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Everything felt like it was crashing down on all sides around her. Violent sobs wracked her body. No matter how much she seemed to want to change, no matter how much she tried, she could not escape the fate of losing her sister over and over again. Powder was never the Jinx. It was her.
Vi had failed. She faltered. Maybe if she had just listened to Jinx for once — if she had just gotten to safety, if she had just let Vander go because she knew he was already lost, they would be walking out of this together. Now she doesn’t even have a body to mourn.
Her fists trembled, her knuckles bloodied and fingertips ragged from gripping the edge of the platform too hard. She whispered Jinx’s name, but no sound escaped her throat. The memory of her sister’s smile, her laugh, her descent into madness—all of it flashed through her mind like a broken reel.
For a split second, she had seen a future where they were truly sisters again. Where the pain of years of bad blood could be forgotten and where they could rewrite their story together. But she had fucked it all up again.
The smell of blood, smoke, and corruption all assaulted her senses as she willed her broken body to move. Her shoulder was definitely dislocated from her fall. She rose to her feet, unsteady, blank— looking, searching in disbelief into the void, the remnants of pink smoke still billowing out.
There was no way she made it out alive.
Suddenly, another sob rushed through her, bringing her down to her knees. The platform groaned again but she couldn’t care less if it took her down with it.
“You were supposed to protect her,” she said, hollow. Broken.
An empty promise she never fulfilled.
“And now she’s gone for good.” Tears don’t even threaten to spill. The shock of it, too much.
“Vi!” Vi stiffened. Her breath hitched as the voice echoed faintly. For one fragile moment, she thought it was her—Jinx—calling to her from the smoke. Her head jerked up, her eyes scanning the ruins, desperate, wild.
“Jinx?” Her name slipped out like a plea, her voice cracking under the weight of disbelief.
Nothing but silence answered her.
Then, “Vi!” again.
But this time, it was obvious her mind had played a trick on her the first time. It was a man’s voice. Cutting through the haze, it beckoned her to look up.
Steb was perched above her, on one of the overpass bridges. She blinked, eyes adjusting to the light streaming in from the hole in the top of the tower.
If there was ever a sentence that would snap her back to reality at a time like this, he seemed to know it.
“Caitlyn needs you,” He shouted down.
The mention of Caitlyn was like a jolt to Vi's system, cutting through the suffocating fog of grief and guilt. Her body froze, her pulse thundering in her ears as the weight of Steb's words settled in.
Caitlyn needs you.
The words carried an urgency that clawed at the edge of her despair, pulling her back from the brink.
Her fists, still bloodied and trembling, unclenched slightly as she looked up at Steb. His silhouette against the light streaming through the shattered tower seemed far away, like a mirage, but his voice had anchored her. He was real and she needed to move, but the platform beneath her groaned again, a sharp reminder of her precarious position.
“She—she’s okay?” Vi croaked, her voice barely audible, hoarse from the sobs that had wracked her moments earlier. She forced herself to stand, her legs weak and unstable, her dislocated shoulder screaming in protest.
“She’s alive,” Steb called back, his voice firm but urgent. “But she’s in a bad way.”
After Steb had thrown down a rope and popped her shoulder back into place, she had never run so fast in her life.
The scene outside of the silo was disorienting. Bodies everywhere— Noxian, Zaunite or Piltie, death did not care who they were or where they came from. It would take them all the same. The smell of blood was even stronger outside as she scaled large piles of rubble and stumbled her way through crowds of survivors scattered throughout.
She had to get to Caitlyn, a million thoughts scrambled through her brain. She could not let her failure with Jinx dictate her failure to Caitlyn—the person she owed everything to. Without her, she never would have had as many chances to set things right as she did.
When she made it to the city center, the Noxian soldiers still crowded around, Mel sat crouched by Caitlyn’s limp frame. Blood pooled around her head and her abdomen where she lay and the scene stole Vi’s breath, shattered something in her. She pushed through the armored lunks and skid to her knees as Mel met her gaze.
“Cait? Cait, it’s Vi.” She felt frantic and panicked when Caitlyn only whimpered in response.
Not again. She couldn’t lose the last important person to her.
She couldn’t lose Caitlyn. Not like Vander and Jinx.
Not like Mylo and Claggor.
Not like everyone else.
Vi’s hands trembled as they hovered over Caitlyn, unsure where to start. Blood seeped through Caitlyn’s jacket, streamed down her face and stained Vi’s already battered hands. Her chest tightened, and her breaths came in ragged gasps, threatening to choke her as she tried to keep herself together. She had to keep it together. For Caitlyn.
“Stay with me, Cait,” Vi murmured, her voice cracking. Her fingers brushed Caitlyn’s cheek, cold and clammy. The faint whimper Caitlyn had made earlier was gone, replaced by shallow, uneven breaths. “I’ve got you. I’m here.”
Her eyes darted back to Mel, who knelt nearby, she looked worse for wear and spattered with blood. Her face was grim, her sharp features set in an expression Vi couldn’t read. But there was something soft in the way she looked at Caitlyn—a flicker of concern that made Vi’s chest seize.
“What the hell happened?” Vi demanded, her voice rising with panic. “Who did this to her?”
Mel sighed heavily, her gaze dropping to Caitlyn for a moment before flicking toward the crumpled body of Ambessa, her mother. There was no triumph in her expression, only exhaustion and the faintest trace of something that might have been regret.
“She fought well,” Mel said quietly, her voice steady but heavy with meaning. “Too well. Ambessa did not hold back.”
“You never know when to quit, Cupcake.” She felt the tears cascading down her cheeks before she could stop them. She was so mad at herself for not splitting in two, being two places at once. Protecting everyone she loved.
“She never backed down, Vi. She fought for all of us— for you.” Mel said and then a faraway look overtook her as she looked at the soldiers surrounding them. A weight cast on her as she stood, something Vi couldn’t understand.
“That’s a good thing, Cait. Because you can’t stop now, okay?” Vi moved to pick Caitlyn up as gently as she could.
“She’s a Kiramman. She will survive this, Vi.” Mel spoke, as her feet took her and her precious cargo deeper into the city.
Mel had parted the Noxians with a single word, dispelling them to the reaches of the city to aid survivors. Vi knew the best place to take Caitlyn would be the Kiramman manor, where they had established a triage center.
Vi’s arms ached as she carried Caitlyn, each step feeling heavier than the last. The smell of blood and ash clung to her, but she didn’t care. She could feel Caitlyn’s shallow breaths against her chest, uneven but present, and it was the only thing keeping her moving.
“Come on, Cupcake,” Vi murmured, her voice trembling, but the manor was in sight. “You’ve gotta hang on for me. We’re almost there.”
Caitlyn stirred faintly in her arms, her head shifting just slightly against Vi’s shoulder. For a moment, Vi thought she might be imagining it, but then Caitlyn’s lips parted, her voice so soft it was almost swallowed by the chaos around them.
“My hero,” she said so faintly it was almost like she never said it at all. There was a delirious little smile on her lips for a flash of a second before it was replaced with a pained grimace again.
“Over here!” One of the enforcers called as they neared the gates.
“That’s all you. You’re the big hero today.” Vi stumbled towards an empty cot, her arms tightening protectively around Caitlyn for just a second longer than necessary before she gently set her down.
The medics immediately went to work, barking instructions to each other, but Vi stayed close, her hands hovering over Caitlyn as if she couldn’t quite bring herself to let go. Caitlyn’s head lolled slightly, her face pale and damp with sweat, and Vi leaned in, desperate for any sign of life.
“Hey, Cait,” she murmured, her voice cracking. “You’re gonna be okay. You hear me?”
“You need to move so we can work,” one of the medics shouted. Vi was about to protest when she felt a hand calmly grip her shoulder from behind.
It was Tobias.
“Vi,” he said evenly, “let us take it from here.”
Vi’s jaw clenched as Tobias’s hand anchored her, she wasn’t too sure what he thought of her anymore but right now she really didn’t care. Her gaze darted back to Caitlyn, her fingers twitching as if she could will her to wake up, to speak again. Every instinct screamed at her to stay, to hold onto Caitlyn like her presence alone could keep her alive.
“She needs me,” Vi said, feeling helpless as she looked back at Tobias. Her tears streaked her dirtied face, and her bloodied hands hovered over Caitlyn’s form, unwilling to pull away.
“She needs them more right now,” Tobias said gently but firmly, gesturing toward the medics, who were already working with urgency. His eyes softened as they met hers. “You did your part. You got her here. Let us do the rest.”
Vi’s chest tightened. Her arms felt hollow without Caitlyn’s weight, and the ache of her dislocated shoulder now fully hit her, but she barely registered it. She nodded stiffly, though her body resisted every step back.
Tobias squeezed her shoulder once, a gesture of reassurance. “She’s strong just like her mother, Vi. She’ll fight through this.”
Vi didn’t want to point out the obvious, that Caitlyn’s mother was dead but if it gave Tobias comfort, she wasn’t going to take that away from him.
She swallowed hard, her voice barely a whisper. “She has to.”
Her feet felt like lead as she stepped away from the cot, her eyes never leaving Caitlyn’s pale face. The medics’ voices faded into the background, their words too clinical, too sharp, as they called out for supplies and assessed her injuries. Vi didn’t hear much beyond “blood loss” and “stabilize,” but it was enough to keep her heart in her throat.
She decided it was best to head up to Caitlyn’s room. There she sank down to her knees, holding her pillow and smelling Caitlyn’s scent, burying her face into the fabric until her sobs ran out.
—
The manor had gone eerily quiet in the hours after the battle. The chaos outside had faded into a hushed gravity as medics worked through the injured. Vi hadn’t slept, pacing the hall outside Caitlyn’s room with the rhythmic thud of her boots on the floor marking the passage of time. Every so often, she stopped to glance at the door, her heart pounding as though Caitlyn herself might open it and walk through.
But that was a foolish thought, irrational. She knew that.
Inside, Caitlyn lay still on the bed, her face pale against the dark green sheets. The medics had done what they could—her wounds were dressed, her head propped gently against a stack of pillows to ease her breathing. It felt strange to Vi that they had somehow changed places from mere days ago. Back then, Caitlyn had been the one looking after her, and Vi hadn’t envied her for it.
But now, she knew what Caitlyn must have felt. The helplessness. The quiet desperation. And something more—Vi hadn’t known, then, the depth of Caitlyn’s feelings for her. She hadn’t known Caitlyn still felt the same as she had before, that the fire between them hadn’t been snuffed out by time or distance.
Now, they had more to fight for than ever. And that made it worse.
It was torture. The kind of torture Vi had been put through by time and circumstance over and over again. The pain of being forced to watch the person she loved fight their own battles while she stood on the sidelines, unable to do anything. The pain of inaction. The agony of not knowing if they would make it through.
Caitlyn looked impossibly small, fragile in a way that didn’t suit her. The Caitlyn Vi knew was always in motion—chasing leads, giving orders, handling herself with sharp precision and quiet poise. Seeing her like this, unmoving and vulnerable, felt wrong. It made the world feel like it might never shift back into place until Caitlyn was herself again.
The door creaked open, and Tobias stepped in. He was a quiet presence, one that Vi had grown both to appreciate and resent in the hours since Caitlyn had been brought back. His calm, measured approach had kept her from unraveling entirely, but every time he spoke, it reminded her of the things she couldn’t control.
“How is she?” Vi asked, her voice hoarse from lack of sleep. She hadn’t stepped into the room since she’d carried Caitlyn in, too afraid to disturb her.
Tobias glanced at Caitlyn, his expression soft, remorseful. “Stable,” he said. “But she’s still weak. She’ll need time. Rest. Maybe days before she wakes, but she’s fighting.”
Vi swallowed hard, her eyes flicking toward Caitlyn. “She always does.”
Tobias nodded and stepped back toward the door. “You should rest too,” he said. “You won’t do her any good if you fall apart.”
Vi didn’t answer, her gaze fixed on Caitlyn’s face.
Before he stepped out completely, he stopped just shy of the opening and said, “Vi, thank you.” She knew she was a reminder of everything that had hurt him and taken from him, but this was a start. Vi just nodded, unsure what to say that would offer any comfort to him.
She waited until the door clicked shut behind Tobias before stepping quietly into the room. She hesitated near the bed, her fingers brushing the edge of the blanket as if afraid to disturb the delicate balance holding Caitlyn together.
“You really scared me, Cupcake,” Vi whispered, her voice breaking. “But you’re gonna be okay. You hear me? You have to be.”
Caitlyn didn’t stir, her breathing slow and shallow. But the steady rise and fall of her chest was enough to keep Vi sane, enough to remind her that Caitlyn was still here.
Vi sank into the chair by the bed, her elbows resting on her knees as she buried her face in her hands. The silence was deafening, but she stayed there, waiting. Watching.
Because if Caitlyn could fight to come back, Vi could fight to be there when she did.
—
Days later, Caitlyn’s eye opened. Singular eye.
Tobias had told Vi a day ago that Caitlyn’s left eye was a total loss. No reaction to light, no sight. Vi hadn’t really known what to do with that information at the time—hadn’t let herself think about what it might mean for Caitlyn as a sharpshooter, as a fighter, as just Caitlyn. It had been covered in bandages since, so Vi wasn’t even sure what it looked like anymore. All that had mattered was Caitlyn making it through the night.
Now, sitting by her side, Vi was perched on the edge of the chair, a cup of water clutched in her hands. She froze as she noticed Caitlyn’s gaze shift toward her.
“Cait,” Vi said softly, leaning closer. “You with me?”
Caitlyn’s lips moved faintly, her voice barely audible. “Vi—”
Vi’s throat tightened as she quickly set the water down, scooting closer to take Caitlyn’s hand. “Yeah, it’s me,” she said, her voice trembling with relief. “You scared the hell out of me, you know that?”
Caitlyn gave the faintest ghost of a smile before wincing, her hand drifting toward her bandaged side. “It hurts,” she murmured.
“I know,” Vi said quickly, squeezing her hand. “They’ve got you patched up, though. You’re gonna be okay.”
Caitlyn’s gaze flickered toward her again, her eye glassy but focused. “You’re here,” she whispered.
“Of course I’m here,” Vi replied, her voice cracking. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Caitlyn closed her eye, the tension in her face easing slightly. A peaceful quiet washed over her at Vi’s words.
Vi hesitated before placing her other hand gently over Cait’s smaller one, her thumb brushing over the back of it. “Wanna know something funny?” she asked softly, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “We’ll have matching scars.” She pointed to her own side with her free hand.
Caitlyn pushed out a tired laugh, though it came with a slightly pained exhale. “We can’t do anything normally, can we?”
“Nah,” Vi said with a mirthless chuckle, her voice lighter now, though her eyes still glistened with unshed tears. “Where’s the fun in that?”
—
A few days later, one of her doctors brought in an eyepatch for Caitlyn. Vi sat on the edge of the bed, perched close for moral support if she needed it. She wrapped her arms around herself, watching Caitlyn toy with the fabric between her fingers as if in careful examination.
“Doc said you don’t have to put it on right away,” Vi said softly, breaking the silence. She shifted on the sheets, her voice careful. “You can take your time.”
Caitlyn glanced at her, the faintest smile tugging at her lips. “You mean while I scare everyone with this?” She gestured weakly toward her damaged eye, the socket still covered by a freshly cleaned bandage.
Vi frowned. “Nobody’s scared of you, Cait.” She wondered if Caitlyn was really taking this, this well, or if she was due for a delayed reaction once it fully sunk in. She supposed they’d just take it day by day.
“I promise,” she added for good measure.
Caitlyn’s smile grew faintly, though it didn’t quite reach her eye. She placed the eye patch against her face, testing it against the gauze. She hesitated for just a second before adjusting the strap against her. Eye patch in place, she turned to look towards Vi.
“How do I look? Caitlyn finally asked, her voice even, but Vi could tell there was an edge of uncertainty or fear in it.
Vi just grinned, leaning back in her chair with a whistle. “Badass,” she said. “Like you’re about to kick someone’s ass.”
Caitlyn laughed softly, a sound that was so rich and decadent to Vi’s ears. A song she wasn’t sure she could have lived without.
She thought, maybe everything was going to be okay after all.
—
The first day Caitlyn was cleared to get out of bed, Vi hovered like an overprotective parent, her sharp gaze tracking Caitlyn’s every move. She stood close, her hands ready to catch her at the first sign of weakness. For her part, Caitlyn had insisted she was ready, her tone leaving no room for argument, but the slight tremble in her hands as she pushed herself upright betrayed her and only made Vi’s watchfulness worse.
“Just take it slow,” Vi said, her hands hovering lightly at Caitlyn’s hips—not gripping, but close enough to steady her if needed.
Caitlyn rolled her eye but nodded, wincing as she swung her legs over the edge of the bed and slowly stood. Her bandaged side twinged sharply, and her hand instinctively pressed against the spot on her abdomen, her features tightening in pain.
“See?” Caitlyn said, her voice triumphant despite the strain. “Not so bad.”
Vi smirked, though the tension in her shoulders never eased. “Yeah, sure. Just try not to fall over. I don’t want to have to explain to the doctor why you’ve got more bruises.”
Caitlyn let out a dark chuckle, but before Vi could respond, she felt Caitlyn’s weight shift. Caitlyn leaned slightly into her, looping her arms around the back of Vi’s neck with a sly smirk.
Vi froze, her brow raising as she caught the glint in Caitlyn’s eye. She’d seen the lingering looks, the impatient glances Caitlyn had thrown her way during her recovery, but she hadn’t expected this.
“I could think of a few ways you could give me bruises,” Caitlyn murmured, her voice low and teasing.
Vi cleared her throat, her face heating slightly as she shifted Caitlyn’s weight to better support her. “Cupcake,” she said in a warning tone, low and firm. Sex—or anything close to it—hadn’t even crossed her mind while everything was going on. It had only been in the past week, as Caitlyn’s recovery had progressed, that she’d started noticing those familiar sparks again.
“The doc said no strenuous activity for at least another week,” Vi added, her voice gruff.
Caitlyn huffed out a dramatic sigh, slumping just slightly against Vi’s shoulders. “I’m just a little shaken up, not dead,” she muttered.
“But you could’ve been,” Vi replied, her voice tight. She felt the words stick in her throat, her muscles tensing at the memory of seeing Caitlyn so broken. The image was one she couldn’t shake, no matter how much better Caitlyn looked now with bruises fading by the day.
The fact that she had taken Ambessa on, even with support from Mel, in hand to hand combat was terrifying. Vi herself wasn’t even sure she would have been able to beat her but now she’d never know.
Caitlyn’s teasing smirk softened, her expression shifting to something gentler. “I know,” she said quietly, resting her head briefly against Vi’s shoulder. “I’m sorry.”
Vi shook her head, exhaling shakily as she steadied Caitlyn. “Just— don’t push yourself too hard, okay? You’ve got nothing to prove.”
Caitlyn smiled faintly, squeezing Vi’s shoulder. “I’ll try. But you know me.”
“Yeah,” Vi said, her lips quirking into a small, fond smile. “I do.”
“At least I can do this now,” Caitlyn said, pulling back slightly.
“What’s that?” Vi perked up, tracking Caitlyn’s eye line down her face.
“This,” Caitlyn captured Vi’s lips in a soft kiss for the first time in a week. Vi knew then, if she didn’t already, that this was all she ever wanted.
—
The soft glow of lantern light filled the room, the warm hues flickering across the walls of Caitlyn’s study. The battle scars, both in and out, were still visible on her skin and present in her mind, with the faintest shadow of exhaustion lingered in her features. Yet, there was a peace in her expression that Vi hadn’t seen in so long. Maybe never.
Caitlyn sat curled into the armchair by the fireplace, a steaming cup of tea cradled in her hands. Vi leaned against the desk nearby, her arms crossed, a half-smile tugging at her lips as she watched Caitlyn. They had survived. Together. And for the first time, the quiet between them wasn’t filled with dread, but with an almost surreal sense of calm.
“You keep looking at me like that,” Caitlyn teased, her lips curving into a small smile. “You’ll make me think I have something on my face other than this eye patch.”
Vi snorted softly, glad Caitlyn had dealt with things in stride, pushing off the desk and walking over to perch on the arm of Caitlyn’s chair. “Nah,” she said, her voice light. “Just still getting used to this whole not running for our lives thing.”
Caitlyn chuckled, the sound warm and light. “It is strange, isn’t it? No impending doom, no ambushes to plan for—” She paused, her expression growing thoughtful. “Though the situation between Piltover and Zaun is going to keep things interesting.”
With the council reinstated, Caitlyn officially stepped into the role of Sheriff, though her start date wasn’t official for another week to give her time to completely heal. She’d have plenty to worry about once that started, she had surmised when she told Vi about her appointment.
Vi tilted her head, her fingers idly brushing against the armrest of the chair. “Yeah that’s one way to put it. Sevika on the council? Never thought I’d see the day.”
Caitlyn’s smile softened. “She’s been surprisingly effective, I’ve heard. She’s no saint, but she understands what Zaun needs—and she’s not afraid to remind the council of Piltover’s responsibility to make amends.”
Vi nodded, her gaze distant for a moment. “About time, too. Zaun’s been in the dark for too long. No more back alley dealings.” She glanced down at Caitlyn, her brow furrowing slightly. “But you trust her?”
Caitlyn tilted her head, her expression thoughtful. “I trust that she wants what’s best for Zaun,” she said carefully. “And she knows she can’t get it through shady transactions with Piltover anymore. If the council follows through with the plans for litigation, it might finally lay a foundation for rebuilding trust. The reparations are a step in the right direction, but they’re just that—a first step.”
Vi huffed out a breath, leaning back slightly. “I just hope she’s trustworthy in the long run. I always thought she sucked after she sold out Vander.” Her face soured at the thought.
“I know Jinx liked her for some reason though, but it doesn’t mean I have to.”
“You don’t,” Caitlyn said gently, reaching up to brush her fingers against Vi’s arm. “But you don’t have to fight every battle anymore, either. You can’t solve it all, so we have to let other people bear some of the weight for us.”
Vi’s lips pressed into a thin line, and for a moment, she didn’t respond. Her gaze dropped to Caitlyn’s hand on her arm, her fingers tracing faint circles over the fabric of Vi’s shirt. “Guess you and Jinx finally agree on something,” Vi said quietly, her voice thick with emotion. “She told me it was time to let go. To stop punishing myself for everything I couldn’t fix. Time for me to just be happy.”
Caitlyn’s touch stilled, her gaze searching Vi’s face. “And do you believe her?”
Vi’s breath hitched slightly, and she shook her head. “I’m trying. I think— I think I finally want to. And being here? With you?” She exhaled shakily, her voice softening. “Makes it easier.”
Caitlyn set her tea down on the small table beside the chair and turned toward Vi, her hand slipping into Vi’s. “You do deserve to be happy, Vi,” she said firmly, her gaze unwavering. “We both do.”
The weight of Caitlyn’s words settled over Vi, warm and grounding. She leaned down, brushing her forehead against Caitlyn’s, her free hand coming up to cup her cheek. “Then maybe we should stop wasting time,” she murmured, her voice low.
Caitlyn smiled, her breath mingling with Vi’s as their lips met in a soft, deliberate kiss. There was no urgency this time, no desperation—just the quiet assurance that they had finally found their way back to each other. Vi’s hands slid down to Caitlyn’s waist, steadying her as Caitlyn pulled her closer, her fingers curling into the fabric of Vi’s shirt.
When they finally pulled apart, Caitlyn’s gaze lingered on Vi’s face, her voice barely above a whisper. “Let’s go to bed”
“Alright,” Vi replied, her lips quirking into a small smile. She lifted Caitlyn into her arms, careful and deliberate, and carried her toward the bed, their movements unhurried.
They had no war to fight, no battles to plan for—just the quiet promise of the night ahead, together.
Caitlyn’s hair sprawled across the mattress when Vi placed her gently onto the bed. She leaned over her, pausing for a moment to admire the dip of Caitlyn’s blouse—a rare departure from the turtlenecks she’d favored recently. The sight stirred something deep in Vi, and before she could stop herself, her hand brushed against Caitlyn’s waist, her fingers grazing the soft fabric.
Caitlyn’s hands threaded into her hair instantly, tugging her down to bracket her body and kiss her full and deep, the way Vi knew she’d been wanting for days. The heat of Caitlyn’s lips, the gentle pressure of her hands pulling Vi closer, sent a familiar ache through her.
When Caitlyn’s teeth grazed Vi’s bottom lip, she pulled back just enough to make Caitlyn’s lips chase hers, smirking teasingly as she did.
“Vi,” Caitlyn warned, breathless beneath her as she propped herself up on her elbows, her tone edged with impatience.
“Yes, Cupcake?” Vi replied, her grin infuriatingly sweet as she guided Caitlyn further up the bed, her movements deliberate. She stripped off her shirt in one fluid motion, the faint glow of lantern light catching on her toned shoulders. “Is that better?” she teased.
“It’s a start,” Caitlyn sighed, her hands rising to trace her fingernails over Vi’s newly exposed skin. The gentle scrape sent a shiver down Vi’s spine, her skin prickling with gooseflesh. A quiet, involuntary moan escaped her as she leaned back down, her mouth finding Caitlyn’s in a kiss that was deeper, hotter, and full of want.
Vi’s tongue swiped into Caitlyn’s mouth, tangling and tasting as Caitlyn kissed her back with fervor. Every movement, every touch, felt electric, charged with the anticipation of finally being together without the shadows of war hanging over them.
“You’re getting bossy,” Vi murmured against her lips, her voice dropping lower as she trailed kisses down Caitlyn’s jawline. “I like it.”
Caitlyn arched slightly beneath her, her fingers curling into Vi’s hair as her breathing quickened. Vi’s hands roamed with careful precision, mindful of Caitlyn’s lingering tenderness as her fingers skimmed down her sides, teasing at the dip of her hips where her pants met the sliver of skin exposed between them.
Caitlyn let out a soft, impatient sound, her hands tugging at Vi’s waistband. “You’re stalling.”
Vi grinned against her neck, pressing a kiss just below Caitlyn’s ear before pulling back enough to meet her gaze. “I’m savoring,” she corrected, her tone soft but heated as her fingers slid to the buttons of Caitlyn’s blouse. “Trust me, I’ve been waiting for this as long as you have.”
Caitlyn’s eye darkened with desire, her lips parting as Vi slowly began to undo the buttons, her touch reverent. “Then stop holding back.”
Vi chuckled, the sound low and warm as she leaned back down, her lips finding Caitlyn’s once more. This time, there was no teasing, no hesitation— just the shared rhythm of their desire for each other pushing and pulling.
With each button unclasped, Vi drank in the way the moonlight pooled in Caitlyn’s collarbones, and splayed across her breasts as she threaded her arms out of the shirt, finally releasing her. She kissed a path from the hollow of her neck to her navel. She made quick work of her pants, being more simplistic than the last time they’d done this. The quiet gasps Caitlyn made when she finally pulled her pants down were instantly cataloged into Vi’s favorite sounds.
Vi’s breath hitched as she let her hands glide along Caitlyn’s thighs, her touch light and deliberate. Those soft, breathy sounds from Caitlyn sent heat curling low in Vi’s stomach, making her want to commit every one of them to memory.
“You’re so beautiful,” Vi murmured against Caitlyn’s skin, her voice rough with awe. The words came out unbidden, but Caitlyn reveled in it, stretching lithe and drawing Vi into another kiss.
Vi didn’t get very far in her next thought when Caitlyn’s hand pulled at the waist of her pants. “You’re overdressed,” she replied, her voice soft but commanding, a faint smirk tugging at her lips despite the flush spreading across her cheeks.
Vi grinned, a playful glint in her eye as she shifted to tug off her own pants, her movements quick and efficient. “Better?” she teased, again, but this time she settled her weight between Caitlyn’s legs, her thigh touching Caitlyn’s slick warmth.
“Yes,” Caitlyn moaned in reply as Vi began a gentle rhythm with her hips. Caitlyn’s hands tangled in her hair again, pulling her into a kiss that muffled the loud gasp escaping her lips at the next thrust. Vi’s hands mapped Caitlyn’s body, memorizing the way it responded to her. She traced the area around her scar and then moved down, her fingers brushing just shy of it as she leaned down to kiss the space above it, her movements reverent.
Caitlyn’s breath hitched, and her fingers tightened on Vi’s shoulders. “You don’t have to be so careful,” she murmured, her voice trembling but sure.
Vi paused, her gaze searching Caitlyn’s face. “I just—” She swallowed hard, her voice softer now. “I don’t ever want to hurt you.”
Caitlyn reached up to cup Vi’s cheek, her thumb brushing over the faint scar just above her jaw. “You couldn’t,” she said simply, her words steady and full of trust. “Not like this.”
The vulnerability in Caitlyn’s voice was enough to quiet the lingering hesitation in Vi’s chest. She leaned back down, her lips finding Caitlyn’s in a kiss that was slower, deeper—full of everything she couldn’t quite say aloud.
Bracing herself on her elbow, Vi kept their kiss languid, her tongue exploring Caitlyn’s with teasing deliberation. Her free hand trailed lower, ghosting over Caitlyn’s body before brushing against the soft tuft of hair just above her slick folds.
She didn’t waste another moment, all of her earlier hesitancy quelled by Caitlyn’s words, her confidence, her trust. Vi dipped her fingers into Caitlyn’s heat, collecting her wetness before circling her index and middle fingers over the sensitive bundle of nerves.
The touch electrified Caitlyn, her hips jerking slightly in response. A sharp gasp left her lips, and Vi smirked, her touch growing firmer, more certain as she watched Caitlyn’s reactions with rapt attention.
“Fuck,” Vi murmured, her voice dropping lower. “I’ve got you.”
Caitlyn’s moans filled the room, low and melodic, like music Vi couldn’t get enough of. They spurred her on, her movements deliberate and precise as her fingers circled and pressed just enough to keep Caitlyn teetering on the edge. The rhythm was steady, unrelenting, each motion coaxing another gasp or moan from Caitlyn’s lips.
Caitlyn’s hands gripped Vi’s shoulders, her nails pressing into her skin as her breaths came in shallow, uneven bursts. “Vi,” she gasped, her voice raw and breathless, full of need. “Don’t stop.”
Vi’s lips curled into a grin as she leaned down, kissing a slow path along Caitlyn’s neck and collarbone. Her touch never wavered, her fingers attuned to every shift of Caitlyn’s body beneath her.
“Inside,” Caitlyn urged, her voice trembling with anticipation.
Vi didn’t hesitate. Her thumb pressed against Caitlyn’s clit in steady, deliberate circles as she slid two fingers into her, filling her completely. The heat, the wetness, the way Caitlyn’s body clenched around her fingers—it was intoxicating.
“You’re so fucking wet, Cait,” Vi murmured, her voice thick with desire. She buried her face in the juncture of Caitlyn’s neck and shoulder, her lips brushing against her skin as her fingers worked deeper, each thrust slow but deliberate.
Caitlyn’s hips moved in time with Vi’s, rising and falling in search of more friction, more of that exquisite pressure that left her gasping. Vi matched her movements effortlessly, their rhythm syncing in a way that felt instinctual, like they were made for this.
Driving inside her was like nothing else. Vi’s lips stilled against Caitlyn’s neck as she focused entirely on the feel of her, the way her body tightened and trembled with every stroke. Caitlyn’s rhythm began to falter, her breath hitching as she drew closer to the edge, her moans rising in pitch.
“Vi,” Caitlyn choked out, her hands clutching at Vi’s back as her body arched beneath her. Vi could feel her unraveling, her muscles tightening, her breaths coming in sharp, desperate bursts.
“That’s it,” Vi whispered, her voice low and coaxing as she adjusted her angle, her fingers stroking deeper, her thumb keeping its steady rhythm. “Come for me, Cait.”
The sound of her name on Vi’s lips, rough and full of promise, sent Caitlyn over the edge. Her back arched, her head tipping back as a cry tore from her throat, raw and unrestrained. Vi held her through it, her movements slowing as Caitlyn’s body trembled and pulsed around her.
When Caitlyn finally stilled, her breaths coming in shallow pants, Vi eased her fingers out, her touch gentle now as she brushed her thumb over Caitlyn’s hip. She pressed a soft kiss to her shoulder, her forehead resting there for a moment as they both caught their breath.
“You okay?” Vi asked softly, her voice low and careful, though the grin tugging at her lips betrayed her satisfaction.
“You’re going to ruin me, Vi.” Caitlyn groaned, nails dragging down Vi’s back at the admission.
Vi chuckled, a low, raspy sound as her grin widened. “Does that mean I haven’t yet?” she teased, her nose brushing along Caitlyn’s. Her breath was hot against Caitlyn’s lips as she murmured, “’Cause that kinda sounds like a challenge.”
Caitlyn shook her head with a playful laugh, her fingers threading into Vi’s hair as she leaned down for a slow, lingering kiss. But just as Vi was about to deepen it, Caitlyn shifted unexpectedly, surprising Vi by turning them over in one smooth motion.
Vi’s eyes widened, her breath catching as she found herself on her back, Caitlyn straddling her with an air of effortless control. Caitlyn looked down at her, her expression a mix of sultry confidence and playfulness, her single eye gleaming in the dim light.
Vi’s hands instinctively came to rest on Caitlyn’s thighs, but she paused, her breath hitching as Caitlyn rolled her hips against Vi’s trapped thigh, sending a sharp jolt of heat through both of them.
“No, darling,” Caitlyn purred, her voice low and teasing as she leaned down, her lips brushing against Vi’s ear. “It’s my turn to taste you.”
Vi swallowed hard, her breath catching as she bobbed her head in agreement, utterly undone by Caitlyn’s words. She barely had time to process before Caitlyn slinked down her body, her movements deliberate, until she was resting on her belly between Vi’s thighs.
Caitlyn’s eye glinted in the low light, her gaze locking onto Vi’s with an intensity that made Vi’s stomach twist in anticipation. For a fleeting moment, Vi thought about asking if Caitlyn wanted to remove her eyepatch—if it would feel more comfortable, less in the way—but the thought slipped away when Caitlyn’s hands parted her thighs, firm and sure.
Caitlyn wasted no time, spreading Vi’s waiting folds with deft fingers and dipping her tongue in to taste her. The first touch sent a shudder through Vi, a gasp falling from her lips as Caitlyn gave a few deliberate swipes, her tongue exploratory and unhurried. When she found her rhythm, she latched on, her mouth working with focused intent.
Vi couldn’t stop the sounds spilling from her—soft gasps, breathy moans—as Caitlyn’s tongue moved over her, deliberate and searching. She could feel Caitlyn watching her, her gaze sharp and assessing, gauging every reaction. When Caitlyn’s tongue hit a particularly sensitive spot, Vi moaned loudly, her head falling back against the pillow as her hips bucked instinctively.
Caitlyn pulled back just enough to speak, her voice commanding but still sultry. “Look at me, Violet.”
Vi’s head snapped up, her breath catching in her throat as her eyes met Caitlyn’s. The intensity of her gaze was dizzying, amplified by the relentless movements of her tongue. Vi couldn’t look away, her hands fisting the sheets as the pleasure built, each stroke of Caitlyn’s tongue driving her closer to the edge.
The coil of heat in Vi’s stomach tightened, her hips beginning to rut against Caitlyn’s mouth as she chased her climax. Caitlyn’s hands gripped her thighs firmly, holding her in place as her tongue moved faster, her focus unwavering.
“Cait,” Vi gasped, her voice trembling as her body tensed. She was close, so close she could barely think, her vision blurring as the pressure inside her threatened to snap. “I’m—”
“Come for me,” Caitlyn murmured against her, her voice a command that sent Vi spiraling. The vibrations of her words against Vi’s skin were enough to send her over the edge.
Vi cried out, her body arching as her climax tore through her, her thighs trembling against Caitlyn’s hold. Caitlyn didn’t stop, her tongue easing her through every wave of pleasure until Vi finally collapsed back onto the bed, her chest heaving as the aftershocks coursed through her.
Caitlyn pressed a final kiss to Vi’s inner thigh before pulling herself back up, her lips glistening as she hovered over Vi with a satisfied smirk.
“Alright,” Vi rasped, her voice rough but tinged with humor. “If I’m ruining you, you’re definitely trying to kill me.”
Caitlyn let out a soft laugh, low and knowing, as she leaned down, her hair brushing against Vi’s cheek. “Then I guess we’re even,” she teased, her lips just brushing Vi’s before Vi’s hands tangled in her hair, pulling her into a deeper kiss.
The taste of herself on Caitlyn’s lips sent a fresh shiver through Vi, but the kiss was slower this time, unhurried, as if they had all the time in the world. Vi’s hands slid from Caitlyn’s hair to her waist, holding her close as they both sank into the quiet intimacy of the moment.
The air turned serious the longer they stayed quiet, the weight of her thoughts settling between them. Vi broke the kiss, her forehead still pressed to Caitlyn’s as they shifted to lie side by side. Her hand lingered on Caitlyn’s waist, her thumb brushing over the sheet she pulled there in a nervous rhythm.
“I can’t ever lose you, Cait,” Vi said, her voice trembling, barely above a whisper. “I’ve lost everyone else. My parents, Vander, Jinx.” She swallowed hard, her breath hitching as her chest tightened. “And it feels like she’s really gone this time.”
“Oh, Violet,” Caitlyn sighed, her voice full of real pity and quiet understanding. Her thumb caressed the spot just behind Vi’s ear as she spoke. “No one is ever truly lost as long as we keep them with us. They stay here.” She moved her palm to her chest, over her heart. “In the ways we remember them, in how we carry what they’ve given us.”
Vi’s jaw clenched as she blinked back the sting of tears. “I didn’t just lose her, Cait. She sacrificed herself for me. For once, she—she chose me.”
Caitlyn let the silence settle for a moment, giving Vi space. Then, softly, she asked, “Do you want to tell me what happened?”
Vi closed her eyes, the memory flashing vividly in her mind—the explosion, the pink smoke, Jinx’s wild smile before she disappeared into the void. “I tried to save her. To pull her back. But she just let go. She looked me in the eye, and then she— she let go.” Her voice cracked, and she turned her face into the pillow, unable to stop the tears that slipped free. “There’s no way she could’ve survived. And I just I—I just stood there, staring into the void, wondering if maybe it should’ve been me.”
Caitlyn tightened her hold on Vi, pulling her closer. “Don’t,” she said softly, but firmly. “Don’t say that. You’ve spent so much of your life carrying guilt that isn’t yours to bear, Vi. What happened to Jinx, it wasn’t your fault.”
“She’s my sister,” Vi whispered, her voice raw. “And I couldn’t save her.”
She realized this is a conversation they’ve had before, many times. Though this time it felt different. There’s a finality to what she’s said. Like the door really was closed this time around.
“She saved you, ” Caitlyn reminded her, gently wiping a tear from Vi’s cheek. “She gave you the chance to keep going, to find peace. Don’t dishonor her choice by questioning your place here. She wanted you to live, Vi. Truly live.”
Vi’s lips trembled, her chest rising and falling unevenly as she absorbed Caitlyn’s words. “Do you really think she’s still with me? That I can keep her here?” Her fingers brushed against Caitlyn’s hand over her heart.
“I do,” Caitlyn replied with quiet conviction. “Because I’ve felt it too. My mother— she’s gone, but she’s with me in everything I do. In every choice I make to protect Piltover and make it better than she left it. I feel her pride, her strength, even in the moments I hated her choices. And I carry her here.” She pressed Vi’s hand against her own chest, her gaze softening. “You can carry Jinx, too. The part of her that loved you. The part that wanted you to be happy.”
Vi closed her eyes, Caitlyn’s steady touch grounding her. “It still hurts.”
“It always will,” Caitlyn admitted. “But it’s a reminder of what they meant to us. And it’s also proof that we’re still here, living. Maybe we live for them too.”
The room fell quiet again, the weight of their losses hanging heavy between them, but it wasn’t suffocating. It was shared, mutual, and in that moment, Vi felt like the void inside her might finally start to fill—not all at once, but piece by piece, with Caitlyn beside her.