Author's note: Over 3000 views! I know I've said this a million times but you guys are amazing. Here's the last chapter of Vengeance. I had a great deal of fun writing this.
Chapter 14
Three weeks later
Jayce stared impassively forward, ignoring the jeers and calls of the huge crowd in front of him. His hands were bound in front of him as Caitlyn spoke to the people of Piltover at a podium. Vi was standing next to him, her head bowed, her hair falling over her face, preventing him from seeing her expression.
"...Many brave souls have perished in our long struggle against Noxus," Caitlyn was saying. "But we have overcome disaster. We have triumphed over our enemies. Piltover will never fall!"
A howling roar of approval followed her words, along with clapping and shouts of "Piltover!" and "Remember the fallen!"
"And now," Caitlyn turned to Jayce and Vi. "We have the issue of these two."
"Kill them!" came a call from the crowd. A rush of claps and nods accompanied the statement, along with dirty glares directed at Jayce and Vi.
"Please listen before you make a decision," Caitlyn said solemnly. "As you know, former Commander Jayce helped me out of Demacia while it was under attack from Noxus. Though the city fell, I was able to get out alive. Jayce risked his life to ensure that our resistance would still have a leader. He faced court marshal, but didn't forget our plan; during his would-be execution, he provided an entrance for our army, and fought with us against the Noxians though he could have left. Had it not been for Jayce's courage and resilience, Piltover could now be under Noxian control."
A long silence followed this proclamation as the crowd absorbed the information. Suddenly, someone cried, "So this forgives everything he's done in the past? He led Noxian armies as they slaughtered innocent people and ruined towns and lives. Will he be exonerated because he had a sudden change of heart?" A murmur of assent accompanied the statement, and Caitlyn sighed.
"I understand your qualms, trust me," Caitlyn answered. "But please understand this: Jayce will answer for what he's done. But after being such a pivotal part of our victory, do you really want to have him put to death?"
An uncomfortable ripple passed through the people, but no one else spoke up. "Very well, then. Jayce, former Commander of Noxus, I sentence you to life in prison for the crimes you have committed against Valoran and its people," Caitlyn announced, turning to him. He raised his head slightly to look at her, and then nodded shortly, accepting his fate.
"And as for Vi..." Cait began. She was immediately interrupted with a furious cacophony of catcalls, screaming for vengeance against Vi. "Listen!" she shouted. The rage dissipated into a series of grumbles, with more glares thrown at Vi, who was still standing with her head bowed.
"As you know, Vi left Piltover three years ago due to mysterious circumstances. She became the head warden of Noxus' prison, and signed the death warrants of Noxus' opponents. She also killed Ashe. However, she didn't do this because she wanted to. She did this because of me."
A gasp came after this pronouncement, all eyes fixed on Caitlyn. The sheriff steeled herself and continued, hoping desperately that they would understand. A shift of movement caught Cait's eye, and she glanced to the right. Vi was peering at her with a look of astonishment and fear on her face, wondering where exactly she was going with this.
"The majority of you know that Vi and I were together. However, I was foolish at that time. I wanted to make such an impression on Vi that she wouldn't ever think to leave me," Caitlyn said.
Vi's head snapped up, realizing what she was doing. "Cait, stop!" she hissed. "That's-"
She kept talking relentlessly, not caring what her status would end up looking like. "I set up bribes and hired people to commit crimes so I could catch them. I used underground connections to catch 'C'. I paid off judges to let those criminals go free. And Vi found out. That is why she left."
Before the crowd could respond, Vi was shouting out, "That's not true! I was bribed by Noxus to go over to them, and I agreed. I chose money over Caitlyn. I chose Noxus over Piltover. Caitlyn didn't do anything wrong."
Jayce groaned internally. This was not going to go over very well. The people of Piltover chattered and murmured confusedly among themselves, not sure whom to believe. It was far easier to think that Vi had accepted bribes, but Caitlyn was a much more credible source to them.
Meanwhile, Cait and Vi in question were glaring heavily at each other, each ones' eyes proclaiming their desire to protect the other. "Girls," Jayce muttered. "So many emotions."
They both switched their gazes to Jayce, who looked at each of them in turn. "What?" he said.
"You think I'll allow Vi to die?" Caitlyn shot at him.
"And you think I'll let you ruin your entire reputation?" Vi countered.
"A reputation is nothing next to your life!" Caitlyn exclaimed. "Why can't you see that?"
"They wouldn't have me dead!" Vi replied exasperatedly. "I trust you not to let them! But you need to lead Piltover. There's no one else that has the people's trust like you do."
"Look," Jayce interjected. "I'm sure there's a compromise we can agree upon."
"Vi has to stay alive," Caitlyn said immediately.
"And Caitlyn can't be discredited," Vi added.
"But we can't change your stories," Jayce muttered. Suddenly, he perked up and turned to Cait. "Once I've been sentenced, it can't change, right?"
"Well, unless new evidence that is more scathing than the original is brought to light, no," Caitlyn replied. "Do you have a plan?"
"Yeah..." Jayce smiled. "We tell them the truth."
The arguing had been going on for nearly half an hour before Caitlyn called on them to settle down.
Jayce stepped forward, much to the confusion of those below. "I'm assuming you all want the truth," he said. "I set up the bribes and criminals. Caitlyn simply caught them as she was supposed to, but I planted evidence that incriminated her. I'm also the one who bribed Vi to come to Noxus. I turned her against both Caitlyn and Piltover."
"Yeah, that sounds like the Jayce we know," someone grumbled. A murmur of assent passed through the gathering, and Caitlyn sighed with relief.
"For Vi's crimes against Piltover, Valoran, and its people, I sentence her to fifteen years in prison," Caitlyn called out. "Any objections?"
The people nodded to themselves with satisfaction. They turned away and began streaming out of the square, ready to return to their normal lives.
Caitlyn turned to face Jayce and Vi. "We'll wait for nightfall," she whispered. "It'll be easier then."
The two nodded apprehensively, sharing a look.
"Caitlyn," Jayce said. "Where are we supposed to go? Valoran has a long time to go before it can recover from Noxus' rule. There won't be anywhere safe for us once we leave Piltover."
"And I don't want to leave you again," Vi sighed, fiddling with her gauntlets.
"It's for the best," Caitlyn put a hand on Vi's shoulder. She glanced up at Jayce. "You two are smart. You'll find a way to survive. I won't let you waste away in prison. I heard that Icathia is relatively barren, with enough resources to survive. Or you could make a home in the Ironspike Mountains."
Jayce shook his head. "This idea is madness," he growled. "Both of us just want to stay with you."
"I'm sorry, Jayce," the sheriff said sadly. "You know I can't let you do that."
He sighed heavily, turning away as Vi looked up into Cait's face. "Will I see you again?" she asked.
"Of course," Caitlyn smiled. "You couldn't keep me away."
As the moon rose over Piltover, Caitlyn, Jayce, and Vi scurried through the dark alleyways of the city, on the watch for late-night stragglers and the like. The streets were mostly abandoned, and the trio soon reached a sewer hole. "This leads straight outside the city," Caitlyn whispered. "This is goodbye."
"Caitlyn..." Jayce looked full on into her eyes. His expression was one of eternal longing, of a passion that could never be fulfilled. She tilted her head away, a small blush rising on her cheeks. He sighed. "I'm sorry for everything."
Vi grasped Caitlyn tightly in an embrace that was more like a bear hug. Tears streamed out of her eyes, but her face when she let go was grimly determined to survive in hopes of meeting her lover once more. "Don't you ever dare find another girl," Vi hissed.
Caitlyn laughed breathlessly. "I wouldn't dare. Now... go."
She watched as Jayce and Vi clambered down the hole, ready to face the war-ravaged world and face the unknown threats that it still held.
Epilogue:
As Jayce and Vi ventured out of Piltover as fugitives from the law, the survivors of Noxian occupation began to rebuild their homes and lives. Demacia, sundered, its people massacred, would take a long time to revive. Bandle City, in slightly better condition, was able to restore itself within a few years.
The final battle at the Fleshing Arena yielded an unexpected result, however. Katarina and Swain's bodies were never found, with a strange trail of tracks leading from where they were last seen.