Chapter Text
“Drop it or I’ll kill you!” echoes through the alley of Piltover’s street. “Drop it, I said!”
“Are you going to make me?” echoes as a reply and Vi turns her head towards the sound. She was just on her way to the office to clock out of her parole. She heard laughter and whimpering and thought that the sounds were strange, ladylike. She followed the murmur and came up to a corner of a library.
“If you don’t drop it, I’ll kick you in the face and break your nose and kick your teeth in and… and… Just drop it!” The high-pitched voice continued. As Vi got closer and closer to it, she realized that the sound might be a child’s voice. She arrived at a little alley behind the library and saw a pre-teen boy surrounded by three older and much taller children. The boy was cornered in and had fear and anger in his eyes. It was a Piltover boy, probably going home from school. He was clutching his school bag on his chest and slowly backed off further to the corner.
The three children cornering the boy were Zaunite. No, not all three of them. There was a child that looked nothing like a Zaunite child. The girl had beautiful blonde hair falling to her back in one thick braid and wore a school uniform tightly tucked in with neatly arranged accessories in her hair to look sophisticated. The other boys were surely from Zaun. Although they wore the same uniform as the boy who was so close to a breakdown, they didn’t have their shirts tucked in and their vests were too loose to call them vests. One of the boys had green, messy hair and a backpack hanging from his shoulder and the other, a long red-haired one didn’t even bother with wearing recommended pants and shoes to fit in the school dress-code. It’s still quite new and rare to see Zaunian children going to Piltover’s schools and resurfacing on the streets with their parents’ shops and businesses. However, Vi enjoys seeing Zaun slowly merging in with Piltover on her own eyes. She feels more at home up here, when there are more people who she grew up alongside with.
The children were getting closer to the boy and as he was whimpering and crying, Vi looked at them and saw one of the boys holding a piece of paper.
“What’s this about?” she asked a little loudly to get the attention of the children.
The children turned and looked at Vi, took a step back and the grin they had on their faces slowly faded.
“They wanted to hurt me!” the boy screamed in a high-pitched voice.
Vi looked at the other children holding the paper. “With… a piece of paper.” Vi stated her observation with a raised eyebrow.
“They told me it will cut so deep I’m going to bleed out! I don’t want to bleed out!” the boy’s voice was really high and annoyed Vi so much that she couldn’t hold in a smirk.
“Bleed out.” She looked at the boy and then redirected her looks towards the other kids. “Really.” Vi tilted her head a little and, with disappointment in her eyes, looked at the girl. “At least you could have thought of something smarter to scare him. Or are you as stupid as these boys who probably miss wandering the streets instead of going to the school, like in the past?” she looked at the boys.
“What is so important to you that you want to kill a boy a few years younger than you WITH A PIECE OF PAPER?” she asked almost annoyed by their plan.
Finally, one of the Zaunite boys spoke: “What’s it to you? Cop. What are you going to do?” he said with a disgusted voice.
“Tough boy.” Vi replied stepping in between the little boy and them. “Do you think my face is this pretty from just talking?” she adjusted her Atlas gauntlets which let out a little steam from the power build-up.
“You wouldn’t beat up a child, officer.” The girl spoke.
“You’re right. Me, an officer, I wouldn’t. But I just got off the clock, honey.” She winked at her. The girl looked a little confused and scared, she took a step back and the boys stepped in front of her.
“My goodness you’re all stupid. Let’s go, leave the boy and don’t make me take you to the station with me.” She grabbed one of the boys by the collar of his shirt and pat the girl on her shoulder to start moving towards the street. The children mumbled something to each other but didn’t have the courage to speak up. Vi counted that as a win, because she hates talking to people, especially teens. They always act like they ate the world’s wisdom, and she just can’t punch them in the face. Out of principle.
She let the children go and watched them walk away. Then she turned to the boy and saw in the corner of her eye that the children turned back. She gave them a nasty look and made a gesture with the gauntlets as she was saying: “I’m watching you”. The children scoffed and went their way.
“So, bleeder, tell me, what do you have that is worth your life?” Vi turns to the boy and looks at him, still clutching his bag. The boy looking at Vi’s gauntlets sniffles and looks up. “Nothing.”
“I mean, I have no problem believing that Zaunite children jumped a much younger boy just for fun. But what about that Piltie girl that was with them?” she walked slowly to match the boy’s pace.
“I guess she likes them more than me now.” The boy sniffled and walked beside Vi without looking anywhere else than his own shoes. “I guess she’s embarrassed of me.”
“Well, that’s a lot of guessing for a young lad. Why would a random girl be embarrassed of you?” Vi asked.
“She’s my sister.” The boy said and Vi’s eyes widened. She sped up her walking and changed her course towards the children. The boy finally looked up and saw Vi walking angrily towards his sister and her new friends. The steam coming out of her gauntlets added up to the effect of anger. As she reached the children, she grabbed the girl’s backpack and turned her so she could face her.
“Listen here, little lady. I know that these boys are of more interest to you now, than your own little brother. But if I EVER see you again not protecting him, I promise to find you and kick your little ass. Understood?” Vi raised her voice to the girl and immediately after muttering the last word, her tense shoulders lowered. She saw how afraid the little girl was, and her blue, scared eyes reminded her of little Powder.
“I… I’m sorry. Just… take care of your family. One day you’ll find yourself without them and there’ll be no one else to turn to.” Vi let go of the girl’s bag and looked at the boys with her sad eyes. She turned away from the kids and walked towards the boy standing in his place.
“Now, you’re smaller than her, but one day, she’ll be thanking you for your protection. Be brave… and… never get pushed into a corner.” She winked at him and held up her gauntlet so she could fist bump with him. The boy pursed his lips, lifted his hand and gave her a fist bump. Then he looked at his sister and ran towards her. Vi stood up and with a shaking head walked towards the police station.
While walking, she replayed what had just happened and thought about how she cannot control her impulses. You yelled at a little girl. She told to herself and shook her head with disbelief. Maybe it was because the girl was the age when Vi and Powder used to argue and bicker a lot. Maybe it was because she saw her young self in the girl. An older sister tired of her younger sibling. Maybe that's why she got so mad at a random child. Because she saw herself too much in her.
She was walking by the river and watched the life of the street. Some old ladies feeding pigeons, a few shopkeepers taking in their goods as they were closing their shops, some ladies walking with their little children by their sides… So quiet and calm. Then she thought of how the streets looked like when she was a child. Darkness, dust, mischief, some stealing here and there, a lot of trash everywhere… A complete opposite of this scene happening in front of her eyes. The only crazy thing happening on this street was an enforcer yelling at a little child. A Zaunite enforcer.
Vi walked down the street and approached the station. She nodded at some of her colleagues coming in and stepped inside the entrance hall. She walked towards the office room, where she had her desk. While getting there, she passed a reception where a short, opulent man was sitting and drinking his coffee.
“What’s up with that face, Vi? Did a bird shit on you or what…” he hollered at her. He’s used to the puckish young woman making jokes as she walks towards her office. Today she was different.
“Yeah, Vi, something happened?” Steb looked up from his desk.
“I think this is my last day here.” Vi said quietly.
“Haha, yeah, sure. And mine as well. I’m pursuing my ballerina career.” Grant, the receptionist, laughed.
“No, I mean it.” She said with a serious face.
“What’s the matter?” Steb stopped writing and focused on Vi.
“I don’t know. I don’t feel like talking about it.” she mumbled and let her gauntlets hit the ground.
“My gosh you’re dramatic. Just spit it out.” Steb stood up from his place and walked towards her with an unimpressed face.
“Fuck you Steb. I don’t need this.” Vi said and turned her back to him. “I don’t think I belong here. I act out of my own will and do stupid shit… Sometimes I think that I’m here just because my girlfriend’s the Chief officer.” She says and walks in a small circle with her fists on her hips.
“What happened that you’re like this?” Grant asked quietly.
“I endangered a civilian on the street without any proof of their threat.” She said sternly.
“Vi. By endangering a civilian… do you mean raising your voice on the little girl?” Steb leant back to his desk and crossed his arms.
“What… w- how do you know that?” she stuttered and turned herself back to him.
“We’ve gotten a call. Some concerned grandma saw it and told us to put you in your place. Vi, do you regret your actions and promise not to perform such acts again?” Steb stood up again and walked towards Vi.
“What the f-“
“I asked you a question, officer. As the deputy officer, I am putting you in your place.” He looked her in her eyes with a serious face she hasn’t seen in a long time. “Do you regret your actions?”
“No. I mean, yes. I do regret my actions…” she said with a confused voice.
“So, it’s settled, then.” Steb loosened his shoulders and went back to his desk where he sat down, took his pen and continued writing in the files he had opened on his desk.
“What’s settled?” she came to his desk.
“We were notified about the public complaint. Steps have been performed to make you aware of your actions, you proved your regret of your actions and promised to rectify them.” He said without looking up.
“Wh- I don’t understand. That’s it? No punishment?” she raised her voice.
“No.” he said sternly.
“Steb, that’s not what I-“
“Vi, do you remember how you led us from the war?” he finally looked up.
Vi was speechless. She was looking at him and with an open mouth just stared.
“Do you remember how you carried wounded and dead soldiers from the Hexgate? How you, even after losing your family, tended to the ones who still had it? How you even returned from the hospital to make sure we are safe?” Steb stared at her in a stoic stance. “These were the actions you did of your own free will and I don’t remotely think any of them were stupid. Those were the actions that made you such respected officer you are now. Not because your girlfriend’s our chief.” He said and signed a report. “Now, are we done, or do you need me to explain some more, officer?”
Vi was looking at him with shock in her eyes. Her mouth was still open and she couldn’t say anything.
“Good.” He said “Your shift is over. See you on Monday, officer.”
“S- see you on Monday, officer.” She replied and with a confused frown on her face turned back and went to her desk where she obediently started to clear up her papers and files.
“Well, that was on edge am I right?” Grant chuckled and tried to loosen up the mood.
“Shut up Grant.” Steb coldly finished him off.
Vi and Steb have been through a lot together. They have faced some of the worst things by each other’s side. They have seen some of the goriest scenes in war together. They have seen each other bleed and cry. A little spat like this is nothing to worry about.
Vi has always been the oldest of her group and the most respected as well. But then she met Steb. It was all those years ago. When she got to really know him, she realized he’s the only man she respects and trusts to her core. He’s like an older brother to her. He’s someone who knows how to stop all her overreactions and overthinking. His patience and calmness are something she has always admired. If he told her to jump off a cliff, not only would she jump, no questions asked, she would also thank him for telling her what to do because it’s obviously the best thing she could have done.
Grant sat back to his desk as well and frowned. He’s been a receptionist there for just a few months. He’s a little stupid but means well. He likes Vi because of her jokes and innuendos. They always have something to talk about and she makes him feel welcome here. He doesn’t like Steb, because he’s a non-talker and Grant himself is a mouthful. They never have anything to talk about. That’s why one is a receptionist, and one is a highly trained soldier with a few awards for valor. When Steb comes for his shift, they just nod to each other.
“Join us for a few beers later tonight?” Vi said as she packed up her things and changed her clothes.
“Sure. At the Another Drop?” Steb answered without looking up.
“Cool. See you there.” Vi replied without looking at him, walking towards the reception desk.
“And you, don’t take him seriously. He’s a sourpuss. We love you.” Vi said to Grant and put a piece of candy on Grant’s table. She carries some candy in her pockets for him, because she knows Grant cannot resist candy. “See you on Monday.” She winked at him and walked towards the stairs. Grant’s face softened and he blushed a little, even though he’s a middle aged man.
“Still your supervisor.” Steb said to remind her he has very good hearing.
“What a piece of crap.” She said to herself while walking up the stairs. “Do you need me to explain some more?” she mocked Steb while making faces. She walked through a long hall and reached the last doors which displayed a name of Caitlyn Kiramman, Chief Officer of Piltover City.
She knocked on the doors and opened them. Caitlyn was standing, leaning above her desk and studying some papers. She looked up and her face softened. “Hi, my love.” She said with a smile on her face.
“Hi.” Vi replied, put her bag on the armchair next to the door and walked towards her. She gave her a kiss on her cheek and looked down on her papers. “Ready to leave?”
“Not yet. There are some things I’d love to finish up before the weekend. Is that okay with you?” she took her hand and squeezed it lightly.
“Sure. No problem. Want me to stay?” Vi squeezed it back and smiled softly. She then let go of her hand and walked towards a map of Piltover and Zaun on the wall and looked at all the pins and papers attached to it. “Steb said he’ll join us at the Another Drop tonight.” She didn’t really study the map. She doesn’t want to meddle in Cait’s business. It’s her job, not Vi’s. If she needed her help or opinion, Caitlyn would have asked her for it.
“No, Honey, it would just keep you bored here. If you have some other program, we can meet then, would you be all right?” Caitlyn said studying the files.
“I’ll go to the gym then. Get me when you finish?” Vi said taking her bag from the armchair, looking at her.
“That sounds like a plan.” Caitlyn looked up at her and closed her eye.
“You know, since the patch, I don’t know if you wink at me, or just close your eye.” Vi mentioned and smiled.
“I winked.” Caitlyn said and laughed disapprovingly.
“Don’t stay late.” Vi told her and left Cait’s office.
“I won’t.” Caitlyn said.