Work Text:
It has been a few weeks since the war officially ended. Vi had moved in with Cait after everything that happened. Officially she was just there to be with Cait to help her with her recovery. Most of her wounds quickly got better. She mainly continued to struggle with her missing eye and with the fact that her body still was feeling weaker than ever.
Unofficially everybody knew that Vi stayed with Cait for obvious reasons too. They had fallen in love, even though neither of them had admitted it yet.
Both of them had finally found their reason to keep going after everything they had lost. Still the past haunted them more than the future gave them hope. Nightmares interrupted their nights together in Caitlyn’s bed. While panic attacks and thoughts about who they had lost haunted their days.
_________________________________________________________________________
After another day at her desk, Caitlyn had decided to finally stop working on all the applications, complaints and requests about possible statements she had to face after the battle. As the (former) commander of Piltover it was her job to take care of everything she had messed up during the time when she was Ambessa’s doll. That's what she had been telling herself at least. Vi, as well as Mel, Steb and some other enforcers, were trying to convince her that she does not need to face the mistakes alone. Especially not so soon after peace had finally settled in again.
But Caitlyn was stubborn. Vi knew that better than everyone else.
As Cait arrived in her room, she immediately noticed that Vi was missing. Normally she would be in their room at this time of the day. Cait remembered what they had spoken about when they had breakfast together earlier.
~
“I want to explore piltover today a little”, Vi said while looking at Cait with a faint smile. “Sure Vi, I can do most of my work later today. When do you want to go?”, Cait replied. She was happy that Vi was finally willing to walk around the city where she will live in the future. “No Cait”, Vi started as her smile vanished. “I kinda want to go alone today. It's not like I don't want you with me but I think it would be good for me to explore it on my own.”
Caitlyn needed a second to process that. She had no reason to assume that something was wrong but still she felt a little hurt. “Oh. Of course. That's fine. Of course it's fine.”
“Cait?”, Vi asked concerned. She swiftly noted the mood change of her partner. “I mean it, Vi. It's fine. It's a good idea actually.” Cait tried to reassure her by putting on a fake smile. Vi knew her well enough already to understand what she really felt. “What's wrong Cait?”, she asked while holding Caitlyn's hand. “It really is fine. It's just the first time you won't be there while I work. I know my recovery is going well so it's not a problem, but that just hit me. I will be fine though. Dont worry about it.” This time her smile was more real. Maybe she was not fully comfortable with admitting it but she knew that everything would go well.
“I will try to be back before you are done.”, Vi said while running her thumb over the back of Caitlyn's hand. “You won't even notice that I was gone”
~
Immediately Cait began to worry. Maybe something had happened. Maybe Vi got lost or even worse she got into a fight. Maybe Vi didn't even explore piltover today. Maybe she went to the undercity instead and left her. She would have enough reason to do that.
As Caitlyns felt her own heartbeat get faster and faster, she finally snapped out of it. Vi was fine. She knew she was fine and would not need to worry. To calm herself down even more, she decided to take a shower. Through her room she entered her personal bathroom that she now shared with Vi. Vi didn't bring a lot of stuff with her when she 'moved in' with her. Most of the stuff that Vi used was originally Caitlyn's. Since that was not a problem for either of them, they wouldn't need to go shopping anytime soon.
Swiftly Caitlyn began to undress her clothes and step into the shower. The warm water did wonders to her state of mind. She forgot all the negative thoughts she had just a minute ago and was able to relax after her day at the desk. She even forgot about all the politics for some time. All the decisions she still needed to make and all the meetings she would need to attempt in the future. Her mind was pretty much empty. Too empty..
Emptiness was replaced by something she didn't think about for many months. 'Oil and Water'.
That's what Vi called their relationship before leaving her in the rain. “Wasn't meant to be”. Cait tried to snap out of it again but this time she couldn't.
Vi had left her again. She left like she did all those months ago. Again she was alone and again she was standing in her shower thinking about the person that left her. Exploring piltover was just something she said to make the goodbye easier. Cait was sure of it now.
She still didn't want to believe it but that's all she thought about. She felt her heartbeat get faster again while sweat mixed with the water still falling down on her body. Her mind went all the wrong places. Instead of remembering the good times she had with Vi, like the first time they layed in bed together before the council meeting or the night before the war in the prison cell, she recalled the time that she had hit Vi with her rifle. And now everything made sense. How did she ever believe Vi was able to forgive her for hurting her like that. It was stupid to think she was able to make up for all the crimes she committed as the commander. And it was impossible to make up for the worst thing she had ever done. Hurting Vi and pushing her away.
Suddenly Cait felt cold and hot at the same time. Her hands began to shake and her knees felt weak. Something in her throat felt wrong too since breathing became significantly harder. Looking up at the mirror close to her, she saw something that made her heartbeat even faster. Even though it could not be true, she was sure she saw the monkey that Jinx left the first time she had kidnapped her right in this shower.
“Not again..”. That's all she was able to think before anxiety took over. Her knees finally gave up on her and she quickly set down. Her breathing got faster and heavier as not enough oxygen seemed to find its way into her lungs. She began moving backwards until her back had met the wall. Maybe another time she would have been able to fight back whatever awaited her but this time she gave up. By pulling her own knees towards her body and holding her legs, she made herself as tiny as possible. She didn't even notice the water still falling down on her as her panic attack was controlling her completely. She felt sick and her whole body was shaking now. Her chest was hurting, her throat was dry and her limbs felt numb. But nothing was worse than the fear that had taken a hold of her. She was scared she would get kidnapped again…or worse.
Seconds turned into minutes as Cait was left helpless with her own mind.
_________________________________________________________________________
“Cait?”, Vi asked as she knocked on the door to their bedroom. Even though it's her own room now too, she still couldn't stop herself from knocking before entering the room every time. Not getting an answer she just decided to open the door. “Sorry I am late. I met Steb and we talked a little. He told me about new laws or something like that but I am not sure I understood everything.” After finally looking up and scanning the room, the smile she just had vanished from her face. The room was empty “Cait?”, she asked again.
Not soon after she heard the shower through the bathroom door. Relief quickly brought back that smile onto her face. “I am back Cupcake”, Vi said while standing close to the bathroom door. No answer came back. “Cait?”, she asked again, this time a little louder. The only thing she heard was the water coming out of the shower. She tried not to imagine what could have happened and decided to try to stay calm. Still she felt a little anxiety creeping in her chest.
“Can I come in Cait?” Her voice got even louder and she was sure Caitlyn would have heard her by now. But for the third time she didn't get an answer. It has been a few weeks since they shared their moment together in the cell. It was the first time they saw each other this vulnerable and it had not happened again since then. Pushing away the thought that it may get uncomfortable seeing Caitlyn fully naked in the shower, she just decided to enter. “Everything alright Cait?”
Nothing was alright. Vi needed a second to realize that as she looked at Cait curled up and sitting on the floor. A moment later she pulled up her shirt and threw it to the side while running towards Caitlyn. “Cait?!” Forgetting or simply ignoring the fact she still had her trousers on, she quickly entered the shower and turned it off. She hesitated a bit as she looked down at her but quickly decided to drop to her knees and wrap her arms around Caitlyn as she heard the way she was breathing and saw her shaking. “You are safe, Cait. I am here and everything will be alright”
She felt herself panicking a bit as Cait did not seem to react to her at all. “Please look at me, Cait. Cait please!” Vi's voice sounded more desperate now as she looked into the eyes of Caitlyn. For what felt like minutes, she stared into blank eyes that showed no emotions. Until suddenly something inside of Cait made her snap. In a matter of a second, her eyes went from showing no emotions at all to expressing too many emotions at the same time.
“No!” Cait screamed, not knowing who was currently touching her. Tears quickly ran down her cheeks as she tried pushing her possible kidnapper away from her. Feeling how Caitlyn tried to get her off, Vi let go for a second and really saw the horror in her eyes and face. “Cait. It's me. It's me Vi.” She sounded desperate while trying to reach Caitlyn with her voice.
For a few more moments, Cait's eyes were not able to focus on anything. They searched the room until finally settling on the person in front of her. She was not able to make out who it was but this person was too big to be Jinx. Seconds later she heard the person speak for the first time. It sounded like someone she knew. 'Actually it sounded like… it couldn't be'. That's what she is astelling herself at least. Then she saw the pink strains of hair close to the other person's face. 'This hair color..'. Again she began thinking about Vi. She was probably already living a happy life in the undercity without her. Her mind must be playing her a trick.
Vi tried to carefully reach for her again but was quickly blocked off. “Get off me! You…You are not real!” The way Caitlyn shouted at her, directly hit Vi's heart. But now was not the time to think about that. She needed to be strong for Caitlyn. “I am real, Cait. I really am.”, she began explaining while slowly reaching towards her hand again. This time she was able to get a hold on it and tried caressing it like she did so many times before. She needed to somehow show her it was really her. “I am here and you are safe, Cait. I won't let anyone hurt you again. I promise”.
Finally the fog that blurred Caitlyn's mind was starting to fade. Her breathing was slowly getting more steady again. 'Could it really be Vi in front of her?' First she began to notice powder blue eyes looking at her. Then she saw the same piercing Vi has on nose. And eventually her eyes focused on the many scars on the other person's face. The scar on their lip, the one on their eyebrows and the one over the tattoo on their cheek. She knew this tattoo. “Vi?...”
“Yes! Yes, it's me!”, Vi said while holding on to Caitlyn’s hand more tightly. “You are safe, Cait. You really are!” Her voice was a mixture of relief and still some remaining anxiety. Seeing Caitlyn like that truly hit her hard but being there to help made her happy at the same time.
“I… I thought you left me..” Caitlyn still struggled with all the emotions she had been through, while she slowly calmed down from her panic attack.
“No. Of course not Cait. I was just delayed. And I am truly sorry.. Why should I ever leave you?”
Vi watched as Caitlyn’s mind began thinking again. She also felt how her heartbeat increased a small bit again instead of decreasing. “You have enough reasons Vi… The way I acted the last few months… The decision I made.. The way I hurt you..” She wanted to give her even more reasons but was quickly interrupted by Vi’s hand carefully holding her cheek.
“Don't Cait. Not now. Maybe you did give me some reasons to think about everything. About us. But you gave me so many more reasons to stay. I… I love you Cait. I love you so freaking much. And I hope you know that”, Vi said emotionally. Finally one of them had admitted it. Admitted something that was so obvious.
Cait looked at her in shock. Obviously she felt the same, but hearing it still made her blush immediately. “Oh Vi… I..” She wanted to say it too but a shiver through her body made her pause. After all this time she finally felt how cold she was sitting on the floor fully undressed and wet.
Vi quickly noticed it not soon after. “It's alright Cait. I know what you wanted to tell me”, Vi said with a big smile on her face. “But first we need to dry you up and put you into some warm clothes”. Quickly she rises from the floor and puts one arm under her legs while the other wraps around her upper body. Using her strength, she easily lifts up Caitlyn from the bathroom floor, holds her close and starts walking out into the bedroom.
“V..Vi?!”, Cait said surprised as her cheeks blush even more red. She knew Vi was strong but still it caught her off guard. It didn't take long before she realized how nice it felt and how Vi’s warmth immediately calmed her down even more. In response she snuggled her own body further into the one of her partner.
“I will take care of you now Cait. As long as you let me”, Vi said happily. Things haven't been easy for either of them but together they could face all the problems in the world. And today was the start of something special.
“Forever Vi. Let's take care of each other forever..” Caitlyn’s Voice had become quiet. Not because she was still out of energy. But because she was safe now. Forever.