Caitvi Soulmates AU

Caitvi Soulmates AU

Here is my addition to @somewillwin 's lovely SoulmateAU! Be sure to check out their amazing young caitvi artwork.

Thank you for letting me write this fun little fic, and for creating your wonderful artwork to fill me with medical whump and parent & daughter feels.

I might like to write more of this, if you all are enjoying it :) i've never done soulmates AU and feel this will be a fun writing exercise.

Edit: sorry about the formatting.

Cassandra exhaled, watching Caitlyn’s soft breaths steam the BiPAP mask which forced her singed lungs to inhale.

The claustrophobia from the mask had been bad.

Cassandra dragged her palm down her own face, watching Caitlyn as she rested. The Ativan had been a lifesaver, and she seemed comfortable now, letting the machine help her breathe while she slept.

Cassandra held her unburnt hand, feeling her slowly relax her fingers as she drifted deeper into sleep. Sleep was good—it meant she was somewhat comfortable. It meant that she didn’t feel so claustrophobic anymore in the mask.

                She took another breath, steadying her self and blinking back her tears.

                Cait looked so small.

                Jayce had been crying outside, apologizing, panicking.

                She’d sent Viktor and Councilor Heimerdinger to locate him, and did her best to keep her anger in check.

                What had he been thinking? What had he been doing in that apartment? Cassandra squeezed her eyes closed, determined not to make a sound. She’d never forgive herself if she woke Cait now.

                She’ll need to recover. Have to make sure her airway doesn’t swell. Make sure she doesn’t get an infection from the burns. Broken ribs from the blast. Lucky, so lucky.

                Everything Tobias had been saying to her swirled in her brain. Cassandra gripped Cait’s hand, feeling her twitch lightly, and then hoping she didn’t disturb her.

                A soft knock on the door.

                She bristled, straightening herself, making sure she was positioned between Cait and the door.

                Petunia. The Kiramman house’s longtime cook, and one of Cassandra’s favorite employees. Cassandra let the tension release from her spine.

                “I came to check on you, Ms. Kiramman.” She kept her voice low.

                “I’m fine.”

                “Tobias reckons you need a short break. I can sit with her. If you need.”

                No, she couldn’t. She shouldn’t. She needed to stay here—Cait had been in pain and crying. She couldn’t bear the thought of her waking again and needing something and her mother not being there.

                Cassandra heaved a breath through her nose, trying to quell the shaking of the sobs threatening to escape her chest.

                “Ms. Kiramman.” Petunia was at her side, firm hands settling on her shoulders, a whisper of an order, “Take a break. Five minutes. I’m right here with her.”

                Cassandra managed a nod, choking on another sob as she stood on shaky legs.

                Cait couldn’t hear her sob. Not here, not now.

                With her face buried in her sleeve, Cassandra managed to get herself into the hallway before she cried. She let her back rest against the cold cinderblock wall, sucking in frantic breaths through her nose as her ribs constricted.

                Her daughter had been in an explosion with another fifteen-year-old.

                Cassandra tried to breathe.

                 Her daughter was struggling to breathe. Her daughter had almost ended up with a breathing tube.

                Another sob heaved from her chest as she fought for her breath. Why was it so hot in here? Cassandra ripped open the top button of her collar, she couldn’t breathe—why couldn’t she breathe? Why was it so hot in here?

                “Cass.” Tobais’ voice hummed in her ear, his strong arms wrapping around her waist.

                Cassandra turned to him, burying into his shoulder, “We need…..I need….sit with her….”

                “Petunia is with her.” Tobias assured, holding her harder against him. She felt the warmth of his chest through the thin material of his scrubs, “It’s alright. She’s going to be alright.”