Chapter Text
Starcraft, Ahri reflects, as she taps out a ‘GG’ and then quickly hammers F10 and N to get out of the lobby before she sees the reply, is a brutal mental experience.
She slumps in her chair, the urge to go and grab tea or a snack or any other excuse to get away from the monitor a near overwhelming force in her mind before she forces it down and opens the replay, better to do this fresh.
Her mistakes seem in hindsight to be totally obvious, a miss-play at the ramp with her micro forcing an overcommit from workers and resources that gave her opponent the edge and allow his obnoxious cheese to snowball him to a win. He doesn’t even macro out of it. Ahri sighs and clenches her wrist as the familiar pangs of discomfort manifest themselves. She shouldn’t make mistakes like that. She’s better than mistakes like that. She pushes her chair back and lays her head on the cool desk; the rank doesn’t matter, she’ll get top ten back easily, it’s the mistake, that little worm in the back of her mind that whispers insidiously.
“I’m not losing my touch!” She growls at thin air, as a quick glance at the clock tells her it’s past lunch time.
Maybe she should grab a cup of tea.
She grabs her phone and trudges to the kitchen, putting the kettle on and hopping up on the counter with her tail off to one side as she scrolls listlessly through a fan forum for her favourite k-pop group.
Ahri fell in love with SNSD the first time she saw one of their music videos, and she has enough self-awareness to admit to herself that this is mostly because she’s a gay little mess of a gumiho. But the fandom has kept her drawn in tightly ever since her first dive into the forums in her second year of highschool, before Evelynn had been plucked up to become an idol and Ahri had dived so deep into gaming that she’s fairly certain sonar would have a tough time finding her.
The kettle clicks off as it boils and she hesitates before deciding to pour some into the pot and make enough for her mother when she gets home, and, if she’s totally honest with herself, so that she can see if her favourite friend and pretty major crush has posted her latest dance cover.
The first time Ahri saw one of Kai’sa’s dance covers she was convinced she’d died and gone to heaven. The grace, the elegance, the utter beauty, it was enough to make her head spin, and Kai’sa’s reciprocated interest had almost caused her to faint the first time the dancer had popped up in her DMs; but she endured the minor heart attack and the two had become friends.
Ahri snaps out of her day-dream when she realises she’s been pouring hot water all over the table for five minutes and rushes to clean it up with some paper towels.
There’s no DM from Kai’sa yet sadly, nor has she posted a dance, so Ahri cleans up her mess, pours herself a nice cup of tea, sits down at the table, and taps into their message log to see how long she’ll have to wait.
“Oh that’s so concrete.” She mutters, a fond smile tugging at her lips regardless of minor irritation. “Thanks Kai-kai I know what time you mean now.” She takes a sip of her tea and savours the warmth blooming in her chest like sunrise before checking her phone and figuring she has enough time for one or two more games before she has to go to work, and after placing the tea-pot under a cozy that’s exactly what she does, walking back to her computer, fitting her earbuds back into her human ears, and queueing into ladder while 2NE1 blows her eardrums out.
Ten minutes and a brutalised Zerg player later, she’s back up to rank nine, her tea is at just the right temperature, and she really doesn’t have long to get ready for work.
After weighing it up and realising she barely has time to put on her uniform anymore, Ahri leaves a sticky note on the pot of tea for her parents, grabs her name-tag from the counter and rushes outside to meet the bus.
It’s when she’s on the bus that her phone finally pings with the text she’s been waiting for from Kai’sa.
Ahri blushes as she types out her reply.
What follows is an attached video, one that Ahri is careful to plug her headphones in for before she hits play and promptly drops her phone in shock.
There on her screen is a revealingly dressed Kai’sa, dancing enticingly to the ever-alluring Miniskirt, that shines up at Ahri as she desperately picks her phone up and hides the screen as close to her as she can while still being able to see the video.
Ahri goes more red than the traffic light her bus is stopped at and hurriedly checks how far away from work she is before she returns to her phone screen with a red face and a slightly goofy smile.
Ahri checks her calendar and swears softly.
Ahri doesn’t see Kai’sa’s reply because the bus finally hits her stop and she hops off, sprinting into the coffee shop and straight into the irritated gaze of her co-worker.
“You’re late Ahri!” Eunhye hisses at her, the other gumiho’s ears flat to her head in irritation.
“I’m sorry~” Ahri whines, ducking her head in apology as she scurries behind the counter sheepishly and gets settled in, “I just got a little... distracted by someone.”
“Ohhh who?” Eunhye asks, all irritation forgotten at the prospect of gossip.
Ahri blushes deeply.“Just this girl I met...”
“New girl! Where’d you meet her!” Eunhye is suddenly so close to her face that Ahri has to lean back slightly, her ears twitching in surprise as her tail stands on end.
“Uh, just online. It’s…” She trails off and watches Eunhye’s eagerly wagging tail brush the glass and the back counter as it waves. “It’s Kai’sa. You know about her.”
“Oh.” Eunhye flips her hand dismissively and turns away. “And I had such hope. That’s the one you’re too chicken to ask out isn’t it.”
“Actually she asked me!” Ahri snaps with irritation, before regretting it a second later when Eunhye whips around fast enough that Ahri worries she’ll have second-hand whiplash.
“She asked you?! FINALLY!” The other gumiho’s russet-furred tail is a blur as her ears point excitedly and she grabs Ahri in a tight hug.
“Yeah.” Ahri wears a goofy grin as she spins through their messages to show her friend the entire conversation, yanking the phone away before Eunhye can see the video and sending
Kai’sa a quick reply about where she could grab tickets for the concert.
“That’s so cuuuute~.” Eunhye squeals, hugging Ahri tight again and ruffling her ears. “Are you sure you want the first date to be a game at the GSL studio though?”
“The life I live.” Ahri shrugs, resigned. “If it doesn’t suit her then…”
“You don’t know which you’d choose do you?” Eunhye gives her ears another ruffle and a friendly hug. “I’m sure it won’t come to that, though even if it does I’m sure you’ll make the right choice.”
“Rather not think about that possibility.” Ahri mutters, off-handedly confirming her place in online qualifiers tonight via her phone. “Besides, you saw we’re thinking of going to that concert afterwards.”
“That’s true.” Eunhye’s head tilts and her fox ears twitch as she considers. “Might find it hard to get tickets though.”
“I’ll ask Evie.” Ahri shrugs as the doors open and the first of the late lunch hour customers enters.
She works her way automatically through her shift, mind elsewhere entirely as she mechanically makes coffee and rings up the register, all her thoughts on the online qualifiers this evening.
Once her shift is over she hops on the bus and texts Kai’sa all the way home, signing off with a flurry of kisses and a cute selfie for her girlfriend before she gives a token greeting to her parents and locks herself in her room for the next several hours.
By the time the qualifiers are starting, Ahri has demolished her way up to rank eight on ladder to warm her fingers up and loads into the lobby utterly certain of her victory. With a quick “GL HF gogo” tapped into lobby chat the admin starts the game and she starts going through the motions.
Ahri is just dropping her second CC into her natural when a mass of probes swarm her base and despite her valiant SCV micro efforts the stalkers that follow up on the rush seal the deal. She taps a “GG” and leaves the lobby in somewhat of a daze, belatedly registering the update scrolling through her client.
“[Shrine] knocked out of online qualifiers round one.” She reads off, then collapses back in her chair with a groan. This isn’t the end of the road, not by any means, but a long run in this first qualifying round would have put her in a far less precarious position.
Unwilling to focus on a loss to a cheese strat, Ahri pulls out her phone and shuts down her PC for the night, moving to her bed to text Kai’sa.
Ahri smiles at her phone screen despite her mood.
A second after she hits send Ahri’s phone rings with a video call and once she hits accept Kai’sa’s face shows up on her screen with a gentle smile.
“Hey baby.”
“Hi~” Ahri sing-songs with her tail hugged to her chest, giving a little wave through the fluff as Kai’sa’s expression goes incredibly soft.
“You know I-” Kai’sa cuts off and casts a brief look over her shoulder while she snaps off a quick snippet of Afrikaans before she turns back to her phone, “I’ll be landing in Seoul soon.”
“How soon?” Ahri asks, getting some of her own tail fur on her tongue and making silly noises as she attempts to spit it out without interrupting her girlfriend.
“Uhm.” Kai’sa giggles at the picture on her screen. “About twenty minutes?”
Ahri bolts upright like her tail is on fire.
“Kai-kai! Shall I come and pick you up from the airport?”
“You don’t have a car baby.” Kai’sa giggles, and Ahri pouts.
“I can borrow my parents’. Or ask Eunhye.”
“Well…” Kai’sa cocks her head on screen, considering. “I would like to see you, so long as it doesn’t inconvenience you at all?”
“It doesn’t!” Ahri chirps, tail wagging as she steps into her slippers, grabs her team jacket for warmth, and hurries downstairs. “Text me when you’re down okay? I’ll get there as fast as I can.”
“You’re so, so cute baby. Especially those ears.” Kai’sa coos, blowing a gentle kiss into her camera with a blush gracing her face. “I’ll see you soon.”
The call disconnects and Ahri pokes her head into the living room.
“Mum? May I borrow the car?”
“What for?” Her mother asks and Ahri stammers.
“Uhm, I need to drive somewhere?”
“We gathered that.” Her father’s baritone sounds and Ahri pouts.
“I just need to, please?”
“You know the rules Ahri.” Comes the response and the young gumiho resists the urge to mouth along with the next sentence. “After the park incident we need to know what you’d like the car for.”
“I wanna pick Kai’sa up from the airport.” She mumbles, feeling true fear the second her mother’s eyes light up with predatory intent.
“And who is Kai’sa?” She drawls, even as Ahri’s father rolls his eyes and his ears twitch in amusement.
“She’s… my girlfriend.” Ahri mumbles as quietly as she can, leaning heavily against the doorframe and knowing damn well that her parents heard her perfectly well.
“Tell us about her.” Comes the not-so-subtle order from her mothers lips and Ahri swallows heavily.
“She’s really pretty and she’s from South Africa and I will let you meet her if you just give me the car.”
“Hmmm.” Her mother’s nails drum amusedly on her father’s arm and Ahri watches them nervously, her eyes shifting colours as her weak shapeshifting magic betrays her nervousness.
“Please?” She begs.
“The keys are on the rack.” Her father rumbles, his smile mirroring his mate’s perfectly. “I’m sure meeting her will be a delight.”
“Please don’t be weird with her~.” Ahri begs as she grabs the keys and steps into the entryway to put her shoes on.
“Do you want the car or not?” Her mother asks and Ahri dashes out of the door before they can change their minds.
As she drives through Seoul and out towards the airport with Twice playing through the car speakers, Ahri hammers out quick excited texts to Eunhye at each traffic light, continuing the conversation in staccato bursts until she hits the motorway and resists the urge to drive like Evelynn, but that thought sparks something in her brain and she inputs her half-demon friend’s number one handed.
It takes a few rings, but Evelynn’s voice issues through the car’s hand’s free system.
“Ahri, darling, this is a pleasant surprise.”
“Hey Evie.” Ahri replies. “Can I ask you for a favour?”
“You’ve not called me for a month and now you want a favour.” Evelynn drawls playfully. “Are you driving darling?”
“I am.” Ahri says. “And I’m sorry for not calling, I’ve been distracted lately.”
“Think nothing of it Foxy, I’ve been following your matches whenever I have the time.”
“Including today?” Ahri grimaces as the words form in her mouth and she turns the car up a slip-road.
“It was an unfortunate circumstance darling.” Evelynn soothes, and Ahri can picture how she’s slouched in her chair, legs crossed as she indulgently extends the conversation. “Now, what’s this favour you desire?”
“Are you playing the concert this weekend?” Ahri asks, running a hand through her hair as she pulls into the airport car park and searches for a space.
“I am yes.” Evelynn says. “Why do you ask?”
“Can you get me two tickets? For old time’s sake?”
A dark chuckle caresses her ears and Ahri crosses her fingers.
“Foxy has a date hm?”
“It’s Kai’sa.” Ahri says by way of plea. “Please Eve?”
“Kai’sa?” Evelynn hums. “Fine, consider it done, you can introduce me to your crush after the concert.”
“Girlfriend actually.” Ahri corrects with a slight blush, not that Evelynn can see it.
“My, my, Foxy has been busy.” The half demon purrs. “I’ll see you both then.”
“Thank you Eve.” Ahri breathes, spotting a parking space several rows away.
“Mmmhmm.” Evelynn hums. “You’re welcome darling.”
As she hangs up and texts Kai’sa to tell her that she’s waiting for her, Ahri feels a touch of trepidation that she knows that was Evelynn’s planning voice.
Ahri’s phone rings thirty seconds later and Kai’sa’s face appears on the screen.
“We’re through customs!” She announces with a victorious smile.
“Want me to meet you anywhere?” Ahri asks, nerves bundling within her heart as her tail wags against the gumiho-designed car seat.
“Come and meet me at the entrance?”
“Okay!” Ahri chirps. “I’ll see you soon Kai-kai.”
“I’ll see you soon baby.” Kai’sa says warmly and Ahri’s heart melts before she hangs up and steps out of the car to head into the building.
Earbuds hanging loosely around her neck, Ahri steps into the entrance lounge of the airport and inhales the strong scent of Starbucks coffee. She follows her nose to the counter and gets into the thankfully short line, remembering that Kai’sa dislikes coffee and ordering tea for them both. She’s just paying when she spots a familiar face walk through the doors.
“Thanks.” She murmurs to the bored girl at the counter, making sure she has everything before walking over and trying to stay out of sight until the last second.
“Hey Kai-kai~” She murmurs in one ear, standing slightly on her tiptoes behind her girlfriend and then leaning back to avoid the whipping ponytail and whirling backpack.
“Ahri!” The other girl cries, wrapping her immediately in a warm embrace that the gumiho reciprocates as warmly as she can with tea in both hands.
“I brought you tea.” She whispers shyly as they part, handing over the cup and blushing as
Kai’sa takes a sip and sighs in satisfaction.
“I love you already.” She murmurs drowsily, eyes half lidded. As Ahri blushes red as a fire engine.
“Uhm, Kai-kai?” She squeaks and Kai’sa looks away as she realises what she said, embarrassed.
“Sorry.” She mumbles and Ahri hugs her again.
“It’s okay.” She says. “Don’t be.”
Kai’sa’s chin slots between her ears on top of her head and Ahri feels an overwhelming urge to give her a bond mark right there and then.
Instead she purrs loudly, pressing a light kiss into Kai’sa’s neck and then moving backwards to stand on her tip-toes and press one to her new girlfriend’s lips.
“You’re even prettier in person.” Kai’sa whispers and Ahri’s blush returns with a vengeance.
“I could say the same about you.” She says with rosy cheeks and Kai’sa giggles before she returns the kiss.
“Flatterer.” She whispers against Ahri’s lips and the gumiho feels her ears spring upright at the hypnotic accent.
“I could get used to those kisses.” Ahri says in reply and Kai’sa giggles again as Ahri’s ears strain for the sound and she remembers they’re in a busy airport.
“Let’s get going.” She says, taking Kai’sa’s hand and looping her tail around the other girl’s suitcase handle as she leads them out of the building.
“That’s a neat trick.” Kai’sa muses, eyeing Ahri’s tail dragging her suitcase.
“You should see what else it can do.” The gumiho purrs smoothly.
“I look forward to that.” Kai’sa purrs back, watching Ahri’s momentary confidence crumble into a blushing mess.
Once they’re in the car with Kai’sa’s minimal luggage safely in the boot, Ahri turns to her with a question.“Want to come home with me or go to your hotel?”
“Home with you is an option?” Kai’sa leans across the centre console and pecks Ahri’s cheek. “I didn’t know you’d gotten your own place in the last hour and a bit.”
“You’re mean.” Ahri grumbles with a ‘hmph’ as she folds her arms.
“I’m sorry.” Kai’sa giggles, poking Ahri’s cheek playfully. “I didn’t know you wanted to introduce me to your parents this soon?”
“I don’t,” Ahri grunts, “they were insufferable the second they learned why I needed the car.”
“Why not take me to my hotel then?” Kai’sa suggests with a warm smile that swiftly shifts to something a touch more sinister as her voice drops into a range that sends chills skittering up and down Ahri’s spine. “If we have a good time I see no reason not to open my room up to you for the duration of my stay, if you want to get out of the house.”
The gumiho puts the car in gear without another word.