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The woman had been an enigma. Ever since she first laid eyes on her across those metal prison bars. Going on and on about everything and nothing of use at all. She’d given little to no information about Silco and his operation and nearly had cost Caitlyn her life countless times but there was something about her.
Something that the Piltovian elite couldn’t shake. Maybe it had been the way she looked at her with a passion bold enough to challenge the sun. Or how she spoke with such conviction, Caitlyn couldn’t help but preen under the words.
Maybe it was even the way she would talk to her alone . No shame, no hidden secrets, and always a massive flirt. The first time it had caught her off guard. Being shoved against a wall, those eyes boring into her soul. Caitlyn had sworn she was going to explode under the brawler’s attention.
But just as the moment had begun, it had ended. Leaving Caitlyn utterly breathless and under the new gaze of- what had he said his name was again? Pym.
Therein lied the problem. Him . Caitlyn didn’t want him, she was starting to think she wanted the brawler.
Or perhaps it was the way she said her name. Not her given one, of course, Christ forbid Vi would use her given name.
She had chosen a name- that at the time had been utterly vexing- but now she longed for it. Needed to hear such a common word directed at her on VI’s tongue like she needed air to breathe.
Cupcake.
She wondered how she had gone her entire life hearing only those seven letters, and two vowels. How Caitlyn Kiramman could’ve been what everyone called her, yet Vi had utterly abstained from referring to her with it.
As their trust and overall intimacy for one another festered and few into something more than friends, more than two people who needed to stay close to each other in order to survive, the names multiplied. Evolved into far more loving ones.
Cait. Baby. Sweetheart, and Caitlyn’s all-time favorite, my love.
She knows it’s what everyone calls their partners, what everyone calls their lovers. But hearing it on Vi’s tongue is something she desired to prolonge.
The very first time she had heard a whispered I love you had nearly made her heart stop.
It was in their shared bedroom apartment in a lower-class area of Piltover. After they had spoiled themselves to a nice hot bubble bath and cheap dollar store wine- Vi’s idea naturally- and were cuddled up under a rather expensive and warm duvet.
They’d been forced by the howling wind and cold weather that winter in Piltover bought forth to wear pajamas to bed. Despite Vi’s very strong argument about warming each other with body heat. Though it had just been an excuse to see the other naked yet again.
With arms wrapped around each other and heads buried into shoulders, she hears it. A soft mumble, which is almost mistaken as a goodnight. It could’ve been passed off as it but the quickening rate it Vis heartbeat gives it away.
She wonders selfishly, if this were the first time she had said it to anyone outside of her adopted family. She knows she was the first real person Vi had been intimate with- a fact admitted after three beers and Caitlyn whispering a slew of drunken naughty praise into her ears.
Hearing the admission, Caitlyn had lifted a hand to rest against the shaved portion of her hair, bringing her gaze up slowly. At first, those eyes were tightly shut, her nose scrunched together and a pristine blush spread across her cheeks and ears.
“Violet” Cait whispers her full name, brushing her palms down the woman’s cheeks as she had done so many months before. The moment which had brought the two into such a deeper understanding of each other and brought their safe space into the bed.
And like she had those many months ago, Vi opens her eyes. Looking back into those crystal blues she’d slotted so deep into her memory. Her expression is soft yet guarded. Looking at her with such uncertainty, it always made Caitlyn’s own stomach twist.
She hadn’t known why Vi still wore this expression so deep into their romantic relationship. When the two of them had held each other in their embraces dozens of times. Promising to never let go, Caitlyn swore one day there would come a time when that expression would sit on a shelf and need to be dusted off from disuse.
It’s as if Vi couldn't understand with actions, so Cait would have to tell her. Over and over and over. Until the octave of her tone was memorized, the other should’ve been able to tell what she was going to say just by the way her mouth parted slightly.
“I love you” she coos finally, grazing her fingertips over the bottom lip that was being chewed to smithereens with her growing anxiety.
The blush grew darker, her own mouth parting and the familiar crinkle growing between her brows whenever she were about to verbally dismiss Caitlyn.
“I love you, Violet” she repeats being sure to pronounce every syllable, it was rare when she’d use her birth name. Even rarer when she’d pull Vi to look so deeply into her eyes since the other already naturally does so.
Yet it happened. If only for a second. Vi looks back and forth at her with those big grey eyes. Ones that would challenge the moon herself, and she smiles.
“You love me?” A bated breath of a question. Without missing a beat, Caitlyn nods her head again.
“I love you so much it drives me mad. They’re going to have to lock me away because I would scream from the rooftops how much I love you, Vi” she sits up a little bit in their embrace letting her back lean against the wall, this caused Vi to shift onto her knees to look at her.
“I love you, Violet!” She said again, a lot louder than the first time. A look of utter terror spread across her face, she quickly moves both hands to cover the one across her over the mouth.
“Shut up, you ass! You’re going to wake the neighbors!” She hisses in a whisper. Caitlyn only grins again. Humming the same phrase from under her palms until Vi removes her hands and presses their lips together firmly.
This was a much more effective way to get her to quiet down. Cait let her arms rest on the other’s waist, bringing her back into her chest and resting their foreheads together.
One thing she had learned since being friends and then dating Vi is that the other craved nothing more than physical intimacy. Whether it be holding hands while walking, a random hug on a lazy day around the house, or even leaning against each other when they went out for brunch together Vi just needed to be against her somewhere. Somehow.
Caitlyn didn’t mind one bit.
Vi opens her eyes after a moment, looking into the cyan gaze that had threatened to rip her heart from her chest before they closed again to muster up enough courage for her confession.
“I love you” Vi whispers again. This time it is much more intelligible.
Caitlyn felt herself smile, brushing her hand over the length of Vi’s side and bringing them into another embrace.
She’d never forgotten that moment. Never forgotten the way Vi had looked at her after. Or the way she always makes sure to say those three words before either of them leaves the house. Even if it’s just to go and grab groceries.
Their weeks shared turned into months, and the months turned into so many years spent together. Christmas’ at the Kirammans mansion, ugly sweater contest parties. Vi hanging off of Caitlyn’s arm with a glass of wine and her hair mostly tamed into a slicked-back style.
Chatting up one of the council members about their children or pets- she couldn’t keep the names from getting mixed up since they named their animals people names as of late.
Spending their summers together as well, Caitlyn teaching Vi to swim in the massive pool at her parents house. Her father showing her how to grill the most perfect steak she's ever had in her life and reclining on chairs next to the pool.
Somewhere along the lines of one of their summers, Vi had ended up telling Caitlyn she needed to apply more sunscreen just so the other would roll over on the outdoor recliners they’d set themselves up in.
“Damn cupcake, looking fine as ever” Caitlyn had shot a glare over her shoulder at the other making such comments with her parents so close by. But given the fact they’d been together nearly six years by this point, nobody batted an eye.
They had spent birthdays together as well, Caitlyn always knowing exactly what gift to buy the other. A new pair of sturdy boots as well as an extremely strong cologne -that she would insist on wearing to every date night for the following two years- a teddy bear with a cupcake engraved on its palm and a bag of Vis favorite sweets.
For Caitlyn’s birthday, eight years into their relationship, Vi had the perfect gift. Well, perfect question.
One that’s been lingering in the back of her mind since Caitlyn’s mother had approved the request for youth centers to be put up in Zaun as well as Piltover.
One that had her in a panic attack on their bathroom floor in a way she hadn’t been in years.
Head ducked over the tub and hands trembling. It was late, Cait was sleeping and Vi had just been looking at her. Looking at the subtle lines in her forehead and the way her hair had been splayed across the pillow. Then she had made the mistake of looking down at her hand. Bare of any jewelry.
For a split second Vi imagined a ring on her finger. Her ring on her finger. Proudly sporting her last name since she’d never had one herself due to poverty and status alike.
Lots of the children of Zaun hadn’t had one.
As their time grew together Vi realized she deeply wanted Caitlyn’s last name. She loved the way it sounded on her tongue when Caitlyn would introduce herself to someone new. Loved the way it sounded when Vi would whisper it to herself.
“Violet Kiramman”
It has yet to disappoint sending a blush through her cheeks, and she sincerely doubts it ever will.
But now, the thought of getting on her knees and asking Cait to marry her was causing thoughts that she had banished long since to rise up.
Irrational thoughts of rejection and betrayal and being left alone out in the street yet again. She knew Caitlyn would never get it was impossible to shake.
Eventually, she had worked up the nerve to ask. When they’re out on the night town, hand in hand and it’s a little chilly out. Vi gives her the jacket she’d been sporting after a few too many huffs for warm air coming from her girlfriend.
“Have you ever thought about it?” Shed asked vaguely. Not giving Caitlyn a straight-up answer when she quizzes for clarification.
“Me and you… getting hitched.” Caitlyn had stopped walking. Looking at her through the chilly night, shivering obviously and her face reddened by the temperature and thought alone.
“Of course, I have. You and I share a very solid chunk of our days together, I love you, everything about you. To say I’ve never thought about marriage would be a disservice to our time and our relationship together” the other could practically scoff at the statement.
She knew Vi had thought about it too. She’d seen their bank statement, how Vi had taken out a rather large sum of money. She didn’t know what for but she realizes as soon as the other begins to dig about her back pocket.
“Baby…” is all she’s able to get out before Caitlyn is giving an exciting sob and wraps her arms around her neck, tugging her into a fierce kiss on the mouth.
Caitlyn was so glad she had taken a chance on the brawler. Deciding she was worth the extra effort of breaking her from prison and the endless apologies for their social status, the nights spent with the light on because of nightmares, and of course that stupid grin she always gave whenever Caitlyn would toss her bra off for the day and give way to her bare body.
Vi never grew old with their routines. Never grew old with the way Caitlyn could only cook three proper meals and never grew old with the way she always made tea on rainy days.
Over the course of their decade together the brawler Caitlyn had first been met with -rigid in personality, vexing in the way she argued and knuckles always bruised with evidence of a street fight- had softened into someone she would’ve never pegged had lived the same life.
Caitlyn loved her, loved the way she laughed so carelessly whenever they were alone or even more recently out and about with their friends.
Loved the way she still called her cupcake and rarely used her full name, loved the way she always asked to be the little spoon and how she would come home to some sort of physical gift and a dozen kisses ready to be peppered across her face.
She especially loved her face of utter content, the one she wore when they’ve spent the evening spending themselves to the feel of the other’s hands. The way her brows would unset themselves and her chest fell slowly and less often due to her utter relaxation.
The way her usually firm nostrils would release their tension, even if just for the night. How her strong body would slump against the bed for the evening. Normally taut muscles slack, allowing Caitlyn’s soft warm hands to take the stress from them.
Her angry red hair always covered a portion of her face, being brushed behind her ear by her wife. Those scarred lips that were unusually relaxed would slowly uplift into a smile. A genuine one, Caitlyn had always adored and held selfishly close to her heart.
Vi hums in appreciation, lifting one of her own hands to brush against the girl’s sharp angular features. “I love this” she breathes, watching her with tired eyes. Their expressions of awe and exhaustion mirrored.
“I love you ” Caitlyn whispers back, keeping the moment between the two. Like they were teenagers trying not to be caught.
Vi gives another grin before she brings her naked body closer to the other, placing a hearty kiss on her lips and then huffing as she slinks further against Caitlyn to solidify her desire to be held.
The other complied without complaint. Choosing to mold herself into the first. She rakes her palm through those red locks, keeping close to her under the blankets.
The first time they met seems so long ago now.
The first time she looked across those bars at prisoner 516, with eyes that desperately wanted to trust but couldn’t.
Now they shared a bed. Shared a home. Shared a marriage.