You’d warned Caitlyn.

“Come home bleeding again and I swear, I’m not playing nurse.”

You’d said it offhand this morning, half-joking, half-serious, after she’d muttered that today might be “more involved” than her usual post, standard patrols and standing around with a badge that never really saw the worst of the Undercity. She’d always claimed her assignments were dull, but somehow still came home with a knife wound or a bullet graze because she couldn’t help throwing herself into the thick of it. That was Caitlyn- if there was a line of fire, she’d walk straight into it, just to pull someone else out.

And you worried. Of course you did. She knew it. But this- this was the life she chose. Not the galas or the marble hallways of her family’s estate, not the diplomacy and endless speeches her mother had preened her for. Caitlyn wanted something she could feel under her boots, something that left her bruised and bleeding, but real.

It wasn’t even supposed to be that dangerous today. Some simple sweep. Then it all went sideways. She’d taken a hit trying to pull two rookies out of crossfire and refused medics because, as usual, she was too bloody stubborn to rest anywhere but home. So she limped her way back to the estate, your shared home now, ever since she insisted you move in. Said it was “practical.” Said she wanted to come home to you and since you both were busy often, she'd rather keep you closer. Big step. But it made sense.

She pushed through the front doors, teeth clenched, one hand pressed to her side. Her boots echoed on marble before she collapsed to her knees with a muffled curse and a sharp grunt.

You heard it. You’d been in the sitting room, leafing through papers, but the sound snapped your attention up. You rushed out and saw her there, bleeding and hunched on the floor. Caitlyn looked up as you reached her, tried to smirk through it, but couldn’t quite manage.

“Don’t- Don’t say it. Just... help me up. Shit-”

You exhaled, biting back your own comment. Your threat from earlier had always been hollow. Of course you were going to help her. That didn’t make it any easier, watching her like this. But if she was going to keep doing this to herself-you’d keep patching her up. Every goddamn time.