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nomie-11 · 2 days ago

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Chase After You - Part 3

masterlist! | part 1 | part 2

synopsis: after messing up the best thing that ever happened to you, you knew you would do whatever it takes to prove to vi that you believed in her, and believed in soulmates

pairings: vi x reader, lowkey Ellie x Dina

The cold tiles beneath your cheek provided the only reprieve from the relentless pounding in your skull. It was the kind of migraine that felt alive, like claws scraping the inside of your head, each pulse of pain sharper than the last. You barely registered time passing. Minutes? Hours? It didn’t matter. The pain had stolen every coherent thought, leaving behind only nausea and the faintest flickers of self-loathing.

It wasn’t just the migraine, though—it never was. The tightness in your chest, the exhaustion that weighed down your limbs, the ache behind your ribs and in your knuckles wasn’t entirely yours… it all blended together in a swirling storm of misery. This was supposed to be easier. You’d told yourself over and over that you could handle the bond, the connection, the pain. But after today, it felt like it was swallowing you whole.

The sound of the apartment door opening and closing barely registered over the throbbing in your head. You didn’t even flinch when Caitlyn’s familiar voice called out from the other room, her words muffled by the bathroom door.

“Y/n?” Her footsteps grew closer, concern evident in her tone. “Y/n, are you home?”

You wanted to answer, but the effort felt monumental. Instead, a soft groan escaped your lips as you shifted slightly, pressing the cool side of your face more firmly against the floor. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to guide her to you.

The door creaked open, and Caitlyn’s sharp intake of breath cut through the haze. “Oh, Y/n.”

She was at your side in an instant, crouching down and gently brushing your hair back from your damp forehead. Her touch was light, careful, like she thought you might break if she pressed too hard. “Why didn’t you call me?” she asked, her voice low but firm.

You managed to crack open one eye, though even the dim bathroom light felt like a knife slicing through your skull. “Didn’t… want to bother you,” you murmured, your voice barely audible.

Caitlyn frowned, her brows knitting together in a way that made you feel even guiltier. “You’re not a bother, Y/n. You’re my best friend. You know that, right?”

You closed your eyes again, not because you didn’t want to answer, but because the pain was too overwhelming. A few seconds later, you felt her slip an arm around your shoulders, helping you sit up despite your weak protests.

“Come on,” she said gently, her voice softer now. “Up you go. You’ll feel better on the couch.”

The movement made your stomach churn, and you clutched at Caitlyn’s arm as she guided you out of the bathroom and into the living room. By the time she eased you down onto the couch and tucked a blanket around you, your head was swimming. The nausea ebbed and flowed, but the pressure behind your eyes remained constant.

She disappeared for a moment and returned with a damp cloth, pressing it against your forehead with a tenderness that almost made you cry. “Better?” she asked softly.

You nodded, even though it wasn’t true. The pain was still there, a relentless reminder of everything you wanted to forget.

“You’ve been like this since the cafe, haven’t you?” Ciatlyn asked, sitting down beside you with two painkillers and a glass of water, handing them to you for you to quickly down them with a grimace. Her voice wasn’t accusatory, but the concern in her tone made you shrink into the couch.

“It got worse after,” you admitted, your voice barely above a whisper. “And she’s definitely feeling it too.”

Caitlyn sighed, her hand resting lightly on your shoulder. “Y/n, you need to talk to her. Properly, I mean. You can’t keep letting it fester.”

“I can’t,” you said, the words tumbling out before you could stop them. “I don’t know how. It’s too much, Cait. Every time I try, it just… falls apart.”

“She’s not a mind reader,” Caitlyn replied gently. “If you don’t tell her what’s really going on, how is she supposed to understand?”

You swallowed hard, your throat tight. “What if she doesn’t understand? What if… what if I’m not enough for you? I’m already holding her back.”

“That’s not true, and you know it,” Caitlyn said, her tone firmer now. “You’re not holding her back, Y/n. You’re scared, but Vi isn’t your father and you aren’t your mother. She’s not going to hurt you.”

You shook your head, tears welling up despite your best efforts to hold them back. “How do I even get her back? She probably doesn’t want to talk to me at all.”

Caitlyn turned to you with a sly grin, her eyes glinting with mischief as she stood from the couch. “I’m going to a craft store, be right back.”

—--------------------------------

Vi’s knuckles stung as they slammed into the punching bag, over and over again, each strike more punishing than the last. The repetitive thuds echoed in the mostly empty gym, the only sound keeping her grounded. Her breathing was sharp, uneven, but she didn’t care. All she cared about was hitting something, anything, to drown out the hollow ache in her chest and the raging swirl of emotions in her head.

The migraine that wasn’t hers had started hours ago, creeping in like a storm on the horizon. By the time it fully hit, it was unbearable. Every pulse of pain in her skull was a reminder of the bond she shared with you—of the way you felt every ache, bruise, and break of hers just as she felt yours. She hated it. Hated that it made her feel closer to you when all she wanted was to shut it out. To forget the way your voice cracked when you told her you didn’t believe in soulmates.

She tightened the wraps on her hands, her jaw clenched, and pivoted into another strike. Sweat dropped down her face and neck, but she ignored it, channeling everything she had into the bag. Her body begged for a break, muscles trembling with exhaustion, but the storm inside her wouldn’t let her stop.

“You think I don’t care?” she muttered under her breath, her voice breaking slightly as she jabbed the bag again. “You think I don’t feel it? Like I don’t know what it’s doing to you.”

She swiped at her forehead with the back of her hand, exhaling shakily. You had been angry—hell, she got it. The bond was brutal, unrelenting, and no amount of love could erase the fact that it made you both vulnerable in ways neither of you had signed up for. But what gutted her the most wasn’t your anger. It was the fear she had seen in your eyes. Fear of her. Fear of the bond you shared.

It was the same fear you’d carried with you from the day you met. She knew why. You’d told her about your parents—about how they had torn each other apart, even as their bond kept pulling them back together. How they had used it against each other, weaponized it in ways that left you terrified of following the same path. She’d told you she wasn’t like that. That she’d never do that to you.

But yesterday, you’d looked at her like maybe you didn’t believe her anymore.

The thought sent another surge of frustration and pain coursing through her. Her fist collided with the bag in a brutal cross, and this time, her wrist buckled slightly. She hissed in pain, stepping back to shake it off, but it only made her angrier. Her ribs ached in tandem with the pounding in her head, a dull throb that wasn’t her own. She slammed her fist into the bag again, uncaring of the sharp jolt that shot up her arm.

“Goddamn it, Y/n,” she hissed, her voice cracking. She leaned her forehead against the bag, her chest heaving.

Her whole life, Vi had prided herself on being tough, on enduring anything the world threw at her. She’d been knocked down more times than she could count, but she always got back up. She had to. But this? This was different. She couldn’t fight this. She couldn’t just punch her way through the way you looked at her, like you were bracing for the moment she’d hurt you. Like you didn’t trust her.

Her head twinged again, and she closed her eyes, letting the pain wash over her. It was ironic, really—how the bond that tied her to you, that was supposed to be a gift, felt more like a curse some days. And yet, she couldn’t imagine life without it. Without you.

The sound of approaching footsteps snapped her out of her thoughts. She didn’t have to look up to know it was Ellie.

“Vi,” Ellie said, her voice firm but not unkind. “That bag isn’t going to hit back, you know.”

“Good,” Vi muttered, not moving from where she leaned against the bag. “I don’t want it to.”

Ellie sighed, crossing her arms as she stepped closer. “You’ve been at this for hours. You're going to wreck your hands if you keep this up.”

Vi huffed, another punch echoing out. “Maybe I should, not like it matters.”

“You’re going to wreck her hands if you keep this up,” Ellie sighed, moving into Vi’s gaze, forcing her to look at her. “What’s going on? And don’t say nothing, I was there for that argument.”

Vi let out a humorless laugh, sinking to the floor with her back against the bag. “What’s going on is that Y/n hates me. She hates this, she doesn’t even want a soulmate.”

“She doesn’t hate you,” Ellie said, her voice steady. “She’s scared. There’s a difference.”

“She doesn’t want this, Ellie,” Vi shot back, her voice rising. “She made that perfectly clear yesterday. I’m trying—god, I’m trying—but it’s like no matter what I do, it’s not enough. She doesn’t trust me. She doesn’t trust this.”

Ellie sat beside her, her tone softening. “You’re right—she’s scared. She’s got walls up that would make a military fort jealous. But you knew that when you chose to chase after her, didn’t you?”

Vi exhaled sharply, running a hand through her sweat-dampened hair. “Yeah. I knew. But I thought… I don’t know. I thought I could prove to her that it could be different. That I’m different.”

“You are different,” Ellie said firmly. “And she knows it. You just have to wait for her to come around.”

Vi clenched her jaw, her hands curling into fists. “I don’t know if I can do it, Ellie. I don’t know if I can keep trying when all she does is push me away.”

Ellie leaned forward, her expression serious. “If you care about her—and I know you do—you’ve got to hold it out for her. She’s hurting right now, just like you are. And she’ll fight for you if she really does care for you.”

Vi stared at the floor, the weight of Ellie’s words settling heavily in her chest. She wanted to believe it wasn’t too late—that the two of you hadn’t already ruined everything. But the pounding in her head and the pain in her knuckles told her one thing with certainty: you still needed her.

—-----------------------

The cold air bit at your cheeks as you stood outside the rink, your breath visible in soft puffs. Your palms were clammy despite the chill, and you fidgeted nervously with the oversized sign in your hands. You could feel the weight of every bold letter you and Caitlyn had painted last night: “If the rink is your first love, let me be your second!”

It had seemed like a good idea in the moment. Something bold, something unmistakably Vi. Something that said, loud and clear, that you were sorry, and that you’d do anything to make this right.

but now, standing here in the bitting January cold, your stomach churned. What if she didn’t want this? What if she walked out, saw you, and just kept walking? What if she didn’t even give you a chance?

A few players trickled out of the rink, chatting and laughing as they slung their gear bags over their shoulders. The curious glances landed on you, and you could hear the murmurs as they noticed the sign.

You wanted to melt into the concrete. But you didn’t move.

And then you saw her.

Vi walked out with her usual confidence, her duffel slung casually over one shoulder. Her face was flushed from practic,e and her damp hair clung to her in messy strands. She was laughing at something Ellie said, but then her eyes landed on you, and she froze.

Her expression was unreadable.

Ellie said something to her, nudging her shoulder, but Vi didn’t react. She just stood there, staring at you like she wasn’t sure if you were real.

Your heart hammered in your chest, and for a moment, you thought about running. Just bolting down the street and pretending this never happened. But you couldn’t. You owed her this.

Taking a deep breath, you stepped forward. “Vi.”

Your voice came out shaky, but it was loud enough to carry over the murmurs of the small crowd gathering near the doors. Vi’s gaze snapped to yours, her lips parting slightly, but she didn’t say anything.

You swallowed hard, gripping the sign tighter. “I know I screwed up. I know I hurt you. And I know this probably looks ridiculous, but I need you to hear this.”

Her brow furrowed slightly, but she didn’t move. She just stood there, her powder blue eyes locked on yours.

You learned your throat, the words spilling out before you could lose your nerve. “You were right, Vi. About everything. I was scared, and I let that fear control me. I told myself I didn’t believe in soulmates because it was easier than admitting I was terrified—terrified of not being enough for you. Of not being able to protect you from injuries, or keep up with you. But I see it now. I feel it.”

Your voice cracked, and you felt the burn of tears in your eyes, but you pushed through. “This bond? This thing we have? It’s not a mistake. It’s not something I get to run away from just because it scares me. It’s you, Vi. It��s always been you. And if that means I wake up sore or bruised sometimes because of this bond, then fine. I don’t care. I can afford the painkillers, and I’ll path up every single one of your bruises and cuts. Because you’re worth it. You’ve always been worth it.”

The murmurs around you grew louder, and you could feel the eyes of her teammates on you. Your face burned with embarrassment, but it didn’t matter. Nothing mattered if this wasn’t getting across to her.

You stepped closer, lowering the sign slightly. “I’ve spent so long trying to convince myself that I didn’t need anyone, that I wasn’t good enough for this kind of love. But being with you showed me that I’m better with you. Stronger with you. And I’ll chase after you if that’s what it takes for me to make sure you understand that I’m not running away anymore.”

You took another shaky step forward, your voice steadying as you met her gaze. “I love you, Vi. I love everything about you—your stupid reckless grin, your ridiculous jokes, your pet names, the way you’re completely unstoppable on and off the ice. And if that means your first love will always be this rink… then fine. Let me be your second.”

The silence that followed was deafening, your heart pounding so loudly you were sure it echoed off the rink walls. Vi’s teammates were staring, Ellie included, and you wanted nothing more than to turn around to where Caitlyn was waiting by her car and hide behind her and cry.

But then Vi moved.

She dropped her bag with a heavy thud, closing the distance between you in three long strides. Before you could say another word, her hands cupped your face, and she kissed you.

It wasn’t soft or tentative. It was fierce and desperate, like she’d been waiting for this moment as much as you had. her lips crashed into yours, and everything else faded away—the cold, the crowd, the doubts. All that mattered was her.

The sound of cheers and whistles broke through the haze, and you realized her teammates were clapping and shouting in celebration. Ellie yelled, “About time!” And you could hear Caitlyn’s more poised claps from behind you.

Vi pulled back just enough to rest her forehead against yours, her breath warm against your skin. Her voice was barely a whisper, but it was filled with so much emotion it made your chest ache.

“You’re such an idiot,” she said, her voice trembling slightly.

“I know, and I’m so, so sorry,” The tears brimming in your eyes blurred your vision as you looked up into hers, hoping that she could see even a fraction of the emotion you were trying to convey.

She laughed, wiping a stray tear from your cheek, the sound of her laugh feeling like sunlight breaking through storm clouds. “I know, I know. Don’t worry.”

You smiled, leaning into her touch. “I really mean it, Vi. I’m all in. For you, for us, for everything.”

Her eyes brightened as she nodded, her hands still cradling your face. “I’ve been waiting for you to say that.”

“I’m sorry it took me so long,” you said, your voice soft. “But I’m here now. And I really promise I’m not going to run away again.”

Her smile widened, ands he kissed you again, slower this time, like she was savoring the moment. The cheers around you still echoed in the background, but for the first time, you didn’t care who was watching.

When she pulled back, she grabbed you hand, lacing her fingers with yours as she turned to face her teammates. “Alright, you’ve all seen enough. Practice is at five tomorrow. Get lost.”

Ellie rolled her eyes, grinning. “Fine, fine. but don’t expect us to stop teasing you about this for at least the next month.”

Vi rolled her eyes and flipped Ellie off, squeezing your hand with her free hand as the crowd began to disperse. She turned back to you, her expression softening. “You really made a sign?”

You blushed, glancing down at the painted letters. “Caitlyn and I thought it was a good idea at the time.”

“It’s perfect,” she said, leaning in to kiss your temple. “I’m getting it framed.”

And as she led down the path to your cafe, her hand warm in yours, you knew you’d made the right choice. For the first time, you felt completely.

Vi was your soulmate. And you would spend the rest of your life chasing after her to prove you were hers, too.

this is the third part in a three part series! reader part 1 here! read part 2 here!

If you enjoyed this one shot, please check out my other series!

#arcane vi x reader #vi arcane #vi x y/n #vi x you #vi x reader #arcane x reader #arcane #arcane x female reader #arcane x y/n #arcane x you #arcane season 2 #arcane season two #piltover's gayest #ellie x dina #dina tlou #ellie williams

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