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Mel pulled at the loose string in the hem of her sleeve as she strutted towards the council room, her mind a tangle of worry and confusion, a pang of anger and even jealousy. She eyed the string as it slipped out of its place in the seamline, the way it distressed the elegance of its pretty design. She pictured the entire sleeve falling apart around her arm, the tight fabric releasing its suffocating hold on her limb. Mel was used to having to poke around for answers with her mother, but Jayce never made her chase. Their relationship didn't require much tug on her end; him always very willing to please her cause. However, things felt different now. The pair hadn't seen each other in such a long time, and Mel was expecting Jayce to run into her arms the second their eyes met, but things were different now. She still felt loved by him, he still kissed her hands when they sat together, he still looked at her like she hung the stars they gazed at every night, and gave her the best she's had in bed, but something just didn't feel aligned anymore. An unignorable shift in him made stress and doubt swirl in her stomach. Mel felt her breathing become shallow, her shoulders tense. Her mother warned her about Jayce, the dangerous of "professional entanglements" as she called them. Even now in death she mocks Mel for letting him in again. The sound of Councilor Shoola's heeled shoes brought Mel back to the surface, her eyebrows raised as her vision refocused.
"Everything alright Miss Medarda?"
The slender woman prodded. Mel nodded with her enchanting smile, inviting Shoola into the room with her. Mel sighed through her nose as she took in the new atmosphere. Mel was no stranger to change, her entire life dragging her through the lesson of expecting the unexpected, but Mel wasn't used to feeling like she had such little control. Ambessa made sure to keep Mel humble; to understand privilege and prevent it from spoiling her rotten, but she's always gotten what she wanted in life more-or-less. At least, in her life before Jayce Talis. Her life before Hextech, and Zaun testing its shackles from beneath her. Now, Mel wasn't sure what to make of her path. It wasn't so clear now. Her power nearly slipped through her fingers, resulting in a more cautious grip.
Mel peered around the room, taking in new faces and voices. A specific woman caught her eye. The woman was tall, stoic, and oh-so buff. Her tight top dug into the muscles of her broad shoulders and sides, her shawl pulled snug around her neck. Mel's eyes followed the twisted tassels of her shawl, leading her to her robotic arm. The arm was quite striking, the bright colors and design clashing with her very equanimous appearance. Mel stepped closer to bend an ear to her conversation, a deep sultry voice meeting it. The woman discussed the state of the Zaunites, how the council must truly bend to their needs for a chance at proper peace. Mel liked the way she spoke, the way she knew her voice carried weight despite being in a new environment and her cold expression. Mel swayed her curvy hips as she walked past the woman, -just to see- knowing how this specific dress emphasized her hourglass with its golden embellishments. A smirk wound its way across her face as she glanced back, meeting the woman's eye. "Made ya look." she thought to herself as she continued to her chair. She pulled her dress around her legs as she sat, draping it across her leg. Everyone followed to their seats in her lead, the woman nodding to close her conversation and take a seat as well. The new members of the council each stood with their sponsors to introduce themselves, the woman stood with Shoola, introducing herself as Sevika; a Zaunite. Mel attempted to pay close attention to what was said, a mix of how Piltover planned to move forward, what was to be done with the Hexgates now that Jayce had resigned from the council, and other things that Mel knew should've been important to her, but her attention kept drifting. Her gaze fell upon the muscular Sevika sitting a few seats down. Shoola sat between them, the curve of the table conveniently leaving her in Mel 's field of vision. Mel observed her posture, imperfect but attentive. She sat with her back against the chair, her flesh arm resting on the table. Whenever she spoke, she spoke passionately. Mel admired her dedication to the people of Zaun, how highly she spoke of her community, it was endearing. Sevika shot a few glances at Mel as she spoke of Piltover and Zaun finding a middle ground that actually considered the feedback of Zaun, Mel nodding her head in agreement. Throughout the rest of the meeting, the pair exchanged looks, the rest of the room seemingly not existing with them. Mel worried the tip of her finger as she peered at Sevika, a curiosity igniting within her gut. As the meeting concluded, Mel stood with an objective, inject herself into Sevika's space. Just for the hell of it.
Mel rose from her chair as everyone did, making her way toward the new bunch of members. The air felt tight around her; new figures filling the blanks where her allies once sat reminding her of their devasting, albeit merited, deaths. She hadn't truly mourned them, Cassandra and Heimerdinger's bearing the most weight on her heart. Salo and Hoskel were prissy fools who often made selfish propositions for their wealth's benefit. While Heimerdinger and Bolbok had their hearts in the right place, she would be lying to herself to believe they tossed and turned at night thinking about the unfairness Zaunites or even low class Pilties faced every day. The council members were the richest people in Piltover and they knew it. The Kirammans had contributed much to the living conditions of Zaun with Cassandra's ventilation system, and while Caitlyn backtracked the trust Zaun had for that system, it remained a good deed. Mel knew they needed more good deeds. With a few Zaunites now working in tandem with her on the council, she was comforted by the lack of backlash her plans to bring equity to the undercity would face.
"Councilor Medarda." A robust voice called.
"I hope there isn't an issue?" She turned to see Sevika, her eyes a good 7 inches higher than Mel's. Mel had to look up to make eye contact; information she smugly noted and stored away. "No issue at all, Councilor. May I ask what you speak of?"
She answered with her head held up high. She straightened her back to appear taller, not quite comparing with the lofty woman in front of her. "Whenever I spoke you looked at me rather intensely. Hopefully I didn't ruffle any feathers?" She inquired with a false tone of concern. Mel knew enough about Sevika to understand that she was no kiss-ass, and likely did not care about Mel's feelings enough to censor herself. "Oh, my apologies Sevika. You just capture my attention easily I suppose. Your passion is admirable; I look forward to working with you in fixing the deep-rooted civil issues that have cultivated themselves in Piltover."
Mel smiled as she began to walk away. "Cultivated themselves?" Sevika quoted, making Mel pause. "The 'civil' issues in Piltover originate from up here." She announced firmly. "Your people-" Mel began. "My people have been conditioned to be content with feeding off the scraps your people toss into sewers." She bit. "I can promise you co-existence but do not convince yourself that I'll allow the incorrect rewriting of the history we've lived through." Sevika grunted out before attempting to turn away with a nod. Mel raised an eyebrow at her snappy interruption, "Sevika." The tall woman turned around at her name, Mel stepping into her space. The thick scent of iron, leather, and earthy cigar buried her nose in this proximity. Sevika's mouth opened slightly as Mel looked up at her. "I do not undermine your people. Or you. I recognize we need to establish equality. Do not stock me as your enemy." Mel enforced. She noticed the way Sevika's jaw moved as she grinded her teeth. Sevika sighed heavily through her nose before speaking, "I see. It's easy to feel a little under pressure here. Forgive my haste." Mel gave her a simple smile before placing her hand on Sevika's broad shoulder.
"I'd enjoy if our relationship and understanding of one another was pleasant." With that Mel twirled around to away, being sure to show off her slender figure as she ambled away.
.
Mel awoke with a gasp as her body jolted, ripping her from the nightmares she'd begun having ever since her mother's passing. Ambessa's womb hugged her tight in these dreams; Mel had no idea how she even remembered it. Flashes of her mother blowing raspberries into her cheeks, throwing her into the air with the biggest grin. "My Mellie-Bellie can fly!" She would shout. Her families' faces began to fade, as much as Mel denied she could even be capable of that. Mel curled into a ball in her silk-coated bed. Memories of Ambessa and Kino would rot into horrible dreams of the two reprimanding her for her failures as a leader. The guilt she harbored in knowing Ambessa had to die in order to see her as strong; that she had to choose saving her city over saving her mother's life. Mel tried the breathing and counting exercises Elora taught her, another death weighing heavy on her spirit. She heard Elora's voice make her repeat double-digit numbers to "shut off" the emotional part of her mind and get the logical side running. Mel looked over at the other side of her large bed. Unoccupied. She pulled her loose hair behind her neck as she bent forward to sniff the spot Jayce usually slept, gripping the sheets as remnants of his musk filled her nose. Why couldn't he be here? Now? When she actually needs him? He would bend over backwards for Mel when they first started seeing each other, when she didn't care for him as much as she did now. Now, that she'd grown attached to him, began missing him, he was no were to be found. She wouldn't even bother looking for him. Jayce would just come up with another one of his abysmal excuses as to not come back with her. "I'm sorry Mel, I really need to keep my train of thought going. I'm so close to a breakthrough I can feel it." or "Viktor isn't doing well tonight, I won't be able to sleep if I'm not there for him." "Anything not to be there for me," she would always think.
She felt the hair on the back of her neck stand as her eyes welled up; the loneliness eating at her chest again. Mel took her deep breaths, she fisted the sheets with all the strength she had, but she couldn't stop the sobs once they started. She hadn't been making much effort to remove her makeup before going to sleep anymore, her mascara smearing onto her palms as she wiped her tears away. For the first time in her life, no one was coming to save her.
Mel shuddered as she inhaled deeply, hiccups jumping in her throat as a result of her uneven gasps for air. She stood to her feet slowly, the cold floor meeting her warm feet fully waking her up. She padded over to her lavish dresser that housed hundreds of pretty blouses, flicking on the small light resting on it while opening the second drawer. Out from the drawer was pulled a smallish wooden box, detailed with golden stars and a few chips in its waxy enamel. Inside was a tiny oil painting of her family; before everything. Next to it was a locket Mel was gifted as an apology from Ambessa when Mel was exiled. "Forever in my heart, even while separated by the seas." Mel never wore it, an act of rebellion in her anger. Her lip quivered as she read the engraved words to herself.
"Forever in my heart." Any composure Mel tried to keep from absent eyes broke as she raised the chain around her neck. A heavy thud echoed in her big room as she dropped to her knees, her cries bouncing off the undecorated walls. Mel called for her mommy, for her daddy, Jayce, knowing they wouldn't be coming to sweep her into a big hug. Goosebumps rose on her skin, the chilled floor stinging her legs and forearms. She swallowed her sob when her mother's words rang through her ears. "Get a hold of yourself, I raised you better." Mel smiled weakly at the irony of it all. She wished she got a chance to hug her mother one last time. She remembered how it took everything in her not to jump into her arms the first time they'd met after Mel became a mage.
"Oh Mother, you'd scoff at how pathetic I've let myself become." She held the locket tight as she walked to her tall desk, grabbing a small scissor from a glass holding paint brushes and pallete knives. She carved out the faces in the painting, her brother and father in one half, her mother in the other. She stored Ambessa in the left half of the locket, the side that would sit against her heart when she bore it. "Alright. Enough of this foolishness. I'm greater than this." She scolded.
Mel sat on the edge of her bed for a moment, debating if lying down in her blankets will even help her fall asleep. She decided against it and threw on a white cloak over her nightgown. Out into the night she walked, aimlessly. She had nowhere specific in mind, but a classy looking pub caught her eye as she languidly strolled down the road. The lights were still on, people still walking in and out of it. She walked into the pub; it wasn't too full given the time and the fact it was the middle of the week. A few people sat at the bar, one silhouette with a familiar metal arm meeting her eye. She chuckled lightly to herself as she stalked up to sit down on an empty stool.
"Rough night?" Mel said softly. Sevika jumped a little upon hearing her voice. She swallowed the alcohol in her mouth to respond to a disheveled Mel, a Mel she'd never seen nor even heard of before. "You could say, I quit smoking recently. 'Been trying to find a different outlet; though this isn't much better I suppose." She said shaking her head. Mel only nodded, not really having it in her to make some clever quip.
"What about you?" Sevika began as she placed her glass on the bar top. "Don't seem too party-animal yourself." Her words put a slight smile on the other woman's face. Mel opened her mouth to speak but furrowed her brows and hung her head to choke back a whimper. She put her elbows on the table and rested her face in her hand as she gripped the fabric of her cloak to ground herself. Sevika wanted to say something, hold her hand, or offer her a drink, but she was never very good at comforting people. She just waited for Mel to collect herself.
Mel drew back her hood before speaking, the lights of the establishment shining through her hair almost like a halo. Sevika had never seen this side of Mel before, the first time she'd ever even spoke to her being days ago. No one just sees the Golden Girl of Piltover with smudged makeup and dried tears on her cheeks unless you know her extremely well. "I've been better." She tried to laugh. "I don't- even know what to do with myself anymore. It feels like I've lost everything. I... I know, Piltover was saved, we beat my mother's raid, but I lost-" Mel's face twisted into such despair, it made Sevika hurt for her. Sevika was no amateur when it came to loss, none of the Zaunites were really. But Sevika knew how it felt to lose her family. She placed a heavy hand on the shaking woman's shoulder, her vibrating skin calming at the touch. "I get it; I do. I lost my mother too. You're a strong woman Mel Medarda. Arguably the strongest in the upper city." She looked at Mel with real concern, not a faux display of pity in attempt to get something from her. Mel stared into her eyes for a beat, just breathing. The first physical touch without strings attached she had felt in what felt like forever.
Sevika asked the bartender for something light, a cherry vodka mix, and offered it to Mel. "Don't want you to grow any bad habits but it just helps a little ya' know." Mel tried to decline while thanking her for her kindness, but Sevika insisted. She brought the glass to her lips, a faint line of lipstick marking the rim. The pair just stared at each other, warmth growing under the skin Sevika had her flesh hand resting on. They both ignored the feeling settling in their guts. Together they drank, telling stories of the moments they could remember about their families, Mel having more to share than the latter. "I remember this one night, my brother thought it would be hilarious to put dye in our father's shaving cream. He always shaved in the shower, far too early in the morning, my mother would lecture him for doing so because he'd nick himself with the blade in his tiredness. Every. Time. Kino and I woke up early the next morning and nearly died giggling when we heard our father let out the highest shriek, we had ever heard from him. He ran out to our mother with a towel covering himself. My mother shouted at him for nearly "killing himself" in the ass crack of dawn. Oh god, we were hysterical." Sevika snickered while Mel recalled her memories in such detail, likely highlights in her mind.
Sevika couldn't repeat what Mel was saying if asked. Maybe it was just the whiskey in her system, or maybe Councilor Medarda looked even more gorgeous than normal when she let herself feel. Mel was jaw-droppingly beautiful, everyone with eyes could tell you that, but tonight she was especially captivating. She silently adored how the golden markings on her face moved with her words. Sevika realized how strong of a facade Mel must have been putting on for her to seem like an entirely different person. She subconsciously dragged her hand slightly up Mel's shoulder, leaving it to rest on her nape. Sevika flexed and curled her thumb across her skin, something her mother would do whenever she held her. She let Mel talk for what felt like hours, not daring to interrupt her; she had nowhere to be anyway. When the bartender signaled to the two that the place was closing soon, they thanked him before standing, Sevika leaving a large tip. Mel realized how cold the air around her was without Sevika's presence so close. She felt the blood that had gathered where Sevika had been stroking her skin flow away, immediately missing it. Sevika held open the door for her, something that wasn't at all out of the ordinary for people to do for Mel. They did it for her all the time because of who she was. It felt a little more personal this time, though. Sevika didn't do it to impress her, or to flatter her ego; she did it just because. Maybe she did that for anyone, but that didn't matter now. Mel thanked Sevika again for the drink, to which the taller woman nodded. "Anytime." She draped her scarf around herself before turning away. Mel swallowed, she couldn't really be this lonely, could she?
"Sevika?"
She looked back before turning around again. "Yes Mel?"
Mel felt a pang in her chest, her name effortlessly slipping past Sevika's lips like it didn't make her heart do flips. "Do...Do you think you could, walk me home?" She asked with her hands folded against her thighs. Sevika smiled lightly at her. "I can do that." She replied.
The two walked in a comfortable silence, their shoes hitting the ground in tandem steps. It was so calming to not have to speak. Sevika didn't require anything from her, she just let her breathe. Mel broke the silence eventually, acknowledging a tall building in the distance. "That's where I used to live when I first came here." She pointed. Sevika squinted in the direction, making a point of how small it was compared to where Mel stayed now. Sevika told her all about buildings in Zaun, how the big places were usually factories and inns. She talked about her home; how tiny it was. She talked about how her father tried to be present, but rarely was, trying to provide for her and her mother. A melancholy air grew as she explained how her father just disappeared one day, her mother having to stand on street corners for pocket cash. "We thought he just died; we had no reason to believe otherwise. When I was maybe ten, I got angry at my mom and said maybe he just stopped loving us, but she yelled at me for even having the thought." Sevika pursed her lips, maybe a way to silence herself for opening up. Maybe she couldn't always just tell her business to strangers without it being used against her.
The new perspective pained Mel, Sevika was so stoic, and Mel would have never considered how tragic her past might have been. She took Sevika's large hand, her thin fingers looking teeny in her hold. A quiet gesture that spoke so loudly. Sevika didn't pull away, she didn't do anything. She just kept walking. They walked until reaching Mel's mansion, where Sevika walked up every step, all the way to the door. Mel didn't want to let it all go so fast, it truly had been hours since she went out, but Sevika made it feel like minutes. Mel still gripped her hand as she unlocked her door, already missing Sevika.
She turned to looked up at her with big eyes, a moment passing before pulling the bigger woman into the house by her arm. Mel's arms shot up to tangle behind Sevika's head, pulling herself up to press her lips against the other's. Sevika initially stunned, didn't fight it at first. She stepped back to lean on one leg as she tried reading the smaller woman. "Mel." She said with worry, Mel only had two drinks, but she knew nothing about her tolerance.
"Please." Mel almost begged. Sevika searched her eyes, not finding tipsiness, only desperation. Sevika took a deep breath before she dove back in quickly, her hands moving to tightly cup Mel's hips. Their lips danced with each other, sighs and huffs the only thing between them. Mel ran her hands through Sevika's hair, tugging on it a little. She slid one hand down Sevika's nape to grip her back, the muscle there flexing under her touch. Sevika walked Mel backward against the hallway's wall, trapping her. Not that she'd complain. They felt up and down each other's torsos, Sevika pressing into her sides with fervor. Mel kept Sevika's face close by her hair as she kissed her, the other doing the same by squeezing her waist and rubbing her own against it. She let out a groan as Mel licked at her bottom lip, pulling it with her teeth. She responded by raising her thigh to slot between Mel's, making her jerk. Mel slid her tongue into Sevika's mouth, grinding down on Sevika's leg. Pleasure shot up her tummy as she rocked over the straps and rips in Sevika's pants. Sevika opened her eyes to watch Mel please herself, moving her knee higher to meet her with every grind. Mel began moaning into their kisses, urging Sevika on. Their jaws flexed together, the kisses becoming increasingly messier. Sevika moved down to Mel's neck, licking the smooth skin. Sevika knew Mel had a reputation to uphold, so she wouldn't leave any deep bruises, not anywhere visible at least. Sevika hungrily kissed her neck, sliding her tongue up to jaw, kissing and biting it lightly. Mel rubbed herself hard against Sevika, nearly riding up her stomach as the pressure against her neck grew. Sevika moved one of her hands up to keep Mel's face still, kissing along her cheek and eventually her plush lips. They kissed like they'd never kiss again, their teeth knocking each other. Sevika began kissing down Mel's chest, slipping a finger into the v-cut bodice of her nightgown to pull it to the side and suck a deep, dark bruise onto her sternum right between her breasts. Mel's head fell back against the wall as the other woman licked her collarbones, her gown's strap sliding further and further down her shoulder.
"Sevika..." She huffed out. "Come." She said before grabbing the other woman's forearm and hurrying the two to her bedroom, occasionally stopping to make out again. Once the door was closed Sevika picked Mel up by her thighs and carried her to her bed, sitting down with the smaller woman straddling her. They stared into each other's eyes with heavy pants, Mel tipping her head to the side to offer her neck again. Sevika kissed it sweetly, unlike her previous kisses there, it was gentle and delicate. Sevika continued peppering light kisses on Mel's shoulder until meeting the strap of her gown. She paused for a moment to look up at Mel, to which she only nodded. Sevika tucked her fingers under the dress, lifting it above her head and discarding it. Sevika stared in awe at the patterns littering Mel's skin, running her fingers along them.
"You're stunning, you know. Like a painting." She said simply with a grin. Mel saw the gap in her teeth as she smiled, giving into the urge of kissing it. That kiss led to another, and another, until Sevika fell backward onto the bed, Mel shuffling forward to perch on her groin. She grinded down, intensely staring at Sevika while she watched Mel snap her hips back and forth on her. Sevika prodded at the hem of her lacy panties, to which Mel raised her hips and allowed her to slip them off. Sevika tried to kiss her again, but Mel placed her hand on her lips. "I won't be the only one stripping I hope." She said teasingly. With that Sevika sat up to rip her shirt past her muscular arms and shimmy out of her pants and boxers before grabbing Mel by the bicep and pulling her in again. Sevika hovered over Mel, pushing her legs apart to wrap around her waist. Mel complied easily, spreading them to fit around Sevika's wide hips. "That's a good girl." Sevika said, fanning the fire growing furiously in Mel's gut. Mel hauled her back in, the wetness between her legs finally meeting skin. Sevika pressed down against her pelvis, humping against it weakly. Her metal hand dug into the skin of Mel's hip deliciously, the prickle of pain making Mel let out a rather lewd noise. Sevika's flesh hand snaked downwards, finally sliding into her hot core. Moans rang throughout the room as Sevika mercilessly fucked Mel on two fingers, curling and flexing them within her. She used her other arm to lock Mel in place while she rubbed her thumb against her clit, making Mel look like she was glowing. No- She was definitely glowing. Sevika scanned Mel's body, the light emanating from the golden streaks traveling throughout her body like a liquid in tubes. Another fascinating attribute about her.
"Ah, fuck! Ough, Sevika!" She moaned out, pulling at the other's hair like she was trying to rip it out. "Fu- Harder." She whined. Sevika raised her eyebrows, chuckling at how disheveled Princess Piltover had become putty in her hands. "Say please, pretty girl." Mel took a moment to process, unable to control her whimpering. "Hng, Sevika, please, d-do me harder." She panted. She added a third finger, the stretch sending shocks through Mel's body. Sevika pounded her fingers in and out of her and left kisses behind as she traveled downwards. She lapped at the juices that began to flow out of Mel, her moans getting higher and higher in pitch as she did. She sucked her clit until it was a bright pink, he fingers still making harsh work in her. Like this, Sevika could see all of Mel. She watched lustfully as her breasts bounced with the rhythm she fucked her in, the way she scrambled for purchase in her sheets, how her legs a fallen completely open for Sevika, how her pretty moans still faintly carried her accent, how beautiful she was in every way. Sevika hummed into her pussy as Mel began to shake and thrash, her legs squishing her cheeks tightly as they locked around her head.
"I'm, Sevi- I'm" Mel's hands ached with the pressure of how tight she held Sevika's metal hand, rolling her hips to meet Sevika's tongue and fingers stronger. Fat tears ran down Mel's face as she tumbled closer and closer to her climax. Sevika moaned at the sight, the fair skin ran a deep red as she cried. "Do it Mel. Cum for me." Mel wailed as she peaked, her back arching off the bed. She nearly suffocated Sevika with her thighs as she rutted against her face. She rode out her orgasm, Sevika still lapping at her, drinking up her release. Mel's chest heaved as she wheezed, no amount of air enough to fill her lungs. Sevika sucked one last deep mark into the plump thigh beside her face before she rose from between her legs, kissing Mel like she needed to feed off her. Mel shakily wrapped her arms around Sevika's neck, kissing her with whatever strength she had left in her. "You're so pretty." She said. Mel smiled a weak but genuine smile. Her heart pulsed like it had wings as Sevika scattered her body with more kisses. "Pretty girl just needed some lovin' right?" Mel nodded as she sat up to meet Sevika's eye. "Feeling okay?" she said, running a finger along Mel's jawline. "A little worn out you could say." The pair giggled together before Sevika suggested a wash-up.
Sevika lifted Mel princess style, carrying her to a bathroom to clean her up. Mel sat in the warm water with her back against Sevika's chest, their hands folded on her stomach. Sevika kissed her head and shoulder, rubbing calming circles into her palm. "Too pretty," she said.
"Sevika?" Mel said, still looking into the water. Sevika hummed into her skin as a response. "Can you stay?" Mel sounded worried, scared even. Like she would collapse if she went another night alone.
"Yeah. Yeah sweetheart, I can stay. As long as you want me to."