Chapter 10
Chapter X
The sound of the guitar strings filled the workshop with a slow, pensive, almost melancholic rhythm. Vi strummed the strings with calculated movements, exploring single notes, searching for something that fit the vague idea in her head. With her back against the wall and her legs tucked under her, the young woman felt relatively at peace at that moment.
Ekko, a few feet away from her, was hunched over his workbench, tools scattered around him as he adjusted what looked to the girl like a small metal box with an exposed electric circuit. Every now and then she could make out small sparks flickering on and off, but Vi had no idea what the man was doing. Nor she was going to ask really.
Ekko and Powder’s workshop always smelled of oil and hot metal. Vi was never particularly fond of the place most of the days for that very reason, but there was something comforting about being there now, surrounded by sound and movement, by something tangible that wasn’t just her own thoughts that she found overwhelming and pessimistic lately.
The days after her health unpleasant incident had been… strange.
Different.
Not because it was the first time in a long time something like this had happened to her, but because this time Caitlyn was there. Caitlyn had seen her at one of her worst moments. Something she never wanted to happen, but which probably would occur anyway if Vi continued to spend time with her. And although the Piltover woman didn't mention anything when Vi recovered enough to talk to her in peace, the young woman knew that what had happened had left a significant impression on Caitlyn. The constant flow of concerned and attentive messages in the days afterward were proof of that.
Luckily, or perhaps out of consideration for her sister, Powder didn't push her too hard after the argument. Vi woke up without sensing the same anger or suspicion from her older sister towards Caitlyn; she didn't treat her with disgust and their conversation had remained civil until Caitlyn left. Vi wasn't sure what had happened between them during the time she was unconscious, but she was internally grateful that at least they hadn't continued arguing while she was bedridden.
But there was something about her sister, a silent uneasiness that she had kept within herself since that day, one that Vi could not fully decipher.
Or maybe it was all in her imagination.
Vi knew she had to talk to Powder about what had happened. Things between them weren't exactly bad now, they had slowly gotten back to their usual banter, but Vi felt like they both owed each other a heart-to-heart without explosive emotions and yells. Powder wasn't making it easy for her, though.
Every time Vi tried to bring up the subject, her sister found a way to avoid it. “First worry about stopping yourself from staggering every other step,” she’d said in a concerned tone the last time she tried, before casually changing the subject. It wasn’t exactly an excuse. Vi knew she’d scared Powder considerably, and she wanted Vi to be in tip-top shape before facing anything else. She understood that, she really did. But it didn’t make the uneasy feeling in her chest go away.
She let out a sigh and slid her fingers over the strings heavily, trying to concentrate on the music.
“Dude, that sounds really depressing.”
Ekko's voice brought her out of her thoughts.
Vi raised her head with a lopsided smile, blinking a few times to adjust to the light as she realized she had instinctively closed her eyes.
“Maybe I’m a little depressed,” she joked.
Ekko snorted a laugh as he continued to weld a piece with precision.
“That would explain why you’ve been so quiet these days then” he said with a low voice.
Vi frowned, intrigued by his comment. She turned the guitar over in her hands, resting one arm absentmindedly on the wooden body and focusing her gaze on Ekko's blurred silhouette.
“Quiet, you say?”
“For being you, yes.”
Vi rolled her eyes in amusement. Ekko always seemed to have an answer ready for everything.
“I’m just tired,” she muttered, shrugging.
“I would believe that more if you hadn’t shown up here so early” Ekko looked up with a raised eyebrow. “Powder told me you should rest and stay in bed a little longer.”
Vi made a gesture of annoyance with her hand.
“Powder says a lot of things”
“Yeah. Like ‘don’t do anything stupid, Vi’ or ‘don’t go around acting like you didn’t just pass out a few days ago, sis'” Ekko raised his voice in a shrill manner, imitating Powder’s voice horrendously.
Vi suppressed a smile and growled in response, throwing a spike she had at hand in his direction. Ekko caught it without even looking, smirking.
“Awesome, isn’t it?”
“Show-off.”
“Better a show-off than a funeral quartet. You keep playing that guitar as if you had lost a tragic love in the war or something.”
Vi snorted and slid her fingers back over the strings, readjusting the guitar in her hands.
“Maybe so”
Ekko rolled his eyes and put his tool aside, turning his body towards her.
“How have you really been feeling?” he asked in a slightly more serious tone.
Vi sensed the change immediately. The question was not casual, devoid of the joking tone he always had with her. Vi was sure that Ekko must be aware of everything that had happened, she knew firsthand that he and Powder had no secrets between them. Their whole relationship was based in that innate trust and care for what the other experience and feel.
But for Vi, it was different to talk about these things alone with him. It always feels more deeper than with Powder for some reason.
Vi hung her head, playing a chord progression without thinking too much about it.
“I’m fine,” she said, trying to sound confident.
Ekko propped an elbow on the table and looked at her skeptically.
“That’s a lie. Try again”
Vi snorted in amusement. “It’s not a lie. It’s a close truth.”
Ekko shook his head.
“Vi, you spent days in bed after what happened.”
“It wasn’t days, don't exaggerate it.”
“Two and a half days. It’s almost the same.”
Vi snorted again, but didn't reply, because she knew Ekko was right. Even now, her body was still sore, there were times when everything seemed to be spinning, or if she walked too fast, she could feel her limbs shaking. But staying locked inside her apartment wasn't going to help her, it was going to do the opposite. So, she did what she always did and started moving again.
Because, in truth, Vi didn't know how to rest still for too long, health issues or not.
And if she was truly honest with herself, maybe, just maybe, being in the workshop with Ekko was more than just a distraction. She needed a break from her issues, she needed normality. To feel like she was in control again and that she wasn't completely incapacitated.
For his part, Ekko studied her for a second longer, his jaw working thoughtfully, before returning to his work.
“Alright. If you’re really okay, then you can help me with this”
Vi raised an eyebrow.
“Since when do I help you with your work?”
“Since you've been in my workshop without paying rent and being a bratty liar.”
Vi laughed out loud, her first real laugh in what seemed like days. Ekko smirked to himself, satisfied that he had accomplished his goal. Because in his book, Vi laughing was always a victory.
“You know, I’m surprised you didn’t install a cash register at the door.” Vi turned the guitar over in her hands once more, pretending to think about it. “You could charge entrance fee to this place and call it Ekko’s Tech & Therapy.”
“Yeah, because I clearly need more work in my life.” Ekko snorted, focusing on his device. “I should probably start charging you per session though. With all the complaining you do, I’d be rich.”
Vi made a face in mock indignation.
“Me? Complain? Please.”
“Don’t play dumb,” Ekko glanced at her with amusement. “Just last week you were complaining that your apartment’s roof was leaking again.”
“Technically, I didn’t complain.” Vi played a low note on the guitar, cocking her head to the side. “I just mentioned that it sucks to live in a place where it rains on me.”
Ekko clicked his tongue.
“And technically, you could easily fix it if you accepted help from Powder or me.”
Vi sniffed. “I don’t need help with that.”
Ekko paused for a second, leaning his elbow on the table and looking at her with the same look he always used when he knew Vi was being stubborn out of pride.
“Violet, you literally can't see where the crack is.”
Vi narrowed her eyes in annoyance. “I can use my hands, you know.”
“And what exactly are you going to do?” Ekko raised an eyebrow. “Touch the dampness until it magically dries? Pretty clever of you.”
Vi tried not to smile, but failed miserably.
"Maybe."
“By Janna… Pow is right, you are the most stubborn person on the planet” The man exclaimed.
“Coming from her, that’s an honor” Vi smirked.
Ekko shook his head and went back to work, but his tone softened a bit. A hint of sadness crossed his face, losing the smile he had until now. He let out a heavy, resigned sigh.
“Vi… I know you hate depending on others. But sometimes it’s okay to accept help, you know?” he said, trying to be as open and honest as possible.
He noticed how the young woman lowered her gaze, sliding her fingers over the strings absentmindedly.
"I know."
It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't entirely honest either. Ekko took advantage of her silence and distraction to observe her closely, his mind racing.
Vi had always been like this, ever since she was a little girl who fluttered around everyone, trying to join their adventures. Ever since before everything in her life fell apart, she always wanted to carry everything on her own. She tried to prove that she could do the same things as everyone else, to be the bravest, the one who helped no matter what. She was always the one who tried to go to the front even if she wasn't ready, the one who wanted to protect her older sister, even if it wasn't her duty and much less her responsibility.
Always the one who kept others from seeing when she was the one who needed help.
Ekko knew it, he had seen her grow up with that mentality.
And even years later, it was still the same.
“Do you know what bothers me about you?” Ekko suddenly asked.
Vi cocked her head in his direction with a smirk, allowing herself to change the chords to something a little more upbeat.
“Just one thing?”
“Maybe two.” Ekko turned the screwdriver in his hand thoughtfully. “But right now, what bothers me most is that you never take credit for anything.”
Vi frowned, “What are you talking about?”
Ekko placed both hands on the table and looked directly at her.
“Look where you are now.” His tone was not one of reproach, but of something deeper, something genuine. “After everything that happened, after what the world did to you. Look at you, Vi. You’re still here. You’re still fighting. Making music, something that others enjoy, even if it sounds like a funeral half the time.”
Vi stopped playing abruptly, feeling something in her chest tighten.
“Ekko…”
“No, seriously.” Ekko smiled softly. “It’s fucking impressive, Vi. You’re amazing. And I know you never say it to yourself, because you’re a stubborn idiot. So, I’ll say it for you, as many times as it takes.”
Vi felt a lump in her throat, not knowing what to say to that, but Ekko didn't stop there.
“Don’t question yourself so much. Give yourself a chance to realize how far you’ve come on your own, and at the same time allow yourself to receive help when you need it without any regrets.” Ekko took the soldering iron in his hand as he added, “Maybe I should start charging you for real”
The girl smiled a little and lowered her head, trying to hide her face with her hair so that the man would not see her blink rapidly to hold back her tears.
Ekko always did that, he had an innate ability to know what to say, when to say it and how to do it without sounding like it was pity. He was one of the most sincere and open people Vi knew, one of the few she could fully trust and allow herself to be herself, even if it messed with her emotions sometimes.
Powder is her sister, the one who has always there for her, her constant; Vander is her father, the one who raised her and teach how to fight bach; Claggor is her guide and go-to person when she needed a space to be quiet and decompress; Mylo is a partner in mischief and pranks, who she could count on to play pranks on both Powder and Vander…
But Ekko was always different. The man is like her second brother, the one that life and Zaun had given her and the one she knew she could count on for anything and more. In her mind, after Powder, there was always Ekko. The one who was always there to greet her when she argued with her sister or felt particularly stressed about something, cheering her up with his witty remarks and well-intentioned insults. Because, even when Vi tried to carry it all alone, Ekko was there to tell her what an idiot she was and remind her when to slow down.
The musician pressed her lips together and played again, this time a firmer, more decisive chord.
“You're an idiot,” she said after a while.
Ekko just smiled.
"I know. I’m a brilliant idiot”
A comfortable silence settled between them.
Vi didn't say anything else, trying to get back into the melody, but something in her chest felt a little lighter.
However, she couldn't stop thinking about what Ekko had told her. His words resonated with her more than she would have thought. Vi considered that she was improving in that sense, letting people help, she really was trying. Until recently she would have refused to receive any kind of assistance, not only out of ego but because she considered that there were better things that other people could occupy their time with than helping the poor blind girl. Even coming from her own family.
But she was really trying to change now. At least with Caitlyn, Vi had given herself the chance to be more honest and receive her support. Otherwise, she wouldn't have even let her witness one of her episodes…
Vi frowned as she strummed a string wrong, the melody sounding a bit off-key. She adjusted the tension on the strings quickly and continued playing, her mind jumping back to Caitlyn and the position the woman seemed to have taken in her life. It wasn't the first time she thought about her these days. It wasn't the first time she caught herself doing so, either. But it was the first time she allowed herself to admit that Caitlyn had become important to her.
And Vi didn't know exactly when it happened.
Maybe it was when she showed up at the gym unannounced, looking for her. Or when she heard her voice at the bar, the first time she invited her to see her play. Or when Caitlyn held her in her arms to keep her from falling when she tripped on something in the street on one of their many exploratory outings. Whatever the case, Caitlyn had made her way through life with an ease that was terrifying when the young woman stopped to analyze it.
Vi pressed her lips together, feeling a strange discomfort inside her.
Caitlyn was unlike anyone she'd ever met before. She cared for her in a way she wasn't used to. Not with pity, like other people who got to know her, or with overprotection like Powder. Caitlyn genuinely cared about her, treating Vi with care, yes, but without making her feel like an invalid, respecting her pace and her abilities. She made her feel like Vi mattered as much or more than others, like she wasn't just a broken girl who needed to be taken care of.
She didn't want to dwell on it, but it was inevitable. Caitlyn was confusing her.
Not in a bad way, with the uncertainty that sometimes ate at her when she thought about her own life. It was very different. It was something that made her feel in a constant state of alert, but not because she felt threatened, but because she didn't know what it meant.
She slid her fingers along the strings while her mind was still floating in that internal chaos, until suddenly, without thinking, a question escaped her lips.
“Hey, Ekko… what’s Caitlyn like?”
The words hung in the air, breaking the slow pace of the workshop.
Ekko, who was hunched over his desk focused on his work, went completely still.
Vi barely registered his reaction until he slowly raised his head, an expression she couldn't see but that felt like a huge weight on her.
"Sorry, what?"
Vi blinked.
She didn't even know why she had asked.
She had never been interested in someone's appearance before. Faces were just a distant concept to her, not an aspect that mattered much in terms of connecting with others. But now she felt like something was missing, something that everyone else could easily see and take for granted. Something she could never know for herself.
Her mind went back to that night she had shared with Caitlyn in their little refuge in Zaun. To the question the woman had asked her and which she still sometimes thought about.
“If you had the chance to make it happen, what would you wish for?”
She drums her fingers uneasily on the wood of the guitar.
“What is Caitlyn like?” she repeated, her voice lower, as if she hardly dared to say it out loud.
The silence lasted a few more seconds.
Ekko set his tool down on the table with a small metallic click, slowly turning towards her and clasping his hands between his legs.
“Are you really asking me what Caitlyn looks like?” the boy asked with a hint of amusement in his voice.
Vi felt heat rising to her face. The question itself didn't sound so strange in her head. But now, said out loud, it seemed a little ridiculous.
“It’s just a question… don’t make it weird.” she growled, crossing her arms.
Ekko didn't let her off the hook so easily. He looked at her with a particular sparkle in his eyes, the one he always had when something seemed interesting and fun at the same time.
“Well, that's impossible to accomplish… because it was weird,” he said.
Vi rolled her eyes, turning her face to the side.
"Forget it."
Ekko leaned an elbow on the table, his smile turning slow and mischievous.
“Oh, no. Now I want to know why you ask.”
Vi clenched her jaw in unease. She herself didn't have a clear answer.
It wasn't just a trivial or superficial question; it wasn't that she wanted to know whether Caitlyn was attractive or not. It was something much deeper and more frustrating.
Vi could not see, not like everyone else. To her, Caitlyn was a voice, a presence, a set of gestures perceived in the way she moved or how she breathed. But that was all. No matter how hard she tried to form a picture in her mind, there was an emptiness that was impossible to fill, a stain in her mind that she could never clear.
A blank space she had never felt with anyone else.
Because she never cared before.
She knew what Powder, Ekko, Vander, and the others looked like because she met them before she lost her sight. But after that… she never bothered to imagine the faces of the new people in her life because no one ever mattered enough. Never before had anyone been so important that she felt like she was missing out on something significant.
She ran her hand over the guitar strings, searching for a sound to distract her, but found none.
She could feel Ekko's gaze on her, studying her closely as if he had found a new mystery to entertain himself with, waiting for an answer that would never come. But to Vi's surprise, the man did not mock her further.
When Ekko finally deigned to speak again, his tone was softer.
“Caitlyn is…” he paused, thoughtful. “Tall. A little taller than you.”
Vi frowned.
“Is your description that vague?”
“Let me finish.” Ekko made an impatient face. “She has dark hair, long, about halfway down her back. And her eyes are blue, the kind of blue that looks brighter when she’s under the correct light.”
Vi tried to imagine it.
Dark hair. Bright blue eyes.
Those images meant nothing to her, but she tried to hold on to Ekko's words, to arrange them in her mind as close to reality as possible.
Ekko continued, “She always looks elegant, even when she tries to dress more casually. She has that upright rich girl posture, but at the same time, when she moves, she doesn’t look as stiff as other people from Piltover, she’s more real than them.”
Vi pursed her lips.
“That sounds contradictory.”
“Caitlyn is contradictory.”
Vi couldn't argue with that.
But still, it wasn't enough. No matter how hard she tried to fit all the pieces together, she still couldn't see it. Vi shifted in her seat, feeling oddly vulnerable and disappointed with herself.
Ekko, for his part, rested his chin on one hand, observing her closely.
“Why do you ask?” he inquired again.
Vi blinked, as if just realizing the man was still there with her.
“I don’t know,” she muttered, looking down at her guitar. “I was just… curious, I guess.”
Ekko didn't reply immediately. He just stared at Vi, noting how the girl seemed to shrink in place under his scrutiny, frowning and making that grimace with her lips that looked so much like Powder's when she couldn't make sense of something in particular.
Ekko had never heard Vi ask something like that. Not when she first woke up from her long coma in the hospital years back, not when she started moving around Zaun on her own, not even when she started working at the gym, or spending more time with Sevika. Much less when she moved in alone and had to live with strange neighbors in the same floor.
But now, Vi wanted to know what Caitlyn looked like. Of all the possible people, the Kiramman girl was the first Vi showed that kind of interest.
And for Ekko, that was something huge.
Vi probably didn't even notice. Because of course she didn't, it was Vi. She'd always been so fucking stubborn and emotionally obtuse with this kind of things. Always so closed off to deep positive feelings.
Romance.
Attraction.
Love.
Not because she couldn't feel them. But because she never allowed herself to do it.
But now…
Now Vi was asking herself questions she'd never asked herself before, and Ekko felt he couldn’t waste the opportunity to push her a little in that direction. Taking advantage, of course, of the fact that Powder wasn't present to kill him in the process if anything backfired.
“So…” Ekko leaned forward and smiled in amusement, “When are you going to ask her out?”
Vi froze, her fingers hovering over the guitar strings.
"Why would I do that?”
Ekko gave a short laugh.
“Vi, come on. It’s obvious” he said.
Vi frowned deeply.
“What is obvious?”
“That you like Caitlyn.”
For Ekko, the silence that fell on the workshop after that statement was delightful. Vi stood completely still, as if her brain had decided to simply shut down completely. The man could barely contain his laughter because Vi, the same one who always had a quick answer for everything or an insult, was at a loss for words.
Finally, after a long pause, the young woman blinked slowly, focusing on him again.
“You are delusional”
Ekko leaned back in his chair, enjoying the sudden turn of events.
“Oh, yeah?”
"Yes"
“Then, tell me why you ask what Caitlyn looks like.”
Vi clenched her jaw.
“I told you; I was just curious.”
Ekko narrowed his eyes in amusement. “Uh-huh.”
Vi groaned, uncomfortably.
“Leave it, Ekko.”
“Oh, no.” He smiled even wider. “Not after waiting my whole life to see this.”
Vi exhaled, leaning back against the wall as if trying to get away from the subject. But Ekko knew her too well. He knew that if he left her alone now, she wouldn't think about it anymore; that she'd find some excuse in her head not to analyze it, to ignore it.
Just for that, he decided to push a little further.
“Vi, have you ever liked anyone?”
The question seemed to really hit her.
Vi looked away, uncomfortable.
“Don’t be stupid.”
“It’s not a stupid question.”
Vi didn’t react immediately.
Ekko waited.
And then, he saw it in her face. Vi was really thinking about it. There was no automatic retort. There was no immediate denial. Because the truth was simple.
Vi had never allowed herself to feel something like that for anyone.
Ekko always knew it.
The young woman had an uncanny ability to tune out anything emotional. It was her defense mechanism. She had learned, from a very young age, that opening up was giving someone the opportunity to hurt her. That love, caring, affection, if it wasn’t from her family, always came with a cost.
And Vi had paid too much.
But now…
Now there was a woman. Because of course there always had to be a woman. But this time it wasn't just any woman; it was someone from Piltover specifically. A girl who took her out of her comfort zone. Who made her feel things Vi probably didn't understand yet.
But Ekko did. The man saw it clearly, and that’s why he decided to tell her.
"You like her." He affirmed.
Vi clicked her tongue in exasperation.
“Ekko.” There was a warning in her tone
“Violet.”
“I don’t like Caitlyn.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Stop saying ’uh-huh’ every time I talk!”
“Uh-huh”
Vi threw another spike at him, which Ekko caught in mid-air again.
The woman let out a long, heavy sigh, running a hand through her hair in irritation and trying to hide the blush she knows was showing on her face now.
“This is ridiculous.”
Ekko smiled calmly. “Just think about what I said. Use that brain of yours for something else than pretty verses or receive hits”
Vi glared at him. Of course, her glare lost strength when the woman couldn't even focus on him properly.
“I don’t have to think about anything” she exclaimed.
Ekko just threw up his hands in surrender, returning to his work as if he hadn't dropped a bombshell into the conversation. But out of the corner of his eye, he saw Vi fall silent once more. Her face was tense, as if the thought was already in her head with no chance of getting rid of it.
Ekko didn't say anything else, as there was no real need to.
Vi was already thinking about Caitlyn from another perspective and that was enough for now.
The sound of the guitar still filled the space, but Vi was no longer really playing to compose. Her fingers moved by inertia, sliding out single notes, without a clear pattern, the melody completely lost between her fingers because her mind was elsewhere.
Ekko wanted to messed with her. That was clear.
Before he opened his big mouth, everything was fine.
Caitlyn was just a girl from Piltover. A girl who, yes, she kind of liked but not in the way he was implying. A woman who, yes, made she want to spend more time with. Who, yes, she seemed to care about more than she should.
But that didn't mean anything.
Right?
Right.
Vi shifted in her spot, uncomfortable with her own thoughts and what she was feeling. The heat on her face had yet to completely subside, and the feeling of discomfort intensified when she heard Ekko's stifled chuckle.
She didn't need to see him to know he was smirking.
The bastard.
She knows he must have been waiting for the right moment to crack another one of his jokes at her expense. Vi mentally prepared herself to throw something else in his face before he could open his mouth. But then, the door to the workshop swung open.
And Powder's voice interrupted the moment completely.
“I’m back bitches.”
Vi turned her head immediately, maybe too quickly.
Ekko, more relaxed, also turned around with a smile in his face to look at his girlfriend.
Powder entered with her characteristic walk, light but sure, closing the door with her foot while carrying a metal box under the arm. Vi could barely see her sister hair tied in a messy ponytail, and noticed that her clothes had some dark stains on the sleeves and gloves, probably grease, indicating that she had been working on some commission outside the workshop.
“Did you have any problems?” Ekko asked, still adjusting his device.
“Nah.” Powder set the box down on a table with a dull clang. “Old customer. Wants me to repair one of his custom pieces, but this shit is so beat up I honestly think it would be easier to make him a new one.”
Vi smiled in amusement, trying to calm her beating heart.
“Tell him you'll charge him double and that's it.”
Powder laughed a little.
“Yeah, sure. And then I’ll feel sorry for myself when they point a gun at me in an alley for payback,” she snapped.
Vi chuckled, enjoying the familiarity of the conversation.
But then Powder frowned. And for the first time since she came in, she actually looked at her sister closely. Vi felt a pang of alarm as she sensed Powder's intense gaze on her.
She had been nervous all this time, and although her expression had returned to normal as soon as Powder entered, she hadn't counted on the fact that her sister had an infallible radar to detect when something was out of place.
“What the hell happened here?”
Vi blinked.
"Eh?"
Powder narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms with that older sister expression that always meant trouble. Ekko looked up for a second and, seeing Powder's look, had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing out loud.
Because of course she would notice.
Powder always noticed everything regarding her family.
“It feels weird here.” She said.
Vi immediately tense up.
Ekko cleared his throat, feigning interest in his work. “Strange how?”
“I don’t know…” Powder turned her head slowly, her gaze alternating between Vi and Ekko. “You two seem weird.”
Vi set her jaw.
“Nothing happened,” Vi said, too quickly, and then added “You’re just imagining things again”
Powder raised an eyebrow.
“Uh-huh”
Ekko, now having more than his fair share of fun, let out a soft sigh.
“Actually, something did happen,” he said, smiling.
Vi gave him a withering look. Ekko, I swear to the Gods…
But the man just smiled calmly, ignoring her.
“Vi was asking what Caitlyn looked like.” His voice was low and casual, like he was just talking about the weather.
The silence that followed his statemen was brutal and definitely not casual at all.
Vi thought she felt the color drain from her own face as she noticed Powder standing completely still next to the table. She couldn't see her, but the older girl's eyes narrowed slightly. The youngest felt like she had suddenly stepped into a minefield and it was only a matter of time before she walked on a bomb and everything blew up.
But surprisingly, Powder did not react immediately.
She simply blinked a few times, as if she was processing the information. Then she slowly leaned over the table and rested her elbows, looking at Vi with an expression she couldn't see.
“And why you were asking that?” she asked in a low tone.
Vi felt her mouth go dry.
"I don't know."
Powder cocked her head.
“You don’t know?” she repeated suspiciously.
"No?"
"Sure, you don’t…"
Vi shrank slightly in her seat.
Powder continued to watch her for a few more seconds, until she finally seemed to decide that she had no energy to argue.
“Whatever,” she muttered, turning back to her toolbox.
Vi felt her body relax, but only slightly. She thought she was saved. Powder had paused and not exploded immediately. And that was a good thing, right?
But then, Powder slowly turned towards Ekko again.
“What did you mean by that?” Powder asked, in that light, dangerous tone that meant trouble.
Ekko, with his usual damned calm, rested his chin on one hand and throwed a sweet smile at Powder.
“Just what I said. Vi was asking what Caitlyn was like.”
Vi twisted her face into a grimace.
“For Janna's sake… let it go. It's nothing important.”
Powder completely ignored her plea, her brain already working at full speed. Like Ekko, she knew that there was a much deeper meaning to that question.
She narrowed her eyes further.
Her sister had never been interested in anyone like that, had never shown the slightest hint of attraction to anyone. It was something that worried Powder a little sometimes, if she was completely honest, fearing that Vi would never allow herself to enjoy love.
But now… now there was Caitlyn.
A damn Kiramman.
Powder felt a pang of frustration and disbelief in her chest as she realized what this meant.
Because, of all the people in Zaun and Piltover- the entire fucking world- of all the possible options… Vi had chosen the one person she could least accept.
For a split second, rage rose in her throat. Not because she wanted to yell at Vi, but because this…this was different. Powder was prepared to one day welcome a partner into her sister’s life. She’d even talked to Vander about it a couple of times, joking about how they’d go about properly intimidating whoever Vi was interested in. But she wasn’t prepared for that person to be Caitlyn Fucking Kiramman.
Because Caitlyn wasn't just any girl. She was the descendant of the same family that took everything from them. The same girl who didn't seem intimidated to stand up to Powder and challenge her every chance she got. Powder felt her fists clench on the table.
But then she remembered the conversation she'd had with the woman. The regret in her eyes. The guilt in her voice. Her sincere promise to try to fix the mistakes of the past.
Powder took a breath, forcing herself to stay calm. But she couldn't let it go that easily.
She turned her head slowly towards Vi then.
“And why did you want to know that, Vi?”
Vi crossed her arms, tense and with her gaze diverted to the side.
“I was just curious.”
Powder raised an eyebrow.
"Curious you said?"
"Yeah."
Powder turned to look at Ekko. “What do you think?”
Ekko shrugged, feigning indifference.
“I think she likes Caitlyn,” he announced.
Vi's eyes widened, sitting up straight as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her.
“Ekko!”
But the damage was already done.
Powder blinked, processing those words now that they were finally in the open.
Digesting them as if they were something impossible to understand. There was silence... Exactly two seconds of a dense silence.
And then, she burst out laughing.
A sudden, loud laugh that burst from her chest uncontrollably. But it wasn't a light laugh. It wasn't just mockery. No. It was a laugh filled with disbelief, frustration and pure amazement at the situation she now found herself in. It was a desperate, almost exasperated laugh. Because how could this be real?
Powder leaned forward, resting her hands on the knees, shaking her head in disbelief. Her laughter trailed off a little, as if she had suddenly forgotten how to breathe. After that she ran a hand over her face slowly, still chuckling, still processing the entire universe and its absurd lack of logic.
Vi looked at her with a mixture of irritation and alarm. “Are you done yet?”
Powder leaned across the table in her direction. The smile was still present on her face, but her voice took on a more strained tone.
“By gods, this is incredible,” she murmured. “Vi, do you have any idea what this means?”
Vi frowned in doubt, still on alert.
“That you two are unbearable bastards?” she snapped.
But Powder wasn't listening to her anymore.
She couldn't. Because her mind was too busy processing what this implied for her and Vi. And, above all, wondering how the hell she had gotten to this point.
“Let me see if I understand correctly.” Powder spoke again, tilting her head. “You spent your entire life not interested in anyone, rejecting any approach from anyone in this city. Even rejecting my proposals to introduce you to someone…”
Vi's face changed as the words spilled out of her mouth, a mass of conflict emotions crowding her eyes. Powder continued speaking, not giving her a chance to escape.
“But now all of a sudden you ask about… Caitlyn. Miss princess fancy annoying pants”
She saw Vi's cheeks redden even more and had to suppress the urge to scream.
“It doesn’t mean anything,” her sister muttered.
“Vi, honey.” Powder narrowed her eyes impatiently. “It means a lot.”
She crossed her arms, her smile fading a little.
“And it had to be her, didn’t she?” Vi fell silent, unsure of what to say. Powder rested her elbows on the table, staring at her intently. “Was there really no one else in all of Zaun that you were interested in? Anyone else? I could even accept Jerico if you want it. At least you’ll be well feed”
Ekko snorted and shifted in his seat, sensing this was taking a more serious turn than he expected, but knew he couldn't intervene for now.
Vi leaned back, resting both arms stubbornly on the guitar.
“And why does that matter?”
Powder let out a slow sigh and brought her hands to her face, rubbing her eyes as if she was exhausted.
“I don’t know, sis.”
Vi noticed that the mocking tone in her voice had completely vanished. She only sounded frustrated now. She felt Powder's gaze on her with more weight than before.
Powder just watched her with a mixture of annoyance and resignation.
“Listen, I’m not going to tell you what to do.” She said after a long pause.
Vi was a little surprised and Powder exhaled.
“Yes, I know, shocking, right?” She leaned a little closer to her “Just… understand it a little from my perspective, okay?”
Vi remained completely silent awaiting a real verdict.
Powder ran a hand through her hair, taking a deep breath.
“Caitlyn is different from her family, I know that,” she said “She already made it clear and told me her views”
Vi blinked in disbelief.
Powder rolled her eyes.
“Yes, sis. We talked. It wasn’t the most pleasant conversation of my life, but we did it.” Vi was at a loss for words and Powder let out a dry laugh. “But that doesn’t change the fact that she is still a Kiramman.”
Vi looked down with a hint of sadness and dejection.
"I know."
Powder pressed her lips together, frustrated at having generated that reaction in Vi. She looked at Ekko then, trying to seek help, but the man only raised both eyebrows expectantly, waiting for Powder to fix the situation by herself. The woman then understood that this was not the time to bring out her hatred and past. She hated when her boyfriend was right.
Finally, Powder exhaled heavily.
“Look, I’m not going to kill you for this. Is not like you can exactly control it…”
Vi raised an eyebrow.
“How generous,” she murmured.
Powder gave her the middle finger before continue.
“What I mean is… if you really care about Caitlyn, then it better be out of more than just ‘curiosity.’”
Vi was speechless.
Ekko smiled with satisfaction. “That's what I was trying to tell her earlier,” he said.
Powder glared at him.
“Yeah, yeah, congratulations, Ekko. You wanted to be my little sister’s matchmaker. Do you want a medal for that?” she muttered.
Ekko just shrugged, amused. Powder looked back at Vi, her expression more serious this time.
“Do what you want, Vi.”
Vi looked at her cautiously.
Powder sniffed. “But if she hurts you, if it turns out this isn’t worth it…”
She let the sentence hang in the air, her jaw set, her eyes fixed on Vi. And Vi waited for her to continue, waited for her to end with an actual death threat, waited for her to say something like, "If you ever see her again, I'll put a bullet in your leg" or something similar.
But none of that came.
Powder just sighed wearily, as if she had already spent all her energy on this conversation and it was only past midday. And then, she turned back to her toolbox, as if the subject was closed.
Vi blinked.
And then blinked again.
Something wasn’t adding up. Her brain just couldn’t process it. Because Powder… wasn’t yelling at her. She wasn’t making her promise not to see Caitlyn again. She wasn’t glaring like she had done the first few times she saw her with Caitlyn. She wasn’t treating her like she was a traitor or like a child who didn’t know what she was doing.
Vi felt a mix of confusion, disbelief, and a little panic. Maybe too much panic.
Was this real?
Or was she still unconscious in her bed and it was all a feverish delirium?
She slowly turned her head towards Ekko, as if looking for some confirmation that she hadn't gone mad. But from Ekko's gestures and posture, the man didn't seem the least bit surprised. He just looked at her with a satisfied smile she couldn’t see, as if he had been waiting for this moment for years.
Vi felt her throat dry.
“Wait…” she said slowly, still trying to find the catch in all this. “Is that all?”
Powder didn't even look up.
“What else do you want? A signed permission?”
Vi was still in shock.
“But you… you hate Caitlyn.” She said slowly.
Powder laughed.
"Yes, I do."
Vi waited for her to say something else, something that would fit her reality. Something like, "That's why I forbid you to see her again" But Powder didn't say anything else. Vi couldn't believe it. It couldn't be that easy.
Not with Powder. Not with her overprotective sister.
“And?” Vi insisted, sensing that she needed more context or else she was going to collapse.
Powder shrugged.
“I still don’t like her.”
Vi nodded slowly. That made more sense.
“But…” Powder paused and let out a sigh, as if having a hard time admitting what she was about to say. “She’s not the worst person in the world.”
It seemed to Vi that her brain simply stopped working.
Powder noticed her expression and rolled her eyes.
“I’m not approving her!” she said quickly, as if she needed to make it clear. “I’m just… admitting that maybe, just maybe, she is not as disgustingly awful as I first thought.”
Vi continued to look at her as if she had grown a second head.
Powder clicked her tongue in annoyance.
“Stop looking at me like that, you look like an idiot.”
Ekko let out a low laugh that Vi ignored. She was still processing everything. Powder… she wasn’t freaking out, she wasn’t screaming, she wasn’t demanding she get away from Caitlyn forever. Sure, she still had reservations, but this… This was the closest thing to a truce Vi could hope for.
The confusion grew even greater when Powder gave her a sharp look.
“But that doesn’t mean I’m going to let you do stupid things with her for the moment.”
Vi frowned, not understanding.
“Stupid things?”
Powder crossed her arms and looked at her as if she were the most obtuse person on the planet.
“You’re not going to do anything with her, are you?”
Vi blinked.
“What do you mean by do something?”
Powder and Ekko let out a sigh at the same time.
“For Janna sakes, Vi” Powder muttered, massaging her temples.
Ekko shook his head, also exasperated.
“I can’t believe how ridiculous you are.”
Vi felt even more irritated.
“What the hell are you both talking about?”
Powder looked at her in disbelief. “You like her, you moron!”
Vi almost choked on her own saliva upon hearing those words again.
“I don’t like Caitlyn!”
"Yeah, of course you don’t"
"It's true!"
Ekko rested his face in his hand, exhausted.
“Vi, have you ever felt something like that about someone else?” he asked again to make his point.
Vi opened her mouth…
…And she couldn’t answer.
Because the truth was that no. It was the first time that happened to her.
Ekko smirked.
"Exactly"
Powder stared at her, feeling frustrated now for a completely different reason.
“Vi.”
"…what?"
“Be honest with me and with you” she asked “Do you like Caitlyn?”
Vi frowned hard, feeling the same pressure in her head that she felt when a migraine was coming on.
“No,” she exclaimed. But to her horror, her voice came out a little breathy.
Powder and Ekko let out another sigh of frustration at the same time. Her sister turned to Ekko in annoyance.
“It’s incredible. She’s the strongest person I know, but put a sentimental subject in front of her and she turns into a fucking brick.”
Ekko nodded, solemnly.
“I always suspected it.”
“I’m here,” Vi crossed her arms, even more annoyed.
Powder looked at her with a false sweet tone.
“If you don’t like her, then why do you keep asking about her?”
“Because I was curious.”
“Aha.”
Ekko gave a low laugh.
Vi ran a hand over her face, fed up with both of them.
“Fuck you both! None of these matters anyway. It’s not like I can do anything about it,” she muttered in a more pessimistic tone than she intended “It’s pointless…”
Vi didn't realize what she had just said.
But Powder did. And from the way her jaw set, from the way her eyes darkened with suppressed rage, Ekko knew immediately that a small storm was brewing in their workshop.
“Excuse me?” Powder’s tone wasn’t mocking this time, she didn’t even seem upset by the fact that Vi refused to admit how she felt.
No. Powder was furious for a completely different reason.
Vi suddenly realized that she had said something she shouldn't have, but didn’t know what. She blinked a little, confused.
"What now?"
Powder shot up from her seat at the table, approaching her with firm steps.
“Did you just say you wouldn’t do anything about it?”
Vi frowned.
“Yes. So what?”
“What do you mean, ‘So what?’” Powder let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head as if she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Gods, you’re such an idiot.”
Vi felt something stir in her chest. “What the hell is wrong with you now? I didn’t say anything wrong!”
Powder glared at her.
“Why wouldn’t you do anything, Vi?” she asked with a tone Vi couldn’t identify.
Vi looked away, uncomfortable.
“Because it doesn’t make sense for me to”
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing’s going to happen wherever I do something or not. Whatever that means” Vi shrugged, as if stating the most obvious thing in the world. “It’s… is Caitlyn. She’s from Piltover. It’s… is her, you know? She is someone…”
Powder narrowed her eyes. “And?”
Vi gave a dry laugh.
“Do you really need me to explain this to you?” Powder didn’t say anything, but Vi felt the pressure of her gaze. She sighed, running a hand through her hair, trying to find the words. “Pow, be realistic for a second”
Powder crossed her arms, her expression hardening.
“I am a realistic.”
“No, you’re not.” Vi snorted, rolling her shoulder nervously. “Caitlyn is… she’s someone. She is important. She has all that money, she has an education, she has a future that I’m sure someone else, someone worthy, will fit in someday”
Powder felt a knot tighten in her chest. Vi sounded so… resigned. Like this was an undeniable fact, an absolute truth.
“I, on the other hand,” Vi smiled bitterly, “have none of that. I can’t even say that I have a prominent enough future to count on or boast about. You know I can barely pay rent most months”
Powder clenched her fists tightly, feeling indignant. Ekko, who had been silent, closed his eyes for a second, as if frustration was suffocating him.
“Vi…”
But Vi didn't finish listening to him.
“I’m just a blind girl from Zaun who plays guitar in a bar and works out at a gym when I’m not half-dead in bed.” Vi laughed humorlessly, shaking her head. “Why would someone like Caitlyn, or anyone in general, notice someone like me? I’m a nobody”
Silence.
Absolute silence.
The air in the workshop suddenly became heavy, laden with bitterness. Ekko clenched his fists on the table, but said nothing, his humor completely gone. And Powder…
Powder felt something sink into her stomach, something dark and heavy. Vi truly believed what she was saying and that was a scary thought. Her little sister had always struggled with self-esteem, and Powder knew that deep down Vi felt inadequate, out of place. Sometimes she could feel it in the way she joked about herself and Powder made the mistake to never pay truly attention to it, to let it go so she could focus on other more pressing businesses.
But to hear her say it out loud… with so much dejection…
No, Vi… no.
Powder couldn't help but feel angry. Not at Vi. But at the world that made her feel this way. And maybe, deep down, she was angry at herself. Because how many times had she unwittingly contributed to Vi feeling this way? How many times had she told her to stay where she was, to stay out of Piltover's way, to never try to cross those boundaries? How many times had she stopped her from trying new things for fear of her getting hurt?
What if, unwittingly, she'd also made her believe she didn't deserve more?
Powder bit her lip, feeling her anger rising. But she didn't want Vi to feel like she was attacking her. She didn't want her to withdraw into herself any more than she already did.
So instead of exploding, she took a deep breath and crouched down in front of sister, landing both hands on the floor with soft thud to get her attention.
“You're a so fucking infuriating...” Powder said, trying to keep her tears at bay.
Vi looked up, surprise evident in her face. Powder wasn't insulting her per se, but she wasn't joking either. Vi looked at her cautiously, as if she didn't know what to do with those words. She tried to focus on her face, frowning when she noticed the trembling frame.
“Pow…?”
Powder looked her in silence for a second, feeling a deep pain in the chest.
“You really mean all of that?” Powder shook her head, swallowing back the emotion that wanted to spill over. “Are you really just going to sit there, thinking about her and doing nothing because you think you’re not enough?”
Vi opened her mouth, but found no answer.
Powder clicked her tongue in frustration.
“I never thought my sister would be so fucking...” the eldest suddenly fell silent, unable to say what was on her mind, sounding more hurt than Vi would have expected.
“Pow Pow…”
Powder laughed, but there was no humor in her voice. There was no anger.
Just a raw, crushing sadness.
“No, seriously.” Powder chuckled, but there was no humor in her voice. “Of all the reasons you could walk away from Kiramman, this is the worst.”
Vi suddenly felt small. Powder never looked at her like that, with such raw disappointment and sadness in her eyes. Then Powder sat down on the floor in front of Vi, letting her head fall into her hands with a long sigh.
“Look, sis…” her voice lowered, shaky. “I don’t know what’s going to happen. I don’t know if this is something worth it or not. If she is really good for you…”
Vi blinked, surprised that Powder was even considering the idea.
“But what I do know…” Powder swallowed, as if it was hard for her to admit, “is that I don’t want to see you live your whole life thinking that you don’t deserve anything good. That you don’t deserve someone like fancy pants, because that’s not true”
Vi felt something in her chest tighten.
Powder never said things like that. She never talked about emotions so openly, she never really asked her for something in that tone of voice. And yet, there she was. Asking her, for the first time in her life, not to let herself be consumed by the insecurity that Vi had been carrying for so long.
Her sister had always been fire and gunpowder, quick to ignite, quick to explode. But now… Now her words weren't a shot. They weren't an order.
They were a plea.
Vi didn't know what to say. She didn't know if she could say it even if she knew. She had never thought of herself the way Powder saw her. She had never believed she could deserve anything beyond what she already had.
But now…
Finally, Vi sighed, lowering her head.
“I don’t know how to do that, Pow Pow…”
From the back, Ekko took the opportunity to intervene, noticing how Powder seemed about to break in multiple pieces.
“Vi…” His voice was softer, calmer. “Do you have any idea how much you’re worth?”
“Ekko, it’s not…”
But Ekko didn't let her finish.
“Because if you don’t know, then I need you to rethink about it carefully.” The man said seriously.
Vi felt a lump tighten her throat.
How could she answer that?
Powder let out a long, tired sigh, leaning forward to take Vi's hand in her owns. Squeezing it firmly as if she wanted to make sure her words really got through to her.
“Look,” Powder stared up at the ceiling as if she couldn’t believe what she was about to say. “I’m not saying you should chase her or do anything stupid in the name or love or something.”
Vi made a face and waited.
Powder looked down at her, her expression more serious.
“I just want you to stop thinking that you’re not worth it.” She said and Vi felt the air catch in her lungs. “Because you are, Vi. You alone are worth more than half of this whole damn city and If your stupid rich girl or anyone ever wants anything with you, it’s because they decided to. Not because they felt obligated. Not because they playing games. But because they want to…. you just have to let them in and feel it”
She squeezed Vi's hand a little tighter, kissing in briefly, before letting go and standing, turning back to the table and gathering her tools without looking at her again.
Powder could handle a lot of things.
She could deal with the fact that Vi was stubborn as a mule. She could deal with the fact that she never listened to anyone when it came to her health, that she always does whatever she wants, that she sometimes seemed to forget that there were other people who cared about her, too.
But this…
She couldn’t deal with this.
She couldn't stand her sister talking about herself as if she is nothing. As if she had no value, as if she didn't matter.
It tore her apart.
Powder felt her nails dig into her palms, trying to control the urge to turn around and shake Vi until she understood. Because how could her sister not see how amazing she was? How could she not see how strong she’d been her entire life? How the fuck could she think she wasn’t worth it?
Powder's anger wasn't just that, it was sadness, it was pain. It was a mass of emotions so deep and dense that they drowned her. Because Vi was in many ways all she had and she deserved the whole damn world. Powder wanted to tell her that. She wanted to scream it. She wanted to hold her until she understood, until she stopped believing that she didn't deserve anything.
But she knew it wasn't the time. Vi didn't accept things easily.
If she pushed too hard, it would only make her close up further. So, she forced herself to hold back. She gritted her teeth, swallowing the urge to hold her tight and never let go. And that was when something else hit her. Something that left her even more uneasy.
If Vi was unable to see herself as someone valuable… then what if someone else did it for her? Powder paused for a second, her again floating above the tools, because that thought terrified her. Because it meant that maybe… just maybe… Caitlyn’s presence wasn’t so bad.
She closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath, not wanting to accept that.
She didn't want to admit that a Kiramman could be the person to make Vi see what she herself couldn't.
But… Powder had seen the changes the Piltover woman has caused in her sister. Even if at the beginning she didn’t want to recognize it.
If Caitlyn could make Vi see herself through the same eyes Powder saw her through…
If she could make her feel enough, valuable…
Then…
Maybe it wasn't so bad after all.
Perhaps for the first time in her life, Powder could, was willing, to let someone else into Vi's life.
But damn it If wasn't going to make it difficult.
“Violet… If you ever decide to approach Caitlyn with this, do so without the burden of thinking you have to prove your worth before you deserve it”
Powder disappeared through the back door of the workshop quickly, walking away before Vi could answer or notice the emotion in her voice. She didn't want her to perceive how much this affected her. Much less, what she had just decided.
Vi was silent for a moment, her eyes fixed on the same spot where Powder had been just seconds ago.
“I screwed up, didn’t I?” she asked at no one in particular.
Ekko chuckled softly with sadness, finally abandoning his work station and walking over to Vi to sit on the floor next to her, shoulder to shoulder. The man let out a sigh, resting his elbows on his knees as he stared ahead, as if he could see through the walls of the workshop.
“No, it’s not that.” His tone held no judgment, no reproach. Only understanding.
Vi ran a hand through her hair, messing it up further, feeling the heaviness of the conversation settle in her chest.
“She left before I could say anything,” she whispered.
“Yeah, well.” Ekko smiled with a hint of resignation. “You know how your sister is. She runs away when she feels too much.”
Vi gave a short, humorless laugh.
“I guess we are more alike that I thought”
Ekko cocked his head, glancing at her.
“Maybe. But the difference is that she always comes back.”
Vi frowned.
“And I don’t?"
Ekko shrugged with a small smile.
“That depends on you.”
Vi ran a hand over her face, feeling a strange weight in her chest and the heaviness of the guitar like a huge burden on her legs. The workshop was quiet once more, only the sound of idle machinery and the distant murmur of Zaun filtering through the walls.
Ekko didn't pressure her.
He didn't tell her what to do, nor did he try to give her answers that only she could find.
He just stood there, shoulder to shoulder by her side, giving her time.
Powder had left the door open to a possibility Vi had never considered, and the young woman had no idea what to do with it.
“This is ridiculous,” Vi exclaimed suddenly.
“You are ridiculous,” Ekko replied back.
Vi gave him a dirty look, but Ekko only smiled wider.
“Vi,” he said calmly, resting his chin on his hand, “I’ll ask you a very simple question.” He paused dramatically. “Are you scared?”
Vi snorted. “No.”
Ekko leaned a little closer to her, his gaze sly.
“Yes, you are.”
Vi frowned, feeling heat rise to her face.
“Cut the crap, Ekko.”
Ekko stared at her for a second longer before smiling softly.
“Vi,” he said in a calm voice, no mockery this time, “you’re terrified. And that’s okay, you know? You don’t have to have the answers to everything right now, it doesn’t work that way.”
Vi felt her throat dry. She inhaled slowly, but the air didn't seem to reach her lungs completely.
Ekko was right.
She was scared. Truly terrified. Not of losing a fight, or of getting hit, or even of pain. That kind of fear was easy.
This one, however, was unknown.
Because how do you fight something that comes from within?
How do you fight years of feeling like you're not enough?
Vi had learned to endure physical pain. She had learned to pick herself up after every fall, to toughen up, to keep going even when her body begged her to stop. But this wasn’t like a wound that healed with time. This fear left no visible bruises, no bleeding, no scarring. It just sat there, coiled in her chest, reminding her that if she dared to want anything more, she could lose it.
Ekko gave her shoulder a small squeeze before letting go, as if to tell her that he was there, but that the next step belonged to her alone.
Vi kept her gaze on the ground, her mind in turmoil, restless.
Maybe Powder was right.
Maybe… Vi had the right to want something too, even if it was just for once.
But wanting it and doing something about it were two very different things.
Vi closed her eyes for a moment, as if by doing so she might find some answer. But she found none.
Not yet.
For now, she just let the silence fill the space between her and Ekko, as the weight of everything she had just heard continued to settle inside her.