Longing for you
Cassandra sat in the council room hearing what proposal a strange man had to offer her after gaining insight on her problems with Vander's daughter. Marcus was accompanying her much to nobody's surprise.
"So what do you propose I do?" She asked crossing her arms wanting this little 'meeting' to be done with quickly.
The man stood in front of her with a sly grin on his face, "All you have to do is convince your fellow council members to pursue charges for property damage. You don't have to go after this admitting your true intentions, but rather say you want to set an example for the rest of Zaun to know even children can't get away acting up."
Cassandra offered back a suspicious look, "And what did you say your name was again?"
"Silco Ma'am. It's a pleasure to finally have to chance to meet you Councilwoman Kiramman."
Silco. Where had she heard this name before?
"Well Mr. Silco, I think we have a deal. You do your part and I'll do mine. If it benefits me how I wish I'll consider putting in talks with the others for what you want." Cassandra agreed extending out her hand to shake his.
Silco shook her hand and a deal was set. To keep Caitlyn and Vi separated at all costs. Even if that meant somebody had to go to jail.
-
"Liven up kiddo. There's plenty of other girls around these parts to chase after." Vander said pouring Vi a glass of juice. The girl sat slumped over at the bar in a depressed state not being able to go out and see Caitlyn. It was taking everything inside her not to disobey her father knowing he was right about needing to get over Cait. But she just couldn't.
"Yeah. Plenty of other ones that are not her."
Vander gave her a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. "You knew the girl for what, less than a month? You'll be alright. This is just one of many heartbreaks people go through."
Was this supposed to be comforting?
"Doesn't matter how long I knew her! She was special!" Vi argued knowing he didn't understand. Vander shook his head and went back to attend to business leaving her to fall victim to her sorrows.
Vi continued to ignore everything around her keeping her head down at the bar. She was even contemplating sneaking around Vander and pouring herself a glass of whatever drink he'd been making for the customers just to see if it'd help the way she was feeling.
"...Vi! Over here!" A voice called from outside trying to be as quiet as possible. Little man.
Curious on what he was up to, Vi followed him outside to the alleyway right next to the bar.
"I'm not in the mood today Ekko. So hurry whatever this is up and go play with Powder or something." She said trying to get him to leave her alone.
"I got a letter from Caitlyn! She came by Benzo's today and asked me to give it you saying she couldn't come see you!" Ekko grinned pulling out a letter from his pocket. Vi's eyes lit up and for the first time today she felt happy.
Vi didn't hesitate to rip open the letter desperate for anything Caitlyn related.
-
Dear Violet, I'm sorry we haven't been able to meet. I miss seeing and spending time with you. I really wish we could play down in the arcade again (the shooting game was so much fun.) I know you've probably thought a ton about going over to Piltover to come and see me but I think It's better you don't as much as it breaks my heart to admit. It has nothing to do with you but everything to do with my mother. When she found out we saw each other again after your father accompanied me back home she was livid. Mother threatens to find a way to send you to Stillwater and I want to protect you and your siblings from her cruel intentions. I hope we can see each other sometime but that time is not now. It's too dangerous for you. I keep thinking about you and I love you. Signed, your dearest cupcake, Caitlyn K.
-
Vi clutched the letter as tears threatened to spill from her eyes. They weren't from being sad but rather from being angry. Why was Caitlyn's mother so dead set on keeping them apart?
"Fuck!" She yelled going to punch the wall right next to her. Bad idea considering it was made of bricks. Now her hand was even more messed up then it had been last time she got in a fight.
Angrily, she stormed back inside the bar making sure everyone around her could tell just how upset she really was. Blood dripped down from her hand leaving a sort of trail leading down to the basement. Vander noticed almost instantly and followed his daughter shortly after knowing he had to find a way to get her to stop acting like this. Luckily Powder and the boys were out playing somewhere so it'd make this a lot easier without their nosiness.
"Vi. What's this all about? It can't be about this girl even after we had a conversation earlier kiddo." Vander asked referring to her hand she was attempting to wrap up in bandages instead of properly cleaning the wound.
Vi ignored him and tried to keep her focus on what she was doing. Vander knew scolding her wasn't going to do anything especially since she wasn't in a talking mood.
"Let me see." Vander said taking Vi's hand and grabbing a bottle of alcohol that had been lying next to the table in the basement. He then grabbed a towel and began cleaning the cuts as Vi tried to pretend like she didn't care.
Silenced lingered for a while between the two while he fixed up the girls hand. Eventually, Vi gave up on acting tough and let herself be vulnerable.
"Cait sent me a letter saying we can't see each other because her mom wants me to go to jail." Vi finally admitted as she began to cry without even realizing.
Vander pulled the girl into a hug. "It'll be alright Violet. I'll make sure that doesn't happen."
Vi couldn't lie, she was terrified knowing all the power Cassandra held. She wanted to be with Caitlyn so bad but was it worth it being torn apart from her family?
-
"You're doing what!? You can't! Why would you do this!" Caitlyn panicked overhearing her parents arguing.
Cassandra had been going over her plan with Tobias to try and get the council to believe Jayce was innocent and that Vander's children needed to go to jail. Poor Caitlyn couldn't understand how her mother could be so heartless even after seeing how Vi got injured from Jayce's so called 'research'.
"Caitlyn dear, you really need to get rid of whatever this hatred for me is and for once understand I'm right. Jayce knew what he was doing and what he had kept in his workshop. Vio- Uh, Vander's children didn't know. Therefore them being reckless caused property damage and a man who was innocent to take the blame." Cassandra said trying to save her ass from her daughter's hatred.
Caitlyn couldn't believe it. Jayce being innocent? What happened to that he was a horrible person and deserved whatever fate awaited him? This wasn't right at all. And now on top of Vi being a victim her siblings were also being dragged into this mess as well. Poor Powder was so little. Would Stillwater even admit anyone that young?
"I don't give a single fuck what you have to say mother. I thought this was already established when I told you I loved Violet the other day, no?" Caitlyn sassed trying to refresh her mother on the fact that she cared about Vi and didn't think the same way as her about Zaunites.
Cassandra's jawed dropped at the response. She didn't appreciate her daughters new found attitude. "If it happens, which it will because I'm using everything in my power for it, you can't save your friend. So do what I suggested days ago and forget about her. You'll only be saving yourself the unnecessary heartbreak dearest."
No. Caitlyn couldn't do that.
'I need to warn Vi somehow...'
Enraged, Caitlyn ran away from her mother and began ransacking her sewing room for supplies to compose a warning letter to Vi. Usually she'd tried to make these things turn out pretty but there was no time. And she'd still need to find a way to get this to Vi without being caught. Maybe she could ask Grayson to deliver it? No, too risky. She'd end up confiscating it and giving it to Cassandra instead.
That only leaves one option, she has to go to Zaun by herself and try not to get caught up in anything. And once again she'll have to dress up as she did when her and Vi left the hospital since she looked too proper.
Caitlyn raced upstairs and began flipping through the endless amounts of clothing in her closet piecing together the most mismatched items and putting them together to create what she thought looked good enough to pass as not so suspicious. Then she messily threw her hair up in an updo reminiscent of what she saw many Zaunite women have done.
Great. Now all that's left was to escape. It wasn't going to be easy considering her mother had stationed lots more enforcers on property since the last escape. Her usual route being her bedroom window was the most guarded spot since Cassandra knew that's how Caitlyn got outside. She also couldn't go out the front or back doors, that would be way too obvious. And enforcers guarded those spots heavily as well.
Shit.
Caitlyn began to circle the mansion looking for any possible ways to escape. But her mother was a smart woman and had every possible exit monitored. But then it hit her, one of the guest bathrooms that was hardly ever used. That had a window right?
Quietly Caitlyn ran towards the room. Thank god her memory was good. There was a window.
It was small and definitely a decent climb to get up to the windowsill but with the adrenaline flowing she managed. It lead out into where bushes lined the side of the house. It had enough space in between where if Caitlyn landed right she could crawl between them and this would take her outside where she'd be safe from getting caught.
So with that in mind she jumped out and landed exactly where she needed to go and began crawling towards the exit. It took a shorter amount of time than expected but now Caitlyn was covered in dirt. Perhaps the dirtiness would help her blend into Zaun better. She ran as fast as she could not looking back clutching the letter in hand to the point it was kind of crumpled up.
The people Caitlyn passed by on the streets gave her nasty looks as she hurried on her way some even whispering things that hurt her to hear. Were Piltover people really this mean when it came to what was different? Now she understood what Vi meant when she had said, 'Why the hell would I trust them?' referring to enforcers when they had been alone at the hideaway.
One thing Caitlyn didn't consider in her plan was the bridge. That was the only true way to get to Zaun. Well, unless you knew how to jump around from building to building and could get underground on the other side. Caitlyn didn't exactly fare very well doing that on the rooftops with Vi. But what the hell. She was decent enough and didn't get killed. This was the best shot to get there undetected. And she'll save the bridge problems for the way back.
Hesitantly, Cait gave one last look to the surroundings around her before risking her life and jumping down into the unknown below hoping she'd know her way around enough to get the letter to Vi.
-
Caitlyn almost fell maybe 10 times losing her balance and struggling to make the leaps across buildings but somehow by whatever protected her, she made it and now was pushing through the crowds until she could find a familiar face to give this letter to Vi.
If she thought the stares she received in Piltover was bad what she got now in Zaun was much worse. Some people even had the bright idea to whistle at her. Regardless of her fears she ignored it all and stayed to herself eventually finding a familiar looking place. Benzo's. This was where that boy took her. And luckily she could spot him working inside from the window.
Thank goodness.
Taking a deep breath, Caitlyn opened the shop door and approached the boy who seemed to be working on a clock of some sorts.
"Excuse me, can you do me a favor?" Caitlyn asked tapping the boy on his shoulder. He turned around and greeted the girl with a smile.
"Oh wow it's you again Vi's girlfriend! What's up?"
Vi's girlfriend?
The girl's face turned red hearing the nickname. Was this who people thought she was? She kind of liked knowing that.
Regardless, Caitlyn handed over the letter. She wanted to deliver it to Vi in person but she knew somebody would see them as it seemed everyone had eyes on their relationship.
"I need you to give this to Violet. I want to give this to her myself but it's too risky right now. Please." She explained. Ekko seemed confused but he agreed since he looked up to Vi and would do anything for the girl.
"I don't think I ever got your name." Caitlyn said before walking off back into the chaos that lied outside.
"Ekko." He smiled once more following her outside to the streets to deliver the letter to Vi.
-
Vi spent some time by herself in the basement after Vander left. Her thoughts consumed her but she tried to focus on other things like reading. The book she found just so happened to be about romance and happy endings. It seemed like the world was mocking her and she couldn't stand it. Reading was supposed to make her feel better not worse.
"Damn it!" She yelled throwing the book to the floor. This was driving her insane.
Vi had a thought, if Caitlyn had come to give Ekko the letter maybe that meant she was still down in Zaun somewhere? She had to be right?
Putting aside all the worries and anger she bared, Vi ran outside not caring what Vander or anyone thought. All she wanted was to see Caitlyn again. If she had to go to jail for being with the girl she loved then fuck it. She would. Powder would be alright, she'd still have everybody. And it's not like she'd be in jail forever.
Racing through the streets busy with life, Vi looked everywhere for the girl. It felt like forever with no luck. Perhaps she had already gone back home and Vi was too late.
But then the figure of a person walking suspiciously with dark blue hair sticking out of her hoodie stood out to Vi. There was no way that wasn't Caitlyn.
"Caitlyn!" Vi called out hoping her judgement was right.
The girl turned around and Vi was greeted with the beautiful blue eyes she longed to see.
It was Caitlyn.