Chapter Text
JINX
“Mother Fucker,” I whispered as I stuck my now bleeding finger in my mouth. I had just pinched it in the mechanism I was working on.
“Jinx,” he says exasperatedly.
I can feel my frustration building, I swear I whispered that. “What? No one is here but you and me.” I grumbled. I glance up to see my boss staring at me as if the answer to my question was obvious. It wasn’t.
“We weren’t alone this afternoon when you said the same thing with Cassandra Kiramman standing just over there.” He sassily points toward the center of the room, we were currently at our work stations, which are more up against the wall.
I laugh, “Oh yeah. Councilwoman Fangs was not impressed,” I huff out as I lay my head down on my arms across the desk. He was so uptight sometimes, so ambitious and determined to follow the rules of Piltover. It’s probably why he’s a councilman. Jayce Talis, the Man of Progress. A man from a small house that worked his way up Piltover's rungs of status with his invention of Hextech. And when a position on the council opened up for the werewolves he was an obvious choice for some. Blah Blah Blah. Pilties may be impressed, but they didn’t have to deal with his stuffy ass like I do.
Sure, most of his days consist of dealing with political issues and he doesn’t spend as much time in the lab as he used to. But when he is here, he is all about propriety, what a hoity-toity ass. That’s how Ekko and I managed to get hired, him being more absent, not being hoity-toity. Jayce and Viktor ran a contest for inventors and since Viktor is from Zaun he convinced pretty boy here to open it up to all of Piltover and Zaun. I snicker as I remember the look on the council’s face when two kids from Zaun were the top two. Both of us were awarded sponsorship from Councilwoman’s Mel Merdada and Cassandra Kiramman. Ekko got picked up by Mel, one of the human council members, while I got placed with the vamp queen herself, Cassandra Kiramman. Or should I say House Kiramman, since it is Princess Caitlyn who actually seems to deal with me.
But today was the full moon and as was typical of full moons, wolves keep their schedules clear. This is usually the day Jayce gets to spend all day in the lab.
I glance at the clock on the wall, 7:14 PM. “Well looks like I gotta wrap up and head out,” I throw a thumb over my shoulder as I stand. “Ekko should already be in the chamber at El Dorado.” I say with a smirk. “So, I am gonna swing by there before heading back to the blood palace.” He makes a disgusted face at my description of the Kiramman mansion. “Sundowns at 8:24 today, make sure you get into the chamber before you wolf out.” I say mockingly. He always seems to push the limit on this. Last time he got into the chamber just in time.
“I know, I know.” He huffs. “I plan on using the one here. Have a good night!”
I shake my head as I clamber out of the lab. For such a smart man he can be such a dumbass.
VI
I take my headphones out because I can hear the muffled voice. “What’s up?” I ask as I glance over my shoulder to see Vander standing there.
“Just wanted to let you know I was heading out, and make sure you weren’t staying out too much longer. It’s a full moon tonight.” He says as he is putting away his tools. “I figured we would start up again in two days. The morning after the full moon is usually hectic, figured we could just avoid that.”
I look up from the cabinet I was working on, “Yeah I should finish here soon, and I’ll see you Wednesday.”
He seems to have finished his clean up already as he nods in my direction, “You walking back to Zaun again tonight?”
I can feel my face contort into confusion, “Yeah, where else would I be going?”
“Vi, we ended up later than normal today, it's after 8 o’clock. Your sister lives in a Kiramman apartment nearby, I know Jinx wouldn’t mind you staying. Especially on a full moon.” He says pleadingly.
I know that full moons need to be taken fucking seriously, like we have all been taught this since The Reveal 50 years ago. The full moon is the only time the wolves are in a forced change that they can’t control, a law was created that requires wolves to be chambered during a full moon. Today we have very few wolf attacks.
It isn’t like I go out of my way to be out on a full moon, but a full moon has not stopped me from living my day to day life.
Vander, he just… cares. It’s sweet. He fostered Jinx while I was incarcerated or as they thought dead, and he seemed to try and take on the fatherly role when I finally returned and found her again. He just cares a lot, but I am exhausted and just want to be home. Where I have leftover Jerickos in the fridge and I can sleep with no interruptions. I love Jinx, I just don’t belong in that fucking apartment. She escaped this life like I knew she could, because she is smart and Piltover is recognizing that, I am so fucking proud of her. She doesn’t need her ex-convict of a sister hanging around to bring her down. So, no I can’t stay there.
“I’ll be fine,” I flash him a smile. “Get home safe, I'll be leaving here soon.”
Vander sighs but nods his head, “Okay, make sure to rewrap that,” he gestures to my hand. “And goodnight, be safe.” He says defeatedly as he heads out.
I feel a pang in my chest at the thought of worrying him, so I shake my head to ward it off and start my own clean up. Once I get everything packed away, I rewrap the cut on my hand that I’d gotten earlier. It seems deeper than I remembered, as the bandage is soaked with blood, but I am pretty sure the bleeding has stopped. I’m leaving the kitchen, heading toward the front door, when I bump into someone. Instinctively I reach out to catch the person I bumped into, and I look up into piercing blue eyes. Fuck me, I quickly let go and step back as I apologize, “Opps, sorry.” I throw a smile at the woman.
“It is quite alright, dear. Are you heading out now? It is quite close to sundown.” She says politely as she raises an eyebrow at me as if she is also disapproving of my lack of concern for the full moon.
“Yeah, ended up here later than planned.” I say steadily as I run my hand through the shaved part of my head.
“Dear, as much as I appreciate the work you are doing in the kitchen, a full moon should not be taken lightly. I can have my driver take you home.” Cassandra says as if the decision has already been made, I hate it.
Call it pride, call it stubbornness, but I will not be accepting her offer, “I’m good. Heading out now and it shouldn’t take too long to get home. But thanks for the offer.” I explain as I start moving toward the door. She seems almost confused with the refusal, but let me rush toward the door as she calls out her very posh goodnight.
Before I can make my escape, to my absolute horror she enters the gates. Yes, I know she lives here and I have to see her sometimes, but Enforcers are just thugs in uniform. I can’t help but think of her in her Enforcer uniform that is specific to her, with high waisted black pants, black ribbed turtle neck and navy blue cropped jacket. Her jacket has the horizontal stripes across her shoulders to symbolize her species; white for humans, red for wolves, and hers… gold for the vamps. After The Reveal, which brought to light the existence of vampires and werewolves, to try to create equality in representation each section of government had 3 leaders now: a vamp, a wolf, and a human. With the exception of the council that held 10 members 3 of each and Heimerdinger who is a Yordle. With this came three Sheriffs of the blue thugs - Jinx likes to call them slugs because they are disgusting thugs, honestly it is an insult to the slugs. SheriffGreyson is a wolf, Sheriff Marcus is a human, and Sheriff Caitlyn Kiramman of the vamps.
I can feel the scowl on my face as I watch her come around the corner to head up to the stairs. This might be the first time I have seen her out of uniform. My eyes drag up her body from her fuzzy socks up her jogger sweatpants, her cropped Piltover University cropped t-shirt, and her infamous eyepatch over the left eye. I try my hardest to school my features as I look her in the eye. I will not look fucking weak by not looking at the blood bitch in the eye as I pass.
When she looks back at me she seems to start a little, as if I shouldn’t be walking here. Pretentious. I can feel my anger rise as I watch her eyes glance down my body, judgemental bitch. I can’t help but wonder what she is thinking when she sees me, a poor Zaunite walking through her palace. She probably thought I robbed the place. When we make eye contact again she just smirks and nods her head as she passes, “Have a good night,” she says in an almost whisper.
I take a deep breath to calm myself as I keep walking. Everyone up in Piltover acts like this is a place of equality as if we lack prejudice. But the people of Zaun know better. The Sheriffs are paid off by the drug lords in Zaun to make their problems go away. And I was one of those problems. A kid who beat up a drug dealer for selling her sister drugs, and for that I was thrown into Stillwater. Left there to rot for 7 years. Fuck Marcus.
I stop walking and just take a deep breath and shake my head to clear it. I focus on the smell of clear air and sounds of the rustling trees blowing in the wind. Once I can feel the anger subside, I continue my walk.
I look up and notice there aren't a lot of clouds out tonight, making the moon look more majestic. When I think about wolves I think about how silly it is that the moon is something that seems to hold such power over their lives. As I stand in the middle of the bridge to Zaun, I look up at a cloudless sky and can almost feel the power she radiates. In moments like this I get it. I get the power and the pull.
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I hear it as I make my way through the streets of Zaun, my heart rate picks up as I freeze at the low growl. I try not to breathe too loudly as I slowly move to look in the direction the growl came from, and of course my luck has it down a dark alley. I focus into the darkness, and see a pair of golden eyes focused in my direction. My heartbeat is roaring in my ears as I register what I am seeing, a wolf out on the full moon. A fucking uncontained wolf. What kind of fuckery is this?
Without thinking I turn to fully face it and I raise my hands with my palms out to try and, honestly I have no idea, hope it doesn’t think I am a threat? Unfortunately that seems to have the opposite affect as the growling gets more aggressive and the wolf seems to snap its jaws at me, seriously what the fuck. This fucker is huge, it’s head is pretty much at my shoulders, and it is not calming down in the slightest as it makes another snap in my direction. As I take a half a step back and readjust my stance I realize the wolf is staring at my hand. With the wolf advancing on me I have no time to think as it takes a small lunge in my direction, as if it is testing my reaction. We have circled around a bit and now the alley is at my back as I feel my back foot collide with something. I hear a high pitch clacking and the wolf lets out a small growl as it leaps at me. I don’t even think as I punch it in its snout.
Like holy fuck I just punched a wolf in the face. But I don’t have time to revel in my stupidity as I turn and bolt down the alley. I am throwing what I can reach into its path in hopes of slowing it down. I bolt out into the street and I can hear the wolf gaining ground as I focus on continuing down the alley. This one has way more stuff in it which I use to my advantage. When I exit this alley I can see it doesn’t continue on, so I turn down the street in hopes of making it to the next side street. It feels like it is 10 miles away with the pounding of feet behind me. I don’t make it much further as a weight hits my back. I feel my cheek hit the concrete and my face scrape as I can feel the panic start to take over. I turn to be on my back to protect myself and I see as the wolf is about to attack and in my desperation I throw my arm up. I scream as the pain radiates through me, the burn is unimaginable. I can feel myself start to lash out in any way to get the wolf dislodged from my arm.
In a last ditch effort to escape, I pull a leg back and send a swift kick where I expect its balls are, and for extra luck I send a hope up to the moon that this wolf is not a female one. I hear a whine as the wolf finally releases my arm. I throw my weight back in an effort to get away.
“Over here!” I turn to the voice and I see a head poking out from behind a door about 50 feet down the street. I barely feel my hand scrape off the concrete in my rush to get down the street. I can hear the growling behind me as I make eye contact with the man by the door. I can see the horror displayed on his face as he stares at something behind me.
I don’t even think as I duck down and plant my foot to pivot back at the wolf. I throw up a punch using my uninjured arm and connect with the bottom of the jaw of the beast. I turn again and race toward the door, I can see the stunned look on the man's face as he lets me inside quickly.
I can feel the franticness within me, as I glance around what is clearly a bar. Even with the danger seemingly gone I can’t seem to get enough air in my lungs. I was just bitten by a werewolf. Bitten. Not a little nibble, bitten. I can feel my gaze focus on my arm that I have slightly lifted. It looks fucking nasty, the skin has been ripped up with obvious teethmarks. The blood is oozing out now and I can see it mix with the slobber left from the bite. Bile climbs up the back of my throat. I try to swallow it down as a force seems to be pressing on my rib cage. All I can see is my arm.
Oh fuck. I am going to be a werewolf now. How fast is the change? Do I start changing right now? Oh no, I am not in a containment center. I am going to get rounded up and charged for being out on a full moon. I cannot go back to Stillwater.
I can feel a solid presence at my back as my legs seem to lose the battle to keep me standing. My vision is starting to get black on the edges when I feel a sting across my face. I blink to try and understand what is happening, and I can feel air finally seem to be able to get into my lungs.
I can feel the panic start to withdrawl as I focus on breathing and the man in front of me. He seems to be breathing very dramatically. And if I could think clearly I would think he was insane. But as ridiculous as it seems I can feel myself start to match his breaths. That's when calmness really starts to settle within me. Am I still freaking out? Abso-fucking-lutely. My life is about to get much hairier. But am I having a panic attack? No, thanks to this man, so I focus on him. He has kind eyes on a kind face with brown messy hair, lighter skin color, and a square face. He reminds me of Vander. I hear the patter of footsteps coming in our direction, but I keep my focus in front of me. As I open my mouth to ask him his name, I get hit in the face again. This time not by the concrete or by a slap, no, this time by a bucket of freezing cold what I hope is water.
“Milo! I had it under control.” The man in front of me exclaimed in frustration as he stood and turned to the new man that approached us. This one is much smaller and has a darker complexion, and if I thought the first man had messy hair I am not sure my vocabulary could properly describe the fuckery of this man's hair. He stands there with a bucket in one hand and his hip cocked to one side with an affronted expression on his face.
“What? She was panicking!” He defended and then added in a small tone “What fucking idiot is out on a full moon?”
“I hope that was water.” Is all I can think to say as I pointedly ignore his second statement.
That seems to get both of their attention as they both look back at me, the first man reaches a hand out to me in an assist. “Claggor,” he says as I get back to my feet.
“Vi, thanks for the help.” I say out in a breath. “And apparently the bath.” As I send a look to Milo who just shrugs at me.
“You’re welcome,” Claggor says unsurely as he tilts his head a little and gives me an odd look then says, “I don’t know how much we helped you, you were the one who just uppercutted a werewolf.”
Milo starts to laugh, “That was fucking awesome!” He exclaims. “I have never seen anyone do that, like what maniac even thinks to do that?!”
“‘Apparently this maniac,” I say as a bit of pride tingles in my chest. Yes, that was stupid, but it fucking worked. “It worked didn’t it?” I say sassily as I smirk at him.
Claggor laughs as he directs me to the bathroom to wash my arm. “I’ll get you bandages to get that wrapped up while you wash.”
_____________________________________
Claggor is pouring us drinks as Milo and I are resting at the bar. “What are you going to do?”
Great question. What should I do? If I lived in Piltover or had any semblance of money this wouldn’t even be a question. I’d go and report it, and get myself registered as a werewolf. But I am not from Piltover and I don’t have money. I’m a Zaunite who has nothing to my name and a sister who has an actual shot at a future.
Any new vampire or wolf is detained for the first year. This is because the first year is known to be the hardest for both; vamps have to learn to control their hunger and their new strength and speed while wolves have to learn to control their shifts, mood swings, aggression, and added strength and speed.
In Piltover, this detainment isn’t the same, the more money you have the better it is. The lower income class in Piltover gets government funding to make changes to their home to make life more manageable for the freshly changed. Then, they are basically on house arrest for a year. Rumors say the higher classes are barely affected at all. They pay someone to basically be their babysitter and help them when needed.
But here? It is basically a prison. Sure it is walls and not bars, but it is a prison all the same. They give you jumpsuits, scratchy sheets, thin beds, bad food, and guards. The worst are the guards. Human enforcers who get their jollies off by ridiculing the poor Zaunites, because it makes them feel big and bad. Fucking slugs.
I don’t think I can do it. I still have nightmares from my time in Stillwater, and to have to go to the detainment center for a year. I shiver at the thought.
What do I tell Jinx? If I accept my fate and go to the Detainment Center she will drop out of the sponsorship to be closer to me. If I choose not to register and she finds out what happened she will drop out of the sponsorship to help me through this. I can’t do that to her, I can’t let her give up her future just because I was an idiot and was out on the full moon.
I will have to keep her away from me.
I don’t know how my life is going to look moving forward but I know one thing for certain.
“I can’t register,” I say with finality.