Chapter Text
Thursday October 8th 07:05PM - The Hound
[Caitlyn’s POV]
“Please tell me why you’ve dragged me here on a Thursday evening.” Jayce said with a small amount of annoyance laced in his words.
Mel gripped his bicep harder as they made their way to the bar “because Cait and I come here every Thursday and this time we wanted to include you”.
Caitlyn trailed slowly behind them. The week was long and the weight of it finally hit her as she took a seat beside Mel with a small smile on her face finally looking up. She met Mel’s eyes and saw the teasing look she was receiving, “plus you’ll get to see Cait ogling at a certain pink haired bartender she’s been pining over for months now”.
The heat rose to her cheeks as Cait averted her eyes, only to meet the most beautiful pair of grey eyes she had ever seen.
Vi Lanes, the bartender but more interestingly the woman who has been occupying Caitlyn’s mind since her and Mel first stumbled into this dive bar.
A small smile crossed over Vi’s scarred lips, yet Caitlyn noticed it didn’t quite meet her eyes. As Vi passed her scent of musk and sandalwood filled the air and sent a small shiver down Cait’s spine.
Her thoughts had no time to wonder as Jayce spoke with a hint of annoyance, “we’ve been here more than five minutes and I still don’t have a drink, where’s the barte-“
He was interrupted as the door to the back opened and Vi came towards them from behind the bar, Caitlyn’s eyes scanning how the fabric of Vi’s black tank top hugged her hips and showed the contour of her abs leaving little to her imagination.
“H-hey…the usual for you two?” Vi asked as she rubbed the back of her neck meeting Mel’s eyes after briefly looking at Jayce and Caitlyn.
“Please, Vi that would be lovely. And for this impatient boy a whiskey neat.” Mel said in a teasing tone before pressing a gentle kiss to Jayce’s cheek resulting in his impatience to disappear.
Vi nodded and turned without another word grabbing for two wine glasses on a taller shelf, Caitlyn watching the way the black tank top teased its way up showing a small sliver of Vi’s pale skin. Caitlyn thought about how that skin may feel to touch and what the tattoo peaking through as well was.
“Avert your eyes and get a grip Caitlyn, she isn’t an object stop looking at her like one.” Caitlyn thought as she looked around the bar now instead waiting for the glass of red she’d been thinking of her whole work day.
Vi approached with the two women’s glasses and a whiskey neat, “let Ekko or I know if you three need anything else”. Mel gave her a warm smile and Jayce a quick nod, but Cailtyn just watched sensing something off with Vi’s energy tonight.
Usually, she engages the two women in conversation asking curiously about their days and generally staying engrossed enough to leave Ekko fending for the other guests himself, but not tonight. With a quick nod of her own Vi started heading towards the back before turning as the bell above the front door rang.
Caitlyn watched as Vi caught a glimpse of who was walking towards the bar keeping their gaze on Vi. The tension was easily noticeable, but she was the only one watching it unfold.
Vi’s strong jaw clenched, her hands balling into white knuckled fists as she approached the woman. Caitlyn couldn’t hear the conversation but watching as Vi stood with her hands against the bar leaning now towards the woman on the other side she knew this wasn’t a friendly conversation.
This conversation felt personal, yet Caitlyn couldn’t avert her eyes. She was curious as to what could’ve happened for the sudden change in Vi’s demeanor to become one of anger.
She kept watching, noticing Vi’s back stutter after a deep breath in a way that told her two things may occur:
1. Vi is trying to keep her calm in order not to hit this woman.
Or
2. Vi is trying to keep her calm in order not to cry in front of a bar full of patrons.
Both outcomes are equally plausible for occurring. Yes, she saw the scars that covered the visible parts of Vi’s skin and the occasional bruises to show that she was tough, but the soft eyes and smile Caitlyn would see when it was just the two of them left in the bar proved that it was a front. A shield in order for Vi to protect herself.
Caitlyn was brought out of her thoughts when she heard Mel clear her throat, “Are you listening or are you too busy being nosey?” Her tone teasing again, but her annoyance was also visible.
Caitlyn shifted in her chair, straightening her posture and bringing her attention back to her friends and not the beautiful bartender, “I-I’m sorry, you have my full attention…okay partial attention” she clarified when Mel raised her eyebrow at her.
“I was just telling Jayce about the venue I showed you yesterday.” Caitlyn smiled at Mel while racking her brain for the information needed to contribute to this conversation, the wedding—that was an easy topic to navigate but remembering the venue was a different story because all she was seeing in her mind's eye right now was pink hair, muscled biceps and gears.
Thankfully Jayce saved her this time, seeing how Caitlyn was struggling to remember, he started to discuss how he was going to ask Viktor to be his best man.
He shot Caitlyn a knowing wink as Mel took the bait, Caitlyn now had the opportunity to bring her attention back to the woman occupying her mind. As she looked the redhead across from Vi put a key into one of her scarred hands, closing it as tears began to fall from her green eyes.
“Oh, this seems like a breakup…at a bar? While Vi is working?” Caitlyn thought as Vi ripped her hand away from the redheads and turned without another word to the woman.
Caitlyn realized she wasn’t the only one watching the exchange as Ekko grabbed one of Vi’s wrists and thankfully this time she could hear the conversation.
“Take a minute outback if you need, I can take care of this for a bit.” He said with a sincerity that made Caitlyn realize how good of a person Ekko is.
Vi didn’t use her words to respond, probably out of fear of breaking down right there. Instead she just nodded, shoving the key in her back pocket before disappearing briefly. Caitlyn stared forward but out of the corner of her eye saw the shade of pink leaving out the back exit that leads to the alley.
Biting her lip she thought for a moment, “I can stay here, drink my wine and mind my business or-“ before she could finish her legs were already standing and walking towards where Vi disappeared.
Caitlyn wasn’t worried that Mel or Jayce would mind because as she was leaving she heard a snippet of their argument—flower choices for the wedding.
The cold, fall air hit her face as she stepped into the alley but she didn’t care. Instead her gaze fell upon Vi who was sitting on a crate just to her left with a lit cigarette in her hand, yet by the look of it—she hasn’t taken a single drag since she lit it.
“Vi?” Caitlyn said softly as she approached, grabbed a free crate and sat in front of Vi now.
“What’s up? Ekko should be up front if you need anything.” Vi stated in a monotone voice not even looking up from the key that’s sitting on her thigh.
“No..I just wanted to check on you. You seemed off tonight and then I saw what happened with tha-“ Caitlyn didn’t finish her sentence as Vi cut her off.
“She cheated on me. I should’ve seen it coming, ya know? Between school, hockey and working here I barely had time to think let alone give Sarah the attention she needed. This is the first time I’ve seen her since it happened a few months ago, she gave me my spare key back and yet it still feels fresh.” She scoffed, finally taking a long drag of her cigarette before leaning her head back and exhaling towards the night sky.
“She blames herself for being cheated on, she sees what SHE did wrong in the relationship not this Sarah woman…” Caitlyn thinks, digesting Vi’s words that were laced with guilt and sorrow.
Caitlyn didn’t speak right away instead thinking of what to say, letting the smoke and cold fall air settle between them. She places her hand softly against Vi’s exposed knee through her ripped jeans and says the first thing on her mind, “You’re in school?”
Vi couldn’t help but let out a low chuckle, “That’s your takeaway from what I said, huh?…but yeah, I’m a junior at Piltover University and I play hockey there. Please, don’t tell my coach about the cigarette.”
A smile spread across Caitlyn’s lips, “your secret is safe with me.” She assumed Vi was her age but knows when you’re from the Undercity, you have to grow up fast.
They sat in silence for a few more minutes as Vi finished her cigarette before standing and stomping it out with one of her combat boots.
“Thanks for coming to check on me, Cait. You didn’t have to but I’m glad it was you.” Vi’s voice was low, vulnerable but genuine nonetheless.
“You don’t have to thank me, but you may have to pour me a new glass of wine once we go in.” Caitlyn’s tone was gentle, but playful and it caused a smile to form across Vi’s lips. The first, real smile she’s shown tonight and the sight caused Caitlyn’s cheeks to flush knowing she made that happen.
“You got a deal, Cupcake.” Vi responded before pulling the alley door open, holding it for Caitlyn and nodded her head towards the inside of the bar, “after you.”
Caitlyn walked back inside, sensing Vi’s gaze on her and that was confirmed after she glanced over her shoulder seeing Vi’s eyes glance from her long legs back to her blue eyes. Cailtyn watched, still walking, as Vi’s cheeks turned a soft shade of pink knowing she was caught checking Caitlyn out.
As they both made it back to the main bar, Cailtyn took her seat next to Mel and Vi disappeared into an employee’s only door just to reappear a few moments later now helping Ekko with drink orders.
“Is everything alright, love?” Mel’s tone was quiet, her eyes focused on Vi although she was speaking to Cailtyn.
“Yes, I just wanted to check up on her after the interaction she had with her ex. That’s all.” Her tone came across more defensive than she intended and Mel didn’t press further, only nodding before taking a long sip of her wine. As Cailtyn was wishing for a new glass herself, one appeared in front of her. She didn’t have to look up to know it was Vi whose fingers were placing it in front of Caitlyn.
“As promised.” Her tone was light and when Caitlyn finally met those piercing grey eyes she lost all the words that were forming in the back of her throat.
Oh no, she thought, this is more than a stupid little crush. I am completely enamored and now I’m determined to learn more about Vi Lanes.