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As Vi picked Caitlyn up the sound of shingling boots reached her ears.
A girl with long twin braids walked down the bridge, surveying the chaos she caused.
A gust of wind carried away a wisp of smoke and Vi could see Powder-Jinx- looking at her with her big, blue eyes.
Vi knew what she had to do.
“Move aside Ekko” She ordered as she set Caitlyn up against the bridge railings, brushing the wounded enforcer’s attempt to grab her.
“Vi!” Caitlyn called out, trying to hobble after her partner but the pain flared badly on her leg and she screamed through gritted teeth.
“Vi” Ekko stood in her way, his face serious and expression doubtful “Let me deal with her, you-”
“Take Caitlyn back” Vi ordered with an unyielding force, stone-faced against the younger boy.
Ekko, leader of the Firelights, felt like Little Man again.
“Go”
There was something to Vi that made Ekko shrink back a little, for all that he had been the one to knock the brawler out only a couple of days ago.
She seemed driven, determined and his instincts -honed through years of fighting against Silco and the Enforcers and anyone who threatened his family, his community- told him to back down and do what she said.
So he mounted his board and drifted past, unable to say a word.
“Vi!” Caitlyn called out again but the brawler's focus was on the young woman walking up to her.
“I...I didn't think you’d stay” Jinx said, a little uncertain. She stood a distance apart, safe enough away that she wouldn't be in the immediate path of a haymaker but close enough to see Vi clearly under the moonlight.
To Vi, the gap between them was terrifying and she was cursing herself for not even seeing it until now.
“I...I wanted to go back” She said, hands to her side, resisting the urge to make a fist because all she could think about was how Silco was the problem and if he would just die then Powder would be back, the war would end and Caitlyn could-
“Why didn't you?”
The question was a lightning bolt to her heart.
Why didn't she?
Because Silco has to be taken down! A part of her wanted to scream.
But, looking at Powder, hurt, confused and agonized Powder, what did that matter?
Silco turned her into Jinx. Get rid of him and she’ll be Powder again!
Vi sucked in a shocked breath, taking a step back.
Things changed Vi. I’ve changed.
“Vi?”
The brawler slammed a palm to her head and gripped her hair, willing through force and pain to make her thoughts go away.
Because why was she thinking about Silco when Powder was right here?
“Ive...Ive really fucked up, haven't I Powder?” She said softly, looking at the ground as raindrops started to fall.
Metallic jingling announced Powder’s approach “A little” Powder said, leaning down to look her in the eyes. “A lot” she said after a moment of silence.
Vi hugged herself, trying to stop her body shaking.
It wasn't just the cold.
“I don't know if sorry is enough” she said.
Powder took a step forward “It’s not”
Vi let out a breath and dropped her arms, raising her head to look at her sister.
The distance between them had shortened but she still felt like there was a chasm, a fissure between her and her sister that she couldnt see but she knew was there.
Powder took another step forward.
“I...I don't know what to do, Powder”
The blue haired girl stilled.
“I...I hate him” Vi admitted, taking a step forward “I hate him so much. He took you away from me. He took Mylo and Claggor away from me. He killed Vander” Each sentence brought another step until the two sisters were nearly face to face, though the height difference made it more chest to face.
“I...I…” Vi gingerly lifted her hands, reaching out to touch Powder but hesitating.
The gap between them was miniscule, yet Vi still couldnt jump that chasm.
Did she have any right to anymore?
“...I let him win…” Vi whispered her realization, that painful, painful truth “I let him be the monster I couldn't chase away.
I let you down, Powder”
Small arms wrapped around her stomach and Powder rested on her chest “So, what happens now?”
Vi couldn't move.
“Do you…” Vi hesitated, a thousand voices in her telling her to shut up and just take Powder and go, to not not ask this question.
“Do I?” Powder prompted.
“Do you still think we’re sisters?”
The seconds ticked by, merciless in their passing.
Vi prepared herself. For what, she didn't know.
Powder snorted, then she giggled, then she cackled and she laughed and laughed and laughed.
Vi hung on the edge, ready to leap.
Down, or across that chasm.
It wouldn't be up to her.
Eons went by with Jinx’s laughter drowning out the rain.
Until Jinx stopped and she looked at Vi, her older sister, frozen like an animal caught in a trap
“Sorry, it was just...I was thinking of asking you that, actually”
“I do” Vi admitted easily, because she still believed she did “I love you, now and forever. But...would you want me?”
Jinx tilted her head and considered the question.
Vi had one foot halfway over the edge of the chasm.
“Yes” Jinx admitted “I do”
Vi’s heart beat like a drum, the only noise she could hear.
“Why…?” The question came out unprompted, her mind a maelstrom of emotions and Vi felt like she had no control anymore.
It was a terrifying feeling, like when Marcus kidnapped her, stopping her from going to Powder.
Powder looked her in the eyes again, the embraced her tight “Because I cant get rid of you”
Vi blinked, unsure of what to make of it all.
“I hear voices Vi. I hear Mylo, I hear Claggor and they both keep telling me how much I suck” Jinx pulled away from the embrace but kept her hands on Vi’s arms “But you’re there too. When it gets too much, when it’s too loud you’re there to shut them up and tell me that im-”
She hiccupped and Vi held onto her as Powder suddenly started tearing up “-That I’m doing good. I was afraid of losing that voice, losing you because I thought you were dead and this was the last bit of you I would ever have-”
Vi pulled her back into the embrace and felt her hot tears on her chest. “I don't want to lose you!” Jinx screamed into her “I DON'T WANT YOU GOING AWAY, I DON'T WANT YOU LEAVING!”
With every shout her hold on Vi tightened and tightened until Vi was struggling to breath “Pow-der…”
Instantly the girl let go, turning back into a frail, crying waif “Don't you dare leave me. Don't you dare...”
Vi held her tightly.
I was going to, wasn’t I? She thought I saw her and I was going to leave because…
She shook her head ...Because all I ever do is fight. I didn’t ever stop to think.
She drew a shaky breath, cradling Powder’s head and kissing the top of it.
Jinx murmured something, trying to snuggle even further.
Footsteps alerted the both of them and they pulled away, though did not separate.
Silco walked from the Undercity side of the bridge, two large goons flanking him.
“Jinx” He greeted “Glad to see you’re safe”
Vi grit her teeth but she did not raise her fists.
That would mean letting go of Powder.
“So, Vanders prodigy” The crime lord greeted her “You certainly are a lot like him. Stubborn and so willing to work with those that consider us less than vermin”
The insult to Caitlyn went unanswered, Vi raising her chin and snarling instead.
“Jinx” Silco repeated “I know it’ll be hard, but you can't trust her. You know this. I know this. She’ll abandon you like the last time”
Rage boiled in her veins and her heart sang the song of battle, but Vi held.
She couldn't lead, not this time, perhaps not anymore.
“That’s her decision” She advised instead, looking away from the man who caused it all to the girl she would die for “It’s your choice Powder. I...I...can't let Silco go through with whatever it is he wants, but I won't fight you, never again” Vi swallowed the lump in her throat, ignoring the part of her that was screaming do you know how this looks like!?
Evidently Jinx did as she stepped back in shock, though she did not let go of their hold “Vi! How the fuck can you say that!?”
The heated words lashed against her cold skin but Vi pressed on, hand holding onto Powder’s arm “You’re right Jinx-”
Jinx stilled.
“-It’s not fair on you. It’s not fair at all. You did nothing to deserve this, you’re just a sweet little girl that was let down by the people that you needed most!”
Vi’s arm felt like lead, but eventually she managed to release her hold on Jinx “I'm sorry, I wasn't the best sister you could have had and I let you down so many times. I see it now and maybe I'm letting you down again, but just know I love you and if could turn back time I would”
The tears fell freely now. Vi hardly even noticed Silco “There’s...so many things going on Pow-Pow, so many people I have to- I made promises to-”
Jinx grabbed at her arm, nails digging into flesh so hard they drew blood “What about me!?” She screamed into Vi’s face “YOU PROMISED ME!”
Vi pulled her into an embrace and kissed her forehead, her cheeks, her hair “I know, Pow-Pow, I know. I want to make it up to you, I want it so bad to be like what we had before when it was just us and Mylo and Claggor-”
“NO!” Jinx screeched, digging her nails in harder, gouging Vi’s skin “US! JUST US!”
Vi winced at the pain but did her best to ignore it, letting the rain wash away the blood.
Somewhere Silco was shouting, saying something to Jinx but she didn't care.
She couldn't care about him now.
“But I don't know how to keep you safe” Vi carried on “Silco will bring war, Piltover will bring war. I want to take you away but I don't know where I would go and how we would survive-”
Jinx dragged her down to eye level “Promise me you’ll make it up to me”
Vi’s brain was trying to process too much to understand quickly enough “How-”
“Promise me!” Jinx insisted, urged, ordered, face set in a snarl but eyes begging and pleading.
“I will, I’ll make it up to you Jinx. You and Powder. But how-”
Jinx let her go.
To unsling her gun and point the three barrels at Silco.
“Jinx!” Silco shouted, sounding genuinely shocked and hurt “Jinx please, don't listen to her! She’s abandoned you once, she’ll do it again!” His eyes, one normal and the other glowing a sickly red, turned to Vi “Get away from my daughter!”
“Go home, dad” Jinx spoke almost casually “It’s past your bed-time”
Silco, carrying a look like he’d already been shot, took a step forward.
A bullet pinged on the floor in front of him.
“Jinx” He said the name pleadingly “Please, don't do this. You’re my daughter, I love you more than anyone in this godforsaken world. Just come home”
Vi said nothing, only putting a hand on Jinx’s shoulder.
“Go” Jinx said the word like she was lowering a casket.
Silco couldn't seem to accept it, levelling a truly baleful glare at Vi “Get. Away. From. Her!”
Vi squeezed her sister’s shoulder.
Snarling, Silco strode forward, confident.
Jinx’s weapon spit death.
War, miraculously, was avoided.
Councilors Madera and Talis were apparently a big influence on that, the former arguing that Silco’s death meant no more escalation and the latter had been convinced by Ekko and Caitlyn. Further, Jayce Talis was now committed to the betterment of the Undercity and was eager to work with his new “counterpart” in improving lives.
Time would tell if his words had any weight.
For Vi, she had reclaimed The Last Drop after putting Sevika down for good as well as any Silco loyalists that decided to be brave.
It had taken months but eventually it was turned back into a bar, a place for good people and good drinks, a growing heart of the community.
Not all was well for the rest of the Undercity however, there were still Chem Barons running around, still gangs, still shimmer.
But she would deal with that in time, if she would at all.
For now, Vi’s attention was solely on a young blue haired girl, currently putting the finishing touches on a painting within The Last Drop.
It showed them together, Vi and Jinx back to back facing against the monsters of the world.
“It’s beautiful” She commented, awed.
Jinx gave her a happy grin, then set her brush down to hop up into Vi’s arms.