Chapter Text
The sunset was glorious in the city of progress. Strokes of yellow painted the skies like a canvas, randomly mixing with navy blue and, sometimes, producing rues of pink out of nowhere.
The chattering inside the golden ballroom was muffled to Caitlyn's ears as she observed such beauty. It has been an eventful day and, between preparing her speech and getting presentable for an audience of higher houses, she was completely exhausted. Looking at the sunset from the ballroom's balcony was a relief she wouldn't be able to feel for much longer. She would soon be requested for that speech and, as time ticked, she was getting nervous.
What if she was not what the city needed?
What if all of this was a mistake?
What if —
“Fancy seeing you here, Cupcake.” Came the voice behind her. She turned a little to find Vi closing the balcony's door and walking to her. The enforcer was dressed in a white vest and dark pants. Her hands were free of those big gauntlets of hers, and her hair, Cait realized, had been trimmed and was a little shorter.
“Fancy seeing you here.” She responded, turning her back to Vi. She felt her getting closer and stopping right by side at the rails, their shoulders touching. “Is the party boring?”
“Fucking ridiculous. You top-siders don't know how to throw a party.” Vi seemed more than happy to bad-mouth the fancy people from Piltover. In all honesty, she didn't want to be here and only came to be supportive, she had told Cait. “Wait for the undercity nights and I'll show how a party is supposed to be.”
“I'm looking forward to it.” Vi smiled and looked at the sunset as well. “Vi.”
“Cait.”
...
...
“I'm scared to go up there today.”
She felt her cheeks blushing at the admission. Cait had put herself in many dangerous and troubling situations when she was still an officer, but never felt the rush of anxiety that was running through her spine right now. Caitlyn freaking Kiramman, scared to speak In public. What a joke.
She felt as Vi hummed and took a deep breath. Sneaking a peek, she saw that the enforcer was thinking of what to say. That cute little pout on her pink lips made Cait's chest a little warmer.
“That's ok, I guess.” Said Vi. “When things happen suddenly they are more manageable than when you have to wait for them. That's why I'm not really fond of waiting.”
“I just... What if I'm not what the city needs?” Cait took of her cap and hid her face with it. “Damn, these people are going to eat me alive. So many expectations that I have no idea if I can reach.”
“Cait.” Vi's hand touched Caitlyn's and she put the cap away from her face. “You're great. You're hard working and is always trying to find balance between everything. All these people need is hope.”
Cait sighed heavily, taking Vi's hand on hers.
“And who said I'm their hope? What is hope anyway?”
She watched as Vi started to think again. Suddenly, two blue birds flew past them and landed at the top of a building. They watched as the birds chirped and skipped, getting close to each other and rubbing their feathers together. Vi smiled, enveloping Cait's shoulders with her arm and bringing her closer.
“Hope is a little thing with feathers.” Her grip was soft yet firm. “That perches in the soul. It can fly as far as it wants, but we'll always hear its tune spoken without words, cuz' it's not something that can be said, but it's something to be felt.” Cait smiled and hugged Vi's waist, resting her head on her chest, listening to her heartbeat. “I feel hope when I see you, Caitlyn. I feel safe, and I think those people feel it too. Whatever you say tonight doesn't matter because the hope is meant to be felt and not spoken. And everyone feels it when you're around.”
Caitlyn had to hide her face on Vi's chest to avoid her tears. Their hug grew tighter and she could finally understand what Vi meant. What the feeling of hope was. Being with her felt like hope; for a better future, for a better tomorrow, for better half hours later. She felt like she could do anything, fix everything, save everyone. And maybe she could. Maybe with Vi by her side this dream was not a dream at all, but a goal to be reached.
This felt like hope.
“Thank you.” She said after a while, her voice muffled by Vi's clothes.
“No problem, Cupcake.” Vi took a step back and kept Cait where she could reach. “I'll be in the crowd, rooting for you. If you get nervous just look at me and pretend you're scolding me. Softly.”
“Oh, c'mon.”
“You're really good at scolding me. Feels natural to you.”
“Shut up.”
Later that night, when she was in front of Piltover's most influent people and the press, she only had eyes for one person in the crowd. Her smile didn't falter and her voice was firm and soft as she spoke to the crowd, assuring that Piltover was entering a new era. At the end of her speech, she saw Vi give her the thumbs up and her heart flutter. And, after a long time, she let herself feel hope.