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The sun is now high, but in the gloomy dungeons of the capital where Vi, Caitlyn, Mel, and Jayce had been discussing what to do to stop Ambessa and Viktor, the light could not reach them; as if it were a foretaste of the ominous events that would happen shortly thereafter.
The Councilor and the Scientist had been gone for a couple of minutes, leaving the two women alone. Sitting at the table, Vi watched thoughtfully at Caitlyn, who with her arms in tension and palms resting on the table stared at the model of the Hexgates with her typical analytical gaze.
“If you keep looking at it so hard, you will break it.” Vi told her wryly, managing to crack a hint of a smile from Caitlyn.
Turning toward Vi, Caitlyn's expression softened, but it was short-lived. “It's all my fault.” She said, darkening again and returning to stare at the model as in search of answers. “I let Ambessa manipulate me. I allowed her to take power in Piltover.” She gritted her teeth. “My city!” She hit the table hard with her fist. “And now we are all in danger,” she looked at Vi, anger giving way to fear. “You are in danger.”
Vi understood very well how she felt; she too was afraid of losing Caitlyn as she had lost everyone else she loved. She stood up and squeezed the hand with which Caitlyn had hit the table.
“We will face together all the shit that will come to us.” Vi said firmly. With her free hand she cupped Caitlyn's cheek. “I'm with you in this fight, Cait.”
Caityln closed her eyes and rested against her palm, basking in the warmth that only Vi's touch could give her. She squeezed Vi's hand and kissed her back tenderly, drawing hope and courage from Vi's steely gaze fixed on her.
“I promised you I wouldn't change,” Caitlyn lowered her gaze, guilt oozing in her every word. “But inside me I knew it was a lie. I was already changed, devoured by hatred and anger,” she looked up at Vi again. ”And unfairly I poured it all out on you. I'm so sorry, Vi.” She said, with a lump in her throat.
“Cait,” Vi cupped her cheeks. “You had just lost your mother-”
Caitlyn shook her head, stopping her. “Please, don't try to justify my actions,” she said, eyes shining with tears that threatened to fall. “I hurt you in many ways.” With her hand she brushed where months earlier she had hit Vi with the rifle. “You had lost everything, yet your heart has remained good.”
“You make me sound better than I am.” Vi huffed out a short laugh. “I'll never be a saint, no way.”
Caitlyn rested her forehead against Vi's. “I wish you could see yourself with my eyes. See how special you are, Vi.” She whispered.
Vi brushed her nose with Caitlyn's, smiling shyly. It was strange for Vi to hear her name spoken with such devotion; she wondered if she deserved it, but Caitlyn kept looking at her in a way that made Vi's heart hammer in her chest, making it impossible for her to think.
“I made many wrong choices without you, Vi. But I promise. I will do everything, everything to make up for my actions, and even if it doesn't do any good, I won't stop trying. I promise you, with all my heart.” Caitlyn hugged her and whispered in her ear. “Heart, which belongs to you and only you, Violet.”
Vi smiled into the embrace, burying her face in her shoulder. “Mine to you, Caitlyn.” Then she lifted her face and kissed her.
They parted only when they needed to catch their breath, smiling and stealing short kisses from each other. For a few glorious minutes they forgot about the world and what they would face.
After one last kiss to Vi, Caitlyn sighed, bringing them both back to reality. “I have to organize the task force that will go with me to stop Viktor.” She said, lingering a little longer in Vi's arms.
“With us, you mean.” Vi retorted. Caitlyn sighed again, fingers pressed to her forehead. Vi frowned. “Cait, what's going on?”
“You are not going with me.” Caitlyn said it all in one breath, hoping it would be easier that way. It wasn't, and neither was it easy to watch Vi's face go from bewildered to furious.
“What?” Vi exclaimed, stepping back; her hot head taking over after that sweet moment. “What do you mean I won't go with you?” She rested her hands on the hips.
Caitlyn ran a hand through her hair, she had imagined her reaction. “Exactly what I said.” She said firmly. “You will protect the Hexgates with Loris and the Enforcers.”
“Is that an order?” Vi asked, clenching her jaw.
“No,” Caitlyn hastened to answer. “No,” she shook her head, stepping forward to take her hands. “Vi-”
“How can I protect you if I won't be with you?” Vi's gaze softened, filling with despair. “I can't lose you too, Cait.”
In those blue-gray eyes Caitlyn could read all of Vi's fears and vulnerabilities, a side of herself that she showed only to a few. Caitlyn loved her for that too, her wanting to protect the people she loved at all costs was Vi's greatest virtue, but also her fatal flaw.
Caitlyn stroked Vi's cheek. “I don't want that to happen either,” she flashed her a small smile to try to lighten the moment. “I have every intention of returning to you when the battle is over. You wouldn't get rid of me so easily.”
She would make no empty promises to her; Caitlyn had no certainty that she would succeed, but of one thing she was certain, she would fight with all her might to stop Ambessa and return to Vi.
“Then let me go with you.” Vi replied stubbornly, squeezing Caitlyn's hand tighter.
“Vi,” Caitlyn closed her eyes, holding back an exasperated sigh. “Ambessa will want revenge on you for defeating her at the sanctuary.” Caitlyn knew this was so, there was no worse dishonor for someone like Ambessa. “Your father killed Rictus, her most loyal ally,” she looked at her worriedly. “She wants you dead!”
In response Vi snorted. “Instead, you who betrayed her will get better treatment?” She arched a cheeky eyebrow. “Don't talk bullshit! She wants us both dead, but she'll have to deal with my fists if she tries.” She affirmed with a low growl.
“You don't know her,” Caitlyn said fervently, taking Vi's face in her hands. “That day we took her by surprise. That will not be the case this time, Ambessa will be prepared and she will have her whole army with her.”
Vi was about to retort by saying something colorful about Ambessa and where she could shove her army, but Caitlyn anticipated her.
“I know how she thinks. I spent months training with her, that woman would have no mercy for her own daughter if Mel stood between her and her purpose.” She affirmed with certainty.
“All the more reason I cannot let you face her alone!”
“I will not be alone, I will have my task force watching my back.”
“Yeah, I'm sure Maddie will be watching your back carefully,” Vi let out a wry huff. “Or rather your ass.”
Caitlyn could not hold back a small, amused smile. “I'm serious, Vi,” she said, no longer smiling and with a deadly serious expression. “If I have to face Ambessa, you don't have to be there.”
“Why?” Vi threw her hands in the air.
“Because she knows me!” Caitlyn answered her almost shouting. “She knows how important you are to me, she would use that to her advantage. I am willing to sacrifice everything to stop her,” at those words Vi was about to protest; Caitlyn continued. “But not you.” She rested her forehead against Vi's. “If Ambessa catches you, I would no longer be able to think straight. So please, please do as I ask.” She gave her a small kiss, their lips just brushing.
Caitlyn was not a fool, she knew that no place would be safe with the arrival of the Noxians, but she had to try to do what she could to prevent Ambessa from getting her hands on Vi and take revenge for her betrayal. Knowing her defending the Hexgates was little consolation for Caitlyn, but Vi was a skilled fighter, she could, she had to survive that battle. Just the thought of losing Vi after just having her back paralyzed her; if she lost her for real, her heart would not hold up.
“If me and my task force fail-”
“Cait,”
“If we fail, you and the other Enforcers must continue to fight.”
A battle was raging in Vi's mind. She wanted to face Ambessa and make her pay for everything she had done, but on the other hand she knew Caitlyn was right. If the Noxian managed to capture one of them, they would give her a huge advantage.
What would she do if she had to choose between setting off the bomb that would stop Viktor, or saving Caitlyn's life? Vi had no doubt, she would choose Caitlyn. And what would happen next? If Viktor reached the Hexgates it would be over for everyone, and all the efforts made up to that point would be for nothing.
They had already sacrificed so much. She thought of Vander and Isha, a lump rose in her throat. Then she thought of her sister; Vi did not know where she was, or what she was doing, but they had to stop Ambessa and Viktor for Jinx too, or there would be no place for her sister to live.
“Just promise me one more thing.” Vi said, after thinking about it and making a decision.
“Anything.” Caitlyn answered her without hesitation.
“If you have to face Ambessa, kick her Noxian ass, okay?” Vi asked her, with a half grin.
Caitlyn smiled at her. “I will.” She nodded.
“Good,” Vi pushed Caitlyn back by her hips until she bumped against the table. “Defeat her. Come back to me.” She said firmly, looking into her blue eyes. “I'll give you a little incentive.” She smirked slyly.
“I have more than incentiv-” Caitlyn could not finish the sentence because Vi shushed her with her lips.
A thirsty, messy kiss, to which Caitlyn responded with equal eagerness. A kiss that held more than one meaning, full of fears about what they were facing, but also full of hope and the promise of a new life. A life together.
When they parted, Caitlyn laughed softly. “I admit, you can be very convincing.” She said short of breath and pleasantly dazed.
Vi smiled smugly. "I know." She winked at her.
Caitlyn was sorely tempted to resume the kiss, but after a glance at the clock hanging on the wall, she forced herself not to. “Now we really have to go. We're running out of time.”
Vi nodded. “Yeah, we could use a little more time.” She kissed the back of her hand. “Even just a few more seconds wouldn't be bad.” She smiled a little sadly.
They walked toward the dungeon exit. “I just would like to rest, be with you in our bed and stay there for days.” Caitlyn sighed, expressing her wish out loud; knowing that there was still much to be done before that could happen.
“Our bed?” Vi asked her with a raised eyebrow.
Caitlyn stopped and took her hand. “Yes, ours.” She tilted her head, smiling for Vi's surprised face. “By now you're stuck with me, Love.”
Vi felt a silly smile spread on her face, a smile she hoped no one else would ever see except Caitlyn, or else her badass reputation would be shattered.
Vi put a hand on the back of Caitlyn's head and pulled her to herself for a short, intense kiss. “I wouldn't want to be stuck with anyone but you, Cupcake.”
“I'm not a mongoose anymore?” Caitlyn asked, arching the corner of her mouth in a teasing smirk.
“Nah,” Vi chuckled softly. “You're too sweet.”