Trapped In Flames (A Shivian fic)

I promise | 5 ❥

content warning, talk of domestic violence

A loud bang ricocheted inside the walls of Siobhan's skull as Vivian seated herself in her car and swiftly pulled the door shut.
The 2 women had just left the hospital, where they'd learnt that at the hands of Roger, Siobhan had suffered a broken rib.
It was midday on a Tuesday, and the car park was quiet and scattered with only a few vehicles.

Silence hung over the women, both of them searching for the correct words to say to one another.
Eventually, Vivian gave up. She knew that nothing she would say could make Siobhan feel much better right then, but she slowly uttered a single, small sentence:

"You have to leave him."

Viv's voice broke, her throat tightening with the threat of tears as she spoke the words.
Vivian was a nurse, and had been for 12 years, and her knowledge of the physical force that must've been required for Siobhan to sustain such extreme injuries completely sickened her.
Viv's charismatic and confident personality had always lead her to naturally be somewhat of a social butterfly, meaning she'd been in no lack of company for a lot her life.  However, she'd always struggled to build the most important kinds of connections with people, a lot of the time being left with superficial friendships that only really scathed the surface.
But between herself and Siobhan, things felt completely different. Their friendship, despite it so far being short lived, had broken this lifelong trend, and she'd grown to value the blonde more than she'd even realised.
Tears formed a reflective cast over her gunmetal blue eyes as she gazed over to Siobhan, her heart sinking as she prayed with everything in her that she would have the strength to do what so many women feel they can't.

"I know," Siobhan sobbed softly, "I just don't know how."
Viv lightly placed her hand over Siobhan's, her thumb delicately stroking her velvety skin.
"I don't make promises very often," Viv started, "because I'd never want to make one I can't keep. But I promise you this, Siobhan, we will figure this out. Together."
Vivian intertwined her fingers with Siobhan's and squeezed her hand gently, watching the shell of a woman beside her as tears spilled mournfully from her eyes.
"Thank you," she whispered, breathing deeply before adding, "I'll never understand your kindness towards me, I said some utterly disgusting things that I truthfully don't think I'll ever be able to forgive myself for, and I wouldn't have blamed you if you really did never speak to me again."
A few moments of silence followed before Siobhan added, "I'm so, so sorry."
"Thank you," Viv sighed, "but I'm sorry too. I never should've kissed you."
Siobhan frowned and turned her head to closely admire Vivian.
"No," she breathed, "I'm glad you did." And in a moment of courage she placed her hand onto the back of Viv's head and pulled her into a slow, meaningful kiss, running her fingers through her silky black hair as their tongues brushed against each others.

Eventually, Viv pulled away and placed her palm against Siobhan's smooth cheek, who contently leaned into her tender touch.
"Let's drive back to mine and I can run you a nice warm bath, it should help with the pain." She told her, a sad smile seated on her lips.

As Vivian began to drive them both back, Siobhan's inner war with herself that had once been as wide and as dangerous as the choppy seas of ocean began to fade away. She basked in the internal warmth she was slowly starting to feel, and as she did, a small belief in the freedom of the open road lay out ahead of her began to grow, too.
Her whole life had been an eternal winter of darkness, but Viv's kindness and care was leading her to believe that a metaphorical summer was becoming closer, and gave her more hope than she'd ever had before.

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