You and I || Arcane Vi x Reader

VIII. New Bond

violets pov

We were both on the ground, the cold biting through the cracked concrete beneath us. My gauntleted hand remained loosely wrapped around her waist, but the weight of it meant nothing now. Slowly, I shifted to the side, bracing myself to stand, only for her to spring to her feet suddenly. I watched in silence as she stumbled toward the now-sealed wall, desperation radiating from her every step.

Without hesitation, Caitlyn raised the butt of her rifle and struck the wall with all her strength, the dull thuds echoing in the hollow chamber. Over and over, she pounded the barrier as if sheer force would break it down. Her grunts of frustration filled the air, each swing growing more frantic. It wasn't the precise, calm Caitlyn I knew—this was something unrecognizable.

"Cait," I said, my voice cutting through the noise, firm but weary.

She stilled, her weapon still raised in trembling hands. Slowly, she let the end of the rifle rest against the wall, her forehead pressing against the cool metal. Her breath came ragged and fast, a barely contained storm.

"You stopped me," she said, her voice cracking, raw with anger and something deeper—betrayal, perhaps. She didn't turn around.

I stood in place, watching her, as if the words might fix themselves. With a slow hiss, I unlocked the gauntlets from my hands, letting them fall to the floor with a heavy clatter. The sound seemed to echo longer than it should have.

"I shouldn't have had to," I replied, each word deliberate.

"I had the shot," she insisted, her knuckles white where they gripped the rifle. "You know I had it."

"That was a kid, Cait," I said, the weight of the words filling the room. "What if you missed?"

Her head lifted slightly, as if the thought had never occurred to her. "I wasn't going to miss."

I took a slow step forward, closing the distance between us. "What's wrong with you?" I asked, the question quiet but aching. "You're not like this."

She turned abruptly, eyes sharp, dark with something that resembled fury but felt far colder. "I keep telling myself you're different," she spat, her voice trembling but firm, "but you're not. You never were." She paused, stepping away as if she couldn't bear to be near me. "It's her blood in your veins."

I recoiled slightly, the words striking deeper than I anticipated, but the reply came before I could stop myself. "Then why," I said quietly, "are you the one acting like her?"

Her entire body tensed, the air between us crackling with something far more dangerous than anger. I reached for her arm, my grip not harsh but desperate, trying to anchor her. "Cait," I began again, softer this time.

She didn't respond, only stood there, her breath harsh and ragged. The silence stretched painfully between us.

And then it happened. In a blur of motion, she wrenched free and swung the butt of her rifle into my stomach. The impact stole the breath from my lungs, sending me to my knees with a sharp cry. The pain seared through me, radiating like fire as I clutched my side, gasping for air.

I looked up, the world spinning, to see her standing above me, the rifle still in her hands. Her expression was unreadable—cold, distant, a stranger.

Without a word, she turned fully around and ascended up the ladder, her footsteps fading with each step as she left me behind on the frozen ground.

I knelt there, the chill of the floor seeping into my bones, watching her disappear. The only sound left was the soft hum of distant wind and the echo of betrayal still hanging in the air.

—————— next day

your pov

The cold alleyway stretched ahead, cloaked in dim light from flickering streetlamps. The wind whispered through the narrow corridor, biting at exposed skin, but I kept my pace steady behind Sevika, who moved with her usual deliberate stride. Her heavy boots crunched against the cracked pavement, the sound echoing off the damp brick walls. She hadn't looked back until now, but her irritation was clear from the tension in her shoulders.

"Why are you following me around like a lost mutt?" she grunted, her voice low and gravelly as she cast a glare over her shoulder.

I shrugged, kicking a loose stone in front of me, watching it skitter away into the shadows. "You're fun to be around, believe it or not. Besides, we've got some catching up to do."

She stopped abruptly, turning to face me fully. Her eyes narrowed beneath the brim of her hood, the scar across her cheek catching the faint light. "We're not friends," she snapped as I felt her warmth. "Just because I helped you out once doesn't mean I want you trailing behind me like some pathetic stray. I told you—multiple times—to stay away."

Her tone was cutting, but I could hear the exhaustion beneath it. The kind of weariness that came from years of fighting battles, both in the streets and within herself. Still, I wasn't deterred.

I offered a half-smile, speaking with nonchalance. "Relax. I know where I stand, Sevika. But you're not exactly headed to some high-stakes meeting, are you?" I gestured around at the desolate alley. "Unless chain-smoking and brooding counts as urgent business."

She scowled, her jaw clenching as she turned on her heel and kept walking, her long side cape billowing slightly in the wind. "You're insufferable."

"If you're not planning anything productive," I continued, quickening my pace to keep up, "I was thinking we could smoke heavy and maybe—just maybe—throw in a few drinks. Sounds like a perfect way to unwind, don't you think?"

She stopped again, spinning around with an incredulous look. "I'm not going to smoke with you," she said, her tone dripping with disdain. "What are you, eighteen?"

I blinked, momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter. "Honored, but no," I replied, still grinning. "I'm twenty-four."

Her eyebrows shot up, and for the first time that night, her expression faltered. "God, are you actually?" she muttered, half to herself, as if the revelation genuinely surprised her.

"Yep," I said, popping the 'p' for emphasis, trying to mask the sting of her disbelief. "Should I take that as a compliment or an insult?"

She shook her head, a sigh escaping her lips. "You're so impossible."

I scoffed, pretending to be offended. "Me? You're the one acting like I'm some bratty kid."

"Because you act like one," she retorted, but there was something softer in her tone now—perhaps a sliver of amusement buried beneath all that exasperation.

We walked in silence for a few more steps, the tension easing just slightly. The streets seemed quieter here, distant sounds of distant life far removed from this hidden corner of the city. I glanced sideways at her, watching the way she kept her head down, her hands stuffed deep into her pockets.

"So," I ventured, "what's really on your mind? You're not just out here wandering for no reason."

Sevika glanced at me, her eyes unreadable for a moment, before she sighed again, this time slower, more resigned. "You're persistent, I'll give you that."

I smiled, sensing I'd cracked through at least one of her defenses. "It's my best quality."

"Debatable," she muttered, but there was the faintest twitch at the corner of her mouth. "Fine. One drink. But if you annoy me, you're on your own."

"Deal." I grinned wider, falling into step beside her. "And don't worry—I'll bring the entertainment."

"You already are," she said dryly, but she didn't push me away this time. And that, I figured, was progress.

——— a/n

i had to split this chapter up because it was 4k words, but i do hope you enjoy the next chapter, coming right up! happy holiday to whoever celebrates!