"Now what?"

I sit on my bed, the sweet smell of brown sugar and cinnamon fills the room. My hands absent mindedly continue scratching the multitude of scars on my skin. It's a bad habit that I do whenever I'm anxious, I can't seem to break out of it. The only cure is having my gloves on, preventing me from scratching. Even then, I usually find a way.

I had discovered that it was 9am when I awoke in the tree. I glance to my bedside chronograph; the blue numbers read 10:32pm. My body screams with exhaustion, it had been a long day returning all the headdresses.

Most were no problem; champions usually don't lock their balcony doors, even when they are not at the institute. I guess they've gotten so use to the League's security system.

Rengar, however, was a different story. He was not happy when I accidently woke him from his afternoon nap. Evidence of our scuffle went beyond a torn up bed and cracks in his walls.

My fingers graze the already scabbed over gash on my arm.

My attention returns to the last head piece seated in front of me. The offending top hat glares back at me, challenging me to return it back to its owner. I know from my year and a half with Caitlyn that she only has one of the hats, a gift from her mother. I also know that she keeps her flat securely locked, not to mention she's hundreds of miles away back in Piltover.

So how the fuck did I get her hat?

I let out a frustrated growl, tossing my back onto my now clean bed. I even resorted to cleaning my entire flat to avoid the issue of returning the hat. She always told me to instead of destroying things, to invest my energy into more productive actions. My mind mulls over the few options I have.

I could transport back to Piltover, waltz up to her and tell her.

"I fucked up, here's your top hat back. Yeah, the one that you would hit me for if I even so much as accidently brushed up against it. Please don't kill me."

I am not even amused by my own humor.

I could wait here until she comes looking for it herself, maybe she knows I have it. What if she gave it to me while I was blind.

That's a crazy thought

Does she know I got blinded right after she gave me a huge ass lecture about getting clean?

By the void, did I go to see her with Jinx?

My eyes widen at the thought, I haven't seen Jinx this whole day. She's not part of free week, so she may not even be at the institute right now. I think back to when I was cleaning and realize that my brilliance was gone too. My blood boils; I imagine strangling the daylights out of the runt.

Fucking piece of

"Caitlyn, Sheriff of Piltover."

Horse

Shit

I shoot up to a sitting position, stilling to make sure I heard the rune correctly.

"Caitlyn, Sheriff of Piltover."

"Fuck me in the ass." I swear under my breath, leaping from the bed and hastily pulling a shirt on.

It's no doubt Caitlyn at my door, the runic knob scans our life force signature or some shit and announces the identity of the person grasping the handle to the residence of the flat. In this case, the damned little rock is telling me that the harbinger of my death is at my doormat.

Come on, Vi, you can do this

I can't believe I have to pep talk myself before facing the woman I've been dating for months. I shake my hands out and roll my shoulders before snatching the hat up and making my way to the front door.

I take a moment to run my calloused fingers across the fabric. I never took the time to actually examine the hat up close, not like I've ever had the chance. It's soft yet it feels durable, probably weaved with some kind of hextech fibers invisible to the naked eye.

Sleek yet resilient

Custom made to fit the wearer.

"Caitlyn, Sheriff of Piltover."

The rune chimes a third time, bringing me out of my admiration of the hat. I turn the corner and see the door, imagining a fuming Caitlyn behind it. My throat tightens, the hairs on the back of my neck raise. It's worse than the time I tore through the mayor's estate chasing after the prick who knocked my cycle over. At least then I had a decent excuse, now, what do I have?

Self- discipline

Self-respect

I take another deep calming breath; it does little to aid my frayed nerves. My clammy hand grasps the knob, the stones in the door tumbling into place to unlock it. I slowly ease it open, revealing Caitlyn in her usual outfit, save the hat. My fingers tighten around the rim of the headpiece.

"Good morning, Vi" Her voice is even, her face neutral. She's playing another one of her games.

I don't like it when she plays her games.

"Good morning…Sheriff." I stumble over my word, I almost call her Cupcake. The name sheriff seems so foreign to me now. "I take it you want your hat back, ma'am."

I choose my words carefully, forcing myself into a formal pattern of speech I have never used before. But I do it for her. My muscles tense, jaw clenches, awaiting her response.

"Impressive." Is what she gives to me before stepping past and into my flat, leaving me baffled by the door.

What?

I turn, shutting the door behind me. My eyes trail her as she steps through the room, inspecting the organized shelves and the clean glass doors to the balcony. Her hands are clasped behind her back, a common posture when speaks to the mayor. She drags a finger along the back of one of the couches, pulling it back and rubbing them together. No dust clings onto the digit.

A spark of pride is added to the cauldron.

"Very impressive." My eyes dart up to hers, I still unsure of her thoughts. A smile plays on her lips as she saunters over to me, hips swaying with every step. My hands twitch, wanting to reach out, but I remind myself of the circumstances surrounding us. I unconsciously step back, my back pressing against the stone door.

"I see that you took my advice." She sounds smug, a hand tossing her hair back.

My mind short circuits when her painted lips mold over mine. Out of instinct, my eyes slide shut and my spare hand wraps around her waist. I feel fingers tread into my hair and scrape against my scalp; a groan escapes into the kiss.

I ignore confusion in favor of the tingling bursting from my lips and where her nails dig into my skin.

We part, my eyes searching for an explanation. She gives me none in her own, blank ones. I sense that it's another test. I am amazed that I'm not fed up with her games yet. She smirks, have I played into her hands?

Her mask…

"You don't remember anything while you were blind." It's a statement. She sounds…disappointed?

I shake my head and shove the hat into her chest, pushing her back. Though I feel annoyance brewing in my chest, my cheeks flush with guilt.

"No and let's keep it that way." I attempt to push past her but her arm blocks me way. I feel trapped, I never talk about my feelings and I don't intend to start anytime soon; especially if she wants to play me like a toy.

She presses me back into the door, I almost growl, my lip lifting. On look into her eyes and my anger disappears. They are vulnerable, her games have dropped.

"Vi." Her voice is soft now. She sets her forehead against mine; I can see that look in her eyes, when she's searching for a reaction to something she did not anticipate.

"I'm sorry for snapping at you. You were the first person I have truly trusted and I, I don't know, I just felt so hurt when you broke that trust."

My mouth opens to reply but her finger silences me. Her eyes speak a silent apology for the action. Caitlyn doesn't like being interrupted.

"But, I understand and I accept it. I can't stop you from doing what you need to do. Just please, if anything, be careful."

I see tears welling up in her eyes.

My Caitlyn, so fragile, so strong.

A calming breath is taken in by the both of us.

"I don't know what I would do without you, Vi" She murmurs, she glances away, her eyes lingering away before coming back. "I love you. Please promise that you'll be safe."

She knows that it's an impossible request

It's the first exchange of those words I've longed to hear.

But it doesn't feel the way I thought it would.

Yet she asks it anyways

My heart shatters.

I struggle to keep eye contact.

I can promise her so much.

She wouldn't even be able to promise it

I can promise protection, undying love and support.

But not this.

Of all things she can ask of me.

She needs to hear it

Oh Caitlyn

"I promise."

I hate lying

It takes a moment for us to smile; a quick kiss seals the promise. Her hand brushes up my arm, delicate pads grazing the scab. It pulls at it, I hiss at the unexpected pain.

"Oh lord, what happened?" She quickly asks, it took her this long to notice? She must've been really districted.

"A little gift from a certain fluff ball when I was returning his eye piece." I grumble out, shrugging. I prepare her to lecture me about taking care of my wounds; she even knows what I keep my healing salve. Instead, my ears are graced by a chuckle.

I am shocked for a second time, is this even the same Caitlyn before my blind?

Fuck, am I blind right now?

"You sure that you don't want to know what you did when you were blind?"

Lighthearted, my own heart flutters. My eyebrow rises, mouth parted in thought. I am more curious than ever. I want to ask, but my pride keeps me from it. It probably wasn't one of my best moments.

"Yes ma'am." I smile, replying in a mock formal tone, even throwing in a badly forming salute. All I can think about is the relief that she's not angry anymore.

"Suit yourself. You'll never know how we managed to steal every head dress of all the champions." She winks, taking the hat from my hand and placing it on her head and tipping it slightly. She kisses me on the cheek and opens the door.

Wait

We?

The sound of the door locking behind me snaps me out of my trance. I whirl around, throwing the door open and searching the halls for her. Not a single trace but the sweet smell of lavender.I am left standing like a fool in the middle of the walkway.

I never did find out what happened while I was blind.