Book Two of Hexed - The Fury of Zaun (Vi/POC!Reader) - Ch. 14
Next Upload Date: September 22nd
Act 1: Chapter Fourteen - A Surprise at the Gala
Artwork of the reader’s dress is by @rennydoesart my editor and bestie 💕 Thank you so much for taking the time to make this!
Warnings: Boring upper-class conversations, Vi reappears, mentions of manipulation
Summary: It’s time for the Gala and you’re happy to spend time with Renata. You enjoy your time with her until you’re called away by your uncle. You’re shocked when you find your ex-lover standing in front of you.
“Are you good?” Ekko calls over to you, “My hands sting like hell! Do you always grab a blade like that?!”
“Are you good?” Ekko calls over to you, “My hands sting like hell! Do you always grab a blade like that?!”
“Yeah, I’m good! You managed to land a well-placed gash!” You shift to grab more gauze, “And, yes! But, my pain tolerance is high!”
“Or maybe you shocked your hands too many times when we were kids and got nerve damage!” Ekko retorts and you laugh. A shadow falls over you and you look up to see your Uncle Cassius. In his hand is a tiny vial of Digitalis, and he holds it out to you. You give him a grateful smile and take it from him. You uncork it, knocking back the bitter liquid, and sighing in relief as a warmth flows through you.
“Your fighting style has improved immensely, Ekko.” Uncle Cassius proudly claps him on the shoulder, “You gave your sister an excellent wound.”
“She gave me one right back.” Ekko chuckles and points at the closing slash on his arm. You scoff and roll your eyes at his modesty.
“Take the fucking compliment, you dummy!” You shout as you stand up, “You’ve improved and I’m proud of you, Kiko.” You ruffle his locks and Ekko smacks your hand away.
“I know I’ve improved.” Ekko grumbles, “I don’t see a reason to get so excited about it.” He crosses his arms. You raise an eyebrow and give him an appalled look.
“Who are you, and what have you done with my brother?” You gasp playfully.
“I’m sorry.” Ekko sighs, “I just… can’t believe you’re leaving today, Uncle Cassius. I’ve really had a great time learning from you and getting to know you.”
“I’ve enjoyed my time with you as well, Ekko. You’re a marvelous person with a talented mind. I’m overjoyed that I finally got to spend time with you.” Uncle Cassius grins, “But, alas, I need to make an appearance before the Gala tomorrow. After that, I must return to Noxus and resume my duties.”
“Oh yeah, the Gala.” Ekko gives you a smirk, “Are you ready to mingle with Piltover’s upper class?”
“Ugh, don’t remind me.” You groan, “The only plus side of this is Renata being my companion for the night.”
“Before Dawn and I leave, I have gifts for the both of you.” Uncle Cassius says, “If you’ll come with me to my apartment?” You nod your head and follow him up to his place. He stops outside and gives you two a mischievous grin before whistling. You and Ekko glance at each other in confusion when you hear two screeches. You both snap your heads up to see two hawks flying your way. They land on the railing in front of you and sit there patiently.
“The paperwork has gone through, so you’re both officially part of the family.” Uncle Cassius steps over to the bigger one, and it hops onto his hand, “Our family has protected Red-Tailed Hawks for centuries and they’ve protected us. They have a magic of their own, unknown to the masses, and it’s my pleasure to give each of you one.”
“We get our own hawks?!” Ekko squeals, making you giggle.
“Yes.” Uncle Cassius chuckles, “Let them choose you. The female’s name is Wind Shear, and her brother’s name is Night Stalker.” You look at the birds in interest and yelp when they suddenly take off towards you both. The male settles on your shoulder with a content chirp while the female does the same to your brother.
“Hello there, Night Stalker.” You coo and stroke his breast feathers. He bobs his head in greeting and you giggle.
“Thank you so much.” You smile at your uncle, glancing at Ekko to see him having a whispered conversation with Wind Shear.
“Don’t thank me yet, I have a few more things to give you.” Uncle Cassius says as he opens the door. You follow him in and wave at Dawn. Their things were already packed and placed by the door.
“Since you’re aristocracy now, it’s imperative that you have a form of passive protection. This is quite common to give out, but these have been tweaked.” Uncle Cassius pulls out a box and opens it to reveal a necklace and a ring.
“Enchanted jewelry?” Ekko questions as he’s handed the signet ring, “This is common in Noxian Houses?”
“Quite.” Dawn speaks up, “It is a tribal tradition that has evolved. The pieces should have some sort of protective enchant on them.”
“What are the enchantments?” You tilt your head. ‘I didn’t know that was possible… Which is dumb because I literally tear holes through space.’
“If I told you, you would fight with reckless abandon.” Uncle Cassius deadpans. You and Ekko laugh nervously knowing that it’s true.
“I have one last thing for you, Y/n.” Uncle Cassius motions to Dawn and she picks up a box on the table. She crosses the room and carefully hands it to you. You raise an eyebrow and glance at your uncle.
“What’s this?” You weigh the box in your hands. ‘It’s heavy, but light so it has to be some form of clothes.’
“Your dress for the Gala, Heiress Pyre.” Dawn smirks at you, “Don’t worry, your uncle is the one who chose it for you based on your taste in clothes.”
“I had it custom-made in Piltover using Noxian fabrics. I remembered you telling me about that elderly couple who gifted you with a few dresses. They were enthusiastic about making a dress for someone from Noxian Aristocracy.” Uncle Cassius explains sheepishly. ‘A dress made just for me.’ You think in awe. ‘For me.’
“How’d you get my measurements?” Confused, you put a hand on your hip. Night Stalker flutters his wings to rebalance himself and you whisper an apology to him.
“Jinx.” Uncle Cassius shrugs, “I asked her if she knew what size you wore and she gave me the whole list. Her only request was that whatever I get for you be red, and that was already the color I had in mind.”
“I should have known.” You chuckle to yourself.
A few minutes later, you and Ekko are walking with Cassius and Dawn to the Gateway. You informed the group that they were leaving and found a large crowd waiting to say goodbye. It was a mixture of Firelights and Furies, everyone was sad to see the pair go as they’ve become one of the family, especially after you and Ekko announced your adoption. The raging hangover you had after that night made you swear to never drink any alcohol Heather claimed to have made. Saying goodbye took a while as they went around to everyone, giving hugs and small pieces of advice on each individual’s fighting style. But, you and Ekko were waving them off with a sad smile ten minutes later. You’d be seeing them tomorrow, but that wouldn’t be the same.
~
A cool wind ruffles your hair as you wait for Renata to arrive and you silently thank Janna. You agreed to meet with Renata on the bridge and walk the rest of the way together. So, you decided to head there early and took some time to stop at the memorial and pay your respects. You always did so before crossing the bridge, as was a tradition since the attempted civil war.
Currently, you’re seated on the railing swinging your legs back and forth. Night Stalker is circling above you since he didn’t want to leave your side. Ekko was having the same issue with Wind Shear, so you chalked it up to the connection being new. Within a few moments, you’ll be accompanying Renata to the Gala. Your brief formal training will be put to the test and you have to pretend you like those people. You run a hand through your hair, feeling your horns, and you sigh. After proudly showing off in the Undercity, it felt strange to have them hidden by your hair again. ‘I won’t be able to hide them when they grow more, but we’ll cross that when we get there.’
You close your eyes and listen to the pained songs coming from the wealthy city. Now that your senses weren’t being dulled anymore, you can hear way more than a handful of Namestones. It irritates you that so many Brackern are in pain but you had to wait until the foundation was set. ‘I’ll set them free one of these days. I should be able to get all of the information about where they are from Viktor with this appearance.’ Your hand comes up to play with your necklace, running a finger over the smooth gemstone to soothe your nerves.
The sound of footsteps causes you to turn and smile at your companion. Renata, always the impeccable woman, was wearing her new white and gold suit. For once, to keep with the theme, she wasn’t wearing her signature magenta. Apparently, your uncle had sent her a formal letter detailing how an associate of the “Heiress of House Pyre” should be present around you. You had scolded your uncle for it, but even Renata had said it was the proper thing to do.
“Perfect timing as always.” You stand and approach her.
“Time is money.” Renata offers her arm and you rest a hand on her bicep, “You look stunning. Wearing real gold on a dress is quite the statement.” Renata hums and continues walking.
“I was not made aware of the dress until yesterday when they handed the box to me.” You sigh, glancing at the gold metalwork, “If I had a say in it, I wouldn’t be wearing someone’s life savings.”
“Well, being the Heiress of such an esteemed House requires you to dress the part.” You could hear the irritation in her voice. You force yourself to hold back a chuckle. ‘She hates not knowing things. She must've been pissed off when I told her instead of her knowing beforehand.’
“I was quite recently adopted into it, Ms.Glasc. Your informants were not wrong.” You placate her, “This information is meant to be a secret until tonight, and please… call me Y/n around this crowd... I’m sure you’re aware of separate identities.” You say lowly.
“Congratulations, Y/n. I’m sure our mutual interest will continue to flourish.” Renata gives you a wicked smirk that has you blushing. ‘I know she’s speaking of the Digitalis but that smirk speaks of other things.’ You nod your head and walk the rest of the way in silence.
The two of you reach a large mansion enclosed by a black iron gate. At the entrance stands four Enforcers and it makes your hand twitch. You take a deep breath and remind yourself that they won’t attack you and you shouldn’t attack them. ‘I’m worth protecting to them when I look like this. They won’t immediately turn me away… and I don’t need to put my knife through their skulls.’ An Enforcer steps in front of you and holds out their hand.
“Invitations, please.” The Enforcer waits for you to take them out. Behind you, you can hear the sound of footsteps and chatter. An annoyingly high-pitched giggle makes you wince. You hand your invitation over and he takes a moment to look at it. His eyes widen when he reads yours and he clears his throat, “Enjoy your evening, Ms.Glasc, H-Heiress Pyre.” The Enforcer hands them back to you and steps aside. You roll your eyes once you’re clear of them and turn to Renata, “Is it always like this?” You raise an eyebrow.
“Always.” Renata nods with a roll of her eyes. You’re welcomed through the front doors by a butler and a maid leads you to the ballroom. The mansion is filled with extravagant decorations that scream expensive. It makes you wonder how many people you could feed with all this money. ‘I wonder how much that vase would sell for? I’ll ask my Bilgewater contact. He’ll know.’ You remind yourself to swipe it later.
“Here is the ballroom, ma’am.” The maid curtseys before walking back to the entrance. Renata and you make eye contact before you lift your chin, her adjusting her respirator and walking in. Your eyes are immediately bombarded with a sea of bright lights and colors. The large crowd of people is standing around and chatting with each other. Many of them are wearing ridiculously gaudy outfits or jewelry that comes off unflattering. A server stops the two of you and hands you a champagne flute that has you holding back a grimace. You give them a thankful smile and take a sip. ‘Ugh. Brut. They’re rich and can’t afford a bottle of sweet champagne? I wasn’t going to drink, but this is more of a reason not to.’
“Ms.Glasc!” A woman in a yellow dress waves her over. You hear Renata let out a small click of her tongue in distaste.
“Mrs.Stafford.” Renata says stiffly which has you glancing at her curiously.
“It’s wonderful to see you again! I was just telling Marge that the samples of your perfume line are exquisite!” The woman fonds. The look she’s giving Renata shows more than a casual interest in her, making you hold back an amused smile. Mrs.Stafford’s eyes flick to you when you step closer to Renata, “Oh! Who’s this with you? You usually come alone.”
“Heiress Pyre.” You reveal, “Renata’s main business associate. You are?” You purposefully use her first name to convey your familiarity. Mrs.Stafford blinks, caught off guard while you gaze at her expectantly. You patiently wait for her to respond as a handful of emotions flash in her eyes. Envy and panic stand out the most.
“Heiress Pyre!” Mrs.Stafford gasps, “You’re Ms.Glasc’s associate? I thought you weren’t accepting any business partners?” The woman snaps her head to Renata. You could feel Renata’s eyes boring into the side of your head, knowing she was annoyed with you for that. ‘Just because we’re in public doesn’t mean I won’t tease you.’ You smile mischievously at her.
“Y/n is an old acquaintance of mine. When she approached me with an interesting proposal, I couldn’t turn her down.” Renata explains. As the conversation carries on, your eyes drift around the room, taking in the positions of the Enforcers and all exits. Coincidentally, they were all positioned by them. ‘Hm standing in front of a window like that can get you killed. One well-placed shot from Popper and you’d be dead before your body hit the floor. Who is running security here?’ You tsk.
“Heiress Pyre.” You turn your attention to a new arrival, “I heard you do business with Ms.Glasc. What is your joint venture, if you don’t mind me asking?” The man leans close to you as well as the others who have gathered. ‘Hmm, Renata has a fair amount of people interested in her. Why don’t I boost her popularity? It would pay off in the end.’ You let go of Renata’s bicep and clasp your hands in front of you with a cheery smile.
“Renata has generously agreed to assist me in producing advanced medicine for the residents of Zaun. In fact, our first dosages have been distributed to select locations for community approval.” Your smile becomes blinding, “I am very pleased with her results.”
“Wait. You’ve already produced a product?” The man’s watery eyes widen, showing his jealousy, “You’ve only been working together for a few months?”
“Oh, that. Yes, it’s only been a few months, but Renata is extremely efficient. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner. Everything we discuss gets put forward in a timely manner.” The words roll off your tongue sickly-sweet, “I am lucky to be working with her.” The tone of your voice hides the anger boiling under your skin. ‘All they care about is the money and prestige. They completely glossed over the medicine being made for Zaunites. Didn’t even question it.’
“Y/n has been a valuable partner.” Renata rasps, “She is very skilled when it comes to creation and she tests her own products before approving them. It was her idea to create this medicine.”
“Heiress Pyre, I hope you don’t mind me asking.” A man in a suit matching Mrs.Stafford comes over, “Where is your father?”
“Lord Pyre is my uncle, not my father. It’s poor manners to not have done research on your guests.” You chastise him, making him flinch, “He will be arriving with his Essa shortly, but in the meantime, I’m the one you come to about business matters with our House.” You carry on as if you hadn’t bruised his ego. You were going to enjoy making these people beg for your attention. After all, your people have been doing that for years. “Remember, you’re higher than them. Don’t let them try to walk over you just because you’re an Heiress. They’ll think you’re less important than me and may try to go past you to get to me.” Uncle Cassius tells you, “Our power is substantial and they will do anything to touch it. Remind them that they must go through you, too.”
‘He should have warned me they’d be insufferable.’ You deflect more questions and give simple answers. Questions about your House’s wealth, if you really were the Heiress, and even questions about your marital status! ‘Please get here soon, uncle. I’d rather you answer these questions.’ You groan mentally. ‘I don’t know what my marital status has to do with anything!’
~
Vi grumbles as she stands by the windows of the ballroom. Ever since they forced her to join Caitlyn on the squad, she was given Enforcer classes and sent out on occasional surveillance jobs. This is the first time she’s had to play the part of security, and she hates it. When they tried to put her in a dress like Caitlyn’s, she tore the damn thing in two. She wouldn’t be caught dead wearing something so… conspicuous. Caitlyn got them to customize an outfit for her that wouldn’t make her jump out of the window. Unfortunately, she was required to wear heeled boots. ‘Why couldn’t they be regular boots? These have like three fucking inches on them.’ She agitatedly shuffles her feet. Caitlyn was off with her mother, so that left Vi standing with a couple of Enforcers. They were talking with each other as if she wasn’t standing in the middle of them, and it annoyed her. She wanted to walk away from this area, it made her feel too open and exposed. A large window is to her back and would make her the perfect target for a stealth sniper. That thought alone made her antsy to move, but when she tried to, they said she couldn’t unless the Sheriff came to get her.
So, Vi resigned herself to watching the crowd of upper-class people mingle. The outfit colors hurt her eyes, with the majority of them being bright and vivid, or gaudy and too much. ‘The only people who wear things like that work in the Red Light District. Wearing that anywhere else is screaming to get jumped or robbed.’ Vi observes and closes her eyes for a moment. ‘This is miserable. I’m miserable. Holy shit, get me out of here.’
“Pssst, Vi!” One of the male Enforcers whisper-shouts to her. Vi slowly turns her head and gives them a dead stare.
“What?” Vi says dully.
“You’re the Sheriff’s girlfriend, right?” He wiggles his eyebrows suggestively.
“What?! No!” Vi denies it, “We’ve never been and never will be! So stop thinking that way!” She hisses. ‘They don’t stop asking! Why don’t they just tell their friends?! Gods, I’m sick of answering this question. Yes, I started crushing on Caitlyn but that crush died the moment Y/n confirmed her feelings for me.’ She grumbles, going back to surveying the crowd. The hosts, the Staffords, were huddled together looking at a piece of paper with Mel. ‘Boring. This whole thing is boring and I’ve only been here for an hour. Gods, help me.’
“Hey!” The other Enforcer snaps at her, “Keep your eyes on the door! We have to know every face that enters the room.” Vi growls to herself and goes back to staring at the door, but she wasn’t focused. ‘I can’t be the only one bored out of my mind. The music is awful. Slow, classical music that’s putting me to sleep. And we’re supposed to stand around doing nothing but watch all night.’
“Vi?” Caitlyn’s voice sounds from in front of her. She jolts, startled, to see her standing there with two water glasses in her hand. ‘I didn’t notice her approaching me. I was too distracted. Fuck, I can’t do that. That could’ve gotten me killed.’
“Here.” Caitlyn holds one out to her, “Are you okay? You didn’t respond to me calling you…?”
“I’m fine.” Vi takes a sip of her water, “I’m bored out of my mind, is all.” She shrugs.
“I’m sorry for leaving you alone for so long.” Caitlyn leads her to another area along the wall, “Apparently there are some very powerful people attending today and the hosts wanted to make sure that security is tight. If something happens, they’d be shunned.”
“It’s fine, you’re doing your job.” Vi leans against a column, “Just because your mother doesn’t trust me doesn’t mean you need to babysit me.” She says bitterly.
“Vi.” Caitlyn sighs, “My mother isn’t the reason I’m looking out for you. This is a huge change, and being around these people is probably difficult for you.”
“No, no, I actually love being around the people who condemn my city.” Vi says sarcastically.
“Sorry, that was in poor taste.” Caitlyn winces.
“Ya think?” Vi scoffs, glancing at the entrance. Her eyes land on a red and black dress that’s soothing after all of the brighter colors. ‘Now this person has taste.’ Her eyes flicker to the person’s face and she freezes.
“You could at least-!” Caitlyn‘s voice abruptly stops, but Vi’s not paying attention. Her heart starts to race as she realizes who the person is. ‘Y-Y/n. Y/n? What’s Y/n doing here?! And, who the hell’s arm is she holding onto?!’ Vi’s heart pounds in her chest as she watches them accept a drink and carry on walking, disappearing into the crowd.
“Vi!” Caitlyn shouts, snapping her finger in front of her face. Vi looks back at her and Caitlyn gives her an exasperated look.
“As I was saying… My mother is calling me over, so please stay here and be nice.” Caitlyn begs her, “When I’m done, we can go dance, okay? This shouldn’t take long.” She doesn’t wait for Vi’s response before hurrying away. ‘I don’t really dance like that. Especially not in front of people I don’t know.’ Vi watches the couples ballroom dancing. Their way of dancing is vastly different from the way they dance in Zaun. ‘The only person I’ve ever danced with is… Y/n.’ Vi has to clench her hand to keep herself from sprinting into the crowd. ‘It’s been months. Months. I can wait a few more minutes… I think.’ She takes a deep breath to calm down and tries to distract herself.
~
You smile wistfully as Night Stalker does loops and swirls in the air in front of you. For some reason, you’ve been missing Vi more than ever tonight. It made your heart ache to not be in this situation with her, but that doesn’t mean you haven’t appreciated your night with Renata. The Baroness is fun to party with, especially when you’re taking turns in manipulating these upper-class people. ‘They don’t realize we have them in the palm of our hands.’ You rest your head against her shoulder as you look at the city below you. You had walked out to the balcony for some private time to talk after fielding people for a while.
While Renata was a popular woman, you quickly became popular on your own. Many people wanted to get to know you - well, your wealth - and it was the perfect playground for you. Working in the brothel got you used to attention, taught you how to work a person and this was allowing you to flex your talents. It was the same boring conversation over and over again, but you took advantage of it. You drew them in, played their games, and made notes of who these people were and what their jobs were. It would come in handy in the next few weeks.
“Quite a sight, isn’t it?” Renata breaks the silence, “It’s a view I’ve come to despise.”
“I prefer the view of the Undercity. More character, more variety, and more neon lights.” You say teasingly, “These buildings all look the same.” You chuckle together.
“Ah, but you’ll do something about that one day, won’t you?” Renata gives you a side smirk. You return the smirk before you feel something pass the marker you placed. You sigh to yourself. ‘There goes the moment of peace.’ You indicate that you can sense someone approaching and Renata turns at the sound of heels.
“Ms.Glasc, it’s wonderful to see you here tonight.” Says a sophisticated-looking woman. You lean against the banister and observe the woman. ‘A purple suit, stern demeanor, graying hair… hm, she’s someone in a high position.’
“Councilor Kiramman, I can return the sentiment.” Renata responds emotionlessly.
“Who’s this with you?” Councilor Kiramman gives you an appraising look that rubs you the wrong way. ‘She didn’t even have the common decency to be polite. She must really mistrust Renata if she couldn’t bother to be courteous with me.’
“Heiress Pyre, Councilor.” You give her a tight smile, “If this is how all of the councilors conduct themselves with guests then I’d prefer not to associate with them.” You cross your arms. Councilor Kiramman’s face turns shocked as you glare at her.
“Excuse me, Heiress Pyre?” A woman your age grabs your attention as she approaches your small group with a shy smile.
“Yes?” You give her a friendly smile.
“Would you be so kind as to hang out with my friends and me? We’re interested in how a woman like you ended up where you are today.” She covers a blush with her hand. You share a glance with Renata and she waves you off.
“I’d be delighted to…?” You walk over to her, presenting your arm.
“Heiress Stafford. My family is the one hosting tonight.” Heiress Stafford introduces herself, taking your arm.
“It’s nice to meet you. Please tell me about yourself.” You let her guide you into the crowd. The councilor left a sour taste in your mouth and talking to her again tonight would be too soon.
~
It’s a while before Caitlyn comes back with a sympathetic look on her face. Vi bites the inside of her cheek to keep a snippy comment in. ‘That wasn’t a quick moment at all.’
“Okay, well… My mother needs your eyes and ears while she speaks with Ms.Glasc. Do you know of her?” Caitlyn questions. Vi gives her a look that says everything she needs to know. ‘Do I know of her?! Of course, I do! The Glascs are as close to Zaunite nobility as you can get! Every Zaunite knows about the family who kept most of us alive. My mother made it to twenty because of them.’
“Yes, I do.” Vi confirms, “I’m guessing she wants me to stake her out or something?”
“She wants you to see if she’s being truthful about her line of work. I’ll be there as well so you’re not alone.” Caitlyn gives an apologetic smile. ‘As long as it gets me away from this damn wall. I can look for Y/n in the process.’
“Fine. Let’s get this over with.” Vi huffs and allows Caitlyn to lead her through the crowd. As they walk, she tries to spot Y/n but has no success. There are so many people that she could be hidden by the crowd. They find Caitlyn’s mother standing next to a tall woman dressed in white and Vi could tell from the metalwork on her suit that she's a Zaunite. Then, it clicked. ‘That’s the woman Y/n walked in with! Wait. Y/n walked in with Renata Glasc?! Then… where’s Y/n?’
“…interesting that you have chosen to create a perfume line.” Vi catches the end of Cassandra’s sentence.
“Yes, it’s an area of beauty I feel most passionate about.” Ms.Glasc says. From how put-together she appears, she’s clearly someone who cares about their appearance so it makes sense.
“Are you doing anything other than perfume?” Caitlyn speaks up. Vi awkwardly shuffles her feet when the woman’s magenta eyes land on her. She was torn between being respectful and wanting to interrogate Ms.Glasc about Y/n’s whereabouts. ‘Y/n’s hostility towards Piltover’s upper class is just as strong as mine, if not stronger. This is probably her worst nightmare or her playground.’ Vi decides to give Ms.Glasc a nod and her nerves settle slightly when Ms.Glasc gave her a nod back. This woman had come in with Y/n, so Vi wasn’t even going to pretend to get dirt on her for Cassandra. ‘If Y/n is with her, it’s for a reason.’ Yet, Vi couldn’t help some of the jealousy that she felt.
“Ms. Glasc was just accompanied by her business associate, Heiress Pyre. She was called away by my daughter a few moments ago.” Mrs.Stafford cuts in, coming out of nowhere, “She said they created a medicine that’s being distributed.” That makes Vi perk up. ‘Medicine. That has to be the reason Y/n’s with her.’
“A medicine?” Caitlyn’s mother inquires, “Was it cleared by Piltover’s medical board?” Vi finds herself paying close attention to Ms.Glasc. Not because of Cassandra, but for her own interest. Except, Vi knew that the woman was paying attention to her as well. She was a Zaunite in an Enforcer's uniform.
“Yes. A medicine. We’re only distributing within Zaun at the moment, so there’s no need for Piltover’s involvement. The Heiress isn’t sure she wishes to go global with it as of now.” Renata nods. Vi bites her lip anxiously when she realizes that this conversation is going to be a long one. ‘All I want to do is find Y/n. I need to talk to her. Six months is too long. It’s more than enough time for her to plan.’
~
After being led away from Renata, you were interrogated about your dress and where you got it. It was painful seeing their reactions when you mentioned the metalwork is real gold. They practically fell all over you, wanting to get in your good graces. You explained that it wasn’t your idea, but your uncle commissioned the dress without your input. So, they switched topics to the armor and your House necklace. You blatantly said that it was a Zaun fashion piece and you wanted to represent both of your homes. That made them go quiet.
You were overjoyed when Dawn found you and whisked you away. She was decked out in formal battle gear which had you raising your brows. The silent look she gave you told you everything you needed to know. ‘It does make sense to have armor that’s pleasing to the eyes for diplomatic reasons.’ You spot your uncle and enthusiastically wave at him.
“Uncle Cassius!” You grin and give the man a hug, “You’re pulling off this suit better than I thought you would!” You tease, having only seen him in casual clothing and his warrior armor. It’s a stone grey suit with golden details that’s very easy on the eyes. ‘Thank Janna, I don’t think my eyes can handle another bright outfit.’
“Hello, Y/n! I’m afraid I don’t look quite as splendid as you do in that dress!” Uncle Cassius compliments you, making you blush slightly. You had added in accessories of your own to feel less out of place in such a fancy gown. It had screamed Noxian so you made it feel a bit more Zaunite with mismatched stockings and shoulder plates.
“Thank you.” You show off the gown, “I’ve never worn anything this extravagant before.”
“Lord Pyre, this your niece?” Two women approach the three of you. From the armor they’re wearing, they’re two of the three elite Essa accompanying your uncle. It was the older warrior that questioned him with a sweet smile.
“Ah, yes. This is my niece, Y/n Pyre.” Uncle Cassius practically shoves you towards them.
“Essa Konia, my Lady.” The warrior happily greets you, kissing you on the hand, “It is wonderful to see you in person. The Lord speaks highly of you.”
“I agree.” The other warrior steps forward, “Essa Fei, my Lady. It’s an honor to finally meet you.” She kisses your hand too.
“I’m pleased to meet the Essa who keeps my stubborn uncle out of trouble.” You smile mischievously, “I’ve learned he’s a handful from Essa Dawn’s stories.”
“Ah, ah, let’s not go there, hm?” Uncle Cassius cuts in, making your group laugh.
“Don’t be quick to throw him in front of a boar, young Heiress. We’ve heard about your training during your childhood.” Essa Fei smiles slyly. You blink before whirling around and giving your uncle a playfully panicked look.
“You didn’t!” You gasp dramatically and a laugh is your answer. A firm pat on your back has you frowning at Dawn who's holding in a laugh of her own.
“On the other hand, we’ve heard brilliant stories about you as well.” Essa Konia comes to your rescue. You smile at her thankfully as the conversation picks up. You take some time getting to know them, hearing their stories of how they swore fealty, and learning that you’ll have Essa of your own. It fascinates you to know that the tribe is still prospering to this day.
“As the Heiress of the Tribe, your protection is the top priority. Your Essa can be anyone but they must be sworn to you and the House.” Dawn finishes her explanation as you listen with rapt attention.
“Can they be someone you’re married to?” You tilt your head.
“Yes, but that’s a love that few can manage.” Essa Konia nods. The group falls into silence as you think about what was said to you. A few people come by to greet your uncle and rave about how well-mannered you are. Although, the amusement in your family’s eyes said otherwise.
“Heiress Pyre.” Essa Fei approaches you, “You have a few ladies who say they know you and the Lord. May they approach?” You follow where she’s pointing to see Niki and Megan. You smile fondly and nod your head. Essa Fei beckons them over and they practically run to you.
“Berry!” They chime together and give you a hug. Since you gave the girls the option of joining the Furies, they reached out to you a few weeks later and agreed to join. The majority of them have been busy with everything going on in Piltover, so the only communication you had were the notes sent back and forth. They weren’t aware of your uncle staying in the Rapids.
“Professor!” You step aside so they can give your uncle a hug. ‘If they’re here, then their patrons must be here as well.’
“Niki! Megan!” Your uncle grins at them, “It’s been six years since I’ve last heard from either of you.”
“We tried to get in touch, but the letters never went through.” Niki frowns.
“Ah, yes, they wouldn’t have. You see, my niece and I were at the University with aliases to keep my trip to the isthmus a secret. My full name is Lord Cassius Pyre.” Uncle Cassius clarifies to them. Their eyes go wide, making you giggle.
“And my name isn’t Berry. It’s Y/n.” You finish his clarification, “Heiress Y/n Pyre.” You wink. Their jaws drop before Megan facepalms and throws her arms out.
“That makes so much sense!” Megan laughs, “And here we thought you didn’t want anything to do with us! Be- Y/n! You could have said… something?”
“I’m sorry!” You laugh, taken by surprise with the situation, “A secret is a secret.”
“Oh! We’ve got to go find our bosses, but we saw the two of you first and had to say hello!” Megan grins, “But, we will come back if we finish our rounds.”
“Please do, I’d love to hear more about your lives.” Your uncle waves them off. You resume your conversation for a bit longer before you decide to go find Renata. You had planned on introducing her to your uncle tonight. ‘I wonder if Mrs.Stafford offered to warm her bed for the night.’ You snort to yourself. ‘Who am I kidding? She probably asked her husband for a divorce with how blatantly she was flirting.’ You take a step away when the sound of a throat clearing has you turning around to see your visitors. ‘It’s strange not using my senses here, but it wouldn’t be wise. If I sense something I don’t like, I don’t know if I’d be able to contain myself.’
You find yourself looking at a burly woman with numerous scars. You recognize the look of her clothes and notice a crest adorning them over the left breast. With her is the woman you recognize to be Councilor Medarda. Between the two, there are similarities that tell you they’re related. ‘Interesting. I wasn’t aware that one of the Councilors is Noxian.’ You file that information away.
“I hope I am not interrupting, Cassius.” The burly woman’s voice comes out powerfully, “It has been a long time since I’ve seen you, my friend. I was eager to see you once I heard you’d been invited.” She grins widely and grips forearms with your uncle in greeting. ‘They’re battle-bonded. So, we’re close with her House.’
“Ambessa Medarda! It has been too long! It’s a wonderful sight to see you here.” Uncle Cassius’ eyes flick to you, “And here I was thinking I was the only Warlord invited.” You mentally thank your uncle for the information. He moves his gaze to the councilor and holds out his hand.
“Little Mel! I’ve heard that you’re a woman of many talents, now. Not so little anymore when you’re sitting on the council.” Uncle Cassius shakes her hand.
“You’ve heard right, Lord Pyre.” Mel’s smile doesn’t reach her eyes, “I’ve heard you’re claiming more land in the country.”
“Ah, I was afraid your mother might beat me to it!” Uncle Cassius jokes.
“Nonsense.” Ambessa’s voice rumbles, “My territorial days are over… and to address your previous statement - Where you go, I am sure to follow. Yet, it has been some time since you’ve attended an event like this. You prefer staying local. What’s the occasion, if I may be so bold?”
“More guests approach, my Lord.” Essa Fei cuts in and steps aside. ‘Did I miss that announcement earlier?’ You furrow your brow as the people are revealed. Councilor Kiramman stops beside Mel but it’s the next person who makes you agitated. ‘Caitlyn!’ You snarl in your mind, slightly narrowing your eyes at her. Caitlyn’s face shifts into surprise but it’s quickly replaced with suspicion. It’s visible in her body language in the way she crosses her arms and narrows her eyes at you. ‘The feeling is mutual.’ You hiss, bawling your hand into a fist behind your back.
“Lord Pyre, I’d like for you to meet Councilor Kiramman and her daughter, Caitlyn.” Mel gestures to them and your eyes widen in shock. ‘Daughter?! She is the daughter of a noble then!’ The anger rolls through you. ‘No wonder. A councilor’s daughter.’ You mentally roll your eyes.
“Good evening.” Your uncle nods at them, before addressing his companion, “My niece brings me here, Ambessa...” Uncle Cassius places a hand on your shoulder. All eyes are on you as you give a disarming smile.
“It is time for her to be presented as part of the House.” You witness Caitlyn’s startled look in the corner of your eye and hold back a chuckle. Suddenly, something in the back of your mind tingles in awareness. Your instincts are trying to tell you about someone near you. You subtly scan the people around you but none of them set it off. ‘What? Who is it, then?’ You nervously check again.
“Your niece? I wasn’t aware you have one.” Ambessa raises an eyebrow, looking you over. The others nod their heads in agreement.
“She has been kept a secret, along with her brother.” Uncle Cassius relays, “You’re aware of Noxian traditions when it comes to children of the House.” Ambessa nods in understanding. You bite the inside of your lip as the feeling gets worse.
“I hope you don’t mind me asking why?” You hear Caitlyn question, “I’m not aware of Noxian tradition.” Your head turns in her direction just as you catch someone stopping next to her. You take in the Enforcer-like uniform before finding the person’s face. ‘No. No. No. No. No! Tattoo. Scars.’ You suck in a sharp breath as you make eye contact with icy blue eyes. Those very same eyes widen in disbelief as they notice you. ‘Y/n.’ Vi mouths in silent awe.
“My niece is a Magicborn who discovered her magic very young. Within Noxus, magical youth are pushed to join the military or use it to the House’s benefit. The family agreed to wait until they were older to bring them into our circle.” Uncle Cassius explains but he sounds far away. The tingling in the back of your mind becomes a buzz and you realize what it meant. ‘Vi… Vi?’ You hold each other’s gaze for a moment longer before you forcefully break eye contact. You exhale, not realizing that you were holding your breath. Vi hands a glass of champagne to Caitlyn and her mother, making something bitter curl in your stomach. ‘She’s here with Caitlyn. I guess she is forgetting about us… looking like an Enforcer, nonetheless.’ You tune back into the conversation when it turns to you, stepping forward to formally introduce yourself.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you Ms.Medarda.” You hold out your hand with a dazzling smile, “As a friend of the House, please feel free to call me Y/n.” Ambessa grips your wrist and you return the gesture. The calluses on her hands indicate years of wielding a weapon, “You must wield a strong hand.”
“Years of hard work. Call me Ambessa, Y/n.” Ambessa gives you a grin, “Your hands indicate years of hard work as well. You must wield a strong weapon.” She compliments you.
“My uncle is none too gentle during training.” You chuckle, letting go, and take a step back so you can see everyone. It puts Vi back in your line of sight and you can see how intensely she’s staring at you.
“Tell me, what kind of magic do you possess that would require you to be hidden?” Ambessa raises an eyebrow in interest. You glance at your uncle who nods. ‘It’s up to me on what I disclose.’
“I would prefer to speak of it in a more private setting. I live within the isthmus, so I am open to meeting you when you’re available.” You deflect.
“Then I will be in contact.” Ambessa nods.
“Now, who’s our new arrival?” Your uncle raises a brow at Vi, “I am not familiar with her.” The two of you meet eyes again before Councilor Kiramman steps forward. Your fingers tangle into the fabric of your dress as you try to keep your emotions down. The tingling in your fingertips reminds you that your magic is itching to do something. ‘Breathe. This is no place to let my magic out. Especially not when I’m upset.’
“Ah, where are my manners?” Councilor Kiramman shakes her head, “This is my daughter’s friend, Vi. She’s working under Caitlyn in the Enforcers squadron. Being from the Undercity, Vi has been helping us look for someone. I’d like to discuss it with you at a later date, Lord Pyre, if possible.” You thin your lips as you turn away from them. ‘She is an Enforcer now? Wow… I-I can’t believe this, but I need to be there for that conversation about Jinx. I can get information firsthand.’ Your uncle’s eyes flick to you.
“It would have to be soon since I am returning to Noxus.” Uncle Cassius agrees, “My niece will be present for it as well.” You give him a thankful smile and he throws you a wink. Your eyes slowly find themselves back on Vi and you feel something swell in your chest. ‘She’s… gorgeous in her uniform. Sophisticated. She carries herself well, even though I can tell she doesn’t want to be wearing it. And those heels make her calves-’ You choke back a purr and let out a small cough. ‘How am I upset with her but checking her out?! That doesn’t work!’
“Are you alright?” Councilor Medarda approaches you, Caitlyn following on her heels, while Vi keeps a bit away. You glance over her shoulder to see the other two are in a discussion with your uncle.
“Yes, thank you, Councilor. It happens sometimes because of my magic.” You brush off her concern.
“Please, call me Mel. Your uncle is… well, like an uncle to me.” Mel chuckles, “It wouldn’t be right for you to address me so formally.”
“Mel it is, then.” You chuckle. Soon, you find yourself in a conversation with her. You carefully question her about Hextech, keeping in mind the guarded way she responds, and steadily trying to ignore Vi. That was easier said than done by how badly you wanted to look at her. She would say something to you and you would respond to it formally. You showed no inclination of being familiar with her, and Vi was following your lead. Except, that worried you. ‘Why would she be following my lead? Wouldn’t she want them to know we’re acquainted in some way? And, Caitlyn is not-so-subtly trying to get information out of me so that would help her.’ Vi was one of the most cunning people you knew. Her silence terrified you more than her shouting.
“Will you be heading to Noxus with your-?”
“-So, you came here with Ms.Glasc?” Vi cuts Caitlyn off, stepping closer to you, “Is that because you’re business partners?”
“Yes, Renata is a great partner. She’s quite dependable and gets the job done.” You respond with a coy smile. You don’t miss the way her jaw clenches. ‘Vi’s jealous. She’s jealous that I’m here with Renata? Interesting.’
“You’re from Zaun, Vi.” Your uncle and the others join your conversation, “How do you feel hearing about this medicine for your people.” He questions her. Vi takes a moment to think, examining the group before tucking her hands into her pockets.
“I think it’s been a long time coming. It’s something my people desperately need, and I’m… relieved to know that Y/n is the one who created it.” Vi answers honestly, making you pause. ‘She said my name. She said my name. She indicated familiarity, but she wouldn’t know that, right? Right?!’ The smug look in her eyes says otherwise. ‘Shit, and we’ve been acting like we don’t know each other. Fuck, Vi, look what you did!’ You practically scream at her with your eyes. Councilor Kiramman gives the two of you an intense look.
“Are you two acquainted?” Councilor Kiramman questions with a tight voice. The curious stares from the others and your uncle have you nervously tapping your fingers. You open your mouth to answer but Vi beats you to it.
“Acquainted? We grew up together in Zaun.” Vi says casually, “Y/n and I were best friends before I was wrongfully thrown into prison.” You felt like you might faint from her words. You had pushed too far and Vi was paying you back for it. Now you would have to explain why you didn’t reveal that in the first place. ‘She’s always been good at talking me into a corner. I let my guard down around her without even realizing it.’
“If you know Vi, how come you didn’t say so?” Mel furrows her brow.
“It’s a shock for me to see her here tonight.” You clear your throat, “And I’m sure it’s a shock for her as well. I didn’t want to broach that topic in such a setting.” They nod in understanding but the conversation goes quiet, no doubt wondering what’s the exact reason you didn’t acknowledge Vi. You close your eyes and take a deep breath. ‘Sneaky, but she won’t win this. If she wants to talk, then we’ll talk.’
“If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to get some air.” You turn and head for the garden doors without waiting for their responses. The buzzing in your mind quiets as you move but it doesn’t go away. That’s how you know Vi is following, and that very thought makes your pulse beat a bit harder.
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