Blood and Water
A day after the funeral, Caitlyn wasn’t surprised to find Heimerdinger back to his usual self, huddled over his desk with eyebrows furrowed in concentration. It seemed that all he’d ever do for the past two years the detective had known him was read files and fuss about them and read them some more.
Caitlyn had been called to give her findings over to her Commander. She still had a job to do, regardless of what was going on around them, and she intended to do that to the best of her ability.
This time, she wasn’t just working for herself.
The great door to his office creaked open dramatically as Caitlyn stepped in, a perfectly arranged report already in her hands ready to give over. Her senior officer glanced up at her between knitted eyebrows and smiled weakly. “Captain Kiramman, welcome.” He gestured to the seat in front of him. “Please, sit.”
As obedient as ever, Cait delicately took her place across the table from Heimerdinger. She placed the report in front of her and remained silent, piercing eyes meeting his.
“I noticed you managed to get to the funeral yesterday,” he carried on, closing the file he had laid out in front of him.
“Yes, sir,” she confirmed.
How could Caitlyn forget?
She was already asleep when Vi came stumbling into her quarters, the metallic clinking of her fumbling Cait’s spare key she’d slipped her just before leaving the funeral into the lock waking her up.
There had been another sound of heavy boots thudding and clothes dropping to the floor before the mattress shifted and a warm body slipped into the bed next to her, sliding an arm across her waist.
Vi propped herself up to plant her lips against the other girl’s cheek, but Cait met her halfway, sealing their lips together briefly before rolling onto her side and embracing the pilot. “How was it?” Caitlyn had mumbled half-asleep.
“’S okay,” Vi slurred. She settled down into Cait’s arms and was snoring as soon as her head hit the pillow.
Caitlyn didn’t need to ask if she’d been drinking. Vi’s lips tasted like whiskey and God-knows how many cigarettes she’d chainsmoked that night. For lack of better terms, she was as drunk as a fucking skunk.
Ekko’s wake had been held at the Last Drop’s location in Zaun. Vi had invited Caitlyn along, of course, but she’d declined. It seemed to be a family event and that was a boundary Cait wasn’t ready to overstep yet. She wanted to be there for Vi, but at the same time, she knew Vi needed that time with her siblings and father, away from anything that could have reminded her of her work.
Heimerdinger’s sharp tone cut through her recollection of the previous night. “Please do tell me, Captain Kiramman. Did you attend for your squad, or for Lieutenant Vanderson?” he asked accusingly.
The detective swallowed back a snarky remark. Keeping her cool was a much safer option than being forced to look for another job. “You know where my loyalties lie, sir,” she said flatly before pursing her lips together.
His eyes bore into Caitlyn’s for a few more painstakingly long seconds, before he finally decided to drop the subject, seemingly satisfied. A hand flicked in the direction of the report Cait had set down previously. “I’m assuming these are the updates I asked you to provide?”
“Yes, sir.” Cait picked up the file and handed it over to him. “Viktor’s written up his own conclusions which has all been included. I’ve also summarised my conversation with Miss Nolen in there, too.”
“Any major call-outs?” Heimerdinger replied.
Read the damn report, and maybe you’ll find out, Caitlyn wanted to say. Instead, she responded with, “We aren’t Noxus’s only targets. From the way Nolen described it, Piltover and Zaun are just stepping stones. They’ve got their eyes set on bigger fish to fry.”
“Interesting,” the commander commented perceptively, knitting his fingers together atop his desk. He fell silent for a moment, the rhythmic tick-tick-tick of the wall clock behind him being the only thing keeping the room alive. “And the blueprints?”
“A chemical weapon of sorts, sir. Viktor has provided a more detailed explanation in his report,” the detective added with an air of annoyance.
“I see.” Heimerdinger had taken the hint, albeit reluctantly. “Thank you, Captain. Please keep your strike team on-call; we may need to advance our plans’ timelines in the foreseeable future.”
“Yes, sir, I have plenty of range slots and training sessions booked,” she replied dully. “Will that be all?”
One of Heimerdinger’s new traits Caitlyn had noticed recently had been his tendency to micro-manage those beneath him. It wasn’t just with Cait’s team, either; there had been whispers amongst the other captains of the commander becoming increasingly dictatorial in how they handled assignments, what training each team did, even down to what the team members were including in their diet. It wasn’t just infuriating – it was a sign the commander was losing trust in his people.
And if he was starting to lose trust in Caitlyn, that was a two-way street.
“One more thing, Captain Kiramman.” Heimerdinger inhaled slowly, swirling his tongue about his mouth as if tasting his words before speaking. His piercing stone eyes settled on the detective. “I’m sure you’ve started to notice the uptick in… outbursts, from a certain member of your team.”
Caitlyn swallowed. Hard. He didn’t need to say the name.
“I understand this is a difficult time for her, but carelessness breeds casualties. I trust you would already be dealing with this if it weren’t for your personal afflictions for the pilot; please do not let your emotions get in the way of your better judgement.”
The officer could no longer bite her tongue. Heimerdinger had overstepped, and he knew it, he just didn’t give a care in the world. “Any more advice you’d like to give, sir?” she spat coldly, probably a bit more harsh than whatever could be deemed professionally acceptable.
Harsh eyes met hers once again, sizing her up and down as if she were a piece of meat. The commander’s formal tone had vanished as he spoke his next sentence.
“Keep your men and women on a short leash, otherwise you may find you'll both be hanging from it.”
***
Of all the journeys Vi had made over the Piltover-Zaun border, the sudden drastic change in scenery caught her off-guard every single time.
It was reminiscent of something she might have seen in a geography or economics textbook, right under a big bald heading titled “WEALTH DISPARITY”. In fact, it could even be considered poetic, just how quickly the emerald green rolling pastures and fields of Piltover bled into the gritty and industrial Zaun.
When she’d zip between the two countries on her motorcycle, Vi hardly got the opportunity to soak in the contrast fully, the shift of scenery blurred away as she zoomed past at (normally illegal) speeds. On a normal journey, her indication of arriving in Zaun came in the form of the air around her darkening and growing a damp, dirty, mildewy smell.
With Vi not driving this time, however, it gave her the opportunity to really take in the shift, and to soak up what a class divide really looked like.
“Does your Dad still know we’re coming?” Caitlyn chirped nervously from the driver’s seat.
“For the millionth time, yes, Cupcake, I phoned him before we left,” Vi chuckled back, placing her hand over where Cait’s rested on her knee. “You didn’t have to do this, you know. I had no issues with taking us.”
“You heard what the doctors said,” the other girl replied sharply. “Besides, there’s no way I’m getting on the back of that deathtrap of yours, especially with the way I’ve seen you fly.”
Vi just smirked and leant her head against the window, keeping her hand clamped on Caitlyn’s as Zaun’s dirty scenery whizzed by. She was still on medical leave, as forced upon her by multiple doctors from the Army of Piltover, and had been told no operating heavy machinery for at least six weeks while her severe concussion healed. With reluctance, she’d agreed to oblige. It meant no riding and no flying for a good while, but she supposed abstinence was a better option than trying to explain how or why she’d crashed a multi-million cog attack helicopter which was army property.
Vi felt safe in the car with Caitlyn, too; she drove the exact same way she shot. Collected, elegant, everything timed perfectly to the exact second.
Vi, on the other hand, drove (or rather rode) the same way she flew: erratic, spontaneous, constantly chasing an adrenaline spike.
So yeah, maybe it was a good idea she was in the passenger seat when her skull felt like it was full of cotton and she was just about capable of stringing together a coherent sentence.
“Heimerdinger thinks I’m being too soft on you, you know,” Caitlyn said out-of-the-blue. She’d been meaning to bring up her conversation with him from last week at some point while they were both off, and now seemed a good of time than ever.
“How so?” Vi turned her head around, adjusting in her seat to face Cait better.
“I’m not too sure, you’ve always listened to what I’ve said to you on missions. I think it’s more how you act around him.” She paused for a moment before adding, “I don’t think the Maddie situation helped matters either. Have you got an issue with his authority, Violet?”
“I’ve got an issue with any authority that doesn’t deserve it,” Vi scoffed.
Caitlyn hummed. She chose her next words carefully. “I need you to be more civil with him. I know he’s an arsehole, and I know he gets on your nerves and you think he’s an idiot, and trust me I understand, but you don’t salute the person, you-“
“-Salute the rank, yeah, I know,” Vi cut her off.
“I’m being serious, Vi. He’s started questioning me about it. I don’t want to lose my job or my rank and I certainly don’t want you to lose yours either.”
Vi conjured up a petty snark to retort, but quickly closed her mouth when she looked over and saw the pleading look in the other girl’s eyes. Instead, she brushed her lips against Caitlyn’s knuckles gently. “Yeah. Yeah, sure, Cait. I’m sorry. I’ll do better once I’m back, I promise.”
“Thank you.” Caitlyn gave her a warm smile and ran her hands up to the side of her head, brushing her fingertips through Vi’s undercut. The skin felt fuzzy yet smooth against her touch.
She pulled her hand away as the car slipped into an apartment block car park. Cait slid into a parking space and set the car in neutral before asking, “Is this it?”
“Yup,” Vi responded, popping the ‘P’, before clambering out of the passenger side door and going around to open the door for Caitlyn.
The pair clambered up the steps to Vander’s first-floor apartment, Vi trying her hardest to bite back the feeling of embarrassment. She knew Caitlyn wasn’t used to places like this, especially not in Zaun, and really hoped she wasn’t reading too much into it.
However, Vi’s feelings of anxiety were washed away when they knocked on the apartment door and a familiar burly silhouette appeared in the doorframe. “Violet,” Vander breathed, his eyes and lips creasing with joy as he pulled his eldest daughter into a hug.
“Hey, Dad,” Vi responded, her voice muffled into Vander’s shoulder. She held him briefly before pulling away and gesturing to the other girl with her. “This is Caitlyn. We’re- we’ve been seeing each other recently.”
“Pleased to meet you, sir,” Caitlyn added confidently, sticking her hand out for the larger man to shake.
He took her hand and shook it before pulling it back, smiling fondly. “Please, call me Vander; it’s what everyone else does.”
Vander stepped aside to let them in, and Vi was pleasantly surprised to see the apartment was just as clean as when she’d visited last. “Where’s Mylo and Pow?” she asked, circling on herself as she glanced around his flat.
“Mylo’s at university, he went back a couple of days ago. Pow’s in class too, but she should be coming back any minute. She’s really thrown herself into her work since-“ Vander caught his tongue. He didn’t need to finish the sentence; Vi knew out of all people, Powder would’ve needed a distraction the most. “Can I get you girls something to drink?”
Before Vi could respond, Caitlyn offered, “I’ll sort us some waters, you two have some catching up to do, I’d assume?”
The pair nodded a thanks to her as she slipped away into the kitchen. Vander led Vi into his living room, both settling down onto the worn couches splayed across the floor. He settled back in his seat, spreading his great arms across the back. “How have you been, Violet?”
“Good, thanks, Dad.” Vi nodded solemnly, her eyes flickering to his before settling on the wooden coffee table before them. “It’s been ups and downs, but nothing too major, you know?”
Vander hummed in agreement. “It’s been the same here. I’ve been trying to get Powder to open up to me more, but you know how she is.”
He didn’t need to explain. Vi had lived with her sister long enough to know how she dealt with her emotions; either too much, or not at all.
“Dad, I had some questions I needed to ask you,” Vi began slowly, her gaze setting on his again. “About your time in the army.”
“Ah.” Vander pursed his lips, a neutral expression washing over his face. “You know that’s not a time I’m proud about, Violet.”
“I know.” She waved her hand dismissively. Her father had rarely spoken about his service to Zaun, it had always been deemed a taboo topic in their house. “It’s kinda important, though.”
“I see,” he grunted. “Fire away, then.”
Vi leant forward and set her elbows on her knees, interlocking her fingers. “Dad, did you ever serve with anyone called Deckard?”
“Deckard?” There was a flash of recognition in Vander’s eyes. He sighed, shaking his head, locks of greyish hair falling into his eyes. “Yes, I knew a Deckard.”
“How well?”
“We were generals together,” he said flatly, speaking the words carefully, scared they might come back and bite him.
“Did he ever talk about his son much? Dane?”
Vander went to speak, but was interrupted by Caitlyn arriving with three glasses of water. She distributed the cups amongst them before taking a seat next to Vi, taking a sip of her drink herself before watching the man as he continued.
“I didn’t even know he had a son. News to me.” Vander lifted his glass. His great paw dwarfed the size entirely. “Dom was always nasty work, though. He didn’t just hate Piltover, he wanted to see it wiped off the map.”
Caitlyn nearly choked on her water at the new revelation. Vi snaked a hand across, gently squeezing her knee, before loading another question into the chamber. “Is he still around?”
“Dom? No.” Vander licked his lips and broke his eyes away from Vi’s. “He turned towards the end of the war. He didn’t care about protecting Zaun anymore, he just cared about killing as many Pilties as he could get his hands on. He was a loose cannon, a real liability amongst the ranks. So, I did what you do to any rabid dog.”
“What did you do, Dad?” Vi asked worriedly.
“I put him down.” Vander inhaled sharply, before adding, “They didn’t call me the Hound of the Underground for nothing, kiddo.”
An awkward silence settled between the three. Vi reached forward to take a sip of her water, unsure what else to add onto that bombshell.
Injuring Zaun in the process of hurting Piltover was hereditary, then. Dane had no problem funnelling drugs to the Pilties, even if it meant Zaunites got hurt in doing so. It would also explain why he sided with the warlord waging on his country; with Piltover as the target, the Deckards didn’t care what got in the way.
“I’m not proud of the things I did, Violet.” Vander finally cut through the quiet.
“I know, Dad. I know.” Vi nodded silently. The glass of water trembled in her hands. Caitlyn just sat and stared at the two awkwardly, unsure whether to speak or not.
Before either side could make their next move, there was a commotion at the front door, followed by a shrill voice. “Dad, you need to get this damn lock sorted, it’s- ohmygod Vi!”
Powder squealed with excitement as she bounced over to her sister, tackling her over the back of the sofa in a full-bodied hug. “Heya, sis,” Vi said timidly, reaching up to rub Powder’s back. “Watch the head.”
“Sorry,” Pow mumbled, still smirking. “See you brought your girlfriend with you.”
“She’s not-“ Vi caught her tongue, shaking her head dismissively. A conversation for another time, she thought. “How was school?”
“Drew some shit. Blew some other shit up. All fun and games,” she replied casually. She swung her backpack off her shoulder and flung it onto the floor. “Are you both staying the night? Because there’s no way I’m sleeping in the same room as you, not if you’re going to be-“
“Why don’t we go for a walk, Powder?” Vi interrupted her before she could finish her sentence, and felt the weight of the sofa shift as Caitlyn breathed a sigh of relief.
“A walk?” Powder’s eyes lit up. “Sure, only if we can get milkshakes on the way back. And you’re paying.”
“Fine by me.” Vi finished off her water and stood up. She looked between Caitlyn and Vander. “Will you two be alright while we’re gone?”
“Of course.” Vander smiled fondly over at Caitlyn before glancing back up at Vi. “Enjoy yourself, you two. And have fun.”
With that, the sisters departed, Powder’s high pitched tone following them out the door and down the hallway.
Caitlyn chucked awkwardly and took another sip of her drink. Meeting the parents was one thing. Being sat alone with them, however? Nothing could have prepared her for that.
“They were a nightmare when they were younger, you know,” Vander chuckled. His eyes glossed over as he reminisced.
“Oh, I bet,” Cait responded with a small smile. “They’re a nightmare even now.”
Vander hummed in agreement. His fond eyes settled on Cait’s. “They all looked up to her. It’s the reason the boys all went to PMA; all they wanted to do was be like their big sister.”
“Powder didn’t follow?” Caitlyn raised an eyebrow curiously.
“Powder? At military school?” Vander retorted sarcastically. “She barely copes with me telling her to clean her room, I highly doubt people barking orders at her constantly would fly.”
Caitlyn laughed in response, her shoulders relaxing as the tension between them lifted. Her fingers fluttered around the edge of her glass.
“Violet hasn’t told me much about you.” Vander suddenly switched the topic and Cait’s shoulders were back up again. “He did mention your mother was the Councillor Kiramman, though. She’s a good woman. I don’t think the peace treaty would’ve gone the way it did without her input.”
Caitlyn hummed in agreement. “She always believed the two countries were much better united than divided.”
“Indeed they are.” Vander gulped down the rest of his water. “You’re the first girl Violet’s brought home, so unfortunately I don’t have the whole intimidating father speech prepared. I will say this, though.” He rest his hands on his knees. “When the war broke out, I told my daughter that she needed people to fight for. People to come home to. I thought she might have her family in mind when I told her that, but by the way you two look at each other, I think you’ve both found your reason.”
Cait’s eyes softened as she listened to Vander explain further. “I’ve always taught my kids that blood is thicker than water, however it also reigns true that blood of the covenant is thicker than water of the womb. Violet chose me to be her father all those years ago; I’m now watching as she chooses a new family to align herself with. It should upset me, Caitlyn, but after meeting and speaking with you and seeing how my daughter looks at you, it doesn’t.”
Cait’s mouth gaped as he finished speaking. She was simply stunned; nothing she could say could top his speech or alleviate the pressure from her. She just said, “I will do everything in my power as your daughter’s captain and partner to bring her back home to you.”
“I trust you will, kiddo.” Vander smiled at her, his eyes full of a sorrow forgiveness.