Chapter Text
It was two in the morning, and Qiyana was still wide awake. Lying amongst silk sheets, feather pillows, and a lavish foam mattress, she was wrapped in warmth and comfort most could only dream of, but she still couldn’t fall asleep. The reason was simple, if not utterly absurd. She’d been scrolling Instagram for the better part of three hours, practically cyber-stalking her new bodyguard. Her name was Vi, and though Qiyana was loath to admit it, she’s been obsessed since the moment she laid eyes on her. Side-swept reddish-pink hair, a wide, toothy grin, and glimmering eyes like sapphires all came together to leave the diva utterly breathless.
It was beyond pathetic.
Qiyana Yunalai did not swoon, and she certainly didn’t covet. She was the one meant to be coveted. Her whole life, men and women alike had fought for her attention, even if for just a brief euphoric moment. She’d gotten used to that arrangement and rather enjoyed it.
So then why were her eyes still glued to her screen?
Vi was certainly attractive, not quite traditionally beautiful, but rugged in a charming sort of way. Her face was sharp, with high cheekbones and a firm jawline, giving her a handsome look. But admittedly, tonight it was her body that had taken up most of Qiyana’s attention.
Her physique looked carved from stone, with all its hard lines and dense muscles, as the last six months of gym posts showed so clearly. She’d analyzed every one, scanning the photos with an intensity that was beyond shameful. She could recall the tiniest details from memory, like the tattoo on the back of Vi’s shoulder she’d only barely made out beneath her sports bra, or the scar running down the side of her navel.
As she recalled those particular images, Qiyana’s heart began to race, her mind imagining, not for the first time that night, what it might feel like to touch-
“What the fuck am I doing?” She shouted suddenly, rolling around until she could bury her face in one of her pillows and scream into it.
Qiyana was in completely unknown territory and struggling to come to terms with it. She’d made fun of people who pined too many times to be acting the same way. She was a pop star, and more than that, she was the Qiyana Yunalai. A woman like her was so far out of this muscle-head’s league it wasn’t even funny… and yet here she was losing sleep over her.
Propping herself against her arms, Qiyana grumbled soundlessly as she turned back around to stare up at the ceiling. Moonlight was streaming in from the skylight, illuminating ornate moldings and a flush-mount crystal chandelier. The room she was staying in tonight, and the hotel overall, was as luxurious as a woman like her deserved. True Damage was on tour, and with how well their latest album was trending, they could afford to meet her, supposedly, high standards. But all this extravagance still wasn’t enough to keep her mind from Vi.
With a grumble, Qiyana came to a frustrating realization. She needed something to get her mind off of this, and this late at night, she didn’t have many options available to her. She decided she needed a change of scenery and a drink while she was at it, so she tossed aside her plush blankets and covers as she slid out of bed.
Her negligee was white and sheer, flowing down over the curve of her hips before cutting off halfway down her thigh. Reaching out for her robe, which was hung up by the bed, she slipped into the fuzzy, pink cotton and wrapped it around herself. As with everything Qiyana wore, it was tailor-made, perfectly cut to fit over her svelte build. To complete the look, she found her faux marabou heels beside the bed and slipped her feet into them.
Before leaving, Qiyana took a seat at her vanity desk, using the mirror to fix her hair and reapply her makeup. Even if it was two in the morning, she couldn’t be caught dead looking less than the idol she was. She made sure to keep it subtle, however, a dab of highlighter at her inner corners, concealer to hide the effects of this sleepless night, and the lightest touch of mascara to make her eyes radiant. Her skin — already flawless — she embellished only with a light skin tint and a smattering of blush, the perfect finishing touch to maintain her effortlessly beautiful image. Once she was finished, she stood up, made her way out of the bedroom, and then the hotel room altogether.
***
As Qiyana exited the elevator and entered the main lobby, she was once again struck by the opulence of the hotel where True Damage was staying. La Vista was marvelously designed; marble, gold, and crystal were the foundations on which its glamor was constructed. The marble walls and pillars were etched in golden moldings, set in an intricate pattern that seemed to shine in the golden light of the chandeliers. The main lobby, just in front of the receptionist desk, held a particularly large and impressive crystal chandelier, hanging high above with a lacquered gold base and decorated in sparkling crystal flutes.
All of it was truly spectacular.
Confidence had always been Qiyana’s strong suit; some had even called her arrogant of all things, but even she had had her doubts following the mediocre response to True Damage’s first single. Giants was by no means a failure, but compared to the likes of Popstar, it was practically night and day. So for the full album to be trending as marvelously as it currently was left all of True Damage, but especially Qiyana, feeling as if a massive weight had been lifted from their shoulders.
So, as Qiyana walked into the hotel bar, itself as beautifully decorated as the rest of the hotel, she took each step with the poise of a woman meant to be here. Because she was. This was the life she was always meant to live, and she had no intention of accepting anything less.
Qiyana took a seat at the mostly empty bar top, save for a mysteriously abandoned drink two spaces down. She slipped onto a white velvet stool as the bartender approached her with a charming smile. He offered her a menu, an array of colorful and flavorful drinks listed upon the laminated page, as he spoke to her in a high, cheerful voice.
“Having a late evening, ma’am?” He said with an intentional lack of judgment. “The kitchens are closed for the night, but I can offer anything from our drink menu.”
“A vodka martini to start. Straight up, extra dry, and extra olives.” Qiyana answered, turning in her seat to lean her side against the bar. The shift in position tugged at her robe, offering hints of leg and a peek of chest. She caught her bartender’s glance, even if he tried to make it quick and subtle, before he turned to make her drink, and it brought a smirk to her lips.
After the last several hours of humiliating pining, Qiyana rather enjoyed the prospect of returning to being the desired one. The bartender, whom she had no intention of even learning the name of, was cute enough, she supposed, but really not her type. He wasn’t tall enough, a little too boyish in the face, and definitely too lean for her taste. She liked her partners with a bit more edge and a lot more muscle, for that matter. But none of that really mattered when all she was looking for right now was to feel in control again.
As her bartender turned back around with her martini, Qiyana brought one of her feet up onto her stool. She wrapped an arm around her leg, tugging it against her body as she rested her head on her knee. Naturally, her robe split open at her waist, leaving tantalizing amounts of her thigh bare just in time for him to see, and his reaction left her inwardly snickering.
“H-here you are, ma’am.” He stammered, setting the chilled glass down before her as he fought arduously not to stare.
“Thank you,” Qiyana said, taking the stem of her glass in hand and bringing the rim to her lips. She kissed the glass more than drank from it, ensuring she left a glossy pink stain against the edge as she finished her first sip. As she set her glass back down, her bartender seemed mystified by the kiss mark she’d left, as if he was imagining all the other places her lips might leave marks.
It was genuinely priceless, and Qiyana couldn’t help but preen at the power trip she felt.
“Oh, I just can’t seem to get any sleep tonight.” Qiyana drawled, her every word honeyed. She plucked the pick holding her olives from her martini and brought those up for herself next. “I’ve been tossing and turning all night, just stressing over my first big tour.”
Dangling her pick in front of herself, Qiyana had every intention of catching one between her lips, to tug it into her mouth with a seductive roll of her tongue. She didn’t get the chance, however, as a familiar voice spoke up from behind her, making her jump in her seat and nearly drop her olives.
“What’re you doing outta bed, princess?” Vi spoke, and Qiyana bristled, turning abruptly in her seat to find her bodyguard leaning against the bartop with the same lazy grin on her lips she always seemed to wear. She was out of the suit and tie she wore while on duty, dressed down in something altogether more casual. High-waisted, dark-wash jeans, a grey button-up, tucked loosely in, with the top two buttons popped open, and a pair of combat boots. None of it was anything special, off the rack most likely, yet she somehow wore all of it so well that she looked striking regardless.
Qiyana could see the results of Vi’s workout routine much more clearly, her rolled-up sleeves and open shirt leaving dangerously little to the imagination. Her phone screen had not done her bodyguard justice; she looked even stronger and more sculpted as well.
“I’ve already told you to stop calling me that,” Qiyana growled with a bit more bite than she’d intended. But in her defense, her frustration was immeasurable. Vi had already invaded her thoughts for the last several hours; couldn’t she have at least let her have this?
She was also very much sick of Vi’s little nickname for her. It was a reference to her family; the Yunalais were practically royalty in the Latin music industry, and though Qiyana was the youngest in a line of musical talent, she was by far the most renowned. So much so that her fans had begun to refer to her as the industry's up-and-coming Empress, but of course, Vi couldn’t have called her that; instead, she chose something far more embarrassing.
“And really, I could ask you the same thing. You have important cargo to protect, in case you weren’t aware, and I will not accept you sleeping on the job.”
Vi did not shrink back like she was supposed to, nor did her stupid smirk leave her lips. Instead, she was laughing under her breath as she responded. “But I like calling you princess, princess.”
Qiyana had never been more thankful for her dark complexion than in that moment, as all the blood in her body rushed to her face. Vi was leaning into her ever so slightly, and she was reminded all of a sudden that her robe was still parting around her legs, leaving her thighs bare for anyone, but especially Vi, to see. She quickly took hold of her robe flaps and tugged them around herself to cover up, casting her with a sharp glare.
That seemed not to affect her either, as she reached for the drink Qiyana had noticed earlier and continued with her response. “Besides, I don’t sleep much, too used to working nights for my old job.”
Were it anyone else who’d said it, Qiyana would have called bullshit. It sounded too much like something Yasuo would say when he wanted to sound cool and edgy. But Vi spoke so nonchalantly, as if she simply didn’t care if she believed her or not, that it made it difficult not to.
Which, obviously, only made her want to believe her less.
“Oh, please, I’m sure you say that to all the pretty girls you run into at the bar,” Qiyana said with a roll of her eyes. “I bet you think it makes you sound so mysterious, but I can promise you it doesn’t.”
“Oh? Are you implying I’m trying to pick you up, princess?” Vi asked, grinning flirtatiously, and Qiyana’s face was once again flooded with heat.
“Th-that’s not what I meant! I would never even… not with you… That’s ridiculous to even imply!” Qiyana sputtered, any semblance of control she’d felt before having completely left her as she struggled with the invasive thought of what Vi was implying.
“I know what you meant. You’re just too fun to rile up.” Vi said with a laugh, claiming the stool beside Qiyana’s as she took a swig of her drink. Her free hand was raised, calling over the bartender Qiyana had all but forgotten existed.
“Elias! Hope you kept my tab open, cause I’m not even close to done here yet.”
The bartender, or Elias, was back to his put-upon charm, smiling brightly at Vi and without a hint of disappointment for Qiyana’s attention having shifted. She supposed that was for the best, even if it felt insulting how quickly he’d recovered; putting on another seductive performance just felt different with Vi around. There was a tinge of embarrassment at the thought of her seeing her body in particular, as well as a frustrating rush of excitement. She didn’t understand how she could be feeling both, but she did.
“Of course, Ms. Vi. Would you like another whiskey?”
“Sounds great, and another of whatever she’s having, while you’re at it,” Vi said after finishing off her current drink. Elias took her empty glass and nodded wordlessly, turning away from them to prepare the drinks.
Qiyana’s brow furrowed as she watched Vi, her lips tugging down into a scowl at her presumptuousness. “I do not need you to pay for my drink.”
“Don’t mean to imply that you do, princess. I just want a chance to chat, that’s all.” Vi said, smiling. It wasn’t a salacious one, nor a teasing grin like Qiyana was used to, but something surprisingly genuine. “We’re gonna be spending your whole tour together, we might as well get to know each other a bit.”
Qiyana stiffened, caught off guard by the statement. Her first impulse was mockery; she had no interest in getting to know the help, and certainly not one with so little respect for her position. But she fought back her initial disinterest because the longer she sat with it, the more she began to realize she did want to get to know Vi. She could admit, in her own head at least, that she was attracted to her. Something about this tall, gym-nut of a woman was simply pulling her out of her comfort zone and into a realm she was entirely unused to.
And what better way was there to pull herself out of it than to find something to hate about her?
“Well… if you want to get to know me, then you’ll have to put in the work yourself first,” Qiyana answered after a long pause, taking the martini the bartender brought her in hand and tipping it against her lips.
Vi’s smile curled into a smirk, but not an unfriendly one. “Well, that’s easy enough. I’m 23, grew up pretty poor in the slums of Zaun, and I used to be a cop, before Ekko landed me this job.”
Qiyana rolled her eyes at the mention of her bandmate; she should have known Ekko had something to do with her current predicament. If she was ever annoyed, nine times out of ten, she could count on him to be the reason. He had a knack for being a colossal thorn in her side.
“I can’t quite picture you as a cop; you don’t seem like the authority type.” Qiyana mused. She didn’t quite know what to make of that knowledge, having never had a reason to engage with law enforcement. She knew Ekko didn’t have much love for them, though that came from an experience she didn’t share. She imagined they must have had no shortage of conflict over it, but that wasn’t her torch to carry, so to speak.
“Yeah, well, depends on whose authority we’re talking about,” Vi responded, wistfully, as if she was recalling some sweet memory. Qiyana, for a reason she couldn’t quite place, didn’t like it. “Had plenty of bad run-ins with cops growing up, used to hate them with a fiery passion, too. But the people I worked with were good, they cared, and I helped them put away plenty of bad people, and a few bad apples while I was at it.”
“Then why did you stop?” Qiyana pried, nursing her third martini of the evening. She was surprised to see a flicker of frustration in Vi’s face, having not seen her get angry once since they’d met, and thought she might have found her golden ticket. That is, until that anger turned to hurt in her eyes, fading away as quickly as it appeared.
“I don’t stay in one place for very long… never have really. But that’s enough about me, princess. I wanna hear about you.” Vi changed the subject smoothly enough that if Qiyana hadn’t noticed her expression changing, she might not have realized how non-committal her answer was. She considered fishing for more, if for no other reason than to rile her up, but decided against it. Not even she was that cruel.
“What is there to say that you don’t already know? I’m practically music royalty, have an incredible voice and stage presence that no one can even hope to match, and I’m also an on-call model for some of the biggest fashion designers in the world.” Qiyana’s lips were curling as she listed out some of her many accomplishments, her smirk full of self-satisfaction. There was a certain pleasure she took in congratulating herself, but especially to Vi for some reason. She felt proud of who she was and where she came from, even if the latter came with a whole host of baggage she rarely talked about.
“A model, huh? That one I didn’t know, but I can’t say I’m surprised. A woman like you was bound to get the offer.” Vi spoke rather matter-of-factly, without a hint of sarcasm that Qiyana could hear, and it brought a flush to her cheeks.
“A woman like me?” Qiyana asked, kicking herself mentally for the fish.
“Confident, striking, sexy. Basically, everything a model needs to be.” Vi answered, once again in a neutral tone. She said it not as a compliment or with any flirtation, but as if she was telling her a simple truth. And that somehow made Qiyana even more flustered.
On impulse, she looked away, biting off one of her olives and chewing slowly at the buttery fruit as she composed herself. Qiyana was not one to fall prey to sweet words and simple flattery; she expected more from anyone trying to court her — a lot more, if she was being honest. But Vi didn’t seem to be trying to court her; she was flirtatious, yes, but she’d seen her act that way towards her bandmates as well. And even these compliments, which were somehow making her heart rate pick up, were given without any charm or heat.
What the hell was happening to her?
“You’ve told me what everyone knows, but what about the other stuff? Things I won’t find in the tabloids, for instance.”
Qiyana’s gaze returned to Vi and found her leaning against the bar top with the side of her body, one arm on the table to hold her head up. Her smile was charming, the kind that started at the lips and ended at the eyes, full of genuine intrigue. She was speaking before she even knew how she wanted to respond, as if her tongue had a mind of its own.
“I don’t like watching much television unless it’s with my bandmates. I mostly watch old movies.”
“Oh? How old we talkin’? 90’s, 80’s, 70’s?” Vi asked, and despite herself, Qiyana took another sip from her martini glass and answered.
“Older. Like, Monochrome era.”
Vi’s eyes lit up with intrigue, watching Qiyana closely as if with newfound interest. Her reaction brought a flutter to her chest and a smile to her lips, finding enjoyment in surprising her.
“That I hadn’t expected. Kinda figured you’d be one of those girls who’re into reality TV shows, like that one where all the contestants want to bang each other on an island.” Vi said, and Qiyana snickered.
“No, that’s Senna. She’s always having us watch that dribble.”
“Senna does? Really?”
“Mhm, she knows all their names too, going on and on and on about how Jarvin and Shyvana are soulmates!” Qiyana said loudly, with a laugh on her tongue that simply spilled forth from her lips, and Vi was quick to join her. She wasn’t sure how long they spent like that, sharing a deep, full-body laugh, but before they’d even fully caught their breaths, Vi spoke again.
“So what makes you enjoy those oldies so much?”
“I used to watch them with my mom. They were her favorites.” Qiyana answered without thought, but once her mind caught up with her tongue, she froze, shocked that she would have let that out. It made her realize just how open she’d been, letting words slip without her usual careful consideration. She was always so mindful of how she presented herself, of what she said, and how she said it. It rattled her how easy it felt not to be that way with Vi.
She must have been drunk; it was the only explanation.
What she’d told Vi was true, but not nearly as sweet a memory as it sounded. Her mother and her whole damn family, for that matter, were distant and cold. Qiyana had never mattered to them, and most of her sisters even chose not to acknowledge her existence at all. She held onto those fleeting, nostalgic moments, with all of them seated around the television watching classic tales of love and daring her mother enjoyed so much, because they were so far and few between.
“That’s sweet,” Vi said warmly, yet Qiyana didn’t return it, feeling nothing but a pit of cold in her chest. She offered Vi a shrug instead, as she buried the feeling beneath vodka. With a flick of her wrist, she downed her freshly served martini.
“I’ve got a few memories like that, my mom used to love Long Island iced tea, for instance. I drink one every once in a while when I’m feeling especially nostalgic.” Vi spoke in a tone that was both sentimental and longing, and if her saying “used to” was any indication, Qiyana could imagine why.
An awkward silence fell upon them as Vi stared into an empty glass and Qiyana watched her curiously. She wanted to ask about her mother, feeling a tug in her chest pulling her to know more about her bodyguard, but had no interest in sharing the same. So she kept quiet.
Suddenly, however, Vi's lips were turned up in that easy smile of hers again, her gaze returning to Qiyana with an emotion she couldn’t quite place. “How about we switch these out for something a bit more fun, huh?”
“Oh? And what could be more fun than a martini?”
“You tell me, what’s your favorite fruity cocktail?”
Qiyana didn’t drink fruity cocktails; she couldn’t risk tainting the image of herself she’d spent so long meticulously crafting. A martini was classy, elegant, and perfect for a woman of her refinement. But whether it was the vodka finally getting to her, or the fact that Vi was watching with such earnest curiosity, she answered her genuinely.
“I’ve never had one before but… I’ve always wanted to try a Sex on the Beach.” Qiyana said, and felt instant regret as a wide grin fell upon Vi’s lips. She knew what was coming even before it left her tongue.
“Sex on the beach? That’s pretty forward, princess. At least buy me dinner first.”
Qiyana scoffed, rolling her eyes. Yet, despite it, she felt a tug at her lips as the tiniest of smiles came to her. “Your flirting needs lots of work, Vi. I can’t imagine any girl being charmed by puns of all things.”
“There you go again, saying I’m flirting with you. Keep it up, and I might start to think you’re sending hints.” Vi shot back with a wink, and though Qiyana felt a familiar tightness in her chest from the insinuation, she didn’t allow herself to react. All the liquor in her system was either filling her with liquid courage or clouding her better judgment, but it spurred her to simply shrug, offering her own cheeky wink to her bodyguard. And for the first time all night, she witnessed Vi’s effortless confidence slipping, her eyes popping out as a tinge of pink flooded her cheeks.
“Ah… well… E-Elias! We’ll have a couple of Sex on the Beach.” Vi said, her first few words coming out in stammers, before she caught herself. Qiyana relished the moment, however fleeting, enjoying the role reversal immensely. She hadn’t really considered the thought that, beneath all that gruffness and muscle, Vi could be cute as well.
But she was considering it now, thoroughly in fact.
Qiyana said nothing as the bartender prepared their drinks, but she kept her eyes squarely on Vi. She’d collected herself somewhat, her face no longer pink, but she wasn’t as suave as she’d been. Her smile was less casual, her posture stiffer, and as she looked at her, Qiyana noticed her eyes lingering over certain parts of her body, before suddenly glancing away.
“Here you are, Miss Vi, hope you both enjoy it! And just so you know, I will be closing your tab now. The bar is closed in ten minutes.” Elias set down two tall glasses of the sweetest-looking drink Qiyana had ever seen, before slipping Vi a card reader. As her bodyguard handled the bill, she took a moment to analyze her drink. She knew all the ingredients – vodka, peach schnapps, orange juice, and cranberry juice – and yet still felt giddy seeing how they all came together. The bottom of her glass was a bright red, which she supposed was the cranberry juice, while the rest was a bright orange. Maraschino cherries were skewered on a tiny umbrella pick, bringing the whole drink together.
Qiyana took her cup in hand at the same time Vi did, and as she turned to face her bodyguard, she found her lips were turned up in that same stupid grin she’d had before.
“To your first time having sex on the beach.”
It was such a stupid joke, but Qiyana grinned all the same as she brought her glass up to meet Vi’s own, somehow enjoying the stupidity.
“And to you, Vi, as the lucky girl who gets to take this popstar’s cherry.”
There was no room for embarrassment as Vi and Qiyana lost themselves in laughter all over again. How much longer they stayed, she honestly couldn’t say. She was too lost in the moment to care.
***
“Easy, easy… we gotta make sure we don’t… trip!”
Vi’s voice was close to Qiyana’s ear, but her body was even closer, as she held her at her side and carefully guided her towards her hotel room. The trek back to the elevator had not been an easy one, filled with plenty of stumbling before they’d made it. Vi was a bit more sure-footed than she was, more used to her liquor or just a higher tolerance, Qiyana couldn’t say, but what she did know was that her cologne was rich with pinewood, and she really liked it.
“Your key, princess, we need your key.”
Qiyana grumbled, wishing she could simply ask her to kick the door down instead of making her reach into her pocket. But her better judgment won out, even while drowning in all the liquor she’d drunk, and she reached down for the card to her room. Swiping, thankfully, was quick and easy, and Vi pulled her door open once it was unlocked to help her inside.
“Bed…” Qiyana grumbled once the door shut behind them, clinging tighter to Vi’s side. She wasn’t sure where the impulse had come from; it wasn’t as if she expected her bodyguard to leave her on the couch, but she’d felt the need to voice it regardless.
“Sure thing… we’re almost there.” Vi’s voice sounded firmer, less wavering to Qiyana’s ear. She wondered, briefly, if her tolerance was simply that high, but the thought slipped away as quickly as it had come once her bed was in sight.
Qiyana pushed off of Vi’s body to reach it, only stumbling slightly as she lay herself back against a familiar softness. Her skylight was still bathing the room in a faint glow, and from her spot on the bed, she could only just make out Vi, illuminated in moonlight and looking all the more tempting for it.
“Alright, I’ll see you tomorrow. Get some sleep, princess.”
But before Vi could turn to leave, Qiyana caught her hand. She held her for a moment, completely silent as she found the words she wanted to say. It felt surreal to be back here, after the night she’d had. All of the furious scrolling, the drinking, the laughing, and teasing, leading to this single moment.
If she’d found Vi attractive before, it felt much worse now. She wasn’t simply a woman with impressively sculpted abs; she was also someone who had made her laugh, a feat only a select few could boast. She was someone she wanted to spend even more time with, a similarly rare feeling for her. Qiyana was hesitant, nervous even, as she steeled herself for the words formulating in her mind. She wanted this, she knew, more than she had before and perhaps even more than she ever had in 26 years of life.
So with resolution, Qiyana tugged at the flaps of her robe and shrugged it off her shoulders, leaving only her negligee to cover her as she spoke in a low, throaty voice: “Stay with me…”
The light from the moon and stars offered her little in figuring out what Vi was thinking. She was quiet, with no immediate response, and her face was masked in shadow. Qiyana was squinting intensely, but could only just make out her curling lips, that same easy-going smile coming to her.
“Ask me again when you're sober, and I promise I won’t disappoint you.” Vi’s voice was thick and husky, sending shivers through Qiyana’s body even as her disappointment was mounting.
“I’ll make you see stars, Qiyana.”
Vi left without another word, and Qiyana felt frustration flooding her whole chest and gripping her heart like a vice. She wanted to scream, to curse Vi out while she was still in earshot, but more than any of that… she found herself suddenly very interested in astronomy.