Between the (time)lines I
It was well into the evening when Caitlyn and Ekko arrived at the Kiramman mansion. The sun was low on the horizon and would be setting in less than an hour as the air already began to cool. "Let me check on Vi first before you come in and see her. She might be a bit rough," Caitlyn warned him as they entered the estate through the old metal gate. A few gas lamps lit the way to the mansion where the Kiramman family had resided for generations. "Of course. Take all the time you need. I will wait..." Ekko said understandingly, respecting her request for privacy with Vi first. "I've actually never been to an Councilman's mansion before..."
"Formerly..." She corrected him immediately. But the way she said it, short and almost snarling, made it clear to him that this was a sore point for her and that he shouldn't try to dig deeper into it. At least if he wanted to stay on good terms with her. "Sure".
When they entered the mansion, they were met by complete silence. It was surprisingly calm, almost haunting. So far everything seemed normal. No sign of chaos or destruction. But also no trace of her father or Vi. A good and a bad sign at the same time. "Please don't be have an alcohol poisoning..." A voice began to pray inside her head. "Let me first see after Vi. She was a little rough when I left her" Caitlyn explained to Ekko who gently nodded understandingly. "Seat yourself" Caitlyn made an inviting gesture to the comfy sofa near the fireplace where visitors and guests were normaly seated and hosted while they stayed at the Kiramman family. Ekko slowly sat himself at the couch right next to the entrance as he watched her walking off. "What a day" he sighed to himself and took in his souroundings.
Hesitantly, but actually frightened Caitlyn began to walk through the house. Only by now Caitlyn realized how long she had actually been away. The look the the antic grandfather clock revealed the full extent of her investigation. It was 8:35 in the evening: She had been away for almost 7 hours.
"Okay she first murdered him and then throw herself of the balcony..." Even Caitlyn herself was surprised by the dark, inappropriate joke that surfaced in her mind—a reminder of one of many Sheriff Grayson’s lessons: sometimes, humor and sarcasm were the best way to handle stress before it became unbearable. She continued her walk through the house. The living room was empty as well. Normally her father would sit here and listening to the radio or reading a book, as it was a wednesday, and therefore the gentlesmans club he usually attanted was closed. As a man of habbit, not being in the living room was definitely unusual. And he wasn't a person who usually went to bed early. "But maybe today he did", Caitlyn assumed, but rather hoped.
The last thing she wanted was that a hot headed Vi and her distrustful father would collide and throw things against each others head. The consequences of that would have been fatal. Afterall Vi and her father were the last bits of family, and therefore a safe harbour that remaint after her mother was killed by Jinx and Jayce disappeared, but mostlikely died during the Battle against Noxus.
Lost in her thoughts, she at first didn't noticed the bright light, coming from their kitchen. There. Someone must have been there.And she could even hear voices. Two voices talking. Her heart began to bear vividly as she impatiently approached the kitchen. There they sat, her father and Vi sat at the table and talking with each other. Caitlyn could feel an oberwhelming wave of relieve. Her father immediately recognized her presence. "Caitlyn, you're back," he greeted his daughter with a warm smile as he quickly walked over and gave her a loving hug.
Sometimes it was disturbing how well her father seemed to understand her. No questions, just understanding. And whatever he did, it seemed to work. He was there for Vi. "How can I make it up to you?" Caitlyn whispered in his ear, feeling his hand gently stroke her back. "Be there for her," he whispered. Caitlyn remembered how she had pushed Vi away as she tried to channel her grief into anger and hatred for Jinx. At all costs, she wanted to prevent Vi from making the same stupid and foolish mistake. She still couldn't forgive herself for rejecting the woman she'd fallen in love with the first second she'd seen her.
She looked over her father’s shoulder and met Vi’s gaze - her head had turned, and she was watching her. "She looks much better... did my father really did this?" Catilyn asked herself curiously. In front of Vi stood a cup, and judging by the rich aroma filling the kitchen, it was most likely coffee. Caitlyn slowly released her father. Then, without warning, Vi jumped up and stormed toward her, wrapping her in a tight embrace—silent but full of emotion. "I'm sorry, Cupcake..." she breathed as they collided. Caitlyn could feel her soft and fluffy hair touching her cheeks. Her arms instinctively grabbed Vi back, forcing her closer.
"I was like shit to you... You have every right to be mad at me..." Vi apologized, clasping her arms around Caitlyn's back.
"Shut up, I'm not even mad at you," Caitlyn smiled and took the initiative to kiss her. Only then did she realize something embarrassing. That she had actually never kissed Vi in front of her father, who awkwardly tried to look away to give them their moment of reconciliation and privacy.
"Thank you," Caitlyn whispered, smiling at her father. He returned it with his usual fatherly warmth, his smile a mix of tenderness and quiet pride. "You know, I was young once too," he began, sensing that this was just the right moment for an anecdote. "When your mother and I were younger, we often had to find a balance between enjoying our youth and fulfilling our duties... This is how we both found out that coffee sometimes works wonders... Sometimes combined with a little conversation"
Both Caitlyn and Vi couldn't help but smile. Caitlyn felt a heavy weight lift from her chest. This was the moment she had dreamed of for months—finally, it was real. But her joy quickly faded, swallowed up by the deep, familiar pain of losing her mother. The wound Jinx had opened in the blink of an eye with her unleashed chaos.
"But seriously, where have you been?", Vi asked, her blue eyes fixing on her girlfriend, "I didn't want you to run away."
"It’s not like that. I didn’t run-", Caitlyn explained softly, holding her girl close. "You left...", Vi interrupted her softly, her voice free of accusation, "I made you leave."
"I'didn't run because I was angry..." She began to explain, but stopped when she felt a sudden wave of hesitation rolling from her mind and colliding with the courage in her heart to say those words.
"You left, and I understand why", Vi said as she tightened her embrace.
"No... I went to get some answers..." Caitlyn then finally confessed what had occupied her for almost half of her day. Although right now her conversation with Sevika felt like days ago. She couldn't deny that she herself was tired, if not exhausted. The last six months had taken a heavy toll on her life. Changed it forever. For the worse as well as for the better. But much to her shock and surprise, Vi didn’t say anything. Instead, she leaned back slightly, just enough to meet her gaze, and give her the"You're serious about this"-face. No more words were needed as Vi pulled her back into her tight embrace, not willing to let go off her. And this time, Caitlyn didn’t care about the nervous, slightly awkward look on her father’s face. She simply held her better half and wished this moment could last forever.
"I'll get over it. Somehow. Just... give me time," Vi whispered into her ear, but it didn’t sound convincing. It felt more like something she was meant to hear—or wanted to. But deep down, both Caitlyn and Vi knew she would never move on from Jinx’s death. Even if a tiny part of her still clung to the hope that this wasn’t truly the end of her sister’s story. "Vi... I know you're much stronger than me. But this time, you can't just get back up like always," Caitlyn murmured into Vi's soft pink hair, holding her close, "You don’t have to do this alone. I want to help you… and maybe… maybe there’s"
"Cait..." Vi started, but Caitlyn cut her off, both faster and still not finished. "Do you really think I want to do this? Looking for her?" She explained, her voice shaking slightly as she revealed the truth, "But listen, if there's the slightest chance of bringing your sister back, I'll do it. For you. Because it breaks my heart to see you like this.
"Cait, you don't have to do this-"
"But I want to" Caitlyn said firmly, "It's my way to make up for what I did to you and your family. And also this is my way of showing that I love you"
"You're hopeless" Vi smiled at her tiredly before returned the favor and kissed her.
"When did I have become the naive of us" Caitlyn joked
"You're not naive... you're incredible..." VI said, a warm smile forming on her lips.
"But what did you mean by we?" Vi asked, confusion flickering in her eyes. But before Caitlyn could even try to tell her that she had brought Ekko with her, her father's voice suddenly caught her sole attention.
"Oh, and you are?" her father's voice suddenly asked curiously, snapping them out of their moment. Both Vi and Caitlyn turned their heads to see Ekko coming slowly into the kitchen. Clearly, he hadn’t been waiting near the entrance but had instead moved closer to the kitchen, listening in - as if waiting for his cue . "Hey Vi," Ekko greeted them, raising his hand. "Ekko?" VI greeted him with wide eyes and completely stunned to see her childhood friend standing her girlfriends kitchen.
Hesitantly, Vi let go of Caitlyn, then turned to Ekko and pulled him into a powerful hug. "It's nice to see you Vi too", Ekko gasped as he returned the hug. After a moment, Vi's gaze shifted back to Caitlyn, silently searching for answers. But before Caitlyn could answer, Ekko interrupted. "Vi, you've been back for almost a week and you haven't even come to say hello," he said, trying his best not to sound accusing.
"I'm sorry. I wanted to visit you, but..." Vi felt a heavy lump forming in her throat. Ekko. He was the last surviving piece of her old life. And maybe that was why it hurt so much—to look into his eyes and face her past. It was a cruel irony. Seeing him was both a balm and a wound - a reminder of the life with her family that never was.
How could Caitlyn be so determined? How could she still believe that Jinx was alive when Vi had already lost all hope? Hadn't Vi always been the one who believed in her? The one who swore there was still something good left in Jinx. In Powder. Or whoever that blue haired girl was by now. Vi couldn’t shake the images of Jinx caring for Isha—like the big sister Vi should have been. Their bond had been pure, unwavering. Watching Jinx break after Isha’s sacrifice was unbearable. Vi swallowed as she gazed speechlessly into Ekko's dark brown eyes. Was Ekko really just here to visit an old friend, or had Caitlyn’s desperation reached him, too? But did hope even make sense anymore? Deep down, Vi knew, that she couldn’t bear the thought of Jinx leaving her willingly, starting a new life far away. Without her.
"It's okay, Vi." Ekko gave her a warm smile. "It really is. I'm just glad you're okay. And maybe I was a little worried since I hadn’t heard from you in so long. I knew you had gone to Noxus… but still."
"No, you're right. I should have gotten in touch with you sooner and not... sent Caitlyn instead," Vi laughed nervously. "Vi, it's okay," Ekko repeated, his voice steadier, more firmer and eager. "Since when do you worry so much about me, little man?" Vi teased, giving him a playful punch on the shoulder. She knew she should take this more seriously, that this wasn't the right answer. But it was the only way to keep her emotions at bay. Ekko was all that was left of the life she'd lost. And even though he was not her family, he certainly felt like it.
"Since..." His expression darkened with sadness. Vi and Caitlyn both knew exactly what he meant. Ekko sighed deeply before continuing, "A lot has happened. And I’ve realized how much everything we have means—especially our friendship. Seven years passed without seeing you. Then, six months ago, you just showed up out of nowhere... I thought you were dead"
"I'm not," Vi murmured, pulling him into a quick hug. Her words sent a shiver down his spine. She had no idea what he knew. He felt his heart grow harder, as he thought of the alternate universe, his alternate self. Being in his thoughts and unaware of his expression, Caitlyn reacted even faster than Vi, who then noticed it too. "Is everything okay?"
"I have to tell you something", he said with a serious voice.