𝐒𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐒 𝐅𝐋𝐘 || 𝐂𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐋𝐈𝐍 𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐊

kiss me once cause you know I had a long night

As they left the infirmary and headed back to their shared dorm, Caitlin kept a close eye on Lilly, her concern still evident in the way she hovered just a step behind her. Every time Lilly tried to open a door or carry her water bottle, Caitlin would swoop in, gently nudging her aside to do it for her.

"Cait, seriously, I can open a door by myself," Lilly said, her voice laced with laughter as she watched Caitlin open their dorm room door.

"Just let me do it, pretty girl," Caitlin replied with a grin, stepping aside to let Lilly walk in first. "You need to rest. I've got everything else covered."

Lilly shook her head, amusement dancing in her eyes. "I didn't break anything,  you know. You don't have to do everything for me."

Caitlin, ignoring her protests, followed Lilly inside and immediately started fluffing the pillows on the bed. "Just sit down and relax," she insisted, gently guiding Lilly to sit on the edge of the bed. "I'll grab you some water."

Lilly tried to stifle her laughter as she watched Caitlin bustling around the room, grabbing her water bottle, setting it on the nightstand, and then making sure her blankets were neatly arranged. "You're doing too much," Lilly teased, unable to keep the smile off her face. "I feel like a princess or something."

Caitlin chuckled and shrugged. "What's wrong with that? You deserve to be treated like one."

Lilly rolled her eyes, but the fondness in her gaze was unmistakable. "You're being too sweet. I'm gonna get spoiled."

Caitlin shot her a playful look. "Good, that's the plan."

Lilly reached out and tugged Caitlin down to sit next to her on the bed. "You're ridiculous, you know that?"

Caitlin grinned, leaning in to press a soft kiss to Lilly's forehead. "Ridiculously in love with you, maybe," she quipped.

Lilly laughed, her heart swelling at Caitlin's words. "You're impossible," she said, though there was no real complaint in her tone.

Caitlin leaned back slightly, still keeping her eyes on Lilly as if making sure she was okay. "Just let me take care of you tonight, alright?" she said, her voice softer now, more serious.

Lilly sighed, knowing there was no arguing with Caitlin when she got like this. "Alright," she agreed, her smile turning warm. "But only because it's you."

Caitlin's grin widened, and she pulled Lilly into a gentle hug. "That's all I needed to hear."

As Lilly snuggled closer into Caitlin's embrace, her mind drifted back to the first time they had kissed, back when they were both playing for Team USA. The memory was vivid, etched in her mind like it had happened yesterday.

START OF FLASHBACK

It had been a tough game, one where Lilly had been fouled particularly hard. She had always been injury-prone, and this game was no exception. By the time the final buzzer sounded, she was limping off the court, her ankle throbbing with each step. Caitlin had been right there, concern etched on her face as she helped Lilly to the locker room.

"Why does this always happen to me?" Lilly had muttered under her breath, wincing as she gingerly stepped into the locker room.

"You play hard, Lils," Caitlin had replied, her voice soft as she held the door open. "That's why. You're always putting yourself on the line."

Lilly had grumbled something under her breath, still frustrated, as she sat down to ice her ankle. After the team had showered and changed, Caitlin offered to drive her back to the hotel. Lilly, grateful for the company, had accepted.

In the car, the pain in her ankle started to intensify, and with it, her frustration grew. She was tired, sore, and couldn't help but rant about how unfair it all felt.

"I just don't get it," Lilly had complained, shifting uncomfortably in the passenger seat. "I'm doing everything right, and then I get fouled like that. It's so unfair."

Caitlin had listened patiently, her hands gripping the steering wheel as she navigated the late-night streets. "I know it sucks," she had said, glancing over at Lilly. "But you're tough. You'll bounce back."

Lilly had sighed, her irritation spilling over. "It's just... ugh! Why does this always happen to me?"

Caitlin pulled the car over to a quiet side street and put it in park. She turned to face Lilly, her expression a mix of exasperation and something else—something more intense.

"Lilly," Caitlin had said, her voice firm but gentle, "you're driving yourself crazy over this."

Lilly had opened her mouth to argue, but before she could get another word out, Caitlin leaned in and kissed her. It wasn't a soft, tentative kiss either—it was firm, meant to silence Lilly's ranting and convey something Caitlin couldn't quite put into words.

For a moment, Lilly froze, her brain short-circuiting as it processed what was happening. But then, instinctively, she kissed Caitlin back, her hands gripping the front of Caitlin's jersey as if to anchor herself. The pain, the frustration, everything seemed to fade away, replaced by the intensity of the kiss.

When they finally pulled apart, both of them were breathing hard, their foreheads resting against each other's. The car was filled with the sound of their ragged breathing, the weight of what had just happened hanging in the air.

"Wow," Lilly had whispered, her voice barely audible.

Caitlin had laughed softly, a bit breathless. "I've been wanting to do that for a while."

Lilly had smiled, her heart racing. "I didn't mind it," she had teased, her voice light, though there was an undeniable warmth in her eyes.

Caitlin had grinned back, the tension between them easing slightly. "Good," she had replied. "Because I plan on doing it again."

END OF FLASHBACK

The memory brought a soft smile to Lilly's face as she nestled closer to Caitlin in the present. The warmth of Caitlin's arms around her felt just as comforting now as it had back then. That first kiss had changed everything between them, setting them on a path that, while complicated, was one she wouldn't trade for anything.

Lilly sighed contentedly, pressing a kiss to Caitlin's shoulder as she whispered, "I'm glad you shut me up that night."

Caitlin chuckled, her voice a gentle rumble in her chest. "Best decision I ever made," she murmured back, pulling Lilly even closer.