The Knight in Shining Armour
Caitlyn was really regretting not going with Vi.
As soon as Vi left, Caitlyn saw her, standing across the room and staring right into Caitlyn’s eyes. Maddie Nolen’s eyes were her most powerful disguise — anyone who didn’t know her might have thought her innocent.
Caitlyn sighed and averted her gaze. Still, she felt Maddie’s menacing presence getting closer and closer, until she was finally in front of Caitlyn.
“I see I’ve been replaced.”
“Can’t replace something that was never really there, can you?” Caitlyn answered.
Maddie laughed, and the sound was maddening to Caitlyn. “Someone’s still salty.”
Caitlyn went for a smile — one that said, sorry I’m not sorry. “And it isn’t me.”
“You got yourself a looker there.” Maddie flicked her head towards Vi. “She’s tall, charismatic, athletic…and Zaunite.”
Maddie had struck a nerve, but Caitlyn was determined to not let it show. “Who let you in here, Maddie? It was made very clear that you were rejected by my family, the hosts of this event.”
Nolen nodded. “Circumstances have changed, even just temporarily.” She shifted her gaze to someone sitting at the main table and raised a champagne glass to her.
Across the ballroom, Cassandra Kiramman returned the salute and gave Maddie a warm smile.
Caitlyn could scarcely believe it. Her own mother? Cassandra of all people knew how much she detested Maddie. She’d even banned Maddie from formal events hosted by the House of Kiramman, but the ban had apparently been lifted.
Forget it, Caitlyn thought. I’ll deal with her later.
“Your new…nominee seems interesting,” Maddie said. She watched Vi speak for a brief moment to a waiter. Caitlyn had no idea what was taking her so long. Why couldn’t she hurry?
Maddie’s voice broke through Caitlyn’s thoughts. “Then again, everyone you’ve tried so far turned out to be very two-faced, am I right? It all ends in disaster for you, Kiramman. Tell me, what makes her so special?”
Caitlyn leaned away from Maddie, but she managed to speak. “Vi isn’t like the rest of them, and she certainly isn’t like you. Either way, I don’t need to justify my relationship choices to you!”
“But you will need…parental approval, hmm? I understand that mommy issues are something that you’ve always had to deal with. I doubt your Zaunite friend over there makes it any easier on you.”
Caitlyn scowled. Maddie was sneaky, manipulative, and annoyingly smart. She knew exactly how to push Caitlyn’s buttons, but Caitlyn couldn’t say the same.
“You know, your mother and I had a lovely chat earlier about her concern regarding your new…arrangement.” Maddie leaned in closer, letting her words sink in. “Can your knight in shining armour handle the pressure? Or will she fold like all the others?”
For a moment, it was silent. The tension between them was thick, until a force knocked Maddie over, causing her to fall to the ground and break the glass in her hand.
“Got a problem?”
Vi stood between them, her eyes hard and unforgiving. Caitlyn felt her blood freezing in her veins as she studied Vi.
She had never seen Vi like this, with a fire in her eyes, burning so intensely it scared Caitlyn even though it was directed to Maddie. She almost felt a shield around her, protecting her not just from Maddie, but from whatever weapons could come their way.
Maddie’s eyes narrowed. “Well, if it isn’t the knight in shining armour.”
Vi scowled. “If it isn’t the greedy, possessive, lowlife ex.”
She knelt so she was face-to-face with Maddie, and forced the latter to look her in the eyes. “Did Caitlyn provoke you?”
Vi’s hard stare and the aura she emitted seemed to force an answer out of Maddie’s vocal cords, which had seemed to stop obeying her will since Vi appeared. “N-no.”
“Leave — her — alone.” Vi glowered at Maddie, who seemed to shrink in Vi’s presence. “Caitlyn broke things off with you for good reason. It’s useless to chase after her when she’s got nothing left for you.”
Caitlyn felt a growing warmth in her chest. No one had ever stood up for her like that, ever defended her like that. Certainly no one had ever pushed another person over or threatened them so coldly and harshly on her behalf.
“V-Vi.” Caitlyn called her back before she got too uncontrolled. “It’s okay. I’m okay. Really.”
Vi glanced back, and for a moment her eyes softened, concerned for Caitlyn. Then she turned back to Maddie.
“Go.”
Maddie scowled, clearly peeved. “Enjoy it while it’s still sweet, Kiramman. It won’t last for long.”
She scrambled to her feet and ran, disappearing out of the doors of the ballroom.
Caitlyn stared at Vi, her heart pounding. She didn’t know what to say — what could she say to someone who would go to such lengths to protect her? She thought about how Vi had stepped in, how she’d looked so fierce, so certain. No one had ever made Caitlyn feel this safe before.
Vi turned towards her, her expression soft as a cloud. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
Caitlyn swallowed. “It’s okay. I’m fine.”
“I just…” Vi’s jaw tightened. “I couldn’t let her talk to you like that. You deserve better.” She looked away, but Caitlyn still saw the vengeance in her eyes.
“Thank you, Vi,” Caitlyn answered. She squeezed Vi’s hand.
Caitlyn felt a stare on her back and turned. Her own mother, who had seen the entire thing unfold, averted her gaze momentarily, but eventually gave Caitlyn a subtle but grudging nod.
“Let’s…” Caitlyn swallowed. “Let’s get out of here for a bit, yeah? I know a spot.”
~~~
Vi and Caitlyn sat in silence on the rooftop, away from the noise of the party.
Caitlyn interlaced her fingers and cleared her throat awkwardly, while Vi sat by her side, cool and collected, admiring the view of Piltover.
Vi glanced at Caitlyn. “You okay?”
Caitlyn smiled and tucked her hair behind her ear. “Why do you ask?”
“You look so nervous,” Vi said, and she chuckled. “Loosen up, cupcake. I’m not about to push you off.”
Caitlyn’s heartbeat thrummed in her ears so loudly she could barely hear Vi. She felt her palms turn clammy. She’d felt this way about Vi for a long time, and she knew — she just never had the courage to admit it. Now, sitting up here alone with Vi, perhaps it would be a good time.
In truth, Cupid had struck Caitlyn’s heart nearly three months ago. Caitlyn was simply fascinated by everything about her — how calm and collected she was, how easily she could blend in at social gatherings. Her protectiveness of the people she cared about was a plus. Vi was two sides of a coin — on one hand, fiercely loyal, protective, and intimidating to her enemies. On a deeper level, she was a vulnerable and adorable puppy, with a soft spot that people could rarely hit.
Vi’s looks and charisma didn’t help matters either. Her hair was always perfectly tousled, her clothes just the right mix of formal and casual, her voice a smooth, low baritone that had Caitlyn tripping over her own tongue. The way she spoke. The way her eyes gazed intently into Caitlyn’s soul each time they talked. The confidence and magnetism she emitted as she walked confidently through the room. Everything about her was so…attractive, so charismatic, so perfect for Caitlyn.
“I…” Caitlyn couldn’t get the words out. In Vi’s presence, everything mattered more to Caitlyn. Her clothes. The way her hair fell. The intensity of her gaze.
“I think I’ve…fallen for…you, Vi. Really.”
Caitlyn immediately lowered her gaze, cheeks flushing despite the coolness of the night. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Vi smile — that smile. That grin. The mischief in it. The confidence that she exhibited with that smile so effortlessly. Vi was tall, charismatic, athletic, the whole package. How could anyone not fall for her?
But in that split second, Vi felt her own heartbeat quicken too. She hid it well, but her insides were a mix of excitement and worry. She hadn’t even realised it, but she herself had fallen even harder. She’d noticed everything about Caitlyn and how it all came together so well, so perfectly, culminating in the person that was Caitlyn Kiramman.
Her soft, blue eyes — so impossibly blue, Vi felt she could get lost by just staring into them. Her dark blue hair, and the way it cascaded down her back like a waterfall. Her accent — how it slid and glided over each word so easily, making every single thing that came out of Caitlyn’s mouth sound so…important.
Vi hadn’t even realised it, but Caitlyn was beautiful — easily the most amazing person Vi had ever laid eyes on. She had fallen for Caitlyn’s heart, mind, soul, and everything in between. And she didn’t even see it coming until now, when it struck her very core like a tuning fork.
Her hand moved before she could think, brushing a strand of Caitlyn’s hair away from her face to reveal her sapphire-like eyes. Her hand made its way to her jaw, and slowly but steadily, Vi brought Caitlyn’s face closer to hers.
Vi tilted her head, and Caitlyn did the same. For a moment, Vi hesitated, letting the tension hang in the air. Caitlyn froze, her lips slightly parted, skin growing warm under Vi’s fingers. Caitlyn was just a breath away…
Vi’s hand moved to the back of Caitlyn’s neck, gently brushing her warm skin, as though she were testing the waters. She felt Caitlyn’s hand making its way up from her hip…to her shoulders…to her neck …to her face…
Caitlyn’s fingertips trailed lightly, hesitant but delibrate, grazing the edge of Vi’s jaw as if to commit the moment to memory.
Vi didn’t think. She didn’t hesitate. She pulled Caitlyn in, closing the distance between them. Her lips touched Caitlyn’s in a tentative, soft kiss that seemed to last forever.
The world disappeared behind them. The party noise faded away. The city of Piltover melted into the distance, and they were suspended in the moment, neither of them wanting it to end.
Then they broke apart, both breathing heavily. Vi smiled slightly.
“The good news is, cupcake,” she whispered softly, her words barely reaching Caitlyn’s ears, “I’ve fallen harder.”
Caitlyn took a moment to process her words. Her lips tingled in anticipation where Vi had kissed her. It had been magnificent, and the break had left her yearning for more. Her heart was racing, and a smile tugged at the corners of her lips. She could barely resist as she wrapped her arms around Vi’s body, one hand on the back of her head.
Vi’s breath hitched as Caitlyn’s arms wrapped around her, and she allowed herself to melt into Caitlyn’s comforting embrace as they pulled each other closer for another kiss.
And in that moment, the walls they’d carefully built over months of unspoken feelings crumbled, replaced by something that had always been there — simply waiting for the right moment to be unleashed.