Chapter Text
She couldn´t believe that she accept get out this night. Caitlyn Misfit Kiramman is getting ready to meet with people that it is not Jayce, because who are going to cheat, Jayce is who usually pulled her out of his house. The excessive parties of her mother didn´t count, always ended up with her running away. Cait rolled his eyes remembering all of them, because they concluded being the same party, with the same guests and the same speech, the only thing that changed are the outfits. She snorted whiles she pry opened the wardrobe and she separated the huge amount of dresses that her mother continued putting there. Her rage grow up only watching them. Cassandra Kiramman, mayoress of Piltover, can bring peace to the city, but can´t get her daughter stay at a party.
“Today Caitlyn Kiramman is going to stay at home” she said standing out her last name while she was watching the other options available.
Thirty minutes passed and Cait´s good taste in clothes had faded. Enraged she fell on the bed. Doubts starting to make a mess in her head. And if it was too elegant? Or too informal? She hated that insecurities attack her with the least unexpected, she is a confident woman, ask her gun license. Right now, she preferred to sit at her desk studying and writing reports. That was not possible. Marcus threw them that afternoon early to let them prepared with time. Because yes, she is going to go out with her co-workers. Grayson´s sad early retirement, her mentor and example to follow. She loved her job and she knew that they are a good team of researchers, but Cait doesn´t feel seen for many of her mates; she always is a big K for them.
“C´mon Cait, you are able to help resolve most difficult cases on a chair but can´t combine some clothes” usually talk with herself helped her concentrate, she grabbed one of her pillows and she buried her face stifling a groan. “It can´t be so complicated, you wear all the days. Focus big K. Mission is choosing a correct outfit for what we are doing, I mean, go out for a drink to… Wait a second, where are we going?”
Cait's lightbulb went on causing her to sit up abruptly, she can´t resolve a case if information was missing! She took quickly her phone and searched the name of the only mate who didn’t see her like she was “royalty”. Two tones sounded and the loudspeaker spat out a roar that forced Cait to detach the device from her ear, it thanked her.
“Caitlyn! Give a second” Zoila tried to make herself heard over the music. Cait waited for the notes to stop sounding before approaching the phone again. “Sorry, you caught me giving it all. What happen?” Zoila asked after she laughed of her confession. She was studying at Piltover´s Academy, however, soon she realised that her brain isn’t make to connect pieces but tracks, that’s why professor Heimerdinger talked with Grayson to join the team. Cait had received hep many times from Zoila and vice versa, she was glad that she treated her like one more, even if was with professional issues.
“Do not worry” answered Cait, “I do not remember well where Marcus told us where we are going” taking advantage of the fact that Grayson had not been in the offices today, her second Marcus had told them about the surprise plan.
“The last drop. It is a very famous pub of Zaun” Zoila answered happily. Caitlyn made a face. She was grateful to called her, if she had written to any other mate she would have gotten a free taunt about the underground city not meeting her standards or something, because it was true, she had never gone down. “You are going to love the place” she added excitedly.
“In Zaun?” the question shot out from Cait, she had been excited. Her mother had taken care not to allow her to step on the neighbour city. The temptation of the forbidden made her heart race.
“It is one of the favourites pubs of Grayson. It makes sense if you think it, when she was sheriff before the accident she always had missions down there”.
“Yes, it has” Cait reasoned. Grayson investigated a case with some enforcers about the distribution of a new drug, shimmer, they believed they had them, it was a trap and everything exploded. They don’t know how Grayson survived, with many consequences that prevented her from continuing to work on the streets. She resigned from her position as sheriff, her life was dedicated to helping people, they wouldn’t take that away from her, so she started her own path.
“Mir y Kepple are going to pick me up, do you want we do the same with you?” Zoila´s voice took Cait away from that sad story, which only reaffirmed that she would follow in Grayson´s footsteps until the end.
“No, it´s ok. I will go with my car”.
“If you have problems call me and I will send you the location”.
After thanking Zoila, she hung up more animated. The fact that going to Zaun had increased her desire to go out that night, go to a new place where probably no one knew she brought the big K on the back could be her chance, she could be only Cait.
She sat on the bed and went back to weighing her clothing options. She is going to go to a Zaun´s pub. Something she never thinks she will do. She needs help. She unblocked again her phone and searched in her contacts.
***
In twenty minutes the doorbell was heard throughout the house. Cait run to her room´s door and she opened it strongly heading down the hall to the stairs, taking them down two by two almost colliding with one of her mother´s assistants. After shouting “my apologies”, she finally reached the bottom of the steps from where another large corridor connected to the entrance hall. She stopped to catch her breath as she gripped the railing. Her father watched her with the door opened and his arm extended giving the welcome to the guest. Mel had also stood in the doorway watching Caitlyn recover after the run. Seeing that nobody moves Cait go on through the hall and after greet her father took Mel by the arm and began dragging her back to her room at normal speed.
Once there Cait released Mel and closed the door behind her. It was the first time that someone who isn’t Jayce walked through the most private part of the mansion and arrived to her room. That did she remembered the torturous feeling of being like the princesses of the tales that her father read to her when she was younger, unreachable at the top of the tower and so protected that no one dared to try to reach it.
Cait passes Mel who was looking around her room with surprise.
“Welcome to my domains” Cait said a little embarrassed. Mel focused on her and the confident smile she used to have appeared in her face.
“So… You need my help?” she asked as she stood next to Cait that seeing she had all her attention, she guided her to the large wardrobe.
“Yes. Tonight is my boss´s farewell and we are going to go to a pub in Zaun, I don´t know very well what would be appropriate…” Caitlyn kept quiet trying to find the words “I do not usually go out, except with you and I´ve never been in…”
“Zaun?” Mel finished when Cait stopped her explanation again. Cait had grabbed her arms while she was trying to explain with Mel, when she finished it for her, she pressed closer to herself.
“Jayce?” asked Cait. Mel nodded while smiling contagiously. Mel and he had become very close and since Jayce was his best friend it was obvious that they would have talked about her and the Kiramman. “Well, I have been wanting since I was little” Cait continued, “but not letting you visit a potentially “dangerous” city” she pointed out making quotation marks with her fingers “comes in the pack of overprotective parents”.
“Do they know that you are going there?”
“I believe they not, it is a surprise”.
“A surprise?”
“If my boss doesn´t know, neither does my mother. Both known each other since always, she let me join her team with the condition that nothing happens to me, so I only dedicated to study cases at the office or help in Piltover, I have never gone down to Zaun where they need real help. I thought that with time I could change my mother perspective and here I am, fighting for her to understand that I will never be like her. Today I will demonstrate that I can handle myself in Zaun”.
“I think that your mother doesn’t step Zaun after the independence”.
“I assure you that she never step the undercity”.
“It´s obvious that in Zaun there are still dangerous areas and situations, but the tension has improved, many people from Piltover have been encouraged to go down and have repeated later, if only for a walk. There still too much to do, but Zaun have come safer, especially with the Firelights watching”.
“I would like to collaborate to improve Zaun”.
“Well, let´s start taking those steps starting by enjoying the meeting. Let´s prepare an outfit worthy of this opportunity”.
Mel sat her on the bed and started check every garment that filled her wardrobe and it wasn´t a dress. Cait knew her a few months ago, when Jayce started taking her to the hangouts that Viktor, Sky and they had every Thursday. She and Mel had gotten along from the beginning, although they had never really spoken more than those nights that consisted of picking on Jayce. She had to admit that she was the only person she thought could help her with that mishap and she wasn’t wrong. Mel handed her a pair of black pants she didn’t remember wearing and a crop top with wide sleeves. Caitlyn went behind the screen and began to dress. Going out to the room Mel was waiting her sat on her bed where she had been a few moments before. Cait walked to her while Mel raised both hands with thumbs up.
***
Cait had been circling an unfamiliar area for several minutes looking for parking. After found a boots and Mel helped her do a little makeup, she had decided go out with time to leave her at home. She promised her that she would have a good time and she set course for Zaun. Crossing the bridge that separated the twin cities was like walking through a portal to another world. The city grew up down unlike Piltover which did it above, the buildings seemed to reach the centre of the earth. Opposite poles.
It looks like the pub was in the heart of the city, that’s why she decided deviate some streets looking where leave the car. Cait drove slowly watching the shops and stores in the streets, even she discovered herself studying local people. It doesn’t look like what her mother described her. The streets were full of neon lights and paintings on the walls. It was the antithesis of all she knew, but that doesn’t put off beauty. The terror that her mother infused was replace for admiration. She never saw nothing like that before, it was wild, it had own personality, look where you look everything shouted "Zaun". Finally she found a spot a few blocks from where the pub was supposed to be.
She turned off the car engine and rested her head against the steering wheel. A pressure had lodged in her chest. The security that she had gained during the afternoon had faded as Zaun swallowed her. She had been locked up in a jail all her life, always surrounded of walls that she did not built, she wished so much to breath without having to please others, she wanted to breath for herself, to feel alive. This was her first step behind those walls, without her mother on her back watching her strides, it was scary. She was fucking scared.
Her phone vibrated one second taking her away of her thoughts. She grabbed it and turn on the screen, a message of Mel showed up: it was a selfie with Jayce, both smiling. A text join too: “We will be for some near pubs. Anything let us know. Enjoy, you deserve it”. Cait smiled. Yes, she deserved it, she could demonstrate that world would not devour her, she had been ready to be able against it since she was little. She would get in the pub and show her mates who is Cait. She kept her phone in her bag and went out of the car.
She walked to the pub, it had no loss. A large sign with a beer jar in the centre and the name of the pub around it shone above the door. She noticed that there were many people led to it. It looked like a popular place. Not recognizing anyone, she took out her phone to write Zoila when she heard her name. Kepple and Zoila near the door moved their arms. Cait breathed calmly and walked towards them.
“You are coming soon Caitlyn” Zoila greeted with a smile.
“I wanted to find a good place for the car” she defended herself.
“Us too, Mir must be parking” Kepple calmed. Mir and Kepple were known as the Wardens, they were good at following trails. Although they barely exchanged a couple of words each day they seemed nice.
They began a conversation about work because what else they could talk? It was the only thing they knew each other. However, little by little the tension that Cait still carried in her body faded. Soon Mir arrived who happily greeted and joined in the chat. Cait discovered that Mir laughed scandalously loud and Kepple was unable to grasp the ironies. The talk go to The last drop. It looked like it was very popular in Zaun, a safe place. The owner was known for being a kind of peacemaker there and although he was a bit old now, he had managed to allow the people of Piltover to enjoy the area without problems, surely the Firelights had something to do with it as well.
Cait´s throat went dry as she sank in her memories again. When she was little Zaun was another district of Piltover, the situation was untenable. Her mother, when she occupied the position of mayor, gave in to the separation of both cities thinking that they would prosper more separately, a good decision. Although there were a couple of years of tension between the twin cities, the agreements of both soon began again and everything started to flow. Zaun´s resentment decreased, however, residues always ended up coming out, like a poorly closed wound. The new union was diplomatic and it was what saved both cities from their own perdition.
The rest of his companions were appearing, the atmosphere that was being created was pleasant, Cait laughed at the jokes, she even dared to participate annoying someone of them. She assumed a comfortable position and dedicated to enjoying the laughs. Kepple was proposing to come in because the temperature had started to drop when Marcus appeared with Grayson at his side. Realizing that everyone was there she let out a big laugh and patted Marcus on the back pushing him forward due to their difference in size and strength. They both approached the big group that had formed. Grayson immediately noticed Cait and though her face tightened he forced a smile. It´s over that his mother did not where she was. After a general greeting accompanied by some joke, it was decided to enter the pub.
Cait waited to everyone get in surprised that Zoila was waiting for her. Both crossed the door being quickly involved for the pub´s environment. A dim light was enough to illuminate, the bar stood out against the wall opposite the entrance. To the left some tables where people conversed, some even played cards. Between that area and the bar, two groups seemed to be having fun at a pool table and a dartboard next to some sofas. On the right zone it was a small dance floor where the lights slipped between those who danced to the rhythm of the music that went out of a jukebox some modified. Caitlyn was impressed. That place had an aura that attracted her and made her feel more comfortable that any Piltover´s pub.
Zoila nudged her gently, snapping gently out of her stupefaction, nodding toward where the rest had gone. They had chosen accommodate on the sofas near the dartboard and the pool table. Cait sat next to her and Wardens that looked like they were keeping a place. A smile ran out of Cait. Those three had welcomed her, she felt sheltered. Grayson immediately bought the first round so she got up to the bar where a broad-shouldered man was waiting for her smiling. He was taller than her and he has a big body, Cait deduced that those arms had fought a lot. He fully complied with the peacemaker prototype. They leaned on the bar to give each other a big hug between laughs.
“He is Vander, the owner. When Grayson belonged to the enforcers before the independence of Zaun, both reached an agreement to avoid problems as much as possible. Vander controlled Zaun, I think he still does and Grayson stopped the feet of the enforcers” Cait looked over at Mir who, sitting next to Zoila, had leaned forward to talk to them.
“It looks like now they have something more than a professional relationship” Zoila pointed out.
“It is an advantage for us, I´m sure that they still collaborate for cases we have in Zaun” Mir theorize. Cait narrowed her eyes while she was listening and archived the information in her head, there was a lot of history between both cities that she had been lost.
Cait continued watching the bar. This Vander took out and opened several beers while he chatting quietly with Grayson, they were chuckling. Suddenly a blue whirlpool appeared behind Vander´s back, immobilizing him. Cait blinked and focused her view as she did with her rifle, a girl with blue braids hugged the big man while he laughed out loud. Grayson had separated from the bar, putting her hand to her chest shocked by fright as she seemed to greet her. The girl released Vander and she waved back Cait´s mentor. Vander pointed the beers and the whirlpool nodding began to take a few while Grayson also catch a couple. They led to the group sat on the sofas. They put the beers before them smiling. The blue whirlpool stopped her look at Caitlyn more that she expected when someone served you a beer. She wore a vest filled with bright paint with the pub logo on the right side. The designs closely matched with those of the jukebox. Surely she would have drawn them. Finally, the girl smiled and shouted “to your health” while she was taking one of the beers and coming back behind the bar with Vander.
Cait´s eyebrow shot after the strange interaction. Why would she have caught the attention of that girl? Her interest came back to her work mates, who with Grayson´s return had started remembering anecdotes of the years she directed the agency. With the stories more people came to the pub and also more beers. The pool table was free so the group split up. Cait had stayed on the sofas much more relaxed, feeling integrated into the little group that Zoila had created before entering the pub.
Cait had drunk less than them, but she desiderated a drink, she was having a good time, she had even sent Mel a selfie of them all toasting. He excused herself to her mates and headed to the bar.
There was a lot of people waiting, that’s why she took advantage of a gap that was free in a corner behind a man who was leaving with two beer mugs. She rested her arms on the carefully cleaned bar and looked around for Vander or the blue whirlpool. A skinny guy was serving customers on the other side, so she decided to wait to get his attention. Cait took out the mobile checking if she had a new message from Mel, finding out that she had one of her mother, apparently she had realized that she was not at home. She had said goodbye to her father when she left, although she had not told him where she was going. The mayoress wished her a good night in a concise way and reminded her not to be too late, at which she rolled her eyes. Obviously she wasn’t going to pay attention to her.
“Mm… Excuse me, what can I get you” Caitlyn heard this voice too close so she looked up from the screen meeting a stormy grey that clouded her heart. The eyes were crowned by a scar on one of the eyebrows and rested on a “VI” tattoo dotted with freckles. Cait continued down finding a shiny nose ring and ending in another scar that split a lip that smiled at her. “Hi, yeah, I am the one talking to you” the lips moved to the beat of the words. Caitlyn blinked almost furiously trying to focus on that face in its entirety. The girl it belonged had pink hair, she had combed it back leaving her face uncovered, but some strands returned to their original position to the side. She was wearing a sleeveless sweatshirt with the pub´s logo on it, exposing her muscular arms. Caitlyn swallowed as she tried to reboot her brain. “Hey, are you okay?” she spoke for the third time. Her voice was soft but scratchy, I could feel its depth above the noise and the music.
“I… Eh… My apologies” Caitlyn looked down at her hands which she had inadvertently clasped together, she tried to focus on her thumbs caressing the pads of her other fingers. “Can I have a lemon gin, please?” Cait forced herself to look up again and smiles with as much confidence as she could get. The girl returned her smile and humming a “I´m on it” walked away from her.
Cait returned to the sofa still not believing what had happened. Did she just get stuck talking to a girl? Suddenly her face turned the same shade as the waitress´s hair. Great, now she couldn’t get her out of her head. She picked up the glass and took a long drink. If her new friends had noticed what had happened, they did not comment at all and included her again in the conversation.
***
Cait had been trying to work up the courage to approach the bar again for a long time. She had finished her drink time ago and although she pretended to listen the conversation of her mates, she had dedicated to watch the waitress. Hours had passed and the pub had been emptying, even Grayson had gone, but not before giving her a look of “we have a pending conversation, be careful or we are dead”.
Cait did not pretend paying attention to the talk, she started to think that she couldn’t go out of the pub if she doesn’t talk again with the owner of this eyes. Zoila y Kepple had gone to dance animated for the music change, if Cait would be watching she would see a blue whirlpool near the jukebox. But she can´t take her look away of that storm. She had looked at her twice too, while she was drying off some glasses or listening the command of a client. Caitlyn thanked that there wasn’t many light because the burning of her face did not decreased.
What did the hell happen to her? She didn’t doubt about who attracted her, but never someone had gone so deep into her mind and less with so few words. Every time she redirected her gaze to the bar her heart doubled the speed.
The waitress suddenly looked at her again and winking at her she dedicated a little smile. That was the detonating to Caitlyn. More than an act of trust, she felt that this was crazy. She did not know how or why, but right now she wanted something more than talking to her. She got up more abruptly than usual and, ignoring the look of her mates, went to her. Seeing her the girl came closer Vander, who had returned to his job when the pub had quietened down a bit, and whispering him she left before Cait’s astonished look. Her legs went weak as she watched her go right under her nose, but they arrived to destiny without taking the eyes off where she had disappeared.
A soft laugh brought her back to reality. Vander watcher her funny while he was cleaning a glass. Cait watched him with ears about to catch fire when she heard man´s gravelly voice.
“Surround the dance floor and go through the door before going down some stairs, facing the back street” Vander finished the instructions releasing the glass on the wood and placing the cloth on his shoulder. He winked at Cait and walked over to some customers on the other side of the bar.
Cait hesitated for a few seconds, sighed and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear followed his directions. The blue haired girl danced next to the skinny waiter near the jukebox. She noticed Cait and subtly winked at her while she was smiling maliciously. Did everyone in this pub know how to do that? Cait reached the stairs that had been indicated and pushed the wooden and metal door that opened with a click. The cold night air hit her face and abdomen, which was partially exposed. She went outside lowering her blouse a little and looked around for the waitress.
“Here!” Cait followed the sound of that beautiful voice that came from above. The girl was climbing up some ladders at the end of the alley. The neon lights reflected off her hair and a red jacket she would have put on before going out. Seeing that Cait was approaching, she continued climb.
When she got to the top, she found an image that took her breath away. The moon shone above the rooftops of both cities, contrasting with the electric lights of Zaun and the warm lights of Piltover. High above both cities, the Council reign. The waitress was standing near the edge, her hands in her jacket pockets, and her back to Cait. She hesitantly approached.
“You came from the top, right?” she asked when Cait caught up with her while she was jerking with the chin toward Piltover.
“Yes” Cait paused. “Is there a problem?”
“For my part none and I would dare to say that for yours neither” the girl commented slowly. Both spoke almost in whispers, afraid of breaking the spell in which they had fallen.
“How did you know I would follow you?” Cait asked as she crossed her arms trying to keep what little warmth she still had.
“You´ve been looking at me all night Cupcake, you haven’t been very subtle” she blushed at the nickname she had used.
“My name is Caitlyn”.
“Vi” answered the other, finally turning to her. Their eyes collided. The calm sea with the agitated storm.
“Would you give me your number Vi?” Caitlyn whispered. Vi turned her head with a half-smile. She took his hands out of her pockets and began to take off her jacket. Once in her hands she held it up to Cait as they reconnected their eyes. Caitlyn quickly accepted the jacket. Normally she would have draped it over her shoulders, but she slipped her arms into the sleeves and pulled it closer to her body. It didn't take long for Vi's scent to reach her, making her slightly dizzy. He looked at her again, she sat on the edge of the roof and reached out to Cait who without hesitation reached out her arm to her, as if she had been doing it all her life. Her fingertips brushed Vi's warm, rough palm, grasping her hand firmly. Vi gently tugged her down inviting her to sit down, Cait obeyed. He settled next to her without letting go of her hand, neither did.
“Of course I'll give you my Cupcake number, but I can't wait to see you again. How about we stay here for a while and you tell me who you are?” Vi rubbed Cait's hand with her thumb. They both looked at the gesture for a few seconds to unite their gazes again at the same time, as if they were connected. “Stay here” Vi whispered.