Various Arcane x Reader

Chapter 8 - I Don't Need You To Save Me.

Y/n's heart raced as the promise left her lips, her chest tightening under the weight of it. Vi's vulnerability had caught her off guard.

Y/n could feel the heat of Vi's presence, the unsteadiness of the moment, but it was interrupted by a voice from the doorway.

"Everything okay?" Powder's small voice broke through Y/ns clouded mind only for Y/n to quickly step away from Vi, the tension between them momentarily forgotten as they turned to look at the youngest of the three. Powder stood there, clutching Mouser, her innocent gaze filled with concern.

"Yeah, everything's fine," Y/n replied, her voice softer than she expected, quickly glancing at Vi who gave a slight nod, though her expression was unreadable.

"Can you give me a minute with her." Vi asked Y/n only for her to step back too.

"I will be waiting at the sofa." Y/n then turned to Powder."I will see you in a few." She said, giving the siblings their privacy.

Sitting down on the sofa, Y/n folded her arms, her mind still racing. She couldn't help but wonder about Vi's sudden change in demeanour. There was something in her eyes that Y/n couldn't put her finger on. Oddly, it made her heart ache. Whatever Vi was doing was more than the usual protective nature Vi had for Powder.

Y/n ran a hand through her hair, trying to clear the confusion that had settled in her mind. Claggor took notice of her demeanour and the stressed look that had settled on her face.

The sound of footsteps drew Y/n from her thoughts, and she looked up to see Vi approaching the sofa. Her eyes were guarded again, the softness from earlier gone, replaced by that familiar steely resolve. Y/n stood up, not sure how to address what had just happened, the space between them now filled with unspoken words. Powder followed closely after walking over towards Y/n sitting beside her on the couch.

Y/n opened her arms only for the young girls eyes to widen in delight. She pounced at Y/n, snuggling into her side as Y/n secured her arms around the young girl.

Vi couldn't handle looking at them, knowing what she was going to do. Leaving them behind was too painful. although watching her sisters new protector with the azure haired girl settled something in her.

Vi left the room before any more harm or threat could come to her family, and Y/n.

Y/n paid notice to Vi's unusual exit only to politely nudge Powder, "I'll be right back, Powpow."

Y/n followed after Vi from a distance, curious as to where she would wined up only to recognise the place she had ventured to as Benzo's. Y/n finally revealed herself, "Vi, what do you think you're doing? The enforcers will be out here."

"Y/n, get out of here!" Vi growled protectively.

"What are you doing Vi!" Y/n whisper yelled only for Vi to get up in her face. "I am trying to protect my family... and you." She admitted.

"You were going to hand yourself over?"

"Please let me do this."

"Vi," Y/n whispered, her voice trembling. "You can't do this. Handing yourself over? That's not protecting us. it's leaving us. Leaving me. Do you think Powder could handle losing you? Because I can tell you right now, she couldn't. And neither could I."

Vi's jaw tightened, her hands clenching into fists at her sides. "You think I don't know that? You think this is easy for me? It's not about what I want, Y/n. It's about what's best for all of you. If they take me, they'll back off. Maybe they'll stop coming after us."

"Or maybe they won't," Y/n shot back, stepping closer. Her voice softened, but her words cut through the tense air. "You think you're the only one who's willing to protect this family? Vi, we all want to keep each other safe. But this isn't the way. Sacrificing yourself isn't going to fix things. It's just going to break us."