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Vi was much more accustomed to love than hate. Just like she was much more accustomed to the food of the undercity than the hoity-toity dishes of uptown Piltover.
Nevertheless, she was currently experiencing both of them right now in front of her.
Caitlyn and she were in some fancy restaurant chewing on what Vi assumed was some kind of small bird. The afternoon light was filtering through the window, making Caitlyn’s eyes shimmer that bright crystal blue that Vi had always loved…
…And that’s when it had hit her.
See, Vi loved people like she had been starved of it her entire life… And when one was deprived of something for so long. One stopped at nothing to lock that something down when they had it.
Perhaps that’s why she said it.
“...Wanna get married?”
Caitlyn, rather appropriately, chokes on her food.
Her upper-class manners have her instinctively reaching for a napkin before her second cough, but even so, she attracts the ire of the guests around her.
They glare at their table for a moment or two, enough for Vi to notice.
Vi glares right back.
They turn their heads quite quickly after she does.
Circling back to Caitlyn, who is still sputtering ever so slightly, she tilts her head. “So what do you think?”
Caitlyn blinks at her, clearing her throat. “Are you being serious right now?”
“Of course,” Vi replied quickly, wanting to get the statement out before she got too self-conscious about it all. She had a tendency to get defensive. Especially when it came to her feelings. When Caitlyn had pointed it out to her she had proceeded to get defensive about her feelings.
Even still, Vi was trying and she wanted Caitlyn to know that.
Caitlyn ruminated on the question for a moment, taking a sip of her glass of water. “You know, I was always told by my parents that when the time came for my betrothal, the man of my dreams would get down on one knee and provide me with the most gorgeous ring in all of the land.”
Vi frowned.
The silence passing between the two of them now was not quite awkward- but even still the tension in the air was palpable.
Finally, Caitlyn’s eyes crinkled upwards in amusement. “I always hated that thought.”
Vi raised her eyebrows. “So is that a yes, Cupcake?”
“It’s a yes.”
Vi grinned.
Even if it had been a spur of the moment thing… She couldn’t help but feel a swell of vibrant emotions in her chest.
Marriage was a sham, but so was literally everything else in this world. Vi did not care about a piece of paper… But there really was something exciting about having someone to call her wife. It really did have a better ring to it than ‘girlfriend.’
Ring…
Ring!
“Hold on! I have a ring for you. The finest in all of the undercity.” Vi said, an idea popping into her head.
Fishing through her pockets, Vi pulled out an old brass knuckle she kept on her in case a particularly bad fight broke out.
“For you, my bride.”
Jayce is the first person that they tell. Partially because he seemed like the easiest ear to lend… And also because he’d overheard them talking about it.
His reaction is… Lacklustre.
“...You two were dating?”
Vi and Caitlyn exchange a glance.
The pair had never once hidden their relationship from him. They’d often pass by him holding hands. Hell, Vi even remembered kissing Caitlyn in front of him a while back.
...Had he seriously not noticed?
Usually, Vi would be one to respond to such idiocy with a snarky comeback- or even something a little nastier than that… But Jayce was, quite, unfortunately, someone close to Caitlyn… So she had to be somewhat nice to him. Ugh.
“Did you not see them violently making out in the alleyway a week back?” Viktor, Jayce’s weird boney lab partner, asked from his chair, cocking his head to the side.
In comparison, Vi did not actually mind Viktor. He was weird… But he was from the undercity just like her. This meant the two of them got to give each other the eye any time someone in front of them, (namely Jayce,) said something shitty.
It was good to have a connection like that. Even if it was fleeting.
They had to stick together up here.
“I thought you were just really close friends,” Jayce admitted, still looking far too surprised for Vi’s liking.
“What did you want us to do Jayce? Have sex in front of you?” Caitlyn exclaimed as she crossed her arms.
Vi grimaced.
“No, I- uh.” He scratched his neck. “Sorry?”
“You will have to forgive him. He is not good at picking up romantic cues.” Viktor replied once more, giving Jayce a once over that lasted just a little too long.
Oh.
“Okay, Cupcake,” Vi said, clamouring down the stairs of the campus laboratory. “Who do you want to tell next?”
Caitlyn frowned. “Well… It is probably best that we tell our parents.”
Vi scoffed. “Good thing you’re marrying an orphan. Already half done.”
“Vi…” Caitlyn gave her the look. The one that said, ‘you are using bluntness as a coping mechanism for your trauma.’
Vi was decidedly not a fan of the look.
“I’m kidding. C’mon.” Vi wrapped her arm around Caitlyn’s shoulders. The closeness felt natural at this point… And Caitlyn always smelled so good. “I know this was a heat of the moment thing… But we both agreed that there are still people we need to tell. Basically, we have a choice. We either have to tell my sister next- the same sister that has tried to kill both of us, namely you, multiple times,” Vi spoke, “-or your non-homicidal, but admittedly quite classist parents.”
Caitlyn frowned, remaining silent for long enough that Vi was unsure if she had even heard her.
“Cupcake?”
“...Hold on. I’m still thinking about it.”
They tell Powder next, but mostly because she breaks into their apartment the night before they’re due to visit Cailtlyn’s parents.
Powder does not often come topside, when she does it is almost always at night. Her eyes do not adjust well to the sun, especially when she spends most of her time in that cave of a room of hers.
Things had gotten better between her and Caitlyn… But they still weren’t fantastic. Vi had never once in her life been a mediator, but between her sister and her girlfriend- fiancé (holy shit,) she had to make things work as best as she could.
“Powder, what are you doing here?” Vi yawned, it was almost definitely past midnight right now. She didn’t mind having her sister visit. In fact, she had mandated it after Powder had insisted on living alone… But still, this really was too much.
“You guys have the squeezy cheese I like. I want squeezy cheese.” Powder replied honestly. “Unless she ate it all?”
‘She’ definitely meant Caitlyn. Whom of which Powder never referred to by name.
Vi had told her to stay in the bedroom in case Powder was particularly bad this evening.
Luckily, it seemed she really was just here for squeezy cheese.
“It’s still in there, but look, you really need to start knocking, Powder.” Vi replied. “I could have accidentally hurt you.”
Powder scoffed, skulking over to the fridge. “You should be glad I didn’t break through your windows.”
Vi sighed.
It really was hard sometimes. To see just what time and life had done to her little sister while she was gone.
Even still, it would do neither of them any good to reminisce on the past. They just had to do better in the future.
Vi had to extend an olive branch. She had to give Powder reasons to trust her again.
She had to tell her. Even if it ended badly.
If she didn’t… It would just be another betrayal.
“Hey… Listen, Powder.”
Vi did not neglect to notice that Powder’s shoulders seized every time Vi said her old name.
Even still… She didn’t stop her as she had before.
In a way, that felt like a step in the right direction in itself.
“Caitlyn and I… We’re getting married.”
Vi can see Powder’s back tense. She still has the canister of cheese in her hands but she does not move.
Easy… Easy… Remain calm… No sudden movements...
“It’s not going to be anything big but… I really want my sister there... You’re all I’ve got, Pow-pow.” Vi said honestly, longing to grab her hand.
Powder turned to her then, her expression was less manic than before.
She seemed serious- but not angry. That was good.
“You… You want me there?”
Vi nodded. “You’re my sister. Of course, I do.”
“We both do.” Caitlyn emerged from their bedroom, cautious and careful.
Vi could tell she had a gun placed within an arm’s reach somewhere just in case. Vi could not blame her.
Powder’s brow furrowed then. Her expression igniting into something more troubling. “Bullshit.”
Fuck…
“P-” Powder glared daggers at Caitlyn. She swallowed. “ Jinx . I know you do not like me…” I do not like you either. “But Vi is someone important to both of us and she loves you very much.” She took a step forward. Powder took a step back. “It would be an… honour if you made us some of your beautiful fireworks for the day.”
Powder’s eyes glimmered at the prospect.
Jackpot.
Vi gave Caitlyn a subtle thumbs up.
“Hah.” Powder huffed, “I am not doing all that for you.” She stuck her tongue out at Caitlyn. “But if it’s for Vi too then maybe I will!” She shot another string of cheese into her mouth.
Brushing past the two of them, she backed up across the open window she entered from. “Smell ya later.”
Without another sound, Powder jumped backwards onto the street below.
When Vi goes to see where she landed, she’s nowhere in sight.
They don’t even get to tell Caitlyn’s parents.
Her mother opens the door to their sheepish faces and says, “you two are engaged, aren’t you?”
Vi audibly gulps.
Caitlyn, however, just smirks. “Yes.”
Jayce was not one for gossip- but he also did not know when to shut the fuck up. Vi’s best bet was that he’d let it slip at some point last week.
“You know, it is customary to ask the parents for their daughter's hand in marriage before proposing.”
“Is it not also customary for me to be a man?” Vi tilted her head.
“Fair enough. Come inside.”
All in all, the announcement process really was just as chaotic and quick as Vi’s original proposal had been. Most of it had been a spur of the moment whirlwind of speaking and feeling… But nevertheless, it did not once ever seem wrong.
Much like Vi and Caitlyn’s relationship itself, really.
Marriage had never even really been a prospect for Vi before she’d met Caitlyn. She had honestly thought that she would be dead before twenty…
Things now… They weren’t perfect… But the way ahead felt brighter than ever before.
Perhaps things really would be alright.
“Did you make sure to tell Jinx to set the fireworks off outside?”
“...Shit.”