𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐰𝐨: 𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐞
𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭

𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐃 stained pavement was the only remnants in the dark alleyway of Mai as she had been hauled away by her ankles. Link had been picked up by the scruff of his neck an thrown into a bag whilst Mai had been manhandled.

The wound on the back of her head was large, the bag around her head had turned nearly black as it absorbed the blood. It didn't matter her state, the enforcers didn't care for her, they decided to inflict their own punishment and even when she was unconscious they kicked at her body until they grew tiresome.

The group seemed to be boastful, as if they had finally captured a wild animal and were returning to claim a grand reward. One man at the front seemed particularly cheerful, he held Link in one hand by the neck and all but kicked down the doors to the broken councillors chambers.

Ambessa had situated herself in front of the open crater where the windows once were and her ears twitched at the violent noise. Rictus was hidden in the shadows to her right whilst other enforcers were in a line at either side of the room.

"We got her!" The man in front cheered to the enforcers to the side as he held the cat up as if it were a trophy. Mai was dropped in a heap to the floor, Ambessa turned but could only make out her boots from her point of view.

"She didn't even see it coming," he held the cat close to his face ignoring its hiss, "found this- ah!" He dropped the cat to the floor as it scratched its claws down his eye. "You little shit!" The enforcer barked and raised his boot ready to step on it when a curt voice spoke up.

"What is going on?" Mel's voice cut through the room as she followed behind the enforcers, or rather the thick trail of blood. She felt her mouth part with as she looked down to the body with their hands restrained behind their back and a hood over their head. It couldn't be, was that truly-

"Remove her hood," her eyes narrowed towards the man who gulped, the others behind him moved further away. Her stare was paralysing, she caught sight of the dark liquid at the back but it was only a glimpse.

He took it off and surprise putrefied every nerve within her body, she let out a broken gasp as she looked down to the unconscious girl. Ambessa didn't need to look at the mark on her wrist, she could tell by her features alone, this was Mai, this was her daughter.

Though her brows furrowed as she caught sight of a substance she was all too familiar with already filling the space beside her head. Ambessa reached her hand across and snatched the man's throat with one large hand, easily cutting off his airways that made him go purple in the face. Her face was enraged and her muscles tense in fury as her fingers flexed against his neck.

"What have you done?"

Mel came down to kneel besides Mai with her hands slightly shaking whilst she reached behind her head to apply pressure to it. The other gently rested against her cheek as she felt her temperature, she was cold to the bone. Link cowered to Mel's side as he dug his face into the softness of the fabric that was around her thigh.

"What is going on?" A demanding voice burst through the room, Caitlyn had been alerted of the situation by other guards who were behind her.

She first saw Ambessa holding the man whose struggle became less and less frequent but the sneer on her face was ugly. Her eyes darted to look to Mel who turned to look back at her with wide scared eyes and then she saw her.

Caitlyn froze completely, she thought she was dreaming and she had wondered into a nightmare but this was true. She dropped the gun from her hand and it clanked to the floor with a loud clank, just as loud as the man's body who fell from Ambessa's grasp, unmoving.

The commander didn't know where to put her hands, her chest already began to heave in a state of panic. As Mel took her hand back from her head the sight of her blood that coated skin made bile rise up in Caitlyn's throat and she acted on instinct.

She looked to no one but shouted orders rendering them deaf, the words were muffled together in her flurry as she gathered Mai in her arms. She all but ran out the room with her yelling for doctors though Ambessa seemed to regurgitate her orders louder.

"Take them to Stillwater!" Ambessa glowered to the enforcers who arrived with Caitlyn and looked to the ones who had hauled Mai in. Though officer Nolan was no where to be seen.

Mel's entire frame was shaking as she looked down at her hands that were soaked in blood, the metallic substance stained her dress. Ambessa ordered them out, the generals anger so powerful the enforcers skidded out the room faster than the other. Rictus lingered, his stare palpable yet filled with dread.

Ambessa's shoulders heaved as she clenched her fists tightly, the body of the man whom she strangled to death was removed. The others had dragged him out as she couldn't stand the sight of him.

Mel's soft cries reached her ears and she looked down to see her holding her own fists tightly to her chest. A small kitten in between her arms as she held onto him tightly. Her mother kneeled down to her level and took her into her arms, her whimpers causing emotion to wash over Ambessa that made her bury her head in her daughter's hair to shield her tears.

Caitlyn laid Mai on the bed and fumbled with the keys to unlock the cuffs that had been tied around her back. She was forced to stand at the edge of the bed as doctors swarmed around Mai, they spoke in riddles to her and rushed about at a pace that made them appear to be moving like small blurs.

Her hands wrapped tightly around the metal railing at the edge of the bed as she tried to subdue her tears. The ton of weight seemed to duplicate and hurt all the more when they cut open her top and Caitlyn was nearly sick. The bruises were purple and yellow littering themselves along her stomach and the lining of her ribs. Her lips were chapped and cut, a small gash on her brow and only now had Caitlyn caught a glimpse of the tattoos that had been stamped on her body.

"Commander, you should lea-"

"If you finish that sentence you'll be out of a job," Caitlyn gritted out, not even sparing the doctor a glance as she kept her eyes on Mai. "I'm not going anywhere."

𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐒 turned into days as Caitlyn sat rigidly by Mai's bedside, she had the woman moved to her own private quarters in the tower. Only the soft, nervous taps of her foot and steady bleep of a heart beat could be heard in the more or less silent room.

The guilt that drowned Caitlyn was ferocious, every time she looked to Mai's sleeping figure it felt as though her heart was being crushed by a greater force. Though, it was a bitter sweet pain, she couldn't take her eyes off of Mai even if she wanted to.

She made it clear that she was not to be disturbed so, when the guards tried to remind her of her duties as a leader she appeared cataclysmic. Like a bomb her face turned red as the veins in her neck popped whilst Caitlyn prodded her finger into their chest.

No one bothered her since.

The door softly clicked shut but Caitlyn couldn't take her eyes off of Mai, the silent punishment she bestowed upon herself becoming painfully obvious to Ambessa as she saw the bags under her eyes.

Ambessa had attended every day though she never stayed for long, the sight seemingly too gruesome for her. Which was odd for a woman who had been bred for war and bloodshed.

The two women never truly spoke, Ambessa learned to stop asking of her condition since Mai would be in the same position every day. Though, when she was not there she ventured into the darkest depths of the prisons her knuckles were never left unbloodied.

Caitlyn would take Mai's hand and intertwine their fingers whilst tucking it under her chin. The contact was more of a comfort to Caitlyn rather than the sleeping girl. And often, in the night as guilt and anxiety raged within her she'd cry softly into Mai's clothes whilst muttering incessantly how sorry she was.

Mel passed by and politely knocked before letting her heels make her presence known, there was only one woman who had an aura quite like the Medarda. A small cat lay curled in her arms which she cradled like a newborn, Caitlyn had yet to look at her and only acknowledged her with a small twitch of her ears.

She came to sit on the edge of the bed and only then did Caitlyn see the small animal she had in her hands. Her eyes widened slightly, "Link?"

Mel looked over to her as the name seemed to wake him, "so that's his name," she opened her hands and allowed him to cross the bed to reach Caitlyn.

The woman met the creatures big green eyes and she thought he were going to bite her but instead he meowed loudly and head butted the back of her hand. A small smile quirked up her lips as she ran her hands through his fur that had him purring, Mel watched the scene with a fondness and let her eyes flicker between the hand that Caitlyn held.

"Where's Jayce?" Caitlyn murmured, she wanted his help, his support but he was nowhere to be found. The only traces of him was the strong scent of his cologne in the workshop.

Mel shrugged slightly, "I was going to ask you the same." A quiet fell over them, neither party knew where the man was but there seemed to be a bigger question lingering in the silence. "How do you know her?" Mel softly asked aloud, as if careful not to seem accusing. Although, something in her tone told both women that she already suspected something.

Caitlyn looked up from the kitten to Mai, the grip on her hand tightening and admiration glazed over her eyes. However, she didn't say anything, it seemed as though the words began to get caught in her throat which she cleared gently.

Mel made an ah expression before subtly nodding, "I see."

"That obvious?" Her voice was gravely having not been used in so long other than to abrade orders.

"Let's say I had an inkling the moment you wondered yourselves into the councillors chambers." There was humour underlining her tone though neither could find it in them to truly laugh, Mel's eyes drifted over Mai's face until her own became downcast.

Caitlyn caught the fall of her face and narrowed her eyes, "how do you know her?"

Mel heard the accusation in her words, Caitlyn's jaw was wired tightly as she thought the worst but Mel just sighed. "You don't see the resemblance."

Caitlyn furrowed her brows but as she looked between the two girls her eyes widened and her mouth began to part. They had the same sharp jaws, the same freckles dancing across their cheeks, every small detail the other seemed to replicate even in sleep.

"Y-you're sisters?"

Mel nodded in understanding by her disbelief as she looked down to Mai's wrist which held a birthmark, "I didn't believe it the first time either." She let her fingers soothingly trace over the mark on Mai's wrist, "but it's undeniable."

Caitlyn grew more confused, "but- Mai said she was born in Zaun, she watched her parents be murdered herself."

Mel cringed at the mention, "she would say that because it's what she believes, she was too young to remember anything before." Though, Mel seemed to perk up slightly, "her name isn't even Mai."

The Kiramman was at a loss for words as she tightened her grip around the girls hand, "what happened?"

Mel stared down at the stranger that was her sister and stuttered slightly, it wasn't her story to tell, rightfully it was her mother's. Though, she was not here and Caitlyn would simply regurgitate the words back to Mai when she woke- if she woke. She sighed deeply, reliving a horrid memory that caused her mouth to dry up.

"There were three of us, my brother, Kino, myself and Niah," there was a lightheartedness in her voice as she casted a soft look to the sleeping body.

Caitlyn's eyes drifted over Mai's face as she silently tested the name in her head, deciding wether or not she looked like a Niah.

"She doesn't even remember me," Mel shifted uncomfortably as a frown painted her features and she became pain stricken as she saw the scars that painted Mai's neck and shoulder all the way down. "she's suffered so much."

Caitlyn bit down hard on her tongue, her eyes trailing to the bruises on her stomach. She had caused Mai pain.

"She was stolen in the night,"a bitter tone overcame Mel's next words as she looked down to her sister in the upmost of shame. "The Demacian's, there had been a Cold War between Noxus and Demacia for years until they started it." Turmoil scrunched Mel's face, "we thought the worst but instead they hid her all this time."

Caitlyn rubbed her bare hands along Mai's skin, the thoughts of what could have been if the woman hadn't been taken in the night. Would she have grown to be a carbon copy of Mel? Or would she and Caitlyn never have known each other at all. Although, the cogs turned in Caitlyn's head and a crease between her brows formed as she listened to Mel.

"How did you know it was the Demacian's?" She had heard of them, though from what she read and what her family understood of them they were honourable people. Noble and lawful with a prestigious military history that easily made Caitlyn more curious of the country.

Mel's jaw clenched and Caitlyn had to blink twice as she saw a replicated image of Mai in her place, "my mother claimed it so." Though, as the words left her mouth the two women looked to one another with suspicion harbouring deep in their eyes. Mel quickly stood, "I need to speak with the general," she casted another soft look to her sister before slipping off the ring on her finger and easing it onto Mai's. The small kitten under Caitlyn's hand made no movement to get up and Mel gave it a genteel look before swiftly rounding the bed.

"She doesn't say much," Caitlyn called out over her shoulder and she heard Mel's steps halt all together. "She visits often but she's never said a word." The girls steps continued though with an added sharpness before the door shut with a harsh echo.

Caitlyn regained her attention of Mai's sleeping form, Link's soft pers in her arm was the only thing that seemed to ground her. As the sight of the woman who was always stern, never unyielding in her defences,was now a shattered mirror of the woman Caitlyn once knew. The enforcer felt like painting herself black and blue as the tears in her eyes re-emerged, she was so stupid. How did she allow herself to be blinded by such vicious slander that lead her to harm Mai. After she spent hours, days, trying to create a fracture in Mai's walls that she had built to protect herself.

Now, the Kiramman felt like she was a child hiding under her bed, awaiting her parent's punishment for breaking another vase with her gun. Fear flowed through her as her leg thrummed up and down, the nausea becoming worse as she hadn't eaten since she found Mai on the floor.

A shaky breath left her as she bowed her head, her forehead being pressed against the back of Mai's hand as she held it close to her face. Her lip quivering and voice quaking, "I'm sorry," she croaked out. Her eyes searched Mai's for a response but she remained still as ever, "I'm so sorry, darling," she tried to hide further into Mai's hand.

𝐕𝐈 paced up and down the floorboards to the flat with her hands on her hips and a thin layer of sweat forming along her brow. Gabby looked on out the window whilst chewing her nails until the sound of her footsteps grew too much.

"Do you mind?" She snapped her head to Vi who stopped with a stomp and looked to Gabby with a face tightened with despair.

"I don't understand why she would leave?" Vi turned on her heel and began pacing one more which made Gabby silently groan. "It was only an accident and- and she said she wouldn't leave," her last words were slightly quieter matching her pace that slowed to a stop.

Gabby's frown deepened before she stood and crossed the threshold to wrap her arms around Vi's waist whilst leaning to put her chin on her shoulder. The contact made Vi sigh deeply as Gabby drew soothing patterns underneath her shirt and onto her skin.

"She got scared," Gabby murmured softly, "she thought she was protecting us," her words became submerged in sadness. "That's all she's ever wanted, for us to be safe."

Vi placed her hands over Gabby's over her shirt, "but why couldn't she tell us where she went?" Gabby just tilted her head to cast a knowing look to Vi who rolled her eyes slightly as she already knew the answer. They had not stopped searching the streets of the Undercity for a glimpse of Mai, they cashed every favour and spoke with every smuggler but it seemed the girl was a ghost, she just disappeared.

"Is Jinx still looking?" Gabby asked quietly to not disrupt the contented moment they were sharing.

Vi answered with a grunt, "she hasn't stopped." The only reason Vi had been forced back into the apartment was because she picked a fight with every enforcer that patrolled the streets. She had been demanded to lay low, she cared not to hide her appearance out of pure stubbornness.

𝐇𝐎𝐖𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑, Jinx was meticulous about how she would uncover the pathway Mai took, even though she was the most wanted fugitive in the city. Although, if the people of Zaun caught sight of blue hair their faces lit up in bright smiles, they spoke her name in hushed whispers. Not out of fear but admiration, a way to demonstrate their loyalty as they did not want to out the princess of Zaun.

"Nothing," Jinx scoffed harshly whilst kicking her boot into the wall to the dark alleyway as she leant against it. Isha was by her side, her arms crossed and head hanging low to shield the tear marks down her face and her deep frown.

Jinx looked down and sighed before crouching in front of her and tilting her chin up slightly with a gentle hum. The sight of Isha in her silent pain brought an anguish to Jinx as she couldn't extinguish the cause of her tears. She just slightly smiled and brought her hand up to wipe away her tears with her thumbs.

The softness in her touch seemed to make the young girl more vulnerable, the look in her eye, the innocence and fear brought back a sickening punch of de javu to Jinx. She was reminded of herself. Isha threw herself into Jinx's arms and wrapped them around her neck as her shoulders shook whilst she silently cried.

Jinx carefully cradled the girl and toyed with the small braids at the back of her hair, the circles she drew on her back a motion of soothing. "I know, I miss her too."

The blue haired girl wanted nothing more than to make Isha smile again. Though, more than anything she wanted her older sister back, she wanted to smell Mai and be reminded of home. Vi was her rock, no matter how many times she pushed back she was always there. Mai was the peace keeper, she was everything but now she was nothing, she had already began to worry them as she slowly sunk deeper into the sea of her inner turmoil.

And now she was just gone.

Jinx didn't want to upset Isha any further and took her by the hand before leading her back to the hideout, their home.

Her eyes drifted over to the space that Mai had began to occupy, it slowly became more apparent that she was staying there as she gradually filled it with her things. Isha tucked herself under Mai's quilt and dig her face into her pillow, the sight made Jinx's heart clench.

She crossed off an area, on her workshop desk, lay a map of the entire Undercity. A loud clank, the noise of a door opening and shutting made her look behind her to see Sevika.

Jinx rolled her eyes before turning back round to look down to the map, "what do you want?"

Sevika didn't answer, even her footsteps sounded angered as she stomped over. Jinx looked to the corner of her map and saw her stabbing the paper with a knife.

Although, it was the handle that made a soft gasp leave her, "they got her." Sevika gritted out harshly with a snarl. "The bastards got her."

Jinx began to breathe heavily, her eyes wide open as her breath became shallower and she clutched her head. The panic raced in her veins, once again the enforcers were stealing away her chance at happiness, at reconciliation.

"No," she murmured whilst clutching her hair tightly as she dug her fingers in her scalp.

Sevika placed both her hands on her shoulder and gently shook her, "we don't have time for this Jinx!" She pressed but had a gentle grip, "we need to get her back."

Jinx stilled and Sevika quickly took her hands back, she looked up through her lashes. The magenta colour appearing with a harsh glow adding to the danger in her voice as she spoke lowly. "We will."

𝐂𝐀𝐈𝐓𝐋𝐘𝐍 still hadn't left her side , her back ached as she leaned over the chair so she resided in the space next to Mai's body. There was a forearms distance between them as she lay on her side so she could face the woman still.

The tips of her fingers traced the small white lines that littered her skin, down her forearm where she trailed her touch over every line of the snake until she gingerly reached her hand up. Caitlyn hesitated to touch her cheek, the face that had stared at her with such intense hostility made her falter. She instead trailed them in her hair, she followed the length of her braids before she reached the back of her neck where her baby hairs escaped.

She trailed her eyes over every cut and scar, every imperfection and bruise. Caitlyn was engraving the image of her into her mind, until it would be impossible to forget the slightest detail. The way her lips were plump, how her freckles danced across her cheekbones and nose. A small crease formed in between her brows as if she was still in pain even when sleeping, the piercings she gained as well as her tattoos.

Caitlyn traced the small one under her ear that she found herself mindlessly smiling at, the doves eyes staring back at her with brightened hues in the light ink. She had caught sight of the back tattoo that peaked at the top of her neck but she could not see anymore other than the colour was dark azure, the sight made her chest tighten.

She lowered her gaze until it fell on her neck, her collar bones were prominent, her chest rising and falling at a steady pace. Until she brought her hand down to feel the large scars that ran down her neck and shoulder. The skin felt bumpy and rough, it had not been properly tended to and the thought pained Caitlyn further.

A heartfelt sigh left her before she leaned over and pressed a small fleeting kiss to the shoulder before caressing the space with her thumb. Caitlyn knew she shouldn't feel pity, Mai hates it when there's an ounce of sympathy shown her way. Though, she couldn't help it, Mai wasn't a battered animal by any means but she was abused and abducted by strangers. She had been a target all her life and for that Caitlyn truly felt empathy for her.

"I should have never left you alone," her voice was dreary though she mumbled against her scars. "I will carry that shame forever," Caitlyn flickered her eyes up to her face once more and saw her still and unperturbed by her words.

A shaky breath left her before she tilted her head nearer until her lips hovered over her cheek where she pressed them lightly against her skin. Her eyes were closed but when she reeled back she watched Mai stir with a fractured groan.

Caitlyn sat up in her seat with wide eyes and a relieved look passed her as blue met dark maroon.

"You're aw-"

She was cut off when Mai threw a hard right hook to her jaw.