Work Text:
Red, orange and blue painted the skies, the remains of Viktor’s commune and Ambessa’s army laid in heaps in the place she once called home. All she could hear were her sister’s agonised screams for the little kid she adopted, and Vander’s howl of pain while the world around them erupted in flames.
Vi lost all of her will to stay awake, barely even fighting back after the explosion knocked them a few feet away. She swore she witnessed Isha disintegrating within that cloud of blue. Honestly, she wouldn’t know – everything was too hazy at that point.
Jinx broke out of her embrace, sprinting towards the explosion where Vander laid crumpled along with several other red-clad bodies. But it was all too late.
Blood seeped through the fingers she did not even know was clutched hard against her slash wound. All Vi could think was – ‘Not again’
How many times can she endure being hurt in the same place, emotionally and physically?
Heavy footfalls echoed in her ears, before dropping right next to her. She wouldn’t be able to defend herself if it was an enemy – her eyelids were drooping already. Until a pair of frantic, gloved hands gripped her shoulder and she caught whiff of that familiar scent, only did she relax her fists.
“Vi!” Caitlyn shouted, shaking her. Her eyes opened briefly, and she was met with cerulean ones filled with panic and immense fear.
Despite her worry, she also noticed the lines etched on her face – her cheekbones were sharper, with darker shadows beneath her eyes. It made her frown, wondering when was the last time Caitlyn had a proper sleep.
“We have to get out of here.” a man said, and he sounded vaguely familiar too.
“Not without her – !” Caitlyn barked. “Jayce, help me –”
Jinx was still screaming somewhere in pure, uncaged anguish.
She felt herself being lifted suddenly, her feet dragging against the floor as Caitlyn wrapped an arm around her waist, along with some fabric pressed hard against her weeping wound. Vi wanted to laugh right then – no matter how much they tried to separate, they would always be thrown back together eventually. It was like the universe refused to let them part.
“Commander,” a rough voice spoke. Her clouded vision could make out the dark blue and gilded gold of the enforcer uniform. “We cuffed the fugitive.”
Caitlyn tensed, only holding onto Vi tighter. Who was the one truly needing support right then?
“She comes with us,” Cupcake finally said, slipping into her Commander voice. “We are going to my home. My father and our family doctors will assist her.”
Halfway through the rubble, Vi slipped right under, just as she felt another weight under her arm helping Caitlyn carry her.
The Commander wanted nothing more than to fall asleep, to succumb to the lull that kept tempting her. Her wounds were throbbing, every breath she took sent a sharp stab of pain through her entire form. Mel was here, cradling her while she ran out of energy to even keep her head in place, and she could only manage a weak nod when Medarda begged her not to sleep.
Someone pressed her jacket to her side. Caitlyn flinched, her body going rigid from the pressure, but she could not even utter a sound.
In her pain-addled mind, she could only hear her voice echoing ceaselessly, an oath they swore to each other before they left for battle.
Promise me you will come back to me.
Caitlyn knew the consequences of broken promises – after all she had broken one that almost rendered their relationship irreparable. But the sight of her so vulnerable and desperate, eyes wide and brimming with tears simply broke her resolve. She would give her the world if she asked, whisk her away to foreign lands and leave Piltover and Zaun taken by Ambessa if she said a word. But they both knew Vi would never be that selfish.
She was warm and content when she laid with Vi’s body, now Caitlyn Kiramman only felt cold and isolated, drenched in her own blood.
Someone crashed next to her – the loud clatter of gilded greeves against the stone ground making her ears ring. Caitlyn could not open her eye – one was caked with blood, the other one too heavy to even lift.
“Cait,” she gasped, not expecting to hear her favourite voice once more. “What did they do to you?”
Her painful sobs brought her back to that wind tunnel Caitlyn left her in, her hands still ringing where she shoved the butt of her rifle against Vi’s old wound. It made her shudder in guilt.
“I need help carrying her, we need to get her –”
“There are medical tents nearby,” an unknown voice spoke. One of the enforcers? “But the number of casualties is tremendous, there might not be –”
Someone lifted her up, and Caitlyn found herself drawn to the familiar scent despite being overwhelmed with the stench of smoke and blood. Cold steel cradled her back gingerly, and when she was jostled slightly her breath hitched. She broke into a coughing fit, expelling even more blood from her mouth. One side of her head throbbed incessantly.
“Fuck.” Vi swore.
Caitlyn barely found the strength, but she leaned close to her ear and whispered anyway. She felt safe alas, nestled in Vi's warmth and softness, and it made her want to let go.
“Take me... home.” she pleaded feebly. “My father...”
“That’s it! Mr Kiramman is a retired doctor.” Mel said.
Vi did not even answer, but she started to sprint. Every step she took stretched her wound, yet Caitlyn was so delirious she could hardly acknowledge it anymore.
She didn’t even think she would survive, truth be told. Yes, her father used to be a doctor, but it wasn’t what she had in mind.
She figured if she were to die, she wanted to at least pass in her own home, surrounded by family instead of the cold, lonely hospital bed.
Something Cassandra Kiramman had been robbed of due to her untimely death.
Yet, now settled within her lover’s embrace, Caitlyn supposed she couldn’t ask for a better way to go.
Reaching her home, everything else was a blur.
Her father seemed delighted to see her again, but the joy on his face was short-lived when he realized Caitlyn was covered in soot and blood. Vi was already limp, her feet dragging along as Jayce and Caitlyn both desperately trudged along.
She ordered for Jinx to be held captive somewhere. Hundreds of thoughts flitted through her brain at the same time, and Caitlyn would sooner go insane if she tried to process them all at the same time.
The priority was Vi. Blood soaked through her bindings and Caitlyn’s coat. She pleaded with her father to help her.
Moments later, she found herself pacing back and forth outside her own room. The question about Jinx was pushed to the back of her mind. Something else was plaguing her, making her hands shake in fear.
Ambessa would be after her blood. She wouldn’t stop until Caitlyn is dead.
Dread filled her instantly, wishing she could confide in someone at least. But she no longer had that privilege – she pushed her away all those months ago.
Would Vi even want to see her? Despite everything? She clearly did not trust her – Jinx was there watching her every move all along, and Vi did not even tell her.
It stung, obviously. But Caitlyn knew she had no right to complain. It was what she deserved.
Tried as she may, the picture of the rugged, red-haired fighter was impossible to erase. Caitlyn thought of her constantly ever since she left her in the wind tunnel, curling into a ball of regret in her own bed for breaking her promise, heart burning with hatred at herself for hitting her. She tried and tried and tried, even used Maddie as distraction, but at night when foreign lips touched her bare skin she had wished they were scarred and curved just like Vi’s.
Subtlety had always been Caitlyn’s strength, and so she arranged contacts to keep track of Vi’s whereabouts. Some bloke in the undercity would always had his purse filled with golden cogs, thanks to her, in exchange for information about the rising star of the Piltover fighting pits.
She thought knowledge of her might soothe her worries, might help her move on. She thought knowing that Vi moved on would help her do the same as well.
Except Vi wasn’t doing well. She was spiralling along with Caitlyn due to their separation, just in a very different, destructive way. Bar fights, unpaid tabs and brutal fights reached Caitlyn’s ears, yet all she could do was secretly throw cash at her informant so he could secretly keep Vi out of trouble – whether it was to pay off her debt or to keep trouble from reaching her.
Caitlyn had thought of going down there herself to find her, to make things right. But she was afraid showing up would only push Vi further away and confirm what she feared – that they were never meant to be, that Vi now hated her through and through.
She couldn’t be there when Vi was at her lowest. Naturally she had no rights to pretend as if everything was fine between them.
Hands fiddling with uncertainty, Caitlyn supposed Vi would appreciate a friendly face during her recovery. And it shouldn’t be her.
She knew one good friend had always tried to help her, someone like her who knew Vi for who she truly was.
And so she contacted Loris.
When the chaos finally settled into a steady, controllable hum, Vi slumped into the armchair deep within the Kiramman library, relishing the silence accompanied by the crackle of the flames in the fireplace. She sat and stared, transfixed by the crumbling logs and dancing embers, trying her hardest not to fall apart in the wake of all that had happened.
There would never be winners in war. Losses on both sides were only expected, the only unknown was to what extent.
Her broken arm throbbed with every slow beat of her heart, but it felt insignificant compared to her anguish with every shallow and painful breath Caitlyn tried to take. Each excruciating whimper made her wince, and Vi wished she could ease her pain away. If she could take her place, she would, but alas time waited for no one – she was close to losing her, and not even her broken arm and dislocated shoulder could deter her.
The doors to her massive bedroom slammed shut the moment she placed her gently on the gurney, and the last she saw of her was her hand hanging limply off the edge, blood still dripping to the marble floors. The sight of her pale and pallid would forever haunt her.
She had heard nothing ever since. Vi rocked herself back and forth, staring into the fire. She figured if they ever told her Caitlyn did not make it, it would be very convenient of her to just throw herself into the fire. However, the flames were not hot enough to be lethal, it seemed.
At the 5th hour, the library door creaked open. Since her prison days, Vi had mastered the ability to tell a person apart by the sound of their footsteps alone, and so it was no surprise she tensed at the calm and polite footfalls of a middle-aged man.
Tobias Kiramman said nothing, merely plucking a bottle of gold liquor from the wine cabinet with two beautifully-cut glasses. He sat on the stool by the fireplace, then poured two glasses for them both.
Vi supposed even noblemen drank hard liquor – except Zaunites would throw it back in one shot, whereas Tobias took swig after swig, as if he enjoyed the slow burn down his throat.
She finally turned towards him, and looked. Tobias looked as if he had aged another ten years, his hair dishevelled, and his clothes still stained with specks of blood. His own daughter’s blood. On his face etched a permanent grimace, his eyes staring off into the distance as he shamelessly poured himself another glass – filled to the brim.
“How is she?” Vi whispered. Her voice came out as a croak, but she could not look him in the eyes. In more ways than one, she had failed him by not taking care of his beloved child.
Tobias sighed. “We stabilised her, staunched the bleeding. But she’s still in critical condition, worsened by the effects of the Grey she probably breathed in during the battle. Everything is just fine for now, but we have to watch out for any internal bleeding,” he paused, taking small sips this time. “Her eye is gone.”
Vi said nothing, only curled further into herself. She clenched her bad arm tightly, inflicting pain upon herself. And when a stab of pain shot through her broken limb, Vi held her breath and suffered through it. I deserve it, I deserve it, I deserve it.
“Your arm needs to be tended,” Tobias said, exhaustion seeping from his tone. “I’m sorry I couldn’t spare any doctors. But now I’m available.”
“You shouldn’t be sorry,” Vi mumbled, but Tobias heard it anyway. “I don’t deserve your help. I failed her. I should have... I should have been faster.”
Tobias neither denied or agreed, only exhaling a deep sigh. “I suppose that’s what Caitlyn told herself when her mother died.”
The corner of her eye twitched.
“Your arm needs to be put in a cast,” Tobias insisted. “If you want to be useful and help my daughter, then let me help you. I don’t know whose fault it is that Caitlyn is in this state, but I do know I would appreciate all the aid I can get.”
“I should leave,” Vi said half-heartedly. “All I ever did was cause her pain.”
“I thought you know her well.” Tobias said, but it lacked bitterness compared to the first time he spoke about her.
Vi frowned, this time turning towards him. The grieving father only had a small wistful smile on his face.
“Caitlyn hates it when everyone else makes decisions on her behalf. She has always been rebellious that way, but by her strong will alone she managed to survive this far,” Tobias explained. “At least wait until she wakes and decide if she thinks the same. If what I see is true, my daughter needs you by her side now, even more than ever.”
Vi’s eyes flickered with emotion, shamefully shifting her gaze back to the fireplace once more. The embers were already dying, leaving only black ashes and soot in their place.
When Tobias came closer to take hold of her arm, Vi did not pull away.
“Will she be fine?”
Tobias looked up, his beard and hair unkempt and the bags under his eyes seemed heavier. Still, he mustered a doting smile for his only daughter.
“The gash is deep. Took a few of us to bring her back, but she will recover,” he assured. “She shouldn’t move too much. It was difficult to stem the bleeding.”
Caitlyn grimaced. Staying still was difficult for Vi, she only hoped she would listen this time.
“The housekeeper informed me that your enforcer friend wanted to see you,” Tobias said, taking off his surgical gloves. “I think her name is... Maddie?”
Caitlyn closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. She could not bear to see her at the moment, especially when she knew Maddie was only there to fill a void that could never be filled. Plus, there was too much on her mind, and she still lacked a plan to take down Ambessa.
“I wish to be alone,” Caitlyn whispered. “I have more pressing matters to attend to.”
Her father nodded without further reply, and Caitlyn took that as her cue to excuse herself. Her hands were clammy out of anxiety as she braced herself for what she might see the moment she entered her room.
And no matter how hard she mentally prepared herself, she would never be ready with the sight that greeted her.
Vi was placed on the left side of her bed, her muscular arms positioned by her sides while she was dressed in a tank top. Her form was impressive, her physique still strong, but compared to the last time she saw her, Caitlyn could see her cheekbones stood out more prominently, and she had clearly lost weight. The scrapes and bruises along her skin made her frown.
Her mop of red hair was still soaked in greasy black, painted with streaks too stubborn to go. ‘Just like an angry oil slick,’ she thought, but it no longer felt as funny as she first said it.
“Ma’am,” her housekeeper greeted, and Caitlyn jolted, not expecting her around. “I can clean her up.”
Her hands clenched into fists, suddenly surged with an overwhelming need to protect her. Vi wouldn’t like a stranger touching her, and as much as Caitlyn felt herself undeserving to touch her, she must do this for her.
“It’s alright, I’ll do it.”
“But ma’am –”
“I’ll do it,” she said again, this time with a voice that brook no argument.
Her housekeeper nodded, then excused herself. The doors closed with a soft thud, and Caitlyn spent a few good minutes just studying the unconscious woman, wondering if she might just open her eyes and acknowledge Caitlyn somehow.
But she remained still. The soft dripping sound of the saline drip was the only thing she could hear.
She had to forcefully tear her gaze away from her – her face, her tattoos, her prone and unconscious form. She wanted so badly to lay next to her, just watch the calming rise and fall of her chest as she took each steady breath. But Caitlyn strode quickly to her bathroom, returning with a basin of water, some towels and soaps that would soothe the scrapes and cuts on her skin.
She started with her body, using a wet cloth to rinse the grime and dust stuck to her pale skin. ‘I have no right to do this,’ Caitlyn thought. And still, she took the time to softly trace her tattoos with the cloth, admiring the ink Vi claimed she partly did herself.
Next, she cleaned her face. Her eyelids were still covered in fainted black dye, and Caitlyn took extra care to gently dab so she wouldn’t accidentally jab her eye. The tattoo on her right cheek was scarred, with a darkening bruise near her jaw.
She kept reprimanding herself. ‘I shouldn’t do this. She doesn’t want me around.’ And yet the Commander found herself wanting, poking her thumb over the cloth just so she could inadvertently brush against her scarred, pale lips.
Vi’s lips suddenly parted in a gasp, making Caitlyn freeze. But she did not move any further, even with the Commander staring so intensely at her face.
Her mind betrayed her right then, replaying their first kiss over and over. The way Vi held the nape of her neck gently, pulling her close by the waist just so she can deepen the kiss. Caitlyn had wanted to mould herself into Vi’s body, just so they would never be separated again. And she would curse herself every night later on for pushing her away, for casting out the only person who loved her so deeply and unconditionally.
Caitlyn quickly withdrew her fingers. Her blue eyes were rimmed with tears when she finally reached for the towel, soaking it in the soapy water a few times before she started washing her hair.
The black streaks flowed away, staining the immaculate white towels with dark splotches. Caitlyn noticed the length, and even the side-shave had grown out a bit. Nonetheless, her unruly hair remained a rich, vibrant red, and she desperately wanted to bury her fingers in them, to touch her like she belonged to Vi and Vi to her. Yet, Caitlyn knew better.
She had no right.
Vi looked cleaner, and Caitlyn furiously wiped her tears away. She must have been really injured, that not even the washing could wake her. That fact alone terrified her a little.
“I’m so sorry.” Caitlyn whispered, barely holding back a choked sob. It did not matter, anyway. Her apologies sounded hollow even to her own ears. Nothing she do could erase the pain and suffering she inflicted on Vi, the one person she loved more than life itself.
She should leave her be. She should not even be near her.
However, Caitlyn stood on shaky legs, slowly trudging towards the empty side of her bed. Her bed – with its numerous pillows and soft silk sheets that smelled like her favourite scent of jasmine and Ionian sage, was now mixed with Vi’s familiar musk. Taking off her dark blue and gold coat, Caitlyn climbed into the bed next to her, but chose to keep a fair distance between them as she curled with her knees close to her chest.
Caitlyn laid just like she did when she was a child, when she was alone with no one else to chat or play with. All she had were books and countless servants, who did not even dare to speak to her due to their fear of her mother. Even the girls who willingly ‘fell’ for her charms turned out to be vultures desperate for a piece of the Kiramman name and fortune. As a teen, she had her fair share of heartbreaking tales, swearing off love when one particular fling hurt so bad she spent weeks sobbing into her pillow. Until years later when Vi dropped quite suddenly into her life.
And oh, how Caitlyn wished she could turn back time and do everything right once more.
Once the tears came, they would not stop. And Caitlyn did not even sleep, just curled around herself, staring longingly at Vi whom she could not even touch, begging for her to wake.
They did not let her in until the next morning, and Vi was restless. Tobias silently offered her breakfast – a plate full of bacon, sausages, eggs and toasts. She was reluctant to eat at first but found it hard to resist. And she swore she had never had bread so soft or a taste of eggs more exquisite before.
Nonetheless, the sight of Caitlyn motionless in her own bed almost had her throwing up the entire breakfast on the spot when she was finally brave enough to see her. Her fear was palpable, and she could hardly contain a sob, seeing her huddled in thick blankets and swaths of bandages.
Her lost eye was bound in thick gauze, with rolls of bandages that went around her head. Clumps of her hair were still matted in blood, tubes and needles connected her wrist to a hanging drip, one similar to Vi when she was in a very same position just a few days ago.
Yellow and purple bruises littered her entire body, and Caitlyn no longer looked like that tall, stoic and composed Commander that led an entire regiment of enforcers against the Noxians. Laying in her own bed that could house Vi and all her siblings, Caitlyn looked smaller, and it did not help that she was so still it seemed as though she was already dead.
Vi swallowed hard, mustering the courage to get closer. And bravery was very much needed – she was unprepared to see her this way, and her chest ached worse than her broken arm that was held in a sling.
“She is recovering,” Tobias whispered quietly, looking more composed than she was. “The prognosis looks good, everything seems stable. They’re putting her under to help with the pain, so she might heal faster.”
Vi gulped. “When might she wake?”
“We don’t know. Maybe a week or two. Depends on her progress,” Tobias winced. “I should ask the servants if they might help clean her up –”
She did not even hesitate. “I’ll do it.”
The old Kiramman stared at her wide-eyed, as if he had broken the laws of hospitality by asking his guest to do something so menial. “You don’t need to, Vi. You need to rest –”
“I want to do it,” Vi said firmly. “For her. Please let me.”
At her insistence, Tobias only nodded with a sad smile. “Very well then, but if you need help, just call the housekeeper.”
Vi nodded, then went to the bedside to retrieve a basin. She would have to do all of it with one hand, and it would be time-consuming. Not that it mattered anyway, especially when Vi now had all the time in the world.
She tried not to think about how she always bathed Powder when they were kids, dumping a whole basin of cold water over her head whenever she moved too much. They would burst into giggles, until Vander would admonish them for he was afraid they might catch a cold.
The memory now only brought tears to her eyes. So she screwed her eyes shut, willing them away.
“And Violet?” Tobias called. Vi whirled around to face him. “Caitlyn might be comatose, but she can still hear us, sometimes even respond to stimulus while unconscious. It might help if you talk to her, let her hear the voice of a loved one.”
Vi could hardly keep it together when he referred her as such. A loved one.
Refusing to break down in front of her girlfriend’s father, the tired Zaunite nodded her thanks. “I’ll make sure she isn’t lonely.”
Tobias then excused himself, the absurdly spacious bedroom plunged in silence once more. Vi had no time to marvel at the size of the bathroom, gathering soap and water in the basin before trudging slowly to the bed once more. Putting down the heavy basin by the bedside drawer, Vi sat down at the edge of the bed and sighed, taking a long moment to study every scar, every bruise and injury inflicted on her.
“I’ll be damned, Cupcake,” Vi whispered. Caitlyn did not even move a muscle, the rise and fall of her chest slow and rhythmic. “Always gotta pick a fight you can’t win, huh?”
She could almost hear the haughty huff in her voice, her chin raised in defiance as she dared Vi to retort, accompanied with a proud smirk. Can’t let you do all that by yourself, right?
“Never doubted you for a moment,” she continued, her good hand caressing her lover’s pale cheek. She felt her skin stretch beneath her touch, Caitlyn’s lips parted slightly while gentle puffs of her breath tickled her thumb. “You kept your promise, and now you just need to rest.”
The Commander did not even stir. Not even a single movement behind her uncovered eyelid.
Alone and without witnesses, Vi let her tears fall. And all the grief rushed back to crush her at once.
Mom. Dad. Mylo. Claggor. Powder. Loris. Jinx. Vander.
Her lips quivered, but she swallowed her sob, her jaw and throat clenched so tight she could have been suffocated from the emotional pressure alone.
Caitlyn.
The whisper of her name in her mind made her relinquish the ball of grief she tried so hard to suppress, releasing in an anguished huff. Not all was lost. She wasn’t alone. There were still people counting on her, rooting for her, people for her to love.
Ekko. The Firelights.
Zaun.
Her chest reverberated with every shuddering breath she took.
Yet her hands were steady as she twisted the wash cloth, then she began to wipe along Caitlyn’s limbs and neck to wash away the grime and dried blood. She took extra care with the areas peppered with bruises and lacerations, dabbing them gently while she wept quietly to herself.
Washing her hair was harder, but Vi did it anyway, undoing clumps of tangled mess, running her wet fingers through strands of navy blue to wash out the red. The pillows were tinged pink from the diluted blood, and Vi mentally made a note to request the housekeeper for a new set of pillows. Gently, she pulled apart ropes of hair, rubbing along her scalp until she at least looked like herself once more, and not the soldier ready to die for her home city.
Making sure the bandages weren’t soaked wet, Vi sat back and stared, eyes roaming over Caitlyn’s prone form and forced herself to remember every wound inflicted. There was no one to release her pent-up anger to. In fact, Vi wasn’t sure if she wanted to be consumed by rage once more. After everything, she was exhausted to the core — whatever fire that once burnt fervently within her must have extinguished by now.
Taking a deep breath, Vi’s brows furrowed in concentration as she caught whiff of a familiar scent.
But she paid it no heed. She only leaned forward and held Caitlyn’s cold hand, resting her forehead against it as though it might spread warmth throughout her body.
When Loris came, Caitlyn reluctantly tore herself away from the bed. There was no reason for her to be there anymore – not when someone more suitable and stood by Vi even at her lowest was here to stand vigil.
It was hard at first, but Caitlyn soon slipped back into her usual routine. Her ‘conspiracy board’ (named by Vi jokingly, on the first week she met her) was now updated with Ambessa’s plans, and the Commander spent the whole day staring at it, not knowing what to do.
When the door opened to reveal Maddie, along with her father behind her who only shot her an apologetic smile, Caitlyn inwardly cursed.
She should break things off. She had no time for distractions, and she knew it was wrong to keep stringing poor Maddie along on a romance that would go nowhere. Her heart had always belonged to Vi, No matter how hard she ignored the truth during those months.
And yet, Caitlyn the Coward did nothing, simply letting Maddie get closer until she stiffened at her contact. She said absolutely nothing, staring at the map while she mindlessly voiced her thoughts.
She would have been more grateful if Maddie at least gave her inputs, but the enforcer only sought to offer her consolation, something she found completely useless given their predicament.
She involuntarily recoiled. It was more a reflex than a conscious movement, but Maddie felt it regardless. And Caitlyn was only riddled with more guilt at how her face hardened.
Perhaps part of Caitlyn always knew back then, but she was too blinded by grief and sadness. Maddie had always been at the right place at the right time, and Caitlyn should have suspected something. Except she didn’t.
Before she could even reply, the door was thrown open violently, revealing Vi who still looked pale but fuming, her fists clenched so tightly Cait thought she might charge forward and throw a right hook at her.
The next day, Vi sat in the armchair with a book clutched in her hands. The cover was pink, and the blurb was so corny it raised an eyebrow. Though the pages were frayed and yellowed, the rest of it was surprisingly well-maintained.
Those are her favourite novels, Tobias said that morning, pointing at an entire shelf of romance series, decorated and well-maintained. Read every book while she was in high school, that was until she switched to crime fiction anyway. If you want, you may read it to her.
“Never really liked romance,” Vi flipped to the first chapter. “This might change, I don’t know. But it wouldn’t be the first time you changed me, huh, Cupcake?”
Silence.
Vi sighed deeply, tracing the first page as she cleared her throat. “Alright, here goes,” her finger lingered over the rough texture of the paper, wondering if young Caitlyn did the same when she first read this. “The house on the hill stood high and mighty as Emily stares longingly out of her bedroom window every night…”
She didn’t think she would have the patience to do the whole bit, nor did she think she would have found the story engaging anyway. Except Vi persevered, and found herself curious how the story would turn out. It sounded oddly familiar, truth be told, the tale between two forbidden lovers who despite their differences still found a way to be with each other – the lonely princess who only wished to be heard, and the rugged thief who somehow found her way into the wrong place at the right time.
Funny enough, Vi found herself reading chapter after chapter aloud in the same chair, sometimes even imitating different voices to make the storytelling more engaging – just like when she read Powder bedtime stories to make her laugh after a rough day.
She only hoped Caitlyn wouldn’t tease the hell out of her one day. That thought alone made her chortle halfway through her reading.
It was all fun and games until she got to the raunchy part, which she didn’t even know existed at all.
“ ‘Her breaths quickened, just as her hands drifted down her’ – oh, whoa,” Vi recoiled slightly, reading through the entire paragraph in silence. Her eyebrows shot up to her hairline in surprise. “You read this when you were 16? Does your Dad know?”
Caitlyn only laid there in silence. Not even a twitch of a finger, or a flutter of her eyelid.
Vi’s face fell, the light-heartedness from the reading gone in an instant. Perhaps it was the lack of sleep, perhaps it was the emotional distress she had suffered ever since the war was over. But Vi only let off a shuddering sigh, clasping her hand in hers while a thumb ran over her knuckles.
“I don’t know how much longer I can do this, Cupcake,” Vi said forlornly. “And I don’t mean the reading. The story’s good. Heart-breaking and inspiring too, but it would be better if you’re awake to tell me the rest of it, right?”
Only silence answered her.
Tearfully, she slumped forward until her forehead was pressed into Caitlyn’s freezing hand, her nose buried deep in the green silk sheets.
And Vi froze instantly.
The familiar scent... she could recall now.
And not just because she was in the very same bed when she was heavily wounded. But the same scent that drifted through her unconsciousness to remind her that she was alive, that she wasn’t alone. Soft, tender movements passing through her hair – a gesture so filled with love and care that Vi simply let go, while her quiet heart subconsciously chased it all the time.
It was Caitlyn’s scent. Whether from her shampoos or soaps or the absurdly priced perfumes she wore, it was still undeniably Caitlyn. And the truth made her sob even harder.
Caitlyn had been by her side, cleaning her up and keeping vigil when Vi was wounded, and she did not even realize until now.
So all she could do was return the favour, little things to remind her that even when she was deep under, Vi was never far.
Right after the meeting with Mel and Jayce, they both returned to Caitlyn’s bedroom to enjoy whatever meagre time they might have left. War was looming over the horizon – Ambessa’s warships drew close, and the city buzzed with unrest as enforcers and volunteers alike raised the garrisons – this time not to divide, but to unite against a common enemy.
Under any other circumstances, Vi would have been angry. Zaun owed Piltover nothing. In fact, the topsiders should be the ones returning what was lost 10 times over. Yet the possibility of both cities being decimated was way too high, and the brawler figured any more division would only further reduce their chances of survival.
Plus, she had someone to fight for now. Perhaps after the war was over she would return to the undercity and look for her sister again, this time with Caitlyn by her side. She knew, if they make it through the war, things would finally look up. Vi promised she would do everything to make Jinx feel welcomed again, that she deserved to have a home despite everything that happened.
Soft and languid, Caitlyn’s arm snaked around her waist, caressing the bandaged wound on her abdomen. Vi hummed.
“You’re thinking too loudly,” Caitlyn said, resting her head upon her shoulder. Vi shifted, until she was facing her, and found herself in awe with how bright and brilliant her cerulean eyes were. She dreamt about this visage for months – the first time they laid in the very same bed when Cait’s fingers brushed over her cheek. Never would she think she would be watching her like this again – except this time all their walls were down with their hearts bared and bleeding for each other.
“You should rest,” Vi whispered, wanting to kiss her but at the same time knowing she needed to be at her peak tomorrow. She had no doubt Caitlyn was an excellent shot, with how she broke her own speed and precision record down at the range earlier, but they could not afford to slip tomorrow. “You must be at your best. Your unit is counting on you.”
Caitlyn’s forehead creased in a bothered frown. “I only hope I’m not leading them to their impending deaths. Ambessa would not show mercy.”
“Hey,” Vi whispered, tipping her chin up so they would face each other. “You are a great leader, your plan is sound and you even had contingencies for almost every scenario. The other enforcers know what they are getting into, you’ll do fine.”
“Great leader,” Caitlyn forced a wry, humourless smile. “If only. I should have been the bridge that unites both cities, instead I only drove us apart even further. We are in this predicament because of me.”
Vi made a small, disapproving noise. “Enough of that –”
“There are plenty of things we need to talk about,” Caitlyn said in a small voice, her grip around her bicep tightened. “The things I did... the things I forced... I see it so vividly now. How could I be this foolish?”
“Caitlyn, you were grieving and completely alone,” Vi said. “Ambessa knew it and exploited it –”
“Using the Grey on the people, locking them up. That is not Ambessa,” Caitlyn spat bitterly.
Even Vi went silent right then.
Caitlyn’s lips only curled further in distaste. “You shouldn’t even be forgiving me.”
Vi’s eyes were downcast, hardly even meeting her lover’s. Moments later, Caitlyn’s hands pulled away, and the absence of her touch was sorely missed already.
But the orange skies reminded her that everything could go to shit tomorrow, and Vi realized time would wait for no one. Her grey eyes hardened, before she reached out and pulled Caitlyn into her arms, holding her tight. The Commander clearly did not expect it, letting off a small gasp.
“I was wrong too. I followed you and did those things with you. We are both wrong,” Vi said bitterly. “But you’re good, Cupcake. No amount of grief or mistakes can erase that. Deep down, you are still the same girl who had my back even after I ditched you in the brothel, who traded your gun to save me, and the only one to tell me none of the things that happened was my fault.”
She could feel wetness on her skin, but Vi only drew her closer, stroking her silky dark hair.
“So let’s do better,” she said. “Promise me you will survive, promise me you will come back to me. And when the threat is gone, we will rebuild everything together.”
Caitlyn pulled back this time, and the tears clouding her blue eyes only made them shine brighter. Vi only chuckled, not understanding how someone could even cry so beautifully.
Vi clutched her hand tighter. “Promise me, Cait.”
She said nothing, only nodded meekly as she pulled Vi’s hand to kiss her knuckles. The gesture alone made her gasp.
They said nothing for the rest of the night, only holding each other closely while watching the sun rise in the horizon.
Vi shot out of her chair when she heard a loud crash. The room was dark for Caitlyn’s sake, but the low moonlight streaming through the curtain gave her enough illumination to see what was happening. She shot to her feet, ready to fight even with one arm plastered in an immovable cast.
Except there was no intruder – only Caitlyn, one dazzling blue eye opened blearily and scanning the room with confusion, while her arm not connected with tubes and needles was reaching for something on the night stand.
Her worry overpowered her shock of seeing Caitlyn awake, her legs already moving quickly to her line of sight. Still dazed and confused from the drugs, the injured Commander could barely register who was in front of her, so Vi carefully brushed her fringes away, hoping her touch would ground her.
“It’s alright, Cupcake. I’m here, I’m here,” Vi cooed, but Caitlyn was still struggling feebly in the bed, reaching for something. “Tell me, what do you need?”
“Water,” Caitlyn croaked, her usual posh and melodious voice now sounded worn-out. “Hurts...”
Her heart twisted with guilt hearing her trembling voice. With only one hand she could only hold her jaw, pressing a chaste kiss to her forehead.
“I’m sorry,” Vi could only say, before reaching for a glass of water and lifting the straw to her lips. After a few sips, Vi sat by her bed, just caressing her hand softly to let her know she was near.
Caitlyn seemed more awake now, her eye never leaving Vi’s. The brawler could see she was trying to process what happened, and she patiently waited for her next question, hoping she could be Cailtyn’s rock during these trying times.
She was expecting question about her own injuries, her own loss of vision, the aftermath of war. Perhaps even questions about Jayce which, honestly, she wouldn’t know how to answer. Vi prepared herself, ready to pave the way so Caitlyn wouldn’t be crushed by the truth, and yet she was unprepared for what she asked her then.
“You’re hurt?” the injured woman asked, eye flitting towards her cast.
Her breath hitched, as she stared at her in stunned silence.
“I...” Vi stuttered, before collecting herself. “You are the one barely conscious in bed with a stab wound, and you’re asking about me?”
Caitlyn’s pale lips pulled into a tiny smile, but the sadness underneath was not lost on Vi. “I already know what’s wrong with me. You... I couldn’t see you properly after the war. I didn’t know if you were unscathed.”
Her heart fell. No words could soothe the loss Caitlyn felt at the moment – Vi could only stay by her side, promising to get her through it all.
She scooted closer on the bed, fingers intertwined with Caitlyn’s. Her eye never left hers, despite being clouded with exhaustion. Vi raised their hands to her lips, hoping her gaze alone could tell Caitlyn how much she meant to her.
“There is nothing wrong with you,” Vi emphasised. “You’re perfect – despite your scars or whatever parts you have lost. You are still you, and I will always love you wholly.”
Caitlyn’s lips trembled, unshed tears lining the rim of her remaining eye. Vi had to temporarily release her hand, reaching up to wipe her tears away. The distance closed between them, with Vi so close she could feel her warm breath on her lips.
“A lot of things will be different now,” Caitlyn argued weakly. “I can’t even...”
“We will get through it together,” Vi insisted. “I promise. I’m not leaving, not ever.”
When the tears kept rolling down her cheek, Vi leaned closer and held her gingerly in an one-armed embrace. Despite the heaviness of their circumstances, she had never felt so good before, knowing Caitlyn would be safe and sound in her arms. Even six months later, the brawler’s gut still fluttered with nervous butterflies when Caitlyn hugged back just as tightly, and Vi missed her touches so much.
A light chuckle made her draw back, staring quizzically at Caitlyn whose pale lips stretched into a comforting grin.
“Since you’re staying...” she croaked. “Maybe I can tell you how the story ends...”
Vi was completely dumbfounded, and she could only stare at her wide-eyed.
"But...” Caitlyn coughed wetly, before continuing. “I love the way you did the funny voices, I think if I wasn’t asleep... I would have laughed.”
She could not help the chuckle that fell from her lips, and Vi leaned her forehead against Caitlyn’s, just soaking in the moment. Every lungful of air the Commander took filled her with hope, and for the first time, Vi could see the light at the end of the tunnel.
“I’ll do it for you then,” Vi said with all the gladness in her heart. “Just to hear you laugh again,”
When Caitlyn leaned in to kiss her lightly, she could taste the smile on her lips.
“What do you need, daughter?”
A day after she woke, Caitlyn felt more conscious, capable of forming clearer thoughts. Vi stayed by her side as much as she could, though she could feel her reluctance to hold her for fear of aggravating her injuries. True, her abdomen still stung when she accidentally shifted, her lost eye still gave her throbbing headaches, but Caitlyn wished Vi would know how desperately she needed her near her.
Tobias was a picture of calm and serenity, yet Caitlyn could see her father was deeply relieved. Her heart twisted in guilt – Tobias was simply too old to go through another heartbreak like this, Caitlyn would have to do better.
She spent the night pondering. Now she might be bedridden, unable to gauge the condition of the two cities and their fragile alliance after the war. The Council seats needed to be filled, and Zaun’s voice must be heard.
She hated not being able to do anything. At the same time, she realized she was the new leader of House Kiramman – her voice itself would be powerful enough.
“There is something I must ask of you. It must be executed immediately, right after I request it,” Caitlyn started, clearing her parched throat. Her father’s face turned solemn, and he gave a firm nod, so she continued. “Please ask our bookkeeper to reserve enough funds to send food, clothing and medicine to the undercity, to a young man named Ekko. It must be to him and him only – he will know what to do.”
Tobias’s eyes widened in shock. She thought he might protest, that he might argue and claim she was making a rash decision. Caitlyn even tensed, ready to debate her own father for whatever he might say.
His face broke into a wide, caring grin, and he nodded. “It will be done. Perhaps a weekly care package might assist the less unfortunate to get through the ordeal quickly?”
Caitlyn’s heart bloomed with gratitude. She weakly raised her hand, and her father caught it quickly. Both Kirammans shared a cherished moment of love, appreciating how they survived despite the most arduous threat. She only had her father to thank for saving her and Vi.
Her mother’s face flashed in her mind, and Caitlyn was struck with a pang of shame for the things she did in the name of revenge. It was no excuse, but like Vi said, she would do better.
And she would fight to have the two cities united for centuries to come, come hell or high water.