Cleaning Break - (League of Legends Gameverse, Janitor!MC)

The Devil is in the fine lines.

This is a rule as old as time when it comes to contracts, and when you 'wake up' finding yourself in front of some mystical document, you tend to falter... until you hear a whisper.

If you accept this work, then you shall be blessed with many good things. A humble job shall always be given a proper reward.

The whisper was alluring, genuine and honest. It felt impossible to say no to it. Plus, with what mundane life I had, it felt too interesting to refuse. A moment of bliss...

That preceded one of the worst mistakes of my life.

Truth be told, it wasn't the worst. I would say that there was worse than that, but that doesn't mean I was pleased by what I got instead. Sent in a new world of Runeterra, given a description of those 'competitions' among champions of all sorts that were led by Summoners (fellow human like me) and that I was...

A janitor.

Sounds even more hilarious if you consider the 'mic drop' was followed by the materialization of a mop and a bucket of clean water in front of me. Oh, and clothes fitting a 'servile' individual such as myself.

So, while the champions were led by invisible summoners that could happily return home whenever they wanted at the end of those matches (just like a game would allow), I was stuck as the guy that would go around, clean with what equipment I could find in my special storage room, and then, at the end of the fighting and the cleaning up process, I could get some rest.

This was the tale of 'Jim the Janitor' as I came to be known to the Champions. Because yes, I was literally there, living among a mixture of order and chaos, friendly and murderous and... well, even more murderous.

While interacting with champions is not mandatory, it was sometimes inevitable to interact with some of the more 'interesting' groups around. Some were actually baffled by the notion that the deities that had created this 'peace-rewarding system' could really need a janitor but... here I was.

The situation was ridiculous at first glance, but I admit the benefits were nothing to scoff at. I had my own large room that only I could enter, and it came with an endless fridge with all sorts of food I wanted and with a pc connected to the 'original world' with unlimited streaming services, and... I guess I have a fishing bowl with two goldfishes.

Nothing else to lament as I had my wardrobe and bed too but... it was all within a single room. I had a 'smaller room' in the form of the bathroom with a toilet, a bidet and a bathtub all cramped up in a really small area. All in all, nothing to complain about what I had.

The grievances were tied to the job itself. While the mobs in the lanes were 'dormant' while I operated, the stench was horrendous at times and going out without a proper outfit to handle muddy businesses can really lead to some troubles with self-cleaning.

The feeling of being watched while at work also didn't help me in feeling accustomed to the situation even months into it and then there were... the champions. None of the aggro ones ever got in a position where they could have really caused me any grief, but I would say the 'friendly' ones were that grand in some instances.

"Hello Jeff!" That was a common jovial greeting that would then be followed by a strong smack on my upper back as a certain Barbarian King would be looking for me for a very simple reason. Falling down and then being picked up by the smiling bearded fellow, I would be 'smiling' back.

"Tryndamere... it's Jim."

"I know, sorry for that and the smack but, you and I are good friends, yes?"

I frowned. "Need me to write another apology letter."

"I may have... stared too much at Riven- can you blame me for having eyes? I am still a man."

A married man that doesn't know the difference between staring and ogling.

"Fine, but I will get something ready around dinnertime. And it will involve you doing some hours of 'good husband' routine."

He grinned at this and smacked my back again. "Thank you, James! See you at dinner then!"

I slowly got off the ground, dusting myself as I moved to the nearest chair to catch a break and... something landed on my lap. It was such a common situation that I didn't even jump when I realized the one that had perched on my lap was none other than the only feline champion herself.

[spoiler][/spoiler]

"Hello Yuumi."

"Meow~!" The feline was soon purring and falling asleep on my lap... making it impossible for me to move for a few hours.

Many would just try to push her out and I was part of that side a few months ago when I first tried that. The end result left me clawed up, bruised up, blasted up and very fearful of the seemingly innocuous magic kitten. So, it was best for me to just wait for her to be done stealing my lap and return me the means to move around.

I may have finished my shift, but that didn't mean I was going to waste too much time in not getting that apology letter written and for me to be out of trouble with Tryndamere for the time being. Everything else was fine with this little hurdle, but as I was leaning back to actually rest a bit, I was surprised to hear small footsteps and... louder ones coming from one of the entry points of the hall.

"Make way, MAKE WAY!" A little yordle of the explosive mushroom kind came through, pausing a moment to give me a wave before bolting away once more. "Hiya Jim!"

"Teemo...?" I mumbled, then turning to see two familiar scary figures coming this way.

Warwick and Wolf were both fearsome entities. One thing would have been for one of them to be involved in that chase, another was for both to be in the same role as they hunted down Teemo and then stopped as they noticed me. I saw them look at me intently- or rather, at the purring champion resting on my lap.

I could hear the growling intensifying and I moved to shake the cat out of her slumber.

"Y-Yuumi. We are in a bad spot."

Lazily so, Yuumi opened one of her eyes and... froze as she saw the double threat.

Mere moments later, we were involved in one of the wildest races around the entire resting grounds much to the amusement and chagrin of the other champions still around. We avoided getting shredded by the feral champions chasing us, but it left me spent once we were out of that little hell.

I had just enough to write the letter for Tryndamere to give to his wife, and to go back to bed to catch some rest. Another long day of work... concluding the sixth month I spent in this place. That should have been it, another day as usual. But I was soon given reason to see this wasn't the case. Or rather 'hear'.

Jim.

Ah yes, the 'Whisperer'. The suave voice that got me in this spot and that pretty much left me with no way back home.

...No.

It's not a trick or a ploy-

I don't care.

We wish to give you a chance to spend the summer holidays at a nice resort.

...Really?

Yes-

With the Champions?

Obviously-

Then no.

...What?

I ain't going to enjoy 'holidays' in a resort with the Champions. That's just you pushing me to do work in that place.

T-That's not true-

I am not going.

Are you sure? You would enjoy unwinding.

I am fine here.

What about your friends?

I think they will live. I need a break-

Staying here means you will still work for three months.

...Without the champions?

W-Well, yes, but-

I think I will stay. Bye.

Jim-

BYE!

The whispering ended with that loud thought and... I was free from trouble for the remainder of the night. I thought it had been some insanity-induced dream- that the talk had not occurred at all, but as the next day came and I wandered off to start my usual shift, I was taken aback by something that I never heard in my six months of being in that Resting Grounds: Silence. The halls were silent. There was no one but me around.

...

"I AM FINALLY FREE!"


AN

Are you, Jim?

Next time will see a POV from a Champion's perspective and... let's just say that the lack of Jim will soon be perceived by everyone around. Some for good reasons, other for gooder reasons.