Chapter 1
Mel knew what they were doing was wrong. There was no way around that, but she couldn’t help herself. Everything was so much easier with Vi. Sure, she was from the Undercity, her sister had been terrorizing Piltover, and she was dating Caitlyn, but Mel didn’t care. Well, not enough to stop sleeping with her.
“Fuck Princess, even better than I remember,” Vi panted as she rolled over in bed.
“Oh, better than what you remember from two days ago?” Mel answered with a smirk.
Vi sat up slightly to look at her, “Can you blame me for being eager to get you back in bed?”
Vi reached over and pulled Mel towards her. Mel tucked her head under Vi’s chin and cuddled into her. Mel knew Vi liked feeling like the big spoon since she was taller than her with her heels on. Mel liked this side of her. Vi was always so fiery and bold in public but when it was just them she was needy. It was cute.
“I would never blame you love, but we have to remember to be discreet,” Mel reminded her.
“I know, I know. But it’s hard. I mean, I have to act like you’re a stranger I’ve barely spoken to. Honestly, I don’t think anyone even knows we know each other. We don’t really have much to worry about,” Vi said.
Mel pulled out of Vi’s hold and looked her in the eyes.
“Violet, I know you think that, but it’s different in piltover. Because of who I am, people are always watching. I can’t let this get back to Jayce. Or Caitlyn,” Mel warned.
“How long are we going to keep doing this? You want me. I want you. Why are we sneaking around?” Vi whined.
Vi had been in piltover for a few months now. After her sister blew up the council, things with her and Cait were difficult. She cared about Caitlyn immensely, but Jinx was still her sister. It was hard for Vi to reconcile that the two most important women in her life wanted each other dead.
Everything felt off. She was staying with Caitlyn and her father, but he clearly didn’t want her there. But Vi couldn’t go home. She didn’t really have a home to go back to. After overhearing a particularly bad fight between Caitlyn and her Dad about that “dirty trencher who isn’t good enough for his daughter” she bolted. Vi couldn’t take the snide remarks or the way Caitlyn rarely confronted her father about it so she stormed out of the house and boom! She ran right into Mel, literally. Vi accidentally shoved her into the fountain because she was too in her head to notice the poor woman.
Vi was sure Mel was the most beautiful woman she had ever seen, even soaking wet in a public fountain. It wasn’t the best first impression but it got them here. Vi quickly rescued Mel from the cold water and gave her, her jacket. Mel looked stunned and Vi apologized profusely. She offered to pay for a new dress, though she wasn’t sure where she would get the money for it, and that seemed to shake Mel out of her stupor. Mel waved it off saying it was fine but Vi wouldn’t stop pestering her until Mel at least let her buy lunch.
Mel sighed and bowed her head slightly, “I know this isn’t...ideal. But given the state of things, due to your sister I might add, I don’t want to have any more issues with the council.”
“That excuse is getting old Mel. I’d understand if this was new and the attack was fresh, but it’s been months,” Vi said.
“Yes, but the council is still out for blood. We lost three councilors Vi. They are in a frenzy any time I bring up Zaun,” Mel countered.
“So I’m just supposed be lie to everyone indefinitely because the council can’t get their heads out out their asses? I love you Mel, but I can’t wait forever,” Vi said getting out of bed.
“I’m not asking for forever, just until I can get Shoola to see reason. Salo is being manipulated by my mother but once I have majority rule we can finally start fixing our nations.” Mel explained.
“Oh sure, because the Piltover council is just overflowing with generosity. They certainly want to help rebuild Undercity, I mean that’s what hextech was made for right? Oh wait that never actually helped anyone did it? But I mean you guys did give us that ventilation system so we could go back to working in the mines for you,” Vi ranted.
“That’s not fair Vi and you know it. I’m doing everything I can to make this work all parties involved. I didn’t set the stage for this conflict.” Mel said.
“No, but you certainly didn’t stop it when the boy wonder over there set up blockades and let those corrupt enforcers abuse their power,” Vi spat.
“I’ll admit our lack of oversight with the enforcers put a strain on our relation with Zaun but I’m trying Vi. You’re right, I wasn’t involved enough with the plight your people are facing. I was too focused on making Piltover shine above all others but I’m paying attention now. I’m here now and I want to fix things, but you have to give me time,” Mel replied.
“It’s not just about that. I know you’re trying Mel. I can tell you actually care but everything is just so fucked. Everything I’ve known has changed since I was locked away in stillwater. I don’t know what the right thing to do is. I want to protect my sister and my home but I want to be happy too. Is that too much to ask for?” Vi said softly.
“No darling it’s not, and we will figure this out together. But we can’t do it right now, so come back to bed.”
I should go,” Vi said turning around to pick up her clothes up that were tossed around the room.
“Vi wait, you don’t have to go yet. Just stay,” Mel pleaded.
In truth she knew Vi was getting antsy. There were times when she would look at her and know there were millions of thoughts swirling around in her head that Vi couldn’t bring up. In the beginning, all she and Vi did was talk. They vented about their day. Discussed what would happen with Zaun and Piltover and things they could do to fix it. They talked to each other about whatever they couldn’t say to their respective partners or whatever new issue caused them to bicker. The latter came up more often than either woman expected.
Vi felt heard whenever she told Mel about how Caitlyn was changing. Caitlyn had grown distant. She was more cold. Angry. Everything Vi did or didn’t do was wrong. Vi wanted to go look for Jinx alone but Caitlyn hated that idea. Vi refused to join the enforcers and Caitlyn hated that more. The resentment she felt living in the Kiramman Manor was palpable. Caitlyn’s father looked at her with disdain while Caitlyn looked at her with ire for not completely siding with piltover. The gentleness she grew to love about Caitlyn was fading away like the last embers in a dying fire. Mel being there kept Vi grounded.
Jayce wasn’t any better. He was a councilor but he left much to be desired. If he wasn’t focused on hextech he was fanning the flames in the council room. He wanted to avenge Viktor but Viktor wasn’t dead. Mel wasn’t sure what he was but he was still with them. Mel understood why Jayce was worried about him, so was she, but Jayce was the one who sided with Viktor about not making weapons. Now he all but wanted to throw weapons at her mother’s feet. Mel was doing everything she could to keep her mother’s claws out of Jayce’s back but he wasn’t making it easy for her. At the end of her long days fighting with everyone in the council and trying to convince Jayce that war wasn’t the answer, Vi was the much needed peace Mel searched for.
Eventually, the talking became more physical comfort. At first, it was simple things. Their hands brushing when they sat next to each other. Hugs that lasted just a little to long. They were friends. It wasn’t odd for friends to touch. Then one night changed everything. When Vi held Mel’s face in her hands to quell any tears that threatened to spring forth after a particularly bad fight with Jayce, she knew.
She knew these last few months were bearable because she had Vi. When her mother sowed chaos behind the scenes or Jayce made impulsive decisions she had to clean up. When the days were too much and the council called for blood, sneaking off to talk with Vi in private kept her sane.
“I know you want more than this Vi. You know I do too. I won’t make you wait for long but we have to be smart about this. I need all the people I can get on my side if I’m going to propose peace between Zaun and Piltover. If Jayce finds out about us he’ll never back me back.”
Vi didn’t turn around, but she stopped putting on her clothes. She balled up the shirt in her left hand and sighed.
“Are you sure it’s that or do you not-”
“Vi, I want this,”Mel cut her off.
Slowly leaving the bed, Mel walked up behind Vi. Mel was still naked as she wrapped her arms around Vi from behind. She involuntarily shivered at the skin on skin contact. Touching her felt electric. Like Vi was the piece of the puzzle she didn’t know was missing. Mel loved how she and Vi just fit.
Mel leaned in and whispered in her ear, “Come back to bed darling.”
Vi hummed and let Mel pull her back to bed. Vi wasn’t sure what to believe. If you let Jayce tell it, Mel could be a manipulator but Vi didn’t see that side of her. Mel always seemed genuine to her. Even if she had her own agenda, her ability to be persuasive wasn’t something she could fault her for. Vi loved how Mel could make the world conform to her whims by just using her words. Mel was strong in opposite ways from herself. She felt like the world righted itself whenever she was in her arms.
“Fine. But only because you wore me out and I’m too tired to go back to Cait’s.”
Mel smiled as she and Vi curled up in bed together. She would need to figure out how to make Vi know she wanted this even though she couldn’t break up with Jayce just yet. For now though, she just wanted to fall asleep in Vi’s strong arms.