#switch!shoola

facing her new counterparts, shoola returns their pointed looks, a look of distaste blanketing her expression. after all that was done–joint efforts made to bring down the forces that threatened both zaun and piltover–individuals can still find it in themselves to look down on zaunites. if she had the power, she would deny the addition of such people, prompting a seat on the council if a bias is dismissed and a leveled mindset could be put forth. 

because that is what is needed. yet here they all sit, ready to continue a vile cycle that has done nothing but further divide a once united society. 

amid the first meeting of the renewed council, as expected, sevika’s words are cut into, demands scoffed at while attitude-filled responses are shot back. fist clenched, sevika’s brown skin heats, frustration building as she sees the obvious barricade made for her requests. her jaw clenches, teeth grinding against each other as she prepares to speak again. 

“if i may?” comes shoola’s silvery voice, her two-toned eyes looking at sevika. 

sevika remains tense, meeting shoola’s gaze, the stare a stark difference from the others of the council. a slight nod of her head is given. 

shoola brings her attention to the rest of the councilors sitting at the table, the adornments on her fingers glinting in the soft rays of sun pouring through the windows. “i don’t think willful ignorance is the right path to take following an event birthed from such an aspect.”

undeterred by the collective reactions to the accusation, shoola maintains an even look on her face. her voice raises in volume as she continues, “removing the factories that border the fissures should not be an abstract idea that brings all of you to disrespect a fellow member of the council; you are not here to fight against sevika’s wishes or ignore them, you are here to listen, learn, and aid the individuals, the families, the lives of zaun.” 

“councilor shoola, with all due respect, the removal of the factories would pose a massive loss for those who depend on jobs for their families and their lives,” is a response. 

shoola is reminded of her own words that reflected the response just given, but ultimately, people cannot be sacrificed to support another–there is a way to support both, there has to be. 

“with such an obstacle, being named the “city of progress” should be an embarrassment if we cannot even move forward to ensure our counterparts are safe and healthy,” shoola places her words with a firm force, holding eye contact with each individual sitting at the table. she looks at sevika lastly, face softening as she does. “do you have anything else to bring forward, councilor sevika?”

sevika points her words to shoola only, purposely ignoring the others, “all good for now. how fast can we get the supplies to start repairs?”

“as soon as they are needed,” shoola responds. 

examining her fellow councilor for a moment, sevika holds a smidge of approval for the other, yet keeps a controlled expression. she relaxes slightly in her chair, right index finger tapping with an aura of impatience as she has to sit through the rest of the meeting, listening to the topics with half a mind. when there is input from shoola, sevika looks her way, taking in her mannerisms that flow with grace, the sound of her claw adornments tapping the table as she makes a point settling into her mind. when any other councilor speaks, sevika lets out a tired exhale.  

 a sharp breath is taken as she settles back into reality once realizing ending statements are made and the impending end to the meeting is to come. 

sevika is the first to stand, chair legs groaning against the floor as the back of her legs push it away. concern bubbles inside of her thinking about isha and jinx still in recovery even though she is sure vi hasn’t left either of their sides. fuck, she thinks, get me anywhere but here. she can’t stand the demeanor the council holds, can’t fucking stand it. but she would endure worse if it meant aiding zaun and rebuilding it. heels hurriedly click behind her but her mind is focused on the young ones back home. 

hints of that familiar amber aroma makes sevika side-eye her right side, a gold claw coming into view. 

“have you taken a look at your office?” shoola questions, falling in step with sevika. 

fully turning her head, sevika quirks her brow, eyes following the shape of shoola’s face plate before darting to her lips then settling on her gaze. “i haven’t.” 

the mechanism of the door lightly chitters as the grand structure begins to open, letting the two individuals pass through. shoola guides the direction to the right, the long corridor holding various rooms in a simple pattern. it is quiet between the two as they walk together, having yet to move past a formidable barrier established simply from places of origin. sevika holds a deep-seated hatred for piltover, their forces onto zaun too embedded in her memory; for shoola, no bold sentiments can be made for the sibling society.  

“what sits at the council,” shoola starts, “have only a quarter of the minds of who filled the seats before.” 

“must have been small minds,” sevika slyly retorts, casting a glance toward shoola. “that what usually happened if anyone tried to get to zaun? a bunch of irrelevant responses and excuses?”

shoola accepts the shots taken. “usually, yes. and motions could have been fought against harder.” she focuses the guilt on herself. 

sevika huffs, shaking her head, movement in her jaw evident. “so what? takes a war to change your mind?”

“not a war–weakened hands and figures. mel would’ve stood along my thoughts. it is the majority that would’ve opposed.” shoola slows, reaching out to halt sevika’s agitation-fueled march, finger jewelry skimming the exposed skin on her bicep. “though i do think actions would’ve served better than to simply accept battered down propositions.” she opens the door to a clearly unused space, a sleight of hand bringing the key from her person to the slot. 

her trek slow and cautious into the room, sevika surveys the area. calculated steps lead her to the desk, a chair with a different structure from those in the main council room tucked under it. sevika brushes her fingertips along the desk, the mineral cool under her touch while she studies the shaped stone. shoola stays near the entrance, still clutching the key to the room; she is kept in sevika’s peripheral at all times.

“any supplies that you need, make it known and i’ll put it in place for you–”

“this part of a plan?” sevika’s voice is gruff, coated with suspicion. 

shoola’s head tilts as she narrows her eyes. “i’m sorry?”

sevika rounds the table and grips the back of the chair. “get one of the councilors to close in. do a couple of favors. then what?” her lips downturn, watching shoola walk closer, the sound of her heels echoing throughout the room. the darkened gray sights follow the motion of shoola’s hand setting down the key on the table then keeping it under her index and middle fingers as she slides it to the other side of the mineral desk. 

“then what?” shoola repeats, voice remaining gentle. “i have no reason to hold contempt for you. i am only your equal, prepared to aid you and zaun. if you want to do this alone, i can step aside; but the road here had enough obstacles, there shouldn’t be anymore.” she lifts her fingers off the key.

sevika looks at the key then back to shoola, ruminating on her words. she’d be lying to herself if she thought she didn’t have to have at least one ally for this line of work–a primary caretaker of zaun. vander had grayson. silco had marcus. though the power scales have altered a bit, it is still a significant factor in the relationship between the societies. 

seeing that sevika needs time to think, shoola backs up from the table and starts heading toward the door. her direction changes at the last moment, bringing her to one of the pneumatic tubes, her left index finger tapping the mechanism. “anything you need.” 

realizing that she is under surveillance, shoola smooths her hands over her shirt, and adjusts the asymmetrical neckline. “um…i am, yes. you don’t have to follow me though. i’m alright.” 

sevika only hums, motioning to the direction where the restrooms are with a slight raise of her left brow and simultaneous tilt of her head the same way. “you’re gonna head down that way and then either door on the left or right.” 

shoola looks over the heads of people with a craned neck, brows furrowing as she spots where she will be going. “okay, i’ll be back.” she passes sevika, her fragrance a factor that makes shoola swallow thickly, thoughts becoming more loose with the intake of the alcohol. maybe we’ll stop there with the drinks, she thinks to herself, we’re good where we are. looking back to where sevika was last standing, shoola stops once seeing that she’s no longer there, her body turning fully and spotting her just right behind her, gaze even and only on her. 

shoola’s heart skips a beat, words stuck in her throat. she looks sevika up and down, a spark of excitement lighting up her system at the closeness maintained despite her half-hearted request. turning back around, she continues to the bathroom, stares of the surrounding guests on her before landing on sevika, those who are in the way moving themselves before shoola can say ‘excuse me’. 

reaching the restroom, shoola tries the door on the left, the locked handle barely budging. by the time she turns around to attempt the other, sevika is already checking inside, holding it open once she straightens up and faces forward. the subtle nod to the empty space makes shoola start moving to the open door, a quiet ‘thank you’ leaving her while she slips past sevika, subconsciously searching for contact as she does. 

“no problem,” sevika murmurs, the haze of the alcohol urging her to make advances she’s unsure of. instead she keeps a lingering gaze on shoola’s backside before stepping back to let the door close. when she hears the lock click she sighs to herself, running her right hand through her hair, eyes shutting tight for a moment before she relaxes, clearing her throat as she stands guard at the restroom door. just made a cheers to being friends a damn near hour ago, so i don't know what you’re entertaining, she chastises her own mind. a quick rebuttal formed, sevika’s imagination stuffs her thoughts full of shoola and her nestled into one of the booths, her mouth a delicate touch to her collarbone while her hand traces shoola’s inner thigh. 

before her mind can wander any further, sevika forces a cough and looks at the restroom door and then at the crowd, shifting her feet slightly, trying to ignore the flutter in her lower abdomen. she perks up once she hears the door unlock and open, forcing her gaze away for a moment before having it return to shoola. she swallows, eyeing the other closely while she puts on the last claw, her body heating as the sentiments from that particular scenario stay put. 

“...look like security posted outside the door like this,” shoola is chuckling to herself, making space for the person passing by her to get to the restroom. without a second thought, her hand touches sevika’s hip as she nods to the individual getting by, a friendly smile on her dark lips. turning her head back to sevika, her eye bulges as she comes face to face with her companion, both their necks craning naturally as their breaths meet one another’s lips. “um…” shoola’s hand twitches on sevika’s hip, tightening accidentally before she leans back, retreating her touch. 

sevika exhales, blinking a few times to get herself together. “old habits die hard, i guess.” her left arm motions to the path back to the bar. “i’m followin’ you.” 

shoola keeps the topic in mind, wanting to hear her voice more. she starts walking away from the restrooms and back into the crowd. “were you good? at that…security position, i mean.” she looks to the bar where they were once sitting then at the booth she was eyeing earlier, a quick decision made once comparing the privacy either offers. “if you want to talk about that—i hope i’m not poking around too much.” 

a low hum coming from her, sevika watches shoola make her way to a booth tucked away in the corner, excitement pushing its way through, before her calculating and right mind escorts the emotion back behind the barriers. “yeah, good. dedicated, i think…a bit too much,” she mutters, “...unnecessary, maybe.” she passes by a server and puts in an order before joining shoola’s seated figure, the different arrangement letting her come closer unlike the stools at the bar. “are you humoring me? acting like you don’t know about me back then?”

“oh, i knew about you.” shoola sees the server approaching and notices sevika’s attention stray for a moment, scooting closer until the warmth from both their bodies entangle. “but i think you know better than i do that seeing things for yourself is much better than listening to some…topsider rant and basing everything off of that.” 

sevika lets out a breath, the sound of the drinks getting set on the table dismissed as she focuses on shoola. though her companion’s ‘thank you’ to the server brings on her own gratitude, a glance to the worker is given as she nods. then she holds sevika in her sights, a small smile on her face as she raises a brow. “now i just think you’re tryin’ to flatter me. let me see if you're attempting to butter me up for something ridiculous,” is the lighthearted response from her before she takes a swig from the honey-hued liquor. 

taking her own cup and bringing it up to sevika’s, shoola’s mind is foggy, thinking they were doing another cheers, a bit of force put behind the motion. she is surprised by sevika’s small gag, a good amount of the liquor rushing down her throat and the sides of her mouth. realizing her actions, shoola starts apologizing profusely, her laughter held back while she genuinely feels bad for making her choke on her drink. her own cup set down before sevika’s, the napkins on the table are a second choice. her clawed fingers fly to her face. 

flinching is the last thing sevika thinks to do, eyelids fluttering for a moment as the cold metal lightly scrapes her chin and bottom lip, the motion slow but urgent. refocusing, shoola has leaned in, concentrated on getting her cleaned up, a light furrow in her brows as she apologizes over and over. “...it’s all good,” sevika murmurs, a bit light-headed, reveling in that sweet and smoky scent. her eyes low, she keeps her gaze on shoola. “careful. you’re on track to give me a couple more scars the way you’re movin’.” 

“i’m sorry,” shoola says again, laughing as she shakes her head. she finds the last bit of moisture and wipes it away, yet her hands remain, almost cupping sevika’s jaw. “at least i didn’t smudge your lipstick.” 

sevika’s left hand settles in the bit of space left between their bodies, each mechanical digit twitching. “at least…” 

a saxophone solo seeps into the atmosphere, shoola’s hands slipping away from sevika’s face and resting on her lap, abashed by her forward and boundary-crossing actions. friends can take care of each other like that, she tells herself, i mean, i would appreciate it if they helped me after making a mess. she ignores the innate response her thoughts conjure, her thighs squeezing together while she shifts her lower body. she swallows down her warm saliva, reaching out for her cup. 

sevika mirrors her position and touches her cup as well, sliding it across with her hand wrapped around it, a gentle clink emitting as the glass touches shoola’s. she earns an unreadable expression from her newfound companion, a smile coming onto her face when she sees the faint one upturning shoola’s plump plum-hued lips. 

-

hours past their arrival to the bar, shoola and sevika are now leaving the establishment, a plate of food having been shared before their exit from the still lively space to make sure their inebriation is tamed a bit. down the ramp from the door the two descend, their laughter following jamie’s words of farewell to them. despite the time, the streets of zaun are still full of people, nocturnal beings wading through the city. 

shoola is grateful her heels are still cooperating with her, her choice for this pair garnering more respect with its sustained plushness and comfort. small taps emit as she does a short speed-walk for no reason, turning to face sevika who hurries to her, the moment their eyes meet making them both burst out in more laughter. through her giggles, shoola asks, “why did you look at me like that?” 

“where did you get that little spurt of energy from?” comes sevika’s rebuttal as she pushes her hair from curtaining her face, needing a clearer view of shoola.

“...i don’t know.” 

sevika quirks a brow, the mildly lost look on shoola’s face her reason for her reaction. “it’s good we left when we did. had you took that drink des offered instead of eating somethin’ i think i would have had to carry you out over my shoulder.” 

shoola can feel a firm thump of her heart when she imagines the scenario, almost able to form the sensation of sevika’s hands gripping her legs before she brushes her claws against her own forearm, dragging herself from the thoughts. she can’t help but say, “and then what?”

the tip of her tongue runs over the center of her bottom lip, prosthetic whirring as she motions to shoola. “and then escort my coworker in distress to her home.” 

her jewelry still rubbing up and down the length of her bicep, shoola then pauses her motion, shrugging more to herself than anything. “do you want to?” she gestures vaguely. “come over, i mean.” 

sevika’s eyes widen, mouth parting as she nods, holding shoola’s gaze. she reminds herself that she can say ‘no’, keep that necessary boundary between the two of them that keep either of them from passing a point they might regret. with that thought, she proceeds to say, “i can.” to make things a bit lighter, she continues, “this mean you are in distress and need the gentlest, most kind person you know to be by your side?” 

shoola lets out a single ‘ha’, before actually chuckling for a moment. “absolutely. i prayed on it before i even left my house.” 

sevika looks down at her boots, the soles hitting the ground in unison with the soft click of the heels alongside her. she quiets for the time being, following the path back to the elevator, with an anticipating heat building in her brown skin. bringing her hand to her face, she brushes her thumb along her chin, the side of her finger grazing the piercing just under her lip. she starts toying with the small sphere, thinking of the kids back at home. a split comes to the path and sevika calls out to shoola before she can take the one straight to the elevator. 

“yes?” shoola nears her, tilting her head slightly. 

“before i go anywhere, i need to check on the kids. make sure they’re good for the night.” sevika is unsure of shoola’s presence near that particular part of her life, her earlier thoughts on boundaries beaming back into her mind. “or if you don’t want to come along, i can head to the elevator with you and we end our night there.”

“kids? you have…?” shoola trails off then remembers the younger individuals that were by sevika’s side during the funeral—a very small child and two older, one of them being the one that nearly killed her with her rocket. she raises a hand, the side of her index finger rubbing the skin just under her faceplate, the edges of her scar peeking out from it. her golden eyes find sevika’s, the gentle grays studying her as she lets the weight of memories build atop her. “no i…i can. i mean, unless you have more private matters to discuss with them, i wouldn’t want to intrude.”

sevika leans toward the direction of her place before taking a slow step, beckoning shoola to come along. “let’s go.” 

“inviting a councilor willingly to your home. what would past sevika say about this?” shoola forces her sentiments to simmer, her thoughts bouncing around in an overactive fashion. 

looking over at her, sevika replies, “why? you like ‘em better than present me? i could always go back to getting on your ass about complacency and ignorance.” she drops her gaze suddenly, demeanor curling into itself slightly. “i think…past sevika was a hypocritical asshole who needed to take a look at her own bullshit before pointing out someone else's.” 

shoola hums softly. she remembers her conversation with may, her words on growth and effort  seeping back in. her chest tightens, admiration swelling as she keeps her gaze on her friend. “i think past shoola needed a firmer stance regardless of majority council opinion. well, i guess that’s what i’m for—realization then evolution. doing better because i am better.”   

sevika’s eyes return to her, now somewhat hiding behind her hair. “...yeah. i hear that.” 

a few minutes walking the expanse of zaun’s streets, sevika points out where her place is, all the talk about the past making her think of new places to move herself and the kids. it’s not the present moment that this idea first comes to her; after silco’s death, the war, and the funeral, settling into this space with isha, jinx, and vi felt like it carried everything the past was while a renewal was heavily needed. but with everything assigned to her and her eagerness to take the reins to compose something worthwhile of the privilege, stagnance was placed onto this piece of her life seeing as no complaints came from either vi or isha. yet she was always irked by keeping the kids in the reworked office of someone who changed their lives for the worse. 

the commotion from inside the space alerts sevika and in turn, shoola, when she hears the squeals from isha and vi’s voice, ekko’s laughter mixed in with the sounds as well. her steps a bit quicker, sevika is digging in her pocket for the key before sliding it into the lock and hurrying inside.