Chapter 5
Vi wakes up the next morning, her body aching from the events of yesterday. She stares around the room, the weight of it all settling in. The glass she smashed against the wall has been cleaned up. The loose bandages and dirty towels are gone, leaving the room strangely tidy.
She stands up slowly, her muscles protesting, and heads to the bathroom. The med kit is neatly refilled, two fresh towels stacked beside it, along with a new set of clothes.
She cleans herself up, changing the bandages on her wounds and slipping into a soft, comfortable outfit. Once she's done, she walks out of the guest bedroom and heads toward their shared room. She opens the door, glancing around, but Caitlyn isn’t there. The bed is neatly made, and the window is slightly open, allowing a soft breeze to drift in.
Vi knocks on the bathroom door. “Cait?” No answer. She pushes the door open, but the room is empty. Caitlyn’s old eye patch and plaster are still on the counter.
Vi always helped to do this for Caitlyn when she couldn’t manage it herself—changing her bandages, cleaning the mess, comforting her when Caitlyn got lost in her thoughts.
At first, Caitlyn had needed it, but over time, she’d become frustrated with herself for being unable to care for her own injuries.
Vi sighs, cleaning up the small mess on the counter, then leaves the bathroom. She closes the bedroom window and steps out, quietly shutting the door behind her.
She walks toward the study, hoping to find Caitlyn there. Her head hangs low as she walks, absorbed in her thoughts. She’s so distracted that she almost bumps into someone. “Ah, s-sorry, sir,” Vi stammers, looking up to see Caitlyn’s father, Tobias.
He stops, eyeing the bruises on Vi’s face, but says nothing.
They both move to continue on their paths. “Caitlyn’s at the station,” Tobias says over his shoulder. Vi turns, giving him a small nod. “Thanks.” Tobias nods back and continues walking.
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Caitlyn sits at her desk in the station, rubbing her temples, the exhaustion of the day weighing on her. The evening is slipping away, and the last few people are leaving her office, bidding their goodbyes. She shuts the file on the shimmer factory and walks to the window. Outside, Piltover glows with the orange of the setting sun. Builders will start on the Hexgates next week.
But Caitlyn’s thoughts keep drifting back to last night.
She clenches her fist and punches the wall in frustration. The memory of Vi flinching at her, the hurt in her eyes—it makes her stomach twist.
Vi was right. Caitlyn buries herself in work to avoid facing the guilt eating at her. She distracts herself with the city’s problems, hoping that staying busy will make the guilt disappear. But it doesn’t. It never does. And deep down, she’s afraid it never will.
There’s a knock at the door, and Caitlyn stands taller, forcing herself to look calm, presentable. She smooths her clothes and takes a breath before calling out. “Come in.”
The door opens, and Vi steps inside "Hey." The moment Caitlyn sees her, her tense expression softens. She lets out a sigh and sinks back into her chair, her guard falling away. “Hi.”
Vi closes the door behind her, a small, hesitant smile on her face. “I thought you might be hungry,” she says, setting a bag gently on the table. She opens it, revealing the warm food and drinks she brought.
“I grabbed something from a food stand nearby. It should still be warm,” Vi adds, her voice softer now. Caitlyn stands and moves around the table toward her. She takes the bag from Vi’s hands and pulls her into a hug.
Vi freezes for a moment, her heart pounding. Then, slowly, she wraps her arms around Caitlyn, holding her tightly.
Caitlyn buries her face in the crook of Vi’s neck. “Thank you,” she whispers. Vi sways them gently, offering comfort in the quiet of the moment. For a brief instant, nothing else matters.
Caitlyn pulls away after a moment, her gaze falling on Vi’s bruised cheekbone. She touches it gently with her thumb, her touch tender. Vi winces but doesn’t pull away, holding Caitlyn’s hand in hers.
“I should thank you for cleaning up the mess last night,” Vi says softly. Caitlyn shakes her head, her eyes never leaving Vi's hand in hers. “It’s the least I could do,” she replies, her voice almost a whisper.
Vi sighs, letting go of Caitlyn’s hand, and turns her attention back to the food.
“Let’s eat before it gets cold,” she says, shifting some papers aside. Caitlyn helps, putting them into a drawer. Vi sits, opening the box, and Caitlyn sits beside her, handing her a fork.
Vi takes a bite, her eyes wandering around the office, but Caitlyn hardly eats. She moves her fork through her food, her appetite still distant, the guilt still weighing heavy on her chest.
“Vi… about yesterday…” Caitlyn starts, her voice hesitant. Vi swallows her food and shakes her head quickly. “Cait, it’s fine.”
Caitlyn puts her fork down, a frown forming. “You always say that, but it’s not fine, Vi.” Vi sighs and sets her own fork down.
“Cait, every relationship has its arguments,” she says quietly.
“But this—this is different.”
There’s a long silence between them, thick with unspoken words. Caitlyn looks out the window, her eyes clouded with regret.
“You’re right,” she says quietly. “I can’t handle the guilt anymore.”
Vi scoots closer to her. “I—I let my emotions get the best of me back then. I let someone take control of a city I was supposed to protect, just because I needed to fill a void. I hurt everyone. I hurt you.”
Vi looks at the table, unsure what to say, as Caitlyn opens up—something she’s rarely done before.
“You said it yourself,” Vi begins carefully, “your emotions took over. You were grieving, Caitlyn. Grief is one of the scariest things I’ve ever felt. Still feel.”
She picks up her fork again, her voice low but steady. “When the enforcers killed my parents, all I saw was red. I wanted to make them pay, hurt them the way they hurt me. But my old man kept me in check. I was just a kid, and there was nothing I could do.”
Caitlyn picks up her fork, though she’s no longer hungry. She takes a deep breath.
“Still… I’m sorry, Vi. For everything.”
Vi nods slowly, her gaze softening. “Alright, alright, Cupcake. Just eat your food before it gets cold so I can fix that eyepatch of yours.”
A small smile tugs at Caitlyn’s lips as she takes a bite of the food. Vi also takes a bite of her food, and they fall into a comfortable, quiet rhythm as they eat.
The door suddenly bursts open. “Comman—” The enforcer freezes when he sees Vi, his eyes widening in panic. “Never mind.” He quickly shuts the door, the sound of his footsteps retreating down the hall.
Caitlyn chuckles softly. “You really scared him yesterday.”
Vi grins, unfazed. “Not my fault your enforcers are such a bunch of softies.” She pops the cap off a bottle of water, taking a sip.