Now, let's take this story back. Back to when you were 15 years old. Let's take this back to Ionia.

You dragged your feet as you walked down the street toward the recreation center of the small town. Your white shirt had a tear in it and your pants were dirty. Your shoes were a bit tight but they were mostly clean. What would really catch someone's eye is the fact that you had a massive bruise on your cheek now.

You finally reached the center and walked in. You made your way towards the back where the dance classes were going on and waited outside. You could hear the music from inside the room as you leaned against the wall.

Inside, Ahri was following the steps to the dance her teacher wanted them to learn. Her leotard matched all the others and her black hair was tied in a bun while her ears stuck out proudly. The music ended and Ahri let out a sigh of relief. She finally got it down.

Teacher: Good work, Ahri. You've gotten much better.

Ahri: Thank you.

Teacher: I guess I'll see you next week. Keep practicing.

Ahri nodded as the Teacher packed her things. She grabbed her bag and gave one last wave before she left the room where she found you.

Teacher: Oh, hello, Y/N. How are you today?

Y/N: Not so bad.

The teacher smiled while you kept your head down. Once she left, you entered the room with the door closing behind you. Ahri took a deep breath and repeated the dance while you took a seat on the other side of the room. You watched her and caught your reflection in the mirrors attached to the wall.

Your hair was a mess and you still had some dry blood on your lip. Ahri looked so, perfect. And you looked so, beaten. Made sense.

Ahri suddenly stopped dancing when she spotted you looking at the mirror.

Ahri: Y/N?

She walked over to you and saw your face which made her gasp.

Ahri: What happened?!

She rushed over to you and kneeled down. She lifted your face so she could see the damage. You pushed her hand away and leaned back against the mirror.

Y/N: Nothing. I just crashed on my bike.

Ahri: What? Then you should have more injuries. What did....wait. Did Aatrox do this?

You just stayed quiet. Ahri lifted your face again and looked at your busted lip. She shook her head and walked over to her bag before walking back to you. She set it down and sat on her knees as she looked through it. She pulled out the first aid kit she always carried with her and began to clean your wounds.

This was embarrassing for you. Everytime she did this it was embarrassing.

Y/N: I said I'm fine.

Ahri: I don't care. <You need to take care of your wounds before they get bad. Did you tell your parents about this?>

You just looked at her.

Ahri: <You need to tell someone about this. What if he goes too far one day?>

Y/N: Then he does. I'm not even mad he did this. I'm more pissed he took my bike.

Ahri stopped cleaning your cut and looked at you with worried eyes.

Ahri: He took your bike?

You slowly nodded.

Y/N: Yeah. I have no idea where he is.

Ahri: When did this happen?

You shrugged as she placed a bandaid on your cheek.

Y/N: Bout, 15 minutes ago. Happened on my way here.

Ahri: You live 10 minutes away.

Y/N: I kinda just, sat there for a bit.

Ahri looked at you concerned for a moment before she pulled you to your feet. She threw her bag on her back and sighed.

Ahri: I'm going to go change. After that, we'll head to your place and watch an episode of Odyssey.

You nodded in agreement and Ahri left the room. You stood there alone and looked into the mirror again.
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Elizabeth: Hey, Y/N?

Y/N: Yeah?

Elizabeth walked into the living room where you and Ahri were sitting on the couch. You were sitting comfortably in an upright position while Ahri was laying on the other side with her legs on your lap. Your sister looked at you and Ahri before she looked back at you.

Elizabeth: What happened to you?

Y/N: I fell.

Ahri: Aatrox beat him up and took his bike.

Elizabeth looked at you angry that you lied but you just sat there with your eyes glued on the TV screen.

Elizabeth: Your bike?

Y/N: I'll just find it later. I always do.

Elizabeth: That's not the point, Y/N.

Ahri: That's what I said.

You rolled your eyes and pushed Ahri's legs off of you and stood up.

Y/N: Whatever. What did you need?

Elizabeth crossed her arms and shook her head.

Elizabeth: Mom wants to see you.

You stood there for a moment while Ahri looked at you in anticipation. You finally sighed and ran a hand through your hair.

Y/N: Alright.

You walked around the couch and headed down the hall towards your parents' room. Your father was still out on the farm meaning it was just your mom.

Even before you got to the door, you heard her coughing. You stopped for a moment before you took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

Mom: Come in.

You hesitated before you reached for the doorknob and opened the door. In the bed was your mother. She looked a bit sicker than yesterday but not nearly as bad as she did last year.

Mom: Aw, sweetie. What happened?

You shrugged as you placed your hands in your pockets.

Y/N: I fell off my bike.

Your mom looked at you with that warm look she always had. The one that killed you and made you feel guilty about lying to her.

Mom: I should've gotten you a new hockey stick instead.

You shook your head.

Y/N: Nah. I love that bike. Gets me everywhere I need to go.

Your mom smiled. She had gotten you that bike on your birthday the year before. It was right before she had to go to the hospital. Your mom patted the bed and you internally debated with yourself before you walked over. You sat on the bed and your mom held your hand. In the background, her record player played one of her old records.

Mom: Honey, I know you didn't fall off your bike.

You looked at the painting that hung on the wall before you nodded.

Y/N: No. I didn't.

Mom: Was it that Aatrox boy again?

You sighed.

Y/N: Yeah.

Your mom gently squeezed your hand. She probably would've squeezed it a bit more but her strength wasn't what it once was anymore.

Mom: I want to tell you something, Honey. I want you to listen closely to my words.

You looked at your mom as she sat up.

Mom: You see, Y/N, the world is a harsh and cruel world. It's filled with people like Aatrox who want to hurt you and others. That's why there are times you need to fight back.

Y/N: What do you mean?

Mom: If you sit there and take what is given to you by people like that, they'll keep hurting you. Over and over again. Not just you either. Those around you will begin to feel their effects. That's why you need to stand up for yourself. Show them that you aren't as weak as they think.

You listened to her words. You heard her loud and clear.

Mom: Now, I heard Ahri. Is she here too?

You nodded.

Y/N: Yeah. She's in the living room.

Mom: Were you watching those old Odyssey tapes of mine again? I swear, you love that show so much.

Y/N: What can I say? It was ahead of it's time.

Your mom smiled, and so did you.
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Kayn: I can't believe that son of a bitch stole your bike again.

He skipped the rock he had and managed to get three skips. Not bad. You tossed yours and got five.

Y/N: Honestly, at this point, he uses it more than I do.

Jhin: He doesn't use it. He just takes it to mess with you.

You rolled your eyes and sat on a nearby rock. You tossed the stone in your hand back and forth between your left and right.

Y/N: Whatever.

Kayn: No. No.

He turned around and shook his head.

Kayn: Not "whatever". That dick is always messing around with you. He always takes your shit and he is constantly making fun of you. Dude, he hits on Ahri all the time in front of you.

Y/N: Ahri and me aren't dating.

Jhin: You sure?

Kayn: That's not the point! Dude, he's going to keep pushing you around like this forever.

You just threw your rock into the water and stood up.

Y/N: Yeah. Well, what can I do? Fight him?

Kayn/Jhin: Yes!

Y/N: Wha...

Jhin: You are strong thanks to all that farm work.

Kayn: And you fucking dominate at hockey.

You rolled your eyes and ran a hand through your hair.

Y/N: Not happening. Ahri would pissed if I got into a fight.

Jhin: I thought you weren't dating.

Y/N: Not the point. Guys, I know you mean well but...

Kayn: But what? You're just going to let him pick on you and steal your shit? Didn't your mom buy you that bike?

You nodded. They did have a point.

Y/N: I'm not gonna fight him. Can we just...not talk about this anymore? Please?

Kayn and Jhin looked at each other before they sighed.

Kayn: Yeah. Fine. When is Ahri supposed to get here?

Y/N: I dunno. Her manager wanted to meet with her for something.

Jhin: Kinda crazy how we know a celebrity.

Kayn: She's B-List at best, calm down.

You sat there and stared at the water. Your reflection showed a boy who was healing slowly. A boy who was at a crossroads.
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It was 3 years later when you were in the truck with Kayn, Jinx, and Jhin. A week after your fight with Ahri. Four days after your mother passed away.

You were staring out the window after you told them about what had happened between you and Ahri.

Jinx: That fucking bitch. So, she thinks she's the shit now and that she can screw over her friends?

Kayn: That's so fucked. Can't believe she said that.

Jhin: You alright?

You shrugged and looked down at the floor of the truck where your broken skateboard was.

Y/N: It's....whatever.

Kayn: You know, I really hate it when you say that shit.

Y/N: Well, it's true. I just don't care anymore.

Jinx, who was in the backseat, looked at you with slight concern before she remembered something. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. She held it out to you and tapped your shoulder with it to get your attention.

Jinx: Look.

You took the paper and unfolded it. It was a recruitment form.

Y/N: You're joining the army?

Jhin: Ionamin doesn't have an army.

Jinx: No, Piltover. They're recruiting people.

You read over the paper for a moment before you shook your head.

Y/N: No way. My old man fought in the war. He'd kill me if I even think about joining.

You handed the paper back to Jinx who frowned. Kayn sighed as he drove.

Kayn: Dude, you need to learn to do things for yourself. Screw what other people think. Graduation is in a week. What are you going to do? Live here all your life and raise cows?

Y/N: Isn't that what you're doing?

Kayn: Yeah, cause I want to! I'm inheriting a business. I mean, I'll hire you, bud. But as your friend, I want you to be the best you you can be. Like, I want you to go out into the world and do something great.

Jhin: I have to agree.

You leaned back in your seat and groaned. They were right. All your life you have been living in self doubt and fear. You have been pushed around, made fun of, and stepped all over.

You happened to look up and spotted something in the parking lot of the local Circle K.

Y/N: Pull over.

Kayn: What?

Y/N: I said pull over.

You sat up and unbundled your seat belt. Confused, Kayn turned into the parking lot. It didn't take long for your friends to see what you did.

Jhin: Y/N...?

You opened the door and stepped out of the truck. Your friends followed and stood there as you marched your way toward Aatrox and his group. They were laughing and drinking while Aatrox sat on your bike.

Aatrox spotted you and grinned widely.

Aatrox: Hey, it's L/N. Here to ask for your bike back?

Y/N: Nope.

You reached him and threw a right hook that knocked the bigger boy to the ground. Your friends immediately jumped in and kept the others off of you as you began to lay a beat down on the defenseless Aatrox. You grabbed his collar and lowered yourself down before you punched him square in the face.

You repeated this action a few more times before you let go of his collar. Aatrox's head dropped to the floor and you slowly stood up with your bloodied fist. You then grabbed your bike and carried it back to the truck where you threw it in the bed. Your friends left and you all piled into the truck.

Kayn drove out of the parking lot and away as he hit the roof of the trick.

Kayn: Wooo! Holy shit!

Jinx: That was fucking awesome!

Jhin: What a rush.

You looked at your fist and saw that it was not just Aatrox's blood there. You lowered it and turned back to Jinx.

Y/N: Hey, you got an extra form?

Jinx smiled.

Jinx: I can get one for you tomorrow.

You nodded and turned you attention back to the window. You caught your reflection in the mirror, and smiled.

The mirror showed a boy who had finally stood up for himself. A boy who was now a man. A man who knew what he wanted to do.

It showed you.