlyn quick to lock the door behind them. She turns, finds that they’re in a library by the sheer magnitude of books on the shelves. “Gods, have you ever seen so many books that weren’t in a libr–”

“Cait.” Vi says, pulling Caitlyn close. “I don’t fucking care.” She crashes their lips together, teeth clicking from the force as Vi brings a hand down the slit of Caitlyn’s dress to grab her thigh and hook her leg around her hips. “I need her out of your mouth, off your body, away from us,” Vi mutters, grip going tight around Caitlyn’s waist as her tongue sinks in deep.

“Please, please,” Caitlyn breathes, hands going for Vi’s belt. Vi pushes Caitlyn until they run into the wall of books, some clattering to the floor with the force.

“I need to fuck your mouth,” Vi says between breathes, doesn’t ask, and it makes Caitlyn keen as she nods, dropping to her knees to immediately start working Vi out of her belt and pants. They fall easily, the strap flinging up with the sudden freedom. Vi moans, lining herself up with one hand while her other hand is thrown against the shelves to keep herself held up. Caitlyn parts her lips and lets Vi sink in. Vi doesn’t stop until she’s buried deep, doesn’t stop when Caitlyn gags, doesn’t stop doesn’t stop doesn’t stop.

Caitlyn doesn’t know how but she opens her throat and drops her jaw, focuses on keeping herself open as Vi starts to rock into her mouth, her hand carding through her hair as she pulls in and out. Caitlyn holds her thumbs in her fists, concentrates on not gagging but after a while she can’t help it when her throat closes up. Vi pulls out enough for her to cough once before she’s pressing forward again and Caitlyn tries to breathe, gags again. She’s about to push herself off when Vi pulls her hair and it changes her position. Suddenly she’s able to breathe, able to take each roll of her hips, able to just take it.

“You’re doing so good, so good baby,” Vi praises, her hips pumping faster, harder. Caitlyn groans as she curls her tongue and further drops her jaw, pain slowly crawling up her throat towards her mouth, but she doesn’t push Vi off, instead she continues to let her fuck her throat. She places her hands on Vi’s hips and urges on her movements and it makes Vi nearly cry out as her movements become erratic. Vi rolls her hips once, twice, then she coming down Caitlyn’s throat.

“Oh fuck,” Vi moans, her grip going tight in Caitlyn’s hair as she starts to come down from her high, her legs shaking. Caitlyn pulls off, not without a final suck that makes Vi’s knees buckle. “Come here,” she breathes, heaving Caitlyn up before she’s pressing her lips harshly against hers. “I’m going to erase her from you,” she promises, sucking Caitlyn’s tongue into her mouth and tasting herself, making her groan.

“Please,” Caitlyn rasps, her throat spent. It only spurs on Vi’s movements as she snakes a hand down Caitlyn’s thigh and hikes up her dress. “Fuck, I need you inside, I need it, I need you,” she begs, sitting up against the shelve of books as she spreads her legs, pulling Vi close. Vi’s hand snakes underneath her dress and hikes it up, pulls off her underwear, doesn’t waste time as she jerks herself off to get lubed, but Caitlyn bats her hand away and just leads her towards her core, wants to feel the heat of being entered without prep.

“Oh fuck,” they both moan as Vi sinks in, her strap only slick with spit but Caitlyn takes it, relishes in the harsh glide as Vi starts to fuck into her. 

“Harder, harder,” Caitlyn commands as she wraps her legs around Vi’s hips, her heels against her ass, urging on her movements. More books starts to cascade down around them as Vi pounds into her cunt, the glide slowly getting smoother and easier with each rolling pass. They don’t even kiss, just breath into each other’s mouths, breathing each other in like they’re each other’s oxygen.

“You look so good on my strap, look so good, feel so good, fuck,” Vi mutters, taking Caitlyn’s hands off her shoulders, pressing them into the wall of books above her head where she traps her wrists in one hand as she brings her other hand down to start working over Caitlyn’s clit, earning her a gut punched moan that sends a shiver down her spine. 

Caitlyn starts to feel herself reach her peak as more books come tumbling down, her moans reverberating around the entire room with the slick sounds of skin slapping along skin. “Violet–”

“Come on my strap, baby, come on,” Vi stutters, picking up the bruising pace she sets as her fingers continue to work over her clit. “Do you need more?” Caitlyn nods, nearly sobs when Vi sinks two fingers in alongside the strap, fingers crooked and pressing against that spot that makes Caitlyn keen.

“Kiss me,” Caitlyn huffs, tries to pull her hands free but Vi only strengthens her grip before she descends, lips harsh and demanding. Vi hisses when Caitlyn bites her lip, sinks herself as deep as the strap allows and just stalls, making Caitlyn whine as she tastes blood before Vi sets the pace again. Caitlyn licks her way into Vi’s mouth, starts sucking on her tongue in tandem with her rolling hips, making Vi groan with the double stimulation as her strokes become erratic, blood slowly pooling down her chin.

Caitlyn pulls away from her tongue, starts to shake. “Vi,” she cries, pressing her forehead to hers as Vi fucks into her once, twice, until she’s trembling, feels it in her toes as Vi works her through her orgasm. “Oh fuck, don’t stop,” she moans, wanting to chase that feeling along her spine as long as she can. Vi groans as they’re lips crash together again, Caitlyn taking a moment to lick up her chin and suck over her split lip. 

“I’m sorry,” she mutters as she swallows down the iron taste, but Vi only shakes her head.

“Bite me, scratch me, mark me up, cupcake, I’m yours,” she demands. Caitlyn only moans into it, tries to meet Vi’s thrusts but she can't do more than just take it as Vi continues on. “Gods, I love you,” she moans.

“Fuck me like you mean it,” Caitlyn sobs, spreading herself even farther. Vi finally lets go of Caitlyn’s wrist so Caitlyn takes the opportunity to grab Vi’s ass, urging her on while one of Vi’s hands go towards her throat. Caitlyn nods when Vi squeezes in question, her eyes rolling back as Vi’s fingers tighten, her other hand finding purchase on Caitlyn’s hips.

Caitlyn tries to breathe, finds she can’t and it makes her tighten her legs around Vi, already so close again. “Come again, I know you want to,” Vi lilts, not stopping her hips. Caitlyn tries to groan as that feeling builds up, but she can’t and Vi keeps her fingers tight as Caitlyn starts to see black. It isn’t until the very last second that Vi releases her hold, Caitlyn gasping for breath as she finally peaks again.

She trembles through it as Vi pumps into her, burying herself deep as she comes too, filling Caitlyn and making her moan through it. They breathe into each other’s open mouths as they slowly plummet, Caitlyn taking Vi’s face in her hands. “Vi, I need to ride you,” Caitlyn says around deep breathes, pulling her in for a searing kiss that’s more tongue than lips. Vi buries herself as deep as she can, shivers at the wet sound of their bodies coming together as she wraps Caitlyn’s legs around her hips to carry her over to the long table that sits in the center of the room.

Vi sits herself down on the edge, bringing Caitlyn’s knees onto the table beside either side of her hips as she shoves paperwork and books off onto the floor, bringing Caitlyn down with her as she lays back. Caitlyn lightly rocks back on the strap as she kisses Vi, shaking with every roll of her hips, close to over stimulation. Nonetheless she sits up, lays her hands over Vi’s hips as she rolls her hips, throwing her head back as she works herself up to start fucking herself.

Vi’s back arches once Caitlyn rises, her mouth dropping open in their change of position, finally able to just focus on chasing that high. Caitlyn slowly starts to bounce, brings her hands up to lift her hair off her damp neck as she fucks herself, the need to come no where near. She rises up off the strap and brings her fingers around the base of the dildo to turn on the vibration. Once on both women nearly scream at the change.

“Oh fuck,” Vi cries, her nails scratching down Caitlyn’s thighs as the intensity slowly increases. Caitlyn’s head drops back, her thighs and abdomen slowly starting to burn with her constant movement. Soon heat starts to build in her spine again, working it’s way between her legs as the need to come starts to rile up in her again.

“Fuck, I’m so close,” she huffs, feels sweat start to pool in the divet of her collarbone. Vi sits up and takes Caitlyn’s face, licks her way up her throat before kissing her deep as she continues to rock in her lap. Vi doesn’t think she can come again but then Caitlyn is bringing her hand between them, hovering above the vibrating strap to turn on the last setting she has yet to introduce and it makes Vi’s breath get caught in her throat as the piece inside of her starts to pump in and out her in tandem with Caitlyn’s rising body, suddenly feels like she’s also getting fucked. It makes her keen, unable to coordinate a kiss as their mouths hang open against each other’s.

“I need to fill you up, need you dripping,” Vi moans, her hands on Caitlyn’s hips, urging on her bouncing body. “Fuck, I need to come.”

“Come inside me, need you, I need you,” Caitlyn sobs, her grip on Vi’s shoulders leaving half moon crescents into her skin.

“Shit, fuck,” Vi cries, burying her face in Caitlyn’s chest where she leaves a bite mark as she comes, feels her abdomen tense, a stitch threatening to form in her side at the sheer force of it. Caitlyn isn’t far behind, core going tight around Vi’s strap, making Vi cry out because it’s too much, too much .

Caitlyn buries herself as she comes, lets the vibrations work through her entire body as she trembles through it, feels like she’s going to die as her breath gets completely knocked out of her. Once done both women crash, Vi falling back with Caitlyn laid across her chest, too worn to even care that the strap continues to vibrate between them. It takes a moment for Caitlyn to find enough energy to lift her hips and turn it off, both women sighing in relief as it all finally stops.

They lay there just catching their breathes, the sweat along their skin slowly cooling their burning bodies as they come down, so fucked out they nearly pass out right then and there, but the sound of footsteps and giggling outside the door reminds them they’re not in the place to do so. With a sigh Caitlyn sits up, wincing at the obscene sounds that comes from between them. Vi shakes near violent, her hands going tight over Caitlyn’s thighs as she pulls herself off, the strap falling against Vi’s abdomen, wet with both their come.

“How the hell are we going to clean up in here, this place is just books,” Vi says around a giggle, hand coming up to hide her mouth as Caitlyn collapses beside her in her own fit of laughter, taking a moment before they're both just breathing again.

“You bit me,” Caitlyn sighs, looking down at her chest with a satisfied smile before turning to look at Vi. 

“Sorry,” Vi whispers, brushing her nose along hers before pressing their lips together, chaste.

“As you said, I’m yours,” Caitlyn whispers back, getting up on her elbow to properly lean over her and kiss her, soft, slow. She drops back down and they lay there, watching the flickering lights of the fire that burn in the light fixtures overhead, allowing their bodies to cool and dry. Vi tangles their fingers together, brings her hand up to kiss the back of Caitlyn’s hand before she sits up, tucking herself away with a hiss. She slides off the edge of the table, bending down to pull her pants up from around her knees before she turns to help Caitlyn up, kissing up her arm as she slowly rises until she can kiss her lips, gently pulling Caitlyn to the edge of the table to settle in between her open knees to just kiss her.

Vi adjusts Caitlyn’s dress, takes a moment to look around to find her underwear, finds it under a pile of books and papers. “Gods, we really trashed this room,” Vi mutters as she pockets the garment, bending over to start cleaning up their mess, Caitlyn soon hopping down to help. 

“Worth it,” Caitlyn whispers, a cheeky grin pulling the corner of her lips. Vi only laughs as she stands, a balance of books in her palms that she starts to place back on the shelf. It takes a few minutes but eventually they get the room sorted. They walk hand in hand towards the door, stopping for a moment to look each other over to make sure they’re presentable. Vi’s face pulls into a wince at the quickly developing bruise starting to form around her bite mark, tries to brush Caitlyn’s hair over it but in the end they decide it’s too far gone to do much about it.

If her parents ask, they’ll simply deny deny deny.

They return to the festivities, Caitlyn making a final turn with Vi on her arm, making small talk with donors that Mel hadn’t been able to introduce her to. It takes thirty minutes for her father to find them to tell them they’re set to leave. Vi and Caitlyn make their escape, are the first in the limousine and forced to wait for Casandra and Tobias to make their final goodbyes.

The first thing Caitlyn does is take off her heels before she settles heavily into Vi’s side, eyes immediately falling shut and soon falling into a light sleep as Vi holds her close. She partially wakes up when her parents make their long awaited appearance, but she doesn’t do more than settle deeper into Vi’s side, can’t be bothered to open her eyes. Her parents greet Vi quietly and the car eventually starts to move.

After a few moments, Cassandra is the first to break the silence. 

“It was nice of you to join my daughter tonight, Miss Lane. I know she greatly appreciates your presence, especially after the, well, the unfortunate debacle with Miss Nolen.”

Vi shifts beside Caitlyn, is careful not to jostle her as she does, clearing her throat. “I was always going to come, I just needed the day to clear my head. Talking with you earlier tonight was, uh, really important to me. Thank you for taking the time to speak with me.”

“Same to you, Miss Lane.”

“Mhm," Vi hums before she clears her throat again. "And please, call me Vi.” Cassandra doesn’t respond but Caitlyn can only assume she nods at the request. Soon after Tobias takes his turn to speak.

“I would like to thank you for taking such good care of my daughter, Vi. I know how happy you make her.”

“She makes me happy too,” Vi whispers, her thumb rubbing circles into the back of Caitlyn’s hand. Another beat of silence.

“Are you spending the night?” Tobias asks quietly.

“Um, yeah? If that’s alright?”

"It's not a problem, my dear. I’ll be sure to let the maids know to make another helping for the morning.”

“Thanks," Vi whispers back appreciatively.

They ride in silence for the remainder of the drive. After what feels like a second Vi is lightly shaking Caitlyn awake, having actually fallen asleep. Caitlyn hums like a petulant child, finds that they're alone in the back of the car. Vi smiles, leaning in to press a kiss against her nose. "Come on, sleeping fairy, it's time to head up to your tower."

"Hm, but have you slain the dragon first?"

"Why of course, my dear maiden," Vi whispers around a grin, leaning in to kiss her lips. Caitlyn smiles back into it, groaning when Vi pulls away, grabbing Caitlyn's shoes. "We gotta go," she says around a chuckle, and Caitlyn groans again but follows her out.

They make their way upstairs, slow and steady, swaying into one another. They go through the motions of their nightly routine, bumping shoulders and hips as they pass each other by. Vi is the first to settle into bed where she lays on her back, arms open and waiting. Caitlyn soon settles into her side, sighing contently as they both sink into the mattress together with whispers of I love you carrying them into the night.