Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

She’s My Ride Home

“I'll be reaching for the stars with you, honey. Who cares if no one else believes…” – Blue October (She's My Ride Home)

Music poured from speakers as the vibrations from beneath her seemed to all sync together as the wind sailed over her body. She desperately wished she could feel the wind in her hair. Have it course through both the long red strands that, at some points, came to the upper portion of her back, but also the closely shaven section on the left side of her head. Alas, she was a stickler for safety and always, without fail, wore her helmet. Any bare skin was a no-go in her book. She’d picked and scraped asphalt and gravel out of her shredded skin one time too many. She’d “gone down” that one, singular time and that was enough—that one time was all it took. Bare skin on asphalt, going at speed, well, might as well put yourself through a meat grinder. Yeah, no thanks. She’d take all the leather products she could get and wear them with pride. Despite her riding gear, the sensations, in all their glory, felt like the epitome of freedom. The road she traveled was sparsely driven by many, so she felt less guilty about blasting her music straight from the speakers of her custom Harley Sportster, versus her trusty in-helmet speakers.

Right now, her music, bike, and wind encapsulated her in a wonderful auditory sensory bubble. The double bass kick and heavily distorted, palm-muted guitar chords caused adrenaline to pump rapidly through her veins. This was freedom. A right she swore she’d never take for granted again. A six-year imprisonment for a crime she didn’t commit and then was eventually fully exonerated for, could and would do that to a person.

The scenery around her only added to the atmosphere. Thick evergreens, coniferous, deciduous, and hardwood trees surrounded her. The year-round balmy weather of the Piltover region was one of the best things about this shit-hole. Having the pleasantly warm days and cooler nights was heaven. The region was nearing its “cool down” season which, in reality, only meant minuscule temperature drops but the nights did grow longer. The slightly lower temperatures combined with the shorter daylight still produced the beautiful fall colors Vi loved and adored. Soon, most of the hardwood and deciduous tree leaves would begin their yearly changing of colors. Rich flaming oranges, reds, and yellows would ignite into a stunning backdrop. She smiled to herself, dreaming of her favorite season, revved her engine and increased her speed.

She was heading to the countryside, the outskirts of Piltover, to look at potential projects. Not many people lived out this way. It was mostly forest, rough terrain, and a couple of lakes within close distance of each other. A vast area was primarily reserved for the high society of Piltover, but there was a small section those people of ‘lesser fortunes’ could visit. That was where she was headed. An old friend who had a knack for accruing just the things Vi was after—one was an old motorcycle in desperate need of restoration, and the other an old pickup truck needing the slightest bit of elbow grease. Cruising on her bike, in the balmy air, on her way to look at an old truck and bike. This was going to be an awesome and relaxed day. 

**

Caitlyn stared down at her unfortunate circumstances—a sadly and completely deflated tire. Lovely, just lovely. What a great way to start her self-imposed vacation. Broken down, alone, out in the middle of nowhere, with spotty cell service at best, and only a single car had passed, without even a mere glance at her, within the hour she had been stranded on the side of the road. The one time she had managed to get a signal, she held it for long enough to call her premium roadside assistance. The issue? They were at least two hours behind. Her fascination with true crime, in addition to her extensive courses in criminology and criminal profiling, made her overly observant and somewhat paranoid. This very setting seemed to be how many ill-fated stories (fictional at least) started. She rolled her eyes at her own paranoia and huffed out an audible breath.

She continued her pacing when she heard an obnoxious sound coming from down the road. She could hear heavy music blaring over the insanely loud motorcycle exhaust. Please, just keep going, she thought to herself. The motorcycle passed, giving her a wide berth, but she quickly saw the flash of a brake light, and then the cyclist made a U-turn and headed back towards her. Lovely. She was not in a mood to deal with people at the moment. Her social tolerance was presently at zero.

The motorcyclist pulled up behind her Range Rover Sport, popped out the kickstand, and removed their helmet. Caitlyn had to keep from gasping. The rider was a woman. A particularly attractive woman (scratch that—a beautiful woman) with striking red hair—slightly messy and flat from her helmet, and…was that a tattoo on her upper left cheek? The woman smiled—a gorgeous smile—as she ran her hand through her hair and approached Caitlyn with a casual and friendly stride.

“Hey!” the woman greeted as she tucked the helmet under her arm. “You need any help?”

Caitlyn had to organize her thoughts for a moment. Her mind was now racing after recovering from a full on stop. “N—no, thank you,” she stuttered, much to her dismay. “I’ve called my roadside service. They should be here any…moment,” she lied, and it wasn’t the least bit convincing.

The woman craned her head, surveying for any other issues besides the apparent obvious and that’s when Caitlyn saw the beginnings of another tattoo at her neck. “You just got a flat?” the woman asked, and Caitlyn nodded. “I can change that for you, you know. Ten minutes tops and you’ll be on your way.”

Caitlyn sighed. “Unfortunately, the last time this happened, my spare wasn’t put back. So, that option is off the table, I’m afraid.”

“Oh, well, damn.” The woman cringed and scratched the back of her neck. “That sucks.” Yep, that summed up the sentiments for the afternoon perfectly.

They were silent for several seconds as the mystery woman stared at her flat tire. Like she was magically going to fix it if she looked at it long and hard enough.

“How long have you been here?” the woman eventually questioned.

Caitlyn was still in the midst of her own wandering thoughts. She didn’t hear the other woman’s question. “Pardon?”

“How long have you been stuck here?”

“So far? A little over an hour.”

The woman nodded as she clicked her tongue, seemingly lost in thought. “And how long ‘til they get here?”

“Possibly another hour,” she snapped. It wasn’t quite intentional, but her patience was running thin. Not with the woman in front of her, but with the whole situation in general. “Maybe longer.” She continued to look at her phone, hoping for the flash of a single bar. Anything that would allow for another quick phone call and a way out of this mess.

“Is there anything—”

“Look,” Caitlyn bit out, and anything else the woman was going to say was cut off. “I appreciate your willingness to help. Truly. But I’ve got this.”

“Let me at least take you back into town—” the woman tried again.

Caitlyn balked. Her eyes went wide in surprise then narrowed in suspicion and disbelief. “In what mad world would I trust someone like you?” she spoke, her voice low and measured. “You’re a complete stranger!”

The woman nodded slowly, but her beautiful and expressive eyes displayed her true emotion—hurt. They betrayed the façade she was trying to show—appearing almost completely unaffected or, horrifyingly enough, accustomed to such insults. “Someone like me, huh?” she murmured. “Fair enough.”

Caitlyn gasped and slammed her eyes shut as both her hands flew up to cover her face. “Wait!” she rushed out, horrified. Oddly enough, she had expected the woman to already be walking towards her bike, but she still stood strong—unfazed. “I’m so sorry. That was truly unforgivable. I’m frustrated and taking it out on the one and only person who's been kind enough to stop and offer me help.”

“Hey, I get it,” she shrugged. “That’s most people’s sentiment. Just…most people aren’t brave enough to say it out loud. I’ve heard and been called worse, though.”

Caitlyn bowed her head in shame. “That was entirely uncalled for, and I do apologize.”

The woman sighed and clicked her tongue again. She exhaled and slapped her free hand against her thigh. “Well, if you won’t let me give you a ride back into town, I better make myself comfortable.” She walked over to the side of Caitlyn’s fancy SUV and plopped down on the graveled pavement and leaned back against the side of the vehicle.

“Wha—what are you doing?” Caitlyn gasped out, astonished.

“I’m going to sit here and wait with you. It’s not safe for you to be out here all by yourself. 'Specially with no cell service. You don’t even have to talk to me. Just pretend I’m not here. Once the tow truck gets here, I’ll leave. That way I’m happy and you’re happy. My conscience will be clear.”

Caitlyn shook her head and looked at the woman wearily. “Why are you so insistent on staying?”

“’Cause it’s the right thing to do,” the other woman answered as her eyes softened. “I mean, what, they never taught you the ‘buddy system’ at whatever fancy academy you went to? Two is safer than one.”

“And what about ‘stranger danger’?” Caitlyn quipped back. 

The woman chuckled and smiled. “Fair enough.” Her brows furrowed for a minute as she thought of something. “Why aren’t you sitting in your car anyway instead of standing out here on the hard-ass pavement?”

Caitlyn shrugged and looked down at her feet. “I’ve been driving for a couple of hours, so it was nice to stretch my legs, but I simply enjoy this time of year, and…it feels nice outside, I suppose.”

The woman nodded. She unbuttoned her black leather motorcycle jacket that had an image of a two-headed dog—or other beast, perhaps—and leaned forward to pull it off before spreading it out on the ground next to her. “Here, you can sit if you want.”

“Sit—? But these are my good pants. I’d prefer them not to get tattered, stained, and torn—”

The woman once again chuckled. “Hence the jacket. Come on, just sit and relax. I know you’re stressed but relaxing is now the key goal—I mean, I know it’s a pain in the ass to sit here and wait, but why not try and relax a bit. There’s nothin’ more you can do—it’s just a waiting game now. Plus, it can’t be comfortable standing in those killer heels this whole time.”

Caitlyn looked between the intriguing woman and the jacket now laying on the ground next to her. “Very well.” Caitlyn finally conceded.

With reluctance, Caitlyn did as she was asked. Out of the corner of her eye, she studied the curious woman. She wore a form-fitting, short-sleeved shirt that showed her muscular arms with the hints of dark tattoos along the backs. Her lower arms, wrists, and hands were wrapped. Her stomach was flat yet defined as well. No question the woman was built. The utterance of a question hung in the air, and she realized she had been caught staring. “Pardon?”

“Your name? So I don’t have to think of you as ‘grumpy ass Piltie stranded on the side of the road’.”

“I deserve that title. Perhaps ‘bitchy’ instead of ‘grumpy’.” Caitlyn spoke with a slight smile.

The other woman chuckled. “Hey, you said it, not me!”

Their laughing subsided and Caitlyn asked, “How do you know I’m from Piltover?”

“Your accent, the way you dress…the plate on the back of your fancy sporty blue Range Rover? It all screams Piltover.”

Caitlyn nodded and stared down into her lap. “I’m Caitlyn.”

“Caitlyn, eh? Well, I’m Vi,” she said and then pointed to herself the her thumb as a small smirk played at her lips.

Caitlyn smiled and caught sight of the small tattoo on Vi’s cheek. Indeed, it looked like a roman numeral of six, but now she ventured the guess it was simply her name. Catilyn pointed to Vi’s cheek. “That explains the tattoo on your cheek then, yes?”

“Yeah, for the most part anyways.” Vi hedged.

Caitlyn watched as Vi closed her eyes and leaned her head back on the side of her vehicle. She was sitting in a completely unladylike manner. Boots planted squarely on the ground, knees and legs spread out where her elbows could rest on her knees. Her arms and hands dangled out in front of her. Glaringly opposite of Caitlyn’s prim form, sitting sidesaddle with her knees out to the side and ankles crossed on the ground.

Caitlyn let out an audible sigh.

“I felt that sigh all the way over here.” Vi mumbled as her eyes remained closed.

“Sorry, I’m just annoyed.”

“Never would have guessed that.” Vi quipped. “Where you headed? I mean, just generally speaking. No specifics if you don’t want to.”

“I’ve been out of the country for the past several weeks. I’m headed back home to Piltover, as you already know from your brilliant deduction skills,” she smirked, but her teasing tone held no bite. “But today was supposed to be the start of my vacation. It’s starting off fantastically well, to say the least.”

“Could be worse, ya know. A vacay, though. That sounds nice.”

The idea did sound nice. Caitlyn was looking forward to the time off. No meetings, no conference calls, no paperwork, no late, late nights and early, early mornings. She would have the house all to herself. It sounded lovely, but Caitlyn, who always felt misunderstood and lonely, knew the silence would be deafening. Having no one to share your time with meant endless hours stuck in one’s own head. That alone could be crippling. She looked over at Vi and wondered where the woman had been going prior to her stopping. “You were obviously on your way somewhere. Surely staying here with me is hindering your plans?”

“Nah, the guy’s chill. He can wait.” Vi answered as she tossed small gravel pieces in front of herself. Caitlyn secretly wondered who the guy might have been. Judging by appearance and mannerisms alone, Caitlyn could almost assume the woman was a lesbian. That assumption, to be completely fair, wasn’t the soundest of logic and it was extremely stereotypical, but that was Caitlyn’s intuition. Her gaydar didn’t have the best track record but it pinged like crazy with Vi.

“Oh, well that’s fortunate,” Caitlyn eventually said.

“He’s got a bike I’m looking at and a truck, but I’m mainly goin’ for the bike. The truck would just be bonus.” She said. Excitement like a little kid at Christmas lit up Vi’s face and Caitlyn couldn’t help but smile.

“One like yours?” She inquired. “The bike, I mean.”

“Kinda. Similar anyway but it needs a shit ton of work.”

Caitlyn nodded in acknowledgment and they were quiet for a moment. “You like the color red, I’m guessing?” Caitlyn asked as she looked over Vi’s shoulder and at the bike standing a few feet away. It really was a striking motorcycle. Black accents with red paint on the gas tank and fenders. There looked to be some type of black accented designs on the tank and fenders as well. The contrast of the colors was eye catching. Even the frame and other components were black. Finally she looked up to Vi’s vibrant red hair.

Vi smiled. “Red’s my favorite color. Speaking of that, you’ve got some nice wheels. Fancy. Blue your favorite color?” Vi asked as she appraised the luxury vehicle and Caitlyn’s own blue hair.

“I suppose I’m rather partial to blue. It’s really an excessive vehicle for just myself. But it was a graduation gift from my father. He insisted I needed a vehicle capable of transversing more diverse terrain. In my free time, I’m a competitive shooter, so most of the courses, at least the ones I attend, are out in remote, unpaved areas.”

Vi made a low, drawn-out whistle. “No shit? Damn, that’s kinda hot,” she muttered the last under her breath. She really didn’t know anything about competitive shooting, but she had at least a visual of what it might entail—a beautiful woman with a gun, focused and unwavering concentration in her eyes and face, taking a careful and patient stance, firing, and striking a target.  

“Pardon?”

“Shooting. That’s cool. I wouldn’t have patience for that—actually, I’m not patient at all. Then again, I box. During matches, I guess I have to be patient. Wait for an opening. If you go in too hard, you wear yourself out, and then bam! You leave yourself open, and it’s KO.”

“That sounds absolutely barbaric!” Caitlyn balked. Her eyes wide and face full of alarm.

“Sure,” Vi agreed, “but you get to beat the shit out of people all while releasing tension, and it’s completely legal. And the person you’re beating the shit out of knows this, so it’s basically just throwing punches until someone’s had enough,” she chuckled at Caitlyn’s expression. “So this competitive shooting thing. What’s that about? I’m intrigued.” Vi asked, wanting to hear Caitlyn’s explanation of the sport. Vi might have an idea what competitive shooting involves, but she wanted to engage Caitlyn more. Wanted to hear her explain something she was clearly invested in.

“My parents were avid hunters. Not hunting in the traditional sense but…” she trailed off. Almost ashamed and cautious at the same time of sharing too much. Her wealth and status wasn’t something she flaunted.

“Lemme guess, it was the hunting rich people do. Like on fancy courses with dogs and the like? No judgement if that’s the case, ya know. You drive a Range Rover and you’re from Piltover. I can read between the lines, ya know.”

“Yes. They’re marksmen’s courses. I train on my family’s hunting grounds.”

Vi sat and listened intently as Caitlyn spoke about this and that. The conversation wasn’t one sided like most conversations with Pilties. Normally they were so engrossed in their own lives and successes, they only had ears for themselves. Caitlyn, despite their rocky meeting, seemed different from the rest. Vi appreciated that and was intrigued by the woman sitting primly next to her.

It didn’t help that she was fucking—breathtakingly—beautiful. Her dark blue hair had stunning highlights from the sun and her eyes were picturesque sapphire blue. The small gap in her front upper teeth made Vi’s chest ache and prompted the corner of her lips to upturn in a dorky smile. Caitlyn had an air of confidence to her. Not arrogance per se, but a dose of confidence that demanded respect. She was tall and thin, and had legs that went on for days. Vi definitely could see why she might excel at marksmanship courses. She was likely fast on her feet and reactive.

Vi studied her until they got on the subject of education and career paths. This was an area where Vi was like a fish out of water. She never liked where these conversations went with most people, but knew enough, however, to at least continue the conversation.

“Did you go to UoP?” Vi casually asked as she rubbed a rock between her forefinger and thumb—it was a soothing gesture.

The University of Piltover was the most prestigious of schools in the region. Most of the residents of Piltover attended the renowned university. Caitlyn’s answer didn’t surprise her in the least.

“I did, yes. I attended university elsewhere for my JD degree.”

Vi’s brows furrowed and the movement of her fingers stopped. “JD?”

“Juris Doctor. I’m a lawyer.”

“No shit? That’s impressive. Must be a sweet gig.”

Caitlyn just about snorted. That was a very unusual way to put her job.

“I suppose that’s an interesting way to put it. I’m a cause lawyer. I focus primarily on social justice, but I take on different cases as well.

“Oh, damn. That’s—I honestly didn’t expect that. That’s kinda cool.” Vi managed to finally say. Caitlyn was a lawyer in, of all things, social justice. Vi let that fact sink in. Caitlyn worked in the same field as those lawyers who fought tooth and nails to get her released from prison. Who fought long, hard battles to get her records cleared—exonerated. The lawyers who helped Vi get back on her feet by bringing a lawsuit to the very system that locked her up. Cause lawyers had been in Vi’s corner and had battled relentlessly for her deserved compensation. Wow. ‘Kinda cool’ was an understatement.      

“I was actually on my way back from Ionia when this happened.” Caitlyn continued.

“Shit! Ionia?” Vi asked, coming out of her thoughts. “Damn, jetlag must be a bitch right now.”

“Not really. I—” Caitlyn hesitated. This was getting personal and more than she’d typically share but there was something disarming about Vi. It was all in her eyes. Soft and trusting. They completely contradicted her rough exterior but her eyes held everything. With a deep inhale, she continued. “I have family in Ionia so, over the years, I’ve learned how I best cope with jetlag. It’s still not a pleasant experience, and it still challenges me, but thankfully the time zone jumps to Ionia aren’t nearly as large as others. Anyway, I’m working on a case over there. A project more or less.”

“Traveling to another continent, can’t even imagine that.”

“What about you?” Caitlyn asked, but before Vi could answer, a shrill ringtone cut through the space, and Caitlyn jumped and gasped. Apparently, she just got enough signal for a call to come through.

“Jayce! Oh, thank God! Yes, I’m okay.” Vi tried not to listen in but it was kinda hard not too.  Her curiosity piqued. Jayce. Must be her boyfriend. Of course. “I have a flat, and my spare isn’t on my vehicle. I’ve called someone, but they are backed up on other calls, so it’s taking longer than normal. No, someone’s here with me. No! No, they’re fine,” Caitlyn rushed out as she chanced a glance at Vi. “Just a good Samaritan.” Yep, Vi knew exactly where that conversation had gone. “Yes, if you’d like to, it will be fine. I’m right near a trail entrance and thank god, since I was able to get to this trailhead pull-off area. Umm, trailhead number 5, I think. Yes, see you soon.”

“Boyfriend coming to save the day?” Vi asked, her voice neutral. Inside though, she felt deflated, which was absurd. This was a chance meeting—a one time encounter. She’d never see this Piltie again. Nothing about Vi mattered to her, nor should Vi matter to her in the grand scheme of things. They were complete strangers from opposite world. Topside and bottom. Oil and water. Two things that never mixed. Hell, even being friends would be an absolute stretch.

Caitlyn shorted and Vi’s eyebrow quirked up in surprise. That surprise snort had been kinda cute. “Hardly,” Caitlyn answered, surprised by Jayce being referred to as her boyfriend. The comment had caught her completely off guard. A boyfriend he was not. “He’s going to see if another company can come out sooner, but he’s on his way out here as well.”

“Oh, well, that’s good. Hopefully you can get outta here faster then.”

Caitlyn’s brows furrowed and she looked up at Vi. Her bright blue eyes showed a gentleness to them. “Thank you. I know I was quite horrible to you, but I do appreciate your staying here with me. Having the company was nice. Despite my job, I do not get to talk to many people. People outside of work anyway.”

Vi understood better than Caitlyn knew. “Yeah, no problem, and you were just grumpy the first little bit. You’re alright, for a Piltie.” Vi smiled teasingly and winked.

The rest of the time went by quickly and Vi decided to let the conversations lull into more mundane topics like the weather for the upcoming week and places of interest.

Vi didn’t count the minutes, but it wasn’t long until a posh Porsche coupe pulled in front of Caitlyn’s vehicle. Vi recognized him the instant he stepped out of his dark gray Porsche Cayman coupe. The Man of Progress himself. Even Zaunites knew who Jayce Talis was. In fact, everyone in the surrounding region of Piltover knew who “The Golden Boy” was. Fuck, who was this woman?

As he got out, he looked at her and watched her with a cold, critical gaze. He went to Caitlyn and immediately started whispering as he sent glances at Vi.

What the fuck ever. She didn’t have to deal with this. Her deed was done and it was time for her to be on her way.  But she couldn’t stand the way he looked at her. She was used to it, though. She had to be. The people of Zaun were always looked down on. They were seen as so much less than the high-class elites of Piltover. Hell, even Caitlyn had pointed that very fact out a few minutes into their interaction. She had at least had the decency to apologize and admitted her wrongdoing. That’s what made Caitlyn so intriguing. Vi found she wanted to know more about Caitlyn—a Piltie lawyer, a competitive shooter and marksman, and a compelling woman overall. What was she even thinking? Someone like Caitlyn wouldn’t even look twice at someone like Vi, but there was a part of Vi that wanted to at least try. She wanted to take that leap of faith. At least she could say she tried. The ball would no longer be in her court but she would have made the pass. She looked down at her forgotten jacket splayed across the pavement. Caitlyn was busy talking with Jayce, so Vi made the decision that her beloved jacket was worth the likely sacrifice. Well…that and her exposed skin. She cringed at the thought.

She walked towards her bike and swung a leg over. She slipped on her helmet and started up her bike. The engine, as well as her heavy-hitting music, roared to life, startling both Caitlyn and Jayce. With a quick salute, ignoring Caitlyn’s motion to wait, she revved her engine and took off.

She didn’t hear Caitlyn yelling out, “Wait, Vi! Vi! Your jacket!”

**

The bike pulled up to a stop at an older style house with a large shop in the back. There were junk cars and parts scattered about across the property, but it was clean and not overgrown and junky. She turned off her bike and heard dogs barking within the house. A few seconds later, a bulky man with brown hair, a head band, and a groomed beard opened the door.  

“Loris, my man!” Vi greeted him as she unmounted her bike and pulled her helmet off.

“Vi! Where ya been?” he asked as he walked up to her and smacked her on the back a few times in greeting.

Loris was a former law enforcement officer who was the very one to uncover evidence tampering in Vi’s criminal case. He had been a friend of Vander’s for a long time, and between Vander’s unrelenting persistence, Loris’s thorough investigation, and fantastic lawyers, Vi was finally able to walk free—being exonerated of all her ‘supposed’ crimes. After her release, he left law enforcement and focused on fixing up vintage vehicles. Vi was constantly in the loop of new acquisitions and…she got first dibs. Friends—which happened to be top customers—came first after all.

“Sorry. A fucking Piltie, of all people, had car issues. Didn’t want her stayin’ out there by herself.”

“Always noble. Hey, where’s your jacket? You know that’s—”

“I let her borrow it…and just so happened to ‘forget’ it.” She smirked.

“Ah, smooth, kid. Interested?”

“Ha, I wish. But hey, she was hot…and maybe a little intriguing. Figured it was worth the sacrifice of my jacket. You have one I could borrow ‘til I get home?”

“Course! All mine would swallow you whole, but I may have one stashed somewhere for ya.”

“Cool, well,” she began as she shoved her hands into her pant pockets. She could hardly contain her excitement. “Where are the babies?!”

He laughed and smacked her square in the back. Chuckling the whole time, he said, “They’re ‘round back. Come on! I think you’ll love ‘em.”

The truck was a Chevy K5 Blazer. Open back with the second-row sets taken out, making the bed of the truck useful for hauling. The paint was red but chipped and faded badly. Powder could easily fix that. The trim and hood were matte black. This was the perfect truck! Tack another red and black vehicle to her garage. Between her bike, her car, and now the truck, it was obvious what her favorite colors were. The bike had been her main point of interest, but after seeing the truck in person, nah, she couldn’t leave here without it.

She ran her hands along the lines of the truck's squared-off body and patted the hood. “I take her, Loris! And the bike. If I can borrow your trailer, I’ll haul them both off today. Both bikes should fit, and you don’t have to worry about the jacket.”

He shook her hand. “Very good! I’ll settle up with ya later. I’ll be down that way in a couple days. We can meet at The Last Drop—see your old man while I’m at it.”

“Sounds good.”

He handed over the keys and they got everything loaded up and secured. Loris went through a couple issues with the truck Vi would have to repair or replace eventually. Nothing major, just typical maintenance on a vintage vehicle. The startup was rough at first, but the engine roared to life. These were her favorite types of vehicles. Loud, unapologetic, strong, defiant, and powerful. Like Vi herself, they can be beaten, abused, and pushed to the edge but can be mended to come out stronger, louder, and more powerful than ever. Symbols of a forgotten era. In times when modern luxury, comfort, and technology in vehicles became crucial elements, the simple and straightforward nature of old cars and trucks fell by the wayside. However, sometimes, the most simplistic of designs will outperform an overly engineered masterpiece. Because of this, vintage cars and trucks will forever stand the test of time. Plus, and Vi was thankful for this benefit, they were also more affordable. Especially since she could easily fix them up to her specs.

She eased the truck out of the gravel drive and headed back down the road she came from. She tuned the staticky radio to a local rock station. This baby was definitely going to need an audio upgrade. When it came to music, that was one luxury she allowed for herself. She chuckled. She knew exactly the person to help with that. Not long into her drive, her drumming on the steering wheel was interrupted as she came up on the spot she had found Caitlyn. She slowed down and pulled off on the shoulder. She looked around and part of Vi expected her jacket to be still sprawled across the pavement. Discarded and forgotten, much like herself. There were a couple of garbage bens at a couple spots but she wouldn’t allow herself to even consider checking those. If her jacket found its way into one of them, it was best she didn’t know. That’s how most Pilties were. She pulled the gear lever down into drive and edged forward, the shear power of the engine made the tires kick up gravel as she moved. Oh yeah, this was going to be a blast.

 **

The tow truck had pulled up seconds after Vi left or else Caitlyn would have jumped in Jayce’s SUV to catch up with her. Fates were not in her favor. Jayce had wanted her to leave it. Leave it?! How disgraceful and out of touch could one person be. He argued the woman would likely come back through looking for it. Caitlyn was not having that under any circumstances. Vi didn’t deserve her things to be discarded haplessly on the side of a road. For someone as brilliant and intelligent as Jayce, he was oblivious and disconnected.

Caitlyn held the jacket in her arms as she contemplated what to do next. She had no way of contacting the woman. All she knew was a first name. If Vi even was her full name, which she doubted it was. Vi was the very definition of a mystery woman at this point. She felt the leather against her fingers. This was not some cheap faux leather jacket. The leather was soft and pliant. Well-conditioned and looked after. Jayce finally called for her and they got into his SUV and followed the tow truck to the nearest Piltover tire shop. Caitlyn sighed; she’d figure Vi’s jacket out later.

A few hours later Caitlyn sat by herself in front of her fireplace. Her tire had since been fixed, well, after a whole knew set had been put on. Jayce insisted on an early dinner so now she was finally back home. The lakeside house was huge. Too much for one person but nonetheless, it gave her space and time away. The view and surrounding lake and land more than made up for the emptiness surrounding her. The common areas she kept warmly lit with the soft glow of lamps and ignored the darkness the empty room emitted.  She had since turned the television off and kept stealing glances at the lone leather jacket draped over the back of a chair.

Sighing, she stood up and decided she’d look through the pockets as a last resort. It felt like a breach of privacy. She searched the outer pockets first and found a pair of fingerless leather gloves, lip salve, loose change and crumpled bills, and…random nuts and bolts? She moved to the inner pockets and finally found what looked like a worn leather business card holder. She examined the cards and hope flourished.

“Lane’s Custom Cycles and Shop”

Violet “Vi” Lanes - Owner

And on the reverse of the card, there was another business.

Hound of the Underground - Boxing and Martial Arts

Vander Lanes – Co-owner

Violet “Vi” Lanes – Co-owner

With that small piece of paper, she now had her heading. She smiled and draped the jacket over the chair again. With her mind content and no longer restless, she turned off the gas fireplace and headed for bed. First thing in the morning, she’d head to Zaun and pay a visit to Miss Violet Lanes.

Chapter Text

"So there she stood in front of me with eyes painted bluer
Than the first day of the summer and the last sight of the moon
As the stars fell all around her what an astonishing view..." - Blue October (Heart Go Bang)

The trip to Zaun was interesting, to say the least. Of all the years she’d lived in Piltover, she never ventured into Zaun. She never had a need to. It was somewhat nerve-wracking with all the stares and glares she was getting. Her Range Rover stuck out like a sore thumb. Graffiti-covered walls, dilapidated buildings, faded and peeling paint on storefronts, and litter-covered streets and sidewalks defined the character of Zaun. She could feel the unease of her being here.  Unease from herself, but also the Zaunites who appraised her with distrust and disgust. She looked down at her GPS and saw she was not too far from Vi’s shop based on the address she found. She traveled a little further down the road until she was in a sparsely populated part of the Undercity. Storefronts were still present, but not as plentiful as they had been around the central part of the Undercity. Finally, she saw a modestly well-kept, albeit older, building. It looked like it had a small storefront and evidence of a large warehouse behind it. The weathered sign read, “Lane’s Custom Cycles and Shop”. A smaller sign was fixed beneath it that read: “BOOM! Designz by JINX” with a strange-looking monkey head next to the writing. Caitlyn parked between extremely faded parking lines and hesitantly stepped out, jacket draped over her arm.

Inside the shop, oblivious to the outside world, chaos would soon be unfolding.   Not chaos in the traditional sense, but rather internal chaos for the individuals in their small group—chaotic confusion. Why would such an immaculately dressed topsider be right outside the shop? Ekko happened to hear the crunching of gravel and rolled his chair to the windowed shop door. He didn’t see the woman at first, just the blue-colored SUV.

“Hey guys! Incoming Piltie!” When the form of a woman walked in front of her vehicle, his eyes bugged out. She was wearing dark wash skinny jeans, brown boots, and a red top, all immaculately pressed. “Woah! Guys, guys, come here!” Claggor didn’t move, but Mylo shifted over.

“She looks lost,” Mylo whispered.

“Yeah, I don’t think she’s meant to be here. Pow-pow! You got her?” Ekko called out as the woman got closer and closer to the showroom door.

“Powder’s in the booth,” Claggor yelled.

“Shit, fine,” Ekko mumbled. He hated dealing with rich, entitled Pilties. They were Powder’s specialty. She could sell them just about anything. Gullible dipshits. They came here for the ‘expertise’ the Undercity scoundrels had, and boy did Powder know how to exploit that.

Ekko looked down at his clothes and noticed the coating of oil, grease, dust, and, thanks to Powder, paint. He sighed and dusted himself off the best he could. Just as the front door chimes jingled, Ekko was coming through the door to the shop. He put on his most charming smile, which more than likely came off as more of a scowl.

“Hello,” Caitlyn said with incredible awkwardness.

“Hey, what can I help ya with? You lookin’ for a bike, gear, or custom builds?” he asked as he motioned towards the retail end of the showroom. The walls were lined with all types of motorcycle protective gear—helmets, jackets, gloves, pants, boots, body armor, and additional protective components and even some more stylized street clothing.

Caitlyn’s gaze flitted about the various items until finally she answered. “No, actually, I’m—I’m looking for Violet.”

Ekko’s brow furrowed, and he looked puzzled. “Violet? You mean Vi? She’s not in today.”

Caitlyn’s brows pinched together, and her eyes cut down to the floor. This was not going to plan. “Oh, well, that’s unfortunate. I have her jacket. I wanted to return it.”

Ekko shrugged and patted the worn wooden countertop. “You can leave it here. I’ll be sure she gets it.”

“Thank you, but I actually wanted to give it to her myself. She helped me a great deal yesterday, and I wished to thank her.”

“Oh, uh, well, she’s down at the gym.”

“Is that within walking distance?”

“Sure, maybe a five-minute walk.”

“May I leave my vehicle here? I don’t want it to be a bother or to interfere with customer parking, though.”

“Nah, you’re good. It’ll be fine here.”

“Thank you, I appreciate it, Mr.…?” she waited.

“Oh, uh, Ekko.”

“Thank you, Ekko.”

Caitlyn left and Ekko walked back into the shop. The hell just happened? A Piltie? Looking for Vi? Not just any Piltie, but it was pretty evident she was from the elite of Piltover. Not just anyone drove a vehicle like that. How did they even meet? He sat back down on his stool and fiddled with the gears he’d been working with.

“What’d she want?” Claggor asked.

“She was here for Vi.”

Mylo plopped back down onto his rolling stool. “Damn it! How? How does Vi get all the women’s attention?"

Ekko chuckled. “Hey man, she’s just got it. Whatever it is, Vi’s got it.”

“It’s her sunny personality,” Powder said, emerging from the warehouse where her painting booth was located. They all laughed. “What? It’s true!”

“Maybe,” Ekko agreed, “but she doesn’t even use it to her advantage! She practically has chicks beating down her door, but…nothing! She doesn’t date, no flings, no one-night stands, no hookups—I mean is she oblivious to the attention? Cause to me, it would be hard not to notice. Or is she just not interested? Damn, I just wish I had a drop of the swagger she’s got.”

“Oh my god, you guys! Shut up with the guy talk! I don’t need to hear about my sister’s sex life! Or rather her lack of one. Got it!”

“Wasted opportunities,” Mylo sighed.

Powder groaned in response. “Numero uno, it’s none of our business! What Vi does—or rather who she does or doesn’t—do, is none of our fucking business. So what if she chooses not to date? So what if she decides she doesn’t want the latest piece of ass? Let her decide on her own time. I mean, I’m guilty as shit, just like you guys, of giving Vi hell over it, but—don’t fan the rumors, man.

“Rumors my ass,” Mylo muttered.

“You really goin’ there, My? Cause I swear—!” Powder exclaimed but was interrupted by Mylo.

“Oh, come on, Jinx!” Mylo asserted with frustration and intentionally using her nickname pointedly. “All those late night ‘classes’ at the gym, the ‘private lessons’, the rumors at the bar? Hell! She had a rep at Stillwater!”

“Everyone has a reputation in prison, dumbass! For fucks sates! Don’t mean a single one is true! I swear, My, if you are the one helping fuel those rumors, I’ll kick your skinny fucking pencil ass!”

“Woah! Chill, man!” Mylo said, his voice still raised and defensive now.

“Yo! You guys, stop!” Ekko intervened. “You’re right, Pow. It’s not our business. I mean, are we a tad jealous? Yeah, cause she’s Vi. We’ve always looked up to her. It’s hard not to. But we’ll chill with the talk, right, My?”

Mylo grunted in response.

Claggor, who had been silent during the whole exchange, finally spoke up. “Who wants some donuts?”

There were a surprising number of people on the streets of the Undercity considering it was not even mid-morning yet. The air still held the morning chill and Caitlyn began to regret her decision not to wear a light jacket. She recognized the fact she had a jacket currently folded over her arm, but that would be weird, right? To wear another woman’s jacket? A complete stranger’s jacket? She bit her lip, thinking.  She’d just take it off before she got to the gym. Plus, it might help her blend in more. Yes, that was a completely plausible idea. She took the jacket in her hands and slid into it. It smelled of smoke, not the unpleasant and acrid smell of cigarette smoke, but something more…woodsy.   The kind of smoke that seeped into your clothing after a long night’s campfire. Or the smoke that filled a house from the wood-burning fireplace. There was also a mix of some type of cologne —not overly masculine, but clean and fresh. It was pleasant. The jacket was a little large on her thanks to Vi’s more muscular build, but just a few minutes longer and she’d be at her destination. Her being torn about wearing the woman’s jacket would soon be over. However, as she walked, she noted the warmth already encompassing her. She moved her arms within the sleeves and remembered how Vi’s arms had filled out the leather, how her arms had looked when they rose up to remove her helmet. She felt ridiculous for even noting such characteristics of the jacket and, in turn, its owner, but the thoughts caused more warmth to spread through her body.

To her relief, no one took a second glance at her again. When she got to the building, a young woman held the door open for her, and Caitlyn slipped inside. Quite a few people were inside training, many with partners and some just focused on the punching bags. A large man with a friendly face approached her.

“Good morning! You here for the self-defense class? If so, I’m afraid you’ve missed it.” He had a soft and kind voice.

“Oh, no. I’m actually looking for Vi? I was told she was working here today.”

“She is indeed. Come on, she’s in the back.” He led the way, and they walked towards the back of the gym and then down a long hallway. He greeted a few people in passing. Caitlyn’s eyes scanned her surrounds as they walked. In a far corner, at the back of the gym, a couple of guys in workout clothing stopped their motions to stare at her. She could feel their gazes appraising her body. She hugged the open jacket closer to her. She heard Vander speak as he turned his head to look at her. “Nice jacket, by the way,” he said with a telling grin.

Caitlyn’s heart dropped to her stomach. “Oh, no, I—I’m returning it to Vi. She was kind enough to stop and help me yesterday when I had a flat tire. I simply wanted to thank her and return it.”

He hummed in agreement. “That sounds like, Vi. She’d give the shirt off her back for someone.”

“Literally,” Caitlyn interjected. He smiled again.

“Vi may look intimidating, but on the inside, she has a good heart. She teaches self-defense classes here, ya know. Vi’s nature is to protect and she uses that mindset to teach others that same skill. That’s why she’s our best instructor; she cares and has that instinct—that drive to defend and protect.” Vander paused for a moment before continuing. “I heard her talk about you yesterday. Wanna know why she stopped? Why she wouldn’t leave you stranded on the side of the road by yourself? It’s a ruthless world out there and Vi does what she can to keep women safe. If you ever want classes, come down and talk to either her or me.” 

Caitlyn almost stopped in her tracks. That explained so much. It also made her stomach fall. She had been horrible to Vi in those first few moments.  “Thank you.” She responded to the older man as he slowed his pace and slid a door open.

She moved to hurriedly take the jacket off, but before she could shrug it off, the older man yelled for Vi over the heavy music spilling from the speakers. Vi was punching furiously at a punching bag, her arm muscles rippling as her fist connected with its target. Caitlyn couldn’t help but stare, watching the muscles in Vi’s back flex and tense with every punch. “Vi! You got a visitor!” the man called, turning to Caitlyn. “I’m Vander, by the way, and it was good to meet you, Caitlyn.”

Caitlyn’s eyes opened wider at his knowledge of her name. She was amazed that Vi had even really spoken about her at all, let alone enough to give her name. Vander stepped away just as Vi turned and locked eyes with her.

Vi was breathing heavily and acknowledged her through a slight wave with her gloved hand before she jogged to a nearby stool, took off her gloves, turned off the music, and grabbed a towel to wipe the sweat from her face.

Caitlyn pushed into the room to greet her. Vi’s shirt was splotched with damp areas, but Caitlyn couldn’t help but smile at her shirt. It was a loose-fitting cut-off tank with the words ‘All Cool Girls Are Lesbians’. The arm cutouts were large enough that Caitlyn could see Vi’s chest wrap through it. “Well, that definitely confirmed Caitlyn’s intuition.

“Hi,” Caitlyn said in an exhale. She felt breathless as she stood in front of the very woman who had occupied her thoughts since their meeting.

“Hey!” Vi’s eyes met hers, but then they drifted downwards, appraising her. She smirked as she saw what Caitlyn was wearing. “I see you got my jacket. It suits you more than it does me.”

Vi had forgotten what it felt like to see a woman wear her clothing. It was intimate in a way she couldn’t quite describe.

Caitlyn blushed from the roots of her hair all the way down to her toes. “Oh, I’m so sorry! It was chilly outside, and I—”

Vi decided to have mercy on her. “Hey, it’s okay.” She said as she stilled Caitlyn’s movements. Her hands gently touched leather-covered arms. “You don’t have to take it off right now. I don’t have a place to put it anyway.”

Caitlyn blushed. “Right, of course.” She looked back down at Vi’s shirt and just had to ask. “Is it true?” She pointed at Vi’s chest. Vi looked at her puzzled but then gazed down—'All Cool Girls Are Lesbians’.

Vi chuckled and looked at Caitlyn square in the eyes. “Verdict’s still out on that one,” and she smirked. Once again Caitlyn blushed but decided to leave the answer open-ended.

“Well… I just wanted to return your jacket and say thank you for helping me yesterday.”

Vi shrugged but kept those telling blue-grey eyes on Caitlyn. “You don’t have to thank me, ya know. It was the right thing to do.”

“But I—I do. I want to. I—” Caitlyn stopped mid thought then blurted out, “Do you like coffee?”

Vi, who had been enjoying the way Caitlyn stuttered in her flustered state, spoke up. “Coffee? Well, yeah,” she answered, looking at Caitlyn curiously, while also seeming mildly perplexed at the question—cause who doesn’t love coffee! It was like the official regional drink in Piltover and Zaun! “Course! Who doesn’t like coffee?”

“Would you perhaps like to have coffee with me?”

Vi smirked and raised her eyebrow—she couldn’t let this teasing moment go. “You askin’ me out, Cupcake?”

The nickname and Vi’s playful banter once again sent her off-kilter. “N—no! A mere simple gesture of gratitude.”

“Hey, I’m just kiddin’. Sure, yeah, okay. I’d like that. But you know we don’t have much round here. Nothin’ fancy. Just old dive bars and diners that might sell a good cup of joe. Black with the options of cream or sugar…or both if you’re feelin’ particularly daring.”

“That sounds lovely.”

“If you let me shower and change really quick, we can head right out.”

“Oh, sure. Of course!”

“Sweet, gimme five minutes!”

Vi jogged towards the locker room and Caitlyn was left by herself. She looked around the sparsely furnished room; in addition to a few pieces of boxing equipment, she saw some pictures and plaques on the walls. Her legs carried her over to the most decorated wall, and she saw what looked like championship photos. Almost all had a much younger version of Vander. There were a few pictures of an unknown woman, but then Caitlyn’s eyes widened as they settled on a different group of photos. Photographs of what looked like they were of a much younger Vi. The girl’s hair was lighter, more pink instead of bright red, but Caitlyn had no doubt it was her. The young girl had a busted lip and eyebrow in the exact locations Vi had her brow and lip scar. Of course, she was without her striking tattoos—she had to have been in her teens. She continued to study the pictures when she heard footsteps.

Vi was walking back out in worn and frayed light wash jeans that hugged her legs closely, canvas high-tops, and a well-worn plain hoodie. Her hair was still wet, but Vi threw up the hood as she approached Caitlyn.

“Is this you?” Caitlyn asked as she pointed to the first photograph, which she suspected was a younger Vi.

Vi smiled, but it seemed some light went out of her normally bright eyes. “Yeah,” she whispered. “That was a long time ago.” She seemed to shake whatever weird headspace she had gone to and continued. “Anyway, so I was kinda assuming you wanted to go now, but that’s totally cool if not. I mean, we definitely don’t have to go today.” Vi stumbled around her words. She was good at flirting and enjoyed the banter that went along with it, but she felt her confidence slipping ever-so-slightly. With Caitlyn standing in front of her, offering to get coffee together, it threw Vi off her game.

“Vi,” Caitlyn said as she placed her hand on Vi’s arm, effectively cutting off her word rambling. “Would you like to get coffee with me today?”

“Hell yeah!”

Vi was on cloud nine as she exited the gym first, held the door open for Caitlyn, and began their walk down the main strip of the Undercity. She stayed close next to the other woman as they dodged a small group of people walking in the opposite direction. It was about a five-minute walk to the coffee shop, but they didn’t even make it to the nearest alley before a deep, threatening voice called out to Vi.

“Pink!” The man announced. Vi felt her muscles twitch at the nickname…and at the disembodied voice that produced it. Her fingers drew themselves into a tight fist.

It was a guy by the name of Deckard. Deckard—a nemesis dating back to childhood when he harassed and bullied all of them, a nemesis who was incarcerated at the same prison during her forced stay. She hated the fact he knew her prison name—Pink—and she hated him even more because he used it. She beat the shit out of him once during her fraught teenage years, after him and his cronies jumped her, Powder, Mylo, and Claggor. Even after that, he never left Vi alone. Sometimes, pricks like Deckard, full of arrogance and bad attitudes, just needed a serving of humble pie. She’d hoped, after finally getting his ass kicked like he did, it would have served that up. That never happened. Now, however, Vi’s muscles strained to do it again and her body craved the motion. But her base instinct at this very second was to protect. Vi’s flight or fight instinct was long but broken. She no longer felt the flight instinct. All she knew was fight and protect. Fight to protect.

“What’s happenin’, Pink?” Vi’s whole body stilled and became stonelike. She turned her head ever so slightly to assess the situation—make sure his cronies weren’t lurking in the shadows. She turned to fully face him, but as she did, she took hold of Caitlyn’s arm and stepped in front of her while also guiding Caitlyn behind her—effectively shielding the other woman from Deckard.  “She your new flavor of the week? Send her my way when you’re done, yea?”

“Fuck you, Deckard.” She spat out, her voice forced through gritted teeth. 

Deckard laughed. “What? You gone through all the pussy here and now you’re fucking Pilties? Surprised she’d even have scum like you.”

Vi felt all the blood rush to her head. She felt the veins in her neck and temple stretch and pop to the surface. “Keep your goddamn mouth shut or I’ll make sure it has to be wired shut!”

“Now Pink, you know I don’t do threats.”

“And you should know that ain’t a threat—it’s a promise.”

“Like old times…like old times.” If Deckard knew anything, he knew how to be a coward—at least when he was by himself. Hence why he needed his group of minions. He was a weakling without them.  He huffed out a laugh. “See ya around, Pink.”

His slimy form slicked back into the shadows he seemingly came from. Vi watched with careful eyes as she backed them both up several steps. She motioned for Caitlyn to walk ahead, and Vi walked just a step behind, her senses pinging in every direction. When Vi felt they were far enough away, she stopped. Caitlyn noticed Vi’s now familiar presence no longer behind her.

“Vi?” Caitlyn questioned; her voice full of worry—full of concern.

“Fuck, I’m—look, sorry for that back there.” Vi said. Her voice was tight and she ran a hand through her hair—her hood had long since been lowered and the longer portions of her hair were still damp. “The guy’s a total dick. I’ve known him and his lackeys since we were kids. They were nothing but a group of bullies—still are. They were one of the only groups that beat on us. Zaun…its small enough where you can’t escape people.”

“Plus, him and his cronies have it out for me. I won’t do business with them and that pisses them off even more. But just—just so you know. What he said about me…it’s not true. I don’t even know where those fucking rumors started. I haven’t been with anyone since—” since my lovely stint in prison, she thought to herself. “I just don’t want you to be uncomfortable around me. Not that I expected anything from you! I’m not hanging out with you for…that!—”

“Vi! Stop. I never once thought that. Alright?” She asked. Vi looked at her hesitantly and then nodded. “Come on. Let’s get our coffee.”    

The normal five-minute walk to the coffee shop turned into a slow meander through the streets of the Undercity. The sidewalks weren’t completely overrun, so Vi and Caitlyn took their time. After the confrontation with Deckard, it took a few minutes for Vi to calm down.

“So, the Undercity what you expected?” Vi asked, wanting to break the silence. They were walking down one of the main streets at a leisurely pace—Vi occasionally drifting too close and brushing their arms together.

“I didn’t really know quite what to expect. I’ve never been to Zaun, let alone the Undercity. I’m sure, as you are aware, Zaun is seen as—well—seen as—”

“—A deplorable, crime-ridden, miscreant, and degenerate city.” Vi finished. It was apparent she’d been told these facts all too many times. There was no bite to her words, however.

Caitlyn continued, albeit hesitantly. “But I have found it has a certain charm about it.”

“Charm, huh? That’s a new one. To be fair, you’re in the tamer part of the Undercity. Drift too much into the underbelly—the Lanes—and it will be a completely different story. That’s where I grew up. The further into the Undercity you go, the worse it all gets.”

Caitlyn suddenly found a keen interest in the broken concrete beneath her feet. What could she say to that.

“Well, I still stand by my statement. It has a certain charm to it. Certainly nothing like Piltover, but sometimes Piltover’s not all it’s made out to be. I’m sure that’s laughable coming from someone like me, though.” Caitlyn said.

“I’ve been to Piltover quite a bit. It was, and is, everything I’ve ever been told—pretentious, entitled, and judgmental,” Vi said, hands buried in her pockets. “It’s funny ‘cause I’m good enough to build them expensive custom shop bikes and fix up their precious rides, but I’m not good enough to share the same Piltover air.”

“Do you have many customers from Piltover?”

“Meh, mostly closeted bikers considering how taboo it is up there. But yeah, you’d be surprised how many Pilties we actually get. But they give good business, and their money is even better.”

“May I ask what got you into motorcycle repair?”

“It was a combination of things, really. Powder, my sister, is a gearhead and loves art. She loves fixin’ things. When I got out of—um, I mean, all I could afford was this shitty old bike. It kept breakin’ down like half the time, so between Powder and me, we took it apart and slowly fixed it up. She blasted it with her “art,” and it’s kinda all history from there.”

“Wow. That’s amazing, Vi. And the gym?”

“Growin’ up, I fought a lot. I had to. I had to protect Powder, and I did that through fighting, whether bullies, abusive adults…our parents died when we were young. We went into foster care, but because of my ‘aggressive’ history…I wasn’t put in the same homes as her. So, anyway…yeah… Vander, the guy you met at the gym? He’s my adoptive dad. Powder’s too. We also have two adoptive brothers as well. Claggor and Mylo. They work at my shop. But Vander’s the one who taught me to box. He helped me channel my anger into something productive.”

“Vi, I’m—I’m so sorry.”

Vi just shrugged it off. “Our story is all too common here, ya know. Powder, Mylo, Claggor, Ekko, and I. We’re just numbers—statistics.” Vi paused for a minute. “Remember that riot that happened in Piltover?” It had been the one and only riot during their short lives.

“Vaguely, yes.”

“My parents were killed there. By enforcers. They were part of the protests, not the riot, and they were killed.”

“Oh, Vi.”

“Anyway, Vander saved all us little street rats. Without him…I’d either be dead or still in—um—a shitload of trouble.” Vi was so glad she caught herself. She didn’t want Caitlyn to know her whole prison story yet. Zaunites didn’t give two fucks about criminal pasts or imprisonment. Piltovans, however, were a totally different story. She didn’t want Caitlyn running for the hills of Piltover yet.

“I’m so sorry, Vi. That’s truly horrific, and I’m sorry you went through that. As a child, no less. But you’re also inspiring, Vi. You can’t be much younger than myself, and you own two businesses—successful businesses at that. That’s…incredible.”

Vi smiled at her. “I just got lucky in some ways, I guess.”

“I have an inkling luck had nothing to do with it.”

They walked to the nearest place Vi knew sold coffee in the mornings. It was actually a small donut shop. It at least looked decent on the outside. Just like Vi’s shop and gym, they were in the better part of Zaun, which meant not as many dilapidated shops and sketchy alleyways.

“Claggor loves comin’ to this place. I’ve never been inside, but he’ll sometimes bring the shop donuts.” Vi laughed as she held the door open and gestured for Caitlyn to enter first. The shop smelled of dough, cooking oil, and coffee with perhaps the slightest hint of mustiness one would expect from an old building. The chairs were mismatched and looked like they were on their last legs, and the tables were scuffed and battered. Vi was disheartened to even bring Caitlyn, a Piltie she was kinda looking to impress, into a place like this. The sad thing was, this was the epitome of Zaun—this was the best Zaun had to offer.

The chimes at the door tapered off on their ringing, and an older woman behind the counter greeted them. The selection of coffee was extremely limited, with only one option: black. They both ordered coffee and a donut each and found a small table for two in the corner of the shop. Vi dumped out the large collection of sugar packets and creamer she had requested on to the scratched table.

“Sorry, I’m sure this place is a dump compared to places you’re used to.”

“Vi, please stop, and I’m still particularly annoyed you paid. You didn’t even give me a chance to pull out my card!”

“Hey, you’re actually having coffee with me. I get company, so that’s enough of a ‘thank you’ in my book.”

Caitlyn watched with a telling smile as Vi poured sugar and creamer into her cup to the point that it was almost overflowing. She couldn’t help her small chuckle.

“All right!” Vi said with way too much excitement. “Now this is a cup of coffee!”

“I think that’s more sugar in a cup,” Caitlyn said with her permanent grin as she lifted her ‘light cream only’ coffee to her mouth and took a dainty sip.

“Say what you want, Cupcake. This is the only way to drink coffee.” As hot as the coffee was, Caitlyn watched as Vi took an enormous swig. She swallowed, and those already expressive grey eyes widened. Vi looked down at her cup in offence.

“Man,” Vi coughed and rolled her tongue around in her mouth. “Coffee’s terrible, amirite?”

“No! Not at all!”

“It’s okay. You can say it’s bad, cause it totally is. I think this was last night’s pot.”

Caitlyn almost spit her mouthful of coffee out. She managed to swallow, and damn it if Caitlyn didn’t have the prettiest smile. The gap in her front teeth was so endearing. It almost took Vi’s breath away.

“Maybe I’ll just have to take you to one of the coffee shops Topside.” Caitlyn declared.

“Doubt you’d want that, Cupcake.”

“Why is that? And why do you keep calling me cupcake? You know my name after all.”

Vi shrugged. “Yeah, but you’re just so sweet. Like a cupcake!” She swirled her sweet coffee around in her mug, not meeting Caitlyn’s gaze. “But I don’t exactly fit in up there.”

“Well, I don’t fit in here, Yet here I am.”

“It’s just different topside.”

Caitlyn didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she stared at her coffee for a moment and contemplated her next words. “You know, when I was growing up—and still to this day, really — I’ve always felt like a misfit. Like I didn’t belong or didn’t fit in anywhere. So perhaps I still don’t fit in with Piltover myself.”

“Well, let’s call it a date then, and we can be misfits together.” Vi said as she looked at Caitlyn thoughtfully.

“So,” Vi began. “What about you? You heard some of my shit life story walking here… I’m sure yours is much more pleasant.”

Caitlyn thought about it for a moment. That wasn’t something she was used to talking about. No one ever asked. Most, if not all, people in Piltover knew who she was and thus thought they knew her life story. That was life when your mother was in politics.

Vi’s gaze lowered and she stared into her half-empty cup. The longer the question hung in the air, the more uncomfortable Vi became. “You don’t have to tell me. It’s okay.”

“No! No, it’s not that. Just most people either already know who I am, and they assume to know my life, so why should they bother to ask, I suppose?”

Vi nodded and waited for her to continue. The woman running the shop was kind enough to bring them a fresh pot of steaming coffee and filled their mugs back up. They both acknowledged her appreciatively.

“My mother is Cassandra Kiramman,” she said with resignation as she stirred in a container of creamer. When Vi didn’t give any sign that she knew who her mother was, she continued. “She’s one of the top politicians in the state.”

“Huh,” Vi said as she stirred her own cup of coffee. “Well, that explains how you know Jayce Talis. Man, when I saw him step out of his fancy coupe, I was like, ‘Damn! Who is this chick to know the ‘Golden Boy’ himself? I may not know politics, but everyone down here knows who the Golden Boy is, and trust me, that nickname is not a compliment. How can someone be the ‘Man of Progress’ when people like the Zaunites are stuck in the shadows and never see what progress looks like? Zaun may not be the highlight city of Piltover, but we’re still a sister city.” Vi paused and realized what she said likely would be offensive to the other woman. Jayce appeared to be a close friend of hers after all. “Anyway, sorry to bash your friend like that.”

“No, I can’t even begin to pretend to know or understand the struggles down here. I see it, and it turns my stomach. Jayce, he’s been a family friend since I was young. I’ve always known him to be a good man with good intentions. But those intentions were focused on Piltover.”

“Tell me more about you. Not your mom, not Jayce. I want to know Caitlyn. The competitive shooter? The lawyer? Whatever you’re willing to give me.”

Caitlyn smiled, and over the next couple of hours, Vi heard everything Caitlyn could think of sharing. It had been nice to have someone not only ask about her but seem genuinely interested in hearing about her interests and her time growing up under the watchful eye of a mother in politics and the people within the elite families of Piltover. She spoke of Sheriff Grayson, the woman who inspired her to do good in the world and make a difference. She spoke of her competitive shooting competitions—of both her victories and also her defeats. She talked about going to school to become a cause lawyer, much to her mother’s displeasure.

Vi sat and listened intently to each and every word Caitlyn spoke. The woman in front of her was a whole new level of intriguing, and Vi desperately wished to spend more time with her. She wanted their interactions to exceed today’s brief meeting and not to conclude once they went back to their respective cities.

Vi sent a decent tip to the woman who kept their mugs warm and full. Caitlyn had offered, but Vi told her not to worry about it. Vi once again held the door open for Caitlyn, and they headed back to the bike shop.

“Thank you for the coffee,” Caitlyn said as they walked side by side. “Although, I’m still upset you wouldn’t allow me to pay. It was supposed to be my treat to you.”

Vi shrugged and smiled. “And I told you, just us hanging out like we did was awesome. I enjoyed it, and that’s enough for me.”

The walk back to the shop seemed to fly by, and they soon found themselves standing next to Caitlyn’s Range Rover.

“Well, it’s been real, Cupcake. Maybe I’ll see ya ‘round sometime.” Vi held out her hand, and Caitlyn took it without thought. Vi’s hands were strong and calloused but gentle with her grip. She gave Caitlyn’s hand one final squeeze before she let her hand go and took a few paces backwards to her shop door. She raised her hand to wave and finally turned completely around to the door. She opened the door and stepped inside, but before the door could close, Caitlyn called out.

“Wait, Vi!” Caitlyn rushed out. “Your jacket!” She couldn’t believe she had almost forgotten to return the one thing she drove down here to give back.

Vi stood inside the door and smiled, waving her hand to stop Caitlyn’s movements. “It’s still chilly out. Wear it for now and just bring it back later.” She shrugged and then winked.

Caitlyn squinted her eyes in mock suspicion. “You just want me to come back again, don’t you?”

Vi laughed and held up her hands in surrender. “Hey, a girl can dream. Plus, you blend in better with it. Gotta stay safe, ya know. And like you said…it gives ya another reason to come back down here.”

Caitlyn blushed and turned her head to look away for a moment. This Zaunite flustered her to no end. It was funny that one seemingly average day, could perchance open up new possibilities, whether it be friendship or something more. Vi had obviously taken her silence as a bad thing.

“Look, you totally don’t have to. It’s just been nice hanging out with someone who’s not family. And…you’re different from people down here. A good different, by the way. I’ve always thought topsiders were these snobby assholes who were all high and mighty and…you don’t seem that way at all.”

Caitlyn smiled. “I’ve enjoyed it as well. See you soon, then?”

“Sure, Caitlyn. I’d like that.”

Chapter Text

The door to the shop closed with a soft click as Vi eased her body against it and smiled to herself. She was on cloud nine right now. She was in her own personal bubble and unaware of the eight eyes that stared wide at her. She sighed blissfully, and if she had known she had an audience of her freaking siblings and a friend, she would have had the decency to be horrified and embarrassed. Instead, her first reaction was an undignified yelp.

“Jesus, fuck!”

“The hell, Vi!” Ekko said his voice was a higher pitch than normal. “Seriously?! When you gonna tell us you were seeing a Piltie?!”

“That’s what I’m saying, Sis.”  Powder said in agreement; a smirk firmly in place and an eyebrow cocked. “And I didn’t even get to see her this morning! When the hell were you going to tell me? Your own sister? I’m actually offended.”

“Woah! Ease up, guys! Shit, I’m not seeing her. You remember I stopped and helped that Piltie chick yesterday? Well, that was her! She was just returning my jacket.”

“Yet…she still walked out with your jacket,” Mylo piped up with a sly grin as well.

Vi rubbed the space between her eyebrows and squeezed her eyes shut. “Yes, okay, she did. We had coffee and…she’s cool, alright?” She said somewhat defensively, unable to stop a hint of defeat creeping into her voice. She knew Caitlyn was a recipe for heartbreak and disappointment – and not just on a romantic level, but on a personal one as well.  She reminded herself, once again: they were of different worlds. Worlds that simply didn’t intermingle. But the notion, the feeling of such potential…It was having the promise of a new friendship dangled in front of someone brimming with deep-seated loneliness. Like dangling food in front of a starving person or putting water just outside the reach of someone parched within an inch of their life. Vi felt foolish because she was surrounded by people she loved and who loved her. People she’d die for in an instant. But there was a difference between being alone and being lonely. “I liked hanging out with her,” she whispered and shrugged her shoulders.

No one said anything at first. Powder moved towards her and slung an arm around her shoulder. “Glad you had fun, Sis. You deserve it.” Vi smiled in appreciation. “Alright, you shop rats!” Powder yelled at the guys. “These bikes ain’t going to fix themselves!” 

Mylo grunted, and Ekko and Claggor both left with teasing smirks plastered on their faces.

Vi exhaled. It’d be awhile before she’d live this down. She shook her head, and Powder, whose lanky form was still clinging to Vi, jolted her thoughts back to the moment.

“I still can’t believe you let her take Dad’s jacket again,” Powder spoke in disbelief. It was one of Vi’s favorite possessions. The significance in Vi lending this jacket in particular to Caitlyn not once but twice spoke volumes. “You better get that back, Sis, or I’ll kick your ass. It’s my favorite, too.” They both smiled. It was the one possession they had of their late father. He had had a smaller frame and had been on the thin side so the jacket fit Vi  well, unlike Vander and Loris’s jackets, which she’d borrowed in the past, and swallowed her whole. She was swole, but even her physique couldn’t fill in their massively sized jackets. Even though Powder loved the sentiment behind the jacket, the aesthetics suited Vi’s overall appearance and look.

“Pretty sure I’ll get it back, Pow. I mean, she brought it back today. I don’t think she’d left with it if she had no plans on bringing it back, ya know.” Vi hoped she was right at least.

“For your sake, she better!” With that, she pushed off Vi and skipped back towards the warehouse doors—her medium-length blue hair, pulled back into messy braids during work, flowed and whipped behind her.

Vi ran a hand through her own choppy and messy hair. Time for her and her beloved group of misfits to get back to work.

**

Caitlyn drove in silence as she replayed the last few hours in her mind. A soft grin seemed to be permanently affixed to her face. She’d had such an enjoyable time. She recalls the moment of the confrontation after leaving the gym. She remembers seeing Vi tense and the sheer vitriol in her voice and body language. She thought of how her heart pounded in her chest and climbed up into her throat and the momentary panic as her mind flew through all the possible outcomes.  Then, she recalled the soft yet firm grip on her wrist. The controlled pull guided her behind the strong woman as she shielded her from the man’s hate-filled words. It was a wall—a barrier—placed between her and a potential threat of either verbal or physical means.

Vi, for all intents and purposes, was still unknown to Caitlyn, but through those actions, and the little knowledge she now had from Vander, Caitlyn had felt as safe with her as she possibly could.

Then she learned a little of Vi’s past. An insight into the woman who had so casually and unexpectedly drifted into her life. But after that, Vi asked about her. For Caitlyn to tell Vi about her life. She had had no preconceived ideas or knowledge of rumors, no prejudice towards her family name, Jayce, or her mother. Vi had simply wanted to know about the woman Caitlyn was. That was extraordinary and something she’d never really experienced—at least not genuinely. She couldn’t count Mel, Jayce, or Viktor because they knew her family the moment she met them.

She finally reached the final turn-off before meeting the drive. The gravel drive leading to the house was long and was shrouded by deep forests flanking both sides. The location of the house was extraordinary  because it allowed for the most beautiful and unobstructed views of the surrounding lake and woodlands. Caitlyn had spent countless days of her youth here. When she’d been much younger, she would venture out into the woods, her favorite hunting dog, Matilda— a beautiful English Springer Spaniel who was her fiercest protector — by her side, and Caitlyn would read. As she grew older, she would venture out with her gun dogs and take nature pictures with her film camera. She’d always been inquisitive and loved investigating and studying the world around her. Pictures helped her learn and discover nuances she might have missed at the time. Growing up as an only child, a privileged child with an elite family name—well, it proved to be an extremely lonely existence. The lake house was her escape as a child. A time with her beloved dogs—her best friends—and a time to explore the unfamiliar.

Eventually, the Kiramman’s other secluded vacation homes became her shooting ranges and marksmen courses. In time, those turned into her sanctuaries as well.

The trees finally parted, and the lake house came into view. It was a beautiful house, anestate that had been in her family for generations. It had been updated only a year prior in order to have the finest appliances and accommodations for the family, friends, and other guests.

For its sheer size and impressive beauty, it lacked the comfort, the intimacy, and the coziness of a smaller house. Caitlyn missed her home in Piltover for those reasons.

As her SUV drew closer, Caitlyn’s heart sank. In the driveway, in front of the multi-car garage, sat a familiar Mercedes Benz E-Class sedan. Her fingers wrapped tight around the steering wheel, and she took a deep breath. The click of her seatbelt, the stretch of her leather seats, and the resounding thunk of her car door sealed her resolve. With an agitated roll of her eyes and stiffening of her back, she walked to the front door. Before she could even close the heavy wooden door, her mother called out.

“Caitlyn! Where in the world have you been? I was getting worried.”

“It’s called a vacation, mum. A time to do whatever I wish for a change.”

“Yes, yes,” Casandra brushed off the comment, but then she noticed what Caitlyn was wearing. “What are you wearing?”

“Clothes?”

“Don’t be coy. The jacket. Where did you even get such a thing?”

“I’m borrowing it, if you must know. It was kindly lent to me.”

“Lent? It looks like one of those filthy greaser biker jackets,” she scowled as she regarded the garment. “Where were you to even acquire such a thing?”

“And what does that matter? I’m twenty-nine; am I not allowed to do as I please?!”

“Of course, Caitlyn,” Cassandra snapped. “I was merely curious. Regardless, the jacket’s not becoming of you , dear. It’s hideous. I wouldn’t be caught wearing the thing.”

Caitlyn felt her jaws clench. She looked away and inclined her head, hoping to conceal her obvious frustration. This was how it always had been. Never feeling like she was enough. Never fitting in. A misfit. Vi’s words came to the forefront and thankfully drowned out her mother’s unkind words. She remembered Vi’s gaze on her with the slightest of smirks. ‘It suits you more than it does me.’ The way she said it could have come across as flirty. Caitlyn hadn’t minded in the slightest.

The filthy greaser comment finally registered, and Caitlyn became incensed. There was the all-too-common stereotype of the Undercity—of Zaunites. Dirty, filthy, and subhuman beings.

“It’s not filthy!” she hissed. Quite the contrary, Caitlyn thought. The care that had been given to the jacket was admirable. It was obvious Vi took care of her possessions. Caitlyn had heard enough, and she was starting to develop a fierce headache. “I’ve been out most of the day, and I’d really like to shower and relax for the rest of the evening. What did you need?” she asked impatiently.

Her mother didn’t seem fazed. “I suppose I didn’t need anything. I wanted to make sure the house had been properly prepared for your extended stay and that everything was in order.”

“Everything is fine. You could have just called and asked. It would have saved you a trip out here and a long wait.”

“Very well. Your father and I will come back and see you before you leave. I know he wants to see you as well.”

“Just call beforehand to make sure I’m home.”

Her mother left, and Caitlyn was alone in a huge empty house. The sun was beginning its descent over the lake, and Caitlyn decided to make a small pot of coffee for herself. As the coffee brewed, she was taken back to the enjoyable day  she’d had at a random donut shop in Zaun with someone completely out of the stereotypical Piltover social circle. Her visit with Vi had been the most fun she’d had in ages. She actually felt alive again and not just on autopilot.

When the coffee was done, she poured herself a cup, unpacked her digital camera, and walked outside to the elaborate patio setup. A full outdoor kitchen that likely never saw an ounce of attention since its creation, a gas fireplace, a wood-burning fire pit, and a bar all sat on the picturesque patio and likely would have been covered in dust if not for the cleaning staff that had come in prior to her stay. .

She took the few steps down to the lower level and lit the outdoor gas-powered  fireplace. A large metal swing with plush cushions as well as a few chairs were placed around the fireplace. It made for a cozy atmosphere, if and only if you had others to sit and enjoy it with you. By oneself it was quiet and calming, but it lacked the warmth company could bring. She wished she had someone to share this with. Friendship, companionship, romantic partnership…it didn’t matter. She just wanted someone she was close to to share these simple moments with.

She stared out into the reflections in the calm lake. Loons sounded their breathtaking calls as the night grew darker and darker. She picked up her camera that had been secured around her neck, turned it on, and snapped a few pictures of the setting sun. Her sharp and determined gaze scanned the horizon for anything that caught her eye.

She had made a pledge; once her feet entered the lake house, she’d go unplugged. No phone, no laptop. She chastised herself for not at least getting Vi’s number. She had wanted a means to keep in contact, but her mind just never processed that particular thought. Vi must not have either. Maybe she didn’t even have a phone? That would be completely unlikely and implausible. Despite Vi, yet again, letting her leave with her jacket, maybe she didn’t necessarily want to keep in contact? It didn’t seem that way to Caitlyn, anyway. Regardless, she wanted to see Vi again—to keep in contact.

Sip after sip of coffee came and went, and she finally turned off the fireplace and went back inside. The leather jacket draped over the chair back made her smile. She had zero plans for her time off. Maybe she’d pay another visit to Zaun after all.

**

It was mid-morning, and Lane’s Custom Cycles was in full swing. Heavy rock music poured from the in-house speakers Ekko had set up, and strong coffee was still making its rounds. The small, close-knit family had their usual banter going.

“Powder!” Mylo called out. “Dude! You put this on backwards! The holes ain’t lining up with the frame now!”

“You sure ‘bout that?” Powder asked with a smirk. A day at Lane’s Custom Cycles and Shop wouldn’t be complete without Pow and My’s constant bickering. They knew exactly how to get under the other’s skin and what hot buttons to push. “Check again, My!”

Vi snorted under her breath and slowly shook her head as she listened. Normally, as the day progressed, she’d be able to tune them out, but it was still morning. She heard them both mutter ‘asshole’ under their breath. Mylo had obviously seen he was the one at fault. She remembered a couple of years ago, as a gag gift, she bought a candle for Powder, but instead of it being from her, Vi put ‘from: Mylo’. The candle label read: ‘Powder’s Last Nerve…Oh Look…It’s on Fire!’.  Mylo barely missed the candle as it was hurled in his direction, much to Vi’s amusement . 

The bike Vi was working on was in the last stages before it was ready to sell. Just a few tweaks and the last bit of fit and finish, and it would be good to go. As she was running the microfiber towel over the polished finish, her mind drifted to Caitlyn. She smiled and absentmindedly repolished the same area over and over again. She wondered when she might see the intriguing woman again—the woman who had occupied her thoughts the last couple of days.

As if the universe synced her thoughts with reality, she heard the harsh buzz of the shop door sound over the music. Ekko turned down the music and jumped out of his seat. Vi didn’t remember having a delivery scheduled for the day. Instead, she planned on a bike-buying trip today and hopefully would have a few new projects coming in.

Ekko’s surprised tone made her lift her eyes to the direction of the door. 

Caitlyn. Vi jumped to her feet but stayed rooted in place.

“Yo, Piltie girl!” Ekko greeted. “Whatcha doing back in these necks of the woods? Didn’t think we’d see ya back this soon.”

Caitlyn stared nervously into the shop. All eyes were on her.

“Caitlyn?” Vi spoke out in shock and wonder, but a smile lit up her face. “What are you doing here?”

“I—I’m sorry.” Caitlyn declared and quickly turned to leave. Caitlyn felt uncomfortable, embarrassed, and silly for returning after Vi and she had already said their goodbyes . Sure, they’d made it obvious they wanted to see each other again, but maybe it had been too soon to return so quickly? Vi did look awfully surprised. Caitlyn caught a fleeting glance at Vi’s smile, but her insecurities won in the end. Caitlyn opened the shop door and went to step outside.

Vi, who had been on the other side of the shop, rushed after her. In Vi’s mind, her own shocked gasp at seeing Caitlyn could have been misinterpreted. By the way Caitlyn bolted for the door, Vi could only assume her surprise had been taken out of context. The fact that Mylo, Claggor, and Ekko were looking on in disbelief was totally lost on her.

“Woah, woah, hey, come here,” Vi encouraged as she reached out and lightly took Caitlyn’s hand in her own. “G’morning,” Vi said kind of breathless. “Figured you’d be long gone from Zaun. Hell, you’re on vacation, right?”

“That’s just it, I suppose. I would have called first, but I remembered I didn’t have your personal number, and I didn’t feel comfortable calling the shop.”

Vi nodded as she thought. Maybe Caitlyn was lonely in that big house. Vi could empathize. She knew, in the worst way, what loneliness felt like. Caitlyn had obviously made the drive down to Zaun of all places for a reason. Loneliness and the feeling of isolation could do that to a person. She had an idea.

“Tell ya what. I’m headed out to look at some project bikes. It’s not a whole day thing, but I need a second pair of hands. All my guys are booked. Right, Ekko?!” she called out.

Ekko lifted his head. “Wha?”

“You’re too busy to go with me to Loris’s, right?”

“Nah, I’m good—” Before he could finish, an object went sailing through the air and popped him in the head. “Hey!” He caught Vi’s glare and not-so-subtle shake of her head, and he changed course instantly. “I mean, no. Nope! Suuuuuper busy today. Yeah. Can’t, Vi, sorry!”

“See?” Vi grinned. “Perfect, you can come along for the ride and help me out if you want? You’d be doing me a huge favor.”

Caitlyn couldn’t help but chuckle at the pair’s antics. “Sure, I—I’ll go.”

“Sweet! Oh! Hey, ummm…I usually just ride up there on my bike. It’s the perfect drive for it, but we can totally take my car if you’d be more comfortable with that?”

Caitlyn thought for a moment. “I’ve never ridden on a motorcycle before.”

“The option’s totally there if you want it. I got gear that will fit you. You’d be in good hands, I promise.”

Caitlyn blushed at the comment.

“Your motorcycle it is then.”

“Cool, cool. Let me go through my stuff. I know I’ll have leathers that’ll fit ya.” Vi knew the importance of riding gear, and she refused to ever let anyone ride with her unless they were protected just as well, if not better than herself. Choosing to ride motorcycles came with inherent risks and, like most things, you just have to mitigate those risks as best as you humanly can. You accept those risks, but when you take on a back warmer—a pillion—a passenger—especially if it’s their first time, they are putting their trust in you. They may not fully understand the risks, and Vi always wanted to make sure she played her part responsibly and respectfully.

Mentally, Vi was shifting through what she had stashed away that might fit Caitlyn when her voice cut through her thoughts.

“I’d actually like to see what you have in your shop.”

Vi stared at her bewildered yet questioningly. Confusion marred her eyes and forehead. “What?”

“The clothing…protective clothing you have in your showcase room.”

“But…why? I have stuff that’ll fit ya. You don’t have to buy anything. And I mean, it’s all clean if that’s what you’re worried about—”

“No, not at all! Vi, I’ve been wearing your jacket. I’d just like to have a look around, I mean, if that’s alright.”

“Well, yeah, yeah, of course!

Vi led her to the motorcycle showcase room where the retail section was located. She had seen the merchandise from a distance yesterday, but now she was able to see all the different items for herself. The variety was impressive. Vi showed her a few essentials she needed and insisted she try on the ones she liked.

Vi held up a pair of denim pants that resembled jeans.

“These have removable armor so you could actually wear them like normal pants if you wanted. Since you don’t normally ride, I’d get something like this. That way, you’ll at least get some use from it.”

Caitlyn nodded and picked out a pair of motorcycle jeans and then moved to the jackets.

She picked out a more casual jacket and a pair of riding gloves.

She changed and met Vi back in the shop. Vi’s mouth went dry at the sight of Caitlyn. She looked different, not completely the Zaunite style, yet still exhibited the essence of her Piltover status.

“Hey! You—you look great! Looks like everything fits as it should. You ready?”

Caitlyn put on the borrowed helmet and waited as Vi got on and settled first. With Vi securing the bike, Caitlyn stepped on the pillion peg and then swung her other leg over. Vi briefed her on what she might and might not feel and the quick rundown of do’s and don’ts. Caitlyn sat awkwardly and settled her hands on Vi’s hips to stabilize herself. Vi cranked up the bike and reached for Caitlyn’s hands. She took them in her own and pulled them around to her stomach.

“Wrap ‘em around me. As tight as you need to, ‘kay?” Vi spoke into her helmet headset, which was linked to Caitlyn’s helmet. “If you start to get uncomfortable or I scare you somehow, tell me. And in case of any headset issues, like if the signal cuts out, just tap me like crazy on my waist, and I’ll slow down and stop as soon as it’s safe, okay?” Caitlyn let out a breathless acknowledgment. “You’re safe with me, Caitlyn. Talk to me as much as you need to, just like ya would in a car.”

A final check-in with Caitlyn, and then they were off. At the first lurch of the bike, Caitlyn snugged her arms around Vi tighter. Vi gave her a comforting pat on her arm, which was pressed against her stomach, and they began their trip to the countryside.

“You okay back there, Cupcake?” Vi asked as they settled into the cruising aspect of the drive.

“Yes, it’s different, but a good different. I thought I’d feel more uncomfortable.”

“Riding pillion is supposed to be enjoyable and exciting, so I’m glad. But you good now?”

“Yes, I’m really enjoying myself. I’ve never done anything like this before!”

Vi laughed and patted her arm again. “We need to get you out more then. You’re an excellent back warmer.”

Caitlyn grinned ear to ear within the safety of her helmet. “That’s why I came back today. I had a really nice time yesterday.”

“Yeah? Good, cause I did too.” Vi paused and thought before she spoke more. “You know, Vander owns a bar with an old friend of his, Benzo. Benzo adopted Ekko . We’re all just this big, adopted family. Anyway, you should think about comin’ there sometime. Just hang out, ya know. It may not be your scene or maybe not even somethin’ you’d be comfortable with, but you could just hang with us. It’s a safe joint.”

“That sounds nice. What’s the bar called?”

“The Last Drop.”

“I shall mark it in my exceedingly busy calendar, which is overbooked for the next several weeks,” Caitlyn joked.

“And here I thought you were on vacation.” Vi played along.

“Yes, well, what time slot shall I pencil you in for?”

“You just let me know, and we’ll call it a date.” That was the second time she’d used the word date. 

Chapter Text

Vi parked the bike, helped Caitlyn off, and pulled their helmets off. Caitlyn did her best to fluff her hair so it didn’t look like she’d had her head shoved in a helmet for a prolonged period. They headed over to the shop, and Loris greeted them outside.

“Vi! Good to see you! And who’s this lovely lady?”

“This is Caitlyn. She’s the one I stopped to help the other day. So, Caitlyn, this is Loris.

“Ah, okay. Well, it’s nice to meet you, Caitlyn.”

“You as well.”

“Ready to see what I got for ya?” Loris asked Vi.

Vi smiled wide and rubbed her hands together. “Let’s see ‘dem babies!”

They walked across the property to the large shop. Loris pushed open the sliding metal door, and they all stepped in. He switched on the lights, and Caitlyn was amazed at how much Loris was able to squeeze into the decently large building without it feeling cluttered. The motorcycles and other vehicles were in varying states of disrepair. Some appeared to need a lot of work, while others looked seemingly perfect, to Caitlyn’s eyes anyway.

“Have you seen much of Vi’s work?” Loris asked as they watched Vi appraise the various bikes.

“Unfortunately, I haven’t. Besides her bike, of course.”

He hummed. “She’s brilliant. Got a real knack for this. She’s got one hell of a team, but she’s the brains of it all.”

“Loris!” She called out embarrassed, obviously hearing him brag about her work.

He chuckled and turned to look at Caitlyn. “She doesn’t like hearin’ people boast about her work.”

“I call it being humble.” Vi retorted, though it came out as more of a mumble.

“You’re humble, ain’t doubting that, kid. But it’s no reflection on you if someone decides to dote on your work.”

Caitlyn nodded in agreement. “I do admire her.”

“Oh my god, you guys! Please stop!” Vi’s hand covered her face, and Caitlyn was positive she saw a blush steal over her face before her hands hid it from view.

Loris let out a full-blown belly laugh. He pulled some colored tags out of his pant pocket and walked over to Vi. “Alright, kiddo! You just point, and I’ll mark ‘em for ya!”

“Damn, they all look good, Loris”.

Caitlyn grimaced inside. Some needed a lot of work. She wouldn’t have considered these particular bikes would have looked good. Then again, she doesn’t own a successful motorcycle shop. Vi’s voice caught her attention.

”What do you think?” She turned and looked at Caitlyn, who looked dumbfounded.

“M—me?! Vi, I have absolutely no knowledge of motorcycles!” She stuttered.

Vi shrugged. “Ya don’t have to. These are project bikes. Loris travels around and picks up bikes most people wouldn’t wanna sink time or money into. He’s got connections so he’s able to get the deals someone like me, wouldn’t be able to. I’ve got the time and resources to sink into them. So, buy them from Loris, and at the shop, we fix ‘em up and sell them”

“Bloody brilliant business model if you ask me. Win win for me too. I get to find diamonds in the rough and get to see them transformed. At least someone benefits from my junk collecting tendencies.” Loris laughed.

 Vi laughed in return and simply told Caitlyn, “Go for aesthetics, I guess, ‘cause I can’t choose.”

Caitlyn watched as Vi ran her hand and fingers over the gas tank and handlebars of one bike. It was clear just how passionate the woman was about her craft.

“H—how many?”

Vi thought for a moment. “Price still the same, Loris?”

“‘Course!”

“Let’s do three. The warehouse is getting full on me.”

Caitlyn picked out three bikes. It was obvious by Vi’s reaction that she had picked well because a huge grin filled her face. She went on to explain the motorcycles Caitlyn had just picked out. She went into some history of the bikes—like how they had been designed and why. Caitlyn found it all interesting. More importantly, she loved Vi’s enthusiasm and how her voice increased and her hands and body became more animated as she talked.

Caitlyn found out two of the bikes were bobbers—basically a stripped-down motorcycle. The goal of bobbers was to create a lighter, faster, and minimalist motorcycle. The style had originated from modified surplus military motorcycles—modified for speed and a completely badass look. Both bikes had a distinct look. Caitlyn guessed that’s why those two had caught her eye. The other was

“Nice choices!” Loris agreed. “Alright! We’ll settle up later, Vi.”

“Oh, hell no, Loris! I still owe you for the last bike and the truck!”

He shook his head and put a large hand on Vi’s shoulder. “I haven’t been to The Last Drop yet. Told you we’d just settle then. Might actually buy one of those bikes you’ve got in the showroom. Vander sent me pictures. They’re all lookin’ mighty fine. I’ll get my trailer then too so you don’t have to worry about that.”

“Thanks, Loris.”

With a satisfied sigh, both women made their way back to Vi’s bike. Caitlyn took a moment to truly appreciate it. After helping with the seemingly mundane task of picking out project bikes, she felt a desire to appreciate Vi’s bike more. Everything about the motorcycle mirrored Vi perfectly—almost like an extension of Vi. It exuded raw power and had an extraordinary street-tough appearance. It was full of a certain bold brashness, aggressive (in a complimentary way) stance, but yet had a minimalist vibe. In layman’s terms, it looked bad-ass. Just like Vi. Vi with her muscular build paired with a motorcycle of equal muscular attributes…it was a striking image. An image Caitlyn was quite found of—the tough and daring looks of both bike and biker.   

She saw Vi had already gotten her seated and was waiting to help Caitlyn get settled. After a quick check-in with Caitlyn, Vi moved the bike forward, and they were off.

They were cruising down the smooth road, and a comfortable silence had settled between them. Each apparently caught in their own heads. Caitlyn’s gaze was almost unseeing as she gazed at the passing vegetation. She blinked heavily and realized where they were and what was coming up. “Vi, would you slow down for a moment, please.” Caitlyn spoke but tried to keep her voice light so Vi wouldn’t think anything was wrong. She felt Vi instantly let off the throttle, and the bike started to decelerate.

“Somethin’ wrong?”

“No, no, just…Would you like to go for a walk? Remember where we met? At the trail entrance up ahead?”

Vi smiled. “The weather’s perfect for it, huh? Yeah, let’s do it.”

A short distance down the road, Vi pulled off, parked, and made their way to the trailhead. The weather really was perfect. The sun was out but not scorching, and the surrounding trees allowed the pleasant breeze to permeate through. They walked down the winding dirt path, and just like their walk down the streets of Zaun, Vi’s arm occasionally brushed against Caitlyn’s.

“I wish I had my camera. The trees are beautiful, and how the sunlight scatters against them.”

Vi looked puzzled. “You have your phone, right? Or does your camera not work? You can use mine.” Vi declared as she reached behind her into her back pocket and pulled out her phone, offering it to Caitlyn.

“No, mine works. Thank you, though. I meant—I’m going to sound so entitled, perhaps, but I don’t typically use my phone for pictures. I’m a camera snob.” She laughed and shook her head. “It’s been a hobby of mine since I was quite young. Photography that is. I prefer more traditional cameras. There’s something nostalgic about holding the camera…viewing your subject through the lens, waiting for the perfect moment to capture the shot…the perfect moment forever captured. I still love the old film cameras—developing the film on my own, watching the image come to life in the darkroom. I know phone cameras have improved significantly, but I just—” Caitlyn paused, not quite sure how to explain her love and appreciation of old and forgotten things. Objects that had been discarded in favor of more convenient and modern technology. At times, she felt embarrassed to even talk to people about her love and appreciation of such things.

“Hey, ya like what ya like. That’s a cool hobby, and I can definitely respect your view on it.”
 Vi definitely could. She liked vintage cars and bikes for the same reason. “I prefer vintage cars and trucks for the same reason, I guess. Nostalgic is a good word for it. Throwback to what seemed like simpler times. I mean, less convenient for sure, but sometimes its nice to step back from it all. Technology, I mean. But your cameras and developing the photos yourself—sounds really cool. Like you being able to spot things and then capture them—that moment frozen in time…you must see things a lot of people wouldn’t even notice.”

Caitlyn nodded in agreement. “It’s funny you say that, because my mentor claimed she saw the same in me. Grayson, I know I talked about her yesterday, but she always said I’d be an excellent investigator, mainly because of my attention to detail…my keen eye. According to her, I’d been an incredible asset in crime scene investigations—photographing the scenes of the crime—finding details and potential evidence some might miss. She encouraged me to become an enforcer and move up in rank, but…as time went on, I found I wished to help…to be a voice for people—to help a broken system at its core instead of mitigating the symptoms.”

“I bet she’s proud of you.”

“I believe she would have been, yes.”

Vi immediately stopped at Caitlyn’s use of past tense. “What happened to her?”

“She died on duty several years ago.”

“Damn. I’m sorry, Caitlyn.”

They continued down the path and walked in silence for several moments.

“You know,” Caitlyn began as she nudged her arm into Vi’s arm playfully. “When you’re not calling me ‘Cupcake’, my friends call me Cait.” Caitlyn disclosed but laughed and looked bashfully over at Vi.

“So, am I at friend status then?”

“Considering the time we’ve spent together, and in such a short amount of time, yes. I’d consider you a friend. Or…at least the beginnings of a friendship. How’s that?”

“Yeah, I’d like that.” Vi breathed out but then took in a deep breath and exhaled excitedly. “Okay! Cait it is then, Cupcake.”

Caitlyn blurted out a hearty laugh. “You’re impossible. Oh, speaking of phones, though. Would you like to exchange numbers?”

“Yeah, I definitely would!”

They continued their leisurely walk as time became an afterthought. The trail essentially was a large, yet winding and twisting circle because they eventually made it back to their starting point at the trailhead. Vi’s bike was the lone vehicle.

On the ride back to Zaun—back to reality—Caitlyn seemed to snug even closer and tighter to Vi. She felt more connected to the other woman now—both literally and figuratively.

Their trip finally came to an end as Vi pulled up to the shop. Caitlyn handed Vi back her borrowed helmet and ran a hand through her flattened hair. Vi had already ruffled her own and it had that messy appearance that fit Vi so well.

“Thank you for inviting me along. I enjoyed it immensely.”

“You’re welcome, Cupcake. Anytime, and I mean that. This helmet has your name on it now. And think about hanging out with us. You just might enjoy that, too.”

“I definitely will.”

Caitlyn took a few steps to her SUV before Vi spoke again.

“Hey, uh…you wanna grab a bite to eat?” Vi asked.

Caitlyn looked crestfallen. “Oh, I’d love to, Vi, but I have a prior engagement.”

“Oh, yeah, totally cool. Just thought I’d offer.”

“How about a rain check?”

Vi nodded and smiled.

“Thank you again, Vi. I had a lovely time.”

“Yeah, I did too. Thanks for riding out with me."

Caitlyn inclined her head and a lovely smile adorned her beautiful face. Caitlyn went to step towards her SUV but stopped suddenly.

“Oh! Vi! I’m going straight into Piltover to meet a few friends. I’m not sure how to remove some of these armor inserts.”

“Oh, you know you still have the clothes you wore here—.”

“I actually wanted to wear these. Just something different, I suppose.”

“Being a rebel, huh?” Vi smirked and raised an eyebrow. Caitlyn blushed. “Alright. Come ‘ere.” There were two sets of armor—knees and hips and then a plate over the tailbone. Vi was pretty sure Caitlyn could have easily figured it out on her own, but she decided to humor the other woman. Vi could have thought of a number of reasons why Caitlyn would have asked for Vi’s help instead of doing it herself but none of those made any sense. Caitlyn didn’t seem the lazy type—quite the opposite, actually. She wasn’t incapable, and she wasn’t haughty. The only other reason could be…flirty! But…no! That couldn’t be it. They had a playful banter going between them the last two days, but that was just Vi’s personality. She chalked this request up to Caitlyn simply playing along in their banter. Vi shook her head free of those thoughts and casually knelt and showed Caitlyn how to slip the knee pads out from their holdings. She then stood up and motioned to the area around her hips.

“So, the hips and tailbone pads have to be removed from the inside. You’ll see the pockets I’m talking about when you take them off. If you turn them inside out, it’ll be easier.”

“Oh, okay. Thank you, Vi.”

“See ya round, Cupcake.”

Caitlyn stepped up into her SUV, and with a final wave, she backed up and drove down the road.

Fuck. Vi thought to herself. She had it bad. She started to pace back and forth. This was so bad. She couldn’t possibly be crushing on a Piltie. This felt almost as impossible (and stupid!) as crushing on a straight woman.

“Vi?”

She combed a hand through her long hair as she continued her mental freakout.

“Vi?”

When the guys found out about this, she’d never, freaking never, hear the end of this.

“Violet!”

She jolted out of her inner monologue. Powder had apparently been talking to her. Her expression screamed annoyance, and her hands were on her hips. She was impatiently tapping her foot.

“The hell, Vi! You’re going to make another rut in our parking lot! If you don’t stop pacing!” Vi stopped and looked around the lot. The pavement was cracked, uneven, and had several potholes scattered about. It did look like crap. Shit. Vi thought to herself; she’d add this to her to-do list. A second or two later, she felt a hand collide with the back of her head.

“Jesus, Pow! What the hell?!”

“I just asked the same thing! What’s up with you?”

“Nothing!”

Powder looked around and noticed the lack of a particular car. “Caitlyn left, didn’t she? Oh sis, you got it bad.”

“What? No, I—I only just met her. What? Three days ago? No way.”

“Yeah, but you’ve, like, spent how long with her now? Pretty sure it’s been like hours already. That’s enough, Sis. That’s all it takes sometimes. Ya know?”

“Fuck. Fuck, I know! I know, okay! I just…I didn’t really expect her to come back. At least not this soon.”

Powder nodded. “Then you took her out on your bike,” she said, stating the obvious.

That right there was a rare occurrence. Vi might have been seen as a lady’s woman—the local heartthrob of the Undercity, but she didn’t date, have flings, or have one-night stands. She could flirt like no one’s business, but that was just Vi’s personality. She wouldn’t let anyone close for anything more. Caitlyn had completely caught her off guard—disarmed was more like it. She’d made the effort to return to the Undercity not once but twice—each time seemingly desiring to see and spend time with Vi. Why? Vi didn’t have the slightest clue. A nudge at her shoulder shifted her attention back.

Powder sighed and looked at Vi with a sympathetic smile on her pale face. “Come on, I want to show you a few of these designs I’m working on. Oh! And I want ya to see the van. Ekko’s been helping with the sound system, and it's freakin’ awesome! You won’t believe these subwoofers we got in there!”

“You’re gonna shake all the bolts loose in that thing if you guys put too much in there,” she laughed.

“Now where’s the fun in that! Gotta blast it to really feel the music, ya know? It’s got to rattle your chest or it’s not doin’ its job, Sis.”

Vi understood Powder’s love of loud music. Hell, she blasted her own music when she could. There was something about the double kick bass, the baritone guitars, all the way to the heavy, methodical fingerstyle of the bass. The rattle in your chest…the vibration in your body did indeed make you feel the music. Music was something Vi, Powder, and Ekko all shared an intense love in. Poor Claggor and Mylo just had to endure the musical tastes for the day. Ekko and Powder tended to like genres with heavy-hitting bass. For Powder, the more chaotic it was, the better. 

Caitlyn arrived at the restaurant with only minutes to spare. She sat inside her Varesine Blue Range Rover and took a glance around. For an early Friday evening, the restaurant wasn’t very busy. The evening rush hadn’t quite started. The Gearsmith’s Grille was a tap house and one of the more popular and trendy social spots. This had been a regular scene for older students in the academy. Even through the years, Caitlyn and her small group of friends still frequented the inviting sights and smells of the tap house. This time of the year was special, though, because they had all new beers on tap. While Caitlyn wasn’t typically a drinker of any alcoholic beverage, she still enjoyed the atmosphere and would occasionally sample a drink if offered. The delicious food, warm and familiar atmosphere, and her close-knit group of friends were what made this place special. She opened her door and stepped out. The weather was pleasant, so as she approached the front door, Mel, Jayce, and Viktor stood outside waiting for their reserved booth to free up instead of waiting inside. The tap house wasn’t fancy by any means, more casual, but she still felt self-conscious about her clothing choices. This was Piltover after all—among Piltover’s finest.

She straightened her back—trying to exude confidence. Why should she be self-conscious? Why should she want to hide? Sure, this wasn’t her typical style, and it oozed the more “Undercity—Zaunite” lifestyle, but truth be told, she felt like a total badass—the thought even sounded strange in her own head. But it was just like Vi had said: she felt like a rebel.

Mel caught her eye first. She appraised Caitlyn from head to toe and smirked playfully.

“Hello!” Caitlyn greeted Mel, Jayce, and Viktor.

“Cait!” Mel greeted her first. “It’s so good to see you!” She leaned in and hugged Caitlyn. Their friendship went back almost as far as her friendship with Jayce. The same held true with Viktor, whom the group met while at the academy. They were all close to the same age, but Caitlyn was still the youngest by a couple of years.

“You all as well,” Caitlyn replied. “I’ve been so busy. This is a well overdue break.”

“I’d say you definitely deserve it,” Viktor replied—his heavy accent was kind and gentle. He leaned to the side, bracing himself on his self-made and self-designed cane, and hugged Caitlyn at his free side. He was a brilliant scientist and engineer—one of the brightest minds Piltover had ever seen.

Jayce was the only one not to say anything at first. He had gone inside to check on their booth. “Our table’s ready,” he announced as he opened the door and motioned for them to come in. Mel linked her arm with Caitlyn’s as they walked inside. Jayce finally spoke as he placed his hand on her shoulder in greeting. “Your outfit’s new, Cait. Where’d you get it?” He almost sounded suspicious but tried to make it pass as flippant.

“I think it’s lovely, Cait. It suits you,” Mel whispered into her ear. Caitlyn smiled.

“Thank you, Mel. And just a shop on the outskirts of town. It caught my eye, and I wanted it.”

“Hey, I’m not saying it looks bad or anything… Just different from what you normally wear.”

Caitlyn thought about it for a moment. “Perhaps not. But…these past few months…the pace has been intense. I’ve not had time to do anything for myself. Just in these couple of days…” she paused as they reached their table. She always preferred the inside seat, and so Mel let her slide in first. “These couple of days have been so refreshing. Almost like I’m rediscovering myself or even discovering a new part of me.”

Caitlyn was surprised at her own words but new instantly that they were true. She was never one to really try anything new. She was straight-laced and followed her itinerary down to the minute. She didn’t like surprises or spur-of-the-moment decisions. Yet, every day of her holiday so far, she’d made that very kind of decision. Today had been a ‘go with the flow’ type of day. Oddly enough, as she hung out with Vi, she never felt that anxiety. The anxiety that went along with spontaneity—that panic she would have normally felt deviating from her planned schedule and routine. She had truly enjoyed Vi’s company and the ease and comfort it brought to her.

“That’s wonderful,” Mel nudged her with her arm. “You’ve earned it. Now sit back and just enjoy it.”

Jayce nodded, then asked, “What have you been up to?”

“Not too much, I suppose. Yesterday, I returned Vi’s jacket—you remember the woman that helped me Wednesday—I returned her jacket, and we had coffee. She owns a motorcycle shop. She and her siblings make the most beautiful custom motorcycles! Anyway, this morning… I decided to go back and see them.” She concluded, suddenly noticing how everyone was staring at her.

Thankfully, she got a momentary reprieve when the waiter came over and took their drink orders as well as their typical pizza orders.

Mel was the first to speak out. “A mysterious woman? Motorcycles? Why haven’t I heard about this?! Caitlyn Kiramman, the scandal! Tell me all about it.” Mel said. It was drowned out by Jayce’s voice cutting straight through.

“—You mean that Zaunite?!” He hissed.

“Jayce! You will not speak or allude to Vi in that manner. She may still be a stranger to you, but she deserves respect.”

“I just don’t trust her.”

“You’ve never even spoken to her. Your opinion comes from her appearance and social status, nothing more. Just because she’s from Zaun does not make her less than us. Despite what so many believe.”

“Caitlyn is right, Jayce.” Viktor finally whispered. “Or have you forgotten where I come from?”

“No, of course not! You’re right. I’m sorry, I was being an ass.” Jayce conceded.

“Jayce, why don’t you head to the bar and order us some drinks?” Mel told rather than asked. He stood, and Viktor walked along with him.

As the two men walked away, Mel inquired about the woman. Caitlyn told her a condensed version of the last three days. There was just too much racing through Caitlyn’s mind to tell Mel within such a short time—minutes—until the guys got back. ‘She intrigues me,’ Caitlyn had said. Mel listened intently as Caitlyn rushed through all the major details. Her smile unconsciously grew larger as she talked, and her eyes continued to soften. Mel watched on with amusement.

Jayce and Viktor returned with three beers and a glass of water for Caitlyn. As they waited for their pizzas and as Jayce was retelling his recent research, Caitlyn sent Vi a text. It was the first text between the two of them. But Caitlyn wanted to keep their conversations going.

Caitlyn: Hello, Vi. This is Caitlyn.

Vi: Sup, Cupcake!

Vi: How’s your night goin?

Caitlyn: Quite well, so far. Thank you. I do have a question, though.

Vi: Ok…shoot.

Caitlyn: Do you like beer?

Caitlyn: Specifically, craft beer?

Vi: Definitely love beer, but can’t say I’ve tried craft beer?

Caitlyn: I’m currently at a tap house with my friends. I was just curious if beer was something you liked. They specialize in craft beer.

Vi: Sounds like a cool place. You like craft beer, then? Not gonna lie, wouldn’t have pegged you a beer type of girl.

Caitlyn: I don’t typically drink alcohol in the general sense, though I will sample what my friends offer me to try on occasion.

Caitlyn: Anyway, sorry to bother you. I knew you frequented The Last Drop and this place just made me think of you.

Caitlyn: I just made this incredibly awkward. I apologize.

Vi: No! Nothin to apologize for, Cupcake. Youre all good. Promise.

Vi: And youre definitely not bothering me. Feel free to text anytime. Or you know, call if you want. 😊

Caitlyn: I’ll most definitely keep that in mind. Perhaps I’ll speak with you again soon?

Vi: I’m down with that, Cupcake. 😌

Caitlyn: Oh, and I haven’t forgotten the fact you paid for the coffee I was supposed to treat YOU to. Perhaps instead of coffee, I could bring you here? As a thank you? My treat this time. No exceptions.

Vi: Asking me out, again, Cupcake? 😉

Vi: Though, you know, we could always do both? Coffee and beer?

Vi: Wait, didn’t mean for that to sound weird or anything. Your just cool to hang with.

Caitlyn: I understood your meaning, Vi. You’re fine.”

Vi: It’s a date then, Cupcake. Just tell me when and where and Ill be there!

Vi: Wait…it rhymed! 😂🤣

Caitlyn: Goodnight, Vi.

Vi: Good night, sweet maiden of the golden ale.

Caitlyn laughed as she shook her head in amusement. The quote was definitely fitting considering where she currently was at the moment. She assumed, and correctly so, that had been Vi's intent. She was at a tap house after all sampling beer, and yes, ale. Still, the quote was unexpected, yet incredibly charming. 

Caitlyn: Did you just quote Lord of the Rings?

Vi: Yep, I totally did 🤓

Vi: I’m actually surprised you knew the reference tbh

Caitlyn: You will find I can be full of surprises.

**

Vi had nearly choked on her jazzed-up boxed mac and cheese dinner, secretly one of her favorite meals since childhood, when the text from Caitlyn came through. She had not been expecting Caitlyn to contact her so soon. She wasn’t complaining, far from it actually. From her experience, though, people tended to be so engrossed in their own lives that potential friends or potential relationships always seemed to fall off the radar.

At the first mention of beer, she couldn’t help but pick up and look at her own half-empty bottle of beer. It was your typical domestic beer picked and bought by yours truly at the corner market. Cheap and readily available for a casual night’s enjoyment. Her curiosity was definitely piqued. They messaged back and forth for a bit, but then her beer almost erupted from her mouth at the next message. Her nose burned as a result of her inhaling some and then some shooting into her nasal cavity. She sat the bottle down and stared at the message as she ignored the pair of paws against her bare leg and the wet nose that nudged at her skin. There was food on the table, and she just happened to make the slightest vocalization. Of course, the little shits would now be on high alert. She avoided any sort of eye contact, but she did reach down to scratch between two sets of ears.

‘…this place just made me think of you.’

Vi’s smile grew wide as she stared at the message from Caitlyn. Somehow, after only a few days of knowing each other, there seemed to be a greater understanding of each other. Almost like they had known each other for years, not days. It was a level of comfort Vi had never known or ever expected to know. When she told Caitlyn she could call or text her anytime, she truly meant it. The trip to Loris’s earlier had been a lot of fun. Who knew a flat tire and a chance meeting could have staged the grounds for such an unlikely friendship?

And Vi was down for it all.

Later that evening…

Caitlyn: I’m still surprised you referenced Lord of the Rings.

Vi: What can I say, I’m a massively awesome nerd at heart.

Vi: I can be full of surprises as well, ya know. 😉

Chapter Text

"When our worlds collide

Yeah, you make me feel like I could fly

When our worlds collide

And I knew, I was just like you

From the moment you arrived"

-JVKE (Worlds Collide- Inspired by Arcane League of Legends)

**

It was midafternoon on the following Friday, and Vi was in the classroom she normally reserved on Tuesdays and Thursdays for her self-defense classes. She left the shop a bit early so she could make it to the gym and get ready for Caitlyn’s arrival. They had been texting throughout the week. The texts were usually small talk, but the playful banter between the two remained. It was midweek when Caitlyn asked about her self-defense classes and made the point she’d like to attend one. Vi said they could have a lesson Friday afternoon and then head to The Last Drop afterwards to hang out.

Caitlyn agreed and then asked about pricing, but Vi deflected and hedged around the question. It didn’t go unnoticed, but Caitlyn had let it pass…for the moment anyway.

The fact that Vi never let her pay for the gear she chose at the shop didn’t go unnoticed either. Caitlyn had stashed the tags in her pocket that day and had every intention in the world to get to the shop on a day Vi was solely working at the gym and pay. She wanted to support her friend—a small business owner who deserved to be compensated for her work and merchandise. Caitlyn would figure out something.

Caitlyn: What should I wear for the class? Anything in particular?

Vi: Nah, not really. I mean, its based on mixed martial arts. Boxing and MMA are what I’m trained in, so my classes are kinda a mix. So just wear something that gives you freedom of movement. 😉

Caitlyn: Noted. See you then!

Vi: See ya then, Cupcake.

**

Vi had been on edge all day. From the moment Caitlyn texted her about lessons, her whole body vibrated with nerves and excitement — nerves and excitement that were all too apparent during the day in the shop. After several hours of it, Powder had finally had enough.

“Vi, I swear to everything that’s holy, if you don’t stop clicking that fucking thing, I’m going to shove this wrench up your ass!” Vi looked down and finally noticed the vintage Zippo lighter in her hand. Clicking it was a nervous tick of hers, but it was obvious she’d been going ham on the thing for Powder to snap like she did. Vi didn’t smoke, never wanted to touch cigarettes or cigars, but Vander had given her the lighter to ignite the torches in the shop. She snapped it shut one last time and shoved it in her jeans’ pocket. “Between the clanking of your lighter and Ekko clicking his pocket watches shut…I don’t know which of you I want to throttle faster.”

“Hey, his pocket watch collection is pretty sweet.”

“Sooo not the point, Vi!” 

“Sorry, sorry,” Vi tried to pacify and made a point to show Powder the lighter was still in her pocket. “I’ll stop with the fidgeting.”

Powder’s head fell into her hands, and she let out a frustrated groan. “You’re fucking twitchy as hell, and it’s making my eye twitch!” She exclaimed and pointed to her left eye with exaggeration and a flourish of her fingers. “You know what it’s like to try and paint detail work with your fucking eye twitching?! It ain’t fun! Every time it does, I want to stalk out here and smack you with my 3-inch paintbrush!”

“I’m sorry, okay! Damn! Chill. I’m handling it.”

“Obviously.” Powder drawled out, exaggerating each syllable. “Ya know, you shouldn’t be so nervous, Vi.” Powder said, quieter this time. She let out a long, exasperated breath. “She’s been down here how many times now? And lemme tell ya, she ain’t visiting here for the scenery. She’s makin’ an effort to come and see you.” Powder finished and pointed square at Vi’s chest. “So, buck up, and go woo your lady friend.” 

Vi stood in her practice room, the air heavy with disinfectants and cleaning supplies, yet it still had the slightest muskiness of an old gym. She stretched, her muscles taut and ready for what was to come, but her mind was a whirlwind of nerves. She usually could ooze confidence for days and brush off any nerves with a practiced ease. But Caitlyn completely undid her. She held these classes several times during the week and shared them with many different women, but the thought of one-on-one lessons with Caitlyn? It made her whole body vibrate with anticipation and nerves . She looked around the room hastily. Her roughly constructed room was old and less than immaculate. Stains and cracks dotted the ceiling, paint was chipping off the walls in places, and the mat she used was frayed and torn in sections. This place was hers, though. A place she had worked hard for. A place where she had poured her soul into every nook and cranny. She glanced around, knowing it was a stark contrast to the polished and high-dollar gyms Caitlyn was accustomed to. Yet, Caitlyn made the effort to drive here, into Zaun, a few times now since they met. The atmosphere and scene of Zaun must not be too off-putting. That thought alone was enough to push away any lingering doubts.

The sliding door to the room opened clumsily, and in stepped Caitlyn. Vi audibly gasped. She was wearing an almost traditional fighting style outfit—black and red—almost like the outfits worn by the firebenders in the Fire Nation. Her form-fitting pants were black, as was the tank top she wore, and over the tank top there was a striking and distinctive red wrap that crisscrossed over her ample chest. The outfit showcased her thin waist and firm abdomen. She had black and red-trimmed arm coverings that snugged around her lower arms and onto her wrists and ultimately looped around her thumbs. Her beautiful blue-black hair was pulled back into a messy ponytail. Her strong shoulders and upper arms were bare, which showcased years of diligent gym attendance. Dear god, she looked like a…a fucking goddess straight out of a fantasy novel. Then there was Vi, who was undoubtedly, an absolute fucking powerhouse—built to the nines—in her own right. Yet, she stood in her tattered and torn, almost threadbare, gray joggers, a thin white tank top, and wraps around her hands. Talk about a princess and a frog! Ohhhhhh, this had been a bad idea! A horrible, horrible idea!

Then—then—those incredibly expressive and intense eyes locked onto hers. Vi felt her heart stutter and her breath shakily slipped from her lips. She had always known how beautiful Caitlyn was but seeing her so confident in completely new surroundings took Vi's breath away. Caitlyn moved with an air of ownership, and suddenly, it was Vi who felt out of her depth.

Caitlyn slipped off her shoes at the door and walked inside towards Vi. Thankfully, Caitlyn’s voice broke through Vi’s inner musings and panic.

“Hello, Vi!” Caitlyn breathed as she stopped an arm's distance away from Vi. There was a slight pause, like she was debating something, and then she closed the distance for a sheepish hug.

Vi was suddenly overwhelmed in her presence. The warmth and solid nature of her touch. The light but present scent that encapsulated Caitlyn—probably a mixture of laundry detergent, body wash, shampoo, and/or cologne. Her whole presence was soothing. Vi tried not to be self-conscious any more than she already was. She was sure she probably smelled of sweat and gym just from the short time she’d been here warming up.

“Hey,” she said almost breathless. “Shit! You, you look…wow.”

Caitlyn’s brow pinched out of concern as she looked down at her outfit and took a step back. “What’s wrong? Was this inappropriate for the lessons?”

“No!” Vi blurted out, startling herself, and reached for Caitlyn’s hand. “No, not at all. Just…you really class up the joint.” Vi smiled and noticed even Caitlyn’s toenails were painted a dark red. “You look hella better than I do.” God, she was just classically beautiful in any and every way.

Caitlyn’s face softened, and her posture seemed to relax. She exhaled and squeezed Vi’s hand that hadn’t yet left her own. “You look fine, Vi. Very comfortable and at ease.”

Vi smiled as her cheeks reddened, and she scratched at the back of her neck. “You ready?”

Caitlyn nodded, but then she stopped, and her left hand reached up to Vi’s shoulder to still her moments. It worked because Vi instantly froze in place. “What happened?” Caitlyn asked as her right hand then rose up and she ghosted the tip of her fingers around the bandage at Vi’s jaw. Shit, Vi thought to herself. She thought she had removed all the bandages. “I was sparring with some of the guys yesterday. Got my nose and eyebrow too, but those didn’t split as bad.”

“They don’t look too bad, I suppose.” Caitlyn surmised. “I’ll be mindful of your injuries, regardless.” Caitlyn assured her and Vi couldn’t help the eyebrow raise. It was almost like Caitlyn was inferring she’d ‘go easy’ on Vi. Weird… cause who exactly was the master and who was the apprentice here?  Vi was the one giving Caitlyn lessons. Vi shook her head in amusement as Caitlyn stepped back and inclined her head forward. “Where shall we start?”

Vi moved with practiced ease, her steps light and deliberate as she navigated around her space. They had been into the lessons for almost forty-five minutes, but in those forty-five minutes, Vi was surprised to learn that Caitlyn gave as good as she got. She was ashamed to admit she’d underestimated the Piltovan. Those defined upper arms and shoulders weren’t just pretty to look at. No, they had teeth and unnatural muscle memory. With every demonstration Vi gave on various poses and counters, Caitlyn mimicked in turn with almost perfect execution. She found herself flat on her back numerous times with a soft, unyielding weight pinning her down to the floor mat. It never really occurred to Vi this might not have been Caitlyn’s first foray into martial arts. Not until Caitlyn stole the breath from her—literally—with an insane and highly skilled takedown. She had grabbed Vi’s arm and, using her strength and momentum to her advantage, hurled Vi over her shoulder and slammed her into the padded mat.

Vi lost her breath for a multitude of reasons, many of which she will refuse to admit for a good while. Her main issue, however, was she literally had the wind knocked out of her. As her lungs struggled and seized, she felt soft but sure hands on her cheeks.

Caitlyn had since released her takedown pose, and her hands had immediately gone to Vi’s face.

“Easy, easy, easy,” Caitlyn breathed out and looked at Vi. Her stark blue eyes darted from grey eyes to gorgeous, full lips, then back to grey. She jolted back to herself and rushed out, “Shit, Vi! I’m so sorry! Was that too much? Did I hurt you?” She brushed red strands of damp hair from Vi’s face.

When Vi finally managed to get air back into her lungs, she gasped out, “Fuck. Holy fucking shit! The hell did you learn that?”

Caitlyn apologized profusely until Vi started to laugh. That laugh turned into a choked sound when she realized their proximity and position.

Caitlyn was still kneeling over Vi with her knee positioned between Vi’s thighs and her legs straddling Vi’s thigh. Shit! Vi felt all the heat from her overheated body move instantly in two directions. Heat flooded her face simultaneously settled low in her abdomen. She prayed to every deity she could think of that Caitlyn wouldn’t notice.

However, despite all Vi’s praying, Caitlyn did, in fact, notice. She noticed Vi’s face redden even more, and, for a brief moment, their gazes met. It was a heavy and charged connection. Caitlyn realized the closeness of their position and couldn’t help the added heat that went straight to her face, too.

Vi's hand had unconsciously reached and clutched Caitlyn’s upper thigh.

“Damn, Cupcake. Gotta admit, that was hot as fuck. I shoulda known when you walked in wearing that you might have known what you were doing. How long?”

Caitlyn shrugged and thought back to her childhood. Evenings and weekends spent at the academy learning strength, discipline, respect, coordination, patience, focus, confidence, and so much more. The way of martial arts knew almost no bounds in its benefits, and her parents made her seize all the opportunities it had to offer. Never once, as an adult, had she regretted her training as a child. It had given her so much. She just wished it had been her choice to make, instead of being forced. “Since I was young. My parents wanted to instill in me the importance of personal development—discipline, respect, and confidence—and it helped with my marksmanship as well. Breathing techniques and the like.” Caitlyn concluded.

Vi moved her arms back so she could recline up on her elbows and arms. She was more at eye level with Caitlyn now. “You shoulda told me. I’d’ve brought my A-game!”

“And miss seeing your reactions? I think not!”

They both laughed, and Vi plopped back down to the ground and closed her eyes for a moment. “Shit, my body’s going to hate me in the morning,” she groaned. She felt the whispers of touches against her hand and realized Caitlyn was toying with the fabric wrapped around her hand. Vi opened one eye and moved a finger up to meet Caitlyn’s hand. “Ya know, now I can finally say I had a woman completely take my breath away.”

Caitlyn blushed furiously. Vi chuckled, and her eyes sparkled with pure mirth. Gorgeous grey eyes that seemed to captivate Caitlyn’s mind at each glance. They were so gentle and so full of emotion.

Caitlyn broke eye contact and shook her head fondly with a grin. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Yeah, maybe.” Vi smirked. “I better get up before my body decides to lock me in this position.” Vi sat up and Caitlyn shifted positions; now she was facing more of Vi’s side and back yet remained kneeling next to her. Caitlyn’s eyes drifted across Vi’s form and instantly landed on the exposed skin of her arms, shoulder, and part of her back. “I’ve not yet seen your tattoos like this.”  

Vi smirked as she lifted the bottom hem of her tank and used it to wipe the sweat from her brow and face. That’s when Caitlyn saw the fragments of the tattoo across her lower back. Apparently, the entirety of her back was covered. Caitlyn licked her lips as she thought about it.

Without conscious thought, Caitlyn reached up and traced the outline of Vi’s shoulder tattoo. It was very intricate and still held its dark coloration—not yet faded with time. At the edge of Vi’s arm cutouts, she saw a noticeable scar. A thick ribbon of skin. It disappeared beneath the fabric of her shirt. She felt the muscles beneath her fingers tense, and she stopped but didn’t pull away.

“How did you get this? If it’s not too personal?” Caitlyn asked softly.

It was personal, in the sense that Vi had not yet disclosed that part of herself. Soon, she kept promising herself. She wanted Caitlyn to know and see her and not her past yet.

“Fight…chick pulled out a knife.” It wasn’t a lie. A woman did in fact have a type of knife…a homemade knife…a shank. Caught Vi unawares in the showers not long after she was incarcerated. She had spent several days in medical after that particular incident - after the the bitch slashed her right across her side and into her abdomen.

Caitlyn’s soft touches were making her overheated skin ripple in gooseflesh. Vi cleared her throat, turned her head, and smiled. She shifted away from the soft touches but stood and offered her hand to Caitlyn.

“You up for more? Now that I know you’re not a newbie, I can really test ya!”

Caitlyn allowed Vi to help her up and responded with a playful, “Don’t go gentle.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it, babe,” Vi said. She smirked and then winked. Caitlyn flushed but took up position.

It was approaching late afternoon and into early evening when the pair decided to end their session. As Vi cleaned and stored away the mats, Caitlyn showered. A few minutes later, Caitlyn approached from the showers as Vi was finishing up.

“Hey, so… If you don’t have any plans… I mean, if you do, that’s totally cool, but it’s Friday night. Me and the gang normally grab a few drinks or a pitcher at The Last Drop and head down to the basement to play D&D. Nerdy I know, but it’s been a tradition for like, ever. Don’t know if we’ll ever grow out of it. Kids at heart, ya know. Anyway, Ekko usually grabs us a few pizzas from Jericho’s too, and we just…hang out. Celebrate the end of the week by playing D&D, having a couple drinks, and pizza. You’re more than welcome to come if you want.”

Caitlyn’s heart swelled at the invitation. She nodded enthusiastically, and Vi took off for the showers, equally excited to continue the evening with Cait.

They walked a short distance to the bar. Vi had told Caitlyn to park her SUV back in the back of the gym so it was safe being left there.

“So, you all play D&D?” Caitlyn asked as they walked. She was honestly amazed and thrilled.

“We play it a lot actually. Me, Powder, Ekko, Claggor, and Mylo. Sometimes we have two more join us—Gideon and Harrow, but they’re busy with their own stuff tonight. Sucks too because they’re really fun to play with. Gideon, she’s hilarious, and Harrow has a proverbial stick up her ass, but she creates the most badass characters. You’d think they absolutely despise one another the way they bicker, but Gideon is head over heels for Harrow, but I think Harrow is even beyond that for Gideon. Maybe you’ll get to meet them one day. But anyway, we either play in the basement at The Last Drop or at my place.”

“I’ve always wanted to play as a child. I just never had anyone to play with.”

“Well…you got us now, Cupcake. You could join our campaign! We can always pick up a fellow traveler on our journey! You just gotta make a character sheet. I can help you if you want. It’ll be fun!”

“I think I’d like that.”

“Sweet! Powder, my sister, I don’t know if you’ve met her yet, but she’s the DM. She gets a little overzealous and dramatic, but she makes it fun.”

Caitlyn thought back to the sign that hung over Vi’s bike shop. Through conversations, she knew Vi’s sister worked at the shop and did the body painting and art on the bikes. She’d always wondered if the two names were the same person. “May I ask you a question?”

“Sure.”

“Your sister… You all call her Powder, but does she also go by Jinx?”

“Yes and no. There’s a complicated history with that. To family and friends, she’s Powder. But her art—her studio and to the community—she’s Jinx. I guess you could call Jinx Powder’s alter ego. She feels like she can express herself, at least in certain ways, better as Jinx.”

Slowing their steps, the entrance to the bar came into view. Neon lights illuminated the sidewalk as dusk began its transition.

They walked into The Last Drop, and Caitlyn was immediately hit with the smell of pipe and cigar smoke. The bar was loud but not too obnoxious, and a jukebox was playing classic rock off in the corner. Several patrons were playing cards, and a few glanced up long enough to give Vi acknowledgment but her a suspicious glare. Standing behind the bar, partially obstructed by two men, stood Vander. She immediately recognized him from the gym the day she initially tried to return Vi’s jacket. He was leaning on the bar with his elbows as he talked and puffed on his pipe.

Vi led them both up to the bar.

“Hey, kiddo! And hello again, Miss Caitlyn. What can I do for you all?”

“She’s gonna hang out here for a bit.” She turned to Caitlyn and asked if she wanted anything to drink. Caitlyn chose a bottle of water, and Vi got a Jack and Coke and a bottle of water for herself. She nudged Caitlyn with her elbow and inclined her head towards the back of the bar. Since the bar was loud, Vi leaned forward where Caitlyn could feel the whisper of breath on her ear. “We’re gonna to head towards that door at the back. Lemme grab these real quick.” Vi grabbed the three drinks; she was insistent on carrying Cait’s as well, and they weaved through the bar. Vi had her hand lightly settled on her lower back as they walked. She heard Vi beside her call out.

“‘Sup Benzo!” Vi held up her Jack and Coke in greeting. He waved in return and continued wiping down the bar top.

“Who’s your girl, Vi?” Someone called out from the crowd. The voice sounded like a woman’s but was deep.

“Oh my god.” Vi muttered. “Come on, this way.” Vi said quickly and took Caitlyn’s hand within her own. Vi opened the wooden door, and the couple headed down some rickety wooden steps to what looked like a modest hangout space. There was music playing with a funky bass line. Catilyn wasn’t the one to typically show outward emotion, but she found her fingers wanting to pat out the beat against her thigh. She could hear the rap lyrics emanating from the room, “I told you not to play with the misfit toys, We running this game, Getting sick of your noise, You stranded with a bad bunch of misfit toys.”

They stepped into the room where there was a well-worn leather couch and recliner, a small refrigerator in one corner, what looked like a personal bar, an older TV on the wall, and a large table in the middle of the room. She recognized the faces from her short time in the shop. Powder, Ekko, Claggor, and Mylo all sat around the table. They had already demolished a good portion of the pizza, and it seemed one pitcher of beer had been emptied.

“They’re here!” Claggor announced as he grabbed the stereo remote and turned the music down. His voice hinted at his excitement. She remembered the wave she received from him on her second return. This time everyone greeted her and Vi in unison.

“What took you guys so long?!” Powder asked as she moved her body and hips in sync with the music still playing, albeit softly. She didn’t look up, instead focusing on the book she had opened in front of her.

“Sorry, Pow. If you can believe it, Caitlyn here actually kicked my ass! She was holding out on me this whole time.”

Powder turned her head up in surprise and smirked. “Bout time someone put your ass into place.”

“Hey! I’m not that bad!”

“Nah, she really isn’t. At least not until she gets in the ring. Then she talks all kinds of shit.”

“It’s all part of the game, ya know. Can’t help it. Ya gotta play the part. You gotta seem confident—cocky.” Vi reasoned and winked at Caitlyn.

“Since you’re here, sis. Can you run upstairs and have Vander make me my drink?”

“Seriously, Pow?! You can’t do that yourself?”

“I’ve got to set up and prepare! Sheesh!”

Vi groaned. “Fine.” She turned to Caitlyn, muttering to herself. “I’ll be right back.”

Vi had only been gone a couple of minutes, but Caitlyn caught herself glancing over to the stairs one too many times, waiting for Vi to come back. To have that familiar and comforting presence back in this safe but still unfamiliar environment.

“Soooooo,” Powder began as she casually flipped through her DM book. “What are your intentions with my sister?” She asked with a pointed look.

Caitlyn’s mouth gaped open, and she struggled to even find her voice. She wanted the ground to open up and swallow her, and—where was Vi?!

“Woah! Kidding, kidding! Gah, thought your head was about to explode or something, jeez.” Powder chuckled. “Seriously, just a little sisterly interrogation… hehe.” She continued to chuckle and rubbed her hands together with a maniacal smirk. “But, really, what’s a high-class Piltie doin’ hanging in the Undercity so much? Hangin’ with my sister? Now hanging with us sump rats? It’s weird.”

Caitlyn looked at Powder long and hard, trying to level her with the best trial attorney face she could muster. She tried not to allow her mask to slip. She would not be intimidated.

“I’ve enjoyed spending time with Vi. There are no ulterior motives. When one has spent their whole life around people who only judge you for your usefulness or how you can benefit them…when you come across someone like your sister, someone who helped you with seemingly no benefit to themselves whatsoever… No selfish gain…just offering help because it’s the right thing to do? I believe Vi has a good heart, and I simply wish to get to know her as a person.” It was a long and telling response. Perhaps a bit of rambling coming from a woman who spent her days working and presenting cases as a lawyer. The old saying for lawyers that ‘less is more’ when it comes to talking, or knowing when to shut up, flew out the window. This wasn’t Caitlyn the attorney speaking to a client or a judge. This was Caitlyn speaking to Vi’s sister…an equal…a potential friend.

“Damn right she is!” Powder exclaimed. “And if you cause so much as one tiny crack in that ‘big ol’ heart of hers, I’ll hunt you down, Piltie.”

The whole group stared and looked between Powder (who was channeling Jinx in all her glory) and Caitlyn.

“Agreed.” Caitlyn acknowledged.

Ekko cleared his throat. “Sweet. Now that that’s out of the way… you here to just hang out? Or you actually wanting to play?”

“I’ve always wanted to play. Especially growing up. I never had friends, and certainly no acquaintances that were interested in such ‘trivial’ things.”

Ekko hummed, “Don’t mean to be rude, but I have a hard time seeing you as the type wanting to play D&D. Honestly, it’s a hard sell for me. You? Interested in any of this? Really? I just have a hard time buying it.”

"That’s a fair assessment. I don’t blame you for assuming that. My upbringing was strict and rigid. I really had no friends. No one my age, at least. I spent most of my time alone, and I guess you could say I found an escape through reading.”

Caitlyn remembers those times all too vividly. She had been a misfit in a world that didn’t easily accept those misfits. Granted, she still felt like a misfit—or an outsider, as her mother told her repeatedly.

“What did you read?” Claggor asked.

“I adored fantasy. When I was in grade school, a classmate was reading The Hobbit. The cover art drew me in. I immediately went to the library and ended up taking it home. I was enamored by it. Soon, I read all the books by Tolkien. I also found a love for maps and found every book I could on the ones he had created. This is perhaps embarrassing, but I made quite a large map of my own at one point and hung it on my wall. As I read, I took pins and marked each location as the book went along—I even used twine to connect the pins and follow the paths each group took. Anyway, I loved reading the stories again and following along with the maps. As I said, it was an escape.”

“Cool.” Mylo said, finally speaking up. “Claggor, get ‘er a character sheet. Next session you can start with us.”

“I—I’d love that. Thank you.”

Caitlyn peered up and saw Powder looking at her with an intensity she’d only seen a few times. Powder was sizing her up—studying her. Caitlyn tried not to fidget under the scrutiny. Finally, Powder spoke. “Ya know… I can see why Vi likes you. You seem kinda cool…for a Piltie anyway.” Powder muttered the last part. Caitlyn smiled to herself.

What Caitlyn didn’t know was that Vi had been standing on the stairs listening almost from the very beginning. Vi even managed to resist rushing in, as hard as it was to listen to, during Powder’s integration. Her curiosity at what Cait might say overtook her.

As soon as Caitlyn finished, Vi casually walked in. She handed Powder her special drink that Vander had always made for her since she was a kid — even down to her favorite cup, and don’t forget her straw! Vi headed to the seat next to Caitlyn. She pulled the chair out from the table to sit down, and as she did, she leaned toward, put out her hand on Caitlyn’s shoulder, squeezed it in a comforting gesture, and asked, “You okay? They haven’t harassed ya too much, have they?”

With a timid smile Caitlyn shook her head. Then she watched as they all began getting out their dice sets and homemade miniatures. Claggor unfolded a crudely drawn map of their world. He stared at it with a furrow in his brow, his big brown eyes studying it. “You said you like maps, Caitlyn?” Claggor asked.

“I do.”

“You’ve drawn and made your own maps, right?”

“It’s been a long time, but yes.”

“My map skills suck. I bet you could make us an awesome one.”

“Would you like me to try?”

The whole table answered in unison. “Yes!”

“Hell yeah!” Mylo said in conjunction with Ekko’s “Sweet!”

“Don’t feel like you have to.” Vi whispered to Caitlyn as the group preoccupied themselves.

“I believe I’d really enjoy it. Especially since I’m alone at the house for the next few weeks. It would give me something enjoyable to work on. Something for me, for a change.”

“Pow!” Vi called out and tossed her balled-up straw wrapper at Powder’s head. Bam. Right in the forehead. “When we’re done, give Cait all the papers you got. She’ll need the backstory to reference along with your scribble, Claggor.

“Yeah, yeah. Got it, Sis.”

Soon, their campaign was in full swing.

Caitlyn sat back and watched the scene unfold around her.

Vi’s character was stuck in some sort of trap, and Powder was being a ‘little shit!’. Vi’s words, not Caitlyn’s. The rest of the group were battling a group of hobgoblins. The group’s characters were complaining as each character launched their own attack; most of the complaints were towards Vi’s character—a massive goliath fighter with flaming red-orange hair and huge gauntlets. Dice were being rolled, numbers were being called out, and either attacks proved successful or they failed.

Finally, after a long encounter and Mylo fussing about Powder’s DM skills, which Caitlyn found very entertaining and impressive, the characters escaped and retreated a safe distance away to make camp. A couple of hours had gone by, and the group concluded their game for the evening. 

As dice and miniatures were being put away, Ekko admonished Vi. Apparently, it was Vi’s character’s rash and hot-tempered actions that had led up to the group’s encounter that night.

“Vi! Why?! Why did you have to go all brawler on their asses last time?! That’s why they attacked us!”

“Hey! It wasn’t me! It was Loka!” Caitlyn was told later by Vi she had chosen the character name Loka because it meant stone fist, which was a good fit for a female goliath — but the group insisted on calling her character ‘Fat-Hands’. So, Fat-Hands officially became her character’s nickname and the name everyone used.

“We all know Fat-Hands can’t resist a good brawl! Even if the odds aren’t in our favor.” Claggor confirmed.

“Hey, Fat-Hands is a tank and a great front-line defense!” Vi said in defense of her beloved character.

Caitlyn sat and just observed. Her cheeks hurt from all the smiles and laughing she had done. This was the most fun she’d had in…years. Years. Even as a child or teenager. The joy of the family around her warmed her heart. She didn’t feel like an intruder or an outsider. She felt included and accepted.

“So, you saw a little of our campaign. Whaddya think?” Vi asked. Her eyes sparkled, not only from the warm lights of the room but also from the alcohol she had consumed. She held Caitlyn’s gaze longer than usual and those grey eyes softened more and more as each second passed.

“I think I’d really like to join you all. I’ve enjoyed this evening tremendously.”

Claggor, who had been preparing campaign materials to hand off to Caitlyn, pulled out several sheets, including a character sheet, and handed them to Caitlyn. He even gave her his copy of the Player’s Handbook.

Caitlyn eventually said her goodbyes to everyone, and Vi walked with her back to Caitlyn’s SUV.

“Thanks for hanging out with me—I mean, with us! I hope you had a good time. I know everyone else did. Powder may not admit it, but she definitely did.”

“I enjoyed spending time with you, Vi. You and your family. This was the most fun I’ve had in years, and I’m speaking in regard to the whole afternoon and evening. Thank you for inviting me. Especially to spend time around your family.”

“Talk with ya later? Maybe?” Vi asked.

“I’d like that.”

“See ya, Cupcake.” She opened the door for Caitlyn, who slipped into the driver’s seat.

“Vi?” Caitlyn called out. Vi turned and smiled at her. “What are you doing tomorrow?

“I’ll be working in the shop ‘til noon. But after I’m free.” After Caitlyn was silent for a few seconds, Vi pressed her with a grin and soft tone. “Why? What’s up?”

“Well, I still owe you that coffee.”

“Hmm, you know, I’m never one to turn down an offer for coffee. Alright, Cupcake! You want me to meet you there? Just tell me where—”

“I can pick you up.”

 “I feel bad,” Vi began. “You’re always coming down here to see me—I—I mean do stuff.” Vi tries to correct posthaste. Caitlyn smiled.

“I enjoy coming here, Vi. It feels…less lonely. Plus, it gives me something to do instead of brooding in that empty house. And I do enjoy seeing you, you know. Stop doubting that, please.”

They said their goodnights, and Vi watched as Caitlyn’s SUV’s taillights faded off into the night.

Chapter Text

Vi fumbled around aimlessly in the warehouse as she waited for Caitlyn to arrive. She was working half a day but decided to spend the few hours organizing parts and inventory in the storeroom. With Powder’s paint station in the back of the warehouse, the building wasn’t climate controlled, but industrial floor fans kept the large structure relatively cool and comfortable. Vi hoped she wouldn’t break too much of a sweat doing this seemingly mundane task. She had, of course, taken a shower first thing that morning, but she really didn’t want to have to take another one before her coffee outing with Caitlyn. If she could just roll around in the temperate warehouse, and not get all sweaty and grimy, she could go as is. It wasn’t like she was in her work clothes after all.  

She got to a box that was slightly out of reach for her shorter height. It was pushed back beyond the edge just out of the reach of her fingertips. Vi groaned in agitation. She looked around for her step-stool, but, of freaking course, it was nowhere to be found. She glanced down and side-eyed her rolling sit-on creeper. Her mind screamed absolutely not. Don’t you DARE Violet Lanes. She also heard Powder, Ekko, Claggor, and Vander, all warning her not to even think about it. Mylo would have sat back and watched the shit show that would/could easily come about. Fuck it. She was agile and quick on her feet. Just quick enough to grab the box and she’d be off of it in a second flat. The shelf would keep her steady.

She took a firm hold on the side of the shelf and hoisted herself up. She was mid-transition and hadn’t yet gotten her left foot fully planted when the warehouse door slammed shut and Powder called out.

“Vi?! You in here?!”

“Yeah Pow-Pow hold on!” Vi yelled as she struggled to keep her balance. It was just enough for her to grab the box and pull it closer to the edge. “Ha! Got you, bitch!” She murmured to herself. She was trying to steady herself when Powder called out again.

“Well, your girlfriend’s here!”

**

Powder and Caitlyn were still by the door when they heard an expletive followed by a crash and the sound of metal parts clinking all around as soon as the words left Powder’s mouth.

“Vi?!” Caitlyn exclaimed, trying to be heard over the metal tings. She heard mumbled cursing and turned to Powder with wide eyes. “Is she okay?” Alarm colored her voice as she edged towards the ruckus, confused by Powder’s unconcerned reaction, or lack thereof.

A growl that sounded like, ‘I’m fine’ came from behind a large section, or rather, rows of selves and storage bins.

“Hmm?” Powder…pondered with a slight tilt of her head and squinted eyes. “Dunno. She said she was fine though.” And Powder walked off. Caitlyn speed walked to where she thought Vi might be and heard the warehouse door open then close. Powder didn’t seem concerned at all, so Caitlyn hoped there was nothing to be worried about. Still, she couldn’t help that her heart felt like it was in her throat.

“Vi?” she called as she continued to peer down aisles. “Are you hurt?”

“Just my pride.” She heard the voice coming from the next aisle. Finally, she saw Vi, as well as the scattered bits of materials and spattered liquid. She approached carefully, mindful of what looked like oil on the concrete floor. “Fucking hell, Powder!” Vi continued. She had already started to pick up the scattered pieces and was tossing them into a box. Powder knew, she freaking knew, the comment about “her girlfriend” being there would get her riled up and flustered. Getting under Vi’s skin, as any sane sibling would do—Vi figured, was Powder’s modus operandi. “Sorry, she knows exactly what buttons of mine to push and she freaking does shit like that all the time to embarrass me. The more awkward the better.”

“I’ve always heard that’s what siblings are best at.” Caitlyn replied while she quietly surveyed Vi for any injuries.

“Yeah, no kidding.” Caitlyn began to reach for some of the scattered items and Vi was quick to stop her. “Cait! I’ll get it. Don’t want you to get oil and grease on ya.” Speaking of, Vi looked down at her clothes and let out a deep bark of frustration. “Ugh! I got this shit all over me! I’d like to know which of ‘em stuck that up there. No wonder it was tucked back like that. Whoever it was, didn’t want to deal with the mess. Out of sight, out of mind. Assholes.”

She got to her feet, slipped the tiniest bit, and, when clear of the mess, stomped over to the old sink and grabbed a handful of blue shop towels with a scowl firmly in place. Caitlyn followed close behind ready to steady Vi in case she slipped.

Caitlyn took some shop towels herself, wetted them, and moved closer to the other woman. “Oh Vi, it’s splattered all on your face. Hold still.” The air in Vi’s chest emptied out in a swift gasp as Caitlyn gently took her chin in her hand and brought the other up, along with a damp shop towel, and wiped away the splattered oil on her face. Caitlyn couldn’t help the slight grin. She smoothed her fingers over Vi’s tense brow. She breathed out a short laugh, trying to break some of the tension. “You look like an angry oil slick.”

Vi released yet another full breath and chuckled. “Don’t sugar coat it, Cupcake.” She smiled and once again, looked down at her oil-splotched shirt and jeans. “Yeah, damn, I can’t go out like this. I’m a mess. Lemme wash up and change.”

“Vi, you don’t have to. It’s just a coffee shop.”

“What? No way! You lookin’ like that and me sporting a fresh coating of used motor oil? Not happenin’.”

Caitlyn looked down at herself and what she was wearing. It wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. Brown ankle boots, skinny dark wash jeans and a light-weight dark burgundy turtleneck. Her dark blue hair was pulled back into a relaxed ponytail so that loose strands of hair framed her face. This was her definition of relaxed, casual weekend attire.  

“Come on,” Vi said, “I’m right upstairs. You can hang out while I clean up real quick.”

Vi led her to an interior door that opened into a small stairwell. They climbed the flight of stairs and ended up in the middle of a hallway. Vi motioned to her left, and they walked down the hallway to a single door.

“You live here?” Caitlyn asked as she followed.

“Yeah, I converted the upper level to two studio apartments. One for me and one for Powder. She’s down the hall. They’re pretty nice…to me anyway. It felt a shame to waste all that space. Turned out better than I thought it would.”

Vi pulled out a set of keys, fumbled with them for a second, while looking nervously at Caitlyn, and then the metal door swung open.

Vi’s version of ‘pretty nice’ was an understatement. One could tell it had been converted from warehouse space, but it was quite lovely. It was industrial, no doubt, but it held a warmth to it. Caitlyn’s eyes scanned the living area—trying not to be too nosy but also trying to take in all she could.

The walls were brick and concrete, which were worn and pitted with age, and there were large windows going almost from floor to ceiling. The ceiling was high with a mixture of steel and wood beams. The floor looked to be sealed concrete. Worn area rugs were placed in what looked like a sitting area, then another underneath a dining table. A boxing bag was hanging from one of the wooden beams off in a corner and in another corner, makeshift walls were erected. A few bookshelves and wall sleeves occupied the walls and all were filled with nerdy or otherwise unique knickknacks. A few vintage movie posters, music posters and a couple metal motorcycle signs were also scattered tastefully across the free wall space.  In just the short few seconds she appraised the space, it felt comforting—lived in and homey. So much character seemed to be nestled within these walls. It might have been a hodgepodge of different styles and interests, but it was completely Vi.

A loud, echoing thud drew her attention, and suddenly she heard frantic pattering racing through the open apartment. They came from what Caitlyn assumed was Vi’s bedroom that was closed off within its own private quarters.

Caitlyn glanced up right as two long dogs with extremely short and stubby legs ran up to her. “You have dachshunds!” She gasped out. She kneeled and was smothered with attention. The butt wiggles were out of control. So much so that the smaller black one’s rear end had almost developed a mind of its own.

Vi chuckled as she walked up. “Yep!” Vi snorted when the dogs paid no attention to her—only to the new friend currently rubbing their bellies. “Little dash-hounds.” She chuckled, intentionally mispronouncing the word. “Little sausage shits. They make for great wiener jokes, especially when you’re a lesbian. It’s a classic. They normally hang out in the showroom. Customers love ‘em—especially when Powder puts the little dog googles, helmets, and jackets on them.” Caitlyn looked up and caught Vi’s eyes and smiled as she continued talking. “We finally had to start stocking freaking dog riding gear. I never take ‘em on a bike, but it’s still hilarious.” Vi continued as she too knelt next to Caitlyn and loved on the two dogs. “Sometimes Powder will come over and take them to her place—they probably spend just as much time with her as with me. Almost like shared custody.” Vi laughed. “She says they’re the only nieces she’ll ever have.”

“What are their names?”

“Ripley and Newt.” Vi pointed first to the brown dog that was snuffling Caitlyn’s open palm—that was Ripley, and then to the black and tan one that was wagging its tail and looking up at Vi—that was Newt, the lovable yet mischievous of the two.  “Most of the time I call Ripley Rip.”

Vi motioned for Caitlyn to move further into the room. “So, you can just hang out while I clean up really quick. Make yourself at home. I have water in the fridge—you gotta kinda slam the door or else it won’t close all the way. Feel free to turn on the TV or just, yeah, whatever you want. I have dog treats up on the counter if you’d like to give them a couple.” At the word ‘treats’, two heads snapped violently in Vi’s direction. “I um, I said the magic word. Yeah, ya might want to do that first.” She laughed as she walked into her bedroom and shut the door.

**

Caitlyn watched the door close behind Vi and then turned her attention to the sausage dogs staring at her pointedly. One of them—Newt, she remembered, was making the most pathetic noises while her body shook and her paws shifted repeatedly.

Caitlyn saw the clear container of dog treats and moved gingerly over to the counter while trying not to step on the distracted dogs.

The dogs kept their butts firmly planted on the concrete floor as Caitlyn handed out the treats.

Caitlyn meant to walk over to the sitting area with the TV but the small area off to the right caught her eyes. Her heels clacked against the concrete as she approached a corner of the apartment. It was a smaller area partitioned off from the rest of the space, almost acting like a small makeshift room but with no door. The room dividers were actually wooden pallets that had a dark stain and sealant applied. The look only emphasized and brought more character to the industrialized design. Lights from a few lamps shown through the slates of the pallets.

There was an old workstation directly in the center of the makeshift area. Complete with a battered work bench (which was fitted with table clamps), rusted toolboxes and a peg board full of various tools. On one side there appeared to be handmade storage containers full of…guitar necks and bodies. The other side of the station had painted guitar bodies and a couple fully assembled guitars along with an amplifier. She slowly stepped inside the work area for a closer look. Sure enough, several blank guitar bodies were suspended in the air from wood strips attached to where the necks would normally have been. The guitar bodies appeared to have been recently painted in various finishes.

Apparently, she had been looking around for a bit because she heard the approaching rustle of fabric and soft foot falls before Vi entered into the small space and picked up a few scattered tools and guitar parts. She mumbled an apology about the space being a mess. It was really not a mess though. Just what Caitlyn would assume an average workspace would look like in the middle of a project.

“You—you paint guitars too?” Caitlyn asked, a sense of wonder in her voice. It was such a niche hobby, it caught her off guard. She turned her head slightly to see Vi. Vi’s hair was slightly damp and she was wearing some well-worn, faded jeans, red high-top Chuck Taylors, a heather gray V-neck shirt, and a black light-weight vest with a built-in hood.

Vi shrugged before she spoke. “Sort of. Just a hobby for myself, I guess. I buy beat up bodies or full guitars for parts, strip ‘em down, give ‘em a custom finish, then put in custom parts—pickups and the like. It’s easy since we already have the paint booth.”

“So, I’m assuming you play?”

Vi laughed and fidgeted with an odd-looking tool, most likely specialised for working this type of work. She seemed self-conscious as she answered. “Kinda, I mean I do, just not great or anything. Enough to keep me happy, I guess.”

Caitlyn hummed as she imagined Vi playing. What kind of music, what style she played, what the guitars themselves sounded like—the sound Vi specifically chose for them. “What kind of music do you play?”

Vi shrugged. “Guess it depends on my mood. Rock, metal, blues-rock. Meshes up with what I like listenin’ to. I freaking love me some progressive metal and djent, but they like to use seven and eight string guitars, which I don’t like restoring, so I just stick with my six string guitars and baritones. They work for me.”

“Do you sing as well?”

Vi snorted loudly. “Nope! Not to a human audience at least!” Vi laughed and scratched her neck self-consciously. “Only my dogs and these walls have suffered that shit.”

“I bet you’re better than you give yourself credit for.” Caitlyn said as she continued to take everything in. It was a lot, but she stored all this newly discovered information neatly away. “You’re constantly surprising me, Vi.”

Vi watched as Caitlyn’s eyes took it all in. It felt surreal to have her life…her safe place…her personal space appraised so intensely. She always thought it would feel like scrutiny—would feel invasive. But not as she watched Caitlyn take everything in with a soft sense of wonderment on her face. Her gaze was not judgmental, but rather curious and, it seemed, genuinely interested and intrigued.

Vi’s heart rate increased as Caitlyn looked at a vintage Fender Stratocaster poster. It featured a nude full-frontal image of a woman with glorious curves, knelt next to similar cream painted guitars. It was obvious the pictures intent was to illustrate how the female’s body greatly inspired the sensuous shape of the renowned and iconic guitar model. Caitlyn’s blue eyes drifted from the poster, down to a strat Vi had laying on the work bench. Long, dexterous fingers smoothed over the curves and swells of the guitar—a caress. Her fingers then moved up the neck.

“The vintage strats,” Vi picked up the guitar Caitlyn had just been touching and held it in her hands. “They had smaller radius necks which isn’t all that common anymore. I have bigger hands, but these are so comfortable for me to play.” Vi demonstrated by wrapping her larger hand and fingers around the slim neck.

She handed it over to Caitlyn who took it curiously. With support at both the neck and the body, Caitlyn turned about the stringed instrument to examine it.

“What drew you to guitars?” Caitlyn inquired as she studied the instrument in her grasp.

“An old Zaunite…he used to sit at the corner near our house. He played this funky looking stringed thing. Called it a cigar box guitar. I always wanted to try and make my own, ya know. Couldn’t afford the real thing, so…make use with what ya got. I got hold of a box I liked—patrons at the bar would toss out their empty cigar boxes all the time. Anyway, I eventually figured out how to make my own. Sent me down this hobby. I like tinkering and I like keeping busy. Bikes, guitars, boxing…I like working with my hands.”

“I’d say so,” Caitlyn murmured with a blush.”I’m afraid I’ll eventually get arthritis in my hands if I’m not careful. Boxing is hard on ‘em and I didn’t take care of my hands when I was younger. I’m hoping I’ll get lucky and not worry about it until I’m an old grumpy-ass woman.”

Caitlyn reached down, and without hesitation, took one of Vi’s hands within her own. She ran her fingers over scarred and busted knuckles. Her skin was rough and calloused, yet, warm and gentle between her own. Caitlyn had noticed on several occasions that Vi kept her hands and wrist wrapped. After her apparently quick shower, Vi hadn’t rewrapped them.

As if her brain finally caught up to her current action, she dropped Vi’s hand and stepped back, focusing her attention on the guitars again.  She cleared her throat. “Some of these guitars look quite old. The finish is all cracked.”

“Some of ‘em are.” Vi agreed, her voice rough from Caitlyn’s unexpected but welcomed and pleasant touch. “The ‘cracking’ is called checking. It can be quite desirable on vintage guitars. It’s all in the finish. These are lacquer based so the wood can breathe and flex under the finish. As it ages, the finish develops a beautiful amber hue and can check. I paint all of mine with lacquer. Hopefully I can have ‘em long enough where I can see them age myself.”

“That’s actually quite beautiful.” Caitlyn whispered. Her voice was still soft with wonder.

"I’m sure this is super exciting for you.” Vi laughed. Most people weren’t interested either in hearing about her hobby or, more likely of the two, didn’t know enough about guitars to understand what she was talking about.  She kinda learned to quell her enthusiasm when it came to some of her hobbies. “We can go ahead and go, if you want. I just gotta let the dogs outside really quick. I’ve got that plot of grass out back there so it won’t take but a sec.”

“I’m in no rush, but if you’re ready, I am as well. And I find your hobbies interesting, Vi. Fascinating, actually.” Caitlyn assured. “Each time I see you, I learn something knew about you. .”

Vi wrestled two very excited dachshunds into their harnesses and was pulled out the door. Caitlyn couldn’t help but chuckle as the tiny dogs dragged their owner across the grass. A few minutes later, they returned and Vi corralled Ripley and Newt into her bedroom. She put up a dog gate because freaking Newt got the zoomies a lot and loved to jump on and off the couch despite her having ramps for all the sit-down furniture his obnoxious self could reach. Confining them to her bedroom solved any issues that might come from Newt’s chaotic energy spurts.  

“What ‘bout you?” Vi asked Caitlyn as she led them out the apartment door and back downstairs. “You learn any musical stuff?”

“No. My mother wanted me to play something “refined”. Violin, cello, viola, or piano. Those were her standards. I never showed any interest, however. Thankfully, my aptitude with a rifle was enough to appease her of any other extracurricular activities. That and my academic studies.”

Vi smiled and nodded in agreement as she listened to Caitlyn speak. Caitlyn insisted on driving and as they made the short commute into Piltover, their conversations came easy. Each interaction between them felt as though they were entirely immersed in their own world, despite having met only recently. Their short time together thus far always effortless and engaging.

**

The bell chimed above the couple as Vi held the door to the coffee shop open for Caitlyn to walk through. The smell of coffee was intoxicating and a rush of comfort enveloped Vi. It was almost enough to keep the discomfort of hushed whispered and stares at bay. She stuck out like a sore thumb at this more upscale café and the patrons didn’t have a problem making that known. 

“Miss Kiramman!” a skinny bald man behind the counter greeted as they approached. “Haven’t seen you here for a spell. Hope all is well.” He smiled at Caitlyn, but side eyed Vi suspiciously.

“Yes, I’ve been away on business.”

“Always on the go, huh? Well, what can I get for you?”

“I would like a matcha latte. What would you like, Vi?”

“Um, I’ll take a cappuccino with some of that chocolate stuff on top.”

“You mean cocoa powder?” He clarified. He tried to sound nonchalant, but his underlying tone was condescending.

“Yeah, chocolate stuff,” she reiterated without missing a beat.

“Miss Kiramman, would you like these to go?” He trailed off and looked at Vi again. His gaze quickly returning to Caitlyn’s. The unspoken insinuation was all too clear. They weren’t entirely welcomed there. Or at least Vi wasn’t welcome. Caitlyn’s blood boiled.

“We’ll take our coffee here. Is that alright, Vi?” She asked and watched Vi’s expression closely for any sign of hesitation.

Vi shrugged. “Sure, fine with me.”

They both sat down while they waited for their coffee orders to finish. The café was busy, but they still were, thankfully, able to find a small table in the corner by a window.  

“You’re such a sweet person, Vi. I don’t understand why people here treat you like they do. Just because of where you come from.”

“Topside just has different views.” Vi shrugged as she fidgeted with a couple packets of sugar. “I mean, what was your first reaction when you saw me? Distrust, right? She’s a Zaunite.”

Caitlyn instantly looked horrified and interjected with an apology. “I know and am so sorry. I hate how—”

Vi reached forward and placed her hand over top Caitlyn’s—a gesture of comfort and to stop her self-deprecating thoughts. “Hey, I’m not fishing for an apology or to make you feel like shit or be an asshole. Promise. I’m just saying your first reaction is what everyone’s from here is. I get it. Tattoos, piercings, the hair, my clothes, my bike when I ride it…Plus, you acknowledged what you said and apologized. That never happens and I appreciate that.”

Their names were called and Caitlyn got up to get their drinks.

When Caitlyn returned, Vi, of course, immediately dumped several packets of sugar into her already sweetened cup and took a long drink. She eyed Caitlyn's green brew with interest. 

Caitlyn, ever so observant, noticed Vi’s curious gaze. "Growing up, my father always had the finest matcha imported to us. Matcha is to him, what coffee is to you and me, I suppose. I've always enjoyed the taste but could never prepare it as well as him. Brings back fond memories. Would you like a sip?"

Vi hesitated but reached for the proffered cup and took a sip. Her eyes widened and she smiled.

“Damn, this shit is good, Cupcake!” They both laughed and the tense, judgmental atmosphere that surrounded them faded away. They were in the safety of their own private little bubble and fuck the outside forces that tried to intrude on that.

Vi found herself gazing intently out the window as they drove down a small side street off the main road. Large, neatly kept trees grew parallel to the road. Sun rays danced across the pavement and mingled with the fallen leaves in the light breeze. Around them were old homes, neatly manicured and extremely well-maintained. Vi saw a few brass plates anchored to brick and stone pillars. They were in the historic district of Piltover. It really was a beautiful area. Several people were out walking their dogs or had strollers out with their kids. It was a scene one didn’t see often in Zaun.

Caitlyn pulled her SUV into a bricked driveway and Vi was able to get a good look at the house in front of them. It was nestled in a group of mature trees which gave a sense of security and peacefulness to it. The house was smaller and an older home with a steeply pitched gable roof, elegant brick and stonework, and striking dark wooden beams as accents.

Vi let out a low whistle. “Damn, this is a fancy place. Quaint but fancy.”

“I’d always wanted to live in a historic district.” Caitlyn replied as she shifted her SUV into park. She sat there alongside Vi for a moment.

“You live here? Holy shit.”

“It’s a short commute to my work. And as you saw, there are several local businesses within walking distance. I felt it was perfect.” Caitlyn clicked open her seat belt and went to turn off her vehicle. “Would you like to come in? I wanted to grab a few things really quick before taking you home.”

“Yeah, sure!”

They walked down a worn cobblestone sidewalk that curved around the house and ended at the couple of steps that led up to the small front porch. The porch had a wooden swing, a few potted plants that looked freshly watered, thanks to an acquaintance looking over the house, and what seemed like an outdoor rug. Caitlyn unlocked the wooden door and they stepped inside.

With the first glance around, Vi was surprised to find it was more open concept than she’d thought it would be. The colors decorating the space were earthy and rich toned. Dark mahogany furniture and warm supple leather couch, love seat, and recliner accented the traditional style of the space. The recliner looked slightly more worn. It was placed next to a fireplace and Vi imagined Caitlyn spending her down time sitting there. Massive bookshelves, some enclosed with glass, lined the walls and even wrapped around one corner of the room. A few indoor plants and trees were placed near the windows and elegant artwork hung on the walls. Some of the art—paintings—depicted fancy hunting scenes, like royals would attend and partake in, and the other art consisted of maps of different regions and places. A lone rifle was mounted above the fireplace.

The home, while steeped in tradition and apparent wealth, also felt comforting. Vi thought it might be due to the earthy and warm hues—a sense of safety in familiar, natural tones.

From what Vi knew of Caitlyn so far…she saw her character and personality at every inch of the place.

While Vi still felt slightly out of place, it wasn’t as jarring as she thought it might have been.

“Come upstairs if you’d like. My office is up there.”

As they ascended the stairs, Vi took note of the photographs lining the wall.

“Did you take all these?” Vi asked as she pointed to several pictures on the wall.

“Some, but not all.”

“Damn, you’re really good, Cupcake.” Caitlyn smiled in appreciation but didn’t say anything. “This you at one of those shooting things?” Vi asked as she stopped at one. One foot resting on the step above.

“The Marksman Competition?” Caitlyn asked as clarification. “Yes, that was two years ago.”

“You must be an alright shot.”

“I’m an excellent shot.” She said with pride and confidence.

Vi hesitated but decided to ask anyway. “Maybe you could show me sometime?”

“It’s not very exciting I’m afraid. You’d likely find it incredibly dull.”

“Nah, cause I’d be watching you.”

Vi was such a charmer.

Caitlyn blushed. “We own land not far from the lake house. Perhaps, if you really wanted to, I could take you there. I’ve neglected my practice regimen. It would give me motivation to start again.”

“Yeah, I’d like that.”

Caitlyn nodded in agreement and then motioned for Vi to continue following her upstairs.

Upstairs had a decent sized landing with a hallway at both the left and the right. The landing had enough room for a yet another bookshelf and a small seating area. It was decorated in the same style as downstairs.

They went through the first door on the right which was her office. Inside there were shelves upon shelves of what Vi assumed were law books, a gorgeous mahogany desk, a very comfortable looking desk chair, a slim silver laptop with the top closed, and a corkboard off to the side with colored tacks and strings weaving across the board.

Vi’s brow furrowed as she tried to make sense of the corkboard. She slowly walked up to it.

“That was from an old case I was working on. Basically, we fought against one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the region and won for a change. They were manufacturing a drug they explicitly knew was highly addictive yet still marketed it to the most vulnerable and at risk—the impoverished and the homeless.”

“Shimmer?” Vi asked.

“That was its street name, yes. I was too young when it first appeared in Zaun. After it had ravaged the city, taken all it could I suppose, it moved out east. This map is from one of those cities. It was the first large case I worked.”

“Shit. No wonder you’re taking a long break. If all your cases look this complex? Damn, Cait.”

Caitlyn hummed and walked back over to her desk and began opening drawers and cabinet doors. When Vi finally turned back around towards the other woman, she noticed several new items on the top of the desk.

“What’s all this?” Vi asked as she looked at the items Caitlyn had been gathering and laying out.

“Well, I thought, since I’m alone in the house with absolutely nothing to really occupy my time, I would work on the map for you all—for your campaign.”

“Really?

“Of course. I’d rather enjoy it.”

Caitlyn was putting items into a leather messenger bag when Vi picked up a pen. “Fancy pen,” Vi observed and turned the medium sized black and gold pen between her fingers. She tried to open it but the cap wouldn’t budge and she definitely didn’t want to put more pressure on it. “It’s not opening.”

“Turn it.” Vi turned the cap and revealed a gold nib. “It’s a fountain pen.” Caitlyn explained.

“Definitely fancy! Never seen a pen like this.”

“They’re lovely to draw with. If you use different pressure while making lines, you get differences in the line thickness. It gives the map character. Plus, I can use waterproof ink.”

“It’s just a game map. Us Zaunite ruffians don’t need anything this fancy, you know. Just you helping means a lot. Seriously. They won’t admit it, but they had fun. Said you were actually ‘alright for a Piltie’ and let me tell ya, that’s a huge compliment right there.”

Caitlyn smiled and her adorable tooth gap was on full display.

“I want to though. Plus, don’t think I didn’t see all the beverages and food around the table. I won’t have one spilled beer ruining the map!”

“I see your point, I guess. Hey, at least then it would only add character, amirite?! And no smudges at least.” Vi teased.

Caitlyn shook her head fondly and nudged her shoulder. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Yeah, maybe.” Vi smiled. It was then she realized just how close they stood together. Caitlyn had her hip leaning against the desk and was looking back at her with striking intensity. Vi visibly swallowed.

Time seemed to slow as Caitlyn stepped forward—coming even closer until they were mere inches apart. Caitlyn reached out and trailed her fingers up Vi’s arm until they rested on her shoulder. Then her other hand simply found Vi’s own and interlaced their fingers.

The taller woman leaned in and everything seemed to still. Vi tightened her fingers against their shared grip as gooseflesh erupted at her neck and rushed down her spine. Caitlyn continued to close the minuscule distance and Vi’s breath all but stopped while her heart continued to slam against her chest. Their lips had yet to touch, but there was now a ringing in her ears.

But that ringing wasn’t all her…it was the obnoxious ring of a doorbell. Before the chimes could finish their song, the front door opened and concerned older gentleman’s voice echoed through the house.

Caitlyn pulled away slightly, looking just as dazed as Vi felt. She squeezed Vi’s fingers reassuringly before she spoke. “That’s my neighbor. He’s been watching over my house.” She murmured. She leaned her head back and turned towards the door. “I’ll be right down, Dr. Heimerdinger!” she called out.

“Sorry,” she whispered to Vi as they still stood impossibly close. Close enough for Caitlyn to lay her head against Vi’s shoulder.

“S’okay. Mind if I use your bathroom?”

“Not at all. It’s right down the hall, last door on the left. Come down when you’re ready.”

**

The older man hadn’t even fully opened the door. Just cracked it enough to call inside the house. Caitlyn walked up, opened the door, and invited him inside.

Heimerdinger was a short man with large expressive eyes, bushy white eyebrows, and an impressive white mustache. His hair might have passed as blonde in his younger days. He was a kind man with a large heart.

“Ah! Miss Kiramman! So terribly sorry to bother you. I wasn’t expecting you home for another couple of weeks. I was afraid something might have happened.”

“No, not at all. I just needed to grab a few things—”

They both heard the toilet flush upstairs followed moments later with Vi slowly descending the stairs.

“Oh! I’m so sorry to have interrupted! I’ll just be on my way! I hope you ladies enjoy the rest of this beautiful day!”

“It’s quite all right, Professor.” Caitlyn said as she stopped his retreat for just a moment longer. “This is my friend, Vi. Vi, this is Dr. Cecil Heimerdinger. He was my professor in school and now happens to be my neighbor.”

“Lovely to meet you, young lady.” The older man declared as he reached forward and shook her hand.

“Yeah, you too.”

“Well, I must be off. Bye, ladies!”

“He seems nice.” Vi said suddenly after the door was closed. They both erupted into a fit of laughter.

On their ride back into Zaun, Vi was decidedly much quieter. Not a word had been spoken. The playfulness and banter that had followed them into Caitlyn’s home, had been left there, shut and locked behind the heavy wooden door. Caitlyn was at a loss for what happened.

Vi was fully retreating into herself. The ghosts of her past came swooping in with vengeance and she was shutting down.

As Caitlyn was driving, she reached over and placed her hand over top Vi’s—both hands now rested atop Vi’s thigh. The tender caress of Caitlyn’s hand against her own—the gentle weight—was meant to be comforting, a mirror gesture to the one she gave Caitlyn in the café, but it only caused the ache to sink deeper.

The drive back to Zaun seemed to take forever. Both women seemed to exhale in relief as Caitlyn parked in front of the warehouse.

Things were awkward and quiet before Vi finally spoke. “Cait? Back there at the house…What are we doing?”

Caitlyn felt like all the air had just been taken from her. So that’s what all this was likely about. “Honestly?” I—I don’t know.” She thought about it for a second and corrected herself. “Actually, that’s not completely true. I—I’d like to think we’re getting to know one another. I know I’ve enjoyed my time with you. And I’d like to continue that. That is…if you’re amenable to it.” She tried for a compromise. Something Vi could fall back on if all the signals had been misread. An escape. A way out.

“Amenable? Course I am, but—” Vi stopped and there was a long uncomfortable pause.

“I’ve made you uncomfortable. I—I read everything so wrong, I,” everything spilled from her lips with no filter or block. She wouldn’t allow Vi a word in edge wise. “I promise to respect your boundaries. It won’t happen again.”

“Cait! Stop. Just—stop. Okay? You didn’t do anythin’ wrong. It’s just…we’re from different worlds, Cait. Complete opposite sides. Oil and water.”

Anger and frustration swelled in Caitlyn’s chest. “Wha—what are you saying, Vi? That we can’t even be friends? Couldn’t be more if we wished? Why? Because of stereotypical biases that ignorant people on BOTH sides can’t seem to overcome?! Because of this, this oil and water bullshit?!”

Vi was becoming equally flustered. Why didn’t Caitlyn understand? “But that’s how it is! You saw how it was in the coffee shop and even said you didn’t understand how people could treat me so different. But that’s how it is.”

Caitlyn felt her world spinning out of control. Of course. Of course that’s what it was. She was once again experiencing and bearing the cost of her status—her family name. Caitlyn was doing her part to listen to Vi. She wanted to hear out her concerns, even though frustration clouded her own judgement. Caitlyn knew Vi was building up a wall brick-by-brink and soon, she’d be completely shut out. What Vi didn’t seem to understand, was this class war—this ongoing battle between Topside and the Undercity—Piltovans and Zaunites—didn’t just impact Vi, but it also impacted Caitlyn as well—it seemed to be a massive hurdle they needed to overcome. Caitlyn was ready to fight for it.

“So that’s how it goes? Must it all unravel so quick?” Caitlyn asked, desperation threading through her voice. All her life, she never once felt accepted—always a misfit. Now, when all that…all that she had ever craved—the feeling of acceptance, friendship—it had been laid forth in front of her and now, right in front of her eyes, it was in the process of being snatched away. She wanted to be angry. She was angry even though her heart told her all Vi was doing was trying to protect herself.

Vi sighed and shook her head in resignation. “You don’t even really know me, Cait. I’ve only shown you what I’ve wanted you to see. What about the dark skeletons I’ve shoved into the closet? Cause let me tell you, there ain’t a person in Zaun without those. Surviving here doesn’t come without a price.”

“So, that’s it? After these few weeks of talking and sharing—I’ve shared more with you than I have anyone else—God, I’m so stupid.” She whispered and she felt her eyes start to burn. “And it’s not worth even exploring? Not even friendship?”

“I never once said that.”

“Then please, enlighten me, Vi!”

Vi was silent. It felt the final nail in the coffin. The final knock of the gavel. 

“I see.” Caitlyn finally said. “This back and forth is exhausting. I—I didn’t realize even mere friendship would come at such a high cost. I won’t bother you again.”

“No! No, Cait, wait! Can we just…this is hard for me, okay! I don’t let people in. I don’t let people get close!”

“And you think this is easy for me? To have my privilege—my status once again thrown in my face. Dismissed and cast aside all because of my name—where I come from? We don’t choose the lives in which we are born, Violet. I’m not insensitive to the fact your circumstances were incomprehensibly harsher and crueler than my own. To even try and compare our struggles is simply insulting to the utter hell you went through. I just thought…I believed we had more in common than we perhaps realized.” Caitlyn paused before she continued. She needed to get all this on the proverbial table. She needed—wanted Vi to understand.

“You’ve been more of a friend than I’ve ever had. Mel, Viktor, Jayce…they are my dear friends and I love them. But we only met through our inner circles. Our interests are limited. In just these few weeks…I feel as if I’ve known you longer. Our time together has felt natural and effortless. Never once forced or awkward.” Once again, she paused. “I understand if this is too much. I will give you space.”

“I don’t want space, Cait! And you haven’t misread anything. I just…I haven’t led you on. God, I promise I haven’t. Can you just be patient with me? Please? I’ve loved hanging out with you. You don’t even know…but I have so much baggage and I don’t want to fuck up what we have.”

“I’m sorry.” Caitlyn whispered, not fully knowing what she was sorry about, but feeling she needed to say it anyway.

“Cait. Cait? Will you look at me?” Vi asked. When Caitlyn finally made eye contact, Vi’s heart shattered. Her eyes were glassy and she had been the one to cause that. “I don’t need space, okay? Call or text me…whatever you need. I’m here. I don’t want to hurt you…and if being honest with you and giving myself time is what I need…I want to do that.”

Caitlyn looked at her once again and nodded softly. With a sign, Vi opened the door, and stepped out of the SUV.

Before she closed the door, she asked, “Text me, ‘kay?”

With a final nod from Caitlyn, Vi shut the door and walked up to the warehouse door. She unlocked the door, and with a final look back and a soft smile and wave, Vi slipped inside.

Caitlyn watched as the door to the building closed. Only then did Caitlyn allow her lips to quiver and her eyes to burn. The tell-tell signs of hurt and disappointment.

Vi said she simply needed time. But Caitlyn couldn’t help the self-doubt that swelled within her chest and gut. She felt as if she’d just ruined something before it had even had the chance to begin.

Chapter Text

With a sickening feeling in the pit of her stomach, Vi climbed the stairs to her apartment. She had looked at her phone once inside the building and saw a text from Powder where she had gotten Newt and Ripley. She saw the handwritten post it note on her door and guessed Powder left it when she didn’t receive a response from Vi. Powder was good, for the most part anyway, of respecting her privacy – she was her sister after all, but if she knew Vi was going to be away, she always got her “nieces”.

Vi plucked the note from her door and walked down the hall to Powder’s apartment. She pounded against the door because what right minded sibling would use the doorbell?

“It’s open!” Powder yelled from inside.

“These little shits have been terrors! Look at my pants!” Powder exclaimed, her voice rising an octave as she twirled around giving Vi the full view of the damage. Vi looked down and saw several chew spots at the bottom hems and at one back pocket.

“Did you leave them on the floor?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.

Powder stared at her. “Duh, ‘course,” she deadpanned.

“If Rip had her ball, you know she tries to hide it. How many shoes have I lost because she shoved her ball in them? She covers it up with whatever you have laying around on the ground, and then she can’t get it back out and bam! You now have holes in your clothes. Can’t blame ‘er.”  Then Vi snickered. “But I think she actually did you a public service.”

Powderlooked at Vi with a mixture of disbelief and betrayal and then down at her shredded pants. “What’s wrong with my pants?!” Powder finally exclaimed.

Vi shook her head in amusement and called out to her dogs. She could hear play-fighting coming from the other room. Rip and Newt were clearly ignoring her. “Come on! Let’s go! Let’s go out!” she yelled.  She exhaled a loud and dramatic sigh and unfortunately for Vi, that was all it took tip off her   too—attentive sister.

“Hold up, sis. I wouldn’t be your loving, prying, and obnoxious sister if I didn’t interrogate ya. How was the day out with Miss Piltie?”

Vi huffed out a frustrating breath and chuckled. It was a dark and self-deprecating sound that clawed its way up from the pit of her stomach. “I think I’ve fucked up.” She whispered.

Powder stared at her, grabbed her by the arm, yanked her away from the door, and slammed it shut. “Speak.” She demanded.

Vi ran both hands through her hair and clasped them together at the back of her neck. “She was going to kiss me.”

“Annnnnd? That’s good, right? That’s what you’ve wanted. You’ve been floating around the shop like a dopey lovesick puppy for what, three weeks? What’s the prob?”

After no verbal response, only a shake of Vi’s head, Powder pushed her towards the sofa.

“‘Ight, sit!”

Vi sat down on the couch and Powder pulled up a kitchen chair right in front of her and sat in it backwards. She draped her lanky arms over the back of the chair, one crossed over the other, and rested her chin on her fist. By this point, the dogs had made their way into the room with them. Ripley and Newt both pawed at Vi’s leg, clearly asking her to put them on the couch with her.

With the comforting presence of her dogs, she told Powder everything. Powder already knew a lot because, come on, they’re close—they live down the hall from each other, they work together, and they’re sisters with a close relationship. Vi just helped fill in all the gaps and the newest developments. Powder knew Vi’s struggles and where her hangups likely were. 

“You’ve gotta tell her,” Powder said with finality. She leaned back and smacked her hands against her thighs. “And like soon…like yesterday.” Powder emphasized.

Vi buried her face in her hands and flung herself back and into the couch cushions. “I know. It’s just hard.” She said, her voice muffled. By that point, Vi felt cold noses nudging at her arms—each trying to weasel their way in closer.

“Look, I don’t think for a sec Caitlyn will bail on ya. I hate to say, but she is different from the rest of them Topsiders. But the longer ya wait…it’s gonna hurt her that ya kept that from her. Tell her, sis. Get it off your chest. Tell her everything. You’ll feel better. And hey, she might surprise ya, ya know?”

Vi simply nodded and stared ahead as she absentmindedly petted her dogs.

“I don’t think she’s asking for a ring or a pledge of undying love or shit like that. It’s only been a few weeks! Don’t rush things. Just let it happen. I’m sure that’s what she’d want, too.”

“I told her that. I just don’t want her to think I’m completely rejecting the idea of us before we even had a chance. I don’t want her to think I led her on.”

“You tell her that?”

“In so many words. I hope, anyway.” Vi cringed at the last line.

“Just chill, Vi. You got this.”

“Thanks Pow-pow. Ya know…its weird. I—I just feel like I know her. Like I’ve known her a hell of a lot longer than a few weeks. She’s just—Caitlyn’s different…and different in the best ways, and that’s what terrifies me.”

Powder studied her carefully. “Whaddya mean?”

“I dunno…I guess…well I guess that’s it—I don’t know. I can’t explain what’s in my head well, okay! I mean look at me, Powder. I’m a filthy Trencher—an ex-convict—”

“You were exonerated, Vi-o-let! But even if you hadn’t been, it doesn’t mean you’d be a bad person, and you know that!”

That’s when Vi jumped off the sofa and began to pace. Her hands in fists and resting on her hips. She felt the muscles in her back tighten with fury as she tensed her shoulders. That rage was targeted at herself and herself only. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the flash of two dogs dashing off the couch and her resentment at herself only intensified. She scared them.

“Do you think that life just leaves you?!” she said, her voice laced with venom. “No! It still haunts me every fucking day! I can’t escape it. A flashback here, a flashback there. What if…what if—” she cut herself off. She couldn’t even voice her thoughts. Couldn’t put them into words. It made her sick. The bile was building up in her stomach and throat. She tried to reign her emotions in. Her whole upper body heaved as she fought to control her breathing. Finally, after a long exhale, she felt all the fight leave and her upper body sagged in on itself. Her voice was raw as she whispered, “Sometimes, Pow, I’m back there. All it takes is a trigger…and I’m back there. In that cell—behind those walls. I could hurt her—just out of those gut reactions you learn to build there. I can’t do it. I won’t.”

“Vi—”

“I’m not good enough for her,” she uttered.

Powder stood up with such force, the chair almost tipped over. It wasn’t until Powder grabbed it by the back and slung it out of the way did it completely overturn. The motion wasn’t meant to be aggressive, and Vi knew that. It was out of shear frustration and contempt for the thoughts she just voiced. “Fuck that shit, Vi! Absolute bullshit and you know it!” Powder was angry. “You know who I want to be goddamn every day of my life? You know who I’ve looked up to all my life?! YOU! Yeah, what you went through was—was fucking horrible. But that didn’t change you, Vi. Whaddya do you do for a living? Huh? You help people. You help protect women! You teach them how to protect themselves. I don’t wanna get all sappy and shit, but…you’re the best person I’ve ever known. You’re a protector. You don’t hurt people. That’s not who you are, Vi. You need to get that out of your head real quick.”

Vi sighed in defeat, as exhausted mentally as she was physically. Her shoulders fell and she nodded her head in resignation.

They were both silent for a few seconds before Powder yanked her into a tight hug. “I’m always here for ya, sis.” Powder whispered with unyielding convection and hugged her tighter.

It wasn’t long before Vi was on the hunt for Ripley and Newt. She found them lounging in their dog bed and as she approached, both tails started wagging furiously. She crouched down and scratched behind their long ears. “Sorry girls. You guys ready to go home?”

Vi was ready to leave. She just wanted to be alone for a bit. She wanted quiet and calm. She had some pickups to solder and a new pickup winding machine, which she'd been eager to try. Now was the perfect time to set it up and try her hand at winding her own.

Yeah…a nice cup of coffee and the constant whirl of the winder. Perfect and calming. Enough to calm her nerves and distract her mind from negative thoughts.

“Thanks for the…talk, Pow. I know you’re pissed, but thanks.”

Powder shrugged it off. “I ain’t pissed. Just irritated by your dumb ass. Stop the self-sabotaging bullshit and just let yourself be happy for once, Vi. If anyone deserves a break, it’s you, sis.”

Vi nodded in resignation.

“Rip, Newt, come on. Let’s go.” She called, whistled, and motioned towards the open door.  Rip followed obediently, but Newt, the little shit, took off towards Powder and hid behind her legs—all the while blatantly staring at Vi. Kids…just like freaking kids not wanting to mind their parent. Wanting to stay longer with their relatives and not wanting to leave.

“Seriously? Little shit,” Vi mumbled. “Come on, Newt. Ya wanna eat? Food!” That got her attention alright, and those long ears perked up and she took off out the door.

“See ya, Pow-pow!”

“Later!”

A couple hours later, Vi was seated at her workbench as she guided the pickup coil wire across the bar as the pickup bobbin spun. It required concentration—she wanted the coils smooth, consistent, and even. Throughout the whole process of setting up the machine and getting her supplies out, she thought about the day and how everything had suddenly started to fall apart—all in part because her fears—her insecurities.

She had told Caitlyn to give her time, but Powder was right. It was time to tell Caitlyn everything. It was time to rip and sling those skeletons out of her closet—bring them into the light before crushing them to dust and throwing it into the wind to be carried away into nothingness. The metaphor felt cathartic—cleansing. She couldn’t help her feelings and insecurities, but she could work on them. They’d stood in her way for long enough.

She finished up the one pickup and grabbed her phone. She sent off a quick text.

Vi : Hey, wanted to make sure you made it home okay .

Caitlyn : I did. Thank you for checking in.

Vi : Course! Self-defense instructor here, remember. Wanna make sure people are safe. Especially those I care about, ya know.

Vi : And that road is notorious for stranding motorists. I mean, I stopped to help a chick not too long ago. Flat tire and all. She was kinda cool actually.

Caitlyn : Well, it’s good to know chivalry isn’t completely dead .

Vi saw a bubble pop up with three bouncing dots. She held her breath and waited for another reply.

Caitlyn : So, this ‘chick’ was only ‘kinda’ cool? She ’d probably be offended to hear that.

Vi snorted into her coffee cup. She could see Caitlyn’s face clear as day. Well…she hoped it was the expression she imagined. The cocked eyebrow with her lip turning up at the corner, trying to hide her amusement—almost affectionate as she said it.

Vi: lol. Probably.

Vi: Thanks for today. I had fun, ya know. And thanks for showing me your home. That’s a private place for most folks and it means a lot you let me in. I got to see more of you and that’s awesome.

Caitlyn : I enjoyed it as well, Vi and thank you for showing me your home. It was lovely seeing that part of your life, too.

Vi: I know it’s getting late, but I just want you to know I’m sorry.

Vi didn’t want to leave it at that, but the bubble with dots would disappear then reappear. After a couple minutes, she sent off one final message.

Vi: The dogs and I always relax and hang round the apartment on Sundays. Feel free to come over, if ya want. I got brats I could fix and chips. Oh! And I can make freaking amazing mac and cheese. I know, I know. I have a real high-scale food selection goin for me! 😂 Seriously, I’d love it if you came over. Maybe we could talk? Anyway, have a good night, Cait.

Vi didn’t get an immediate response so she set about winding another pickup. One down, and two more to go. She did test the first one to make sure it worked—it was her first attempt at hand winding after all. About three quarters of the way through, she heard her phone ding, and the freaking winder suddenly couldn’t spin fast enough.

When she looked at her phone, the message was from Caitlyn. It was a simple text, but it caused warmth to fill her chest.

Caitlyn : I’d love to.

Caitlyn sat outside in her swing, sipping a cup of chamomile tea when her cellphone dinged. She had been outside for a good while, filling up her tea mug with her carafe of hot water and fresh supply of chamomile flowers on the table next to her. It was an endless supply of comfort and calmness—all in a cup. The crickets, katydids, frogs, and the gentle lapping of the lake on the shore added to the tranquility. However, her mind still managed to race with the events of the day -especially the end of the day.  Her mind still couldn’t completely process what had happened and how they had gotten there. Perhaps she knew why. She would have, without a doubt, kissed Vi if Heimerdinger hadn’t interrupted. Maybe she should thank him for his intrusion. The whole situation might have been worse if they had indeed kissed. She couldn’t think about that. She wouldn’t allow herself to dwell on what-ifs — they would only drive her mad. She hesitated to even look at her phone. What would Vi have to say? It seemed allhad already been said in the vehicle. Vi needed time. Time to apparently adjust to them—to the prospect of them anyway. She felt her sinuses burn as the tell-tell signs of tears started to form.

“This is ridiculous,” she murmured to herself and wiped at her eyes. She’d only known Vi for a few weeks at this point. But if felt longer. How could one become this close after such a short period of time? Obviously it was possible because she felt the closeness between them, but did Vi feel that way? Did she feel the same connection between them?    

She looked at her phone with guarded hopefulness when she saw the message was Vi.

They had been texting for a while as Caitlyn sat pondering about each text and each of her own responses. As the texts came through, her furrowed brow smoothed, and a grin began to form. It started with the faintest of up-turned lips, then proceed to a full-out smile—something Vi seemed to bring out in her.

In the last message, Vi invited her over—wishing to talk and hopefully relax before the new work week began. The ‘talk’ aspect made her nervous, but Vi was being her charming and playful self. Nothing about her messages alluded to anything negative.

Her fingers tapped away at her screen as she responded.

Caitlyn : I’d love to.

Vi: Sweet! Cool, cool. Alright. Um, just whenever you want to come over is fine. I’ll be here…or in the warehouse.

Caitlyn : I’m afraid you’ll tire of my company if I visit too often.

Vi : Not gonna happen, Cupcake. Nothin else, you’ll get tired of my ass. Plus, you’ve been here bunches of times already. You’re good!

Vi : Seriously though, just come over whenever you want. And wear something comfy! Sunday is lounging day after all! None of your fancy pants stuff.

Vi : Don ’t get me wrong…you always look amazing. Just go for cozy this time round.

Caitlyn : Noted. Goodnight, Violet and have pleasant dreams.

It was midafternoon and Caitlyn found herself standing outside of Vi’s apartment building—well, the warehouse. The bike shop was closed and there weren’t any cars in sight beyond her own. She pushed the button beside the door and a loud buzz, loud enough to startle her, echoed from within. She should have texted Vi first. She gave her an estimated time she’d be there, but that had been it.

Then, she heard music. It was faint but recognizable as a heavy style-rock. Exactly what Vi listened to. Shit. She doubted Vi would be able to hear her over the music. She took a deep breath and hit the button again. She pulled out her phone, ready to text when the heavy door opened to reveal Vi covered in dust and a sanded guitar body at her side. Vi was wearing a stained leather work apron and underneath it, she appeared to be dressed in a tank top, ripped jeans, tattered shoes, and had, what hair was long enough, pulled back in a ponytail.

“Cait! Hey!” she breathed. Vi stared at her for a good moment. She told her to dress comfortably, and she hoped she chose well. She wore sneakers, her most comfortable and slightly baggy jeans, and a roomy sweatshirt. Her hair had been pulled back into a messy ponytail. She had gone light on the makeup, settling on just her eyes and a light powder. She returned Vi’s greeting with a playful smile and that seemed to jolt Vi back to reality.
“Shit! Here, come in!” She held the door open for Caitlyn, and they made their way up to the apartment.

“Sorry, Imma mess.” Vi apologized as she stepped into her apartment. She rushed over to the corner where Caitlyn knew she kept her guitars. She came back empty-handed. “Time got away from me. Been sanding on a couple guitar bodies. Powder’s gonna to paint them for me a little later.”

“It’s fine, Vi. You said Sunday’s a time for leisure. What better way to spend the day then doing things you enjoy?”

“Maybe, spending it with people I enjoy being ‘round, too?” Vi grinned as she said it. It seemed to be a truly authentic statement—the way Vi’s eyes softened and how she quickly turned her head, a blush seeming to dust her cheeks.

Vi cleared her throat, “So…you got three choices for dinner, Cupcake. We can eat here at this fine establishment—brats and chips or gourmet Mac & Cheese…or both if you want. Or we could go to Jericho’s. You haven’t experienced The Undercity until you dine at Jericho’s.”

Caitlyn thought about it for only a second. She didn’t want to deal with people today. She’d had enough judgmental and critical eyes on them yesterday. “May we just eat here?”

“Course! Absolutely! Let me change my clothes really quick. Don’t wanna get dust everywhere.”

As Vi stepped into her bedroom, Caitlyn called out to her. “Where are Ripley and Newt?” She had noticed their absence upon entering the apartment.

“Powder has ‘em. Her and Ekko are hanging out. I told you—literally like a joint custody thing.”

A few minutes later, Vi came out freshly clothed and asked what awesome meal Caitlyn had chosen. 

Well, she ended up choosing Vi’s ‘gourmet’ Mac & Cheese. Vi did admit her version of ‘gourmet’ was more just a jazzed up mac & cheese. Compared to the food she had eaten as a kid and in prision, it really did seem like gourmet. Of course, it was Vi’s own creation as well which added to her love of it. In reality, it was a simple recipe: shell maccorini (cause they held cheese like mini bowls!), several different cheeses that Vi had on hand (it could vary depending on her groceries for the week), a stick of butter, half & half, and a special onion and herb seasoning. Sometimes, she baked it with panko crumbs to give it extra crunch or might add smoked kielbasa. She did all the above tonight. Vi’s enthusiastic “it’s gonna be great!”, made her chest fill with warmth. She beamed at Vi’s excitement.

The evening went on and they talked while Vi prepared the food. Caitlyn had to admit, it was the best Mac & Cheese she had ever eaten.

However, the food settled like a slab of concrete in her stomach when Vi became quiet and said something that filled Caitlyn with dread.

“So,” Vi began as she scratched the back of her neck nervously. “There’s something I actually wanted to talk to you about. Here — walk out with me?”

Vi saw Caitlyn’s confusion as she inclined her head towards what looked like a large window. Vi told her it was a fire exit but also a roof access. She’d secured the exit at the bottom to ensure no one could access the upper levels.

She grabbed a thick wool blanket that seemed tattered and singed around the edges and a medium sized wax canvas bag with metal that clanged around a bit. Vi opened the window using hinges on the side; it swung open like a door and she indicated for Caitlyn to step outside. Once outside, there was a small roof access ladder. They made their way up the short distance to a little sitting area with a couple of chairs (the awesome foldable rocking kind), a table, an old bench, and a small firewood stack. Vi motioned for Caitlyn to sit and she started to unpack her satchel. She pulled out a metal cylinder and a couple other components. She set it up and dropped several smaller pieces of wood inside and then some kindling on top. She lit it and soon a small portable fire was crackling.

“I love these things. They’re Solo Stoves. Kinda like a mini rendition of a fire pit. Perfect for a small fire when you’re sittin’ out by yourself and just want the company of a living, breathing campfire.”

The stove was roaring to life, and Vi already felt the intense warmth and sheer comfort it provided. The stove was seemingly designed for that purpose – to concentrate the flame and therefore efficiently heat a small space. Vi loved this spot and being here was one of her favorite ways to decompress—even more so than boxing, exercising, or even riding her bike. The evening’s weather was perfect as well. Just cool enough for the fire’s comfort and the justification of the thin wool blanket. It was beyond pleasant outside. The sky was clear. For once, the smog associated with the skies over Zaun was absent. Even though twilight hadn’t fully settled in, Vi could see the washed-out green glow of the neon lights of The Lanes and outer limits of the Undercity. It wasn’t a pretty skyline, nothing like that of Piltover. But Zaun was still her home and that familiarity was comforting.

She was quiet for a few more seconds as she sorted through her thoughts.

“So, about 5 years ago,” she began with a slight tremor to her voice. “I was…released from prison. I spent 6 years there. Went in when I was seventeen…and lemme tell yeah, it was bad. They housed me at Stillwater.” Caitlyn’s eyes widened.

“Stillwater?” Caitlyn choked out.

Caitlyn’s shocked vocalization with the name summed it up. Stillwater was a for-profit, adult coed maximum-security prison right off the coast. It was its own stronghold on an isolated island. Notorious for corruption, violence, and inhumane treatment. Vi paused again and swallowed. “I want to be clear…I did commit a crime. I wasn’t innocent, but it should have only resulted in a misdemeanor charge—one year at the absolute max, but since I was still a juvenile, I likely would have got probation…probably.

“I was a hot-tempered, bitter teenager who hated the world. I failed at the one task that mattered the most to me…protecting my sister. She had been my only focus. One night, when everything changed, I beat the shit outta someone. Got picked up and charged with assault and battery. Again, potentially a misdemeanor.”

“Anyway, that’s not how it happened.  I was in there six years. It would have been a hell of a lot longer, but…” Vi stopped. “It took 6 years, but I was finally exonerated. There had been massive police tampering and evidence planting. The Sheriff, Marcus, hated me…he wanted me off the streets and he convinced the prosecutor the same. I was a ‘worthless and troublesome sump-rat’ and he was cleaning the streets of ‘filth’.”

“Vi,” Caitlyn whispered. “I—I don’t even know what to say. That’s…shocking,—, incomprehensible…”

“The shitty thing is…I was trying to protect Powder. A few weeks before this, I left the foster system and went looking for Powder. Found her at this house. Everything seemed fine and we met each other at nights. I visited her so many times and we planned for the future. But that one night, I caught—” Vi paused as she tried to find the right words. “Well, let’s just say I beat the fuck out of the foster dad. Things had been going on for years apparently. I always saw bruises but…she was a tough kid, like me. We all scrapped and got busted lips and bloody noses. I swear, Cait, I would have killed him. I would have. No doubt, but Powder stopped me cause she knew what that would mean.” She stopped again as she let her words permeate the space.

Vi looked Caitlyn in the eye. She held her gaze as she silently pleaded for Caitlyn to understand. “You wanna know why I teach self-defense classes? It’s so fewer women will be unprotected. One of the few good things to come from all of this, I guess. Anyway, this guy was a friend of the fucking sheriff. He planted evidence that I had meant to kill…so first-degree attempted murder. At seventeen. I owe Loris, Vander, and so many pro bono lawyers my life because they fought for me once the evidence was uncovered. If it weren’t for them, I’d have died in that prison. I would have died as inmate 516. As “Pink” the troublemaker, labeled as unredeemable.”

“Oh, Vi.”

“Anyway, I just wanted you to know. It’s a pretty big part of my past. The things I did. The things I saw…it changed me, and I don’t know if it was for better or worse.”

“The Vi sitting in front me right now, is an incredibly strong woman. You are inspiring, Vi. You’ve got a good heart. They didn’t take that from you, Violet.”

“My shop, gym…this,” she spoke as she gestured to the area around them. “I got with the money awarded to me. Lawyers got the state to give me money for my false imprisonment. Another benefit to it, I guess.”

“What happened to him? To Marcus?” Caitlyn asked. She knew he used to be the sheriff at one point, but with her time in university, she didn’t prioritize current news events.

Vi actually smirked. “He’s right where I was. Same cell and everythin’. After my release, they invested further and, shit! You know how many murders in The Undercity he covered up? How many murders in The Lanes? He had huge body count and used bribes and coercion to make it all disappear. Hell, who really cares about us Fissure folk, eh?”

“I do.”

“Well, you’re different.”

“You may not know this…hell, I didn’t know it for a while. Your mom…I remembered reading the name—Councilor Kiramman,” Vi said as she held up her hands and mimicked the motion of a name—a headline on a billboard, ‘Spearheading the Investigation into Apparent Corruption of Piltover Sheriff’. So, your mom initiated the investigation against Marcus. She helped put him away.”

Caitlyn was stunned. “I—I didn’t know that.”

“Yep, so I guess you could say our fates are kinda intertwined, as sappy as that sounds.”

Caitlyn ever so gently reached out and cupped Vi’s cheek. Her thumb caressed the VI on her upper cheek. Vi’s own hand rose and pressed Caitlyn’s more firmly into her cheek. She held it there as tears burned in her eyes. She couldn’t cry; years in prison, hell, a lifetime in The Lanes, beat that ‘weakness’—that tendency—out of someone, but for some reason, the thought of doing so felt so cathartic. She felt safe. She so safe incredibly safe with Caitlyn and the thought of doing so, of crying and letting all her buried thoughts and feeling flood out felt so good. Slowly, they seemed to move closer. Vi’s heart pounded furiously in her chest as her breaths quickened. She knew she needed to be the one to initiate any contact. After their talk, and Vi saying she needed time, she’s the one who needed to close the proverbial distance.

“Vi?” Powder called out from below. It was obvious Vi didn’t hear the knocking, the ring of the doorbell, or the ding of messages on her cellphone—the latter which was conveniently not with her. The interruption broke both woman’s connection to the other. Vi pulled back, and Caitlyn’s hand fell from her cheek.

“Damnit,” Vi mumbled with a scowl. “Yeah, Pow?”

“Your K9s are down here. I’m goin’ home and crashin’ for the night! I’ll leave ya ‘lone cause I know your girlfriend’s still here, so…see ya tomorrow!”

Vi groaned out loud and slapped a hand over her face. “Let’s head back in, I guess. I’m sure you want to head on home.” Vi was giving her an out to leave if she wanted one. Vi, on the other hand, really didn’t want to say goodnight yet.

Caitlyn seemed to sense Vi’s reluctance to end the evening. The night was still fairly young after all. “Actually, if you would like company I’d love to stay. We can watch these Alien movies you love so much.”

Vi’s face lit up and a huge smile split across her face. She did love those movies. Her dog’s names were proof of that after all.

“You sure? I know they’re not your usual choice.”

Caitlyn laughed and hesitated, “Perhaps not, but you enjoy them, and I’d like to watch them with you.”

Caitlyn nearly came out of her skin when the alien burst out of one of the crew member’s chests. It had always been one of Vi’s favorite parts. Mainly because she’d watched the “behind the scenes” clips and found out the reactions of the actors were truly genuine because they didn’t know that part was going to happen. It was a terrific and perfectly executed scene. At least in Vi’s opinion.

“That’s disturbing!” Caitlyn gasped.

“Right?! It’s great!”

Vi knew this wasn’t Caitlyn’s first choice in movies but she promised they could have a complete six movie marathon with The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings one weekend. Considering the extended versions were the only way Vi vowed to ever watch them, it would have to be a weekend endeavor. She paused at the thought that came to mind. A movie marathon weekend. Sounded like something teens or young adults would do. Well…she was most definitely a kid at heart. She might have been forced to grow up fast, but that didn’t mean her inner child was snuffed out. But wait…a long ass movie marathon weekend that could stretch late into the night? Would Caitlyn stay over? That would make the most sense, but realistically? Vi wanted her to stay so bad. She wanted this companionship, this sense of peace—just like now. A relaxed and leisurely time spent with someone she felt safe and comfortable with. Just the prospect of that sounded amazing.  She didn’t know how Caitlyn would feel about that though.

Caitlyn watched the TV as she felt Vi press in closer to her side. She smiled at the comfortable contact and sank further into the soft cushions. With Vi on one side, and Newt and Ripley on the other, she felt the most comfortable—the safest—than she had any memory of before. She just imagined this is what a true home would feel like—with warmth, life, bustling activity and not the emptiness and loneliness that her home brought. She loved her home in Piltover, but it lacked all the qualities she felt here in Vi’s home.

Somehow, between the end of Alien and the middle of Aliens, Caitlyn ended up reclined back on the couch with Vi leaning into her and her toned arms snugged around Caitlyn’s waist. Vi appeared sound asleep and her head was up resting on Caitlyn’s chest. Caitlyn leaned into the contact and rested her cheek on the crown of her head. Vi’s hair smelled of wood smoke. Caitlyn smiled as a memory came up. That fateful day they met, and she had taken Vi’s jacket home…the jacket had smelt of smoke and firewood. The memory had her snugging into the couch further and her grip on Vi tightened. After last night, she didn’t think she’d be here, holding Vi, like she was. Vi never once dismissed the possibilities of more, just that she needed time. She assumed something had to have changed last night after they parted. Whatever it had been, she was immensely grateful because it allowed Vi to open up to her.

With a contented sigh, she tried to stretch her legs out more, but she bumped into a pile of fluffy fur. Apparently, all four of them would end up enjoying the rest of the evening together. Caitlyn took her phone and set a quick alarm. It would do no one any favors if they slept this way on the couch all night. She sighed one more time and closed her eyes in safety and bliss.

Vi woke up with an unusual weight pining her to the sofa. She opened her sleep filled eyes, looked down, and saw the top of striking dark blue almost black hair. Oh god. They had fallen asleep together. Oh shit. Caitlyn was probably going to freak. Silently, and trying to keep her breathing and movements steady, she raised her free arm and ever so slightly, brushed her fingertips through blue strands. Even at times, daring to brush a few off Caitlyn’s face. She wanted to relish in the softness of Caitlyn’s hair—the look of her sleeping and peaceful face.

She moved her hands to Caitlyn’s back and felt a warm body of fur stretched out on top of Caitlyn’s back. Vi’s eyes widened and her fingers combed through the long silky hair. Newt. Ripley’s coat was more coarse. A second later, she felt a small breeze dust her hand. It was Newt’s long tail, and it was wagging like crazy. Vi tapped her butt and whispered, as forcefully as she could at least, ‘down’. Newt stood, hesitated, and then slid off Caitlyn’s back.

Not long after, Caitlyn stirred and her whole body tensed. Vi’s tensed as well, just anticipating the awkwardness and regret that often came with these situations. None ever came. Instead, Vi watched as blue eyes shifted up and met her own. Vi’s heart began to pound within her chest. A bashful smile swept across Caitlyn’s face and that pounding within Vi’s chest was almost replaced with an explosion. Caitlyn’s smile stole her breath away. There didn’t seem to be an ounce of regret.

“Hey,” Vi husked out, her voice still thick with sleep and disuse.

“Hi, sorry I feel asleep on you. It must be very late.” Caitlyn spoke as she covered her mouth, obviously concerned about morning breath.

“Early actually. Like 5am.” Vi did her best to be mindful of that as well. She had an extra toothbrush she’d be happy to offer Caitlyn should she want it.

“We slept here all night? Goodness, we’re going to pay for this later, you know. I can already feel stiffness in my back and neck. Our bodies are going to retaliate throughout the day, you know.”

“Oh, my body is already retaliating. My bladder is screaming right now.”

“Oh! Vi! Why didn’t you wake me before?!” Caitlyn shifted, seemingly mindful of where she was putting her weight, so she didn’t press further against Vi’s abdomen, but strong arms wrapped around her and stopped her.

Vi grinned. “‘Cause you were sleeping. And you looked kinda cute. No way was I going to wake you up. Well, until I was about to piss myself then I would have had to.”

Caitlyn rolled her eyes and dropped her head to Vi’s shoulder and shook her head. Her words were slightly muffled as she spoke. “You put it so eloquently.” Vi let out a belly laugh and they finally both sat up. “Your poor hair,” Caitlyn chuckled as her hand combed through long red strands.

“Wha’? It stickin’ up?” Vi’s hand joined her in smoothing it out. “Powder always said I either looked like a drowned rat coming out of the shower or that a rat decided to nest in my hair while I was sleeping.”

“That’s horrible!”

Vi shrugged. “That’s a sibling for ya.”

“’Ight, I’m gonna get some coffee goin’ unless you need to go?”

“Vi, it’s 5am so there’s definitely nowhere I need to go right now. But I’m not opposed to coffee.” Caitlyn said as she lifted herself off Vi. A blush crept across her face when she saw Vi’s tank top had been pushed up her belly to rest right below her breasts. It didn’t help when Vi stretched and let out a long groan. Several of her abdominal scars were visible and Vi didn’t make any effort to pull her shirt down. Instead, she simply sat up.

“Sweet. Yeah, sorry it’s so early. I’ve always struggled with sleep so…early mornings don’t bother me. Nothin’ else I find them peaceful.”

Early mornings were a way of life in Stillwater. Those cell counts, often screaming matches, and vicious clangs of batons against metal bars made one's teeth rattle. Prison life meant schedules and a prisoner didn’t deviate from them. For some, that structure was actually welcome. Vi was always indifferent to them because she spent so much of her time serving it in solitary where there was no routine. Because of it all, she’d never take a sunrise, a sunset, or the opportunity to have fresh air for granted again. Sunrises, before the city started to stir, were so serene. The quiet was like a balm to parched skin. It was soothing and rejuvenating. The same she could also say for sunsets, though.

‘Kay, Lemme pee and I’ll get an extra toothbrush out for you and get coffee going! And while that’s going, I’ll take the doggos out.”

“Newt used you as a pillow, by the way. She loves to sleep on backs for some reason. So, you probably have black hair all over your shirt.”

“It’s okay.”

Vi got up and went about her morning ritual. She got a pot of coffee going, took a quick shower, and took the dogs for a short walk. When she got back about twenty minutes later, Caitlyn had gotten up as well, freshened up, and was nursing a cup of steaming coffee.

“What time do you have to be in the shop?” Caitlyn asked as she sipped at the cup.

Vi shrugged, a dejected look on her face. “Meh, 7ish? How much longer of your vacation you got left?”

Caitlyn rested her chin in her hand and appeared to contemplate her answer. She absentmindedly stirred at her coffee with the spoon she had used earlier. “Honestly, I may start this week. Remotely anyway. Work on lovely paperwork.”

“Sounds fun.” The morning felt very domesticated, and Vi felt content as she had gone through her morning routine. That domesticity elated her but also terrified her. It felt so natural. Her mind kept trying to sabotage all her good thoughts and she did her absolute best to shove those down. Everything seemed fine between her and Caitlyn.

“Hey, Cait? I know I said I wanted to take things slow…I mean, I still need that, but…would you like to go on an actual date? With me? I kinda feel like we’ve been on several already, but I want this one to be official. No outings as friends. Not that there’s anything wrong with that!—”

“Violet, I’d love to go on a date with you.”

“Okay, cool! Yeah. Next Saturday I’m volunteering at the community center…workshops for kids in the system, ya know. But maybe that night?

“I’d like that, but on one condition. May I take you somewhere? There’s a place I’ve been wanting to take you.”

“Totally, yeah. Definitely. I mean, I kinda had this ‘perfect date’ scenario/thing planned in my head since I was young. Always wanted to do it, but…I’d like to do it with you. Just have to wait for the perfect time and this weekend wouldn’t have worked for it anyway.”

“Now I’m intrigued.” Caitlyn said with curiosity.

“I mean, don’t get too excited. It might not be something you enjoy. I think it would be but—”

“Vi,” Caitlyn interupted and her voice became very soft. “I know I will love whatever you play for us.”

Vi cursed the fact it was Monday morning. She cursed herself as well for not confiding in Caitlyn sooner—especially Saturday in Caitlyn’s SUV or even while at Caitlyn’s home. She hated herself for how she left it, for letting Caitlyn leave with only simple and generic reasons for her reservations. If she’d just been open—and she knew, she knew in her heart Caitlyn would not have judged her for her past—those hours of doubt wouldn’t have existed.

Vi tried to push those negative thoughts—those ‘what-ifs’—from her mind. What’s done was done. Vi opened her heart—her soul—and bared all to the one person she had fully trusted since…when? She couldn’t even really remember. Loris? He was the last person to come to mind. But now, it was Monday morning, and she had a bike shop to manage. Sure, she could go in late, but she always strived to set an example. She was so fortunate to have what she had, and she never wanted to take that for granted.

“So, you’re welcome to stay as long as ya want. Don’t feel hurried or anything and ya don’t have to worry about lockin’ up. Someone’s in the warehouse all the time so it’s good.”

Caitlyn stepped up to her and took Vi into a hug. “Thank you, Violet.” She said and she placed a soft kiss against a now heated cheek. “And thank you for confiding in me last night. It means more to me than you know. You shared something deeply personal, and I know that took a lot of trust.”

Caitlyn pulled away and Vi felt her heart pounding. She ducked her head and then looked back up at Caitlyn. “I’m glad I shared too. Feels like massive weights have been taken off me. Plus, you’ve been hangin’ ‘round here a lot. You deserved to know. I’ll text ya later, yeah?”

Caitlyn nodded with a soft smile and with that, Vi opened her door and walked out of the apartment. She stood outside her door for a moment and heard, albeit, muffled from behind the door, Caitlyn say a very discernible word…treats. Even through the exterior door, Vi still heard the frantic and excited pitter-patter of paws and a few well-placed barks. Rip and Newt definitely had a new friend as well.

Chapter Text

It was midweek, and Caitlyn sat in a booth with Jayce and Mel at the taphouse. Reading and answering the backlog of emails and doing paperwork all week had been exhausting. Sometimes, Caitlyn wondered if extended time off was worth it considering the stress that came with returning to work, but of course it was! No doubt the break, both mentally and physically, was more than worth it; nonetheless, it didn’t make the transition back any easier. At least she had the luxury of a slow transition—she was still staying at the lake house and working from her laptop.

Caitlyn, as of yet, had not decided on plans for her date with Vi. Her first thought was bringing her here, to The Gearsmith’s Grill, but for some reason, it didn’t fit her idea for her first date with Vi. She wanted something special, not just a casual outing or a typical date at a bar with bar food, despite how delicious their food was. She wanted it to be memorable.

She looked up to Mel and Jayce who had been caught up in their own conversation.

“I’m taking Vi on a date.” Caitlyn announced. Jayce and Mel immediately stopped talking and looked at her.

She wasn’t leery about Mel’s reaction; she was quite confident Mel would be elated, actually, but rather wary of Jayce’s reaction. From the first glimpse of Vi all those weeks ago, he had held instantaneous suspicion—a judgment on Vi’s character from appearance alone. He perceived her as a threat—dangerous. All because of his deep-seated stereotypical misconceptions of what a good person looked like. He only saw her rough and chaotic exterior—her visible tattoos, piercings, scars, edgy haircut, and the typical “tough” leather biker gear. Oh, and the loud, obnoxious motorcycle. In his mind, based on sheer appearance alone, she represented trouble and bad intentions.   

No one should be judged on their outward appearance. No one. It’s what’s inside that truly matters the most — that and one’s own actions. Caitlyn would be damned before she let anyone insinuate Vi didn’t have a good heart. She studied Jayce’s face as her words registered. There was no scowl, no hardening of his eyes, no straightening of his back. His posture actually seemed to relax.

She had talked to Mel the night she and Vi had their disagreement in the car. Mel had comforted her and yet defended both her and Vi’s stances. Mel, a true politician, was a fantastic listener and good at being logical and persuasive. That night, she had eased Caitlyn’s uncertainties and disappointment so that, when Vi had texted her, she was in a better mindset and less closed off.

With Jayce’s lack of disapproval, she could only reason Mel had confided in Jayce as well. They lived together after all.      

Mel was the first to speak. Her tone sounded surprised yet excited. “Oh! You finally reached that stage? About time. Where are you taking her?” Mel asked as she rested her chin on her palm, ready to hear all the details. Jayce remained silent.

Caitlyn shook her head, frustration causing her brow to furrow. “I don’t know. I initially wanted to bring her here, but…” she trailed off.

“But?” Mel pressed.

“But I want something…more. More memorable, more unique. It’s infuriating how she’s judged and treated here—in Piltover. Frankly, it’s appalling. So, ideally, I want someplace where she’s comfortable and can be herself without scandalized glares or hateful whispers. I would like an activity where both of us can be ourselves.”

All three paused as they thought collectively.

“Hey!” Jayce exclaimed, speaking at last. He snapped his fingers and pointed at Mel and Caitlyn in excitement. “I saw something the other day about a festival going on this weekend. It’s about an hour inland from here, I think. Here,” he said as he pulled his phone out from his pocket. A minute later, he smiled and handed his phone over to Caitlyn. “This is it! Looks awesome!”

Caitlyn looked at the page and smiled as wide as she could. This was it!

“It’s perfect, Jayce! What do you think, Mel?”

She passed the phone across the table, and Mel only took a second to scan the page. She smiled as well. “Sounds interesting. She likes beer, I’m assuming?”

“She does. She’s not a connoisseur by any means, but she enjoys it.”

“Then I’d say that’s a perfect match.” Mel confirmed as the waiter walked up with their drinks.  Mel took her drink and held it up to her mouth as she continued to speak. “You said she has dogs too, yes? I think it’s a perfect match, Cait.” Then she lifted the glass up, raised one eyebrow, and grinned.

Caitlyn, who had taken out her own phone, quickly typed in the event’s name. Her smile only intensified as she looked through the activities. The main event page said it all, however.

Oktoberfest No. VI

*The Sixth Annual Oktoberfest and Dachshund Derby*

Pretzels, Sausage (DOGS!), and Beer!

Contests & Live Music

~ It’s All About the Weiner’s, Folks! ~

The weekend had finally arrived, and Caitlyn found herself standing outside Vi’s apartment door waiting to be let in. She heard Vi’s voice through the door telling her to come in.

When Caitlyn opened the door, Vi was wrestling Newt into her harness, but Newt was now squirming to get to Caitlyn. She wiggled her way out of Vi’s grip and took off towards her new favorite person.

“Fine.” Vi huffed out, directing her ire towards the black dog. “Here, why don’t you do the honors?” Caitlyn smiled as she took the red harness from Vi and slipped the harness on Newt. Vi was trying to get Ripley’s blue harness on.

Newt rolled on her back in an invitation for belly rubs. Caitlyn saw a little heart tattoo right next to the center of her belly.

She laughed. “Even your dogs have tattoos?” She kneeled and patted Newt’s tummy, whose tail and rump wagged furiously. 

“Rips got one too.”

Caitlyn grinned. “I like the hearts.”

“Yeah, me too,” Vi agreed as she knelt in front of Caitlyn. “Technically they’re rescues, so the shelter I got them from tattoos the animals after their fixed. I guess the person that did it decided on hearts.”

There was a quiet pause between them as Caitlyn studied the woman in front of her. She was so excited yet anxious at the same time. She wanted today—their date—to be as perfect as she could make it.

Newt decided belly rubs were too boring and suddenly jumped up and tackled Ripley. With playful growls and snarls, they both started to run in circles, chasing each other.

“I think they’re a tad excited.” Caitlyn said.

“Ya think?” Vi chuckled. It was then Caitlyn who noticed her white t-shirt. I had a brown dachshund with a rainbow outfit and said, I’m easily distracted by Wieners.

“Nice shirt.” Caitlyn said with a huge smile.

“You said the event was dachshund-related. I mean, I had to break out my wiener shirt.”

“I love it. I’m not as festive, I’m afraid.”

“You look great!” Vi said as her eyes traveled Caitlyn’s chic form. She had decided to wear her most comfortable jeans, shoes, and shirt, but she still wanted to look her best for their first official date. Her hair was in a messy ponytail with wayfarer-style sunglasses perched on top of her head.

“Ya know, I still don’t know where we’re going. I’m intrigued, especially since you invited the dogs along.” 

“Well, for our first date, I, of course, wanted to do something I thought you’d enjoy. I think you’ll like where were going, but it also involves your favorite dog breed.”

“Oh, I’m like, confident I’ll love what you have planned, Cupcake. These buggers can just be a handful, but I think we’re ready! I got everything we need! Even packed an emergency bag. Change of clothes, dog food—the ‘just in case’ stuff. I’ve been pissed on and puked on too many times to count. A dog ‘oh shit bag’ is always smart.”

“Then let’s head out, shall we?”

The trip to the event was lovely, peaceful, and beautiful. Heading more inland, towards the foothills of the mountains, led to a gorgeous transition. The trees had a more vibrant color change, and the air was slightly cooler and crisper. On several occasions, they rolled the windows down and allowed the fresh air to fill the cabin. Of course, the dog’s noses twitched in curiosity at the unfamiliar smells flooding the car. The air here was earthy, like a typical damp, cool autumn day in the woods. It was very different from Zaun, which was heavy with smoke and containments from mining, but also not like the unnaturally pure air of Piltover. 

Vi rested her head against the headrest and dangled her arm out the window. She let out a contented sigh, “This area is gorgeous!” It was loud enough for Caitlyn to hear her over the noise of the rolled-down windows. Damn. I’d love for us to come up here again but bring my bike. It’s a beautiful drive. I mean, maybe, if you’d want to, that is.”

“I’d love that.” Caitlyn nodded and chanced a quick glance over to Vi. “I felt safe riding with you. Plus, bikes are your passion, and I enjoy sharing that with you.” Her voice was warm and heartfelt.

Vi smiled wide, and her voice took on a playful quality. “Careful, Cupcake, you might start liking it so much, you’ll want your own bike before too long.” She teased.

Caitlyn snorted—a very dignified sound—at Vi’s playful tone. “Highly doubtful. I wouldn’t have the first inclination of how to operate one.”

“That’s why you get an amazing teach, ya know.”

Caitlyn quirked an eyebrow and hummed. “And I suppose you know just the person, correct?”

Vi smirked, “Maybe.”

As the event destination grew closer, signs started to pop up along the roadside indicating where to turn. Vi seemed oblivious at first, but as the main festival signage came into view and the tires of the SUV hit a gravel drive, Vi suddenly gasped out, “No way, Cait! A beer festival?! With dogs?! Oh, this is the best!”

“Oktoberfests are known for their beer, bratwurst, and typically, dachshunds—it seems you enjoy all three. Plus, I’ve come to realize you enjoy being outdoors.”

Vi’s smile could have lit up the darkest of spaces. “Yeah, I do.” She agreed as her eyes began to take everything in.

They pulled into the festival grounds, which were already bustling with excitement and activity, and finally parked.

Rows of white canvas tents stretched as far as the eyes could see, and each tent seemed to be adorned with a red, brown, orange, or yellow scheme. It was autumn colors through and through. Tent after tent, booth after booth, held a variety of vendors. From food vendors, craft and artistry booths, and stalls that sold nothing but the best of ales and lagers. A few servers at the larger tents carried heavy and thick, frothy steins to their patrons—each was filled to the brim with the enjoyable, amber-hued beverage. Of course, the staff, along with so many others, were dressed in the traditional Bavarian dress—dirndls for women and lederhosen for men.

Caitlyn glanced over to Vi and saw something akin to childlike wonder and excitement. Their first stop was a beer vendor where Vi sampled a few different ales and lagers. Then, Vi made a beeline for the food vendors. The smell was incredible—mouthwatering. There were bronze-skinned bratwurst sizzling on grill tops, toasted buns, enormous freshly baked pretzels—golden, glistening, and sprinkled with sea salt, vats of sauerkraut and mustard, and desserts! Black Forest cookies and cakes, Bavarian apple fritters, strawberry Bavarian cream, and apple strudels!

“I’m hittin’ up each and every one of these dessert stands before we leave, just so ya know, Cupcake.” Vi had said as she rubbed her belly playfully.

In the span of roughly two hours, both women and their precocious canines made it most of the way across the festival grounds. Vi found a festival t-shirt that commemorated Oktoberfest No. VI and had two dachshunds on it along with the saying “It’s All About the Wieners!”

“Cait!” Vi gasped out, her voice several octaves higher than normal.

“Wot?!” Caitlyn responded in a panic, her accent more pronounced than Vi had ever heard it. She was obviously afraid something was wrong.

“A brat eating contest! Oh, I’ve gotta do it!”
Caitlyn visibly sighed once she realized nothing was wrong. Vi was just being…well, Vi—her fun-loving goofy self. Caitlyn read the description. How fast can you eat 2 loaded brats? Ice-cold beer to wash it down!

“Considering my options for dinner the other night were brats or macaroni and cheese, I’d say you just might do well.” She smirked.

“You kiddin’? You know how fast you learn to gulp food down in lockup? I got this. Here, hold my beer.” She handed off her cup and Ripley’s leash.

Several minutes passed as the contestants took their places and readied themselves. Plates were placed in front of them, stacked high with bratwursts loaded to the brim with sauerkraut, Dijon mustard, and caramelized onions. A large glass of beer was clunked down in front of them as well. Vi caught Caitlyn’s gaze and winked. Within seconds, a bell rang out, and a flurry of shouts and cheers pierced the air. Caitlyn’s heart rate spiked as she watched Vi demolish the food in front of her. This really took the saying “stuffing your face” to a whole new level.

As Vi picked up the second brat, the contestant three chairs down picked up his. Vi appeared to be first for the moment. As the chunk of food disappeared inch by inch, Caitlyn’s heart thumped in excitement. Before her mind registered what she was doing, she started to shout encouragement to Vi. At her cheers, Ripley and Newt both started to bark and growl as well. Good—Vi needed and deserved all the rallying cries she could get.

Finally, Vi raised her hands just milliseconds before the man three seats down did and the bell rang out repeatedly, signaling a winner. Vi had won! Caitlyn cheered loudly, a proud smile on her face. And Vi, bless her heart, was a complete mess. She had mustard painted all across her cheek and beer foam on her lip. Caitlyn couldn’t help but fondly shake her head. Thankfully, one of the employees started handing out wet towelettes for them to clean up with.

After the ‘and keep it down’ period was over, Vi was officially announced at the winner.

A few moments later, Vi found Caitlyn in the crowd and showed off her commemorative stein. Of all the things, of course, it had dachshunds, and the festival label stamped on the front.

“Woohoo! Isn’t it great!” She said proudly.

“Congratulations, Vi! Quite impressive!” Caitlyn smiled but had a teasing glint in her eyes. They passed along and divided up merchandise bags, and Vi took Ripley’s leash.

“Right?! Stuffing your face has its benefits. Who knew!”

“You’re ridiculous,” Caitlyn said affectionately as she curled her arm around Vi’s.

“Whew!” Vi breathed out as she patted her belly. “Alright, who’s ready for ice cream?!”

Caitlyn gawked at her. “How in the world can you eat ice cream after eating all that?!”

“Meh, I’ll just be in a food coma on the way home. We gotta at least get something dessert-y from the festival. With all the dogs around, I’m pretty sure they’d have pup cups. Come on! Let’s look around really quick. We’ll get our desserts, and then we can leave. Pretty sure these guys are tired.”

Sure enough, pup cups were aplenty on the festival grounds. Once both humans and dogs had gotten their dessert, the group was ready to leave.

Vi and Caitlyn ended up carrying both dogs back to the SUV. Vi had Ripley, and, of course, Caitlyn had Newt. 

“Thanks again for this. I’ve had an amazing time.” Vi said as they finished loading the dogs into their seats and safety harnesses.

“I’m glad. I wanted it to be at least somewhat memorable.”

“You kidding? This has been like the best date I’ve ever had.”

The trip back to the lake house was quiet. Vi had indeed been in a food coma. Between the quiet conversations, the silence had never once felt awkward or stilted. Instead, it was filled with light touches and handholding.

Once back at the house, Caitlyn invited Vi to stay a while longer if she liked, which Vi promptly and enthusiastically agreed to. So, they all sat outside until the sun had long set beneath the horizon. The glow had since dissipated, and clouds were rapidly taking their place. Caitlyn hadn’t realized it was supposed to storm. Lightning soon flashed in the distance as they moved up closer to the covered portion of the patio. It was what most would call ‘heat lightning’. There were beautiful flashes of light from the distant thunderstorm. Some lit from behind the clouds, which offered up a marvelous and powerful display of white, blue, and purple. Those same thunderstorms would soon make their way to the lake house. A light breeze was already blowing, but occasionally a gust would come through and bring with it a slight chill.

Vi grimaced. “Damn, you should’ve let me drive here instead of picking me up.” Vi sighed, eyes soft with worry, and looked over at Caitlyn. “You’re always going out of your way for me, and now, you might be coming back in shit weather after dropping me off. I really hate for you to drive back in that.”

“It’s fine, Vi. I invited you and, in turn, wished to be the one to drive. As for the weather, I’ve driven in worse. Plus, it could stay north of us. We might not even have to worry about it.”

“Yeah, but I still.”

“You brought things with you, correct? Dog food and a change of clothes? You can stay tonight if you’d like to. There are several guest bedrooms made up with their own bathrooms, and the dogs will be fine. In the morning, I usually make some coffee or tea and sit outside for a bit and you’d be welcome to join me. But only if you want to, Vi. You asked for time, and I fully, without doubt, intend to and will respect that. I’m not…expecting anything at all if you stay. Only your company.”

Vi seemed to study her in the soft glow of the string lights that hung above them. In that moment, there was a shift. Vi reached up, and with aching gentleness, she brushed dark strands of blue hair from Caitlyn’s face and tucked them behind her ear. Scarred and calloused fingertips whispered across her temple and then down to a strong jaw. Vi’s touch lingered there as soft gray eyes followed her own—awaiting and asking permission. It was such a tender touch. Almost hesitant—unsure. Vi, with all her power, all her strength—her raw, unbridled energy that she puts forth to protect and shield others—she was oh so gentle.

Caitlyn’s heart stuttered as Vi closed the small distance between them and met Caitlyn’s in a gentle, tentative kiss. Everything seemed to fade away. Everything but the warmth and caress of Vi’s lips and the blood thrumming through her veins. Caitlyn’s heart pounded, and she could hear the blood rushing within her ears. She felt those strong hands cradle the back of her head and the side of her neck before one moved down to her chest—right above her heart. Vi deepened the kiss, and Caitlyn released a breathy sigh as her long fingers tangled in long red hair. The approaching storm was all but forgotten as they pressed closer.

When they finally parted, both in desperate need of air, it was to the sight of flushed cheeks and dazed, unfocused eyes. Caitlyn’s hand moved from Vi’s cheek and instead traced full lips before lingering on the scar that had captivated her since they met.

Vi took hold of her hand and placed kisses on each finger and palm.

“Cait.” She whispered as Caitlyn once again caressed her cheek. Vi pressed their foreheads together and closed her eyes. “You sure? About me staying, I mean? You know I didn’t pack any of that stuff with the assumption or insinuation I’d stay the night—”

“No! I—I know. It’s just…it would be nice to have someone to share a morning coffee with, perhaps. A lot of times I’ll light the propane fire pit and just sit with my coffee and listen to the early morning birds and the lake. It’s quite a peaceful start to the day.”

“Damn, Cupcake. You just sold me with that description.”

Caitlyn startled awake at a loud crack of thunder. Apparently, the storm had not stayed north of them. The rain roared against the house, and thunder rattled the walls.  She got out of bed, slipped on her robe, and then wandered downstairs intent on fixing herself a hot cup of tea. She noticed a couple extra lamps were turned on, and that’s when she saw Vi curled up on the couch with Ripley and Newt, both lying on Vi’s hoodie.

“Vi?”

“Hey,” Vi answered back; her voice was deep and sounded tired.

“Can’t sleep?” Caitlyn asked as she sat at the corner of the couch. Her hands rested primly in her lap as she studied Vi.

Vi shrugged. “I did for a bit, but…let’s just say nighttime and sleep aren’t good bedfellows for me. Been that way since I can remember. Certain things made it worse, but yeah. New places make it hard, too, a lotta times.”

Caitlyn’s brows pinched together. “Vi, you should have said something.”

“Nah, I’m good. Promise.”

Caitlyn’s gaze softened. “Is there anything I can do to help? I have some tea that does wonders.”

“Nah, thank ya though. But,” Vi hesitated as she toyed with the hem of her sleep shirt. Her gaze, full of guilt and hope, met Caitlyn’s briefly. “Will you sit with me? Just for a few?”

“Of course.” Caitlyn stood and took two steps to where Vi sat. She lowered herself to the cool leather. Vi, who had been covered with a quilt, beckoned her closer until they were pressed shoulder to shoulder, hip to hip, and thigh to thigh. She draped the heavy cover over her as well. Rip and Newt had remained undisturbed and didn’t seem to have a care in the world. Caitlyn smiled as she relaxed.

“Why you up?” Vi asked as she shifted her head to look more directly at Caitlyn.

“Perhaps I have trouble sleeping sometimes as well. My mind…it rarely shuts off. I think that’s why I prefer the quiet so much. In my head, where it’s in constant chaos, calmness can level it out. It’s been implied that I am dull and boring. I suppose it seems like I have a very uninteresting life. I love sitting in the quiet with a cup of coffee or tea—their comfort beverages for me—usually in front of a fire. I often, more than not, find myself staring into the fire…its soothing—peaceful. The dance of the flames, the glowing embers, the pulsing of those embers. It’s like a balm to my racing thoughts.”

Vi’s hand had found its way over to Caitlyn’s. Their fingertips touched and created a dance of their own—occasionally linking together.

“I don’t think you’re boring at all. Far from it, actually. I can respect the racing thoughts thing. I don’t have it quite as bad as you now, I think. My life is chaotic, as I’m sure you’ve seen with the shop gang. But, when I was imprisoned, that’s all I had—my thoughts. Six years with nothing but your thoughts. It was maddening ‘cause they would get overwhelming—it consumed you ‘cause what else did you have to occupy your time there? So many times, during my stints in hole, did I think I was lost to it all. My mind was falling apart—my will just … weakening. But I made it. I made it for whatever reason, so maybe, all those thoughts have long since been used up?”

Caitlyn’s breath caught. “Oh, Violet. That’s—that’s horrifying? I actually have no words for you. That’s something I don’t think words can describe.”

“I didn’t tell you to make you feel bad or anything. Just that I can relate, somewhat, maybe. Hell, you know I love sitting outside around a fire just as much as you, right? So, no. I don’t think you’re life is boring at all.

“Does…I know I’m not the quietest person.” She gave a soft, self-conscious laugh. “I kinda exist in chaos. Does—does that bother you? Is it too much?”

Caitlyn shook her head and had the gentlest of smiles. “Surprisingly enough, no. The quiet can become deafening—suffocating. Being with you—your family, your friends—it fills that. I feel accepted for once in my life.”

Vi nodded in relief and looked down at their linked fingers. She exhaled. “Good. I’m glad.”

Caitlyn squeezed her hand. “I’m so happy I met you, Violet.”

“Yeah, me too.”

They had already kissed earlier, but Caitlyn still felt the need to hold back—to let Vi be the one to initiate. When a strong hand reached up to cup her cheek, she took that as a positive sign. Caitlyn’s own hand reached up and caressed Vi’s soft cheek as her thumb traced the linework of Vi’s tattoo. Caitlyn felt the slightest pressure on her face, and she closed the distance between them.

The kiss started out gentle—tentative yet exploring. But then, Vi tilted her head to the side and deepened their kiss; her lips parted, tongues brushed, and a sigh escaped from Caitlyn’s chest.

It was intense, and Caitlyn found her hands moving down until they came to rest at Vi’s lower back. As the kiss grew increasingly heated, fingers pressed harder into firm and defined muscles. Caitlyn’s fingertips slipped under Vi’s shirt and gripped at the heated skin she found there.

“Fuck.” Vi gasped out, her voice breathless and rough.

Caitlyn’s brows furrowed in concern as she noticed Vi’s muscles quiver against her. “Are you okay? You’re trembling.”

Vi swallowed—hard—and there was a definite tremor to her voice. “Yeah, Cupcake. I’m good. You just make me nervous.”

Caitlyn completely pulled back and looked at her. Concern flashed in her stark blue eyes, and her brows pinched further together in worry. “I make you nervous?” she echoed, the sentence causing her stomach to drop.

“Well, yeah. Not in a bad way, I just…” Vi began, and grey eyes closed as she appeared to gather her thoughts. “We’ve gotten close. I love hanging out and spending time with you. Have I wanted it to end up here?” She asked the rhetorical question and motioned between them. “Yeah. Oh yeah, definitely. Doesn’t mean I haven’t been terrified. I don’t wanna mess up what we have.”

“We’ll take it slow, like we have been, because I don’t want to jeopardize what we have either. But, just to be clear, you’re doing extraordinarily well—I don’t foresee you messing this up.”

Vi’s eyes softened with gratitude and warmth. Caitlyn leaned in again, lips brushing Vi’s in a slow, tender kiss. It was a promise that everything would be okay. Vi wrapped her arms around Caitlyn’s neck, pulling her closer as her pulse thrummed beneath Vi’s palm.

Soon, the fire that burned in both their bellies had settled down to a pleasant simmer. Vi had leaned back on the couch and had pulled Caitlyn down with her. With Caitlyn nestled between Vi and the back of the couch, they ended up drifting off to sleep.

It didn’t take long before their cozy bubble was popped the moment a cold, wet nose poked Caitlyn’s side where her shirt had risen up. The blissful state she had between wakefulness and sleep was rudely interrupted. Caitlyn yelped and bucked away from the offending snout, and both she and Vi almost tumbled off the sofa.

Vi must have sensed what happened because a long sausage of black fur wiggled itself between the two of them.

“Newt! You and that long-ass beak!” Vi groaned and swiped her hand down her face. Despite the unpleasant wake-up call, Caitlyn actually giggled. Vi chuckled as well. “Right, I think that’s our cue. I guess I’m gonna head on to bed. You good?”

“Yes, though we need to stop falling asleep on couches. I’d say this is becoming a habit.”

**

The occasional flashes of lightning and the low rumbles of distant thunder sounded as Caitlyn, Vi, and their canine companions ascended the stairs to the floor of the main and guest bedrooms. Caitlyn’s room was the first door they came to.

“Sleep well, Cait.”

“Will you be able to sleep?”

Vi shrugged. “Yeah, I’ll be fine.”

Before Vi could walk away, Caitlyn reached for her hand and interlaced their fingers. Gently, she guided all four of them into her room. A soft table lamp illuminated the room just enough to see the surrounding furniture. Caitlyn walked around to her side and slipped under the covers. She then pulled the sheet up for Vi to join.

“Wanna sleep with me, eh, Cupcake?”

In the darkened bedroom, Caitlyn rolled her eyes. “Considering we’ve fallen asleep together twice now, we might as well be in a comfortable bed.”

“Touché.”

“Now, get in, all three of you.”

A few minutes later, all four of them were in bed. Newt and Ripley had burrowed their way under the covers between the women. Caitlyn and Vi lay on their sides, facing each other and holding hands in the space between them.

“Think you can sleep now?” Caitlyn asked, her voice barely above a whisper. She leaned forward so their foreheads touched.

“Yeah, I think so.” Vi answered.

Caitlyn let go of her hand long enough to brush the backs of her fingers across Vi’s cheek. She traced the outline of Vi’s facial scars and her cheek tattoo and moved down to trace her neck tattoo. “Thank you for staying tonight.” Caitlyn whispered. Even in the darkness of the room, she thought she could see Vi’s soft grin.

Vi reached for her hand again, took hold of it and whispered, “Night, Cait.”

Caitlyn barely registered the words before sleep took her.

Caitlyn woke to an empty bed, and she couldn’t help the disappointment that hit her. She hoped she’d still wake up with Vi next to her. She vaguely remembers drawing Vi closer to her during the early morning hours, but the memory was fuzzy. With reluctance, she got up and headed to the ensuite to change out of her nightclothes.

A few moments later, she reached the main floor and was overcome by the smell of freshly brewed coffee. Vi was seated at the small breakfast table, and Ripley and Newt ran up to greet her. Their fur was suspiciously wet, more so than it should have been just from damp grass.

“The lake was too tempting this morning. They both dove in nose first. I tried to dry them as best I could.” Caitlyn waved her hand, dismissing the apology.

“I hope you haven’t been up too long. I overslept, to say the least.” Caitlyn spoke as she made her way over to a cabinet to get a mug.

“Nah, not too long, but I made some coffee and dried off the chairs and stuff outside. We’re good to sit out there if ya want. Not too cool or anything. With a fire, it’ll be perfect.”

Caitlyn groaned and immediately headed over to the coffee pot. “That sounds amazing.”

With coffees in hand, both women walked out to the back patio. They had been enjoying the morning and each other’s continued company for at least two coffee refills. It was on the third cup that Caitlyn had just raised to her lips when Newt let out the shrillest of barks. Ripley followed immediately with growls and barks and perked ears at full attention. Then, quick as a flash, they took off towards the side of the house.

“Hey!” Vi called out as she bolted out of the chair.

The chaos startled Caitlyn to the point she almost inhaled her coffee.

“What in the—”

“They’re low-to-the-ground alarm systems! What can ya expect?!” Vi shouted as she took off towards them.

Caitlyn barely had time to register the disembodied voice from the home alarm system announcing ‘front door open’ before the dogs were racing back around the house.

“Shit! Cait, can ya get ‘em?”

Caitlyn stooped down to stop them as Vi said in a panic, “I think it’s your mom—”

“Caitlyn,” Cassandra’s surprised voice cut through the excitement. She had already made her way into the house and through the back door. “I didn’t realize you had… guests. At this hour nonetheless.”

Caitlyn was in her casual day clothes, but Vi was still in her baggy pajamas. “It’s the weekend, and I didn’t even know to expect you.” She took in a deep breath and made the introductions she’d been dreading. “Mum, this is Vi. Vi, this is my mother, Cassandra.”

“Hey.” Vi responded with a timid smile and held up her hand in greeting.

Cassandra’s expression did not waver; instead, she studied her—scrutinized was a more appropriate term. Her eyes moved over Vi from head to toe, as if methodically taking stock of what she saw. Hard and judgmental eyes flitted over the torn, faded jeans that Vi wore over the weathered and oil-stained Converse that were her favorite pair. They studied her frayed and faded black t-shirt, her numerous tattoos, piercings and her uneven and choppy red hair. Finally, they came to rest on Vi’s face, noting the smudged eyeliner she typically wore that was now exaggerated from sleeping in it. Vi swallowed and seemed to shrink in on herself.

“I see you’ve found another stray, honestly, Caitlyn.”

“Mum!” Caitlyn hissed, her voice coming out sharp and firm. She was livid. Seeing Vi withdraw and shrink under her mother's gaze made her blood boil. The thought of someone she considered family—her own mother—making a woman as strong, vibrant, caring, and full of life as Vi feel so small—so insignificant…it made her sick.

“I see you’re from the Undercity, yes?” She said with a disapproving look.

“Mother! That’s enough!” Caitlyn’s voice quivered with rage. She stood tall, shoulders squared, and her blue eyes were full of fire. Just like the day Vi stood between her and Deckard, Caitlyn stood between Vi and her mother. While her mother wasn’t a physical threat, Caitlyn still wanted to shield Vi from her barrage of insults. “Vi, why don’t you take the dogs inside and see if they need some water? I need to talk to my mother really quick.”

“Uh, yeah. Yeah, ‘course!” Vi tried to find Caitlyn’s eyes, a form of needed reassurance, but Caitlyn’s attention never left her mother.

As soon as the back door clicked shut, Cassandra spoke. “Still picking up strays, I see. You always have had a soft spot for them. I shouldn’t have been surprised when you chose the career path—”

“Don’t you dare call her that!” Her mother looked taken aback. “Her name is Vi. She’s the one that helped me when I was stranded that day. She stayed with me when no one else even glanced my way and waited until she knew I was safe. She is a dear friend, and I will not allow you to speak of her like that. She has such a good heart and does not deserve your judgment or cruelty. I will not stand here and listen to you degrade her. She has done nothing—nothing—to deserve your ire.”

“Surely you realize your association with someone of her…standing could completely damage your reputation. Your career? You know public perception—”

“That’s only your concern. I don’t give a damn about what others think. That’s the problem. Too many people are too concerned about who’s standing beside them and what those people are doing! Their only concern should be themselves. People need to address their own flaws and shortcomings before pointing out those of others — only then could they understand the challenges others may face. But no, people love sticking their noses where they don’t belong, judging what they haven’t taken the time to try and understand and I’m sick of it! There are horrible people in Piltover just as there are horrible people in Zaun! But just as here, there are good, perhaps better, people in Zaun.”

Her mom looked at her curiously and sighed. “Well,” her mother began as she exhaled and straightened out her shirt sleeve. “You decided against politics, but I’m thankful you chose law. You certainly have enough fire in you.”

Caitlyn shook her head in disagreement as she stood tall and steadfast. “No, I’m simply a Kiramman.”

“She’ll hurt you, Caitlyn. Her kind always does.”

“Her kind?! No, I have found the opposite to be true, actually, or have you conveniently forgotten about Maddie?! She was our kind, and she turned out to be an atrocious, manipulative bitch! I’m sorry if you can’t or won't accept Vi. That is your loss, Mum.”

Her mother stared at her. “You’re my daughter. I’m only looking out for your best interests. When you have a daughter, maybe you might come to understand my views.”

“No. If that were the case, you’d want me to be happy. Which is the opposite of what you’re doing at the moment. Now, Vi and I have a pleasant morning to still try and enjoy. I’d appreciate it if you gave us our privacy. If not, I’ll pack and head back home.” Cassandra chanced one glance at her daughter, then turned away. “Wasn’t it the same with Dad? You went against expectations to be with him. You married him against your mother’s wishes. A doctor from Ionian instead of someone with greater standing. How can you not be more understanding?”

Without an answer, her mother nodded, turned, and headed back out the way she came.

“Hey,” Vi whispered as Caitlyn walked back in. She shut the door gently behind her.

“Hi. I’m afraid to ask, but how much of that did you hear?”

“Probably all of it. Sorry, Cupcake. Was kinda hard not to. There’s not really anything in here to distract me anyways.”

“I meant what I said.” And she did. More than anything, Caitlyn meant it. Vi, with all her strength—all her confidence and courage at time—surely didn’t need protecting. But Caitlyn felt this inexplicable need to protect. It was time to take that burden off Vi, even if just for a moment, and protect her, shield her for once.

“I know. Thanks.”

“Please don’t thank me for that. Not when it shouldn’t even be that way.”

“Still, I wanna say it. Not often I get to hear who I am being defended, ya know.” Vi chuckled in disbelief. “You’re somethin’ else, Kiramman.”

Caitlyn groaned. “I’m almost thirty and have absolutely no privacy. Again, one of the perks of being a Kiramman.” She said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

They were quiet for a bit before Vi totally decided to prevent an already tense atmosphere from getting any worse.

“On the bright side, if you wanted to get under your mom’s skin, we accomplished that. She totally thinks we’re fucking. You know that, right? I think that’s what made everything worse. Just icing on the cake.”

“Violet! So crude!” She laughed as her cheeks flamed.

“What?! You should have seen the death glare she gave me! I thought I was going to incinerate on the spot! She’s kinda intense, ya know. I think I’d rather stare down the barrel of a father’s gun than have to deal with that again.”

Caitlyn took hold of Vi’s strong hands. “That she is. Intense, I mean. And don’t worry. She’s just as skilled in marksmanship as I am.”

“Great.” Vi rolled her eyes.

Caitlyn responded by stepping into her space and kissing her. It was a brief kiss that morphed into a full-bodied hug. Caitlyn tried to convey everything she felt in that embrace. As her arms wrapped around Vi’s strong form, as she tugged closer—trying to close every millimeter of space between them—she wanted Vi to feel all the support and all the feelings she wasn’t able to verbalize.

“You can stay as long as you’d like,” Caitlyn murmured into Vi’s neck. “Just let me know when you are ready to go home.”

“Thanks, Cupcake."

Chapter Text

A couple Saturdays each month, Vi, Powder and the gang would spend time at the local children’s activity center. It was a fun and safe place children in group homes could go to participate in various activities ranging from educational clubs to sports to music. With degrees and technical training, Vi, Powder and Ekko, had all three been approved to teach monthly classes at the center.

Vi, who had been one of the fortunate few in Zaun to afford university, got her degree in mechanical engineering. It seemed to be the perfect fit for her—it was the engineering sledgehammer, after all, and it fit so well into her strengths. Mechanical components and the intricate and absolute precision that allowed things to work. Like perfectly choreographed performances—everything had to be timed and executed with the utmost perfection. It was a skill she could apply to her love of boxing and martial arts all the while studying movement and learning the intricacies of not only machine components but also body mechanics. It afforded her problem-solving. Most importantly, it allowed her the knowledge to work and build motorcycles and make a damn good and respected career out of it.

Powder and Ekko were each geniuses in their own right and unique artists as well. They could make something out of nothing — junk was their treasure. If such science fiction were possible, Vi wouldn’t put it past Ekko to be the creator of time travel. Powder was more mechanically inclined and excelled at building simplistic yet effective components. She didn’t like things that were ‘over-designed’.

All three used their unique skills to teach and interact with kids at the center. Classrooms always had butts in the seats, and the gym was packed when the gang came in. Zaun might have been impoverished, but the activity center was well-kept and often had enough volunteers to keep the doors open steadily. Outside donations made things financially possible, but the volunteers were the heartbeat.

Sevika, a gruff and, at times, irritable woman, oversaw the program. She would never, ever admit it, but she had a soft spot for the kids. She was missing her left arm, so she wore a shroud that covered her left side from the shoulder down most of the time. It was a mixed bag on how many kids were either terrified of her mechanical arm or fascinated by it. Kids could be little shits and most often didn’t have a semblance of a filter.

One evening when Caitlyn and Vi had been on the phone with each other,the community center came up.

“I’m going to the kids center to help out for a bit tomorrow. You should come if ya want. You could bring a camera, show off your pictures, and tell them about photography. The kids soak all that up like sponges.”

Caitlyn’s smile could be heard through the phone. “I think I’d really enjoy that. Let me know what time.”

“Sure thing, Cupcake!”

It was late morning in Zaun and the community center was within walking distance of the bike shop. Caitlyn had arrived with a camera and bag in tow. Today, she seemed to have made a conscious effort in her clothing choices. She was wearing her signature Zaunite biking jeans and boots with a fitted black V-neck shirt. Her hair was pulled into a messy chic ponytail. The loose hair that didn’t get secured in the band fell across her cheeks and softened her angular face. When Vi looked closer at the camera she brought, she noticed it had to be one of her older ones. It was the style of camera that instantly developed the film and spit out the picture—an old Polaroid with what appeared to be a few packs of spare film peeking out the top of her bag.

“Hey!” Vi greeted Caitlyn as she approached. Vi and Powder had already been waiting outside. They had left Mylo and Claggor to close the shop and met Caitlyn outside once she arrived. It was a beautiful day. The sun was out and the temperature was perfect. Vi had decided on her usual jeans and a band t-shirt. The shirt had a traditional American tattoo of a skull with a dagger going through the eye. It was vibrantly colored, like most tattoos in that style, and it popped against the black t-shirt. The band name was on the front—Blue October. Vi loved her graphic tees. “Y—you look great!” Vi said as she wrapped Caitlyn in a hug—mindful of the camera and bag she had slung on her shoulder.

“Yeah, nice pants.” Powder agreed. “And that’s Vi talk for ‘ya look hot’.

Vi’s head whipped around. “Pow!” she gritted out.

“What?! It is!”

“Hello,” Caitlyn said with a blush as she pulled back slightly from Vi’s hug. One hand rested at the center of Vi’s back as her hand moved back and forth in a comforting motion. Caitlyn didn’t seem eager to step away, so Vi couldn’t help but press in and hug her closer to her side.

“What all d’ya bring?” Vi asked as she pointed to the bag. Vi was grinning like an idiot—she had that excited kid energy just waiting to get out.

“I thought the kids might enjoy and get more out of this camera.” Caitlyn said as she stepped back and toyed with the device. They started walking in the direction of the center. “More engagement and instant gratification, I suppose. They see the process, snap a picture, and can not only instantly see their picture, like on our phones, but hold it as well.”

“They’ll love that! But…Cait, those films are expensive as hell! I’ve looked at them before and remember thinking, ‘Nope, screw that shit’.”

Caitlyn shrugged and grinned. “It’s fine, Vi. I promise. I wouldn’t have brought all this if I didn’t want to.”

Powder, who was walking in tandem with them, piped in. “She’s right, ya know. The kids’ll love that. Good thinkin’.”

Caitlyn’s eyes seemed to brighten at Powder’s approval.

With a proud smile, Vi nudged Caitlyn’s arm with her own—the unspoken ‘there ya go!’ drifted in the space between them. Caitlyn’s hand found Vi’s and gave it the lightest squeeze before interlacing their fingers. It didn’t take many strides until they were shoulder to shoulder with their arms linked together.

The center seemed to have an air of excitement about it. Vi and Powder were no doubt popular among the kids, but on the first sighting of Caitlyn, that excitement increased tenfold. Several of Vi’s regular kids ran up to them, gave Vi a hug and immediately started asking questions of Caitlyn.

There was a small greenway set up right outside the building. It was fenced in and had a small old metal playset with swings, monkey bars, and a metal slide that Vi knew for a fact burnt the shit out of your skin if it got too hot. But it had trimmed grass and a few wooden benches set up. Caitlyn walked into the greenway and several of the kids followed her, eager for her to show them the camera. She actually brought a couple cameras, to Vi’s surprise. “So they can all have a turn.” Caitlyn had said.

Vi’s heart swelled as she watched Caitlyn interact with the kids. Pictures were snapped, and the films were shared between groups. The kids laughed and were posing for each other. It was the happiest she’d seen many of them in a long time, and she knew it had everything to do with Caitlyn. Vi felt herself falling even further. Those emotions felt like they came too soon. They still hadn’t known each other very long, but her heart knew. She was falling in love with the woman. A woman, in theory, so out of place in Vi’s world, yet she fit in seamlessly. Caitlyn caught her eyes from across the lot and smiled. Yep. Vi was done for.

A couple hours had passed, and Vi, Powder, and Caitlyn were walking through one of the corridors of the center when a horrible ruckus echoed through the hallways. A group of kids were obviously being a bit too rambunctious. For their sake, Vi hoped Sevika didn’t hear them. Unnoticed by the trio, a classroom door opened, and Powder suddenly found herself plastered across the floor with a small kid flailing about.

“Hey! Watch it, kid!” Powder gasped out, the breath knocked out of her.

The small child didn’t say anything. Instead, they looked off at the loud noises spilling into the hallways. Powder sat up, but the kid remained somewhat in her lap. “Mind the elbow, kid!”

They had choppy short brown hair with expressive amber-hued eyes.

“Hey, what’s your name?” Vi asked as she knelt to eye level with them.

The girl didn’t answer.

“Here, come on. You can walk with us.” Vi spoke as she extended her hand. To everyone’s shock, the girl reached out and took Powder’s slack hand instead. Vi laughed. “Fair enough.” Powder, for her part, stilled and had the look of a deer in headlights. “Come on, Pow Pow. She apparently likes you.” Vi said, humor in her voice. She looked on as the young girl seemed mesmerized by Powder’s baby blue smoke tattoos on her arm. Powder seemed to fight the instinct to flinch away but allowed the small fingers to trace the outlines as those amber eyes watched everyone closely. She gripped Powder’s hand as they started their walk again.

They had been on their way to Sevika’s office. Vi was one of the few always kept in the loop of the inner workings of the center. Since her release from prison, she’d been a constant volunteer and contributed a lot when it came to the annual charity event. That was their largest money maker.

“My favorite troublemaker,” Sevika teased with a smirk as Vi and Caitlyn walked into her open office. Powder and the girl stayed right outside the door. The kid apparently didn’t want to go inside. “And I see you all have found Isha.” Sevika said as she gestured towards the door where Powder and the young kid stood.

“Isha?” Vi repeated but then she laughed. “More like Isha found Powder.”

They watched as the two interacted. “She got here a couple weeks ago,” Sevika began. “She won’t talk. Reckon she’s mute. No tellin’ what the kid saw before comin’ here. We only know her name, and that’s cause it was written inside of her jacket. Well, we assume it’s her name anyway. She seems like a sweet kid. We just don’t know anything about her. She seems to know a little sign language, but we really don’t have anyone here to interpret or teach it.”

“Damn,” Vi muttered as she watched the girl and Powder interact. “She’s kinda taken to Powder.”

“Good. She won’t hang around the other kids. She shies away and hides in empty classrooms. Hangin’ with Powder will be good for her. Gives her some interaction at least.” When her eyes left her doorway, she focused in on Caitlyn. “I’ve seen you at the bar a couple times with Vi.”

“This is Caitlyn.” Vi introduced first, then, “Cait, this is Sevika. She runs the center here.”

“You’ve stuck around for a while. You guys dating or what?” Sevika asked as she walked back over to her desk.

Vi froze for a moment. She really didn’t know what exactly they were at this point. They’d had one date but also had spent a lot of time together, and Vi already had date number two planned out. She didn’t have to worry about an answer, though, because Caitlyn responded.

“We’re seeing where things take us. I think a lot of Vi and enjoy spending time with her.”

Sevika studied her for a moment, then looked towards Vi as she spoke. “Well, you must be pretty special for her to bring ya here and around the kids. Can’t say she’s ever done that before.”

Vi cleared her throat, ready for a subject change. “So, how’s everything been goin’?” Sevika sighed, and Vi knew at that point there was something she wasn’t saying. “Sev?”

“We’re in trouble,” she paused. Vi’s brow furrowed and her eyes grew wide. Before she could question further, Sevika continued. “Silco. He’s refusing to renew our lease. Says he needs this prime location to further his ‘operations’.” She said ‘operations’ with a sneer.

“Silco…that fucking piece of shit.” Vi seethed. She held a dangerous look in her eyes, and her whole body went taut.

“Who’s Silco?” Caitlyn inquired. Vi was certain she had at least heard the name before, considering she’d been involved with shimmer cases in the past.

“He’s the ‘Eye of Zaun’ — an industrialist and dangerous crime lord.” Sevika answered.

“Shimmer?” Vi began, trying to help Caitlyn connect the dots to a drug she knew well. At the drug’s name, Caitlyn’s whole body straightened. “Silco’s the guy.” Vi said, and Caitlyn looked stunned.

“S—Shimmer?!” She stuttered. “But—but I thought its use had since dwindled here.”

“It had, but it never completely went away. It was always going in the shadows. But there’s been a huge resurgence. Silco’s enhanced it somehow. Made it more addictive—”

Sevika stepped in. “What would a Piltie know about it?! Shimmer is rampant here. Addictive is an understatement, and it doesn’t discriminate on who it pulls in. You wouldn’t believe who I’ve seen succumb to it.”

“I know! I’ve investigated and helped prosecute those responsible. They’ve been held accountable in the eyes of the court.”

“The fuck, Vi? She a lawyer? Or law enforcement? Which one? Man, fuck the courts! You think a man like Silco gives a shit about laws or courts? Hell no.” Sevika seethed, but she took a breath and continued. “Silco is the main manufacturer of it. I should know.”

“Sevika used to be his right-hand man.” Vi clarified.

“Yeah, until I questioned his decisions one too many times. Anyway, for years we’ve worked under a mutual understanding—I’d stay out of his way and he’d stay out of mine. When this place opened, I started working here just as light security. I was more like a glorified referee than anything. And yeah, in Zaun, even places like this need protection. Then Silco bought the damn place, and I found myself tangled in his web again.”

“What can we do, Sev?” Vi asked.

“Now? Nothin’. I’ve looked around, and either it’s a place owned by another chem-baron or Silco, and if it’s not then, it’s either too expensive or the location isn’t good.”

“Shit.”

“It’s not lookin’ good, Vi.”

“Fuck!” Vi yelled as she slammed her fist into the cement wall. Caitlyn gasped and stepped forward afraid Vi had just hurt herself. But she seemed unaffected. If only she knew how Vi had adapted her punches to match the cement walls of her prison cell.

“Is—is there something I can do?” Caitlyn asked. “There must be some way I might be able to help.” She implored.

“Ain’t a thing a Piltie can do for us here. You Topsiders need to stay in your lane and leave us actually in The Lanes the hell alone!”

“Hey!” Vi spoke, her voice dangerously low and threatening. Once again, her body was in fight mode. Caitlyn could feel the tension rise. “Caitlyn’s done nothin’ to you, Sevika! She’s here with me and offering to help! This isn’t about you, Sev, so back the fuck off her!”

Sevika smirked. “Damn, and there’s the Vi I know and love—full of fight and fire. Fine. There’s nothing you can do, alright. Unless you have a place for us down here, then it’s up to us. Like it’s always been.”

Vi shook her head, trying to think—to come up with a plan. “The boxing event is coming up soon. Maybe we can raise enough—”

“The event always does well for us, but it won’t help with this. It won’t be enough.”

“Fuck. I’ll think of something. It may not be enough, but it could at least help. I’ll talk with the guys. See what we can do.”

They walked out of Sevika’s office, and Vi shut the door behind them. The day had taken a turn Vi hadn’t expected, and it wasn’t a hopeful one either. She dug her fingers into her forehead as Caitlyn finally spoke.

“Vi, I want to help. Please.” She implored.

“I don’t even know how to help, Cait.”

“This boxing event…Tell me about it. Please.”

Vi sighed. “It’s a charity event. There’re boxing matches and auctions. We make a whole day of it, but the nighttime event—the last boxing match is the most popular. We have the final auction then, too. We’ve done it every year for, like, the past five years. I always donate a custom bike, and it’s auctioned off. There’re other things, but the bike’s normally the money maker. Even then, it’s not as much takeaway as you’d think. It’s different down here, Caitlyn.”

“I know it’s different!” she exclaimed. “I see that now! I saw it the moment I met you! I never…I never knew. I wish I had. This city needs healing. More than I could have ever realized. Please, let me help you, however I can.”

“Okay, yeah, ‘course. We can figure something out.”

Caitlyn was deep in thought as they walked the corridors of the center. Vi said she had to run to the bathroom before they left, so Caitlyn found herself continuing to walk down the hall. Ideas were forming rapidly with each step. They were incomplete ideas, but ideas nonetheless.

Caitlyn was passing the classrooms in the community center when she noticed one with its door open and light spilling out into the hallway. She walked towards it and tried to be mindful of her footsteps so she didn’t distract whoever was occupying the classroom. When she peeked in, she saw Powder and one of the kids sitting at a table putting together what appeared to be a small automotive component. Neither looked up but that was when she noticed the other child was Isha—with her bright blue hair. It was almost the same color as Powder’s. Isha’s fingers moved rapidly as she tried to sign something to her, and Powder, who didn’t know sign language, did her best to interpret. Isha continued to slot metal in place, and Powder looked on with a soft smile. It was such a tender moment, and Caitlyn wanted to capture it. This was the epitome of what the community center was supposed to be—what it was supposed to represent. Support, guidance, security. A place for children to learn, play, and participate while being in a safe, loving, and secure environment. She raised her non-Polaroid camera up, the main camera she always used, and snapped a few photos in quick succession. She looked down at her camera screen and smiled. They were perfect. With those few clicks of her camera, an obtainable concept suddenly developed and was given life.

It was late afternoon when Caitlyn joined Vi and the rest of the gang for a D&D session. She brought her newly designed map and freshly penned character sheet—both of which she was incredibly proud of.

“I might have an idea for the charity event,” Caitlyn announced once they had all settled at the table. She glanced around the group. Vi watched her, curiosity bright in her eyes and a softness right at the corners. Claggor leaned forward with interest, and Mylo’s fingers were steepling on the wood table, almost in disinterest. Caitlyn knew he was still leery of her. She tried not to let him get under her skin. Vi had told her he was kind of an ‘asshat’, but despite his standoffish nature, he was a good guy. She tried to keep that in mind each time they saw each other. Ekko looked on expectantly with a raised eyebrow, and Powder bounced in her seat—her energy barely contained.

“Vi, you know I love photography. I have a good camera, so…Why can’t we—say, capture moments in your shop or take pictures with some of your custom bikes? Bring the pride of Zaun to the forefront?”

Powder gasped, like a lightbulb had suddenly flipped on. “Oh, oh oh! How ‘bout a calendar?! Ya know, like those sexy pinup mechanic calendars Mylo’s got stuck to his tool chest?” Powder said with a mischievous grin. Those always sold like crazy around mechanic shops—slapped on just about every tool chest that dotted the shops.

Ekko furiously shook his head. “Oh hell no!” Ekko exclaimed. “No go for me.”

“No! Nothing like that!” Caitlyn interjected with her hand waving quickly. “I mean, a calendar would actually be a brilliant idea. We could do more than twelve shots…Have bonus pictures? Maybe sell prints?”

Clagger voiced his own suggestion, “What about like a super nice program or something for the event that people can pay for? Have lots of pictures of local stops around Zaun?” He nodded at his own idea as he spoke, obviously proud of his idea.

Catilyn nodded as well, loving where these ideas were going. This was perfect. “We could feature Powder’s work and you, Vi, with your guitars?”

“Oh man, the possibilities!” Powder clapped her hands together and rubbed them against each other. Caitlyn appreciated the enthusiasm, but she was slightly afraid of what Powder had in mind, noting the slightly manic gleam in her bright eyes.  

Caitlyn felt a hand at her shoulder, and she turned to see Vi leaning in close. “You sure ‘bout this, Cait?” Vi asked; it was a gentle question, but the concern was there. “This—this could be a lotta work, ya know, and you already work a lot as it is.”

“I know.” Caitlyn agreed. She gave Vi a small yet determined smile. She was in this one hundred percent. “But…It’s something that means a great deal to you—to the community, and I’d like—I’d love to help in any way I can.”

That seemed to ease the pinch in Vi’s brows. Her features softened, and she squeezed Caitlyn’s shoulder.

Ekko finally spoke up again. This time, in agreement with more enthusiasm. “’Ight, I dig it. I’m in!”

Everyone else agreed as well. The atmosphere, heavy at first with worry, was now light and full of energy. Caitlyn let out a deep breath.

“Alright guys!” Claggor said as he interlaced his fingers, stretched them palms out, and allowed his fingers and knuckles to pop. “Let’s get our session going!”

Caitlyn had made the character sheet and the map, just as she’d promised. Despite her being proud of what she’d done, once she presented her map and character sheet to the group, doubt and self-consciousness seeped in. She shouldn’t have been worried, though. Claggor, of course, was enamored with the map and treated it like found treasure as he laid it across the center of the table. When she began to describe her character to everyone, Vi smiled and nudged Caitlyn with her knee playfully. Caitlyn’s character was Matilda…the pirate. Named after her great-great-grandmother—Matilda the pirate, of course.

Bit by bit, the charity ideas soon started coming to life. What started as bullet points were now becoming fully executable steps. Caitlyn, who had finally returned to her home in Piltover and in-office work, spent her free time working on their project. Late-night coffee-fueled creative sessions turned into sketching flyers, tinkering with design layouts, and reviewing and revising draft after draft. She had decided on a few flyers for the gang to look through and hopefully approve, and then, once accepted, they could distribute them around Zaun and any friendly outlying areas. She started formatting the calendars and planning out various scene options. She wanted to get pictures with everyone and their personal bikes, Vi and her vehicles, Powder and Ekko with her tricked-out vans, Powder and her artwork by Jinx, Vi and her guitars, Vander and Benzo at The Last Drop, local shops around Zaun (like the donut shop where she and Vi had their first cup of coffee), and of course, Vi and Vander’s gym since the event did center around a boxing charity event after all.

Caitlyn suggested taking photos of Powder and Ekko next to their own ’73 Dodge Custom Vans. Ekko’s had a custom orange paint job with white and green accents and Firelight symbols, which looked like an hourglass symbol. Powder’s was a light blue—almost neon blue with neon green, yellow, and pink accents and monkey head logos. Both vans had a major sound system built into them. The vans were flashy and unapologetic thanks to their deafening engines, hard-hitting subwoofers, and chaotic, yet meticulously executed paint jobs.

Everything was coming together beautifully. The event was still weeks away, but a little—or rather a lot of—planning never hurt.

It was decided that Vi would pass out flyers around the shop and gym, and, of course, she’d keep extras to affix to the walls of the showroom, garage, and exterior walls.

One evening, when Vi decided to drive to her home in Piltover, she dragged Powder along for the ride as well. Ripley and Newt were, of course, tagging along too. Vi had made the decision to visit Caitlyn at her home more. Caitlyn was adamant that her trips to Zaun were an escape, a mental break for her, but finally acquiesced. Vi said she didn’t want her to get burned out with constant driving into Zaun. Plus, Vi said she found Caitlyn’s home in Piltover to be an escape as well. Vi loved her quaint home that was surrounded by mature trees and clean fresh air.

“Hey!” Powder exclaimed suddenly, jumping up from the table where they were sharing some coffee and brainstorming ideas. The coffee mugs and other scattered items shook from the movement. Caitlyn, Vi, and the two dogs all jumped at her sudden shout. “What about a shot with you and Caitlyn?!” She said to Vi. “She’s helpin’ out, and you’re a big sponsor, so it makes perfect sense.”

Vi seemed to think for a moment, then shrugged. She looked excited, impressed with the suggestion. “Sure. You okay with that, Cait?”

“I—I don’t know, Vi.” She was hesitant. “This is an event for Zaun. I don’t know how well received it might be for someone from Piltover being included.”

“Meh, I think I’d be fine. But…we can wear our helmets? That’d work.” She offered as a solution. Caitlyn was still unsure, but there was something…mischievous behind those gray eyes. Something that told Caitlyn Vi already had a plan coming to mind.

The shop was entering into the late afternoon slump. Everyone was settled into their projects, and the music had since tapered off. No one had stopped long enough to turn it back on. The unusual quiet is what allowed the crunching of gravel to echo into the shop. Ekko heard the sound and got up. He looked out the window and saw several vehicles pulling up. “Yo Vi! Somethin’s up! We got like three cars out here, and they’re blocking the entrance. This ain’t right. Somethin’s up.”

Vi jumped up. This had trouble written all over it. Her heart pounded; a wave of unease was crashing through her. The cars were too pristine, too deliberate in their approach. She glanced around, trying to think. Her mind raced as it tried to organize a plan—tried to figure out why—who?!Why were they here? Who even were they?

The SUVs came to a halt, blocking Vi’s business parking lot and cutting off potential customers. Two men in suits with sunglasses exited the middle SUV, and a posh woman—a woman steeped in authority and confidence, like she had every right in the world to be there—stepped out and into the light of Zaun. VI’s stomach dropped and her heart stopped. It was Cassandra. Cassandra Kiramman was standing outside her shop—in the Undercity.

“Fuck! Who's that?!” Mylo’s voice cut through the tension, but Vi barely registered his question. Her whole body swung around, and she pointed to each and every one of them.

“Stay here,” she told them, her voice low and firm. “I mean it. I would tell ya not to eavesdrop, but that’s pointless.”

Vi’s poor heart, once again, stilled when she heard Powder’s voice in the showroom. “Shit!” she gasped out. She heard Powder make a couple of offhanded comments as she burst through the shop door and into the showroom. “Pow!” she growled. “I got this one. Why doncha take a break.” Vi wasn’t asking; she was telling. She heard Powder mumble something about her being no fun, but Vi ignored her and focused on the issue at hand.

The woman in front of her wore a tailored navy blazer with an ivory silk blouse. She looked just as immaculate as she had on the Sunday they met, which meant the woman never left the house with a hair out of place.

Cassandra walked towards Vi, her steps measured and her voice cool. “Miss Lanes, it’s a pleasure to see you again.”

“Just Vi,” she replied, trying for nonchalance and her usual bravado. “But yeah…sure. Lovely.

Vi noticed Cassandra’s gaze as it swept over the shop, pausing on the handmade flyers and the colorful photos that had become the soul of their upcoming event. Caitlyn had taken those photos, and Vi felt a surge of warmth thinking about the care and attention Caitlyn poured into every shot. She remembered watching Caitlyn with the kids that day, her patience and genuine enjoyment making Vi realize just how much Caitlyn wanted to help—not out of obligation, but because she truly cared. Vi had never seen anyone from Piltover look at the kids of Zaun with that kind of openness, and it made her heart soar. She wouldn’t let the woman in front of her bring her down any further.

“I’m guessing you’re here for a reason. So, can I help you with something, Councilor?”

“I suppose I wanted to properly meet the woman who has had Caitlyn so enamored these past several weeks. She mentioned you owned a motorcycle shop. Considering there’s just one here owned by a ‘Vi,’ I assumed this was you.”

Vi stood tall and firm—stoic as she responded. “You assumed right.”

“This is quite a nice establishment. For someone so young to be this…established. You’ve obviously done well. Very well.”

That tone…that look…She was implying something that made Vi’s blood boil. “What exactly are you suggesting?”

“Oh, nothing,” she said dismissively. “I just find it impressive. You do realize, by associating with my daughter, you are associating with our family name. In saying that, no stone will be left unturned when it comes to your background. Any dark marks on your past will be uncovered.”

Vi’s chest tightened. She thought of Caitlyn—how she’d always been honest with her, never hiding her scars—her past. “Do all the diggin’ you want. You won’t find anything I haven’t already told Caitlyn about. Actually, you won’t find much at all. I don’t know what you’re getting at, Mrs. Kiramman, but I’ve earned what I have. I’ve worked my ass off and have sacrificed a lot to get where I’m at, and it was all done through honest work. Not all Zaunites deal in or survive off dirty money.”

Cassandra’s gaze lingered on a poster for the charity auction, and Vi noticed a slight—almost imperceptible—softening in her eyes. Vi didn’t know if it was the idea behind the flyers—the children—or the fact she knew her daughter had a hand in creating them. Or, it could have been she never expected to see such a display of unity or community in such a place as the Undercity. Cassandra being a politician meant they saw things through a different lens. “Despite what you may believe, and not that it’s any of your business, I do love my daughter. We may have a complicated relationship, but she’s still my daughter.” She took off the flyer from the wall. Vi wanted to tell her to leave it alone, but she kept quiet.

“I know you love her, and I know she loves you. I’m not here to cause trouble—or issues—whatever. I’m not here for any reason other than I think Caitlyn is an amazing person and I love spending time with her. And despite what you may believe, not everyone has ulterior motives.”

Cassandra’s eyes flew up to meet hers. "I see. Well, I suppose time will tell if your intentions are true. But know this, Vi, I will always protect my daughter.”

“Threats…I’m used to those.” Vi said as she shrugged it off. “Well, as lovely as this conversation’s been, I gotta shop to run. Us Zaunites actually have to work our asses off for an honest living.” She was taking a dangerous shot—a jab at the Kiramman’s generational wealth. She hated to pull that card, because Caitlyn was, of course, part of the matrilineal family. A lineage that would be passed to her as well.

The social divide between cities ran far too deep, from extreme wealth to extreme poverty. Caitlyn recognized it, but Cassandra, like all politicians and councilors, was tone-deaf and oblivious. They had their money and lavish lifestyles. The hell with anyone else. Caitlyn was different on so many levels.

So yes, Vi knew her implication would land splendidly.

“What, exactly, are you saying?”

Vi’s piercing gray eyes stared almost right through the older woman and Vi shrugged.

Cassandra looked at her intensely. Then she walked out, the wall flyer still clutched in her hand.

The tension that was once brutal and almost unbearable rushed out the door along with Cassandra. Vi could breathe again, and the bone-breaking weight that had been settled atop her shoulders fell away. She hoped she hadn’t made any grave mistakes with what she had said. Given how Caitlyn had talked and responded to her own mother, Vi doubted it. But still, she couldn’t be sure.

It was late afternoon when Vi pulled up to the lake house. She revved her engine a couple times before switching it off. She and Caitlyn had decided to work on their photos this evening. Vi was vibrating with nervous energy that had nothing to do with the vibrations from her bike. Caitlyn knew the general concept of the photos…just her and Vi, easy and simple. What she didn’t know was how Vi planned to execute the poses. In her mind’s eye, she saw an intimate scene shared by two people who loved to ride.

She had just dismounted when Caitlyn walked out onto the front porch. She was wearing the riding gear she’d bought from the shop, and yes, Powder had eventually let it spill that Caitlyn did come back to pay for everything. She was even more surprised to learn that Caitlyn had bought herself a helmet.

“Hey!” Vi said with a hitch in her breath. “Look at you!”

“You were with me when I bought this.” Caitlyn reminded her as she tucked a wayward strand of navy-blue hair behind her ear.

Vi shrugged but still had a huge smile on her face. “Yeah, but now, I can look without feeling like a creep.”

Caitlyn rolled her eyes playfully and shook her head. “Come on, you goof, I have my camera set up down close to the embankment. I thought it’d be perfect. Especially if we hit it right at sunset. You can capture some stunning silhouette shots if timed right.”

“Onward then, my lady.” Vi said, matching Caitlyn’s playfulness.

They started walking slowly towards the lakeshore. Vi’s bike was heavy, but she pushed it with little effort across the smooth concrete path that was laid from the driveway and meandered down to the lake’s edge. Neither woman was necessarily in a hurry. There was plenty of sunlight for them to work with.

Caitlyn had one hand tucked inside her leather jacket, and the other one was curled around her helmet. She glanced at Vi a couple times before speaking. “I was trying to be obvious, you know.” She said in response to Vi’s previous comment.

Vi looked at her curiously. “Obvious?”

A blush crept up her face. “I wanted your attention.” Vi’s heart sped up at Caitlyn’s confession, and a rush of warmth flooded her chest. Caitlyn continued. “From the moment we met, you intrigued me. I wanted you to look, and it was cute but frustrating every time I caught your gaze lingering because you’d tear your gaze away and I’d see you blush or you’d have this look like you were mentally berating yourself.” Vi ducked her head and let a soft laugh escape. “After all, you did leave your jacket. At first, I thought it was really an accident—there was a lot going on, and you just forgot…But it wasn’t, was it?” She sighed, and before Vi could answer, she continued, “Regardless, in doing so, you started a chain of inevitable events, I’m afraid.” She smiled.

Vi scratched the back of her neck with a grin before taking hold of both bike handles again. “Yeah, not gonna lie…I left it hoping I’d get to see you again. That I’d give you an excuse to find me.”

“You’re lucky you had a business card in there!” Caitlyn teased.

“I know! It was spur of the moment, okay!” She laughed. “Plus, I really didn’t think I’d ever see you again…Or my jacket for that matter.”

Caitlyn hummed in acknowledgment as she thought about it. “It all worked out though.”

“Yeah, it did.”

They finally reached the bank of the lake and the spot where Caitlyn had her camera set up on the tripod. The calmness of the lake behind them was the perfect backdrop. Caitlyn pointed to where she wanted Vi to park the bike.

“So, I um—I actually have a cool idea we should try. If you want to, that is.” Vi said, hesitating slightly.

Caitlyn’s face lit up with excitement. “Sure! You get into position first. Then I’ll follow your lead.”

Vi straddled the motorcycle, settling into the soft leather seat with practiced ease. She laid the helmet on the seat and wedged it between her legs so she had both hands to help Caitlyn into the position she had envisioned.

“How do you want me?” Caitlyn asked. It was an innocent question, but Vi’s mind shot off into space.

“W—what?” she choked out as her voice grew rough. Caitlyn picked up on where exactly her mind went.

“How do you want me positioned for the shoot, you goof!” She laughed and playfully swatted Vi’s leather-covered arm.

“Gah! Alright, this has always been kinda a fantasy of mine. Um, just straddle the bike like you would normally, but just do it backwards. Ya know, facing me.” Caitlyn looked at her skeptically. “This will probably be awkward as hell. Just hold on to me. I won’t let ya fall.” In truth, it would be awkward at first—counterintuitive, especially since Caitlyn had only been on a bike once, but Vi wouldn’t let her fall.

Once Vi was settled in her seat and had the bike stabilized, she nodded at Caitlyn. “Got it! Come on, I’ll keep you steady.” She offered her hand as Caitlyn approached.

Caitlyn drew a deep breath, then swung her leg over the bike—her movements were hesitant, and she was careful not to scuff the polished tank. Through the clumsy positioning, it helped tremendously that Caitlyn had long legs. Vi kept a firm grip on the handlebars, and her other hand hovered at Caitlyn’s back. When Caitlyn settled atop the fuel tank, Vi instinctively reached out, her hands gentle and reassuring on Caitlyn’s waist, and guided her fully into place.

For a moment, they both paused, Caitlyn feeling the weight of Vi’s hands anchoring her and Vi acutely aware of their proximity. The closeness and the trust in that simple touch? The intimacy of the pose wasn’t lost on either of them, and that was exactly what Vi had wanted. Selfishly, of course, but she also knew the photograph could easily be well received.

“Damn, the approach might not have been the smoothest, but this is hot as hell, Cupcake.” She teased, her tone warm and affectionate.

Caitlyn rolled her eyes, then laughed, her nerves giving way to exhilaration. “Vi! This is for charity,” she whispered, even though they were the only people within miles. “It’s not supposed to be—”

“But it totally is!” Vi grinned. “You know how many calendars I’ve seen like this? Anyway, how about this…We’ll do one for the calendar—a friendly shot—then one just for us, with helmets off.”

Caitlyn agreed, and after pulling a small remote out of her pocket to control the camera, they got into the first pose, and with a discrete touch, the camera shutter clicked in the distance.

They posed in several different ways. One with helmets in their laps, hair tumbling down; another with helmets on, foreheads touching, Vi’s hands settled on Caitlyn’s hips and Caitlyn’s arms draped around Vi’s shoulders. Every movement was deliberate, and every glance was full of meaning. The chemistry between them was unmistakable.

“Want to do the one for us now?” Vi asked as they both agreed there were enough shots for the calendar to choose from.

Caitlyn nodded, and Vi fluffed Caitlyn’s hair back out. They had long since removed their helmets, which sat carefully discarded on the thick grass. “You’re so beautiful.” Vi whispered as her fingers brushed through long navy strands. “You trust me?” Vi asked, searching Caitlyn’s eyes for an answer she already hoped she knew.

Caitlyn took a grounding breath as she felt the warmth of Vi’s palm solid and comforting against her. It anchored her to the moment. “I do,” she replied, voice trembling but resolute in her answer.

“I’m gonna pull you forward; just hold on to me, kay?” Vi’s strong hands, which had remained at her knees and calves, drifted up and danced up her outer thighs until they came to a rest at her hips. In one smooth motion, Vi’s muscles flexed and slid Caitlyn from the top of the fuel tank straight onto her lap. The bike dipped ever so slightly with the weight shift. Vi felt a rush of adrenaline having Caitlyn this close.

Caitlyn’s hands and fingers traced scar marks across Vi’s forearms. Her brow pinched together as her fingers brushed against the raised skin with care. Memories flashed like a newsreel in Vi’s mind with each delicate brush of Caitlyn’s careful fingers. She recalled loose gravel from a driveway strewn across the road at a particularly sharp curve. Her confidence was nothing but a mask for inexperience at taking a curve too fast. The searing pain of scorching pavement against flesh. The foolish belief that a quick trip shouldn’t require protection from head to toe. “Those are reminders.” Vi whispered. “Never ride with skin exposed if ya wanna keep your skin. I learned the hard way. Ate pavement one time, and that was all it took. I was lucky to come away with just the scars. Some people get road burn so bad they have to get skin grafts. Just depends on how you go down and how hard.”

Before Caitlyn could ask questions or utter apologies, Vi reached up, cupped a pale cheek, and brought her down for a kiss.

The kiss was gentle and slow. Every emotion was communicated through soft caresses, breathy sighs, or heavy-lidded gazes. Vi could feel the rush of Caitlyn’s pulse beneath her fingertips, and it was exhilarating. She’d never tire of this.

She felt the bike dip beneath them again as Caitlyn tried to shift closer, pressing herself further against Vi’s front. She clutched at Vi’s back like a lifeline, and Vi soon felt fingertips move across her cheek until a thumb settled right below her eye.

Caitlyn had pulled away from the kiss and was now looking at her. Noses almost brushing.

“Take me somewhere?” Caitlyn asked as she brushed loose hair from Vi’s face.

“Yeah? Where you wanna go?” Vi’s voice was deep and rough but held so, so much warmth.

Caitlyn closed the distance and nuzzled up against Vi’s cheek. “To the stars.”

They both laughed, but in truth, Vi felt her stomach somersault. “Nerd.” Vi said lovingly.

“I’ve always wanted to say that.” Caitlyn whispered as she buried her face into Vi’s neck in embarrassment.

“Pretty cheesy, Cupcake.”

“I know,” Caitlyn groaned. “Saying it out loud, I’m actually embarrassed.”

“Nah, don’t be.” Vi whispered as she brushed more hair from Caitlyn’s face. “To the stars it is, Miss.”

Chapter Text

“I am looking for someone to share in an adventure…”

That was what Vi’s text message had said. Caitlyn had rolled her eyes upon reading the literary quote, but her heart had swooned at the adorable level of nerdiness displayed across the screen. The message was then promptly followed up by:

“Wear something warm and comfortable.”

That had been the only hint Vi had given Caitlyn on the morning of their second official date. Vi had been mysterious and almost elusive this whole week, but Caitlyn could hear the giddy tone in her voice when they spoke over the phone. Vi was excited and didn’t want anything to potentially spoil the surprise of the date she had planned out. Caitlyn respected that beyond measure, but she still wanted some sort of hint. She just wanted to be prepared, that was all. Vi said she had an uncanny ability to persuade even the most tight-lipped person into confessing their deepest secrets. Caitlyn couldn’t really argue that point. She was a lawyer and known for her investigative skills — it was just in her nature to be inquisitive, and she was very good at it.

Caitlyn had decided on her soft khaki corduroy pants that fit perfectly and a comfortable oversized burgundy waffle-knit sweater with a hood and a pocket in the front.

Late evening was steadily approaching, and Caitlyn found herself sitting in her favorite chair while trying to calm her racing heart. The steady and constant tick of her grandfather clock was soothing as always. It gave her something to focus on.

Her clock dinged at the half-hour mark, and that’s when she heard a distinct, rhythmic rumble right down the road. Headlights then streamed through her blinds, and that was the signal Vi had arrived.

The quiet neighborhood was unaccustomed to such loud vehicles, but with Vi beginning to frequent her home more, she figured her curious neighbors—nosy really, but she used that term affectionately—now knew who the visitor was and whom they were visiting. This rumble was different from Vi’s bike, and although she’d only heard Vi’s car once, it didn’t sound like her car. Caitlyn stood from her chair and straightened her sweater just as the vehicle turned off. She quickly went to her kitchen and grabbed the bag of ice Vi asked her to bring. Vi initially didn’t want her to bring anything, but at Caitlyn’s insistence, Vi settled on her getting a bag of ice. She thought this was an odd request, but she went with it.

Caitlyn opened the door and stepped outside as Vi was shutting the heavy door of an old pickup truck.

“Your truck?! We’re taking your truck? I’m guessing you were able to finish it?”

Vi teetered her hand back and forth in a so-so motion. “She wasn’t in bad shape when I got her. Just needed a little TLC.” As she spoke, Caitlyn’s fingers found themselves tracing the front fender emblem that read: ‘K5 Blazer’. Vi watched her movements as she continued talking. “I plan on doin’ a lot more custom work to her—paint, engine, bodywork—but Fury’s at least good for us tonight! And we’ll need her where we’re going.”

“Her? You name all your vehicles?” Caitlyn asked as she handed over the bagged ice.

“Yeah, why not? What’s really the difference in saying, ‘Hey, I’m taking the truck’ versus ‘Hey, I’m taking Fury’? I mean, I guess some people think it’s weird, but—”

“I find it charming.” Caitlyn interjected as she reached for Vi’s hand. She smiled as their fingers interlaced. “So…where are you taking me? I’m intrigued.”

Vi smirked and shook her head. “Nuh-uh, no way, Cupcake. This is a surprise.” She laughed at Caitlyn’s slight pout and moved towards the bed of her truck where the vinyl truck bed cover was secured. Vi released a few snaps, lifted a flap of the vinyl cover, and sat the bag of ice within before snapping everything back again.

Caitlyn leaned against the side of the truck; her curiosity was piqued, but there was excitement evident in her eyes. The night air was crisp, promising a comfortable drive wherever they might be headed.

“You ready?”

Caitlyn looked at her with a playful smile and tilted her head to the side, like she was in thought. She remembered the text Vi had sent her, and this seemed like too good of an opportunity to miss. She hummed in thought and said another quote from her favorite series.

“I think I’m quite ready for another adventure.”

Vi’s face split into an enormous grin, and her eyes lit up.

She opened the passenger door for Caitlyn, and she hoisted herself up in the slightly lifted truck. Seatbelts locked into place, they were off and away on their next adventure.

The countryside unfurled around them as fields and woods, silhouetted in the horizon, slipped past. The twilight evening drive was so peaceful with the soft conversations between them and the constant rumble, vibrations, and gentle sway of the older truck.

The weather was slightly cooler in the evenings, but it was still pleasant enough outside for Vi to have her window cracked. The truck’s heater still cranked out warmth, and the cab was dimly lit with old incandescent dashboard gauge lights. With no console separating them, Caitlyn’s hand found Vi’s on the bench seat as they met cruising speed. The hum of the engine blended with the music playing softly from the radio, creating a cozy atmosphere that made the miles slip by unnoticed. Every so often, Vi would glance over, catching Caitlyn’s smile illuminated by the dashboard lights, and squeeze her hand in reassurance.

“Loris has some property out here. He owns a good chunk of land and lets me come out here anytime I need a break.” They had been on the road for about twenty minutes before Vi made a turn onto an unpaved drive that was closed off with a field gate, chains, and a padlock. Caitlyn’s curiosity peaked as the truck rolled to a stop.

“I know this looks sketchy, but I come out here all the time.” Vi said as the heavy truck door latch clunked open and the dim cabin light came on. Vi kept the door cracked for a moment as she continued. Her voice held an excited energy that proved infectious. “The gate has to stay locked, or else this place would be full of condoms and beer bottles.” Vi hopped out and went through the motions of unlocking the gate, driving through, and then securing the gate again before getting in the truck one last time. Cailtyn’s eagerness, and her heartbeat, increased at each passing moment.

“Okay, ready?” Vi asked one last time as she fastened her seatbelt. “Just a warning. This won’t be the smoothest ride at first but hang in there. It’ll get better quick.”

The ‘road,’ more like a rutted-out dirt path, was far from smooth, and there was nothing at all graceful with how Caitlyn bounced and lurched in her seat. She made use of the ‘oh shit bar’ several times. Vi chuckled as she told the story of the place they were headed. “It’s beautiful out here. There’s lots of woods, but there’s this spot I love. The woods open up, and you get the perfect view of the sky.”

Caitlyn thought for a moment, then her eyes widened and she became giddy inside. “Stargazing? Are we going stargazing?” Caitlyn asked; her voice was full of excitement, but there was inflection added with each bounce of the truck.

Vi let a shy smile grace her face. “Yeah. That okay? I mean, nature, relaxation, food, company? I figured it would be perfect.”

“No, no, it definitely is.”

The ride was slowly evening out as the dirt road felt more worn in. “Sorry, I don’t know why that first bit is always so rough.” Vi said as she let out a huff. She glanced over at Caitlyn, and their gazes met through the dimly lit cab.

“It’s fine, Vi.” Caitlyn said as her lips tugged upward. “Nothing I couldn’t handle.”

“Still,” Vi continued. “Normally beats me to hell.” Caitlyn couldn’t disagree, but she knew this evening would have been worth a thousand jostling trips down an old dirt path.

Vi’s hand found hers yet again — a gesture that now seemed second nature to them — and brushed her thumb over Caitlyn’s knuckles. “Tonight is special, in more ways than one.” She smiled and squeezed Caitlyn’s hand. “There’s a meteor shower happening. That’s why I wanted to wait to take you on my date. I knew this was comin’ up, and it seemed perfect.”

Caitlyn’s breath caught, and she smiled brilliantly. “It is. It definitely is.”

Vi drove towards a neatly kept area that resembled a small campsite, at least from what Caitlyn could see from the headlights. The grass was significantly shorter, and there was a decently sized firepit with stones on the outer perimeter. The truck lurched to a stop, and Vi gave her hand one last squeeze before she unlatched her door.

Before Caitlyn knew it, Vi had rushed to her door and opened it for her. She held out her hand and bowed her head slightly. “Milady.” She had the cutest, dorkiest grin, and it made Caitlyn’s chest fill with affection for the woman.

She couldn’t help but blush as she took Vi’s offered hand. “You’re ridiculous.” She laughed. “But thank you.”

Vi let out a whoosh of air; she was clearly excited but seemed nervous at the same time. “Alright! Mind helping me get this top off?” she asked, gesturing to the bed of the truck. “Don’t worry, Ekko helps me all the time. It’s aluminum and fabric, so it’s not too bad. Didn’t want to do this at the shop cause it’d be too cold driving it here.” She gave Caitlyn a teasing look. “Plus, now I know what you’re hiding under those long-sleeved shirts. You’re built, Cupcake. I’ve been on the receiving end of one of your takedown moves, remember?”

Caitlyn blushed, heat rising to her cheeks.

As they shifted the panels aside, Caitlyn noticed a small toolbox tucked at the front corner of the truck bed.  A unique sticker on it caught her eye, and it read: ‘Yes, it hurt’ and had a needle with a captive bead hoop printed on it. “I’m guessing this is referring to your piercings?” She asked with curiosity.

Vi laughed as she unfastened various closures, snaps, and hooks. “Yeah, people ask if my nose ring hurt, or my eyebrow, or my industrial. That one got asked about the most. It was one of my favorites. Anyway, I wanna to say, ‘Nah, I just had a thick-ass gauged needle shoved through my flesh’. Course, I’m not an ass to say that out loud. People are curious, I get it, but yeah, it hurts. Just not bad enough to keep from doing it or getting more. It’s one of those ‘good’ hurts. Like, fuck yeah! Worth it! Looks badass! The nips, though? Those hurt like a bitch. Man!”

Caitlyn blinked, her mind processing those last few words. “You—you have your nipples pierced?”

“Yeah,” Vi shrugged, trying to be nonchalant. She showed Caitlyn where to grab the frame of the soft topper. “I liked the look, I guess. Got ‘em done a couple years ago. Round the same time, I was getting more work done on my tattoos. But I used to have more piercings. Prison cost me a lot of them…they were mainly my ears, but I still loved them. Guess I’m a stickler for metal and pain.”

“Sounds pleasant.” She said dryly, but her mind couldn’t stop thinking about Vi’s nipple piercings. She managed to focus enough to lift the aluminum frame up and off the bed of the truck to set it aside.

Vi snorted and laughed. “I’ve almost ripped my nose and tits off with a towel. All it takes is one loose thread, and you get humbled real quick.”

Caitlyn winced, half horrified and half amused at Vi’s descriptions.  “That sounds…lovely.”

“Hey, I’mma metal head—in more ways than one!” Vi winked, and Caitlyn rolled her eyes playfully.

“So, I guess this is the reason you wanted to wait for your date night? Optimal viewing conditions?”

“Yeah.” Vi grinned. “Fall’s a favorite time for stargazing. It’s referred to as an observing season. Longer nights, ya know.”

“Is this what you do on your rooftop as well? Stargaze?”

“Nah, the light pollution is really too much. I wish I could, though. I went six years without seeing the night sky. You don’t appreciate the small things until they’re taken away, you know?”

Caitlyn’s gaze softened, heavy with compassion. Yet a form of rage swelled deep in her chest. Rage—anger for what the beautiful person she’s sharing this night with had to experience. She hadn’t lived through anything like Vi’s loss, and it was a loss. Time she’d never get back; emotional, physical, and mental abuse she should never have suffered through—endured. Vi’s traumas were something she wouldn’t pretend to comprehend, and she wouldn’t lessen Vi’s experience by even claiming to understand. She wanted to make it absolutely clear; she was here for her in whatever capacity she needed. “No, I don’t, Vi,” she murmured, barely audible. “I can’t imagine what you’re feeling or what you’ve been through. Your pain, what you’ve lost. I wouldn’t dare say I understand.” She swallowed hard, her throat tight. “But I understand your meaning.” She found Vi’s hand and squeezed, hoping to convey with touch where words failed.

Vi moved in and out of and around the truck bed as she arranged the foam padding and obscene amount of blankets and pillows into a makeshift bed. The lanterns came next—two squat, rechargeable ones she placed at either end—and then the twinkle lights, which she strung along the upper frame. The glow was soft and golden and cast a warm light around the space.

From her bag, she pulled out a small spread: cured meats and wedges of cheese to make a charcuterie board, a bottle of wine, and, because she was Vi—a woman obsessed with all things from a fantasy realm—a small bottle of mead. Caitlyn raised an eyebrow at the honey wine but didn’t protest. Not too many people drank mead. Wine, beer, and other spirits were usually more popular and the go-to’s. If Caitlyn hadn’t tried mead before, Vi figured she would be curious about it.

They settled at the tailgate, legs swinging over the edge, the night air cool against their skin. Vi popped the wine and poured them each a glass, setting the board of food between them with a proud little flourish.

Caitlyn choked.

She unfortunately had just taken a sip of her wine when she saw the board Vi pulled out. She sputtered on the wine as it traveled down her throat.

“Jesus, Cait!” Vi reached for her, alarmed. “You okay?!”

Caitlyn coughed, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, pointing at the board with wide eyes. “Vi! The board!”

Vi looked down with concern, afraid something was crawling on the charcuterie board, but then she understood. The board read: Shark Coochie Board…because no one can say Char-cu-te-rie.

“That’s horrible!” Caitlyn giggled as she tried to catch her breath.

“Hey, I thought it was great. Hell, I still can’t pronounce it without the word ‘coochie’ in it!”

“Darling, when we’re out and decide to order one, please let me order it.”

Vi froze for half a beat. Caitlyn didn’t notice—she was too busy recovering from her wine mishap. But Vi caught it. Darling.

Something warm bloomed in her chest.

“Something wrong?” Caitlyn asked, noticing the shift.

Vi smiled, soft and crooked. “Nah, I’m good, Cupcake. Just—this is nice.”

Caitlyn’s laughter faded into something quieter, more tender. “I’d have to agree.”

She reached for the board, placing it carefully between them. The twinkle lights flickered above, casting shadows across their faces as they leaned in, sharing bites and stories under the open sky.

Vi ghosted her fingers over Caitlyn’s hand; occasionally, they’d link fingers or soothe fingertips over lifelines on each other’s palms.

“Thank you.” Vi said. “For what you did with the kids the other day. Powder said that’s all the kids talk about. They keep asking about you. When you’ll come back, ya know.”

“You’ve thanked me enough, Vi. I wanted to—still want to help—in any way I can.” They were silent for a few moments as their fingers continued to brush.

“Pow’s been spending more time at the center.” Vi smiled, and Caitlyn returned a knowing smile. “She’s had her nose shoved in ASL books, and I think she’s watched just about every video she can find.”

“I think it’s sweet.”

“Oh no, it definitely is sweet. Sevika said they can actually sign a little bit together. So, if Powder gets good enough, she could help Isha while she’s there. Learn together.” Vi paused again as a huge smile spread across her face. “You know what’s funny, though? When Isha sees Powder or is trying to ask about Powder, she makes a little finger gun motion.”

“That sounds slightly mortifying, Vi!”

“Nah, nah! Wait, wait! You know why? She’s heard me call her Pow Pow. What sound do kids make when they’re play shooting?”

“Oh my god!”

“Yeah, so that’s like their thing now. It’s funny as hell.”

As they settled down, a soothing weight—quiet and all-encompassing—passed over the private bubble they had created. The tiny amount of mead and wine shared between them had just been enough to warm them on the inside. They were both mindful of the need to drive home, after all. They sat close to each other, shoulder to shoulder, legs still dangling off the tailgate. Vi had since draped a blanket over their shoulders. The fire still crackled and popped a few feet away.

A soft chuckle broke the silence. Vi turned her head to see Caitlyn smiling and shaking her head ever so slightly.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Vi asked, her voice quiet, so as not to break the spell that currently enveloped them.

She saw Caitlyn draw a deep breath, her eyes lingering on the fire before she turned to meet Vi’s gaze.

“It’s been roughly two months since I arrived back home from Ionia,” she began. “Two months ago, I was resigned to spending time at the lake house alone. A couple of weeks alone in a suffocatingly quiet house. A house with too many drafty rooms—too much unoccupied space…deafening silence. It was a break for me, yes, but emotionally, there was still this overbearing void that nothing seemed to fill.”

Her voice softened; something akin to vulnerability tinged the edges. “But then, what I thought was a terrible inconvenience, a bad run of luck, and horrible timing turned into something else entirely. You rolled up with your roaring engine and loud music…with your charm, kindness, and chivalry in tow. Suddenly, I found the most unsuspecting person meshing into my life…my carefully orchestrated and controlled world. You were unabashedly free—unconfined, where I was suffocating under expectations and obligations. You have made me see life and priorities differently, Vi. I admire you and all you do, and I’m so thankful you decided to stop that day.”

Vi’s throat tightened and her breath caught. Her eyes burned, and she was worried her voice might crack. This was Caitlyn’s moment, and Vi was here to listen. “Yeah, me too, Cait.”

Vi saw Caitlyn’s eyes shine in the soft warm lights that surrounded them. “I never would have anticipated meeting you. Definitely never imagined that two months later, I’d find myself sitting in the back of a pickup truck, stargazing in the middle of nowhere, and sharing this beautiful night—a date—with such an amazingly kind woman.”

Vi let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding, her chest tight at Caitlyn’s words. For a moment, she just stared at her as the twinkling lights played across Caitlyn’s angular features and reflected in her eyes. Nothing Vi wanted to say felt like it was adequate. Caitlyn had just opened herself up, opened that beautiful heart, and she deserved for Vi to do the same, even if it wasn’t perfect in Vi’s own eyes.

“You know where and how I grew up. You’ve seen Zaun firsthand. You know how people look at us—like we’re not enough—like we’re beneath them, especially Pilties. When I saw your SUV, I knew you were from Piltover, but that didn’t stop me from wanting to help. I knew how it’d go. It was kind of a given…but I knew you were different the second you apologized to me. Even though you had that flash of judgment, you still apologized.

Vi’s voice dropped, growing quieter. “Every day you surprised me. Keeping my jacket. Having coffee with me—in Zaun, no less. Not being afraid to visit, even when it was out of your comfort zone. Trusting me and my bike. Standing up to your mother for me. You’ve had a big impact on me too, Cait. Whether you believe it or not.”

For a long moment, Caitlyn didn’t speak. She just looked at Vi, her lips parted slightly, her eyes shimmering. Vi was terrified she’d said something wrong. That somehow, she’d messed this up.

Then, slowly, Caitlyn’s hand slid fully into Vi’s beneath the blanket, fingers threading together with quiet certainty. She gave a gentle squeeze, her thumb brushing over Vi’s knuckles.

“You have no idea how much it means to me that you shared that,” she whispered, her voice catching ever so slightly. Caitlyn gently pulled her hands out from under the blanket and cupped Vi’s cheeks. “Thank you,” she said before pulling Vi in gently for a kiss.

Vi swallowed hard, her chest tight, but she didn’t look away from those intense blue eyes that glistened in the dim light. She followed Caitlyn’s lead, tilting her head just enough to close the space between them.

Their lips met softly and unhurriedly. The kiss wasn’t about passion so much as it was about conveying and solidifying the words they’d just voiced to each other. When they finally drew apart, Caitlyn rested her forehead against Vi’s as she smiled.

A shifting log from the firepit grabbed their attention as a couple of charred logs rolled away from the flames. Vi squeezed the hand that remained in her grasp before she slid from the tailgate, grabbed her fire tongs, and repositioned the fallen pieces.

Caitlyn had decided to move further back into the bed of the truck. She wanted the warmth the nest of blankets had to offer.

Vi climbed back onto the tailgate and shuffled her way up to where Caitlyn was sitting. Vi reclined against the back of the carpeted divider the K5 was known for, positioned blankets and pillows around her, and then motioned for Caitlyn to sit between her legs. With a flush, Caitlyn moved over, and soon her back was pressed into Vi’s front. Strong arms wrapped around Caitlyn’s stomach, and she relaxed further into the embrace. This was safety in its truest form. Caitlyn leaned her head against Vi’s shoulder, and they watched the streams of light streak across the blackened sky. On instinct, Caitlyn intertwined their fingers together.

“Your hands are cold.”

She tucked both sets of hands into her front sweater pocket.

“This is truly beautiful, Vi. Thank you for sharing this with me.”

“Hey, you said you wanted to go to the stars. This is the closest I could get for you.”

Caitlyn inhaled with a slight shudder as the air around them developed a charge. She pulled Vi’s arms tighter around her. When Caitlyn felt soft lips brush the exposed skin of her neck, she gasped and tilted her head to grant Vi more access. She took those strong hands, still held by her own, and guided them beneath the hem of her sweater. Caitlyn’s breath hitched as Vi’s hands traced slowly over the warm skin at her waist, sending shivers up her spine.

Caitlyn twisted slightly to catch Vi’s gaze, her eyes shining with both affection and anticipation, and their lips met in a kiss that was tender but full of heat. It was right at the edge of something…deeper.

Caitlyn turned in Vi’s arms, leaning back so she could fully take her in. Vi’s chest rose and fell in heavy breaths, a faint blush coloring her freckled cheeks. The sight tugged at Caitlyn’s heart. On impulse, before she could talk herself out of it, she teased the hem of her sweater and pulled it off in one swift movement. Her bra was plain, practical, and nothing close to sexy—but Vi didn’t seem to care in the slightest. Her expressive eyes lingered on every patch of newly bared skin. She reached out and danced her fingers across Caitlyn’s hips. With gentle pressure, she guided Caitlyn to sit astride her thighs.

“May I?” Caitlyn whispered, toying with the buttons of Vi’s flannel shirt.

Vi nodded. One by one, the wooden discs slipped free from their eyelets, revealing freckles scattered across her chest and the beginnings of tattoos flowing along her upper chest and collarbones—the patterns were like those of the ink Caitlyn had glimpsed on her back. Beneath, Vi wore a black sports bra.

In one motion, Vi tugged it over her head, as Caitlyn unhooked her own, and suddenly they were both bare beneath the dark night sky.

Caitlyn’s eyes drifted over Vi’s exposed breasts and caught the glint of metal. Her hand lifted instinctively, curiosity tugging at her, but she hesitated, pausing just short of touching. She looked up, silently asking.

Vi smiled, soft and sure. “Go ahead.”

Caitlyn’s fingers brushed the piercings, surprised by their warmth. “Are they sensitive?” she asked quietly.

“Nah,” Vi said with a shrug, a grin forming at her lips. “They don’t really do anything for me—I just think they look badass.”

The answer made Caitlyn’s lips curve, affection swelling in her chest. She let her hand linger for a moment longer, not because of the piercings themselves, but because of the trust in Vi’s eyes as she allowed Caitlyn to explore this part of her.

With Vi’s strength, she lifted them up onto her knees and turned them around before lowering Caitlyn back down onto the warm blankets.

They rolled to their sides and tangled in each other’s arms. Caitlyn’s long fingers scratched gently at the shaved section of Vi’s hair. Grey-blue eyes closed at the sensation, and Vi inched forward, guiding them until she was poised over Caitlyn, her strong arms bracketed them together in a safe cocoon. Vi’s smile was radiant—loving and warm. She leaned down and nudged her nose with Caitlyn’s.

Caitlyn responded with a kiss, feeling a tremor from Vi above her. Her hands gripped at Vi’s strong back. She felt the power there—muscles rippling beneath her touch. Then she felt them—raised ribbons of skin. Scars.

She stilled for a moment as her fingers traced each scar she found slowly, deliberately. Along with Vi’s tattoo, these were now something she wanted to see—to caress and kiss because scars weren’t just physical marks; they were symbols. They represented strength, resilience, and survival when the universe tried to cut a person down. They were stories. Tangible proof of battles fought and survived. Of pain suffered yet conquered. Scars that many considered undesirable—as blemishes and as forms of insecurity—Caitlyn saw as undeniable strength and courage. As she felt the raised skin under the pads of her fingers, they were the physical manifestations of all Vi had endured yet overcome. Feeling the untold stories, each scar held beneath her fingertips was overwhelming, and God was Vi beautiful for it. Caitlyn wanted to kiss every last one of them.

Her hands drifted apart: one settled on Vi’s lower back, and the other splayed across her broad shoulders. Caitlyn lifted her thigh and settled it against Vi’s apex while she flexed her hand and arm at Vi’s lower back, gently encouraging her into a slow and guided rhythm. Caitlyn felt warm breath rush over the damp skin of her neck and shoulders where Vi’s lips had lingered. They exchanged heated kisses as Vi moved against Caitlyn’s thigh; each drag against Caitlyn’s leg seemed to grow more insistent.

Vi’s cheek pressed warmly into hers, and Caitlyn could hear the uneven and shuttering breaths whispering over the shell of her ear.

“It’s okay, Vi,” she whispered against her ear. “I’ve got you.”

Vi rose and crashed their lips together, like she was trying to communicate all her thoughts and feelings without speaking.

“Cait.” Vi gasped, trembling under her touch.

Then Caitlyn felt the powerful body above her tense. Vi moaned softly as she found her lips once again. That wonderfully raw sound cracked something wide open inside Caitlyn.

It felt amazing, holding Vi like this. Even partially clothed, it felt intensely intimate. Here they were, out in the open, exposed beneath the stars, but Caitlyn had never felt safer.

She felt Vi relax against her, moving slightly to the side so all her weight wasn’t fully on Caitlyn. As she caught her breath, Vi rested her head against one of Caitlyn’s breasts, using it as a pillow. Caitlyn’s fingers stroked the shorn hair on the side of Vi’s head; the touch was slow and tender.

Caitlyn swore she felt Vi’s rapid heartbeat in her own chest.

Soon, Vi lifted herself onto her elbows, and she smiled down at Caitlyn. That smile. Good god, that smile was everything. Vi leaned in and kissed her again.

Caitlyn felt Vi’s hand smooth down her side and brush against her abdomen. Caitlyn covered Vi’s hand with her own and stilled it against her lower stomach.

“Don’t you want?—” Vi started to ask but stopped at the slightest shake of Caitlyn’s head.

“I wanted to do that for you,” Caitlyn whispered. “That’s what I wanted.”

Vi’s breath caught in her chest, and her throat tightened. “Oh.” Was all Vi could manage at the moment.

“You deserve to feel good, Vi, and me being able to do that for you felt wonderful.”

“Thank you.” Vi murmured between kisses.

The cool night air was beginning to settle against their dampened skin, and Caitlyn began to shiver. Vi reached over and brought a soft blanket over them before curling into Caitlyn’s side and snuggling in even closer.

They stayed like that for several moments. Taking each other in and listening to the songs the nighttime forest offered.

Vi kissed her temple. “We should probably head back—” but Vi was rudely interrupted by a loud and startling sound. It echoed eerily through the woods.

The animalistic sound startled Caitlyn, and she reared up on pure instinct, her forehead accidentally colliding with Vi’s nose.

Caitlyn jerked upright, her heart hammering in her chest as the eerie, guttural cry echoed through the trees. For a split second, her mind raced through all the potential explanations. The sound was so strange, so eerie, so out of place in these woods, that panic surged for a split second. Instinctively, she grabbed for the nearest blanket and covered herself; all the while, her eyes searched the darkness for any sign of movement.

Her voice came out in a high, breathless whisper, “Is that—is that a monkey?!” She tried to steady her breathing, but the adrenaline from the sudden noise had her nerves on edge. The forest, which had felt so peaceful moments before, now seemed alive with unseen creatures.

She felt Vi roll off her and saw she was clutching her nose in obvious pain. Instincts once again kicked in, and the creepy sound was quickly forgotten even though an answering call echoed through the trees.

“Vi! Oh my god! Are you okay?! Are you bleeding?”

“Nah, I’m good.” Vi tried to reassure her as she casually attempted to hide her nose behind her hand. She sat up slightly. It was without success because blood peeked beneath the bottom of her hand as it rolled down her face.

“Vi, you are bleeding!” Caitlyn’s eyes darted around until they landed on some napkins. She handed some to Vi. She fought the urge to help and instead placed one hand on Vi’s thigh, waiting to convey some form of comfort. “I’m so sorry.”

“Cait, I’m a boxer. I’m used to this. Just give it a few, and it’ll stop. Promise.”

Caitlyn seemed to struggle to control her breathing. She had just experienced emotional whiplash. Arousal, terror, and guilt all within the span of seconds. Vi reached out, took her hand, and gave it a small squeeze.

That seemed to help.

“What on earth was that?” Caitlyn finally asked as Vi settled in with napkins pressed to her nose. It was a waiting game at this point. The nose was filled with so many small blood vessels, it didn’t take much to cause a significant bleed.

Vi did her best to chuckle. “It’s a barred owl. They’re caterwauling—like a mating call. It’s usually in the winter, but I swear I hear them like that all the time. Typically, it’s their normal hoot, though. If you listen, it sounds like ‘Who cooks for you?’” They paused as the owls continued their calls. “I can’t believe you’ve never heard one like that before, ‘specially since you’re a nature girl.”

Vi laid back down.

Caitlyn rolled over to Vi’s side and murmured another apology and kissed the very top of the bridge of her nose. The touch was feather-light.

“I’ve heard normal owl hoots,” she whispered, “but I can’t say I’ve heard anything that sounds like monkeys fighting.”

As Caitlyn combed her hands through Vi’s hair, Vi exhaled and closed her eyes.

“I find it peaceful,” Vi said, her voice low. “Hearing all the activity once nighttime fully sets in. The crickets, the katydids, the owls—once it gets later, that is. When you go years without hearing anything like it—and knowing you might never hear it again—I found I wanted to spend as much time as I could enjoying it and never take it for granted.”

“Oh, Vi.”

“I’m sure I’ve told you, but it’s the same with my bike, ya know. Riding and feeling the wind, the sun, and the colors race by. It’s freeing.”

Their fingers danced together as a moment of comfortable silence settled over them.

“It’s gettin’ late,” Vi finally murmured, reluctantly. “Guess we should head back, huh?”

“I suppose so. We need to make sure your nose is tended to.”

They slipped their shirts back on haphazardly, forgoing their bras just for the trip back home.

Unconsciously, Vi rubbed her nose with the back of her hand and jerked it away instantly. Whoops. That would definitely be sore in the morning. She felt warmth at her lip and realized it was bleeding again. Thankfully, she caught herself before she did a facepalm.

After they packed up and Vi soaked down the small fire that had become embers, she found herself in the passenger seat with tissues shoved up her nose. Caitlyn sat behind the wheel, gripping it firmly, as she stared at the illuminated path ahead. There had been several jerky starts and stops as Caitlyn got used to the intricacies of the truck's gas and brakes.

“Ya know, it’s kinda hot, you drivin’ my truck.” Vi said, her voice taking on a nasally tone thanks to the tissues plugging her nose.

Caitlyn cocked a playful eyebrow. “And you are wonderfully dashing with those tissues dangling from your nose. You are adorable, if not a tad pitiful, though. I’m sorry. I feel horrible.”

“Don’t. Don’t feel bad, ‘kay? It’s something we can laugh about.” Vi thought for a moment, hesitant in what she was about to disclose. “Cait?” She heard a hum in answer. “Just so you know, I was tested for, like, everything under the sun when I left prison. I don’t have any bloodborne diseases or anything else as far as that goes. I just—I say that because shit like that is rampant in prison, and I haven’t been with anyone since. I mean, I just bled everywhere, so…just full disclosure.”

“Oh,” Caitlyn said, her voice soft, and Vi winced. “I wouldn’t have thought about the blood. You were hurt, and that’s what I was worried about. But thank you for telling me.”

The truck rumbled on; headlights homed in on the pavement before them. Between laughter and silence, something unspoken drifted between them. Neither wanted the night to end.

The street was dark and quiet. It was after midnight by the time they were pulling into Caitlyn’s neighborhood. The streetlamps and occasional porch lights were the only lights illuminating the area. Vi’s truck was obnoxiously loud, and they both seemed to cringe at the low rumble of the engine. Caitlyn parked the truck, cranked down the parking brake, and turned the truck off, enveloping the neighborhood into silence once again.

“I really don’t want you driving home.” Caitlyn said. Her tone left no room for argument. “You bled quite a lot, and it’s late—”

“Cait, I’m good. Promise.” Vi reiterated, her smile knowing, though. “Unless you want me to stay a while longer? I kinda don’t want the night to end yet either.”

Caitlyn paused. “Would…would you like to stay the night? You left your change of clothes here the other day. I washed them for you so they’re clean.”

“I’d love to.”

“I have a shirt you can sleep in…or,” Caitlyn hesitated.

“Or?”

“I—well, things got rather heated in the truck, and I…enjoyed it. Quite a lot, actually.” She let out a breathless laugh, shaking her head. “But I don’t want to rush us. And maybe not on a night when you’ve been bleeding all over the place.” She teased, but her voice softened. “You make me feel free, Vi. I never would’ve—I was topless, in the back of your truck of all places. No expectations of privacy, exposed for anyone to see—out in the open, bare, vulnerable. But with you, I felt safe. I trusted you…and that trust and safety is still there.” She hesitated, then smiled shyly. “I just—I liked feeling you against me.”

Vi grinned, her heart thrumming beneath her ribs as she glanced sidelong at Caitlyn, the gentle weight of their conversation settling over them like a blanket. “No shirts, then,” Vi agreed, her voice soft but amused, the playfulness lingering between them. Caitlyn’s cheeks flushed, a smile pulling at her lips as she pulled Vi along to the front door. With a flick of her wrist, the door was opened and they slipped inside.

Caitlyn got ready for bed as Vi called Powder. Powder was watching the girls, but Vi just wanted to make sure she was okay with keeping them until morning. She got a sleepy ‘duh, dumbass’ and a quick disconnect. Vi laughed as she too ascended the stairs to get ready for bed.

By the time Vi stepped out of the bathroom, face washed and free of any remnants of blood, Caitlyn was already nestled beneath the covers. The glow of the bedside lamps softened the room, casting everything in a warm glow. Vi’s movements felt comfortable and at ease as she slipped her t-shirt up over her head in one swift motion. Caitlyn’s gaze followed her, steady and tender, as Vi slipped into bed beside her. The mattress creaked as they shifted and drew closer to each other. Soon they were breast to breast, with legs tangled and bodies pressed impossibly close. They settled into quiet contentment. Eyes became heavy and breaths became slower as sleep came.

Caitlyn woke with regret as she felt her bladder screaming. God, it sucked getting older. She briefly debated ignoring it because she was warm and comfortable, and she felt the presence of Vi next to her. Her body’s need won out, and, with the utmost regret, she pushed the covers away and sat up. The room seemed to hold and chill, and she thought for a moment of turning the heat on. Instead, she reached for Vi’s flannel shirt that had been draped over the chair she had in her bedroom, slipped it on—leaving it unbuttoned—and then went to the bathroom.

She was headed back to the bed, and with the table lamps still on, she noticed Vi was sprawled out on her stomach and had since moved closer to Caitlyn’s side of the bed. It was then she finally, finally caught a full glimpse of Vi’s back tattoo. She drew in a deep breath as her legs carried her to sit down on Vi’s side of the bed. Not wanting to wake her, Caitlyn’s fingers hovered a hair’s width above her skin as she traced the dark lines inked beautifully across Vi’s back. Her breath caught as Vi shifted beneath her hand, and her fingers touched skin. Caitlyn pressed her palm on her back, trying to settle her back into sleep, but she felt Vi’s ribs vibrate with a low hum.

The jostle of the mattress as Caitlyn got up brought Vi out of her light slumber. She stayed between consciousness and sleep when she felt the bed dip again. Vi’s eyes fluttered opened, and she moved ever so slightly under Caitlyn's touch. “I guess you finally get an up-close view of my tattoo that you ask about all the time,” Vi murmured, her voice raspy with sleep. “You like it?”

“It’s beautiful.” Caitlyn whispered.

Before Vi could possibly prepare herself for any type of contact, she felt the ghosting of fingertips trace along her sensitive skin. She inhaled quickly at the touch. Vi knew all the details of her back tattoo, and as skilled fingers traced along the bold lines and shading, she felt herself begin to tremble at the touches.

“Is this okay?” Caitlyn murmured, and Vi swore she felt her breath ghost across her skin. The hairs on the back of her neck flared up and a chill ran down her body. Vi nodded and immediately felt the warm press of lips against the top of her back.

She felt the mattress dip, and a soft weight settled at her back. She felt the combination of soft flannel and warm skin press into her.

“I didn’t appreciate just how much of your back would be covered.” Caitlyn murmured as she pushed the bedsheet further down to Vi’s hips.

Vi smiled while her face was still tucked against the soft pillow. “Yeah, it took a long time. Compliments of prison life—you’ve got nothing but time. That’s all you got, really. But there was something cathartic about getting tattoos. The pain, or at most discomfort…it sounds completely fucked up, but…the pain gave you something else to focus on. Even if the pain wasn’t bad, it was still a constant reminder. Plus, you knew that pain, or simply the discomfort, was going to lead to something you loved. They call it ink therapy for a reason.

Caitlyn’s hand stilled, resting lightly on her side. “Do they have a meaning?”

“Basically, a tribute to my whole family. My existence, really. Gears for Powder cause she was constantly creating things, two keys for Mylo and Claggor, and a pipe for Vander. The gears came to signify more, considering I now own a bike shop and have my siblings and friend here with me.”

Caitlyn shifted closer, and her thumb moved over the scar on Vi’s upper lip that was now visible since Vi had shifted her head.

“I didn’t think I’d ever see them again, ya know. I wanted somethin’ I would carry with me no matter what.”

Caitlyn’s thumb brushed across her face tattoo and her index finger traced the clean linework. “And the one on your cheek? Does it signify more?”

“Well…my nickname, of course, but also a take on my prison number—516. In prison we were nothing but numbers. Even other inmates didn’t know each other’s real names. I was known as Pink. It’s a way for them to dehumanize you even more. So, the VI was a way for me to never forget who I was, no matter how hard they tried to break me, but also who I was forced to be while in there.”

“They’re beautiful.”

“What? For prison tattoos?” She chuckled.

“No, they’re just simply beautiful. Very intricate. I’m just surprised something so detailed came from prison components.”

“Hey, people there had infinite time, and they knew how to improvise—at like, insane levels. I just hope I don’t have to have an MRI at any point.”

Caitlyn looked at her questioningly.

“Prison ink has a high metal content. You can get nasty burns when the MRI interacts with the ink.”

“Oh, well, that’s…lovely.”

Vi laughed, the sound low and rough.

Silence stretched between them—full of intimacy and trust. Caitlyn’s hand found hers, fingers lacing gently.

After a quiet moment, Vi spoke. Her voice was soft and full of reflection. “I did have someone in prison.”

Caitlyn’s head lifted slightly, her eyes questioning.

“Her name was Razz. She’s the one who gave me my tattoos. I knew her my whole time in there, so we had a strong bond. I never would have trusted anyone else inking my skin. We shared a cell for the longest time. Little by little, she inked me, and little by little, we grew closer.” 

“Did you love her?”

“Yeah, I did. It was a different kind of love, but…I—we trusted each other. We had companionship in a place where it wasn’t allowed. Even after all my long stints in solitary, she’d always be there waiting for me. Companionship meant everything. Getting that connection with another person—for rec, support, touch, and yeah, sometimes sex. It kept you human.”

Caitlyn felt a surge of empathy, her hand tightening around Vi's. “I’m glad you had her.” She whispered.

“Yeah, she was the only constant I had in there…well, a positive constant anyway. She was older than me… a hell of a lot wiser. She protected me when I first got there. A couple years into my sentence, a group of women cornered and attacked me. Somehow, they got ahold of actual blades and sliced me up real good. I’m sure you’ve felt the scars. Anyway, while I was hospitalized, Razz made sure every one of them had their own trips to the infirmary. As far as inmates, none of them ever touched me again.”

“Were you able to stay in contact?”

Vi shook her head against the pillow. “Nah, you’re a product of circumstance in there, and when ya get out, those rules—those circumstances—change again. In there you make the connections necessary to survive. But, in the real world, you never would have made those same connections.”

The room went quiet. The silence was heavy—full of the unspoken—but it wasn’t uncomfortable. It lingered as Caitlyn’s fingers traced idle circles against the back of Vi’s hand, as if she was trying to ground herself.

“My ex…Maddie.” The name left her lips tasting bitter. “She turned out to be a snake. Used me in so many ways—more ways than I care to admit. And I—” her throat tightened, and the words were cut off. “I was a fool and believed all the lies she told me. Every poisonous word. It’s been…so hard…to trust again.”

Vi’s eyes sharpened in the dim light, and Caitlyn saw a dangerous glint there. They held the same look as that morning in the alleyway with Decker. If Caitlyn knew little else about Vi, she knew with certainty how protective she was of those around her—how incredibly loyal. She had an amazing heart, but if pushed, she was an absolute force to be reckoned with.

Caitlyn reached up and pressed a soothing palm to her cheek.

“Bitch,” Vi said, her voice low and tense. “She better hope I never come across her cause I’ll kick her fucking ass.

“I’m afraid she’s not worth it, Violet.”

That seemed to calm Vi down.

“Maybe she’s not, but you are. I can’t stand fucking bullies. So, my promise stays where it’s at. I’ll kick her ass. Ask anyone, my fist has a way of finding faces.”

Caitlyn let out a startled laugh before catching herself, trying to look scandalized. And also trying to envision Maddie getting waylaid.

“Vi! Violence is never the answer.”

“Hey, it’s served me well in the past. Besides,” her grin broadened, almost playful. “Violence was actually my boxing name for a while, ya know. When I was younger anyway. ‘Vi Violence.’ It had quite an effect when announced in the ring; they had ‘em drag it out real long. Viiiiiiii Viiiiolence!”

Caitlyn shook her head, laughter spilling free despite herself. The sound softened the air between them, but when it faded, silence crept back in—thicker this time, humming with something unspoken.

They were quiet for a long while.

“You said it was hard for you to trust again, but…” Vi began, her voice barely above a whisper, not wanting to break the spell around them. “You seem to trust me. Why?”

After a long pause, Caitlyn’s voice softened even more. “Because you stayed.”

Vi blinked, caught off guard by the simplicity of Caitlyn’s words.

“I may not have appreciated what that meant at the time, but as I held your jacket and realized I would have to get it back to you, that’s when I realized…you stayed even when you could offer no help whatsoever. You held off on your plans for…me. I know of no one else who would have done that.”

Caitlyn’s hand tightened around Vi’s, and for a long moment, neither of them needed to say anything at all.

“What you said about Maddie earlier, that you were a fool. You trusted her. You’re not a fool for trusting someone you love and who is supposed to love you back.”

Caitlyn drew closer and kissed her. “Thank you.” She said her words so softly that they were almost inaudible. “And thank you for staying.” Caitlyn whispered, and she meant it in more ways than one.

“I’m happy to be here, Cait.”