A/N- Hey bbs, good to see you guys again. Sorry it's been so long, I've had quite the busy couple of weeks. Leave me some reviews. it helps me a lot to see what you guys think. I'm also thinking about doing a Q/A sometime and next chapter I'm going to start putting my playlists up so you can listen to my musical inspirations per chapter. ALSO ALSO ALSO, Pls pls pls pls pretty pls, go check out GrayHoodie's fan art that she did for the sheriff and the soldier. it's so good and I am hella jealous of her talent to art. art/Fanart-Caitlyn-and-Dakota-567865776 Anyways bbs enjoy the cahpter, it's may be nice and happy now, but just yall wait. *evilly cackles*
His amber eyes focused on the report in front of him. He ran a metal hand through his greasy hair. His lab assistant, a small robotic like boy, climbed up his back and peered over his shoulder.
"Father?" The boy called out, his small mechanical voice on the edge of questioning monotone.
"I am your creator, not your father." The machine herald sighed, as his eyes scanned the last line of the report.
Six dead. One brutally injured to the point that even a new evolution could not save the soul.
"Why are you in my study, AuG?" The machine herald questioned as he turned his metal neck to Augmented Generation mark one.
"The Leader is here, fath- I mean, Creator." The robot unclasped the machine herald's shoulders as he slid off Viktor's back and planted his metal feet to the gray cement flooring.
Viktor pinched the bridge of his iron face.
Of Course
Viktor rose to his full height from the Noxian spruce stool. He placed a hand on the top of the robot's head, letting his fingers scrape along the polished metal. The bot was only a week old, and it was already learning, faster than his other sentient creations.
Wordlessly, Viktor left his study, with AuG close on his heels. They travelled together silently as they exited the massive building and to the front gates.
Swain waited patiently. His pale knuckles were wrapped around the hilt of the cane in his right hand. On his shoulder stood a four eyed Noxian raven, who clicked curiously to Swain as the machine herald approached. Swain's left hand came up to the raven's feathered head to stroke the magnificent color. The raven's eyes closed to the sensation. It nuzzled it's beak to his scarred face. Swain's grass green eyes never left the machine herald as he neared.
The machine herald offered his metal hand to the Noxian leader.
Swain disregarded the extended hand, making Viktor raise a conscious eyebrow.
"Where is my heir?" Swain questioned flatly.
"Someone released her." He answered through a heavy sigh. "She had retaliated from the evolution phase. We were prepping her for the work. We had found her a potential partner, one who almost matched her power. They were sharing a cell, so they could obtain a two of them would have served well together, if the meddling…"
"Enough!" The Grand General barked, making Viktor instinctively jump. "Where is my heir? That was the question. Not, what happened to my heir?" He seethed, making the raven bristle her feathers and caw loudly. Viktor could feel AuG hiding behind his leg. "Now do not make me repeat myself again. Where is my heir?"
Viktor's steadying amber gaze focused on the steady leader's grass green orbs. "I don't know. Whoever took her must have belonged to whatever faction the other specimen belonged to."
Swain's face twitched in silent rage. "I expected better from you." He spat. "You will find her, and you will bring her to my feet. I will punish her seemingly and get her to return to her treatments. Then, we will begin. If she is not at my feet by the end of the month, I will personally end your glorious evolution. You will be just another nameless body, ripped apart on the Zaunite streets." Swain warned as he turned on his heels.
"Bring her to me!" The grand general called over his shoulder as he melted into the shadows of the outer perimeter of the compound.
Viktor sighed heavily.
"Noxians." He growled angrily to the ground.
(The next morning)
Her icy eyes flicked open as the alarm blared annoyingly through the cold morning air. She was covered up in her grey comforter that went all the way up to the bottom of her nose. Her long raven black hair was fanned out on the pillow she had been laying on. Her small waist was enclosed by long muscular arms. Gears and cogs were painted along the tan skin. Her lithe hands traced along the black ink along her partner's forearms. A small giggle breathed along the back of her neck, as those strong arms pulled her in tighter. Her lips tugged up in a smile as her fingers glided along the goosebumps that rose from her partner's arms.
She loved mornings like this.
"Oh my gods, Cait." Vi giggled out groggily as the sensation travelled along her spine making her squirm. "Stop tickling me or yer gonna regret it."
Caitlyn could hear the devilish smirk plastered on Vi's thin lips. Caitlyn turned herself in the bed so that she was face to face with Vi. Her hands migrated to Vi's waist and with a shit eating grin, she let her fingers drum along Vi's abdomen, making a shriek break from the pinkette.
Vi growled playfully, and used her strength to give her the upper hand as she changed their position. She pinned Caitlyn underneath her and straddled the sheriff's waist.
"Miss, yer under arrest, for stealing my heart." She grinned wryly, making Caitlyn roll her eyes.
"You're so cheesy, you doorknob." She quipped trying to break Vi's iron like grip around her wrists.
"Yes, but I'm yer cheesy doorknob." Vi replied leaning down and plastering small kisses all over the sheriff's cheek and neck. Then Caitlyn's wrists traveled into one of Vi's hands, freeing the other. She wiggled her eyebrows to Caitlyn's unamused face. One of her slim eyebrows was raised in challenge as she watched the pinkette's smile grow wider and wider. Caitlyn could feel Vi placing more weight on her waist. Her icy eyes widened as she realised that Vi was preparing to hold Caitlyn down.
"Ya look scared, Cupcake." Vi purred menacingly.
Vi's hand went straight to her left side. Her calloused fingers stroked the sensitive skin, making Caitlyn burst out in a giggle fit.
Vi laughed manically.
Caitlyn tried to bring her legs up protectively to get into a ball, but to no avail, she was unable to move, with her girlfriend pinning her to the massive bed.
"Vi!" She screeched out through another giggle fit. "Stop! Oh my gods!" Tears streamed through her eyes as her laughter rang through the white walled room. She squirmed under Vi, who tickled the sheriff mercilessly.
Vi gave a gentle chortle as she ended her tirade.
"Did ya regret it yet?" She asked lovingly. Her violet eyes beaming to Caitlyn's ice blue hues.
Caitlyn rolled her eyes and pushed the enforcer off of her person. She wrapped her arms around Vi's neck and gently pressed a feather light kiss on Vi's grinning lips, making the enforcer hum happily. She felt Vi's arms wrap around her waist and pull her up on to her body. Vi parted her lips, turning the chaste peck into something more passionate. Caitlyn's fingers pushed through Vi's pink locks. Her right hand tugging at the longer mane, while her left scraped along the shorter side.
Caitlyn broke the kiss and placed her forehead to Vi's. Both their eyes closed in content. A faint blush appeared on both their cheeks, as they controlled their rapid breathing.
After all these years she still makes me breathless, Caitlyn thought.
"I love ya, Cupcake." Vi whispered as she pressed her lips to Caitlyn's small nose.
Caitlyn beamed and nuzzled into Vi's neck.
"I love you too, Vi." Caitlyn pulled away from Vi as she turned and stood up from the bed, making Vi frown. Caitlyn chuckled. "It's sunday our only day off and we have guests, Vi. You know what that means?"
Vi's frown burst into an adorable child-in-a-candy-store smile. "Pancakes!"
"Go have a shower and I'll start making breakfast."
Vi threw the massive comforter off herself and launched off the bed in an excited movement. She sprinted out of their bedroom flinging open the door and speeding into the bathroom.
Icy eyes rolled in amusement.
Caitlyn reached behind her and placed her long raven black hair in a pony tail. She grabbed her bathrobe and wrapped it around herself as she left her bedroom closing the heavy oak door.
She padded toward the guest room and opened the door a crack. Elric looked like he was hogging the sheets, as the white duvet was wrapped around his body. His massive form was trying to take up as little room as possible as his sister took over the rest of the bed. Dakota was sprawled over her brother. Her left leg was hanging over the edge of bed while her right leg was bent up to her chest. Her shoulder length hair was in a messy array against the pillow. Her long arms were folded underneath her head. Caitlyn inspected the long scars that lined her toned back muscles.
How in the void did she get those? Caitlyn wondered.
She watched as Dakota stirred from her sleep. She watched as she pulled her arms out from under her. She rolled onto her back and sighed heavily. She heard a quiet 'ow'.
Caitlyn quietly closed the door. She turned on her heels and padded down the short hallway. She passed by the bathroom hearing Vi sing out from the shower. Her lips turned in a smile. Vi actually had a nice voice, but she would never admit to it.
Caitlyn turned her head to the living room, seeing the unknown girl curled up on her tweed sofa. She was curled into a ball, fighting off the cold. She was not like Dakota or Abbie. She was smaller, with slight shoulders. Her arms were long but not like the gangly limbs that Dakota had. Her knobby knees were pulled up to her chest. Fresh lines of scarring and cuts were lined all over her pale skin. On her left shoulder, an ancient Noxian number was etched in black ink. Through her studies of the ancient language, she believed that it was the equivalent to one hundred.
Was this girl a soldier? She curiosily thought.
The girl's lilac bangs fell in front of her face, hiding her angular face and full lips.
She would question this girl later, but first, she had to feed her hungry enforcer and soldiers.
She entered into her kitchen and went to a set of cupboards and pulled out the ingredients needed. She reached underneath the counter and gathered her baking bowls. She went over to the sink and washed her hands through the warm stream, letting the soap bubble up in her lithe hands.
She turned back to her bowls and started the mixture. She heard the bathroom door open followed by the sound of Vi padding out to the kitchen. She felt the slap on her behind before she heard it.
She jumped and turned her body to Vi, glaring daggers at the grinning enforcer. "Vi," Caitlyn said flatly.
"Yes, Cupcake?" Vi asked nonchalantly, going over to the coffee pot placed beside the fridge. She grabbed the ground coffee beans and placed them in a filter. She turned on the coffee maker and waited patiently. She leaned her muscular form against the granite counter and crossed her arms over her chest.
Caitlyn rolled her eyes and went back to her work making Vi snort. Vi took the two steps to close the gap between them. She rested her head on her shoulder and wrapped her arms around Caitlyn's waist.
Caitlyn chuckled as Vi's breath made the hair on her neck stand on end. She turned to face Vi, and pushed the mixing bowl in her arms.
"Do you mind mixing that, love?" She reached up and kissed Vi's tattooed cheek. "I know you have the muscles for that."
Vi's grin was wolf like as she flexed her bicep. "Ma'am I'm gonna have to ask ya to step back. These guns are dangerous." With that Vi went to work, taking the wooden spoon and mixing the batter with the tip of her tongue poking out from the side of her lips.
Caitlyn went to the kettle flipping it on and then reached underneath her stove and retrieved a large frying pan. She turned her gaze to the small kitchen radio and let her lithe hand tune into the city's local station.
Music filled the room, with techno beats from one of Sona's newest adventures in music.
Caitlyn watched as Vi moved her body to the beat, bobbing her head and shaking her hips as she twirled around the kitchen. She continued her mixing, and sang along to the tune.
Caitlyn smiled and turned her attention to the stove and plopped butter into the frying pan, letting it melt.
"Alright Vi, that's enough mixing, you'll mess up that batter, love." Caitlyn extended her hand taking the mixing bowl from her partner's hand, and poured the batter into the hot pan.
Dakota limped into the kitchen sleepily. She pushed her calloused hands through her bangs, as she yawned. She held her right shoulder protectively as it hung loosely, from the damaged muscle. She rubbed at her eyes and moved over to one of the island chairs. She slid onto one of the bar stools and rested her left elbow on the counter. She put her chin in her hand and looked up to Vi's grinning face.
"Welcome to the land of the living, Kiddo." Vi reached across from the counter and mused Dakota's hair. The teenager gave the enforcer a sideways smile and began to fix the messy array. "What's your poison? Tea or coffee?"
"Tea please." Dakota said politely. Caitlyn smiled at that new found fact. "With just a splash of milk."
"Just like cupcake," Vi chuckled and reached for the screaming kettle. She pulled out a black mug and tossed a tea bag into the ceramic. She poured the steaming water and stirred the bag through the hot liquid.
Dakota watched the enforcer intently. Her eyes then travelled to the sheriff's back. She had always admired the sheriff. She was full of beauty, grace and power; a dangerous combination and the best kind of ally. When Dakota was younger and in school, she used to brag to her friends about how she knew the sheriff. She would tell them that when she was a grown up she would fight alongside the sheriff and take her place when it was time to retire. Now, she doesn't think she can fill shoes as big as the sheriff's. Caitlyn will forever be the best sheriff, Piltover would ever see in it's existence.
And truth be told, Dakota wasn't sure if she was sheriff material. Maybe in a different world, but in this one, she was meant to be a soldier and maybe even a technician when they tell her she has done her service.
That's if she survives that long.
Vi placed the mug, with the perfect milk colouration, in front of Dakota. She took it graciously and slurped at the hot beverage. She hummed happily as it warmed her. Elric then lazily entered into the kitchen. He grabbed the seat next to Dakota. He playfully nudged her with his shoulder.
"How are you feeling?" He asked. He slid off the seat and moved to Dakota's right side and inspected the bandaging on her abdomen.
"Good, tired and hungry, but good." She winced as he placed his hands around the tender area on her bare stomach.
"The bruising is already turning nasty." Elric mumbled as he prodded further. He carefully pulled the gauze and medical tape back inspecting the stitches. "The bleeding has significantly slowed and it is a little swollen, but all looks good for now. I'll go get a fresh bandage and we'll clean it."
Dakota nodded and went back to sipping at her tea.
"Sheriff, where can I find the medical aid kit?" Elric asked before leaving the kitchen.
"It should be on the top shelf of the medicine cabinet." She replied flipping another set of pancakes onto a plate.
Elric took off and reappeared with the red box and placed it on top of the black granite countertop. He kneeled and set to work on his sister. He ripped the bandage off fast, making Dakota make a noise of sharp complaint. She jerked and glared at her brother.
He grinned sheepishly. He took a gauze pad and soaked it in antiseptic. He pressed the burning liquid onto the raw wound making Dakota hiss out. "Watch it, Elric." She snapped through bared teeth. He rolled his eyes and ignored his sister.
"Stop being such a baby." A groggy voice blurted out.
Dakota snapped her head to Illya's leaning body. Dakota snorted and hissed again as Elric sopped the wound, causing the raw wound to burn. Illya rolled her emerald eyes and sauntered over to Elric's seat. She hopped up and sat beside Dakota. Elric glared at the girl who swiped his stool. She winked at him, making Dakota chuckle.
Caitlyn placed the plate full of pancakes in front of the young adults.
Dakota's mouth watered instantly. "Are those chocolate chips?" She asked heavily, her stomach growling in heady response. Elric gave a throaty laugh. He placed the bandage and did quick work to her shoulder. He sat at the stool on Dakota's right after he placed the medkit on the small table beside them.
"Yes they are." Caitlyn smiled and passed ceramic plates around the counter. Vi stood beside her passing a purple mug to her partner and reached for the first pancakes to have her hand slapped away by Caitlyn. The pinkette frowned and muttered something about life not being fair. She took a long sip at her coffee. Caitlyn rolled her icy eyes and playfully pinched Vi's hip.
Dakota, Illya and Elric looked at the piled plate like wolves looking at a juicy steak. Caitlyn smirked at their politeness. "Go on then, you don't need me ordering you to eat. Fill your proverbial boots, as they say."
Caitlyn didn't need to say it twice.
It was a mad grab.
Vi didn't hold herself back either as she attacked the plate. Soon the room was quiet of chatter and loud with the sounds of eating. Forks clattered and drinks were poured out to help swallow the glorious food. Elric and Illya's cheeks were stuffed with sustenance. Groans of pleasure escaped the two escapees as they chowed down happily at the pancakes. Caitlyn observed as Dakota took small bites, using her left hand to make cuts with her fork. She didn't seem awkward with her left hand, but there were times when Caitlyn had seen Dakota writing with her right hand.
Is Dakota ambidextrous? Caitlyn wondered.
"These are delicious." Dakota mumbled as she closed her eyes to the taste. "I haven't had food this good since I was a kid. Thanks sheriff."
"It's no problem. I'm glad I could give you all some sort of sustenance. " She quipped.
"Listen lady," Illya pointed her fork to Caitlyn, her mouth full of half chewed food. "I think I'm gonna kidnap you and make you be my pancake making slave."
Vi raised a challenging eyebrow to the young girl. "Nu uh. No way. She's my pancake makin' slave."
Caitlyn's brow furrowed. "Is that all I am to you?" She asked in fake shock.
Vi gave a considerate thought, pursing her lips. "You make hella good cupcakes, Cupcake."
Caitlyn rolled her eyes and went back to finishing her breakfast.
A speedy knock on her apartment door caught her attention. She dropped her fork and padded toward the doorway.
She twisted her wrist and turned the doorknob. She opened the door and was pushed aside by Abbie. Her fiery hair, matched her temperament today. It was wild, in disarray and attention seeking. Her chocolate eyes were alight with determination and fury. Behind her was Alex and Matais. They followed silently keeping their heads down as Abbie crossed her arms and glowered at the sheriff.
"Alright it's been way past twenty four hours since El's been missing. Dakota is nowhere to be found. Go fill out that damned report, so that we can go out and find her before she gets herself hurt. The last thing I need, is finding her dead in a ditch. It's bad enough that I have no clue what happened to Elric. For all I know he's probably drinking margaritas with that mad scientist. So get the shit in gear so I can get my unit ba-" Abbie stuttered as her eyes caught Dakota leaning up against the side of the kitchen entryway. Her left arm crossing over to her right shoulder, protectively holding the wound.
Abbie's eyes threatened the darkest will toward Dakota. Her wrapped fists turned into white knuckles. Dakota gave a cocky smirk and looked behind Abbie toward Alex. He tipped his chin to Dakota, giving an equally cock sure grin toward her. Matais pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed heavily.
She returned her cold gaze back to Abbie. "Do you mind?" She asked icily toward the red head. "We were having a nice breakfast."
"Do I mind?" Abbie asked incredulously. "We thought you left us. We thought you went off and got yourself killed, Dakota. Did you know we had been out looking for you? How could you scare us like that? "
"You're half right." Dakota mumbled out."I did leave you guys. My brother was left behind and I had to go rescue him. You were too much of a coward to do anything."
Abbie whirled on Dakota. Her fist connected into the teenager's jaw, making her fall back. Abbie was quick to tackle her to the hardwood floor. Dakota hissed out in pain, as Abbie gained control of their position. She flipped Dakota onto her stomach and grabbed at her right arm, pulling back the limb. Dakota roared out angrily and kicked at the red head furiously. Dakota felt Abbie's weight disappear. Elric had Abbie pinned to the wall, his eyes glaring daggers at the woman trapped against the wall and his hands.
Her eyes prickled with tears as her eyes took in Elric's form. Her lower lip trembled as she wrapped her tawny arms around his neck. She sobbed into his shoulder, pressing her fingers through his short blonde hair. "I thought I lost you." She wailed. Elric rubbed his massive palms against her back, his anger fading as he closed his sapphire eyes and breathed in Abbie's ashy and rose like scent.
Vi helped Dakota up. She prodded at Dakota's heavily bleeding bandage on her shoulder. "I think she ripped out some of the stitches."Dakota mumbled out grumpily. She pulled back the fresh gauze and sighed heavily as blood trickled down her bare collarbone. "Fuck, Abbie." Dakota growled as she inspected the torn out thread. Matais came up to her and led her to the kitchen.
"Let me take a look at this." His low voice whispered, pulling Dakota into the kitchen. His eyes caught the medkit at the small table and he began to rummage through it. Alex had followed the two into the large kitchen and leaned his long body against the black granite counter. He viewed the smaller girl still sitting on one of the tall bar stools. Illya paid no mind to the orange haired boy, who gave a wicked grin in her direction.
"Not worth it, Alex." Dakota snorted to the older boy.
Alex chuckled and placed his hands flat on the island. He leaned in toward Illya with a gentle smile. "And who the hell are you?"
Illya didn't even acknowledge him. She grabbed at her glass of orange juice and took a long sip, before she continued onto her stack of pancakes.
Alex's eyebrows furrowed. His gentle smile faded into a frown. Dakota watched as he passed a hand through the short red stubble of his jaw. He cleared his throat and opened his mouth to speak, when Illya interrupted him.
"Look Buddy, I haven't eaten in days. These gods damned pancakes are the best pancakes I've had in my life." She swallowed and locked her emerald eyes with his mud brown eyes. "Your face makes me sick. So get out of my line of sight, because I will be super pissed if you make me throw this up."
Alex was taken aback. He shook his head angrily and strode out of the kitchen.
Dakota gave a bubble of laughter.
"Stop moving," Matais growled. He finished with the final stitch, cutting the thread with a pair of scissors. He then rubbed his hands together, allowing a blue glowing light to appear on his hands. "This will help with the healing."
Dakota looked warily at Matais's hands. She had always been nervous about magic. She looked up at him with squinted eyes. The twenty-two year old rolled his grass green eyes and placed his hands lightly on the bullet wound, making a cooling sensation wash over the cleanly stitched skin.
Dakota sighed and let her eyes close at the wonderful feeling. Matais gave a bright smile and mused Dakota's black locks.
"See, not that bad." He chuckled. His eyes went over her abdomen looking at the gauze bandage on her right side. He looked at her worryingly, and she gave a small sideways smile in response.
Illya watched the interaction between the two soldiers. There was an unbreakable bond between the two individuals. The young man seemed to have calmed the electric and angry energy that usually jumped around inside Dakota. Elric and Dakota's bond, was a protective, jovial and unconditional love kind of bond, where trust, honesty and immaturity was the driving point of their interactions. The young man in all senses seemed to be like a second older brother, one that Dakota could trust and get the best advice and one that taught her to be mature and grounded. The brother that would sit beside her and walk her through the steps on how to to do her taxes. Her eyes travelled to the entrance of the kitchen where Elric leaned up against the doorway. He was pinching the bridge of his nose as raised voices echoed from the livingroom.
Dakota's eyes wandered warily toward the sound of those voices. She winced as she heard her name being mentioned in the screaming match between what sounded like Abbie and Caitlyn's voices. A moment later she heard the door to the apartment get slammed shut.
" Dakota, you'll be staying here to get some rest."Elric's eyes travelled to Illya. "You're coming with us to be questioned. The sheriff wants to get some answers and she feels you would be the perfect one to give them to us."
Illya chuckled. "Sure, ya whatever." She slid off the stool and came up beside Elric. "I could go for a trip." She looked to herself, and grinned. "Will I get to be half naked the whole time?"
Elric raised an amused eyebrow. "No," He chuckled. "We'll be getting you some standard clothing, until we figure out what the hell to do with you."
Illya smirked. "Oh boy, my fashion sense is going to be killer. Watch out Piltover, here comes the new fashion trend."
Elric rolled his eyes and stepped away from the kitchen threshold letting Matais and Illya lead him to the exit of the Sheriff's apartment.
Caitlyn had appeared from her bedroom fully dressed in her infamous purple dress. She wrapped herself in a warm looking coat and reached for the top hat that hung from a stand. She strode over to Vi and went to her tiptoes and placed her lips hurriedly on Vi's tattooed cheek. "You two stay out of trouble." She called behind her back as she turned to leave. Her voice still lined with resonanting anger. Abbie had struck a chord with whatever argument they had.
Dakota hobbled next to Vi. Vi wrapped a tattooed arm around Dakota's neck and uninjured shoulder, pulling her under Vi's chin. "We'll try, Cupcake."
(1 hour Later)
The office space she was in was a comfortably cramped space. Two desks, one facing the doorway, another placed in the far corner, took up most of the room. Multiple book shelves lined the burgundy walls, filled with books on law enforcement and bylaws. A massive bay window was open to the view of the upper city in it's autumn beauty. Trees had begun their colour change and some fluttered amongst the breeze.
Illya cupped her hands behind her head and leaned back in the comfy chair in front of Caitlyn's desk. She was in a long sleeved cotton shirt. The dark grey brought out the lighter greens in her eyes. She had her pale lilac hair tied back in a loose ponytail, her bangs were swept to the sides. She pushed a loose strand of hair behind her ears.
Caitlyn grabbed a pad of paper and her quill. Her icy eyes studied the teenager in front of her. There was an air of arrogance that drove the sheriff mad. This girl held all of the answers to Viktor and what he is planning, and she knew that.
The smug smile on the girl's thin lips tugged up even more as the sheriff observed.
"Let's start with your name." Caitlyn began as she kept a careful eye in the girl's movements, trying to find a nervous twitch, or an indication that she was a liar.
"Illya Ritcher." The girl answered nonchalantly.
She was smooth and relaxed. Her smug smile turning into a devilish smirk. Her emerald eyes focused on the sheriff's soft features. "And you're the infamous Caitlyn Deramore, the Piltover Sheriff. Nice to meet a decent League champion for once."
Caitlyn's wrist turned with each letter she was scratching out on the pad. "Where are you from, Illya?"
"Straight to business, I guess. Fine we'll start off with the gruesome stuff, shall we?" She asked through a dark chuckle."I'm from the slums of Noxus city proper. My parents were traitors to the empire and were executed in front of me. I was left in the slums to fend for myself. I had lived off of the fighting rings and thievery. By the time I was fourteen they allowed me to join the military after I proved myself to the high commanders and killed one of their prized veterans."
Caitlyn nodded, writing the new found information down, showing no emotion."Why were you in Viktor's lab?"
Illya raised an annoyed eyebrow as she raised no reaction from the sheriff. Two could play at that game.
"They called me the 'perfect specimen'. I had just returned from a tour along the Shuriman borders. My unit was placed there to watch Demacian trade routes. My comrades and I were ambushed through one of our patrols, they killed all of my comrades and captured me. They had tied me up and left me outside their camp with one guard watching over me. I escaped and killed most of them in their sleep. After, I gathered information and reported back to a Noxian outpost ten kilometers away. They told me I was the pinnacle of strength, that I made Noxus proud. They told me I could improve myself and I agreed. I had no idea that they wanted to turn me into something… not human. I fought and retaliated. I killed a few of them, but they weren't going to let me go. Until, Dakota showed up."
Caitlyn continued her elegant cursive her eyes focused on the ink trails. "What had they done to you?" Caitlyn's eyes locked with Illyas.
Illya gave another calm smirk. She rolled back the sleeve of her left arm showing a pink and gnarly scar. It was a circular incision that looked like it had gotten infected. She reached for Caitlyn's letter opener and wiggled her eyebrows. She dug the tip into her skin, keeping steady eye contact with the sheriff. Caitlyn kept her eyes just as steady, understanding that this was an act of power. Caitlyn was not falling for it, and kept emotionless as the girl's blood spilled to her dark gray carpet.
She watched as green runes glowed along her skin. Her emerald eyes swallowed by green light. The new incision closed and healed, leaving a jagged scar. The green light faded back into her pale skin. Her full lips twitched into a wicked smirk. "To tell ya the truth, I have no idea what they did to me." She crossed her slim arms over her chest. "But whatever they did, it's made me stronger." She leaned back into the comfy chair.
Caitlyn carefully placed the quill down. She took a large breath and fixated her observant icy gaze toward the lilac haired teenager. "What do you think we should do with you?" She asked finally, crossing her pale arms over her chest.
"That's a good question, sheriff." Illya leaned forward, placing herself on the edge of her seat. "What should you do with me?"
(While the Sheriff and Illya are discussing)
Vi gave a wolf whistle as Dakota entered into the living room from the bathroom. Steam followed behind her. She was sporting one of Vi's tank tops and a pair of jeans, that were just a smidge too big for the fifteen year old. Dakota posed and did a small twirl to give Vi a better view. Her shoulder length hair was pulled up into a wet ponytail.
"Looking good, kiddo." Vi strode over and playfully hip checked the teenager. Dakota winced, but gave a sideways smile as she followed Vi into her workshop. Dakota hopped on the stool beside Vi and watched the pinkette crack her knuckles and pull out the soldering iron. She hunched herself over her gauntlets and began her quick repairs.
Dakota watched Vi intently as the pinkette placed the metal droplets along wiring systems. Dakota's calloused fingers glided along the hextech pieces. Her observant eyes followed the gear paths and pistons. She cocked her head at the pneumatic systems at the metal fingers.
Vi looked up from her soldering job and grinned wickedly.
"Ya like my work?" Vi asked, turning her eyes back to the wiring system in her gloves.
"Yeah," Dakota answered in awe as she inspected the metal joints. "It's incredible. I've heard so many stories about them. It's crazy that I'm this close to them. Every Hextech nerd dreams about these you know."
Vi gawffed. "You and Cait are the only ones I have allowed to come near 'em. The only way people get close to 'em is if I punch 'em. Mind passing me that delta screw driver."
Dakota nodded and reached over to the tool box, producing a triangle tipped screwdriver. She passed it over to Vi, who went to work instantly.
"So what are you doing to them now?" Dakota asked curiously, peering over Vi's shoulder.
"I'm calibrating. Gotta keep the babies in shape, or I'll have too much power. Don't wanna blow anyone up when I just wanna maim 'em." She chuckled darkly.
"When you are done, could I try them?"
Vi slowly turned her head to Dakota. Her violet eyes glaring deep into the teenager's soul. "You wanna do what now?"
Dakota's icy eyes widened and she put her hands up defensively. "I'm just curious. I just want to see what it's like." She sputtered out.
Vi stood up from the stool. Her violet eyes slitted. She pushed her face into Dakota's personal space, making the teenager lean back. "I don't think ya got the balls to handle my babies." She grinned menacingly.
Dakota's face changed from 'oh shit' to 'bring it on' as the challenge rose between the two brawlers. "Want to make a wager?"
Vi's lips curled. "If you can punch a wall down, I will let you use them whenever the hell ya want, kid. If you can't you have to be my assistant."
Dakota raised an eyebrow at Vi. "An assistant? Really?"
Vi pointed out an oiled finger. "Hey, all the best hextechers got 'em, so I need one."
Dakota barked out a laugh. She grabbed at the oil cannister and placed some of the grease in her palm and passed it to Vi. The oil and grease pooled in Vi's hand as she tipped the cannister to the calloused skin. Dakota extended her hand with a grin. Vi gave a bellow of a laugh and clasped their greased hands together.
"Deal. I'm going to blow up a wall,Vi and you're going to be so pissed."
"Yeah, yeah keep talking, kid. Yer injured and yer punches feel like butterflies. Yer gonna break yer arms." Vi snorted.
(30 minutes later)
Jayce was having a good day. He had finished a lot of work, tweaked some of his inventions and even got some target practice and hammer training done. So he should have known his luck would come to an end when Vi knocked on his door with her metal gauntlets armed and ready.
"Hey hammerboi. You gotta a wall that I can use, so I can win a bet?" She questioned as she pushed past him and his doorway. Behind her was a tall teenager who grinned sheepishly.
"I'm sorry." The girl uttered. "This is all my doing. I had no idea she was going to drag you into this."
Jayce sighed heavily and stepped to the side, inviting the teenager in. "I'm starting to get used to it. She's done this before." He looked at the girl questioningly. "Sorry, but who are you?"
The girl produced her hand. "Master Corporal Dakota Sampson. I'm with Piltover Company. I'm in the fifty-first."
Jayce looked at the girl with open mouthed shock. "How old are you?"
"I'm going to be sixteen in two days." Dakota admitted.
"Wow, that's quite a title for someone as young as yourself. It's good to see the youth taking initiative."
Dakota raised an eyebrow at the Defender of Tomorrow.
"Ha perfect, get over here, kid. I found the perfect wall." Vi crooned.
Dakota palmed her face and gave another look of regret toward Jayce.
Jayce followed behind the girl as curiosity struck his inventor's mind.
Vi disengaged her gauntlets and stepped away from them. She flaunted her hands toward the giant metal fists. "C'mon kid, days a wasting. I got some work i need to do and an assistant to help me."
Jayce watched in shock as the girl kneeled infront of the gauntlets. She pulled off the borrowed hoodie from Vi, and rolled her shoulders in the black tank top, letting her pale arms stretch. She winced slightly as the pain in her shoulder began to tighten at her muscles. She grit her teeth and placed her shaking hands near the openings of the glove.
"Alright, Kid." Vi began crossing her arms over her leaned up the many experiment tables. Some of them having bubbling concoctions, some having hextech and expensive tools, some barren and lay wasted with dust collecting on the wooden top. "There's a power switch by the thumbs that you gotta flick so they contour around yer wrists. They'll lock on, so don't get freaked out, alright?"
Dakota nodded. Jayce made indecipherable noises. No one touched Vi's gauntlets, let alone wear them. Hell even Caitlyn was only allowed to be near them. One time Jayce had gotten too close and Vi angrily threatened to shove his face in open sewage.
He watched in amazement as the girl took a deep breath and placed her pale hands in the metal goliaths. They hissed and hummed as she flipped the switch. They tightened around her wrists with steam billowing out from the sides. The gears and cogs clicked and whirred, making the metal giants feel alive. Dakota felt the adrenaline rush the instant her hands fit into the leather and metal casing. Her eyes practically glowed with energy.
"They're a lot heavier than they look, so take your time. I don't want you busting your stitches. Yer brother might rip my head off."
Dakota snickered. "My brother thinks I'm resting, what happens here stays quiet." Dakota turned her gaze to Jayce. "Right?"
He rolled his eyes. "Yeah whatever, just don't break anything , for the love of Valoran."
Vi giggled. "Nah, don't worry Jayce she ain't gonna break shit."
Dakota glared at the pinkette. "Shut up, Vi."
Vi gave a short 'Ha' and elbowed Jayce playfully. "Fiesty little thing isn't she?"
Dakota rolled her icy eyes and went back to concentration. The girl grit her teeth and focused on lifting the metal fists. She pressed the muscles in her legs and grunted as she lifted the heavy piece of hextech. Sweat beaded at her forehead as she kept herself upright and the gauntlets from falling to the concrete. Her abdomen screamed in agony as the ripped muscle clenched to help her body fight to hold up the massive weight.
"Holy shit." Vi's cocky grin fell into surprise. "Way to go, kid. I've watched people shit themselves trying to lift these things off of them."
Dakota turned her head and gave a strained smirk. "Yep." She muttered breathlessly. "Easy." Her voice was so strained as her shaking body kept the weight up.
Vi gave a throaty laugh.
Jayce just looked at the girl in pure shock. How had she gotten so close to the enforcer? How did she break barriers that most people wouldn't even dare thinking about? Vi had the personality that people were drawn to and they loved that the most about the pink haired brawler, but when it came to her gauntlets, she was as prickly as a shuriman giant cactus.
"You gonna punch the wall or not?"
Jayce's eyes widened. "What? No, no way Vi. I didn't agree to this."
Vi rolled her eyes and put her palm into his face, shutting out his whining voice. "Shut it power slam. I got an assitant to win. Now punch the damn wall, Dakota!"
Dakota grinned slyly. She turned her body and grunted with the movement, trying not to show pain. With a huff, she whirled her arm back and launched it forward with as much force as she could muster.
The gauntlets slammed into the brick and threw Dakota back into a pile of beakers and lab equipment. Broken glass rained over her head cracked against the dark wood of the lab table. She hissed out at the explosion of pain that burst at the base of her skull.
Vi rushed over in panic. "Holy fuck! Are you okay, Dakota?" She asked kneeling to the girl, who groaned. She helped dust off the glass pieces from Dakota and gave the girl a lift up, who winced. She pulled up the end of the black tank top and swore as she saw the bandage at her abdomen leak with fresh blood.
"Yeah I'm fine. I think I busted my stitches again." Dakota grunted. She turned her head to Vi with a bright smile plastered on her thin lips. Her eyes crinkled in pure joy as she motioned toward the dented wall. "I guess I lose, huh?"
Vi's iconic sideways smile burst out. "Yup. Time for you to remember my coffee order."
Dakota put her head back and gave out a throaty laugh. The enforcer joined in and mused the teenager's raven black hair. She wrapped her arm around the girl's neck and brought her into a nuggie.
Jayce crossed his arms over his chest as he looked angrily at the two brawlers.
"I'm calling Caitlyn." He stated through bared teeth.
He watched as the Dakota's face, currently pressed against Vi's hip, paled in fear. Vi chuckled.
"No ya aren't, Hammerboi. Not unless you want your hammer in pieces at the bottom of Gulch bay." Vi warned.
"Resorting to threats. That's a criminal offense, Vi. You should know better than that."
"Watch your mouth, Jayce. Or those pearly white are gonna get busted out."
Jayce snorted. He strode over to his desk and reached over for his hexcommunicator. "You are going to be in the dog house, Vi."
Vi yanked the communicator from his hands and jumped back and away from Jayce who growled at Vi. She skipped over to where a bunch of chemicals boiled near another work station that thankfully Dakota hadn't hit. She dangled the communicator over the angry liquids.
Jayce's face paled. "Vi, step away from the toxins, they are highly unstable. You can cause an ex-"
He watched as Vi dropped the piece of hextech into the green liquid, making it bubble even more. Jayce launched himself at Vi and tackled the enforcer down. Where VI had just been standing, flames erupted from the beakers. Dakota overlooked the scene with wide eyes and dove to the floor for cover. She wrapped her pale arms around her head and curled up in a protective ball. The lab shook as an explosion rocked the space.
Vi pushed the Defender off her body. The aftermath, produced charred walls and more broken lab equipment. Vi stomped out ashes of lab reports. Jayce rose to his full height and got into the enforcer's face. She raised a bored expression and rolled her eyes at the infuriated Defender.
"Yeah, yeah, I know. Just give me an invoice and I'll get the damages covered."
"Oh no, you aren't getting off this easy, Vi." Jayce seethed, pointing a finger at Vi's sound of wailing sirens approached the lab.
Caitlyn practically shook with rage. Her arms were crossed over her chest. Her icy eyes were a blizzard of anger and her jaw was taut with agitation. She stared Dakota down, who looked up with apologetic eyes. She then turned her wintery gaze to Vi, who shivered involuntarily.
The coldness she felt wasn't coming from the open window from their office.
"Look, Cupcake," Vi began.
Caitlyn slammed her hands down on her desk. "Don't you Cupcake me, Vi!" Caitlyn snarled. "Jayce wants to press charges. You do not understand the severity of the situation you two have gotten yourself into."
"I-" Dakota started but closed her mouth instantly when Caitlyn scowled at the teenager.
"And you." Caitlyn rumbled. "Not only are you going to have to deal with court martial, but your brother is beyond angry. You're lucky I talked your commanders down and convinced them that they shouldn't put you on court martial. You're lucky that they agreed that you were influenced."
Dakota's brow furrowed. "Influenced? I wasn't influenced. How the hell was I influenced?" Dakota argued, standing up and glaring at the sheriff.
Vi's violet eyes widened in fear for the girl beside her. "Nice knowing ya, kid."
Dakota disregarded Vi then turned her attention back to the emotionless sheriff. Dakota shivered at the coldness from the older woman. "If you raise your tone of voice at me like that again, you will highly regret it." Caitlyn warned menacingly.
Dakota swallowed in fear, but she mustered her courage and stood in defiance to the sheriff. "Things got out of hand, I understand that, but don't make her my scapegoat. I am just as responsible as Vi. I could've stopped the nonsense, but I didn't. So leave her out of my punishment. I deserve what I deserve." Dakota bellowed out.
Caitlyn raised an eyebrow at the girl, making the soldier gulp. She was going to get what she was asking for.
"Tomorrow you are to show up at barracks after morning rise. You will be cleaning all fifty common bathrooms to a near perfect polish. Afterwards you will be reporting to Jayce's lab and assist him return his lab to the way it was in any way possible. And since you think you are healed enough to go punching out walls, you will begin your rehabilitation. I will inform Abbie to begin your training" Caitlyn ordered coldly.
Dakota glared at the sheriff icily. Vi inwardly shrunk to hide from the two wintery forces. By the void, those two could freeze Sejuani to death with those glares.
"Permission to be dismissed?" Dakota asked through gritted teeth.
"Permission granted." Caitlyn allowed smugly, raising her slender eyebrow to the steaming teenager.
The girl saluted the sheriff, turned on her heels and slammed the door with excessive force. The sheriff then heard the repercussion from Dakota's quarters door being slammed and locked.
Caitlyn pinched the bridge of her nose. "By the gods." She growled under her breath. Her eyes then darted over to Vi, whose eyes widened in fear of the sheriff's wrath. "You have desk duty for the next week, Deputy. No patrols, no busting heads. Just paper work. So help me if I catch you with those gauntlets on and heading out the door, I will find you and you will regret it, Vi." Caitlyn warned angrily, making the pinkette nod her head quickly. "And if you ever risk Dakota's life like that again, I will use your gauntlets as targets during my next target practice. Do I make myself clear?" She snarled.
Again, Vi's head did a quick nod. "Crystal."
"You're on the couch for the next week too." Caitlyn added as she sat back down on her office chair pushing her long hair through her fingers, letting the stress roll off her body. She grabbed the massive stack of paperwork and placed it in front of Vi. "I'm going to be taking the rest of the night off, when you are done these you can return home. You have quite the night ahead of you, Deputy. I suggest you get a move on."
Vi frowned at the massive stack, but kept her complaints to a minimum. She didn't want any more reason for Caitlyn to add to her punishments. So she watched painfully as her partner and girlfriend strode out the door, wrapping herself in a purple canvas jacket and placing her iconic top hat on her head.
(That nIght)
Pink eyes scanned the scene with a psychotic energy. She kicked at one of the metal masked figures. No groan, no noise.
She crouched over the body and cocked her head curiously at the limp body. She rapped her knuckles on the hard iron material covering the face.
"Hello?" She called out sadistically. "Anyone home?"
Her voice lowered in an octave and gained a slight accent. "Maybe he's not alive."
Her pink eyes shot to the shark like rocket launcher at her shoulder. Her voice returned to it's squeaky character.
"Mayyybe fishbones, ya might be right." She stuck the tip of her tongue out at the side of her mouth as she unblinkingly stared at the body. "He ain't breathing, but since when did Viktor's playthings breathe?"
"Ah, the loose canon."
The small woman whirled on the metallic voice, getting onto the balls of her feet and raising her rocket launcher at her intruder. Her lips turned up in a maddening grin.
"Metal man, you sneaky sneaky thing." Jinx teased, flicking her blue bangs out of her eyes.
Viktor clasped his hands behind him and strode over to the acolyte body. He knelt low so that he was level with the deranged girl. He cautiously kept his amber eyes on her as she curiously poked and prodded the dead acolyte.
"Your play thing isn't working, bud." She commented as she furrowed her brow and plucked at the cotton over coat.
Viktor chuckled darkly. "Some of my experiments escaped. This is their aftermath." He gestured to the other bodies that were cut with gnarly knife wounds. "My lab is no longer secure. I have to conclude my other experiments at my compound."
" old lab." She quipped out exuberantly.
He looked at the maniac suspiciously. "Yes," he sighed out carefully. "I had 'adopted' his destroyed compound after he was arrested by the league for terrorist crimes."
She nodded. "He had the same dreams as you, ya know. He changed me so that I could, oh how did he say it." She brought up the rocket launcher.
"Terrorize his trash like enemies?" Fish bones voiced out.
Jinx beamed. "Yeah, that's what he said."
Viktor nodded at the information and rose to his feet from his crouch. "The Piltovians." He whispered. "Such a waste." He tisked at the bodies. "When I find whoever freed my experiments, they will regret the day their mother birthed them." He growled angrily.
"Oh you mean hat lady's doppleganger?" She asked curiously.
Viktor stared at the maniac. "What are you saying?"
"Well the blonde boy and the purple girl, were led out by Hat lady's doppleganger. She even saved the purple girl. Even took Hatlady's car! I've seen it so much that I could pick it out anywhere."
If Viktor had an eyebrow, it would have rose to that information. "And whom is Hatlady, again?" He had a sneaking suspicion, but he had to make sure. He had to be right.
"Why, you know her." She scoffed out rapping her knuckles onto his shoulder. "Her and fathands go round Piltover, ruining my fun."
Viktor nodded, a plan formulating in his mind. "How would you like to visit Piltover, Jinx?"
The maniac's smile grew large and frightening.
"Oh boy, metal man, I love Piltover." She chuckled darkly.
