Layla

I laughed with Fran as he drank a cup of one of the liquors we had behind the bar, he lounged on one of the stools leaning back on the bar counter. I used my rag and bottle to spray the table and then wipe it off clean, I sent everyone home after a long night. Fran says he's a "night owl that never sleeps" so he always offers to help, but I never accept his help.

I'm the boss so I clean up, I wasn't the first one here today so it was only fair I stay here last.

"There is no way all these Pilties come down here just to dance and drink!" I said my shoulders shaking as I laughed at the thought of kids from Piltover posing as one of us to come here of all places. I mean this isn't the first time I'm hearing of it, but I never thought they were actually true.

Fran gave me a serious look as he sloshed his drink towards me, "I'm deadass L, everyone loves it here. You're famous for your music and your club, we never got this kind of recognition when Dominique was in charge."

I shook my head as I finished wiping the last table, I hate to admit it but he's not wrong. Even when I go to Nicks parties I hear some teenagers whispering about sneaking out to come down here and have fun. I need to stop the Pilties from coming down here, I know they're just looking to have fun like everyone else but if someone realizes they're not from here? They won't make it home. I can't live with something like that happening. I know I shouldn't care but they're so young, I think of the kids who I adore back home with Ekko, I'd raise hell to find the people who hurt them. They're like my children, they look up to me.

I'll talk to Luk and Ty to get them to pay closer attention to who they let in, if they even so much as suspect someone's not from here they won't be able to come in. I hate turning them away, but they need to understand how dangerous it can be.

"And I'm happy that we're getting more and more popular, but we can't just let them think they can come down here whenever they want. It's dangerous Fran, I need to talk to the bouncers to add more security measures." I said, throwing my rag on the counter next to him before leaning my head in my hands.

"Oh please let me talk to them! Those two are so delicious, it should be illegal." Fran said dreamily, he raised his glass to his lips but I grabbed it from him.

"Okay you're cut off because there is no way you just said Luk is hot. The man spelled his name different every time after I asked for his signatures when he first started here." I giggled as I walked around the bar to dump his liquor down the drain before washing the cup.

He huffed before spinning around to face me, "Well I never said he had to have a brain to be hot, he is just pretty to look at. With that strong jawline, dark buzz cut and muscles upon muscles covering his body. Mmm he's so edible." He looked at me in a daze, but then changed his face to serious when he saw my unamused expression.

He refrained himself from laughing, but couldn't stop from bursting out his ugly laugh which made mine come out too. Our hollers rang through the empty club, before we tried catching our breath.

He gasped before saying, "Okay it's official I'm crazy. Now I'm going home to have a sex dream about our coworker." He said nonchalantly as he grabbed his bag, tossing it over his shoulder and blowing me a kiss.

"TMI Franklin!"

"There is no TMI between us babe, we're soulmates!" He yelled back before walking out and shutting the door.

~~~~~

I got out of there not long after, locking the bolts I kept on the double doors before heading back to the hideout. I need the fresh air that we could only find with the tree, I rubbed my hand along the back of my neck tiredly, making my cropped shirt ride up. I dressed comfy in a sports bra, a short off the shoulder shirt with holes in it and my baggy grey cargo pants.

I finally made it to the long tunnel and walked down to the wall at the end. I knocked the rhythm we used to let whoever was guarding the door that it was a Firelight trying to get in. The door opened up and Scar greeted me, I hugged him and gave him a smile before I walked into the open area.

Ekko thinks it's weird that I'm a hugger, but over the years I've become a major people person. I make it my mission to remember names and faces of people and creatures who know my name. Down here it's easier to remember faces because everyone is different, but up there all the Pilties look the same.

They're all rich and annoying.

The huge tree smiling down at me and I took a deep breath finally feeling calm. But before I could look around at everyone I heard voices calling me.

"Layla!"

"Lay!" Multiple children screaming my name as I saw some of them come running at me. I dropped my bag before crouching down to catch all of them in a group hug, Nyla came at me first followed by Hue, Char, Lily and Mika.

"Hi guys! I missed you!" I said smiling at all of their happy faces, they all started talking at once as they pulled me up. They did the usual, taking off my bag and grabbing both of my hands to lead me further into the sun and out of the dusty tunnel.

"Layla I got to ride Scars hoverboard!"

"I finally learned the dance move you taught us!"

"Ekko missed you, he told us not to tell you though."

I laughed but faltered as I saw everyone looking at me from afar with mixed expressions, something was off. But the kids were so happy I didn't think anything of it.

Until they stopped pulling me and pushed me forward towards someone, I looked up to see Ekko standing to the sides with his arms behind his back. That always meant he was hiding something he knew would freak me out.

But I knew what it was.

I came face to face with a girl who was a head taller than me, she had on baggy but tight striped pants with bruises and dirt covering her face. But what made me stop in my tracks was the pink hair she had styled to one side of her face. Her eyes were the same as the last time I looked into them after I shocked her by kissing her for the first time.

My jaw went slack as she looked at me with the same expression, her shoulders falling down as we stared at each other. I felt my cheeks redden as her gaze traveled up and down my body before she looked back into my eyes. She had two piercings on her ear and one on her nose, the same scar she's had for years went over her top lip and another went above her eyebrow. Her jacket matched her hair color, making my knees weak. Everything else in the world went fuzzy as I stared at the girl who I've always loved, I was in total disbelief, convinced that this was another hallucination I had about her being here.

Maybe I was as crazy as J after all.

She hesitantly took a step forward and I did too, she took another and I followed. We were now a foot apart from each other and still staring at the other, her light eyes stared at me. I melted as I fell in love with her all over again, she looked hot. Jesus this version will be in my mind all the time now, she's so...

I finally remembered the ability to speak and I whispered, "Shiner?"

She shuddered before closing the distance slowly, she reached up and put both hands on my cheeks to cup my face. I gasped at the feeling of her warm touch, she was real.

"Superstar."

I threw my arms around her as tears streamed down my face, she's alive. She wrapped her arms around my waist lifting me up and holding me close.

My Violet.

I held her tightly as we stayed like that for I don't know how long, she began to slowly lower me. My body brushing against hers as my feet planted on the ground. I turned my head to the side, hearing her rapid heart beat before looking back up at her.

"How are you here?" I whispered as tears poured out of her eyes, she laughed giving me the happy smile I missed so much.

"I was arrested, someone grabbed me after the explosion and took me to Stillwater." She rested her forehead against mine, laughing, "God you smell so good."

I laughed with her as I grabbed the back of her neck holding her to me, keeping her forehead against mine.

"But how are you still alive? I saw you, your body. You weren't moving." Her voiced cracked as she looked at me, her eyes darting between my eyes.

"I fainted from the pain, the next thing I know I'm on the ground outside the warehouse and Vander is twice his normal size lying dead next to me. I had to get to Ekko, but when I finally got back there the enforcers cleaned everything up. The bodies were gone and I thought yours was..." I trailed off, a tear escaping. She swiped her thumb over it, I felt her warm breath on my lips, making my skin tingle.

"I want to kiss you so much, but I think Ekko would shoot me if I did." I chuckled at her statement, I'm glad I'm not the only one with the need to touch her.

Hold on...Ekko.

I stayed close to her as I turned to face my brother, he had a hand on the back of his neck sheepishly. He looked all around, refusing to meet my eyes.

"You didn't think to tell me, that the girl I love is alive and has been walking around the Undercity?" I said angrily, he finally looked up at me and put in hands up pleading innocent.

"Lay you already have enough on your plate, I didn't want to tell you about the rumor. I had to see for myself, but after you went with Jinx-" He stammered, tripping over his words as he tried to calm me down.

Vi turned towards me in confusion, "You were with J- Powder?" I turned to her and kissed her cheek to calm her down.

"We have a lot to talk about, Shiner." I said with a small smile on my face, I grabbed her hand before walking us towards Ekko. He scrunched his eyes closed, knowing what's coming, "But first..."

I slapped the back of his head and grabbed him by the ear, "No secrets. It's not my rule E, it's always been yours and this? This is a huge fucking secret to keep from me!"

He whispered he was sorry after I let him go, but then brushed himself off and putting back on his calm and cool persona. "But before you lovebirds go..." He gagged as he tried to figure out what to say, making a small smile appear on my face. "Make up for old times, I guess, what the hell are we gonna do with the enforcer who's still tied up?"

My smile dropped as I turned to Vi who looked at me with half her face scrunched up, "We really do have a lot to talk about, gorgeous." She said making me blush before turning back to Ekko. "We can trust her, she is the one who got me out of Stillwater after all. We can let her loose."

Ekko looked at her in disgust before turning to me, I nodded and he rolled his eyes before walking towards the stairs against the tree. I held Vi's hand as we followed Ekko to the top and then to the boiler room, he turned the door and sat on the floor. He asked Gio to bring her some water after he took her mask off.

Vi took me to the side, out of sight to the prisoner, leaning me against the wall she whispered, "You're as beautiful as the day I lost you. I can't believe I get to hold your hand again. I missed you so much Lay." She said as she put her hand next to my head against the wall while she squeezed her other hand that was still wrapped around mind. She lifted the side of her mouth in a flirty manner before leaning in, "Also have I mentioned how good your ass looks in those pants?"

I tipped my head back as I laughed at her boldness, we've only been together for a small amount of time and she was already flirting with me. I grinned slyly, looking her in the eyes with humor lacing my voice, "Have I told you how good your butt looks in those stripped pants?! I caught a glimpse of your backside and was like goddamn, V!"

Her face blushed so dark it was the same color as her hair, but she hid her face in my neck as her forehead fell to my shoulder. Her body shaking with laughter as I leaned my head against hers giggling at the fact I made her nervous.

Once we stopped laughing she stood up straight as we heard the enforcer yelling, my ears perked up recognizing that accent. Vi rolled her head before giving my hand a squeeze and telling me, "We'll continue this later."

I smirked to myself as I followed her, she leaned against the door frame talking to the prisoner before I came beside her.

My eyebrows shot up in disbelief, Caitlyn Kiramman mimicked my expression as she stared wordlessly at me. She blinked many times before saying, "Layla?"

Everyone turned to look at me wondering how the hell she knows my name, but I simply cocked my head to the side before smirking knowingly at the shocked girl.

"Hello Kiramman, I'm glad you actually listened to my advice."