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Vi pushed open the door to their room, her boots making soft, deliberate thuds on the polished marble . The late afternoon light streamed through the windows, painting the space in a warm amber glow. She was mid-motion, pulling her jacket from her shoulders, when she stopped abruptly.
Tobias Kiramman was sitting in Caitlyn’s favorite armchair by the window. The sunlight caught on the silver threads of his neatly combed hair, highlighting the wear etched deep into his face. He held his cane in both hands, his knuckles white as they gripped the smooth handle.
Vi froze, her fingers still clutching her jacket. “Mr. Kiramman,” she said carefully, her voice quieter than usual.
Tobias turned his gaze to her, the weight of it as steady and deliberate as ever. His dark blue hair, so like Caitlyn’s, his eyes bore into her, though his posture betrayed an underlying frailty. “Vi,” he said simply, his tone unreadable.
She stood awkwardly in the doorway, unsure of what to say or do. This wasn’t his space. He almost never left his wing of the estate, not anymore. Seeing him here, in the room she shared with Caitlyn, felt...strange.
“I didn’t expect to see you here,” Vi said, her voice stiff but polite as she eased the door shut behind her.
“I imagine you didn’t,” Tobias replied evenly, his words measured. “But Caitlyn is out, and I thought it would be a good opportunity to speak with you.”
Vi blinked, her throat tightening. “Speak with me?” she echoed, carefully stepping further into the room.
Tobias inclined his head slightly. “Yes.”
She hesitated, her boots scuffing against the floor as she moved to set her jacket on the edge of the bed. Her movements felt too loud, too heavy in the quiet of the space. “Is everything alright?”
“In a manner of speaking,” Tobias said, leaning back in the chair. His gaze shifted to the window for a moment, where the light played on the gardens below. Then, he returned his attention to her. “You’ve lived here for some time now.”
Vi nodded cautiously, unsure of where this was going. “I have.”
“And yet,” Tobias continued, his voice low, “we’ve barely exchanged words.”
Vi’s hands flexed at her sides, nerves creeping into her chest. “I didn’t want to... intrude,” she said, her words careful. “You’ve been through a lot. I didn’t think you’d want to talk to me.”
Tobias’s lips pressed into a thin line, his expression unreadable. “And why would you think that?”
She hesitated, glancing away. The late sunlight cast long shadows across the room, deepening the quiet tension. “Because I’m not sure you’re comfortable with me being here,” she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper.
For a moment, Tobias said nothing. The silence was heavy, broken only by the faint rustle of the wind outside.
“I didn’t come here to discuss my...comfort,” Tobias said at last, his tone softer but no less firm. “I came here to understand.”
Vi frowned, her brow furrowing. “Understand what?”
He straightened slightly in his chair, the movement slow but deliberate. “Why my daughter chose you.”
The words hung in the air like a weight. Vi’s chest tightened, her thoughts racing. She opened her mouth to reply, but nothing came out.
Not because this was unexpected—she’d spent months imagining this exact conversation—but because of how these words sounded coming from him. Deliberate. Unforgiving. Like she was some equation he was trying to solve.
She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, her arms crossing instinctively over her chest. The room suddenly felt too warm, the sunlight oppressive as it painted her in gold and shadow. Her gaze darted to the floor, to the window, to anywhere but his eyes.
Why did Cait choose me?
The answer was easy when it was Caitlyn she was asking. When it was murmured in the quiet moments of the night, her fingers tracing Vi’s scars as if they held the answers. When it was written in the way Caitlyn’s lips curled into a soft smile whenever Vi teased her, or in the fire in her eye whenever someone dared to question them.
But now, under the weight of Tobias Kirraman’s unyielding stare, the answer felt slippery, just out of reach.
Because she loves me, Vi thought. But was that enough for him?
The doubts clawed their way to the surface, unbidden. Every scar on her skin felt heavier, every harsh word she’d ever spoken echoing in her ears. The weight of Jinx’s actions, of her failures—they all threatened to drown her in the silence between them.
Her fingers tightened against her arms. “Look,” she started, her voice rougher than she intended, “if this is about me not being good enough for Cait—”
“It’s not,” Tobias interrupted, his tone as sharp as a knife.
Vi blinked, the words dying in her throat. She dared to glance at him, only to find his expression unreadable.
“I didn’t come here to question your worth,” Tobias said, leaning forward slightly. The sunlight caught on the deep lines of his face, making him seem both older and impossibly resolute. “I came here to understand what you mean to her.”
Vi blinked at his words, her heart thudding in her chest. It wasn’t the answer she expected, and she wasn’t sure if that made it better or worse.
Her fingers curled at her sides, nails pressing into her palms. “Why now?” she asked, her voice tight. “Why talk to me when Cait’s not here?”
Tobias’s expression didn’t waver. He looked calm, but there was something beneath the surface, a weight in his gaze that made Vi feel like she was being dissected.
“She’s always here,” Tobias said simply, his tone too even to read. “In every choice I make. Every thought. But she’s not the one I need answers from right now.”
Vi stiffened, her jaw clenching. The way he spoke, like this was some kind of evaluation, made her want to push back, to snap at him for cornering her like this. But she didn’t. Not because she feared him, but because of Caitlyn.
“What answers are you looking for?” she asked cautiously, her words clipped.
Tobias tilted his head, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly. “The kind I can’t get from Caitlyn.”
Vi felt like the walls were closing in. She shifted her stance, glancing toward the window, but there was no escape from the weight of his scrutiny. “And you think I’ve got them?”
“You’re the one she chose,” Tobias said, his words cutting through the quiet like a blade. “I want to know why.”
“Did you ask her?” Vi finally managed, her voice lower, more guarded now.
“I’ve spoken with her,” Tobias said. “But love has a way of coloring the truth, doesn’t it? I want to hear your truth.”
Vi’s stomach twisted. The way he said it made her feel exposed, like every word she spoke could be weighed and measured against her worth. She wasn’t used to this kind of vulnerability, and it made her uneasy.
“I don’t know what you want me to say,” Vi muttered, her voice rough around the edges.
“I want you to say what you mean,” Tobias replied, his tone unwavering.
The silence that followed felt like a challenge, and Vi hated how small it made her feel. Her eyes flicked back to him, studying his face for any hint of emotion, but all she found was patience. A patience that only added to the tension.
Vi shifted uncomfortably, eyes briefly flicking to the floor before meeting Tobias’s gaze. She wasn’t good at this, but she’d answer honestly.
“She’s important to me..” Her voice was quieter now, the words careful, measured. “She’s not perfect, but she’s there when I need her, and I trust her. That counts for a lot with me.”
Tobias said nothing, but his gaze softened slightly.
Vi shifted again, feeling the weight of his silence. “I don’t need anything from you, just…” She hesitated. “Just know that I care about her. That’s all I’ve got.”
Tobias’s lips pressed into a thin line, his expression still unreadable. Vi wanted to say more, to find the right words to convey what Caitlyn meant to her, but the weight of his silence held her back.
Before she could decide whether to press on or let the moment pass, Tobias began coughing. At first, it was a low, dry sound, but it quickly turned violent, his body shaking with each ragged hack.
“Shit.” Vi’s tone shifted immediately, her earlier tension forgotten as she stepped forward.
The coughs came harder, deeper, and when Tobias pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, Vi caught a glimpse of crimson staining the white fabric. Her stomach twisted.
She moved quickly, kneeling beside him. “You need water?” she asked, her voice firm but softening with concern.
Tobias tried to wave her off, but the coughs kept coming, his hand shaking too much to hold the handkerchief steady. Vi didn’t hesitate—she grabbed the glass of water from the bedside table and gently pressed it into his hand. “Drink,” she said, her voice steady but urgent.
Tobias struggled to lift the glass, his hand trembling. Without thinking, Vi took hold of it herself, guiding it to his lips as he sipped. “Slow,” she murmured, her free hand resting lightly on his arm to steady him.
When the coughing finally subsided, Tobias leaned back, still breathing raggedly but no longer gasping. Vi didn’t pull away. She grabbed another cloth from the table and wiped the sweat from his brow, her movement gentle.
“You need anything else?” she asked, her eyes scanning the room for anything that might help.
Tobias shook his head weakly, but his hand hovered near his cane. Vi picked it up from where it had fallen, brushing off the polished wood before pressing it back into his hand.
For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Tobias’s breathing was still uneven, but his grip on the cane had softened, and his eyes, usually sharp, had lost their edge.
“You didn’t have to do all that,” he said finally, his voice hoarse but steady.
Vi shrugged, folding her arms over her chest. “Yeah, well, Caitlyn wouldn’t exactly let me hear the end of it if I didn’t,” she said lightly, though her gaze never left him, scanning him for any signs of weakness.
Tobias chuckled softly, but it ended in another cough. Once he caught his breath, he reached out, his hand brushing hers. Vi flinched slightly at the unexpected touch but didn’t pull away as he gestured for her to sit.
“Please,” Tobias said quietly.
Reluctantly, Vi sank into the chair beside him, her posture still stiff. “You okay now?” she asked, her voice softer.
“For now,” Tobias replied, his tone weary but calm. He rested his cane against the armrest and leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. His fingers toyed with the handkerchief in his lap, the crimson spots glaring against the pale fabric.
“I know I haven’t made this easy for you,” Tobias began, his voice low but steady. “And I’m not here to make you feel like you have to prove yourself. That’s not what this is about.”
Vi frowned slightly, unsure where he was going with this.
“I’m worried,” he admitted, his eyes fixed on the handkerchief. “About Caitlyn. About what happens to her when I’m gone.”
The words hung heavy in the air, and Vi felt her chest tighten.
“Don’t talk like that,” she said, her voice rougher than she intended.
“I can’t afford not to,” Tobias replied, lifting his gaze to meet hers. “Every day, I feel it slipping away. My strength. My time. And after the war… seeing her like that…” His voice cracked, and he took a steadying breath. “She came home with a stab wound in her stomach. Her eye…” He paused, his jaw tightening as he fought to keep his composure. “She’s lost so much, so quickly. And with Cassandra gone…”
Vi said nothing, her throat tightening as he trailed off.
“I can’t leave her like this,” Tobias said finally, his voice barely above a whisper. “Not without knowing she’ll have someone who can catch her when she falls.”
Vi swallowed hard, the weight of his words settling heavily on her shoulders. For the first time, she saw not the patriarch of the Kiramman family, but a father terrified of failing his daughter.
“She has me,” Vi said quietly, the words firm and certain.
Tobias held her gaze for a moment, his usual sharpness fading into something softer, something almost grateful. “I appreciate that, Vi,” he murmured, the words almost a relief.
Before they could say anything more, the door creaked open, and Caitlyn stood there, wide-eyed and frozen in place. Her gaze flicked back and forth between her father and Vi, her brow furrowed with a mix of confusion and concern.
“Father—what are you doing here?” Caitlyn’s voice cracked slightly as she spoke, her eyes darting nervously to Vi, almost as if searching for some sign that everything was okay.
Vi offered her a soft smile, leaning back in her chair slightly to ease the tension. “It’s okay, Cait. We were just talking,” she said gently, trying to reassure her without overdoing it.
Caitlyn blinked, still trying to process. “You two... talking?” Her voice was hesitant, but there was an unmistakable flicker of worry in her eye as she glanced between them. “What about?”
Vi chuckled lightly, shaking her head. “Nothing serious. Just a little heart-to-heart.”
Caitlyn’s gaze lingered on them both, suspicion still clouding her features, but a small part of her seemed to relax as she saw Vi’s calm and steady demeanor. Vi wasn’t upset. She wasn’t hurt. That was enough.
Tobias cleared his throat, trying to bring some lightness to the situation. “Don’t worry, Caitlyn. Nothing to be concerned about.”
Caitlyn looked between them, still uncertain but seeming to relax a little, albeit slowly. “Alright, well, this is... unexpected,” she said, letting out a breath, her shoulders softening as the initial tension began to ease.
Vi gave Caitlyn a teasing look, raising an eyebrow. “We can be full of surprises.”
Caitlyn’s lips quirked into a smile, her expression softening as she stepped further into the room. “Guess I’ve got a lot to catch up on.”
They moved to the dining room, and as they settled around the table, the conversation remained light, easy. Caitlyn kept glancing at her father, still trying to piece everything together. But when the food was served, her focus shifted, and she began to relax into the familiar comfort of sharing a meal with her loved ones.
Vi, on the other hand, kept her attention on Tobias, though her demeanor had shifted. She wasn’t guarded anymore, just neutral, checking in on him as they ate. Every now and then, she would ask him how he was feeling, her concern still evident but more focused than anything else.
“Feeling better?” Vi asked casually as she passed him the bread, her tone not overly concerned, just calm.
Tobias nodded, his hand resting on his cane as he looked at her. “Yeah. Better than before, for sure,” he said with a faint smile, his voice still rough from the earlier coughing fit but not as strained as before.
Caitlyn watched them for a moment, her gaze softening as she noticed how Vi continued to check in on her father. It was subtle, but Caitlyn could tell—Vi was still looking out for him. The protective side of her hadn’t changed.
“How are you, Caitlyn?” Tobias asked, shifting the focus back to her, his tone light but genuine.
Caitlyn blinked, a little caught off guard, but she smiled. “I’m good. Really, I’m just happy to see you two... talking.”
Caitlyn’s eye flickered between the two of them again, but this time she didn’t feel the same wariness. She just felt... relieved. Seeing her father and Vi in the same room, sharing a meal, made her feel something like peace.
The rest of the dinner was easy, filled with soft laughs, light teasing, and the occasional glance between Caitlyn and her father, both testing the waters of this new understanding. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a start.
As the dinner wound down, Tobias placed his napkin on the table and pushed back his chair, steadying himself as he rose. “I think I’ll retire to my chambers now.”
Vi stood instinctively, grabbing his cane from where it rested against the table and moving to his side. She handed it to him, her grip firm and sure, and placed a steadying hand on his arm as he shifted his balance. He gave her a small nod, the faintest flicker of appreciation in his expression.
“Thank you, Vi,” Tobias said quietly. He turned to Caitlyn, inclining his head. “Goodnight, Caitlyn.”
“Goodnight, Father,” Caitlyn replied softly, watching him as he moved toward the door.
As Tobias disappeared down the hallway, Vi turned to Caitlyn, giving her a small, reassuring smile. They didn’t speak as they cleared the last of the dishes and made their way to their room. Once inside, Caitlyn closed the door behind them and leaned against it for a moment, her brow furrowed in thought.
“So,” she said, crossing her arms but not in a defensive way. “What was that all about?”
Vi blinked, caught off guard by Caitlyn’s directness, but her expression softened when she noticed the tenderness behind the question. Caitlyn wasn’t upset—she was curious, and maybe even a little moved.
“Honestly?” Vi said, stepping closer and pulling Caitlyn gently into her arms. “I was just as surprised as you to see him sitting in our room. But... I’m glad we talked. He really cares about you, Cupcake.”
Caitlyn tilted her head, studying Vi’s face for any sign of discomfort. “And you’re okay? He didn’t—”
“I’m fine,” Vi interrupted gently, brushing a thumb over Caitlyn’s cheek. “Really. It wasn’t bad. He just... needed to talk. And it turns out, maybe he’s not as scary as I thought.”
Caitlyn’s lips twitched into a small smile, her hands resting on Vi’s sides. “It was... nice to see you two talking,” she admitted softly. “And helping him like that... it meant a lot to me.”
Vi leaned down, pressing a light, lingering kiss to Caitlyn’s lips. “Maybe we should do it more often—family dinners and all that.
Caitlyn laughed lightly, shaking her head. “Alright, I’ll hold you to that. But next time, I’m cooking.”
“Deal,” Vi said with a grin, squeezing her lightly. Then her tone shifted, her voice softer. “What about you, though? How’d the meeting go?”
Caitlyn groaned, burying her face in Vi’s neck. “It was a nightmare. Absolute chaos. I’m exhausted.”
Vi chuckled, guiding Caitlyn to sit on the edge of the bed. “C’mon, I’ve got you.”
She grabbed the brush from the nightstand and knelt behind Caitlyn, carefully undoing her braid and running the bristles gently through her hair. Caitlyn sighed at the sensation, leaning back slightly as Vi worked.
“You’re too good to me,” Caitlyn murmured, her eye closing.
Vi smiled. “You make it easy.” She set the brush aside and leaned forward, kissing the top of Caitlyn’s head before reaching for the ointment on the bedside table. “Let’s get this off,” she said softly, her fingers brushing against Caitlyn’s face as she carefully removed her eyepatch.
Caitlyn winced slightly as the cool air touched her skin, but she relaxed as Vi applied the ointment with practiced care. Vi’s touch was gentle, her focus steady, and when she was done, she leaned down and pressed a feather-light kiss to Caitlyn’s cheek.
“There,” Vi said, her voice barely above a whisper. “All set.”
Caitlyn turned, cupping Vi’s face with one hand as she kissed her deeply, her other hand tangling in Vi’s short hair. The kiss was slow, full of warmth and gratitude, and when they pulled apart, they both smiled.
“Your turn,” Caitlyn said playfully, running her fingers through Vi’s hair as they lay back together. Vi closed her eyes, letting Caitlyn’s touch lull her into a moment of quiet contentment.
They settled into bed, Caitlyn resting her head on Vi’s shoulder as Vi wrapped an arm around her waist. The day had been long, the emotions heavy, but in the stillness of their room, with nothing but the sound of their breaths mingling, it felt lighter.
“Goodnight, Cait,” Vi murmured, kissing her temple.
“Goodnight, Vi,” Caitlyn whispered back, her voice soft but full of love.