Smoke And Mirrors

Surprises

At the sound of heels clicking on the floor, Vi pulled her arm way, scared that she would give the wrong first impression to Caitlyn's mother. The woman mentioned entered the living room, dressed into one of Piltover's most expensive attire. Despite the crisis that had fallen over her house, Elizabeth Fitzwilliam wouldn't dare look less than decent. She walked towards her only daughter, completely ignoring Vi and threw herself into Caitlyn's arms.

Vi stepped aside awkwardly, not wanting to interrupt this family reunion of the sort. She wasn't sure of how Caitlyn's mother would react at her presence, so she thought it was better not to make herself too noticeable. She rested her back on the wall, arms crossed across her chest, and watched as Caitlyn conforted her mother. She somehow managed to drag her onto the couch on the other side of the room and had her sit down next to her. Vi noticed how lovingly and tenderly Caitlyn treated her mother, despite what Elizabeth had put her daughter through. Caitlyn rubbed her back with one arm and was holding her mother's hands with the other, whispering comforting words in her ear while her mother cried on her shoulder. It left Vi with a sorrowing feeling because she had never met her own mother before nor she was given the chance to take care of her. Life wasn't always fair but the pinkette couldn't complain; Caitlyn was all the family she ever needed and she wouldn't exchange her with anything in Valoran.

With these thoughts occupying her mind, she looked over the piano absentmindedly, not really focusing on it. So lost in thought was she that she didn't listen to her boss calling her name at first but as soon as she did, she rushed to Caitlyn's side and it was the first time she had a closer look at her mother.

In all honesty, Caitlyn was a replica of her mother; same long hair, same gentle characteristics, same small nose, same pale skin. Only the eyes weren't the same, with Caitlyn's being a more open colour than her mother's. Elizabeth's grey eyes drifted from her daughter to Visit, acknowledging the Deputy for the first time. Vi from her side, noticed how weary she was in her presence, as if a stray animal had dirtied one of her expensive Demacian carpets but she pushed it aside; there were more urgent matters.

"I want you to do me a small favor" Caitlyn spoke

"Sure thing Cup-... Caitlyn" Vi repsonded, changing the adress at the last minute. She couldn't imagine how Elizabeth would react at her calling her daughter «Cupcake» and she didn't intended to learn anyways.

"I want you to start investigating father's office until I settle things down with my mother. The earlier we start, the better" Caitlyn continued, never leaving Vi's eyes.

"Say it's already done" Vi smirked "What should I look for?"

"Anything out of the ordinary. And for Valoran's sake, don't destroy anything!"

"Do I look like a vandal to you?" Vi deadpanned, throwing her head back in an effort to remove some hair off her face.

"I'm just making sure" Caitlyn nodded "Rick, please escort Vi to father's office and let her do whatever she finds ideal for the investigation process"

"Yes, young mistress"

Vi battled very hard with herself not to burst into laughter again in front of Caitlyn and her mother. She turned her back to them and followed the butler, grinning sheepishly. How could she remain so cheerful under such circumstances was beyond even her own comprehending.

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Harrod Fitzwilliam's office was the largest Vi ever stepped into. It was almost as big as the living room but not so sparsely decorated. A huge bookcase occupied a large volume of the room and Vi had an institution that this was just a part of Fitzwilliam's book collection. Another piece of furniture served as drawers where he probably stored important documents and archives. A wooden desk was placed in the middle of the room, accompanied by a serious leather chair. Something that wouldn't go unnoticed was a piece of painting so big, it actually covered a wall from top to bottom and pictured the Fitzwilliam's. Vi wondered how such a man with having his family in so high regard could ditch them so easily.