Chapter Text
When Vi got her hands on Ekko, she was going to kill him.
It was his fault that she was even in this position in the first place. Let’s go down to Zaun, Vi! It’ll be fun! Yeah, fun for all of five minutes.
Here’s how it happened. Ekko got the two of them some discounted tickets for a public hexdraulic descender, one of these giant egg-like contraptions made of glass and steel that would take someone from Piltover down to the undercity. They were only going to the entresol level of Zaun, anyway: the place Ekko wanted to visit was located somewhere around there and wouldn't take them long to get there.
It was an… odd journey for Vi. While she and her sister had been born in the depths of Zaun, she hadn’t been there since she was a child. That was over a decade ago now. She didn’t know much more about the nation she was born in than any other Piltovan.
But Ekko insisted that she had to try this food he heard about. They had everything down there, apparently. Zaun’s market was more… liberating for businesses because they would turn a blind eye to certain imports such as exotic meats. Ekko said he had eaten something from Ionia or Noxus but had no idea what it was, only that you couldn’t get it anywhere else except Zaun.
Which led them here to the Bridgewaltz market. This high up, the air was mostly clear of Zaun's signature fumes and smog that thickened up the air below. Plenty of Piltovans and Zaunites alike came to this level for business or recreation, especially because of how relaxed their society was. Vi had heard plenty about the supposed black markets and brothels operating in Zaun but hadn’t had any interest in seeing it for herself. And yet here it all was, just at her fingertips, ready to be experienced.
Still, she went with Ekko to make sure he didn’t land himself into any more trouble than he was usually in. For a senior academy inventor, he sure seemed to get himself into sticky situations.
Everything had been going fine. Ekko was reading one of the maps provided to passengers and trying to figure out where they were supposed to go. Vi was taking in the sights around her: the city of glass and steel was a lot warmer than Vi imagined it would be. When she had peered over the edge, the city just seemed to go on forever. Perhaps it went all the way down to the center of the earth itself.
Vi shook her head at this thought. The fumes must be getting to her.
“Hey, watch it!” Ekko shouted behind her.
Vi spun around to see what his problem was, only to find chaos unfolding behind her. There was a group of kids that had apparently shoved Ekko around while they were running through the lanes. They didn’t look the least bit apologetic about their roughhousing – one of them had the cheek to flip Ekko off before running away with the rest of their group.
Ekko huffed before dusting his jacket, saying, “Damn kids.”
Vi laughed and said, “We were just as rude when we were that age, Ekko. Lighten up.”
She patted him on the back. Ekko didn’t respond, however. He seemed to be patting himself down frantically.
Suddenly, he turned to look at her with wild eyes and said, “The kids! They took my wallet!”
They both whipped their heads around and caught a glimpse at the giggling band of pickpockets not too far off. The two of them took off into a mad-dash after them, knowing that they would have no money to get back to Piltover before tomorrow at the latest if they didn’t.
“Dammit it, Ekko!” Vi growled as she shoved through the crowd, “Five minutes in and you already got robbed!”
“How is this my fault?” Ekko argued back, keeping pace with her as they ran.
Those shrieks of laughter were starting to grate on Vi’s nerves.
She yelled back, “Because you got robbed by middle-schoolers!”
The crowd they were running through either were shoved out of the way or jumped away in time. Vi and Ekko weren’t letting these brats get away.
Vi watched as one of the kids scaled a building while another was parkouring through an alleyway. The group of kids split up, clearly hoping to lose them in the chaos. Vi gritted her teeth and ran harder.
“You get the one in the alley!” Vi yelled, “I’ll get the one on the rooftops!”
Ekko might be the better runner between the two of them but Vi was a much better climber. She had a toned physique after years of being a security guard, after all. Jumping across rooftops should be no biggie, right?
Ekko took off down the alleyway without a word. Vi had no idea how they were going to find each other again but she’d figure that out later. She had a pickpocket to catch.
As it turned out, living in Zaun all their life meant that the kids Vi was chasing knew exactly where to go and how to shake her off. They slid through small spaces she couldn’t fit through, they took shortcuts she had no idea about and they managed to trip her up more often than not. She felt like they were taunting her at this point.
Vi had been running for so long that her lungs were screaming and the scenery grew less and less familiar. She briefly wondered how far down in the entresol level she was by now.
“Go home, Piltie!” One of the kids yelled as they leapt from a rooftop.
Another let out a squeal of laughter and said, “You’ll never catch up!”
Vi decided she hated kids.
They were nearing a closed off area now. Vi was sure she had caught them at this point. Those kids would have nowhere to go but into the building about a hundred meters ahead of her. There was a group of ugly bruisers standing guard outside who wouldn’t let kids into whatever shady establishment that was. She could just go inside and grab them and–
The kids laughed and ran inside the building, straight past the bruisers. As they were getting away, one of the kids pointed Vi out and screamed, “That topsider attacked us! Help! Help !”
Sure enough, those same bruisers turned to look right at Vi. Those ugly mugs they called faces were scrunched up into sneers and they began running after her now.
Vi came to a screeching halt.
That kid who had pointed her out was laughing now. They were very pleased with this turn of events because they flipped Vi off with a smile before taking off inside the building.
Fuck.
As Vi turned-tail and began looking for somewhere to escape, she seethed, “I’m going to kill Ekko.”
Those bruisers were still running after her. Vi was vaguely sure they were armed with bats and the like but she refused to look back. The last thing she needed was to get mugged in a shady area in Zaun of all places.
Powder would never let her live it down.
“Where you goin’, Piltie?” One of them yelled, earning a few cackles from his group.
Vi groaned and continued sprinting down unfamiliar streets, hoping she didn’t run into a dead-end. At least people were jumping out of her way fast enough so she didn’t knock anyone down. But she was also just clearing a way for her pursuants.
Another called out, “You like picking on kids, topsider?”
Vi doubted they would listen to her side of the story. Zaunites tended to distrust her kind anyway; they wouldn’t believe her word over one of their own.
She looked around frantically for an escape. There was no obvious exit in sight and Vi doubted she’d find a police station any time soon. So where the fuck was she supposed to go?
Swearing under her breath, Vi decided to take her chances and scale one of the brick walls on her left. She put as much power as she could into her jump and was grateful she wore the right boots today. Vi scrambled up that wall just before one of the goons could grab her legs and yank her back down.
She heard their jeers as she climbed, then one snarled, “Go around, we’ll get her before she lands!”
Fuck no, you won’t.
The second Vi managed to get to the top of the wall she had been scaling, she ran across it and onto one of the buildings attached to it. This was probably somebody’s apartment complex that Vi was barrelling through but she couldn’t find a single fuck to give at that moment.
Down below, Vi could hear them yelling to each other, asking if anyone saw her. She was hidden but that wouldn’t remain the case for long.
She needed to get moving right fucking now.
From the top of this apartment complex, Vi looked around for somewhere she could hide. Anywhere. She would take a dumpster at this point. Actually, no, they might check for her there. No, Vi needed an actual building to hide in and lay low until those idiots gave up.
Finally, her eyes landed on a luxurious building just a minute or so away from her. It was lit up with red lighting and was nestled comfortably between two other establishments. It was almost like it was tucked away from the world, despite its large size. She could vaguely see a few security guards positioned outside, and a few scantily-clad women were…
Oh. It was a brothel.
“Check the roof!” One of them barked out.
Vi had no time to spare. She leapt across a few rooftops before landing softly into an alleyway below. She turned her jacket inside-out, pulled the hood over her head and made her way through the crowd she had just ran through.
Her heart was in her throat as she walked, trying to look as casual as possible. She knew for a fact that she stood out too much: from the neon pink hair to the clean clothes and the wide-eyes, she clearly wasn’t from there. But she hoped that they would just think she’s a customer from Piltover and not look too much into it.
She could hear that group of bruisers yelling somewhere in the distance but getting closer. Her pace picked up until she almost collided with the security guard.
The one who was now glaring down at her.
“You need something?” He asked, his voice deeper than ought to be humanly-possible.
Vi gulped. She glanced behind him at the red doors clearly concealing her sanctuary. Safety could be found beyond those doors.
“I said,” the guard repeated, “do you need something?”
Her gaze snapped back to his. She said, “I, uh, was hoping to go in.”
He scoffed at her, asking, “Was that a question or a statement?”
Vi faltered.
“A statement?”
The guard gave her a once-over and Vi knew she was screwed. This guy was probably going to kick her ass or cause a scene, and those goons would find her. She had never fought a group of their size all by herself before and while she was sure she’d put up a good fight, she doubted she’d win.
Shit.
“Are you even old enough to get in?” The guard asked with a sneer.
Vi snarled, “Hey, I’m twenty-three!”
“You don’t look it to me,” he said as he crossed his arms over his broad chest, “I’m gonna need to see some ID.”
Vi could hear how close those guys were getting. She was sure she could feel a bead of sweat dripping down her back and her thighs were screaming from the mad sprint she just did.
“I-I didn’t bring it with me,” Vi stammered out, looking behind her to see if they were close enough to see her yet.
“You think just because you’re in Zaun that you don’t need ID. Pilties…” The guard trailed off, scoffing.
“Look, man, I–” Vi began to argue but was cut off.
Off to the side, one of the women chimed in: “Oh, lighten up, Jon.”
Vi turned to look at her in surprise. The woman smiled at Vi as she draped herself across Vi’s broad shoulders. She smelled of something floral and Vi did her best to avoid glancing at her cleavage. Just because it was there didn’t mean Vi should ogle it.
“She’s got coin on her and she seems like a sweetheart.” The woman said, adding, “Look, she’s even got a few tattoos. You think topsiders would let a minor get inked?”
The ink in question was the dual sleeves of tattoos that disappeared under her hood. They had hurt like a bitch to get but she loved how they looked. And they were drawn in Zaunite style, too, with plenty of thick lines and cogs.
Vi prayed to Saint Janna that this would work. The guard’s gaze softened when he looked at the other woman, a stark difference to his usual sneer. He stared at her for a moment before sighing and turned to Vi to say: “...Fine. But if you start any trouble or put your hands on any of–”
The woman cut him off with a wave of her hand, saying, “Jon, you’re gonna give her a heart attack.”
Vi could’ve kissed this woman from sheer gratitude.
Turning to Vi, the woman fixed her hair and drawled, “Go on, sweetie. Enjoy yourself.”
And just like that, Vi was standing inside a brothel.
She had no idea what to expect. While she had never actually been inside one before, Vi had assumed it would look something similar to a casino: very clean and dripping with luxury goods to show off how well the business was doing. And her assumption had been mostly correct. The brothel was lit with purple lighting, was incredibly tidy and the scent of jasmine lingered in the air. It was a nice change from the smog outside.
The only thing Vi hadn’t anticipated was the rooms. Well, maybe not the rooms themselves but the lack of doors.
Upon entering, Vi walked down a hallway that was attached to several rooms. These rooms were like their own little universes and clearly decorated to suit a certain aesthetic. One room had a bathtub in the middle, another was covered in mirrors, one even had a bed with four posters. None of them had doors to conceal what was going on inside and all were being used.
Probably what shocked Vi the most was the lack of sex going on. Sure, she managed to see a few glimpses of it but not everyone was engaging in it. Some of the brothel workers were just talking to clients, flirting or being touchy-feely with their clients. And these clients looked like they were loving it.
Vi had only come here out of convenience but now she was endlessly curious.
The longer she walked, the more Vi wondered if she should just ask someone where to go. She wasn’t planning on paying money; what little she had on her was precious. Was there a lounge around here to wait out the storm?
Vi took a left at the end of the hall and walked slowly. The sound of a woman giggling caught her attention. She walked quietly to the source of the laugh, careful not to let her steps fall too heavily on the floor.
It was the room on the right. The room was obscured by a lace portière that did little to hide the occupants in the room within. There were two women inside, talking to each other by the looks of it.
Well, one of them was talking. The other was just watching and listening.
The one talking was wearing a domino mask, a dress and had curled up on the loveseat opposite the other woman. She was speaking passionately about something Vi’s ears weren’t sharp enough to pick up. More importantly, she was so focused on the other woman in the room that she didn’t notice Vi’s approach.
Vi wasn’t paying much attention to her, either. Her eyes had zeroed-in on something else: the woman listening.
The woman was dressed in a suit jacket and trousers, both identical in fabric and pattern, clearly part of a set. The colours were a mix of muted greens with a strip of olive down the side of the trousers and along the lining of the jacket. The woman wore no shirt underneath, showing off a flawless chest and a lace bra that was more strings than fabric, really. She donned gloves, a choker and knee-high boots, all made with the same quality of soft, black leather. A thin belt was tied around the waist of the jacket and a violet was pinned to the lapel. Her midnight blue hair was pulled up into a bun. She had draped herself across the velvet, cabriole chair, one arm hanging languidly while the other arm rested against the woman’s cheek.
She was watching her client with mild amusement, almost boredom.
Vi wanted to get a closer look. As if she was under a spell, she stepped forward and pushed the portière out of the way.
The moment Vi could see the woman clearly, her breath stilled in her chest. She was breathtaking. Vi couldn’t blame the client for being so enraptured by this woman.
It was at that moment that she realised she had been standing there for too long and staring for even longer. She had just intruded on someone’s private session at a brothel. Just as Vi was about to step back and leave, it happened. The movement of the portière seemed to have caught the woman’s attention. Vi watched with a racing heart as electric blue eyes slid towards her. Her whole body felt like it was on fire from the intensity of her gaze. She felt like her knees might give way at any moment.
Vi was sure this was what love at first sight felt like.
At first Vi thought the woman would just ignore her. She almost hoped she would do that, so Vi could escape with some dignity. However, fate was not on her side tonight.
A voice as smooth as satin said, “It seems the walls do have eyes and ears.”
She spoke with a posh-Piltovan accent which surprised Vi. She had expected the thicker, more curt accent associated with Zaunites. Not only that, but her eye shape was clearly Ionian. What a fascinating woman.
Her voice was very fitting for a femme fatale like her. Vi could listen to that voice all day if given the chance. Especially when those eyes were watching her like that .
Too late to run now. Vi squared her shoulders and stepped forward into the room. The woman raised a single, perfect eyebrow at her boldness.
“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.” Vi said, adding, “I didn’t hear anything.”
The client was looking at Vi with such ferocity that she was almost taken aback. To be fair, Vi was intruding on… whatever this was.
“Are you here for a chat, then?” The woman asked with a tilt of her head.
A lock of hair followed her movement and fell across her high cheekbone. Vi wanted to reach out and tuck it behind her ear.
Was it legal to be that attractive?
Vi blinked. She asked, “A… chat?”
Is that what these two were doing? Just chatting? Or was that code for something a little different?
The woman did not elaborate. She just smirked and turned to look at the client beside her – the one she had just neglected in favour of Vi. She felt the loss of this woman’s gaze acutely. The woman reached out and plucked up the client’s hand. She placed a soft kiss to the inside of the client’s palm with that predatory look in her eyes.
“We are over time, anyway,” the woman said, “Be sure to book an appointment at the front.”
The client was eager to nod and breathe out, “I will, my lady.”
Vi raised an eyebrow. Was that a kink thing or what? She watched as the client scurried off with a flushed face, scowling at Vi on her way out. She tried not to take it to heart. Vi was the intruder in this situation, in truth.
“Are you just going to stand there?” A silky smooth voice asked.
Vi scoffed and walked further inside, saying, “I’ll take that as an invitation to make myself at home.”
She could feel the woman’s predatory gaze on her as she moved. Vi took a seat on the same chair that the client had just left, but sat up straight in it: she refused to let this woman know how enthralled Vi was with her.
The room was both beautiful and odd. For one, there were plenty of plants – real plants in Zaun. It was impossible to grow anything worthwhile in Zaun due to the toxic environment. Zaun Grey caused plants to rot and blackened people's lungs. Only the most wealthy of Zaun were able to own and maintain cultivairs: glass greenhouses that sat under the sunlight, while fresh air was pumped into the greenhouse. So for those plants to be here meant either this woman or the brothel itself had enough money to waste on plants. The walls and decor were a mix of greens, blues and purples. There was a small table in front of the two chairs, with a tea set arranged on it. An intricate mural had been painted on the wall directly being the woman, depicting a huntress dressed in white shooting a golden arrow into the heart of a white elk. Murals were a big deal in Zaun, from what Vi could remember. A symbol of wealth and/or passion. There were a few animal motifs scattered around, too.
A fitting room for a woman with such a dangerous, predatory gaze.
“But it’s not really, is it.” The woman murmured, “Your home is far, far from little old Zaun. Definitely far from Drop Street, of all places.”
Oh, if only she knew. Vi just scoffed and asked, “And how do you know that?”
The woman’s smirk grew as she said, “You’ve got the wide-eyed look on your face that gets pickpockets excited.”
Vi groaned and looked away.
“You don't know how right you are.”
This earned a pleased hum from her companion, followed by a question: “Ah, did one of our little snipes give you a warm welcome to the undercity?”
“They did. Managed to grab my friend’s wallet and got me chased by some goons,” Vi grumbled.
It wasn’t fun telling a beautiful woman about your shortcomings and how you ran away like a coward. But Vi saw no reason to put on a persona and lie to this woman, seeing as they’d never seen each other again.
With a hint of steel in her voice, the woman said, “Watch it. Those might be my goons you’re talking about.”
“Your goons?” Vi asked, frowning.
Silence followed. The woman seemed to be appraising Vi and gave her a slow once-over. This was a very different feeling: it was like she was being dissected by this woman’s mere gaze.
Finally, the woman said, “...You’re definitely not from around here.”
Vi smiled and asked, “Am I supposed to be offended?”
The woman rolled her eyes and laid her arm across her lap. It was then that Vi noticed the thin object held in her hand: it was a leather riding crop, identical to the ones used by equestrians. Now that had to be a kink thing. Actually, now that Vi was looking at her outfit properly, this woman kinda looked like one of those equestrians up topside.
“Who cares what you’re supposed to be?” The woman asked, “Tell me about who you are .”
Vi wondered how long she would be able to hold this woman’s attention for. Sighing, Vi said, “There’s not much to know about me. I wasn’t born in Piltover but I’ve been there for most of my life. My Dad adopted me and my sister when we were kids. I work as a security guard for hire.”
The woman was quiet for a moment. She played with her riding crop and drawled, “That’s all incredibly… dull.”
Vi smiled at this. This woman was like a child with how poor her attention span was. It reminded her of her younger sister. With a shrug, Vi said, “You’re the one who asked.”
“I asked you to tell me who you are and you gave me a grocery list. You didn’t even start with your name,” the woman reprimanded with a heated gaze.
“It’s Vi.”
“That name might pass down here but what do they call you topside?” The woman asked, looking far more invested than she had just moments ago.
For some reason, the look in her eyes made Vi feel like she had fallen into a trap. Oh well.
“Violet,” she answered before adding, “but no one calls me that.”
The woman bit down on her bottom lip in an attempt to stop the grin from overtaking her face. Vi noticed that she had a small gap between her teeth. Vi loved it – it was adorable. But that look in her eyes wasn’t.
The Ionian shape of her eye, the sharp eyeliner and the electric blue eyes were a devastatingly beautiful combination. It was like looking at the eyes of a wolf.
The woman leaned forward and said, “It’s a pretty name for a pretty girl, I suppose. But Vi… now that’s a name for a handsome woman like yourself.”
Vi was definitely blushing now. A beautiful woman called her handsome, despite Vi being sweaty and not dressed to impress in the slightest – she had worn an old hoodie, tight pants and thick boots. She placed her boot-clad ankle over her knee and asked, “Are you going to tell me your name or do you need to keep up this mysterious act?”
She saw a flicker of… something in the woman’s eyes at this pushback.
“My clients call me Artemis,” the woman replied.
As evasive as ever.
Vi deadpanned, “Cute. What’s your real name?”
The woman was quiet for a while after this. At first Vi wondered if she breached some sort of rule in this establishment, right up there with ‘don’t touch the workers’ and ‘don’t start a fight’.
“I like you.” The woman said, “Caitlyn.”
That was progress. A real name and a real answer.
Vi squinted at her. She pointed out, “That’s a Piltovan name and you’ve got a Piltovan accent.”
The woman – Caitlyn – drawled, “It is.”
Vi continued, saying, “But you’re from Zaun.”
“Correct,” Caitlyn said, as if she were talking to a child.
“And your face tells me at least one of your parents has heritage from Ionia,” Vi said.
Caitlyn sighed, asking, “Are we taking a DNA test?”
Vi clenched and unclenched her jaw. She had enough of people talking down to her in her real life, let alone to have it happen here. She shot Caitlyn a level gaze and asked, “Do the ladies enjoy this evasive game of yours?”
“They do, actually.” Caitlyn said with a lecherous grin, “And all the other fun games I offer them.”
“Like sex,” Vi said.
She had never been one to mince her words or dance around them. Caitlyn, however, seemed to do that for a living. It felt like she was always dangling something just out of reach for Vi and enjoyed watching her attempts to grab it. Like a cat toying with a mouse, really.
Caitlyn hummed, saying, “Sometimes. If she catches my eye and doesn’t bore me to death.”
Vi raised an eyebrow at her tone. If Caitlyn was going for an aloof, unattached persona then she needed to keep the disdain out of her voice. She asked, “Like the woman from before?”
“Ah, her.” Caitlyn said, looking away with a smirk.
“I’m sure she’s a nice person. But you tossed her aside for a shiny new toy like it was nothing.” Vi said with a dismissive wave of her hand.
Caitlyn shot her a withering look before sighing.
“You’re more observant than you look,” she grumbled.
That was the first crack in this persona she had going on. Vi liked it. Piece by piece, Vi was learning who Caitlyn was underneath the façade of Artemis. It was like a game.
Vi leaned back into her chair, saying, “I’m a security guard. Missing a detail could mean someone’s blood on my hands.”
There was a sparkle of mischief in Caitlyn’s eyes as she asked, “You don’t like getting your hands dirty, hm?”
Ah. So they were back to this then. Vi smirked and said, “Depends on who it’s for.”
Caitlyn latched onto this and sat forward in her seat. She batted her incredibly long eyelashes at Vi and asked, “How about little, old me?”
I would literally bark if you asked me to.
Vi pretended to think for a moment before saying, “Hm… I could be persuaded.”
The two of them held each other’s gaze. The longer Vi looked at Caitlyn in the eye, the longer she wondered what that dark lipstick tasted like and what her cheeks looked like when they were flushed. Vi couldn’t help when her eyes drifted down to Caitlyn’s well-oiled chest. She wondered if it felt as soft as it looked.
These were dangerous thoughts about a dangerous woman.
Caitlyn smiled languidly at her and asked, “What’s your poison, then? Degradation? Praise? A bit of both?”
At this point Vi was sure she would be into anything as long as Caitlyn was one introducing her to it. She’d rather die than voice this thought to her, though: the last thing that woman needed was to have her already inflated ego stroked.
“I’m surprised you haven’t already figured it out by now,” Vi said with a grin, “I thought you were supposed to be this connoisseur of women. Perhaps you’re losing your touch.”
Caitlyn let out a small laugh at this. It sounded like small bells and Vi’s heart skipped a beat. Such a gentle sound from such a dangerous woman.
“I am good at what I do but I’m not a mind-reader,” Caitlyn drawled, “I am sure of one thing about you, though.”
Vi raised an eyebrow, asking, “Oh? And what’s that?”
“You like women just as much as I do,” Caitlyn said before smirking and adding: “Well, maybe not as much.”
Vi rolled her eyes and asked, “What gave it away? The tattoo of a woman on my arm?”
Caitlyn smiled. It was not a kind smile. It was more like a panther showing you its teeth just before it tore you to shreds.
“You’ve been sneaking glances at my tits this entire time, darling.”
Vi let out a booming laugh at this, having been caught completely off-guard. Her face flushed from embarrassment as she asked, “You’ve put scented oil on your chest and expect people not to look?”
This time, Caitlyn gave her a real smile as she said, “Oh, no. I expect it. I quite enjoy your staring, actually.”
“I can do a lot more than just stare, you know,” Vi drawled with hooded eyes.
Their chairs prevented Vi from actually getting close to Caitlyn. However, she was able to lean a considerable distance towards Caitlyn. Her intention was just to tease her and not to actually touch her. That was the game, wasn’t it? Always dancing around the point, never actually getting to it.
Of all things, Vi was held at bay by Caitlyn’s riding crop. The woman pushed the flat leather part against Vi’s mouth and shot her a heated glare.
“I’ll forgive you this time, since you’re new.” Caitlyn all but growled at her, adding, “Don’t you know to look and not to touch?”
She smelled of lavender. Was that what that oil was? Lavender oil? It made Vi dizzy with desire and she was sure she’d dream of this scent tonight.
Vi only laughed and leaned away. She almost missed the pressure against her chest. She said, “You’re a cruel woman, Caitlyn.”
Caitlyn winked at her.
“So I’ve been told.”
Vi’s attention drifted towards the doorway. A woman dressed in a rather expensive-looking suit was watching the two of them from the doorway, not unlike Vi had been earlier. This woman, a client presumably, lingered at the doorway with a sour expression.
Ah, so her time was up.
Just as Vi moved to get up and bid her farewells, Caitlyn’s hand shot up and made her pause. Vi turned to look at her and watched as Caitlyn’s hand waved the client away. Was she… dismissing them?
The client made a strangled noise at this before storming off down the hall. Vi fell back into her seat.
Caitlyn hadn’t taken her eyes off of Vi the entire time.
“What was that about?” Vi asked, feeling awfully confused.
With a brief glance to the ticking clock sitting on the table in front of them, Caitlyn said, “I believe that was my current client.”
Vi assumed as much.
“Oh.” Vi said, “Have I overstayed my welcome, then?”
Caitlyn grinned at her and said, “I dismissed them for a reason, darling. It’s just like you said. I have a shiny, new toy to play with.”
Vi blinked and looked at her. Really looked at Caitlyn for a moment. Then, Vi said, “You’re an only child.”
It wasn’t a question, it was a statement. She watched as Caitlyn flinched in surprise. It was only a tiny movement that was quickly corrected but Vi had caught it. It was the first time Caitlyn ever looked anything except smug since Vi walked into the room.
She was pretty cute.
Caitlyn huffed at her, asking, “And how would you know that?”
“You behave like a woman who’s never been told no. You’re an only child and your parents spoiled you as a child.” Vi gave her a patient smile and asked, “Am I wrong?”
A little too quickly and with a little too much force, Caitlyn said, “You’re wrong.”
Vi laughed.
“It’s not nice to lie, Caitlyn.”
For a moment, Vi wondered if this woman was about to throw a tantrum. Her face was scrunched up into a sneer and her cheeks were flushed with anger. Vi got it: this space was Caitlyn’s domain and she was used to having all the control when inside this room. She chose what information would be discussed and when, and only when she wanted them to know about it. And here came Vi, a nobody who could read people like a book, figuring her out and ruining the game that Caitlyn was trying to play. Of course she’d be annoyed.
Then, Caitlyn all-but pouted as she said, “...You don’t miss a detail, huh.”
Vi shrugged. Crisis averted.
“I just know how to recognise spoiled kids after growing up around them. To be fair, I spoiled my own little sister so I can’t fault your parents for doing the same,” Vi said, smiling towards the end.
There was a pause between them. Then, Caitlyn said, “Your entire face changes when you talk about her.”
Caitlyn was watching her with an unguarded, curious face. Her face was even prettier when it was relaxed. Vi smiled wider than before: Powder was the best little sister – of course Vi was happy to talk about her. She supposed that someone like Caitlyn, being an only child, probably found the bond between siblings a little alien.
Quietly, Vi said, “She’s my whole world. And she’s never gonna shut up about me getting lost down here once I get back.”
Ah. The bedroom eyes were back. Caitlyn tilted her head and asked, “Aren’t you glad I found you then?”
“Actually, I think I found you,” Vi countered.
Caitlyn waved her off, saying, “Semantics. What matters is that you’re with me now.”
Well, that certainly did things to Vi’s heart. She said, “Only until the coast is clear. My friend is probably looking for me.”
“You aren’t exactly hard to miss with that hair.” Caitlyn said, mischief clear in her eyes and cheeky grin.
Vi rolled her eyes, saying, “ Ooh , never heard that one before. A real silver tongue you got there.”
Caitlyn’s eyes drifted down a little as she said, “You’ve got a smart mouth. I like that.”
Despite the jabs and the dry humour, Vi was actually enjoying herself. It was nice to talk to a beautiful woman who wanted nothing from you except to tease you and joke around a bit. And Caitlyn was exceptionally clever with her words so she was a joy to talk to.
Vi countered, “And you are a terrible flirt.”
“I like to think I’m rather good at it.” Caitlyn said with her nose in the air, “The word you’re looking for is incorrigible, dear.”
Vi scoffed.
“Condescending might be better, actually.”
That predatory look was back on Caitlyn’s face. She smirked and drawled, “I would stop if you didn’t blush so deliciously whenever I talk down to you.”
As if on cue, Vi did blush vibrantly at these words. This earned her a small laugh from Caitlyn. Whatever Vi was about to say was interrupted by a muffled, drawn-out moan from another room. Vi raised an eyebrow at the sound while Caitlyn looked unbothered.
Oh, right. They were at a brothel.
Vi shook her head at her own forgetfulness, saying, “I almost forgot where I was for a second there.”
“Have I captured your attention so well?” Caitlyn asked.
“Don’t look so smug, it’s your turn to answer some questions.” Vi said as she turned to face her.
Caitlyn scoffed, saying, “You may ask. I’ll decide if I answer.”
Vi rolled her eyes. This evasive schtick was getting old. What was so terrible about her learning what Caitlyn’s favourite colour was or how she liked her tea? Whatever. Vi asked, “Why did your client call you that when she left?”
“Call me what?” Caitlyn asked.
The look in her eyes made it clear that Caitlyn knew exactly what Vi was referring to. She just wanted Vi to say it and to tease her for it. Fine. Vi would play along.
Sighing, Vi said, “My lady.”
“Yes, darling?” Caitlyn asked.
Vi’s cheeks burned at this and she earned a laugh from Caitlyn. A real one, full of teeth. She looked like she was enjoying herself and Vi couldn’t find it in her to be upset about that.
“So it’s a kink thing.” Vi said, hoping to move on.
Caitlyn scrunched up her nose (adorably) and said, “Yes and no.”
Vi tilted her head, asking, “Why no?”
Instead of answering, Caitlyn said, “My turn to ask you a question. Seems only fair to keep this turn-based.”
Vi shrugged. She saw no reason to resist this force of nature beside her.
Caitlyn gave her a once-over and asked, “Do you know who the Kiramman’s are?”
She snorted, saying, “Doesn’t everyone? They used to be a famous merchant family way back when and were basically royalty in Piltover. They were the higher house of Piltover. Then they migrated down here generations ago because business was better for them.”
“More liberating and more profitable,” Caitlyn corrected her.
“Sure. They also happen to dabble in shimmer distribution.” Vi said.
She remembered all of her Dad’s lessons about the network of chem-lords and barons down in Zaun. Her old man used to be involved in something down here before she was born and she had never asked him to talk about it. She knew he’d never explain, that whatever it was it was too raw for him.
The Kiramman’s were among his many lessons. In her Dad’s own words: “If you get involved with that family, even indirectly, run and don’t look back.”
She could make an educated guess as to why Caitlyn had brought this family up specifically, out of all the questions she could have asked.
Caitlyn gave her a pleased smile, saying, “You certainly do your homework.”
“There’s plenty of secrets to be found between our two cities if you know where to look. My Dad used to be pretty important down here before he left. At least, that’s what he told me,” Vi said, shrugging at the end.
Caitlyn tilted her head.
“Who is your father?” She asked.
Vi said, “Vander. He goes by Vander Lane these days.”
Caitlyn’s whole expression darkened. it was gone after a moment but Vi had caught it. It helped that Caitlyn’s grip had tightened around her riding crop, making an audible squeezing sound.
Vi nodded to herself and scratched at her jaw, saying, “I guess he was telling the truth.”
Caitlyn spoke in an almost-robotic voice as she said, “ Your father is the Hound of the Underground.”
Vi blinked. Her Dad, the same guy who wore an apron with crayon drawings scrawled on it because he loved and was proud his daughters. The same man who could bench press double his weight but screamed when he saw a snake. The same old geezer who sneezed so hard he almost knocked himself out once.
Was known as the Hound of the Underground.
“...Well, that’s a fucking mouthful,” Vi murmured.
Caitlyn scoffed and pinched the bridge of her nose, squeezing her eyes shut.
“What are the bloody odds?” She asked in a tight voice.
Vi frowned and asked, “What’s got you so upset?”
Instead of answering (this was becoming a pattern with her), Caitlyn asked, “What else did your father tell you about the Kiramman’s?”
Vi said, “Not much. Just that they were bad news and not to get involved with them, or any other chem-baron.”
Caitlyn looked beyond aggravated as she asked, “Are you aware that they have a daughter?”
Vi sighed.
“Is this the part where you dramatically reveal that you’re the Kiramman heiress and your mother is one of the notorious chem-barons distributing shimmer under the protection and leadership of a single, mastermind king-pin that goes by ‘S’?”
The ball dropped. The two of them were staring at each other now. Caitlyn’s mouth had fallen open and her eyes threatened to leap from their sockets. She was awfully pretty like that, honestly.
Vi smirked at this reaction and said, “I might be a total beefcake but I’m not an idiot, y’know. I was raised by the… what did you call him? The Hound of the Underground?”
God, what a stupid name. She was gonna howl at him when she got home tonight. Forget going back to her own apartment, Vi would never miss an opportunity to annoy her Dad.
“You are more well-informed than you ought to be,” Caitlyn grumbled, spitting the words out like they were poison.
Vi draped her arm across the edge of her chair.
“Is this the part where the sexy, evil princess throws me in jail to rot until you figure out how to deal with me?” Vi asked, “Or will you just chill out and realise that I’m not here to start a fight? I told you: I’ll be outta your hair once the coast is clear.”
The two of them were quiet for a long time. Caitlyn was clearly trying to size her up and figure out if Vi was a threat; Vi just wanted to go back to flirting. She didn’t really care that Caitlyn’s family were these big drug lords – nothing Vi could do about that. And after today, she’d probably never see this gorgeous woman ever again.
Vi traced the tattoos on her arm with her finger while she waited for Caitlyn to lower her hackles.
When she did, Caitlyn murmured, “Small world.”
Vi snorted. You could say that again.
“Can I ask why you’re working here? What’s so special about this place?” Vi asked, leaning her head on her hand now.
“People tend to have loose lips if you poke the right buttons. Lovely ladies from Piltover who haven’t been touched by their husbands in years just… fall apart at the slightest pressure. And if their husbands happen to be important government officials or business tycoons and they mention some insignificant detail that benefits my family… well, that’s just good luck, isn’t it?” Caitlyn asked, entirely too pleased with herself.
Vi grinned and said, “And because you’re telling me all of this, I’m assuming they’ll find my body floating in the river come the morning.”
Caitlyn shot her a matching grin, saying, “Oh, they’d never find your body. But no, I won’t be killing you tonight.”
“You almost sound disappointed,” Vi drawled.
Caitlyn waved her off with a gloved hand.
“If I were to kill you, I’d have an angry, old dog barking at my door and looking for blood.” Caitlyn said, adding, “Besides, how else am I meant to entice you to come back?”
She wanted Vi to come back?
That’s it. She couldn’t take it anymore. Vi wanted to kiss her so bad. Just once. And it was clear that Caitlyn wanted her to as well, if the bedroom eyes she was giving her was any indication.
“Ever heard of an appetiser?” Vi murmured, “Giving the customer a taste of what’s to come.”
Caitlyn’s gaze slid from her eyes to her mouth and then back up. Vi’s heart was in her throat.
“And is a taste what you’re after?” Caitlyn asked.
“Not just a taste, if I’m being honest.” Vi said, “There’s something you should know about me if this is going to happen again.”
Vi leaned forward. It was a slight movement but noticeable. She was asking for permission this time. The last thing she needed was for Caitlyn to whack her with that riding crop or to be dragged out of here for breaking the rules.
Caitlyn’s smile was full of teeth and malice as she reached out and grabbed Vi by the throat. Vi allowed herself to be pulled towards the other woman, enjoying the feeling of her leather gloves curling around her skin. Vi wanted to feel them sliding across her skin. She wanted to see that dark, delighted look in Caitlyn’s eyes again. More importantly, she wanted to get lost in the scent of lavender oil and taste it on her tongue.
They were inches away from each other. Caitlyn’s warm breath tickled Vi’s lips. She could see every freckle, every mole, every fleck of grey in her eyes at this dance.
Vi had never wanted anyone more in her life than she wanted this woman.
“You might be dangerous,” she rasped out, “but I’m insatiable .”
Caitlyn was the one to close the distance and lead Vi in a searing kiss. She kissed Vi with a degree of intensity that left Vi’s mind reeling – it didn’t help that the soft leather of her gloves was doing wonders to her skin. She couldn’t even melt into the kiss because Caitlyn was holding her at bay. Vi’s skin was burning up like a fever at this point. Caitlyn’s grip was rough and unforgiving, hinting at an unexpected strength despite her thin frame. Honestly? Vi was kinda into how mean she was being.
Caitlyn’s hand was still wrapped around her throat but her other arm was draped across the couch. The message was clear. She won’t touch Vi the way she wanted her to – the way she needed her to. This was just a taste.
She was so close yet so far away.
On instinct, Vi reached out to touch Caitlyn. Just for a moment. But before she could even get close, Caitlyn must have noticed because Vi’s hands were swatted at. Once. It was just once with that damn riding crop and it left her hands stinging. Fuck. Vi had forgotten she even had those because of her horny brain. She groaned into the kiss but didn’t dare pull away.
Caitlyn’s hand squeezed tighter and she bit down on Vi’s bottom lip. Vi hissed when she felt the skin break. A warning nip.
“Hands to yourself, pup,” Caitlyn growled.
Panting and dizzy, Vi raised an eyebrow at the name.
“Pup?” She asked.
Caitlyn smirked at her, saying, “Your father was a legendary hound in this city. You don’t quite measure up.”
Vi would never get used to the way Caitlyn looked at her. The way those blue eyes dragged across her body and then back up. The weight of her fiery gaze trailing over Vi’s body was euphoric.
She licked at her lips, tasting her own blood and the honey from Caitlyn’s lipstick.
Somehow, Vi had managed to get herself ensnared in whatever trap this woman had laid out. And what was worse: she didn’t actually mind all that much. She wanted to be devoured by her.
Caitlyn murmured, “Yet.”
With that, she pushed Vi back by the throat. Vi fell back against the couch with a dull thud. Goddamn, that woman was strong. Vi knew men twice her size that punched with less strength than Caitlyn apparently had.
It was pretty hot, to be honest.
Caitlyn’s chin jutted out towards the doorway as she said, “You may go.”
Vi laughed. She said, “You really know how to warm a lady’s heart, don’tcha?”
Caitlyn merely smirked at her and began fixing her lipstick. It did things to Vi’s heart at the sight of Caitlyn’s ruined makeup and knowing that she had been the one to ruin it. It was probably seared onto her brain at this point.
“Your heart isn’t what I’m interested in,” she drawled.
Vi scoffed but didn’t feel particularly wounded. This woman was a force of nature; Vi could either get out of the way or let it take her. And as far as Vi was concerned, she was quite happy to play the mouse to Caitlyn’s cat.
She stood to her feet and wiped the smeared lipstick and blood from her mouth. Below her, Caitlyn huffed and held out a piece of cloth. A white, silk cloth.
“Clean yourself up before you leave. Never let it be said that I don’t clean up my messes.” Caitlyn said, looking up at Vi through hooded eyes.
Vi did as she was told. The handkerchief smelled of lavender oil. She smiled.
Caitlyn began speaking as Vi cleaned herself up.
“Next time you come, tell them you’re here for Artemis. They shouldn’t trouble you again.” She said, adding, “You can use that as an excuse to come back, if you need the extra push.”
Vi rolled her eyes without a hint of malice. Caitlyn was the kind of woman who was used to calling the shots and ordering people around – Vi could roll with it.
It was only as she turned to leave the room that she noticed the décor. She had been so focused on Caitlyn that she hadn’t really taken in the sights around her. That was a first, honestly.
The mounted, taxidermied heads of wild beasts. The expensive statues of exotic birds. The mural. Artemis . It all clicked. The meaning behind all of this had been so niche that Vi hadn’t even connected the dots until now.
Looking back, Vi said, “Artemis, huh?”
Caitlyn raised an eyebrow at her.
“Do you have something to say, darling?” She asked with an edge to her voice.
“This wouldn’t have anything to do with the mythological Goddess of the Hunt, would it?” Vi asked with a smirk, adding, “A bit on the nose, cupcake.”
For the first time, Vi managed to fluster her. She heard the sharp inhale from Caitlyn and the tinge of pink to her cheeks.
Artemis belonged to a pantheon of gods described in a best-selling, fantasy book series. Powder had been obsessed with it as a kid and roped Vi into it, too. She had forgotten all about that childhood interest until this very moment.
To think that Caitlyn might’ve been reading those books in Zaun when Vi was reading them in Piltover…
Small world.
Quietly, Caitlyn said, “You’re a bit too well-read for a security guard.”
She did not look the least bit upset about this. Actually, Caitlyn looked downright delighted . Like a predator who was about to pounce in for the kill.
Vi just winked at her before leaving without a sound. The handkerchief was safely folded and tucked into her jacket’s inner pocket. Her own little treasure to be safeguarded.
Goddess of the Hunt, indeed.