Goodbye Isn't Easy
“Shut it up before I start screaming.” Powder groaned into her pillow at the sound of Vi’s blaring alarm.
It was 4 AM in the morning and Vi desperately needed an early start to the day to tie up all her loose ends before she left for Piltover.
Turning off the alarm, Vi grabbed her workout clothes and pulled the raggedy sweats and tank top over her body, while going through her mental to-do list:
Run + Zeri
Actually get ready
Open bar with Vander
Finish packing/gather everyone
Air tram @ 3
Tour @ 5
Shit, today’s gonna be long
The run to Zeri’s was about two miles from The Last Drop, perfect for a semi-short run to work Vi’s nerves out.
Vi was not particularly fond of running, but it was critical to her training program and stamina for boxing.
Lacing up her beaten trainers, she clicked the “start” button on the activity tracker app she had downloaded earlier in the summer to keep her accountable.
The run was an easy pace, taking only about 15 minutes to reach Zeri’s apartment, which she had gotten after high school with some of her other friends.
Vi climbed up the rain gutter like she had many times before when she didn’t want Zeri’s roommates to see her sneaking in or out at 2 AM. Pushing Zeri’s window open, Vi caught a glimpse of electric green hair poking out from under the blanket.
Despite being a little sweaty from her run, she climbed onto Zeri’s bed, and began messing with her hair, tying little braids into it like she used to put in Powder’s hair before she learned to do it for herself.
“What the fuck Vi,” Zeri snarled at her, clearly not a morning person.
“Hey there Sunshine,” Vi winked at her laughing as Zeri scowled back.
“What are you doing here, I am not in the mood for-” Vi cut Zeri off mid-sentence,
“No I know, I just came to say bye.” Vi kept her voice low, partly because it was so early in the morning, and partly because she did not want her voice to waver.
“You’re leaving.” It didn’t sound like a statement, or a question, but more like the hazel-eyed woman had finally understood why Vi was here.
“You wanna end it?” She questioned briefly after.
Vi shot her a sheepish smile.
“Yeah.”
Vi wasn’t necessarily heartbroken over this. Her relationship with Zeri was easy and comfortable, but it just wasn’t fair to keep it going while Vi left.
Growing up, Vi was hot-headed and a natural leader, which many of her own age saw as intimidating. The only one that cared to actually get to know the fiery girl was Zeri, the one that had literal electricity flowing through her veins.
Zeri and her had started to mess around in high school. She was the only one that wouldn’t get mad when Vi had to work instead of party with the rest of them.
No, Zeri was an inspiration. She organized multiple volunteer community events at her school and encouraged Vi to apply to colleges and work on her gauntlets;
Zeri already had an internship at a Zaunian electricity company without any degree or trade school experience because she is just that good at what she does. Maybe in the future their paths would cross again while rebuilding their city together.
This was wishful thinking and Vi knew that, but she’d always keep Zeri as her friend, regardless of if it included the casual sex that came with it.
After all, they were never really partners, more like close friends with benefits as neither of them had the true time to invest into a real relationship.
Sitting up on the back of her elbows, Zeri wiped her wispy baby hairs from her eyes, half-closed and bloodshot.
“Ten cogs you fall in love with the first girl that gives you any kind of attention,” Zeri said clearly trying to get a laugh out of Vi.
“I’ll take you up on that bet, my will is stronger than a pretty woman.” Vi responded, glad that Zeri reciprocated her amiability towards the matter.
“Nope, the second you see some tit with a pretty face and mind you. are. screwed. I’m sure there are plenty of Pilties like that too.” She suggestively wiggled her eyebrows at Vi, who was trying to conceal her laughter with a pillow she had found.
“Visit me once won’t you?” Vi suggested,
“Hard pass.”
“Please?”
“No.”
“What if I buy you dinner at a fancy restaurant?” Vi knew Zeri was a foodie and this was her last resort.
“MMMM- fine,” Zeri gave in, Vi smiled declaring herself the victor of this verbal match.
Granted, fancy food for them was something that did not come from a street market or a bar, so pretty much all the food in Piltover would count. But Vi wouldn’t mention that right now.
“Okay I’ve gotta go, I have to help Vander open the bar for the morning,” Vi sighed, not knowing if Zeri would actually come and visit her.
“Do you ever sleep Vi?”
“No, I am Batman, the city needs me.” Vi said while putting on her best superhero face, dramatically turning her head to the side and staring off into the distance.
“You are such a dork. Your poor roommate is going to have to deal with this 24/7.” The green-haired girl’s lips curled into a small smirk.
“Hey, rude!” Vi responded, getting up from the bed, giving Zeri’s hand a squeeze before walking towards the window.
She got half way out before she heard,
“VI- wait,” her head snapped towards Zeri,
“Close the window. Last time you left it open and made me get out of bed and I actually wanted to hurt you,” she said, staring deadpan into Vi’s grey eyes.
Laughing as she threw the rest of her body out the window, Vi grabbed onto the drainage pipe, closed the window as per her friend's request, and scaled down the building to finish her run.
*****
“You’re ten minutes late.”
“I know Vander, I’m sorry I got held up trying to find-” Vi began to explain,
A big booming laugh began to fill the bar,
“Kiddo, I am poking fun at ya, I know you have a lot on your plate” Vander offered the girl a warm smile.
Vi’s breath released from her chest and shoulders dropped from where they previously stood at her ears.
“It was pretty selfish of me to ask you to open Vi, but I wanted to spend just a little time with you before you left, so please forgive me for making you wake up this early,” Vander gave Vi a wink, knowing she’d be up regardless of if she had work or not.
Very few people knew Vi like Vander did. It was different from how her siblings understood her. To them she was fearless. To Vander she was a scared kid who was doing the best she could with the punches life kept throwing at her.
The next 2 hours of Vi’s life were spent listening to music, preparing garnishes, and cleaning until the bar sparkled. Despite it being work, the morning was filled with laughter, Vander making the morning less about opening and more about spending time with her.
At the end of her shift, Vander had given her this huge bear-like hug, only releasing her when she told him she was running late.
Reluctantly letting her go, he watched his eldest daughter walk out the bar one last time before she’d start her new life. He had never been more proud.
After leaving the bar, It took Vi all of 10 minutes to round up her siblings and another 5 to divide up who was carrying what.
She did her best to pack light, taking only a few duffles, a backpack, and her gauntlets. It was still too much for her to carry alone, and she did try, but her siblings insisted on helping her.
Sometimes they were impossibly aggravating, as most siblings were, but in moments like this Vi was grateful for them ignoring her “I can do it myself” mentality.
The walk to the tram took about 45 minutes, and with an hour and a half long wait, they would be just on time to make her 5 o’clock tour of the campus.
Not that she thought the tour was necessary, but Silco, Vander’s business partner, had told her that there were certain expectations of award winners and certain duties she’d have to perform. Just thinking about it made her disgusted by the prim properness of it all.
“Wanna take bets on who can make the first Piltie cry?!”
“Mylo, I swear if you are not on your best behavior I will beat your ass so hard you won’t be able to sit down for a week,” Vi’s threat sinking in on the group.
“Message received…” Mylo trailed off sheepishly, backing down from a fight that he’d never in a million years win.
“On that note… anyone else hungry!” Ekko chipped in, gesturing to the nearby street market, “Jericho’s stand should be here.” He grabbed Clag and Mylo out of line to accompany him and help carry the food.
“Aren’t you forgetting something?” Clag asked as he grabbed Ekko by the back of his shirt to keep him from running off.
“Uhhh- oh ya,” Ekko drawled turning to Vi, giving her the stupidest doe eyes she’d ever seen,
“Vi, our uni-going, pit-fighting, charming influence, can you give us some money… please?”
Vi almost hadn’t heard him with how low he dropped his voice, but she knew these idiots, her idiots, had no money. Smiling at Ekko she grabbed a coin bag from her backpack with enough cogs to buy them lunch, and tossed it to Ekko.
Mylo chimed in with a, “Thank you our kind and benevolent provider,” his voice mocking Ekko’s cadence.
Vi scoffed, “I expect some change and for you three to bring Powder and I back something too,” she eyed Clag, putting him ‘in-charge’ of the lunch mission.
Mylo and Ekko both gave Vi an aye-aye captain with a salute while Clag pushed on their heads in the direction of the marketplace.
With the three of them gone and Powder's nose buried in her sketchbook, which was just some distressed paper tied together with twine that she claimed added to the aesthetic of her projects, Vi finally had some time to let her mind run free.
There was a mix of excitement and worry drawing on her emotions. Excitement for school, to get a degree that she could use to fix her city; but also worry that she would lose who she was being surrounded by top-siders and having to take on a diplomatic role for her scholarship.
“Sis, you’re thinking so hard I can see your eyes popping out of your head to make way for the amount of air entering it,” Powder interrupted, finally looking up from her sketchbook.
“Is that just a long-winded way of calling me an airhead?” Vi said, putting her hand to her chest while gasping and turning away from her little sister.
Powder giggled at the gesture, making Vi smile. She loved hearing her sister laugh. Their childhood was filled more with screams and cries, so she was glad to have the reminder that her sister could still be happy.
“Aw, poor Vi can’t take the heat.” Powder threw her arm around her sister while continuing on,
“The way you get in your head sometimes, yes, you can be an airhead,” as if Vi needed an explanation.
“Oh just shut up and show me your sketches.” She responded.
Powder’s eyes lit up, glittering in the sun, while she shoved her sketchbook into Vi’s face.
It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the closeness of the drawing but when they did,
“Holy shit Pow these are amazing?!” Her eyebrows shot up, impressed with her sister's work.
“What do you think after all this time I'd still be drawing stick figures with dots for eyes?” Powder responded sarcastically, leaning her forearm on the top of Vi’s shoulder.
“I thought it would be nice for you to have a mini family portrait at your accommodation. ” Powder put on a terrible Piltover accent for the word accommodation, causing Vi to choke on her own air in laughter.
“Pow it’s beautiful,” she finally got out. A smug look taking over her sister's face like she knew she’d be receiving praise.
The drawing was in simple charcoal, which was currently smeared all over Powder's fingertips, staining them.
Examining the portrait a little closer, she examined her siblings' faces. They were all seemingly paused in a moment of happiness, with smiles and a rare levity highlighting their features. It was a sliver of heaven and home that she’d keep in Piltover with her.
“I know you didn’t bring any decorations or anything, and it’s pretty small, but I thought it could look nice to fill some space on your wall, maybe,” Powder brought up in the silence.
“Pow when I have the money this thing is getting professionally framed and hung-up forever,” her eyes never leaving the piece of paper her sister had taken out of her sketchbook.
“Don’t go and get all sappy on me now, you haven’t even made it to the University yet and you're turning into a Piltie,” Powder put on a fake disgusted face at her sister’s emotional rambings.
Piltie
Vi snapped out of the awe that consumed her in response to her sister's portrait, she knew Powder was joking but…
“Powder, if I even start to act like one of them, ” she said, eyes staring straight ahead, “smack some sense into me. Hard.” She finished.
That got Powder's attention. Her grin spread across her face, ear to ear, as she began laughing, no, cackling, at Vi.
Vi’s eyebrows scrunched together, giving her sister the, what the fuck is this for? look.
“Are you saying I get a free shot at you… without repercussions… if I deem you to be a snobby, stuck-up bitch?” Powder’s eyes brightened, a mischievous gleam growing with each passing second.
“Oh I am so holding you to this,” she laughed out, as the boys made their way back from the market.
“What’d we miss?” Ekko questioned from afar, Clag and Mylo following closely behind him carrying some food from Jericho’s shop.
Powder was red in the face from laughing, and Vi still didn’t understand the humor in her statement.
“Nothing, I don’t know what this is for,” Vi said gesturing at Powder who was having a laughing attack beside her.
Vi reached out and grabbed her lunch from Clag, while shaking her head with a giddy smile as a debate sparked about who would be the first to make someone on the top-side cry (theoretically of course).
They continued the chat while eating their lunch. Powder was crowned the winner for her brutal honesty which put the majority of Zaunites into shock. And if it put them into shock, it was sure to do a number on the pilties.
30 minutes later they were loaded onto their air tram. It was a bit of a tight fit for the five of them and the bags, but it worked.
The ride took half an hour due to it being stopped when they were halfway to the top for some mechanical issue, but none of them seemed to mind as the boys started playing I-spy, and Powder continued to draw like a crazy artist mumbling to herself about proportions.
Vi sat contently listening and watching; there was nowhere she’d rather be than with her siblings.
Pink hair, Caitlyn thought, a smile creeping onto her face.
Caitlyn did not know why, but the fact that her roommate had a more obscure hair color like her own brought her comfort. Growing up she’d always been slightly bothered by the fact that her hair was blue.
Her hair color came from her father’s side of the family, it was a deep navy, one that made her so easily identifiable to the rest of the elites. Even when she was out in the street, her straight dark hair glowed in the sun drew the attention from those passing her.
First world elite problems
Caitlyn knew this, but when she simply wanted to spend her days in peace, her identifiable features would often betray her, causing her to be swarmed in public as people preached their opinions to her as if she was the current head of the Kiramman household.
Kids her age would completely avoid her, until they wanted to use her home to throw parties, or have a sleepover where her chef would make them gourmet dinner and snacks.
She was being dramatic. She was well aware of it.
Dammit Caitlyn, why can you not just be normal for once? She has a different hair color, that is all.
“Caitlyn, darling, after dinner would you like to stop by the shooting range? Your father has already dropped off your things, but the owner has asked if you would like a private tour.” Cassandra said looking back up from her phone at Caitlyn.
“Will it not be too late by the time dinner is over?” Caitlyn responded, tempted by the offer.
“It is never too late, the owner tells me he would like nothing more than to show you around,” her mother smiled at her, “besides it will only take an hour, I know how you are just itching to get rid of us,” she added with a wink.
This made Caitlyn chuckle, “I suppose there is no reason not to then, I would love to,” she decided.
The ride to the restaurant was short and by the time they had decided to visit the range, they had arrived.
The driver opened the door to Caitlyn, offering her his hand to help step out.
The restaurant was just what she had expected. It was of a modest size, with a red and gold exterior; not the kind that looked tacky, but the kind that looked rich and elegant.
After seeing the restaurant, she was glad her mother had her dress a little more nicely than she would have for a typical move-in day. Caitlyn always dressed nicer than those her age. She took a sense of pride in showing off her best self. It was a “controllable” in her life, she could do her hair, add a touch of makeup, and choose an appropriate, put-together outfit.
Today’s outfit was a fitted dark blue sweater with a white collared shirt underneath, accompanied by a greyish blue plaid skirt that settled at mid thigh with black stockings, white socks, and black flats.
The skirt may have been a little short, but with Caitlyn's incredibly long legs, everything was. After she finally settled into her height, her mother gave up on trying to find skirts she deemed long enough, so Caitlyn got away with showing more thigh. That is except for high dining and ballroom events, then she’d have to settle for a floor-length gown.
Before walking into the restaurant she took her hair tie out, letting the blue drop down towards her shoulders. One thing she had learned as an elite is that ponytails were not typically appropriate for dinner events.
Lunch, breakfast, and other day-time activities, yes, but there was something about dinner that one’s hair could only be pinned up if it was in a proper updo, which did not include the ponytail that Caitlyn wholeheartedly adores.
Cassandra gave her daughter an approving nod, glad that she held herself as a proper lady should.
A man in a black server tuxedo held the door open for the Kiramman family, escorting them to their table in a private room that was already set up and waiting for them.
“Restaurant privilege” was one of Caitlyn's favorite perks of being a Kiramman. She never had to fight for reservations, her food was always perfect, and she always received the best seat in the house.
The waiter pulled out her chair, scooching it back in as she sat down, a wave of delight washing over her face to see a plate of steaming spring rolls already waiting in the center of the table.
Before indulging herself, she waited for her parents to be seated and order a bottle of wine, while placing her napkin neatly across her lap.
The waiter then placed a spring roll on each of their plates and left to give them some time before their dinner would be served.
Caitlyn's mother did not enjoy spring rolls because there was no real proper way to eat them. When they were in the comfort of their own home she would turn a blind eye to her daughter using her hands, but in public Caitlyn was required to cut them before using her chopsticks to bring them to her mouth.
Oh. My. Goodness. A smile spread across Caitlyn's face.
These were truly some of the best spring rolls she’s ever had. After finishing her bite and dabbing the side of her lips with another napkin, she demanded an answer from her parents.
“How come you have never taken me here before!” Caitlyn began dramatizing the betrayal of her parents keeping her from the restaurant.
Her parents laughed, a true laugh, one that she did not hear too often at home due to the constant stress placed on them by the council.
“It is for special occasions, the beginning of your college career is one of those,” her father responded, winking at her.
“I am glad you enjoy it darling, but I am afraid that we do have some matters to discuss before the start of dinner,” her mother began,
The previous smile that was painted on her face sunk along with the laughter at the table.
“Cassandra can this not wait til later?” Her father pleaded.
“No Tobias, expectations must be clarified before we leave,” her mother responded, turning her head to face Caitlyn.
“Darling, we know the amount of pressure you must be feeling is overwhelming, and that this transition will be rough,” the tone of her mother’s voice strong yet sympathetic,
“But since we are not here to guide you we must ask a few things of you,” Caitlyn nodded unsure of where this was going,
“Number one, no parties, it is too risky with the people that would love to see you in trouble. Number two, academics come first, you cannot afford to prioritize anything over them. And lastly, if you ever need anything, more money into your account, clothes, etc, you call your father and he will help you that instant, no need to bother anyone else,” her mother took a brief pause to breathe in,
“Oh and no traveling without telling us, and no I do not mean going to have dinner off campus.” Her mother finally finished with a smile.
Oh, that’s it
“Okay,” she responded to her mother, returning a smile.
“You are not upset?” her father questioned.
It took everything in Caitlyn not to roll her eyes, a gesture that she was sure would give her mother a heart attack.
“I have been a Kiramman for eighteen years, I am not an imbecile, I know what is expected of me,”
Her father burst out with laughter, “Cassandra I told you this was not needed.”
“Tobias…” her mother warned him back.
“How about we just enjoy each other's company and some good food, I will be just fine thank you,” Caitlyn interrupted to settle the mood, not wanting to spend her last moments with them arguing amongst themselves.
The authority Caitlyn exhibited pleasantly surprised her parents, causing both of them to nod along in agreement.
Shortly thereafter, a sharp knock sounded on the door as waiters began to flood the room. Her parents always pre-ordered food when booking the reservation so they never had to wait longer than they wished to be served.
One by one steaming dishes of colorful food began to fill the table, as per usual there was way too much food to be eaten by just them 3, but Caitlyn would reap the benefits of having many leftovers.
It had been quite a while since the last time her family had gone out to dinner like this; the majority of Kiramman outings were for council events and media appearances. It was nice to be able to have dinner without everything being about politics.
“Caitlyn, have you planned any extracurriculars?” Her mother asked, making her pause from biting into the rice noodles that were already halfway to her lips.
It took a brief moment of rummaging through her thoughts before she came up with an answer, “I was thinking of doing Mock Trial. It goes with my major, I enjoy it, and it will elevate my resume.”
“That is quite wonderful,” her mother’s face lit up, “it will help with public speaking and put you in the eye of others in the field as something other than a Kiramman” Cassandra continued.
“Mother, I doubt I will ever be able to escape from the name, especially when I present myself as, Caitlyn Kiramman, attorney for the prosecution.” She had slipped into a performative voice drawing out a light chuckle from her parents.
“I suppose that is true.” Her father chimed in, “You will be a force to be reckoned with.”
“That is if I possess even an ounce of mother’s ability,” Caitlyn responded in between bites.
“Caitlyn, you possess all of my ability and more, you are a Kiramman after all,” her mother finished.
I am a Kiramman
And for the first time in a while, Caitlyn was not afraid of the legacy she had to carry. She knew this feeling would most likely be short lived, her anxiety lurking in the outskirts of her mind, but her parents definitely knew all the right things to say.
*****
After 45 minutes and an awkward conversation about why her father was not allowed to go karaoking with the other council spouses anymore, they were getting their leftovers packaged and ready to go.
Cassandra never liked the idea of leftovers, it made no sense to keep old food around when they could get more whenever they pleased.
Tobias on the other hand lived for it,
Caitlyn had inherited her fathers opinions on leftovers, learning to love them when it was 3 AM and she wanted a good meal. It was also helpful because of her aversion to cooking, not that she was bad at it, but because she found no time for the activity.
The servers had brought back two large red and gold bags that looked more like high-end purses than something to carry leftovers in.
She had been helped out of her seat by another waiter, escorting her to the car where their driver took the to-go bags and placed them in the trunk.
Once they were all settled in the car her mother had to take a call. She had done her best to ignore it, but there was supposedly a problem with the air trams from Zaun to Piltover again. The council had been claiming there was no room in the budget to fix it in a timely manner.
Luckily her mother had managed to “find” the money needed in a renovation budget for one of the office buildings. She would definitely be receiving some nasty looks at the next council meeting, but her mother could not care less, as long as the people were taken care of.
Upon trying not to eavesdrop, Caitlyn’s mind could not help but wonder if her roommate was okay, she was in Piltover, but there was no way she came alone, right? What if her family ends up stuck here?
Caitlyn, I am sure they are fine, they are adults too.
She attempted to dismiss it in her mind, but first made a mental note to ask her about it tonight.
Caitlyn’s head jerked up when she heard her father clear his throat. Once their eyes locked he wiggled his eyebrows in a wave pattern, eliciting a laugh from her, before she quickly tried to muffle it so as to not interrupt her mother.
Tobias then nudged his head towards the window, urging Caitlyn to look out the window. Silently agreeing to her father’s request she shifted her eyes to look outside, and saw what appeared to be a fortress.
It was stunning, and appeared to be high-tech too. Its all-glass outer walls towered over the surrounding parking lot, while thick metal brackets lined the exterior corners. The roof was slightly slanted and made of some sort of black metal that stood in deep contrast with the blue sky and brightly lit interior. The whole building exuded a sense of power.
Caitlyn felt the excitement course through her veins and her heart beat faster as they pulled into the parking lot, and a man walked out of the front doors to greet them.
Cassandra waved her hand at Caitlyn and Tobias, telling them to begin without her. Their driver once again helped Caitlyn out of her seat, where she was then met by a gigantic man wearing old enforcers’ gear.
He cleared his throat before beginning to speak, reaching his hand out to her father and then to her, “My name is Loris, I am thrilled to be showing you around the grounds today.”
“Likewise,” her father responded, “my daughter is excited to train here during her academic pursuits.”
“You must be Miss Caitlyn Kiramman. I’ve heard you’ve got quite the shot,” Loris smiled at her, “how many competitions have you won by now?”
Caitlyn hated to brag, but her father loved to.
“She started at seven years old, since then she’s racked up 68 wins with a few runner-ups,” Tobias smiled.
“Well then Miss Caitlyn, you will have to compete in our October competition next month, we have some people that would kill to challenge you at the range,” Loris responded.
“I cannot promise myself just yet,” Caitlyn said, turning slightly red due to the attention, “but, if my schedule allows, I would love to.”
“Wonderful, let’s begin the tour!” Loris said turning on his heel towards the large reinforced doors.
Oh my God
It was completely different from the one back on the Kiramman estate. The inside was as extravagant as the outside; it was almost like the shooting ranges in action movies with the amount of high-tech gear it contained.
“This is the main room, most of these guns are just for show. The front desk is over there, when you come in they’ll check you in and then you can go to your private locker.” Loris explained motioning for them to follow him.
They walked into the locker room, stopping at number 33.
“Now that you are here I can program your fingerprint into your lock, if that’s okay?”
Caitlyn nodded, giving him her hand so he could press her thumb into the pad on the lock.
“This way you can come in with nothing and be able to access your guns and the range without a problem,” Loris explained, her locker popping open as she pressed her thumb to it once more.
The inside of the locker was as she expected, her two hunting rifles were lined up standing straight with little compartments on the door holding all of her different clips and scopes. There was also a portion that had her sharp-shooter glasses and a few handguns that she practiced with occasionally.
The upper portion of the locker had a few t-shirts and sweatshirts, merch that was most likely given so the range could get free advertisement.
There had been a couple times in the past where she was photographed in various branded shirts that resulted in a subsequent spike in sales; ever since then she had been sent various packages and brand-sponsored items in hopes that she would take a liking to them and use them in public.
“I know they ain’t much, but we thought you’d enjoy a t-shirt or two, your mother gave us your sizes and color preferences,” he said with a smile.
“Thank you Loris, that is very kind, perhaps I will wear one if I can make the tournament,” Caitlyn responded.
“I apologize Loris, my call ran long,” Cassandra entered the room accompanied by their driver and another employee.
“No problem Councilwoman Kiramman, it’s a pleasure to have you join us,” Loris’s tone shifted, no doubt in response to her mothers status.
“Please, call me Cassandra and continue the tour. I can see Caitlyn can barely contain her excitement.” Her mother winked at her while turning back to their driver and whispering something in his ear that caused him to walk back out the door towards the parking lot.
“Let’s see the actual range and courses,” Tobias chimed in trying to keep things moving.
Loris seemingly caught off guard ushered them all across the locker room to the other door.
Opening it for them, Caitlyn’s eyes sparkled as they roamed around the dark carbon room that was brightly lit by LEDs.
“These are all the shooting bays with an automatic retrieval system. They are open to anyone with a membership at any time we are open, but since our membership process is highly selective, there should never be a time where they’re all taken,” Loris explained.
“The control room is above this area and behind the mirrors up near the front of the room that we passed earlier. Eyes are always in the sky to make sure everyone is safe, any questions?” He finished.
“No, it’s magnificent,” Caitlyn responded, “but my father also mentioned you were known for your training courses?”
“Of course, Miss Caitlyn, follow me.” Loris took them through another door leading them to a large waiting room that looked like an airport lounge. It was fully furnished with televisions, couches, and single bathrooms, and also housed a small cafe and bar.
“This is our main waiting area for the training courses. When running them you will have a one-on-one assistant who will carry your equipment to ensure the safety of all guests, and set up the rooms for you. When it is your turn your name will appear on the TV.”
“You can choose your own course and know what you will be walking into, or you can give your assistant free rein. They are all trained professionals, so they know their stuff, and can even throw in some hand-to-hand combat in the training exercise if that's your thing,” Loris explained to the family.
“This exceeded my expectations Loris. I am glad we decided to invest,” Cassandra casually mentioned while observing the room.
Caitlyn's eyes shot open, “Invest?!”
“Oh darling, this is your surprise!” Cassandra responded to her daughter. “We own a solid portion of the range, it was finished just in time for you to use it at school.”
Caitlyn’s jaw dropped slightly, instinctively snapping it back up as quickly as possible before her mother could say anything. She was well aware that they were filthy rich, but it was times like this when she was reminded just how much influence her name held.
“I-I-, thank you” Caitlyn stammered out, a smile of awe and confusion settling on her face.
“Of course darling, your father and I have been wanting to fund a project like this for some time and we are thrilled it worked out this well, thanks to Loris of course,” Cassandra shifted her attention from her daughter to the man running their range.
“Yes Mrs. Kiramman, I am forever grateful, and Caitlyn…” he turned to face her, “you are a VIP. Anything you want you get, so don’t be a stranger.” He flashed her a quick smile before excusing himself to go talk to her father.
Caitlyn was shell-shocked, her parents did all of this for her, well mostly for her.
“Okay Caitlyn, it is time to go,” Tobias stated, guiding his wife and daughter back through the doors towards the main entrance.
After some quick goodbyes to Loris, the Kirammans were back in their car headed to the university to drop Caitlyn off.
The entire ride consisted of Caitlyn day-dreaming about the range. It was the most perfect “gift” she could ask for.
“This is as far as we go Caitlyn,” her father said, hugging her outside their car by the main office. “Remember that we are only one call away if anything were to happen, but something tells me you won’t be needing us,” Tobias gave his daughter a slight squeeze and chuckled.
Caitlyn was their only child; she knew it would be as hard on them as it was her. Once her father finally let go, her mother wrapped her arms tightly around her, and she could have sworn she saw her mother’s eyes watering.
Her parents got back into the car after a few more minutes of goodbyes, and just like that she was alone for the first time in her life. She told herself she would not cry, that she would be strong, and she stayed true to her word.
Yet, she could still feel the hurt spreading through her chest and the anxiety creeping in from the outskirts of her mind.
She began the walk back to her accommodation, the warmth of the sun gone as the night had taken over with a cool wind causing small shivers to run up her spine.
Wait…
Upon the excitement and nerves of the past few hours, she practically forgot she would be meeting her roommate. Her strides became a little longer hoping to make the walk even shorter than it already was.
She made it there after she upped her pace to a brisk walk, inserting her key into her door and turning til the lock popped open.
Someone had definitely been here; the blankets on the couch were moved, and her roommate's door was shut, but there were no new shoes on the shoe rack.
A frown spread across her face, “Anyone there?” She called out, hoping to minimize her accent and the shake in her voice.
She strolled over to the kitchen, putting the leftovers she was carrying in the fridge. A few things had been eaten, and the note she left was gone.
That’s good, they must feel at home.
“Hello?” She called out once more, and with no response she decided to do something that would definitely make her mother cringe and scold her for her impropriety.
Caitlyn placed her hand on the handle to her roommate’s door. She knocked one last time hoping her roommate had just been asleep, and when answered with silence, she twisted the handle and pushed the door open.
No one.
The room was slightly more decorated than before. Dark blue bed sheets had been added to the mattress, and the free corner was filled with a few gym items. The closet and dresser were practically bare with only a few outfits held in them.
Caitlyn Kiramman what are you doing, you are acting like a stalker!
As much as she was horrified by her own curiosity, she kept going through the room, until she came across some weird giant gloves by the nightstand.
They were made of metal, cold to the touch, and looked more like an animatronic appendage than a wearable item. She had to reel in her curiosity and refrain from picking them up so as to minimize the evidence that she had been there.
Glancing up from the gloves there was a little picture hanging above the bed, it was small and didn’t catch her eye before, but it was a hand-drawn portrait of five people: two girls, three boys.
One of the girls had very long light blue braids, unlike the pink hair she saw from the car. The other was way shorter. Her hair was cut in a shaggy style, and it went just past the girl’s shoulders while laying across her eyes. That one had to be her roommate.
Is that a tattoo…
6, no VI, Vi?
… You are gorgeous
As quickly as the thought came, Caitlyn flushed it from her mind, rushing out of the room.
No Caitlyn, bad.
She closed the door behind her, entering her own and quickly hopping in the shower to get ready for bed. Her roommate must be out partying or something but no way would she allow herself to be ill-prepared for her first day tomorrow.
She scrubbed her skin until it shined, and put about a million products in her hair before wrapping a robe around her body, doing her skin care, and drying her hair.
Upon finishing her night-time routine she wanted to wear her comfiest pajamas, they may not have been her nicest silk set, but she decided she deserved to sacrifice the appearance of them in exchange for a good night's rest.
She rarely wore them, the shorts were incredibly short and tight, acting like a layer of second skin, which was why she loved them. The top was a matching grey color but was cropped with a little cupcake design on the center, representing the designer brand they belonged to.
They were quite expensive, made of this pure cotton from Ionia. She had bought them her freshman year of high school thinking they would make her look “cooler” at sleepovers, but they were never commented on.
It was now almost midnight, and Caitlyn knew she that shouldn’t stay up any longer in hopes her roommate would return.
I will just have to meet her tomorrow then.
Caitlyn told herself while climbing onto her silk sheets and under the thick blanket.
She turned off her lamp that sat on her nightstand and pulled on her eye mask; crashing her head into the pillow, she passed out in seconds, not realizing how worn out she was from the day.
“What is this place?” Mylo asked.
“It looks like a fucking palace,” he added looking up at the marble building with stained glass windows.
“This should be the main office,” Vi responded, slightly in shock.
They all dropped her bags in front of them to stare at the building a little longer. After a few moments, some student helpers appeared and threw her stuff on a trolley cart to deliver to her room, not bothering to talk to her more than when they asked for her name, clearly some weird response to them being Zaunites.
Although they didn’t do or say anything explicitly, Zaunite kids knew when they were being judged, they just couldn’t care less. And that held true as they continued to stare up at a building that looked like it belonged behind the gates of Heaven.
“Well, I guess we go in,” Vi said, starting up the stairs, the rest of them following closely behind her like they usually did.
She threw the doors open to see a guy in a white suit and red tie. His eyes shot open when he saw her,
“You must be Vi!” The man started to say with a little too much pep in his voice.
“Forgive him, he is a little too excited for my taste, and I am assuming yours too, no?” The second voice came from a man leaning against one of the desks, a cane in his hand. A ‘coolness’ radiated off of him, and combined with his accent he was undeniably a Zaunite too.
Vi felt a little weight lift off her shoulders knowing that her family wasn’t surrounded by uppity-up Pilties; while the man in the white suit looked to his friend with a slight frown as if he had stolen his moment.
“I am Viktor, this is Jayce,” he turned his attention to his friend in the white suit, “Jayce, say hello.”
The man who Vi now knew as Jayce turned slightly pink as he turned back to the group,
Clearing his throat he began, “Hello, I am Jayce, I received the Dean’s Award my freshman year and I am here to give you a tour and get you settled in.” He finished his statement with a smile, reaching his hand out to Vi.
Vi shook his hand and nodded, while turning her head back to Viktor, “So, what part?”
Instantly knowing what she meant Viktor replied, “The border of the Entresol level, I am assuming you are from the Lanes, like your last name, correct?”
Vi nodded, attention turning to a back office door that had swung open as a woman strode out of it. She was intense, Vi could tell she knew how to command a room.
“Vi”, she began “pleased to finally meet my newest award recipient, I am Dean Grayson.” The woman still stood at a distance from the rest of them, not being rude, just, authoritative.
And that's when Vi realized,
Shit this is it.
“Vi Lanes, nice to meet you too,” she responded putting on the strongest sounding voice she could.
“I know we are both very busy so I will keep this short, I am excited to see the work you do here and I will leave it to Jayce, and Viktor apparently, to explain your responsibilities. Please know you are always welcome here and I am available for any consultation you may need.” Dean Grayson said, “Now if you will excuse me I have some students making a ruckus in one of the accommodation buildings that I must take care of.”
Before leaving she shook Vi’s hand, not bothered by the fact that it was still wrapped up from her training earlier.
Her siblings stood quietly in the corner, obviously intimidated by Grayson’s demeanor.
“Oh get over here,” she gestured to the huddled group as they shuffled back towards her.
“Who wants to blow up some stuff in my lab?” Viktor questioned, Vi’s siblings’ eyes lighting up in response.
“VIKTOR,” Jayce whisper yelled, “we are supposed to be good influences.”
“I am just kidding,” he said with a shrug while winking back at the group.
“Vi, if you do not mind, I will show you around and Viktor can entertain your siblings? They will meet us in an hour at your accommodation?”
“That alright with you guys?” Vi asked. She already knew the answer as the four of them hopped over to Viktor excited to see the labs.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” Vi said with a laugh.
Viktor took her siblings out through a side door closer to the lab building. A small knot formed in her stomach watching her siblings explore Piltover without her, but Viktor seemed, trustable? Yeah she’ll go with that to ease her discomfort.
“Well… Um… I see you like boxing? I fight a little for fun,” Jayce said, trying to make some light conversation.
“Oh pretty boy you would not last 5 seconds against any Zaunian,” Vi responded with a smirk, earning a chuckle from Jayce.
“Okay, that might be true, but we will have to test it out at the gym sometime?” He asked.
“You’re on,” she grinned back.
“Great, so I am gonna show you around to some of the stuff not on the official tour, let me know if you want to see anything I have not shown you, or if you want me to shut up because I am going to be talking to you a lot for the next hour.” He said walking out the front door, allowing Vi to walk out behind him.
“Got it,” she responded, stepping out into the light, having to shield her eyes from the sun.
“There goes your roommate,” Jayce said out of the blue, pointing to a departing black car that had a little flag posted on the front with this oddly familiar crest, but it was too far away for her to place where she knew it from.
Huh.
Vi squinted hoping to see who was in the car, but it was a fruitless effort with the sun glaring brightly off the windows blinding her.
Jayce took her around to all the best study spots, a few in the libraries, most in random buildings. She doubted she’d use the study spots, as she much preferred to work in the comfort of her bed where she could pass out whenever she got bored.
After a little more walking and enjoying the sunshine, Jayce interrupted the comfortable silence. “This is the gym, I heard you like boxing so I am sure you’ll spend a lot of time here. We have a special boxing area in the basement for the team.”
“Team?” Vi prodded,
“Yeah they travel a bit and fight a few other schools in Runeterra, but the big event is the December tourney. It’s open to most students as long as you can beat someone on the team or are on the team.”
“You will most likely be too busy to be on the actual team, but you can challenge and hang out with them whenever, I have a few friends on it, they are pretty open to everyone. You would fit right in with them,” he finished.
“Cause they’re Zaunites?” Vi scoffed at him.
Jayce’s eyebrows furrowed, “No, because you are snarky, funny, and a badass.”
Oh, okay.
“Sorry…”
“It’s fine, just, most of us from Piltover are not like you think. Granted I had a sharp learning curve, but Viktor showed me that we are just two sides of the same coin. Often misunderstood.”
Vi smirked at the red creeping on his face, “OH Pretty Boy has a crush on the Zaunite.”
“WHAT NO, how’d you-”
Vi burst out laughing, “It’s so painfully obvious. I have been with you for 45 minutes and you are practically worshipping him.”
“Your roommate implied a similar thing,” Jayce grumbled.
“My roommate… you know her?” Vi asked.
“Yeah, I’m not really supposed to say anything, but we are family friends. She’s incredibly kind and I love the squirt, so I will be keeping an eye on you.” Jayce winked at her.
Vi scoffed and chose to ignore his comment, walking around the gym a bit more. There were tools and training machines she had never seen before.
“And this is all free for me to use?” Vi said messing with one of the machines .
“Yes, if the team is here they get first dibs, but if you prove yourself to them they’ll most likely let you do whatever you want even if they’re here.” Jayce responded already bored of the gym he’d been to a million times.
“Got it…”
“We’ve gotta head to your accommodation soon, I don’t want your siblings and Viktor to be locked out,” Jayce said, drawing Vi away from the gym.
“Lead the way,” Vi responded, turning on her heel to follow him.
It was about a 5 minute walk to the suite, room number 6, and damn was it big. There was a full kitchen, a living room, a private bath, her own room for the first time in her life. It was amazing.
“Your roommate’s parents took it upon themselves to decorate the shared area, hopefully you don’t mind it,” Jayce commented.
Vi ignored him, not minding it at all, the furniture looked brand new, it was soft and luxurious.
She made her way over to the kitchen grabbing a note hanging from the fridge.
Caitlyn, huh, okay
She opened the door and realized why that note was necessary. Everything was filled to the brim with food, more food than she’d ever seen in one place apart from in a grocery store.
Then she heard the sounds of a stampede running around the hall.
There they are , she thought.
“Mylo give it back you ass-hat,” Ekko yelled with Powder grabbing onto his jacket stopping him from getting too far in front of her.
“Room 6,” Clag shouted even louder, walking slower with Viktor.
2 seconds later her siblings barged into the room, stopping dead in their tracks when they saw the insides.
“Ho-ly” Powder began, “Shit” Ekko finished,
Clag and Vikor weren’t far behind them, entering much more gracefully.
‘SHE HAS A PLAYSTATION!” Mylo practically yelled inspecting it, not daring to touch it out of worry he’d break it.
“Okay okay okay, bring it down like five notches,” Vi said in response to her sibling’s loud excitement.
“You can play it if you want, Cait won’t mind,” Jayce told Mylo.
That was all her siblings needed to hear before jumping on the couch and picking out a game to play.
“Jesus they are a lot,” Viktor said to Vi and Jayce, eliciting a laugh from her.
“Imagine that every day for your entire life,” Vi said smiling at them, “I don’t know how I am supposed to let them leave” she finished.
“It’s hard, but you have to trust they’ll be okay without you,” Jayce said, seemingly understanding Vi’s feelings.
Yeah , she thought to herself.
It only took her half an hour to unpack, letting Jayce and Viktor go after they explained some things about meetings and a fundraising thing.
She plopped down on the floor, leaning her back onto the couch as she watched her siblings play Mario Kart . They rarely got to use devices like this, so Vi sat happily for 2 more hours as they played every game they had available.
At the end of their video game marathon they were unable to ignore the growls of their stomachs and pangs of hunger that the snacks no longer satisfied. Vi got up and grabbed the money bags she had made for her siblings the night before, tossing one to each of them.
“What is this?” Powder asked, eyes questioning her sister’s gesture.
“Y’alls cut for the fights,” she replied.
There were no thank yous or anything, just annoyed looks from her siblings.
“You’re kidding Vi,” Clag muttered, “we aren’t taking your money.”
She watched them all toss their bags back on the table towards her.
“But, c’mon guys just take it.” Vi said, growing increasingly annoyed with her siblings' stubbornness.
“Okay how about this Vi, we use that money for one last dinner together?” Ekko proposed, the rest of them nodding in agreement.
“...Fine,” she said as she combined all the coins into one bag, “you guys have to choose the place though.”
And with that Powder scrambled to grab her phone and look up ‘cheap eats near me.’
*****
“Damn this is good,” Mylo said, sinking his teeth into a burrito the size of his face.
They did not have much variety of food in Zaun, not because their culture was heterogeneous, but because there were only so many ingredients that were easily accessible and plentiful there.
“How come we don’t eat up here more often?” Ekko followed up.
“Are you dumb? This cost us half of the combined coins that Vi tried to give us,” Powder replied, chomping into a quesadilla.
“Mph-good point,” Mylo added in with his mouth full.
Dinner was blissful, it was not focused on them leaving, or hating Piltover. It was just them hanging out and laughing in the small world they created with each other.
“Kay guys, it’s time to get a move on if you want to take the air tram back down. It closes at midnight and it’s already 11:45,” Vi said cleaning up the mess from the street tacos she devoured.
Clag scoffed at her, “No reason to take the tram back,” the others nodded in agreement with him. “Besides, if we don’t take the air tram we have some more time to hang out with you if you’re cool with that.”
“Of course that’s fine, it’s up to you guys, just thought I’d give the option,” Vi responded.
“Can we go to one of the bridges? I wanna scout some Piltover places to tag and draw some references,” Powder asked.
There were no objections so the group headed to the bridge connecting the University District to the fissures.
After they arrived, Powder and Ekko immediately ran towards the bridge. Vi watched them as they disappeared under it to climb on the supports, glad she made them leave their spray paints behind in case inspiration struck them on the trip.
Vi, Mylo, and Clag followed them shortly after to sit on the supports and stare at the water rushing below them.
“You think you’re ready?” Clag asked, still staring down at the water.
“I don’t really have a choice now do I?” Vi responded.
“No, you don’t,” he confirmed, “but for what it’s worth I think you’ll do great.”
“And have fun at those fancy Piltie parties. I bet they’re ten times worse than ours,” Mylo added in making her laugh.
“Ya… Probably.”
After another hour of staring at the water and trying to find where Powder and Ekko had run off too, it was time for Vi to make her siblings go back home.
They opted to walk to the Fissures entrance near the air tram. The boys said their goodbyes and started the descent down pausing after a few seconds to wait for Powder.
“Fuck I am going to miss you Pow,” Vi said pulling her sister into a tight hug,
“Me too sis, me too,” Powder's voice was quiet and she was unsuccessfully trying to stop it from cracking.
“One call and I will be there in less than an hour,” Vi told her, refusing to let her sister go.
“Don’t be a baby Vi- I’ll be fine, I’ve got the boys, and Vander, and I’ll see you more than ya think,”
“I know it’s just, I’ve never been away from you, wasn’t ever planning on it,” she finally loosened her hold on Powder a little more, yet she still kept her hand in hers so that she couldn’t leave just yet.
“You’ll be back, and you’ll have a degree, it’s 4 years, I’ll survive, don’t worry about me,” Powder said, pulling gently on her wrist urging her older sister to let go.
“I’ll be back, I’ll always come back and I’ll always worry about you, that’s my job,” Vi said water building in her eyes, but refusing to let any tears fall.
“You’re officially a big ol’ baby,” Powder said with an eye roll accompanying it, causing her sister to laugh.
“Okay okay, I get it, I’ll see you soon,” Vi finally let go of Powder’s wrist giving her a soft smile.
“That’s the spirit sis,” Powder said, throwing her hood over her hair to keep the long braids close to her. She turned to give her sister one last smile before stepping off the fissure backwards to meet the others.
And now I am alone.
Vi had never been alone before. She always shared a room since Powder had been born and as a result had no concept of personal space.
It was about 5 miles back to campus, a 20 minute bus ride, but the buses didn’t run this late.
Ugh, I’ve gotta run it
Having changed into sweats and a sweatshirt while moving her stuff in she was dressed appropriately for a run, and it would take way too long to walk. She put in her ear buds, threw her hood over her head, and pressed the go button on her running app, taking off in the direction of her university.
It’s technically tomorrow, I can count this as today’s cardio and sub in extra weights… Ya… that’s what I’ll do.
Happy with the compromise she made for herself in her head, she got back to her room in about 45 minutes. She had opted for a more relaxed pace so she wouldn’t be drenched in sweat by the time she arrived.
Pulling the edge of her hood to her forehead to wipe the small bit of sweat that had gathered there, Vi kept her headphones on, music blasting in her ears while she unlocked the door to her suite.
Once inside, she walked straight over to the kitchen to get herself a glass of water and a post-run snack; she’d die before she forgot to properly hydrate and feed herself after a workout and lose its gains.
Her music continued blaring in her ears from her attempts to drown out the world during her run. Vi then stepped over to the fridge to grab something to quickly fuel her before she went to bed for the night.
Fruit, eggs, cheese… Cheese…
Grabbing a stick of cheese from the fridge she went to close the door, but suddenly she couldn’t move her arm, and her legs were swept out from underneath her…
What the actual fuck?
Her headphones dropped from her ears, now dangling by the wire from her sweatshirt.
Why am I on my back- My hands… oh shit.
“IDENTIFY YOURSELF!” This tall blue-haired girl who must’ve been Caitlyn practically yelled in her face.
Vi watched her eyes snap open as they settled on her face, a smirk coming across Vi’s lips, knowing her roommate had just realized who she was.
“Oh my goodness, I am so sorry, I thought you were an intruder, I called out, and you did not answer-” The girl began to ramble, her accent one from Piltover.
How cute…
Vi’s eyes trailed over her roommate, she was pale with little freckles and moles covering her torso, there were two little lines on her forehead due to her furrowing her brows together, and she had bright blue eyes with a sharp facial structure.
Caitlyn’s hips were pressed down on her own, as her roommate straddled her in efforts to keep the “intruder” pinned.
And her hands… her fingers were pressed against Vi’s palm with her palms pressing on Vi’s wrists, her weight shifted up on them as if Vi were trying to break out of her grip. Which she wasn’t.
And that’s when the pajamas came into view, Vi stifled a laugh at the little cupcake embroidered onto the thin crop top that left little to the imagination.
With a smirk and a wink Vi responded, “Don’t sweat it- cupcake.”