Vi and Powder stepped back into the med bay, the heavy doors sliding shut behind them with a soft hiss. The tension in the room was palpable, and as soon as they entered, everyone turned toward Powder with worried eyes.
"Powder, are you okay?" Caitlyn asked, her voice filled with concern as she looked the girl over, noticing the exhaustion painted across her face.
"I'm fine," Powder responded, though her voice was quieter than usual. The weight of the panic attack, the emotional breakdown, and everything that had happened was heavy on her shoulders. She felt like her mind was fraying at the edges, but she forced herself to keep it together. They had more important things to focus on— Sora was more important right now.
Vi, standing beside her, exchanged a look with Caitlyn, but neither pushed the issue. She knew how Powder could get very… stubborn and determined when it came to those she cared about. Trying to convince her to take care of herself when Sora's condition was still uncertain would be like talking to a wall.
Ekko stepped forward next, his face softening as he offered her a comforting smile. "Sora's stable," he said, his voice calm and gentle. "He's going to be okay."
The words washed over the group like a breath of fresh air. Donald and Goofy both visibly relaxed, their tension melting away. Caitlyn let out a relieved sigh, while Vi simply nodded, her lips curling up in a faint smile.
But Powder remained stiff, her heart still racing, her mind still swirling with fear. The relief didn't hit her as strongly as it should have. Her paranoia, her guilt, everything kept twisting in her chest, telling her that something could still go wrong—that this could still be her fault.
She moved to Sora's bedside, her eyes scanning over him, noting the slight rise and fall of his chest as he slept. His face was pale, but there was some color returning to his cheeks. He looked... peaceful, despite everything.
"You should rest, Powder," Ekko said gently. "You've been through a lot."
Donald and Goofy nodded in agreement. "Yeah, come on, you're hurt too!" Donald added, though his usual grumpy tone was softened by worry.
But Powder shook her head, barely sparing them a glance. "Not until he wakes up," she murmured, her voice firm but tired. "I'll rest when he's awake."
Vi opened her mouth to protest, but Ekko placed a hand on her arm, shaking his head. They both knew better than to argue with Powder right now. She was in no state to listen, not when she was this deep in her worry for Sora. So instead, they let her be, retreating to the other side of the room to give her some space.
The hours ticked by slowly. Powder stayed by Sora's side, her eyes fixed on him, even as her body screamed for rest. She was exhausted, mentally and physically, but she refused to leave. She couldn't—not yet. Not until she knew for sure he was okay.
And then, finally, Sora stirred. His hand twitched, his brow furrowed slightly, and his eyes fluttered open. Powder's breath caught in her throat as she leaned forward, her heart racing for an entirely different reason now.
"S-Sora?"
His eyes blinked slowly, focusing on her face. For a moment, he looked confused, as if trying to piece together where he was and what had happened. But then he smiled, that familiar, warm smile that made her heart skip a beat. "Hey, Powder..."
She exhaled shakily, a smile breaking through her exhaustion. "You're awake... you're really awake..."
Sora's hand reached out weakly, and she took it in both of hers, squeezing gently. "Yeah... though it feels like I've been hit by a Gummi Ship..." he muttered, his voice raspy but laced with humor.
A soft laugh escaped her, though it was tinged with relief. "You scared me... I thought... I thought you might not—" Her voice caught, but she quickly pushed the fear down, refusing to let it resurface. He was awake. That was all that mattered.
Sora's eyes softened as he looked at her, noticing the dark circles under her eyes, the way her body slumped slightly from fatigue. "You need to rest, Powder," he said, his voice quiet but insistent.
"I'm fine," she lied, shaking her head. "I'm just... I'm just glad you're okay."
But Sora wasn't convinced. He could see how close she was to passing out, how hard she was pushing herself to stay awake. "You're gonna pass out if you don't sleep."
Powder shook her head again, though she swayed slightly in her chair. "I just... I need to be here for you."
Sora smiled softly, a bit more energy returning to him now. He shifted on the bed, making just enough room for her beside him. "Then stay with me. Come on, there's room."
Powder blinked, her cheeks flushing slightly. "I-I can't... I don't want to pull out your IV or—"
"It's fine," Sora said, his voice gentle. "You won't hurt me. Just lie down, okay? You need it."
She hesitated, her heart racing for an entirely different reason now. She and Sora had never slept beside each other before—not like this. It felt... intimate, and she wasn't sure if she was ready for that. But the exhaustion was winning, and Sora's eyes were so soft, so full of warmth and care, that she couldn't bring herself to refuse him.
"Okay," she whispered, finally giving in.
Carefully, she climbed onto the bed beside him, making sure not to disturb any of the medical equipment. As soon as she lay down, her body practically melted into the mattress. Her head hit the pillow, and the tension in her muscles began to release. She hadn't realized how close she was to passing out until this moment, the weight of everything finally catching up to her.
Sora wrapped an arm around her, holding her close in a comforting embrace. "Thank you... for staying with me," he whispered, his voice soft as sleep began to pull him under again.
Powder managed a small smile, though her eyes were already closing. "Always..." she murmured, her voice trailing off as she slipped into unconsciousness.
Just before Sora drifted off, he whispered, so quiet that only she could hear, "I love you, Powder."
Powder was already asleep, too exhausted to hear the words, but a soft smile remained on her face as she rested, finally at peace beside him.
—-
Vi hesitated outside the med bay door, her heart heavy with worry for Powder. Even after Caitlyn reassured her that Powder would be fine, a part of her couldn't shake the fear gnawing at her. Her little sister had been through so much, and seeing her break down earlier had shaken Vi more than she cared to admit. Powder had been so fragile, so raw at that moment, that Vi wasn't sure if she'd be able to hold it together much longer.
Taking a deep breath, she slowly opened the door and stepped inside, preparing herself for another conversation where she'd have to beg Powder to take care of herself. But when her eyes adjusted to the low light in the room, she was greeted with a sight she hadn't expected.
Powder was lying in bed with Sora, fast asleep, her small frame curled against his. Sora, who had clearly woken up at some point, had his arm draped gently over her, holding her close. His eyes were closed as well, his breathing slow and steady, both of them completely at peace. The soft glow of the room wrapped them in warmth, and for a moment, Vi just stood there, taking it all in.
The tension in her shoulders melted away, and she let out a soft breath of relief. Finally, Powder was getting the rest she so desperately needed. Vi smiled, her heart swelling with affection as she watched the two of them. Sora must have woken up and convinced Powder to lay down with him. Only he could have gotten her to stop for even a second.
Stepping quietly over to the bedside, Vi brushed a hand gently through Powder's hair, careful not to wake her. "About time, sis," she whispered softly, feeling a mix of pride and relief. Sora had been a blessing for Powder in more ways than one. The way he looked after her, cared for her—it reminded Vi of how she felt about Caitlyn.
Speaking of Caitlyn…
Vi turned to find her standing in the doorway, leaning against the frame with her arms crossed, a soft smile on her face. "Looks like they're doing okay," Caitlyn said quietly, her eyes warm as she watched the two sleeping figures.
Vi nodded. "Yeah, finally." She moved away from the bed and joined Caitlyn by the door. "She needed this. She wouldn't rest, no matter what I said."
Caitlyn chuckled softly. "Sounds like someone else I know."
Vi shot her a playful glare but couldn't hide her smile. "Okay, okay. I get it."
As they turned to leave, Vi felt a sudden sharp pain in her side, just beneath the spot where Sevika's blade had cut her during their rematch in the tunnel. It was enough to make her stumble slightly, and she instinctively placed a hand over the wound, trying to steady herself.
Caitlyn, ever perceptive, immediately noticed. "Vi, you okay?" she asked, rising concern flooding her voice. Vi tried to brush it off, waving a hand dismissively.
"It's nothing," she muttered, forcing herself to straighten. "I'm fine, just a little tired."
But Caitlyn wasn't convinced. She narrowed her eyes, taking a step toward Vi. "No, you're not. Come on, let's get you into one of the guest rooms. I'm gonna take a look at that wound."
Vi tried to protest, but the pain flared again, causing her to wince. By the time they reached the hallway, her knees buckled slightly, and before she could react, Caitlyn caught her, holding her up.
"Vi, hey—hold on," Caitlyn urged gently, her voice full of worry. Vi's vision blurred slightly, and the next thing she knew, everything went black.
When Vi came to, the first thing she felt was Caitlyn's hand gently brushing her hair back, the cool touch of her fingers soothing. Caitlyn's voice, low and worried, reached her ears.
"Vi, hey, you still with me?" Caitlyn asked softly, her fingers moving to check the wound on Vi's side.
Vi groaned, blinking her eyes open. "Cait… I'm good," she mumbled, but the dizziness made her head spin. Caitlyn's concerned expression only deepened as she carefully unwrapped the bandage from Vi's side.
"I think it reopened," Caitlyn murmured, inspecting the wound. A stitch had pulled, the jagged edge of the wound split open slightly. Caitlyn let out a soft sigh, her fingers gentle as she began cleaning the area.
Vi, despite the pain, flashed a lopsided grin. "You're pretty good at this for an enforcer, you know that?" she teased, trying to lighten the mood.
Caitlyn's lips quivered in a small smile, but there was a hint of exhaustion in her eyes. "It's just stitching up a wound, Vi," she replied dryly, though there was a warmth in her tone. "You just focus on resting."
Vi's grin widened slightly. "I know, I know, but… you're amazing, Cait. Truly. I'm lucky to have you."
Caitlyn rolled her eyes, though there was a soft blush on her cheeks. "You're lucky because I'm the one patching you up. Now stop talking and let me finish this."
Vi smirked, but despite the playful banter, the pain was far from fading as Caitlyn re-stitched the wound and wrapped it in fresh bandages. When Caitlyn finished, Vi let out a slow breath, her body still ached like fuck, but I was a bit better then before.
The two of them locked eyes, the tension between them palpable. Vi looked into Caitlyn's eyes, seeing the affection and vulnerability there, and something inside her clicked into place.
"I… I love you, Cait," Vi whispered, her voice shaky but certain.
Caitlyn's eyes widened a bit in shock, but she smiled warmly after a bit and her hand came up to cup Vi's cheek. "I love you too, Vi. I have for a long time."
Vi just smirked softly. "Even when we only met a couple of days ago, Cupcake?" she asked softly, her eyes glistening with passion and warmth.
"Vi…" Cait cooed, her eyes staring back at Vi with just as much passion, "I really don't bloody care!"
Without another word, Caitlyn leaned in, and Vi closed the distance between them. Their lips met in a soft, tender kiss, filled with everything they'd been holding back for so long. The world around them seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of them, wrapped up in each other.
When they finally, just slightly, pulled apart, Caitlyn rested her forehead against Vi's, their breaths mingling in the small space between them. "I'm glad we finally said it," Caitlyn whispered, a smile tugging at her lips.
"Me too," Vi murmured, her heart feeling lighter than it had in days.
After a few moments, both of them realized something: they were in bed, together. Neither of them said a word as they kissed again, the world outside the room forgotten. Caitlyn was on top of Vi, given that Vi was still recovering, and their kisses deepened as they let go of all the tension.
Just outside the door, Donald and Goofy were checking on everyone and ended up peeking into the guest room. The sight that greeted them—Vi and Caitlyn "feeling the love tonight" (trademark pending)—caused Donald to freeze, clearly flustered. He was about to protest when Goofy, understanding how terrifying angry women could be, quickly placed a hand on Donald's arm, stopping him from doing anything rash. With a quick apology, Goofy shut the door gently.
Donald shook his head. "I get it, things are different now, but… two girls kissing?" he muttered, still visibly uncomfortable.
Goofy shrugged, a small smirk on his face. "Well, that's 'cause you're too old school, Donald."
Donald huffed, visibly offended. Without another word, he lunged at Goofy, knocking him off balance. Goofy let out his iconic scream, and the two of them tumbled away, their voices fading as they continued their antics.
Meanwhile, inside the room, Vi and Caitlyn were lost in each other, unaware of the chaos just outside. But it was the moment when Cait sat up and removed her top and help Vi remove her's was when the two really felt the love tonight.