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Caitlyn Kiramman was one of Piltover’s finest peacekeepers and she was an excellent shot. Born into the wealthy and influential Kiramman clan, she accomplished all that was desired of her—except anything in the realm of politics.
Politics wasn’t her cup of tea. She chose to be an enforcer instead. Maybe she’d even end up becoming sheriff one day.
Though even after she became an enforcer, her parents wouldn’t stop being protective. It was like there was an imaginary barrier around her to keep her safe. She was still confined. It was suffocating.
Then she met Vi and her life took a complete turn. She nearly died sliding down those buildings. She got dragged through the depths of the undercity and even got captured by the Firelights. Yet, it made her feel alive.
And for once, she felt free.
Vi.
Vi was strong, bold, and blinding. Vi had been through so much—too much—and Caitlyn had only barely scraped the surface of how much she had been through. Despite all she had been through, she was willing to fight and protect. She had a good heart.
A heart Caitlyn wanted to be hers.
“Oil and water. Wasn’t meant to be.”
“Just forget me, okay?”
Like she could ever forget someone like her.
She watched as her tears and the water mixed with her blood and it hit her.
Blood and water.
She wasn’t going to let her go again.
---
Her ribs ached and she didn’t even have the strength to stand up.
She watched as Jinx launched the hextech missile and it went straight towards the council building, where her mother and Jayce were.
All she could do was scream as she held onto Vi, who could barely support herself.
Then she crumpled into a heap onto the ground.
---
When she woke up, she was in the hospital, bandaged up all over, and Vi was nowhere to be seen.
Her father was the one to break the news to her. Jayce and her mother both survived, but her mother’s injuries were grave and she still hadn’t woken up.
Caitlyn asked him where Vi went and he told her that she left not long after the doctor told her she was going to be okay.
---
A week later, she heard a noise coming from below her balcony and looked down to see Vi hanging onto the edge of it.
“I could use a little help, cupcake,” she said, peering up at her with a grin.
Caitlyn blinked, wondering if her eyes were deceiving her for a second before she grabbed onto Vi’s hands and pulled her into her room.
“Are you crazy?” she hissed, once Vi settled herself, stretching her sore arms.
“Wanted to see how you were doing,” Vi said. “Couldn’t exactly strut through your front door.”
She could feel Vi’s eyes examining her carefully, taking her in, and she bit her lip.
“You don’t look too bad. Your wounds have healed up too,” Vi remarked, looking relieved.
“How about yours?”
Vi shrugged. “They're healing alright,” she said, but Caitlyn didn’t look convinced.
“Let me see them.”
Vi looked reluctant but Caitlyn gave her a stern look and she eventually gave in, sitting on her bed.
Caitlyn’s eyebrows knitted as she examined her wounds carefully. “When’s the last time you changed these bandages?”
“Three days ago.”
“You’re practically asking for an infection,” Caitlyn said with a scowl and went to find her first aid kit. Once she found it, she sat down next to Vi on the bed and unwrapped the old bandages on her arm.
“How’s your mother?” Vi asked quietly.
“She still hasn’t woken up.”
“I’m sorry, it’s all my fault. If I didn’t—”
“No,” Caitlyn interrupted her. “It’s not. Jinx made her decision and she’ll have to pay for it.”
“I know. I’ll help you find her.”
“Vi…”
“She can’t keep doing this—killing people and walking down a path of destruction,” she said, her voice low.
“Okay,” Caitlyn said softly, cleaning her wound and wrapping a new bandage around her arm.
Vi fought back a shudder as Caitlyn gently touched her arm, inspecting her work.
Caitlyn hummed in approval. “I’m done.”
“Thanks, cupcake. I'm glad you're okay,” Vi said with a warm smile. Then she got up and headed for the balcony.
“Running away again?” The words that escaped Caitlyn’s lips came out bitter.
Vi stilled, her fingers gripping onto the balcony railing tightly. “I guess that’s fair… like I told you, we’re oil and water.”
“We’re not,” she croaked and she could feel Vi freeze into place. “We’re blood and water,” she said firmly, and Vi’s hands slowly came off the balcony railing.
“Cait—” she started. “Cupcake,” she corrected herself, still frozen in place.
Caitlyn took the opportunity to step towards her and she wrapped her arms around her waist. She could feel Vi stiffen in surprise before she slowly softened in her arms.
“Those mix, don’t they?” she murmured against her back.
Vi turned to face her, a sad smile on her face. “What can I even offer you?” she said quietly. “You’re successful, rich, and come from a prestigious family, and I’m anything but.”
Caitlyn sighed in exasperation, feeling her heart ache.
“Uppercity, undercity—it doesn’t matter. I need someone who sees me for who I am. Someone who makes me feel alive. Someone who believes in the same things I do. You’re all that and more,” she whispered.
Vi’s eyes widened in bewilderment and at the same time, they looked at her like she was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.
Caitlyn felt a little breathless at that.
“You confessing to me, cupcake?” Vi teased, a grin plastered on her face.
“And if I am?” she retorted.
“You can’t take it back, you know.”
“Wasn’t planning to,” she said with a smirk, and she could hear Vi suck in her breath.
“You’re more than I ever hoped for,” Vi whispered.
Vi’s hand reached up to cup her cheek, silver irises dilated with a rare tenderness. Her hand was rough, but the way she touched her was so gentle and she couldn’t help but lean into her touch.
Then Vi leaned in to kiss her, unexpectedly softly, and as she lost herself in her lips—and later, her arms, she told herself that maybe the possibility of tomorrow for them wasn’t impossible.
They would find a way to get through this. They had to.