Author's disclaimer: I don't own anyone from Arcane: League of Legends. No one. Just the story.
Authors notes: Trying to do something of a plot with some smut. Enjoy, lovelies.
"Keeping house"
Chapter three "Searching"
Caitlin followed Vi as they prowled the low ground levels of the clock tower building. The ocean outside lapped lightly, hissing softly in her peripheral as the gloom of the building canceled out the sunlight they left behind. The clock tower was a mess. The arches above were collapsed jumbles and there were tangled clock bits thrown here and there after their crash into the clock face.
Inside, the debris had been swept against the far walls but not cleared. Caitlin's boot overturned a piece of glass as she followed Vi along the pathways connecting the clock bits and areas to service. Her last battle with her father and Jinx had been here. Caitlin knew that. Vi had cried for two days straight, never eating, falling to fitful bits of sleep and waking to cry again.
Her sister was gone, same as her foster father. But was she really? Vi leaned against a rail, straining to peer down toward the bottom of the clock tower base.
"The chutes exit down there. Come on," Vi said. Caitlin was surprised she'd grabbed her hand but was pleased. She followed her lover quickly down the stairs still standing. The debris on the floor of the tower was worse than above. The maintenance workers barely had begun to clean up, and it showed. Vi investigated one of the chute entrances and peered curiously at it. She poked along the wall.
"Wait, some of these go outside…."
Caitlin and Vi hurried out to the clear skies of the harbor surrounding the clock tower. Air ships were readying to depart on their own schedules, crew members moving rapidly. Vi paused at the harbor manifesto, reading the ship schedules. Caitlin moved to the next holo. Vi made a grunt of exasperation.
"Some ships departed for Valoran the day after the battle."
"You're thinking she could have left," Caitlin said gently. Vi nodded, biting her lip. "I don't even know where to start."
"I could send messengers to the capitol of Valoran. Shimura too. Probe around and begin looking," Caitlin suggested. Vi shot her a sudden relieved smile.
"That'd be great."
"Okay, we can start there. We should probably go there ourselves…."
Vi looked astounded. "You'd go with me?"
"Of course. I can't let you have all the fun," Caitlin teased. Seriously, she slid an arm around Vi's waist and leaned close. "Are you okay…. If she's alive and just left?"
"Not really, but better knowing she may be alive," Vi mumbled. She turned her cheek to Caitlin's shoulder and leaned on her. The squeeze she gave Caitlin's waist filled her with with faint longing to shelter her heart. "She said something at the end, something about being happy. Maybe she thinks I'd be happier without her….or something."
"There's room for her," Caitlin murmured. Vi stood on her tiptoes and gave her a hard kiss of approval. "If you want. If she wants."
"Won't your dad be upset?" Vi blurted out. She still felt like a guest in Caitlin's house, despite her best efforts. He'd been better at guarding his tongue and seemed to be getting used to her. But still…
Caitlin gave a hum beside her. "I'm Mother's heir, he'll have to get used to it. It's my house too."
Vi kissed her cheek softly. "I'm glad you walked into the prison that day. I needed you."
"Flatterer," Caitlin laughed. But they held each other in the chill day, as gulls wheeled above the air ships, crying out as they hunted.
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As soon as they got back to Kiramman manor, Vi made a beeline for Caitlin's bedroom. She blushed when her lover started stripping her tunic and pants as soon as the door closed. Vi gave a shrug at her lover. She kept her tank top and boxers on and headed to the large bed, scratching her hip.
"What, I'm hot," she mumbled. Caitlin knew Vi was in a good mood if she'd lowered her guard like this. It was a pleasure to be let in on a moment like this, so she began stripping too. Vi staring at her was a huge ego booster. Caitlin untucked her shirt and unbuttoned, giving Vi a rather saucy look. When she flopped into Vi's lap, her lovers' hands went to her bra, unfastening, curling fingers touching her round globes once released.
"You trying to start something?" Caitlin grinned up at Vi as her nipples hardened. Vi cradled her head in the crook of one arm, leaned to kiss her softly. Then she leaned down to her breasts, sucking and kissing to her nipples. Caitlin giggled, ruffling the long hair spilling between Vi's naked shoulder blades.
"Yes?" Vi sounded somewhat unsure, but her mouth fastening around her nipple was not. Caitlin sighed, scraping Vi's scalp with her nails.
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Vi took in the mail from the messenger boy at the front door and made her way to Caitlin. There were several serious communiques, some addressed to Mr. Kiramman, but there was a post for Caitlin. Caitlin was in the study, and she smiled to see Vi approaching.
Vi ducked to greet her with a kiss then dropped the communiques on her desk. Caitlin looked through them, putting aside the ones for her father, then stopped at the one Vi had noticed.
"Message back….from Shumira," she murmured. Taking a letter opener, she slit the thick envelope. Vi sat on the arm of her chair, waiting. "There were new refugees in one of the smaller settlements…a girl with blue hair."
Vi was vibrating with so much happy energy, she had to get up and pace. "It could be Powder! But why there…."
"Northern Shumira is far from the Noxus legions. More peaceful. Maybe…" Caitlin got to her feet and stopped Vi's pacing. "Maybe she needed the quiet."
"At least it's not Bilgewater," Vi said. She turned and Caitlin slung an arm around her waist. "Can we go?"
"Certainly. I'll make the arrangements. Just get ready and relax," Caitlin murmured against the side of Vi's head. Vi turned into her arms and hugged her tightly.
"Thank you," she said. Caitlin smiled.
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It was decided. Caitlin and Vi would travel by air ship and they would be leaving in two days. Vi let Caitlin make the arrangements, talking with her father in person, and a travel agent on the listening tube. She knew Caitlin would make sure all would be tallied and ticked off for them, so she spent her spare time in the mansion's gym instead of hovering over her girlfriend.
Later that afternoon, Caitlin sidled in to watch Vi. She was throwing punches against a bag, working off frustration and likewise, staying out of trouble for her. She was touched. Smiling, Caitlin sat on the mats to watch.
Vi had noticed her come in, and had flexed her stomach muscles on each punch, curling her arm to make the definition more noticeable. Her tank top had ridden up, giving her girlfriend a good look. When Vi paused to wipe her brow, Caitlin got to her feet to towel her off and gladly if her lingering touch indicated.
"Hey," Vi said casually, but her eyes lit up at her. Caitlin leaned to kiss her lips. "We all set?"
"We are," Caitlin said. "Passage on Airship Steady Winds leaving in two days. We'll have our own cabin."
"Good. Traveling makes me nervous," Vi said. She walked over and picked up a glass of water, chugging it steadily. Water streamed from the corner of her lips.
"Not the only thing?" Caitlin inquired, making a mental note to pack medication tablets in case Vi got traveling sickness. She'd never been by airship so best to be prepared.
Vi stood staring at the far wall, one hand on her lean hip. "It's just…at the end. Powder looked ready to die. I thought she had. If she's alive…"
Caitlin came close to wrap her arm around Vi's waist. "If I thought Mother could be in Shimura….I understand. I'd want to go, too."
Vi turned and wrapped strong arms around her tall girlfriend. Burying her face in her shoulder, she mumbled an apology.
"It's okay," Caitlin said. And she felt it was true. "Before…the battle. Jinx apologized. For Mother…."
Vi's arms tightened around her waist, and her fingers splayed along Caitlin's back. Caitlin could feel the pressure of her fingers through her tunic uniform.
"Cait," Vi murmured. She closed her eyes against her shoulder.
"It's okay, really," Caitlin said. "Let's go relax."
The two didn't make it to Caitlin's bedroom, but to a private sitting room. Twined on one of the sofas and wrapped up in each other, Caitlin couldn't remember if she locked the door. But as Vi laid her down onto the sofa and pressed her weight on top of her, it became a dwindling concern.
End for now
End notes: air ship travel! I hope its not coming across how remarkably unlearned I am about the Arcane world aside from the Netflix show. I've been reading some stuff to put in details but let me know if it sucks. Alittle tidbit for you guys since I'm so long in between updates. That's my fault, so enjoy, my lovelies.
Sincerely,
Pen 4/26/2025
