*** In the Kiramman estate ***
Cait slowly padded back up the large staircase to her room. It had been a long day, albeit fruitful in the end; her parents had finally agreed to give her and Vi an audience with the council. Despite her exhaustion, though, Cait took her time on the way back to her room. She knew Vi was probably waiting there in shock. Vi would know what her upbringing was like, now. Privilege. Filthy rich. And what had she done to help the undercity? Nothing.
Cait shook her head. God I’m so… pathetic.
She took a deep breath and paused at the door. Rip off the bandaid, Cait. The jig is up.
She opened the door and turned to lock it behind her, keeping her eyes on the floor, then the handle.
Finally, she looked over at the bed.
“Hey.” Vi laid there, propped up on her elbow. She nodded coolly across the room.
Cait offered her a half smile.
“Hi.”
“Sooo… what’s up with all this ?”
Vi gestured generally to the room around her. In that moment, its unnecessary extravagance struck Cait at full force.
“Ah. Well. My parents are… rich.”
Vi raised her eyebrows.
“You’re rich.”
Cait sighed.
“I guess so.”
“Like what the fuck dude? Why are you an enforcer?” Vi looked a little incredulous now.
“I don’t know! ” Cait hissed, “Didn’t care for politics! Good at shooting guns! It’s not like they’re particularly proud of me for it!” She gestured downstairs to where she’d left her parents in the sitting room.
“Hey! No need to get pissy! It’s just not what I was expecting! ” Vi hissed back.
Cait felt her cheeks burn. She’d let her shame get the better of her.
“Right. Sorry.”
“Aw. You blush when you’re all uncomfortable.”
Cait looked up. Vi was smirking slightly.
“Shut up.” Cait tried to snap, but there wasn’t any venom in her tone.
“I’m just asking what the fuck is up with all this.” Said Vi. Her tone was gentler now. “This isn’t… normal.”
Cait sighed and sat next to Vi on the bed.
“No, it’s not. My mum’s on the council.”
Vi’s eyes widened again, and she looked like she was about to interject.
“And before you go off about the council,” Cait cut in, “we’re getting an audience with them tomorrow thanks to her. So you know. There are perks.”
That seemed to shut Vi up.
“Anyway, like I said, I wasn’t really any good at the “usual” jobs for council member’s daughters, but I was a damn good shot so… Enforcer it was.” Cait shrugged.
“Well,” said Vi with raised eyebrows, “I’d probably be punching you if you hadn’t just saved my life.”
“My lucky day, then.” said Cait.
Vi snorted.
“Something like that.”
Cait lay down on the bed beside her. Finally the exhaustion hit her like a skyship. She felt like if she closed her eyes she might drift off in an instant.
“Thanks.”
Vi’s voice was quiet, but sincere.
“You’re welcome.” Cait replied. “Thanks for helping me, too.”
There was movement beside her on the bed. When she turned to look, Vi had turned so they were lying side by side and was now staring up at the ceiling. Cait raised her eyebrows but said nothing, staring at her companion.
“‘Chu lookin at.” Said Vi, still looking at the ceiling.
Cait shrugged and looked up at the ceiling too.
“We should probably shower.” Cait said absentmindedly. And then, suddenly replaying the moment when Vi had pushed her up against a wall in the undercity, instantly regretted it.
“You know, since we’ve been… laying on floors and… dying…” Cait added uselessly. She was determinedly staring at the ceiling now.
“‘Mkay, cupcake…”
She could hear an edge of humor in Vi’s voice, but she didn’t push further ( thank god. )
“Where’s the shower, then?” asked Vi, sitting up.
“Right.”
Pushing herself up from the comfy, comfy bed, Cait showed Vi the shower and towels.
“I have nightclothes that should fit as well…” she said, looking around her drawers.
“ Nightclothes…” repeated Vi, smiling and shaking her head. “Rich people shit.”
Cait raised her eyebrows.
“That’s what they’re called. ” She said insistently
“Yeah, whatever.”
The teasing had returned to Vi’s voice again. That was probably a good sign, but it also made her an annoying little shit.
“Anyway,” Vi began to pull her clothes off, “I’m gonna hop in, so you just put those nightclothes on the counter or something.”
A pause.
Vi turned back in her bra. Cait stared back.
“Am I missing something?”
“Hm? Wha? No. Nightclothes. Counter.”
Cait closed the door, blushing again. Ok, fine. Hot annoying little shit.
***
Twenty or so minutes later, Vi emerged with fluffy wet hair and Cait’s nightclothes on. Very much nothing but Cait’s nightclothes on.
She nodded coolly at Cait, who was reading on the bed.
“Nice shower, goddamn.” She said, sounding satisfied. “I feel fucking amazing.”
“Glad to hear it.” said Cait. She tried not to stare. “My turn,” she said abruptly, getting up to shower.
***
It was only after her lovely hot shower that she realized her mistake.
The damn nightclothes. She’d forgotten her own. She could put her old clothes back on, but that didn’t seem particularly appealing. Sighing, she wrapped herself in a towel and hoped Vi had gone to sleep. She eased the door to her bedroom open.
Vi was not asleep. She seemed to be going through Cait’s bedside drawers.
“Hey! What’re you looking at?”
Vi whirled around, looking sheepish.
“You have cool stuff! I thought… What are you doing? Checking on me? You’re not even dressed!”
“I… forgot my nightclothes.”
“Oh.”
Cait stayed half-hidden behind the door.
“Well I won't bite, cupcake,” said Vi teasingly, “I’ll just keep looking in the drawer, you do your thing.”
She looked pointedly back at whatever she’d been toying with.
Eyeing her slightly, Cait walked to her drawer and took out a soft shirt and trousers. As it seemed like Vi was genuinely invested in the gadget she’d found, Cait changed quickly and went back over to join her.
Vi’s cheeks were pink for some reason.
“What are you playing at, cupcake?” asked Vi, still looking at the toy.
“Hmm?”
Cait must have responded with such genuine confusion that Vi decided it was legitimate.
“Um. You could have changed in the bathroom.”
“OH!”
Cait covered her eyes.
“Oh, I’m… stupid. I always change there, since there’s usually no one in here, and I wasn’t thinking… and you said to just… so I… wasn’t thinking.”
“All good,” said Vi.
Then, after a pause, she added,
“Just, you know. Trying to read the room.”
Oh. But now that meant something. Cait looked over at Vi, watching her for a moment.
She was laying on her back, fidgeting with a ring with different interlocking bits Jayce had given her when they were kids. She didn’t seem particularly focused, however; she was repeatedly flicking one of the interlocking parts, making it spin over and over. Before her conscience made her back down, Cait lay down next to Vi, deliberately pressing her chest into her side. She traced her hand along Vi’s collarbones.
“What does the room say now?”
“Oh… And she had me thinking she was all shy…”
Vi flipped her over, one hand on her waist, one hand on the pillow behind her. She pressed their lips together once, twice, and the last time she kept them together for longer.
They kissed more intensely now. Cait bit slightly at Vi’s lip. Vi kissed her neck in response.
They kissed, Vi’s thigh between her’s, their bodies pressed together, both Vi’s arms around her waist.
Somehow Cait was on top now, one hand in Vi’s hair, the other petting her chest.
Finally they broke apart.
“You are… just as sweet as you look.” Said Vi, breathing a little hard, eyeing her up and down.
“And you’re… not as sour?” said Cait playfully.
“Wow. Rude.” Vi kissed her again.
“Ok, Cait, I’m like, really tired.”
Cait nodded. Perhaps another time she’d be up for more, but the exhaustion would catch up soon enough.
“Yep. Me too.”
Vi pulled her in close.
“At least I have a pillow now.”
“You know what? You’re way cuddlier than you act.”
Vi squeezed her.
“Rude again.”
Cait turned to face her.
“You’re just as hot as you look.”
“What am I even supposed to do with that? What if I don’t look hot?”
“You look super hot!”
“Oh wow, thanks cupcake.” Vi grinned.
Cait sighed and leaned into her.
“Let’s get some rest. Big day tomorrow.”
“Agreed. As if today wasn’t big enough.”
Vi reached over and turned the light out.
***