𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗘 𝗠𝗘? | vi x fem oc

VII. light in the dark

(Please comment and vote xx) okay so the plot of arcane will come in soon, just a heads up. I'm really excited to get into it. where do you think maeve will end up after the events at the cannery?

~

"Come on, Ekko!" Punches were thrown at the young boy, of which he struggled to block. He was huffing heavily, his steps staggered as he kept backing away. He felt afraid of Maeve as she continued to approach him, fists at the ready and poised to strike like a snake. She had a fierce look on her face, and yet he could see it was like she was forged to fight.

Ekko looked at her for a moment, his eyes pleading for her to stop, but with a blink he was snarling to himself and grunting. He shook his head once before holding his fists up, determination flowing through his body. He kept light on his toes, watching Maeve for any movements she would have, and he was ready.

"That's it..." Maeve nodded, an insane grin forming on her lips as she watched Ekko get fiercer, preparing to fight her again. "Again." She watched Ekko take some quick steps forwards, throwing a punch to her. She went to block but he was quick. He stopped his punch and slinked behind her, his foot connecting with her back and pushing her away.

She stood for a moment, completely shocked, but then she turned and grinned as though the thrill of a fight was her version of a drug. She stalked towards Ekko, throwing more blows his way that the boy - although struggling still - was able to block with a bit more ease than before.

With an exhausted cry, Ekko threw a punch that connected with Maeve's mouth, snapping her head to the side as she bit down on her lip. It split, blood beginning to dribble down the side of her chin.

"I-I'm so sorry!" Ekko was fumbling, increasingly apologetic that his actions caused his friend - and mentor - to bleed, but a hand was placed onto his shoulder and he looked up to meet a kind smile. He frowned in confusion, expecting her to be completely furious with him but she was grinning. 

"I've started teaching you the physical way to survive the Lanes but you ain't gettin' nowhere with that fucking attitude." She had said instead, slowly beginning to walk towards the end of the dark alley. She had a match in her pocket, already expecting to give this lesson to Ekko.

"Mae?" Ekko called, his voice little and scared. It almost broke Maeve's heart to hear the boy terrified, but she didn't let it show as her body ended up submerged into the darkness of the shadows that slowly were creeping up in the cover of the early morning. The sun hadn't quite risen yet, which is when she makes Ekko train with her due to the quietness of the streets that it's usually safer in the mornings than at night.

When she was positive that Ekko wouldn't see her, she grabbed the match from her pocket and used the wall to light it, the flame flickering for a moment. It was a long enough match that she had time to get her point said before having to blow it out.

"There'll always be darkness, Ekko." She began, sighing to herself. He was a kid, but she thought of him like a little brother and she never wanted anything to happen to him. "Everywhere you look. But there'll always be a light in the dark." She closed her eyes for a moment before releasing a breath. "This match is the light at the moment, but in the future it will have to be your hope. A reason, when things go to shit, to carry on. To push through the darkness and..." Maeve blew the match out, just in time to not burn but also because the look of the sky getting lighter appeared.

"And what?" Ekko slowly walked forwards, his eyes wide as he had watched was Maeve was doing and soaking up every word she said.

"And see the next day dawn." He could see her looking over him and he turned, looking as well, where he then spotted the sky. The sun was beginning to rise and they were there watching it. "The Lanes are so rough, Ekko. As long as you don't apologise for kickin' some ass and always hold onto hope, you'll make it through." She then ruffled his hair a little before beginning to walk away, the boy in tow. "You just have to learn when to be nice and not so nice."

~

Maeve stood next to Claggor, her head gently resting against his arm as she looked out amongst everyone she would class as her friends. Ekko and powder giggled to themselves as they worked on the young girl's bombs. Mylo was throwing his ball against the target and yet again, Vi was slouched in her chair.

Often enough they were in this predicament where they were simply lying there, bored and unsure on what to do with themselves bar beg for the time to pass by quickly. They weren't too lucky with that, however, as the time seemed to always pass so slowly.

"You ever just...want to freeze time?" Maeve whispered to Claggor, her eyes slowly looking up towards the taller boy. He glanced at her for a moment, frowning slightly, before nodding.

"Yeah, i-ahem-I suppose i do." He shrugged a little, and Maeve softly smiled before looking out towards her friends.

"What moment would you freeze? To re-live whenever?" Her question made Claggor think long and hard for the moment. It was rather strange for her to be asking such a philosophical question but he decided he would entertain the silver haired girl.

"Your thirteenth birthday." He said and Maeve chuckled to herself, but she had frowned and looked towards Claggor. She found it so strange for that day to be when he'd freeze time, so she asked him to explain and he did. "We couldn't get you anything because we were grounded, but Vi managed to sneak out. She wouldn't stop looking through shops until she found something that was perfect. I remember how she had begged me to wake up and make sure you didn't leave the basement until she was back. You didn't wake at all, and then she came back with a bag full of stuff for you."

"Why-"

"That would be the moment i'd freeze, because it was the first day we saw you cry. Not of pain or sadness, but it was the day we saw you cry of pure happiness." Claggor seemed lost in thought, his eyes staring off at the wall. "You're like a little sister to me, Maeve."

"You're like a big brother to me ,Clay." She rested her head against his arm once again, a sadness gripping her chest. This moment, this extremely normal and peaceful moment felt too good to be real. And Maeve just felt unsettled by it completely.

"What about you?"

"Hm?" Maeve looked back up at Claggor, her brows pinched in confusion. When he reiterated his question, she sighed and shrugged. She wasn't too sure on what time she would freeze, because if she could she'd freeze it all. However, she sighed and looked towards Vi for a moment. The girl was smiling at her sister, watching her tinker with Ekko. 

But Maeve watched Vi intently. She examined the girl's face, imprinting it to her memory and thinking. She couldn't stop thinking, really. She just wondered what it would be like to be wrapped in Vi's arms tightly, safe and protected. To be kissed anywhere by her lips and yet, to have the small moments with. Little talks, arguments to fix and silence to listen to. 

"I don't think i've had my perfect time yet..." trailing off, Maeve's blue eyes never left the sight of Vi, where the girl was laughing and then joking around with Mylo. It almost felt like things were happening in slow motion, that the movements they all but her made were slow. It felt like Maeve could move forwards and hug Vi and get back towards Claggor without the rest moving, and yet when she blinked it was all fine. 

"You like her, huh?" He asked, nudging the young girl besides him before he looked towards Vi and Mylo. The pair were in an argument, as usual, but it was mostly them just making jokes about each other. 

"More than anything." Maeve had replied without thinking but she could see Claggor grinning in the corner of her eyes. She scowled to herself and rolled her eyes, muttering to herself at how stupid she was to have admitted that but then, she had a thought. A feeling. A warmth in her chest and knots in her stomach. An eagerness, a smile and a memory of seeing Vi smile. And a dream of being hers.

She was ready.

~

AUTHOR'S NOTE

how was this one for you?