Vi was six at the time. She stood outside in the rain, tiny hands trembling slightly, pleadingly extended towards Grandma, the loving person that had become her only family since her unofficial adoption. The woman growled aggressively, she stepped forward, approaching the toddler only to shove her farther away from the doorstep and into the downpour. Vi hadn't expected that, the toddler fell backwards, her bottom painfully colliding with the wet pavement underneath her. The pinkette's eyes started glittering, welling up with unshed tears.
"Please, Granny"
She begged, but grandma would have none of it, her usually affectionate gaze was now cold and spiteful, her kind features now dark and twisted, overflowing with anger and disgust like someone had dumped something despicable in front of her doorstep.
"Monster"
The woman's words chilled the toddler to the bone. Vi slowly raised herself from the ground. She stood up, her clothes and hair soaked in rainwater. The terrified child took a step forward, she approached the elderly woman, her little hands still extended, trying to embrace the person she used to considered family. The woman growled again, shoving her away in a heartbeat.
"Don't touch me, you monster!"
That word again, spoken with such conviction and fervor that Vi had to pause and consider its meaning. Monster, the word was usually used to describe something scary or dangerous. Vi wouldn't consider herself dangerous, her head barely reached Grandma's waist after all. Crossing the street without paying attention to approaching vehicles, talking to shady strangers and accepting candy from pedestrians, those were some really dangerous instances. Vi wouldn't consider herself a dangerous person, not at all, had her wings spooked the kind old woman?
Granny's eyes were wide and scary so Vi took a step back just to be safe. She silently took a shaky breath, torn between placating Grandma and avoiding another harsh remark. The toddler chose to wait, stand motionless under the freezing downpour until Grandma calmed down. Vi had nowhere else to go after all, Granny had taken care of her after her parents untimely death, her kind soul moved by the sobbing toddler sleeping behind her dumpster. The pink haired child couldn't even think of living without Grandma at this point.
The rain kept falling down mercilessly and Vi waited patiently, her scared blue eyes pinned on Granny's angry brown ones. The child gulped, she was feeling weak and miserable and she was surely coming down with a cold, the frigid temperature and ice-cold rainwater stealing the little warmth provided by her patched nightwear.
"Leave."
The child's eyes widened in horror, there was no way Granny was kicking her out or sending her back in the streets in the middle of a rainstorm, right? The elderly woman had threatened her before after Vi had gotten into fights with the neighborhood kids or when she was generally misbehaving, but Vi had soon realized that Granny was just bluffing.
The threat was hollow, empty words aiming to scare her into obedience, Granny was not a cruel person, the old woman was just messing with her, but Vi usually obeyed her out of love instead of fear carefully feigning fright. There were going to be hugs and cookies after that, if Vi played her cards right, an offer of peace to appease the nervous toddler. The pinkette swallowed again, her mouth felt completely dry despite the rain and the low temperature freezing her body.
Vi hadn't even done anything wrong this time, Granny had hurt her leg while doing the laundry and VI had tried healing it the way she had healed the stray puppy living behind the playground by shedding her light on the creature's limb. Vi had genuinely tried to help and take away her pain, but Granny had just shoved her away and even slapped her the moment her wings had suddenly popped up.
The pinkette sneezed, covering her nose inside her palm like Granny had taught her, the cold was really starting to get to her. The woman headed back inside the house, she disappeared for a few minutes, maybe to get a towel before abruptly coming back caring a small plastic bag. She then threw the bag onto the pavement without caring about damaging its contents. The bag landed near Vi and inside a puddle of rainwater, splashing muddy droplets on top of the child's shoes. The toddler gazed towards the bag, devastated blue eyes observing the now soaked items laying inside it. A few buggy t-shirts, her picture book, a painting of her and grandma on top of a rainbow holding hands under the smiling sun. Every and each one of her measly belongings was in there, crushed together in order to fit inside the small bag.
"I don't want to ever see you again."
Granny scowled at her, the door started closing and Vi took a step forward, her expression pleading, a last attempt to change granny's mind, her frantic gaze locked on the old woman's retreating figure.
" Granny, please, I.."
" I SAID LEAVE! LEAVE ME ALONE, YOU MONSTER! "
Thunder lit the sky. Vi hesitated for a second standing still, body frozen in shock until a bottle grazed her ear thrown at her by the kindhearted elderly. The woman that had taken her off the streets and raised her like her own child. The person that nursed her when she got sick and taught her reading and writing, spending a part of her measly hard-earned salary in order to buy for her picture books and clean clothes. The woman she had come to love like a mother.
"LEAVE MY PROPERTY! "
Vi started running, the bag with her belonging completely forgotten in front of the apartment collecting rainwater. The little girl sobbed silently, stumbling among the puddles of muddy water littering the concrete and the overflowing garbage bins, neon signs passing her by like shooting stars as she run and run, away from the lights of the city and everything she ever knew of while she headed deeper into the slums and hextech factories occupying the city's heart. Sinking into the shadows until she vanished into the night.
xxxxx
Vi shot up, her heart pounding inside her ribcage. She almost stood up before the handcuff coiled around her wrist pulled her back onto the bed, the unexpected force making her jerk to the side as she collapsed in a heap on the floor, hand still attached to the bed's frame. She landed on her knees and Vi cried out in pain as all her wounds ached simultaneously. The pinkette wrapped her free hand around her injured stomach gritting her teeth, waiting for the pain to subside.
*Click
The sound startled her, the absence of metal kissing her wrist even more so and Vi flinched in surprise, confused gaze rising to inspect her restraints. She grumbled weakly, her groggy, unfocused eyes dully following the slim manicured hand removing the handcuffs all the way to the frilly purple dress and signature top hat perched upon the Sheriff's perfect head.
Vi's eyes widened, puzzled expression turning to barely concealed excitement when she suddenly found herself face to face with Caitlyn. The brunette remained silent as she wordlessly bent down and helped her pick herself from the floor, pushing her gently back on the bed. Vi blinked a couple of times just to make sure she wasn't just seeing things before her mind registered the Sheriff's actions.
"Thanks"
She scratched the back of her neck feeling embarrassed, unnerved by the policewoman's silence. Caitlyn simply nodded. She looked sad for some reason.
"How are you feeling?"
The question caught her off guard. She knew the Sheriff was just asking out of courtesy, but she still felt warmth spreading through her chest for a second. Someone had actually cared enough to ask her about her wellbeing and Vi couldn't even remember when was the last time somebody had asked her that question.
The pinkette's smile never graced her lips as her brain finally caught up with her traitorous heart. She shouldn't raise her hopes, the Sheriff was just exchanging pleasantries, Caitlyn had made it clear to her that she was just another criminal in her eyes.
"I am fine."
Caitlyn nodded.
"I..I have an offer to make you?"
Vi raised an eyebrow, but motioned for her to continue. She even refrained from making crude jokes about Caitlyn offering her her body.
"There is a special program the PPD is incorporating right now, one in which convicted criminals with useful talents can use their gifts for the good of Piltover in exchange for a reduced sentence. A chance if you may to utilize your gifts for the benefit of the city instead of miserably rotting inside your cells."
Vi remained silent but nodded, motioning for her to continue.
"I would like to put you into the program. It is much like community service, but you will be provided with a place to live and a minimum wage to sustain yourself. Your duties will include patrolling the streets with the regular deputies and providing your knowledge as a police consultant. Other than that you may do as you please in your free time, granted that you will refrain from breaking any laws. "
Vi crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing. The whole thing sounded like a good deal, great even, but years of scavenging alone in the streets had taught her that nothing was as good as it sounded and Pilties were assholes. The wealthy social elite in charge of Piltover would never go out of their way to improve her life or give her a second chance. No, Caitlyn was just throwing her a bone and Vi knew better than to reach out and take it.
"What's the catch, Sheriff?"
" You would be required to wear a subjugation collar. A device that will allow deputies to easily track you down and aid in your arrest in case we deem it necessary. Your location will be monitored at all times through the use of Global Positioning and your benefits could be revoked at any given moment in case you stray away from the right path. Any breach or refusal to cooperate will result in the termination of the contract and you will be returning back in your cell to serve your full sentence. "
Vi scoffed, the small bark of a laughter dying on her lips.
"You are basically asking me to be a police dog."
Caitlyn eyed her coldly, her expression carefully blank.
"No, I am not asking you for anything, I am merely offering you a chance to save your life. You angered a lot of hotshots in there by aiding me, serial killers, gang leaders, murderers, no prison in Piltover is safe for you anymore. Take the offer, save your life."
"Tsk"
Vi made an annoyed noise, she put a cigarette on her lips and lit it. Caitlyn eyed the object wrinkling her nose in disapproval, but said nothing.
"Let's just say I accept your generous offer, who is gonna be my probation officer? No upstart lecherous pig I hope. Anyone tries blackmailing me and I will punch his face in, police officer or not."
"That would be me, you will be presenting yourself in my office every morning until I say otherwise, fail to do so and the contact will be terminated. Vi, please just take the deal."
Vi eyed the brunette, mouth hang open almost choking in surprise, cigarrete frozen in front of her lips, baby blue eyes scanning the brunette's face for ire or concealed malice. Anything really that would hint that Caitlyn was just trying to get back at her for molesting her while in prison, but the Sheriff's expression was strictly neutral and she didn't really have much of a choice anyway.
She took a slow drag from her cigarette taking her time to think of the possibilities. Fresh air, good food, a clean place to sleep in away from lustful glares and she could finally bath alone, plus she would be able to see her crush every morning. The deal was as good as they came and her knowledge of hextech might even allow her to tamper with the collar's system and disable the damn thing in case she needed to flee the city, but that was a though for another time.
" Ok, Sheriff, I gracefully accept your kind offer. "
Caitlyn nodded, a small spark of happiness momentary lighting her eyes before suddenly fading, too quickly for the still sleepy pinkette to spot. The brunette's features remained impassive and Vi felt a hint of disappointment when the Sheriff moved swiftly towards the door without even sparing her a second glance. Caitlyn stopped at the doorstep, she turned her head, hand looming over the doorknob.
"A lawyer will be here shortly in order to explain the procedure and confirm your approval, the collar will also be arriving soon."
And then she was gone and the pinkette released a breath she hadn't even realized that she was holding. She took a deep breath, filling her lungs with oxygen, gaze still lingering on the door, her mind lost in her thoughts. The Sheriff had visited her, she had unlocked her handcuffs and even gave her a chance at freedom, maybe Caitlyn cared about her after all. A small smile tagged at the corners of the pinkette's lips.
xxxxxxx
"Miss Vi, you are free to go"
Vi signed the last paper and started walking behind Caitlyn, She touched the black metal band wrapping around her neck feeling uncomfortable in the police uniform that the Sheriff had provided her with. They left the hospital following the neon signs of the shopping district, casually strolling among the workshops and hextech institutes blooming around the center and it wasn't long until the pinkette noticed the small crowd of passerby smiling and waving at Caitlyn.
The brunette kept marching forward acknowledging her admirers with a small nod or polite smile, without paying them too much attention. Vi smirked, the citizens sure loved their Sheriff and for good reason. The city was safe once again because of her and everything was in order. Even Vi felt awe basking at the brunette's presence, although admittedly for different reasons, but she still respected the woman nevertheless. Protecting the weak and less fortunate was admirable, even if no one had done that for her when she was in need of a savior.
The Sheriff stopped by the police station and Vi almost bumped into her, lost in her thoughts as she absentmindedly observed the pedestrians and admired Caitlyn's more physical assets. Both of them entered the building and headed to a small dusty office where a scrawny looking man preached to Vi about her new duties and the image of the force which she should strive to uphold before handing Caitlyn an old-looking key.
Vi had really tried to pay attention to the whole lecture but she had soon found herself dozing off and the man had then walked away furiously, obviously irritated by her antics. The man had barely remembered to salute the Sheriff on his way out, smiling politely at her, before shooting Vi an scorching glare. Caitlyn had scowled at her, before gesturing for the ex convict to follow her. There were back on the streets in no time, walking in uncomfortable silence.
It took them twenty minutes to reach the apartment complex. it was just an old run down building at the edge of the slams and Vi's apartment seemed to be by far the smallest one as far as the pinkette could tell, but Vi didn't really mind. This crumbling old hole suited her more than a shiny new apartment in the heart of the city ever would and while the decay on the brick walls and the thugs roaming the streets would be unnerving to most civilized denizens Vi felt at home. The shady alleyways and cracked pavements reminding her of her time living in the streets. She had actually missed the slums.
Caitlyn unlocked the door and inspected the room and Vi thought she saw concern in her eyes just for an instant, but if she did, it disappeared the next moment. The inside of the apartment wasn't any better than the exterior. Dark, gloomy shadows covered in dust and spider webs, it reminded Vi of a haunted house she had seen once in a movie. The walls were stained and full of cracks and the furniture was almost nonexistent.
Vi approached the box waiting for her on the table and opened it. She recognized her jacket and a pack of cigarettes, someone must have mailed her, her personal belongings or what was actually left of them. The pinkette had refrained from visiting her old gang's hideout in order to retrieve her stuff, preferring to keep her life instead of half a dozen pairs of ragged t-shirts and trousers. The mechanical gauntlets that had aided her in saving the miners were absent of course and Vi found herself sighing. The gantlets had probably been dismantled already or locked inside a police vault for safekeeping among other confiscated objects and important evidence.
Her mood brightened and she even smiled a bit when she spotted a screwdriver peeking out from beneath a leather bag. Her tools were here! Cogs she had missed messing with hextech machinery. The pinkette's eyes scanned the room for objects to tinker with and her smile widened when her eyes landed on a small portable radio resting on top of the kitchen's counter. She almost laughed in glee. Vi licked her lips in anticipation, rubbing her hands sinisterly. She was going to give this baby a power up!
Caitlyn cleared her throat and Vi jumped in surprise, she sighed before turning around to face her. She had almost forgotten about her crash being in the same room with her. The Sheriff raised a thin eyebrow and Vi smiled sheepishly. Caitlyn handed her a big envelope and Vi just noticed that Caitlyn had remained on the doorstep the whole time, refusing to step inside the exconvict's new apartment.
The sheriff waited patiently and by the expectant looks she was giving her the pinkette assumed that Caitlyn had asked her some question. Her suspicions were confirmed the next moment when Caitlyn growled in annoyance.
"I asked you, if there was anything unsatisfactory with the lodging you were provided with."
Emotionless brown orbs locked on her own azure nervous ones, following the pinkette's every movement without even blinking and Vi shivered, suddenly wandering if Caitlyn was a cold, emotionless vampire that needed the owner's permission to enter the apartment or maybe a robot. She had seen weirder things in her life.
"No, ma'am"
The sheriff glared at her unsure if Vi was being polite or just mocking her, but she decide to let it slide this time.
"Good, I expect you to be in my office tomorrow morning, eight o' clock sharp. There is some money and a cell phone inside the envelope, use it wisely."
Vi just nodded.
"That's all, any questions?"
"No, ma'am"
Caitlyn was about to leave when Vi suddenly opened the folder and took out some bills, she threw the rest of them on the table along with the folder and grabbed her jacket. Vi stepped outside and locked the door, carefully moving around the Sheriff on her way out. Caitlyn stiffened.
"Where do you think you are going?"
The pinkette paused, putting her jacket on, on top of her borrowed police uniform, she spared Caitlyn a glance.
"For a walk, I want to roam for a bit. Spot the booze shops, visit some old friends. I want to see what changed in my absence."
She taped the collar on her neck smiling bitterly.
"I can't run away, remember? "
Caitlyn nodded, gazing at the woman's back as she walked down the hallway only to disappear when the corridor took a sharp turn. Vi's jacket was made of leather painted a lustrous black, something a biker would wear, only unexpectedly long, it reached down, hugging the pinkette's hips like a short leather trench coat. Caitlyn was about to roll her eyes, appalled by the pinkette's pompous taste in clothing when her eyes landed on the crimson emblem adorning the jacket's back.
It was a curious design, crude and ugly. Two bleeding angel wings plastered on the jacket's back, droplets of blood forming big crimson letters, spelling Hell's Angels in capitals. Caitlyn's world stopped spinning for a moment, everything slowing down except from her accelerating heartbeat and Vi's retreating form. She felt a woman's lips touching her ear whispering softly and she shivered, abruptly spinning around to catch the perpetrator red-handed, but unfortunately for her the hallway was empty. Caitlyn's eyes widened in horror, she could still feel the woman, smiling lips pressing gently against her earlobe, whispering some kind of secret. She kept turning around, the eerie sensation fading slowly, the world rapidly speeding up, but there was nothing behind her except from the pinkette's door and the light buzzing of the light bulbs illuminating the hallway.
Lengthy writer's note ahead: And then Caitlyn tried waking up but she couldn't because she was already dead! Boom, upload the file, change the story's tag to finished, perfect. Now back to sleep. That was the last chapter I found, there is a tiny file named vi14 which I will have to read first and make sure it isn't some 400 word draft or something. I am a bit sad because I remember writing Vi's first day on the force with a lot of details and police language and some nice interactions, but I can't find it anymore.
This chapter served a lot of purposes, we solved Vi's problems, made her an officer and even explored a bit of her character, we even balanced her supernatural traits with the hextech tinkering genius, we are in Piltover after all. We uncovered a part of Vi's trauma and the reason she despises her angelic heritage. I think the religious fanatic grandma which despises what she doesn't understand was a good invention, but that part was really poorly written and I didn't even have a reason for Granny's outburst, I just made it out now.
We even discovered how young Vi survived since she became an orphan from such a tender age, you can't expect a child barely capable of walking to survive in this conditions alone, except maybe from Talon, Talon strangled his first victim with his rattle. Vi's jacket might be a lame idea, but I liked the feeling of it so I kept it, I even added the title of the gang, it is more of a comic book idea but the story has transcended a lot of genres and influences and that got me thinking. The thought process behind the jacket was probably the following:
Is Vi really the only supernatural creature in Piltover? What if she had met some other kindred spirits and they formed a gang of some sort? Misfits, blooding teenagers hating the world? They would need a name to show their hostility towards order and the society in general and that's why Hell's Angels. Yes, I hate loving the idea. I have no idea of how I want to continue the story, those chapters were written two years ago after all and I still have no idea about what is going to happen in the future, but some people seemed to enjoy the story , so I am glad I posted it. Anyone that wants to use the setting to write a story is free to do so.
Ps: I know my notes are too long and I feel bad about it, but there are things I wanted to clarify and posting these notes as a chapter is wrong and unfair to the readers that hope to see a new chapter and suddenly spot an update only to find out that the chapter is actually a note. Have a nice day.
