ViLeonce

Chapter 6: Partners

Vi was waiting by the Yordle Institute of Technology when she began to shift back and forth. She was agitated with waiting but she was also very excited to see her new partner. When she saw her name on the list, she knew she had volunteered for her. Vi's excitement was palpable, but her nervousness showed.

Finally a figure stepped out of the Institute and walked over to her. Vi smiled deeply when Leona made her way over to her. Leona however, was not smiling. In fact, she looked rather displeased with the days events.

"Hey Leona," Vi said, waving halfheartedly at her.

"This is a bad idea," Leona said coldly, "You'll regret it before this is all over."

"What do you mean?" Vi said, smiling.

"It's not funny!" Leona snapped, and she began to lead the way with Vi following.

"I guess I missed something," Vi said, scratching her head.

"With the state of affairs we are both in," Leona said trudging ahead without looking at her, "We will probably not be able to focus on the assignment."

"What assignment?" Vi asked, "It's just patrol."

"What about the robberies? The munitions disappearing?" she tossed her hair over a shoulder and secured it with a tie, "Aren't we supposed to be looking for them?"

Vi eased into control of the conversation with her easygoing and calm demeanor.

"Nah Leona, we are just patrolling. Caitlyn is the detective behind that case. We are going to keep an eye out, but it's not our job."

Leona just sighed as they kept walking.

Things were quiet as they walked through the downtown area. As the sun was going down, Vi and Leona watched the people pack up their stalls and close their store fronts for the night. Leona was vigilant and silent most of the patrol.

"It's a beautiful city," Leona said finally, shattering the quiet between them.

"Yeah, I love it here. I have been a few other places, but I can't shake the feeling of home from this place," Vi answered.

"I was born in a village on top of a mountain," she said smiling.

"Oh yeah? Which one?" Vi asked, trying to think of all the mountains in Valoran and drawing a blank.

"Mount Targon, I was born into the Rakkor that live there," she said, reminiscing.

"Never been. Isn't that where the Solari dwell?" Vi asked, remembering a book she had read once.

"Yes, it was they that gave me the strength to wield the Sun," she said.

Vi deadpanned, and Leona got the message and got quiet. Things were awkward for sure, but Vi loved walking next to Leona on patrol. It was comforting. The air was pleasant and cool as the sun dipped under the horizon and night fell over the city. A few minutes go by and Leona strikes up conversation again.

"So you were born here in Piltover right?"

"That's right," she answered looking down an alleyway.

"Who were your parents?" Leona asked.

"Don't really talk about them, they weren't my family," Vi answered, a little bitterly.

"Oh, so who was?" she asked innocently.

"Gang, when I was a kid," Vi answered again, deadpanning again.

Leona seemed to give up as they kept walking and finally they looped back to the police station and were relieved by the next patrol. As Vi was doing her paperwork, Leona waited by outside the office. Vi would glance over and spot her in the hallway, just kind of pacing back and forth. She thought it was cute. Finally she called out of the office,

"Hey Leona, wanna grab a beer after I finish up here?"

"I- um," Leona said, struck dumb by the question.

"One second," Vi said, then hastily scribbled down the last of her report.

When she got out into the hallway she said,

"I just figured we could salvage the night since I messed it up on patrol."

"That's sweet, and you didn't spoil anything, I just-" Leona stammered, looking around.

"What is it?" Vi asked with a teasing smile and crossing her arms.

"I don't drink," Leona said, biting her lip.

Vi just chuckled, "You don't or just never have before?"

"Um-" Leona just grinned and sighed.

"Come on let's go," Vi said taking her by the arm.

"Hey easy with that thing!" Leona yelped playfully as Vi manhandled her with her gauntleted hand.

"Oh woops," Vi said laughing and letting her go.

Vi gave Leona directions to the bar by her house and jogged home to put her gauntlets down. It was weird parting from Leona, but also kind of nice. It was cooling, and the fuzziness of the day was gone when she was alone and had time to clear her head.

She got home and set her gauntlets down on their stand, then made her way back to the bar. Leona was waiting for her outside the door.

"I almost thought you'd chickened out," Vi said chuckling.

"Yeah right," Leona laughed, "Let's go."

Vi led the way into the bar and ordered the first round. Leona's face twisted in distaste from the first sip and Vi nearly fell to the floor laughing. It took some coaxing, but eventually Vi got Leona to try another sip and then finally she was drinking on her own.

On the second round Leona asked,

"Head is getting light."

Vi laughed uproariously, "You featherweight, come on, have another."

Leona laughed too and clinked glasses with her.

"Why did you bring me here?" Leona asked after a while.

"You've been helping me lately with becoming more disciplined and responsible," Vi said taking another sip, "So I thought I'd bring you here and teach you how to be irresponsible and have fun."

"This is fun for you?" Leona asked, wrinkling her nose.

Vi laughed and nudged her, "Tease."

Leona then leaned over and kissed Vi on the mouth. She did it so quick and pulled back away before she even had a chance to react. She just sat there stunned. Leona went back to her drink and rolled her eyes playfully without making eye contact with Vi.

"So, what was that?" Vi asked, taking a drink again after she recovered.

"What do you want it to be?" Leona asked taking her gaze into her own and locking it.

"I don't really know what to think," Vi admitted. She felt exposed, almost naked under her stare. The feeling was both terrifying and exhilarating at the same time.

"I think that's the alcohol," Leona laughed nervously.

She then took another drink because Vi was staying quiet. She was terrified. Vi just sat there, apparently lost in thought. Leona kept a calm face, but inside she was panicking that she moved it too far too fast. She was cursing herself then decided to try to patch things up.

"Look, I'm sorry, if that was too fast-" she was cut off when Vi leaned in quick and kissed her hard on the mouth. Leona's eyes fluttered shut, forgetting what she was about to say.