Chapter Text
Vi took a deep breath, Caitlyn's familiar scent mixed with her own as they cuddled on the couch, her head tucked into Caitlyn's shoulder. They were watching a documentary on orcas - a subject that had Caitlyn laser focused and full of random, excited facts. Seeing her when she was talking about something she knew a lot about always had Vi smiling. This woman made her such a damn sap. She hadn't known any peace from her siblings in months.
Caitlyn's eyes were fixed on the TV, but her nails gently scratched at the shaved part of Vi's skull, a gentle movement that had her half falling asleep against her girlfriend.
"Hey," Vi said when the credits began to roll.
Cait turned and pressed a soft kiss to her hair. "Thank you for indulging me, darling."
Everytime Cait called her that it sent a frission of embarrassed pleasure through her. They'd fallen into a routine of spending several nights a week together, of Vi bringing Caitlyn lunch when she was working hard, Cait bringing dinner from her favourite Ionian place when Vi was exhausted from a hard day at the garage, but 'darling' still hadn't lost its effect on her.
She kinda hoped it never would.
"I like seeing you excited about stuff," Vi shrugged, twisting to breathe in a few more lung fulls of her jasmine, omega scent.
"And you say I'm sweet," Caitlyn chuckled, and tilted Vi's chin up to press their lips together, lingering as her hand cupped Vi's cheek.
Vi was pretty sure they set some record with how often they fucked, but this - quiet nights cuddling on the couch and exchanging soft, meandering kisses, it was nice too. There'd been a time where Vi had felt like she'd forgotten what being touched gently felt like.
"You are, Cupcake," she murmured when their lips parted and Cait reached up to wipe a few smears of her own lipstick off Vi's lips.
"Bed?"
"I wanted to talk about something first." She pulled back a little, shoving one hand into the pocket of her sweat pants, a small knot of anxiety clenching in her gut. She wasn't too worried about Caitlyn's reaction, but this shit was always hard to talk about.
"Yes?" Caitlyn reached over and took her free hand in both of hers, long fingers curling around her knuckles, battered from the boxing bag and wrench turning.
"I saw my psychiatrist today." It'd taken a while for Vander to convince Vi to see a shrink after she got out of jail. It'd taken him, with tears she'd never seen in her gruff old man's eyes, saying he was worried she was gonna end up dead or back behind bars and that if she didn't get help for her drinking, he'd have to cut her out of the garage, before she'd agreed.
Made her realise that while she didn't much care what happened to her, he did. Jinx, Claggor and Mylo did.
And then the psychologist had told her to go to a psychiatrist too and she'd very nearly walked out.
Caitlyn squeezed her hand. She hadn't wanted to tell Cait about the medication or the appointments, but the omega had simply said that it made a lot of sense after what had happened in Stillwater, and that she was glad Vi was getting the medical care she needed.
"Uh, so, he's changing my medication. Might fuck with me for a couple of weeks," changing meds was always fucking painful, "but she thinks the new ones won't affect my cycle so much." She paused. "So yeah, wanted to give you the heads up I might be a wreck for a couple of weeks, and that she reckons I might start having ruts again."
For a long time after she'd gotten out, she had struggled even to get it up or find interest in sex like she'd used to. Her psych had said that could happen, that her body and brain had been stuck in survival mode and pushed down any instincts around - mating.
She still hadn't had a rut since a couple of years into Stillwater.
"We haven't really - talked about ruts or heats or whether you'd prefer if I go on suppressants, so."
"I only want you to go on suppressants if you want to, Vi," Caitlyn said after a moment.
"I dunno," Vi admitted, rolling her shoulders. It'd been a while since she'd had to deal with - all that. She felt in control of her other instincts, but she wasn't sure how she'd react going into rut. "I don't want to - it can be a lot, yeah?"
Caitlyn's eyes softened and she pushed her fingers across Vi's cheek tenderly, "I trust you." A troubled look came over her face and she glanced down. "I merely…I want to spend my heats and your ruts together, but I may…I don't think I can handle anything to do with my neck during it, for now. It reminds me of…"
"Maddie," Vi said, fists clenching in her lap. "I still wanna fight her."
"It wasn't that bad," Cait mumbled, looking away.
Vi leant forward to press a kiss to Caitlyn's cheek. She disagreed, but Cait was still coming to terms with everything that had happened with Maddie.
"Would it make you feel better if I got a neck guard?"
Caitlyn looked torn. "I trust you."
"I know, baby," Vi said gently, "but its not really a - conscious thing, right? I want you to be comfortable."
After a moment, Cait gave her a vulnerable, small nod. "I don't know when my next heat will be. My cycle is pretty irregular."
Vi frowned, a hint of concern curling through her. "Have you talked to your doc about that, cupcake? Just to make sure nothing is wrong?"
Most of the time an omega's heats being irregular could be due to health conditions.
Cait smiled reassuringly. "You don't need to worry, darling. I did all the tests and they were clear. My doctor thinks it's just stress."
"Clearly I need to give you more massages," she said with a grin and Caitlyn smiled.
"I wouldn't complain."
"Yo, Vi," Ekko's familiar voice echoed through the garage. Vi straightened from where she'd been checking the oil on Babette's bright yellow, tiny little hatchback, and swiped the back of her forearm across her sweaty forehead.
"Hey, Little Man," she responded and he wrinkled his nose at her, which just made her grin.
He'd grown up so much from the little kid that had followed her around like a shadow. She just regretted she'd missed so much of it.
"You're not rostered today," she observed, "Thought you and Scar were doing some Firelight shit." Some Piltovans tried to portray the Firelights as a skater gang, but that was bullshit. Ekko had created something really powerful - a group of young, determined Zaunites ready to fight for a better future for Zaun.
She and Jinx had gone to a few meetings, though Vi wasn't as involved as she thought her teenage self might have liked. Ekko understood, though. He was hesitant for her to come to protests, given she was still on parole and would be for another few years.
"Yeah," he heaved himself up to sit on one of the benches, tilting his head. "Remember Amber?"
Vi frowned for a moment. "The girl I went to high school with?"
"Yeah. She's in some trouble, came to us to see if there was anyone we could contact."
They hadn't been friends, though Vi hadn't had any problems with her. She'd just been a quiet girl who ran in very different circles to her.
"Yeah?" She pulled out the dipstick and wiped it on a rag before inserting it again to check the oil levels. "What's going on?"
"She ended up working for a Piltovan company," Ekko replied, "Mated with the alpha running the place, some guy called Hayden Benson."
"Never heard of him."
"Yeah, well, he's a dick. I helped her get out with their kids, but he's going full scorched earth in the divorce. Tryna take the kids and leave her with nothing. I was wondering," he scratched his jaw, "if you'd ask Caitlyn, you know, if she knows any lawyers who might be able to help. You know how stretched the legal aid office is, " all too well, "and they're real strict on who they'll help when it comes to divorce, and she doesn't have the cogs to hire a lawyer."
Vi paused, looking down at her oil-stained hands. "Can't promise anything, but I'll ask her. Surprised you want me to go to my 'Piltie girlfriend' over this."
Ekko had been a little suspicious, same as Jinx.
Ekko shrugged. "She treats you well, that gives her points - and it seems like she genuinely gives a fuck about Zaun, what with the Stillwater case and all that."
"Amber, correct?" Caitlyn got up from her desk and held out a hand to shake.
The Zaunite omega was pretty, about her age, and dressed in a flowing, yellow sundress that matched her honey blonde hair. She had a few tattoos in a style Cait had seen on a few Zaunites including her partner, twining around her forearms like vines.
She also looked rather nervous even as she shook Caitlyn's hand. She'd brought her pups in with her - the oldest two were about six, if Caitlyn had to guess, with the same blonde hair as their mother, a little female alpha who stared at Caitlyn challengingly from Amber's side, and a beta boy holding the younger two pups' hands - both three at most.
Amber must have been young when she had her first litter.
"Sorry, I couldn't get a babysitter," Amber said, twisting her hands together.
"It's alright," Caitlyn assured her, "This is just a chat, to make sure I am the appropriate person to help you."
"Hey," Vi leant against the doorframe. She'd borrowed Vander's van to bring Amber and her children in and was dressed casually as usual - jeans and white tank top that showed off her biceps. If Caitlyn wasn't working, she'd love to spend some time just getting to look at her alpha - and touch. "I can keep an eye on 'em for you, Amber."
"You sure?"
"Yep."
It took a bit for Amber to encourage her alpha daughter to go with Vi. The girl even curled her lips back over her tiny little fangs a couple of times, sticking to her mother's side like glue, but finally Vi said, "C'mon, let your mother get her business done, and we'll take care of your pack, yeah?"
Amber's shoulders slumped once the door closed. "I'm so sorry. Since everything happened, Imogen seems to think she has to protect me. She's only six…"
"From what I've heard, Vi was similar as a child - always trying to protect her family," said Caitlyn.
"We weren't close as kids," Amber replied, "but that sounds about right." Her eyes kept skipping around Caitlyn's office. It was a similar look to what Cait had seen on Vi's face a few times - an unease, like she felt she didn't belong there, that someone was going to ask her to leave with faux manners covering prejudice.
Caitlyn took off her suit jacket and folded it over the back of her chair. "Please, take a seat. Help yourself to the water if you would like."
It took some gentle prodding before Amber finally began to explain the breakdown of her marriage. Caitlyn took a sip of water to hide her anger when the other omega was done.
No joint accounts - the wanker had given her an allowance and made her ask for money to get things for their pups.
"If you feel comfortable with me," said Caitlyn, keeping her voice steady, "I will take on your case. Pro bono."
"Oh," Amber looked down at her hands, green eyes suddenly teary, "Thank you - I really mean that. I don't - I don't want all his money, I just - I need to look after my children."
"Of course," Caitlyn said gently, "His proposal of a ninety-ten split is manifestly unfair. You and your children deserve better."
Caitlyn gave her a business card and escorted her from her office. Vi was sitting in the middle of the clean, marbled floor, grinning crookedly and surrounded by Amber's pups. One of the younger ones was literally hanging off her, using her a jungle gym, Vi's big hands gentle as she kept him from falling whenever he lost his balance. Imogen, the little, suspicious alpha pup, was now sitting by Vi, staring at the older alpha with something that looked very close to hero worship splashed across her face.
Oh, Caitlyn thought, looking at her girlfriend. I want her pups. She felt a little dizzy.
A knowing chuckle came from beside her. Amber was smirking. "She's always been good with children."
"Vi?" Vi's small apartment with its well-loved, mismatched furniture, Jinx's bright artwork on the walls and a punching bag in the corner was dim and quiet. Caitlyn set her briefcase down by the door.
She's struggling, Jinx had texted her, am I going or you?
"Here," Vi's voice slurred from the couch. She hadn't even noticed her crumpled there, curled up under a blanket. Caitlyn sat beside her and reached over to stroke some hair out of her eyes. Vi made a soft noise and leant into the touch.
"Have you eaten, darling?"
"No," Vi mumbled, "Feel sick. Can't stand up for too long, feel like I'm gonna pass out."
"Do you want me to make you something?"
Vi groaned. "No."
Caitlyn's chest tightened. "What about some water?"
"'Kay."
When Caitlyn returned with a glass of water, nearly tripping over Vi's scuffed boots in the process, Vi had buried her face into the cushion, some of her hair sticking up in every direction. She didn't move until Caitlyn gently coaxed her to sit up and drink.
"You don't have to look after me," Vi murmured. "I've done this before on my own. Getting sober was way worse."
"I know," Caitlyn said carefully. "But you don't have to do this alone this time. I want to help you."
Vi reached over and intertwined their fingers. "I adore you, you know."
Caitlyn smiled. "The feeling is mutual, Vi. You're not a burden to me. I want to be here."
Vi was slow to ask for help. Prickly about it sometimes, even.
"Even when I keep waking you up at night?" Vi mumbled, gray-blue eyes downcast. She often didn't sleep well, and Caitlyn knew there were more times than not that she didn't wake when Vi left the bed or laid awake, staring at the ceiling.
"Well, I get to wake up to you the next morning," Caitlyn stroked her forehead. "Do you want to move to the bed?"
"Mhm."
It was two pm in the afternoon, but Vi fell asleep soon after she shuffled into her bedroom. Caitlyn sat beside her, listening to her soft breathing as she worked on her laptop.
It was five before Vi stirred again, just as Caitlyn was reviewing the letter she was going to send to Benson's lawyer contesting the division of assets.
Vi groaned and flopped onto her back, squinting at the ceiling. When she looked over at Caitlyn there was a hint of almost - awe in her eyes.
"You're still here," she said.
"Of course," Caitlyn closed her laptop. "How are you feeling?"
"Tired as fuck," Vi stretched, wincing as her shoulder popped.
"Careful," Caitlyn murmured, reaching over to smooth a hand over Vi's tattooed shoulder. "That's your bad one."
"Didn't tell you about that," Vi said softly.
"I notice you," Caitlyn replied, flushing slightly, "I have since we met - and well, you often favour your other arm even though you're left-handed."
"Yeah. Bitch when I'm boxing," Vi yawned.
"Is that how you hurt it?" asked Caitlyn absently, thinking of the things she needed to do for the case in the morning.
Vi went still."No."
Her voice was taut.
"Vi?"
Vi wouldn't look at her. "Second year in Stillwater, some asshole was being a creep so I punched him. Had to. If you look like an easy target…" she trailed off and ran her hands through her hair, her eyes distant. "One of the guards popped it out and smacked me a coupla times too," she touched the scar on her lip.
"Oh," Caitlyn said. She closed her eyes and reminded herself to breathe through the sudden cold in her chest.
"It wasn't that bad," Vi said, "They even gave me painkillers before they put it back in."
"Not that…" Caitlyn cut herself off and took another breath.
"You're upset," Vi didn't sound distant anymore - she sounded anxious.
Caitlyn took her hand. "Not at you, darling."
"I'm sorry," Vi looked away.
Caitlyn touched her chin until Vi looked at her again and then leant down to press a soft, lingering kiss to her lips. "Don't be sorry, Vi. Thank you for telling me."
Vi got a little furrow between her brows and Caitlyn indulged herself by pressing a kiss there. "You don't like hearing about Stillwater."
"I don't like that it happened," Caitlyn replied, "I love you."
She'd had how she would tell Vi that planned out. A nice dinner, a pleasant walk in a park. The words had just slipped out.
Vi stared at her for a moment, lips parted, and then with surprising strength for someone who looked like they were one second away from falling asleep, pulled Caitlyn down and into her arms. Caitlyn yelped as her laptop tumbled away from her, and then giggled, propping herself up so she could look at Vi's wonderful, handsome face.
"I love you too," Vi whispered into the space between them, "Cait, I love you."