#arcne

She filled the void in your soul you had tried burring deep for years, no success left in sight. The comfort warming your body under her gaze was the perfect experience for your inner child, not having an older woman judge her with disgust like your mother used to. Yet again, she wouldn't look at you with affection, ambessa medarda didn't believe anyone was worthy of that, besides her own children of course.

But it was something about the fact that she was aware of your hard work, noticing you here and there through training, nodding her head slightly in approval where you'd land a good hit (one that had you crying from the pain of your muscles afterwards). It gives you a tingle in your stomach and a warmth in your heart, you were absolutely feeding off of it with no shame. Ambessa medarda was a powerful woman, and to be approved by her was, well, an honor you could say.

But things got different when she started to notice this little emotional rollercoaster you had created in your head. At first you felt insecure about it, feeling like someone found your hideout, your comfort place, and was aiming to destroy it. Your eyes would sparkle like usual as she praised your improvement, and this time, she'd slightly smirk and raise an eyebrow at the stupid happy girl standing in front of her all smiling and giggling, and that caught you off guard. She found it amusing. She had people drooling over her just for the sake of having sex, but this, seeking her attention and approval just to feel enough was something new, and she was willing to walk into it, curious where it'd end.

You sighed, the sound muffled from biting your lower lip. Seeking approval from the older woman made you listen to her so carefully, even when she was pounding into you like there's no tomorrow.

"You're being so good for me," she hummed, dragging the tip of her nose through your neck, licking the little gap between your collarbones. "Being so quiet, I appreciate it" the movement of her hips keep being steady as your thighs spam uncontrollably.

She seemed so nonchalant about the whole situation, not being out of breath even a little, the sides of your hip turning slightly red from her strong grip. You on the other hand, were trying to look at her gorgeous face through tears, vision blurred and small white dots appearing randomly everywhere.

"Shhh, it's ok" she mumbled in your ear, voice sounding like a lullaby "everything's fine" your breath hitched as she increased the speed of her pounding, filling you so good you felt like you'd die from the pleasure "you're gonna be fine" her deep voice ran through your ears, tingling your fuzzy brain in the best way possible. You felt sleepy at her comfortable voice, eyes slightly closing.

"Don't" a harsh smack was delivered to your right cheek, your eyes widening in process. Sitting up straight again, she kept thrusting into you as her dark gaze took in the helpless look in your face. "You don't sleep when I'm pleasuring you" words tried slipping out of your mouth, being replaced by stupid, barely audible nonsense your foggy mind tried making up.

Your back arched further as you reached your high, closing your eyes in the process and throwing your head back. She finished by delivering a few deep thrusts, staring at the milky liquid spamming out of your abused hole, covering the tip of her strap. Loosening the grip on your hips, your body instantly went limb on the bed, still shaking.

She grabbed your smaller body and caged you between her muscular arms, kissing your damp hair with affection. "My beautiful girl," she'd mumble, her hands creasing your shivering back "You did so well" and that was enough for you to smile ear to ear in her chest, giggling internally at feeling truly fulfilled.

Chapter one: Peace doesn’t wait

Vi woke to the soft rustle of papers and the steady scratch of pen on parchment.

Caitlyn was already up, sitting at the small desk by the window, her uniform crisp and perfect, her brow furrowed in concentration. The morning sun spilled over the pinboard cluttered with maps, notes, and photos—plans for Piltover’s fragile future pinned in neat rows.

Vi blinked against the light, the weight of exhaustion pressing on her chest. “Why are you already working? It was literally war just a few days ago. You should rest at least a bit,” she muttered, voice rough from sleep.

Caitlyn glanced up, offering a tired but determined smile. “Rest won’t rebuild Zaun, Vi. We need a new order—a plan to unite Piltover and Zaun before old wounds tear everything apart again. The council expects me to have something concrete at the end of the week.”

Vi sighed, swinging her legs over the bed. The room was quiet except for the scratch of Caitlyn’s pen and the distant sounds of the city waking up. She pushed herself to her feet, heading for the kitchen. A while later, she returned with a plate of blueberry pancakes, setting it down in front of Caitlyn.

“Here,” Vi said softly. “Eat something.”

Caitlyn hesitated, then looked up at her. “Thank you, love. I didn’t know you know how to cook..? “

Vi rested her chin on Caitlyns shoulder, breathing in her scent, before letting out a sigh. “I always used to make them for Powd- Jinx, I guess.. “

Caitlyn fell quiet. Since Jinx died Vi had been quieter than usual. Of course, she lost her sister, her father, now Ekko is missing. “Why don’t you eat?”

Vi shrugged, the hunger dull and distant. “Not hungry, “ she said, standing up straight and stretching.

Caitlyn’s eyes held a question, but she said nothing, turning back to her plans as Vi got a towel from the closet and clothing for the day, watching the woman she loved carry the weight of two cities on her shoulders.

Vi watched Caitlyn tuck a bite of food into her mouth, her gaze flickering back to the pinboard. The maps were crisscrossed with colored threads, linking Piltover and Zaun’s winding streets like fragile lifelines. Names, places, and dates jostled for space on the board, a puzzle Caitlyn was desperate to solve.

“You know,” Caitlyn said between bites, “it’s not just about rebuilding buildings or streets. It’s about rebuilding trust. Between people. Between neighborhoods. Between us.” Her voice was steady, but there was a quiet weariness beneath it. “Still, you tell me to rest, while you keep working your ass off.“

Vi’s eyes drifted to the window, where the early morning haze clung to the edges of Zaun’s factories. Smoke curled upward, a stubborn reminder of everything that had been lost — and what still needed saving.

“I get it,” Vi said finally, voice low. “But… it feels like everything’s moving too fast. Like the city’s trying to heal before we’ve even had a chance to breathe.”

Caitlyn nodded, setting her fork down. “Maybe. But if we don’t act now, things could get worse. Zaun isn’t just a place. It’s people — and a lot of them are scared. Angry.”

Vi swallowed hard, the ache in her chest tightening. “What are you trying to explain to me? I've lived there my whole life.. Ugh, sorry. I just wish…” she trailed off, then shook her head. “Never mind.”

Caitlyn’s eyes softened. “You don’t have to say it. I know.”

The room fell silent, save for the distant hum of a city trying to find its new rhythm — and two people, caught between what was lost and what might still be saved.

While Vi was in the shower, Caitlyn remained at the desk, her fingers tracing the lines on the map pinned to the board. She paused, staring at the tangled maze of Zaun’s streets, places she’d once only seen from a distance now under her responsibility to protect and unify.

She pulled a worn leather notebook closer and flipped through pages filled with neat handwriting—lists of potential allies, records of recent incidents, and notes from last night’s council meeting. Her eyes narrowed as she reviewed the plan she’d spent countless hours drafting: proposals for infrastructure rebuilding, new laws to curb old criminal networks, and programs aimed at integrating Zaun’s people into Piltover’s society.

A soft knock on the doorframe pulled her from her thoughts. She looked up just in time to see Vi drying her hair, only wearing a sports bra and boxers, a reluctant smile tugging at her lips.

“Still planning the revolution?” Vi teased gently.

Caitlyn chuckled, but the tension in her shoulders remained. “Someone has to.”

Caitlyn set the notebook down and rose from her chair, stretching out the stiffness that had settled into her back. She stepped over to the window and pulled back the curtain slightly, letting more light spill into the room. Outside, the city was stirring—pilgrims heading toward the council chambers, vendors setting up stalls, and distant chimneys puffing smoke into the sky.

“I’m worried, Vi,” Caitlyn said quietly, turning back to face her. “Not just about the council or the politics. About Zaun. About the people who’ve been hurt for so long. This unity we’re trying to build—it’s fragile. One wrong move, and everything could fall apart again.”

Vi leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed. “Yeah, well, no one said it was going to be easy. But we can’t just sit around and hope for the best.”

Caitlyn nodded, her eyes searching Vi’s. “That’s why I need you. You know Zaun better than anyone. Your voice… it matters.”

Vi gave a half-smile, her usual defiance softening. “I’m not sure I’m the hero in this story anymore.”

“You don’t have to be,” Caitlyn said, stepping closer. “Just be you.”

For a moment, the room was silent except for the distant sounds of the city coming to life. Two people, battered but still standing, holding onto hope in their own way.

“Jinx was the one with the influence... “ Vi said saddened.

Caitlyn’s eyes softened, a flicker of pain crossing her face. “I know,” she whispered. “Jinx had a way of shaking things up — for better or worse. Without her, Zaun feels... quieter. Too quiet.”

Vi clenched her fists, the memory of her sister’s chaotic fire burning fresh in her mind. “She was the one people listened to. Even if it was because they feared her.”

Caitlyn stepped closer, voice steady but gentle. “Maybe it’s our chance now—to build something new. Not with fear, but with trust.”

Vi let out a bitter laugh. “Trust feels like a luxury Zaun can’t afford.”

“But it’s the only way forward,” Caitlyn said, reaching out to squeeze Vi’s hand. “Together.”

“If only Ekko was there to help.. He knew all the good people in Zaun and grew that giant tree for them. How did he even manage to create hextech? Like, the thing he used to defeat Viktor.. “