A Picture Worth a Thousand Words - Chapter 5 ā Restless Nights
FANDOM: ARCANE (LEAGUE OF LEGENDS)
Characters : Vi, Caitlyn, Enforcer, Soren
Warnings: Violence, Swearing, Angst, Drama, Conflict, SPOILERS TO ARCANE S1, thirst trap, Desires
Word Count: 3045
Note: The Story takes place directly after Season Finale of Arcane. READ: [PART 1] [PART 2]
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BONUS Scenes COMING THIS WEEKEND haha
PART 3: A Picture Worth a Thousand Words
Chapter 5 ā Restless Nights
INT ā KIRAMMAN HOUSE ā EARLY MORNING
A couple days had past and there were still no signs of Cassandra Kiramman (Caitlynās mothers) body under the wreckage of the council building. No one wanted to call it quits yet and the rescue team was still searching for survivors. Was it possible she could had survived and escaped? Nothing was known. It was early morning and Caitlyn couldnāt sleep, feeling miserable, she was in a state of uncertainty and at a loss of what she could do as her mother had her contract terminated as an Enforcer prior to her going to Stillwater Prison to run her own investigation into Jayceās stolen Hextech Gemstone. Now - she was unable to get anywhere near the investigation into the destruction of the Council building and her colleagues would not risk their own jobs to divulge information as they knew she was too personally involved in the case.
As she laid on her bed she was already in a causal outfit ready to start her dayā¦or do somethingā¦.anythingā¦to get her mind off the currently situationā¦.she stared off at the map on the floor feeling frustratedā¦there was sadness in her eyesā¦her heart achedā¦.Vi had left herā¦.and her mother was missing. She was starting to get agitatedā¦and her mind just kept bombarding her with thoughts. Did her colleagues not think she would be an assetā¦..she needed to find her mother- alive and now she could do nothing other then wait and waiting was a terrible game especially when it involved death. Becoming impatient she got off her bed and decided to go for a walk outdoors as sunrise had already occurred and maybe a walk would clear her mind. Exiting the Kiramman household gates she started to walk through the town, wandering aimlessly needing something to keep her mind occupied.
The sunlight in the morning was beautiful reflecting off the building and houses of Piltover. It was quiet and not many people were up or outside yet. At least this was something soothing although she knew the reality of it all was just a faƧade as in other areas of the city Enforcers were rushing around still securing the city.
Caitlyn took a slow pace walk down a cobblestoned back road and couldnāt shake the fact that this was all Jinxās faultā¦all this chaos in the city occurred because Viās sister shot the rocket at the Council building. I canāt let her get away with what she has doneā¦..but Viā¦.she thought to herself shaking her head feeling conflicted with stirring emotions inside of her as she continued to walk down the pathway noticing someone in the distant fighting with an Enforcer. āGet the fuck off meā the girl yells while shoving the Enforcer away- drunkenly. āWhat the fuckā. The girl was in a red jacket with a black hood, white boxing wraps around her fists and had pink hair. She was stumbling around looking dishevelled and lost and then seconds later she fell face forward onto the stone pathway. The Enforcer laughed not even touching her. āPathetic trencherā. Vi laid there for a moment enjoying the cold hard ground- it made her feel somethingā¦.pain which was just what she was about to put the Enforcer through. As she stood back up, she threw a punch at his face missing while stumbling backwards and he laughed at her drunken ass until she booted him between the legs following up with a quick right hook to the head. āfuccck yeah!ā The Enforcer could feel the hard impact of a bare fist hit him across the face while his body started to feel loose and darkness crossed his eyes before his body hit the ground.
Turning away Vi felt a weird sensation overcome her and started to stumble unevenly back around the pathway.
From the distance Caitlyn could tell exactly who this was- it was Vi and she didnāt look well. Bruised and cut up from various fights and something seemed different about her-ā¦.something was off and now she was stumbling around drunkenly in Piltover becoming more noticeable by other citizens who were just starting their day. Caitlyn began running down the stone pathway concerned that Vi was going to get herself arrested. āā¦.Viā¦butā¦whyā¦.ā she whispered under her breath picking up her speed ā she knew that because she was out of her Enforcers uniform if another Enforcer was to notice the incident there would be problems.
Vi found a nice little house to lean against keeping her eyes towards the ground while trying to focus as she was still a little off balance, she was hoping that her head would stop pounding from all the alcohol she had consumed prior to arriving in Piltover. Ekko tried to stop her from drinking so much but it was the only way she could ease the pain of all the guilt she was feeling and she wasnāt ready to face ā āViā¦.ā The words were soft with an accent and sounded concerned, Viās chest tightened fuck she thought. It was Caitlynā¦.she managed to find her⦠lifting up her head slowly she was afraid to face Caitlyn but when their eyes met - both were at a loss of words of what to say as they started to feel overwhelmed by emotion and could tell each other was going through pain. They both wanted to reach out to each other but it hurt so much. They stood there in silence, eyes fixed on one another and each breath they took was synchronizedā¦deep, slow and warm, as they found comfort in each other without the use of words and you could hear a pin drop between the two. Nothing else mattered in this moment it was if the world had stop spinning for a brief second. A slight smile crossed Vi face as she steadied her hand placement on the side of a house and could feel something more then just comfort āone second Cupcake I just āā Vi vomits into a small flowerbed next the house as Caitlyn watches feeling a little flustered as the tension breaks between them. Vi looks up with a goofy smile as Caitlyn shakes her head putting her arm around her to help steady her. āSeriously Viā¦ā¦we need to get you off the street before more Enforcers arriveā¦you canāt just fight random people.ā Vi starts mumbling words that arenāt coherent while leaning her some of her weight on Caitlyn as they continue to walk down the street.
While walking Caitlyn notices a restaurant with its door wide open and no one around she considered that this would be a good place to get Vi hydrated and maybe get a coffee in her. Entering through the doorway Caitlyn notices that the restaurant is actually a trendy Piltover pub and it has some cold colors with black and gold accents through out the venue, a pool table in the back, a couple of roundtables at the front for guests a dart board straight off the main bar. The bottom of the tables and the bar were made of gears and engine parts, the lighting seemed to be dimmed. On the bar was a plate of half eaten toast and a half a glass of something that looked alcoholic. No one was in the pub ā it looked dead.
Upon entering Vi noticed the food on the counter top and did not hesitateā¦releasing herself from Caitlynās grasp and running over to it as she grabbed the plate and devouring the toast just as she then clutched the drink and tossed it back. In that brief moment Caitlyn attempted to grab Viās arm to stop her but is to lateā¦. āVi!ā the drink was empty. She slammed the glass back on the bar and smiled whatever it was- tasted good and she wanted another āHa! BAR KEEP WHERE ARE YOU!ā she yelled demanding another drink.
Caitlyn sat down on a stool next to Vi rolling her eyes and just as she was about to speak up two blue eyes cut through the darkness of the shadows like a horror movie and a woman walked forward with long black hair, similar height to Vi, an athletic/slim build wearing a pair of pants, high length boots, v cut neckline shirt with left arm covered in a sleeve and the right sleeveless, golden accents were designed throughout her clothing and a couple of belts around her waist- one which she hung a towel off of. She walked with confidence and you could tell owned the bar and she didnāt seem like she would take shit from anyone. She had noticed right away that Vi had attacked her breakfast and her drink. āWe are closed.ā She replied sternly. Caitlyn felt bad about the breakfast situation āsorry about that...Iāll pay for that if need be. We saw the door open and thought you were open? My friend here is in need of water and perhaps a cup of coffee.ā āFOODā Vi yelled back at the bar keep as her stomach growled.
āā¦ā¦Iām not a restaurant-and Iām waiting for a delivery which is why the door was left open.ā The bar keep looked towards Vi. āWho the fuck do you think you are.ā Vi was caught off guard by the bar keeps reaction but welcomed another challenge as she leaned over the bar. āYou want to find out who I am!?ā she yelled back ready to fight the woman as Caitlyn attempted to hold her back. Vi scowls āI was looking for The Rusty Nail but I can take a detour!ā. Vi tightens her fist looking for a fight. The woman and Vi stand face to face not afraid of each other. The bar keep then points to the front door sign that reads āTHE RUSTY NAIL ā PILTOVERāS FINEST PUBā. Caitlyn is stunned as neither of them is backing down and tries to diffuse the situation. āThis is The Rusty Nail? Iāve heard about it before... Itās pretty popular.ā Vi and the bar keep continue to stare at one another looking like someone will be murdered over breakfast. āSo- youāre Vi?ā the bar keep grins both of them are 2 inches away from each others face. āYup.ā Cocky reply. The bar keep smiles āsit the fuck down and read the sign above my head.ā Vi looks up ā No fighting in the bar & Good Times only. Vi sits back on her stool as the bar keep turns away and puts a pot of coffee on. Caitlyn released her grip on Viās jacket and is slightly confused did Vi come to Piltover just to come to this bar and not to see her? why? She thought to herself before the words just slipped out of her mouth āVi-you were looking for this bar?ā The bar keep interrupts the conversation as she turns around āwhat are you having?ā asking Caitlyn and pulling out waters on the table in front of them. Caitlyn is a little bit thrown off by how quick the woman is working āIāll have a tea pleaseā¦..ā The bar keep laughs āYou can have a coffee or a drink ā no other choicesā Caitlyn smiles trying to ease the mood ācoffee please.ā The bar keep nods grabbing a couple of cups under the bar and throws down a couple of coasters that were originally gear parts from a mechanical device. She starts to pour the coffee into the cups. āSo, youāre Vanderās kid?ā Viās eyes open wide extremely confused. How did this woman knowā¦.. the bar keep continued āI knew him well. Iām sorry for your loss.ā Caitlyn noticed Viās body language starting to change a little. Who was this Vander? And why is Vi acting uneasy now⦠Caitlyn wondered. Vi stared at her coffee ā black just how she wanted it. āwhat- do you mean you knew him wellā¦..ā her eye twitched as she replied.
The bar keep places a little jug of milk in front of Caitlyn knowing that sheāll probably request it anyways. āAll the taverns know each other. We share some of the same suppliers but some of us knew each other better then others.ā She smirked as Vi started to choke on her coffee. What did that even mean. Did this woman know Vander intimately?! Or was she just fucking with her? Vi couldnāt figure it out. Caitlyn quietly sipped her coffee trying to figure out if this Vander was a relative of Viās - she was quite amused viewing Vi blush of embarrassment while also watching Viās soul starting to crawl deeper into her to hide. The barkeep continued āSo - I heard you ripped off my sisters arm in Zaun.ā Quickly Vi snapped back into her body/reality spitting out her coffee. āPFFFT- SE-SEVIKA IS YOUR SISTER?! YOU ARE FROM ZAUN!ā Vi shouts back at the bar keep. Caitlyn coming to the realization that this explains a lot about how these two confronted each other earlier. āHalf sister. We have different fathers. Itās a shame you didnāt kill her but probably for the best as she is fighting hard for Zaun and is trying to make money to keep her father alive.ā Vi grins repositioning herself back on the bar stool still angry from Sevikaās betrayal and she had never considered Sevika to have family. She was a cold-hearted betraying bitch.
Changing the conversation, The bar keep pulls out a medium sized box covered in a cloth with a bit of blood on it. Placing it in front of Vi āYour package arrived this morning. Do you know how hard it is to get something like this off the black market?ā As Vi reached for the package a knife is stabbed between her fingers stopping her hand from moving closer āNot so fast. Payment is due.ā
Caitlyn puts her cup down on the coaster concerned āwhat is happening here? Are you running an illegal operation?ā Caitlyn looks stern towards the criminal behind the bar āI can have you arrested.ā The barkeep smiles āYou could-try but how do you think someone from Zaun ended up here. Enforcers come to this bar just as much as any other individual looking for information.ā Caitlyn looks to Vi āYou shouldnāt deal with these people Vi-whatever is in that package isnāt worth it.ā Vi grins moving her hand away from the knife considering Caitlynās words but something else grabs her attention on the word information. āWhat do you know about Jinx?ā. Caitlyn is now also curious and demands answers as well āWhat do you also know about the rocket that hit the council building?!ā The barkeep keeps her cool while pulling the her knife out of the table and folds it back up. āNothing. Iām staying out of that mess. Now regarding my payment.ā She pulls out another box in a dark blue cloth. āThis needs to be delivered to the west end of town where the factory district is. The building is 9384 Block-D.ā Caitlyn recognizes the address right away āBlock-D!? That district is where my families factories areā¦ā¦..they canāt be involved in illegal activitiesā¦.ā Vi puts a hand on Caitlynās back, her stomach is starting to feel a little better āItās ok. We can look into it.ā Vi looks to the barkeep āWhatās in the package?ā. The barkeep moves the empty cups away from Vi and Caitlyn and starts to clean up. āIt doesnāt matter. Donāt open it. Just deliver it and if you know the factory area well ā then youāre already ahead of the game. There is a window on the second level that will be open tonight. When you get inside, youāll follow a light down a hallway and meet the client. Now get out of my bar so I can clean off the mess that a bunch of kids left behind on a table.ā The bar keep pushes Vi and Caitlyn out of the bar. āWhen you finish the job the package you requested will be in the front mailbox, the key will be under the 3rd potted plant in the back.ā
Vi and Caitlyn hear the door shut behind them and a locking system grind in place.
āViā¦.who was that?ā Caitlyn asks out of concern realizing that there is more to Piltover and its political corruption then what she knew 30 minutes earlier. Vi grinned holding the blue package up to the sky wondering what was inside it as she started to walk with Caitlyn.
āSoren, I suppose. I once overheard a conversation late at night when Vander and Benzo were chatting about a woman named Soren. During the uprising on the bridgeā¦ā¦when my parents died, Soren was taken by the Enforcers and thrown in Stillwater.ā Vi grinned āher name was carved into the stone wall there next to the word reaper. She was wanted for various murders.ā It was pretty standard in the Undercity to come across murders, criminals and drug dealers so it was nothing new to Vi but Caitlyn was still processing the words Vi just told her āBut how is it possible she is here. In Piltover now.ā Caitlyn asks while stopping in her tracks. Turning to face Caitlyn, Vi replies bluntly stating a fact āwell seems like Piltover isnāt so clean after all.ā Caitlyn was shocked how was this even possible⦠was the system broken or did this Soren have connections that no one else had access to. āI would stay away from her Cupcake. There is a reason why she is there.ā Vi turned around shaking the package trying to figure out what was in it. āVi- is it worth it? To do thisā¦..ā Caitlyn asked as they continued to walk together. āCupcake this is my job. I can handle it on my own.ā Vi responded. Caitlyn was having concerns about Vi going off into the factory district doing this jobā¦she needed to know what kind of illegal activities were going on in her familyās factories late at night. āNo, Vi Iām coming with you. I need to investigate this.ā Vi smiles āthatās the spirit- our first job together. Just make sure you donāt get arrested by an Enforcer.ā She winked at Caitlyn while teasing her. Caitlyn rolled her eyes unimpressed by the joke ācome on nowā¦and stop calling me Cupcakeā¦.also who is this Vander?ā
BONUS PIC: The back table Soren had to clean off.......
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Post notes:
Soren pronounced (Sorr-en)
There are TWO BONUS SCENES releasing this weekend. One with Vi/Caitlyn and the other is Sevika and Soren.
You can either follow me or follow the Arcane Sevika or Arcane FanFic tag to read it. Youāll learn a lot about the character I created.
I needed a character to push the story forward for Vi and Caitlyn ā the payoffā¦..is golden at the end of the story but building it takes timeā¦..and as a fan of Sevika ā I wanted her back story fleshed out. Also, Vander was totally getting action back in the day. I thought it would be hilarious if it was Sevikaās younger sister. I wanted Vi to have someone other then Caitlyn in Piltover but also have an awkward relationship with them. Although I have a feeling Vi would be just running a massive bar tabā¦
It took me a LONG TIME to figure out a Pub Name that would reflect Zaun but could be trendy in Piltover - The Rusty Nail. It took me longer to find a name that sounded cool for Sevikaās sister that wasnāt a name used in LoL (they use so many names)ā¦.like SERIOUSLY.
Also, if you watch TV shows- you want to establish a place characters can keep going back to. I wasnāt going to write a coffee shop, restaurant, new building/etc. I wanted a place where some Enforcers, Criminals, Regular People go ā a trendy pub that behind the scenes doubled as an illegally operation network for information.
Where would Vi, Caitlyn and sometimes Jinx go? LOL.
And yes - the table that was graffitied on was by Jinx & Friends. Which means she made an appearance at the bar. This table was not noticed by Caitlyn or Vi as it was in a back corner of the bar.
Lastly yes....I thought it would be fun to add to Piltover's Finest...Pub LOL i don't need to explain!
If you made it this far fantastic ~ if not oh well! LOL
pic credits:
Arcane Netflix: Riot Games
Bar: 6sense.ro