Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was a crisp, foggy morning.

A few shriveled leaves blew in the wind, a violin played by a street musician could be heard in the distance; followed by the trickle of water as Caitlyn pours herself a cup of warm herbal tea.

Piltover would never be the same. Neither would Zaun. Maybe not even the other nations would be spared.

But it was dawn, and Cait would have just about an hour of peace.

She makes her way out to her bedroom balcony as she idly takes three - No, Vi likes her teas extra sweet - five sugar cubes and plops them in one of the mugs.

"Thanks, Cupcake." She hears Vi murmur tiredly, as she takes the mug to her lips and takes the tiniest sip.

"What time is our first meeting?" Vi asks.

Cait hums, "just over an hour from now. When the sun starts to rise."

"M'kay." Vi sighs lightly. "You alright?"

Caitlyn isn't sure how to answer. Truthfully, she wasn't. Neither was Vi. They both knew it.

"I didn't sleep well."

"Nightmares?"

Cait can only nod.

Vi frowns as she stands up to meet Caitlyn, "I can take one of your shifts later. I know the team needs our Sheriff, but this is the third night in a row you haven't gotten any rest."

Cait opens her mouth to retort but Vi moves her hand to her shoulder, "Please let me.

You need rest."

Cait sighs, but a small part of her warms to the way Vi cares for her. Just for a moment, she allows herself to get lost in her Deputy's stunning gaze, idly considering the offer.

Finally, she gives a small nod and it's enough to satisfy Vi.

"Thank you," she says, as she sits back down in one of the balcony chairs and she beckons Caitlyn to join next to her.

They sit in comfortable silence as they sip their teas, and as she tries her best not to think too heavily about the dreadful day they definitely have ahead of them.

For now, she was alone with Vi, and it was peaceful.

These days, they really were each other's peace.

From the corner of her eye she sees the lights flash from a distant vehicle, as she notices Vi eyeing it with intrigue.

She forgets sometimes, that a mundane life for her is all new to Vi- that Vi has never seen most of the things Cait had on the Topside.

"Never seen a contraption like that before?"

Vi chuckles lightly, "Nope."

They continue in their small talk and light touches, as Cait lets herself enjoy the time she has with Vi- she feels she never really gets enough of it, even though they spend most their time together these days.

Later that same day, they'd both come home bloodied and bruised, and would both spend the evening bandaging the other up.

Chapter Text

If Caityn was being honest with herself, she had no idea how to feel about Vi's laugh at first.

After all, she shared the same blood with the same person who's laughter would forever send shivers down her spine; the same laughter that would wake her up from her night terrors in a cold sweat.

Vi's laugh was deeper, and surprisingly, gigglier than she'd expected it to be.

But she also very rarely laughed.

Usually when she'd laugh, it'd be when she was spending time with Ekko. It was wholesome really, seeing the way Vi and Ekko find ways to make the other laugh, despite everything.

With all the grimness, the hurt, and the absolute pain the last few months of war have brought in Piltover, Vi still managed to bring Cait some sort of joy, even without trying.

Cait had started trying to make Vi laugh.

Usually, she'd get a playful scoff. Sometimes a small chuckle. But not Vi's real laugh. Perhaps she just wasn't that funny.

Late one night, there's a rare opportunity for a break; and instead of sleeping Cait's sitting on her bed with Vi, (technically their bed now? Neither one of them mention it.) playing a card game they'd found in her room.

"How on earth are you beating me so badly in a game that I own?!"

"Maybe I'm just that good, Cupcake." She doesn't even need to look at Vi to know she's smirking.

"Are you cheating?" Cait only half jokingly asks.

Vi feigns offense as she dramatically puts a hand over her chest, "I would never!! You're obviously just jealous of my sick Trenchie skills!"

"Trenchie skills?" Cait raises a brow.

"Yeah. Like, stealing stuff. And punching things. In this case though, stealing stuff."

Cait tilts her head in question, giving Vi an amused but questioning glare as Vi reaches behind her back and reveals a card- one of Cait's cards. A card Cait could've used to win.

"Oh, you little thief!!"

Before Vi can react Cait smacks her with a pillow; and as Vi starts giggling Cait gives her a few more wacks for good measure.

As both of their laughs start to resume, Cait lets out a deep breath.

She needed this. She needed some distraction, just as much as she need rest.

Or maybe it was just Vi- spending time with her always seemed to release even just a small bit of her strain.

"I love your laugh," she finds herself saying suddenly- unexpectedly.

She can tell by Vi's expression that she wasn't expecting it either.

"Thanks, Cupcake. If I'm being honest, I try not to laugh around you much."

Cait doesn't have to ask why. She knows why.

"You don't have to do that, Violet. You're not like her."

She can tell her words elicit a small glimmer of hurt from Vi at the meantion of her sister- but, Vi gives small smile.

"We should get some sleep, Cupcake. I'd love to spend more time with you but we have a busy day tomorrow."

Cait grimaces at the reminder. It's always a busy day, of course, but sometimes she just wants to forget.

They get ready for sleep before climbing into Cait's bed, just like every night.
They warm up close to each other, just like every night.

Cait wants nothing more than to move closer and hold Vi's rugged build in her arms. Or to feel the warmth of Vi's strong arms embracing her while she sleeps.

She doesn't ask for more. If she does, it may lead to a conversation they'd both been putting off. She doesn't want to risk getting an answer that'll hurt her. Doesn't want to risk the possibility of a life separated from Vi.

So she settles for close.

It's bittersweet, just like every night.

Chapter Text

Piltover was burning.

Jinx's little minions had gotten reckless, and a petty burglary had gone from frustrating to just completely dangerous, and as Cait and her team evacuate citizens from the premises it only kept hitting the nail in the coffin that had already been drilled in so many times:

Jinx's minions had no idea what they were doing. They just wanted to rebel. They wanted chaos.
And chaos they had- as the last of the citizens are evacuated the team hurries to escape the smoke, Cait stays a beat behind to check for any more victims- a mistake.

She can't see. Everyone she looks, there's only smoke and flames- she tries her best to make her way in the direction her team went, but debris was falling and everything looked the same and it's becoming hard to breathe.

Her oxygen mask is running out of air.

She tries her best not to panic as she finds a narrow opening and jumps through, pushing forward without thinking; this may not be the right way, but it's a way.

It was another mistake.

Fire, surrounding her everywhere.

Tears prick at her eyes, from the smoke and sheer hopelessness, ad she tries to figure out what to even try to do next, as she hears a distant voice:

"Caitlyn!! Cait, are you out there?!"

She's afraid to answer.

For a moment, she's convinced herself that it's Jinx trying to trick her as she finds another small opening back in the other direction and she takes it- before hearing the voice again.

"Cupcake, PLEASE!! Answer me! Where are you?!"

Oh.

"Vi!! Vi, I'm out here! I can't get to you!"

In the distance she hears a loud clash and she can only assume it's Vi using her gauntlets to break through the debris- or at least she desperately wants to believe that. She doesn't want to think about how similar Vi's voice sounds to her sister's, not right now.

"I need you to call to me again, Cait!"

"I'm out here!" She cries, as debris breaks behind her- the fire is getting way too close to her, but the only way to go is backward- she can't just run away from Vi.

"Vi, I need you to hurry!"

The clashes become nearer and more urgent, followed by loud grunts- and Cait becomes tired.

She fights for consciousness as the corners of her vision go blurry- how had she not noticed her oxygen tank had run out?

"Cait, say something!!" The call still comes and a slight distance.

"Vi... Please...."

Everything goes black.

______________________

When Caitlyn awakes, the first thing she sees is a white ceiling.

She blinks her grogginess away and she begins to feel- the hospital wires connected to her arms and chest, (she immediately grimaces at the feeling) and the (clean) oxygen tube on her face.

In a daze, she tries to recount what happened before she woke up- she doesn't remember much.

Slowly, she starts to remember the feeling of being trapped- the smell of smoke, and the glow of the flames surrounding her.

Without thinking, she jolts upwards in a panic, "VI?!"

"Woah, woah woah," A soft voice hushes next to her as she feels a gentle grasp reach her shoulder, and to her absolute relief her eyes meet a soft grey-blue gaze.

"I'm here, Cupcake. You're safe."

"Oh, Vi." Cait breathes as she takes Vi in her arms without permission, but her embrace is immediately met with eager arms.

"You scared me, Cait." She feels the whisper in her shoulder.

"I know. I'm sorry."

"I mean it Cait."

"I'm sorry.

"Just..." Vi pulls away slightly, and Caitlyn knows she wants to tell her to be more careful. To scold her for being reckless. To just say more.

"I'm not leaving your side from now on. I hope you know that."

Cait knows she can't say no. She doesn't even want to.

"I wouldn't have you anywhere else."

It's selfish. She can't bring herself to care.

She doesn't miss the way Vi's gaze lingers on her lips longer than it should; or the way she bites the inside of her cheek when she tears her gaze away.

They both want to say more. They always do.

But as Cait reaches to caress Vi's face and pull her in for another long embrace, they settle for that.

Chapter Text

"Violet?"

"Yeah, Cupcake?"

"Are you tired at all?"

Once again, it was late at night. Caitlyn layed sprawled across her bed, as she turned to meet Vi's gaze, who had just come out the shower and was wrapped in towel- she did her best to only look at Vi's eyes.
The pink haired woman hums, "No, not really. Just kinda exhausted."

Cait gives a sympathetic frown. They were normally exhausted, these days.

"Would you be willing to stay up with me, darling?"

Through the dimly lit room she can see Vi light up, right before her expression turns to concern, "Yeah, why? Are you feeling alright? Are you hurting again?"

Cait feels her heart pull at her worry- after the fire, she'd had coughing fits for a few days, along with sharp pains in her lungs and nose. It was agonizing, really- but she'd tried her best not to concern Vi.

"No, not at all- I just want to spend some time with you before another heavy day tomorrow. If that's alright?

You don't have to. If you'd like to rest-"

"I don't feel like resting either. It's more than alright, Cupcake."

Vi cut her off, but still- she wasn't quite used to Vi's gentleness with her. Yes, it was still a bit brute at times but still- for Vi, it was gentle. Sweet, even. Even if her gentless sometimes came with a stern tone.

Caitlyn felt her cheeks warm at the realization that she was probably one of the few people who got that type of treatment from Vi, but she tries to push those thoughts down.

"Thank you, love."

"I'll be there in just a sec. Lemme get changed."

Cait rolls back over on her bed, her fingertips idly tracing the outside of her purple silk nightgown as her mind wanders.

Tomorrow, there'd be another meeting to discuss possible allies to their war. It was something Cait dreaded. Most of the nations were either unwilling to have anything to with a war against Zaun, and some were frankly too eager. It was almost frightening.

It was certainly a delicate topic for Vi as well. But, it had to be addressed eventually...
Plus, so doubt they'd have another incident with Jinx's followers. It was happening multiple times on the daily now.

things are getting worse.

She doesn't want to think about it.

Before she knows it, Vi comes back into the room, interrupting her thoughts.

As she turns to her side to great her, she notices Vi is currently turned around, putting away a pair of old clothes - and she's wearing her sleep clothes. A white tank top, and a pair of boxers. It was pretty similar to what she wears every night to sleep, but it sends a flush to Caitlyn's cheeks the same way it always does.

She swallows thickly, watching the way her muscles would flex slightly with the movement of her hands...

When Vi turns back around she does her best to appear she wasn't staring, before Vi plops in the bed next to her; scooting in close and wiggling her eyebrows humorously,

"Hey, cutie. You come here often?"

Caitlyn snorts- and her cheeks definitely aren't beet red. Hopefully the darkness covers it. "My bed? Yes."

Vi hums as she moves her arm to rest her head in her hand, "Not often enough. I miss taking naps."

"Believe me, as do I." Cait murmers, moving onto her back to face the ceiling as Vi does the same next to her.

"I never thought I'd actually appreciate having all the time in the world to nap back in prison," Vi says half jokingly.

Cait considers Vi's words for a moment, before deciding to ask,

"What was it like?"

"What? Naps?"

"No, silly. Growing up there... in Stillwater. If you don't mind me asking."

Vi is quiet for a moment, and Caitlyn's almost afraid she's overstepped until she hears her voice.

"If anyone else asked me that I probably wouldn't wanna talk about it.

But it was hell. I mean, I went in when I was a teenager. To think back then I thought I had my shit together- I was young. I think that place fucked me up in more ways than I realized."

As Cait listens and turns back towards Vi she feels a twinge in her chest, thinking about the young freckled girl receiving her... talks, as the prison guard had called them...

She shakes the thought away and asks, "Do you want to talk about what those ways are?"

Vi is silent. She just stares at the bedroom ceiling.

Just when Cait is about to change the topic, she gets an answer.

"I think I forgot how to read."

It comes so quiet, but she can hear the hint of shame in the words- there's definitely more than that, Cait knows, but she's not going to pry.

(However, after considering her words for a moment; all the times Vi seemingly pretended to skim documents or important letters before handing them off to Caitlyn made sense.)

"What makes you say that?"

"I used to at least kind of know how to write and read but I didn't really have to do those things in prison. I think I still remember some things? But sometimes it's hard. I dunno."

Vi's voice is still quiet as she finishes with a yawn, and Caitlyn realizes she's mostly thinking out loud.

"What if I taught you how to do those things? Writing and reading."

She feels her heart skip a beat when Vi moves to turn towards her- they're close.

"When would you teach me that?"

She feels Vi's breath against her face as she speaks.

"When we have time. In the mornings, and nights like tonight."

Vi gives another heavy yawn, and Caitlyn wants to tease her about how she'd just been saying she wasn't tired, but she doesn't.

"That sounds nice, Cupcake." Vi murmers, and she can see her eyes slowly opening and closing, as if fighting sleep.

"Did'ya have any more questions for me?"

Caitlyn gives a small hum. "No more big ones tonight."

She pauses, deciding maybe a subject change was in need.

"What's your favorite color, darling?"

"Nngh..." she feels Vi's mumble against her shoulder as she feels heat rise to her cheeks once again, "Probably purple. Looks good on you."

"I asked you your favorite color, silly."

"I know." Came the tired murmur.

"Alright, love." Cait says as she lets her fingertips trace the tattoo patterns on her partner's (her work partner. Who she shares her bed with-) arm, as she hears her breath start to steady.

As Caitlyn herself starts to lull into sleepiness, she becomes acutely aware of the hand Vi has placed on her waist- lighty, almost too small of a gesture to notice, but it was there nonetheless.
They wouldn't talk about the implications of this moment in the morning. She knew they wouldn't.
But if anyone were to walk in on them, they would never believe them if they told that person they weren't lovers.

But then again... would Caitlyn really mind that? Whatever she and Vi were, it definitely wasn't friends...

She decides to stop her train of thought as sleep begins to tug at her brain.

"Cupcake?"

"Yes, Violet?"

"You'll have lots of time to teach me how to read again when the war's over."

The voice came so groggy she almost thought maybe Vi was talking in her sleep- but the words made her heart both warm and ache.

There was no telling when the war would end.

Or if it ever would.

Chapter Text

"My GOD, you are absolutely INFURIATING."

Caitlyn hisses as she panicks to tend to Vi as quickly as possible - she's bleeding out. Again.

For the third time this week.

Vi scoffs lightly, "I'm touched, Cupcake."

"Shut up." Cait gives a sharp glare, and Vi decides to obey.

Frantically, she starts wrapping a bandage on the least effected area of Vi's left arm- her forearm.

Looking at the rest of it makes her stomach churn as she resumes to applying pressure; hearing Vi give a pained groan beneath her.

"You've got to stop being so reckless..." She mumbles through clenched teeth, as she starts to grab a needle and thread from her bag- she feels Vi wince when it catches her eye.
To her shock, Vi says nothing.

"Here," she says, shoving a piece of cloth she'd torn off of Vi's sleeve in her face. "You'll want something to bite down on."

Vi's face goes pale, as she moves her mouth open and closed; as if trying to find words to say.

"What is it?"

"...Are you gonna give me stitches?"

"Yes. Zaunites bombed the medical center. This is the best we can do for now." She tries to answer stoically, but something in Vi's expression makes her want to soften.

"Oh."

"Oh?"

"It's just..." Vi winces, seething her teeth as Cait feels her heart twinge in her chest.

"I... I dunno... Can you give me a minute? To mentally prepare? I'm gonna feel every stitch..."

Oh.

She's scared.

Caitlyn had almost forgotten Vi could feel such a thing.

She gives a sigh, "Yes. But we can't wait too long. You're still bleeding."

"Okay."
They sit in silence, short from Vi's slightly huskier breaths; as Cait squints her eyes shut and grits her teeth.

She can feel Vi staring at her.

"Why'd you do it?"

"Do what?"

"You know what, Violet." She snaps, opening her eyes to meet Vi's piercing gaze.

"That's the third fucking time this week you've taken a hit for me. It wasn't even necessary, for heaven's fucking sake! You were unarmed, he had a knife. You're lucky he sliced your arm instead of stabbing you. What the hell were you thinking?!?"

She saw guilt flicker in Vi's gaze, but it was also shielded with stubbornness.

"If I hadn't taken him on, what would you have done, Cait? You were unarmed, too."

"I would've had time to load my gun."

Vi scoffs, "We both know that's not true."

"Oh, I'm sure you think that way." Cait's voice is full of venom, "Do you really think I can't handle my fucking self?!"

"No fucking shit you can handle yourself, Caitlyn!
I don't want to see you get hurt the way I do! That's why I take them, you should know that by now!"

Tears are streaming down Caitlyn's face now. She knows it.

"Vi,"

Something in the way she says her name recaptures her attention.

"You're all I have left.

Why can't you understand that?"

For a moment, Vi says nothing. Her gaze turns hopeless as tears prick at her own eyes.

"If I lose you, I have nothing."
Caitlyn finshes with a sob in her voice, as she holds Vi's gaze- vaguely, she feels Vi's right hand come up to cup her face.

"Cait."

Her voice is quiet, and it wavers as she speaks.

"You're all I have left.

If I lose you, I have nothing."

Caitlyn lets out a sob, but allows herself to lean into Vi's touch as she feels her thumb start to wipe away her tears.

Moments of silence go by, and all two women can do is stare at the other hopelessly.
Finally, Caitlyn speaks. "I need to stitch you up now."

Vi gives an audible deep breath, "Okay.

Let's get this over with."

As Cait starts weaving the thread through her needle, she hears Vi's voice again- it's soft.

"I'm sorry."

Caitlyn doesn't know what to say.

"You know I'd never forgive myself if I let you get hurt instead of me."

"I know," Cait whispers. "You're infuriating like that."

She hears Vi give a small chuckle. "You still love me anyway."

Caitlyn doesn't trust herself to respond to that. In the distance, she hears a siren start to roar and they both jump- Jinx's gangs are attacking another part of the city.

"As soon as I finish your stitches, I'm sending you home." She tells Vi before letting her say anything. "And you're staying there for at least three days. If you ask me even once to cut your break short, I'm extending it. Do you hear me?"

She can tell Vi wants to protest. Thankfully though, she just nods.

"Thank you," Cait huffs.

"Just remember to bring extra ammo. Please?"

Caitlyn nods.

When she finishes looping the thread in the needle, she holds the wadded up fabric back to Vi in a silent request.

"Cupcake?"

"What now?"

"Nothing. I just love you."

She feels her heart skip a beat and her cheeks sting with warmth as she gives Vi a glare; shoving the fabric in her mouth before going to work on her arm.

Chapter Text

Two days after Vi's arm is stitched, Caitlyn can tell she's becoming restless.

But, she doesn't ask to be let back on sooner- apparently, Cait's threat was enough to prevent that.

When Caitlyn comes back from a patrol, bloodied slightly and bruised, Vi is sitting on their bedroom floor in casual clothing with Caitlyn's research papers in hand as she looks up to greet her.

"Hey, Cupcake. You okay?"

Caitlyn groans in response as she shrugs her supplies off, "Need a shower."

She hears her partner chuckle as she heads to her bathroom, "Alright."

Caitlyn takes her time in the shower, as her next shift isn't for another hour- unless they had another unexpected attack, of course. Then it'd be cut short.

When she's finished she changes into a grey T-shirt she finds and a pair of shorts underneath, not bothering to find a bra to use.

When she steps back into her bedroom Vi is still sitting criss-crossed on the floor, seemingly lost in thought as Caitlyn sits herself next to her, "What's on your mind love?"

Vi shrugs, "I dunno. Your drawings are really interesting. I mean, it's a little hard for me to read still and I know this is a bunch of research stuff but you definitely have a talent."

Caitlyn gives a small smile when Vi turns her head to look at her and Cait decides to lean against her shoulder, "Thanks. Maybe in another lifetime..."

She trails off- she supposes there'd be a lot of possibilities in another lifetime besides her being a Writer.

Maybe she'd be sitting beside Vi right now on their floor reading, but it wouldn't be research papers for the war that was currently surrounding them outside their walls.

Maybe without the war, they would've been more by now.

Maybe they'd be lovers, reading together on the floor as they made small talk. Maybe they'd be holding hands. Or maybe they'd be cuddled up together somewhere simply enjoying their evening.

"Yeah." Vi says softly, as if she understands where Caitlyn was going with her train of thought.

After a beat of silence she hears Vi start to chuckle beside her, "Cupcake, you're wearing my shirt."

She blinks, "Oh!" Now that Vi mentions it, she realizes she probably should've noticed. "Sorry, I didn't realize."

"It's ok. You look pretty in it."

Caitlyn feels her cheeks warm as she notices the way Vi is looking at her, and the way the sun beams come in through the bedroom window and reflect beautifully off of Vi's skin.

She notices Vi opens her mouth, as if she's about to say something but out of nowhere a blaring siren starts going off, startling the both of them.

"Shit, shit, shit!!" Caitlyn spits out as she frantically gets up to start picking up her uniform; rushing to get changed as Vi loads her supplies for her.

As Caitlyn's running out the door, Vi shouts, "Cait!! Your ammo!"

She turns around as Vi shoves the said ammo in her bags, knowing full well Caitlyn already has some- she supposes this is Vi's way of forcing her to bring extra.

"Be careful. please." Vi pleads, giving Caitlyn's hand a tight squeeze before she can leave.

"I will. stay here. I'll come home to you tonight."

Her heart twinges as she doesn't miss Vi's pained expression as she leaves; knowing damn well Vi wants nothing more than to join her.

______________________

"I never got to ask you what your favorite color is."

Vi's words come from somewhere behind Caitlyn and they catch her off guard- the sun has long set and she's leaned against her bedroom balcony; she'd been lost in her thoughts for about thirty minutes before her Deputy's voice interrupted her.

"My favorite color?"

Sounds of nightlife surrounded the balcony- the chirping of crickets mainly, the twinkling of stars, and in the distance the sounds of the city.

"I told you mine. I fell asleep before I got to ask yours. Seems a little unfair."

Caitlyn hums; her open balcony doors allowing her to turn around to face Vi, who'd apparently just stepped out of the shower minutes ago.

She was wearing a tank top again, black this time; along with a pair of dark grey shorts.

Caitlyn tears her eyes away before Vi notices her paying too much attention to her figure, but not before taking glance at the stitches going up her left arm. "I'm surprised you remember that. That was almost two weeks ago now."

Vi shrugs with a small grin, "Still wanna know the answer."

The moonlight reflects beautifully off of Vi's gaze while her pink hair appears deep scarlet; her body illuminated by the midnight glow- in that moment, Caitlyn's convinced she's never seen anything - anyone - so lovely.

But she doesn't tell her that.

"It's red."

She also doesn't tell her it used to be blue.

Chapter Text

Going out drinking that night had been a terrible idea.

At the time when Vi had suggested it to blow off steam, it had sounded like a great idea.

They were off duty, damn near plastered, and Caitlyn was furious.

A woman at the bar had been flirting with Vi all night long.
She couldn't tell if Vi was reciprocating or not, but it didn't appear she was dismissing the girl either.

She grinds her teeth when she sees the woman rest a hand on Vi's shoulder. Seething; she downs yet another shot.

It wouldn't be so bad if the woman wasn't as... well shaped as she was.

She was also clearly a Zaunite.

She was shorter than Caitlyn. A bit closer to Vi's height.

Did Vi prefer girls her height?

...Did she prefer Zaunites?

She mentally slaps herself, because why does she even care?

Vi could fuck a girl if wanted. Who cares?

All they did was share a bed.

And a home.

Wait, if Vi found a woman she fancied, would she move out of Caitlyn's place...?

She feels a pit in her stomach. She fills it with another shot.

Somehow, she hadn't noticed Vi making her way towards her until she sat next to Cait.

"Hey, you got a sec-?" Vi begins, before she spots the empty shot glasses in front of Caitlyn and starts to chuckle. "Damn Cupcake, I thought I was the alcoholic in this relationship."

Cait rolls her eyes, "Oh, very funny."

Vi gives her a confused look before she moves closer and drops her voice to a whisper, "You see that girl I've been talking to?"

Caitlyn scoffs, shooting Vi a look.

"Have I."

Vi's brow furrows but she begins again, "Well-"

"Oh, Vi~! You got away from me, Hot Stuff... What's got you in such a hurry~?" The woman plops herself right in front of Vi, speaking in an intentionally sultry tone.

If Cait wasn't fuming before, she definitely was now.

Before Vi can respond, the woman continues with a flirtatious smirk, "If I didn't know any better, I might think you're running away from me."

Vi gives a laugh in a pitch that Cait can't quite read as Vi gives an exaggerated shrug, "Well ya know, if you want me, you can always come and get me."

Caitlyn doesn't even feel her jaw drop.

"Want you in which way, dear? Don't get me wrong, either option involves ropes~"

Oh, that was it.

"Violet!" Caitlyn commanded her name as she stood abruptly; almost knocking the table over as she does so.

"We are leaving. NOW."

When Vi hesitates for moment, stunned by Caitlyn's sudden malice tone; she grabs Vi by her arm as she gives an awkward chuckle. "Yes ma'am. See ya-"

She gives a half wave to the mystery woman but Cait is already dragging her out the front door.

"Cupcake..? What's going on-"

"Don't you 'Cupcake' me, Violet."

Vi goes from mild amusement and confusion to simply pissed off in an instant, "Ok Caitlyn, whats gotten into you?"

"What's gotten into me?!

What the FUCK was that?!"

"What...? Are you talking about the Trenchie girl?"

"Yes, Violet, the fucking Trenchie girl."

A moment goes by, as Vi's scowl turns into a complete shit eating smirk.

"Cupcake, are you jealous?"

"Are you going to fuck a girl you just met an hour ago?"

"You didn't answer my question."

"You're completely ignoring all mine!"

"Maybe I just like seeing you all worked up."

That cocky grin on Vi's face makes Caitlyn seethe once again- but suddenly, her face goes pale as the grin fades and her expression turns alarmed.

"What-?"

"Shit. we need to hide. now."

"What-?" Cait's confusion comes out in small spit through her anger, but her question isn't answered- Vi's starts squeezing them into a nearby alleyway.

Caitlyn hisses as the stone rubs against her back; the opening is so squeezed she can't make room for herself not to be pressed against Vi.

"What the HELL are you-?!"

Vi puts her hand firmly over Caitlyn's mouth, (and oh, if looks could kill...) shushing her and pointing outside to the opening of the alleyway-

A gang of Jinx's followers. Leaving the bar - shit, had they ALL been undercover in there?

"Cait," Vi whisper-shouts when she sees her eyes go wide,

"That girl in the bar works for JINX. She was drunk enough to start spilling enough information for me to find out where one of their bases are- I wasn't wearing my uniform, but you're wearing your fucking badge!"

Caitlyn blinks as she listens, her anger wavering but still present as confusion joins her mix of emotions.

"So what if I'm wearing my badge?!"

"My God, Cait." Vi growls in frustration, "You clearly managed to blow my cover when you took me out of the bar. And apparently her entire fucking GANG was in there to witness it!"

"Well," Caitlyn grits her teeth, "MAYBE if you spent a little less time flirting, we would've been out of there sooner and we wouldn't even BE in this situation!"

Vi lets out a scoffed laugh.

"Fuck Cupcake, you really WERE jealous."

"Maybe you're just infuriating."

"Maybe you like that."

"Hey!! Check the alleyways, they can't have gotten far!"

It's the same woman's voice from the bar.

Vi mumbles a curse, looking around for a way out-
they were completely cornered no matter which direction they went.

"What are we gonna do-?"

Caitlyn whispers, almost forgetting she's supposed to be angry as panick sets in.

"I... distract them?"

"I don't think we can do that..."

Caitlyn whispers hopelessly and she flips her hood over her head, as if covering her hair is going to do anything.

...

...wait.

She silently thanked whatever God was out there for Vi's strange obsession with hoodies - because of course she was wearing one - as she pulled the woman's hood up to cover her pink hair.

"What-? What are hoods supposed to-"

"Kiss me."

Vi's eyes go wide as saucers.

"What?!?"

Before Cait can respond voices come from near inches away- she grabs Vi's face.

Their lips crash together suddenly and almost painfully, and for a moment Caitlyn freezes against Vi as she feels like her entire body is inflamed but just as she does so Vi is kissing her back.

Their kiss is rough and deep; a mixture of frustration, alcohol and want as she feels Vi's tongue slick against her bottom lip and she opens her mouth in response, inviting her in.

Caitlyn feels a moan bubble up in her throat as she impossibly deepens their kiss; taking out all of her previous anger, and although she'd never admit it jealousy as she pushes her tongue against Vi's in a fight for dominance, as Vi lets out an absolutely delightful moan.

But just as soon as she has control, Vi's teeth scrape against her bottom lip eliciting a whine from Caitlyn; before Vi gives it a bite before taking her lips back into their sloppy kiss.

Caitlyn finds her own hand wrapped in Violet's pink locks as she gives it a sharp tug which drawls a growl from Vi that sends electricity down Cait's spine; as her thigh finds it's way between Vi's legs and she feels her buck.

"Vi..." Cait lets the whine choke out against her lips, but, to her disappointment- she feels her pull away.

They're both panting heavily against the other, completely breathless and Cait realizes just how warm the air feels against her skin.

"I... I think they're gone."

Caitlyn blinks at Vi's words.

Oh.

Right.

"Y-yes! I think... We got lucky."

She mumbles lamely, as she peers out the alleyway.

"Or they were grossed out when they saw two girls eating each other's faces off and decided to ignore us."

Cait sputters at that in half a laugh, but most of it comes from her completely flustered state.

Finally, she looks down at Vi.

She looks disheveled and just as flustered as Caitlyn feels- her eyes are glossed over, and she catches the way her gaze flicker back down to her lips for a moment.
Her expression almost appears... hopeful?

She wants absolutely nothing more than to kiss her again.

Instead, Cait inhales sharply, tearing her gaze away. "It's getting late. We should head back, since we're in the clear now."

Her chest stings at her own words and Vi's shoulders visibly sag, but before Cait can think to question it she smirks playfully.

"Yes, Sheriff."

_____________

They walk back home in mostly silence, neither of them really knowing what to say, despite the millions of things on both of their minds.

Vi guides them with a lantern as they take a route home only known to them; a way they'd mapped out ages ago that'd been hidden from peering eyes.
...their Enforcer team may not exactly be aware of the fact that their Deputy lives with their Sheriff.

As they get nearer to the Kiramman's home - their home - Vi suddenly speaks up.

"Hey, Cupcake?"

"Hmm?"

"We're not gonna talk about tonight.

Are we?"

Caitlyn feels her cheeks warm but offers no response as they enter their home.

They both know they're not going to.

Chapter Text

"Fuck," Caitlyn curses sharply as she spit blood; before moving to block herself as Vi gave a shout,

"CAIT, to your left!!"

The warning comes just in time as Caitlyn dodges a nasty blow.

It was a week after the bar incident, as they'd wanted to plan their attack on the gang hideout before ambushing- but they were a much larger group than anticipated.

They'd called in backup nearly half an hour ago and they were just beginning to swarm in- as she's about to shoot down a culprit who'd gained a higher ground; another enforcer made their shot first as Caitlyn thanked him silently before moving to her next target.

Vi had kept her promise from two months ago- she was not leaving Caitlyn's side.

Cait shoots from all angles she can manage, as Vi helps block the both of them with her gaulets.

Suddenly Caitlyn hears a shrill voice, "You traitor!!"

She looks to see the woman who'd been fawning over Vi at the bar using some sort of hoverbike technology to hurl herself at Vi- Wait, was that a Firelight invention?

"Yeah, yeah! Fuck you!" Vi taunts as she slams the moving bike down with her gauntlets, and the lady has no choice but to fistfight Vi- she doesn't stand a chance.

In the midst of battle, Caitlyn can't help but find it just a little bit hot.

Whilst Vi is preoccupied Caitlyn dodges a punch to her left- then her right, then ducks below a string of bullets flying at her- she turns, spotting the shooter as she raises her gun; taking them out in an instant.

Just as she dodgess another blow, she suddenly feels a snare at her right shoulder as she yelps out in both pain and surprise; as she quickly turns around to shoot down the offender- she's definitely bleeding. Damn, while a lot of these stupid felons had no clue what they were doing, some of them were good.

Where the hell were they getting their supplies?

Finally, she's able to to distract the shooter for a split second and it able to get a direct hit to his chest; while she orders her team to take higher ground.

Thankfully, within hours the hideout is soon completely taken down- without the help, there's no telling what may have happened.

As some of the team splits to start looting supplies, Caitlyn finds herself slumping over in pure exhaustion, and Vi soon joins her.

"The shower I'm gonna take when we get back home is gonna feel so good." She hears Vi murmur, and she can only hum in tired agreement.

_____________

"Cait, why didn't you tell me you were bleeding?!"

They're just about to head through the front door when Vi's voice catches Caitlyn off guard.

"What?" She blinks, before glancing at the spot Vi had apparently just noticed on her shoulder - shit, that looked nasty - but the blood was mostly dry by now, it had just stained her clothes.

"Well, you're bleeding too," She gestures towards a gash on Vi's side where blood had stained- she's about to point out the splattered blood on her face as well, but she realizes that's not hers.

"It's not a fucking bullet wound, Cait!"

"It only grazed me-"

"You're going to let me clean you up."

Caitlyn opens her mouth to protest but Vi's glare stops her- she decides she doesn't feel like arguing with her.
They drop their supplies and weapons lazily in Cait's bedroom; and after a moment a pair of clothes are thrown at Cait- "Put those on. I'll be right back."

Vi orders before she disappears into the bathroom - Caitlyn's still annoyed, but she listens anyway - she feels filthy and wants to get out of her clothes.

When she sees Vi has given her a (slightly modest) white sports underwear set, she's confused but assumes it's because she wants easier access to her wounds.

She removes her bottoms easily, her legs only suffered minor scrapes and scratches- but when she gets to her top, she's only removed the left side when she winces as she realizes her wound was starting to get stuck to her top.

"Cait, did you put on the- oh."

Vi comes in, wearing a similar sports underwear set she has handed her as she can hear her apologetic mutters when she walks in on her half undressed - Caitlyn's wearing her bra and the sports underwear shorts but still - but she quickly notices Caitlyn's current predicament.

"Oh Cupcake, if you weren't so stubborn..." Her voice is laced with frustration as she begins helping Cait her with the top.

Cait winces at the smallest touch, "Sorry."
She apologizes, guilt suddenly replacing her stubbornness.

"Stay right here, I'll be right back."
After a moment Vi returns with a damp cloth in hand, as she begins applying it over her wound.

Cait takes a sharp inhale as she does so, trying her best not to worry Vi as she sees her brows furrowed tightly.

"Next time, tell me when something like this happens."

"Violet, we're at war. Injuries happen-"

"Not to you."

"Don't be silly-"

"I mean it, Caitlyn." Vi's voice is suddenly sharp and it's almost startling, "If something happened to you- just, please, if you're hurt then tell me."

Cait wants to argue. To say her wound was hardly that bad, go say that if she makes too big of a deal about an injury she could be forced to take a break when she could be on the field- but she realizes that if the roles were reversed, she would be the one saying the exact same things to Vi right now.

Finally, she drops her stubborn gaze and sighs.

"Okay."

A beat of silence.

"If I could, I'd tell you to stay behind me from now on.

But I know I can't do that."

Vi's voice comes softly, as she feels her move the rag on her arm.

She doesn't know what to say. Truthfully, she'd want to tell Vi the exact same thing- to stay behind her.

"You do realize," Cait begins as she looks to hold Vi's gaze. "How you're feeling right now- it's everything I feel every time you take those hits for me."

"I know."

"It's not fair, Violet."

"I know."

Tears prick at her eyes as the women stay silent for a moment after that.

"I'm sorry," Caitlyn says after a moment. "I dismissed the injury when it happened during all the chaos- but I should've told you, and I shouldn't have been frustrated at you when you got upset when I didn't."

She feels Vi tuck a stand of her hair behind her ear, "It's alright now, Cupcake. I only got upset because I care- and because I worry. I hope you know that."

"I do."

"Here, I think it's damp enough. Try now." Vi says, removing the cloth.

Together they get the top off- it still sticks to Caitlyn's skin slightly and she hisses, but it could've been worse.

She can hear a relieved breath Vi gives, "When you're finished changing, I'll be in the bathroom waiting for you."

After a moment Vi is gone, and Caitlyn finally registers the distant sound of her shower- had it been running this whole time? As she takes a moment to examine her wound again- shit, that was definitely going to scar.

She changes into the white sports bra; tossing aside her dirty uniform into a nearby hamper before she makes her way to her bathroom.

Steam covers the room as Caitlyn steps in, shivering slightly at the sudden temperature change as Vi turns to notice her.

"Do you mind sitting on the toilet?"

Caitlyn does so as Vi kneels next to her, digging through their medical bag to find bandages and other supplies.

As she starts tending to her arm, Caitlyn can't help but stare at the woman beside her- the look of concentration in her face as she begins to clean her wound, the way her pink hair stuck to her forehead atop beads of sweat, and the dirt and grime that still covered her skin from battle.

When Vi moves to start bandaging her arm, her muscles move in a way that brings heat straight to Caitlyn's face- suddenly, she has to force herself to try not to think about about how Vi's lips felt against hers just a few days ago, or the way her tongue had felt at the roof of her mouth...

She shudders as she pushes the thoughts way, as Vi seems to think it's in response to her finishing wrapping the bandage.

"Sorry, Cupcake. I'm done now." Vi says as she stands up, offering a hand to Cait as she does the same.

As she feels herself being led to the shower, she pauses.

"Wait- what are you doing?"

"You're gonna have to keep that bandage out of the water as best as you can, and we're both covering in shit," Vi gestures to herself and the blood and dirt mix on her face, "You'll need help washing yourself off."

Caitlyn wants to protest, but Vi seems to have her mind made up- she sighs, letting herself be lead into the water.

"Is this why you gave me an underwear set to put on?"

She swears she sees Vi's cheeks pink, "it's hardly underwear, but yeah, mostly."

She sees Vi run her hands through her now damp hair, and it gives Caitlyn a view of her left arm- she'd taken the stitches out the other day, and although the scar still looked ghastly, it was at least healing.

"What, you didn't want to get naked with me?"

Cait keeps her voice even as she feels satisfied at the way Vi starts to stutter at that, "W-what-? Fuck, you're so not funny!"

Caitlyn laughs, as there's no malice is Vi's tone.

After a moment, the women fall into comfortable silence as Caitlyn relaxes to the feeling of the warm water running down her skin, and at the way Vi's hands feel when they rub shampoo into Cait's hair.

"Make sure you only put the conditioner on the ends, please." Cait says and she hears Vi give an 'm'kay', before she feels her hands go to work at the ends of her hair.

After a moment of lathering Vi moves up again and Caitlyn starts to feel rubbing delightfully pleasant circles into her scalp, as she finds herself leaning into Vi's touch- before she knows it, the back of her head is leaning on Vi's shoulder.

"Thank you," she sighs as Vi gives a hum and nestles her own chin into the crook of Caitlyn's neck- it's then that she registers Vi's hand resting against her hip.

"Cupcake?"

"Yes, love?" She responds to the soft voice, revelling in the feeling that their closeness gave her.

"You know we're gonna have to talk about things eventually, right?"

"Things?"

To her disappointment, she feels Vi step away and she immediately mourns the feeling of Vi's skin against hers, as she turns to meet her gaze.

"This." Vi says simply, gesturing between the two of them before she continues.

"Us. Everything that we don't talk about..." A hint of a smirk starts forming on her face, "The bar."

Caitlyn closes her eyes with a sigh, hoping the feeling of the water pattering over her head will calm her sudden nerves.

...how would that conversation even go? Where would it lead?

...What if Vi didn't feel the same way she did? And what Cait scares her away?

When she opens her eyes, there's a glimmer of hope in Vi's gaze- cockiness gone, replaced with vulnerability and it's enough to ease Caitlyn's storm of nerves as she feels herself soften.

"I know."

Chapter Text

"Sheriff Kiramman!"

Ekko's friendly shout comes from above as he drops down to meet her in his hoverboard, flipping it midair in an only slightly show off-ish way.

"I almost didn't reconize you," He says, gesturing to the disguised outfit she has on. "What brings you here? Is Vi with you?"

"No, sadly not today..."

As a matter of fact, Vi didn't even know Caitlyn had gone undercover to visit the Firelight's village.

She wasn't trying to keep anything from Vi- it was just...

Caitlyn has her suspicions, and she wants to do her own investigation- Vi and Ekko were practically siblings.

She didn't want a biased opinion getting in the way, as much as she hates to even think about that way.
Plus, Vi would certainly not be happy to hear that she came to the undercity alone...

"She has a meeting she's attending," It's not technically a lie. Vi's shift has a meeting scheduled in an hour. "I just came to catch up, as well as ask you a few questions."

"Me? what an honor." He jokes back, gesturing for Cait to follow him inside a small building that she'd come to recognize as the village's restaurant.

It's made of logs and trees that had been masterfully been put together, with the roof being covered in tree leaves as vines hung through the ceiling.

The way the sun leaks through the ceiling and walls is beautiful, as Caitlyn realizes she'd probably never get over the beauty of the undercity- including that of the woman she wakes up to every morning.

"Are you hungry?" He asks as they sit down across from eachother, as Cait shakes her head no, "I ate an hour or two ago."

Ekko chuckles at that.

"Guess I'm used to Vi's bottomless stomach.

So, what all did you wanna ask me about then?"

Caitlyn takes a deep breath.

"Well, nothing overly serious...

I'm sure you've had your own run-ins with Jinx's minions recently?"

Ekko's smile falters slightly as he nods.

"Recently I've started to notice them using hoverboards and bikes very... similar to your Firelights.

I suppose they could be inventing their own. But have you had any of your supplies stolen recently? Break-ins, even?"

Ekko blinks, as if the question surprises him- but he holds a guarded expression.

"Oh, really...? Not from what I'm aware of, no... How many have been using them exactly?"

Cait sighs, "Too many to just not notice that they've been stolen, that's for certain."

Ekko doesn't respond, and for a minute there's silence as they're approached by a waiter.

She notices said waiter make eye contact with her in clear recognition before he gives a small glare... right.

Down here, she was the enemy to most everyone but Ekko.

"Can I get the two of you anything?"

"Just a water for me," Ekko responds.

"The same for me." She says as the waiter nods, not looking in her direction as he walks away.

"Well, my best guess is what you said," Ekko says to her. "A bunch of copycats, it's probably their own invention.

If they have taken anything from us, the only thing I can think of is that maybe they got their hands on an instruction manual that we use for building them? I wouldn't rule it out."

Caitlyn hums in thought.

Well.

If that was true, it would explain the Firelight symbols on some of the vehicles...

If that was true.

"That's a good possibility."

She doesn't want to accuse his village of having any traitors- she may be Sheriff, but it feels like an overstep.

"Have they been bothering you recently? Jinx's 'minions'? I know they've been getting into a lot of shit up there."

"Oh, don't get me started." she grumbles, eight as their waiter places their drinks in front of them, and she doesn't miss how hers is more so dropped on the table than placed.

"That bad?"

Caitlyn nods, trying to keep herself guarded- everyone on Topside knew by now that things were starting to get... well not quite hopeless but damn well near.

But if there's a possibility they're not aware of that down here, she doesn't want to let on.

"We're managing, though." She decides to say, before she takes a sip of her water.

"Well that's good to hear." Ekko says, and she looks up to see him open his straw only to start playing with the wrapper.

Cait finds herself distracted as well as she makes circles in her water with her own straw, her mind wandering back to the conversation she'd had with Vi just the night before.

'You know we're gonna have to talk about things eventually, right?'
What was Caitlyn even going to say?

She'd been up all night tossing and turning with that very same question on her mind whilst Vi had slept soundly next to her.

She could tell the truth.

That she definitely feels something for Vi, whether she's been refusing to acknowledge what those feelings are or not, or what they mean... it's something.

She wants Vi.

Badly.

If there's a chance Vi feels similarly, what if it just wasn't in the same? What if she felt uncomfortable with Caitlyn's stronger feelings? What if she left?

But also, they were quite literally in the middle of a war. In some world where things did somehow go somewhere with them, was it even the best time for a blossoming relationship in the first place?

...The answer was probably no.

"Whatcha thinking about, Kiramman? Your water can't be that interesting."

Ekko's voice interrupts her inner turmoil as she looks up at him.

"I could say the same about that piece of paper." She giggles lightly as Ekko puts his straw wrapper to the side.

"Still wanna know what's on your mind."

She pauses as she considers whether or not she should give an answer, before deciding that silence could potentially be seen as suspicion- and she's horrible at lying on the spot, so that wasn't an option either.

"It's... a girl."

"In a romantic way, or in like, a normal way?"

She chuckles, "The first one."

He gives a small grin, but again, it's hard to read.

"Yeah. I feel you there."

"Oh, you do?" She cocks a brow. "Who's the lucky lady?"

"I- um, well." He stutters lightly, "I- don't know? I mean, I do know but. It's complicated, I don't think you know her."

He's back to fidgeting with the straw wrapper again.

"I see."

"What about you?"

"It's a secret."

"Oh really? Didn't realize we weren't playing fair," he jokes.

She lets a smile tug at her lips, "I didn't get an answer from you, either."

He chuckles.

"That's fair."

She tries to let herself continue in friendly conversation, she really does.
But she doesn't miss the way that Ekko won't look at her now, or the way something in his expression still hasn't changed ever since she brought up the Firelight's technology.

"Well," She sighs as she stands and he joins her, "It was very nice seeing you again, Ekko. Thank you for complying.

Good luck with that girl of yours."

"Yeah sure, you too Caitlyn. Sorry I wasn't much help though. Tell Vi I said hi?"

She gives a nod, "I will."

As she turns to leave, she lifts her hood over her head to blend in with Zaun as feels the weight it her chest that's absolutely filled with all the questions she still wants to ask.

Questions about the Firelights seemingly having very similar weapons to the Zaunite gangs.

About so many hoverbikes having Firelight symbols.

About the bulky figure in an owl-like mask that'd recently been seen on rooftop rendezvous with Jinx herself multiple times as of lately.

But she doesn't.

If she's wrong, she's falsely accusing a trusted ally whom her partner cares deeply about.

If she's right?

She should not be here alone right now.

The walk back home is long and quiet, and her gun stays loaded at her side the whole time.

Chapter Text

When Caitlyn arrives home from patrol it's already near pitch black as the moon shines bright in the sky; reflecting off droplets of the surrounding rain that has only just started to pick up.

As she enters her bedroom her heart lights up when she sees Vi next to their bed- aggressively beating down a punching bag she'd apparently set up.

She can't bring herself to be annoyed- since they'd taken separate shifts that day, they hadn't seen eachother really since earlier that morning, and even that was brief.

She shakes her head but smiles nonetheless as she calls out, "Relieving some stress, are you?"

Vi jumps as she turns around; punching gloves still covering her hands- (and it's then that Cait realizes she's wearing her regular sleep clothes- a tank top and boxers) but she doesn't miss how Vi's eyes light up when her eyes land on her.

"Hell yeah. It was a long day." She says, her eyes following Caitlyn as she drops her supplies on the floor," "Missed you, Cupcake."

"I missed you too, darling."

Half an hour later, after Caitlyn has showered and changed into a nightgown, (a much shorter one than normal, as her longer ones are in need of a wash) she pats down her slightly damp hair with a towel as she sits herself in the edge of her bed; facing Vi as the woman continues her brawl with the punching bag- with slightly less aggressiveness than she'd had earlier.

As she watches her partner, she gives a deep sigh.

The war hurts.

Piltover is desperate, dying, hurting.

Her chest hurts when she thinks about her life before the hell they were going through now- where she was just an Enforcer, who was left to guard places that didn't need it- back when she'd actually be bored on patrols instead of constantly on edge, and back when she had time.

Time to breathe, time to eat, time to relax...

She feels as if she took it all for granted.

She's lost so much already.

As she watches the way Vi's maneuvers her way around the punching bag and it swings, she can't help but focus on the womans face- her chiseled jawline, the scar above her lip, her messy hair... She doesn't even register the way she licks her lips while she's watching.

If life has stayed the way it used to be, would they even be here right now...?

Despite all the hurt and heartache, she has Vi.

Even if she doesn't have her in all the ways she might want her...

"Enjoying the view, Cupcake?" Vi asks, glancing at her between punches.

"As a matter of fact, I am." She quips back, and she can tell Vi hadn't been expecting that.

"Oh?"

Caitlyn simply hums back.

Suddenly, Vi grabs the punching bag, ceasing her attempts at it. "Whatcha thinking about?"

"You."

She doesn't miss how Vi bites her lip, and dispute the dimly lit room she can definitely see the flush on her cheeks.

"What about me?"

Caitlyn swallows thickly, "I just appreciate having you."

Vi gives a small smirk, "Touché, Cupcake.

But is that all?"

Caitlyn draws a breath, opening her mouth to speak but no words come out- she doesn't know what to say.

"By the way," Vi says, as she starts to take her gloves off and set them aside, "Sometimes I piss you off on purpose."

Caitlyn blinks. "What-?"

"You're really hot when you're mad sometimes."

Oh.

Caitlyn becomes flustered, sputtering before she blurts out, "Well- well, one of these days you're going to give me a migraine if you keep that up!"

Vi laughs at that, "If I do, then I'll stop.

Until then, I don't think I will."

Caitlyn purses her lips, but her cheeks are burning still at Vi's words- is that why she'd enjoyed her jealousy so much back at the-

"Like at the bar," Vi continues, and suddenly Cait becomes aware of how close she's moved to her. "That one was definitely my favorite."

Caitlyn swallows thickly, and she can't help but take a glance at Vi's lips in that moment.

"Is this us talking about things?"

"Can it be?" Vi asks, and the question feels just as much of a plea as it does an urge.

"Please?"

Caitlyn nods, and shoots over slightly so Vi can sit next to her. She swears her heart it beating harder in her chest than she'd ever felt it before- what was she going to say?

"Do you want to start, or should I?" She decides to ask.

"I'll start," Vi says, shifting towards her.

"That night, at the bar... Seeing you that worked up really did something for me, sure. But also...
You have no idea how guilty I felt."

Caitlyn feels her breath hitch. What?

"Guilty? Why?"

"Because, Cupcake. You thought I wanted... Someone else." Cait feels her face burn, "And after you thought that, you kissed me. It was fucking amazing.

But... it wasn't your choice to kiss me."

Caitlyn blinks at that, her mind sticking to the 'it was amazing' part for a moment before jumping to the 'it wasn't your choice' part.
"Not my choice? What do you mean?"

"We needed a distraction. That was the only option. You didn't exactly want to...

That's why I stopped kissing you first."

What..?

"Violet," She starts as she can't help her slight smile, "If I didn't want to kiss you, do really think I would have?"

Vi blinks at that, but doesn't really give an answer.

"You have no need to feel guilty, Vi.

I... wanted to."

Vi's face lights up but her expression holds surprise, "Oh."

"Yeah, oh." Caitlyn tries to joke, but she swears her nerves are going to make her drown in a pile of her own sweat.

There's a moment of silence between the two girls, neither one of them looking in the others direction.

"I think this is the part where we should talk about us." Vi says, giving Cait a light nudge on the shoulder- it's then that Caitlyn realizes Vi is nervous too.

"Us," she repeats.

She looks beside her to see Vi looking at her in a way that she hasn't seen before as she responds softly, "I already know how I feel, Cupcake. Before I say anything...

I want to know how you feel."

The words spike her nerves more somehow - whatever it was Vi felt, the possibilities were near endless - she takes a shaky deal breath, letting herself gather her thoughts before she speaks.

"I don't know where I'd be right now without you, Violet.
My heart would probably be more hardened to everything- in the midst of all this chaos, you've kept me grounded. The time I have with you- even if it's just a little bit, it's what I look forward to every day."

She says, and she feels her eyes welling up as Vi puts a comforting hand on her thigh, "Thanks, Cupcake. I do too."

"I...

I can't imagine life without you in it anymore. Waking up to you, and falling asleep with you- having you next to me, times like right now or out there on the field- it feels right, and I don't know how else to explain it. I... I love so many things about you, and..." She makes small motions with her hands lamely as she trails off- because Vi is looking at her like that again, and suddenly she's sacred to say anything more, because...

"It's selfish, but...

I think what I'm afraid of most right now is you leaving."

"Cupcake," Vi says the nickname so gently Caitlyn wants to sob as Vi brings up a hand to cup her face, "Coming home to you every night is the best feeling in the world, and I feel lucky that I get to be by your side.

I'm not going anywhere, Cait. I promise."

Caitlyn meets Vi's tender gaze, as she begins to feel the tears that have been threatening to escape finally fall down her cheeks.

"Even if I told you I have feelings for you?"

She hears Vi draw a breath that hitches in her throat, and her expression holds such awe it almost catches her off guard.

"What did you just say?" Vi breaths, and Cait feels a shiver go down her spine.

"I-" Her mouth is suddenly very dry, "I have feelings for you, Vi... I have for such a long time...

And how could I not? You're so beautifully, stubbornly and sometimes infuriatingly you, and...

I've been so afraid," She says as her voice starts to break and she feels Vi tuck her hair behind her ear, "Because... Because if you don't want me, then-"

"Don't want you..?" Vi cuts her off, and she's suddenly aware of how close they are as she feels Vi hold her face with both hands, "Oh Cupcake, how could you possibly think I don't want you?"

Caitlyn lets out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding as a sob escapes her throat and she feels Vi wipe tears from under her eyes, "Cait, I've wanted you for so long, so badly.

You're everything to me, you're so strong, and so beautiful and so good to me- I was afraid to make the first move because I thought you weren't ready...

So I was gonna wait for you, and then you started looking at me the way you do and then you kissed me and then fuck...

I just couldn't anymore. I lo- care for you so much, I couldn't go on just not saying anything."

Dispite mentally slapping herself for overthinking everything for so long, Caitlyn's smiling so stupidly and she knows it but she can't bring herself to care- Vi's eyes are watering too now as she lets their noses brush against each other before she hears Vi's voice again,

"You have no idea how much I thought about that kiss after, or how long I wanted to kiss you like that before... And God, Cupcake, you're so pretty..."

Caitlyn could swear her face was on fire as she interrupts, "Violet?"

"Yes?"

She brings her own hand to cup Vi's face, "Please kiss me again now."

She's almost too nervous to ask the question as she whispers it and hears her own heartbeat pounding in her ears, and Vi pauses for just a moment as her gaze drops to Caitlyn's lips.

Just as she begins to start overthinking again, Vi's hand moves to clutch the back of her head and pulls her in to a deep kiss.

Caitlyn gasps into Vi's mouth as she feels her body start to flare to life and she feels as if she's been struck by lighting, or like her body is in flames because Vi is kissing her.

She's kissing her and it's real.

When Vi's lips start to move against hers she feels herself start to melt into her as she lets out a sigh, using her hand to start to tilt Vi's head to kiss her at a better angle and she feels a tickle across her face as Vi gives a pleased hum- the kiss is warm and sweet and salty from Cait's tears and it's perfect.

Vi releases Caitlyn's lips for just a moment to whisper into her, "I've wanted to do this for so long."

The husk to Vi's voice elicits something in Cait and as soon as Vi's lips are back in hers Vi starts sucking her bottom lip, before giving it a small nip as the two women moan in unison as Vi takes advantage of Caitlyn's open mouth to deepen their kiss.

Suddenly, she has to remind herself again that this is real- She's not dreaming, that the woman she'd been yearning for all this time is kissing her the way she is and the reminder itself sends a spark of excitement up her body.

She feels Vi's hand grip at her hair as Caitlyn brings a hand up to clutch Vi's locks, the other tugging at her tank top as she tries pulling her closer, shuffling until Vi's positioned atop of her in the bed- everything's all so dizzying and so overwhelming in all the right ways.
When Vi rolls into her Caitlyn moans; and suddenly she realizes she has one more thing on her mind that needs to be talked about- she forces herself to pull away from Vi while the woman chases after her lips with a whine.

Caitlyn holds her back teasingly by tugging her hair, and she hears Vi give a small sound at the contact as their hot breaths panted against each other.

"Vi," Caitlyn swallows as she hears how low her voice comes out, "Before we go any further, I need to know-

what are we now?"

She sees Vi blink the question, as her messed hair falls slightly into her face.

"We're more," Vi says, and it makes Caitlyn's heart swell.

"But, as far as labels go...

I really wanna be your girlfriend."

Caitlyn giggles from the absolute joy and giddy that answer gives her, as she presses a chaste kiss against Vi's lips and feels the way their both smiling against eachother.

"I'd love to call you my girlfriend, Vi. As long as you want me to be yours."

"There's nothing I want more."

As soon as Vi's says the words she crashes her lips back into Caitlyn's, so many new feelings overtake in top of the the absolute glee, the relief, the want and the need; as Cait tightens her grip on Vi's short locks and runs her hands through them as their tongues reconnect and she feels Vi- her girlfriend, Vi- give a pleased noise against her.

"We're at war," She mumbles against Vi's mouth when she moves to nip at the scar on her lip, "The world is going to be against us."

"Don't care," Vi rasps as she guides her hands over Caitlyn's ribcage through her nightgown and Cait gives a moan through her teeth as she nibbles at Vi's bottom lip,

"There's no way I'm letting anything stop this."

"Vi?"

"Yes?"

"Ruin me."

In an instant Vi's lips crash against hers as Cait feels herself being oushed into the mattress and Vi rolls against her once again, as she presses her hips against Vi's pelvis to match her rhythm and suddenly their kiss becomes so passionately charged Caitlyn feels like she's going to scream as Vi's tongue fights fiercely against hers, before she feels her suck on her tongue which elicits a downright sinful moan from the both of them.

"Fuck,Vi..."

Vi growls slightly against her and in a split second she moves to Caitlyn's neck, licking and sucking as she gasps at the sensation.

"D-don't leave any hickies- OH!" Vi bites down hard as she gives a throaty moan that has a downright embarrassing effect on Caitlyn's body.

She slowy brings her own hand up Vi's stomach, reaching her ribs before she gives a small squeeze to Vi's breast and she whines and leans into the touch deliciously.

"You like that, darling?"

"Please keep touching me," she whines against Caitlyn's neck and that certainly does something to her as she snakes her hand under Vi's shirt, happily obliging.

As Vi gives a rough, raspy moan she continues to go to work with her tongue on Caitlyn's neck she mewls and gives Vi's breast a particularly tight squeeze as she gives a sharp breath and the roll of their bodies starts to lose it's rhythm and becomes more frantic.

"Vi, please-" A bite. "Mmghh~"

"Please what, Cupcake?"

Not offering a verbal response, she yanks Vi's hair to bring her back up to her lips and her tongue is immediately back in hers and it's all too much, it's not enough as the two pour months worth of yearning and want as she whimpers and she feels Vi's hands reach her back as she goes to work on the strings of the knot that ties her nightgown.

"F-fuck I wish I'd let us have this talk sooner..."

Vi gives a husked laugh as she pulls away only slightly, "It was so worth the wait," A small nip to Cait's lip, "I've dreamt about this for ages." Her lips ghost over Caitlyn's as she speaks, "This is even better than I've ever imagined- fuck, girlfriends. I get to wake up to my smoking hot girlfriend tomorrow!"

The roll of their hips falter at Vi's distraction, even though Caitlyn misses the sensation she can't help but give a breathy laugh as she meets Vi's lustful, wanting, loving gaze.

She was horny, Vi was horny, and somehow Vi made it feel wholesome.

Fuck, she loved Vi so much.

She might not be ready for those words yet though.

"To think, I thought I was the only one dreaming...

You know, I had to hold myself back at the bar."

Vi presses another brief but heated kiss to Caitlyn's lips before she responds, "How so?"

Caitlyn swallows thickly, "I wanted nothing more than to rip that hoodie off of you and let you have your way with me."

She doesn't miss how Vi bites her lip as she hums, and the way her gaze darkens as Caitlyn gasps at the feeling of the knot at her back being fully undone.

"You're in luck this time, Cupcake."

Her nightgown is snagged off.

We have all night long~"

All night long, they certainly had.

That night, they'd both get the best night's sleep that they'd had in months.
Wrapped in each other's arms, whispering sweet nothings before drifting off to sleep; clothing discarded and scattered across the floor.

Chapter Text

When morning comes the next day, getting out of bed is harder than it ever had been before- the second hardest thing for Caitlyn that morning was getting ready for work- but only because Vi won't keep her hands off of her, not that she's complaining.

It's just before sunrise, and although it's not their first time getting ready for work together, it certainly feels different now.

"I look like a leapard." She says half jokingly as she examines herself in her bedroom mirror- even in the dim lighting she sees the dark red marks covering her neck and chest, and she hears Vi snicker from beside her as Cait sees her buttoning her uniform in the mirror.

"I didn't hear any complaints last night, Cupcake."

"I'm pretty sure I asked you to leave no marks," She says without any real offence, as she finds concealer in her dresser that she hasn't used in months, as there's really no reason or time for her to do her makeup these days- not during a war.

"I dunno, I think maybe your begging gave me the wrong idea."

"Oh, shush!" She swats Vi (her girlfriend!!) away playfully as Vi laughs, before she starts dabbing the concealer into the crimson spots on her skin.

As she's concentrating she gets momentarily distracted, and after a moment she glaces at Vi still who's standing behind her in her mirror who has a proud grin on her face.

"I'm totally gonna make you have to do that every day from now on."

Caitlyn feigns annoyance as she rolls her eyes with a smile, "Only if you start buying my concealer."

"Deal."

As she finishes covering herself up she notices Vi fidgeting, rolling back and forth on her heels as the giddy grin remains on her face.

She giggles at the sight, "Violet? Are you alright-"

"You're my girlfriend!!"

Suddenly she feels strong arms wrap around her waist in a tight hug as she laughs, "Violet! You made me get concealer in my hair!" But she feels no real annoyance, bringing her hand back to lovingly rub her girlfriend's pink hair.

"M'sorry," Vi says, as she steps on her tiptoes to give her Cait a kiss in the back of her neck and the feeling sends shivers down Caitlyn's spine- when Vi notices she presses her lips against again, lingering there as Cait gives a pleased sigh.

"Vi...

We have to go to work."

Vi groans in frustration, "What time is it?"

"About five thirty.

"We have thirty minutes~"

"The walk takes twenty of them."

"We've been late before."

"Vi, I want nothing more than for you to make me late," Caitlyn turns around and Vi keeps her arms held around her waist, "But I'm Sheriff and I never heard the end of it last time I was late..." She places a chaste kiss to Vi's lips, going out of her way to give a light bite to the scar above them- it had become a habit for her since last night.

"Ughh, well don't do that if you don't want me to pin you against a wall.

Caitlyn giggles, "Sorry.

Are you finished getting dressed?"

"Nope."

Cait snorts. "Well then do that, silly."

"Yes ma'am." Vi says as she presses a brief, wanting kiss to Caitlyn's lips as she sighs into it, immediately longing for it back when Vi pulls away-

But, they chose eachother during a war.

And duty calls, as much as she wishes it didn't.

As Vi shuffles herself into her boots Caitlyn tucks stray hair into her ponytail before, they grab their supplies and share one last kiss before they make their way out the front door.

"Ugh, today's gonna be so long without you." She hears Vi mutter sadly.

"I know, love."

She holds Vi's hand, stroking her thumb over the top of it as they walk as she feels her give a tight squeeze back.

They don't let go until they get to their shifts.

________________

"Vi, look out!!"

Caitlyn screeches as Vi narrowly dodges a bullet that had been aimed at her chest- it was close.

Too close.

This was their fourth fight that day- two Zaunite attacks, one petty riot in the streets of Piltover, and now the Topsiders invading a newfound base absolutely filled with Jinx's gangs members.

It was her first fight actually at Vi's side today as well- they'd been put on separate shifts most of the day, only seeing eachother at a distance. During the chaos, she can't help but feel a small glimmer of happiness to be next to Vi again for the first time that morning, but she wishes it was under better circumstances.

"Fuck off!!" Caitlyn cries at a hoverbike user hurling toward her, as she shoots a direct hit into it's motor before Vi punches the culprit down.

They're surrounded by their team as well as backup Enforcers, and everything is a blur of bullets, punches, stabs, blue paint, blood-

"They're using Firelight bikes!" She hears Vi scream over as she turns her head to see her examining the vehicle she had just punched down.

Caitlyn takes a shot at an incoming gang member, "I've noticed!"
She turns, taking another shot behind her.

"How long ago?!"

Shit.

Vi blocks a bullet with her gaunlets that was aimed at Cait's back, "I've had my suspicions," she grunts out as she kicks the stomach of a culprit who hurls himself at her with a knife, as she lands a shot to his chest- "I didn't want to say anything in case I was wrong!"

"SHIT- do you think Ekko's involved?"

She barely hears Vi's voice shouting desperately over the sounds of the field but the question makes her feel as if she did take a bullet to the chest- Vi didn't need any more hurt.

"I don't know-

BEHIND YOU!"

She shrieks the words out as a string of bullets are aimed at Vi's back- in a split second she guards herself with her gauntlets, thank fuck, as Cait wastes no time pinpointing the shooter as she lands her own shots on them.

Just as she does so, there's a sudden wave of what Caitlyn can only describe as wails coming from the Zaunites, as she whips her head around to assess the battlefield-

Zaunites are fleeing, some simply scampering away- the hideout was losing in numbers, and it appears they had just shot down the gangs best shooter.

But the ones that don't flee attack at all angles, and even though their numbers were significantly smaller than the Enforcers now they fought hard.

As Cait shoots at a target that tries to sneak behind another Enforcer with a knife, before whipping around to dodge a string of attacks attempted at her- the weapon being some sort of brass knuckles covered in something that looked adjacent to claws- that was new.

She slams the bottom of her gun down to swios against his legs, knocking him over but crying out in the process as he manages to slice her leg during the action- Vi hears and she's on the offender in an instant, taking him out within no time.

"Are you hurt?!"

"Only a scratch!" She should back over her own bulket shots at another member that had started to overpower one of her teammates just in the nick of time- she could tell the cut wasn't deep but it stung like hell.

As she lands the shot there's only a handful of Zaunites left- before a shrieked "RETREAT!!" could be heard over the noise, and all at once the last few offenders start struggling to get away.

"Sheriff! Do we shoot?!"

An Enforcer shouts the question, as Caitlyn lowers her gun.

"No. Save your ammo, but keep your weapons loaded and ready in any case they come back."

In an instant the battle goes from exhaustingly prolonged to suddenly over- as Caitlyn practically collapses over as she relies on her gun for support, and she orders parts of the team to begin searching the hideout.

Afterwards, she lets herself sit on the dirty ground as she tries to catch her breath.

"Fuck," She hears Vi spit through though her exhaustion, as she removes one of her gauntlets to wipe sweat under her hair on her forehead.

Today has been their longest shift yet- that morning until now, late evening with no breaks in between.

The fights had been ruthless.

"Are you alright?" Cait pants, as she tries to lift her hand up to move hair out of her face and she suddenly realizes how heavy her limbs feel.

"Yeah." Vi says, plopping herself down next to Cait as she can hear her own winded breaths- but there's something more to her body language, almost like disappointment.

"I just wanna go home.

Today was shit."

Caitlyn couldn't agree more.

________________________________

"Why didn't you tell me you knew about the Firelights bikes?"

Vi's question comes out quietly when they return home and start changing in their bathroom- she'd been excruciatingly quiet the entire walk home, and even though Caitlyn's glad she's talking to her again the question lands painfully on her chest.

"I didn't know.

I only suspected it."

"You investigated, didn't you?"

"...How did you know?"

"That's what you normally do when you suspect." Vi murmurs as she begins removing her uniform jacket, "Just wish you wouldn't go by yourself."

"I know.

I'm sorry."

Vi stays uncharacteristically quiet as she removes her boots- she's clearly not happy with her, but she always has at least something to say.

"Vi?"

"I'm ok, I just-" Vi says as she runs her hand through her short hair. "I just- if Ekko's involved, Cait.

I don't know what I'm gonna do."

"I know, darling." Her heart aches as she almost as much as her sore body as she moves to cup Vi's face, as she shorter girl looks up at her with tired eyes.

"Whatever happens... It'll be alright."

Vi drops her gaze as she moves her hand atop hers, "Yeah.

I know."

As they finish changing out of their uniforms and Cait stands in her underwear she feels slightly vulnerable and she feels Vi studying her- both appreciatively and also examining her injuries. But fuck, she looks so hot in her sports bra...

"How does your leg feel?"

Caitlyn glances at her shin, grimacing when she sees the red stripe across it.

"It's not deep. It just hurts- shit, I need to get cleaned up."

Besides the scratch her body is covered with streaks of dirt stains and scrapes- they normally got messed after battle, but fighting in the dirt in the underground certainly didn't help- besides the bruises covering Vi's body, she's stained with even more dirt.

She hears Vi snort, "Somehow I got mud in my hair..." She glances over to see Vi reaching for the tub faucet, turning it in to the hot side as the bath begins to fill with water.

"A bath this time?"

Vi hums. "It felt like I nice idea."

"Oh, it definitely is." Caitlyn says, shivering slightly as suddenly the warm water of the tub sounds wonderful.

"I'm glad," Vi says as she removes her sports bra, leaving Cait to stare at Vi with a thick swallow- she had just seen Vi's body like this last night.

(Not that she was going to get over it anytime soon.)

But what she didn't see last night was-

"Your nipples are pierced?!"

Her question comes with just as much excitement as confusion as her girlfriend snorts.

"I like how your eyes immediately went to the nips."

"They looked at me first. And I didn't notice any piercings last night."

"Yeah well, I normally take them out when I get ready for bed. Don't wanna be stabbed in the boob when I'm trying to sleep."

Caitlyn snorts as Vi continues, "You like 'em?"

She jokingly raises her hands over her head as she lets her breasts bounce with her, and Caitlyn can't help the flush that covers her cheeks.

"Yes."

Vi chuckles at Cait's reaction as she moves to take off her underwear as well, before stepping in the tub.

"C'mon, Cupcake!"

As Vi sits down she opens her arms, and Cait giggles lightly before removing her bra- not missing how Vi's gaze drops and her mouth goes agape.

Proud of the reaction, she finishes undressing and she steps in the tub, arms reaching out to Vi as they lay chest to chest as the tub fills with water; the warmth of Vi's skin against hers mixed with the pleasent sting of the warm water feeling absolutely wonderful on her skin.

She lets herself sink into Vi as the bath water slowly rises, as she feels Vi's hand begin to play with her hair.

"I missed you today," Caitlyn murmurs, as she hears Vi hum and it vibrates nicely under Caitlyn's ear.

"Being sperated from you fuckin sucks now... I mean, it always has but now it's just more."

She sighs against Vi's skin- it wasn't the first time the word more felt bittersweet.

"I know, darling."
They fall into a silence with nothing but the flow of the water disrupting the quiet, as Cait registers again the heaviness of her eyes, and they way she could so easily find sleep in this moment.

Moments like this, she could almost forget about the war.

About their responsibilities.

She feels Vi sigh under her as well, but after a moment she realizes the sigh was slightly more strained as less relaxed.

"I can't lose another sibling."

Vi's voice comes so quiet she almost doesn't hear it, but Cait picks her head up to look up at Vi but her gaze is unfocused, staring in front of her at the bathroom tile as if her thoughts have fully taken over her mind.

"Are you thinking about the Firelights?"

Vi gives a small nod and Caitlyn wishes she knew what to say.

"I can't fight Ekko in the same way I can't fight Jinx."

They'd had this talk so long ago, that Vi was willing to take down any criminal she was asked to but not Jinx, never Jinx if it ever came to that- while Caitlyn had been cynical of the words back then, she knew Vi now and the way she blames herself- the way she yearns to protect as if her life depends on it.

"I know, darling. But there's no guarantee that's what's happening."

Finally Vi looks at her, "Yeah. I just, have a feeling... I dunno."

"Do you think maybe they're friends?

Ekko and your sister?"

Vi swallows, "I could see that. They used to be so close...

I just, could definitely see Ekko supplying her. If she asked for it."

Caitlyn feels her chest hurt as she reaches a hand to Vi's face, caressing it as she moves stray hairs out of the way.

Vi leans into the the touch, her eyes closing as Caitlyn realizes she's probably just as tired as she is- in that moment she just wants to kiss Vi, to hold her, to tell her she loves her, and that everything will be alright-

She could do the first two things easy, as for the third... She felt it wasn't the best time yet.

She settles for the last one.

"Whatever happens sweetheart, it'll be alright in the end. And whatever may or may not be happening with Ekko..." She trails off for a moment, listening to the vague 'thumps' of Vi's heartbeat- she wants to go into details of her talk with Ekko, she really does- but would that really put Vi's mind at ease..?

Probably not.

"He's a good kid. I don't believe he would ever have ill intentions.

But for now, I think it's best you don't overthink on it. We should finish cleaning ourselves up before sleep."

Vi offers a small smile, as silently for the next few minutes they rub shampoo into the others hair, before scrubbing dirt stains off their skin with soap and washrags and by the time they finish the water is brown.

Vi snorts at the face Caitlyn makes at the water, "Don't worry Cupcake, you weren't that grimy. Pretty sure most of that came from me."

Caitlyn gives a chuckle back as she jokingly swats Vi with her towel, before she starts to rub it in into her damp, short hair to dry it for her as Vi gives a pleased hum.

When Cait finishes (It doesn't take long to dry Vi's hair considering the length) Vi returns the favor, rubbing the towel into her dark hair.

As Vi does so she finds herself staring at her face- her girlfriends face!!- revelling in every detail as Vi gives her a peck on the lips when she notices.

They don't bother putting any clothes on when they join echother in bed, as Caitlyn marvels at the feeling of her soft bed combined with the feeling of being in Vi's arms as she spoons her and it's even better than she'd imagined it'd be.

"Cupcake?"

She hears the tired mumble as they drift off to sleep.

"Yes, darling?"

"I'm gonna pin you against the mattress in the morning," A yawn, "I'm too tired right now."

Caitlyn snorts out a laugh as she turns around to respond to Vi- she's already fast asleep.

Cait gives a quiet laugh as she puts an arm around Vi to pull her closer, and within moments sleep finds her as well.

Some things were still bittersweet.

The promise of falling asleep with her girlfriend like this every night wasn't.

Chapter Text

It was a crisp, foggy morning.

The wind blew ever so lightly, and it feels as if the only sound in the world right then is the trickle of water coming from Caitlyn's bedroom balcony as she pours herself a cup of warm herbal tea.

The harshness of war had made the world quiet.

Idly, she brings a hand up to the red splotch on the back of her neck-

Most of the city was quiet these days.

Caitlyn's bedroom was an exception.

She plops five sugar cubes into one of the mugs as she hears footsteps coming from her bedroom behind her, before she feels her hand being squeezed as Vi presses a kiss to her temple.

"Morning, Cupcake."

"Good morning, love."

Vi gives a thanks as she sips at her tea, leaning against the balcony. "When's our first shift?"

"In about an hour," She joins next to Vi, letting their shoulders rest against eachother. "When the sun starts to rise."

Vi hums, leaning slightly into Caitlyn's shoulder.

A nice warmth spreads to Caitlyn's cheeks as a content smile makes it's way to her face.

Just a couple months ago her and Vi would have mornings just like this one- as Sheriff and deputy, as parters, as something more than friends but just barely, tiptoeing around the other and testing little boundaries.

And now they were still here- everything was the same.

Piltover would never be the same, neither would Zaun, neither would the other nations, nothing would be spared in the chaotic painful mess that was the war they fought for daily, everything was the same as it had been those short months ago but not them.

It almost felt like a little miracle, the fact that she could find genuine happiness and peace the way she finds it with Vi.

Everything was the same, but it felt so different.

Different in a way that feels like thunder crashing, fireworks exploding, a sunray shining warmly, the patter of rain that sends pleasant chills on a foggy night and the sound of a violin playing peacefully in a field of flowers all at the same time.

And somehow, it feels like a piece of heaven.

She'd doesn't realize she's been staring at Vi until she stares back, the morning dew sticking to her skin beautifully as light blue eyes appear storm grey in the morning darkness.

Vi arches her brow in question which quickly turns to both brows being raised as she seems to notice the way Cait's eyes gloss over, and before Vi can question she closes the distance between them to share a warm, slow kiss.

Vi hums into it, a hand coming up to stroke Caitlyn's hair as she feels herself begin to melt to the touch.
She pulls away only slightly, letting her breath ghost over Vi's lips as she speaks.

"I love you, Violet."

She hears the way Vi's breath hitches in her throat, sees the way her own eyes start to water and the gap of nervousness in Caitlyn's chest becomes filled with warmth.

"I've loved you for so long."

Vi closes the distance this time, crashing their lips together as she moves their lips in tandem and moves her hand to Caitlyn's face to change the angle slightly and she absolutely marvels at the way Vi's touch feels, the way it's so gentle and caring for her- the same hands that fight so hard in the field, the same hands that had felt so much violence were so vulnerable for Caitlyn in a way Vi never once showed anyone but her.

She pulls away to murmur against Caitlyn's lips, "I love you so much, Cupcake...

You have no idea how much I've wanted to tell you that."

A happy sob escapes Caitlyn's mouth as pure glee finds itself surging through her chest and the distance is closed again and even though they've kissed like this before it feels like so much more now as they whisper sweet words of admiration in between the movement of their lips.

When she suddenly feels Vi's hand move from her hip to grab her butt she gasps into Vi's mouth as her girlfriend chuckles against her,

"Fuck, I love you...

How long until the meeting again?"

Caitlyn gives a breathy laugh, "Fourty minutes?"

"We have time."

Vi says simply, as Caitlyn gives a happy squeak as she feels herself being carried back to their bed- they were fully changed and ready for work but she can't bring herself to care.

Things would surely be hard at times, and at other times it would be bittersweet.

But in the end they'd hold eachother delicately in each other's arms, as if taking care of a single intricate violet petal or protecting a beautifully decorated cupcake so as not to ruin the artistry.

Even if they had to fight for this war forever, they'd fight for eachother longer.