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Assistant: Title: Gaze at me with your soul
        Author: Nekef Nekef 
        Chapter: 11/11 
        Summary: "F@ck, I'm sorry... I wasn’t watching where I was going," she said, realizing she had bumped into another girl, who had landed on her backside.Vi extended a hand to help, but received no reaction from the other girl, who silently got to her knees and began feeling around for something on the hospital's polished floor.‘Oh sh@t. F@ck.’Vi dropped to her knees instantly, realizing she had just knocked over a blind woman.
        Contents: Chapter 11: Butterfly
    

    


      
        
          I don't even know what to say, I'm completely speechless. I never expected this story to receive so much attention and love.Thank you all for every single kudos, every single comment, for interacting with me on Twitter, and to all the incredible artists who created truly amazing fanart for this story. You are making this story special and making me incredibly happy. THANK YOUThis chapter is for Skylar, who made such an insanely incredible video that I can't stop watching it on loop every single day. Kisses <3Thanks to Ro for beta reading!
            
            (See the end of the chapter for  more notes.)
            
      
  

  
  
    
     She cracked one eye open, vision still fuzzy with sleep. Her brain was still trying to figure out exactly where she was. In a room she could barely see, let alone recognize. The pillow felt way too soft to be hers, and the duvet was heavier than the one she usually had on her bed. She blinked a couple of times, and in the dim light, she made out the shape of someone lying next to her. Caitlyn’s back, covered by a thin t-shirt, rising and falling with her slow breaths. Her narrow shoulders, the slender arm resting against her side. The curve of her hip bending the blanket draped over it.Flashes from the night before hit her out of nowhere, playing in her head like a movie. Caitlyn on top of her, barely visible in the dark, breathing heavy, letting out soft little sighs. Her lips kissing her, her hands exploring, skin on skin, hot and electric. She swallowed, her throat dry, but couldn’t help the smile creeping across her face. Her chest still blazing with the memory of the adrenaline that had gripped her heart.She wanted to pull her close again, right then. Flip on the light just to finally see her for real, kiss every bit of that pale skin. Kiss the scars she’d felt under her fingers, trace the freckles and little marks she’d only been able to imagine. Tell her how beautiful she was, how perfect. How much she still wanted her. Over and over.She tried to fight the urge to move, not wanting to wake Caitlyn, but the need to free her arm, trapped under Caitlyn’s head, was getting unbearable. She couldn’t feel a thing from the elbow down, and her body was starting to panic like it was about to lose the limb for good. She started inching her hand out, super slow, biting her lip like that would somehow help. The whole situation was so ridiculous she almost laughed, feeling like she was in some action movie, trying to defuse a bomb without cutting the wrong wire.Caitlyn jerked, suddenly woken up by the movement, and turned around. One hand swung through the air like she was trying to hit whoever was touching her. “Cait!” Vi said, instinctively grabbing Caitlyn’s hand and squeezing it tight, trying to calm her down. “It’s okay! It’s me.”“Oh sh@t!” Cait mumbled, freezing at the sound of Vi’s voice. Her heart was still racing, pounding so hard it felt like it might burst out of her chest. “Sorry, I got freaked out.”“It’s okay, don’t worry,” Vi reassured her, letting go of Caitlyn’s hand. Caitlyn pressed her palm to her chest, breathing heavily. “You good?”“Yeah… yeah, I'm fine.” Caitlyn answered after a second, her voice a bit raspy as she swallowed hard, trying to calm herself down. “Sorry, I just… I’m not really used to having someone in my bed.”“Sorry if I scared you... but I couldn’t feel my arm anymore,” the other explained, grabbing her dead arm and pulling it to her chest, trying to get some feeling back. “I had to get it out of there.”“Oh no, I'm the one who's sorry... Did I hurt you?” Cait asked as she flopped back onto the bed, turning to face the other girl. Her brows knitted in concern and her face burning with embarrassment. “Nah, don't worry,” Vi reassured her with an amused tone. “It's all good.”Caitlyn stayed quiet as she heard Vi shifting around in bed, probably trying to get the feeling back in her numb arm. After a few seconds, she reached out slowly, careful not to accidentally hit her. Her fingers found Vi’s shoulder and slid down to the arm she was gently shaking, trying to wake it up. Caitlyn gave her hand a light squeeze, then started massaging it softly to help out.She heard Vi let out a soft chuckle, and after a moment, her hand gave Caitlyn’s a light squeeze. Then, Cait let go and scooted closer, reaching out to find the other's face, her fingers tracing along those sharp features. She was irremediably obsessed with that crooked nose and all the little flaws she couldn’t stop seeking out with her fingertips.Vi let out a soft sigh under Caitlyn’s touch before moving closer to brush her lips against hers.Then Violet shifted again, pressing a slow, gentle kiss to Caitlyn’s cheek, her hand sliding to the other’s side. She gently tugged at the hem of Caitlyn’s shirt, tasting the bare skin beneath with her palm.Caitlyn ran her hand through Violet’s hair, a small sigh. “Come here...” she said, her voice low.She pulled her closer, as she slowly rolled onto her back, guiding Violet on top of her, her head resting against Cait's chest. Violet followed, pressing her cheek into the fabric of Caitlyn’s shirt and sighing heavily. She half-closed her eyes, enjoying the quiet and the feeling of Caitlyn’s hands gently brushing over her.Cait kissed the top of Violet’s head, breathing in the smell of shampoo as she buried her nose in her hair for a second. She tried to picture Vi’s face in that moment, her expression, the little lines on her forehead. Cait’s fingers trailed down, searching for those details, gently brushing over her again, unable to resist the temptation. She felt Violet’s lips curve into a satisfied smile and found herself smiling too.It had a dangerously surreal taste, waking up next to someone again. Feeling Violet’s slow, gentle touches on her side, her sweet, innocent kisses on her face. The calm, steady breath that brushed against her chest, barely audible in the quiet room. It tasted like something both unknown and familiar at the same time, as if her body was made to respond only to Vi’s touch. As if her skin knew it belonged to the other, starting to burn before even being touched by her. It had a warm, enveloping taste, almost painful, twisting her stomach like tangled headphones. Making her feel wanted, desired, and... loved.Vi’s soft, stifled laugh caught her attention.“What?” Cait asked, amused, her nose still buried in her hair.“Do I stink?” Vi teased, her voice still a bit rough from sleep.“Not at all,” Cait replied with a short laugh. “I love the smell of your shampoo...” she added, breathing in Vi’s scent one more time before setting her head back on the pillow.“Good to know,” Vi chuckled again, her cheek resting against Cait’s chest. She lightly traced her fingers over Cait’s exposed side, grazing the scar. “Mh hm…” Cait hummed, biting her lower lip for a second before adding, “I’m just enjoying the few senses I’ve got left.”Vi couldn’t hold back her laugh, her chest shaking so much that it even made Caitlyn move beneath her.“Should I laugh or stay serious when you’re being this brutal?” she asked, struggling to catch her breath, her voice still a bit broken from laughing.“Laughing’s fine,” the other replied, amused.“Good, ‘cause I don’t think I could hold it in.”Caitlyn let out a small huff. “One day, you might actually earn the right to joke about it.”“Really?” Violet propped herself up on her elbows, studying Caitlyn’s face, looking for any hint to tell if she was serious. “Mh hm.” Cait raised an eyebrow, giving her a playful smile. “Wow,” Vi commented, kissing Cait’s chest before looking at her with a sly grin. “Guess I’ll finally get to mock my girlfriend.”The deliberately provocative tone made Caitlyn raise her brows, and she responded in kind, pretending to be confused, “Did I miss the moment when we agreed on that term?”“You don’t like it?” Vi moved again, kissing Caitlyn’s chest once more before trailing up toward her face. Caitlyn’s hands lingered in Vi’s hair for a moment before sliding down to gently caress Violet’s bare shoulders.“Oh no… quite the opposite.”Vi half-closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of Caitlyn’s fingers gently pressing into her muscles, “Guess we’re on the same page then…”Cait let out a laugh, “We’re on the same page…” she whispered, her hands sliding up to wrap around Vi’s neck, feeling the unbelievable softness of her skin.For a moment, she wondered how it was possible for someone who did what Vi did to have skin that soft and smooth.She gently traced over Vi’s full lips, running her fingertips across them a few times, lost in thought.“What?” Vi’s tone dropped as she kissed Cait’s fingers softly.“Nothing…” Cait murmured, shaking her head a little. “Yesterday was…”“Amazing? Incredible?” Violet smiled, amused. “Beyond every expectation?”“Thanks for ruining everything,” Caitlyn said dryly, her expression almost disgusted, which made Vi burst out laughing. Cait just made a sound of disapproval. “You saved me the trouble of finding the right words.”“Oh, come on…”Caitlyn sighed, unable to hold back an amused laugh. “Violet, you talk too much,” she said again, acting shocked.Violet kept chuckling softly, leaning down to kiss Cait’s cheek gently. She trailed down to her chin, then along her jaw.“God… I want to eat you alive,” she murmured when she finally reached her neck, brushing it with the tip of her nose before kissing her skin once more. “Like a cupcake.”Caitlyn let out a short laugh, tilting her head a bit as she enjoyed the kisses. “A cupcake?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.“Yeah,” Vi replied, pressing another kiss to her neck, this one longer. “They’re my favorite.”“Seriously?” Caitlyn sighed softly, her voice noticeably huskier. “Out of all the desserts in the world, you go with cupcakes?”“Totally,” Vi said as she moved lower, getting dangerously close to Cait’s prominent collarbone. She paused to kiss the little dip where the bone met the straight line of her neck.“Then you’ve clearly never been to Italy,” Caitlyn mumbled, her hands sliding back into Violet’s hair, while Vi’s lips traced the line of her collarbone, barely brushing her skin and sending a shiver through her.“Never.” Vi paused at her shoulder, planting another kiss. “You have?”“When I was a kid, with my parents,” Caitlyn said, her voice starting to waver, almost a whisper now. “I can still taste that chocolate granita on my tongue…”“You’ve gotta take me there someday…” Vi’s low voice sent a shiver through Caitlyn, and the fighter smiled, satisfied. She kept moving, down to Caitlyn’s chest, kissing every inch with agonizing slowness. Soaking in the sound of Caitlyn’s breath getting deeper and more uneven. Closing her eyes as Cait’s nails started to gently dig into her scalp, holding her close like she couldn’t bear to let her go.She paused for a moment, just inches from her breast, feeling Caitlyn suddenly suck in a sharp breath.“For now, you’ll do just fine.”


Steb made his way down the path to the dog park, walking with that usual confident stride. His paws crunching noisily through the gravel trail, framed by wild bushes and some elderberry plants that had clearly been left to do their own thing. The park was kind of out of the way, tucked between a row of old townhouses and a stretch of abandoned train tracks no one bothered with anymore. The air was colder out here than in the city center, thick with the scent of damp grass and freshly turned dirt. Not far off, dogs were barking and playing, stirring up piles of fallen leaves as they ran around.Caitlyn adjusted her scarf, pulling it tighter around her neck and pressing it against her face in a futile attempt to fight off the winter cold. The clear sky and the weak afternoon sun did nothing to help with the steadily dropping temperatures. At that moment, she couldn't help but bitterly wish for the morning she'd spent in bed with Violet. The other woman’s constantly warm body had been perfect for Caitlyn’s hands, which always seemed to be frozen.She barely held back a laugh, remembering how Vi had called herself a furnace. Seemed like she wasn’t wrong.The golden retriever stopped in front of the rusty gate to the dog area, waiting patiently for someone to open it and let him off the hook. Caitlyn bent down, unbuckling his harness and giving him a gentle scratch on the snout. Steb nudged her fingers with his wet nose in return, then bounded through the squeaky gate that Mel had opened, racing off to join the other dogs.Caitlyn, Mel and Jayce stepped over the scraped fence, still showing signs of the faded green paint that had completely peeled off, leaving only rust behind. Cait placed a light hand on Mel's shoulder, letting her guide the way as they headed toward the few worn-out wooden benches in the park. They sat down on one of the empty ones in silence, but Cait couldn't help smiling at the conversation coming from the couple sitting just a few meters away. Apparently, one of them wasn’t great at picking gifts for his wife, who, on the other hand, was really good at getting mad about it.In the middle of the park, an old fountain with a steel bowl attached to the base kept dripping, making a little spot where the dogs could always drink fresh water. The wind rustled through the bare branches around the area, cold and sharp against her face. Caitlyn could already feel her lips, exposed to the air, drying and cracking; she bit her bottom lip and sucked on it slowly, as if trying to counter the effect."There’s something… different about you." Mel's comment didn’t surprise Caitlyn. She’d felt her friends’ eyes on her the second they’d met in the hallway. And she couldn’t stop imagining them staring at her like she was an ant under a magnifying glass the whole way there.She wondered how likely it was that those two busybodies had been glued to the peephole all morning, hoping to catch her in the act.Probably pretty likely.“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Mel,” Caitlyn replied curtly, adjusting her square glasses on her nose, pinching the frame between her thumb and index finger.“You’re, like, I don’t know…” Mel paused for a moment, turning on the bench to get a better look at her friend’s face. “Glowing,” she finally said, unsure of her own diagnosis, as she rested her chin between her thumb and index finger.“She got laid,” Jayce declared, blunt but unable to hide the amused tone in his voice. He, too, was carefully studying Caitlyn’s face, glancing every now and then at his girlfriend to catch Mel’s reactions.When they saw Caitlyn’s face suddenly turn a deep shade of burgundy, even though she was trying to hide behind her scarf, the two friends shared a knowing look. Jayce raised an eyebrow with a smirk, while Mel bit her lip, fighting off a fit of hysterical laughter." That  good, huh?" Jayce finally asked, his tone low and sarcastic, not able to hold it in any longer.Caitlyn covered her face with a hand, lifting her glasses a bit as she rubbed the bridge of her nose. "Please, Jayce, just shut up," she mumbled, clearly mortified."So? Is it true?" Mel chimed in, grabbing Jayce's elbow for a moment, cutting him off before he could say anything dumb."Yeah." Caitlyn finally admitted, giving in and crossing her arms over her chest.“And…?” Mel pushed, sliding down the bench until she was just inches from Caitlyn, like a priest waiting for a confession from an unrepentant sinner. She even leaned in, her face almost touching Cait’s.“And what?” Caitlyn shot back, annoyed, huffing and scooting away when she felt Mel way too close. “What do you want me to say? Should I describe positions?” she finished, her voice dropping to a p@ss@d-off whisper.“Wouldn’t be bad,” Jayce muttered sarcastically under his breath. The curly-haired girl shot him a heated glare for a moment, and he raised his eyebrows, silently showing his disapproval.“So… Did you feel alright?” Mel asked, trying to steer the conversation back to a normal topic, focusing back on Caitlyn. She relaxed when she saw Cait hadn’t heard the comment, or had just completely ignored it."Yeah.""Did you guys work things out?" Mel kept going, making Caitlyn sigh heavily, feeling like she was a victim of the Spanish Inquisition. If the two had been unbearable before they even kissed, now she’d never get any peace."I think so... I apologized, tried to explain what happened," Caitlyn said briefly, not diving into too many details. She crossed her long legs, resting her hands on her thigh and interlacing her fingers."And what about Vi?""Well, I'd say she's forgiven her, Mel. What do you think?" Jayce chimed in again, his amused tone not even trying to hide the big grin on his face. Cait just huffed in annoyance, straightening her back against the wobbly bench."What were you saying?" Mel kept going, totally ignoring her boyfriend."I... I think I’ve worked things out," Caitlyn said after a moment, biting the corner of her lip thoughtfully. "I took her to the Blind Union...""Did you do the experience?""Yeah.""I'm sure she really appreciated it, Cait," Mel said with a smile, resting her hand on Caitlyn's thigh as if to reassure her."I don't know... I hope so," Caitlyn sighed, shrugging a little. "It’s the only way I could think of to... I don’t know, open up to her, I guess," she confessed.Mel, probably relying on her sixth sense or just knowing Jayce way too well, turned and shot him a death glare. He froze, mouth hanging open, staring at her fiery eyes. He raised his hands in surrender and then mimed zipping his lips shut."And then?""Then... we went to my place and... mh, she stayed over," Caitlyn concluded, lowering her face, probably trying to hide even more in the fabric of her scarf. With her fingers, cold from the air, she found a loose thread on her sweater sleeve and started pulling it slowly, rolling it between her thumb and index finger."Are you happy?" Mel asked gently, resting her elbow on the back of the bench and crossing her legs."I... Yeah." Caitlyn nodded a little, her brows furrowed as she obsessively analyzed her feelings from the night before. Trying to make sense of it, "I am... really, a lot."Those words were heavy. A stone tossed by some careless kid, breaking the surface of the water and sinking straight to the bottom. Full of all the fears and insecurities she’d been trying so hard to bury somewhere. To forget them, hiding them under the rug like dust hastily swept up before company arrived. And deep down, she knew someone would find them eventually."But?" Jayce pressed, leaning in a bit, resting his elbow on his knee to peer over Mel’s shoulder. His amber eyes tried to read Caitlyn’s expression."No buts," she replied, sighing heavily. "I guess I’m just terrified of it."A sudden noise grabbed all three of their attention. They turned instinctively toward where it came from, focusing for a moment on the dogs barking loudly. Caitlyn tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, as if she was trying to hear better and catch Steb’s voice.“They’re just playing,” Jayce said, trying to reassure her, and Caitlyn nodded, settling back on the bench.“Cait, it’s totally normal—you haven’t been with anyone in years. What matters is that you’re doing okay…” Mel picked up the conversation again, scooting even closer and wrapping an arm around her shoulders, pulling her in for a gentle hug. “Just try to enjoy the present.”Cait didn’t resist the hug, but she couldn’t stop a bitter laugh from slipping out.“Vi said the same thing… I’m trying.”“Trying’s already something… and if it goes south,” Jayce said, his voice almost solemn, like he was really proud of what he was about to say, “you’ll survive.”“I guess…” Cait gave a small nod, then raised an eyebrow and gave him a smirky smile. “Pretty sure that’s the first smart thing I’ve ever heard you say.”“I have my moments,” he replied with a shrug, leaning back on the bench looking pretty pleased with himself. “And besides,” Mel jumped in, placing a hand on Jayce’s leg in a sweet, almost teasing way, probably giving him credit for finally saying something sensible, “One doesn't die from love.”Caitlyn gave a weak nod, her shoulders lifting just a little, like it was more of a reflex than a real answer. She had this faraway look, and the word stuck in her head, like a butterfly caught in a net. She could feel it flapping around, desperately banging against the walls of her mind like it was the glass of a window. Perhaps trying to get away, not wanting to get used to this unfamiliar place and accept that a cage could feel familiar."One doesn't die from love," she repeated quietly, her voice barely audible.Maybe that was true.


The constant hum of the laptop’s cooling fan was starting to lose its white noise vibe and was getting dangerously close to just being intolerable. Caitlyn gently placed her palm on the keyboard, feeling how hot the poor thing was after working with her non-stop for hours. Totally ignoring work for at least a Saturday had been amazing, but now that the weekend was almost over, she could feel the weight of the upcoming week’s responsibilities nipping at her ankles
   "The defendant's liability, although initially disputed, was convincingly established during the proceedings, through the combination of objective and subjective evidence gathered: 

   - the report drafted by the authorities who responded to the scene of the incident, which unequivocally outlines the sequence of events; 

   - the photographs taken immediately following the occurrence; 

   - the eyewitness testimonies provided during the witness examination; 

   - the statements of the defendant himself, who, albeit partially, admitted his distraction while driving." 
She dictated word for word to the computer, which hummed as it followed her instructions, then paused again to think. Her brain felt like it was on fire, just like the poor laptop's motherboard was probably melting, while a constant headache was draining all the dialectical ability she usually had. She brought her thumb to her right eyebrow, searching for the spot in the corner of her eye that usually gave her a little relief when she pressed it. She counted the seconds before letting go, and the sharp pain that shot up to the back of her neck made her realize it was probably time for some painkillers. Sighing heavily, she hit the button again to activate the microphone.
   "Most importantly, the technical investigation has unequivocally and irrefutably established the causal connection between the defendant’s actions and the damages sustained by my client.   

   The medico-legal expert report, conducted by Dr. Heimerdinger, has confirmed that Mr. Zhao sustained injuries of considerable severity: specifically, cervical strain involving the intervertebral discs C4-C5, as well as a comminuted fracture of the left tibial plateau, injuries which necessitated orthopedic intervention, including the application of a brace and a subsequent rehabilitation program." 
The doorbell interrupted her, and with a frown, she stopped the recording. She sat there for a moment, a bit confused, before searching for her phone on the table and asking Siri for the time. When Siri told her it was already evening and she’d spent over six hours in front of the computer, dictating and deleting the same file, she couldn’t help but agree with her body for desperately trying to stop her, starting with the headache pounding away at her. She got up from the desk, lowered the laptop screen, and headed toward the door to answer the bell. She opened it and waited for Violet to come up the stairs.She found herself once again surrounded by the fresh, comforting scent of the other and smiled as Violet came in, closing the door behind her. Cait raised a hand, silently asking her to come closer as she heard Violet messing with the coat rack. "Hey," the other murmured, taking Cait's hand and closing the distance between them, wrapping her other arm around Cait's waist."Hey..." Cait replied, reaching up with her free hand to find Violet’s face and kissing her as soon as her palm touched her cheek. She felt Vi sigh against her lips, and Cait relaxed into the steady, comforting hug. They kissed for a long moment, standing still by the door in the dark living room, where Cait had forgotten to turn on the lights."Where’s Steb?" Vi asked, pulling back just enough to flick the light switch and start looking around for the dog.  Caitlyn burst out laughing, totally caught off guard by the question. "I’m good, thanks, and you?"  "Come on! I said hi to you first," Vi replied, still glancing around the room, trying to spot any movement."Seems like the least you could do..." the other teased, pretending to be offended. "He’s at his aunt and uncle’s," she added with a smirk, nodding toward the door behind Vi. "Ah..." Vi said, turning back to Caitlyn with an eyebrow raised and a satisfied grin. "So you’re basically a single mom on a night out, huh?" she teased. "The single mom here has been working all day..." Caitlyn sighed, shaking her head a little like she was trying to shake off the pain. "Mel and Jayce offered to take care of Steb so I could catch up on things...""Are you tired?"  "Yeah, a bit." A sigh slipped out as she gently caressed Vi's cheek, her fingers brushing softly over it. She felt Vi huff a little when she accidentally touched the piercing on her nose, probably giving her a slight tickle. "Mostly, I have this awful headache, and I’ve been so focused I didn’t even notice the time. Now I’m welcoming you with no dinner ready. I’m terrible," she finished."Cait..." Vi's voice softened. "I know, I know... don’t scold me like Mel," Caitlyn said, her hand sliding to the back of Vi's neck as she pulled herself closer, burying her nose in the spot between Vi’s shoulder. Vi chuckled lightly, shaking her head as she wrapped her arms around Caitlyn’s waist, gently stroking her."How about you relax on the couch, I'll give you a massage, and we can order something while you take a hot shower?" Violet suggested after a long pause, gently running her fingers down Caitlyn's back, tracing her protruding spine. Cait sighed. "Oh my God, are you real?" she replied without moving, her voice muffled. The warm breath that brushed against Vi’s soft skin made her shiver a little."Real and striving for perfection," the other teased, making Caitlyn laugh for a moment.  "I can't even argue with that..." Caitlyn replied, a clear note of sarcasm in her voice.They made their way to the couch, walking slowly, still holding each other. Caitlyn reached for the backrest with her hand like she always did, even though Violet could’ve easily guided her around it. She let go of Violet’s shoulders and sat down with a small groan of effort, feeling the headache intensify with the change in position. She waited for Violet to give her instructions and turned her head toward her instinctively when she heard the couch cushion shift under Violet's weight.  "Lie down with your head facing me and stretch your legs out the other way."Cait raised an eyebrow for a second, surprised by Vi’s instructions, but didn’t argue. She did as she was told, stretching her legs and resting her ankles on the armrest, then slowly laying back. Vi’s hands gently wrapped around her neck and one shoulder, guiding her down to lie flat.Violet’s fingers moved down Caitlyn's neck, finding the tight muscles that connected to her shoulders. She gently pressed her fingertips into them, getting an immediate soft moan from Cait. Smiling to herself, Vi kept massaging her slowly, occasionally shifting her fingers to find another tight spot. She could feel Caitlyn relaxing more and more in her hands, her lips slightly parted, showing her misaligned teeth. Her eyelids were half-closed, and her eyebrows still holding onto that usual furrowed look they didn’t want to let go.Another soft sigh escaped Caitlyn’s lips when Vi moved from her shoulders to focus on her neck. She felt the other’s fingertips gently glide over her skin, carefully finding the spots to press. As soon as Violet’s fingers sank into the sore flesh, a sharp pain shot through Caitlyn's head, quickly transforming into immediate relief once Violet released the spot. The mix of Vi's rough, calloused palms and the tenderness with which she was touching her felt almost unreal.She had already appreciated the strength in Violet's hands, the confidence with which they held her, and the way they caressed her so deliberately. The way those big, wonderfully warm palms had explored her, inch by inch. The ease with which they made her feel good. Actually, a lot more than good. They made her feel  desired .It was an adjective she hadn’t been able to associate with herself for a long time, something so far from what she’d felt for years that she already felt dangerously addicted to it. And on the soothing, utterly irresistible effect that feeling was having on both her body and mind. “Oh gosh,” she muttered, groaning, unable to stop herself when Vi’s fingers pressed on two particularly painful and pleasurable knots at the base of her skull. “How is it possible that you’re this gentle?”“Surprised?” the other teased, raising slightly an eyebrow. “I don't know, I mean, I know you’ve got, like… really strong hands,” Caitlyn explained, her mind inevitably drifting back to the sensations of the night before. Her cheeks gave her away, heating up instantly. “And I figured, you know, with all the fighting and stuff, you’d be more… well, you get it.” Vi couldn't hold back a laugh at Caitlyn’s half-finished sentence, shaking her head. “Yeah, not really.” “I mean, for someone who’s into such a rough sport, you’re actually surprisingly gentle with your hands.” “Got it…” Vi said with a small smirk, as she moved her thumbs to gently rub the sides of Caitlyn’s forehead in slow circles.“It was meant to be a compliment…” Caitlyn tried to fix it somehow, briefly squeezing her eyes shut when another jolt of pain hit her, “You’re really good... where’d you learn that?” “Nowhere, really,” Vi said with a shrug. “I just get all kinds of knots after training and matches, so I started doing it myself to feel a bit better.” She gradually eased the pressure on Caitlyn’s temples, watching her face relax once again.“I know I already asked,” Caitlyn said, her voice a little lazy as Vi’s hands worked over her neck and shoulders, thumbs pressing into that perfect spot by her collarbone, “but… are you even real?” “Mm-hmm,” Vi hummed, then let out a soft laugh when Caitlyn’s lips curled into a smile. She couldn’t help it; she leaned in, took Caitlyn’s face in her hands, and kissed that soft, pink mouth.The other responded after a moment of surprise, slowly raising a hand to reach Violet's neck and gently caress it. She ran her fingers through the short hair, which was beginning to grow out and lose that velvety, soft texture she always sought with her fingertips. "How's it going?" Vi asked in a low voice, once they pulled apart, lightly brushing Caitlyn's cheek with the back of her fingers."Much better..." Cait said, still smiling from the relief as the pain slowly faded away. "Incredible..."  "I try not to be," Vi replied.“Jerk...” Caitlyn muttered immediately, slowly sitting up. She reached out for the other, first finding her thigh, then trailing her hand up to her stomach before finally settling on her face. “But thanks... you literally saved me from a night of pain and painkillers.” “Anytime, Cupcake,” Vi said, turning slightly to kiss Caitlyn’s palm.The other huffed, a bit annoyed, but couldn’t stop a half-laugh. “You seriously gonna call me that from now on?”  “Not a fan?” Vi teased, watching Caitlyn’s face.  “It’s awful.” Caitlyn shook her head, giving her usual serious frown.Vi laughed, throwing an arm around Caitlyn’s shoulders to pull her closer,  "Then my answer is: absolutely yes."The other burst out laughing, going with Vi's pull and curling up in the hug. She tilted her head to rest on Vi’s shoulder, letting out a soft sigh as she felt the warmth of Violet's hand gently rubbing her arm. Caitlyn stretched out her hand, finding Vi’s muscular thigh resting over the other leg. She ran her fingers over it slowly, lost in thought, just enjoying the peaceful silence."You remind me of my grandpa," Caitlyn said after a few minutes, smiling to herself at the sudden memory. "He used to call me his  little Mongoose  when I was a kid."  "Mongoose?" the other asked, laughing a little. "Why's that?""He’d pick me up every afternoon from kindergarten, and I’d always wait by the gate with my backpack pressed to my chest, looking around for him," Caitlyn explained. He’d tell me I was his little mongoose on lookout," she said, quoting the man’s words.For a moment, she got lost in those faded images, sweet and delicate like the smell of the linden trees that lined the school garden. She sank into those memories, where her face was just a reflection in a pale pond, altered by time and distorted by the ripples of dark water. Where her grandfather's smile stretched across his wrinkled face, his rough beard grazing her cheek as he pulled her close. Where his warm eyes would always held a playful spark, as he thought about the next adventure he’d take Caitlyn on. She wondered if he'd be proud of her.If he would have supported her and pushed her forward, like he had done thousands of times when she would sit on the swing too high for her at the park near the school. If he would have told her she could do it. That she was good. That she was capable of anything."It's so... sweet and fun at the same time," Violet commented with a laugh, turning a bit to kiss Caitlyn's temple. Caitlyn chuckled, nodding. "He was super funny, always made me laugh.""Mom's side or dad's side?" Violet asked, intertwining her fingers with Caitlyn’s as she found her hand to hold.  "Dad's side..." Caitlyn replied. She brought Violet’s hand to her lips, kissing it softly for a long moment. "Wait," she said afterward.She stood up from the couch, taking a few steps toward her bedroom. Her hand brushed confidently against the doorframe before disappearing beyond the threshold. A few minutes later, she reappeared, holding a stuffed animal tightly in her hands. She walked back to the couch, extending her arm again to move around the obstacle and sit next to Violet once more."Here," she said, handing the plushie to Violet, who took it with a smile. "He gave it to me because I was scared of going to school, so I could keep it with me all the time.""How cute," the other said, turning it over in her hands. The mongoose had clearly seen better days: one of its ears had been sewn back on multiple times, and one of its eyes was completely gone. But the little paws held close to the chest were probably the detail that reminded Caitlyn’s grandpa of his granddaughter. "Does it have a name?""Obviously... Timon," Cait replied, brushing her hair from her cheek and tucking it behind her ear. She lowered her face a bit, feeling her skin betray her with a blush. "Like The Lion King?" "Yeah. I loved that movie," she said, chuckling. "I still know all the lines by heart.""Wasn't he a meerkat?" Violet replied, raising an eyebrow as she absentmindedly kept stroking the plushie in her hands. She stared at it for a second, like she was trying to find the answer in the fake fur of the mongoose."I don't think 6-year-old me really cared, Violet," Cait replied, slightly annoyed, pressing her lips together in a disapproving look as she took Timon back from Vi. Violet rolled her eyes, letting out a brief laugh. "It’s always been my good luck charm. I even took it with me to all my college exams...""I bet you had the highest GPA in the whole department."  "That was Mel."  Violet nodded, not backing down. "Then the second highest.""Well, I studied for exams with Mel..." Cait explained, leaning back against the couch with her side resting her face in the back of her hand. Violet let out another soft laugh."That makes sense," she said, watching Cait smile. She thought back to the first time she saw that smile, months ago, partly hidden behind a coffee cup. She still couldn’t help getting completely caught up in the way Cait’s lips stretched. And resisting the subtle, uneven gap between Caitlyn’s incisors was still impossible.She didn’t hold back this time either, gently cupping Cait’s face in her hand and leaning in to kiss her. Cait kissed her back, parting her lips and leaning in, placing a hand on her chest and lightly tugging at the fabric of her sweatshirt."When's your next match?" Cait asked as they pulled apart, staying just a few centimeters from her lips. She was still wrapped up in Vi's arms, which didn’t seem ready to loosen their hold."Next month, actually," the other replied, thinking for a moment. "I’ll have to fly across the country again." "Maybe it’s silly, but... take Timon with you," Cait said, pulling away from her, her voice dropping an octave as she spoke. She handed the mongoose back to her. "Maybe it’ll bring you luck and... you’ll always have a piece of me with you."Vi took the plushie back from Cait’s hands, swallowing hard. Their fingers brushed, and she saw Cait gently bite the corner of her chapped lip, smiling slightly. The skin on her neck, exposed by the gray sweatshirt, turned red. It felt like the first time their hands had touched. Or maybe it was because in those few words, there was a whole conversation Cait hadn’t planned or rehearsed. One she hadn’t written down on her laptop and saved neatly in a folder like another speech."Thanks," Vi murmured, her voice rough and her throat tight.  As if it was even needed, she thought, almost amused.As if Caitlyn wasn’t already permanently in her head, under her skin, and just everywhere.




  
  

    
      
        
        
          I couldn't resist throwing a bit of Italian pride in there eheheh <3'
User: Summarize the chapter based on the content provided, ensuring to follow the set format and emphasize key aspects within the specified length.
User: Summarize the chapter based on the content provided, ensuring to follow the set format and emphasize key aspects within the specified length.
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