Chapter Text
Progress day 6:30 am
Conrad has never been good at sleeping the day before his birthday, something to do with the fact that is also the beloved “progress day” in piltover.
Being born in a festivity is a double-edged weapon, sometimes there is double the celebration and amount of cake and gifts, and sometimes you are just forgotten, like every birthday since Conrad turned fifteen.
The beloved son of the Kiramman house, the grand jewel to Cassandra kiramman since her first born daughter decided her legacy of being part of the council wasn’t in her plans.
Anxiety has been boiling inside Conrads head for the entirety of the night, his nineteenth birthday had arrived, one year too late for his formal declaration to the council in order to be considered as heir of his mother’s sit at the council.
The council expects a grand plan out of one of the best social politics students of the academy, graduated 4 years early yet he seems to be 1 year late for his declaration to the council.
The words from his mother sitting in the back of his mind, whispering in disapproval.
‘Your declaration is your ticket to gaining the council’s trust, Conrad. And you haven’t delivered any reports of progress to me, you’re running late’.
‘All you’ve done for the past few months has been for nothing, this idea of yours won’t convince the council. Do better’
‘Your ideas used to spark my deepest of interests, yet you’re falling short of your standards’
‘You spend all day locked up in the library, reading every book you can get firsthand, and not one good enough idea comes to your mind?’
Conrad has come up with hundreds of ideas to impress the council, it seems the only person he has never been able to impress is his own mother.
Conrad stands up and heads to the toilet to was his face, he looks at himself in the mirror, his deep blue eyes staring into his own soul, he combs his naturally fluffy dark blue hair to straight it out.
He puts a shirt on and grabs his workout bag out of his closet, there is a good thing of having a sister enrolled with the enforcers, he has access anytime to their training grounds.
Jayce is preoccupied with the fact that he is giving the progress day speech this year, Heimerdinger has a ton of hope in his antics, and he still feels he needs to prove himself to piltover.
He is met with a conundrum once again, this isn’t science, he can’t consult himself or Viktor for this matter of speech and public speaking. He does however know the birthday boy, who just happens to be speech and debate champion and a prodigy in social politics.
He quickly grabs his pre-planned gift for Conrad and heads to the kiramman estate.
He knocks the door and Tobias opens up.
‘Ah Jayce, come in’ he steps aside as Jayce enters the estate.
‘What brings you here so early?’ Tobias asks.
‘I’m looking for Conrad, is he here?’ Jayce asks politely.
Before Tobias can answer, Cassandra shouts from the other room ‘He isn’t here Jayce, he always disappears in the mornings’
Jayce hums and asks Tobias ‘Any idea where he might be?’ Tobias shakes his head as Jayce says a polite goodbye and heads out.
He has seen a decay in Conrads dynamic with his family, he used to have breakfast every weekend with the kirammans, he remembers he and Conrad could spend hours talking about hextech and house Talis hammer business.
He also remembers how excited he was to tell him every new move he learned in “his training” those little punches and kicks were adorable, and that’s where it hit him.
‘The training grounds!’ he said to himself as he heads deep into downtown where the enforcers training facilities are.
The training grounds were deserted at that time, in preparation for progress day, he jumps the entrance, and he is met with the distant sound of punches and kicks.
He quickly spots Conrad focused on a training dummy, punching and kicking it for around 30 seconds, and then dropping down to do 10 push-ups, followed by 10 pull ups. A classic piltover enforcer training routine.
As Conrad finishes his set he lays eyes on Jayce and smirks in surprise.
‘To what do I owe the pleasure of having the man or progress in my presence’ Conrad teases, still panting from the intense set.
Jayce chuckles at his comment ‘I didn’t find you at your house, I was beginning to worry for the prodigy of house kiramman’ Jayce teases but notices that Conrad shrugs slightly at the use of that nickname.
‘Thought I get a little workout in’ Conrad tries to move past the awkward nickname.
‘In your birthday of all days?’ Jayce says and notices Conrad visibly shines at the mention of his mostly forgotten birthday ‘you’re addicted to exercise my friend’ Jayce teases and Conrad chuckles.
Conrad notices the box in Jayce’s hand ‘what’s that?’
Jayce extends the box to Conrad ‘For you’ Conrad stands up tapping his forehead and torso with a towel to clear the sweat.
As Conrad opens the box Jayce says ‘happy birthday, bean’ Conrad liked that nickname better.
The box holds a small hammer in a glass enclosure with a note that says “remember that every hammer is made with hard work and patience, if you have those two things, you’ll be a great leader” signed with a capital J at the corner of the note.
Jayce didn’t know exactly what that gesture meant to Conrad, he hadn’t been around for many birthdays, but every birthday he has been in, he has something meaningful with him.
Conrad holds back a tear and hugs Jayce, they wrap their arms around each other, a big and little brothers sharing a well-deserved hug.
As they break apart Jayce looks into Conrads eyes, he seems sad and confused. He tries to comfort him, placing a hand on his cheek as finally that held back tear drops from Conrads eye.
‘Hey, what’s wrong buddy?’ Jayce asks concerned for real this time.
Conrad only finds the strength to scoff and shake his head asking him not to ask silently. Breaking free and wanting to start another set of his workout.
Jayce grabs his wrist already somewhat knowing what’s on his mind. Conrad looks at him with pleading eyes.
‘Don’t tell me it happened again, Conrad’ Jayce says concerned that his family dynamic is more broken than he originally thought.
‘Everyone always forgets, Jayce’ Conrad says looking down jerking his hand away from him. ‘”my birthday”’ he quotes scoffing sarcastically ‘more like progress day and that’s it’ Conrad squeezes his fists angrily.
‘That’s not true, maybe you haven’t seen anyone yet today, your parents didn’t knew where you were’ Jayce tries to calm him down, but it’s useless.
‘They used to wait until midnight struck, to wake me up with a cake!’ Conrad shouts as he hits the punching bag. ‘They all stopped doing it eventually, they forgot… they always forget Jayce’
Jayce feels bad for the kid, no one deserves to feel alone in their special day. He reaches and puts a hand on his shoulder ‘I’m so sorry that keeps happening, bean, and I’m sorry I haven’t been there for many of your birthdays’ Conrad turns around to face Jayce.
‘It’s okay… I know things took a wild turn when you discovered hextech, it was your calling, I remember when you used to talk to me about your research, we are all so proud of what you’ve done Jayce. And I’m sorry about how I reacted when you were robbed, I should’ve vouched for you’ Conrad holds his gaze as he apologizes, something he never was able to do before, mostly because of lack of meetings. Jayce didn’t needed counseling all along, he needed to be told he’d do a good job no matter what and Conrads words were good enough.
‘Don’t mention it, Conrad. I remember when I needed to look down to look you in the eye, you’ve grown so much, even taller than me’ Conrad chuckles at the mention of his childhood height. ‘And your punching has come a long way’ Jayce teases.
Conrad laughs ‘it calms me down, life has been… stressful this past year’ Jayce looks at him curious. ‘Why?’ he asks.
‘Mother hasn’t loosened her grip on my pending presentation to the council, I’m one year late’ Conrad explains as he takes the bandages off his fists.
“Mother” Jayce thinks to himself, he never used to call her that before.
‘I don’t buy that you haven’t come up with any ideas, Conrad’ Jayce remarks.
‘I have tons of ideas, all trash, but Tons’ Conrad explains.
‘Well, you just need to keep trying then… have you consulted Cait for insight?’ Jayce asks and Conrad scoffs.
‘Don’t even get me started on Cait’ Conrad remarks.
Jayce chuckles as he knows very well Conrad and Caitlyn haven’t always been the closest of siblings.
‘Hey, you never know, maybe Cait has the solution you’ve been looking for all along’ Jayce teases and Conrad just laughs.
They both exit the training grounds, each more prepared to face the upcoming day thanks to their meeting.
There was a calling to the hex gates, a pretty big crime scene, as a robbery and attack of a shipment took place.
Caitlyn was forced by her mother to stay at her family tent, but she craved real action and not feeling like she was missing out on an important thing for the safety of piltover.
So, she went anyways and as she find some very impressive clues about what could’ve happened, she ultimately disobeyed direct orders from the sheriff, and she was facing serious consequences.
‘I apologize sir, my actions were reckless. But if I may… you should check out all the evidence I captured, including a possible witness-‘ Caitlyn explained but she’s interrupted by sheriff Marcus.
‘You disobeyed direct orders, not only that but you’re used to getting your way, kiramman, well it’s not going to happen this time, you are don-…’ Marcus threatens Caitlyn’s position at the organization but is cut off by Conrad.
‘If I may, sheriff’ Conrad arrives to the scene of the crime, Marcus and the other enforcers turn to look at him. ‘You are right about your assumptions regarding my sister, she does deserve a punishment for disobeying direct orders, but she got you compelling evidence regarding this case, and a witness to testify’ Conrad remarks all the things Caitlyn has gathered from the crime scene.
‘Threatening a council member daughter, after she gave you a breakthrough does not look good. May I ask you to reconsider your punishment?’ Conrad adds with a hint of amusement.
Marcus looks at Conrad annoyed by his antics but almost forced to cooperate. ‘Very well, since you’re looking for more work, you can take the graveyard shift tonight at the fair’.
Caitlyn looks down but ultimately agrees ‘yes sir’.
After the interaction Caitlyn steps out of the airship annoyed with her brother.
‘You could at least say thank you, you know?’ Conrad says sarcastically and annoyed also.
‘Thank you for what exactly, for humiliating me in front of the sheriff and my colleagues, making me seem like a spoiled girl’ Caitlyn retaliates sarcastically.
‘I just saved your job if you don’t recall correctly’ Conrad remarks, Caitlyn crosses her arms annoyed. ‘All of this wouldn’t have happened if you just stayed at the tent, Cait’ Conrad remarks giving away he was the one with the idea to tie Caitlyn to the tent.
‘You did that?’ Caitlyn asks angrily, Conrad rolls his eyes.
‘I suggested it, but mother did it, I never knew she was actually gonna do it’ Conrad remarks, defensively.
‘Oh yeah, sure, mummy’s boy really thought she wasn’t going to do it’ Caitlyn snaps at him.
‘Mummy’s boy? Since when? Mother gives you ten times less shit than she gives me, and suddenly I’m mummy’s boy?, come on Cait, if anyone is the favorite, it’s you’ Conrad snaps back.
‘Well, she wouldn’t give you “that shit” if you actually finished your god damn presentation’ Caitlyn immediately regrets saying that, she ultimately knows how hard her mother is on him, Conrad just looks at her in disbelief.
‘Next time your job is at stake, I’m not intervening’ Conrad says in an assertive tone.
‘Good, I won’t be the corrupt politician in this family’ Caitlyn snaps again, clearly not done.
Conrad eyes her with disdain ‘you want to talk about corruption? From where is that delicious wine you always drink?’ Conrad asks, Caitlyn eyes him confused.
‘I-I don’t know…’ Caitlyn responds. ‘It’s from Noxus, I know councilor Medarda and councilor Hoskel first hand, do you want to know how many strings need to be pulled for it to arrive here so you can drink it?’ Conrad explains.
Caitlyn scoffs. ‘What does my choice of wine have to do with corruption?’ Conrad shakes his head. ‘you’re unbearably naive, it shouldn’t even arrive here to begin with, it’s an off market sale’ Conrad leans close top whisper. ‘illegal’ Caitlyn gasps.
‘We are all part of corruption, we all benefit from it, sister. You want your conscience clear, you shouldn’t have accepted my help, but you did, you are a part of corruption Caitlyn, deal with it’. Conrad says walking past her, leaving her wondering.
As the night arrived everyone in house kiramman went to bed, as Caitlyn set sail to her graveyard shift.
A few hours later, Conrad was reading peacefully in the library when the door opened franticly, it was his mother.
‘Mom what is it?’ Conrad asked as Cassandra seemed to be in distress.
‘It’s Caitlyn, there’s been an explosion’ Cassandra quickly grabs some of Caitlyn’s papers for the hospital.
‘An explosion, where?’ Conrad asks confused and worried.
‘In the fair, she’s hurt, who in their right mind would set her with the graveyard shift’ Cassandra tells him as the realization hits him, his sister was blown up, and it’s all his fault.
A sense of guilt and shock spreads through his body, the idea of his sister dying was not something he contemplated before, the sheer thought of seeing her in a casket sends sickness through his stomach.
As his mother went to the hospital, he sat in bed in silence, simmering into his own sense of guilt, he wouldn’t be able to forgive himself if Caitlyn actually died, he didn’t even noticed the time when he fell asleep.
He woke up hours later immediately going out to assess the situation, when he stepped into the living room he was met with his parents gazes, they didn’t seem in shambles, so he immediately knew Caitlyn was alive.
He expected a lecture and a big punishment from his mother, he was certain they would already know he was the one that convinced Marcus to send her to the graveyard shift.
But to his surprise, they gave him a hug.
‘Oh sweetheart, she’s okay’ Cassandra says, cupping her sons cheek and rubbing her thumb below her eye.
Conrad lets out a relieved sigh and looks up trying to hold back tears. ‘Where is she?’ He asks.
‘In her bedroom’ his parents say at the same time.
‘Did she talk to you? Said anything?’ Conrad asks.
His parents pull back. ‘She passed out the moment she came back home, but we did talk to her’ Cassandra explains.
Conrad was confused, she didn’t tell their parents he put her in the graveyard shift.
‘Can I see her? I’ll be quiet’ Conrad asks. ‘Sure, as long as you don’t wake her up’ Cassandra explains, Conrad nods and goes to his sisters room.
He sists there, in a little chair beside her bed, a teddy bear she gifted him when she used to comfort him from his nightmares lays beside her, he can’t help but look at her, she’s alive, just a few hours ago he was contemplating for the first time the idea of her death. He was really glad he didn’t have to endure that pain.
As Caitlyn woke up the first thing that hit her nose, was her brothers cologne Tabacco, wood and vanilla, a familiar smell that made her feel safe after the explosion.
She noticed the soft bear sitting beside her and as she picked it up she smelled it, her brother held this, and when her vision cleared a bit, she could see Conrad. She chuckled at the sight of him, considering they fought the last time they talked, right now she was glad he was there with her.
‘I didn’t know you still have this old thing’ Caitlyn teases, Conrad lifts his head up in surprise.
‘Haven’t you heard, my sister gave it to me’ he remarks as Caitlyn chuckles.
‘Must be a great sister then’ Caitlyn teases. ‘The best’ he says meeting her gaze.
Caitlyn opened her arms as a tear runs through Conrads cheek, he gently falls in his sisters arms, as they held each other, she can feel his brother crying.
‘I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry I did this to you’ he cries out apology after apology she just holds him tighter.
As they break apart, she looks at his eyes filled with tears, gently wiping a tear with her thumb. ‘This isn’t your fault, I’m sorry I snapped at you’.
‘I thought you were gone Cait’ he lowers his gaze, but she makes him look at her. ‘Hey, but I’m here okay, I’m alright’
‘You didn’t tell them… about me putting you in that shift’ he says, looking for answers.
‘Well, you did saved my job, I owed you that much’ they chuckle.
‘And I’m counting on you to put whoever did this behind bars’ he retaliates ‘the situation with the undercity is spiraling out of control’.
‘We need to do something…’ she tells him, wanting his help. ‘We?’ he asks.
‘Yes we, I underestimated you, I always thought your passing grades were because mom bought your way into academic excellence. I couldn’t be more wrong, and I want your help…’ she asks.
Conrad smirks ‘what do you need me to do? Boss’ he teases as they smile to each other.
As they finish arranging the map with all her clues Jayce suddenly enters the room.
‘Ah, the man of progress’ Conrad says as Caitlyn goes to toss his flowers aside and put him up to date with their little investigation.
‘We had a break in the case’ Caitlyn remarks. ‘shouldn’t you be resting?’ Jayce asks.
Conrad chuckles ‘you really think she could rest big guy? Knowing her’ they chuckle.
‘Listen, you know how I’ve suspected there is a single mind behind the undercity’s violence’
‘The great conspiracy’ Jayce adds.
‘I think whoever attacked the square is our suspect’ Caitlyn explains.
‘The same symbols showed up at the botched smuggling operation at the hex gates’ Conrad adds. ‘The hex gates?’ Jayce asks. ‘Keep up’ Caitlyn and Conrad say at the same time.
‘All this time they’ve kept their dealings localized to the undercity, low priority, the attack on the square changes things, they’ve overstepped’ Caitlyn continues.
‘If we can figure out who made this, it could lead us directly to whoever is behind it all’ Conrad adds.
‘The answer is here, staring us in the face, I can feel it’ Caitlyn adds.
‘How do you both intend to prove any of this?’ Jayce retaliates.
‘If we can just, work this out, Marcus will have to listen’ Caitlyn explains.
‘there’s one thing I’ve learned about the council…’ Jayce adds but is cut off by Conrad.
‘They need more than just theories’ Conrad retaliates.
Caitlyn chuckles ‘since when did you concern yourself with the council’s opinion, I mean, little Mr. politician here would, but you’ Conrad huffs in annoyance.
‘Since I became a counselor’ Jayce says, both siblings going quiet then both letting out a genuine laugh, before realizing he’s serious.
‘You’re serious…’ they both say at the same time.
‘When? Why?’ Conrad asks. ‘Have they discovered how to govern with grease and a spanner?’ Caitlyn jokes as Conrad laughs.
‘Ha-ha, I was actually hoping you might consider joining my staff’ Jayce gives Caitlyn a formal contract.
‘House Talis security?’ Caitlyn asks handing her brother the contract.
‘This is ceremonial, Jayce, she’d live behind a desk’ Conrad adds.
‘She almost died, I just want her to be safe’ Jayce explains.
‘Thanks, but I already have a job’ Caitlyn remarks.
‘No, you don’t…’ Jayce adds. ‘After the attack your parents spoke with the sheriff, this is the best I could do’
‘Putting her behind a desk is the best thing you could do?... counselor’ Conrad challenges.
‘I don’t need charity, Jayce, yours or my parents’ Caitlyn backs her brother up. ‘Cait’ Jayce adds before being cut off by the sound of the siblings speaking in unison. ‘Get out’. And he does exactly that.
‘Now what?’ Conrad asks.
‘I had a lead, the guy that was in the airship, at the hex gates, he was taken to still water prison…’ Caitlyn says Conrad looks at her almost with fear in his eyes.
She looks at him, hoping there was another way ‘we need to follow that lead through’ she adds.
He just sighs and stands up ‘very well, let’s hope you’re right’
And there it was in the distance, a large building, in the middle of the water, a place only the worst people in the city go into. They both arrive at the front desk.
‘We need to speak to one of the inmates’ Conrad asks
‘Well, folks in here aren’t usually very talkative’ the guard adds.
‘This one was hit by friendly fire, he’s got reason to talk’ Caitlyn explains.
‘It must’ve been sent in today’ Conrad adds.
‘Oh, inmate 2135, yeah I’m uh, afraid that’s not possible’ the guard explains.
‘Why not?’ Caitlyn asks.
‘Well, there’s been an incident, the not so pretty type’ the guard explains again.
‘You don’t understand, we need to talk to him’ Conrad explains.
‘Oh, you’ll be able to, as soon as he can move his jaw again’ the guard retaliates.
‘Who assaulted him?’ Caitlyn asks
‘Inmate 516’ Caitlyn and Conrad look at each other, the ward giving them the inmate file as they descend in the elevator.
They reach the cell of the inmate, it’s a girl, very muscular, punching a wall, Conrad could relate to the need to relieve stress by hitting things, as they approach the cell, the girl stops punching the wall and without turning, she asks.
‘Who the hell are you two?...’