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Caitlyn is sitting in the shade of the Firelights' massive tree, surrounded by dancing dappled light, when Ekko approaches her.
"Thanks," he says. "For the vaccines."
"Of course. It's the least I could do."
Ekko nods, and his agreement makes her uncomfortable because she knows that he's right. Piltover owes these people so much more than one of the most basic forms of healthcare. She makes a mental note to meet with the new Council again and demand more aid for the people of the Undercity.
"I'm gonna ask you for something else," Ekko continues, watching her with sharp eyes. "This one's personal."
Caitlyn turns to face him entirely. "Anything."
He raises an eyebrow and, even though she realizes the implications of what she just said, she doesn't rescind the offer. She doesn't know Ekko well, but Vi trusts him, and that's enough of an endorsement for Caitlyn.
Ekko gives a begrudging nod like she just passed a test, and then drops to sit on the low stone wall beside her.
"It's about Vi."
Caitlyn stills. Despite what she knows of Ekko, despite her trust in him via her partner, despite the promise she just made... there are certain things she simply will not do, unless Vi asks them herself.
Chest tight with anxiety, she gestures for him to continue.
He looks over toward the courtyard where the newly vaccinated children are running around, giggling and yelling, playing some game that only they understand.
The non-confrontational shift is not lost on Caitlyn. She mirrors him, looking out into the group of kids as Vi guides another child out to join them, and then is promptly swarmed by excitable children and toddlers.
Vi scoops up one little girl and dips her upside down. The child is giggling as her shirt falls to show her tummy and Vi blows a raspberry into her skin. The little girl shrieks, a high delighted sound, and squirms in Vi's grip. Vi flips her back upright and, as soon as her feet hit the ground, the girl squeals and darts around behind Vi on chubby little legs, still giggling.
Caitlyn feels like her ribcage is caving in, like her lungs are imploding, like her heart has outgrown the confines of her chest.
"Wow, you've really got it bad," Ekko says, the humor in his voice cutting through her thoughts.
Heat floods her cheeks, but she doesn't deny it. There would be no point; he's got eyes.
She turns back to him, wrenching her gaze away from Vi with a surprising amount of effort. "Are you going to warn me? Tell me that if I hurt her, I'll have to deal with you?"
Ekko tilts his head and cocks an eyebrow. "Do I need to?"
Caitlyn looks back out at her partner. "No," she says softly. "I hope not."
One of the kids flings his arms around Vi's knees. Caitlyn knows it's not enough to make her partner lose her balance, but Vi falls anyway, landing on her back dramatically as she is immediately tackled by several more small children.
Her heart aches, and the pain is sweet and familiar. "She's good with them," Caitlyn says quietly.
She can see Ekko nod out of the corner of her eye. "Yeah. She always has been. Always looking out for the little guy."
Caitlyn's heard that exact phrasing before in reference to someone else. "Like Vander?"
There's a thoughtful silence, then Ekko says, "Yeah, kinda." He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a pocket watch, absentmindedly flipping the case open and shut again. "But I think she's afraid of being like Vander."
"From what I've heard," Caitlyn says cautiously, "it's a big legacy to live up to."
Ekko turns to her, dark eyes sharp and considering. Finally he says, "I don't even know if that's it." His turns the watch in his fingers. "The one time Vander really let himself be selfish, he lost almost everything. And Vi has a lot to lose."
He gives her a knowing look and Caitlyn has to swallow hard against the lump in her throat. She looks back out over the joyful riot in the courtyard just in time to see one of the kids clambering onto Vi's back.
When she can speak again, she tilts her head towards Ekko and asks, "What was she like as a child?"
Ekko raises an eyebrow.
Caitlyn shrugs. "You're one of the only people left who knew her back then."
There's a moment of thoughtful silence, and then he says, "She was a lot like she is now. Everybody's big sister. She looked out for us. Told us we were being stupid when we needed to hear it. Covered for us when we fucked up."
He huffs a laugh, eyes fond as he watches the children playing in the open courtyard. "And she was good at it. I guess she had a lot of practice. I think it was easy for her to just take us all under her wing."
He seems to hesitate and there is a long silence where they watch the children play - Vi is tackled by another child who can't be more than five or six and goes down like she's been hit by a Chemtank. The sunlight streams through the branches above them, dappling them in soft golden patches. The leaves rustle in the gentle breeze.
"When I thought she was dead..." Ekko says suddenly, and Caitlyn struggles not to look as startled as she is. "That's when I thought it was over. Benzo hurt the most, but Vi... that was when it really felt hopeless. That was when I really thought Silco had won."
Keeping her eyes on the courtyard, Caitlyn waits for him to say more, but Ekko doesn't elaborate. So after a long moment, she quietly asks, "Who was Benzo?"
He's quiet for another long moment, and then he says, "Benzo took me in when my mom died. He never really wanted kids, but Vander asked him." He lets out a soft huff, and Caitlyn imagines that he might be smiling. "And it was great. He taught me so much, loved me like a son."
There's another long pause, and Caitlyn thinks she can hear the soft click of the watch case, opening, shutting, opening, shutting. "Then I watched him die."
Caitlyn closes her eyes at the old grief that tints his voice.
"I saw Silco and his monster take Vander. I told Vi where they took him." Ekko clears his throat and then says, "In a way, I feel like I'm partially responsible for the deaths that night."
Caitlyn's eyes snap open and she looks at him in horror. "Ekko, no, you didn't --"
"No, I know," he says. Then he shrugs helplessly. "Doesn't change the feeling though."
He sighs. Caitlyn bites her tongue and beats back her need for answers. If she pushes now, he will never trust her again. She looks away, watching as a single firelight buzzes past.
"Afterward, I went to the Last Drop. I thought if anyone survived, that's where they'd go." Ekko laughs and it's a bitter, brittle sound. "And I was right. Silco was there."
Caitlyn hazards a glance at him. He's looking off into the middle distance, like he's staring into the past itself. "He told everyone that Vander had tried to flee. That he'd taken his kids and tried to run. That he'd abandoned them all."
"And when he said that the enforcers had gunned them all down, everyone believed him." He shrugs. "I think they wanted more reason to hate topsiders at that point."
There's a tired resignation in his voice as he says, "And that was it. Silco took over and everyone else fell in line."
"...And what did you do?"
Ekko shrugs again, and the motion reminds her of Vi. "There were still people who didn't believe Silco's story. I bounced around, stayed where I could. Made some friends," he says with a slight smile and a nod at the Chirean Firelight across the courtyard who is also watching the children play. Scar, if Caitlyn remembers correctly.
"Then we found this place," Ekko says, looking around at the community he's built with barely concealed pride. "And we turned it into somewhere we'd be safe." He tilts his head toward the playing children. "Somewhere they'd be safe."
Caitlyn takes a deep breath and hazards, "You've done so well."
He turns to her, raising one eyebrow, but there's something young and almost vulnerable hidden beneath the skeptical expression.
So she continues. "I know I'm not the person you want to hear it from, but you should be proud of what you've built here."
Ekko stares at her for a long moment, looking almost stunned, like she hit him instead of giving him a compliment. It twists her stomach to think of him, barely more than a child by Piltover's standards, forced to give up his youth to build a home that he should've always had.
She thinks of her own comfortable, sheltered childhood, where she never had to worry about violence or hunger or watching her loved ones die, and suddenly she can't look him in the eye. She turns to watch Vi play with the group of kids instead.
Ekko takes a deep breath, clears his throat, and says, "Thanks."
Caitlyn hazards a glance at him. He's obviously trying not to look affected, but there's still a softness to his expression that makes her heart ache. He's so young.
They sit in a strangely comfortable silence for a while.
The breeze catches on the upper houses and spirals down into the courtyard. The leaves rustle above them, and the sunbeams streaming through the branches dance across the cobblestones. The air is cool and clean, crisp with the first bit of autumn.
It really is so beautiful here, Caitlyn muses, as the children's laughter rings through the air like music. The sunlight glows against the brightly painted homes and the mural of everyone these people have lost. In the distance, she can see the breeze weaving its way through a patch of flowers in a specific shade of blue.
A familiar laugh pulls Caitlyn's attention away from the blossoms and the conflict of emotions they dredge up. Vi is lying on the ground, her back against the cobblestones, and no fewer then three children are clambering over her. Despite the pile on top of her, when the littlest one slips, Vi manages to catch and steady him before he falls.
Hands that have brought down buildings, handling a child with more care than Caitlyn can even fathom. Her heart feels like a bird trapped inside her ribcage, fluttering and singing and trying to break free. It's amazing how many times she can fall in love with the same person, over and over and over.
Without looking away from her partner, Caitlyn says, "What were you going to ask me for?"
Ekko chuckles. "Guess I don't really need to, do I?"
She turns to face him, and there's something surprisingly open in his knowing expression. Understanding, she thinks. Maybe even trust.
"You're alright for a Piltie," he says, bumping his shoulder lightly against hers.
Caitlyn smiles. "Thanks."
Just then, Vi stumbles over and collapses dramatically at Caitlyn's feet, leaning back against her partner's knees. "Cupcake, you gotta help me, I - oh no."
A little girl of about four slams into Vi, landing across her lap with a triumphant giggle as Vi's breath rushes out with an oof.
Caitlyn can't help the laughter that bursts out of her. As Vi tries to get ahold of the wriggling child, she gives Caitlyn a look of mock betrayal, and Caitlyn laughs harder.
Then a boney little elbow strikes Vi in the throat, and Caitlyn hears her partner's sharp breath of actual discomfort. But before she can intervene, Ekko reaches over to scoop the child up into his arms.
"Okay, okay, you won," he says, playfully jostling the little girl. "Now go play with the other kids. Let her lick her wounds in peace."
Vi smacks his leg, which he ignores as he sets the child down and gives her a gentle push in the direction of the others.
As the little girl runs off, Vi settles back against Caitlyn's knees. "Thanks, Little Man."
Ekko sits back down and swings his foot at her, striking her hip lightly with his ankle. There's a playful familiarity to the action, mirrored back when Vi elbows him in the shin. Ekko laughs, and it makes him look so much younger, and Caitlyn is sharply reminded, once again, that he's only twenty years old.
"Well," he teases, "we do try to teach them not to abuse the elderly."
"Fuck you," Vi laughs. Then she tilts her head back onto Caitlyn's knees and closes her eyes. Without even thinking about it, Caitlyn begins to comb her fingers through her partner's hair and Vi relaxes against her like a cat in sunlight.
From the corner of her eye, Caitlyn can see that Ekko is watching them, though she can't make out his expression. She refuses to be embarassed that he can see the open display of affection; Vi doesn't seem bothered by his presence at all.
So she continues to run her fingers through the soft pink hair, occasionally scratching lightly at Vi's scalp, while the dappled sunlight dances over them. As the patches of gold fall across Vi's face, Caitlyn can see the freckles splattered across her partner's cheeks and nose and has to resist the urge to lean down and kiss every single one of them.
That might be pushing it a little far with Ekko sitting right there.
"What were you guys talking about?" Vi asks.
"Nothing much," Caitlyn says, just as Ekko says, "None of your business."
Vi snorts and peels her eyes open to shoot him a mock glare. "Aren't you supposed to be more respectful of the elderly?"
Ekko grins, sharp with mischief. "Fine. I was just telling your girlfriend here what a loser you are and how she can do so much better."
Vi opens her mouth to retort, but Caitlyn leans forward and says, "And I was telling Ekko that I actually find your being a loser incredibly attractive."
Vi snorts and then twists around, pushing herself up onto her knees and stretching up to Caitlyn. And even though Ekko is right there, and he's maybe like a little brother to Vi, and that might make this a little awkward, Caitlyn can't resist meeting her partner halfway.
She gets so lost in kissing Vi that she almost forgets where they are until Ekko says, in the flatest tone she's ever heard, "Gross."
Vi breaks away just to smack him upside the head.
Ekko ducks, though not quite quickly enough to avoid the blow entirely. As he jumps to his feet, there's a sharp grin on his face and a challenge in his eyes. For a moment, he and Vi stare each other down, tense with anticipation.
Then Ekko spins around and runs.
Vi gives Caitlyn another quick kiss and then takes off after him.
The playing children squeal and scatter as Ekko and Vi tear across the courtyard. The pair of them circles the massive tree trunk completely before Vi finally catches up to Ekko and manages to knock his feet out from under him, sending them both tumbling to the ground.
They both easily roll to their feet, and then the fight is on. It's a strangely graceful combination of sparring and roughhousing, and Caitlyn feels like she's watching a particularly violent dance.
Vi is obviously trying to knock Ekko to the ground and almost manages it a few times. Ekko, on the other hand, is surprisingly nimble and dances around her like he's trying to make her dizzy. They throw punches and dodge each other's blows, laughing as they each try to gain the upper hand.
A small crowd is beginning to form around the edges of the courtyard, children and adults alike gathering to watch as Vi's controlled strength clashes with Ekko's unpredictable speed. But despite their obvious skill and the force behind their hits, there doesn't seem to be anything at stake but pride.
Vi ducks around one of Ekko's punches and nearly lands an uppercut to his chin, but he twists away just in time, dropping back onto one of his hands and doing a sort of flip that puts distance between them and gets him back on his feet. He tosses Vi a playful salute and she laughs before charging at him again.
Caitlyn is so entranced that she doesn't even notice her father until he's lowering himself to sit beside her on the low wall.
"You young people have quite a talent for making me feel like an old man."
Caitlyn rolls her eyes but can't help the smile that tugs at her lips. "Papa, you're not that old."
"I'll have you know that I am getting older by the minute."
Caitlyn laughs. "Well, that's true for everyone."
Her father grins, then tilts his head toward the sparring match. "They look like they're having fun."
"Yeah," Caitlyn says, turning back to watch Vi nearly land a hit that Ekko just barely manages to dodge. The affection presses against the inside of her ribcage as Vi laughs, loud and bright, at something Ekko says.
She really needs to encourage Vi to come down here more often.
"I forget, sometimes," Caitlyn says quietly, "how much she misses this." She lets out a soft huff of laughter. "I don't even know if she realizes it herself."
Her father is quiet for a moment, and then asks, "How do she and Ekko know each other?"
"They were friends when they were kids."
There's so much more to it than that - they're the only survivors of their families, they've both been on their own long enough for it to harden them, they're both good people trying desperately to do good things despite their own jagged edges, they're not siblings but they're still sort of family, they understand each other in a way Caitlyn knows she'll never be able to.
But Caitlyn doesn't know how to say all of that, and it's not really her story to tell anyway.
To her relief, her father doesn't press. He just hums neutrally and says, "How late will we be staying?"
"I don't know. It is starting to get late. I don't want to impose."
Her father chuckles. "I'm sure they'll let us know if we're imposing. Oh, it looks like Vi's going to win this one."
Sure enough, in that moment, Vi manages to catch Ekko around the torso and slams him backwards onto the ground. It's not particularly forceful - Caitlyn's seen her do far worse - but it still seems to leave the Firelight stunned for a few seconds.
A few seconds is all Vi needs. She drops down on top of him, pinning him to the cobblestones. For a moment, he struggles in an attempt to dislodge her but, flat on his back and unable to gain any leverage, he can't even get Vi to budge. Caitlyn finds herself thinking of a bug cupped under someone's hand, buzzing angrily but unable to escape.
Finally, Ekko's palm taps the cobblestone a few times in surrender. With a grin, Vi lets him up, shoving herself off of him before reaching down to pull him to his feet. Even from this distance, Caitlyn can see the smug triumph in her partner's eyes.
When the crowd disperses, Ekko and Vi both make their way back toward Caitlyn. They're breathing hard and flushed with exertion and grinning like idiots. It makes them look younger, more like the children they were forced to grow out of too soon.
Ekko, to Caitlyn's surprise, drops to the pavement and lies down, chest heaving as he gets his breathing back under control. It's a strangely vulnerable position, laid out on his back, relaxed, with his eyes closed.
Vi collapses back into her spot in front of Caitlyn and slumps against her knees, closing her eyes and tilting her head back. She's covered in a sheen of sweat; the roots of her hair are dark and damp. Gently, Caitlyn combs her fingers through Vi's hair, letting the slight breeze reach her partner's scalp.
Vi hums in contentment and Caitlyn fondly says, "Why are you leaning on me, you're disgusting right now."
Vi snorts, and Caitlyn thinks she might hear Ekko huff in amusement.
"Love you too, Cupcake."
Scar comes over and wordlessly tosses Ekko a flask. With a dramatic groan, Ekko sits up, unscrews the lid, and takes a deep drink. When he's finished, he wipes his mouth with the back of his hand and passes the flask to Vi.
She cocks a brow and he nods, so she drinks too, then caps the flask and tosses it back to Scar. The Chirean catches it easily as he settles cross-legged on the ground near Ekko, relaxed but watchful. When he catches Caitlyn looking at him, he inclines his head slightly in acknowledgement before his gaze moves on.
The comfortable silence lasts for a few minutes, until both Vi's and Ekko's breathing has returned to normal.
"Well," Caitlyn's father says, clapping his hands against his thighs and then pushing himself to his feet. "We've done all the vaccinations we can do for now. We can do the next round in a few weeks."
Ekko rolls to his feet. Behind him, Scar gets up and shakes himself. Ekko stretches before turning and reaching out to pull Vi upright. Caitlyn also rises; her lower back pops loudly and Vi shoots her a look that is both teasing and sympathetic.
Ekko has already turned his attention to Caitlyn's father, who says, "Shall I send down the doses? Mira and Axe both picked up the administration beautifully; I'm sure they can manage without me."
He says it casually, but Caitlyn recognizes the wording as a tactful way to give the Firelights room to refuse having more topsiders imposing on their home.
Ekko exchanges a look with Scar, and they seem to have an entire conversation in a wordless second. Then Ekko turns back to Caitlyn's father and says, "Wouldn't say no to an extra set of hands."
Her father beams and reaches out. "Well then, I'll see you in four weeks."
Ekko takes his proffered hand and shakes it firmly. "Thanks, Doc."
As Caitlyn's father gathers up his medical bag, Ekko turns to Vi and Caitlyn. "Guess you'll be back then too?" He sounds nonchalant, but Caitlyn's fairly certain she's not imagining the keen look in his eyes.
Vi grins, and it's soft with affection. "'Course. You can't get rid of me that easily." Ekko rolls his eyes, but he's smiling as he lets Vi pull him into a tight hug. "See you soon, Little Man."
Once he and Vi let go of each other, Ekko turns to Caitlyn and cocks an eyebrow.
"Ekko," she says, reaching out to shake his hand.
"Caitlyn," he replies as he reaches back.
His grip is warm and firm. It's the first time he's ever called her by name.
Caitlyn can't help her smile. "If you need anything else in the meantime, you know where to find us."
"Careful," he warns. "You don't wanna make promises you can't keep."
"I keep my promises," she says primly.
He snorts, eyes flickering between her and Vi. "You'd better."
"Are you threatening my girlfriend?" Vi says. "After I just proved that I can kick your ass?"
"Please," Ekko says, all false haughtiness. "I let you win. I would've felt bad beating an old person."
And even though there might be the tentative beginnings of a friendship between them, Caitlyn does nothing to protect Ekko when Vi smacks him upside the head again.