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The lapping of waves and the creaking of wood were a low and repetitive buzz, almost soothing really, and even the soft murmur of distant voices was a sound any Zaunite had fallen asleep to a thousand times, with only sheet thin walls separating most tiny shoebox apartments from the never empty streets of the undercity, as well as each other, all crammed around and on top of one another like endless stacks of shipping crates. It was familiar. Comforting.
But the birds…
The seabirds cried out with an enthusiasm Vi thought a little overblown for so early in the morning. Even gulls ought to be saving that kind of excitement at least until lunchtime, right?
The dock workers, who bustled about with bags of goods and great armloads of coiled rope and other supplies, at least had the decency to look put out about being here barely past sunrise. Where was that energy with the little feathery jerks flying all around them, looking for scraps to eat?
Leaning her weight against the railing behind her, Vi thought about how strange it still was, looking out at the city she had never left in her entire life and not recognizing a damn thing. In the years she had been locked away, so much had changed both topside and bottom. So many new buildings, some taller even than the old Piltie palace she used to glare at from across the river, had seemingly sprung up like magic, fully formed. And above them all loomed the shadow of that damn Hexgate tower.
It had awed her at first, but these days Vi could barely look at the thing, the memories of what she'd lost there still too fresh and raw for now… if not forever. But she knew what it looked like. All the scaffolding and construction crews constantly in motion since the structural damage done during the battle. There was a lot of that going around lately, but still, somehow life went on. The business of the city went on.
And somehow Vi found herself here to see it from the deck of a ship moored at the topside docks of all places, the farthest she'd ever actually been from the place she was born, and preparing to set sail for somewhere much, much further.
The wind shifted slightly, and a familiar voice caught Vi's ear, the words indistinct at this distance but the tone one she would always recognize.
Just off the ship, Caitlyn was speaking very sternly with a pair of House Kiramman staff members, which felt a bit excessive seeing as she'd already left clear written instructions for all of them, but hey. What did Vi know about running a noble house or a massive business enterprise?
Despite everything, the sight of Cait so close and safe and mostly recovered from her injuries brought a small, warm smile to Vi's lips, and when she finally dismissed the two messengers and turned around, fussing just a little with her hair as the sea wind tried to take it, Vi saw the exact moment Caitlyn noticed her staring and paused, her frown softening into an expression so fond it still baffled Vi a little to see it directed at herself.
“Everything okay?” she asked as Cait joined her on the deck, tilting her head in the direction she was just walking from.
“Fine,” Caitlyn answered, then settled beside her at the railing, but with a soft, mildly put-upon sigh. Vi nudged her with an elbow and earned herself a half-smile for the effort. “Just making it clear that Sevika–” (Vi groaned.) “–has full access to the House Kiramman resources for our projects in my absence, and there will be dire consequences for anyone who tries to deny her access to them. Again.”
The situation had been… sensitive, and occasionally volatile, since making the announcement that Caitlyn would be stepping down not only as Commander but also as the representative of her House on the council to make room for a spokesperson for the people of Zaun. Much like Cait and Sevika's own personal tensions in trying to work together for the benefit of the undercity. But nobody ever said progress was easy.
“It's only going to be a few weeks, Cait,” Vi attempted to reassure her. “We'll be back before you know it.”
But Caitlyn was already back to staring dramatically off into the middle distance. “A lot can happen in just a few weeks.”
She wasn't wrong. Any number of bad or unexpected things could take place in the time they were away from Piltover, but handling all of them wasn't solely on Caitlyn's shoulders anymore.
“Yeah, they're probably doomed,” Vi breathed heavily, making Caitlyn huff out a quiet laugh, then shifted close enough to lean against her side. “But I guess you'll just have to trust them to handle it anyway. You've got your own important business to take care of apparently, Miss Fancy-Pants Ambassador.”
Cait's hand slid around to scratch idly at the base of Vi's spine, shooting out sparks that almost made her miss when Caitlyn corrected, “That's not a real title. And I'm not officially an ambassador, I just have family connections in Ionia that might smooth talks along a bit.”
Without the use of the Hexgates, most of Piltover's foreign alliances and trade partnerships had suddenly come crashing down into a burning dumpster fire and now were in dire need of repairing all at once. Repairing which could affect the livelihoods of thousands within both Piltover and Zaun, not to mention Caitlyn and Sevika's own improvement initiatives. It was important that someone handle these diplomatic missions correctly, and ultimately it was decided by the council that House Kiramman would be entrusted with at least one of them, if Caitlyn were willing. Which, surprise surprise, the woman who gave up her damn eye for this city agreed to give up a few weeks of her time as well, despite some reservations about the idea.
And Vi was… also here.
“You can still stay,” Cait said quietly, almost like she had read Vi's mind. “I'm sure Ekko could use your help with this school idea he's working on.”
Vi didn't answer for a moment, watching the crew handle the last few tasks before they would be ready to set sail. She could stay. This whole diplomat thing definitely wasn't for her…
But what could she even do for Ekko? She wasn't the wealthy one who could offer funding for books and materials or the brainy one who had anything to teach the kids of Zaun other than how to take a punch and usually get back up again. Maybe she could help nail a wall in place if it started falling off? It was about all she felt good for these days.
That was her own problem to work out the solution to though, so instead of answering, she faux scoffed, “What? Trying to get rid of me already, Cupcake?”
“Not a chance,” Cait answered quickly, then… hesitated. “I just don't want you to feel obligated to do something you don't want to, just because I'm doing it.”
Vi sighed, watching Caitlyn stew in whatever turmoil was currently boiling inside her. She tried to be strong, but Vi knew the guilt she carried for many of her past choices. Some of which had been on her own, and some of which Vi had joined her in. Her own feelings on that were… complicated, but still, she insisted, “I'm a big girl, Cait. I can make my own decisions.”
But she didn't answer, and for a little while they simply leaned and watched as the crew finished up and gave warnings that they were just about ready to set off.
It wasn't until she actually saw ropes being untied from the docks that Vi finally gave in and grunted, “Alright. Spit it out.”
“What?” Cait blinked at her in surprise, and Vi twisted to face her head on.
“Whatever it is you've been holding back.” Caitlyn attempted to look away, but a gentle touch to the chin brought her good eye back to Vi's. “I can tell there's something. Has been for a while. And I've been trying to be patient, thinking maybe it's all the work, but now we're literally on a boat, about to have miles of ocean between us and any business you could be thinking about. And patience? Still not my strong suit.”
“It's–” Cait started to deny it, Vi knew, but then she stopped and bit her lip in thought. “I just… didn't want to burden you, for a little while longer. You've been through so much.”
“And you haven't?”
Caitlyn's eyebrows rose, shifting the patch she now wore minutely. “It's not exactly the same.”
“It's not a competition either.” Vi took her hand and tried for a smile, even if it was a bit weak. “Come on. Humor me.”
For several seconds, her gaze seemed to search Vi's own for something, and then finally Caitlyn's stiff posture slumped slightly as she took a moment to consider her words. Something Vi knew she struggled with at times.
“I've changed,” she said eventually. Heavily. Like it was a weight she had dropped onto the deck between them, and there was almost fear in the quaver of her voice now that it was out in the open. “And… I don't think I can change back, if that's what you've been waiting for.”
“That's–”
“I'm not the girl you first met,” Cait interrupted, apparently needing to get all this out now that she'd started. “The one I know you wanted me to stay, but I- I don't think I can ever be her again.” She let out a shaky breath. “Sometimes I barely remember her.”
Vi simply stared for a long moment. Was that what had been weighing on her lately, along with everything else on her plate? Fear that Vi would be… what? Disappointed if Cait didn't somehow turn back the clock to when Vi had first fallen for her?
She couldn't quite decide if she ought to feel guilty for putting an idea like that in her head or just… sad at the truth, that neither of them could be who they used to be. That wasn't how the world worked.
“I do,” she said eventually, and Caitlyn gave her a confused look. “I remember.” She lifted her hand to Caitlyn's face, ghosting a thumb across her cheek and just barely grazing the strap of her eyepatch. “And you might be different now, but you're also the same.”
“But…”
“Maybe you just need to get to know the new you.” Vi considered it a moment, and then smiled crookedly. “Maybe we both do.”
The look of pure bafflement on Caitlyn's face was so complete Vi nearly laughed.
“Let's do it then,” she continued with slowly increasing amusement. “Let's get to know you. We've got a few weeks.”
Again, Caitlyn remained confused and suspicious as she asked, “What does that mean exactly?”
“Hi there.” She held out a hand with almost mocking formality. “Name’s Vi. Nice to meet you.”
When Caitlyn did nothing but stare in something between shock and horror, Vi casually continued, “Quiet type, huh? Yeah, I get that. Don't wanna be bothered by strangers while you're on your big voyage. What's got you headed out to sea like this anyway? Business or pleasure?”
“...Work,” Cait slowly answered.
“Ah, gotcha.” Vi glanced around, then leaned in conspiratorially. “Don't tell anybody, but I'm actually on the run. I busted out of prison not too long ago, with a little bit of help from a beautiful stranger, so I'm skipping town for a while, until the heat dies down.”
Finally, Caitlyn gave a brief chuckle and rolled her eye. “Why are you like this?”
Vi shook her head dramatically, saying, “That's part of my mysterious backstory that I'm too closed off to reveal until we get to know each other better.”
“You're ridiculous,” Cait said with such warm exasperation.
“And charming.” Vi looked her up and down. “You know, since I'm just a stowaway, I don't actually have a cabin. Maybe I can share yours, make this trip both business and pleasure for you?”
“Vi.”
She smirked. “All I'd need in return is a cover story so nobody gets suspicious. Anybody asks, you tell them I'm your partner. So what do you say, Cupcake? Do we have a deal?”
“My name is Caitlyn.”
The ship gave a lurch and began to pull away from the dock.
“But you're so sweet… Like a cupcake.”