Trapped In Flames (A Shivian fic)

Vanilla latte, extra oat milk | 4 ❥

content warning, domestic violence

It was the Tuesday after Siobhan and Vivian's coffee date, and Siobhan hadn't left the house since.

The right side of her torso was darkened with the shadow of a purple bruise after Roger pushed her into the corner of the table, and even the simplest movements were still sending tremors of agony through her body.
Luckily, Roger was away for a few days as he'd decided on a whim to go on another one of his mysterious trips abroad. Siobhan had always suspected that he was involved with drug trafficking in some way, and his spontaneous trips out of the country where he often came back with the numbers in his bank balance suspiciously higher than when he left only affirmed this belief. 

Siobhan knew that she couldn't avoid her demons forever, and today would have to be the day that she'd call Vivian and apologise (especially as she knew that this could be the only chance she'd get in a while, since Viv was working late the next few days), but the idea of opening up to somebody knocked her sick, she was still recovering from her conversation with Marjorie.

Siobhan carefully lifted herself off of her sofa, whimpering in pain as she did. She leant towards the landline and picked it up cautiously, her hands shaking as she held it, like it was a dangerous object.
A single tear spilled out of her eye as she dialled Viv's number. She'd never felt so much regret pilled inside her all at once.
1 ring. 2 rings. 3 rings. 4 rings.
The line went silent.
"Vivian?" Siobhan's voice came out unsteadily, and no louder than a whisper.
"Why are you calling?" A dry, pained voice replied slowly.
A second tear slipped out of Siobhan's eye,
"Please let me explain, Viv." She cried softly.
Vivian sighed loudly. "Meet me at the coffee shop in an hour. This is your only chance to make things right, Siobhan."
"Thank you." Siobhan replied breathily, closing her eyes in relief, her blonde eyelashes fluttering like the wings of a wounded butterfly.

༻❥༺

Siobhan arrived at the coffee shop several minutes before her and Vivian had arranged to, so she that she could make sure to order Viv her favourite drink before she got there. A vanilla latte, extra oat milk.
Vivian soon arrived, and cautiously seated herself in front of Siobhan.
"God, you look awful." She frowned, despite her anger at Siobhan she was growing more concerned about the blonde by the second. Siobhan's demeanour and appearance had changed dramatically, the once powerful and glamorous aura that she radiated had been destroyed completely, and she now looked sickly and unsure of herself.
"I know," Siobhan said, "things have been difficult."

Vivian sipped at her drink, savouring the sweet taste of vanilla swirling around on her tongue. As she did, she attentively observed Siobhan. Everything about her seemed so broken, and as hurt as she'd felt by her words, Viv was worried that there was something seriously wrong with the woman. Her skin was hauntingly pale, ghost like even, and the tortured look sitting behind her crystal blue eyes was unsettling.
Something awful had happened, and Viv knew it.

"Siobhan," Vivian started, "I'm going to ask you something really serious, and you have to promise that you'll answer me honestly."
Siobhan pressed her trembling fingers against her temples, trying to still the frantic thoughts that raced through her mind.
"I promise." She vowed, lifting her head in sorrow.
"Has Roger done something to you?" Viv asked quietly.

Vivian's simple question sent Siobhan's world crashing down. It was in that moment that something in her mind clicked, and she realised that she really couldn't survive the relationship anymore. Staying with Roger wasn't an option. There was no choice about it, she had to speak up.
"Yes." Her response came as a terrified whisper, but no matter how scared she was, that single word had changed everything, and it felt like the weight of the world had been lifted from her shoulders.