Chapter Text
As soon as the bus stopped, Vi´s nerves started picking. She knew what Caitlyn was about to face would be one of the most difficult tasks she has endeavored on her own. Though proud about her decisiveness to take matters into her own hand, she still worries. Worry that is noted by the taller girl. Vi feels her hand being clasped by Caitlyn outside the bus, a reassuring smile on her face as she squeezes the wrestler´s hand.
“Have faith in me, love.”
“It´s not you who lacks faith from my part.”
“They are better now. Even if they aren´t…amicable with the idea, I know they won´t lash at me like they used to do.”
“…okay. Okay. I trust you. But you know-“
“I know. Whatever happens, I will call you immediately.” Caitlyn placed a peck on her lips, grinning at Vi and washing the nervousness away…for now at least. Caitlyn leaves first, though she insisted to wait with Vi until Dad arrived to pick her and Powder up. A shake of her head and a peck is all Vi needs to convince Caitlyn to go home and start mentally preparing herself for the conversation that awaits her. She sighs, seeing the car move away, turning to Powder and Ekko, who are holding hands and staring at her with caring eyes.
“Made up?”
“Yup.”
“Good, good.” Vi can see that Powder want´s to say something more, but the Bug´s horn makes them all turn to stare at Dad. The three of them rush towards the car, each receiving a tight hug from Vander, as well as congratulations filled with pride by seeing their medals. The ride home is a mellow one, dad is humming a tune while Ekko and Powder cuddle to each other, preparing to nap through the ride. Vi stares out the window, sighing happily while seeing the building pass by. Once back at home, she moves to her room, hoots and hollers from Mylo and Claggor making her smile widely, Powder puffing her chest with enormous pride.
“How many goals did you score?”
“TEN!”
“You are a fucking beast.” Seeing Mylo and Powder share a fist bump made Vi´s chest swell with warmth. She moved to her room, unpacking her stuff and quickly sending Caitlyn a text, telling her she had gotten home. With a sigh she turned, only to be met with Powder, who nodded her head at her. Vi understood, moving herself towards the bunk bed and sitting down. Powder turned the single couch once more, making the scene resemble one from months ago. Vi quickly nudged Powder to speak, who took a deep breath and began talking.
“So, I´m guessing Caitlyn told her what was going on.”
“Yeah, she did.”
“…and?”
“And what?”
“You are not…planning on doing anything to Jayce, are you?”
“…I was, to be honest. I really was not worried about being expelled or whatever could happen to me. I was going to beat the shit out of him.”
“Vi-“
“But…But Caitlyn talked me out of it. She made me realize that it was not worth it. I´m still a but uncertain, really. Like…Caitlyn was blackmailed, Pow.” A lump formed in Vi´s throat, the weight of the issue landing on her once more.
“Yeah…that is cruel. And the guy is supposed to be her oldest friend.”
“…Caitlyn deserves better.”
“Well, no one really deserves that, to be fair.”
“Well yeah, duh. But I mean…she deserves better people around her.”
“You can´t possibly mean-“
“No, don´t be a dummy. I mean people like Viktor, like Sky…like me.” Powder snorts, making Vi chuckle a bit. “I know it sounds narcissistic, but she deserves people that treat her nicely. That care for her, that don´t see her as-“
“As a Kiramman.”
“Yeah. She´s Caitlyn. There´s nothing more to it.”
“…I used to see her as a Kiramman, remember?”
“Remember? That wasn´t even a year ago moron.”
“Shush. What I meaaaaan, is that Caitlyn is a great person. There aren´t many like her out there, even less from where she comes from.”
“Piltover?”
“More like…royalty, more or less.”
“Yeah, our school is full of those bastards, right?”
“Yeah. Vi?”
“Yeah?”
“I´m really glad, that I was wrong, you know?”
“Hm?”
“Caitlyn is…a good friend. A great leader and…most importantly, she makes you happy.”
“Yeah, she is amazing isn´t she.”
“I was wrong. When I feared that you might be…tricked and hurt by her…I was so wrong.”
“…she told me she loves me.”
“Yeah, I heard it, duh. You both yelled it at each other during the final. Glad to see you grew a pair-“
“She said it first.”
“…huh?”
“Caitlyn said it first. When…when we were talking in my room at the hotel. She…she said it first Pow.” Vi´s eyes started gleaming with tears, her smile happy as she stares at her sister. “She said it first. She is in love with me.”
“Vi…” Powder rushed, placing a crushing hug on Vi, who returned it accordingly. Violet is loved by another. Believe it or not, the girl had always found herself unlikable. But she is loved. Dad, Mylo and Claggor love her. Powder and Ekko love her. Caitlyn loves her, probably as much as she loves her. With a last sniff, Vi let go of Powder, who shot her a wide grin and moved from the room. Vi looked at her phone, a smiling face emoji, followed by a dozen red heart ones, from Caitlyn received her. She quickly opened the message and sent her own reply.
Vi
21:37
I love you
Her ringtone snapped her out of her sleeping state. She smacked her lips, rubbed her eyes and turned to the phone on its third ring. She went for it and answered quickly on the fourth one.
“Cait?”
“…did I wake you up?” Her voice sounded strained, heavy. Vi straightened, turning to Powder and seeing she was still sleeping. She quickly placed on her slippers and moved out of the room, sitting on the couch in front of the TV.
“It´s okay babe.”
“…I…I talked with them.” Vi took a sharp breath. She sneaked a look at the time, eleven in the morning already, she must have been really fucking tired to be waking up this late. But more importantly, Caitlyn had already spoken to her parents about her future. Snapping any kind of sleepy feeling or dumbness out of her system, she refocused her attention on the call.
“How did it go?”
“…could I see you?” Fuck
“Of course baby. Where? At your home? Let me just-“
“Uhm…I´m actually in Zaun right now…?” Vi heard the doubtful tone Caitlyn spoke with, her eyes widening as she moved for the Bug´s keys.
“Where?”
“I was going towards the arcade, but I really don´t quite remember how to reach it.”
“Okay. Look, I´ll send you an address, I´ll see you there, okay? It´s restaurant not far from home.”
“Okay.”
“I´ll see you there Cupcake, I love you.”
“…I love you, Violet.” The call was finished, Vi already rushing to the stairs, when a strong hand grabbed her shoulder.
“Wow. Where are you going? I was going to make pancakes.” Vi turned to dad, her desperate look enough to let her go and make his face turn concerned in an instant. “Violet?”
“I´m headed to Jericho´s. Caitlyn´s there.”
“Is everything okay?”
“I don´t know. I need to go, bye dad.” She rushed, not waiting to hear her father´s response as she sprinted out of the bar. Getting on the Bug and turning it on, she took a couple of calming breaths, hoping to relax a tiny bit so no to endanger herself while driving. Violet drove quickly, huffing every time there was a red light. Though the drive took her less than ten minutes, she tapped impatiently on her dashboard as she arrived at the restaurant. She spotted Caitlyn´s Prius and parked right next to it. The big windows allowed her to see inside the small locale, Caitlyn sitting at the booth right by the window. She sighed, seeing Caitlyn raise her eyes, spotting her and waving with a smile. Vi entered the building, waving cheeringly at the big man at the kitchen, only to turn and be enveloped by a pair of long, strong arms. Vi grasped her strongly, inhaling the scent from her hair, which was already washed. They broke the embrace and sat, Vi sitting in front of Caitlyn at the booth. With a sigh, Caitlyn took a sip from the coffee she was nursing, while the big man came to their booth.
“Vi! It´s been a while scrub!”
“Hey there Jericho!” Vi stood, hugging the man tightly. She broke the hug, turning to Caitlyn, who had a wide smile on her face. “This is Caitlyn, my girlfriend.”
“Girlfriend!? Why hadn´t you brought her sooner!? It´s nice to meet you! Jericho´s the name, cooking is the game!” Caitlyn grinned at the man, who shook her hand energetically.
“It´s nice to meet you as well.”
“So, Vi, the usual?”
“Please. Make that two.”
“Sure thing scrub!” Jericho moved, making Vi giggle as she took a sit, staring at Cailtyn, who was resting her chin on her hand, elbow on the table, and smiling sweetly at her.
“So…scrub, was it?”
“I´ll end you.” The pair chuckled, sighing at the same time. Vi allowed Caitlyn to take some time, drinking more of her coffee as she ordered her own. Then Caitlyn´s voice came through, not as audible as before.
“So…I told them.”
“Yeah…”
“Well…it was a bit rough, not going to lie there.”
“Baby…” Vi extended her hand, which was grasped quickly by Caitlyn, who stared at her with grateful eyes.
“They were quite vocal at first.”
Earlier- Kiramman Residency
“Could you repeat that?” Caitlyn grasped her sleeve, staring at the unflinching eyes of her father.
“I…I want to direct my academic studies towards…writing.”
“Caitlyn, nononono. Why?” Tobias said, rubbing his face. Cassandra sighed, her fingers on the bridge of her nose. This was not going to be a pleasant morning.
“I have always had an interesting in writing father. Even when I was little, I always wrote stories, and did especially well in my English and literature classes, still do actually.”
“But why Caitlyn? You realize that all we´ve been through has been for you to take your mother´s seat at the council?”
“I know that but…but that´s not what I want.”
“Caitlyn.” She turned to her mother, who was staring at her with a look that confused the girl. It looked like guilt. “Is it because of me?”
“What?”
“Is it because of the way we have been towards you? Because you associate that position to me and my…past behavior?”
“NO! No mother, it´s not that. While yes, your way of treating me made me uneager to be a councilor, that´s not the reason at all. I…I was never going to take that seat, not even if we continued our past relationship. Not even if I was the only choice for it.”
“All those years Caitlyn, all the education and schools and seminars, the camps. Was it for nothing?” Her father´s words hurt her. A pang of anger starts boiling in her, her eyes on her father´s astonished expression.
“Not useless. But they were not what I wanted.”
“There´s no difference Caitlyn!”
“Tobias. There is no need to raise our voice. Now, Caitlyn. You do realize that, there is a hint of truth in your father´s words?”
“…not really.”
“We´ve poured effort, an outstanding one may I add, for you to become the next Kiramman at the council. Why had you never expressed your hesitance towards the prospect?”
“…are you serious, mother? I couldn´t. You never allowed me to even act as my proper age, how could I express my desires when you controlled every aspect of my life?”
“Caitlny-“
“Remember, when you caught me sneaking Seraphine into my room?”
“Cait-“
“You were at the brink of kicking me out of the house, mother. My conduct was not on par of the Kiramman lineage, as well as my orientation. Do you remember?”
“…yes.”
“Then how could I speak about something like that? Just being me was wrong.”
“…is this really what you want?”
“Cassandra-“
“It is. It is. I want to dedicate my life to writing. I am to be a journalist or a writer.”
“Then-“
“Cassandra, what are you thinking?” Tobias raised his arms on the table as he glared at the pair. “This ideas hadn´t been on your head until Violet.”
Ire. Pure, unbridled ire took control of Caitlyn. She slammed her hands on the table, shot her father the worst glare she had ever mustered as she raised on her spot and spoke with hatred.
“You keep Violet out of this!” Tobias flinched, never having faced this side of her daughter. Cassandra stood as well, slowly and silently, avoiding altering the furious girl. “She has been the best thing in my life. You don´t speak about her, understood!?” Incredibly, Tobias nodded, his shocked expression not leaving his face at any moment. Caitlyn took this chance to continue. “I have wanted this my whole life. Even before knowing Vi. And having her by my side has…has just made more confident about it. About what I want. I want this.”
“…very well.” Caitlyn, astonished, turned to look at the sighing figure of her mother, who sat back down. She stared at her father, who sighed strongly, rubbing his eyes. His voice was meek, concern flowing from it.
“I…I just want you to have a good and happy life Caitlyn.”
“I´m happy now. Have never been as happy as I am now. And I don´t need all of this, father. I don´t need the prestige, the money or the decorum, to have a good life.”
“…I know. I know. I´m sorry Cait.” Instant relief took Caitlyn, who fell on her chair with a laugh.
“It´s okay…dad.” Tobias nodded, sitting down and relaxing his jaw. “So, does this mean…?”
“Yes Caitlyn, you can follow your own path, if it what will make you happy.” Cassandra smiled at the bright eyes of her daughter before carrying on. “Do know, you are putting me in a tight spot, since now I´ll have to start scouting for a replacement on its due time. Maybe it´s time to start working on Jayce.”
“Mother…about Jayce…” Caitlyn narrated the story to her parents, from the very start to the episodes on the past event. She finished with a bit of difficulty, still struggling with the fact that her ‘brother’ had done something like that. She stared at her parents, Tobias sporting an angered gaze, while Cassandra simply stood up. She stood by the landline, confusing Caitlyn as she dialed some numbers and spoke to the other person.
“Good morning Principal Heimerdinger, this is Cassandra Kiramman. It´s nice to hear you as well. Listen, I have a…situation to discuss with you. Firstly, I would like the Kiramman recommendation and sponsorship be taken from the student Jayce Talis.” Caitlyn´s eyes widened immediately, her body stiffening as her mother kept speaking, meanwhile her father changed seats to be by her side, his hand on her shoulder to help her calm down. “Well, it´s come to my attention that he has been blackmailing my daughter, so I find that offense irredeemable to my eyes. Thank you, principal, I count you will see it done at utmost notice.” She hung up and raised a finger, not letting Caitlyn speak as she called another number. “Hello Roberta. Yes, it´s nice hearing you as well. Listen, is Jayce there? Could I have a word with him?” Cassandra nodded to Tobias, who nodded in turn. The line picked up and Cassandra instantly developed a frown on her face. “Talis? Listen, don´t speak. I´m aware of what you´ve been doing to Caitlyn and-I said don´t speak. I´ve cut you out, understood? You are no longer linked to the Kiramman name, nor any of us for that matter. Goodbye.” She hung up, likely not giving the man have a chance to explain himself. She returned to the table, her eyes on Caitlyn, and sighed.
“Caitlyn-“
“Mother that was-“
“Fair. That´s what it was. The boy has been using you for his personal gain in such a way, even after everything we have done for him. He deserves no less.” Her mother passed her hand through her hair, a defeated look on her face as she rested on her chair. “To believe he was like family at some point…how people change baffles me.”
“Sometimes it´s for the better.” Caitlyn says, her eyes bright as she takes both her parents’ hands. “Like us.”
“Yes, like us.” Cassandra smiles, squeezing Caitlyn´s hand.
“Well, I guess this entire morning has been quite vexing for all of us. What do you say if I prepare breakfast and-“
“About that.” Caitlyn says, interrupting her father. “I…had made plans with Vi, to share breakfast at her home.” She lies, hoping that her parents will buy it. She needs to see Vi. She needs to be with her right now. Her parents just nod, and with a sprint, she heads to her room to change and go towards Zaun.
Jericho´s – Now
“So now I am dreading seeing Jayce at all.”
“Wow, holy shit.” Vi stood from her side, moved to sit by Caitlyn, and enveloped her in a tight hug. She felt Caitlyn shudder, her hold strong on her as Vi rubbed her back.
“I don´t want to confront him Vi.”
“Hey, hey. Look at me.” Vi moved Caitlyn´s head, staring at her with a fond look. “I won´t let him get near you. At least not with a malicious intent. Ok? And I don´t know if he deserved such things, but he certainly had something coming to him. He straight up blackmailed you Cait. He´s an asshole.”
“…he was my brother, Vi.” Caitlyn sniffed, rubbing her eyes to prevent her tears to fall out. With a deep breath she shot a small smile to Vi and patted her arms. “But…I understand now…that no one gets to treat me like this and get away with it.” Vi smiled, placing a peck on Caitlyn´s lips, and returned to her seat. She excitedly smiled at Jericho, who brough them their dishes. Vi dug in immediately, staring at Caitlyn who was eyeing the plate. Vi smiled, gulping her food and poking Caitlyn´s dish.
“They are called entomatadas. Tortillas filled with chicken and covered in tomato broth.”
“They smell lovely.”
“Oh, they taste even better. Dig in babe, you can put some chopped onions and cream on it.” With a nod, Caitlyn tried the dish without any add-on, only to hum delightfully as she had her first bite. She gave a thumbs up to Vi, the wrestler smiling through a mouthful. Time passed smoothly, the pair chatting about the first episode of an anime show they watched, thanks to Vi´s pressing. By the time they both finished their breakfast, Jericho came with two cups of coffee and some sweet buns, a two finger salute followed by “on the house” making them smile as they prepared their coffees. Vi poured cream and sugar on hers, surprise filling her as Caitlyn prepared her own just like Vi. “Thought you only liked black, sugarless coffee.”
“Kinda wanted some sweet flavors right now.”
“Can´t get sweeter than you, Cupcake.”
“You are just saying that because you love me.”
“I loooooove you.” Vi said with a smirk. Caitlyn blushed, her ploy reverted to her as she sipped her coffee.
“…iloveyoutoo.” Vi chuckled, sipping her own coffee as well. A thought roamed her mind, a small smile on her face as she stared at Caitlyn.
“Cait?”
“Hm?” VI smiled fondly at Caitlyn, who answered through a bite of her bun.
“You are going to be a writer.” Her girlfriend blushed, swallowing her bread and smiling at Vi.
“And you are going to be a botanist.” Vi smiled even wider. They finished their food, paid for their breakfasts and got out of the restaurant. They stood there for a couple of minutes, staring at the road, not wanting to part. With a sigh Vi turned, pulling Caitlyn slightly by her hip. The kiss was gentle, a reminder that they are together through this new part of their lives. When they part, Vi smiles at her tall, lovely girlfriend.
“I love you.”
“I love you too.” They parted with a peck, Vi sighing as she closed the door of the Bug. She had expected that the conversation with Caitlyn´s parents had went south, but at the end, she managed to convince her parents of what she wished her future to be. How to live it and why she should be allowed to do so. Vi was proud of her girl. She returned home, explained to Dad what had happened, and went on with her day. A sudden text around eight o´clock made her grab her phone and widen her eyes. There was an image from Caitlyn, the text also making her eyes bulge with intrigue.
Cupcake <3<3<3
20:00
Image1098.jpg
Jayce is here omg. He is rattling the gates under the rain.
Vi
20:01
Oh fuck.
Is everything okay? Need me there?
Cucpake <3<3<3
20:01
No, it´s okay. Mum will surely sort it out. He´s asking for me though.
Screaming my name and shit.
Kind of scary, right?
Vi
20:01
KIinda, yeah. If anything, hit me up babe, okay?
Cupcake<3<3<3
20:02
Will do. Love you, sleep tight.
Vi
20:02
Sleep tight Cupcake, love you.
With a bit of nervousness, Vi went to sleep. The weekend passed by easily, returning to her routine taking her time without her even noticing. Monday came by, the Bug parked on the school parking lot as she moved towards the gates, only to see a bunch of students hurdled over one another. She moved to the edges of the circle, curiosity winning over her, only to see Caitlyn standing firm against a screaming Jayce.
“How could you do something like that to me!? You fucked me Caitlyn! You utterly fucked me!” Vi started making her way amongst the students. She reached the front, moving to Caitlyn quickly. Vi saw as Caitlyn turned to her, smiling sweetly and grabbing her hand. Jayce made himself present again, moving towards them, only to be halted by Vi´s glare. It transmitted what she wanted, the fear on his face filling her with pride. The pair moved through the crowd, which disassembled after they got out of the center. Walking hand in hand towards their classroom, Vi turned to Caitlyn, her soft smile brightening her day, her whole life. And now Vi knew, with all certainty, that they were bound together, as the worst was, most likely, behind them. So they took the steps towards their future hand in hand, together.