*- i'm a misfit too

she doesn't hear the click of the key in the lock of her apartment as she waves a towel over the smoking pan on the stove. another failed attempt ⸻ but at least she was getting closer ! it was going well until she got a little too confident and thought she could skip a few steps. in her defense, they seemed pretty pointless. but: lesson learned.

“ shit shit shit shit, ” she cusses as she picks up the pan to drop it in the sink basin, turning on the water to turn the smoke to s t e a m as the pan cools. it's only then when she sees a familiar form in the doorway of her kitchen. “ nooo, ” she moans, eyes falling shut as she tilts her head back, the elongated vowel almost echoing with a little laugh. violet tilts her head to the side to look to caitlyn as and says, “ you're EARLY. this was supposed to be a surprise ... ” ideally a good one ... and at least some of the food at turned out. it didn't matter that it was just a side.

So — no emergency. Just Vi, she guesses. In the better case scenario.

She follows the scent into the kitchen, stopping just outside the mess of flour-dusted counters, scattered cutting boards, and half-prepped ingredients.

And there’s Vi, looking guilty as hell, steam rising around her like she’s standing in the middle of a crime scene.

Caitlyn bites back a grin. With no such success. She crosses her arms, leaning into the doorframe, her lips twitching up at the sheer sight of it all.

❝ No, no, don’t mind me,❞ she muses, voice thick with amusement. ❝ For all it matters, I’m still at work. Please, do continue.❞

She watches Vi freeze, groaning in exaggerated frustration. Caitlyn lets her gaze drift over the evidence of something resembling dinner.

❝ Do you need help with that?❞ she asks, taking a few slow steps forward, eyes flicking from the sink to the countertop, then finally settling back on her. ❝ Or should I just stand back and admire the efforts of my careful, doting, loving girlfriend?❞

She takes another step, close enough now that she can feel the warmth radiating from Vi’s body, close enough that she knows her presence alone is enough to fluster her. Her tone drops lower, just above a whisper.

❝ The Noxians?❞ she echoed, her tone laced with confusion.

Her grip tightened slightly around the piece of fruit in her hand as she studied the stranger before her. The cloak, the hood — an unusual choice for a conversation in broad daylight. Her eyes flicked past him, scanning the streets behind him, then sweeping toward the distant figures of Noxian soldiers stationed throughout the city.

Why would someone approach her so c a r e f u l l y just to ask about them?

A concerned Piltover citizen, wary of foreign soldiers in their streets? Perhaps. There were many who didn’t approve of their presence. But something about him felt… off. He was too well-spoken, too measured, to be a common dissenter. And if he were one of Jinx’s sympathizers, he’d be far less composed.

Her eyed narrowed slightly, lips pressing into a thin line as she scrutinized him once more. Whoever he was, he was hiding something.

She glanced around again, ensuring no one was too close to overhear, before exhaling quietly and extending a hand, gesturing for him to follow.

❝ I can assure you, the Noxian soldiers are operating under strict orders — my own, and their general’s,❞ she said evenly, watching for his reaction. ❝ There is no threat to Piltover. If that is your concern, you have nothing to fear.❞

She paused, tilting her head slightly, voice lowering just enough to signal curiosity rather than outright distrust.

❝ But if you’d prefer to discuss your concerns in private…❞ Her expression remained composed, but there was a glint of intrigue in her eyes. ❝ My office might be a more suitable place for this conversation.❞

@gaevaer liked  this  for  a  starter ( plotted pain for Charlotte ).

Vi  didn't  beg  -  so  when  she  had  come  to  Caitlyn  pleading  for  help  ,  the  Kiramman  girl  knew  that  it  was  serious  ,  though  she  didn't  anticipate  to  be  asked  to  break  her  ‘  twin  ’  out  of  jail.  Some  story  that  Vi  had  been  trying  to  feed  her  for  months  ,  Caitlyn  didn't  believe  a  word  of  it  ,  didn't  want  to  believe  it  ,  but  this  time  -  when  Vi  fell  to  her  knees  with  tears  streaming  down  her  face  asking  for  help  ,  it  was  a  sight  Caitlyn  just  couldn't  ignore. 

Forging  a  release  slip  from  Jayce  was  -  easier  than  she'd  thought.  She'd  apologise  to  him  later  on  for  betraying  his  trust  ,  and  using  his  name  to  release  none  other  than  SILCO's  killer. 

Stillwater  was  cold  -  it's  walls  echoed  with  pain  and  suffering.  Her  form  was  handed  over  ,  and  she  was  now  in  search  for  Charlotte  ,  whose  cell  was  deep  into  the  underground  ,  Caitlyn  didn't  even  know  how  low  down  this  place  went. 

Cell  516  was  40  levels  deep  ,  in  an  isolated  zone  ,  the  guard  having  told  her  Charlotte  was  there  for  her  own  safety.  Caitlyn  feared  that  maybe  -  she  was  dangerous  ,  the  girl  had  killed  Silco  after  all  -  though  Vi  had  explained  the  emotional  term  oil  Charlotte  was  being  put  through  in  that  moment.  Caitlyn  could  see  from  the  pain  in  Vi's  eyes  that  whoever  this  girl  turned  out  to  be  ,  she  was  important. 

Her  steps  slowed  as  she  approached  the  cell  ,  anxiety  and  apprehension  balling  in  the  pit  of  her  stomach.  Caitlyn  stood  behind  the  line  and  cleared  her  throat  to  gain  the  others  attention.  The  girl  could  barely  be  seen  ,  curled  into  the  corner  facing  away  from  the  bars. 

❝  charlotte  ?  ❞ 

Charlotte had thrown herself into prison without thinking, without stopping to breathe, without considering what came after. It had been the only choice that made sense — lock herself away before she did more damage to the people she loved. Before she fell apart completely. She had spent days in hiding, mourning the father she had killed with her own gun, the home she had destroyed, the lover she had pushed away. She told herself this was the price of her s i n s. That this place, the cold, rotting prison, was where she belonged.

She thought quitting shimmer would be the hardest part.

She was wrong.