Hi everybody,

im back. Currently working at the 6th chapter of Bristles & Feathers, but there are some other stories stuck in my head and unfortunally my brain keeps nagging about them, so i write them down to get my mind on B&F again.
I'm not sure how i did this time, but i can rework it later. It's a two-shot this time. So please deal with my messy head for the meanwhile :(
Anyway, enjoy!

WARNING: Caitlyn x Vi, don't like, don't read.

Ten. Nine. Eight.

"Hey Vi" Caitlyn mumbled, sitting on the park bench after a long day full of paperwork. She was enjoying some fresh air and a cupcake while the sun was setting already. Her partner lingered next to her, lazily. It was always rather restful to be with the Enforcer. While all energetic in battle, on the chase or while working on her loved hextech gauntlets, she used to be very peaceful while enjoying the moment. This was a side not many knew. This was a side Caitlyn knew the best.

"Yeah?" the Pinkette answered and looked at her friend in concern. Normally her partner wouldn't talk in such a moment. Lost in thoughts, lost in the moment of laziness and a sandwich or preferable a cupcake, but not talking.

"Thank you" She raised a brow at that and needed a moment to process the said. "For what?"

"Remember yesterday?"

"HE! No big deal, Cupcake. I'm here to save the day….or wreck it!" she said with a smug grin all over her face. The day before was rainy, not a weather both liked while chasing criminals. The sniper had to kneel or lay down on the rainy roofs, getting soaked quite fast and sometimes even catching a cold. Piltover's Enforcer however had to be careful to not slip while chasing someone down. In the end they caught the robber, but on her way down from the roof Caitlyn slipped on the slick ladder and fell. If it wasn't for Vi lunging forward and catching her partner, she would have broken a bone or two.

"I mean it" Caitlyn was more serious, her expression stern. "You always rescue me."

"Sure and ever will"

"Vi…why do you do this? I…I have seen you in the gym. Your back…your arms….all the scars. I wish I could say you claimed them in your childhood, but I know some are from saving me over and over." She stated it with worry bleeding through her words. In fact that was not the only thing she saw in the changing room that day. Despite the scars and bruises and missing female curves Vi was handsome in her own dashing way. She was tall and athletic. And she had something Caitlyn could only lick her lips for, a six-pack. Her friend and partner was her type, even if she was female.

"Because I promised" Caitlyn looked puzzled at her. The image of the sweating Pinkette still in her head, leaving her mind clouded.

"You saved me back there…you took me in. Me. A former criminal. So, for the sake of my second chance I promised to safe you as well when in need. But…over the months I worked with you the feelings became stronger. And my liking become love" Vi looked up again, seeing Caitlyn's jaw dropping slightly. "And I refreshed my promise. I promised to keep you safe at any cost. Even if I die. Because I'm nothing without you, Cupcake." Vi's smile seemed off, she could see a hint of sadness within.

The way the brawler said it brought across the need. Like an ocean needed a breeze, the Pinkette needed her partner and friend. Caitlyn quickly realized that this feeling was mutual. She was a good sheriff all along, that's why she was able to chase Vi down, but therefore she needed a whole team. Now all she needed was her. She was fast and strong. She did cause trouble at times and a lot of hospital bills, but the rate of criminality went down. If she fell, Vi would catch her. If she felt down, Vi would act a fool to cheer her up. If she felt lonely, Vi was suddenly there if someone would have called her. As if Vi had a sixth sense for these kind of things.

"Sooooo, you're watching me in the gym?" she started with a smug grin. Cait went bright red and gave her a hard clout.

"WHAT THE HELL WOMAN!?...What have I done?" Vi swore, holding her aching head. But the grin came back to her lips right away.

"You had a dump look on your face. It bothers me" the other woman answered. They both looked each other deep in the eyes and started laughing.

Seven. Six. Five.

Her breath was steady, she controlled it to flatten it as much as possible. She locked her target. Her mind was back to the current situation. Headshot.

"You don't need practice, Cupcake" Vi smiled and looked through googles after the dummy. Actually she didn't had to do that, because whenever Caitlyn hit something else then the part she wanted to hit, a little growl escaped her throat.

"You don't have to practice you combat style either and still you beat up the guys in the ring" she returned serious. The Pinkette laughed sheepishly and scratched the back of her head. "You caught me"

A chuckle escaped Caitlyn's lips and she shook her head amused. "Let's head for lunch before our patrol" she recommended and put her weapon aside. Vi hummed pleased, but pulled her girlfriend against herself.

"What are you-" Caitlyn was silenced by soft lips smashing against hers, locking with them. Her slight protest died down in no time, leaving a Cait that was enjoying this very much. Her hands trailed behind the bigger woman and groped the firm flesh of Vi's pants clad butt. A stifled growl escaped her before she finally pulled away a little. Her partner smiled warmly, but a sudden cold at her cleavage surprised her. Almost instantly the Sheriff looked down at herself, finding a necklace to cause this feeling. The metal warmed up over the few seconds she needed to find back to words.

"What are this f-" again Vi kissed her in the middle of her sentence. "Happy anniversary" she smiled childishly. Cait blinked confused, then tears dwelled up. It's been three and a half year since they started to go out and she didn't had anything for her partner because she was too caught up in a recent case again.

"Vi…I'm sorry I…"

"I know, don't worry, Cupcake. I don't need a gift from you, I have you. That's all I ever need" Caitlyn blushed at that. She could actually be a real softy at times.

"Come here you big, soft punk" she whispered and pulled her closer again, kissing Vi lovingly. The taller woman wrapped her arms around her and they both took some much needed time to enjoy each other's warmth. Only the growl of the Pinkette's stomach disturbed the silence.

"Let me guess, you did not eat breakfast before coming to work because you slept too long again?" Cait asked with a teasing smile. Now it was Vi part to blush and scratch her back again, laughing ashamed. They both laughed now.

"Let's go then."

Four. Three. Two.

The call via funk was short but all that was needed to get them both going. The criminal group they were investigating for a while now showed up again and both figuratively smelled the arrest already. Being on patrol meanwhile made them arriving faster than all others.

"What a coincidence we were around anyway" Vi smiled enthusiastically. Cait just nodded silently. All her senses were sharpened right now, her full concentration on the case. Even if the Enforcer was partner and lover, she normally parted profession and private strictly and right now she couldn't share her optimistic view. She wanted results.

Then everything went faster than they expected. Vi cut their way off while the Sheriff readied her sniper.

"FREEZE!" she commanded, sure of having the criminal finally. She channeled her shot, locking her target. It took them 3 weeks to track these bandits down and her patient were lost long ago. "Or I shoot you right away". It was too easy. They spend so much time tracking them down, collecting evidence against them and planning their strategy. And here they are, having them on their knees, hands raised in the air. It almost confused the Sheriff.

Suddenly Vi used her Vault Breaker to charge in front of her.

"What the-" she started to complain, but it died in her throat when she saw this sad smile. Not only a hint this time. She felt a tear sneak its way down her cheek, without even realizing what was going on. This moment felt like someone stopped the time. All was so slow and with all only her and Vi was meant because she couldn't recognize everything else. This smile. It captured her, made her sad without a reason she could understand. It was so gut-wrenching. Then realization finally jumped at her, she opened her mouth to say something.

One. BAMM!

The shot echoed through the air and over and over in Caitlyn's head. She knew it was only one, but she heard it hundred times. The slow-motion suddenly stopped, everything went on so fast. The sound of metal on metal, cracking bones and ripping flesh, the smell of blood and the view of her partner and girlfriend falling over. It all happened so fast.

"Vi?" she asked, her voice low and cracking. Her brain refused to understand, but it couldn't prevent to process all the information anyway. "VI!"

She dropped her sniper and took the few steps toward her partner, kneeling down and lifting her upper body. Her eyes were closed, her face grimaced in pain. The Sheriff stared at her hand which was colored crimson. Blood. Vi's blood sticked to her Hand.

"NO! Vi! Open the eyes AT ONCE! VI!" she screamed. She made an emergency call and ripped the lower bit of her dress, pressing the fabric on the wound. She tried to wake Vi up, but her partner wouldn't listen to her. She checked for pulse and breath, still there but weak. The minutes of waiting for help felt like hours, hours in which Vi lost more and more blood.

"No giving up now!" she shouted, wanted to be heard by her. "Why do they take so long…why aren't they here yet?" she whimpered in despair. Every second more was too much for her. Finally the sirens became louder. Within a moment the ambulance arrived and began to treat the woman's wounds provisional, carrying her in the transporter. The worry became anger. First at Vi for throwing herself in front of her, protecting her once again but getting hurt so badly. Then at the sniper who did this.

"If I find you" she growled lowly and looked back in the direction. "I'm going to shove my sniper up your….and shoot."

But for now she joined her, wouldn't leave her alone on the way in the hospital. Her girlfriend had nosocomephobia. She knew Vi wouldn't stay in hospital once she was awake. Awake. She hoped Vi was about to wake up soon enough. But the panic spread through her. That weapon was able to get through her Gauntlets and even then through her flesh and bones. Vi's sad smile before she got hit showed that her Enforcer knew it. She must have seen it coming like this. Did she knew she would die in this moment? The day without Vi. She never had thought of it.