The Sheriff and The Soldier

by Nightly73

When Zaun threatens Piltover with war, Piltover Company must react, but will The Sheriff be able to put aside her personal feelings for her Soilder?

18. Chapter 18: Hopes and Shots

A/N- Hey bbs. So it's been a while and I miss your faces. I do work as a security as well as being a stage hand. So with music festivals being rampant in my city right now I have been hella busy. I hope this chapter makes up for it. I also want to thank each and everyone of you for taking the time in reading this and for being with me every step of the way. I have met some very amazing people due to this fic and my life has changed because of it. I want to thank my ever beautiful and lovely cohort shipper Gray hoodiee for being bae and WG Karibu for being the best Beta Reader (who really helps me see the logical side) and the most chill ADC known to man kind!

Enjoy Loves.

.com

{Cyndi Lauper- Girls Just Want to Have Fun}

(That Night)

Metallic fingers glide over old and weathered parchments. He ponders his notes, tapping his

third hand along his iron casted chin.

Tak tak tak

Maybe if he changed the dilution of the substance to something more aggressive it would cause the desired effect.

Tickticktick tacka ticka tick

Cold amber eyes regard the figure tapping her skinny fingers along the wooden stool she is perched on. She bites at her bottom lip, her knee bouncing with anticipation as her combat boot pounds against the cold cement floor.

"If you would be as so kind as to halt that incessant distraction." Viktor breathes, rubbing his long fingers along his temples.

"Let's do something!" The girl bursts out, pushing herself off of the stool and hopping on her toes.

"I'm finalizing the schematics." Viktor replied evenly. "Just be patient."

The figure threw her head back and groaned. "But I'm sooooooooooooooooooo bored." She whined. "I can't be patient if all I do is sit on this bench watching you make really really really cool things! Can we play tag? I think I have enough chompers lying about. It makes the game more interesting!" She beams.

"No, sit down and wait like I told you." Viktor scolded, keeping his back to the maniac. She huffed at her blue bangs falling in front of her pink eyes. She stomped angrily toward the stool, plopping her small frame on the pine material. She crossed her small arms over her chest, pouting at the mechanist with a scowl. "You're a party pooper, metal man. I thought this would be fun."

"As I said. Be patient." Viktor sighed. "You will get to your amusement and I'm fairly sure you will be very pleased with what I have designed. But you must prove your patience first before I let you anywhere near it."

Jinx inhaled sharply through her nose. "Ugh. Finnnnnnnnne. I'll be a good lil psycho."

"It's well worth the wait." Viktor chuckled, gliding past the bluette. His leather trench coat fluttered with his steps. "AuG!" He called, pressing the parchment to the grimy wall.

Metal steps echoed from the hallway, clapping excitedly forward. "Yes fathe- I mean, Creator?" The robotic boy asked approaching the mechanist.

Viktor's hand rested on top of the boy's head. "Go retrieve the Loose Cannon's weapons. We have much to work on, AuG."

"Of course, Creator. I will be back momentarily."

"And don't go blowing your head off, Young man!" Jinx cackled, pressing her hands to her stomach. "Your father shouldn't be letting such a cute lil' boy play with dangerous things. You'll end up like me!" She wheezed.

Viktor sighed. "This better be worth my while, Swain." He muttered under his breath.

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{twenty one pilots- Can't help falling in love (cover)}

(The Next Morning)

A/N: This cover gives me goosebumps and so does Abbie and Elric. Totally not gonna lie, I could see Elric singing this to Abbie.*I will give someone a personalised fic of their choice if someone draws this*

"Is it bad that I already miss it?" Abbie sighed pressing her face into Elric's left shoulder. Their fingers twine together as the train car rattled. Elric's thumb draws soothing patterns along the back of her hand.

Last stop, Piltover Grand Central Station.

"No." Elric replied with a small laugh. "I miss the quiet nights and the sound of the waves crashing on the shore." He pressed his lips to her freckled forehead.

"It was a bloody paradise." Abbie groaned rolling her head to press her face into the glass. "It was warm, there was no snow. It smelled like home." She sighed. "It felt like home." Her breath fogged up the window. The dark sky threatened sleet and freezing rain. Inwardly, she shivered. Gods above, below and sideways, Piltover had proven to be harsh during the winter. Abbie hoped that Spring was something much more kind.

Elric chuckled. He wrapped his arms around Abbie, pulling her from her chair and into his lap. Their foreheads connected, their noses bumped. Abbie hummed happily, her chocolate brown eyes fluttering closed as the contact banished her thoughts of cold winter nights. He smelled like the mint and salt soap she had bought for him at the local village market. The faintest scent of sea breeze and honey tickled at her nose and it warmed her heart.

This was Elric. This was her partner.

Her fingers pressed into the blond stubble at his cheek.

For the entire trip the two of them had delved into infinite possibilities and bright futures. They had extensive conversations of what they considered to be a happy life. Much to Abbie's content, Elric wanted to raise a family and live a quiet life. He wanted to take up a trade so that Dakota and himself could work on projects together. He was eager to learn carpentry and felt it would be a good fit.

"After Dakota and I finish getting the Manor back in shape, we'll live off of our retirement money that the government will syphon to us and we'll buy that cabin." Elric promised. "And when little Elric and little Abbie get on our last nerves, Aunt Dakota and Uncle Alex will take care of them as we go back to our paradise and relax for a week."

"That sounds absolutely amazing." Abbie chuckled. "However, I could see that turning sour quickly. I wouldn't trust the two of them together with our kids, El."

"Mmm, you're right. They could easily start a civil war." Elric snorted. "Maybe Caitlyn and Vi would be nice enough to take care of them, hmm?"

Abbie rolled her eyes. She wrapped her long tawny arms around his neck and pressed her face against his cheek, scrunching her nose at the contact of her face and the prickly hair along his jaw. Playfully, he rubbed his face against hers, dragging the stubble over her freckled skin.

"Elric." Abbie complained as she swatted his chest.

His sapphire eyes twinkled with mischief. A low rumble of a laugh came from his chest and bubbled through his throat. "I love you, Abigail Preston." He pressed his lips to the tip of her nose.

Abbie shook her head trying to hide the smile growing through her lips. A blush took over her cheeks and travelled down her neck. "Yeah, I know." She whispered. " And I love you too, Elric Sampson. Even though your feet smell terrible."

"Hey, it's not my fault I sweat through my feet." Elric chortled.

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{The Pretty Reckless- Heaven Knows}

Fingers clench the sides of the metal pot with so much force, that it threatens to crack in half. She heaves heavily, her abdominals clenching angrily as the contents of her stomach spill to the metal bottom. With a grunt she falls to her back and groans lowly as she relishes in the cold that the hardwood floor provides for her bare back. Her borrowed t-shirt had been strewn across the floor of the room. She wiped her thin lips with the back of her hand and tried to keep the dizzying feeling at bay. Her head felt as if cannons were going off inside her cranium.

She doesn't know how she ended up on the floor of the Sheriff's spare bedroom, but whatever happened there was sure to be a very interesting story. She was just thankful she wasn't thrown in some ditch in the middle of the lower city.

"Hey kiddo, how's the head?" Vi asked, pushing the door open to find the teenager sprawled out beside the large cooking pot.

"I feel like death." She admits through a groan. "Everything is bright and I just want to crawl in a hole and die."

"You know what the best hangover cure is?" The pinkette asks with a mischievous smile.

"Idunnowhat?" The teenager mumbles throwing her right arm over her eyes, to block out the morning sunlight coming through the lace curtains.

"Not getting plastered." Vi chuckles as she walks over to the girl.

"Har har, you're so funny." Dakota pouts.

"Damn right I am. Now get yer lazy ass off the floor, we gotta get yer brother." Vi extended her calloused hands to the girl.

"No, just leave me here to die." Dakota grumbles, swatting the pinkette's hands away. "I want a quiet death, he's just gonna scold me to the point that I rapidly age. I'd rather puke my organs out."

"Nope." Vi chuckles. "C'mon kid, if you want to be hootin' with the owls, you better be ready to scream with the eagles." She grabbed at the teen's elbows, pulling the girl up from her sprawled form and onto her shaky feet.

"Fu-huck." Dakota burped, feeling bile rise to her throat. With a wince she swallowed the disgusting rise of her stomach contents down. "I'm going to skin, Alex." She growled through gritted teeth.

"Mmm. I don't bloody blame ya kid. You look like shit."

"Thanks for the ego boost, Vi." The girl snickered darkly, pushing her raven black bangs out of her tired icy eyes.

"Your right eye is swollen all to hell." Vi tisked, inspecting the area with a gentle yet prodding thumb. "What did I say about your hands being up, kiddo?"

"Yeah, yeah. You gave me the spiel last night. You made me cry because I don't like disappointing you." Dakota admitted, pinching the bridge of her nose as she tried to keep herself from falling over. "I honestly feel like I went up against the fighting bots and got ripped apart for scrap metal." Her accent was thick this morning to Vi's amusement. "What the hell are you laughing at?" The teen asked grumpily.

"Nothing," Vi's iconic sideways grin was plastered on her mischevious lips. "Ya just sound like a proper Piltie."

Dakota scowled at the pinkette as she reached at her feet for the royal blue shirt. She stumbled slightly but caught her balance with a well placed groan and a few misplaced curses. She pulled the material over her battered and bruised body. Inwardly, she apologised to herself. She made a small mental note to stop throwing herself into fights while her body was still recovering from the last escapade.

"So kid, what the hell are you gonna do next?" Vi asked, following the teen as she slowly padded out of the guest bedroom. Her slim hands grab at the waist of her black denim trousers, pulling them over her hip bones.

"What do you mean?" Dakota asked suspiciously.

"Illya." Vi dead panned. "And your brother."

Dakota froze mid step. "I-uh." her heart thudded in her ears, her lungs tried to expand to gather more oxygen. The panic began to creep up her shins, its long fingers wrapped around her throat closing off her breath, as it crawled up her body. She closed her eyes, trying to dislodge the memory of bright lights exploding into her sight. She began to count as she extended her slim shaking fingers to the wall beside her.

One hold, two hold, three hold, four hold, five hold. Breathe.

She coached herself through the attack, just as Elric had when she was much younger.

Five hold, four hold, three hold, two hold, one hold. Breathe.

What felt like endless hours, took only seconds for her to regain her composure.

"I don't know." She replied. "I'll have to have a serious conversation with-uh, with Illya." She continued forward, her bare feet feeling weighted down to the hardwood of the penthouse apartment. "As for Elric," her eyes darted toward the kitchen as she exited the small hallway. Her icy hues locked on to Caitlyn, who stared back to the teen with the faintest of smiles. "I will explain what I think he needs to know. This kind of information could break him."

Caitlyn nodded her head in understanding as she watched the teen saunter over to her place at the counter. "Of course, that will be kept between the two of you. We will not interfere with that."

Dakota pulled back a stool and wobbly sat herself into the comfortable seating.

"Yer gonna be ok, kid." Vi comforted, placing her hands on the girl's shoulders and squeezing them in reassurance. "Yer bloody tough as nails, though. I have to hand it to ya. But for the love of the gods, keep your bloody hands up next time." The pinkette playfully cuffed the back of Dakota's head. "I taught you better than that, you door knob."

"From what I remember I gave whoever challenged me a good run for their money." Dakota gave a very devilish grin, a slight cackle hidden behind her words, hiding amongst her groggy vocal chords.

"You were gambling?" Caitlyn asked dryly, fury lining her irises.

Dakota paled slightly. "Well-heh. No. I wasn't betting." Dakota looked to the hands that she had clasped together.

"You should have been more careful last night, Dakota." Caitlyn stated sternly. "Gods could only know what could have happened. You were very lucky that Ezreal recognised you."

"Where is this coming from?" Dakota asked, her face falling into a tight jawed scowl. "I've been through much more dangerous situations in missions, where my life was literally on thin ice. I don't need you worrying about me. I'm not yours to worry about."

"Mmm." Caitlyn hummed in irritation. She turned on her heel and placed a plate before the girl. Freshly cooked crispy bacon, fried eggs and warm creamy hashed potatoes, layered the plate garnished with two slices of grilled tomato. "Take your time, If you wolf it down, your stomach will get upset." Caitlyn muttered, facing the girl with steely reserve. Unexpectedly, her hand reached across the counter and cupped the right side of her biological daughter's cheek. Her brow creased in worry as Dakota jumped slightly at the contact, her icy eyes widening slightly. "You'll need to put some ice on that." Caitlyn frowned.

"Whoa, don't change the subject." Dakota objected leaning away from the sheriff's hand. "You really don't have to do that. I can handle myself and I don't need you to be breathing over my shoulder. You didn't do that when I was in Demacia, so don't do it now."

"Dakota," Caitlyn began."Whether you like it or not, you are someone I need to worry about. I can't have you gallivanting around, putting yourself in dangerous situations."

"Oh so a man attacking me because I looked like you, was utterly my fault, because I keep putting myself in dangerous situations. Pretty sure that was on you Sheriff. You could have warned me or told me about him. " Dakota spat. "You could have told me that there was a dangerous man out there who would react and hurt me. But you decided to keep that all to yourself."

"That's not how that worked, Dakota." Caitlyn frowned. "Yes, I had messed up. I should've been up front and honest with you. But you need to understand something. I have always done what I could to keep you safe and to give you a future." The sheriff's voice cracked. "I knew your parents would have done a much better job at raising you to be this astounding and responsible young woman. They loved you and they claimed you as their own. The best I can do for them right now is keep you alive and healthy. So I will worry about, not because I am your biological mother and I love every ounce of your being, but because your mother and father would never forgive me if anything ever happened to you."

Ice locked and harsh breaths broke out into the atmosphere of the kitchen.

Vi's violet eyes swiveled between Caitlyn and Dakota. Silence overtook the area as they stared at each other. The pinkette swallowed nervously. It was like a standoff in an old western town. Two worthy opponents sizing each other up. Vi was sure Dakota would be the first to crack, as Caitlyn had an iron will. A small noise of surprise passed through her thin lips.

The sheriff sighed heavily and unclenched the kitchen counter, her knuckles turning red as the blood coursed through her constricted veins. "Look I don't want to argue with you. That is not my intention. I understand that I hurt you, but I am here no matter what." She turned to her refrigerator, rummaging through it's icy contents.

Dakota, lost in thought, hissed out in surprise as Caitlyn placed a searing cold bag over her swollen right eye. As the surprise faded a small pleased groan rumbled through her body.

Cold was nice.

Cold was very nice.

"Try to eat." Caitlyn encouraged as she patted the girl's shoulder. "You have time before we have to get your brother."

Dakota nodded, keeping a strong hold on the bag of ice. She trained her vision on the delicious smelling food wafting through her sore nose. Her stomach growled audibly like a ravenous beast. Gods, no matter what Caitlyn could ever do, Dakota would always admit that the woman was a genius in the kitchen. She chewed through her food thoughtfully, her mind trying to explode forward with thoughts. But Dakota placed a stranglehold around them, keeping them secure from overwhelming her. As she wrestled her conscious self, flashes of Illya crossed her mind, causing her spine to stiffen.

Beautiful emerald eyes hazed over in mirth. A slim lilac eyebrow raised in challenge along with a corner of her full lips pulling up in amusement. In her mind, Illya stood with her arms crossed over her chest. So what are you going to do, darling?

You won't need me to prove that I'm an idiot, you already know that. Dakota thought to the Illya in her mind. I suppose it's time to be honest, hmm?

She sighed heavily.

"I was wondering," Caitlyn began, drawing Dakota away from her dangerous thoughts. "Would you be interested in accompanying me to a rifle range this afternoon?" The sheriff sounded very hopeful.

Rifle ranges were a foreign concept to the soldier. Of course she had been trained in many different styles of fighting and weapons, but the Demacians had strayed from hextech rifles. The sheriff's offer intrigued her curiosity.

"I don't have any training." Dakota confessed, remnants of her anger fading away with her voice. "In fact, I have very little experience with firearms. I know how they work and how they function, but as far as shooting one… I'm at a loss. I wouldn't be much help to you."

"That's perfectly alright." Caitlyn beamed behind her purple mug of tea she had made. "If you were up for it, I would be pleased to show you."

Dakota nodded. "I'm always up to further my skills."

"Excellent." The sheriff clapped her hands together.

Dakota smirked. She wasn't sure if 'excellent' was the right word. But if that's how the sheriff felt, who was she to tell her how she was supposed to feel.

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(Later that morning)

{Caravan Palace-Wonderland}

Long fingers brush through short red curly hair. A devilsome grin is attached to his lips as he strides out from the sector of lower Piltover. A take away paper cup is in his hand with the darkest coffee anyone had ever seen. His standardized canvas jacket has the lapels pulled up to his red and freckled ears, staving off the cold crosswinds of the street. As he ascends the city hills, his mud brown eyes take in the scenery of the Piltovian markets.

He pushes through the crowds, watching as electro carriages and hexmobiles pass by before crossing the busy sections. A small group of young women in pea coats and long fur dresses are gathered together eyeing the young man and giggling to each other. Without hesitation, he winks to the girls bearing a very charming smirk.

"Morning ladies," He calls. He catches the attention of a vendor grabbing a small bouquet of valley lilies and paying the vendor in weighty gold. He approaches the tittering girls, bowing to them with the utmost respect. He extends a hand to the girl in the center. She is a young woman with dark skin and blazing amber eyes. Her dark brown hair falls in ringlets to her shoulders. Her cheeks darken with a blush as his hand encloses hers. He bends his head, pressing his lips to her knuckles and presents the bouquet to her. Gratefully she takes it, blinking in confusion and then flattery. Her lips crack into a white gleaming smile, curtseying to the young man.

He chuckles. "The most beautiful flowers for a beautiful smile. Fair trade, hmm?" He winks again and turns on his heels, leaving the girls to surround their friend with envy lining their throats.

Yes, he was feeling quite good. Teagan, the brunette waitress, had proven a good night for the soldier. So much so that he had acquired another rendezvous the following week. With a pip in his step and a good cup of coffee in hand he made his way to city hall, passing by drilling soldiers. Founder's barracks was an impressive monument but not as large as its neighboring tower of city hall. He entered into the glass covered skyscraper, taking passenger in an elevator with official political men in suits and tophats. He nodded his head in greeting toward the statesmen, raising his coffee cup in salute. He earned a few raised eyebrows and quirked polite smiles. In reply a cheeky grin cracked through his thin lips.

"Lookin' sharp, gents." He calls after them as the elevator halts to their office level. He chuckles and turns his attention to a woman dressed in a pressed suit and skirt. She seems to be in her early twenties, her blonde hair tied up in a professional bun. Her nearly violet-blue eyes are hidden behind helvetica glasses balancing on the bridge of her button like nose. Her arms are folded around a clipboard, a pen balances behind her ears. In her left hand she holds a box of doughnuts.

"You're the secretary for the police headquarters." He states, earning a sigh and a nod of confirmation. "I got a pretty good joke to lighten your mood. " The woman scoffs, rolling her eyes and shaking her head in annoyance. Alex chuckles lowly stepping a bit closer to her side and craning his neck to invade her personal space. "How do police officers greet each other?" He waits a moment, the answer right on the tip of his tongue. "Policed to meet you."

It takes a second. He can see the way her spine stiffens through the tweed jacket she wears. She burst out into a small chuckle, unable to contain the humour. He grins widely, rocking back on his heels in a satisfied gesture.

"One of my favorites." He admits, watching as she slightly turns her hips to him. Now he's got her attention. "You have a lovely laugh by the way. You should do it more often. It kinda sounds like beautiful bells."

The secretary cocks her head to the side in curiosity. She takes a strand of loose hair, twirling it in long thin fingers. Her teeth catch at her lower lip, as her eyes rove over the young man raising a pleased blonde eyebrow as she finishes her inspection.

"Sadly," She begins, her high Piltovian accent cutting into the silence of the elevator. "I don't date boy soldiers." She purrs.

The elevator gives a small ding as they land to their floor. She regards him for a final time, giving a very curt laugh before her heels begin to click along the marble of the headquarter floors. His jaw falls open as he watches her hips sway.

"Mother of sea and father of land, thank you for gracing me with such a pretty arse." He mumbles to himself as he leaves the elevator. He pushes through the Piltover Police Department, narrowly avoiding a few investigators rushing around with reports in hand and arrest warrants to be filed. He throws the now empty cup of coffee into a nearby waste bin, strutting through the chaos and into the office areas. He takes a few faltering steps as his face pales.

Elric and Dakota are in the middle of a screaming match. Illya has her head peeked through the crack of her door, a small pleased grin painted across her face. Abbie has her arms crossed over her chest, her chocolate orbs angrily locked on Dakota's defiant facial features.

"Are you fucking kidding me, Elric?" Dakota screeches. "You- my gods, let me live. You constantly hover over me! Yes, Illya and I got together, but that is none of your bloody business!" She snarls, pressing her finger into his chest.

"You're sixteen years old, Dakota!" Elric retorts. "You're covered in bruises! I can't leave you for two weeks without you getting hurt and making stupid decisions. You're too young to even know yourself yet, you shouldn't even be trying to get with someone. I thought you knew better than that!"

His shame hits her like a ten ton brick and Alex can see weight instantly hit her shoulders. He sighs and the noise captures the attention of Abbie.

He can feel her death like glare enter inside his chest and frighten his soul away from him for a moment. "Ah, you're back. Good to see ya again sis." He chuckles approaching Dakota and clapping her shoulder. A gesture to mean Don't worry I got this. "So how was the Demacian seaside. I hear it gets quite beautiful this time of year."

"Shut up, Alex." Elric growls lowly. "Stay out of this." It's a warning he is not willing to heed.

"Oh come now, El." He starts, playfully nudging his hip into a very annoyed Dakota. "Kids these days. They get so frustrated so easily and I mean, we know Dakota is responsible. She knows what she's doing, let her do who she pleases. I mean she's lucky. She landed her." His thumb juts out behind him, pointing to Illya who sneered in the crack of the door.

Elric's face fell into something red and angry, making Alex take a step back. Dakota pinched the bridge of her nose, sighing heavily at the young man with complete disdain. "I swear to the gods." She muttered under her breath.

Abbie angrily approached her brother, yanking on to his ear and dragging him out of the hallway and into his room.

"Ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow." Alex called out as he was dragged away from the continuing argument between the Sampson siblings. He watched Illya shake her head, chuckling to herself as she closed the door behind her.

"You're very lucky, he didn't outright hit you. He's trying to discipline her, Alex. You shouldn't be getting in between that." Abbie growled releasing her tight grip on his ear lobe.

"He shouldn't be trying to get into the thick of her sex life." Alex replied, rubbing at his ear and frowning at his fuming sister. "You don't see me trying to get in between you and Elric. I know you guys do the deed, but I don't give two shits. I know he won't hurt you. I trust you to be able to make that decision for yourself."

"She's young, Alex. She doesn't know any better."

"Oh fuck off, Abbie. She's more responsible than most girls her age. I mean it's not like you are questioning every girl I get to roll around in the hay with, either."

Abbie rolled her eyes. "You don't get it, Alex. He's just trying to protect her. He got really scared when he saw those bruises. He is willing to tear Piltover apart for his sister, just like I would for you. He only wants the best and if Illya is the one taking her to fight bars and getting her into her pants, that's a direct violation of his security code."

"Illya didn't take Dakota to the pitts." Alex scoffed. "That was all me."

"You did what?" Alex watched as his sister turned into a fiery fury.

"Absolutely nothing." He grinned sheepishly. "You know I'm an idiot right?"

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{Florence + The Machine- Kiss With A Fist}

A/N-Gonna get a bit NSFW fam.

She's curious.

Dakota hadn't made an appearance since her outburst with Elric. She had been in her usual stew of anger, nothing too irregular for the soldier and her mood swings.

Which meant Dakota could be in one of two places. She could be at the workbenches of Piltover customs or the most likely choice; the training room at the top floor.

She ascends the tower's metal stairs, her bare feet padded along the cold steps.

At first it was quiet. She hears nothing in the room as she opened the door with the faintest of noise.

Dakota in all her glory stands with her back to the door and is stock still in the middle of the training grounds, surrounded by the running track. She is clad in a royal blue sports bra and her black training shorts, revealing her strong legs. Her shoulders rise and fall with ragged breath, sweat drips from her bare shoulders, over the pale scar tissue of her lower back. Her wrists twitch reflectively with the beat of the music pouring in her ears. Her knuckles tightly grasp the hilt of her twin axes, the edges looking sharper than anything Illya had ever seen. However, Illya's eyes ascend to the nape of the girl's pale swan like neck. Her raven black hair is tied up in a high ponytail, tendrils of her locks brushing by the beautiful skin.

Illya's lips buzz. She had kissed that skin.

She had caressed that skin.

Gods, she had worshipped that skin.

She bites at her lower lip as she watches the soldier's back muscles twitch in anticipation.

Dakota was a furious winter storm breaching the horizon of a dark sea. Powerful, ominous and strong.

But what takes a storm off it's path?

Illya's breath hitched as Dakota struck the air with a swipe of an axe. She had heard from Alex, that the soldier was something to watch when she practiced with her favorite weapons. Illya had seen her doing target practice, but this was something incredibly different. It reminded her of the drills the Du Couteau family had put her through.

With each strike came fluid movement as Dakota bobbed and weaved, hooking imaginary enemies and slamming her axes into the blue mats. She spun the weapons in her hands and with a roar she threw them to the wall hitting a motivational poster. She rolled toward the wall, using the momentum to rise to her feet and sprint up the side of the wall, dislodging the axes and attacking another imaginary enemy.

It's then that her eyes catch Illya watching her, causing her to misjudge her landing and lose her balance. She dropped the axes and tumbled forward flailing onto the blue mats.

"Didn't mean to startle you, darling." Illya quipped, hiding her twitching full lips from the grumbling girl.

Dakota pulled the earbuds from her ears as she hopped to her feet. "Why are you here?" It's blunt and tired. As she looks to Illya, the Noxian could see a new bruise over her right eye and a scratch over the eyebrow and her thin lips. The bruises along her neck and torso had started to turn to a yellowish colour.

"Everytime I see you, you get new bruises." Illya chuckles as she steps closer, taking a gliding pace and coming face to face with the soldier. She reached out cupping Dakota's right cheek brushing her thumb over the bruised skin. Electric like feelings tingled along the path her thumb brushed. "Looks like that was a good time."

The girl standing in front of her takes a steadying breath, her warm palm enclosing Illya's pale hand, removing the skin contact. "Still doesn't answer my question."

"I don't know. Alex told me you were at a fight bar the other night. He said you got in a fight because of me. I mean you and Elric also had that fight so I wanted to see if you were ok." Illya added giving a devilish smirk as the girl rolled her eyes. Dakota sauntered over to a small bench. She yanked at a towel pulling it free from her training bag and dabbed her sweaty skin with the soft cotton.

"And?" Dakota questioned, keeping her icy eyes focused on her bare feet.

"Just being thoughtful for once. Come on I thought you'd want to hear something like that from me." Illya playfully brushed her fingers through her hair, looking up through her eyelashes toward the flustered soldier . "Need a partner?"

Dakota snorted, trying to hide the blush growing on her face. "I -"

"Shut up and sparr, darling." She cut off as she rolled her shoulders in her forest green long sleeved shirt.

"I'm not sparring with you Illya. I just want to do my drills and go to-"

"Is it because we had sex?" Illya asked through a knowing smile.

"N-no." Dakota stuttered shaking her head. "No. I just want to work on my axe movements." She said more clearly, squaring her shoulders to the Noxian, who stood with her hands on her hips.

"It didn't mean anything, Dakota." Illya chuckled. "You don't have to avoid me and go on having temper tantrums about it. Unless you wanted it to mean something." She teases.

She watched as the girl before her swallowed. "I- I, look I just want to do some mindless shit for a second and get my head out of the clusterfuck that is my mind right now, Illya." Dakota frowned. "And you're making it difficult."

Illya rolled her eyes. "I can't keep myself out of your head, Dakota." She winked. "That's all on you. Get your feelings sorted out before you blow up from thinking too much."

"You're not in my head, Illya!" Dakota snapped, her cheeks and shoulders turning red.

"See, you're trying to take the first steps. Denial is a hard one to get over." The Noxian teased.

"You're an asshole."

"What else am I, Dakota? Regale me in what I am to you." Illya watched as the soldier's lips went into a straight line. The girl pointed her finger to Illya, her body shaking in fury.

"You are cocky, arrogant and a disrespectful bitch, without any god damned boundaries." Dakota sputtered.

Illya tapped her chin in thought. "All of which are true." A cheshire grin spread through her full lips. Something in her emerald eyes danced with mischievous energy as a finger walked up the tone muscle of Dakota's shoulders and collarbone. " And you're stubborn, indecisive and far too easy to read." Illya chuckled lowly. "You're also a terrible liar, darling. I know that what we did was something you wanted. You needed to lose yourself, and I get it. But if you want something out of this, stop being a coward about it. Stop holding yourself back and show me, prove to me that you want to make something of this." She extended her arm to the soldier. Dakota's lips were set in a hardline and all Illya wanted to do was mold them into a gasping sigh.

Gods, was she getting in too deep?

No, she said sternly to herself. She knew where to draw the line. She knew how to cut emotions off and focus at the job at hand. Get her trust, get what you need from her then sever all ties.

"Tell me," She whispers, wrapping her arms around the soldier's neck. Her lips teasingly ghosted over Dakota's mouth. "Do you have feelings for me, darling?"

The girl swallowed as she felt Illya press into her front. Instinctively, her hands enclosed the Noxian's hips. Her head tilted expectantly, their noses brushing against each other and foreheads pressed close.

With a dangerous smirk, Illya pulled away, disentangling herself from Dakota and winked. She hooked her finger in the band of Dakota's training shorts. She pulled her forward, taking backing steps as she directed them to the center of the mats.

"Not going to answer me?" Illya chuckled.

Dakota scoffed. "I thought you said I was easy to read."

Illya raised a lilac eyebrow to that statement. She placed her knuckles on her hips opening her mouth to retort to the girl.

Unexpectedly, Dakota launched a strike aimed for her left cheek. The Noxian leaned back, dodging the punch. "I thought you said you didn't want to sparr."

The two girls circled each other. Emerald and ice lock together in a dance of witt and challenge.

"I'm proving myself." The soldier replied.

Illya moves forward, side stepping Dakota's defensive strike. She places her palm into the blue mats, kicking her body up and hooking her ankle to the back of the soldier's knees. She scissors her legs, pushing her shin into Dakota's chest and making her fall backward. She rolls forward on top of the girl and straddles her hips.

In retaliation, Dakota jabs Illya strongly, causing the Noxian to snap her head back. Blood trickles down from her nose. The tip of her finger, taps at the bead of blood. She inspects her blood covered digit with wide emerald eyes. They swivel to the soldier's face.

Her small hands reach behind Dakota's neck, her palms cupping the pale nape of her neck. She pulls on the soldier and clashes their lips together in a heated exchange. Dakota can taste the blood lining the Noxian's mouth as her tongue traces Illya's upper lip. A low groan pulls from the girl's throat as teeth clamp at her lower lip in response.

Dakota raises herself on her elbows, her palms placed along Illya's sides. The lilac haired girl's shirt raises to expose the flat muscle of her stomach as her forearms rest along the soldier's clavicle. Her fingers work at the tie holding the soldier's hair together, letting it loose to fall over her shoulders. Her nails dig into Dakota's scalp, as the soldier's lips trail down to the junction of her shoulders and neck. Illya's breath hitches as the younger girl nips at the pale skin. She tugs on the raven black locks, pulling the girl away with a low growl, quickly pressing her lips hungrily to Dakota's mouth.

With haste, the soldier pulls the green long sleeved shirt from Illya's torso. She switches their positions hovering her body over the Noxian with heat in her icy hues. Her mouth reclaims her spot at the base of the girl's neck as her finger roams over the flat muscle of her abdomen.

Illya's hands claw at the muscle of her strong shoulders as the soldier sucks at the skin. Her hand grasps the front of Dakota's sports bra, her palm cupping her breast. She moans audibly as the soldier's hand creeps beneath the waistband of her denim pants.

Across the room the door opens revealing Vi and Abbie talking amicably about Ionian fighting styles.

"Nah, the scariest thing I've ever seen coming from that weird ass Island is this bug style of fighting, Focuses on yer pressure points!" She mimics a stance, her hands flat as a board as she strikes the air. "Man, I'm glad yer back, Red. I've been itching to get a few good fights in lately." Vi chuckled brushing her knuckles along Abbie's shoulder playfully. She looks to the redhead with a wide grin. She cocks her head perplexed at the captain's facial expression. Her jaw is dropped low and her eyes wide in complete shock, staring ahead of her. Her hand reaches out capturing Vi's jaw after a few failed attempts, bringing the pinkette's gaze to the two girls on the mats.

A moment of shock hits Vi as Illya sighs in pleasure. A grin spreads through her lips and she wiggles her eyebrows to Abbie. She crosses her arms over her chest, tilting her chin in a cocky expression. Vi whistles loudly to catch the attention of the two girls. She watches as the muscles in Dakota's back go taut, her head snapping up from the place at Illya's throat.

"So." The pinkette calls out, her smirk winding it's way through her voice. "What do we have here, kids? I thought this was training room not a bedroom."

Dakota stands up quickly, pulling apart from the girl underneath her. She turns on her heels instantly, her face, shoulders and chest red in embarrassment. Her icy eyes wide as her and Abbie lock gazes for a second. "I-..."

"Nope." Vi cuts off. "We didn't see anything, right Red?"

Abbie raises her eyebrows to the pinkette. She sighs heavily rolling her eyes and placing her hands on her hips. "You're very lucky your brother didn't feel like sparring today. He would have killed the two of you." She warns. "I'll keep my mouth shut, but if I catch the two of you again, I'm telling Elric."

Dakota gulps. "Thank you." She mumbles crossing the room to her training bag and hoisting the strap over her shoulder. She briskly walked passed the two brawlers her hand covering over her face in embarrassment as she left the room.

Illya rose from her position, pulling her shirt over her torso and buttoning the top of her trousers.

"Well it's been fun, girls." She chuckled. "I'm going to go make sure she doesn't jump off the building in pure shame."

Vi snorted. "Mhm, that's exactly what you're doing."

Illya rose a lilac eyebrow to Vi, a devilish smirk gracing her full lips. She shrugged to the pinkette. "Hey, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do." She winked, exiting after Dakota.

"Kids these days." Vi chortled as she shook her head.

"I'm going to go get some bleach to clean off the mats." Abbie muttered. "Ugh, I won't be able to get that image out of my head for the rest of my life. I won't even be able to look at Elric, without seeing his sister like- ugh god forget the mats I need the bleach for my mind." She shivered.

"Poor kid nearly died of embarrassment right then and there." The pinkette teased. "I'm not gonna let her live that down, you know that right?"

"Good. Avenge my eyesight, because I did not want to see that."

***********************************************************/)(\*******************************************

{Luke Howard- Shift}

(moments later)

Ionia was a distant ghost in his mind, yet there would be the days that his memories would fold over into a hazy loved filled memory. Those memories were usually bombarded with his mother's smiles and his father's low contagious laugh. He remembered seas so vast with ocean life and deep creatures brought up by old seaweed infused nets. His home village bordered the coasts of the Ionian mainland and Galrin Island. It was infamous for it's incredible variety of fish that were transported for capital city markets.

If he closed his eyes while meditating he could still feel his uncle's dory swaying from side to side as they checked their were times that he could smell the salt air and the fish noodles his mother would make when he would return to shore after his week long voyage with his father and uncle.

Everything was red.

The flames, the sky, the blood, his hands.

He watched his mother attempt to fight off the raiders, until a large axe had buried itself into her back. Her assailant, a tall broad shouldered man with ruby red eyes and a blood covered sneer that shook his young form to his very core. His screams had ordered the raiders in a harsh tongue that he had never heard before.

His father had screamed his mother's name to the heavens, promising swift vengeance as he succumbed to his hidden power, exploding in a light with purplish tints. He hadn't lasted long before Matais plead for his father to run and escape the Noxian hordes.

It had saved them.

When they took refuge in Piltover, his father had encouraged practice in the arcane, preparing his son for a bright future in the mage college centered in Piltover. All of his plans and hard work blew away with the breeze of change when only two years after losing his mother, his father was brutally gutted before him.

The Cog Mafia, a troublesome gang that ransacked the Ionian slums of Piltover for any piece of gold or hextech, had rushed his father's medicine shop. They broke glasses, vials and plants all meant to heal the good citizens who entered the business.

His father had bled to death at his feet and much like what his own patriarch had done when his mother was killed, he had exploded into a purple arcane energy. He decimated the attackers and the shop, throwing shrapnel and fire into the autumn night air. The eleven year old had screamed his agony and pain away, surrounding himself and his father's body in a magical shield, obliterating anything that stood outside of it.

He was vengeance, he was power, he was strength.

It had hit him then, the hunger for more of those feelings were why men and women like the Noxains and the Cog mafia did what they did.

He looked to the twilight sky through the whole he made in the roof, tears lining his cheeks as he promised the spirits of his mother and father. He would never harm a being unless absolutely necessary.

Sirens wailed in the distance.

The Piltover Police Department found the young Ionian lad guiltily hanging his head low and confessing to the murder of the bandit bodies around him. Not one of the officers had shamed him as they scooped the boy away from his father's body and prepared him for Piltover Company.

At his age of twenty three he tries to keep his negative past away from the bright hopes of a long happy future. But his father had once said something that still rings in his mind.

"Remember the pillars of the past hold the foundation of your future. Do not forget where you came from as it helps you from being blinded from the bright light."

He smirks in the middle of his meditation as his father's voice consoles him among his inner thoughts. He rises from his seated form, stretching out his long limbs. Slowly he opens his almond shaped sea green eyes to the bright evening sun. It strikes his sharp facial features through the floor to ceiling window in the fifty first common room. Bending down, his knobby digits reach for the leather bound book at his feet, collecting it into his arms and pressing the binding into his chest.

With a content sigh and an easy smile gracing his small lips he walked out of the common room to adventure to the lower floor library. He was on the hunt for a new spell tome and he was sure there was one in the Piltover City Archives.

He froze mid step as he came face to face with the Noxian girl in the hallway.

Her emerald eyes regarded him swiftly before turning her attention to Dakota's doorway. A long heavy sigh escaped her full lips. She approached the pine door, extending her arm to knock against the wood, before a brisk sharp noise broke from Matias's throat capturing her gaze.

"May I have a word with you?" He asked, trying to hide the uneasiness in his voice. Everytime he came near the girl, something ticked at his instincts. His stomach would churn as dread and terrible energy poured out of the girl. He recently had chalked it up to her just being a Noxian.

Maybe that was the cause. But if this girl was to be anywhere near Dakota with such negative vibes, he would have to ensure her safety. Afterall, Dakota was young. She didn't understand the ways of magic like he did. If this Noxian girl practically reeked of bad energy than he would need to keep Dakota safe.

The Noxian rose an eyebrow to the Ionian born man. She rolled her eyes heavily, mumbling something under her breath. She crossed her arms over her chest, glowering to the mage with suspicious eyes. "What do you want?" She spat, keeping her posture on guard.

Matais's face fell flat in an unimpressed expression. His lips fell into a hardline as he regarded the Noxian's guarded form.

"What are your plans with Dakota?" He asked flatly. "Do you intend to make her happy? Or are you going to destroy her heart?"

"I don't see how that is any of your business." Illya retorted with a devilish chuckle.

"In fact it is. Unlike Elric, I am quite civilized." Matais began. "I am just ensuring that my youngest ward is well taken care of and that some Noxian girl does not toy with her." He pointed menacingly." She is deeply cared about in this unit and I can assure you that if any such thing occurs; all of us would not hesitate to punish your terrible deeds."

Illya gave an amused snort toward the dark skinned man."You and her brother should get married; you're already such dedicated parents." She took a step closer to Matais. " And I'll warn you now. Stay out of our business. Dakota can make decisions for herself, she's a lot stronger than some of you seem to think. She isn't some little girl lost in the woods with no guidance. I mean I appreciate your concern, but your blatant racism is clouding your judgement Ionian. I am not your enemy and I am fairly certain I am not Dakota's either."

The Ionian rose a dark eyebrow to the young woman before him. He gave a thoughtful smirk. "I seem to have underestimated you. My deepest apologies." True to his heritage, he bowed low in regret.

A smug smirk spread through her full lips as she turned her back on the man. "I appreciate the apology and I accept." She called over her shoulder, before rapping her knuckles against the door of Dakota's quarters.

Matais took a step back, turning on his leather booted heels.

"Ah, good to see you haven't jumped out of a window." His ears had pricked at the Noxian's voice. "It's ok, darling. Vi isn't that much of an asshole and well if Abbie says anything I'm sure we could have a few… words, hmm? Just let me in and we can discuss further."

There was an audible sigh and a hearty chuckle before the door was silently closed.

Matais looked over his shoulder to find the hallway empty and took a breath of relief.

He pushed the negative energy away from him, cleansing the area with his aura and scowled in the general direction of the Noxian.

Something was off about that girl, and for some reason, he couldn't put a finger as to what it was.

***********************************************************/)(\*******************************************

{Imogen Heap-Wait It Out}

45 minutes later

A content grin spreads through her thin lips as the girl, nuzzled into her bare shoulder, chuckles lowly. A dexterous finger traces the black ink etched into the Noxian's right shoulder.

The pattern is a slow swirl that is darker than midnight itself. The einhundert company was infamous among Demacian ranks. They were trained elite fighters that replaced the crimson elite with new tactics and a younger generation of strong Noxians.

Illya's nose pressed closer into the side of Dakota's neck, taking in the ever present scent of mint and fire. They were hidden underneath the white sheets of the comfortable twin bed. Their legs entwined and their bare bodies tangled close together. One of Illya's hands rested loosely against the soldier's collarbone, pressing her fingers into the yellowing bruises that had formed on her neck.

"They are healing well." She murmured softly, craning her neck forward to place her lips along the skin.

Dakota snorted as she pushed herself up from her elbows, causing Illya to whine in protest. The soldier gave a wry smirk to the lilac haired girl. "I have to get going. I told Caitlyn I would go with her to the range."

Illya rolled over to her back allowing the soldier free space to escape the safe confines of sheets and body heat. "Some mother daughter shooting. How touching." Illya sighed, pulling the covers over her cold body. Bloody Piltovian winters, She sneered mentally.

Dakota's face fell into a frown. "No, it's nothing like that. Just…" She sighed. "We're just trying to figure out where we stand."

"Mmm, yes in true Deramore style, by shooting the hell out of things." Illya chuckled, pushing herself into a sitting up position. She crossed her pale scarred arms on top her kneecaps and leaned her chin into the divot of her elbow. Her emerald eyes watched Dakota intently as the soldier dressed herself. Curiously she observed the way the soldier's neck tightened as she clipped her axe belt together. Dexterous fingers ensured her prized possessions were strapped safely to her hips and through the belt loops of her pants.

A small glower crossed the Noxian's features as the soldier shrugged on a shirt over her muscular shoulder blades. The soldier's scarred back was one of the many things that Illya enjoyed to oggle. She rose a lilac eyebrow to the girl's expression as Dakota turned and rolled her eyes.

"Keep talking and I'll kick you out of my bed." She warned, playfully shoving Illya's back onto the mattress. The soldier descended upon the girl, her arms on either side of Illya as she straddled the Noxian's hips. She bent her neck down pressing their lips together in a quick peck, before she pulled away, grabbing her canvas winter jacket off of the foot of the bed.

She gave a devilish smirk toward Illya as the Noxian gave a flustered pout. "That was rude, darling."

"I'll make it up to you later." The soldier called over her shoulder in a small chuckle before exiting her quarters and closing the door behind her.

She took a second to button up the black canvas winter jacket. The emblem of Piltover Company was stitched into her left shoulder while the insignia of the fifty first was embroidered into her right. She took the necessary steps toward the sheriff's office, gently rapping her knuckles against the hard oak door.

"Enter." Was the curt and polite call of welcome from the sheriff.

Dakota obliged, turning the brass doorknob, the teen entered into the office space.

"Good evening, Dakota. I'll only be a minute, just need to finish off this last piece and we'll get moving." Caitlyn explained turning her attention back to the parchments.

"Yeah, of course. Take your time." The soldier pushed her hands inside her jacket pockets, keeping her eyes trained on her boots as they made patterns in the dark gray carpeted floor.

Caitlyn's signature etched into the parchments. She flashed her icy eyes to Dakota, observing the way the soldier busied herself. It always pleased the sheriff to see the girl with a strong posture. She admired the way her shoulders looked as if they could hold heavy burdens. In a way they reminded her of Vi's shoulders; strong, sturdy, reliable.

Caitlyn shook herself mentally.

She pressed the paper into a manila folder, sorting it away to be sent off to archives. She flattened the front of her blouse, before rising from her desk and briskly walking over to the coat rack. She shrugged on her green fur lined cotton jacket, buttoning up the material to ensure she would stay warm in the Piltovian winter. She pushed her digits into close fitting leather gloves, before she strutted over to a gun locker, inputting a combination and retrieving her rifle.

She stood before Dakota, rifle strapped to her back and motioned for her to lead the way outside of the office. Dakota gave a small smirk before exiting.

The sheriff and the soldier walked through the offices. Dakota was more at a leisure pace, her long legs able to catch up to Caitlyn's sauntering speed. Her hands dug deep into her pockets and a blithe expression crossed over her features as she trailed Caitlyn. The sheriff on the other hand, had to keep a bravado as she traversed the working stations of her hardworking officers. Her chin was tilted up and her small shoulders were squared as she focused her eyes forward. Anyone who was willing to approach quickly cut their eyes and continued on with their path. As they entered into the elevator, the sheriff relaxed into an easier posture, shedding the icy armor of the Piltover's renowned sheriff and taking up the warm personality of Caitlyn, the motherly figure who baked on her days off and enjoyed a tall glass of wine with her books. A warm smile spread through her thin lips as she turned her attention to Dakota.

"Thank you, for coming along with me. I haven't been to the range in a long time." Caitlyn explained. "It helps me think a little bit clearly."

"I get what you mean." The soldier chuckled, the finger of her left hand brushing against the latches of her holster. "I do the same with my axes. Especially when I've had a tough go for awhile. It's easy to do something that you don't really need to think about. It helps you block out all the crap in the world."

Caitlyn nodded in agreement. "Absolutely."

The elevator gave a cheerful ding, notifying the riders that they had arrived to their destination.

Caitlyn stepped out, followed by Dakota. The teen gave a slight shiver as cold air from the parking garage struck her body. She pulled the hood of her jacket over her head to help maintain some sort of warmth while hunching her shoulders over.

Caitlyn stopped in front of a navy blue hexmobile. It's design was sleek and elegant, made of aerodynamic curves along the body of the vehicle. Caitlyn opened the trunk, safely storing her rifle along the confines of the hexmobile before moving to the driver side door.

The ride to the rifle range was silent, as the teen kept her gaze forward, her eyes darted left to right looking for potential threats among the skyscrapers. Being a trained soldier fixed your perspective; anything could turn sour and it was best to be prepared for those situations. Every now and again her eyes would shift to the sheriff, watching as her thin lips, were pressed into a hard concentrated line. Her gloved fingers wrapped around the leather of the steering wheel with a strong grip.

It seemed as if Caitlyn wanted to say something, but was thinking better of it. They'd have plenty of time to talk things out at the range.

Easily, the sheriff pulled into a dirt lot, setting the hexmobile in park before removing her seat belt.

"I didn't know you were a woodsy kind of person." Dakota smirked at the entrance of the range. An arch way of Ionian furs, Demacian silver pines and leafless Piltovian maples broke away to a small kept gravel and snow covered path. The breathtaking view of the ironspike mountains gave a beautiful backdrop to the area as snow fell gently from the sky.

"It's the only safe place where civilians won't go bothering my concentration." Caitlyn explained, exiting out of the vehicle. "Plus," She called behind her shoulder. "The local shooting ranges aren't a challenge for me like they were when I was younger. I can really shoot at a distance from here."

"Fair enough." Dakota chuckled. She pulled the collar of her jacket closer into her face, smiling at the shivering cold as she stepped out of the hexmobile.

"Come on." Caitlyn tutted, strapping the rifle to her back and closing the boot of the hexmobile firmly. "We've got a bit of a distance to cover to set up our position."

"Lead the way." The soldier gestured.

The soft crunch of heavy boots, Piltovian larks, winter breeze and brushing pine trees were the only sound accompanying the sheriff and the soldier as they hiked up a small incline. The sheriff began to whistle a soft tune that Dakota recognised instantly as the soldier's lullaby, a Piltovian children's song that graced her ears in her childhood. Her own mother would sing it to her while she drifted off to sleep or when she needed comforting. It brought content thoughts of happy memories containing smiles that warmed her very core . It reminded her of a time when Caitlyn had visited her family for a snowdown. The two of them whisked off to a sitting room enjoying the heat of the roaring fireplace and the safety of home. It hit her then why her mother always let Caitlyn have those small private moments without anyone to bother them. Why, when the young sheriff looked haggard, her mother would hand Dakota to Caitlyn and whisper to go relax, catch up, remember that there was good in the world.

Her mother was trying to keep a bond between them.

She froze as they came to the edge of a small cliffside. Trees broke away and in the far distance in a clearing where three targets spread apart at different intervals. On the cliffside, a small hut was placed at the edge of the forest and the lookoff. A small door was held locked by a padlock.

Caitlyn strode toward the hut, digging into her pockets as she retrieved her keys. With a satisfying click, the padlock came loose and the sheriff opened the shack door. Inside, rows of shelves holding ammo, protective gear, paint, blankets, food, a campfire tea kettle and tools took up most of the space. Caitlyn handed off a blanket, binoculars and an ammo box to Dakota, who took them quickly.

The raven haired woman frowned as she inspected the girl's bare fingers. She craned her neck to gaze over the top of the shelves. She reached up, letting her leathered fingers graze over sanded wood , looking for the familiar texture of leather. A small pleased smile graced her thin lips as her fingers found gloves.

"Wear these," She tutted, pushing the material into her biological daughter's chest. "No point in losing your digits due to frostbite. You should be more careful, it can get very cold out here."

Dakota rolled her icy eyes, smirking lazily and raising an eyebrow at the woman.

"Don't give me that look, young lady." The sheriff pointed giving the girl a stern frown. "You won't roll your eyes when you can't work with hextech anymore because your fingers froze off."

She pushed past the chuckling soldier, marching to exit the hut. Dakota followed, a small pip in her step as excitement coursed through her body. If she was lucky, she could hold one of the most powerful hextech rifles known in Valoran. A rifle so infamous, that hextechnicians around the globe had traveled to inspect the piece, but only to be turned down by the sheriff. Her rifle was exclusive to only a few people, such as herself, Vi and Professor Deramore, the creator of the rifle. Much like Vi's gauntlets, Caitlyn's rifle was cared for like a vulnerable yet volatile child. No one touched it. Not even if you had the best intentions.

Caitlyn trudged through the snow looking for the proper place to set up a well situated position facing the distant targets.

"This should be perfect." She turned to the soldier who walked up beside her. "Help me lay the blanket down."

Dakota nodded, carefully placing the ammo box at her feet. She unfurled the crocheted material over the snow laden ground. It was a dark woollen fabric with crosses of yellow and red lines, creating a plaid pattern.

Caitlyn pulled at the edges to create a taut square before kneeling on the material. Dakota placed the ammo box between them as she sat cross legged beside the sheriff. Caitlyn pulled her rifle from her shoulder, unstrapping the beautiful piece of hextech from her person.

The ivory pieces gleaned from the light of the afternoon sun beating behind snow clouds of the winter sky. The bronze barrel and stock seemed as if it was polished enough to be gold to the unknowing eye. But real hextechnicians and metallurgists would know, they would see that it was high grade bronze crafted to be durable, just like all of Dr. Deramore's creations.

Dakota couldn't help but longingly observe the rifle with a small open mouthed expression.

The sights were made out of highly tested heat tempered glass with holographic crossheirs. The pink power crystal loading system glowed with energy, wisps of rosy smoke wafted into the cold air.

Caitlyn set the bolt action back, ensuring the hammer was set in safety before she lay prone on the blanket. She rested the butt into the press of her shoulder. She pulled the bipod stand from the bottom of the forend, stabilizing the rifle on top of the even blanket. She rested her cheek along the stock, steadying her breath as she focused on the sights. Her lithe finger adjusted the sights to a meticulous standard. With a satisfied hum, she extended her trigger arm to the ammo box, unlatching it as she kept her sight on the targets over three kilometers away. Her fingers clasped around a bullet, sliding it from its arrangement and out to the open air. She took a large breath in, taking the time to calm her mind, letting all of the tension flow out of her body.

She placed the bullet into the chamber, letting her fingers glide along the brass and the trigger guard before she pulled the bolt action forward. She exhaled as the satisfying clink of the bullet entered into the chamber fully, echoing through her bones.

It felt as natural as breathing. Every component was just another piece of her being. Every shot was like a scream from her lungs as frustration, confusion and sadness seeped out.

Her trigger finger rested against the trigger guard, as she made last minute adjustments.

"Middle target, approximately three and a half kilometers from this position. Wind adjustments for North-eastern winds of up to twenty kilometers per hour. " A small smile pressed through her lips. "Do you think I could hit it?"

She could hear the soldier beside her snort. "I wouldn't doubt it really. The worse you could possibly do, is hit the outside ring." Dakota looped the binoculars around her neck, before pressing them to her face.

"Are you in a betting mood?" Caitlyn asked, keeping her icy eyes to the target.

The girl choked out in surprise. "The Sheriff of Piltover is a gambler?" Dakota chuckled in surprise.

"I do not condone gambling, Master Corporal. It is a terrible and nasty habit that can ruin your life and the lives of the people around you." Caitlyn tutted sharply before falling into a teasing tone. "However, this isn't gambling. I know I can make the shot. I'll hit it right in the middle."

The soldier raised a raven black eyebrow. "Awfully cocky, aren't you?"

"That's not cocky, love. That's confidence." Caitlyn clarified.

"Alright, fine. If you hit the bullseye, supper is on me." Dakota smirked. "And if you miss, you take the unit out for drinks this weekend."

The sheriff gave a low throaty laugh. "Love, I never miss. Not by a longshot."

"Prove it. You only get one shot."

"Too easy."

The soldier snickered into her newly gloved hands. "Whenever you're ready, Sheriff."

Caitlyn rolled her eyes, smirking against the brass and ivory stock. She settled her shoulders, her breath easy and relaxed. She drew in air through her nose, holding it in her lungs as her finger left the trigger guard. She began to add a small amount of pressure into the trigger, squeezing it slowly.

The world around her blurred into nothingness as she tunnel visioned the target.

Slightly up, a quarter millimeter to the left. Deep breath. Hold.

The world quieted down around her as her relaxed heartbeat lulled her in a hypnotic state.

Perfect.

Her finger pulled back on the trigger. The rifle kicked back, pushing roughly into the Sheriff's shoulder as she sharply exhaled out her held breath. Snow kicked up near the muzzle before settling down.

In the distance a heavy metal thunk echoed off from the clearing before them. Caitlyn turned her cheek to look at the soldier beside her.

The girl's jaw was slack as her eyes stay glued through the binoculars.

"Holy shit." The soldier sputtered in shock, pulling her eyes away from the target. "How...What?! I don't know much about shooting, but shouldn't that be damn near impossible to do on the first shot?"

Caitlyn chuckled as she pulled the bolt action back, expending the bullet casing from the chamber. "It should be, but I've had quite a lot of practice, love."

"Teach me." Dakota spoke in awe watching as the sheriff pressed a fresh load of ammo into the chamber, setting the bolt and preparing for another shot.

She watched how immobile the sheriff became as she held herself steady, aiming down the sights with a predatory look. She was a hunter tracking down and ending her prey. Each shot needed to count.

"Right side Target. Approximately three and three-quarter kilometers away from our position. Wind lowered to a breeze of ten kilometers per hour still at a North-Eastern direction." Caitlyn announced.

Quickly Dakota located the next target. It was a bit farther in distance and she squinted through the optical zoom, locating the red dot.

The rifle went off.

Seconds later, the shot pierced the bullseye. Again.

"That's incredible." She gasped.

"Alright, come over here." Caitlyn invited, leaning away from the rifle and wiggling to allow the soldier some space. "Now this will be difficult. We are at a very far distance, so do not be discouraged. You might not be able to hit anything this trip to the range. But practice makes perfect."

Dakota nodded. She passed the binoculars to the raven haired woman, before she lowered herself onto her stomach, taking the sheriff's spot behind the rifle. Her hands shook as Caitlyn crawled over her, setting the rifle into position. She nestled the butt of the rifle into Dakota's shoulder, her fingers moulded the teenagers hands around the grips.

"Have you ever fired anything of this calibre?" She asked, placing a reassuring hand on the teenager's lower back.

The girl shook her head. "I've only shot a pistol, but that was once and in a life or death situation."

"There's a lot to learn about this kind of weaponry. Tell me, how do you aim while throwing your axes?" Caitlyn asked, placing her chin along the top of Dakota's left shoulder. She tipped the soldier's jaw to rest her right cheek along the stock of the rifle. The soldier grimaced slightly as she rested along the bruises of her face.

"I use my elbow." The soldier replied quickly, taking the sheriff's hint as she aimed down the sight. "Where my elbow, foot and thumb are pointed and then I guess at the distance. I try to calculate how hard I need to throw and the spin count it needs to make the rotation."

Caitlyn sighed. "Be careful with how you're aiming. If you press your face any closer, the kick will break your cheekbone. I broke my nose when I was thirteen because I did not respect the weapon I was using."

"Ow." Dakota cringed. A shiver ran down her spine. "That sounds terrible."

Caitlyn chortled. "I had to wear a nose brace for a month. My mother was very intent in ensuring I didn't have a crooked nose."

"You have to have pictures of that?" Dakota giggled, her shoulders shaking from the small laughter.

"In some dusty photoalbum, I do believe there is one somewhere." The sheriff groaned. "Okay, focus."

Dakota tried to conceal the smile on her face.

"Look at the trees. See the way the wind is blowing?"

The soldier nodded in affirmation.

"Look in the sights. Due to my request there is a digital compass in the corner of the HUD. Now depending on the way the wind blows, it can change the trajectory of the bullet, so you need to compensate, as well as other things." Caitlyn explained. "However, since this is your first time, I want you to try this on your own. We'll see what we can work on and what to adjust for your next shot. Trust your gut instinct, it may carry you farther than you think."

"Okay. I'll see what I can do." Dakota whispered, already focusing on the task at hand.

She took a large breath, as she settled her body into a steadier pose, just as she had watched Caitlyn do, prior to her taking the rifle. She focused in on the sights, watching as her breath made the scopes move with every lungful. In her peripherals she watched as pines bowed to a strong gust of wind. Her eyes looked to the small compass in the sights, judging the direction of the gust. She adjusted, estimating that the wind should help direct the bullet to the target. She looked at the distance.

"How far away is the one closest to us?" She asked, breaking the silence.

Caitlyn beamed. "Three and a quarter kilometers from us."

Dakota squinted in the sights for a final time. If she learned anything from throwing her axes it was that sometimes you had to overcompensate for height to make distance. She nodded through her logic, holding her breath in her cheeks as she tipped the rifle muzzle up the slightest.

"Okay, I think I got it." Dakota spoke quickly.

"Put your finger on the trigger." Caitlyn instructed. "Now don't forget there is going to be a very hard kick, so brace for the impact. But don't be too rigid either, you'll hurt yourself. Make sure that you add just a little bit of pressure slowly to the trigger, rather than outright shooting. It will help with a cleaner shot."

Dakota took in the newly added information.

She exhaled through her nose before she took another large breath, holding it in. Her finger added pressure to the trigger pushing slightly until she knew she was ready.

BOOM

The butt of the rifle pounded roughly into her shoulder, making her grunt out her held breath. Snow kicked up around them from the force of the rifle going off. Caitlyn braced against Dakota, helping her take the powerful kick as she hovered over her biological daughter's left shoulder.

As soon as everything settled down, Dakota gave Caitlyn a shit eating grin. "Holy… I…" She threw her head back and laughed to the afternoon sky. It was a wholesome, hearty laugh that was contagious as it traveled through Caitlyn. She couldn't help but giggle along. "That was amazing. Oh my gods, it just..there was so much oomph to it."

"It's quite exhilarating." Caitlyn pushed herself up from her prone position, standing on her feet. She pressed the binoculars to her face, looking through the optics.

"It is! I'm shaking from how exciting that was." Dakota pushed up from her belly as she kneeled. "Oh man, I have go to do that again." She shakily stood to her feet, letting the giddy energy course through her as she stood beside Caitlyn. "So how'd I do?"

Stoically the sheriff handed the binoculars to the soldier. Dakota looked through the optics.

She zoomed in and focused the lenses, squinting as she tried to find where she might've hit.

She couldn't believe her own eyes.

The hole had penetrated the very outside edge of target.

"I estimate you were off by a half foot." Caitlyn deadpanned, her expression unreadable and stoic.

Dakota's brow furrowed. "Damn. I really thought I'd be able to hit the mark." The teen frowned.

The raven haired woman turned to the girl. Caitlyn's eyes danced over the soldier's disappointed features. She reached forward, grabbing the girl's jacket, pulling her into an embrace. She wrapped her arms around the soldier, squeezing Dakota tightly.

With a sigh, the teen reciprocated the hug grinning wildly at the sheriff.

"I'm proud of you Dakota." Caitlyn said as she pulled away, tucking a stray strand of the teen's bangs behind her ear. "You did a very good job. That was probably the best shot I had ever seen from someone who has never held a rifle." She took a step back giving the girl some space after the unexpected embrace. "Not a lot of people can even hit the target on their first shot."

The girl's ears turned pink as she flushed furiously. A warm feeling spread through her chest as she looked up to the sheriff with a small smile.

"I guess it wasn't only your looks that I got from you." Dakota mentioned. "Must've got the shooting gene." She joked.

Caitlyn chuckled, surprised at the girl's joking mood. "You cannot forget my charm, love. You also got that."

"Ugh, the whole foot in the mouth thing? Yeah, thanks for that. It's your fault that I'm terribly awkward around the people I like." Dakota snorted. "No wonder Illya thinks I can be so uptight. It's all your fault."

"I'd choose your words a bit more carefully. I am not uptight." Caitlyn beamed at the girl, happy to participate in playful banter. "As for Illya, if she doesn't like it, she can leave."

The teen rolled her eyes. "Oh not you too. Elric is not a fan of her, either." She whined.

"Illya seems to be getting quite bold with you. One would even say the two of you had become quite smitten with each other." Caitlyn raises a questioning eyebrow to the teen.

"How did you know?" Dakota asked quickly, her cheeks flamed in bright red.

"Love, I'm Piltover's greatest detective, there is not a lot you can hide from me." Caitlyn teased. "It also doesn't help your case that you drunkenly admitted to us that you couldn't get her out of your head." The sheriff looked to the teen with an unimpressed frown. "I would appreciate it though if she wasn't skulking around out of your room in the wee hours of the morning during my work shift. Especially, wearing just your uniform shirt.

If it were anymore possible the teen became redder. "I..." The girl averted her eyes, her fingers fiddling with the latches of her axe holsters at her hips.

"You should be careful with her, Dakota." Caitlyn said sternly, her eyes hardening slightly toward the teen. "Girls like Illya usually lead to a sour heartbreak. Sure they seem fun and wild, but you can never tame them. You can try, but they will always be wild, you can either accept it or get hurt by it."

"I know." She admitted. "But I think that I really...like her…" Dakota sighed heavily, reaching behind her head and nervously scratching her neck. "She's sassy and challenging and she just...She wants to try. I want to try. I want to prove that I'm worth staying for. I want her to still be 'wild' and sassy, it's what I like in her, even though it drives me crazy. I admit, she's rude and too forward for her own good, but it's refreshing."

Caitlyn's eyes softened at the lovestruck teen. With a sigh, she began to make her way back to her rifle, laying on her stomach. She moved over patting the space in front of the weapon as she welcomed the teen over. "Let's talk."

***********************************************************/)(\*******************************************

(Two hours later)

{Daydreamer- Travelling Light}

The thing about Piltover is that no matter where you looked, if you were up high, it always provided a beautiful view of the landscape. The shopping districts were always alight with stringed slowdown lights and hextech streetlamps that donned a warm yellowish haze. To the east the lower city and the dockyards were visible through the Lunar Revel lanterns in little Ionia. Up among the North Western side of the city were the manor houses of the upper city nobles, statesmen and celebrities. The small glow of hex lights shining through curtained windows revealed the massive front gardens.

He sighed as the cold struck through his bones. He huddled closer into his cotton overcoat, hunching his shoulders over his ears. A small shiver shook through his large frame as a cold winter breeze bit at him like a rabid vicious dog. It wasn't often that he came up to the rooftop of city hall. In fact Elric Sampson, unlike his sister, hated heights. It was a fear engraved into him and something he was never willing to admit. But sometime fear helps you think a bit more clearly. So here he was, safely in the centre of the rooftop, swaying his vision to observe the city in its nightly (ha!) presence. He dug his hands into the pockets of his coat to stave off the cold as he paced the roof.

His thoughts were riddled with worry for Dakota. He should have been more understanding. He should have been more sympathetic and sensitive. It seemed as if his sister had went through a lot since he was away.

But she had to understand, he only wants the best for her. Illya… he wasn't quite sure about the Noxian yet. The girl had proved to be a good ally, someone who they could trust, especially in a fight.

However, there was something about Illya, something that always put the hairs on the back of his neck to stand on end. Maybe it was just him being uneasy about her being Noxian, or the way her lips could turn up in a wicked smirk whenever she watched Dakota. She reminded him of a hungry wolf with clever fox like eyes. Even in the dungeon they had shared; Viktor's acolytes knew to give her a wide berth for fear of her striking them like a Targonian cobra. He respected her for it and he commended her for being something that even the monsters were afraid of.

Did he really want his baby sister to be seeing someone like that?

"Your pacing is making it very hard to concentrate on the scenery, blondie." Illya tutted, keeping her eyes on her sketchbook. Her emerald were focused on the charcoal lines and shapes she pressed into the white parchment. She rested the leather-bound book on top of her thighs. Her shoulders hovered over her art protectively, trying to shield the winter wind. She was huddled into a familiar looking knit sweater. The hood was pulled over her lilac coloured head. The left shoulder provided the insignia of Piltover Company, and the right with the fifty-first crest proudly sewn in with the Sampson name right underneath it.

Elric's brow furrowed as he looked at the girl suspiciously.

"How long have you been up here?" He demanded hotly, his sapphire eyes narrowed as the girl gave a devilish smirk to the young man.

"Longer than you." She muttered. "Before you so rudely broke my concentration of my sketching." Her emerald eyes flashed up from her page and observed Elric. "What's got you in such a tiff that you're pacing so much? That's usually something Dakota does."

"It's nothing." He quickly sputtered out.

Illya quirked an eyebrow at him. "Mmmmmmmmmhm. I'll believe that the day Dakota gives up Hextech." She scooted over a few spaces from her spot against the ventilation system. She patted the space in invitation. "C'mon, blondie. Take a seat, tell me your woes and sorrows. I'm sure it could fascinate me long enough to make me feel inspired to draw again. Then I can just ignore you." She chuckled.

Elric huffed. With a defeated sigh he trudged forward, sitting next to Illya. He brought his knees up to his chest, feeling the warmth from the air ventilator circulating heat through city hall and the police headquarters.

"Spill it." She focused her attention on the parchment tracing a thick line of a near-by skyscraper.

"What are… why does…" He struggled with the words he wanted to say, not sure what he wanted the answers to. He shook his head. "Are you in it for the long run, Illya?"

The girl froze mid sketch. "Pardon?" She looked up to Elric with questioning eyes.

"With my sister." He explained further.

"Uhh, don't you think that's a bit fast. I mean we only really started being 'with' each other today," She curled her fingers into air quotation marks.

"Really?" He asked surprised, his blonde eyebrows practically shooting off of his face.

"Yeah. Your sister is very indecisive with her feelings." She snorted. "I have never seen someone dance so much around what she actually wants. She's like a skittish rabbit in a farmer's garden; she's not sure if it's worth the bloody carrot or not. You Piltovians are weird. Just go for it, stop holding yourselves back." She flicked her wrist in a dismissive gesture. "Honestly, it's annoying."

"Just don't hurt her okay." Elric blurted out. "She deserves a lot more than getting her heart stomped on. She's been through enough."

Illya grinned at Elric. "Now that's more like it. Honesty is the best policy! Doesn't it feel much better to get it off your chest than dancing around the subject?" She placed a hand on his massive shoulder. "I understand your protectiveness, Elric.. Don't worry, she's got quite the brilliant head on her shoulders as well as a team of people who care deeply about her. I see where she got her thoughtfulness and loyalty from. You raised her well." She spoke, focusing her attention on the parchment as she drew another line in charcoal.

"Well I have to worry about her. It's my job." He followed her line of sight, nodding appreciatively at what she was drawing. "Just know though, if you hurt her, there will be nothing in this world that will keep you safe from me." He warned. "I understand that sometimes relationships don't work out and that's fine and all, but if you cheat on or physically hurt her, there will be no place for you to run or hide."

Illya chuckled. "Of course, I wouldn't expect anything less from you, blondie. You have to keep your cub safe, mother bear." She playfully nudged Elric in the ribs.

Suddenly the two of them sat ramrod straight as the heavy metal door behind them opened.

"Illya?"

"Hey Darling, glad you're back. I'm just over here with a very handsome gentleman." She winked at the young man, who rolled his eyes.

Their ears pricked at the sound of gravel being held under heavy boots. Dakota came around the corner and took a careful step back as she saw Elric seated comfortably next to Illya. She raised a raven black eyebrow to her brother.

"El?" Dakota looked suspiciously between her brother and her new maybe-not-so-sure girlfriend. "What are you two up to?" Her tone was wary as she eyed them.

Illya smirked. "See I told you, like a damned rabbit." She snickered. "Come and sit with us darling, we were having quite the nice heart to heart."

"Really?" Dakota said doubtfully.

"Yup." Illya replied, patting the space between herself and Elric.

With another quick look, Dakota sighed and sat between the two. Illya leaned into her, taking her free hand and twining their fingers together. She pressed her cheek into Dakota's shoulder, nuzzling her nose into her canvas winter jacket. "You're warm." Illya hummed, pressing closer into the soldier's side.

"Yes, because I am not stupid and don't stay out in long periods of time with a sweater that doesn't belong to me." Dakota teased. She pressed a quick peck to the Noxain's forehead. The raven haired girl released their fingers before scooping Illya into her lap. She wrapped her arms around the girl, pulling her in closely to help keep her warm.

Illya placed her sketchbook aside and looked to the soldier with a pleased yet surprised smirk. "You're in a lovey mood. Who are you and what have you done to Dakota?" The Noxian teased, settling herself into the soldier's embrace.

"You'd be surprised how relaxing shooting can be." Dakota snorted in reply. "I feel lighter somehow."

Elric looked at his sister quizzically. "You went shooting?"

"Yeah. Caitlyn and I went to her private range at the base of the ironspike mountains. I got to fire her rifle. My first shot clipped the target." The soldier boasted. "I impressed the sheriff."

"Doesn't seem that impressive." Illya chuckled, rubbing her thumb along Dakota's forearm.

"It was far away." Dakota argued. "Three and quarter kilometers away." She gave a cocky smirk to the giggling Noxian. "That is something pretty hard to do for someone who hasn't touched a rifle, let alone shoot one."

"Honestly, with the genes you two share I would expect you to actually hit a bullseye." Illya teased, pressing her back closer into the Piltovian's chest. She froze suddenly as she felt Dakota stiffen behind her.

"What did you just say?" Elric questioned suspiciously. His jaw tightened as he looked to the Noxian quizzically.

"Uh-" Illya stammered.

"Illya, love. Would you mind giving me and my brother some privacy?" Even though Dakota's voice was calm, Illya could feel the soldier's nervousness. "He needs to know. I've been putting it off."

" I need to know, what?" Elric's voice caught in his throat as worry creeped up his spine. Did she know? Did she figure out that she was-?

No, Caitlyn had promised him she wouldn't say anything.

There was no way she knew.

But Illya had said-

"Alright darling. I'll see you later then, hmm?" Illya pulled out of the soldier's embrace, turning quickly to tip Dakota's chin up. She pressed their lips together for a chaste kiss and as she pulled away she teasingly nipped the girl's lower lip. She winked before sashaying her hips and leaving the soldiers alone on the rooftop.

Dakota shook her head as she pinched the bridge of her nose. "She is going to be the death of me." She muttered through the massive blush staining her cheeks.

"Dakota?" Elric looked to his sister seriously, his mind reeling with questions. "What do I need to know?"

Taking a trembling breath, the girl reached out to squeeze her brother's hand reassuringly. She turned her seated body to face her brother, crossing her legs to allow him room as he did the same.

"I need you to promise me that no matter what, nothing changes after this." She plead.

"You know I'll always be here for you, Dakota. Nothing will change that."

"What I'm about to say will really impact our lives, El." Dakota admitted through a sigh. "Might as well get it over with." She muttered mostly to herself. "These bruises aren't just from the Pitts."

Elric's face darkened momentarily, his shoulders falling back as he entered into a protective mode.

Instinctively, Dakota looked to her hands and the way they held her brother's massive palms. They were so different from hers. They were wide, strong, warm and comforting hands. It was these hands that had taught her so much, that cared for her, that wiped away her tears, that stitched her together, that held her through her attacks, that protected her.

She took a steadying breath. Did he really need to know this? Did she really have to possibly ruin everything?

No. He needed to know.

It's not like he would abandon her after all of these years.

"While I was at Battlemania, I was attacked by a man who claimed to be my father. Caitlyn was called in when Vi noticed I was missing. He kept saying these things about Cait being my mom and that she hid me away from him. Obviously he's been arrested." Even though her throat struggles to say the words, she chuckles. She wipes at a tear trailing down her cheek. She looks to her brother, her icy eyes welling with tears.

Elric is frozen solid. His sapphire eyes are wide with concern and she finds his grips in her hands has turned into tightened stone.

"After a massive fight, Caitlyn explained that mum and dad adopted me. That she was actually my-"

"Your biological mother." Elric suddenly added nonchalantly. His voice was a lot warmer than his body language. He honestly didn't want his sister to find out about this, but circumstances proved uncanny. He gave his sister a small smile before he pulled his hands away from hers as he crawled over to her, breaking the space between them. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her face into his broad chest. He kissed the top of her head as he held her together. The last thing he wanted was for her to unravel. "Abbie and I found out a while ago."

Surprised, the teen pulled away from her brother, a frown etched into her thin lips. "And you didn't think it would be a good idea to tell me?" She asked incredulously pulling away from his embrace. Anger began to dance behind her icy blue irises.

"It wasn't important." He shrugged. Before she could argue with him further, he cut her off. "It doesn't change anything, Dakota. You will always be my sister and I will always be your brother, I don't care who the hell popped you out. You're MY sister and I'll fight anyone who says otherwise, do you hear me?"

The teenager launched herself at her brother, pulling him in tightly. Elric laughed loudly as he nuzzled into her hair, his large arms enclosing around her body.

"You're such a cheesy doorknob, you dork." Dakota sniffed into his shoulder.

"The cheesiest." He grinned.

***********************************************************/)(\*******************************************

(Moments later)

{Lambert- As Ballad}

Caitlyn shouldn't have been surprised when she found her bruiser passed out on the couch when she came home. Vi was wrapped in a warm looking quilt, her face pressed into one of the couch pillows. Takeout food containers laid on the desolate coffee table, as well as a sprawled out case file.

Caitlyn raised a perplexed eyebrow. Vi doing paperwork? She reached for the file, catching a glimpse of the file name.

Eye Witness Sighting: Jinx, Zaun/Noxian Border January 13th 30CLE

What was Jinx doing out by the Noxian border?

She was pulled out of her reverie by a low groggy voice. "C'mere, Cupcake." Caitlyn squeaked in surprise as she was pulled into the couch. Vi maneuvered her fiancee so that they lay chest to chest. Her sleepy violet eyes, looked to Caitlyn lovingly. She pulled apart her cocoon of the quilt to allow Caitlyn into the warmth. The brawler cupped the sheriff's cheek, pressing their lips softly together. A small pleased sound rumbled through Cait's chest as she lost herself to the kiss.

The raven haired woman slid her fingers through Vi's hair, tugging at the pink locks and dragging her nails over her shaved side. Playfully she nipped at the pinkette's lower lip.

This incited the enforcer to roll on top of the sheriff, a small cheeky grin breaking through her lips as she kissed her partner. Her hand traveled down to enclose her palms on the outside of Caitlyn's left thigh.

Caitlyn pulled away, humming in content as she rubbed their noses together. Vi grimaced. "Your nose is cold, babe." She chuckled lowly, giving the sheriff a quick peck to her button like nose. She then pressed her lips along the sheriff's jaw, revelling in the way that she smelled like snow and pine trees, with the distant scent of her favorite vanilla perfume.

Caitlyn giggled as ticklish sensations coursed from the contact of Vi's lips to her sensitive neck. A low chuckle came from Vi as she pulled herself away from the sheriff's throat to stare into her beautiful icy eyes.

"I love you." Caitlyn murmured as her eyes locked to Vi's violet hues. "You know that right?"

"Every day of my life, Cupcake." The pinkette replied. She rubbed her thumb reassuringly in small soothing circles along the outside of Cait's thigh.

The sheriff beamed widely, before pulling the enforcer into another passionate kiss, before pulling away. She played with Vi's hair, carding her slender fingers through the mess as the bruiser nestled herself into the crook of Caitlyn's neck and shoulders. Vi wrapped her arms around Caitlyn's waist, pulling her as close as possible to her body.

"Warmmmm." Vi keened out, huddling into the shared heat of the quilt. "So how was the great outdoors? Didja shoot the shit outta those targets, babe?" Vi joked, her voice starting to get heavy with sleep.

Caitlyn rolled her eyes as she smiled warmly to her partner. "I had quite a fun time with Dakota. She even took me out to dinner."

"Oh really? That's good." Vi pecked her partner's cheek in victory. "I told ya she'd be ok, just had to give her time."

"Mmm, yes." Caitlyn agreed, nuzzling into Vi's soft hair, catching the scent of her strawberry shampoo. She hummed happily. "We had quite a chat as well. We talked about everything. How she was taking her return to Piltover, what it was like to be a sheriff, we even talked about relationships."

Caitlyn could feel Vi's eyebrows quirk up against her neck. "Relationships?"

"Yeah, she asked me how I knew I was in love with you, what it was like to be in a stable relationship. We talked about her feelings for Tarryn and how she is learning to move on. She even talked about Illya." Caitlyn chuckled. "I think she's more than smitten with the girl. Illya also sounds like a very comforting partner. She's been helping Dakota sort through her thoughts."

Vi snorted. " 'Thoughts', yeah right. I caught them in the training room today. Two of 'em couldn't have been more intimate. Thank gods, her brother wasn't there or he woulda skinned the two of 'em. Bad enough Abbie was with me."

Caitlyn grimaced. "Don't get me wrong, I think Illya is good for Dakota, but she… I don't even know how to explain it. She makes me feel uneasy."

"That's just the spunk and sass. The girl is eye balls deep in it and she's bloody ruthless." Vi explained with a slight smirk. "I like her. But you know me, the sassier the better, that's why I like you." Vi chuckled. " You can out bitch anyone in Valoran by just staring them down."

"Excuse me?" Caitlyn asked in mock hurt.

"Oh bugger off, Cait. You know what I mean." Sneakily the brawler ran her fingers along Caitlyn's side, tickling the sheriff into a small yelp.

Before the sheriff could protest, Vi kissed her with a playful growl rumbling in her throat. She cupped Caitlyn's cheek, running her thumb lovingly over the sheriff's jawline, making her gasp. Vi stole her breath away as she dragged her teeth over her upper lip, pulling on the soft muscle before returning in a passionate lip lock.

***********************************************************/)(\*******************************************

{Yoe Mase- Your Light}

( A week later)

"The circuits are in excellent condition!" Dakota explained, pointing at spots in the blueprints of the manor house. "Maybe a couple of frayed wires from some mice, but I could fix that easy."

Beside her Elric nodded. "That's good news. What about the insulation? Is it moldy or growing fungus?"

Dakota shook her head. "From what I saw, it's weather proofed really well. The pipes aren't even rusted. You could literally get a power generator connected to the grid and start living here within the week. You'd have to clean it up though, the dust is crazy, but the manor is in very great shape. What's your plan for the rooms?"

Elric sighed, running his fingers through his sandy hair. His sun kissed cheeks scrunched up as he thought through his plan. "Well Abbie and I could take the master bedroom. Would you want your room still?"

Dakota threw her hands up. "No nonono. This is your house. I don't need a room."

"Oh shove off, Dakota. I may be the deed owner, but this is as much as your home as it is mine." Elric pushed his sister's shoulder. "And Abbie wants Alex and Matais to have a space here as well. She doesn't want to split the team up. You should take the time to think about it. I mean we won't be moving in here until we get married two years from now. It should give us plenty of time to organize the renovations and get them done. We were thinking of turning the study into a training room."

Dakota nodded in thought. "Alright, what do you have to help invest in the project?" She asked already setting up the mental math for the expenses.

"Well, dad's trust fund for my college tuition is one option. They left some money in a savings account that I can get a hold of when I'm twenty two. My birthday is in two months so if we can hold out until then, we can start doing the bigger projects. It'll also be warmer to work in too, gotta love spring." He joked.

"We can use my college fund too." Dakota insisted. "It's small, but it's something that could help."

"Dakota, no, save that. You could still go to the university." Elric objected.

"And learn what? The basics of hextech. Yeah right, I'm not wasting my money on that. I have two very experienced hextechnologists who have started me on projects with them." Dakota explained. "I don't need the university."

Elric frowned at his sister. "You should consider it, I might not have a future for the University, but you do. You have a smart brain, I'm sure they'd give you a lot of scholarships to go to their school, Dakota."

"Yes, they'd love to have a trained operative in their University, one who has been on countless missions since the age of twelve. My education is meant for battle, not for solving what they deem as 'hard' coefficients." Dakota rolled her eyes.

The two siblings froze as the front door opened. Elric turned on his heels a smile growing on his face as he recognised the intruder. He rolled up the blueprints and pressed them to his sister's chest before he bounded off to Abbie's side.

He halted mid bounce when he saw her hollow expression. "Abbie?" His voice went up an octave as worry sunk into his heart, making it pound in his ears. "What's wrong?"

The captain's chocolate brown eyes swiveled to Dakota. "Can I have a moment alone with your brother?" She asked, her voice laced with disbelief and a distant fear.

Dakota squinted at Abbie, taking in her features. The redhead looked to be in pure shock. Her usually tan skin was gone completely of colour. It was almost a sickly pale hue that made Dakota's stomach twist uneasily.

Something didn't seem right.

"Are you sick, Abbie?" Dakota asked firmly, her eyebrows knit in worry.

"Don't make me repeat myself, Dakota!" Abbie snapped viciously.

The teenager held up her hands in defense. "Okay, by the void. Don't need to rip me apart." She muttered hotly. "If you need me I'll be in the cellar, looking at the circuit breaker." As soon as Dakota left the room, Elric turned on the redhead.

He placed his hands at her waist directing her to the marble steps of the stairs. He sat her down, before he followed suit. He twined their fingers together, his thumb running over her scarred knuckles. "What happened?"

Abbie took a steadying breath. "I vomited again this morning and got that terrible migraine. I started worrying because I've been feeling like I was a dory in the middle of the ocean in a hurricane. So I went to the Doctor to see if it was something serious." She looked to Elric.

"Oh gods, you're sick aren't you. What is it? Cancer? Malaria?" Elric's voice quavered in panic. "Don't worry, I know a lot of doctors that can help us. Some of them were really good friends with my dad. They'll be more than willi-"

"Elric." She said sharply catching his attention. She reached out, cupping his stubbled jaw. "I'm not sick." Tears welled up at the edge of her eyes. She squeezed his hand reassuringly, trying to shake the nervousness away from herself before she continued.

"I'm...I'm...I'm pregnant."

Elric's jaw dropped in shock. "You..you're actually...I'm gonna be…"

Abbie nodded her head quickly, a large beaming smile spreading through her lips. Tears of joy ran down her cheeks. "Three weeks. I'm due in November."

Elric's mouth twitched from surprised to smiling joy to surprised. "Really?" He asked in pure excitement. "You aren't even joking?"

"No, love." Abbie sniffled, laughing at his joyous expression.

The young man jumped up from his seat at the stairs. He threw his head back screaming in victory. "I'm going to be a father!" He screamed to the mosaic ceiling of his childhood home.

His sapphire eyes were a light with contagious happiness and tears. He looked to Abbie trying to stifle the sob coming up to his throat. "I'm going to be a father." He wheezed.

He took a moment to breathe as dizziness began to creep into his head, making his vision blurred.

He took a moment to look at Abbie, a small smile taking on his features before he frowned suddenly.

"Elric?" Abbie asked anxiously. "Are you okay?"

Before he could reply, unconsciousness took him, making him fall to the marble floor.