Chapter Text
“Powder!” Vi kicked twice at her sister’s ratty old combat boot hanging off the edge of their small couch. She’d fallen asleep there again last night, no surprise. Her schoolwork strewn haphazardly across the coffee table.
“Pow, wake up!” Vi whisper–shouted louder at the younger girl, earning her a low moan. “Come on. you said you’d help.”
“Too early.” The girl slurred and rolled over to hide her face under long electric blue hair and further into the sofa cushions. It was still dark outside, the light from over the kitchen stove the only thing illuminating their quaint apartment.
“I’ll get you anything you want from the bakery.” Vi offered the metaphorical carrot hoping her sister would rise from the dead to snatch it with her usually ravenous jaws.
“Anything?” Powder rolled back over with a single eye opened into a barely visible little slit.
“Yeah, anything. You know I need your golden touch to finish this job. It’s the biggest one yet and I’m freakin’ the fuck out.”
“Is it even light outside yet?”
“Uh… no, but the bakery opens in two minutes. Come on, you’re already dressed! This’ll be a peace a cake.”
Powder groaned, “fine, but you owe me. And I swear this is the last fuckin’ time. I’ve got my own shit to do, you know.” She pointed an accusing finger at her sister dragging her thin frame into a sitting position. “I don’t have time for all of your—” Powder’s face was suddenly captured by two very callused hands, that held her hostage just long enough, for a hard wet kiss to be planted smack dab in the middle of her forehead. It even squeaked when Vi released it.
“Aghhh!” Her little sister jumped up and scrambled away, wiping the remaining moisture off. “Gross! You’re such a sap, and I don’t know where that mouth has been!”
“Nowhere in particular.” Vi shrugged.
“Mhmm and have you eaten anything non-edible lately?
“Errrr… nope not this week. Just a little bit of paper.” Vi replied dryly, jiggling her keys in her jacket pocket still chomping at the bit. “I’ve been too damn nervous that one of those Kiramman’s would walk in while I’m working.”
Powder stood to stretch and pop her back excessively, “You’re ridiculous, you know that, right?” She yawned.
“I know, but you love me.” Vi winked bringing Powder her coat.
“Yeah yeah, and you’re damn lucky I do…” Powder rolled her shoulders into her coat, and then tapped at her chin, the way she often did when she was working out a problem.
“Alright. I’m going to need two of those maple bacon thingies, an egg sandwich and three coffees to get this shit done.”
“There she is!”
*
“Holy shit!” Powder looked in awe straight up to the grand chandelier in the foyer and then to the winding mahogany staircase.
“I know.” Vi nodded, looking up at the same ceiling that was also decorated intricately with gold inlay.
“How did you land this job again?” The girls stepped into the villa, if you could call it that, dropping their bags at the base of the stairs.
“Jayce owed me one, put in a good word with Mr. Kiramman himself.”
“You should buy that man a drink.”
“Oh I have, six and counting actually…” Vi twirled on heel to face her still star struck sister. “So…Does this mean you’ll help?”
“Hell yeah… I mean this looks pretty great already though, where’s your main concern?” Powder circled the room brushing her fingers along the textured wall paper.
“Um, the guest room upstairs and dining room were the most work. I don’t know how to put in those finishing touches that they’re looking for, not in a place this fancy.”
“Ha! And you think I do?!” Powder’s voice echoed through the open space with tiled floors, and large bay windows. They both looked up at the sound and Powder grinned.
“I think you’d do it better than me.” Vi knew for a fact that her sister had a nag for these sorts of things, whereas she would often just settle for functional and simple.
“Well you’re right about that… alright lead the way, fat hands.”
Vi shook her head showing her sister to the stairs, “That was one time. I’m never going to live that down, am I? How the fuck was I supposed to know there was a beehive in that wall.”
“Eh, still funny.”
*
The next day brought furniture and table settings, candlesticks and wallpaper. A velvet navy blue victorian-era couch for the sitting room in the guest suite, yes that room was massive and could have been an apartment in and of itself. And various other little tables and lamps to pull the rooms together. Decor was added the following day — pieces in the most sophisticated style the girls could muster — many in golds to accent the navy in the furniture and gold inlays that were strikingly ornate and contrasting against white walls.
On the third day, Vi finished touching up the paint in the hallway and had moved on to another room. She was startled when the door opened and much louder footsteps hit along the marble floors. She hopped down from the ladder to look out at the foyer below. And there, in the center of the room, stood a tall indigo haired man with a silver-streaked beard to match. She’d recognize that silhouette anywhere. And though she had only spoken to him on the phone she immediately knew who it was. Anyone who’s anyone knows the Kiramman’s.
Vi mumbled curses to herself, trying to brush some dust from her pants and straighten her shirt. As she descended the stairs she ran her fingers through her messy and sweat stricken red hair. Then catching sight of her reflection in the windows, decided putting the ball cap back on was a much better choice.
She cleared her throat, and the man turned in her direction. “Mr. Kiramman, good to see you sir, we’re just adding some final touches. I didn’t expect you until tomorrow.” Vi didn't know what to do with her hands after speaking with them, so she shoved them into her pockets and kept swaying from toes to heels trying to find an outlet for all these nerves. An outlet that usually involved chewing on something not terribly edible.
“Oh Miss Violet, yes I’m sorry for showing up unannounced but I simply couldn’t stand the wait any longer. She’s looking wonderful my dear, truly. I can’t wait to see the rest of the house!” Tobias Kiramman put on a kind smile, his bright eyes filling the room with light. He clasped his hands and twirled around on his heels, the calf length navy trench coat flapped following his slim body around.
Vi blinked, she hadn’t expected this much enthusiasm, “Oh thank you, sir.”
“Please, Mr. Kiramman is fine. Do you mind if I look around?”
“Oh by all means, it’s your home after all.” She motioned her hand around the room.
“Indeed, I suppose it is yes.” He let out a kind hearty chuckle. “I do hope I won’t distract you too much from completing your work. I am so looking forward to showing this to Cassandra tomorrow.”
“Oh, no bother at all s— Mr. Kiramman. I’ll just be finishing up the stairs… and uh my sister may be in and out of the dining room and kitchen. So don’t get too spooked if she pops up out of nowhere. She kind of does that.”
“Hah, right…” Tobias rubbed a thumb into his palm, almost turning to go, but stopped. “Oh and Violet, thank you. I know you’ve been working on a tight schedule, but it really was important to me that we get this done before our anniversary.”
“Oh, of course. It was my pleasure really.”
He nodded and walked into the sitting room at his left, inspecting every inch of the room floor to ceiling. “Marvelous.” Vi heard every now and then. The tips of her ears began to burn from the praise. Finally, she thought, someone appreciated her work.
This was her big shot, her only shot to prove herself as a contractor before she’d ultimately have to give up on her big plans, and she was pretty sure, or at least she hoped that she nailed it this time.
*
Sometime later Mr. Kiramman made his way up the stairs and into the guest room suite where Vi was currently removing sheets of plastic off of the furniture.
“Miss Violet, I have to say I’m impressed. I didn’t think this old home could look so new.”
“Well she had some really good bones sir– uh, sorry, habit. Mr. Kiramman, I’m just happy you like it.”
“My dear, I love it— Oh excuse me,” The phone in Tobias’ pocket buzzed. He took a few steps out of the room to answer it, but she couldn’t help but overhear parts of his conversation.
“Yes, dear… Oh no, that is a dilemma… well I’m sure we could find another… yes, I know there’s not as many philanthropic opportunities in Piltover, but… yes, we’ll start looking right away, I know it’s important to Caitlyn that we give back and honestly we should have done so a long time ago… right I’ll be home soon, talk then.”
“Sorry about that.” Mr. Kirraman re-entered the room, closing his phone with a click. “It seems one of our foundations had to drop a contract and Cassandra is stressing about finding another.”
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.” Vi was always too curious, she hated herself before uttering the words, but they just sort of spilled out of her mouth, “what sort of work does your foundation do?”
“Oh, it’s run by our daughter actually — a passion project if you will. You see, we have set aside a trust just for aiding the community. We— well we have a great deal of expendable income now, and we thought it only fitting to put it to good use… Well, Caitlyn convinced us to, but we very much support the efforts… Sadly they’ve decided to push back the Pilt recreation center build indefinitely it seems, and if we are to remain a non-profit we’ll need to put those funds into something else before the end of the quarter.”
Vi nodded trying to process everything she had just heard. For years she’d been working in Piltover fixing up older homes, not nearly this grand, but making a fine income and was able to start saving some of it away. Her dream was to earn enough to start purchasing older homes in Zaun and fix them up for the families that couldn’t otherwise afford it. She bit her cheek thinking of her dream and tried to just focus on the task at hand.
Just clean up your shit here, Vi come on. You’re almost done with this job, and this cash will go a long way into building that savings account.
“Mr Kirraman.”
No, don’t! Just shut up brain!
“Yes, Miss Violet?”
“I may have an idea, if you’d like to hear it…”
*
“Interesting.” Was all Cassandra Kiramman said when she entered the villa, she spoke with a high pitched tone and unreadable face that did nothing to settle Vi’s nervous stomach. “Very… different.” She continued perusing the home from one room to the next. “Well, I have to say this is unexpected, Tobias. I didn’t even think it needed a fresh coat of paint last year, but you’ve somehow proven otherwise.”
“So you like it, dear?” Tobias nearly hopped from foot to foot with glee.
“I do, yes. This will make entertaining during the summer months so much better.” She looked to her husband. “Thank you, dear.” Tobias leaned in to place a soft kiss onto Cassandra’s chiseled cheek. That woman had absolutely sharp features down to her striking eyes and the tip of that narrow nose.
“Oh, I suppose we have you to thank as well Miss… Violet was it?”
“Oh uh, just Vi, ma’am.”
“I see. Well, Vi this is very good work. Not exactly what I would have done, but it’s actually very nice. It is newer, a more modern take, but I do think it livens up the place a great deal.”
“Thank you, ma’am. I’m happy you like it.”
They made their way into the guest room that was now adorned in blues and golds, and the adjacent bathroom updated with updated brass fixtures and a marble countertop and shower to match the floors. Cassandra gave a nod in approval and they just as quickly made their way back down the curved staircase to the foyer. But this time the smell of something sweet wafted from the kitchen.
Vi looked curiously to Tobias, who only gave a wide grin.
“Come on dear, I’ve got a special treat in mind. Oh and Violet, would you join us, please?”
“Oh sure, yes of course.” Red hair, that was surprisingly well kept today, followed a very excited Tobias into the dining room. This was different. This entire job and the kindness that the Kiramman’s have shown her, have been very unexpected. What was it about this family?
Entering the rather large kitchen, they were met with a rather beautiful sight.
Vi immediately froze at the entrance. Standing before them with a large plate of vibrantly pink frosted cupcakes was a tall slender woman, her dark hair pulled back into a bun, denim apron —with an excessively long strap— wrapped around her back and then again to her front, tied in a neat bow at her middle. That very tiny middle. Vi blinked away and looked up focusing her attention on the woman’s face. She was smiling with the slightest tooth gap visible through just parted lips and she could not look away from that.
“Happy anniversary.” She said with the sharpest British accent and yet kindest tone Vi had ever heard. Vi quickly snapped her mouth shut and forced a small grin onto her lips. The brunette, no her hair was almost midnight black with a hint of indigo blue under these lights; walked slowly — or at least to Vi it appeared very slowly — to the smaller informal dining room abutting the kitchen space and placed the platter of cupcakes onto the center of the oak table. A table that would have otherwise been a luxury in a small home in Zaun, but here it looked quite plain.
“Thank you, Dove.” Tobias leaned in to place a brief kiss onto her cheek. Cassandra ran a small hand to the woman’s elbow and held it lightly.
“These look delicious, did you make them yourself?” Cassandra asked in a much kinder, softer tone than Vi had heard all day.
“Oh yes, I’ve been working on a new recipe.” The taller woman looked up and over to see Vi still standing awkwardly in the doorway. Vi, who was not wearing a ball cap today and had actually tried to style her hair for this tour, she’d even ditched the t-shirt for a white button down. Vi, was standing there fiddling with the hem of her shirt sleeve when she noticed crystal blue eyes on her.
“You must be Violet.” The woman said to her. “Come and have a seat, I hear we have a lot to discuss.” She motioned to the table to take a seat across from where she was pulling out a chair for herself. This woman was somehow all business, laced with care, or was it respect, towards her parents, it was all together an unfamiliar combination.
“Um, we do?” Vi said shakily as she approached the table, hesitating, but eventually taking a seat once the taller woman took hers as well.
“Oh yes we do. Vi, this is Caitlyn, my daughter, I told her about your idea.”
“Oh—” Vi ran her fingers through her hair, a nervous habit she was immediately aware of. Quickly stopping, she placed her hands in her lap trying to steady them once more. She had never been great with talking to people outside of Powder, not formally anyway, and definitely never about business.
“Idea?” Cassandra looked curiously at her husband.
“Oh yes. Let’s have a seat and we can work out the details.” Tobias motioned to Cassandra and Vi, pulling out a chair for his still very confused wife, but Caitlyn patted at her mother’s shoulder and gave her a little nod.
“Alright.” Her mother conceded.
*
“Vi is from the Undercity and she has been working as a general contractor there for… how long now?” Tobias asked.
“Oh um, five years officially licensed, though I’ve been fixing up houses for nearly a decade.”
“I see.” Cassandra said pointedly with a hint of skepticism in her voice, though her eyes were still soft. Vi could see now that Caitlyn most definitely had her mother’s eyes.
“Well dear, you’ve seen how much you liked her work here.” Tobias continued.
“Indeed, where are we going with this then?” Cassandra tapped a very small spoon to a very small teacup.
“The foundation dear, Vi has an idea for this year’s projects.”
“Mum, I think it’s quite brilliant really.” Caitlyn spoke up. “Of course we’d need an official bid and proposal, but I think we’re on the right track, and could create a probationary contract with Miss Lanes by next week.”
“Um…” Vi tried to say something but Caitlyn continued.
“You see, we’ve been focusing all of our efforts thus far in Piltover, but the real need is in Zaun… we already know this...”
Vi cleared her throat but her words were literally trapped in her trap.
“Yes of course, but what do you have in mind?” Cassandra continued, leaving no room for Vi to even try to say something, only able to raise her finger.
Caitlyn continued instead, “Fixing things… well not exactly things—”
“Houses!” Vi finally managed to say, something.
Cassandra raised a brow to look at Vi astutely, “Houses?” she questioned, “in Zaun?”
“Um, yes ma’am. The worst of the worst. Ones that should have been condemned years ago.”
“And you want to fix them? Why not just start anew?” Cassandra nearly sounded like she was going to laugh, but that was something Vi was used to. Why would anyone care about Zaun, especially the Kiramman’s. They’d probably never even been there.
“For the families that live there. Some homes have been in their family for generations, and materials are more scarce there.” Caitlyn jumped in again, surprising Vi and even her parents. Why would a Piltie… how did she know all of that? The room quieted for a moment and Vi worked up the courage to speak once again.
“Ma’am, I grew up with barely a roof over my head. These families, they deserve to live with more than that. I want to help them.” Vi stopped noticing Caitlyn’s eyes on her once again, but this time her mouth was parted just a little until she closed it to form the slightest little smile, it was reassuring, pushing Vi to take the final leap. “We could help them. Give them a place to call their home. That they can be proud of.”
Cassandra sat silent for a moment, she looked into her tea cup and then back up to her husband who gave her a small hopeful smile before he spoke, “Dear, this would be a very admirable way to give back.”
“We could be making a real difference there Mum, and it would help those that often work here in Piltover. Can’t you see it? ‘A Kiramman House.” Caitlyn moved her hand pausing in three spots in the air as if pointing to a billboard.
Vi was about to interject, about to put a kabbosh on that name, but she was stopped by Cassandra smiling. She hadn’t really seen the woman smile and look so genuine. And it grew into a large beautiful smile. She turned to look at Vi again, causing Vi to audibly swallow with no words to be had.
“I do like the sound of that. Houses built for the people, standing out above the rest, as an ensign to the people of Zaun and Piltover. Giving them hope, perhaps a better life. I do quite like that.”
“Then you’ll agree to it?” Caitlyn asked her mother.
“I think I would, as long as you’re a part of it dear… No offense Miss Violet, pardon, Vi. But Caitlyn is quite the proficient home designer herself, and she has the business experience to see this project through.” Cassandra motioned a hand to her daughter almost to touch her shoulder, but stopped herself short.
“Oh um…” Vi wasn’t sure what to say.
“Mum, I haven’t done those sorts of projects in—” Caitlyn spoke softly leaning in towards her mother, but Vi could still make out the words. Cassandra raised her hand to stop her, giving her daughter a little shake of her head and a knowing look. As if to say ‘nonsense, or poppycock’ or whatever people like her say.
“Of course we’ll pay you handsomely!” Tobias shot out from the other side of Caitlyn and now all three women looked at him questioning. “And let you select the homes.” Tobias gave Vi a sly grin. “This was your idea after all, and we can’t have our lead contractor going hungry without a paycheck, you’d be a partner and an employee in this endeavor.”
Say yes damn it. This is your best shot, your only shot to see this actually happen.
“Sir, I—” Vi noted the Kiramman women both looking at her again. It was a little strange and intimidating in a way that she couldn’t put her finger on. Their faces were narrow, almost cold, but those eyes, damn those eyes, it was like they knew everything about her in an instant; as if they could look right through you and know your deepest darkest secrets.
“Yea… yes? Yes!” Vi nearly coughed the words out. She had to get out of there, out from under that gaze. She was feeling her under arms and brow starting to sweat and she knew how disgusting she looked when sweaty. So the contractor almost leapt up from her chair. Tobias stood quickly as well with a large smile that wrinkled his eyes. He extended his hand across the table giving Vi’s calloused hand a firm shake. “Thank you sir… ma’am, ma’am’s.” She found herself giving both Cassandra and who she had nicknamed Toby —but only in her head of course— a quick nod.
“Yes, I’d love to be a part of this. Honestly, I didn’t think this dream would ever come true.” Vi tried to make eye contact with all three of them, but her eyes couldn’t quite meet Caitlyn's again. So she looked down, sweeping between her parents instead, looking at those dainty little cupcakes. Caitlyn did something weird to her stomach she wasn’t sure she liked at all, but here she was, offering everything Vi had dreamt of. And Caitlyn seemed sincere, much like her father.
Caitlyn stood up next to Tobias reaching her hand slowly over to Vi. When she cleared her throat, Vi had to look up at her, but just for a second, to meet her brilliant penetrating eyes again. “I look forward to working with you.” Caitlyn said with authority and a hint of enthusiasm. She shook and sounded every bit like a business woman.
The mystery that was Caitlyn Kiramman kept running through Vi’s head all week, along with the memory of those damn blue eyes.
***
“This is…Oh. Oh God…” Caitlyn pinched at her narrow nose, hesitating to step over the threshold.
“Disgusting? I know.” Vi chuckled as she walked inside, hand in her pocket and the other adjusting her ball cap up and down, another habit she had picked up from playing baseball through high school.
“That is a word for it.” Caitlyn nodded entering the run down home that smelled distinctly of mildew and something dead.
The small home, not more than one thousand square feet, sat in the center of Zaun. The innercity of the Undercity. It was decidedly in one of the most poverty stricken neighborhoods. More than one window on the street was broken and boarded up, many had shingles missing, the lawns were patchy little dried strips, obviously neglected. Vi informed her wide-eyed business partner that they couldn’t afford to waste water on them. And that was only what one could see from the exterior.
“Look I know she ain’t much, but there’s no termite damage at least, and the family that will live here —well they seriously need this. They’ve been crashing at their sister’s for over a month now, just have mattresses on the floor and a few clothes that get them by. We could really make a difference for them.”
“I see.” Caitlyn nodded, stepping over pieces of paper and old rotten food, and what looked like possible animal droppings. “How can anyone have lived like this?” She asked, taking another breath through her mouth.
“Honestly? They probably worked too much, and just slept here. Though this is a pretty sorry excuse for a crash pad.”
“I, I really cannot imagine a life like that.”
“Yeah well, you don’t have to.” Vi shrugged, really trying not to imagine the sort of life miss prim and perfect must have had. “Just make us a vision for the future, you know. That’s why you’re here right?”
“Um, right.”
The business partners, if Vi could call them that, made their way through the small two bedroom one bath home. Family of four, they didn’t need much, just a deep cleaning, clean beds to sleep in, maybe an update to the kitchen, she had said all this to convince Caitlyn to just look at this place.
“I think this needs a lot more work than you had led on.” Caitlyn ran a finger over the grime laden wall.
“Well, I’ll do the heavy lifting, ok. Just tell me if we need to tear down a wall, and what we should tear out of the kitchen and bath.”
They entered the bathroom to an old stained tub and dark brown still–soiled and very stained toilet. Caitlyn gagged behind clenched lips taking in that view and then gagged again when bringing her eyes to where they had obviously let their cat go wild in the corner of the room. She dry heaved and staggered back out into the hallway.
“How about tear out everything, let’s just gut it down to the studs and start over.” She quickly walked back out of the house and to the front door.
“Heh alright… Uh you ok over there?” Vi tried to keep up with her long strides to the front of the home but Caitlyn had already escaped the enclosure by the time she caught up to her.
“Just need a little… Maybe?…No, I think I’m going to be sick.” Caitlyn rushed off the walk into the small patch of grass and quickly lost the contents of her lunch, hands on her knees.
“Oooo yeah.” Vi reached up to pat her back. “I’ll uh get you some water, Cupcake.”
Caitlyn wiped her mouth and placed her hands back onto her knees still hunched over. Vi walked back with a chilled plastic bottle of water from her beat up cooler that lived in the tailgate of her beat up truck.
“Sorry about that, guess I should have warned you. It is pretty bad.” Vi extended the bottle to Caitlyn who took it with a forceful yank, ripping it from Vi’s grasp. Vi blinked at the action and took a cautious step back.
“Yes, a warning would be nice next time.” The taller woman then straightened up chugging half of the water bottle in one go. Vi swore she heard a burp, but Caitlyn held her lips closed. She gave her shoulders a little shake and clenched her eyes shut in frustration and possibly still a good deal of nausea.
“So uh, you sure you want to rebuild all of it?”
“Definitely. Call me when you’re done cleaning that up…” Caitlyn began walking to her car, but stopped before opening the door. “Oh and Vi, do not call me Cupcake.” She narrowed her eyes, straightening her shoulders to stand as tall as possible with just the slightest hint of a shimmy. Vi almost laughed at the sudden demeanor change, it was almost forced, or at least a practiced behavior. So instead of laugh, Vi bit her cheek.
Caitlyn’s eyes yelled at her, she looked rather pissed off actually, and Vi imagined it was only worse for having to experience the house that ended up making her physically ill. Vi kind of felt like shit about that part, maybe she was a little hard on the princess. But all Caitlyn had done since meeting her last week was question every little piece of the proposal Vi had submitted. She had to go back over every request, every detail, her boss/partner/the woman had challenged, literally everything Vi had written. So Vi ended up rewriting the damn thing five times before the Kiramman’s had finally signed it just yesterday.
So, there Caitlyn was still glaring at her, but there was something else. Vi had to blink when she thought she caught the slightest hint of her partner’s - or was it boss’? Or maybe she was just her benefactor —either way, she noted Caitlyn’s mouth threatening to curl up into a smirk. Vi wasn’t sure she was actually trying to do that, but sure enough just as she thought it, a slight hint of a smile appeared on her face. Only Caitlyn quickly pulled it back down into a small frown.
“Ok, can do, Boss.” Vi gave a little two finger salute. If Caitlyn wanted to be the stick-up-her-ass boss lady, Vi would allow it, at least for the sake of the families they could help; but she could still have a little fun, if she was careful about it. The red-head went back to her truck and grabbed a ventilator mask, gloves and some large black trash bags. Caitlyn stood unmoving still watching her every move.
“Wish me luck.” Vi shrugged, pulling the mask over her face.
“Good luck, you’re going to need it.” Caitlyn’s voice was cold, she crossed her arms moving her weight to one foot.
Vi shot a wink over her shoulder as she turned away reentering the home, leaving her boss outside. She thought she heard Caitlyn curse, but it was cut off by the car door slamming shut.
*
“Hey, Cup–Caitlyn. Sorry, you made those kick ass cupcakes when we first met and I can’t seem to stop thinking about them.” Vi said into her phone three days later. She nervously scratched at the short hair on the back of neck. WHAT THE FUCK? she mouthed silently to herself, switching the phone to the other ear.
“Miss Lanes. What can I do for you?” Caitlyn asked, she let out a small huff into the phone.
“Well, I’ve got good news and bad news.” Vi said, beginning to pace a few steps back and forth.
“Alright, hit me.” Wait, did prim and perfect Caitlyn Kiramman just say ‘hit me’? Vi shook her head but couldn’t pass up the opportunity to say something really stupid.
“Nah, I only do that to guys in the ring.”
“You what?” Now, that was the reaction Vi had expected.
“I–nevermind. I cleared out the house, even took down the walls to the studs. Smells a lot better now too.”
“Alright, that’s good to hear.” Caitlyn took a deep breath, as if to brace herself and went on. “What is the bad news?”
“Oh yeah I was wrong about termite damage, it’s not too much but the roof has to go.”
“The entire roof?!”
“Uh yup.”
“Well, how long will that take?” Caitlyn had apparently made a sudden movement and Vi could hear her chair or her knee or something smacking into her desk and Caitlyn hissing through her teeth. “This house was only supposed to take a month.” She sounded more upset than Vi had hoped for, but maybe that was just from the sudden pain?
“Well, the roof should take about a week give or take. Then, with rebuilding all the walls and getting the cabinets and sinks and stuff in, the house will probably take another two months to complete, if I’m being honest.”
“That is not what I had hoped for, I admit…”
(No shit lady, but you’re the one that changed the plan... Agh no, be nice Vi, she’s paying your damn bills, remember).
“No, but you’re the one that wanted to tear it all out — which was a good call (yeah, nice save dumbass) — it’s just going to take longer now.”
“Yes, but it needed it. It was an absolute shit show Vi, literally!”
“Hah, yeah I guess it was.” Hearing miss perfect yell like that was just too good, Vi really couldn’t help herself from—
“Are you? Are you laughing?” Caitlyn sounded almost amused?
“Well, yeah. I didn’t think I’d ever hear you swear and say my name like that, Cu—” throat cleared, “Caitlyn.”
Her business partner sighed, “Goodbye Vi. Please tell me when the roof is finished, I’ll be by to take measurements for the rooms and furnishings later this week…” Vi breathed a sigh of relief and almost hung up the phone but then her colleague —partner? Boss? Definitely her boss, made a funny little humming noise quickly followed by a rather upbeat, “Oh! How do you feel about forest green?”
“Uhhh… am I supposed to feel something for a color?”
“For the walls…” Vi almost certainly heard ‘idiot’ whispered after that, and imagined Caitlyn pinching her nose again like she had to rid her senses of the smell in that house once more. The memory of Caitlyn losing her lunch forced Vi to stop being a smart ass, if only for one minute.
“Oh, right. Um, it's nice. It’d probably be really nice.”
“Good. Well then, good day, Vi.”
“Have a good one, Miss Kiramman.”
*
Caitlyn entered the little home with the roofers overhead loudly nailing in pieces of black shingles into place. It was now evident this was the nicest looking roof in the neighborhood. She took her time measuring and sketching out each room, mapping out the entire floor plan of the small home. She stood in the center of every room and Vi watched as she bit her lower lip more than half a dozen times, but who was counting. She hadn’t heard Vi walking behind her.
“Hey!” Vi said yelling loud enough for Caitlyn to jump at the sudden voice booming over the banging of hammers from above and nearly drop her notes and pen juggling both awkwardly in her hands for a second. Vi bit her cheek holding in a laugh.
After recovering her business partner glared at Vi. “Could you please not do that?” Caitlyn straightened her shoulders standing tall again, a tight lipped expression somewhere between annoyed and outright angry on her face. Lowering her book to the side with one hand and fixing her hair with the other, she looked up at the ceiling and then back to Vi with her damn beautiful eyes, drilling into her forehead.
“Yeah, sorry. I didn’t know you were coming today.” Vi stood awkwardly putting her hands into her jean pockets. She looked awful, she knew it, she had been working for more than six hours already, and could feel the wet sweat soaked shirt clinging to her back and beads of it running down her neck. She swallowed and ran her hands up to fiddle with her hat again.
Caitlyn blinked her expression softening slightly, “Neither did I. I just happened to be in the neighborhood.”
“What?” The thumping of boots and hammers was too much for Vi to make out whatever Caitlyn was trying to say.
“I said, I was in the NEIGHBORHOOD!” The last word shot out into a complete absence of sound from above, It was actually kind of impressive, Vi raised her brows with a smirk, and Caitlyn cringed at her own voice pinching eyes almost completely shut.
“Oh…” Vi nodded, not entirely sure how to understand that. Why on earth would miss prim and perfect be in the dumps of Zaun? Maybe it was just an excuse to check up on her.
“Well, did you get a good look around?”
“Yes, it’s not bad.” Caitlyn started to move about the home with Vi following close as it was still a bit loud, though softer now that the guys upstairs had stopped pounding. “Small, but has a fine layout. I don’t think we need to do too much structurally. Maybe just open up this doorway to the kitchen a bit more, it’d be nice to see out into the living area from there.”
“Oh yeah sure, where are you thinking?” Vi followed Caitlyn over to the wall between the kitchen and living room. The much taller woman pointed at the small 20 inch opening to show how they could cut out two additional feet and Vi marked it with a tick of a pencil “Huh, yeah I think we can do that. You want a door there?”
“No, I’d love to keep it open. Let in more light from those front windows into the kitchen too.”
“Right, ok.” Vi pulled out a large marker from her belt as well as a measuring tape and marked off the cuts they would need to make. She bit the cap in her teeth, which Caitlyn almost seemed to scoff at. “Anything else?” Vi mumbled still with the plastic in her mouth and rolling her eyes at her business partner’s disapproval or whatever.
“No, not for now. Let me know when the walls are up. I’ll get the paint in and we can decide on the final light fixtures… Oh and Vi, do try not to make more work for us. I’d love to keep to the schedule.”
“Can’t make any promises.” Caitlyn narrowed her brows and her eyes hit Vi hard again, this time sending a peculiar pain to her chest. Damn. “Uh, but I’ll try yeah.”
“Good.” Caitlyn nodded satisfied, opening her eyes and giving a softer expression to the red head. “Good day, Vi.”
*
The walls painted and cabinets and tub installed, the house was finally getting closer to completion. Vi had busted her ass getting that plumbing updated for the shower and hanging new doors, which took a surprising amount of time to get level, as the walls were absolutely not —of course— level. She hadn’t realized all the small things she simply had not accounted for in her time estimation. They were coming up on two months already, when she decided to haul in an air mattress and just camp out for a few nights, trying to get everything done. She was rolling up the old patched up mattress and throwing it into the front closet when Caitlyn walked in just after 8am.
“Oh hey.” Vi said, closing the closet door behind her. She grabbed her flannel off the floor, pulling it over her shoulders that were bare from just wearing her tank top to sleep. Oh right she was in her boxers.
“Are you? Vi, you do have a place to call home right?” Caitlyn shielded her eyes turning sideways. Vi blinked and hurriedly pulled on her ripped jeans hoping on one foot and then the other clumsily, she really needed coffee from sleeping on that thing, tell Jericho to make it a double. Her thoughts went down that brief detour and then caught back up to what Caitlyn had just inquired.
“Oh, oh yeah, of course. I just had a late night, wanted to get a few things finished before today.”
“Oh. Right, yes. Excuse me, I shouldn't have assumed,” with the zip Caitlyn dropped her hand, but still didn't turn her face back around. Vi could make out her rosy cheeks from across the room. It was actually kind of sweet, but she pushed that thought away in a hurry.
“Nah, we’re good. You’re here early.”
“Yes, I wanted to be here when the furniture arrives to make sure it gets into the right places.” Caitlyn still looked around the room, anywhere but directly at Vi.
“Ok yeah. I was just going to lay down some paper so we don’t scuff up the floors moving things in and out of here.”
“Sounds good. Can I help you with that?” Finally Caitlyn’s eyes met hers again. An odd sense of relief filled Vi’s chest this time because of the offer.
“Alright, thanks.” She smiled warmly at her boss partner lady.
“Oh, before we begin, I brought you something.” Caitlyn said, fishing a little box out of her large bag.
“You did? (Why)... What is it?” Vi took a step closer to reach for the box.
“Well you keep talking about the cupcakes, so I thought I’d grab you one. I went to the bakery for breakfast and they had these in the window.”
“Oh. That’s actually really sweet of you, thanks.” Vi said, wasting no time in pulling out the small confection and taking a massive bite, and then another, and with a third it was completely gone.
Caitlyn just stared at her, speechless. She licked her top lip slightly and then pressed her hands together, clearing her throat briefly before speaking. “Right well, let’s get started.” She said in a commanding tone turning on her heel away from Vi’s frosting covered lips and fingers.
*
The furniture moving was honestly a piece of cake compared to the amount of days and hours put into rebuilding the home. The once grotesque building now smelling of fresh paint and a pine candle that was lit in the kitchen. Two ornate rugs had been brought in, one for under the dining table and the other in the living area. Then a wood table —honestly more beat up than Vi had expected— had been placed on top of the other rug; and a vintage couch placed in the living space along with a matching set of armchairs completed the final touches.
“It looks nice, but what’s with the scratches on the table?” Vi asked as they started placing plates and forks —precisely as Caitlyn had instructed— on its top.
“Oh, it’s from the old school house. I never like to see things go to waste. So I just sanded it lightly and threw a few coats of poly on it. It is old but made from solid oak, I couldn’t let this old girl be thrown out, not when she has a long life ahead of her.” Caitlyn nodded, placing a napkin on top of a plate and then a smaller plate on top of that. Vi followed suit trying to copy what she was doing at another place setting.
“Huh, that’s a very Zaunite way of thinking, ya know.”
“Oh… I suppose it is. I never really thought of it in that way.”
“It’s not a bad thing, just didn’t expect it from you.” Vi bit her tongue, trying really hard not to call her Cupcake.
“From me?” Caitlyn stopped, giving Vi a stare that wasn’t quite offended. Vi honestly didn’t know what it was, which made her feel even more peculiar than she had already been feeling.
“I mean… I don’t know, you have all this, you could literally buy anything you wanted, why go after the things nobody wants?”
“Hmm, there is beauty in those things though, you just have to know what you’re looking for. A little polish here and there and they can really shine and last through many more decades.”
Vi nodded, not daring to say another word. But she found herself thinking about Caitlyn’s words the rest of the afternoon.
*
“You know, you really did a fine job in the bathroom, and the floors look immaculate.” Caitlyn walked back into the kitchen where Vi was waiting for the verdict.
“Oh thanks.” Vi said with a cheesy grin.
“But I was hoping to see more, I don’t know, a little finesse in the kitchen. You’ve remodeled kitchens before, yes?”
Vi bit her check, “Yeah of course.” Trying not to get offended at that. She’d really just gone for functional there, not pretty.
“Well, it is functional (yup there ya go) but there is nothing in it that makes me want to stand in here for hours. Take the window for instance, it’s so small, if we had opened it up another foot, you’d be able to see the city skyline from the kitchen sink… And the cabinets here in the corner, they’re utterly useless, you can hardly fit a cookie sheet through that narrow door if you are lucky. Look at all this wasted space.” Caitlyn motioned her hands over the expanse of counter in the back corner. “Could we place a door on the opposite side of this counter down there, so we can access the cabinet easier? Really utilize every inch of space.” Caitlyn’s slender fingers ran back and forth over the cultured marble countertop. Vi definitely wasn’t staring at them.
“Uh. Yeah.” Vi was utterly speechless now. She had never felt her work was inadequate, but now she sure as hell did, and she fuckin hated it, and yet she couldn’t find herself to hate Caitlyn’s constructive criticism. She almost enjoyed it.
*
Presenting the home to the Trowel family was not at all what Vi had expected, especially after Caitlyn had torn apart her kitchen remodel. Vi had just wanted to hand them the keys and leave to go bury herself in food, drinks, and self loathing. But Caitlyn insisted they walk the family through their new home, together.
“Now, I know it may not be everything you had hoped for but—” Caitlyn was cut off by small hands wrapping around her leg. The five year old girl tightened her arms around her thigh, which seemed to be as high as she could reach.
“Thank you.” The girl half yelled, half cried into Caitlyn’s leg.
“Oh… you are most welcome.” Caitlyn blinked and then watched the girl scurry off.
“Truly, this is more than most people can achieve in their lifetime. Vi, I had no idea, when you said you would find us a home, that you would be doing all this. How can we ever repay you?” Mr. Trowel spoke with his voice cracking slightly.
“No need Mr. T.” Vi shook her head. “You’ve been a great teacher to so many kids in Zaun, I wanted to make sure you had a place to call home so more kids could continue to be inspired by you, like Powder was.”
The two younger kids ran off to go jump on their respective beds and the four adults made their way into the kitchen where Caitlyn had prepared some cookies the night before. Vi and the freshly made home owners laughed about a couple of times that Powder had gotten herself into trouble with the upperclassmen and Vi had shown up to make them back off. Caitlyn watched silently eating her cookies only to pause and wipe a bit of chocolate from her lip part way through and then continue munching. Vi made a note of how she seemed to really like these particular cookies.
Before they realized it, it was starting to get dark. They said their goodbye’s and Vi and Caitlyn exited the home exactly two months to the day that they had started this new adventure.
“That was—” Vi started but wasn’t sure how to finish her thought. Her cheeks burned with the laughter they had enjoyed for the last couple of hours.
“That was nice. Good work.” Caitlyn nodded.
“Yeah, it was nice. Thanks for making it happen, Caitlyn. We actually just might make a pretty good team..”
Caitlyn hummed in approval but didn’t respond in words.
“Well, Goodnight.”
“Wait! Uh, it’s pretty late, let me walk you to your car.” Vi stopped her, putting up a hand and taking a step in front of her business partner.
“It’s right th— Vi, I can see my car.” She motioned, pointing a finger just to the end of the block looking wholly unamused by Vi’s theatrics. Or maybe she was a little amused.
“So this will be quick then.” Vi flashed a cheesy shit–eating grin.
They walked for approximately two dozen steps in silence. Caitlyn with her arms folded around her chest and Vi with her hands in her pockets doing a little skip here and there.
“You’re ridiculous, you know.” Caitlyn chided when they reached her car.
“Oh babe, you have no idea.” Vi gave a little two finger salute then turned on her heel not wanting to see Caitlyn’s reaction to that one. She kicked at the ground with hands shoved into pockets, sauntering away from her strangely intriguing business partner. Caitlyn’s headlights streaked past affording Vi one last glimpse before she hopped into the driver’s seat.