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Caitlyn had just sat down for a lovely long night of binge watching random reality TV when her intercom buzzed. She hung her head and whined miserably. Keeping down the bowl of ramen beside her laptop, Caitlyn went to the machine.
“Who is it?”
“Special delivery.”
Caitlyn flinched, “Vi?! What the hell are you doing here?”
“Trying to get you to let me in so I don’t freeze to death.”
“Idiot,” Caitlyn whispered under her breath as she clicked the button. She unlocked the door and returned to her place in front of the laptop.
Caitlyn scrolled her options. What did she feel? Love Island? No. Shark Tank? No. The Bake-off? Maybe.
“Is your neighbour in a band?” asked Vi as she pushed the front door open with a shoulder.
“Cult,” replied Caitlyn, rolling her eyes.
Vi paused with her arms frozen beside her head, scarf half off. “You serious?”
“Mhm.”
“Right,” said Vi, resuming the movement, “so, like, it’s some kind of ritual hymn or…”
“What?” Caitlyn looked at her incredulously.
She blinked at Vi, who had hung her scarf and coat on the rack and was now toeing off her boots. All while looking at Caitlyn expectantly, waiting for an answer.
Caitlyn laughed a little, “Oh,” shaking her head when she realised. She looked back at the screen. “The band is called Cult.”
“Oh,” scoffed Vi, “the tune’s catchy. Wonderful.” She plopped down beside Caitlyn on the cushion, “So, what’s the scene?”
Caitlyn put on Glow Up and picked up her bowl of noodles, swirling it with the chopsticks. The silhouette of Stacey Dooley appeared on the screen and Caitlyn felt the couch dip beside her as Vi leaned back, sinking into the sponge. Caitlyn bit the inside of her cheek with the steam from the ramen in her face.
Vi sighed.
Caitlyn raised her chopsticks to her mouth, taking a mouthful of her meal.
Vi sighed again.
“Be louder, would you?”
Vi scrambled to fetch her phone from her pocket and pointed the camera at Caitlyn, “Can you do that again so I can show your mother proof that your corruption doesn’t root from me?”
Caitlyn quirked an eyebrow, “Excuse me?”
“Violation of table manners 101, Cupcake; no talking with your mouth full.” Vi grinned slyly.
Caitlyn’s lips twitched as she swallowed. “Well, I’m not at a table, am I? I have another cup, you want it?”
“Nah, I’m full,” said Vi, putting her phone away and waving a dismissive hand, “from the dinner at Gert’s… which you were also invited to, by the way. Remember?”
Caitlyn looked back at the laptop, “I texted Gert that I wasn't feeling very well.”
“Everyone missed you,” said Vi, “it’s not a holiday soiree without you launching into a full on argument with Jinx about something fucking absurd like the history of eggnog.”
The holiday soiree had been a thing since their first year of University. On the Sunday before they all leave to spend the holidays with their families, they knock themselves out with the final bang of the year.
Caitlyn shrugged, “Eggnog had a different name back when it first came into existence. I can’t be bothered to remember. Did you know?”
“See what I mean?”
“Whatever,” said Caitlyn, taking a mouthful of ramen again.
Vi huffed a laugh.
The camera rushed through a room full of panicked make-up artists on the screen as Stacey Dooley announced their remaining time. Caitlyn’s mouth was on fire, the flavour of chilli flakes finally hitting her.
“Why didn’t you come, Cait?”
Caitlyn sighed quietly, “I don’t know, I guess I just lost track of time. My clock’s broken, see.”
Vi wrinkled her eyebrows and sat up to look at the dial on the wall behind them. It was stuck at half past twelve. Vi checked her watch. Eight forty-five.
“How long has it been that way?” asked Vi, raising her eyebrows.
“A while.”
“You know it takes like two seconds to put in new batteries, right?”
“It’s too high up for me to reach it.”
Vi bellowed a laugh, “Oh, I know you’re lying there.”
Caitlyn grinned, not taking her eyes off her laptop.
Vi settled back on the couch, “You’re just being lazy.”
Caitlyn chuckled bitterly, “I’m aware, trust me.” She brought the bowl to her lips, gulping down the last of the soup left. “So fucking aware.”
Vi sat up straighter, “What did I—”
Caitlyn felt a tinge of guilt. “Nothing,” she said, plastering a smile on her face. Cutting Vi off, she stood up to go to the kitchen. “Don’t worry about it.” She dropped the bowl in the sink and leaned against it, gripping the edge, letting out a heavy breath. She heard the click of the show pause and Vi’s footsteps stopped at a distance behind her. “Why are you here, Vi?”
“Guess I got curious about what fun stuff you got up to without us.” Vi’s voice was small.
Caitlyn’s fingers twitched, “I would have gone to the dinner if I was in the mood for that right now.” She spoke as softly as she could, making sure there was no bite in her tone.
“Well, that’s the thing, though,” said Vi, “you say you don’t want company but you haven’t kicked me out yet.”
Caitlyn looked at her over her shoulder. Vi was leaning against the door of the fridge, hands in her jeans pockets, features relaxed.
Caitlyn smiled lopsidedly, “Guess the delivery might just be special, after all.”
Vi snorted, “Stop stroking my ego to change the subject. It works.”
“I know,” said Caitlyn, brushing past her and going for the couch again.
She was just about to press play when Vi swooped in and closed the lid.
“Hey!” scoffed Caitlyn, “I was watching that.”
Vi sat facing her, one leg folded under her thigh, “Yeah, I don’t doubt it.”
“Vi—”
“Ekko’s amateur theatre group came in third in a competition.”
That spurred a surprised sound out of Caitlyn, “Really? But they suck.”
“Yeah,” laughed Vi, “and it’s only because there were four groups competing in total and one got disqualified for ‘inappropriate display of grief’.”
Caitlyn grimaced, “God, what’d they do?”
“Apparently, the main guy started frenching a photo of his girlfriend who died in a car crash.”
“What?!” Caitlyn threw her head back, laughing.
“Yeah!” snickered Vi, taking the small knitted blanket over the backrest of the couch and draping it over their legs.
“That is weird,” wheezed Caitlyn.
“Jinx got it on video. Open the group chat, you’ll see.”
Caitlyn looked at her, scandalised, “Fuck no!”
“Okay,” Vi said in between puffs of laughter, “your turn.”
“I…” Caitlyn couldn’t bring herself to deny her, “fine, alright. I went out to get something for Secret Santa — I got Lux, by the way. Anyway, the first store I visited didn’t have what I was looking for but the lady was thoughtful enough to hand me a flyer for an event called Jingle & Mingle.”
“Oh!” cackled Vi, “That sounds… opportunistic.”
“Oh, fuck off,” Caitlyn shoved Vi’s shoulder, “and honestly, that’s fine, I wouldn’t have minded if that was the only flyer on the board, okay? My problem is that there was also stuff like Matcha-cha-chá, Pumpkin Pie Palooza, Santa Sleigh-In — we’re totally going to that one, by the way, I got the address. There was even a flyer for Bundle of Joy, which is a read-as-many-as-you-like hosted by a book club. It sounds like absolute bliss! But she took one look at me and categorised me as single and miserable enough to have to attend a Christmas bind date event.”
“I—”
“No, Vi, no, no talking. Look at me.”
Vi pressed her lips together, still quivering in mirth, “Yes.”
Caitlyn pointed at herself, “Is it really obvious that I’m not getting any?”
Vi pressed her palm to her mouth and held up a finger to compose herself.
Caitlyn’s lips tugged up, “Come on, tell me.”
“I don’t know, Cupcake, you look fine to me,” said Vi, barely containing her smirk.
Caitlyn groaned, “Am I supposed to take that as a compliment?”
Vi grinned, “Cait, you look great, okay? You do. Just because a very intuitive lady called you out,” she tilts her head to the side and takes one of Caitlyn’s hand in hers, “doesn’t mean you don’t look like a dream.”
Caitlyn rolled her eyes but she squeezed Vi’s hand once. “Whatever.”
Vi kept her eyes fixed on Caitlyn. “You’ve said that twice now.”
Caitlyn’s cheeks warmed, “Are we having a staring contest?”
Vi shrugged, “Think you can beat me?”
“You’re on.”
Not a single muscle twitched, not a single eyelid fluttered.
“Did you get a new haircut?” Vi spoke quietly.
“Four days ago,” Caitlyn tutted, “you’re noticing just now?”
Vi’s eyes widened, “Did you, actually? I was just trying to distract you.”
Caitlyn giggled, “Don’t worry, it’s just a trim. I don’t wear my hair down often outside, there was no way you could tell.”
Vi huffed an embarrassed laugh, “Well, you’re wearing your hair down right now, I should’ve been able to tell.”
“You just did. You’re good, Violet. After the waterpark fiasco, I don’t blame your vision for being flawed.”
Vi groaned, “Ugh, do you have to bring that up every time I almost forget about it?”
Caitlyn grinned, “Still can’t believe you found a couple stuck inside a black hole.”
Vi grimaced, “They made no effort to go down whatsoever, too busy humping each other.”
Caitlyn laughed softly, “Maybe it was a fantasy.”
“Hey, listen, I’m not the one to kinkshame but during rush hour? That’s dangerous and very inconsiderate of people like me, who took the ride to have fun by themselves, thank you very much.”
“How were they even stuck in one place if they were…” Caitlyn scrunched her nose, “you know, humping.”
“Fuck if I know,” Vi scoffed, “probably wasn’t their first rodeo.”
Caitlyn chuckled, “Probably not.”
Vi’s throat bobbed, “I, uhm, anyway. I’m still sorry I didn’t notice. Your haircut.”
Caitlyn pursed her lips to contain her smile. The thing was, she didn’t even get a haircut but it was endearing to see Vi all worked up over something so small. Caitlyn shook her head slightly. She felt Vi squeeze her hand, an apologetic tilt on her lips. Caitlyn was pretty sure both of them had blinked at some point during the conversation. Their gazes were still fixed on each other.
Caitlyn sighed, “My mother called earlier this afternoon.”
Vi remained quiet, thumb running over the back of Caitlyn’s hand.
“It’s nothing out of the usual,” said Caitlyn, “and that’s precisely the issue, I think. It’s always the same thing with her — ‘Those grades aren’t good enough, Caitlyn’ or ‘Stop being lazy, Caitlyn’, and I—”
Realisation flickered across Vi’s face.
Caitlyn shook her head, “I barely ever speak to her about my life outside lectures and grades, you know? It hasn’t always been like this, there was a time when she was genuinely interested in what I had to say. Now… Now, it feels like she only sees me through my performance in school.”
Vi shuffled closer, their knees touching. Caitlyn took a trembling breath.
“I think I’m making a mistake,” said Caitlyn.
Vi swiped her thumb against Caitlyn’s knuckles again. “What do you mean?”
“This business degree,” Caitlyn’s voice quivered against her will, “it’s not what I want. Honestly, I have no goddamn idea what I want, so I could always just suck it up, like I’ve been doing my entire life. Keep my mother satisfied. Or, I could take a gap year to figure shit out which would one hundred percent lead to a change in my major which, in turn, risks me being cut off.”
Vi inhaled a slow breath, “Well. You’d need a side hustle to keep yourself afloat.”
Caitlyn snorted, “I have some savings but yeah, no shit.”
“I heard they’re looking to hire at the museum gift shop down the street.”
Caitlyn chewed her lip. “So you think I should do it?”
Vi smiled lopsidedly, “That’s not my call. I’m just weighing in the options if you do. Whatever you decide, we’ll make it work. Me and the others, we can pitch in.”
Caitlyn breathed a wet laugh, “Even Jinx?”
Vi nodded. “Oh yeah, you know she would.”
“Yeah,” Caitlyn said softly, “I know.”
Her eyes traced over Vi’s features, radiating a warmth that pulled her in. Caitlyn slipped her hand out of her grasp just to wrap her arms around Vi’s neck. Vi’s hands flattened on her shoulder blades.
“You were lying about the haircut, weren’t you?” Vi murmured into her hair.
Caitlyn smiled into Vi’s neck, “Observant.”
Vi laughed softly, her breath hitting Caitlyn’s jaw.
What Caitlyn observed was how firm Vi’s arms were around her. It was kind of nice. Really nice. Caitlyn couldn’t remember the last time she experienced “nice”. She wasn’t about to let go anytime soon unless her phone rang from her bedroom.
Caitlyn pulled back from the embrace, more reluctantly than necessary, “I’ll go get that.”
“Yeah,” whispered Vi, diverting her gaze.
Caitlyn leaped up from the couch and jogged to her room. She winced when she saw the caller ID.
“Hi, Gert.”
“Cait, hi, how are you feeling?” Gert worried over the line.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m a bit better, I guess.”
“Okay, good. Is Vi with you?”
Caitlyn padded to her bed and sat on one end, facing the window. “Yeah, she is.”
“Cool, because she left without having dinner. I was running behind on the clock and you know how she gets when it comes to you, so…”
Caitlyn frowned, “Vi didn’t eat at your place? And what’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nope. She was out of the door as soon as she heard you weren’t coming. What’s what supposed to mean?”
“Shit,” cursed Caitlyn, “what you meant by how she got when it came to me.”
“Oh! Oh, nothing! Just… Like, Vi cares a lot about you, you know?”
“Right,” breathed Caitlyn, “uhm, anyway. Hey, Gert? I’m really sorry I couldn’t make it tonight and now Vi isn’t there either, fuck, I ruined the night, didn’t I?”
“Nah, blame my oven. The rest of us are here having jam on bread and cheap strawberry wine because my oven broke halfway through the roast. Ekko burned the potatoes too. I don’t think the spirit of the holidays wants a soiree unless all of us are together.”
“I cursed the holiday spirit.”
“Shut up,” laughed Gert on the other end, “you didn’t curse anything, stop beating yourself up. You’re allowed to take a breather. We’re rescheduling to Wednesday.”
“Really?” Caitlyn sighed a breath of relief.
“Yes, really,” said Gert, “alright, I’ll talk to you later. Call me if you need anything, yeah?”
“Yeah, bye,” smiled Caitlyn before hanging up. She kept her phone on the bedside table and headed out of her bedroom. “Hey, Vi?”
“Yeah?” Vi looked up from the laptop, “Hope you don’t mind, I found a cool alien movie the other day and I think you’d like it.”
Caitlyn stood next to her, arms loosely crossed over her chest. “Gert called.”
Vi’s head snapped up, “Oh?”
Caitlyn nodded. “She said you left without having dinner.”
Vi flushed, stuttering, “Oh, no, yeah, I—”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
Vi scratched the back of her head. “I just… You were upset, I didn’t wanna worry you.”
“I offered.”
Vi moved to stand up, facing Caitlyn. “Well, see, it would have led to you asking questions and the answers would have made you conclude something stupid like you hexed the day or something.”
Caitlyn’s lips tugged up.
“Shit, I guess,” Vi continued nervously, “cat’s out of the bag now—”
Caitlyn acted on impulse. She reached for Vi’s face and pressed her own lips to Vi’s. Vi made a surprised sound at the back of her throat before her hands settled on the either side of Caitlyn’s waist. Caitlyn’s heart skyrocketed when Vi’s lips moved against hers. She leaned forward against Vi’s chest, urging them closer. She carded her fingers through Vi’s hair as she felt Vi’s palm cradle her jaw.
Caitlyn pulled back and Vi chased after her. She rested her forehead against Vi’s, panting slightly. When she finally opened her eyes, Vi’s thumb swiped against her cheek. Caitlyn smiled, her fingers brushing Vi’s neck.
“My dream, by the way,” Vi murmured in the space between them, “you look like my dream.”
It spurred a giggle out of Caitlyn. She pecked Vi’s cheeks, then her lips again.
“The most beautiful one I’ve ever had,” said Vi.
With that, Vi pulled Caitlyn for the most tender kiss of her life. Caitlyn whimpered into it, her knees buckled. She squeezed Vi’s biceps, feeling them flex under her touch. Caitlyn slipped her tongue into Vi’s parted mouth, sliding against hers and making them both moan at the sensation.
And that was when Vi’s stomach grumbled.
Caitlyn squeaked against Vi’s mouth as she groaned.
“You don’t deserve this,” mumbled Vi, dropping her head on Caitlyn’s shoulder.
Caitlyn shook with silent laughter, “Excuse me?”
Vi nosed along the side of her neck, “You’re such a dessert and I’m treating you like an appetizer.”
Caitlyn giggled, nudging Vi’s head up with her chin. “Have you always talked such shit?”
Vi’s stomach answered for her.
“Come on,” grinned Caitlyn, entangling her fingers with Vi’s. “I’ll make you a bowl.”
After ramen, came the real fun.
“Fuck,” breathed Caitlyn, “Vi,” she whined.
“Take that, baby,” chuckled Vi.
Caitlyn pretended her heart didn’t do a somersault for that word. She groaned, pressing her face into the crook of her arm. “So close,” she whispered, shaking her head.
“All yours,” Vi said with a small smirk as she handed her four UNO cards from the spare deck.
“This sucks,” Caitlyn complained, begrudgingly taking the cards and adding them to her remaining two.
“Well, you’re still in the lead,” Vi pointed out, “I’ve got fourteen.”
Caitlyn rolled her eyes, a small smile tugging the corner of her mouth. With her legs kicking in the air, she said, “Can we play something that’s actually fun after this?”
“You’re not having fun?”
“Oh, loads,” said Caitlyn, “but it’s got nothing to do with playing UNO and everything to do with looking at your handsome face.”
Vi laughed, “Flattery will get you places, Cupcake.”
Caitlyn shuffled closer to gently knock her forehead against Vi’s, “Yeah?”
“Mhm,” hummed Vi, nudging their noses together.
Caitlyn bit her lip over a smile, “You think it can get me somewhere with you?”
“I’d definitely think so, yeah.” With that, Vi leaned down to catch her lips in a soft kiss.
Caitlyn made a pleased sound at the back of her throat. She felt Vi smile into the kiss. Caitlyn closed her teeth around Vi’s upper lip once before moving back.
Vi cleared her throat, blinking with a blush evident on her cheeks. Caitlyn observed it with a very smug expression.
“Charades next?” asked Vi, eyeing the cardboard box at her feet.
“We’ve never played charades, just the two of us,” said Caitlyn, pursing her lips.
Vi smiled, tipping Caitlyn’s face up with a finger under her chin, “You don’t want to?”
Caitlyn shrugged, “It involves getting up.”
When she offered no further explanation, Vi snorted, “You love a challenge.”
Caitlyn let out a sigh of faux distress, “I do. Okay, do we have to finish this round?”
Vi rolled on her back, letting the cards drop from her grip. “Hell if I care what we do as long it’s with you,” she smiled, peering at Caitlyn upside down.
“See what I mean?” Caitlyn smacked a wet kiss on Vi’s forehead and hopped up on her knees, feet beneath her thighs. “That even rhymed!” She said, collecting all the cards to put them inside their box.
Vi laughed as she pushed the shoebox full of games towards her.
“Me first?” asked Caitlyn, after finding the charades cards.
“Mhm,” Vi nodded and sat up against the couch, opposite to her.
Caitlyn picked a card and Vi watched her face contort as she read it.
“You do love a good challenge,” repeated Vi, her tone teasing.
“Shut up,” grumbled Caitlyn and sighed. “Okay, ready?”
Vi rubbed her hands together, “Hit me.”
Caitlyn held up a finger.
Vi nodded, “One word.”
Caitlyn seemed to think for a second before imitating an action.
Vi furrowed her eyebrows, “You’re breaking a cookie?”
Caitlyn’s nostrils flared, she nodded with wide eyes. Okay, Vi was going in the right direction. Caitlyn held an invisible piece to her.
Vi was lost to say the least. She dumbly gestured to take it and said, “Uh, thank you?”
Caitlyn tilted her head and blinked fervently, motioning between them.
“You gave me a cookie and you look like you’re about to destroy a city, okay, umm,” Vi clicked her tongue on the roof of her mouth, “is this a show? Is it Sesame Street? No, that’s two words.”
Caitlyn looked at her, unimpressed to the core.
Wrong direction.
Caitlyn repeated the imitation and gestured between them again.
“You’re, uh, sharing your—”
Caitlyn bounced on her knees, pointing at Vi urgently.
“Sharing?” asked Vi, eyes wide, “Share?”
Caitlyn shook her head, waving her hand to the right.
“Sharing?”
Caitlyn grinned and gave her a thumbs up. She held up her palms to say ‘wait’.
“Okay, sharing, okay,” said Vi, “you’re breaking the word?”
Caitlyn nodded.
“Cool.”
Caitlyn raised her arms in front of her and slid them back, going back and forth.
“Swim?”
Caitlyn wiggled her arms in the air around her.
“Water?”
Caitlyn nodded, she increased the frequency of the movement.
“Sea? The ocean?”
Caitlyn’s eyes widened again and she sprung up to her feet. She imitated the water again and shot her arms with pointed index fingers downwards.
“Underwater? Under?”
Caitlyn nodded frivolously, a few locks of her hair dancing across her face.
“Sharing…Under…”
Caitlyn made a dismissive movement. She did the water again, then crouched and swiped her palms by her feet, hovering over the floorboards. She stood up, did the water, crouched and swiped her palms around.
Vi looked at her like she was crazy. “What?” She squeaked out.
Caitlyn didn’t stop.
“What the fuck?” whispered Vi, wracking her brain.
Caitlyn still continued.
“You’re really good at that, you know,” laughed Vi, “it could be your new party trick.”
Caitlyn groaned, “Vi. Be serious.”
“I’m just saying! Maybe it’s time to mix it up. I think enough people have had nightmares about being struck by your darts,” huffed Vi, smiling, “I know I have.”
Caitlyn frowned, pausing her motions on the floor, “Wait, really? I didn’t know, I’m sorry, I—”
“I’m kidding, Cait,” chuckled Vi, crawling to Caitlyn and pecking both her cheeks, “I love it when you win every darts game.”
Caitlyn looked unconvinced, “You sure? I could stop—”
“No!” Vi said way too fast to be considered a normal response but Vi had never been normal about anything involving Caitlyn.
Caitlyn’s worry melted into smugness, “Oh. Alright, then.”
“Yeah,” breathed Vi, “you’re an excellent shot, it’s so hot.”
Caitlyn leaned forward to hold Vi’s biceps, “I mean, I don’t have guns like yours but I get by, I suppose.”
Vi chuckled as Caitlyn caught her lips. They kissed languidly for a minute before Caitlyn giggled into it.
“What?” mumbled Vi.
“You’re stuck in a state of rhyming tonight,” Caitlyn laughed softly.
“You turn me into a poet, baby.”
Caitlyn cradled Vi’s face in her hands. “Enough,” she said playfully, pressing a last kiss to Vi’s lips, “let’s get this game over with.”
“God, are you always so eager to finish?” said Vi with a shit-eating grin as she took her spot by the couch again.
Although her cheeks burned, Caitlyn scoffed. “Focus.”
“Of course.”
Caitlyn resumed her weird dance and Vi cackled.
“You’re a fish that’s lost control on its swim bladder.”
Caitlyn looked exasperated as she shook her head. She pointed aggressively to the floor and made waves over her head.
“Under the sea? Little Mermaid? No, that’s two words again, uh… Ocean… Deep—”
Caitlyn gasped and clapped her hands.
“Deep?” gaped Vi, thrusting her fist in the air, “Fuck yeah! Let’s go! Okay, amazing. Deep.”
Caitlyn let out a breath of relief and sat on the floor, cross-legged. She acted out bringing a cup to her mouth, one pinky up.
“Very posh,” said Vi, “tea?”
Caitlyn nodded and made a collecting motion.
“All of them together? Sharing deep tea?” Vi snorted, “Is it Gossip?”
Caitlyn scrunched her nose and shook her head.
“What else could it be?” Vi dragged out, on the verge of giving up.
Caitlyn rotated her wrist, fingers failing, urging Vi to keep guessing.
“Sharing deep tea. Sharing…” Vi squeezed her eyes shut and that’s when it occurred to her. She jumped up to her feet, “Seredipity!”
“Yes!” Caitlyn cackled, getting up and wrapping her arms around Vi’s neck.
Vi let out something close to a war cry as she spun Caitlyn around.
“I didn’t think you’d get it,” snickered Caitlyn.
“Neither did I,” said Vi, “that was almost traumatic.”
Caitlyn laughed into Vi’s hair. “Your turn.”
Vi swivelled her body to the couch and Caitlyn fell on the cushion with a surprised yelp. Vi picked out a card and pressed her palm to her mouth. She cracked her knuckles, making Caitlyn chuckle fondly.
“Watch and learn, Cupcake.”
Vi held up two fingers.
“Two words,” Caitlyn delivered easily.
Vi held up one finger.
“First word.”
Vi inhaled slowly, dramatically. She attained a fighting pose, arms held out in front of her and one of her fists stacked on top of the other.
“Are you a swordsman?” Caitlyn thought out loud.
Vi’s eyes widened as she nodded faintly. She stood up straight and pretended to admire her weapon, stroking her fingers along the invisible sword.
“Uh,” frowned Caitlyn, “Kill Bill?”
Vi shook her head. She held up one finger again.
“Okay, small steps. The first word, alright — Sword. No? Blade?”
Vi clapped her hands once and pointed at Caitlyn.
Caitlyn gasped, “Oh!”
Before Vi could even gesticulate the second word, Caitlyn hopped to her feet.
“Blade Runner!”
“Yeah!” whooped Vi.
“Not fair,” groaned Caitlyn, “yours was way easier.”
Vi laughed, stepping closer. “Admit it, I’m just better.” She reached for Caitlyn who took it as an opportunity to flip them.
Caitlyn pulled her arm and moved out of the way to push her down on the couch. Bracing one arm on the backrest, she dropped on Vi’s lap.
“Caitlyn…” Vi’s voice came out fickle.
Caitlyn smirked, “You were saying?
Vi’s hands met her sides tentatively as Caitlyn settled properly on her thighs. Both of Caitlyn’s palms cradled Vi’s jaw, making her breathe hitch. Vi visibly gulped when Caitlyn’s thumb traced her mouth. She parted her lips, letting Caitlyn press the digit down until it slipped into the heat. Caitlyn’s jaw dropped in a silent gasp when Vi ran her tongue against the pad of her finger.
“Fuck,” swore Caitlyn, squirming in her lap.
Vi moaned at the sweet friction, bucking up for more. She closed her mouth around Caitlyn’s thumb and sucked. Caitlyn whined softly as she nudged her forehead against Vi’s temple. She retrieved her thumb slowly, a line of spit joining it to Vi’s bottom lip. Caitlyn leaned down to break the bridge, her own tongue curling around it.
Vi’s eyes darkened. Her fingers dug into Caitlyn’s waist, pulling her closer.
Caitlyn lowered her chin, her plush lips landing on Vi’s cheekbones. “I…”
“Yeah?” said Vi, “What is it?”
Caitlyn’s answer lied in tilting Vi’s chin up with a finger under it and joining their mouths. Vi sighed into it like it was the sweetest relief.
Everything quietened except the buzz in Caitlyn’s chest. She smiled against Vi’s mouth, wrapping her arms around Vi’s neck. Their lips found a rapt rhythm. Vi’s tongue prodded her mouth, Caitlyn happily allowed her. Like silk, their tongues slid together as they basked in each other’s warmth.
Vi’s slick lips trailed down her jaw to her throat. She looped her arms completely around Caitlyn’s waist and leaned forward. Caitlyn laughed softly into her hair as she bent backwards. Vi’s light chuckles vibrated on her skin.
“Darling,” breathed Caitlyn, the endearment slipping out without permission, “I, uh, I wanted to tell you something.”
Vi hummed, leaning back and sinking into the couch.
Caitlyn rested against her chest, panting softly. She opened her eyes slowly. “Hi.”
“Hi,” said Vi, smiling at her faintly.
Caitlyn chewed her bottom lip.
Vi stroked one of Caitlyn’s thighs with a comforting palm. “What’s up?”
“This isn’t small for me,” murmured Caitlyn.
Vi’s thumb swiped rhythmically on her skin.
“It’s definitely not something I’m going to be blasé about,” continued Caitlyn, “and I don’t want to disappoint you.” She retracted her arms from around Vi’s neck.
Vi frowned, “Cait, you couldn’t. What makes you say that?”
“What if I mess this up? I’ve wanted it for a while now, you know,” said Caitlyn, fiddling with the hem of Vi’s shirt.
Vi’s eyes flickered across her face. “Yeah?”
Caitlyn nodded. “I just never let myself have the luxury of believing it could be real.”
Vi pinched her thigh lightly.
“Ow,” grumbled Caitlyn, looking up at Vi through her eyelashes.
Vi’s smile broadened. “During first year, I told Ashe to spill soup on my sweater so you could give me your emergency shawl.”
Caitlyn made a sound at the back of her throat and dropped her forehead on Vi’s shoulder. “Why are you like this?”
Vi pressed her grin into Caitlyn’s hair. “Like what?”
“Weird,” said Caitlyn, her voice muffled, “it’s inconvenient because I like it.”
Vi laughed breathily. “So you know I’ve wanted this for a while too. And I know the future’s uncertain and all that but I really really can’t bring myself to give a shit about that when you’re this close.”
Caitlyn surged up to kiss her again.
When they pulled back, Vi laid the side of her head on Caitlyn’s chest. Caitlyn settled her cheek on top of her head.
After a few quiet seconds, Vi propped up her chin on Caitlyn’s sternum. “Hey, now that you’ve got me, you don’t have to go to the Christmas blind date thing anymore.”
Caitlyn made an effort not to give in to the urge of breaking into a huge smile. Her fingers brushed Vi’s bangs before cupping her jaw. “I’ve got you now, have I?”
Vi smirked, “Yes. Besides, I can think of better things to jingle—”
“Get over here,” Caitlyn laughed delightedly, pouring it into the next kiss.
Vi followed suit in content.