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Chapter Text

The smell of the ocean floats in the bathroom. She loves it, it reminds her of the one and only time she saw the ocean with her own eyes. She was seven at the time. She remembers the smile on her parents' lips. Salty smell. The sun reflecting off the water. And Powder clings to his leg. Their parents had worked really hard to pay for this trip, and Vi still remembers every detail of that day. Powder who was laughing out loud. His father who was jumping in the waves. His mother who collected seashells. And her, who did not take her eyes off the horizon, hypnotized by the beauty of the world. Where was that child today? Would it have been the same if she had known by then that her parents would be killed three years later? Would it be the same if she had known how hard it was going to be after that? Would she feel better about herself today if she had known the horrible truth before living it?

She sighs. And her eyes settle on the reflection in the bathroom mirror. There she is, in black jeans, her hair still wet, her shirt wide open and she doesn't like what she sees. The scars covering her skin. Scars from her and other people. Memories that she does not want.

Vi, she gives off that wild aura. She knows that. She sees how others are looking at her. She is the image of a free woman, without chains to hold her back, who uses her fists when things are wrong, who yells at the world to fuck herself, who does not pay attention to what others think of her. But sometimes… sometimes it's not like that. Sometimes she would like to be a college student like any other. She would like to look like these girls, with perfect skin, pretty and smart. And now, she really wished she wasn't her.

The bathroom door hits the wall. Powder and Ekko walk into the room, one behind the other. The first sniffs the smell in the air, and the second hides a yawn in his hand.

- "Vi, what are you doing-.. Oh my god." his sister exclaims.

She raises an eyebrow at them and follows their gazes to his half-naked chest. Powder pretends to throw up for a second, as the boy behind her slams a hand over her eyes.

- "I really didn't need to see my sister half-naked." grumbles Powder. “I'm traumatized now.”
- "If you knocked on doors before going in, that wouldn't happen you know." recalls Vi.

She grabs the towel lying over the washing machine and throws it at her little sister's face, who falls dramatically into Ekko's arms on impact. A real drama queen, this girl. Vi grabs the edges of his shirt and quickly button it up.

- "What did you want?" she asks.
- "Oh I forgot! Hurry, or we're gonna be late to your girlfriend's party." launches Powder.

A growl escapes Vi's lips.

- "She's not my girlfriend."

Piltover University. A place for the city's wealthy elite. Adults of Tomorrow.

Vi remembers how difficult it was to get into this establishment. She fought for this. She studied again and again, every night after school and work. And she succeeded. One morning she received a letter telling her that she, Vi, Violet, had a scholarship and a place in Piltover's most prestigious university. She, the child of the infamous neighborhoods. Zaun's orphan. She remembers how Powder and Ekko jumped for joy while reading the letter, from their neighbors who said they were proud of her. She was an example to follow, they said. A hope in the dark. And she remembers the second she was in her bed that night, she burst into tears. She cried for her parents and Vander who would never see this. She cried for the brighter future that lay ahead if she graduated there. She cried for Powder and Ekko who deserved this brighter future. And she cried for herself, this child who had grown up too fast. For the responsibility on his shoulders. For the hope she was offering to others. And she made a promise to herself to succeed.

But sometimes she regrets it.
Sometimes she really wished she had never received the fucking letter. Classes take a lot of her time and although now Ekko and Powder are old enough to work, she doesn't like the idea that they aren't making the most of their youth. Of course, she still has a job besides class, but it's not the same. And that’s hard. Classes are hard. So hard that sometimes she wonders how she got in here. She's not really the brains of the family, that's Powder. And Ekko. They're both very smart, little geniuses. Vi, her thing is her fists. She hits. She lifts heavy loads. She climbs. She uses her fists for everything. And fuck, she really wishes she could use her fists in college.

Piltover University is a den of lions and without her fists she is an antelope in the midst of beasts. The other students look at her like she's just an insect. They laugh, hurl insults, push her to her limits. And she is holding back very hard. She knows that a tiny bit of misconduct will cost her her place here. They are all the children of rich families, greedy for power and waiting for only one thing: an opening to put her out. But she fought for that. Ekko and Powder deserve better than a dingy little apartment in Zaun. She wants to buy them a house. A car. Painting supplies for Powder. Scooter for Ekko So no misbehavior is allowed.

The Piltover University Library is a place she loves. It's calm and there are so many books that one life wouldn't be enough to read them all. Sometimes she borrows some for Ekko or Powder.

She rereads the same sentence for the third time and notes something in her notebook. She prefers doing her homework at the library. She knows she will be too easily distracted at home. And math really deserves all of his attention.

A book falls on the table where she is seated and she looks up at the three boys in front of her. They look at her like she's rubbish and she forces herself to think of Powder so as not to say something bad. The leader of the little gang, a tall blond, gives her a smirk.

- "Get out of here, the poor. We need this table." he said.

Vi doesn't have to look around to know that there are a bunch of other tables available. They just want this one because she's setting there. She stifles a sigh between her lips and goes back to her math homework. She has no time for a few rich assholes.

- "Did you hear, Zaunite? I want this table."

She bites her lip. Being a student here is a constant test of your patience. But she doesn't have the right to explode. Stay calm, Violet.

- "Oh, I'm talking to you Zau-."
- "Excuse me. Is there a problem here?"

A chic accent.
It's the first thing she notices. The chic accent of the unknown voice.

She raises her eyes and looks at the girl who has just appeared next to the boys. She stands with her back straight, her face closed and her eyebrows furrowed. Dark blue hair and white skin. Another rich little girl. She's totally in her element in this school, compared to Vi.

- "No, delegate Kirammann." let go the blonde.

And Vi only now notices how uncomfortable the boys are. They walk away without giving her another glance or an insult, and she frowns. What was that ? She feels the other girl's eyes on her. But she said nothing for the moment, she quickly puts her things in her bag and gets up. And there, when she sees the lips of "her savior" move, she speaks.

- “I don't need your fucking pity.”

And she leaves.

Caitlyn's house - rather the castle - looms on the horizon. They are not very far. Vi adjusts the guitar case to her back, when Powder digs her nose into the pink haired girl's shirt. She didn't even react, too used to her sister's silliness now. She has supported it for eighteen years.

- "You smell good for someone who doesn't have a girlfriend." Powder said.

Ekko's laugh echoed behind her immediately. He reaches out to Powder and she slaps it, a big smile on her lips. Vi rolls her eyes, but a small smile is born at the corner of her lips.

She sincerely thinks Powder and Ekko are soul mates. She hadn't really expected that when she welcomed the boy to their small apartment. Another Zaun orphan. She and Powder had crossed paths with him on a rainy day, sitting on a piece of cardboard. Vi was fifteen at the time and even though she was already having a hard time taking care of eleven-year-old Powder, she hadn't had the heart to leave him there. She and Powder had brought him back to their little apartment and he had never left. And Powder and he had fallen in love. Soulmates.

A car she knows well pulls up right in front of the big - very big - house and a young man her age comes out. He leans on a cane and as soon as he notices them, a smile lights up his face.

- "Good evening Vi, Powder, Ekko." he greets politely.
- "Yo, my friend." said Ekko.
- "Hi, cute boy." breath Powder.
- "Hi Viktor. Want some help?" offers Vi.
- "Please, my leg hurts a little tonight."

She nods and quickly moves closer to him. She puts a strong arm around his waist and helps him climb the stairs.

Viktor, he's a great friend. Her best friend, actually. She met him during her second year at Piltover University. The literature teacher had asked the students to stand in pairs and of course no one wanted to stand with the zaunite. And she was about to ask to do the exercise on her own, as usual, when Viktor settled down next to her. They stared at each other for several long minutes, until the boy suggested starting the exercise. And at the end of the day, he confessed to her that he was a Zaunite too.

He had lived his entire life in Zaun, until he was eighteen. One evening after high school he was beaten to death in an alleyway and now he was unable to move without a cane. A friend of Piltover had taken him home after the incident, refusing to let him spend an extra night in a town where he had no one to take care of him. He confided in her, and Vi did the same. She told him about her parents' car crash, Vander's sudden death, Powder's trauma, Ekko's lonely childhood. And they became friends. Powder and Ekko had loved him at the first meeting.

- "Thanks Vi." he said, leaning back on his cane.

She pulls away from him and he turns towards them, an amused smile on his lips.

- "Ready for the lion's den?"

A little excited scream comes from Powder's mouth and Vi exchanges an amused look with Viktor, just before he presses his finger on the doorbell. Immediately, the door opens and a woman in her thirties appears. Certainly a member of the household staff, Vi thinks. Music and voices resonate behind her.

- "Miss Kirammann and the others are in the living room." simply announces the woman.

Vi thanks her with a nod and heads into the house, along with the others. They quickly find the living room and she sees the grimace on Viktor's face as they all notice the number of people here. A tall dark-haired man immediately approaches them and pulls Viktor into a hug. Vi laughs.

- "Jayce, I need to breathe." Viktor growls.
- "My apologies. It's good to see you." the boy said.

Jayce is Viktor's best friend. And it surprised Vi when she found out that he was the boy who had given Viktor a home in Piltover. Jayce is tall, athletic and a bit too charming for his own good. Viktor is charming too, of course, but skinny and nerdy. Two opposites.

The boy walks over to Powder and lifts her into his arms, a big smile on his face. And this time, he gets no resistance. Powder is more than happy, she raises her arms in the air, laughing. Then he puts it down and slaps his fist against Ekko's. And when he turns to her, she shoves her hands in her pockets and gives him a categorical look.

- "Not even in your dreams, pretty boy." she said.

He pouted, but accepted and simply banged his fist against hers.

He and Viktor pull away at one point, discussing a new science book. And Ekko pulls Powder towards the buffet. She stifles a laugh between her lips. She isn't even surprised. This kid is a stomach on legs.

Most of the people in the room are giving her nasty looks. Her, Powder, and Ekko. Most go to school with her. Piltover children, rich and without the slightest hint of respect for others.

One shoulder hits hers and she immediately recognizes the scent of lavender in the air. Caitlyn gives her a big smile when she meets her eyes and Vi's heart skips a beat. She smiles back, almost shyly.

- "I am glad you are here." confesses Caitlyn. "I know you would surely like to be somewhere else."
- "It's your last night in Piltover, Cupcake. There's nowhere else I wanna be tonight."

And that is a too painful truth.

- "I swear Viktor. All the kids in this school are assholes." Vi hisses.
- "I am a student at this school." recalls the boy.
- "Okay, you're the exception."

An amused laugh escapes from the boy's lips and he gladly accepts Vi's help to stand up when the bus approaches. Some days it's too painful for him to just take a step.

- "See you tomorrow, Vi. Be careful." he said.
- "See you tomorrow, Viktor. Send a message when you're home, okay?"

She helps him get on the bus and waves him one last time. The bus pulls away and she pulls her hood back over her head, shielding herself a bit from the fine rain that is pouring down on the city. She can't wait to get home, order pizza, and watch the last three episodes of Arcane with Powder and Ekko. This shit is addictive, she has no idea what she's going to do with her life while she waits for season two.

It has been a long day. Last day for exams and my god she doesn't want to open a book in her whole life.

A car pulls up close to her and she barely has time to look up when someone pushes the hood back over her head. She frowns and glares at the blonde who is smiling at her through the car window. Two girls and another guy are with him.

- "Shall I drop you off, babe?" he suggests.

The smile on the blonde's lips is supposed to be seductive, but it makes her nauseous more than anything else.

- "Why are you talking to the rat?" one of the girls asks, her voice horribly shrill.
- "She's hot." answers the blond.

A blue umbrella catches Vi's attention. And for a minute, the only thing she sees is delegate Kirammann a few feet away from them. The girl looks like she's about to intervene, again, and that pisses Vi off. She takes a breath, ignores the stupid comments in the car, ignores the rich girl who waits under an umbrella, and continues on her way. Powder and Ekko are waiting for her at home, that's all that matters. All that matters, Vi.

- "Is it true that your sister went to a psychiatric hospital?"

The question comes from the girl with the annoying voice. And suddenly, Vi no longer thinks of Powder and Ekko waiting at home for her. She remembers tears. Screams. Nightmares. Suicide attempts. Blood.

She turns to the car and slams her foot in the door brutally. Time stops at that moment. For a minute, no one speaks, no one moves. Just a minute. Then the blonde gets out of the car and pushes her back in anger. She laughs, gives him a smirk and smashes her fist against his nose. A crackle echoed in the air and she gave the others in the car a middle finger, before continuing on her way.

Her gaze falls on her hand. Shit, she's shaking. She shouldn't have done that, she knows that, but .. Shit. Footsteps echo behind her and she turns, angry. But it's not the guy with the bloody nose. It's Miss Caitlyn Kirammann and she - maybe - suddenly wants to break her nose too.

- "What the hell do you want?" Vi spits, fists clenched. "That's it, you won. I'm not coming back to your crappy school."

And she ran off. Far from all these assholes. Far from the perfect Caitlyn Kirammann. Far from this school. Far from that brighter future.

Powder and Ekko quickly return, their hands gripped by plates full of food. A laugh escapes from Caitlyn's lips. She leans a little more against Vi and gives the other two an amused smile.

- "Is the food to your taste?" she asks, even though she already knows the answer.
- "Fuck, this is the best thing I have ever eaten in my life." Powder answers.

Ekko nods eagerly, his mouth full.
And Vi gently shakes her head, her hands in her pockets. Caitlyn gives her a cheerful smile. And fuck, she would love to box that smile up and keep it in her pocket forever. The heart in her chest hurts, and Caitlyn has no idea how much this heart belongs to her.

- "Everyone ! Your attention, please. "

Jayce's voice grabs everyone's attention and he throws a glass in the air, a big smile on his lips. He's totally in his element, in that nice suit and his hair slicked back. And for once, Vi isn't kidding about his chic appearance. He's handsome.

- “Thanks to all of you for being here.” he said in a loud voice. “Tomorrow, for the first time in years, I will be leaving Piltover. Obtaining this place at Ionia University is a huge source of pride. And I'm happy to do this with my lifelong friend Caitlyn Kirammann. ”

Applause echoes through the room and Vi glances at the girl next to her. She's beautiful, too. She's probably the most beautiful person in this room.

- “An exceptional woman.” he adds. “Caitlyn, we're going to set Ionia University on fire.”

He raises his glass a little higher, his gaze fixed on the rich girl. And the room once again filled with applause and congratulations. Vi turns away from Caitlyn and immediately falls into Viktor's comforting gaze, as if he knows exactly what she needs right now. He gives her a small smile and she stifles the rapid beating of her heart to pieces.

Taylor Swift's voice accompanies the sound of the knife on the wooden plank. She carefully cuts the vegetables into small squares and puts them in the pot on the heat. She's the only person in this apartment who knows what to do in a kitchen. Powder is the type to set fire on purpose and Ekko to bake cookies at every meal. She's tried once or twice to teach them how to cook properly, but in their words, they don't need it since they'll live with her forever anyway. She finds it cute and annoying at the same time.

- “Vi!”

Powder's call echoes throughout the apartment and she rolls her eyes. That girl is lazy. She'd rather scream than walk to the kitchen.

- “Vi! Vi! Vi! Vi!”
- "What do you want, demon?" the pink haired girl exclaims.
- “There's a rich girl at the door!”
- “A pretty rich girl.” corrects Ekko's voice.
- “She has a weird accent.” adds Powder.
- “A nice weird accent.” corrects Ekko again.
- “Are you okay? Am I not disturbing you, Ekko? ”
- “No, sorry. I only love you Powder. ” the boy exclaims.

Vi would have rolled her eyes again, if the description of that girl at the door didn't intrigue her. She doesn't know anyone who fits that description. And she hasn't returned to school since the incident. The memories of that day come back to her and suddenly she knows who is at the door.

She lowers the heat under the pot and walks to the entrance to the apartment where, indeed, Caitlyn Kirammann is waiting with Powder and Ekko. She crosses her arms and frowns, her eyes angry. Must be a fucking joke, serious.

- "What the hell are you doing here?"

The question draws attention to her. The tone of her voice clearly expresses anger and it was obviously enough to make Powder stop laughing. She turns to Caitlyn, her eyebrows furrowed and points a finger at her.

- “What have you done to my sister?” she asks.

A grimace creeps up on Ekko's lips and he slips an arm around his girlfriend's waist, pulling her away from the pretty rich girl. Powder is sweet, smart, and funny, but when it comes to Vi, she turns into a real demon. He doesn't want to imagine the damage if the two sisters hated each other or were enemies.

- “Abandon the mission, soldier.” he exclaims, disappearing into a corridor with Powder.

She'll thank Ekko for that, later. For now, it's only her and Caitlyn Kirammann.

- "Why aren't you coming to class anymore?" she asks, with her pretty weird accent.
- "It's not your business." Vi replied immediately, curtly.
- "Viktor is worried, he says he hasn't heard from you in days."

A small sigh escapes the lips of the pink haired girl. She ignored all of the boy's messages, unable to tell him that she had done a terrible thing. He didn't need any more worries on his shoulders. He's far too kind for this world, Viktor.

- "I remind you that I broke the nose of a rich kid from school, I don't belong there anymore. And I don't have to go back to know I've been fired. They were just waiting for that anyway. Everyone."

A hiccup echoed behind her and she turned just in time to see Ekko and Powder spying on them not very discreetly. Ekko gives her a goofy smile, as Powder looks away.

- “Pay no attention to us, we're going .. We're going to set the table!” the boy said.

He brings Powder into the kitchen and Vi turns her attention back to Caitlyn, who visibly hasn't taken her eyes off her. She doesn't understand this sudden obsession. They don't even know each other. She just knows that the chic girl is the heir to one of the richest families in Piltover and that she is friends with Viktor. They come from two different worlds. And Vi would rather it stay that way. Hanging out with rich kids only brings problems.

- "You were not kicked out of school." Caitlyn admits. “I spoke to my mom, who sits on the college council, and it's all settled. You can come back and-. ”
- "Are you kidding me ?"

The anger in Vi's voice hits the walls of the apartment and Caitlyn frowns, visibly lost at the reaction.

- "What the fuck is your problem?" Vi exclaims angrily. “I don't need your pity. I am not an act of charity! I don't need your help. "

Caitlyn's blue eyes land on hers and for a moment, she's surprised by the anger she finds inside. A wave of anger. The girl is standing with her back straight and giving him a bad look.

- “I don't pity you, Vi.” she said in a dry voice.
- “So why did you do this? Why ? You don't even know me and-. ”
- “Because that was the right thing to do.”

The answer surprises her and she doesn't say anything more. Caitlyn sighs, calms down a bit, and gives her a softer look.

- “You don't deserve all this, just because you're someone from Zaun. This is discrimination and I don't like it. Someone should have stepped in a long time ago. I did it, because it was the right thing to do. I'm sorry I took so long to realize this. ”

Part of Vi wants to kick her out, tell her to fuck off and never come back. But .. the other part of Vi needs that, someone to apologize for all the shit she's been going through at this school. The two girls stare at each other for a few minutes, until Powder's voice echoes behind Vi.

- “You were right, she's really pretty.”

That’s all it takes to make the anger go away for good. Vi laughs and very quickly, Caitlyn joins her. And shit, even their laughs are from two different universes. Vi laughs loudly, without limits. Caitlyn laughed politely, a hand over her mouth.

- "And I thought you were the crazy sister, babe." said Ekko.
- “Vi is a bit crazy too. Remember when that boy from the drama play was a jerk to you." Powder huffed, resting her head on the boy's shoulder.
- “She used a key to write the hamlet monologue on his car. That was so cool. "
- "To be or not to be, that is the question."
- "Shut up !" Vi exclaims, red cheeks.

And the blush doesn't get better when she meets Caitlyn's amused gaze.

- “Kleenex, Ekko.”

The boy nods, pulls a tissue from his jacket pocket and puts it in Powder's hands. The girl hastens to pat her cheeks - mimicking the rich girls she sees on TV - and gives Caitlyn a wet look, near Vi. Vi can hardly hold back a laugh.

- “Caitlyn.” Powder said softly. "I will miss you so much."
- “You too, Powder. But I promise to call and send letters. "
- "And food ?" Ekko asks.
- "And food." confirms Caitlyn, a laugh on her lips.

Ekko nods, delighted and shoves a cookie in his mouth.

Caitlyn leans a bit against Vi's body and instinctively, she slips an arm around her best friend's waist. Powder gives her a look that says it all, but doesn't bring the subject into the conversation.

- “Five years will pass quickly.” Caitlyn adds.

And Vi isn't sure who Caitlyn is trying to convince by saying that.

Powder lets out a long sigh and puts an arm around her boyfriend's shoulders.

- “You leave me alone in a house full of men.” she whispers.
- "What about me?" Vi launches, an arched eyebrow.
- “That's what I said, a house full of men.”

The smirk on Powder's lips makes her want to throw something in her face, but luckily for her, Caitlyn leans further into the embrace, a gleeful laugh on the edge of her lips.

- “Don't listen to her. I love you Vi. You’re my favorite sister.” said Ekko.
- “Thanks little man. You've always been my favorite.”

She sticks her tongue out at her sister as she says this and Powder responds with a middle finger, before turning to Ekko.

- “Ekko. You really need to stop calling Vi your sister. "
- "What ? Why ?" he asks, frowning.
- “Because you and I are a couple and Vi is my biological sister.”

The boy thought for a moment, before pulling a face.

- "Eurk, that’s a bit gross." he said.

Powder nods, stealing a cookie from him.

- "We should break up, then."
- "Exactly !" the girl exclaims. “It's over, Ekko. Now I'm leaving. I'm going to flirt with Viktor. He's pretty damn hot for a nerd. ”

She winks at Caitlyn and hops off to Viktor who is quietly drinking a glass of wine.

- “Powder, wait, come back! I love you ! Sorry !"

Ekko follows her quickly, a pout on his lips.

Vi laughs at the nonsense of these two. And she doesn't say anything when Caitlyn's head lands on her shoulder. They are a little too close to each other, so close that Vi feels the brunette's heart pounding against her skin. And like hers, it beats way too fast.

- "I will miss all of this."

One of her least favorite places is the college cafeteria. Food is expensive and people are loud. Most of the time, she brings her own lunch and eats it on the roof of the school, all by herself. But sometimes, when it's too ugly outside, she's forced to move into the cafeteria. And put up with the mess at school. She misses school in Zaun. At least back then Ekko and Powder always found a way to sneak up on her at lunchtime and even though she moaned, she really liked it.

With a sigh on her lips, she puts her tray down on an empty table and takes a seat. She retrieves the book from her bag, “Milk and Honey” by Rupi Kaur and starts to read, while eating. She loves poetry and this book is a gift from Ekko. She remembers that day. He had received his very first paycheck and returned to the apartment with gifts for Powder and her. She had asked him to use the money for him, to have fun, but he had insisted and she considers this book a treasure now.

A tray lands gently on the table, and she comes out of her reading to meet Viktor's smile. The boy takes the chair to his right and steals a piece of bread from her. The next second, Caitlyn appears out of nowhere and settles in the chair to her left. And a tall, athletic dark-haired man - Jayce, a friend of Viktor and Caitlyn - takes the last chair, in front of her. She gives Viktor a lost look, but he just shrugs. She had only been back to school a few days and hadn't seen Caitlyn since that day in her apartment. Viktor and Vi had chatted for a bit, and he had confessed to her that he was very glad she was back to school. She's about to ask what's going on, when Jayce gives her a marveling look.

- “Milk and Honey!” he exclaims. “I absolutely love this book! It's a masterpiece. What's your favorite poem? "

It takes her a few minutes to realize that the pretty boy is talking to her. Because of all the people in this school, why would he talk to her? But he gives her a big smile and she recites her favorite poem from the book. And miss the smile that Viktor and Caitlyn exchange.

- "You will be the one that I will miss the most."

Vi really - really - hopes Caitlyn can't feel her heartbeat right now. Because confession warms her as much as it breaks her heart. Damn, Caitlyn is unfair. What's she supposed to say to that?

She finally chooses humor and takes a breath, a broken chuckle on her lips.

- "Are you sure the thing you will miss the most aren't the insanely expensive sheets in your bedroom?" she breathes.

A small laugh escaped Caitlyn's lips and the girl moved closer to her, as if it was possible to be even closer.

- “The unbelievably expensive linens in my room totally come with me.” she admits. "But.."

The sudden sadness in the pretty girl's voice, Vi hears it. She tightens her arm around Caitlyn's waist and places a kiss on her forehead. She waited, said nothing, until Caitlyn was ready to say the next thing.

- "This is not the same." Caitlyn whispers against her shoulder. “You, it's not the same. I'm.. afraid that I won't be able to do all of this without you, Vi."

So don't go.
The words burn her tongue, but she says nothing. She's not allowed to do that.

She gently pushes Caitlyn away and grabs her hands in hers, stroking them with her fingertips.

- “Caitlyn.” she calls, in a soft voice. “Don't talk nonsense. You are.. incredible, okay? You can do it all, with or without me. ”

Caitlyn's blue eyes are shining and Vi knows she's holding back from crying.

- “And it's not like it's over, eh. We'll call each other. We'll send each other lots of letters, okay? " adds Vi. "Everything will be fine, Cait."

Caitlyn's body bangs gently against hers and she hugs her immediately. They both need this. To sense the other's presence. Three years doing everything together. Three years laughing, crying, discussing, dancing, studying. And Vi has no idea how to live for five years without Caitlyn by her side.

Vi glares at the math book on her desk and sighs. She's been trying to solve this exercise for over an hour, but she can't figure it out. And although she knows full well that in the end, she'll ask Powder or Ekko to explain - because they love math - she tries over and over again. Why is she having such a hard time with college? She could have simply been a burglar or a bouncer in a bar. Why study? Seriously, Violet.

The door to her bedroom swings open and out of the corner of her eye, she recognizes Caitlyn's blue hair. The girl closes the door behind her, puts her bag aside and lies down on Vi's full length, as if it were her own bedroom. And Vi wants to laugh and cry at the same time. But instead, she looks to her best friend and raises an eyebrow.

- "Remind me why are you in my room when you literally have a castle waiting for you in Piltover?" she asks, curiously.
- “I love being here, it's an inexplicable feeling.” Caitlyn simply replies, her eyes closed.

Vi does not look any further. She nods and goes back to her homework.
Caitlyn likes to do this. Come at any time and stay here. She does this so often that Vi sometimes forgets that she doesn't really live with Powder, Ekko, and her. Besides, Powder happily duplicated the keys for her. Caitlyn has literally become part of that family, with or without her consent. And she knows that sometimes Caitlyn Kirammann's life isn't that easy, despite the plentiful money and the big - very big - house.

- "What is this ?"

Caitlyn's question pulls her out of her concentration and she turns her head to find the brunette reading a sheet of paper lying on Vi's bedside table. Oh shit, she forgot to put this away.

- "Nothing important." she said, shrugging her shoulders.
- "It is a song ?" Caitlyn asks. “Vi. Do you write songs? ”

Vi shrugs, a little grimace on her lips.

- “It's nothing important. They're not even good. "

She tried poetry first, wrote small pieces of poetry in a notebook, but that wasn't enough for the overflow of emotions in her guts. So one night, she grabbed her adoptive father's old guitar and strummed the strings. And it had become a habit, actually. Grab the guitar and write songs. But even though she suspected Powder and Ekko knew, she hadn't told anyone. She wasn't as good as Vander and she didn't have such a pretty voice as her mother. She was just her and shit, that didn't even matter.

- “Are you kidding? She is awesome." Caitlyn exclaims, with her chic accent. "Do you have others ?"

Vi gets up from her chair and walks over to the bed. She wrinkles the tip of her nose.

- "I'll take this secret to my grave, Cupcake."

“Cupcake” does not respond. She seems to be thinking about something and Vi takes the opportunity to lean over the bed, above Caitlyn, to pick up the topic of this discussion. But Caitlyn pulls the paper away, a hint of determination in her eyes.

- "Is there any about me?"

The question surprises Vi so much that she almost loses her balance on her own bed. She glares at Caitlyn who is watching her, an arched eyebrow, obviously waiting for an answer. And shit, Vi sincerely hopes she isn't blushing because of this idiot. How can she ask such a thing without stuttering? She hates her.

She takes a breath, takes a second to calm her excited heart, and puts a teasing smile on her lips.

- "Would you like that?"

The answer never comes.
But the temperature in the room suddenly rises. And Vi is trapped above Caitlyn's body, breathing short, her gaze in hers. She knows she should go back to her office, leave the song in Caitlyn's hands, but her body refuses to move. And when Caitlyn's eyes move to her lips, her heart skips a beat and her own gaze falls lower on the brunette's face. Caitlyn is her best friend, she shouldn't do this. So why does she feel that the more seconds go by, the closer their faces are? Why does she feel like she feels the brunette's breath against her lips? Why-.

The bedroom door slams open, slams against the wall, and they hastily separate. Powder stops in the doorway, a plate full of cookies in her hands, her brow furrowed. She knows. Vi is sure of it. Powder is smart, she must know that something has changed in this friendship on Vi's side. She's falling in love with her best friend, and fuck, that's not a good thing.

Her sister said nothing and threw herself on the bed, next to Caitlyn. Ekko also enters the bedroom, a cookie in his mouth, and climbs onto Vi's desk.

- “A cookie for my new sister?” offers Powder.
- “Your new sister?” Caitlyn repeats, picking up a cookie.
- “Yeah, I decided to adopt you. I like you better than Vi. ”

Vi grabs a pen from the desk and throws it at Powder's head, as Caitlyn laughs. A laugh less restrained and polite than that day in the entrance to the apartment. She relaxes more and more with them. The pink haired girl grabs the cookie from Ekko's hand and takes a bite of it.

- “I prefer Vi, me.” launches Ekko. “She's so cool and strong.”
- "Yeah, but Caitlyn has a nicer ass." Powder said.

And Vi almost chokes on the cookie.

Caitlyn ends the hug.
She walks away with tears in her eyes and takes a breath, her arms still around Vi's neck. And Vi would like never to have to move from there. She would like to keep it just to herself, for the whole evening and the whole life, maybe. But Caitlyn walks away and Vi is unable to hold her back.

- "I need to chat with everyone a bit, although I would love to stay with you." Caitlyn said.

We don't care about others. Stay with me.
But she can't say that.

- "I understand, Cait. Don't worry. "

She grabs her best friend's hands in hers and brings them to her lips. She places light kisses on his white skin, just one more minute. Then Caitlyn disappears across the room and Vi finds herself alone, her heart broken in her hands.

She takes a look around, finds no one she knows, and decides to take a break. She walks away from it all and settles down on a bench at the far end of the room - huge, by the way. She removes her guitar from its case and strums the strings, absent-mindedly. She needs to do this, it calms her to feel the ropes under her fingers. And she needs all the calm she can get to put out the burns in her chest. She doesn't want to feel anything right now. Maybe she shouldn't have come. It's too hard.

Viktor soon appears to his left and takes a seat on a piece of bench, his eyes weary.

- “I love Jayce, but I hate these kinds of events.” he said.
- “Not me. I love that, I feel classy.” Powder exclaims.

The girl almost throws herself on the bench, to Vi's right, and Ekko immediately joins them, a new plate full of food. He sits directly on the floor without worrying about people's gazes and sticks his back to his girlfriend's legs. The three of them are a strange little group. Vi's pink hair, Powder's madness, Viktor's cane, and Ekko's dark skin. They stand out in this room and everywhere else, in fact. But Vi wouldn't trade it for the world. It's worth all the disgusted and disrespectful looks people throw in their direction.

- "Are you sure what you are doing?"

Viktor's voice echoes to her left and suddenly her fingers are no longer moving on the strings of the guitar. She knows very well what he is talking about. He got it, without her saying anything. He's smart.

- "It's better like this." she whispers, painfully. “We come from two different universes.”

A small voice screams at him that they can just create a new world together. But she rejects it.

- “Oil and water.” she adds, more to convince herself, than Viktor.
- "Don't you want to at least tell her before she leaves?"

Yes. She would love it so much. It burns his tongue. But she can't.

- "No. Caitlyn doesn't like me like that anyway, and I don't need her telling me to find out. " she said, shrugging. 

How could Caitlyn possibly love someone like her ?

She deserves better. She deserves so much better.

- “I would go out with you, if I could, Vi. You're amazing." Powder breathes, in a soft voice.
- “I was totally in love with you as a kid. It broke my heart to choose between Powder and you, Vi. "

Ekko's confession makes her laugh, and she gently shakes her head, amused. She prefers to laugh. She doesn't want to focus on the pain in her chest. She wants to forget.

- “You are wonderful, Violet.” Viktor said. “And I'm not Miss Caitlyn Kirammann. But I am not moving. You're stuck with me for a while. ”

Tears are on the edge of her eyes, she knows it. She feels the tingling in her eyelids. She doesn't say anything, sniffs softly and lowers her head. She focuses on the feel of the strings under her fingers.

A "shit" escapes her lips and she glances at her phone screen. The wallpaper is a photo of Powder, Ekko and Caitlyn, all three asleep on the living room sofa. She remembers that evening. Caitlyn had come without warning, as usual. And Vi had to leave the apartment to work. When she had returned, she had found the three of them sleeping soundly, piled awkwardly on the small sofa. She laughed silently, took a picture, and took everyone to their respective rooms. Powder and Ekko stayed together overnight. And although Vi had offered that she take the sofa more than once so that Caitlyn could sleep peacefully in the bed, the brunette never agreed and sleeping together had become a habit whenever Caitlyn spent the night there. 

Caitlyn. 
Caitlyn. 
Caitlyn. 

Cupcake.

Vi is in love with her.

She had been wondering about this for a while and it was Ekko who pointed out the obvious one evening. He had simply told her that he had never seen Vi as happy as since Caitlyn had been in the three of their lives. And that he was happy with that. She deserved that happiness, he said. And as much as it burned Vi's tongue to contradict him, the truth was there. Caitlyn was making her happy. Vi was hopelessly in love with her best friend.
And she was going to tell her.

Who knows. Maybe Caitlyn would be happy about that.

But before that, she needed to finish writing that damn letter. If she did share her feelings with Caitlyn out loud, she is sure to stutter and say nonsense. A letter sounds like a safe idea. But it's two in the morning and it's been three times since she has started again. Three times is a lot.

A knock on the front door brings her back to reality.
It's late and it's raining hard outside.

Still, Caitlyn is standing on the other side of the front door.

She's soaked from the rain and Vi pushes back a cold chill that hits her to tell her to come in quickly. But Caitlyn doesn't come in. She throws herself into his arms, a big smile on her lips. And for the first time in years, Vi feels her heart shattering to pieces.

- "I am admitted to Ionia University!" Caitlyn announces, hugging her. “To complete my studies there. Jayce and I, in fact. We were both taken. ”

Ionia.
Another country.
With Jayce.

She wants to run away, lock herself in her room, scream until she cries, but her body refuses. She felt his arms move on their own and hug Caitlyn back.

- “Congratulations, Cupcake.” she says. "You deserve it."

The brunette's arms tighten against her and she feels the girl's cheek against hers.

- "I wanted to tell you first." She confesses. "You are my best friend, Vi."

Best friends, Vi. Just best friends.

- "It's great, Cait'. I'm happy for you."

A happy laugh escapes Caitlyn's lips and she pulls away from the hug. And it hits Vi brutally. The girl in front of her, she looks so.. happy. Happier than she's ever seen before tonight.

- "I have to go. My parents are going to kill me if they find out that I went out in this weather at this time." she says, laughing. "Thank you for everything, Violet."

A kiss on the cheek and Caitlyn disappears in the rain, not realizing what she just did.

Vi goes back to her room and throws the letter in the trash can at the foot of the desk.

An entire room separates Vi and Caitlyn from each other.
A whole room and about twenty people. Classy girls and classy boys. Rich, handsome, smart. Lots of people, better than Vi.

And yet, for a second, it's her eyes that Caitlyn finds. They exchange a soft, broken look, as if there is no one in this room except them. But reality returns and with a last sad smile, Caitlyn turns her attention back to Jayce and other college mates.

Powder's arm slides around her waist and the younger rests her head on her shoulder, a loving smile on her lips. Vi tightens her grip on the guitar. Ekko's hand wraps gently around her ankle, even as he is looking away. It’s his way of saying "hey, here I am". Vi slides her fingers over the ropes. Viktor's head lands on her free shoulder and he places a kiss on her cheek.

- "Is there any about me?"

Vi starts playing.

- “How could a heart like yours ever love a heart like mine? How could I live before? How could I have been so blind? You opened my eyes. ”

Chapter Text

And three years later, i'm still here lmao - hi !

Just a quick note to tell y'all that i've started writing this story again in its entirety, i'm rewriting everything. There will be new scenes added to the old rewritten ones. I'll publish the new version as a new chapter, I'll leave the old one online.

And if originally, this story was supposed to be a simple one-chapter story, known that in fact today it's a thing with three spin-offs. The official sequel to this story is 'cause after all this time, i'm still into you - a sequel based on Caitlyn and Vi, but which also includes other characters.

And not yet published, because still being written, there are two spin-offs and an epilogue :
- a beautiful damned angel first spin-off focused on the story of Ekko and Powder, as much in the past, the present and the future. And ofc with all the other characters.
- staring at the sun second spin-off focused on the story of Sky and Viktor, as much in the past, the present and the future. With all the other characters.
- vintage t-shirt & red wine epilogue that focuses on Vi and Caitlyn, with some memories of the past, but especially moments of the future. 

All the stories are linked to each other.

I leave you with a small extract from the new writing of this story, and the link for a great discord for Arcane Fans, cool place, join us : https://discord.gg/4au3sfkT (link valid 7 days, don't hesitate to ask me again if it doesn't work).

𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒂 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔 (𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒂 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆) — [Violet & Caitlyn]

[cupcake ♥]
(18:29) need help vi
red or blue ?
or black ?
maybe white ?

[vi]
(18:29) if it’s for ur underwear, then black

[cupcake ♥]
(18:30) people won’t see my underwear tonight you know
or my mother risks a heart attack
or to shoot everyone
it’s for the dress

[vi]
(18:30) it’s a shame
blue
it’s your color
it suits you

[cupcake ♥] 
(18:32) thank you violet ♥

[vi]
(18:33) fuck you

[cupcake ♥]
(18:33) ;)

Unsteady breathing echoes in the bathroom.
Unsteady breathing drowned out almost immediately - thank goodness - by the sound of water drumming in the porcelain sink. A glance, just one, at the mirror and Vi looks away a second later,
[.. as if the image, her reflection , had burned her somehow.]

She sighs, a sort of courageous one, and she looks up again.

And there she is. Black cargo, red shirt wide open, tired eyes, wet hair, pink specks on her cheeks, and she doesn’t like what she sees.. and she hates what she sees. Sometimes Vi’s eyes would wander to Caitlyn’s face, maybe a bit too long, a bit too often, to be honest, but sometimes Vi’s eyes would wander to Caitlyn’s face and.. god.. what a sight. Where Caitlyn could describe lots and lots of imperfections, Vi could write lots and lots of poetry. Words and words that would go on and on about what a fucking word of art Caitlyn’s face was. Eyes that could rival the most beautiful clear skies, eyes that made Vi want to throw herself into the void, spread non-existent wings and fly over that blue. Hair that constantly reminded her of the beauty of the night, the beauty of darkness, the beauty of moments stolen around a poorly lit room. Smile that would burn the heart of the most horrible person in the world, a smile that burned Vi’s heart .

Yeah , Vi could write lots and lots of poetry about Caitlyn,
[.. but every time the tip of her pen touches a piece of paper, she forgets how to write.]

It’s quite funny, you know. Because where Caitlyn was the most beautiful person in the universe in her eyes, where Caitlyn appeared in clean lines, full of color, Vi appeared in jerky lines, black and gray that mixed in a fierce battle - nothing really beautiful.

With a loud, deafening bang, the bathroom door hits its full length against the wall. In the crack of it, Powder gives her a hugh smile - and years later, that smile still warms Vi’s heart. 

“Vi,” there’s a clear hint of excitement in her little sister’s voice, and a bit of annoyance too, “What are you doing ? It’s almost t-.. Ew.” She exclaims mid-sentence, a look of disgust on her face, “What are you doing half naked in the bathroom ?”

“Would you rather have me half naked in the kitchen ?” Vi immediately replies, an eyebrow raised.

“I’m gonna be sick,” Ekko adds, just behind Powder, hands in front of his eyes.