Chapter Text
Where the hells did Mel and Ambessa go? was the first thought in Caitlyn’s mind. She saw a terrifying, black-and-blood-red magic open up below the massive Noxian warlord, and then Mel had disappeared into the same thing. All of sudden, with a boom and a scream, they were back. Mel clutched her mother closely. Caitlyn could see that Ambessa had whispered something to her, before her eyes grew dull and unfocused. Oh Mel, I’m so sorry was the thought, unbidden. They shared a lot, Caitlyn and Mel. Dead mothers would just have to be added to the list
The very next thought in Caitlyn’s head was GODS THE PAIN. Sparring with Ambessa was difficult. The idea of fighting Ambessa one-on-one was ludicrous, if not impossible. Fighting Ambessa two-on-one, with a dagger in her gut and the Grey still assaulting her senses? Caitlyn was lucky she made it out alive. But the pain, dear gods the pain. She began to assess her injuries. The obvious ones first. She felt a warm wetness spreading across her abdomen, likely from the wound that she (re)opened when she tore out the dagger. A sharp throbbing in her head. The spear. Her left eye.
Sacrifice.
Caitlyn didn’t retain all of her medical knowledge (much to her father’s chagrin), but one thing she did remember: eyes are basically flimsy sacs of jelly and nerves. If the spear did any kind of significant piercing, the eye was lost. A penance, she supposed. And at least it was her non-dominant eye.
And it was this lull in combat, where Mel was mourning her mother and Caitlyn was struggling to assess her injuries, that caused Caitlyn to not notice the beams of light shooting out from the sky. From the top of the Hexgates.
THE SUBLIME INTERSECTION OF ORDER AND CHAOS
She was dimly aware of those tendrils of light touching the heads of everyone in the square. Including the Noxian guards surrounding them. Including Mel, including her-
Light. Bright, warm light. She felt so floaty, like her body was far away. Her mind stilled. She felt warm, safe. She recognized the feeling on her head. Fingers, rough like a Zaunite’s.
Viktor. No. No! He can’t succeed! He didn’t!
Caitlyn began to panic, and didn’t notice a second presence. One that felt old. Older than her, certainly.
What happened to Jayce?! WHAT HAPPE-
Caitlyn found herself...in a bar.
She was fairly certain it was a bar, given the overall layout. Stools surrounding a central structure, and she could make out the fuzzy outline of bottles below the table. In fact, the only the reason she wasn’t completely certain it was a bar was because everything seemed fuzzy. Out of focus, as if it were a dream. Or a memory. She was also aware that she could see out of both eyes. So where ever she was, she was definitely not in her body. Maybe. This was getting pretty confusing.
This memory, if it is a memory, is not one of mine, Caitlyn thought. So whose…
She saw movement out of the corner of her eye, and turned to see… “Silco?!” And it was, but not how she remembered seeing him last. His left eye was whole, and his hair was longer. He was younger, and he looked calmer and happier. He turned to Caitlyn. “The Enforcer,” he said with his trademark smooth voice. “Interesting… you’re not supposed to be here, I think.”
Caitlyn scowled. “What are you doing here? Where am I?!” But before she could really get started, music began to play.
There's a girl in town and word's gone around she's just fine
Caitlyn’s heard jerked towards the end of the room, the direction of the sound, to see a jukebox. Standing in front of it was a woman. Caitlyn noted that she seemed clearer, sharper than the rest of...wherever she was.
So I don't worry my head 'cause I know her heart is tied to mine
The woman was shorter than Caitlyn, and she gently swayed her hips back and forth as she stepped away from the jukebox. She turned, and Caitlyn saw a middle-aged woman with dark purple hair and familiar silver eyes. Also quite familiar was the smirk on her face as she moved towards Caitlyn, who reflexively took a step backward. “Who… who are you?” Caitlyn asked.
The woman’s smirked widened, and Caitlyn suddenly saw a flash of powder blue eyes and pink hair.
“Violet?” The woman laughed and turned to Silco. “Shit, Vander was right. It really is a good name. Especially when she says it.”
Vander. Caitlyn knew that name. Vi talked about him, her adoptive father… but this woman… “Oh gods… you’re Vi’s mother.”
The woman nodded, smirk softening into a warmer smile. “Got it in one. Name’s Felicia.”
Caitlyn’s hands shoot to her mouth, and despite not feeling her body, Caitlyn knew that her eyes were filling with tears. “No, Violet… I… I’m dead… I’ve died…”
“Not really,” Felicia responded. “You’re close, don’t get me wrong. But you haven’t bit the dust yet.”
“Then how…”
Felicia shrugs. “Magic… the Arcane,” she made a mocking, spooky gesture with her hands that reminded Caitlyn so much of Vi, “I guess it can do some pretty incredible stuff. It’s got a hell of a reach, wouldn’t you say?”
Silco nodded quietly while scribbling on some paper. Felicia turned back to Caitlyn. “So, we’ve got a bit of time. I wanna get to know the girl who’s got my Violet’s heart.” She walked around Caitlyn, and Caitlyn was struck again by a memory. Babette’s. You’re hot, Cupcake. Caitlyn choked back another sob, and Felicia laughed and shook her head.
“Man… a fuckin’ Piltie, can you believe it? Vander’s never gonna let me hear the end of it.” Silco laughed. “She’s a good one. I can tell you that much.”
“Yeah, well we’re not trusting your opinion, mister I’m gonna flood the Lanes with Shimmer.” Silco flinched and waved a hand in surrender. “We don’t know how much time you’ve got, Felicia. You can yell at me again later.”
Felicia scoffed and turned back to Caitlyn. “So… You got a name?” Caitlyn stiffened. “I… m-my name is C-Caitlyn K-Kiramman-”
Felicia threw her head back and laughed loudly. “Wait! Not just any Piltie but Kiramman’s kid!? Why didn’t you tell me?!” Silco shrugged. “Did you expect us to be here?”
“No… no I guess not,” Felicia’s face hardened. “You hurt my little girl.” Both of them, Caitlyn thought bitterly to herself.
But instead, Caitlyn only nodded. “I know.”
“Violet didn’t deserve it.” Caitlyn nodded again. “No, she didn’t. She didn’t deserve any of it. She’s… she’s the best thing that ever happened to me.”
“You’ve got a lot to make up for.” Felicia took a step closer. Despite her height advantage, Caitlyn felt like she was a foot tall before the spirit of Vi’s mother. “I know. And I’m going to do it. Even if it takes me the rest of my life. Even if she never wants to have anything to do with me again.”
Felicia’s face twisted into a scowl as she inserted herself into Caitlyn’s field of vision. Caitlyn flinched when Felicia reached out...but she took Caitlyn’s hand in her own. Caitlyn saw Felicia’s face soften.
“I worried about what kind of world my kid was gonna grow up in. I didn’t know how to be a mom when I found out. I was still workin’ the mines every day with Connol -that’s Vi’s dad just in case- and well, you’ve seen how Zaun is. I wanted better for her. Better than what I got. That’s why we went to the bridge. That’s why Zaun’s fighting for you Topsiders. Even if you might not deserve it.”
Caitlyn’s eyes widened when Felicia reached up and softly cupped her cheek. She felt Felicia's hand. It was warm. She swore it felt real. It probably was. “But Violet’s always been about people. She loves big and loud and hard, and I can tell she loves you. I’m not gonna give you some bullshit about being the change that Zaun and Piltover need. If you can actually manage that, get back to the kind of respect your mom used to have, then I’ll be happy. Just… please. Violet’s a special girl. I knew from the moment I found out I was gonna have her.”
“Please take care of my daughter.”
Caitlyn couldn’t stop the sob that ripped out of her, and she fell into Felicia’s arms. Felicia felt warm and strong. Just like a miner. Just like Vi. She sobbed and Felicia gently rubbed her back. “Come on now, it’s okay. It’s all right. Like I said, you’re not dead. But when you go back you’re gonna wish you were dead, with how bad you got banged up.” Felicia hugged her, and it felt like one of Vi’s hugs. One hand at the nape of Caitlyn’s neck, the other wrapped securely around her back.
“I promise,” Caitlyn mumbled softly. “I never want to break a promise again so I’m promising you this: I will take care of Violet.”
“You better,” Felicia smirked. “Now, go on back and get her.”
“What do you me-” Caitlyn suddenly felt herself being pulled away. “Wait, wait!”
“Sorry Cupcake,” Felicia smiled, and Caitlyn’s eyes widened at the nickname. “Time waits for no one!”
The next thing Caitlyn knew, she felt the warm stone of Piltover again. Her whole body screamed in pain, and she kept her good eye closed. She was dully aware of something… screaming?
Vi’s screaming. Oh no.