The Blades and The Gauntlets [Vi x fem!oc]

Chapter XX: The Crown

As Mila, Caitlyn, and Vi made their way back into the heart of Piltover, the scene before them grew more harrowing with every step. Smoke swirled in heavy clouds, stinging their eyes and burning their lungs. The streets were lined with broken glass and scorched stone. Every shadow, every wail of pain or call for help, deepened the pit in Mila's stomach. But the worst of it, the cold horror lurking at the center of the chaos, waited for them at the council chambers.

Caitlyn saw it first. Her breath caught in her throat as her eyes landed on the familiar figure half-buried beneath stone and splintered wood. "No." she whispered, her voice trembling with disbelief. Without thinking, she started forward, her feet unsteady on the rubble-strewn ground.

Mila's chest tightened as she followed, her wounds screaming in protest. But she moved anyway. Caitlyn stumbled, and she reached out, steadying her with one hand despite the sharp, hot pain that radiated from her injuries. "Cait, wait." she said, her voice soft but firm. But the enforcer didn't hear her or couldn't bring herself to stop. She pulled free and fell to her knees beside the body of her mother, her trembling hands brushing away the dust and debris.

"No..." Her voice cracked, raw with anguish. She leaned over Cassandra, her forehead pressed against her mother's cold, lifeless shoulder. "Please..."

Mila wanted to reach out, to do something, but the weight of the moment was too great. Her own pain faded into the background, a dull ache compared to the sight of Caitlyn's heartbreak laid bare. Vi stood a few paces back, her jaw clenched and her hands curled into fists. The redhead finally spoke from behind, but her voice came out raw, like nothing she could say would ever fix this. "I am so sorry, Cait."

Then Caitlyn turned, tears streaming down her face. Without warning, she threw herself into Mila's arms, clutching at her as if holding on for dear life. The impact made the blonde wince, a sharp, involuntary gasp escaping her lips as pain flared in her chest and arm. She tried to steady herself, wrapping one arm around her even as her vision swam. "I'm here," Mila whispered, her voice strained. "I'm right here."

The enforcer looked down, and her eyes widened. Blood seeped through jagged tears and broken seams, soaking the fabric and pooling around the staples that held Mila's wound together. It was a familiar shade of blue - too familiar. She took a step back, her gaze hardening with recognition, confusion, and shock.

"That's... mine," she whispered, her voice pained and heavy. "That's my uniform."

Mila shifted her weight, trying to steady herself, but it was too much. The adrenaline that had carried her this far finally gave way to the reality of her injuries. Her leg buckled, and before she could hit the ground, Vi was there. Strong hands caught her, holding her upright as her vision blurred with pain and exhaustion.

"Enough of this," Vi said, her voice urgent but vulnerable. "She needs a hospital. Now."

"No." Mila muttered, shaking her head weakly, but her protests were cut short by a wave of dizziness that made the world spin. She clenched her teeth, determined not to show just how close she was to collapse, but her body betrayed her. The pain was overwhelming, each pulse of agony a reminder of her vulnerability.

Vi shifted her grip, one arm around her waist to support her weight. "No arguments," she said, a touch softer now. She looked at the enforcer, whose tear-streaked face was twisted with a mix of emotions. "Cait, we have to get her help."

For a heartbeat, Caitlyn didn't respond. Her eyes flickered from Mila to the wreckage that entombed her mother, then back again. The realization of her loss and the weight of her duty crashed into each other, leaving her breathless. But she nodded, wiping at her face with trembling hands. "Go," she said, her voice cracking. "I'll... I'll catch up."