"Hmm ," low and deep, Vi felt it rumble against her abdomen and no lower. Fuckin' tease.

"How did you get this scar?"

Caitlyn was on her right side, nosing the area where her ribs stopped and her waist dipped in just slightly, one hand feeling the expanse of the scar and the other dipped low, stroking her through her boxers. Vi sucked in a breath. Tired to play it off.

"This some kinda interrogation? You gonna leave me butt naked, tits out?"

Serious but not. Couldn't be. Too late for that. Caitlyn chuckled to herself, knowing yet not saying, before moving her hand away from her crotch. Fuck.

"Childhood accident, ah, probably fell. Don't remember." All too quickly. Needy. Playing into her hands. Caitlyn laughed again. Vi tried to convince herself she minded. A bloody lie, clear as the rest.

She moved down. Her cold, smooth fingers back and slipping underneath her underwear, still teasing. Testing. Practically asking Vi to run or fight or scream. She couldn't tell if she loved or hated it.

Caitlyn seemed cool and collected, though, all things considered. She knew what she wanted, wasn't used to the consequences that came with getting it. Shrugged the stress off her shoulders and back with a stern 'that will not do'.

Now she had her bad leg propped up on one of those fancy pillows, held it steady so it didn't slip when she sucked a hickey into Vi's hip bone. Vi gasped.

"And this one?"

Vi glared at the ceiling. Wondered if Vander was laughing from his special place in fuck knows where.

"Knife…maybe a fork, actually. Weapon's a weapon ."

Lower, lower, just a little more. Vi was going to scream.

"And this one?"

"Punched a guy that asked too many questions, Cupcake. Get on with it."

"Since you asked so nicely."

Caitlyn rose up, placed both her hands either side of Vi's face and leaned in, nose to nose. Vi could move her with ease, could shove her off, flip them over, turn the tables. But, for some reason, perhaps the first time in her life, she just didn't.

Caitlyn looked through her, saw her doing the math in her head. Plucked up the equations with thin fingers and flicked them far away.

"Are you going to be a good girl?"

A stupid question. Silly. Vi would punch a lesser woman upside the jaw for that particular comment. Even Caitlyn didn't seem overly sure. Smile on her face yet eyes scanning for something more. Testing the waters and seeing if she'd drown. Vi grinned, matched Caitlyn's expression, but considered her answer anyway, bit down on the words and chewed.

Caitlyn looked at her. Waiting, patient. Bloody knuckles couldn't get her out of this one. Vi cursed herself for considering it, and then cursed that curse because fuck. The world had already gone to shit. Had gotten even worse. A particular brand of bullshit she couldn't punch her way through. Yet Caitlyn was here, strong jaw, sharp features. A bandage, a stress ball a-

Friend.

Oh.

"Yes."

Quieter than she wanted, weaker than intended. It seemed to surprise Caitlyn, too.

She shook her head, tried to fall back into the easy banter but couldn't just yet. Then dipped down to kiss. Her hand finally reached its mark. Slow circles. Barely-there.

Vi clamped her eyes shut. Wanted to reach up, tackle her, and then they'd laugh or cry and she'd have some semblance of control.

Caitlyn fingered her open, just one for now, seemed to sense that she needed a break from the seriousness. "Tight."

"Like your ass."

"Have you forgotten I've got my fingers in you?"

"Nah, but I might if y'keep that pace up."

"Unbelievable." But she took it and ran, slipping another finger in. Banter back on track. The world is right again.

End