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Don’t punch me
Ekko knows what’s up. It doesn’t take a genius to see it. He wasn’t so sure about the topsider before, but he’s seen enough now. He’s known Vi his whole life, so it was easy enough to notice the shift. Caitlyn Kiramman is a new – and quite unsolicited if you ask him – addition to the group, and at first he didn’t trust her, but now he knows there’s nothing to worry about.
She’s way too busy trying to pretend like she’s not into Vi to present any threat to the Firelights. And Vi is just the same.
Which is why he has to take actions.
Because they’re both dumb.
“We can’t do anything about it tonight, Vi.”
Ekko watches as his friend clenches her teeth and starts pacing in front of him, clearly agitated. Caitlyn is leaning against the wall, her eyes following Vi’s back and forth. Ekko has to bite the inside of his cheek when Vi looks up to Cait and Cait looks away instantly, shifting her position towards him instead.
“So what do you suggest, Ekko?” she asks, and she sounds so polite Ekko barks a laugh.
“We lay low for the night,” he answers, ignoring Vi’s glare as he stands up and walks out of the room, not waiting to see if they follow. He knows they will – but not before exchanging the sort of look that would make it obvious to a poro that they’re into each other. “Don’t worry,” he says over his shoulder, “we’ll find a room for you two to crash in.”
“But wait there’s only one…”
Caitlyn’s voice trails off as Ekko lets the door slam behind him, leaving her alone with Vi in the shabby room he’s lead them to. There’s a small window right behind what appears to be a giant purple neon light, giving the whole room a strange purple gleam. Caitlyn doubts it ever turns off, which means they’ll have to sleep in the light. The room is scarce, apart from a chair, a rug with suspicious brown stains, and one bed.
One bed, for the two of them.
Caitlyn can feel Vi’s eyes following her as she pretends to look around the room – maybe there’s another bed hidden somewhere, who knows – and it’s nerve-wracking. Not just that though. She’d be lying if she said she didn’t enjoy it at least a little. She doesn’t know what it is about her. She’s blunt and rude and quite mean towards topsiders when she wants to. She’d rather punch someone rather than ask for information politely first like a normal human being. She’s snarky, and she’s been making fun of Cait since they met, about anything and everything, and it’s annoying. She’s not that tall, for such a loud person.
She cares a lot. She’s funny, and kind, and generous. She has a good heart. A shy, rare grin that lights up the room. Gray eyes that have so much to tell, that makes Cait’s heart jump high in her chest whenever she meets them. Her hair looks very soft too. And she definitely has a beautiful face. Very nice lips – not that she stares at them or anything, she’s just noticed, and is quite curious about that little scar on her upper lip, alright?
Yeah, no idea what it is about her.
Glancing at her, Cait finds her still standing next to the closed door, hands in her vest’s pockets, looking at her with an openly amused expression that makes her want to either hide her blushing face or growl in annoyance. She settles for a frown, and Vi’s grin widens, making Cait’s heart stutter once again.
“No hidden bed then, cupcake?” Vi asks after a few more seconds, nodding around the room, and Cait glares at her.
She’s not sure what to do now. There’s only one bed, and it’s rather small. They’ll fit together on it no problem, but it’s still… something. She’s never been in that kind of situation before. Not that it would mean anything for them to sleep in the same bed. It doesn’t have to mean anything. They’re just reluctant partners trying to solve a case involving both of their very different worlds. Once that is done, they’ll each go back to their lives like nothing happened.
It shouldn’t make Caitlyn sad to think that, but somehow it does.
How can you care that much about someone you just met?
She’s in so much trouble. And she’s not even talking about the kingpin that’s after them. That’s just… routine work? Eh.
“Hope you brought spare pajamas,” Vi says, dragging her out of her thoughts. She’s sitting on the – only one – bed, ostensibly stretching, her shoes already off, her red jacket laid on the chair beside the bed. Cait will not admire her shoulders, or the very nice curve of her biceps, nope. “’cause I don’t have any.”
“Shut up,” she retorts, ignoring the implications behind what Vi just said, because her cheeks are already a little too hot to her liking.
“So sweet,” Vi sighs, and the amusement is obvious in her tone. She lies down on the bed, on the side closest to the wall. Cait pretends like she’s not looking as she slips under the covers, her mind racing but not finding any solution that doesn’t involve sleeping next to Vi. Why is this so scary? She fought off three deadly assassins today, this is nothing. “Come to bed, cupcake,” Vi says eventually, once she’s settled comfortably on her back, “we need to rest.”
Her tone is soft, and despite the nickname Cait’s asked her a few times to stop using, her words are gentle. When she meets her eyes, Cait sees only kindness in them, and it makes her heart pound in her chest. “Is that… okay?” she asks, and she sounds so unsure she instantly knows Vi will make fun of her for it.
But she’s wrong.
“I mean…” Vi shrugs, turning to lay on her side, eyes trained on Cait. A small grin lights up her face. “I don’t snore, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
This actually gets a grin out of Cait, who takes a hesitant step towards the bed. “I don’t either,” she tells her, taking another step, slipping out of her jacket too. “At least I don’t think I do.”
Vi lets out a low chuckle, and Cait thinks to herself she really shouldn’t feel so damn happy just because she made her laugh, but she does. She sets her jacket next to Vi’s, then carefully sits down on her side of the bed and starts working on taking her boots off, glad for the small respite of having her back to Vi for a minute.
“That’s okay,” Vi says behind her, and Cait can hear the grin in her voice, “if you snore I’ll just–”
“Don’t punch me,” Cait cuts her with a warning look.
This time Vi’s laugh is warm and sudden, and it makes Cait’s insides do funny things. “I won’t,” she promises, and Cait believes her.
Her shoes are off, and now there’s only one thing left to do. Forcing herself not to glance at Vi, Cait slips under the covers and lays on her back, careful not to touch the woman next to her. She doesn’t, there is enough room for both of them on that bed, but it doesn’t mean her heart isn’t pounding hard. Vi is only inches away, and she knows she’s watching her, but Cait is not ready to meet her eyes just yet. She simply doesn’t know what she’ll see in those gray eyes of hers, and it’s scary.
They keep quiet for a little while, and slowly but surely Cait feels herself relax and melt into the mattress. She’s sore and exhausted from their chase around both cities, and rest is definitely welcomed. She doesn’t dare to move, though. Vi is very still too, and silent. She doesn’t know how long they stay like that, but it’s long enough that she starts nodding off without realizing it.
Until…
“Mmh, smells so sweet too…”
And just like that she’s wide awake again, and she turns to look at her partner in shock. Her sudden movement startles Vi awake, and she opens wide eyes, a light blush covering her cheeks. Cait feels herself blush too, and her first instinct would be to hide her face in her pillow, but then again she cannot look away from Vi right now. “What?” she asks, her mouth a little dry, then bites her lip when Vi closes her eyes and makes a face.
“Fuck, did I just–?”
“Say that out loud?” Cait finishes for her, turning to face her. “Yeah.”
“Sorry.” Vi lets out a nervous laugh with that and rubs her face with her hands, and Cait can’t quite keep the smile off of her own face. She can’t believe this. Confident, smartass Vi sounds nervous and flustered and wow, Cait’s heart is pounding again.
She chuckles too, and grins when Vi meets her eyes again. “Well, thanks, I guess?”
Vi rolls her eyes, but the blush is still coloring her cheeks. It makes Cait want to reach out and cup her cheek, but she doesn’t. “You’re welcome,” Vi mumbles, avoiding her eyes a little, and Cait bites her lip again to try and hide her amusement.
Somehow seeing Vi not acting as tough as she usually does makes Cait feel a little less nervous, a little more hopeful. Maybe this is not a good idea, but she doesn’t exactly think the words before they’re even out of her mouth so it doesn’t matter. “You smell nice too.”
Vi snorts, and now it’s Cait’s turn to feel herself blushing, but she holds her gaze without flinching, wondering when they got closer to each other. Definitely not a conscious move on her part, but she can’t say she doesn’t like it. “Not really good at flirting, huh cupcake?”
“Shut up,” Cait mumbles, and Vi smiles triumphantly at that, “you started it.”
Somehow this wipes the smile off her face, and Vi stares at her in disbelief. “Wait, so you are flirting?” she asks, and the surprise is so obvious in her voice and on her face that Cait lets out a chuckle.
“Well, aren’t you?”
Vi is too surprised to figure out how to respond to that. Cait is staring at her, her eyes so blue they’re almost overwhelming in the unnatural purple neon light, and she has no idea what to say. The possibility of Cait flirting with her is scary, and exciting, and wow her heart is pounding. But this is a terrible idea, isn’t it? She’s an topsider, how can Vi fall for someone like her? She’s everything that’s wrong with Vi’s world, except, well, she’s not at all.
She’s a councilor’s daughter, and yet she’s the most generous, compassionate person Vi’s ever met. She is kind and dedicated and smart and strong and hot. Fuck, she’s hot. Vi’s noticed the second she first met her, and everything she’s noticed about her ever since hasn’t been helping her get rid of her stupid crush at all. She’s been trying not to dwell on all that because they’re too different anyway. Oil and water. She’s from Piltover and Vi is from Zaun, they’re nothing alike, they could not possibly work. This is too risky.
Too risky.
She should tell her that. She should, but she doesn’t.
Because she’s almost entirely sure Cait is moving closer now. She is looking a lot more confident, since Vi accidentally let out how good she smells. Fuck that was so stupid. She was falling asleep, and it slipped out of her mouth before she even realized she was thinking it.
It is true though. Cait smells delicious. Yet another reason to call her Cupcake.
They’re facing each other, both laying on their side, and Vi’s heart is pounding. Cait moves her hand, and Vi almost jumps when her little finger brushes hers. She knows she doesn’t imagine Cait’s eyes glancing down at her lips. They’re inches apart, and Vi cannot help herself, she glances down too, and knows Cait notices it. There’s nowhere to hide anymore now. No way to pretend like this is not something she’s been thinking about.
bad idea bad idea bad idea
“We should get some sleep.”
Her voice is hoarse, and she hates herself instantly for the look of disappointment on Caitlyn’s face. She opens her mouth to apologize, explain, anything, but then Cait is nodding, plastering a very fake smile on her face. “You’re right. Goodnight, Vi.”
And she turns her back to her, in a movement that feels as final and as painful as if she’d punched Vi in the stomach. Then again, it’s her own damn fault, isn’t it? Vi, ruining everything once again. Her fists are clenched so tightly they hurt, and she’s not imagining the prickling behind her eyes.
She’s an idiot.
She wants to apologize, but she’s not sure how to do that. Cait is very still, very quiet, and Vi can’t take her eyes off of her. The inviting curve of her neck, the stillness of her shoulders, the empty space between them, everything calls for an apology. Vi is surprised by how much she wants to fix this. How intolerable it feels to know that Cait is unhappy because of something Vi said.
She has to fix this.
She doesn’t think much. She leans forward, and drops a quick kiss just below her ear, ignoring the pounding of her heart. “G’night, Cait,” she whispers, and it’s like her heart is about to explode in her chest.
Cait, not Cupcake.
Vi knows she’s noticed. She notices everything. She’s too smart for her own good, that one. She moves back to her side of the bed, eyes turned up to the ceiling, wondering what the hell she’s even doing. Cait doesn’t move, doesn’t say a thing, and eventually Vi starts to relax again, and lets sleep and exhaustion whisk her away.
When she wakes up, everything is soft around her, and she’s wonderfully warm. Not used to feeling like this, she blinks a few times, a little lost, and tries to sit. Finding that she can’t, a soundless terror fills her veins and she starts struggling against what’s holding her down… until she hears a muffled ‘ouch’ and realizes the arms around her are Caitlin’s.
Cait lets go of her and Vi turns to face her, heart pounding, cheeks ablaze. They look at each other for a second, Cait rubbing her left cheek, and Vi feels utterly terrible for hurting her. “I’m sorry I–”
“I’m fine,” Cait cuts her, putting a reassuring hand on her arm, and goosebumps raise on Vi’s skin. “I’m sorry, I didn’t even realize that I was– that we were–”
“Cuddling?” she supplies with a nervous laugh, and Cait nods shyly too. “Not exactly used to that,” Vi admits, and Cait laughs a little, not taking back her hand off her arm yet. Vi finds that she likes that very much, that and the fact that they’re still huddled in the middle of the bed – which leads her to think that it wasn’t one of them who initiated the ‘cuddling’ but rather the both of them gravitating toward each other in their sleep. It’s a comforting thought – an exciting one, too.
“Yeah I figured,” Cait says with a smirk, and Vi’s heart skips a beat. She frowns, showcasing a fake annoyance that makes Caitlyn laugh again, and then Cait’s hand slides down her arm and she wraps her hand in hers, and Vi can’t think anymore. “Sorry again, I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
“’S fine,” Vi pretends to shrug, her mouth a little dry, then laces her fingers with Cait’s. She’s so close, so very close right now, closer than she’s ever been before. Her eyes are a little puffy from sleep and there’s a pillow mark on her right cheek, which Vi finds unbearably cute if she’s honest with herself. She thinks she’s never wanted to kiss anyone as much as she wants to kiss Cait right now. Glancing at her lips and seeing her do the same, she figures her partner might feel the same way, and it’s quite a nice feeling. “It felt very nice–”
“Up until you punched me, yeah it did.”
The amusement in her blue eyes is obvious, and teasing, and Vi hmpfs grumpily, but before she can retort anything Cait’s lips are pressed against her lips, and her mind goes absolutely blank. The kiss only lasts a second, and then Cait leans back, her eyes searching, unsure, and Vi slowly blinks in surprise.
“Is that okay?” Cait asks, biting her lip, and Vi’s heart feels like it’s about to explode with something.
Instead of replying, Vi just leans forward and kisses Cait soundly on the lips, muffling her little surprised noise. She grins against her soft lips, and Cait does too, and then they’re kissing again, more fully, more intently, and it’s the best feeling in the world. It’s sweet and chaste at first, and then Vi lets go of Cait’s hand and wraps her arm around her waist to keep her close, and things get more heated. Cait cups her cheek, teases her lower lip with her tongue, and Vi lets out a moan against her lips. Tongues meet in a firework of sensations, shivers running up and down her spine, and for a moment Caitlyn is the only thing that exists in Vi’s mind.
They part for air after a while, and Vi feels Cait shiver against her as she leans her forehead against hers. She grins, her heart beating hard and fast in her chest, and Cait grins too, running her fingers over her cheek softly. “I’ll take that as a yes, then,” Cait tells her, and she sounds a little breathless, a little flustered. It makes Vi’s heart do funny things once again.
“Yep,” she nods, because she has no idea how to answer to that, and anyway that was a definite yes from her part, so there. Cait bites her lip, amusement obvious in her eyes, and when she opens her mouth, Vi knows she’s probably about to tease her, so she doesn’t give her the chance to. She kisses her again, and Cait chuckles against her lips, before kissing her back without hesitation. “I think I find a great way to shut you up, cupcake,” she whispers against her lips then, and laughs when Cait groans in annoyance.
And then she pushes Vi on her back to kiss her more fully, and Vi’s mind goes blank once again. And when Cait parts from her to whisper that it works for her, too, all she can do is chuckle and drag her lips back to hers.
And think to herself that she can definitely live with that.