Chapter Text
The great Piltover Secondary School; it was the best one around to anyone who didn’t go there. To the people who did, it seemed the same as every other school.
Caitlyn was a good student, she always had been - to the point her classmates didn’t want to be around her because they all said she was all work and no fun. Her teachers said she was being bullied and her parents were worried, but she simply shoved it in and kept her head down.
She had good grades and was already close enough to graduating, so why should she care what they thought? She walked to her lockers to grab a textbook, attempting but failing to ignore the stares and points she got as she passed. Caitlyn used to have friends: Jayce and Victor, except she let it slip to her mother about their little HexTech endeavors. She subsequently lost the only true friends she had, as her mother told the Headmaster what the two boys had been up to in the science lab after-hours.
Caitlyn sat in the back of the classroom, looking out of the window and trying to kill time in math. She hated this class and only wanted it to be over. As soon as the bell rang, she got up and left as fast as she could. But before she could reach her locker to return her books, she was cornered by three girls who had a knack for harassing her.
“Hello, Caitlyn,” the leader greeted, pushing her up against the wall. Caitlyn had a good foot on the girl, but she was thrown off-guard and rapidly losing patience. “Got any more of mommy’s commissioner money for us today?-“ her sentence was cut short as Caitlyn lost her cool and slammed the girl in the face with a sickening crunch. The two other girls looked at their friend with horrified shock, both watching the blood drip down her face. “What the fuck Caitlyn!? You crazy bitch!” Their screams ricocheted off the school walls as they all scrambled away, hurling insults and curse words at the poor blue-haired girl left standing helplessly.
Caitlyn’s hand was covered in blood, along with the top of her skirt. She stared down at her hand in shock of what she had done, what Caitlyn Kiramman had just done. She sucked in a hasty breath and started beelining for the women’s room. The bell rung, signifying the change of class. She sighed a sigh of relief, as this would mean the nearest restrooms were abandoned minus the occasional stoner. She wandered over to the restroom in a daze, reaching a sink and attempting to get the blood off her hands and skirt. As she came out of her daze, she came just in time to hear her name over the loudspeaker: Staff and students, apologies for the interruption. Caitlyn Kiramman, please make your way to the Headmasters Office. I repeat, Caitlyn Kiramman, please make your way to the Headmaster’s Office. Thank you.
…
Shit. Her heart sunk as she did a slow walk of shame towards the office, thankful that the halls were empty. As she arrived, she was met with a death stare from the Headmaster, the three girls and the ice cold eyes of her mother.
“Please take a seat, Miss Kiramman.” Caitlyn nodded, sweat pricking her collar as she hated being the center of attention. “I trust you have been informed of the situation, Mrs. Kiramman?” The Headmaster aimed this at Caitlyn’s mother, who nodded listlessly.
“I have, but I’m sure she didn’t mean it.” Cassandra was interrupted by the girl with the broken nose scoffing.
“Didn’t mean it my ass.”
“Caitlyn, sweetheart, tell them you didn’t mean it. You didn’t, did you honey?” Her mother willed Caitlyn to look up, and she did, meeting her mothers unreadable face. Caitlyn broke eye contact quickly and shrugged. She wasn’t quite sure if she meant it or not, but she knew damn well she wasn’t sorry. The headmaster sighed.
“Well, Mrs. Kiramman, you know we have a 0-tolerance policy for violence. Caitlyn, it’s been a pleasure having you, however we have no choice but to expel you.” A quick beat passed, then Caitlyn heard the sigh escape her mothers lips. “Please go and collect your things. Girls, you’re dismissed.” The headmaster walked away, officially leaving the others to fend for themselves.
“Get you stuff and let’s go.” Her mother was furious; it was written all over her face. The question was who it was with: Caitlyn, the girls, or the Headmaster? Caitlyn groaned.
“Yes, mother.” She quickly exited the office, thanking the stars that there was a class currently in session. She cleared out her locker, but as she did, she was thinking. Hard and heavy. She hasn’t ever done anything bad, she was an honor roll student, and she gets expelled permanently for something like self defense? She decided that if her school wouldn’t even let her speak, she didn’t want to be there a second longer than she had to be.
As she trudged out of the courtyard and into her mothers nice car, she thought about it. Where would she go to school now? Where would even take her? There was one place, but she was sure her mother would never agree to it. Then again, it was worth a shot… right?
It was pure silence in the car. The tension was so palpable you could absolutely use it to power one of those little HexTech thingies Jayce was always making— Cait winced. She remembered how horribly that friendship had crashed and burned. If only she could tell him how horrible she felt, how sorry she was—
“Caitlyn. Look at me.” Cassandra commanded. Her aura was strong, a woman in power who had nothing to lose and everything to gain. Caitlyn looked up, meeting her mothers soft eyes. Soft? This was something uncharacteristic of her. “You did the right thing, sweetheart. You stood up for yourself. I’m very proud of you.” Caitlyn blinked. Was this the same mother who told her that a B+ wasn’t good enough? The same mother who pushed her ‘til she snapped? “Her mother is on the school board, and she comes from an extremely rich family. She’s one of their biggest sponsors, so of course they’d take her side. I need you to know that I believe you. I love you, alright?” Caitlyn stared back at her mother blankly.
“I appreciate it, mother. I’m sorry this happened.” Her mother pinched her nose bridge, letting out a nasally exhale.
“It’s alright honey, I just don’t know where you’ll go now.” Caitlyn felt her heart jump, and she took her chance.
“I want to go to Zaun.” This time, it was her mother staring at her with a blank expression.
“Sorry?”
“I want to go to Zaun. I don’t think that I’m thriving in the private boarding school, and I want to go to a normal one for once. Please?” Her mother thought about it for a little. She looked away, then back at her. She pursed her lips in disgust, then shook her head as thoguh to clear whatever distasteful thought she had counted up.
“Alright. I’ll call them tonight, and we’ll see what we can do, yes?” Caitlyn let out the breath she didn’t know she’d been holding.
“That sounds good. Thank you, mother.” Cassandra said nothing in return, only muttering about how Piltover was full of rich assholes. Caitlyn giggled, easing into the pleasant silence.
—
Vi was, once again, in trouble. The only reason she hadn’t been kicked out yet was because her Uncle was the Head Teacher. But this time wasn’t her fault! Some girls were bullying her little sister! What was she supposed to do? Let them beat her into the ground? She knocked on the door. “Come in, Vi.” The gravelly voice said in an exasperated tone from the other side of the door.
“Heyyy, Silcoooo,” she walked into his office, smiling and trying to charm her way out of the situation. She plonked herself into the chair in front of his desk, feet on one armrest and head on the other. Silco narrowed down his good eye at his niece.
“Violet.” He started throwing down his papers on his desk. “You can’t just fight everyone who disagrees with you.” Vi folded her arms, annoyed.
“They were hurting Powder, what did you expect me to do!? The kid was fine. He made it out alive.” Silco sighed, clearly unimpressed with her attempt at weaseling her way out of this.
"Listen, Violet, I love Powder as much as the next person but you don’t see me beating up 13 year olds!” Vi crinkled her nose.
“Yeah, because that would be really strange.” Silco stared at her, not letting her win this one.
“Violet, you’re going into year 12. You can’t keep hovering over Powder, she needs to learn how to take care of herself. Besides, she still has Ekko, they’re attached at the hip.” Vi rolled her eyes.
“Alright, alright. I’ll see myself out to ISS now.” she stood up and readjusted her leather jacket,
“Sit.” Silco said, giving her a loo. A look that meant business. Vi sighed, falling back into her chair. She moved back into her old position, but Silco clicked his tongue in disapproval. “Sit properly, Violet.”
“What are you gonna do, suspend me? Go crazy. I don’t care at this point.” Silco was seriously wishing he had done that at this point, as she was starting to get on his nerves.
“It just wouldn’t work, would it? No, you need something that will help you behave better in the future. We have a new student coming soon. You will be her guide. Don’t give me that face. You did this to yourself,” he said as Vi pulled her lips into a frown, eyebrows creasing her forehead. “She starts Monday. You will treat her with kindness and respect, and if you don’t I will deal with you.” there was malice in his voice to show he meant business. Vi got the message. She stood up, stretching all the while.
“Sir yes sir. Call for me then, okay? See you!” Vi left the room with a small smile. She was going to enjoy this.
–
Caitlyn had never been to a school without a uniform before. She assumed it was an American thing, but here she was, mulling over all her choices of what to wear. She settled on skinny jeans and a black hoodie, so as to not draw attention to herself.
“Cait! Hurry up if you wanting a lift!” her father yelled at her from downstairs. She broke out of her daze and rushed down the steps 2 at a time. She raced out the door, nearly forgetting her backpack in the process. She turned around and saw her mother holding it for her. Her dad looked at her outfit and raised an eyebrow. “Is there no uniform?” Her father never really got involved with her schooling. It was more her mothers job.
“No, it’s a bit different than other schools.” Her father furrowed his brow, then relaxed.
“Well, alright then… hop in, love.
The car ride itself was a bit awkward, with her father trying to give her words of advice. Mostly, however, Caitlyn was brooding about her first day. She hated moving around and she despised being stared at because she was new. After a sullen 15 minutes, they pulled up to the school. She gave her dad a quick peck on the cheek and practically jumped out of the car. After much wandering and the occasional hello from other students, she was able to make her way to the Head Teacher’s office. She knocked on the door and waited with baited breath.
“Come in.” Silco’s voice silences the idle chatter from behind the door. Caitlyn opened the carved, ornate piece of wood. “Ah, yes, Caitlyn. Please, take a seat.” He gestured around his office, however the only chair was taken by a girl with electric pink hair. “Violet, get up.” The pink-haired girl, who Caitlyn presumed was Violet, grunted and stood, sizing Caitlyn up. Silco eyed Violet. “ON second thought, wait outside for a moment.” Her eyes widened in surprise, and she offered the seat freely. Caitlyn sat down, waiting for Silco to speak. There was a silence that was a touch too deep for a touch too long. “So. tell me your side of the story.”
“Sir?”
“Ugh, don’t call me Sir, that makes me feel old. Just Silco is fine. Tell me what happened, but in your own words. I don’t think a kind young lady like yourself would be kicked out for willingly attacking a student.” Caitlyn’s mouth hung open in shock. She hadn’t ever been spoken like this to by an adult before.
‘Well, I punched a girl in the nose in self defense. Her and her group of friends had been harassing me for weeks, and I had enough of it,” she shrugged, looking up shyly. Silco leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. Caitlyn thought he could pass for an evil villain, with the scar and creepy pose. He was just missing the cat all villains had, maybe a white one, stroking it menacingly.
“Hm. I figured as much.” He turned his attention to the door. “Violet, come back in please.” There was no response from the other side. Silco stood up and shouted something that surprised Caitlyn: “If you don’t come back in here right now, I will be telling your father.” There was a shuffle of footsteps outside the door, and it flung open with a worried looking Vi on the other side.