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If there was anything Vander taught me as a kid, it was that Zaun was built off the compassion and aid of your fellow Zaunites. Lending a hand to your fellow man was the most important thing you could do to keep yourself and your family alive in the Lanes. Those connections made through shared struggles overcome any obstacle and means that those favors would go both ways. It doesn’t mean you help every poor bastard you meet as not everyone believes in the same two-way street, but it means you do what you can for those you trust.
I ran a hand through my hair as Ekko led me through the doors to Benzo’s shop. The eager younger boy practically bounced with energy as he ran in and grabbed a box off the counter.
So when Benzo, a trusted family friend, asks to see you, you do it—no questions asked.
“Ah! There’s our favorite scrapper.” Benzo smiled wide at me as he stood proudly behind the counter. “Glad to see you came, kid.”
“Vander said you had a request of me.” I crossed my arms over my chest with a small smile of my own. “Said I’m the only one you could trust?”
“Yes, it’s not a small request to say the least so you’ll get some compensation, but I need you to accompany Ekko on a delivery.”
“Delivery? When did you start doing that?”
“Since this fancy-suited man came down and asked if we had some specific parts he needs.” Ekko piped up as he was already placing random gadgets and things in the large box.
“A student from the academy is looking for project pieces for his next invention. He asked if we could deliver them as he’s on a tight schedule. Ekko is a good kid, but the man asked for a lot and I don’t want him straining himself while carrying it all Topside.”
“So,” I dropped my arms from my chest as I looked over toward the older man. “You want me to help Ekko deliver some stuff to Piltie’s apartment?” I gave Benzo a questionable look as Ekko went off to collect some things in a box. “Why? Is he too good to come and get the shit himself?” Benzo let out a sigh as he leaned onto the large counter.
“The man offered double if we could deliver it to him ourselves as he needs the extra time to finish up whatever he has going on.” My eyes widened as Ekko came over with the large box that was filled to the brim with pieces which made it much taller than the boy. “And you can see now why he can’t deliver it himself.” Benzo snickered to himself as I took the box from him with a sigh.
“And you said compensation? What do I get from all of this?” I quirked a bow as the box simply went up to my chest in comparison to the younger boy.
“I think Benzo would be fine with you taking some pieces for Powder’s little projects if you help me. Maybe a few gold pieces too?” Elmo smiled as he looked up at the older man.
“Let’s say two gold pieces and five pieces for the little lady.” I sighed as I knew already that the project parts alone were enough to pull on my heartstrings.
“Fine. Let’s get going, Little Man. Vander needs me back before sun fall.”
“Yes! Thank you, Vi!” Ekko grabbed a few extra pieces of scrap off the counter and tucked them under his arm before fishing out a small piece of paper. “His apartment is near the academy and we don’t want to lose anything with the amount he’s paying so we should take the rail cart.” I sighed once more as I followed the eager boy through the store’s front door and into the street.
What in the wind Goddess did I sign myself up for?
“Have you been here before? You seem to know your way around.” I adjusted the box in my hands as I followed Little Man down the hallway.
“Once or twice.” I gave him a skeptical look as he glanced back at me. “Okay, maybe a few more times than that.” I quirked a brow causing the boy to huff. “Fine, I followed him back the first time.”
“And why did you do that?”
“The dude paid in bags of gold. Didn’t even blink an eye when I told him the price and I doubled it. I thought it was more than just an academy student with their parent’s fun money situation so I got curious.”
“You can’t go off following people home, Ekko. That’s how you get into trouble.”
“Hey, if it weren’t for his frequent business, I would have made him a tip. As you can tell, to get in here is awfully easy.” I rolled my eyes.
“Little Man, you’re getting too big for your britches there.”
“Oh! This is the apartment!” I stopped suddenly as Ekko turned toward a particular door. He reached up and knocked on the door. “Mister Talis! We’re here with your delivery!” Shuffling could be heard on the other side as a deeper voice called out.
“Caitlyn, could you get that? My hands are a little full!”
“Yep!” The younger voice was followed by a chuckle before the opening of the door welcomed me to a sight that could have knocked me off my feet.
Standing there was a girl about my age with deep blue hair and equally striking blue eyes. She greeted us with a smile that showed a small gap between her front teeth. I could have sworn that time had stood still as I found myself lost within the ocean of her eyes and the warmth in her smile.
“Come on in. I would take the box from you myself, but it looks a little heavy for me.” The girl chuckled as she opened the door wide and gestured us in. I followed Ekko wordlessly, at a loss for words. I couldn’t help but sneak glances at her as we passed her and made our way further into the apartment.
“Sorry about that.” A much taller man came from the back. He brushed off his hands onto his pants as he flashed us a smile. There was oil and dust on his face as he approached me and took the box from my hands. “I thank you kindly for this. Benzo’s store has the perfect pieces but I can’t make my way down there as often as I would like.”
“It was no problem, Mister Talis.” The older man chuckled at Ekko’s professional tone.
“Jayce is just fine.” I glanced toward the other girl as the man nodded over toward her. “And that’s Caitlyn.”
“Pleasure to meet you.” I felt a bit nervous as I fumbled my hands into my vest pockets.
Even her voice was pretty.
“Oh, um.” I cleared my voice. “I’m Vi.”
“And I’m Ekko!”
“Ah, yes.” Jayce turned to place the box onto what looked like a workbench before grabbing a coin bag and handing it to Ekko. “You’re the one from the shop I met previously. Here you go. That should cover everything, yes?” He opened it and took a quick glance inside before taking two gold pieces and handing them to me.
“Your payment for being my muscle.” I couldn’t help but smile as I took the pieces and pocketed them.
“You know the gold is a just bonus.” I glanced toward the blue-haired girl to see a gentle smile tugging at her lips.
“How about a snack for the road too? My little assistant and I were just about to have something to eat when you arrived.”
Food? Topside food?
I glanced out the balcony doors to see the sun still high in the sky.
I don’t see why not.
I saw the other girl smile from the corner of my eye as Ekko enthusiastically accepted the offer.
No other reason.
Caitlyn Kiramman.
The name rang in my head like a forbidden melody as I walked Ekko back to Benzo’s shop.
Eyes like sapphires and a smile brighter than diamonds. Her laugh was just as pretty as me fumbling over my own words when she asked me questions that seemed to be the funniest thing in the world to her. My cunning replies to Ekko and Jayce seemed to have the same effect on her but left me mindless when I heard the song that was her laughter.
I glanced over toward Ekko who was rambling nonsense to himself while my mind was filled with the other girl’s laughter.
No one in my life ever made me feel so defenseless and open. Like I was ripped of my walls and taken bare before the Heavens.
Caitlyn Kiramman.
The only one besides my sister that could make the Hound’s pup go soft.
“Are you even listening anymore?” I snapped out of my thoughts as Ekko gave a small pout.
“Sorry, was kinda zoning out. Been a long day.” I yawned to emphasize my point.
“Uh-huh. And you’re totally not thinking about that girl from back there.” Ekko smirked as I rolled my eyes. “Which if you were listening, you would know that we might be sent back there at some point soon. If you want to see her again.” I did my best to hide my enthusiasm for the idea with a shrug.
“As long as Powder gets her parts, I’m down.”
“Totally. All for the parts.” The shorter boy gave a knowing smile.
“Keep your shit up and I’ll hose you down again.”
“Hey! Isn’t my fault you fell for her like a ton of bricks being thrown into the river!” I grabbed him by the back of his overalls like he was a bag of feathers and flung him over my shoulder. “HEY! Put me down!”
“Tough shit. Talk shit, get punished, Little Man.” I chuckled as I continued to carry him over my shoulder through the streets and into the Lanes.
“You suck!”
“Aw, you’re breaking my heart, little guy.” I fake pouted as the younger boy struggled in my grasp. My mind fleeting back to sapphires and diamonds as I made my way through the alleys of the Lanes.
After several months I was somewhat employed by Benzo as his go-to delivery hand. Whenever Jayce would order a large amount of items, he would have Ekko box it up and I would help him get it to the apartment. The frequency was inconsistent, but I didn’t mind. Powder was always beaming with a grin from ear to ear whenever I showed her the new scraps I was able to score and that was more than enough on its own.
“Wow! You’re an award-winning shooter!” Caitlyn giggled at Ekko’s amazement of the slightly older girl. Her smile was as bright as ever as she nodded.
“Four-time champion of the youth district at your service.” She gave a small bow as Ekko just stared at her like she was the coolest thing since sliced bread.
And I couldn’t blame him.
I smiled to myself as Ekko looked over and pointed at me.
“That’s like Vi being the strongest in all of Zaun!” I smirked as I leaned against the wall. My arms crossed over my chest as nonchalantly as possible while blue eyes looked at me with burning curiosity.
“I’m not the strongest. Vander is.”
“But you will be!” Ekko looked back at Caitlyn as he began to ramble. “Vi is like the strongest in the Lanes besides her dad. She holds the record for the punching machine at the arcade and is feared for her fists!” He did little jabbing motions in the air which caused me to roll my eyes.
“Your palm needs to be aiming down while you jab, bud.” I pushed away from the wall and walked over toward the smaller boy. I kneeled down to his level before gently taking his hand and rotating it slightly so he could see what I meant. “And keep your elbows in.” I dropped my hands from his to let him do little jabs in the air to test out my pointers.
“One, two, three, four!” Ekko laughed to himself after practicing his punches in the air. “Like I said, one of the best!” He knocked his fists gently against my arm.
“I still have much to learn, Little Man.” I ruffled his hair with a chuckle. “Never forget that. Even the best have much to learn.” He nodded with a determined grin as Caitlyn’s voice joined us.
“Looks like you know quite a bit about fighting.” I looked up toward the taller girl to see that same glint of curiosity in her eyes. “But you don’t seem like the fighting type.”
“Oh yeah? How so?” I rose to my feet with my arms crossing over my chest once more.
“You’re tough around the edges, but you’re soft in the center.” She gave a confident smile. Her words were gentle and sincere. The combination sent a fury of little flutters in my stomach as her gaze kept mine. “I think you’ve got a good heart.”
“Trust me, get her going about her sister and you’ll see how good of a heart she has.” I blushed before shooting half-hearted daggers toward the boy beside me. “What? Powder is your world and you know it.”
“Powder?” Caitlyn questioned.
“My little sister.” I rubbed at the back of my neck anxiously. “She’s actually the reason I accepted helping Benzo and Ekko out in the first place.” I dropped my hand from my neck and buried it deep within my vest’s pocket. “They promised to let me grab some scrap pieces and trinkets from the shop for her whenever I help with a delivery. Some gold pieces too, but I would have done it for the stuff for Powder anyway.”
“What would you grab for her, if you don’t mind me asking?” I shrugged.
“Metal pieces I know she can mess with. She’s a bit of a genius and can make something outta nothing.” I smiled proudly as I spoke of her abilities. “She likes to draw too so if he has any art supplies people are selling, I’ll grab some of those too. Maybe a stuffed animal too if they’re available.”
“You sound like quite the big sister.” I shrugged.
“I’ll do anything for her. She’s my world.” Something gentle shined in Caitlyn’s eyes as her voice softened.
“My hypothesis was right.” She reached out and poked me in the chest with the widest smile. Her gapped teeth were in full display causing what felt like butterflies to be released within my stomach. “Soft on the inside.”
“You caught me, Cupcake.” I put up my hands defensively.
“Cupcake?” Caitlyn quirked a brow.
“Cause if I’m soft, then you’re sweet.” I smirked as I noted the shocked look on her face. “Ya know. Like a cupcake.” Caitlyn shook her head with a smile after the shock faded from her eyes.
“I’m going to have to get used to that, aren’t I?”
“I don’t know, Cupcake. Matters on how often I get to see you.”
“I have a feeling it’ll be quite a bit.” That sure smile squeezed my chest as I couldn’t help but smile alongside her.
“I don’t think I mind that, Princess.”
If there was one thing to know about Caitlyn Kiramman, it was that she was much more than just a pretty face.
Faster than a whip, clever like a fox, and stubborn as a bull. Being a Kiramman meant she strived for nothing but greatness and would stop at nothing to prove her worth. She had eyes always looking for the good that was hidden under any amount of shields or sheltered walls, she strived to understand others like she desired to be understood.
I glanced at the other girl from the corner of my eye as she looked down the barrel of her trusty rifle. Those same blue eyes shone in the sun despite the bitter cold that surrounded us.
And yet somehow those eyes always determined there was good in me. Even at my lowest.
With a small exhale, Caitlyn pulled the trigger. Her bullet shattered the target with percussion I never thought was possible at such a distance. I stared in awe as Caitlyn gave herself a satisfied smile before bringing her rifle down gently.
“Nice shot, Cupcake.” She shot me a half-hearted glare as we stood from where we were sitting in the open shooting field.
“I’m an excellent shot.” A confident smirk took over her lips as she shouldered the rifle. “And you know my name by now, Violet .” I jokingly placed a hand over my heart and gave a hurt look.
“My full name! How dare you!” She rolled her eyes with a snicker.
“The next target is a good bit ahead. Further out too. This one was fifty meters, but the next is a good eighty.”
“So they score you on how well you hit the target and how you get through the course? So the faster you are at hitting the target and moving on, the better your score will be?”
“Well your score can improve by the distance at which you shoot, the precision of your shot, and the time you finish it. A lot of course ranges like this one only matter on speed though and less on accuracy. I could have just nipped the top of that target but it would have still counted toward the course completion.” I followed the slightly taller girl’s lead as she made her way toward the next target marker.
“What keeps you from shooting at a closer range then? Do they add time for each target you decide to try and get closer to?”
“They add penalties. Often in the form of additional seconds to someone’s time. I’ve seen it where another shooter got dropped from first to fifth in time because they were closer to the target than marked.” I nodded along as we walked across the open field together. My hands stuffed deep within my jacket’s pockets as the bitter cold nipped at any exposed skin. I was cursing myself for not listening to Vander and not adding an extra layer as the jacket I had available to me had both seen better days and was not the warmest to wear out in the woods.
“And you do this how often?”
“Daily if I could get away with it.” Caitlyn shot me a cheeky grin as she now walked beside me. “But alas, my schedule is quite restrictive when school is in session.”
“You can say that again,” I said chuckling. “It’s hell trying to figure out when I can bother ya.” I flashed her a smirk before a small gust of wind made me shiver.
“You’re cold?” Caitlyn gave me a concerned look as I shook my head.
“I’m alright. Just this jacket isn’t the best.” Without a second word, Caitlyn stopped and shrugged off her rifle carefully before placing it gently on the morning grass. “What are you-”
“Here,” Caitlyn shrugged off her leather hunting jacket before draping it over my shoulders like some kind of blanket. “This will help then.”
“What about you?” I questioned as I looked her over. She wore tight hunting pants and a long-sleeved thermal shirt, but I doubt it was enough for her to keep warm with the wind. She smiled softly, bringing the collar of the jacket together as she held it still for me.
“I’m fine. I could spend forever out here. I’ve even practiced this course in a t-shirt and skirt in this same weather as I couldn’t get out here fast enough.” Her smile only seemed to brighten as her harmonious chuckle filled the cold air. Her breath puffed out in little clouds as I stared at her like a fool.
“I-I guess. Thanks.” I slipped my arms into the sleeves that were much bigger than my own as she held it in place. I felt like a child being dressed, but her gentle smile kept me from feeling too embarrassed.
“Better?”
“Yeah.” I blushed as she let go of the collar and I realized my hands were in the cuffs of her sleeves.
“Good.” She grabbed her rifle with a grin before leading the way once more. “Let’s continue, shall we?” I stared after her for a moment. My cheeks burned despite the bitter wind as I allowed myself to bask in the warmth of her leather.
I was never one to see the good in myself. I’ve done too many things to look past the blood that has coated my knuckles throughout my small amount of years.
I jogged to catch up with Caitlyn. Balling my wrapped fingers into a fist to keep the sleeves from flapping in the wind as I caught up to her.
But if she could see it, I knew it was somewhere under the mended walls and faded scars. After all, if there was one thing I learned about Caitlyn Kiramman,
She flashed me a toothy grin as I joined her side once more.
Kirammans hate to be proven wrong.
Despite it all, she was never afraid of my demons or my lack of control.
I paced in a panic on the rooftop of the Last Drop as I rewrapped scarred knuckles.
You should have kept her safe. You should have known better.
Tears brimmed in my eyes as I clenched my fingers into a tight fist. The wrapping dug slightly into my skin. It ached, but in a way, I felt like I deserved it. After all, I had caused much more pain to the poor bastard who was struggling to survive as much as I was.
“Vi?” I stopped suddenly as I heard Caitlyn’s gentle voice. I pulled my gaze away from my hands to see her standing not too far from me. Her normal skirt and nice blouse switched for what we’ve dubbed her Sunday’s Worse so she wasn’t sticking out like a sore thumb. “Powder told me there was an incident.” I winced as I pulled my gaze away from her. My fight with the other Lanes kid appeared in my mind as I stared down at my wrapped hand once more.
“You really wanna try that?” I glared at the kid as he was holding a piece of broken glass like a knife. We had already fought a good bit with my chest heaving heavily and my fits already aching from the tussle. I knew I was sporting a busted lip and a bruised cheekbone, but the other kid had it worse with a black eye already swollen nearly shut and a gash to his forehead. Instead of heeding my warning, he dashed suddenly at me which I dodged with ease. I expected the kid to turn and come at me again, but instead, he decided to lunge toward Powder who was not too far away from the fight. I moved to tackle him quickly and Powder was able to step back just enough to not get harmed badly, but the glass got her just barely across the cheek.
The moment I realized that Powder was grazed, I nearly lost myself to my rage. My fists were full of fury beating the boy relentlessly. My mind filled with the idea that Powder was almost harmed and I was going to make him pay for even thinking about laying a hand on my sister.
“Is she alright?”
“She’s fine. She’s more worried about you though.” I let out a deep sigh as her footsteps came close to me. “The cut she’s got is nothing really.”
“It shouldn’t have happened though.”
“You can’t beat yourself up on what happened, Vi. You did your best and with that, Powder is perfectly safe.”
“But if I did something to actually stop the fight instead of just dodging the fucker, she would be fine.”
“Vi, look at me.” I snapped my attention up toward Cait as I realized she was but a foot away from me now. “You didn’t know what he was going to do. If I was you, I would have thought he would have given up by then. You couldn’t have known what he was going to do and even then, Powder is unharmed and safe because of you.”
“If I didn’t get us wrapped up in the wrong shit she would have been just fine too.”
“Violet.” Her firm voice caused me to jump. “You’re a born leader. People will follow you until the ends of Runeterra because they trust your judgment and your heart.” She poked a finger into my chest with a smile sweeter than honey despite her earlier tone. “Powder, Claggor, and Mylo see it too. It's why they will do anything for you cause they know you would do the same. You’ve only proven that again today.”
My heart skipped a beat as I felt her hand slip into mine. Her eyes were gentle, and her voice was soft and delicate.
“I think you’re everything good in this world. No matter what little mistakes occur. Your judgment is solid and so is your heart.” She gave my hand a small squeeze. “You’re a protector who loves stronger than any muscle in her body. It’s what makes you wonderful, Vi.” I blinked for a second and spoke before I could even think.
“I’m not good enough for you.” Caitlyn’s eyes widened in shock as she stepped close to me. A moment of silence came between us before she spoke gently.
“Where in the world did that come from, Vi?”
“N-No where. It’s just,” I scratched the back of my neck anxiously with my free hand. “It's true.”
“What in the world do you mean?”
“You’re- You’re silver spoon. You come from high dollar society and I bet you’ve even gone to church every Sunday with your best little dress and good manners.”
“What does that have to do with any of this?”
“The fact I’m nothing like that, Cait.” I ran my hand through my air before placing a hand on my chest. “I’m low-dollar scum. Blue collar till the day I die. Born from miners and raised by a barkeep.”
“I don’t care about that.”
“Well, you should .” I could feel tears brimming in my eyes as I clutched at my old shirt. “I’m not good enough for you. I’m just a scraper that will bring you trouble. A bruised up bruiser no matter than the rest of the bastard in these Lanes. That’s what I am.” I cast down my eyes as I waited for Caitlyn’s response. It felt like hours went by when I felt the gentle caress of her fingers on my cheek. I looked up and saw she had come nearly face-to-face with me. Our eyes met. Stormy grey to boundless blues. She searched mine for something before leaning in close slowly and capturing my lips softly. I felt as if my heart was hammering out of my chest as the soft kiss deepened for a moment, her hand now caressing my face as stars formed behind my eyes. As quickly as it started, she pulled back and I realized as I opened my eyes that I had closed them. She stared back at me with the most genuine smile as her thumb rubbed gently at my cheekbone.
“And who are you to decide that for me?” I stared at her blankly for a second as I swore I must have been dreaming. If Caitlyn’s symphony of giggles told me anything, I probably looked like a fish out of water as she cupped my face gently. “You’re adorable.” I blushed deeply before giving her a half-hearted glare.
“I’m not adorable.”
“You are.”
“Am not.”
“Are too.” I pouted as Caitlyn brought our faces close enough to touch our foreheads. I couldn’t help but smile as she rubbed my cheeks gently with her thumbs. “You’ve got a good heart, Violet.” A sudden bit of courage took over me as Caitlyn’s nose rubbed against mine. Before our lips could touch again, I spoke softly as my hands moved to cover hers gently.
“Lucky for you, it’s all yours.”