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“Every way I slice it, if I go after your sister alone, one of us comes back in a box.” Caitlyn said factually.
Vi shook her head resolutely, her gaze burning a hole into the floor at her feet. Her expression was pinched, eyes screwed up in distress. She was sitting on Caitlyn’s bed, elbows digging into her knees as she leaned heavily forward. That was the only way to describe her; heavy with grief, resignation.
“I can do this myself. No one else needs to get hurt,” Vi said obdurately. There was guilt in the tense line of her shoulders, in the way she bowed her head. It weighed her down.
Vi had an iron will and a spine of steel, but that resulted in the unfortunate side effect of making her incredibly hard headed. Caitlyn found her stubbornness both endearing and infuriating, most days.
But in that moment, curling in on herself and away from Caitlyn, Vi looked so alone. Like a single stone tower against the vastness of the sky.
Caitlyn frowned deeply, unhappily. That wouldn’t do at all. Not when she wanted nothing more than for Vi to look at her.
“Going alone is nearly a suicide mission. Your sister is unstable, armed and incredibly dangerous,” Caitlyn insisted.
“I know that! But Jinx is my problem to deal with. I made her into… that, so it’s only right I should be the one to stop her.”
Vi ran a hand through her mess of red hair, agitated from her outburst. Her fingers tightened as she tugged harshly at the strands, before her hands dropped listlessly back to her lap. Caitlyn took a step closer, tempted to reach out, but decided against it then.
“I know you feel that way, but it’s not your fault. Silco influenced her and enabled her worst impulses. You’ve always tried to talk her out of them. Vi, you were just a teenager. You were so young. Blaming yourself won’t change the past, or the present.” Caitlyn argued, voice softening at the end.
Vi was silent as she listened, eyes downcast in grief. Caitlyn wanted desperately to soothe Vi, to make the shadows in her expression disappear. A single tear rolled down Vi’s freckled cheek. Caitlyn knelt down in front of Vi, brushing it away.
Leaning into the touch, Vi covered Caitlyn’s hand with her own and kept it there. Hers was rough and calloused, a contrast to Caitlyn’s unmarred, fine-boned one.
“Jinx is still out there, and she needs to be stopped. You’re not alone, Vi. Let’s do this together, please?”
Vi finally looked at Caitlyn, unshed tears glistening in her eyes. A small, sad smile graced her lips as she said, “Oh, cupcake. Why are you so sweet?”
Caitlyn’s lips parted in surprise, and a second later she was pulled into a crushing hug. She instinctively wrapped her arms around Vi, clinging to her. Vi held her just as tightly, murmuring in Caitlyn’s ear.
“Okay. Together, then.”
Caitlyn slumped more into the embrace, clutching at Vi’s beautiful, broad shoulders. The relief she felt was palpable, a dizzying warmth that spread through her whole body. Vi gripped her a little tighter, and Caitlyn welcomed it. If she could stay in the circle of Vi’s arms forever, she would.
The distinct urge to keep Vi near wasn’t a new one, but the strength with which it overtook her was. When Vi had left Piltover, a clarity colder than the pouring rain had hit her, regret a hot iron in her chest as she replayed the scene. I should have gone after her. I shouldn’t have let her go.
Now, Vi was there with her again, and Caitlyn wouldn’t, couldn’t let her slip away.
“Stay,” Caitlyn breathed, the word barely audible even in the quiet of the room. She wasn’t sure what she was asking. For Vi to stay at her house, in her life? All of the above, if she was honest with herself. Her chest ached at the mere thought of Vi leaving again.
Caitlyn didn’t think Vi heard her until she said gently, “I’m not going anywhere, cupcake. You got me.”
Needing to see her, Caitlyn pulled back slightly. Those grey eyes were half-lidded, gaze startlingly tender. Vi traced a single finger down her jaw to her chin, hand coming to rest on her cheek. Eyes fluttering shut, Caitlyn leaned into the touch. Vi’s breath ghosted over her face, Caitlyn’s heart rate tripling. Was Vi going to kiss her?
Her eyes opened when Vi rested her forehead against Caitlyn’s. Loath to pull away, Caitlyn fisted a hand in Vi’s jacket, centering herself.
She wasn’t sure who was comforting who at that point, and frankly she didn’t care. All that mattered was that Vi was there, promising to stay. Caitlyn couldn’t deny the fluttering of her heart, but her feelings could wait. What they needed was food, sleep, and a plan.
If we make it through this, I’ll tell her.