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There was no mercy to be found in the Pit.
Or at least that was the common consensus. If you entered the arena, you were on your own. You either fought like hell to win or you suffered utter humiliation in front of the entire crowd.
Unfortunately for Vi, tonight was the latter.
A kick to her legs and a sucker punch to the side of her skull was enough to knock her out cold. Normally Vi could’ve taken it, but after five consecutive rounds her body must’ve given out.
As was quickly becoming routine, Jinx waited in the stands for everyone to leave before she jumped down into the dirt to get a look at her older sibling. With bruising on her face and blood leaking out of her mouth, it was a far cry from the high and mighty Piltie getup she was wearing months prior.
Her look now was preferable to the Enforcer uniform, but seeing her in such a state still felt alien to Jinx. Despite everything that had happened between them, this was still Vi. This was still her protector…
Well… at least she used to be.
Reaching her hand up to graze against her throat, Jinx could still feel the cold metal of Vi’s gauntlets threatening to crush her neck.
Her sister was going to do that to her.
The person she loved more than anything in the world, the person who had promised that she would never let anything happen to her, that no monster would get to her while she was around… that same person had been ready to kill her.
… and Jinx wanted it.
“Then stop me. Because no matter what I do… I just can’t seem to die.”
She’d practically begged for it.
“I’m sorry too.”
The betrayal of seeing her sister clad in the armor of those who had caused them so much pain for all of their lives… what else was Jinx supposed to do?
Vander was gone.
Y̵o̴u̷r̷ ̷f̵a̸u̷l̶t̸.
Mylo and Claggor were gone.
Y̵o̴u̷r̷ ̷f̵a̸u̷l̶t̸.
Ekko would never forgive her.
Y̵o̴u̷r̷ ̷f̵a̸u̷l̶t̸.
Silco was gone.
Y̵o̴u̷r̷ ̷f̵a̸u̷l̶t̸.
And now her beloved sister was hunting her down?
Y̵o̴u̷r̷ ̷f̵a̸u̷l̶t̸. Y̵o̴u̷r̷ ̷f̵a̸u̷l̶t. Y̵o̴u̷r̷ ̷f̵a̸u̷l̶t̸. Y̵o̴u̷r̷ ̷f̵a̸u̷l̶t̸.
What else was left to do but die? To rid the world of the pain she’d cause everyone.
To rid everyone of the jinx?
“I’m glad it’s you… it had to be you… I’m ready.”
And then Isha had to jump on top of her and save her life, and Vi had to give her that look… a look that she’d been unable to wrap her head around.
Why?
Why… in that fleeting second… did the Vi she cherished come back to her?
“Mmph…”
A pained moan from Vi brought Jinx back to the present. Once again she was getting lost in her thoughts, and that wasn’t going to get her sister back home.
So once again, she grabbed onto her older sibling and hoisted her onto her back. Luckily for them both, her home wasn’t far from the arena. A ten-minute walk or so if nobody gave them any trouble, and she’d be right back on her dirty-ass bed.
“What am I gonna do with you, sis?” Jinx asked.
As expected, she didn’t get any response.
*
*
*
*CLICK*
With the turn of the key she totally did not steal, Jinx opened the door and brought her sister inside.
“Home sweet home.”
It was anything but.
It was a dump; Messy, unkempt, and potentially harm-inducing if the broken pieces of glass on the floor were any indication. If she had to guess, it was probably a better deal than her cell at Stillwater, but not by much.
Still, would it kill her just to take an hour out of her fights and drinking binges to just clean up even a little bit? The last thing Vi needed was a roach infestation and-
No. That wasn’t her problem. Vi was a grown woman, she was free to let her life fall apart however she pleased.
S̴o̷ ̸w̷h̶y̶’̶r̵e̷ ̸y̶o̸u̶ ̸h̴e̴l̴p̷i̸n̶g̶ ̴h̸e̷r̸ ̷t̵h̶e̶n̶?
“Shut up.” she said to nobody before making a beeline for Vi’s bed.
With a huff she gently laid Vi down before looking around the small room. Sure enough, her blanket was nowhere near her bed, instead being draped over a pile of trash.
Because who cared how freezing it could get down in the slums, right?
Given how small the space was it only took a step to get her hand over the fabric before spreading it, scattering any trash that was still clinging on. When it was clean… or as clean as it was gonna get at any rate, she draped it over Vi covering everything from the neck down.
Now, only one thing remained. Reaching into her pocket she took out a small towel and ran it under the sink. As small and beat-up as this place was, at least there was hot water.
The fabric wettened, she made her way back and crouched down next to Vi’s face. With gentle brushes, she slowly began to clean her face. The black paint around her eyes and cheeks, the blood around her lips, she didn’t stop until Vi’s face was as pristine as she could make it.
Minus the bruising of course, there was nothing she could do about that.
But even with the dark splotches, Vi looked every bit as beautiful as she always did. There was nobody who could stun her quite like Vi could, the years locked away in Stillwater never breaking her spirit.
She only wished… no.
There was no point.
Things were too broken between them. They’d done too much to each other.
“Here’s to the new us.”
She didn’t want things to be this way, she wanted Vi in her life, she wanted her to love her like she used to.
She wanted Vi to love Jinx like she loved Powder.
But Silco was right.
She wasn’t that girl anymore, and Vi only ever promised to chase Powder’s monsters away.
She did turn her back on her.
And all Jinx got at the end of it all was a-
“I’m sorry.”
…
Vi’s face was clean. Jinx’s duty, if she wanted to call it that, was over for the night. There was no reason for her to stay here and wallow in things that didn’t matter to her anymore.
Besides, Sevika would be even more pissed off at her if she forced her to play babysitter for any longer.
With a sign, Jinx got up, turned around and-
“Wait…”
…
She was just hearing things again, there was no need to-
“Please…”
A softness grabbed onto her hand and pulled Jinx closer to the bed.
No.
No, no, no.
Vi couldn’t be awake, she was knocked out cold. She was just an unconscious slab of meat on her back from the arena until now, why would she wake up now?
With a gulp, Jinx slowly turned around to look at her sister. Her eyes were open, albeit barely, and there didn’t seem to be any recognition in her gaze.
At this, Jinx calmed down a bit. Vi wasn’t awake, she was more or less asleep, or at least half-asleep. That was fine, she hadn’t been caught. She could just leave and leave her be.
“Caitlyn… please…”
…
A sneer and a gritting of teeth were the only things keeping Jinx from ripping Vi’s hand off of her and bursting out the door.
Caitlyn Kiramman.
Caitlyn fucking Kiramman.
Vi’s precious cupcake.
Her little Enforcer girlfriend.
Even the memory of her posh face made her want to gag.
Of course even after Miss Cupcake left her lover in the dirt, Vi would only care about her coming back. Like it or not, Jinx’s fears had come true. Caitlyn was the most important person in Vi’s life now.
It made perfect sense to her, after all what was a week compared to an entire lifetime of sisterhood. There was just no comparison, clearly Jinx was just thinking crazy thoughts.
Nevermind the fact that her darling Piltie girlfriend was currently leading the charge on Piltover and Noxus’ occupation of their home.
But hey, she was looking at the sister who willingly used The Grey against her own people just to flush Jinx out.
She had to give it to Vi, she knew how to pick them apparently.
“Please… please don’t go… don’t leave me…”
…
…
But even with all of that, looking at Vi… Jinx couldn’t bring herself to leave her like this. She didn’t understand why Vi went down the path that she did, although Jinx knew it was ultimately her fault.
But self-imposed or not, her older sister had been going through the ringer, both figuratively and literally.
No matter what she wanted to tell herself, the fact that she found herself here in her older sister’s dingy room was proof that she cared.
She still cared for Vi above anyone and everything in the world.
So… if her sister was begging Cupcake to stay…
…
She was going to regret this…
“I’m here, Vi.” ‘Caitlyn’ said with a horrid thick accent.
If Vi noticed a difference in their voices she didn’t say anything. Instead she just gave ‘Caitlyn’ a soft smile and tightened her grip on her hand.
“Hey, Cupcake… I’ve missed you…”
Her smile was radiant, even with the dark splotches.
It not being for her almost made Jinx weep.
“I missed you too.”
Vi began to pull her closer, that wasn’t good. Even in her delirium she had more of a chance of recognizing Jinx should she get closer. Nevertheless, Jinx crouched down but tried her best to maintain a good distance between them.
“I’m sorry…”
“It’s alright, Vi.” ‘Caitlyn’ said.
“No… it’s not… I meant what I said… but I was wrong.”
Jinx didn’t know what it was Vi had said to Caitlyn, so her response would have to be a shot in the dark.
“You were right to say it though.”
“… No, you don’t get it.” Vi wheezed out tiredly.
“Vi.”
“I was wrong, Cait. I was wrong about everything…”
Her hand was shaking, but her curiosity was getting the better of her as it usually tended to do.
“What do you mean?” ‘Caitlyn’ asked.
“There’s good in Jinx… I tried to tell myself there wasn’t but… Cait, the way she held onto that kid… that wasn’t Jinx, that was my sister. She’s still in there…”
Jinx felt her breath hitch.
“Vi…”
“All this time, I’ve tried to tell myself that Powder was gone… that Jinx was all that was left… I’m a fucking idiot. There’s no difference, she’s the same person… she’s… still…” Vi muttered, her voice slurring as her tired body overrode her mind.
“Hey, hey, shhh. It’s alright, just relax and go to sleep. You’re tired, you need to rest.” ‘Caitlyn’ softly whispered, her voice trying desperately not to betray the emotional turmoil Vi’s words instilled in her.
“No… no. If I sleep, you’ll leave.” Vi softly cried out.
Now it was Jinx’s turn to tighten her grip.
No.
‘Caitlyn’.
Vi wanted Caitlyn. Not Jinx.
“I’ll stay with you until you fall asleep. I won’t leave you, Vi.”
“… You promise?”
“I promise.” ‘Caitlyn’ swore.
“… Prove it.”
Jinx’s brow furrowed.
“How? Pinkie promise?”
At this, Vi let out a soft chuckle.
“No, silly. Kiss me.”
Jinx couldn’t hold in her gasp, her eyes widening and her heartbeat quickening.
A kiss?
Of course. Of course Vi would want that, they were girlfriends for Janna’s sake…
Or ex-girlfriends now.
Whatever they were, of course Vi would want that.
But… Jinx wasn’t Caitlyn. Even in her delirious state would she be able to recognize the difference in their lips? And that wasn’t even bringing up the fact that she was unknowingly asking her own flesh and blood sister to kiss her romantically and that was a whole other can of worms and-
“Please… please kiss me…” Vi pleaded.
…
…
…
“Okay.” Jinx finally answered.
With a deep breath and a soft exhale, Jinx leaned down towards her sister and gently pressed her lips against Vi’s.
Her lips were rough. Like they’d been punched one too many times, but that was to be expected of Vi.
A quick peck, that’s all it had to be, that’s all Jinx needed it to be.
But then Vi had to open her mouth and take Jinx’s lips fully into her own.
What choice did Jinx have but to meet her sister in full?
And so the small peck became Jinx’s first real kiss, soft lips moving against each other like a slow dance, the feeling of rough skin and myriad cuts only serving to sear itself into Jinx’s brain.
This was Vi’s touch.
This was her sister’s taste.
And Janna help her, it felt like coming home.
Then Vi’s lips stopped.
It was only after this did Jinx realize she’d had her eyes closed during the exchange. Opening them, she looked to see Vi… looking right at her.
Her eyes were still tired, still unable to perceive reality fully… but to Jinx it almost looked like Vi recognized her…
Before Jinx could pull away, Vi surged forward and kissed her again. This felt different, this wasn’t the chaste softness she had just experienced.
This felt needier.
Almost primal.
And when Jinx saw Vi’s eyes begin to leak tears, she once again matched her sister’s ferocity.
Flesh meshed against flesh, tongues reached out to taste each other, there was no rhyme or reason, no decorum needed for what was occurring.
It was just warmth.
A deep all-encompassing warmth.
A homecoming Jinx hadn’t felt since Powder saw Vi walk into their bedroom after a day away with Vander. That same warmth that filled her body when she ran up to embrace Vi filled her body now.
A different embrace.
But no less loving.
In fact it was even moreso, the depth of her feelings for her sister deepening in such a way that it almost terrified her.
But soon Vi’s lips softened, her movements slowed and her breath shuddered.
Once again Jinx opened her eyes to look at her older sibling. The recognition she saw in her eyes was gone, replaced with that familiar delirium taking hold.
Her aching body was catching up with her, pulling her mind down into sleep.
Still, be it Jinx or ‘Caitlyn’, she kept her promise and kept her hold on Vi’s hand firm.
She rubbed her thumb against her bloodied knuckles, feeling the warm skin give way to a looseness as her body gave way to sleep.
“Sweet dreams, Vi.” ‘Caitlyn’ whispered, still in that accent.
Vi didn’t answer, her body sagging against her bed.
Gently, Jinx reached up to loosen Vi’s grip off of her hand.
But before she could do so…
“I’m sorry, Powder…” Vi whispered.
Jinx stood completely still.
Vi’s hand went totally lax, letting go of her sister’s hand and falling to the floor.
…
Without another word, Jinx stood up, wiped the fresh tears from her eyes, and stepped outside. Locking the door behind her with the key she most definitely didn’t steal, she disappeared into the night, her mind ablaze with newfound fears and long-buried truths.