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Some soulmates meet at a young age.
Their love is pure and innocent. Her baby sister, Powder, had that one-in-a-million chance when she met Ekko at the age of only five or six years old. She can't remember. But what she remembers is the way their eyes lit up when they first saw each other, like two pieces of a puzzle fitting perfectly together. And it was the purest kind of love anyone could imagine. It was a love that made her both envious and happy for her sister.
Some soulmates die together.
Their love is so strong that they can't live without each other. Her parents did everything together, and that included death too. They died fighting for what they believed in, for the future of their beloved children, their bodies left cold and lifeless on the bridge between Zaun and Piltover. There was something poetic in that, in a horrific way. Two souls ending their mortal journey in the same way, in the same place.
But no one has ever heard of soulmates not meeting at least once in their lifetime.
The idea of soulmates was something that everyone in Runeterra believed in. It was an unbreakable bond that transcended time and space, connecting two people who were meant to be together. From childhood, she had heard stories of soulmates who had met in the most unexpected ways, from chance encounters on the street to being seated next to each other on a train.
One thing that was always emphasized was that soulmates had to meet, no matter the circumstances. It was an unspoken rule, an unbreakable law of the universe. It was said that the bond between soulmates was so strong that even the most powerful forces couldn't keep them apart. They were tied, fated to meet and be together.
So why does Vi lie here, fighting for every breath, feeling like fate has fucked her over?
The first time Vi saw her soulmate was when she was eight.
Vi opened her eyes and instantly knew it was a dream. It must have been because instead of the permanent darkness of Zaun's depths, she was so used to, the first thing she saw was blue.
The sky above her wasn't tinted with her city's ever-present smoke. Fluffy white clouds flowed lazily above her, and the light breeze didn't have the familiar smell of toxic gasses always flooding the streets of her home.
As her mind cleared and she started to be more aware of her surroundings, Vi felt something tickling her cheeks. She glanced over to find herself in a clearing between trees.
Groaning, Vi finally got up, brushed the permanent dust from her pants, and felt a weird feeling of dew on the soles of her feet. Looking down, she saw blades of grass poking through her toes. The softness and coolness of the earth beneath her were just as unfamiliar of the feeling as everything else here.
After wiggling her toes for a bit, trying to get used to the grass touching her bare skin, she raised her head to get a better look around. And yup, she was definitely not in Zaun. Not even near her city, if she was to guess.
Awe struck her as she took everything in. The trees were lush and green, their leaves rustling in the breeze. In some places, she could see flowers she has never seen in her life. Bushes with small fruits near the edge of the forest surrounding her. Again, not something she could name, let alone, has ever seen. She took a deep breath, relishing the fresh scent of the air around her.
Vi couldn't believe this was all in her mind, her imagination couldn't possibly come up with something like this.
But the weirdest part of it all was that she was sure this was a dream, and yet everything felt so damn real.
She turned her gaze again, and there, in the distance, she saw a small house made of wood with a thatched roof. She wondered who could possibly live in such a place, far away from the industrialized society she knew.
It was all too beautiful to be true, and still, somehow, she was here.
Before Vi could make a step to take a better look at the house, she noticed movement out of the corner of her eye. Turning her head, she saw a small figure, a girl in a pink dress, stumbling through the trees and catching herself just in time before falling face-first on the soft grass.
Vi frowned. So she wasn't here alone, huh?
Being herself as she was, Vi said the first thing that came to her mind, "Who the hell are you?"
The girl stopped abruptly in her tracks, looking startled. As she raised her head, Vi saw her - blue, blue, blue - eyes doubling in size and making a few short steps back. She had a shy, awkward look about her, her face turning bright red.
"I-I'm Caitlyn," she stuttered out eventually, her voice barely above a whisper. "Who are you?"
Vi was taken aback by the girl's reaction. It was like she had never seen a breathing human being in her life. That's pretty weird if anyone asked her. But they were here together, and the girl gave out her name, so why shouldn't she return the favor?
It's just a stupid dream, right?
"Vi," she replied, a bit more gently this time.
They stood there for a moment, watching each other from a safe distance, and Vi couldn't help but feel drawn to Caitlyn, even though she didn't know her. She wondered where Caitlyn came from, why she was here in this dream with her. Or if she was even real in the first place.
Caitlyn looked down at her bare feet, then back up at Vi. "It's nice to meet you," she said softly.
Vi nodded, feeling a strange mix of excitement and nervousness. She had never met someone like this before, someone who seemed so innocent. Even Powder had her mean moments (not that Vi didn't encourage it), but again, being born in Zaun made you this way from the start.
And yet, Vi felt like Caitlyn was somehow meant to be here with her in this dream.
As they continued to stand there, Vi took in Caitlyn's appearance. Her long, midnight blue hair flowed below her shoulders. Her skin was pale and as soft-looking as the fabric of her fancy dress.
However, what struck Vi the most, were her eyes. Blue like the sky above them. Blue like clean water, Vi only heard about. Blue, blue, blue.
She's pretty, Vi decided then as she took the first step. Caitlyn did the same. And it was as if an invisible rope was pulling them to close the distance. Vi's heart beat faster as she approached Caitlyn, who was still staring at her with those big, blue eyes.
But as Vi walked closer, she eventually hit something with her forehead. She yelped, rubbing her head and frowning at the sting. She looked up to see the culprit. And there it was, a sheer, almost invisible barrier, or more like a veil flowing slightly in front of her. She put her hands on it and pushed, and…
Nothing happened.
"What in the hell?" she exclaimed, frustration laced in her voice.
Caitlyn, who still had a few steps more to cross, rushed over as she saw Vi bumping into the wall between them. When she was close enough, Vi noticed worry in her eyes.
"Are you okay?" she asked, her voice trembling a little.
"Yeah," Vi nodded, rubbed her forehead again, and then pointed to the wall. "What's that thing?" she muttered.
Caitlyn examined the barrier, running her hand over the surface. "I don't know," she admitted quietly. "Maybe it's here for a reason?"
"And what reason would that be?" Vi scoffed, her patience running thin. She was never good with standing still, always on the move, always doing something, anything.
Caitlyn shrugged, her eyes still scanning the barrier. "Maybe it's some kind of magical boundary?"
"Magical?" Vi scoffed. "That's ridiculous."
"You do know we are in a dream, right?" Caitlyn asked, raising an eyebrow at her. "If I were to make a guess, I would say anything can happen in a dream."
That… made a lot of sense, actually. Vi couldn't argue with this logic even if she wanted to. And if what Caitlyn said was true, then Vi could play along. There was nothing harmless in running your imagination if it's just a dream, right?
"It can be a force field to keep out some evil gods or something."
Caitlyn giggled. "Evil gods? I don't think so."
Vi grinned at Caitlyn's laughter. The sound was nice, like the tinkling of a bell. "Well, it could be anything, like you said. Maybe it's to keep us from wandering too far away."
Caitlyn frowned, her nose scrunching adorably.
"Then why is it between us and not around us?" she countered.
"Dunno," Vi admitted with a shrug.
"What if it's here to keep us safe?"
Vi snorted. "Safe? From what, each other? Why would I be scared of a princess like you?"
Caitlyn sputtered at that, a cute blush blooming on her cheeks, "I am not a princess!"
"No?" Vi asked, her eyes widening in mock surprise. "Could've fooled me with that fancy dress of yours."
"It's a nightgown, not a dress!"
"Same thing."
Caitlyn rolled her eyes. "You're impossible."
Vi laughed. Caitlyn was too easy to tease.
When she eventually stopped, her giggles dying down, Caitlyn looking exasperated and partly offended, she came up with another idea.
"Hey, maybe it's a test!" she exclaimed, unable to contain the excitement bubbling inside. "What if we need to find a way to break this stupid wall?"
That made Caitlyn widen her eyes at Vi, her earlier sour mood shifting instantly. "That is a brilliant idea, Vi!"
Vi's heart skipped a beat. No one ever told her she was brilliant. That was Powder's field of expertise, not hers. Even at the age of four, Powder has already shown how smart and innovative she really was.
Vi had never felt this way before. She had only just met Caitlyn, but she already knew that she wanted to spend more time with her.
So they did just that. They stayed together, each on their respective side of the veil, trying to kick it, punch it, and hit it with stones and tree branches. The barrier didn't budge. But it was okay, maybe they had more nights to figure it out.
They had, in fact, more time to figure out their shared dream.
When Vi opened her eyes, after going to sleep in her own bed with Powder wrapped around her like a monkey and saw she was lying in the same clearing from last night, it came to her she was there for a reason.
As she stood up and looked around, she immediately spotted Caitlyn stepping out of the house and running towards her, an excited grin on her face. The pink dress - no, a nightgown - from last night flowed behind her as her bare feet hit the ground.
"You're here again!" she gasped out as she came to a stop just before the invisible wall.
Vi grinned as Caitlyn approached her, her heart beating faster at the sight of her. "Yeah, I guess I'm a regular visitor now," she joked, a hint of teasing in her voice.
Caitlyn laughed, her pretty eyes lighting up. "I'm glad you came back," she said, her smile widening. "I was hoping this dream would repeat."
Vi felt warmth spread through her chest at those words. "Me too," she admitted. "I don't know why, but I feel like I have to be here."
Caitlyn nodded in agreement and looked down shyly, fidgeting with her fingers, bending them. Vi wasn't sure what caused Caitlyn to be bashful all of a sudden. "When I was awake," Caitlyn started after a moment of silence. "I started wondering about possible reasons why we're here. Both of us."
Oh.
Vi's eyes widened as realization hit her. "You think we're soulmates?"
Even before Caitlyn answered, Vi already knew the truth. Caitlyn was her soulmate, she was sure of that. She felt it with every fiber of her body.
Caitlyn nodded again, this time her blue eyes meeting Vi's. But her smile wasn't happy. It was sad like she was sorry about it.
Why would she be sorry?
Vi didn't have a chance to ask because Caitlyn's mood changed completely as she jumped, startling Vi in the process.
"Oh! I was also thinking of other ways to cross the barrier!"
That grabbed Vi's attention. "Yeah? Did you come up with anything good?"
After Caitlyn told Vi about her plans with excitement shining in her eyes, just like the night before, they spent their time trying out all of the ideas.
They started by looking for the end of the veil. They walked together, keeping their hands on the invisible wall, talking about nothing and everything. Vi telling Caitlyn stories about her and Powder's little adventures. Caitlyn telling Vi about books she has read.
It was nice. They laughed and teased each other, and Vi started understanding why Caitlyn was her soulmate.
When they didn't find the end of the barrier, they tried climbing over it. Vi learned then that Caitlyn was really bad at it while trying and failing to pull herself up on a tree branch. She, on the other hand, made it to the top of a tree that grew the closest to the wall. Caitlyn was watching her with wide, scared eyes, asking every now and then if Vi was okay. Vi only laughed and tried to see if she could reach over the wall.
Attempt number two was also unsuccessful.
The next one required digging in the ground. They both started on each side of the veil, trying to create a tunnel under it. They used sticks and rocks and even bare hands. This plan didn't work either, but as Vi looked at Caitlyn in her now dirty dress, with smudges of soil on her face, and a bright smile, she couldn't be frustrated with it.
As they lay on the grass, each on their side of the barrier, panting from effort and watching the sky painting in gold as the sun began to set, Vi caught herself already looking forward to their next meeting.
"Is it possible to meet your soulmate in dreams?" Vi asked her mother one day, sitting with her at their tiny, rickety table in their small house at the very bottom of Zaun.
For the past few months, Vi met with Caitlyn every night in the same place. They started to call it The Garden because of the flowers and bushes growing everywhere. It was their place, where they played together, laughed, and shared stories and secrets.
One day (or night?) Caitlyn found out she could create things from her imagination.
It had its limits, though. When Caitlyn tried to break the barrier with her newfound ability, nothing happened.
Vi tried to do the same too, but they quickly learned that only Caitlyn was able to do it.
When awake, Vi often thought about why she met Caitlyn in her dreams and not in real life, as other people do. It was obvious that Caitlyn wasn't from Zaun like Vi was, but she also couldn't remember anything about anyone sharing dreams with their soulmate, even if they were from very different places.
"I've never heard of anything like this before," her mother answered after looking at Vi weirdly.
Vi pouted and slumped her shoulders. She didn't really expect her mother to believe her, but she couldn't help the hope building inside her. "Do you think it's possible, though?" she persisted.
Her mother let out a long sigh. "Vi, dreams are just dreams. They're not real life. You can't base your relationships on them."
"But Caitlyn feels so real," Vi protested. "And it's not just me. She feels it too, Mom."
Her mother's expression softened. "I understand it might feel that way, but you can't rely on dreams to determine your soulmate. Sometimes, things just happen in mysterious ways. You never know. Maybe you'll meet your real soulmate one day. Don't rush things."
Vi nodded, although she felt a pang of disappointment in her chest. This didn't feel right. Her mother could be wrong about it, right? Because if she didn't, then Vi was the one who was wrong. And she didn't want it. She wanted to believe that there was something special about her dreams, that maybe she and Caitlyn were meant to meet in this way before they meet in real life.
She stood up from the table, not in the mood to eat anymore. "I'm gonna look for Powder," she mumbled and left the house, feeling dejected.
As she walked through the bustling streets of Zaun, Vi wondered if her dreams with Caitlyn were just a silly fantasy. Maybe her mother was right, and she needed to focus on reality.
The doubt her mother planted in her didn't have a chance to bloom. Especially when one time Vi accidentally found out that the barrier had a weakness.
"When will we meet?" Vi asked. She was growing impatient. Every night they met, they laughed, played, and shared stories separated by the stupid wall between them. She wanted more than just that. She wanted to see Caitlyn in real life, she wanted to touch her, be closer.
Caitlyn didn't meet her eyes when she answered with a shrug, "Someday, hopefully."
Vi kicked at the ground, groaning loudly. It frustrated her to no end. The barrier, the dreams, and Caitlyn's vague answer. "This is so stupid. We've been meeting for almost a year now, and we can't even see each other in real life."
Caitlyn didn't say anything at that. She stayed silent, sitting on the other side and picking at the grass with nimble fingers, still refusing to look at Vi.
Vi couldn't help the anger bubbling in her. She didn't want to be patient. She wanted to break through the barrier that kept them apart.
She stomped around the clearing, looking around, and spotted a bigger rock. Without thinking, she picked it up and hurled it at the invisible wall.
And then it happened. To her surprise, the rock didn't bounce off the barrier. Instead, it sailed right through, falling to the ground on the other side.
Caitlyn gasped as the rock fell to the ground beside her. She stood from her spot on the grass and looked up at Vi with wide eyes.
"Vi, did you see that?" she exclaimed, bending down to pick up the rock. "How did you do it?"
Vi nodded slowly, still in shock. "I- I didn't know it would work," she admitted.
Caitlyn examined the rock closely, turning it over in her hands. Then, she looked up with determination glimmering in her eyes and threw the rock. It went through the wall again, landing somewhere behind Vi.
She made a few steps, coming closer to the barrier. Vi did the same. They assessed it together, searching for any damage. They found nothing, the veil still flowing slightly without holes that should be there.
Caitlyn frowned. "That's strange," she muttered, running her hands over it. "Maybe we can find other things to throw at it?" she suggested.
"Yeah, maybe," Vi replied, her voice small. They were still separated, and she felt the doubt creeping up again. She bit her lip, lost in thought. "Do you ever feel like this might not be real?" she asked Caitlyn hesitantly.
Caitlyn's expression shifted from wonder to confusion. "What do you mean?"
"I mean… what if we're just making all this up? What if we're not really soulmates?" Vi's voice sounded unsure even to her.
Caitlyn frowned, clearly taken aback by Vi's sudden doubts. "I don't know," she said slowly. "But… doesn't it feel real to you?"
Vi thought about it for a moment. The warmth of the sun on her skin, the softness of the grass beneath her feet, the sound of Caitlyn's laughter… it all felt so vivid and lifelike. Their garden always felt so real. She even cut herself one time when they raced, and she fell face-first on the ground. It hurt like hell.
"Yeah, I guess it does," she admitted eventually.
"Then that's all that matters," Caitlyn said, firmness lacing her voice. "As long as we believe in it, that's all that counts."
Vi smiled gratefully at her, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. Maybe it didn't matter whether it was real or not. As long as she had Caitlyn by her side, that was all she needed. And they'll find their way to each other in the end.
Vi realized that this is how it's gonna be. At least for now, until they meet in real life.
After they found out the barrier had a weakness, the real adventure started. They couldn't exchange things with each other when they touched them directly, but they could throw them from a small distance.
One time Caitlyn came up with an idea to put more fragile items on a shovel and push them through the wall. It worked. At least until Vi tried to touch the veil when a part of the shovel was on her side, and the veil pushed her away.
Okay, so I can't even touch it when something goes through it. Noted. Vi thought, huffing in irritation. She made peace with not being able to cross the boundary, but it didn't mean she wouldn't try to cheat her way through.
Still, being able to throw things through the wall allowed them a lot more possibilities. Caitlyn created a ball, and they played dodgeball together (Caitlyn won), competed on who will throw it farther (Vi won), and competed on who will hit a target with it (Caitlyn won, again).
Other times, Caitlyn brought her favorite books and sent them to her side. She taught Vi how to read, always patient and gentle, never making fun of her when Vi made a mistake. Then, they role-played, reading aloud, faking different voices, and laughing together.
Every dream they shared in their garden, they bounced new ideas on how to spend time together, Caitlyn creating different items from her imagination and sending them to Vi.
They went like this for another year, Vi forgetting about her doubts entirely and allowing herself to be happy.
But everything good has to end someday.
When Vi was ten, her world fell apart for the first time.
Her parents died.
She saw it with her own eyes, not able to stay put as her mother asked her to. She was supposed to take care of Powder, while their parents had gone to protest for Zaun's freedom. For a better tomorrow.
Vi couldn't shake off the fear she was feeling, so she took Powder's hand, never letting go, and they went out of the safety of their home to look for their parents.
As they reached the bridge between Zaun and Piltover, the sight before them was painted black and red. Smoke flowed everywhere, making it hard to see anything.
Vi told Powder to cover her eyes and pulled her by the hand as they stepped on the bridge. And Vi finally found what she was looking for.
She froze, staring at her parents' lifeless bodies in disbelief.
Vi couldn't move. She felt like she was in a nightmare. The kind of nightmare that would never end. But it wasn't a dream this time. Her parents were gone, and she was alone with Powder.
Her emotions crashed and collided inside her, an avalanche of sadness, anger, and fear swallowing her. Tears welled up in her eyes as the reality sunk in, a fury rising up within her chest mixing with terror. It was too much, her knees buckled as she felt a crushing weight falling on her small shoulders. Her parents were gone, because instead of staying with their children, they had to go to this stupid protest.
And now Vi was left with her baby sister, not sure what to do next.
One thing Vi knew, though, was that she had to be strong for Powder's sake. But it was hard to be strong when she was so broken inside. She didn't know what to do, where to go, or how to start. Her life had been turned upside down in a matter of seconds.
A big man came to them, then, sorrow and guilt shining in his eyes. He picked them up without a word and started walking back to Zaun. Vi didn't even have the strength to fight him or ask him what the hell he was doing.
The man took her and Powder to some bar, where he had a spare room in the basement, and put them to bed. He introduced himself as Vander and promised to take care of them.
Vi still didn't say anything, feeling Powder curl on her side, small hands clutching her shirt.
As Vander left the room and Vi heard Powder's snores, she finally let herself go, sobbing silently, not wanting to wake up her sister.
She eventually fell asleep, exhausted from the shed tears, and as usual, opened her eyes in The Garden. She sat up slowly, feeling an emptiness inside as she looked at the beautiful surroundings.
Caitlyn was there already. She always was. When she noticed Vi, she quickly rushed to the barrier, her smile fading with each step as she saw Vi's grimace.
"Vi?" Caitlyn asked softly, putting her hands on the flowing veil.
And then it happened the second time. Vi broke down, letting tears fall freely down her cheeks. She closed her eyes and shook her head violently.
"What happened?" Caitlyn asked again, her voice trembling with emotion.
"My parents-" Vi choked out eventually. "They- they're…" she couldn't even say it out loud. But she didn't have to. Caitlyn understood right away.
"Oh no," Vi heard her whisper.
She stood up on shaking legs and moved closer to the barrier, feeling as if it was the only thing that could protect her from the world around her. She slumped against it and looked out into the horizon above the trees, hoping that somehow she could find an escape from the pain.
Caitlyn did the same on the other side of the wall and sat down on the grass, leaning against it. Vi was grateful for her presence, taking a moment to appreciate how strong their bond had become over these past few years. If it weren't for this wall separating them, they would be touching right now.
"How did it happen?" Caitlyn asked quietly.
Vi opened up then and started talking about what she has seen on the bridge, pouring out all of her emotions with each word until, eventually, she broke down into tears again. Even though she didn't look at Caitlyn as she talked, Vi knew exactly how she felt — heartbroken yet completely understanding of everything that was happening. No words were needed to comfort Vi at this moment; Caitlyn's presence was enough.
"I don't know what to do," she admitted sometime later as she moved her body to lean on the barrier with her side and glance at Caitlyn, who mirrored her position. "How am I supposed to take care of Powder?"
Vi felt the weight of responsibility on her young shoulders. How was she supposed to take care of a child when she was still one herself? She was angry at the world for taking her parents away from her, and at the same time, she was terrified of what was to come.
"You are a great sister, Vi. You will do good," Caitlyn muttered with certainty in her voice. "Besides, there is Vander, too, correct? He will help you."
"How can you be so sure about it?" Vi wasn't convinced about the man's intentions. No one from Zaun would be. "For all I know, he could be some crime lord or whatever."
Caitlyn hummed, staying silent, leaning her head on the wall. "Maybe," she said eventually, "but then, why would he take you two from the bridge?"
Sometimes it was a wonder for Vi how Caitlyn didn't seem to know anything about the harshness of reality. Vi wished Caitlyn would stay like this, never having to experience the cruelty of the world.
"Maybe," she repeated, lost in her own thoughts.
As she shifted again to adjust and rest her own head on the barrier, she felt it for the first time, distracting her for a moment from her sorrows.
A ghost of Caitlyn's touch.
Vi frowned, glancing at the barrier. Their shoulders and heads were leaning against each other with the ever-present veil between them.
For a second, she thought she just imagined it, but when she moved once more, focusing on the feeling, she was sure it was there. The touch was very light, more like a presence than anything. She felt Caitlyn's shoulder radiating slight heat through the veil. There was no weight, but it was enough for Vi to ground her.
She couldn't be more grateful for having Caitlyn than she had at that moment.
At the age of thirteen, Vi realized she was in love.
She and Caitlyn still met every night in their shared dream. It helped Vi mourn her parent's death and come to peace with it. Caitlyn was a great help in that. Her never-ending positivity and unyielding support became Vi's strength to push through anything that happened in the real world.
Caitlyn was also right about Vander. He took Vi and her sister in without any hesitance. He gave them a place to sleep and provided them with clothes and food. He even gave them new brothers - Mylo and Claggor - after rescuing them from the streets.
They became a family. Not related by blood, but Vi didn't care.
After the conversation with her mother all those years ago, though, Vi stopped talking about her dreams with Caitlyn entirely. No one believed her anyway, so Vander, Mylo, and Claggor didn't know anything. The only person who heard about it and was still alive was Powder, but Vi doubted her sister even remembered.
So, yeah, Caitlyn was like Vi's little secret, and she preferred it that way. At least for now, until they see each other in real life.
"Is Vi short for something?" Caitlyn's voice broke her train of thought. They were lying on the grass, basking in the sunlight of their garden, watching clouds.
Vi grimaced. The question came out of nowhere, and she wasn't sure how to respond. She didn't particularly like her name, it was soft, too soft, and she was anything but.
No one called her that anymore. No one dared to, really. Mylo tried doing it once and was introduced to Vi's fist. The only exception was Powder, but her sister got away with a lot more.
Nevertheless, Vi knew she could tell Caitlyn anything, and she wouldn't make fun of her. She wouldn't laugh at her, would she?
Nah, Caitlyn was too good, too pure, and kind-hearted to do that.
"Violet," Vi muttered after a pause, her voice shy. "It's stupid, I know."
"I think it's lovely." Caitlyn retorted. "It suits you."
See? There it was again. Caitlyn saying those ridiculous words that no one described Vi with being completely serious and sure of it.
It didn't change the fact that Vi didn't believe her.
She snorted, glancing at Caitlyn, who was already watching her. "You're ridiculous, you know that?"
Caitlyn sat up abruptly, an offended expression on her face. Her face flushed, and fire ignited in her eyes.
After five years of spending every night together, Vi knew that look all too well.
Caitlyn was serious, and she was on a mission to prove her point.
"What is so unbelievable about that, hm?" she asked, her voice laced with challenge. "I don't see why being lovely shouldn't apply to you."
"You're kidding, right?" Vi grunted as she sat up too. "I'm nothing like that!"
Vi wasn't lovely or pretty or sweet. These words described Caitlyn, not her.
"Well, I think you are wrong here." Caitlyn's nose scrunched cutely as she crossed her arms over her chest, her chin rising. "You are sweet to your sister, from what I learned from your stories, you always take care of others, and you are the most good-hearted person I know."
Vi blushed at that, losing her composure. Her eyes widened, mouth opening and closing several times as she raked her brain for some kind of reply.
Nothing came.
"Besides," Caitlyn continued mercilessly. "Violets are beautiful flowers. And so are you."
She watched Vi with a winning smile, waiting for the response that never came. Vi only stared back at Caitlyn, her mind short-circuiting as she tried to wrap her head around what Caitlyn has said.
Vi's throat was suddenly dry, and her heart pounded against her ribcage. Her stomach seemed to be filled with butterflies, and her cheeks felt like they were on fire.
In the stretching silence, Caitlyn's face softened, a pretty smile blooming on her lips. She was always so gentle and sweet with Vi, saying shit like that. And...
And all of a sudden, Vi realized - she was in love with this weird and beautiful girl.
This thought made her falter, heart skipping a beat and gasp leaving her lips. Of course, she was in love with Caitlyn. Who wouldn't be at least enamored with her gentle character? Always caring and mindful, and never pushy and pretty.
So pretty.
As this realization hit Vi, she was struck speechless. Caitlyn was still watching her with this sweet smile stretching her lips, and Vi felt the sudden urge to kiss her. But she couldn't do that because of the damn veil between them.
So she did what she always did when feelings started to be too much to handle.
She deflected.
"Where are you?" Vi asked, trying hard to sound casual. They didn't talk about it, really, always breaching the topic. Caitlyn seemed reluctant to talk about reality, preferring to rant about books she read instead. And Vi loved it, really, but she also wanted to know everything about Caitlyn. "In real life, I mean."
Blue oceans met grey storms. Something in Caitlyn's bright eyes changed. There was a shadow Vi didn't see ever before.
Caitlyn was quiet for a moment, her gaze dropping to her lap, to her fidgeting fingers. Vi knew by now Caitlyn did that when she was anxious.
"I- I'm from Ionia," she stuttered finally, eyes still staring at the ground.
Vi sighed. She had been hoping for something a bit closer, but this was not really shocking either. It seemed sometimes like the universe wanted them to be apart, no matter how hard they tried to be together.
"That's far away," Vi groaned, her mood suddenly dropping despite trying so hard not to let it show. "I'm from Zaun."
Caitlyn hummed non-committal, her eyes still trained on the grass, arms hugging her knees tightly. The mood suddenly shifted from cheerful and light to heavy and sour.
But Vi wasn't one to give up so easily.
"I'll visit you someday," she stated, her mind made up. "I'm gonna save up money and buy a ticket to Ionia."
Caitlyn's head raised from her knees as she stared at Vi with surprise in her blue eyes.
"We'll meet someday," Vi continued, sure of her words. "I promise."
Caitlyn only nodded at that, her smile beautiful but not quite reaching her eyes.
When Vi turned fifteen, she found a perfect nickname for Caitlyn.
As she opened her eyes in The Garden and stood up from the ground, she found a batch of pretty cupcakes sitting on a plate on her side of the invisible wall. But as Vi looked around, Caitlyn was nowhere in sight.
It was weird, as Caitlyn was always in their garden first.
Vi shrugged as she came closer to the treats and took one. She examined it for a second before bringing it closer to her mouth to eat it and-
"Happy birthday!" Caitlyn's happy voice startled her, making her drop the cupcake in the process.
Vi spun around and saw her soulmate rushing out of the woods on her side of the barrier with a wide grin.
"You couldn't resist yourself, could you?" Vi drawled.
Caitlyn giggled and shook her head. "No. This is payback for my birthday," she choked out through fits of laughter.
"You wasted a perfectly good cupcake!"
"You should have seen it coming!"
Vi couldn't hold her laugh any longer. She was bursting with joy, her cheeks hot with warmth, her heart nearly exploding with delight.
"Did you wish for them?" she finally asked when she felt she could breathe again.
"No, of course not!" Caitlyn sounded offended. "It would be cheating. I baked them myself," she finished with a proud smile.
Vi felt a rush of warmth spreading through her body. Her eyes softened, a smile slowly spreading on her lips. Her heart overflowed with love, like a hot liquid slowly filling her fully.
"You didn't have to," she muttered suddenly bashful. Caitlyn was probably the only person in Runeterra who could evoke such a reaction from her.
"No, but I wanted to," Caitlyn said simply. "It's your day, after all," she continued with a tender smile.
Celebrating each other's birthday quickly became their tradition shortly after Caitlyn managed to squeeze the date out of Vi when she was nine.
From then, Caitlyn prepared different surprises for her.
Like the one for Vi's eleventh birthday. Caitlyn set a trail of fireflies flying everywhere on both sides of the barrier. They watched the light show, the insects floating between them for hours. Vi had never seen anything like this before.
Vi did the same for Caitlyn. Options for her were limited, of course, as she couldn't create things from her imagination like Caitlyn, but she tried her best.
And Caitlyn always loved all the bouquets of flowers and fruits Vi managed to gather on her side of the veil.
"You should try them," Caitlyn broke the silence, jerking Vi back from her daydream.
Vi looked down at the plate of still-untouched cupcakes and grabbed one before taking a big bite.
"Well? How is it?" Caitlyn prompted with a spark of expectation in her eyes. Her face was filled with excitement as she anxiously awaited Vi’s response.
Vi decided to torture her a little bit longer. She chewed slowly, making thoughtful faces. Caitlyn rolled her eyes at the sight, clearly annoyed at Vi taking her sweet time to answer.
"It's perfect," Vi finally announced with a grin.
Caitlyn's smile was so big that it could have lit up the whole universe, and Vi felt like she was about to combust any moment now. She was always so soft and sweet with her.
And then it came to her - the perfect nickname.
"Thanks for the gift, Cupcake, " Vi said, grinning.
Caitlyn blinked at her, confusion painting her face.
"What did you just call me?"
"Cupcake," Vi replied cheerfully, taking another bite of the treat. It was light and fluffy, with a hint of vanilla. It had pink, strawberry-flavored frosting that was balanced perfectly.
Gods, it's so good.
"So I'm not a princess anymore?" Caitlyn asked, rolling her eyes.
"Nah, Cupcake suits you better," Vi answered after finishing her treat and already reaching for the next. A shit-eating grin stretched her lips.
Caitlyn groaned, covering her face in her hands. "It's because of my dress, isn't it?" she asked, voice muffled by her palms.
"Oh, so now it's a dress, not a nightgown, huh?"
"Sh- shut up!"
Vi laughed at that. Caitlyn looked so adorable when she was being teased, all flushed cheeks and furrowed brows.
"No, it's not because of that," Vi said eventually, deciding to free Caitlyn from her misery.
Caitlyn glanced at her skeptically as her hands dropped to her sides. "Why, then?" she mumbled.
"Because you're sweet," Vi's face softened as she watched Caitlyn's eyes widen. "Like a cupcake."
At eighteen, Vi finally said it.
The sun was shining brightly, making the grass seem greener and the sky bluer. The flowers were in bloom, and the scent was sweet in the air.
It was a day like any other.
Vi and Caitlyn were lying side-by-side on the grass, separated only by the sheer veil, enjoying each other's company in silence. There were no worries or concerns, only peacefulness, and comfort.
Vi turned her body so she could lay on her side and watch her soulmate instead of the clouds flowing above them.
Caitlyn had an air of effortless grace and beauty about her. Her pale skin and rosy cheeks glowed in the warm light of the sun. Her midnight blue hair fell around her shoulders in soft waves, emphasizing her now sharp features. She wasn't that shy and awkward girl anymore, Vi first saw all those years ago.
Now, in her white nightgown, she looked serene. Ethereal.
There were two things that didn't change in Caitlyn, though. The first being her bright, blue eyes. Second, her gentle smile.
But her looks were hardly the reason Vi fell in love with Caitlyn in the first place. How could it be when Caitlyn was the kindest, smartest, and dorkiest person Vi has ever met?
She's everything.
Caitlyn must have sensed Vi's stare because she turned to her with a soft smile.
"What?" she asked quietly.
Vi couldn't hold it any longer.
"I love you, y'know?" she muttered, her eyes never leaving Caitlyn's.
Caitlyn mirrored Vi's position as she leaned closer so that their faces were just centimeters apart.
"I know," she whispered back as her smile widened, eyes sparkling with emotion. "I love you too."
It seemed like, at that moment, everything else faded away, and all that mattered was them, wishing this moment would freeze forever in time.
But as Vi should have known by now, nothing stays good forever.
At twenty, her world fell apart for the second time.
And this time, she wouldn't be able to recover.
When she opened her eyes back in their garden, she wasn't prepared to hear what she did. Caitlyn was already there, sitting on the ground, looking beautiful in her white nightgown. She didn't see Vi yet with her head turned downwards, fingers picking the grass idly.
"Cait!" Vi shouted, running happily to the barrier. Caitlyn's head instantly snapped up at her voice. "I've got great news! I can finally-"
"I'm afraid this is the last time we see each other," Caitlyn interrupted her with wooden voice.
Vi's grin froze. In her excitement, when she came closer, she didn't notice Caitlyn's dejected face and tears brimming in her eyes.
"What?" she asked in disbelief.
What the fuck is she talking about?
"This is my last day here," Caitlyn answered, meeting Vi's eyes with so much sorrow Vi had to take a step back.
"You're fucking with me."
"No, love. I wouldn't joke about this."
"What does it mean, then?" Vi felt anger building up in her.
"It means that we won't see each other tomorrow," Caitlyn muttered, eyes falling to her lap. "Or ever."
Vi's heart pounded in her chest as Caitlyn's words sank in. She couldn't believe what she was hearing, and her mind raced with thoughts of all the things she still wanted to say to Caitlyn, all the things she still wanted to experience with her. How could this be happening?
"No," was all she could say.
"Vi-"
"No! I was gonna tell you that I can finally buy tickets to Ionia," her hands shook as she balled them into fists.
"Vi, please, there is nothing more I want than to see you in real life," Caitlyn said, her voice cracking. "But I won't be able to do it. I'm sorry."
Rage bubbled up in Vi as she stared at Caitlyn, her vision blurring with tears. Her chest heaved, heart pounding in her ears. Was this some kind of sick joke? Every muscle in her body tensed as she desperately tried to understand the situation.
"What do you mean, 'nothing more you want'?" Vi snapped. "You can't just leave me like this!"
Caitlyn's eyes flicked up to meet Vi's, and Vi could see the pain and sorrow etched into her face. "I don't want to leave you," Caitlyn said softly. "But I have to."
Vi's heart broke at that moment. She had grown so used to their nightly conversations, to the comfort and solace that Caitlyn brought her. How could she just let that go?
"Why?" Vi demanded, panic rising in her chest.
Caitlyn's face softened as she smiled. "I'm not real," she said, her voice stable now. "I'm just a manifestation of your subconscious, a product of your imagination."
Vi felt as if the ground had fallen out from under her feet, her mind reeling. "That's not true. You're real, Cait. I know you are."
"I'm sorry," Caitlyn repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. "But this is the truth."
Vi's legs buckled, sending her crashing to the ground. Her eyes widened with shock as she landed on the grass, soft yet unforgiving.
"You said it was real," she choked out, tears streaming down her face.
"Your mind provided this," Caitlyn answered simply. "Your soulmate is somewhere out there, and it's not me."
Vi shook her head in denial. "That's not true. You're the only person who understands me. You're the only one who's always been there for me."
"It's because you needed me," Caitlyn said, "You know yourself best."
As she raised her head, Vi could see Caitlyn's eyes were filled with tears, and Vi realized two things then.
One, her mother was right all those years ago.
Two, she would never see those blue eyes again.
She stood up on shaky legs and crossed the last few steps between her and the veil. As she came close enough, she leaned on it and let the gravitation pull her down. She needed to feel the ghost of Caitlyn's touch for the last time.
"Can we at least spend this night together?" she whispered, glancing at Caitlyn, who sat next to her, leaning her shoulder and head on the barrier.
"Yes, we can do whatever you want."
"Can we just sit here?"
"Of course."
So they did. They sat in their garden, separated by the veil, for hours. They didn't talk much, just stared at each other, Caitlyn smiling softly at Vi. But it wasn't a happy smile, Vi could tell by the sadness in her eyes.
Vi didn't want it to end this way. But as the sun started to set, Caitlyn finally spoke, and Vi knew that it was time to wrap their time together and part ways.
"It's time," she muttered, her eyes flicking up to the sky, then back to Vi. "Close your eyes, love."
No. Not yet. Despite everything, Vi couldn't bring herself to say goodbye.
"Cait-" Vi started, panic flooding her again.
"You have to go, Vi," Caitlyn interrupted her, eyebrows furrowing, lips pouting.
"No!" Please, don't leave me!
"Vi, I need you to listen to me-" Caitlyn's voice was gentle as if she was trying to calm Vi down. But Vi didn't want to calm down nor listen.
"No. That's fucking bullshit! I can't do it," she sobbed. "I can't!"
"You have to," Caitlyn said just above a whisper, always so soft with Vi, never flinching at her outbursts. "I'm sorry."
Vi refused to answer as she stared at Caitlyn's face with longing desperation, drinking her in as if hoping to absorb and etch every line of her face into her memory. She took in the shape of Caitlyn's lips, the curve of her cheeks, the way her long dark hair framed her face, and her twinkling, blue, blue, blue eyes that always seemed to light up the world.
This can't be happening, Vi's mind provided even if she knew this was the end.
Caitlyn looked at her with so much love in her eyes it hurt.
"I love you," she said as her hands touched the veil between them.
Vi put her own hands on the wall, feeling the ghost of Caitlyn's touch through it.
"I love you too," was all she could choke out at this moment as she stubbornly didn't even blink. "I love you."
Caitlyn smiled, soft and sweet. "Now, close your eyes, darling. Please, do it for me."
Vi did.
And she woke up suddenly back in her bed, cold sweat on her back, with tears streaming down her face and piercing pain in her heart. It felt like it has stopped for just a second before starting to thump violently against her ribcage again.
Vi gasped, trying to take a deeper breath, but she couldn't. She was hyperventilating, dread flooding her mind.
She stayed like this for the rest of the night, fists clenching the bedsheets tightly.
The next night, just as Caitlyn said, Vi didn't meet her in dreams.
Instead, nightmares haunted her with images of Caitlyn dying in her arms again, again, and again.
"Did you hear? Councilor's kid died last night."
Vi was sitting in one of Zaun's bars, drowning her sorrows. She felt numb and empty as she only half listened to the conversation that was going on beside her.
She couldn't care less about anything right now. Last night was the first one she didn't see Caitlyn in their garden in twelve years. Instead, she was haunted by images of her love, lifeless and cold.
It was too much.
"Rumor says she was sick. Some disease pinned her to bed her whole life," another patron provided.
Vi snorted into her drink. She couldn't care less about some snobby kid when so many died every day in Zaun. When her connection with her soulmate broke in a matter of seconds.
"Who was it, again?"
"Caitlyn Kiramman."
Crack.
Vi's eyes widened as she heard the patron saying the name, and she looked at the crushed glass in her hand with wide eyes, blood mixing with remnants of the whiskey she was drinking.
When the realization finally hit her, she was instantly on her feet, the stool she was sitting on mere seconds ago landing on the floor with a thud.
She rushed to the men talking about the councilor's kid and grabbed one of them by the lapels of his jacket.
"What the fuck did you just say?" Vi demanded, her grip on the man tightening.
The man gulped, visibly nervous, and answered, "I- I said that the councilor's kid was Caitlyn Kiramman."
No, that can't be right.
Vi felt like all the air had been sucked out of her lungs, followed by a wave of grief so strong she almost lost her balance. She stumbled back, letting go of the man completely.
The name's just a coincidence.
Everyone in the bar suddenly went quiet and stared at Vi while she struggled to contain her emotions.
She said she wasn't real!
Vi clenched her eyes shut, trying to wrap her head around what she heard.
She needed to get out. She needed to confirm if Caitlyn Kiramman was her Caitlyn.
Forcing herself into action, Vi ran out of the bar without even bothering to pay for her drink. Her feet moved faster than they ever did before as she raced towards Piltover.
As she reached the bridge between the two cities, her heart thumping rapidly in her chest, Vi slowed her run as she realized she didn't know where to go next.
She didn't wander to Piltover often, not having any businesses there. She didn't even know how to start looking for answers to questions that clouded her mind.
"Fuck," she hissed, pressing the heels of her hands to her eyes, trying not to let the tears fall.
She took a few deep breaths to calm her nerves and started walking again.
It turned out she didn't have to look for the answers for too long.
Just as she crossed the bridge, her eyes landed on a stand with newspapers with a photo of a young woman looking back at her.
Even in sepia, Vi recognized her immediately. She knew she wouldn't be able to ever forget those sharp cheekbones, those pouty lips, and those piercing eyes.
It was her.
Her Caitlyn.
Vi stood frozen, staring at the picture of her soulmate. She looked so fragile and tired in her white dress that Vi was so used to seeing her in.
There was no hint of happiness in Caitlyn's gaze too. Another thing so much different from what Vi remembered.
Finally breaking out of her stupor, Vi reached for one of the papers with a trembling hand.
And there it was, the final proof if Vi ever would want to try and deny it.
Right below the photo, a title was written in big, bold letters:
Piltover mourning the loss of the beloved heiress, Caitlyn Kiramman.
Vi stared at the words, not really seeing them as tears welled up in her eyes when it finally dawned on her, not able to live in denial anymore.
Caitlyn was real. She was from Piltover, not Ionia. And Vi was never going to see her again.
Somehow, Vi managed to find out when and where the funeral would be happening.
She had to be there, even if it meant watching from a distance, not able to come closer to Piltover's many people who came here to say goodbye to Caitlyn.
Vi felt numb as she crouched behind a tree, peering out at the mourners gathered by Caitlyn's graveside. She didn't want to come closer than that. How could she? No one probably knew about her, and she didn't think she would be able to explain being Caitlyn's soulmate. Not to mention, Vi doubted they would believe her in the first place.
So Vi chose this place, hidden behind a big tree, and watched all the people gathered around the grave. They were wearing black, most of them holding umbrellas as heavy rain poured down on them.
It was as if the heavens, too, mourned the loss of the most gentle and good soul.
There were three people who didn't bother with umbrellas, though. A woman in elegant clothes with deep blue eyes and a face similar to the one Vi loved so much stood closest to the grave, her eyes so alike her daughter's, shedding silent tears. A man, seemingly the same age as the woman beside him, with midnight blue hair sifted with silver on the sides of his head, cried too, not bothering about his appearance.
Caitlyn's parents. Vi recognized their daughter in them instantly. She watched as they clung to each other, their tears mingling with the raindrops.
There was another man without an umbrella. He was very tall, from what Vi could see, his broad shoulders slumped, head bowed low. Vi had never seen anyone cry like that. His whole body was racked with sobs.
His cries echoed in the cemetery, and Vi could feel his pain. It was unbearable, and it screamed through her.
The funeral service was short, and soon the mourners began to disperse. Vi stayed hidden behind the trees, waiting for the last of them to leave. She watched as Caitlyn's parents lingered by the grave, placing flowers on it and whispering quiet words to their daughter. A lump formed in her throat as she thought about how much Caitlyn must have meant to them.
Finally, they too, left the cemetery, and Vi emerged from her hiding spot. She walked slowly towards the grave, her heart heavy with grief. As she stood beside the freshly dug earth, the rain poured down on her, soaking her clothes and hair.
Vi closed her eyes and let out a shuddering breath.
"Why didn't you tell me the truth, Cupcake?" she asked. Her voice was barely audible over the sound of the rain. "Were you scared that if I found out you're a Piltie, I'd turn my back on you? There's no fucking way I'd do that, and you knew it. You knew that nothing would make me look at you differently."
A violent sob shook Vi's body. She opened her eyes and looked down to the grave, her hands balling into fists.
"If I had known, I would've come to see you every day. I would have spent every waking moment with you, just like we used to in our dream." she continued as her voice shook with anger and hurt. "We would be able to hold each other, not bothered by that fucking wall between us."
Vi paused and took a deep, shuddering breath. She wiped away her tears, but they kept coming.
"But for some ridiculous reason, you decided it would be better to leave me in the dark," she seethed. "You're my fucking soulmate, Cait. The only person who was supposed to be with me no matter what. And now you're gone, and it hurts so much."
Vi's voice cracked, and she doubled over, crying harder, fist clenching around the fabric on her chest. She wanted to scream, to rage against the unfairness of it all, but all she could do was sob and cry out in pain.
All the times she and Caitlyn had shared flashed before her eyes, all the memories they had made together.
"I don't know how to live without you, Cait. I don't know how to go on." Vi's words were barely audible over the sound of her sobs. "I love you so fucking much."
Vi stood there for a long time. The rain continued to fall, but she hardly noticed. All she could think about was Caitlyn and the love they had shared. She wished she could turn back time and see Caitlyn one last time.
She stayed like this before her lover's grave until the last raindrop fell to the ground. Until late hours into the night.
Eventually, Vi wiped away her tears and took a deep breath. With a heavy heart, she turned and walked away from the grave.
She didn't go to sleep that night.
What's the point, anyway, if she wouldn't meet Caitlyn in her dreams?
Vi didn't know how to handle her new reality struggling to process the grief. How to cope with this loss? How to mourn Caitlyn's death when the only source of comfort she had, the one person that could ground her, was also the one that left her behind?
Everyone close to her was helplessly trying to lift her up. Powder, Vander, Ekko, Mylo, Claggor. No one succeeded.
Desperately seeking someone or something to cling to for comfort, all Vi had was the emptiness left by Caitlyn's absence.
She was regretful.
She was devastated.
But most of all, she was angry. At the universe for taking her soulmate away, at herself for not being able to accept it, and at Caitlyn for leaving her behind. The flame of fury burned inside her, leaving nothing in its wake.
She had to let it out somehow.
So Vi did the one thing she knew. She fought - against everything and everyone. She punished anyone who as much as looked at her the wrong way. She was a part of more brawls than she could count, taking everything as a challenge.
But no matter how hard she tried, nothing seemed to fill the void in her heart. Nothing could take away her pain.
Vi had been stuck like this for two years now, and it looked like she wouldn't be able to move on anytime soon.
You have to meet your soulmate. You just have to.
That's the universal rule. You're bound to meet your fated one, you can't escape it. You're tied together.
Vi had always believed in the idea of soulmates. It gave her hope that there was someone out there who was meant to be with her, someone who would understand her on a level that no one else could. Someone who would be her light in the darkness of her life.
And she almost had it. Always just outside her reach. Never closer. Never being able to feel Caitlyn the way she wanted to. Never in reality, only in her dreams, where they were standing on two sides of the invisible veil.
Now Vi is here. Lying in the dirt and ashes with a nasty gash in her stomach, gasping for each breath. She finally got what she deserved; after constant, unnecessary fights, this was the one that would be her end.
She couldn't help herself. Sevika's face was too punchable to ignore. But Vi, in her ever-present anger, didn't notice the knife in Sevika's hand. And it was her mistake.
As Vi struggles to stay alive, the only thought running through her head is that she couldn't even meet Caitlyn once in her life. That she couldn't hold her, kiss her, feel her.
The thought of never meeting her soulmate fills her with a sense of dread and despair, even if she knows that Caitlyn left her years ago. But still, she fights even harder to stay alive, hoping against hope that somehow, someway, they'll find each other before it's too late.
She feels her body is slowly giving up on her, and the only thought she has is that she would do anything to see Caitlyn again.
As darkness overcomes her, Vi welcomes it with open arms. Death is not like she thought it would be.
It's quiet.
It's empty.
It's peaceful.
She thinks she can stay like this forever.
Nothing stays peaceful for long, though, and she should really accept it by now.
She feels it more than sees it - the light seeping through her closed eyelids she can swear were open before.
And then, she hears it.
"Vi?" a voice calls her through the darkness. Its warmth and lilt are familiar, and she recognizes it immediately.
No, it can't be real, she thinks to herself.
There's no fucking way she should hear it. The only plausible option she can think of is that she ended up in hell, and Caitlyn's voice is her torture.
Then, it happens again.
"Darling," this time, the voice trembles, and Vi feels a featherlight touch of the delicate hand on her cheek as something wet drops on her face.
Who's crying?
"Open your eyes, love," the voice whispers softly, lovingly.
Vi does, and the first thing she sees is blue.