ʸᵒᵘ'ʳᵉ ʰᵒᵗ˒ ᶜᵘᵖᶜᵃᵏᵉ

taking a trip down memory lane. 

Caitlyn  still  doesn’t  answer  –  she  just  adjusts  to  the  new  closeness.   There  is  still  something  seductive  in  the  way  her  hips  shift,   thighs  and  knees  wrapping  closer  around  Vi’s  single,  muscled  upper  thigh.    That  was  accidental,   it’s  just  built  into  Caitlyn’s  personality  now   …   especially  somehow  with  the  woman  she  was  sitting  on.    Even  with  years  apart,   even  with  a  childhood  where  she  tried  to  pretend  to  be  annoyed.    Yeah,   but  if  you  have  to  pretend  to  be  annoyed,   usually  that’s  because  that  person  is  different  to  you. 

Caitlyn’s  head  tilts  lightly  –  into  Vi’s  hand.    Everything  here  will  somehow  feel  like  nothing  if  Vi  gets  herself  killed.   It  just  feels  like  Vi’s   …   trying  to  do  that  on  purpose  and  maybe  that’s  what  hurts  the  most.   It  doesn’t  matter  what  they  are.   It  matters  that  they  have  something.   As  friends,   as  partners  in  crime  that  flirt,   as  two  motivated  individuals  that  trip  up  Silco  or  the  Enforcers  when  they  come  around.    Sometimes  she  brings  up  Powder  Jinx  to  make  a  point.   That  doesn’t  necessarily  work  either.    This  probably  won’t  work  either   …   but  it’s  getting  less  of  an  angry  reaction  than  other  ways.

Said  mentioned  Cupcake  tilts  her  mouth  into  Vi’s  thumb.  The  one  pressing  at  the  corner  of  her  mouth.   She  takes  it  into  her  mouth,   not  for  long,   leaves  a  kiss  on  the  tip  of  Vi’s  finger.    Caitlyn’s  eyes  are  closed  though,   tilting  her  cheek  back  into  Vi’s  warm  hand.    Look  at  her,   she  doesn’t  even  care  about  Vi’s  violence.      “    Yes,   it’ll  keep  you  here  longer  so  I  know  you  can’t  get  your  stupid  ass  killed  or  kidnapped.   ”

This was a whole ‘nother level of flirting. It was at a point where comprehension was beyond reason. They had something, always have. Escalation to something like this had never even thought to cross Vi’s mind. But had it done so for Caitlyn? She was feeling solace in this embrace, & even that was a loose term. But the response to Vi’s touch seemed intimate, meaningful even. The confusion lay only in the look on the brawler’s face. It faded, seeing Caitlyn’s closed eyes.

“  You think I’m gonna leave & you’re not ever gonna see me again? ” Vi leaned closer, the heat of her breath surely able to have been felt against Caitlyn’s lips. - Some days there were reasons for her fights, others there wasn’t a reason at all. But most were due to lack of patience. Silco & Enforcers... the corruption wouldn’t end if nothing is done. Most of Vi’s fights are meant to cripple them. To let them know that they can’t mess with people in Zaun & not suffer some sort of consequences. Maybe it was the wrong way to go about it. It was the first time seeing how it really affected Caitlyn. 

Because there weren’t any other moves being made, the heat of the moment getting the better of her; lack of patience making it difficult to withstand the contemplation of whether or not it should be done... it was the first time ever, lips made contact. At first it was on the neck. It trailed up after one or two, finally attaching to lips that were within reach. - A hand; the one that’s free. It comes up from seemingly out of nowhere and trails up the bluenette’s back. It drags some of the cloth of her top up with it, but not intentionally, until it’s gently grasping the back of Caitlyn’s head, hair entangled around callous fingers.

Not  that  Caitlyn  expected  it  –  but  Vi  didn’t  stop  talking.   She  kept  going.    The  only  thing  Caitlyn  really  wasn’t  expecting  was  that  Vi’s  next  set  of  words  were  an  apology.   She  was  expecting  something  sarcastic,   maybe  an  explanation.   Not  an  apology.   Sometimes  in  an  unforgiving  city  you  pick  a  set  of  people  you  cherish  and  then  you  protect  them  until  your  very  last  breath  and  that’s  all  you  can  do.   Survive  for  them,   work  in  a  brothel,   fight  for  them.

The  fight  against  Silco  or  Enforcers  really  isn’t  going  to  end  –  but  sometimes  it  just  feels  like  Vi  goes  running  into  a  dangerous  fight  for  the  Hell  of  it.  For  revenge,   for  ego,   and  not  simply  because  she  has  to.   Some  fight  have  no  real  reason.   Just  like  Vi’s  fighting  for  the  thrill  and  the  thrill  only.   Maybe  she  even  likes  a  good  punch  to  the  face.   So,   yeah,   this  is  one  of  the  times  Caitlyn’s  upset.   She  just  can’t  really  explain  why.   Family.  Friendship.   Team.

Caitlyn  didn’t  answer  –  she  doesn’t  forgive  Vi.    Her  hands  move  though,   one  wrapping  around  Vi’s  mostly  unwrapped  arm.   The  other  finishing  what’s  remaining  and  just  letting  the  wraps  fall  on  the  floor.   Scabbed  skin,   scars,   so  many  signs  of  battles  for  a  young  woman.   And,   here  Caitlyn’s  sitting,   all  skin  still  in  tact   …   because  that’s  what  she  uses  to  survive.    They  both  use  their  hands,   she  supposes,   just  in  vastly  different  ways.    Caitlyn  raises  Vi’s  hand.    Blue  eyes  close,   full  lips  press to  Vi’s  middle  finger  knuckle.   Simply  linger  there.   

Vi didn’t like Caitlyn’s silence. It never meant anything good. Usually. 

The attempt at an apology fell on what seemed to be deaf ears. There was some kind of focus; what would normally be seen whilst out in the field yet it was directed toward her. Wounds in focus of blue eyes, soft hands, almost perfect in their appearance holding on & being as gentle as possible. It wasn’t until she felt lips against her knuckle that she actually flinched.

A hand twitched & flexed its fingers while grey eyes widened simultaneously. Flirting was normal for them, something of a way to cope & maybe throw people for a loop. But showing any actual affection seemingly never came to fruition. Until now. - It took a moment to react, almost too long in fact, but it finally clicked. 

Flattening out, turning so the hand could feel the warmth - Vi cupped the other’s cheek, head tilting & body leaning forwards so their bodies were fully touching. After meeting Caitlyn’s forehead against her own, thoughts were racing. Did this actually mean something or was it being done to ease the tension? Caitlyn was good at that. Playing a part to get something she wanted, maybe that’s why her job at the brothel came so naturally. 

There’s  the  obvious  reason  Caitlyn  wears  a  mask  –  help  hide  her  identity.   Who  she  is  at  the  bar  is   …   sometimes  vastly  different  than  who  she  is  here.   But,   it  was  mostly  to  hide  a  set  of  her  emotions  because  most  of  the  time  she  doesn’t  keep  her  anger  or  her  annoyance  off  her  features.   That’ll  scare  a  client  off.

Caitlyn’s  face  is  surprisingly  neutral  –  blue  eyes  fixed  on  grey  eyes.   She  doesn’t  want  Vi  as  a  client.    It  isn’t  because  she  hates  Vi,   it’s  because  the  last  mental  image  of  Vi  still  fresh  in  her  head  is  the  way  she  rolled  her  eyes  at  a  Vi  air  boxing,   that  distinct  raise  to  Vi’s  eyebrows  before  Caitlyn  walked  away.   They  were  barely  even  friends,  but  they  held  a  distinct  alliance  between  their  bars  and  their  fights  and  their  struggles.   Vi’s  something  more  than  a  client.

“   I’m  obviously  making  money.   ”    Caitlyn  whispers,   leaning  forward  on  the  couch  the  slightest  like  her  actually  saying  that  could  ruin  her  chances  of  getting  jobs  here.   Her  hands  stay  limp  in  her  own  lap,   but  blue  eyes  are  still  locked  on  grey.     “   But,  you?   You  were  gone  for  years.   I  lost  track  of  how  many,   not  that  I  was  even  keeping  track.   Powder  was  though.   You  didn’t  even  think  of  stopping  by  anywhere  and  saying  hey.   You  just  wanted  to  get  something  from  a  brothel?   ”

Visible frustration made itself known; a scowl, grey eyes flinching and adjusting into more of a glare. At the mention of her younger sister they somewhat softened, but reverted as she remembered what subject they were on. “ Neither of you came looking for me. ” But that probably wasn’t true. “ I was thrown in prison. ” Stuck in a place & left to rot, no familiar faces to confide in. It was difficult. But survival had been more important. 

There was a lot Vi wanted to pick out. Grey eyes glued to the full figured woman sitting beside her. Disapproval in Caitlyn’s profession - if one could even call it that; was probably the most prominent thing. Zaun was a difficult city to “make it” in, but for someone as smart, talented and beautiful as Caitlyn... this wasn’t what Vi pictured she’d be doing. 

Like I already have a few things playing out in my head for the au they’re doing. I’m just like klasjdfkjalksjdf

Caitlyn   …   was  holding  her  breath.    She  never  does  that,   never  has  to  think  about  the  moment.   Never  has  to  think  about  the  client,   it’s  always  spur  of  the  moment,   it’ll  never  happen  again.   Even  with  regulars,   something  that’s  a  habit  or  a  job  is  something  completely  different  than  a  childhood  acquaintance.    Someone  you  watched  walk  back  into  Zaun  that  you   KNOW  and  that  you  locked  eyes  with  for  two  seconds  before  leaving  the  bar.

This  was  just  somehow  different.   Pulse  picking  up.   Breath  on  hold.    Or,   at  least  until  Vi  removes  the  mask.   Caitlyn’s  nostrils  flare,   releasing  that  breath  she  was  holding.    Eyebrows  furrow  and  she  doesn’t  know  what  she  was  expecting  the  very  moment  she  walked  into  a  room  with  Vi.   That  the  fact  they  locked  eyes  or  that  she  sat  down  next  to  Vi,  legs  pulled  up  on  the  couch  –  that  it  wouldn’t  mean  anything?   Even  though  the  tension  was  in  the  air. 

“   What  are  you  doing  here,   Puppy?   ”

@punchfrst​

“ Me? I could ask you the same thing. ”

Tension. Not something you want to feel while reuniting with someone you felt a connection to so long ago. But here they were. The two of them clearly finding there was something they couldn’t deny -- it was hard to put a finger on. A fist formed, pounding mildly on the arm of the couch, it was done in attempt to bring attention back to the situation. Part of Vi didn’t like that Caitlyn was here while the other... it understood. 

They’d been apart for too long. Something that couldn’t have been helped. Or maybe it could have. There was no taking it back. -- Absence in someone’s life can do things - change ideals & feelings. That’s what happened to them. After they parted ways, surely expecting the other to follow, Vi found herself in prison. Caught on dumb accusations of something she couldn’t even remember. 

It  was  Tobias  that  held  out  a  hand  to  prevent  Caitlyn  from  walking  behind  the  bar  –  but  not  for  the  reasons  originally  assumed.   Blue  eyes  glanced  upwards  at  the  even  taller  man,   ready  to  start  arguing  about  how  she’s  old  enough  to  be  behind  a  bar,   plenty  old  enough   …   but  he’s  holding  out  a  rag.   An  older  one,   it’s  tattered,   but  it’s  clean.   His  own  blue  eyes  and  pursed  lips  just  said:     ‘use  this  one  for  Vi,   I  can’t  have  anymore  new  rags  stained  with  blood.’

Caitlyn  actually  had  the  sense  to  look  apologetic   –  doesn’t  say  it,   but  for  a  woman  that  has  a  lot  of  pride,   all  it  takes  is  the  way  her  head  bows  in  answer  to  her  father’s  already  silent  statement.   She  just  takes  the  older  rag  and  moves  into  the  small  back  room.    The  bar  itself  isn’t  big  at  all.   This  is  part  break  room,   one  single  couch  and  table,   there’s  boxes  of  alcohol  around  the  room,   part  storage  room.   There’s  only  a  few  tables  scattered  in  front  of  the  small  bar.    She  pauses  in  the  doorway  for  a  few  seconds,   taking  in  Vi,   taking  in  the  emotion  bubbling  around  her  heart  before  walking  in  and  shutting  the  door  behind  her.   She  just  moves  forward  and  situates  herself   ON   vi.    She  straddles  exactly  one  leg.   Just  one. 

“   Shut  up,   ”     Caitlyn’s  voice  was  a  whisper.   Breathed  out,   nothing  harsh  about  a  set  of  words  that  could  be  harsh.   It  sounded  more  like  a  plead  than  anything  else.    Her  hand  just  reached  up,   fingers  tilting  Vi’s  head  to  look  at  the  damage.    She  wasn’t  smiling  now.    Her  other  hand  held  up  the  rag  before  pressing  it  into  Vi’s  hand.   She  didn’t  want  to  particularly  touch  Vi’s  nose  or  mouth  out  of  fear  of  hurting  Vi.    One  of  these  days  it’s  going  to  take  much  more  than  a  few  rags,   some  ice,  and  a  little  rest. 

THERE WAS A WEIGHT, one that was easily supported.. It sat itself upon a single leg, a seat fitting of their size difference.

Not applying any defiant expressions, letting gentle hands guide around different angles needed to properly see the damage, Vi turns spitting out a clot of red. It made a noise similar to that of a tooth hitting wood but as far as one could tell, with the quick flick of a tongue over teeth she wasn’t missing any. The other arm lay across the length of the couch on one side, hand resting flat against the middle of the armrest. 

There wasn’t much of a reaction otherwise, pain had overtaken senses long before arriving at the bar. Of course that meant there’d been some time for wounds to dry up. Some blood may be harder to get off. There weren’t any words, none that could possibly alleviate the tension in the room. Childhood acquaintances or not; seeing Vi like this clearly hurt Caitlyn’s feelings.