Chapter Text
The week had been exhausting for Caitlyn. Working alongside Vi, who seemed to make it her mission to drive her mad, was a constant test of patience. Yet, as much as Caitlyn hated to admit it, Vi had a way of cutting through problems with an effortless brilliance that often left her impressed. Between the teasing and the unorthodox methods, Vi would come up with solutions Caitlyn couldn’t deny were effective.
It didn’t make things easier. Vi continued to call her "Cupcake," knowing full well how it grated on Caitlyn’s nerves, while Caitlyn tried, with all her might, to maintain a professional facade. But Vi had a way of getting under her skin, and Caitlyn was starting to wonder if she minded it as much as she claimed.
On Thursday, after a particularly grueling day, Vi leaned casually against Caitlyn’s desk with her usual smirk. "You know what you need, Cupcake? A drink. Come on, let’s go to a bar, loosen up, pretend we don’t have a job for a few hours."
Caitlyn gave her a withering look. "I don’t mix work with leisure."
Vi raised an eyebrow. "It’s not work; it’s survival. And," she added with a cheeky grin, "first round’s on me."
For reasons Caitlyn couldn’t quite pinpoint — perhaps the stress, perhaps the exhaustion, or perhaps the sheer force of Vi’s persistence — she found herself saying yes.
The bar Vi chose was small and unassuming, a cozy spot tucked away in a quieter part of the city. It was nothing like the upscale establishments Caitlyn frequented. While Vi seemed perfectly at home, Caitlyn sat stiffly at their table, holding her glass of wine with the same precision she handled her rifle, while Vi nursed a beer, leaning back in her chair like she didn’t have a care in the world.
"You’re always this tense?" Vi asked, her grin teasing but not unkind.
"And you’re always this unprofessional?" Caitlyn shot back, though her tone lacked its usual sharpness.
Vi chuckled. "Relax, Cupcake. It’s okay to let your guard down once in a while. I promise I won’t tell anyone you’re human."
Caitlyn rolled her eyes but didn’t argue. She sipped her wine, trying to ignore the way Vi’s casual charm seemed to chip away at her defenses. Against her better judgment, she began to loosen up, their conversation flowing more naturally with every drink.
They talked about work, about Piltover, about their vastly different pasts. Vi told her ridiculous stories about growing up in Zaun, stories that had Caitlyn laughing despite herself. And somewhere between the teasing and the laughter, Caitlyn started to feel a warmth she couldn’t quite place.
At one point, she found herself asking, "Why do you call me Cupcake?"
Vi tilted her head, her grin softening into something almost sincere. "Because you’re all polished and perfect on the outside, but… I think there’s something sweet underneath."
Caitlyn felt her cheeks flush and quickly looked away. "You’re wrong."
"If you say so," Vi replied, her tone suggesting she didn’t believe a word of it.
As the evening wore on, Caitlyn couldn’t shake the feeling that something was changing. Every time Vi smiled at her, every time she leaned in just a little too close, Caitlyn’s heart skipped in a way that was entirely unfamiliar.
"You’re insufferable," Caitlyn muttered at one point, though she was smiling as she said it.
"But you like me," Vi quipped, her grin as infuriating as ever.
It was then that Caitlyn, without thinking, leaned across the table and kissed her.
The kiss was sudden, unplanned, and completely unlike Caitlyn. She felt Vi freeze for a split second before she kissed her back, her hands reaching out to steady Caitlyn as their lips moved together. It was clumsy and impulsive, but it was also electric.
When Caitlyn pulled back, her face was flushed, her breathing uneven. "I… I don’t know why I did that," she stammered, the words tumbling out before she could stop them.
Vi grinned, her expression as smug as it was soft. "Because you like me, Cupcake. Took you long enough to figure it out."
"You’re impossible," Caitlyn shot back, though there was no heat in her voice.
"And you just proved my point," Vi replied, leaning back in her chair with a satisfied look.
For a moment, neither of them spoke, the air between them charged with something Caitlyn wasn’t quite ready to name. She knew this would complicate things at work, that it would create more questions than answers. But as she looked at Vi, still grinning like she’d won a prize, Caitlyn found that, for once, she didn’t care.
—
The next morning, Caitlyn woke up with a throbbing headache and a mix of regret and embarrassment. After everything that had happened the previous night, she decided she needed something low-key to reset. Alcohol was absolutely off the table. She sent a message to Jayce and Ashe, inviting them to meet her at a small café near Evolution Corp. It was a strange choice, considering they never went to cafés, but Caitlyn figured a change of scenery wouldn’t hurt.
Jayce was the first to respond, albeit with a bit of confusion: "A café? You feeling alright?"
Caitlyn just rolled her eyes at the message and typed back: "Just show up. And no jokes."
Ashe, her other friend, was more intrigued: "Sure. Cafés are nice. What’s the occasion?"
Caitlyn hesitated before replying: "You’ll see."
By the time they all arrived, the café was buzzing with the mid-morning crowd. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and pastries filled the air, and Caitlyn had to admit it was a refreshing change from the usual noisy bars they frequented. She had already claimed a small table near the window, sipping on a cappuccino and trying to compose herself before dropping the bombshell she was about to share.
Jayce arrived first, sliding into the seat across from her. He raised an eyebrow at her drink. "No whiskey in there?"
"Ha-ha," Caitlyn said dryly. "I needed a break after last night."
Jayce grinned. "Interesting. Tell me all about it"
Caitlyn shot him a glare but said nothing as Ashe joined them, her long silver hair tied back in a casual braid. "Alright, I’m here," Ashe said, setting her bag on the chair beside her. "What’s so urgent?"
Caitlyn hesitated for a moment, then leaned forward. "I kissed Vi."
Ashe blinked. "Damn."
Jayce, on the other hand, burst out laughing. "Wait, what? You kissed Vi? Vi?"
"Yes, Jayce, Vi," Caitlyn said, rolling her eyes. "Keep your voice down."
But Jayce couldn’t stop laughing, nearly spilling his coffee. "This is gold. You’ve been complaining about her for weeks, and now you’re kissing her? What happened to professionalism?"
Caitlyn groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I don’t know, okay? It just… happened. We were at a bar, we were drinking, and she said something infuriating. Next thing I know, I’m kissing her."
Ashe leaned back in her chair, a small smirk tugging at her lips. "Sounds like you’ve got it bad, Caitlyn."
"I do not have it bad," Caitlyn snapped. "It was a mistake."
Jayce raised an eyebrow. "A mistake you haven’t stopped thinking about, judging by how red you’re getting."
Before Caitlyn could retort, the door to the café opened, and a man walked in, accompanied by a woman with delicate, almost doll-like features. Caitlyn didn’t notice them at first, too focused on glaring at Jayce, but Ashe’s gaze shifted to the new arrivals.
"Isn’t that Viktor?" Ashe asked, nodding toward the man.
Jayce stiffened, his laughter dying instantly. He followed Ashe’s gaze and froze. Viktor. Here. In this small café, of all places. Jayce recognized him immediately, even if the rest of the patrons didn’t. Most people only knew Viktor’s name; his face was far less public.
Viktor, oblivious to their presence, made his way to a reserved table near theirs. He was deep in conversation with Orianna, the head of Evolution Corp’s R&D department. While Viktor’s expression was characteristically serious, Orianna looked delighted as she gestured animatedly about something, likely the cheesecake she was already eyeing on the menu.
Jayce quickly turned his attention back to Caitlyn and Ashe, trying to act casual. "Why is he here?"
"It’s a public café," Ashe said, shrugging. "Maybe he likes coffee?"
Caitlyn, however, noticed the way Jayce kept sneaking glances at Viktor, his posture stiff and awkward. She smirked, leaning closer to Jayce. "You’re acting weird. Nervous about something?"
"I’m not nervous," Jayce said quickly, though his tone said otherwise.
Caitlyn smirked, clearly enjoying his discomfort. "Sure you’re not. But just so you know, he’s sitting right there." She nodded subtly toward Viktor’s table.
Jayce groaned, burying his face in his hands. "This is a nightmare."
"It’s not like he knows we’re here," Ashe pointed out.
But Caitlyn wasn’t done. She leaned back in her chair, a smug smile on her face. "So, Jayce… still convinced Viktor doesn’t have a thing for you?"
Jayce glared at her. "Caitlyn, don’t."
"I’m just saying," she continued, her voice light and teasing. "He’s right there. Maybe you should go thank him again for that watch."
"I hate you," Jayce muttered, sinking lower in his chair.
At the next table, Viktor was speaking quietly with Orianna, who had finally ordered her cheesecake. Sky, who had reserved the table, approached briefly to check on their order. It wasn’t until Viktor glanced around the café, his gaze sweeping over the room, that he noticed Jayce.
For a brief moment, their eyes met. Jayce froze, his heart pounding in his chest. Viktor’s expression didn’t change, but there was a flicker of recognition before he turned back to Orianna.
Jayce let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding, while Caitlyn grinned knowingly. "Well, that was awkward," she said, her tone dripping with amusement.
Jayce shot her a look. "You’re enjoying this way too much."
"You make it so easy," Caitlyn replied, sipping her cappuccino.
Ashe, meanwhile, looked between the two of them, her expression curious. "Okay, so what’s the deal with you and Viktor?" she asked.
"There’s no deal," Jayce said quickly, a little too quickly.
"Uh-huh," Ashe said, unconvinced.
Caitlyn just smirked, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Don’t worry, Ashe. I’m working on getting him to admit it."
Jayce groaned, wondering how his life had become such a spectacle. And as Viktor’s quiet conversation with Orianna continued at the next table, he couldn’t help
but feel like he was being watched, even if it was just his imagination.