Chapter Text
Vi pounded the wall. Her movements strong and precise, the rhythm comforting, assuring. This was the one thing she could control. Her training. And she needed to train. Because she had failed. Failed to protect Caitlyn, to reach her sister, to stop Silco. Failed to prevent the war. Because that's what was coming, it was obvious. The undercity was up in arms, on every corner, one could see how weapons were being built, plans were whispered in the pubs, People were practicing to fight in the alleys. The air was buzzing with anticipation. The only thing missing was a spark, a leader, someone who brought them together, came up with a plan.
The upper city was no different though. Everyone was in uproar about the assault on their leaders, the deaths, the audacity. Even if the council – or what was left of it – knew it had been a singular mind behind it, the folk on the streets wanted revenge, they wanted blood. City of progress my ass, Vi thought. Under all that pretty facades, the people were still the same. Just as bloodthirsty, just as brutal. Only with fancier weapons, with more complacency. The confidence of those who had always been on top, never had to fight for survival. Piltover was in a kind of vacuum now, waiting for… something. If the enforcers wouldn't find Jinx soon or set an example, someone would do something stupid, start an escalation. And they'd never find her if she didn't want to be found. She'd always been good at hiding, disappearing in the smallest cracks.
Vi honestly didn't know what she'd do if the war started. When it started. Fight for the independence of Zaun? But she couldn't really go against Caitlyn and that would inevitably happen. But whatever would come, she had to be prepared, she had to train.
So when she once again couldn't sleep one night, she silently snuck out of bed, drawing the cover back over Caitlyn. Then she climbed out of the window. She quickly made her way through the streets. They weren't as familiar as the alleys in Zaun, probably never would be. There also weren't as many back alleys to disappear into, pipes to climb, buildings haphazardly stacked together... it felt too clean, too open. She sometimes felt so lost between those fancy stoneworks...
But behind the marketplace it was still possible to find a kinda unobserved small street. She was already a bit warm from running here, now moved her shoulders and Arms a bit more to get ready. Then she took her stance in front of the wall and started. She jumped forwards and back, ducked beneath imagined counterstrikes, hit the wall in different places. After all those years in prison, she had an extensive established routine, but still always tried to think of new combinations. New counterattacks. All thoughts about the war, about the decisions she'd have to face, the guilt gnawing in her, Jinx... it all disappeared as her full concentration was focused on pounding the wall. Lost in the movements, she forgot about everything else really. Just existed in the moment, almost in trance.
She didn't realize how much time passed until a sudden noise pulled her out of her routine. Confused, she stopped and looked around. A wagon had passed along the entrance of the alleyway. Now she also realized, that the stillness of the night had already faded into some distant bustle as the city began to wake up. The sky had started to turn brighter. She took a deep breath and felt like falling back into her body. Felt the soreness in her muscles, the intense tiredness and exhaustion, the numb pain in her knuckles. But also... a kind of satisfaction. Knowing she had pushed herself beyond her limits, hardened her fists, had achieved something. She couldn't really say what exactly, but it felt right. So she left the alley, walked briskly through the streets. Only few people were up and about, none looked at her. Like a shadow, she slipped back onto the Kiraman property. Climbing up through the window took her two tries and tumbling onto the carpet, she had to admit to herself, that maybe, just maybe, she had pushed herself to hard this time.
Caitlyn woke up at the noise. She sat up, confused upon the empty spot next to her. Then she saw Vi on the ground and was suddenly very awake.
„What are you doing? Everything ok?“
Vi nodded, tried to stand up, but a sudden spell of dizziness sent her down again.
„Woa“, she steadied herself with one hand on the side of the bed. Caitlyn quickly got out of bed, crouched down in front of her. Concerned, she took in Vi's appearance. The deep exhaustion on her face, dark circles under her eyes, her limbs shaking. Carefully, she began to unwrap the bandages of the hands, to assess the damage. The knuckles showed deep purple bruises, even Vi's long years of pounding basically everything weren't enough hardening for that much strain.
„What happened?“
„Couldn't sleep. Just staying here, waiting, all the time, it drives me crazy. I had to do something.“
„So you hit...?“
„A wall.“
Caitlyn sighed. She got some balm out of the bathroom, and applied it carefully to the knuckles. Vi closed her eyes, relieved about the cooling effect. Exhaustion overcame her, deep fatigue in her bones. The last thing she felt before falling asleep is a gentle kiss on her forehead.