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Marriage wasn’t something that Vi ever put much thought into. Sure, people in Zaun got married from time to time. Hell, even her parents had gotten around to getting married eventually, just a little while before Powder was born. But it wasn’t something that Vi herself ever really wanted personally. In fact, she didn’t really care much for the idea of romantic relationships in general.
She had been attracted to women for as long as she could remember, of course. The various posters of pin-up girls that she had in the rotation of her wall décor as a teenager were a testament to that. Even so, she never really had any interest in anything long-term.
Not until she met Caitlyn.
Even then, the idea was still far in the back of her mind. She was content with just being in a serious relationship with her girlfriend, planning on spending their lives together as just that—girlfriends.
It was a nice day, hardly any clouds in the sky, and the birds were chirping delightfully upon their perches. There was a bit of a chill to the air, but the sunlight could still keep you comfortably warm if you happened to forget your jacket. The crime rate today wasn’t anything too serious, just consisting of a pickpocket that Vi managed to catch and cuff within twelve seconds—a new personal record for her.
After putting the thief in a holding cell and quickly scribbling out the paperwork that she always despised having to fill out, Vi made her way towards the break room at the Enforcer HQ. She moved around the kitchenette smoothly, quietly preparing the coffee pot and waiting for it to brew. She was eager to pour a cup for Cait—who was currently too busy in her office overlooking case files to get up to retrieve a mug of her own.
Once the coffee maker finished, Vi grabbed two mugs from the cabinet and poured two generous cupfuls for Caitlyn and herself. She made sure to prepare Cait’s exactly the way she knows she likes it—mostly cream with three sugars (Cait was always more of a tea person anyways).
While preparing the coffees, Vi had overheard some Enforcers talking nearby. One of which had just recently gotten married, and was eagerly telling any of her co-workers that would listen about the whole thing.
Vi found herself more intrigued by the conversation than she initially expected. The little things she mentioned—the rings, the wedding, the vows, the shared surname, the honeymoon—it all got stuck inside Vi’s head almost instantly. She couldn’t prevent herself from daydreaming, imagining what a life of marriage could be like for her and Cait; and it was a thought that refused to leave her mind now.
She couldn’t help the giddiness in her step as she entered Cait’s office, the image of her soulmate in wedding attire still burned vividly within her mind’s eye. Upon setting the mugs down on the desk, she gave Cait’s temple a soft kiss, breathing in the scent of her hair slightly before pulling back. An action that earns her a wide smile in return.
“Thank you, darling.” Cait said as she reached for the mug, taking a sip of the coffee that Vi had so perfectly made to her exact specifications without even being asked to do so.
“’Course, Cupcake.” Vi responded happily, a hint of a grin still tugging on her lips.
Cait leans back in her chair, turning to study Vi for a moment before speaking. “You’re acting awfully chipper, Violet.” She notes, tapping her pen on the desk as she observes her cheerful partner. “What has you in such an exuberant state?”
“What on Runeterra do you mean, Cait? Can’t a woman just be happy to see her girl?” Vi counters, not yet ready to reveal the newfound idea floating around her head and taking up all of her thoughts.
Cait squints her eye ever so slightly, not quite buying her girlfriend’s dismissive response, but she decided not to push it any further… For now. Alternately, she opts to tease Vi instead. “I suppose I will allow it. Just don’t let it happen again while you’re still on the clock, Deputy Vi.” She jests, trying to hide the tiny smirk on her lips.
“You got it, Sheriff Cupcake. No happiness at work.” Vi replies with a mock salute which earns her a giggle from Cait, something that Vi sees as an absolute win.
Cait shakes her head as she returns her attention back to the papers littering her desk, opening a few files, and signing a few forms. “You are utterly ridiculous, my darling.”
“Yeah, but you love me.” Vi responds, stealing a quick kiss on Cait’s cheek before walking over and sitting down at her own desk adjacent from Cait’s.
Technically speaking, the office is suppose to be just for Caitlyn, and not for Vi as well. It is the Sheriff’s Office, after all. However, it would be ill advised for anyone to try to prevent Caitlyn Kiramman from putting her girlfriend’s desk inside her personal office. Truthfully, the whole station was glad when Vi’s desk moved into Caitlyn’s office—so they wouldn’t have to hear their ‘subtle’ flirting any longer.
“I do love you, you lucky dolt.” Cait responds with a loving, yet teasing, grin.
Both lovebirds then proceed to get to work at their respective desks, each stealing any moment they can spare to glance over at the other.
Weeks had passed since that image of getting married to Caitlyn rooted itself within Vi’s mind and refused to leave. It only took her two days of trying to shake the idea out of her head before she decided to start planning a proposal.
She decided to start with the ring. She knew exactly what she wanted. She knew Cait wouldn’t give a fuck about how much it cost, so she was certain her plan was a good one.
A few years ago, only a little while after the Battle at The Hexgates, Vi had went down to The Lanes to visit ‘The Last Drop’. She had heard a rumor that it had burnt to the ground, and she needed to see it for herself.
As she looked through the rubble and ashes of the old bar from her youth, she had managed to find a small lock box still hidden under what remained of the floor boards downstairs—right where she had left it half a decade ago. The metal was charred and dented, but the insides—luckily—remained untouched from the flames.
Inside the box, Vi found a few old photos—one of her parents, one of her and Powder, and a few random group photos of her family and friends—each of which were framed and set up in Vi’s personal office within the Kiramman manor once she returned home from her visit. There were a few other odd bobbles and trinkets that she recognized, little things that either her or Powder had put within the lock box before proceeding to forget about them.
One item in particular Vi had remembered though—her mother’s ring. It wasn’t anything spectacular, not even for Zaun standards, but it was still sturdy and in well enough shape.
Vi had taken the ring to a Piltovan jeweler a few days ago to get it cleaned and resized, and now it was ready for pick-up.
Vi studied the ring intensively. It was now clean, polished, and in Cait’s size. She was absolutely thrilled with the result and eagerly paid extra before heading onto her next mission—the location.
There were a few options that crossed her mind. Perhaps taking Cait out to dinner and proposing at the Ionian themed restaurant that they frequent? No, that was too cliché. Maybe just proposing at home by the fireplace in Cait’s study, or maybe in their bedroom? No, far too simple. Then the perfect plan came in mind…
Vi thought back to when they first met each other, remembering that Caitlyn had expressed interest in taking the bathysphere to get a tour of The Lanes. With that in mind, Vi rushed over towards Zaun to buy some tickets.
Her plan consisted of a ride on the bathysphere, and a proposal above the streets of The Fissures. Afterwards they could possibly go to the park that Cait and her mother would frequent; just in case she lost her nerve to ask the first time, and could propose amongst the violet petals instead.
It was probably the first time in her life that Vi had made a back-up plan. That’s how important this was to her.
Vi went and bought every ticket for an evening tour, wanting the bathysphere to be completely empty, save for her and Cait.
As for the day, Vi put a lot of thought into it. She considered doing a random day that both her and Cait had off, eager to be engaged as soon as possible. However, she wanted it to be perfect. She knew that, as much as she didn’t particularly care about them herself, dates were very important to Caitlyn. Vi remembered the important things—their birthdays, holidays, their anniversary—but others tended to slip from her mind. Maybe one too many drinks or hits to the head made her forgetful, maybe she just didn’t care as much, but neither mattered. What did matter was Cait, and she was determined to make the proposal perfect for her soon-to-be wife.
Thinking though the possible options, only one day felt right. The fifth anniversary of the day they first met was only a few days away. It was the one day significant enough and soon enough to be the ideal day to get engaged, and she figured Cait would appreciate her remembering the date for once. Plus it made a pretty convenient excuse to get Cait to take the day off.
A few days passed, and the big day was almost here. It was late in the afternoon when Cait and Vi got home from patrolling the streets of Piltover. Tomorrow was the anniversary of their meeting—and soon the anniversary of their engagement—or so Vi thought.
The first thing Cait did when she got home was take her boots off, setting them neatly on their shoe rack. As she took off her jacket to hang it up, she tapped Vi’s ankle with her toe.
“Take your boots off, love.” She said with a kind tone, but Vi knew it was a command, not a suggestion.
Cait never cared for Piltovan traditions, and she upright refused some of the Kiramman family ones; but she always had a respect for her Ionian roots. She became absolutely enamored with Ionia when she first visited the region with her parents when she was just a young child. The culture was so beautiful to her, the food in particular became a quick favorite, and the music was some of the best—aside from Seraphine, of course, whose music she had deemed the greatest of all.
Not wearing shoes within the house was a tradition that Cait happened to favor immensely, although Vi couldn’t tell if she liked it so much because of the Ionian roots of the tradition, or if it was just because Cait had a distaste for footwear and preferred to not wear them when she was not required to. Either way, Vi took her boots off with haste, unwilling to upset Cait the day before she was going to ask for her hand in marriage.
Cait slipped into her study right after returning home, intending to get a jump on some paperwork before dinner. This was a daily occurrence for Caitlyn, and one that Vi became quite familiar with after the four years of dating her. Vi followed closely behind, taking a seat on the arm of a chair as she watched Cait pace around the room with a file in hand and a pen tapping against her chin.
“You didn’t even give me a kiss when we got home, y’know...” Vi remarks petulantly as she watches her girlfriend studying the pages in her hands, her one visible eye squinting in focus.
Cait removes her attention from the file for a moment to address her lover. “I apologize, Violet. My attentions have been thoroughly preoccupied with this monotonous case these past few day. I’m utterly scatterbrained, aren’t I?” She responds remorsefully, walking over to give her patient girlfriend her long-awaited (just two minutes of waiting) kiss.
Vi happily accepts her kiss, her hand moving to cup Cait’s jaw to extend it, and in return Cait’s hand moves to her hair. After a few moments—fewer moments than either of them would prefer—Cait pulls back to return to her file. This time, however, she decides to take a seat on Vi’s thigh instead of pacing around the room. A decision that Vi is ecstatic about. She wraps her arms around Cait’s waist, her head leans against Cait’s shoulder, occasionally moving to plant a kiss or two on her arm.
With her beloved so close to her, perched so beautifully on her lap, Vi’s mind drifts to the ring burning a hole in her pocket. She’s opted to keeping the ring on her person at all times, knowing that Cait has a tendency to look through her drawers when she feels like wearing a pair of Vi’s boxers that day, or is looking for a specific bottle of lube that Vi keeps in her nightstand.
With the idea of the ring in mind, Vi decides to test the waters a little bit. She thinks it might help her nerves about the proposal tomorrow.
How the hell am I gonna bring it up? She can’t help but think. Her mind eventually settles on a relatively good idea, and decides to break the silence.
“You should take me to Ionia someday.” She suggests, starting off her small test with something she knows Cait wouldn’t refuse.
Cait looks up from her notes briefly with a smile. “I’d love to, darling. I truly believe you’d adore it as much as I do.” She replies before sorting some papers within the file in her hands.
“Yeah, maybe we can go when we get married.” Vi furthers, feeling hopeful. This is going well so far.
“We don’t need to be married to go to Ionia, Violet. I’d be delighted to take you whenever you would like to. Perhaps during our next holiday we might take a trip.” Cait responds, oblivious to Vi’s current inquiries.
That’s not exactly the response Vi was hoping for, but then again she doesn’t know what she was expecting. “Uh- Yeah. That’s true, baby. We could.” She goes quiet again, rearranging her thoughts to figure out a way get Cait’s intentions without giving too much away.
“Y’know, Cupcake. It might be a nice location for a honeymoon. Maybe even our wedding?” That’s it. That’s the wording she was looking for. She gives Cait a small kiss on the back as she waits for her answer, feeling hopeful for the response.
“That seems like a rather needless inconvenience to make such an event out of going when we might visit whenever we like, dear.” Cait answers, taking a moment to rest her cheek against Vi’s head.
“Yeah, I guess.” Vi says, slightly defeated, but not ready to give up just yet. “If you’d prefer getting married in Piltover, that’s fine with me. Or anywhere really. I’m not picky.”
Cait lets out a small chuckle, shaking her head in amusement as she sits up straight again.
Vi’s eyes widen at her sudden giggle, her grip around Cait’s waist loosening slightly and moving to hold her hips instead. “What’s so funny, Cupcake?”
Cait shakes her head in an attempt to prevent anymore giggles, which hardly helps much at all. “I suppose I am just a tad bit amused that you happen to be so enthralled with this whole wedding concept.”
“You prefer elopement?”
“No, no. That isn’t what I’m denoting in the slightest. It’s the marriage itself that I don’t fancy.”
Now, that… That’s not what Vi was expecting.
She sits there, a mixture of confusion and disappointment stewing inside her. “You don’t wanna get married?” She asks, her tone a bit harsher than she intended.
“Gods, no. It’s so archaic, don’t you think? The ceremoniousness. The propriety. It’s all so dreadful.” Cait explains, her spare hand flying about as she talks, her pen twirling in her fingers as the words come out.
When Vi doesn’t offer a response, Cait can immediately tell something’s off. She sets down her file on the coffee table along with her pen. Her hands move to run through Vi’s pink strands. Playing with her girlfriend’s hair was a favorite past time of hers, and it usually tended to calm Vi down simultaneously. “You disagree, I take it.”
Vi jaw tightens, and a scowl starts to tug at her eyebrows. Cait can tell that Vi’s holding back. She’s never been very good about opening up about things when she’s upset—neither of them are. She tries to coax Vi gently to speak her mind.
“Darling? Please tell me what’s vexing you.”
Vi huffs, finally allowing herself to say the words that have been burning her tongue. “You act like getting married to me would be like some kinda fucking prison sentence.”
Caitlyn found herself utterly gobsmacked by her partner’s sharp words and bitter tone, not fully certain how to reply. “Vi—No. That wasn’t my intention whatsoever. All I am attempting to convey is that I’m already fully committed to you, dear heart. We don’t require some document saying that I am.” She says tenderly, her thumb brushing reverently against the ‘VI’ tattoo adorned on her beloved’s cheek.
Vi’s arms drop to her sides in disappointment, the engagement ring and tickets for the bathysphere now feel like a dead weight in her pocket—like all her planning and excitement was for nothing. She quickly tries to hide her hurt feelings behind a wall of indignation, getting up from the arm of the chair, causing Cait to stumble a bit to regain her footing.
“Vi!” Caitlyn yelps out in surprise, yet her tone manages to be firm with a slightly scolding manner, confused by the sudden change of demeanor in her partner.
“Yeah, well, guess I was pretty fucking stupid to assume you’d think otherwise.” Vi spits out, more out of pain than actual anger.
Seeing just how scorned Vi is, Cait softens. She reaches out a hand towards her love, speaking in an apologetic tone. “Violet, I-” Before she can get the words out, Vi cuts her off.
“Forget it.” She huffs as she storms out of the study, the door slamming closed behind her.
Cait sinks down onto the coffee table. By now she knows all too well that it’s better not to follow Vi when she’s acting like this. It’s not like she’d listen to anything while she’s in this state anyways. Cait lets out a frustrated sign, knowing that she’ll need to make this up to Vi eventually somehow. She starts to bite her bottom lip, her mind beginning to piece together how she intends to fix this, not far off from the same way she deconstructs a crime scene. Regardless of the plan she decides on, for now, she’s just going to give her time to cool off.
It was near midnight when Cait made her way up the stairs towards her and Vi’s shared room. Once inside, she began preparing for bed. She had assumed that Vi would be calm enough by now to talk and settle this disagreement once and for all.
However, her hopes for a night of reconciliation and apologies made under the sheets soon became dispelled once Vi entered their room with a look of frustration and disappointment still etched on her face.
She didn’t let that deter her, however. Not yet. She took a deep breath, running her speech through her head one last time before speaking in a calm and collected manner, an apologetic tone to her words.
“Violet, darling… I truly—” Cait’s meticulously planned speech soon died on her lips once she saw Vi start to gather her pillow and a spare blanket from the closet. “What are you doing?”
“I’m sleeping on the couch tonight.” Vi declares plainly, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. She quickly grabs a pair of pajamas and her toothbrush too, intending to get ready for bed downstairs rather than in their en-suite bathroom like she always does.
Caitlyn watches Vi move around their shared space, collecting things hastily, like she has no interest in staying in the same room as her own girlfriend for more than a minute. “Can’t we at least discuss this first?”
“Discuss what?” Vi responds with a bitterly sarcastic edge to her words.
Cait, less than amused, crosses her arms over her chest as she responds. “Don’t be obtuse, Vi. You know exactly what.”
“I got nothing to say.” She states with a neutral demeanor, stuffing her pillow under her arm.
“Like hell you don’t.” Cait snaps. “You wouldn’t be sleeping downstairs if you didn’t. So out with it. Let me in on whatever is going on inside that thick head of yours.”
“You think my head is thick?” Vi quips back, a bit of Vander’s influence on her slipping out like it does from time to time.
Cait grabs onto Vi’s bicep, her fingers struggling to curl around the thick muscle, in a feeble attempt to stop her from moving. “Darling, please. Allow me a moment of conversation before you storm out of here for a night of solitude brooding upon that blasted couch.”
“Fine.” Vi relents, setting her stack of bedding and clothes on the bed before returning her gaze to Cait. “Spit it out.”
Cait takes a deep breath, steeling herself to say the speech she had been preparing in her head for the past few hours.
“I truly am sorry, love. I didn’t mean to offend you. I had only meant to enlighten you with how I felt on the matter, I never intended to hurt you.” She cups Vi’s face with a tender smile, her thumbs brushing soothingly over Vi’s cheeks and eyebrows, almost in an attempt to smooth the scowl away. “If you desire to get married, then we can get married.”
Vi meets Cait’s words with a scoff, which leads Cait’s eye to widen and hands to drop to her sides. She takes a step back, her arms crossing over her chest once again. “I beg your pardon?”
“How gracious of you to make such a noble sacrifice for me, Cupcake.” Vi says sarcastically with a harsh tone. She gathers her pile of bedding and sleep wear into her arms. “I’m so damn flattered that a Kiramman would offer me such a charity.” Vi knows she’s being harsh, she knows she’s saying exactly what she needs to in order to get under Cait’s skin.
Vi’s always been good with her words. Always knowing exactly what to say to tell people in order to tell them what they need to hear, what they want to hear, and precisely what they don’t want to as well. It’s not that she wants to hurt those she loves, but it’s the way she’s always protected herself, her automatic defense mechanism that she spats out right before her walls go up.
Vi storms out after that, not allowing Cait a chance to rebuttal—perhaps because she’s afraid that Cait could say something to get her to stay—and Vi’s not ready to put her walls back down yet.
The moonlight was shinning in brightly through the window. With everything that had happened that night, the curtains were forgotten about and never fully closed. The light made it difficult to sleep. Not that it mattered, really. Caitlyn wasn’t sleeping that night anyways. She was too used to having Vi next to her.
Despite their four poster bed being king-sized, the two lovebirds could never be too far apart from each other, even in their sleep. Cait can hardly remember the last night she slept without spooning Vi, or using her chest as a pillow. It was cold tonight too, and Cait found herself craving Vi’s furnace-like body heat to expel the chill from her bones.
It was around 3am when Cait decided she couldn’t take it any longer. She knew that there was no reconciliation with Vi, not tonight; but she sure as hell wasn’t going to let that stop her from being close to her regardless. Caitlyn gathered her pillow and comforter, and an old stuff bunny toy that Vi had left behind in her haste.
It had taken an hour, maybe two, for anyone to find Vi after the Battle at The Hexgates. She had spent all that time alone—grieving, blaming herself for Jinx’s sacrifice, debating following her sister down into that reactor shaft, wondering if Cait and the others were okay, wondering if the battle was over and if they had won or lost—all without anyone to reassure her or get her out of her head. Eventually, some Enforcers came looking for her. She was alright, for the most part. As long as you ignore the broken arm (which, much to the medics’ dismay, Vi did).
Before being taken out of the Hextower to safety, something caught Vi’s eye. She pushed away the Enforcers that were trying to help her out, making her way towards her prize. She stumbled a bit, nearly breaking the other arm in the process as she scaled the rickety remains of Jinx’s air balloon that threatened to collapse at any moment. Vi didn’t care about that though. She was on a mission.
Still nailed to the center mast of the air balloon was Vi’s oldest friend, her frequently lost-and-found stuffed bunny. As she removed the nails and held the old toy in her hands, she couldn’t help but feel like it was a gift from her sister. One that she gave Powder to remember her by all those years ago, and now Jinx had left it for her in return. Vi buried her nose in the bunny’s middle, breathing in a still strong scent of Zaun.
As the Enforcers once again called out to Vi that it was time to go, Vi tucked the bunny—affectionately named ‘Bun-Bun’ by a much younger, baby Vi—under her arm. Determined to bring the toy home with her.
Since then, Vi has been sleeping with the toy. The bunny now a nightly companion to her and Caitlyn, among some other plushies the two have collected over the years of their relationship. Cait never minded one bit, of course. In fact, it made her adore Vi even more.
Cait made her way downstairs with an array of linens, blankets, pillows, and Bun-Bun. She entered the living room, which sported two adjacent couches facing each other at the center of the room. She spotted Vi lying there, and instantly felt a strong need to apologize again and again, all while kissing all over that freckled face that she loved more than anything in the world.
But she refrained. Both because she remembered the cruel words that Vi had said to her just a few hours earlier, and because she knew that Vi would push her away anyways. They were both still hurt.
Truthfully, Vi is the most forgiving person that Cait has ever known, but even she needed some time—and especially reason—to forgive.
Cait took the free couch across from her, setting up some sheets and laying down some blankets. She set up her pillows precisely how she wanted them, and smoothed out the comforter. It was a far cry from their large and comfortable bed, but it was perfect considering the circumstances. She could tell that Vi was watching her the entire time, but she didn’t say anything; and neither did Vi.
Cait picked up one of the extra blankets she had brought downstairs, and draped it over Vi. The last thing she did was take Bun-Bun, and place her in Vi’s arms while she pretended to be asleep.
Then Cait climbed into her make-shift bed on the couch. It wasn’t nearly as comfy as their bed, but Vi was in the room, so that made it the most comfortable spot in the world to her.
Finally, Cait was able to fall asleep. And Vi, whom had also been struggling to sleep for the past three hours, wrapped her arms around her stuffed toy, pulling it closer to her chest. She had her space like she wanted, but her favorite person was still nearby. And with that, Vi drifted off to sleep too.
It was late in the morning when Cait left the house, her heels meeting the pavement with a satisfying clack. It was five years to the day since she had met the woman that changed her life forever. However, she hadn’t seen Vi at all today. Vi had woken up before she did, which wasn’t uncommon for her to do so.
Vi was always an early riser unless she was drunk the night before. She had told Cait once it was because of Stillwater, but never elaborated. Not that she needed to. Cait knew what she meant, and she could imagine it far too vividly for her taste. The thought of Vi having to be awake and ready for the day at sunrise or else get beaten by a guard made Cait’s blood boil, and the fact that it was something that happened frequently enough that it had stuck even after Vi’s been out of prison for years made her even more sick.
The sun shines through the clouds and leaves as Cait sat upon the center most bench in the park, the cool marble made her shiver slightly, and she felt a bit grateful that she decided upon wearing trousers today. The violet petals were flying about, the wind machine at the middle of the park sending them into the air with a captivating swirl every time it’s air vents decided to shift open.
Normally Caitlyn could take comfort in this quiet spot, a place that she had frequently sought out for a sense of peace and solitude, ever since she was just a young girl with her mother by her side. Today was different. Today the petals only made her think of Vi, when that’s the last thing she felt like thinking about right now.
She tried to will away the thoughts, but of course, there was no use. She was thinking about her girlfriend now, and nothing would stop that. Vi had a way of worming herself into Caitlyn’s thoughts in a way that no other person was able to do so.
A part of her took comfort in the thought of her devoted partner. A part of her was angry she was thinking about Vi at all. A part desperately wished that Vi was sat right next to her in this moment of solitude. And a part wished that she could just have a moment of peace without the thought of their argument taking up all the space within her mind.
After about an hour or so of sitting upon that marble bench lost in thought, stewing in indignation whilst formulating her next apology at the same time; Caitlyn’s father, Tobias, takes a seat next to her on the bench.
“I thought you might be here.” He says with a neutral tone but with a soft expression, crossing one leg over the other as he watches the wind blow the leaves, and petals fly to and fro. “Your mother tended to frequent this place whenever she was exasperated with me.”
Cait turns her head at her father, her eye squinted ever so slightly with light irritation. She then attempts to appear unaffected. “I am not exasperated with Violet.” She states firmly, a small trace of bitterness betraying her words.
“I never said you were, my dear.” Tobias rebuttals in a non-accusatory tone. He leans forward a bit, his head tilted slightly, attempting to make eye contact with his daughter’s good eye.
Cait turns her head to avoid his gaze. She begins to stare off in front of her, almost in a way to guard herself, even if it’s only momentary.
Tobias takes a mental note of her heighten guard, but says nothing of it. After a beat of silence, he speaks again. “Although, Violet does seem rather incensed.”
Cait’s brows raise and she sits up more rigidly at the information, feeling genuine surprise and perhaps apprehension that her father could possibly know about their quarrel. “Did she say something to you?” She asks, trying her best not to sound anxious.
“No, my girl. In fact, I’d rather fancy keeping my conversations with her brief with the state she’s in.” He remarks with the slightest hint of amusement. “She’s been in her office all day pounding those fists of hers against those sandbags she keeps in there. It’s been causing quite the racket. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear she’s torn one of them open at the rate she’s going.” He says with no real annoyance.
Upon hearing the news of Vi’s current behavior, Cait sighs and lowers her shoulders. It’s unsurprising to her that her girlfriend would be acting this way, it’s never been uncommon for Vi to resort to using her fist to take out her frustrations.
Cait sits up straight again, and folds her hands neatly in her lap before addressing her father. “I’m sorry, father. I—” She begins, but Tobias immediately waves his hand, cutting her off.
“Don’t be. I’d rather her doing that than putting a hole through one of our walls… Again.” He says humorously in an attempt to lighten the mood. Once he notices the attempt fails, he changes his approach. “What does have Violet so riled up, anyhow?”
Cait lets out a long sigh, not particularly interested in talking about the topic at all, let alone with her father. After taking a moment to collect her thoughts, she informs him of her troubles. “Vi wishes to marry.”
“Hm.” He hums out, thinking for a moment about the revelation. “And you declined, I take it.”
“Not precisely.” She begins, her hand moving to play with the band of her eye patch that rests around her ear—a frequent fidget of hers ever since she began to wear one. “She hadn’t exactly asked for my hand just yet, only inquired my thoughts on the topic.”
“Ah, I see. So she didn’t take your opinion well then, is that it?”
Cait lets out a frustrated sigh as she replays their argument in her head. “All I said was that I have no desire for matrimony. Suffice it to say, she took it personally.”
Tobias nods for a moment, thinking of the best advice he could possibly give. He knew his daughter was stubborn, and that her partner was even more so. He rests a hand on Cait’s back, rubbing the spot between her shoulders soothingly as he prepares to ask his next question.
“Have you spoken with her since then?” He asks, his hand moving in small, gentle circles.
“Briefly.” She responds with a tone of discontentment. Her shoulders start to slump in exhaustion from the whole ordeal.
“What happened, dear girl?” He asks with an empathetic tone.
Cait runs her hand through her hair as she speaks. “I offered her what she wanted. I told her that I would marry her, if that is what she truly desires.”
Tobias nods as he continues to listen to his daughter attentively, waiting for her to continue.
She drops her hands into her lap, and begins fidgeting with her fingers. “Vi believes that I’m only offering to marry her as some sort of sacrifice to make her happy.”
“Well, is it?” He asks simply.
Cait’s one visible eye widens in offense. She sits upright, causing her fathers hand to fall from her back. “What?”
“Pardon me, my dear. What I mean is, this offer of yours sounds like it is based purely on Violet’s desire to marry, not that you have any interest in it yourself. Other than to stop this quarrel, that is.” He explains himself, but it does little to make his daughter any less offended.
Cait can’t hold back a scoff at his words, hating that he can see right through her. “You’re on her side, then.”
“I am on your side, my dear. I swear it. Your happiness is my highest priority.” He reassures her, a small smile tugging on his lips as he continues. “I just know that Violet happens to take up a large portion of that happiness, and I’d much like to see the both of you happy again.”
“And what, exactly, do you propose I should do, then? If I accept her offer, I sacrifice my principles. I decline, and Vi might slip away forever.” Cait buries her face in her hands. The tears are welling in her eyes now, but she’s not very eager to let her father see. “It feels like everything is unraveling at the seams, and it’s all my undoing.”
Tobias pulls his daughter into his embrace. “Trust me, my girl. I’ve seen the way that Vi looks at you. Married or not, she’s prepared to stick around for a lifetime, that much I’m certain of. Just give her some time to calm down. Everything will be back to how it should be before you know it.” He reassures her once again, pulling back enough to look at her properly. His hand returns to rubbing her back comfortingly once again.
The two sit in silence for a long moment, both of them listening to the birds and watching the wind rustle the trees. Gathering her courage to ask the question that’s been plaguing her mind since this conversation first started, Cait closes her eye and exhales before breaking the silence.
“Do you think I’m being unreasonable?” She asks apprehensively.
Tobias shakes his head, answering with a tone of gentle composure. “It is never unreasonable to fight for ones beliefs, my dear. You know that.” He reassures her before adding onto his words with a teasing tone. “Even if your strongheaded nature did exasperate your mother and I frequently.”
The smallest smile appears on Cait’s lips at his teasing words. The sight of which causes Tobias to smile even wider in response. He lets out a light sigh before speaking again. “You get it from her, you know.”
Cait sits upright again to look at him. “Mother?” She nods at the thought, remembering all the times the two of them had a disagreement. “I suppose we did always match each other’s stubbornness.”
Her father lets out a chuckle, amused by the truth in her words. “Yes, very much so. However, I was referring to your rebellious spirit.” He corrects her.
Now that makes Cait laugh. “Mother? My mother? Rebellious? Please forgive me, father, but I don’t believe that notion for a moment.” She responds, shaking her head at even the idea of Cassandra Kiramman ever doing anything not by the book.
“You’d be surprised, my dear. It is very true that your mother always valued tradition and propriety in a way that you never have, even in her youth. However, she was always determined to do everything her own way regardless.” He explains. “She had quite the fierce tendency to quarrel with your grandmother.”
Cait stays quiet, listening intently to her father’s words. This is the most that either of them have talked about her mother in years since her untimely passing, and perhaps the first time ever that either of her parents have talked about their life before she was born.
Tobias thinks for a moment, trying to come up with an example to back up his sentiment. After a bit of thought, he finally lands upon the perfect story to tell. One that happens to be especially fitting for the situation at hand. “When your mother was just a few years younger than you are now, she was betrothed to Torman Hoskel.”
Cait’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise at that, in complete disbelief at even the thought of her mother marrying such a man. She still remembers many times in her childhood when her mother would be busy inviting over her fellow council members for tea in hopes that she might be able to persuade them into siding with her on certain proposals, while Councilor Hoskel always seemed to vote the opposite. “Torman Hoskel? As in the late Councilor? I was always under the impression that they despised each other.”
“They did.” Tobias chuckles lightly. “It was your grandmother that arranged the engagement.” He explains.
That makes more sense, of course. Cassandra was always a proper woman of high society, but Grandmother Kiramman was definitely even more traditional.
“And mother refused?” Cait asks, assuming the argument that must have ensued in order to call off the arranged marriage and allow her mother to marry her father.
Tobias shakes his head. “She was vocally against the marriage, I can assure you. But no, not exactly. She knew her parents would never call off the arrangement through sheer will alone.”
Now Cait is just confused, her mind trying to decode the mystery of her fathers words. “So what happened, then?”
“Her and I eloped.” He states plainly, like it’s the most normal thing in the world—which it would be, if it weren’t for the fact that we’re talking about the late matriarch of House Kiramman.
“What?!” Cait exclaims in pure disbelief. “Mother had always spoken of your wedding. At the Piltover Grand Chapel. She always said that she wished for me to wed there one day as well, to follow in your footsteps. I—I’ve seen all of your wedding photos, father.”
“Yes, of course. We did have a proper wedding at a later date, your grandmother demanded it.” He clarifies.
That explains that, at least. But it does little to explain the motive behind her parents actions. Then, the pieces start to click in her mind. Before she can say anything, her father continues.
“Cassie always knew that your grandparents would never allow her to choose her own spouse. However-”
This time, Cait cuts him off. “There was nothing they could do to separate the two of you once your marriage was properly legalized.”
“Precisely.” He responds. He knew that his detective daughter would understand what he was implying sooner than later. “They much rather preferred to relinquish their demands, lest face the negative publicity of their sole heir getting a divorce from a secret elopement.”
“The papers would surely have had a field-day.” Caitlyn adds with an amused, yet thoughtful tone.
The moral of her father’s story takes root in her mind—actions speak louder than words. It was a sentiment that she knew Vi values deeply.
“Caitlyn.” Tobias says in a solemn tone, pulling Cait out of her thoughts. “I know you and your mother had your moments of contention, but she did deeply care about your happiness and well-being. If I might add, I do recognize that her and I both set up suitors for you, however we never would have forced you to accept any of their offers.”
“I know, father.” She replies, her mind drifting to all the times that some rich, pompous Piltovan girl would show up at their manor in hopes of courting the next Kiramman heir—before swiftly being let down with a polite ‘Thank you for the visit, have a wonderful rest of your evening.’ before heading up to her room the second they were introduced.
With a contented sigh, Cait leans into her father’s side. The action causes him to wrap his arm around her in response, hugging her close to him like she was just a young girl again.
“Thank you, father.” Cait says, her eyes closing as she takes in her father’s comforting embrace. She finally feels like she has a better idea of how to handle this dilemma of hers, and that thought finally brings her some peace.
“Anytime, my dear girl.”
The door to the Kiramman manor opened near five o’ clock. Caitlyn had been out all day, for various reasons, and had finally returned home right before dinner time. She was finally ready to face her partner again, and put this contention of theirs to rest—once and for all.
Cait made her way down the expansive hallway, and stopped directly in front of the door to Vi’s office. After a deep breath, she knocked upon the wooden barrier between her and her partner.
The office was a private space that Caitlyn had made for Vi within one of the spare rooms in the manor, a respite for her to go whenever she needed time to herself.
It was sparsely decorated, but it was completely and utterly Vi. A cluster of pictures of her family and friends adorn the walls. A heavily used sandbag hangs in the corner, with a spare leaning against the wall nearby. A workbench stands on the opposite wall, lined with an array tools and a stack of spare parts, fitted with anything she might need in order to mend or tweak her gauntlets as she sees fit. A desk is positioned adjacent from the door, more recently pushed up against the wall and out of the way—the surface being used more as a table for food and drinks than it ever was for doing any sort of paperwork. Lastly, off to the side, a saxophone that Cait had bought for her last year for her birthday currently sits in a chair out of the way.
After a moment of hesitation, Vi finally lets Cait inside her private sanctuary. Cait looks around, observing the state of the room that her lover has been holed up in all day. She notices an empty plate and a glass on the desk—evidence that Vi had at least eaten lunch today—which relieved Cait immensely. There was also a lack of any bottles of alcohol as well—a testament to the fact that Vi has been trying to get sober recently, or at the very least cut back; and that relieved her even more. She knew how her girlfriend could be when she’s upset, and she was soothed by the knowledge that Vi was at least taking care of herself, even if it was the bare minimum.
After a moment of silence, neither of them wanting to be the first one to talk—Vi finally speaks.
“Hey.” Is all that she manages to say once her eyes lands on Cait. She’s broken the silence, and now it’s Cait’s turn to begin the conversation.
Cait takes a cautious step forward, stepping right in front of Vi.
“Walk with me.” She says, extending a hand to grab Vi’s forearm. Vi doesn’t argue, letting her partner lead her out of the room and towards the door. They walk together down the hallway and towards the foyer.
In the grand entrance of the mansion (or exit, in this case), the two slip into their boots, and grab their jackets. Vi’s eyes widen when she glances up from finishing her laces, surprised to see Cait wearing that old, beaten, red jacket that Vi had… acquired… in Zaun the day they met. A smile tugs at Vi’s lips at the sight, and Cait smirks in return.
They step out of the manor side-by-side, Cait’s hand returns to Vi’s forearm, her fingers struggling to wrap all the way around the bulk of the muscle. She continues to tug her along by the arm as the duo walks through the street of Piltover in relative silence, save for the sound of the cars on the road, and other pedestrians’ shoes on the cobblestone sidewalks.
“Where are we headed?” Vi finally decides to speak up.
“To celebrate our anniversary. Well, one of them, that is.” Cait responds simply with a grin, almost like nothing had happened between them the past two days, and her arms move to wrap around Vi’s bicep. She clings to her as they make their way southbound.
The two arrive at the border of Zaun, standing near the ledge overlooking the city below. Since the deaths and arrests of the Chem Barons, and the new leadership within Piltover having a tad more empathy towards their sister city, the streets down below are more visible. The fog of chemicals and subtle remains of ‘The Gray’ have dissipated in more recent years. There’s still a lot of recovering left to go, of course; but the progress is still notable.
Vi gently bumps her side into Cait’s, breaking the silence once again. “Y’know… I actually got us some tickets for the bathysphere today.”
Cait freezes ever so slightly at the information in surprise, then her head turns quickly to meet Vi’s gaze. “You did? When?”
“Yeah, a few days ago.” Vi answers, her hand moving into one of the pockets in her jacket, and she manages to fish two tickets out. “They aren’t for another two hours though.”
Cait takes the tickets, observing them with a smile at Vi’s thoughtfulness. She proceeds to stuff both tickets into her jacket pocket before taking Vi’s hand, pulling her closer towards the edge of the platform. “We shall use them in two hours, then. For now, let’s have some fun.”
“What kinda fun are yo—” Before Vi can even finish her question, Cait hops her way down onto a rooftop down below. She lets out a scoff of amusement and shakes her head in astonishment. A surprised, and perhaps excited, grin appears on her face at Cait’s actions. She soon follows suit, jumping off the ledge too, meeting Cait on top of the building below.
It was at this point that Cait started to regret her decision. She’s gotten a lot better at close combat since she first met Vi, but she’s never quite mastered the whole parkour thing. However, once she looked over and saw a genuine smile plastered on Vi’s face—the nerves instantly disappeared.
With a flirtatious wink, Vi zoomed right past her, jumping from building to building with ease. Her freerunning was definitely impressive. In fact, it was damn hot. But the fact that it made Vi happy, now that… that was the best part of all.
Every so often, whenever they reached a wider jump or a longer fall, Cait would find herself hesitating or struggling. Each obstacle, Vi eagerly volunteered her assistance.
“Just run and jump with this one, Cupcake. You’ll make it. No matter what, I’ll catch you. I won’t let you fall.” Vi called out from the other side of the gap. Just the sound of Caitlyn’s most favorite pet name was all the encouragement she needed.
She attempted to keep up with Vi to the best of her ability, and she even managed to do even better this time than when she first attempted to parkour—even with only one good eye. She did, however, still have struggles with her depth perception, which caused her to crash straight into Vi more times than not. Although, neither of them minded one bit; and the closer they got to the ground, the more confident Cait became.
As soon as they reached the streets below, Cait was already dragging Vi along with her again—which earned her many playful eye rolls and giggles from her beloved.
It didn’t take them long to reach their destination—Jericho’s. This wasn’t the first time that they’ve gone to the food stall since they started dating, but it was still a rare occasion nonetheless. Usually it was a special treat for Vi’s birthday (which happened to take Cait searching through birth records via the Kiramman files to find out when it was since Vi wouldn’t tell her herself).
Ever since she was a baby, Cait has been a bit of a picky eater. Not particularly by taste, but by texture. So her options at Jericho’s, she found, were quite limited. But there was a specific bowl of steak and vegetables that she discovered she quite enjoyed—at least she thinks it’s steak.
Vi, however, was down to eat anything. So, every time they went to the food stall—before Cait found her favored dish—the trip usually consisted of Cait ordering something, and then would give it to Vi if she didn’t like it, before proceeding to order something else (which usually went to Vi too).
Luckily, Vi also enjoyed Ionian cuisine like Caitlyn did, so at least they had a reliable authentic Ionian restaurant in Piltover that they could frequent for dates, and they wouldn’t need to worry about Cait’s preferences or dislikes when they went.
Cait, unsurprisingly, ordered her usual. Vi decided on a fish stew she happens to enjoy immensely. The two ate in relative silence, enjoying each other’s company. There was hustle and bustle going on in The Lanes, as there usually is; but it was a sound that both of them have gotten used to over the years.
After dinner, Cait eagerly paid for the meal and started pulling on Vi’s arm again to drag her away to their next stop.
“I’m comin’, I’m comin’.” Vi sputtered out as she’s dragged along, though she didn’t actually care. In fact, she rather enjoyed having Cait’s hands on her again.
After walking through the streets of The Undercity for awhile, they made their way deeper into The Fissures before finally reaching the location that Cait wanted to go to.
The area—originally a place that once stood houses, and then a triage, then a commune, and finally a battlefield—now stands a new development of homes funded by the Kirammans. It was Vi’s idea initially, but one that Cait was eager to back. It’s still under construction, but progress is being made. As of right now, the workers are all at home with their families for the night, so the project is on pause for now, making the area peaceful and quiet.
In a spot where Vi’s childhood home once stood, a small garden patch grows. A little fountain sits at the center amongst the flowers, with a few benches circled around it. Currently, some firelights happen to be floating about the night sky around them. This part of the plan was Caitlyn’s idea. She fancied the thought of the new town having a spot of beauty and peace to enjoy, planted in the same spot that her beautiful sense of peace was born twenty-eight years prior.
“What’re we doing here, baby?” Vi asks while taking a seat, settling onto one of the stone benches next to her girlfriend. One of her hands comes to rest on the cold surface of the bench right behind Cait, which causes her to scoot closer into her side.
“This is the spot where I almost lost you for the first time. Do you remember?” Cait says with a somber tone. She hadn’t even know Vi for a full twenty-four hours yet, and she was already throwing herself into danger. That impulsive, lovable fool.
“Yeah.” Vi responds simply. She doesn’t know where this could be going, but she does remember that night vividly—as well as every other night she’s almost gotten herself killed before Cait inevitably rescued her.
There’s a small moment of silence, a moment for Cait to gather her courage to continue.
“It was also the spot that I fell in love with you, you know.” She says softly. She’s probably told Vi that she loves her a couple thousand times by now, but every time she still feels a small flutter of nervousness regardless.
“Baby—” Vi starts, though she’s not really sure what she’s going to say. Which is something not uncommon for her to do. She always did have a tendency to start speaking before thinking more times than not. Luckily, Caitlyn continues before she needs to say anything else.
“Not long after you managed to pull through, you pushed me away.” She says, her tone still solemn. “We were reunited soon afterwards, only to part once again. Found each other, only to nearly lose you once more. Reiteratively. Back and forth, again and again. Like a dark tide pulling us back into the crashing waves right before we’ve reached the shore.”
Vi’s hand moves up to rub Cait’s arm, brushing up and down her bicep in a soothing motion. She nods, and replies, “I know, babe.”
Cait takes comfort in Vi’s touch, the emotion starting to take a stronger hold of her, and it’s getting harder for her to fight it. After a shaky exhale, she continues.
“Yesterday, I felt like I lost you all over again.” She says before biting her bottom lip in a feeble attempt to prevent herself from tearing up.
Vi squeezes her beloved closer. “Hey, I’m here. I’m right here. You really think I could ever leave you by choice?”
Cait shakes her head, knowing with her heart and soul that Vi’s being honest. She’s in too deep now—they both are.
Vi wipes away a tear on Cait’s cheek, offering her a tender smile. Cait nuzzles her cheek into Vi’s palm for a moment before taking her hand, holding it tightly as she says the words she’s been wanting to say for hours.
“Ever since I was just a young girl, my parent would tell me that I would be the matriarch of House Kiramman someday.” She begins. “And a part of my duties as leader of our household, I was to one day marry some suitable person, and bear children with them.”
This wasn’t much of a surprise to Vi. The couple had never really talked about the topic much before, but she had made her assumptions. She gives Cait an encouraging nod to proceed, and she listens intently to her partner’s words.
“My parents—predominantly my mother—would take it upon themselves to arrange for suitors to call upon the house.” She continues, a sigh leaving her at the memory of her parents’ meddlesomeness. “They were all lovely women, but I had no interest in any of them—much to my parents’ annoyance. I despised the idea of conforming to their way of life, and rejected the notion of being the house matriarch. I swore to myself that I would never accommodate their principles—which included matrimony. In fact, I never actually expected to commit to anything serious until I met you, darling.”
She pauses for a moment to gauge Vi’s reactions, but she remains contently listening.
“When you raised the concept of our hypothetical marriage, Violet… All I could think about was my ideals. How you felt about the matter wasn’t a priority of mine in the moment, and for that, I’m sorry.”
Vi offers her hand a squeeze. She shakes her head, denying her—in Vi’s mind—needless apology.
“Cupcake, it’s really okay. You don’t need to—”
“I do!” Cait asserts in protest, not wanting Vi to let her off so easily like she’s known to do.
“Okay, okay. I hear you. And I forgive you, baby.”
Cait leans her head on Vi’s shoulder, letting out a little sigh. “When I offered to marry you, I did it because I believed it would make you happy, and that was wrong of me. I know you wouldn’t want me to sacrifice my ideals for you. It’s one of the many things I absolutely adore about you."
Vi moves to kiss her head, her lips lingering against her midnight blue hair for a moment. She’s already forgiven Cait for everything at this point, but she knows her girlfriend well enough by now to know that she still has more to say.
“I thought a lot about I want, Violet. Not what I believe is the right or wrong thing to do, but what I truly desire. And the truth is, I desire you.” She sits up and cups Vi’s face in her hands, her thumbs brushing soothingly against her cheekbones. “Being married to you isn’t about conforming to my parents’ expectations of me, it’s about making a vow to the love of my life. I apologize again for taking so long to realize that.”
Cait reluctantly releases her hold on Vi’s face to slip off of the bench. She moves to get down onto one knee in front of her devoted partner. Her knee feels a sharp chill from the cold ground, and the damp dirt is surely going to put a stain in her trousers, but none of that matters in the moment.
She reaches a hand into her pocket and pulls out a black velvet ring box. She opens the lid to reveal a simplistic, but gorgeous silver and gold laced ring. The base of the ring had been sawed off from the barrel of one of Cait’s old guns, the silver gunmetal interwoven with some gold detailing sourced from a few scrapped pieces from Vi’s gauntlets. As impressive as the design itself was, it is even more impressive considering that Cait went and had this ring commissioned and finished all within a single afternoon.
“Violet, my darling. Will you do me the absolute honor of giving me the most precious thing in the world—your forgiveness—and your big, beautiful, scuffed up, calloused hand in marriage?” She asks, her eyes lined with a thin sheen of tears from anticipation, and trepidation.
“It’s about fucking time.” Is all Vi says in response before capturing Cait’s lips in a kiss, pouring all of her love and adoration into it.
After an amount of time neither of them are quite sure of, they pull apart. Vi extends her hand, letting Cait slip the ring onto her finger. The metal feels a little bit colder than Vi had initially expected, heavier too, but it feels like the best feeling in the whole world regardless.
Vi helps Cait off of the ground, and pulls her back onto the bench next to her. “Hold on.” She says before standing up. She fishes her fingers into her pocket, searching for the loose ring that she still keeps on her person at all times.
Vi pulls out the engagement ring she’s been dying to give to Cait for the past few weeks, presenting it to her now fiancée. She gets down on her own knee, taking a hold of one of Cait’s hands.
“I didn’t actually prepare a speech.” She says, followed by a laugh. She thought of the ring, the location, and the day; but had forgotten to actually prepare a speech.
“And I guess we’re already engaged now, huh?” She continues, still giggling a bit, though she’s unsure if the giggling is from something funny, from the joy she’s feeling, or from nervousness. Presumably all three. Cait giggles along too, which gives Vi some confidence, her smile widening on her face.
“So… Uh—Cupcake. I love you, more than I ever thought was possible. You’ve really made me the happiest woman in Runeterra.” Vi slips the ring on Cait’s finger, her thumb lingering to brush over the smooth metal.
“Oh, darling. It’s beautiful.” Cait replies, admiring the ring that now adorns her finger.
After enjoying the sight of Cait admiring her new engagement ring, Vi returns to her seat upon the bench. “It was my mom’s.”
The news of the ring belonging to Vi’s mother makes Caitlyn’s eyes brighten, feeling absolutely honored that Vi loves her enough to entrust her with a possession from her late family.
“I love it.” Cait declares. She grabs Vi by her squishy, freckled cheeks, and pulls her into yet another kiss. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” Vi responds almost instantly. “Thanks for changing your mind, Cupcake. I know it must not’ve been easy.” She says with a soft, tender tone. However, a small bit of guilt begins to creep through her, starting to regret the way she acted, and feeling remorseful that Cait even had to change her mind on the matter.
Cait shakes her head. She’s gotten very good at telling when Vi’s starting to feel needlessly guilty over something, and is equally good at getting her out of her head when she does. “You underestimate how easy it is to love you, my darling Violet.”
And, as expected, just as simple as those words are, Vi does start to feel better. Cait wraps her arms around Vi, pulling her closer before they start to kiss again.
After a good, long moment of enjoying each other’s company (and the taste of each other’s mouths), Caitlyn finally stands up, offering a hand to help her fiancée to her feet. “Come along, dear heart. It’s near seven o’ clock, and we do have tickets for the bathysphere after all. We mustn’t be late.”
Vi grins, eagerly taking Cait’s hand. Once she’s on her feet, Cait wraps her arms around her.
After a moment or two of walking, Vi crouches down so that Cait can hop on her back. Cait happily accepts the offer, climbing onto Vi’s back and wrapping her arms and legs around her. Vi takes a firm hold of Cait’s legs, making sure she’s secure before they start walking towards the surface.
As they make their way through the streets of Zaun in the direction of the lift, Cait clings tightly to her true love, making sure to plant kisses anywhere she can reach while she’s being carried. While being absolutely showered with little pecks and kisses, a thought pops into Vi’s head.
“Hey, Cupcake. So… About the whole kids thing…?”
“How about one thing at a time, Violet?”
Vi chuckles, knowing she needs to calm down and focus on the moment—however excited she may be about the prospect of having a few little ones with her soulmate.
“Alright. You’re right, baby. I won’t get too ahead of myself. Let’s just focus on us for awhile, huh? My soon-to-be wife…”
Cait giggles in return. ‘Wife’. Oh how she loved the sound of that term already. She found herself already imaging how lovely it will be to introduce Violet to everyone with such a fitting title.
“Agreed. The future Mrs Kiramman…”