Stories of Violyn (CaitVi)

Vi's Pity Party at the Pit

Writer's note: If nothing else, at least the title is going to be lighthearted about this... In Arcane S02E05 I was hoping we would get to see a bit more about Vi's time at rock bottom in the arena, but unfortunately we "only" got that amazing montage. I mean the visuals were great, I just missed a bit of writing. So here I am, fixing that for myself. And this was such a downer to finish that the next chapter will be the most fluffy feel-good one shot y'all can imagine. I'm thinking a double date between Vi-Caitlyn and Ekko-Jinx.

(This used to be a three-parter, but now you can read the entire story here.)

***

She is sitting by herself at the counter, with her back turned to the room full of scum and villainy of the underworld. By now, pretty much everybody has learned that she is not to be bothered at this time, or if they haven't, someone will warn them before they can get to her. It's her usual celebratory menu; sitting with a glass of whiskey and staring at the counter until she empties the glass. Then a second round of the same thing, and then she is done for the day.

She is on her second round. Her fingers are still aching from the metallic jaw she broke earlier in the Arena, or the Pit as they like to call it here. But the sensation is getting duller as she goes through her drinks. When she finishes her last sip and puts down the glass, she realizes a big somebody is standing on her right. She sees him from the corner of her eye, but she doesn't turn to look. Vi is about to tell the man to piss off, when he pours a handful of coins on the counter in front of her.

"It's for you." She knows that voice.

"I don't need your charity, Loris."

"Not charity." The big man settles down next to her at the counter. "It's your half. I bet on you at the Pits. Nice makeup, by the way."

For the first time, Vi turns her head and looks directly up at him. "What do you want?"

The man stands her gaze for a few seconds then shrugs. "Same as you, I reckon. To get as far from Topside and their new dictator as possible... And to make some money."

Caitlyn's mention, even if not by name, completely ties the knot in Vi's stomach. She sweeps the coins in her pocket and stands up. She doesn't want to stay a second longer. However, before she reaches the door she stops and turns her head back over her shoulder. 

"Did she send you to check on me?"

"No. I left on my own." 

She doesn't know what to do with that information, but she wanted to at least know.

"I'm having another fight tomorrow. Same time."

"I'll be there," Loris replies, holding up his own drink.

It's a short walk to Vi's place from the club. That nasty old hag, the owner, is waiting for her at the bottom of her stairs. She fumbles while trying to count the money that she got from Loris, but the small woman just grabs it all from her palm and assesses its weight. "One week," she says without looking at Vi, and she walks off. Even if she was ripping her off, Vi doesn't care, and she wouldn't care if she was sober either. One week is more time than she's ever given her before. Maybe Loris and his idea of betting was better than she realized. She has never bet on herself, the money she got from the organizers has always been just enough to get her by.

She makes her way up to her room, and opens the water. She's only got cold water, but she's got used to that years ago in prison. Here, she has her own tap, her own bed, her own punching-bag, and a door that locks only by her own key. Even if in the dark it reminds her of her cell, it's everything she needs at the moment.

As she is washing the makeup off of her face, her thoughts unintentionally drift towards those few days before she came to the arena.

"I wasn't going to miss."