Vi grumbles as he eyes his reflection in the mirror. He adjusts his sports bra - uncomfortable as its hem feels heavy, snapping on his skin. Usually, his routine of heading to the local gym didn’t faze him. In fact, it excites him because working out is one of his favorite things in the world. However, today was different. There was a heaviness in the air, a weight that made him crave to retreat to the safety of his bed. Vi’s bed - soft, warm, and enveloping - offered a sanctuary from the world’s cruel stares.
The longer he stared into the mirror, the more distorted he looked. Vi turns to his side and sees how lumpy his chest looks. He pats it down and tries to flatten it but to no avail. It stays the same. Vi had been saving up for top surgery, and honestly, he couldn’t wait until that day came.
“Fuck,” he mutters under his breath. He stretched back the fabric that hugged his chest, frustrated that it looked that way. Why the fuck does it look like that? “Alright, I might skip the gym today.”
“What was that, darling?” His girlfriend, Caitlyn, was leaning against the door frame. She gave him a soft smile. Vi repeats what he has said, and Caitlyn, walking up to him, frowns. “It’s unlike you to skip the gym. What happened?”
Her voice was soft, tender, enveloping - Vi felt safe. Caitlyn wraps her arms around her boyfriend, tucking her chin on Vi’s head. “Tell me, darling.”
Vi surrenders because when he’s with his girlfriend, he’s safe and feels warm all over.
“I feel so… big,” Vi tries to explain. He fumbles with the words, wanting to tell her more, but he can’t. He feels dysphoric. He doesn’t feel like himself. Vi feels like he’s being taken away, back to that dark abyss that always lingered.
But Caitlyn keeps him grounded. She places a gentle kiss on his head, stroking his pink locks. Caitlyn’s fingers felt safe and comforting - it always made him melt.
“I have something for you,” Caitlyn tells him, letting go for a brief moment to retrieve something from the drawer. Vi eyes her curiously, and Caitlyn shows him a skin-coloured cylinder, still wrapped in thin plastic, and he immediately recognizes it.
His eyes feel watery as Vi beams at his girlfriend. “Is that tape?”
Caitlyn nods, unwrapping the tape in her hand. “Do you think this will help you? I checked online for the safe brands that wouldn’t irritate your skin. You may wear it for three to five days and even shower in it.”
At that moment, much like any other time when he was with his girlfriend, Vi felt heard, as though the world had paused just for him. With Caitlyn, he always found that sense of familiarity. She was the epitome of safety, warmth, and that enveloping comfort he had longed for all his life. Her presence was like a haven, a place where all his worries could melt away. Caitlyn had an uncanny ability to know exactly what he needed, even without saying a word, even if he failed to communicate what he needed. Whether it was a reassuring touch, a quiet moment, or simply her unwavering support - she always seemed to be attuned to Vi’s emotions, offering him a sense of peace he didn’t know he desired until Caitlyn came into his life.
Vi inched closer to his girlfriend, who was busy looking for a pair of scissors. He cups her gorgeous face and kisses her tenderly. He may not be good at words, but Vi wants her to feel it - how he was beyond grateful for this gesture. How his girlfriend always knew and always made him feel seen.
“You’re the absolute best, Cait,” he sighs into the kiss, pulling away to meet her cerulean orbs. “I wouldn’t ever ask for more. I love you.”
Caitlyn smiles softly, her eyes sparkling as she draws him closer, pressing her lips again into his. “And I love you. Now, do you still wish to go? I can help you put it on, handsome.”
Vi’s face turns crimson red as he nods, removing the fabric that feels heavy on his chest. The air hits him, yet he feels… free and light. He moves toward the bed next to Caitlyn. “I would like that, yeah.”
Caitlyn cut the tape expertly, her movements precise and careful as she removed the sharp corners, ensuring her boyfriend wouldn’t be bothered by any discomfort. She began by crafting the nipple covers, shaping them suitably before gently placing them on Vi. Afterward, she trimmed the tape to the perfect length, her hands steady as she asked him to raise his arms. Every action was done with such care. Caitlyn’s focus was entirely on making Vi feel at ease.
Vi felt safe within her touch.
Once they were done, Caitlyn traced his bare chest. Her smile was warm, gaze soft, as Caitlyn peppered kisses on his chest. “All done, my handsome boy.”
Vi gets up to check his reflection in the mirror once more and turns to his side. His chest was flat, and he never felt so euphoric. His hands repeatedly moved up and down on his upper body, which felt new. It feels new, but it was just right - perfect even. He felt Caitlyn’s limbs embrace him as she placed a kiss on Vi’s neck.
“You look amazing, darling,” Caitlyn tells him as she caresses his chest. It was gentle yet electrifying, and Vi melted into her touch. “I love you. All of you. You’re perfect.”
Vi turns around, their eyes meeting before their lips gently connect. “Cait, I am hopelessly, irretrievably in love with you. More than you know.”
Caitlyn’s arms wrap tighter around Vi, trying to hold him in the most beautiful, most gentle way possible. Vi rests his forehead against hers, and a soft sigh escapes him. He feels a calmness he hasn’t known in a long time, a peaceful bliss - something he wants to stay in forever. With Caitlyn, anything was possible. With Caitlyn, he was heard, grounded, and loved.
Vi is surrounded by love.
“I feel… whole,” Vi whispers, his voice filled with emotion. His hands rest on Caitlyn’s, still gently caressing his chest. Her touch is a reminder of it - of love.
“You should,” Caitlyn replies, her voice laced with tenderness. “You’re exactly who you’re meant to be, my love.”
Vi nods, feeling a profound sense of gratitude wash over him. Everything fell into place, and the horrible reminders of everything that could hurt him faded away. It fades away because Caitlyn is here with him, and she’ll always be. Her patience, her acceptance, her understanding, her comfort - her - Caitlyn.
“Alright, I think I’m ready to hit the gym now,” Vi tells her, his lips forming a smile. “Thank you, Cait. For this, for everything. For being my safe space.”
Caitlyn brushes her thumb across his cheek, her eyes never leaving his. “I’ll always be, and you’ll always be mine.”
They share another kiss, slow and lingering, the world outside forgotten as they simply exist in the warmth, in the comfort, in the safety of each other’s presence. As long as Vi and Caitlyn have each other, they’re home - safe, warm, enveloping.