Chapter Text
“You ready darling?”
Vi had spent the night at Caitlyn’s apartment (again) and it was the day they’ve been for—Cait’s first day at Arcane.
Getting an outfit ready was a whole thing on its own—though vi had told her to calm down and that ‘Just because you go to school to make others look good, doesn’t really mean you need to look good yourself.’ Which in turn, she told her girlfriend how utterly ridiculous the statement was. She was going to make good face from the very moment she stepped foot onto the establishment.
“Vi?” She called out into the hell with a raised brow. When she didn’t get a response, she went into her bedroom to find her girlfriend still asleep in bed. Not even dressed. She sighed and made her way to Vi’s side of the bed (unofficially) and gently shook the sleeping girl.
“If you don’t get up now, you’ll have to go to work all by yourself, darling. Then you’ll have a fit because I ‘didn’t wake you up’ even though I tried to.”
Vi groans at that, lifting her head to look at Caitlyn she whined. “I don’t wanna.” She pouted, and though she had drool on the corners of her mouth she looked cute all the same.
“10 minutes or I’m leaving you. I’ll be downstairs.”
She shut the door softly and grabbed her keys to head to her vehicle. She pressed the button for the ground floor with a whistle as she waited patiently.
The elevator dinged as she stepped inside. Life in Georgia was still entirely new to her, though she’s been there for three months already. Her apartment wasn’t crazy fancy by any means, but it was highly secure and overall a nice place.
The lobby was really nice, tall white walls shining with marble statues leading to the entrance. The doorman nodded to her as she walked towards him.
“Good luck on your first day, Ms. Kiramman. Where the misses?”
“Thank you, Silas. She’s still asleep upstairs, you know how she is. Will you still be here when I get back?”
Silas was the nicest man she’d met so far. He was maybe in his 40’s, and lived in the apartments himself with two adorable cats and his daughter Lorelai who was approaching her teens.
“No, Miss Kiramman. Daph would be replacing me by that time. You can tell me all about your day tomorrow. Have a great day, Miss.”
“You’re truly a sweetheart, Silas.” She smiled at him as she got to the door, happy for the sweet interaction that somewhat calmed her nerves before her first day.
She leisurely walked to her truck, just recently bought after her first car kept giving her problems.
“Good morning Mr. Fishbones.”
She chuckled as she said the ridiculous name out-loud. Powder had named the truck “Fishbones” after slapping a fish sticker on it when she saw it for the first time. The truck is actually a girl (gender assigned by Violet who seemingly really appreciates a nice truck,) but Powder swore up and down that ‘girls could be Mister’s, too,” whatever that meant.
She got inside Fishbones and started her up, turning on the heater to help fight off the chill creeping up now that fall is approaching.
She sung along to the top 40 playlist playing on the radio as she waited for Vi to finally make her way to the car. After a couple of minutes of half-singing and mumbling, Vi groggily made her way into the passenger side of the truck.
“Good Morning, sunshine.” She snickered as she watching Vi slam the door closed and put on her seat belt angrily.
“Caitlyn start drivin or I’m gonna scream.” Vi deadpanned.
“Did I work you that hard baby? Now you’re all grumpy.” Caitlyn leaned into Vi’s space with a smirk as Vi’s pout deepened.
“Now you’re just bein an asshole, Cupcake.” She glanced at Caitlyn with lidded eyes, both from sleepiness and the growing heat in between her legs as Caitlyn stared at her with a heated gaze.
“Am I?” Caitlyn sneaked a hand onto Vi’s face, cupping her jaw and urging Vi to look at her. She watched as Vi licked her lips, and saw she was staring at her own. She smirked softly as she felt Vi lean in a little, then turned to grabbed the wheel. “Coffee or no, darling?”
Vi groaned as she sat back aggressively. “You’re so-“ she glared at Caitlyn and sighed. “Yes obviously. And I want a cinnamon raisin bagel.” She huffed and crossed her arms, even going as far as turning her chin up at her girlfriend.
“You’re so childish.” Cait laughed and pulled off.
The drive to the garage was a comfortable one, over the past few months it became apart of their Vi-sleeps-over-at-Cait’s-place-for-food-and-kissing routine. And now it’s gonna be apart of the new one. Caitlyn’s nerves came creeping back as the garage came into view, her heart not quite ready to let her girlfriend go, but her head is telling her its time for this new chapter in her life.
“Bye darling.” Caitlyn kissed Violet tenderly and watched as her girlfriend leisurely walked the steps of her garage. “I should be back by 4!”
Violet put up a thumbs up to let Cait know that she was heard and stepped inside.
Caitlyn sighed and put her head on the steering wheel. It was time for the hard part now, and she was ready to get it over with.
She played one of her and Vi’s shared mix-tapes, nodding her head to the beats of their favorite songs, willing herself to calm down. She got to the campus about 20 minutes later, which gave her about 30 minutes to figure out her classes. The campus was fairly big, trees with orange and green leaves were everywhere. The pre-req area of the campus had about 4 buildings, two cafe’s and a nice patio. She walked to her correct building and slipped into her classroom, one of few who went to class early. She sat directly in the middle of the class, in the middle of the row and up half the stairs, pulling out her stuff to get ready for whatever is coming her way in this class.
The classroom started filling up as time went by, and soon the professor—Ambessa Medarda.
“Hello, students! Papers out. We are getting right into it.” The older woman called out as she walked into the room.
Caitlyn sat as the people around her shuffled around their backpacks, searching for a piece of paper. Pulling her hair into a high ponytail, she sighed as she waited for the next step.
“Integrity! Motivation. Ambition. To me, those words are all I need to be the best. To take that number one spot with force and wear it with pride. What does it mean to you? Two pages by the end of class. Don’t disappoint me.”
Everyone got to work, diligently writing what was asked of them. Caitlyn felt it was a little high-school, but figured it was because this was a freshman-only course. Her phone vibrated next to her as she finished up her first paragraph. The name read ‘darling<3’ and was followed by 2 messages.
How is it so far?? Did you die from nervousness?
Cait giggled softly and replied quickly.
Its good as of right now, feels like another year of high-school though.
In what way?
The teacher just gave us a silly prompt, feels like a high-school or something along those lines.
“Ms. Kiramman, is it?” Ambessa’s voice rung throughout the classroom. Will you be so kind to tell us what is so funny about what motivation may mean to you?”
Caitlyn froze at that, smile immediately dropping. “Uh- sorry Mrs. Medarda. Just a little distracted.” She eyed the teachers assistant, some random sophomore, as she walked up the stairs to where Caitlyn’s row was.
A panic flowed through her body as the ginger haired girl walked up to her, not wanting a bigger conflict. She really just wanted to apologize to her professor and move on.
“With?” The girl stared down at her like she meant to vaporize her with her eyes alone. Caitlyn’s brows nearly met as they furrowed at the question.
“I don’t see how that’s any of your business? I’m sure you’re a nice girl but I was under the impression that this conversation was between me and Mrs. Medarda. I’m also very sure she doesn’t want a nosy sophomore who thinks she’s better than everyone to echo her as she scolds someone.” Caitlyn huffed and made a face, clearly annoyed at the fact that this was dragging on so much.
The class was filled with low ‘ooo’s as the assistant’s face contorted with anger and embarrassment.
"Oh really? I hope you won't mind then." The assistant took hold of Caitlyn's cell phone, making her jump up quickly.
"Give it back." She challenged the TA with a harsh glare although she really wished this situation would just die down already?"
"Or what." The TA retorted, a small smirk growing on her face as Caitlyn stayed silent.
“Ladies.” Ambessa’s voice cut through the tension like a knife, her heels clacking on the staircase as she approached them.
“This is completely unprofessional and unnecessary. Caitlyn, I understand I called you out in front of the class, but the pettiness is again, unnecessary.”
She gave the assistant a look. “You, give her her phone back and stay after class. That was absolutely unacceptable. You have two more times to try me before you get removed from my grace. You are an assistant and nothing more, soon enough you’ll understand that assistants aren’t to speak until spoken to.”
With a clap, she walked back go her desk. “Now! Motivation.”
The assistant fixed Caitlyn with a look before setting her phone down.
———
The rest of Caitlyn’s day was fairly easy. It was definitely different from how her morning went. She shuddered as a wave of shame ran through her body.
She walked to Fishbones quickly, just trying to get to Vi’s garage and away from the source of her current misery.
As soon as she reached the truck, she heard her name being called in the distance. She looked up, confusion written all over her face. She had to stop herself from groaning as she watched the TA from Ambessa’s class—Maddie Nolen, she learned—walking toward her.
“What do you want? She huffed as she unlocked the door and put her stuff inside.
“I…” Maddie started, looking mildly embarrassed, her ears tinged a light pink. “I just wanted to say I’m sorry for what happened earlier this mornin. It was wrong of me to treat you that way, especially on your first day of college.” She touched the back of her neck sheepishly.
“Right.. you weren’t sorry when you embarrassed me in front of one of the best fashion mentors in the country. And the best in the south.” Caitlyn huffed and leaned on her truck with her arms crossed. “But you’re right to apologize, so go on.”
Maddie cleared her throat as her face grew redder by the second. The silence between them stretched on. “Well if that’s all—“
“Go out with me?”
Caitlyn’s jaw almost dropped to her feet as her surprise took over her face. “What the hell did you just ask me?”
“Look- you’re beautiful and have been on my mind all day. I-I loved the way you handled me back there and I just-“
“Wha- Handled you?! No! Conversation over. I have a very loving wife at home, thank you!” Caitlyn hopped into Fishbones and started her up with a quickness she didn’t even know she had. A thud sounded from the hood of the truck as Caitlyn put her seat belt on.
Caitlyn looks up, exasperated to find finds Maddie on her car, face on the windshield. “Maddie get the fuck off my truck before I run you over!” She groaned as Maddie pleaded with her through the window.
“Please, Cait!”
“Don’t call me that!” Caitlyn turned on the windshield wipers and water, effectively wetting Maddie, making her jump off the truck with a shocked gasp. She put the car in reverse and sped off, ignoring Maddie chasing after her in the rear-view mirror.
Caitlyn tried not to let the feeling of annoyance get to her as she drove down the bumpy road that led to Vi’s home and garage. Putting on the radio didn’t help the feeling go away, a slight migraine growing behind her eyes.
She pulled into the side of the building, groaning softly as she put the car in park. She sighed looking around to see if anyone was lurking her car, when she saw no one there, she slammed her head on her steering wheel multiple times. The horn blared loudly at her last head bump, making her head even harder. She groaned again, sitting back to put her hair into a ponytail. She looked up, and her heart almost came out her throat when she saw Vi standing right by her passenger side with a perplexed look on her face. She rolled the window down and leaned over so Vi didn’t have to strain her ears to hear her.
“Hi, darling.” She said with a small smile, internally laughing at Vi’s confused face.
“Hi Cait… Wanna tell me why you’re flippin' out in your truck? How was school?” She slipped her hand over the open window to unlock the car door from the inside, and let herself inside.
“It’s about that, actually.” Caitlyn’s lips went into a thin, tight line. The annoyance was creeping up on her again. “Can I get a kiss before I tell you?” She made the best puppy face she possibly could, pouting her lips cutely at her girlfriend.
Vi raised her brow at that, leaning in to give her girlfriend a small peck like she asked. Before she could pull away, Caitlyn grabbed the back of Vi’s neck to pull her back in for more. She licked at Vi’s lips, brows furrowing when her lips stayed closed. She then bit Vi’s bottom lip softly, slipping her tongue in between them to swallow her gasp.
They worked their lips gently, but passionately together. The music droned on as their breathing grew heavier by the second. The sound of lips smacking together filled the car, Caitlyn snaking her hand around Vi’s neck to hold her still as she licked into the other woman’s mouth as if she was trying to eat her from the inside out.
Vi made a sound of protest, which made her pull away. They breathed heavily, staring into each others eyes before Vi cleared her throat and pushed her back gently with a chuckle.
“You need to calm down sometimes, you horny dog.”
Caitlyn feigned hurt, putting on a surprised expression and placed a hand over her heart. “Me? Horny dog? Do I need to remind you that you took my virginity last summer? And can’t a girl kiss her lovely girlfriend from time to time?”
Vi rolled her eyes and ran a hand through her bright red hair. “You try to get in my pants every time you see me, cupcake.” She fixed the taller woman with a look that said ‘stop acting so innocent.’
Caitlyn shrugged a grin appearing on her face. “What can I say? My wife is sexy.”
“Slow down tiger. Just tell me about your day.”
Caitlyn tensed at the question, and just like that, the atmosphere changed drastically. Her lips went back into a thin line, which made Vi raise a brow.
“That bad?”
Caitlyn nodded and explained.
“I basically embarrassed myself in front of the whole class,” Vi opened her lips to respond but Caitlyn cut her off. “And before you say something stupid like ‘embarrassment isn’t real’ I just wanna say not only did it involve my teacher, the TA was a real piece of work.”
Vi’s eyebrows furrowed together as she urged her to go on with a small ‘continue.’
“The crazy bitch made it ten times worse than it really needed to be I swear. Mrs. Medarda was calling me out for using my phone even though shes a strictly no cell phones teacher. I was apologizing before she came and decided to echo everything Mrs. Medarda said and so I blew up on her. And then when I was getting in Fishbones, she decided it would be a good idea to ask me out.
“Not only that- when I said absolutely not, she jumped on the hood to get me to stay and hear her out. Safe to say I’m reporting her if she tries something like that again.” She finished her rant with another head-bang to her wheel, making Vi pat her back softly out of sympathy.
“Well at least its over and you’re here right?” She attempted to comfort her girlfriend, who groaned at her words.
“Don’t do that. God you’re such a glass half full person”
“Wha- No I’m not?” Vi said in more of a question then a statement.
“What was it you said when Powder almost ran full-speed into the garage when you were teaching her how to drive?” She looked up and smiled as she changed her voice to make fun of her girlfriend. “‘Next time we can just learn from our mistakes?’ Sounds like something a glass half full person would say when their little sister almost kills them.”
“Babe I do not sound like that.”
“Of course that’s what you focused on.” Caitlyn said, making them burst into laughter. They laughed and joked until Caitlyn’s tummy started to hurt, in which she punched Vi’s shoulder for making her laugh so hard.
“Stop I can feel my abs coming in!” She cried, tears of joy falling down her face as she took a deep breath to calm herself down.
“You already have abs babe.”
“Just shut up already.” She looked over to see Vi looking at her with the softest look on her face. “What?”
The look on Vi’s face softened even more, if that was even possible.
“Nun’ just happy to make you happy.”
Caitlyn’s heart almost leapt into her throat at that, butterflies immediately filling her stomach. “Sap.”
Deft fingers came up to push a stray hair behind her ear. “Hell yeah,” She opened the car door and turned to Caitlyn. “I say we go home to celebrate you almost survivin’ your first day, yeah?”
Caitlyn nodded her head dumbly as Vi winked and her and jumped out the truck. “Lemme get my stuff then I’ll be back in a jiffy.”
“…k”
Caitlyn watched, love struck as her girlfriend sauntered off to her room presumably. She sighed and ran her hands over her head for the nth time today, all types of feelings making her head hurt. She smiled at the thought of Vi for probably the millionth time that day alone. She always felt so happy that she had her love in her life, and was even happier that she’d be getting some extra love later that day. Vi made it back into the car a couple minutes later, they shared a tender kiss then pulled off into the distance.
“Damn kids.” A squeaky voice huffed out, standing at the gate of the garage to watch the car off. Powder looked up at Vander who was also there to look at the car pull away. He raised a brow as he looked down at her, a small, humored smile making way on his face.
“Powder, you’re younger than them.”