Chapter Text
Waking up for the first time after years at Vi's side is definitely an experience, starting with the fact that they both have a hard time waking up (something they are sure hasn't happened to them in years). And even though at some point in the morning you wake up, Vi's warmth along with her warm embrace coaxes you back to a sleepy state again.
Your bodies feel heavy, but at the same time light. You are a tangle of limbs, but somehow you managed to stay hugged (or something like that) for the rest of the night.
Ekko tries to pick you up in the morning, and although he respects your privacy, not hearing you respond ignited a spark of concern. At this hour you're usually more than awake and active, but there's not half a trace of you. So the sight of the two of you cuddled and fast asleep catches him off guard, and he doesn't have the heart to wake you, so he just goes back outside as quietly as he can and carefully closes the door.
The people in the kitchen see him pass by and ask about you, wondering if you've left the lair before (even though they know you always let them know when you know it's going to happen) or if something had happened to you, since it was the second time you didn't show up, something unusual for you. Ekko just shrugs and casually replies "She's fine, she's just resting".The people in the kitchen are surprised and quickly turn to look at each other. Ekko can't blame them, a part of him is surprised too. In all the time they've all been here, they've never, ever seen you rest of your own free will. It's always because of some injury or illness, always fighting with Ekko, claiming that you're fine, that you can still help.
So everyone is quite happy when they hear that you've decided to rest a little more that morning. Although they don't really know (except for Ekko) that it's all due to Vi's uncanny ability to relax you and make you feel calm enough to sleep a couple of hours longer.
🦋
It is almost noon when they both finally manage to wake up.
The first to emerge from sleep is Vi, opening her eyes slowly, blinking repeatedly to adjust to the light (in fact, she finds it strange, even disturbing for a second to wake up in such light when she's so used to waking up in the dark cells of Stillwater). Her eyes move slowly along the walls, acknowledging her surroundings, reminding her head that she is no longer in prison, that Caitlyn got her out the day before, remembering everything else that had happened. Which leads her to remember where she is right now. More precisely who she's with. Her eyes drop down to you, your face is inches from hers and she can feel your breath through the arm she has around your waist. She knows you are real, she knows you are there.
Oh, my goodness. You're there. You're there with her. You are not a hallucination brought on by exhaustion or a beating.
She hugs you against her body tightly and gently. She rests her head against the crown of your head and breathes in the scent of your hair. A mixture of smoke and spices. She leaves a kiss there and closes her eyes, breathing slowly. Finding comfort in the moment and enjoying it. She hear a low moan come out of your mouth before you pull away from her long enough to look into her face.
You feel confused, your head feels strangely light and your body very relaxed. You're not used to waking up like this. You blink a couple of times and yawn as you register the presence beside you. A part of you feels embarrassed. What did you do now that you don't remember and that you will (probably) regret later?.
But when your gaze clears and you focus on the girl in front of you, all your doubts and anticipated regrets vanish. In front of you, Violet is watching you with a relaxed, affectionate smile. Her head is lying back on your pillow and her hair is disheveled.
Say you're surprised is an understatement.
You're too sleepy to take in everything you're feeling at this very moment, so... You just admire her. You realize that her cheek isn't the only thing where she has a tattoo. Yesterday you were so nervous that you didn't notice it, but now, holding her next to you, you notice the nut-shaped tattoo on her neck, and the t-shirt you lent her reveals her tattooed arms. Your eyes roam over her, and you are tempted to move to see how far the tattoo goes.
Vi, on the other hand, just watches you, but a part of her feels nervous about the way you look at her. She knows she's attractive. Jesus, God knows she's been told that too many times for her own good (and she's no stranger to how attractive she looks, honestly). But you don't look at her lustfully. You don't see her as if she's the sexiest thing you've ever seen. No. You see her... as if she deserves to be seen. You see her with such awe, such fondness. Your eyes are curious as you watch the curves painted on her muscles, as if she's the most amazing, coolest thing you've ever been able to observe. And she doesn't know how to feel about that. She's never really thought she deserved to be seen that way.
To be seen vulnerable.
And when you decide to raise your hand to gently trace the inky lines she doesn't stop you and she doesn't pull away either, because she knows she is safe here with you. Because she enjoys the way you look at her (and touch her), she enjoys this intimacy.
"It's a great job. Did you get them done in Stillwater?" your voice still sounds sleepy, and she can't quite take in the gentle way you speak to her.
She answers you with an affirmative murmur "It's pretty amazing what some people can do in prison with ink stolen from some guard and some toothpicks."
Your eyes widen a little at her response, but it is quickly replaced by a smile settles on your lips "Yeah, you betcha."
Vi doesn't think much about it, indeed, she doesn't even think about it, it just comes out of her mouth "But the tattoo on my back is even better".
That seems to wake you up enough. You sit up abruptly, startling Vi a little "No fucking way" pulling her out of place, she blinks a couple of times at you, as she notices the excited smile on your face "You have to let me see it".
Vi's cheeks soon turn a soft shade of pink at your words. She opens and closes her mouth a couple of times not knowing what to respond, and a part of her feels frustrated at feeling so self-conscious. She's been totally naked in front of women before (and in much more intimate ways than this), so why does she feel so shy at your request?
She doesn't realize how long she stays quiet and lost in thought, but you clearly do, which makes you wonder if you've just overstepped a boundary, if you've made her uncomfortable with your request and screwed things up "I mean-" your eyes flick nervously around the room, your hands shake nervously and a strained smile graces your lips "You don't have to if you don't want to. It's a stupid request, I'm sorry if I just made you uncomfortable, it just sounds like a really cool thing to do and I just wanted to-"
"Okey"
"Huh?"
Vi lets out a small laugh at your reaction, a soft smile lingers on her lips "You caught me off guard, Sunshine. But it's okay, I'll show you the tattoo" The pink still lingers on her cheeks, and her smile is slightly embarrassed.
"Vi, seriously, if this makes you uncomfortable you don't have to-"
"It's okay, Sunshine" Vi repeats softly, taking your hand and giving it a squeeze "I... I know I'm safe here... With you. And I really want to let you see it" your expression softens at her words, your eyes looking into hers with a warmth and affection that she's not ready to face. At least not yet. "Besides, I know how much you like to have references to draw from" she says teasingly as a smirk replaces the soft smile of a few seconds ago, which elicits a chuckle from you.
Vi sits up and turns around with her back to you, and although from that moment you can see a piece of her tattoo on her shoulder blades, you are not prepared for what you are about to see. Vi takes a deep breath as she grabs the ends of the t-shirt fabric, fiddling with nervous fingers. Finally she takes the ends of her sides and lifts the garment up, pulling it over her head and leaving it on her arms to cover her entire front. And the first thing that greets her after the sound of the fabric passing over her skin is silence and your soft breathing. Vi almost always has a witty comment, a flirting phrase, something. But right now she doesn't know what to do.
Say something, please.
Her breath feels stuck in her throat, and she feels strange. Normally she doesn't care what people think of her, but with you it's different. What would you do if you think the tattoo is awful, if you think she's awful? What if you find her unpleasant? If her back is too toned instead of delicate and feminine and you dislike that. What if it's not enough? what if it's not-?
"Violet this is so..." and she is ready to hear any horrible word come out of your lips, she is ready to hear that she is too masculine or anything like that. So when you softly complete "Violet this is so beautiful" (You are so beautiful, you want to say) she knows she is lost.
Your eyes scan up and down her back and you pull back a little to get a better look at her, and soon you realize you feel as if you are under a spell, mesmerized by the sight of her bare back. You watch every stroke, every line of ink on every defined muscle on her body. Your cheeks along with the tips of your ears feel hot, and you make a great effort to keep your hands on your thighs "Can I...?" You get caught for a moment in your throat, you feel nervous, and you're afraid this time you'll break a boundary and make her feel very uncomfortable. You're afraid to fuck things up "Can I touch your back?".
Vi feels you stop breathing for a second. The air becomes tense for a few seconds, and you're about to take back your words and apologize when you catch the soft nod she gives you. You take a breath before lifting one of your hands gently, bringing it to the center of his back, where two large circles and lines of dark ink divide his shoulder blades "I'm going to touch you now" your hand stops below the circles, over the strokes of nuts and lines on his spine and shoulder blade. Your thumb traces the circumference delicately, your eyes dart around curious and amazed at each piece of exposed skin. You bring your hand up to trace the lines of smoke, and you don't realize at what point your other hand lands on Vi's waist, you just feel her body tense a little more, but you think it's because of your attentions.
Vi sits there, straight and as stiff as a broomstick. Her hands are pressed against her thighs, holding tightly to the cloth of the clothes she still keeps in her arms to cover her chest. She can't help it if every so often a shiver runs through her, causing her to give a little jump, only to immediately hear a whispered apology from you. But she doesn't feel able to respond, mistrusting her own voice to give you a proper answer. She feels your fingers trace every muscle and inky line with soft, loving touch as she feels the thumb of your other hand trace distracted circles on her waist. She doesn't know how to feel, a part of her feels incredibly warm and nervous, while another part of her feels calm and somewhat anxious, insecure, I might say. But it is specifically at a shallow caress that traces her entire spine to her lower back that makes her thighs clench, and she has to keep her mouth shut and almost bite her tongue to keep from letting out an embarrassed sound. But you're too distracted and amazed to notice.
Your hand slides several times across her skin, and you soon realize that this was a bad idea. Because you feel it's not enough. You feel like you need to trace every bit of her, that you need to kiss every inky line, every muscle, every mark....
But you know you shouldn't.
So you admire the tattoos for a few more seconds, your thumb making circles on her left shoulder in a groove-shaped tattoo. And before you can even think about it, your body acts on its own, pulling you closer to her other shoulder and leaving a kiss there "Thank you" you murmur, still next to the skin you just kissed, leaving a tingle there.
"It's nothing, Sunshine" although in reality, Vi feels every part you touched on her back (and even parts you didn't even touch) tingle
🦋
Later, when you are both dressed in your usual clothes and much more relaxed, you both chat as you make your way to the dining room, where a very anxious Caitlyn is standing in the food line.
A malicious grin climbs to your lips "Do you think her majesty is mad at us?" you ask teasingly before giving her a playful look.
She lets out a snort at your gaze before turning hers to the enforcer "Yes, I think so" her gaze softens and a tender smile covers her mouth, her eyes look away "But it was worth it".
And as they both approach Caitlyn all you can think about is how glad you are that Violet is back in your life.
🦋
Caitlyn was very tempted to ask them what took them so long to wake up so late, but, honestly, she didn't want to know. So she preferred to keep her mouth shut rather than find out things she didn't want to know (even if none of what she thinks actually happened).
During the day, Caitlyn, Ekko, Vi, Scar and you put everything in order so you all can leave to take the crystal in a few hours. You come to the conclusion that only Ekko will go with Caitlyn and Vi to talk to the council, but that you will still accompany them to the bridge to make sure everything goes well before returning to supervise everything (along with Scar) at the tree. And your mission out of the sanctuary would be postponed until they could get everything in order.
And despite your best attempts, you can't stay with Vi for more than five minutes before something requires your attention (Plus, you're embarrassed to interrupt Vi and Caitlyn while they're talking, you don't want to seem nosy... ), so you really only spend some time together at lunch before you get back to some important situation.
Which gives you time to think.
You know you have feelings for Vi, even after all these years, it's still there. But you know that, despite what you both would most like, she's not the same. But you want to get to know this new version of her. Rather: You want to fall in love with her changes instead of just the past.
But you are afraid. What if she's not interested in who you are now?
What if she doesn't like you?
And that's not all. There's something. Something in the way she look at Caitlyn, the way she talk to her, the way she smile at her. Maybe you're delusional, but you've seen enough people over the last 7 years to know that Vi, at least, is attracted to the enforcer.
And you don't feel able to compete against that.
You'd much rather see her be happy with someone else than ruin her friendship with your complicated feelings.
So you reinforce your walls and build new ones in your heart.
. . .
But Vi, on the other hand, doesn't know exactly how she feels. It's all happening too fast and she can't process everything she's feeling.
She knows she's attracted to Caitlyn. She think she's smart, attractive (God, too attractive) and she know's she's a good person, but she know even better that she loves you. That she's in love with you and wants to love the person you've become. That you seem the most beautiful and attractive person to her even after all this time. She wants to know every new like and dislike, to know what makes you laugh and all your new quirks. She wants to be a part of your life.
But just like you, she's terrified of messing things up. Even this morning's event! Should I consider it as something beyond friendship? You... Were you attracted to her or was it mere curiosity? Is it just physical or does you like her too?
Are you in love with her?
She has so many unanswered questions. And she's very tempted to ask you to get an answer. But... She just got you back. She doesn't want to screw things up.
Besides, what if the person you are now doesn't manage to match with her?
Her head is spinning and her feelings feel tangled in her chest and give her a headache. She know's that right now her number one priority is to find Powder, but you also want to resolve this dilemma of emotions.
They are both so in love that they would rather see the other be happy from afar than risk screwing up their friendship with complicated feelings.
But at the end of the day, it's Violet who decides to step up and put her hands in the fire.
Or at least that's what she intended.
🦋
Once night falls over the streets of Zaun and Piltover, the four of you leave the lair and make your way to the bridge that connects the two cities. On the way you notice Vi something... Distant. She looks at everything with curiosity and confusion, and it seems that a part of her is not quite there. You walk beside her, your eyes searching everything for threats, but at the same time you take a moment now and then to look at Vi, and you know she's thinking too much. She still has that look she had as a child, the one where her eyebrows furrow, her eyes narrow and seem distant, her jaw tenses and her lips grimace. You move a little closer to her and carefully intertwine your pinky with hers. You remember that physical contact always did Violet good in these types of situations, however, you keep your grip loose in case that is no longer the case. Vi seems to snap out of a piece of her trance at the contact, her gaze is now focused on her connected limbs, but she's not quite there yet. You give her a few moments and make sure she's not uncomfortable with your proximity before making another move "Is everything okay?".
Your question finishes reconnecting her with her surroundings. Her eyes clear and her hand moves to hold yours instead of just your pinky. Her gaze moves to yours, softening as she meets your eyes. She nods slowly as a lazy, almost shy smile spreads across her lips, yet she says nothing.
But that's enough for you.
And when you reach the bridge you all stop at the edge. Ekko and you look ahead with a sense of dread, while Vi looks down at her boots as she holds your hand tightly. Caitlyn glances at the bridge before returning her gaze back to you to continue the plan, but everyone remains in awkward silence for a few seconds until finally Ekko decides to break the tension by turning towards your figure. His eyes connect with yours, and Caitlyn can swear that the two of you are having a conversation through your gazes (and they probably are, a product of the years you've been working together - plus, he's your brother). Ekko chuckles and you can only smile in amusement "I guess I'll have to let you take care of the tree while I'm gone."
"It took you a while" you reply teasingly as he rolls his eyes.
This is an inside joke between you. After the firelight society came to life and you quit your job, Ekko made sure to take over almost 100% of the tree and the firelights. While he split some of his leadership responsibilities with Scar and you (his second's-in-command), he tried to make the full weight fall on him and his partner, never letting you help more than was just and strictly necessary in the larger affairs of the tree "You've taken over everything - from both of us for far too long. Let me take care of this" he had asked (almost begged) you one night when he insisted that you should rest and let him take care of things. So you were more like a... Third/Fourth in command? Sometimes Ekko preferred to let anyone take over as long as he could keep you from worrying (even knowing that you will because you'll find out somehow).
"Don't get used to it" He replies teasingly as he approaches you. On your side, you gently let go of Vi's hand (who notices when you pull your hand away and part of it returns instantly) to receive the embrace of your brother, who once in your arms let out a shaky sigh as he tightens his hug "Everything is going to be okay" you whisper softly, holding the back of his head in a comforting gesture you've had with him since he was a child. You know that what he's about to do is a big step and means so much to the cause you both have, so you offer him all the support you can.
When you both finally let go, you both give each other a firm nod, even though you can't help but smile at him, sometimes you forget that he is no longer a child who needs to be taken care of and it makes you nostalgic, but at the same time it makes you extremely proud. Caitlyn and you connect glances and nod to each other and then rest your gazes on Vi, who has been very quiet during the ride.
"Vi ?"
She lets out a sigh before looking at the three of you, and you notice that her eyes linger a few seconds longer on you "I can't leave them" Her eyes return to Ekko and Caitlyn with decision "not again".
Her words have a curious effect on you. On one hand, your heart skips a beat in excitement knowing that she will stay in Zaun, and that one of the reasons is you, but at the same time your heart squeezes and your stomach contracts knowing that the other reason is Jinx. You know better than anyone, you know that Vi wouldn't give up on her sister so soon, and you understand that. You would do the same in her situation.
But Jinx doesn't know any of this from her position on the bridge post.
"Why are they taking so long?..."
Her head is a mess. The voices echo and her heart is a tangle of threads that tighten, unravel and tangle again and again.
She knew she must have considered this option when Violet returned to Zaun. Of course she wouldn't want to run back to this shitty place. What a fool, she'd obviously go with that damn nasty Piltie.
Leaving her again.
Damnit
The voices scream, the voices talk, the voices won't even let her think.
Don't fool yourself, you know why she's leaving and you know why she's gone.
She hates you
Back then she said she needed space, but you know better than that.
Shut up.
She didn't want you then, she doesn't want you now
You're a nuisance.
Shut up.
You're a jinx.
And then she sees her sister say goodbye and walk away holding hands with the one she once called her sister as the other two continue on their way. And the voices finally fall silent.
She stays.
And she is tempted to get down and go where they are going, but decides to wait to see how it all plays out.
And the voices come back when she sees the hextech gem on Ekko's artifact, and they get even worse when she sees you and Vi running back to where they are.
She could have fought for you years ago, but he didn't. Why would he do it now?
Why would she do it now?
"Liar."
🦋
When they reach them the bridge is covered in smoke, and the intense light at the beginning of Piltover almost blinds you, but among all that you manage to find Ekko's body, and, damn, how glad you are to have made him the bulletproof metal.
Behind you Vi checks on Caitlyn, who has sliced her leg open, you lose yourself in the way she holds her, the way she looks at her... But you hear footsteps and your gaze stops on Jinx.
No, shit, not now
Ekko stirs in your arms. "she have it" you whisper, knowing he is aware enough to understand you. You hear him curse under his breath before carefully getting up "I'll get her, you stay here and catch it" The air remains heavy at his words, he exchanges a quick glance with you before reaching for his tablet "You'll have to take the stone with the council".
You panic, your eyes widen and your heart sinks in your chest "Ekko, don't-" but you don't have time to speak, Jinx has started shooting and Ekko has shot off on his board towards Jinx. It all happens in the blink of an eye, and before you know it you have the container in your hands "Go with them, Sun."
"You can't-"
"Now."
Shit.
Your gaze hardens, and maybe you're gritting your teeth a little too hard on the inside of your mouth, but you still give her a quick nod before walking over to Vi and helping her carry the enforcer.
You are almost off the bridge when you hear the bang and feel the floor rumble, pink smoke is everywhere and the smell of gunpowder fills the air. Jinx detonated a bomb.
No, fuck, please don't. God, don't take him.
And there's only one thought in your head. You have to go back, if there's a chance to save your little brother you have to go.
You hurry up and help Vi to a hallway, and as she puts Caitlyn on the floor you unhook the container and give it to the injured woman. You hear the footsteps of the executioners in the distance. Shit, you don't have much time. You dismount your board, activating it as you walk at a brisk pace to the start of the alley.
"Wait."
But you don't listen, you're just setting your board afloat when a tug stops you "Where are you going?"
"Let me go, Violet" Your voice is strained as you try to wiggle out of her grip "I need to go" The footsteps sound closer, but you still have time. You need to get out now. "I need to get back to the bridge" your heart hammers hard, so hard it hurts. Your breathing quickens and you feel the tears building up in despair.
"Sunshine, you can't go back now, the enforcers-"
"HE'S MY BROTHER" Your voice echoes off the walls and a sob sneaks in at the end of your sentence, you're shaking and frustration fills your body "If there's any chance of saving him- both of them-... " you whisper through tears and sobs, looking with a hardened gesture at the woman in front of you "I have to go back."
"Sunshine-"
"And I need you to stay here and make sure everything goes well" Your words leave no room for doubt, and Vi's heart is squeezed as you climb onto your board.
And holding back tears she watched you leave, because she couldn't make you stay, not when she knew how you felt.
And this is so fucking wicked, such a fucked up play of the universe.