I Wanted To
Violet woke in the morning to the strong smell of her favorite breakfast food: bacon. Curiously, she climbed out of bed and left the guest room before following the smell to find a humming Caitlyn Kiramman at the stove cooking a full breakfast.
“Cupcake…?” Vi called softly.
Caitlyn whipped around and smiled when she saw Vi. “Good morning. I was just making breakfast.”
Vi raised an eyebrow, “uh… why?”
Caitlyn furrowed her brows, “because I want to.”
Vi chuckled softly and walked closer to Caitlyn, getting a whiff of the perfectly cooked bacon. “Yes, Cait. But why do you want to?”
Caitlyn shrugged and turned her attention back to the strips of bacon sizzling in the pan. “I just thought we deserve a nice breakfast. It is our relaxation day after all.”
Vi smirked, “that it is, Cait. But shouldn't you be relaxing then? We could've had something delivered like we usually do.”
Caitlyn shrugged again, “I enjoy cooking.”
Vi nodded, making a mental note of the fact. “So… what exactly is for breakfast?”
Caitlyn’s face lights up at the question, looking way too eager to answer. “I made chocolate chip waffles and I have some maple syrup or whatever other condiments you like on your waffles, I also made eggs: a few fried and some scrambled because I didn't know how you like them and I didn't want to wake you, I made hash browns too, but they were the frozen kind, but still very good, and obviously plenty of bacon.”
Vi's eyes widen at the list, “really? All of that?”
Caitlyn nods enthusiastically.
“Wow… Cait… I-... I don't know what to say…”
Caitlyn smiles even bigger, “do you… do you like it?”
Vi nods, “of course I like it!”
Caitlyn giggled happily and, without thinking, hugs Vi tightly. Vi is slightly caught off guard, but gratefully returns the embrace. “Okay, Cupcake. Get back to cooking. I can't have you burning out precious bacon, can I?”
Caitlyn reluctantly lets go and goes back to the bacon. “There are plates in the cabinet on the left if you'd like to make your own. Help yourself to whatever you'd like, and there's also some fruit in the fridge if you want any.”
Vi smiles gratefully and begins to make a plate while Caitlyn finishes up the bacon. Vi takes a seat at the small table while Caitlyn makes her own plate, and respectfully, Vi waits for Caitlyn to sit down before starting to eat.
Caitlyn chuckles softly as she sits down next to Vi. “You didn't have to wait for me.”
Vi smiles, “I wanted to. I just… wanted to thank you properly for this. You really didn't have to.”
Caitlyn smiles back, “Violet, I don't know how many times I have to tell you; I wanted to.”
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Violet is a quick eater, especially when she's hungry, and especially when there is meat on her plate. So of course her plate was gone in about ten minutes. Caitlyn took a little longer, so Vi sat at the table and patiently waited for her to finish.
When Caitlyn sat her fork down on her plate, Vi reached over to gently grab her hand, giving it a soft squeeze. Caitlyn's eyes widened at the contact. “W-what’s this for?” She stammered.
Vi smiled softly, “I need to talk to you about something”
Caitlyn nods, bracing herself for the worst. “Okay, go for it.”
Vi lets out a long sigh and gives Caitlyn's hand another squeeze. “Caitlyn… of all the times I have had to deal with your antics… this has by far been my favorite. You have let me into your home and treated me with a kindness I had never seen from you before. To be honest… I just thought you were some annoying rich party girl, but-... you are so much more than that. And thank god I don't get paid until after the case is over because… I want this to be pro-bono, Cait.”
Caitlyn's eyes widen, “what?!”
Vi gently shushes her and squeezes her hand. “I know what you're going to do, Cait. You're going to insist on paying me. You're going to say something about having more than enough money to spare, but I want you to know something. I'm not a lawyer for the money. I'm a lawyer for justice. Do I hate when I have to fight for the wrong people? Yes. Is it my job? Also yes. But… when a case like yours comes around… it reminds me why I do this. I don't want your money, Cait. The experience is more than enough. And spending time with you hasn't been half bad either.”
Caitlyn's eyes are still wide and she’s too stunned to speak. Vi lets out a soft chuckle before standing up and grabbing her and Caitlyn’s plates and walking over to the kitchen sink, beginning to wash them.
Caitlyn, still in shock, speaks up. “Vi, I-...”
Vi shakes her head, still focused on washing their dishes. “All I want is justice. Not your money. The next time you come to me for a DUI, I'll gladly take your money. But just not this time, okay?”
Caitlyn slowly nods as she watches Vi wash their dishes, her shocked expression morphing into more of a mesmerized one. Caitlyn lets out a sigh before slowly standing up and walking over to Vi. “What time will you be heading home…?” She asks with caution.
Vi pauses her scrubbing to think, still not looking at Caitlyn. “Um… I supposed I could leave soon. Since… we don't really have anything to do.”
Caitlyn pulls her gaze away from Vi and nods as Vi resumes her scrubbing. Caitlyn lets out a small sigh before speaking softly, “I don't really want you to leave…”
Vi was setting a plate on the dishrack as she whipped her head to look over at Caitlyn. “You-... you don't?”
Caitlyn shakes her head, still looking towards the floor. “I've grown quite fond of your company…”
Vi’s jaw is practically on the floor when she hears that statement. Caitlyn lets out a soft chuckle before finally bringing her gaze back to Vi. “What do you say we just… relax and watch some movies together today?”
Vi’s expression relaxes into a smile before she gives Caitlyn a soft nod and shuts the water off. Caitlyn extends her hand to Vi and Vi cautiously takes it. Caitlyn leads Vi into the living room and sits down on the couch, encouraging Vi to do the same.