First Spring in Piltover- Vi (Arcane) Allergies

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Spring had arrived in Piltover, a season full of life, vibrant colors, and blossoming flowers. The city, known for its towering spires and industrious heart, was now blanketed in hues of pink, purple, and yellow. The streets were lined with lush gardens, the air filled with the delicate scent of fresh blossoms, and the sound of the wind rustling through trees seemed to whisper the promise of renewal.

But for Vi, none of it felt like a celebration.

“Bless you,” Caitlyn said, turning to her partner with an exasperated but affectionate smile as Vi sneezed for the fifth time in the span of a minute.

Caitlyn and Vi were out patrolling the streets of Piltover, on their usual day to day rounds one especially warm day in late March.

Vi sniffled, rubbing at her nose with the back of her hand. She looked miserable, her eyes red and watery, her face flushed from the constant sneezing that seemed to come in relentless waves.

“Ugh, thadks,” Vi grumbled, scowling at the world as if it had betrayed her. “I dod’t ged id. I’ve never had this problemb before. What the hell is happeding to mbe?”

Caitlyn cooed softly at Vi’s stuffy voice and reached over to gently stroke her cheek, then quickly adjusted the strap of her rifle as she continued to lead them down the cobblestone path near the Piltover gardens. “It’s called hayfever, darling. You’re allergic to pollen. This is your first spring here, right?”

Vi glared at the flowers blooming in the distance, as if they were conspiring against her. “I didn’t sign up for this. It’s just... it’s just...”

She sneezed again, her body jerking forward with the force of it, a sharp “hhUH’schew!”

“Bless you,” Caitlyn repeated, a bit more sympathetically this time. She slowed her pace, her gaze softening as she watched Vi try to control the relentless tickle in her nose.

“I’m fine,” Vi muttered, brushing away the tears that were starting to form at the corners of her eyes. Her voice was hoarse now, as if the constant sneezing had already taken its toll on her. “I can handle it. Just... just need to get used to it, right?”

Caitlyn raised an eyebrow. “You sure you’re fine?”

Vi nodded, but her expression was anything but convincing. “Yeah, yeah. I’m good. Let’s keep moving. We’ve got a lot to—”

Her breath hitched suddenly, and her eyes widened.

“hEH’dshoo! hhH’gGGKTCHHUHh!”

The sneezes caught her by surprise, causing her to stumble a little. Caitlyn immediately reached out to steady her, a concerned look on her face.

“Bless you, sweetheart,” Caitlyn said again, this time holding back a laugh as she helped Vi regain her footing. “You really don’t look fine. Maybe we should go home.”

Vi sighed and adjusted the gloves on her hands, a futile attempt to distract herself from the miserable sensation that had overtaken her. “It’s just... It’s just spring. I’ve been in Zaun my whole life, Cait. I wasn’t exactly exposed to a lot of pollen down there. Besides, we’re working.”

“Clearly,” Caitlyn said dryly, her lips curving into a gentle smile. She moved ahead slightly, her steps measured as she led Vi toward a quiet bench where they could take a moment to rest. “Don’t worry, I’ve got something that will help.”

Vi reluctantly sat down on the bench, her nose still twitching. “What? You think you can just wave a magic wand and fix this?”

Caitlyn laughed softly, kneeling beside Vi and pulling a small pouch from her bag. “Not magic. Just something my mother used to make when I was a kid. It’s a simple remedy for seasonal allergies. I think it’ll help.”

Vi watched her, still sniffling and rubbing her nose. “You’re not trying to get me to drink some weird concoction, are you? Last time you tried that, I ended up tasting dirt for a week.”

Caitlyn smirked, “I promise, no dirt involved. Just a small herbal solution. You don’t even drink it.”

Vi raised an eyebrow, but she was too miserable to protest. “Fine, fine. Let’s see if it actually works.”

Caitlyn gently pressed a small cloth to Vi’s face, letting the calming scent of eucalyptus and chamomile fill the air. The soft pressure and the soothing aroma were a welcome distraction.

“Breathe in deep,” Caitlyn instructed, her voice soft but firm. “This should help clear your sinuses.”

Vi did as she was told, inhaling deeply, and to her surprise, she felt a wave of relief almost immediately. The tickle in her nose subsided for a moment, and she managed to take a few steady breaths without the overwhelming urge to sneeze.

“Okay, I’ll admit,” Vi said, her voice tinged with reluctant admiration. “That actually works. How do you know all this stuff?”

Caitlyn shrugged, a faint blush creeping up her neck. “My mom used to be very... proactive about natural remedies. I spent a lot of time in her garden learning how to make things like this. I guess some of it rubbed off.”

Vi looked at Caitlyn for a long moment, noticing the tenderness in her expression as she tended to Vi’s comfort. It was such a contrast to the world they’d both come from—the harsh underbelly of Zaun, the ever-present struggle to survive. Caitlyn had grown up with a certain kind of privilege, but she’d never once seemed disconnected from the suffering of others. Vi was still getting used to how different things were here, in the shining city of Piltover.

“Well, I appreciate it,” Vi said softly, her tone almost bashful. She rubbed her nose again, but it was a less frantic gesture this time. “I don’t think I’d survive this without you.”

Caitlyn smiled, a warm, genuine expression that made Vi’s heart do an odd little flip. “It’s nothing, Vi. Besides, I think we both know I’d be completely lost without you, too.”

Vi laughed, though it was a bit hoarse. “Well, you’d be a lot safer if you didn’t keep getting into trouble with me.”

Caitlyn chuckled. “That’s a fair point.”

The two of them sat in comfortable silence for a while, the spring air filling their lungs with its fragrant sweetness. Vi’s nose was still a little sensitive, but it had become bearable, and for the first time since they’d stepped outside that morning, she felt like she could actually enjoy the day.

Just as she was starting to relax, the sneeze returned—sudden, powerful, and relentless.

“Hu'tschuhh!”

Vi leaned forward with the force of the sneeze, her body shaking from the intensity of it.

Caitlyn quickly reached out, ready with the small cloth once more. “Bless you... again.”

Vi sniffled, embarrassed, her cheeks flushed with the effort of trying to hold back another onslaught of sneezing. “This is the worst...”

Caitlyn’s expression softened in understanding. “I know. But it’ll pass. You’re just not used to it yet. Piltover’s spring can be a little... overwhelming if you’re not used to the pollen.”

Vi sighed, looking out at the gardens once more. The beauty of the flowers and the city’s charm seemed so foreign now, as though her body had decided to rebel against the natural world.

“I’b gonda get you back for this,” Vi muttered half-jokingly, her voice still stuffy from the sneezing. “I’b gonda sdneeze all over your fandcy clothes next time, just wait.”

Caitlyn laughed, her eyes sparkling with warmth. “I’ll survive.”

Vi shot her a playful glare, though there was a softness in her gaze that spoke volumes. “Yeah, well, just make sure you’re prepared for the next wave, ‘cause it’s coming. “Hu'tsssHuu! Huh-tshoOO! HAH-tzx!”

The onslaught of sneezes was so sudden that Caitlyn barely had time to react as she handed Vi a tissue with a smile. “Bless you, my love! I’m sorry you’re so sneezy, darling” Caitlyn doted with a kiss. “This pollen is oh so mean for doing this to you!” She teased.

Vi wiped at her nose, looking up at Caitlyn with a hint of affection in her gaze. “Alright,” Vi said with a deep breath, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. “Next time, I’m dragging you down to Zaun, and we’ll see how you like the smoke and grime.”

Caitlyn raised an eyebrow. “I think I’ll pass on that, thank you.” Vi laughed, her nose twitching again. “Yeah, you’d better! HHh-ngxt!” Vi stifled another sneeze lazily into her shoulder.

Caitlyn sighed, though her smile never wavered. “Bless you. Again.”

As they sat in the peaceful silence of the Piltover gardens, enjoying the warmth of the sun and the scent of fresh blooms, a sharp tone echoed from Caitlyn's communicator, breaking the calm.

"Kiramman," a voice crackled through the earpiece. Caitlyn’s eyes narrowed as she quickly adjusted the device and turned her focus to the information being transmitted. Vi, still trying to recover from her constant sneezing, groaned in frustration.

"Not now..." she muttered under her breath, but it was clear Caitlyn's mind was already elsewhere, processing the incoming intel.

Caitlyn shot a quick glance at Vi, her eyes apologetic. "We have a lead on the smugglers we’ve been tracking," she said quietly, her voice carrying a hint of urgency. "We need to move. Now."

Vi blinked, still dazed by her allergies. "Wait—seriously? You want me to go after smugglers while I can’t even breathe?"

"Yes, I know it’s inconvenient, but it’s crucial," Caitlyn said, her voice firm yet soft. "Come on. We’ll make it quick. Just try to keep it together."

Vi, who was already fighting off the tickle in her nose, sighed deeply. She was just about to protest when her nostrils flared, and her breath hitched.

“Hh-hh...hH’TSCHH! Hh’R’CHH!” Vi’s body jerked with the sneezes, loud and forceful.

Caitlyn immediately shot her a warning look, her finger pressed to her lips, signaling for silence.

Vi’s eyes widened, a bit of panic in them. "I can’t help it!" she whispered, rubbing her nose fiercely.

Caitlyn’s brow furrowed, frustration evident in her voice as she hissed, "Just try, Vi, please. We’re not the only ones out here."

Vi quickly sniffled, her eyes watering. "I’ll... I’ll try, but I cad’t promise anything."

Just as Caitlyn was about to speak again, Vi’s breath hitched once more, too quickly to stop. "Hehh... Hh... Hih-HH’SHH!"

Caitlyn, in one swift motion, reached into her bag and pulled out a folded handkerchief, Kiramman logo front and center of course, and shoved it into Vi’s hands. “Press it against your nose, and hold it there,” Caitlyn whispered, moving in close. "It’ll help quiet them."

Vi’s face scrunched in frustration, but she pressed the cloth against her nose, trying to stifle the sneezes building up inside her. She managed to suppress one, but another wave quickly followed.

"Hh-ggkttchh...h-hh'RRGGHTCHH!" The muffled sneezes shook her body, but with the handkerchief pressed tightly against her face, the sound was less noticeable.

"Good," Caitlyn whispered, leaning closer and holding up a finger to her lips, signaling for Vi to stay quiet. They could hear the faint sounds of footsteps approaching from nearby. Caitlyn’s eyes scanned the area, her hand subtly resting on the grip of her rifle.

Vi’s breath was hitching again, but Caitlyn gently cupped her hand around Vi’s nose and mouth, muffling the sneeze before it escaped.

“Keep it down,” Caitlyn urged, her voice barely audible.

Vi, her face flushed and her eyes watering from the effort, nodded. She pressed her face into Caitlyn’s hand, trying to contain the tickle, but it was a losing battle.

Another sneeze surged, this one more forceful than the others. "HH’GSHH—hhH’KTTCHH!” It was muffled enough that it barely carried, but the force of it made Vi’s entire body shake.

Caitlyn quickly grabbed her jacket sleeve, pressing it against Vi’s nose in a final desperate attempt to keep the noise from drawing attention.

"Okay... okay, I’ve got you, darling,” Caitlyn murmured, her voice tinged with affection despite the anxiety.

Vi, her breath still coming in short gasps, shot her a look of gratitude. "You’re... you’re serious about this, huh?" she whispered, her voice still stuffy but softer now.

Caitlyn smiled, her lips curling slightly. “You can’t help sneezing, but I’ll make sure we don’t get caught.”

Vi managed a weak grin, still trying to control her irritated sinuses. “Yeah, well... maybe next time you can pick a mission with less pollen."

The footsteps came closer, but with Caitlyn's help, Vi held her ground, trying not to sneeze again as they both blended into the shadows of the trees, waiting for their moment.

“Alright,” Caitlyn said, after a long pause. “We move in five. Stay with me.”

Vi nodded. She had to. Even though she was miserable, she trusted Caitlyn. And right now, her partner’s quiet guidance was the only thing that kept her from letting the whole city hear her miserable plight.

As the footsteps drew nearer, Caitlyn's body stiffened, her senses sharp, every muscle primed for action. Vi, still struggling to stifle the allergic barrage building within her, could feel her breath catch in her chest. The pressure was unbearable, but she held firm, her hand clutching Caitlyn’s sleeve as though it were a lifeline.

The shadows deepened around them, the thick foliage of the Piltover gardens concealing them from view. Caitlyn’s eyes flicked between the narrowing gap between them and the approaching footsteps, her mind calculating their next move with precision.

"Just... a little longer," Caitlyn murmured, her voice barely audible.

Vi nodded, doing her best to push aside the constant itch in her sinuses, her lungs protesting with each shallow breath. The handkerchief was soaked now, and it was becoming harder to hold back the sneezes. Her nostrils flared again as her breath hitched.

Caitlyn noticed the telltale signs and gently placed her hand on Vi’s shoulder, offering a quiet, reassuring squeeze. "Focus on me. Breathe slowly. We’ll get through this,” she whispered.

Vi swallowed, trying to steady herself, but her chest still felt tight. The sneezes weren’t done with her yet. Another one surged, and she could feel it building again, unstoppable. Her throat tickled violently. Caitlyn, noticing this, yanked Vi into a shadowed alley and quickly pressed her jacket sleeve to Vi’s nose and mouth.

“Hhh... hhh-hh'KKTCHH! Hh-hh...hh’ksnx!” The sneezes were muffled, and Vi even managed to stifle the last one, but each one left her feeling weaker, her control slipping.

Caitlyn, her expression still calm and composed, gently pressed Vi’s face into her side. “Just hold on.”

The footsteps were so close now that Caitlyn could almost make out the murmurs of the guards. They were just a few yards away. Caitlyn’s grip tightened on Vi, her fingers brushing against the rifle at her side. She was ready to move, to make the shot, if it came to that.

And then, just as it seemed the guards would round the corner, Vi’s next sneeze tore through her with a violent force, her body jerking in Caitlyn’s arms. “HHHSHH’KT! Hh’RRGGSHHH!”

It was louder than the others, the sound a dangerous risk to their position. For a split second, Caitlyn’s heart stopped. She heard the footsteps scuff to a stop, wait for a moment, before walking away again.

Caitlyn let out a slow breath, lowering her rifle. Vi, finally able to exhale, wiped her nose with the handkerchief. “That was close,” she whispered, wiping her eyes, still red from the constant sneezing.

Caitlyn nodded, her expression softening. "Stay with me, Vi. We’re not out of the woods yet."

Vi nodded, her head still pounding, but her trust in Caitlyn unshaken.

Caitlyn led the way, her movements swift and calculated, cutting through the dense garden underbrush with practiced ease. Vi followed, still fighting the relentless tickle in her nose but pushing through the discomfort. The muffled sneezes had become almost rhythmic now, each one a struggle, but Caitlyn’s presence kept her grounded.

They moved silently through the garden, the sounds of their footsteps barely audible beneath the soft rustling of leaves and distant city noise. Caitlyn’s sharp eyes constantly scanned their surroundings, every corner and shadow checked for potential threats. Vi’s mind raced, but the effort to keep herself quiet was taking its toll.

“Hhh... hhH’TSCHH! Hh’KTSHH!” The sneezes came in quick succession again, though this time Vi managed to catch them with the crook of her arm. She gritted her teeth, her face flushed with frustration, but Caitlyn’s reassuring nod kept her from losing focus.

They reached the outskirts of the garden, where the narrow alleyways of Piltover’s upper district converged. Caitlyn stopped, signaling for Vi to do the same. With a quick, practiced motion, she pulled out a small device from her belt and tapped a few buttons. The device flickered to life, displaying a series of coordinates and a faint blip on the map.

"We’re getting close," Caitlyn whispered, scanning the area. "The smugglers are nearby. They’ve been operating in this sector for weeks."

Vi, still struggling to keep herself composed, shot Caitlyn a side glance. “You know, I’m starting to wonder if the real mission is making it through this alive without blowing my nose off.”

Caitlyn smirked slightly, the first sign of a playful smile in what had been a tense few minutes. “You’ve got this, Vi. Just a little longer.”

Vi sighed dramatically, but she was grateful for the light-hearted comment. It made the pressure in her sinuses a little easier to bear. Still, as they pressed forward into the narrow alleyway, the scent of something unfamiliar reached her nose—a sharp, metallic tang, mixed with the unmistakable smell of smoke.

Her eyes widened. "Wait... I smell something," she said, her voice still thick with congestion.

Caitlyn raised a hand, signaling for silence. She turned her head slightly, eyes narrowing as she adjusted her stance. "Smugglers," she muttered under her breath. "They’re close."

Vi’s nose twitched again, the allergy flare-up threatening to escalate. She could feel another sneeze building. Her breath hitched, and Caitlyn, who had been keeping a vigilant eye on their surroundings, caught the subtle movement.

"Not again," Caitlyn muttered, quickly moving to cover Vi. “Stay down,” she ordered, her voice low and firm.

Vi, her face scrunched with the effort to contain the tickle, did as told. Her eyes watered from the sheer force of her suppressed sneezes, but she remained crouched behind Caitlyn, doing her best to breathe through the congestion.

"Stay focused," Caitlyn whispered again. "We’re about to get some answers."

Just as Caitlyn finished speaking, a figure appeared at the end of the alley—one of the smugglers. The man was tall, wearing a dark cloak that blended into the shadows. His eyes darted left and right, clearly on edge. He stopped just short of Caitlyn and Vi’s position, seemingly sensing that something was wrong.

Vi’s breath hitched once more, a loud inhale that made Caitlyn tense. The smuggler was just a few steps away now, and the last thing they needed was for him to hear Vi’s impending sneeze.

"Vi, now," Caitlyn whispered urgently, her grip on her rifle tightening.

With an almost painful effort, Vi stifled the sneeze long enough to give Caitlyn the opening she needed. In one swift motion, Caitlyn rose from her crouch, her rifle aimed at the smuggler’s chest.

"Hands up!" Caitlyn commanded, her voice cold and authoritative.

The smuggler froze, his hands instantly rising in surrender. He had been caught off guard.

Vi, still holding the handkerchief to her nose, glanced at Caitlyn with a look of mixed relief and annoyance. "I thought we were gonna wait for backup," she muttered through clenched teeth.

Caitlyn’s gaze didn’t waver, her focus entirely on the smuggler. "Backup will be here in a few minutes," she said, "But we need answers now."

The smuggler swallowed hard, sweat forming on his brow. His eyes flickered between Caitlyn’s gun and the tense Vi, who was barely holding it together.

“You won’t get anything out of me," the man spat, but the defiance in his tone was already beginning to crack.

Vi could barely hear him through the fog of her congestion, but Caitlyn didn’t need to. With a sharp motion, she grabbed the man by the arm and spun him toward the nearby wall, pressing the barrel of her rifle against his back.

“You’re going to tell us everything,” Caitlyn said, her voice as cold and precise as ever. “Now.”

The smuggler let out a defeated sigh, slumping slightly. "Alright," he muttered. "Alright... I'll talk."

Caitlyn gave a small, almost imperceptible nod to Vi, signaling that they were in control. Vi, for all her discomfort, couldn’t help but feel a sense of triumph. Despite the sneezing fits, despite the allergies that had nearly given them away, Caitlyn had pulled them through once again.

Once they had all they needed from the Smuggler, and they were on their way home, Vi spoke.

“So, Cupcake. Now that we’re done here, you think a pretty girl might buy me a drink? I think I’ve earned it.”

Caitlyn’s lips curled into a faint smile. “I think you’ve earned a week’s worth of rest, darling. But a drink sounds good.”

“Maybe some cuddles when we get home?” Vi wondered, leaning her head against Caitlyn as they walked.

“Oh certainly, my darling.” Caitlyn hummed, as she planted a kiss to the top of Vi’s head. “You can have all the cuddles you like, all spring long.”

“Even if I sneeze on you?”