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“Where are we going, Cait? You know that I don't like being patient”
VI was starting to get annoyed. Not in the bad kind of way. More in a way that her excitement was growing stronger and stronger but Cait wouldn't tell her what that ‘secret project’ was.
“I know Violet. But good things take a while. And if I tell you now, it won't be a surprise anymore.”, Cait said with a smile on her face. She held out her hand for Vi to grab after she put on her boots and her jacket.
Holding each other's hands, they left the Kiramman Mansion. A place they both began starting to call home now. Of course Vi was still getting used to living in a house of that size. Especially after her last homes were a basement under a bar, a prison cell and a tiny apartment in Zaun. Two of those she tried to forget as much as she could.
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Calling a prison cell a home was already fucked up enough. But after living in it for many years, it's hard not to have that connection to it. Yes it was always cold and yes the food was shit. But at least she was mostly left alone and had to share it with nobody else.
And then the apartment she had in Zaun. That's all her well earned money she earned from the fights in the pits could effort her. Technically she could have saved a lot more money for a better apartment but then she wouldn't have had the money for the drinks and bottles of alcohol. And she needed those to make her body stop feeling both the emotional and physical pain.
What she never wanted to forget was the basement she shared with her siblings Powder, Mylo and Claggor. Right under the last drop was a place she enjoyed calling home. Some of her favorite memories took place in the tiny beds or the old sofa they shared. She was so fond of those memories, that she even shared them with Cait. And while she didn't really tell her she lived under a bar, she still told her about the small basement she had loved to live in.
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Walking through the streets of Piltover still felt weird to Vi. She was getting more comfortable every time but she doubted it would ever feel right. Having Cait hold her hand helped a lot though.
She didn't know what she expected, but was still surprised when they moved towards the bridge that connected both Piltover and Zaun. It's been some time since she last crossed it. A few weeks at least. Her only reason to go there was Ekko but since he strangely began visiting her instead of the other way around for about a month now, she didn't need to visit the city she once lived in.
As soons as she stood in front of the bridge, Vi stopped and so did Caitlyn. “Are you sure about this Cait?”, Vi asked concerned. They never went to Zaun together before and didn't expect her to ever go alone. Even though a few months had passed since Caitlyn was known as the Commander of Piltover who haunted Zaun’s people, Vi was sure that a lot of people will never forgive her.
“I am sure Violet”, Cait turned to her with a reassuring smile. “It's actually not the first time I crossed the bridge in the last couple of weeks. Or how did you expect me to reb… to work on my secret project for you?” After almost ruining the surprise, she quickly recovered her confidence and continued. “Plus now I have got you by my side. I was never this safe before.” After giving Vi a quick kiss on her lips that swiftly washed away her concern, they continued their way to Zaun.
“So you're telling me you have been going to the undercity? Especially alone. You know how dangerous that can be, Cait?”, Vi asked more out of curiosity than wanting to blame her.
“I know how dangerous it would have been a few months ago. But as long as I don't go around telling everyone that I am the Commander that tortured most of their lives, I am actually pretty safe.” Vi had immediately noticed the change in Cait's voice as she called herself Commander. She knew how her former actions still haunt her and that she will never truly forgive herself for what she had done.
Trying to push those thoughts out of her girlfriend's mind, Vi gave Caitlyn's hand a little squeeze. “Sorry for bringing that up. I shouldn't have asked and I know what you are capable of.”
“It's fine Violet. Really. In fact it's kinda cute how much you care about me”, Cait responded teasingly and giggled a bit. Hearing that giggle and being able to see that beautiful and genuine smile on Cait's face, immediately lightened the mood of both of them.
They continued walking down the streets of Zaun, trying to blend in. The days were quieter than they used to be. It's easy to feel how many people both cities had lost when you look around to see closed up stores or empty playgrounds. But you can also see how most people moved on and started to rebuild their lives. The financial support Ekko and other parts of Zaun had received from house Kiramman really changed how fast they were able to move on. Being gone for a few weeks and seeing the many changes brought a smile on Vi’s face. She thought about asking Cait if they could afford spending so much money on Zaun but quickly remembered how rich Caitlyn and now her too really were.
Lost in her thoughts she didn't realize how Cait had stopped. Had they finally arrived? “Are you going to finally tell me what you have been working on Cait?”
“Not yet”, she responded while pulling out something from her pocket. With a smile on her face she presented a blindfold to her girlfriend.
The look of surprise on Vi’s face didn't last long and was quickly replaced by a smirk. “You want to use them right here? I knew you were kinky but I didn't expect that”
Cait immediately begins to blush. It only took a few seconds until both her cheeks had turned into a soft red. Unable to form a proper sentence, she decided to smack Vi’s arm playfully. “V.. Violet!?”
Vi couldn't stop herself from laughing and also didn't care about who could hear her. Caitlyn however just got more embarrassed as more people turned to look at them while she tried to hide her blushing as best as she could. Only when Vi was done laughing, the people began facing away from them again. “Sorry Cait. But I just couldn't help myself”
“Remind me why I love you again”, Cait said trying to sound annoyed but failed. “Actually don't. We don't have all day. Will you put it on now please?” She asked while handing Vi the blindfold.
“Yes Ma'am”, Vi replied teasingly while putting on the blindfold. For a second she thought about how stupid this would have been just a few years ago. Making yourself blind on the streets of Zaun was an Invitation for literally anyone to steal something from her or worse. But now she had Cait next to her who she trusted more than anyone in the world.
“Stay close and don't peek ok?” Cait said softly while interlocking her own arm with the one of the girlfriend. Together they continued to walk another two or three minutes. She felt how Vi was growing more impatient with every step they took. And after turning around one more corner they had finally arrived.
Cait was sure Vi would love what she had come up with. At least that's what she thought for the last few weeks. Being this close to actually seeing her reaction made her anxious. What if she actually hates it? What if she messed up again? What if …?
“Cait? Why did we stop?” Hearing Vi’s voice quickly pulled her out of her thoughts. Now was not the time to think about what could go wrong. This was Vi’s moment and she wanted to see her reaction.
“We arrived, Violet. Are you ready?”, she said while grabbing the edge of the blindfold on Vi’s face, ready to pull it off. Vi only nodded in response as she felt her heartbeat increasing in anticipation.
“Surprise!”, Cait said while pulling off the blindfold.
Vi needed a moment to adjust to the light. Her mind clearly played a trick on her cause she could swear she was standing in front of the last drop. The bar she grew up in. But that's not possible. It was destroyed. It looked just like all those years ago. Every detail seemed to be at the right place. The only difference being that it looked brand new. It still had the Zaun touch to it but it was clearly a new building.
“But… how?”
Those were the first words that came out her mouth after a few more seconds. Another few seconds later she felt tears forming in her eyes that she didn't even try to stop. What she was seeing was beautiful.
For a brief moment, Cait was unsure whether she messed up again or if Vi was happy. But seeing the big smile on her face quickly reassured her. Silently she continued taking in Vi’s reaction.
“I don't know what to say, Cait. This is incredible.” She turned around to face Caitlyn. Her face showed a mix of emotions but most presently it portrayed the love she felt in that moment.
“You don't have to say anything Violet. I know how important the last drop is for the undercity. And I know how important it is for you too”, she said with a smile on her face. Seeing Vi this overwhelmed made her feel incredible.
“Again.. How?”, Vi asked still confused. Building a bar is one thing. But rebuilding every detail of the last drop was still impossible in her head.
“Ekko told me about the bar first. About how the undercity came together under this roof. He also told me what it meant to you. That this is the place you grew up in.”, Caitlyn began explaining while holding onto Vi’s hand again. “I came here to ask around if anybody still had the original design plan for it. Instead I found someone who draws paintings and luckily she had a few showing the last drop too. I sadly didn't find anything showing the basement… so I decided to build a small apartment there. But you can change it again obviously. If you ever want to stay in Zaun, then this is your second home now.” She finished while placing a set of keys in her girlfriend's hand. “All of it is yours”
Vi's eyes began moving around. For a while she looked at the last drop, then she looked at the keys in her hands and lastly she looked at Cait's face. She knew her well enough to see a little bit of anxiety still written in her eyes. But she also knew how she could get rid of that. Quickly she leaned in for a short but reassuring kiss.
“Ours Cait. It's our second home”