Chapter Text
When Jayce came to Caitlyn on only his third day as a councilor, asking for her help with eradicating the “rampant corruption plaguing the city,” she jumped at the opportunity. So far her attempts to do any real work have been thwarted by a boss that thinks little more of her than a spoiled brat playing cop and parents that prefer to keep their precious omega under close supervision; what better way to prove her worth to them than solving a case right under their noses? Under the guise of Jayce playing along with council politics and Caitlyn using her glorified security guard status as a chance to question Piltover’s High Houses, their investigation began. Weeks of following harmless leads like illegal wine shipments and Academy bribes made them feel good in the short term, but it eventually felt like squeezing wet mud to make a ball; it slipped through her fingers, and she was left with mud everywhere else but where she wanted it. Then they realized the only way to get their ball of mud was to remove the water that held it together.
Analyzing the small cases discovered a pattern, and that pattern identified repeat offenders that were all too willing to share secrets with two High House members. According to them, bloodthirsty, greedy elites have hand-picked prisoners at Stillwater and made them battle each other at a location only the ringleader could disclose, all just to give themselves an opportunity to gamble their money and expensive items away, for years.
Caitlyn was embarrassed that something this well-known through the other Houses could skip her, but she wasn’t surprised. Her reputation for being a stick in the mud had to be at fault. No one wanted to tell the girl whose childhood dream was to be an enforcer about an illegal pastime. Why risk bringing down the fun when she could just be excluded? It’s what they did with everything else anyways. On multiple levels, the situation was anger-inducing and she knew she couldn’t be impartial while still wrestling with her hurt feelings. Jayce needed to throw his charm and influence around and see where it led them. Which, unfortunately for her, was the next event.
-
Despite the way her informant described it, the “underground fight club” wasn’t even located in an underground facility, but in a tall, circular building at the heart of the business district. Caitlyn’s fairly certain she’s walked past this building dozens of times, which makes her angrier at both her peers for not sharing the secret and herself for not figuring it out despite them. Despite Jayce’s explanation that the building looked ordinary on purpose and was impossible to get into without a key. She contemplated breaking in just to spite him until she noticed him walking up with…councilor Hoskel. Of course he’s the ringleader. Caitlyn couldn’t remember a time when he wasn’t a selfish bastard.
“Councilors.” Caitlyn greeted.
“Little Kiramman! I was surprised to hear that you fancied an invitation. Your mother has made it quite clear that she’s not a fan, but good on ya for thinking differently.” Hoskel said conspiratorially. “Some unsophisticated live entertainment is good for the soul, every now and then.”
Caitlyn did her best to fake a smile but it must have looked more like a grimace, because Jayce threw a comforting arm around her shoulders and said, “She’s a little nervous, but I think she’ll agree with you after a taste.”
Hoskel nodded confidently and let them into the building. They walked into a large reception area, where the receptionist led them down a winding hallway ending at an ornate elevator. An elevator attendant greeted them, took their tickets, and sent them to the top floor. Okay, maybe it would have been hard to sneak past all this security, Caitlyn thought bitterly.
She took note of her surroundings while leaving the elevator. The room was massive, with tall cream-colored walls, plush red carpeting up until the elevated stage in the center of the room made completely of a dark gray stone. Tapered seating surrounded the pit, halfway filled already with people she mostly recognized from other wealthy events. The ceiling was dome-shaped, made out of glass panels with gold sash bars. It framed the bright blue sky beautifully. Everything else was a little too gaudy for her tastes, but that ceiling was her favorite part of the room.
Catching her looking up, Hoskel elbowed her mischievously and said, “Wait ‘til ya see it open. In the sunlight the fight looks ravishing.”
Caitlyn couldn't tell if that was just a word in his vernacular or he was being a creep on purpose. Maybe the ambiguity was the point. “I can’t wait.” She said, and it sounded convincing enough to her own ears.
“Where are the best seats, counsilman?” Jayce asked.
“Right this way. And none of the formalities, my boy. In The Ring, we eat, drink, and lose money as equals!”
If he weren’t looking her way, Caitlyn would’ve rolled her eyes. Instead she mentally tucked away “The Ring” for future conversation.
Jayce and she lagged behind as Hoskel led them. “Once he sits down I’m going to take a lap and see what I can learn. Please don’t murder him while I’m gone. Maybe order him some of that Noxian booze he likes, get him loose,” He said.
“No promises,” She joked.
Hoskel took them to a row of seats close to the stage, and once Jayce walked off, he immediately went on a diatribe about how proud he was to be the founder of this establishment and how hard he’d worked on keeping it exclusive. Caitlyn listened closely for any new information but she really only learned two things: Hoskel was somehow more selfish than she originally believed, and two shots of whiskey gave her just enough of a buzz that his classism went from disgusting to mildly amusing. Jayce was right about the alcohol though. It made him loose, just not in a way that was helpful to the investigation.
By the time the event started, the seats were packed. It amazed her that so many people actively participated in something so illegal. She became an enforcer to protect people just like those in the stands from situations just like the one they’re actually in. What does it mean if people she thought to be upstanding citizens instead were the criminals she wanted to protect them from? Members of the High Houses, prison guards, even other enforcers that prefer to line their pockets through exploitation than let the guilty live out their sentences. Before this investigation it was easy to think that she was a good person doing good things in a good system. Will that all change by the end of the case? Would she still be this introspective and willing to question long-held beliefs when she wasn’t buzzed and such grievous injustices weren’t explicitly in her face anymore?
She was startled out of her thoughts by the announcer starting the show. He was a beta, clean-cut and professional, made to look as neutral and inoffensive as possible.
“Thank you ladies and gentlemen so much for coming! I know you’re ready to get to the action so I won’t take too much of your time. I see some new faces in the crowd so a quick explanation would probably be helpful. There are three rounds tonight in a tournament-style lineup; the first round is always new talent. Rounds are by designation to make things fairer. The winners of the first two rounds will go on to fight each other in the last round. Now that we’re all caught up, let’s get to it!”
As the announcer exited the stage, the dome ceiling slowly slid apart at the center and sunlight poured over the room. Somehow the light made the gaudy look even worse. Caitlyn could see how Hoskel liked it, but she definitely preferred the cover of the glass.
The sound of the elevator opening turned the crowd’s head away from the stage. Masked enforcers flanked a giant man, pale with no hair on his head but dark tattoos mechanical all over his body, as he walked towards the stage. The crowd lit up with excited conversation and he largely ignored it. The look on his face was apathetic, but his eyes kept darting around the room and his hands were balled into fists. Not the demeanor of a man that appreciates the scrutiny. She made a mental note to visit Stillwater some time after the fight and get what information she could out of the man.
“Ladies and gentleman, prisoner 2135. One of two new alpha entertainers tonight.” Said the announcer from beside the stage. The enforcers led the man up to the stage then posted themselves at the edge of it.
The elevator once again opened, and heads again turned towards it. Out walked a woman, barely taller than her with pink hair, two more masked enforcers closely following behind. They had similar mechanical tattoos (did they know each other?) but the first man looked happy compared to this woman. She walked with purpose, head held high, and face scrunched up with anger. Her body, from what Caitlyn could tell, was pure muscle. Confidence and power rolled off of her in waves and her skin looked radiant under the sunlight. Maybe the dome was indeed better open than closed.
Caitlyn’s cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Was she really attracted to a criminal participating in an illegal fighting ring?
She watched the woman’s massive arms easily hoist her body up to the stage. Her mouth went dry.
Shit.
“Our second new entertainer. Prisoner 516. Don’t be fooled by her size. She is quite the troublemaker.” Prisoner 516 responded to the announcer’s job with a swift middle finger.
Hostel chuckled beside Caitlyn. “That attitude will make for a good fight but the big man is the clear winner.”
Jayce cursed and said, “I agree, and I bet on her.”
“That’s why you don’t put money on your first match, my boy.” Hostel gave him a smug smile. “Better luck next time.”
Caitlyn shook her head at the two but otherwise didn’t comment. Jayce was a natural at being undercover and blending into situations. Meanwhile she couldn’t keep her libido in check. She was about to watch the woman spill her and someone else’s blood for entertainment and all she could focus on was how her tank top was amazing at teasing a six pack. Since when was she so desperate she couldn’t focus on her investigation? Since she met this mystery woman, apparently.
The two prisoners got into position. The pale man looked visibly nervous at being the focus of the woman's ire and the woman looked angry enough to kill. A strong indication that they had history. Caitlyn should have a chat with the woman as well…purely for the investigation of course.
The announcer turned to the stage. “At the bell…”
The bell sounded.
Prisoner 516 attacked before the bell finished. She was incredibly fast, and prisoner 2135 was not prepared as he struggled to defend himself from her flurry of blows. He took a particularly hard punch to the jaw but then used her momentum against her, shoving her hard in the direction of her punch, then following her tumble across the stage and kicking her when it looked like she would recover. She let her body roll away from the man and stood up before he could follow her again.
They circled each other, waiting for an opening, until the woman faked a hit to the gut and the man took the bait. His downfall was her speed - he went to grab her as she faked but she swiftly slipped away and delivered a gruesome kick to the side of his face. His head snapped to the side, spittle and blood flying as he dropped. Now disoriented and struggling to pick himself up, the crowd could sense that the end was near and shouted eagerly, faces filled with feral glee and anticipation.
The woman still had plans for the man however, as she waited to approach him until he had time to stand and get back into position. He could tell she was playing with him and it made him angry enough to hastily attempt to overwhelm her with attacks, leaving his defense completely open. She used his lack of caution against him so perfectly it was almost like she planned it. She parried his attacks with ease and sent another punch into his jaw, then another, then another. Caitlyn silently begged for the woman to give another body part some attention so that she wouldn’t have to wait until he could move his mouth to interrogate him, but her pleas were in vain. She hammered on his face until he was sent to the ground once again.
The woman was much less generous this time. As soon as he pushed himself up on arms and knees, she kicked his side and shoved him on his back, then kneeled on top of him and sent blow after blow into his face. She kept going until the enforcers pulled her off of him. The crowd exploded into cheers, and a few boos from those who just lost their bets, and Caitlyn found herself cheering alongside them. Hoskel was less happy, especially after all his posturing done about Jayce’s bet, but it would be nothing a glass, maybe a bottle, couldn’t fix.
She watched the enforcers hold the woman’s hands up to signal her victory. Her chest heaved, mouth open and panting from heat and exertion, and sweat contoured her clothes to her body. Sunlight shone on her like a spotlight. The sight filled her with desire and imprinted itself in her memory. Even bloody and beaten and exhausted, Caitlyn couldn’t deny her attraction. Her facial expression however, instead of satisfied or proud, was stony. Caitlyn wished she knew why.
When the crowd died down the announcer called for a brief intermission. Hoskel offered to take Jayce and her to see the bar and intermission rooms, but Caitlyn excused herself and headed towards the elevator. She had some sneaking around to do.
-
Going to random floors and aimlessly walking around wasn’t the most precise method of investigation, but it made for great results. Results, unfortunately, guarded by enforcers. Three floors worth of exploring led her to dead end after dead end. Her frustration eventually convinced her to test how far her own status as an enforcer could get her. She hyped herself up on the way to the fourth level down, and walked out of the elevator with all the confidence and authority she could muster.
She almost faltered when she counted eight enforcers standing in the middle of the hallway, but she forced herself to remain calm. The hallway was short with only two doors per side and one at the end of the hallway. The enforcers stood by the side doors, two per door. The same amount the prisoners walked in the arena with. She’s just accidentally stumbled onto the holding rooms!
As she walked up, four enforcers suddenly went in two of the rooms, presumably to grab the prisoners for the next match. Intermission must almost be over. If she misses too much of the fight Hoskel will get suspicious. I hope I have time for this. She thought, then walked right up to the first door on the right.
“I need to see the prisoner.” She said to the enforcers.
The men looked at each other for a second, then the one on the left said, “And who are you?”
Caitlyn balked. How did he not recognize her? Sure, she didn’t recognize them, but only because they were wearing masks. She had no mask to obscure her face, and the sheriff talked enough shit about her in front of the other enforcers that they all must at least know of her. “I am an enforcer under orders from councilor Talis.”
The man scented the air. “No way an omega cop is working with a councilor. And you’re not even in uniform. No groupies today; get outta here.”
Her blood boiled and she had her badge in hand, shoving it in the man’s face, before she knew what she was doing. She could tell the moment he realized her identity when he started fidgeting and backing away from the door.
“M-my apologies ma’am. Sorry.” He whacked his partner’s arm to move him from in front of the door. “Get out of the fucking way,” He hissed quietly. After a bow the other man grabbed the door handle and held the door open for her. She walked in the room without acknowledging them any further.
The room, furnished simply with beige carpet, white walls, and standard bedroom furniture, was empty but she could hear water running behind the only other door, which she could assume was a bathroom. She’s surprised by their private rooms but private bathrooms too? No wonder they chose to fight. Stillwater couldn’t come close to being a comparison. Do they stay here the entire time or are they brought back and forth? What other privileges do they enjoy? Does that window open too? That one’s unlikely, but she can get her answers when the prisoner leaves the bathroom.
Most surprising to Caitlyn, the room actually smelled nice. Really nice. Like the sweet spiciness of clove and orange in warm mulled wine…
“Who the hell are you?”