It was when Vi felt the first chill that she knew Lady Winter had arrived.
That wretched season of want and suffering. A time that she knew even her sister would not be so active in.
It was to be her first Winter outside of Stillwater, where she knew of Lady Death's pale hands by the cooling of the cells and the thinness of the soup that was served. It was how she knew to mark each year, how she became so sensitive to the cold.
Not that her body didn't know beforehand anyway, but there were different signs then compared to the prison. In The Depths it would rain grey sludge, snow that fell through the poisonous smoke of chem-factories and carried the poison down into the deep fissures where only the desperate would chance the opportunity to drink free 'water'. Even after she had left, when she and Powder lived with Vander in the warm walls of The Last Drop, she knew the embrace of Lady Winter by the scarcity of food and money, less people going outside meant less marks and more security indoors. This led to less opportunities and thus less money to buy the necessities that were becoming...less.
Winter was a time of nightmares.
Most of the monsters she and Powder came up with when they played their game always spawned in Winter.
She couldn't understand Caitlyn when the woman rejoiced at the first sign of snow and Caitlyn in turn was confused why Vi looked on in dread.
When they talked, they each understood.
"It must have been terrible" Caitlyn said, putting a blanket around Vi's shoulders as the trencher looked out the window at the falling snow. Though the brawler was wearing thicker layers than normal she still shivered, hence why Caitlyn brought the blanket over.
It was a rare time Caitlyn had seen her partner that bit vulnerable, at least, unwillingly so.
"It was life" Vi said matter-of-factly, accepting the warmth "I guess...It's good to know you had a good time though"
Caitlyn chuckled ruefully "I was celebrating the passing of a year while down below those less fortunate than me faced the passing of their life"
Vi sighed and pulled her partner into her, sharing the blanket "I didn't share my story to make you feel bad about yours, cupcake. I am actually glad you had a good time, rare thing to see in Winter down in the Undercity"
Caitlyn put her head on Vi's shoulder and snaked her arm around the brawler's back "I know, my love. I know. I'm just...It hurts to think about you and Jin-" she shook her head "-Powder, down there shivering and hungry. You didn't deserve that"
Vi closed a hand over Caitlyn's, squeezing firmly "No, we didn't, but I don't want to dwell on shit we shouldn't have had to put up with. What did you and your family do during Winter?"
Caitlyn hummed, wishing the warmth she had she could transfer to Vi because even under the blanket and with all the layers and with her close by, Vi still shivered. "When the first snowfalls happened, my mother, father and I would sit just outside of our house and share a blanket, just watching it fall. We'd drink hot drinks; coffee, tea or chocolate and talk about what happened in the year"
"You can drink chocolate?!"
Caitlyn giggled "I put some in your cupboards, didn't you notice?"
Vi raised a brow "I don't know what they look like sweetheart"
Caitlyn looked at her partner, a little perplexed but understanding why. "Wait...Is that why half the stuff in there still hasn't been used?"
Vi gave her an annoyed and embarrassed stare.
Caitlyn smiled, suppressing her laughter and kissing her partner's cheek "I'll make it for you, stay here"
Though Vi grumbled at the loss of warmth she let Caitlyn go, looking over her shoulder at her partner as the woman went into the kitchen, Vi's kitchen.
The kitchen in her home.
It was a strange experience still, owning a home, even when it had been a few months since Caitlyn surprised her with a set of keys.
What a birthday present that had been.
But, even after settling in and bringing her own touch to the interior, Vi still felt...strange.
Like the house was missing something.
Outside the dreaded snow continued to fall as the sun retreated behind heavy clouds, taking away its warm rays.
Vi narrowed her eyes.
Storm's coming.
A blue-haired girl flashed in her mind, violet-eyed and grinning.
With too-pale skin and a too-thin physique.
She twitched, rolling her shoulder.
"Something wrong?" Caitlyn came up at that moment, carrying two steaming mugs, putting one in Vi's hands.
The brawler looked down at the warm mug of brown liquid, shrugged, then took a sip.
Her eyes popped open and she let out a moan.
Caitlyn giggled.
"DAMN!" Vi groaned in satisfaction, very nearly tempted to pour the hot liquid down her throat, settling instead for another sip.
"Careful love, it's still hot" Caitlyn said with a smile, gently putting her hand on Vi's arm.
Vi sucked in cold air to cool her hot tongue.
Outside the snow started to thicken.
Vi looked down at her drink, at the inviting steam and warmth. She looked to a smiling Caitlyn who shared her blanket and whose hand was rubbing up and down her arm, a pleasant feeling that made her stomach flutter.
She looked to her right, at an empty space and felt a stray, cold, breeze.
"You've got your thinking face on" Caitlyn said after a moment, taking a sip out of her mug.
Vi looked down at hers and found it somehow less inviting.
She sighed "I need to find my sister"
Caitlyn nodded "I understand, but you've been trying for a while now. What could you do differently this time?"
Vi smiled, a small crinkle of her lips. She always appreciated Caitlyn's constructive approach to her problems.
She shrugged "Dunno"
It didn't mean she knew how to be constructive herself, however.
The Sheriff pinched her arm a little making Vi wince "None of that. You know what you're doing, you always seem to, even when I don't understand"
The brawler smirked "Thanks for the vote of confidence, but this time I really don't know what else to try other than to find and talk to her again. Play her games, spend some time together, warm up by the building she's inevitably going to blow up and just...try"
Caitlyn held her arm again. "Sometimes that's the best you can do" She looked out the window, eyes widening a little "That's...heavier than normal. Are you sure about going now?"
Vi took a deep breath, drank a heaving gulp that brought sweet ambrosia and near-scalding heat to her mouth and got up.
"Better now than later. Jinx doesn't have a roof over her head"
Caitlyn watched her partner go, missing the sudden loss of warmth.
A door closing and shutting and a cold breeze a moment later found her alone in the house she had gifted Vi, her partner, the woman she loved.
She looked around a living room that was mostly bare and little changed from the previous owner, with only a handful of Vi's personal touches that let anyone know the brawler lived here.
Mostly it was pictures with one in particular standing out, put in pride of place above the mantelpiece. A well worn one of Vi and her family before, of her adoptive father Vander engulfing four children.
Four happy, smiling children.
Caitlyn felt something clutch at her heart.
There were other bits as well, some pictures of her and Vi and a rare one of Vi and Jinx, the former having taken a selfie with her sister in the background pointing a gun at her.
Aside from the pictures however there were few other personal decorations and only the most basic furniture.
Caitlyn hugged the blanket around herself, looking out into the coming snowstorm, biting her lip in thought.
Wind whipped at her hair and snow blinded her vision but Vi pressed on, crossing one of the bridges that connected the sister cities of Zaun and Piltover.
Sisters, of course, like her and Jinx.
Never felt a storm this bad before…
The cold was her least favourite weather because no matter what, no matter how many layers of clothing or layers of stone there were between her and the outside, it always felt cold.
Six winters in Stillwater prison had given her a new appreciation of cold however, so she pressed on through the gale and the biting frost, hextech gauntlet leading the way as a sort of shield.
"Hey! Hey!" An enforcer called to her, running up from the Piltover side she had just come from.
Vi resisted the ingrained urge to jump back and flee from the enforcer running towards her, her body twitching as she did.
"You should really stay inside!" The enforcer shouted to be heard over the wind "It's not safe!"
Vi breathed out, letting the tension built into her muscle go.
Her breath came out in white.
"I need to cross the bridge" She said in her best authoritative voice.
The enforcer seemed to have been caught by surprise "Uhm, but, Ma'am...the storm is quite…"
"I think I can see!" She shouted, laughing as she kept her face covered "Don't worry about me, get back to your post"
"But ma'am-" The enforcer covered their eyes as a gust of wind blew against their face "-argh!"
Vi turned away and started marching through the storm "I'll be back, don't worry!"
"Ma'am!" The officer called out, then groaned in frustration "If you insist ma'am, there's a good inn just across, Pearson's it's called! It's safe there!"
Once on the other side Vi had to laugh a little, breath coming out in small white puffs.
Cupcake really did change the bluecoat bastards.
It was likely the enforcer was a new recruit, they had the feeling of a person who believed far too much in the "serve" part of their job, but Vi had witnessed a great many of these new hopefuls swear their oaths when they took on the blue mantle.
Not that the 'Old Guard' as it were weren't still around, they very much were and their attitudes and beliefs would likely outlive them even if they did the smart thing and retired before Caitlyn could bring the hammer down on them.
But the fact was Caitlyn was changing an institution that Vi once believed was as eternal as the changing of the season.
A gust of wind blew underneath and Vi grimaced.
No point charging in blind.
Pearsons was near enough to the end of the bridge it didn't take long for Vi to find it, it's lights revealing in the white whirlwind, acting like a beacon that drew her in.
Pressing her body through the door, Vi was instantly hit with the heat, warming up her exposed arms and face.
"Geez girl, shut the door!" someone, perhaps multiple someone's, called out from inside the busy pub.
Vi did and afterwards made her way to the bar, having to squeeze through multiple bodies to do so, though it was easy enough to get them moving with a good pat on the back.
Pearsons was packed, it seemed.
The clientele were a mix of Zaunites and Pilties, distinguishable by their dress, smell and the distinct groups they separated into.
Unsurprising in a place so close to the border, but what did surprise Vi was that there were some groups mixing together, Piltie clerks sharing tables with Zaunite chem-factory workers and Piltie businesspeople sharing drinks and laughing with Zaunite merchants.
Perhaps it was because Lady Winter embraced everybody outside and thus Pearsons was just a convenient place to be, probably a good enough reason for many current patrons.
Perhaps, though, it was because they got along that they decided to hang out together.
"What'll it be for ya?" The bartender asked her, a surprisingly thin man with Piltie style mutton chops but very Zaunite tattoos.
"Something to warm me up" she answered, releasing one of her gauntlets.
The man thought for a moment, then shrugged and got out a bottle of brandy.
"Ice?" He asked with a straight face.
Vi gave him a look.
He laughed and poured into a small glass, handing it over at the same time as Vi dropped a few coins onto the table.
Pilties had their menus and set prices. Zaunites had trust.
Plus a bouncer if a customer was being stingy.
The brandy went down well and did its job of warming her insides and she let her satisfaction show by putting a few more coins on the table. "Good brandy"
The man nodded and leaned on the table "Only the best for Zauns finest"
Vi gave him a side-eye as she took another sip "That so"
There was a hint of a smirk on the corners of his mouth "It is" he whispered "for Vander's Daughter, it is"
Vi swirled the drink in her hand, her heart beating like a drum.
Vander's Daughter.
It was a title that she felt so far from deserving, yet it was one some people knew her as.
In time, perhaps, she would try and live up to it.
For now though, Lady Winter's embrace awaited her.
She downed her drink and nodded to the barman as she stood up "You know why I'm here then?"
The man smiled, "Anyone who's ever seen you this side of the river will know why you're here" His look turned more serious "She was last seen down in the Undercity, near Finn's old factory"
Vi nodded once more and went to drop a few more coins.
The barman's hand closed over her own.
"Find her quickly" His look was suddenly intense "You're not the only one looking"
Vi didn't move for a long moment.
Slowly, she drew her hand back.
It formed into a fist.
Winter was a time of scarcity. A time when there was less to go around.
Less food. Less money.
Less patience.
Vi ran across the rooftops of the Undercity with the same ease as a swan swimming across a lake, leaping gaps and striking landings like an experienced gymnast.
To her the rooftops were the highways of Zaun and she needed every bit of speed.
Because of course Jinx would piss off the chem barons, that was a given.
She was Jinx, she pissed off everyone just for fun.
But in Winter the Chem Barons were far, far less forgiving.
A blown up dispenser would cost double to repair. A burned down warehouse full of stock, collected and ready to be shipped out in better weather, couldn't be replaced as easily. The chill ran down men and machinery fast and replacing them was difficult because everyone was run down and cold.
At a time like this, no one could afford to let the Loose Canon get away with anything.
So it was that Vi found herself traversing Zaun's highway towards an abandoned factory that was already half on fire by the time she spotted it.
"Shit!"
She redoubled her efforts and eventually managed to land on the roof of a building next to the factory.
Where she saw the raging fire up close, and saw the raging firefight.
Jinx was stood on the burning factory roof, blasting away with her monster of a minigun and cackling madly, the flames illuminating her pale skin and violet eyes.
All around were the bodies of gangers and hired thugs, injured and dead.
But more were alive and shooting back, lead thickening the air.
The gangers were using pipe guns for the most part, but illicit trade with Piltover also brought more dangerous weapons like proper rifles.
Something whistled and she saw Jinx look up.
Mortars as well, it seemed.
"JINX!" Vi shouted as she leapt the gap between the roofs, gauntlets whirring to life.
The shell landed, the fuse made contact and there was a great explosion.
Vi brought her gauntlets down, shield dissipating with an electric crackle as the smoke cleared.
One hand was marked with a steaming indent.
"Heh heh heh" Vi heard raspy laughter behind her.
She felt thin arms wrap around her waist.
"Hes sis" Jinx said, voice indicating her tiredness for all that she seemed amused "Glad you could join my party"
Vi let out a breath of relief, turning around to hug her sister.
Gently, ever so gently with metal hands.
When she looked down her eyes lit up in fury.
Jinx was wounded, badly, with blood covering one side of her face coming from a nasty gash on her forehead. There were bruises all over her body, easy to tell against her pale skin.
Most of all though, Vi could feel how cold Jinx was.
She was freezing.
The heat of the flames may have made her sweat but Jinx was sucking all that heat away as her sister slumped against her.
"I hate the cold Vi…" Jinx muttered, eyes carrying dark circles fluttering.
Containing her fury for one moment Vi bent down to kiss her sister's forehead, tasting iron as she did.
She heard another whistle.
"Hold on" She instructed softly, hugging her sister firmly but gently to her with one hand.
The other raised into the air and crackled with electricity, hex-orb glowing a vibrant blue.
The mortar round cracked against the shield, poorly made impact fuse failing to detonate as the round bounced away.
Vi knew enough about explosives that she still leapt from the roof, however.
Bullets pinged against the dissipating shield as she was mid-air, then whizzed by as she landed, her shield vanishing with a crackle.
The gauge on her left gauntlet flashed a dangerous red.
"Im good" Jinx muttered, pushing away from her to slump down on the roof "Just...let me rest my eyes"
Winter was not their favoured season. Everything was colder and though there was little actual snow in the Undercity, the wind picked up a chill that bit right to the bones.
Jinx had no permanent home, no secure roof, no place to rest and heat up all the while she was still Jinx, still causing havoc and getting a target painted on her back.
Of course she'd be exhausted.
Vi let out a steamy breath, right gauntlet forming into a fist.
"On the roof!" Someone down below shouted "Get that mortar ranged in!"
A cold wind blew against her back.
Lady Winter was watching.
It was as Caitlyn was hanging the last star that she heard the door unlock and be thrown open.
Instinct had her grabbing her gun and aiming down the hall towards the door.
Grey eyes had her lowering it.
Purple eyes made her trigger finger twitch.
Vi grabbed Jinx as the younger sister tried to run out the door.
"Why is she here?!" Jinx snarled, pointing at her.
Caitlyn expected explosions to follow up but thankfully none did, the only thing close being Jinx's mouth as Vi manhandled her with her gauntlets.
"Because she's a guest" Vi explained with a grunt as she hefted the growling and swearing bundle of fists and rage that was her sister.
"You said this was YOUR house!" Jinx said it as an accusation.
"Yours too" Vi calmly explained as she dumped the younger girl on one of the sofa's.
"Well I don't-" The girl's rant was cut off as Vi shoved a steaming mug into her hands.
Caitlyn's own drink but she would forgive it this time.
"Drink it, I promise you you'll like it" Vi instructed as she took the moment of a distracted Jinx to drop off her gauntlets.
Jinx eyed her sister dubiously, eyed Caitlyn like she had somehow poisoned it while it was in the girl's hands, then finally eyed the drink.
Like a convict taking their last drink, she gave a dramatic sigh and took a sip.
She kept drinking.
"Jinx, honey, it's hot…" Vi said, moving to take the mug off her sister's.
Jinx growled, well, more like gurgled since she did it while still drinking.
Vi looked on in horrified fascination, arm still held out ready to remove the mug.
Caitlyn chuckled. "I'll make some more"
With fresh brews, the trio sat in Vi's living room and Caitlyn could fully take in how bad they each looked.
Jinx had a bandage wrapped around her head holding an absorbent pad over her right eyebrow, as well as bandages binding one hand and smaller ones all over her arms. Even now as the girl drained her second mug of hot cocoa, Vi was applying some sort of cream over reddened areas in Jinx's skin.
Vi herself was better off but clearly had been in a fight, sporting a bruise on her cheek.
"Still blocking with your face?" Caitlyn asked with a smirk, looking over the rim of her mug as she pulled her legs up underneath her on Vi's one armchair.
The redhead gave her a look.
Jinx gurgled her drink again, Vi taking it away from grasping fingers as the girl coughed.
"Don't laugh while you're drinking" Vi chastised.
"GIMEE!" Jinx jumped on her sister as the elder sibling kept it out of reach "VIIIIII!"
The contrast between the sweet and hilarious scene and the Jinx that kidnapped them was so great that Caitlyn had a hard time believing what she was seeing, but she did anyway.
Because if Vi was going to change her hard-learned attitudes about the Enforcers and Piltover in general, Caitlyn would do the same for her sister.
Vi eventually managed to grapple the girl to a secure hold on her lap where she could feed the drink herself. Though Jinx grumbled, it seemed she preferred it to no drink at all.
"Love what you did to the place" Vi commented as she held the mug and gently tipped it into Jinx's gulping maw.
Caitlyn smiled "Thank you"
The brawler, content that her sister wasn't going to drown herself again, spared a moment to look around at the strings of silver stars Caitlyn had put up across the mantelpiece and the walls.
"Not the most elaborate thing, but it's what they had at the closest store" Caitlyn explained "Oh, would you like me to light up the candles?"
Vi nodded, seemingly entranced by the meagre decorations.
The candles on the mantelpiece were lit as well as the ones on the table in the middle of them, licks of flame creating a gentle glow.
Vi looked down at her sister as Jinx finished the mug, the girl now properly looking around for the first time.
Surprisingly, no explicatives came forth. Only a slight widening of purple eyes as she gazed at the decorations and the candles.
Taking a chance, Caitlyn moved to the doorway "I'll turn off the lights"
Jinx flinched when the lights went out but Vi held her close.
The room was cast into darkness, lit only by the light from the kitchen and from the glow of the candles.
When she returned to her seat, she saw the two sisters entranced by the flames.
Jinx sniffed "What's that smell?"
"Scented candles" Caitlyn explained "Cinnamon and orange"
The girl gave her a suspicious glower but it was quick, Jinx turning her attention back to the flames and the smells.
Vi adjusted her hold so that Jinx was more sitting on her lap rather than being held there, Vi's arm less of a cage and more a warm embrace that the younger sibling burrowed herself into.
For a long, long moment they all sat there, entranced by glowing lights and sparkling stars.
Outside the storm swirled, Lady Winter's howling wrath ignored.
It was the gentle snoring that caught their attention, Caitlyn and Vi looking at Jinx as the younger girl fell asleep in her sister's arms.
With a wide smile Vi planted a kiss on Jinx's brow.
She was surprised when a teardrop fell from her eyes, splashing on pale skin.
"Vi?"
She sniffed, wiping at the corners of her eyes. "Im fine"
Caitlyn put her mug down and smiled softly at her.
She smiled in return, heart fluttering. "Just gonna put her to bed. Think this is the first proper night's rest she's had for a while"
Caitlyn nodded and Vi carried her sister up the stairs into the second bedroom, Jinx's bedroom, because she would have it be nothing else.
It was the very first room Vi had set up when she moved in, the one she scrubbed clean and bought furniture for, the one she kept neat and tidy every day even if the rest of the house was in a state.
All for this one moment when her sister would actually use it.
A part of her laughed at how emotional she was being, tearing up at just lifting the tucked in blanket off of the bed.
The rest of her had to resist breaking out into tears.
She gently placed Jinx on the bed and gently covered the girl with the blue blanket all the while Jinx slept on, completely out.
Because she feels safe.
Vi felt her chest tighten and she had to pause and collect herself lest she lose all her composure.
Jinx groaned.
Instantly her hand was on Jinx's face, gently brushing her bright, blue hair.
Like Vi had done with Powder so long ago.
This time she didn't even try to stop the tears as Jinx reached for her hand, groping blindly in her sleep until Vi met it.
The grip was strong, desperate.
Warm.
It hit her then that this was the first time she felt warm -truly warm- since the snow started falling.
It was a long, long time before Vi could move her hand.
Before she wanted to.
Jinx groaned at the loss of her touch, face creasing into a frown even in her sleep and it was all Vi could do to smile and kiss her forehead and leave the room, lest she give into her heart's desire and fall asleep in the same bed as her sister.
It was only because her heart held other desires, ones waiting in the living room of her home that she could.
She found the woman adjusting decorations by the window, back towards her.
Her footsteps were heavy, Caitlyn had a mean elbow, and she was rewarded with a shocked gasp as she wrapped her arms around the Sheriff and leaned into her hair.
"You're acting is terrible" she mumbled, breathing the scent of lilac.
Caitlyn laughed and leaned her head back so they could face each other.
"Thought you might have fallen asleep" Caitlyn said, blue eyes smiling.
Vi hid her own smile by resting her face on Caitlyn's shoulder "...Thank you"
Caitlyn turned to face her more fully, daintier hands with longer fingers cupping her face as the woman pulled her in for a soft kiss.
"Winter won't ever be cold for you my love, never again"
Vi grinned "You really are as sweet as a cupcake"
Grinning herself, Caitlyn pulled her in for another, searing, kiss.
Jinx struggled to wake up that morning, for a number of reasons.
Firstly, she was still tired. A frustrating experience, considering she had just slept the most beautiful sleep she had ever had in a long time.
Secondly, the bed was comfy. Whoever made this deserved an award, or something. Maybe a golden hand grenade.
Thirdly-
"Achoo!"
Jinx was sick, which probably explained the first reason.
"Urghhh" The girl groaned as she reluctantly slid off the thick, layered covers and settled her bare feet on the soft carpeted floor.
Purple eyes scanned the room and found it…oddly pleasing. The walls were painted in a light blue hue and were bare for the most part, almost waiting for someone to come in and draw all over them. There was a bookshelf partly filled up with children's story books and mechanics books, both of which she was curious about.
Aside from that there was little other furniture, a comfy single bed, a wardrobe, dresser and a stool.
But there was also a designer's table set to one side, large pieces of paper clipped to it already while rulers, pencils and other tools were ready to be picked up.
Jinx swallowed, feeling something heavy in her chest.
So this is it… She thought, hugging herself against the chill even when the windows were closed and the heating was on.
She even has indoor heating? What a rich bitch….
Jinx wasn't complaining though, not really.
"Achoo!"
Grumbling and sniffling Jinx took one of the thinner blankets to wrap around herself as she finally found the willingness to get up, though she did take a minute to appreciate the sheer fluffiness of the carpet on her bare feet.
Could get used to this… She thought with a small laugh, then she shook her head.
It was an uncomfortable thought and she didn't want to dwell on it lest Mylo and Claggor chime in with their 'advice'.
But the temptation remained to stand there and just…feel nice.
With another sniffle Jinx dragged her feet to the door, bandaged hand hovering over the handle.
Hearing the creeping whispers in her mind she clenched her eyes and plowed on to the hallway.
To her left was another door, a room next to her own, with another door at the end of the hall that was left slightly open revealing a tiled bathroom.
With a tired groan Jinx went about trying to clean herself using the sink. At least, as best she could with one hand bound and the other bandaged, eventually having to declare it a day when she managed to splash some water on her face and wipe with a handy purple towel that was left nearby.
Running water too? Damn sis, really living the high life.
Re-wrapping the blanket and slightly annoyed that the comfortable carpet did not extend out of her room, Jinx made her way down the stairs. At the bottom there was a small foyer with the front door right ahead, a living room type area to her right that she vaguely remembered and a kitchen area to her left.
Following natural instincts, Jinx went left.
It was a modest kitchen by Piltie standards, meaning it didn't come with a butler and a maid whose sole job was massaging your feet, but it did have fancy hextech home appliances that Jinx had some fun playing around with.
It was as she was playing around with the burner stove that someone cleared their throat behind her making Jinx jump and spin around, grabbing anything on the counter to use as a weapon.
Caitlyn raised a brow as she was threatened with a teaspoon.
Jinx coughed and cleared her throat, keeping the 'weapon' held out. "Mornin' there top-hat, what brings you here?"
Caitlyn carefully stepped into the room, keeping her hands in view as she went about filling a saucepan with milk. "Just getting something to drink" she said as casually as possible.
Jinx backed away from her, circling around the room and keeping the table between them, more aware than ever of her weakened state.
Out! Get Out! Mylo shouted, a muffled shout that was getting louder and louder.
Find Vi Claggor suggested This is her house.
"Where's my sister?" Jinx said almost accusingly.
Caitlyn gave her a curious look as she started up the flame "Asleep in…her room"
No one missed the way Jinx's eye twitched because none of them missed how Caitlyn almost said 'our'.
"Hot chocolate, Jinx?"
The younger woman stumbled "Uhhh…"
Caitlyn showed her a fancy container while Jinx's tired mind went back to yesterday, to that sweet drink that warmed her up from the inside and to Vi holding her with her big strong arms.
Mylo's voice dulled out, muted and barely hearable while Claggor went silent entirely.
Jinx swallowed, wrapping the blanket around her tighter as she was suddenly left alone in a strange house with her worst enemy.
Yet, she didn't feel like going ballistic, she didn't have that back-against-the-wall feeling she had when the Chem Goons had her surrounded.
Because this was Vi's house and it was warm and Vi was nearby she knew, she could feel it. Plus, Caitlyn was in a dressing gown and hardly looked like she was about to bring out the big guns.
And she really, really wanted some fucking hot chocolate because that was the bomb.
Caitlyn nodded gently and it took a moment to realize that Jinx had agreed.
The older woman brought out two mugs (it didn't escape Jinx's attention that she seemed to know where everything was) and started heaping in brown powder.
"I'll make it like yesterday, you seemed to enjoy it" Caitlyn commented, nonchalant as if it wasnt Jinx across the table from her.
Jinx gave up the pretext and dropped the teaspoon, heaving a sigh and rubbing her eyes.
Soon enough a hot, steaming mug was placed in front of her and Jinx put her reservations away.
If she was better aware, perhaps she would have found it interesting that she even could let her guard down around Caitlyn, but she wasn't.
She was drinking instead, securing her grip on the mug with her bandaged arm and tipping it over into her mouth.
Sweet, hot liquid hit her tongue and she could do nothing but relax, almost slumping against a kitchen counter behind as she took a look, steamy gulp, filling warmth making its way into her stomach.
Someone giggled.
It took a while for Jinx to realize Caitlyn was still there.
The young woman grumbled, blowing bubbles out of her mug but having no will or energy to do much else.
Caitlyn smiled at her, which was an unusual sight to see.
Jinx took another gulp and then sneezed, very nearly spilling the chocolate nectar all over her.
"Are you feeling alright? You've been sneezing since you woke up" Caitlyn asked, smile turning into a look of concern.
Again, it was very unusual but Jinx decided it was best to just ignore that and the weird thoughts that brought about in favour of, well, anything else really.
"Vi?" She asked instead of answering.
Caitlyn pointed out the doorway "Upstairs, room next to yours"
She eyed Caitlyn one last time, sluggish mind trying to see what deception there was or if she was even real, if any of this was real.
Jinx groaned and shook her head.
It's real. I'd never think of top-hat as Ms Domestic.
"Go back and rest Jinx" Caitlyn suggested and Jinx took her up on it, biting her blanket to keep it around her and cradling her mug with injured hands as she made her way back upstairs.
As she passed by the foyer, she caught a glimpse of glittering stars in the living room, making her pause.
I dreamed of stars last night…
It was the first time she had dreamed in a long while.
A blanket of stars, sparkling against a pitch-black sky. There was no cold, no other manifested thoughts or shadows that lingered at the edge of her sight, only Vi's warm embrace as her sister held her under a blanket of sparkling stars.
Jinx hunkered into herself as she felt something heavy in her chest.
With another shake of her head she cleared the thought, but held onto that lingering memory of warmth and safety as she made her way upstairs.
At the door to Vi's room she hesitated, partly because everything was starting to feel weird and whenever that happened her instincts were to start blasting.
Mostly though, it was because her hands were full and she did not want to let go of hot chockie.
Jinx didn't know how long she stood there trying to figure out a way to open a damn door, but it was apparently a while enough that Caitlyn had time to come up the stairs and open the door for her.
Completely unnoticed, that sneaky bitch.
Jinx did not jump.
That would entail endangering precious chockie.
She hugged the mug protectively and growled instead, because she still clenched the blanket between her teeth.
Caitlyn stepped away from the door and tilted her head sideways.
With a final growl and glare Jinx shuffled into Vi's room, focusing on that familiar anger instead of the thought that she was in her sister's room in her sister's house.
"Your house too"
Jinx sniffled.
Someone groaned.
Turning around Jinx saw one gray eye peeking out from under a pink fringe.
She froze, teeth clenching her blanket and injured hands cradling her mug.
Vi snickered.
Jinx growled.
Vi opened up the blanket and patted the empty spot next to her.
Jinx hesitated.
Only for a moment before she dived in, carefully because chockie was still there.
"Hey" Vi said softly, voice still waking up as she put the covers back over them and pulled Jinx close.
Jinx mumbled as she snuggled closer.
"Ah!" Vi flinched as something hot touched her skin, Jinx bringing up her precious mug.
Vi blinked, looking down at the offered vessel.
"For me?"
Jinx nodded.
Vi smiled and took a drink, the last dregs, but it warmed her up all the same.
"Thanks Jinx"
Jinx mumbled what passed as a 'no problem' as she snuggled even closer.
Then she sneezed.
Vi chuckled, patting and kissing her forehead "Feeling sick?"
Jinx nodded, sinking into the warm embrace of...everything. The bed, the drink, the blankets.
Vi's arms holding her close, her strong big sister making her feel safe while she was weak.
"Go to sleep sweetie" Vi whispered as she kissed her forehead again "And stay a while, until you get better. It's warm here"
Jinx may have mumbled something, she didn't know, she had fallen asleep.
She hoped she dreamed of stars again.
Thank you for reading!
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