SCARS

Push and Pull

Vi slumped back on the couch, her head throbbing with the aftereffects of the previous night's indulgence. Calypso's offer to get her water had been a sweet gesture, but it left Vi alone with her thoughts—thoughts she desperately wanted to avoid.

She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to push away the memory of her drunken confession.

"I'm into Cal."

The words echoed in her mind, mocking her. How could she have been so careless, so vulnerable?

Vi's fists clenched involuntarily, her knuckles turning white. She wasn't supposed to feel this way for someone from Piltover, someone so different from everything she knew and believed in. Piltover represented everything she despised—the privilege, the opulence, the indifference to the suffering of Zaun. And here she was, finding herself drawn to a girl who embodied all those contradictions.

Calypso's kindness, her genuine care for others, her effortless way of making Vi feel... safe. It was infuriating. Vi had spent her entire life being tough, being the protector. She couldn't afford to let her guard down. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.

How could she protect Mylo, Claggor, and Powder if she allowed herself to be distracted by Calypso? They were her family, her responsibility. She had to keep them safe in a world that constantly threatened to tear them apart. Adding Calypso into the mix, someone who needed protection just as much, if not more—it was too much. She couldn't handle it.

Yet, there was the undeniable pull of responsibility ingrained in her by Vander—the man who had taken her in, along with Mylo, Claggor, and Powder. He had taught her to be tough, to protect those who couldn't protect themselves. Calypso fell into that category now, under their roof, under Vi's supposed guardianship. The thought of all the dangers lurking in Zaun, ready to exploit Calypso, made Vi's blood run cold. How could she not feel responsible for her safety? So maybe she could handle it–maybe she had to handle it.

"Damn it, Cal," Vi muttered under her breath. "Why'd you have to make things so complicated?"

She was still stewing in her thoughts when Calypso returned, a glass of crystal water in her hand. As she handed it to Vi, their hands brushed, and Vi felt a spark of electricity shoot through her. With their hands still touching, she instinctively glanced up at Calypso, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied her face.

Calypso's cheeks were a delicate shade of pink, almost imperceptible at first. It wasn't until Vi focused on the subtle changes in her expression—the slight downturn of her gaze, the way her lips pressed together nervously—that she realized Calypso was blushing.

Vi's heart skipped a beat as she took the glass, her fingers lingering against Calypso's. Was this a sign? Could Cal possibly feel the same way? Or was Vi just seeing what she wanted to see, the realization of her feelings making her interpret innocent gestures as something more?

Finally, Vi took the glass and took a sip of the water, trying to steady her thoughts. "Thank you," she said, her voice quieter than usual.

Calypso smiled warmly, her eyes holding a mix of concern and curiosity. "How was your night, Vi?" she asked gently, kneeling in front of Vi, but keeping her gaze steady on her face.

Vi took a moment to compose herself before answering, her mind still swirling with conflicting emotions. "It was... eventful," she replied with a faint smile, grateful for the distraction of conversation. "Mylo managed to find himself a girl, so naturally, we celebrated."

Calypso chuckled softly, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Sounds like it was quite a night."

Vi smirked, looking at the sleeping boys surrounding them, "Yeah, you could say that."