iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

"I've tried..." she frowned. "To some aspect, this is me standing up for myself. My mother is very overprotective, my father just... well... he does anything she says. She's the matriarch of the family— well... the one who makes all of our decisions."

000

"I know, but they'll not let me out the house for /ages/. I won't be able to see Jayce either. Just stuck in my room for hours until the next big event."

000

"You're lucky." Caitlyn said, a hint of jealousy in her voice. "Even if I'm allowed out by myself, I have to be back home before sunset. No scratches, no bruises, no crumbs or specks of dirt. I know they're going to be upset about my knee."

000

"It's C—" she paused. The nicknames will take a while to get used to. Caitlyn returned the soft smile, squeezing the brawler's hand in a comforting gesture. "Yeah....So are you, Vi."

000

"Because you're my friend." Caitlyn gave her a small smile. "I'll do anything to see them, even if it means me injuring myself on a fence."

000

She nodded. "You reacted naturally, Vi. If I was told something I did something I didn't do, I would react the same way. I'm sorry I judged you..."

000

"No, Vi—" she took hold of the fighter's hand, her eyes falling to the floor. "I believe him because he's my friend. I believe you because you're my friend too... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to start this argument..."

000

She nodded. She believed him — again. "Right, okay, I see... I'll have to keep practicing then."

000

"I believed Jayce because I knew him longer—" Caitlyn frowned. "I didn't want to believe it. I don't want to believe it. I know you need to get by. I paid him what you owe so you don't have to worry about returning anything... My parents want me to trust people up here... I... I do believe you, Vi."

"She's doesn't have a huge forehead!" she repeated. "But... I... I just don't know how to insult people. I was always told it was rude."

"Vi— I—" she frowned. "I didn't mean that! I was simply saying that's what I heard... I'm not judging you because of what you do... I know you do it to survive, I won't get angry at that, I'm not angry at that..."

"Um..." she looked up at Jayce. "You're so... um... stupid, you can't find your pen!"

"But— uh... um... his... um..." she was thinking hard. Very hard. "I don't know!"

"I'm not mad, Vi." she chuckled. "I won't tell anyone. My mother didn't raise a snitch."

000

"W— Well..." she was terrible with insults. "He... uh... he's a nerd!" Ooh, how brave of you, Caitlyn.

000

"And I'm just a girl defending her friend!" she argued back. "You would be annoyed if I said anything about that messy brown haired boy!" She forgot Viktor's name.

Her cheeks burnt red, lips growing tighter, eyebrows furrowed as Jayce pinched her cheek. "I could slap you... but I won't do that. That's assault."

"No, it's not— Her face is perfect!" she pouted. "Tell my mother, I don't care, I'm standing up for my friend here!"

"She's not ugly!" she exclaimed. "She's— she's—" She pursed her lips. She had fallen into what she thought was Jayce's trap. "Fuck you..."

"Pink is her natural hair colour." Caitlyn told him. "Like mine is blue."

"Well, I think it suits her!" she stated. "Messy, sure, but that shows her character. It's choppy, but it suits her."

"I— I know... It's that every other friend I've had left me after I told them I'm a Kiramman, or they tried to use me for my wealth, or bullied me... you're the only one who has stood by me. I don't want Vi to be scared of me because my mother is a councillor..."

She gulped. "Well, that's true, they wouldn't... but she doesn't know /who/ my parents are though... right...?"

"Well... I did get her some bread for her family." Caitlyn stated. "I'm surprised she likes me... she doesn't know I'm a Kiramman, though. I intend to keep it that way though..."

She gave her a nod. "Speaking of stealing, my friend said you stole some money. You're not in trouble, I paid him what you owe, so you don't need to give him anything. Just... be careful next time, okay? Don't steal from Jayce. He never lets a grudge slide."

000

Caitlyn looked over, giving Vi a small smile on her lips. "Were the breads okay? Not too soft?"

000

"I know." she said. "I know... I just want to be me. I just don't want to ruin my family's image."

000

Caitlyn nodded, tucking her knees into her chest. "That's the consequence of coming from a place where everyone holds you on a high pedestal... I have to live up to my mother's expectations. It's not fair. I want to be like my mentor, like Grayson..."

000

She flexed her leg, making sure it was done properly. "I... I know... I just... I don't want the public to see me crying... they can take it out of context and frame me as a frail 'princess', not someone who just climbed over the walls just to see my friend..."

"But it's over a cut." Caitlyn explained. "It's just a cut. I should be brave enough not to cry over it." She let out a sigh and another sniffle as the bandages were applied. "I dread to think how my parents are going to react once they see that..."

000

Caitlyn nodded. "I... I just feel weak for crying like this... As... um... as an heir, I... I should be strong in front of everyone... even my mentor says I should be strong for those around me if I want to be like her..."

000

She wiped away the stray tears from her face, sniffling lightly. She felt weak in front of her friend. She felt like she shouldn't have let her guard down so quickly. "Th- Thank you..." Caitlyn took in a shaky breath.

000

( Caitlyn gritted her teeth, a foot stamped against the concrete. She tried to keep herself together, yet the tears welled up in her eyes )

000

She nodded. "Just... get it over and done with... please..."

000

"Yeah, no shit." she pursed her lips, gripping at the step beneath her. "It... It's not too bad... right...? The wound, I mean. Is it okay?"

She held back a curse as she felt the tissue brush against the wound. "I— I'm not!"

000

"Shut up..." she grumbled. "I'm not a princess..." She hated people calling her that, not just because of her royal-like upbringing but also because she wanted to be seen as an equal to everyone around her, even if they came from Zaun.

000

She sat herself down on the staircase, hands clasped together, her fingertips tapping against the joints of the hands's fingers. "I didn't realise how tall the fences were of my home..." Caitlyn admitted. "My parents have no idea I'm out..."

000

"Um, I have some in my bag." she pulled the rucksack from her shoulders and withdrew a bottle and a small packet of tissues. She spotted a stack of boxes. "Do you want me to sit down?"

000

"Like her???" Caitlyn's eyes widened. "Well... as a friend, yes." Lies. "I've only met her once, though. I would lov— I mean, /like/ to meet her again sometime soon."

It felt like she was being told off by her mother. With a sigh, Caitlyn walked alongside Vi— VI WAS HOLDING HER HAND VI WAS HOLDING HER HAND VI WAS HOLDING HER HAND. Caitlyn's cheeks and ears burnt up as soon as she felt the contact. "Um...do you have a kit on you then...?" Her voice was quiet.

000

"Don't actually kick her!" Caitlyn stated. "But... I'll tell her anyway— Oh!" She found the pen. She picked it up and made her way back towards Jayce. "Here you go!"

"Oh..." Caitlyn believed him. She pulled out her purse and handed him a few coins. "Here, these should help you get through the week."

"But?" Caitlyn arched an eyebrow. "I can always give you the money she owes."

Her ears pricked up. How did he know Vi was her friend? "She stole your money?" Caitlyn looked over her shoulder. "She's not in trouble... right...?"

"Of course!" she began scanning the desk. It wasn't there. She crouched down, hoping to spot it around the desk, yet it wasn't there either. There, she began to leave the office, glancing for this damn pen.

"Oh?" she tilted her head. "Is there anything I can do to help you?"

"A secret?" she smirked, hands tucked behind her back, the gap in her teeth showing. "It's okay, I won't tell anyone. Your secret is always safe with me."