Chapter Text
Fire can be a lot of things.
Scientifically it's a reaction between heat, carbon and oxygen producing a byproduct- smoke. But it's also a way for people to cook food and make meat more enjoyable. For the first people, fire was sanctuary. It was light, warmth and sign of prolonged living. It was hope.
Fire is also the result of actions. It may be the act of lightning striking the husk of what was once a shrub or field of grass. Or lava toiling through a forest, reaking havoc on everything it touches. It can also be a result of small actions. Accidents even. A cigarette not put out fully- perhaps you were late to pick up the kids from school, or needed to brush your teeth before leaving for a dinner. A hot coal placed in a trash can from yesterday's barbecue. Or maybe you needed to get that wiring fixed and replace that microwave, but in the moment, other things came up.
Many people would describe fire as a destructive wave of flesh searing heat and light so bright that it acts as a warning.
Vi, on the other hand, would describe fire as a sublime. She should know, she's fought enough of them, and it takes facing your enemy to truly get to know them. The blaze- an intersection between beauty in it's most natural form and a self-destructing, havoc inducing, uncontrollable force. It's incredible to watch. To watch it feed on everything around it. To gaze upon it as it rises above the building it was once trapped within and break free from among it's own ashes and smoke. To breathe that fresh air. Vi has found that she tends to have more similarities with fire than most people. Her family get her, but other than that, she is the typical troubled parentless kid from Zaun. The one disclosed in the subtext of the history textbooks in a Piltie high-school, that really act more as prisons the more that Vi ears Powder, her little sister (of which they are separated by six years), ramble on about them.
It's difficult growing up in a world where you're constantly criticised for being you, especially when it's all you know. Vi was always going to end up a firefighter. Her father, mother, uncles, family friends- all were firefighters. Well, almost. Her mother, Felicia, she was an EMT, Vander was the captain and her father, well, he was Connol, that was for sure. Vi grew up in the station. Every Saturday and Sunday that her parents were on shift, she was there, and every day after school too. It was cheaper than a babysitter, not necessarily a good one, but cheaper than one who didn't know not to let the kids eat glass or a spoon. It became her home away from home. She'd do her homework, at least the little she actually got and wanted to do, at the table in the common room with the other firefighter's kids and even get to try out Vander's boxing bag. On her 10th birthday, Vander suprised her with gloves of her own. Big red ones that might have been a bit too big, but she never let on. Otherwise he might've wanted to take them back.
It was always in her cards. One of the youngest firefighters ever in the Piltover x Zaun Fire Department (PZFD), only beaten out by Vander, of course. At 18 she joined up, much like a young soldier eager for war, and was out of the academy in 6 months. First, nearly every candidate has to join engine for a year, which Vi did. If she had went straight to truck, it would have looked like special treatment, and Vi was never going to take that from anyone, even if it was from one of her own. After a year as candidate on engine, led by Sevika Gupta, Vi finally got the transfer that she was destined for.
Station 14. One of the most well regarded stations in the entirety of the PZFD, led now by Hadley Vander, (everyone just calls him Vander). Finally, on truck where she belonged, Vi excelled. It wasn't long before her brothers; Mylo, Ekko and Claggor joined the Station as well. Vander built a family within his home, and for that they were all greatful. It's easy to fall through the cracks when you've got nobody covering your back, so the closeness only bonded them together more. When you almost lose everything, the small things add up.
Vi is sat in her car across the street from the fire station. She taps her thumb on the gear stick, the other lies in her lap, gently stroking her leg. She stares out the window, in a daydream like state: She isn't particularly focused on anything that's happening around her. So much so, that she jumps when Mylo knocks on the window of her door, large coffee in hand.
"What's got you daydreaming? Thought you had to have an imagination to do that." He chuckles as she opens the door ajar.
"You saying I'm not imaginative?", Vi swings around and grabs her duffle bag from the backseat, then lifts a bottle of water and a book from the passenger side, before stepping out if the car.
"Maybe...", he backs away as she gets out.
"Are you sure? Cause I've got really imaginative ways to shove that coffee up your-", she quickly slams the door of the black mustang.
The bang makes him flinch, "Yeah- yeah, okay, okay. I get it."
Vi walks up beside him, pretending to reach for the coffee, he holds it tighter to his chest "No touch! Hands off my coffee! I need this to get through the day". He takes a long gulp.
"Why? We've been through this before. It's the same as always", Vi locks the car before placing her bag over her shoulder and placing one hand and keys into her jogger pocket, with the other hand gripped around the strap of her bag.
Taking a momentary break from downing his sad excuse for a latte, "But it's so boring! What if he sucks? Like a total sleeze-ball". The pair begin crossing the road.
"A what?", Vi asks.
"Sleeze-ball. You know, a guy with no real personality. No unique experiences of his own. A Davey Smith, a Jack Moriaty." He says the names with repulsion, scoffing, his coffee already to his lips as soon as he finishes talking. He begins to walk out into the road, when Vi pulls him back by his shirt as a car drives by. Then she gives him the head flick to cross and they move together.
"Coming up with our own words now Mylo? Not enough in the dictionary for you?"
"Come on, you know what I mean. And spell dictionary- we both know you can't. A sleeze-ball, a stale person. Like the super skinned of the milks. I wish we got to pick who got transfared"
"We did pick. D.I.C.T.I.O.N...", she starts to spell as they come to the open gates of the station. Two brick pillars with two great big black articulated gates attached down the entrance. On each, a golden plaque with 'FIRE STATION 14' dawning each. A long driveway spans 20 metres before they come up to the station building itself. To each side of the pathed drive, two green lawns, evenly cut all around to a perfect height, allow for the cream concrete to act as a red carpet from the road to the station, for all those who decide to walk through it's gates.
"Ary", she finishes.
"Told you- and not like that: On the way out, sure. But I want a say on who gets In".
"That's up to the chief and you know it"
"Well, you still have to approve them. The chief can't go that far over your head".
"He can if he wants"
"Why?"
"Because he's the chief dumbass".
They come up to the brick building, with both of it's 30ft doors opened, the front of the Ambulance and Truck on show to the street. Claggor is stood at the bonnet of the Ambo, a medical crest (the star of life) dawned on his back (the same crest as the one that dawns the hood). He leans over the hood, polishing it with a cloth as Mylo comes up behind him.
"CLAG!", He yells into his ear. Claggor swings round with his forearm directed straight for Mylo's head, but Mylo half hazardly ducks, a cocky smile streaking his face. Claggor grinds his teeth.
"Don't miss next time", Vi teases, walking up to her brother who towers over her. You see, Vi may be the shortest out of her 'siblings', with the exception being Powder, but that doesn't mean that she is by far the weakest. However, if put to the test, Claggor would definitely pack a harder punch, he just doesn't use it as much as Vi does. Despite his size, Claggor is the softest in the group and his position as lead EMT on Ambulance 23 reflects that. But he'd also never pass up the opportunity to box at Vander's gym whenever he is off shift, especially when Vi needs someone to hold the pads.
"Oh I wont", He confidently responds.
"You said that last time", Mylo says as he turns and walks further into the station, still gulping down his coffee.
"Vi-", Claggor starts as he tucks a corner of the cloth into his cargos as the pair walk further into the station and onto the main floor, "Have you heard anything?"
"Look Clag, if I knew I'd tell you, you know that".
"I know I know. I'm just- with the whole Deckard thing. I don't know how he'll get on with someone new again. Deckard tortured him from the day he arrived and he really doesn't need that right now".
"Deckard was an ass, who is now spending his shifts in a house, on a crappy Engine company on the other side of Zaun. We don't have to worry about him anymore Clag, least not the new guy".
"Maybe you're right"
"Isn't she always?", Ekko says as he hangs off of the inside of the door of truck 14.
"Hey, what's up, Little man?", Claggor playfully asks, as Ekko leaps down in front of Vi, slamming the door behind him.
"Nothing new Clag, what's up with you?"
"Trying to get the name of the new guy out of our sister", he gestures to Vi.
"If she knew, we'd know. Maybe it's a new candidate", he pushes open one of the compartment doors and proceeds to lift out an SCBA. A breathing apparatus consisting of a mask and tank full of oxygen.
"It better not be. The last one was a bust and I don't know if i can be bothered with training another rook", Mylo says as he comes up behind them all, now bagless and wearing a PZFD shirt, but still with his coffee in his hand.
"You say that like you're the one who trains them. I learned more from Loris and Vi in one call than I did in 10 calls on your shoulder", Ekko chuckles.
"Yeah, well- you were a crappy student", he gestures with his eyebrows.
"Hey, Lieutenant?", Loris comes from inside the station's main building.
Vi turns to him, "What's up Loris?"
"Chief is about to start".
Mylo crosses his fingers and closes his eyes tight, "Please no candidate, please no candidate, please no-", he stops when Ekko hits him on the back of his head.
Vi laughs, shaking her head as she leads them into the main building of Station 14.
The Station's (or house as its traditionally called by the crew that work out of it), main building isn't huge by any means, especially not by Piltover standards, but it achieves it's purpose; a common room, a kitchen, bathroom, locker room and showers, small gym, office space and sleeping quarters. Then of course you have the main floor. Which isn't a part of the main building but is connected and makes up the main part of the overall Station. The floor holds the gear, Truck, Ambulance and Battalion car. Although it's size, station 14 doesn't have an Engine company. Mostly due to its close proximity to other Engine companies in the area. The Truck company covers more overall ground than the Engines, so on average they receive more calls, but to more unique incidents than Engine. Engine companies respond only to fires, while Truck can complete simple searches and rescues, as well as providing support for Engine companies and also completing overhaul, (a process in which the crew of Truck check over a building or site that's been on fire to make sure the entire fire is out to prevent rekindling).
Station 14's "pride and joy" as Ekko, the driver of Truck, would say, is the stunning art piece of machinery that is Truck 14. Equipped with mutliple storage compartments, ladders, rescue and breaching equipment, and it's star studded aerial, (a giant ladder controlled via a control panel at the base, that is connected to the truck itself).
Vi opens her locker and places her bag inside, grabbing out a shirt from within. Claggor leans up against the locker beside.
"You really haven't heard?"
"Nope", Vi takes off her shirt, revealing her sports bra and incomplete tattoo made up of cogs, gears and smoke that stretches across the upper part of her back and up to her neck. She takes a can of deodorant and sprays it.
"Really? I mean, I thought he'd tell you. Doesn't he have to?", Claggor crosses his arms.
"Not if he doesn't want to", she tosses the can back into her mess of a locker.
"Ah, yeah. I forget that he's as stubborn as you are", he grins.
"Well I didn't get it from my dad", she pulls the shirt down over her head.
He feels the shift in tone, "Your mum was well stubborn though, no?"
"I- don't remember", Vi lies.
"Right... Come on, pretty sure we're already late".
"Yeah", she mumbles, flicking her head in agreement. Claggor walks out of the room, leaving Vi alone for a moment. Everyone else is already in briefing. She should probably get going. Chief wouldn't be happy if she was late. Not that she is late everyday, almost never. This day is different. Vi knows that she wasn't told about the new member of truck for a reason, she just doesn't know what that reason is. It makes her feel sick- a feeling of anxiety that acts as a stick stuck inside your gut, when you know something is wrong, or worse: out of your control.
She shakes it off, looking to the door of her locker, where pictures of her parents, siblings and one of her and Vander are strung up. She holds two finger together and kisses them softly, before touching the photograph of her parents and shutting her locker.
On her way out she spots the locker beside hers still has it's label on it. Every locker has a label made from a piece of masking tape and Sharpe with the owner's name inscribed across it. The label reads: 'Deckard'. Vi grabs the corner and rips the label off, scrumpling it up in her hand and tossing it into the bin as she leaves.
Vi enters the briefing room that is filled with rowdy firefighters. Most are sitting in these blue plastic chairs pulled up behind folding desks. At the front of the room is a large whiteboard that spans across most of the wall. In the corner written in blue pen, 'Powder was here ;)'. Nobody dared to rub it off.
Ekko is sat in the front row of seats, with an empty one beside him. He sees Vi walk in and signals her over. Like previously stated, firefighters can be a rowdy bunch. Things flying across the room, arguments and light disagreements being exchanged, even an arm wrestling competition in the corner that Vi remains champion of, (but between you and me, it's because the Chief let her win).
She sits in her seat to Ekko's greeting, "Alright?".
Vi nods.
She sits just as the door opens, and a gigantic stature of a man walks in. His boots? Atleast size 13. Shirt size? XXXL. Vi knows this, as she was the one that had to buy him new ones for Christmas and socks too. The room falls almost into obedient silence. His boots thumping the floor, clearly steel toe. He holds a clipboard in his hand and a pen in the other, a pair of thin framed glasses hang around his neck on a chain. His forearm is decorated with the image of two feral wolves and a list of names written in many different kinds of cursive.
"Right. Mornin' everyone", he starts.
"Morning Chief", everyone says in unison.
Vi sits arms folded, legs man-spread leaning back in her chair. She's been told that it "wasn't very ladylike" by a few older women in bars, but she didn't really care. Vi actually quite liked it, taking it more as a complement than most probably would.
"Okay so, I suppose you've all been eagerly waiting to find out who is our new personel on Truck. In pleased to tell you that it is not a new candidate-"
Mylo's purposely loud "yes!", can be heard from the other side of the room.
"Yes Mylo, thank you".
"Sorrry Chief."
He clears his throat, "We've recieved more funding from the head of our district for our very own Truck 14. However, I have been given strict instructions on where this new part of budget is to be used. I am happy to announce..."
Everyone is on the edge of their seats. What will it be? A new rig? New gear? A pool table in the common room? (Mylo's been begging the Chief to get one ever since he was little).
"That we will be having two new crew members on Truck 14. May everyone welcome Jayce Talis, and Lieutenat Caitlyn Kiramman to Firehouse 14", he begins to clap his hands as the door opens, with two people walking in. The rest of the room begin to clap except for Ekko and Vi, who sit stunned.
"What the fuck?" Ekko whispers into Vi's ear, "A Lieutenant?"
Jayce Talis walks in first, a 6ft 4 hunk of a man, built with a large back and defined shoulders, so much so that his shirt struggles to stay in one piece. His hair is perfectly combed back, with even the small displaced strands looking purposefully placed. He strides towards the Chief hand outstretched- "We're very greatful that you'll have us, Chief" as the pair embrace a strong handshake..
Caitlyn follows him. A tall skyscraping woman, with long thin navy hair, piercing blue eyes, and a scowl that could scare away a dog. Her features are sharp, terrifying, and she holds herself up as if she was chiseled out of stone by Michelangelo himself. Her shirt's short sleeves compressed against the muscle of her arms. "Thank you for the opportunity Chief", Caitlyn also shakes his hand.
Ekko rolls his eyes and scoffs.
"Despite the new members who I am sure you will all make feel welcome in our house, you lot also have your normal duties to carry out. Who's on grub today?"
"Clag's on breakfast, I'm on lunch and... Who wants to do dinner?", Vi says, pointing around the room as she does so.
"Hey new guy!", Mylo calls out to Jayce.
"Yeah?"
"You cook?"
"I can yes-"
"Then that's it settled. Claggor, make us something would you? And do me my eggs."
"Aye, Chief".
"Okay everyone. Have a good shift, let's get to work", simultaneously as if routine, everyone in the room claps once, before standing and leaving the room. Claggor is first up to shake the hands of new additives to Truck, then Scar, the other paramedic on Ambo 23, also shakes their hands.
"My name's Claggor, people call me Clag, last name's Johnston. This here is Scar, that's all he goes by. He's not really a talker".
"I see. It's nice to meet you both ", Jayce says kindly, shaking both of their hands.
Caitlyn, on the other hand, stands back. A small fake smile on her face as she watches everyone else, analyses them even.
Ekko watches her like a hawk, arms folded as he leans against one of the tables.
Vi can't stand it no longer. She gets up and leaves the room abruptly and Caitlyn watches. Vi, almost in a run, makes her way down the corridor and catches up to the Chief.
"Chief!" She calls after him, causing him to stop and turn around.
"McConnol, what can I do for you?"
She catches up to him, barely breathing heavily, "You knew about this?".
"I did".
"And you didn't feel like you had to say anything to your Lieutenant?"
"Vi, I didn't say anything, because I didn't want you to worry. They are good firefighters with pristine records, over 10 years between them before they're thirty".
"But Vander- another Lieutenant? Truck already has one"
"And that I am completely aware of, but when the new budget came in, I had to make a decision. There aren't that many good floaters out there and they wanted to transfare together. You don't come across talent like that every day. I would never assign anyone to truck who would disregard or put the reputation of Station and Truck 14 in jeopardy-"
"Except for Deckard".
"He was a good firefighter. It's a shame how that all went down, but we move on Vi. We get over it, and that starts with you. They look up to you, even Claggor and Scar. You ask them to run into a burning building and they'd do it in a heartbeat, helmet on, halligan in hand. Now, Kiramman won't be a threat to your position as Lieutenant on Truck. I promise".
"Okay. Yeah, I- I understand".
"Good, and I'd like to remind you... while we are in the Station you are to remember that I am your Chief, not your father. You should treat me with that respect".
"Yes Chief".
"Have a good shift, Lieutenant, and please treat Talis and Kiramman with the respect they deserve. They're part of this house now".
Vi nods and turns, walking away, fists clenched by her side.
"So this is our locker room. The showers are just down there. Here, we can get you guys a free one". Claggor points towards an unlabeled locker, of which, Caitlyn goes to and opens, placing her bag inside. Jayce takes up the locker opposite.
"Overtime we all add a little something to our our doors-", Claggor opens his to reveal a photo of his parents and childhood dog, as well as picture of him, Mylo, Vi, Ekko and Powder partaking in little league soft ball, with Vander and Benzo as coaches, Vi being held up in Vander's arms. "Gotta make it ours, you know?"
Caitlyn moves stuff around in her locker, when she hears someone open the door of the one beside. Caitlyn closes hers to find Vi rummaging around in the locker beside. The violet haired woman pulls out a pair of large, red boxing gloves before locking her locker. Vi turns to look at Caitlyn who is now staring at her. Vi gives her a look back, before turning and walking out of the room, leaving Caitlyn standing somewhat bemused.
"Did you play softball Jayce?", Claggor asks.
"No, I- I played basketball mostly. Same with Cait"
Caitlyn nods, "I also played Ice hockey in college".
"Ah, well, we're all Slumprats fans here. Hey, after shift we normally all head down to The Last drop and catch the games. We'd be happy for you guys to join us".
"Sounds great", Jayce closes his locker.
"Yeah.", Caitlyn again nods, forcing a smile.
"Anyway, last on our tour is the common room and kitchen. I need to make breakfast or the Chief and everyone else will bite my head off like wolves, so I'll get someone else to show you the floor. If that's alright with you guys?".
"Yeah, that'll be amazing, thank you Claggor", Jayce says.
"Anytime. You guys are a part of this house now, and even though the Chief runs a tight ship, he keeps us together", Claggor leads them out of the locker room, but stops as he remembers, "Oh- Cait! Would you mind?", He gestures to his locker door being wide open.
"No worries", Caitlyn goes to close the door but hesitates, staring far too long at that photo of the softball team. First the tag on the whiteboard now this? What kind of house is she in?
*05:30 AM*
The alarm clock beside her bed blares, not that it matters, she's already been up for a while. It just means that now she actually has to get up. Caitlyn pulls back the red silk sheets of her queen sized bed with a sigh, and slides into her white bunny slippers.
She glides into the living room, just as Jayce opens the door and enters the apartment, shirt untucked, with his jacket and belt in hand.
"Don't." He says as Caitlyn looks him up and down.
Caitlyn makes her way over to the kitchen, passing by the marble topped island and heading straight for the coffee machine, "Don't what? Judge? Call you a slut?"
"Well you just did, so thanks.", he throws himself onto the couch in defeat.
"I've told you before, you can bring them back here I really don't mind. I can just stay in my room the whole time", she pours the coffee beans into the machine and presses a button.
"Yeah, but you own half of this apartment I don't want you to have to sit in your room" He puts his hand over his eyes.
"Oh, well, I know I wouldn't have to, but that I'd probably want to", she says with a smile handing him a cup of coffee to help him get over his despair. "Who was it this time? That doctor again?"
"No, I actually only went out with him once. He wanted to, you know, date me and- I don't know, I wasn't ready for that kind of thing", he takes a sip from the mug.
"And I suspect you'll never be ready with that attitude"
"Really? Gosh, you know what Kiramman, you should've been a cop. Would've saved us all a hell of a lot of thinking".
She picks up a pillow and hits him with it, "You should be getting up."
"But it's only..." He tries to look at his watch, "I am not wearing my- shit."
"Haha!", Caitlyn chuckles, pulling air back through her teeth, "looks like you might have to call them again. Don't tell me you've blocked them already".
"Shut up.", Jayce reaches for his phone, while Caitlyn watches him. "I am not going to tell you who it was so you should probably just go and get ready for whatever you plan on doing this morning. Otherwise you'll be waisting your time and I've been told numerous times that Caitlyn Kiramman has no time to spare".
She tosses the pillow at him causing him to nearly spill his coffee, as she takes a sip from hers before walking back into her room to get her gym gear.
She can hear Jayce talking on the phone from her room, but chooses not to listen out of respect for his privacy. She figured that if Jayce wanted her to know, then he'd tell her, but until then, she was to stay out of it.
Caitlyn pulls her car up onto the road. Despite being from Piltover, Caitlyn never really cared for fancy cars, unlike Jayce. When she moved to Zaun, the first thing she did was go to the nearest dealership and buy a car from a salesman who promised it was "one of a kind- an impenetrable machine". She just smiled and nodded, like always, but the man wasn't half wrong. It has stayed in one piece for the three years she's had it which is longer than she thought it was going to last.
"I still don't see why you won't just get a better car", Jayce moans, sitting in the passenger seat.
"I don't need a golden carriage to cart me around the streets of Zaun Jayce, and after this morning? You have no right to judge me on my life choices. If you don't like my car then you can just drive yourself next shift", Caitlyn takes the key out of the ignition.
"Maybe I will".
Caitlyn opens the car door and steps out onto the pavement, "No, you won't".
"Yeah, no you're right I probably won't", Jayce also steps put of the car, but much more slowly, making sure that he doesn't get hit by ongoing traffic, "It's not my fault, Zaun kinda scares me in the morning".
She pops open the boot, "So you walk from bar to bar at night but won't drive to work in the morning?"
"It sounded better in my head", Jayce mutters as Caitlyn throws his bag at his chest.
"Most things do Jayce", Caitlyn rolls her eyes, lifting her bag from the boot and slinging it around her good shoulder, pushing the boot closed and locking the car by putting the key in the keyhole and turning it.
Jayce looks on in disgust, "Please! Get a better car!"
"No! I will not!", She says determind. The pair walk across the road towards the Station. "When are you getting your watch back?"
"Later."
"Later? How mysterious", she chuckles to herself as the pair come to the gates of Station 14.
The pair stand at the gate for a moment. "You think this one will be better than the last?", Jayce says hopefully.
Caitlyn thinks for a moment. "Let's not Jinx it", she sighs, "Shall we?".
Vi walks out onto the floor, boxing gloves in hand, passing by Mylo who is currently cleaning the side of Truck 14.
She stops beside him, analysing his work.
"Well? Looking hot isn't she?", Mylo says proudly with a sponge in his hand.
Vi hesitates. "You missed a spot", she points to a grease mark on the door, "and get clean water. You'll probably end up making more of a mess if you use that", she gestures towards a bucket filled with brownish foamy water.
"You better not scratch my girl, Mylo", Ekko shouts.
Vi walks away from the truck leaving Mylo cleaning and now in a mood as he drags the bucket over to the drain, and makes her way towards Ekko, who is standing waiting beside a black punching bad that is strung from a beam by a metal chain.
"What took you so long?"
"Had to use the bathroom", she says bluntly, putting on the gloves and beginning to strap them.
"Sure, sure".
"Are you going to?", Vi asks, standing in front of the bag.
"Oh, yeah", Ekko positions himself behind the bag holding it tight so that Vi can hit it without it moving.
She begins to throw her fists into the bag, starting off slow and weak, and building up in both speed and weight.
"So, the Chief really told you nothing?"
"How many- times... Do I -have to say it, Ekko?", she begins to get out of breath, staying on her toes and shifting her body weight as she throws a cross, then right hooks the bag.
"I know, I know-".
"You've been hanging out with Powder too much. I'm going to have to start repeating myself as many times with you as I do with her".
"I'm just suprised. He's Vander-"
"He's the Chief, and he'll do what he wants with his firehouse".
"But another Lieutenant?", as he says the last word, Vi rattles the bag with another body cross, this time, hard enough to send Ekko stumbling a few steps backwards.
"Move aside, skinny boy." Loris walks over, and takes position holding the bag, allowing Vi to let loose. "Come on, move your feet. Don't keep your head still for too long. There you go. Come on!", he coaches her, as she progressively hits harder and faster.
"And they're both from Piltover, what is our luck? I did recognised his name from somewhere. Talis... probably owns a construction company or something else that allows him to sit at home on his ass and watch the money roll in", Ekko blabbers on.
Vi only stops when her face is red raw, and sweat is dripping down her back underneath her shirt and straps that hold up her trousers. She begins to unstrap her gloves, "Ekko..."
"Yeah?"
"Please, shut up", she gathers herself, "Thanks Loris".
"Anytime, Lieutenant", he says before walking away.
"I'm still Lieutenant of truck. That isn't going to change", Ekko hands her a towel that she uses to wipe the sweat from her face.
"It better not. Chief or not, he can't take that away from you. We won't let him. Besides, with her name? She was probably handed the title of Lieutenant straight out of the academy".
"Thanks, Little man", she continues taking off her gloves, shaking her hands once out of them. "Lets not forget it's the Chief that we are talking about though, yeah?".
"Yeah, I know Vi", Ekko says.
She then proceeds to removed her straps and pull her now sweat saturated shirt from her torso, just as Caitlyn and Jayce walk onto the floor, led by Scar.
This definitely wasn't at the top of Caitlyn's list for things that she expected to happen today. A firefighter- a female firefighter, with those kind of muscles, a tattoo like that, standing infront of her, shirtless.
She tries really hard to pretend that it doesn't bother her, but it doesn't help that Jayce is standing beside her chuckling to himself at the state of Caitlyn.
"Don't", she whispers to him.
"Now look who's talking", he laughs even harder.
"Something funny Talis?" Vi demands walking towards them, Ekko behind her and shirt thrown over her shoulder, with her straps pulled back up and over her now bare arms and shoulders.
He immediately stops laughing and even gets nervous. But a different kind of nervous to the type Caitlyn is currently feeling, "No. Sorry Lieutenant".
Vi gets closer to them and holds out her hand. "Vi McConnel, Lieutenant of Truck 14".
Respectfully they both shake her hand.
"A two headed dog?", Jayce looks at the seal on the side of the Truck.
"Two wolves", Mylo corrects him, still scrubbing at the grease mark that will not come off not matter how hard he tries.
"Hm, interesting"
"Oh, is it, Pilite?", Ekko steps forward.
"Hey.", Vi holds her arm out, stopping him from going any further. She then turns to Caitlyn and Jayce, "Are you guys hungry?".
"What's cooking Claggor?!", Mylo says in an upbeat tone, almost skipping into the kitchen; Vi, Ekko, Caitlyn, Jayce and Scar all following behind.
"Ooh you'll like it this morning", he stands in a apron, mixing batter in a bowl with a wooden spoon, flour covering his hands.
"No you're not..." Mylo says very excitedly leaning up against the countertop opposite Claggor, mouth ajar, while Jayce and Caitlyn stand confused to the side.
"What can I say- it's a special day".
Vi goes to the fridge and lifts out a large tub of half eaten chocolate spread, and places in on the counter, as Claggor takes the bowl of batter over to the stove top and pours on circles of batter that he spreads out with a ladle.
"These are unbelievable Claggor", Ekko says before her inhales another pancake.
"Ye-ah. S-o- Go-od", Mylo tries to speak with his mouth full.
"Mylo, don't eat like a dog", Vi nags.
"Yeah, not infront of the Pilties, they might take offense", Ekko giggles.
The rest of them chuckle, leaving Jayce and Caitlyn sitting awkwardly at the table with their plates.
At first Vi let's out a chuckle, but then catches the look on both Caitlyn and Jayce's faces- it's not fear or disgust. More like, sadness. Rejection. Repeated rejection. Almost like they were used to feeling this way.
"How'd the rats do last night?", Mylo asks.
"You didn't watch it?", Ekko replies.
"I was otherwise engaged"
"Uh-huh. 5-2"
"Win?!"
Claggor chuckles.
"Aw man. Don't get my hopes up like that".
Vi finishes her food, before standing and walking out of the room, leaving Caitlyn questioning why she left in the middle of breakfast, without even saying a word. But nobody says anything. Actually, everyone else pretends that it's normal. Claggor catches Caitlyn watching Vi as she leaves.
"She's fine. Just not a large group person", he reassures her.
Jayce is already three quarters way through his stack of pancakes while Caitlyn has hardly touched her plate.
"Come on, Kiramman. Claggor's cooking can't be that bad compared to your personal chefs", Mylo laughs and the rest of them chuckle.
Caitlyn gets up, scraping her food into the bin and placing the plate on the drying rack, before also walking put of the room.
"Cait-", Jayce says.
"She didn't even put any chocolate spread on it", Mylo mocks.
"Probably wasn't the same as the spread in the golden castles", Ekko adds.
Claggor watches Jayce sink further into his chair as he chews his food.
"Hey Jayce", Claggor starts, "Didn't you play basketball in high school?"
Jayce rises a bit in his chair, "Yeah, and- and in college too. I still play every now and again, when I get time", he says putting on a friendly smile.
"You play ball?", Ekko asks with genuine interest.
"Yeah kind of-"
"Hm. Who do you think is better in their prime-"
"Who cares!", Mylo interrupts, "Did you ever win anything?"
"Yeah just the state championship-", Jayce attempts to down play his winnings.
"Just the state championship!?"
"Three times..."
"WOW!", Ekko is in awe.
With Mylo now finding the 'Piltie' a bit more interesting than he thought, "THAT'S SICK DUDE!"
Claggor sits on the countertop, a glee filled smile across his face as he finishes his food, scraping his plate with his fork, making a horrible scratching noise.
"CLAG, JESUS!" Mylo shouts at the sound made.
"We've told you mutliple times- stop with the scraping man. If you want the last bits just lick the plate and save us all our ears", Ekko pleads.
"As long as Piltover here doesn't mind." Loris gestures to Jayce.
There is an awkward silence as everyone stares at Jayce, awaiting his answer.
"Oh-", he realises now why they were so quiet, "Yeah, go for it. Any chef should be able to fully finish his meal- especially one that he just made".
"Preach, golden gates", Mylo teases leaping from his chair at the table and licking his plate clean as he walks towards the sink. The rest copy him as they all lick their plates clean and put them in the sink with smiles all round. Jayce hesitates, but then catches Ekko staring at him. So he takes his final bite, clearing his plate of food, and then proceeds to lick the spilled chocolate spread from his plate.
The others in the room notice and all let out a cheer.
"Hey, Piltover's boy! You might not be that half bad after all!", Loris preaches.
Ekko raises his eyebrow to Jayce, before standing and offering to take his plate. Jayce smiles handing it to him.
"If we get a minute, how 'bout you teach me something that got you those state championships?", Ekko asks him.
"Make it ten", he replies.
Caitlyn walks onto the house floor. Truck 14 infront of her, with Vi lying half underneath one of the wheels, music pumping through her white, wired earphones that travel down to her trousers where Caitlyn suspects her phone is kept. The rest of the floor is empty, everyone else, she presumes, is inside gorging on the rest of Claggor's pancakes.
"Lieutenant McConnol?", Caitlyn asks standing above Vi.
"Yeah?", unaware of who it is, Vi keeps tinkering, music pumping from the one earphone she has in, almost completely drowning out Cait's voice.
"I was wondering if we could talk?", Caitlyn stands awkwardly but speaks with chest.
Hearing the seriousness of the tone of the voice, Vi pulls herself out from underneath the Truck's undercarriage, grease smudged across her cheek, wrench in hand, and pulls out her earphone.
"I see you've found a new shirt".
"I carry spares", Vi stands, pulling up her trousers slightly to above her waist and opening up the door of the truck to grab a rag from inside.
"What did you want to talk about?", she asks wiping grease from her hands.
"I-", Caitlyn almost freezes, as Vi climbs down from the rig. This is so unlike her, all those years of 'training' as her mother called it should be kicking in right about 5 minutes ago. "I understand if... If you don't want me in your company. I did realise beforehand that, well, obviously Truck 14 already has a Lieutenant-"
"The Company you came from, what was it?", Vi forces eye contact.
"I'm sorry?", Caitlyn is taken back.
"Well you must've came from somewhere".
"Ah, right- Engine 37".
All of a sudden, the alarm goes off and a voice comes over the speaker system that calls out to every room in the house, "DISPATCH TO STATION 14; TRUCK 14. AMBO 23. BATTALION 12. HOUSE FIRE ON 73 RAFFERTY AVENUE".
"Well then, I'm glad you got out and put in for that transfare", Vi says as she darts past Caitlyn and over to where the turnout gear is kept. Vi swings on her turnout coat with 'LIEUTENANT McCONNOL' written across the back in bold letters. She also grabs her helmet. Caitlyn is broken from her stare by Jayce who comes racing up behind her, placing his hand on her shoulder, "Cait- come on".
Realising that she was just standing still, Caitlyn quickly follows the rest of the crew over to the gear station, as they all put on their coats and lift their helmets before leaping into the rig, with Mylo stopping momentarily to try and rub off that persistent grease mark with his hand, when he is lifted from the waist by Loris and hoisted up into the Truck.
Scar jumps into the driver's seat of Ambo 23 while Claggor makes sure the back door is closed, before hopping in and waiting for Truck 14 to roll out, siren and lights already on.
Ekko leaps into the drivers seat and everyone else piles in the back, with Vi in the passenger, window already rolled down. Ekko turns on the ignition, flicks on the lights and siren, as Truck 14 and AMBO 23 pull out of the station and the driveway before merging onto the main road, siren blaring to the streets.