VI, CAITLYN & JAYCE

The mystical light of the Hextech gemstone, like water on a rill, flowed all across the now-repaired Atlas Gauntlet, as Jayce could lift it again and feel it being as light as a normal glove would.

Except this glove was of an iron one, almost three times the thickness of a human hand and forearm and would easily crack open a mountain rock, let alone a human skull.

The workshop looked more like a glorified blacksmith rather than one of inventions, like so many on Piltover, especially because of the central furnace and the anvil. For Jayce, however, it was almost like home, one which he could put his mind at ease and reflect as he forged the tools, as was his family's profession.

"At least this was an easy fix, you got lucky.", he said, taking the gauntlet off and glancing at Vi and Caitlyn, whom were just standing still at his workshop as he worked his 'magic'. "Wish I could say the same for out there..."

"That'd make two of us.", Caitlyn nodded.

"Could've been worse.", Vi shrugged. "Could've lost my hand. But, for Sevika to get hers, was worth it, though."

"Worth being captured by Jinx?", Jayce asked, putting the tools back on the workbench. "You both? I warned you, you wouldn't make it alone."

"She got the jump on us both, at our most vulnerable.", Caitlyn elaborated. "I won't let it happen again.", she then glanced at Vi. "Not on my part, at least."

"I know that, Cait.", Jayce replied. "What I'm worried instead is how things might get worse with what you'll do down there. At the edge of open conflict, and you're picking up yet another fight, with Silco's former lieutenant?"

"That's why it's just us, not a whole enforcer army.", Vi replied.

"It is already messy enough, with this Ironhand complication.", Caitlyn followed.

"Exactly.", Jayce said. "And by the time the other Chem-Barons realize how much of open targets they are in your mission to bring Jinx in..."

"These aren't just some petty gang leaders.", Vi said. "They've business of theirs to protect. And Silco's power vacuum is already it's own issue, especially for Sevika."

"That means they'll keep quiet and out of it, even cooperate if they have to.", Caitlyn followed, as Vi observed each of the hanged tools by the workbench. "They know what's good for them."

"And what if questioning Sevika doesn't bring up anything?", Jayce asked, noticing the glances on Vi and Caitlyn's faces, before he shook his head. "It's just... it's been too many screw-ups to afford anymore antics."

"You're talking of screw-ups, pretty boy?", Vi asked, facing him and walking forward. "Who got so screwed up by just a dead kid in a bust to already want to parlay with the one behind all this?"

"Vi!", Caitlyn censored.

"At least *I* got closer to ending all this than your fists would.", Jayce defended himself. "And the Council itself, they all agreed to it."

"Sure they did, but Silco?", Vi asked. "When we were there, he said to Jinx you offered him everything, especially in exchange for her. He just said 'they can all burn'. Just like I told all of you Council people when we met."

Jayce took a moment to absorb that before shaking his head. "No...", he started. "No, he wouldn't be that..."

"Crazy?", Caitlyn asked in response, staring at Jayce dead eyed for a moment.

"No one could find her, not even you!", Jayce protested, then. "Only Silco knew and when I summoned him to talk, I-"

"You pushed him into giving the one thing he wouldn't!", Vi retorted, pointing a finger at him. "What'd you think was going to happen!?"

"Piltover needed someone to be made an example of, I couldn't just cut a deal with Silco only to arrest him later!", Jayce retorted. "It doesn't work like that!"

"Heh, of course, the politician...", Vi asked, in disgusted sarcasm. "Guess you didn't think of Sevika for that."

"Sevika didn't bomb us on Progress Day and then the Bridge!", Jayce retorted.

"Couldn't be some other scapegoat, either!?", Vi blew back. "Powd- Jinx was like a daughter to him!"

"Daughter or not, she's a mass murderer!", Jayce readily interjected by the end of Vi's second phrase, raising his voice.

"She's my sist-", Vi then interrupted herself, realizing what she was about to let out, and took a deep breath.

Jayce's attention was now all fixed at Vi, as if he was waiting for the revelation, and though he suspected it, he was still surprised.

"Finish the sentence.", Caitlyn said, bluntly.

Jayce sighed, eyes darting aside. "She doesn't have to.", he said. It made sense to him, now - this determination to fight Silco, working together with Caitlyn. And now such an apparent staunch defense of someone whose's deeds couldn't just simply be ignored. "Mind if I have a word in private with her, Cait?", he asked, staring Vi at the eye.

"Whatever it is you wanna tell her, I can hear it, too.", Caitlyn replied.

"Please.", Jayce rashly insisted, taking a deep breath.

Caitlyn simply walked out, her trusted rifle in hand, glancing at both Vi and then Jayce.

Both waited until Caitlyn totally left the scene before Jayce shook his head lightly. "Trenchers... always such a handful, aren't you?", he asked, glancing at her.

"I could say the same about you, topsiders...", Vi replied.

"Do you have any idea of the trouble you're in, right now?", Jayce asked.

"Oh, let me guess, you'll want the gauntlets back?", she asked, in mockery.

"Now that the damage is done!?", he said angrily, almost laughing at it. "And that's not my point! Can you imagine how the people of this city, BOTH cities will look at you when they realize you just happen to be related to the one whom brought them the worst days of their lives? I'm not even saying *if*, I'm saying *when*!"

Vi stared at Jayce with a killing intent, suspecting where this was going.

"Oh, you needn't worry, I won't spill those beans.", Jayce said. "But it IS going to come out, eventually! Either when Jinx is brought in, or something else happens and you can't hide it or you blow out the steam like you did right now.", he gestured to her.

"Does it look like I care about anyone else's opinion, pretty boy?", Vi asked.

"Not anyone. Everyone.", Jayce answered, emphasizing that last word. "You've only been in prison, but you didn't have to have fingers pointed at you all the time, Vi. By people whom just know what's told to them, they don't know the whole story and maybe they don't want to. All the once friendly faces suddenly not wanting to have anything to do with you, the people you can't even talk to, anymore. My only luck was that someone believed in me and helped me when I needed the most. Most people don't get that chance."

Vi simply stood there for a moment. "And where you're going with this?", she asked. "What, I'm to just pack up and get outta here? Just leave her and everyone else here to rot?"

"I'm not asking or ordering anything.", Jayce answered, but the stare suggested somewhat otherwise.

Vi stared at him, dead serious. "I left my sister behind, she became the one everyone's now after.", she said. "I left Caitlyn behind, she got kidnapped. I left my family behind years ago, to turn myself in, and I lost'em. I leave again, what's going to happen?", she shook her head. "Might as well punch a knife bare handed, it'd be the same thing."

Jayce simply remained quiet, staring for a moment at the workbench, knowing nothing he'd say would change Vi's mind in that regard. "You don't want me to clean them, at least?", he asked, looking at the gauntlets which still retained the sister's artwork in them.

"Might be all that's left of her...", Vi muttered, staring at them. "If it comes to that..."

Jayce looked back at at Vi for a moment. "Watch it out there.", he said. "Both of you."

Vi nodded before she wore the Atlas Gauntlets, and then turned around to leave.