Chapter Text
Her left eye throbbed behind her eye patch. It was a familiar feeling before every mission - like a whisper in her ear, telling her to be careful. A reminder that any failure could have major consequences. Caitlyn wouldn’t consider herself a particularly superstitious woman, but there were certain warnings even the most skeptical of men couldn't ignore.
“Okay,” she said, spreading the map out on the table in her office. It was a blueprint of a relatively large house in Zaun’s richest district, that one part that had no trash on the streets and the water was not contaminated. It had two floors and over two hundred square meters. A total discrepancy compared to most of the places she’d visited there. But minuscule compared to the mansion her own family boasted, an irony she couldn't help but notice. “We're going to split into two teams. Steb, you and your squad enter through the side door,” she pointed to the specific spot. “Our infiltrator will clear the path for you.”
“Understood, Sheriff.” She looked at the man next to her. He maintained an active posture, his spine straight and his eyes centered. A model soldier. But she knew him well. Or at least, enough to recognize the slightly clenched jaw demonstrated his anxiety about commanding his first squadron independently. It was a big step for him. But she trusted his potential.
Since the war's end, he'd become her right-hand man. Knew Piltover like no other enforcer. Assisted in more missions than she could count. And now that they'd finally obtained the Council's permission to conduct operations in Zaun, she couldn't think of anyone better to help her lead. Except, of course...
Caitlyn shifted her gaze to the woman in front of her. To be honest, this was something she avoided during work hours. Caitlyn considered herself good at hiding her thoughts. She'd had years of practice living with her mother. And then more time around the Council. But, even after three years, no training would've been enough to conceal her feelings around Vi. She sometimes felt ashamed, almost like a teenager in her first crush. She wondered if her subordinates really didn't notice or just gave her the courtesy of seeming ignorant. Whatever the answer, she wouldn't want to know.
As if sensing the direction of her thoughts, Vi ran her hand through her short, messy bangs. She still maintained a longer hair strand in the back of her head. A detail Caitlyn simply adored, especially when she could entwine her fingers in it. Hold and tug. Vi looked up, her gray-blue orbs sparkling. She had that hint of provocation in her gaze. A slight smile on the side of her lips, tugging her scar, bringing memories of the previous night that lingered on Caitlyn's skin.
" Sheriff?"
"Yes?" Caitlyn asked, blinking to regain her composure. It was exactly what she was trying to avoid.
"The second squad?" Steb asked, seemingly not for the first time.
"Right, the second squad, led by Vi, enters through the front door. We expect more conflict from that side, so I'll work alongside."
"I think I can handle a little action, Sheriff," Vi said with a wink. Internally, Caitlyn thanked her. It could be worse. She could call her Cupcake . And it would be not the first time.
"Not open for discussion," Caitlyn decreed, using her tone that Vi affectionately dubbed 'dictator in command'. With a sparkle of amusement in her gaze, Vi nodded. The others followed suit. Caitlyn breathed a sigh of relief. "One more thing," she emphasized, "I won't tolerate collateral damage on this mission. Remember, we're enforcers, not executioners. Each of these people has the right to a fair trial." Another round of agreements.
"Dismissed." One by one, the agents left her office. She looked at each of those people. Even with all her years of experience leading, sometimes she still felt like she was on her first mission. Her hand sweated, and her teeth clenched, internally thinking if everyone would return home that night.
“Hey.” She turned to face Vi, now leaning against her heavy wooden desk. The edge of the crumpled map beneath her pants. Caitlyn hadn't even tried to argue the first time Vi showed up to work wearing her torn clothes and classic red jacket. Vi never said it out loud, but Caitlyn knew the usual blue of the enforcers was something she'd never wear again.
To be honest, for a long time, Caitlyn hadn't even imagined they'd fight side by side. And she was completely comfortable with that idea. But one day, Vi offered to train the new recruits. She wanted to make sure they knew how to handle the Zaunites – respect civilians, and fight well enough not to die in the gangs' hands. Caitlyn promptly accepted, thinking it was temporary. Yet weeks passed, and Vi was still there.
A new batch of recruits.
A mission in Piltover to catch some suspects searching for Hextec.
And, six months ago, when they finally started coordinated operations in Zaun, Vi offered to join the team.
That day, when Caitlyn finally realized she wasn't leaving, she ordered a custom-made uniform. The dark red fabric and a detail of Zaun's insignia in green near the chest. At the time, Vi raised an eyebrow, her teasing tone asking if Caitlyn could really do that. She just shrugged before responding.
‘You're not like the other enforcers .’
To be honest, Caitlyn couldn't care less about what Vi wore to work. At the end of the day, it made no difference. Not when she could see, almost hidden, the bright badge attached to the waistband of her pants. She was there. One way or another.
"Any issues?" Keep the professional pose, Cait . She forced herself to repeat in her mind.
"Yeah," Vi approached her, her scent intoxicating her senses. She touched Caitlyn's cheek with her thumb, an innocent gesture, almost imperceptible to anyone looking from the outside, but it caused a warmth on her skin. "Promise you'll be careful."
Caitlyn sighed. She suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. "I always am. I'm the one who should be saying that 'ma'am, I'll take care of everything myself'."
Vi let out a soft laugh. The tip of her fingers firmer against Caitlyn's skin.
"See you later," that was her way of saying everything would be alright. That they'd finish the mission and return together to their townhouse in Piltover. The place they now called home. "And hey, then you can use that dictator voice a bit more. You know I like it." One last wink before she left the room, leaving Caitlyn more flustered than she'd like.
Whenever she needed to stay focused, Caitlyn made a mental list.
First, check the ammunition secured to her leg. Enough stock to neutralize triple the number of suspects present.
Second, ensure her hair was tightly tied in a ponytail atop her head. The last thing she needed was something obstructing the field of vision of her one eye.
Third, guarantee her weapon was properly positioned against her body. Her rifle, which in these moments seemed more like an extension of her own arm.
It took a long time for her to shoot again. To feel confident in herself. The first attempts were mere failed tries at hitting a target she once completely dominated. Her hands trembled with nervousness, her eye ached from the effort, her head felt three times heavier after an hour of training. Nausea and loss of balance. A shame for someone who was once an excellent shooter.
But amidst the turmoil of emotions, she still remembered how it felt to hit her first target after weeks of training. Shooting used to be natural. As mundane as breathing. And, as far as she could recall, most things had been that way in her life. Effortless. That's why achieving something that came through hard work had a different meaning. A feeling of invincibility. She could do anything. One eye wouldn't stop her. And that was the sensation she tried to invoke every time she faced a new challenge.
"Sheriff," she heard a low voice behind her. One of the more experienced recruits stood beside her. "The first squad is in position, ready to attack."
They await your order. That's what his words said.
Caitlyn took a deep breath. Don't forget to breathe , Vi's voice kept echoing in her mind whenever some nervousness tried to take over. She could do this. She could do anything.
"Give the signal."
She turned to her own group. Her eyes met Vi's at the front of the recruits. Vi's eyes focused on her, a latent expectation. After the war, they made a promise: from then on, they would always fight together, side by side.
Caitlyn pointed to the front door and signaled.
Then, like any battlefield, things happened too fast.
Vi kicked in the entrance door. Three people were in the hallway. They didn't seem prepared for the invasion and didn't have much chance to react. Two of them were neutralized immediately. Large men with guns attached along their bodies. The biggest threats. Strong, but no match for Vi's gauntlets.
But it was the smallest of them, a boy who shouldn't be eighteen, who triggered the alarm for the others.
Three enforcers took strategic positions in the center of the room as new attackers burst in. Caitlyn and another shooter remained in the corners, with ideal vision to neutralize the targets. Vi charged towards one of the men, whose left arm had been replaced with a metallic piece resembling a machine gun. Vi's fists met the man. One hand directed his gun where it couldn't hit any victims, the other preparing for a decisive blow. A second woman jumped onto Vi's back, trying to attack her neck. Caitlyn readied herself. Her gun positioned on the target. A shot perfectly lodged in the woman's shoulder. Not a lethal attack, but enough to make her stumble back in pain.
She checked her aim again. Ready for another, as two new men appeared.
A loud crash could be heard coming from the back of the house. She raised her eyes, searching her field of vision. Nothing.
Another crash. She could feel the hairs on her arm standing up. The first squad. Where were they?
Caitlyn looked at her subordinate on the opposite side. With a hand signal, she warned him to keep his position while she went to assess the situation. It was hard to navigate the hallway. The air was filled with gas, making it difficult to breathe and see. This wasn't her team's doing.
Another crash. She looked at the stairs in front of her. The house's map passed through her mind. Three bedrooms to the left, a bathroom, and an office to the right. She knew where to go. And if there was one thing she was accustomed to, it was not relying solely on her vision. Caitlyn climbed the stairs, two steps at a time. She turned right, knowing she'd need exactly twelve steps to reach the large wooden door. The gas made her right eye tear up, and she silently pleaded for it not to irritate her injured left eye. It would be a pain to deal with later.
Caitlyn raised her gun as she reached the field of vision. She distinguished two bodies on the floor. And three figures standing before her. Two blue enforcers.
And one purple.
Shimmer’s Purple.
Her throat scratched. She held back a miserable breathing sound. Her presence still hadn't been noticed. She raised her gun to eye level. The smoke hindered, but her target was big enough that it wasn't a problem. She fired.
Shoulder. Leg. Arm. Chest. Reload.
Rib. Abdomen. Neck. Knee. Reload.
A roar made her chest vibrate with fear and anxiety. The man – half beast, half humanoid – turned in her direction. His body gleamed with veins full of Shimmer. His muscles seemed to want to tear through his skin. He didn't even flinch at the wounds. Bullets fell as they hit his body. As if his skin was made of nothing less than steel.
"Okay," she said when he started running towards her, "New strategy".
Caitlyn jumped back when he tried to hit her. She turned her rifle, hitting the back of the gun repeatedly on her target. Neck. Chest. Head. Another jump to the side when he retaliated. His claws passed by her right leg. Irregular nails ripped through her pants, making her skin sear. It wasn't a deep wound, but damn, it hurt. Breathe, Caitlyn . That's what she told herself. He was big, but that definitely hindered his speed and coordination. She grabbed the knife she kept on the side of her leg. The special blade straight from the darkest regions of Ionia. The last time she used it in combat, the weapon was able to cut through bone like it was a slice of bread. Definitely a resource she kept only for last resorts.
"I need backup upstairs!" A cry reverberated behind her. Steb's voice seemed weak and distant.
Caitlyn dropped her rifle to the ground. The beast prepared for another blow. In response, she crouched, the ideal position to attack or retreat. He attacked. Caitlyn dodged just in time, managing to wield the knife on the hard skin. She needed both hands. The effort to pierce the rigid surface was enough to make her arms ache. A trickle of blood, part red, part purple, flowed down the creature's chest. A guttural sound came from his throat. More anger than pain.
She prepared for another attack. Her eyes focused on the spot where she could deal the most damage. The side of the neck, right above the bulging vein. She charged to attack, but this time he wasn't unprepared. The beast anticipated her movement and reacted with a blow to her side. Her ribs cracked. She hated how even with double the attention, her left side was still her weak point.
The force made her fly, crashing against a bookshelf. She fell to the ground, some books on top of her. Ah, how she hated hand-to-hand combat. The monster ran to attack her. But he never got there. A pink lock of hair appeared behind the giant form. Then, Caitlyn saw Vi hit him. A punch to the face. Another blow to the abdomen. She grabbed him by the neck. Her gauntlets trying to hold him in a sort of headlock. They had a small window of time before he could break free.
Caitlyn didn't let her body think. She jumped from where she was, all her muscles ignoring the stabbing pain. With the knife in hand, she jumped on top of him. Gathering all the strength she had, she directed the blade to tear through the exposed neck. A roar spread throughout the room until it dissipated in the air. The creature became still on the cold floor. A pool of blood forming. Apparently, she couldn't keep her own order to avoid collateral damage. She stepped back, panting, her lungs fighting against the dense air. One of her agents opened the windows. Slowly, the gas dissipated into the atmosphere.
She looked around, only now able to distinguish the scene around her. A large, yellow rug positioned in the center of the floor. A heavy table near the window. The walls covered in bookshelves. Most with heavy books, but one with an open compartment, showing jars and jars of Shimmer. A purple hue in a completely different tone than what she had seen before. Caitlyn approached, observing how inside the glass, particles literally sparkled. Silver and gold alternating.
"Have you ever seen anything like this?" She left her question hanging in the air when she heard Vi's footsteps behind her.
"No," she stretched her arm, but seemed to reconsider before touching anything. "Damn." The noises in the house seemed to cease with each passing minute. She heard the creaking of the floor when Vi dropped her gauntlets to the ground. One of her hands lightly touched Caitlyn's waist. She suppressed the moan of pain in her throat. The low adrenaline taking its toll. "You okay?"
Caitlyn turned to face her. A sarcastic response lingered on the tip of her tongue. But she restrained herself upon seeing the anxiety in Vi's gray eyes. She could feel Vi practically scanning her for injuries. Any micro-expression of pain wouldn't go unnoticed. Her voice got stuck in her throat for a moment. This kind of concern was something she was still learning to deal with. "I'm fine," she replied, a small, reassuring smile on her lips. A promise that they could deal with the rest later. "And you?"
"I don't break easily, you know, Cupcake," she responded with a wink. Caitlyn couldn't help but let out a small, nasal laugh. She didn't even think about arguing against the nickname. Instead, her hand found Vi's. A gentle brush of her fingers against Vi's warm skin. She's here. That's all she needed to tell herself to slow down her heart rate. She was there, and she definitely wasn't leaving. A few steps behind her, someone cleared their throat.
"Sheriff?" Right. This was a mission. She was still in control of everything.
"Detain all individuals," she ordered. "Those who need medical assistance should be taken to the hospital. The others, straight to the cells." She looked at the floor, the creature lay there as if seconds ago it wasn't destroying everything around it. "Take the body to the Academy." An unexpected move. She could see it in Vi's reaction beside her. The furrowed brow in a silent question. But Caitlyn felt there was more to the body than they could decipher now. And she wasn't a woman to doubt her own instincts.
"I'll help you guys," Vi squeezed her hand one last time before picking up her gauntlets and leaving the room with the other agent.
Caitlyn sighed. A weight lifting off her shoulders. It wasn't the first mission they'd undertaken to dismantle crime bosses, gang leaders, or Shimmer producers and dealers. This, in fact, was the main reason they'd started operating in Zaun. No actions against civilians, risky maneuvers, or collateral damage. The only objective was to ensure maximum peace and security for its inhabitants.
However, six months on the job hadn't had the effect she'd expected. It was an endless mission. Cut off one head, and two will grow in its place. Each time, a bigger challenge. It was only a matter of time before they suffered a loss in some mission. Before someone didn't return. And that was a weight that constantly gnawed at Caitlyn's chest.
She adjusted a strand of hair that had come loose from her pony tail. She faced the environment around her. Her eye narrowed, and brow furrowed. All the negative thoughts were there just to drive home a point: something was bothering her.
Her detective mind began to map out imaginary routes. She retraced her steps in her head. How the man should have been in the office when the invasion alert sounded. Otherwise, he wouldn't have had enough time to reach and ingest the Shimmer. She looked at the bookshelf. Counted the jars. Two. Four. Twelve. Twenty-six. Even numbers perfectly organized. There was no empty space. No missing jar. No shard of glass on the floor. He hadn't taken any from that stock. Yet, the bookshelf was open. As if he was searching for something. Or trying to hide.
Caitlyn ran her hand over the entire wooden surface. There were no drawers or compartments. Only the rigidity of... Her hand passed over what seemed like a slit. She approached. On the side of the bookshelf, almost invisible, was an opening. Just a line, almost like the view of a closed door. Caitlyn didn't think twice before pushing. The bookshelf yielded to her hand. And then, the side slid into the wall. A hidden passageway.
It was dark. The light coming from the office was just enough for her to grope the cold wall in search of something. She sighed in relief when she found a switch. The yellowish light was weak. Her eye needed a brief process to adapt. She blinked. Once. Twice.
It was a room. A very precarious state of what should be a room. Or maybe cell was a better description. There was a sink and a toilet on one side. A metal bed attached to the wall in front of her. Everything seemed very old, as if it had been stored and forgotten there for years.
The smell... It was definitely better not to think about it.
She entered the room. Three steps and she had already covered more than half of it. She crouched down to examine the condition of the floor when her eye widened. Under the bed, occupying the smallest possible space, there was a person.
A child.
Caitlyn crouched down, their gazes met. Her mind mapped out all the key points.
It was a girl. Or at least the soft features and long strands suggested so. Her hair was dark, extremely dirty and disheveled, as if it hadn't been washed in days (or months). She was sitting, her thin and bony arms clinging tightly to her legs – one of them poorly bandaged up to the knee. And her eyes... Eyes that Caitlyn had seen before, an unmistakable purple color.
"Vi," she called, keeping her voice as steady as possible. She was paralyzed, feeling as if the slightest movement could erupt into a disaster. Silence in the room behind her. "Violet," she raised her voice. The child remained still, as if she too felt the vulnerability of the moment.
"Cait?" she heard Vi's voice in the distance. Vi was probably entering the room and realizing she wasn't there. "Cait, where are you?"
"Here," she replied, giving directions for Vi to follow.
"What the hell is this place?" Vi sounded indignant. "Damn, did you ever think you shouldn't invade spaces that look like a dungeon, Cait? When was the...?"
"Vi," Caitlyn cut her off. Her commanding voice was back in action. She didn't dare turn around, merely indicated slightly with her hand for Vi to crouch down.
"What..." Vi's voice died in her throat when her eyes met the same scene. She gasped, the hot air hitting Caitlyn's neck. A moment of silence passed while Caitlyn planned the best course of action. Her mind vibrated with possibilities, scenarios that could unfold from there. She needed to be cautious. Careful.
Vi, on the other hand, seemed to have her own plans. "What's your name?" the Zaunite asked. She took a step closer to the child. Less than a meter separated them now. "I'm Vi," she continued when there was no response. If Caitlyn couldn't see the girl's chest rising and falling, she'd doubt whether she was even alive. "This is Caitlyn. Who are you?"
The minutes passed. Caitlyn was already thinking of her fifth contingency plan when the child moved. An almost imperceptible movement, just an adjustment of her arm. A slight lift of her neck, allowing for a better view of her intruders. "Lavender," her voice was thin, yet hoarse, as if it hadn't been exercised in a while.
"Nice to meet you, Lavender." Vi threatened to take another step. Caitlyn instinctively stretched out her arm in front of her. Protective and suspicious. Safe to say, Vi didn't mind. She continued with her action, giving Caitlyn no choice but to follow her and get closer as well.
"How old are you?" Caitlyn finally managed to ask. The girl fiddled with one of the hands holding her leg. She showed four fingers first, then five, a confused expression on her face. As if it were a difficult calculation, something she didn't think about often. "You're hurt," Caitlyn continued. "Can I see it?"
The girl narrowed her eyes at her. Caitlyn recognized that expression of distrust. "Are you a Topsider?"
Cait furrowed her brow before responding. "Yes."
The air escaped the kid’s lungs with more force. A frantic and strong breath. A mix of anger and fear. "Topsiders are bad."
Caitlyn furrowed her brow. She was used to being viewed unfavorably on the streets of Zaun. Adults spat when she walked by. Parents guided their children to switch sides of the street. Words intentionally spoken to hurt. She tried not to let it get to her. But deep down, she knew they weren't wrong. And even this child, who had apparently been through hell, could say that just by looking at her.
Her eyes widened as she felt warmth on her hand. Vi's fingers intertwining with hers. Almost as if she knew the direction Caitlyn's thoughts were taking. Caitlyn didn't dare look at her. "Some of them are. But I'm from Zaun, and I can say I trust her," Vi said. "We want to help you, Lavender."
"The monsters..." she choked on the words. "The monsters gone?"
"They're gone, Lavender," Vi assured her. The girl nodded. She moved, stretching her leg towards them. Caitlyn did her best, examining the wound without touching more than necessary. It was hard not to notice the other tones on her skin. Yellow, green, and purple bruises. New and old injuries. What had they done to this child?
"Sheriff?" she heard Steb's voice. Without even turning around, she began dictating instructions. "Steb, inform my father that we're heading to the hospital. The patient is between 4 and 5 years old. Probable fracture in her leg. Injuries on her side and minor bruises. Possibly malnourished and dehydrated." She didn't even turn around to see his acknowledgement. "Lavender, we're going to take you to get help. Is that okay?"
The little girl bit her lower lip, as if she really needed to ponder it. Reflecting on whether she preferred to go with them or continue being locked in that room for who knows how long. Finally, the internal debate ended. She stirred to get out from under the bed. And then, she extended her small arms to Vi.
Caitlyn entered the office with a deep sigh. A dense breath left her lungs as she finally allowed herself to feel the pain spreading through her body. Her hand reached her right thigh. The trail of blood painting her fingers red. She didn't have time to focus on trivialities. Instead, she mentally compiled a list of things to execute in the next few hours. Ensuring the criminals were allocated in the cells. Interrogations. Sending a note to the Academy requesting tests on the altered body. Writing the mission reports. Sending a memo to the Council.
Her side hurt. A scream reminding her of her body's limits. No, she had too much to do. She needed to consider how to proceed with Lavender now that they'd found her. What did it mean? Caitlyn wasn't naive enough to think she was there by chance. That she was just a simple hostage. Lavender's eyes indicated otherwise. Shimmer eyes. She had no memories of Shimmer use that weren't for destruction. She needed to think about how a child fit into this.
Her eyes throbbed. The right one from continuous effort. And the left... she didn't allow herself to think about it. She looked at the board on the wall. The black pen in her hand marking the photo of the targets captured today. Ryz, the gang leader, still remained an enigma. She wrote a question mark on a post-it and stuck it next to his image. Taking a few steps back, she could see the overall view. The lines going from one side to another. Connections. Photos of people, places, everything that could be minimally suspicious.
No, there were too many things for her to worry about her own injuries. She needed to think about the city. That's why the only thing she did was settle into the leather chair in the most comfortable way she could. She opened the desk drawer and took two painkillers. She'd worry about it later. She still had too much to do.
It was late in Piltover. The streets were practically empty. The lights of the houses were off, except for a window or two. People went to bed early, especially in this residential area.
Caitlyn looked at the building in front of her. The two-story house couldn't have been a tenth of the size of the Kiramman mansion. Only three bedrooms and a tiny backyard, too small for anything other than a garden. No employees. No one to cook her meals or clean up after her. Yet, it was her home more than that enormous, cold, and distant mansion ever was.
She and Vi stayed in the mansion for a while. When things were still settling. The city was being rebuilt. Old structures on the ground while new walls were being erected. At that time, Caitlyn couldn't bear the thought of something different. How could she distance herself from the only home she had ever known? From the last place that still held some memory of her mother? Away from her father? It was unthinkable to give up stability.
The employees helped, of course. On the days when she stumbled over everything around her and couldn't keep her steps in line. Her father was always ready to help with the nausea and headaches. The panic attacks that could only be calmed in her bed, with the familiar touch of the sheets and the scents already embedded in her memory. When grief weighed too heavily, and she could walk in the garden, remembering a distant time.
She clung to it. To all those things. Like a shield. Until she realized that this habit was keeping her in the past. And she had a new life now to fight for.
Obviously, the house was a metaphor. But it perfectly symbolized how she needed a new space. Not to heal, but to flourish. To build a life with Vi, in a way she had never considered with anyone else.
So, she looked for one of the new houses in Piltover, in a newly developed district near the bridge. A neighborhood that included people from both sides was emerging – an attempt to repair the thousands of mistakes made against Zaun over the decades. She thought it would be more comfortable for Violet. And Caitlyn would give up all luxuries again, without a second thought, to keep the smile that lit up Vi's face on the day she took her there.
The way Vi held her hand as they passed through the front door. Her fingers pointing to the grass at the back of the property, suggesting they plant Caitlyn's favorite flowers. How she looked at her, a silent promise of the days they would spend together. And then, when they lay on the empty floor and stayed together until the first rays of the next day dawned through the window.
Caitlyn couldn't help but smile silly as she opened the front door. It was dark in the entrance hall, only the living room light to guide her steps. And the familiar noises of her partner. She took off her boots and let her bare feet get used to the cold floor. The blue coat hung on the coat rack. She followed with light steps towards the light.
Vi was sitting on the floor, her back leaning against the couch. She had changed into more casual clothes, just loose pants and a dark green top. Her pink hair stood out in all directions. Her eyes closed in concentration as she stared at the papers on the floor. In one hand, a screwdriver, and in the other, one of her gauntlets. She was working on another one of her projects to improve her weapon.
Jinx might be the great engineering mind of the family, but Vi had definitely inherited her share.
In the background, an upbeat song played loud enough to cover the arrival of someone. Caitlyn leaned against the door frame.
Vi seemed relaxed. Carefree. Beautiful.
"Hi," she finally made her presence known.
Vi turned around, her hand passing over her forehead to move a few strands of hair out of her eyes. The welcoming smile that always adorned her lips. "Hey. You're late." It wasn't a complaint. It was concern. "Are you hungry? I left a snack in the fridge for you."
She shook her head. "I ate at the station."
Caitlyn walked up to her, leaning her hip against the arm of the couch. There, she had a good view of the mess on the floor. Some scattered tools. Sheets and more sheets with drawings and calculations.
"What's this?" She pushed some pieces on the floor and slid down to sit next to Vi.
"The preppies from the Academy are helping me with these prototypes," she showed the gauntlet in her hands. Caitlyn stared attentively. Her interest in the project was low. She never understood this kind of machinery anyway. Yet she liked looking at Vi's hands. The calloused skin, the long fingers, the bitten nails on the sides. "Theoretically, it should give more propulsion force. For when I need to jump long distances, you know?"
"Theoretically?" she raised an eyebrow.
"Let's just say either the engineers messed up the calculations or I definitely put some piece very wrong."
Caitlyn laughed. "How many things did you break until you discovered that, darling?"
Vi tilted her head, a seductive smile on her lips that Caitlyn knew she would be capable of destroying worlds for. "Just don't be surprised if some neighbor press charge tomorrow."
"Lucky for you that you have friends in the police." She laughed, lightly pushing Vi's shoulder with her own. When the laughter died down, Vi leaned in her direction. Her large hand framed the side of her face. The touch was warm and very welcome. Cait opened her mouth, ready for another sharp comment. But the words never came out.
Vi's lips found hers. They were soft. Always so soft. The kiss she had been waiting for all day finally taking shape. The background music, as if feeling the change in the atmosphere, took on a calmer, more melodic, almost romantic tone. The kind of music Caitlyn always surprised herself by finding among Vi's favorites. ‘It didn't match your insurgent personality’ , she remembered saying a long time ago, with a teasing tone, before Vi silenced her with a kiss.
Cait wanted to say how much she loved this. Coming home and having Vi waiting for her. Being able to talk about her day, discuss nonsense, or complain without any purpose. Sleeping and waking up by her side. There was no better feeling than knowing she was there. A stable and constant presence. There were many words in her mind, but they all condensed into a single satisfied sigh when their lips parted.
"I missed you," Vi stared at her, the gray orbs making it clear how true the words were.
"It was just a few hours," Cait joked, while in truth her heart pulsed in response, ‘I missed you too ’.
"They were long hours," Vi argued with a sideways smile. She passed her hand over Cait's face, putting a blue strand behind her ear. "And work?"
Caitlyn took a long breath. That small headache forming again on the side of her forehead. "A lot of paperwork. I made a report specifying the mission details. The Council should receive it tomorrow. The man..." Caitlyn choked, searching for the right words. "The man we killed hasn't been identified yet."
She hated this. Knowing that someone would receive tragic news in the next few days. Another life taken because of her.
We can't erase our mistakes.
Another sigh, her head leaning on Vi's shoulders. "And the child?" she asked.
"Lavender."
"Lavender," Caitlyn corrected herself. "How is she?"
"Your father did some exams, gave her pain medication. Some shit details I didn't pay attention. But before I left, she was already sleeping. Tobias said she should stay like that until tomorrow."
"I'll notify the Council about her."
It was Vi's turn to turn to her. "Do you think... Is there anything suspicious about her?" She knew that tone of voice. A mix of fear and anxiety. Vi's thoughts probably migrating to memories that Caitlyn always tried to push away. "The color of her eyes..."
"I know," was the only response she gave, before her hand searched for Vi's and their fingers intertwined. Everything will be okay , that's what she wanted to say.
Caitlyn closed her eyes for a moment. The feeling of being home settling in her chest.
It wasn't the neighborhood.
Neither the two-story house.
Nor the living room or the garden.
It was Vi. She was her home.
The minutes passed, leaving Caitlyn's eye heavier and heavier. She could just fade away, knowing she would be safe and comfortable. Seeming to sense that, Vi stood up. She went to the shelf to turn off the music. Left all the mess on the floor and simply extended one of her hands to Caitlyn. Her arms were bare, without the usual bandages. Some small bruises on her skin, her knuckles red. "Let me take care of you."
"I'm fine..."
"Cait," her lips formed a slight smile. "Do you think I didn't notice how you’re flavoring your right side? You had a shit fall today." Caitlyn let out a heavy sigh. Sometimes she hated Vi. The way she could read her expressions as if they were an silly book. "I won't even offend you by suggesting the hospital," Vi continued. "So, let's spare ourselves that discussion and finish with you agreeing to a bath?"
Oh, how she hated Vi. Caitlyn rolled her eyes emphatically, hearing the woman's laughter in the background. She had no other option but to accept the extended hand.
"Good girl," Vi's smile grew even more.
The hot steam was comforting. As the bathtub filled up, it spread throughout the bathroom, creating a cozy atmosphere. Completely covering up the cold of Piltover's winter. Vi left the faucet open, depositing some fragrances in the water. Caitlyn's favorite scent. The details that never went unnoticed.
Caitlyn closed her eye. For a second, letting herself enjoy the peace. When she opened it again, she could see Vi standing in front of her. A slight smile on her lips, while her hands went to the front of her uniform. She calmly opened each of the buttons. Her fingers were soft as she pushed the fabric, leaving her shoulders bare. Then, her torso, chest, and belly, until the shirt was deposited on the floor at her feet.
Caitlyn hated how Vi's brow furrowed at the sight. "It doesn't hurt," she said when Vi gently touched the purple bruise on her ribs. By her assessment, she didn't have any broken bones, but still, a bruise was forming intensely. Proof of her failure.
The gray eyes stared back at her. "You're a terrible liar, you know?" she teased. "Did you at least take something for the pain?"
Caitlyn felt her cheeks burn, probably blushing. "Yes."
Vi proceeded to open her pants. Caitlyn had changed at the precinct, looking for a pair that wasn't destroyed. A stupid attempt to look whole and composed. It worked with her enforcers, but not with the woman in front of her. Internally, Caitlyn regretted not having at least bandaged her leg. Vi's gaze made her feel like a naughty child hiding her bruises.
"You should turn off the water," Caitlyn said before Vi could formulate a reprimand.
The woman obeyed. When she returned, she had a softer look in her eyes. "Can I take it off?"
Caitlyn looked at her confused until she realized what Vi was referring to. Her eye patch.
She nodded, repressing a shiver when Vi's fingers touched her sensitive skin. Caitlyn felt exposed as the last piece of fabric left her body. She didn't have insecurities about her appearance. That was a problem that never seemed to have a purpose. In her adolescence and early adult life, her body was regarded more as a tool. Something that could run, jump, and shoot. She knew she had pleasant features - all Kirammans did - but that wasn't even close to a concern. It wouldn't make a difference anyway. People approached her more because of her surname than her appearance.
Until she met Vi.
You're hot, Cupcake.
That was one of the first times Caitlyn felt self-conscious about her body. It was a provocation, she knew. But it made her feel... seen. She remembered the look Violet gave her. And how her own breathing failed, with the stupid realization that she had liked it. So, yes, she knew she was beautiful. She knew Vi was attracted to her. It was clear in the way her eyes dilated with desire.
Yet she couldn't help the insecurity when it came to that scar.
Caitlyn could describe every detail even without looking in the mirror. The grayish iris, lifeless. The eyelid that never opened completely. The ugly mark that will live with her forever. Years later, and she still felt the ghost of that lost part.
Vi carefully placed the blue fabric on the counter. Her hand went to Caitlyn's cheek again. The tip of her finger carefully tracing the scar. Caitlyn sighed in surprise when the soft lips touched the marked skin first and then her mouth. It was just a peck, but it didn't stop her from melting.
"Come on, the water will get cold," Vi said when she pulled away.
Caitlyn could smell the soap on her skin. Still, she couldn't help but ask. "Would you care join me?"
"If I ever say no to this I'm crazy," Vi didn't hesitate. With a sideways smile, she pulled off her top without ceremony. Her pants thrown on the floor. Caitlyn let out a small laugh when she realized Vi was already without the boxer she always wore. She looked up at the woman's body in front of her. The true image of perfection. The toned lines and bulging muscles. She looked like a handmade statue. An exemplary model of how a human being should be.
She also appreciated the small changes that the years brought. Her face a little rounder, a bit fatter in some parts, the result of frequent eating that she had now. The muscles deliciously larger from structured workouts. A mark on her right shoulder, the result of a mission. The scar on her belly almost mirroring her own. Some new tattoos along her arm, filling in the empty spaces. Her hair at shoulder height, except for the side where she still kept her undercut. She was beautiful. And Caitlyn couldn't help but be grateful to whatever God allowed her to have Violet.
"Enjoying the view, Cupcake?" Vi teased, letting out a small laugh. Caitlyn hated herself for blushing. Vi knew the effect her body had on her and used it too well.
Vi got into the bathtub first. Her back against the marble. She extended her hand in an invitation, which Caitlyn accepted with pleasure. After tied her hair in a loose bun and she got in, feeling the warm water envelop her body. Her muscles relaxing as she sank into the bubbles. Her back against Vi's chest.
God, how she loved this.
"Let me know if anything hurts," Vi said when she picked up the soap and started passing it over Caitlyn's skin. Caitlyn's murmur of satisfaction was the only response. She felt Vi's light laughter behind her and a kiss on her neck. Her eyes closed, appreciating the soft fingers tracing her body. She opened her mouth, letting out a breath, almost a sigh. Nothing else bothered her. Not her ribs, not her leg, nor her eye. There was no pain or tiredness. Only the warmth of Vi and her touch.
"Thank you," she whispered.
"For the bath?" Vi laughed. "You know I don't resist a chance to take your clothes off."
Caitlyn suppressed the urge to roll her eye. She nestled her head better into the curve of Vi's strong shoulders. "I meant for taking care of me."
Another kiss, now on top of her head. "Always, Cupcake."
Under the water, Caitlyn intertwined her fingers. She really was home.