Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Of course, mother, I remember. Dinner at 8. I’ll be there on time,” Caitlyn sighed as she hung up on her mum and entered a cosy looking little cafe. The place smelt delicious as well.

Caitlyn had a meeting coming up, and a little treat so early in the morning wouldn’t hurt. She unclasped a few buttons of her coat and looked over the menu on the board.

The girl at the counter grumpily took orders from people as they filled in the line. Yet another blue-haired barista. At least the coffee should taste nice. Caitlyn waited for her turn to order, starting to mindlessly scroll through her emails.

The meeting she had – with Mr Silco – was one she wasn’t looking forward to at all. Her mother sent her to meet all sorts of people over the years, and she was already familiar with the Undercity’s famous entrepreneur, but she would much rather communicate with him via emails. Each of their face-to-face meetings ended up soaking all of her energy for the day, as if Silco was actually a vampire. Fitting for a businessman.

“What can I get for you?” a raspy voice startled her. Caitlyn pushed the phone into a pocket of her jeans.

“Excuse me?” she stared back at the light blue eyes. The girl looked about her age, probably only a little younger. She was also undeniably pretty, with a slight tilt of blush to her cheeks and subtle freckles scattered over her face. Her blue hair barely reached her shoulders and swayed from side to side as she impatiently jumped on her feet.

“Will you be ordering or did you just come in to stare?” The girl hissed at her and Caitlyn frowned, unused to such harsh treatment. She didn’t come to the Lanes often, yet this part of the city wasn’t any different than anywhere else in Piltover and manners definitely exceeded the walls of the North part of the town where she came from.

“A… a tall latte, please,” was all she ended up saying. The barista typed at the computer and then turned to face her again.

“And your name?” She harshly croaked out, making Caitlyn come back to her senses and start getting irritated. She wanted to ask for the girl’s name instead, then call the manager on her for her rudeness, yet as she glanced at the barista’s badge her blood went cold.

Powder

Caitlyn flinched and stared at the girl as if she had seen her for the first time again. The corners of her plump lips were pulled down as she repeated the question. “Your name?” Caitlyn gulped and tried to collect herself.

“Caitlyn,” she whispered, then coughed and repeated. “Caitlyn, Caitlyn… Kiramman,” she added her surname as a last thought. The girl didn’t seem to be impressed in the slightest.

“Whatever,” the barista rolled her eyes as she wrote down her name on a paper cup and turned back. “Vi, get one tall latte, will ya?”

Caitlyn’s eyes travelled to another worker, who was a broad-shouldered woman with a pink mullet. She wore a rather revealing top and Caitlyn curiously looked at the design of her tattoos. Vi sent Caitlyn a reassuring smile and went back to the coffee machine.

“Anything else?” The raspy voice brought her back to reality.

“Uh, sorry?”

Powder sighed and rolled her eyes again. “Do you want anything else to add to your order, miss?”

Caitlyn shook her head. “No, uhm… No, thank you, that’ll be all.” Powder silently watched her pay.

Caitlyn would never leave a tip for such a horrible experience, yet this once she paid 100% of the order’s price (not like it was that much, either). The girl didn’t even flinch as she gave her the check.

“You can wait for your coffee there,” she waved her hand and Caitlyn nodded, walking away from the counter and patiently standing by the checkout point. Her thoughts were racing as she tried not to look at the blue-haired barista. Was it really her?

Caitlyn mindlessly tugged at the wristband of her watch.

“A tall late for Caitlyn!” the woman waved at Vi and then took the cup in her shaking hands.

“Careful, it’s hot!” the girl warned her, yet Caitlyn barely felt the heat with her numb fingers. “Not as hot as you, though,” she quickly added.

Caitlyn didn’t find the joke original or funny, so she only smiled politely in reply.

“Are you low on sugar?” Vi asked her before she could move. Caitlyn flinched as she started to expect another half-baked pickup-line to arrive. “You look pale. We have lots of cupcakes here, I can get you one for free as a ‘thank you’ for not snitching on my rude sister. The manager’s already on her neck, for… you know, lotta reasons.”

“Your sister?”

“Yeah, the blue-haired one at the counter.” They both took a glance at Powder, watching as she talked to customers and took more orders. “She’s graduating, there’s a lot of stress, yada yada.”

Caitlyn wanted to ask what degree the girl was getting, yet before she could, Powder yelled at Vi across the coffee shop.

“So, a cupcake for a Cupcake?” Vi stretched her muscular eyes above her head and smiled at Caitlyn. The woman only shook her head.

“Another time,” Caitlyn replied, making her way out of the shop. As she lingered at the door, she took a peak at Powder again. The girl was also watching her, eyes narrowed in a murderous glare. Caitlyn shivered under the gaze and stepped out of the building and onto the busy street in the Lanes.

She took a sip of her coffee, savouring its taste. The bold letters on the cup said “CUPCAKES.CO” and her name was written underneath in printed handwriting.

KAYTLIN

Caitlyn snorted at the sight of her name getting horribly misspelled. Her fingers mindlessly traced over the letters and she smiled at the familiarity of the printed handwriting. The mark underneath her wristband gave her a subtle twitch. Caitlyn pushed those thoughts out of her head as she got into her car and drove away.

*8 years ago*

“2 minutes!” Jayce squealed in excitement as he stared at his watch and counted down to Caitlyn’s 18th birthday. They were sitting in Jayce’s car, just outside of Kiramman’s residence. Caitlyn climbed out of her window, unnoticed by her parents, as they had already gone to sleep hours ago.

“Are you excited?”

The scientists, no matter how advanced the human technologies got, still couldn’t answer the question of why soulmate marks appear. What was the logic behind it if there was any at all?

For ages religions treated them as sacred bonds created by the universe itself. Being with anyone other than your soulmate was often seen as a bad omen. Yet as humans built skyscrapers that grazed the sky and furthered their connection to space, they had started trailing away from old religious texts.

The soulmate marks started appearing on people’s wrists, connecting them with strangers from the other side of the world. People started asking new questions: was the soulmate bond solely romantic? Could it be a purely platonic connection? If they never met their soulmate, could they never find love?

An independent research was funded, yet the results had been heavily criticised. The scientists put 10 people in a house, randomly pairing them amongst each other. The subjects were prohibited from revealing their true identity, and had to use fake names as well. The experiment was broadcasted, and as a result, randomly put together couples fell in love, while the only soulmate-bond of the show had quarreled and broken up in the first half of the show.

When Jayce watched it with Caitlyn they angrily huffed and turned it off. “It’s all fake anyway,” was what he said, patting teenage Caitlyn’s head. But it was easy for him to say.

Jayce? Jayce was one of the lucky ones. His soulmate turned out to be none other than Mel Medarda, a CEO of a wealthy international company. When they met, the woman not only started funding his project, but also agreed to give him her heart. So Jayce, being as fortunate as he was, believed in the beauty of finding your soulmate with all his big heart.

A fresh wave of snowflakes hit the front window of Jayce’s car. The winter was just beginning, and it was the first time it snowed. Caitlyn hoped it was a good sign. She held her left wrist with another hand to keep it from shaking. Just in a few minutes, white letters will appear on it. Letters of the name of her soulmate. Caitlyn was so nervous that she wanted to puke.

The girl spent years thinking about it, watching cheesy movies with Jayce and reading countless romance books in solitude. And the moment–

“ONE MINUTE, SPROUT! ONE MINUTE!” Jayce couldn’t contain his excitement either. He had always bragged on and on about Mel, how sweet she was, how good she was for him.

Sometimes, he called her up when he got drunk and his wife went on a trip, telling Caitlyn about how much he missed her. Caitlyn thought it was sweet, but also a bit concerning for a man his age to call a teenager in the middle of a night to vent. Since he was her parents’ protegee from her young age, she treated him as an older brother that she never had. Yet, the fact that arguably the hottest slack of man in the city didn’t have friends his age was worrisome nevertheless.

“OH MY GOD, CAITLYN, 20 SECONDS! CLOSE YOUR EYES!”

Caitlyn squeezed her eyes shut and slowly breathed in and out.

“TEN! FIVE!” Caitlyn felt her pulse get stuck in her throat. “LOOK!”

The girl opened her eyes in a flash. Jayce tried to take a peak, too, yet the writing was still so fresh and pale that he couldn’t tell what it was.

She furrowed her eyebrows as she stared, confusion rising in the pit of her stomach.

“Say the name! Say the name, sprout!” He cheered and clapped his hands, but Caitlyn was struck.

“I… uh…” She never heard of the name like that. Was it foreign? If yes, then how would she find them? If no… that would be even more terrifying, somehow.

Jayce clutched her wrist with his big palm and squinted his eyes.

“Who the hell names their child Powder? Some junkie? Does your fate mean you’re going to be addicted to coke?” Caitlyn reacted before she could think. She slapped Jayce’s face and angrily rushed out of his car.

Traitorous tears formed in her eyes and she slapped them away as well.

“Wait, Caitlyn! I was just making a joke!”

But Caitlyn knew, right then and there, that this joke would follow her everywhere if anyone got their sights on her soulmate mark.

Suddenly, everything started to feel too real.

She was ready for the day, she prayed for it to come sooner. Yet as white ink spread over her wrist, Caitlyn’s only reaction was to wash it away. She heard it was common for people to feel like that. Marked by a total stranger. Soul and body sold to someone they had never even met.

Caitlyn hoped hers would be a pretty girl’s name. She hoped it would be the name of someone from her school, someone she already recognized. If not, she hoped it was a name that felt nice to whisper out loud, a mark so beautiful she’d wear it proudly on her sleeve.

How could she let anyone see “Powder”?

She rushed home through the main entrance, her unhappy mother already greeting her there.

“Happy birthday, Caitlyn. And here I thought we prohibited you from running away with Jayce late at night,” the woman sighed in defeat. “Did you get your mark?” Her eyes softened as she watched Caitlyn try to hide her tears. “What does it say, darling?”

Caitlyn lifted up her wrist for her mother to read. The woman didn’t comment on it, only bringing Caitlyn closer into a hug.

“What do I do now, mum?” Caitlyn mumbled into the soft material of her mother’s robe.

“First, you wipe those tears away and remember that your fate is only yours, Caitlyn. Your reaction is perfectly suitable, I have also had… quite a heartbreak over getting my own mark,” she pressed a kiss into Caitlyn’s hair. “Your father was different. He got so excited that he dropped all his studies and made it across the continent to meet me. Tobias is a good man, but it didn’t impress me in the slightest when he showed up at my porch, barely of age to drive a car. Many young people make the same mistake as him, putting all the effort into trying to find their soulmate, they rush into it, never giving themselves a chance to develop as a person yet. You’re still young, and you shall live life to its fullest potential…”

“Mum… it’s the name… I’ve never heard of such a name. What if I never find them?” Caitlyn let herself cry into her mother’s shoulder. “What if everyone… misinterprets? Jayce had already called me a drug addict now. What about our reputation, my reputation?”

Cassandra tousled her hair and deepened their hug.

“That young gentleman often speaks before he thinks. And if you’re worried about the press, you can leave it to me and your father to handle.” Cassandra moved away, breaking the hug. “I’ve… also been thinking of your birthday for quite some time. I realised that a situation might arise that would require a need of… let’s call it a fashionable make-over,” she took a small box out of the pocket of her robe. “So here’s a present for you, Caitlyn. Happy birthday.”

Caitlyn pressed a kiss on her mother’s cheek before opening the box. Inside was a beautiful golden watch with a midnight blue leather wristband. She hastily put it on, noticing as it fully covered the tattoo on her skin. “Thank you, mum.”

“Go sleep, Caitlyn. We’ll talk in the morning.”

She reluctantly went to her room and fell into her bed. Caitlyn cried, unsure of what she really cried about. The moment she had waited for all her life had finally come, yet her chest felt heavy. She glanced at her wrist again and took the watch off.

Her eyes traced the mark as her lips just slightly stretched in a smile.

POWDER

The mark on one’s body wasn’t just the name of their soulmate. It was handwritten by them, as if they had the ability to paint on the body beneath the skin.

And whoever that “Powder” person was, a part of them was stuck on her skin, as well as hers was glued to them.

She put her watch back on and tucked herself into bed. Who was Powder? What were they like? Did they get theirs yet? Did they already try to search for her? Would they ever approach her? Would they even care?

Mind racing with thoughts, the young Kiramman could barely catch a few minutes of sleep on the night of her 18th birthday.

*back to the present*

“Are you in a rush, Ms Kiramman?” Caitlyn frowned as she met Silco’s gaze. “You keep glancing at your watch, am I keeping you up from… all the many duties you have?”

“Of course, no,” Caitlyn willed her hands to lay still.

“You, young people, always have places to be,” he hummed under his breath, pouring himself a cup of tea. Caitlyn’s takeout paper cup stood on the table near her papers. “How did you like your coffee, Ms Kiramman? A good friend of mine runs this place. They import the beans right from Ionia, isn’t your father from there?” he added to their small talk.

“I could spot the familiar taste,” Caitlyn raised a cup to her lips and took a sip. It already went cold, yet she savoured every bit of it.

“Speaking of import, shall we go back to the question of trading?” Caitlyn nodded, overlooking the papers sprawled between them.

They had ended up drawing a fairly promising deal, although the occasional drifts-off from the main topic had sucked out all of Caitlyn’s energy.

“Always a pleasure working with you, Ms Kiramman,” they shook hands and Caitlyn gathered her papers. She took the cup into her hands and brought it with herself to the car, although it was empty by the time she finished.

On her way back to the main office, she passed the coffee shop once again. Against all her instincts, Caitlyn made herself drive past it.

***

“Right on time!” her father gripped Caitlyn’s shoulders in a greeting. Her mother was already sitting down at the table they booked, irritatedly pointing to her watch.

“Five minutes late isn’t right on time, Tobias,” she sighed, before letting Caitlyn press a kiss to her cheek.

“Sorry, I got caught up in the traffic,” Caitlyn slid into her chair and sighed. She had spent her day listening to countless complaints, fixing up problems on all ends, and her headache was already building. If her mother added any more to it, she might just as well break.

“That’s okay, dear! We ordered your favourite, but you can take a look at the menu just in case,” her father reached out over the table and took her hand in support. The girl smiled at him in thanks. She only touched the menu to allow her eyes to rest anywhere but her mother’s disappointed eyes.

“How did your meeting with the ChemTank Company go?” Cassandra made an attempt to talk and Caitlyn willed herself to speak, noticing as her nerves seeped away as she talked. She told her parents of their latest deal, filling them in on some of the latest achievements as well. Her father happily hummed.

A waiter brought their drinks and food. Caitlyn got startled by the sight of blue dye in her brown hair. She murmured her thanks and picked at her food, appetite lost.

“Is everything to your liking, darling?” She nodded and went back to eating. The dilemma in her heart was eating her alive. The barista she saw that day was clearly her soulmate. Why was she so rude?

Caitlyn pushed those thoughts aside, suddenly remembering the occasion of their meeting. She searched for a present inside her bag, quickly taking it out.

“Oh?” Her mother stared at the box.

“For your anniversary,” Caitlyn explained, opening the box’s cover. Inside was a small glass ball with the miniature of Kiramman’s manor inside. “You said that when you first met, dad drove right to your porch in a blizzard.”

Tobias jumped out of his seat and hugged Caitlyn lovingly. Her mother gave her a curt nod in appreciation.

“That is quite thoughtful, Caitlyn. Thank you.”

They ate in silence, followed by occasional stories told by her dad over how his travels from Ionia to Piltover. Ever since Caitlyn’s 18th birthday, the topic of soulmates had become a taboo to discuss.

To the public Caitlyn had revealed that the matters of her mark are personal and that she wouldn’t elaborate on who that person was. She had also supported a few initiatives that drifted from the old texts’ ideas of soulmates as a sacred bond, writing a small research paper of her own.

In private, it was just too depressing to talk about.

The only time she tried to find this person was a few weeks after her birthday, googling Powder on her laptop. After scrolling through a dozen make-up brand’s ads and finding a few creepy drug stores on the darknet, she had completely given up.

As years went by, Caitlyn wondered: why wouldn’t her soulmate search for her instead? Being a small celebrity of a town, she was definitely the top search for “Caitlyn Kiramman”. Was her soulmate even born yet? The thought creeped her out and she had decided to never think about it again.

Yet every time she brought a new girl to her house, the soulmate mark burned underneath her skin. Every time she moaned a name that wasn’t “Powder” her throat itched.

Jayce told her it was the case of psychosomatics. She agreed. Yet it didn’t help her build any lasting relationships with anyone she met.

Now, at the sweet age of 26, Caitlyn Kiramman was a soulmate-less enigma, drawing in prey and leaving them after spending a few nights together. Could she even do it again after meeting her soulmate? After seeing her blue eyes in real life? After seeing the plump lips and her funky hair? Caitlyn didn’t know. She sent an “It’s over” text to Madie Nolen, her latest situationship, just to be safe.

“Did you already choose your dress for the Progress Day afterparty, Caitlyn?” The girl got brought back from her thoughts. She shook her head.

“It’s next month, mother.”

“Precisely why you must already have a dress, dear,” she scolded her and sighed. “You know it’s an important date for our company and for your good friend Mr Talis.”

“I do know that,” Caitlyn chewed her lip.

“And any candidates for your plus one?” Her dad lit up at the question, curiously eyeing Caitlyn as well.

“Keep that one open for now,” the girl tugged on the leather band of her watch. If her parents noticed, they said nothing.

Finally back in her apartment, Caitlyn changed into her comfortable clothes and plopped onto a couch. She mindlessly opened up Instagram, searching up “CUPCAKES.CO” coffee shop.

The account was filled with aesthetic pictures of the store as well as occasional pics of the staff. Caitlyn’s breath hitched when she found one of the blue-haired barista. The girl was smiling softly as she stood behind the counter.

Caitlyn screenshotted the post, then tossed the phone away.

She turned the TV on, and surfed through channels.

“Fated in stars: helping couples of all ages find their soulmate” – skip.

“7 questions for 7 strangers: will the soulmates be able to guess their way into each other’s heart?” – skip.

“Soulmate paradise: 20 people survive on the island alone. Will love be enough?” – skip.

Caitlyn turned the TV off and groaned. She snatched her phone back. She scrolled through the comments on the post with the blue-haired barista.

@vander1974: Couldn’t be prouder of my daughter for helping our family business.
@ekkoman: must be a paycheck day if powder’s smiling
@viviolence: my pookie had her first battle with a coffee machine today
@ilomylo: how much did it cost to make her smile
@ccclaggor: dad we must know how much did you pay for the pic

Caitlyn’s breath hitched in her throat.

@dontjinxit: @ilomylo fuck off
@dontjinxit: @ccclaggor you too

She pressed on the username and disappointedly sighed as, of course, it was a private account. The profile picture was a graffiti wall and the profile itself revealed literally nothing. She tapped on more usernames only to come to familiar results. All but one.

Vi had hers opened. Most of the photos were of herself in a gym or in front of a mirror, yet as she scrolled further down she spotted a few with her sister as well.

@viviolence: Couldn’t be prouder of how far this little turt had come.

The picture was taken in front of a place Caitlyn knew well. Piltover Science Academy. Both sisters stood in front of the gates, with the little Powder grinning at the camera. Caitlyn’s heart drummed in her chest. The skinny girl in the picture looked so different from the one she met at the coffee shop. What had Caitlyn done to deserve such rudeness? Shouldn’t Powder also be interested in her? Could she be mistaken?

Caitlyn took off her watch and picked up the coffee cup from the table. She put them side to side, eyes tracing the printed handwriting. No, that was definitely her. The only question that remained was why was she so cold?

***

“One tall latte, please,” Caitlyn smiled at the barista as the girl gritted her teeth. The woman had spent all night tossing in her bed and thinking of her soulmate in the Lanes. So when she rose to her feet as the morning sun only hit her window, the only sensible decision was to use the time to travel to the Undercity.

She spent some time in front of a mirror, choosing the outfit that wouldn’t scream “I’ve spent so much effort thinking of what to wear” and settled on a comfortable pair of light blue jeans and a white button-up shirt. Could never go wrong with the classics.

“And your name?”

Caitlyn came prepared. She flashed Powder her trademark Kiramman smile and leaned over the counter.

“Caitlyn,” she passed a small business card over the table. “Make sure to spell it right this time,” the woman added, noticing how the other girl frowned as she stared at the card. It was a bold move. But the card itself held little personal information, except for her work phone number.

Powder picked the card and read it silently. Her small eyebrows were furrowed as she did, and something inside Caitlyn warmed at the sight.

“Alright,” she said and moved on to her task. The cafe was a lot emptier at the hour, with only a few other customers sitting around. There was no sight of any other baristas, either.

Caitlyn wanted to make conversation, but the loud buzz of the coffee machine cut her off. She chewed on the insides of her cheeks as she watched the blue-haired girl.

She was wearing the coffee shop’s uniform, a bright pink apron tied tightly to her slim torso. As if noticing Caitlyn’s staring, she turned around, meeting Caitlyn’s gaze. Blue eyes met blue, yet the world kept moving.

Powder turned back to her task, coming back seconds later with a cup of coffee. Caitlyn smiled at the heart art on the foam. Before she could enjoy the sight of it, the barista expertly slid a lid over the cup. The woman stared at her long fingers, enchanted by the sight of her bright manicure.

“That’d be all?” Powder watched her, unimpressed. Caitlyn straightened her back.

“And a… cupcake please?” She unsurely glanced at the glass case with dozens of flavors hiding behind it.

“Which one?” Powder raised an eyebrow, yet the question also seemed like a test. Caitlyn struggled to answer.

“Any recommendations?” The barista only sighed in reply and walked away. She came back with a cupcake already wrapped up into a small bag. Caitlyn stared at it in question.

“That’s our classic, Can’t go wrong with them,” Powder explained, and let Caitlyn pay for the service. The woman left quite a generous tip as well this time, and bid her goodbyes. When she turned around to glance at the barista once again, she saw the other girl pick her business card. Caitlyn smiled.

But Powder irritatedly tossed it into a trashcan, making the woman’s smile freeze on her face.

“What’s wrong with that girl?” She thought to herself, as she flopped into her car seat and drove away to her office.

Chapter Text

“One matcha latte–...”

“No,” Powder shook her head.

“Uh, you don’t have it in stock?”

“No,” she sighed. “It’s… shi– not great here. Don’t order it,” the barista looked her straight in the eyes, averting her gaze the second Caitlyn stared back at her.

“What would you recommend then?”

It was 7 am on a Friday, and Caitlyn made another detour to the Lanes with the sole purpose of catching up with her soulmate. The girl had been unimpressed when she saw her at the door, yet she didn’t say anything outright rude either. That was some progress.

“Did you like the latte?” Jinx asked, flipping over a cup and scrabbling her name on it. Caitlyn nodded in reply. “Just take it and go,” she hissed, placing the empty cup on the surface.

“You know what? I’ll try the matcha latte anyway. With coconut milk, please,” the woman grumpily replied, annoyed by the attitude of the barista. The blue-haired girl only sighed and got to work.

“Hopefully it’s bad enough for you to leave a mean review on Google Maps,” she said, as she slid the lid over the cup.

“The only bad thing about this place is the attitude of a certain worker,” Caitlyn smiled as she took the cup into her hands. She let it rest there as she made eye contact with the barista again. Was it really her soulmate?

The girl had a bit of mascara under her eyes, highlighting the brightness of her blue eyes. Her hair was neatly tied up, making her cheekbones even more prominent. She wore a simple black long sleeve shirt underneath her pink apron. She looked… cute. If not for the cold stare and the grim frown on her face.

Caitlyn lifted the cup to her lips, taking a small sip. It really wasn’t good.

“It’s good,” she lied while her taste buds groaned in agony.

“Mhm,” the girl nodded as she watched Caitlyn take another sip. “Anything else to add to your order, Miss?”

Caitlyn shook her head. As fantastic as the cupcake she ate there last time was, she was already dreading burning down all the calories from it during her next tennis match with Mel.

Powder let her pay in silence. Caitlyn pressed her card to the terminal and left a generous tip once again. The girl didn’t comment on it as always.

The cafe was rather empty at the hour, with only one lonely visitor glued to the seat as he typed angrily on his keyboard. Caitlyn glanced at his white dreads as he tossed his head from side to side and shook his head to the sound of the music in his headphones.

Caitlyn had spent days thinking of what she’d say to the girl, yet when the perfect opportunity arrived, she was suddenly lost.

“The music… is nice,” she commented, taking another dreadful sip of matcha latte. It tasted like piss, yet she gulped and smiled again. “Is it your playlist?”

“No,” the barista curtly replied. Caitlyn didn’t know what else to say. She looked at the girl’s left sleeve, watching as it raised above her skin as she started taking care of some of her chores. Yet it never raised far enough to reveal her mark. Caitlyn sighed in defeat.

“Guess I’ll be going,” she announced. Powder nodded. “Have a good day, Powder,” she added and turned around. When she lingered at the doors, she glanced at the girl through the reflection in the glass and was ready to slap her own face in defeat. The barista was busy going through her phone, clearly completely disinterested in her.

Caitlyn wanted to throw the cup to the trash as soon as she left, yet she traced over the handwritten name under the coffee shop’s label and decided against it. She carried the cup all day, taking bitter sips of matcha and sighing.

***

“As glad as I am to see you, Cait, you realize that you could have sent the delivery service? No need to cross the town to pass me those documents,” Jayce laughed as he looked at the papers on the table. But that wasn’t a laughing matter. Caitlyn sighed as she massaged her temples, a headache already building.

“I found Powder,” she finally croaked out, watching the self-pronounced big brother of hers look at her, completely confused. Caitlyn raised her left hand. The man gasped loudly and jumped on his seat as he stared at her.

“OH MY GOD,” she winced as his loud voice echoed from the walls. He gripped the arms of his chair and scooted closer to the desk. “TELL ME EVERYTHING!”

Caitlyn groaned. If only she had anything to tell.

“I… I met her when I was visiting Silco, the ChemTank CEO. I wanted to get a coffee and… a girl was rude to me. I wanted to talk to her manager…–”

“Oh, Caitlyn, this is–” she hissed at him, making the man shut up. Caitlyn continued her story.

“I glanced at her badge and it said Powder. She wrote my name on the coffee cup and it’s her exact handwriting, so I’m sure it’s her. And she should know me. I said my name. And surname too. I just… I don’t get why she’s so mean.”

“Is she pretty?”

“Jayce, what? This is what you care about?”

“So she’s ugly?”

“What?! No, she’s… she’s interesting.”

“Huh, that’s one way to describe an ugly girl.”

“Did anyone ever tell you how much of a jerk you are?”

“Mhm, Mel does all the time,” he took a sip of his tea and rested his chin on his palm. “So you met your soulmate and she hates you? Maybe she heard all the hot gossip about your countless girlfriends…”

“Add slut-shaming to your CV,” Caitlyn rocked in her chair as she stared at the wall in front of her. It exposed many awards her narcissistic friend had gotten in his years as the head of Hextech Industries. Jayce deserved them, surely, but the man was obsessed with putting each and every one on the wall. He even switched to the bigger office once they didn’t fit in his previous one.

“So she’s a barista, huh?”

“She’s a student.”

“And a student, too? Gosh, Caitlyn, even if she’s your soulmate, that’s so off your type.”

“I don’t have a type,” she corrected, raising a finger up. He rolled his eyes.

“Yeah, sure, tell it to all the upper-society chicks you left in tears. Oh, and she’s also from the Undercity, right? Fate is one funny thing, huh.”

“I don’t even know why I came to you for advice, this was clearly a huge miscalculation on my part,” Caitlyn took off from her chair, Jayce following shortly after. He giggled like a child and escorted her out of his office. They walked the halls of Hextech Industries in silence.

“Since you’re already here, do you want to say hi to Viktor? He misses you,” the man led them to the elevator, clicking the button and patiently waiting for it to arrive.

“Is he alright?” Apart from Caitlyn, Viktor was the only friend the infamous Jayce Talis had. He had suffered from a life-long physical condition, yet he overworked himself daily and frequently ended up in hospitals.

“Yep, he’s doing much better now, actually. Got a couple students from the Academy to help him out on a new project. I really can’t wait to present it to the public. It’s a big one,” Jayce glossed over their achievements as they entered the elevator, hitting a button to the lowest floor. “I think we’ll just spoil it to you now, but you have to promise to act surprised in front of the crowd on the Progress Day.” Caitlyn laughed and nodded. Her mood slightly improved.

They stepped onto the cold floors of the laboratory. The clean white halls reminded Caitlyn of a morgue. Jayce made her pull on a white coat and handed her a pair of shoe covers.

“Is it really necessary? Aren’t you all engineers here? Why so sanitized?”

“You know Viktor. He likes to keep it clean,” Jayce shrugged and she followed after him. A few scientists greeted him warmly, and the man exchanged a couple of jokes with them before leading her to the room where Viktor worked.

A few silicone arm prototypes laid on the tables, with a bunch of lamps highlighting them with cold light. Caitlyn smiled at Viktor as they greeted each other.

“It’s been a while,” he murmured softly as he stood up and patted her shoulder.

“Had too many business trips lately,” Caitlyn explained, remembering how she had missed out on a bunch of friendly gatherings. “Also didn’t want to fifth wheel,” she glanced at Jayce, who simply shrugged. “So, Jayce tells me you have a big invention to reveal to the public this Progress Day? I assume it has something to do with…,” she pointed to the arm, and Viktor nodded.

“We were able to create a rather delicate device,” he walked towards the table, using his cane for support. Caitlyn took it as an invite to follow. “A student of mine had chosen to work on it as the final project, creating an artificial arm for her disabled aunt. The design she showed me was… breathtaking. I’d never guess that Hextech technologies would be able to be used for such a purpose.”

“And!” Jayce clapped his hands, bringing attention to himself. “We also decided to open a new branch of our company! Focus on the medical devices. Spread the progress for all!” he proudly smiled and tapped Viktor’s shoulder. The other man softly smiled in reply, although his eyebrow twitched in irritation. Caitlyn caressed the prototype with her fingers, noticing how similar to the human skin it looked.

“It is–” she didn’t finish her thought, the sound of the office’s door opening interrupting her.

“I got the updates!” The familiar voice rang in her ears, and the woman froze, body unmoving as she tried to gather herself.

“Thank you,” Viktor nodded and stepped away from them. He walked towards the girl. “This is my student, Powder,” he introduced them, but Caitlyn's speech ability hadn’t returned. Jayce wasn’t doing much better. He gasped and watched the girl in shock. Caitlyn loved winning against him in poker, but she really wished he could hide his emotions better.

She glanced at the girl. Powder was wearing goggles over her blue hair, clad in a similar white coat, with funky converse sneakers showing under her shoe covers. Caitlyn chewed on her bottom lip.

“And Powder, meet my dear friend Caitlyn,” he pointed at the woman who tried to give the girl a friendly wave with her hand. They were both motionless as they stared at each other. “And Mr. Talis, the–”

“The CEO of the company,” Jayce interrupted his friend, throwing an arm to greet the girl. She shook his hand, albeit looking like she’d rather not. “So good to see bright minds joining our forces!” He smiled, but Powder didn’t return it. His smile slowly dissipated. “Ahem, so… Powder, would you tell us more about that project? It’s very inspiring, I am truly honored to have such–”

“It’s a myoelectric arm prosthesis. The Hextech technology allows for your mind to send electrical impulses towards it. To put it simply,” the girl gulped as she took a step towards the arm and took it into her hands. “With that technology anyone could use a prosthesis, no matter how much of their muscle mass was injured.” She gently scratched the arm with her neon pink fingers.

“That’s incredible,” Caitlyn whispered, truly mesmerized. The girl ducked her head and put the prosthesis down. She looked really uncomfortable, and Caitlyn didn’t understand why.

“Couldn’t say it better!” Jayce clapped and everyone turned to watch him in silence. The big smile was stretched on his face and he looked over them, expecting a similar reaction. His clapping died down when he didn’t get one. “Ahem, so, me and Caitlyn are such busy people. She’s actually been recently appointed as a CEO in her family company, the Ki–”

“We should go,” Caitlyn took his arm and bid goodbyes to Viktor and Powder. Jayce pouted.

“Why does everyone like to interrupt me so much?”

“Maybe they wouldn’t if you spoke less,” she hissed, dragging them out of the room.

They took a few steps down the hall before he spoke again.

“Well, she’s pretty. And smart. Maybe Fate wasn’t so mean to you, after all,” he giggled like a child as he took off the coat and waited by the elevator. Caitlyn followed him with a sigh.

“She hates me.”

“That she certainly does,” he concluded as they stepped into the lift. “Project wooing the mean girl starts now!” Jayce rubbed his hands and smirked.

“There’ll be no wooing, Jayce. I only want to know why she dislikes me so much. That’s all.”

“Mhm, can’t you just ask her that?” She smacked his hand when he tried to reach out for her. The man grumpily nodded. “Women are so hard.”

“No, you’re just a big brained idiot, Jayce.”

“Ouch,” he stepped out of the elevator and held a palm over his heart. “You really wounded me,” the man winced and she walked past him.

***

“What a pleasure to see you in person so shortly after our last meeting, Ms Kiramman,” Silco met her at the doors of his office.

“The pleasure’s all mine,” she smiled back at him and settled into a chair.

“And here I thought that you don’t favour coming to our part of town,” he joked and took out a few documents from the pile. “You’ve proved me wrong.” Caitlyn politely nodded.

They only had to talk over a few couple of questions, and if Caitlyn was being honest, she wouldn’t have made the trip just for it. Yet her guilt was eating at her for going to the Lanes without a reason so often, and she needed to satiate her worries.

The meeting ended up unnecessarily dragging on for an hour, Silco trailing off the main topic often and Caitlyn allowing him to, as her manners advised. When they were finally done, she happily walked out of the ChemTank headquarters and drove to the CUPCAKES.CO cafe.

“You’re becoming one of our regulars,” Vi met her at the counter, smiling at her coyly. “Could just put you under the glass with all the cupcakes and attract more visitors with such a delicious dessert.”

“One espresso, please,” she ignored the comment, eyes scanning the area around them. A frown appeared on her face against her better judgement, when she didn’t spot the sight of familiar blue.

The pink-haired barista got to work, humming to the rhythm of the music that played at the coffee shop.

“Right at ya,” she gave Caitlyn the cup. The handwriting on it said “Cupcake” and Caitlyn rolled her eyes at the sight.

“You really have to stop calling me that.”

“Mhm, but you’re so–”

“Vander’s asking for you,” the crispy voice interrupted her, and Caitlyn’s heart fluttered at the sound. She turned and softly waved at the blue-haired barista, as the girl gritted her teeth in reply. Vi excused herself and disappeared through the staff door.

Powder reluctantly walked over to the counter.

She was wearing a sleeveless shirt and Caitlyn’s eyes roamed over her small frame, lingering on a blue clouds tattoo on her arm.

“You want to pay?” The barista asked her as she settled at the counter, resting her elbows on the surface.

“Actually,” Caitlyn willed herself to stop looking at the girl’s arms. Powder seemed as unimpressed with her as usual. “I’d like to add to my order.”

“What can I get for you?” The barista waited for her, impatiently tapping her fingers on the table.

“One tall matcha latte with coconut milk, please.”

“It’s been taken off the menu,” the girl curtly replied, a deep frown forming on her face. Caitlyn shook her head.

“No, it’s not,” she pointed at the menu above Powder’s head. The barista sighed.

“Whatever, suit yourself,” she turned to prepare her matcha. Caitlyn didn’t mind, getting to enjoy the view of the tattoo on the girl’s back.

Clouds travelled to the back of her arm right, subtle muscles flexing underneath the skin as the girl poured her a cup of hot liquid. She put the cup in front of Caitlyn, eyes narrowed and clearly annoyed.

Caitlyn tried to take a peek at her left wrist, yet Powder somehow managed to hide it from her view. She sighed.

A song by Seraphine started playing in the cafe, and Caitlyn turned her head to the speakers.

“I love her music,” she admitted, sliding a lid over her matcha. She couldn’t help herself from tilting her head slightly to the beat.

“I know,” Powder replied, surprising both of them at the admission. The girl blushed, turning away. Caitlyn watched her, mouth agape in question.

Before she could ask her about anything, Vi showed up from the staff room, lazily stretching her arms above her head. Powder took the opportunity and escaped, leaving a shocked Caitlyn behind.

“Someone’s thirsty,” Vi said, settling in behind the counter. “You wanna pay?” Caitlyn nodded, pressing her card to the terminal.

“I hate that song,” the barista flicked her fingers over the keyboard, cutting the music short and putting on something else. Caitlyn only nodded, and stared at two cups she had ordered. “You need help carrying them to your car?” Vi grinned at her, flexing the muscles on her arms.

Caitlyn noticed a soulmate mark on her wrist, but couldn’t see it clearly from the angle.

As if reading her thoughts, Vi exposed her skin further, giving Caitlyn a better view. Sarah Fortune.

“Got really unlucky with that one,” the pink-haired barista admitted, putting her hand away. “Not looking for anything serious, open-relationship kind of shit,” she confessed and sighed. Caitlyn sympathetically smiled. Well, at least that Sarah Fortune was kind enough to settle the boundaries instead of just… doing whatever Powder was doing.

She waited for Powder to return, eyes glued to the staff room, yet after a few minutes she decided to give up on it and go back home, carrying the cups in her hands. Caitlyn put them on the roof of her car before settling them neatly inside the cup holder. She sipped on the espresso as she drove back, savouring its sweet taste and already dreading drinking the other one.

Later that night she sat on her couch, sipping one cold and terrible matcha latte and smiling at how terrible it actually was. The TV softly played in the background, broadcasting an annoying “Soulmate games” episode.

She scrolled through her social media, rolling her eyes at all the drug addict memes Jayce sent her after they met Powder in the Hextech laboratory. “Drugs and alcohol isn’t an answer – unless what you’re asking is what I’m doing this weekend.”

She sent a few middle finger emojis back at him and settled more comfortably on her couch. Mel texted her to confirm if their tennis match was still on and she quickly replied with a “Yes”. After seeing Jayce this week, Caitlyn desperately needed to talk to the real adult, or she’d age down a few years.

She surfed through her apps again. Her fingers lingered over her search results, and she ended up reluctantly opening CUPCAKES.CO Instagram account.

There were no updates from the last time she viewed it, so Caitlyn scrolled down to the one picture of Powder. She reread the comments under it and then clicked on the girl’s username. Last time, Caitlyn didn’t pay much attention to her profile picture, but she got curious now, flicking her finger over it and staring at the graffiti on the wall.

It was a small blue monkey, and Caitlyn wondered if the girl drew it herself or just stole the picture from the Internet. She didn’t know Powder that well, but she guessed it was the former.

As Caitlyn was about to close the app for good, her finger accidentally tapped on the big “Follow” button. She yelped, throwing her phone away. She stared at the TV in front of her. The image on the screen didn’t make any sense, either.

Caitlyn took a deep breath and tried to calm down.

“You’re 26, Caitlyn, no need to get so upset about a follow request to the person you already know,” she talked to herself, trying to bring back some of the famous Kiramman confidence. She took her phone back and stared at the “Requested” button in silence.

“Fuck me,” she groaned and smacked the phone against her face.

***

“Miss Kiramman, your 1 pm will be arriving soon,” her secretary warmly said into the intercom. Caitlyn thanked her and prepared her notes, closing the countless tabs she had opened on Google.

As a dutiful heir of the Kiramman clan, she spent her precious work hours trying to pick a dress to wear to the Progress Day celebration, just as her mother requested. She didn’t have time to have anything tailored, and she didn’t like anything the websites offered, either, which was a big problem already. Caitlyn tossed these thoughts aside, concentrating on the task at hand.

Her secretary opened the door to her office, letting her guest enter. Caitlyn raised from her seat for a handshake.

“Pleasure to meet you, Miss Crownguard,” Caitlyn greeted the girl, and they went on discussing the trade with Demacia.

The meeting went on smoothly, interrupted only by the loud notification Caitlyn got on her phone.

She cringed and whispered “Sorry,” as she quickly put the phone on the do not disturb mode. Her eyes flicked over the notification from Instagram, yet she was unable to read what it was. She nervously glanced at her phone every few seconds, praying to whatever gods that Lux Crownguard didn’t notice her lack of attention.

After she escorted the woman out of the office, Caitlyn rushed to her desk. She squeezed her eyes shut, preparing herself.

“Okay,” she whispered, unblocking her phone and looking at the notifications.

@jaycetalis.official Sent you a reel by @cats_do_drvgs
@jaycetalis.official HAHAHA THAT’S SO YOU

She groaned and hit her head on the desk.

Chapter Text

“Out!” Mel screamed from the other side of the court.

Caitlyn sighed and swiped the sweat away from her forehead. Another double fault. As if she already wasn’t having a shitty week.

She could feel the other woman stare at her in concern. Caitlyn raised her racket, taking a deep breath in. The ball flew into the air and she hit it with all her might.

“Out! Second serve,” the silky voice echoed across the private court. Caitlyn frowned. She could do much better than this. Collecting herself, the woman raised her racket again.

Caitlyn winced as she watched the green ball hit the net.

“I say that’s enough humiliation for now, Caitlyn,” Mel waved at her to come rest. The girl sighed and trailed to the bench. She lifted a bottle of water to her lips, taking a small sip. “What’s on your mind, dearest?”

Caitlyn sighed as she stretched her muscles. She was tired way before she got on court. “Haven’t Jayce already filled you in?”

“He did,” she nodded. “Told me that your soulmate is, quote, a bratty blue haired girl from the Undercity. I assume it’s not the whole story.”

The girl snorted. “Well, it actually sums up everything quite well… I feel… like a total dunce when it comes to her, Mel.”

“Mhm, Caitlyn Kiramman not knowing how to talk to a woman? That’s new.”

“She’s just so different from anyone I know.”

“You make it sound romantic.”

“It’s not. It’s really not,” Caitlyn groaned and gripped her racket – a gift from her mother. It was black with a few golden lines embroidering the carbon. On the butt cup was their company’s logo. The girl stared at it grimly. “I don’t even feel attracted to her.”

“I know a lie when I hear one, but I’ll let it slide for now.” her friend huffed and shook her head. Mel’s black dress waved slightly as she said it. “As far as I understand, there’s a miscommunication problem that arose in your new-found relationship. Haven’t you always advocated talking it out with your partner? Could be just a big misunderstanding from both your sides. Shouldn’t you make your intentions clear by simply voicing it out?”

“You… you are right, but you make it sound so easy,” Caitlyn groaned, shaking her head and letting out an exhausted sigh. “When I come into that coffee shop, I hear the buzz of the coffee maker and my brain shuts down completely.”

“Caitlyn Kiramman, you’re the last person I’ve expected to come to me for advice on how to ask a girl out. Shouldn’t you have enough experience in it?”

“I came to play tennis,” she grumbled as she hit the racket slightly against her forehead.

“Then I propose a light bet to raise the cons of the game. What do you say: if I win, you have to ask the girl on a date,” Caitlyn winced at the idea and shook her head. “A friendly date, only to clear up your little misunderstanding,” she added, but it didn’t make it any better. Caitlyn took a few big gulps of her water before she spoke again.

“That’s not something to bet on, Mel, we’re not in a high school love drama. Jayce’s childishness is rubbing off on you.”

“Say, if you win… Hm, didn’t you tell me how much you’d want to get the contacts of that Freijlord Oil company? I conveniently happen to have obtained them and wouldn’t mind sharing with you,” Mel raised from the bench and swung her racket. “If you win, that is.” She smiled deviously. “So what do you say, Caitlyn?”

“You’re already leading four games to one, the gap is imposs-...”

“Caitlyn?” She asked again, her pretty lips straining in a soft smile. The girl grudgingly got up and went to her side of the court. “So you agree?”

“Bring it on,” Caitlyn hit the strings against the back of her shoes and waited for her friend to serve.

Time dragged by, and Caitlyn had managed to solidly play in the last couple of games. The current score was 6:1 3:3, and it was Caitlyn’s serve. She took a deep breath as she bounced the ball on the hard court.

Mel was swinging from side to side on her long legs. Caitlyn’s eyebrows furrowed in concentration and sent the ball flying.

An hour later, completely exhausted and mortified, Caitlyn shook the blue dress off her body as she changed in the locker room and prepared to take a brisk shower. She stared at the notification on her phone, an email with a contact address attached to it.

“You’ve fought well,” the letter said.

Caitlyn groaned and shook her head. Mel didn’t have to do this after she completely crushed her.

6:1 6:4

If Mel thought this was a good fight, she must’ve played the match against someone else. Yet the girl appreciated the sentiment. She really needed those contacts.

Mel greeted her at the exit to her private court, clad in a grey pantsuit. She warmly smiled and gently nudged Caitlyn with her shoulder as the girl passed her.

“You aren’t obliged to follow through with the bet, Caitlyn. I just wanted to cheer you on for the game, and you delivered a spectacular performance, thank you,” her slender hand brushed over Caitlyn’s shoulders. The girl didn’t reply and stomped to her car in silence.

***

“I’ve truly gone mad,” Caitlyn groaned, as she scrolled through Powder’s LinkedIn account. The profile picture was probably a shot made for her Academy ID, showing Powder with a serious face. Albeit her puffy cheeks made the picture nevertheless adorable.

The profile listed a few impressive scientific awards she had won, linking to her student engineering projects. It was otherwise empty. Caitlyn sighed, feeling like a total stalker.

“Ms Kiramman?” Her intercom rang and Caitlyn hurriedly answered to her secretary. “Your mother has called to ensure you have everything ready for the Progress Day.”

“Tell her the matter’s been covered, thank you,” she replied, groaning as soon as she cut the line off.

Nothing was ready for the Progress Day either. She hurriedly ordered a few dresses she had been looking at online, and then raised from her spot, deciding it was about time she took a coffee break. Which meant an unnecessary trip to the Lanes. But her schedule could handle it. And if it couldn’t, she’d make up for it with a late night of work and a glass of wine.

When she entered the CUPCAKES.CO cafe, she was greeted by a sight of a bulky man hovering over the counter. He had a few glasses in his hands, swiping them with a napkin. Caitlyn tried to hide her disappointment, making her way towards him.

“Hi there, Miss, what can I get for you?” His soft voice rang through an otherwise empty store. Caitlyn politely smiled back.

“Good afternoon. A latte, please,” she ordered. The man nodded and took a paper cup out, expectantly holding a marker over its side. “For Caitlyn.” He scribbled her name over it and hummed to himself as he got the coffee machine working.

Caitlyn looked around once more, eyes squinted as she desperately searched for any sights of Powder. But there were none. Knowing how busy the girl was with everything else she had going on for her, it shouldn’t have been surprising. Yet Caitlyn was still hopeful that she could just burgle into the place at any moment and find her soulmate there.

“She has a closing shift tomorrow,” the man said as he passed her the cup. A badge on his apron said “Vander”.

Caitlyn made the connection: he must’ve been the owner of the place. Family business? Was it her father? No, if it was, Powder wouldn’t refer to him by his name, would she?

His soft smile sent some of Caitlyn’s questions away from her mind. She politely nodded, taking out her card to pay.

“That’s a very generous tip. Hope our coffee is worth it,” he gently laughed. It reminded her of her own father a bit, and the girl felt warmth spread inside her chest.

“It is,” she said, sliding the lid over the cup and bidding her goodbye.

She has a closing shift tomorrow.

Caitlyn wanted to ask how he knew who she was after, but it only made sense he knew. Whoever he was to Powder, they were most certainly close. There was no way he didn’t know they were soulmates.

Did Powder already tell him about Caitlyn?

Yet he didn’t seem hostile? And neither was Vi. So why was Powder like that? Caitlyn groaned, hitting the steering wheel with her face.

Even though she didn’t intend on following through her bet with Mel, Caitlyn felt like she would go completely off the rails if she didn’t at least straightforwardly ask her soulmate what her problem was. They didn’t need to be lovers, or even friends. She just needed to know. Desperately needed to know.

Caitlyn’s coffee ran cold by the time she reached North Piltover and climbed back into her office. She let it rest on the table, occasionally taking a sip and savouring the rich flavour.

At last, the woman checked the closing hours for the CUPCAKES.CO cafe. 11 pm. She made a mental note of that and went back to her paperwork.

***

It was 9 pm on the next day when Caitlyn was done with all the work she could think of. She had sent her secretary away already, sitting in the office by herself. The woman scratched her soulmate mark underneath her wristband and sighed, deciding she couldn’t put it off much longer.

Car keys in her palm and a laptop in another, she made her way downstairs. The ride to the Lanes was surprisingly short, traffic already dissipating at the late hour. She made it across the city in just 20 minutes, which left her with a ton of free time to spare.

The plan the woman had decided on was simple:
1. Come in at the last minute.
2. Ask if Powder could meet her when her shift ends.
3. Get an answer on why the girl hates her so much.
4. Leave and never return.

Just four easy steps, and she’d get her sanity back. She could forget about the whole soulmate situation and move on like nothing happened. Caitlyn repeated it to herself as she sat in the car. She fixed the collar of her teal button-up shirt and opened the door.

The evening breeze caressed her hair and she let her gaze linger over the sky, where the sun was already settling in. In comparison to the North Piltover, life in the Lanes seemed to be blooming at the hour, many bars opening up before her eyes, crowds of people coming in and out of them.

Yet her feet carried her to the CUPCAKES.CO coffee shop, and the same couldn’t be said about the place. Except for Caitlyn, there were only a few other visitors around. One of them she could already recognize – the man with white dreads, clinging to his laptop.

Caitlyn’s eyes lit up when she noticed the girl at the counter. Powder only gave her a curt nod of acknowledgement. The girl’s short blue hair wavered, almost reaching her shoulders. She was wearing a crop top underneath her apron, and it took everything in Caitlyn’s power not to gasp at the sight of her exposed body.

When the woman’s eyes lingered around Powder’s arms, she noticed a neon pink patch covering the soulmate mark on her left wrist. Caitlyn frowned at the sight, but then remembered how she also wore a watch over hers. She really was losing grasp over reality with that annoying soulmate situation. Why would she be upset about it? Caitlyn really needed to solve that puzzle..

“Hi,” Caitlyn waved at her as she awkwardly prepared to order. It was still too early to carry out her plan, so the woman needed to think of ways to unnoticeably prolong her staying there. Caitlyn felt like a spy on the undercover mission, and the more time she spent thinking about it, the sillier she felt. She shook her head and met Powder’s gaze. “One tall matcha latte with coconut milk, please.”

The girl immediately got to work, not sparing her even a single word. Caitlyn frowned at that, wishing she got a witty reply instead.

She patiently waited as the barista poured green liquid into a paper cup. With how little skin Powder’s top covered, Caitlyn was able to see the outlines of her chest underneath the apron. She gulped and blushed, yet was unable to tear her eyes away, tracing the lines of her tattoos above the marble skin.

Powder abruptly turned around, carrying the cup back to the counter. Caitlyn hurriedly reached out for it, eyes going wide when her fingers met warm skin instead of the paper edges of the cup.

She looked down. Powder’s hand was lingering over the cup as well, a plastic lid clutched into her palm. Caitlyn held her breath as neither of them moved. The mere skin contact already sent her body on fire. The woman wondered if it really was the “soulmate effect” everyone talked about, or if it was just her body plotting against her. Probably the latter.

Powder’s eyes met hers and the girl looked like a deer caught in headlights. The sight made Caitlyn bolder, and she softly caressed the girl’s skin underneath her palm, making the blue-haired barista take a short breath. Powder closed her eyes, winced and then threw her hand away, as if burnt from the touch.

Caitlyn’s fingers met the black plastic lid. She barely tried to hide her disappointment, frowning at the loss of skin contact. Why did she even care?

Powder took a few steps back and feigned being busy as she looked over the coffee bags. Caitlyn tried to calm her own heart, so the woman stared around as she prepared to take a sip of the heinous liquid.

“It’s actually delicious,” she yelped, surprised by the unusual taste of matcha.

“Why so surprised? Thought you liked our matcha,” the girl was still buried deep into the coffee bag, yet Caitlyn could picture a self-assured smile on her lips.

“It was… also great,” Caitlyn lied, biting her lip. “Just… gets better each day.”

“Uhu, sure,” Powder finally turned to face her. “The owner noticed that matcha became a fan favorite. Ordered a better brand of tea leaves,” she explained, surprising Caitlyn with her words. For some reason, the woman was convinced that it wasn’t the whole story, but she couldn’t pinpoint what was missing either. “Anything else?”

“No, I mean…” Caitlyn weakly croaked out, nails digging into the wooden surface of the counter. “Can I also get a cupcake? The classic one,” the girl nodded and fetched the dessert. All wrapped up nicely, she handed the bag to the woman. Caitlyn took it, her brain desperately searching for ideas to spur the conversation. Yet nothing came. She paid for the order in silence. A few more customers filled the shop, and she awkwardly moved aside.

Powder seemed invested in the conversation with them, possibly knowing the people, but Caitlyn wasn’t done yet. She found an empty spot near the counter and placed her matcha on the table.

Keep it simple, Caitlyn. Just come up to the counter, ask if you could see Powder after her shift ends. Wait for her. Make conversation. Ask what the problem is. And leave her alone. She repeated the plan in her head as she watched Powder prepare coffee. She could barely see her from the spot, the girl’s small frame hidden by the counter.

The customers left just as soon as they got served, and Powder disappeared from her view as well. Caitlyn took a gulp of matcha as she stood up on shaking legs and trailed towards the counter. Leaning over the wooden surface, she glanced down at the girl, who made herself look busy as she traced the labels on coffee bags.

“Powder,” Caitlyn watched as the girl winced at the sound of her name. She kept her eyes glued to the bags, not even sparing a glance towards the other woman. “Can we…. could you,” Caitlyn mumbled, before taking a deep breath and regaining her voice along with the remains of her confidence. “When your shift ends, could we have a proper conversation on the kind of impolite attitude you have towards me?” She heard herself say, cringing internally as it all came out wrong and accusatory. Yet she only lifted her chin up in the air and didn’t back away.

Soft blue eyes looked up towards her, and Caitlyn nervously swallowed at the vulnerability in Powder’s gaze. Her nails dug into the surface of the counter, and Caitlyn closed her eyes as she added, “It… it could be a date. A friendly date! If you want.”

At that, the other girl blushed and hurriedly looked away. The sight seemed promising, and Caitlyn’s fingers let go of the wood as she stood up straighter.

The barista rose to her feet as well. She opened her mouth a few times, before she finally spoke. The words didn’t register in Caitlyn’s head.

“What?” She asked, her posh piltovian accent leaking through.

“I said no,” Powder repeated, looking her straight in the eyes.

“I… I realize it’s quite late in the evening, and that you might be busy with other plans for tonight. We could schedule a meeting for another day, or, if you’d like it better, we could talk right now,” the words flew out of Caitlyn’s mouth, the woman shamefully rambling, face red and irritation building inside. Why the fuck no? Was what she wanted to ask. But she didn’t. Her manners wouldn’t allow that.

“I don’t want that,” Powder simply replied. “And also, we’re closing,” she announced as her lips curled down. The barista looked just as irritated as Caitlyn felt inside. The woman wanted to scream, but she collected herself and looked at her watch. Her soulmate mark burnt underneath the wristband.

“You’re not closing, it’s still–”

“There’s a water leak in the kitchen.”

“Excuse me? There’s no such a thing,” Caitlyn was bewildered beyond the usual, the antics of the younger girl driving her mad.

“And how would you know, are you a plumber?” Powder raised an eyebrow and rushed to yell at the only other customer left in the shop. “EKKO! WE’RE CLOSING!” The loudness of her voice made Caitlyn wince. The man took off his headphones and looked at the barista, puzzled expression on his face. “We’re closing, pack it up, little man.”

He glanced at Caitlyn as well, hummed something underneath his breath and shoved the laptop into his bag. The man gave Powder a silent wave of hand as a goodbye. She didn’t wave back, staring grimly at Caitlyn.

“The exit is this way,” her fingers pointed at the door behind the woman’s back. Caitlyn gritted her teeth in disbelief. Did she hate her THAT much?

Sharply turning on the heels of her shoes, Caitlyn took her matcha and the paper bag with a cupcake, leaving the coffee shop in silence.

Back in her car, she slapped the wheel with the palm of her hand. She felt irritated, confused and utterly embarrassed. The right decision would be to take the answer for what it was and drive home, yet Caitlyn stubbornly sat in her car, watching as the curtains fell down over the windows of the coffee shop. The anger at the pit of her stomach built up, inflaming her whole body.

It took another painful 10 minutes for the blue hair to pop outside. The girl spinned the keys on her finger and locked the door, tugging the handle a few times to check if it was closed. Afterwards, she tossed the keys into the pocket of her bomber jacket, and fished a vape out of her pants.

Caitlyn watched as she puffed a few smoke clouds into the air.

For a reason unknown to Caitlyn, Powder also looked disoriented and lost, to the point her small shoulders were slouched as she took a few more drags out of her vape.

Before she could understand what she was doing, the woman had already gripped the door handle of her car. She stepped out of it onto the pavement. Her feet carried her towards the door of the coffee shop.

When Caitlyn crossed the distance between them, she felt the cloud of smoke envelop her. It dissipated into the air in seconds, leaving only a faint smell of blueberries. Caitlyn wasn’t a smoker, yet the scent was somewhat alluring to her, so she didn’t try to step aside.

Powder didn’t even glance at her, continuing to vape in silence. Giant headphones swung on her slim neck. What kind of music did she listen to? Caitlyn wanted to ask. Yet it didn’t matter. At least it shouldn’t have mattered to her.

“You’re annoying, do you know that?” Powder finally huffed, as she tossed the vape back into the pocket of her jeans. She stared into the distance, eyes trailing over the cars that crossed the street.

“It’s late,” Caitlyn took a small pause before she continued. “I could give you a drive home.”

“No,” Powder refused, shoving her fists into the pockets of her pants. “I’ll walk.”

She could’ve at least thanked her for the offer. Caitlyn grew even more annoyed.

“But it’s dangerous. The crime rates in the Undercity–”

“I said, no, Caitlyn.”

When she said her name, the woman flinched. Her heart fluttered and sped up inside her chest.

Powder tossed the headphones over her ears and turned away. Caitlyn’s eyes followed her small figure as it disappeared into the alleyway.

***

“When I said you should try to communicate with her, I didn’t mean stalking, dear,” Mel poured wine into her glass, settling comfortably inside her leather couch.

“I am not… I am not stalking her,” the girl mumbled, feeling completely defeated and shattered down.

“SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE!” Jayce screamed from the kitchen.

“You really sound like that, darling,” Mel took a sip from her glass and pointedly nodded.

“Oh, well, I wasn’t made aware that coming to a public place, which, I remind you, coffee shops are considered as such, is equivalent to stalking!” She angrily stared at the distorted reflection of her eye in the shiny glass, before taking a huge sip as well. The alcohol deliciously burnt in her throat, easing some of her worries.

“And I don’t want anything to do with her, I only want to know why she hates me so much. I have spent days and nights thinking of what I could’ve possibly said or done to grant such a harsh reaction, yet I’m unable to find an answer. And this– This is killing me.” Finishing her monologue, Caitlyn sighed and covered her burning face with her hands.

“The girl had set a clear boundary here, Caitlyn. I’m afraid you'll have to take that for the answer.” Mel softly replied.

Jayce showed up from the kitchen, carrying a tray of food in his hands. It smelt deliciously and the man’s face was lit up with a proud smile.

“Voila! Here I present the infamous Jayce Talis’ special,” he swooped the plates from the tray, setting them in front of the women, and happily plopped onto the couch next to his wife.

“Thank you, dearest,” Mel placed a kiss on his cheek and the man hummed in reply.

“Only the best for you, love!”

Caitlyn rolled her eyes and poked the pasta with a fork. She had close to no appetite.

“I took a better look at the blueprints from her project. The girl’s a genius, but her handwriting needs a bit of improvement, I could barely read it,” the man chewed as he spoke, and Mel gave him a small nudge on the shoulder. He gulped the food down before he continued. “Viktor also says it’s a pleasure working with her. Real smart and helpful. So you’re probably the one at fault here, sprout.”

“Thanks a lot, Jayce.”

“Mhm, you’re welcome,” he grinned and went back to his food. “Maybe it’s a sign from the universe that you should work on your big ego.”

“You’re the one to talk about ego!”

Mel waved a hand between them, stopping their banter. Caitlyn huffed and sank deeper into her seat.

“What I think Jayce is trying to convey here is that this is a sensitive matter and you shouldn’t approach it with your usual straightforwardness, dear. We all adore how goal-centered you can be, but this is not a new business deal you’re trying to get. This person, the girl, politely declined–”

“There was nothing polite about it!” Caitlyn corrected, fuming like an angry infant and clinging to her wine glass.

“–and set a very clear boundary. What you need to do is not listen to either Jayce, or me, or especially your own desires, but respect her wishes and let it go. She already knows about you, you have made your intentions clear, and now, if I may use a metaphor here, the ball is on her side and you’ll have to wait for her to return it.”

“You’re right,” Caitlyn sighed, although everything inside her had disagreed with the statement. “I should just let it go.” Her friends nodded and the conversation carried on, albeit Caitlyn’s brain was already forming a new plan.

***

“As pleasant as it is to see you, Caitlyn, may I know what brings you here?” Viktor curiously glanced at her. The woman sat down on the chair in front of him, smiling warmly at her friend.

“No big reason, really, I just had a meeting nearby.” That was a lie. She didn’t. If Viktor caught on to it, he didn’t say anything.

“You keep glancing at the door, are we expecting Jayce to join us?”

“No, uh… I’ll say hi to him afterwards,” she played with the wristband of her watch and ducked her head. “How is it going with your new project?”

“We’ve added a few finishing touches. It is ready for the presentation on the Progress Day, if that’s what you’re asking about.”

“Good to hear,” Caitlyn chewed on her lip nervously. “Will you… be attending the presentation, by any chance?”

“I’ll have to be there, yes, but Jayce will handle the public as always.”

“Will anyone… any of your students… be joining you?”

Viktor eyed her curiously, clearly noticing the usually stoic woman stutter.

“Are you asking for someone specific?” He raised an eyebrow, and Caitlyn shook her head in reply.

“No, I just… It would be nice if all the parties involved in such an innovative project could be celebrated. Without giving all the attention solely to Jayce.”

“I’ll ask them if they want to come,” he gave her a slight nod and smiled.

“You can email the names to my secretary, she’ll prepare the invites, that will not be a problem.”

“I see,” he set his eyes back on the project in his hands. A small glowing chip with a blue crystal inside of it. “Thank you, Caitlyn. You really worry a lot about our… scientists.”

***

“Ms Kiramman?” Caitlyn’s secretary’s head poked through the door to her office. “I’ve just got an email from Professor Viktor with a list of names. He’s asking to add them to the guest list for the Progress Day.”

“Approve them all,” she nodded curtly, without sparing the secretary another glance.

“Uhm,” the woman wavered at the door. “Your mother… Mrs Kiramman had specifically asked for the final guest list to be approved in advance. And… It has already been made final. I’m afraid we can’t add any changes…–”

“How many names are there?”

“I… I didn’t look. I’ll forward the email to you, one second,” the woman excused herself and went back to her desk.

Caitlyn waited for the letter, impatiently twirling the wristband of her watch. As she got a notification, she quickly opened the list. There was only one person there, with other graphs left empty. Powder.

Her secretary reappeared at the doorway and looked at Caitlyn expectantly.

“Add Ms Powder as my plus one,” she commanded and swiftly turned away, so that the woman wouldn’t catch her blushing.

“Of course, Ms Kiramman.”

If Caitlyn’s hand trembled for the rest of the day, she had told herself it was solely from the fact that she had trouble sleeping lately, and didn’t have anything to do with her anticipating the oncoming Progress Day.

Chapter Text

“You look guilty,” Jayce’s remark brushed over Caitlyn’s exposed shoulders, making her shiver underneath her skin. The man eyed her suspiciously.

“I’ve got no clue what you’re referring to.”

“Caitlyn, you suck at lying. What have you done now?”

The woman fixed the straps of her midnight blue dress. The length covered most of her long legs, but the not-so-subtle cut on the side exposed plenty of skin. Her secretary praised the choice of the dress, but Caitlyn hoped to impress somebody else. The woman thought of bright blue eyes, yet she cut her trail of thoughts shortly before her mind could develop the whole picture of her soulmate.

“Cait,” Jayce pointedly looked at her. She remained silent, stubbornly looking at the sheet of paper the man had given her. The speech he had prepared, although flawless, was a tad boring. And knowing Jayce, Caitlyn was sure he would end up abandoning the paper halfway through his monologue, and improvise the rest. But for some reason, Jayce still needed her to cheer him up.

“You didn’t have to throw in that much praise for the Kiramman’s donations, you know,” was her only comment, and the man laughed it off.

“Added it only under the PR department's insistence.”

She hummed and turned to look around. They were standing in a closed area of the Progress Day Science Exhibition, where only the staff was allowed. A few assistants were carrying fragile boxes in their arms, and Jayce sternly looked at them as they lazily moved. The assistants sped up, catching the intimidating look in his eyes.

The presentation was only going to start in an hour, and as Caitlyn wasn’t one of the speakers, she had plenty of time to spare. She wished she had something to keep her busy from thinking about her soulmate, though. So she hung around with Jayce, asking him questions about the other inventions Hextech Industries were planning on announcing.

“Nu-uh, that’s a big spoiler!” He would say, before leaking out all of the details that were surely protected by a NDA.

“–and I’m not supposed to tell you or well… anyone this, but…” Jayce’s usually loud voice got quiet as he whispered, “...the ChemTank Company was really furious with us for…–” He didn’t get to finish, flinching at the sound of heels scratching the marble floors.

“Ms Kiramman!” Caitlyn recognized the voice of her secretary, not yet daring to turn around and face whatever news the woman had brought. Jayce sharply gasped by her side and nudged Caitlyn’s shoulder. The woman stayed glued to her spot. She took a deep breath in.

“Ms Kiramman! Your plus one has arrived,” her secretary loudly announced, making heads turn in their direction. Caitlyn finally met the woman, coughing nervously as she did so.

“I… This…” This was the worst way to introduce someone. Even though Caitlyn was quite used to this, having been to countless events as such, this time it struck her as terribly wrong. Powder wasn’t just one of the plus ones she brought to parties, she was a scientist who deserved this spot much more than half of the people in the room. Before she could voice it out loud, Powder had already interrupted.

“That’s fine, I’m not a big enough figure to be referred to by my own name,” she cracked a joke, nodding at Jayce in greetings. The man greeted her back weakly.

“You are big–… uh, you have an average height,” Caitlyn deadpanned, panicking and unable to think of a better reply.

Powder only clicked her tongue. An oversized striped burgundy jacket hung on her slim shoulders, making them look wider. She wore a simple black button-up underneath and a similarly dark tie. It wasn’t properly tied, hanging over her neck in a disheveled manner. The pants matched her jacket in colour, the similar striped design covering her legs.

Caitlyn decided not to comment on the converse sneakers that the girl wore on her feet. The woman slightly cringed as she looked at the grease stuck to the white rubber soles. Could’ve at least pretended to clean them.

“What a pleasure to see you here, Powder,” Jayce gritted through his teeth, accusingly glancing at Caitlyn.

“Caitlyn insisted all the scientists that worked on the project get to share the honors,” Viktor walked towards them on his crane.

“How very mindful of her,” Jayce murmured and sighed. Powder stared at her converse shoes and stayed silent.

“Ms Kiramman, forgive me for cutting off your conversation, but I’m afraid you’ll have to get seated, the presentation is going to start soon,” her secretary chimed in, awkwardly looking at Caitlyn. “I’ll escort you and your date… I… mean plus one… Ms Powder… I’ll escort you towards your assigned seats.”

Caitlyn tried not to think about the greasy converse shoes trailing after her. What she thought of, instead, was hiring a new secretary as soon as the Progress Day was over.

They entered the crowd of people that filled the presentation hall, and Caitlyn turned to look at Powder, worried that the girl would get lost without her. But she firmly followed, not sparing even one look in Caitlyn’s direction.

The woman could spot her mother from a distance, and she was for once thankful that Cassandra Kiramman was also Piltover’s Council member, so she had to sit amongst other political figures. That was one more headache she could save for later. Her father had noticed her and gave a small wave with his hand. Caitlyn smiled back at him.

“Here, places 6 and 7,” the secretary pointed at the seats and Caitlyn dismissed her. She graciously settled into the velvet seat, throwing a leg over another. Her “plus one” had plopped into the chair carelessly, legs spread wide.

Their elbows brushed over each other at the arm of the chair between them.

“Sorry,” Caitlyn threw her hand away and placed it over her knees. Powder didn’t spare her a glance and instead looked firmly at the curtains in front of them. Caitlyn took the opportunity to sneak a few peaks at her face.

The girl had applied a bit of makeup, concealing her freckles and underlining her eyes with dark mascara. Her blue hair was let loose and lightly curled. Although there was a careless vibe that followed Powder, Caitlyn couldn’t help but think that the girl had tried to dress up nicely. And she would lie if she said that Powder didn’t look absolutely gorgeous that evening.

She surely stood out in the crowd, although it was most likely for the wrong reasons. One of them being in close proximity to Caitlyn Kiramman and seating in a front row during one of the biggest official events in Piltover.

The curtains flew open and the host appeared through them, announcing the start of the presentation. The crowd applauded and Caitlyn clapped her hands as well. Powder didn’t move an inch. The woman tried to hide her displeasure at the act of impoliteness, yet her eyebrow traitorously flinched in annoyance.

The host’s words didn’t register in Caitlyn’s head, and she only caught him announcing the next speaker. The presentation carried on smoothly, but Caitlyn couldn’t pay it any attention.

Her arms were awkwardly tangled on her knees, and her legs started to twitch in the discomfort. Her muscles ached with every passing second of Caitlyn trying to ignore their plea.

When the crowd cheered for the next speaker, the woman had finally caved in and decided to change her uncomfortable position. Her leg smoothly lifted from the knee it rested upon, and she carefully placed it down. When her exposed skin bumped into Powder’s knee, she felt like her heart would burst out of her chest.

Caitlyn stared at the other girl in horror, but Powder didn’t flinch. Her legs were parted so widely she took almost all the space between their seats. Caitlyn wanted to huff at the audacity, yet was cut off. The next speaker turned out to be Mr Silco. The crowd barely cheered for the entrepreneur from the Undercity, but Powder clapped loudly. Caitlyn followed her lead.

She felt Silco glance at her and politely nodded. His eyes didn’t stay on her, and he soon was warmly smiling at the girl on her side. Caitlyn frowned, trying to make the connection between the two. Silco said a close friend of his owns the coffee shop. It must be the owner that Powder works for. So they know each other?

“Ladies and gentlemen, what a lovely year it had been,” he started his long speech, turning away from Powder and glancing over at the audience. Listening to his silky voice, Caitlyn zoned out again. If they know each other, why would Powder work for Hextech Industries? Why not go to the ChemTank Company? They were competitors in the engineering field, so wouldn’t it make more sense to work for the company from her part of the city?

She felt Powder’s leg slightly twitch, and watched as the girl placed her palm over it firmly to stop it from shaking. Caitlyn took a sharp breath as Powder’s fingers collided with the bare skin of her thigh. She glued her eyes to Silco, trying to ignore the feeling.

The woman couldn’t understand where the fire in the pit of her stomach came from. She bet it was from the fact that this emotional rollercoaster had wrecked her brain completely.

Her attention only returned when Powder started clapping again, alerting Caitlyn that Silco’s speech was over. She hurried and applauded as well.

There was a short break as the curtains flew closed and the lights were turned down. In that moment, the atmosphere between them felt so intimate that Catilyn had forgotten they were in public. She placed her tired elbow on the arm of her seat, her naked skin bumping into the material of Powder’s jacket. She hoped Powder would say something, anything, but she didn’t.

“And the next person to present will be the Man of Progress himself, Mr Talis!” The crowd cheered as Jayce stepped on the stage. His arrogant, yet pleasant smile lit up his whole face.

“Thank you, thank you,” he politely asked the audience to stop the ovation. Caitlyn had read his speech so many times that she felt like she remembered it by heart. “Today is a special day for all of us,” he said, still following the script. “Yet… some days are more special than others, same as people… that can be more special than others, that is,” Caitlyn internally groaned. Here it goes. She winced, already imagining the headlines in tomorrow’s press. She didn’t know if she imagined it, but she heard Powder giggle by her side.

“And for such special humans with special needs, Hextech Industries wants to present a very special device!” He took an artificial arm out of the box behind his back. “With this technology we bring on the evolution to the world of current medicine.” Behind his back, a video presentation was displaying the usage of the said arm. The audience gasped as they watched it. “Now, any person, no matter how severe their injuries are, may have a normal human experience as the rest of us!” What the fuck was he saying?

Caitlyn wanted to slap her face. That was going horribly wrong. Yet the crowd cheered, lured by the arrogant smile on Jayce’s face.

“He’s gonna get cancelled so bad,” Powder suddenly whispered into her ear and cackled. Caitlyn almost jumped in her seat, but the powerful force of her manners had her glued. She gulped.

Jayce had placed the arm back into the box, rambling on and on over the other technologies they had prepared.

“I feel for his PR team… This is disastrous.” Caitlyn nervously turned her head, seeing the other girl’s face closer than ever. “I’m sorry he ruined this moment for you,” she added, watching as the blue eyes narrowed.

“Ruined?” She laughed it off, a bit louder than necessary. A few heads turned to look at her accusatory, but she didn’t even flinch. “Nah, I’m already excited about the twitter threads I’m going to read at home.” She said nonchalantly and leaned back into her chair. “I bet it gave Sevika a good laugh as well. She’s gotta way more normal human experiences than this dude.”

Who’s Sevika? Caitlyn wanted to ask, but the man was already leaving the stage, creating a loud noise. The crowd gave him a standing ovation, yet Caitlyn only sent him a stern look. He didn’t catch on it, grinning back at her and waving his hand.

That concluded the science presentation for the evening, and they were allowed to leave their seats. Powder jumped back onto her feet, shoving her hands deep inside the pockets of her pants. Caitlyn trailed after her, trying not to get lost in the crowd.

They entered a spacious hall and a couple of waiters rushed to them, offering refreshments. Caitlyn politely refused, and watched Powder stuff her mouth with food in silence.

“Are you just going to stalk me all night since I’m your plus one?” The shorter girl gulped the remains of a muffin and licked her fingers. There was a challenge in the way she looked at Caitlyn, her lips curling slightly in a smirk.

“What?” She towered over the girl on her heels. “I… am not stalking you. And I wouldn’t have added you as–”

“What a pleasure seeing you here, Powder,” Caitlyn watched as the entrepreneur slid his hand over the younger girl’s torso. “You too, Ms Kiramman,” he smiled at her politely, although it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Was that the special project you were so relentlessly working on?”

“Yup,” Powder had managed to wiggle herself out of his grasp and fished out a new muffin out of thin air. The waiter seemed confused as he stared at his now empty plate. Powder nonchalantly hummed as she chewed. “Whatcha think of it?”

“Innovative, fresh, brilliant as always,” Silco almost purred as he said it and smiled at the girl adoringly. Caitlyn awkwardly watched them, feeling like an intruder. That’s because she probably was. “Don’t you agree, Ms Kiramman?”

“Yes, of course,” Caitlyn nodded, eyes already searching for a glass of champagne. “It’s a pride of Piltover to have such promising young people like Powder amongst us.”

“Pride of Piltover, you say? Indeed it is,” he kept smiling, although his left eye twitched a little.

Caitlyn finally got her hands on a glass of champagne and took a sip, bubbles rolling on her tongue.

“Tested the final prototype on Sevika,” Powder talked to SIlco as if completely ignoring Caitlyn’s existence. “She kicked Vi’s ass, it was quite a show.”

“What a pity that I’ve missed it,” the man chuckled warmly.

“Pretty sure they’re getting the rematch. You know Vi. She said she went easy on Leftie and let her win,” Powder rolled her eyes. “Now she’s tearing the house down. Vander’s regretting allowing her to hang the punching bag in her room. Thud-thud-thud is all we hear these days,” the girl bumped her chest with a fist as she said so, mocking the sound.

Caitlyn clutched the glass in her hand, feeling odd as she intruded on the intimate conversation. She turned her head around, spotting familiar faces and remembering it was a business event and she had to make use of her time there.

“If you’ll excuse me, I have to catch up with the guests. Hopefully we’ll get to talk more later,” she bid her goodbyes and disappeared into the crowd.

She mingled with a few of the business owners her company worked with, willing her eyes not to seek Powder out. Yet she kept spotting the girl, who was still deep into her conversation with Silco.

Caitlyn wasn’t planning on spending the whole night in the girl’s presence, on the contrary, she felt like she’d be obliged to do it only for the sake of not leaving the girl completely by herself. But now it felt like Caitlyn was the one being left out, and it frustrated her.

“Ms Kiramman?”

“Yes, sorry, I didn’t quite catch what you were saying, could you please repeat it?”

An hour and 3 glasses of champagne later, Caitlyn stood in front of a sink and watched her reflection in the mirror, having a slight identity crisis. She was never a fan of social events, but she was brought up as a Kiramman, she was taught how to network before her first set of teeth had fully grown out. Yet this evening was a complete and utter failure.

Her tongue was stuck in her throat whenever she spoke, her ears suddenly turned deaf. She made a fool of herself by asking guests to repeat themselves continuously, making it seem like she wasn’t tuned in to the conversation. Forget landing new business deals, it would be a victory if Caitlyn walked out of the venue without sending their company’s stocks falling down into the pit.

Caitlyn groaned, washing her hands with cold water and trying to gain her attention back. The soulmate was supposed to make life easier, not ruin it.

“Are you alright, Miss? You’ve been here for a while,” a charming girl in a waitress attire asked her, and Caitlyn took it as her cue to leave. She assured her that everything was fine and dried off her hands. Leaving the bathroom felt like stepping back onto the battlefield.

She spotted Mel and rushed to her side, like a sailor led towards a lighthouse. The woman softly smiled at her and excused herself from the conversation she was having.

“You and my dear husband will be the death of me one day, Caitlyn,” her smile didn’t waver as she said it, but her eyes had that stern look in them that made Caitlyn shiever.

“Jayce had definitely outdone himself tonight,” she tried to redirect the anger towards the man, but Mel shook her head, not allowing her to get off that easily.

“At least I’ve seen that coming. What… or better said, who, I didn’t see coming, is that blue-haired girl that you were accompanied by. Care to explain how you’ve managed to make it happen?”

“I… Look, I just,” at a loss for words, Caitlyn sighed. “I thought it’d be unfair if she didn’t come to the presentation, since it was all her. Her design, her idea, everything. But the guest list was already made final, so I had to use my plus one invite… and yes, I didn’t warn her about it in advance, but I thought–”

“Caitlyn, dearest, what has happened to you? I understand your thirst for social justice, but you’re taking it way too far. Would you go to such lengths if she wasn’t your soulmate?”

“Yes,” she lied. Mel rolled her eyes.

“With all that attention you’re giving her, you’re making the poor girl feel like a charity case. Needless to mention how your behaviour crosses all the boundaries she had ensured. I can only sympathise with how uncomfortable she must be by all that.”

Caitlyn searched the venue for the sights of Powder, spotting the lonely figure of the girl as she stood near one of the buffets all by herself. Maybe Mel had a point.

“I thought I was doing the right thing,” she mumbled, her heart beginning to ache in her chest. She awkwardly tugged on the material of her dress.

Mel took a hold of her hand.

“You’re a good person, Caitlyn, and I understand where you’re coming from. But you can’t force your way into someone’s heart, soulmate or not.”

“I don’t even want that, I only–”

“I remember, you only wanted to talk and get your answers. Well, you can take a look at your actions right now. They grant this girl plenty of reasons to act so hostile towards you. Whatever her opinion of you was before, you’re not doing yourself any favors now either.”

Caitlyn’s eyes traced the girl’s slim figure as she left the venue and headed towards an open-air balcony.

“I have to go,” Mel dropped her hand and Caitlyn took hesitant steps towards the balcony. She stopped a waiter and took a glass of champagne, before stopping him again and taking another one for Powder.

She straightened her shoulders and slid through a thin linen curtain. The sun was close to settling, and the chilly air met Caitlyn’s bare shoulders, making her shiver slightly. She ignored it, eyes set on a goal in front of her.

Powder was leaning on the metal hedge, overlooking the city in front of them. It was quite a spectacular view at this hour. Caitlyn awkwardly joined her.

“For you,” she presented the glass of champagne to her soulmate, but the other girl eyed it with disinterest.

“I don’t drink,” Powder replied before she took a puff of her vape. A cloud of smoke blew out of her plump lips.

Caitlyn tightened her grip on the glasses, uncomfortably standing by the girl’s side. Powder’s features didn’t betray a single one of her thoughts. Caitlyn hated just how terrible she was at reading her.

“You should head inside, it’s cold here,” the girl commented, eyes glued to the city in front of her. It sounded almost like she was concerned, but Caitlyn knew better. That was just the girl’s way of getting rid of her. But she wasn’t going to turn back. Although Mel’s voice rang in her head, reminding her that she should.

“I needed a breath of fresh air.”

“Mhm, not so fresh here either,” Powder tapped on her vape and took another puff from it, before meeting Caitlyn’s eyes. She looked vulnerable and small, although there was a hint of a smile playing on her lips.

Before Caitlyn could speak, the girl turned away. The woman closed her eyes, prepared for Powder to leave her once again, but was surprised by a warm cloth thrown over her shoulders. The girl entered her view again, yet lacking her jacket now.

“You… you didn’t have to…”

“What kind of plus one would I be, then?” Powder toyed with the vape in her hand, tossing it on her fingers. Caitlyn wondered if it would end up dropping onto the ground, but the girl’s motions were collected and careful. A striking contrast to how illogical Caitlyn had become.

She lifted a glass to her lips, taking a huge sip of champagne and emptying half of its contents. Caitlyn usually had a good resistance to alcohol, yet she was drinking the whole evening on an empty stomach, already feeling a slight buzz in her head. It made her bolder.

“Why do you hate me?” She heard herself say, barely recognizing her own voice. The question startled Powder, and the girl frowned. Their eyes met yet again.

“What?”

“Have I offended you somehow?”

She noticed a small vein popping at the corner of Powder’s eye. The girl opened her mouth a few times, before taking a deep breath in.

“That’s not–”

“Caitlyn!” Cassandra’s loud voice rang through the balcony as the woman entered the space, her father trailing behind. That was the meeting Caitlyn dreaded the whole evening, and it had arrived at the worst time possible. “I see you picked a certain interest in alcohol,” she pointed to the glasses in Caitlyn’s hands. “And… you’ve found a very curious company,” her mother looked over Powder, eyes scrutinising each curve of the girl’s body. They narrowed into a thin line at the sight of Powder’s shoes.

“This… this is…” Caitlyn meekly tried to introduce them, her voice wavering. “This is Powder,” she finally said.

“What a pleasure to meet you, Ms Powder,” there was nothing in her mother’s voice to indicate she took any pleasure from the meeting.

“Powder? Isn’t she…?” Her father’s eyes went wide as he stared at the girl.

Caitlyn felt like she’d rather the whole place get turned to ashes in a nuclear attack than continue the conversation. Powder didn’t look any more comfortable than her. She quickly shoved the vape into her pocket, yet Cassandra’s gaze followed the movement. If it was even possible at this point, the woman looked even more judgemental now.

“Powder’s the scientist behind the new project Jayce had announced today,” Caitlyn tried to save face, providing information that could possibly sway her mother’s opinion on her soulmate. It didn’t help cut the tension, but at least Cassandra stopped staring at Powder’s shoes so sternly.

“Is that so? Could you tell us what has inspired it, please? I fear Jayce’s presentation, however charming that man was, barely covered the subject.”

“It’s my graduation project,” the girl shrugged, fixing the tie on her neck. “My aunt had lost an arm in an accident years back, cut right at her shoulder, so she’s unable to use the prostheses that are on the current market. When I studied Hextech technologies, I realised we could use it to create a new kind of prosthesis, one that wouldn’t rely on the usage of muscle mass, but connected to the brain instead.”

“I wasn’t aware that students now learn about Hextech in the Lanes’ colleges,” Caitlyn’s mother wiggled her eyebrows slightly, completely ignoring most of what the girl had just said.

“I go to PSA,” Powder slightly frowned at the comment.

“Oh, isn’t it admirable that our Academy had become so acceptive of outsiders,” Cassandra’s remark slapped Caitlyn on the face. She wanted to cut into the conversation, but couldn’t find the right words. Her mother had spoken before Caitlyn could say anything. “Must be hard to study there among–”

“Yeah, the piltie losers who think so highly of themselves they don’t even attend classes are a big pain in the ass, actually,” Powder finally flipped out. She was gripping the metal hedge behind her, and Caitlyn winced as it screeched.

Cassandra was at a loss for words, gasping at the audacity of the girl to speak with such a harsh manner.

Caitlyn wanted to reach out and take a hold of Powder’s hand to stop the girl from shaking. Yet her hands were preoccupied and she couldn’t do anything. Caitlyn opened her mouth yet again, prepared to demand that her mother stops being so rude, but the words never came out.

“Excuse me?” Cassandra squinted her eyes, her nostrils flaring angrily.

“Yep, excuse me,” Powder parroted and let go of the metal hedge. Caitlyn caught the sight of her bright red palms. Sher reached out towards the girl and almost dropped a glass, the alcohol leaking onto the marble floor.

Powder left the balcony, not sparing even a glance at Caitlyn. By the time the woman had sobered up, there wasn’t a sight of the girl left, except for the jacket hung over Caitlyn’s shoulders.

“Have you heard it, Tobias?” Cassandra fumed in disbelief.

“I have, darling. How incredibly rude. And this is Caitlyn’s soulmate?” Her father was similarly unimpressed, except he had a more sympathetic look on his face.

“And what has gotten into you, Caitlyn? You’ve made a complete fool of yourself during the evening and you’re disgracing our family! Councilor Salo had come up to ask me if my daughter had gotten sick! He said you couldn't even speak properly, as if you were on drugs! I’ve thought we raised you better than this” She waved a hand over the champagne glasses clenched in Caitlyn’s hands. “And I expect you not to touch any alcohol for the remainder of the night. You’ve had enough of it by the look on your face.”

Her mother turned away and left. Tobias trailed behind before pausing and meeting Cailtyn’s eyes.

“Caitlyn, darling, is that girl really your soulmate?”

She nodded. Her father smiled sympathetically, although there was a deep sadness hidden inside of his eyes.

“At least you’ve finally found her.” He said, taking a step towards the girl. She thought he’d offer her a hug, but instead Tobias took one champagne glass away from her death grip. The man didn’t say anything else, leaving her alone on the balcony.

She stood there for a while, watching as the sun hid behind the rooftops of Piltover. Caitlyn spent the rest of the evening trying to search for Powder, but the girl had disappeared without a trace.

When she came home, Caitlyn stayed in her dress, clutching Powder’s jacket inside of her hands. It still smelled like the girl, her citrus perfume managing to calm some of Caitlyn’s nerves. The woman had decided to take it to the dry cleaner in the morning, and allowed herself to cry into the shoulder, some of her mascara leaving dark traces on the burgundy cloth.

Chapter Text

“CEO of Hextech Industries offers sincere apologies to the disabled community after facing online backlash.”

“First of all, I’m sorry for my insensitive words and the lack of tact. I guarantee you, it was not my intention–”

Caitlyn rolled her eyes as she watched the news on the TV, surfing through the channels with a pack of ice cream resting on her lap. Powder’s jacket hung on the hanger of the door to her bedroom, facing her in accusation. She had picked it up from the dry cleaner, and it looked as fresh as ever. But it lacked the smell of Powder’s perfume now, which had made Caitlyn upset, although she didn’t understand why.

She had gotten a few messages from her mother, but Caitlyn decided to check them later. Her father had asked her if she was okay. She didn’t answer either.

There was a terrible feeling inside of her chest as she lazily picked at her ice cream. The Progress Day had gone terribly wrong. Jayce had called her in the morning, waking the woman up, yelling over the phone about the Hextech Industries stock falling down. She reassured him it would be okay once the PR department handled the situation. It wasn’t even the first time it happened. Yet the CEO never learnt his lesson.

“Am I really a jerk?”

“You really are if you need to ask this, yes,” she bitterly replied, hanging the phone.

Caitlyn wasn’t doing any better than her so-called brother, either. Her mind kept repeating the same question over and over again. Why did Caitlyn stay silent?

She really wished she said anything. Or at least followed Powder, escorted her out, gave her the jacket back. Did anything. But she just hopelessly stared at her soulmate getting humiliated by her parents. And she was the one to bring her to the Progress Day in the first place, without even asking her if it would be okay. Caitlyn wanted to slap herself, but instead only put another spoon of ice cream inside her mouth and groaned.

And most importantly, what was Powder going to say to her before they were interrupted? Caitlyn kept going back to the moment, remembering the vulnerable and sincere look in the blue eyes of the younger girl. She groaned again, smacking her face with a pillow. Caitlyn should just send the delivery to the CUPCAKES.CO shop, she should add a note to it, offering her apologies, and let Powder decide if she wanted to see her ever again.

Yet Caitlyn didn’t want to end it there. Her heart ached at the thought of never seeing Powder again, of losing any chance to get to know her. They didn’t start off very well, but they could still become friends or at least be in each other’s lives as acquaintances. Although Caitlyn’s teenage ideas of one’s soulmate being their true love had shattered down long before she got to meet Powder, she still firmly believed that the soulmate mark had a deeper meaning. That it wasn’t random. That she needed to get her answers.

She scratched her mark and glanced at her watch. It was 9 pm, and the cafe was about to close. Caitlyn wanted to wait for tomorrow, yet she also couldn’t sit still all day. The woman had done her share of housework, trying to keep herself busy. Checked all the emails even though it was Saturday and she technically didn’t need to work. She had watched a few movies to distract herself. She had also stared blankly at her request to follow Powder’s account. Caitlyn wanted to take it back, yet couldn’t bring herself to do it.

The woman quickly threw on some comfortable clothes, then checked herself in the mirror, groaned, undressed and picked a better outfit. When she was satisfied with how she looked in the jeans and a sweater, she got the hanger with Powder’s jacket and went to her car.

Starting the engine, Caitlyn debated if it was a good idea, but then shook her head and drove through the North Piltover and towards the Undercity. The traffic was manageable, yet she irritatedly stared at every red light she had to lose time on. Caitlyn turned on the radio to calm her nerves, but every song made her feel even worse, so she shut it down.

The bright lights of the Undercity met her as she drove through the bridge uniting two parts of the city. Neon signs lit up the highway, and she tapped her fingers over the wheel, already contemplating turning around and coming back some other day. But her stubbornness led the way.

Parking by the coffee shop, Caitlyn sighed and gripped the collar of Powder’s jacket. She wasn’t ready to part with the item either. Yet she took it in her hand and exited the car.

Her feet trembled as she walked towards the doors of CUPCAKES.CO, but the calming atmosphere inside of the coffee shop had managed to envelop her as soon as she entered.

Vi greeted her with a lopsided grin.

“Hello there, Cupcake,” she curiously glanced at the jacket that Caitlyn carried in her hand. Her smile disappeared from her face, and the woman scratched her head. “If you’re here for my sister, then I have some terrible news for you,” Vi said, making Caitlyn’s heart break at the sound.

“Is she okay?!” Caitlyn almost dropped the jacket, nerves cracking as she stared at the barista. Did something happen to her? Was it because of the Progress Day? Has she fallen ill? Did she do something to herself? It was all Caitlyn’s fault. Thoughts raced in her head as her face got paler and paler.

“Ah, yeah, she’s fine, but she quit,” Vi nervously laughed, catching on to the fact of how much she managed to scare Caitlyn. “But don’t worry, she gave me the bag of matcha leaves that she got for you, so I’ll manage to make it, she taught me how,” she added jokingly, confusing Caitlyn even more.

“Matcha?”

“Yeah, we got some shitty reviews about it, but Vander doesn’t wanna change a thing. Keeps saying that he likes it and people who say otherwise don’t have a great taste, ha, the old man is not very good at business. So when you started ordering this shit, Powder got all heated and brought new leaves herself. It’s a running joke now, y’know, ‘cause matcha is made from powder, so we call it Powder’s powder,” Vi blabbered. Caitlyn’s eyes widened as she stared at the woman. She didn’t understand anything anymore.

“I… it’s fine, I am not here to order anything, just wanted to return Powder’s jacket and…” She wanted to say that Caitlyn was here to apologize, yet she didn’t want to say it to Vi. She didn’t want to explain what happened. Didn’t want to make a fool of herself again. “Yeah that’s it, return the jacket. If you could take it to her, I’d appreciate it.”

“Mhm, sure thing,” Vi took the jacket from the woman’s trembling hands and put it away carelessly. Caitlyn cringed as she looked at how it got all crumbled up on the chair the barista tossed it at. She had barely managed to stay silent. “Sure you don’t want anything? I’ve actually been waiting to test out this matcha thing, y’know, and there are barely any customers here, whatcha say if I make us both a cup? It’s on the house.”

Caitlyn reluctantly agreed.

“I watched the online stream of the Progress Day yesterday, y’know. We all did, right at the shop. Sevika gave us a real presentation as well. Said whoever beats her at armwrestling gets drinks for free at the bar next door. Bunch of guys bet they’d take her out, and she whooped their asses.”

Caitlyn remembered the conversation between Silco and Powder. “And what about you?”

“Pft, Cupcake, of course I won,” she grinned, but Caitlyn saw her eyes twitch slightly. “Won against her healthy arm, though. But you know, it still counts? The shit Powder created is just a cheat code. I swear it’s made of steel or something.”

Caitlyn chuckled as she received a cup of matcha from Vi.

“Cheers for our Undercity hero,” Vi clicked their cups and took a sip. “Oh, she really spent her time picking this one, tastes great. Whatcha think? Did I manage to outdo the teacher?”

Caitlyn silently drank the matcha, hot liquid filling her mouth. She twirled it on her tongue and swallowed. It tasted good, but it also felt wrong when Vi made it. Caitlyn politely smiled.

“Yes, I cannot tell the difference.”

“Mhm, see? I’m the best barista here.”

“Technically, you’re the only barista,” Vi laughed and drank again. The woman flexed her arms and put the cup down.

“Ah, I’m gonna miss Pow-Pow,” she said with a tingle of sadness in her voice. Caitlyn frowned. “She’s becoming an adult now, moving out and all. Graduates soon, too. Don’t get me wrong, I’m proud of her, but it’s gonna suck without her.”

Caitlyn desperately wanted to know where the girl was going. Didn’t she have a job at Hextech Industries basically offered to her on a silver plate? Did she drop it too? Was she going far away? Did she never want to see her again?

Her thoughts raced, yet she quietly sipped her matcha.

“Sorry for oversharing, just big sis feelings, y’know,” Vi sadly smiled and tossed her cup into the trash as she finished it.

“It’s okay,” Caitlyn really didn’t mind. She actually wanted to know more, but prying felt too much even after all the “stalking” she had done. Caitlyn’s phone vibrated in her pocket. “Sorry, I have to take it,” she fished the phone out.

“Hey, sprout. Your mum’s holding a gun to my head as I speak by the way,” Jayce’s laughter rang from the other side of the line. “Nah, she’s not. But I just got an angry call from her, she’s mad about you not answering her or something, I was too scared to really catch what she was saying. So text her back, okay?”

“I will, thank you,” she didn’t want to make a scene in front of Vi, so she calmly replied.

“Mhm, what’s the music in the background? Are you going out or something?”

“She better not be in that coffee shop, I swear,” Mel grumpily added, although her voice was barely audible.

A few customers entered the shop and started ordering coffee, the coffee machine started working with a loud thud.

“What have I told you, Caitlyn?” Mel took the phone away from Jayce and was now hissing into the woman’s ear.

“It’s really not what you think, Mel, and… she’s not here anyway, I only needed to return an item that belongs to her, that’s all,” she whispered into the phone, facing away from Vi.

“Dearest, you have to stop, I seriously am worried for your sanity.”

“Oh, to be young and in love,” Jayce laughed and then hissed. “Ouch!”

“Do not think you’re off the hook, either, Mr Normal Human,” Mel deadpanned and Caitlyn listened to them bicker for a few seconds.

“I’ll go home now, and yes, I’ll call mother,” she wanted to finish the conversation sooner.

“I’ll see you tomorrow on the tennis court. Try to be in your best shape, because I’m not going to go easy on you,” Caitlyn groaned, already imagining how the game will go and how her whole body would ache afterwards. “And we all love you, okay?”

“I know,” she murmured, and then added softly, “I love you, too.”

“Drive safely, dearest.”

“Yeah, goodnight, sprout!”

Mel hung up and Caitlyn put the phone back into her pocket. She took the matcha cup from the counter. The woman bid goodbye to Vi and went towards the door.

“I hate to see you leave, but I love to see you go,” Vi winked at her and Caitlyn cringed.

“You really need to update your lines,” she couldn’t help but comment.

“Ha! Powder said the same thing, you really are s–… err… similar,” Vi turned away, her grey eyes directed towards the ceiling. “And those lines actually work, y’know.”

“I find it hard to believe that it’s the lines,” she glanced at the girl’s exposed arms.

“Nah, you’re just tasteless,” the barista went back to work as another customer showed up at the counter. Caitlyn decided to leave it there and finally stepped out of the coffee shop.

Later that night she pathetically whined into her pillow as she couldn’t get even an ounce of sleep, a myriad of thoughts keeping her up. Needless to say that she had also lost against Mel in their tennis match with a score that was so embarrassing she didn’t want to say it out loud.

***

“Ms Kiramman?” Caitlyn was still not used to her new secretary’s voice, even though it had been a week since she was hired. “We’ve received an email from Piltover Science Academy. They wanted to ensure you are able to attend the annual ceremony and give a speech to the graduating students.”

“Thank you, please confirm that I’ll be there,” Caitlyn politely replied and cut the line off. She had already dreaded seeing Mel’s reaction to the news of her attending, but it wasn’t something she had power over.

Kiramman Trade Corp was one of the biggest investors for PSA, financing a few science programs. They were always invited, and before Caitlyn it was her mother that attended those. Now most of the networking responsibilities fell onto Caitlyn’s shoulders, as she was becoming the face of their company.

The woman tousled her hair and tried to bring her attention back to work. She still had a week until the ceremony, and she nervously listed the outfits she had in her wardrobe, before going on an online shopping spree.

***

“You’re starting to give me the creeps, Cait,” Jayce nudged her shoulder, and the woman stopped staring around. It had been a while since she last saw Powder, and now, standing in the grand hall of Piltover Science Academy, she terribly wished to catch up with her and apologize. She didn’t even want any answers anymore.

Caitlyn didn’t want to know why Powder hated her, or why she went through the trouble getting a better brand of matcha only for her. She didn’t need to know, even if it tired her out. What was important, she tried to remind herself, was to clean up the mess she had made.

“Jayce, Caitlyn, I’m glad you’ve managed to come,” Sky greeted them warmly and led towards their assigned seats in the front. Caitlyn let a button of the jacket of her suit loose. “I’ve tried to make Viktor attend as well, but you know how he’s about all the public events.”

“Isn’t he also teaching a class here?”

“Yes, but it’s different.”

“Is he hiding behind the curtains as we speak?” Jayce glanced at the stage curiously.

“That’s a secret,” the woman smiled, pressing a finger to her lips. Jayce laughed. The PR scandal had managed to die down by now, and he went back to his usual self.

“How are you feeling being back in the alma mater, Cait?”

“You remember I’ve attended a different faculty, right?”

“Still the same walls,” he shrugged, exchanging a few greetings with the professors he knew. “Oh, the mighty air of knowledge!” His nostrils flared as he took a deep breath in. He ended up coughing as an unpleasantly looking student passed him. “Does this dude know deodorant exists?” Jayce winced.

Students filled the hall in their robes, and Caitlyn tried to give her attention to the man blabbering into her ear about his studies in PSA, but none of his words registered. Caitlyn kept searching for the blue hair among the crowd, and she felt stupid about her own desperation.

Someone started waving in Caitlyn’s direction and the woman slightly smiled as Vi approached her. Yet her breath was taken away the moment she saw Powder trailing behind.

The girl didn’t look at Caitlyn, and was busy talking to a guy with white dreads that she had already seen in the coffee shop. Was his name Ekko? He also studied there? He was in the cafe often. Were they a couple? Caitlyn slightly narrowed her eyes as she stared at them walk further away and take seats in the back.

Jayce poked her in the stomach and she annoyingly turned away.

“Mel made me promise I’ll make sure you behave.”

“She made me promise her the same thing about you, actually,” she hissed at him and they bickered until the headmaster came on stage and asked for everyone’s attention. Caitlyn couldn’t sit still or listen, nerves picking up at the idea that she’d have to give a speech soon. She usually didn’t dread such events, but everything was different now.

“We have the pleasure of having Mr Talis in our audience, a former graduate of Piltover Science Academy, the one who had developed the Hextech technology. He will now offer a few words of encouragement, please, welcome!” The headmaster stepped aside from the microphone and Jayce jumped off his seat, walking towards the stage. Students applauded loudly.

“Hello, everyone! What an honour it is to see you all here graduating and preparing to take a big step into the real world. I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know some of you during the internships our company offered, and I sincerely hope to find all of your names on the headlines of science papers in the future. Piltover Science Academy is one of the most well-known science institutions in the world, and I’m sure none of you would face any troubles getting the job of your dreams. But in case you will, you can always knock on our door, and Hextech Industries will… err… most definitely take a closer look at your resume. We don’t offer jobs to just anyone who knocks, but you can still count on us to help…” Jayce blabbered and Caitlyn was really glad none of this was going on a record. “...this is your day, but, as Professor Heimerdinger had asked me to kindly remind you, don’t party too hard!” The students laughed and Jayce grinned at them as he went back into his seat.

“Thank you for your speech, Mr Talis. And our next guest of honor is Ms Kiramman from KIrraman Trade Corp!”

Caitlyn struggled to get up, yet managed to finally step onto the floor. Her shaking legs led her towards the stage and she climbed the stairs, praying silently not to fall as she did so. Standing in front of the microphone, her eyes searched for Powder.

The girl was deep in conversation with her sister, and Caitlyn calmed down at the sight of her soulmate smiling. She was doing okay. It should be a relief.

“It’s my pleasure to be invited to the graduation ceremony and share the joy with you,” she said softly into the microphone, eyes unable to turn anywhere away from Powder. The girl glanced back at her. Caitlyn couldn’t see her well from the distance, but it still made her gulp. She tried to remember the rest of her speech that she had practiced a dozen of times in front of a mirror.

“Most of you would rather get done with the official part of the ceremony sooner, so I’ll try to make my speech short,” she smiled, catching a few laughs from the students. Powder’s wasn’t amongst them. The girl only stared back at her, unmoving. The sight was unnerving, but Caitlyn gathered herself, daring to look back at her.

“Similarly to you, I had once graduated from the Academy, and what I want to offer is the advice from one of the professors that I got when I walked out of here. Whatever you want to do in your life, wherever the journey will take you, always remember the ideals you held when you walked into these doors. Remember what you’re shooting for in this life, remember yourself, and do not betray the dreams you had as a child,” she took a deep breath in.

“It will get harder for you to find a place to belong. In the university, you’ve had exams to look forward to, a paper to turn in, a project to finish. Real life doesn’t have any of these, which may be a relief, but it can also be disorienting. So always remember your goal and stay focused on it. I wish you all to succeed in reaching your dreams,” Caitlyn concluded, stepping away.

She got back to her seat, as the words she had spoken out loud finally registered in her own head. The words that her teacher Grayson had once said. She frowned as she thought of Powder and how terribly wrong she approached the girl.

Caitlyn wasn’t known to act like this. And she spent her life thinking of herself as someone who respects other people’s boundaries and wishes. And if Powder’s wish included getting rid of her, then she really must let go.

“And now, I would like to invite the honour students to the stage to receive their diplomas,” the headmaster announced, and a cheerful music started playing as the graduates had started coming onto the stage. Being an honour student had been a prestigious title, given only to those with high achievements. Caitlyn spotted Ekko and Powder amongst them. She couldn’t make herself look at the girl anymore, so instead her eyes dropped towards the floor.

“Pst, it’s your girl,” Jayce whispered into her ear, finally making her raise her eyes.

Powder lifted a diploma, exchanging a handshake with the headmaster. She was smiling widely and looked truly proud. Caitlyn was proud of her, too. Someone loudly clapped over the music, and yelled “That’s my sister!”, and Powder shyly waved at the person.

When it was time to leave the stage, Caitlyn caught Powder looking at her, so she tried to give her a smile. The girl smiled back at her, making Caitlyn’s chest ache inside. She didn’t deserve to share this moment with her, to see her achieving such a big goal. Not when she couldn’t even say a word in her defense to her parents. Not when she silently judged her when they first met, thinking the girl in front of her was only a bratty barista from the Undercity.

Powder was a much better person than her, who had judged her all these years for something she didn’t have any power over – her own name on Caitlyn’s wrist.

The rest of the ceremony went smoothly, and the students and their guests were invited to come outside. Caitlyn rushed to get out of the doors, with Jayce following her shortly.

“Are you okay?” He softly asked, but she had only shrugged in the reply. They walked towards the gates of the Academy, where even more people had gathered. Caitlyn spotted Vander among them. The man was too busy searching for Powder to notice her.

“Attention, students!” The headmaster had yelled over the crowd, although he didn’t look angry. Instead, the man was smiling at them and looked at the verge of crying happy tears. “Now will be the last assignment you will get from me. Toss those hats up in the air!” His loud voice made everyone cheer. The next words came out muffled by the crowd. “But please, pick them up afterwards!”

Caitlyn watched Powder throw her hat up, laughing and grinning at the guy beside her. Vi fetched the hat from the ground, putting it on her own head. Vander shook it off right afterwards and returned to Powder, whispering something into her ear. Caitlyn felt like she was intruding on something she was never meant to be a part of.

“I think we can go now, Cait,” Jayce put his hand over her shoulders, giving her a firm squeeze. “I can see you pouting from way up here,” he towered over her head, and the woman snorted at an attempt to joke. “I was thinking of getting together with Vik and Sky afterwards, but what do you say we just go and get drunk together like in the old times?”

“We never got drunk together, what old times are you even referring to, Jayce?” She elbowed him in the stomach, pushing him off her. He laughed and let go.

“Now I know why we didn’t, you’re not fun.”

The students started gathering their hats and slowly exiting the school. Caitlyn watched Powder leave as well. She wanted to run after her to apologize, yet she felt like it would be best to let her go.

“I propose that we get lunch, though,” she said, turning back to her friend. “With Viktor and Sky.”

***

Caitlyn ended up getting drunk on her own, sipping through the bottle of wine and watching one of her favorite movies about soulmates. Her eyes were red from the tears she had scratched away from her face, and her clothes were tossed all around the living room. She glanced at her phone as it buzzed from the notifications.

@jaycetalis.official Sent you a photo by @PiltoverScienceAcademy
@jaycetalis.official looook that’s your girl!!

She opened the message, taking a peak at the picture he sent. It was a photo of the graduates, with Powder standing among them. Caitlyn cried and tossed her phone away, pouring herself another glass of wine.

Picking the phone back, she decided it would be best for her to go and undo her follow request, but her eyelids felt heavy as she took another sip. She set the glass on a coffee table and placed her phone over her chest.

She ended up passing out on the couch, and groggily opened her eyes as her phone buzzed from a new notification.

Caitlyn picked it up, staring at the screen in disbelief as she tried to sober herself up.

@dontjinxit accepted your follow request
@dontjinxit started following you

Chapter Text

Caitlyn poured herself a glass of water and gulped it down, a headache buzzing in her head. Her phone was looking at her from the counter she tossed it on. The screen was still lit up, with a notification popping out of it and luring Caitlyn in. Yet the woman couldn’t move. Couldn’t take it into her hands and open it.

It didn’t feel real, and Caitlyn desperately needed a reality check.

She went into the shower, still in her underwear, and poured cold water over herself, hissing as her skin started to freeze. It had managed to shake her out of the trance and she jumped out of the shower, covering herself up with a towel. Barefoot, she ran towards her wardrobe, throwing on her pajamas and leaving the soaked underwear on the floor. She stumbled back to the kitchen. Caitlyn managed to hit a toe over the leg of a chair while walking in the darkness, and groaned as pain registered in her body.

Caitlyn started the teapot and stared at the phone, picking it up from the counter. She waited until the water got heated and then poured herself a cup of green tea. The woman settled onto the barstool by the kitchen aisle and hesitantly unlocked her phone.

Powder’s instagram account stared back at her.

She tapped on her stories, watching a few videos the girl had recorded with her family after the graduation ceremony. There was one of her tossing the hat, as well as a few of her and Ekko receiving their diplomas.

Caitlyn smiled at the photo of Powder with Vi, with the soft caption “wouldn’t have made it without you, sis”. Both of them were smiling brightly, and Caitlyn could trace the similarities in their faces when she looked at them from her phone. The last picture was taken in a bar, and while everyone held some alcoholic drinks, Powder’s hand gripped a glass of orange juice. I don’t drink. Caitlyn wondered why. Was she underage? No, it didn’t make any sense.

Done with watching her stories, Caitlyn scrolled through the girl’s feed. She didn’t post much, and most of the pictures looked more like random shots. The boy with white dreads appeared in her feed often, making Caitlyn even more suspicious that he was Powder’s significant other.

Her attention was captivated by the street art that Powder posted and she wondered if it was hers. She got her answer soon enough, as the caption to the picture of graffiti on the wall had said “Little painting sesh with a little man.” Ekko’s hand was poking in the corner as he showed the peace sign.

Caitlyn felt a tingle of jealousy in her throat, yet she gulped it down. It didn’t matter if Jinx had a boyfriend, not like Caitlyn wanted to date her anyway.

Yet she curiously looked at the selfies the girl posted, some of them taken at PSA, some of them behind the counter at CUPCAKES.CO. She was always smiling in these pictures, and Caitlyn wondered just what kind of person Powder really was.

Her confused and tired brain couldn’t take it anymore, and she made herself walk towards her bedroom, plopping onto the soft covers and falling asleep with a phone in her hand.

***

“Ms Kiramman?” Her secretary walked in after knocking. Caitlyn turned her attention towards the woman. “This is a bit awkward, but we’ve received a request from the PR department. They are asking you to, please, consider cooling it down with the amount of stories you’re posting on your account. The social media team had suggested you create a private account, they also volunteered to help you with it,” her secretary winced as she expected the reply.

Caitlyn hid her face behind the monitor in embarrassment. Had she really posted that much?

“That won’t be necessary, thank you.”

“Of course, Ms Kiramman.”

As the woman left, Caitlyn picked up her phone, looking over the history of her posted stories. It had been a week since Powder followed her, but the girl still hadn’t texted her anything. Caitlyn decided she could prop open the conversation by posting stuff that would suggest a reply.

There was a picture of her in the mirror, wearing a dress for dinner with parents. Another picture of the book she picked from her bookshelf and pretended to be rereading. A picture of her lunch. A picture of her tennis racket, followed by a video from a training session with Mel. Another one with the view of Piltover from her apartment window. Another one with lyrics from a Seraphine song that played during the time they talked in the coffee shop.

Another picture of matcha with a caption that said “@cupcakes.co does it better”. After posting it, she received a few messages from the cafe she went to, saying that they would love to remake the matcha if it wasn’t up to her liking, and that they sincerely apologized for ruining her lunch. Caitlyn frowned, remembering that the matcha was perfectly done. She definitely could have worded it better.

She had also posted a few selfies of herself during the day, that she had to retake a billion times before liking the final results.

The PR team might be right. As the face of the company, she didn’t have the liberty to act like a high school girl, not like she ever had an experience as such. But creating a new account would mean having to follow Powder once again, and she couldn’t do it either.

@jaycetalis.official replied to your story: please cover up your cleavage or you might steal all the wives in Piltover
@jaycetalis.official replied to your story: I’m serious, Mel’s already contemplating divorce, sprout
@jaycetalis.official replied to your story: no she’s not
@jaycetalis.official replied to your story: but Cait, kids are watching, c’mon

Caitlyn had almost deleted her last story of herself in a sports bra, but in the end decided to leave it be.

***

“Let me see!” Jayce begged Caitlyn to give him her phone, and when she finally caved in, he went on exploring the girl’s account.

“Artsy,” was his only comment as he hummed over the pictures. They were having lunch together near Hextech Industries headquarters as they usually did when their schedules allowed it. “Is this guy her boyfriend or something? I think he was at the graduation, too.”

“His name is Ekko,” she tried taking the phone away from Jayce, but he clumsily put a like over Powder’s picture from years ago. They both froze while looking at it.

“Oops, she now has confirmation of you stalking her.”

“I’m not! It’s you–”

“Here’s your order,” the waitress saved Jayce from getting murdered, and he took his plate with enthusiasm. Caitlyn only sighed, feeling like an idiot. Which she was.

The picture he liked was a selfie of the girl in a winter jacket from four years ago. Caitlyn groaned, thinking of how stupid it might’ve looked from Powder’s side. She put the phone aside.

“So, did you text her?” Jayce chewed, humming in pleasure over his plate.

“What? No.”

“Why not?”

“Didn’t you all tell me not to rush it and let her reach out?”

“Yeah, but she followed you, might as well text her. Or maybe send her something? Like a funny video. She might be too busy to watch all those hundreds of stories you post daily, you know, since she started working at Hextech Industries.”

“She started working at Hextech Industries?”

“Huh, haven’t I told you?” He laughed as Caitlyn almost jumped out of her seat.

“JAYCE!” She raised her voice, bringing the attention of the people around their table. Caitlyn sat back down, fuming with anger.

“It slipped from my mind, I thought you knew. But yeah, we’ve hired her, of course. She’s actually been given a pretty high position by Viktor, he says she’s doing very well. Might get a raise by the end of the year if she keeps it up. Y’know, when it comes to biotechnics, she’s a real talent,” he hummed while shoving food inside his mouth. Caitlyn cringed at the sight and turned to her own plate.

Was Powder really just too busy? Was it wise to text her?

Later at night, Caitlyn stared at her phone in silence. She had already gone through a dozen instagram reels, thinking of what she could possibly send Powder. A video of a dog? Did Powder even like dogs?

Caitlyn stalked the subscriptions of the girl, finding that she only followed her close family and friends. Not like Caitlyn followed anything else, either.

Hours of scrolling, and Caitlyn found nothing that felt appropriate to send and didn’t scream “I’m desperate to start the conversation, please talk to me”. In the end, she remembered her oath to herself. She wouldn’t reach out to Powder unless the girl invited her to do so.

Caitlyn put her phone on “do not disturb” mode and went to sleep.

***

“Ms Kiramman, we’ve estimated the costs of the project, and it needs your approval,” Caitlyn paid close attention to the presentation that her team had prepared. She had managed to get a lot of work done in the recent days, putting her phone aside and focusing solely on her responsibilities.

Yet as her phone buzzed with a notification, Caitlyn’s heart twitched at the sensation. She discreetly fished it out of her pocket, while trying to look like she was still listening to the speaker.

@dontjinxit hey do u want to meet?

Caitlyn’s eyes went wide and she gasped in surprise.

“Ms Kiramman, are you alright?” her secretary worriedly looked at her and Caitlyn blushed in embarrassment. Perhaps her mother was correct to point out that she had started to waver in her responsibilities after meeting her soulmate. But also Caitlyn didn’t care as much about it anymore.

She was suddenly annoyed by the meeting. Yet she pushed away her irritation and had managed to make it look like she had given the presentation her whole attention.

“So, what do you think?” The speaker had nervously looked at her, clearly having spent hours on the project.

“Send me the file after the meeting, I’ll need to take a closer look at the estimated costs,” Caitlyn replied shortly, making it seem like she had actually cared about it. The speaker nodded, and the meeting was announced to be over. She sighed as she walked out of the conference room, rushing to her own office. Once inside and still standing by the door, Caitlyn took the phone out of her pocket and stared at the screen.

Would it be too desperate to reply right away? It had only been half an hour since the girl texted her, yet Caitlyn still wanted to keep up with her nonchalant non-stalkery image. She wavered only for a second, before sending a text back.

@caitlynkiramman Hello, Powder. I would like to. Thank you for the invite. When are you available?

She winced as she reread the text. Caitlyn made it look like a business email, not something you send to your soulmate. She wanted to delete it and rewrite her reply, yet Powder was already typing back.

@dontjinxit r u free 2nite?

Caitlyn wasn’t free, in fact, she had her weekly get together with Mel and Jayce. She bit her lip in concentration.

@caitlynkiramman Yes, I am.

@dontjinxit 8 pm at faefolk?

Faefolk was a famous restaurant in North Piltover that focused on Ionian cuisine. Which, accidentally, was also the one she had favoured and happened to be a regular visitor. Was it really a soulmate thing that Powder had known this? Or did she just choose a fancy restaurant so that Caitlyn would surely like it? Did she care what Caitlyn liked?

@caitlynkiramman Of course, I’ll be there.

Powder sent a thumb up reaction to her message, and Caitlyn groaned as she mentally prepared to call Jayce. She plopped into her office chair and rolled in circles in it before dialing his number.

“Hey, Cait,” he picked up the phone a bit too eagerly, as if it weren’t work hours and he wasn’t supposed to be busy. Caitlyn couldn’t really blame him, she also was slacking off.

“Hell, Jayce, I won’t be able to attend today,” she cringed as her business voice chimed in again. Caitlyn really sounded a bit too professional sometimes. She made a mental note to try and change it.

“Huh, why?”

“Something came up,” she tried to avoid telling Jayce the truth. But his curiosity only picked up.

“Something or maybe someone?”

“Powder had asked me to meet her,” the girl ended up mumbling into her phone. Behind the glass door, she saw her secretary coming up to the office, and waved her off. The woman turned around on her heels and went away.

“So all these selfies ended up working? I might use the advice and also take a bunch of mirror pictures in the gym, might spice things up–”

“Please, don’t.”

“Fine-fine,” he laughed on the other side of the line. “Good luck with your date.”

“It’s not a date,” Caitlyn reminded him irritatedly.

“Yeah, good luck with your non-date, Cait. Tell me how it goes and don’t panic too much! Girls don’t like it when their date panics. Mel had actually–”

“I will, thank you.”

She hung up the phone and tried to plan out the evening.

Firstly, she really had to apologize.

Secondly, she needed to make it clear that she had no romantic intentions towards Powder, and that if the girl was already in a relationship with that guy in her pictures, then it was fine for her.

Thirdly, she needed to propose that they keep in contact. At least, they could try meeting some more. Because the soulmate mark couldn’t be for nothing.

Caitlyn took off her watch and stared down at Powder’s name on her skin. She traced the white lines with her finger.

No, it certainly had to have a meaning.

***

Caitlyn nervously fixed her dress as she stepped out of the cab. She bid the driver goodbye and was now standing on the pavement near the Faefolk restaurant.

To make it to the agreed time, Catilyn had also cleared up her schedule for the evening, cancelling a few more meetings she was supposed to have. She rushed back home, trying to pick a dress that wouldn’t look too formal or too suggestive. It killed her as she spent hours inside her wardrobe, yet was finally able to find a remotely safe option.

Not trusting herself to drive to the restaurant, she had called a cab, waiting nervously for it to arrive. She had also made a few borderline rude remarks to the driver, not wanting to be late. He managed to speed up, and she was finally there. A few minutes before 8 pm.

Her heart picked up the pace as she saw that Powder was already waiting by the entrance. The girl was wearing a gray suit and this time she had shiny Doc Martens shoes on her feet. The sight captivated Caitlyn, yet she also felt bad. Did Powder get these shoes only because everyone stared at her judgmentally during the Progress Day? She cringed, remembering that Caitlyn herself was amongst them.

“Hi, Powder,” she greeted the girl as she nervously approached her. Powder offered a light smile in reply. Somehow, she also seemed to be nervous and completely out of her element.

“Hey,” the girl replied and glanced at the doors. “Wanna go in?”

Caitlyn nodded and they climbed the stairs up.

“Ms Kiramman, what a pleasure to see you here,” the receptionist greeted her and curiously glanced at Powder. “I’m afraid all tables are busy right now, but we could clear up your usual–”

“I’ve made a reservation,” Powder interrupted, and Caitlyn mentally calculated just how long ago the girl had to book a table at Faefolk. Had to be at least a few weeks in advance if she had no connections to the place like Caitlyn’s family did.

“Of course, for… Powder?.” The receptionist’s eye twitched slightly as she looked at Powder’s blue hair, and it made Caitlyn feel like a knife was getting twisted inside of her chest. Usually, she wouldn’t have paid much attention to how people from the Undercity were treated, but this behaviour started irritating her now.

“Is there a problem?” Caitlyn couldn’t keep it in herself anymore as she coldly asked the receptionist. The girl squirmed under her gaze.

“N-no, of course no, I’ll escort you towards your table.”

Powder looked uncomfortable as they trailed behind the receptionist, but her confidence picked up again when she cockily sat down on the chair and spread her legs the same way she did during the Progress Day. Caitlyn straightened up her back, legs crossed underneath their table.

The only thought she had in her head as she looked around at other visitors was that she and Powder definitely looked like an odd pair. She met their prying eyes with a cold stare, making a few people turn to look away.

The table was set by a window with a spectacular view. Caitlyn wondered if Powder had picked it on purpose.

For a moment, they sat in silence. Powder stared out of the window, her fingers tapping on the wooden surface of the table without a particular rhythm. Caitlyn wanted to cover Powder’s hand with her own palm to stop it from shaking, yet it felt highly inappropriate. Instead, she pretended not to notice it.

Caitlyn didn’t need to glance at the menu to know what she was going to order, but she read it only to keep herself busy from staring at the other girl.

The waiter approached them soon enough.

“Ms Kiramman, what a pleasure to see you again!” The girl smiled at her, while completely ignoring the presence of Caitlyn’s guest. It irked the woman as plainly rude, but she didn’t want to cause another scene, although something inside her had already wanted to walk out of the restaurant and never return. “What can I get for you?”

“I’ll have the shrimp salad and a glass of dry white wine, thank you,” she replied with a flavour of bitterness added to her words. Caitlyn attempted to smile to cover it up.

“And… for you… miss?” The waiter reluctantly turned away from Caitlyn and stared at Powder and her parted legs. The girl shrugged.

“I’ll have the same, but with a glass of orange juice,” she answered, and the waiter nodded. Silence dawned over the table once again. Caitlyn wanted to ask why the other girl didn’t drink alcohol, but she felt like it was too personal. Maybe Caitlyn should cut off this bad habit of hers, too. Powder kept staring out of the window.

“Nice weather we have today,” Caitlyn attempted to ease up the conversation with small talk.

“Yeah,” Powder said back, eyes unmoving. It didn’t work.

Live music was playing at the restaurant, piano accompanied by a violin. Caitlyn listened to it to try and calm down her nerves.

“Have you ever been here?” She asked, although Caitlyn had felt like she knew the answer. Powder shook her head in reply, and then turned to face the woman.

Her blue eyes were lit up by the settling sun, a world of mystery hidden behind them. Caitlyn looked back at her, desperately trying to unsolve some of the secrets. Yet she couldn’t read anything, and it was both unnerving and exciting. She was the first to drop eye contact, hiding her blush as she stared down at the table.

“I’ve heard you landed a job in the Hextech Industries. That’s very impressive,” she complimented while her fingers played with a napkin. The girl smirked back at her.

“Wasn’t very hard,” she shrugged, as if the job she got wasn’t in a world-known company that thousands of people tried to apply to. They both knew it was close to impossible to get it only after graduating.

“Why did you choose it?” Caitlyn's curiosity got the best of her. “Why not ChemTank Company?” was her original question, but adding it felt like reducing Powder back to the stereotypes about the people from the Lanes.

The girl thought about her answer for a while before replying.

“Why not?” Powder eyed her intensely.

“I… suppose that is a suitable answer.”

The reply cut off the conversation shortly. Thankfully, the waiter arrived, carrying their drinks. Caitlyn took the glass and sipped from it, savouring the taste of her favorite wine. Powder didn’t touch her juice and instead only looked at her with an empty expression.

It was visible that the girl was also nervous, and Caitlyn could understand why. She was completely out of her element, in the company of the woman who stalked her for weeks. It was unbelievable enough that Powder had asked her to meet. Although Caitlyn feared that it was only so that she would demand to never see her again. That thought had made her blood run cold, so she gulped down some more of the wine.

“Vi has told me you’re moving out, did you already find a place to live?” She asked, hoping that Powder wouldn't misunderstand her.

She wasn’t asking this to stalk her. She wasn’t asking this to invite her to move into Cailtyn’s apartment, either. This wasn’t an episode of “Soulmate U-haul”.. The woman wanted to make sure that the other girl understood this, but Powder was already nodding and sipping juice from a straw.

“Yup, in the North Piltover.”

“Oh, we’re neighbours, then,” Caitlyn smiled and the other girl shrugged. She noticed how her lip was quivering a bit. Caitlyn tried not to bring attention to that fact, continuing the conversation. “Do you like it here?”

“It’s not bad. But the streets are… very sanitized,” she said, twirling a straw in her fingers.

“You like street art, right?” Caitlyn remembered all the pictures from her profile.

Powder nodded. “Adds flavour,” she shrugged.

“I… I liked the art you’ve posted. Is it yours?”

“Mhm, some of it. Some were Ekko’s,” that guy again. Powder also looked happy as she mentioned him, or at least, more relaxed. Caitlyn wanted to ask what their relationship was, but she also didn’t want to learn the answer and end the conversation right then and there.

She imagined Powder telling her that she has a boyfriend and doesn’t care if they are soulmates. And Caitlyn understood why the girl could feel like it.

She supported the idea of just being platonic friends, nothing else included. Powder was surely a very beautiful young woman, but Caitlyn didn’t think they could be romantically compatible. She didn’t even want to try and find out, so that she would have to lose the girl forever after they terribly fail at it.

For a second, her mind imagined what it would be like to date her. She thought of coming to places such as Faefolk, only to be glanced at by everyone, making Powder feel self-conscious. Caitlyn didn’t care what they all thought, but she also didn’t want to subject the other girl to it.

She couldn’t imagine being intimate with the girl, either. Although the mark on her wrist betrayed her by itching at the thought and sending a wave of coldness towards the rest of her body.

Caitlyn reminded herself that it was just psychosomatics. The soulmate mark didn’t actually do anything to the human body, as it had been countlessly studied by scientists. Yet it didn’t make her feel any better. She placed her right palm above the wristband of her watch, trying not to bring Powder’s attention to the motion. If the girl noticed it, she stayed silent.

The waiter returned with their plates, but none of them started eating. Powder was poking a fork into the shrimps, while Caitlyn asked for a refill to her glass of wine.

When they finally spoke, they did it at the same time.

“Hey, so…”

“Do you…?”

Caitlyn chuckled lightly and Powder nervously smiled. Her face looked paler than usual, as if all blood got drained from it. Caitlyn mentally prepared for whatever Powder was going to say, forgetting whatever she wanted to ask about.

“You go first,” Caitlyn offered, and Powder nodded.

“Caitlyn,” she started, and then took a deep breath in. “I… I need to tell you something.”

Chapter Text

“It’s your birthday tomorrow. You really don’t care?” Powder barely heard Ekko as he tried to speak over the loud music coming from the speaker. Her hand was busy spray painting over the wall of one of the many ChemTank factories. Silco didn’t seem to mind a bit of decorations.

“Nah, why should I?” The graffiti was turning out nicely, and that was all Powder cared about. “All that soulmate thing is just grand bullshit,” she puffed a few traces of hair that fell on her face, continuing to paint and dance to the music.

“You’re just saying it now,” the boy came closer, his voice now clearer. Powder glanced at him, spotting a slight frown on his face.

“Yeah well, I don’t wanna be owned by some old creepy fart, thank you.”

“It could be someone you already know and are close with,” Ekko said with hope lingering in his words. Powder shrugged.

“Even worse,” she mindlessly added, continuing her work. Her naked fingers were freezing off in the cold February air, but she ignored it.

“So you’ve already decided on Zaun’s Industrial College?” Ekko asked, still standing close by. Powder nodded in reply. “I’m going to try and get accepted to PSA. Already prepared the documents and all.” She showed him a thumb up and continued drawing. The boy took a few steps away from her, and came back, showing a picture he just took.

“Looks dope. Send it to me later,” Ekko smiled at her reply and shoved the phone back into the pocket of his large winter jacket. They had spent another hour at their secret hideout, before freezing to the point that Powder couldn’t feel her fingers anymore.

Back at home, she spent forever in the shower, trying to warm herself up. At some point Mylo started knocking on the door and begging for her to hurry so that he could use the toilet. She ignored him and continued.

In her room, Powder took her evening pills and lazily scrolled her twitter feed. Eventually, her eyelids closed, and she fell asleep.

She woke up to the feeling of someone sitting on her. Disoriented, she sent a fist at the intruder, only to hear her sister hiss back.

“Ouch, Pow, that hurt!” Powder opened her eyes, shutting them close right away as she caught the sight of the flashlight.

“Turn it off!” She pushed Vi again, this time hitting her on her shoulder. Her sister groaned and reluctantly climbed off her. “What the fuck?”

“I just wanted to see the mark,” Vi mumbled, and Powder groaned at the reminder that there was now someone’s name on her wrist. She untucked herself from the blanket, pushing a middle finger in her sister’s face.

“Yeah, that’s the mark, sis.”

Vi caught her hand and brought the flashlight towards it. Powder heard her gasp and eyed the girl suspiciously.

“What, you know them or something?” Her sister was still awestruck as she touched Powder’s hand. It made the girl uneasy, and she tugged her arm back. Her vision was still blurry from sleep, but she could see large cursive words scribbled on it in white ink.

“You don’t know her?” Vi asked, still shocked.

“I would tell you that if I could read this fancy fucking handwriting,” she groaned, tracing the letters with her eyes.

“It’s Caitlyn Kiramman, Powder, the Kiramman!” It told Powder nothing. She frowned at her sister, as the letters on her wrist finally started making sense. Caitlyn Kiramman.

“She’s the councillor's daughter and she’s super fucking hot, I’m telling you. Wait, I’ll show you!”

Her sister seemed to be so excited one would think it was her who got that mark. Powder still didn’t believe any of it was real, and she didn’t want to accept it as reality either.

“Here, here! Look!” Vi shoved the screen of her phone into Powder’s face. The picture showed a young and very pretty woman. She still didn’t get why Vi was so excited, though.

“And?”

“AND?! Are you kidding, Pow? The Internet went wild when this pic dropped, she’s literally the hottest chick of Piltover AND SHE IS YOUR SOULMATE!”

Powder cringed at how loud her sister was. She pushed Vi further away.

“You know what, you have to meet her and give her my number.”

“Why would I do that?” She growled, trying to shove Vi from the bed.

“Oh, so now you want her?” Her sister started tickling her and Powder hid her whole body under the blanket.

“I only want to sleep, so get out!” Finally Vi let go and marched out of the door, whistling to herself and muttering something about Caitlyn Kiramman.

Powder picked up her phone, unplugging it from the charger. She stared at the screen for a few seconds, already seeing a “Happy birthday” text from Ekko. Powder ignored it, typing her soulmate’s name into Google search. She didn’t care, not really. She was only a bit curious, that’s it.

She quickly found the same picture Vi had shown her, but without her annoying sister bitching and moaning into her ear about how beautiful and hot Caitlyn Kiramman was, she could finally take a clearer look at the girl.

It was a cover of a Piltover’s magazine, with a huge headline underneath the girl’s face. “Caitlyn Kiramman is ready to take over!” Powder roamed through the article mindlessly. Her first impression of the woman was that she seemed to be very well-spoken and smart.

Reporter: Miss Kiramman, you’re only graduating from Piltover Law Academy this year, yet your mother had already entrusted you with such a serious role in the company. Could you please describe how you’re handling the pressure?

Caitlyn Kiramman: To tell you the truth, it is a little unnerving to be appointed as a head of one of the biggest branches in Kiramman Trade Corp, especially when I’ve only turned 22 recently. But I’ve relentlessly worked for it my entire life, studying both business and law during my years in PLA. Whenever I feel nervous, I remind myself that as important as my role is, I am neither a surgeon nor a flight dispatcher. Whatever mistakes I will make can be corrected.

Reporter: I feel like you’re putting a very big pressure on surgeons and flight dispatchers with your words.

Caitlyn Kiramman: We cannot undermine how big of a role those professions play in our lives. So my heart goes to people who have to handle such high-stress jobs. And I promise to do everything in my power to make it easier for them to live their lives in Piltover, if Kiramman Trade Corp can help it.

Powder scrolled through the rest of the article, humming as she read it. At some point, she switched from her phone to her laptop, sitting on top of the bed and scrolling through more and more interviews the woman had given.

Caitlyn Kiramman wins the Tennis Junior Piltover tournament!

There was a video of a teenage Caitlyn, standing in front of a reporter with a tennis racket in her hand and a shiny medal on her chest. She was lopsidedly grinning at the camera while waving at someone behind it. It was the first time Powder heard her voice.

Sports journalist: Caitlyn, what a match it was! Huge congrats on managing to turn over the tie break in the last set. It was a miracle to watch you save those couple of game-points. Tell us, are you planning on conquering the tennis world and becoming a professional?

Young Caitlyn stopped grinning and shyly smiled instead, lowering her racket and touching her medal.

Caitlyn: Thank you for your congratulations! It was a pleasure to be able to take part in this tournament among so many noticeable young tennis players. But I’m not planning on taking it to the professional level. I will be focusing on my studies instead.

Sports journalist: Oh, this is heartbreaking. At least you get to walk out of the court with your head held up high. C’mon, give me a high five!

Teenage Caitlyn lifted her arm up, her racket falling down as she slapped her palm against the journalist’s. They both laughed as she hurried to pick it up. The video cut off at that point. Powder rewatched it a few times, laughing along with them.

Nervously, she typed in “Caitlyn Kiramman soulmate”, scared to see the search results. There were countless yellow press articles, broadcasting candids of Caitlyn walking with different women. Each headline said “Did the heir of Kiramman Trade Corp finally find her soulmate?”

Powder snorted while reading them, eyes focused on Caitlyn instead of the women she was seen with.

Vi was right, that girl was gorgeous. She was often accompanied by models, but she looked like one herself. Tall, dressed to the nines, little to no makeup on her face (she didn’t need any makeup to look absolutely beautiful), dark hair with a hint of blue, glowing under the flash of the camera.

Caitlyn Kiramman was breathtaking. Powder traced the letters on her wrist. And she somehow ended up being Powder’s soulmate?

Finally, Powder was able to find an article from a rather reliable source. In the interview, among other things, Caitlyn was asked if she was ready to settle down. Powder bit her lip as she read it.

Reporter: Caitlyn, excuse me for the intrusion, but the most popular question among our readers was if you had already found your partner for life. You have been spotted with quite a few noticeable names, has any of them been your soulmate?

Caitlyn Kiramman: I think this is a private matter and I won’t be answering that question. Alas, I would like to cover the subject of soulmates and my stance on the matter. I am a firm believer that in the modern world, we have progressed far enough to not rely on soulmate bonds anymore to build long-lasting romantic relationships. I don’t want to completely tear down the beauty of the concept, though, but in my opinion a person shouldn’t be reduced to merely the mark on their wrist. It’s important for all of us to grow separately and fully develop as individuals before meeting the one that we want to settle down with.

Reporter: Could you share with us what’s the criteria for a fully developed individual? I’m asking for a friend.

Caitlyn Kiramman, laughs: I would tell your friend that it really depends on a person, we all have different goals in life. I think the basics are much the same for everyone, though. Granted, you have to get an education, find a career that suits your interests, and, if I may word it this way, “build a nest”.

Reporter: So you’re basically describing an adult.

Caitlyn Kiramman: That’s one way to say it, but I’ll have to agree.

Reporter: Do you think you’ve managed to grow individually yourself?

Caitlyn Kiramman: Although this is also a rather provocative and private question, I think there’s a long journey ahead of me, and I’m in no rush.

Powder read her words again and again, barely registering that it was past 4 am. She had put her laptop aside, taking an exam paper she had to turn in tomorrow and scrabbling down on it with a gel pen.

1. Graduate

2. Get a job

3. Move out

She tapped a finger over paper, and reluctantly added.

4. Meet Caitlyn

Powder hung the paper with a pin on the wall and stared at it. Her tired brain was overloaded with the information she had found about the woman, and for a second she had thought that the plan was silly. Yet she was intrigued, and the words of her soulmate had struck a chord within her.

She couldn’t get an ounce of sleep that night, eyes glued to Caitlyn’s instagram account, scrolling it and bookmarking almost every picture with the woman’s face on it.

When the clock had hit 7 am, she dialed Ekko, hoping that he would be more or less awake by then. She waited for half a minute before he picked up.

“Morning,” he groggily greeted her, voice still heavy with sleep. Powder didn’t have time for pleasantries, so she jumped straight to the matter.

“Hey, so, about that PSA thing. How do I apply there?”

“Powder, are you…? Do you want to go to school with me? Did you get the mark? What does it…?”

“Ekko, I don’t have time for all this, please, just tell me what I gotta do, ok?”

The other side of the line went silent, and Powder thought he might’ve hung up on her. She checked if the call was still on. It was. She hissed into the microphone.

“Just let me open my eyes and I’ll send you the list,” he ended up saying, and Powder triumphantly lifted a fist up. Although the school she was planning on attending wasn’t that bad, she had initially only wished to go because of her ties to Silco and the ChemTank Company. But after spending the night researching about her soulmate, she had decided that it would be best to choose a more prestigious university. Silco would deal with his business without her, somehow.

She opened the email Ekko sent her, groaning as she saw the amount of text that was inside of it. A fucking essay? For a science program? She marched towards her sister’s room, knocking loudly on it.

“Come in,” the voice behind the door replied, and she stormed into the room, plopping herself next to Vi on the bed.

“I need your help writing an essay,” she said, her head ducking Vi’s as they laid together.

“What…? An essay?”

“Yeah, for PSA.”

“Wait, Pow, what are you talking about?” The girl started waking up, yawning in the process. “You want to go to the piltie school?”

“Yup, are you gonna help?”

“Have you got at least an ounce of sleep tonight?” Powder shook her head at the annoying and completely unrelated question. Vi groaned and sat up. “Let me just make us coffee first.”

***

“Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll get enlisted,” Mylo annoyingly joked from the corner of the living room.

“Dumbass, it’s not the army,” she threw a pillow at him, the boy catching it and laughing. Powder’s laptop rested on her knees as she sat in the armchair and nervously updated her mail.

“You can always just go to the Lanes college, it’s not bad,” Vi patted her head, trying to calm Powder down. It barely helped.

No, everything has to be perfect. She couldn’t fail.

In those weeks that she had spent collecting all the important information for the university, Powder had managed to drive herself completely mad, lacking sleep and relying purely on coffee to survive. Thanks to Vander they had lots of coffee to spare.

Every night while she studied, Powder listened to Caitlyn’s voice in her headphones, growing used to her posh piltovian accent and her fancy manner of speaking. Every time the woman would smile in the interview, Powder glanced at the screen, smiling back twice as hard when she saw the sight of the tooth gap in Caitlyn’s front teeth.

By the second week, Powder had managed to memorize all the words to the interviews, and imagined herself in the role of the reporter, fantasizing about talking to Caitlyn on a date. Afterwards Powder usually fell asleep at her desk, face resting on the school papers and lips stretched in a smile.

Silco was borderline furious with her decision to study in PSA, going on and on about how topsiders didn’t treat kids from the Lanes like human beings. Powder didn’t doubt it. But she was determined to throw Caitlyn off her heels at the sight of adult Powder, the honorary alumni of PSA and a scientist at Hextech Industries. She didn’t tell Silco about the latter in fear it would give the old man a stroke.

Powder also didn’t disclose who her soulmate was. Neither to him, neither to anyone else but Vi and Vander. Her annoying brothers could fuck themselves, Powder wasn’t telling them a thing, even as they pried over her like vultures. Vi would always scare them away if they got too close.

Her sister wasn’t completely off the hook, either. Powder still remembered the kind of interest Vi had in her soulmate, but the girl had been helpful in writing the acceptance essay, so she was forgiven for the time being.

“Do I really need to add all that shit about being an orphan?”

“Topsiders love those tragic stories, trust me.”

“Don’t you think it’s insensitive towards our parents to use their death like this?”

“Well, do you want to get accepted to PSA or not? Your choice.”

So now Powder was begging the powerful force of fate that she didn’t sell her dignity for nothing. She spent another hour sitting in front of the laptop and dreading the results. Once the email arrived, she screamed, making everyone in the room jump from their seats.

“WHAT DOES IT SAY?”

“DID YOU GET ACCEPTED?”

Powder felt tears pricking her eyes and didn’t shy away when they rolled down her cheeks. She nodded and touched the screen of her laptop, tracing over the words to make it feel more real.

***

“I didn’t wanna do it, okay? Vi said it would be fine though. So yeah I kinda told them about how you died,” Powder was crouching in front of her mother’s grave, picking the grass that had poked through the cement. “I got accepted, and in a way it was also… thanks to you,” she lifted herself up to her feet.

It was getting warmer outside, and she was only wearing a thin jeans jacket. Her eyes traced over her mother’s name on the grave, gaze dropping to the side and reading the words on her dad’s.

Powder didn’t remember them well, yet she had a habit of coming to the cemetery and updating them on her life. Vander was a great caretaker, along with Silco who would often pay them visits, carrying bags of toys behind his back. Powder couldn’t say she had ever felt abandoned, yet there was a hole inside of her chest that often sucked her whole self in.

But with a mark on her wrist, she had somehow started to feel a bit fuller.

“Yeah, y’know, about that,” Powder shyly looked around, spotting only a few other visitors in the distance. She dropped her voice to a whisper. “I’m eighteen now, so you know what it means, got my soulmate mark and all. Lucked out with that one, although I’m known to always jinx things, so, believe me, it was a surprise! Yeah, sorry to trail away from the subject. My soulmate is… awesome, ha, I mean yeah she really is.”

Powder crouched back down, thinking of what she could tell them.

“I think you’d like her. She’s super gorgeous, but, eh, that’s not that important. Caitlyn’s smart, ah yeah, that’s her name by the way, Caitlyn. She’s so smart and she has such a sweet pitlie accent that I almost don’t hate how they speak anymore. Actually, no, I still do. But she’s different. She’s perfect,” Powder traced the mark with her fingers.

“Yeah, dad, don’t tell me that nobody’s perfect, you don’t know her!” She got mad and turned away, although logically she understood that her father wasn’t saying anything to her. “And she really is.” Powder dreamily imagined Caitlyn’s face.

“Why won't I just show up at her doorstep? Ha! That’s funny. Y’know, I thought about it, too. Just fuck the plan, oops, sorry for swearing. Yeah, thought about that… But it won’t work, y’know. If she sees me like that,” she pointed at herself, waving her hand from her head to toes, “she’ll just gonna think of me as a child who needs a sugar mummy. I need to be her equal. Yes, mum, I know I already am, but I just need to back it up with some evidence. So I’m gonna fetch all these achievements now, and then surprise her. How does it sound?”

“Why are you so quiet?” She poked the grave accusatory. “Pft, mum, you think I’m obsessed? Nah, I’m just looking at the full picture here, okay? And while we’re on the matter, the one obsessed with Caitlyn is my dear sister, yeah. Awkward right? I hope she’s just joking, but I swear if I hear one more fucking joke about it, there’ll be a third grave I’m gonna attend soon.”

That night, when Powder came home, she shyly pressed her lips on the mark, tongue swirling over the cursive letters.

***

“Caitlyn Kiramman stuns in new photos from the Progress Day”

Powder was in her first year of studying in PSA when her mind went completely blank as she stared at the picture of Caitlyn’s exposed back. She had a paper to write, tests to get ready for. Yet she sat in her room, white light from her lamp annoyingly blinding her eyes while she stared at the photo, her studies completely abandoned.

Although she had grown used to seeing headlines about Caitlyn, they had always managed to send her heart racing. Especially when she showed up to formal events, wearing clothing from the most well-known brands from around the Runeterra.

She didn’t care that there was a girl hooked around Caitlyn’s arm. Powder wouldn’t be able to count the number of dates her soulmate had in the past year. None of them seemed to stick around. Powder massaged the mark on her wrist. Of course they wouldn’t, because Caitlyn’s future partner was right here.

In the span of the year she had managed to go through a few episodes when she had almost decided to abandon her silly plan and text Caitlyn or show up at her office. Yet, pinned to her wall, words reminded her to stay focused. There won’t be another chance to leave a first impression on her. It’s all or nothing.

Remembering about the plan, Powder pushed her phone aside and threw herself into her books.

Hours later, with a groaning back, she finally carried her tired body to the bed. There was a new interview with Caitlyn, and she rushed to play the video. She was asked about her position in the company, and Powder couldn’t focus on her words when her curves were so suggestively wrapped up in the thin material of the dress. Powder really tried to pay attention, but her body grew hot with every second. She shyly sneaked her left hand inside her underwear, imagining that the one touching her wasn’t herself. With the video on auto-replay, Powder listened to it until she was coming with her soulmate’s lips spilling out from her lips.

***

“Why are you listening to this shit?” Vi tried to turn off the speaker, yet Powder was fast enough to slap her hands away. “You’re into pop music now?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“It is my older sis business if my sibling has completely lost their taste,” she had attempted to steal the speaker away again. This time she succeeded. Vi switched the controls to her own phone.

“Yeah whatever, blast your trashy punk rock until we all go deaf.”

But instead Vi played a song by the group Powder liked, pressed a soft kiss on top of her head and plopped onto the couch.

“Don’t forget who you are, Pow-Pow. You don’t need to change yourself. Your little plan is cute and all, but you’re taking it a bit too far with how much you wanna fit into the piltie culture.”

“You just sound like Silco now,” Vi winced at the comparison. They didn’t have the best relationship.

“Yeah, well, it’s been two years and all we see is just you crouched down above the books, y’know. Not to mention how you try out everything that Caitlyn mentions or posts about. Do I need to remind you how you started going to the cafe she likes? Broke Vander’s heart with that one.”

“It’s just close to PSA, I didn’t go there because of her,” Powder had only gone there because of a selfie Caitlyn took with her friend Jayce. It was posted on his account, which Powder had also been following from her fake profile as a desperate way to learn more about her soulmate. She cringed a bit at how it all sounded. “And Vander’s coffee much better, which I had already countlessly mentioned, alright?”

“Old man is kinda short on staff right now,” Vi mentioned, almost as if it was a passing thought. But Powder had already known that voice.

“No.”

“No what?”

“I’m absolutely not going to work at the coffee shop.”

“Why?”

“‘Cause I’m fucking busy, that’s why,” Powder growled at her sister, tossing a few books off the table.

“Won’t you need money to impress your soulmate, huh? What’s your third step? Move out? How are you planning on doing that without a first deposit?”

Powder groaned and slammed the table with her head. She didn’t think that far ahead.

“Is that a yes?”

“Go fuck yourself, Vi,” she whispered into the wooden surface of her table and then sat up straight. “How much for a shift?”

***

“What are your vacation plans?”

“Ah, going to Demacia with my folks, you?”

“You’re going to Demacia, too? No way, dude.”

Powder tried to block out the voices of the students in front of her, speaking so loudly that she could barely hear the professor. Viktor was one of her favorites in PSA, the only lecturer that was also from the Lanes. That was also one of the reasons that students felt like it was easy to disrupt his lessons.

The couple continued talking about their rich piltie plans, while Powder sighed, thinking of the many shifts she had picked up during the said vacation time.

Saving money turned out to be much harder than working. The last time Vander gave her the paycheck, her feet carried her to the art shop so fast that the girl only realized it when she was stepping out of the shop with a bag. She ended up getting a refill of spray paints, as well as buying a few expensive oil paints and a canvas.

Done with most of her exams, she sat in front of the canvas, drawing Caitlyn from her memory. The act felt so intimate she got lost in the process, heart loudly drumming in her chest. Finishing it took her the whole night, and she put the canvas to dry off, rushing to take the subway to Piltover and get her share of studies.

Now, with an energy drink in her hand, she was annoyed as fuck. The students just wouldn’t shut up, and she was too sleep deprived to think rationally anymore.

Trying to make it look like an accident, Powder splashed the energy drink over one of the students.

“Oops,” she innocently said, catching the can before it could fall to the ground.

“You bitch!” The student turned to face her, his face turning red.

“Any problem there, gentlemen?” Viktor walked towards them, and the students reluctantly let it go.

At the end of the lecture, the professor had asked Powder to stay behind. She thought she was going to get scolded, but instead the man placed a hand on her shoulder.

“You didn’t have to do that, Powder, although I can’t argue that your methods seem to work far better than mine.” Powder shook his hand off.

“I can’t stand this shit,” she said, not caring that she was swearing in front of one of her professors. Viktor nodded.

“I… can relate to the feeling. Being ostracized, laughed at. It used to be far worse back when I studied here, until I met a man that became my dearest friend. He didn’t care where I came from and respected me for what I could do. What I’m trying to say here, Powder, is that you don’t need to fight them, nor do you need to fit in with them. There will always be people around you that will love you just for who you are. And this is what matters”

“Yeah, well, thanks, but I’m building a Hextech-powered gun and writing down their addresses, just in case, y’know.” Viktor chuckled and let her go.

Back at home, she was still irritated, so she angrily circled around her room. She looked at the canvas, blue eyes staring back at her.

“Will you love me for who I am, Caitlyn?” She asked the painting. It didn’t reply.

Powder worried that if it could speak, then the answer would be “no”. She glanced at the laptop, needing to finish just one more assignment. Yet her eyelids felt heavy, and she dropped on the bed, staring at the canvas until her sleep finally came.

***

“Pow-Pow, wake up, Powder, please,” Vi poked her in the side, and the girl groaned. She ended up staying late again, for reasons completely unrelated to studying or doing anything productive.

“Why? It’s fucking 6 am, let me sleep,” she glanced at her phone to tell the time.

“Vander can’t take the shift, and you know that it’s super busy in the mornings.”

Powder groaned into her pillow. Did she really have to go? Her eyes closed on their own accord, and she almost fell asleep again, yet Vi started tossing her shoulder.

“Please, Pow, he said he’ll pay you double.”

She sighed. That was a compelling argument.

They had managed to get ready in half an hour, and Powder yawned as she stepped into the coffee shop. She tied the apron around her torso while pouring herself a much needed cup of espresso.

“Worked on your project again?” Vi asked her, sympathetically patting her blue hair. Powder didn’t want to tell her sister what she was busy with at night. It had something to do with a picture of Caitlyn Kiramman in a tennis dress, though.

“Mhm,” she hummed in reply, and turned to the counter. First customers started filling the place soon enough, and Powder lost herself in the process of serving them.

A tall figure entered the coffee shop, and Powder wanted to joke to Vi about how much she looked like Caitlyn, but the joke got frozen on her lips as the woman neared the counter.

It was her.

No.

NO!

NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO!

It wasn’t happening.

Powder almost lost her ability to speak, but moved on auto-pilot, serving a few more customers and trying to think of an escape plan.

Could she just leave Vi to fend for herself? She could sneak into the staff room. She could hide. She should hide. Caitlyn wasn’t supposed to see her there. Not behind the fucking counter in this shit hole. Not when she was so fucking close to graduating. This was terrible. That wasn’t meant to be happening.

Yet it was happening.

Powder remained stuck to the counter, watching the woman scroll on her phone. She looked so much more beautiful in person. Her dark blue hair wavered when she lightly shook her head, a strand falling down her pretty face. Powder had so desperately wanted to push it away.

What the fuck was she supposed to do?

Caitlyn seemed busy on her phone, so Powder decided that she may not recognize or remember her if she just acted like a regular barista. She tried to force herself to smile or at least appear friendly enough, yet her barista-mode was turned off.

With every second of Caitlyn on her phone, Powder’s anticipation grew, along with her anger. Not at Caitlyn. She wasn’t to blame. It was stupid fucking Vi. Stupid fucking Vander. Stupid fucking CUPCAKES.CO. She was never meant to work there in the first place. She should have never agreed. It was a terrible idea from the start.

“What can I get for you?” Powder heard herself say, voice raspy as if she had just smoked a whole pack of cigarettes in one sitting. She felt her whole body tremble when Caitlyn put the phone away. The woman was now staring at her. Powder didn’t know what to say or do.

“Just act nicely, Powder, she won’t even notice you, you’re just one of the many blue haired baristas in town, just don’t say anything stupid, just act like she’s another customer, just be polite,” the voice at the back of her head said. She tried to listen.

“Excuse me?”

Powder forgot whatever the voice had told her. Hearing the posh accent over the music playing in the cafe threw her completely off guard. She wasn’t ready. No. This shouldn’t be happening. Maybe Caitlyn was also to blame. Why the fuck was she here? Did she have a meeting with Silco? Powder blamed him, too.

Caitlyn’s beautiful eyes looked all over her face. Powder was going to die on the spot. She gripped the counter. Be polite.

“Will you be ordering or did you just come in to stare?”

Fuck.

Powder wanted to tear the skin of her face off in embarrassment.

“A… a tall latte, please,” Powder registered her order, trying to look like a normal nonchalant barista. She picked up the paper cup and almost started writing on it, before she remembered that she wasn’t supposed to know who Caitlyn was.

“And your name?” Powder tried to say as politely as she could, yet her voice came out harsh and hoarse. She cleared her throat, a gel pen inches away from the cup.

Caitlyn frowned, and she seemed to be getting angry at Powder. That was kind of hot. She shoved the thought away.

“Your name?” She repeated, trying to rush Caitlyn to order and leave. Powder could see Vi rolling her eyes as she prepared coffee for another customer and curiously watched the scene.

But it wasn’t funny.

And it wasn’t funny when Caitlyn’s eyes fell on Powder’s badge, making the girl groan in agony on the inside.

Of fucking course.

She had completely forgotten about the fucking badge she had to wear on her uniform.

“Caitlyn,” the woman whispered, coughed, blushed and turned into a complete and utter mess as she kept looking at the badge. Powder felt like the floor was melting underneath her sneakers.

“Caitlyn, Caitlyn… Kiramman.” She added, as if Powder already didn’t know who she was.

The woman looked like she expected Powder to be surprised. No, Powder’s shock had passed already. What remained was her utter hatred towards herself and everyone involved in ruining her perfect and almost finished plan.

“Whatever,” she scribbled her name incorrectly on the cup, to make it look like she actually didn’t know who that woman was. Attempting to look as nonchalant as she could, she carried the cup to Vi. It was shaking in her hand.

Powder didn’t understand what she was supposed to do anymore.

Should she apologize? Should she say “Hey, actually, I’m not always this rude, I just had a shitty morning and I didn’t expect to see you here after I moaned your name into the pillow for the best part of the night.” Probably with less details.

“Anything else?” She asked, both hoping to continue the conversation and wishing it would already be over so she could go and murder her sister.

“Uh, sorry?”

The dumb look on Caitlyn’s face was peak theatre performance, and Powder wanted to kiss away her frown. She stared at the woman while Caitlyn blinked back at her.

“Do you want anything else to add to your order, miss?” For a second, Powder pretended that it was all just some weird role-play in the bedroom, and not their first ever meeting that the girl had completely ruined. It made her spoiled mood a bit better for a second, but it wasn’t a big help.

Caitlyn paid for the coffee and Powder waved her off, trying to focus on another customer. She didn’t listen to anything the man said. All her attention was focused on the sight of her fucking sister flirting with her Caitlyn. Vi had just signed her own death sentence.

“VI!” Powder yelled, scaring some customers. Did Caitlyn also flirt back to her?

She watched as the woman’s tall figure left the coffee shop, their eyes meeting once again. Powder wanted to throw herself off the cliff.

That went terribly wrong. She angrily smashed her hand against the computer and said she needed a break, cutting off the customer in the middle of his order.

In the staff room, Powder hysterically cried, holding her knees to her chest and trying to find a few sedatives she kept in her bag in case she had an episode. Swallowing the pill down, she cried some more.

That was terrible. Why? WHY?!

Vi found her after what felt like eternity. She didn’t say much, only crouched down to her level and wrapped her arms around Powder’s body. When Powder wanted to talk, Vi shushed her and hugged her harder.

“I’ll handle the shift. Promise me to go home, take a shower and sleep a bit, okay?” Powder nodded and picked up her things, walking back home on shaking legs.

She cried for hours until her eyes were so swollen they couldn’t drop a tear anymore.

“Of course, you wouldn’t ever want to talk to me after that,” Powder spoke to the canvas and imagined that Caitlyn’s eyes stared back at her in accusation and disgust. “It’s your fault, too. You weren’t supposed to see me like this.” She sniffed, long sleeves of her sweatshirt mopping the tears away.

Her anger suddenly picked up again at the thought of how she spent four years trying to get to Caitlyn’s level, only for the woman to ruin it.

Now what Caitlyn would picture in her mind when she thought of her soulmate would be Powder in the CUPCAKES.CO apron serving her coffee. Just an Undercity girl, blue-haired barista, a walking stereotype and nothing more.

She crawled to her desk and ripped her paper with the plan apart. Powder cried again, watching as it all fell to pieces.

Minutes later, she had already started regretting it. The girl took glue from a cabinet and put the paper back together.

Although the plan seemed like it was destroyed, Powder had decided that she wasn’t giving up that easily.

***

By the next morning, Powder had managed to calm down.

After her incredible performance yesterday, Powder expected for Caitlyn to never set foot inside their coffee shop. She checked the reviews on Google Maps, wondering if she would leave a shitty comment as well. Alas, the only one was from the customer whose cup Powder accidentally flipped over him a few days ago.

She tied her apron around herself, expecting for the shift to be uneventful. But half an hour later, Caitlyn Kiramman walked into the cafe, wearing simple blue jeans and a white shirt. Powder gritted her teeth as she stared. She was so fucking hot in her casual clothes, she should always dress this way. BUT WHY WAS SHE HERE AGAIN?

Caitlyn ordered a latte. Powder took a gel pen and almost started writing, before her mind short circuited. Was she supposed to remember Caitlyn’s name? Would it be weird if she did? Would it be weirder if she didn’t?

“And your name?”

The woman smiled, showing Powder her little tooth gap. The girl’s heart stopped working, before rushing through her chest at top speed.

“Caitlyn,” a small business card was pressed to the table. Powder tried not to leak her saliva on the floor as she stared at Caitlyn bending down and passing it over. “Make sure to spell it right this time.” She swallowed, almost choking at how suggestive the woman made it sound. To distract herself, she picked the card and pretended to read it.

It was a simple black card with a Kiramman Trade Corp logo and Caitlyn’s office number. Did she expect Powder to call her now? If Powder wanted to call, she would have done it YEARS AGO.

The audacity irritated Powder, and she felt like her anger was building again. She shoved her rage away.

“Alright,” she managed to reply, moving on to prepare the coffee.

That time it was her who would make it for Caitlyn, not Vi. She was going to drink something that Powder made. She would press that cup against her lips and drink from it.

Powder tried to act normal and focus. She almost shut down the coffee machine by accident. Powder hoped that Caitlyn didn’t notice.

She turned to glance at the woman, and caught her staring. Powder turned back to the coffee machine, blushing hard and trying to cool off her face while the machine rumbled.

Instinctively, she had drawn a small heart on the foam, frowning at the sight of it. She returned to the counter, lifting a lid over the cup and hoping that it would dissipate before Caitlyn could notice.

Caitlyn asked about cupcakes, and Powder almost groaned as she remembered the stupid nickname her sister had now given her. She didn’t want to give Caitlyn any fucking cupcake recommendations. And she didn’t want for her to come into the coffee shop and humiliate her with all these impressive business cards. Once Caitlyn walked away, she threw the card into the trash can.

Powder ended up picking it back a few minutes later. Luckily, the trash can was almost empty at the early hour. She pinned it near the paper with her plan.

***

“I didn’t know that playing hard to get was part of your plan, Pow. But Cait keeps coming back, so you’re doing it right,” Vi winked at her as they were closing the shop.

“I’m not playing hard to get.”

“Then what are you doing?” Her sister laughed and shook her head in disbelief. “Also it’s impressive, so I’m complimenting you, alright?”

What Powder was doing was mentally beating herself up for slipping and telling Caitlyn that she KNEW that the woman likes Seraphine. What kind of creepy stalkerish behavior was that?

And what irritated her even more was that not only Caitlyn kept coming back, she was coming back and getting that vomit-inducing matcha latte. Powder could spot the disgust on her face straight away when the woman took the first sip.

“You’re the same as that matcha for her, Powder. She keeps coming back to see you only to come out ready to vomit,” the voice had told her, but she tried to silence it.

“Let’s go home, Pow-Pow,” Vi noticed her distress and hugged her, keeping some of the demons away.

Having late night tea, Vander met them in the living room, flabbergasted by the sight of Powder’s murderous stare.

“You have to get us new matcha powder!” She pointed a finger at his face and yelled. Vander sat up straight when his shock had passed.

“We’ve had this talk before. Just because some customers didn’t like it–”

“I’M NOT MAKING MY CAITLYN DRINK THIS PISS, ALRIGHT?!” Powder yelled, smashing her fists against the table. Vander sipped from his tea cup nonchalantly.

“I’m not changing it,” was his final answer.

Next day Powder skipped her classes at PSA and instead traveled through North Piltover, spending all the money she had gathered from tips in the last week on buying herself cups of matcha at expensive coffee shops. Piltovian baristas gave her their judgemental looks as the girl would try the matcha and throw it into the garbage bin only after the first sip.

After going through a dozen cafes, she could barely tell the difference in the taste of matcha. Yet Powder stubbornly dragged her feet into another coffee shop. There, she lifted a cup to her lips, tasting the matcha and almost dancing on her spot.

“What brand of powder do you use?” She asked the barista with a death glare. The woman stuttered, then turned away and showed her the bag of matcha leaves. “Do you sell it?”

Triumphally, Powder returned to Zaun, watching videos on how to make the perfect matcha latte until she passed out on her bed from exhaustion.

When Caitlyn ordered the doomed matcha again, Powder wanted to gloat. She had finally made peace with the woman coming into the coffee shop so often, but being in the servant position had still pissed her off.

At least they had one encounter at the lab in Hextech Industries, which was a bit of a relief. She stood there amongst Caitlyn’s close friends, as one of the fellow scientists and not just a worthless barista. Albeit, Powder had also wanted for her project to be a surprise, which, once again, was spoiled. She had tried to control her anger. Fate was definitely a funny thing, and fate had seemed to be plotting against her.

Done with the perfect matcha, Powder placed it on the counter, ready to throw a lid over the cup and enjoy Caitlyn’s reaction. Yet she felt a hand hovering over hers. She glanced down.

Fuck.

Caitlyn Kiramman was touching her hand.

Powder didn’t hear any voices in her head anymore, the silence deafening. She gulped as she stared at their joint hands, as if seeing it would make it feel more real. Caitlyn’s palm was warm, and that was the only thought Powder had in her brain.

She lifted her eyes and stared at the woman in front of her. Caitlyn caressed her hand so lightly and softly that Powder was about to ruin her facade and end up moaning on the counter. She winced and threw her hand away. It was shaking as she walked towards the bags of coffee and tried to make it stop.

“It’s actually delicious!”

Powder glanced at the woman, unable to stop herself from smirking. Oh, it was absolutely worth it.

They exchanged a few more phrases, before Caitlyn had managed to throw her off completely again.

“It… it could be a date,” Powder had almost agreed.

Fuck the plan.

NO! Really, FUCK THE PLAN. She would have said yes straight away. Whatever. Not like it wasn’t already completely spoiled at that point. Not like Caitlyn seemed to be embarrassed over her.

She wanted to date HER! Even when Powder was wearing a CUPCAKES.CO apron.

The girl almost agreed.

“A friendly date! If you want.” And then she didn’t.

“You’re such a loser, of course she wouldn’t want to do anything with you, she is only asking because you’re her soulmate, she’s not interested in a barista from the Lanes, have you seen the kind of women she dates?” The voices had come back at full force. Powder knew all that. And she knew she wasn’t at that level, yet. But she would get there.

Powder tried to find her own voice and reply to Caitlyn.

“No,” she heard herself say, although the other woman seemed to not get the answer. Her shiny blue eyes were so full of hope that Powder had felt terrible about declining. But she wasn’t ready. She had to finish her plan. She raised up her chin.

“I said no.”

Outside of the coffee shop, she fished out her vape. It was a stupid habit that got her hooked the moment she started hanging out in bars with her family, not being able to drink and needing at least something to distract her. Powder pressed the plastic to her lips, breathing in a bit of blueberry-flavoured nicotine. She closed her eyes as she tried to calm herself down.

Powder felt someone staring at her, and she could catch a sight of Caitlyn. There was this stupid pout on her pretty face that Powder had so terribly wanted to kiss away. She puffed some more smoke into the air, watching it dissipate.

Why was Caitlyn still there? Did she enjoy watching this shit-show? Did she have a humiliation kink or something? Powder wasn’t against it, but she’d rather it happened inside their bedroom and not at the dirt-covered street in the Lanes.

“You’re annoying, do you know that?” She grumbled as the woman moved closer. What she wanted for her to understand is that Powder wanted her so badly that she would’ve taken her then and there. But she had her plan. One that Caitlyn herself had laid out for her.. She had to stick to it. And Caitlyn was making it very hard to.

Caitlyn offered to drive her home and Powder wanted to cry.

If she agreed, Caitlyn would see the kind of place she grew up at, her shambled house, the scratched door, the bag of trash she forgot to take out in the morning.

Powder refused.

“But it’s dangerous. The crime rates in the Undercity–”

“Of course, she thinks you’re all just violent animals, killing passers-by on the streets,” the voice had whispered into her ear, and she flinched.

“I said no, Caitlyn.” Powder didn’t spare her a glance as she hurried to put headphones over her ears, raising the volume to the full level so that the voice in her head couldn’t be heard anymore.

***

Powder looked at herself in the mirror, straightening her jacket. Although she didn’t expect to receive an invite to the Progress Day celebration, it was still nice to be included. Knowing that she would see Caitlyn there had made her spend the last bits of the money she still had left (after paying for the deposit for her flat in North Piltover, which brought her closer to the third step of the plan) on a suit that would look expensive enough.

She picked it with the help of her sister, who was also eager to offer to give her a lift to Piltover once she mentioned Caitlyn would be there. Vi was later told to fuck off. But she was still a huge help and Powder appreciated it.

Powder had to reapply her makeup three times before she was fully satisfied with how it turned out. It was still early for her to take the train to Piltover, so she walked in circles around the room, trying to calm the nerves that were rising inside of her body.

“If you were invited, it means you’ve achieved enough,” she repeated to herself in the mirror, full of pride for the project she had finished. Viktor had told her that he was only as impressed with someone as he was with her once in his life, and that man was his friend Jayce Talis. Although Powder thought that the CEO was a huge obnoxious dumbass, she couldn’t argue with the fact that he had founded Hextech Industries and brought the world’s recognition to Piltover. Being compared to him was a big compliment.

Trying to make a proper knot around her neck with a tie she frowned at her shaking hands. Nothing was coming out right. In the end, she had decided to let it go for now and fix it later.

When it was time for Powder to go, she suddenly remembered that she had absolutely forgotten to buy shoes that could go well with the suit. The girl marched towards her sister’s room, roaming through the wardrobe and trying to find at least something there, but alas, her sister’s dressing style was even worse than hers. Not to mention that her feet were gigantic, too.

Powder wanted to cry, but there wasn’t enough time for that left. Reluctantly, she cleaned her converse shoes and put them on, cringing at the sight in the mirror. She ran towards the subway, hurrying to take the train.

”Ah, fuck me”.

She didn’t account for the streets to be so dirty. Her shoes now were even greasier than before. Powder stared at them in silence. She didn’t have a napkin to clean them. She sighed and sat in the subway, mentally preparing to catch all the weird glances at her. Powder was used to it after studying in PSA. But it would kill her to see Caitlyn among these people. She prayed that the woman wouldn’t notice.

Once out of the subway, she walked towards the large building that the gala for Progress Day was being held at. Viktor had offered to accompany her, and he was already there.

“Nervous?” He had asked, as if the answer wasn’t written all over her face.

“Nah,” she lied, shaking her head. He didn’t comment on it and they walked together towards the entrance. Powder had already noticed a few curious glances pointed at them, but only straightened her back and raised her chin up high. She was there for her own achievements, not for her surname like the majority of those people.

“Professor Viktor and…?” The receptionist looked at them as if the mere sight of two people from the Undercity had already sent the woman to the depth of boredom.

“This is Powder,” Viktor introduced her. “She was supposed to–”

“Ah, yeah, I see her, Caitlyn Kiramman’s plus one,” the woman had whistled to herself and slightly wiggled her eyes. “Someone’s lucky.”

Powder didn’t understand what had happened, so she nodded and followed Viktor inside. The man didn’t comment on anything. Wasn’t she invited because of the Hextech project?

She left a few greasy footprints on the marble floor. Soon, they were approached by another woman, dressed in a classy skirt and jacket. She warmly welcomed Viktor and then turned to face Powder.

“Ah, right, Powder? You must be Ms Kiramman’s plus one,” she said, making Powder’s blood run colder. The girl caught the secretary staring at her suit, and had felt self-conscious under her judgemental eyes. But she got the suit from the Piltover’s shop, did she miscalculate? Was it outdated?

“It’s not the suit, it’s just you. Have you seen yourself? Of course, you’re catching those gazes. You don’t belong here. And you weren’t even invited as Powder, you’re just a plus…–” The voice kept ringing in her ear, making her legs feel wobbly as she followed after Caitlyn’s secretary. Once they approached the corner where she spotted Jayce Talis, Powder stared at her shoes, trying to tune out the voice in her head.

“Your plus one has arrived,” the secretary announced, making Caitlyn turn to face her. The woman was blushing and couldn’t even say a word. It looked like she also felt uncomfortable by the introduction. Powder didn’t want her to feel bad. Everyone was right. She was just the plus one now.

“That’s fine, I’m not a big enough figure to be referred to by my own name,” she said, cutting Caitlyn off before she could say anything. The woman in front of her gulped.

“You are big–… uh, you have an average height.”

Powder wanted to die on the spot in embarrassment. She clicked her tongue and tried not to bring any more attention to herself. Caitlyn was staring at her, eyes focused on the converse shoes on her feet. Her lips had twitched a bit in disgust. Powder couldn’t blame her for the reaction, although it had cut her soul in halves like a dagger.

“She regrets bringing you here. Caitlyn thought you’d at least manage not to look like scum from the Lanes. Couldn’t even remember to buy proper shoes. You had a week in advance,” Powder followed Caitlyn and her secretary to the hall.

Once having sat down, she finally felt on the same level (at least considering their height) with the other woman, and that thought had managed to calm her down. They were so close that she could smell hints of Caitlyn’s santal perfume.

When their elbows brushed on the arm between the chairs, it sent a pulse of heat towards all ends of Powder’s body. She fixed her gaze on the curtains, afraid that she might embarrass herself by reacting to it.

But her body was aware of its close proximity with Caitlyn. She felt it in her core as she sat beside her soulmate. With her side eye, she could also see the not so subtle cut of the woman’s dress.

Powder had watched her wear such clothes for years, but she never got to see her that close. Real. Right next to her.

She felt Caitlyn’s gaze fixated on her face. Powder tried to act nonchalantly about it, whilst her thoughts raced inside her head. Did Caitlyn think she looked good? Crossing out the shoes, did Powder manage to add the makeup properly? Did she like the suit she picked out? Was it worth it?

The curtains flew open, announcing the start of the presentation. Everyone clapped, but Powder didn’t care to join them. She didn’t feel like she belonged. She was merely a plus one. Powder caught Caitlyn frowning at her. The woman probably thought she was being rude. Powder wanted to huff and tell her of how rude everyone was to her and the people from the Lanes. She stayed silent.

“Caitlyn doesn’t care about how they treat you. She’d treat you the same if you weren’t her soulmate. She’d never look at you if your name wasn’t written on her wrist. Don’t you see how she covers it up with her watch? She hates the fact that it’s your name. She hates your name. She hates you,” the voices were interrupted by Caitlyn’s knee bucking into hers. Powder almost whined at the touch.

Her naked skin was so close. She could just lower her hand and touch it.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome our next speaker, Mr Silco from ChemTank Company!”

The applause was so subtle that Powder wanted to scream at the people around her. She started clapping her hands loudly, startling a few other guests. Caitlyn followed her lead and clapped as well. It made Powder feel better. She told the voice inside her head to fuck off. Viktor was right. There are people in the Topside who wouldn’t care about the status. Caitlyn was one of them.

She relaxed noticeably, yet it only added to her becoming more aware of Caitlyn’s closeness. Powder got nervous, hoping that she didn’t smell bad and that her wild run from the Undercity towards Piltover didn’t make her sweaty. Her overthinking made her legs shake.

“You’re disturbing the presentation for her. Now you’re just bucking your leg into hers like a psycho. She thinks you’re annoying,” Powder placed her hand onto her thigh, trying to cool down the nerves. Her fingers accidentally brushed against Caitlyn’s skin. She wanted to moan.

Caitlyn’s skin was so deliciously soft.

Powder’s brain barely registered that Silco’s presentation concluded. She violently clapped again, throwing her hand away from Caitlyn’s skin.

The next up was Jayce, and his stupid smirk made Powder feel bored out of her mind. She had watched all of his stories, followed all of his social media accounts, and every time he posted, Powder terribly wished that Caitlyn would be friends with anyone other than this guy.

But his speech turned out to be a total disaster. It was so awful that Powder wanted to laugh. Without thinking, she leaned into Caitlyn’s seat, whispering into her ear like she’d do if Ekko was there.

Except it wasn’t Ekko. And Powder’s body was fully aware of that.

When Caitlyn turned to face her, it was as if the lights were turned off inside Powder’s head. They were so close she could feel the woman’s breath on her skin. She watched the reactions on Caitlyn’s face. She seemed to be blushing. She was so close.

For a second, Powder allowed herself to think that Caitlyn actually wanted her back. The thought was so powerful it would’ve kicked the girl off her feet if she wasn’t already sitting. For a moment, Powder felt back in her element, as if she was sitting beside a person she had known all her life. Who liked her.

She was able to crack a joke like she would with Vi. Powder even mentioned Sevika, as if Caitlyn knew her or cared enough to know.

The feeling dared her to act more cocky. She led them out of the hall when the presentation had concluded. The sound of Caitlyn’s heels trailing behind her had made her bolder.

She spotted a few plates with desserts, picking the sweets up and shuffling them inside of her mouth. Powder completely forgot to eat that day, her mind preoccupied with the thoughts about the evening.

“Are you just going to stalk me all night since I’m your plus one?” Powder smirked as she watched Caitlyn blush. It was a beautiful sight to see her frustrated. At once, Powder felt like the one in power, even if she was a nobody invited to the party solely for her connections to Caitlyn Kiramman’s name. Whatever the other woman wanted to explain was cut off by Silco approaching.

That was a welcoming sight.

Powder talked to him, relaxing even more and blabbering about the project to the only person who seemed to care that it was developed by her. Silco had tried to engage Caitlyn into the conversation, yet she seemed reluctant to join. Powder wondered if it was because the woman had prejudices towards ChemTank Company, but it wouldn’t make sense since they were business partners.

At last, Caitlyn excused herself and left. Silco grabbed Powder’s elbow and whispered into her ear.

“And when were you going to tell me that this Kiramman girl is your soulmate?” Powder flinched and drew distance between them. It felt wrong when Silco called her just by her surname. Caitlyn was much more than that. Powder wanted to correct him, alas the man was already continuing his monologue. “Don’t you see how they are all staring at you? Don’t you hear them making fun of you? She had brought you here as a pet on a leash, not a date.”

Powder picked up a new dessert and chewed, not interested in interrupting the man yet. He could say what he wanted about Caitlyn. Powder knew she was different. She was, right?

Instead, she reverted the conversation to something else, asking Silco about Sevika and her new arm. Begging him to let her paint over their new factory building. The conversation carried on for almost an hour. He had to leave her alone eventually, and she walked around the hall, trying to decide what other delicious desserts she could pick. The mere thought of how much it all costed and that it was given to her completely for free was provoking her to eat even more.

Feeling full to her stomach, Powder had decided to cool off and watch the sunset. In her mind, she pretended that she was standing there with Caitlyn beside her, as they both enjoyed the view. When Caitlyn would shiever from the cold evening breeze, Powder would wrap her arm around the woman’s waist and bring her closer.

Dreamily Powder puffed clouds of smoke out of her mouth. As if her dreams were being overheard by the universe, Caitlyn had materialized in the air. Powder glanced at her, noticing that she carried two glasses of champagne in her hands.

“Another reminder that you’re living in another world from her. How will she go to formal events if her date can’t even sip from a glass of champagne? Are you a baby? Do you miss mama’s mi…?” Powder pushed the voice out of her head. She told the woman to head inside. It was really cold for her to be there in just her dress. But looking at her tall figure once again, Powder didn’t really mind if she stayed.

The girl ended up taking her jacket off and pulling it over Caitlyn’s shoulders. She had to raise herself on the tiptoes to be able to do that. Yet the height difference didn’t bother her much. How could it possibly bother anyone when they had such a hot woman as their soulmate?

The jacket looked good on Caitlyn, or at least, it looked good enough for Powder. She felt possessive, wanting to cover the woman up with her own body just like that cloth. Powder threw out another joke about the “plus one” as an attempt at flirting, yet it didn’t look like Caitlyn read it correctly.

“Why do you hate me?”

The question made Powder stop in her tracks. Hated?

Powder looked into the woman’s eyes. There was an ocean of pain inside them.

“Good job there, genius. You behaved so well you’ve managed to make your soulmate think you hate her. Was it also part of the silly plan you couldn’t even carry out in the right order?” She pushed the voice aside, trying to find the words to explain to Caitlyn that she had misunderstood her. Of course, Powder had been irritated, still was, but she had never hated Caitlyn. In fact, she had been absolutely and awfully in lo-...

“That’s not…” She started to say when a squeaking voice interrupted her. Powder reluctantly turned around to face the intruder. Caitlyn’s parents.

And they also stared at her shoes as if it was a murder weapon. Powder tried to hide the vape in her pocket, yet Cassandra Kirammans’ gaze followed the motion, glaring daggers at her.

“What a great first impression, loser–” Powder silenced it, now was not the time to listen to herself. She needed to focus. Ruining Caitlyn’s first impression was one thing, but fucking up in front of her parents would be the end of the play. If they hated her, there would be no way for Caitlyn to want to date her.

Yet whatever Powder said, it was clear that she had failed at this game before it even started. Every word out of Cassandra’s mouth filled her with irritation she could no longer control.

The whole Progress Day was just one hell of a humiliation party, followed by the shameful conversation she had to endure now.

Powder tried to fix the tie on her neck, only now remembering that she hadn’t put it on properly.

While they spoke, disgust was drawn all over Cassandra’s face, although the woman tried to sweeten it up with a fake smile.

It didn’t hurt. Powder had thick skin. But she expected for Caitlyn to chim in at some point. Tell her mother it was rude. Tell her she was wrong.

Yet like a needle, Cailtyn’s silence pierced through her heart, destroying all her defences.

“Yeah, the piltie losers who think so highly of themselves they don’t even attend classes are a big pain in the ass, actually.”

Once the words flew out of her mouth, Powder wished she had managed to stay silent.

“You’ve ruined everything,” the voice gloated. Powder agreed. She tried to look at Caitlyn and understand her reaction. Her mouth was open as if she wanted to speak. Powder begged her to say anything. Caitlyn didn’t.

Powder ran off, returning back home by the subway, only then remembering that she had left her jacket on Caitlyn’s shoulders.

“She’s just going to throw it into trash and wish she could throw you into it, too.”

Powder put some music on and distracted herself by scrolling twitter. She wondered if there would be another one of those Caitlyn Kiramman spotted with a mysterious woman, is that her soulmate? articles, yet it seemed like no one cared enough about Powder to even mention her being at the event.

At home, she tossed her converse shoes off and burnt them down in a trash bin. Her new suit was covered in an unpleasant smell of smoke, but she carelessly plopped onto her fresh covers and thought of Caitlyn’s soft eyes as she stared at the canvas with her painting on it.

Under the blanket, she cried ugly tears. In the morning she announced that she’s quitting. Vander didn’t question it, although the man had seemed heartbroken. In the evening, Vi returned with Powder’s jacket, saying that her soulmate looked like a total mess when she came into the coffee shop. Powder was glad she didn’t see her.

***

“Are you seriously thinking of dropping the job at Hextech Industries? Tell me you’re joking!” Ekko stared at her in disbelief as they both fixed their graduates’ gowns.

“Yup, old man Silco offers a higher pay,” she lied. He didn’t even know anything about it. She didn’t talk to anyone about her future plans anymore. Powder wished she could return the deposit she already paid for the plitie apartment, alas, the contract didn’t allow it. Whatever. Fuck the money.

They entered the hall, where students had already mostly settled down. She could spot Caitlyn amongst the invited guests. She didn’t look at her and continued talking to Ekko instead. Her stupid sister waved at Caitlyn excitedly.

“Well, if you don’t want her anymore, I–”

“Shut up!” Powder slapped her hand and plopped into a chair. They patiently sat through the headmaster’s speech, followed by one from Jayce Talis. People laughed at his words, Powder didn’t find him funny in the slightest.

When Caitlyn was welcomed on stage, Vi nudged her on the shoulder, smirking in her cheeky manner.

“Might just be my fate to meet my true love through my sister, y’know,” she smiled stupidly and Powder hissed at her. The woman on stage started speaking, making them both stop bickering.

Powder looked straight at her, reminding herself that it would be the last time they ever met. She tried to memorize every detail about her. Powder wanted to cry, but willed herself to pull on a poker face. But as her ears started registering Caitlyn’s voice, her heart thumped in her chest with a newborn hope.

“Always remember your goal and stay focused on it. I wish you all to succeed in reaching your dreams.”

Caitlyn kept staring right at her, as if she was only talking to Powder.

She wanted Powder to continue fighting. She wanted for her not to give up. Caitlyn wanted her.

The girl gulped nervously, unable to look at anything else other than the woman on stage. Caitlyn turned away faster than the smile on the Powder’s lips had appeared. She kept smiling at the empty stage like a brainless idiot.

“You alright?” Vi shook her shoulder.

“Yup, perfect,” she laughed, getting ready to stand up and take her certificate. On stage, she finally started feeling proud.

It was all worth it. Step one was completed. And Caitlyn was in the audience to witness her getting an honour student diploma.

Powder’s face wasn’t used to smiling for such a long time, and her jaw started hurting, yet she couldn’t stop herself.

Powder noticed Caitlyn smiling back at her. The scene felt like the ending of a romantic comedy, where the two doomed lovers were finally coming together.

She could barely manage to sit still in her seat as she waited for the ceremony to finish. Once outside, she threw her hat up in the air. She felt Caitlyn watching her, but her family was also there, annoyingly taking all of her attention.

Powder decided Caitlyn could wait a bit longer, and exited the school with them, heart full of warmth.

Later at the bar everyone had managed to get crazy drunk. Powder watched them getting stupid, and only sighed into her orange juice. She looked at Caitlyn’s Instagram profile, finger heaving above the “Confirm” button.

Powder pressed it, finally feeling ready to push things further.

***

“Yeah, y’know, I had to get that reservation at the stupid piltie restaurant months ago. Glad I didn’t cancel on it,” Powder plucked a daffodil flower that had managed to grow out of her mum’s grave. She smiled at it while twirling it in her fingers. “I’m moving out, yeah. Becoming an adult. You’d probably cry if you were to help move the boxes, Vander cried. But don’t worry, I’ll come here often, y’know. I won’t leave you.”

She put the flower inside her pocket and took out her diploma.

“Yeah, see? A graduate now,” Powder smiled, turning to her father’s grave to show it to him too. There were tears of pride prickling in her eyes. They dropped onto the grass as she blinked. “So yeah, about the plan. It’s all finished. Well, I finished it in the wrong order, but it still counts, y’know. Caitlyn said that no matter what happens, you have to stick to your goals. She’s wise like that. And very beautiful,” Powder sighed.

“I’ll bring her to meet you one day. I’m sure you’ll love her,” she said, hands tucked into the pockets of her jeans. “And yeah, this time I won’t fuck up. Oops, sorry, I’ve meant, I won’t mess up. Already bought new shoes. Nothing fancy, but they are cool. I hope she likes it. You think she will? Eh, stop it, dad, I know I’m pretty in anything, but those pilties have such high fashion standards. Her mother went crazy at the sight of my converse sneakers. Yeah, mum, it was really bad. I don’t really wanna talk about it, y’know.”

Powder put her certificate away.

“Don’t worry, mum, I can stand up for myself,” she glanced at her watch. “I gotta go now. Job’s starting soon. Ah, yeah, at Hextech Industries. Thanks, dad, I know you’re proud of me. I’ve managed to make it big, huh? Yeah, bye-bye, I’ll see you later.”

And just like that Powder rushed to catch her subway. It was the last night she had spent under Vander’s roof, and the girl had decided it would be most fitting to visit her parents as a farewell to the Lanes as well.

***

When Powder met Caitlyn at the entrance to Faefolk, she had silently begged herself to act normal. The other woman looked gorgeous. Powder wanted to tell her that. She didn’t.

Her mind was only focused on one thing. Finishing the plan. Telling Caitlyn that she was ready to “settle down”. She had the education, the career, the apartment. The only thing she lacked was her soulmate. Four long years of waiting and anticipating this single moment. And now she only needed to ask Caitlyn out. Easier said than done.

She was somewhat glad that she had already met Caitlyn before. It calmed her down just a tiny bit that they were already familiar with each other. If it was her first time seeing Caitlyn in such a beautiful dress, she wouldn’t be able to withstand the sight and would drop dead on the pavement.

As they stepped into the restaurant, Powder’s brain barely understood reality anymore. She walked as if she was inside of a dream. She talked to the receptionist, confirming her reservation. She had spent hours looking at the interior of Faefolk to get the exact needed table for them. That was way before she had even met Caitlyn in the coffee shop and felt like it happened to her in another life.

The girl sat down. Unable to handle the intensity of her date’s stare, she was looking outside the window, reminding herself of what she needed to say.

Caitlyn, I need to tell you something. I’ve actually been wanting to meet you all these years after I got the mark. I’ve watched you a lot on TV and read about you in the newspapers.

The woman interrupted her with small talk. Powder replied in the way that she hoped made any sense. They ordered food. She could neither look at Caitlyn, nor stare away from her. Powder felt anxiety building. She recited her speech inside of her head.

Sorry for acting so rudely towards you, I didn’t do it on purpose. I was just angry that you met me at such a bad time. I wish you could’ve met the version of myself that deserves to be your soulmate, that was why I was so irritated. But it’s not your fault.

The waiter arrived, carrying their drinks. Powder didn’t feel like drinking her juice, she was already drowning inside the beauty of Caitlyn Kiramman’s eyes.

I think I’ve finally become the kind of person who could be your partner. And I want this meeting to be our first date. What do you say?

The conversation died down, and Powder tried to will herself to voice the words that were racing inside of her head. Once the waiter returned with their food, she plucked at it with her fork.

“Will you just sit there like an idiot who doesn’t even know how to talk to a girl?”

They spoke at the same time. Caitlyn chuckled, Powder tried to smile.

“You go first,” the woman patiently waited for her to speak.

“Caitlyn,” she started, and then took a deep breath in. “I… I need to tell you something.”

Yet the words couldn’t seem to find their way out of her mouth. She took a deep breath in, staring down at her plate. Once she glanced back at Caitlyn, the other woman looked as if she was in deep pain. Powder willed herself to speak.

“Caitlyn, I…–”

“Before you say anything, I feel like I must offer you my sincere apologies,” Powder didn’t understand what Caitlyn tried to say, but she listened. “Sorry for… all the stalking I’ve done. I overstepped all of your boundaries. And I’m especially sorry about the disaster that was the Progress Day. I would’ve never made you come as my plus one…”

“Yeah, of course she wouldn’t, have you seen yourself?” Powder winced.

“...if it wasn’t for the guest list having been already approved. I respect you as a scientist, as a woman that you are. You’ve managed to have achieved so much already, and I am in awe of your talent.”

She respected Powder. She was in awe of her. Powder smiled softly. Caitlyn smiled back, yet it dropped from her face. Instead, the woman started to frown. She took a deep breath in before continuing to speak.

“Although we didn’t start off greatly, I would really like to get to know you, Powder. I think we could become great friends. Only if you wanted that, of course.”

Powder’s smile was stuck on her face. Lips unmoving.

Friends?

“Pft, what else did you expect? You and Caitlyn Kiramman? Together? Vi has better chances with a woman like her”

“Friends?” She repeated, her smile dropping. Caitlyn licked her lips.

“I would understand if you refused. I… I get it, of course, after what I’ve done you would rather get rid of me completely, but I feel like… as if it could work,” she started blabbering, but Powder couldn’t listen to her anymore. All she heard was the word “friends” and it felt terribly wrong.

But the only alternative the woman seemed to have was not talking at all. And that was even worse.

“It’s okay, we could do that,” Powder heard herself whisper, and then watched as Caitlyn’s face lit up in relief. The sun was setting and its reflection danced on the woman’s features, as if sending her a kiss from the sky.

“I’m… I’m so glad, Powder, thank you. Thank you for giving this a chance,” she said, smiling and not at all aware that Powder had to rip her heart out of her chest and stomp on it to give her that answer.

The girl smiled back.

“So, what did you want to say? I’m so sorry for interrupting you, I just needed to get it out of the way.”

“I wanted to say the exact same thing,” Powder tried to hide her lie behind her smile.

“Oh, huh? We must really be soulmates, then,” Caitlyn’s silly grin and her tooth gap were the only things tying Powder’s broken heart together.

“Yup,” she nodded, fork still poking at the shrimps in her salad.

Powder thought of her plan that was still pinned to the wall in her bedroom inside of Vander’s house. Why did she think it could actually work? Everyone was right when they told her it wouldn’t. She pushed these thoughts aside. “So how’s Mr Talis dealing with the drama?” Powder asked instead, finally making an attempt to have a conversation.

Caitlyn excitedly told her everything about the man that Powder was utterly disinterested in. Yet listening to her voice, Powder remembered her younger self, sitting at the desk over books and listening to Caitlyn’s interviews. She smiled at the memory.

Now she sat in front of the real her. Even if Caitlyn didn’t see her as a lover, she was still her soulmate. And Powder had met her. That was all she wrote on that shitty exam paper when scrabbling down her plan. She was finally done. She completed all the steps.

Yet she didn’t feel victorious at all.

Chapter Text

“Look at you, sprout, you’re literally glowing. Did you get lai–”

“Jayce!” Mel shushed him before he could finish his words. Instead, Jayce only wiggled his eyebrows at Caitlyn like a high schooler. The woman rolled her eyes.

Caitlyn was indeed feeling amazing, like a weight had been finally lifted off her shoulders. And it was. She had managed to make it right with Powder, and although their meeting had started pretty awkwardly, they had eventually cleared up all the misunderstandings and finally moved on from it.

Powder asked her about her day, about her work, about Jayce and how they became friends. She seemed curious to get to know Caitlyn, although she was also a tad bit shy. The woman thought it was cute that she was making an effort. By the end of the evening, Powder escorted her to the cab and they bid each other goodbyes. It had been a week since the meeting, and…

“You still haven’t talked to her?” Jayce’s eyes went wide. He was stirring some vegetables on a pan and the oil was hissing inside of it.

“Although we’ve decided to become friends, I think I’d rather gradually get to know her than rush into it and spoil things again,” Caitlyn sipped from her glass of water. Mel hummed in approval.

“That’s very mature of you, dearest. And did you mention that Powder was interested in arts?”

“Does graffiti even count for art? Sounds to me like just vandalizing property,” Jayce chimed in, while serving the food on the plates. Mel only huffed, taking a fork into her hand. At the moment, it looked like she was ready to stab him with it, making Caitlyn an unwilling witness of a murder.

“Jayce, darling, sometimes it’s best to not ask questions. Makes you look a lot more knowledgeable this way,” she patted his shoulder instead. The man shrugged, as if already accepting defeat. “And yes, graffiti is a form of art. It’s rebellious and full of character. Very fitting for a young woman like Powder. Although I didn’t get to talk to her, it seems like she has a very expressive personality.”

“She does!” Caitlyn heard herself yelp, and then blushed as she looked into her plate. That sounded overly excited. She heard Mel lightly chuckle at her words.

“There’ll be a closed art exhibition this Friday, you could invite her. I just so happen to be able to spare you a pair of tickets,” Caitlyn nodded.

“But… Could you make sure to give Powder a separate ticket?”

Mel smiled softly and reached out to lightly caress Caitlyn’s hand. “Of course.”

Later in her bedroom, Caitlyn awkwardly typed on her phone, trying to come up with a proper way to invite Powder to the event.

“Hello, Powder”. No, that’s awkward.

“Hey, Powder!” Maybe, but that’s just overly cheeky.

“Hi, Powder.” More like it . She sighed and pressed her face on the pillow, groaning. Caitlyn had never had a friend like Powder before.

Jayce didn’t count, he was a family friend and more like a brother, and he was the one to spam, with her replying from time to time. Caitlyn’s occasional texts to Mel couldn’t count for proper texting either, since the two had mostly called each other on the phone when needed.

She had thought about calling Powder, but that way she wouldn’t be able to choose the proper words. And she didn’t have her number yet. She could ask Jayce for it, but it felt creepy to make him look through the official papers the girl had provided for her job. Caitlyn lifted her face from the pillow.

@caitlynkiramman Hi, Powder. There’s an art exhibition in Piltover’s Museum this Friday. Would you be interested in checking it out with me?

She finally sent the message. Powder’s profile went online instantly. Caitlyn nervously bit on her nails. She typed some more.

@caitlynkiramman I actually already got us tickets, but if you don’t want to go, this is fine.

@caitlynkiramman You have a separate ticket. You can invite someone else too, this is your choice.

@caitlynkiramman I would still like to accompany you, though, if you would like to, that is.

Caitlyn groaned into the pillow, until the vibration of her phone sent her back to reality. She stared at the notification.

@dontjinxit yeah sure, what time?

@caitlynkiramman It starts at 9 pm, so it shouldn’t interfere with your work hours.

@dontjinxit how do u know my schedule, stalker?

Caitlyn stared at her phone as if it was a gun pointed at her face. She didn’t know Powder’s schedule, not really. She had just assumed it was the same as the work hours for Hextech Industries, which, yes, she had checked with Jayce, but it couldn’t possibly count for stalking, since she hadn’t directly asked what hours Powder works at. Right? Her face lost all colour as she watched Powder type.

@dontjinxit kidding lol, it’s fine, i’ll be there at 9

Caitlyn dropped the phone, panting on her bed as if she had just returned from a battlefield.

@caitlynkiramman Perfect! Looking forward to seeing you.

***

Caitlyn patiently waited for Powder to arrive, coming thirty minutes earlier than their agreed time. She had spent a few days picking out the perfect outfit for the occasion, before deciding to wear something more casual at the last moment. Caitlyn tied her hair into a ponytail, put on one of her comfier pants, and threw a silver button-up shirt above it.

As an act of her own little rebellion, Caitlyn also opted for wearing black sneakers. Although they were designer-made and didn’t look out of place, she had still felt like she was showing Powder some solidarity.

What Caitlyn didn’t expect was for the other girl to come wearing a pretty white knee-length dress, with a leather jacket hanging over her shoulders. She spotted the already familiar Doc Martens on her feet.

With no baggage of guilt behind Caitlyn’s shoulders, the woman felt like she was meeting her soulmate for the first time. There was a certain sense of warmth in her chest, a feeling that she could only describe as the joy from sharing a bond with someone. Caitlyn smiled.

“I like your dress,” she complimented, wholeheartedly. Powder gulped and nodded, looking a bit embarrassed. Caitlyn hoped she didn’t misunderstand her words for sarcasm, but she didn’t want to start blabbering in explanation and ruin the mood of their meeting before it even properly started. “Shall we go?”

They walked towards the entrance in relative silence, disrupted only by the sounds of cars and the voices of people that gathered there. Although Caitlyn usually made her way in without standing in the waiting line, she had decided to avoid showing off the perks of her last name for now.

“How are you–”

“So, you–”

They startled each other by speaking at the same time again. Caitlyn laughed, and Powder lightly chuckled. It seemed to have lifted some tension.

“Sorry, this time I will definitely let you finish your thought,” the woman offered, and if she had noticed Powder flinching slightly, she didn’t pay it much attention.

“You’ve mentioned that you were stressed about that business deal with Demacia,” Powder said while staring down at her feet. She raised her face up, meeting Caitlyn’s eyes. “Did it go well?”

Caitlyn smiled. “I… didn’t think you would remember me talking about it, but yes. It went great, actually. We’ve been able to sign everything just this week. Thank you for asking,” the other girl hummed and turned her attention back to her shoes. “I was actually going to ask you about your work as well,” Caitlyn laughed while her hand mindlessly played with the wristband of her watch.

“It’s fine,” Powder shortly replied, shoving her hands inside the pockets of her leather jacket. It was already rather warm outside, and Caitlyn was curious if it wasn’t too hot to wear it.

She wondered if Powder’s dress had long sleeves. Did Powder put it on just to hide her tattoos? Caitlyn didn’t know why, but she wanted to see the blue clouds on her skin. Maybe she would take it off at some point? Maybe Caitlyn should bring up that it was hot outside?

“You’re hot,” came out of her mouth, turning her whole face red. She coughed, startling a few people in front of them. “I mean… Aren’t you hot? It’s… very warm. And… I didn’t mean to say it like you’re not hot either, I only wanted to ask about your jacket.”

Powder laughed at her and shook her head. “It’s fine, thanks.”

There was newfound beauty in how her blue eyes glowed under the clear sky. Caitlyn liked it when the other girl looked more carefree. Well, if that slip up was enough to make her smile, maybe Caitlyn didn’t mind making a fool of herself that much. Not like she even had to try to make herself look stupid anymore.

They came to the end of the line. The receptionist asked them for their names, and Caitlyn let Powder speak first. She was invited to come in, and the receptionist seemed to be a proper worker and didn’t leave any rude comments, which had made Caitlyn smile at the man like he had just saved her from a car accident.

“Ms Kiramman!” The receptionist greeted her and even though both of them knew she could’ve walked inside without even having an invite, she still made a point of standing in front of him and waiting for the man to check if her name was on the list. “You’re welcome to come in,” he finally said, and she followed Powder inside.

Piltover’s Museum was an outstanding building in both the architectural and cultural way. It was recently reconstructed, with a huge donation coming from Medarda’s name. Inside of it, artifacts from all around the world were presented to the public. During closed events like such, though, only the invited guests could step inside and enjoy its beauty without a crowd of people poking their phones into the ancient art.

“Do you want to take a closer look?” Caitlyn asked her companion, wondering if the girl had ever been there before. Powder nodded, and they strolled through a few grand halls, albeit Caitlyn could see that her soulmate wasn’t paying much attention towards any of the pieces they saw. She decided not to pry about it and instead slowly redirected them towards the main event.

They neared the crowd, the guests looking like they came out of a painting themselves. Caitlyn felt a bit self-conscious in her casual clothes, but then pushed those doubts away, straightened up her shoulders and led them further through the crowd. Powder followed.

A waitress offered them a glass of champagne, but Caitlyn was already prepared for this situation, as if she had studied for a class. “Do you have any non-alcoholic drinks in stock?” She asked, noticing that Powder raised an eyebrow hearing her say this. Caitlyn was proud of herself when the waitress returned with two glasses of non-alcoholic white wine.

Caitlyn offered one to the shorter girl and didn’t say anything else, watching her try it. “Do you like it?”

“Not really,” Powder smiled, voicing her honest thoughts. Caitlyn’s victorious grin was about to drop, but Powder started talking again. “I’ve never tried wine, so I don’t know what it should taste like. It’s pretty bitter,” she commented and hummed.

“This… is exactly how it’s supposed to taste, yes,” she lifted the glass to her own lips and took a sip. It had a rich taste, alas it didn’t leave a tingle of excitement that the alcohol would usually trace inside of her throat. Caitlyn decided to try asking for water next time, taking a mental note to herself.

They started passing art pieces presented by the finest painters of Piltover. Caitlyn looked at Powder, curiously, trying to gauge her reactions. Her face was unreadable, yet Caitlyn decided that the girl was simply lost in her thoughts over the meaning behind the art.

They spent a while standing in front of a particularly large piece of abstract art. Caitlyn wasn’t an artist, although she knew a thing or two about it for the sake of saving face during events as such.

“What are your thoughts about it?” She curiously asked Powder, watching as the other girl tried to find her words. Caitlyn got ready to hear her analysis, trying to prepare her own whilst the girl was lost in thoughts. Through the bright red brushes, the artist had tried to explore the violent nature of love. An aggressive obsession, spreading over the human body, mixing up with the rest of the colours that represent our rational thinking.

“I think…” Powder looked her straight in the eyes. “It’s very pretentious.”

“Pretentious?” Caitlyn was almost offended on the behalf of the artist, although when she looked back at the art piece, she couldn’t find a better word to describe it either.

“Excuse me?” Someone overheard them, stepping in front of the painting as if defending it from Powder’s judgemental eyes. Caitlyn gulped as she recognized the man. When the artist spotted her, he reluctantly stepped away and lowered his chin a bit. “Oh, Ms Kiramman, it’s… a pleasure to see you here. And this is…?” He glanced at Powder in accusation.

“This is Powder, she’s an artist herself,” Caitlyn proudly told him, seeing as the man flinched at the words as if she had slapped him on the face.

“Mhm, I would love for Ms Powder to explain what exactly she thinks is pretentious about this painting,” he glared daggers at the younger girl. Powder didn’t seem to be intimidated by him. She shrugged.

“Just a few splashes of paint here and there. What we’re witnessing is the finest money laundering scheme, not an art piece.”

The artist opened his mouth, taking angry breaths in. Caitlyn watched his nostrils flare, and for some reason the sight had made her snort. When she caught up to the reaction of her body, her cheeks started reddening. Embarrassed, she tried to stop smiling, but it was as if her lips were controlled by a force more powerful than her own self.

The artist watched her in shock. Before Caitlyn could apologize, he huffed and walked away, mumbling “amateurs” under his nose.

Powder clicked their glasses, as if in a celebration of a small victory. Caitlyn didn’t think she won anything, her mind already coming up with all the horrible articles she would read online about herself after the event. What if her mother found out about it? Caitlyn winced. But Powder had finally started to look relaxed, and her energy seemed to clash with Caitlyn’s, eventually spreading over her as well.

The woman noticed other guests eyeing them like prey, yet decided to focus on the light smile spread over Powder’s plump lips.

There was a certain sense of comfort in her smile. Caitlyn wondered if it was what having a soulmate was supposed to feel like.

For another hour, they walked around the exhibition, sparing a few more offensive comments about the art pieces hanging on the walls. Tearing down rich people’s feelings seemed to excite Caitlyn’s soulmate, and the woman tried to enjoy the little act of rebellion as well. It felt like a little game that only the two of them were invited to play. Yet while at it, she still tried to look composed and spoke loud enough only for Powder to hear her.

The event was in full bloom, and guests gathered around the large hall, ready to listen to the artist’s speech. Powder and Caitlyn joined the crowd as well. The man clicked a finger over his champagne glass and started explaining what had inspired his art. Caitlyn noticed that he stared at her sharply, as if trying to smash the information right into her ears.

“You wanna see the real art?” Powder tugged on Caitlyn’s sleeve, making the woman break eye contact with the artist. She heard the man’s speech wavering for a second. Caitlyn couldn’t possibly say no to such a question, when Powder looked at her like she did. Her crystal blue eyes were the fines of art pieces in the museum, so she nodded and followed the girl out of the exhibition.

The sight of them leaving during the speech was rather scandalous, and she caught a few furious glances in their direction, but tried not to focus on them.

“Where are we going?” She asked once they stepped outside the museum. Powder looked at her as if the answer was obvious.

“To the Lanes.”

“Oh, wait, I didn’t come here by my car. Let me call a cab,” Caitlyn tried to take out her phone from her purse, yet Powder stopped her, stepping a bit closer to the other woman. Their height difference was more subtle when Caitlyn wasn’t wearing heels, and she preferred it.

“There's a subway station right here,” Powder pointed a finger to their right side. Caitlyn traced the direction the girl was pointing at with her eyes. It was just on the other side of the street. “Don’t tell me you’ve never taken the subway,” Powder laughed, and Caitlyn blushed in embarrassment, covering it up with a giggle.

“No, of course I had,” she replied, making a point of confidently walking towards the station. They crossed the street, and she opened the tall doors for Powder, letting her inside. The stairwards led them down, and they stood in front of the turnstile. The path was open, so Caitlyn took a sure step towards it. She was stopped by an arm swinging around her torso and pulling her back.

“Yeah, surely you had,” Powder chuckled, not letting her go yet. Caitlyn stared at her arm in wonder. She blushed as Powder’s fingers caressed her waist when the girl let go. “You have to pay first,” she explained, pressing a card to the terminal. It gave a green light. Caitlyn watched it, dumbstruck. “You have to go fast or it will…” She rushed to move, stopped by metal gates clicking just an inch away from her chest. “Yeah, it does that,” Powder laughed behind her back, enjoying the scene.

Caitlyn was incredibly frustrated.

“Don’t worry, I got you,” Powder pressed her card to the terminal again, the gates flying open. Caitlyn rushed to come through them. The other girl waited a second, before paying once again and walking after her.

“I… I’m sorry to have made you waste your money…”

“It’s fine, I have a monthly pass,” she said, nonchalantly.

“Monthly pass?”

Powder’s eyebrows flew up, and she chuckled again. They traveled down on the escalator, and Caitlyn stood a stair down to the other girl, so they were on the same height. She could see every little detail of Powder’s face like that. Caitlyn’s eyes traced the freckles around her nose.

“Gives you the access to an unlimited amount of rides,” Powder explained while showing her the card, and Caitlyn felt silly. She should’ve known this much at her sweet age of 26, having lived in Piltover all of her life. Hence, her family was the one to build the subway system decades ago.

Once they walked down from the escalator, Caitlyn’s eyes took in the beauty of the subway station. It had gigantic tall walls, decorated by monuments of the Piltover’s famous citizens. Powder patiently waited for her as the woman looked around. She probably looked like a tourist, and Caitlyn felt like one as well.

Seeing a train arrive, Caitlyn went towards it, but Powder caught her hand and pulled her back.

“That one goes into the wrong direction for us,” she explained, her fingers still pressed to Caitlyn’s skin. The woman was becoming far too aware of those lingering touches. It was fine though. Friends touched each other all the time. Jayce and Mel hugged her a lot. Powder led her towards the other side, not dropping her hand until they reached it.

“That one goes to Zaun,” the girl clicked her tongue. She pointed at the departure board above it. “You can tell what stations are next by reading from it, see?” Caitlyn nodded. She read the stations’ names with interest until the next train arrived. All the seats seemed to be taken, so Caitlyn thought they must wait for another one. Powder curiously watched her. The train moved.

“Why didn’t you go in?” She asked, as if expecting another great joke. Caitlyn didn’t understand what she could’ve possibly done wrong this time.

“It’s taken, we have to wait for another one,” she said, and Powder laughed so hard that her body almost folded in two.

“Sheesh, Caitlyn, you’re so…” she started to say, yet noticed the hurt expression on the woman’s face and stopped. Sympathetically, she tapped on Caitlyn’s shoulder. “That’s not how the subway works. You just take the train, and then if there’s a seat, you sit. If not, you stand.” She made it sound like this was common knowledge. Caitlyn could die on the spot from embarrassment.

“I’m sorry, we’ll have to wait for hours now…” Powder laughed again, tears almost dropping from her eyes. She had light mascara under her eyelids, and Caitlyn watched how it glistened. The next train arrived faster than Powder could reply. Caitlyn decided to save herself from further embarrassment and entered it in silence. Powder followed.

The woman looked around, seeing an empty seat, and started walking forward before someone had already plopped into it. She slowed down, trying to find another spot. The train started moving, the powerful force of gravity sending her back. Luckily, someone was able to catch her before she fell on the floor like a mess that she was.

“Careful, alright? Hold these,” Powder whispered into her ear, pointing to the handrail. Caitlyn reached for it, gripping the plastic with all her might. She watched Powder stand still on the floor without needing to grasp onto anything. Other passengers seemed to be doing fine without it as well. She felt like a child needing support, yet she held it, reluctant to make another mistake.

The noise from the subway was deafening, and her ears were blocked. She swallowed nervously. Did Powder have to take it daily?

“I usually wear noise blocking headphones, y’know, could be rather loud here,” the girl whispered into her ear, and Caitlyn nodded. It was awfully loud. She felt herself getting dizzy as the train slowed down, announcing that they had arrived at the station. She looked at Powder expectantly.

“Ours is seven stations ahead,” she replied to the silent question, and Caitlyn winced. Powder suddenly moved away, grabbing her with her as well. Before Caitlyn understood what was happening, she was forced onto a seat. Passengers were pressed into her body from both sides, and the woman felt awkward at such close proximity with strangers. Powder was smiling while standing over her.

The train started moving, and Caitlyn was so thankful to be sitting that she could cry.

“You’re welcome,” Powder said, as she lowered her body over Caitlyn’s and whispered into her ear so that the woman could hear.

Caitlyn heard her loud and clear.

But it came at the expense of her eyes also being able to see the subtle cut of Powder’s dress on her cleavage, otherwise hidden by her leather jacket. She spotted the familiar design of the girl’s tattoo, and traced the lines with her eyes.

It took them about twenty minutes to finally reach their station, and when it was announced Powder gave her a hand to help her stand up. They exited the train and Caitlyn was welcomed by the sight of another station, yet much gloomier than the one they were at in Piltover.

The walls lacked any decorations, painted in a simple malachite colour. Powder waited for her to explore it, and then led them both to the exit. Exiting turned out to be far more complicated than entering, Caitlyn decided, as they had to walk through a few paths leading in different directions. But Powder knew where they were going and Caitlyn blindly trusted her.

Once outside, Caitlyn finally breathed the fresh air in. She couldn’t imagine doing it every day.

“You okay there?” Powder chuckled at her, and Caitlyn straightened her back and nodded. The sun had already settled down, yet the Undercity was never dark at night. Neon signs welcomed them, leading the way. Powder marched through the streets as if knowing them by the back of her hand. She probably did.

Caitlyn finally recognized their location.

“Aren’t we going towards the ChemTank Company factories?”

“Yeah,” Powder nodded and kept on going. Caitlyn decided not to ask her why and simply followed the other girl. It got darker as they left the main streets, and Caitlyn hoped that no one would jump them. Yet she didn’t want to voice it out loud, scared to offend the other girl.

In front of a tall gate, Caitlyn stopped.

“It’s closed,” she commented, and Powder nodded.

“Yup,” the girl said, already climbing over some boxes that stood next to the fence. “You coming?”

Caitlyn couldn’t believe herself when her feet started moving. Once she caught herself in the action, she stopped.

“What? This is private property!” She winced at how her voice sounded, but Powder only shook her head.

“It’s fine, trust me,” the girl said and in a spare of a second she had already lifted herself above the fence and jumped to the other side. Caitlyn gasped, watching her rise back to her feet. “So?” Powder giggled as she stood behind the fence.

Caitlyn reluctantly looked around, trying to spot security cameras. Alas, she didn’t find any. She sighed in defeat, climbing the boxes as well. Her jump was clumsy, but Caitlyn had managed not to break any bones in her body, which was already a victory.

They walked through the factory, and Caitlyn curiously looked around at the giant boxes of tech. Finally, they stopped in front of a wall with graffiti covering it. Caitlyn could recognize some of the designs from Powder’s profile.

“That’s our spot,” Powder explained, climbing over the platform in front of the wall. Caitlyn followed. “Have lotta more around Zaun, but seeing your pale face I’ve decided to give you some time to catch your breath,” she laughed, and Caitlyn was thankful for it.

Powder gave her a moment to collect herself and went to roam through the boxes pressed to the wall. The girl whistled victoriously as she took out blue spray paint. Her eyes looked around the wall until she finally found a clear spot. She called for Caitlyn to follow her and then placed the bottle of spray inside of the woman’s hand.

Caitlyn stared at it blankly.

“Give it a go,” the girl cheekily said, moving a step away from the wall.

“What? But this is a factory… This is private property,” Caitlyn mumbled, the spray paint shaking in her palm.

“Relax, no one’s gonna you arrest you for it, I promise. Silco gave a green light, y’know,” Powder reassured her, yet Caitlyn was still reluctant.

She was about to give the spray back when the other girl pressed her body against Caitlyn’s back and took a hold of her hand. She pushed their joint hands towards the wall, pressing her fingers over Caitlyn's. The bottle hissed, spray leaking out of it. Caitlyn watched as it covered the wall.

“OFFICER! OFFICER! ARREST HER! SHE’S VANDALIZING PRIVATE PROPERTY!” Powder yelled into her ear, and Caitlyn winced from the sound and embarrassment. She pushed the other girl off her and watched as she laughed, the sound so infectious that Caitlyn followed and giggled as well. They looked into each other’s eyes and Caitlyn felt warmth inside of her body spread as if she was covered by a soft blanket of emotions.

She never had a friend like that. That’s really what the soulmate bond meant.

Caitlyn tried to return the spray, but Powder shook her head, arms crossed around her chest. “Nu-uh, you gotta try it, c’mon. Just draw whatever comes to mind.”

It was easier said than done. Caitlyn didn’t draw. And the Kirammans didn’t do what they didn’t do well.

She reluctantly returned to the wall. Her fingers pressed onto the trigger, as if it was a gun in her hand. Blue paint flew out, and she lifted her hand awkwardly, trying to at least manage to draw a line. Powder watched her in silence. Caitlyn didn’t know what she was doing, her straight line didn’t look straight at all, which frustrated her enormously. She tried to fix it, forgetting about her initial idea, and grasping onto another fleeting thought. Once done, she stepped away.

“Mhm, what’s that supposed to represent, Ms Caitlyn?” Powder joked as if they were at the press conference. Caitlyn’s heart warmed up at the fact that the girl called her by her name.

“It’s…” Caitlyn actually didn’t want to explain. Not to mention that her idea was creepy enough to be able to embarrass anyone, but she had also wasted a lot of spray on such low quality graffiti. Powder waited for the answer. Caitlyn sighed. “It’s blue smoke.”

Powder seemed to be taken aback by the confession. Alas, she quickly collected herself and tugged off her leather jacket. Caitlyn watched, eyes going wide. The dress didn’t have long sleeves.

“You drew this?” Powder pointed at her tattoo, and Caitlyn nodded shyly. “Mhm, let’s fix it then,” the girl took a few steps forward, making Caitlyn turn back to face the wall.

Powder grasped her hand with the paint once again, standing behind her back and almost pressing onto it. Caitlyn felt the warmth of her body on her waist. The position was awkward and it was clear that Powder would lose balance soon, but before it could happen, the younger girl wrapped her arm around Caitlyn’s waist.

It seemed like the only one aware of the proximity was Caitlyn, because Powder started explaining how to spray paint into her ear, oblivious to how warmth spread in the pit of the woman’s stomach at this single touch.

Caitlyn tried to focus on whatever the girl was saying, alas it wasn’t needed much. Powder pressed a finger over hers, pushing down on the trigger, and adding firm strokes to the wall.

Caitlyn was embarrassed by how feverish she felt.

She couldn’t understand why, yet Caitlyn’s mind raced to find an explanation. The whole soulmate situation had made her stay away from women for a while, so it made sense that her body felt restless. And especially in the presence of such a pretty girl like Powder. Although they were only friends, Caitlyn wasn’t blind, and it was a perfectly normal reaction to have, she didn’t need to be embarrassed.

She nodded to herself, as if the case was solved. Similarly, the painting was also finished, and she felt Powder let go.

“Whatcha think?” The girl leaned onto the wall where it wasn’t painted. Caitlyn opened her mouth a few times, before shutting it.

Powder lifted an eyebrow. She looked so relaxed. It managed to calm Caitlyn down as well.

“It was… exciting,” she said, without needing to lie. It was exciting in all the wrong ways.

Powder grinned. “See, told ya, real art is what makes you explore yourself,” she added thoughtfully.

They spent a bit of time talking about the rest of the graffiti over the wall. Caitlyn traced over some of them, and Powder talked so much that her voice seemed to get stuck inside of Caitlyn’s head, for the woman could swear she’d never be able to unhear it ever again.

It got past midnight when they had decided to head back. At the gates, Caitlyn started walking towards the boxes, but Powder chuckled and pressed a key on the terminal. The gates flew open. She cheekily grinned.

“You had the key all the time?!”

“Yeah, well, it was funny to see you climb over there,” Powder laughed and they walked away from the factory, talking about everything and nothing.

Caitlyn already dreaded going to the subway, but for some reason Powder didn’t lead her there.

“Aren’t we going to the station?” She couldn’t help but ask.

“The subway doesn’t work anymore, it’s past 1 am,” the girl calmly explained, once again notifying Caitlyn about her own ignorance. The woman nodded and offered to call the cab. Powder agreed. They waited for the car to arrive in relative silence, and then climbed inside.

Powder spread her legs in her usual manner, pushing an elbow on the window and leaving another in the space between them. Caitlyn sat cross legged, hands resting on her knees as well. The girl was looking out of the window, probably missing her home.

Caitlyn was watching Powder instead of paying attention to anything else.

In the span of the evening, she had managed to learn more about that girl than she had since the day they had met. And now she was really glad that she had asked Powder to be friends.

She was a wonderful person.

Caitlyn’s hand awkwardly fell off her lap as the car took a sharp turn. It landed close to Powder’s, and her brain short circuited as their skin met. The touch was so subtle, yet Caitlyn melted on the inside, already worked up after spending the night with her.

Her stop was the first on the way, and she wished Powder to get home safely before dragging her feet to her apartment.

Inside, she mindlessly took off her clothes, rushing to the bathroom. She poured cold water over herself, her body whining in protest.

Yet it didn’t seem to be a big help.

She looked at the fingers of her hand that had touched Powder only a few moments ago. Caitlyn pushed them into herself, coming undone in the span of a minute.

She managed to finish her shower and dragged her feet to the bed, too embarrassed to even think about what had just happened.

This was normal. All bodies have needs. This is a very human reaction, there was nothing to be shy about.

Caitlyn fell asleep, teeth gripping the wristband of her watch.

***

“Didn’t know you had a hobby of vandalizing private property, Ms Kiramman,” Silco smirked at her as she sat at his table, going over the papers that needed signing. She froze, looking back at him, mouth agape. “Save your breath. I just hope you’ve enjoyed this little Undercity rendezvous. It can be our secret,” he pressed a finger to his lips and went back to the files.

So there were security cameras there.

She sighed, trying to focus on the meeting.

Once outside, she jumped into her car, driving to the CUPCAKES.CO. Although Powder didn’t work there anymore, they still had decent coffee and Caitlyn needed a break.

Vi greeted her with a wave, and she ordered a tall latte, patiently waiting for it at the counter. There were a few customers here and there, but Vi managed to take their orders while still talking to her.

“Five minutes since I came in, and you’ve yet to use a single pickup line. Did you finally run out of them?” She smirked at the barista, and the girl loudly laughed at the joke.

“Nah, I got an infinity written down right here,” Vi tapped a finger over her temple. “I just value my life, y’know, only got one left,” she shrugged, sprinkling cinnamon over a drink.

“I won’t kill you,” she raised an eyebrow, curiously watching the barista's reactions. The woman placed the cup away, and leaned over the counter, coming far too close to Caitlyn’s face. Her grey eyes stared into Caitlyn’s, lips spread in a hungry smile.

“I ain’t afraid of you, Cupcake,” she winked and leaned away. “There’s one blue-haired freak in this city with murderous tendencies though, and she happens to know where I sleep.”

“Didn’t know Powder was that protective over her friends,” Caitlyn shrugged, taking a sip of her coffee. Vi chuckled and nodded.

“Oh yeah, that she is,” the older sister laughed, returning to her work. Caitlyn smiled at her, bidding goodbye and heading towards her office.

Caitlyn didn’t really know what the “bro code” friends usually had, as she and Jayce had never once had a problem like this, but it made sense for her that Powder wouldn’t want Vi to attempt wooing her now that they were friends.

It was nice to have a friend like her, Caitlyn decided.

She groaned as her wrist tingled in protest at that thought. Psychosomatics. Caitlyn shook her head.

She had better erase all those lewd feelings that she started developing. It was improper and Powder deserved much better than a friend that fingered herself in the shower after they held hands.

In the office, she worked to the point her mind only saw numbers, with no space for anything else left.

Chapter Text

@dontjinxit u free this saturday?

Caitlyn bit her lip, trying to remember if she had any plans for the weekend.

“...how unbecoming of her, an heiress of such a powerful dynasty, decided she’d rather take a detour and focus on her scientific research instead of managing the family’s business,” her mother was huffing loudly in the meantime, filling her in on the latest gossip from Demacia.

“Young people,” Caitlyn’s dad shrugged, whilst his own daughter was barely keeping up with the conversation, too busy coming up with a reply to Powder’s text.

@caitlynkiramman Hi, Powder. I happen to be free, yes. Why?

“Didn’t you get the chance to meet her, Caitlyn? She was visiting not so long ago,” Cassandra tried to include her into the conversation, making Caitlyn push the phone back into her pocket.

“Luxanna? Yes, we had a meeting, it went well,” she shortly replied, waiting for her phone to vibrate and announce Powder’s answer.

“Remember when our dear Caitlyn had her little rebellious phase?” Tobias smiled looking at his wife. “Slipped out from the house at 5 am before school only to play on the court all alone, thinking we didn’t notice.”

@dontjinxit got a new console, wanted to check it out

@dontjinxit ekko and vi r busy

@dontjinxit wanna come over?

Caitlyn gulped. Wasn’t it too soon for them? She frowned. It wasn’t weird for friends to hang out together. And it didn’t mean anything inappropriate. Why did her mind jump to such places?

@caitlynkiramman Of course, do I need to bring anything?

“Looks like our dear Caitlyn is entering a new rebellious phase,” Cassandra rolled her eyes, and made a point of loudly dropping a fork against her plate. Caitlyn met her gaze.

@dontjinxit nah, just bring yourself

She put her phone on the table as her mother glared daggers into her.

“This girl is a bad influence on you,” Cassandra said, and Caitlyn knew that this conversation would arise the moment she got an invite to a family dinner.

“She has a name, mother,” Caitlyn dared to look back at her with a raised chin. She lowered it very fast as she watched her mother’s features sharpen.

“You do, too, Caitlyn. Yet you seem to have forgotten about it,” the girl tried to control her breathing, not backing down as she still had a joker on her hand.

Caitlyn didn’t spend the whole night going through the Council’s files for nothing. Mel had also been of great help, warning her about some of the rumours that traveled around Piltover about Caitlyn Kiramman and her mysterious companion throwing shade over one of the city’s renowned artists.

Caitlyn expected for her mother to start scolding her for it, yet she didn’t want to sit there like a little girl and allow it. So instead, she came prepared.

“I’ve happened to overhear a very unpleasant conversation about one of your… public outings. If only you knew how shameful it felt to listen to the councillors discussing your—”

“Maybe instead of gossiping they should focus on solving the corruption scheme unfolding right in front of their eyes,” she smirked, already seeing that it managed to hook her mother’s attention.

“Whichever you mean right now?”

“Mhm, I took a wild guess,” Caitlyn shrugged in victory, “and decided to look into the city’s expenses. Councillor Hoskel had apparently spent quite a big sum from the taxes on rebuilding a few subway stations in the Undercity, yet the reconstruction only involved repainting the walls, which, in my humble opinion, doesn’t require that much of our citizens’ money,” Caitlyn was almost done, yet she needed to hammer the nail deeper.

“I’ve thought you would be interested in this information, since the Kirammans were the ones to build the subway system in the first place. What a waste of our heritage,” she shrugged, triumphally raising a glass to her lips.

Her mother seemed to have forgotten about Powder for the time being. Although the woman continued to look at her coldly, Caitlyn was able to catch the subtle yet prideful smile on her face.

***

Caitlyn still had a few hours to spare before coming over to Powder’s apartment, which was relatively close to where she lived. Full of anxiety over the upcoming meeting, she tugged on blue jeans with a simple dark T-shirt over it, and drove to the mall to clear her mind.

Although Powder had told her not to bring anything, she still felt weird about visiting empty handed. When Caitlyn came over to Mel and Jayce’s house, she usually brought expensive alcohol. Yet Powder didn’t drink, and bringing a pack of juice, no matter how fresh those oranges could be, seemed awkward.

Caitlyn finally wandered into a gaming shop, running short on the ideas. She never went inside those and was curious to explore it. The large shelves were filled with game boxes and toys of what seemed like famously known characters, yet Caitlyn couldn’t recognize any of them. A couple of teenagers were loudly discussing a comic book.

She felt out of her element yet again and wished Powder was there with her. “Can I help you with anything?” The shop manager seemed to have caught on to her being terribly lost, appearing right in front of her face.

“Good afternoon. I’m looking for games that two people could play,” she replied, eyes roaming over the posters on the walls. The assistant nodded.

“So, multiplayer. For what console?”

Caitlyn didn’t know there were different consoles. Caitlyn didn’t know what console Powder had, either.

“Any will suffice,” the woman said, deciding she’d rather be safe than sorry. The shop assistant seemed impressed for a second, before starting to ramble over the games they had.

“Any particular genre you’re looking for? Co-op? Fighting games? Shooters?” She stared at him blankly. The man stared back.

“Could you get all of them for me, please?”

Caitlyn didn’t know that this many games existed. She lifted a heavy bag as she walked out of the store, with what felt like a hundred game boxes inside of it. It wasn’t an overkill, was it?

She hoped that Powder would at least find it hilarious. Caitlyn’s cheeks reddened at the thought of seeing the other girl’s smile. They had spent a week in relative radio silence, with Powder sending her only one text, telling her that she arrived home safely after their meeting.

And Caitlyn was already starting to miss her friend.

The woman lifted the heavy bag, putting it inside of her car, and then drove towards Powder’s apartment complex. Parking, she sighed as she glanced at the shopping bag, already reluctant to bring it in. Yet it felt like it would be even more awkward to buy all these games only to chicken out and not bring them.

She called Powder’s intercom and the girl let her in. Taking a lift, Caitlyn tried to prepare herself for the meeting whilst trying not to look overly joyful. Her strength had evaporated as she saw the sight of Powder in loose gray shorts and a tight crop top. Caitlyn’s eyes roamed all over her body, tracing the lines of the blue smoke tattoo and travelling down to the girl’s exposed waist.

“Wanna enter or you’ll just be standing there?”

Caitlyn nodded, blushing and hurrying inside. She carefully put the shopping bag down, taking off her shoes. Powder looked at it curiously, yet waited for her to explain.

There was something really attractive in the way Powder acted when she felt comfortable. As if a protective layer was torn off her body, exposing her as the person she actually was. Caitlyn decided she liked that version of her the most.

Yet it was also frustrating, because her focus wavered whenever her friend looked at her like that. So unafraid and daring. It was far too easy to get lost inside her gravity pull. Caitlyn held eye contact long enough that she started to hear her own heartbeat ringing in her ears.

The woman brought herself back to reality, grasping the bag from the floor. She held it in her hands for a few seconds before offering it to Powder.

“I’ve… wanted to get you something for the… console that you’ve mentioned. Yet you didn’t specify which, so…” She swallowed and prepared for the humiliation that would surely follow.

“So you just got–” Powder whistled and glanced inside of the bag, curiously looking through the game discs. “Whoever sold you this was an asshole,” she laughed, not at Caitlyn, but at the shop manager. The woman let out a breath of relief. “Got you PS4 and PS5 versions of the same games, see? Man, even limited editions along with normal ones,” Powder lifted a few games out of the bag and rolled her eyes, as if it made any sense to the other woman. Caitlyn nodded in agreement.

“I’ll just donate the other games to…”

“Nah, that’s my gift, I’m keeping ‘em,” Powder took the bag and carried it towards her living room. It was mostly empty, the style seemingly so different from what Caitlyn had imagined Powder’s apartment to look like.

“Are you still settling in?” She asked, looking at the minimalistic design of the room with barely any trace of Powder in it.

“Nah, I’m done, why?”

Caitlyn wanted to tell her that the apartment looked character-less, yet it felt rude. Besides, it wasn’t like she knew Powder that well to be able to judge what her space was supposed to look like.

“Just… wanted to know if you needed any help,” she smiled at her instead, and the other girl only shrugged.

“It’s fine, Vi’s got a car.” Caitlyn nodded, standing awkwardly near a couch. “You can sit down, y’know,” Powder offered her, and the woman followed the advice. The couch was comfy enough, yet she couldn’t fully relax into it. “Do you want soda?” Caitlyn wasn’t offered any other option, so she just nodded. Powder brought her a can and plopped onto the space next to her, roaming through the bag and taking game discs out of it.

Her eyes were lit up with excitement. Caitlyn counted it as a win, although she still didn’t understand what exactly was the prize.

In front of them stood a tall white console with a large TV behind it, two colourful controllers resting on the charging station. Caitlyn curiously looked at the setup.

“Got my first paycheck,” Powder said as she caught the woman staring. “I’ve had a PS4 back in the day, but had to sell it to… eh…” she paused, then turned back into the bag, pretending like she finished her thought. Caitlyn wanted to question her further, yet she delicately let it slide.

“These ones,” the girl showed her some white boxes, “work for mine,” Powder pointed at her console and Caitlyn tried to remember this information. Caitlyn wanted to ask what games Powder usually played, but she didn’t even have to voice it out loud. The girl was already excitedly blabbering about the video games. She said something about wanting a switch, Caitlyn didn’t understand what she meant, and instead just watched her go through the bag.

Abruptly, Powder stood up from her place, grabbed the controllers and just as fast sat down, this time scooting much closer to the other woman. Caitlyn was able to catch the subtle smell of her citrus perfume.

Powder placed a dark purple controller into her palm. Caitlyn closed her fingers over it, accidentally meeting Powder’s skin. She almost gasped at the touch, but managed to save face at the last moment. Powder glanced at the controller, as if to make sure the other girl was holding it tightly, yet she didn’t let go.

“Ever played before? And don’t lie this time, ok?” Powder was far too close to Caitlyn’s face for the woman to even be able to think, yet alone lie. Her eyes looked so pure and Caitlyn could spot her own reflection inside them. Powder wanted a friend, and she was acting as anything but a friend right now.

She shook her head, scooting a bit further away from the other girl. The distance enabled her brain to form coherent thoughts again.

When she looked at Powder, the girl seemed to be frowning. But right in front of her eyes, Powder collected herself and pulled a warm smile back onto her face. Although this time it lacked something behind it. Caitlyn couldn’t understand what went wrong, so she decided it was probably her fault for making the skin contact seem awkward and drawing away so abruptly.

“I’m sorry,” she apologized, yet Powder shook her head and laughed.

“That’s fine, I’ll teach you,” she replied, and it took a moment for Caitlyn to realize that she was still talking about gaming. Powder couldn’t read her thoughts, she didn’t know what a pervert she was. Although the thought was refreshing, it also made Caitlyn feel twice as awful, having to deceive someone as innocent and pure as this girl. She quickly collected herself, turning her attention back to the controller.

Powder had a similar one on her lap, yet its colour was light blue. It felt fitting for her. Caitlyn desperately tried not to glance at the blue ink of the girl’s exposed tattoos, failing at it yet again.

There was just something so mesmerizing about the design.

Caitlyn wondered if they had any meaning. Jayce told her not to ask about it, because “those artsy people hate being asked this stuff, trust me, kid”. So she didn’t.

Powder clicked a button on her controller, and the console let out a small sound, turning the TV on as well. Caitlyn knew she should give her attention to the screen, yet she let it linger on her friend.

She wondered if Powder had ever considered forming a romantic relationship with her soulmate, perhaps hoping that it would be Ekko’s name on her wrist. Caitlyn felt like she had spoiled the kind of future Powder could’ve had, although logically it was fully out of her control. Caitlyn was just as much the victim of fate as the girl beside her was. She spent eight years thinking it to be true.

Yet she didn’t feel like that anymore.

She stared at Powder’s lips, imagining if they’d taste like the raspberry vape she liked to smoke. Her mind short circuited when they parted a bit, as if the girl was talking.

“I know I’m very entertaining to look at, but I was asking what game you wanted to play,” Powder’s voice came through her wave of thoughts, and Caitlyn blushed, realizing she had missed out on the other girl’s words completely.

“Sorry, I just…” She couldn’t find an excuse. Yet Powder laughed, as if she wasn’t even expecting one. It eased away some of Caitlyn’s nerves, although the tangled mess of knots between her legs just tightened at the sound. “I never really played anything other than sudoku,” she said, still embarrassed about her intrusive thoughts, but Powder read it as her being shy about her nonexistent gaming experience.

The girl caressed her hand in reassurance. Caitlyn almost burned from the touch, unintentionally fidgeting and crawling deeper into her side of the couch. Powder’s hand fell between them.

“Don’t worry, I’ll go easy on you,” she offered the woman a smile, yet Caitlyn didn’t want easy. The thought had managed to pull her out of that bubble instantly. She straightened her back, returning some of the Kiramman pride.

“No need, I’m sure I’ll catch up fast,” Caitlyn was now set on a task to win. Besides, how hard could it really be to win in a video game? Kids played those, and Caitlyn had a masters degree behind her back.

“Mhm, suit yourself.”

Powder’s choice of a game was the one where two players had to fight each other. The game didn't even start, yet Caitlyn had already frowned at the screen.

“I need to choose my character?”

“Yup, just choose whoever you like,” Powder patiently waited for her as Caitlyn awkwardly scrolled through what seemed like an infinity of different heroes.

“They all have different abilities?”

“Yeah, and different fighting combinations, but you’ll catch up fast, I’m sure,” Powder smirked, and the cockiness made Caitlyn a bit annoyed. There was no going back now.

She had to win.

Yet to even get the chance to play, she had to choose her champion. Caitlyn frowned, trying to think about it logically. Yet they all seemed so different. She chewed on her lip in agony.

“You can win with any of them, by the way. Just choose the pretty one or something,” Powder intervened, as if reading her thoughts. Following her instruction, she pressed on a female character in a blue outfit. “Mhm, now the fun starts!”

Yet before the game could even begin, Powder paused it. Caitlyn frowned.

“Try to memorize the combinations on the screen,” she said, and Caitlyn stared at the screen in shock. She used to think she had photographic memory, yet even if she screenshotted it into her brain, Caitlyn would never be able to press so many buttons at the same time. “Ready?”

She wasn’t.

“Yes.”

Caitlyn managed to learn that the attack button was almost any button she pressed, so she tried to smash her fingers over them as fast as she could. Yet Powder easily pressed onto her, managing to hold her against the wall of the battlefield.

Caitlyn wished she was holding her against the wall in real life.

Just as this thought entered her brain, the match was lost. Mortified, but not over the defeat, she looked at her friend. Powder smirked, pressing the controller onto her chin.

“Do you want me to teach you now?”

“Yes, I want you,” she breathed out, blushing and rushing to add, “to teach me, please.”

Powder patiently showed her combinations, holding Caitlyn’s hands in her own over the controller for a better example. Although Caitlyn mentally beat herself up for that later, the woman had intentionally misunderstood the clear instructions a couple of times only to provoke more skin contact. After a while, her consciousness sneaked back into her brain, telling her that she was taking advantage of her friend’s innocence.

“I think I get it now!” She exclaimed, brushing Powder’s fingers away.

“Ready for the rematch?”

“Bring it on.”

It was clear that Powder was barely fighting her back, which hurt her Kiramman pride. Yet Caitlyn’s own dignity was already left behind after she touched herself in the shower, so the girl just let herself enjoy the game.

But far too many defeats with little to no damage to Powder’s champion still ended up frustrating her out of her mind.

During those few meetings they had, Caitlyn always looked like a total fool. She wasn’t usually a person who wanted to take revenge, yet she also wanted to look a bit more impressive. Mentally, she had already booked a private tennis court for the next week. Caitlyn wondered if she should buy a racket for Powder or just let her borrow one of her own.

Still in the middle of a game, she took a peak at the girl’s arms, trying to gauge the weight of the racket that would be comfortable for Powder to carry. What she saw instead was a subtle, yet visible, amount of muscles that the girl had somehow managed to have on her small frame. She had strong arms. Caitlyn gulped, watching them flex under her pale skin.

“You give up?” Powder curiously stared back at her. “We could play something else, y’know, where we’d need to work together, not against each other.” Caitlyn knew a game like that, she was a pro at it, actually. “There’s this one where you need to cook together, but Vi really hates playing it. She's got a terrible attention span, always just tossing and turning from task to task. You’d really start to wonder how she manages to be a good barista after all that.”

Powder started the game, and Caitlyn had to choose a character yet again. She went through the options, accidentally pressing a confirm button over a character that she didn’t want to take. A female pirate with one eye. Caitlyn cringed.

“Can I change it?”

“Nah, it’s fate,” Powder laughed, her own character being a cute little axolotl. Caitlyn tried to remind herself that she wasn’t 7 years old to be upset over this, so she hid her frown.

This game turned out to be much easier, and Caitlyn, having already understood how the controller works, was having a blast. She was used to managing tasks and bossing people around, and Powder seemed all too eager to follow her lead. They made a great team. It made her grin at the screen as they completed a level after level with ease.

Although her luck was jinxed pretty soon, and they started to struggle. Which, for a reason that was above Caitlyn’s understanding, made the woman scoot closer to her friend, as if the proximity would somehow help them work together.

Her right side was fully pressed into Powder’s, as she panted over the controller, making futile attempts to win.

When Caitlyn noticed that the closeness had made Powder uncomfortable to the point the girl started losing her concentration, she scooted back.

“Sorry, I… got a bit excited.”

There was a blank expression on Powder’s face, and Caitlyn hoped that she didn’t cross the line. Yet the girl shook her head and reassured her that everything was okay. She shortly announced that she had to go to the bathroom, and Caitlyn allowed herself to take a break as well.

The woman glanced down at her watch, noticing how three hours had managed to fly by. No wonder people were so addicted to gaming. It made her feel appreciative that her parents didn’t allow her to play as a kid. She didn’t think she’d be able to stop if they did.

Powder returned, water dripping over her face. Caitlyn wondered if she was okay, but the girl was already asking her if she wanted to take a break from playing and have something to eat instead. She nodded. Preparing so many digital meals had also made her somewhat hungry.

It turned out, though, that just like Caitlyn herself, Powder didn’t know how to cook in real life. They laughed about it before opting to order takeout. Caitlyn let Powder choose whatever she wanted, saying she was fine with anything. They went back to the couch, sipping soda and waiting for the delivery to arrive. Powder seemed at ease once again, talking about playing games with her family.

“...Yeah Ekko’s,” this guy again “actually my only equal when it comes to fighting games. He knows all the combinations, it’s like he studies the games before we play them,” Powder said with a smile on her face, although there was a hint of frustration in her voice as well.

“You seem close,” Caitlyn commented, absentmindedly. She wasn’t going to actually pry into it, not like she cared if Powder and Ekko were a thing. Which they most certainly were.

“Yup,” Powder confirmed, nodding. “He’s like a brother to me, although I already have far too many,” the girl laughed at her own joke, making Caitlyn freeze on the spot.

What?

“...brother?”

“Mhm, didn’t I tell ya? Apart from my annoying sis that you had already met, I got two more even more horrible siblings that I’d rather you never meet, trust me,” although her words were bitter, there was a certain warmth on her face when she said it. Yet it wasn’t at all what Caitlyn was asking about. “Ekko’s our neighbour, I’ve known him ever since I knew myself. Even helped me get into PSA, he’s actually been a really big help with my plan” Powder shut up, turning away from Caitlyn. “My life… err… future plan, I mean.”

“Oh, what kind of future have you planned out for yourself?” The woman switched her attention from the boy she actually didn’t want to talk about, looking at Powder with newfound curiosity.

“Eh, y’know, just eh…”

The doorbell rang, and Powder flew from the spot as if she was seeking a way out of the conversation. Caitlyn didn’t understand what got her so worked up, but she assumed that the matter was far too personal for her to share.

Powder returned with a pizza, placing it on the table and taking a slice, as if shuffling her mouth from leaking out any additional information. Caitlyn followed her lead.

“Wanna watch a movie?” Powder asked in between bites, and Caitlyn agreed. The girl licked her fingers clean before taking the remote control. Caitlyn wasn’t planning to be picky, yet seeing the sight had made her agree on the first movie that the girl offered.

Caitlyn had already seen it, and from the looks of it, Powder had seen it too. Instead of focusing on the plot, the two had mostly talked over it. Caitlyn was usually annoyed by interruptions, yet it was too easy to get carried away listening to Powder’s commentary.

When the movie was reaching its culmination point, Caitlyn noticed how Powder’s leg started shaking again, the same way it did during the Progress Day. Her body reacted before Caitlyn’s brain could catch up. The woman put a palm over Powder’s thigh, slowing down the shaking. She hoped it managed to calm the girl down.

Powder definitely got less fidgety, but she also fell completely silent. Yet the girl didn’t try to shake her hand off, so Caitlyn let it rest there.

The thin material of Powder’s shorts felt so warm, as if the girl’s skin was burning aflame underneath it. Caitlyn supposed it was fitting that she had blue clouds of smoke covering her body, if that was the case.

When the woman felt Powder’s knees buckle again, she traced circles over her thigh with her thumb, trying to calm her down. She sent a curious glance at Powder’s face, spotting an unfamiliar red blush taking over her usually pale skin. Caitlyn hoped that Powder wasn’t embarrassed about getting so fidgety in front of her. She didn’t mind helping her calm down. They were friends for a reason.

Powder’s eyes met hers, and Caitlyn offered her a reassuring smile. Whatever Powder saw on her face made the girl sharply return her attention to the screen. Caitlyn kept tracing circles on her thigh until the credits started playing.

After the movie, Powder went to the bathroom again. When she returned, there were drips of water all over her crop top. Caitlyn wondered if there was a reason for such a high level of anxiety that the girl had, but yet again, it felt more fitting for Powder to be the one to tell her about it.

The sun had already settled down, and Caitlyn felt like she was overstaying her welcome, although she really didn’t want to go.

“Are you free next Saturday?” She asked while Powder was pouring herself a glass of cold water. The girl shook her head. “Okay then, don’t make any plans,” Caitlyn watched as Powder nodded and gulped down the whole glass of water, as if she had just ran a marathon.

They talked a bit more before Caitlyn reluctantly buckled towards the door.

“I guess I’ll get going, don’t want to intrude on your day off,” she said politely, and started putting her shoes on. Powder was pouting, as if she didn’t want for Caitlyn to leave just yet. Yet the woman told herself that it was only her wild imagination. It was already past respectable hours for her to stay over in her friend’s house, so she made herself move.

Before thinking through it, she pulled the other girl into a goodbye hug, pecking her on a cheek. They both froze at the action, although it was a pretty normal way for friends to part ways in Piltover. Caitlyn wondered if people in the Lanes had different customs.

“Goodnight, Powder,” she shyly whispered as she let go.

“Goodnight, Caitlyn,” Powder replied once the woman had already stepped out of the apartment. She watched her enter the elevator and only walked away once the doors had closed.

That was when the events of the night had started registering in Caitlyn’s head.

She lifted her hand to her lips, fingers tracing over them in disbelief that they were pressed into Powder’s cheek not so long ago. It sent the familiar pulse down to Caitlyn’s centre. For some reason, she didn’t want to fight it yet.

At home, she took a shower, making a promise that it would be the last time she dared to touch herself while thinking of her soulmate. Not even an hour later, she broke the promise again, yet sprawled over the silky covers of her bed this time.

Frowning over how she had just terribly violated her friend’s boundaries, Caitlyn did the only thing that could make her feel a tad bit better about herself. With a laptop resting on her thighs, she spent the rest of the night choosing a tennis racket that she could present to Powder in a silent apology for committing a crime that the girl would never find out about.

Chapter Text

“Good afternoon, Ms Kiramman. I’m afraid Mr Talis is currently having a meeting, but he’ll be available in an hour,” the receptionist at Hextech Industries welcomed her with a warm smile. The woman returned it with effortless ease.

“I’m actually not here to see him,” she informed, eyes already locked on the elevator. “Could you give me an access key to the laboratory floor, please?” Caitlyn asked with a confident smile that tried to reassure the receptionist that she was allowed to enter. She wasn’t. At least she didn’t ask Jayce or Viktor like she would usually do.

“Of course, Ms Kiramman,” Caitlyn took a small card from the table and carried herself towards the elevator. She didn’t know where exactly Powder worked, yet she felt overly joyful and impatient to wait any more.

Just a few hours ago the present she had urgently prepared for the girl had arrived at her office, and she stared at the bag for about half an hour before taking off and driving to the Hextech Industries headquarters.

She put a white laboratory coat over her dark blue suit and tugged on shoe covers. Thankfully, most of the rooms in the laboratory had tall glass walls, so Caitlyn figured it wouldn’t be so hard for her to find Powder there. Especially with how bright of a sight her blue hair was, making her far too easy to spot in the crowd.

Beyond herself with giddiness, Caitlyn strolled through the halls, peaking at the scientists as they poked at their projects. Some of them recognized her and excitedly waved. Caitlyn was thankful that she didn’t meet Viktor, though.

Finally spotting Powder, she slowed down, straightening her back before entering through the door. The girl was wearing the familiar headphones over her ears, music blasting so loudly that Caitlyn could hear it a few steps away from her.

The woman didn’t know how to announce her presence without startling the other girl, so she silently stared at her for a moment too long. Powder had her hair tied up, goggles pulled onto her eyes. Caitlyn couldn’t understand what she was working on, yet it looked like another sort of prosthesis.

Jayce mentioned that Viktor had entrusted Powder with that branch of their work, offering her a pretty high position for a fresh out of university inexperienced worker. Caitlyn thought it was beautiful that the other girl had earned this place with her talent. And she thought that Powder looked beautiful, too.

In the end, she took a step towards the other girl, lightly brushing over her shoulder. Powder raised her eyes up sharply, twitching from the contact. Caitlyn awkwardly dropped her hand and offered her a guilty smile. Powder shook the headphones off her head.

“I’m sorry that I’ve scared you,” Caitlyn apologized curiously glancing at the project that the girl had left unattended at the table. Before she could take a full view of it, Powder scooted towards her, shielding the project from Caitlyn’s eyes with the back of her chair.

“Protected by the NDA,” Powder explained, with a hint of a smirk tugging on her lips.

“Surely I’d be allowed to…–”

“Nu-uh, Ms Caitlyn is above law now?” Powder raised from her chair, playfully shaking her head. Caitlyn was more curious than she had ever been about any other Hextech project, but she decided to let it go. It was especially easy to do when the other girl was standing so close to her, the gap between them barely an arm's length. “So what brings you here?”

Caitlyn took a step back, trying to hide her boiling excitement, and shrugged. “I just wanted to see where my investments were going,” she said, albeit the grin on her face was almost reaching her ears.

“I think you’ve missed a couple floors,” Powder took off her goggles, bright blue eyes reflecting the overbearing white light of the laboratory. “I’m just a fellow scientist, not the financial department.”

“Well, aren’t you my most vital investment then?” Caitlyn didn’t know what made her say that, or what made her stare at Powder so intently, yet when she realised that she was definitely flirting, the woman sharply returned to reality.

Caitlyn let out a nervous laugh to make it look like she was joking. The other girl stared at her blankly, as if missing the humour. The woman turned on her heels, facing away at the door. “I’ve got something for you, but it’s in my car. Could you take a small break and come with me?”

Powder followed her to the door and they tried not to bring too much attention as Caitlyn sneaked her out of work during the middle of the day. Powder took off her white coat and Caitlyn noticed that the girl was wearing a very revealing shirt underneath it. Wasn’t it a violation of safety regulations? Well, it definitely violated Caitlyn’s safety regulations, making her knees wobbly as she stared at Powder’s exposed shoulders.

They exited the building, the receptionist sparing them a curious glance. Once outside, Caitlyn was almost jumping on her feet from the anticipation. Though she had managed to make herself look presentable.

Finally nearing her car, Caitlyn unlocked it and swiftly lifted the trunk, staring at Powder’s face to gauge her reaction.

“Is it a gun?”

“What?! No!” Caitlyn huffed, although the big black bag could easily pass for a gun case. She rolled her eyes, taking it out of the trunk and unzipping it.

“It’s a tennis racket,” she explained, almost offended. The other girl laughed, taking it into her hands. Caitlyn had spent an enormous amount of time on choosing the perfect design, and she hoped that Powder liked it. Light blue frame with a white handle, it seamlessly blended with Powder’s pale skin, looking as if it was a continuation of the tattoo’s on her arms.

The girl looked at her with a puzzled expression.

“I thought we could play,” Caitlyn bit her lip nervously. “Unless you don’t want–”

“Nah, I’m in,” Powder’s eager answer eased her worries away. Caitlyn roamed in the bag, taking out a small box out of it. It almost looked like she was about to propose, which made her feel silly.

“That’s also for you,” she passed it to the other girl, their hands meeting in the process. Caitlyn was reluctant to let go, yet she had promised herself to behave well. Powder opened the box curiously.

Inside of it was a vibration damper – a small midnight blue flame, the finishing touch to make the racket feel fully hers.

“I can help you put it onto the strings, it can be quite difficult,” Caitlyn offered, yet Powder was still holding it in her fingers. The woman let her enjoy the present, warmth spreading down her chest as she watched Powder’s reactions. “Do you like it?”

Powder nodded, finally snapping out of her trance. She returned her attention to Caitlyn, her pure blue eyes carrying an ocean of emotions that the woman wanted to get lost in.

“Yeah, it’s beautiful,” Powder said, while staring right back at Caitlyn. She blushed from the intensity of the girl’s stare. “Do I just put it anywhere I want?”

“No, it’s supposed to go here,” Caitlyn pointed her finger at the central strings, and Powder not so subtly brushed over her hand as she raised the dampener. Caitlyn wished her body would stop reacting so excitedly to such simple touches, alas it was out of her control. So instead she gulped and watched Powder push the dampener down the strings with experienced ease.

Of course, the girl was a scientist, she could figure it out without Caitlyn’s interference.

Caitlyn was somewhat disappointed that Powder didn’t need any help. A pretty big part of her was counting on it as an opportunity to show off. That was fine, she would just prove herself on the court.

“So, when are we playing, coach?” Powder smirked and swung the racket from side to side.

***

On Saturday, Caitlyn picked Powder up from her apartment and drove them towards the private courts, which were located on the opposite side to Zaun. Caitlyn wondered if Powder had ever been to that part of town.

In the car, Powder got quiet, looking out of the window as if not being present at all. Caitlyn didn’t comment on it, albeit she had decided to drive more carefully in case the other girl was prone to getting carsick.

They carried their stuff to the locker room, and only then did Caitlyn understand just how badly she set herself up. They had to share the locker room.

Caitlyn was never bothered by it when it came to Mel or other tennis players. She changed in front of them, they dressed in front of her. The woman had never even spared a glance.

Yet now Powder was tugging off her oversized shirt, and she wasn’t wearing a bra under it, and Caitlyn’s brain was about to explode. She quickly looked away, taking her own tennis dress out of the bag and trying her hardest not to stare at the other girl.

Caitlyn took off her shirt and jeans, folding them neatly on the bench, and then started pulling on her midnight blue tennis dress. When she took a curious peak at Powder, she noticed that the girl was now standing in a sports bra and black shorts that were so tiny they barely covered any of her skin. Caitlyn wondered if she was planning to put on anything else, yet her question was soon answered by Powder zipping her bag. Well, fuck.

At last, the girl had tugged a tennis writstand over her soulmate mark, making Caitlyn somewhat disappointed. She really wanted to see it, although Caitlyn’s own wrist was always covered with her watch.

“I’m done,” Powder said, lifting her bag over her shoulder.

Familiar with the courts, Caitlyn escorted them to the one she had booked. Her confidence raised up again as her shoes met with the hard surface. She grinned, back in her natural element. Powder didn’t look lost either, as the girl curiously glanced around.

They put their bags on the benches and Caitlyn mindlessly began to stretch. She only stopped when she noticed that Powder was staring at her. Poor girl probably didn’t know what to do. Caitlyn felt like a moron for just leaving her like that.

“Sorry, do you want me to show you the exercises?” She asked, hoping to correct her mistake. Powder nodded, although there was a certain intensity in her eyes that Caitlyn couldn’t understand.

The girl watched her every movement, mirroring her example, her gaze never leaving Caitlyn’s body. It would’ve made Caitlyn self-conscious to be stared at like that, but there was also something exciting about the process.

Standing on her knees and elbows, she stretched her back muscles, watching as Powder abandoned the exercises completely and just looked at her. Well, she probably wasn’t familiar with such techniques.

Caitlyn met her eyes, trying to understand if she should offer any help or just let Powder be. She had decided on the latter.

Finally done, Caitlyn excitedly lifted her racket. Powder followed.

“So, have you ever played tennis?”

“Nope,” the girl answered, and Caitlyn nodded back at her. She had never coached anyone, but she had a feeling that they would have fun anyway. Caitlyn took out a few new tennis balls out of the box, throwing one towards Powder. She easily caught it with her hand.

“You have a good reaction, so it’s a nice start,” Caitlyn complimented, closing the distance between them. “Now, I just need to show you how to properly grip the racket. There are different techniques for it, so please put it in your hand the way that feels natural for you.”

Powder did as she was told.

Caitlyn took the liberty of covering the girl’s hand with her own as she corrected her grip over the handle. If Powder’s breath had hitched at the action, the woman had told herself it was over the surprise that she did it without any warning. “Sorry,” she let go, taking a step back. Powder’s face was once again unreadable. Caitlyn decided to just continue showing her the movements.

“Now that you’re gripping the racket correctly, you’ll also need to learn a bit about the swings. When you hit the ball with your dominant hand, it’s called a forehand,” Caitlyn swung the racket as she explained. “The alternative for it is a backhand which is normally performed by gripping the racket with both your hands.” Powder looked at her examples and nodded. “I think… it is going to get more complicated if I explain more details now, so let’s just start hitting the ball at each other and I’ll correct your movements afterwards.”

Caitlyn went to the other side of the court. She put one tennis ball under the skirt of her dress, taking another one in her hand. The woman bounced it against the hard court, before sending it lightly towards Powder’s side. The girl returned it with ease, making Caitlyn smile proudly.

“You’re actually pretty good at it,” she complimented and Powder smirked back at her.

They passed it for a while, before Powder’s hits started getting more erratic and powerful. She had made Caitlyn run all over the court trying to return them.

Soon, the woman who had so desperately wanted to impress her friend, was getting out of breath herself. Yet she patiently returned the ball right at Powder, making it easy for her to adjust to the game and hit back.

“And here I thought that all tennis players were moaning during the games,” the girl cockily said from the other side, before giving her an example of a moan when she hit the next ball. “Agh!”

It had played a trick on Caitlyn’s mind, making her hand waver. She missed the ball and it landed a few meters away from her feet. Caitlyn shook her head in defeat.

Well, if that was the game Powder wanted to play, she could show her the real tennis.

Coming back to the centre of the court, Caitlyn angrily smashed the ball with her racket, sending it at Powder’s feet with a loud thud. The other girl had barely managed to evade, putting the racket in front of the ball and making it bounce back at Caitlyn. She ran towards it and hit it swiftly, letting out a very loud and unnecessary moan as she did.

She watched as Powder had lost her grip over the racket, missing the ball.

Caitlyn smirked.

What was she even doing?

The realization painfully landed over her, and Caitlyn turned bright red.

“Well, that sounds more like the game you guys play,” Powder laughed, carelessly tossing the racket in her hands. “Actually,” she licked her lips, “can you show me how to serve?”

Caitlyn’s face turned thoughtful. “That’s a bit more advanced than needed right now, but I could do it.”

She returned to the center mark, taking a deep breath in as she bounced the ball.

“You need to take a few steps back,” Caitlyn’s voice was confident as she said it, although on the inside she was praying for her serve not to fail her as it did these days when she played against Mel. Powder listened, trailing to the end of the court.

“Just don’t think too hard about it,” she whispered to herself as she lifted the racket up and sent the ball flying. Smashing the strings against it, she let out a small grunt. Caitlyn heard the ball hit the net, mortified at her lack of skill. She expected Powder to laugh or mock her, yet the sound never came.

“Second serve, right?”

Caitlyn’s face lit up at the encouragement. She laughed a bit, taking a ball from her underskirt and lining it with the handle of the racket. The woman repeated her serve, managing to hit the line at the perfect angle. Caitlyn felt a certain sense of pride about it, although it definitely felt silly when she was playing against a beginner.

“Well, that was hot. Er, cool, I mean,” Powder commented, already nearing the net. “Can you teach me how to do it?”

Caitlyn nodded, feeling as confident as ever. Her confidence didn’t seep out of her even as she trailed behind Powder’s back.

“It’s going to be hard to explain with words, so I’ll just show you.”

Powder nodded, letting Caitlyn press her body behind hers.

Caitlyn dropped her own racket, and put her arm over Powder’s. “You need to lift it like that,” she directed their motions, thankful for the height difference for making it easier for both of them to move.

Caitlyn didn’t need to do that, yet she put her hand over Powder’s abs, pressing onto the subtle muscles and pulling them closer together. The fabric of her tennis dress pressed over Powder’s back, and she could feel the other girl’s body heat even through their clothes.

Caitlyn whispered the instructions into Powder's ear, while her hands caressed Powder’s body in a way that wasn’t entirely necessary.

“You have to part your legs like that,” she said, pushing her thigh between Powder’s legs to separate them.

“Now, you lower your back,” Caitlyn pushed her back down, pressing onto her.

“You have to send the ball up, just like that,” the woman showed her, “and then you raise back up,” Caitlyn helped her stand up, her hands correcting Powder’s stance as she did.

“And now you hit the ball,” she added, whispering into the girl’s ear once again.

Caitlyn let go of her once she was satisfied with Powder’s overall position.

“Try it,” Caitlyn said, giving her a ball and curiously looking at the younger girl.

Powder was panting, her pale skin now burning, blushing so hard that Caitlyn imagined her tattoos changing colour. The girl’s attention seemed to waver as she carelessly threw the ball up, making it seem like Caitlyn’s teaching went over her head completely. The woman frowned, hoping that she wasn’t a total failure as a coach. Yet she was also glad for the opportunity to teach her some more.

“You’re placing your arm in the wrong way, here,” Caitlyn softly caressed the muscles on Powder’s skin, tracing over the lines of her tattoos with her pointer finger.

She didn’t need to touch her so much. But Caitlyn wanted to do it.

The thought made her feel awkward, perverted and guilty. But she couldn’t stop herself even if she tried.

And there was also something in the way that Powder’s eyes looked at her that reassured her that she wasn’t overstepping either. Or at least that the other girl didn’t mind if she was. Caitlyn hoped she wasn’t imagining it.

“Like that,” she corrected Powder’s position, whispering into her ear once again. “Try again.”

That time Powder seemed to put in some effort, yet it still went wrong, the ball hitting the net with a thud.

“Let me just,” she took a step behind Powder’s back. “I’ll do it with you,” Caitlyn gripped the girl’s hand over the racket, and interlaced their fingers on her left hand. “Just follow my movements.”

She directed the way their bodies moved, feeling powerful about how Powder’s body submitted to her will. Caitlyn had fully lost her mind, her own body heating up to the boiling point.

“Just like that, yes,” Caitlyn whispered, before throwing Powder’s arm up and hitting the ball swiftly.

Powder moaned as she lowered her racket, albeit it sounded nothing like the grunts tennis players released. The ball flew over the net, hitting the left serving box in the middle. Caitlyn barely looked at it, still gripping Powder from behind.

What was she even doing?

Caitlyn didn’t have enough brain power to answer that question. She simply didn’t want to let go. It felt like Powder didn’t want it either.

It wasn’t a good idea.

Caitlyn dropped Powder’s hand only to place it back to where it was resting on the girl’s waist. Powder whined at the contact, the sound sending a thrill through Caitlyn’s core.

IT WASN’T A GOOD IDEA.

Caitlyn’s mind was screaming at her while she caressed soft skin on Powder’s exposed stomach, pressing her fingers into the girl’s abs.

There was no longer an explanation she could offer Powder for her actions. Didn’t look like the other girl needed it either. Caitlyn could tell she had wanted the skin contact just as desperately as she did.

But it wasn’t wise.

Caitlyn wasn’t someone who dated people. She never had a proper relationship with anyone.

It would be so easy for Caitlyn to just bend Powder over and press her fingers inside of her, making her come undone right at the tennis court. Caitlyn tightened her grip over the girl’s abs, tracing way up to her ribs.

Caitlyn Kiramman wasn’t fit for dating.

She heard Powder let out a small moan, pressing her body harder against Caitlyn’s front. It would be so easy to just sneak a hand inside her shorts and fuck her until she could barely stand still.

Her parents would never approve of Powder. They had already shown it. Even if they could date, would it be fair for the other girl to go through all that? Nevermind the amount of press that would be released, exposing all of the secrets of Powder’s private life, desperate to dig dirt on her.

Caitlyn almost let out a moan of her own as she felt Powder’s hips buckle up against her center.

Could sex be possibly worth the nightmare that would come after it was over?

She pictured the way Powder would look at her after they were done, when Caitlyn would say that she couldn’t do a romantic relationship, that she didn’t want that.

She pictured how the girls’ eyes would turn the colour of the ocean during a storm, spilling waves of tears from them.

No, it couldn’t be.

She hissed and closed her eyes in agony as she prepared to let go.

Panting, she took a few steps back, taking her racket from the floor. Her legs were wobbly and she couldn’t even look at Powder. Yet she straightened her back and let out a nervous laugh. She didn’t know what to say.

Instead she just marched to her own side of the court, picking up a ball and bouncing it against the floor.

“Ready to show what you’ve learned?” She asked with a smile on her lips that Caitlyn hoped could pass for a genuine one. Powder didn’t say anything, just took the racket and waited for her to pass the ball.

***

“First of all, Cait, when I say I wanted to hear the details, I think you misunderstood me a bit,” Jayce blushed after hearing her out, pouring himself another glass of wine. Caitlyn was already a few glasses in, so she simply sighed, pressing a hand against her face. “Second of all, what’s even the deal? Didn’t you simply not want to date anyone because they weren’t your soulmate?”

“Darling, the matter is very delicate, can’t you see how distressed Caitlyn is?” Mel comforted her, offering a small tug to her hand. Caitlyn smiled at the contact, yet not feeling any better.

After her little slip up during the tennis game, they continued to play for a while until packing their bags and leaving. Caitlyn gave Powder a ride back, with the other girl staying stoically silent. She wondered if she had already ruined everything without even getting to have sex. It would be pretty ironic.

“I messed it all up,” Caitlyn whined inside her glass, feeling like an utter failure.

“You did, ouch!” Jayce hissed at how Mel pinched his skin. “Fine, you know what, I’ll just excuse myself to the kitchen if no one wants to listen to me!” No one protested and he huffed, walking away.

Mel scooted towards Caitlyn on the couch and hugged her.

“It’s difficult to go into the unknown,” she said while her hands caressed Caitlyn’s hair. “Yet it can also be incredibly rewarding,” Mel continued, her soothing voice helping with some of the emotional baggage Caitlyn carried. “You shouldn’t be setting yourself up for failure, dearest. Although Jayce could’ve used different words to voice his humble opinion, he also was right that you were forcing yourself out of the relationships precisely because you were longing to build one with your soulmate. Why don’t you look deeper into it without making rash decisions?”

Caitlyn nodded, taking a big sip out of her glass. Mel was right, yet it wasn’t so simple. Caitlyn wasn’t just a girl who could so easily date whoever she wanted. Being with Powder would mean taking her out to official events, letting other people laugh behind her back, because Caitlyn would be completely hopeless to defend her, just as she was at the Progress Day. She couldn’t even shield Powder from her own parents.

Caitlyn sighed. Mel didn’t offer her any more words, instead just patting her head.

When the woman came home, she fell onto the couch, tossing her phone in her hands. She opened her chat with Powder, typing “Do you want to come over?” before erasing it.

@caitlynkiramman Hi, Powder. You’ve mentioned a restaurant in the Lanes that has “the best food in Piltover”. Do you want to go there next week?

She waited for the answer patiently, still having no clue of what she wanted to do with Powder. But as Mel said, she just needed time to figure it out. She hoped Powder could give her some time.

She hoped that Powder also wanted her, although after the tennis game, Caitlyn had little to no doubts that she did. She wondered if Powder was actually attracted to her all that time. The thought made her shiver.

@dontjinxit yup jericho’s real good

@dontjinxit tmrw after work?

Caitlyn smiled at the screen as her heart warmed up in her chest. They could be just friends for now. There was no need to rush.

@caitlynkiramman Sounds great, I’ll pick you up.

She frowned as she got another notification on her work mail at a late hour, yet she was too tired and drunk to look into it properly. Caitlyn would later come to regret she didn’t view it instantly, as the email slipped from her mind completely.

Chapter Text

Caitlyn woke up from a loud buzzing sound, her head wincing in response. She tried to find the source, hand sloppily roaming over the bed. Once she finally found the phone, she brought it to her face without even opening her eyes.

“Ms Kiramman, are you okay?” Her secretary chimed in on the other side of the line. Caitlyn frowned.

“Yes?”

“Ms Kiramman, you’ve missed your morning meeting with the financial department and…”

“What?” Her eyebrows flew up as she had finally opened her eyes enough to glance at her watch. It was almost lunchtime and it was most certainly a work day, and for some reason, Caitlyn was still in her bed.

She quickly got up, stumbling on her shaking feet. Her secretary kept on going about the work she had missed, and Caitlyn put the phone on hands-free mode as she started tugging the first clothes she had found in the wardrobe.

By the time the secretary was done with her report, Caitlyn was already dressed. She hung up on her and after a quick detour to the bathroom, made her way to the car.

Inside the office, Caitlyn had tried everything to make up for the work she had missed, yet her attention was wavering. Still a bit hangover, she sipped coffee like it was holy water, willing her eyes to stay open. Yet every fibre of Caitlyn’s brain was filled with images of Powder, and she could barely sit still through the meetings.

One of the managers had asked her if she had gotten their email and she had assured him she did and was handling the situation. The man sighed in relief and she had almost felt guilty about the lie. Yet Caitlyn also didn’t want to lose face in front of her employees.

The woman went to her computer quickly, sitting down in front of it and almost opening her mail, when her phone rang.

“Now’s really not the time, Jayce,” she greeted him, and the man on the other side of the line sighed.

“Not even if I was going to tell you about this little secret project your girl friend is working on?” Although it got her intrigued, she had remembered Powder’s reluctance to tell her. Caitlyn wondered if it would be right for her to find out about it through Jayce and not from her.

“Mhm, not interested,” she hummed, switching tabs on her laptop to look at the report that one of her managers had just sent. Her eyes quickly scanned it, before she closed the file.

“Oh, you’ll definitely be very interested to hear about it though.”

“Do you even know what NDA stays for, Jayce?”

“Oh, c’mon, now you’re the one to talk about NDAs! I always tell you this stuff,” Caitlyn could almost picture him pouting. She laughed at the image in her head.

“I think I would rather Powder tells me about it,” the woman dreamily replied, already imagining the project to be another big scientific wonder.

“You’re going to regret not getting a warning beforehand, trust me. I had offered my help, but fine,” his words scratched a nerve in Caitlyn, making her all the more curious, and her attention wavered as she went between tabs on the laptop. She really wanted to know.

“I’ll ask her about it today and tell her you gave her the blessing to disclose it,” Caitlyn glanced at the time and noticed that only a few hours of work were left.

“I didn’t give anyone a blessing to disclose the super secret projects that my company’s working on!” Jayce yelled from the other side of the line. His voice scratched Caitlyn’s ears and she quickly hung up. She looked at the laptop, unsure of what she was working on, and instead decided to take a bit of a break and prepare herself another cup of coffee.

The rest of the day flew by, and she was getting up to leave when her secretary stared at her from the desk.

“Ms Kiramman,” she had started to say, her voice slightly panicked, yet Caitlyn didn’t pick up on it, preoccupied with her own thoughts. “The financial department manager…”

“I’ve already looked into the issue, I’ll prepare the reply tomorrow,” she hastily answered, finally remembering about the email. Caitlyn would check it eventually, the company wouldn’t explode if she took a bit of a break.

Making her way towards the car, she took a breath of the fresh summer air, finally feeling like a person again. Her headache had mostly dissipated by then, so she drove to the Hextech Industries building, spotting Powder already waiting for her on the sidewalk.

“Hi,” she greeted the other girl, and Powder plopped onto the passenger seat with practiced ease. She was wearing loose shorts and an oversized T-shirt that looked like nothing a scientist would wear, but they had also seemed so recognizably Powder that it made Caitlyn’s heart feel a bit fuller.

“Hey,” Powder simply replied back, fastening her seatbelt and taking control over the radio station.

Caitlyn started the car, driving towards the Undercity. They weren’t talking, but the silence somehow felt comfortable.

Caitlyn wondered if they could spend the rest of their lives like that: a dinner after work followed by a ride home together. Maybe Powder could show her more of the Lanes, teach her how to properly paint graffiti, and play video games with her on Saturdays. Caitlyn could take her on a trip to her favourite places around the world or pay a visit to her distant relatives in Ionia. Maybe she’d teach Powder how to play tennis properly, and they could even play doubles against Mel and Jayce.

“Turn left here,” Powder brought her back from her thoughts, and Caitlyn listened to her instructions. They drove through a rather busy street, eventually finding an empty parking lot.

Caitlyn wondered if she could be fast enough to get out of the car and open the door for Powder, yet the girl had already jumped out before Caitlyn could even move. She definitely had a problems with cars.

In front of them was a small seafood restaurant with neon signs placed all over the walls. Caitlyn would have never set foot into such a place, but she trusted Powder, so she reluctantly followed her inside.

The building had seen better days, although the atmosphere inside of it was warm and welcoming. In comparison to CUPCAKES.CO, the restaurant had an almost infinite waiting line at the counter, with more and more people gathering there.

“Pick a place, I’ll order for you,” Powder pushed her towards an empty booth and Caitlyn felt too intimidated by the unfamiliarity of the restaurant to argue. She scooted towards the wall, frowning at the holes she spotted on it. Caitlyn hoped it was an interior design decision, yet her instincts told her otherwise. She frowned as she poked the hole with her nail, curiously exploring her surroundings.

Powder didn’t stand in the line along with the other customers, instead walking straight to the counter. Caitlyn couldn’t hear what she was ordering, but only a few minutes later the girl was already making her way back.

She placed a tray of food on the table and then joined Caitlyn at the booth, scooting far too close to the other woman than necessary. Yet Caitlyn didn’t find it in herself to complain, either. She could feel Powder’s warmth through their clothes, and the feeling was both exciting and comforting.

“What’s that…?” Caitlyn tried her hardest not to look disturbed by the food on the plates, yet Powder had seen through her, laughing at the face the woman was making.

“The taste of the Undercity,” Powder pierced a fish with a chopstick and then put it into her mouth, chewing and moaning at the same time. “No offense, but the topsiders don’t know how to cook at all,” she stated, taking another bite. “Looks great, tastes bland. After you try what we make here in the Lanes, you’ll get what I mean.”

Caitlyn really wanted to try what they were making in the Lanes, but it had nothing to do with food on her plate.

She gulped, mentally preparing herself to take a bite from the fish. It was sloppy and fell off her chopsticks, frustrating Caitlyn beyond herself. In a flash, Powder had pierced through the fish on her plate and lifted it up to Caitlyn’s lips. Was she really spoon feeding her now?

Caitlyn wanted to huff and pull away, yet she opened her mouth, taking a small bite of the meal. Her eyebrows flew up.

“It’s actually delicious!” She said after gulping the piece down. Powder stared at her with a light smirk on her lips, before she returned her attention back to her own plate. They both enjoyed their food in silence, before Caitlyn remembered her previous conversation with Powder’s CEO. “So, Jayce tells me you are working on a big new project?”

Powder snorted and shrugged. “Curiosity killed the cat, Cait.”

“Don’t you want to tell me about it?” Caitlyn was almost pouting as she said it, and Powder rolled her eyes at the sight.

“Yeah, well, I’d rather show you later,” there was a dangerous smirk on the girl’s face, and it made Caitlyn’s body heaten up a bit. “You could be the perfect test subject, actually,” Powder added, while her eyes shimmered with mischief.

“I do not think I’m following. Assuming you’re working on a new sort of prosthesis, it wouldn’t make sense for me to participate in the experiments, since I do not have any body parts impaired,” the woman frowned, desperately trying to unsolve the mystery of the project. Yet Powder’s face was as unreadable as ever, not offering her even a single hint.

“Guess you’ll just have to wait and see,” Powder shrugged, spreading her arms over the booth and covering Caitlyn’s shoulder. The woman let her do so, settling into the warmth that the girl’s touch provided.

“I’ve used to come here with my parents,” Powder suddenly opened up, making Caitlyn freeze up at the mention. She had never once talked about them, and the conversation had already started to feel like stepping deeper into Powder’s inner world, although the girl had yet to reveal anything.

“I… don’t really remember much about it, but I have a picture of Vi fully covered in soup because I accidentally tugged her arm and she spilled it all over herself. Talk about big sister grudges, she still reminds me of that soup all the time. Kept calling me a little jinx for years afterwards,” she finished her story with a small laugh. Caitlyn didn’t know what comfort she could offer the other girl, or if she even needed any, so instead she simply listened. “And then one time Mylo…”

Powder continued talking, her face lit up with a smile over the fond memories, and Caitlyn found herself gravitating closer to the other girl. Eventually, she let her head rest on Powder’s tattooed shoulder, eyes closing on their own.

The girl curled her arm around her, spreading her warmth to Caitlyn’s body. It felt almost like being enveloped by a soft blanket, except that Powder’s frame had more sharp edges to it, and also bore a distinct laboratory smell. Somehow, it all made Caitlyn feel at home.

Maybe they could really try and have a proper relationship? Weren’t they soulmates for a reason?

Caitlyn’s phone rang, sharply returning her back to reality. She lifted her head up from Powder’s shoulder and fished her phone out of her pocket.

“Ms Kiramman, I’m afraid this is urgent,” her secretary worriedly started. The woman’s voice was so panicked that it had instantly sobered Caitlyn up. She listened to the short report in silence.

“...Tax evasion?” She dumbfoundedly repeated, reminded of the email that was left unanswered on her work mail. Caitlyn supposed that checking it out now would already be too late. “I’ll be there in a few minutes, could you please gather an urgent meeting with the financial department?”

Her body moved on its own. Caitlyn got up from her seat, completely ignoring that Powder was even there. She had only remembered about the girl once her knees buckled into her.

Caitlyn froze, expecting to see the same look on Powder’s face that each and every of the woman’s failed situationships had when she needed to run off. Disappointment. Irritation. Jealousy. She was prepared to hear “Can’t you just figure it all out tomorrow, do you really have to go now?” but it never came.

Powder swiftly moved, letting Caitlyn exit.

“Sounds serious,” the girl pushed her hands inside of the pockets of her shorts as she looked at Caitlyn with concern.

“Sorry to cut it like that, I really–”

“That’s okay,” Powder pulled her into a tight hug and pecked her cheek. Caitlyn sighed into her hair, letting her muscles relax one last time into the girl’s warmth, before pulling away.

“Do you need a ride back?” Caitlyn couldn’t stop herself from pushing a strand of wild hair from Powder’s face and behind her ear. The other girl blushed and could barely keep eye contact after the gesture. Although Caitlyn’s heart was already filled with dread and anxiety over the events at her company, it was also filled with warmth from the sight of the girl in front of her. Even if this girl was the exact reason why Caitlyn had any work troubles to begin with.

“Nah, it’s fine. I’ll go terrorize my sis for a bit, since I’m already here,” Powder smiled at her shyly and fell back into the booth. It took all of Caitlyn’s willpower to walk out of the Jericho’s and drive back to North Piltover.

***

Caitlyn ended up spending the night in the office, surrounded by a few top managers from the financial department and an investigating officer that had been working on the case.

From the start she knew that their company was innocent, yet proving the fact had turned out to be a much more difficult task than she expected. Especially when, at 3 am, her blurred vision started noticing traces of strange signatures in the documents, leading to only one conclusion – there was a rat in Kiramman Trade Corp.

The only question was who?

“Ms KIramman, do we need to bring a lawyer of our own to work on the case…?” One of the managers whispered when the officer excused himself to the bathroom.

Caitlyn rolled her eyes and snorted.

“I am a lawyer.”

At 7 am, her eyes had stopped being able to count numbers, vision getting blurred to the point the excel document had started looking like a bedsheet, so she had decided to catch a small break, locking herself in her own office room and falling asleep on top of the desk. It lasted for about an hour, before she got up, drove home, took a shower, and returned to the office once again.

Her secretary prepared her a cup of espresso, and Caitlyn sipped on it, desperately trying not to think of the blue-haired barista as she did. Yet she failed at the game before it could even start.

While the investigating officer took another small break, she opened Instagram, checking if Powder had left her any messages. The girl didn’t. Yet she had posted a new story with Vi, where the older sister was standing behind the counter with an unimpressed expression on her face. Caitlyn didn’t understand what the caption “stole her cupcake” meant, but she hoped they had a good evening together and that Powder wasn’t mad at her for having to leave so shortly. If only Powder knew just how much she didn’t want to go.

Before she could message the girl, the investigating officer sharply returned to the room, making Caitlyn put her phone away.

The rest of the day was spent in urgent meetings with different departments, looking through the archives and answering the borderline disrespectful questions from the investigating team.

She only got off work a few minutes before midnight, and passed out on her couch as she set her foot home. Caitlyn managed to rest well, even though her dreams included visions of a certain blue haired girl spread out on the bed sheets.

The other few days were a blur.

“Ms Kiramman?” Her intercom rang. “There’s a… a visitor for you. She says she brought coffee and… sugar powder?”

“Let her in, please,” Caitlyn raised from her seat, peeking at Powder through the glass door. The girl entered the room shortly after. She was wearing a simple outfit: denim shorts and a tight fit white top. Yet as always, her bright blue eyes had gathered all of Caitlyn’s attention. She hadn’t seen the light of day for almost the whole week and was now getting lost inside her soulmate’s beautiful orbs.

“Special delivery for Ms Caitlyn,” Powder announced as she set a cup of coffee and a paper bag on the table. “I’ve got demoted to a courier service now,” the girl gave her a toothy grin and plopped into a chair in front of Caitlyn’ desk.

“I’ll make sure to leave a worthy tip for all your troubles,” Caitlyn hummed as she took the coffee cup into her hands, enjoying just how hot it still was. Powder was clearly in a rush to see her if she had managed to carry it so fast. The thought made her body fill with warmth for reasons unrelated to coffee itself.

“How’s it going?” Powder curiously looked around her room, spotting giant slacks of papers all over her desk. Caitlyn hoped it didn’t look too messy. She was usually keeping her space neat, unless the times called for desperate measures. She sighed.

“I’ve hit a dead end,” the woman admitted, hands roaming in the paper bag that Powder had brought. Inside of it was a simple sandwich, yet Caitlyn had been missing far too many meals to not appreciate its sight. Her stomach grumbled and she prayed that Powder didn’t hear the sound. With a small moan, she took a bite, finding that she was falling more and more for her soulmate. Maybe dating her wouldn’t be such a bad idea after all? She quickly pushed the thought out of her head.

“Not to bore you with the details, but there’s someone messing with the documents inside the company, which… I suppose is not the kind of information I should disclose with you either,” Caitlyn cringed at herself, remembering how there still was an ongoing criminal investigation over the case.

“Mouth shut,” Powder zipped her lips and winked at her, before taking off the chair and moving on to explore the walls of Caitlyn’s office.

There wasn’t much on them, but her mother still insisted she put her diplomas and different certificates out for the visitors to see. “Creates an esteemed image,” the woman explained to her, even though Caitlyn herself thought of it as distasteful. Yet when Powder was looking over her achievements, it made her feel a certain sense of pride.

“I’m sure you’ll figure this out, detective,” Powder giggled, her fingers tracing the frame of Caitlyn’s moot court champion diploma.

The woman herself had always preferred criminal law over the corporate, and it was the only remotely fun event that her mother let her participate in. Her thoughts brought her five years back, when she was still a student, getting to work on a fake money laundering case. She almost opened her mouth to tell Powder about it, yet her eyes narrowed as she stared at her soulmate in silence. She almost jumped on her spot, spilling coffee all over herself, as the realisation hit her.

The trail she had spotted in the documents was familiar enough, yet she couldn’t place what exactly it reminded her of. Caitlyn quickly looked through the files from the Council that she had studied before meeting with her mother a few weeks ago.

“You alright?” Powder’s voice rang in her ears, although Caitlyn was far lost in the investigation of her own. The girl took a few steps towards her, lowering her face to Caitlyn’s level and frowning at the screen. Although it usually frustrated Caitlyn when anyone would stare at her work behind her shoulder, with Powder she had felt differently. She really couldn’t complain that the girl’s warm body was now hovering over Caitlyn’s, after days of radio silence.

The woman would have slowed down and explained her discovery to Powder, yet her mind was already tracing over the evidence. Instead, Caitlyn turned to face her for a single second, grinning ear to ear. Powder awkwardly smiled back, still unsure of what exactly was happening.

Caitlyn went back to the papers right afterwards, yet Powder’s hand gripped her chin, turning her head back around. The woman gulped, startled by the boldness of the girl’s move.

“Food first,” Powder whispered, as if she wasn’t talking about the sandwich. Caitlyn stared at her with hooded eyes. She almost leaned in for a kiss, yet the girl had already moved, poking Caitlyn’s lips with bread instead. The woman took a bite, turning back to face her work as she chewed. A light blush started developing on her cheeks, yet she ignored it, preferring to focus on the trace she had caught on the case.

Powder fed her the rest of the sandwich, and Caitlyn got completely lost in the process, not even noticing that the girl was still hanging around her. When she mindlessly turned around for another bite, her lips caught Powder’s fingers instead. She almost choked at the feeling of flesh inside her mouth, yet instead of pulling away right as she noticed it, Caitlyn gave in to her impulsive thoughts and gently flicked her tongue over Powder’s pointer finger.

“Thank you, Powder,” she whispered, turning back around to her work and trying to ignore the heatwave in the lower pit of her stomach. The other girl breathed heavily as she left her place near Caitlyn’s shoulder and dropped down into the chair in front of her desk.

“Ms Kiramman? The investigating team will arrive in a few minutes,” the intercom rang, startling both of them. The woman thanked her secretary and turned to look at Powder, who was still staring at her with disoriented eyes. Caitlyn hoped she didn’t break her with that silly action.

“Guess I’ll get going before I become the next suspect, huh,” Powder whispered, and the woman nodded at her. She escorted the girl to the door, pulling her into a small hug and pressing a hot kiss on her cheek.

***

Although in the middle of an investigation, Caitlyn was still expected to attend the weekly dinner with her parents. That time they were meeting at Faefolk, and it all reminded Caitlyn too much about her little blue-haired soulmate. She entered the restaurant in a hurry, not bothering to be overly polite to the receptionist, and made her way to the table her parents’ were seating at.

“Right on time!” Her dad cheerfully laughed as he got up from his seat and pulled Caitlyn into a small hug. She hugged him back before dropping onto a chair and dropping her purse on the table.

Almost a week of work without breaks and proper meals, and there she was, sitting in her favourite restaurant yet with little to no appetite, already dreading hearing whatever her mother wanted to say. She didn’t have enough time to prepare any fleeways for the conversation, so Caitlyn only hoped that her natural charm would be enough to save her.

Cassandra studied her face, frowning as she spotted dark circles under her daughter's eyes.

“Your appearance makes us look as if we’re being interrogated,” the woman huffed, noticing how crumpled Caitlyn’s shirt had already become after the girl sat in it through countless of meetings.

“For the lack of better wording, we actually are,” Caitlyn murmured under her nose, taking a sip from the glass of water. Her father awkwardly laughed.

“I see you’re deriving pleasure from the process,” Cassandra coldly commented, her eyes narrowing as she stared at her daughter. The waiter saved her from having to answer, and Caitlyn ordered herself a salad.

Her father tried to lighten up the conversation by gossiping about their neighbours, yet Caitlyn could barely keep up with him under her mother’s burning gaze. The food was served, yet she poked at with disinterest, taking bites solely to keep herself from having to talk.

“...and can you imagine? Turns out that Mr Bolbok had purchased the same…”

“Caitlyn,” her mother rudely interrupted Tobias’ story, making the man awkwardly cut off his words. “Could I inquire how you’re handling the current situation?” She sharply asked, as if not keeping up with the reports her daughter was sending her daily. Caitlyn took a deep breath in.

“I’m handling it,” she replied, taking another long sip of water to wet her dried lips. The girl met her mother’s eyes, daring to look into them as the woman pried for answers.

“I see. So wandering around the Undercity with this girl is your way of handling a delicate situation like such. I find myself utterly disheartened by your actions, Caitlyn.”

Her blood froze up in her veins. “What?” Did Silco leak the security footage of them drawing graffiti on his factory wall?

“Oh, haven’t you seen the headlines? It appears you are rather engrossed with this girl to maintain a semblance of a respectable image. It is little wonder that the company is falling to shambles.”

Caitlyn felt as if all air had been sucked out of her lungs. Not only had she managed to ruin her own self, she also got Powder involved in it.

“I… I promise that I thought that it wasn’t a violation,” Caitlyn gulped, short for air. “Powder said that Silco wasn’t against it, and I didn’t know I was graffitiing over the private property…”

Her mother’s eyes narrowed at the explanation.

“Caitlyn, what on earth are you insinuating? Graffiting? This girl has undoubtedly driven you to the brink of madness! Are you also hearing it, Tobias?” Her father nodded in agreement. Caitlyn looked like a deer caught in the headlights.

“It’s not her fault that my attention had been wavering, I should’ve known better than…”

“No, Caitlyn, since the arrival of this girl into your life, you have descended into a state of utter disarray,” the woman huffed, yet even though her disappointment was written all over her face, from the side she made it look like she was having a calm dinner with her family. “I hoped that we had raised you to possess a higher standard of conduct than this. Alas, this girl…”

“She has a name,” Caitlyn set her glass of water on the table with a loud thud. It made a few heads turn in their direction. Cassandra warmly smiled at them, even waving a hand at someone at the table close by. The woman ignored her comment completely, continuing her speech.

“You’re not a mother yet, so you wouldn’t possibly be able to understand the mortification of not only watching your child ruin your legacy, but also dragging your family name through the mud while purchasing a relationship with a girl way below her level. This girl…–”

“SHE HAS A NAME,” Caitlyn raised from her seat, unclasping the wristband on her left hand. The watch fell down with a heavy thud, leaving her wrist bare for everyone to see. Heads turned in their direction again, watching the dramatic outburst from the heir of the most influential family in Piltover. Caitlyn didn’t even glance at them or her parents, already dragging herself out of the Faefolk. A few waiters curiously studied her face, tears already making their way out of her eyes.

Once in the open air, she took out her phone with a shaking hand.

“Caitlyn Kiramman captured in an affectionate embrace with a mysterious companion in the Undercity”

“Caitlyn Kiramman spotted with a curious company in a seafood restaurant in the Undercity. Looks like the infamous womanizer had already caught all the fish from the Topside and is lowering her tastes”

“Turquoise declared the color of the year as Caitlyn Kiramman is seen with an enigmatic blue-haired girl in the Lanes”

“Young Caitlyn has a preference for Powder: 10 things you need to know about the rumoured girlfriend of the Kiramman clan’s heir”

“How to pull off a billionaire: studying the fashion sense of Caitlyn Kiramman’s new paramour”

“Caitlyn Kiramman high on Powder – the heir of Kiramman Trade Corp makes herself comfortable in the Undercity amidst a tax evasion scandal that the company faces”

Caitlyn scrolled through the headlines, hysterically laughing as she only spotted candids of her and Powder in the Jericho’s on them. At least she wouldn’t have to explain the whole graffiti thing to the Internet. The thought brought little comfort.

The reporters had already started digging dirt on Powder, and it was only the first time they were seen together. Caitlyn didn’t even want to know what they could already learn in such a short time about the girl, revealing her identity for the whole world to see and scrutinize. And it was all Caitlyn’s fault.

On wobbly legs, she made her way to the car, only then remembering that her keys stayed in the purse that she left in Faefolk.

Completely crashing out, Caitlyn sank to her knees, pathetically crying in public and already dreading the headlines that would come from the action.

Chapter Text

“Are they just letting those Undercity pests enter now?”

“Shh, don’t say it like that, don’t you see she’s with the Kiramman girl? Might be a business partner or something, like that Silco entrepreneur.”

“Ah, right, as if he’s a sight for sore eyes. All that money and he’s yet to pick a suit that won’t make me want to bleach–”

“What are your thoughts about it?” Caitlyn was looking at her, expecting a proper answer about a painting that Powder had little to no interest looking at. It took all her effort to actually study it and stop staring at the woman she came to the exhibition with.

Although she had prepared for the event and read a bit about the artist’s background, her patience was running thin as her ears kept catching the nasty remarks dropped about her from all around. Caitlyn seemed oblivious to it, patiently waiting for her to answer.

“Of course, she doesn’t notice, that’s because she thinks exactly the same way about you,” the voice in her head annoyingly whispered, and she tried to push it further away, already overstimulated by her surroundings.

“What a wild animal, look at her staring at the painting as if waiting for subtitles to appear on it.”

“I think…” Powder looked at Caitlyn, getting lost in the beauty of her blue eyes. Her breath hitched as Caitlyn looked back, matching the intensity of her stare. “It’s very pretentious.”

As words popped out of her mouth, Powder wanted to take them back, yet she didn’t. Caitlyn’s eyes comically widened.

“Pretentious?”

“Look at you, proving to be just like she had imagined,” the voice scratched the insides of her ears, filling her with dread and anxiety. Before it could demolish her defences, another head bobbed into the picture. Powder recognized him, although it didn’t take a genius to figure out that he was the artist of the said painting, as the man was seething with rage as he stared at her.

“Excuse me?”

Powder didn’t want to apologize to him, yet she wondered if it would be the proper behaviour expected from Caitlyn Kiramman’s date. Although, technically, she wasn’t Caitlyn’s plus one at the time.

Powder met his eyes, looking at him with disinterest. It only fed the man’s anger. Yet as he spotted Caitlyn, his confidence sank down. “Oh, Ms Kiramman, it’s… a pleasure to see you here. And this is…?” He stared daggers at the girl, and she dreaded hearing the answer from Caitlyn’s lips.

“She’s going to say she doesn’t know you. You don’t even exist. You’re nothing but a mere snot on these marble floors,” the voice couldn’t calm down, and it made Powder’s head spin with anxiety.

“This is Powder, she’s an artist herself.”

Caitlyn sent her a beautiful and proud smile of reassurance and acknowledgement. Did Caitlyn just call her an artist?

That was enough encouragement for Powder to straighten up her posture and meet the artist’s eyes with new-found confidence. She spit her reply back at him, making Caitlyn snort in the process. The sound was so alien in the tall halls of the museum, and people stared at them, yet it warmed Powder’s heart.

She looked at the woman as if meeting her for the first time. Even the voice in her head had nothing to say, as they both were seeing the version of Caitlyn that never existed before. Somewhat socially awkward and silly, it was almost like she was a misfit just like Powder in the crowd of overdressed freaks.

They ended up exploring the rest of the gallery, with Powder ranting about the paintings, making far too many rude comments to count. She didn’t even think they were that the art was that awful, yet she wanted to see the goofy grin on Caitlyn’s lips, and if she needed to play a role of a clown for a bit, Powder was not going to complain.

She wondered if Caitlyn wouldn’t mind going to the Undercity with her, and before Powder could stop herself, she was already dragging the woman outside towards the subway.

“Don’t tell me you’ve never taken the subway,” Powder actually couldn’t imagine how someone could live their whole life in the city and never ever take the subway. Yet seeing the absolute look of horror in Caitlyn’s eyes convinced her that the woman had indeed never set her foot there.

“No, of course I had,” Powder immediately caught the bluff, but she decided to go for it. She followed Caitlyn down into the station, noticing how confidently her shoulders buckled as she walked. It was as if Caitlyn Kiramman was a model on a catwalk, and not a mere subway passenger like the rest of them.

Powder watched as the woman self-assuredly attempted to walk through the turnstile without paying. Although she wanted to laugh, she also didn’t want to witness her soulmate getting smashed on the face, so Powder reached out to her, wrapping an arm around the woman’s waist. Such a small waist.

Her palm caressed the fabric of Caitlyn’s button-up, noticing just how warm the woman’s body was underneath it. What a pity she had to wear clothes at all.

“A pity indeed,” the voice in her head agreed, finally starting to side up with Powder.

Reluctantly, she let go of her hold on Caitlyn’s waist, albeit the next opportunity to touch her presented itself almost immediately. It was like the whole subway ride was just an orchestrated plot for Powder’s hands to let loose, and she abused each and every opportunity to do so.

It was exciting to see Caitlyn so out of her element for once, and it filled the girl with a new sense of confidence. Drunk on the feeling, Powder led them towards her not-so-secret hideout in one of Silco’s factories. She didn’t know what to expect from Caitlyn’s reaction, yet the woman didn’t disappoint. Her eyes roamed over the walls, and she curiously looked at the graffiti that Powder had painted on them with Ekko.

With a new feeling of pride swelling in her heart, Powder gave a bottle of spray to her soulmate, wanting for her to leave a mark not only on her wrist, but also at the wall for everyone to see. Well, at least for Powder to see. She wondered if Ekko would be against the idea, but she also couldn’t care much about the boy.

Caitlyn’s eyes comically widened, and the woman tried to refuse. Yet Powder didn’t let her. The girl pressed her body against Caitlyn’s back and took a hold of her hand. Caitlyn felt so warm and their bodies were pressed together like puzzle pieces. It made Powder dizzy, yet she didn’t submit to the sensation, instead playing it off as a joke.

“OFFICER! OFFICER! ARREST HER! SHE’S VANDALIZING PRIVATE PROPERTY!” Powder yelled into Caitlyn’s ear. Her nose was almost pressing into the woman’s earlobe, and she desperately wanted to graze it with her teeth, yet Caitlyn pushed her off before she could spoil the moment with her weirdness.

The woman laughed, and she looked so carefree and real, that Powder’s heart swelled at the sight. Although being friends with Caitlyn Kiramman wasn’t part of Powder’s plan, it also wasn’t the worst thing to happen to the girl. So she ignored the wetness between her legs that had gathered after she touched the woman inappropriately during their little subway ride, and instead encouraged herself to enjoy this little moment of bonding with her friend.

Caitlyn poured spray over the wall, and Powder was barely keeping up with the image the woman tried to create. All of her attention was sucked by the long fingers pressing onto the trigger. Friends. Friends. Friends.

“Wouldn’t it just feel wonderful to be fucked by those long fingers though?” Powder couldn’t help but agree with her inner voice.

Caitlyn finally stepped away from the wall. Her cheeks were flushed in embarrassment, and Powder found it endearing that the woman could be so easily distressed by it. Although she wanted to tease her, Powder took pity on her friend, instead deciding that it could work in her favour if they both worked on fixing the drawing instead. Like a team. Like real soulmates.

“Mhm, what’s that supposed to represent, Ms Caitlyn?”

Caitlyn’s cheeks reddened even more, as the woman tried to search for words. “It’s blue smoke.” The answer shook Powder to her core.

v“SHE DREW YOUR TATTOOS?” The voices in her head multiplied, applauding at the sight. Although the graffiti looked nothing like it, Powder stared at the wall, unable to formulate a single thoughtful reply. Caitlyn liked her tattoos?

When Powder got them, she was still a teenager, copying her older sister’s style. It gave poor Vander a heart attack when she came home. Later, when she found out her soulmate was none other than a top society lady, Powder came to regret her decisions just as the old man said. The girl didn’t exactly try to cover them up and they were by no means subtle enough to be masked so easily, yet she thought that Caitlyn found them off-putting. She didn’t.

Powder took off her jacket, pointing a finger at the tattoo. She watched as Caitlyn’s pupils widened at the sight.

“You’re just imagining it, you can’t see it from such a distance, liar,” the voice creeped out, and Powder indeed couldn’t see it, yet she was most certain that the woman had actually enjoyed the sight of her naked skin. Like a predator, Powder took a few steps towards her prey, grasping Caitlyn by the hand and pressing her front to the woman’s back. She could swear that Caitlyn’s breath hitched at the collision. “She doesn’t want you, you’re being delusional,” frankly, all the reactions from the other woman were saying otherwise.

She caressed Caitlyn’s hand with her fingers, noticing just how soft her skin was. It burned under Powder’s touch. The girl wrapped her arm around Caitlyn’s waist, simply to keep her balance. Yet her breast was now pressing onto the woman’s back. She nearly moaned at how intimate it all felt.

Caitlyn was clearly not listening to her, yet Powder tried to explain how painting works, solely so that she could have a reason to whisper into the other woman’s ear. Powder’s nose accidentally pressed into her pulse point a couple of times, and she was intoxicated by the sandal scent of Caitlyn’s perfume.

They added strokes to the graffiti, and it felt like having sex and leaving traces on the wall.

“Of course it feels like sex for you, virgin,” Powder didn’t want to listen to the voice. It felt absolutely fantastic. She pressed herself closer to Caitlyn.

When the graffiti felt finished enough, Powder took a step back and leaned over the wall.

“Whatcha think?” Caitlyn looked disheveled, completely out of her element. Powder wondered if her eyes glimmered just the same way in the bedroom. The girl desperately wanted to see it, yet she had to remind herself that Caitlyn Kiramman was her friend. Friend. The kind of friend who couldn’t handle the skin contact, as it seemed.

“It was… exciting,” when the woman finally answered it made Powder grin. Exciting was one way to describe it. Yet she agreed.

They started exploring other graffiti on the wall, and Powder told her about how she used to come to the place after tough days in PSA, needing to unwind and catch a break. She didn’t tell the woman that most of the graffiti was somehow inspired by her. Although Caitlyn looked like she was paying attention, it also seemed like she was preoccupied with her own thoughts to catch when Powder had to spew another lie to cover up her stalkiness.

“You play tennis?” Caitlyn traced the painting on the wall. Powder shook her head.

“Nah, it’s Ekko’s,” she simply answered, knowing full well it was the graffiti she left after spending far too many days looking at the story the other woman posted on Instagram, wearing a tennis dress and carrying a racket in her hand.

The night was slowly enveloping the Undercity, and they had decided to make their way back. The subway was already closed, so the only way to return was by calling a cab. Powder wasn’t a fan of cars, although she could tolerate them. It wasn’t even the trauma of losing her parents in the car accident, or having to be the one on the backseat during the event. It was just that she didn’t like them. That’s all.

Yet when she stepped into the car, she was once again filled with anxiety. The driver looked trustworthy enough, but Powder couldn’t stop watching the road. She was normally less intense, but only when it was Vander or Vi behind the wheel, as the girl grew to trust them with their driving skills. But a total stranger having control over Caitlyn’s and her safety left her with a sense of dread.

The car took a sharp turn, and Powder’s blood went cold inside her veins. Yet Caitlyn’s palm slightly brushed her hand. The feeling of her warmth brought a wave of comfort. Powder sunk into the feeling. Although she had spent the whole night thirsting after the other woman, that pure and innocent action had switched up the mood.

Caitlyn was Powder’s soulmate. And a friend.

After a whole week of beating herself up for ruining her chances of a romantic relationship with the woman, Powder had finally felt like she accepted defeat. It didn’t even feel like a loss at this point. How could it? Not when Caitlyn was so warm and soft, not when her lips were curled into such a beautiful smile. Not when she wanted to be around Powder, just not in the way that the girl wanted for them to be.

Maybe it wasn’t so bad being Caitlyn Kiramman’s friend?

***

Being Caitlyn Kiramman’s friend turned out to be a torture.

“YES! Yes, good, just like that! You’re doing so well, Powder! Please, don’t stop. Don’t stop, Powder. I have the plate! I have the plate! I’m coming! I’m coming!” Mortified, Powder listened to her friend moan and pant into her ear as they played Overcooked together. A game aimed for kids, yet for some reason, Caitlyn Kiramman didn’t play it like that. “I’ll take the dishes, please cut the fish. The timer is running out, Powder, please, don’t stop, argh!”

As the levels grew harder, so did the non-existent boner in Powder’s pants.

It was as if Caitlyn really didn’t notice how close she was leaning into her face. Neither did she pay attention to the words she was saying. Or how she sounded. Or how her forehead wrinkled, lips parted, breathing heavily.

“You’re doing so well, Powder, please, just, ahh!,” The girl couldn’t take the torture anymore. She was not doing well.

The girl was pressing the buttons on the controller only by instinct. There were no thoughts left in her head. She pressed her thighs closer together. Did Caitlyn really not notice how she sounded?

After another win, the woman brushed her palm over Powder’s back, celebrating the job well done. It sent shivers down to her core. Powder barely contained a moan. They played another level, this one even more intense.

“Fuck,” hearing Caitlyn curse in front of her was too much. The woman stopped saying anything, lost in the game, so now she was mostly just letting out criminal moans and grunts. Powder let go of her controller, unable to fight this anymore. She was never so close to coming without having to even touch herself. It was too much. Caitlyn noticed her lack of attention, turning to face her sharply.

“Sorry, I… got a bit excited.”

A bit excited?

Caitlyn’s cheeks were similarly flushed. She looked at Powder with concern.

“I need to go to the bathroom,” Powder excused herself, walking out on wobbly legs. She supported herself with her elbows pressed over the sink. Not even a cold shower could help her now, yet she sprayed herself with freezing water, trying to erase all the memories of Caitlyn’s moans from her head. It wasn’t working.

In her head, she saw images of Caitlyn pushing her down into the soft material of her couch. Sucking onto her neck. Whispering “good girl” into her ear as she pushed her long fingers inside her.

Powder slapped her cheeks, trying to bring some sense into herself.

“Look at you acting so weird, do you think Caitlyn would want to be your friend if she knew that you’re whining like a bitch after she played a game with you? You’re a mess,” and she was, Powder agreed. She bit her lip, calming her racing heart down.

Finally outside of the bathroom, she decided to take a break from gaming, unable to take the torture anymore.

“Are you hungry?” She asked, although her own stomach felt empty for entirely wrong reasons. The emptiness between her legs was begging to be filled, yet pushed these ideas away. Caitlyn nodded, and they went into her kitchen. Powder made sure to clean up before bringing the woman here, and she hoped that Caitlyn wouldn’t look closer into her cabinets, spotting all the junk food she jammed into them in an attempt to cover up her unhealthy eating habits.

She tried to order something, yet Caitlyn was distracting her from it just by existing. The woman seemed like she didn’t notice her distress, simply walking around the apartment, curiously glancing at the furniture. Yet her blue jeans wrapped her long legs in a way that made Powder’s head swell. She ordered pizza, praying that the delivery arrived sooner than her consciousness completely evaporated.

To fill in the silence, Powder started telling Caitlyn about her family. It was a good start, because thinking of them was the biggest turn-off possible.

“...Yeah Ekko’s actually my only equal when it comes to fighting games. He knows all the combinations, it’s like he studies the games before we play them,” Powder smiled, finally feeling just a bit saner as she thought of the little man who she actually treated like a friend. So unlike Caitlyn.

“You seem close.”

“Yup, he’s like a brother to me, although I already have far too many,” Powder didn’t tell her about Mylo and Craggor yet, not wanting to overwhelm the woman with that many names. She loved her family, yet she also wished that those two weren’t her brothers sometimes. Actually, the only problem was Mylo. Claggor was a nice person.

“...brother?” The shock on Caitlyn’s face looked comical. Powder wondered why she reacted like that, but couldn’t place it.

She talked a bit about her family, finally getting to the point about the man in question. “Ekko’s our neighbour, I’ve known him ever since I knew myself. Even helped me get into PSA, he’s actually been a really big help with my plan” Powder shut up. Well, fuck. “My life… err… future plan, I mean.”

Powder really wished that Caitlyn would just let it go. Yet by the look on the woman’s face she instantly knew that the detective in her was waking up. Prepared to be interrogated, Powder almost jumped at the sound of the intercom ringing.

She flew to the door, grabbing the pizza box with shaking hands. Back on the couch, the girl stuffed her mouth with food. Powder wasn’t even hungry. Yet she took large bites, hoping it didn’t look too gross. She needed an escape, she had almost slipped up.

“Wanna watch a movie?” Powder asked solely as a reason to not have to talk anymore. Caitlyn agreed to the first movie she chose. Some cheesy romantic comedy about soulmates, one of which was an old vampire thirsting over a teenage girl. Vi loved that movie. Powder didn’t. She had seen it a thousand times with her sister only because she liked the actress. By the looks of it, Caitlyn knew the movie well. Did she like it?

She cracked a few jokes at the silly script, and Caitlyn laughed at them, paving way for Powder to continue her commentary.

The sun started to set behind the window, and they were soon enveloped in darkness, only lit up by the TV screen. It was so intimate to sit with Caitlyn like that. Her eyes mirrored the pictures, and Powder wanted to watch the movie through them. She tried to control herself and not stare too much. It was getting harder and harder with each second.

Powder didn’t notice how her leg started shaking. Yet Caitlyn did.

And her hot palm fell on Powder’s thigh.

Oh fucking hell.

Powder melted on the spot, sinking deeper into the couch. She didn’t know what to do. Her body instantly went aflame. Powder could only pray she didn’t make a weird noise and spoil it.

She was in heaven.

Her head went dizzy with the sensation of Caitlyn’s palm over her leg. She wanted to part her thighs, to push the woman’s hand further to her centre, yet she stayed still.

“Don’t act so weird about this, freak, she just wanted to comfort you,” even the voice in her head didn’t sound convincing as it told her this. Powder internally whined, feeling like she was going insane.

What was Caitlyn even doing?

Her knee buckled, and Caitlyn sympathetically started caressing her thigh with a thumb. Powder was going to explode. That was too much.

As if connected to the galaxy, Powder was having an outer body experience. All of her being was now overtaken by uncontrollable lust, yes she stayed still. Powder told herself it was some sort of weird BDSM kink play where she had to be a good girl and not move, solely to give herself some motivation. She needed a lot of motivation not to shove Caitlyn’s fingers into her soaking wet underwear.

Caitlyn looked at her, and Powder looked back. There was a soft smile on her lips, one that Powder wanted to kiss away. The thought felt too dangerous, so she sharply turned back to the screen, yet her ears weren’t registering even a single line from the movie.

When the credits started rolling, Powder excused herself to the bathroom again. Caitlyn’s hand freed her thigh, and it took all of the girl’s might not to let out a sigh of pain as she did so.

Powder locked herself in the room, panting as if she had run a marathon. She really did. Seeing her own reflection in the mirror, the girl quietly groaned. Her face was flushed, eyes hooded with lust, and she both felt and looked pathetic.

She splashed herself with water, although it offered her no relief. Her hand was twitching in desire to simply touch herself and relieve some tension. Powder could do it. She would need to be quick, but she could just shove her hand into her shorts, pretend it’s Caitlyn, and be done in a flash.

Yet remembering Caitlyn’s soft eyes, remembering how she called her a “friend” now, how she trusted her, Powder couldn’t betray her trust like that.

The girl all but drowned herself in the cold water, nearly suffocating at how violently she pushed her face into the sink. Like a soldier after a battle, Powder resurfaced into the living room.

They talked a bit more and afterwards Caitlyn announced that she had to go. As much as Powder didn’t want for her to leave, she also desperately needed to relieve some of her tension. Yet still, she pouted, quickly covering it up with a smile.

At the door, Caitlyn pulled her into a tight hug, and then pecked the girl’s cheek. Powder was about to combust. She froze up, staring at the ceiling, the kiss feeling like a gift from the goddess. It was. Her face was burning. She couldn’t stay still.

“Goodnight, Powder,” Caitlyn whispered into her ear, a finishing touch to an already finished Powder. She could barely reply back.

Powder watched her take an elevator, before locking the door and falling down to her knees. She was completely and utterly fucked if being Caitlyn’s friend meant surviving events as such.

She didn’t bother to take her clothes off, running to the couch and all but forcing her fingers inside of herself. Powder brought her left wrist to her face, muffling her moans and kissing the soulmate mark that burned on her skin.

Caitlyn’s scent was still all over the room, her expensive perfume leaving a trail behind, as if she was still lingering there. Powder imagined that she was watching her. It gave the girl a thrill. She sucked the skin on her wrist, moaning the woman’s name as she came again and again.

Her fingers were completely drenched, and the couch seemed to be doing no better, either. She kept on going until she passed out, waking up in the middle of the night to push herself off the couch and into her bedroom.

***

“So, you want me to make a strap?” Powder wiggled her eyebrows at the scientist. Viktor huffed.

“Well, I suppose you could also call it that, although, as I’ve already told you, this is an invention for people who–”

“Horny people, gotcha,” Powder winked, humming to herself as she found a blank paper on the table, starting to scribble the designs for the new project. Viktor blushed as he saw her blueprints.

“As I’ve already mentioned, this is a serious project. A very respectable organization had turned to us for help, as it would increase the quality of life for people that are transitioning…”

“A hexstrap!” Powder giggled, showing him a penis she doodled on the paper. Viktor turned away.

“I hope I can rely on you, since you’re the top scientist on our team when it comes to creating such delicate devices.”

“Mhm, I think I have an idea on how to make it sensitive, y’know, that would definitely make a splash on the market. Are we selling it to the sex shops?”

“No, Powder, this is completely separate from… Alright, I am entrusting you with this, and you can always come to me for advice. Fill in the blank for whatever materials you’ll require,” Viktor left her alone in the laboratory room. She joyfully put on her headphones, starting the hard work. In her head, she was already imagining Caitlyn pressing her into the mattress and fucking her until she couldn’t stand straight for the days to follow.

***

Powder didn’t expect for her next meeting with Caitlyn to happen so soon, yet she wasn’t going to complain. The woman stood in front of her, curiously glancing behind the girl’s shoulder. Powder scooted closer to her, not yet wanting to reveal the hexstrap. It better stayed a secret until it was finished.

In her head, she came up with a new plan. Not exactly a friends with benefits situation, but instead a joint project of two scientists, who helped each other study the new device. She had spent hours in her bed imagining just how they’d do it.

Caitlyn was visibly excited as she led her out of the laboratory, only to bring Powder to her car.

“You’re getting kidnapped,” the voice in her head joked, and she wished she would be kidnapped by Caitlyn Kiramman. Yet the woman had no such intentions. Instead, she brought her a racket. An expensive looking one.

Powder sighed as she caressed its frame. It reminded her of the colour of her tattoo, and she wondered if Caitlyn was becoming obsessed with it. After receiving another gift in a small box, which, by the way, made it look like she was being proposed to, Powder was certain of it. Caitlyn Kiramman really liked her tattoo.

Caitlyn could leave many more tattoos on Powder’s body with her teeth if she liked it that much.

Lost in her thoughts, Powder twirled the vibration pamper in her hands. She didn’t want to leave it on the racket. She’d rather put it on a leash and carry on her neck for everyone to see Caitlyn’s claim on her.

“Are you fucking insane?” The voice couldn’t believe her audacity. Powder was too far gone. She agreed.

“Do you like it?”

Powder nodded, trying to snap out of her thoughts. There was a nervous smile on Caitlyn’s face as she stared at her. That woman was stunning. Arriving at Hextech Industries in a suit in the middle of the day, ruining any chance for Powder to remain productive for the rest of the day. And there she was, biting her lower lip slightly as she expected an answer.

“Yeah, it’s beautiful,” Powder said, although she wasn’t talking about the blue flame in her hand.

***

“How the fuck would I know how to play tennis, Pow?” Vi was looking at her with disbelief over the counter.

“All these gym subscriptions and you’ve no idea how to play smash with girls?”

“Oh, I know a lot about that, but it has nothing to do with tennis,” Vi rolled her eyes, pouring a cup of coffee. An old woman fiercely blushed as she became a witness to their conversation. Powder rolled her eyes in annoyance. Old witch had her fun in her youth, no need to play shy now.

“Did you tell her you’re playing tennis or what?”

“Nu-uh, but I still wanna be decent,” Powder sighed, remembering just how well Caitlyn played. She had watched what recordings she could find of her matches online, blushing each time the girl grunted as she hit a ball.

“Just find a wall and–”

“Thanks, I’m already talking to one,” the girl huffed into her cup. “And your matcha is shit.”

“Well, I ain't wasting the expensive powder on you. Reserved for Caitlyn Kiramman, remember?”

Powder sighed.

After an hour, she had managed to find a sports equipment shop in the Undercity, now carrying a fresh pack of tennis balls in her hand. Silco’s factory would do for a good wall. She turned on music in her headphones, muffling the sounds of the world around her.

Playing tennis turned out to be rather easy, at least, when she was playing against herself. She didn’t notice as a figure appeared out of the shadows. Powder sharply turned on her heels.

“No need for such dramatic entrances, you’ve almost given me a fucking stroke” Silco rolled his eyes, pulling her into a small hug.

“Didn’t know my factory was a tennis court now,” he commented, taking a racket out of Powder’s hands and studying it.

“Yup, it’s been repurposed,” she pushed a few annoying strands of hair out of her face. The man wasn’t impressed with her answer, yet he curiously bounced a ball on the strings.

“First you apply to PSA. Then you start working at Hextech Industries. Next you move into Piltover. And now? Tennis,” he studied her face, as if trying to dig out an answer from her. When it was already all too obvious why Powder was doing it. “Although I’m glad to see that Ms Kiramman is also participating in your hobbies,” he glanced at the wall, his eyes pointing at the blue flame they both drew there. Powder sighed with relief. It didn’t look like he was mad. “I might not be a pro-athlete, or even look like such… But I had the pleasure of playing a game with one of the business investors, so I could teach you a few of the moves.”

Powder hugged the man before eagerly nodding. She ended up staying in the Undercity so late that she had to sleep back at Vander’s as she missed the subway opening hours.

***

Caitlyn Kiramman was arching in front of her. Powder’s eyes widened at the sight. She was arching. Right in front of Powder. She almost coughed on the saliva that gathered inside of her mouth.

She had already survived Caitlyn Kiramman changing clothes in the same locker room as her. Powder caught the sight of her sports bra with her side eye, and the picture was forever imprinted inside of her head. Then she had to stare at the woman in her tennis dress that revealed too much of Caitlyn’s legs, although she wasn’t complaining. And now, she was staring as the woman stretched in the most devious way in front of her.

They didn’t even start the game, yet she was already soaked.

“So, have you ever played tennis?”

“Nope,” Powder replied, although she had spent the whole previous night studying the techniques on Youtube and swinging her racket from side to side, trying to mimic them. When she became too tired, she fell onto her bedsheets, opening the folder in her gallery that was named “Tennis”, and touching herself to the sight of the selfies that Caitlyn had posted over the years in her sports uniform.

Powder wasn’t prepared for the fact that teaching her how to play tennis would require so much touching. Silco didn’t touch her at all. She wasn’t mentally strong enough to survive this.

Yet Caitlyn didn’t notice how she was already panting over the fact that she had simply grasped her hand as she corrected her grip on the racket.

“You’re pathetic,” the voice in her head hissed, although Powder could swear that even it had trouble handling the close proximity to Caitlyn Kiramman.

They started playing, and Powder derived pleasure from seeing how the woman on the other side of court looked at her. She seemed impressed. Powder was glad she actually studied a bit before the session. The girl was naturally fast, although her small frame could fool some people that she was really bad at sports.

“You’re actually pretty good at it.”

If only Caitlyn knew just how good her stamina was. Probably was. They could actually test it together, like two scientists would in a professional setting.

The woman returned each and every ball Powder threw, and she soon decided to start testing her patience. Cockliy throwing the ball at different sides, Powder made Caitlyn run all around the court. Yet she stubbornly returned the ball. It was, in all honesty, impressive. Powder drooled at the sight. Caitlyn was so strong.

It was time to raise the stakes. The girl smiled deviously.

“And here I thought that all tennis players were moaning during the games,” she grinned from ear to ear, before following her next hit with a loud moan.

Caitlyn almost fell, yet she collected herself, missing the ball. Powder triumphantly swung on her feet. Caitlyn looked pissed as she returned to the centre of the court. The woman gripped her racket and smashed the ball against its strings, sending it directly at Powder. Saved only by her survival instincts kicking in, Powder managed to shield herself with the racket, returning the ball to the other side.

Caitlyn ran towards it, smashing it swiftly and moaning so loudly that it echoed all over the court. Powder’s legs wobbled. At that she just wanted to become the handle of Caitlyn’s racket, so that the woman would grip her just as intensely. She gulped.

“Well, that sounds more like the game you guys play,” Powder masked her nervousness with a laugh, pretending to toss the racket in her hands to cover up how they were shaking. “Actually,” she licked her lips, “can you show me how to serve?”

Caitlyn gave her a few instructions before she went in position. Powder watched her bounce the ball before lifting it up in the air. So beautiful.

Powder felt as if she was on a date with Caitlyn from the past. Back when she was still a young girl, just a teenager with a racket and a toothy grin on her face who simply enjoyed the game. As the ball hit the net, it sounded like all Caitlyn’s tennis dreams had shattered down. The woman was back into her older and gloomier self. Powder couldn’t accept it.

“Second serve, right?”

Although it was a poor attempt at encouragement, it seemed to have worked. Caitlyn landed a perfect ace. Powder stared at her proudly.

“That’s our girl,” the voice applauded, and Powder mentally high fived it.

“Can you teach me how to do it?” she asked, not yet realising just what a fatal mistake she was making. Yet Caitlyn was already agreeing and walking over to her side.

“It’s going to be hard to explain with words, so I’ll just show you.”

Somehow, Silco had managed to explain it just with words and his own example. Yet it seemed like Caitlyn had a goal of tormenting her sanity. The woman lingered behind her back before her chest to Powder’s mostly exposed skin. The girl almost came at the feeling of Caitlyn’s breasts caressing her back.

“You need to lift it like that,” Powder’s hand was limp as Caitlyn held it. She didn’t even try to remember the motion. Especially not when the woman placed a hand over her abs, pressing her palm onto her naked stomach. Powder could feel Caitlyn’s fingers slightly curling over her muscles. It burned, the sensation starting to cloud Powder’s vision.

“You have to part your legs like that,” the woman said as she pushed her thigh between Powder’s legs.

FUCK.

It was torture. The girl was barely alive. She could feel her soaked cunt pressing onto Caitlyn’s thigh. She desperately needed friction. Powder remained frozen.

“Now, you lower your back,” Caitlyn pushed her back down. Her breasts were now pressing onto Powder’s back, forcing her to arch her spine. She could barely keep up with the rest of the instructions. What she desperately needed right then and there was for her still unfinished hextsrap project to be beta tested on that tennis court.

“And now you hit the ball,” Caitlyn whispered into her ear, her breath almost licking her earlobe. Powder’s brain exploded, as if shot from a revolver. The woman let go of her, leaving her barely standing on wobbly legs.

“Try it.”

It would be easier to shove the handle of the racket inside her cunt than try to serve after she became such a mess.

Powder tried her best to at least remember what Silco had taught her, yet she didn’t even bother to look at the ball as it hit the net.

“You’re placing your arm in the wrong way, here,” Caitlyn once again proved that she was a number one fan of Powder’s tattoos as she softly traced over the lines of the blue flames with her pointer finger. It sent a pulse towards Powder’s core. “Like that. Try again.”

Powder really tried, she really did. But it was impossible. She couldn’t think properly, and the only position her body wanted to take was beneath Caitlyn’s body. As if hearing her thoughts, the woman offered more help. She interlaced their fingers on their left hands, and Powder gulped at how intimate it felt to hold hands with your soulmate. The other hand of hers went to grip Powder’s palm over the handle.

Powder fully let go, allowing Caitlyn to do whatever she wanted with her body. She became a spineless creature, desperate for more friction and touch. Caitlyn offered her plenty.

“Just like that, yes,” Caitlyn threw a ball up in the air, before smashing it with their joined hands. Powder shamelessly moaned, feeling just how slick her underwear had become.

Caitlyn freed her left hand and surprised Powder by putting it onto the girl’s waist. She let out a pathetic whine at the action.

Dripping into her underwear, Powder was losing all her shame as she grinded over Caitlyn’s crotch.

Fuck, what was she doing?

And what exactly was Caitlyn doing, holding her like that and meeting her hips as they buckled into her centre? Powder was going insane. She desperately needed relief. Caitlyn’s hand travelled over her abs, moving higher and tracing over her ribs. Powder’s breath hitched. It was so close to her chest. Before she could do anything else, Caitlyn was already pulling away.

“What?” Her confused inner voice chimed in. Powder looked over her shoulder. Caitlyn’s eyes were hooded, her face red. She was panting as she picked up her own racket from the floor. Caitlyn’s back arched beautifully as she did so.

“Hah,” the woman let out a small nervous laugh, before trailing to the other side of the court. Powder couldn’t look away.

“Ready to show what you’ve learned?”

Powder couldn’t find words to answer. Her head was empty, her burning body was shivering as it had already started to miss Caitlyn’s warmth over it. Yet she picked up her racket and waited for the ball.

They had spent an hour in relative silence, disturbed only by Caitlyn's instructions and corrections. Powder muscles started groaning in pain soon, unused to such intense exercises. She wished they were doing other kinds of cardio though. Yet playing with Caitlyn was still rewarding enough, as the other woman seemed similarly flustered, and was now grunting heavily each time she passed the ball.

In the locker room, they had taken separate shower cabins, and Powder spent the whole time fingering herself, forgetting that shame had ever existed. On the car ride back she could barely look at Caitlyn, mortified over her own self and what she had just done.

***

“Are you comparing sizes? I can just give you the measurements,” Powder shrugged as she watched Jayce Talis cough over the blueprints for the project. The man’s eyes comically widened. He straightened his back. The CEO tried to come back with a reply, yet Viktor was already asking him to come over.

“Excuse me,” Jayce nodded at her and Powder waved her hand at him before turning back to her work.

She had a “date” with Caitlyn that day, which she was looking forward to, although she still didn’t understand where the line between them was at this point. If she and Powder were friends, and Caitlyn and Jayce were also friends, did it mean they also behaved like that with each other? The girl almost gagged as she imagined it.

Her project kept her engaged for another few hours, time flying by without her paying any attention to the clock. As people had started to leave the building, Powder followed them and stretched as she stepped outside. She spotted Caitlyn’s car soon enough.

“Hey,” she plopped onto the leather seat, taking a deep breath in as Caitlyn’s perfume overwhelmed her senses. She wasn’t able to stop thinking of their little tennis match ever since it happened, and seeing the woman in flesh was making her hot once again. To keep her hands busy, she started switching the radio stations. Caitlyn allowed her to do so, and Powder felt like a total passenger princess.

Inside Jericho’s, she made her way to the counter, meeting the owner himself.

“Who do we have here, isn’t it you, little monkey?” The man greeted her with a smile. She grinned back.

“I need two plates of your special,” she cut straight to the chase. “See that woman I came with? Mhm, need to leave a good impression,” Powder furrowed her eyebrows to make her face look more serious. The man simply laughed and nodded.

“Right at ya.”

Powder watched as Caitlyn poked the wall with her nail. Although it would’ve made her unconscious only a few weeks ago, at this point the girl was getting used to Caitlyn’s antics. They were both slowly opening up to each other, and Powder didn’t feel like she had to prove her worth to the other woman anymore. Not like Caitlyn was asking her to do it, either.

Powder brought a trail to their table, scooting close to the woman so that their hips met.

“She’s going to vomit all over the plate,” the voice warned Powder, and she almost giggled at the expression on Caitlyn’s face.

“The taste of the Undercity,” Powder smirked before putting a piece of fish inside of her mouth, making sure to moan as loudly as was acceptable inside a diner. It seemed to frustrate the other woman, so Powder counted it as a mission accomplished.

When she watched Caitlyn struggle with her chopsticks, Powder took pity on her. She brought a piece of fish to Caitlyn’s lips, and watched as the woman parted her mouth, taking a small bite. Powder couldn’t breathe as she watched the scene.

“It’s actually delicious!”

The rest of the dinner went smoothly, and at some point Powder found Caitlyn softly cradled inside of her arms. Her warmth felt so pleasant against Powder’s skin, the girl’s heart was full with love. She told the woman more about her family, even opening up to her about her parents.

She would bring Caitlyn to meet them like she had promised.

Yet Caitlyn’s phone rang, making both of them slightly jump at the sound. The woman looked reluctant to pick it up, yet as she listened to the voice on the other side of the line, her face went pale.

“...Tax evasion?”

Oh, shit.

It became clear that their bubble of comfort popped and Caitlyn had to leave. Although Powder desperately didn’t want her to leave, she could read the room. She put her feelings aside, insead focusing on making sure that Caitlyn was fine.

“Sorry to cut it like that, I really–”

“That’s okay,” Powder pulled the woman closer, wrapping her arms around her in a tight hug. She pecked her cheek just like Caitlyn did to her when she was leaving after their game night. Some tension had lifted from the woman’s shoulders and she bid her goodbye, leaving Powder alone at the booth.

***

“Caitlyn Kiramman a criminal? Duh, tell me what’s new. She had stolen my heart years ago,” Vi let Powder get behind the counter and prepare a cup of matcha for herself, so the girl unceremoniously roamed around the small space.

“You’ve promised to shove your comments about Caitlyn into your ass if I made you those gauntlets, remember?” Powder hissed at her sister in the passing. The pink-haired barista shrugged.

“I’ve said no flirting, I never said I’m shutting up, HEY OUCH!” Powder pinched her arm, making Vi finally shut up. Done with preparing her matcha, the girl went to the other side of the counter, now facing her sister once again. Not knowing what else to say, she only frowned at her cup, sipping the liquid and listening to Vi go on and on about the recent gossip.

Days flew by without a word from Caitlyn. Powder didn’t know if it was wise to text her during an investigation, the only thing she knew about these procedures were the rumours spread around their neighbourhood, so instead she had decided to pay her a visit.

Making a stop at the cafe on her way, Powder carried a cup and a small sandwich to Caitlyn’s office. She had never once been at Kiramman Trade Corp, and she instantly felt unredressed as she made her way in. The receptionist looked at her in question.

“Good evening, can I help you, Miss?” The woman asked, curiously looking at Powder’s uncovered tattoos. Powder didn’t care what they all thought about them. Caitlyn liked those blue flames and they would stay exposed if the woman was in her radius.

“Hi, could I see Caitlyn Kiramman, please?” She asked, trying to act polite and respectful. The receptionist called someone, presumably Caitlyn’s secretary.

“Could I ask for your name?”

“Powder, and I brought coffee,” the girl showed the cup to the receptionist. They waited for the answer together, awkwardly looking at each other.

“She probably thinks you’re some creepy–” Powder didn’t want to hear. She was there on a mission to brighten up Caitlyn’s day, she couldn’t risk spoiling her own mood in the process.

“You are welcome to enter. Here, let me just give you a pass,” the receptionist gave her a small card. “23rd floor,” the woman added with a polite smile. Powder smirked back.

In the elevator, she nervously stepped from one leg onto another, before finally arriving at the floor. The office was stylishly furniture, and if Powder wasn’t already working in a similar building, she would be impressed. Her eyes tried to take her surroundings in, thinking of how Caitlyn spent most of her days beyond these walls. She took a few steps towards what she assumed was the door to Caitlyn’s office.

“Hi, you must be Ms Powder!” The secretary asked her, yet Powder had already spotted the woman she wanted to see behind the glass door.

“Yup,” she made her way towards the door, opening it widely and slipping inside the room. Caitlyn’s face had brightened up instantly as their eyes met, and it was like her skin had gained colour once again. Powder was similarly joyful.

Although while sharing her lunch break with Caitlyn, she had completely forgotten to get her own food, Powder was feeling full to her stomach with happiness as she went back to her own office building. She kept touching the cheek that Caitlyn had pressed a kiss onto for the rest of the day.

***

“Dude, how are you so good at this game now?” Ekko’s voice whistled inside her headphones and Powder laughed. She didn’t just spend each evening staying up till the sun was about to rise for nothing. Empty energy drink cans littered her floor, along with a few opened chips bags. Powder chewed loudly into her microphone as she waited for the next game to load.

She had a relatively good day, which was followed by an even better evening when she had spotted a few headlines about Caitlyn and herself.

“Fucking finally!” Was the only thing she yelled as she scrolled through the online magazines’ pages, saving the candid photos of them together. Caitlyn looked so cute and relaxed while laying on her shoulder. Powder wanted to make it her wallpaper picture or frame it on her bed stand.

There were already a few threads on twitter as well, as their town loved to share the gossip about the higher ups. Powder read them with interest, even throwing a couple of her own tweets from her fake account in reply to rude comments.

Caitlyn was probably used to all that gossip by now, so she assumed the woman wouldn’t even bat an eye at the headlines. But for Powder it was a field day. And now she was riding a new high as she kicked Ekko’s ass in his own favourite game.

“Your intrercom’s ringing,” Ekko alerted her, and Powder brushed her headphones aside. Indeed it was. She curiously walked towards the door, leaving her controller behind.

She didn’t order anything, at least, she didn’t remember if she had.

Powder pushed the button on the intercom, frowning as the familiar voice shakily yet softly spoke from the other side of the line.

“Can I come in?”

She didn’t answer, already opening the door for Caitlyn. Ekko was blabbering something in her headphones, yet her attention was preoccupied.

What was Caitlyn doing here?

Nervously swinging from one foot to another, Powder waited for the elevator to bring the woman onto her floor. She opened the door as soon as she heard it beep.

Caitlyn looked disheveled. Completely miserable and in pain.

Yet there was also something else in her eyes. Something new. Something that Powder had never seen before.

The girl let her in, locking the door behind her in silence.

As she watched Caitlyn shake off her shoes, she noticed that the woman was lacking her famous Kiramman watch. Powder’s eyes widened as she spotted her name handwritten on Caitlyn’s skin in white ink. She gulped at the sight.

What the fuck happened?

“I’m sorry,” Caitlyn said, finally barefoot. Powder stared at her in question.

Sorry? What for…?

She didn’t even get the chance to ask.

Caitlyn was already pulling her into a suffocating kiss.

Powder’s mind went blank. She could barely reply to the woman’s searching lips, having just had the first kiss of her life.

Her eyelashes fluttered as she tried to close her eyes, hands limply falling to her sides as Caitlyn pushed her towards the door, forcefully pressing her onto it.

Powder breathlessly moaned into the woman’s mouth as she parted her lips.

Caitlyn was kissing her. Caitlyn was kissing her. Caitlyn was kissing HER.

It felt as if her brain had been sucked out of her head along with the oxygen from her lungs. She felt Caitlyn’s hands grasping her face, the woman was deepening the kiss and flicking her tongue over Powder’s lower lip. The girl moaned at the sensation, overloaded with insatiable lust.

Her own hands had finally gained enough strength to move, and she pressed them on Caitlyn’s waist, bringing the woman closer. Their bodies clashed together, and Caitlyn seemed to be losing her footing. The woman had pushed her leg between Powder’s thighs, stabilizing herself. Powder panted into the kiss.

She was only wearing her pajamas, lacking underwear, and the thin material of her shorts was barely a barrier between her sensitive skin and the fabric of Caitlyn’s pants. Powder wondered if she would leave wet traces on it. She wished she would, wanting to leave a possessive claim on everything that was Caitlyn KIramman.

Caitlyn seemed to be wanting the same, as she pushed her tongue inside Powder’s mouth and started bucking her thigh between the girl’s legs. High on the feeling, Powder was going to come right at the spot. Yet Caitlyn had started moving them from the door, never pausing the kiss as she did.

They barely made it to the living room before Caitlyn was already pressing her to the next wall, hands now roaming around Powder’s shoulders, gripping and tugging her skin.

Powder hoped Caitlyn was too preoccupied with the kiss to notice the mess around the room. The woman completely ignored all the trash on the coffee table, as she grasped Powder’s headphones from her neck and threw them onto the couch. It was then that the girl remembered that Ekko was still on the line. She prayed he was wise enough to shut down their call before hearing her moans over the line.

Caitlyn pushed them towards the bedroom, throwing Powder on top of her sheets.

Fuck, it was happening. It was absolutely fucking happening.

Powder watched as Caitlyn tugged off her blouse and was now standing in just her bra.

Fuck.

Powder’s hands itched to hold the woman’s chest, yet she was frozen in her trance. Simply staring. Mesmerized.

Caitlyn smirked at her knowingly. Her self-assuredness sent another spark through Powder’s body.

Slowly, Caitlyn’s hands moved behind her back, swiftly unclasping the bra and leaving it to fall off her shoulders.

“Agh,” Powder pathetically whined. Caitlyn let her enjoy the sight for a few seconds, before getting back on top of her and initiating yet another kiss. Powder moaned as she felt the naked breasts caress over her still clothed chest.

She lifted herself up slightly, taking the hem of her shirt and pulling it over her head. Caitlyn helped her shake it off her body. Their naked skin met, making the leftovers of Powder’s brain melt into a puddle.

She put her hands on top of Caitlyn’s back, grasping her soft skin and leaving marks on it with her nails. The woman hummed into her mouth at the action. Powder scratched a bit harder. Caitlyn replied to it with a gentle bite to the girl’s lower lip.

Although the kiss itself was overstimulating all of Powder’s senses, it wasn’t enough.

She needed more.

Her legs were shaking, and her cunt desperately needed attention. Powder pushed Caitlyn closer to herself. It was as if the other woman was reading her thoughts. Her searching hand caressed the material of Powder’s shorts before sneaking into them and pressing a finger onto her sensitive clit.

“Argh!” Powder arched her back at the sensation. Unable to keep up with the kiss in the current conditions, she breathed heavily while Caitlyn’s teeth started grazing the skin of her neck.

Mortified over her own desperation, Powder was trying to slow down her oncoming orgasm, prolonging the pleasure just a tiny bit. She almost cried over how hard it was to do so. Caitlyn let go of her neck, biting her earlobe.

“Come for me,” she whispered, and Powder complied, unable to do anything else.

Her body pulsed as waves of pleasure engulfed her. Caitlyn gently carried her through it, sucking on her neck as her fingers kept tracing circles over her sensitive clit.

Expecting the sweet torture to be over now, Powder opened her eyes, glancing into Caitlyn’s blue orbs. There was a smirk on the woman’s face that had almost translated into a soft smile. She connected their lips once again, before letting go.

Powder tried to reach for her, yet was forcefully pushed back to lay on her spine. Her brain didn’t catch up to what was happening, yet her eyes were watching Caitlyn pull her fingers inside of her mouth, sucking them and smiling all the while she did so.

The woman lowered herself on top of Powder’s body once again, her searching mouth now trailing kisses all over her naked skin. Caitlyn traced the lines of her tattoo with her tongue, sucking the skin in and leaving angry hickeys over the ink. Unable to do much else, Powder pushed her fingers inside Caitlyn’s hair, scraping her scalp with her nails.

Caitlyn’s warm breath hovered over her nipple before the woman sucked it in and rolled her tongue over the tip. Powder’s back arched as she loudly moaned, overtaken by the pleasure. Her clit was pulsing with need once again, wetness pooling out of her with every flick of the woman’s tongue over her skin.

She felt Caitlyn’s hand start to tug off her shorts, and lifted herself so that the woman could pull them off. Slickness between her legs was met with cold air of the room, making her shiver.

Caitlyn’s head went lower, until her mouth started biting the sensitive skin of Powder’s thighs.

“Fuck, please,” she begged, praying that the woman would take pity on her. Yet Caitlyn had ideas of her own, focusing on each inch of her skin instead of claiming the main prize.

Powder’s toes were curling by the time the torture had finally met its end, and Caitlyn lowered herself between her legs. Powder’s eyes flew open. “Ahh!” She moaned, feeling the woman’s tongue flickering over her folds.

It had felt so much better than Powder had ever imagined.

She started bucking her hips into the woman’s mouth, unable to stop herself from shaking, yet Caitlyn’s hand forced her to lay still, pressing onto her chest and massaging her breasts.

Powder had the stupid idea of opening her eyes to take a look at Caitlyn, and as their gazes met, she came right into the woman’s mouth.

The second orgasm hit her even harder, spreading over her body like a cobweb of pleasure.

Caitlyn happily hummed into her cunt, not even attempting to slow down her attacks. Instead, Powder felt as she pushed her thighs further apart and entered her with a finger.

“Ahh!”

Powder felt it curling inside of her, hitting just the right spot. She wondered for a second, just how many times Caitlyn had done it with other women to have gained such skills, yet those thoughts were pushed away out of her head as the woman increased the pace. Powder’s head hopelessly fell onto the bed sheets, unable to hold eye contact anymore. She writhed and moaned, before meeting her third orgasm of the night.

Caitlyn didn’t want to let her go, yet Powder desperately needed a break. She tugged the woman back on top of her, meeting her lips in a desperate kiss.

The girl could taste herself on Caitlyn’s mouth, and it made her intoxicated. She moaned into the kiss, bringing their bodies closer. All her strength was drained from her body, yet Powder desperately wanted to return the favour. But she tasted the unfamiliar cold salty wetness on Caitlyn’s cheeks and frowned. She leaned back.

“Are you crying?” Powder pushed the tears away from the woman’s eyes. Caitlyn only cried harder.

“I’m sorry,” she said, managing to shatter Powder’s heart with just one phrase.

“What are you apologizing for…?” The girl didn’t understand and she desperately hoped that she wasn’t saying sorry for what they had just done.

“They’re going to make even more headlines about you, it’s my fault, I’m sorry, I should’ve been more careful, I–”

Powder sighed with relief, a giggle almost falling off her lips. Yet the tension was thick and Powder didn’t want to make it look like she was laughing at Caitlyn. So instead she kissed her tears away.

“It’s okay, Cait, I don’t care,” Powder interlaced the fingers on their left hands, bare wrists now pressing onto each other, as if their marks were also sharing a kiss. It made her feel warm-hearted and safe. She kissed Caitlyn as the woman continued to quietly cry. “It’s all going to be okay,” Powder promised, fully believing her own words.

Her eyelids felt heavier with every passing second.

Caitlyn was still wearing her stupid jeans, which was a bit of annoyance, yet Powder didn’t feel like it would be appropriate to pull them off her at a moment like that.

They fell asleep, limbs tangled over each other's bodies.

Chapter Text

Caitlyn’s alarm harshly brought her back to reality. She stirred in the bed she didn’t recognize, under a weight that felt foreign yet painfully familiar. The woman opened her eyes, horrified at the state of nakedness her friend was currently laying in on top of her.

The events of the night felt like a dream.

Caitlyn didn’t plan any of it. Yet it had already happened. And she had to live with the consequences now.

Powder sighed and her eyelashes fluttered as the girl was also waking up. Caitlyn realized her alarm was still ringing.

“Sorry,” she croaked out, writhing under Powder in a poor attempt to get up. Her phone was abandoned somewhere on the floor, probably under the bed. There was no way of shutting down the alarm without having to get up. “I’ll have to…”

Just as Caitlyn began to move, Powder pressed her harder into the bed with her bare chest. Her chin was resting on Caitlyn’s collarbone, and the girl looked like she didn’t have any plans to let her leave.

Which was terrible.

It wasn’t that Caitlyn wanted to leave either, yet she had to. Especially when all the scenes from the night flashed in front of her eyes.

Powder never covered much of her skin, she couldn’t be described as shy and the clothes she mostly wore around Caitlyn were as revealing as they could get. Yet seeing her naked for the first time went into the cherished memories folder in Caitlyn’s brain.

When she came over, her plan was simple. Just apologize for the mess, discuss if Powder needed any help, tell her that she had already called Kiramman Trade Corp PR agent and asked to take the articles down. And in a way, Caitlyn did apologize. Yet she had definitely overdone it.

Overwhelmed after the conversation with her parents, drunk on the feeling of her wrist being bare, Caitlyn let desire carry her away.

She caressed Powder’s shoulder blades with her fingers. “I really must get up,” the woman whispered quietly. Powder clearly didn’t understand her, for the girl only sank deeper into Caitlyn’s body, using her as a squish pillow. “Powder,” she grasped the girl’s shoulder, shaking her lightly. “Powder.”

“Can’t you stay?” The girl muffled into her chest, hugging Caitlyn’s torso with an even stronger force.

“I fear I can’t…” Caitlyn had to face reality.

And the reality was frightening, and horrible, and very unwelcoming.

She had already dreaded facing her parents again, not to mention dealing with the reporters that were now lurking around not just her, but also Powder, who valued her privacy over anything and didn’t deserve to be in such a position.

Caitlyn wanted to sink deeper into the bed sheets and never leave the room. Yet it wasn’t possible for her. Especially when she had another meeting with the investigation team at 9 am.

She’d rather just get up and face it than prolong the torture.

Besides, she also had to get away from Powder and think of the appropriate boundaries to set up between them now that she had crossed the line.

Caitlyn wanted to slap her own face and cry. She had really messed up.

“Powder, please,” instead of crying, Caitlyn begged. She hoped that the girl would eventually listen and let go.

Yet Powder was stubborn. Although the clinginess was Caitlyn Kiramman’s pet peeve in relationships, her body had ideas of its own, chest filling up with warmth against her better thinking. But even though the previous night was about to ruin her reputation as a person with rational thinking, Caitlyn still primarily listened to her brain.

She started to push her aside, but Powder didn't give her the chance and pulled her back forcefully, causing them both to fall back onto the bed. The only difference was that now it was Powder who was underneath her, and Caitlyn was straddling her bare thighs.

Powder playfully smiled, opening her drowsy eyes.

“Mhm, you ain’t going anywhere,” she croaked over the sound of the still ringing alarm. Yet Caitlyn terribly needed to leave, while her own body betrayed her and didn’t even try to move.

Maybe she could skip work. Maybe she could have sex with Powder just one more time and then…

Caitlyn brought herself back to reality, glaring at the girl underneath her, who was currently too busy ogling over the woman’s chest to return the eye contact.

No, they had to talk about the mistake they had made and try to fix it before it was too late. Caitlyn couldn’t afford losing her. They had to…

She pressed a kiss over Powder’s neck, where she had previously left a not-so-subtle hickey. It did the trick. Powder’s hands eased their hold, and Caitlyn swiftly pushed herself off her.

The woman sent Powder a victorious smile before she lowered herself to the level of the floor, searching for her phone. Finally turning off the alarm, Caitlyn sighed with relief. Her head was about to combust from the sound. The torture was over.

She had little more than an hour to prepare for the meeting with the investigation team. Yet she didn’t have a fresh set of clothes or even her toothbrush, and her keys were comfortably resting inside of the purse she had left at Faefolk. Hopefully her mother didn’t want to return her belongings in person.

“Could I use the shower, please?” She asked, trying to meet Powder’s eyes and to force her gaze away from the girl’s nudity.

“Mhm, yeah, use whatever you want,” Powder stretched her arms over her head like a cat and yawned. Her back arched and the perky breasts jumped with the motion. Caitlyn willed herself to leave the room.

She didn’t pay much attention to their surroundings when she arrived at Powder's apartment unannounced. Yet the chance had presented itself to her now.

The living room that was tidied up the last time Caitlyn was there now resembled an asylum. There were cans of soda all over the coffee table and even under it, scattered on the floor. She wondered just how much sugar Powder constantly drank. Bags of chips, some boxes of leftover fast food, a few more vapes with different flavours. It seemed, somehow, more fitting for Powder’s room to look like that.

Caitlyn cackled to herself as she spotted the controller on the couch. Purple. The one she had used when they played. Caitlyn wondered if the girl was using it on purpose. She brushed the thought aside. Powder’s blue one had probably run out of power and she just needed a controller, it wasn’t that deep.

Finally inside the bathroom, she tugged off her jeans and gasped as her eyes registered just how ruined her underwear was. There was no chance she’d be able to pull them back on herself after the shower. Caitlyn groaned as she was met with two impossible choices: meet the investigation team without panties on or ask Powder to let her borrow something.

She decided to deal with it later, stepping into the shower and shutting the glass door behind her. Hot water hit her skin, washing off the tension from her body. Caitlyn put some of Powder’s shampoo into her hair, massaging her scalp and smiling as her nose caught up to its smell. It was so recognizably Powder. The citrus scent seemed to linger everywhere.

Caitlyn quickly washed her body, remembering that time wasn’t exactly on her side at the moment. Out of the shower, she had picked Powder’s toothpaste, and attempted to clean her teeth using her finger as a toothbrush for the lack of better options.

She had never been this caught off guard after a hook-up, usually doing so in an expensive hotel with all the necessities already provided for her. But it didn’t feel like another one night stand she shared with a beautiful woman. Instead, it felt like Caitlyn was already taking a mental note to bring over her own toothbrush next time.

Next time?

She slapped her cheeks to remind herself that all of that was a terrible idea. Wrapping her body with a towel, Caitlyn walked out of the bathroom.

Powder seemed to have gotten up, too, as she was now making noise in the kitchen. Caitlyn followed the sound, wishing she didn’t.

What her eyes were seeing was both thrilling and terrifying.

The girl was busy frying eggs on a pan, which, on itself, wouldn’t be that surprising except that Caitlyn was more than sure that Powder had no cooking skills whatsoever. No. It wasn’t what sent Caitlyn’s eyebrows up.

“Coffee for Caitlyn,” Powder laughed over her shoulder, her finger pointing at the table.

The woman couldn’t move yet, still trying to understand just how she was ever supposed to leave this apartment when her eyes were seeing Powder wearing Caitlyn’s blouse, carelessly thrown over her small shoulders with the sleeves slightly rolled at her elbows. The fabric was waving over her pale skin as the girl moved around, barely covering any of her nakedness.

“If you need any clothes, the wardrobe is in the bedroom, on the left,” Powder nonchalantly commented, as if she had already lived through this scenario a thousand times. Maybe she had, Caitlyn reminded herself that she didn’t exactly know how experienced the girl was. But she was a really good kisser, that was for sure.

Caitlyn made her way towards the bedroom, throwing off the towel and roaming in the wardrobe. Powder’s sense of style was very different from hers, not to mention that their sizes didn’t exactly match either. She imagined how her chest would pop off if she were to pull on one of Powder’s crop tops. The sight would definitely give a heart attack to the investigation team that she was supposed to be meeting soon. Maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea, actually.

Finally finding an oversized shirt without a funky print, Caitlyn pulled it over her head. She felt weird poking at the box with Powder’s underwear, yet calling the girl over and asking to pick a pair of panties for her felt a lot more humiliating.

She finally found a pair that felt loose enough to be able to stretch over Caitlyn’s hips and pulled them on. She found her own jeans and tucked the hem of the T-shirt inside of them, trying to make the outfit look at least a bit presentable.

“Breakfast’s ready!” Powder’s voice announced. Caitlyn never stayed for breakfasts. Yet her legs carried her towards the kitchen, and she plopped herself onto the barstool near the kitchen aisle. Powder was smiling as she gave her a fork. “Bon appetit!”

Caitlyn wasn’t hungry and she also had a bad habit of missing meals these days, but she diligently picked the eggs with her fork. It tasted a bit saltier than necessary, but when Powder asked her if she liked it, Caitlyn wholeheartedly nodded. She wasn’t lying. Maybe her taste buds weren’t very pleased, but her heart was swelling inside of her chest, overwhelmed with gratitude towards her soulmate.

Powder was drowsily smiling at her as the woman finished her food. She wondered if Powder herself didn’t have to get ready for work, but the girl seemed in no rush and Caitlyn let her be.

Out of habit, the woman glanced at her watch to tell the time, yet was met with a sight of her bare hand.

“I called the cab for you, it’ll be here in 10,” Powder said as she noticed Caitlyn’s mental struggles. Her blue eyes were so gentle and caring that the woman had wanted to sink into the feeling of comfort they provided and stay there forever. Alas, she didn’t have such an option.

They needed to talk.

But before Caitlyn could bring it up, Powder had excused herself to the bathroom. She returned pretty soon, her face now looking a lot fresher. Caitlyn gulped as she took in the sight of hickeys all over the girl’s body. Maybe she should ask Jayce to give Powder a day off.

Caitlyn sipped her coffee and finished the rest of her breakfast. She nearly dropped dead as she felt Powder’s arms wrap around her waist. The girl pressed her chest into Caitlyn’s back, resting her head on the woman’s shoulder. The action felt so domestic as if they practiced it a billion times now. Caitlyn relaxed into her touch.

The conversation… could wait.

She turned her head, meeting Powder’s lips in a tender and soft kiss. The girl tasted like toothpaste, fresh and mint. Caitlyn smiled, letting herself simply enjoy it for a while.

They would set the boundaries later. Maybe they could still do it, but just go into it slowly, establish…

Powder bit her lower lip and the kiss had picked up its pace right afterwards. Caitlyn fully turned around to face her, fingers burying into Powder’s blue hair. She pulled the girl closer, hands ready to throw the blouse off her shoulders and take her right at the kitchen counter.

Powder’s phone started ringing. She let go, frowning at it in annoyance.

“Your cab’s here,” the girl was able to say in between her gasps for air. Caitlyn felt similarly disheveled.

“Thank you,” she whispered, before leaving one small kiss on top of Powder’s nose. Caitlyn didn’t know why she did it, and when she caught herself on the action, she blushed furiously and turned away, getting up from the barstool and trying to find her own phone. Once it was safely tucked into the pocket of her jeans, Caitlyn walked towards the door, putting on her shoes.

“I’ll be going then,” the woman announced, and Powder nodded. The girl pulled her into another small kiss, yet it had actually managed to stay respectful and short.

Finally inside the cab, she groaned at the amount of text messages her father left her.

Dad: Caitlyn, dear, you must know that this kind of behaviour is rather inappropriate for a woman of your status. Everyone was staring at us! Imagine what the people are going to whisper about now. Do you understand what position you’re putting us into, especially during such hard times?

Dad: Are you alright, Caity?

Dad: Please, if you need anything, just call me. We’ve picked up your purse. And your mother is also terribly worried.

Dad: You had broken the glass on your watch, but I’ll fix it for you, do not worry.

Dad: I also had a driver park your car at the parking lot near the office. I’ll bring you the keys tomorrow.

Dad: I hope you realize that this is just childish at this point, Caitlyn! Answer your phone!

She wrote a short reply to him, telling her father everything was okay. Caitlyn winced as she looked at the amount of links Jayce had already piled up for her. Did no one in the city have anything better to discuss?

@jaycetalis.offiical “What kind of Powder are rich kids snorting these days?” LMAO

@jaycetalis.offiical Oh, sorry, I forgot that you were sensitive about this topic

@jaycetalis.offiical Still funny though

@jaycetalis.offiical Are you ok, Cait? Mel can’t ring you up

Caitlyn wasn’t okay. But she told Jayce that she was. There was no more time for her to expand her answer, as the cab was already arriving right at the gates of the Kiramman Trade Corp. She rushed to the office, catching curious looks from her colleagues.

“Good morning, Ms Kiramman,” the receptionist greeted her, eyes widening as she stared at the T-shirt Caitlyn walked into the building in. Instead of shying away, Caitlyn proudly broadened her shoulders, meeting her prying gaze. The receptionist turned away, and the woman counted it as another small victory of her morning.

Third time’s a charm, she thought to herself as she stepped into the office room that was used for the investigation.

***

“Ms Kiramman? Your mother had asked me to deliver you these,” her secretary brought Caitlyn’s purse inside, also carrying a small paper bag. The woman glanced into it. Clothes. “Uhm, she had also…” Caitlyn raised her eyebrow. “She had also asked you to…”

“Yes?”

“I’m sorry, I do not think I can word it appropriately,” the secretary winced, as if preparing herself to get slapped on the cheek. “But she had asked for you to put on different clothes. Although I do not share her opinion and I don’t think that you look like you’ve walked out of a AA meeting, which, I also need to specify that there is nothing more respectful than people fighting an addiction, and–”

“Thank you,” Caitlyn took pity on the girl and stopped her blabbering. Although her new secretary was definitely a lot more loyal and less judgemental than the previous one, she could also easily get carried away. “Could you please tell my mother that I will wear whatever I want?”

Although there was a smile on Caitlyn’s lips as she said it, her voice was seething with irritation. The secretary nodded. Even if Caitlyn kept catching dirty looks for the rest of the work day, and although she knew that her mother had picked clothes that she most certainly would have loved to wear, the woman stayed in Powder’s shirt, defying everyone’s expectations of her.

“But… Ms Kiramman, I also wanted to bring your attention to the fact that you’ve stained your jeans in something,” the secretary said, before disappearing behind the door. Caitlyn stared at the denim fabric that had indeed looked stained. She blushed as she rubbed her fingers over it. Before her mind could fly her towards the places she wasn’t ready to visit during office hours, Caitlyn buried her head deeper into paperwork.

With just a few minutes of the work day left, Caitlyn glanced at her phone.

@caitlynkiramman Could we meet today?

@dontjinxit missing me already?

Caitlyn blushed. It wasn’t like she didn’t miss Powder, but they had important matters to discuss.

@caitlynkiramman I think we need to talk. In private. Would you mind coming over to my place?

@dontjinxit yeah sure send the address

***

Caitlyn mentally prepared herself for the upcoming conversation. She needed to tell Powder that she really cherished their bond, and that she also was… undeniably attracted towards the other girl.

Yet Caitlyn was worried that her lack of dating experience, and most importantly, busy schedule and very public media presence were going to ruin them if they tried to make it official.

But instead of making decisions for the both of them, Caitlyn had decided to properly discuss it and then make sure they were on the same page with everything. Powder was also a person who deserved to have leverage on their relationship.

Maybe she wasn’t looking for anything serious. Maybe she didn’t understand how much it would change her life if they actually got together. Caitlyn needed to make sure they talked it all through.

Powder knocked on her door, and the woman let her enter, eyes widening as she noticed that the girl had pulled her hair up into a ponytail, exposing all the hickeys on her neck for everyone to see.

It was almost like she took pride in it.

Caitlyn had spent all her work day thinking of how she childishly got carried away, marking the other girl’s body without even asking for permission, and here was Powder – wearing them out in the open.

“Gotcha some Ionian takeout,” the girl tossed off her sneakers and pecked Caitlyn on the lips, before curiously walking through the hall of her apartment. The woman followed her and took the bag out of Powder’s hand.

Their hands brushed, and after what they had already done yesterday, it shouldn’t have sent fire through Caitlyn’s body. Yet the other girl was a blue flame impersonated, and each time Caitlyn touched her, saw her or even thought of her – her own skin burned, and brain melted inside of her skull.

“Thank you, Powder,” she set up the takeout food on the table, and Powder sat on a chair, spreading her legs widely as she did so. The motion had always seemed like a cocky habit to Caitlyn, yet now she blushed, thinking of it as an invitation.

The woman pushed these thoughts out of her head, instead handling chopsticks to Powder and beginning to eat. She hadn’t had any lunch breaks since the salty and a tad bit burnt fried eggs that her girl friend had prepared, so Caitlyn was feeling rather hungry.

Did she really just almost call Powder her girlfriend? Maybe her mother was right and Caitlyn was actually losing her mind.

“How’s the investigation going?” Powder asked, reaching out to hold Caitlyn’s empty hand. The woman blushed at the motion, yet made no attempt to flee. She would make sure they talked about their boundaries, but it was okay for now.

“I think I’ve caught their trail.”

“Huh?” Powder looked at her with furrowed eyebrows, as if missing a few chapters in the detective story.

“I have a suspicion. And if I’m proven right, then I might’ve dug out a hole of worms with this case. I’ve noticed that the taxes from the city's expenses were being distributed unfairly, or, rather the money had gone into someone’s pocket. I’ve studied the traces the perpetrators were leaving in the documents, and– This is actually top secret information and I shouldn’t be telling you about it,” Caitlyn sighed and Powder traced circles over her hand with her fingers. The girl reassuringly smiled. “But I fear our company has been dragged into this scheme, too. Maybe the whole Piltover is. Thankfully, it’s not my job to unsolve it, I’m merely clearing up the issues where KTC is involved.”

“You sound really stressed,” Powder randomly commented, although her remark didn’t feel that odd when the girl licked her lips deviously. Caitlyn was getting a hint at where Powder was going with this reply. But they still had to talk.

“It’s okay, just work,” Caitlyn shrugged, stuffing her mouth with food. “And speaking of it, how is your project?”

Powder giggled.

“Mhm, I’m very close to developing the first prototype,” she said proudly while her blue eyes shimmered diabolically. “But this… delicate project would require a lot of testing,” Powder bit her lower lip. “I’m already looking forward to that part.”

“Must be nice to be able to create something physical,” Caitlyn thoughtfully replied, thinking of how all of her work was mostly just words and numbers and nothing that she could really look at as an accomplished project. “My work feels so unrewarding sometimes,” she confessed. “It just piles up, as if there’s no end to all the paperwork. I’ve always wished I could just materialize the finished results and touch them, to make it feel more real.”

“Well, I can offer you to touch my project when it’s finished,” Powder was grinning like a devil. Caitlyn didn’t understand what was so funny about it, but she promised herself not to push Powder for answers.

“Thank you, Powder, I’d love to.”

Her reply made the other girl chuckle, and Caitlyn almost regretted it. But Powder didn’t look like she was making fun of her.

It just felt like teasing.

And the teasing itself didn’t feel friendly at all.

Not when Powder’s thumb brushed over her knuckles, not when the other girl looked like she was ready to eat her alive. Caitlyn remembered that they needed to talk. Yet she couldn’t remember why it was so important that they did it now. Couldn’t it wait? She was actually very tired after the long day, and… Caitlyn straightened her back. No, they had to talk.

She opened her mouth to speak.

“Do you wanna continue watching that shit trilogy we started when you were over at mine?” Powder said, eyeing her TV and the couch in front of it. Caitlyn helplessly nodded.

They repositioned themselves, now sprawled over the couch. Powder made herself comfortable, pressing her head on Caitlyn’s shoulder and throwing her legs over the woman’s lap.

Caitlyn didn’t know why she was so okay with it. She was planning on asking them to stop. Or at least to consider stopping whatever had started there. Or at least slow down. Yet there she was, flicking over the movie selection folder, as if any of them were actually going to watch it.

She could feel Powder’s breath on her cheek and it made her feel on fire at once.

Not even five minutes into the movie, the other girl was already pressing light kisses over her neck. Caitlyn didn’t want to complain. Yet she wished she would. They needed to talk.

But as Powder’s lips sucked on her skin, the only thing she wanted to ask of her was to not leave a mark. Or leave more of them and make them as red as possible, so that everyone would see. Caitlyn shivered as the thought raced through her.

She already had Powder’s name on her wrist, did she really need more proof that she belonged to her? A small voice in her head shyly whispered “yes” and she rolled her eyes at it. Childish.

But there was nothing childish about the way Powder’s hand started palming her breast, shamelessly getting under her shirt. Caitlyn moaned.

There was some drama unfolding on the TV screen, yet her mind was already too far gone to even remember why she had asked Powder to come over. She didn’t want to meet with the girl in public, fearing that they’d be spotted. But Caitlyn had terribly miscalculated when she locked them up in a tiny room, thinking they’d actually manage to talk.

Powder switched her position, now fully straddling Caitlyn’s lap. They shared a breathless kiss, tongues meeting and rolling over each other. Caitlyn panted heavily as she started tearing Powder’s clothes off her, not being able to sit still anymore. The other girl helped her undress, too.

Their bare chests grinded against each other as they made out on the couch, and Caitlyn felt herself getting wetter with each moan the other girl let out. Powder let go of her lips and moved to her neck again, before slowly getting lower and licking her nipples.

“Shit,” Caitlyn’s fingers got lost in the girl’s blue hair. Powder took it as encouragement to continue, and kept throwing kisses all over her chest.

Breathless and too wet to care, Caitlyn gently nudged the other girl to get lower. Once again exposing her natural submissiveness, Powder pushed herself off Caitlyn’s lap, sinking down to her knees on the floor.

Their eyes met as the girl was staring at Caitlyn’s crotch from below. The woman lifted herself over the couch, and Powder quickly caught up, unzipping her jeans and pushing them down to her ankles. With shaking hands, Powder gripped the hem of her underwear, the panties she had borrowed from Powder herself, and started pulling them off.

Caitlyn didn’t have sex in months, and she was already so drenched that she could come from a single touch. Yet Powder didn’t rush to take action. It made her slightly impatient and she glanced at the younger girl in agony.

“I… need to tell you something.” Really? After so many failed attempts at conversation that Caitlyn had taken, Powder was pausing right when she was between her legs? “I’ve never… I’ve never done it, so… tell me how.”

The girl was unable to even meet her eyes. Caitlyn was flabbergasted. Never? Not with a woman? Never had sex? Caitlyn was her first? And she just… ruined her first time by basically forcing herself onto her out of nowhere? They weren’t even dating. And didn’t at least share a long romantic evening before jumping straight to the point.

Caitlyn felt like an idiot. She met Powder’s worried eyes. The girl was probably starting to think that her inexperience was a problem.

“It’s okay,” Caitlyn caressed Powder’s cheek with her palm. “You could start by… sticking your tongue out and making it flat,” Powder did as she was told. “Now you just press it towards– ahh,” Caitlyn arched her back as the girl’s tongue made contact with her sensitive skin. “And move your head,” she tangled her fingers into Powder’s blue hair, helping the girl figure out a pace.

Soon, Powder was already figuring it all out as if she had studied Caitlyn’s body for years and was only pretending to be a virgin. Her tongue started tracing circles over Caitlyn’s sensitive clit, and her palms roamed around her body, nails pressing into her skin and lightly scratching it.

Caitlyn pulled Powder’s head closer to her core as she was nearing her climax. She lost her ability to speak, hips bucking into the other girl’s face as she ate her out.

“Ahh!” She moaned into the open air, finally reaching her peak. Weeks of teasing had clearly messed with her body, making her overly sensitive to everything that Powder did to her.

Soulmate effect. No, just psychosomatics.

Powder’s chin was covered in her wetness, and Caitlyn brought her face towards her lips, pulling her into a kiss.

So much for talking about boundaries.

They had abandoned the movie, continuing their night in Caitlyn’s bed and falling asleep when the sun was already starting to rise.

They would just talk tomorrow. Caitlyn decided that one more night couldn’t do much more damage.

Chapter Text

“Slow down, Cait, what do you mean she thinks you’re dating?” Jayce frowned at her. “And… I need a reminder, why is it a bad thing?”

Caitlyn sighed. She didn’t have enough time to deal with personal dramas, but the events of the previous week had left her desperately needing advice. Which is why she was currently standing over Jayce’s shoulder at his office, pouting and giving him a small recap of the previous week.

After Powder came over to talk, Caitlyn had instead spent the whole Saturday morning lazing around with her in bed. Her body was craving some relaxation, and suffice to say, Powder was eager to provide it for her. They barely left the bedroom and even when they did, they didn’t do much talking either.

Caitlyn told herself that she would just clear up the air after the weekend was over. She deserved to have a good time, but once her hellish amount of work would hit her in the face, the woman would definitely draw the boundaries between them. She had to.

Caitlyn was still wary of the paparazzi lurking around and trying to catch them, so on Monday she asked Powder if they could meet in private once again. She had also made it clear to the other girl that they needed to discuss things.

@caitlynkiramman Powder, with the new development in our relationship, I think it’s of utmost importance that we discuss the boundaries to which it extends now. Are you available today after work?

@dontjinxit yeah sure, your place?

Powder came prepared. But not in the way Caitlyn could have predicted.

“Uhm,” the woman’s brain short circuited when she saw the kind of list of boundaries her friend had brought. Powder was looking at her innocently in the meanwhile.

“I’ve already filled mine and got you your own copy!” She said, a soft smile curling on her lips. Caitlyn took the pen that Powder offered her, blushing deep red.

“I… It wasn't exactly…” Caitlyn didn’t know what she could say.

A BDSM checklist wasn’t something she had ever considered filling. Four pages long, it consisted of every lewd action known to manhood. Powder watched her excitedly. “I… I’ll just fill it later,” was all Caitlyn said before pulling the other girl in and kissing her breathless.

She had spent her lunch break on Tuesday filling up the list before coughing in embarrassment when her secretary almost caught her in action.

On Wednesday, Caitlyn had decided to try a different approach, finally caving in to being seen in public. Having a few headlines appear on the Internet wouldn’t hurt if they actually had managed to finally talk it through.

@caitlynkiramman Hi, Powder. Have you ever been to the Demacian restaurant on the corner of your street? I thought we could have dinner there tonight, if you’re free.

@dontjinxit meetcha there at 8?

The moment they stepped inside, a few people had already started whispering behind their backs. Caitlyn willed herself to ignore it. The restaurant wasn’t a very fancy one, but it had a nice vibe to it. Their table was secluded from most of the visitors, which calmed some of Caitlyn’s nerves. But not for long.

She was in the middle of telling Powder about the new developments on the case and how the suspects for the corruption scheme started falling down like domino pieces, when Caitlyn felt a hand sneak to rest onto her thigh. She had cursed her decision to wear a dress that day.

“Powder!” She hissed, turning red. The other girl only grinned back, the hand sneaking under her skirt, fingers tracing circles over her soft skin.

“What? I’ve just missed you.”

Powder gave her that sweet and innocent look, and Caitlyn was unable to fight against it. She let the girl leave her hand there, which led to both of them fiercely making out in the restaurants’ bathroom ten minutes later.

“Are you just bragging to me about it now, Cait?” Jayce huffed, almost offended. But Caitlyn wasn’t bragging. She desperately needed help. Except maybe Jayce Talis was the worst person to ask for advice. She sighed, dropping her weight on a chair in front of the man. “Aren’t you happy now? Why not just let it be?”

“I’m… scared,” she admitted, biting her lower lip. “We might be fine now, but I’ve never done anything like this. What if I ruin it like I ruined all the previous relationships I had?”

“First of all, that’s very generous of you to call them “relationships”. And secondly… Cait, look at me. If I had somehow managed to stay with Mel for almost a decade, how low could your success rate be? Your girl is head over heels for you, and you also sound like you’re having a high school crush on her. Why don’t you just test it out? Even if you fail, you can always repair what’s broken.”

Caitlyn looked at her bare hand that was usually covered by her watch. Her father had yet to repair the glass on it. Her eyes scanned the letters written in white ink.

“And by the way, Cassandra’s asking if you’re coming to the festival. Are you still avoiding her?”

“I’m not avoiding her,” Caitlyn corrected, although it was the truth. “I’ve simply got too much work now.”

“Oh, yeah, you told me all about that work you’re doing, Cait. Good for you, but talk to your mum, please. She loves you,” he gave her a pointed look and Caitlyn huffed. “And ask Powder to go to the fest with you. Might be good for both of you to be surrounded by people in the open air, not much room for all your make-out sessions, you know. Might as well get the chance to finally discuss things.”

With that Caitlyn rose from her seat. “That’s it!” She exclaimed, jumping to hug Jayce. “You’re a genius!”

“I know, Cait, the man of progress and all,” he self-assuredly nodded. “I’ll also be there, by the way. No speech this time, the PR team advised against it,” Jayce scratched his head and smiled. “Maybe it could be a double-date?” His goofy grin was met with Caitlyn’s sulking expression.

***

Piltover’s summer festival was one of the annual events held for no purpose other than boasting about their riches in the faces of the neighbouring countries. Local businesses came together in the centre of the city for a fair, and the streets were decorated in bright colours, with the national flags waving out from every window.

Being a port city, Piltover had always praised itself on the connections people built inside of its gates. Thus, the main theme for the festival was a rather romantic idea that “all roads meet in Piltover, one might as well cross paths with their soulmate there”. Tourists loved it, fleeting to the city yearly.

Caitlyn used to adore the festival as a kid, even though she never got to participate in any fun activities, mostly wandering hand in hand with her mother and talking to the high society members of their city. She wondered if her soulmate would turn out to be someone from the crowd of people, who she would only meet much later in her life. So she shyly smiled at the girls her age, lost in the fantasy about the future to come.

After getting her soulmate mark, Caitlyn had to let go of the idea, and treated the festival as the business event that it was. And with Kiramman Trade Corp getting stained in the tax evasion scandal, Caitlyn wasn’t even sure if she would be attending the festival that year. She had wanted to skip, but Jayce’s idea wouldn’t leave her head.

She turned her head to the side. Powder had stayed over once again, meeting after work and losing no time before ending up in her bed. The girl was breathing softly, twirling her vape in her hands and puffing small clouds of flavoured air.

“Have you ever been to the summer festival, Powder?” She asked, watching the girl furrow her small eyebrows slightly. Blue eyes turned to face her.

“Not really my aesthetic,” she shrugged, making Caitlyn wonder what her usual theme was. Probably something more punk. Did the Undercity have any festivals? “Why?”

“I was thinking if you wanted to come with me?” The woman asked shyly, feeling silly about the whole idea suddenly. Powder was definitely going to misunderstand her and think of it as a date. Caitlyn cringed on the inside. Would she even be wrong? Wasn’t it a date?

“Sure,” Powder smiled softly. The way her eyes gleamed told Caitlyn that the other girl would go anywhere with her. As endearing as it was, it also terrified the woman to see such sincerity in Powder’s gaze. “Isn’t Seraphine also having a small concert of her own there?”

“What?!” Caitlyn jumped on the bed, her bare chest bouncing with her motion. She noticed Powder’s hungry eyes following it.

“I thought you’d definitely know about it,” Caitlyn blushed and turned away. Well, now she was most certain that going to the festival was a great idea.

“I… had other things on my mind,” she bit her lip and felt Powder’s hand caressing the skin over her ribs. Caitlyn ignored the other girl’s actions, already on her phone and confirming that Seraphine was actually performing on stage. “And remind me, how did you even know that I like her music?”

Powder went still for a split second.

“You seem like the type,” she croaked out, and if Caitlyn wasn’t so busy staring at her phone, she’d pay closer attention to how the girl sounded when she said it. Yet she completely ignored it, getting too excited about the future concert.

“She’s performing at 4 pm!” Caitlyn exclaimed and Powder only hummed behind her back in reply. “Okay, we need to be there at least two hours prior in order to get the best places and…”

“Can’t you just go backstage? Aren’t you a little celebrity of your own, Ms Cailtyn?” Powder teased her, but the idea felt outrageous. She was nowhere on the same level of fame as Seraphine, and even if she was, Caitlyn felt far too awkward to use her connection to meet the singer. So she ignored Powder, continuing to form plans inside of her head.

***

Saturday couldn’t come any faster. Caitlyn had all but forgotten her initial plans of actually speaking to Powder about their relationship, now focusing solely on the Seraphine concert. She had spent a few hours picking an outfit that would be comfortable enough to wear in the heat of piltovian summer while also appearing fashionable enough. In the end, she decided to wear a short denim skirt with a navy blue shirt, pulling on her favourite sneakers underneath.

The traffic in the city worsened during the festival to the point that even taking a cab wasn’t an option, so she was supposed to meet Powder near her apartment complex and then make way to the centre of the city. Being good thirty minutes early, Caitlyn patiently waited for her friend to pick her up, wondering what songs Seraphine was going to play during the concert.

Powder had surprised her by being early as well.

She had noticed the blue haired girl making way towards her and waved. Powder smiled back. She was wearing a very revealing black top once again, and Caitlyn’s eyes couldn’t help but roam over the blue smoke tattoo that ran all over her body.

“I knew you’d be early,” Powder rolled her eyes and gave Caitlyn a small hug.

“Did I dress appropriately?” The woman looked her own outfit up and down, making Powder giggle.

“Is someone fishing for compliments?” Caitlyn slapped her on the shoulder lightly as they started making their way towards the city centre. “You always look very beautiful, Caitlyn.”

The admission warmed her heart, but it wasn’t what she was asking. She let it go, although her nerves were cracking with each step they took. Caitlyn had been to a few Seraphine concerts already, and she knew just how much effort other girls put into their outfits. She didn’t want to stand out in a bad way. And similarly, she also remembered that she was a Kiramman, and they were never meant to come to an event underdressed.

“You also look very cute, Powder, as always.”

The younger girl beamed at the compliment and stretched out her arm to link her fingers with Caitlyn’s. The woman unconsciously took her hand. The familiar touch brought comfort and pushed all of Caitlyn’s insecurities away.

They went through the security gates of the festival, a few guards recognizing Caitlyn and greeting her politely.

“We still got lots of time to kill, so, what’s the plan, commander?” Powder joked, glancing at the time on her phone. She was right, there were still hours before Seraphine was going to perform. And the goal of the festival wasn’t to just come and listen to her show, either.

“Do you want to get a drink?” Caitlyn suggested, and they made their way to buy cold tea. Once the liquid filled her, she instantly felt better about the heat. Powder looked equally satisfied, staring around with interest. Caitlyn reminded herself that the girl never came to the festival before. “We could explore a bit.”

“Mhm, I want to check out this place,” Powder pointed a finger at a “Haunted house” tent. Caitlyn nodded. They made their way towards it, paying for tickets and standing in the waiting line mostly made up of teenagers. “I’m going to be very scared,” Powder whispered into her ear in a way that suggested she most probably would be faking it.

“I will protect you,” Caitlyn smiled, linking their fingers together.

The experience turned out to be as non-threatening as ever, with only a few creepy actors appearing from the shadows and trying to scare them. They had mostly walked through the darkly lit rooms in peace, Powder occasionally screaming and scaring a few kids that trailed behind them. The charade made Caitlyn giggle, but then she tugged on Powder’s wrist, asking her to behave.

Afterwards, they wandered a bit through the fair, looking at the ceramics that people were selling. Powder’s eyes lit up with interest, and Caitlyn got lost in the process as well.

The girl would lift plates and cups, showing them to her and asking what she thought of them. It brought Caitlyn’s mind to terrifying places, making the woman imagine what life they could build together. Early mornings on work days, when Powder would make them both coffee and pour it into their personal cups. With how artsy the girl was, they could even make those ceramic cups themselves. She wanted a cup to bring to her work, decorated with Powder’s graffiti. The idea felt alien, yet Caitlyn let it stay in her head for a while.

“What a pleasure to see you here, Caitlyn,” her mother’s voice brought her back into reality. She blushed, instantly dropping Powder’s hand that was still linked with hers. Caitlyn coughed, turning around.

Cassandra looked her up and down, a clear frown forming on her face even as the woman tried to look composed and polite. She spared a glance at Powder as well, eyebrow twitched slightly.

“You could’ve told us you were coming,” she remarked, completely ignoring the presence of the girl by Caitlyn’s side. It didn’t feel right, yet Caitlyn didn’t know what to do about it, too afraid to cause another scene in front of so many people.

“I’ve got too caught up with work,” Caitlyn tried to come up with an excuse, but it sounded weak coming off her lips. Especially when the girl knew that she had spent the best half of the week tangled in her bedsheets with Powder.

“I see,” was all her mother said in reply. Although there were sounds of people all around them, the silence between the two felt deafening. Caitlyn knew her mother would be at the festival, yet she hoped that she wouldn’t run into her.

Caitlyn glanced at her wrist, trying to tell the time, yet her watch wasn’t there and she blushed at how she still forgot about it, even after a week of not wearing the accessory. Cassandra caught up with the action.

“Your father had already repaired the glass. We’ve wanted to give it to you during one of our dinners, but after the scene you’ve made at the Faefolk, I think we would rather meet up in private next time.”

“Thank you, mother,” Caitlyn meekly replied. White ink on her wrist almost glowed under the burning sun. She fished her phone out of the pocket, glancing at the time.

They really needed to go if they wanted to make it anywhere close to the stage.

Yet she didn’t know how to flee the scene without angering her mother further. Caitlyn glanced at Powder, who was stoically silent and staring at her shoes. As if feeling Caitlyn’s begging eyes on her, the other girl turned to face her.

“I really need to pee,” Powder deadpanned, making Cassandra’s face wrinkle in shock.

She could have used a better excuse.

“I’ll escort you… to the bathroom,” Caitlyn’s face was red and she couldn’t look at her mother anymore. “Hopefully we run into you again later,” she said but without sincerity in her voice.

Cassandra let them leave without additional commentary.

The awkward silence still lingered between them even after her mother was long lost behind their backs. Caitlyn nervously bit her lip, trying to calm herself down.

“Are you okay?” Powder gently stroked her shoulder, making them slow down. The touch brought her some comfort and she sunk into it, wanting more. Instead of answering, Caitlyn took the girl’s hand into hers and squeezed it, hoping it was enough.

Dozens of people had already gathered around the stage, but Powder unceremoniously pushed through them, dragging Caitlyn by her hand as well.

“Powder!” She hissed, after they had rudely bumped into someone’s shoulder. The girl only giggled, bringing them further to the front stage. Although they were being impolite and improper, Caitlyn also felt easily swept away by Powder’s carefree nature.

Standing behind the metal fence separating the stage from the pit, Powder sent her a satisfied grin.

“Thank you,” was all she said, her thumb circling over Powder’s knuckles while they faced each other.

“You can thank me later,” the girl winked at her, making Caitlyn roll her eyes.

“Your flirting is very similar to your sister’s, did you know that?”

“That’s the worst thing you’ve ever told me, Caitlyn,” Powder shook her head in agony. “But the offer still stands.”

An indie band came on stage, announcing that the concert was about to start.

Caitlyn had never heard their music, but she easily lost herself to the beat. Her eyes never left Powder’s face, as if glued to it and unable to stare anywhere else. The girl looked so cheerful, and it was a stark contrast to the Powder she had met at the CUPCAKES.CO cafe. She wondered where this rude girl went, and why she was even that impolite to begin with. They really needed to talk about it at the very least.

Powder swayed with the melody, her motions coming so effortlessly that Caitlyn had almost felt jealous of how easily it came for her while the woman was standing still like a cardboard. Yet she had already seen how Powder danced on her fingers, and it subdued her jealousy, bringing delightful memories instead.

Different musicians switched each other on stage, and soon the time came for the headliner of the day. Caitlyn could barely contain her squeak as she saw Seraphine. She shook Powder’s shoulder, and the other girl simply grinned back at her.

Even with her favourite singer on stage, Caitlyn’s eyes couldn’t stop searching for Powder’s. She wanted to slap her own face and make herself look solely at the stage, but she stopped fruitlessly fighting it, instead turning to face the other girl and smiling at her like a fool.

“That’s the song!” she yelled into Powder’s ear when the melody that played at the cafe that one time started coming off stage.

“I know,” the girl smiled.

Caitlyn sang the lyrics out loud, facing Powder as she did. “I'm feeling for her what she's feeling for me. I can try to pretend, I can try to forget. But it's driving me mad, going out of my head.”

The realization dawned on her of how she was almost seranding to the other girl, yet she couldn’t stop, feeling too overwhelmed with emotions at the moment.

By the end of the song, Caitlyn couldn’t contain her giddiness anymore, pressing her lips to Powder’s as the rush overtook her. The girl whimpered in surprise, yet replied to the kiss eagerly. Her warm hands found their way to Caitlyn’s neck, holding her for support.

The crowd around them cheered for another song that Seraphine had started singing, yet it felt as if they were hyping them up. Caitlyn rolled her tongue over Powder’s, swearing she could hear a moan coming off the girl’s lips. She chased the feeling, getting swept away by the proximity to Powder.

They pulled away from each other, but it took Caitlyn a minute to catch her breath.

So much for going into public places to talk to Powder without getting physical.

Caitlyn tucked a wild strand of hair that fell on Powder’s eyes behind the other girl’s ear.

What if someone was filming them? What if they were going to leak it online, further confirming the media’s rumours?

Caitlyn hoped they’d send it in HD so she could relive the moment later.

“Thank you, Piltover, for such a warm welcome!” Seraphine was walking off the stage, leaving a cheering crowd behind. Caitlyn didn’t spare her a glance. They stayed for a couple more bands, before deciding to catch a break and return to the main fair.

“Well, I’m definitely a fan of her music now,” Powder grinned, licking her lips. Caitlyn giggled like a schoolgirl while leading them towards a bar. They ordered some non-alcoholic cocktails, talking about the concert and ignoring the rest of the world.

“Look at who’s here!” A heavy hand landed on Caitlyn’s shoulder, and the woman annoyingly turned to face Jayce. “Caitlyn! Powder! What a surprise to see you,” he winked and grinned at both of them.

“Powder, this is Mel Medarda,” Caitlyn ignored her self-proclaimed brother and instead introduced the girl to his wife. “And Mel, this is my… my… Powder,” she awkwardly bit her lip, wanting to set herself aflame in embarrassment. Her friend graciously saved her and extended her hand for a handshake.

“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Powder! I’ve heard a lot about you already, only the good things, I promise,” the girl gave a light squeeze to Mel’s stretched hand.

“Me too. Your husband can’t shut up about you even for a second,” the girl joked, making everyone share a small laugh.

“Can you blame me? I mean?” Jayce waved his hand at Mel, shrugging with his explanation. As a matter of fact, no one ever blamed Jayce Talis for being unable to stop talking about his wife. Actually, everyone much preferred it to his usual self-bragging. “So, guys, how are you enjoying this beautiful festival? Have you already checked out this awesome arcade tent Hextech Industries had set up?” There it goes.

“Did you know that Seraphine was amongst the singers for the concert?!” Caitlyn squeaked, excitement pouring off her.

“Right-right, because this is exactly why you’re here, sprout,” he wiggled his eyebrows in a silent question. Caitlyn ignored it, instead pouring her soul into a five minute speech about Seraphine. Mel attentively listened, while Jayce nodded along as if he was catching only one of five words that came out of her mouth. Powder was playing with the straw in her cocktail, smiling at Caitlyn reassuringly when their eyes met.

“Do you have any plans for the later part of the evening?” Mel asked when Caitlyn was finally done with the details. “We’ve wanted to check out a few of the Hextech-powered arcade machines that Jayce had already mentioned, would you mind joining us?”

Caitlyn glanced at Powder, and the other girl nodded. She didn’t miss the playful glimmer in her beautiful blue eyes.

“Can I compete against Mr CEO for a higher paycheck?” Powder grinned, catching the straw between her teeth. Caitlyn was sure her best friend was going to refuse.

“Deal,” Jayce declared without a second thought, making both Mel and Caitlyn roll their eyes simultaneously. The man cockily spread out his shoulders.

The four had made their way towards the tented territory of the festival. A huge neon Hextech Industries logo was burning Caitlyn’s vision.

“The rules!” Jayce cracked his knuckles and jumped on his feet, as if preparing for a boxing match. “Three matches. Each of us chooses one arcade to play, and our gorgeous ladies will determine what the third competition will be. If you win, I will raise your paycheck by ten percent.”

“Twenty,” Powder negotiated, interrupting his speech.

“Twenty five!”

“Darling, this is not how it works,” Mel caressed his shoulder, but the man gently shook off her hand.

“Mhm, fine,” Powder only shrugged, smirking in a way that made Caitlyn’s knees bend slightly. She looked so self-assured, and the woman didn’t doubt her abilities, but Jayce was one of the people who actually set up the tent, and he had pretty good chances against her.

“And if you lose… when you lose, I want,” Jayce hummed, scratching his chin. “Errr… I’ll discuss the details with you later, but the prototype you’re working on currently? I want a model of my own,” he nodded, coming to terms with his decision.

“Huh?” Powder looked him up and down curiously. Caitlyn wondered what it was all about, but she gulped down her question. “Deal,” the girl stretched out her hand, and Jayce met it.

“The game is on!” The man declared, sharply turning on his heels. “I’ll let you choose the arcade for the first round, but you should be wary that I won’t play it lightly against you–”

“I want the shooting range,” Powder was already trailing to the arcade, and Jayce huffed, following her footsteps.

“Hello, Mr Talis, Mrs Medarda, Ms Kiramman!” The worker greeted them with a smile. “And you, Miss…”

“Powder,” Caitlyn introduced them, although it felt unnecessary for the worker to actually know any of their names.

“And you, Ms Powder. Are you here to test our shooting range for yourself? We’ve been getting a lot of visitors this weekend!” He bragged to the CEO, expecting to get praised for the hard work. Yet Jayce was solemnly staring at the available weaponry. “Each competitor gets ten bullets to take down as many targets as they can. So far no one had been able to hit more than seven by the way, except for me, that’s the highest score,” the worker gossiped, preparing the targets while he spoke. “And to raise the stakes, we had also added rewards. The more targets you hit, the bigger the prize you can take,” the man waved a hand behind his back, showing off a range of plush toys.

The kid in Caitlyn’s heart longed to win her own toy, but it wasn’t a competition she was taking part of. Besides, she was most definitely not going to win anything, her sole award was making a complete fool of herself in the process.

“You go first,” Powder offered, still smirking at Jayce as if she was almost certain of her victory. It spurred the man to take immediate action. He grasped the toy gun which looked like a fake shotgun, and aimed it in front of himself, accidentally pointing the barrel right at the worker’s face. The man gasped and moved out of the way.

“You can begin!” He said once safely tucked to the corner of the shooting range.

Jayce didn’t waste any time pulling on the trigger. His shots were measured, but the shotgun was definitely a poor choice of a weapon for such a game. Caitlyn wondered if he had only chosen it because it was the most massive gun on the table.

“Four targets! That’s very impressive for the first attempt, Mr Talis,” the worker praised Jayce’s ego, and the man put his weapon on the table, pleased with himself.

Powder rolled her eyes, taking a small revolver. Caitlyn was once again wondering why she chose that exact weapon, but didn’t comment on it. Her own eyes were fixated on the rifle, and if she were to play, she’d definitely choose a long-range gun.

“You’re good to go, Ms Powder!” The worker announced, and everyone set their eyes on the small blue-haired girl. She stretched out her arm, focusing on the targets and taking them one by one. There was a playful smirk on her lips, but her eyebrows were furrowed in concentration. Caitlyn nervously counted each of her shots.

One. Two. Three. Four. Five.

Jayce huffed, turning away from the scene once his record was overtaken.

Six. Seven. Eight.

The worker’s eyes rounded in surprise and he gulped down nervously.

Nine.

“Ten,” Powder blew air at the muzzle of the revolver before putting it down. “Mhm, do I get a toy now?” She asked innocently, and the worker nodded. Powder looked back at Caitlyn before focusing her eyes on the variety of prizes available. “I’ll take the funky ferret, please.”

“It’s actually a mongoose,” the worker corrected, taking the toy from the showcase and giving it to Powder. She grinned and jumped towards Caitlyn.

“For you,” her smile was captivating, and the woman returned it eagerly.

“Thank you,” she shyly whispered, accepting the large mongoose toy. It was so gigantic that she could barely wrap her arm around it.

“Do I also get a toy?” Jayce sulked at the worker, and the man sighed in sympathy.

“Of course, Mr Talis, but I’m afraid you can only choose from the… low level toys here,” he pointed at the smaller rewards.

“It’s okay, darling, the size is not what matters,” Mel kissed his cheek, accepting the small leopard toy he gave her.

They were about to move from the shooting range to another tent, but Caitlyn longingly stared at the rifle on the table. Mel pressed her hand on the girl’s shoulder.

“Do you also want to take part in the competition, dearest?” She asked her softly. Caitlyn knew it was childish, but she had never done anything of sorts. The girl nodded.

Jayce and Powder had almost left their sights, but they reappeared once noticing that the women had slowed down.

“What’s taking them so long!” Jayce complained, before getting shushed by his wife. Powder was intrigued, looking at her with interest. She silently took the toy out of Caitlyn’s arms, freeing her hands.

“You’re all set to go, Ms Kiramman, just choose the weapon and you may proceed.”

Caitlyn touched the long barrel of a rifle, taking the gun into her arms. Powder made it look so easy, but she had no idea how to shoot, having never done it before.

She felt her soulmate move behind her back, until the girl was almost pressing her lips to Caitlyn’s ear.

“You need to aim by looking through the rear ring sight. Focus on the front sight and the target until the ring blurs in your vision. Then press on the trigger,” she whispered, brushing her hand over Caitlyn’s shoulder blades. “You can kick Mr CEO’s ass, Caitlyn,” the girl added before moving away.

First shot was a failure, but it helped Caitlyn understand the basics. She missed with the second shot, yet the third had almost hit the target.

The woman sighed in defeat, before searching for Powder’s eyes. The warm blue colour had managed to wash away her anxieties. She smiled, returning back to the targets.

“One!” The worker clapped, annoying Caitlyn to the point she had wanted to aim at his head instead. She focused on the task.

As if uniting with the rifle, she had taken down three more targets, coming to a tie with Jayce. Caitlyn could picture him pouting behind her back.

Her next shot failed. And the one after it failed, as well.

“Mhm,” Jayce hummed, preparing to settle for a tie. But she wasn’t going to accept it that easily.

Caitlyn closed her left eye, focusing on the target in front of her as if her life depended on it. She let out a small breath before pressing on a trigger.

“Five!” The worker clapped his hands again, yet Caitlyn wasn’t as irritated this time. “That’s a very good score, Ms Kiramman. You can choose a prize from the middle level of rewards.”

“What?! The middle level starts at five targets? That’s just unfair!” Jayce huffed like a tall baby, and Mel stroked his cheek to calm her toddler-husband down.

“I’ll take the blue bear, please,” Caitlyn accepted her reward, presenting it to Powder with a small smile. “For you,” she mirrored the other girl’s line and they exchanged their plush toys. The five year old inside Caitlyn was jumping excitedly, but she controlled her outer reactions, settling only on a small grin appearing on her face.

“Okay, the next arcade is my choice,” Jayce led them forward.

King of a Hammer.

“I don’t think it’s a fair choice, darling,” Mel frowned, seeing as the game only included using pure strength. Powder wasn’t a weak opponent, but against a gym-obsessed two meters tall man she had no chance of winning. Caitlyn was about to voice her concerns as well.

“Nah, that’s fine, let the Mr CEO catch up,” Powder crossed her arms on her chest, accepting the challenge.

Jayce didn’t waste any time in swinging the hammer with his full force. The numbers on the arcade started rapidly changing, before getting to a 999 score. He grinned.

Powder didn’t say much else, taking the hammer inside of her hands. The subtle muscles on her arms tensed, the blue smoke tattoo dancing on top of them. Caitlyn watched her lift the hammer above her head before setting it down with a force she didn’t imagine that Powder could possess. Hot.

The score was impressive as well.

“730? That’s a good one, Powder,” Jayce shrugged, looking very proud of himself for winning. “Now that leaves us in a tie. So, ladies, did you already pick our next arcade?”

Mel thoughtfully looked around the area.

“It would be wise to have you compete against each other now,” she hummed. “Air hockey, perhaps?” Caitlyn nodded in agreement.

“Alright, follow me!” Jayce led them towards the table, placing a small pluck in the centre. “Seven games. Best of four wins. Ladies, do any of you have a coin to determine which of us takes the pluck into their possession first?”

“I do not have coins, darling, but you deserve to be second after pulling that hammer trick, that was very unfair,” Mel shook her head, and Jayce silently accepted his defeat, sending the pluck towards Powder. She studied it for a second, before pressing the mallet to it.

“Ready to lose, Mr CEO?” The girl smirked, and Jayce accepted the challenge with a devious grin of his own.

“Bring it on,” he spit out, focusing all of his attention on the pluck.

Powder sent the pluck towards his gates, moving her arms so quickly that Caitlyn’s eyes could barely pick up with her pace. The girl was leaning onto the table, returning all of Jayce’s futile attempts to set a goal.

After the three swift wins that she took, it became clear that Powder was a pro at the game. Caitlyn felt proud of her, rooting for her soulmate while standing beside Mel.

Jayce had managed to win a few times, sweat dripping from his forehead as he concentrated on the game.

“Four wins,” Powder grinned, after hitting his gates with the pluck once again. There was no need to continue the game after it, the result already clear. Yet Jayce insisted they finish the seven attempts that they had previously agreed on, only to lose once again. “Mhm, five against two, I win.” Powder was gleaming with glory.

“Fine,” he gritted his teeth, accepting defeat.

“Make it thirty percent and I’ll give you the prototype you wanted,” Powder offered, and Jayce’s face twitched with a new emotion. He didn’t even think about it before agreeing and smiling widely.

“No word to Viktor about it though,” Caitlyn could hear him whisper into Powder’s ear, and wondered what that project was about exactly.

“Mhm, lips sealed,” Powder gave him a knowing look, finally parting ways with the man and excitedly running towards Caitlyn. “I won,” she said matter-of-factly, as if Caitlyn didn’t happen to be a witness of it. “So next dinner’s on me,” Powder took her plushie out of the woman’s hands, stroking its blue fur and smiling softly all the while. For some reason, Caitlyn really didn’t mind the promise of having a next dinner with the girl. And many more to come.

“I’m looking forward to it,” she said earnestly, placing a small kiss on top of Powder’s blue hair.

They continued exploring the fair alongside Jayce and Mel, only parting ways after the firework show. Completely spent, they dragged themselves towards Caitlyn’s apartment, falling asleep in each other’s arms.

***

“Ms Kiramman? Ms Powder is here to see you,” her secretary alerted the woman through the intercom. Caitlyn curiously peaked through the glass window. They didn’t have a meeting planned, but it was already lunch time, so she supposed that Powder had wanted to have it together with her.

“Let her in, please,” she replied, standing up from her seat to welcome the other girl. “Hi,” she greeted the girl as she stepped into her office room.

“Hey,” Powder pecked her lips, before plopping onto a chair in front of her desk and spinning in it.

“Did you want to have lunch together?” Caitlyn asked, curiously looking at the paper bag in Powder’s hands.

“Yeah, I brought you some real food this time,” she grinned, taking out a takeout order from a nearby restaurant. There was only one box, though. Caitlyn eyed it suspiciously.

“Have you already eaten?” She dropped into her own chair, accepting the food from Powder’s hands. The other girl smirked.

“Nah, but I’m ‘bout to,” there was a dangerous gleam to her blue eyes. Caitlyn frowned. The girl took out some wet wipes from the bag, cleaning her fingers.

Powder scooted on her chair towards the other woman. She sent a quick glance to the glass door, before sliding off her seat and dropping to her knees.

“Powder!”

“Shh, don’t want to have anyone hear you,” the girl giggled with mischief.

“We can’t do it here!” Caitlyn gasped for air as she felt Powder’s hands tug on the belt of her pants.

“Why not?” The girl unceremoniously started tugging her pants down. Against her better judgement, Caitlyn complied. Her heart was thudding inside of her chest, the danger of the situation exciting her further.

She had never had sex in her office, and never even entertained the idea. But with Powder on her knees in front of her, Caitlyn found herself unable to say no. They also hadn’t seen each other in the couple of days, work keeping them both preoccupied.

Powder bit her exposed thigh playfully, pressing a light kiss over the wound afterwards. Caitlyn’s head started spinning, and she changed her position on the chair, slouching further to meet the girl’s hungry mouth.

Her eyes rolled into her head as she felt hot breath over her exposed clit, before Powder leaned in and swapped the bud with her tongue.

“Ah!” Caitlyn moaned against her better judgement, quickly covering her mouth with a hand to cover up all the extra noises that came out of it.

Powder was flicking her tongue through her folds, humming in pleasure and grasping Caitlyn’s thighs with her powerful hands. The woman had fully lost herself in the process, almost missing the sound of her intercom ringing again.

She attempted to decline, but accidentally hit the accept button.

Shit.

“Ms Kiramman?” Powder didn’t stop her attacks even as her secretary started speaking over the line. Instead, she picked up the pace, forcefully leading Caitlyn to the edge.

“Yes?” Caitlyn was completely out of breath when she replied, but she tried to sound as composed as she could. The idea of getting caught having sex during work was supposed to be a turn-off, yet it only thrilled her, resulting in more fluid leaking out of her cunt.

“Mr Silco had just called and asked if you wouldn’t mind meeting him tomorrow to sign the papers for the new deal with the ChemTank Company.”

Shit, Caitlyn had absolutely no time on her schedule for it.

Powder suddenly pushed a finger inside her, curling it and reaching the most pleasurable point inside of Caitlyn.

“Yeah!” The woman let it slip out her lips, only then realising that the secretary was still on the line.

“I’ll let him know and put the meeting on your calendar,” her worker nonchalantly replied, and Caitlyn turned off the intercom. Powder’s added another finger, now mercilessly rutting into her.

Caitlyn had to bite down on the sleeve of her button-up so as to keep quiet. Her chair tweaked underneath her, and the woman felt her thighs clenching around Powder’s head.

“Ah!” She moaned as faintly as possible, dropping dead on the chair as she met her orgasm. Powder pulled up her pants for her, buckling up her belt as well. She rose to her feet and pressed a light kiss to Caitlyn’s lips. “You’ll have to… eat some real food though,” the woman murmured into her soulmate’s mouth, making the other girl giggle.

***

“Good morning, Ms Kiramman. I thought you wouldn’t have time for this meeting, given how busy your schedule is. But it’s always a pleasure to see you in our part of town,” Silco welcomed her as she stepped into his office. Caitlyn was barely awake, having spent the night in Powder’s arms, but she smiled at him warmly.

“I could say the same thing, Mr Silco,” she put out the papers on the table, wanting to get done with the meeting as soon as possible. There was already a headache building, and she desperately needed a cup of coffee. Her lovely soulmate told her to get it at CUPCAKES.CO, announcing that she was too tired to get up at such an early hour. Caitlyn would be offended, if she wasn’t the one to suck out all of the other girl’s powers. “Shall we get to the deal?”

As always, the meeting with Silco couldn’t get finished any sooner, as the man started providing her with unnecessary details about his company and Zaun in general. She let him speak, politely nodding along and trying to turn the conversation back to the main topic.

The minutes painfully dragged by. Caitlyn glanced at her watch, frowning as she was met with the sight of her bare skin instead. Noticing her do so, Silco grew quiet.

“I fear I’ve been taking up too much of your time, Ms Kiramman,” he laughed it off. “Let us just sign the papers, and I’ll let you off the hook,” Silco’s smile was unnerving, yet unthreatening, as if the sight of Powder’s name on Caitlyn’s wrist had also managed to cut the tension between them.

Finally out of the office, Caitlyn swiftly made her way towards the CUPCAKES.CO coffee shop.

“Good morning, Vi,” she greeted the pink-haired barista, already starting to miss Powder’s sister a bit. The woman smiled back.

“Always a good morning when it starts with Caitlyn Kiramman entering this building,” she joked, although her flirting tone was gone from her voice. Caitlyn thought she had an idea why, blushing as she wondered just how many details about their relationship Powder gave to her sister.

“Could I have an espresso, please? Two shots,” she ordered, and Vi nodded, already preparing a cup for her.

“So, Cupcake, do you have any plans for next weekend?”

“Hm, I’m not sure, I’ll have to check. Why?” Caitlyn took the cup of coffee out of Vi’s hands, mouth watering at the rich scent that her nostrils picked up.

“Ah, nothing major. I’m having a birthday party at home, and I wanted to invite you too. Since, y’know, you’re family now,” Vi said nonchalantly, yet it almost made Caitlyn drop the coffee. She clenched the cup in her fingers. Family? “And even if you break up with Pow, the invitation to the family still stands,” the girl pointed a finger at her face and smirked.

They couldn’t break up. They weren’t even dating. Caitlyn wanted to tell Vi about it, yet her reply was rushed and she didn’t form it properly.

“We won’t,” she said, blushing at the implications.

“Oh, someone’s really serious about my sis, that’s the spirit,” Vi accepted the defeat, giving her a toothy grin. That wasn’t what Caitlyn had meant to say. But it also didn’t feel wrong. She let it go.

“Do you have a wishlist available?”

“We don’t really do fancy wishlists like ya’ll in Piltover, but,” Vi licked her lips. “Knowing I’d be inviting the topsider to our Fissures, I had actually made a list only for you. Gimme your phone number, and I’ll send it.”

“That might be your only pick-up line that actually manages you to get someone’s number,” Caitlyn shook her head before looking in her purse for a business card.

“Oh, c’mon, don’t I deserve a real number?” Vi pouted, and Caitlyn clicked her tongue. “Fine, but I expect at least two presents from the wishlist to make it into my arms at the party, ok?”

Caitlyn ended up ordering everything the girl had sent her, thankfully, the list had the links and she had enough money to save herself from the headache of having to pick out the best present amongst all the options.

Chapter Text

“Are we celebrating something?” Powder’s eyes widened as she took in the view behind Caitlyn’s back after entering her apartment. Most of her living room was now covered in wrapping paper of different colours, with a couple of scissors and duct tapes littering the floor.

“No, I’ve just thought that… It feels a bit unemotional if I didn’t at least wrap these up myself,” Caitlyn shook off a drop of sweat that lingered about her brow. She sighed. “I didn’t know it would be this hard.”

Powder gave her a puzzled look.

“Are those for me?” There was a gleam of hope and excitement inside of her eyes. Yet Caitlyn had to shatter it.

“No, that’s for Vi.”

“Vi?!” Powder frowned, almost offended. “What for?! And so fucking many? At least tell me those are from fake brands!”

“Of course not!” Caitlyn grew defensive. “Vi had invited me to her birthday party.”

“And when was anyone going to tell me about that?!” Powder pouted, angrily bending down to her knees and picking up the duct tape. Although frowning, she had silently begun to help with the wrapping paper, her skilled fingers effortlessly folding it around the boxes.

“You don’t want me to attend it?” Caitlyn dropped onto her couch, already starting to regret agreeing. She could just text Vi that she’s unable to come and send her the presents via delivery service.

“Of course I want to, don’t be ridiculous,” Powder snorted, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. She was already done with wrapping a box of new running shoes, moving on to the next gift. “How do you even know she likes all that stuff?”

“Oh, Vi had sent me a wishlist.”

“A what list? She thinks my soulmate is her fucking sugar mummy?” Powder angrily hissed, yet her hands carefully worked on wrapping a new present. Caitlyn watched her in silence for a bit, before rising from the couch and taking place next to her on the floor.

“If you really don’t want me to go, then…”

“Cait,” Powder glared at her. “That’s not the problem. It’s just,” she sighed. “My family? You’ve met Vi, and she can be a pain in the ass, but she’s nothing like Mylo. And it’s also not your usual scene. And the house… I didn’t even have time to clean up in my room and what if… No, it’s just. Ah! I wish Vi gave me a fucking warning,” her frown was poisoning all of the features on her beautiful face. Caitlyn leaned in to kiss it away. “Nah, no, not gonna work!” Powder shook her head, although a smile started developing on her lips. “You’re not off the hook either. Who buys this much stuff for a single birthday! And… what if I also wanted these headphones?!”

“I can get you the same…”

“Nope, you’re already getting them for my sister,” the girl rolled her eyes, although there was a new layer of playfulness to her tone. Caitlyn took the box with headphones out of Powder’s hands, and then quickly stood up, holding it above her head. “What are you even doing?” Powder rose to her feet as well, yet their height difference was making it impossible for her to reach the box. “Give it back, I’m wrapping it for Vi!”

“Not if you can’t take it,” Caitlyn shook the box and smirked at Powder’s attempts to jump for it. The girl wasn’t giving up that easily, instead pushing Caitlyn towards the wall and trying to bend her arms down. It tickled to the point the woman started laughing, the atmosphere around them warming up instantly. “Just let me give it to you if you want them so much!”

“I don’t want Vi’s stupid headphones,” Powder jumped on her feet, glaring daggers at Caitlyn, although her eyes were so soft and warm that the other woman couldn’t help but smile at how adorable she was in the moment. It was a side of Powder that Caitlyn had yet to fully discover.

The gift fell to the floor as Caitlyn wrapped her arms around Powder’s shoulders, bringing her in for a suffocating kiss.

“Well, now that you’ve damaged the box I’ll take ‘em, but only ‘cause I know you wouldn’t want to give such a screwed up gift to my sister whom you like all that much,” Caitlyn rolled her eyes at the remark from her soulmate, kissing her once more.

***

With new headphones around Powder’s neck, the girl carried the bags of presents to Caitlyn’s car. The woman trailed behind.

“We got everything, right?”

“Even if we didn’t, this is more than enough,” Powder grumbled as she put the boxes in the trunk. Caitlyn had a fleeting feeling that something was forgotten, but she had barely looked at the wishlist while ordering, so she wouldn’t be able to recall it even if she tried.

They settled into the car, and Powder took over the stereo system, connecting her phone to it. Caitlyn was curious about the kind of music the girl was going to play, so she patiently waited. The heavy beat of her chosen songs filled the silence inside the car during their ride.

The closer they got towards the Undercity, the more Powder’s leg began to shake. Caitlyn had felt a tug at her chest to reach out for her soulmate, but when she tried to hold Powder’s hand, the other girl almost jumped in her spot, asking her to keep her eyes on the road.

“We’re here,” Powder deadpanned as they rolled into a cosy neighbourhood in the Lanes. Caitlyn hadn’t been to that part of Piltover often, and especially never explored its residential areas, so her eyes curiously took it all in.

The house they parked next to was just two stories tall, made of bricks and painted over a few times, so that the colours were all mixed together. Caitlyn imagined it to be a lot grayer, similarly to the other parts of the Undercity, yet it looked warm and full of life. Powder searched her face for a reaction as if expecting to get slapped on a cheek.

Did she really not want for Caitlyn to come?

“I can just drop you by and return to Piltover,” she mumbled, suddenly feeling self-conscious about the situation once again.

Powder’s eyes saddened and her gaze dropped to her converse shoes. It was a new pair that looked similar to the ones the girl wore during the Progress Day, and Caitlyn wondered what had happened to her previous ones. Powder let out a pained laugh before taking a deep sigh, trying to calm herself down.

“Yeah, can’t blame you for not wanting to go there, the house looks like it has corpses buried underneath it, and damn, you won’t even be wrong about it,” she tried to crack a joke but there was so much pain in her voice that Caitlyn winced. Not knowing what to say, she put a hand over Powder’s thigh. The girl reluctantly turned to face her.

“It’s different from North Piltover,” she started, yet it felt like the wrong thing to say. Caitlyn shook her head. “But not in a bad way. You said it yourself. The Topcity is sanitized. But the Lanes are full of life and warmth. I like it here,” her thumb traced circles over Powder’s thigh. “I want to go, but not if it makes you uncomfortable.”

The girl got quiet. She looked out of the window once again, her eyes narrowing. It seemed like she didn’t believe Caitlyn at all. The woman couldn’t understand why.

“It’s fine,” Powder finally replied, yet she still looked heartbroken. “Let’s just go.”

Caitlyn wanted to add something more reassuring, but the other girl was already shutting the car door behind her. They took the presents out of the trunk in silence.

Powder still looked visibly anxious when they neared the front door of the house. Her hands were full, so she struck the door with her foot. Caitlyn watched it in horror.

“OPEN UP!” Powder yelled, knocking her foot against the lower side of the door. The woman turned around, expecting for the passers-by to be concerned with the outburst, but the little people that were walking down the street didn’t seem bothered at all.

It was probably just a normal occurrence here, maybe even a cultural thing?

“What the fuck, Pow?” A very annoyed Vi showed up behind the door.

Perhaps just a Powder thing.

“Oh, hey, Caitlyn,” the moment the pink-haired girl noticed her, a smirk appeared on her handsome face, all irritation wiped away. “Damn, are all of these for me?!” Vi’s eyes widened as she looked at their bags. “You didn’t have to…–”

“She really didn’t have to,” Powder parroted, giving Caitlyn another dirty glance.

“No complaints, though! C’mon, come in, don’t just stand there,” Vi rushed them to enter, and Caitlyn reluctantly stepped inside. There was a strong scent of vanilla and cinnamon in the air, as if she had taken a portal into a bakery. Her eyelashes fluttered as she took it in.

The hallway was a bit packed, especially when Powder unceremoniously landed her bags on the floor. Vi ignored her outbursts as if they were a common occurrence, excitedly peeking at her presents. Caitlyn started taking off her shoes.

“You can take those,” the pink-haired girl pointed at the slippers. “I got them just for ya,” she smiled, and although Caitlyn appreciated the effort, the woman felt awkward about having to wear gigantic fluffy cupcake slippers on her feet. But it was Vi’s birthday, and she was a polite guest, so she put them on. “Fits like a second skin, am I right?”

Caitlyn offered her a small smile, feeling feet start heating up inside of the cheap slippers.

She could survive it.

“We have normal ones there,” Powder pointed at a perfectly adequate pair. Caitlyn wondered just how rude it would be to put them on. Her eyes almost watered imagining her feet turn into hotdogs by the end of the night. She looked Vi in the eyes once again.

“I… really appreciate the gesture, Vi, but…”

“Just put them on, Caitlyn,” Powder huffed, clearly annoyed with both Vi and her, and brushed past her sister’s shoulder harshly. The woman had decided not to anger her soulmate further, complying with the order.

They carried the bags to the living room. It was spacious, with a huge wooden table in the middle and a couch resting near the windows. Some chairs were chaotically scattered all around. Caitlyn spotted a few young men in the corner.

Those had to be their brothers.

They looked nothing alike.

It wasn’t like Caitlyn had expected for Powder and Vi’s male siblings to also be as handsome as them, but the contrast was almost comically unfair.

“The little jinx brought her sugar mummy along!” One of the men giggled, his moustache twitching with the movement. “Are all of these for Vi? Pow you gotta tell your woman that my birthday is on Mar–”

“Mylo!” The other man punched him in the stomach, abruptly cutting him off. The man looked almost twice his size, resembling the shop owner with his shoulder width. “Sorry for my brother, I’m Claggor,” he took a few steps towards Caitlyn, giving her a cutesy handshake and smiling.

“And this is Mylo,” Vi put an arm around the other guy’s shoulders, shaking him lightly. “Unfortunately for him, he had never once talked to a woman in his life, so the poor fellow always gets weird around pretty ladies,” the girl pinched his moustache when Mylo tried to say something back.

Powder dropped the bags on the table before settling her weight into a chair. It creaked at the contact, the sharp sound guiding everyone’s attention back to her.

“Happy birthday,” she waved her hand at the heap of presents, inviting Vi to open them.

“Yes, happy birthday, Vi,” Caitlyn repeated with a small smile.

“Next time I’m just gonna put a nice house in Piltover on the wishlist,” the girl giggled, although Caitlyn didn’t understand the humour. Her parents had bought her a flat for her 22th birthday when she had asked them for a bit of space. Wasn’t it a good gift?

“Where did your eat the rich attitude go, Vi?” Mylo looked very unimpressed, although there was a bit of jealousy leaking through each word he pronounced in his sleek manner.

“Dude, if I could eat Ca–”

“Just open the fucking presents, will you?” Powder snapped, not allowing for her sister to continue. Her leg was anxiously shaking. Vi caught on to it and her smile awkwardly lingered on her face before she focused her attention back on the task.

She tore off the wrapping paper, eyes widening with joy at the sight of the new running shoes that Caitlyn got her. The woman couldn’t understand why Vi was so surprised. Not like she didn’t give her the link for them on the wishlist.

Each present got quickly unwrapped, the paper shredding to pieces on the table and flying off it to the floor. Vi excitedly gushed over her gifts, while Powder looked to be completely out of it. Her fingers were tapping on the headphones that still hung over her slim neck.

“What’s all the fuss about?” A loud voice passed through the living room, and Caitlyn noticed Vander joining them. He had an apron tied over his torso, baking powder covering his clothes and arms. “Ms Kiramman, it’s a pleasure to see you join us,” he smiled when their eyes met.

“The pleasure’s all mine,” Caitlyn politely replied. “And it’s just Caitlyn, no need for formalities, please.”

“Alright, just Vander then,” he seemed pleased with the short conversation. “Do you want anything to drink? Matcha, perhaps?”

From her side view, Caitlyn could see Powder’s eyes widen in shock. The girl shook her head violently. Caitlyn wasn’t a good lips reader, but even she could see that her soulmate was mouthing “no” to her.

“Uh, thank you for the offer. Could I get a cup of… coffee instead?” Powder sunk back into her chair with relief.

“Right at ya,” Vander winked at her and swiftly returned to the kitchen.

“I… don’t think I had asked for this?” Vi took out a small gift box from the bag, looking at it curiously. Inside was a synthetic sleeve edged with shimmering blue lines.

“Yeah, that’s from your one and only,” Powder shrugged.

“What does it do?”

“Thought you might need some extra help against auntie Leftie. It’s supposed to enhance your muscle mass significantly enough to overpower her prosthesis in armwrestling. But it’s still just a prototype, so, please don’t overuse it, ‘cause I don’t really know what kind of consequences it could have on your body.”

Vi grinned and jumped at Powder, hugging her to the point Caitlyn could hear bones cracking. Excitedly, the pink-haired woman took off the jacket she was wearing, quickly pulling the sleeve onto her left arm.

“C’mon, Mylo,” she walked towards her brother, and the man tried to hide behind Claggor’s back. “I won’t hurt you!” He ran upstairs with Vi following him. They heard a really loud thud before the girl yelled “IT WORKS!”

“Is this the secret project you are working on?” Caitlyn wondered, taking a few steps towards her soulmate. Powder shook her head. Although there was still a deep frown on her cute face, it had started to disappear slightly. Caitlyn took a seat next to the girl, caressing her scrawny shoulder with her hand. Powder didn’t flinch from her touch, so she kept her palm there.

Vander had brought her a cup of coffee and a glass of orange juice for Powder, and then settled onto a couch. The man looked exhausted, but at the same time his peaceful and warm smile made Caitlyn realize that he was genuinely enjoying all the noise and the work that came from caring for so many kids.

Powder was right that this house was so different from the places Caitlyn usually visited, yet not in the way the younger girl had feared.

She looked around the room, noticing a few photos on the walls. There was one that caught most of her attention.

A man and a woman with unbreakable similarities to Vi and Powder. They were smiling happily, while a blue-haired baby rested inside of the woman’s arms, with a pink-haired child facing away from the camera and looking at her mother.

The photo was so different from every picture-perfect ones that were taken by the Kiramman family. Caitlyn knew it was wrong to feel envy, especially since she had no idea what happened to these people, but her heart longed to have such a carefree and warm relationship with her own parents. Where none of them would have to pretend to be better than they actually were.

Claggor initiated a bit of a small talk with Vander, catching the other man up on the recent news about his life. Caitlyn missed a lot of context, but from what her ears could catch, Claggor was planning a romantic vacation for himself and his spouse, who couldn’t attend today because of her busy schedule. He seemed like a sweet man and Caitlyn felt a bit shy about eavesdropping on the intimate conversation between him and his father.

Someone knocked on the door, and Vander excused himself to go and open it. Silence lingered in the room for a moment, before Claggor turned to her with a smile on his lips.

“I fear we don’t really have any exciting plans for the evening except playing board games. Since you’re here for the first time, I think we should let you choose what to play. Do you have any preferences?”

Caitlyn stared at him with a blank face.

Board games?

Caitlyn knew how to play chess, but that was definitely not something the man was asking for.

“Uhm, what games do you have?” She tried to save herself the humiliation of having to explain that she wasn’t a big board games player by simply picking a random answer.

“We have… pretty much everything,” Claggor chuckled, scratching his neck. His answer was very unhelpful.

“She likes monopoly,” Powder came to her rescue, providing an answer that seemed to satisfy him.

“Damn, with Silco here we’re definitely going to ruin the whole night with that game,” he sighed, albeit his smile only grew.

Caitlyn absolutely hated the idea of ruining the night.

She prepared herself to come clean with her lie and simply tell him to pick something else, but the man had already gotten off his seat and started to look through the pile of board games boxes.

“Ms Kiramman, what a surprise to see you here,” Silco’s voice brushed over her ears, and the woman turned to face him. He noticed that her hand was still resting over Powder’s shoulder and his left eye flinched a bit. Silco quickly got his expression under control and settled for a small polite smile instead.

“Sevika,” the woman that came in with him introduced herself with a short nod before dropping onto a couch. She looked as disinterested in meeting Caitlyn as humanly possible. Although the rudeness would normally bug her, at the moment she preferred it to Silco’s fake polite demeanor. “I’m not playing this shit,” Sevika declared, looking at the board game. Claggor only shrugged, as if this behaviour was completely normal for her.

“Hey, Sev, Silco,” Vi reappeared from the second floor, dragging a very shaken Mylo behind herself. “Is Ekko late? He literally lives next door. Pow-Pow, do you know where his ass is at?”

“I’m not his secretary,” the girl hissed, although taking a phone out of her pocket and opening a chat with Ekko. Caitlyn turned her eyes away from her screen, but she could swear that Powder’s wallpaper reminded her of a picture that was taken of them during the festival. It had made quite a bit of a noise online, but Caitlyn ignored all of it, focusing on her work instead. “He thought everyone was gonna be late, so he had decided to come last for once.”

“Wise little man,” Vi grinned, bringing a few beers and giving one to Sevika.

“Birthday,” the woman said, before gulping down most of the alcohol inside of the bottle that looked tiny in comparison to her hand.

“I demand a rematch as my present,” Vi smirked, showing off her new sleeve. Sevika curiously glanced at it, before putting her elbow on the table, not a word more said. Vi quickly sat down, scooting closer to her.

Caitlyn watched the armwrestling match unfold, taking her coffee cup from the table in fear it was going to become one of the casualties from the duel.

Vi gritted her teeth. Even with the sleeve on, the prosthesis looked almost unbeatable. Yet she had managed to make Sevika waver slightly. With a loud groan she had finally pushed the other woman’s arm on the table.

“Hmh,” was the only reply from Sevika, but it had made Vi smile anyway.

“Thanks, Pow, I’m never taking it off now!”

“You really should. It may not be very safe–’’

“NEVER!” Vi grinned, caressing the sleeve with her palm. “Oh, no, whose idea was it to bring out monopoly?!” Caitlyn’s eyes comically widened, and she had already dreaded the reactions she would get from everyone at the table.

“It’s Ca–” Claggor had started saying, but Powder interrupted him, kicking his foot under the table.

“Mine,” she shrugged nonchalantly, and although it wasn’t a lie, Caitlyn felt like she owed her soulmate for coming to her rescue. She had a few ideas on how to repay her later.

“I will greatly enjoy playing against an opponent of your level, Ms Kiramman. With your impressive business degree, I don’t think many of us stand a chance.”

Caitlyn had no idea what monopoly was about. She gulped nervously.

“You guys are playing monopoly?! Why?!” Ekko entered the room without any greetings, plopping onto a chair and scooting towards Vi with practiced ease. “For you,” he gave her a small box, and the girl shook it in her hands.

“If that’s a guitar pick from–”

“Just open it,” he smiled, watching as Vi’s face lit up. She lifted the box cover and immediately hugged the boy.

“Thank you, man, how did you even get it?”

“I got my contacts,” Ekko shrugged. “Don’t tell me we’re actually playing monopoly?”

“I’m out,” Sevika pointedly declared once more.

“Yeah, me too,” Mylo raised his arm. “Can’t we just play beer pong?”

“Later,” Vi reassured him, already tossing the contents of the board game box out on the table.

It felt like everyone in the room was familiar with the game except for Caitlyn. She hoped it wouldn’t become too obvious that she had never once touched it in her life. She mirrored the actions everyone took, getting a pack of money and choosing a small token. Hers happened to be a hat, the only piece left untouched.

“Hat-lady, huh. Is it gonna be the new nickname?” Vi giggled lightly.

“I… surely hope not,” Caitlyn blushed, counting the cash in her hands. She had no idea what to do with it. Her eyes anxiously scanned the room.

Silco was the first to roll the dice, and he landed on a piece of property. He bought it without any commentary. Vi landed on the jail slot and sighed, passing the dice to Ekko.

The game moved quickly, and Caitlyn didn’t even blink before it was her turn to throw the dice. She rolled the two cubes in her hand. 13

She moved her token on the map, and Ekko expectantly looked at her. She had to pay now, but everyone else had somehow already known how much the property costs. She had no idea.

Powder took matters into her own hands, taking Caitlyn’s money and passing it to Ekko. He gave her a property card and the exchange.

The game moved, pace rising.

“Go to jail? Are you kidding me, man?” Vi sighed again, moving her dice over the map and sulking.

It took Caitlyn another three turns to finally grasp the rules, and she was intently waiting for Silco’s moves, calculating each step the entrepreneur could make. The rest of the family looked bored out of their mind, but Silco’s gaze was glued to her in a silent challenge.

Vander announced his bankruptcy and moved away to the kitchen, taking care of the food he was busy preparing. Claggor soon joined him with a defeated smile.

Vi kept getting thrown to the jail, not managing to buy any property at all except for a small train station. Powder was still awfully quiet, although sometimes she whispered helpful remarks into Caitlyn’s ear. Her hot breath on Caitlyn’s skin made the woman shiever in a way that wasn't appropriate for a family gathering.

The game slowed down significantly once all the property was bought out.

“I can sell you mine,” Powder suggested, holding up the cards against her pretty face. “For a kiss.”

“It’s not allowed,” Ekko pouted, looking at her with the desperation known only to a man harboring a one-sided crush on their best friend for years. Or at least that was how Caitlyn had interpreted it.

“...a sum agreeable to the owner, remember?” Powder shrugged, still looking at Caitlyn intently.

Silco’s eyes had a murderous hint in them and Caitlyn nervously bit her lip. Kissing Powder in front of him sounded like signing her own death sentence. But she had really wanted to win.

Without further thinking, she leaned in, covering Powder’s lips with her own. The other girl smiled into the kiss, and it lasted only a few seconds, yet Caitlyn’s heart already picked up the pace.

“I have a train station I could sell!” Vi offered, showing them her card.

“You can shove it up your ass,” Powder bitterly replied, passing her property to Caitlyn silently.

The game soon came to an end, with Caitlyn sending everyone to the pit of bankruptcy. Silco was unimpressed with her dirty move, yet what mattered in business was getting the deal done. She was proud of herself.

“Beer pong now? Anyone?” Mylo raised his eyebrows at them, seeking support. The box of monopoly was shoved away, and the table got cleared for the beer cups.

The mood switched instantly, with everyone starting to joke around and laugh. Even Silco had seemed to lighten up a bit, which was a rare sight for Caitlyn to witness. Whenever he dared to glare at her, there was always Powder and her arm wrapped around Cailtyn’s waist to shield her from his probing gaze. She pressed a solemn kiss against the girl’s forehead as a silent thank you.

“Cait, pick a team,” Vi lured her into the game, but the woman shook her head.

“I’m not going to play, I don’t drink,” she declined the offer politely.

“Nah, actually, let’s team up. We take turns throwing and if either of us has to drink, you’ll just finish the cup for us,” Powder proposed, and with a newly developed plan they started playing.

It had felt like after her sudden win in monopoly, the whole family had vowed to themselves to take her down. Caitlyn’s aim was good enough, and Powder’s was even better, but she still had to down a few cups.

Beginning to feel light-weighted, the woman excused herself to the bathroom to refresh.

“It’s on the second floor,” Vi informed her, and she took the stairs up.

The house had many rooms, and she had soon found herself inside a small maze. She opened one door, shutting it down quickly as she had noticed the not-so-subtle posters of naked women covering its walls. The other door didn’t look like a bathroom either, albeit this time Caitlyn lingered in the doorframe.

It was most definitely Powder’s room.

Her judgement was slightly clouded by the alcohol, so she took a small step inside, looking around her soulmate’s place.

Powder wasn’t kidding when she said that she didn’t have time to clean it up.

Her room wasn’t very spacious, yet it had a nice touch to it. The walls were covered with graffiti, and Caitlyn pressed her finger over the designs, tracing the lines up and down. The bedsheets were unmade and erratically thrown all over the mattress.

There were academic books scattered around the table, with a small sheet of paper lying proudly on top of them. It was crumpled and torn all over, looking like it had been through hell. Caitlyn’s eyes started to scan it but then her heart froze in her chest as she noticed a canvas in the corner of the room.

Unmistakably, it was a painting of Caitlyn.

Yet she had never remembered taking a photo like such. Did Powder draw it from her memory?

And when exactly did Powder draw it? She touched the stained oil paints, wondering just how long it took for the painting to properly dry off.

“That’s not the bathroom.”

Caitlyn sharply turned away from the canvas, meeting Powder’s gaze. She had put on her unreadable expression once again, but Caitlyn had gotten better at telling her micro-expressions.

Powder seemed ashamed. And hurt. And scared.

Caitlyn was an intruder, getting her nose inside someone’s secrets, self-inviting herself to the room of her soulmate. Even if they were intimate with each other now, it didn’t mean Caitlyn could just do whatever she pleased. She had wanted to apologize, but her lips moved on their own, letting out words before she could think them through.

“It’s beautiful,” her eyes went back to the painting.

“You are.”

The girl said it with such a depth to her voice. As if her world was shattering into pieces as she spoke. Was she that mad at Caitlyn for intruding?

“Did you paint it?”

“Yeah.”

There was a question that Caitlyn terribly wanted to ask. She didn’t know if it was a good idea for her to learn the answer. Yet she asked anyway.

“When?”

Caitlyn looked at her, expecting Powder to tell her another joke or avoid answering altogether. Yet the girl fully entered the room, shutting the door behind her. She leaned onto it, as if needing support to stand still.

“A while ago.”

Caitlyn’s eyes returned to the paper on the table.

Graduate. Get a job. Move out. Meet Caitlyn.
She felt short of breath.

The paper looked like it was a plan. Why was it so ripped? Didn’t it all work out for Powder in the end? Did she regret it now?

The girl followed the direction of Caitlyn’s eyes, now frowning at the paper on the table as well.

“I… when I got this mark,” she showed the glowing white ink on her wrist to Caitlyn. Although the woman had seen it multiple times now and neither of them covered it up anymore, the sight had still managed to kick the air out of her lungs. She listened to Powder as she shakily started speaking.

“I had… searched you up. Not a hard thing to do, you know. I’ve listened to some of the interviews, and what you’ve said about the soulmates needing time to grow apart, it resonated with me,” Powder answered honestly, as if those words were boiling at the tip of her tongue for years, ready to spill out of her mouth at any moment. “So when you… when you just showed up, screwing up all of my plans when I was so close to finishing them, I snapped at you.”

Caitlyn wanted to reach out and reassure her that it was okay, but her body wouldn’t move. She silently watched as Powder hit the back of her head against the door.

“I wanted to tell you all about it at the Faefolk, I didn’t want to just lie to you.”

“So, what did you want to say? I’m so sorry for interrupting you, I just needed to get it out of the way.” – “I wanted to say the exact same thing.

Her heart pained as the memory washed over her.

“You’ve asked for a chance to start anew. I thought we could do that. Being friends? Well, it wasn’t what I was aiming for…” Powder cracked a small laugh. Her eyes started gleaming with tears as she sought out Caitlyn’s gaze. “But it doesn’t matter, it all worked out anyway now that we’re together.”

Together? Powder thought they were together now. Of course, she did.

But they weren’t. Caitlyn didn’t know if it would be wise to correct the other girl or if she should just keep her silence for a while.

“Fuck, this shit probably makes you uncomfortable,” Powder sighed in defeat, looking at the painting with hatred. “Hah! You were apologizing for stalking me, and I made you feel like a bitch about it, when I was doing much worse.”

It felt like Powder just couldn’t stop talking, as if the girl was speaking more to herself than to Caitlyn at this point.

“I’ve spent years in this room, just thinking of what it would be like to be with you. Pressed my lips to the mark, thinking of how it’d feel to kiss you. All those headlines with the women you dated. I looked at them and thought of how one day it’ll be me. I dreamt of it. I dreamt of you.”

Caitlyn couldn’t look at Powder anymore, instead setting her eyes on the canvas and staring back at her reflection on it.

That was how Powder saw her.

All those years she had wanted her.

And even now, the girl thought they were together. They weren’t. They weren’t.

“Please, say anything.”

Powder begged for her to open her mouth, but Caitlyn could barely say a word.

What could she possibly say? ”Actually, Powder, I really understand how anyone would get excited about the soulmate mark. On the contrary to your experience, I hated seeing your name on my wrist so badly that I had tried to erase your existence.”

Caitlyn knew that part of her life was in the past now. But was she ready to enter a new one? Was Powder right that they were already dating? Was she the one who was in the wrong?

Her mind flashed images of their early mornings: waking up in each other’s arms, getting coffee together. Her skin burned as it remembered Powder’s touch on it in the late evenings.

Caitlyn knew they were on the same page in the matters that included physical intimacy.

Yet when it came to feelings? They couldn’t be further apart. Caitlyn didn't know that Powder had spent years wanting to be with her. She thought that this rude barista she had met hated her. She thought what they were developing was new to both of them.

There was no way to avoid breaking her heart now.

“LOVEBIRDS, REMATCH TIME, STOP MAKING OUT AND COME HERE!”

Caitlyn felt her feet taking steps towards the door, but the action could barely register in her brain. Music blasted through the speakers at the first floor, shaking the whole house with its bass. Caitlyn couldn’t hear a word of it.

Powder hysterically cried, gripping the door handle as if to keep Caitlyn inside of the room.

Caitlyn put her palm above fingers.

“Powder” she whispered, meeting her soulmate’s eyes. Tears poured out of them, spilling onto her shoulders.

She wiped a few of them away with her shaking hand.

But it doesn’t matter, it all worked out anyway now that we’re together.

“I’m sorry,” Caitlyn didn’t understand what exactly she was apologizing for. Yet once again, she found herself leaning into the other girl’s personal space right after her lips pronounced those words.

Each kiss she pressed to Powder’s mouth said the exact same thing.

I’m sorry.

I’m sorry.

I’m sorry.

Powder inhaled deeply, her small body shaking inside Caitlyn’s arms.

The kiss could barely count for one, as Powder’s lips were wavering to the point she could barely reply to it.

They both let go of the door handle, linking their fingers together.

“Don’t leave me,” the girl croaked out between her erratic breaths.

They stared at each other for what felt like eternity.

Caitlyn imagined how it would feel like to spend her life with her soulmate.

She had spent all of her youth hoping to finally meet that person. All the romantic novels she read, putting herself into the main character’s shoes. All the times she had seen cute couples online, gushing about each other. She desperately wished for a connection like that for herself.

Could she even let go now that she had it?

Caitlyn pressed her forehead against Powder’s, inhaling the sweet scent of her shampoo. A few tears of her own spilled onto her hair.

Powder had always been a mystery for her.

Caitlyn had praised herself for reading other people well. Yet she could never read Powder.

It thrilled her, excited her. It made her lose her head more than once.

Caitlyn didn’t know if she was ready to spend her life solving the mystery of the other girl. Could she really make it work? Could they?

As she looked into her pure blue eyes, she felt the answer come to her.

“I won’t,” she locked their lips together once again.

She tasted the salty tears on her tongue, swallowing all Powder’s pain and freeing her of that sense of uncertainty and worry.

The girl sunk into her arms, gripping Caitlyn’s hand and sobbing between the kisses.

“COME ON, GUYS!” Vi had started screaming just behind the door, before pushing it with her feet. So it ran in the family.

Powder quickly brushed the tears off her face. Her eyes were red, yet there was a gentle smile tugging at the corners of her lips. Caitlyn watched as the younger girl tried to make her face look more presentable.

Powder opened the door, making her sister fall over them. Vi winced, trying to regain her footing.

“Ouch, shit, that was uncalled for!”

“Watch where you’re standing then, genius,” Powder brushed past her shoulder, making her way to the bathroom. That’s where it was. Caitlyn had finally remembered what she had come to the second floor for.

“Are you alright?” Vi’s gentle grey eyes searched her face. The woman didn’t know what she was feeling yet, except that a certain weight had definitely been taken off her shoulders. She awkwardly smiled, eyes glued to the door that Powder was hiding behind.

“Yes, thank you. I… really do need to use the bathroom though.”

***

“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday, dear Violet, happy birthday to you,” the whole family sang, Caitlyn awkwardly joining them. That was also the moment she found out Vi’s full name.

The pink haired girl happily listened to them, before setting her eyes on the candles. Vi looked deep in thought as she tried to come up with a wish. She looked at Caitlyn and Powder for a single moment, sighed, closed her eyes and blew at the candles. Vander happily cheered.

“What have you wished for?” Mylo noisily asked, already taking the cake out of her hands and starting to cut it.

“Won’t come true if I voice it,” she shook her head, looking deeply embarrassed by whatever her wish was. Caitlyn hoped that Vi didn’t actually have any improper thoughts about her, even if it was also somewhat flattering to receive all the attention from such a handsome girl.

The party resumed, and Caitlyn felt herself become used to Powder’s family around her. Claggor kept telling everyone about his awesome spouse and shared photos of his dog to Caitlyn. She wondered if Powder and her could adopt an animal too. A cat maybe? The younger girl yawned and stretched her arms over her head dramatically. Definitely a cat.

Sevika and Powder discussed the prosthesis, and she listened to them with a smile plastered to her face. Caitlyn couldn’t stop feeling proud of the girl that was her soulmate and of all the good things she was doing for the world.

“I can open the beer bottles with my pinkie now,” Sevika flexed, showing them the example right away. “Not to mention just what kind of dates I’m having now. Thanks, kid.” Those weren’t the kind of details Caitlyn wanted to know, so she turned away from the conversation.

“So, how is that big tax evasion scandal going?” Vi asked her, opening another bottle of beer for herself. Caitlyn politely refused the refill.

“It’s… complicated,” she sighed, sipping from Powder’s glass of juice instead. “We have our suspicions for who could be the mastermind behind the corruption”, Councillor Hoskel, “but the investigation is still collecting the proof. As for the Kiramman Trade Corp, we are still searching for a mole. Although, I had fired a few people just to be safe.”

“Being the big evil boss, I see,” Vi smirked, tugging on her beer.

“I’m not evil!” Caitlyn scoffed. She had wanted to give more details to Powder’s sister, but the woman was already frowning at her phone. It was vibrating in her hands, receiving a call from a contact that went by the name “Misfortune”.

“Sarah?” Vi answered, bringing a shaking hand to her ear. “Yeah, yeah I’m free to talk,” she quickly stood up from her seat, and Caitlyn curiously followed her with her gaze.

“It’s getting late, do you wanna catch a cab home now?” Powder whispered to her, showing her that it was already past midnight. “We could stay over, too.” There was a silent plea in her small voice, and Caitlyn accepted the request without further thinking.

“Yeah, I don’t mind staying,” she said, taking her soulmate’s hand and squeezing it lightly. Powder smiled.

It felt like an hour had passed before Vi re-emerged. She looked shaken up, as if she had cried for the whole time she was gone. The girl silently opened another bottle or beer, before flopping onto a couch and shaking her head. “Damn, those birthday wishes really come true,” she mumbled under her nose and didn’t add anything else.

Silco was the first to leave, followed by Sevika and then Ekko. Once the party had seemed to die down, Powder led them to her room, quickly shredding her old bed sheets off the mattress and changing them for the new ones. Caitlyn was also offered some of her clothes to put on while she slept. Although Powder had said that she wouldn’t mind if Caitlyn wore nothing, the woman wasn’t comfortable enough to do it with all the members of Powder’s family in the house. They slipped under the covers in no time.

Caitlyn rested on her back, facing the ceiling and trying to calm her rapidly beating heart down. She couldn’t believe where the events of the day had taken her.

“So… how did you like them? Mylo, Claggor. I told you they are both–”

“Claggor is a very nice young man,” Caitlyn interrupted her soulmate, turning to face the girl. She couldn’t see much in the darkness, but her senses were telling her that Powder was frowning. “Mylo is a very… interesting person.”

“Mhm, that’s the nicest opinion anyone had ever had on him,” she laughed. “I still love him, y’know.”

“I know. Your family is wonderful,” Caitlyn searched for Powder’s hand under the blanket, intertwining their fingers. In the span of the night, she had started to think of them as part of her family, too. Caitlyn could imagine herself spending events like that in the future. In their warm company.

The thought didn’t frighten her at all this time, no matter how terrifying it had felt just days ago.

They spent some time talking about the monopoly game they played, and Powder shared some stories of the board game nights the family had in the past. Ekko had even tried to make them play D&D, but they never got to it.

“Maybe one day,” Powder shrugged. “I didn’t spend days creating my character just for it to go nowhere, y’know.”

“Who is your character?” Caitlyn didn’t know much about the game, although Viktor was a known geek that constantly played it with Jayce.

“Mhm, her name is Jinx. She’s got like… really long hair, so long that she can bondage someone with it probably, ha! Would be very hard to wash it though. But that’s a fantasy world, she’ll figure it out. And guns, she has a lot of guns in her arsenal. Builds them herself, too. Well, she’s like me, just more manic,” Powder laughed a bit, asking Caitlyn what character she’d create for herself.

“Maybe a detective?”

“Huh, really, a cop? Could you get more piltovian, Cait?”

“I liked criminal law,” she wasn’t offended by Powder’s rather rude comment. “She’d probably just be me, Caitlyn Kiramman. But a detective. And… maybe she’ll have a long range weapon? She’d be sharpshooter.”

“That’s kinda hot,” the girl whispered, almost like she was speaking to herself. Caitlyn smiled at it, relaxing into the silence that followed. The woman had almost gone to sleep when she heard her soulmate start twitching on the bed. She opened her eyes, worried that something was wrong.

Powder stilled herself and took a few sharp breaths.

“Do you…?” Powder started to ask, yet cut herself off. Caitlyn gave her hand a light squeeze, urging her to continue. “Do you want to meet my parents?”

“I’d be honoured to.”

She heard Powder muffle a few of her cries before the girl pressed her face into Caitlyn’s shoulder, beginning to sob quietly. Caitlyn let her take it all out on her, stroking her blue hair and whispering sweet nothings into the air.

***

“We’re here,” Powder announced, leading them towards the graveyard in the Lanes.

The girl looked excited, with a grin never leaving her face. Although it had felt wrong to behave like that at the cemetery, Caitlyn tried to pull on her best smile in return.

They passed a few sobbing visitors, making their way to the gravestones that belonged to Powder’s parents.

Felicia and Connol.

“Hey, mum, dad,” the girl greeted them with a small shake of her hand. “I brought a guest today. This is Caitlyn, she’s my soulmate, yeah, the one I told you about. Mhm, very pretty just like I said, right? They agree,” she turned to Caitlyn, whispering the last sentence and grinning at her to the point it seemed her face might hurt from such a wide smile.

“It’s… nice to meet you,” Caitlyn politely nodded at the gravestones. Powder was pleased with her introduction, and moved on to the next topic.

“Yeah, we celebrated Vi’s birthday yesterday. Thanks for giving her to me by the way. Y’know, couldn’t really do it without her. Eh, you want some gossip, dad? Well, that Sarah bitch–... sorry-sorry, mum, I’ll watch my language,” the girl winced a bit. “So Sarah? Called her yesterday night. Mind you, it was already past her birthday. But yeah, she said time difference, work schedule yada-yada, couldn’t really get a free moment to call. Whatever. Anyway!” Powder excitedly clapped her hands, getting to the best part of the story.

Caitlyn didn’t know what happened either, not getting a moment to talk to Vi in the morning. Somehow she had ended up oversleeping, and Powder didn’t want to wake her up, so she missed the family breakfast. Perhaps, it was an elaborate plan made by her soulmate to make her communicate less with her brothers. Or maybe Powder had actually just wanted for her to have some peaceful rest.

“She calls and says that they are both close to their thirsties now. Yeah, dad, she had just turned 28 this year, that woman is very dramatic! So she says, now that we’re both so mature and old, let’s try a new approach to our relationship,” Powder tried to mock the other woman’s way of talking. “And Vi? Cries and cries, agrees, cries some more. Yeah, you know Vi, she’s soft-hearted like that. Anyway, my sista? She’s already looking for a ticket to Bilgewater as we’re speaking,” Powder shrugged in disbelief. “Dunno if it’s gonna end well, probably not,” she laughed, but the girl had also seemed to be excited for her sister.

“Well, enough about Ms Unfortunate, not what I came here to talk to you about. So, Caitlyn? She brought like… eh around a dozen presents for Vi? Yeah, mum, it’s like she’s trying to get into my sista’s pants, yup. I’m not jealous! Shh, dad, please, you’re embarrassing me in front of her,” Powder covered her face with her hands. Caitlyn didn’t understand what exactly was happening, but she sent her soulmate a reassuring smile. “Mum says that it was very thoughtful of you.”

“That was my pleasure to do, Ms Felicia. I’m really glad to have met both of your daughters, they are very lovely people,” she replied, feeling a bit awkward about talking to a gravestone, but pushing herself to do it anyway. It made Powder smile wider.

“Yes, dad, you’ve heard her. Lovely, mhm,” the girl nodded. “Claggor said he’ll bring his wife to the next gathering. Says she wants to meet Cait, too. Yeah, tell me something I didn’t know, brother. Who doesn’t wanna meet her? She’s gorgeous and so smart, and… ah, yeah I’m getting off topic. Caitlyn’s kicked everyone’s ass at monopoly by the way. Yeah, mum, Silco was there. Ha, he got so pissed! You’d think he had learnt how to lose in a game, but nah, still his old self. Mhm, I’m sure you’d get to have a rematch against him some time soon, mum. If you saw how fucked his eyesight got you’d think that this man is just one foot away from joining you here. Yeah, don’t worry, Vander makes sure to get him to visit a doc from time to time. Cait’s doing some business with his company, actually. Wanna tell them about it?”

“Uh, sure,” Caitlyn licked her lips and tried to prepare an answer. “ChemTank Company is vital for our city, and having to secure a deal with Mr Silco was–”

“Nah, be honest, Cait, no need to sugarcoat it.”

“Okay,” she took a deep breath in. “Silco surely loves to talk,” she said with a smile. “But I think he is doing a very good job, and his business has really changed the Undercity for the better.”

“Mum’s asking how you met him,” Powder asked with a curious glint in her eyes.

“Well, actually… My mother got a bit tired of… uh…”

“Cait, no need to play polite here, remember? We’re all very aware that he’s an interesting person as you like to say.”

“My mother had asked me to go over the big deal with him when I had just started working at the KTC. I was very nervous, especially knowing the kind of reputation he has. But it turned out to be a pretty warm meeting, albeit a really long one. He had given me some tea brewing tips that I had actually tried myself and I ought to say it was a good piece of advice.”

Caitlyn had relaxed herself into the conversation, forgetting that she was actually at a graveyard. She told them about her first years as a head of a branch in Kiramman Trade Corp, sharing stories about the mistakes she had made and how she dealt with them. At some point, she trailed to another topic, lost in memories of her teenage years and tennis tournaments. Powder eagerly listened and asked her questions, prompting her to continue.

It felt like they had spent a few hours at the cemetery, if not more.

“Well, it was nice to catch up with ya’ll, but I feel hungry, so we should probably get going, right? I had promised to treat you to that dinner with all my raise money,” Powder smiled, taking her hand and pressing a kiss to Caitlyn’s knuckles. “Yeah, dad, won against Mr CEO at an arcade, ha! You should’ve seen it. Well, anyways, bye-bye!”

“Goodbye,” Caitlyn politely nodded at the gravestones, following her soulmate out of the cemetery.

The sun was shining brightly in the sky, adding a complimentary glimmer to the blues of Powder’s eyes. The girl watched her as they walked, almost slipping and falling down a few times. Caitlyn had wanted to ask her to pay more attention to her surroundings, but had decided not to, fearing that she’d sound too much like her own mother if she did.

“Thank you for this, Cait,” Powder said, abruptly stopping once they had walked out of the graveyard and stepped onto a main street. It was pretty crowded, and a kid had almost bumped into Caitlyn’s back, cursing under his nose before running away. “You were awesome back there, it really went well,” Powder’s smile reached her beautiful eyes. “Ah! I fucking love ya,” she threw herself on Caitlyn, smacking their lips together and smiling. “Let’s go get some more Jericho’s, I got a few other dishes I want for you to try.”

Caitlyn was awestruck by the confession and the intensity of Powder’s gaze. But she simply nodded, not yet finding it in herself to reply to the girl’s words with a similar line of her own.

She had time for it. She didn’t need to rush.

And it felt like Powder didn’t need her to say anything either. Caitlyn squeezed her soulmate’s fingers, hoping that it was enough for now.

And judging by the smile that was stuck on Powder’s pretty face, it really was.

Chapter Text

“So, Cait,” Powder wasn’t really sure how to prompt this conversation, yet for the past few days, all she could remember was the copy of the BDSM boundaries list the woman had sent her. It wasn’t because she was bored with their sexual life.

On the contrary, she was as entertained as she could possibly be. But Powder had wanted more.

Caitlyn’s copy of the list had barely any checkboxes marked as something that she had wanted to try, yet it still left them with many opportunities that they could explore.

The only question remained: how exactly could they start?

Although Powder was still annoyed by Caitlyn visiting her family house out of the blue and without preparations on Powder’s side, something had changed between them. With all of the girl’s secrets now lying open on the table, she felt like a weight was pulled off her shoulders.

And Caitlyn felt more relaxed, too.

She was lying naked on her assigned side of Powder’s bed (for whatever reason, she had always chosen to be on the left), her face carrying a blush after they had spent hours in each other’s arms.

Absolutely fucking stunning was the best way Powder’s brain could describe her at the moment.

“Mhm?” The woman asked her, opening her eyes slightly and looking at Powder curiously. Her lips were stretched out in a satisfied post-coital smile.

“I was thinking…” Powder swallowed her nervousness, trying to get to the topic as off-handedly as possible and not sound too much like a needy horny mess that she was. Not like she hadn’t spent days in the laboratory thinking of all the possible positions they could try when the prototype would finally be ready.

“Even I doubt that Caitlyn cares if you sound needy at this point. Not like she’s fairing much better. C’mon, she was just riding your face a few minutes ago,” the voices had gotten more on her side lately, encouraging Powder to continue.

“Eh, do you remember the list?”

Caitlyn’s eyes widened a bit.

“I do,” she confirmed. Although her voice was quiet as she almost whispered her answer into the pillow, Powder noticed that there was a certain gleam of curiosity to it. “Why?”

“Don’t you wanna… try something out?”

She watched as Caitlyn gulped and turned onto her back, now staring at a ceiling and giving Powder a beautiful view of her side profile. Although the girl had instantly missed eye contact, she couldn’t complain about it either.

“What exactly do you have on your mind, Powder?”

Powder couldn’t answer that question with all of her honesty. How could anyone tell their partner that they weren’t against trying out everything on the list without sounding like a total perverted weirdo? Powder didn’t mind the idea of fully becoming a slave to Caitlyn Kiramman, but with how well-mannered the woman was, it was unlikely that she’d warm up to the idea if she mumbled it out just like that.

Powder had to start lightly or she’d startle her and push her away.

“Maybe we could start small?” She suggested, licking her lips and trying to push out her horny thoughts out of her brain. “Like just… err… handcuffs or something,” Powder wanted to joke about Caitlyn’s cop fantasies, yet she kept it to herself, watching as her soulmate blushed red and went still. “Or maybe just verbal interactions? Eh, like… try out the whole dom and sub dynamic, y’know. Could be fun anyway,” she added, hoping to get at least something out of the deal.

“I’d have to read more about it,” Caitlyn nodded, as if she was just given an assignment at a university and not asked by her girlfriend to fuck her brainless. “I… don’t really want to offend you, even though I know you’ve marked… a lot of checkboxes that included… uh… humiliation. I just… With the social dynamics in our culture, it feels wrong to–”

“Cait, it’s just a fantasy, chill!” Powder poked her soulmate in her ribs, throwing her sweaty body on top of Caitlyn’s in a second. “And you don’t need to curse at me all the time, y’know. I like when you praise me, too,” she kissed the woman on her cheek, lowering her head and pressing her nose into Caitlyn’s neck. She smelled like sex, and although Powder had already come a few times, the girl had once again felt an insatiable lust building up inside of her.

“I… could do that,” Caitlyn replied, her fingers waving into Powder’s hair. “But you’ll have to promise not to laugh at me, because I’ve never tried anything like it and it sounds awkward already and–”

“Cait,” Powder interrupted her, smashing their lips together. She let go of the woman’s mouth to look into her eyes pointedly. “I won’t laugh,” Powder kissed her once again, biting her soulmate’s lower lip and catching a small moan escaping Caitlyn’s lips. “And we can stop whenever you want. Got the safe word covered already, right?” She smiled, trying to calm Caitlyn down. “Besides, I have a feeling you’re gonna be great at this shit. What can’t Caitlyn Kiramman pull off, huh? You literally run a company, how hard can this small thing be for you?”

“When you put it like that,” the woman shrugged, seemingly building some confidence. The sight made Powder smirk internally. She was on the right path. “Okay, let’s… try it. But let me do some research about it first.”

“Of course, Caitlyn,” she kissed her soulmate’s plump lips and moaned victoriously.

***

“You really like those headphones,” Caitlyn took them off Powder’s neck, placing them on top of a coffee table. The girl shivered as her skin got exposed, smiling when her soulmate’s hands covered it drawing her in for a kiss.

Powder had really enjoyed wearing those headphones. In the cold Hextech laboratory, they curled up around her shoulders, reminding her of the way she truly belonged to Caitlyn now.

Like a collar.

She almost whined from the thought, relishing in the way Caitlyn’s tongue rolled over hers.

“Not very comfortable to wear them in the bedroom though, don’t you think?”

Her attention got captured instantly. She let go from the kiss, blinking a few times until the picture of the woman in front of her became clear.

Powder had come over without even announcing that she would, and now they were making out on Caitlyn’s couch on a quiet Thursday evening. Although Powder was planning on turning the evening into something a lot spicier than just continuing to watch a show they had started together a few weeks ago.

“I’ve got something for you,” her soulmate smirked, as if already knowing that Powder would love it. Confidence looked really hot on Caitlyn, and it took everything in Powder’s strength not to jump onto her lap and forget about the item for the time being. The woman raised from the couch, walking away to the bedroom. When the girl tried to follow her, Caitlyn put a hand on her shoulder, firmly putting her back down. “Wait for me.”

Powder whined, but listened.

A few minutes later, Caitlyn was back, carrying a small black box in her hands.

“That was… something you wanted to try from that list you gave me,” her soulmate explained. If Powder noticed that her cheeks blushed a bit, she paid it no mind, too busy trying to guess what was inside. “Open it and put it on.”

The girl did just as she was told. Her shaking fingers lifted the cover of the box, revealing the leather collar inside of it. She swallowed hard. Taking the collar out of the box, she casted her hair aside, tying it around her neck.

“Good girl,” Caitlyn stroked her cheek and pressed a hot kiss to her mouth. Powder felt the leather tighten around her neck as the woman grasped her by it, pulling her closer in. She helplessly whined at the sensation, already panting from the switch in the atmosphere the collar had brought. “Now, let’s finish that episode, mhm?” Caitlyn pulled away, innocently brushing Powder’s hair away from her face, and taking the remote controller from the coffee table. “I’m dying to know who the killer is, I think it has to be–” she continued talking as she put the show on.

Powder couldn’t focus on the plot, no matter how hard she tried to.

Her hand not-so-subtly tried to sneak into Caitlyn’s pants, yet the woman brushed it aside, giving her a pointed look.

“If you want this to work, Powder, you’ll have to learn to be patient,” she whispered into her ear, hot air striking against the leather material of the collar. “Can you promise me to behave?” Caitlyn’s palm traveled over Powder’s shoulder, settling on her cheek. Her finger brushed over Powder’s lower lip. “Speak.”

“Yeah…”

“Yes what?”

“I’ll behave, Caitlyn,” she made a vow, although her body protested, the wetness pooling between her legs sending waves of betrayal through her core. It made Caitlyn smile, the sight wrecking Powder’s composure even more.

And that was how they had found themselves exploring the new depths of their physical relationship. Although, to Powder’s utmost displeasure, her soulmate had decided to use it against her in all the least sexiest ways.

That night, Caitlyn declared they had both needed rest, so she pushed Powder into a hug and killed the lights off at 11 pm.

The girl’s sleep was restless and Caitlyn had seemed to be going through a similar kind of problem. The moment they woke up they found themselves lost between the sheets, marking each other’s skin and waking up their neighbours with the sounds of their loud affair.

@caitlynkiramman Hi, Powder. Did you have lunch already?

The girl frowned at the churning inside of her stomach. She didn’t.

@dontjinxit yup

@caitlynkiramman What did you have?

“Fucking Caitlyn and her spider senses,” Powder whined at the need to come up with a lie. She rolled in her lab chair, trying to think of something.

@dontjinxit sandwich

Her stomach grumbled again, reminding her that the only thing she had to eat that day was Caitlyn’s pussy for breakfast, making them both late to work for a couple of minutes. Viktor was already used to her shenanigans, not even bothering to scold her for being late.

@caitlynkiramman Do you remember the deal we've made, Powder? You said your body is mine now. Means you have to take good care of it.

She gulped at the message. Caitlyn really wasn’t kidding when she said she’d do her best to try out the whole D&S thing. Powder instantly felt bad.

“Can’t even be a good fuck toy now, huh?” She shook her head to get rid of the voices.

@dontjinxit I’ll get myself a salad now

@caitlynkiramman Send a picture. And bon appetit.

Powder shoved her phone inside the pocket of her shorts, groaning as she imagined having to actually shove vegetables inside of her mouth. Yet the girl remembered her promise, and she wasn’t one to back away from a challenge either.

Getting lunch, she snapped a picture and instantly sent it to Caitlyn.

@caitlynkiramman Good girl.

She salivated into the broccoli, desperately wishing that Caitlyn would use their newly developing dom & sub dynamic for something dirtier than getting healthy dishes into Powder’s stomach. She sighed at the empty feeling between her legs and brought her attention back to work.

A few days later, Powder was leaving the lab when the sky had turned grey and the rain poured over her. It was still pretty warm weather outside, so she had decided to walk her way towards Caitlyn’s apartment building, not wanting to take a cab.

When Powder had knocked on the woman’s door, her hair was completely soaked and the little clothes she was wearing clung to her body. She had hoped that Caitlyn would appreciate the view of her nipples poking out through the tight fabric.

She would probably offer to warm Powder up.

The girl bit her lip as she imagined the scenes that would undoubtedly unfold soon.

“Powder!?” Caitlyn yelled at her, rushing to push her inside the apartment. “Why didn’t you ask me to come pick you up! It’s pouring rain! You must be freezing now!”

“Oh, I am,” she pretended to whine, pouting and making herself look miserable. “Warm me up, please?” Powder took a step towards her soulmate, hoping to get a kiss. She was stopped by a hand pushing her off.

“Take the clothes off, I’ll pour you a bath,” Caitlyn scolded her and sharply took off to the bathroom. Powder wasted no time tugging off the wet clothes. Once completely naked, she followed her soulmate, and wavered in the doorframe, showing off her slim figure. Yet the woman barely paid attention to her, pouring hot water into the bath. Her eyebrows were furrowed in annoyance. “What are you waiting for? Get in.”

Powder jumped into the water, sighing in pleasure as it enveloped her.

“Are you gonna join me?” The girl asked, hoping for Caitlyn to shrug off the comfortable pajamas she was wearing and press her lean body against hers. Yet her soulmate only shook her head.

“I’ll prepare you some warm clothes and hot tea for when you are finished warming up.”

She excited the room shortly, leaving a very sad Powder inside of a tub. Later, tucked into a really warm blanket, the girl was battling for breath as her soulmate wrapped layer upon layer around her body, insisting that she had to be kept warm or else she’d go sick.

“Do I get a kiss at least?”

Caitlyn thought about it for a second, and then quickly pressed her lips on Powder’s forehead.

“That’s all?!”

“I hope it teaches you to be less reckless.”

Although Powder was annoyed out of her mind, she also didn’t mind getting to see the domestic and caretaking version of Caitlyn.

***

“My father had asked me about an upcoming gala we’re hosting,” Caitlyn said while unbuttoning her shirt, making Powder’s attention short-circuit for a second. “I said that I wouldn't be attending if you weren’t invited. So he has added you to the guest list. Have you received an invitation in your email?”

Powder had no idea what the woman was talking about, eyes focused on the collarbone peeking out from her white shirt. They had spent the whole week with no sexual contact, which had Powder completely exhausted. She gulped.

“Yeah?”

“Okay, good. So, what do you think? Would you like to come?”

Fucking hell she’d love to come.

“Yeah,” Powder barely kept her hands to herself as the shirt slid over Caitlyn’s shoulders. The woman folded it over the chair, sitting in just her lacey bra and pants.

“I was thinking we could put on some matching outfits this time?”

Powder wanted for them to be matching in a completely naked and utterly ruined state inside of Caitlyn’s bed.

“Yeah,” she nodded, arm stretching out to touch her soulmate’s soft skin. She got her fingers lightly slapped on. Caitlyn’s hand sharply took her chin, making Powder look in her beautiful blue eyes.

“Are you listening to me?” Powder wasn’t. She shook her head, not even trying to lie this time. “Is this how you should behave with your mistress?” Caitlyn seemed to have fully accepted her newly assigned role, now saying things like that without faltering. Powder weakly moaned in reply.

“No.”

“If you can’t keep your hands to yourself, I know just what will help you.”

A smirk appeared on her face, and she looked so stunning and powerful that Powder was ready to faint from the glorious view. Caitlyn took off from her seat, coming back a few seconds later with a pair of handcuffs. They actually looked like a real pair that belonged in a police office, not inside the bedroom, confirming Powder’s suspicions that Caitlyn had a cop kink fantasy.

She didn’t laugh as cold metal made contact with her shaky hands, tying them up behind her back. Feeling slightly restricted in her motions, Powder shivered from excitement and anticipation.

“Get on your knees, on the floor,” Caitlyn commanded, taking a seat on the couch once again. The girl rushed to comply. Finally. Finally. Finally. “I think you’re ready to listen now.”

Fucking what?

“The gala is going to be really important,” Caitlyn continued, as if not even noticing that Powder was already a weak mess, dying to get touched. The girl whined but it didn’t grant her even a sympathetic glance. Caitlyn stared in front of herself, ignorant to her existence. “Councillor Hoskel is planning to attend it, and if I play all the cards right, I can manage to get some information out of him that would help with the investigation for the case.”

“Cait, you’ve watched too much true crime lately, do you remember that you’re not a cop?” The woman huffed at the comment, almost breaking her composure and pouting. Cute.

“I am directly involved in the development of the case. It’s of utmost importance to KTC that I deal with it now. Besides, you’re forgetting your place, Powder. Did I allow you to speak?”

Powder shook her head.

“Then I expect you to keep your mouth shut,” each word was pronounced with the heaviest piltovian accent, making Powder’s legs wobble a bit. She was glad to be sitting on her knees, making it hard for her to fall over. “Our city would greatly benefit if I get to destroy the roots of its corruption. I can’t just ignore the social injustices like the rest of the upper class. Ever since… ever since we had gone to the subway, I can’t stop thinking of the divide between us.”

Powder laughed, quickly shutting her mouth as soon as the sound left her body. Caitlyn looked at her disapprovingly.

“What exactly is funny about it? Speak.”

She felt her underwear get wetter as her soulmate’s eyes narrowed. The woman expectedly waited for her to answer, a dangerous flame dancing in her blue eyes.

“Just remembered how you almost got your face hit by a turnstile. Adorable,” Powder smirked, with a hint of a challenge in her words. Maybe it could finally push the infamous Ms Kiramman to take action.

“You seem very talkative.” Caitlyn slowly unzipped her pants, scooting them down to her knees. “I think there’s a better use for your mouth,” she said, and although there was nervousness to her voice, it also sounded hot enough to turn Powder beyond imaginable.

Caitlyn took the girl by her hair, bringing her face between her long legs.

Finally. Finally. Finally.

She didn’t say anything else, pressing Powder’s mouth towards her wet underwear. The girl whined at the sweet scent, already salivating in her mouth. She licked over the cloth, catching how Caitlyn took a sharp breath.

“Pull them down,” she commanded, and Powder was reminded that her hands were still tied behind her back as she helplessly tried to move her arms. The girl bit the hem of Caitlyn’s panties, rapidly sliding it off her lean figure. Her soulmate watched as she struggled with the task before lifting her body slightly and allowing for her to pull the annoying cloth down.

“Good girl,” she praised her efforts, pushing the wild strands of Powder’s hair behind the girl’s ears. “Now, please, try not to interrupt me when I’m speaking, okay?” She pulled her closer to her centre, leaving a hand to rest on Powder’s hair.

The girl pressed a hot kiss to the already wet folds of her lover. She whined as the taste of Caitlyn’s wetness rolled on her tongue.

“I don’t have any proof yet, but I think Marcus, the financial manager of our company, is somewhat responsible for the tax evasion crisis. He was the one to email me about it, probably covering up his tracks,” her voice sounded controlled, even though Powder was busy lapping at her clit as she spoke. “It didn’t seem suspicious to me at first, but after firing a few people off his team, I thought about it some more.”

Powder hummed as she probed Caitlyn entrance with her tongue, devouring her sweet taste.

“If you’re wondering why I didn’t take things further with him,” the woman tried to cover up her moan, yet it still escaped her lips, making Powder even wetter. Her underwear was probably soaked, and her clit begged for attention. She hoped to receive it later. “He keeps showing me pictures of his kid, a girl. Talks about being a single parent all the time. I feel… ah! Fuck… I feel sorry for him,” she arched her back slightly, letting Powder take her cunt at the most delicious angle.

“If he’s actually responsible, he would probably get sentenced, and… yeah right there, good,” Caitlyn rolled her hips slightly, dancing on Powder’s tongue. Her hand strengthened its hold over the girl’s hair, roughly pulling her closer. “What would even happen to his daughter? I can’t keep thinking about it. Ah! You’re doing so well, Powder,” the girl sucked on her clit, moaning into Caitlyn’s cunt as she felt herself getting more aroused with each second.

“I really need… I really need proof and I hope that… ah mhm! Don’t stop!” Powder had no plans of stopping. “I really need to talk to Hoskel, so that all of this nightmare can come to– ahh– come… Fuck, Powder,” Caitlyn’s thighs pressed onto her ears, keeping her head firmly locked between the woman’s legs.

Her tongue swirled over the sensitive bud, sending her soulmate to the gates of an orgasm. Caitlyn panted heavily as she reached it, grasping Powder’s hair and not letting her move away.

The girl was short of breath by the time Caitlyn was finished riding off her high.

“Good girl,” the woman said, stroking her hair lightly. Powder whined, needing relief of her own. The handcuffs jingled behind her back. The sound of metal clinking got some of Caitlyn’s attention. “Take off your pants and come here,” she patted her lap, and Powder rushed to get up.

She huffed in annoyance as she tried to get out of her pants, yet it felt useless. With her arms tied, she could only jiggle on her feet pathetically. Although it looked really entertaining for Caitlyn, the woman had taken pity on her, helping the girl with the zipper.

Powder moaned as she felt the jeans slide off her legs.

She quickly fell onto Caitlyn’s lap, whining as the soaked cloth of her underwear made contact with the woman’s exposed clit.

Caitlyn put a hand between Powder’s legs, casting the underwear aside as her fingers probed the girl’s entrance. She hummed in pleasure as the girl’s wetness had easily coated over her palm, accepting the full length of her fingers in a swift motion.

“Fuck!” Powder moaned loudly as her walls clenched over Caitlyn’s digits. She felt the woman curl them up slightly inside of her, hitting just the right spot.

“Move slowly, yes, just like that. You’re perfect, Powder,” Caitlyn kissed her neck while the girl slid on her fingers. Powder was on a brick of an orgasm of her own, shutting her eyes down and moaning loudly. “You have to ask if you want to come.”

“Can… Can I? Ah… Cait,” she panted, unable to form coherent sentences anymore.

“I didn’t hear you.”

“Can I come, please?!” Powder felt tears prickling in her eyes from the delicious torture she was going through.

“No,” Caitlyn simply replied, with a small smirk tugging on her lips. Powder stilled her hips, stopping her movements so that she caught a bit of a break. “I didn’t say you can stop either.”

Powder gritted her teeth, pushing her body up and down and slamming her centre into Caitlyn’s lap. Her soulmate put a gentle hand on top of her shoulders, before pulling Powder closer in by her collar. She moaned as air left her lungs.

“Open your eyes and look at me.”

Her eyelashes fluttered as she tried to follow the command. Yet she kept failing. Caitlyn tugged on her collar sharply. It took all of the remains of Powder’s willpower to manage to look at her lover.

The darkened blue eyes watched her with a new-found intensity in her stare.

“Caitlyn– fuck.. Please may I…?” Powder didn’t know if it would matter if Caitlyn said no. She was going to come anyway, her walls clenching around the woman’s fingers. The girl fought it with all her might, moaning and whimpering at every motion.

“No.”

Powder whined as Caitlyn’s fingers curled slightly inside of her, almost sending her to the edge.

“You look so beautiful when you’re torn apart like that, Powder,” the woman whispered in adoration. “Please, let me enjoy the view for a bit longer. Could you do it for me?”

Powder nodded weakly. Her thighs were beginning to hurt, muscles unprepared to be riding someone’s fingers for that long.

Caitlyn raised the hem of the shirt Powder was wearing, exposing her perky breasts. The woman pinched her nipple, and the sharp pain sent another thrill through Powder’s body. She was going to fail now, there was no way she could hold on for longer. Powder tried to tell it to Caitlyn, but couldn’t mutter a single word.

“You’re doing so well, Powder,” her soulmate’s gentle voice only pushed her further. All that the girl could hear were the sounds of her flesh slapping over Caitlyn’s naked thighs and the flutter of her heartbeat ringing inside of her ears.

“Please,” Powder begged, losing all faith that she could last any longer. Her eyes were about to shut, but she willed herself to keep eye contact. Caitlyn stared at her in silence. “Please! Please! Please– ah! Fuck, I can’t–” Powder was sure if she moved a few more times, she would come undone. She felt tears pricking at her eyes.

Caitlyn yanked her by the collar, forcing the girl to raise from her lap. The woman held her body still, while her hand picked its pace between Powder’s legs.

“You may come.”

Powder cried out, feeling the waves of tension pour through her body. Facing her bliss, she fell on top of Caitlyn, nuzzling her nose into her neck. Slender fingers slid out of her gently.

“Are you okay, Powder?”

Powder was so much more than okay. She happily sighed. Caitlyn put a small kiss on top of her hair, massaging her scalp with a clean hand.

“Do you want to stay on the couch for some time, or move to the bedroom, or take a shower or…?”

“Cait, I know you’ve done your research about the aftercare, but we didn’t even do anything wild, okay, chill out,” Powder giggled into the woman’s shoulder, yawning and stretching her arms behind her back. Her handcuffs clanked, the sharp sound of metal alarming her soulmate.

“I’ll take them off!” Caitlyn rushed to get up, but Powder stubbornly forced her to back down into the couch.

“I like it, let them stay for a bit… maybe for… round two?” She licked her lips deviously.

“Powder!” Although Caitlyn was huffing loudly in annoyance, she held Powder in her hands gently. “Starting slow, remember? And this can’t possibly be comfortable to stay in handcuffs like that…”

“You wanna try it?”

“What?!”

Powder giggled.

“Someone wants to be tied up,” the girl wiggled her eyebrows, while Caitlyn turned away, cheeks reddening. “Don’t be so shy, Cait.”

“I’m not,” she sternly replied. “And… maybe some other time,” the woman added, barely audible. Powder laughed into her collarbone, kissing her way up to Caitlyn’s neck.

Chapter Text

“Shit, you’re fast!” Jayce cursed as he tripped over the net while trying to return one of Powder’s balls. The girl simply shrugged.

“I’ve practiced,” she said with a small smile lingering on her lips dangerously. Caitlyn gulped, remembering the only tennis game they had with each other. Somehow, she doubted that Powder was actually able to learn anything from there. It was more likely that Jayce just sucked at tennis and relied too much on the strength of his hits instead of his aim.

Mel returned their focus to the game by announcing her next serve.

Although they had initially intended to have a friendly match without keeping up with the score, the plan was soon abandoned. Powder had managed to anger Jayce up with some off-hand commentary, and he had started arguing back with her. They went on and on, bickering like kids, before Mel intervened and pulled them apart.

“You’re disrespecting the tennis culture with all this childishness, darling,” she said to Jayce, and he jumped to find an excuse. Her slender finger flew to her husband’s mouth, zipping it up and asking him to stay quiet.

“But she started it,” he pouted, and Powder giggled so loudly that it echoed around the court.

“Caitlyn,” Mel pointedly looked at her. Caitlyn only sighed, trailing to Powder and brushing her shoulder with her palm.

“Please?”

“Y’know how to shut me up,” she whispered into Caitlyn’s ear, most certainly expecting a kiss. Although the woman had already somewhat come to terms with the physical aspects of their relationship, and both Mel and Jayce were aware that Powder and her were romantically involved, it still had felt weird to show any PDA. She thought about it.

The playfulness in Powder’s eyes had made her look rather attractive. Caitlyn pushed her embarrassment away and leaned into her soulmate’s personal space. She took the girl by her chin, raising it up in the air, and connected their lips.

“Satisfied?” Caitlyn husked into Powder’s ear, and the girl smiled slyly.

“Yup, mouth shut for the next 15 minutes,” she promised. Although Caitlyn didn’t have a watch on her wrist anymore, she had still felt like Powder didn’t keep her word.

“With the way you’re running, it’s almost like you grip the racket with your buttcheeks, Mr CEO,” Powder laughed when Jayce tripped over his own feet, trying to return a particularly tricky Caitlyn’s drop shot. He growled.

“MEL! She’s doing it again!”

“Darling, you really need to watch your step. You may injure yourself.”

“You’re taking her side!” He gasped while his wife only sympathetically smiled.

The game dragged on for another hour, managing to leave all of them out of breath. The more worked up Jayce had become, the more times he got in front of his wife, blocking her from returning the balls. Most of his strokes sent the ball flying far away from the court, and he angrily smashed his racket against the net.

“Rule violation!” Powder giggled as he did so, and that was when Mel had decided to announce that the game was over. Caitlyn and her soulmate were proclaimed winners, although the second set was far from finished. “Always fun playing with you,” Powder grasped Jayce’s hand in a mockingly polite handshake, and although the man was moping, he eventually let go of his resentment.

“Yeah-yeah, whatever, you win! By the way… How is the… eh… the secret project going?”

Caitlyn tuned into their conversation, ears picking interest as the curious topic was approached. Mel looked busy packing up, yet she gave them a side glance, slowing down her actions.

“Mhm, almost finished. I need to take it out for a test drive, though,” Powder thoughtfully replied, scratching her chin and smiling. “Viktor told me I’m free to do so if I sign some additional paperwork.”

“Uh, can I ask you if…” he dropped to a whisper, pressing his mouth too close to Powder’s ear for Caitlyn to hear.

“In theory – yup. In practice?” Powder licked her lips, while winking at Caitlyn. “I guess I’ll tell you soon, boss.”

***

“The outfits for the Gala had been delivered,” Caitlyn told her soulmate as she served them both plates of Ionian takeout. She poured Powder a glass of her favourite orange juice, and placed a glass of water for herself. “Bon appetit!”

“Thanks,” Powder caught her hand, pressing a small kiss to her knuckles, before picking her fork. “Mhm, that’s tasty.”

“Yeah, I remembered that you liked this salad,” Caitlyn smiled at her warmly. They enjoyed their food in silence. “You’ve said that you’re allowed to take your project for the test drive today?”

“Yup,” Powder nodded. “I’m actually already wearing it,” she smirked, and Caitlyn narrowed her eyes. Nothing about her soulmate had seemed suspicious. How small was that new invention that Caitlyn’s eyes couldn’t pick up any changes? Powder laughed as she caught her staring. “Finish your food, Cait, you’re gonna need it.”

The woman shivered, appetite suddenly lost. Yet she busied her mouth with vegetables, swallowing hard as Powder gave her a small wink.

“So the Gala is this Saturday, right? Any tips on how to act with your parents?”

Caitlyn hummed thoughtfully. She didn’t think anything that Powder could do would change their opinion of her, yet she also didn’t care what they were thinking anymore.

“Maybe if you were to tell them more about your work? My mother respects intelligence. She’s personally investing in many science projects besides Hextech Industries.”

“Yeah, well, dunno if it’s a good idea to tell her what I’m working on,” Powder giggled mysteriously.

“Your work is incredible, Powder, your inventions are praised by everyone. Don’t sell yourself short, please.”

“Eh, that’s… not why,” she had missed the way her soulmate blushed slightly. “You’ll understand soon.”

Caitlyn accepted her answer with a courteous nod. “And for my father, he doesn’t… particularly dislike you. We had a conversation with him, and he seems curious to get to know you.”

“Gotcha, so focus on Mr Kiramman and avoid your mother for the rest of the Gala.”

“You don’t need to avoid anyone there. Besides, we’ve got a bigger fish to catch,” Caitlyn was obsessed with her little investigation. She had a notebook full of the case details, studying them to figure out the way to properly interrogate Councillor Hoskel. When Powder took a glance at it, she had called her a true detective, and something inside of Caitlyn’s heart swelled with pride.

“I’m just hoping to catch a few desserts inside my mouth,” the girl chewed her salad with a dreamy look on her face. “Maybe a cupcake?”

Caitlyn rolled her eyes.

They finished their meals and traveled to the living room, cuddling with each other on the couch. Caitlyn turned on the TV, playing their favourite show. It felt like another leisure evening, and both of them had seemed to accept this new domestic dynamic with ease.

Caitlyn put her head on Powder’s shoulder, inhaling her rich citrus perfume. She nuzzled her nose into her soulmate’s neck and pressed a small kiss on her skin. One kiss turned into many, and she was soon leaning over Powder’s lap, making out with the girl as the voices on the TV continued narrating the show.

There was something foreign that pressed into Caitlyn’s thigh, but the woman ignored it, too busy ravishing Powder’s mouth. Soon, the poking feeling had grown, and Caitlyn furrowed her eyebrows in question.

The girl underneath her was biting her lip as she tried to break out of her dazzle. There was a smile on her face that didn’t promise anything good. Caitlyn shivered as her lover’s blown pupils stared back at her.

“Mhm, guess it works, hah,” Powder whispered, catching her lower lip between her teeth. The girl blushed heavily, pale skin turning red. Caitlyn sank down on Powder’s lap, frowning in surprise as she rocked on her thighs slightly. Something hard was definitely pressed into her. She shuddered at the thought.

“Is… is it?”

Powder didn’t reply, instead pulling Caitlyn closer and inviting her into another kiss.

“Are you ready to help out with scientific research, Ms Caitlyn?”

“I… what is it?”

Her soulmate giggled. “Guess.”

Caitlyn leaned away, pressing a shaking hand on top of Powder’s crotch. She gasped in surprise as she traced a thick bulge inside her pants.

“Is this…?”

“Don’t worry, I didn’t grow a dick,” she laughed, throwing her head back and sighing in pleasure. “One community was interested in developing a penis prosthesis, eh lots of boring details… I’ll skip it. Anyways, I started creating it, and I figured out a way to make it sensitive, hah. So… whoever wears it? Can feel the pleasure.”

Caitlyn gripped the length, making Powder rock into her palm.

“You can… feel it?”

“Not the most attentive listener, are you, Cait? Yup, I ca- ah!” Caitlyn brushed her palm against the shaft, curious about Powder’s reactions. Her soulmate whined in pleasure. “Fuck, maybe I need to toggle a bit with the sensitivity levels though. Might have overdone it.”

Caitlyn unzipped Powder’s pants, letting the prosthetic penis fall into her hand. She gulped.

It felt so real.

The skin was similar to human flesh. Caitlyn had no idea how Powder was able to create something like this.

She caressed the head with her thumb.

“Fuck, be careful it’s…! Caitlyn!”

The woman flicked her palm over the shaft, testing the waters. Her partner moaned loudly.

“How does it feel?”

“I’ll let you wear it once I’m done developing, it still needs some upgrades, don’t wanna risk- ah! Shit, Cait, please, be fucking careful with it! It’s really sensi-ah-tive”

“Sorry,” Caitlyn didn’t feel any remorse as she palmed the prosthesis, pumping it up and down. She watched Powder’s reactions attentively. Her soulmate was writhing in pleasure, looking like she was already close to an orgasm. Caitlyn wondered how it would work in this state. “If you come… will there be…?”

“Speak like an adult, please, we’re in the middle of a scientific research,” Powder laughed while bucking her hips into Caitlyn’s hand. “And no, there’s not gonna be any sperm, obviously, I don’t have any.”

“Can’t you use a substitute for it?”

“Still briefing ideas,” Powder bit her lip, rolling her eyes in pleasure. “I’m not a chemist, I’m an engineer,” she murmured, barely above whispering. Caitlyn pumped her hand faster. “Wait-wait-wait!” Powder pushed her hand away from the prosthesis, groaning at the loss of skin contact. “Not so fast. We still got uh… lots of testing to do.”

“Like what?”

Powder squirmed under her gaze, blushing as she tried to regain herself.

“Well, can you… suck it? Err… that’s important for the review.”

Caitlyn laughed, poking her soulmate in the stomach.

She slid off Powder’s lap, kneeling in front of the girl. Caitlyn gently took the member inside of her palm, admiring just how real it felt and looked. She leaned into it with her face, pressing a small kiss to the top. She didn’t have any experience with giving somebody a blowjob, so she didn’t exactly know how to act. She flicked her tongue over the head.

“Really need to tune the sensitivity down, fuck,” Powder groaned as Caitlyn wrapped her palm around the base. “Please, err, continue.”

Caitlyn opened her mouth widely, putting the member into her mouth. It was so thick that it barely fit in. She gurgled as the girl tried to push it further in, leaning away and stroking the prosthesis with her palm instead.

“Why the size?” She breathlessly asked, barely managing to slur the words. Powder laughed slightly, although her hands were needily pushing Caitlyn’s head back.

“Not so easy to fit a machine inside of this, y’know,” she bucked her hips into the woman’s mouth, trying to catch her lips. “Besides, figured that the bigger size would sell better on the market, ha–... Uh-yeah fuck, that feels amazing! Don’t stop!”

Caitlyn wobbled her head on the tip of the prosthesis as she gently sucked it. A part of her wondered if Powder would feel any pain if she accidentally brushed it with her teeth, so she tried to be as careful.

In a moment Powder started shuddering and cursing loudly. Caitlyn sucked on her head, hoping it would be enough to send her soulmate towards a little death. By the looks of it, she was succeeding.

Powder’s face was bright red as she stared at her. The girl bit her lower lip in concentration, eyes closed as she reached her orgasm.

“Fuck, that was…,” Powder whistled to herself, glancing at Caitlyn who still had the prothesis between her lips. “...you did great. Eh, but we still have another test to run.”

“Mhm?”

“Science, my fellow researcher, has us on a mission to do some missionary now.”

“I’m sure there was a better way to word it, Powder,” Caitlyn cringed, standing up from her knees and stretching her arms. She slowly led them towards the bedroom, as it had felt like a better studying field.

“I’m saving all the fancy words for Mrs Kiramman,” Powder said, as her prosthesis swung from side to side with each step she took. Caitlyn shook her head.

“Please, refrain from mentioning my mother in such a context.”

“I’m sure she’d find my research to be very impressive,” Powder mockingly pumped a fist around her cock. She caught Caitlyn’s angry eyes and giggled. “Fine-fine! Sheesh, can’t even crack a joke now?”

“You’ve ruined the mood, now I think you can just go and finish yourself, since I won’t be participating in the experiment anymore.”

Powder pouted slightly before turning her frown into a smirk. “I bet I can make you reconsider.”

In a flash, the girl pushed Caitlyn down onto the mattress, pressing the prosthesis into her thigh and kissing her with fervor. It was a bit unusual to have Powder on top, even more so when she was the one showing initiative. Yet Caitlyn didn’t mind the switch of their dynamic, finding herself out of breath and longing to be touched.

Powder hurriedly rid her of all the clothes on her body, leaving wet kisses as she trailed down to her centre. Her tongue probed at Caitlyn’s entrance, while her arms spread her thighs widely.

“Think it’s wet enough or do I have to add some lube?” Powder asked, burying a finger inside of Caitlyn. She moaned at the touch. Although Caitlyn would normally ask for lube, she had also felt like if Powder took another few seconds to look for it, her mind would explode.

The woman gripped Powder’s neck, bringing her in for a kiss.

“Fuck the lube,” she whispered, hungrily licking into the girl’s mouth. Powder hummed in reply, getting comfortable between her legs. She gripped the length with her palm, pushing the head to Caitlyn’s entrance. They both gasped as it started sliding inside.

“Fuck,” Powder hissed, biting her lower lip and closing her eyes. “Didn’t know it would feel that good,” she whispered, while pushing herself further in. Caitlyn moaned as it had started stretching her from the inside. She was no stranger to taking a strap, yet the prosthesis had felt too much like the real thing. Knowing that Powder could also feel it all had almost sent her to the brick of pleasure.

Powder craned her neck slightly, catching Caitlyn’s lips in a slow and passionate kiss. She didn’t move her hips, bottoming out inside of her soulmate and waiting for the woman to get used to the sensation.

Caitlyn was the first one to crack, heaving her hips lightly and urging Powder to start moving.

The girl understood her not-so-subtle signal, picking up a slow and tortuous pace.

“You could go faster,” she breathed out, gripping Powder’s shoulders.

“I’m the scientist here, Cait,” her soulmate chuckled, following it up with a moan of her own. “And science… doesn’t like to rush.”

“You’re just scared that you won’t be able to last long,” Caitlyn smirked as she looked into the eyes of the girl above her. Her challenge didn’t go unnoticed. Powder’s eyes narrowed, as she considered the options. Finally, she snorted, quickening the pace of her movements.

Caitlyn’s smirk soon disappeared from her face. She moaned loudly into the air of their bedroom, praying that the noise cancellation in the building was good enough to muffle the noise.

The bed creaked underneath them, as Powder’s movements became more frantic and less controlled.

It was visible that her soulmate had never once done this, yet she was hitting just the right spot inside of Caitlyn, and her inexperience didn’t seem to matter.

Until it did.

“Ah!” Powder cried out, sweat dripping from her forehead as she convulsed inside of Caitlyn, brushing her neck with her teeth.

“Did… did you?”

The girl only whined pathetically as she dropped her full weight on Caitlyn’s chest.

“Fuck, sorry… I… the sensitivity levels definitely need to be lowered.”

Caitlyn would’ve found it funny if her whole being didn’t desperately beg for release, too.

“Can you go again?”

“Insatiable, are we?” She chuckled, sliding out of Caitlyn and dropping onto her back. “Just… gimme a minute to catch my breath.”

Caitlyn almost whined at the loss of contact. Yet she allowed her soulmate to get a small break.

“Wait… if this was the project you were working on this entire time, then why does Jayce need it?”

Powder giggled.

“Oh, no! Don’t tell me!”

“You were the one to ask! Yes, the big mighty Mr CEO wants to get pegged–”

“No, no, shut up,” Caitlyn put a hand over Powder’s mouth, and the girl only playfully licked it. “Can I… can you take it off and have me wear it?”

“Cait… I want it to be fully ready before…–”

“I just want to know if it’s actually the sensitivity levels you’re speaking of, or just your own lack of skills.”

“Ts, I’ll show you my lack of skills!” Powder pushed her away, her eyes narrowing as she looked over Caitlyn’s naked body. “Turn around and get on your fours.” Caitlyn only laughed at the lack of imperative in her soulmate’s voice. “Just… just do what I say, please.”

“Mhm, alright,” she chuckled as she turned around, settling on the bed in a rather revealing position.

Powder’s hands roamed all over her body, gripping her thighs and chest. She then quickly slid inside Caitlyn, reminding her just how wet she was. They both moaned as she bottomed out.

This time Powder’s motions were undeniably more controlled, the position allowing her more freedom of movement. She quickly found her pace, sending her hips into Caitlyn’s and cursing loudly as her own pleasure also enveloped her.

Powder’s fingers found their way to Caitlyn’s clit, circling it while she fucked her from behind.

It didn’t take long for the woman to feel pressure building up in the pit of her stomach. She moaned loudly, smashing her head against the pillow and muffling the sound. Her back arched, hips bucking to meet Powder’s thighs.

“Shit, Cait, I’m… please come now, or–” Powder’s fingers slipped out from her clit annoyingly, yet found their way back fast enough not to break the rhythm.

The girl whined behind her helplessly as she was coming again. Yet Caitlyn was also overwhelmed by her own pleasure, the waves enveloping her whole body. She moaned as she fell onto the mattress, feeling hotter from the thought that they had actually managed to come together at the same time.

“Nah, y’know what, I will just… flick the sensitivity controls all the way up… and see how you manage to last even a minute,” Powder groaned behind her, falling on her back. Her small chest pressed into her skin, while the warm prosthesis still rested inside of Caitlyn comfortably.

Powder pressed her lips on her shoulder blades, kissing her spine in a show of affection.

“So, Ms Caitlyn, was the experience a success?”

“I say… we shall rest for a few minutes, and give it another test to verify the results,” she giggled at how Powder whined in fear. “Or maybe a few hours.”

***

“And what are you working on, Powder?”

Caitlyn broke into a series of coughs as she choked on her drink. Her father worriedly looked at her, but she quickly collected herself and straightened her back. Powder stared at her in question. She silently begged her with her eyes not to say a word.

“It’s er… protected by the NDA, y’know,” Powder was able to squeak out after a long pause. Caitlyn’s mother eyed her suspiciously.

“I am confident that Mr Talis doesn’t hide anything from his most vital stakeholders.”

“Mother, you must realize what you’re asking for goes against the law,” Caitlyn had tried to come to Powder’s rescue, now bearing the weight of her mother’s heavy gaze.

“Wouldn’t you know everything about breaking the law, my dear daughter?” She lifted a glass of champagne to her lips, taking a sip so small that it almost looked fake.

They had arrived at the Kiramman manor a few hours prior to the start of the Gala. It was Tobias’ idea. “Wouldn’t it be nice to get to know each other without the prying gazes of the public?” he said to Caitlyn on the phone, making her agree to it after a few seconds. She had come to regret it the moment they had entered through the main gates, meeting her parents and their scrutinized eyes.

After a brief small talk, Tobias led them to the living room that was already filled up with waiters. He asked if they were hungry, and Powder had eagerly nodded her head.

Sitting on a sofa in front of her parents, Caitlyn was more stressed than when she had to pass her final exams at the PLA. She gripped the stem of her wine glass.

“We’ve heard that you were able to clear up the little rumours about the tax evasion, Caitlyn. This is a great achievement,” her father smiled at her, trying to break the ice between them.

“That’s the least she could do when allowing for such a situation to arise,” Cassandra huffed in disbelief. Although she looked like she had regretted being so harsh after the words flew out of her mouth. She sighed. “But a job well done is still worthy of praise. Thank you, Caitlyn, and I hope you’ve learnt your lesson.”

“I did,” Caitlyn replied through gritted teeth. Powder’s hand lingered above hers, before her palm gently caressed her knuckles. She relaxed into the touch immediately. It didn’t go unnoticed by her mother, and the woman’s cold blue eyes pierced through her skin. Yet none of them commented on it. “How did your vacation in Ionia go?”

They found themselves in a conversation that couldn’t be described as either warm or hostile. Her father excitedly blabbered about the trip, while Cassandra barely said a word. Powder had remained silent, although she looked attentive enough not to be seen as rude.

“Have you ever been to Ionia, Powder?” Tobias suddenly switched his attention to Caitlyn’s soulmate. His question sounded inviting, and Caitlyn was thankful for his attempt to try and steer a conversation at Powder.

“No, I’ve actually never been anywhere outside of Piltover,” the girl shrugged, leaving her parents in disbelief. Although it seemed that they had soon remembered Powder’s Undercity’s upbringing, frowning at their own rude reactions.

“Well, you’ve still got a long life ahead of you. Caitlyn should take you to our residence in Ionia City. The view from the balcony is quite spectacular, isn’t it, darling?”

Cassandra nodded. Although the implications of Caitlyn taking Powder to visit their estate in Ionia didn’t fly above her ears. She caught them mid-air, face turning unreadable for a second.

“Maybe once that crisis is finally over, you could take a bit of a break from work, Caitlyn. It’s been a while since you’ve last taken a vacation.”

It had actually never happened, Caitlyn wanted to tell her, but kept quiet.

“Would you like to go?” She asked, turning to face Powder.

The girl was busy finishing another small desert that a waiter had brought to their table. She nodded, mouth overtaken by the amount of sugar she was trying to swallow.

“Sounds awesome,” the girl quietly added, once done chewing.

“Great, I’ll help you organise everything! Leave it to me, Caity,” her father grinned, listing off all his favourite vacations from Ionia. “Oh! How could it slip from my mind, your father is definitely growing old. I have repaired your watch, darling. Here,” he took a small box out of the pocket of his jacket.

Caitlyn stared at it warily.

By then she had already gotten used to seeing Powder’s name on her wrist. Yet it had impaired her ability to tell the time, so she had run late to a few meetings at KTC. The woman reached out and took the box out of her father’s hand.

Lifting the watch out of it, she spared a quick glance at Powder. It looked like her soulmate wasn’t bothered by the idea of covering up the mark as much as Caitlyn. Although it had made the woman feel better, she was also harbouring all sorts of her own childish emotions.

Without further thinking, Caitlyn put the watch on her right wrist.

“Thank you, father.”

The first guests started to arrive soon afterwards, making Cassandra and Tobias leave to greet them. Powder had visibly relaxed once her mother was out of the view. Caitlyn had felt the same tension slip away from her body.

“Do you want me to give you a small tour of our manor?” Caitlyn suggested, wanting to get a bit of fresh air. Powder eagerly agreed.

Acting on an instinct, Caitlyn curled her arm around her soulmate’s small waist, leading her away from the living room. They had both dressed up nicely for the occasion.

Powder’s hair was tied up in small buns on her head, showing off her long neck that bore hickeys concealed by a hundred layers of makeup. She was wearing a dress that Caitlyn had picked out for her – knee-length, pale blue: a simple yet classic design.

Her tattoos stayed visible, catching many glances, most of which were quite judgemental. Powder didn’t seem to be affected by them, and Caitlyn was pleased to have such a nice view of her soulmate’s arms, not caring about the rest of the crowd at the Gala.

For her own outfit, Caitlyn had picked a midnight blue suit, which complimented the colour of Powder’s dress. They were gathering a lot of attention, but Caitlyn didn’t mind it. She was used to standing out. She was used to being seen in the company of a beautiful woman by her side. It had felt different when she was with Powder, though. It had felt much better.

Caitlyn proudly straightened her back.

There was nothing for her to be ashamed of when her soulmate was as remarkable as Powder.

“This is my room,” she said, once they had finished their walk through the hall of the Kiramman manor. Her soulmate curiously peaked at the door.

“Are you inviting me in for a quickie?” Caitlyn rolled her eyes affectionately, before opening the door and leading Powder through it. “Eh, even though it took forever to apply all that make-up, I don’t mind ruining the look.”

“Get those lewd ideas out of your head,” Caitlyn snapped her fingers over Powder’s forehead lightly. “No, I had just wanted to… show you where I grew up. Seems only fair, since I’ve already been to your own room.”

Powder curiously looked around. Her room was left almost untouched since Caitlyn had moved out. Her father had admitted that sometimes when he missed her, he would come there and sit on her bed, talking out loud about his day. She asked him why he wasn't just calling her, yet her father was insistent that this level of clinginess only brought families apart.

Caitlyn gently sat down on a chair, careful not to wrinkle her clothes.

“Did you win all that?”

“Of course,” Caitlyn snorted when Powder pointed to the medals and cups she had gathered from all the junior tennis championships. “I was quite fond of the sport when I was younger.”

“Mhm, you look hot in a tennis dress, y’know.”

“You say it about any of my outfits.”

“Even better without clothes.”

“You have already told me that, Powder.”

“Gotta remind you from time to time, what kind of soulmate would I be if I didn’t?”

Caitlyn only chuckled in an answer.

“Cute,” Powder lifted a photo of Caitlyn that showed her at the high school graduation ceremony. She smiled at the memories. “Graduated with honours?”

Caitlyn snorted. She knew the answer was unnecessary. “Top of the school.”

“Eh, be grateful we weren’t in the same class, ‘cause I’d definitely beat your grades.”

“I’d love to see you try.”

They laughed, the banter clearing up any tension they had felt over the Gala.

Caitlyn rose from her chair, walking to Powder and wrapping her arms around her soulmate’s body. She inhaled her sweet citrus perfume, before giving a small peck to her exposed shoulder.

“I think it’s time we return to reality,” she whispered into the girl’s ear. “Or else we might miss…”

“Yeah-yeah, your little investigation awaits.”

***

“What a pleasure to see you, Ms Kiramman and…?”

“This is Powder,” Caitlyn introduced her soulmate to Councillor Hoskel, although her intuition was telling her that the man was already aware of her identity.

“Ah, Ms Powder, nice to meet you.”

“Yeah, same,” Powder replied, awkwardly biting her lip and looking at Caitlyn for help.

“She works with Mr Talis and Viktor at the Hextech Industries. Their latest invention was all her hard work.”

“We’re very fortunate to have such bright minds in our presence,” Hoskel didn’t look pleased at all. Instead, the man was visibly trying to find an escape from them. Caitlyn wouldn’t allow it.

Her interrogation tactic had come from the show they were busy watching lately. It was simple, yet had seemed to be effective in her head. All she needed to do was just press into the issue, until Hoskel undoubtedly broke down and confessed.

“Speaking of which, Powder actually happens to be from the Lanes, Councillor. How often do you visit that part of our town?”

He gritted his teeth, nostrils flaring as he looked Caitlyn up and down. She didn’t shy away from his eyes, towering over the short man as she challenged him.

“I do go there from time to time, as it is one of my responsibilities to the city.”

“Oh? So you must've noticed that our city’s resources are distributed quite unfairly between its parts. It seems like Piltover’s funding simply never finds its way to the Undercity. I wonder where it ends up,” she hummed as she took a small sip out of her glass. Her words got a very visible reaction out of the man, as he turned angrier with each sentence that flew out of her mouth. Caitlyn had intended to rile him up and make him slip up, so she tried to control the smile on her face as the first signs of her promised victory appeared.

“I wouldn’t make such blunt statements if I was in your place, Ms Kiramman.”

“Why? Have I got something to fear from you, Councillor? Perhaps you’ve placed another rat inside my company, thinking you can pull the rug out of my feet again?”

He sneered.

“Your behaviour is a disgrace to the respected name you were born with.”

Perfect.

“At least, I–...”

“Councillor Hoskel,” Cassandra appeared out of nowhere, smiling at the man and sending Caitlyn a small look of concern. Hoskel had immediately switched up his attitude, returning a polite smile to her mother.

“Cassandra,” he bowed his head slightly in a greeting. “The Galas your family’s holding never disappoint in their quality. You’re raising the standard for all of us!”

“Thank you, Torman.” Her mother’s face was unreadable, hiding all of her inner thoughts behind a polite smile. Yet Caitlyn had known that gaze of hers. “There are actually some matters I’ve been meaning to discuss with you. Why don’t we let my daughter and her… friend enjoy the evening amongst the youth, while we get somewhere more suitable to have a conversation?”

“I wouldn’t want to make the host disappear from her guests for too long,” he replied dryly, already sensing danger in Cassandra’s sweet voice.

“I fear I must insist on it.”

The man looked trapped in the corner, desperately looking around for a way to escape the conversation. Caitlyn met her mother’s eyes briefly.

There was no promise of a future scolding inside them. Instead, she had seemed rather proud of her.

“I’m going to handle this,” her blank face said. Caitlyn nodded.

Although she had believed that she would be able to make Hoskel slip up and turn himself in, she was also grateful for her mother to step up and take the reins for a minute.

Caitlyn watched as they escaped from the crowd, disappearing in the hall that led towards Cassandra’s private office.

“Looks like your mum had stolen the fish from your nose,” Powder tugged on her arm, returning her attention to her soulmate. “Eh, not to sound weird, but the way you handled him was… really hot. You should talk to me like that when we’re alone, y’know.”

Caitlyn blushed, then quickly covered up her embarrassment with a small cough.

“Do you want to head outside? I think I wouldn’t mind some fresh air now.”

“Is it a code for…?” Powder wiggled her eyebrows. Caitlyn frowned.

“No!”

“You’re simply not fun today.”

They went to the open air balcony hand in hand.

Caitlyn caught a few people sparing glances towards them, but only proudly broadcasted their handhold.

Once outside, she inhaled the sweet summer air, as if finally getting the chance to relax for the night.

“I hope mother is able to get him talking.”

“Mama Kiramman is scary enough to make innocent people admit to the crimes they had never committed, she’ll handle it just fine”

“She’s not that scary,” she chuckled, watching her soulmate pick out a vape out of the pocket in Caitlyn’s jacket. Powder lightly brushed over her chest as she did so.

“Do you even believe what you’re saying?”

“Yeah, she’s… a very caring person at heart.” Powder didn’t comment on it, puffing the clouds into the sky. “She’ll warm up to you eventually.”

“Can we really go to Ionia?”

“I see no reason why not. I’d actually want to show more of the world to you, Powder. You’ve already broadened my view, the least I can do is return the favour.”

“If you call a shitty subway ride…–”

“Don’t even start arguing,” Caitlyn pinched her elbow lightly to cut the girl off. “And don’t try to erase what you’ve done for me.”

“And what have I done?” Her eyes gleamed with curiosity.

“You…” She turned to face the sky, unable to look at Powder’s face.

“It’s a pity that cat got your tongue, ‘cause I had really enjoyed riding it.”

“Stop,” Caitlyn chuckled, returning her gaze to her soulmate’s eyes. “Before we met, I was just like those people in that crowd at the Gala. Perhaps even worse than them. I’ve never allowed myself to have fun. I’ve never played a video game, Powder… Isn’t it embarrassing?” She sighed in disappointment.

“You’d be surprised by how common that is, actually.”

“I’m thankful to you… for rescuing me from all that,” Caitlyn shrugged, waving a hand in the air.

“So that means we can go to Demacia too?”

“Huh?”

“I’ve always wanted to go, and I actually got in contact with some cool chick from there, she’s an independent scientist, interested in my work.”

Caitlyn narrowed her eyes, suddenly feeling possessive. Catching herself, she frowned at her odd behaviour. Technically, she and Powder weren’t even officially together. It wasn’t like she had any claims on the other girl, except being her soulmate and sexual partner… and also lover. No, she definitely had some claims on her.

“Who is she?” Her voice came out harsh, with Caitlyn barely able to recognize it.

“Eh? Someone’s jealous?” Powder smirked, licking her lips deviously. “Her name’s Lux.”

“Luxanna Crownguard?”

“You know her?” Powder’s curiosity peaked out.

“Yes, actually.” Caitlyn wished she didn’t know just how beautiful that girl was. She frowned as her stomach churned unpleasantly. “We’ve worked together when she was still running the international relations branch for her family’s company.”

“Cool, so we gotta visit her. I’ve promised to make it there someday. She says that the beaches in Demacia are to die for.”

“Ionia is better,” Caitlyn gritted her teeth, not liking the sound of it. Powder only chuckled in reply.

“Haven’t you said you wanted to show me the world?”

Caitlyn nodded. She did.

“I’ll get us the tickets.”

“What, you don’t have a private plane?”

“I don’t think it would be wise to borrow my parents’...–”

“Shit, you have a fucking private plane?!”

Caitlyn widened her eyes, surprised by her soulmate’s reaction. Powder only giggled.

“I forget I’m a soulmate of a millionaire sometimes.”

It didn’t sound wrong when Powder called her “her soulmate”. Yet a part of Caitlyn, the possessive part that had taken over her brain at the mention of a stunning woman like Luxanna, had nervously thought about the implications of the word.

Was it enough for Powder to remain only her soulmate?

“Powder,” she took the girl’s hand and gently squeezed it. “I’ve… I’ve been meaning to ask you… About…” Caitlyn started stuttering, suddenly feeling stupid over what she was going to say. Yet the words flew out of her mouth uncontrollably. “Making our relationship official.”

Powder gawked at her, gasping in surprise.

“Wha–...? Yes!”

She jumped on Caitlyn, bringing their lips together. Their noses smashed into each other’s, but they both ignored the light pain that came with it. Powder was almost crying when she backed away.

“I… well I expected a ring and… you didn’t even drop to your knee…”

Caitlyn frowned.

“What?”

“I mean, isn’t that how people propose to each other?”

Caitlyn’s eyes almost flew out of their orbits. Powder had terribly misunderstood her.

“What, Powder, no, I… I didn’t propose to you!”

Her soulmate looked lost. The girl raised her eyebrow in question.

“I mean… that would be too soon for us. I’ve only wanted to ask you to be my girlfriend. Uh… officially.”

“Huh? Wasn’t I already?”

Caitlyn felt her heart skip a beat. Powder had thought they were actually dating all this time? But they didn’t even talk about it, they had never brought it up.

“No?”

“Hm, then what exactly changes now that we’re dating?”

What could change between them?

Caitlyn didn’t know the answer to that question.

“I… well… I’d like for you not to… flirt with other women now.”

Powder giggled like a fool, easing up some of Caitlyn’s nerves.

“So all I had to do to make Caitlyn Kiramman date me was to bring up that I was talking to some hot demacian scientist?”

“You think she’s hot?!”

Her soulmate laughed at the question, bringing her into another breathless kiss.

They bickered about Lux for some time, before the air outside got too chilly for them to stand there anymore. Although Caitlyn had wrapped Powder up in her jacket, they had still decided it was best to return inside.

Powder excused herself to the restroom, leaving Caitlyn alone for a moment. She noticed her mother in the crowd, and made her way towards her.

“Caitlyn,” she started saying, eyes warming up as she looked her daughter in the eyes. “It ought to bring you some relief to know that Torman won’t be messing with our business anymore. Although you could’ve handled the issue more delicately, I still admire that you’ve brought my attention towards it.”

“Will he go to jail?”

Her mother’s lips curled up in a tight smile.

“Of course not, dear, this is simply not the way that the business is handled. You’ve got a long way to learn just how unfair this world can be.”

“It’s not just unfair, it’s–” Caitlyn felt herself riling up, but her mother put her warm hand on her shoulder, cooling down her fury. “It’s illegal,” she added, hissing. Her mother nodded, lifting her hand and frowning at the glass of champagne she was holding in the other one. She took a small sip out of it, savouring the taste.

“I’ll try to keep an eye on the corruption that our Council is dealing with inside of it, but you shall realise that Torman is only a fish in the sea of parasites. Ripping his head off won’t grant you the results you’re looking for.”

“But people in the Undercity…”

Her mother gently brushed her cheek.

“You’re young, Caitlyn. Idealistic. And I fear, just as much of a hopeless romantic as your father,” she chuckled lightly in adoration. “Let me handle the hard truths about the world, and take a vacation with your…–”

“Girlfriend.”

“With Powder,” her mother finished the thought, looking her in the eyes. “Let me protect you from it all while I am still here.”

“You’re talking about it like you plan on dying tomorrow,” Caitlyn laughed, getting a glass of wine from a waiter that passed her by.

“Who is planning on dying?!” Her father tuned into the conversation, eyes wide as he stared at both of them.

“No one, dear. Your daughter is just as dramatic as always,” Cassandra rolled her eyes.

“Hopefully I’ll die first–”

“Father!”

“Or we shall lay on the deathbed together, my darling.”

“Mum! Stop!”

Caitlyn felt someone take her by the elbow. She quickly glanced at the intruder, smiling as Powder had joined them.

“Oh, Powder, I was actually looking for you,” Tobias’ eyes lit up as he saw her. “I was just having a conversation with a rather stubborn individual who insists that Hextech technologies couldn’t possibly replace missing limbs. I’ve told him that my daughter’s partner is the one developing such devices, so we must go and prove that–” he got to the girl, quickly leading her away from Caitlyn.

Powder’s eyes begged her to intervene, yet Caitlyn only waved at her as she was brought to the other side of the hall.

“So, Caitlyn, I think it’s time for you to tell me how you’ve actually managed to find your soulmate.”

“It’s a really long story,” she blushed, hoping to find her own way out of it and wishing desperately that she had followed Powder and her father.

“I think we have lots of time to spare now, and I am also quite curious to finally hear that story. I presume it was quite exciting for you to finally be able to meet her.”

Caitlyn sighed. She thought about the day that had felt like it was an eternity away now. Licking her lips, she spared another glance at the girl with blue hair that was once so rude to her, making her come to the Undercity coffee shop over and over again.

As if sensing her eyes, Powder had turned to face her for a second. She smiled lightly, before tuning back into the conversation she was having with the guests.

“I had a meeting with Silco on that day…”