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

Chapter XXX: The (Cup)Cake

Months had passed since Mila and Vi had last seen Jinx and Ekko at the overlook. Life had taken on a semblance of normalcy since then, though it was a fragile kind of calm, one built on hope and the steady rhythm of rebuilding.

The stillness of the room was interrupted by the faint rustling of sheets and the sharp intake of breath. Violet's body jerked beneath the blankets, her fists clenching as if fighting something unseen. The night lights outside barely made it to their room's windows, touching the glass just enough to scare the darkness away.  Beside her, Mila stirred, the movement drawing her from the edges of a peaceful sleep.

Her partner's breathing came in quick gasps now, her head tossing to one side. Her muscles tensed, her jaw clenched, and her brows furrowed deeply, as though she were trapped in something she couldn't escape.

Her mind kept tormenting her almost every night and this time was no different. She stood alone in the depths of Zaun, surrounded by jagged ruins and suffocating shadows. Every sound felt distorted, amplified.

Ahead, a faint light flickered. A pale blue glow that drew her forward like a moth to flame. As she approached, the scene shifted. Jinx stood at the center of a ruined bridge, her cut hair stained with streaks of blood, her eyes hollow and pink.

"Vi," she said, her voice carrying an edge of bitterness that made the red-head's heart ache. "You left me."

"No," She wanted to step closer, but it was like she was glued to that spot, like her mind only allowed her to watch and never intervene. "I didn't, I came back. Powder, I'm here."

But her sister didn't seem to hear her. The pink in her eyes flared brighter as she raised her hands. In each, she held one bomb, sinister smiles drawn on each. The pins were gone, and their heads moved rhythmically together.

"You always come too late," she said, her voice eerily calm. "Too late to save me. Too late to stop me."

Finally, her legs allowed her to move. She tried to run, to reach her sister, but the ground beneath her cracked and crumbled. The bridge fell away, dragging her into a chasm of nothingness. Above her, the bombs exploded in a brilliant flash of light, engulfing everything in blue fire. Laughter echoed down to her, sharp and haunting, until it was abruptly cut off.

"No!" Vi screamed, her voice raw with anguish as she reached for her sister, her hand grasping at empty air.

"Vi," Mila murmured softly, her voice steady but gentle as her hand rested on her chest. "Hey, wake up. It's just a dream."

The red-head let out a low, broken sound, her head tossing against the pillow. Her hands clenched tighter, her nails digging into the fabric as her voice broke. "No... don't... Powder..."

The blonde's chest ached at the sound. She leaned closer, her hand stroking Vi's damp hair with slow, soothing movements. "It's okay," she whispered, her tone tender yet firm. "You're safe. Powder's safe. We're all safe."

Her words seemed to cut through the fog of the nightmare. Vi's breathing hitched sharply, and her blue eyes flew open, wild and unfocused. For a moment, she looked lost, her gaze darting around the room as if searching for something, or someone.

She cupped her face gently. "Vi, it's me. You're here. You're okay."

"I-" her voice broke, her body trembling. "I saw her. Powder. She...she was gone, Mila. I couldn't-"

"You couldn't stop her," the blonde finished gently, holding her tighter. "I know. But she's not gone, Vi. She's out there with Ekko, remember? They're okay. They'll come back to us when they're ready."

The red-head buried her face against her shoulder, her tears dampening the thin fabric of her nightshirt. Mila pressed her lips to her hair, murmuring soothing words until her breathing began to even out. The tension in her muscles ebbed, though her grip on Mila's waist remained firm.