Chapter Text
@caitsswifey: Caitlyn Kiramman really said ‘I’m gonna fall into your arms but I’m still gonna make it look graceful as hell #CaitFall
@PiltoverPrincess: when you slip on stage but somehow end up in the arms of the person you've been lowkey staring at all night… Caitlyn Kiramman’s got moves, y’all
@lauuter Replied to @PiltoverPrincess: she wasnt staring at that girl
@KirraLover99 Replied to @lauuter: u blind? [grainy video of Caitlyn staring at the front row]
Mel was the first to come backstage. Caitlyn stepped into her suite, trying to take a breath—not that it helped.
The door creaked open, and Caitlyn’s head snapped up. Mel stood there.
Narrowing her eyes, Caitlyn watched as Mel chuckled awkwardly, wringing her hands—a clear sign of stress Caitlyn had come to recognize.
Caitlyn’s voice was sharp, cutting through the room. “Would you like to explain yourself?”
Mel squared her shoulders, walking over to the small bar in the corner. Without facing Caitlyn, she began making herself a gin and tonic. “Well,” she started, a little too cheerfully, “Funny story, really. Turns out Jayce knows her sister.”
Caitlyn nodded to herself, trying to steady her pulse. “And why isn’t he here right now?”
Mel turned, two drinks in hand. She approached Caitlyn and handed her one. “He’s helping them get here.”
Caitlyn tilted her head slightly, studying Mel, who was very much aware that she was in deep, deep trouble.
“And the real reason is…?”
A long silence. They stared at each other.
No one ever won against Caitlyn Kiramman. Not even Mel.
Mel’s gaze flickered around the room, looking for an escape. “To… to avoid you until you cool off.”
Caitlyn nodded slowly, accepting the drink from Mel. She took a slow, measured sip, letting the alcohol burn down her throat as if it could drown out the pounding in her chest.
Click.
Both Caitlyn's and Mel’s heads snapped toward the door. Jayce walked in first, holding it open for three people.
The first to enter was a blue-haired woman, followed by a man. Caitlyn recognized them instantly—they had been standing next to Vi in the audience. They were younger than her, that much was obvious.
The woman glanced around, hesitant, but when her gaze landed on Caitlyn, her eyes widened in shock. A small, startled squeak escaped her lips.
The man beside her chuckled. Mistake.
“Shut up!” The woman smacked his shoulder without hesitation.
Mel grimaced as the man let out a dramatic “Ow.”
But Caitlyn’s attention had already shifted back to the door. Jayce was still standing there, speaking in hushed tones to someone just out of view. She couldn’t make out the words, but she didn’t need to.
He was trying to coax someone inside.
Jayce sighed, running a hand down his face before stepping aside.
And then she walked in.
Vi.
Caitlyn’s breath caught. It was one thing to see her from a distance, under stage lights, behind layers of noise and people. It was another to have her here, in the same room, close enough to touch once again.
Vi’s eyes found Caitlyn instantly, searching, unreadable. Her stance was casual—hands shoved into her pockets, weight shifted slightly to one side—but Caitlyn could see the tension in her shoulders, the way her jaw clenched just slightly.
Silence stretched between them, thick and electric.
Jayce cleared his throat. “Well. That was easier than I expected.”
No one reacted.
The blue-haired girl rocked on her heels, glancing between Vi and Caitlyn like she was watching a particularly intense game of Hextech chess. The man beside her just grinned, clearly entertained.
Mel, ever the diplomat, took a slow sip of her drink. “Well,” she said, tone light but calculated, “This is certainly… a reunion.”
Vi snorted. “Yeah. Something like that.”
Caitlyn’s grip tightened around her glass. Her mind was racing, a thousand words clawing their way to the surface, but none of them seemed right.
Caitlyn quickly put on her act on, perking up very exaggeratedly, moving over to the newcomers. She saw Vi’s eyes widen as Caitlyn neared. Caitlyn looked at her like she was stalking her prey.
But only a few steps away, Caitlyn stopped and turned toward the blue-haired woman and the man. The woman looked like she had stopped breathing. Caitlyn put on her usual dazzling smile, “Hi, you must be Vi’s sister? I’m Caitlyn.”
The woman looked almost ready to explode. The man next to her brought his hand up to his mouth to cough a very fake cough.
The fake cough seemed to jolt her back to reality. The blue-haired woman sniffed, straightening slightly. “Uh. Yeah. Name’s Powder.”
Without missing a beat, she latched onto the man’s bicep, her nails digging in—hard enough that his face twitched in protest. Through gritted teeth, she added, “And this is Ekko.”
Caitlyn shook both their hands, her expression polite but observant. Powder, however, barely acknowledged it, her attention snapping back to Vi—who was still standing there, stiff and awkward.
“That’s Vi,” Powder said, her voice edged with something sharp. “But I see you two have met before.” Her glare was pointed, accusatory.
Vi, as if sensing the need for a quick escape, suddenly gestured toward the small bar in the corner. “Cool if I use that? Thanks,” she rushed out, not even waiting for a response before striding over and yanking a beer from the fridge.
Caitlyn glanced at Vi as she cracked open the beer.
Maybe she didn’t want to be here.
The thought hadn’t crossed Caitlyn’s mind before—that Vi might not want to interact with her any more than necessary. A brief pang of disappointment settled in her chest, but she pushed it aside.
Snapping back to the moment, Caitlyn turned toward the worn-out booth across the room and started walking. “Shall we sit down?” Her tone made it clear it wasn’t a question.
Faint footsteps followed behind her. As she sat, she caught sight of Vi tilting back the last of her beer before reaching for something stronger.
Caitlyn lifted her glass for another sip just as Mel, Jayce, and Ekko slid into the booth. Tilting her head back in anticipation of the familiar burn of alcohol, she was met with… nothing. Her drink was already empty.
She frowned down at the glass, disappointed. Next to her, Mel took notice. Caitlyn barely had time to register the glint in her friend’s eyes before Mel spoke.
“Vi? Be a dear and make another gin and tonic for our friend Caitlyn here.”
Caitlyn’s eyes widened in warning, though she wasn’t even sure what she was trying to stop. She shook her head slightly, but Mel deliberately avoided her gaze.
Behind the bar, Vi’s hands stilled mid-motion as she was preparing her drink. She didn’t turn around. “Yeah, sure,” she said after a pause, her voice cracking just slightly.
Caitlyn watched as Vi set her own beer aside, reluctantly reaching for the ingredients.
Powder, perched on the small chair by the bar, grinned. “Make me one too while you’re at it, sis.”
Caitlyn caught the moment Vi turned toward her sister, who raised her hands in mock surrender, clearly enjoying herself.
Vi handed her drink to Powder before grabbing another cup and pouring a generous amount of whiskey. The background chatter faded into a distant hum as she turned around, a fresh drink in hand.
Caitlyn couldn’t look away.
Vi walked toward the booth, slow and deliberate, her presence magnetic. Caitlyn barely breathed as Vi came to a stop in front of her—just a table between them, once again.
Then, Vi looked up, meeting Caitlyn’s gaze.
Caitlyn’s pulse stuttered. She should say something, do something—but all she could do was watch as Vi slowly extended the drink toward her. A beat passed before Caitlyn’s brain kicked into gear, and she quickly reached for the glass.
Their hands brushed.
A spark—no, something warmer, deeper—flared in Caitlyn’s chest. Vi didn’t let go. They just stood there, staring, the moment stretching impossibly thin between them.
“Why don’t you sit down, Vi?” Mel’s voice cut through the tension.
Vi blinked as if snapping out of a daze. She finally released the glass, and just like that, the contact was gone.
“In a minute,” Vi muttered, clearing her throat. She turned abruptly, striding back toward the bar, where Powder waited with an all-too-knowing smirk.
Caitlyn watched as Vi lifted her drink and took a long sip. The way her throat moved as she—
Caitlyn tore her gaze away, forcing herself to focus elsewhere. Ekko and Jayce were deep in conversation. Mel, on the other hand, was watching her. Closely.
Caitlyn took a sip of her new drink, humming quietly in approval. It was even better than the one she had made herself—despite being a simple cocktail.
Right. Vi. Bartender.
She licked her lips slowly, absently wiping away the lingering wetness from the drink. She could feel Vi’s gaze on her, but refused to give in and look back. Instead, she shifted a little closer to Mel.
“I don’t think she likes me that way,” Caitlyn murmured, her fingers absentmindedly tugging at a loose thread on her dress.
Silence.
She hesitated, then reluctantly looked up.
Mel was staring at her, unimpressed. “Are you blind?”
“What?” Caitlyn asked, her accent thickening slightly under the influence of her drinks.
Mel rolled her eyes, leaning in with a knowing smirk. “That woman hasn’t taken her eyes off you since you walked out on stage. She’s just as infatuated with you.” Her voice dropped to a conspiratorial lilt. “Go get her. Flirt. Fluster her a little. You’ll see, darling.”
Caitlyn rolled her eyes but met Mel’s gaze, finding silent support there.
She looked down for a brief moment, gathering herself, before finally allowing her eyes to land on Vi.
This time, she didn’t let panic cloud her thoughts. Instead, she searched—really searched—for any sign of interest. Her mind raced, weighing the risks, debating whether she should leave things as they were… or take action on something she wanted.
Something she wanted very much.
Vi was looking at her too.
Fuck it.
Caitlyn stood up.
Before she could take a step, Powder moved fast—too fast—slipping past her without so much as a glance. Not that it mattered. Caitlyn didn’t see anything but Vi.
Vi was glaring at her sister when Caitlyn stopped right in front of her, boldly invading her space.
Caitlyn shoved down the uncertainty rising in her chest. She was doing this—for Mel, maybe for herself too.
“Are you going to sulk over here all night?” she asked, trying to sound casual, teasing. “Or do I need to invite you properly?”
She searched Vi’s face for a reaction, any flicker of thought or feeling.
Vi’s lips twitched. “ Properly ?”
No disgust. No anger. No indifference.
Maybe Mel was right. Maybe she was interested.
Caitlyn tilted her head, too aware of the eyes on them—friends, family, all watching.
“Come sit with me.”
She reached for Vi’s arm, and to her surprise, Vi let her.
Caitlyn led her to a booth tucked away from the rest of the room, out of sight, out of reach.
Just the two of them.
Caitlyn was never much of a tease. She was direct, always serious. To everyone.
Except Vi.
There was something irresistible about teasing her. Maybe it was the way Vi—usually so intimidating—blushed and stumbled over her words like a schoolgirl. Caitlyn barely had to try. A playful comment here, a casual touch there, and Vi was gone.
She hated admitting when someone else was right, but Mel had nailed it.
Their friends had cleared out a while ago. Now it was just the two of them, standing at the bar again.
Caitlyn stepped closer, closing the already small distance between them.
Vi looked like she might spontaneously combust.
Caitlyn, for once, didn’t feel like showing mercy. Not when she was this close to doing something reckless.
“Uh... you want my number?” Vi asked, her voice rougher than usual—lower, almost hoarse. She cleared her throat.
God, she was nervous. It was obvious.
Caitlyn smiled, trying to ease her, but mostly just enjoying it. “I think you’ve got it memorized.”
The tease slipped out before she could stop it. She didn’t want to stop it. Especially not with the way Vi was looking right now—those arms, those shoulders, those lips.
Maybe it was the alcohol, maybe not. But Caitlyn couldn’t stop staring.
Her lips parted before she realized. She was barely holding herself back.
“I—what?” Vi asked, confused.
The question didn’t register.
Caitlyn was already reaching for her.
Caitlyn’s heart practically leapt out of her chest as she kissed Vi.
What if she pulls away? What if she doesn’t want to—
She shut her brain off. Just this once.
Instead, she pulled Vi closer.
And for the first time in years, her instincts were wrong—in the best possible way.
Because Vi was kissing her back.
Hard.
Caitlyn couldn’t focus on anything except the taste of whiskey on Vi’s lips, mixed with something sweet she couldn’t place. She was very inclined to keep kissing her until she figured it out.
When she finally pulled away, breathless, a smile took over her face before she could stop it.
“Guess I didn’t need your number after all.”
Vi’s lips were flushed, a little swollen, and Caitlyn couldn’t look away.
“No... guess not,” Vi murmured, voice rough. She cleared her throat. “You know, I thought about doing that ever since that night at Jericho’s?”
Caitlyn laughed, soft and knowing. “I had a feeling.”
Click.
They both froze.
Then stumbled apart so fast that Vi knocked both their glasses off the bar—
—and Caitlyn landed flat on her ass.
Everyone turned.
First to Vi—who looked like she'd been caught committing a crime, red-faced and stiff.
Then to Caitlyn—still on the floor, not faring much better, her cheeks nearly matching Vi’s.
The silence was deafening.
No one said a word. Not yet.
Vi finally moved, reaching down to help Caitlyn up—
“Don’t you dare touch a single piece of those glass shards, you dumbass !” Powder’s voice rang out, sharp and horrified.
Vi froze mid-motion like she’d been slapped by a force field.
Caitlyn blinked up at Powder, then looked at the tiny glass disaster zone around them.
“…Valid,” Caitlyn mumbled from the floor.
Vi muttered something under her breath that sounded suspiciously like “traitor.”
Powder crossed her arms and glared like a disappointed mother. “You're not bleeding again, are you?”
“Not yet,” Vi said.
“ Vi. ”
Vi raised both hands in surrender. “Okay, okay! No touching. Geez.”
Caitlyn was trying very hard not to laugh and not to fall in love a little more.
Too late for both.
“We could’ve gone to Jericho’s again, y’know.”
Caitlyn watched as Vi casually stole one of her fries and popped it into her mouth.
“Next time, then,” she said.
Vi looked up, chewing slowly, clearly thinking hard about something. Caitlyn was just about to ask when Vi spoke.
“It’s a date then.”
They stared at each other.
Caitlyn’s lips twitched. Vi pursed hers, like she was trying very hard not to smile.
Caitlyn couldn’t hold it in anymore.
“It is.”
They both grinned.
Caitlyn rolled her eyes and leaned forward. “Oh, just come here.”
She grabbed Vi by the face and kissed her—right there, in the middle of the diner.
Granted, it wasn’t very busy. But she wasn’t wearing a disguise and—
Flash.
They froze.
Both turned toward the window, locking eyes with a very stunned, very horrified fan holding up their phone.
Vi blinked. “Hi,” she said, and gave a stiff wave.
Caitlyn sighed and rubbed her temple as the fan bolted.
“We’re fucked, aren’t we?” Vi whispered.
“Precisely.”
A beat of silence.
“You shouldn’t have uploaded that ph—”
Caitlyn chucked a fry at her.
“You really think that’s what gave us away?”
Vi caught the fry with a grin. “...Maybe?”