Steb's Day off
The morning sunlight beamed through the narrow windows of a small room Steb called home. It really wasn’t much. It was a small one room apartment close to the Undercity. Nothing fancy but to Steb, enough.
Steb began his morning routine; brushing his teeth, moisturizing his face, gelling his hair, and getting changed. Steb brushed his hand over his neatly folded uniform on the desk. No work for him today. Today was different. Steb had no pots and pans to clean.
Steb glanced out the window and watched as the beautiful streets of Piltover slowly awoke. He grabbed his notepad and scribbled down a checklist for himself then placed it in his pocket before heading outside.
The city was vibrant, and its streets were alive with merchant, performers, and student inventors trying to display “Piltovers next big thing”. Steb moved through the bustling streets quietly only pausing to look at a thing or two if something struck his interest.
At the corner of the street, a young boy with a cart full of flowers was crossing the street. Then out of the blue, his cart turned over. Hundreds of flowers spilled on the street. The young boy frantically tried picking them all up but then a car (car? Does Piltover have cars….i think so….) started speeding towards the boy. Along with the driver of the vehicle, none of the aristocratic pedestrians noticed the boy, or perhaps they did not want to help him.
Steb noticed this and without hesitation, dove into the street, grabbing the boy and his cart. Steb yanked the cart around him and tumbled onto the other side of the rode with the boy in his arms.
The boy beamed and some bystanders applauded Steb before quickly moving on with their day. The boy then picked up one of the few remaining flowers and gave it to Steb. Steb grabbed the small red flower and tucked it into his coat pocket.
As the day wore on, Steb found himself at one of the l plazas bustling with food vendors. The aroma of spices and meats and pastries filled the air. He found a stand and pointed to a fish on a skewer while offering the vendor a few coins.
(Get fucking excited)
“Good choice,” came a voice from behind him.
Steb turned to see a tall and large man casually leaning against a lamp post behind him(*squeals*). He had black hair that was pushed back between his large ears, sharp features, and a jacket too worn out to be from Piltover's upper class. There was a mischievous glint in his green eyes.
“Name's Scar,” the man said with a grin, extending a hand to shake.
Steb hesitated at first but shook it, offering a small sheepish smile.
“Not a talker?” Scar asked tilting his head up.
Steb pulled out his notepad and quickly scribbled “I’m mute” (I’m assuming there’s no ASL here so he’s just gonna write everything sorry)
Scar chuckled “alright then. I suppose I can talk enough for the two of us.”
Scars energy and excitement were infectious. Before he could explain what was happening, Steb was on a wild exploration of Piltover with Scar.
Scar knew all the best spots. Hidden alleyways where artists made murals and graffiti art, rooftops with beautiful views, and a small, crammed store which sold used books and handmade clocks.
While exploring, Steb hesitated at a small stand where a woman was weaving colorful scarves. Scar grabbed one which matched Steb's crystal blue eyes and wrapped it around Steb's neck. “Looks good on you,” scar said with a wink.
Steb's cheeks flushed and his gills fluttered. He kept that scarf on for the rest of the day.
As the sun slowly dropped down below the city’s skyline, Piltover turned into an ocean of golden lit lights. Scar led Steb to a terrace which overlooked a clock tower. They sat on the railing of the terrace while sharing a bag of roasted nuts and admiring the city.
“So, what’s a guy like you,” Scar began leaning back, “doing washing dishes at the fancy Undercity?”
Steb paused, not sure how to explain, but then wrote down “I wanted a fresh start”
Scar nodded, his grin softening from smitten to more genuine, “yea I get that, sometimes you need to leave yesterday behind to move on to a better tomorrow.”
There was a pause of comfortable silence. Scar reached into his pocket a pulled out a small metal skull of a dog. “Here,” Scar said gently placing it into Steb's hand. “A little something to remember today by.”
Steb carefully looked at it. It was definitely something he would never have chosen to own on his. But he loved it. He gave Scar a slight nod, tucking it into his coat pocket beside the red flower from earlier.
There was yet another pause, this one a little more awkward as Scar looked into Steb's eyes.
“I suppose that’s my cue to walk you home then,” Scar said slightly chuckling and swinging his legs back from the railing. He helped Steb stand to his feet then they walked off.
As they made their way back to Steb's apartment, Scar pointed out more places around Piltover and kept a flowing conversation.
“Well, Steb,” Scar said scratching the back of his neck, “this was….nice.”
Steb smiled and wrote down “Thank you for everything. It was nice :) “
As scar disappeared into the city lights, Steb lingered by the front door clutching the trinket in his hand. He knew this wouldn’t be the last time he saw Scar.
*GAYYYYY*