Full Summary: As Caitlyn descends down the halls of Stillwater to meet with the prisoner who caused her only lead to have their jaw wired shut, she doesn't really know what to expect. She imagines a myriad of burly, lumbering men to be the ones pounding against the concrete wall, but the last thing she expects is to see the first and only person Caitlyn has ever loved.
AU in which Caitlyn and Vi knew each other before everything went down with Silco. Caitlyn, under the assumption Vi died in the explosion, works tirelessly to end the corruption that Piltover inflicts on the Undercity in honor of her lost love.
A/N: Hello hello! I'm new to writing for this fandom but I have had this idea in my mind for days and decided to go for it. I'm the queen of starting new stories while in the works of other stories but I've had some bad writers block lately and this is the first time in a while I've felt motivated to write so I'm just going to roll with it. I hope you all like it, feedback is greatly appreciated and keeps me motivated. Let me know if you think I should continue with this! Also, the way I wrote Powder is a lil out of character but it all is going to tie into the further plot so just trust the process ;)
The two of them were an unlikely pair, having been taught from the moment they were born that their worlds were never meant to cross. Like oil and water. There was no room for compromise. Topsiders belonged to the most elite and prestigious minds, and allowing the Undercity to get a taste of their lifestyle would only lead to complete and utter chaos. The whispers in the Undercity said that Topsiders had no souls, and only wished to watch the citizens down there choke on the polluted air until there was nobody left. That's what they were told, over and over, for the entirety of their lives.
But there was always a lingering doubt in the back of their minds that it wasn't true. There's no way that every single person in the Undercity was a violent, uneducated thief, just as not every single Topsider was a soulless narcissist looking to exploit the citizens of the Undercity. There were good people everywhere, if only one looked hard enough.
That thought was what brought Caitlyn to make the decision to finally make a visit to the place her parents warned her about for sixteen years. She didn't believe that it could be all bad. The decision to make the trip had been niggling at her mind since Grayson had asked her what she was shooting for. When the question was asked she didn't have an answer, all she knew was that she didn't want to be a counselor like her mother. She felt like with all the power her mother claimed to have, there wouldn't even be a difference between the Undercity and Topside… they would all just be. A community where everyone had the same opportunities no matter what class they were in. Hell, there shouldn't even be a difference in classes in general. Everybody had a purpose and could be useful in their own way. Who was to say what was more useful than the other?
When Caitlyn set her mind to something she always followed through. Which is how she ended up here in the Undercity, rifle strapped to her back. She wasn't stupid. Even with the mindset she had she knew this trip wasn't safe because these citizens have been without aid for so long, it's no wonder why they've had to resort to the lifestyles they did to survive. And she knew she was going to stick out like a sore thumb here, even in the crappiest clothing she could find there was no denying she was a Piltie, especially with her accent. She knew she had privileges these poor people could never even dream of, and the second her boots hit the ground she was humbled of all the things she had ever taken for granted.
She didn't bring a mask which may catch up with her later considering the air was thick with pollution, so much that even just passing over the other side of the bridge caused her to cough. But she wouldn't throw her privilege in their faces. She would bite her tongue and tough it out because the people here didn't even have the option to wear one, just adapting to the air that was slowly killing them. It made guilt gnaw at her stomach until she thought she may actually throw up. Tears pricked at her eyes because of the conditions they were all living in, but she forcefully blinked back.
It was clear she wasn't welcome but nobody said anything to her, other than a few shoulder bumps she was okay. She didn't even care if the shoulder bumps were so people could pickpocket her, wishing she could hack into the Kiramman's bank accounts and give these poor, desperate souls every last penny. Her family would be fine without it, and it's not like they weren't raking in money with every second that passed.
It wasn't until she neared a place called The Last Drop that a man decided she was the perfect prey for the night, which in all honesty, she was. She was backed into a wall while the man belligerently spewed off about always wanting to get his hands on a Piltie, and even though her heart pounded in her chest she refused to pull out her rifle. The man was stumbling, she could probably easily get away even if he laid his hands on her, which he hadn't yet.
"Get away from her, Damon," a raspy feminine voice said from behind them. Caitlyn just realized the four figures standing behind the man.
"Why don't you brats mind your damn business?" Damon turned around with a scowl.
With his back turned she was able to get a clearer view of the people who had intervened, all around her age other than a girl with blue hair who had to have been a few years younger. The one who spoke had pink, vibrant hair, broad shoulders, and her fists were clenched at her side with bandaging around them up to her mid forearm. Caitlyn's breath caught in her throat at the sight of her, being able to sense the power this girl had. She clearly knew how to fight, and the other three looked to her for direction.
"Listen, you're piss drunk right now, and I really don't think you want me to send one of these guys back inside to have Vander deal with you. Plus, this chick has a rifle strapped to her back and hasn't drawn it yet, she's obviously tougher than you assumed," she smirked, knowing she had some kind of upperhand that went above Caitlyn's head. She didn't know who this Vander guy was, but she assumed he was important from how the man she now knew as Damon didn't argue any further, cursing as he walked away from the group.
"Vi, why did we just save a Piltie?" One of the boys with wild hair and bushy eyebrows asked. He spat the last word as if it physically made him ill.
"I don't know," Vi murmured more to herself than anyone else. She didn't look at the boy as she answered. Her gaze was on the girl she had just saved, staring at her inquisitively as if Caitlyn was some new species nobody had ever seen before. "This one seems different."
Vi. The name made Caitlyn's heart pound even harder in her chest. God, I am so utterly gay, she thought to herself. Only I would be thinking about how hot a girl is after almost getting robbed, or worse.
"Um, thank you for the help," Caitlyn finally spoke up, her words coming out a little huskier than usual, unsure whether it was from the pollution or her attraction to the other girl. "Sorry for the trouble."
Caitlyn was going to leave it at that, starting to walk away even though everything in her gut was telling her to get to know this girl. She didn't want to overstep and misconstrue their kindness for friendship since everyone in the Undercity made it clear she wasn't wanted there. They could have just been doing a nice deed, and wanting that to be all there was to it.
"Wait!" The raspy voice called out, and Caitlyn had to bite down the smile that threatened to stretch across her lips. "What's a Piltie like you doing down here anyways?"
"I guess I just wanted to see it for myself," Caitlyn shrugged.
"What, like we're some caged animals in a zoo for you to gawk at?" Vi snarled, and immediately Caitlyn had regretted her choice of words.
"N-No! Not at all," she stammered over her words, raking through her mind for how she could possibly make this better. "I've been told my whole life that this place is dangerous, which it is, but not because of the citizens here." Her words flew out of her mouth so fast, eager to fix the misunderstanding she had created. She did not come here to judge them, she came here to learn from them. Learn how the conditions for them truly were with her own eyes, not just the fluffed up bullshit she's been spoon fed with her entire life. She was tired of hearing the same old story that the living conditions weren't bad, the people were. "I just see people who need help, people who have been given no other options to turn to to survive. Topsiders have more than they need, living these grandiose and overly extravagant lives, and it's sickening to me that they have all of that while people down here are suffering."
Caitlyn waited with bated breath as Vi and the others eyed her suspiciously. She was nervous that these kids wouldn't believe her even though everything she'd said was true, and she wouldn't blame them if they didn't trust her.
"What's your name?" Vi asked instead of responding to her previous statement. Caitlyn considered that a relatively good sign.
"Caitlyn. Caitlyn Kiramman."
"You're the daughter of Councilor Kiramman?" The other boy, who had goggles on his forehead exclaimed, the first thing he had said the entire time. All she could do was nod in response, terrified of the backlash she was going to receive from the information.
"No offense, Cupcake, but your mom kind of sucks," Vi chuckled, breaking the tension that quickly consumed Caitlyn's body.
"Trust me, just imagine having to live with her," Caitlyn snorted, and if her mom was here she would have been scolded about how unladylike it was. The thought caused a small smile to tug at the corners of her lips, feeling like in the Undercity she could let go of all the rules that had been drilled into her since she was a child.
"Do you want to come back home with us to hang out?" The smallest of the group finally piped up. She had a metal contraption in her hand that had a little face and whiskers drawn on it. The girl's eyes were wide and hopeful, causing a pang in Caitlyn's chest because she knew she needed to get home soon to avoid the wrath of her parents, moreso her mother.
Caitlyn knelt down in front of the blue-haired little girl and gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. She could see Vi tense in the corner of her eye, an extra layer of protectiveness over the girl. Must be her sister, Caitlyn thought. She smiled endearingly at the smallest member of the group, hoping it conveyed to Vi and the boys she had no intentions of hurting her.
"What's your name, little one?"
"I'm Powder, and I'm not little," the girl huffed, but she didn't seem overly upset about the comment.
"You're right, my apologies. You're very strong and smart, I can see. Did you make that?" Caitlyn asked, indicating towards the gadget in her hand. She received a timid nod in response. "Well, Powder, I'd love to see all of the cool stuff you've made sometime, but right now I unfortunately have to get back home before my parents get upset with me. Raincheck?"
Once she received an enthusiastic nod, she got back up on her feet with a grin. She looked at the others, noticing their faces had softened a bit from their previous scrutiny. They still showed mild distrust, but it was progress. The boys also introduced themselves, Mylo and Claggor. If Caitlyn was being honest, Mylo seemed like a bit of an ass but in a weirdly charming way. However, Claggor was always there to smack him upside the head when he said something that crossed a line. She liked all of them very much, especially the leader of their little group. Vi had been quiet, just observing the introductions as if Caitlyn's actions were extremely detrimental to whether or not she would approve of her, and Caitlyn prayed to whatever higher power there was that she would win her over.
"You guys head back inside and cover for me with Vander," Vi told the other three. "I'm going to walk Princess here back to Topside to make sure nobody else tries to fuck with her."
If anyone else called her a princess she would have been enraged, but Vi hadn't said it in a demeaning way, and Caitlyn got the feeling it was just her sense of humor. As much as she wanted to spend more time with Vi, she also didn't want to inconvenience her in any way.
"As much as I appreciate the offer, I don't want to trouble you any further. You've already helped me as is with Damon."
"Don't sweat it, Cupcake," Vi shrugged as she started to lead them away from the others.
Caitlyn didn't argue any further, because ultimately she still wished to be in Vi's company. She followed Vi in stride as the girl led her through different shortcuts to get them to where they needed to be. At first it was quiet between the two, Caitlyn unsure of what to say in fear of sounding nosey. Vi was the one who broke the silence.
"You were good with Powder back there," she practically whispered. If Caitlyn wasn't hyper aware of everything Vi was doing she probably wouldn't have heard her. "She doesn't usually take well to strangers, always been a bit shy since our parents died. She must've sensed the same thing in you that I do."
"And what is that?" Caitlyn all but croaked out, her heart hammering away in her chest. The sincerity in Vi's voice causing excitement to swell deeply in her chest to the point where it kind of hurt.
"You're not like the rest of them," she simply said, not elaborating any further.
Caitlyn's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts that she had to categorize as safe and unsafe to express. She didn't want to ruin the endearing moment between the two of them by asking something too personal that would cause Vi to shut down. She wanted to ask how her parents died but immediately put that in the unsafe folder in her mind's filing cabinet. She wondered when Mylo and Claggor came into the picture, assuming there was no blood relation between all of them. Vi and Powder had resembling features, but the boys didn't look anything like them so she figured they had different parents. She also remembered Vi telling the three others to cover for her with Vander, as well as telling Damon he wouldn't want her to have to get Vander, and she figured that might be a safe topic to ask about.
"Who's Vander?"
"He's all of our adoptive father. He was there when our parents died, Mylo and Claggor came to us a little bit later," Vi said. "He owns The Last Drop and keeps the entire Undercity safe. He's a big dude that towers over everybody, but deep down he's kind of like a teddy bear. He taught me how to survive in this place."
"Sounds like someone I'd like to meet," Caitlyn replied earnestly, hoping that this wasn't the first and only time she'd get to be down here with Vi and the others.
"You were serious about coming back to see Powder's inventions?" Vi asked, a hint of shock in her tone.
"I wouldn't have said it if I didn't mean it," she chuckled, bumping her shoulders into the other girl's.
They continued to chat amongst themselves as they made it to the bridge. Vi asked her questions about her life, and although she had a bit of contempt towards Piltover, she never directed it at Caitlyn. She knew that there wasn't any control in either of their upbringings. She told Vi how she did indeed know how to shoot her rifle, and what her house looked like, and how her mother despised the fact that she had no interest in becoming a Counselor. Caitlyn arranged for another visit to see them in the upcoming week, after she gauged how mad her parents would be after coming home so late. Before too soon it was time for them to head in separate directions.
"Well, I never thought I'd say this about a Piltie, but it was nice to meet you, Cupcake," Vi said cheekily, a smirk gracing her lips.
"It was a pleasure meeting you all as well. Be safe on your way back," she grinned. It felt bittersweet standing here. She was so happy Vi actually seemed to like her but she wished she could have more time with her.
"You too," Vi waved as she turned to start her trek back towards The Last Drop.
There was a question in the back of her mind that she had meant to ask before their time was over, but having been caught up in their previous conversations hadn't gotten the chance to. Before she could think about it she reached out and grabbed Vi by the hand, feeling as if electricity shot through her body from the contact. A small gasp escaped her throat, hoping it wasn't heard by her present company. Vi stiffened a bit from the touch but didn't pull away from the hand that now held hers.
"I meant to ask earlier, but what is Vi short for?" Caitlyn asked, gazing into those smoldering gray eyes, hand still holding onto wrapped, calloused fingers.
"Violence," she replied, her face void of any humor.
For a moment, Caitlyn really thought she was serious, and her expression must have shown it because Vi broke out into a fit of laughter. Caitlyn rolled her eyes at the teasing, releasing her hand from Vi's and giving her a light shove.
"You're insufferable, you know that?" Caitlyn teased.
"So I've been told," Vi winked. She turned back around to leave but her head was turned so her eyes were still locked on Caitlyn's. "Guess you'll have to come around more often to find out my deep, dark secret, Your Majesty."
With that said, she dropped back into the thrumming energy coming from the Undercity nightlife. Caitlyn stood there for a few moments longer with a massive smile that was starting to make her cheeks hurt. Vi wants to see me again, was the only thought bouncing around her brain. The smile didn't leave her face as she turned to make her way back to her house, glad she made some new friends. Her mind was a montage of pink hair, calloused fingers, husky laughter, and electricity. She made friends, and only time would tell if, maybe, she made something more.