Red And Violet: Vi X Red Hood Reader

Happy Progress Day!

On the festive grounds of Progress Day, a blue-haired noble boringly stares at the Kiramman tent with blank eyes

"Ugh..." Caitlyn rolls her eyes and shifts their direction when her mother catches her gaze. She aimlessly looks on at the festive activities before hearing a familiar voice

"Looks like you're having a blast." Malone cheekily expresses while leaning his back on a tree with his arms crosses

Caitlyn smirks at his remark and presence before giving him a playful side-eye. "Yes, I'm having the time of my life, guarding my mother's tent from the dangers of children playing"

Malone chuckles at the joke and gains a subtle smile. "Hey, at least you know your mom cares about you"

Caitlyn scoffs at the observation and goes to lean on the tree next to him. "More like smothering me..." She crosses her arms in frustration and begins to somewhat pout

Malone grows a more defining smirk and digs into his pocket for some hard candy. "Here." He holds out the sweet, opting for Caitlyn to take it, unwrap it, and place it in her mouth

"Thanks..." She huffs while taking in the flavor of the candy

Malone takes out another sweet and pops it into his mouth, enjoying the momentary silence with his fellow officer

He slowly moves his eyes to Caitlyn and sees hers fixated forward, seemingly lost in thought. He turns his attention in front as well and relaxes his posture a bit more, placing the base of one of his feet against the tree

"You're thinking about, Red Hood, aren't ya?" He quietly asks, causing Caitlyn to tap her finger against her bicep

"That obvious?" She tiredly questions without looking at Malone, to which he raises his eyebrows at

"Yeah, you got that same glare whenever you're cracking a case. Like..." He slightly raises his arm and moves his hand in a circular motion while extending his index finger

"Gears turning in your brain, I can see it in real-time." Caitlyn chuckles at the mini-explanation and eases her serious demeanor

"Yeah..." Her eyes soften while shifting to the ground, a change in sight Malone notices, making him look at her intently

A minute goes by before the blue-haired noble speaks again. "Mal..."

"Hm?" He asks while keeping his sights forward

"Do you ever think... we're really doing any good?" The question makes Malone raise a suspicious eyebrow in her direction

He bites his hard candy into pieces and crunches on them, swishing them around in the process. "Why are you asking that?"

Caitlyn sighs through her nostrils and squeezes her bicep a few times before speaking. "I just..." She trails off, prompting Malone to slowly bob his in her direction

"Yeah?" He exaggeratively says, making her softly groan while shamefully shutting her eyes

Caitlyn leans a bit in Malone's direction and lowers her voice. "I went to the Undercity"

Malone's eyes widen as he freezes momentarily, eventually swallowing the pieces of candy in his mouth. "You- You what?"

Caitlyn meets Malone's gaze and confirms his confusion with a glimmer in her eyes. She swallows her candy and looks away as her face contorts a bit, recalling the experience

"I saw them, Mal... People... children dying, rotting away, no one even knows they're suffering..." She grips her arm and furrows her brows as her memories of the sight become clearer