Work Text:
Vi’s POV:
After the fight in the ventilation system, Violet started working at an illegal fight club deep in The Under-city. Loris came with her, quitting the Enforcers as well. Today was one of her more important fights. If she won this one the club would pay her double what she usually gets. Vi knew her opponent all too well. He had replaced his jaw with brass since the last time she saw him in Stillwater. He was one of Silco’s many lackeys that didn’t know what to do with themselves since Powder killed him. Vi couldn’t wait to beat what little brains he had left out of him for the third time.
She was getting ready in her room when she heard a noise outside her window. When she looked outside quickly she saw a flash of blue. She thought nothing of it as many people these days had colored their hair blue, calling themselves “Jinxers”.
Vi continued getting ready. As she thought about her blue haired sister, another woman came to mind. Caitlyn. Vi unconsciously touched the spot she had taken many blows at, but only one hurt the most. Caitlyn’s face of disgust and anger after she had hit Vi with the pummel of her gun flashed into Vi’s mind. She had been thinking about the woman a lot since then, her regret threatening to overflow every time she remembers how she had stopped Caitlyn from shooting towards her sister and the small girl that seemed to insist on staying with her.
“I should have let her take the shot.” She mutters to herself, her eyes welling up with tears. She knew it was wrong. What if Cait had missed? The kid could have died. But if she had let her taken to shot then Caitlyn would still be with her.
A knock came from the door. “Vi?” Loris called, “The fights about to start.
Vi grabbed her jacket and opened the door, barely greeting Loris as she shoved past him. Loris just shook his head and followed after her.
Maybe this time I’ll kill the inked up gorilla. Vi muses. She enters the club, ready to fight.
Caitlyn’s POV:
“Tonight we raid the Under-city. More specifically this location here.” Caitlyn pointed to a location on her map of Zaun as she briefed the Enforcers. “There has been word of a certain blue haired maniac visiting here to watch the fights. At the same time a group of Enforcers will be searching the pub a few building down. We have reports of her carrying out a drunk with a large man multiple times. Along with the large man there has been a small child with her more often than not.” Caitlyn remembered the girl that had fiercely protected Jinx when they were in the vents.
Caitlyn thought about Vi as well. She regretted hitting Vi in the spot she knew she had been hit, shot, or stabbed multiple times at, but she had to continue her search for the maniac. If she hadn’t stopped me… Caitlyn thought for the millionth time. What if she had missed? The girl was just a kid.
Caitlyn was pulled out of her thoughts when Maddie put her hand on her shoulder. She continues briefing the soldiers.
“Maddie will lead the team to the pub, while Steb and I raid the club. You know your assignments. If you have questions ask Steb or Maddie. Dismissed.” Caitlyn left the briefing room and left down the hall. Shortly after Steb caught up with her.
“Are you okay?” He signs.
Caitlyn continues walking down the hall, the mute boy walking with her. “I’m fine Steb.” She replies coldly.
Steb slows and watches her walk away, a worried look on his face.
Caitlyn walked to her office. When she entered the room she sat at her desk, entwining her fingers and resting her elbows on the desk. Tonight, she will catch Jinx.
After about an hour a knock came from the door. “Come in.” Caitlyn replied.
The door opened to reveal Steb escorting a familiar gray Chirean.
“He found me near the fountain. Says he wants to talk to you.” Steb explained, stationing himself behind the Chirean.
“Thank you.” The man signed to Steb before turning back to Caitlyn. “Hello officer Kiramman. I’m not sure if you remember me but my name is Scar, I was one of the Firelights kidnapped you and Violet.”
Caitlyn flinched at the name.
“Sorry about that by the way, but I was wondering if you’ve seen Ekko? He’s been missing for a while and we’re starting to get worried.”
Caitlyn remembered the prickly boy from Firelight’s, but the last time she saw him was on the bridge. While the boy was rude to her when they met, but when Vi told her stories about growing up with the rebel, Caitlyn grew to like the boy. The news of his disappearance was upsetting.
“I apologize Scar. I have not seen Ekko since the bridge fight.” Caitlyn replied after thinking for a bit.
The Chirean visibly deflated with her response. “Okay. I’m sorry for interrupting, thank you.” Scar turned to Steb and signed something Caitlyn couldn’t see before Steb escorted him out of the building.
Steb returned after leading the Chirean away “This is concerning. No one has seen Councilor Menards or Councilor Talis for some time either.”
Caitlyn was worried about her friends, but she couldn’t worry about them now. “We will ask around and make missing posters for Ekko after the mission.”
___________
Caitlyn and Steb kneeled outside the building, listening to the fight happening inside. Maddie and her team had already left to raid the pub.
“AND HE’S DOWN!!!” Shouted the announcer from inside. Cheers and yelling followed.
Now. Caitlyn signaled to Steb and her team. Steb kicked the door down, the rest of the team flushing inside quickly after. Caitlyn was the last inside. She surveyed the area, looking for the long haired girl. As she looked around, she saw Steb looking very confused at a large man.
“Loris?” Steb signed. As Caitlyn looked closer at the man, she realized Steb was right. The former Enforcer smiled and brought the small man in for a hug. Steb still looked very confused but hugged the much bigger man back.
Caitlyn chuckled at the mute boy’s expression, but why was Loris here? No one had seen him since he left with…
“Cait?” A small voice comes from behind her.
Vi’s POV:
Caitlyn was here. She was right in front of her, watching Steb and Loris.
“Cait?” Vi calls, her voice cracking.
The tall Enforcer turns to face her. Caitlyn’s expression shifts between confusion, anger, and sadness until finally resting on a look of determination.
“Vi.” She raised her gun half heartedly. “Put your hands where I can see them.” She says, her voice practically a whisper.
Vi didn’t hear the Enforcer. Her mind was racing with so many thoughts that it was giving her a headache.
“Cait.” She whispers, falling to her knees. The sudden movement seemed to startle the Enforcer. Tears fell quickly as Vi fought to breathe as she was rambling. “Cait I’m so sorry! You should have taken the shot! I-I shouldn’t have stopped you! Please… please I’m sorry.” She continued to blabber on and on, barely breathing.
Caitlyn’s POV:
What was happening? Why was Vi breaking down? Caitlyn looked around to find her team staring at her. She leaned down to whisper in Vi’s ear, “Come here darling, let’s talk somewhere else.” She soothed. She called to Steb to take care of the rest while she talked to Vi.
Caitlyn helped Vi up and took her deeper into the club, rubbing her back. They found a secluded area and Caitlyn sat Vi down on a small couch. Vi had calmed herself down a bit by the time they sat down.
“I’m sorry.” Vi stutters out after a moment of silence.
“For what darling?” Caitlyn said, trying to sound as soothing as possible while still being baffled by her actions.
“I should have let you take the shot.” Vi brought her hands up to her face, resting her elbows on her knees.
Caitlyn thought for a while. “I’m sorry I hit you.” She said after a while. She sat on the couch next to Vi. “And I’m sorry I yelled.”
Caitlyn didn’t know what to do. It was rare she was the one comforting Vi. Vi never needed comforting. It felt strange to see Vi break down like this.
While Vi was still trying to calm herself down, Caitlyn inspected her. The hair was definitely new, the black hiding her wonderful hot pink color. The makeup was a bit much. Caitlyn guessed it was supposed to be intimidating, but it just looked like her mascara had been smudged. Vi’s usual hand wrappings looked like that hadn’t been changed since they last saw each other. The fabric a red with blood and had been tinted yellow from sweat and grime.
Vi lifted her head and leaned back into the couch sighing. “Sorry about that Cupcake.”
When vi said the nickname, Caitlyn softened. All the anger and frustration dissolved in an instant. Her body relaxed and her face softened.
She took Vi’s hand and squeezed it softly. “You’re fine.”
Vi turned her head to look at Caitlyn, a weak smile appearing on her face.
Caitlyn chuckled softly. “You weren’t supposed to be here.”
Vi sighed out a small laugh “You mean where this rich mongoose took me after raiding the place I work?”
“Mongoose?” Caitlyn laughed. She picked at a piece of Vi’s black hair. You look like an angry oil slick.”
Vi rolled her eyes and smiled softly, but her face became serious again as she looked away. “I’m sorry I stopped you from taking the shot.” She said, almost whispering.
Caitlyn’s heart dropped at being reminded of why they hadn’t seen each other in so long. “No, Vi, I’m sorry I reacted like that. It was stupid and reckless. I’m glad you did stop me before I could do anything I would regret. Thank you for stoping me. I even told you I wouldn’t leave you before the battle and I left you after and I have regretted that action since it happened.”
Vi squeezed her Caitlyn’s hand with both of hers, but winced at the action.
“Jeez my hand hurts.” She says shaking it out. “Turns out punching a gorilla with a metal jaw in the face hurts.”
Caitlyn had almost forgotten that Vi had been in a fight before the raid. “Oh, are you alright?” She said before fretting over Vi, lifting her head to look at her face and inspecting her arms for any severe damage.
“I’ll be fine Cupcake,” Vi took Caitlyn’s hands in hers trying to stop the frantic girl, “But I should probably head back to my room and get some ice on a couple things first.”
Caitlyn nodded her head quickly and helped Vi off the couch, letting the other girl lead her to her room.
Vi’s POV:
On the way to her room Vi saw the other Enforcers had cleared out the building, leaving Loris and Steb with a Jinxer that frequently visited the club. The Jinxer looked more annoyed than anything as Steb questioned her.
“I told you fish man, my name is Gert and I hang around here for the drinks, nothing more.” She said angrily to Steb, Loris suppressing his laughter when the Jinxer called him “fish man”.
Steb signed back at her and Gert rolled her eyes. When she saw Caitlyn and Vi walking towards the group her eyes flashed with curiosity. “You.” She said pointing to Vi. “Is it true you’re Jinx’s sister?”
Vi was surprised by the question but answered honestly “Yeah, I am.”
Gert’s face lit up. “Really! Have you seen her? We’ve been looking everywhere for her trying to start a rebellion with her as our leader if she accepts the invitation.”
Vi’s heart softened at the excitement from the Jinxer at the idea of meeting her sister. “No, I haven’t seen her in a while, but if I see I can point her your way if she doesn’t try to kill me.”
Gert smiled and thanked Vi before Caitlyn turned to Steb. “I’m going to take Vi to her room and patch her up. You can stay and wait or go find Maddie and go back to the station.”
“I’ll wait for you here and catch up with Loris.” He signed after a moment.
“Okay, we’ll be back in a minute.” Caitlyn said before turning to the large man next to him. “It’s good to see you Loris.”
The two girls turned away from the group and started walking towards Vi’s room, arriving shortly after.
Vi collects a bag of ice and places it gently on her head wincing at the cold. She turns to her bed and sits down, gesturing for Caitlyn to do the same. She had been looking around the room in disbelief at how many bottles were scattered around, but when she looked back to Vi her eyes softening as she came to sit next to her.
Caitlyn held out her hand, her palm facing the sky. “Your hand.” She requested and Vi complied.
Caitlyn unwrapped Vi’s hand revealing cuts and bruises all over it. It had been a while since Vi had even looked at her hands so seeing how damaged they actually were was surprising. Her knuckles were bloody and bruised from fighting, but many other cuts were scattered around from who knows what.
Caitlyn put her lips together in a straight line and look around the room, her eyes settling on a semi-clean cloth. She stood from the bed and collected the cloth, taking it to the sink at the foot of the bed.
Vi watched her wet the cloth and come back to the bed, rubbing Vi’s hand to clean it. When she was done she asked for the other hand, and Vi obliged, switching her hands to keep the pack of ice on her head.
Caitlyn finished cleaning Vi’s hand, but didn’t let go. Caitlyn looked at Vi’s eyes, her usually hard expression softening even further when their eyes met. Vi’s heart thumped against her chest as Caitlyn’s eyes slid down to her mouth.
Caitlyn seemed to shake herself out of her trance and was about to say something when Vi closed the gap between them. Vi had missed Caitlyn with all her heart and she finally got her back. She wouldn’t let go of her this time. Caitlyn leaned into the kiss quickly and sighed against Vi’s mouth.
Hesitantly, Vi pulled away first, leaving them both breathless. Vi smiled softly and was about to say something when there was a knock at the door.
Vi could have sworn that she closed the door but standing in the open doorway was a posed blue haired girl.
“Finally get yourself together Bitchmittens?” Jinx teased.
Caitlyn tensed next to Vi, but the pink haired girl put her hand on her shoulder, almost immediately making Caitlyn relax.
A small girl peaked out from behind Jinx’s leg, looking nervous. Jinx nodded her head to the little girl and she cautiously walked into the room to stand in front of the couple.
“My name is Isha.” She introduced herself. “I’m staying with mo-“ Isha cut herself off, her cheeks slightly pink from embarrassment. “Jinx. We need some help.”
Vi’s heart warmed at the sight of the little girl’s fumble. “What do you need help with Isha?” She said gently.
Isha turned back to Jinx who had been smiling at the interaction, but when the attention was turned back to her, her face became serious. “It’s Vander.”
Vi’s heart dropped. She felt the color leave her face as she turned to Caitlyn. “I have to go.”
“What?” Caitlyn asked. “What is happening? Who is Vander?”
Vi stood from the bed and started towards her sister. Caitlyn grabbed her hand and held her back. “I’m coming with you!” She demanded.
Vi turned back to Jinx who looked at Caitlyn with guilt. “You can come. And… I’m sorry. I… I didn’t know your mom was there. It… probably wouldn’t have mattered, but… I didn’t know. I’m sorry.”
Caitlyn seemed shocked at the apology. “Thank you, but I won’t forgive you.” She stated plainly.
“That’s entirely fair, but I am sorry.” Jinx said one final time before turning away from the door, Isha following close behind.
Vi smiled at the pair walking away then turned to Caitlyn, “Well, you want to meet my dad?”