Veil of dawn chapter 4 AND 5 are out NOW!! Read the latest chapters and please leave comments and kudos bc it’s my birthday! Anyways hope you guys enjoy the two new chapters!
@dmmeeble’s request - "For the writing prompts could I ask for something Chasemarsh related, maybe one of them surprising the other with an unexpected act of kindness? :>"
Pairing - Kate x Victoria (Life is Strange)
A Bittersweet ChaseMarsh fic
Genre - Bittersweet ⛅
A/N - So I'm reposting this because it flopped last time :)
Word Count - 1730
Kate was dragged from her thoughts as the dull sound of the school bell howled through the halls. She watched as everyone’s dead still composers shuffled and slowly broke into their hasty pack up. Kate echoed everyone's movements, stacking her books and lodging them between her arm and body, pushing between desks and exiting the classroom as the teacher mumbled the end of their lecture.
Kate moved through the crowded, rustling hallways toward her locker. Before she managed to reach her locker, however, one of Victoria’s prude sidekicks struck their shoulder into Kate’s arm, sending her books slipping to the ground. The sound of the tormentor’s plastic laughs grew distant as Kate crouched to the floor, sliding books toward her and tucking them under her arm.
‘Where’s the other one?’
Kate had recently been discharged from the hospital, and was now attending classes as per usual. Things were running nicely, most people were generous and over-all kind to Kate and she felt safe in the walls of Blackwell. Irritatingly enough though, there were still a few vixens who felt contempt trying to push Kate around. Yet, to Kate’s surprise, Victoria wasn’t amongst them. In fact, Kate rarely caught sight of Victoria anymore. It had been two weeks, and not once had Victoria met eyes with her.
As if the heavens had heard Kate’s inner thoughts, Kate felt the presence of another person loom over her. Throwing her head upward, Kate’s breath hitched as her eyes fixated on the opposing girl's face.
You. She thought, not knowing what to say. Victoria took a slight step backward, cautiously drawing her eyes up to Kate’s. She lifted her arm, offering the book Kate couldn’t find.
Kate blinked, reaching up to grab the book, half expecting Victoria to jolt it away. But she didn’t, and the book drifted from Victoria’s grip into Kate’s hand. Victoria left her arm outstretched before her. Kate understood what Victoria was implying, and delectably took her hand in her own. Standing upright again, Kate gave a gentle smile to Victoria, silently thanking her. She walked a few steps past her, opening her locker and shoving her books inside. She felt light, like all the minor suppressed worries inside her had tumbled away. Almost everyone was already inside their designated classrooms, leaving only Kate and Victoria. Or so she thought.
Slamming her locker door shut, where Victoria stood behind, Kate opened her mouth to speak, only to find that Victoria was no longer there. Kate’s brows furrowed slightly; eyes scanning the empty hall.
-----
Victoria caught the small dimple pressing into Kate’s cheek as she smiled softly, slowly releasing her hand. She watched as Kate walked past her, opening her locker door. Victoria stared at the darkened sky blue metal as it flew open mere inches from her face, glimpsing the brief shimmer of her own reflection before quickly deciding to evade the scene.
Locking herself shut in a bathroom stall, Victoria sat on the closed lid of the toilet. The atmosphere smelled of toilet water and cheap cleaning material, making Victoria’s head throb. Ever since the roof incident, there had been a cave in Victoria’s chest. A dark, damp, cold and hollow cave. Nothing but the frigid feeling of guilt chipping deeper into the cavern. But as one of Kate’s books skidded to a halt at her feet, the idea manifested itself into action. That brick wall between Victoria and Kate that only Victoria could see went transparent for a moment, and Vic gave herself a chance.
And so, taking up the book in her two hands, she approached Kate, and as Kate took her hand, a spark ignited the smallest of flames, and the walls of her cave flashed golden for a moment. But when the locker door briefly shielded Victoria from Kate, she was given the chance to think things through, resulting in over-thinking and panic.
Unlocking the door to the bathroom stalls, Victoria had decided to try a little harder to redeem herself. It’ll take more than picking up one of her books.
Poking her head from the doorway, Vic headed straight for the building exit. Keeping an eye out for security or teachers, she made her way across the outside of the school toward the dormitories. She was nervous to approach Kate because she felt that having too much confidence would make it seem as if she didn’t care, and she did care about her. A lot.
-----
Kate combed a hand through her hair, letting out a tired breath after another boring day at college. Then she remembered- her father had given her some money to spend as a treat for being, as he stated, ‘such a brave girl’. Maybe getting some fresh air outside of Blackwell property and getting herself a new shirt or stationary could be good. Kate pulled on her shoes and headed to town centre to see what she could find.
Victoria however, was already browsing random stores and markets, trying to find the perfect thing that could kick start a sincere apology.
‘Kate’s cute, maybe I could get her something bunny related? I don’t want her getting the wrong idea. What if she thinks I’m just trying to buy her forgiveness with money? Or that I’m just plain lame and indifferent. I need her to know that I’m sorry, and that she doesn’t have to forgive me any time soon.’ Victoria’s mind buzzed with thoughts like these. Questioning every little aspect of what she was trying to achieve.
She walked over to one of the large glass windows of a store and peered inside. The interior was stacked with shelves upon shelves of stuffed animals and cuddly toys. Wandering inside, her eyes glazed over the place. The motion tracker installed into the ceiling camera wheezed out two slow beeps. Definitely not the most welcoming sound, but Victoria began her search, Kate firm in mind.
“Hello Miss, is there anything I can help you with?” Victoria turned her head, seeing a middle aged woman smiling patiently.
“No, I was just looking around.” Victoria spent a few minutes considering certain fuzzy items, wary of how awkward it felt for someone her age and status to be seen inside a shop filled with children accompanied by weary parents. That didn’t matter, she just wanted to see Kate smile again. She needed to see her spark. To feel its warmth spread through her.
“Hello Miss, is there anything I can help you with?” The same voice repeated itself a few rows down from Victoria, and was quickly met with an answer.
“No thank you, I’m just looking around.” The voice was awfully familiar, and Victoria instantly knew who it was. Feeling curious, she spied around the towering shelf, seeing Kate with her messy bun, pink attire and cute smile. Ducking around behind the shelf, Victoria chewed her inner lip, hoping Kate wouldn’t see her. Heart racing, she peeked around the shelf again, watching Kate head down a different row.
----
Kate wandered the small marketing area, waiting for something to catch her interest. She’d found herself lured into an abyss of soft toys and plushes, hoping for something to decorate her room. It didn’t take long for her to find the perfect match. A cute bunny about the size of her head that somewhat resembled her own bunny. It wasn’t expensive, but she didn’t have all that much money to spend. What if she needed the money later? Kate adored the fuzzy friend, but decided on saving the money for something more important.
Victoria had seen this from a distance, and as she watched Kate’s peaceful smile fade as she replaced the bunny to its former spot, she jumped at the opportunity. Kate left the store, and Victoria practically ran to the counter with the item she would use to help show Kate she cared.
----
Victoria stood at Kate’s dormitory door, holding the ‘sorry’ gift in hand. She knocked on the door.
Kate cracked the door open, looking Vic up and down.
“Um.. hi,” Victoria averted eye contact and dragged her foot up and down the carpet, “listen, I know I’ve been a total bitch and that you didn’t deserve any of the shit I threw at you. You probably don’t really want to see me now,” she met Kate’s eyes, “but I want you to know that I’m.. sorry.”
Kate just stared at Victoria, her face flushing at this new Victoria she wasn’t familiar with.
Victoria raised her hand, showing the bunny she bought. Kate’s mouth opened, letting out a barely audible gasp. “I saw you earlier today, at the store. Um-- I wasn’t stalking you-! I was just- you actually came in after me so..” she raised her hands as Kate took the bunny, a smirk sliding onto her face as Victoria flailed around in a flustered manner.
“Victoria,” Kate took Victoria’s hand and guided her into her room, closing the door. “What you did.. I’m still taking time to recover, if that’s ok.”
“Oh, yeah- yes, ofcourse, I wasn’t expecting this to actually get me anywhere. I just hope you know that I truly am sorry, what I did was unforgivable and.. seeing you on the roof..” she remembered filming her, thinking it would be the last video Kate would star in. Regret washed over her. “I’m an asshole, I suck. If I had just fucking shut up and stop trying to impress people around me and hold up my useless status, maybe I wouldn’t be so blinded by this stupid ego of mine. Take as much time as you need.” Subtle tears brimmed her eyes.
“I’ve been thinking,” Kate looked down at their hands, still interlocked, “ever since I came back from hospital, you’ve been avoiding me. I thought you were awkward and didn’t want to associate yourself with the situation anymore. But your little random act of kindness really spoke to me today- even if you miraculously disappeared afterward.” Kate squeezed Vic’s hand, giving a reassuring smile. “I’ll give you another chance. I want to.”
Victoria’s chest abrupted with flames. She felt the walls fill in, and pulled Kate into her arms.
“Thank you,” Victoria whispered.
After a few seconds they pulled away.
“Wanna hang out a bit?” Kate said, receiving a nod from Vic.
They were starting over, aiming for something comfortable between eachother.
