The city had finally quieted. After all the chaos, the fights, the struggles that had tested them, Caitlyn and Vi had made it through. Today, there were no battles to fight, no missions to complete—just the two of them, standing at the altar, hearts pounding as they exchanged vows.
Vi, dressed in a perfectly tailored white suit, couldn’t take her eyes off Caitlyn, who stood before her in an elegant yet simple wedding gown that accentuated her grace. The way the soft fabric hugged her frame, the way the late afternoon light framed her like something out of a dream—it was almost too much for Vi to believe. Caitlyn had always been beautiful, but today, she was breathtaking.
Vi exhaled shakily as she took Caitlyn’s hands, rough fingers brushing against soft palms.
"I never thought I'd get something like this," Vi murmured as she slid the wedding ring onto Caitlyn’s delicate finger, her calloused hands trembling slightly.
"You deserve this. We deserve this," Caitlyn whispered back, her voice thick with emotion. She held Vi’s hand, rubbing small circles over her knuckles—an unconscious gesture of comfort, the same one she had done countless times before.
When Caitlyn slid the ring onto Vi’s finger, Vi looked down at it for a long moment, as if grounding herself in the weight of it. Her throat felt tight. This wasn’t just a band of metal—it was proof that someone had chosen her. That Caitlyn had chosen her, despite everything.
As they sealed their vows with a kiss, the guests erupted into cheers. But for Caitlyn and Vi, the world was silent—just the feeling of each other, warm and steady, a promise made real.
The photographer guided them to an open field outside the city, where golden light spilled over the horizon. "Alright, let’s make some memories," they said with a grin.
----
Vi wasted no time sweeping Caitlyn off her feet—literally. She lifted her bride effortlessly, spinning her in circles while Caitlyn shrieked with laughter, her arms wrapped around Vi’s shoulders. The camera clicked, capturing the joy in their eyes.
Caitlyn clung to Vi as they spun, laughing into the curve of her neck. "Vi, put me down!"
"Never." Vi grinned, her voice teasing but full of love.
When their feet were back on solid ground, Caitlyn smirked. "My turn."
"Oh, please, princess—" But before Vi could protest, Caitlyn had jumped onto her back, clinging on like a koala. Vi groaned dramatically, but they both knew she could hold Caitlyn up all day if she had to.
"You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?" Vi muttered.
"Very much so."
Another moment saw them running through the field, hand in hand, like kids who had finally found a world where they were safe. Vi turned mid-stride, pulling Caitlyn into a surprise twirl, their laughter echoing into the evening sky.
As the sun dipped lower, the photographer zoomed in on their hands, fingers intertwined, wedding rings glinting in the soft light. Vi traced Caitlyn’s palm absentmindedly with her thumb, a habit she’d never let go of.
"This makes it real, huh?" Vi murmured.
Caitlyn squeezed her hand. "It's always been real."
They sat on a wooden bench, reading their vows once more, their voices softer now, just for each other. Vi’s voice cracked when she spoke of how Caitlyn had saved her—not just in the physical sense, but in all the ways that mattered.
"You saw me when no one else did," Vi admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "When I was just a stray, trying to get by. And you didn’t just see me, you stayed. You fought for me, even when I wasn’t sure I was worth fighting for."
Caitlyn reached out, cupping Vi’s face with both hands, her touch impossibly gentle.
"Vi, you are the strongest person I know," she said. "Not just because of how you fight, but because of how you love. I don’t think you even realize how much you give to the people around you. How much you've given me. I’ve never doubted for a second that you were worth everything."
Vi blinked rapidly, then let out a shaky laugh. "You’re gonna make me cry, cupcake."
"Too late." Caitlyn smiled, wiping away a stray tear that had slipped down Vi’s cheek.
The camera caught that moment—the way Vi melted into Caitlyn’s touch, the way their foreheads pressed together, the world forgotten around them.
As night settled in, they stood side by side, perfectly in sync, a reflection of their journey. The photographer framed them in a shot where they mirrored each other’s stance—two warriors who had fought for their love and won.
Hand in hand, they walked away from the camera, their silhouettes blending into the city skyline behind them. The final shot captured the simplest truth of all: they were moving forward together.
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Back at the reception, Caitlyn and Vi flipped throughthe first few shots on the photographer’s camera.
Vi chuckled. "Damn, we look good together."
Caitlyn leaned into her side, smiling softly. "We always have."
Vi kissed her temple, lingering just a little longer. "To forever, then?"
Caitlyn laced their fingers together, her wedding band cool against Vi’s skin. "To forever."