Helping Piltover
After a long walk, they finally made to Zaun. They all collapsed before entering the city. Thankfully, Ekko and other Zaunites that were close by helped all three of them.
Caitlyn woke up to see Vi beside her on another bed and Jayce sitting down on a chair asleep on her other side. Vi was covered in bandages. This made Caitlyn emotional and started crying silently. The low noise still woke up Jayce and he ran towards Caitlyn kneeling on her side and grabbing her hand. “Hey Cait, how are you feeling?” “I’m alright Jayce, how is she?” She asked “I’m going to be honest with you,” Jayce sighed “she not ok. She got multiple wounds and has many broken bones that will take a long time to heal. But she’ll be fine.” He said tightening his grip on Caitlyn’s hand.
There was a knock on the door. “Come in” said Jayce. Claggor entered “hey Caitlyn lord Talis, I hope you’re doing alright, but Vander would like to talk to both of you.” Caitlyn slowly got up from the bed with the help of Jayce. She leaned to kiss Vi’s forehead and whispered “I’ll be right back” then headed out with Jayce following Claggor.
She entered a room were there was a lot of people gathered around a table. “Caitlyn I’m glad you’re awake” said Vander. Isha ran to hug Caitlyn’s leg making Caitlyn smile. “Thank you for your hospitality, I heard you wanted to talk to me and Jayce?” “Ah yes please take a seat.” Caitlyn sat down with Jayce “We’ve heard that Piltover was invaded by Noxus and for the looks of it, it seems they’re also marching this way.” “That seems correct” replied Jayce. “Well we have to do something about that” suggested Silco. “Yes we do. We’ll gather as much people as we can to defend Zaun and try to help Piltover” “I can get a few firelights up at Piltover” said Ekko. “Thank you Ekko.” “I can talk to the chembarons to provide me with some of their people.” Said Silco raising from his chair. “I can convince some people from my commune to join too and we we can provide some weapons and barricade the entrances of the city.” said a slim man with a cane “Alright then, let’s go Viktor, we’ve got work to do and people to gather.” Said Silco heading out “thank you brother.” Vander waved at Silco.
“Me, Sevika and some other friends will head to Piltover to help too.” “I’m going with you too” “No Powder, you’re not going” “why not!? I’ll burn the Noxians down!” Vander knew that he couldn’t change Jinx’s mind. “Fine you’re going but you stick to me ok?” “Yes I will.” “Alright tomorrow we’ll head out, so go rest.” Everyone left leaving Vander, Caitlyn and Jayce alone in the room.
“Sir, thank you for everything you’re doing I promise we’ll pay you back.” Said Jayce “don’t worry about that, we’re all in danger we must help” “We still have to repay somehow” said Caitlyn. “Don’t worry about that right now, but I do need to ask you for a favor.” “Yes what is it?” Vander sighed “while I’m gone, please take care of Vi and Isha” “yes sir I will, I promise”
Night had fallen, and Caitlyn lay wide awake, unable to sleep. A tight knot formed in her throat, and she was overwhelmed by the urge to cry out, to release the scream building within her. The loss of her mother hung heavy on her heart, the uncertainty of her father's fate added a tormenting layer of anguish and the promise to protect Vi overwhelmed her. Desperate, she stepped outside into the cool, calming embrace of the night air, seeking a moment from her overwhelming grief.
Outside it was quiet no one soul was seen around. She sat down on the ground with her knees on her chest. She covered her ears with her hands and started crying quietly to release some of that pain.
She felt someone sitting beside her. She looked to her side to see Powder holding a blue handkerchief. “Here” she offered to Caitlyn. She grabbed and cleaned her tears. “Thank you, I’m sorry you have to see me like this.” Caitlyn tried to compose herself “you know, it’s ok to cry. Just because you’re a princess doesn’t mean you don’t have feelings.” Caitlyn sobbed quietly. “I’m sorry, I couldn’t keep the promise of protecting your sister”
Jinx patted on Caitlyn’s back, “it’s alright, you did protect her, when you were asleep she woke up and told me she could hear you fighting the Noxians and she could feel you dragging her. And plus, you brought her here, I think that counts as protecting.”
Powder smiled, making Caitlyn feel better. “Tomorrow I’m heading with Vander and the others to Piltover, could I ask for a favor?” “Yes what is it?” “Please protect Isha and Vi, they’re my world.” “I promise” said Caitlyn. “Alright then I should get some rest. Tomorrow I’m burning down some camps. You should rest too.” Both girls got up. “By the way, that’s Vi’s handkerchief. It used to be red but she changed it to a blue one. I think you know why.” Caitlyn looked at the blue handkerchief on her hands “alright see you around.” Powder waved goodbye. “Good night Jinx.”
The next day, Jayce woke Caitlyn up. “Hey, little bird, I’m leaving.” “Wait what?” “Yes Cait, I’m going with them, I have to help.” Caitlyn was holding back her tears “Jayce, please be careful” “I’ll be careful, I promise” he held his index finger and smiled. Caitlyn touched his index with her index finger “I’ll come back, I promise” Caitlyn hugged him tightly before he left with his hammer.
She could see many people gathered outside being lead by Vander and his brother Silco. Once they left Caitlyn was left alone with her thoughts. She heard the door open. When she turned around she saw Isha standing by the door. “Hey Isha, come here.” The little girl walked towards Vi to see her. “She’ll get better, she’s very strong” said Caitlyn putting her hand on Isha’s head. “Wanna help me change her bandages?” Isha nodded “alright then let’s go”
Slowly, Caitlyn woke Vi up. “Hey” said Vi “hey, I need to change your bandages” “alright, hey Isha what are you doing here? Why aren’t you with Powder?” Isha looked at Caitlyn “Vi” she sighed “your father and his brother gathered some people to go to Piltover and help, Jinx was one of them” “what? What do you mean?” Vi felt her abdomen burning but she didn’t care and started getting up. “No Vi don’t” Caitlyn grabbed Vi by the shoulders to make her lay down again “Caitlyn move please” “Vi, no” Isha grabbed Vi’s hand and smiled. “Vi, please lay back down look you’re bleeding.” Vi gave up the pain was too much.
Caitlyn grabbed some clean bandages and rolled up Vi’s shirt. She had opened her stitches and was bleeding. With the help of Isha, Caitlyn was able to replace the bandages. “Im going to need you to sit down very slowly to clean your back wounds. Isha would you please get me clean water?” Isha nodded and left for clean water.
“I’m going to need for you to remove your shirt. I’ll turn around.” Caitlyn turned around and Vi started to remove her shirt “take your time.” “There, it’s off, you can turn around” Caitlyn turned around and saw her back. She had a tattoo that covered her whole back.
The tattoo design was a very detailed, symmetrical, mechanical figure resembling gears. It was black with some grey accents. The central part of the tattoo features was a large circular element with radiating lines and mechanical components, giving the impression of a core. Surrounding the center various gears, pistons, and other mechanical parts. The arms extend outward, composed of segmented, mechanical structures with additional gears and components.
Caitlyn was amazed by the tattoo but before she could as, Isha came back with some water and handed to Caitlyn “thank you, would you get me some more bandages please?” Isha nodded and left again.
Caitlyn got a clean cloth, dipped into the water and started cleaning Vi’s back. She could hear Vi crying quietly. “Hey, it’s alright” said Caitlyn. “No Cait, it’s not. I should be there with them, fighting.” Caitlyn slowly wrapped her hands around Vi’s shoulder and put her forehead on her back “I know you’re worried but I’m sure your family will be alright, please don’t cry.” She whispered.
After cleaning her back, Vi carefully put a clean shirt on and laid back down. Isha came back with bandages and a plate with some soup. “Who’s that for ?” Asked Vi. Isha smiled and pointed at Vi setting the plate on a small table on the side. She handed Caitlyn the bandages and grabbed the plate. While Caitlyn changed Vi’s head bandages, Isha would feed her.
After being fed and cleaned, Vi laid down again to rest. Isha went to eat but Caitlyn stayed with Vi. “You’re not hungry?” “Im not don’t worry” Vi looked at Caitlyn “thank you, for everything you’re doing” Caitlyn held back tears “no need to thank me, you have protected me and cared for me, I’ll do the same.”
Night came and they hadn’t hear anything about Piltover or Vander. This made Vi worry. What if her family didn’t make it? What if she lost them? Some tears came out but she quickly wiped them after Caitlyn came into the room “nothing?” “Nothing, I’m sorry Vi”
Caitlyn sat down on a chair close to Vi’s bed. Caitlyn couldn’t hold it anymore and broke down. She covered her face “I’m sorry Vi, I’m sorry” she whispered “hey hey no don’t be sorry, come here” Vi shifted a little bit to the side to make space for Caitlyn to lay down with her. She extended her hand towards Caitlyn. “Come here” “I don’t want to hurt you” “you won’t I promise” Vi smiled.
Slowly, Caitlyn laid down beside Vi holding her hand. Vi turn her head to face Caitlyn and with her other hand, she wiped her tears. “It’s not your fault cupcake, we couldn’t have done anything. It was us two against a whole army.” Caitlyn gently placed her head on Vi’s shoulder feeling safe with her.
“I’m sorry for the way I treated you when you started to escort me” “Cait it’s alright. I understand. It’s not easy and very uncomfortable to be followed all the time. You don’t have to apologize.” “Vi?” “Yes?” “I’ve always wanted to know, how were you able to find me, that day at the shooting range?” Vi smiled “I heard when you jumped out your window” “what!? You did!?” “Yes I did, you landed too loud.” “And what about the day at the festival?” “Well, I used to put a small piece of paper on your door, if the paper fell, that means you had opened the door.” Caitlyn laughed “wait but what if I just opened the door and the closed it?” “I did see you walking slowly right around the corner.” Caitlyn laughed again “do I walk that loud?” She asked “yes you do” they both laughed. “Then I just followed you from a safe distance where you couldn’t see me but I could see you. I did lost you though and that’s when you were attacked. I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you when you were attacked.” Caitlyn brushed Vi’s hair “you saved me, no need to apologize, thank you Vi.” “Violet.” “Huh?” “My name is Violet.” “Well thank you for saving me, Violet.”
They woke up to Isha literally shaking the bed to wake them up. They woke up to see that it was still dark outside. “Isha what’s wrong?” At that moment Jinx slammed the door open with Jayce behind her. Isha ran towards her and she picked her up to hug her. Caitlyn did the same to hug Jayce. “Don’t bet up I’m coming to your side.” Jinx went and hugged her sister.
“Jayce are you alright what happened?” “I’m alright Cait, don’t worry.” He said hugging Caitlyn. “Vander wants all of us to meet him at the bar.” Called out Jinx. Mylo and Claggor came in and helped Vi get up to take her to the bar.
Everyone was gathered at the bar with drinks in hands. Her brothers sat Vi at the closest table. Vander cleared his throat “First of all, I’m sorry that we lost some people today. We’ll make a small gathering tomorrow evening to honor the people we lost on the battle. Second, I wan to thank everyone that helped. Thank you brother for gathering so many people. Ekko, please thank the firelights no my behalf. Viktor, thank you for providing us with weapons and for barricading the city. I’m glad that the Noxians didn’t make all the way here and it’s all thanks to all of you. Cheers.” Vander raised his cup and everyone cheered.
Mylo, Claggor, Jinx, Isha, Caitlyn, Jayce and Vi sat on one table. “Alright what happened?” Asked Vi. “Well, when we got to the city, Grayson’s forces were still standing. There was a lot of Noxians trying to take the force down, but they held well.” Explained Jayce. “We ambushed the Noxians from behind leaving them with nowhere to run. Once we had fully entered the city, we wiped out any Noxians that was left.”
“I burned down their camp bases” said Jinx making everyone on the table laugh. “Sir Talis, I want to thank you for leading the way.” “No, I should be the one thanking you, you helped us.” Vander patted of Jayce’s back “Alright everyone let’s go rest” Called out Vander. Mylo and Claggor carried Vi back to her bed followed by Isha Jinx and Vader.
Caitlyn pulled Jayce to the side “Jayce” “yes?” “My father, what happened” “oh yes, please take a seat.” Jayce lead Caitlyn to take a seat. “Jayce what’s wrong?” “Look Cait, your father is alright.” Caitlyn sighed in relief “but” “but?” “He’s very badly injured” Caitlyn open her eyes wide “but he’ll be fine, I did tell him that you were safe and he was able to sleep peacefully.” Caitlyn started to cry and Jayce hugged her tightly “it’s alright we’ll head back as soon as possible don’t worry.”