Chapter Text
Caitlyn fell to her knees on the ground.
The explosion and subsequent smouldering of the council building lit up the night sky in an instant, flames reaching for the night. Caitlyn couldn’t look away, couldn’t move….
Her mother.
Her throat closed up and someone is in front of her. Touching her.
Caitlyn will never feel the touch of her mother again.
She tried to breathe but she fell forward instead, her chest feeling achingly tight as she tried desperately to force air into her lungs and someone is talking.
Caitlyn will never speak to her mother again.
Everything was muted and muffled, the throbbing of the wound on her leg relegated to nothing but a dull ache.
Someone was moving her. It felt like she was being lifted. And the talking. Someone was still talking. Soothingly. Caitlyn couldn’t hear the words they were saying but slowly, her breathing calmed and her throat opened up. Air in and out. Her breathing evened out. She didn’t know who was responsible for this but she also didn’t care.
Her mother is dead.
And it’s her fault.
Caitlyn eventually came to realise that it was Vi who was holding her, carrying her back to….. somewhere. There was some talking, some jostling, maybe some arguing, a bright light was shone in Caitlyn’s face briefly and someone tried to take Caitlyn but she clung onto Vi and they were moving again. Something pungent assaulted Caitlyn’s nose and she realised it was the smoke from the explosion. Her throat closed up and Caitlyn turned her face into Vi’s shoulder and squeezed her eyes shut, trying desperately not to think about… well, anything.
She had no idea what was going on. Had no idea where Vi was taking her. Truthfully, she couldn’t bring herself to care. Caitlyn had stopped thinking.
More talking, more jostling and more moving before Caitlyn felt something soft touch her butt, her bleeding leg elevated onto the table in front of her and her vision was filled with Vi’s face, hands gingerly touching her face. The warmth from Vi’s hand pierced some of the crippling shock that had consumed Caitlyn and she closed her eyes as she felt fingers ghosting over her face. Vi was talking and suddenly, her reality was thrown into sharp focus and she could hear, see and feel everything.
Now that Caitlyn wasn’t paralysed with shock, she was aware of a few things.
One - her leg was throbbing with a vengeance and the blood had soaked through the bandage.
Two - her father wasn’t here to treat it.
Three - Caitlyn was on her own with Vi which meant none of the household staff had insisted on helping Caitlyn.
“Sorry?” Caitlyn asked.
“You need to wash up,” Vi said, concern evident in her voice. “I wanna make sure you’re alright.”
Caitlyn looked at the bathroom door, uncomfortable. “I’m fine,” Caitlyn said sourly.
Vi looked confused. “Could be a bit before your dad’s back. We should clean you up,” she said gently, extending a hand for Caitlyn to take.
Caitlyn bit her lower lip and thought It’s just a fucking bathroom.
But it wasn’t just a fucking bathroom. Not anymore.
Purple eyes flashed in Caitlyn’s mind and Caitlyn cowered away from Vi’s hand, her heart suddenly pounding so loud and hard it felt like it was trying to burst through Caitlyn’s chest. “I can’t, Vi,” she whispered, the words almost frantic and feeling absolutely pathetic. “She g-got me in th - ” Her throat closed up, panic etched into her face.
The look of realisation dawned on Vi. “Fuck,” Vi breathed, looking like she wanted to throw up. “I didn’t - fuck. Okay. Hang on. Do you have a first aid kit in here?”
“In the bathroom,” Caitlyn responded quietly. “Under the sink.”
Vi disappeared into the bathroom and Caitlyn’s heart palpitated for a moment - no, don’t leave me - but Vi came back a few moments later, holding a bowl full of water and a first aid kit with two towels around her shoulders. Vi knelt in front of Caitlyn, placing the bowl and the first aid kit on the table and began to wipe the paint and grime off Caitlyn’s face, hands and arms with one of the towels.
Caitlyn can’t look at Vi, keeping her eyes locked on her legs.
With a huff, Vi chucked the dirty towel over her shoulder. “I’m gonna do your leg now,” she said and Caitlyn nodded. Vi gingerly slid her hand up to meet the soaked bandage on her thigh and started to undo it carefully.
Caitlyn grimaced a few times when the edges of the bandage caught on the wound and each time Vi would murmur an apology. Once it’s off, Vi dipped the corner of the second towel into the washbowl before she cleaned the blood and the grime away from the wound. Vi grabbed the antiseptic bottle and doused another corner of the towel with it.
“This will hurt,” Vi warned.
Caitlyn braced herself but still she hissed when the towel - cool but stinging - touched her wound. She gritted her teeth, her hands clenching into fists beside her as Vi gently wiped the burning towel over her wound several times and then Vi carefully re-bandaged her leg with some new gauze from the first aid kit.
Vi was careful, methodical and so tender in her ministrations that Caitlyn almost forgot about what happened to her tonight. Her care and gentleness was so at odds from the tough as nails, no bullshit woman Caitlyn had broken out of prison a few days ago.
“All done,” Vi said softly, her hand lingering on Caitlyn’s leg. Caitlyn’s eyes snapped to Vi’s and they stared at each other, neither moving - just sitting, maybe too close but Caitlyn didn’t care. She felt content and…. safe with Vi.
Caitlyn hasn’t stopped to truly look at Vi since they’ve gotten out of the warehouse, not until now. She couldn’t when her mind just… froze. Caitlyn frowned now though when she gave Vi a once over - spotting a few bruises on her arms and a nasty looking gash on her right arm.
“And you?” Caitlyn asked with concern, her hand ghosting over the gash on Vi’s arm.
Vi shook her head, finally pulling away and standing back up. “It’s not bleeding and bruises are nothing,” she said with a shrug like having cuts and sores were nothing but a nuisance. Caitlyn watched as Vi’s mouth twisted into something torn and unhappy, a frown appearing on her face, clearly hesitant to say something but after a few moments, Vi took a deep breath and continued, I’ll deal with them when I leave.”
“When you leave?” Caitlyn echoed, not comprehending.
Silence. “Vi, why would you be leaving?” Caitlyn asked, something unpleasant settling in her gut. “It’s chaos out there. Enforces will shoot you on site the moment you go out there.”
Caitlyn knew she was right.
It was with Caitlyn’s presence only that Vi wasn’t immediately shot or arrested when carrying Caitlyn back to the estate after…. the incident. Any enforcer now would be way too trigger happy to not shoot someone that looked vaguely poor.
Vi refused to look at Caitlyn.
And then it hit Caitlyn like a five ton brick to the face. Jinx.
Fucking seriously? After everything that Jinx has done - working for Silco, blowing up people, blowing up her mo-mother - Vi’s just going to up and leave?
“You’re leaving to find her, aren’t you?” Caitlyn asked, her voice calm despite the turmoil inside her.
How dare Vi leave to help her whack job sister?
Vi nodded.
“To run away with her,” Caitlyn stated, piercing Vi with a cold hard stare, anger rising rapidly.
Vi looked away and got up, taking a step back. “I’m not leaving her behind. Not again,” Vi said, backing away like she knew how Caitlyn was going to react and didn’t want to be stung.
Well fuck her, Caitlyn thought. Maybe she shouldn’t side with the murderer.
A red hot anger burnt in Caitlyn’s chest. “Jinx should be locked up, not running around like she didn’t murder people!” Caitlyn spat.
“She’s my sister.”
“You think she should get a free pass for murder just because she’s your sister?” Caitlyn shot to her feet, her anger making her forget about her fucked up leg for a moment but the second she put weight on it, she hissed and almost fell back onto the sofa. She made herself stand though because there is no way she was going to shout at Vi sitting on a goddamn sofa.
Vi bristled. “I fucked up once already, Caitlyn, and look what happened? That!” Vi hissed and gestured outside her window. The council building wasn’t in view of Caitlyn’s bedroom but the night sky had an orange-reddish glow to it. “Your mother is dead because of me!”
“Jinx launched that rocket!” Caitlyn exclaimed, her voice rising. “How is that your fault?”
“You heard her back there!” Vi snarled, eyes bright and glistening. The muscles of her back and shoulders are tense, wound tight enough to snap. “The monster I created - she’s not wrong! I’m responsible for my sister’s actions because I wasn’t there!”
“Why are you blaming yourself for what your sister did?” Caitlyn asked, confused like she had never been before.
What the fuck was this martyr complex Vi had?
“I - ” Vi broke off but it was like a dam had broken; everything rushed out in one go and Vi was helpless to stop it. “A warehouse blew up a few years back with myself and my family in it. My brothers - dead, in an instant. Vander got me out before the building collapsed on us.” She glared at Caitlyn, breathing heavily through her nose. Her voice cracked as she continued, “As h-he died beneath me on the ground, I see my sister with a smile on her face and then it hit me - she blew them up.” Vi clicked her fingers. “Just like that - gone. Because she wanted to help. I left her behind because I was so fucking angry and Silco got his grubby hands on her.” She pointed again outside the window, stabbing hard at it. “I did that! Do you see?”
Caitlyn did see. Somehow, through the red haze in her mind and the seething rage blistering under her skin, Caitlyn did see.
Here was someone that had lost everything she had known in a single night because of something her sister had done accidentally. Because of that, Vi had walked away and somewhere down the line, Silco had found Jinx and helped turned her into what she is now. And Vi was blaming herself for everything.
Vi stared at Caitlyn and Caitlyn could see the pain and desperation swimming in her eyes for the little girl Vi thought she had abandoned and lost. Vi had suffered so much in her life - family gone in a single night, suffered abuse at Stillwater for years and then let out of prison only to find out her remaining living family member is a homicidal nut job. Caitlyn had a sudden need to wrap Vi up in a hug. She wanted to place Vi right next to her heart, cage her in her ribs and protect and care for her..….. but then an image of her mother - smiling and proud at something Caitlyn had done - swam through her mind and Caitlyn steeled her heart and mind, focusing on the red hot anger that was scorching under her skin.
Because that’s what mattered.
Jinx had killed Cassandra Kiramman and now Caitlyn will never see her mother, smiling proudly at anything Caitlyn does ever again.
Vi hurriedly wiped the tears from her eyes and gritted her teeth, fists clenching by her sides. “I’m taking her away,” she growled, breathing heavily, eyes blazing. “And there’s nothing you can do to stop me.”
Caitlyn’s lip curled back in disgust, her face stony. “Jinx is not the only monster in your family. Her blood runs in your veins too,” she sneered, her voice thick with betrayal and pain. “I should’ve let you rot in prison.”
Vi’s mouth dropped open, a hurt look crossing her face briefly before she pressed her lips into a thin line, scowling.
A little nugget of regret wormed its way into Caitlyn’s heart at what she said but she couldn’t bring herself to care. Caitlyn was hurting. She was in pain. And that’s all she could think about. She had been kidnapped in her own home, strapped to a chair, watched Vi as Jinx tormented her and watched as her mother fucking died. She was in no mood for mercy where Jinx was concerned. No leniency, nothing.
Caitlyn drew close to Vi, close enough that she could see everything.
Could see every scar, freckle and blemish on Vi’s face. The pain and sorrow etched into the lines around her eyes. And there was something hot burning beneath it all - the will to rise above it and help her only remaining living family left….. by any means necessary.
They were so close now and Caitlyn could feel Vi’s breath, hot and heavy, ghosting over her face. Vi’s presence was suddenly warm as if Vi contained the heat of a thousand suns but Caitlyn didn’t want to step away. Couldn’t.
Something new ignited within Caitlyn as she glared at Vi, something underneath the anger. Something unfamiliar. Something she couldn’t place but it gnawed at her, filled every pore of her being.
Vi’s breath came quicker and Caitlyn could see the same want in her, the same intense aching lust in her eyes that matched Caitlyn’s own. It doesn’t make sense for them to feel this way… not after what they’d been through but Caitlyn had heard of battle fever from old history books, remembered how adrenaline needed to be spent somehow.
Besides, Caitlyn wanted a distraction.
Vi’s heated glare sent Caitlyn’s pulse into a frenzy, her eyes wordlessly searching for an answer to an unasked question.
“Too slow,” Caitlyn snarled, seizing Vi by the back of her head and pulling her in for a hard and bruising kiss, breathing hard, every thought of her mother, of this night, of her leg, of Jinx vanishing from her mind. Vi groaned, pushing Caitlyn up against a wall and kissing her hard back. Her hands did quick work of Caitlyn’s shirt and bra, ripping them both off in two smooth movements before she bent down to kiss Caitlyn’s neck, a hand wandering up Caitlyn’s stomach and fingers grazing her breast, leaving a trail of fire behind on Caitlyn’s skin. Caitlyn’s leg came back with a throbbing vengeance and she was about to collapse when Vi growled, hot and heavy against Caitlyn’s neck before she lifted Caitlyn right off her feet, her nipples hard against Vi’s chest. Caitlyn wrapped her legs around Vi’s waist, breathing hard as Vi shoved a hand down her pants, palming her sex while Vi’s teeth latched onto Caitlyn’s neck. Caitlyn’s hands grabbed at Vi’s hair, her face, her shoulders, feeling nothing but hard muscle underneath the red jacket and Caitlyn bit down on Vi’s shoulder, causing her to hiss.
Vi pulled away for a moment from Caitlyn’s neck, looking at Caitlyn with a question in her eyes.
Fuck me, Caitlyn thought.
Even in the heat of the moment, Vi was looking out for her.
So damn hot.
“Did I say you could stop?” Caitlyn growled, her hips bucking against Vi’s hand.
Vi wasted no time to push inside Caitlyn, first one finger then two. Caitlyn gasped into Vi’s mouth and they rocked together frantically. Each thrust provoked a loud keen from Caitlyn and Vi swallowed these cries with kisses. They strained together for a few more moments before Caitlyn finally jerked against Vi and came with a cry.
Both of them were breathing hard as Vi carefully withdrew her fingers from Caitlyn’s wet centre. Caitlyn’s legs released Vi’s waist and when her feet touched the ground, she nearly fell but Vi was there with an arm around her waist, using the wall to prop Caitlyn up as Caitlyn wound her arms around Vi’s neck. Caitlyn watched as Vi slowly licked her off her fingers with a savage grin, sending delightful shivers running down Caitlyn’s spine.
Caitlyn wanted more. Always wanted more.
“Don’t go,” Caitlyn said quietly.
I need you here.
Vi pulled away and stared at Caitlyn for a brief moment with uncertainty but then her gaze hardened and there was something fierce behind her look. “I’ll be seeing you, cupcake” Vi said, a little sorrow bleeding into her tone from behind the simmering anger that Caitlyn knew burned in Vi.
Because it burned in her too.
She refused to budge on her stance with Jinx…. and it would seem Vi was just as stubborn.
Caitlyn didn’t say anything as Vi lowered her to the floor, didn’t try to stop Vi - even though the thought of being alone sent her heart racing - as she spun on her heel and disappeared through the bedroom window.
Trembling with rage, grief or both, Caitlyn pressed her knees to her chest and stared at the window.
She can hear the faint echo of something Vi said the first time she left.
Wasn’t meant to be.