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undermine-the-instinct · 1 month ago

Text

BUT OH, HOW YOU BREAK ME

Prison!Vi x reader

CHAPTER TWO: HELLO SUNSHINE

Masterlist..... Read on AO3..... wc: 2K

Tags: Fem coded reader, foul language, weird uncle vibes from an Adult, Vi calls reader a bitch

“Rule One- Don’t touch my shit. Don’t touch dont look dont even breathe in the same direction of my shit. Got it?”

You peek a look to the toilet, with its murky, rank waters.

“Um….”

“Two–I don't need your help, or your company. Stay out of my way.”

“I-”

“Three-I don't like small talk. Don't talk to me even if you're dying. I dont fucking care.” She throws her towel-one of her few possessions, to her bunk after her sentence, huffing as she pulls herself up by the thin rails. Fancy.

“I'm taking top bunk. Tough luck princess.”

“I have a name,” you say. You lift your chin and your nostrils flare a bit.

"And I dont fucking care."

You make an affronted sound, a word underneath your breath, and Vi sits up to bear down at you.

"Got something to say princess?"

"Yeah. Thats not my fucking name," brave, and stupid, you dont back down.

"So cut it out with that bullshit right there." Vi fully sits up, swings her legs in front of you, where you barely dodge. She folds her hands in her lap, loosens her shoulders.

"It's either princess, bitch, or your number, so your choice, newbie."

There's a shake in your eyes, a gleam as you persist. "My name is--"

“Doesn't matter. Not here. You might get a nickname in this place, but you'll always just be a number here."

"I'm more than that."

"No, you're not. You're stuck down here with all the rest of us now. So remember your number, because that's all people’ll ever see you as.” She turns to lay back down, and looks over her shoulder to give you a glance.

“You better hope it stays that way. A pretty face can get busted up quick here.”

"Yeah? And you would know, huh?"

She has to pause, before a low laugh pulls out her teeth like a wince. A hiss. "What? Are you saying I'm pretty?"

"I'm saying you looked fucked up," You cross your arms, and it looks like a barrier put up between the two of you.

"And shouldn't there be gendered sectors here? Why is this a co-ed prison?"

"If we start making divisions starting with gender, next you'll have age and then species divisions, and then gangs, and then people start fighting, and everyone starts thinking their special," she laughs without humor. "Better to keep it as is."

"There's just...so many kids here. All ages. It's, it's crazy." And she feels her back tense again.

"That's the way it is here. So mind your business, and keep your head down. You're Benny's kid, one way or another, so don't give the old man any grief, alright?"

"So you know Uncle Benny?" You pull up till she can feel the breath of your words a second after they leave your mouth.

"Did you know him before this?"

This. This. What is this anyway.

Vi just snags her head into a tighter crook of her elbow.

“...Rule number three, princess,” she says, just as the guards shout “Lights out,” and the world goes dark.

Almost instantly, when the lights go out, so too does sound. She ignores you as you continue to stand there, before you sigh in defeat. She hears the sounds of you slipping into a hard mattress, tissue thin sheets.

It's a while later, and Vi is sure she isn't supposed to hear it, but she does. Tiny, aborted gasps, the kind where you're trying to be quiet, but you can't breathe.

Vi blinks in the quiet. It doesn't matter if her eyes are open or not, it's always been dark. But even the underground was never this suffocating.

--------------------------

The tomfoolery doesn't stop though, because before she can barge out of her cell in the morning, a burly guard blocks her way.

“Hold on. You're forgetting something.” She tips her head to you, wide eyed, fixing your sheets like an overly polite guest in a hotel.

“What?”

“You gotta escort her. Warden's orders. Show her the layout, the ins and outs…keep her in one piece.” She grins at the hard set of her jaw.

“Take it up to the Warden if you have a problem.”

“Or maybe I should just shoot the messenger, here and now?” You raise your voice when the guard's grin drops.

“It's fine. I don't need an escort.”

“Didn't look that way yesterday princess.”

“Not my name. And that doesn't count because that's family-”

“You're family with Widows?” Oh, you dumb, stupid bitch. Why did you have to open your mouth? Common sense says that you keep your mouth shut, and eyes straight.

You seem to catch your mistake, the way the guard and Vi are looking at you.

“....You know I'm Zaun. No fucking clue they're family.”

“...Huh. A Piltie calling herself a Zaun. Alright.” Dumbass. The guard steps aside, and not too soon before Vi was going to push her out and catch another case.

“Remember your orders five-sixteen.”

“Leave me the fuck alone,” she mutters under her breath.

“...Are you coming or what?” Stupid, stupid, stupid. Because you stare at her dumbfounded, before finishing folding the towel you used for an extra blanket. You follow her with a hasty nod.

--------------------------

“Here, you, take your problem.” She waits until Benny looks up, before she turns on her heel and storms off.

“Hey, hey hey! Don't go?” He yells after her with a hint of audacity, and she ignores him, and whatever he says to you that has you running after her.

“Hey, um, you? Unc-” Vi whirls on her heel so fast she sees the words die in your mouth with a grimace.

"Damn, I forgot, my ba-"

“Rule number four, princess-keep your mouth shut. This isn't a work office this isn't some random street or fancy theater. Connections here can kill you just as easily as they keep you alive.”

You take a step back, a frown pulling your face down.

“Benny's calling you.”

“Don't care. I don't answer to Benny.”

“Aren't you guys like, colleagues? Coworkers? I think it's worth hearing him out.”

Vi’s already turning in her heel and walking away. “No.”

“You know, you're rather bristly.”

Huh? She stops. “What's that supposed to mean?”

“Just what I said. Bristly. Like an alley cat. It'd be cute if you didn't get tired of it quick.”

“What are you getting at?” She turns and presses into your space, nose to nose. “Don't play with me.”

You don't back away, but you do shy. Vi follows. “I'm not. I'm just reciprocating a tiny bit of the energy you're giving me."

She pulls in closer, eye to eye. Your eyes flicker between her pair, before you settle and stare her down. You're actually taller than her, with more weight on your frame. Three square meals a day for years probably did you some good.

"You're a smart mouthed princess, aren't ya?"

"Better than a feral animal running around like its tail is on fire."

"The fuck? You-"

“And how are we doing today my flowers?” A booming voice, well, booms off the walls and Vi feels herself go ramrod straight.

The Warden's steps make the ground tremble, and when he walks with that fatass body of his, he takes up most of the hallway, trusty weapon always in hand. His grin is never friendly, it's sharp.

“Well? I asked a question.” He stops in front of them, and peers down at the both of them.

You wilt. “Um…Flowers?"

Oh, he laughs. HAHAHA so funny. "Well, pretty thing you are, I think yours is pretty self-explanatory. Five-sixteen here-"

"Warden--"

"Is named Violet," He continues on despite her angry protests. "Odd for such a prickly girl, right. So? How are we doing."

You look between her and the Warden, but she refuses to look at you.

"We're- doing as well as can be, sir.”

“Is that right? Well, we don't want you having a good time here, this is a prison after all,” he leans down and winks like he's telling a joke, and your face twists like you're not sure whether you think so to.

“And, you are here for a reason.” He straightens with a sigh.

“How is our resident five-sixteen treating you? You looked like you were arguing, though you don't look much worse for wear.”

“I-”

“What were you expecting sir?” Vi lifts her eyes, bright.

“Broken bones? A bloodbath?”

“Certainly a little more blood,” he peers down. “You're not known for your love of Pilties, flower. Or Zaun goons. Or anyone except that Powder you keep–”

“Sir.” She grins, tries to forewarn with her eyes but he just laughs.

“I'm still surprised you dont join the Vapers, but you are more solo than anyone else here.” He pays her head, none too gently, and she tastes blood on her tongue.

“Still, I need you to be on your best behavior for our newest member, alright flower? Pilties are fragile, so go easy on the young thing, won't ya?”

“I'm not Piltie,” you frown. And something about the way your eyes shine, like something pretty and adamant and pitiful.

"But you're a halfie."

"But I don't claim Piltover. I'm Zaun."

The Warden, he sees this too, because he laughs, again. He reaches out and pinches your cheek, shaking you side to side like a rowdy puppy. You whine in protest like one too and it sounds fucking annoyingly pathetic.

“Ha! Adorable! Really, try not to rough this one up! We'd hate to lose such a pretty one.” He lets you go, leaving your cheek red and smarting.

"I havent had to check up on you for a while, so the beds and blankets were a courtesy gift. Don't mess this one up, Five-sixteen. You might earn back some privileges again." And he turns, and he walks away.

Vi stands there, waiting and watching until his figure disappears around a corner and the world stops going blurry at the edges.

She breathes, and exhales in a sharp burst. Once, twice, until the blood stops ruching in her ears. You're still there when she opens her eyes.

"...Flower?"

Red. Red red red. “I swear to fucking--"

"Ay, he called me that too, okay? I'm just questioning." You sigh, putting your hands palm first to your forehead.

“You know what? I'm hungry. You want to eat?”

Vi stares at you. “...Breakfast is over. They don't let latecomers in.”

“They'll let me in.”

“What? Why?”

“So show me the way to the kitchens,” you nod, ignoring. “Come on. I'll get you something too.”

…What the hell are you talking about? “Listen, I don't know if you know this, but this isn't a fucking playground. Did you hear what the Warden said? Do you know what he means?"

Its irking her, how your expression barely changes besides a few muscles movements.

"I'm not stupid, or naive, I know Vi."

"So whats not fucking clicking?!" She jabs a finger to her temple with each word.

"You cant act like a fucking princess, act like things are supposed be one way or the other because you expect them to be. You don't act a certain way without people expecting something from you."

"I know that."

"So you're okay with that then, with this?!" She looks around the drab walls. "All of you Pilties think shits so sweet, when-"

"I'm not dealing with this, or with you. You seem to be going through something, so I'm out."

"Huh?"

And just like that, you turn on your heel and you're making your way over to a random person. She watches you in bafflement as you stop in front of this man, tatted in blue ink. “Hey. I'm new around here. Do you mind showing me the way into the kitchen?”

“What the fuck are you–” Vi and him speak at the same time, but you reach into your pocket and stick your fist out. “Here. I'll get you something more if you take me.” He looks down at Vi, then you suspiciously, before placing his huge hand under yours. You open your hand.

She has to hold back the small gasp when you hand what was in your fist–sugar packets. Sheer fucking gold in this place. Not some cheap syrup or the glop in the kitchens, actual, fucking, sugar.

The man's eyes widen too, and he looks again between you and Vi before shoving his pay into his pocket. He nods his head, and starts to walk. You take one look back at Vi, before you turn too, and follow him.

He is going in the way of the kitchens, but he could be leading you to an empty corner to run your pockets. Stupid girl.

Vi turns and goes the other way.

Taglist: @sevikas-whore @autisticratbagtm

#arcane #arcane league of legends #arcane vi #arcane violet #arcane au #vi x reader #violet x reader #reader insert #my stuff #my writing #ciciwrites

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undermine-the-instinct · 1 month ago

Text

BUT OH, HOW YOU BREAK ME

Vi x Reader

Chapter One: THERE

Masterlist..... Read on AO3.....

Tags: Foul/crude language wc: 1.9K

The first thing that Vi learns about you is that apparently, you’re pretty. Like, really, really pretty.

“Have you seen the new shorty in cell block B? God-damn. Apparently she's–”

“Is she underground?”

“Huh? Uh, sorta? She's a halfie-”

“Where.” The other prisoner, number whatever the fuck, named whatever the fuck, is one of the few dumb folks here who never took the hint to to leave her the fuck alone. Over the years [years and years and years] she's made herself useful enough to tolerate. Telling her about certain guards and schedules and new inmates. Vi needs all the information she can get.

Number whats her face looks constipated. And maybe it's because of the way Vi hasn't stopped her rhythm, punching a weathered bag back with every blow, but she wrings her hands with a laugh. She's missing her front teeth.

“Um, I heard she’s already processed and in the cafeteria now but she's with–”

Vi doesn't listen to anything else; she turns on her heel, letting the punching bag swing into the woman, stomping as she moves past the throng of prisoners in the weight room.

The prisoners, and the guards, look up at her warily as she stomps past, breathing sighs of relief as she moves. ‘Who is it this time?’ and, “At least it's not me.’ A guard glares, suspicious, and speaks into a radio. She hurries pace.

There's not many people in the cafeteria, it's almost the end of lunch, but Vi barges in, scanning the room under the harsh white fluorescent light. Regular folks know to avoid her and the newbies–

Always stare. Dead straight eye contact, and, there you are.

The first thing she thinks is-You don't look underground. You dont have that grit about you. Neither do you look naive. Nervous sure, but alert. You noticed her as soon as she came in, as soon as she walked over.

She only has a moment to take in the look of you- widened eyes, pinched brow, before someone moves to block her path. Her shoulders tense before she looks up to see who.

“Ay, ay. The boss doesn’t want anyone coming over here right now.”

“Get out of my way Kira.”

“No can do.” His mohawk bobs as he shifts on his feet. But he doesn't move. “Boss says.” He stands a good foot and a half taller than her with more tattoos than skin and foggy blue eyes.

“...Why? Whose that–” She looks over his shoulder to point at you. But now, the other members of The Widows have moved closer, blocking her view.

The Widows are a sizable, particular gang. Only people from the underground are allowed. Another prerequisite–only those who lost someone because of Piltover. So its a pretty big gang. –It's one she can tolerate, which is something they can barely afford her, ever since she refused to join. Cordial, but barely. Mainly because of their boss.

She gives them a better attitude than anyone else here anyways. Those people she's either frosty, or downright hostile towards.

“The boss ain't here and you're gonna have to ask him about that. And we both know now that your talk aint gonna go the way they usually do now, ay?” He leans down to her eye level and nods back to the fresh meat. “She's someone of interest to the Boss, so you needa keep that temper of yours under wraps.”

“Who are they?” He shrugs. “It's not my business to tell.”

“...Well then where is he." She grits out of clenched teeth and clenched fists. There are murmurs in the cafeteria now, as the people around tense for a fight.

“Where he usually is, I guess,” Kira shrugs. ”Go find ‘im if you wanna.” That's a dismissal if there ever was one. But Vi is not to be waved away like a child- so she sneers, spits a glob of spit right next to his shoe, and deliberately walks out the cafeteria slow and controlled.

She can feel your eyes on her as she leaves.

______________________

Benny’s working in mechanics when she strides in. Hardly anyone looks up from their tasks, but they do tense as she strides over. People always do.

“What do you want?” He says as soon as she's in earshot.

“The new kid you got–”

“No.” Her fist comes down hard on the table, rattling the carefully assorted wrenches and screws.

He's unfazed, not even looking up from whatever he's doing.

Benny’s a small man. Really small. But his hair and his eyes are dark, and what little words he can be bothered to speak are low and to the point. He never stops shaking a leg or messing with those fucked up bangs of his, but his hands are steady and sure.

And, well, he knew Vander. He cried when Vi finally opened up to tell him what happened. That's the only reason Vi tries for some decency around the guy and his people.

But this is more important than that. “I have to talk to that girl–”

“She's only a halfie Vi. I doubt she knows what you're looking for–”

“But she might–”

“Spent majority of her time in Piltover so I doubt it,” He raises his voice above hers. “She wasn't arrested for no black crimes either-so drop it.”

She stares at him, incredulous, before shoving the table back. “So that's it? No?”

“Exactly.”

“Then what did that princess do up there to get sent down here? No, why are you even defending her? A spoiled halfie? She your new squeeze or something–”

Benny’s small, but he’s still a grown man, and fast too. Vi hardly registers the burn in her cheek before he lowers his hand and she tastes the spill of a broken lip.

“Shes my niece, dumbass, so watch your fucking mouth and your fucking tone.” Vi straightens, tongue poking to assess the damage. She doesn't apologize, but he sees the look on her face and his glare lessens a fraction.

“She’s an actor in some theater company. Her mom, my big sis, is Zaun. Her dads some big pocket–paid for her education.”

“...You think with that opportunity she woulda chosen something more…lucrative?”

“Not your place to judge,” he sits back down, re-arranges the table. “She's good. Got swept up in a Zaun protest, things got violent and some big-time backer to the council died. Blamed her, the rest of ‘is family pulled strings and now? She's here.” He sighs, and Vi notices she can see his eyebags through the dark lens of his goggles before he hides them, forehead to fist.

“I got my peoples looking over her though.” She recalls how the other members practically huddled around you before she could get a full glance, like a single stare and you’d wither. Princess. Her lip curls.

She shuffles, but steps forward to sit on an empty spot of the table. “You already got beef with the Vapers…So she already has enemies.”

“I know. And these people who don't like halfies, there are even some who knew about her before coming here so they got their prejudices…”

She tries for a joke. “Damn...Do they want a refund? Was she that bad?”

“No, of course not. She's the best.” He doesn't hesitate, and the way he says it has a rush of heat spreading up her chest and burning her throat. She has to push the lump down.

“Anyways, my niece hasn't been to the underground in years. Visits her mom every so often. Not enough to know who you’re looking for.” And a little softer, “I'm sorry.” The lump comes back.

She pushes off the table and walks out the room.

________________

It's a Vaper who approaches her next.

And that's a dumbass decision, because she hates Vapers, practically a death sentence, and the weasel is sweating like he knows it too.

Still, he slinks up to her while she's mopping up a bathroom. Anything to take her mind off hte boredom, the anxiety.

He’s grinning. “Heyyyy 516! Working hard or hardly working, amiright?”

“...Blunt force trauma, or blood loss?” He just laughs and leans against a sink she just wiped down.

“Okay, I see what gear you're playing in, so, I'll get straight to the point. You know Benny’s new girl? The soft looking one? Well–”

“Real stupid to be even talking to me, rat. Dont you have some enforcers to fuck with instead? Ran through your shimmer stash too fast?” He frowns, she's probably more on the nose than she thought. Because that's what the vapers do, leech and suck off of anyone that could satiate them. Whether it be a grudge or addiction. “Fuck off.”

“Oh no no no no no. It's not anything crazy. Not anything you wouldn't have done anyway–”

“Fucks that mean?” She's trying for calm. She already sent a few men this week into the infirmary. They'll lower her rations again if she keeps up. She's skinny enough.

“I'm just– the Boss is just saying. If you get your hands on her, doing that little question thing you do to all the new inmates, just…rough her up a little more, make things harder. Boss got word and proof of reward for some…prison justice, yeah?”Vi raises an eyebrow at that.

Just what the fuck did you actually do? Forget being blamed for a Piltie death–People want to make an example out of you.

He sees her pause, ego boosted. “Yeah! She’s Piltie anyway, so no lost blood on our end, yeah?”

“You vapes killed enough of your kind over a quick fix.”

He ignores that, reaching out and patting her shoulder. Red. “We can go get your commissary box some padding too, Zaun knows that's been empty for so long. How ‘bout it?” He stops laughing when she stops mopping, leaning her cheek against the skin warm handle of the mop.

“Hey.”

“...Hey?”

She leans in. “Youre fucking up my floor. Fuck.Off. While you still have legs.” And he takes the hint, scurrying on the wet floor.

She watches him run. Then, she breathes through her nose, out her mouth, once, twice, thrice. Breathing in the smell of shit and cheap lemon scented cleaner. Then she finishes mopping.

There's not much to do. She's been banned for some time from the yard, and she's not hungry. So she goes back to the weight room and punches a bag until her hands feel like they’re going to fall off. And then, before the room closes and the guards try pressing her up, she lifts her hands in frustration and goes to her cell.

“Ready to tuck yourself in pinkie?” The guard grins, and she’s tense. Familiar. Bitter rising on her tongue.

“Is it the ward paying me another visit? You don't think you guys are enough to hold me, do you?”

“We’re not the ones taking care of you tonight five-sixteen,” the other snickers, as the hall drags on and on and on and finally that cell comes into view. Confused-alarm pricks at her conscience.

Her dark, damp, cold cell. Blood splattered and filthy. Just like she’s always known.

Except it's different, because when she finally get there, it's still blood splattered and dark. But there's new bedding and someone swept and there's someone standing there.

“Oh,” she says.

“Oh,” you say.

The guard, this fucker, grins. “Well, get settled in you two.”

#self reblog!#arcane #arcane league of legends #arcane vi #arcane violet #arcane au #vi x reader #violet x reader #reader insert

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